Cassidy Marie de Angelis

[cassidy]

REACH ACROSS THE BARRIERS OF TIME


“Anytime things appear to be going better, you have overlooked something.”


I SING THIS LULLABY FOR YOU

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Name: Cassidy Marie de Angelis
Note: At home in Aquios, she is generally called ‘Marie’ or ‘Mary’ and uses her proper last name ‘de Angelis’ – she also dresses more ‘mage/lady like.’ When ‘on the road’, she goes by the mercenary name Cassidy Vespa and wears the outfit seen in the face-claim pictures. She definitively prefers the name Cassidy (Also willingly answers to Cassie or Cass. Has also been called ‘C.V.’ by one or two merc partners.)
Age: 22
Canon or OC: OC
Which game are you from: N/A
Alliance: Neutral at game start; will shift alliance due to interactions. Very much a candidate to be ‘hired’ on by the ‘bad guys’, acting as a reoccurring ‘challenger’ to the heroes (like, say, ‘Midboss/Vyers’ from Disgaea), and ultimately being able to be recruited to the ‘good guys’ once actually beaten/released from ‘bad guy’ contract/other circumstances/ect.

Weapons: ’Weapons of Possession – Nyx and Pandora’:[/b] Cassidy refers to them, in bulk, as ‘Accidents’ or ‘Mistakes.’ In Aquios, the population refers to them in passing as ‘Marie’s Fall’ or ‘the Elder’s Curse’ (the latter is also used to refer to Cassidy herself.) In the mercenary business, those who are familiar with Cass either refer to the weapons as ‘Cassidy’s Magic Cannons’ or, if they are more familiar with her (i.e. have worked with her on assignments), may refer to them by the names ‘Nyx’ and ‘Pandora’, as identified by their wielder. More non-combat-related details about the mana-powered, shape-shifting firearms will appear in the ‘History’ section.
Briefly, it should be noted that Nyx and Pandora are sentient. They typically communicate with Cassidy telepathically (and also appear with humanoid forms in her dreams), but it is possible, though very rare, for them to communicate verbally to individuals in Cass’s proximity. Further, they are ‘self-functioning’ – even if Cassidy is ‘unaware’ (asleep, obliterated by intoxication, ect.), they are able to force her body to react in combat situations (a phenomenon known as ‘Automation’,) making it nearly impossible to ‘surprise attack’ Cassidy in such situations. (This is not to say that she cannot be ambushed normally, nor should it be inferred that the weapons can sense ‘magically concealed’ individuals, ect. They can ‘counter’ sleep and stun status, but not full-out paralysis.) Additionally, they ‘cannot be separated from her person’ – specifically, the firearms exist within a 6-foot radius from Cassidy’s physical form. If they are moved outside of the range of this sphere, they de-materialize and, after a moment, re-materialize in her hands. (This tends to get her banned from/prevents her from entering certain establishments, venues, and events, ect. – i.e., any place where weapons are not allowed.)
In terms of identification, Nyx is the black, left-handed gun, Pandora is the white, right-handed gun. (They look just like Noel’s guns in the face-claim picture, but are colored differently.) Though they are firearms, their ‘normal’ form (i.e., individuals, one in each hand) function like short-range magic shotguns. They have a maximum range of about 10 feet, produce a concussive ‘cloud’ or ‘stream’ of blue-greenish, semi-translucent magic energy. The impact is blunt trauma (i.e. crushing-type damage), non-aimed (i.e., no ‘eye shots’ – the blasts just hit the target’s general form) and is non-elemental in nature. Because they are mana-powered, Nyx and Pandora never have to be reloaded and do not litter the battlefield with debris (shells, casings, ect.) The rate of fire of each is like that of a pump-action shotgun, so ‘rapid fire’ isn’t quite a correct term to use for her normal shooting style. They are also useful in melee range as club-like weapons and Cassidy has tailored her personal combat style to facilitate their use as such. Note that weapon-specific abilities will be mentioned in the ‘Powers’ section.
As mentioned above, the weapons are ‘shape-shifting’ and what this term refers to is the ability of Nyx and Pandora to combine into two alternate forms. Combination one is referred to as ‘Altruism’ and takes the form of a scoped, high-powered, extremely long range sniper rifle. Altruism functions like a bolt-action rifle and although it does not have to be reloaded, the rate of fire is exceptionally slow (about 1 shot every 6 Cassidy posts.) The maximum range of the gun makes up for this, as clear conditions and a good sniping spot can allow for accurate shots between 1 and 2 kilometers away. Normal damage is a combination of critical piercing and concussive trauma. Altruism is completely useless in melee combat. Cassidy cannot even physically pick it up without assistance after Nyx and Pandora have combined and it takes a long while (2-3 posts, depending) for the firearms to separate back to their normal, individual forms.
The second combination form of Nyx and Pandora is known as ‘Atrocity’ and takes the form of a heavy, double barreled grenade launcher. Atrocity may be used in short-to-moderate range (maximum of around 25 yards) so long as self-inflicted and collateral (i.e. environmental and ally) damage is taken into account, and the explosive ordinance it produces, while specifically inaccurate, can blanket (or carpet bomb) a decently sized area. The area of effect for ‘normal’ firing is a cylinder, with a radius of 10 feet, a maximum height of 8 feet and the explosions are, by default, fire elemental in nature. It should be noted that Cassidy hates the Atrocity combination and has never willingly used it. (It has only been used in a scant few situations where Cassidy was incapacitated and Nyx and Pandora were in control of her body in a combat situation, i.e. ‘Automation.’) Atrocity, like Altruism, is mostly worthless in melee range combat. It is large, heavy, unwieldy, and only useful as an impromptu shield. Unlike Altruism, however, the transformation back to the individual forms of Nyx and Pandora is much quicker (~1 post.)

