Second Place Winner in the Original SJ Villian Challenge!
The Loan Shark here is meant to actually be "reputable". He simply operates in an area of the camapign world where money lending is not regulated and, of course, is very risky (much like mideval times). As such he operates much like a modern unregulated lender or "loan shark" but doesn't have the same stigma attached. And that's how PCs get involved with him... :)
Benny "Blueeyes" Tencheeses, halfling male F4/T7 (trader kit from CBoG&H): AC 10; MV 12"; hp 29; AL LE; THAC0 17; S 14; I 10; W 10; D 14; Cn 10; Ch 11; Cm 10; proficiencies: common, halfling, appraising, read/write common, ettiquette, information gathering, intimidation, persuasion, reading lips, bureaucracy, fast talking, dagger, club, shortsword, dart, throwing dagger, light crossbow; light crossbow and 4 poisoned light crossbow bolts kept under desk, dagger sheathed at belt, club kept in plain sight atop desk, shortsword worn when wants to show strength and preparedness for trouble (such as picking up a large sum of cash from across town), 12 darts kept on the inside of his sash, ring of truth
Benny grew up as a runner for a smuggler but was taught by his grandfather to watch everything that went on around him. His grandfather also taught him he should always know more than those he did business with. As he watched the smugglers operate he saw they had to avoid or bribe the authorities and they constantly took all sorts of risks, from being double-crossed, to gang wars, to the law and other crusaders. At the same time, however, he noticed that even the smugglers sometimes needed extra cash up front and then they did business with people who weren't hounded by the authorities, were worried about gang wars, and didn't risk themselves to deliver their product. Rather people came to them for what they had, the authorities protected them more vigorously than most anyone else, and there were never enough to satisfy all the desiring customers. These people were the moneylenders.
Benny quickly set his sights on becoming a money lender and wored hard to scrape together the cash. On the side he began to work as a strong-arm for hire and informant for a couple money lenders to boost his salary and learn the business. He also learned to read and write (common, anyway) and do math. And then he took out a loan.
Benny paid off his debts long ago and is now owed by everyone. Honest merchants, smugglers, nobles, fences, adventurers, wizards, and peddlers, they all owe him money. He's happy to do business with anyone, anyone he feels can pay him back--with interest.
Benny always checks out anyone he's dealign with before loaning them money. he wants to know their chances of success and his chances of getting paid back. To do this he uses his ring to initially interview the potential client. Then he uses his contacts on the street, in government, and among the nobility and related professions to help him determine the feasibility of the venture and any references on the borrower. At the same time Benny may (especially with adventurers, nobles, and government officials) consult with some wizards that are in debt to him and the local halfling churches (he venerates and donates money to all the halfling powers but especially to Yondalla and Brandobaris) for even more detailed information. In truly risky situations he may choose to purchase a contract of Nepthas from the Arcane (which the borrower will ultimately pay for anyway) or a geas from one of the wizard's indebted to him (again, the borrower ultimately pays) to make the deal more binding.
Benny is willing to be ruthless to make sure he's paid in time and in full and will force those who fail to pay to sign over their business, their daughter (to be sold into slavery), or even certain body parts (he deals with necromancers and certain others from time to time) in order to ensure he doesn't lose money. Like any money lender, he can't afford to "cut some slack" or "give a break" but generally tries to keep his clients alive and in condition (phsically and otherwise) to continue making money so they can pay him, no matter how much in debt they are. If it comes down to it, however, selling their corpse can not only help recoup losses but also remove unwanted evidence.
Benny is fat, like most halflings, and has a full head of bushy brown hair with long sideburns. His chin seems to have a goatee as the natural facial hair is a little thicker there. His eyes, for which he's nicknamed, are actually blue (the left eye) and green. This annoys him to no end and so he got this nickname from those wishing to torment him. It's still used behind his back but those that want to stay in his good graces never mention it in his hearing (an adventurer at a party was once thrown out at his insistence after Benny overheard a discussion of the eye colors of the small eyes of a beholder and said "two were blue"). Normally Benny is calm and a smooth talker, however. As long as he gets what he feels is his he is even quite amiable and generous with guests by offering snacks and wine to clients stopping by to pay their bills.
Enforcers: Benny employs several enforcers, inclduing 2 half-orcs, 5 humans, a hadozee, and a half-elven fighter/wizard/thief. He has soem other individuals he can call on for reliable muscle (independent contractors such as he once was) and keeps his regulars on routine duties (guarding the office, his person, and his large home and collecting payments).
How the PCs get involved: Any time the PCs need to borrow a large amount of money Benny can be used. He's always willing to lend money and has plenty easily accessible, provided he's convinced the borrowers will be albe ot pay him back and will do so. He can loan them money to start a business, buy a ship, conduct repairs, pay the crew, or whatever. His interest rates go up fast, however, and are always at least 10%
How to deal with the PCs: Everyone hates to pay out money and just for his high interest rates and greedy demands on their time (those who "owe him", owe him more than just money in Benny's eyes--until they're fully paid up) Benny could easily become one of the most hated NPCs in the game without ever doign anything against the PCs. It's all the more frustrating to PCs that they wanted to enter into business with him and sought him out first and that he's now completely within the law (his collection methods--by necessity--sometimes are outside legal bounds but he doesn't violate the law in any other way). On the other hand, PCs are notorious for their unstable cash flows and failure to make a payment on time could force them to give up prized magical items or other valued goods (the mage's high-priced spell components and the fighter's armor) in order to make their payment. And paying more later generally won't get the items back, either (note than Benny accepts items in barter at only 30% of their real value unless they are magic--in which case he accepts 95-100% of the value as payment). If the PCs were late they could even lose such items just to make up for the fact that they weren't on time.
If they try to avoid paying they'll suffer under whatever magical conditions have been placed on the loan and have to deal with some of Benny's hired "independent contractors". If they run then he'll simply place a bounty on their heads. In short Benny is one foe they should never be able to easily deal with or escape.
