Lilly
Lilly Thalon
Omens at the Beginning
Lilly was born the youngest daughter of a relatively young warrior couple in a Dragonborn clan known for their fierce traditions and the belief in the power of omens. Her parents, both respected warriors in the clan, had great expectations for their daughter. However, Lilly’s birth was marked by an omen that cast a long shadow over her life. She was born with strikingly pure baby blue eyes, known as “The Eye of the Storm.” These eyes were said to be a mark of someone tied to immense change—both good and bad. Throughout history, those with these eyes were often the progenitors of great warriors, but also sometimes the sources of destruction or upheaval.
The elders of the clan, seeing this sign, made a difficult decision: Lilly would be raised as a warrior, no questions asked. Her natural inclination toward questions, her curiosity about the world beyond her clan's borders, was seen as a potential danger. The elders feared that someone with such an unpredictable omen might one day lead the clan astray. Her parents, though loving, were bound by tradition and had no choice but to follow the clan’s decree. Lilly would be trained as a warrior from a young age, but there would be no room for the freedoms other Dragonborn children might enjoy.
Despite this, her parents were deeply committed to her upbringing, pouring all their knowledge into her, making sure she was equipped with the skills to fight and survive. However, Lilly’s natural talents quickly outstripped their teachings. By the time she was eight, she was already showing signs of mastering martial techniques that took her parents years to perfect. Her strength and agility were unmatched among the younger warriors, and the clan began to recognize her potential. But instead of finding pride in her growing abilities, the clan began to feel uneasy. The elders realized they could no longer teach her effectively, and her questions—about the clan’s traditions, their history, and the world beyond—began to frustrate those who had long held the mantle of authority.
As Lilly’s mind sharpened, so did her discontent. She was a natural at everything they tried to teach her, but her curiosity about the world beyond the confines of the clan’s teachings made her a heretic in the eyes of the more traditionalist members of the tribe. She didn’t mean to challenge the clan’s practices, but her questions about their traditions and their restrictions on outsiders painted her as a potential threat.
Her brother, a kind-hearted and compassionate warrior, stood by her side during these trying times, always defending her from the elders’ harsh judgments. He spoke out against her being branded a heretic, claiming that her questions showed wisdom, not disrespect. But his voice, though sincere, held no weight against the council of elders. To them, Lilly was becoming a destabilizing force in a world that revered tradition above all else.
Despite this, Lilly never lost her love for her clan or her family. Her bond with her brother, in particular, was incredibly strong. He was her protector, her guide through the complex dynamics of their people. The joy she felt in his presence—his laughter, his gentle support—was the only real comfort she had during those tumultuous years.
Abandonment
At the age of ten, Lilly faced her first official trial: The Trial of the First Fang, a sacred rite of passage in her clan, where the young warriors were sent out on their first independent hunt, with no guidance but the protection of the guardians who watched over them. This was the moment where a Dragonborn proved their worth, their skill, and their capacity for survival.
Lilly had been preparing for this moment her whole life, but nothing could have prepared her for what came next. The hunt started off well—Lilly was swift, precise, and deadly, taking down her prey with ease. But then, a dark storm rolled in. The sky grew thick with ominous clouds, and the winds howled, signaling that something was wrong. That’s when tragedy struck.
While she was on the hunt, Lilly encountered a lone wolf, a dangerous but manageable foe. She took it down quickly. But no sooner had she done so than the ground trembled beneath her feet. An owl bear—a massive, terrifying creature—emerged from the trees with her cubs. Startled and protective, the owl bear attacked.
Lilly’s parents rushed to her aid. They fought fiercely, knowing the risks, but they were no match for the owl bear in her rage. Despite their valiant efforts, Lilly’s parents perished in the battle, their bodies savaged by the beast. It was only through Lilly’s quick thinking and primal instincts that she managed to kill the cub that attacked her, and ultimately, the owl bear itself, saving herself in the process.
But when the other hunting parties arrived, it was too late. Her parents were dead, the owl bear was slain, and Lilly stood alone in the woods, covered in blood, her heart a storm of grief and guilt.
The elders convened to discuss what this tragedy meant for the clan’s future. They debated the signs—was Lilly the cause of this disaster? Or was she simply the victim of fate? The ominous storm that followed her victory was seen as a sign of the great change she would bring to the world.
In the end, the elders decided that Lilly’s fate could not be determined within the confines of their tribe. They believed she would outgrow their teachings, and that her future would take her to places where she could seek wisdom that their traditions could not offer. She was too inquisitive, too powerful, and too unpredictable to be bound by their rules. With heavy hearts, the elders decided to send her away from the clan, marking the start of a new journey for the young Dragonborn.
Her brother tried to argue, begging the elders to allow him to join her, to keep her company during her journey. But the decision was made. Lilly was to leave, alone.
The clan provided her with a cloak made from the owl bear’s fur, her mother’s dagger, her father’s handaxe, and a wolf knuckle necklace crafted by her brother. His parting words were simple, yet full of love: “You must live, sister. Find your path.”
