Shade

Head Assassin Shade

Only two things are known for sure about the person that is Shade. First, they are a black-furred Tabaxi, and second, they're one of the best Assassins on Edda. Currently, almost no one even knows where they are, but they're using the skills that have gotten them through life in order to do some good and justice, protecting Edda from planar threats with The Sunsetters under the Dustcrawler division.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Shade keeps themselves lean and trained, especially with their legs, although they make sure not to neglect arm strength, as ending things in one slash of the sword or dagger is ideal.

Identifying Characteristics

Shade is rather unidentifiable, but their dark blue eyes tend to stand out.

Physical quirks

When bored, Shade will roll a coin or thin piece of lockpicking gear between their fingers to keep them active.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Shade is a mostly silent and caged individual, only saying as much as needs to be said and letting people know only as much as they need to know. But there a few people they're close to that know the truth of the life that led them to be one of the most feared killers in Edda.
Surprisingly, Shade is their given name. They lost their parents when they were young, but had been part of a traveling entertainment group that started out in Alicein, so most of the crew were beastfolk much like themself. While they didn't have an official performance or show as many of the others, Shade was a runner for supplies, messages, and helped with the maintenance crew, teaching them how to be quick, silent, and good with metal implements.
When the child grew to 14 in the group, these same skills got them involved with the darker side of the show's purpose. The Emcee was connected to a small crime family, originally a sub-family of The Hubris Gang that tried to break out on their own, and Shade's skills were insanely top-notch for their age. Shade was shaken by this knowledge, but didn't mind doing what they could to help out, and transitioned from their previous jobs to taking tasks for the Emcee.
However, even as they ran illegal deliveries, enforced protection payments, stole countless items, and even maimed targets, Shade was never fond of killing at that age. It wasn't until a faithful night just 2 years into their criminal activities.
The Emcee had taught Shade much, but he soon began to fear retribution from the young Tabaxi, and so he planned to do away with them like he had done away with their parents, an anonymous tip to The Hubris Gangs enforcers, and having Shade be in the wrong place at the right time.
Unluckily for the Emcee, Madam Hubris herself had come to town, and recognized the child in front of her enforcers, and decided to play a trick of her own. She spilled the secret of the Emcee's actions, noting the resemblance Shade had to their mother and made them an offer they couldn't refuse: Revenge.
It had begun to rain as night fell and the Emcee rode away with the rest of the show, secure in the belief that he had done away with the threat Shade posed. However, that would quickly fade away, as the lamplight flickered in his cart, and the last thing he ever saw was a pair of blue eyes in the darkness and the gleam of silver in Shade's hand.
Shade didn't kill all of the showmen that night, but they killed every member that was complicit in the cover-up of their parents' deaths and returned to Madam Hubris with a display of their victory. Even the mafia boss was a little scared of the terror she had created but thought the best way was to hire the young assassin since she didn't have baggage as the Emcee did.
With nowhere else to turn, Shade did just that but only lasted under Hubris' wing for two years until they decided that the organized crime life wasn't for them and left, slaughtering or critically maiming every agent sent after them.
For a while they roamed listlessly, taking jobs where they landed, killing just to make something of themselves, but never being satisfied with how they were living.
Then, they made the mistake of trying to kill Gladys Pugh.
On a rainy and overcast day, the future mayor of Lone found herself isolated and alone in a back alley of the town, and Shade found themself overhead, with an eye on their neck. An opposing politician wanted her dead due to her rising popularity, and who was Shade to deny a paycheck?
They would jump down, the blade would glide through her neck, and Shade would move on, just as expected.
What Shade didn't expect was for Gladys to block the blade with her umbrella, and toss them to the ground.
In a split second, Shade saw that they had collapsed it, and a secret blade from the tip was right in front of Shade's throat. With a swift spin and a kick, Shade got back up, and put some distance between the two of them.
Looking at Pugh, Shade saw the same type of stare that they had seen in the mirror, the eyes of a merciless killer.
An overcast day turned to dark and stormy night, the two of them fought equally, two trained killers who lived for the fight, each trying to go in for the kill but being deflected at the same time, both of their lives hanging in the balance.
Blades were broken and tossed aside for daggers, daggers were chipped and broken, leaving only their hands to fight and kill each other, and those had become bloody and beaten.
In the rest of Shade's life, this never would have happened, they would have cut and run the second they were compromised. But against Gladys, something was different, something was exhilarating, something was keeping them locked in this combat, eyes full of death locked into one another.
But, as lighting struck one last time, a sickening crack was heard, and Shade was struck with a blow that left their right arm unusable for the time being.
Pugh saw the opportunity and grabbed their left arm, and spun around to their back, and pinned them to the ground.
In Shade's eyes, this was it. They were exhausted, broken, and utterly at Pugh's mercy. But to die like this would be a wonder, having finally been given the rush of life for the first time. But instead of the rough grasp of death, Shade merely felt a solid chop to the back of their neck, and the embrace of rest.
They woke up a few days later, in an idyllic wooden house, sunlight shining through and birds chirping at the windows. Their broken arm had been mended somewhat, and a cast had been put into place.
Gladys had spared them. More than that, she saved them. The two of them didn't talk, they weren't the most vocal people around, but there was a silent understanding in the air, forcing them to speak. "Why didn't you kill me? If the situation was reversed, I would have." Shade said.
There was a long silence, but then she spoke. "Because I felt sorry for someone who would look content at the prospect of their own death." At first, Shade was insulted. They had never been shown such a vast degree of pity before, but Gladys would soon clarify.
Unlike Shade, she had been forced to kill. It wasn't her only option, but the one forced on her from a young age, so she disliked killing in general. She was prepared to kill Shade but seeing their expressions and tenacity in their long fight, she saw the sorrow that once plagued her, and made Shade an offer.
There was an organization in Boncly that worked to help people, to aid in the defense of Edda, a way that they could use their clearly high skills for something more than just senseless murder for money.
Shade refused at first, but Gladys sweetened the pot by saying that, if they joined, they would be able to spar with her more often. She was a part of the organization already and was dedicated to being a sector head by winning the Mayoral election. But, if Shade were to refuse and go back to being an assassin, then she'd never land a punch on them again.
Reluctantly, Shade did agree, and both of them soon went on to take positions in The Dustcrawlers division of The Sunsetters. Shade even strove to be their top-ranked Assassin, as to always watch Pugh's back.

