Rabhya
08-07-06, 02:30 AM
"She reasoned that because she was beautiful she was significant, though what she signified, and to whom, was not clear to her yet.”
Wicked, Gregory Maguire
Name: Rabhya Devangi
Age: 57
Sex: Female
Race: Deity (Lesser Goddess)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Gray
Skin Color: Dark gray
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 151 lbs.
Personality
Rabhya is a woman who has spent the entirety of her young life perfecting her ability to get away with anything. Because she was taught that she was superior to others, it is rare for someone to meet her high standards. The goddess is not known for her benevolence, unless it’s for personal benefit. She is openly critical of everyone, even those she considers to be in her league, and especially of those she considers lower on the food chain. After growing up in the lap of high society, Rabhya has learned that merging seduction, graciousness, and a honeyed tone can overshadow any social slight. She will often smile while delivering an ill-mannered comment because she can sugarcoat even the most boorish insult.
It is this quality of allure and dishonesty that draws people to her like metal to a magnet, and at the same time drives them mad. The goddess enjoys it thoroughly – there is nothing she loves more than devotion and attention, whether it is given reluctantly or not. She has a keen eye for attractive, high-standing men who, if passive enough, become nothing more than Rabhya’s toys, dismissed once the goddess tires of them. If she receives the wrong sort of attention or none at all, she can become quite immature and throw a fit. Rabhya is a gossipmonger, a critic, a spoiled brat, an expert at dalliance, and a woman whom everyone loves to worship and hate.
Appearance
Rabhya loves a scandal, and it is no wonder since her appearance and affairs have made her the subject of many. At fifty-seven, she’s a very young deity, but after over half a century, her body is more mature than a teen’s. She’s an uncommonly tall woman, with the slim, flexible build and light stride of a dancer. Rabhya is an anomaly, with dark greyish skin almost like a Drow. She keeps her sleek black hair shoulder-length, decorated only with a crystal chain with dangling yellow gems around her forehead. With a strong jaw, slightly tapered ears and hypnotic gray eyes, she is just as intimidating as she is beautiful, and uses it to a cruel advantage over the men she encounters.
Rabhya dresses most frequently in a belly-baring, sleeveless white top with gold thread trimming the low neckline and hem in elaborate designs. Her white skirt is ankle-length and tight around the waist and thighs, following the same white-and-gold pattern along the hem of the skirt and flaring out. When attending important functions and traveling, the goddess wears a sari; a length of semi-transparent cloth tucked into her waist and draped over the shoulder. (See picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v344/Tams_Pics/fancy_white_dress.jpg) for Rabhya’s clothing.)
Skills
Charm – Rabhya’s way of masking criticism with a compliment is not her only skill. When she wants something, she will flatter the person who can give it to her until they relent. Her tutors have taught her every little trick involved with sycophancy that they know, from subtle body language to just the right words for whispering into one’s ear, whether metaphorically or literally.
Ghoulish Rage - At her mother’s command (either verbal or mental), Rabhya’s body will automatically begin to distort itself. Her eyes enlarge like a cat’s, her teeth extend and sharpen, and her skin sags. Her fingers also elongate, making them look skeletal, and her nails harden and extend to points. This reaction takes about two minutes to finish, during which Rabhya seems to be in a lot of pain, and this alteration makes her look very much like a ghoul. In this state, Rabhya has a slightly heightened speed, but the most she can do is fight like a cat, biting and clawing and scratching. She cannot cause much more than long, thin wounds and bite marks, and she cannot give any fatal wounds. This state lasts for four minutes total.
Also, in this state, Rabhya has no control over what she does – she is used like a puppet by her mother, who initiates and ends the transformation. Afterwards, Rabhya does not remember anything. It is unknown where she gets this ability from.
Items
Sari - lightweight, translucent length of white cloth with gold trim and floral designs.
Jewelry – crystal hair decoration and matching necklace, several silver bracelets.
History
Though the pantheon of old India boasted millions of Gods and Goddesses, it included a select few who were merely the result of love affairs between the deities and their human counterparts. One such offspring was a daughter of the Goddess Parvati, one of Lord Shiva’s consorts. Parvati, a benevolent being, loved every one of her many children, but as a deity could not keep up with each one of them. This particular daughter was named Januja, and by her human father she was made a lesser Goddess.
Her lack of significance in the great pantheon was rather disconcerting to Januja. In order to build up a reputation for herself, she became the patron Goddess of Harappa, a city in ancient India. Januja spent a couple hundred years making herself popular, and by the time she’d reached age four hundred, she was well-known in the province surrounding Harappa (although her status as a daughter of Parvati certainly helped). She lived in a grand marble palace and amassed a following of devotees. She was invited to every high-class event that the kshatriya, the rich and the powerful, held. Women came to her for marital advice; men sought her judgment on criminal cases and the dealings of merchants as well as trying to catch a glimpse of the beautiful deity. It was rumored that the men who gained Januja’s favor were rewarded with a night in her bed.
