Claude/Story

## Related Characters

Dr. Rooney
Merlin
 Clint (ally)
 Mathilda (ally)
 Barats

## Background

**Claude** was born in Los Pecados, a western city in the Land of Dawn. An infamous city of sins without a ruler or order, lawless and ravaged by crime.

Growing up in such a place as an orphan, **Claude** soon learned how to fight, lie, gamble and steal: tricks of the trade he had to rely upon to survive. He was especially talented in the latter, and no cutpurse he'd ever met matched him when it came to his sharp eye and nimble fingers.

It wasn't long until he became leader of a vagrant band, relying upon his 'skills', and making a name for himself in Los Pecados. He found one who would offer him and his gang protection — **Waldo Kane**. Kane was yet to achieve the monopoly over Los Pecados that he'd dreamed of. Wild ambition and conspiracy brewed deep within him. To him, this motley crew of street roamers with no place to call home were the perfect tools to achieve his goals. Behind a mask of benevolence, he manipulated these kids, with smooth lies and false compassion leading them down a dark path. He molded them into becoming members of his criminal group, each misguided child referring to him as 'Father'.

At the age of 18, **Claude** was given a monumental task: he was to head to Castle Grandrock in northern Moniyan, sneak into the Duke of Vance's home. Then, he would feign stealing secret accounts, while actually casting the blame on another gang. Kane promised **Claude** that he'd have people waiting for him once he was inside. Once he'd completed his mission **Claude** and his team would be rewarded with a place to live of their own. No longer would they need to live in the slums.

The truth, however, was nothing **Claude** could have ever imagined. There was nobody waiting for him: he was but a mere pawn, and neither he nor his brothers would be receiving any kind of reward. Like **Claude**, they were just stepping stones for their 'Father' to become king of Los Pecados.

And so, when he slipped into the Duke's mansion, he found an inescapable trap awaiting him. All **Claude** could do was accept his fate, and he was taken into custody. Following a hasty trial he was soon pronounced guilty of all charges, and thrown into a cold, dark cell.

Locked up in chains, **Claude** burned with regret. The only thing in his mind that kept him going was his gang of brothers, lost with nowhere to go.

The days passed slowly. One day, **Claude** was made to switch cells, his new cell shared with an old man with a beard and hair as white as snow. That peculiar old fellow was none other than the master thief of legend — **Merlin**. The powerful and incredibly resourceful Merlin had a reason for being locked up in a cell. A reason that left **Claude** dumbstruck: he just wanted a quiet place to retire.

The cunning **Claude** reminded Merlin of his younger self. Hence, he decided to pass on to him his legacy. Yet, in return, **Claude** would need to acquiesce to a most peculiar request of Merlin's. Once out of prison, he must loot each city across the Land of Dawn, leaving behind his name as a calling card.

In the two years that followed, **Claude** inherited each of Merlin's wondrous techniques of deceit, escape and combat among others. His abilities grew until he was ready to steal anything he could imagine. One night, **Claude** enacted upon his perfect prison break plan, stealing back his freedom.

To make good on his promise, **Claude** traveled throughout the Land of Dawn in the several years that followed. The streets bristled with whispers of the master thief **Claude**, his charm and his incredible skill. With his trademark carefree smile, **Claude** was your man if you ever needed something stolen, no matter what. All he asked is that the pay be generous, and the one to be stolen from, evil.

As this continued, **Claude** came to be joined by the perfect partner — the mysterious **Dexter**. This mischievous little monkey first met **Claude** in Moniyan, when he stole a lucky gold coin straight from under his nose. After a brief pursuit, their friendship blossomed, and **Claude** took Dexter on as his partner-in-crime. And so their adventures began.

On the fifth year of his departure from Los Pecados, **Claude** finally completed the promise he'd made to Merlin. He'd left his traces in every city in the Land of Dawn.

Next, he would return to Los Pecados. Yet nothing could have prepared **Claude** for what he saw when he returned after those five years away. His brethren of old hadn't risen up the underworld ranks, escaped from poverty with their manipulative 'Father'. No, a fate quite different had befallen them. Instead, he saw that not only were there still pitiable street kids around every corner of this run-down city, ones like **Claude** of the past; there were even more than before.

**Claude** had been deceived and it filled him with a violent rage. He began to plan his revenge as it swirled up inside him. Waldo Kane had achieved his monopoly over the city, becoming the kingpin of Los Pecados. In order to exact his revenge, **Claude** slipped into Eruditio and with Dexter's aid feigned capture, entering prison. He then stole Dr. Rooney's latest invention — a most odd holographic mirror device.

Pleased with his success, it was then that **Claude** noticed a line of text upon the device: *"I hope this device serves you well. If you've any ideas or suggestions on how to improve it, contact me immediately! —Rooney."*

With this 'gift' from Dr. Rooney, **Claude** and Dexter made tracks for Los Pecados. In this chaotic city of nefarious deals outside of the law, he would make he who had deceived him in the past pay the price.