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Re: Altamira's Characters
 Since the single-links are bugging me, I'm sticking all of my characters here in this thread. All of them have already been approved. *All characters collectively won "Best Character Drawing" in the Fall 2007 BA Awards. Scroll down to the last post of this thread to find Robin Overcoat (Jan Mercer.) Hayden is currently retired, as of 5/29/08. All other characters shall be rewritten and updated during this summer. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Cadenza Madrigal-Valentia 2.0 (Approved by LadyElvenarcher) Name: Cadenza Madrigal-Valentia (pronounced: kuh-DEN-zuh mah-dree-gal vuh-lent-ia) Age: 29 Race: Human Gender: Female Hair: Black, soft curls tied up in a loose bun, with black, bouncy, curly tresses left down, in a “half-ponytail” style. Straight bangs cover most of her forehead, and are parted towards the left side. Hair is shiny and silky, and slightly oily to the touch. Three royal purple peacock feathers with sharpened tips are pinned at an angle into the bun. Eyes: Deep blue. Dark enough as to hide the pupils in most lighting. Weight: 112 pounds Height: 5’5” Theme Songs: Gypsy Flame (Armik), Static (Kenna), The Little Things (Danny Elfman) Known Family: Paris Valentia – husband (only legally deceased) Galliard Madrigal – father Sonya Navarre-Madrigal – mother (deceased) Vivace Madrigal-Dionne – eldest sister (deceased) Algretta Madrigal – second eldest sister Luminari Madrigal – third eldest sister Arietta Madrigal – fourth eldest sister Alessandra Dionne - niece Homeplace: Santa Mariela, Rubato, South Cordelia, Earth (city, country, continent, world) Weapons:
Armor: White mythril full-body armor is worn underneath clothing. Black leather padding is worn on forearms to protect arms from backlash from the bowstring. Black, fingerless leather gloves are worn on hands. Strengths: Cadenza is very stealthy and clever. Her magical energies and intensive training have enabled her to move at superhuman speeds, appearing as only a faint blur to most eyes, and have also granted her strength and stamina beyond that of normal humans. She’s trained in various martial art disciplines, and in sword-fighting, and has great skill in fighting with daggers, knives, guns, and bows as well. Her magical abilities are unrivaled, even by her own remarkable speed, and all but her Crescendo spell are unaffected by even the strongest light. The gypsy is very agile, and can perform flips and other stunts some might view as impossible. As a result of living in arid Rubato, she can withstand high temperatures and harsh dry weather better than most humans, and because of her strong bond with shadow, she is capable of seeing perfectly in darkness. Dark and shadow magics are ineffective against her, and other elements (including light) are merely neutral at best. Weaknesses: Without her peacock feathers, she cannot cast some of her spells, and has no backup ammunition for her bow. Her mythril armor, while more than strong enough to repel all earthly metals and many magical ones, can be damaged after several powerful hits by some of the strongest magical metals, and does not offer protection to her neck, feet, hands, or head. Also, being from a warm climate, she intensely dislikes extreme cold. Skills/Magic: Cadenza was first an archer, with excellent aim when given a little time to calculate her shots, and has since then gained skill in martial arts and other methods of combat. She has amazing power with her shadow magic, and possesses superhuman speed and great strength. ~Spells: Enchantment- Cadenza removes the trio of peacock feathers from her hair and spreads them out like a fan, as she begins an incantation. The sounds of the chant, when filtered through her mystic feathers, appear to be a beautiful melody, lulling foes into a false sense of peace. Once Cadenza finishes, she swings the fan at her opponent with a flourish, putting them under her spell, which paralyzes most enemies for upwards to 5 minutes when successful. Spell takes 1-3 minutes to complete. Mesmerize- Mesmerize is a stronger version of Enchantment, and is executed in the same fashion. The spell, however, requires a longer incantation, and drains far more energy. The incantation takes 5-7 minutes to complete and necessitates complete concentration. Most enemies are paralyzed up to 15 minutes when successful. Cadenza is often severely drained after finishing the spell, unless she is in peak condition and has expended very little of her energy beforehand. Premonition- Cadenza begins a different incantation, often closing her eyes to concentrate. A purple aura appears around her as the chant draws to a close, shielding her as she views a glimpse of the future. Shield lasts upwards to 2 minutes when successful, length of visions vary. Spell takes 1-2 minutes to complete. Crescendo- A shroud of shadow magic engulfs an enemy or enemies, gradually increasing the pressure underneath the shroud. If trapped underneath for a certain length of time (generally 5-8 minutes for a human) the pressure can reach lethal levels. If not trapped long enough to be killed, the pressure may damage eardrums and other sensitive membranes. Incantation takes 3-5 minutes to complete. Spell lasts until Cadenza is sapped of energy, calls off the spell, or the foe breaks out of the shroud (using extremely intense light or similar means.) Void- Discs of shadow magic nullify light (both magic and regular light waves) and can redirect it back elsewhere (at an opponent, or simply a different location.) Effectiveness of spell and the amount of Cadenza’s energy consumed depends on the intensity of the light. Discs are shot from the palm of the hands or the fingertips. No incantation needed. Staccato Burst Shadow- Hurls short, intensified bursts of pure shadow magic at an enemy, requiring no chant or preparation time. Blasts may be fired until Cadenza is completely drained of energy. Blasts are fired from the palm of the hand or fingertips.
Dark Shield- Around Cadenza forms a domed shield constructed of shadow magic that lasts for as long as Cadenza has energy, or until she willingly calls the spell off on her own. A short incantation taking 1-2 minutes is required to incite the spell.
Noir Armor- As the name suggests, this skill allows Cadenza to form a suit of full-body, ebony-hued armor constructed of pure shadow magic to guard herself. The armor disperses any and all forms of energy used to attack her, scattering the particles harmlessly off its surface, and it can absorb magical energy in order to replenish the gypsy’s own reserves. The armor lasts for upwards to 10 minutes, or until she willingly calls the spell off herself, and requires an incantation of 2-3 minutes to create. It drains significantly more energy than either form of her Dark Shield skill. Dance of the Shadows- Cadenza begins this attack by singing the first few measures of a song with magical qualities, which was specially composed for her by Louis Fritz's protégé and musical prodigy, Melody Ferrier. As the last few notes ring out, human-sized figures of pure shadow magic appear on all sides of an enemy, and collide erratically and forcefully into the foe as they dance and careen around. The masses of energy move to keep up with their target, so they can't miss. The attack ends when Cadenza calls it off or is sapped of energy. Revoada das Sombras- Literally called “flight of a flock of shadows”, this spell begins when Cadenza sings the first few measures of a song with magical qualities; but unlike the tune of Dance of the Shadows composed for her by Melody Ferrier, the lyrics are entirely in the old Rubatoian language, and draw upon the gypsy’s own, more potent magical energies rather than a bond with the girl prodigy. As the last few words are sung, pure shadow magic materializes in the form of a flock of beastly dragons, who divebomb at their target in wild, unpredictable patterns and mind-boggling speeds. Like in the Dance, the masses of energy move to keep up with their target, so they can never miss—but unlike the Dance, the dragon-sized figures can attack aerial foes with greater ease, and have a far more intense and destructive concentration of magical power behind their attacks. The spell, which drains more energy than the Dance, concludes when Cadenza calls it off or is sapped of energy. Silhouette of Stealth- Learned during training with shadow magic-user contacts in Rubato (after "Her Rebellion"), this spell allows Cadenza to meld into any nearby shadows (or shadow magic), disappearing into them completely without a trace. She can freely move through any space where the shadows or spells themselves are cast--along walls, through windows, etc. for as long as she has energy. No incantation is needed--the spell only necessitates energy and shadows within range.
