Leandra Valakar:

Name: Leandra.

True Name: Leandra Valakar.

Alignment: Unprincipled (Good / Selfish).

Hit Points: 29. S.D.C. (Physical): 36.

Attributes: I.Q.: 15, M.E.: 26 (+6/+9), M.A.: 13, P.S.: 17 (+2), P.P.: 23 (+4), P.E.: 18 (+6%/+2), P.B.: 18 (40%), SPD: 15 [30 with boots of speed].

Weight: 190 lbs (150 lbs for favorite form). Height: 7 ft 0 in (5 ft 8 in for favorite form).

Age: 20. Race: Changeling (Human is favorite form). Sex: Asexual (Female is favorite form). P.P.E.: 22.

Disposition:

For all that has happened to her, it is a bit surprising that she is not really bitter although she does have trust issues. Is extremely reluctant to trust anybody and will trust nobody with the secret of being a changeling. Even though once a noble herself, she has extreme distrust for other nobles and especially those from the Western Empire.

While she does have friends, they often find it is hard to actually get close to her. Will do what she can to help friends however. Otherwise though, she does appear to be playful with them and does have a bit of a humorous side to her. It is possible that humor allows her to keep the bad things quiet.

While her forms are usually at least reasonable attractive, she keeps them generally pretty plain. Her favorite form is of a boyish relatively tall girl who is handsome but not outstanding. Otherwise, she might pose as a whore who is a little down on her luck. She considered that these type of forms are those who are often almost invisible in a city setting.

Has worked extremely hard to keep any noble tone from her voice and it is almost impossible for one to tell that she was born a noble. Otherwise, she is a skilled actress able to play the role of a merchant, a prostitute, a scribe, and many other roles. Even though able to appear as almost any other forms, prefers female forms likely from being raised as a girl from an early age.

O.C.C.: Thief. Experience Level: Second (2).

Combat Skill: Hand to Hand; Basic and Boxing.

Attacks per Melee: Five (5) [Six (6) with Magical Gauntlets].

Bonuses, Combat: Critical Strike: Natural 20 Knock Out: Natural 20 Bonuses: Damage: +2, Strike: +4, Parry: +6 [+8], Dodge: +6 [+8], Roll (with Punch, Fall, or Impact): +5, Pull Punch: +2, Initiative: +1.

On the first round, when on the defense, she gets an additional +6 to Initiative, a +2 to Parry, and a +3 to dodge from Sixth Sense.

Bonus; Save: Lethal Poison [14] + 2, Non-Lethal Poison [16] + 2, Harmful Drugs [15] + 2, Insanity [12] + 9,

Psionics [12] + 6 [+7 with Amulet], Magic [12] + 2 [+3 with Amulet], Horror Factor + 8 [+10 with Amulet].

Psionics: Major. I.S.P.: 49 +1D6+1 I.S.P. per level.

Healing: Bio-Regeneration (6).

Physical: Alter Aura (2), Mind Block (4), Telekinesis (Varies).

Sensitive: Sixth Sense (2), Telepathy (4).

Racial Abilities / Vulnerabilities: Shape Change (See Palladium Fantasy Main Rulebook / Rifts Conversion Book) - 3-10 feet, 230 to 290 lbs weight, +2 to save vs Telepathic Probes, Mind Control, and Horror Factor. Cannot consume salt and very low alcohol tolerance.

O. C. C. Skills: Communication: Language: Northern (+15%) 60%, Language: Southern (+15%) 60%, Language: Western [Native] 98%, Physical: Hand to Hand - Basic, Rogue: Locate Secret Compartments (+15%) 55%, Pick Locks (+15%) 35%, Pick Pocket (+15%) 45%, Streetwise (+14%) 38%, Science: Mathematics - Basic (+10%) 60%, Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Knife (+1 [+5] strike / +1 [+9] parry / +1 [+6] throw, W.P. Thrown Weapons (+1 [+5] throw.)

