<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Merela, The Demon Queen (WIP)</div><div class="spoiler_body">To Do:<br/><ul class="bbc_list"><li>Character History</li><li>Crunch Calculations</li></ul><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/37mZQYq.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Name: Merela </td><td>     </td><td>Caste:  Slayer</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Motivation:  Unite the Dragon Kings into worshipping her instead of the Unconquered Sun</td></tr></tbody></table><hr/><strong>Attributes</strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> Strength:        </td><td> 2 </td><td> Charisma:       </td><td> 4 (+1)  </td><td> Intelligence:    </td><td> 2  </td></tr><tr><td> Dexterity:       </td><td> 4 (+1) </td><td> Manipulation:  </td><td> 3 </td><td> Wits:             </td><td> 3 </td></tr><tr><td> Stamina:        </td><td> 3 </td><td> Appearance:    </td><td> 5 (+1) </td><td> Perception:      </td><td> 2 </td></tr></tbody></table><hr/><strong>Abilities</strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> <strong>Archery:</strong>        </td><td> 0 </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Martial Arts:</strong>       </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Melee:</strong>    </td><td> 4  </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Thrown:</strong>    </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>War:</strong>    </td><td> 2  </td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> Craft:        </td><td> 0 </td></tr><tr><td> Investigation:       </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> Lore:    </td><td> 2  </td></tr><tr><td> Medicine:    </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Occult:</strong>    </td><td> 4  </td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> Athletics:        </td><td> 2 </td></tr><tr><td> Awareness:       </td><td> 3  </td></tr><tr><td> Dodge:    </td><td> 3 (+1)  </td></tr><tr><td> Larceny:    </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> Stealth:    </td><td> 0  </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> <strong>Integrity:</strong>        </td><td> 2 </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Performance:</strong>     </td><td> 3 (+1)  </td></tr><tr><td> <strong>Presence:</strong>    </td><td> 4 (+1)  </td></tr><tr><td> Resistance:    </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> Survival:    </td><td> 1  </td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> Bureaucracy:        </td><td> 2 </td></tr><tr><td> Linguistics:       </td><td> 2  </td></tr><tr><td> Ride:    </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> Sail:    </td><td> 0  </td></tr><tr><td> Socialize:    </td><td> 3  </td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td> Specialties:        </td><td> # </td></tr><tr><td> Melee (Polearms)       </td><td> 1  </td></tr><tr><td> Socialize (Discern Motivation)    </td><td> 1  </td></tr><tr><td> Bureaucracy (Bending Rules)   </td><td> 1  </td></tr><tr><td> Occult (Demons)    </td><td> 1  </td></tr><tr><td> Performance (Dancing)    </td><td> 1  </td></tr><tr><td> Athletics (Graceful Motion)    </td><td> 1  </td></tr><tr><td> Martial Arts (Performing Kata)    </td><td> 1  </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><hr/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Virtues</strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Compassion:  </td><td>2</td><td>[ ] [ ] </td><td>Temperance:  </td><td>2</td><td>[ ] [ ] </td></tr><tr><td>Conviction:  </td><td>3</td><td>[ ] [ ] [ ] </td><td>Valor:  </td><td>3</td><td>[ ] [ ] [ ] </td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><strong>Essence and Willpower</strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Essence: </td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Willpower: </td><td>10</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] </td></tr></tbody></table><br/><hr/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Backgrounds: </strong></td><td>#       </td></tr><tr><td>    Backing (Malfeas)    </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>    Influence (Malfean Demons)    </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>    Cult (Malfeas)    </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>    Influence (Seven Stranded Vine)    </td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>    Artifact (Demon-Ink Tattoo)    </td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>    Artifact (Orichalcum Infinite Resplendence Amulet)    </td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>    Artifact (Crown of Malfean Splendor (as Necklace of Solar Charisma))    </td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>    Cult (Seven Stranded Vine)    </td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>    Manse (Stone of Loyalty)    </td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>    Infamy    </td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>    Cult (Outpost on the Island