Hollie Birdwell was killed four years ago. It was her worst day so far. Of course, her employer decided that this wasn't something she was willing to abide.
Hollie was abandoned early and raised in a poor house, lasting there only long enough to kill one of the sisters who watched the kids, and then managed to get out onto the street. Having a death warrant on her head, and incredible stress, Hollie found that she manifested horrible powers, which she couldn't control - sometimes causing pain, sometimes making herself invulnerable, and always causing her to be driven from the gangs and dives that kept her fed. As such, she struck out alone the become a burglar until she met Valla.
Valla was a powerful sorcerous whom Hollie stole the Belt of Flying from. Valla caught the poor young burglar and decided to burn her alive with sorcerous fire. Unfortunately, Hollie was suddenly immune to her powers, and ran. She returned the Belt to the Sorcerer Kay, who had hired her to steal it. He had managed to arrange the theft without disclosing its value. Over the next year, Valla tracked Hollie down, a chase that had Hollie convinced she was dead, only to be offered an apprenticeship.
Hollie hated being a sorcerer's apprentice, but enjoyed eating three square meals a day well enough to stay on with Valla. Valla taught her the skills of magic, all that a witch must know to survive, but never let her have her other skills go rusty. Valla was a witch, but also an insurrectionist. Valla wanted to create a sorcerous city state, foment a rebellion against the Wizard's Guild, and control her very own city, a safe place for the gifted to hide from the rest of the world. And Hollie was her weapon.
Once her apprenticeship was over, Hollie was suddenly a burglar again, but this time with the ability to control her powers. Valla spent her days working openly as a sorcerer, in conflict with the other four who ran the city of Atheon, while all working with these sorcerous rivals to keep the Wizard's Guild at bay. Hollie spent her days gathering supplies, stealing artifacts, and getting to know the locals. The getting to know the locals was her major focus. She learned magic to heal, and had the money to keep the gangs away now, making her a major pillar of the community. And so, Hollie became the method Valla used to take the city. The one who managed to bring the streets into Valla's sphere of influence.
Of course, that was when Hollie died. Kay's assassin's blade was never seen before it killed her. It was two days before Valla found her body. Unwilling to let her weapon go to waste, Valla filled her full of powders and spices, and covered her in strange tattoos, bringing her body back - giving her a second chance of life. This time riding a corpse. Since then, Hollie has been hunting Valla, attempting to kill her former mistress. She has been hiding in the slums of the city, eating rats, or, if forced to, corpses she finds, and trying to help those in need. Her goal is to kill the sorcerer lords of the cities, preferably Kay who killed her (the drive given her during her reanimation), and Valla who brought her back. What she doesn't realize is that she's starting to become a saviour figure, a hero of the people. If she wins her war, the Wizard's Guild is going to come down on her, and the four existing sorcerer lords fear the wizards most of all.
Belief: I will end the reign of the sorcerer lords, they are a scourge on the city
Belief: Lord Kay killed me, I will end him (granted as part of reanimation)
Belief: The city of Atheon can still be saved
Instinct: Obey orders given by Valla (granted as part of reanimation)
Instinct: Drop a coin to any urchin I see
Instinct: Always have a second safehouse
A Burning Wheel Monster Every Week