Athalana Traquirel
Every kingdom and nation on Cartyrion knows that Tyrnabay is a force to be reckoned with. They are a necessary trading partner for goods desired by the Folk everywhere. But they are also home and haven for the pirates that threaten the seas, and the fierce mercenary companies that often shift the balance of conflicts between factions and kingdoms. The merchants of Tyrnabay seem to have an uncanny ability to sense shortages and surpluses, and always appear to be in a position to take advantage of these situations. "Tyrnabay Luck" is often cited by the merchants and traders in the rest of the world, but luck has nothing to do with it. It is the Conduit, and their network of spies and agents that provide the information Tyrnabay's Mercantile use to manipulate the world. Athalana Traquirel is that Conduit.
As a result, she is quite capable of withstanding the bright sunlight that most of her Cave Elf contemporaries would shy away from. Nevertheless, she is most comfortable in the shadows and partial darkness of twilight and dimly lit rooms. This suits her profession, which is essentially that of Spymaster for the Mercantile.
As she continued to travel with her parents, she began to establish a network of informants. Upon arriving at a city, she would seek out her "eyes and ears" to get the feel of the market and pass along useful information to her parents. Usually, they did not take Athalana's suggestions too seriously, but as she got older and began to work more independently, they could not but notice that Athalana's "hunches" were often on target - and profitable.
Nicknames
Athal, Athal the Shadow
Date of Birth
21 Time of V'nbarrgh's Greataxe, 2163CR
Age
108
Home
Amethyst Cove, Tyrnabay
Organization
The Mercantile of Tyrnabay
Title/Position
The Conduit
Title Acquisition
2116CR (55 years ago)
Reports to
The Tactician
Subordinates
spies and agents in every kingdom, nation, and region of Cartyrion
The Mercantile noticed this too. Their spymaster and holder of the Conduit title at the time was a Halfling named Theo Greenhand. "The Blackhand", as he was called, was impressed enough that when he finally decided to retire from the business, he recommended Athalana Traquirel as a replacement.
To this day, Athalana uses her network to learn about every local surplus and shortage, every major crop yield or failure, and every latest luxury trend in cities large and small across the world. She also has information on political dealings, plots, plans for coups, threats, and hostilities within and among the kingdoms and nations of the world. All this information is written onto little bits of paper and placed in the box given her by Theo, from which they disappear. Occasionally, the box contains a note asking for clarification about an item of interest, or directions to investigate some rumor further.
She often travels abroad to keep an eye on her agents, and to keep in touch with the world. She never does so openly, though. Whether through her stealth skills or silent arrangement with the sea captains of Tyrnabay, not even the crews of the ships she takes are aware of her coming and going. Port officials of destination kingdoms - and even the spymasters of those kingdoms - are unaware as well.
A Shadowy Figure
Athalana Traquirel was born and raised in a space between two cultures. She, like her Cave Elf parents, prefer the dark mystery of deep caverns over the bright colors and sunlight of the surface world of Cartyrion, but as her parents were traders who interacting with the world of daylight, she spent many of her formative years above ground.As a result, she is quite capable of withstanding the bright sunlight that most of her Cave Elf contemporaries would shy away from. Nevertheless, she is most comfortable in the shadows and partial darkness of twilight and dimly lit rooms. This suits her profession, which is essentially that of Spymaster for the Mercantile.
Job Skills
Athalana's parents always assumed she would one day take over the family business, so her training in the ways of commerce, trading, and dealmaking began at a very young age. But by the time she reached the age of 40 and her adulthood according to Elven tradition, she wanted more. Traveling the world was exciting, making good trades required a sharp mind, but she wanted intrigue, and she wanted wealth - more than her parents' business would bring.As she continued to travel with her parents, she began to establish a network of informants. Upon arriving at a city, she would seek out her "eyes and ears" to get the feel of the market and pass along useful information to her parents. Usually, they did not take Athalana's suggestions too seriously, but as she got older and began to work more independently, they could not but notice that Athalana's "hunches" were often on target - and profitable.
Athalana Traquirel
The Mercantile noticed this too. Their spymaster and holder of the Conduit title at the time was a Halfling named Theo Greenhand. "The Blackhand", as he was called, was impressed enough that when he finally decided to retire from the business, he recommended Athalana Traquirel as a replacement.
An Unrefusable Offer
Athalana was approached by Theo Greenhand in a quiet tavern in the Tyrnabay port city of Amethyst Cove, the base of operations of her parent's trading operations. After a few questions and a bit of smalltalk, she was asked if she was interested in a position that would offer mental challenge and subtle yet far-reaching intrigue. A yes or no was required, and if "yes", there would be no going back. Athalana accepted immediately. Leaving the tavern for the more secure surroundings of Theo's home, the inner workings of the Mercantile, and her new duties and responsibilities were explained. He also explained that this knowledge meant she was "in" - and trying to back out would be fatal.Responsibilities
Theo provide Athalana with a small, ornate box, explaining that it was a Taxlatl Message Box with which she would communicate with her superior. She would never meet this superior, the Halfling explained. For the next year, Theo and Athalana traveled much of the world together as the Halfling introduced her to his established network of agents. Added to those she had already cultivated, these put her fingers on the pulse of every commerce and political center on Cartyrion.To this day, Athalana uses her network to learn about every local surplus and shortage, every major crop yield or failure, and every latest luxury trend in cities large and small across the world. She also has information on political dealings, plots, plans for coups, threats, and hostilities within and among the kingdoms and nations of the world. All this information is written onto little bits of paper and placed in the box given her by Theo, from which they disappear. Occasionally, the box contains a note asking for clarification about an item of interest, or directions to investigate some rumor further.
She often travels abroad to keep an eye on her agents, and to keep in touch with the world. She never does so openly, though. Whether through her stealth skills or silent arrangement with the sea captains of Tyrnabay, not even the crews of the ships she takes are aware of her coming and going. Port officials of destination kingdoms - and even the spymasters of those kingdoms - are unaware as well.
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