Powers: (More may be developed or those listed may evolve as the story progresses.)
Gun Artes: Nyx and Pandora
Criminal Upper: A melee based strike arte consisting of a point blank, magic-empowered uppercut using either Nyx or Pandora. The strike itself launches the target (depending on size limitations) and is immediately followed up by a shotgun blast at the apex of the swing. The blast tends to cause the target to ‘twirl in place’ for a moment, allowing for further follow-up attacks from allies or an optional, single, secondary blast from Cassidy’s other firearm. If Cassidy chooses to enact the secondary blast, the target is knocked away from her.
Dirty: A ‘cheap shot’ strike arte in which Cassidy shoots the ground at an angle in front of her target, causing dirt and debris to fly up into the face of the target, temporarily blinding them (assuming they have eyes and are not wearing protective eyewear.) While not a highly damaging technique, it does disrupt the target, usually giving Cassidy a chance to press her offense or step back and regroup.
Tipping the Scales: This technique empowers Cassidy’s next shot with a combination poison/acid quality that (obviously) poisons the target and damages non-protected flesh/clothing/armor/weapons ect. through the acid effect. It does significantly less damage on contact than a normal shot from Nyx or Pandora, but the poison/acid effect lasts for the target’s next 4 posts. (Note: The poison may be cured as per normal poison, the acid must be ‘washed off’ by an offensive water spell – non-magical water does not work – thus forcing enemies to potentially damage themselves in order to remove it.) This is Cassidy’s staple ‘DoT’ attack, and she has been known to use this liberally when in combat while on assignment.
Smokescreen: A utility arte that causes Nyx and Pandora to produce a thick, choking wall of smog. The primary purpose of this move is to cover and assist in an escape attempt, although with some strategery it may be useful in groups to confuse and blind an enemy or set of enemies to allow allies ‘surprise’ attacks. Because it requires the use of both Nyx and Pandora, Cassidy herself cannot immediately follow-up with an attack. The Smokescreen persists for 2 posts after activation.
Cyclone Blow -> Sparrow’s Flight -> Shredding Waves: A sequence of three linked artes that will become Cassidy’s initial signature ‘killing combination.’ Cyclone Blow is a spinning uppercut smash empowered by a shot from either Nyx or Pandora that fuels the torque of Cassidy’s spin. A successful strike sends the target spinning up into the air whereupon Sparrow’s Flight is activated. Sparrow’s Flight utilizes a blast from the other gun (whichever wasn’t used in Cyclone Blow) to empower Cassidy’s jump, sending her up and above the airborne target. At the apex of the jump, a double blast from both guns above her head abruptly changes her direction and activates Shredding Waves, which sends Cassidy flying forcefully down on to her target. The impact drives the target into the ground, causing it to become a ‘surfboard’ of sorts that Cassidy ‘rides’ (or more properly ‘grinds’) into the battlefield itself. The combination ends with either an abrupt, point blank double shot to the grounded target or once the Cassidy/target pairing unceremoniously crash into an environmental obstacle. NOTE: On first appearance, Cassidy hasn’t yet figured out Sparrow’s Flight and Shredding Waves and can only perform Cyclone Blow.

