Oberlin begins the story with the [[:game:classes#master locksmith|Master Locksmith]] class, ideally and exclusively suited for getting into places that others prefer to be closed off. His street-smarts and his skills also make him a good choice when information needs to be gathered. Oberlin is a friendly individual and full of energy. Even though a thief, he looks for more honest ways to make a living. He is also a very helpful and reliable person for his friends. Oberlin's friendly personality also means he is able to play off of others well. ==Background== Not much is known about the life of Oberlin Danihoff, III in the real world other than that he was a successful burglar. He began playing Nova Terra in order to break away from his past, only to eventually fall into his old patterns after his situation became dire. Oberlin tried several classes---a magic caster, an agility-based fighter, and a chef---but found himself ill-suited for all of them. He used his last Destiny point to become a Locksmith, a role already very familiar to him. He quickly advanced to Master Locksmith, and he made a living in the capital by hiring out his services to other players, such as by unlocking chests and dungeons. One day, a client came to Oberlin needing a box unlocked. Unfortunately for Oberlin, the box was cursed. He ended up having to pledge himself to the Ordo Serpentes, unaware of its true nature, in order to remove the curse. This pledge included the secretive order taking a portion of Oberlin's soul. While the tasks that the Ordo Serpentes gave to Oberlin started out relatively benign, they began to order him to retrieve military secrets as well as other sensitive information of the Human Empire. He was unwilling to take part in such tasks and tried to escape the order, but they used his soul to torment him with terrible nightmares. ==In the Books== ++++Book #1: Titan | A string of bad luck has brought Oberlin down to the point of petty theft in order to scrape by a living. One night, Oberlin sneaks into a room of a rundown in to steal from the noob player staying there, who turns out to be [[:characters:thorn|Thorn]]. The creak of the window wakes Thorn up, who apprehends the thief by throwing a bed at him and knocking him through a wall. The thief is arrested and taken to jail. ++++ ++++Book #2: Greymane | Some time later, Oberlin finds himself in prison with Thorn. The thief shares about the world of Nova Terra but also constantly asks the giant to join him on a quest one they leave the prison, only to be rejected every time. After Thorn is released early from prison to do a quest for the warden, Oberlin escapes and heads to Embersplit to rejoin him. Oberlin helps Thorn in determining why the local mine has significantly slowed in its production. It turns out that ruins have been discovered underneath the mine, and some of the miners were working with players from Ragnarok to smuggle out relics. They stop Ragnarok, Oberlin stealing the boxes that Ragnarok was taking, and make sure that the officials are aware before leaving the town. In order to convince Thorn to help him, Oberlin shares about his situation regarding the Ordo Serpentes and the related quest do upgrade his class. Thorn finally agrees to Oberlin's request, and the pair make their way to Vermin. In the town, they make their way to the temple where the Ordo Serpentes has a secret chamber. In order to get Oberlin's soul back, Thorn defeats the high priestess [[:characters:josephine|Josephine]]. Using the fight as a diversion, Oberlin takes the statue containing his soul from the altar. Thorn defeats Josephine, Oberlin gets his [[:game:classes#infinite key master|Infinite Key Master]] class, and the two of them depart Vermin to return to Berum. Oberlin decides to stick with Thorn as thanks for the help in being free from the Ordo Serpentes, and he helps Thorn in his quest to locate Greymane Keep. He becomes the first person hired by Thorn to join his elite team. Together, along with [[:characters:velin|Velin]] and [[:characters:mina|Mina]], they find that Greymane Keep is located in Fang Valley. While Thorn, Velin, and Mina make their way to the valley, Oberlin is sent to the capital of the [[:world:nova_terra#human empire|Human Empire]]. He submits an application for an enfeoffment, making Fang Valley recognized as a barony of the empire with Thorn, now Lord Greymane, as the baron. He also guides the Society of Roses back to the valley to aid Thorn and the inhabitants in defending themselves from an attack by Ragnarok. They make it back in time for the final battle, and Ragnarok is defeated and driven from Fang Valley. ++++