The First Year with Merchants
Lilly’s first year on her own was a whirlwind. She found work with a group of traveling merchants, a nomadic band who took her in with open arms, seeing her as a strong and capable addition to their crew. The merchants were familiar with the customs of many different races, and Lilly quickly adapted to traveling with them, learning about the world beyond her clan’s borders.
They taught her the common tongue, which was difficult at first, but Lilly’s sharp mind allowed her to pick it up quickly. She also learned the basics of trade, currency, and barter, skills she had never considered before. Initially, she found the idea of trade uninteresting, but as she began to see the practical applications of it—how it could bring people together and allow them to survive—she started to appreciate its value.
Lilly’s true education, however, came from her interactions with the other warriors who traveled with the merchants. Mercenaries, bodyguards, and other skilled fighters would occasionally join their caravan to offer protection or to fight off bandits. Lilly, never one to shy away from a challenge, began to engage in sparring matches with them. These sessions were often brutal, and Lilly learned a great deal about the fighting styles of other races, expanding her horizons beyond the strict teachings of her clan.
One of the most valuable lessons she learned was the tradition of The Clashing Scales, a ceremonial spar between Dragonborn warriors. She would seek out other Dragonborn whenever they passed through, challenging them to these ceremonial duels. It was a way of testing her strength and honor, but it also broadened her understanding of what it meant to be a warrior.
By the end of her first year, Lilly had mastered the common language and gained a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a part of a larger, more diverse world. But she also realized that there were questions she still needed answers to—questions about the world, about herself, and about her place in it. She had learned a great deal, but there was still much more to discover.
The Parting
At the end of her second year with the merchants, Lilly was faced with a difficult decision. They had taught her much, but it was time for her to explore the world on her own terms. They had guided her through some of the more positive aspects of society—trade, friendship, and cooperation—but now she needed to experience the other side.
Her first real encounter with the darker aspects of the world came quickly. Within a week of setting out on her own, Lilly was robbed. In the second week, she fought off a gang of thugs who attempted to extort her. By the end of the month, she had killed a man in self-defense during a street brawl. The law was on her trail, and she was forced to flee the city. It was a harsh lesson in survival, but one that hardened her and deepened her understanding of the world she was now a part of.
Lilly spent the next several months wandering, from village to village, city to city, learning more about the underworld than she ever thought she would. She found herself not just surviving but thriving in the shadows, where bandits, thieves, and criminals lived by different rules than she had known before. It fascinated her. So many different people, so many different answers to the same questions. Some were selfish, others noble, but all of them lived by a set of rules she had never considered.
This new world sparked something inside Lilly. She began to realize that she wasn’t just a warrior or a mercenary—she was someone who wanted to understand the world, to see how different people lived, and to learn from them. It was then that she encountered someone who would change the course of her life.
My Friend
During Lilly’s journey through the criminal underworld, she encountered many strange and interesting people, but none would influence her as much as Elinor. Their paths crossed at a particularly low point for Lilly, when she had been grappling with her own sense of identity and place in a world that seemed to offer no clear answers.
Elinor was, like Lilly, an orphan—someone who had been tested by the world’s cruelty and had come out the other side hardened but wise. Though their circumstances were vastly different, they shared a quiet understanding of the darker, murkier side of life. Where Lilly was all questions, Elinor was all quiet determination. Lilly found her presence both intriguing and comforting, and in Elinor, she found a partner who helped her navigate the grey spaces between right and wrong.
They spent a year together, traveling and getting into various kinds of mischief. They stole from those who could afford to lose what they had, learned the tricks of surviving in a world where the rules were written by those who held the most power, and explored the criminal world as if it were a canvas for their thoughts and ideas. Through it all, Lilly learned more than just the basics of theft; she learned the delicate art of reading people, of understanding the nuances of criminal society. Elinor, in turn, found herself influenced by Lilly’s curiosity and raw sense of moral justice, often questioning the limits of her own choices and the reasoning behind them.
Though the relationship was built on shared experiences and similar ambitions, their bond deepened in ways neither expected. Lilly found in Elinor a kindred spirit—someone who had faced the worst and yet still found reasons to fight, even when the fight seemed meaningless. Elinor, for her part, saw in Lilly a fire that she couldn’t quite extinguish—an idealism and a drive to understand that had been long lost to her. Their friendship was the one steady thing in a world where everything else seemed to be in flux.
They weren’t just partners in crime; they were friends—something Lilly had rarely had in her life.
A Chance Encounter
It was a dark alley, the kind where the air smelled of wet stone and the distant sound of the city felt muffled by the walls. Elinor and Lilly had just completed another job—nothing too complicated, but they’d made a tidy profit, and now they were about to make their way out of the city. Their conversation was light, even if the shadows that clung to the alley didn’t quite match their mood.
And then, a figure stepped from the darkness.
Kaeden.
He wasn’t just any thug. He was the brother of a man Elinor had killed years ago—an event that had set him on a relentless path of vengeance. He had been hunting her for months, and now, here he was, standing in front of them, a look of pure hatred in his eyes.
“Thought you’d gotten away, didn’t you?” Kaeden sneered, drawing his blade.
