Shaewyn - or usually just Shae - leads a quiet life, mostly alone, wandering from place to place. Recently she has used her various skills to perform odd jobs. And when that doesn't keep coins in her pocket or food in her mouth, she takes advantage of what others might have in their pockets. She never stays anywhere long before moving to a new place, it seems that's how she likes it.  Plus, it helps keep her ahead of any legal entanglements. 

Nobody seems to know her or where she really came from. Where she came from is a bit of mystery to herself as well. When very young, barely a toddler, both Shae and her family were abducted by a group of dragonborn. They were to serve as slaves - though at her age she was not very helpful in that regard. Her parents, barely remembered now, were taken off to serve in more physical tasks. She doesn't recall any siblings, though she honestly isn't sure if maybe she just forgot. It doesn't really seem that important to her.

For some reason, her captors kept her and other younger captives together. They were severely treated and conditioned to always obey every order. Though mostly hidden, she still has many scars on her body. And of course, burned into her memory. It seemed that these dragonborn had some plan for them and in addition to pounding fear and obedience into them, they did offer other training.  The smarter ones they tried to introduce to magic. But she had no ability there. Handling weapons she did a tiny bit better, but she would have only been a mediocre soldier at best. She got by and tried to stay out of the focus of the captors. 

As she got older, Shae realized though that there was something different about her. Life as a slave was not easy, and not all the children survived. Yet somehow, whenever someone died, she could still feel a thread of connection to them. She would hear whispers too, especially at night. In time she realized that these were from the dead as well. Needless to say, it did little to comfort her.  She felt sure it simply meant that she was soon to follow them. 

Amongst her few friends amongst her peers was a human woman who had been receiving magical training.  Something odd was happening to her, gold-colored scales growing over parts of her skin.  To be honest, she had thought perhaps this was a blessing for her - she was turning into a dragonborn perhaps and would soon be able to cease being a slave and join their captors.  Shae really wouldn't have thought much of that - who wouldn't take that sort of opportunity.  But instead, the girl seemed frightened. And she started talking about escape.  With nothing really to lose, she figured she would join the attempt. 

When the time came, there was a little group of young people that did try to escape.  And for her, it did work, though it wasn't easy.  She had been heavily injured and even had stumbled and fallen.  But being small and stealthy, she used it to her advantage.  She managed to crawl wounded in the mud to a spot where her pursuers couldn't see her.  One of her friends had died right next to her, arrows planted in her back. But Shae managed to get away.   

From that time, she mainly lived on the streets. At first, she thought she might find her friends, if any had escaped. It pushed her to go from place to place, but she never did find anyone. She realized with her stealth and nimbleness she could find and take things when absolutely necessary to keep herself going. But anyone with a bit of skill with a weapon could find a job here and there.  So she did, taking whatever she could.  She never really felt comfortable staying in once place, so she just kept herself moving.  Even today she is a bit unnerved by the sight of any dragonborn. She now and then finds herself looking over her shoulder for someone coming after her.