O. C. C. Related Skills: Espionage: Escape Artist (+10%) 40%, Intelligence (+10%) 44%, Medical: First Aid 35%,

Physical: Acrobatics, Boxing, Rogue: Prowl (+10%) 40%, Scholar / Technical: Gemology 30%, Lore: Demon and Monster 30%.

Secondary Skills: Physical: Athletics - General, Juggling [Gained at second level] 40%, Swimming 45%, Scholar / Technical: General Repair 40%, Lore: Magic [Gained at second level] 25%/15%/10%, Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Paired weapons (Knives).

Racial & Background (Noble) Skills: Communication: Language: Eastern (+4%) 49%, Language: Elven / Dragonese 98%, Literacy: Eastern (+4%) 49%, Literacy: Elven / Dragonese 98%, Literacy: Western (+5%) 50%, Domestic: Dancing(+4%) 39%, Espionage: Disguise (+20%) 50%, Imitate Voice 40%, Military: Heraldry (+4%) 24%, Horsemanship: Horsemanship - General (+5%) 45% / 30%.

Skills from Acrobatics: Sense of Balance 45%, Walk Tight Rope & High Wire 33%, Climbing 45%, Back Flip 35%.

Appearance:

As a changeling, Leandra can change forms although tends to prefer female forms due to having been raised as a girl at an early age. She tends to prefer reasonably attractive forms although not forms with an extraordinary appearance which attract too much attention.

One of her favorite forms, one which one might consider the form she considers herself, is a fairly tall human women, about five foot eight inches, and reasonably attractive (P.B. 18) even though she has a boyish figure with small breasts. Appears to be around twenty years old. In this form, her hair is a short wavy black and she has brown eyes. Normal clothing are soft grey leather armor.

Another common form is that of a prostitute which life has not been particularly kind to her although not unattractive. Has more of a figure than she has in her favorite form. Tends to wear dressed which is pretty worn as well as if she is a lower end prostitute.

Magical Weapons of Note:

2 Magical Haladie: Weight: 1.3 lbs (0.6 kg) each. Length: 1.8 feet (.55 meters).

Two bladed daggers. Leandra commissioned the construction of the daggers. The daggers are of the highest quality by dwarven construction with +3 to Parry, +2 to strike, +2 to strike when thrown, +4 to damage, and +2 to initiative from construction. Normal Durability is 80 Enchantments: Additional Damage (1D6), Indestructible, Super Sharpness (+3 to Damage and reduce critical strikes by two points [18 to 20]). Damage: 2D6+8 (2D6 +10 Including Strength).

Non-Magical Weapons of Note:

2 Garrotes: Damage: Strangulation. One concealed in hair, one concealed in left boot.

2 High Quality Haladie: Weight: 1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)each. Length: 1.8 feet (.55 meters).

8 Stiletto Throwing Knives: Weight: 0.6 lbs (0.3 kg) each . Length: 1 foot (.3 meters).

Two concealed in each boot and four at back of belt. Two are silver plated. Daggers are highest quality human construction; +2 to strike when thrown, +1 to Strike, and +2 to initiative from construction. Normal Durability is 90. Damage: 1D6 (1D6 +2 Including Strength).

Armor of Note:

Ring of Ironhide: Confers a natural A.R. Rating of 16 on the wearer. Any strikes below the magical A.R. bounce off harmlessly.

Other Equipment:

Magical Items:

Silver Amulet: Has multiple spells of amulet cast on gems in it.

Amulet of Charm: Adds +1 to save vs magic and psychic attacks.

Amulet of Protection vs the Supernatural: Add +2 to save vs Horror Factor.

Amulet of See the Invisible: Allows wearer to see the invisible.

Four (4) “Dimensional Pocket” Belt Pouches: Made permanent with rune. Will hold up to 30 lbs (13.6 kg) worth of items each.

One (1) “Dimensional Pocket” Purse: Made permanent with rune. Will hold up to 30 lbs (13.6 kg) worth of items each.

