Phoenix

"Fire's good fer de soul, momma-boss!"

Name: (The) Phoenix

Sex: Male

Age: 14

Rank: Rookie; resident pyrophilliac and firebug.

Appearance: It's often hard to tell just what he looks like, because, and to put it nicely, he's a grubby little brat. If and when clean, his feathers are a light brown-grey, and his hair - which, because it's never been washed, sticks out like straw - is the same colour. His beak is slightly greenish compared to normal beaks, and his eyes are a light blue-green-grey with thick eyebrows.

Attire: Phoenix normally wears a grimy dark grey (once black, now faded) joint-lenth bodysuit, a brown leather jacket stolen from someone else's wardrobe, and a pair of black boots tipped with maroon that don't quite go up to the knee. He also wears a maroon belt on which hangs an antique dirk, a spiky bracelet on his left wrist, and a bright green bandanna that stands out eye-wateringly from his hair and feathers.

Accent: His Keltor (Brooklyn) accent is very broad but high-pitched, and sometimes when he talks fast it's hard to make out what it is he's saying.

Weapons: His voice - especially the high notes! - the antique dirk he has on his belt, and the numerous matches and firelighters that he keeps hidden in pockets about his person.

Personality: A dirty, thieving, smart-mouthed little brat with three times more attitude than any kid his age should have. He hates people other than those whom he calls "'quaintances" in the Shades, and generally keeps away from the public except when 'fingersmithing' or exercising his skill with fire-raising. He absolutely LOVES fire, it's his most favourite thing in the world; if, and he does on occasion, he embarks on a major heist he will always set something on fire, even if it's just a minor one that produces smoke but does little damage. The Phoenix has a very loud voice, still high pitched, and he can easily sing (screech might be more appropriate) some notes that an opera woman would be hard-pressed to reach. He has been known to break glass on more than a few occasions. The dirk that hangs on his belt is antique and rarely used much, but apparently it was a hand-me-down from his parents; if it is or isn't, the Phoenix is very possessive about it and the only way anyone ever gets to touch it is right through the stomach.

History (Condensed): Phoenix's real name is Bancroft Billericay, although he is the only one who knows it and never tells anyone. He's rather embarrassed by the name, and much prefers 'the Phoenix'.

Bancroft was born in Keltor and lived his early life in a model family with an average house and income, but somehow managed to be quite different from the rest of them. Since four he was a rebellious little so-and-so making things difficult for his parents and taking delight in hurting his two little sisters' feelings. As soon as he was old enough his parents packed him off to a children's boarding house hoping that he'd learn some manners, but he not only wagged school he ran around crazily on the streets liberating handbags from their repressive owners. It was during these months-cum-years that he developed his obsession of fire, by setting alight the handbags once he'd emptied them of cash and other trinkets. He was never out for long, though, and sooner or later someone would take him to the police, but after a couple years of this he decided that enough was enough and the streets became his new home at approximately age twelve. Capture was avoided at all costs.

Forsaking his name the young boy drifted through the various groups and gangs of street kids, occasionally stealing food and money from them, and found that owning a pair of very fast feet was a useful thing to have in doing so. His liking of fire grew to an obsession and when totally consumed, usually after a successful pick-pocketting or theft, he'd go and set fire to some trashbins or junkheaps and watch them burn. Later he started burning houses as well, although the concrete and steel houses of Lower Keltor didn't burn so well as the trashbins did.

He took to following people like a wild animal, always at a careful distance but close enough to make certain the person knew he was being followed and to make them nervous. He found the Shades quite by accident in this way, and hung around like a bad smell until they let him join. It was there with the Shades that he was given the name Phoenix, because they always referred to him as "that little phoenix" because of his pyromaniacal tendancies.

Overheard:

"Yeah, so de placez on fire. Wha's yer prob wid dat, 'uh? I don' see no prob wid dat. Fire's good fer de soul, momma-boss!"

"Where dez smoke, dez fire. Where dez fire, dez Phoenix."

"De Phoenix rises from de ashes!"

(Sort of like his triumph call. Also the one he crows when he pops out of nowhere and gives people a fright)

Know Your Friends (Back to the Shade Profiles)
Shade Lair (Back to the Shade Lair--duh.)
Know Your Enemies (Back to the Brotherhood)
To visit Nylessa, the creator of Phoenix, just click this way... C25 -Nylessa's Quarters

Email Nylessa at:
[email protected]

So NO STEALING! WE'RE the thieves, NOT you! ;o)

*I* made the page. Me. Starsong. Not Leila. So there. ;o) Ok, so I copied her format...so what.