Post by Katyusha Kohklova on Sept 16, 2013 20:01:28 GMT -5
Katyusha Khoklova
"What? Did you expect me to cling to your arm and call you 'Big Brother'?"
--After knocking a man's teeth out for patting her head.--
"What? Did you expect me to cling to your arm and call you 'Big Brother'?"
--After knocking a man's teeth out for patting her head.--
NICKNAMES: //Pipsqueak, Shorty, Half-Pint Princess, numerous other variations making fun of her height, Bottle Fairy, Captain (among her clock tower friends)
AGE: // 30
DATE OF BIRTH: // December 3rd
GENDER: // Female
ALIGNMENT: // Chaotic Neutral
OCCUPATION: // Vodka Distiller
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HEIGHT: //4’ 3” (130 cm)
WEIGHT: // 85 lbs (39 kg)
EYE COLOR: // blue
HAIR COLOR: // blond
PIERCINGS: // none
TATTOOS: // none
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: // Small, child-like body and omnipresent vodka bottle
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- Alcoholic
- Katyusha has been drinking since she was a child, and while the physical effects of such a lifestyle on her are debatable the mental effects are obvious. She absolutely can not stand being without alcohol for any period of time. Failure to fulfill her vice results in a very aggressive mood and, if left long enough, desperate attempts to get alcohol at any cost. One time she accidentally locked herself in the pantry and it was three days before anyone found her. Rather than eat the bread stored inside, she had turned it into a mash and tried to ferment it. The mood change is onset by extreme withdrawal headaches, as well as nausea and lack of concentration. People who get between her and her alcohol should not expect to live very long.
- Stubborn
- Katyusha's father has doted on her all her life. As a child she was showered with gifts at every opportunity, and she never wanted for anything. This created a very happy childhood for the girl, but it also spoiled her rotten. She is not used to rejection, and will often throw temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way. Thankfully for her workers, when it comes to making vodka she is usually right. However, she did meet with resistance when she decided to travel to Lucca. Her father insisted that it was too dangerous, and that it was not worth risking her life just to obtain the family's secrets. However, after she pouted for three days straight he finally gave in.
- Relentless
- In conjunction with her stubbornness, Katyusha never gives up once she has started something. Failure only inspires her to try harder. For her the feeling of success far outweighs any defeats she might suffer, and she will not stop until she has conquered whatever she sets out to do. If she can not beat her opponents with brute force then she will whittle them down by not giving them a second to rest.
- Napoleon Complex
- Katyusha is small. She knows she is small. But most of all she hates that she is small. Shortness does not run in her family. In fact, her father is well over six feet tall. Her size has always been the one failure in her eyes that she could not overcome. To compensate, she has spent her entire life trying to make others look small next to her own accomplishments. She belittles anyone that tries to look better than her, and reacts especially violently to anyone who points out her height. Additionally she hates having to look up at people, going to far to climb to the top of nearby objects when talking to someone. She has even been known to hire out people to let her sit on their shoulders, a great honor according to her.
LIKES: // vodka, fighting, giving orders, winning, high places
DISLIKES: // drinking water, being called short, losing, inactivity
STRENGTHS: //
Katyusha's main strengths lie in her determination and bravado. Hesitation and second guessing are completely out of the question. Her overwhelming self confidence makes her a magnet to the young and the weak. Having spent much of her time in bars, she can also hold her own in a fist fight. She can take a punch as well if not better than any man, considering any amount of force is usually enough to send her flying. Thanks to the vodka pulsing through her veins she can pick herself up cheerily and jump back into the fray, at least until the next day's hangover.
WEAKNESSES: //
As much as her self confidence is a strength, it gets her into just as much trouble. She tends to be single-minded, and can recklessly charge into situations that are unfavorable. Despite her experience fighting, she lacks a definitive fighting style and does not know how to deal with martial artists. She also has little to no ability to think tactically, preferring to rush her foes with brute force rather than strategize. Aside from her obvious physical difficulties, she has trouble making friends among mages. Her family is a joke among the nobles, so most well off families won't have anything to do with her. Most of the younger families don't know any better, but she can still be abrasive and off-putting to those not comfortable dealing with a drunk.[/font][/ul]
Despite the family’s current heavy involvement in the distillation industry, the Khoklova line was around long before it was first created. The family began around 1200 years ago and has seen 20 generations. The original head was a powerful sorcerer, but to his own detriment he spoiled his heir rotten. The coddled young man would ride on the coat-tails of his father's fame rather than actually putting his talents to use. Thus, the Khoklova line spiraled into decline as each subsequent heir became more and more of a ne'er-do-well. Within three generations the family's sorcery as well as many of its teachings were completely lost to apathy, and it is a miracle the family didn't simply disappear. The family wouldn't begin to recover until the 1400s. The head at that time, a notorious drunk, fell in love with vodka and began distilling his own to help fund his magical research. Distillation became a family tradition, and helped it grow into a major power in the world of mages.
