Siofra

England - 1940

Siofra was found as a young Pooka wrapped in an old blanket in the rucksack of young Private Seamus O'Sullivan, a mechanic of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.  He had no idea how she came to be there, but due to his Irish Grandmother and her stories, he recognized what she was at once.   Despite Nan’s warnings that such creatures should always be avoided, lest something terrible befall him, he could not bring himself to abandon the creature. She looked so lost and frightened.  He called her Siofra, as that is the name his Nan had called her kind.  She seemed to have no fear of him, however, and quite readily accepted him as her caregiver.  She would, quite conveniently for him, disappear when anyone else was around, or hide near his bunk to avoid detection. As time went on, when he was working alone, she would hop up on his shoulders and watch.  She spoke an odd dialect of Irish, and after he got over the fact that such a small creature could speak at all, he found he could understand her. 

 One day, working under the hood with Siofra perched on his back, Seamus heard someone approach.  In a panic, he realized she had not jumped off to hide as usual.  His mind scrambled for some excuse to tell his army mate, but the man seemed perfectly pleased to see the creature.  "Hey there, pus," the man said, reaching out to her.  She jumped from Seamus' shoulder to the car, and he saw quite clearly the black cat she had become.  

She quickly became the camp’s mascot, and she would watch and learn from all the mechanics and engineers.  Only Seamus knew her true nature. Though he was a competent mechanic when he joined the service, his skills seemed greatly enhanced when she was around.  When they were alone and she could take her true form, she would help out immensely.  

After the war, Siofra returned with Seamus to Ireland, where he opened his own business as a mechanic, and general repairman.  Siofra, exposed to human children for the first time, quickly learned to mimic the form, so she could speak and interact with Seamus in company.  Seamus soon explained to his friends and neighbors that he had adopted the child, who was orphaned during the war.  

Life continued and with Siofra’s help, Seamus built quite a successful business.  About ten years after the war, he met and fell in love with a nice young lady, and Siofra decided he would be okay without her.  She wanted to know more about her own kind.  She had met other Fae already, because her disguises did not fool them. Also, it was getting difficult to explain why she was not aging as the other children were, and she already spoke more as an adult than a child.  Seamus was reluctant for her to leave, but she promised to visit often, to come back every year in November.  So she set out to explore the world, and look for more of her people.

Siofra followed Seamus to America when the O’Sullivan family immigrated in the 1950s.

America - Omaha Nebraska - Present day

 Siofra eventually found herself in Omaha, Nebraska. She lives and works with Kieran, the great grandson of her beloved foster father.  Together they run a specialty antique shop.  He favors high end furniture, while she specializes in antique machines of all sorts.  She particularly enjoys clockwork machines and spends a good deal of her time inventing new gadgets.  In public, she refers to Kieran as her ”grandfather,” because she still appears as a 12 year old girl and he is in his 50s. She thinks of him as a cherished nephew.  In name, he runs the business, in reality, however,  she handles most aspects of it, though he has a good deal of knowledge and contacts in the world of antiques.

Disadvantage Summary

Fae:

•  Distinctive Features: Natural form is a Pooka, a kind of furry rabbit/monkey/cat looking creature (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses); in human form she has tufts of fur on the tops of her ears, easily hidden by her long hair.  She also has a long tail, kept hidden by her clothes. -She is careful not to let average humans see her true form, but whenever possible, when she is alone or with those she trusts, she will revert to it.

• Physical Limitation: Cannot tell a direct lie (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)- twisting the truth is not lying to her mind. In fact she, as most Fae, consider it an art and a point of pride to get away with such things.

       Personal:

• Dependent NPC: Kieran O'Sullivan 8- (Normal; Useful Non Combat position or skills.  - she dotes on her grand nephew and is very protective of him.  She is also always on the lookout for a wife for him.  She is concerned he is not continuing the family line. He is aware she is Fae, but has no idea she is working for “Charlie.”  She prefers to keep it that way.

• Social Limitation: People don’t take a child seriously. (Frequently, medium)- She finds it pretty frustrating when people won’t listen to her good ideas, or knowledge because she appears to be a child, while she knows she is older than most humans alive today. Sometimes, she slips and tells them so, but they usually just laugh at her.  Which is more infuriating.

• Psychological Limitation: Hinder, but do not harm. (common, strong) - During the war she saw enough death and cruelty to last even her long lifetime.  She will go out of her way to avoid causing serious wounds to an opponent.

• Physical Limitation: (Frequently, slightly impairing) Human form looks like, and is the size of a 12 year old child- she can’t drive a car very easily, and would be noticed if she did.  Similar height/age difficulties vex her.  She is trying to learn an adult form, but it has so far eluded her.