Well she's not crazy per se but... ah, what the hell. Here we go:hiei82 said:So the Imperial ship is populated by mercenaries, evil imperials, ex-pirates, thieves, and robots... Why does this sound like a sitcom in the making?3quency said:Oh, I do have a submission for an Imperial character written up if we still need more.
They may have turned out a little larger-than-life in terms of villainy-ness.
That said, I want to see it, because I like seeing crazy characters
Name: Anastacia "Black Annis" Baker-Cromwell
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Culture: Neovictorian Upper Class
Background: Ex-Marine commander/ Quartermaster
Ship: HMS invincible
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Culture: Neovictorian Upper Class
Background: Ex-Marine commander/ Quartermaster
Ship: HMS invincible
Annis is incredibly tall, standing at 6' 5'', she veritably towers over others. Her broad shoulders and shoulder-length hair can give the impression of a more masculine figure than people actually expect. Her hair is black as pitch, and is bound into a tight bob, held together with a pair of deadly assassin's needles, claimed from a best Neobedouin.
The most distinct thing about Annis' appearance is her brass half-mask-cum-gasmask that covers the lower half of her face and extends down around her throat. This is a rebreather system, specially designed so that Annis can actually still breathe. It has a pair of grille-like slots on the front from which escapes a greenish vapour whenver she breathes out. A series of valves and tubes spread forth from it and curl around and into her Navy greatcoat, to a chemical release system strapped to her thigh.
She carries a military sabre with her at all times, and a large steam-pistol is holstered against her leg. Her eyes are a piercing blue, and almost always narrowed with a look of disdain.
The most distinct thing about Annis' appearance is her brass half-mask-cum-gasmask that covers the lower half of her face and extends down around her throat. This is a rebreather system, specially designed so that Annis can actually still breathe. It has a pair of grille-like slots on the front from which escapes a greenish vapour whenver she breathes out. A series of valves and tubes spread forth from it and curl around and into her Navy greatcoat, to a chemical release system strapped to her thigh.
She carries a military sabre with her at all times, and a large steam-pistol is holstered against her leg. Her eyes are a piercing blue, and almost always narrowed with a look of disdain.
Annis is extremely resentful. She lost her station and lost her respect a few years back in the accident and has been looked at as the laughing stock of the Navy ever since. She hungers for a way to once more become a rising star, to regain her station. She wants to be a captain, or admiral.
This desire for power far outstrips her loyalty to the Empire. She would never consciously betray the emperor or her country provided there was no way in which she'd benefit from the betrayal.
On a more personal level she used to be quite the sadist. But in recent years, something inside her... broke. She's colder now. More efficient. Where, in her days as a Marine Captain she'd pull a man's eyes out and cram them down his throat she'll now just shoot him point blank. It's as if she no longer has time for such things.
She is committed to military discipline and other than regularly drilling those men under her command, she keeps a strict physical regimen and practices sword and gun-play at least twice a day often for hours at a time.
This is largely due to her injury - Annis now lives a life much more restrained than she's used to. She is keenly aware that she hangs on to life by a thread, and hates herself for it. The one thing she fears above all else is being useless. Henceforth she throws herself into her work and does a damned good job. The more time she spends doing nothing, the more she feels like a wretched, good-for-nothing cripple.
Annis hates Misbegotten with a passion. Her life-ruining injury was caused by one and years of self-loathing and projected anger have caused her to blame the entire group collectively. Whilst she will never go out of her way to harm them, nor will she stop them being harmed, and takes particular pleasure in fighting them. If she engages Misbegotten on the battlefield, it's almost as if Black Annis is back and never left.
This desire for power far outstrips her loyalty to the Empire. She would never consciously betray the emperor or her country provided there was no way in which she'd benefit from the betrayal.
On a more personal level she used to be quite the sadist. But in recent years, something inside her... broke. She's colder now. More efficient. Where, in her days as a Marine Captain she'd pull a man's eyes out and cram them down his throat she'll now just shoot him point blank. It's as if she no longer has time for such things.
She is committed to military discipline and other than regularly drilling those men under her command, she keeps a strict physical regimen and practices sword and gun-play at least twice a day often for hours at a time.
This is largely due to her injury - Annis now lives a life much more restrained than she's used to. She is keenly aware that she hangs on to life by a thread, and hates herself for it. The one thing she fears above all else is being useless. Henceforth she throws herself into her work and does a damned good job. The more time she spends doing nothing, the more she feels like a wretched, good-for-nothing cripple.
