EMBER FROST-WHISPER
FrostbornChild / Street Urchin
"The cold doesn't care if you're a chief or a beggar. It freezes everyone the same. I've learned to be tougher than the cold.""
Identity
- Residence
- Frosthold - Lower Quarter
- Civilization
- Frostborn
Appearance
• Physical: Small and thin for her age, showing the effects of poor nutrition. Her pale skin is constantly chapped. Her white hair is tangled and dirty. Her pale gray eyes are too large for her face. • Clothing: Wears ragged hand-me-downs that are too large and worn thin. Her boots leak and are stuffed with rags. • Distinguishing Marks: She's smaller than most children her age. She has a persistent cough from the cold.
Relationships
- Family - None known. The streets are her only family.
- Allies - Other street children who form loose alliances; Messenger Petra (NPC #29), who sometimes pays her for information.
- Rivals - Older street children who compete for territory; criminals who would use her for their purposes.
Personality
- Traits: Fiercely independent, suspicious of adults, surprisingly knowledgeable about the city's underbelly, dreams of a better life
- Mannerisms: Hoards food, flinches at sudden movements, knows every hiding spot in the Lower Quarter.
- Voice: Small and hesitant, with occasional bursts of confidence when discussing her territory.
Backstory
Ember never knew her parents. She's been living on the streets of Frosthold for as long as she can remember, surviving through theft, begging, and running messages for those who don't ask questions. She's small and fast, able to go places adults can't.
Daily Life
Ember wakes before dawn to find food and opportunities. She spends her days running messages, stealing when necessary, and avoiding those who would exploit her. She sleeps in hidden places, always ready to run.
Secret
Ember discovered a hidden passage that leads into the Chief's Hall itself. She's been using it to steal small items, terrified of what would happen if she were caught.
Story Hooks
- 1 Ember needs help dealing with a criminal who wants to use her for dangerous work; she needs protection.
- 2 She witnessed something important through her hidden passage; she needs help deciding what to do with the information.
Narrative Value
Innocent viewpoint character, source of information about the city's underbelly, quest giver for urban missions, connection to poverty and survival, character who can grow significantly. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════