Gun Artes: Altruism
Testament: Otherwise known as the “sniper’s or assassin’s insurance policy.” The occasion where Cassidy does not utilize the Testament skill when sniping a target is extremely rare, and most likely occurs only when ‘FMJ Groove’ is necessary for additional ‘bullet’ penetration. Testament causes the shot fired by Altruism to inflict a potent poison which inflicts damage by the corruption of the target’s blood (specifically red blood cell lysis and anticoagulation which leads to tissue ischemia and necrosis. Mmm. ; ) The primary cause of death on an individual struck by this is simple blood loss from the initial wound and is most effective if the target is struck in the head or the torso. Oddly enough, the poison itself is easy to neutralize. Should the target survive the initial shot and be able to make it to a safe recovery place, the effects of the Testament poison can be countered simply by eating massive amounts of green leafy vegetables. (High doses of vitamin K!) Of course, one may still have to worry about post-neutralization infection of the wound.
FMJ Groove: Cassidy’s second sniping arte, FMJ Groove is, essentially, simply taking more time to charge the magic energy related to Altruism’s normal sniper shot. The charge time on FMJ Groove is approximately 3 totals posts (activation on post 1, continued aim and charging on post 2, firing on post 3) and grants Cassidy’s shot the ability to penetrate a typical castle wall. Additionally, FMJ Groove can, once charged, cut through most magical protective barriers. Oddly enough, this ‘added punch’ does not add additional damage to the shot; on the contrary, damage inflicted by FMJ Groove on the ‘flesh’ of a living target is lower than that of a normal shot or the Testament shot. However, robotic-type enemies and all ships are considered ‘all armor’ by FMJ Groove and the shot tends to inflict critical damage on them, depending on where the target is hit.

Gun Artes: Atrocity
Raising Daisies: An arte that has never actually been used because, on first appearance, Cassidy hates the Atrocity combination form and refuses to purposefully activate it. Raising Daisies is actually the Atrocity ‘feint.’ The grenades produced by this arte look like normal Atrocity grenade shots… but they do not explode. Instead, they roll about on the ground, typically moving towards anyone within range (other than Cassidy herself) as if they are magnetized. The objective here is to cause enemies to flee. After a post or two, the grenades stop rolling around and sprout cute little flowers.
Slumber Dust: Instead of inflicting damage, the grenades produced by Atrocity explode into a thick purple mist that induces sleep. Slumber Dust is typically the first arte used during ‘Automation’ both to put enemies to sleep (thus granting free damage opportunities) and also to keep Cassidy asleep so that Nyx and Pandora can continue to control her battle actions. There is nothing particularly ‘special’ about the sleep status induced by Slumber Dust except that it works on Cassidy 100% of the time. Typically, Nyx/Pandora will choose to use Slumber Dust any time that it seems that Cassidy may awaken during ‘Automation’ to ensure that they do not lose control, whether enemies/allies are within the area of effect or not.

Special: The Price of Possession – It is important to note that the majority of Cassidy’s magical power (i.e. TP) is ‘locked’ in the manifestations of Nyx and Pandora and is not available for use in the casting of normal magic spells. Cassidy only has a small cache of ‘surplus’ power with which she can activate spells and, as such, many of the more powerful spells that she knows or should have the capability to cast are outside of her grasp at this point. (Subject to change as the story progresses.) The lone exception to this occurs during ‘Critical Automation’ – a scenario that occurs when Cassidy is both unconscious and critically injured. During this time, Nyx and Pandora (or either of the associated combination forms) release a ‘Mana Miasma’, a swirling green cloud that extends 10 feet in all directions from Cassidy’s body. The miasma drains mana (TP) from anything in range, allowing Nyx and Pandora to cast Cassidy’s higher potency spells as individual entities. That is, Nyx can be casting one spell and Pandora a different spell, all the while Cassidy’s ‘puppet’ body continues to maneuver them around the battlefield and fight ‘as normal.’

Spells: (Note: Available/Critical Automation Available ranking may change as the story progresses, and other spells may be added)
Spells Cassidy can normally cast in battle:
Novice Tier: Icicle, Ice Needles, Fire Ball, Fire Wall
Intermediate Tier: Eruption, Icicle Rain, Keenness, Permaguard
Spells Cassidy can only cast during ‘Critical Automation’:
Intermediate Tier: Flare Tornado, Ice Tornado
Advanced Tier: Blizzard, Ancient Nova

Occupation: Daughter of the Elder of Aquios, Mercenary/Gun-for-hire; “Battle Mage” (refer back to the ‘Powers’ explanation), also known as ‘Cursed’ or ‘Possessed’, particularly in Aquios (though it may be known elsewhere), which results in a less-than-admirable, suspicious reputation (regardless of any ‘work’ she has taken in a specific area.)