of Waste)    </td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Intimacies: </strong></td></tr><tr><td>    Dragon-Kings - Dutiful Ownership    </td></tr><tr><td>    An-Teng - Bitter Nostalgia    </td></tr><tr><td>    Florivet - Respect    </td></tr><tr><td>    Malfeas - Empathetic Servitude    </td></tr><tr><td>    Worship - Smug Sense of Deserving    </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><hr/><strong>Combat</strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>DDV:  </td><td>4   </td><td>PDV:  </td><td>3   </td><td>Soak:  </td><td> 4B/4L/2A   </td><td>Hardness:  </td><td> 4B/4L/2A </td></tr></tbody></table>---<br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Attack  </td><td>Speed  </td><td>Acc  </td><td>Dmg  </td><td>Def  </td><td>Rate  </td><td>Range  </td><td>Tags  </td></tr><tr><td> Punch  </td><td>5  </td><td>2</td><td>0L</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>M</td><td>-</td></tr></tbody></table><hr/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Health</strong></td></tr><tr><td> -0 </td><td>( )  </td></tr><tr><td> -1 </td><td>( )( )  </td></tr><tr><td> -2 </td><td>( )( )  </td></tr><tr><td> -4 </td><td>( )  </td></tr><tr><td> inc </td><td>( )  </td></tr><tr><td> Dying </td><td>( )( )( )  </td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Essence Pools</strong></td></tr><tr><td> Personal:  </td><td>10/10</td></tr><tr><td> Peripheral:  </td><td>10/10</td></tr><tr><td> Overdrive:  </td><td>0/0</td></tr><tr><td> Committed:  </td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><hr/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Charms</strong></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td><strong>Malfeas</strong></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Hardened Devil Body x3</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Insignificant Embers Intuition</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Green Sun Nimbus Flare</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>By Pain Reforged</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>By Rage Recast</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Nightmare Fugue Vigilance</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Scar-Writ Saga Shield x2</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Cold Fire Desolation Brand</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Rebuking Impudent Arms</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Vitriolic Corona Endowment x2</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Star-Piercing Spear of Glory</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Impervious Primacy Mantle</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td><strong>Cecelyne</strong></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>First Cecelyne Excellency x3</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Second Cecelyne Excellency</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Hellscry Chakra</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Transcendent Desert Creature</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Demonic Primacy of Essence</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Sands Through Fingers Defense</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Sorcerous Enlightenment of Cecelyne</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Penitents Like Scattered Grains</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Temple Self Apotheosis</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Locust Mana Plague</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Verdant Emptiness Endowment</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>As You Wish</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Scoured Perfection of Form</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Wayward Divinity Oversight</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td><strong>She Who Lives In Her Name</strong></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Chirality Prohibition Index</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sorcery</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Slave-Spawn Summons</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td>Conjuring the Azure Chariot</td></tr><tr><td>  </td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Expanded Backgrounds</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Demon-Ink Tattoo (3)</strong><br/><ul class="bbc_list"><li>Gilmyne, the Dancers at the Saigoth Gates</li><li>The tattoo is a glimmering flame that covers her back as well as minute trails that outlines her lithe musculature.  At the center of the tattoo on her back there is a figure of a prismatic being dancing which seems almost to remain in constant motion.