Author Topic: Maria Adisa  (Read 5985 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Idrial

  • Novelist
  • *****
  • Posts: 1258
  • Being a vampire is a privilege. Not an excuse.
    • View Profile
Maria Adisa
« on: July 24, 2012, 04:38:55 AM »
Name: Maria (Titilayo) Adisa
Age [appearance]: 27 years
Age [actual]: 360 years
Gender: Female
Species: Vampire High Priestess (Saltigue) (Duskborn)

African Tribe: Serer
Sire: Unknown

Permissions Given In Reasonable Role-play:

Feeding: Yes
Killing: Yes
Cursing: Yes
Wounding: No

No= You do not need to ask.
Yes= You need to ask before hand.

Hair: Maria’s fine long hair is put into many single elongated braids as the tradition with the shaman woman in her tribe. Sometimes all, a portion or a few braids are held with few old African hair ornaments that she had acquired long ago. One is made out of a zebra’s hoof.

It has an old African saying engraved on it which says: "What! Do you make so much noise for a dead dog? Good! You die you too." It is a story told from the God of Death himself.    

Eyes: Dark chocolate brown. Her eyebrows are shaped thin and quite high to give her eyes this wide intimidating look. At first glance, they are almost too big for the shape of her face. There is just more space between the eyes and the brow that is giving this impressionable illusion.

When she invokes any Deity or Pangool Spirit they turn to amber, the colour of the divine. This happens because she is no longer in control of her own will, rather the essence of the mother and father (Old God/Goddess) fills her spirit. When she uses her at will talents her eyes will flash amber for a few moments. When she is chanting or conjuring a blessing they remain amber in colour for the duration of her chant/blessing.

Frame: Maria has a medium frame, battle-ready muscles flow across her dusk skinned body. She isn’t what you would call a graceful looking person; her raw power is eminent on her body, not hidden like those seeming-less frail and flawless vampires. She stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall, still relatively a somewhat normal range for the women in her tribe.

Her face is elongated letting her exceedingly full lips fit her face. Her nose is long and slender along with her high cheekbones. You wouldn’t call Maria beautiful but rather someone who seems a little older with the years of wisdom showing on her face.

Tattoos/Distinguishing Marks: Maria has some very old whip scars from when she was sold into slavery on her back, legs and arms, she's pretty sure those marks will never fade.

Personality: Maria isn't the same person she was centuries ago, she gets along better with plants and animals than she does with people. Due to her people exploiting her in the past she is a very stern and serious person to an acquaintance. However, a well-known friend is a different story when it comes to interaction.

Many people in her life had exploited her gifts which had made her a somewhat cold and aloof woman when it comes to complete strangers. She can be politely persistent in what she wants in life, revealing a silver tongue and quick wit. She also the most peculiar one-liner sense of humour. Although her sense of humour is only meant for people she trusts as she is not used to the compassion of laughing.

She still knows how to show compassion but she doesn't like to trust a complete stranger. She keeps mostly to herself only allowing a few people into her life and allowing even fewer to know of her religion; the deities of old, only a few people (Sam Rede) have seen the power of Maria's supernatural faith.

History:

Born in the heart of Kenya in the year of 1662 and while the slave trade had dominated most of Nigeria and the region near Chad Lake. Most of them had been captured and sent over to the Caribbean or to Brazil to work. While this happened to her own native people Maria was only an infant child when she was born but a few years later her tribe would be forced to move away from the heart of Kenya.

In a few years, their Saltigue (High Priest) would be picking an apprentice to take his place, which is usually only given to someone by birthright. Sadly the Saltigues son had vanished and assumed to be dead. As well as a midwife and a prophet who was also we're getting old and we're in search of someone in the tribe to take their places. Titilayo was not looking forward to the selection in a few years time, she knew she wouldn't be chosen for anything.

To her surprise the old Saltigue (High Priest) picked her after much contemplation, Titilayo was only nine at the time. Many of her studies included ancient chants and poems, veneration and offerings to deities. As well as spirits (Pangool), astronomy, initiation rites, herbalism, cosmology and the history of their people. She would go on a journey called Ndut to speak to her creator. Little did she know she would be chosen to be a divine vessel for the deities, blessed with the powers of the deities themselves.

