Ren o' the Star
Master of the Merchants' and Traders' Union
Ren o' the Star is a 94-year-old half-elf, standing 5'9" tall and weighing 180 lbs. He strongly takes after his elven father, with black hair, upswept eyebrows, pointed ears, and a thick mustache.
Born to a human merchant’s daughter and an elven noble from the Kingdom of Celene , Ren was raised by his loving mother with the support of her father. His stepfather, a merchant she later married, provided him with training in commerce, while his elven father ensured he had a proper education in dweomercraft and swordsmanship.
Ren bears a reddish, star-shaped birthmark on his shoulder, a clear mark of his noble lineage from the House of Paraleen, earning him the nickname “The Star.” His proper name in human tongues is Ren Shan Fitsparaleen, denoting his illegitimate connection to the elven nobility. His upbringing combined the finest teachings of both human and elven heritage, making him an exceptional student and a gifted merchant.
Rise to Wealth and Power
When Ren reached adulthood, his maternal grandfather’s inheritance allowed him to establish his own trading business. He focused on high-value, low-bulk commodities such as furs, ivory, and precious metals, though he occasionally took on bulkier goods when the profit margin was too good to ignore.
Realizing that Greyhawk was the heart of global commerce, Ren moved to the Free City, joining the Traders' Union . His extensive knowledge of the trade routes and his connections in both human and elven circles quickly made him an invaluable member. Through calculated investments and daring ventures, he rose to prominence, accumulating vast wealth and influence.
Despite his success, Ren was not without enemies. Rival merchants and resentful nobles attempted to undermine him through espionage, assassination, and even bribing bandits to raid his caravans. But Ren was not an easy target—he swiftly retaliated, gaining a reputation for being as ruthless in vengeance as he was shrewd in business. In time, he earned the position of Master of the Traders' Union, achieving one of his greatest ambitions.
Possessions and Magical Arsenal
Ren is rarely seen without his prized antique bronze plate mail, a gift from a barbarian tribe who found it in an ancient ruin. In a cunning trade, Ren exchanged the armor for a magnificent horse—a horse that had, in fact, been a polymorphed monkey. When the transformation wore off, the barbarians were left bewildered, while Ren simply smirked at his cleverness.
Among his collection of magical items, Ren possesses:
- A wand of lightning, won in a dice game.
- Gauntlets of swimming and climbing.
- A necklace of adaptation.
- A folding boat for quick getaways.
His magical weapons include:
- A longbow of speed.
- A bastard sword of sharpness, which is intelligent (INT 14), chaotic neutral, and detects precious metals and gems—though it constantly argues with him, much to his frustration. Ren often jokes, “Some men are henpecked—I’m sword-pecked!”
- A cursed sword +1, which he frequently sells when short on gold, knowing it will always return to him.
The Gambler's Curse
Despite his wealth and influence, Ren's greatest weakness is gambling. When he was actively trading, he could satisfy his taste for risk through daring ventures. But now, with nothing but piles of gold and little excitement, he has become obsessed with games of chance.
He spends endless hours at the Wheel of Gold, betting on horse races, elections, and even the flight patterns of insects. His friends and fellow merchants despair at his reckless spending, as he has squandered an unfathomable amount of gold.
Nerof Gosgol and the city’s gambling houses revel in his addiction, watching as the once-untouchable merchant prince pours his fortune into their coffers. Whispers of discontent ripple through the Traders' Union, as its members begin to question whether their Master is truly fit to lead.
Master of the Merchants' and Traders' Union
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