Bartimaeus

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1 [Cancelled]

Eksa Thresh

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Mentions: Everyone Location: Eksa's Hotel Room > Flowers and Canvases

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Being back in St. Portwell was.. nostalgic - among other things. In truth, being back in the states was nostalgic in its own right, seeing as it was something Eksa hadn't done since she was seventeen. The day before, she had arrived in Oregon by plane, landing late in the evening before booking herself a hotel room in which she slept. It was, in fact, the hotel room which she occupied at this very moment.

It was early evening, nearing 6pm, and Eksa found herself in her room, getting dressed as well as mentally preparing herself for the event to come. She had spent the earlier portions of the day re-familiarizing herself, at least lightly, with the town of Portwell. She had enjoyed a nice, if slightly awkward, stop at one of the local coffee shops, and followed it with an outing to a nice little park. The park was one which she explored more than a few times as a kid, and the experience of returning to it managed to fill her with some teary-eyed recollections of her past. She tried not to think to hard on what had befell her family back then - after all, she'd had an entire decade to cope with her misfortunes. Nevertheless, her nerves were tested, if a bit.

Even as she got into her rental car and began to make her way to the meet-up place that Auri has invited her to, said nerves were tested and tweaked. It always happened. Whenever she had a meeting or some sort of greet or function she had to attend, her self-conscious nature always managed to get the better of her. What if people stared? What if people thought her a freak? What if she broke into a sweat, as she was prone to due when meeting multiple new people? Sure, these people weren't new to her, but she might as well be new to them. Her head always spun with such worries before things like this. She was fortunate that, usually, she was able to assume a professional visage that held her anxiousness at bay -- but she had never been able to channel that when things were more casual.

Eventually she slapped herself internally in an attempt to straighten herself out. These people were her friends. Or.. at least they had been, once. She didn't really know if they counted as such, now.. especially after she ghosted any phonecalls from the U.S. after she had woken from her coma. The only contact she had had with anybody was an old series of texts that let her know they had succeeded in their battle against the Stygian Snake. Something which, she imagined, she had missed the after-party for. Though a few other texts, which she left equally unanswered, informed her of the coven breaking up. She was really missing a lot of details, but maybe it wasn't all too important. They had won, and Eksa, among others, had paid the price for that victory. A price which had made life.. hard for her, socially, but one she had been willing to pay back then.

It was a short time before Eksa's endless thoughts were interrupted by her car coming to a soft halt. She had arrived. Her subconscious driving had delivered her to a spot across the street, with a clear view of the face of the storefront - Flowers and Canvases. She managed to allow herself a deep breath. For a moment she sat behind the wheel, trying to cool off her nerves. Finally, she unlatched her seatbelt and reached across herself to open the door and step out. She checked that she had everything she needed - that being her phone - before she shut the door and locked it with a light beepbeep from her keychain, which she tucked into her front pant-pocket.

She rounded the car and ensured the street was clear before she walked across.

She was, as usual, wearing a business-casual-esque ensemble. Her top, which was mostly shrouded by the gray-threaded overcoat that hung off her shoulders, was a long-sleeved, purely black turtleneck. Her light-gray trousers matched her coat and were well-pressed. Her outfit was completed by a pair of simple, black leather shoes. She pulled her right arm across the front of her body as she walked, tugging her coat lightly to ensure it covered her left side, as she approached the front of the shop.

She opened the door and stepped inside. There were various familiar faces scattered about the shop, and she could immediately feel her heart start to thump anxiously. They all looked.. different. But that was to be expected, seeing as it had been a decade. Still, they were recognizable. She tried to render herself as overlookable as possible, only managing to make eye contact with Auri as the lass greeted her upon her entry. Eksa offered her an awkward nod and an appeasing smile that was partly-genuine. Mind you, she was not unhappy to see the lot that had congregated here today - in fact, the opposite. A part of her had always wanted to meet up again, but her apprehensions had more of a hold on her than she would ever admit. And as such, she made it her task to find a chair secluded from anybody already sitting, and take it wordlessly.

And so she did.

And after a tad bit of a wait, once enough people had arrived, Auri would begin. And Eksa would listen. The blonde laid down a couple good points to start. Points the Eksa couldn't disagree with. Ignoring the deaths that had already happened was likely to be a mistake. Even if Father Wolf, as she called the perpetrator, was done with his little spree, it would feel almost like a.. betrayal, of some kind, to leave such crimes unanswered. That wasn't something that sat well with Eksa, especially now that she was already back in St. Portwell.

She listened further as Auri spoke, finding herself nodding lightly along at her ideas. For a moment, Eksa paused. When she thought about it, in truth she had had no real say in whether the coven broke up or not. Before all the drama had really started to swelter, Eksa had been in her coma. Even well after the disbanding. Had she had a choice, she couldn't imagine herself ever giving up such a.. family, of sorts, as they had been. A family of strangers, maybe. But there was something there, at least. To be honest, she never really had many problems with the coven beforehand, though she had been a carefree soul back then - she'd just been along for the ride. Now, though, she found herself more analytical.

Nevertheless, as Eksa listened on, Auri's talk started to seem a little.. familiar. Right - it was somewhat reminiscent of the speech that Ashley had given them all those years ago, when they formed the original coven the first time. Eksa couldn't really remember much of what was said - it was a long time ago, after all - but the uplifting nature of the two were undeniably similar. Were her nerves not so on-edge, it might've drawn a smirk from her. For how much it seemed Auri was displeased with Ashley's way of leading the coven, they had their hearts in it in the same fashion - at some points, at least. While Eksa hadn't a problem with the coven during her time within it, Auri's idea of avoiding a dictatorship of sorts was admirable, at the very least.

Well.. it all sounded good to her. She was sure that she should've been thinking harder on it all, and a part of her felt a bit childish at the idea of forming a "coven" now, when they did the same exact thing as kids - but there was a good reason behind it. There were murders happening. It didn't get much more adult than that.

Were she her old self, she might've spoken up on how she liked Auri's ideas, but.. she wasn't. Speaking to a room was, honestly, somewhat terrifying. So she would relegate herself to waiting for others to speak up.

Just like.. Luke..? She felt bad that she couldn't remember the name of one of her fellow coven members, but it'd been ten years, and she was pretty sure it was Luke. Though, something about what he said concerned her.

What Britney did? What did that mean? It seemed Eksa was out of the loop, but.. surely she was misunderstanding. Britney had seemed great, at least when Eksa was around. Surely she couldn't have so drastically changed in just the months that Eksa had spent in a coma. She'd been just as much of a family member of the coven as anybody else. What did she do to him..?

She opened her mouth habitually to speak, but stopped herself. She had questions, but.. maybe later was a better time. Maybe she'd ask Britney in private, or something. For now, she absorbed what she heard and continued to listen to the conversation amongst them.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1 [Cancelled]

@Punished GN aye aye, cap'n

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1 [Cancelled]

@Atrophy I absolutely adore Sloane and what you've done with her lux. I can't wait to play alongside your character, they're very unique and enjoyable to read! ^^

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1 [Cancelled]

Eksa Thresh

"We've seen worse."

