CatOIX - the Usual Suspects

Urgh. Have no idea why this took so long, tbqh, and the lineart looked better on its own. But OH WELL! Sort of vaguely a character sheet for the four main characters of my Cat O' Ninetails story. :B *might actually try an action pose someday*

Aaaaanyway. Without further ado, more than you've ever wanted to know about the CatO'Nine cast...

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Merle Piepo
Age: 18
Race: Half-Vjayin (beast-person)
Nationality: Elspecian (English)

A happy-go-lucky, self-confessed weeaboo half-vjayin girl, Merle was born and raised in Northmain, Elspess (a large island situated roughly where the UK used to be), and lives in the capital with her mother and six sisters while her father takes care of business elsewhere in the country. Merle hooked up with Marius at age 12, after the two were paired up for Ruparin language lessons, in which Marius is a native speaker; six years later, they're still going strong, despite having lived in separate countries for most of their relationship.

As a Vjayinka, Merle is unable to fly, though she does possess most other Erschassin (bird-race) abilities. Having been raised mostly by her Erschassin mother, Merle has always dreamed of flight, and hopes that one day she will be able to do so with Marius (as Marius' wings are built for gliding, he finds it impossible to support her weight while flying). In the meantime, she tags along with Marius, not generally understanding what's going on a great deal of the time, but having fun nonetheless.

In battle, Merle is able to use vjayin Glamour (a hallucination-inducing Vjayin ability) as well as Erschassin elemental abilities. She occasionally uses swords.

Marius Blitz
Age: 18
Race: Erschassin (bird-person)
Nationality: Ruparin

Headstrong and energetic, Marius Blitz was born and raised in the densely populated desert country of Rupa, and named after the young Balalaikan soldier who knocked up his teenage mother (unlikely though it was that Marius Blitz was his actual name :3). While his mother left to attend university, Marius was raised by her sister, Dio.

Marius is an Insperati, suffering from an extremely rare affliction where he has fewer than the usual number of strings connecting his spirit to his body. This has the benefit of allowing him to see spirits (coeurls), but will eventually kill him – a fact he only becomes aware of during his travels with fellow Insperati Shuppin and Dysymphony. Marius was able to survive his childhood despite his illness with the help of his coeurl, Kirvaja, a lionlike spirit who acted as somewhat of a father figure to him; the sudden death of Marius’ Insperati cousin, however, leads Marius to suspect the guardian spirit he once depended on, and also serves as one excuse for the gap-year journey Marius and Merle embark on, and that makes up the CatO’Ninetails story.

Though his hot-headedness and tendency to act rashly often land him in sticky situations, Marius is generally quick-witted and can adapt to almost any situation. His weapon of choice is the Katar, though he will occasionally use electric abilities in battle (an ability inherited from the Balalaikan side of his family).

Shuppin Marchelaure
Age: 21
Race: Erschassin
Nationality: Barans (Scottish)

Initially fairly cold and aloof, Shuppin comes across as the stereotypical emo kid. When he and his twin sister Dysymphony first meet Marius and Merle, however, Shuppin is under the influence of his Marking – a large, tattoo-like substance, which in Shuppin’s case covers most of his body and renders him unable to express emotion, as well as sealing most of his physical and elemental abilities and giving him an outlandish appearance. Shuppin is eventually able to rid himself of his Marking, and proves to actually be a very emotional person (as is stereotypical for water-elemental users).

Also Insperati, Shuppin and Dysymphony appear to be on a world-saving mission that initially has little to do with Marius and Merle. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that Shuppin has his own hidden agenda that even his sister is unaware of. Though very reckless in battle, wielding a heavy poleaxe and fighting at close range, Shuppin appears to have a fear of death, which extends not only to friends and family but seemingly also to people he doesn’t know particularly well.

In battle, Shuppin uses a ceremonial poleaxe, which he wields with one arm; he is also a martial artist, resorting to taekwondo when disarmed, using which he is generally much faster than when attacking with a weapon. Once he loses his Marking, he regains the ability to use water and ice abilities.

Dysymphony Marchelaure
Age: 21
Race: Erschassin
Nationality: Barans (Scottish)

Shuppin’s twin sister, Dysymphony grew up separately from her brother, living in Sansouci, Barançu (French-speaking Scotland) while Shuppin was raised in the Barans capital of NosFreres. Elspess (new English) is her first language, but both Dysymphony and her brother are fluent in French, speaking in strong Scottish accents.

Dysymphony is known as the Pure Voice, whose ability to sing certain notes is central to she and her brother’s world-saving mission, and also the sole reason for her birth, with the powerful Marchelaure house famed for its long line of Pure Voices. Though generally cheerful even when faced with the difficult mission before her, Dysymphony’s demeanour changes significantly around her brother, with whom her relationship seems very strained. Though they are both Insperati, Dysymphony feels the fact that she has had an easier time of it than her brother – her Marking is much smaller than his and is actually beneficial, serving to extend her short lifespan with no effect on her emotions – has led him to resent her.

Dysymphony uses Pure Voice abilities in battle, which can induce hallucinations similar to those produced by vjayin Glamour. She also uses fire elemental abilities, and occasionally guns.
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...Hurgh. :B More for my own reference than anything, tbh. though, y'know. If anyone else was looking for references for my characters... *hint hint* >:3

Maybe I'll even draw up the other five million of 'em!

CatO'Ninetails / Art (c) *chensterrain






p.s. hint hint hint