About Quill of SharnQuill
The Last War took its toll on the people of Sharn. Thousands of lives were changed, many lost. To this day, Quill isn’t sure which she falls into. Growing up in Middle Northedge with her parents, Quill was aware of her unique heritage from a young age. Her parents – who called themselves Yuri and Merta – taught her to change her form, to not only mimic those around her, but to manipulate her body to take whatever appearance she pleased. By the time she was five, she’d chosen her favourite features from both parents, taking her mother’s eyes, her father’s hair, and so on. No matter that underneath it all, she was grey, her eyes white, her limbs elongated. She could be anything – anyone – she wanted. As she grew, she found herself wandering the city more. Though Yuri warned her that such a large place could be dangerous, she never minded – after all, she could easily take the form of an enormous orc, or a surly dwarf, ensuring she’d be left well alone when she wanted it. It was perfect. She could go wherever she pleased, and she took advantage of this. She wandered Tavik’s Market, examining curios; she ate at the Commons in the University District; she saw adventurers of all stripes pass through Clifftop and Deathsgate. And when Quill was sixteen, she first saw Hallkell. Hallkell the Bear frequented Deathsgate – Quill saw him there often, usually returning from some expedition or other. She never approached him, content to watch from afar, to hear what he was capable of. To her, Hallkell was strength – raw, unbridled strength. She saw power in his immense shoulders, in the rough paws he formed, in the bellowing voice with which he called for brave men and women to accompany him. In Hallkell, she saw power. Power she wanted. It was Merta who found her in her room, struggling to mimic Hallkell’s form. She could make the bushy beard, the heavy jawline, but the claws kept escaping her. Exhausted and frustrated from her repeated failure, she flung herself down on her bed, cursing her inability. Merta sat beside her, placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I can help you,” she said quietly, “But it will come with a price.” She told Quill of the Tyrants of Sharn, a group of changelings who, through clever deception and infiltration, kept a finger on the pulse of every part of the city. Every district, every tower – nothing escaped their notice. There was money to be had, and much to be learned from the Masked – individuals who could not only take on other forms, but modify them beyond imagination. “How do you know all this?” Quill asked in disbelief. Her mother sighed in response, staring at the wall. “I’m one of the Masked,” she said finally. -------------------- Merta was right. The power was there, but it came with a price. Quill was introduced to Brax, who promised to teach her the art of Masks in exchange for her services to the Tyrants. Craving this strange power, Quill accepted. For the next year, she wove her masks, taking on forms as perfect as her doppelganger forebears had assumed. She chose a powerful form, finally gaining the strength she’d desired from her days watching adventurers. She helped the Tyrants in defensive matters, assisting in the small skirmishes between groups and gangs, never wearing the same face twice. Then the War changed her life. Drafted at eighteen, Quill was enlisted as a spy, her unique heritage serving her well. She was assigned to Breland, where she put her impersonation skills to work intercepting intelligence and sabotaging enemy informants. It was low-risk for someone of her skill-set. She caught the tail-end of it. Not knowing how much use, if any, her involvement had been, she returned to Sharn. There were new opportunities. There always were in a city of such size. So when an old friend contacted her about opening an investigative agency, she took it. She could be useful. -------------------- Quill is many people. Male and female; dwarf, human, and elf; old, young, and everything in between. The Quill she chooses to be is a tallish young human woman, around 5’8” and twenty years of age, with full lips and thick blond hair. Her fingers are long, her nose is sharp, and her jawline is strong, yet decidedly feminine. Her pale brown eyes are framed by thick dark lashes, her neck is slightly on the long side, and her shoulders are a little wider than the norm. While she isn’t unattractive, nor is her appearance particularly extraordinary. She dresses in simple, practical clothing – black woollen trousers, a white linen shirt, and boots that are clearly too stiff and shiny to be old. She accessorises simply, with three small silver rings in each ear, and a woven hemp bracelet around her left wrist, strung with beads and small feathers. Quill is friendly, and open about her doppelganger heritage with those she trusts. She seldom reveals her true form, knowing it makes others uncomfortable, but shows it if asked by someone close. She tries to be honest, but her time impersonating others has left its marks on her psyche, and at times, she forgets who or what she’s supposed to be. |
