Christina Bredith
05-29-11, 08:47 PM
Updates are in this colour.
Things that I reworded (generally for clarity or conformity to new rules) are in this colour.
The previous profile is in my signature if you’d like to compare for any reason.
Name: Christina Amanda Bredith
Age: 26 (Birthday: May 11)
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Hair Colour: Blonde
Eye Colour: Silver with flecks of blue
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 120 lbs
Description: Christina is tall, slim, and agile. Although she appears to lack brute strength, she is surprisingly fierce. Her golden hair falls down her back in long strands that shimmer in the sunlight, framing the gorgeous face on which rest her silver eyes with merry blue flecks. Christina wears a semi-transparent black shirt and sturdy black pants, over which she wears her mother's army uniform: a crimson longcoat with golden designs sewn onto it, giving the impression of fine vinework along the hems and down the bodice and tail. Included under the fabric of the uniform is a delyn chain mail that can easily be replaced as needed without changing the entire uniform.
In a special leather scabbard at her waist, decorated intricately with a flowering rose-vine, Christina carries the runic longsword that she found in her attic and uses to defend herself. The double-edged blade is just over a metre long and its flat is decorated with ten small runic gemstones, five on each side and each a different colour. Carved into each of those stones is a glyph representing a long-lost language which Christina can understand through means she does not understand. The crossguard of the blade is simple, and the pommel is wrapped in leather and bears a chipped ruby of some kind at the tip which must once have been part of a larger gem.
Despite all of this, Christina hardly looks the part of a soldier. Her eyes rarely possess the hardness found in the most grizzled warriors, though those who take the time to look deeply enough—and who know what they’re looking for, two qualities that rarely mix—will see that it is there, lurking just beneath the surface. She looks younger than she is and can be incorrigibly flirtatious around men. As a result, she is very often taken for granted by those around her, despite the sword hanging from her waist. Many men over the years have been surprised that a "little hottie" like her could fight at all, and that underestimation is perhaps her greatest asset.
History: Christina was born into a noble family with strict, proud military roots. Her parents were both lieutenants in the Republican army. She, however, was forbidden from participating in any military training whatsoever, as it was deemed unladylike, at least until she came of age. Christina always resented that she was not allowed to fight like her mother. Unsatisfied with her parents’ decision, she began to train in secret. Christina was always seen by her father as "his little princess", and thus she was allowed to go with him to watch his soldiers train day after day. She remembered each day's events as best she could and practiced with a makeshift wooden sword at night after she was believed to have gone to sleep. Eventually she stole real weapons from the estate’s armories, and over time, she grew more and more proficient with the longsword, all the while doing so under her parents' noses.
A New Beginning
[See “Rosebud (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?1730-Rosebud)”]
At long last, a real battle broke out. When she was 14, a great battle erupted between her home town, Laricia, and a nearby tribe of orcs that had long been a looming threat. The orcish forces were severely underestimated, however, and Laricia's army was ill-prepared for the battle. Christina, taking the blade of a fallen soldier, took up arms alongside her parents and fought the orcs bravely, much to their surprise. One brave girl could not hope to turn the tides against such immeasurable odds, though, and the Larician army dwindled quickly. Her parents ordered her to run away as fast as she could, and she did so only to hear their final cries as they met their ends at the hands of the orcs.
Upon reaching her house on the outskirts of Laricia, Christina cried for what seemed like hours. Before long, she stumbled up into her parents' room, desperate for comfort; rifling through her mother's closet, Christina found an old army uniform that she took as a reminder. It suddenly dawned on her that she could not stay at her home. Her food supply would soon run out and she would die of starvation if she did not move and find a place to stay. In her search for any equipment and supplies she could take with her, she found an odd chest in her attic that she had never seen before. Strangely, the locked chest opened for her - how it happened, she has never been precisely sure. The sword she found inside was decorated with flat runic gems that she did not recognize. One of these runes began to glow as she picked up the sword, much to her surprise. A year passed, and in her traveling and training, Christina's proficiency with that blade increased, and more runes began to glow, allowing her to wield strange powers. Some might call it an overnight magical growth in skill. Armed only with her talent and her curiosity, Christina made her way to Radasanth, in hopes of unlocking the secret to this longsword's mystery.