</li><li>Specialties:  Performance (Dancing), Athletics (Graceful Motion), Martial Arts (Performing Kata)</li><li>Abilities: +1 Presence, +1 Performance, +1 Dodge</li><li>Attributes:  +1 Appearance, +1 Charisma, +1 Dexterity</li></ul><br/></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Bonus Point Expenditure</div><div class="spoiler_body"><ul class="bbc_list"><li>1 BP - Melee 3 -&gt; 4</li><li>2 BP - War 0 -&gt; 2</li><li>2 BP - Occult 2 -&gt; 4</li><li>1 BP - Dodge 2 -&gt; 3</li><li>1 BP - Performance 2 -&gt; 3</li><li>2 BP - Presence 2 -&gt; 2</li><li>5 BP - Willpower 5 -&gt; 10</li><li>4 BP - Appearance 4 -&gt; 5</li><li>1 BP - Conviction 2 -&gt; 3</li><li>3 BP - Artifact Background:  Orichalcum Infinite Resplendence Amulet</li><li>3 BP - Artifact Background:  Crown of Malfean Splendor (as Necklace of Solar Charisma)</li></ul></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spent XP</div><div class="spoiler_body"><ul class="bbc_list"><li>8 xp - Charm:  Cold Fire Desolation Brand</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Rebuking Impudent Arms</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Vitriolic Corona Endowment</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Star-Piercing Spear of Glory</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Sorcerous Enlightenment of Cecelyne</li><li>8 xp - Spell:  Slave-Spawn Summons</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Penitents Like Scattered Grains</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Temple Self Apotheosis</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Locust Mana Plague</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Verdant Emptiness Endowment</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  As You Wish</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Impervious Primacy Mantle</li><li>12 xp - Wings Mutation</li><li>16 xp - Charm:  Scar-Writ Saga Shield x2</li><li>15 xp - Manse Background:  Stone of Loyalty</li><li>6 xp - Infamy Background</li><li>8 xp - Spell:  Conjuring the Azure Chariot</li><li>6 xp - Cult Background:  Group on the city of Waste</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Scoured Perfection of Form</li><li>8 xp - Charm:  Wayward Divinity Oversight</li></ul></div></div></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Other Images</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://i.imgur.com/lVWNxPf.jpg)(http://i.imgur.com/6za7Mx9.jpg)(http://i.imgur.com/CgbHwHN.jpg)(http://i.imgur.com/ycYAqb2.jpg)</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Character History</div><div class="spoiler_body">Nothing is more important in An-Teng than the sanctity of Family.  With it one can rise to their nearly predestined station in the world, and without it one is trampled underfoot by even the lowest of Tengese common-folk.  So when the bastard child is born there are only two options for its existence: being taken in by a gracious family or being cast into the ranks of the so-called Misbegotten.  Prince Laxhander was little more than a hanger-on to the whims and culture of The Realm and so it came as no surprise that he often let them bed the women in his family in hopes to curry favor, if not to gain some Dragon-Blooded descendants as well.  When it was his wife he was giving away things got a little more out of control.<br/><br/>A visiting member of the Ragara Soras household, guest of the Satrapy, had complimented Laxhander on the beauty of his wife, which Laxhander took to mean something entirely different.  Tengese culture, as a mystery to The Realm as it was, made the visiting Merchant Lord unsuspicious when Laxhander then offered her up to him.  Laxhander's wife, while angry, dutifully bowed her head and accepted the visitor into her bedchamber.<br/><br/>The Ragara Soras merchant eventually left, ignorant of the damage he had caused.  Laxhander's wife scolded him in secret until she began to show signs of pregnancy.  It was then that the Grandmother of the family became involved.  Laxhander's wife was hidden away to conceal any sign or news of the pregnancy being revealed and after the birth it was decided that the child would be taken away to the scores of other Misbegotten in the Shore Lands.  Few actually knew what had happened, and after the birth the child disappeared from the minds of the royal family.<br/><br/>Years went by, dragging like a blade across the skin, in the Shore Land among the other Misbegotten.  She learned to protect herself as best she could, but was weak and young.  One defining moment of her young life was when she was being accosted by a Tengese merchant who had been spending far too much time among the Lintha smugglers that frequented the port.  She was trying to escape and shouted for help in the busy street, but was largely ignored due to her station.  When he had finally gotten a hold of her she looked up with terror in her eyes before the sun was covered by a large, looming figure that had approached from behind.  An Anklok Dragon-King had approached, wearing a glittering necklace and large obsidian sword in its hand.  It grunted a deep, guttural threat to the man who immediately released her and begged his pardon before retreating.  She fell to the ground and looked just as frightened by the large Dragon-king, though he carefully reached down to help her back up to her feet.  