Tao has a lean and lithe build that suggests a life of movement. He possesses sharp, somewhat plain features that make him easily forgettable in a crowd. He wears dark grey robes with several hidden pockets and his hands are wrapped in rough linen to protect his knuckles.

Tao is a man of few words, preferring to observe the flow of a room before committing to action. He believes that identity is a tool rather than a fact, often mimicking the posture or speech patterns of those around him to stay unnoticed.

Tao was an orphan discovered by the Grinning Cat gang, a small syndicate of changelings who operated in the lower districts of a bustling city. Being the only human in a family of shapeshifters, he developed a deep identity crisis from a young age. He spent his youth trying to mimic their fluid movements and social camouflage, essentially training himself to become a shadow in plain sight. This physical discipline eventually led him to a reclusive monk who lived in the city's underbelly, who saw the potential in Tao's desire to become nothing. The monk taught him how to channel his focus into his body, turning his very limbs into weapons. After his mentor disappeared following a guild war, Tao returned to a life of crime, using his newfound agility to pull off impossible heists. He now wanders from city to city, taking contracts that require a touch of silence and a complete lack of a permanent face.