Healing Sonata- Cadenza starts this spell by singing the first few measures of a song with magical qualities, which was specially composed for her and Louis Fritz by the minstrel’s own protégé, Melody Ferrier. As the melody flows, energy gathers at the gypsy’s feet, and rises in bright rings until it has traversed her whole body, healing any non-lethal injuries, internal or external, as it goes. Melody’s flute can be heard echoing in unison with the song when the spell is cast.
Gloom Tornado- By surrounding herself with a veil of pure shadow magic to draw upon, Cadenza can run on pure magical energy, increasing her already impressive speed fivefold and creating twisters of shadow power in her wake. These twisters trail after her, engulfing any foe she passes and damaging them with both forceful shadow magic and fierce winds. The technique requires no incantation, but consumes a considerable amount of magical energy, leaving Cadenza somewhat drained afterwards. Razorfeathers- By enchanting one of the peacock feathers in her hair with magic, Cadenza can toss the feather into the air to incite an attack quicker than the eye. Once the tossed feather dissolves, a downpour of razor-sharp feathers made of dark magic flutter down, unable to be deflected, and then all at once, they abruptly slash in countless different places on their target, cutting deeper than a knife without warning. The attack causes both great blood loss and significant magical damage. As Cadenza only carries three feathers that can serve this purpose, this attack can only be used three times; once for each feather. Mysteriously, the feathers she uses rematerialize after a day. Shadow Golem- After an incantation of 6-8 minutes, a great deal of the shadow energy from within Cadenza rises to the surface in a visible form, and manifests itself around the woman’s body in a destructively powerful giant of pure magic. In this form, Cadenza retains her impressive speed, but commands far greater physical and magical power and defense (increased by at least 15-fold, depending on how much magic is used to form the giant) within the golem’s dark, semi-transparent form. Her Void ability, Dark Shield (and related skills), Staccato Burst Shadow (and related skills), and Silhouette of Stealth (and related skills) can all still be used when in this form. The spell lasts for as long as Cadenza has energy, or until she willingly calls it off herself. The energy used will absorb back into her afterwards, but she is still considerably drained after the spell in most cases (just how much depending on how long she maintained the golem form.) Shadow’s Blessing- Gained after overcoming the gypsy spirit of shadow. Cadenza may grant one shadow spell of her own (not removing the ability to perform the spell from herself) to any living being for a single day. Worldly Exchange- Gained after overcoming the gypsy spirit of shadow. Cadenza is able to draw shadow magic energy from any nearby shadows when her own natural magical resources are depleted to a certain extent. Harmony- After years of being excluded from its circle, this spell has finally been granted to Cadenza, as it has been to her sisters. She simply chants an incantation taking 1-2 minutes, and then, through a bond of gypsy magic, is allowed to call upon a spell from one of her sisters. Unlike when they use the spell, however, the proximity of the other women is irrelevant to the skill’s strength, thanks to the Cadenza’s own intense training. (See sisters’ profiles for list of possible spells.) Soul’s Flare- Learning Harmony has opened upon the world of Rubatoian magics to the gypsy, where the spells draw upon not only the user’s own energies, but other sources like emotion, the soul, or bonds with others. Cadenza began learning these skills under the tutelage of various mages countrywide, and this training has come to fruition in the first of the gypsy’s spells in this vein of magic. By focusing these newly-tapped energies, she’s able to release invisible shockwaves of magical energy whose effect differ depending on her emotions. Anger brings a devastating magical attack that can bypass barriers of any kind; happiness a burst of energy that restores her reserves and heals her wounds; sadness a crippling blow that paralyzes targets until they’re released or can break free from the extremely strong grip of the spell. Other, more complex emotions have yet to be explored, but many are thought to fall under the three broader categories. The attacks can be charged with her own innate shadow element by will. ~Other skills: Blade Wave- As of "Between Darkness and Light", whenever Cadenza slashes or moves her cutlass, the Conquistatore da Luz, waves of shadow energy will ride off the cutting edge and crash into anything they touch. This takes no conscious thought on Cadenza's part--it's simply a result of her shadow power flowing into the blade, and being more than the sword can contain within itself. Thusly, to give off the excess energy, it releases these devastating waves. This consumes no more energy than a normal swing of a sword would--it's just the product of a transfer of magic like blood flowing through a body. Further description of the waves from their first appearance can be found here: Quote:
The gypsy normally wears a tight-fitting, crisp white cotton turtleneck blouse, with a short, tight brown leather vest buttoned over top and her quiver and duffle bug’s straps slung across her chest. She also wears a pair of dark brown tights and comfortable, easy-to-maneuver-in tan-colored shorts, cinched at the waist by a dark brown leather belt to which her dagger sheathe is affixed. On her feet, she sports a pair of mid-shin-high brown leather boots, with tough, durable soles. When in sandy Rubato, Cadenza will occasionally wear a tawny-colored cloak over her attire. Pictures:  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...zamagicsig.png  http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7...reditsccj8.png Old Pictures: -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...colorvers2.png -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...u/cadenza3.png -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...adenzafull.png -http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7...enzapicqd2.png -http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8394/cadenza5ww1.jpg -http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/2...smsmalljq6.png -http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6...sketch7zt4.jpg -http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/999...lorver7um6.png -http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6...nzanew3rk8.png -http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8...tchnoncnk1.png Personality: The gypsy comes across as prideful and reserved, quick-witted and sometimes coldly indifferent. She’s very independent, and has confidence in her actions and choices, but that confidence is mired with the distrust of others, for she’s well aware of the fact that they affect the world she’s in, and can change situations dramatically if they choose to help or hinder her pursuit of her goals. This leads her to often weigh the pros and cons of a decision or situation, rather than jumping impetuously in. Others often feel the need to be wary in her presence; with one of the brightest minds ever to have dived into the criminal world, and with the driving force of characteristic Rubatoian passion within her, it can almost never be known for certain if the woman will call you a friend or stab you in the chest. Her respect is hard-earned and doesn’t always soften the edge to her tough attitude—making it very difficult to understand how well she’ll take to you if you don’t know her well. Calmness and a thick-skin towards rudeness seem to have helped colleague Louis Fritz and others become friendly with her over time, even going so far as to become drinking buddies, sparring partners, and most important of all, dependable allies. Cadenza has been described by some as a “real rough-and-tumble character who can still mellow out at times”—she tries to adapt the best she can to situations, determining what would be the best approach to them just as she once considered the best way to approach a crime. Still, she is not without a temper that can lead her to punch out innocent Dome messengers and not without nerves that can make her react in ways that are less-than-beneficial in the long view. Being a teacher of the Dome, she has seen much and is surprised by little; she quickly seemed to grasp the concept of the Dome’s sentience and the idea of there being different worlds. In battle, Cadenza is a calm and calculating fighter, determined and resolute when victory is necessary