How Loudly Liberty Dies
[See “The Price of Freedom (Part I) (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?3024-The-Price-of-Freedom...)”]
It was not long after Christina began her ‘new life’ that Corone underwent a renewal of its own. During a mission she had been assigned to under Marshal Letho Ravenhart of the Corone Rangers, Christina witnessed the upheaval of the noble Republic of Corone and its replacement by the vile and reprehensible Corone Empire. Sparked by the assassination of one of Corone’s stewards organized, allegedly, by a number of citizens of the republic, this tumultuous change was crowned by the now-infamous Slaughter at Gisela, which Christina witnessed and narrowly survived: the suspected assassins were, without exception, wrongly found guilty by the empire and executed within Gisela’s walls, sparking this revolt of massive proportions in the city’s streets. The revolt was put down harshly and paid for with blood—over three hundred Giselans died that day in what became known as the “Gisela Massacre,” the day liberty died in Corone.
The Corone War
[See “The Price of Freedom (Part II) (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?3867-The-Price-of-Freedom-Part-II)”]
Herself accused of treason and being taken to Radasanth for her own trial and ultimate execution, Christina and her companions, including the Marshal himself, were rescued from the jaws of death by fellow rangers who intercepted their carriage in Concordia. A disillusioned Letho temporarily left the fold, while Christina accompanied her saviours back to Underwood to plan the next legs of the battle against the Empire. Eventually, though, she was reunited with the Marshal and her new companion Izvilvin, and the battle began in earnest, with the tiny force of rangers determined to win.
The Empire, however, would not prove so easily toppled. While marching through the mountains of the South Pass north of Concordia, Letho and an advance group of his rangers were ambushed by the enemy while searching for their companion Sienna, who had struck off on her own and gotten lost. Christina rode to their aid, distracting the enemy that was striking at them from their rear flank. The battle, though victorious, was a costly one for both sides; the rangers, having saved as many of their comrades as they could, including Letho and Sienna, returned to Underwood to lick their wounds.
But the city was no more. In a brilliant rain of fire and a cloud of smoke, Underwood was burned to the ground by a single Imperial mage whose powers were underestimated. Though the rangers considered the battle lost, Christina refused to give up hope, and found that the citizens of Underwood, ripe with vengeful sentiments toward the Empire, were ready to join in the fight. Letho thus took his rangers and Underwood’s citizens away from the smouldering ruins of the city to raise them into an army that the Empire would one day come to know and fear.
Rising from the Ashes
[See “The Price of Freedom (Part III) (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?6412-The-Price-of-Freedom-Part-III)”]
The Rangers relocated to a fort on Cathedral Hill, hidden much deeper within Underwood’s dark boughs, far from the well-traveled trade routes. The Empire, unused and unprepared to traveling the forest, and unable to put up with constant pressure from the Rangers, soon lost the territory they had there and Underwood was quickly rebuilt under the guidance of the Rangers. Their fort remained at Cathedral Hill, however, where they were joined by a small group of Bladesingers from Raiaera.
The war continues to rage, and Christina intends to see it through to its conclusion.
Personality: A beautiful woman cloaked in her mother's army uniform, Christina is the soldier that never was. Though her dream has always been to fight in the army with her family, she does not seem to fit in perfectly with the lifestyle that an army life ensues, because it was always out of her reach. She pays very close attention to the latest fashions, often squeezing her purse to its limit just to get enough money to pay for new accessories. Christina loves life and isn't particularly fond of strict rules, which would lead people to believe that she does not fit in with army regimes. When she does not feel threatened, she is somewhat lazy and prefers to have other people do things for her as opposed to doing them herself - this stems from the constant pampering she and her family received for their rank. Christina does have a tendency to lose her temper when things aren’t going her way, though that temper is often contained beneath a veneer of calm. She is also good at taking care of people—especially herself.
Beneath this superficial exterior, however, beats the heart of a determined, focused warrior who only wishes to do her parents proud and who is loyal to those who have shown themselves worthy of it. She is a fierce and able predator when cornered, and those who have witnessed her in difficult times will have no doubts as to her worth. Christina is often the voice of passion in a group, raising spirits when hope seems lost. She can be outspoken about her beliefs and will defend them vigorously when challenged. Even so, it’s very rare to see Christina without the light heart and sometimes waspish disposition that are so characteristic of who she is; when such a dark situation does arise, however, you can be sure that the true warrior within her is about to make someone’s life a lot more painful.