Elinor’s heart skipped a beat, but she stood firm, narrowing her eyes. She had no intention of running this time.
“Leave,” she said, her voice low. “You’re not getting anything from us.”
But Kaeden wasn’t here to negotiate. He lunged forward, his blade flashing in the dim light of the alley.
Lilly moved instinctively, stepping between the two, but Kaeden was fast—too fast. He struck first, grazing Elinor’s shoulder with his sword. The pain flared, but Elinor didn’t falter. She retaliated with a swift kick, sending Kaeden staggering back.
But this wasn’t a fight they were going to win so easily. Kaeden recovered quickly, his movements brutal and precise, and soon they were both fighting for their lives. The tight confines of the alley worked against them. Lilly tried to land a blow to his side, but Kaeden sidestepped, spinning on his heel to strike her in the gut. Elinor’s kick missed its mark, and Kaeden swung his sword in a wide arc, cutting her across the arm.
They were good—but Kaeden was better.
Lilly’s dagger flashed, a quick strike aimed at his throat, but Kaeden parried with a vicious twist of his sword, sending Lilly stumbling back. Elinor, injured but determined, charged again, this time managing to land a blow to Kaeden’s side. But Kaeden fought with a brutal efficiency, his rage fueling every movement.
Kaeden was getting the upper hand. They were both bleeding now, and neither was quick enough to avoid his strikes for long. Elinor’s breath came raggedly, her vision swimming with the edges of pain, and Lilly was barely holding her ground against the relentless attack.
It was only when Kaeden prepared to deliver a killing blow to Elinor that something changed.
A figure appeared in the alley—silent, quick, and dangerous.
A single man, tall and cloaked in dark shadows, moved with the speed of a predator. In one motion, he closed the distance between himself and Kaeden, knocking the blade from the thug’s hand with a swift strike. Kaeden turned to face this new threat, but the man was already upon him, a blur of motion too fast for Kaeden to follow.
In an instant, the stranger had Kaeden pinned against the wall, a deep cut across his face. The thug howled in pain, his eye already swelling shut as blood poured from the gash.
“Enough.” The stranger’s voice was calm, but the authority in it made Kaeden hesitate.
Kaeden struggled to break free, but the man’s grip was unrelenting. He turned to Lilly and Elinor, giving them a brief, assessing glance before focusing back on Kaeden.
“You’ve caused enough trouble,” the stranger said, his voice low and threatening. “It’s time for you to go.”
Kaeden, bloodied and broken, scrambled to flee, but the stranger was too quick. With a final, crushing blow to Kaeden’s face, the man sent him reeling backward, forcing him to retreat into the shadows, his face a twisted mess of blood and rage.
For a long moment, silence reigned in the alley. Lilly and Elinor, still catching their breath and nursing their wounds, exchanged a look of disbelief. The fight had been a close call, and they had both been on the edge of defeat when this stranger had intervened.
The man slowly straightened, his cold gaze shifting from Kaeden’s retreating form to the two of them.
“Well, that was sloppy,” he said with a small, almost amused smile. “But impressive nonetheless.”
Lilly took a cautious step forward, wiping blood from her lip. “Who the hell are you?”
The man regarded them both for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “The name’s Torgil,” he said, his voice carrying a weight that hinted at something more than just a passerby. “And I’ve been watching you two for a while.”
Elinor’s brow furrowed. “Watching us?”
“Mm,” Torgil said, nodding as if it were no big deal. “You’re both good. But you’re wasting your talent out here. How would you like to do more than survive?”
Lilly and Elinor shared a glance, neither of them quite sure where this was going.
Torgil continued the hint of a smile on his lips. “I run an organization—attached to a network of people who know how to get things done. You two have the skills. With my guidance, you could be much more. You could make a real difference.. and get paid handsomely for it.”
There was a long pause as the two women weighed the offer. This wasn’t just about surviving anymore. This was something different. Something potentially… better.
Finally, Lilly spoke.
“We’re listening.”
Torgil’s grin widened. “Good. I think you’ll find the world’s much bigger than what you’ve seen so far.”
And just like that, everything changed.
Physical Description
Physical quirks
- Ambidextrous
- Horrible Sea Sickness (OMG it's bad)
Special abilities
- Dragons Breath
Mental characteristics
Education
Employment
- Works as a mercenary for the Bloody Misfits
Failures & Embarrassments
- She stole food, and her brother took the fall for it.
- During her early years of crime, she had to steal food; a young man was condemned in her place and unjustly sent to jail.
Mental Trauma
- She was abandoned by her tribe when her parents died, and no one was willing to take her in.
- She taps her side with her left index claw when she lies.
Intellectual Characteristics
- She is an existentialist
Morality & Philosophy
- A deep desire to redeem her actions and to be honorable.
- This desire is a guide, not a master, and she is not blinded by it.
- She believes in the inherent good of people, though she is pretty familiar with the evil side as well.
- She believes some people can be redeemed, though she has no problem striking down those who have gone too far.
- She hopes for redemption, not in the eyes of others but in herself.
Taboos
- Insulting her family; at this point, her party members
- Disrespecting her strength/skill
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