Erikkin

As the seed lands in Ilse’s hand, a gold bud sprouts from it. Ilse watches with fascination as the seed shell sloughs off to reveal a gold piece that is actually quite larger than the seed was. With a small grin, Ilse pockets her newly found wealth. Coming here was a good idea. Already good things happening. 
 

As Siegfried starts off without taking Ilse’s opinion into about, she opens her mouth as if to say something. A moment later, she closes it again, whatever thoughts she had unsaid. She quietly follows after Siegfried toward the Calliope.

Ilse follows the others into the carnival. She stays mostly toward the back of the group, her walking pace being something akin to meandering without purpose. When Chit’Thal is handed the map, Ilse looks over his shoulder. “The Mystery Mines seem interesting. You can find all sorts of interesting things in abandoned mines. Illusions can also be useful.”

Ilse watches the approaching treant and squirrel warily. As the seeds fall, she makes a half hearted move to catch one. A half hearted effort seems to be all she needs as she catches the seed easily. Then she turns her attention to the dandelion, moving her lips a little as she silently voices her wish before blowing.

I’m ready.

Ilse is quiet while the others discuss the Thri-Keen homelands and the carnival. She knew it was a fey carnival, but doesn't really have much experience with fey, so can't really add much. She pauses as the goblin offers a deal. It seems good, but Ilse's brow furrows as she considers it for a minute. Something about it bugs her, but she's not quite sure what it is. "What is your favorite subject?"

I’m here as well.

Well, wasn't that lucky? Someone had paid for an Ilse, and she's the first Ilse to show up. Hopefully whichever Ilse it was actually meant for has eight gold because this Ilse does not. "Yes. I am Ilse." She says as she takes one of the tickets that the goblin put down on the counter. "How many of the Carnival's wonders does each ticket let us see?"

"Siegfried Duval. Chit'Thal" Ilse continues softly repeating names after everyone introduces themselves. She does eventually realize that everyone has given a name except her. "Ilse." She mentions without preamble. "I also answer to hey you." Her tone is still flat, and she doesn't really smile, so if she means it as a joke, her delivery is terrible. "I will do my best to find what people are looking for."

Ilse looks at each person when they introduce themselves. She quietly repeats each name to herself. "Gavin Hopsalot. Jasmine. Eek." EEEEK!'s name is said calmly with no attempt to shout it as he had. She then turns to examine Siegfried. His flamboyance and style certainly stand out in the city, large as it is. "Familiar." She doesn't know his name, though. "As much as I can recall, the carnival is exciting. Flowers... Mirrors... Trees... Sweets... Tents and wagons, not like Waterdeep. No buildings." Each item is added after a pause as Ilse sorts through her hazy memories from childhood.

I cannot recall running into any in any other published campaign, so I'd imagine they're exceedingly rare. Given the Witchlight Carnival's reputation, I'd expect people to not be surprised by them being there, though.

Ilse is dressed much more drably than everyone else around her. She wears dark colors and her clothing is sturdy cottons rather than the elegant silks of the upper crust. Ilse walks like someone who's daydreaming, paying very little attention to her surroundings. She nearly bumps into Siegfried as he stops at the counter. "Yes." She responds to his question a little too long after he asks it.

Ilse's parents abandoned her when she was very young. She doesn't really remember them. Any stories she was told would have been told by the head of the orphanage, or her friend Zook who liked to make up stuff.

Her parents are fairly well known, especially in the city they hail from (in my mind it's Baldur's Gate or a different Lord's Alliance city but I felt better to leave it vague in case you wanted the Carnival in a specific starting location). They both have vibrant red hair and tan skin; Ilse looks like if someone sucked all the color out of them. Likely their most well known accomplishment would involve traveling to the Shadowfell since not many people do that and survive. They went there on a mission to rescue someone important who was kidnapped there.

After her first carnival visit until the start of the adventure, Ilse has been discovering her magic and trying to make it useful for her. She's trying to rise above the living job to job most urchins have to deal with. Probably taking a lot of less legitimate jobs because those are the types of jobs her magic and skills seem to work well with.

Got it. I’ve added natural ambition as an ancestry feat.

I chose versatile heritage and picked up the feat combat climber with it.

Reserved for posting template.

Name: Sidora Lodovka (sheet)

Age: 24

Height: 157 cm (5'2")

Class: Swashbuckler (Gymnast)

Ancestry: Human (Versatile)

Background: Brevic Noble (Lodovka)

Alignment: CN