WISH UPON A STAR[/size]

History: The history of Cassidy Marie de Angelis can best be described as bimodal. It exists in two parts; two volumes, if you will, split in twine by an accident borne of arrogance that completely redefined her. Part one is a tale of abuse of privilege and karma’s revenge; part two is but a prologue at this point – the framework of a different life filling the blank pages of the volume with each passing day.

She was born in the winter – the third coldest in all of Aquios’ history – the second child in the family of Aquios’ Elder. The innocence of birth trapped in nature’s icy grip at once bestowed upon the child a passing label of hope; proof of the benevolence of the Gods existing even in dark times. This, of course, was far from unique. The harshness of winter was long and the families (or, more specifically, the women) of Aquios were fertile. The infant, christened Cassidy Marie, was just like every other infant born beneath the blizzard’s blanket. After all, at birth all are equal. It is not until the evaporation of the fog of helplessness that the opportunity to forge one’s reputation is presented and, in Cassidy’s case, the initial forging would prove wicked.

If Cassidy’s (who was called Marie) childhood and schooling years were described as a recipe, they were a recipe for (the) distress (of others) and the ingredients list was a catch-all cliché of nobility-turned-sour. She was a petite girl and far prettier than she deserved to be (or so it would be said in retrospect), golden hair framing emerald eyes on a face and frame that could have been the artisan’s envy. “She was partly made of sugar and she had a splash of spice, but the sour of her other ‘face’ was a world away from nice.” The privilege of being the daughter of the ‘most important man in Aquios’ did not weigh lightly on the girl and having been blessed with her mother’s potency for magic was quite the opposite of a restraint in terms of ego development. Some would theorize that it was the absence of her mother (who died from complications shortly after the birth) that was partially to blame for the girl’s wickedness not only due to the lack of instruction and example, but also because of the length of the shadow left by an exemplary life. Instead of striving to be like her mother, Cassidy merely took on her (imagined) aura of importance… which quickly devolved into a priority of self-importance.

She was haughty. She was mean. She flaunted her status at every opportunity, and she seemed impossible to control. As a magic student, she terrorized her tutors through a combination of brilliance (learning with what appeared to be very little effort), recklessness (particularly with spells of the fire element in locations where such magic SHOULD NOT have been cast, such as the town square during a spring festival parade), unruliness (see the previous entry except with a setting of her tutorial room during lessons), thievery (of magic texts and tutor’s valuables), and an apparent, purposeful lack of discipline. To her peers she was ‘the Tyrant Queen.’ In childhood she was simply ‘the boss’ and as her magic instruction evolved, those who had been willing to try and stand up to ‘the bully’ fell into the ranks of her (false) ‘admirers.’ As childhood transformed into adolescence, she became ‘the Drama Queen.’ Socially, she was an ‘every week’ heartbreaker and her aforementioned thievery quickly added ‘<insert girl’s name>’s boyfriend’ on its list of ideal valuables. She was adored to her face, but truthfully hated by most, and the threat of a magical retaliation for standing as her enemy made this a very solid status quo. Her poor reputation (confounded exponentially by her alleged and, at least partially true, hurtful promiscuity) infected even the adults of Aquios and there appeared little hope of reforming her.

As luck would have it, Cassidy’s ‘perfect’ little tyranny would be undone by her own hand. It began with a present from her father, the Elder, on her 16th birthday – access to her mother’s journals and diaries, most of which were filled with various topics associated with magic. The final topic covered was the one of summoned spirits, of pacts and contracts and other things far different from the elemental magicks Cassidy had been practicing. Complex and written in a convoluted hand (not to mention an un-keyed shorthand), Cassidy understood very little of what her mother’s research was about, but she had enough knowledge and cleverness to identify ‘theory’ from actual ‘directions.’ Over self-confidence, built from her social tyranny and her natural magical talent, met with common curiosity and less than a week later, the fool girl had set up an elaborate ‘experiment’ at the entrance of Aquios’ ancient crystal chamber for what purpose (other than simply ‘summoning’) she knew not.

