Toph - RIP -

Toph fell to the ground against a wall trying to catch his breath. The frigid night air made his lungs burn. This was supposed to be an easy job...just snatch a key from the merchant and bring it back. Nobody said the merchant would have bodyguards, let alone be in the company of the chief constable and his lieutenants. Doing his best to hide in a pile of debris and refuse, Toph began evaluating how he got into this position.
He hadn't always been Toph, just a few years ago he was Keiran Walshe, the crowned prince and heir to a kingdom far across the continent. Growing up, Keiran didn't have a care in the world and never wanted for anything; royalty has its privileges. One year, a traveling faire came to town for the autumn festival. Although it took much doing, Keiran was able to convince his mother to allow him to attend; he had to disguise himself to not be recognized. He had never experienced anything like it. The sights and sounds alone made his head spin. Exotic foods and aromas drew him from one booth to the next. While wandering, he came upon a fortune teller's tent; being curious he entered. The fortune teller prophesied that he would become a great leader. But, in order to do this, he would have to learn how to treat the citizens fairly and close the gap between the have and the have-not. She informed Keiran that to accomplish this task, he would have to become a citizen and experience what that meant.
Leaving the fortune teller's tent, Keiran was in a daze. Not only would he become a leader, be he had to be a citizen as well...what did it all mean? He wandered around a bit longer, not really paying much attention to where he was going. Rounding a corner, he, quite literally, ran into a girl about his age; both of them fell to the ground. Not forgetting his manners, he stood and offered her his hand all the while apologizing profusely. That was, until he met her eyes. Instantly, the world around them seemed to disappear. Her smile was magical and her voice like an angel. She introduced herself as Cecillia Doltessa, although he could call her Lia. He replied in turn and, not thinking, introduced himself as Keiran. Luckily, it was a common enough name that she wouldn't suspect him of being the prince. For the next several hours they walked the faire together, talking and enjoying each other's company. As the night came on, Keiran knew he had to go. He bid Lia good night with the promise of seeing her tomorrow; how he had yet to figure out.
Keiran spent the next morning daydreaming about Lia and his plan to escape to the town. He created a disguise, took a back way out, and made his way. Meeting up with Lia, they continued enjoying the festival. They took a break for a mid-day meal and talked about what they have seen. Keiran mentioned what the fortune teller said which caused a new line of conversation with Lia. Eventually, as evening came, Keiran confided in Lia who he really is. At first, she was mad that he had lied about who he was, but gradually she came to understand why he had deceived her. Lia made it a personal mission to have Keiran understand what a "normal" life was like.
Three days later, they met and came up with a plan. Keiran's father and mother would be leaving for several months which would make it easier for him to leave the castle unquestioned. After purchasing some new clothing and changing his look, Lia introduced Toph to his new life. For the next few months, Toph experienced what it was like for the common townsfolk, his father's subjects. He saw both the good side and the seedier side of town. He saw how many struggled to get by and the cruelty inflicted when they couldn't pay their taxes. It hurt Toph to see how people really were and how they lived; he began to resent his upbringing and his father. Toph also learned how Lia got by. She was a pickpocket, and a really successful one as well. Lia brought Toph to meet her guild-master who agreed to allow him to apprentice under Lia. She taught him much and he caught on quickly.
The seasons passed and the pair grew closer and their skills improved. Toph started to give a portion of his cut back to the people in hopes to ease their suffering. Doing this, he became a bit of a folk hero...but he also became a target for the town guard as well as his father. As the autumn festival approached, Toph and Lia concocted a plan. Toph would tell his parents he wished to travel and study abroad; they had no reason to deny his request. Then the pair would leave town to seek their fortune and provide aid to others. Shortly after the festival, they left.
The couple traveled far, helping who they could but never staying any place long enough to draw too much attention to themselves. Unfortunately, not long after they left home, Keiran's father and advisors began comparing notes. The revelation that the folk hero thief and Keiran were one and the same came as a shock. Furious, Keiran's father set a bounty on his son and his accomplice. A few months later, the pair met up with the first of many bounty hunters. Deciding that it was best to create some distance, they stayed on the move for several weeks. Eventually, they made their way to a large city where they joined the local guild and split up to help avoid detection. Over the next nine months, they would casually meet up, but never do jobs together. Then one day, Toph received word that Lia had been captured. In that moment, he knew he had a new mission...nothing would stop him from finding and freeing Lia.
It has been a month since Lia was captured. The merchants key would secure his ability to leave the guild and allow him to track down Lia. All he knew was that she was being taken back home...he had to get to her...no matter what it takes.

Toph is played by Matt Z.

Toph (Male Variant Human Rogue)

DM's Note:

Sadly, Toph was killed when he inadvertently triggered a magical trap while opening a chest during a sidequest in Avernus. The trap teleported him 500 feet above the river Styx. He fell and died instantly upon hitting the river. His body was never recovered.