Ria T'iercel
From Toosigma
Contents |
Concept Pitch
She's a Dark Action Girl - one part spy, infiltrator, master of disguise, thief, investigator, and sometime bodyguard or assassin. Chief fictional inspirations include:
- Sydney Bristow from Alias
- Parker from Leverage
- Veronica Mars from Veronica Mars
- Fiona Glenanne from Burn Notice
- Ziva David from NCIS
- Selina Kyle/Catwoman from Batman Returns
- Max Guevara from Dark Angel
- Selene from Underworld
- Ezio Auditore da Firenze from Assassin's Creed II+
- Mara Jade (original Thrawn trilogy), Asajj Ventress, and Aurra Sing are potentially useful in-setting inspirations
She's a bit of a jack-of-all-trades - a point-man or "roper" for most missions - go in, scout the target, provide lots of human intelligence. She's also a little psychopathic - she lies with ease (tending to prefer it to the truth), is a thrill-seeker and extreme risk-taker (maybe with a tinge of a death wish), sorta sadistic (has no problem killing those who get in her way, and has limited empathy that makes torture and other similarly unsavory activities less of a problem), and has trouble "fitting in" with normal folks. She prefers hand-to-hand combat (a variant of Aikido) and knives and bladed weapons (zenji needles!) to blasters or other ranged weapons, mostly because she's more likely to have them on hand in a pinch. I've toyed with the idea of giving her Fi's bomb-nut portfolio - but that may depend on the other characters and the system (if I can manage that many skills at a reasonable level of effectiveness.)
As far as background, I'm not really sure how Emberlene fits into Ben's new social order - but I'd toyed with the idea that she was either found by members of the Mistryl Shadow Guard, or raised within the order. Regent Krados (or one of the other faction heads?) decided that the Shadow Guard was too much of a potential threat to his power base (given that they'd happily work for any rival faction for the right price), and ordered a massive orbital bombardment of Emberlene, and putting bounties on the heads of anyone who could be identified as a member of the Shadow Guard. Ria went underground to avoid capture and/or execution, but given her somewhat specialized skill-set, has chosen to continue her general line of work.
As far as tying in other characters (player or non), she should easily be able to have them as contacts who know she's part of the Shadow Guard, or have crossed paths with them (or against them) on one of her mercenary missions since the destruction of Emberlene. She has a pretty good built-in hatred of the faction leader who destroyed Emberlene, and she certainly harbors enough of a grudge that she's actively trying to build enough of a network of resources, allies, and favors so that she can exact some measure of revenge. It's also possible to throw in plenty of other targets in her path by making a larger conspiracy against Emberlene - throw in a fleet commander who led the bombardment, squadron commander who bombed her home region, politicians who helped pass any resolution, criminal organizations who colluded in order to monopolize the "specialist-for-hire" market, rival factions who agreed with Krados' assessment of the Shadow Guard and provided some measure of support...
I'm not sure how long she'll last as a character, given that she'll probably take a fair number of risks that I certainly wouldn't, but she should be a lot of fun to play. :muhaha:
Notes from Ben
I like her. She’s sounds perfect if we can really round her out in a more what baggage from those insperations does she have. • Who knows about her lying? Why does she prefer it? What from her past and present makes her prefer or fear the truth?
The closer the friend, the more likely they are to get the truth, but I kinda see her keeping large portions of her background secret from the other PCs and almost all NPCs. Part of her training as a spy/assassin/operative was assuming other roles (think really high disguise skills), and over time she's gotten so accustomed to playing roles that she doesn't really know when to turn it off.
• Vibro-blades.. and what about that old lightsaber she can’t get to work that she carries around like it’s a family member or something that she just can’t let go of? Perhaps it was given to her by her wookie friend as part of the package when he found her. That and the runed inscribed medalian. This package was in a box he gave her and it was DNA tech. I.E. her dna touch opened it to reveal the old blacked medallion, the unworking ancient (or something like that) lightsaber, and something she’s found to be old dead Alderaanian script from their royal houses of 4000 years ago.
While I hadn't originally intended for her to have any Jedi-esque background, we can certainly run with this ball. Given that she's a bit of a psychopath, she's certainly not cut out to follow the Jedi Code - so she could be in serious danger of falling to the Dark Side if she develops Force abilities - which could definitely be a fun story to tell. Making her Force Sensitive at the beginning might make her a little too "warm and fuzzy" for my original vision, or she could just end up with a few Dark Side Points before she discovers her heritage... (Images of Molly from Dresden Files - especially her role in Ghost Story...)