The exact details of what occurred near the crystal chamber are known only to the two entities ‘welcomed’ into the world of Suiren by the ignorantly ambitious little magess. She was found, two days later, still unconscious, dressed very strangely, and in possession of a pair of very unique weapons. The remnants of her magical experiment and her mother’s journals gave those who had found her much to theorize about, but when it was discovered that the weapons could not be physically removed from her proximity and she woke up proclaiming that the ‘firearms’ had names – Nyx and Pandora – and were talking to her, Cassidy gained new titles. ‘Possessed’ and ‘Mad’ were the initial labels, but ‘Cursed’ became the favorite among the locals as time passed and Cassidy became the local magnet for disaster. The disasters began as small and local – she developed a penchant for clumsiness, for example, finding her way to falling down stairs and into fountains on a very regular basis. It seemed her luck had completely turned south. Her magical prowess appeared neutered, as she found herself unable to cast the more powerful spells she had previously known, no matter what she tried. Her social fiefdom crumbled, and the misery she had inflicted on her peers was quick to be repaid by the wonderful poison of teenage drama. By her 17th birthday, the girl who had been the queen bee of social butterflies had become a social recluse.

Unfortunately, the hand of fortune is heavy-laden, and sometimes the threads of fate twist in such a way that the heavy hand becomes a hearty backhand across the face. As time progressed, Cassidy’s ‘bad string of luck’ seemed to ripple out and affect the whole of Aquios. Fire was the major flavor, as if an ironic reference to her unruliness before, and bridges, houses, ships, agricultural fields, and forests all found a way to dance in flames. All could not be proven more than coincidental, but precedence is an easy argument and rumors made cannot be defended by the recluse. Her reputation further fell, but it was not until monsters began to make trouble on the outskirts of the city that the citizens determined that the ‘Cursed’ one was at fault.

The long and short of this period was a result of a single word: exile, and ironically, it probably did more good for Cassidy than it did for the city of Aquios. The ‘curse’ had been sent away and although their troubles did not necessarily escalate, they certainly did not disappear. In Cassidy’s case, the once-pampered (or spoiled-rotten, whichever you prefer) noble found herself abruptly introduced to the life of an abandoned wanderer. Her departure had been abrupt, leaving her only with the ‘things’ she had been given from her experiment, but she was not alone. Empty, aimless wandering was the stage for a long-delayed ‘proper’ introduction, and Cassidy, through the powerful instinct of survival, became a proper student… with a pair of unconventional instructors: Nyx and Pandora - her lifeline, her advisors, her teachers, and her weapons. As she roamed, she learned about a subject that she had simply taken for granted in the previous version of her life: herself. She survived by scavenging and, once she semi-settled down near a small crossroads trading town called Baek’s Cross (southwest of Aquios), swallowing her pride and begging. It was a bitter, extremely important lesson she had to learn and the forced humbleness, combined with what the citizens of the town could only attribute to clumsiness and bad luck and, later, showing that she was useful when ‘trouble’ came a-calling thanks to her odd weaponry and skill set actually endeared her to some. Ultimately, she began to allow herself to be hired by travelling merchants as additional protection and this eventually evolved into Cassidy becoming a freelance mercenary. As per her ‘advisors’ instructions (more so Nyx than Pandora), she took any job and, as such, developed a mixed reputation in most of the places she has visited. She has spent as much time at celebratory banquets as she has in jail.

And what of the trouble in the city of Aquios? The fire-bug, whatever it was, eventually went away without intervention. The monster trouble proved to be from an unfortunate expansion of a local nest. In Cassidy’s 20th year (so 2 years ago), she, ironically, took part in the eradication of the nest when hiring on for jobs as part of a group. Because of this, and the Elder’s influence (and an extreme amount of apologizing), her Aquios status was changed from ‘exiled’ to ‘poorly tolerated’.

Currently, Cassidy uses her family home as a ‘base of operations’, and potentially spends a quarter of every year (spread out across the year) in the city of her birth. While she is at home, she has more or less returned to her role as ‘the Elder’s daughter’, but has retained the reclusiveness of her existence immediately following her ‘experiment’ due to the typically icy (or worse) reactions she receives from the Aquios citizenry. The rest of her time is spent continuing as a freelancer for any location other than Aquios. Below is her ‘mercenary dossier’ –