Magical Boots of Fleetness and Mystery: Knee high boots. Boots double character maximum speed (Speed 30 on her), doubles leaping distance, and character leaves no tracks and has +5% to prowl skills. Wearer of boots can be tracked by smell but is at -20% to do so.

Cloak of Guises: It is a full length cloak that will turn into any set of clothing limited only in the color. In color, it can only change through different shades within the same color. Since this one is grey it can turn anywhere from dark grey (virtually black) to light grey (almost white.)

Cloak of Shadows: The wearer is difficult to see in shadow, but even in lighted area the character moves silently and unobtrusively like a shadow; +20% to prowl.

Crystal of Light: Many faceted gem that is about the size of a golf ball, it emits light equal to about two candles.

Gauntlets of Quick Hands: Magical gloves that the wearer one addition attack per melee, +1 to initiative, and skills require a high dexterity can be performed 10% faster without error. Both gloves must be worn for them to work. Gloves have an A.R. Rating of 10, Impervious to Fire, and has 25 S.D.C.

Normal:

Clothing: Soft leather boots, two (2) sets of grey leather clothing, cloak with hood and six pockets, soft leather gloves, leather belt, silver silk tunic.

Containers: Purse, backpack, one (1) large sack, one (1) medium sack, three (3) small sacks, wineskin (half gallon), two leather dagger scabbards, eight throwing knife sheaths.

Field Equipment: Sleeping bag, 120 feet (36.6 m) of silk rope, lightweight grappling hook, five (5) metal spikes, and small hammer.

Lighting: Flint and tinderbox.

Writing Equipment: Twenty-Four (24) sheets of parchment, parchment book (50 pages), ten (10) quill pens, 6 oz black ink.

Provisions: Two (2) weeks trail rations.

Horse Tending Equipment: None.

Miscellaneous: Makeup and feminine items, wooden comb and brush, small mirror, lock picking tools.

Jewelry, Gems, and Valuables: 21,300 gold and Family Ring worth 2,500 gold.

Leandra’s History:

Leandra was born the child of one of the countless lesser noble houses within the Western Empire, although a bit more powerful than most. In fact, they were the leading nobles in a small city known as Traldor within the Barraduk Province. Several small cities were located close to each other almost to the point where they were connected with each city ruled by a lesser noble. In some ways, the multiple cities might be considered a single much larger city.

Leandra’s family, the Valakar house, did quite well for itself with a reasonably large estate. While some of the Valakar’s income came through taxes and tariffs, they also had strong involvement in trade with the house being partially owners in both a merchant house and the city docks. Astute at managing their earnings, the house did better than many of the other lesser houses.

Where there is trade, there is crime. In the Western Empire, this is probably more true than most places. Instead of fighting the local thieves guild, the noble house cultivated them. This allowed the worst excesses of the guild to be curbed as well as making sure that the thieves did not interfere with the orderly operation of the city’s trade. It was considered a profitable arrangement all around. Even with their dealings with the thieves guild, the Valakar house was considered less corrupt than most Western Empire noble houses and was well regarded by the city’s population. Of note, the Valakar house had no dealings however with the assassin’s guild and worked to suppress them.

There is always a risk of changelings being discovered. As a result, it seemed prudent to arrange for a way to escape the city if something went horribly wrong. As a result, they left funds with the leaders of thieves guild to enable them to escape if their secret was discovered. The leader of the guild did not know that they were changelings and there is always risk of noble houses finding themselves on the wrong side of more powerful noble houses so not really that strange.

Of course, the Valakar family posed as humans with only a tiny number of trusted people knowing that they were changelings. Of course, one never knows when somebody trusted will still betray you. In addition, the Valakar family took on a number of less well off changelings in various roles within the household. Likely a total of one quarter to one third in the manor were changelings, posing as either humans or elves.

Already having an older child, it was decided that their newborn child would take the role of a girl. The first born child was being raised to be a boy and would inherit the family titles. As a baby, the child’s form can be manipulated by the parents to pose as human or elven. In addition, most of those who attended the children were changelings themselves.

