Yusa Ilorn, The Commoner

 

A Comet's Trail

       Born in poverty to an already-ailing mother, Yusa Ilorn grew up in the orphanages of Halexia for most of their childhood, a common enough tale in Halexia. However, when their heritage began to develop around puberty and their identity as a changeling, a surprise to Yusa themselves even, they were chased out onto the streets and forced to hide and steal to survive. Yusa eventually moved from their small town to escape the heat their actions had drawn onto their head, and found themselves in the budding city of Midmore. Here, they met a young boy named Vincent, another street-rat but with high aspirations for his life. Together, the two became skilled theives and burglars, and were eventually hired to break into Wraith Spyre tower by a mysterious organization. Together, along with a few add-ons, they were able to break into Covenblight's vault and stole many items of use. Yusa acquired a necklace that would enhance his already-impressive disguise abilities, but Vincent stole the object that would change their lives: The Orb of Draconic Majesty. Built by the giants during the Dominion War, the orb granted the wielder the power to impress their will upon dragons and their kin, and the small-time thief began to hatch the biggest scheme of his life.  

Life As A Shadow

       With Yusa's abilities, it was a simple matter for Vincent to make a name for himself as a businessman and ascend through the ranks of the Merchants Guild. Once Vincent, now called Vanidicus and with a great deal of assistance from his elusive friend, had bribed, blackmailed, and lied his way into being elected Trade-Prince of Midmore, the second part of his plan came about. Using the Orb, Vanidicus summoned the wrath of Bolvax, a great red dragon that had slumbered within the northern mountain range for decades. While Yusa had thought the plan was to use the dragon as a threat to secure their power and expand their influence, Vanidicus instead forced it to terrorize people across the land, destroying homes and slaughtering innocents. Apalled at this behavior, Yusa came to realize the darkness in their friend went far deeper than they had ever understood, and they had gone to great lengths to install this monster in power. As people cried out in terror, and even Yusa's old home burned to the ground, they closed their heart and made a promise to the fallen: never again.  

A Common Cause

       While staying by their once-friend's side, Yusa began using their skills of deception, disguise, and stealth to forment unrest under his rule. With access to Vanidicus' inner circle they were able to learn the ins and outs of his organization and plan for ways to interfere without getting caught. While Yusa went to great lengths to keep their identity hidden, at one point they were asked by someone they rescued for their name, and all they answered with was: "Just another commoner, ma'am" before disappearing. After this, reports of The Commoner began to spring up, pinning many actions of rebellion to this one figure whether any proof was available or not. Nobody ever learned of the Commoner's true identity, although many rumors spread especially as the Trade-Prince began putting ever-increasing pressure on discovering the truth. Through their guise, Yusa was able to assist the rebellion and eventually, the Silver Vanguard upon their arrival in Midmore.   

Stepping Into The Light

       After years of careful planning and preparation, Yusa and Tulvo Aremus, leader of the mounting rebellion, were nearly ready to enact their plan to dethrone the Trade-Prince. Unfortunately they couldn't control all of the variables, and the Silver Vanguard came to blows with Vanidicus much earlier than the rebellion and Yusa expected, forcing their hand. In the most direct act of aggression Yusa ever performed, they came to their old friend's side in the battle as his pet dragon fought off the Vanguard. However, with a codeword only the two of them could have ever known, Yusa disabled the Trade-Prince's layers of magical defenses, allowing the Silver Vanguard to strike the mortal blow and dethrone the tyrant. In the wake of this event and with Midmore's destruction imminent, Yusa found Tulvo and helped to evacuate as many people as they could from the city, and they stood beside him as the last remnants of the city were swallowed by the Red Tyrant's flames.         In the days following, Yusa aided Tulvo in leading the survivors of Midmore and helped carry out the latter's mad plan of using the dragon to rebuild their home. As King's Fall grew and became a real settlement, Tulvo approached Yusa with an offer: to officially join him in leading the city. While the citizens had already accepted him as their leader, Tulvo himself refused to lead alone, citing previous examples as to why that wouldn't work, and insisted that Yusa join as one of the city's leaders. Yusa refused at first, insisting their life was that of a spy and a thief, and that they had been the reason Vanidicus was able to cause as much pain as he did. Yet Tulvo wouldn't have it, and showed Yusa what the opportunity before them really was: that of repentance and restitution. With Yusa's skills and the drive to fix the damage they had helped to cause, they would be able to help shape the world for the survivors and fully cleanse the taint that the Trade-Prince had left behind. Yusa eventually agreed, and while they still serve as a spy and call upon connections they've held for years (sometimes without the other party's knowledge) to keep King's Fall, and all of Halexia, on the right path to the future.