Annis hates Misbegotten with a passion. Her life-ruining injury was caused by one and years of self-loathing and projected anger have caused her to blame the entire group collectively. Whilst she will never go out of her way to harm them, nor will she stop them being harmed, and takes particular pleasure in fighting them. If she engages Misbegotten on the battlefield, it's almost as if Black Annis is back and never left.
For Black Annis, the game of life was rigged in her favour from the start. Born into the Neovictorian aristocracy was already enough, but combine that with a doting father who had a ?special understanding? with the forces of justice and a large estate in Everglade and her life was perfect.
Her father, Jacob, was an avid big-game hunter and had all manner of animals from beyond the walls imported on the sly into their extensive gardens. Since her only brother was a sickness-infested weakling Jacob instead took Annis out with him on the hunting trips.
She loved these trips, not only did she get to spend large amounts of time alone with her father (whom she adored), but she got to learn certain skills no other girl she knew could perform. Whether her mean streak was developed through constant hunting and skinning of wild animals or whether this was merely fuel for a fire already burning is up for debate, but her taste for bloodshed was undeniable.
When she finally came of age, she begged her father to pull some strings with the Navy and sure enough she ended up in the Marines less than a year later.
As time wore on, Annis' ferocity in combat and general enthusiasm for the military rules and regulations saw her quickly rise through the ranks until she made Captain aged 25.
It was during this period that she earned the name black Annis. Her ships were known for pursuing Pirates with a frightening ferocity, and any pirates that were actually found after the battle were usually skinned and pinned to their own decks, if they were found at all. Rumours were abound that she skinned them because she hated the taste of skin, and kept the rest for eating. Annis eagerly encouraged this rumour, and even planted spies in pirate towns to spread it further.
But this time was not to last. One day during a particularly lethal boarding melee Annis took a poisoned quill fired from a misbegotten pirate to the throat.
The ship surgeon fought to save her life and only just stabilised her in time to get her to a proper clinic.
Annis was fitted with the breathing apparatus she wears to this day. Certain elements of the poison remained in her system and only by breathing in the chemicals provided by the mask can she still survive. It also patches the hole in her throat.
Unfortunately due to military regulations, she was no longer considered fit for active duty. Through some desperate political manoeuvring she managed to secure a place as a non-combatant officer aboard the Invincible, and has leapt at this opportunity with a typical enthusiasm. She keeps herself as fit and healthy as her body will allow, and is still a fierce fighter, but is no longer allowed to put these skills to use.
She hopes that one day soon that will change.
Her father, Jacob, was an avid big-game hunter and had all manner of animals from beyond the walls imported on the sly into their extensive gardens. Since her only brother was a sickness-infested weakling Jacob instead took Annis out with him on the hunting trips.
She loved these trips, not only did she get to spend large amounts of time alone with her father (whom she adored), but she got to learn certain skills no other girl she knew could perform. Whether her mean streak was developed through constant hunting and skinning of wild animals or whether this was merely fuel for a fire already burning is up for debate, but her taste for bloodshed was undeniable.
When she finally came of age, she begged her father to pull some strings with the Navy and sure enough she ended up in the Marines less than a year later.
As time wore on, Annis' ferocity in combat and general enthusiasm for the military rules and regulations saw her quickly rise through the ranks until she made Captain aged 25.
It was during this period that she earned the name black Annis. Her ships were known for pursuing Pirates with a frightening ferocity, and any pirates that were actually found after the battle were usually skinned and pinned to their own decks, if they were found at all. Rumours were abound that she skinned them because she hated the taste of skin, and kept the rest for eating. Annis eagerly encouraged this rumour, and even planted spies in pirate towns to spread it further.
But this time was not to last. One day during a particularly lethal boarding melee Annis took a poisoned quill fired from a misbegotten pirate to the throat.
The ship surgeon fought to save her life and only just stabilised her in time to get her to a proper clinic.
Annis was fitted with the breathing apparatus she wears to this day. Certain elements of the poison remained in her system and only by breathing in the chemicals provided by the mask can she still survive. It also patches the hole in her throat.
Unfortunately due to military regulations, she was no longer considered fit for active duty. Through some desperate political manoeuvring she managed to secure a place as a non-combatant officer aboard the Invincible, and has leapt at this opportunity with a typical enthusiasm. She keeps herself as fit and healthy as her body will allow, and is still a fierce fighter, but is no longer allowed to put these skills to use.
She hopes that one day soon that will change.