The Fallen King's Tactician, the Mastermind of the Maw

Name: Aoife “Mouse” Shadowclaw (Aoife is pronounced “EE-fa”)
Race: Halfling
Gender: Female, she/her
Age: Mid-50s (by halfling standards she’s still a young adult and appears as such)

Appearance
Aoife is small, even by halfling standards. She barely breaks 2 ½ feet tall and weighs about 30 pounds. She’s spindly and petite, with delicate girlish features that make her appear younger than she is. Her skin is fair, with a dash of freckles across her nose and cheeks–these freckles also dance along her shoulders, back, and down her arms. She has short and unruly dark hair that often falls into her face. Her wide “innocent” eyes are a warm and friendly black that encourages trust. Her clothing is bland but presentable–she doesn’t wear any shining armor or grand robes or mysterious cloaks. She prefers to dress in simple tunics and trousers that allow for movement and comfort, usually with a teal or blue coat. She is never without a white feather charm that she wears in her left ear. If you get her to laugh or smile wide enough, you can see that she has buck teeth that might’ve inspired her nickname.

Reference pics below


Personality
Aoife's nickname of “Mouse” suits her quiet and harmless nature. She rarely speaks unless directly spoken to, but doesn’t come off as aloof or rude. She is pleasant and polite when she needs to be, but usually spends her time listening and watching instead. She comes across as genuine, shy, and gentle, someone who wouldn’t ever be a threat–-which works to her advantage.

Beneath her “shy and innocent” appearance, Aoife has a clever and conniving mind. She was the Fallen King’s trusted tactician and strategist, the one who he counted on as his chief advisor and “right hand man” (er… “right hand halfling woman”?). Aoife is incredibly intelligent and quick-witted, her “mousey” demeanor perfectly crafted to appear as non threatening and easy-to-trust as possible. She is constantly surveying her surroundings and the people within, able to understand and manipulate any situation that could arise. She is just as likely to help and praise you as she is to stab and leave you for dead, depending on her needs at any given moment.

That is not to say that she is heartless, of course. Once her trust and respect is earned, she is a loyal mastermind who will use her intelligence to assist in any goal. Unfortunately, this is what has landed her in the Maw–-she is still loyal to the Fallen King, and will do anything to overthrow the Tyrant who killed her best friend.

Background
The Shadowclaw family served the royal family for three generations before Aoife was born. No one really remembers why, but the Shadowclaws were always treated fairly and with respect, and always allowed their freedom if they desired–-which fostered more loyalty. Aoife was expected to be like the rest of her family-–they usually served the court as bards, healers, cooks, or personal seamsters (despite their intimidating name!). Aoife, however, was much more interested in learning–-she adored the royal library and spent much of her childhood simply reading whatever she could get her hands on. Her family tried to push her to learn a role that would better suit the court, but she was hilariously bad at all of them (she ended up banished from sewing due to getting blood on a wedding dress from how clumsy she was with a needle!).

She ended up becoming close friends with the Fallen King-–before he ascended to the throne, he had to learn his duties. He quickly found that the halfling had eidetic memory and could remember any miniscule detail of a treaty that was hundreds of years old. The two became fast and loyal friends in their childhood–he offered her access to more knowledge, and she helped tutor him on them. Their relationship continued once he became king–-he appointed her as his chief advisor and court tactician, and she was always close at his side when he navigated his tasks as king. Their relationship was purely platonic (never anything more), and the trust they had in each other–-him in her intelligence, and her in his ability to lead–-was unshakeable.

And then the Fallen King was murdered by his traitorous brother, the Tyrant.

Aoife’s entire world shattered in an instant. Her entire identity, her entire purpose, went with the Fallen King’s death. The warmth and zeal she had for life was ripped away from her, replaced by cold hearted revenge. She began to serve the Tyrant... She knew her best chance at revenge would be from the traitor’s side. She began to hatch a plan to avenge her best friend, she vowed to overthrow the man who’d plunged the peaceful world into war. She was no warrior or mage, though–-she had only her mind, and it would be her weapon.

However, the Tyrant must’ve known Aoife’s intentions to betray him when he least expected it. No sooner had she begun to put her plan into action (a scheme that would frame the head of the King’s One Temple as the mastermind behind poisoning the Tyrant), she was immediately arrested and sent to the Maw. She has been there ever since, proclaiming her innocence and keeping to her story that she was sent there simply because she served the Fallen King.

She still has no idea how she was figured out–-or if she even was. Her masterfully crafted plan hadn’t even come to fruition! She shared the scheme with no one. She wore her amulet that protected her from divination magics! Had she simply been sent there because the Tyrant realized she was more intelligent than she let on? Was she in the Maw simply for being the Fallen King’s best friend?

It doesn’t matter to her anymore-–all that matters is getting out, so she can destroy the king and the kingdom he built that took everything from her.


Eidetic Memory: Aoife can recite anything she has seen or read, word for word. If she sees or hears something, she will remember it.
Quiet as a Mouse: Her small stature, unassuming appearance, and quick and quiet movements make Aoife very stealthy.
Slippery Stature: Her small size makes it awkward for larger opponents to strike, carry, target, and/or restrain Aoife. She can also fit into small spaces where a “normal” sized humanoid would never fit.
Always Prepared: Aoife always has a plan–-and backup plans. Her backup plans have backup plans. If something goes awry, she is usually the first to react and know what to do.
The Mastermind: Aoife knows how to manipulate anything and everything around her for a favorable outcome. She will not hesitate to use others for her benefit… She’s the one who gives candy to a kid because it distracts the mother, not because it makes the kid happy.


Only Mundane: Aoife has no physical or arcane talents at all–-she can do nothing against a sword or fireball.
Small Stature: Although her small size can be a benefit, it is also a flaw when it comes to speed. Compared to most humanoid races, she just can’t keep up.


Amulet of Divination Protection: A gift that the Fallen King gave to her, as it was necessary for her to fulfill her role as his tactician. It protects Aoife’s mind and body from any magic that would try to peer in–-telepathy, scrying, mind control, voodoo magic, etc. Anyone who attempts these magics against her simply receives nothing in response. It is an enchanted white feather that she wears as an earring.