_The Silent Spark of Rebellion_ **Race:** (-) **Gender:** Female **Occupation:** Housekeeper (Slave) **Status:** Alive (Confirmed) **Affiliation:** None (formerly enslaved in the [[Askaria]] Empire) **Era:** 10,000s A.P., Age of [[Perserphina]] --- ### Overview Known only by her slave name, _Stick_, this thin and seemingly fragile woman lived a life of servitude in the [[Askaria]] Empire. Assigned to menial labor as a housekeeper, Stick became a quiet but unwavering source of strength, guidance, and defiance beneath the surface. She raised the boy who would one day become **[[Sovereign]]**, shielding him as best she could from the cruelties of slavery. Though history may forget her name, [[Sovereign]] never will—he considers her the first person who ever showed him kindness, and the reason he’s alive today. --- ### Name and Origin The name "Stick" was cruelly given to her by her master due to her frail and thin appearance. Her real name has been lost—either never spoken aloud in captivity or deliberately forgotten to protect herself and those she loved. What little is known of her life before enslavement is speculation, as Stick rarely spoke of her past. Her silence was not born of fear, but of purpose—she saved her voice for moments that mattered. Her race can be customized for your setting (insert race here), but regardless of background, she was brought into the household of a cruel [[Askaria]] noble, where she served as a housekeeper. --- ### Role in [[Sovereign|Spike]]’s Life After the deaths of [[Sovereign|Spike]]’s tiefling parents—executed by the master for daring to resist—Stick quietly took in the orphaned child. She fed him, taught him how to clean, and warned him how to survive under the master’s gaze. More importantly, she told him stories. Though sparse in detail, her stories about his parents gave [[Sovereign|Spike]] identity, connection, and dignity when he had nothing else. She called him “child,” never “[[Sovereign|Spike]],” and offered gentle reassurances when he was punished. Each night after the master’s lashings, Stick would treat [[Sovereign|Spike]]’s wounds in secret, whispering whatever comfort she could manage. Her compassion became his only refuge in a world built on torment. --- ### The Escape Stick’s defining act of courage came during [[Sovereign|Spike]]’s twelfth summer, when a paladin of [[Perserphina]] named **[[Sapphira]]** infiltrated one of the master’s lavish parties. Learning of Stick and [[Sovereign|Spike]]’s plight, [[Sapphira]] made a plan to smuggle them both out. That night, Stick enacted her part of the plan. She sabotaged the kitchen by dousing it in cooking oil and setting it alight. As the blaze drew the guards away, she found [[Sovereign|Spike]] and led him toward freedom. But as they neared the gate, a crossbow bolt struck her in the leg. The master had seen through the ruse. In a final act of defiance, Stick tore the bolt from her leg and drove it into the master’s thigh, buying enough time for [[Sovereign|Spike]] to escape. With one final cry—*"RUN!"—Stick disappeared behind him as he fled into the forest. --- ### Confirmed Survival Stick did not perish that night. Though struck down, she was captured alive rather than executed. Her survival remained unknown for many years until **[[Sovereign]]** sent her a _Sending_ spell, hoping beyond hope that she still lived. Her brief but powerful response confirmed she was **alive**—still hiding, still surviving. Though she shared few details, her voice carried both relief and caution. Her message renewed [[Sovereign|Sov]]’s hope and gave him a new mission: not just to fight for others, but to **find her**, if he can. She is presumed to be in or near the [[Askaria]] Empire, possibly held in a lesser-known estate or hiding among sympathetic slaves or rebels. --- ### Legacy and Meaning Though Stick may not be remembered by the world, she is immortalized in [[Sovereign]]’s heart. Her name is spoken in prayer, her memory honored through every act of mercy and rebellion [[Sovereign|Sov]] performs. To him, Stick represents the soul of resistance: quiet, unyielding, and willing to burn everything down if it means saving one innocent life. Now that she is confirmed alive, she is no longer just a memory. She is a person [[Sovereign|Sov]] intends to save—or reunite with in peace, if she has already saved herself. --- ### Appearance - **Build:** Extremely thin and wiry, with long limbs and a hunched posture from years of labor - **Hair:** Stringy, ash-brown or graying early from stress and malnutrition - **Eyes:** Tired but kind, often bloodshot from lack of sleep - **Clothing:** Threadbare servant’s tunic, often stained with ash and grease from the hearth - **Scars:** Hands and forearms scarred from burns, cuts, and repeated overwork - **Voice:** Quiet and raspy, but sharp when needed --- ### Personality - **Compassionate** – Despite her own suffering, she gave all she could to protect [[Sovereign|Spike]]. - **Resourceful** – Clever enough to survive, and brave enough to spark a rebellion with a fire. - **Stoic** – Rarely spoke of herself or her pain, instead channeling her strength into actions. - **Maternal** – Became a surrogate mother to a lost tiefling child, giving him the courage to live. --- ### Notable Quote > _"I can’t save you from everything, child… but I can show you how to live. That’s something."_