_______________________________________________ Eksa Alden Thresh She/Her | 28 | Black-Scot | 5'8" | 137lbs _______________________________________________ Dissociated _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "Cultivated meself, I s'pose." ___________________________________ [+] [Student of the sciences] ⫻ Eksa is very well-educated. With multiple degrees in scientific fields such as medicine, chemistry, and biology, she has devoted significant amounts of time to her own intellectual betterment. As such, she is quite knowledgeable on matters pertaining to the aforementioned topics. [Sharp Mind] ⫻ Knowledge does not equal wit, but Eksa possesses both in spades. She's sharp - not only is she attentive, adaptive, and open to learning, but she does such things quickly. Her mental acuity is her strongest asset, most would say. [Steel-willed] ⫻ Eksa is not one to fold under pressure. As a technical medical professional, panicking isn't something she can afford, nor something she is prone to do. Aside from an unshakable psyche, Eksa is also one to detest surrender. She won't give up - and that is evident from her past. No matter how hopeless something seems, you can count on Eksa to be one of the last to admit such a thing.

Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "They always give me that look.." Initially, Eksa doesn't appear too out of the ordinary. She stands a bit taller than average at 5'8" and weighs about 137 pounds. Her hair is a thick, dark brown mane which she infallibly wears in side-swept twists. Her equally-dark eyes sit behind a pair of thin-framed, circular spectacles that sit lightly over her broad nose and defined cheeks. Her high cheekbones and angular jaw shape, accompanied by the smooth, clear, light-brown tones of her skin lead her to generally be seen as rather attractive, conventionally. Aside from her face, Eksa is similarly blessed with a womanly figure, though her wardrobe tends to conceal this - with the overcoats she always wears being the main culprits in such an act. Her general attire generally consists of darker shades; black, brown, khaki, etc., and is more often than not business-casual in style, with blazers and turtlenecks being a favorite of hers. Notably, Eksa does possess a bit of a quirk when it comes to her outfits - that being that she always wears an overcoat. She doesn't usually actually wear the sleeves, however, and just lets it hang from her shoulders. This article serves one purpose for Eksa, and that is to conceal her left arm - or lack thereof. Being that her arm was amputated a couple inches above the wrist, her partiality for overcoats stems from her self-conscious nature. Though this technique is only successful for preventing stares from passersby, and those who don't interact with her for long, in her experience. Finally, aside from how she looks, there is one thing to note about Eksa that is inescapable - that being her voice. Due to an accident in her past, Eksa's vocal cords and lungs have been irreparably damaged. This has caused her to develop a croaky, pained vocal structure whenever she speaks. This, alongside her insistent, unpredictable coughing fits has led many-a stranger to ignorantly surmise her a particularly persistent smoker. Unlike her arm, however, this is something which she can't really hide - a fact which causes her much distress. Overall, despite her pretty appearance, it is the focused nature of her expressions, her off-putting voice, and her broadened silhouette that has led some of her colleagues to dub her intimidating, of all things.

_{Psychology
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"Ahh, I'm nae that kinda doctor, unfortunately."

MAIN GOAL ⫻ Immediately, Eksa's goal in life is to help others. Though, in truth, she isn't really the kind to stew too much on what she should be doing with her life - but being that she has achieved a healthy education that now allows her to operate in pharmaceuticals, this aforementioned goal could be considered well underway. If she were to really think hard on it though, she could suppose her life has other purposes. She has always had an interest in the paranormal world she's involved with, but has had little extra time to explore it to a deeper extent. Acclimating herself further to such a realm could be a worthwhile adventure.

PHILOSOPHY ⫻ Eksa's philosophy is straightforward, yet compassionate. Oftentimes, things just.. happen. Not particularly because they're supposed to, or because someone or something deemed it so - but because they just do. And it can be unfair, and often is. But no matter what happens, perseverance is key. There is always a path ahead, no matter how hidden or treacherous. And there is always a second chance. And there is always someone out there who will stand by your side. Somewhere.

SECRETS ⫻ Eksa has.. a complicated relationship with who she is. Her personal deformities haunt her, and make her extremely self-conscious. Gazes and glances unnerve her, and talking in front of groups is.. unpleasant, to say the least. She doesn't trust others not to judge her for her distorted self, and as such, tries not to get too attached to people. Additionally, Eksa blames herself, in part, for her mother's passing.. if only she had been more careful, or.. been better, her mother would still be alive.

SEXUALITY ⫻ Eksa is bisexual, with a lean towards women. Though she could never see somebody liking her back, given her condition.

FEARS ⫻ Eksa is plighted with a few irrational fears, due to her past disturbances. She's an insomniac - she dreads sleeping, as she once suffered a coma that left her unable to help her mother in her most difficult moments - a fact that has lead to countless sleepless nights. The thought of never waking up terrifies her, as well. She also has a bit of an aversion to open flames -- not as severely as she fears sleeping, but enough to make her want to distance herself physically from such things. Additionally, she also fears that she will never be seen as normal. After her accident she has, in part of her own doing, never really re-acquired any friends. This has altered her perception of herself.

REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN ⫻ Eksa' reputation with the old coven was pretty amicable. She was a friendly, adventurous sort with a fondness for learning about the other coven members and their paranormal features. She wasn't one to make many enemies.

ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE ⫻ Eksa's abilities as a black-lux adept were rather helpful in the battle against the stygian snake. With a penchant for manipulating apparitions, Eksa was quite influential in their skirmishes with the snake's abominables and apparitions.

FLAWS ⫻ Eksa is, moreso than others, secluded. She has trust issues, is quite self-conscious of what others think of her, and has made no real bonds with anybody since she was a teen. Her issues and anxieties have warped her since her childhood and have her sheltering her adventurous, fun-loving nature in a shroud of cagey uncertainty. Furthermore, she has been secluded from the paranormal world for a time, in favor of her education and work. She has, however, ensured her own paranormal abilities never get too dull.

_{Backstory
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"I'd.. rather nae relive it.."

The tale of Eksa's life stems from a simple, if tragic, set of circumstances. The tale of two lovers - Ava Thresh and Mac Grieves - who knew no true love. In truth, Eksa's conception was unintended, brought on by the aforementioned two while Mac was visiting The States from Scotland. After his departure, it was brought to his and Ava's attention that she was pregnant. But where Mac had no intention of being a father, Ava was excited -- she had always wanted a daughter.

But fate would have it that she was ill-suited for motherhood. Her history of addiction and substance abuse wasn't something that was so easily cleansed by the pure-hearted desire to be a mother - no, in fact, the stresses of pregnancy and impending motherhood were vectors through which she would collapse to her old vices. She would, once again, enter a state in her life where her cares were few and irrational. Which left Eksa, newly-born, effectively motherless.. But she was fortunate enough that Mac, hesitant as he was to be involved in paternity, was not without a heart. He was her biological father, afterall, and he would see to it that she wasn't left to the mercy of the system, or some relative he'd never known.