Name: Cassidy Vespa
Age: 22
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 113 lbs.
Blood Type: AB
Build: Slight
Handedness: Ambidextrous
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Green
Weapon Type: Firearms (?), Magic
Identifying Traits: May talk to imaginary ‘friends’ she calls ‘advisors’, clumsy tendencies that (somehow) tend not to impact mission success or failure however it is noted that she is ‘far more dangerous when asleep than awake’, can consume an expansive amount of food (it is recommended that one be careful offering to share their rations with her in the field or offering to pay for meals when in a town), is known to cry easily but it is noted that this should not be cause for alarm, sweet voice and small frame belies her combat capabilities and their potential to grow with more experience, tends to act tentatively or passively in general social situations (as if she is still trying to figure out her place), is terrified of ghosts, requires written instructions due to a tendency to forget direction/objectives.
Recommended Mission Types: Long range assassination, general purpose solitary or small group guard (traveling or fixed), monster hunting, competitive eating (?!)
Missions Types to Avoid: Gambling types (has been known to lose even when the games are rigged), missions involving ‘hauntings’ or ‘haunted’ locations, missions involving locations where magic is sealed (she cannot enter due to the nature of her weapons), spy/infiltration missions (weapons cannot be easily hidden), missions in Aquios, missions involving extended periods of time at sea.

Notes on Nyx and Pandora: Nyx, the male entity that has ‘possessed’ Cassidy, is inherently associated with the shadow element, though neither Nyx nor Pandora’s associated element play any role in Cassidy’s combat abilities. In humanoid form, he appears as a debonair male, tanned with chin length black hair, and an eye-patch over his left eye. He is usually wearing a black, pinstriped suit, jacket open, with a charcoal undershirt. He also has a moderately sized pair of bat-like wings that extend from his shoulder blades. His personality can be described by a simple enough phrase: Nyx is a jackass. He ‘advises’ Cassidy through sarcasm and severe criticism, routinely makes fun of her, and delights in the misery of Cassidy and others – though he also tends to be the ‘quick thinker’ that can direct her out of a jam as well. He has a propensity for violence, is something of a lecher, and enjoys opting for the more dangerous option presented. Pandora, on the other hand, is inherently associated with the light element. In humanoid form, she appears as a ‘pretty-in-a-plain-way’ young girl wearing a simple, grayish nightgown with equally as plain white socks. Like Cassidy, she is diminutive in size and her hair is the same style, though it is gray instead of blonde. Her eyes are pink and, if her skin were not an olive color, she might be mistaken for an albino. Like Nyx, Pandora also has a set of wings: one white and feathered like that of an angel, the other little more than a frame of bleached bones. Her other identifying feature is her belly – there is a hole through her center about the size of a volley ball, with a single white ‘flame’ hovering in the center. Her personality is exceptionally level, always playing ‘straight’ to Nyx’s wildness. She seems to have a much stronger grasp on social graces and is more cautious, but can be described more as practical than as ‘moral’ in terms of mission and overall decision making. Nyx and Pandora are lesser spirits, able to be summoned and, thus, materialize as they do only through a combination of their powers. They have been partners as long as they can remember and have little to say about other spirits, although whether this is due to a lack of knowledge about them or simply bad experiences is unknown. They have proclaimed to Cassidy that in their summoning they did not make a ‘Pact’ with her, but rather both ‘parties’ made a ‘Contract’ and, once Cassidy’s part of the ‘Contract’ is fulfilled, they will release her from their ‘captivity.’ Unfortunately, Cassidy cannot remember what the details of this ‘Contract’ are and it is unknown if the Nyx/Pandora pairing are even telling their ‘host’ the truth with this information, which strengthens the possession hypothesis. However, all exorcism attempts have thus far ended in failure and, as such, the true status and also the true intentions of Nyx and Pandora remain undefined. They have also informed her that her physical age has also been brought to near-stasis until the ‘Contract’ is complete, and although this does appear to be the case (she has not changed, physically, very much at all since the ‘experiment’) it, too, is unable to be proven true at this time. Additionally, it is assumed, but unconfirmed, that Nyx and Pandora are directly responsible for Cassidy’s bad luck, theoretically through a minor altering of probability around her person, and her absent-mindedness/memory issues.