The old Saltigue was dying and after her first tearful death rite of passage, she would become the new Saltigue. These would be the years that Maria would miss later in her life. The horror that no one spoke of would finally make it's a way to her tribe, even after moving her people countless times. Her tribe tried for so long to remain out of the slave traders' grasp, but a more terrible person but of olive skin would emerge from the shadows.

As chaos consumed the tribe Maria tried her very best to allow her people to escape, alas she was taken down. She was tied up and was allowed to be drained by the western vampires and embraced. She along with whoever hadn't escaped were tied up and left alone for the night, Titilayo knew nothing of her fate and the fate of her tribe.

Terror would consume Titilayo, she watched in fear as most of the people in her tribe had been consumed by flames as the sun rose, others died as the sun made it's a way to the hottest part of the day. Maria broke out in blisters and experienced an emotional trauma that took away most of her compassion that day. Leaving her to blame the strange olive-skinned man that had convinced a few people in her temporary village to give up her tribe. It would not take long for her own people to bring back the western vampires. Those that betrayed Maria and her tribe were killed by the olive-skinned man.

Only about thirty people survived including Titilayo, men, woman and children were among the survivors and as night had fallen again the Western vampires would return not knowing their fate as thin-blooded vampires. They were to be shipped to America and sold to other supernaturals for labour. In the end, as they were placed on the ship with the Western Vampires and sailed off, the strange man would not be seen for over a year.

She tried to keep her people in a state of calm but it lasted for a few months before she realized they weren't human anymore, they were vampires. The desires a vampire had was something Titilayo wasn't prepared for in the end. The trip to America had made her cast out her compassion for the world for many centuries.

In the end only half survived the trip, most of the thin blood died of starvation or went into a blood lust frenzy turning on themselves, for fifteen months she travelled on the boat and was put through the mental anguish of watching the rest of her tribe die or turn on each other. When she was sold the vampire with olive skin showed up again with a potion in hand and her deities could only hide so much. Making sure to tell everyone Titilayo has special blessings which only made the price go higher on her head.

For another twenty-five years, Titilayo would bounce from one owner to the next. Ranging from vampires, demons, werewolves, imps most of which used and abused her throughout the entire time she was in slavery. Her masters knew of her blessings from her deities and used them to their advantage. She had nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. Even if she did try to run she would meet her fate with a bullet-like all the others did when they tried to escape. She had acquired many whip scars over those long and dark years.

One day could not rise from her bed. Her master used the whip on her until she bled through the thin blankets. Tired of doing that he viciously attacked her, breaking her ribs and left wrist. He then deemed her unusable and was ordered to dump her useless body out somewhere, she was taken away and went on a long journey. The last thing she remembered was being thrown from the back of a wagon, landing on the ground left to die.

When she awoke three days later, finding herself in the hands of two shapeshifters a man and a woman. Titilayo was in bad shape he woman dressed her wounds and the tone of her voice was sweet and encouraging. Even the man seemed distant but not a threat to Titilayo, it would be weeks before Titilayo would be able to speak.

The years of abuse and cruelty finally had come to an end, she would spend most of her days with the shape-shifters, one being a vamp shifter from Brazil. She would study and live with them until the age of slavery ended. Many years later she would travel to Canada, changing her name to Maria. Years after that she would meet Sam Rede and it was here her journey began again in peace and love.

Awareness of Supernaturals: Maria knew Humans, Vampires, Demons (Shadow, Powder and Air), Werewolves, Shape-Shifters and Vamp-Shifters. Now she knows of all supernaturals thanks to her training at the medical school designed for supernaturals as a healer.

Occupation/Job: Her official title is Saltigue (High Priestess.) She is now The Keeper for the City Central District

When she first arrived in the city she went to the University following her loyal friend Sam. She managed to get a bachelors specializing in African Art, Drama and Dance. Maria wanted to make the bond she had with her deities stronger but would find out this was only part of her path. She would later leave to her friend Sam to pursue a medical degree in herbalism, she is going to a special medical school for supernaturals outside of the city. She plans to open a shop in the City as a healer once she is done school.