And so Eksa grew up under his care in Glasgow, Scotland. Into her teens she would be seen-to by Mac Grieves and the company of his estate. Mac was a wealthy man who, although initially reluctant to raise a child, had a big heart, and accepted nothing but the best for his daughter. Their home - a mansion. Her schooling - the best. Her hobbies - droned over by her father, when he had the time. Luckily for her, his time was often consumed by his work as some sort of medical professional, as he said. So, while the circumstances behind her birth were perhaps contemptible, she grew up cared-for better than most. And this peacefulness of sorts lasted well into her teen years -- until she received unexpected correspondence - from her mother.

Over the almost-fifteen years of Eksa's life, she had never met Ava. Mac, in protection of his daughter who had been endangered by Ava's actions, hadn't allowed it. It was something daughter and father had argued over sometimes, but it had never really been a real issue, or something that even mattered that much, until now. With the correspondence came a request - Ava wanted to see Eksa, and not just for a meet-up. She wanted to be back in the girl's life. After almost an entire year of arguing, bickering, and the arduous convincing of Eksa to Mac, he finally folded. The decision was reluctantly made - the girl could, temporarily, move to The States and spend a semester with her mother.

And so she did - and one semester turned into several, even.

Eksa moved to St. Portwell, Oregon, and she.. liked it. It was weird, living with a woman who she.. never really knew, and was supposed to be her mother, but.. she did like it, nonetheless. The States were an adjustment, sure. But she grew to form a bond with her mom than one might expect of a daughter-mother combo. And while the schooling adjustments were equally, if not moreso, difficult, she found the people of St. Portwell to make good friends.

And even amongst all the acclimations she had to do, there was something more important, still. She had to hide her paranormal status from her mother. Being paranormal was something that she had ascertained only a year or two before moving to the U.S., triggered through a kindling event stemming from an exceedingly heated argument with her father over whether she should really see her mother. Fortunately, Mac himself had a hand in the world of the paranormal, and was there to guide her. Now was the first time she would have her own independent responsibility over her paranormal side, away from her father. And what better time was it to find similarly-afflicted individuals? It was during this period at St. Portwell that she'd make a number of advancements in her own paranormal abilities, as well as a few friends.

And for a time, her life was pretty happy, if weird. But fate always had its ways to turn the tables.

Towards the end of two years spent in The States, events took place that would quickly spiral Eksa's life into tragedy. The town was plagued by a paranormal enemy the likes of which Eksa could never have imagined - something that would spell the end of all she grew to know, should it not be stopped. But there were those who wouldn't just stand aside for such a fate- and those few managed to form a group called The Sycamore Tree Coven, which Eksa was recruited into. And for the purpose of stopping this enemy, Eksa made a sacrifice that would scar her for the rest of her life. In the battle against The Stygian Snake, Eksa fought hard.. and fell harder. She, at a point, managed to find herself outmatched by one of the Snake's abominables, and was struck unconscious in the midst of a burning building. She was fortunate that, in the chaos, someone was able to get her out of the danger, but by that time, the damage was done. Smoke inhalation and heat-damage had her hanging onto her life by a thread.

After then, she was rendered unconscious for months. Her father, upon hearing the news, immediately had her seized from wherever she was being treated and took her under the care of one of his own personal facilities - though not before doctors at a St. Portwell hospital deemed that Eksa's circumstances seemed insurmountably grim. Which was simply too much for her mother to handle.

By the time Eksa awoke, months later, her mother had fallen to her vices once again. And this time, they took her life. Eksa was stricken with overwhelming grief at the news, even as she spent the next few months in physical rehabilitation. It took some time for her to recover, both physically and mentally, but she could only imagine that her mother would wish the best for her and would want nothing more than her to live on.

And that she did.

In fact, Eksa was far from one to allow her tragedies to define her. Even before her final steps to recovery, the girl took it upon herself to continue her education - and her education was promising. She had always been a bright girl, but the vigor with which she applied herself after she got back into schooling was.. galvanizing, in a sense. She continued her path from where she left off - seeking virtuosity in the field of medicinal sciences, like her father.

And like her father, she would succeed. She was a quick learner, deft worker, and attentive colleague as she worked her way into the field as she, after many years, graduated from a Scottish university with several degrees - a doctorate among them. And from there she achieved her "dream profession" of becoming a pharmaceutical chemist.

Present day, Eksa enjoys a comfy lifestyle and a flexible job, and lives peacefully in Glasgow, Scotland.

Though, with a recent revelation brought to her attention by Auri Auclair, who managed to track her down, the members of her former coven were being.. murdered. Why? Who knew. But she doubted that someone so unhinged as to systematically kill a group of people would be hindered by the fact that she no longer lived in the states. No- that was little comfort, and as such, it seemed she'd be revisiting the states once again, to meet up with Auri and whoever else she'd gathered. The idea of getting brutally murdered wasn't one that was on her bucket list, so it was up to them to figure out how to stop it.

_{Abstraction
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"It's quite useful, aye."

TYPE ⫻ Adept

ABSTRACTION ⫻ Black Lux. Eksa's channeler is her mother's medallion.

ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ Eksa is a Black-Lux Adept with a strong aptitude for manipulating apparitions. She has dabbled very lightly in the black lux's necromantic side, but never developed it much.

Dominion ⫻ One of Eksa's most practiced spells is one which allows her to physically seize an apparition's body, or whatever sort of form they possess. Doing so engages the two in an ethereal grudge-match of sorts that renders the both of them quite occupied, as they wrestle for control of the target's body. This ability is useful for restraining an apparition or potentially even causing it to attack its allies, depending on how strong-willed it is.

Amplified Sealing ⫻ Eksa is a rather proficient sealer of apparitions. Sealing rituals that Eksa blesses with this spell are easier to manage, more efficient, and can imprison stronger apparitions. Overall, this spell empowers sealing procedures by a significant deal.

Seek Apparitions ⫻ Seek Apparitions is a rather self-explanatory spell. Eksa focuses her mind and reaches out, probing for an apparition through the world around her. Such a search can expand several miles, with time, and can divulge the location of even apparitions who are actively trying to conceal themselves. She must be looking for a specific known apparition, an apparition capable of a specific notable feat, or an apparition with which she or her companions are partially familiar.

Black Pact ⫻ Black Pact is an odd spell with interesting applications. The main crux of the spell is that it allows Eksa to communicate with otherwise unintelligible apparitions, and make pacts with their kin. Said pacts are a form of intellectual contract enforced by the magical powers of both Eksa and the apparition in question - meaning that said contracts are binding regardless of nefarious intent or askant power-disparities between the two participants. Such pacts are capable of performing rather unique feats in order to maintain their soundness; for example, an apparition could form a pact with Eksa to be freed from a sealing for a limited time before it is automatically shunted back into its prison. Another example could see the apparition lending its abstraction or other supernatural abilities to someone else.

Black Shroud ⫻ The Black Shroud is a spell made specifically to combat apparitions, and it has two primarily applications. The first is its ability to veil the user from the perception of all apparitions - be it vision, smell, hearing, or some sort of paranormal perception, this effect would render Eksa imperceptible to apparitions. The second application is an enhancing effect that braces Eksa's Emotional-Field against any effects stemming from an apparition. This simply causes her to be more durable and resistant to an apparition's abilities or attacks.

