Borter

Borter, along with his business partner Doe, operates within the tumultuous environment of Nulb, engaging in trade that often skirts the edges of legality. As co-founder of Borter & Doe Trading, his acumen for business and risk has carved out a niche for his operations in the competitive mercantile world of the Viscounty of Verbobonc.

Character Description

Borter is a mix of Suloise Suel and Oeridian Oerid with a distinctive figure with his towering height, lean frame, clean-shaven face, and waves of flowing white hair. His appearance is meticulously maintained, reflecting his attention to detail and personal discipline in all business dealings.

Merchant Background

Originally from a modest merchant family in the Oeridian territories, Borter’s ambition led him to form a partnership with Doe, a fellow merchant. Together, they founded Borter & Doe Trading, securing a formal charter to operate within Verbobonc. Their business quickly gained a reputation for daring deals and the occasional trade in illicit goods.

Personality

Borter is shrewd and calculating, always assessing angles for profit and leverage. Despite his imposing presence, he possesses a keen mind for negotiation and strategy, making him a formidable player in the merchant circles of the region.

Motivation

His primary drive is the expansion of his trading company and personal wealth, often pushing the boundaries of legality to secure a competitive edge. His ambition is tempered by a pragmatic approach to danger and opportunities alike.

Partner and Group Dynamics

• Doe: Borter’s business partner, shorter and stockier, known for his stern demeanor which lightens up significantly after a few drinks. Doe handles the more interpersonal aspects of their business, including negotiations and client relations.
• Barbarian Guards: Three barbarian brothers who act as their bodyguards. They are crucial for the physical safety and intimidation factor during their trade missions.

Merchant Activities

• Trade Operations: Engages in regional trade, dealing with furs, pottery, and occasionally more dubious goods to maintain profitability.
• Illicit Dealings: Known to deal in illicit items as opportunities arise, contributing to their notoriety and wealth.
• Business Expansion: Actively looking for opportunities to expand their influence and undercut competitors, including securing lines of credit and new trading ventures.

Accommodations

Borter and his entourage are currently stationed at the 3. Waterside Hostel of Nulb in Room C, a necessary compromise given Nulb’s limited accommodations.

Relationship with Local Entities

• Kasper and the Gillum Family: Borter has engaged with Kasper to secure a line of credit at 11. The Gillum, further intertwining his activities with the influential Gillum family.
• Local Investments: Open to local investment opportunities, such as those presented by Preston the teamster, to enhance their business prospects in Nulb.

DM-Only Section: Secret Motives and Dynamics

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Secret Background

• Early Life: Borter's early years were marked by exposure to the harsh realities of trade and survival, instilling in him a ruthless approach to business.
• Formation of Partnership: His partnership with Doe was born out of mutual recognition of their complementary skills and a shared willingness to engage in morally gray activities to advance their status.

True Motivations

• Power and Influence: Beyond wealth, Borter seeks to wield significant influence in regional politics and commerce, using his wealth as a means to secure power.
• Escape from Legality: He is continuously looking for ways to operate outside the restrictive laws that limit his business operations.

Secret Political Relationships

• Dyvers and Regional Powers: Maintains covert contacts within the political arenas of Dyvers and other major cities to leverage regional dynamics in his favor.
• Zilchus Faith Concerns: Aware of the concerns from the B3 Chapel of Zilchus in Verbobonc regarding his business practices, Borter maintains a facade of compliance while continuing his less savory operations.

Secret Treasure and Assets

• Hidden Wealth: Large reserves of wealth hidden across various locations to secure his financial independence from any regional upheavals.
• Magical Items: In addition to the publicly known items, Borter secretly possesses more potent magical artifacts aimed at protection and espionage, enhancing his control over his barbarian guards and his safety.

Current Plots and Plans

• Expansion into Illicit Markets: Actively working to expand his reach into more lucrative and illegal markets, potentially involving forbidden magic or proscribed artifacts.
• Counteractions Against Church Scrutiny: Developing strategies to counteract the increasing scrutiny from the Church of Zilchus and other regulatory bodies, ensuring his operations remain unimpeded.

The Barbarian brothers

The Barbarian Brothers are a trio of formidable human warriors, each standing over six and a half feet tall, with pale skin and blonde hair. Initially captured and sold into slavery by the Slave Lords, these brothers are now bound to serve as bodyguards under the influence of a magical artifact.

Physical Description

• Appearance: Towering and muscular, each brother is a striking figure with blonde hair and pale skin.
• Attire: They are dressed in civilized clothing, overlaid with scale mail armor, which they reluctantly wear due to its restrictive nature.

Enslavement and Liberation

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• Captivity: Originally captured by Slave Lords, sold into the brutal world of gladiatorial combat and hard labor.
• Liberation: Purchased by Borter, who discovered their susceptibility to his Ring of Human Influence, effectively changing their form of bondage from physical to magical.

Role and Function

• Current Role: Act as personal bodyguards to Borter, accompanying him and his partner Doe in all their trading endeavors.
• Combat Readiness: Equipped with scale mail and trained for protection, their presence is a significant deterrent to would-be aggressors.