Her personality is gradually shifting and maturing as a result of the time spent with the Rangers during the civil war. She is a great deal more selfless now, and as one of the relatively few females in the force, she has adopted almost a “mothering” attitude toward a number of the younger Rangers. She is as flirtatious and edgy as ever, but that is tempered with the rapidly maturing attitude of a talented young soldier who wants great things from herself and her country.
Skills
Longsword Proficiency – Though largely self-trained, Christina has had a great deal of real combat experience and is an expert in the use of longswords, particularly Rosebite.
Abilities
Agility – Christina has been trained in acrobatics and gymnastics from a very young age and has incorporated these tactics into her unique fighting style. She attacks creatively and swiftly, and can block or evade attacks with cat-like grace. Her Agility is 6x an average human.
Speed – Something of an offshoot of her acrobatic training, as well as her generally lithe, Christina has experience in moving quickly and reacting to changing situations. Her speed is roughly 5x an average human.
Strength – Intense physical training and the rigours of real combat have afforded Christina a level of strength about 4x higher than average.
Sonic Sable – “Scream, Rosebite!” – The first of her longsword's runic abilities. This allows her to create concussive blasts of high-velocity energy with one purpose: destroy. If used correctly, this skill can be used to propel Christina in the opposite direction of the blast. She can curve the blasts once after being fired, to a maximum of 90 degrees in any direction. [Sa]
Valentine – “Extend, Rosebite!” – Rosebite breaks into five sections joined by tethers of blue energy. Although the tethers cannot be ‘broken’ by normal means, they are otherwise as strong as the rest of the blade and considered to be made of the same metal. This ability gives Rosebite a whip-like form, allowing for a more complex fighting style. The exact length of the whip-sword can be adjusted via Christina's mind, but its maximum length is roughly eleven feet, slightly shorter than a normal whip. This ability merely changes the form of her weapon, but does not confer any additional attacks or powers in itself. Christina cannot use her other runic abilities while Valentine is active, unless otherwise stated. [Va]
Rumbling Rose – “Rumble, Rosebite!” – Christina slams the blade of Rosebite into the ground, causing a minor quake around her and traveling in all directions. The quake is strong enough to knock an opponent with slightly above-average speed off balance and knock down certain structures that are not well-rooted or sturdy. In addition to the minor quake, a spire of thorned vines juts out of the ground in front of her opponent. This ability is best used when an opponent’s position is compromised, as it can be fairly easily dodged by an agile opponent who isn’t caught completely by surprise; however, the damage it causes is serious. [Re]
Petal Storm – “Shatter, Rosebite!” – Rosebite shatters into a cloud of small shards that shimmer in the light, making them look like little red rose petals. These shards are every bit as sharp as the sword itself, and can be directed through the air by Christina’s mind; they must move more or less as a cloud, and she can only slightly separate the shards before losing control. The obvious downside of this ability is that while in use Christina effectively has no sword in hand, and the actual utilization of the ability requires concentration; many distractions can break the spell and cause the shards to fall to the ground. Christina can move while using this ability, though only at about walking speed or slower. When Christina reforms the blade, any previous damage it had taken (nicks, dents, etc) will be fixed as the blade literally remakes itself. [Bo]
Hanging Garden – “Snare, Rosebite!” – Rosebite summons a flurry of vines from beneath the ground to ensnare the opponent. The speed at which these vines can appear and snare their target depends on Christina’s level; generally they can catch a target with 3x Speed or less under normal circumstances, and it’s easier if the target’s balance or position is compromised. The difficulty of breaking them depends on how completely the target is snared. However, they can be easily cut or burned away. [Li]
Rose Petal Waltz – “Dance, Rosebite!” – Summoning a flurry of rose petals around her, Christina’s speed and agility double for about two minutes, making her attacks difficult to read and allowing her to squeeze in more than would normally be possible. The magic of the ability prevents her from feeling any extra fatigue from the additional attacks (i.e. two attacks are as fatiguing as one would normally be), though the ability itself is taxing on her energy and her muscles. She can still use her other runic techniques while in this state, but they do not benefit from the speed boost. This ability can be used while Rosebite is in its “Valentine” form, unlike most others. [Da]
