Talija

Talija

My longest-running (named) character, and also the one I've created the most alternate versions of.  Common to all versions is that she's a melanistic jaguar (panther) who's antisocial almost to the point of misanthropy, sarcastic as hell, and prone to violent outbursts.  She also kills people for a living.


Talija ní Tallawah
A classic High Fantasy assassin, trained and schooled at the Guild of Assassins, and the original incarnation of Talija.  As well as being rather skilled at killing people, she's also an obtenebrist, i.e. a Shadow Walker, who can meld with the shadows to avoid detection, or shroud an area in impenetrable darkness.


Lt. Talija Janer
The present day version of Talija, Lt. Janer is a former member of the British Armed Forces (The Rifles, 3rd Battalion) who served with the SAS for two tours, as part of Squadron D.  After leaving the army, she went freelance and made a very successful living as a long-range business solutions contractor, i.e. hitman.

She is skilled with a variety of regular firearms, specialising in long rifles and sniping, and has received additional training in counter-terrorism and kali sikaran, as well as being a highly proficient driver.


Security Chief Janer (Ascension)
In the Ascension setting, Talija Janer works as head of security for Addison Caine at the Spire, in New Eden.


Talija "TJ" Janer (Prelude)
In the Prelude setting, I split the character of Talija into two characters.  The first, keeping the name of Talija, is a former technician for Oshin-Su Global in Hong Kong, who was let go after repeated tardiness and a general lack of professionalism and discipline.  She later found herself working as a retained data-hack for Donny Yuen, a brothel owner and low-level Triad officer.  One particular job for Yuen brought her to the attention of Jager Enterprises, who were so impressed by how competently she'd managed to break into their mainframe that they tracked her down and offered her a job.

Criminal by lack of other opportunities rather than deliberate intent, Talija jumped at the chance to resume legitimate work, with Jager promising that they'd be able to keep her quite safe from any potential Triad repercussions.  At Jager, she became the Operative Handler for Artemis, one of Jager's finest and surliest field agents, and the two developed a very close bond, which eventually grew intimate.

During the operation to track down and acquire the missing prototype KOTO security droid, Talija is infected by the Remnant (the uploaded personality and memories of a deceased person) of a former Osiris Tech employee.  Ultimately, this Remnant helps lead Talija and her colleagues at Jager to the missing droid's location, though at quite a cost.


Artemis (Prelude)
Artemis is the other "half" of Talija in the Prelude setting, and she is an operative for Jager Industries, one of Europe's premier security companies.  She is a heavily modified and enhanced specialist in covert eliminations and infiltrations, and is noted for her tendency to work solo.  She has a history of working deep behind enemy lines and without radio support or extraction plans.  As well as specialising in long-range rifles, Artemis is also an accomplished pistol marksman, and is utterly remorseless in her actions.

Prior to her death at Point Nemo, Artemis and TJ decide to have a child together, with TJ carrying the baby.


Project: Artemis
In my Future Echoes setting, which is in the same universe as Prelude but much further forward in time, Project: Artemis exists as the end product of a centuries long government project to create the ultimate hunter and assassin.  Being a namesake for Artemis from Prelude is not an accident, as Project: Artemis was started with DNA extracted from Artemis' remains, after the events at Point Nemo.

The joy at her being a complete and utter success turns to dismay when she inevitably escapes from the lab that birthed her, slaying the entire on-site project team (and a fair number of security personnel) in the process.  Oddly enough, it turns out that creating a living weapon with bleeding edge security, subterfuge, and infiltration implants and training comes with some downsides when you're trying to recapture them.

Realising that the task of bringing Artemis back in, or decommissioning her, is far beyond their regular means, the Ministry of Defence call in the Special Activities department, who send one of their most highly-decorate Proctors - Naoko-Tove Shivali (See: Koto).


Artwork (WARNING: NSFW content ahead!)

The Merewether Twins

The Merewether Twins

Nena and Driskell are twin otter siblings, and members of the Weaver Folk collective.  Typically of otters, and Weaver Folk in general, they are care-free and fun-loving, and almost pathologically incapable of remaining serious for more than a few minutes at a time, even in the face of extreme danger.

Artwork (WARNING: NSFW CONTENT AHEAD)

Nena

Driskell (AKA Squill)

Weaver Folk

The Weaver Folk

"The Weaver Folk" is a term given for a widely spread culture of river-dwelling people who live in small, close-knit communities and are linked by tribes and culture rather than any political affiliation.  The Weavers are a peaceful, easy-going people who live in communes of two to a dozen families, with no regimented ruling structure but judgement and trading terms generally deferred to the wisest and most experienced of their number.  Frustratingly for travellers, the Weavers do not have names for their settlements, generally knowing them by either where they're located, or who's currently the de facto head of the settlement.

As well as living off the land - the Weavers are principally farmers and fishers - they are renowned for, and take their name from, the intricate tapestries they weave.  In a Weaver settlement, these tapestries are typically woven into blankets, bags, or travelling cloaks.  Outside, however, they are a much sought-after commodity and it is by trading their craft that the Weavers are able to buy anything they cannot get for themselves.  The Weavers have little interest in money, seeing it merely as a bartering tool when their traders make infrequent trips to cities.  Within the settlements, all foods are harvested communally, and distributed likewise, with the elderly, the sick, and the young getting the best of each crop, and the rest divided equally.

Besides their skill as farmers and weavers, the Weaver Folk are also known for their dialect.  Though technically Common Tongue, the combination of a somewhat unusual and colourful vernacular, a tendency to drop the first or last letter of most words (as well as several in the middle, on longer words), and a habit of talking at great speed and with no clear direction, generally results in Weaver Talk being considered a language in its own right.

