5'7"
Name: Xinyue Khulan - Age: 22 - Origin/Birthplace: Ju Ren Kyo - The Dull Stretch
Personality: Xinyue is fairly whimsical and not afraid to flaunt her abilities in the proper situation. A woman of the Steppes, she's fairly sociable, but not friendly in typical terms. Usually properly spoken - if not stern and hostile - her nature of speech is more suited to a Tribal Chieftain looking at lessers and subordinates. Aside from that, it can be said she treats others fairly well and civil.
Much like her Patron Goddess, Xinyue seems to have lofty arrogance and self respect, but not many ambitions. Like the Moon rises and sets, so does she. Preferring the afternoon or night hours, she is by no means a morning person. Not afraid of her powers or public reaction, she does have sense enough to not just use her Inspiration in a public setting for the most part. On the day and night of the New Moon, she seems fairly lethargic and lazy. On that of the Full Moon, she seems more perky, if not aggressive.
Showing a disposition to the use of force from having lived on the Steppes, she is a natural wrestler that doesn't shy from force and aggression. Curiously, Xinyue is a fashionable dresser by some standards, and a dried red Lotus seems to be her hair ornament of choice. A woman that will often pose serious - if not hostile - questions to those who make mistakes, her claim of being a priestess does not provide much comfort. Given the nature of her personality and Goddess, Xinyue is something of a habitual trickster or liar, keeping information to a need-to-know bases. What she may be thinking or plotting can be a mystery, if there even is a goal in the first place.
Biography: Born on the Steppes of The Dull Stretch, Xinyue was born to one of the traveling tribes of the Khulan Family. Xinyue was an accomplished rider and archer, noted for her trickery and harshness: Qualities well suited to life on the Steppes at least, but ones that would generate friction with her fellow siblings and tribesmen. Working her way up in terms of influence and power, Xinyue - even at a young age - had a preference for clothing from the Cities and was noted for her Red eyes, as well as the ability to haggle with traveling Merchants in need of the Tribe's service.
Around the age of Sixteen Xinyue was exiled from the Tribe for fears of attempting to gain status above the Chieftains and suspected theft. Though the charges had no firm proof to them, the powers at the time cast her out anyway. Having known of the followers of Tsuki-no-Tama, the young girl met one of the traveling Priest sects and fell into their number. Learning how to read and write, among other social skills, she would become a Priestess of the order, traveling the vastness of the Steppes and to the Cities of Ju Ren Kyo. Never settling anywhere, she did keep up her duties to the order, though her personality and long absences made her activities questionable to some.
A little under three years ago, Xinyue's life would take a sudden turn. With the mysterious circumstances of three years ago, in the following months, the Goddess Tsuki-no-Tama joined with Xinyue; a fact she knew at once from her slit-eyed pupils and the sudden understanding of her Horse. Not fearing the power, Xinyue decided to make use of both aspects of the Goddess whom she seemed to share much with. She offered her services as an animal whisperer on one front, but at night she would transform into a Werebadger who attacked encampments across the Steppes. These attacks were always non-fatal and seemed to occur only to cause chaos to those who had not offered their Silver on the New Moon to Tsuki-no-Tama.
This remoteness would not keep the Knights of Baelwill ignorant of her situation forever. Eventually, as word spread, the Knights would set a unit upon the Steppes in an attempt to find what they believed were two separate figures. Following weeks of tracking, aggravating night pursuits, animal attacks and random raids by the Werebadger they were hunting, the Knights eventually cornered the woman. Sitting on a rock she was complaining about a broken bow, ruined boots and her horse running off, asking them what took so long.
While her attacks seemed to follow previous patterns that brought her to their attention in the first place, a number of Knights were wary of her for surrendering so easily.
Patron Goddess: Tsuki-no-Tama: Goddess of the Moon, change, wild beasts and trickery.
Tsuki-no-Tama stands in opposition to the Goddess of Civilization. Tsuki stands for the wild and free, removed from the city, the counter to Civilization. She is popular among travelers, night workers, rural communities, bandits and those who "work in the shadows". Of note is the Festival of the Passing, in which the followers of Tsuki will collect silver coins, or other silver items at the New Moon of every equinox, to later be thrown into the sky in the hopes of safe journeys and success. The following Full Moon of every equinox, what money is left in the hands of patron Priests or Priestesses can be used for festivals, given to the poor or various other uses to promote some sort of change in the lands of Ju Ren Kyo.
A popular use is in the form of Costume parties by the traveling Clergy, where food is given to wary travelers and the destitute in the region.
While all of these may seem well, Tsuki is the embodiment of Trickery, The Wilds and as with the passing of the Moon, can be a harbinger of fortune or destruction. The Merchants of Ashikami and the followers of the two principle Divines of the region, are understandably irritated by this, tolerating it as the reverse of their own Goddess. Tsuki-no-Tama is often physically represented by a Silver Badger or a Woman of dark demeanor in robes lined with Silver that has aspects of a Beastman.
Powers:
Nocturnal Blessing (Inspired Form only): Transformed state, takes on many beast like attributes found in Werebeasts of myth and legend. This provides the normally unarmed and unarmored woman, skin and claws on par with high quality armor. Which provides Xinyue a superior striking ability versus most common soldiers.