or desired, and when survival is on the line. She’s fierce and relentless with her attacks, showing mercy only on the very young, the very old, or, due to her late husband Paris Valentia having been one, soldiers. She utterly despises all police and other law enforcers and isn’t terribly fond of most vampires. Biography: (See old profile for earlier information.) After the death of her sister Vivace, and the confusing circumstances surrounding it, Cadenza established her freedom quietly and without celebration, and left home as quickly as she could stabilize her sisters’ conditions after their loss. She took her sister Luminari’s sword for her own, believing the deeply distraught woman could be a danger to herself if she didn’t, and searched out a blacksmith that had long worked for her family, commissioning him to forge her an altogether more formidable weapon that would combine the blade with a gun and stronger, mystical metals she had acquired from her Dome travels. With this task underway, she set herself to training with various contacts across the globe that specialized in martial arts, swordfighting, and shadow magic, determined to bolster her arsenal of skills before returning to teaching. The passion to seek and exact revenge upon the hitman who betrayed her father, and more recently killed her sister, burned hotter than ever in the gypsy’s heart in those long weeks of training. Upon returning to the Dome, she was thrust headfirst into the duties of a full-teacher, with new students abound and countless other new responsibilities. She finally was able to meet Louis Fritz for the first time in person, and was also reunited with her faithful dragon Avello, both of whom noted that sometimes, if only sometimes, there was a light glittering in the woman’s eyes after having gained her fresh independence. The gypsy found much of her new work trivial and at some times, even annoying, but overall was glad to have found a stable job and nice living quarters. After sending her substitute Hunter Merridale back to his world of Medina, she settled into her job quickly, but still accepts other side jobs, such as assassinations or acting as a body guard, if she’s satisfied with the terms or considers there to be some other worthwhile reason to taking the offer. Throughout all of this, her driving goal of tracking down the hitman and avenging the wrongs against her and her family persists, and Cadenza will never rest easy until her goal is realized. Room at the Dome: A dark violet door leads to a room that is hexagonal, and deceptively small. Strange incense placed there by unknown forces burns in each of the six corners, and is rumored to incite hallucinations of one’s worst fears. These visions are said to be seen playing across the six mirror walls. The only person known to be immune to the incense is the room’s occupant, teacher Cadenza Madrigal, who has adapted to the smoke since first moving in. Some believe that she developed the resistance as a result of the Dome considering her to have coped with all of her fears—or at least, those which it feels it would be wise to interfere with. This implies that the Dome placed the incense in the room in order to help Madrigal overcome her fears. Nowadays the smoke more so functions as a security measure to keep intruders out of the teacher’s quarters. In the main room, aside from the mirrors and incense, there is a wooden bar that one might use for ballet stretches, which runs the length of the wall opposite the door. In the center of the antechamber, there also lies an oval-shaped bed with a curved headboard and footboard, which is generally made up with lavish purple sheets and pillows with silver tassels, and a small cherry wood bureau that is often locked. On the floor, near the foot of the bed, there’s a plush violet pillow on which the dragon Avello slumbers. In contrast to earlier days, each of the six mirror walls has now been split up, with two mirrors making up each wall instead of just one. Behind every mirror is a hallway that leads either to a newer room of Cadenza’s, or to somewhere else in the Dome. Of the twelve doors, it is known that one leads to a luxuriant full bathroom, one to a kitchenette, one to a guest bedroom, one to a library, one to a training room, and one to a sauna. At least one door leads to the outside of the Dome, but it’s only accessible from inside the gypsy’s quarters, and not from the outside. Another’s ultimate destination is said to shift about, following the nature of the Dome. And the last that anything is known about is said to lead to a place directly adjacent to the door to Florheim, the main connection between the Dome and Madrigal’s Earth. Name: Avello Age: 3 Race: Dragon Gender: Male Eyes: A vivid, slightly yellowish green. Weight: 432 lbs Height: 6’1” Skills/Magic: Being a dragon, Avello is capable of flight and breathing fire, and has tough, steel-like scales, horns, teeth, and claws. Appearance: Avello is an adolescent dragon with brilliant violet scales, short white cranial horns, and bright, curious green eyes. His wings are strong and graceful, and their span is longer than he is tall, making them one of his most striking of features. He usually has a hint of mischief on his face, and is very expressive for a reptile, as he was raised by a human and not by fellow dragons. Personality: As one of the two living beings he first saw, Avello has developed a strong attachment to his owner Cadenza, and is often worried over her well-being. He hates to leave her side, content in following her like a baby duck does its mother, and when refused that option, can become fussy and a little rebellious. He’s accustomed to her attitude and unemotional way of showing care for him, and follows most of her orders without question. Towards others, he’s quiet and somewhat stand-offish, unless they give him a reason to behave otherwise. The Other Madrigal Sisters (profiles to be used as reference for "Her Rebellion" and future works): Name: Algretta Madrigal Age: 34 Race: Human Gender: Female Hair: Black, long, and straight. Tied up in a tight braid, with short, side-swept bangs that barely reach past her brows. Eyes: Cerulean blue Weight: 137 pounds Height: 5’5 1/2” Weapon: A metallic rod, with blue steel rings at the base of a pentagonal head. Armor: None Skills/Magic: Algretta specializes in water magic, but her true skills reside in the handling of machinery and other technology. Staccato Burst Water- Hurls short, intensified bursts of pure water magic at an enemy. Harmony- After chanting a spell (usually taking from 2-3 minutes), Algretta may call upon a spell from one of her other sisters. Strength of spell depends on proximity of other sisters. Appearance: Algretta is the only one of the Madrigal sisters to wear glasses. She prefers to wear a thin, navy blue rimmed pair, with lenses that function like transitional lenses. Like all of her family, she has an olive complexion. She also wears mascara and blue eyeshadow on occasion. Algretta wears a loose-fitting, blue cotton blouse, with dark blue buttons up the front, and a pair of navy blue trousers. Her pants are cinched at the waist by a gray utility belt filled with odds and ends used when tinkering with machinery. On her feet, she wears black slippers with a fish pattern embroidered in blue gemstones. Personality: Of all the sisters left in Rubato, Algretta seems the least perturbed by the recent turn of effects, and maintains her cool, calculating demeanor and measured approach to life. She exalts logic over emotion, and has thusly remained the most stable person living in the Madrigal household. Known Inventions: -Wormhole generator and tracker (as seen in "Reasons and Motives") -Restorative elixir (as seen in "An Unexpected Reunion") -Beeping internal tracking device (as seen in "An Unexpected Reunion") -Shocker bracelet (as seen in "On the Sandy Streets") -Temperature bracer (as seen in "Her Rebellion") Name: Luminari Madrigal Age: 31 Race: Human Gender: Female Hair: Black, shoulder-length, and very curly. Held back from face by a headband made of pink fabric. Eyes: Deep green Weight: 119 pounds Height: 5’4 1/2” Weapon: None, her sword being taken from her by Cadenza for use in her gunblade Armor: None Skills/Magic: Luminari specializes in light magic and is an amateur healer. Staccato Burst Light- Hurls short, intensified bursts of pure light magic at an enemy. Harmony- After chanting a spell (usually taking from 2-3 minutes), Luminari may call upon a spell from one of her other sisters. Strength of spell depends on proximity of other sisters. Purify- When successful, heals most non-lethal wounds. Amount of energy consumed depends on severity of wound. Spell takes 8-10 minutes to complete. Appearance: Luminari wears an ensemble consisting of a yellow, mid-length dress, silver chain belt, and pink, button-up shrug. She has an olive-complexion, and wears yellow eyeshadow and pink lipstick, along with matching pink pearl earrings and a necklace. As for shoes, Luminari wears a pair of pink, comfortable slippers, similar to Cadenza's old ones. Personality: Luminari was utterly broken by the loss of her sister and idol, Vivace. While she tries to maintain a peaceful exterior, on the inside, she’s become an emotional wreck, and retains her unpredictability in her actions. Name: Arietta Madrigal Age: 30 Race: Human Gender: Female Hair: Black, wavy, and short. Tied up in a loose ponytail with messy, side-swept bangs. Eyes: Light green Weight: 125 pounds Height: 5’5” Weapon: A collection of nine steel throwing knives, and a small metallic boomerang. Armor: Steel gauntlets that restrict motion in the wrists slightly, but protect hands from blades. Skills/Magic: Arietta specializes in wind magic, but is the weakest magically of all her sisters. Staccato Burst Wind- Hurls short, intensified bursts of pure wind magic at an enemy. Harmony- After chanting a spell (usually taking from 2-3 minutes), Arietta may call upon a spell from one of her other sisters. Strength of spell depends on proximity of other sisters. Appearance: Arietta is considered the ugly duckling of the Madrigal family, although many men still seem to find her attractive. She wears a tight-fitting green halter top with a matching green choker made of cloth, and black capri pants. On her feet, she wears short black boots. Like all of her other sisters, she has an olive-colored complexion. She also wears green eyeshadow, to go along with the green-theme of her outfit. Personality: Arietta initially felt lost and confused without her sister Vivace’s commands, but is gradually beginning to think for herself and act independently. She’s also begun to be a source of solace for her distraught sister, Luminari, and her ill mother, Sonya. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Awards: Most Powerful Character - Fall BA 2007 Most Attractive Female Character - Fall BA 2007 Best Battle (Chinatown Rush) - Fall BA 2007 and ZU Winter 2007-2008 Best BA Character - ZU Winter 2007-2008 Character with the Most Angsty Backstory - EH Summer 2008 Most Attractive Female Character - EH Summer 2008 Best Romance (with Johnny Bones) - EH Summer 2008 Battles: On the Sandy Streets (dropped) An Unexpected Reunion (complete) The Shadows' Favored (in progress) Chinatown Rush (dropped/postponed?) Between Darkness and Light (in progress) Knockin' on Heaven's Door (in progress) Damned Drunks (dropped) Vanishings (in progress) Crossroads: Accidents Shouldn't Happen (dropped) Field Trip! (complete) Reasons and Motives (complete) Her Rebellion (complete) Grudging Respect (postponed) What Fate had in Store (dropped) Farewells. (complete) Winter Comes to the Desert (complete) Sun, Surf, and Demons (in progress) Out of the Shadows (in progress) Eye for an Eye (complete) It's Easier to Hate (in progress) Character Fiction: Bittersweet (complete) A Kindred Spirit (complete) A Common Cause (tentative title) (postponed) The Chain of Pursuit (complete) Training and Teaching: Cadenza's Training (complete) Jhans' Training (complete) Kellson's Training (complete) TDC's Training (complete) Jhans' Training 2 (complete) Kellson's Training 2 (complete) Jhans' Training 3 (complete) Kellson's Training 3 (complete) Kyralie's Training (in progress) Thalos' Training (in progress) Ciaran's Training (in progress) Kashet's Training (in progress) Richard's Training (in progress) Zachary Leos' Training (in progress) Ejnar Rekklae’s Training (in progress) Nathan’s Training (in progress) Ragnos’ Training (in progress) Rain Seraph's Training (in progress) Mark's Training (in progress) Past Profiles: Cadenza Madrigal 1.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Prince Hunter Merridale (Approved by Lady Elvenarcher) Name (and title): Prince Hunter Merridale Age: 24 Race: Human Gender: Male Hair: Straight light brown locks that are artfully ruffled with a bit of a gel-like product. Hair goes down a little past the ears, but is not long enough to be considered effeminate. Eyes: A warm golden hazel. Weight: 167 pounds Height: 5’10” Theme Songs: Threads of Fate (ToF), 600 AD Theme (Chrono Trigger) Known Family: King Levine Merridale – father Queen Sandra Merridale – mother Hannah Vilene – fiancee Homeplace: Renamor, Choras, Guardia, Medina (city, country, continent, world) Weapons: A spear, with a finely-crafted steel spearhead and a black shaft made of a durable metal alloy. The Merridale royal crest is etched upon the spearhead. An oaken slingshot is stored away in a leather pouch at Hunter’s waist, along with metal pellets for ammunition. Armor: A steel cuirass, with its breastplate reinforced with mythril, is worn to protect the torso. Lightweight greaves made of a metal alloy similar to his spear shaft is also worn. Hunter carries a circular shield, with his royal crest etched onto the face, and a sturdy leather strap on the back. When not in use, the shield is carried on his back, strapped onto his spear’s specially-made sheathe. His boots are also plated in steel, and provide some protection. Strengths: Hunter is a quick, young man and somewhat muscular. He has considerable physical strength, and his defense is bolstered greatly by his armor. Weaknesses: Hunter is incapable of using any magic, and his powers of observation are poor. He sometimes overlooks potential dangers, and when caught in a difficult situation, may have difficulty devising a way out. He's also not the best shot with a slingshot. Skills/Magic: Hunter uses no magic, and has no special skills aside from his abilities to shoot a slingshot with decent accuracy and to wield a spear well. Appearance: Hunter is fair-skinned, and is considered to be rather handsome by most females he has met, as they often adore his boyish good looks and earnest eyes. His attire resembles that of a knight in his kingdom: he wears his armor at all times, and the clothing he wears underneath that armor serves the purpose of defense as well. His dark green, long-sleeved shirt is made of a hardy cotton blend, and is known to be more durable then the normal fabric made of that plant. His pants are made of black leather, and are secured at his hips by a leather belt of the same color. Attached to the belt is a suede pouch containing his slingshot bullets. His boots are made of leather as well, and are reinforced with steel for protection. He wears a very regal, dark green cape made of cotton and lined in gold to protect himself from harsh weather. Hunter’s spear sheathe is worn on his back, and the strap is worn across his chest. Pictures:  http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/8198/hunterm4ae7.jpg Old Pictures: -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ercolorver.png -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ncehunter2.png -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...untermfull.png -http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5...termpicct3.jpg -http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2...w3draftcs4.png Personality: Good-natured and charming, Hunter is an ideal prince in many respects. He has a humbleness and sense of virtue about him, and upholds the traditions of chivalry unwaveringly when possible. He displays greater pride in his rank of commander than his title of prince, and will only speak of the latter if questioned or if it becomes otherwise called for. Despite his strong sense of duty to his army and country, he is entirely capable of relaxing and joking around with good friends. He is quick to trust and give respect, and eager to earn both; coldness doesn’t daunt him in the least. He considers it important to build rapport with one’s comrades and subordinates, and will never fail to try and do so with his own. The prince, however, is not without flaws; many, especially those of more modern times, find him long-winded and close-minded, ignorant of magic and bogged down with his medieval beliefs. The man tries to overcome this close-mindedness from his culture and era, but his naiveté still persists in many ways. In a fight, he's level-headed and serious, and quickly tries to take charge of the situation. Biography: Hunter Merridale is the sole heir to the Merridale throne. He was born to King Levine and his wife Sandra in the rich country of Choras, and was destined for a comfortable, luxurious life. Choras had amassed its great wealth through its many war victories and conquests, and at the time of Hunter’s birth, had decided that after all of the success in war, it should reform its foreign policy