Those rumors were confirmed when the Goddess gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named Rabhya Devangi, meaning “worshipped,” and “godlike.” The arrival of Januja’s child was a cause for celebration for the people of Harappa, who adored their personal Goddess and delighted in the idea of her family line continuing. Many, however, wondered about the father of the child, because Januja’s girl, when shown to the public, had pointed ears and dark, blue-gray skin. Several of Januja’s followers deserted her service, thinking that Januja had simply stolen one of the children of Kali and claimed it for her own. Dark-skinned Kali was the Goddess of destruction, a deity whose name was an abomination to anyone who served Parvati or her children.
Afraid of being cast out of Harappa, Januja denied the rumors, making a point of telling her people that Rabhya’s grandmother Parvati had once had dark skin. But some people were still skeptical – some even began whispers of a black-skinned follower of Kali fathering Rabhya. As a final act of defiance, Januja had Rabhya’s father killed. Somehow, the violent act seemed to clear up any doubts about Rabhya’s parentage, though Rabhya herself never knew who her father was – or how, exactly, he had died.
This knowledge, however mysterious, became nothing more than insignificant small talk in the fifty-some years to follow. Rabhya was Januja’s delight; as she grew, Januja and her servants tutored the girl-Goddess in the arts of society, seduction, and authority. From infancy, Rabhya was taught by her mother that they were superior to those around them, something that Januja had always believed wholeheartedly to distract herself from the disappointment of never having been included in the legacy of the pantheon. Rabhya became more of a Goddess than Januja ever was. Though a rather daunting girl with her gray skin and snobbish behavior, she was as beautiful as her mother and twice as ruthless in her actions.
It was only when her servants began turning up dead that Januja began to fear for her daughter. She was certain that either followers of Kali or those seeking vengeance for the death of Rabhya’s unknown father were sneaking into the palace, killing Januja’s faithful. If they were after anyone, they were after Rabhya first, and then Januja. Rabhya’s maidservants were the first to be found, throats slashed, in their rooms.
Januja sent her daughter to a place no one would expect a high-born lady and deity to be found. She alone knew Althanas was vastly different from Harappa, and thought the culture shock might be too much for Rabhya, she was a Goddess – she would understand the language. She would find a place to hide until the storm had cleared.
Note: The cities and gods and goddesses, with the exception of Rabhya and Januja, are from the Indian/Hindu culture and are not my own creation.
Wicked, Gregory Maguire
Name: Rabhya Devangi
Age: 57
Sex: Female
Race: Deity (Lesser Goddess)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Gray
Skin Color: Dark gray
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 151 lbs.
Personality
Rabhya is a woman who has spent the entirety of her young life perfecting her ability to get away with anything. Because she was taught that she was superior to others, it is rare for someone to meet her high standards. The goddess is not known for her benevolence, unless it’s for personal benefit. She is openly critical of everyone, even those she considers to be in her league, and especially of those she considers lower on the food chain. After growing up in the lap of high society, Rabhya has learned that merging seduction, graciousness, and a honeyed tone can overshadow any social slight. She will often smile while delivering an ill-mannered comment because she can sugarcoat even the most boorish insult.
It is this quality of allure and dishonesty that draws people to her like metal to a magnet, and at the same time drives them mad. The goddess enjoys it thoroughly – there is nothing she loves more than devotion and attention, whether it is given reluctantly or not. She has a keen eye for attractive, high-standing men who, if passive enough, become nothing more than Rabhya’s toys, dismissed once the goddess tires of them. If she receives the wrong sort of attention or none at all, she can become quite immature and throw a fit. Rabhya is a gossipmonger, a critic, a spoiled brat, an expert at dalliance, and a woman whom everyone loves to worship and hate.
Appearance
Rabhya loves a scandal, and it is no wonder since her appearance and affairs have made her the subject of many. At fifty-seven, she’s a very young deity, but after over half a century, her body is more mature than a teen’s. She’s an uncommonly tall woman, with the slim, flexible build and light stride of a dancer. Rabhya is an anomaly, with dark greyish skin almost like a Drow. She keeps her sleek black hair shoulder-length, decorated only with a crystal chain with dangling yellow gems around her forehead. With a strong jaw, slightly tapered ears and hypnotic gray eyes, she is just as intimidating as she is beautiful, and uses it to a cruel advantage over the men she encounters.
Rabhya dresses most frequently in a belly-baring, sleeveless white top with gold thread trimming the low neckline and hem in elaborate designs. Her white skirt is ankle-length and tight around the waist and thighs, following the same white-and-gold pattern along the hem of the skirt and flaring out. When attending important functions and traveling, the goddess wears a sari; a length of semi-transparent cloth tucked into her waist and draped over the shoulder. (See picture (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v344/Tams_Pics/fancy_white_dress.jpg) for Rabhya’s clothing.)