LIMITS ⫻ Eksa's Dominion is a spell which requires most, and sometimes all, of her focus, and engages her in a metaphysical battle with the target. This means that particularly strong-willed apparitions can overcome its effects, in which case her most potent spell is rendered ineffective. Amplified Sealing, due to it simply enhancing a sealing ritual, is obviously useless without the prep time required to set up the process. Seek Apparitions, while wide-sweeping and thorough, requires Eksa to define specific parameters -- she must look for a specific known apparition, an apparition capable of a specific feat, or an apparition with which she or her companions are partially familiar. The Black Pact is a spell limited only by its application - it serves only to ensure one keeps their word, even if they don't intend to. All participants, of course, must be willing and knowledgeable of all caveats, and are supernaturally informed of such things once a proposal is made. The Black Shroud is limited mostly by its specificity as a tool against apparitions. In any other capacity, it is useless. It is also noticeable that Eksa cannot use Dominion while using the Black Shroud for obscurity.

WEAKNESSES ⫻ Below are weaknesses for each of Eksa's spells.

Dominion ⫻ The act of casting Domination causes Eksa to remain stationary, and she can easily be injured and knocked out of the spell. If she loses the Dominion grudge match, she can lose control of her body, making this a high-risk, high-reward spell.

Amplified Sealing ⫻ This Spell requires prep time and leaves her vulnerable while she prepares it.

Seek Apparitions ⫻ This Spell is a two-way door that reveals her location to the Apparitions around her as well.

Black Pact ⫻ Eksa must also abide by the conditions she sets or else she will lose access to all of her Spells for a day.

Black Shroud ⫻ While the Black Shroud is active, it also prevents boons from Apparitions such as healing or teleportation.

^{Other
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"Hrm."

Eksa is accompanied, without fail, by a companion-apparition.

Apparition Companion

Marma
Age unknown | Marma | They/Them "..."	Description: Marma is a benevolent, if completely reticent, apparition. Despite its refusal to really communicate at all with Eksa beyond a couple very rare occasions, it has deemed its place to be at her side. It has, over the years, been a boon to Eksa and a stalwart presence where she was otherwise completely alone. This has led to a bit of a bond forming between the two, despite Marma's unresponsive nature. Eksa has only seen Marma's true form one singular time, as the apparition disguises itself by possessing an article of clothing Eksa wears in the form of a leather cuff on her left bicep. Abstraction: Black Bough Marma's abstraction is called Black Bough, and this allows it to summon an inky, black limb to aid it in its needs. Said limb is usually rather herculean in strength, and can take many different forms, be they that of a tree branch, a tentacle, a paw, or even a regular hand - though all forms are befouled by a dark, smoky visage that betrays their true paranormal nature. While Marma seems to have no true purpose, this ability is one that it often uses to assist Eksa in her intents. Though, of course, this is usually kinda rare due to their need to shroud paranormal things from most of their surroundings.

_{Eksa's banner color: 23527C
Eksa's signature color: 3277b3}

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1 [Cancelled]

Alright, here we go! Created over the course of several over-nighters, so let's hope there's not too many errors in there..
I'm sure Ghost will be happy that there's no furry material inside.

Eksa Thresh

"We've seen worse."

_______________________________________________ Eksa Alden Thresh She/Her | 28 | Black-Scot | 5'8" | 137lbs _______________________________________________ Dissociated _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "Cultivated meself, I s'pose." ___________________________________ [+] [Student of the sciences] ⫻ Eksa is very well-educated. With multiple degrees in scientific fields such as medicine, chemistry, and biology, she has devoted significant amounts of time to her own intellectual betterment. As such, she is quite knowledgeable on matters pertaining to the aforementioned topics. [Sharp Mind] ⫻ Knowledge does not equal wit, but Eksa possesses both in spades. She's sharp - not only is she attentive, adaptive, and open to learning, but she does such things quickly. Her mental acuity is her strongest asset, most would say. [Steel-willed] ⫻ Eksa is not one to fold under pressure. As a technical medical professional, panicking isn't something she can afford, nor something she is prone to do. Aside from an unshakable psyche, Eksa is also one to detest surrender. She won't give up - and that is evident from her past. No matter how hopeless something seems, you can count on Eksa to be one of the last to admit such a thing.

Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "They always give me that look.." Initially, Eksa doesn't appear too out of the ordinary. She stands a bit taller than average at 5'8" and weighs about 137 pounds. Her hair is a thick, dark brown mane which she infallibly wears in side-swept twists. Her equally-dark eyes sit behind a pair of thin-framed, circular spectacles that sit lightly over her broad nose and defined cheeks. Her high cheekbones and angular jaw shape, accompanied by the smooth, clear, light-brown tones of her skin lead her to generally be seen as rather attractive, conventionally. Aside from her face, Eksa is similarly blessed with a womanly figure, though her wardrobe tends to conceal this - with the overcoats she always wears being the main culprits in such an act. Her general attire generally consists of darker shades; black, brown, khaki, etc., and is more often than not business-casual in style, with blazers and turtlenecks being a favorite of hers. Notably, Eksa does possess a bit of a quirk when it comes to her outfits - that being that she always wears an overcoat. She doesn't usually actually wear the sleeves, however, and just lets it hang from her shoulders. This article serves one purpose for Eksa, and that is to conceal her left arm - or lack thereof. Being that her arm was amputated a couple inches above the wrist, her partiality for overcoats stems from her self-conscious nature. Though this technique is only successful for preventing stares from passersby, and those who don't interact with her for long, in her experience. Finally, aside from how she looks, there is one thing to note about Eksa that is inescapable - that being her voice. Due to an accident in her past, Eksa's vocal cords and lungs have been irreparably damaged. This has caused her to develop a croaky, pained vocal structure whenever she speaks. This, alongside her insistent, unpredictable coughing fits has led many-a stranger to ignorantly surmise her a particularly persistent smoker. Unlike her arm, however, this is something which she can't really hide - a fact which causes her much distress. Overall, despite her pretty appearance, it is the focused nature of her expressions, her off-putting voice, and her broadened silhouette that has led some of her colleagues to dub her intimidating, of all things.

_{Psychology
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"Ahh, I'm nae that kinda doctor, unfortunately."

MAIN GOAL ⫻ Immediately, Eksa's goal in life is to help others. Though, in truth, she isn't really the kind to stew too much on what she should be doing with her life - but being that she has achieved a healthy education that now allows her to operate in pharmaceuticals, this aforementioned goal could be considered well underway. If she were to really think hard on it though, she could suppose her life has other purposes. She has always had an interest in the paranormal world she's involved with, but has had little extra time to explore it to a deeper extent. Acclimating herself further to such a realm could be a worthwhile adventure.

PHILOSOPHY ⫻ Eksa's philosophy is straightforward, yet compassionate. Oftentimes, things just.. happen. Not particularly because they're supposed to, or because someone or something deemed it so - but because they just do. And it can be unfair, and often is. But no matter what happens, perseverance is key. There is always a path ahead, no matter how hidden or treacherous. And there is always a second chance. And there is always someone out there who will stand by your side. Somewhere.