Photosynthesis - “Nourish, Rosebite!” – Rosebite grants Christina the ability to heal her wounds gradually. Minor wounds will heal within seconds, moderate wounds will heal within a half-hour, while major wounds can take a number of hours depending on severity. This also allows for slight replenishment of fatigue over time, though it doesn’t actually prevent further fatigue from accumulating. In the presence of bright sunlight this ability’s effect is slightly increased (at best, it can cut the healing times in half), and in areas of darkness, its ability can be hampered (at worst, healing times are doubled, or the skill might not work at all). [Po]
Vanishing Strike – “Vanish, Rosebite!” – When this ability is activated, Rosebite’s blade begins to phase out of reality in one place and appear somewhere else nearby. It cannot move on its own; it acts exactly as it would as if Christina was swinging the blade, so in most cases she must still swing or thrust it, but it can appear anywhere within five meters of her, facing in any direction and at any angle. For example, she could thrust her sword forward, but stab someone approaching her from behind. While this ability is active, she can be vulnerable to more conventional attacks, as the blade in her hands is gone completely. This ability can be used while Rosebite is in its “Valentine” form, unlike most others. [Si]
Equipment
Magical:
Rosebite – This runic, damascus longsword appears to have been a Bredith family heirloom. Along the flat of the blade, there are ten flat gems of various colours with runes etched into them, five on each side. These runes are the key to the blade's powers. Although the sword is made of damascus, due to its design, it can be upgraded by removing the runes, tempering the sword, and replacing them.
Non-Magical:
Army Uniform - An old army uniform belonging to her mother. It consists of a red longcoat with golden designs sewn into the fabric across the breast and at the hem. The bulk of the uniform, however, is the suit of delyn chainmail worn underneath, covering the torso.
Spidersilk Gloves – A pair of crimson gloves fashioned from spidersilk. Because of this they are slightly sticky, making them a perfect choice for a swordswoman who doesn’t want to lose her grip on her weapon.
Things that I reworded (generally for clarity or conformity to new rules) are in this colour.
The previous profile is in my signature if you’d like to compare for any reason.
Name: Christina Amanda Bredith
Age: 26 (Birthday: May 11)
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Hair Colour: Blonde
Eye Colour: Silver with flecks of blue
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 120 lbs
Description: Christina is tall, slim, and agile. Although she appears to lack brute strength, she is surprisingly fierce. Her golden hair falls down her back in long strands that shimmer in the sunlight, framing the gorgeous face on which rest her silver eyes with merry blue flecks. Christina wears a semi-transparent black shirt and sturdy black pants, over which she wears her mother's army uniform: a crimson longcoat with golden designs sewn onto it, giving the impression of fine vinework along the hems and down the bodice and tail. Included under the fabric of the uniform is a delyn chain mail that can easily be replaced as needed without changing the entire uniform.
In a special leather scabbard at her waist, decorated intricately with a flowering rose-vine, Christina carries the runic longsword that she found in her attic and uses to defend herself. The double-edged blade is just over a metre long and its flat is decorated with ten small runic gemstones, five on each side and each a different colour. Carved into each of those stones is a glyph representing a long-lost language which Christina can understand through means she does not understand. The crossguard of the blade is simple, and the pommel is wrapped in leather and bears a chipped ruby of some kind at the tip which must once have been part of a larger gem.
Despite all of this, Christina hardly looks the part of a soldier. Her eyes rarely possess the hardness found in the most grizzled warriors, though those who take the time to look deeply enough—and who know what they’re looking for, two qualities that rarely mix—will see that it is there, lurking just beneath the surface. She looks younger than she is and can be incorrigibly flirtatious around men. As a result, she is very often taken for granted by those around her, despite the sword hanging from her waist. Many men over the years have been surprised that a "little hottie" like her could fight at all, and that underestimation is perhaps her greatest asset.
