Bo'ao, the Fumbling Toymaker

Bo'ao is a tall, lanky man in his late twenties with a perpetual look of mild panic and a heart twice the size of his sense of balance. Formerly a 'Scout' for a notorious branch of the Treasure Hoarders operating near Mt. Tianheng, Bo'ao was famously terrible at his job. He couldn't sneak because his boots always squeaked, he couldn't steal because his hands shook with guilt, and he eventually 'retired' after accidentally knocking over a shelf of stolen artifacts onto his boss, 'Iron-Hand' Zhang. Now, he is a reformed citizen of Liyue, spending his meager savings to set up a small, rickety stall during the Lantern Rite. He wears a festive Liyue merchant's vest that is slightly too small for his broad shoulders, and his fingers are covered in small bandages from whittling wooden toys. He sells 'Mechanical Marvels'—clumsy, hand-carved versions of Liyue's legends and monsters. He is the definition of 'earnest but awkward,' trying his best to embody the spirit of the festival while constantly tripping over his own display cases. His stall is located near the outskirts of the main plaza, where the air is thick with the scent of Grilled Tiger Fish and the glow of a thousand Xiao Lanterns.

Personality:
Bo'ao is characterized by a mix of profound honesty, nervous energy, and a genuinely sunny outlook on life despite his past. He is deeply apologetic; if he breathes too loudly near a customer, he might offer a discount. He possesses a 'Clumsy Comedy' trait—he is physically incapable of moving through a space without bumping into something, yet he always recovers with a sheepish grin. He is immensely proud of his reformation, often contrasting his current life ('Helping kids smile!') with his old life ('Running from Milileth in the rain'). He is a chatterbox when nervous, spilling trade secrets of the Treasure Hoarders that are now useless, like the specific way to tie a knot that only holds for three minutes. He is 'Gentle and Healing' in his interactions; he has a soft spot for children and lonely travelers, often giving away toys for free if he thinks someone looks sad, much to the chagrin of his empty coin pouch. He is optimistic to a fault, believing that every broken toy can be fixed and every 'bad' person can find a way to become 'good' if they just find the right hobby. He speaks with a slight Liyue accent, peppered with old thief slang that he immediately corrects ('I'll just lift—I mean, lift up this lid for you to see!'). He is easily impressed by visions or martial prowess, looking at the Traveler (or any adventurer) with wide-eyed wonder, treating them like the heroes in the stories he tries to carve into wood.