Magical Influence

• Ring of Human Influence: This ring allows Borter to maintain control over the brothers, directing their actions and ensuring their loyalty.
• Control Attempts: Despite their low intelligence, the brothers have opportunities to break free from the ring’s influence; however, they have yet to succeed in these attempts.

Potential Threat

Stability of Control: While currently under control, the potential for these brothers to break free poses a serious risk to Borter and Doe, given their formidable physical prowess and pent-up resentment.

Borter dialog about Bandits in Nulb

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Borter: With a cautious glance around, lowering his voice as he leans over his merchandise spread on the counter,

"Ah, yes, the bandit gangs of Nulb. There's plenty of them, lurking like wolves around a carcass. But it's not the small-time crooks that worry me—it’s the Hangedmen. They're another breed entirely."

Adventurer: "What do you mean? How are they different?" Borter: His expression grows serious, his eyes scanning for eavesdroppers,

"The Hangedmen, they're not just bandits. They've got deeper pockets and darker connections. You see, I've heard whispers, dangerous ones, that they're not just operating on their own. Their leader Naelin has them in league with some of the Temple agents. Now, if that's true, they're not just a gang; they're a force, a weapon being sharpened against all of us."

Adventurer: "That sounds like a serious threat."

Nodding gravely, "Indeed, it is. If Naelin and his Hangedmen are cozying up with the Temple, it means trouble. Big trouble. Their reach could extend far beyond mere thievery and smuggling. We're talking about orchestrated chaos, and that’s bad for business. Especially for honest traders like myself."

Adventurer: "What will you do then?"

Borter shrugging while packing away some of his goods, "Keep my head down, my goods secure, and maybe grease a few palms to keep the roads safe for my caravans. In Nulb, gold does much of the talking, and sometimes, it's the only way to keep walking."

"Trust is earned with gold and kept with honesty."

Borter the Merchant

• Role: Co-founder of Borter & Doe Trading, a trading company operating within and beyond the Viscounty of Verbobonc.
• Motivation: To expand his trading empire and personal wealth, often pushing the boundaries of legality for competitive advantage.

Statistics

• Armor: AC 6 (Scale)
• Level: 1
• HP 4
• #AT (+1) 1; D 1d6 + 1 shortsword +1
• S9 I13 W12 D11 Co13 Ch14 Com 12

Items:

• 5 pp, 55 gp, 22 ep, 15 sp, 50 cp
• Letter of credit (10,000 gp)

Personal Secret Item

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Ring of Human Influence

This ring is usually crafted from fine silver or gold and often contains a single gemstone that glows faintly when its powers are active. The ring adjusts to fit the finger of any humanoid wearer.

• Charm Person: Once per day, the wearer can cast the spell Charm Person (as per the spell description in the Player's Handbook). The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become charmed by the wearer for a duration depending on the wearer's level.
• Enhanced Persuasion: The wearer gains a significant bonus to all Persuasion checks made against human targets. This reflects the ring's magical influence bolstering the wearer's natural charisma.
• Command: Some variants of this ring may allow the use of the Command spell once per day, targeting only humanoids. This usage typically adheres to the standard rules for the spell, requiring a saving throw by the target.

Limitations

• Target Restriction: The ring's effects are typically limited to humanoids, with a particular efficacy against humans. Non-human creatures may be immune or less susceptible to the ring's influence.
• Magic Resistance: Creatures with magic resistance or those immune to charm are unaffected by the ring.
• Alignment Considerations: Using the ring for manipulative purposes may have implications for the wearer's alignment, potentially leading them towards more neutral or evil alignments if used unethically.

Alignment

Lawful evil

Current Location

3. Waterside Hostel of Nulb

Species

Humans of Greyhawk

Ethnicity

Oeridian Oerid

Other Ethnicities/Cultures

• Suloise Suel

Year of Birth

550 26 Years old

Sex

male

Eyes

hazel green

Hair

flowing white hair

Height

6'3"

Belief/Deity

Zilchus

Barbarian Brothers by 3orcs

Barbarian Brothers

Pahawn

Level 6 Barbarian

• AC 3 (Scale, HP 72
• #AT (+3 or +2) 3/2 or 2;
• D 2d4 + 5 or 1d6/1d6 broadsword +1 or shortbow
• AL: Chaotic Neutral
• S 18/78 I 8 W 8 D 17 Co 16 Ch 9

Granyoo

Level 4 Barbarian

• AC 5 (Scale) HP 38
• #AT (+2 or +0) 1 or 2; D 2d4 + 3 or 1d6/1d6 broadsword/short bow
• AL CN
• S 18/57 I 7 W 7 D 15 Co 16 Ch 10

Harskin

Level 3 Barbarian

• AC 3 (Scale), HP 57
• #AT (+2/+0) 1 and 1; D 2d4 + 5 and 1d6 + 5 broadsword and hand axe
• AL: Chaotic Neutral
• S 18/92 I 7 W 8 D 17 Co 18 Ch 8

Border & Doe Trading by 3orcs