History: Christina was born into a noble family with strict, proud military roots. Her parents were both lieutenants in the Republican army. She, however, was forbidden from participating in any military training whatsoever, as it was deemed unladylike, at least until she came of age. Christina always resented that she was not allowed to fight like her mother. Unsatisfied with her parents’ decision, she began to train in secret. Christina was always seen by her father as "his little princess", and thus she was allowed to go with him to watch his soldiers train day after day. She remembered each day's events as best she could and practiced with a makeshift wooden sword at night after she was believed to have gone to sleep. Eventually she stole real weapons from the estate’s armories, and over time, she grew more and more proficient with the longsword, all the while doing so under her parents' noses.
A New Beginning
[See “Rosebud (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?1730-Rosebud)”]
At long last, a real battle broke out. When she was 14, a great battle erupted between her home town, Laricia, and a nearby tribe of orcs that had long been a looming threat. The orcish forces were severely underestimated, however, and Laricia's army was ill-prepared for the battle. Christina, taking the blade of a fallen soldier, took up arms alongside her parents and fought the orcs bravely, much to their surprise. One brave girl could not hope to turn the tides against such immeasurable odds, though, and the Larician army dwindled quickly. Her parents ordered her to run away as fast as she could, and she did so only to hear their final cries as they met their ends at the hands of the orcs.
Upon reaching her house on the outskirts of Laricia, Christina cried for what seemed like hours. Before long, she stumbled up into her parents' room, desperate for comfort; rifling through her mother's closet, Christina found an old army uniform that she took as a reminder. It suddenly dawned on her that she could not stay at her home. Her food supply would soon run out and she would die of starvation if she did not move and find a place to stay. In her search for any equipment and supplies she could take with her, she found an odd chest in her attic that she had never seen before. Strangely, the locked chest opened for her - how it happened, she has never been precisely sure. The sword she found inside was decorated with flat runic gems that she did not recognize. One of these runes began to glow as she picked up the sword, much to her surprise. A year passed, and in her traveling and training, Christina's proficiency with that blade increased, and more runes began to glow, allowing her to wield strange powers. Some might call it an overnight magical growth in skill. Armed only with her talent and her curiosity, Christina made her way to Radasanth, in hopes of unlocking the secret to this longsword's mystery.
How Loudly Liberty Dies
[See “The Price of Freedom (Part I) (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?3024-The-Price-of-Freedom...)”]
It was not long after Christina began her ‘new life’ that Corone underwent a renewal of its own. During a mission she had been assigned to under Marshal Letho Ravenhart of the Corone Rangers, Christina witnessed the upheaval of the noble Republic of Corone and its replacement by the vile and reprehensible Corone Empire. Sparked by the assassination of one of Corone’s stewards organized, allegedly, by a number of citizens of the republic, this tumultuous change was crowned by the now-infamous Slaughter at Gisela, which Christina witnessed and narrowly survived: the suspected assassins were, without exception, wrongly found guilty by the empire and executed within Gisela’s walls, sparking this revolt of massive proportions in the city’s streets. The revolt was put down harshly and paid for with blood—over three hundred Giselans died that day in what became known as the “Gisela Massacre,” the day liberty died in Corone.
The Corone War
[See “The Price of Freedom (Part II) (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?3867-The-Price-of-Freedom-Part-II)”]
Herself accused of treason and being taken to Radasanth for her own trial and ultimate execution, Christina and her companions, including the Marshal himself, were rescued from the jaws of death by fellow rangers who intercepted their carriage in Concordia. A disillusioned Letho temporarily left the fold, while Christina accompanied her saviours back to Underwood to plan the next legs of the battle against the Empire. Eventually, though, she was reunited with the Marshal and her new companion Izvilvin, and the battle began in earnest, with the tiny force of rangers determined to win.
The Empire, however, would not prove so easily toppled. While marching through the mountains of the South Pass north of Concordia, Letho and an advance group of his rangers were ambushed by the enemy while searching for their companion Sienna, who had struck off on her own and gotten lost. Christina rode to their aid, distracting the enemy that was striking at them from their rear flank. The battle, though victorious, was a costly one for both sides; the rangers, having saved as many of their comrades as they could, including Letho and Sienna, returned to Underwood to lick their wounds.
