Character Sheet for Illiana
Character Description
Illiana is a thief, plain and simple. When she was human, she thought she was one of the greatest. She was so desiring of fame that she thought she'd make a name for herself by stealing from one of the oldest dragons around.
That plan didn't go the way she had envisioned it.
Now, though she is still a thief, she is a lot more cautious and tries to remain under the radar. The story goes that Illiana was killed by the dragon she set out to rob. She's had plenty of time to reflect on the person she was and has accepted that she "died" in favor of a new start.
Personality
When she was human, Illiana was a cocky braggart of a thief and, because of her pompous attitude, she was quite the bully. She had visions of being known as the greatest thief ever and wanted people all over to know her name.
After her curse, however, she has been greatly humbled. She no longer brags about her exploits, rather she tries to stay under everyone's radar. Having first-hand experience as to how hard life is for "uncouth" races, she is more sympathetic to victims of bullying and abuse. She is just as likely to be a "Robin Hood" as she is to be "Catwoman."
Likes/Dislikes
She LOVES life! The one thing she is eternally grateful for (after having been caught by the dragon she was trying to rob) was that she was "only" cursed and not roasted alive on the spot. It hasn't caused her to rethink her career path, though. She still loves to steal. Be it a coin purse from someone's hip or breaking into a keep for the hidden jewels. The thrill is was drives her.
She doesn't like how she (and by extension, other kobolds) are treated like "vermin." And also being short. (When she was human, she was 6 feet tall.) She also misses having 10 fingers.
Background/History
When Illiana was young, she learned she had a knack for thievery. That knack quickly turned into an obsession, leading her to discover the Thieve's Guild. When she saw what they were capable of, she knew she had to become the best. She learned tricks from some of the masters; lockpicking, slight of hand, trap detection, even some low-level magics to detect traps and alarms. She was good. VERY good. Especially if her victims weren't magically inclined.
But she wanted fame and she thought the best way to get it was to pilfer the hoard of one of the oldest dragons in the land. But little did she know that her plan was doomed before it even began.
The dragon had spotted her approaching and observed her as she moved through its lair, avoiding the traps and deterrents. When she reached the hoard, the dragon waited for her to actually steal before making it's move. As soon as she pocketed the first handful of coins, the dragon trapped her. It commended her on her skills, but admonished her for being nothing more than a common thief. She pleaded with the dragon to not kill her, too late having realized how far in over her head she was. The dragon could tell she was genuine in her regret, not just for having been caught, but for what kind of person she had been. The dragon decided to spare her life, but, as punishment, she would take the form of the thief she was.
After her painful transformation, the dragon cast her out of its lair, keeping her belongings for itself as recompense.
Her initial shock was nothing short of overwhelming. She was no strangers to kobolds, but she had never BEEN one. She was short now, covered in scales, had a tail and claws, and not even so much as the clothes from her back.
She couldn't go back to the guild. They would probably kill her for being there before she even had a chance to explain her situation. She couldn't go to any human, elf, orc, or giant shaman for help because dragon magic is ancient. There are only three ways to break the curse; the original caster lifts it, the original caster is killed, or a stronger mage overrides it. The dragon was not likely to lift the curse it saw fit to give her. Killing the dragon is not likely, either. For one, dragons are revered by many. And second, an army would have a hard time killing a dragon, let alone a single kobold. As far as a more powerful magic user, only another dragon could manage that. And that would cost a LOT. More than had ever passed through her hands, that's for sure.
The only option she had left was to make a new life for herself. Illiana the human was best left dead. She would start over, but without her arrogance. And she found her start to be rough.
Kobolds aren't uncommon in the human lands, but they are viewed with suspicion. Generally speaking, they aren't exactly the brightest bulbs in the shed. And they have a reputation for being thieves. As such, when they are allowed to live in human settlements, they generally have menial jobs and are viewed as the first suspect whenever there's a crime, even if they have rock-solid alibis.
Having stolen a set of clothing from a child swimming at a nearby lake, Illiana made her way to a nearby town known to be tolerant of kobolds. She was able to find work as a barmaid and even living arrangements. (Read: a closet someone was willing to rent her.)