He explained courage and strength to her for a short time while escorting her around the town for a time before leaving to attend to the business that had had come there for.  She took the message to heart, as best she could, and continued with her dreary life in the Shore Lands.<br/><br/>When it became clear that she was at least not the most unattractive of the Misbegotten she joined Those Who Serve the Radiance--a glorified name for a brothel of largely abused men and women.  She'd finally reached what someone could really consider the bottom of Tengese society--without family and left to the depradations of the Dragon-Blooded and other Realm visitors to the province.  Strength, she learned, meant power and power meant station, and station led to others following your lead.  She had none of these things, and without family it seemed that she would never rise above her station.<br/><br/>It came to pass that eventually, by some cruel fate, she was to be bedded by a client who had had a hand in removing her from the Prince's household.  He eventually recognized her, despite the years, and began to gloat--lording her abandoned heritage over her to further her humiliation.  At that point something broke within her and she slew him with an improvised blade she kept to protect herself mid-coitus.  The struggle alerted others that something was amiss, though, which forced her to flee by smashing open a large window.  She managed to escape the city, though she was still being tracked down by what passed for the Tengese police force.  By some strange happenstance she met her former Anklok savior in the beginning portion of the jungle.  This time she repaid him with betrayal.  She convinced the gathered force that it was the Dragon King that had slain the man and kidnapped her.  The mob eventually overcame the Anklok and killed him and in the bloody aftermath she claimed the golden necklace he had worn as a token.  Had she been stronger she would have stood side-by-side with him and eventually stolen away into the desert to live a new life.  Had she been prettier perhaps her family would not have given her up to the Misbegotten.  Had she been better she could have done so much more--been so much more.  The whispering voice of the Agatae Coadjutator had so much to hook onto in her mind and it wasn't long before she was promised a better life as part of a family that would never abandon her.<br/><br/>Florivet, the Whim of the Winds eventually found her after her transcendance from mortality into the ranks of the Infernal Exalt.  He wanted to see where one of his favored Brood Mothers had gone and was marveled by the creature that the nameless girl had become.  She was known simply as Jaded Eyes of Fire and Salt in those early days.  Florivet decided that she was worthy of the beauty of the Agatae and thus gave her wings of her own--diaphanous wings like a dragonfly that had an iridescent shimmer.  She still held on to the necklace that the Dragon King had kept and soon worked to have it reforged into a crown for herself, made of vitriol-tainted Orichalcum, though it maintained the same properties as before.  She wore it with pride though the memory brought her some measure of sadness.  It was suggested to her by Florivet as well that she take on a new name, to which he recommended Merela, perhaps only for his own amusement.  She eventually acceded to the idea of taking the new name and did so, either because she didn't understand its significance or perhaps because it amused her to some degree to claim it for herself.  Of course if she did share the same Exaltation as Merela she has no knowledge of that fact.<br/><br/>She eventually returned to An-Teng after the existence of the Yozi cult was brought to her attention.  It was ripe for her to insert herself as the 'prophesied' Queen that would rise to power over the region.  The time was not yet right to attempt the coup of the current government, so she instead inserted herself into the cult as a new figurehead to focus their worship upon.  She eventually had to direct her attention elsewhere, in attempts to appease her masters while also extending her own circle of influence and so she came eventually to the outpost city on the island known as Waste--an appropriate place for her to dig her fingers into the hearts of the downtrodden.  And so there she works for the time being, until such a time as she returns to An-Teng, perhaps with a handful of Dragon-Kings to attend her.<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Flaw</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Inhuman Sense of Honor</strong><br/><br/>The quickest way to anger Merela, or to appease her, is to attempt to appeal to her sense of honor.  She has a set of strictures that she lives her life by that others can take advantage of if they understand them.  This code seems to have been imprinted into her after her Exaltation, and perhaps is due to her close connection to Cecelyne as much as it does to her connection to Malfeas.<br/><br/><br/></div></div>