to that of imperialism. And so when Hunter was of age, his father Levine enrolled him in the training program of a knight. His son would become the poster boy of the growing empire’s military, and the kingdom would gain even more public support because of the amiable young soldier. Hunter trained night and day to fulfill his duty to his father, and learned how to wield his custom-made spear under some of the greatest officers in Choras’ army. Hunter soon rose through the ranks of the service, and took his position as the youngest commander the nation had ever seen. A military career was not all that was predetermined for Hunter however. His mother Sandra, who was amorous with the very idea of weddings, arranged a marriage for her son not long after his birth. The girl to whom Hunter was betrothed, Hannah Vilene, had the largest dowry of all the noble girls in Choras, and that was the sole reason she had won Sandra’s favor. Hunter met his future bride during his schooling, and developed a strong dislike for her. She was vain and confrontational, and was only interested in becoming wealthier and having a glorified title. Hunter fled the royal city of Renamor, Choras, to escape his wedding when he attained the age of twenty-one. Out of respect, his soldiers still considered him their commander, and so Hunter felt as if he still had not let down his father or country as far as the army went. With that knowledge in mind, he traveled the nation, coming to his military’s aid in the battles he came across. He had a way of rallying the troops and boosting morale that no other commander had. The army was victorious in every battle Hunter fought in. Prince Merridale now roams Choras on the back of his steadfast mare, Mannie. She is a stately, young, tan horse, and her coat is freckled with beige spots. Mannie also boasts a beautiful cream-colored mane and tail and ebony hooves. On her back she wears a brown leather saddle, embroidered with the crest of the Merridale family. The sturdy reins are of the same color, and are fashioned of a thick rope-like material. Mannie has become the symbol for Hunter, and whenever any soldier sees her in the distance, his spirits are said to rise tenfold. EDIT (3/15/07): In a chance meeting months ago, Hunter Merridale has met, and to some degree befriended, Cadenza Madrigal and learned of the enigmatic Dome. He has also introduced the woman to four of his most trusted comrades; Lieutenant Lesley Hildegard and his brother Officer Neville Gentree; Hildegard's polar opposite Officer Peter Warren; and the slow-witted Officer Borrof Slovsky, otherwise known as "Bo". Since then, Hunter has assumed the position of substitute teacher, and is working in Cadenza's stead at the Dome while she is away in her home country. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Awards: Character Most Deserving of the Official Power Shot Seal of Approval - EH Summer 2008 Battles: The Witch and the Unsuspecting Wormhole (dropped) The Lost Treasure of the Castle (dropped) Beating the Drum of Death (postponed) Tower of Ibica (in progress) Knockin' on Heaven's Door (in progress) Crossroads: Persona Non Grata: Stopping a War (complete) Hidden Truths (in progress) Farewells. (complete) Myth on the Moors (in progress) Character Fiction: A Kindred Spirit (complete) A Common Cause (tentative title) (postponed) Training and Teaching: Jhans' Training 2 (complete) Kellson's Training 2 (complete) Jhans' Training 3 (complete) Kellson's Training 3 (complete) Kyralie's Training (in progress) Thalos' Training (in progress) Ciaran's Training (in progress) Kashet's Training (in progress) Richard's Training (in progress) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Ancia (Approved by Gracie) Name: Ancia (pronounced: ahn-SEE-uh) Age: Unknown Race: Water nymph Gender: Female Hair: Long, wavy, turquoise tresses that fall to her mid-back, with a simple, golden headband worn around her head. Eyes: Deep green that appears to swirl like water. Weight: 98 pounds Height: 4’11” Theme Song: Negai (ToS OVA) Known Family: Poseidon – father Muse of the arts (name unknown) – mother Keldar - cousin Hades - uncle Zeus - uncle Homeplace: Phaedorna River, Phaedorna, Grecia, Panthea (river, country, continent, world) Weapon: An enchanted paintbrush approximately half her height capable of painting illusions and channeling weak water magic. Its handle is crafted of white stone and the bristles of strong, tan-colored equine hair. The “paint” is made of an unknown substance, and is renewed when dipped in a body of water or rained on. Armor: None Strengths: Ancia is skilled at evading and eluding foes, and can blend in with her surroundings easily in watery areas. As a water nymph, she is also capable of breathing underwater, and bending liquids to her will. Weaknesses: Ancia is very weak physically, and not much of a tactician. She’s naïve and innocent, and easily tricked in trusting her enemies and letting down her defenses. She also has a merely average level of control with offensive magic. Skills/Magic: Ancia can quickly paint illusions and uses a few water spells with her paintbrush. Duplicate- Ancia paints multiple illusionary copies of herself, which fan out around attackers and are capable of movement. A maximum of twelve copies can be created before paint supply must be renewed. Illusions last up to ten minutes. Mirage- Ancia creates an illusion of another person, item, or place, which appear entirely real to her foe, but are not capable of actual physical contact with them. Illusions of people are capable of speech. Time each mirage takes to create depends on the size of desired illusion. Illusions of people and items may last as long as twenty minutes, illusions of places last for as much as ten. Paint supply must be renewed after this spell. Geyser- A hot jet of water and steam is blasted at the foe from the bristles of the paintbrush. Steam obscures vision, heated water jet can scald, and is intense enough to push an average-sized human male. Paint supply must be replenished after attack. Blessed Rain- A skill granted to Ancia as a water nymph, she may recite an incantation to call for rain. The rain recharges her paint supply, and will keep it from depleting for as long as the downpour lasts. Incantation takes 8-10 minutes, storms last 3-5 minutes in most conditions. Storm- When greatly angered, Ancia goes into a temper tantrum and can conjure up a mild storm using her abilities as a water nymph. Often these storms consist of heavy rain and startling thunderclaps, but no lighting has ever been created. Storm lasts from 3-5 minutes. Ancia is severely drained after storm subsides. Beckoning of the Tides- Without any conscious effort aside from the will to perform the act, Ancia can summon surging columns and blasts from any nearby body of water. The attack often drags in foes with strong tides down into the drowning depths afterwards. Groundquake- Ancia takes this ability of hers as further proof that she is the daughter of Poseidon--when angered, she is capable of creating mild tremors and quakes by will alone that can be devastating to singular foes. Appearance: Ancia is an attractive, light turquoise-skinned nymph, with a very ethereal look about her. She wears a cerulean blue halter top with broad, golden lining around the neckline and straps, and a pair of loose-fitting, blue-green clamdigger trousers fastened at the waist with a golden belt. On one of her arms, she wears a golden armband adorned with mythical designs. She is barefoot, and when in water her feet will meld with it so that the water appears to be flowing into her from toe to head. Ancia carries her paintbrush in her hands at all times. Pictures:  http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9509/ancia4iq2.jpg Old Pictures: -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...iacolorver.png -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...iru/ancia2.png -http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9440/anciapicld5.jpg Personality: Unlike her fellow nymphs, Ancia is neither seductive nor mischievous. She has been known to be very innocent and naïve, and has a very cheerful disposition. She is kind to both enemies and allies, and will try to make friends with someone before resorting to fighting. When pushed over the edge, Ancia becomes very emotional, and occasionally throws temper tantrums. The nymph is accustomed to getting her way, and being treated with the utmost courtesy. Biography: Ancia is believed to be an illegitimate daughter of Poseidon and one of the nine muses of the arts. She was gifted her enchanted paintbrush by her mother, and her weapon was granted powers over water by her father, but neither endeavored to teach her the proper use of the