Though Weavers are peaceful by nature, they seldom have problems with bandits.  With no monetary wealth to speak of, there's little purpose in attacking a Weaver settlement (unless you're particularly hungry or just really like their fabrics) and given their understanding of the land, and their skill as fishers and hunters, they are far from defenceless.

Tribal Make-Up

Though the most well-known Weaver Folk are otters, this is more to do with the gregarious and adventurous nature of those tribes rather than any numerical superiority.  Beavers, coypu, capybara, and muskrats can all be found in large numbers in Weaver societies, as well as the otters, and it is not unheard of members of less naturally river-loving species to end up living with the Weavers, drawn by the peaceful life and the security in being surrounded by other species of a similar disposition to them.  Generally, these migrants into Weaver life are smaller rodents such as mice, squirrels and chipmunks.

Almost synonymous with the term “Weaver Folk”, otters of all species are common amongst these river-dwellers but not in such numbers as most people assume.  Their presumed proliferation is mostly due to their size, outgoing nature and love of fun, socialising and playing, as well as being the only tribal group within Weaver Folk society that’s comfortable entering cities.  It’s easy to overlook a muskrat but hard to miss an otter, especially if they’ve been drinking.


Weaver Talk

Word	Meaning	Example
Barker	n. A madman; see also Barking
Barking	adj. To be crazy or mad; to take leave of one's senses.	'Ave you gone barkin', squire?  No way I'm doin' that!
Basher	n. A person of good physical standing but debateable mental capabilities; opposite of a cutter.	Oi, basher!  Get yer dunderin' great arse out the way!
Baste	v. To beat, physically.	Back off if'n ya don't wanna get a basting!
Biddy	n. An older woman.  Often derogatory.	Interfering old biddy...
Blind (one's) eyes	1) v. prof. Excl. A strong curse directed at another; 2) v. prof. Excl. A statement of astonishment or surprise.	Blind your eyes, you swindling bastard! // Well blind my eyes, I never thought I'd live to see the day!
Bluff	adj. One who holds oneself in high esteem, deservedly or otherwise	That Squill's certainly a bluff bugger!
Brother/Sister of the Blade	n. A soldier or warrior.
Brother/Sister of the String	n. One who plays a stringed musical instrument.
Cack-handed	adj. Or adv. Awkward or lacking in skill	Useless, cack-handed bastard. / Sorry luv, I'm doing this a bit cack-handed.
Clod-hopper	n. A farmer; often derogatory.
Cock-sure	adj. To be very confident in one's abilities	E's a bit bloody cock-sure, that Squill!
Cove	n. A fellow	E's a good old cove.
Cully	n. A fool	I won't warn ya again, cully!
Cutter	n. A fellow who gets through life by his wits rather than his brawn; opposite of a basher.	Ho there, cutter, you look like a man who'd appreciate a good set of dubs... Yours for only three copper!
Darkmans	n. The night or nighttime.	Ere, you bloody pups get indoors now, it's near darkmans out there!
Diddle	n. Cheap spirits.  Not to be confused with the slang verb common in other vernaculars.	Ere, fancy a diddle, luv?  Ow!  Whaddya hit me for??
Dive	v. To pickpocket	Cor mate, did ya see the duds on that cully?  Gotta be worth a dive on a rich ol' cove like that!
Diver	n. One who pickpockets	Ere now squire, I dunno what yer chatting about!  I ain't no diver!  This 'ere fob watch, wot you says looks remarkably like yours, 'appens to 'ave been in my fam'ly for generations!
Dubber	n. One who is in the habit of picking locks	Y'ever need someone else's door opened for ya, that Riss fella is yer dubber.
Dubs	n. Lockpicks	Pass us the dubs, squire, an' I'll have us inside in just a minim.
Duddering	Adj. To excel at something non-positive.	He's a duddering great cully, so he is!
Dudds	n. Clothing. Tends to imply clothing of a reasonably high standard.  Also spelled duds.	Cor blimey, squire!  Them's some fancy news dudds ya got on!
Dust	v. To kill someone	Dust the cully!
Duster	n. Someone who is close to death, through age, injury or a general lack of self-preservation instincts.	Leave the duster alone, he'll get his soon 'nuff.
Fair do	n. A deal that suits all, or a situation that is appropriate or just.	Aye I did lose the race but fair do, he's a bloody good swimmer.
Feggit	prof. Excl. A middling curse or exclamation of surprise.  Similar in meaning to "Fuck yes!" or "Fuck it!" but considerably milder.	Ah, feggit but this is some strong ol' diddle!
Goody	n. Hon.A married woman who has children (of any age).	I bumped into Goody Merewether the other day.
Guzzle	n. Throat	Ere, get this food down ya guzzle!
Holt	n. A home; see also Lodge.
Jink	n. Money; AKA coin	Ullo squire, jink for an ol' war vet'ran?
Lodge	n. A home; see also Holt.
Minim	n. A moment in time.  Also spelled minnim	'Ere now, 'ang on a minim, squire!
Noggin	n. Head	Mind ya noggin on that low beam.
Rattle (one's) bone-box	v. To talk excessively and without purpose; to prattle	Stop rattlin' ya bone-box!
Rattle (one's) bones	v. To wind up or irritate.	Who rattled your bones?
Squire	1) n. Hon. A mated male, with or without pups.  2) n. Informal term for another person, usually but not exclusively refers to males.	'Ello there, squire. // 'Ere, isn't that Squire Merewether?
Wotcha	Informal greeting	Wotcha squire.  'Ow do?