• Why the empathy towards the totured? Was it something she saw or something she experienced? Scars on her legs and backside possibily? Why does she like the up-close and personal feel of combat instead of the ranged blasters? Far greater risk and much more bloodly…
She doesn't really feel empathy - for the tortured or anyone else - a symptom of her psychopathy. She does probably have lots of scars - both physical and emotional (more of the latter) - but mostly from her time training to be a member of the Shadow Guard and various missions. Maybe she was captured and tortured, but I see her giving a more "fuck you" attitude and taking whatever beating they dish out than becoming traumatized by it.
As for melee over blasters, it's more a matter of practicality. Her primary modus operandi is to don a disguise, infiltrate the enemies' ranks, and cause maximum damage from within. You can't fully disarm a martial artist, knives and zenji needles are much easier to smuggle in, and improvised melee weapons are more likely to be at hand in a pinch than a blaster. Which is not to say she's bad with blasters, they're just not her forte. In a vanilla light-fight, when she has blaster at hand, she's far more likely to use it than try to close and eviscerate (unless she can do so in a particularly effective or dramatic way)
I generally don't see her as a "combat monster" type - she should be capable enough to hold her own (she's certainly no wilting damsel in distress) and with surprise on her side, she should be downright devastating. But in a straight up fight, unless she's got some ace up her sleeve, she's going to prefer "escape and evade" tactics.
• What about her contacts on Tantoonie with Casslian Nailrido (Tantoonie Black Sun Crime Lord and current owner of the Mos Eilsey Catina)and on Nar Shadda with Gizis Thar (Catharian rep for the Mercs Guild, side jobs, and well-connected scum bag)
• Casslian Nailrido has granted Ria meetings before and this is rare because it’s something he never does for many people. Ria is one of his favorite hires if he had any.
• Gizis Thar is a grumpy bitter angry Catharian who has a thing for difficult females whether catharian, human, or any other race. He has a soft spot for Ria and treats her more like a daughter than a hire. This is unfortunate because she has to hound him and ignore him for the more dangerous lucrative jobs he is reluctant to give her. He works for the largest merc guild in the galaxy only known as The Guild. He is higher up in The Guild than he likes to admit but can get supplies, information, and minions relatively easy if he can be convinced they are needed and the price is right.
Background Brainstorm
- Drawing on Ben's Force background idea, maybe she was only raised on Emberlene, and was actually born someplace else (Alderaan)?
- Entered the Shadow Guard Academy at age 9 - spent the next 7 years in training, graduated at (or near?) the top of her class - maybe she wasn't a bloodthirsty daredevil killing machine before she went in, and has to find her way back to that innocence?
- Has siblings - younger brother Finn (killed on Emberlene during bombardment?), older sister Talia (went into government service?)
- (adopted?) Mother was a big-high muckety muck in the Shadow Guard - like the Director? maybe she survived (do I know about it?)
- (adopted?) Father was an ambassador, senator, or something?
- Ria's currently ~24-25
- TIES TO OTHER CHARACTERS:
- Rival w/Titus to retrieve some object from Tapani museum?
- TIES TO NPCS:
- Casslian Nailrido - Ria spent two months undercover with Bib Fortuna (who had managed to salvage some bits of Jabba's empire), gaining sufficient intelligence on his operations to feed Casslian just the right moves to take Fortuna's organization apart. Resulted in Casslian becoming the ascendant crime lord on Tatooine.
- Gizis Thar - One of Ria's first missions for the Shadow Guard (~8 years ago) involved negotiating with Thar. Suffice to say the tempestuous girl managed to provoke a confrontation, which ultimately resulted in Ria gaining four thin claw scars on the back of her neck, before Thar relented and let her up. He tends to refer to her by the name katyonok - Catharian for kitten. Ria finds this HUGELY annoying, but does reciprocate a measure of affection for the gruff old warrior - he's one of the few people privy to her background and her ultimate goal of revenge for Emberlene.
- Picture - Still waffling between pics from Bryce Dallas Howard, Dina Meyer, Emma Stone, Erica Durance, and Kristen Bell.