SECRETS ⫻ Eksa has.. a complicated relationship with who she is. Her personal deformities haunt her, and make her extremely self-conscious. Gazes and glances unnerve her, and talking in front of groups is.. unpleasant, to say the least. She doesn't trust others not to judge her for her distorted self, and as such, tries not to get too attached to people. Additionally, Eksa blames herself, in part, for her mother's passing.. if only she had been more careful, or.. been better, her mother would still be alive.

SEXUALITY ⫻ Eksa is bisexual, with a lean towards women. Though she could never see somebody liking her back, given her condition.

FEARS ⫻ Eksa is plighted with a few irrational fears, due to her past disturbances. She's an insomniac - she dreads sleeping, as she once suffered a coma that left her unable to help her mother in her most difficult moments - a fact that has lead to countless sleepless nights. The thought of never waking up terrifies her, as well. She also has a bit of an aversion to open flames -- not as severely as she fears sleeping, but enough to make her want to distance herself physically from such things. Additionally, she also fears that she will never be seen as normal. After her accident she has, in part of her own doing, never really re-acquired any friends. This has altered her perception of herself.

REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN ⫻ Eksa' reputation with the old coven was pretty amicable. She was a friendly, adventurous sort with a fondness for learning about the other coven members and their paranormal features. She wasn't one to make many enemies.

ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE ⫻ Eksa's abilities as a black-lux adept were rather helpful in the battle against the stygian snake. With a penchant for manipulating apparitions, Eksa was quite influential in their skirmishes with the snake's abominables and apparitions.

FLAWS ⫻ Eksa is, moreso than others, secluded. She has trust issues, is quite self-conscious of what others thing of her, and has made no real bonds with anybody since she was a teen. Her issues and anxieties have warped her since her childhood and have her sheltering her adventurous, fun-loving nature in a shroud of cagey uncertainty. Furthermore, she has been secluded from the paranormal world for a time, in favor of her education and work. She has, however, ensured her own paranormal abilities never get too dull.

_{Backstory
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"I'd.. rather nae relive it.."

The tale of Eksa's life stems from a simple, if tragic, set of circumstances. The tale of two lovers - Ava Thresh and Mac Grieves - who knew no true love. In truth, Eksa's conception was unintended, brought on by the aforementioned two while Mac was visiting The States from Scotland. After his departure, it was brought to his and Ava's attention that she was pregnant. But where Mac had no intention of being a father, Ava was excited -- she had always wanted a daughter.

But fate would have it that she was ill-suited for motherhood. Her history of addiction and substance abuse wasn't something that was so easily cleansed by the pure-hearted desire to be a mother - no, in fact, the stresses of pregnancy and impending motherhood were vectors through which she would collapse to her old vices. She would, once again, enter a state in her life where her cares were few and irrational. Which left Eksa, newly-born, effectively motherless.. But she was fortunate enough that Mac, hesitant as he was to be involved in paternity, was not without a heart. He was her biological father, afterall, and he would see to it that she wasn't left to the mercy of the system, or some relative he'd never known.

And so Eksa grew up under his care in Glasgow, Scotland. Into her teens she would be seen-to by Mac Grieves and the company of his estate. Mac was a wealthy man who, although initially reluctant to raise a child, had a big heart, and accepted nothing but the best for his daughter. Their home - a mansion. Her schooling - the best. Her hobbies - droned over by her father, when he had the time. Luckily for her, his time was often consumed by his work as some sort of medical professional, as he said. So, while the circumstances behind her birth were perhaps contemptible, she grew up cared-for better than most. And this peacefulness of sorts lasted well into her teen years -- until she received unexpected correspondence - from her mother.

Over the almost-fifteen years of Eksa's life, she had never met Ava. Mac, in protection of his daughter who had been endangered by Ava's actions, hadn't allowed it. It was something daughter and father had argued over sometimes, but it had never really been a real issue, or something that even mattered that much, until now. With the correspondence came a request - Ava wanted to see Eksa, and not just for a meet-up. She wanted to be back in the girl's life. After almost an entire year of arguing, bickering, and the arduous convincing of Eksa to Mac, he finally folded. The decision was reluctantly made - the girl could, temporarily, move to The States and spend a semester with her mother.

And so she did - and one semester turned into several, even.

Eksa moved to St. Portwell, Oregon, and she.. liked it. It was weird, living with a woman who she.. never really knew, and was supposed to be her mother, but.. she did like it, nonetheless. The States were an adjustment, sure. But she grew to form a bond with her mom than one might expect of a daughter-mother combo. And while the schooling adjustments were equally, if not moreso, difficult, she found the people of St. Portwell to make good friends.

And even amongst all the acclimations she had to do, there was something more important, still. She had to hide her paranormal status from her mother. Being paranormal was something that she had ascertained only a year or two before moving to the U.S., triggered through a kindling event stemming from an exceedingly heated argument with her father over whether she should really see her mother. Fortunately, Mac himself had a hand in the world of the paranormal, and was there to guide her. Now was the first time she would have her own independent responsibility over her paranormal side, away from her father. And what better time was it to find similarly-afflicted individuals? It was during this period at St. Portwell that she'd make a number of advancements in her own paranormal abilities, as well as a few friends.

And for a time, her life was pretty happy, if weird. But fate always had its ways to turn the tables.

Towards the end of two years spent in The States, events took place that would quickly spiral Eksa's life into tragedy. The town was plagued by a paranormal enemy the likes of which Eksa could never have imagined - something that would spell the end of all she grew to know, should it not be stopped. But there were those who wouldn't just stand aside for such a fate- and those few managed to form a group called The Sycamore Tree Coven, which Eksa was recruited into. And for the purpose of stopping this enemy, Eksa made a sacrifice that would scar her for the rest of her life. In the battle against The Stygian Snake, Eksa fought hard.. and fell harder. She, at a point, managed to find herself outmatched by one of the Snake's abominables, and was struck unconscious in the midst of a burning building. She was fortunate that, in the chaos, someone was able to get her out of the danger, but by that time, the damage was done. Smoke inhalation and heat-damage had her hanging onto her life by a thread.

After then, she was rendered unconscious for months. Her father, upon hearing the news, immediately had her seized from wherever she was being treated and took her under the care of one of his own personal facilities - though not before doctors at a St. Portwell hospital deemed that Eksa's circumstances seemed insurmountably grim. Which was simply too much for her mother to handle.

By the time Eksa awoke, months later, her mother had fallen to her vices once again. And this time, they took her life. Eksa was stricken with overwhelming grief at the news, even as she spent the next few months in physical rehabilitation. It took some time for her to recover, both physically and mentally, but she could only imagine that her mother would wish the best for her and would want nothing more than her to live on.

And that she did.

In fact, Eksa was far from one to allow her tragedies to define her. Even before her final steps to recovery, the girl took it upon herself to continue her education - and her education was promising. She had always been a bright girl, but the vigor with which she applied herself after she got back into schooling was.. galvanizing, in a sense. She continued her path from where she left off - seeking virtuosity in the field of medicinal sciences, like her father.

And like her father, she would succeed. She was a quick learner, deft worker, and attentive colleague as she worked her way into the field as she, after many years, graduated from a Scottish university with several degrees - a doctorate among them. And from there she achieved her "dream profession" of becoming a pharmaceutical chemist.