Gender Identity

Shade presents rather androgynously, leading no one to really know if they actually do have a gender or pronoun preference. As such, Shade is merely referred to as 'They' in order to avoid potential insult.

Sexuality

Shade doesn't have known sexuality and seems to have a singular interest in Gladys Pugh, which can be read as more platonic or mentor like than romantic.

Education

Shade never learned more than they needed pre and post criminal activities, although, with the Sunsetters, they have taken to reading more in the organization Archives.

Employment

Shade has always worked as an assassin in some capacity, either freelance or with the Sunsetters, although with the latter they're typically monsters, corrupt souls, or tyrannical Vampires.

Mental Trauma

Shade has always had to push down their emotions and desires, leaving them a bit of a dry husk. Although they've gotten a bit better after meeting Pugh and working with the Sunsetters, they're still a bit listless. At the very least, they don't plan on dying anytime soon.

Intellectual Characteristics

Shade may not know a lot of technical languages, but they've picked up a good sense of anatomy and certain medical practices. It turns out, knowing how to stop a body from working lets you figure out how it *does* work.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

To live a good life, and make sure Gladys Pugh doesn't get killed by anyone but them.

Alignment

Neutral Evil

Ethnicity

Tabaxi

Date of Birth

30th of Growing Spring

Year of Birth

978 AC 31 Years old

Gender

Unknown

Eyes

Dark Blue

Hair

Pitch Black fur w/ faint Gray Stripes

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale White pads

Height

5' 8"

Weight

142

Quotes & Catchphrases

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Aligned Organization

The Sunsetters