Talyn Shadowmoon
OCC Note: I've tried, I can't get that code by main picture to go away, if someone can, please do. Thanks!
| Talyn Shadowmoon | |
| 250px | |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Hyur |
| Clan | Midlander |
| Citizenship | Ala Mhigan refugee |
| Place of Birth | Ala Mhigo |
| Nameday | 17th Sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon |
| Date | Sometime around 1545 to 1547 maybe? She does not know for certain. (Age: Mid 30's perhaps?) |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Occupation | Minor merchant on Pearl Lane in Ul'dah |
| Pronunciation | Talon |
Contents
Basic Info
"Stealing from our fellow Ala Mhigans feels less like survival and more like aiding the invaders. I won't do it." — Talyn's former guildmaster in Ala Mhigo
Talyn tries to avoid notice, something she is discovering is more difficult in Thanalan than it was in Gyr Abania.
If possible she will stay back and observe others when she can, often wrapped in a nondescript travel cloak. She is usually silent or evasive when spoken to, but can be pushed to say more than she knows she should under certain circumstances and regarding certain topics. Having lived through so much, and being confident in her skills, she sees no reason not to speak her mind or even give out information best kept close when it will get her what she needs or desires.
Talyn grew up in the company of thieves turned resistance fighters, so has a perspective of what a thieves guild should be based on that experience and the guidance of her former guildmaster. Failing to find what she sought in Ul'dah, and ignored by those she was able to make some connections with for her assumed lack of skill, Talyn made up her mind to start her own Thieves Guild based out of the city and working under the banner of the Maelstrom. She has since been making connections when she can with those who can mutually benefit from the small company of rogues she plans to build.
More Specific Information
- Talyn can often be observed making potions from a variety of different things while selling inexpensive hempen cloth crafts, cheap jewelry and medicinal potions on Pearl Lane.
- Rarely carries a visible weapon, but has been known to be given cesti by the guildmaser of the pugilist's guild when she visits him to talk with him and may carry them around at times.
- Does not like to drink things handed to her by others. When she does drink she prefers anything with hard liquor in it. Also a dark sweetened brew she learned to drink from a guildmate in Ala Mhigo.
- Will often wear a travel cloak with the hood pulled far forward to help hide her eyes as she stands off to the back of an area and observes what is going on.
Dislikes
- Having attention called to her.
- Being noticed, particularly by anyone who knows her name without her having given it to them. As a street thief trained to be a spy and assassin, it is a deadly thing in her profession to be known by people she does not already know more about.
- Being given food or drink by others and expected to actually consume them. Again, in her line of work it is a deadly thing. She will drink at social gatherings when served by waitresses, but is still cautious about what she consumes.
- Aetheryte travel. Just being close to an aetheryte crystal can make her feel queasy, she has not yet dared see what happens if she tries to travel by use of them.
- Royalty and well born people. This dislike stems from Theoderic's attack on the Fist of Rhalgr.
Religion
Talyn has never had much reason to be religious. As a street thief of Ala Mhigo she was, of course, familiar with Rhalgr the Destroyer, but never felt any reason to think her fate mattered to the Ala Mhigan deity or that Rhalgr would care if she paid him homage or not.
Talents
- If finding trouble counts as a talent, then Talyn is exceptionally talented.
- Talyn is slowly but quickly developing a talent for making potions thanks to her search for something to combat aertheryte sickness and her interest in making poisons.
Abilities and Skills
Weapons
- Talyn does not use weapons. Since her arrival in Ul'dah the guildmaster of the pugilist guild has been attempting to educate her in the use of knuckle guards, but she will more often than not fight in the unarmed street fighting manner she learned as a street thief. She does enjoy spending time with the old pugilist, however, and can be seen at times sitting and talking quietly with him about the Fist of Rhalgr.
Crafting
Talyn dabbles in a wide range of crafts that are of use to her.
- Weaving: to create disguises so she can blend in and go unnoticed when she needs to.
- Alchemy: for the creation of poisons and other potions of use to rogues and spys.
- Cooking: by no means anything that would be considered edible fare in even the lowest of taverns, but edible enough for Talyn.
- Carpentry: A personal study of the construction of buildings and furniture design so as to know the best ways to break into a place or locate hidden compartments and traps. Also useful to sabotage certain weapon types and render them useless while spying or breaking into places, in the event the weapon is used against her.