Interesting Facts / Quirks: Maria is a daywalker, she will not burst into flames if she goes into the sunlight. Maria will sustain some very nasty blisters if she gets caught outside during the hottest part of the day. The pain will last for several days.

She is also able to eat human food but her body will still reject most meats, vegetables, grains and fruits. If she eats them she will throw up. Maria still needs blood at least once every ten days, she must drink from glass due to her baby teeth affliction being a Duskborn

Hobby/Hobbies: Maria likes to be alone in some of her spare time, except when Sam is around. She likes to grow herbal plants in her spare time, she also likes to get out and communicate with the animals within the city. She can find out quite a bit from the animals that roam the streets, she always seems to be eerily caught up on most things that are happening currently.

Likes:

* African Chanting or Music
* African Dance
* African Art
* Herbalism
* Star Gazing
* Outdoors
* Sam Rede

Dislikes:

* Supernaturals Who Take or Have Pets
* Cruelty Of Any Kind
* Demons
* Irrational Actions
* Temper Tantrums

Strength: Maria's spiritual nature enables her to hold what most fear; the power of true faith. It is the strongest thing that is available to her disposal. No matter what stands in her way her faith will be called upon. The powers blessed by her deities are available to her at will or through chanting.

Maria has worked long and hard to master the blessings bestowed upon her almost three hundred and a half centuries ago, she has a lot of stamina when it comes to her practicing her gifts. She can also be very persistent in making sure that she appeases her deities at least once a day, whether it be through chanting, dancing or playing an instrument she must do it.

Weakness/Flaw: Her ability to show compassion towards people has been something Maria has been struggling to get back in her life. She can be a stern woman when it comes to life and cold to strangers. That doesn't mean she has no compassion or is unable to have fun, she's just more careful at not only making choices but making decisions with the right people than the rest of the population. You won't see her be impulsive like her friend Sam nor will you rarely see Maria around a bunch of people but she will go if she knows a few people attending.

Being blessed with great power always has a price, she relies on divine energy and the Pangool spirits. Maria can use most of her abilities at will, but this causes her to use up more of her spiritual reserves. It is rare that Maria will have little or no reverses at all, for this is vital for survival.

To conserve her spiritual energy a blessing or chant would be much smarter as she can build up energy rather than burn it. Chanting to her deities it takes a lot longer but it also uses less of her spiritual endurance but Maria can't always complete a full chant if she is up-close personal combat.

Deities:

Roog- Supreme God and Creator. Sky and Heavens.

Physique: Silver complexion. Delicate shape. Sage like eyes.
Weapon: Bladed Whip.
Personality: Playful, curious, kind.

Takhar- God of the Forest, Justice, Vengeance and Sacred Places.

Physique: Grey complexion. Athletic shape. Harsh like eyes.
Weapon: Two-handed spear.
Personality: Blunt, balanced, tactical.

Tiurakh- God of Wealth.

Physique: Gold complexion. Slender shape. Calm like eyes.
Weapon: Mongo Knifes
Personality: Quiet, generous, observant.

Kopé Tiatie Cac- God of Death.

Physique: Black complexion. Muscular shape. Critical like eyes.
Weapon: Sickle Blade.
Personality: Serious, merciful, aloof.

Bring Forth the Old Ones: A combination of her own blood, spiritual reserves and life force. Maria can rip open the veil connecting the earth to the otherworldly planes, and bring a Pangool onto the earthly plane while maintaining the chosen deity. Maria can call one deity and fight alongside them, in which she can use other spells or abilities. OR as a second option, Maria can call upon two deities but she will remain vulnerable and have no access to her spells or abilities. Depending solely on her deities to defend and attack for Maria. They will remain on the earthly plane for twenty-four hours before returning to their original plane.

The chosen deities strength, celerity and abilities will match the opponent Maria is facing at the time, this applies only to Maria's deities. Maria herself can not inherit their strength, celerity or abilities should Maria choose to fight alongside one of them.

Each deity has a divine chosen weapon, personality and shape. Maria can not access this ability again for seventy-two hours, leaving her with minimal stamina to escape for one hour and severely weaken.

