Name: Jin Takashi, the Flying Frog
Age: 18
Gender: Non-binary
Element: Non-bender
Residence: Jin tends to stick to the Lower Ring and the Underground.
Occupation: The better question is, what doesn’t Jin do? They’ve been a mechanic, a sniper, a message runner, a driver, a pickpocket, a waiter… the list goes on and on. Aside from harming or killing Lower Ring or Underground folk, anything is on the table. They have a gift for mechanical solutions, putting together working machines from spare parts and scrap, sold at prices that are quite decent. However, what they truly love is infiltration and theft in the two upper Rings.
The Flying Frog has been a thieving menace for two solid years. The thefts started small, but when they weren’t stopped, they got bolder. They seem to come and go with ease, stealing expensive items from the upper echelons of Ba Sing Se society. These items later pop up in pawn shops and chop houses in the Lower Ring or Underground. No one in the Inner rings have much information, and the Outer rings don’t seem to care as long as the Frog isn’t hustling their people. Credible information about the criminal carries a decent bounty with the RSF. Capturing the Frog alive would make one a small fortune.
Who are you?: I’m no one, really. Just another half-starved brat from the Lower Ring. My family’s long gone, and I’ve been on my own longer than I wanna remember. Sure, I got friends, same as anyone. But there’s limits to everything, ain’t there? I know good and well my “friends” wouldn’t hesitate to throw me over the wall if there was good money in it for them. Same goes for me. That’s about as friendly as it gets out here. You gotta look out for your own hide, y’know?
If you ain’t busy hustlin, you better get busy dyin. If you’ve seen my face before, I’ve probably worked for you. I do a lot for a lot of people. You want something fixed? I got you. You want someone shot? I got you. You want some warm company for the night? ...Okay, I don’t got you, but I’ve done work for the Sirs and Madams in the Lower Ring – hey, someone’s gotta keep that red light on. I could probably get you a discount.
The
who? The Flying Frog? What are you, RSF? I don’t know nothin’ about him.
What is your opinion on Benders?: I dunno, people who can spit fire, or move wind? One person who keeps coming back and can control the core elements of the planet? I don’t really care about ‘em. Sounds like they had it great, being able to do stuff other people can’t just because of bloodlines or whatever. Sounds a whole lot like Upper ring folk to me. Looking down on others just because they got lucky enough to be born special. Good riddance to that crap. The fact is, no one wants ‘em anymore. From what little I remember from school, they weren’t nothin’ but arrogant troublemakers. If I was a Bender – and I damn sure ain’t – I’d keep that to myself.
Extra: A pair of purple tinted goggles that are worn around their neck. A single coin, rubbed so smooth it’s unspendable.
Note: Jin saw a flying frog in a history schoolbook once.
NPC: “Lady” Cho Ling
Age: 47
Gender: Female
Residence: Lower Ring
Occupation: Madam
As the purveyor of one of the oldest professions in the book, you wouldn’t expect Lady Cho to be anything but ruthless. However, she has a surprisingly simple and good heart under her ample bosom. She cares for the many lost children, like Jin, who don’t have anyone or anywhere to go to.
Her massage parlor, the Drunken Honeybee, has what amounts to a sparkling reputation in the Lower Ring. The clientele list is a well-kept secret. Her girls are clean, well-fed and have most of their teeth. There are a few who actually do massages, for those more confused customers. While she doesn’t exactly turn away those wishing to join the business (either hers, or the brother brothel, the Zen Stallion), she doesn’t try to recruit either. She simply cares for people the best she can.
Jin came to her when they had nothing left but an old coin, an empty belly, and dreams of something better. Lady Cho fed the child, and gave them some petty work to do, cleaning up the brothel on slow days. Jin quickly became a fixture in the area once Cho figured out they were good with tools. Once Jin grew and she determined that Jin probably wouldn’t sell well (too skinny), she started sending Jin out around the city, fixing things for friendly businesses. She considers Jin a diamond in the rough – destined for great things if they could only get out.
Regardless, Jin will always have a home to return to, as long as Lady Cho lives.