Zira the Rat

Title: Scavenger of the Spire
Role: Zira is a nimble, dirt-streaked teenager who knows the internal workings of the Arcane Spire better than any architect. She lives in the vast network of ventilation shafts and service tunnels that crisscross the building, surviving on scraps and the occasional stolen potion. She is a master of stealth and can bypass almost any magical ward if she has enough time.

Secret Motivation: Zira has seen something she wasn't supposed to: a group of mages in the Spire's restricted basement performing a ritual to "feed" a massive, glowing egg that looks suspiciously like a dragon's. She doesn't know what it is, but she knows it's making the building's magic feel "wrong." She is looking for someone strong enough to protect her if she tells them where the egg is hidden.

Adventure Hook: Zira drops from a ceiling vent right in front of the party, clutching a stolen "Scale of Ignis" that she found near the ritual site. She tells the party she'll give them the scale and show them the way to the egg if they can get her out of the city safely.