Present day, Eksa enjoys a comfy lifestyle and a flexible job, and lives peacefully in Glasgow, Scotland.

Though, with a recent revelation brought to her attention by Auri Auclair, who managed to track her down, the members of her former coven were being.. murdered. Why? Who knew. But she doubted that someone so unhinged as to systematically kill a group of people would be hindered by the fact that she no longer lived in the states. No- that was little comfort, and as such, it seemed she'd be revisiting the states once again, to meet up with Auri and whoever else she'd gathered. The idea of getting brutally murdered wasn't one that was on her bucket list, so it was up to them to figure out how to stop it.

_{Abstraction
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"It's quite useful, aye."

TYPE ⫻ Adept

ABSTRACTION ⫻ Black Lux. Eksa's channeler is her mother's medallion.

ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ Eksa is a Black-Lux Adept with a strong aptitude for manipulating apparitions. She has dabbled very lightly in the black lux's necromantic side, but never developed it much.

Dominion ⫻ One of Eksa's most practiced spells is one which allows her to physically seize an apparition's body, or whatever sort of form they possess. Doing so engages the two in an ethereal grudge-match of sorts that renders the both of them quite occupied, as they wrestle for control of the target's body. This ability is useful for restraining an apparition or potentially even causing it to attack its allies, depending on how strong-willed it is.

Amplified Sealing ⫻ Eksa is a rather proficient sealer of apparitions. Sealing rituals that Eksa blesses with this spell are easier to manage, more efficient, and can imprison stronger apparitions. Overall, this spell empowers sealing procedures by a significant deal.

Seek Apparitions ⫻ Seek Apparitions is a rather self-explanatory spell. Eksa focuses her mind and reaches out, probing for an apparition through the world around her. Such a search can expand several miles, with time, and can divulge the location of even apparitions who are actively trying to conceal themselves. She must be looking for a specific known apparition, an apparition capable of a specific notable feat, or an apparition with which she or her companions are partially familiar.

Black Pact ⫻ Black Pact is an odd spell with interesting applications. The main crux of the spell is that it allows Eksa to communicate with otherwise unintelligible apparitions, and make pacts with their kin. Said pacts are a form of intellectual contract enforced by the magical powers of both Eksa and the apparition in question - meaning that said contracts are binding regardless of nefarious intent or askant power-disparities between the two participants. Such pacts are capable of performing rather unique feats in order to maintain their soundness; for example, an apparition could form a pact with Eksa to be freed from a sealing for a limited time before it is automatically shunted back into its prison. Another example could see the apparition lending its abstraction or other supernatural abilities to someone else.

Black Shroud ⫻ The Black Shroud is a spell made specifically to combat apparitions, and it has two primarily applications. The first is its ability to veil the user from the perception of all apparitions - be it vision, smell, hearing, or some sort of paranormal perception, this effect would render Eksa imperceptible to apparitions. The second application is an enhancing effect that braces Eksa's Emotional-Field against any effects stemming from an apparition. This simply causes her to be more durable and resistant to an apparition's abilities or attacks.

LIMITS ⫻ Eksa's Dominion is a spell which requires most, and sometimes all, of her focus, and engages her in a metaphysical battle with the target. This means that particularly strong-willed apparitions can overcome its effects, in which case her most potent spell is rendered ineffective. Amplified Sealing, due to it simply enhancing a sealing ritual, is obviously useless without the prep time required to set up the process. Seek Apparitions, while wide-sweeping and thorough, requires Eksa to define specific parameters -- she must look for a specific known apparition, an apparition capable of a specific feat, or an apparition with which she or her companions are partially familiar. The Black Pact is a spell limited only by its application - it serves only to ensure one keeps their word, even if they don't intend to. All participants, of course, must be willing and knowledgeable of all caveats, and are supernaturally informed of such things once a proposal is made. The Black Shroud is limited mostly by its specificity as a tool against apparitions. In any other capacity, it is useless. It is also noticeable that Eksa cannot use Dominion while using the Black Shroud for obscurity.

WEAKNESSES ⫻ Below are weaknesses for each of Eksa's spells.

Dominion ⫻ The act of casting Domination causes Eksa to remain stationary, and she can easily be injured and knocked out of the spell. If she loses the Dominion grudge match, she can lose control of her body, making this a high-risk, high-reward spell.

Amplified Sealing ⫻ This Spell requires prep time and leaves her vulnerable while she prepares it.

Seek Apparitions ⫻ This Spell is a two-way door that reveals her location to the Apparitions around her as well.

Black Pact ⫻ Eksa must also abide by the conditions she sets or else she will lose access to all of her Spells for a day.

Black Shroud ⫻ While the Black Shroud is active, it also prevents boons from Apparitions such as healing or teleportation.

^{Other
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"Hrm."

Eksa is accompanied, without fail, by a companion-apparition.

Apparition Companion

Marma
Age unknown | Marma | They/Them "..."	Description: Marma is a benevolent, if completely reticent, apparition. Despite its refusal to really communicate at all with Eksa beyond a couple very rare occasions, it has deemed its place to be at her side. It has, over the years, been a boon to Eksa and a stalwart presence where she was otherwise completely alone. This has led to a bit of a bond forming between the two, despite Marma's unresponsive nature. Eksa has only seen Marma's true form one singular time, as the apparition disguises itself by possessing an article of clothing Eksa wears in the form of a leather cuff on her left bicep. Abstraction: Black Bough Marma's abstraction is called Black Bough, and this allows it so summon an inky, black limb to aid it in its needs. Said limb is usually rather herculean in strength, and can take many different forms, be they that of a tree branch, a tentacle, a paw, or even a regular hand - though all forms are befouled by a dark, smoky visage that betrays their true paranormal nature. While Marma seems to have no true purpose, this ability is one that it often uses to assist Eksa in her intents. Though, of course, this is usually kinda rare due to their need to shroud paranormal things from most of their surroundings.

_{Eksa's banner color: 23527C
Eksa's signature color: 3277b3}

@Punished GN Hit me with any thoughts, questions, or needed changes <3

Pokemon: Dream

Ripley Lennox

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Mentions: Clarissa (@Crusader Lord) Location: Byjerlfal City Industrial District, Wailord's Rest Cafe

---

The interior of the cafe was.. homey. At least to Ripley. It had a decent collection of customers seated about, each discussing their own devices, hanging out, dining, etc. While Rip had never left Rivenwall before this very adventure, he might've expected little shops like this to be a bit.. different. Sure, it was different in that it was in a different city, and it was adjacent a different length of ocean, even - but the atmosphere wasn't so alien.

As his gaze shifted over to a nearby menu at the mention of food, he could feel his mouth start to water. Ripley had always been a fan of seafood. The sea was a menagerie of sorts for different tastes and experiences that Ripley thought one could never see the end of. And considering he was from the sea-side town of Rivenwall, he was one to have tasted more than a few different flavors the watery expanse had to offer. He'd never pass up the opportunity to try more. As they were led to their booth he ordered the same thing as his partner - today's special.

