Merchant Pipin

Merchant Pipin is a young and ambitious Briar-Kin trader based in The Crown City of Ardor. A cousin of the more established Market-Master Pip, Pipin is determined to make a name for himself in the competitive world of the Vertical Trade. He is a flashy and charismatic mouse who wears a brightly colored leaf-sash and always has a "rare artifact" or a "special discount" ready for any potential customer.

Pipin specializes in the trade of "Surface-World Curiosities"—trinkets, tools, and clothing that have been recovered from shipwrecks and brought up from Drift-Haven. He has a natural talent for marketing, often exaggerating the history and magical properties of his goods to increase their value. While his business practices are sometimes questionable, he is generally well-liked for his cheerful personality and his ability to find almost anything a customer might need.

He is a frequent visitor to the Leaf-Kite Docks, where he negotiates for the best space on outgoing gliders and gathers news from the latest glidist arrivals.

Secret Motivation: Pipin is secretly deep in debt to a group of Mist-Whisker smugglers. He lost a large amount of gold during a gamble on a beetle-race and is now desperate to find a "Big Score"—a pre-flood artifact of immense value—to clear his name.

Adventure Hook: Pipin has "acquired" a map that supposedly leads to a sunken dwarven vault hidden within the mangrove roots. He needs a group of adventurers to help him retrieve the vault's contents, promising a generous cut of the profits and a "lifetime supply" of dried forest fruit.