Mouse

Mouse was a kobold mercenary and a leading member of the Menagerie. They were a player character in The Menagerie, portrayed by Kate Enge.

"That one confounds me some. It's not that they can't hold their own in a scrap or that their size don't make them ten kinds of useful. It's that I can't quite decide precisely what they are. They have the black scales, stubby horns and reptilian face of a kobold, that's for certain, and their rotten leathers and skulking gait suggests a cutthroat's repertoire but the thing is – they don't act like any kobold or cutthroat I've ever known. It's as though that one fell too far from the tree and never quite learned how to be what they are."
– Beholder's Log

History

Precious little was known about Mouse's history or origins. As a black-scaled kobold, they were presumably born in the jungles of Obsidios but what became of their clutch is entirely a mystery. For years, they lived on the bustling streets of Memro, stealing to survive and learning the hard truths of a thief's life. During this time, Mouse frequented a Sixfold church and was taught many of the sayings and scriptures by a kindly cleric.
Then, in 60 2A, the Menagerie accidentally sacked Memro. During the devastation, the mercenaries stumbled upon the hapless little kobold and, struck with a sudden guilt, adopted Mouse.

Character

Personality

There's something odd about Mouse. Growing up on their own, they learned none of the social traits common to kobold society. Instead, they simply sponge their personality from the nearest adult – responsibility from Griffon, perfectionism from Remorhaz and recklessness from Umber.
One piece of their draconic ancestry that occasionally rears their head is Mouse's love for collecting books. They are completely illiterate – they simply like the smell of ink and paper and binding. They keep a vast collection of them secreted in an extradimensional belt pouch.
Mouse's Collection:

• Sayings of the Six; an illuminated religious text core to the Sixfold Faith
• The Origin of Dragons; a taxonomical text on the draconic life cycle
• The Enchiridion of Caliphar; a massive tome that recorded Caliphar II's reign
• A Thanasian scroll, given to Mouse by Umber
• A dwarven text on mining veins found within Snowperch

Relationships

To the other members of the Commander's Tent – Griffon, Remorhaz and Umber – Mouse was something of a pet project. Each in their own way, they imparted lessons to the kobold thief, some more useful than others. Often, Mouse would leave their company with the wrong lesson or imitate behavior they weren't supposed to, based on the bad decisions of their role models.
On her best day, Chimera considered Mouse a pest that it took more energy to remove from her tent than it did to permit them. Mouse often looked to Basilisk, the company's dragonborn purser, for guidance, especially in their reading lessons. Another of the company's dragonborn, the bully Cerberus, delighted in tormenting the young oddball. Invisible, the company's newest intelligencer, was something of a thieving mentor to the young kobold, always presenting lockpicking and pickpocketing challenges.

Abilities

Years of surviving on their own – in both jungle and city – have armed Mouse with many useful skills. They are quick and stealthy, capable of getting the drop many larger opponents. They're an excellent climber and leaper, whether from tree branches or rooftops. They wield their shortsword with ruthless efficiency, knowing precisely where to strike to drop a foe to their knees.

Campaigns

The Menagerie

Mouse is one of four player characters and protagonists of the Menagerie.

