Tiff Noomron
Tiff Noomron was born in the humid, claustrophobic tunnels of the Kapmadillo Colony nestled against the Bhathairk Undercity. While most of his kin were content to spend their lives digging for tubers or refining ore, Tiff was born with a silver tongue and a wandering eye. From a young age, he realized that the most valuable resource in the Under realm wasn't gold or iron it was what people didn't want others to know.
He earned his nickname, "The Gilded Shell," early in his career after he managed to swindle a group of dwarven excavators out of a shipment of fine silks, which he promptly fashioned into an oversized, ostentatious robe. He quickly learned that in the world of trade, if you look like you have money, people assume you have power; and if you have power, people are too afraid to check your scales for a hidden dagger.
Tiff’s departure from the colony was less of a "journey of discovery" and more of a "hasty exit" following a disagreement involving a counterfeit map of the Undercity’s sewer veins. Since then, he has navigated the surface world with a mix of charm and calculated deception. He doesn't just sell goods; he sells "opportunities"—most of which benefit him far more than the buyer.
His travels eventually brought him to the rigid spires of Vel Anir. While the city's strict laws and aristocratic arrogance would intimidate most, Tiff saw it as a playground. High society has high secrets, and Tiff found that a Kapmadillo with a monocle and a purple top hat is often dismissed as a mere curiosity, allowing him to overhear the very things that make him rich.
Appearance
Tiff is a bipedal Kapmadillo of significant presence, his thick, overlapping brown scales polished to a dull sheen. He rejects the traditional "naked" look of his species, instead draping himself in a heavy, royal purple coat trimmed with intricate gold embroidery. Perched precariously atop his head is a matching purple top hat adorned with a golden band and a single, elegant feather. His most distinct accessory is a silver-rimmed monocle, which he claims helps him spot a lie from a mile away, though it is mostly for theatrical effect.
Skills and Abilities
Master of Deception: Highly skilled in "creative" bookkeeping and forged documentation.
Appraisal Specialist: Can instantly determine the value of jewelry, rare artifacts, and blackmail material.
Information Brokerage: Maintains a network of "little birds" across various market districts.
Natural Armor: His thick scales provide significant protection against disgruntled customers.
Persuasive Oratory: Capable of selling salt to a desert-dweller.
Appraisal Specialist: Can instantly determine the value of jewelry, rare artifacts, and blackmail material.
Information Brokerage: Maintains a network of "little birds" across various market districts.
Natural Armor: His thick scales provide significant protection against disgruntled customers.
Persuasive Oratory: Capable of selling salt to a desert-dweller.
Personality
Tiff is flamboyant, opportunistic, and pathologically charming. He treats every conversation as a transaction and every person as a potential mark. Despite his shady dealings, he possesses a strange code of merchant’s honor. He will never sell a secret twice to the same person, as that would be bad for the brand. He is rarely seen without a smirk, hiding a calculating mind that is always three steps ahead of the law.