Skills
Charm – Rabhya’s way of masking criticism with a compliment is not her only skill. When she wants something, she will flatter the person who can give it to her until they relent. Her tutors have taught her every little trick involved with sycophancy that they know, from subtle body language to just the right words for whispering into one’s ear, whether metaphorically or literally.
Ghoulish Rage - At her mother’s command (either verbal or mental), Rabhya’s body will automatically begin to distort itself. Her eyes enlarge like a cat’s, her teeth extend and sharpen, and her skin sags. Her fingers also elongate, making them look skeletal, and her nails harden and extend to points. This reaction takes about two minutes to finish, during which Rabhya seems to be in a lot of pain, and this alteration makes her look very much like a ghoul. In this state, Rabhya has a slightly heightened speed, but the most she can do is fight like a cat, biting and clawing and scratching. She cannot cause much more than long, thin wounds and bite marks, and she cannot give any fatal wounds. This state lasts for four minutes total.
Also, in this state, Rabhya has no control over what she does – she is used like a puppet by her mother, who initiates and ends the transformation. Afterwards, Rabhya does not remember anything. It is unknown where she gets this ability from.
Items
Sari - lightweight, translucent length of white cloth with gold trim and floral designs.
Jewelry – crystal hair decoration and matching necklace, several silver bracelets.
History
Though the pantheon of old India boasted millions of Gods and Goddesses, it included a select few who were merely the result of love affairs between the deities and their human counterparts. One such offspring was a daughter of the Goddess Parvati, one of Lord Shiva’s consorts. Parvati, a benevolent being, loved every one of her many children, but as a deity could not keep up with each one of them. This particular daughter was named Januja, and by her human father she was made a lesser Goddess.
Her lack of significance in the great pantheon was rather disconcerting to Januja. In order to build up a reputation for herself, she became the patron Goddess of Harappa, a city in ancient India. Januja spent a couple hundred years making herself popular, and by the time she’d reached age four hundred, she was well-known in the province surrounding Harappa (although her status as a daughter of Parvati certainly helped). She lived in a grand marble palace and amassed a following of devotees. She was invited to every high-class event that the kshatriya, the rich and the powerful, held. Women came to her for marital advice; men sought her judgment on criminal cases and the dealings of merchants as well as trying to catch a glimpse of the beautiful deity. It was rumored that the men who gained Januja’s favor were rewarded with a night in her bed.
Those rumors were confirmed when the Goddess gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named Rabhya Devangi, meaning “worshipped,” and “godlike.” The arrival of Januja’s child was a cause for celebration for the people of Harappa, who adored their personal Goddess and delighted in the idea of her family line continuing. Many, however, wondered about the father of the child, because Januja’s girl, when shown to the public, had pointed ears and dark, blue-gray skin. Several of Januja’s followers deserted her service, thinking that Januja had simply stolen one of the children of Kali and claimed it for her own. Dark-skinned Kali was the Goddess of destruction, a deity whose name was an abomination to anyone who served Parvati or her children.
Afraid of being cast out of Harappa, Januja denied the rumors, making a point of telling her people that Rabhya’s grandmother Parvati had once had dark skin. But some people were still skeptical – some even began whispers of a black-skinned follower of Kali fathering Rabhya. As a final act of defiance, Januja had Rabhya’s father killed. Somehow, the violent act seemed to clear up any doubts about Rabhya’s parentage, though Rabhya herself never knew who her father was – or how, exactly, he had died.
This knowledge, however mysterious, became nothing more than insignificant small talk in the fifty-some years to follow. Rabhya was Januja’s delight; as she grew, Januja and her servants tutored the girl-Goddess in the arts of society, seduction, and authority. From infancy, Rabhya was taught by her mother that they were superior to those around them, something that Januja had always believed wholeheartedly to distract herself from the disappointment of never having been included in the legacy of the pantheon. Rabhya became more of a Goddess than Januja ever was. Though a rather daunting girl with her gray skin and snobbish behavior, she was as beautiful as her mother and twice as ruthless in her actions.
It was only when her servants began turning up dead that Januja began to fear for her daughter. She was certain that either followers of Kali or those seeking vengeance for the death of Rabhya’s unknown father were sneaking into the palace, killing Januja’s faithful. If they were after anyone, they were after Rabhya first, and then Januja. Rabhya’s maidservants were the first to be found, throats slashed, in their rooms.
Januja sent her daughter to a place no one would expect a high-born lady and deity to be found. She alone knew Althanas was vastly different from Harappa, and thought the culture shock might be too much for Rabhya, she was a Goddess – she would understand the language. She would find a place to hide until the storm had cleared.
Note: The cities and gods and goddesses, with the exception of Rabhya and Januja, are from the Indian/Hindu culture and are not my own creation.