- Leather Work: There are many and varied needs for the skill to work with leather for a rogue, from light armors to hidden protective padding and hidden pockets in which items can be stored safely away.
- Goldsmithing: Or more accurately, appraisal and forgery of fine jewelery and gemstones.
- Blacksmith & Armorer: an important area of study for one who may face more heavily armed enemes,
Family and Relationships
DISCLAIMER
This stuff is all OCC notes about things that have happened with Talyn's IC meeting of other characters. If you use any information please keep it to IC knowledge, I will not be held accountable for any reaction Talyn may have to information I do not recall having provided IC.
Relatives
Unknown. To the best of her knowledge she was orphaned well before age 5 and all of the members of her guild in Ala Mhigo are dead, imprisoned by the Garleans or missing.
Note: While I welcome role play discovery of character information, please do not make a former guildmate or family member for Talyn unless you discuss it OOC with me beforehand. Thank you.
People Talyn Has Met
Note: While some may be able to go "Oh hey, that's my character" based on the vague identifiers, I try not to include by name anyone who has not already included me on their page or whose permission to mention here I have not already been given. If you desire to be added (or removed) please, make me aware of it. Thanks.
People Talyn Seeks Out
(AKA: Positive)
People Who She May Have Been Seen Talking To
(AKA: Neutral)
- Zeryr Roemeaux
Given their mutual preference for quiet areas that few people frequent, Talyn has been seen seated across from Zeryr at the end of Peal Lane on a few occasions. It is unknown what, if any, communication the two have had, although she does seem more relaxed when Zeryr is in the alleyway than when she is encountered there on her own.
- Niklas Gran Leader of The Gran Knights
Talyn was only in Ul'dah for less than a day when she was approached by the energetic leader of the Gran Knights, who expressed concern at her sitting alone in the alleyway behind the Quicksand. Uneasy about his intention she nevertheless accepted his invitation to join his free company, under the caution that she would not stay for long. That same day trouble found her in the form of a discovery that the Gran Knights were actively searching for Garleans. Uneased by Niklas' apparent desire to seek out suspected Garleans in the area, Talyn chose to leave the company rather than have unwanted trouble find her. They parted on good terms and Talyn agreed to let Niklas know if she learned of anything suspicious in the Ul'dah area.
- Unnamed free company leader Unnamed free company
After she left the company of Gran Knights, Talyn found herself invited to join another free company by the company's leader. She provided what little she could to the efforts of the free company, but in the end left it to form her own small company.
People Talyn Avoids...
(AKA: Negative ... NOTE: If you are in this area please do not take offense, it only means that something IC spooked Talyn and she will likely end up really liking you if she has a chance to get to know you better. Remember she's a thief on the run, she is easily spooked and made avoid people.)
- Unknown Man in Ul'dah area Presumed to live in the Goblet
This is a gentleman who clearly knows her name, but she does not recall having told it to him. Talyn fled Ul'dah after speaking to the man and is waiting to let things calm down a bit and gather her thoughts before returning to the area.
Affiliations
- A Shipping Company Name withheld
Talyn made contact with a shipping company that has agreed to assist her in her venture.
- Unnamed Mining Company Name withheld
While she has not officially contacted them as of yet, Talyn has her eye on a mining company that may be able to provider her with a variety of goods she would prefer not to have to obtain herself.
NPC Rumors
Common
"If she is there, the girl sells the most charming hempen bandanas."
"I think I know the girl you mean, flighty little thing with purple eyes?"
"I tried to talk to her, but when I turned back around she was gone."
"She doesn't look that old."
Less Common
"I think I saw her in The Drowning Wench in Limsa, just standing in the corner watching everyone from under the close-pulled hood of a travel cloak."
"I bought her a drink at the Quicksand... she just held it for a while then sat it on the rail and never drank any."
"Who? Purple eyed short thing? No, I can't say.. OH, wait... I think she bumped into me once, knocked my coin all over the ground, but she picked it all up for me. Hmm? No, no, not a single gil was missing. Why?"