As the years went by the Khoklova family gained a reputation as drunken brawlers and master distillers. When concocting their famous liquor they acted with the discipline of a trained armada, and their thaumaturgy developed to perfect their technique. But outside the distillery they were little more than riff raff.
However, as the family grew older their tolerance to alcohol did as well. Their love of firewater did not lessen, but their capacity for drinking it did. This served to temper their vagrant tendencies, and allow the discipline they showed while working to seep into their everyday lives. Of course, this did little to curb the scoffs of other noble houses in the magus community. The idea of a family selling liquor to get by is ludicrous to say the least, and they became a laughing stock even among the younger lines. They are not hated by any means, but only because no one takes them seriously. Currently the family averages 15 PrC and 20 circuits for 300 pr.
MY HISTORY: //
Katyusha, like all in the Khoklova family, was a born alcoholic. With her first drink at the age of 6, by 15 she was drinking full fifths of vodka by herself. Naturally she also fell in love with the distillation of her favorite drink and studied fervently to master its process. By the age of 8 she had made her first batch of Khoklova family vodka. It was, unfortunately, undrinkable, but the failure only drove her harder. Each year her technique in both alcohol and magic became better and better, and it was soon apparent that she was one of the most talented children the family had ever seen. Many have attributed the early age at which she started drinking, as well as how much she overworks herself, to her stunted growth, but none are brave enough to say so to her face. Today, she is regarded as the best distiller in several generations, as well as a talented magus.
Unfortunately, this has not improved her marriage prospect. Despite her father's countless attempts at matchmaking, Katyusha has turned away every potential husband he has presented. Most made the mistake of treating her like a child, only to receive a fat lip and an immediate ride home for their blunder. Others were simply too off-put by her rough demeanor to consider her a proper lady. A few were even so timid that the woman was able to walk all over them and force them into submission. Katyusha liked them well enough, but her father would not see his little girl marry a pansy. And so the Khoklova family still sits without an heir.
She met with trouble during her stay at the clock tower as well. As if her size wasn't reason enough for her to be made fun of, her family name haunted her more than ever. Yet through it all she never hesitated to reveal her full name when introducing herself, truly believing that her family was something to be proud of. She quickly gained a reputation for being constantly varying levels of drunk, as well as for her violent outburst against people who angered her. Despite this, she made few enemies in the clock tower. Most other mages just dismissed her as an out of control child, and wondered why she was even allowed to stay. However, she never once faltered in her studies, and despite her unruly appearance she stayed in the top percentage of grades throughout her tenure.
She did manage to avoid complete isolation at the tower. She earned her lot among the other outcasts, drawn to her strong personality and too naive to realize the state her family was in. Most were from young families, and probably ruined their own reputations by associating with her. The group was like a booze-powered tornado sweeping through the halls on the worst of days, causing havoc wherever they went. More than once they barely escaped expulsion, but they never doubted their fearless leader. Katyusha still keeps some contact with her old friends, but is too busy with running the family to attend to them as much as she would like.
Of course, that hasn't changed the fact that her family is the biggest joke in the magical community. The constant jabs at her family name infuriated her almost as much as someone calling her short. She spent every hour she wasn't making vodka poring over the family archives, searching for anything that could help her improve her standing. It wasn't until one night, particularly sloshed from celebrating a friend's birthday, she used a random book to catch a load of vomit and passed out on the spot. When she awoke and cleared the page of the book she couldn't believe her eyes. Right there, on the bile-drenched pages, was an account of the original Khoklova having sorcery. Unfortunately, the part about what kind of sorcery it was and how to obtain it were completely ruined. She tried her best to repair the book, but in her hungover state only ended up destroying the book entirely.
Spurred on by the confirmation that her lineage was indeed great, and undeterred by the massive setback, Katyusha began to look for ways to recover her family's lost knowledge. This time, she managed to find her answer when she was still moderately sober. Deep within her family archives she found a tome even older than the ones detailing the family's founder. It described a tale of heroes fighting over the ultimate magical tool, a story that Katyusha almost dismissed as fantasy. But as she read it became more and more apparent that the Holy Grail War was a real ritual that was still being carried out. If this Holy Grail could truly grant any wish, then she should be able to obtain her ancestor's sorcery.
But to win the war she would need a suitable servant. She got in contact with a group of smugglers that had helped her get her family's liquor past pesky tariff lines in certain countries. They scoured the black market looking any relic they could find, and burning through the majority of the family's wealth. At last, an enormous package arrived on the Khoklova doorstep. It was a malicious-looking helmet, more like a skull than an actual piece of armor. Katyusha could barely lift it, and if she curled up she could fit her whole body inside. Naturally, she was ecstatic, and would often curl up inside it for afternoon naps.
With the war drawing closer, Katyusha packed up her things and set off for Lucca. She knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but held infinite determination to overcome this trial for the sake of her family's honor.
