Darlingverse/Zee

Zee: The Watchful Survivor

Before Darling: Zee was a lean, quick-witted tiefling girl, no older than nine, who knew the shadowed alleys and forgotten rooftops of Waterdeep's Dock Ward better than any map. Life had taught her to be perpetually vigilant and self-reliant. She survived by her sharp eyes, nimble fingers, and an uncanny ability to disappear into plain sight, often finding discarded treasures or leftover food. She was distrustful of most adults, her large, golden eyes always scanning for danger, but she yearned for a safe place she could call her own.

Captured by Papa: One cold, misty evening, after a particularly fruitful day scavenging near the docks, Zee heard a peculiar, echoing whisper in a usually deserted alley. Her instincts screamed danger, but before she could vanish, a rough hand snatched her from the shadows. She remembered a dizzying sensation, the pungent smell of something sweet and cloying, and then darkness. The world spun as she was thrown into a suffocating, confined space.

Papa's Basement and the Void: Her next conscious thought was of a stone floor, chillingly cold against her cheek. She saw other children, frightened and whimpering in rough cages, their eyes reflecting the dim, flickering light from a single, distant lamp. A large, shadowy figure – Papa – moved with unnerving silence. Zee remembered a child crying out, and as Papa reached a cage nearby, a flash of blinding, unspeakable horror surged, and the memory violently ripped itself away from her grasp, leaving only a cold, empty void where the full terror once resided.

Life in the Darlingscape: The Silent Scout: When Zee awoke inside "The Golem's Canvas," her first instinct was to observe, to understand the new rules of this bizarre purgatory. She saw it as a vast, shifting city, perpetually on the edge of unraveling. Driven by her ingrained need for survival and vigilance, she became the silent scout, perpetually patrolling the Whispering Labyrinths and the shadowy edges of the Shadow-Haunted Wilds, ever watchful for threats. She sees herself as the necessary "eyes and ears" that keep their world from being surprised by the creeping dangers from the void.

   With Skree: Zee found an unexpected kinship with Skree. They share a profound understanding of observation and discretion. Skree's ability to perfectly mimic sounds provides invaluable camouflage and information, making them an effective, quiet team in mapping the unpredictable "Wilds."

   With Roric: She respects Roric's efficiency and speed, seeing him as a reliable partner when quick action or retreat is needed. They often coordinate their movements to navigate the dangerous, shifting areas of Darling's mind.

   With Flicker: Zee appreciates Flicker's ingenuity and the clever traps or devices he might devise. She sees his mechanical mind as a valuable asset for problem-solving in their strange reality.

   Antagonistic Towards: Zee views Lysander's grandiosity as a dangerous liability, believing his naive showmanship makes him a target. She finds Grut's loud, unsubtle approach to problems an absolute nightmare for stealth and security. She also distrusts Borin's rigid adherence to static structures, seeing them as potential traps in a constantly shifting world.