Likes:
-Magic, in and of itself, along with its practice and study. She especially enjoys watching mages cast spells, for some reason.
-Not being at home/in Aquios (whenever possible; regrettably Aquios remains ‘home base’ at start)
-Sleeping/Napping (except the spell-induced versions!)
-Girls>>>Boys (She did not find girls attractive prior to her ‘possession’ and believes this development was largely Nyx’s fault. This used to bother her, but she has accepted it in the last 2 years or so, though acting on the compulsion is a different story.)
-Actually having Gald on her person/being able to spend money
-Baths/hot tubs or springs/swimming in general
-The color blue
-Chocolate. Especially chocolate-covered bacon. (It’s magic.) Food, in general.
Dislikes:
-Being ostracized/considered a villain/negative gossip (almost exclusive to Aquios at start)
-Missing a shot (specific to Altruism weapon form)
-Being ‘left out’ – i.e., not being allowed to enter places due to her inability to not be obviously armed
-Her poor luck and her inconsistent memory
-Milk (but she likes cheese)
-Jail/Prison/Cells/Chains ect.
-Having to kill ‘people’ (i.e. sentient things which equals the possibility of being haunted! Doesn’t mind killing monsters/animals/ect.)
-Sailing (has a tendency to get sea-sick easily)
-Sleep Spells (because she is highly susceptible to them and that means ‘Automation’)
Fears:
-Ghosts: Though she tends towards ‘incapacitation’ as opposed to killing, death cannot be completely avoided in certain situations and, for some jobs, has been absolutely necessary. One of Cassidy’s greatest fears is the ghost of a target coming back to haunt her. While a specific ghost (i.e. a known deceased target) will cause the strongest reaction, any ghost-like paranormal activity can have her on edge or worse. Additionally, she is terrified of the thought of meeting her mother in ghost-form. (She’s 99% sure her mother would also consider her a failure and a disgrace due to her whole ‘possession’ problem, among other things.)
-‘Exorcising’ Nyx and Pandora. Although this is a stated goal for her, they have become a part of her identity over the last 6 years and have impacted her so greatly (physically and mentally) that the ‘unknown’ of finally being free of them scares her to death.

INTO THE WEST[/size]

Sample RP: (Note: Text that is italicized and preceded by ~*~ are telepathic or thoughts and, in general, are only 'audible' to Cassidy)

”Ohhhhhhhhhhhmygosh, this is so boring! Why doesn’t he just come out?”

It was the view through the scope of a weapon called ‘Altruism’ that had prompted Cassidy’s complaint. Stating the obvious, the scene she could see was circular and iced, like a cake, with an extremely thin black cross which, of course, acted as a targeting reticle. The field of view was quite mundane. A dirt road snaked down the center of a sleepy (even at noon) trading post, acting as a main street that had been paved by boots and the pressing weight of caravan wheels. The dominating feature on the left side of the view was a sun-baked saloon-style building, complete with a standard swinging sign. On the right was another building, single-storied and altogether non-descript, which she knew, from experience, was the ever-present, rotating stock general store. Neither of these buildings concerned her. It was the dead center of her sniping circle that she was watching. A third building, sporting a thin, three story roof adorned with a large clock, was Cassidy’s focus. Somewhere inside the building – which was the trading post’s meeting hall – was her mark. She did not know his name, but she did have a picture and had been informed that he was a noble of some minor influence from Kessho that had wronged her current employer in some form or fashion. She (and two others that had been hired and were in different locations) had been hired to be a tool of vengeance.

”I mean, how long can a meeting really take? I wonder if they are, like… having dinner or something in there…” Cassidy sighed, shifting her weight and pulling away from the scope. She was perched on a small hill a few hundred yards outside of the trading post’s perimeter. A small maple tree acted as an umbrella to keep her out of the sun, and she was, in general, quite comfortable. She was laying on a bed of grass, her weapon – the combination of Nyx and Pandora known as ‘Altruism’ – was set hard, perched across a flat rock on the top of the hill. If viewed from above, one could see that the rifle itself was quite nearly the same size as the diminutive young woman. ”Seriously. It’s kinda stupid.”

A moment passed and the blonde found herself distracted by the touch of a breeze. She had purposefully made her ‘nest’ adjacent to a bank of aromatic wildflowers and, with the breeze as their conductor, the flowers had begun to dance. Idly, she poked at the ones closest to her with a gloved finger.

”Pandora…” she said, her tone a bit whiney. ”What’s the wind like? Are we gonna haveta make some crazy adjustments or something? It really sucks when I have to lead, ya know? Especially if he goes and starts running around like a mad hen.”

~*~”Current observations indicate only the slightest of winds, coming in from the east, down the target alley. At this range, with our projectile speed, there does not appear a need for any adjustments. Honestly, Cassidy, if you’d bothered to pay attention to the windows you should be able to gamble a shot with FMJ Groove right through the wall and we could already be on the way home.”~*~

~*~”Pfft. Asking Cassie to pay attention is like asking the sea to be salt-less and without fish.”~*~

”Hush, Nyx,” she immediately replied, her nose wrinkling at the jab the more taciturn of her weapons and ‘advisors’ had poked her with. ”And that’s good, Pandora. That definitely makes it easier.” After a second, she added: ”I just hope I don’t get haunted.”