Still, from her first memories, Leandra was taught never to reveal herself as a changeling. In addition, was given stern warning about how changelings were often hunted by those around them. It was extremely important that the ability to shape shift was learned so that one’s form could be seamlessly assumed. Different identities were also extremely important so one might be able to trick one’s way out of a horrible situation.

In addition however, she was taught the skills one expect of a noble lady including dancing. Still, there was always a risk that her elder “Brother” might be killed and she might have to take his place. However, the most likely situation would be to have her marry to another changeling noble in another city and cement ties. Self defense was also important with her learned a weapon known as the Haladie. An unusual twin bladed weapon, it had been the family weapon for many generations.

The future looked pretty bright but events occurred to change Leandra’s life when she was but ten years old. There is always jostling within noble families and many of the families in the nearby cities were getting jealous of the success of the Valakar family. Various tricks to comprise the Valakar family without any real success. Both the families popularity and connections to the thieves guilt helped protect them.

It was not until they hired the assassins guilt that they found success. As one might expect, with the Valakar family fighting the assassin’s guild and their ties to the thieve’s guild, they were not very popular with the assassins. A trusted servant, one of the few humans who knew their secret, was kidnaped and tortured with the goal to get compromising information. The servant was tough to break but after a few days broke and revealed that the family were actually changelings.

When this was revealed to the noble houses which had hired them, it came as a shock. Still, it did not take long to have the Valakar family declared enemies and the houses gathered their guardsman together to storm the Valakar manor. The family and many of their household fought but were badly outnumbered. The manor quickly fell and virtually everybody was killed. It was believed that only a few servants managed to escape. Of course, all of the possessions and property of the Valakar family were seized.

Somehow, Leandra managed to escape. Dressing a dead servant girl in her fancy clothing, Leandra shape shifted into the form of a servant girl herself and dressed herself in practically rags. Her form was designed to be as nondescript as possible so that she might be forgotten. Did manage to take her family ring with her however. When the servants began running from the castle in a panic, she joined them in their flight. With finding another girl dressed in her clothing, the attackers seem to have assumed she had been killed as well.

More disaster almost stuck however with a guard grabbing her. Thought he was going to kill her but he had other plans. Instead, he dragged her off apparently with the idea of selling her to a child brothel. She had other plans however and she took his own dagger and stabbed him with it once they were out of sight. She felt that she knew what he was thinking, her psychic abilities jarred open with the horror which had engulfed her. Luckily, her parents had taught her a bit about psychic abilities just in case they revealed themselves one day.

Once she managed to escape, she headed for where the thieves guild secret headquarters were located. The location had been drilled into the minds of the children withe exactly what to say once they got there. They were a but surprised when she arrived, having thought that everybody in the family had been killed. Luckily, they acted fairly honorably and accepted that they had a debt to the family.

It was decided to send her elsewhere far away just in case they might still be looking for her. The thieves guild had ties with several wizards and other practitioners of the mystical arts. Through the use of a trusted wizard, she was teleported to the Eastern Territory, the city of Llorn to be precise. She was sent to the leader of one the thieves guild of the city. Reasonable well trusted, the Eastern Territory thief owed him a favor with the understanding that she would be apprenticed somewhere. It was not mentioned that she was a changeling.

Instead of apprenticing her to a merchant house or something similar, he noticed that she was quite athletic and she was apprenticed to the thieves guild instead. Her abilities were uncanny especially with disguises. As time went on, she appeared to grow to a relatively boyish young girl.

One of her first jobs as a thief was to raid the treasure of a powerful and wealthy wizard. It was actually a pretty simple job where she simply mimicked one of his trusted servants and walked right in and right back out. Of course, she did not tell the guild how she did it.

Even after paying her guild dues, she still had enough loot to commission a pair of enchanted daggers of the style she liked and purchase a number of other magic weapons. In addition, the wizard had a rare enchanted ring from across the Inland Sea which protected one as well as many armors. Decided to keep the ring for herself.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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