But the city was no more. In a brilliant rain of fire and a cloud of smoke, Underwood was burned to the ground by a single Imperial mage whose powers were underestimated. Though the rangers considered the battle lost, Christina refused to give up hope, and found that the citizens of Underwood, ripe with vengeful sentiments toward the Empire, were ready to join in the fight. Letho thus took his rangers and Underwood’s citizens away from the smouldering ruins of the city to raise them into an army that the Empire would one day come to know and fear.
Rising from the Ashes
[See “The Price of Freedom (Part III) (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?6412-The-Price-of-Freedom-Part-III)”]
The Rangers relocated to a fort on Cathedral Hill, hidden much deeper within Underwood’s dark boughs, far from the well-traveled trade routes. The Empire, unused and unprepared to traveling the forest, and unable to put up with constant pressure from the Rangers, soon lost the territory they had there and Underwood was quickly rebuilt under the guidance of the Rangers. Their fort remained at Cathedral Hill, however, where they were joined by a small group of Bladesingers from Raiaera.
The war continues to rage, and Christina intends to see it through to its conclusion.
Personality: A beautiful woman cloaked in her mother's army uniform, Christina is the soldier that never was. Though her dream has always been to fight in the army with her family, she does not seem to fit in perfectly with the lifestyle that an army life ensues, because it was always out of her reach. She pays very close attention to the latest fashions, often squeezing her purse to its limit just to get enough money to pay for new accessories. Christina loves life and isn't particularly fond of strict rules, which would lead people to believe that she does not fit in with army regimes. When she does not feel threatened, she is somewhat lazy and prefers to have other people do things for her as opposed to doing them herself - this stems from the constant pampering she and her family received for their rank. Christina does have a tendency to lose her temper when things aren’t going her way, though that temper is often contained beneath a veneer of calm. She is also good at taking care of people—especially herself.
Beneath this superficial exterior, however, beats the heart of a determined, focused warrior who only wishes to do her parents proud and who is loyal to those who have shown themselves worthy of it. She is a fierce and able predator when cornered, and those who have witnessed her in difficult times will have no doubts as to her worth. Christina is often the voice of passion in a group, raising spirits when hope seems lost. She can be outspoken about her beliefs and will defend them vigorously when challenged. Even so, it’s very rare to see Christina without the light heart and sometimes waspish disposition that are so characteristic of who she is; when such a dark situation does arise, however, you can be sure that the true warrior within her is about to make someone’s life a lot more painful.
Her personality is gradually shifting and maturing as a result of the time spent with the Rangers during the civil war. She is a great deal more selfless now, and as one of the relatively few females in the force, she has adopted almost a “mothering” attitude toward a number of the younger Rangers. She is as flirtatious and edgy as ever, but that is tempered with the rapidly maturing attitude of a talented young soldier who wants great things from herself and her country.
Skills
Longsword Proficiency – Though largely self-trained, Christina has had a great deal of real combat experience and is an expert in the use of longswords, particularly Rosebite.
Abilities
Agility – Christina has been trained in acrobatics and gymnastics from a very young age and has incorporated these tactics into her unique fighting style. She attacks creatively and swiftly, and can block or evade attacks with cat-like grace. Her Agility is 6x an average human.
Speed – Something of an offshoot of her acrobatic training, as well as her generally lithe, Christina has experience in moving quickly and reacting to changing situations. Her speed is roughly 5x an average human.
Strength – Intense physical training and the rigours of real combat have afforded Christina a level of strength about 4x higher than average.