- Cover Identities:
- Ria Tharen - Mercenary for hire, underworld contacts (name she's using to avoid the T'iercel family name's connection to the Shadowguard and Emberlene)
- Galactic News Net reporter Liara Zehn (slightly less unsavory identity she uses for "normal" travel to more reputable parts of the galaxy
- Callandra Santhe - heiress/business consultant from Santhe-Sienar Corporation (used primarily to gain access to higher-end upper class locales - business, parties, etc)
- Bodyguard? Teacher/Nanny? Minor Celebrity (Holovid Star, Pro Athlete)? Escort? Political Consultant? Business Consultant? Sector Ranger/Detective? Medic? Security Consultant?
Fate Skill Set:
- 5 - Deceit
- 4 - Stealth, Weapons
- 3 - Athletics, Sleight of Hand, Investigation
- 2 - Fists, Burglary, Contacts, Alertness
- 1 - Guns, Empathy, Pilot, Rapport, Resolve
d6 Skill Set:
First number is the dice in the attribute. Number in parens behind a skill represents part of the 12D bonus for starting characters. Skill marked with asterisks are ones where I'd really like to put a few dice (if the GM is feeling generous). Unmarked skills are ones I expect to use reasonably often, and will likely see improvement. Unlisted skills aren't terribly important to Ria's concept.
- 4D Dexterity (8): Blaster, Brawling Parry (1), Dodge (1), Melee Combat (1), Melee Parry, Pick Pocket*, Running*, Thrown Weapons: Zenji Needles (3)
- 3D+1 Knowledge (5): Languages*, Streetwise (1), Survival, Tactics, Willpower
- 2D+2 Mechanical (5): Communications, Jet Pack Operation, Repulsorlift Operation, Sensors, Space Transports
- 4D Perception (6): Con (3), Hide, Investigation*, Persuasion, Search (1), Sneak (2)
- 3D Strength (3): Brawling, Climbing/Jumping (1), Swimming
- 3D Technical (4): Computer Programming/Repair (1), Demolitions*, First Aid (1), Security (1)
- 1D Sense
- Character Points: 6 (after spending 9 to improve First Aid from 3D to 4D)
- Force Points: 1
- Force Powers:
- Sense: Life Detection
d6 Equipment List:
Total Cost: 2190 - 310 cr remaining
- Snooper Goggles - 300 cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p41 - +2D Search in low-light, Macrobinoculars
- Syntherope Dispenser - 5 cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p36 - +2D Climb
- Climbsuit - 350 cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p35 - +2D Climb
- Combat Knife - 30 cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p60 - Str+1D+1
- 4x Smoke Grenades - 25 cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p69 - -2D to targeting
- Merr-Sonn Quickfire 4 Holdout Blaster - 300 cr - Gundark's Fantastic Technology, p25 - 4D
- Blastech DL-22 Blaster Pistol - 500 cr - Gundark's Fantastic Technology, p26 - 4D+1
- Magnacuffs - 75 cr - Gundark's Fantastic Technology, p70
- Wrist Chronometer (+atmosphere sensor, comlink) - 130 cr - Galladinium's Fantastic Technology, p46
- Molecular Stiletto - 400 cr - Galladinium's Fantastic Technology, p69 - Str+2D
- Thinsuit - ??? cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p33 - Breath Mask, Space Suit - there's no price listed, but breath masks are cheap (50 cr) and a minimal Space Suit isn't much more (200 cr)
- Slicewire - ??? cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p60 - Str+2D - I'd likely use this to setup tripwires, and maybe as an improvised melee garotte - not sure what the price should be.
- Zenji Needles - ??? - Gundark's Fantastic Technology, p15 - Str+3D+1 thrown, Str+1D - this is a key concept point to my character, she usually keeps 6-12 on her person, maybe has a supply of 50-100 in storage someplace, and would ideally have access to more. I'd assume she'd have her initial stash as part of her standard Shadow Guard gear (background element), but it's negotiable.
- Wardrobe - I'm assuming a relatively extensive selection of clothing for a variety of occasions - probably nothing too expensive, but certainly more choices than your average starship mechanic's coveralls
Future Wish List
- Shadowsuit - ??? cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p34 - +2D Sneak - since there is no listed sale price, it's hard to gauge, but I'd assume this is at least temporarily out of my price range
- Fear Stick - 600 cr - Galladinium's Fantastic Technology, p68 - 2D stun
- Hovercam - 900 cr - Gundark's Fantastic Technology, p89 - handy for reporter cover, and for a second set of eyes during infiltrations
- Penetrator Mini Blaster - 600 cr - Rebel Specforce Handbook, p62 - 5D