His face lit up at Beryl's offer to give them a discount, and he thanked her excitedly before she left, leaving her Wobbufett behind to keep them company. Rip took this as an opportunity to scan the Pokémon as well, storing its data in his pokedex. He slipped the device back into his jeans before he sat back in the booth and tucked the heel of his right sneaker just under his butt up on the seat as they waited for Beryl to return. He couldn't help but allow his gaze to explore the inside of the cafe as they sat. He took it all in - even the presence of Tuule - which was surely a surprise to him.

His face took on a brief look of surprise at sighting the Gym Leader of Rivenwall here, of all places. What a coincidence! He'd met Tuule maybe a couple times throughout Rivenwall - well, more saw than met, as he never really approached him. But still! A part of Rip's mind wanted to go bother the old guy, pester him about something. But another part of him wanted to bide his time. He had never been able to challenge the geezer, due to the fact that he had no battle experience, and no Pokémon to boot.. but something told him that he'd get his chance. Maybe soon - they'd just have to get stronger.

In any case, the smell of baking, frying, and otherwise cooking goods wafted into the area, causing Rip's mouth to water once more at the thought of a meal. "Geez, I'm more hungry than I thought - this place's gotta nice atmosphere, eh?" He pondered allowed, giving Clarissa a nudge with his left foot from across the booth.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree (Witch/Surreal Urban Fantasy)

I'll be marring this with my presence.

Pokemon: Dream

Ripley Lennox

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Mentions: Clarissa (@Crusader Lord) Location: Byjerlfal City Industrial District

---

Now this was more like home. As Ripley and his psychic companion ventured after the flock of Murkrow, they happened to travel into what one would only assume was a more industrial section of Byjerlfal - and that it was. The scenery transformed as they moved onward, turning into something more similar to the busy, machinated hotspot that was Rip's hometown, Rivenwall.

Eventually, they drew to a stop as the path ahead became not-so-clear. Their target seemed to have evaded them, but there were options. A set of friendly-looking alleys lay before, but so too did a cafe. The Wailord's Rest - seemed cozy enough. Ripley's eyes were drawn to Sir Lopsalot as the small rabbit-Pokémon gestured down the alleyway towards what they could only assume was their quarry. Or something like it. Ripley peered down the alley, looking for any sign of what may be waiting for them, to little avail.

He proceeded to listen as Clarissa spoke. He himself wasn't too concerned about the safety of the alley - how bad could it really be? They had their partner Pokémon to help protect them, anyways! Either way though, Rip was more than content with deferring to whatever path Clarissa wanted to take first. Afterall, there was a big journey ahead of them, and the first city they came across was not likely to be the most exciting bit of it. Plus, once Clarissa was busy with her super-star friend, Ripley would have the run of the place to himself to do whatever he thought he missed.

"Hmmmn.." He hummed, shifting a hip to one side. "The cafe sounds good to me! Who better to ask than a local, I guess!" He replied as he started to step happily towards the front of the Wailord's Rest. "Maybe they have something interesting on the menu, too!" Zorua's eyes gleamed in delight at the mention of food as it scurried around the duo of trainers in excited circles.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Zeltzin Sandoval

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Mentions: None Location: Road to The Old Black Manor

---

The notion of riding clown-car in Jen's van with the group of strangers she'd known for all of half-a-day was not an enticing one to Zeltzin. Unfortunately, the idea of her bike sliding off a bank and into some tarry-ass swamp-water, which would definitely fuck it up, was even less attractive. Begrudgingly, she had determined she'd rather leave her bike behind, waiting loyally for her in the Summit Motel parking lot.

As she sat in the furthest-back row of seats, the van cruising down the back-roads of the swamp, she determined her choice was both right and wrong. It seemed the weather had taken a swing for the worse, transitioning into a torrential downpour, which she would've been forced to endure unsheltered, had she taken her bike. The alternative was that she was instead forced to endure the stench of weed coming off one of her traveling companions - and she could only guess who it was. Mind you, she had done her share of recreational medicinals in the past - but weed was not one which she had grown fond of. Fortunately, she hadn't too much time to lament her decision - for the ride was pretty short, as promised.

Her gaze scanned their surroundings through the window as the van came to a halt, looking over the gate and the depths of swamp to either side. She started shifting around as they drew up to said gate, reaching back into the cargo space and retrieving the black canvas bag that concealed the hardware she'd brought along. Considering how calm the ride was through the swamp, it seemed a bit silly in hindsight to come as heavy as they had - but better safe than sorry, as cliché as it was. Either way, it was coming along.

The rain droned against the roof of the van as she checked what few things she had on her person, before reaching over and pulling open the door she was sitting up against. The shower immediately started to dampen her clothes as she started to step out, and it quickly became a drenching. Fortunately, Zeltzin's leather jacket kept her torso relatively dry, but her jeans were quickly wet-through, and her head was also swiftly soaked. Her heavy combat-boots - which she was fortunate to have worn here - dropped heavily into the mud as she hopped out and took a better look at the gate. Yep, no getting through that with what they'd brought along.

She rolled her eyes at the previous notion of them shooting through the lock - that sorta thing was movie bullshit, usually. And 'specially wouldn't work with a scattergun. A softer Zeltzin would've had a chuckle at the response elicited from Ophrenia though - she surely hadn't expected the irritated snapback from someone as chill as her. But she had other things on her mind at the moment.

She started to mess with her canvas bag for a moment before she drew across it in a long motion, pulling the zipper around its length to pull out the shotgun stored within. She was mindful to ensure she didn't flag any of her 'companions' with it as she ensured it was loaded and the safety was on, before she slung it over her back, barrel-down. She imagined there wouldn't be many people out in the swamp, so her wariness with wearing it bare on her back was gone. She tossed the bag back into the van before stepping away.

Her eyes once again fell upon the gate that laid before them. The talk of scaling it had her looking up its length skeptically, before she laid a hand on her thigh reflectively. It'd been a while since she'd scaled a fence - the last time she exerted herself over climbing something like this was when she booked a rock-climbing trip, of all things, when she was with Eleanor. She had a stubborn adventurousness to her back then, and would endure many things for her Eleanor, even if the other made a fuss about it. In truth, climbing something like this would've been significantly easier if someone were to help her up -- but she'd rather die, naturally.

She limped up to the gate and looked straight up before measuring in her head how much of a task it'd be. She took a bit of distance before she rushed forward and hopped up to grab the top of the fence. She threw her left leg up-and-over and started pulling herself up, before she began lifting her right leg too. The latter effort caused her body to shudder as she felt a sudden, sharp pain racking her body. For a moment, she faltered, her muscles twitching in protest as she vainly tried to hold back a loud howl of agony at the attempt.
"A-AHNgh-!" There was a moment where she paused in the pain, and it looked like she might let herself stall - but it itself was halted quickly as she drew her muscles back under her control and redoubled her efforts, managing to finally throw herself over the peak of the fence and fall to the other side.

She just managed to somehow land on her feet, even if her right leg gave way and she fell to one knee. She took an involuntary moment of pause as she felt the nerves in the right side of her body flare and tweak in pangs. She let out a frustrated grunt as she managed to stand up after a moment, her right leg quivering as she violently shrugged off any looks or attempts to ensure she was okay, should there be any.