MY GOALS: //
Katyusha wants to find and obtain the lost sorcery of her family's founder. Using this, she hopes for her family to be taken seriously as a noble house.
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Katyusha has little experience actually fighting mages, preferring bar-room brawls to noble duels. Thus, she doesn't regularly carry weapons around, and relies more on her magic.
EQUIPMENT: //
Bottle of vodka – The unparalleled Khaklova liquor
Survival Knife – More for use as a tool than as a weapon
Distillation Equipment - Can't go anywhere without some way to make more booze. Kept in base.[/font]
RANK: // 5th
ELEMENT: // Fire/Water
EXPERTISE: //
Drinking – Even though she’s small, Katyusha has been drinking since before she could stand up straight. She can drink just about anyone under the table without so much as slurring her words.
Alcohol – As someone who makes vodka for a living, she knows quite a bit about alcohol in general.
Fist Fighting – When Katyusha first started frequenting the bars in her home town, the men tried to treat her like a child. They ended up with heavily bruised shins.
MAGIC CIRCUITS: // Katyusha is a magus from an old family and has 15 PrC with 20 circuits for 300 prana. She also gets 75 prana from her magic crest, which totals 375 prana.
SPELLS: //
Dragon’s Breath (Fire)
Rank: D
Cost: 20
Range: 15m minimum, 20m maximum
Effect: Ignites the alcohol on Katyusha’s breath, shooting a stream of fire straight forward for as long as she exhales (about 3s). The flames burn about 1200 C. If she takes a drink before she casts the spell it increases the fuel for the flames, causing them to burn hotter and fly further. The spell also protects the caster's mouth and throat to prevent the flames from burning her, and automatically dissipates if the breath is disrupted in the middle of the spell.
Dwfrufel (Fire)
Rank: B
Cost: 46
Range: 30m
Effect: Welsh for 'Firewater', this spell literally turns water, H2O, into fire, through thermolysis. Simply put, the targeted water molecules are superheated, instantaneously decomposing them into hydrogen and oxygen, both of which are highly combustible. For water, thermolysis occurs at 2500 Celsius. As such, once the water molecules split, all it takes to light them up is a single spark, which is also part of the process. Depending on how much hydrogen and oxygen are present, the explosion can be anything from small, to catastrophic. The water used may be vapor in the air, ice, or any liquid water within casting range.
A three-verse spell that is taught near the end of a Clock Tower degree, older families with this in their Crests have stabilized it to the level of Seven-Liner. Affinity to Water or Wind is not necessary in casting this.
Firewater was pioneered by the Welsh magus Esyllt Hodinott of the Hodinott family in the 13th Century. It has been passed down and become part of Clock Tower's curriculum over the years. Misuse of this spell in a London Bakery on September 2, 1666 was the cause of the Great Fire of London.
Flash Freeze (Water)
Rank: E
Cost: 5-15
Range: 15m radial
Effect: Flash freezes a surface in a radius around a point of contact with the caster, creating a layer of ice. Mana cost depends on the size of the surface frozen. Surfaces 1-5 square meters in area cost 5 pr. Surfaces 5-10 square meters cost 10. Surfaces 10-15 square meters cost 15. Commonly used to create condensation chambers, this spell has been passed down through several generations and stabilized to single action.
Lifesblood (Water)
Rank: E
Cost: See Below
Range: -
Effect: A spell that absorbs water molecules in the air to create a more cohesive form to use as raw spell fodder. With enough time and raw matter it is possible to create large bodies of water.
Originally created as a spell for filtration of water and raw material finding, it has recently been found to have the ability to increase its power and efficiency tenfold with merely half the prana that would be required for ten individual spells. If one liter of water would cost two prana, two liters would cost three and so on. The required prana expended thus greatly decreases, making it and incredbly efficient ability while being cheap.
As many water spells require a catalyst in the form of a body of water, it has become an essential ability in guaranteeing the new found offensive capabilities of water magi. It can also be used to purify common water by decomposing the molecules and then reforming them. The spell can also be used to manipulate small bodies of water into various shapes and easily store the production results. A skilled Magus can also decompose already established shapes such as ice and create new water out of it, thus recycling materials nearly endlessly.
Ice Tomb (Water)
Rank: B
Cost: 50
Range: 15m
Effect: Surrounds the target in ice, freezing them in a solid block. The spell typically only binds the legs, arms, and torso of a victim, but can be made to cover the head, almost guaranteeing fatality. The water takes the duration of the chant to fully freeze, starting at the feet and working its way up. The final layer of ice is roughly 30cm thick and can not be broken by brute strength alone. If left alone at normal temperatures the tomb will last up to five hours before it is weak enough to be broken. The ice is cold enough that it will induce hypothermia after minutes in anyone untrained in resisting cold temperatures. Two verses.
PLAYER'S NAME: // Crim
FACE CLAIM: // Katyusha (Girls and Panzer)
OTHER CHARACTERS: // None
MISC. INFORMATION: //
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