Auto-translated
Talaen
The son of a pirate and some port girl, Talaen effectively grew up on the streets. He never knew his father, and his mother took no interest in her child, so from an early age, the elf had to find food and navigate troubles on his own. More than once he was caught and beaten, but this did not deter him from the thief's trade. As a teenager, he began participating in street fights and knife brawls; after earning several scars, he started emerging victorious from such clashes and even added a few corpses of bandits just like himself to his conscience. By the time he reached adulthood, Talaen had already accumulated a small amount of capital (illegally, of course) and considered moving to a place better than a dingy port town, but fate decided otherwise. While robbing the shop of another wealthy merchant, Talaen ran into guards. After a brief, fierce, but uneven struggle, the thief was captured, beaten, and tightly bound. In the morning, the shop owner generously rewarded the vigilant guard and, without hesitation, decided to sell the unlucky robber—he happened to be sailing for Gisteosia in a couple of days.
Finding himself in a cramped hold in the company of other losers and a guard, Talaen tried not to lose his composure. He waited until nightfall, when everyone was asleep, and began picking the lock on his shackles using his own fingernails and shadow-grandmother. The youth tried not to make noise, but having overcome the tricky mechanism, he met the gaze of a pair of slyly squinting coral eyes. His fellow sufferer, a charming Heliotrian girl, had been watching his manipulations with the lock all along.
- What nimble fingers you have, - she purred, - I imagine another lock wouldn't be a problem for them?
- What's in it for me? – Talaen snorted.
- Depending on what you need, - the elf smiled.
- Nothing. I rely only on myself. I'll get out alone.
- Don't be a fool. Reminder: you aren't the only Heliotrian on board. If you think you can hide in the shadows, that trick won't work.
- What are you proposing?
- Let's just say, - the elf smiled charmingly again, - I know a couple of tricks. You help me, I help you, and we both escape. Deal?
- I need to know that you'll do your part, - the elf hesitated.
- Well-well, you'll just have to take my honest word for it, otherwise I'll start screaming, - the girl fluttered her long lashes, extending her delicate bound hands to her companion.
Rolling his eyes, the youth grumbled "as if I have a choice" and set to work on the lock.
Everything went as well as possible. Talaen's new friend kept the guards confused all the way, and when the ship docked, both elves slipped ashore as soon as the gangplank was lowered.
In an unfamiliar city full of representatives of a hostile civilization, the Heliotrians decided to stick together. They obtained everything they needed through Talaen's favorite trade and spent their time in conversation and other interesting activities. Elesil—that was the elf's name—turned out to be a mage's apprentice, and a rather temperamental one at that, as she had been sold into slavery by her own teacher for some offense. The girl possessed decent magical abilities and taught her new friend several tricks, while he, in turn, showed her how to pick locks and which end of the dagger to hold.
Staying in one city for long was unwise, as the local guards began to take an interest in the pair. Talaen and Elesil decided to head north, to Madinia. The road ahead was dangerous, and although the rogue friends prepared thoroughly, everything went very poorly. On the way, the pair was attacked by wild beasts. The elves managed to fight them off, but Elesil suffered serious wounds and died in Talaen's arms. This event devastated the youth but did not break him; taking all valuables, he buried his friend and continued his journey.
The capital of Madinia greeted the long-eared traveler not very warmly, but Talaen hadn't expected a solemn reception with flowers, bread, and salt. He settled in an empty little house on the edge of town and did what he knew best. The youth tried not to attract attention, but he failed...
One day, returning with a good haul, Talaen was surprised to find a hooded man in his lair. The elf instantly slipped into the shadows, but it was too late.
- Come out, I saw you, - the stranger called out.
- Who are you and what do you want? – the Heliotrian replied.
- Who I am doesn't matter; all that matters is that I represent a... very influential gentleman who strongly dislikes your actions. But you've proven yourself to be a decent... specialist, so my employer has decided to give you a chance. You steal one trinket for him, and he accepts you into our ranks. You refuse—and welcome to the chopping block.
- Just for the record: I really don't like this, - Talaen grumbled, - but I dislike even more that I have no choice. Go on, tell me what the trinket is.
- Oh, nothing special. A very pretty ring, owned by someone living in the Peak of Elements. My employer needs this little thing very much, and you have every chance to get it. What do you say?
- Wonderful, I've always dreamed of robbing one of the inhabitants of the most impregnable fortress on the continent, - the elf threw up his hands, - but I have no choice, right?
- Exactly, - the stranger confirmed.
The next night, after preparing, Talaen went to storm the citadel of the Order of Sethranomicon.
Getting inside turned out to be the easiest task. It was harder to find the artifact and its owner. Talaen had a description of the target, but he had to scour the entire fortress in search of it. Finally, the victim was found sleeping peacefully in bed. The elf slowly began to slide the ring off the finger of a plump bald man, but the latter, unfortunately, woke up and screamed. Without hesitation, the youth finished the victim with one blow, grabbed the artifact, and prepared to make his escape, but guards bursting in thwarted his plans. The youth tried to slip past using his tricks, but the guards quickly saw through his manipulations and rushed into attack. The Heliotrian fought fiercely, like a cornered beast—he knew they wouldn't let him out alive and tried to take as many opponents with him as possible. Unfortunately, he was still captured alive.
After a short trial, in which the youth was charged with attempted theft of a valuable artifact, as well as the murder of a high-ranking member of the Order of Sethranomicon and eight guards, the unlucky elf was shackled in chains and thrown into the dungeon—to mentally prepare for his execution.
- Well, it could have been worse, - Talaen chuckled when the door to his cage closed, - although who am I kidding...
Origin: Heliotria(+5 to Agility; free Knife Throwing skill; additional ability - Shadow Step: the character gains the ability to hide from an enemy in the shadow of any object, as well as the ability to move short distances using the shadow of any object).
Religion: Lord of Shadows (+5 to Agility and Perception; free Assassin skill; character's attacks cannot be parried).
Characteristics
Constitution 15
Intelligence 15
Strength 0 + 15
Agility 40 + 5 + 5 + 15
Speed 25
Will 35
Perception 40 + 10 + 5
Skills and Abilities
One-Handed Weapons
I Proficiency with one-handed weapons.
II Chance to parry an enemy's attack (agility).
III +10 to evasion in melee combat.
IV Chance to perform a counterattack (agility).
V Additional attack.
VI Allows using one-handed weapons in each hand (+15 damage), chance to perform a counterattack increases by 1.5 times.
Art of Manipulation
Phantom (?) The caster creates an illusory copy of something.
Telekinesis (?) The caster gains the ability to move objects with the power of thought.
Mind Reading (30) The caster gains the ability to read the target's thoughts.
Suggestion (50) The caster can suggest anything to the target.
Masquerade (70) The caster gains the ability to change their own or another's appearance.
Knife Throwing (free): +10 to perception, chance to deal lethal damage by throwing knives at a distance of no more than 10 meters (perception); enemy is unable to dodge; enemy receives a penalty depending on where the knife hit (x2).
Battle Mage: +15 to strength, +15 to agility (x3).
Assassin (free): attacking an unsuspecting character kills them (x3).
Thief: when stealing, agility and perception are increased; the character gains the ability to pick locks.
Inventory: two daggers, throwing knives.