In truth, the pain was near-blinding. Once she stood up, it took her a moment for her mind to find purchase on what she was doing before the sudden onslaught of physical torment. After a pause, her head managed to readjust itself to its surroundings as Zeltzin found herself standing in the downpour, her comrades in front and behind her. Fortunately for her, she was not the last of the group to scale the fence, and she'd at least have the reprieve of a minute or so as she waited for the rest of them to climb after her. In this meantime, Zeltzin would take the opportunity to dig a shaky hand into the inner pockets of her jacket, searching for something. She was quick to find a bottle and deposit a few pills into her hand, which she swallowed dry as she waited.

Once everybody was ready, Zeltzin followed. She took it upon herself to take position at the right-most side of the group as they moved down the muddy path towards the Black Manor. They walked for some time, led by Jen as her flashlight highlighted the countless raindrops that poured through the beam of its light. That was, until Lily came to an abrupt halt at the front. "... What. In. The. FUCK?" Zeltzin's hand was quick but smooth to reach down and grasp the barrel of her weapon, preparing to whip it up under her arm if they needed it.

Her eyes followed the beam of light that connected Lily's flashlight and the.. thing that sat in the swamp, silently, as if watching them. Her eyes landed on it and she felt a chill run through her flesh as she paused, her grip of the weapon on her back remaining as it was. The thing was.. unmoving. It was just.. there. It - whatever it was - was hard to make out. With the downpour came a misty depth-of-field as the rain spattered down into the putrid, stale water of the swamp around them. Whatever the shape was, it was weird, but.. Jen had the right idea. Ignoring whatever that weird effigy-looking thing was, it was better to keep moving.

Her readiness to pull her weapon eased as they continued walking once again. Although Zeltzin was far from the superstitious type, turning her back to such a thing made her feel.. uneasy. Where she'd normally have tossed a glance over her shoulder every-so-often, now she made sure to give their flank a scrutinous gaze pretty frequently as she continued limping along.

Akimitsu Academy Kendo Club [INVITE ONLY]

Shion Sasaki

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Shion

"Ya think so? Prove it, then!~"

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Name:

Sasaki, Shion

Age:

17

Appearance:

At passing glance, one would be forgiven for immediately thinking Shion a girl. Albeit his unkempt-looking hair is short, it is also quite fluffy and possesses a traditionally-feminine rosy-pink tone. His bangs are often prone to brushing into his face, occasionally covering the similarly-unique hue of his grape-purple eyes - which are often enhanced with his personal application of black eyeliner. Additionally, Shion's facial aspects are rather feminine; soft yet angular features and fair, clear skin accompanied by thin, expressive eyebrows.

Aside from his head, Shion doesn't have anything particularly special to note about him, physically. Admittedly, he does possesses a physique a bit feminine for most boys his age - being that he is rather petite at 5'4" and with no visible muscle. Despite his soft appearance though, he does have some musculature to him in the areas that are most manipulated in Kendo - those being the back, arms, core, and legs.

Personality:

Shion is a bit of a wildcard, some might say. In general, he's a boy of many facets - he is very-much-so an ambivert, and his day-to-day self flexes this duality often. He's not scared of being loud, nor of being unheard. He's fun-loving and animated, but equally capable of solemnity or aloofness that might seem off-putting coming from a bright, quip-cracking personality like his. He is a naturally competitive sort, and possesses the tenacity to compete against the odds in whichever field it is that he desires. He's more attentive than one might expect from a boy as air-headed as he can sometimes be, and is all-too-interested in learning specific fields that might seem a little random - like martial arts, or chemistry.

Bio:

Shion's life has been rather simple, if unfortunate, up to this point. Now living with his grandmother in an oddly large home for a Japanese citizen, Shion had been raised solely by his mother up until the age of 13. Until then, the two of them had lived alone, spending their days together as his mother, Aiko, worked from home. His life was one of normality and happiness - despite his father not being in the picture - and he would always return home from school to the waiting arms of his mother, who greeted him and treated him with all the love one could muster. But for some, fate deemed life would not be so blessed. At age 13, Shion lost his mother to a genetic disease with which he did not know she was burdened. From that point onward, he began to live with his grandmother Miu - a distant, if generous and benevolent, entity in his life.

He is, at least, a little fortunate in his inheritances granted by his mother. His closet is full of her belongings - memories of the only person who he was ever truly close to. Additionally, Shion seeks to carry on her legacy in Kendo. Aiko Sasaki was a world-competitor in Kendo some years ago, having to quit due to health. Shion keeps tapes of some of her competitions, watching them from time-to-time when he needs inspiration or comfort. It is her legacy in the sport that causes him to hold a deep respect for Kendo, and the drive to be the best than he can be - and better.

Kendo:

One might expect Shion's Kendo style to mirror his personality, and they would be right - though maybe for the wrong reasons. Where he is a rather balanced character who is equally prone to outwardness or reticence, in Kendo he is a defensive, counterattack-specialist. In shiai, Shion almost never deviates from the balanced Chudan stance, and develops a sharp eye and a reactive disposition - looking for even the slightest moment where his opponent's attack leaves them vulnerable to one of his own.

Not only is Shion's style one that takes advantage of the aggression of the opponent, but Shion is also a bit of a trickster when it comes to his own forms of aggression. Generally, the most common form of strike in Kendo is a cut, but Shion finds some success in a proclivity for thrusts - a faster and more deceptive, but more easily deflected, attack. Fortunately, this works well for him, as it is more difficult to articulate one's shinai during the recovery of a deflected or bypassed attack.

Additionally, Shion's interest in martial arts and swordsmanship as a whole leads him to have developed a taste for.. innovating. While being mindful of what maneuvers fit within the rules of a competition, Shion likes to include a number of techniques that aren't something a Kendoka would teach you. Stuff like techniques from European or Italian manuals - exotic things like that. Of course, these techniques can be hard to find uses for in practice, and aren't hammered into him for weeks by an instructor - so they could cost him.

Finally, there is Shion's behavior within Kendo. In all his flexibility, Shion's demeanor during true shiai is one that is very-much-so at odds with what people know of him. Were one to watch Shion closely, they would notice the very moment he reaches first sonkyo, any modicum of a smile, smirk, or really any emotion, vanishes. He eyes lock onto his opponent, and he develops an aura of seriousness that one can almost feel. The only reaction that one could distinguish from Shion's visage, in that moment, is the movement of his eyes as they flick from detail-to-detail, scanning his opponent in almost machine-like fashion. One could become so engrossed in the the polarity of the change that they could very well be startled by the curt, powerful burst of vocals that are Shion's kiai.

Shion is an exceptional Kendo student in his own right, but he does have his flaws. While he obviously isn't incapable of aggressing a defensive opponent, Shion's specialty lies in his eye for counter-attacks, and he is much more comfortable in that field of use. Additionally, he has been known to lose practices due to his use of the aforementioned exotic techniques - as his level of exercise with some of them is lacking, compared to normal Kendo maneuvers. This has gotten him scolded on more than a couple occasions by whichever sensei was teaching him at the time.

Other:

Nothing, for now!