~*~”Shut it and get back on point. It looks like the mark’s coming out.”~*~

”Ah!” And, at once, she slipped back in to position. Sure enough, the door – directly below the large clock – was opening. ”Oh, geez, please… please just walk out and stand around. Pleasepleaseplease just… just come out and come to a stop and… and… look the other way. Don’t you dare smile at me.” Her litany repeated itself as she watched the scene through her scope and, to her surprise, the noble from Kessho very nearly complied with her wishes. The parts that he failed to comply with were the very last pair. The man dressed in noble regalia did, indeed, turn towards her and, though it was not meant for her, he smiled. Cassidy paused. ”W-wait… waitwaitwait… that… he doesn’t… it’s not like the picture-”

~*~”Who cares?! Shut up and fire!”~*~

”But-“

~*~”Don’t be a moron! You’ve got a job to do!”~*~

”I know, but, I mean, I have the picture right here and-“

~*~”WOMAN! IF I HAVE TO SAY IT AGAIN WE’RE GONNA BLOW UP IN YOUR FACE!”~*~

”Aiee! Ok! Alright! I’ll shoot, I’ll shoot!” And, with her words, she settled back into shooting posture. ”Gosh, you don’t need to yell so much…”

It was then that the puzzle began to fall apart. Even with her doubts about the veracity of the mark, Cassidy made ready to fire. Nyx had convinced her (or, perhaps, screamed her into submission) that she had no alternative. She steadied her breathing and lined up the shot, her trigger finger slowly but surely closing down on the switch that would, if true, start unfortunate fireworks in the trading post. This portion of the act was practiced. It was routine. The art associated with sniping was simple and stepwise. Had it been another day, the end result might have been another ‘perfect’ shot… but today Fate had a different plan in store for the little blonde on the flowered hill.

”AIEEEEEEEEEE!”

Oh, the shot was fired… but it could not be called accurate. She’d jolted just as she’d pulled the trigger, Altruism’s barrel shifting in the direction of the sky and the propelled projectile flying far off the mark. The culprit for this comedy of errors was the occupant of the aforementioned maple tree – a mockingbird that, having been thoroughly irritated by the sound of the girl below it talking to herself, had, as mockingbirds tend to, turned on its more aggressive personality traits and set about dive-bombing the would-be sniper. The first swoop disrupted the shot, the result of which was a blast that struck not the target it was intended for, but the large clock on the building above him. The clock, insulted by this development, unhinged itself from its perch on the wall, falling to the ground and causing the small crowd below it to scatter. It then performed its very best impersonation of the wheel of time, and went to rolling – right down the street that Cassidy’s shot had traveled only a half-second before. The timepiece did not have a terribly long trip, though, tipping over and collapsing just beyond the saloon and general store. It landed face up, both hands frozen on its face and pointing directly at Cassidy’s location.

Yet, this was not the end of it. The mockingbird, encouraged by its first successful attack, found great joy and took immense pleasure in performing a second skydive. Disturbed by the first, Cassidy was already in the process of bewildered ‘foe identification’ but all she did by standing was make the bird’s attack more successful. It struck her square in the face, sending her backwards and rolling down the hill. The initial impact with the ground stole her breath, silencing her for the duration of her impromptu tumbling act. The base of the hill had a few decorations, quite similar to the mockingbird’s home, and one of these maple trees proved ‘kind’ enough to stop Cassidy’s out of control movement. In fact, it knocked her stone cold.

~*~”…Unbelievable. Please… PLEASE tell me why we chose her again?”~*~

~*~”We didn’t choose her, Nyx. She… well, actually her mother was attempting to choose us. Well, that might not even be right. I mean, the research wasn’t finished…”~*~

~*~”Gah… there’s no way. You can’t blame that kind of idiocy on an accident.”~*~

~*~”It pretty much was. Just deal with it. It can’t be helped now.”~*~

~*~”…Great. …Oh, and now it appears that they’re sending out a search party.”~*~

~*~”It’s a prudent thing to do. But what do we do with her?”~*~

~*~”Nothing. This is gonna turn out just like it did last time we were here. If we have to deal with this, she has to deal with that!

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[Colette Brunel]

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