Sonic Sable – “Scream, Rosebite!” – The first of her longsword's runic abilities. This allows her to create concussive blasts of high-velocity energy with one purpose: destroy. If used correctly, this skill can be used to propel Christina in the opposite direction of the blast. She can curve the blasts once after being fired, to a maximum of 90 degrees in any direction. [Sa]
Valentine – “Extend, Rosebite!” – Rosebite breaks into five sections joined by tethers of blue energy. Although the tethers cannot be ‘broken’ by normal means, they are otherwise as strong as the rest of the blade and considered to be made of the same metal. This ability gives Rosebite a whip-like form, allowing for a more complex fighting style. The exact length of the whip-sword can be adjusted via Christina's mind, but its maximum length is roughly eleven feet, slightly shorter than a normal whip. This ability merely changes the form of her weapon, but does not confer any additional attacks or powers in itself. Christina cannot use her other runic abilities while Valentine is active, unless otherwise stated. [Va]
Rumbling Rose – “Rumble, Rosebite!” – Christina slams the blade of Rosebite into the ground, causing a minor quake around her and traveling in all directions. The quake is strong enough to knock an opponent with slightly above-average speed off balance and knock down certain structures that are not well-rooted or sturdy. In addition to the minor quake, a spire of thorned vines juts out of the ground in front of her opponent. This ability is best used when an opponent’s position is compromised, as it can be fairly easily dodged by an agile opponent who isn’t caught completely by surprise; however, the damage it causes is serious. [Re]
Petal Storm – “Shatter, Rosebite!” – Rosebite shatters into a cloud of small shards that shimmer in the light, making them look like little red rose petals. These shards are every bit as sharp as the sword itself, and can be directed through the air by Christina’s mind; they must move more or less as a cloud, and she can only slightly separate the shards before losing control. The obvious downside of this ability is that while in use Christina effectively has no sword in hand, and the actual utilization of the ability requires concentration; many distractions can break the spell and cause the shards to fall to the ground. Christina can move while using this ability, though only at about walking speed or slower. When Christina reforms the blade, any previous damage it had taken (nicks, dents, etc) will be fixed as the blade literally remakes itself. [Bo]
Hanging Garden – “Snare, Rosebite!” – Rosebite summons a flurry of vines from beneath the ground to ensnare the opponent. The speed at which these vines can appear and snare their target depends on Christina’s level; generally they can catch a target with 3x Speed or less under normal circumstances, and it’s easier if the target’s balance or position is compromised. The difficulty of breaking them depends on how completely the target is snared. However, they can be easily cut or burned away. [Li]
Rose Petal Waltz – “Dance, Rosebite!” – Summoning a flurry of rose petals around her, Christina’s speed and agility double for about two minutes, making her attacks difficult to read and allowing her to squeeze in more than would normally be possible. The magic of the ability prevents her from feeling any extra fatigue from the additional attacks (i.e. two attacks are as fatiguing as one would normally be), though the ability itself is taxing on her energy and her muscles. She can still use her other runic techniques while in this state, but they do not benefit from the speed boost. This ability can be used while Rosebite is in its “Valentine” form, unlike most others. [Da]
Photosynthesis - “Nourish, Rosebite!” – Rosebite grants Christina the ability to heal her wounds gradually. Minor wounds will heal within seconds, moderate wounds will heal within a half-hour, while major wounds can take a number of hours depending on severity. This also allows for slight replenishment of fatigue over time, though it doesn’t actually prevent further fatigue from accumulating. In the presence of bright sunlight this ability’s effect is slightly increased (at best, it can cut the healing times in half), and in areas of darkness, its ability can be hampered (at worst, healing times are doubled, or the skill might not work at all). [Po]
Vanishing Strike – “Vanish, Rosebite!” – When this ability is activated, Rosebite’s blade begins to phase out of reality in one place and appear somewhere else nearby. It cannot move on its own; it acts exactly as it would as if Christina was swinging the blade, so in most cases she must still swing or thrust it, but it can appear anywhere within five meters of her, facing in any direction and at any angle. For example, she could thrust her sword forward, but stab someone approaching her from behind. While this ability is active, she can be vulnerable to more conventional attacks, as the blade in her hands is gone completely. This ability can be used while Rosebite is in its “Valentine” form, unlike most others. [Si]
Equipment
Magical:
Rosebite – This runic, damascus longsword appears to have been a Bredith family heirloom. Along the flat of the blade, there are ten flat gems of various colours with runes etched into them, five on each side. These runes are the key to the blade's powers. Although the sword is made of damascus, due to its design, it can be upgraded by removing the runes, tempering the sword, and replacing them.
Non-Magical:
Army Uniform - An old army uniform belonging to her mother. It consists of a red longcoat with golden designs sewn into the fabric across the breast and at the hem. The bulk of the uniform, however, is the suit of delyn chainmail worn underneath, covering the torso.
Spidersilk Gloves – A pair of crimson gloves fashioned from spidersilk. Because of this they are slightly sticky, making them a perfect choice for a swordswoman who doesn’t want to lose her grip on her weapon.