She has kept the nature of her curse a secret, deciding to accept her situation rather than hope for a solution. Eventually, she would learn she could use her "simple kobold" appearance to her advantage, allowing her to make off with scores that would have given her human self a challenge.
Relatives/Family
Illiana has a brother. His whereabouts are not presently known. Last time she talked to him, he was working as a blacksmith.
World/Setting
A high fantasy world. Dominant races include humans, elves, orcs, and giants. Many races are just taken as, "the local fauna." Kobolds (and other lizard folk), faries, gnolls, and felis (a feline offshoot of gnolls). The highest regarded creatures are dragons (many different types, Eastern and Western), followed by wyverns, griffins, and 'taur species.
Magic exists in two forms. There is "Magic" that virtually anyone can learn to wield through practice or assistance with a casting implement. (Which is not limited to wands and staves. Virtually any item can be turned into a casting implement. Circlets, bracelets, necklaces, cloaks are all common.) This magic works by focusing the caster's own life force to affect the world. Ergo, someone who is physically weak is not as powerful as someone who is fit and strong. Depending on how powerful the spell is, the caster may feel nothing from casting it, they may be short of breath, or they may feel extreme hunger or thirst. The strongest of spells can leave a caster unconscious or, in extreme cases, kill them instantly.
The other form is "Ancient Magic." This works by bending the energies of the world around the caster to their will. There are very few races who can cast these magics. Mostly because it requires so much effort from the caster that it would kill most normal beings. Dragons can and do use this magic regularly, as it is innate to their nature. Griffins, too, can use it, but not as freely as dragons. There are members of certain 'taur sects who can use it to small degrees, but it's very dangerous to do so.
A third "type" of magic exists, but it's an extension of Ancient Magic. Artifacts can be enchanted for a specific purpose using Ancient Magic. These Artifacts can be used by anyone, magically inclined or not, and they do not drain the caster like using Magic does. These objects are commissioned from Ancient Magic users (typically dragons) and can cost a LOT. Artifacts range from pairs of orbs used for communication to flying broomsticks to self-powered carts. There are Artifact weapons, but few Ancient Magic users will create them, even under duress.
Kobolds in this world are treated as second-class citizens. They tend to live in groups under an "alpha." This alpha could be a kobold could be smarter than the others, stronger, or even just physically attractive (by kobold standards). Because of this, they tend to be subservient to larger lizard folk. Dragons frequently find themselves with a surplus of kobold followers that they then use to guard their lairs, clean them, hunt for them, and even collect for their hoard.
Speaking of dragons and their hoards, most every dragon hoards SOMETHING. Some hoard the typical gold and treasure. But others hoard books, Artifacts, multi-colored glass, or even maintain zoos of various wildlife they've collected.
Body
Illiana is short, but stocky. Standing just about 4-feet tall, thick body with a short, strong tail. She has a reptilian face sporting four ridges over each of her eyes. Starting at the top of her head, she has two rows of ridges that continue down her back to about a third of the way down her tail. She has blue eyes (common for a human, but exceedingly rare for a kobold) with vertical pupils.
Her hands have three fingers and an opposable thumb ending in stubby claws and she walks on digitigrade legs ending in three-toed feet.
Her scales are an iridescent gold (another exceedingly rare trait for kobolds).
In her human form, she stood 6-feet tall, athletic build, blue eyes, brown hair (to the middle of her back, usually kept in a pony tail), and fair skinned.
Clothing
Rather than dressing in human styles, she opts to dress in typical kobold styles. Except for her day job as barmaid, where her employer insists she wear a human-style dress and apron.
(More description on "kobold styles" to come.)
As a human, she tended to wear tight leathers with fur trim. Expensive styles. And all of her outfits would have a multitude of pockets and hidden pockets, concealing her ill gotten goods and tools of the trade.
Accessories
When working at her day job, the only accessory she carries is a dagger to help dissuade drunk, grabby patrons. When she's out-and-about, she'll carry a set of lockpicks, some small noise makers, and some throwing daggers.
