Cassandra Galanis
A young woman tortured by an ancient spirit that possessed her, but also provides her with nearly unmatched skill with the blade
Appearance
Normally, Cassandra appears as an average height human woman with flowing red hair and delicate features. She typically is wearing light armor for long distance travel and her sword's travelling posture is in that of a shorter Spatha, a straight sword. She doesn't wear jewelry but does keep a necklace with a unknown, swirling dark substance in it, which is worn over her armor. She is fit and lean from constant travel, but not very physically strong.
In battle, Cassandra's appearance alters dramatically. Her hair becomes a washed out purple, as do her eyes. Her veins become very prominent and a shadowy aura appears. She also gains a second shadow while in this state. Her pale glowing sword will often become an oversized greatsword during fights, but adopts other appearances too depending on the circumstances.
In battle, Cassandra's appearance alters dramatically. Her hair becomes a washed out purple, as do her eyes. Her veins become very prominent and a shadowy aura appears. She also gains a second shadow while in this state. Her pale glowing sword will often become an oversized greatsword during fights, but adopts other appearances too depending on the circumstances.
Skills and Abilities
Warrior Spirit: Cassandra is possessed by a nameless ancient Shade, a violent spirit that takes control of her body whenever fighting. Fueled by magic created from Cassandra's life force and a corrupted magical pendant given to Cassandra by her mother, the spirit is unimaginably strong and can perform incredible feats of athletics and swordsmanship, including the ability to reshape a weapon in a moment to change reach, swing speed, and so on. While this gives Cassandra great power, it also means she is robbed of a lot of her waking hours when the spirit hungers for violence.
When the spirit takes control, Cassandra's physical appearance changes as her body and emotions are being drained as fuel for the sword, Kastor. Her hair turns a washed out purple from its original luscious red, and her eyes turn the same color as well. The Shade itself uses Empathy, and during battle will often drain vulnerable enemies of their emotional energy, sometimes even storing excess energy in the Pendant if enough is drained. A lot of energy is needed to sustain the spirit's form and the Shade often will often drain victims completely, especially if its rage has been stoked in the heat of combat.
The Shade itself isn't malevolent except insofar as it seeks constant battle to sustain itself, but it tends to leave noncombatants like children out of the equation as it deems their spirits and energy as insufficient to fuel its bloodlust. Warrior races like Orcs are of particular interest to the Shade for feeding, seeing them as superior sources of energy compared to humans, but also tends to avoid situations where its host might feel particularly uncomfortable or frightened, as fear in particular actively weakens the Shade.
Ancient Warrior's Pendant: Given to her by her mother and originally a source of magical protection, the pendant Cassandra wears acts as a backup power supply when Cassandra's emotions are too drained for the spirit to keep fighting at maximum capacity. Due to the pendant's original purpose as a shield, it is also protected from most attacks and forms of potential damage.
The Sword of the Shade, Kastor: Along with her possession by the Shade, Cassandra also "received" Kastor, an ancient sword which can shift its shape at the user's merest will. It glows with a pale blue at all times, even through its sheath in its smaller form. In combat, as the Shade uses more emotions as fuel, the sword grows in strength and glows more intensely as the spirit reaches a state of satiation from emotional energy.
When the spirit takes control, Cassandra's physical appearance changes as her body and emotions are being drained as fuel for the sword, Kastor. Her hair turns a washed out purple from its original luscious red, and her eyes turn the same color as well. The Shade itself uses Empathy, and during battle will often drain vulnerable enemies of their emotional energy, sometimes even storing excess energy in the Pendant if enough is drained. A lot of energy is needed to sustain the spirit's form and the Shade often will often drain victims completely, especially if its rage has been stoked in the heat of combat.
The Shade itself isn't malevolent except insofar as it seeks constant battle to sustain itself, but it tends to leave noncombatants like children out of the equation as it deems their spirits and energy as insufficient to fuel its bloodlust. Warrior races like Orcs are of particular interest to the Shade for feeding, seeing them as superior sources of energy compared to humans, but also tends to avoid situations where its host might feel particularly uncomfortable or frightened, as fear in particular actively weakens the Shade.
Ancient Warrior's Pendant: Given to her by her mother and originally a source of magical protection, the pendant Cassandra wears acts as a backup power supply when Cassandra's emotions are too drained for the spirit to keep fighting at maximum capacity. Due to the pendant's original purpose as a shield, it is also protected from most attacks and forms of potential damage.
The Sword of the Shade, Kastor: Along with her possession by the Shade, Cassandra also "received" Kastor, an ancient sword which can shift its shape at the user's merest will. It glows with a pale blue at all times, even through its sheath in its smaller form. In combat, as the Shade uses more emotions as fuel, the sword grows in strength and glows more intensely as the spirit reaches a state of satiation from emotional energy.
Personality
Cassandra was raised by her single mother, a mage of no particular importance, and grew up in relative comfort. She speaks with a sometimes overly polite mannerism, and is generally quite shy and reserved. She isn't afraid of talking to others as much as she is of making connections, for the life of the possessed has left her isolated emotionally in a way that makes it nearly impossible to make real bonds of friendship or otherwise with other people, not helped by the often manipulative statements her Shade makes.
Cassandra instead enjoys little moments--pleasant conversations with strangers, tasty food, gentle breezes and sunshine--as these are the only times she truly gets to be herself, as she is just as often thinking about the Shade's hunger as he is, because she knows if the Shade isn't satiated, she might be consumed as well.
The most peculiar part of Cassandra's personality, of course, might be that she seems incredibly normal and kind, especially in contrast to the Shade that possesses her.
Cassandra instead enjoys little moments--pleasant conversations with strangers, tasty food, gentle breezes and sunshine--as these are the only times she truly gets to be herself, as she is just as often thinking about the Shade's hunger as he is, because she knows if the Shade isn't satiated, she might be consumed as well.
The most peculiar part of Cassandra's personality, of course, might be that she seems incredibly normal and kind, especially in contrast to the Shade that possesses her.