item. She herself believes in the rumors of her birth, and takes great pride in being the supposed offspring of a god. Ancia was left at a river when she was young, and when found by people in a nearby village, she was hailed as the goddess of the body of water. Ancia accepted her position, and interacted with the villagers often as a sign of her goodwill towards them. They brought her offerings of food and fine clothing, and one of the village’s artisans took it upon himself to teach her to paint with her--unbeknownst to him--magical paintbrush. During each session of the tutoring, the nymph’s artwork would transform into very realistic illusions after each piece was finished, and this convinced the villagers even more so that she was a deity. They called upon her from time to time to protect the river from nymphs and lesser gods who came to conquer their life-giving source of water and use it for their own purposes. These envious creatures are often held back by the ocean when they try to mount an attack, making it seem as if the sea god himself were protecting Ancia. Ancia ruled as a nymph, masquerading as a goddess, throughout several generations, and still continues to guard her river to this day. She has lived under the guise of a deity for so long that she now fancies herself as one. Those who challenge that assertion are often exiled from the village by the people, or the nymph herself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Battles: The New Alston Aviators (in progress) Crossroads: Lingering Time (in progress) A Grecian Family Reunion (postponed) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Louis Fritz (Approved by Gracie) Name (and title): Louis Fritz the Minstrel of Choras Age: 40 Race: Human Gender: Male Hair: Messy, dark blonde hair cut short, with neatly trimmed sideburns and a light, graying beard. Eyes: An earthy brown with a gray tint. Weight: 183 pounds Height: 6’0” Theme Song: Secret of the Forest (Chrono Trigger), Hurt (Johnny Cash) Known Family: Julianne Fritz – ex-wife Melinda Fritz – eldest daughter (deceased) Caroline Fritz – youngest daughter (deceased) Homeplace: Brantmill, Choras, Guardia, Medina (city, country, continent, world) Weapons: A short sword made of steel with an onyx-colored hilt that is hidden inside his clarinet within its case. A lighter manner of steel halberd is similarly hidden within a deceptively large fiddle case. Armor: Louis wears a byrnie (down to the waist) shirt of chainmail crafted of steel rings underneath his clothing. Strengths: Louis is a very versatile fighter who is proficient with a number of swords, spears, and axes. He is quick-thinking, and has a great degree of physical power and stamina beyond that of normal humans. Weaknesses: Louis lacks magical abilities of his own and is somewhat slow on his feet. He refuses to harm women or animals, and is easily distracted by conversation when in a fight. Skills/Magic: Louis possesses no magical skills. He wields swords, spears, and axes well, and can play several musical instruments. Thanks to Melody Ferrier, he has a few abilities that can manipulate sound or that draw upon the girl's own mysterious energies. Sonic Whistle- A special technique taught to Louis by his protégé, the musical prodigy Melody Ferrier, where Louis emits a high, shrill, whooping whistle. It makes all metal or metal-like weapons vibrate, and causes his own sword or halberd to let out a sonic-wave that can harm opponents. The attack is powerful enough to knock a human male onto the ground, but its main purpose is to surprise a foe. Louis first used the skill against Zachary Leos in "Misadventures of the Minstrel - Northern Dojo". Sound Barrier- A special technique taught to Louis by his protégé, the musical prodigy Melody Ferrier. By playing a tune with special qualities on his harmonica, which he composed together with the girl, he can generate a clear, rectangular barrier around his body, which can last for a duration of 10 minutes. Healing Sonata- Louis begins this spell by playing the first few measures of a song with magical qualities, which was specially composed for him and Cadenza Madrigal by the minstrel’s own protégé, Melody Ferrier. As the melody flows, energy gathers at the man’s feet, and rises in bright rings until it has traversed his whole body, healing any non-lethal injuries, internal or external, as it goes. Melody’s flute can be heard echoing in unison with the song when the spell is cast. Sonic Strike- Using his impressive strength, Louis can produce a strike with his blade that can cut through the sound barrier and is powerful enough to sever a human's arm if they are without armor. The strike can be performed with both his sword and halberd, but is more effective with the latter. Because of the speed of the attack, the minstrel needs more energy to use this attack than to slash normally, and the more he uses it, the more it tires him out. Appearance: Louis was born a fair-skinned male, but over his years of traveling has acquired quite a tan. He is attractive in a rugged way, with sharp, pronounced features that contrast with his dirty, soft-edged attire. He wears loose, dark brown slacks fastened at the waist with a tan leather belt, and tan boots on his feet. On his upper body, he wears a white shirt (although it's now yellowing at the edges) with wooden buttons open down to his hairy chest, and a loose-fitting, dark red vest over top. Louis occasionally also wears a floppy, tall, brown hat with a wide brim, most often when in poor weather. On his back, he carries a tan suede bag for supplies, and both his small, oaken clarinet case, and larger, brown, hard leather fiddle case. The straps of the bag and cases are worn across his chest. Pictures:  http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7...r5editsob0.png Old Pictures: -http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...u/louispic.png -http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/4240/louispicqi3.jpg -http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4416/louis4xx1.jpg -http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/4...sketch5ry0.jpg Personality: Louis is an eccentric and puzzling character to many; he respects lofty ambition in one person and down-to-earth realism in the other. With age, wisdom and a sense of gentle humor have come to him; he’s not bothered by callousness, especially if he believes it’s justified, as in the case of his colleague Cadenza Madrigal. Often his motives confuse younger ones, only for them to learn he has greatly helped them in some way later. He retains his fatherly side from when his daughters were alive, and is kind and protective towards children and others weaker than himself. Underneath all of this placidity, however, is the side of him that’s pained by his grave losses, and it shows itself in his dislike and distrust of the Merridale monarchy, and in quiet moments when he’s reflecting on his own. In battle, he’s always willing to fight a formidable opponent, and always gives the match his all if he thinks his foe is worthy—seeing it as a sign of disrespect not to. He’ll only become gravely serious if his life or the life of one he cares about is in great danger. Occasionally, he’ll play a song after a victory in honor of his defeated foe’s efforts. Biography: Louis the Minstrel hails from the imperial-minded Choras, land ruled by the royal family of Merridale. He once lived peacefully in the farming village of Brantmill, several miles from the tragedies and bloodshed of the ongoing wars. But when the latest conflict brought the battling to Bartholomew, merely ten miles away from quaint Brantmill, panic began to brew in the village. Men from Brantmill volunteered to join the ranks of the army to defend their home and way of life, and Louis Fritz was among them. The small auxiliary force of Brantmill was called upon as the fighting progressed to Bartholomew Fields, halfway between the city and the farming village. When the day was over, Louis and his comrades believed they were successful in holding off the enemy’s army from penetrating Brantmill, but when they returned home, they found that their foes had razed the farming community to the ground. The grief was almost too much for the men to bear. Foremost among the mourners was Louis the Minstrel: a single father raising two children his disloyal wife had left him with twelve years prior. Louis could feel his sanity slipping in the following months. Efforts were made to rebuild Brantmill, but he refused to participate. He needed to leave. He needed a fresh start. Taking what supplies he had left from the packs the army had given him, Louis set off to travel the world of Medina, singing songs and telling stories of Brantmill, the Choras wars, and his life. He made money doing odd jobs, going on journeys and protecting people or small towns. But the bard’s main quest remained the same: to find a new purpose in life. EDIT (3/3/07): Louis has, since leaving Choras, traveled to the mysterious Dome and become both a teacher and student. On his way there, he met a young girl named Melody Ferrier, who is a musical prodigy, and was heading to the Dome for some unknown reason as well. Room at the Dome: Beyond the plain oak door is a grassy meadow, with stars perpetually twinkling overhead and trees interlocked in a sort of natural border before the simple dark brown walls. If one looks closely enough at the trees, they may find doors in a few of them. These doors are said to lead to a kitchenette, a bedroom, a full bathroom, and a few locations scattered throughout the Dome complex. Despite all the shifting of the Dome halls, Melody Ferrier’s room is always right beside Louis’ quarters. The lilac-colored door opens to a lavender-hued room that is very easy on the eyes, and consists of a soft bed covered with sheets that have musical notes printed on them, a small white writing desk, and a dresser of the same tone. The two doors at the east end of the room lead to a full bathroom and a music studio. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Battles: Misadventures of the Minstrel - Northern Dojo (complete) Knockin' on Heaven's Door (in progress) Shadows of Mourn (in progress) Crossroads: Excitement at the Operahouse (postponed) Misadventures of the Minstrel - Away at Sea (postponed) Forgotten Lore (postponed) Farewells. (complete) Send Me a Friend (in progress) Winning In The End (in progress) Character Fiction: A Common Cause (tentative title) (postponed) Training and Teaching: Camdel's Training (in progress) Shrukan's Training (dropped) Chad's Training (in progress) LEA's Class IC Thread (dropped) Harij's Training (in progress) Kratis' Training (in progress) Dirk's Training (in progress) Carcaroth's Training (in progress) Tera's Training (in progress) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Inspector Tracey de Carlo (Approved by myself!) Name (and title): Inspector Tracey de Carlo Age: 21 Race: Human Gender: Female Hair: Short, vivid red hair cut into choppy, wavy layers. Wavy, full bangs cover her forehead. Eyes: A strikingly bright green. Weight: 124 pounds Height: 5’6” Theme Song: Sorakara Koboreta Story (Sherlock Hound) Known Family: Chief Truman de Carlo – grandfather Homeplace: Montebelle City, Rochester Republic, Airopa, Earth (city, country, continent, world) Weapon: A white, semi-automatic pistol of locked-breech, short-recoil design, carried in a brown leather holster. Armor: A small, black, bulletproof vest worn underneath her cloak Strengths: Tracey has impressive aim with her pistol, and is not startled by the recoil of it, as some may be. She has no reservations about shooting at someone, and isn’t frightened by the idea of being shot at or attacked herself. She also has decent strength and speed for a girl of her age, and remarkable observational skills. Weaknesses: The young detective is very easily distracted by clues and other interesting oddities she spots, and is terrified by magic or any other ability that can’t be explained by science or logic. Her lack of brawn has prevented her from winning several skirmishes, and she’s also a little on the clumsy side, but that trait generally only surfaces in less serious situations. Skills/Magic: Tracey has no magic, and her only special skills are that of great observation and good aim with her pistol. Appearance: Tracey is a cute, comely young woman, with an infectiously charming face and eyes. Her fair skin is speckled with light brown freckles, which gives her a natural and down-to-earth quality. Over her cheerful reddish locks, she wears a tan-colored knit hat, with a badge pinned on that is embossed with the insignia of Rochester Republic. The detective sports a long, loose-fitting tan cloak covered with faded red patches where the fabric has worn, under which is her bulletproof black vest and a burgundy turtleneck sweater. She wears a pair of brown trousers as well, tucked into ankle-high, tan leather boots stained by the sands and mud of Rubato and Florheim. At her waist, she wears a brown leather belt, to which her pistol’s holster and sometimes a magnifying glass are attached. On her back, she carries a brown leather duffle bag, which contains her prized silver watch, among other things. Picture:  http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9...aceypicet7.jpg Personality: While Tracey tries her hardest to come off as elegant and coldly analytical, she’s truly a somewhat bumbling, but friendly, young gumshoe who’s a little accident-prone when in casual situations. The girl is very observant, and will sometimes get distracted by an interesting detail and begin to go off on a spiel about its significance or novelty. She’s been known to bluff and over-exaggerate in some instances to try and seem like a more astute and deeper-thinking detective. If in a conflict with one she knows to be stronger or quicker, Tracey may get nervous initially, but pushes herself to regain her composure as soon as she can. Insults to her detective abilities tend to faze the quirky girl more than wounds. Biography: The puzzles, thrills, and glory involved in the fighting of crimes and unraveling of mysteries has always enticed Tracey de Carlo. Motivated by this passion, the girl worked for years studying old crimes and deduction methods in order to become the best detective imaginable. When the fledgling young gumshoe attained the age of eighteen, her services were requested by the local branch of the police, and she accepted the job offer with great joy and gratitude. Throughout her three years on the Montebelle City police force, Tracey always believed she had risen up the ranks as quickly as she did because of her own skill as an officer and a detective. In her innocence, she never fathomed a guess as to the true nature of her success: the deplorable practice of nepotism. “Never in the police force,” had she asserted to those who suggested the theory to her; “Never would the lives and properties of the good people of Rochester Republic be jeopardized just because someone’s uncle or father wanted to stick their little relative in a position of high esteem.” Upon her premature promotion to inspector status, however, she had to face the grim possibility that her grandfather, chief of police, had in fact hired her and given her the new position without a single consideration of her merits as an officer. Deeply disillusioned, Tracey seemed to change in her habits at work, and her zealousness for mysteries waned for several months. No longer did she proudly proclaim herself “The Detective Prodigy”, as she had dubbed herself at the beginning of her tenure on the force, and no longer did she carry herself with an air of importance and confidence. When the offer of a world-round trip came, on which the representative of Rochester Republic would meet with sister police institutions around the globe, rallying for anti-crime reforms, Tracey eagerly accepted the opportunity to leave home, hoping to reestablish herself as an inspector somewhere where she would be solely judged on her own worth. Her travels brought her to the southernmost continent of the world, where the broiling, rugged, and wretched deserts of Rubato and the wild, tangled, unruly forests of Florheim were overflowing with crime. There, an endless cat-and-mouse game seemed to persist between the thinly spread forces of the law and the myriad and elusive criminals. Urged on by her sympathetic heart, Tracey offered her services to police stations across the two nations, advising them to save her special talents for only the extraordinary and the dire. A case the girl has specifically shown interest in becoming involved with in the future is the case of the Madrigals of Santa Mariela, in Rubato. EDIT (3/19/07): Since arriving in Rubato, Tracey has been assigned a new partner from Cernilia who is a part of the same program she is participating in. The twenty-seven year old woman is a fellow inspector by the name of Daniela Cruz. