WHISTLESPARK ORPHAN
GnomesStreet Tinkerer
"The best inventions come from need, not money. Rich folks make things fancier. Poor folks make things that matter.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Streets of Lower Gearhaven
- Civilization
- Gnomes
Appearance
• Physical: Whistlespark is small even for a gnome child, with enormous hazel eyes that miss nothing. Her curly red hair is perpetually tangled with bits of wire and small gears. She has an unsettling habit of appearing silently in rooms. • Clothing: She wears oversized hand-me-downs held up with modified suspenders that double as tool belts, fingerless gloves reinforced with leather patches, and a cap with built-in magnification lenses she "found." • Distinguishing Marks: A constellation of small burn scars on her forearms, permanently ink-stained fingertips, and a necklace made of salvaged clockwork components.
Relationships
- Family - Orphaned; considers the street children her true family
- Allies - Her unofficial mentor, the Street Tinkers' Collective, a sympathetic baker who trades food for repairs
- Rivals - Workshop Guards who chase her away from "valuable" scrap, older apprentices who resent her talent
Personality
- Traits: Insatiably curious, surprisingly mature for her age, fiercely loyal to fellow street kids, terrified of authority figures
- Mannerisms: Speaks in rapid questions when excited, hoards interesting objects in hidden caches, sleeps with a wrench under her pillow
- Voice: High-pitched but articulate, with vocabulary beyond her years from reading discarded technical manuals
Backstory
Whistlespark was orphaned young and survived by fixing small devices for food. Her natural talent caught the attention of a master inventor who took her on as an unofficial apprentice. Despite having no formal education, she's reverse-engineered complex devices and developed several original gadgets.
Daily Life
Her days are spent scavenging for components, apprenticing, and working on personal projects in a hidden workshop she shares with other street children. She frequently works late into the night when inspired.
Secret
Whistlespark discovered a hidden message in an "abandoned" device—coordinates to a pre-Cataclysm vault. She's slowly gathering resources to investigate, terrified that adults will steal her discovery.
Story Hooks
- 1 Whistlespark needs protection while investigating the pre-Cataclysm vault, offering her street knowledge and gadget-making skills in exchange.
- 2 Someone has learned about her discovery and is hunting street children to find the vault first; she needs help protecting her friends.
Narrative Value
Unlikely ally with unique perspective. Provides access to criminal underworld, street-level information, and surprisingly sophisticated gadgets. Her youth offers opportunities for mentorship storylines. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════