Should Maria choose the second option it leaves her totally exhausted, Maria then must chant or pray for three straight hours before she can access her full abilities and strength again. This is the only combat spell Maria has in her arsenal. If Maria wants to acquire additional combat spells she must seek out another witch to learn.

Roog (Sky and Heavens)- Ruler of the skies and heavens. The Serer believe that Roog is an incorporeal and hermaphroditic being, possessing both a male and female nature. Saltigues refer to Roog as "father and mother" during their rituals. In the Serer creation myth, it is both grandfather and grandmother; with the grandmother aspect giving birth to humanity. Roog sees, knows and hears everything. Maria acts as Roog's assistant in the physical world.

Plane Alignment: Earth and Heavens. Maria can not control the skies or the heavens, it signifies Maria is highly in harmony with the earthly and heavenly plane energy. Maria can travel to different planes through dreaming, a sort of backdoor to all reality. Giving Maria insight into prophecies and omens that deal with the present and past, events that happen in the future are Kopè's domain. Enabling Maria to have a divine understanding of most matters.

It leaves Maria susceptible to experienced witches looking to weaken her connection to ALL her divine deities. Abusing Maria's natural alignment with the earth and heavens as a backdoor to be taken by force. Maria can not be possessed. Only her connection to her Pangool can be weakened. Be forewarned if the opponent fails, even once, at there attempt to weaken Maria, she can attempt to use her the strength of ALL four deities to separate her foe from their abilities, deities or entities for six hours.

Divine Validity: Maria can attain little hints from Roog just from sight, but to get a true and detailed reading, she must be touching an object or an individual. Maria can analyze a person or an object with remarkable accuracy and precision, transforming energy into thoughts Maria can hear, memories Maria can see, or impressions felt under Maria's skin.

Investigating the soul, spirit, or the transfer of energy that resides in an object. Maria can experience a variety of emotions, memories, etc. both good and bad, intense emotions or memories can weaken Maria. The longer Maria can hold an object or touch an individual, the more information she can obtain, but the more energy she consumes.

Find Sickness: If someone is sick with an illness or a curse, with a small chant taking up to one hour Maria can tell what ails them, and can obtain a solution, but only if Roog will allow it. It is rare, but Roog at times will refuse to give a remedy for an illness or a curse.

Takhar (Forest, Sacred Places, Justice, Vengeance)- Ruler of the forests, sacred places, justice and vengeance. The high priests of Takhar are usually very old men from notable Serer families. Overseeing cases relating to law and order, i.e. theft, evil witchcraft, etc. Depending on the fear of Takhar as a dispenser of justice and vengeance; rather than their poisons. Which was used in trials of witchcraft of evil witches; some males in the past used it outside of the trial, and without any authoritative witnesses present. Maria did not agree with these actions.

Purify the Holy Forest:, Maria, either at will or with chanting can make an area or object fall under divine immunity for twenty-four hours. The bigger the area the more energy Maria needs, or the longer the chant must be. Maria must be touching something in the area, or an object, the sight alone does not work for this spell.

Maria can use three blessings, in any combination, fully charged, then she must wait for seventy-two hours before regaining her blessings back.

The Sanctuary of Roog: Maria can grant an individual(s) protection from ALL types of destruction for twenty-four hours. Using divine immunity to blanket the individual in Roogs divine armour, it negates all forms and types of death. Maria can cast this through the line of sight, touch, or by using someone's full name.

The individual or Maria will experience a negative mood, mindset, mental and physical soreness after the twenty-four hours is up. The more trauma that is taken, the longer and more severe the negative effects. Individuals have been known to experience something similar to ghost pains. Lasting from three hours to no more than twelve hours. This does not apply when using a juju charm.

This constitutes a blessing each time it is cast.

The Eternal Gift of Roog: If given the chance to collect certain ingredients, as well as having a quiet place to chant and mix her brew. Maria can conjure up a permanent ward of protection, made in the form of several different types of juju charms. She can create permanent Wards using ancient rituals and symbols given time, some spells using a manner of illusions by weakening the veil, like the one that conceals the White Rabbit.