• Vhakizla: In Qoza, Mouse tried to sneak themselves a drink – including a drink of alchemist's fire – and helped their companions fend off the assassins sent after the Commander. (Chapter 1) On the voyage to Vhakizla, Mouse stole a book about the draconic life cycle and impressed Shepherd Visiah with their knowledge of scripture. (Chapter 2) Mouse accompanied the Commander's Tent into Izla, assisting in their investigation of the Sanguine with stealth and subterfuge. (Chapter 5 – 7) During the battle with the brucolac, Mouse leapt onto the beast's back and ultimately dealt the final blow (Chapter 6). Following their raid on the Sanguine's slaver refinery, Mouse contracted black bloat that was quickly healed by Remorhaz (Chapter 8). When confronting the workers in the Basins, Mouse cut a cargo derrick and dropped a pallet of crates down on the rioters (Chapter 10). In the ensuing battle, Mouse became addicted to slaver, thanks to the incense the Sanguine drifted about their chapel (Chapter 11). At Zarkani Hill, it was Mouse that the Speaker in Shreds summoned to an audience with Vhakizla the Valiant). They shared a private audience, none among the company aware of what transpired between them – save that Mouse now bore a strange, filigreed box (Chapter 12 – 13). In the final battle in Caliphar II's grand hall, it was Mouse who defeated the corrupted eidolon by pulling the inscriptions from the lumbering statue's body, breaking the vampire lord's vessel (Chapter 16). During the sack of the Summer Palace, Mouse unearthed the Enchiridion of Caliphar II, spelling out the vampire lord's tragic history over the years of his reign, an act that almost doomed the company when Vhakizla discovered their task technically incomplete (Chapter 17).
• Khûm: En route to their next contract, Mouse stole a bone-mask from an orcish thug in Qhlomi, helped secure supplies in Jarkoth and was even approached by Stirge about stealing a letter from Griffon. (Chapter 1). They convinced Captain Zhakri of the Unity to carry them north when a winter storm stranded the company in Banishment (Khûm – Chapter 2). In Truethrone, they went drinking with Umber and sought a new bag of holding from a dwarven artisan (Chapter 3). On the hunt for Tyrodax, Dûnya Dragonbane conscripted Mouse as a burglar, to sneak into the dragon's lair and make off with a precious gemstone – a ruby they intended to exchange with the artisan – to lure the dragon into the fight. This worked perhaps too well, Tyrodax giving chase and carrying Mouse back to his lair. (Chapter 4 – 7). Mouse was the first to escape the Mystriarchy's custody when Zhoraska attacked and helped their friends escape from afar (Chapter 8). Once reunited with the company, Basilisk inquired after their hoard and helped them begin the process of collecting one (Chapter 10). In Snowperch, Mouse exchanged barbs with Brother Sorav from the roots of the stronghold's prized camphor tree, so similar to the ones from Obsidios back home (Chapter 11). When next they went to check their precious box, they discovered a strange lock – placed there by Invisible – which they could not pick, no matter how hard they tried. (Chapter 12). When Brother Sorav pulled Griffon over the edge, it was Mouse – acting quickly with a rope – that saved his life. Upon opening the lock, it was revealed that Mouse carried a blue dragon's egg (Chapter 13). Approaching Willow, Mouse did some spying for Remorhaz, offering to collect feathers for the artillery. En route to the Firewood, Mouse spooked Brother Sorav in the Iron Word's infirmary (Chapter 15). In the Firewood, Mouse first considered the paradox that they'd never known others of their kind and, in the days before the battle with Zhoraska, developed a relationship with the captured Xerk (Chapter 16 – 17). During that battle, Mouse frightened the kobolds by shouting their name – Quatsada – to them, spreading their legend still further (Chapter 18 – 19). During the march to Cloudfall, this resolve only strengthened in Mouse as they gathered more followers among the kobolds. It was their appeal that got the remains of Zhoraska's brood to stand down and allow the mercenaries to plunder the gold. En route to Timberhall, Griffon discovered Mouse gone, with a small poorly-written letter explaining the need for their departure – to understand their people better (Chapter 20 – Khûm – Chapter 21).

Alias: Mouse
Ancestry: Kobold
Class: Rogue (Thief)
Born: 54 2A (Obsidios)
Height: 3'3"
Weight: 36 lbs
Scales: Black
Eyes: Red
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
First Appearance: Vhakizla – Chapter 1
Final Appearance: Khûm – Chapter 21 (retired)

Goals:

• To steal a drink
• To learn to read
• To earn the kobold's trust

Secrets:

• Mouse kept a blue dragon's egg in their box.
• Mouse intended to leave the company.

Relationships:

• Basilisk: Ward
• Chimera: Nuisance
• Cerberus: Bully
• Vhakizla, the Wyrm Returned: Idol
• Invisible: Mentor
• Willow: Spy
• Brother Sorav: Menace
• Xerk: Marux