The downside is this form is impossible to conceal from others when in use. Given Myth and Legend, this form tends to be feared by locals. While her clothing tends to stay intact this does not extent to her boots, a fact that annoys her endlessly. Minus on the night of the Full Moon she retains most traces of humanity short of her arms, legs and some body hair.
Slight of Hand: A unique ability of her Patron Goddess, Xinyue can upon seeing or being able to picture a small item deconstruct it and cause it to reappear in her own hand of choice. However it is tied to three rules;
One the item cannot be more valuable than the same object size in silver.
Two it must be able to fit in the palm of her hand.
Three it must be returned to the original owner or another person or place connected to them before nightfall or sunrise.
In principle its a rather good party trick or useful for "barrowing" keys, among other things. Though having to return the item to the
Ode to Beasts: A "power" most would question given her personality. She can converse with animals and understand what they are thinking or what their observations might be. Typically it's more effective on wild animals, such as Wolves, Foxes, Raccoons and Badgers. Cats she claims are uncooperative and birds can be hit or miss with their heads in the clouds.
Because of this she mostly uses wild animals for communication and information. In turn for this gift she's known to communicate to owners and tamers on the animals behalf. The nonsensical nature of these conversations leaves one to wonder if she's just insane or a jester however.
Given this is the ability to converse it is not a given that animals will just do what she wants for nothing in return. Though it is possible to ask them for help, wild animals that already have a disposition against humans are far easier to strike an agreement with.
Tsuki's Blessing/Curse: Owning a Silver coin with the Goddess on one side and a hooded skull on the other, Tsuki can potentially change a person or events fate. Often with mixed results to be called both a blessing and a curse. A number of Priests and Priestesses of Tsuki can seemingly make use of this ability though to a much lesser extent. If not for it's uncanny nature most would not hold stock in it. One example would be a group of Adventures once wishing for Tsuki's Blessing, the end result was the group running into numerous strong creatures that gave them trouble. When they demanded for the blessing to be revoked, Xinyue reportedly laughed, stating;
"It's a Blessing if you win, a curse if you lose. Do you really believe the Blessing of a God of Change do not carry weight or all change will aid you?"
Xinyue is known to use the coin to test her own luck, or to make up her mind on some decisions.
Moon Spear/Blast (Blast Inspired Form Only): Able to call upon the magical energies within her hands, in the first default use a beam of silver light magic forms into a spear. Capable of piercing the armor of multiple soldiers upon a throw the spear dissipates it's energy into a small explosive blast upon ceasing forward movement. In her Inspired form it's possible with time to summon energy into both hands and create a ball, that can be hurled into enemy lines or detonated around Xinyue. A pure energy attack it is fairly powerful for front line use to the expectations of such Magic in the current era.
(Can provide a more rough figure for that if need be, I personally picture something like a large grenade launcher in terms of power if that's not too weak/strong.)
Talents/Skills:
Equestrian Tribesman: Born to a Steppes Tribe, ridding is a natural as walking. Possessing a "natural" skill with the bow on horse back, she is a rather capable archer. Currently she lacks both a bow and horse.
Martial Fighter: Using adaptive fighting style from the Step Tribes, Xinyue is a fairly effective fighter. Counting heavily on footwork, hooks, jabs, pinpoint strikes and grapples to get in close. Her Philosophy on fighting armed opponents is simple, if not prideful;
"Get in close and underneath, do I have to explain everything?" Seems to have a bit of experience and ability to be quick in bursts from fighting various threats over the last few years.
Scout: Xinyue is a capable scout and tracker who likes to see new places. Able to compile and retain large amounts of information she knows the area of Ju Ren Kyo rather well and has shown a capacity to adapt to other areas. Her ability to ask the Wildlife for information and years of life on the Steppes are the source of this skill.
Practical Knowledge: While not exactly a fine arts student or high society, Xinyue shows a surprising amount of social graces and understanding of society. This is in part to her visits to Urban areas for trade and business. Operating around sketchy figures at times, her nature and the need to decipher the meanings behind what the Animals would tell her necessitated at least a basic level of social skills.
The occasional Priest or Priestess of Tsuki-no-Tama also proved invaluable with teaching proper hygiene, reading and writing. While it is unlikely she would know court protocol, Xinyue has a surprising amount of trivia like knowledge, from the uses of rice water, to using caged birds to tip off poison gas.
Inspiration: Typically Xinyue takes a mix of Tsuki-no-Tama's personifications, this includes the growth of claws, tail, hide like silver fur along her limbs and core body. In a typical transformation most of her human features remain in terms of her skin, hair and eyes, owing to something of a physical match to the Goddess.
Under the influence of the moon her powers can wane to their weakest on the new moon and the strongest under the full. Other wise the power is moderate between the two states, including a partial transformation. While a full transformation is not possible on the night or day of a New Moon, a full moon Inspiration leads to a far more frightful transition.
Given she cannot just shut off this inspiration, Xinyue seems to carefully consider it's use as she'll be stuck in that form for a number of hours. The only other thing of note is she generally has night vision and a sense of smell far superior humans, on par with expectations of Tsuki-no-Tama.
(fingers crossed that you can read it this time and hopefully it's less of a mess)