Maria must recharge these magical wards once every three months, to maintain there strength and integrity. Maria must chant continuously for three straight hours, leaving her unable to do anything else. If Maria is interrupted she must start again. This does not apply to the juju charm.

Hallowed Items of Old: Maria can make a variety of magical items, but this takes time and an incredible amount of power. Maria needs a quiet place and a large container. Using an ancient formula combining alchemy, divine faith, and a small quantity of blood. The magical item grew and shaped by her deity's divine hands, not by Maria. Once it is completed Maria can pull it from the strange fluid. Only Maria can pull the weapon from its bizarre mixture of liquid, her hands acting as the last quench to finalize the item.

Maria can duplicate magical items IF she has the original in her possession. Maria can not duplicate a copy of an original, an original that has been repaired, or if an original has been altered from its initial purpose. For example, Dark Angel weapons. It can produce results that differ from the original item, not limited to colour, design, skills etc.

It can take Maria days, weeks, or even months to complete or duplicate a magical item, the larger or stronger the item, the more time and dedication is needed. Maria's juju charms, for example, take three weeks to complete. If the item is disturbed, neglected or destroyed, Maria must start all over again.

Poison of Raging Truth: Maria can use a potion to poison other witches, a special recipe used by her tribe, and only used against evil sorcerers. Similar to Banu Haqim's Truth of Blood, forcing the individual to tell the truth in anger, making them violent, dangerous, and unpredictable. It will eventually drain the victim of their fight, leaving them in a constrained state of calm. It has the power to uncover facts unknown to the speaker. Maria can make the subject expand on their answers, providing more information, including details they glancingly saw or subconsciously forgot.

Used in trials of witchcraft against evil witches; some males in the past used it outside of the trial and alone. Maria did not agree. It should be done with witnesses present, or at a trial, not alone. For the safety of the Saltigue and the intended individual, as both sides have suffered unnecessary fatalities due to the violent nature of the potion.

The Wrath of Takhar: Maria can determine a lie or if someone who has been wronged by touch or by Takhar themself. Depending on the severity of their lie or wrongdoings, Takhar will require justice or vengeance to be done, and then Maria can curse the individual. Maria can curse someone within her line of sight, touching the individual, using the full name of the target, or through a sentimental item owned by the target.

However there is a catch, the longevity, harshness or nature of the curse is left up to Takhar, and not Maria. The eviler the lie or the act can produce more than one result from the curse.

Maria can only curse one individual at a time, in a six-hour time frame.

Animal Affinity: Maria is able to communicate with animals at will using telepathy. Her telepathy pertaining to animals is not limited, she can read the mind of an animal as far as her eyes can see. Maria can ask the animals for help if she is in grave danger, and even take over an animal for three hours at a time.

This is not the same for any humanoid creature or supernatural creature. Maria must have permission to enter a supernatural mind, mortals she can force her way through, but it is extremely difficult and taxing. Both supernaturals and strong-willed humans can push Maria out of their minds. Maria can not use Dominate.

Tiurakh (God of Wealth)- Ruler of Wealth.

A Second Chance: Maria is able to bless wealth over someone for a period of time. However, it is only used on the poorest of the poor. She will not bless someone who is rich or even middle class unless the circumstances are dire. For example, a family could afford an operation for a dying child.

She can use this at will or with chanting, it can only be used once a month.

Kopé Tiatie Cac (God of Death)-Ruler of Death and Reincarnation.

Plane Alignment:Death and Reincarnation. Maria is highly in tune with the realm of Death and Reincarnation. It is the one realm Maria can enter through physically, rather than dreaming, for resurrection purposes for example. Maria sketches a door using ancient symbols on a solid item, proceeding to rip open the veil between earth and it's decided realm of death.

It leaves Maria susceptible to experienced witches looking to weaken her connection to ALL her divine deities. Abusing Maria's natural alignment with the earth and heavens as a backdoor to be taken by force. Maria can not be possessed, her connection to her Pangool can be weakened. Be forewarned if the opponent fails, even once, at there attempt to weaken Maria, she can attempt to use her the strength of ALL four deities to separate her foe from their abilities, deities or entities for six hours.

