Working Folk
Tamsin Quill
"Chalk", of the Burial Roads
Tamsin discovered that when terrified she could trace pale, temporary ward-lines on stone or iron with a touch, disrupting the approach of corpse-eaters long enough to escape. A funeral-yard keeper wants to lock her overnight at the gate to keep scavenging corpse-eaters away, promising food but refusing to let her leave.
Tamsin discovered that when terrified she could trace pale, temporary ward-lines on stone or iron with a touch, disrupting the approach of corpse-eaters long enough to escape. She can deliberately attempt short-lived protective marks now, but only on a continuous surface she can reach; stress, rain, abrasion and exhaustion shorten their duration. The wards deter corpse-eaters near that boundary, not other spirits, and they cannot defend a whole district or replace certified wardwork. She hates being treated as a talisman.
Tamsin is brave in sudden danger, wary of adults seeking to use her gift, kind to the dead and quick to protect smaller children. A funeral-yard keeper wants to lock her overnight at the gate to keep scavenging corpse-eaters away, promising food but refusing to let her leave.
The party must defend a burial path while rescuing Tamsin from exploitation. Miriam Halewick can examine the residual ward signature without claiming she can teach the innate talent.
Connections: Ash Venn (Afflicted street acquaintance), Miriam Halewick (licensed ward specialist), Tobias Fenner (child labour solidarity).
In person
15. Fifteen, ordinary-looking oval face, very dark brown eyes, short coarse black curls, medium-brown skin and a faint white crescent under the left thumb nail. She is not visibly malformed; Afflicted status comes from her verified innate power.