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Awards: The Person Award (Awarded to the Most Developed Character) - EH Summer 2008 Battles: Settling the Score (in progress) Crossroads: A Strange Development (dropped) Unloading a Chamber or Two Before a Job (complete) Unsolved Murder: Mark's Manor (dropped) Farewells. (complete) Winter Comes to the Desert (complete) The First Turnabout (in progress) Temple of the Sun (complete) The Land Down Under (in progress) Character Fiction: A Test of Merit: The Locked Room Mystery (postponed) The Chain of Pursuit (complete) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hayden - retired as of 5/29/08 (Approved by me!) Name: Hayden (uses the surname “Skadi” when in human settlements) Age: Unknown Race: Mountain sprite Gender: Female Hair: Dark, long, straight auburn locks, tied up in a high ponytail, with bangs clipped back by a simple silver barrette. Eyes: A dark, slate gray. Weight: 105 lbs Height: 5’2” Homeplace: Iron Cutlass Peak, Iron Cutlass Mountain Range, Altifaria, Terra (mountain, mountain range, continent, world) Weapons: She carries no traditional weapons, but can craft whatever metallic weapon she knows the details of intimately enough to make (see skills.) Armor: When in human settlements, Hayden wears a full-body suit of steel armor that she has crafted herself, complete with a helmet. When traveling the wilds of nature, however, she prefers to wear only her greaves and a Lamellar breastplate, finding that the rest of her gear weighs her down too much for her liking. Strengths: For a female of her size, Hayden has impressive physical strength, and her finely-crafted armor affords her great defense. Her skills with metallurgy are delicately honed and of an expert level (once again, this shall be explained further in her skills.) Earth-based magic has little to no effect on her. Weaknesses: Hayden lacks any mystical or magical skills aside from her abilities to draw metal from the earth and form it into weapons and other objects. She also is somewhat slow when wearing her armor, and although relatively strong, she is still weaker than anyone with a decent size advantage over her. Fire and lightning magics are also particularly effective against her. Skills/Magic: Because of her bond with the mountains and earth, Hayden is capable of summoning up minerals and metals from the ground and crafting them into weapons, armor, etc. (as detailed later.) She may also communicate with her fellow mountain sprites without spoken words. Metallurgy- Hayden, without any conscious effort, can draw metals and minerals from the earth and remove their impurities, manipulate them into alloys, and/or work them into forms with her desired properties. Forge- With or without using her Metallurgy skill beforehand, the sprite may form any metal into weapons, armor, or other objects (such as keys, arrowheads, etc.) She must first know the details and measurements of the desired object before crafting them—and from there on, she simply needs to picture the item in her mind and let her hands move to manipulate the metal. As of now, the weapons she knows how to craft include swords, halberds, spears, daggers/knives, and axes. Sprite Bond- When in serious danger, Hayden may use her last bit of strength to give a distress call to her fellow mountain sprites. Any within range to hear her plea for help come flying to her aid—but instead of attacking the source of the danger, they merely whisk Hayden away or heal any of her non-lethal wounds. The sprites will only rush to her if she is on her very last bit of energy, knowing when they are truly needed by their ability to sense her condition through their sisterly bond. Appearance: Hayden has a dark, chocolate-colored skintone, with a willowy figure and an elegant and thin, yet beautiful and youthful face. She wears a silver bodice over a thin, almost transparent white blouse that seems to shimmer with dust from precious metals. On her lower body, she wears a pair of tight, silver capri pants that cut off just below the knee, with a flowing, white, pareu-like garment of the same fabric as her blouse over top. On her feet she wears simple silver sandals. Pictures:  http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5...olorvergv4.png Old Pictures: -http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5747/haydenzn8.png Personality: True to her nature as a sprite, Hayden is peaceful and carefree when around others of her kind, and gleefully resigns herself to her instinctual behavior of playing games and beautifying her surroundings. She is dutiful in carrying out the orders of the Guardian Sprite, and unwaveringly trusts in the elder sprite’s judgment and insight. This humbleness and respectfulness of disposition led Hayden to be chosen as a lesser guardian when the sprites were instructed to leave their mountain home, and she carries out her tasks with great sense of purpose and dignity. When around humans, the sprite feels threatened and constantly endangered to the point of slight paranoia—this fear being brought about after an attack a clan of humans launched on the last Guardian Sprite and his haven, when they killed the elder and destroyed his hallowed fountain. Her fear causes her to don a full-body suit of armor and helmet whenever she enters a human settlement, in order to protect herself and hide her unmistakable identity as a sprite. While afraid of normal humans, Hayden is less inclined to be frightened of those with magical abilities, or other human-like creatures such as elves, for she finds them to be more sympathetic towards mystical beings like herself. Around these beings, she’ll be a little shy, but more open and playful than with the average human. Much of her conversations will be about nature or travel, or the differences she’s observed between different species; she’s very unfamiliar with human norms, despite all the wandering she’s done. In battle, she’s precise and deliberate about attacking; she won’t charge headfirst into a battle until she’s decided on the proper weapons and armor to defend herself with. She’s never had to kill before, and so when her foes seem on the verge of death, she’s indecisive about whether or not to cease her attacks—life has a different value to a sprite who’s accustomed to peace and longevity. Biography: Iron Cutlass Mountain Range. Blinding white peaks swoop up to the clouds that perpetually hang overhead, barren of any traces of green; and yet still, in this frigid landscape, there bends and winds gurgling hot streams, and there scurries furry, energetic animals, suggesting that there is a warmness that resides in the very deepest depths of the towering rocks. The sprites that dwell upon these snowy slopes know that this heat, this fire that burns below the cool, placid surface, is the Iron Cutlass Volcano; a cauldron of super-heated magma just waiting to burst forth from its ice-rimmed mouth. The sprites also know that this ever-present danger is also what has sustained them throughout all their generations; for without the volcano, there would never be that comforting touch of warmth in the earth and the currents of water, and without that, there would never be the necessities for life—not even the simple needs of a sprite. When Hayden came to be, as sprites called it, since no one really understood how they were born, the Iron Cutlass Volcano had not erupted in centuries. It was never truly dormant, and magma still boiled within its core, but the sheer cold of the mountain range seemed to keep the scalding heat suppressed. The mountain sprites were mindful of this delicate balance, but remained at their home, living out their lives as normally as could be done; but on the other hand, the human settlement at the base of Iron Cutlass, ignorant of this threat, also continued their normal activities—and these activities consisted of mining deep into the mountains’ core for minerals and precious gems. Immediately, this had no effect on the volcano, but in the long-term, it was greatly upsetting the geological balance. And so, after decades of this blissfully ignorant mining went on, the volcano finally erupted. Iron Cutlass Volcano belched a deluge of crimson lava that eradicated the landscape and burned the settlements, screaming its fury for what the humans had done to its mineral-rich heart. Left in its wake was black, rich ash. The Guardian Sprite looked upon this, and knew what would be best; the surviving mountain sprites, so eager to return to their home, were instead sent away to each colonize a new mountain range, and in their place, she sent forest sprites to come and cultivate the land, blessing the new, nutrient-rich mountains with flora and fauna. Hayden, saddened to leave her home, but as dutiful as always, undertook this new task with zeal and obedience. She travels the world now, searching for ways to make her new mountain an ideal place for the sprites and other beings to live in peace, and collecting ideas from the places she’s seen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Battles: Strike fear in the hearts of BAers! (postponed) Activation Serum (in progress) Last edited by Altamira; 09-02-2008 at 01:07 PM. Reason: Updated Cadenza's battles. 
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