Oh Family Long Past: Maria is able to communicate or conjure ancestral spirits for guidance, regarding matters of the dead. Unlike the Pangool, these ancestral spirits belong to Maria's bloodline, ones that choose not to be reincarnated, using the Serer saints rituals Maria can do this both at will or with chanting.

Calling upon ancestral spirits uses a fraction of the power needed to use the Pangool. However, her ancestral spirits can be captured and used to strengthen another witch's abilities for one hour, before returning to their designated realm.

If the intruder fails the first time nothing happens, the second attempt will harm the intruder, the third attempt will render the intruder unconscious should they fail a third time. The Pangool nor Maria can not be corrupted, only Maria's ancestral spirits.

Reveal My Tribe: Maria is able to perform scrying with the help of the Pangool or ancestral spirits. Maria can see and hear a particular individual, which may be at any distance, even across certain planes, due to her Plane Alignment. Maria must have a full name or an item that was touched last or belonging to the individual.

This takes up a lot of Maria's stamina. She can drain all her reserves and without warning, if she is not careful. If Maria uses all her energy during a scrying spell she must chant or pray continuously for one hour, before being able to scry again.

Future Sight: Kopè will sometimes force visions of something significant that will happen in the near or distant future, not about the past or present, that is Roog's domain. They come in the form of violent dreams in her sleep, or intense flashes while she is awake. Maria can hear, see, taste, smell and feel a variety of sensations in her vision, but this is awfully rare and draining.

Maria cannot tell how far in the future these events will occur.

No Denying True Faith: Maria can displace vampires, demons and witches from an area the size of three city blocks for twelve hours. Maria can break or dispell magical artifacts for twelve hours. This takes an incredible amount of energy from Maria.

Maria can not replenish or recharge her stamina for those six hours if Maria used True Faith on an area, but she can remain in the area if True Faith is used, and replenish once those six hours are up.

Using True Faith to break or dispell a magical items does not envoke this effect in an area, it only applies to the item. It leaves Maria with enough reserves to defend her well being for a short time of one hour, before having to stop and pray or chant to replenish her stamina.

Resurrection of Chance: Unlike necromancy, this is a form of death magic practiced in Africa. The communion between the mother, father, and their earthly vessel (Maria) she can open a gateway to Kopé and his realm. It comes at a great cost to Maria.

It is a long and complicated ritual, one that takes hours to prepare and execute. Maria must be careful bringing a soul back to the living, she could accidentally bring back an unknown soul to inhabit the body. She MUST maintain utter concentration, no one is to interfere, or the results could be disastrous.

The soul can reject the body depending on how long the person has been dead. The longer you are dead, the less likely Kopé will release your soul and send you back among the living. It helps to have those close to the deceased in life to say a few words or share a memory. Kopé can also take the soul back if one is not grateful at any time, during that critical time period of no more than one week.

Using her own blood and life force, Maria can bring forth a soul back to the earthly plane. Only after a period of one week can there be a guarantee the soul has successfully mended back, and the person will remain on earth.

Humans and supernaturals require constant rest and food. Vampires require blood and rest. Being weak and helpless they rely heavily on protection and caring bedside manners.

It leaves Maria completely exposed, blocked from accessing Kope, and their domain abilities for three weeks. Her connection severed temporarily leaving her with a moderate/severe headache, decreased appetite, physical and mental weakness for the duration. To this day, Maria has never resurrected anyone due to its price, and it's a faint guarantee that the soul will remain.




Major Threads:

The First Night-Maria's first night back in the city. She encounters a zombie hoard and a necromancer named Tess.
Damage Control- Seven witches battle the necromancer Tess and put the dead to rest.
Unexpected Offer- Maria becomes the new Keeper for Jake's District.
A Trial for the Centuries - The CW Districts vs. Lazarus- Maria attends the trial as Jakes new Keeper.
The Brass Quarter- Maria runs into Ben by chance in the Brazilan Quarters and has a civil chat.
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Hummer-Maria travels with Lacy, Astrid and Siobhan to find out more about Tess and her origins.
The Haunting of Thane Manor-Maria, Astrid, Lacy and Siobhan make it to the house. Maria solves the riddle to gain access to the house of horrors. Maria also learns Sam is in danger at the Carnival.