Rare and hard to overhear
"I think I saw her helping fight the White Joker in the Black Forest." "You're dense. I saw the fight, it was in Thanalan and against the sewer scum." "You're both cracked in the head. The girl's a minor merchant from Peal Lane, not a fighter." ~~Random trio at a table in some tavern
"I've chased her from the Goblet a few times. I think she sleeps in the tunnels... or waits to rob people perhaps." ~~A guard of the Goblet
"Talyn? She's lovely, I want her to be one of the ones with me when my time comes, but when I say that to her she gets the cutest little evasive smile and says she hopes that day never comes. I'm trying to get her to let me train her as a pugilist, I can see she has the skill, just look at the back of her gloves, but she is just a good friend who enjoys listening to an old man talk about the glory of years gone by." ~~ Hamon Holyfist, Master of the Pugilists Guild
PC Rumors
Add anything you would like to share! May or may not be true about Talyn. ;-) Please post IC and leave your Character's name, or at least something fun like "hooded figure" Note: This section is editable by anyone. Just keep in mind that the rumors here may be both true or false - or both!.
Name and Lifestyle
Name Etimology
Talyn got the name Talyn when, upon meeting the thieves that later saved her from the streets of Ala Mhigo, the small girl attacked them with a wyvern's talon wielded like a knife.
The name Shadowmoon was written onto papers forged for her before she stowed away onto a ship destined for Limsa Lominsa. Knowing her from her former guild, and thus knowing of her tendency to stay in the shadow even at night, the forger took creative license and made the papers out for Talyn Shadowmoon.
Nicknames
Talon
Current Residence
Talyn is most often to be found making crafts on Peal Lane, if she is not evading people. She has been seen sleeping just outside the back door of the quicksand, but only seems to actually be asleep when the dour elezen sellsword who is far more often in the alleyway is there.
History
Before Dalamud's Fall
Birth and childhood (0-10)
Talyn's life in Ala Mhigo...
The earliest memories Talyn has are of living on the streets in Ala Mhigo.
She was taken to the temple of the Fist of Rhalgr when she was perhaps 5 or 7 summers and has snippets of memory of the place and of watching the monks train. Almost all of her memories of the temple, however, are buried beneath a memory of chaos and being told by an elderly monk to run. She did not know until years later the chaos she recalls was likely the attack by Theoderic on the temple.
Back in Ala Mhigo she was soon in trouble for stealing food and was chased down by two members of the local thieves guild intent on trying to help her before the guards caught her. Run to ground by the two thieves they dubbed her 'Talyn' when, in her effort to escape, she turned on them with a wyvern's talon used as a knife. Once settled in at the guild she began to learn the skills of a thief, starting with how to keep watch for her fellow guild mates as they stole then, later, trained to steal as well.
Teen Years
Invasion...
The Garleans invaded Ala Mhigo when she was around 10-12 years old and she remembers listening from the shadows as her guildmaster said that stealing from their fellow Ala Mhigans seemed less like survival and more like aiding the invaders. He refocused the guild and his people began aiding in resisting the Garleans in any way they could. Talyn's skills were guided toward watching for trouble and working as a spy and scout, but she continued to train in all other aspects of thievery, spying and survival of resistance fighters.
As she matured into an adult her training moved closer to the realm of spy and assassin and she joined the small group within the guild whose task it was to work as spies or to sneak into off-limits areas and gather intel or eliminate targets.
Adulthood
The fall of the guild...
Sometime after she reached adult-hood, and before Dalamud fell, a member of the guild betrayed them from within. Talyn was among those captured and taken to a Garlean prison. She has no concept of how much time passed while she was in the prison and, since she had little care for time in the first place, was made even more uncertain about her exact age.
After Dalamud's Fall
Already skilled in the art of sneaking and getting into and out of well guarded locations, Talyn eventually took advantage of an opportunity to escape. She fled to a port town where she faded into the crowds of travelers, sailors and pirates and eventually stowed away on a ship bound for Limsa Lominsa.
The vessel ran afoul of bad weather and was forced to put in at the Silver Bazaar in Western Thanalan for repair to its ropes and sails. Seeing a good number of Ala Mhigan refugees with which she could blend in, Talyn left her hiding place on the ship and, after lightning the purse of a sour looking man arguing with a distraught looking Lalafell lady, made her way north to the city of Ul'dah.
A Realm Reborn
(To be added to...)
