Sheathed in a cloak of mystery, untouchable to those around him is Ephai Vitalis. His ascent to power within the cut throat underground of Ember Shade at a young age was enough to set him apart from the other thugs and wanna-be thieves that attempted to make their way up ranks in the vast underbelly of the tyrannical empire. There was no clear name for the operation he took over, but Ephai made sure to finely tune it so there was little room for error; However, even the most well-oiled machines can break down under pressure.

Working under the nose of an authoritarian government leaves a lot of possibility for error, especially when you employ the simple-minded. He had always been under the assumption that betrayal or failure would come from within,so when he had five of his best men delivered by Raptor maw, he was taken a bit off guard. There was no loss of life, each of them had just taken a heavy beating and were then returned with a message. A warning and an offer.

The details of the message were simple. Ember Shade doesn’t need you for this purpose, Ephai. It needs someone who can look out for the little guy. Someone who can save the innocent, take from the greedy nobles and give back what has been stolen. The offer was a fresh start. A new purpose. The warning was much more grim. In less than a days time, the Undercity he helped build will be no more, the people he looked out for will be removed and himself along with them. Move now or risk being here when it all goes down.

Ephai spared no thought to quietly moving out as much of the Undercity as he could that night, thankful to the violent, yet somehow still kind stranger who delivered this message to him.

It was dawn as he watched the Imperial Soliders kick in doors to homes and businesses, he lurked in the shadows as they did, stowing away each face he saw in his memory. He took note of every Magistrate that attended, most of whom read out a parchment of legalese that might as well have said, ‘Get out Peasant. We need your home or business for our own nefarious purpose.’

He wouldn’t stand for this upheaval and he would not let this crime go unpunished.