How long do you usually write?
Several paragraphs
Do you enjoy writing collaborative posts for things like conversations, combat, etc.?
My only experience with collaborative posts are with personal friends, but I’m willing to give most things a go.
Is grammar and depth of writing important to you?
Yes.
Are there any writing subjects you particularly enjoy exploring?
Intrigue
Battles and the aftermath
Morality
Power
Sanity
Is there anything you really dislike and want to avoid like the plague?
Nah.
Is there something you are uncomfortable with happening to your character?
Talk to me and most things are fine.
Do you have any short-term or long-term goals with this character?
Become a respected celebrity in non-criminal circles. Help the family establish a name as honorable and trusty transport merchants. Inevitably become entangled in things out of her control.
Several paragraphs
Do you enjoy writing collaborative posts for things like conversations, combat, etc.?
My only experience with collaborative posts are with personal friends, but I’m willing to give most things a go.
Is grammar and depth of writing important to you?
Yes.
Are there any writing subjects you particularly enjoy exploring?
Intrigue
Battles and the aftermath
Morality
Power
Sanity
Is there anything you really dislike and want to avoid like the plague?
Nah.
Is there something you are uncomfortable with happening to your character?
Talk to me and most things are fine.
Do you have any short-term or long-term goals with this character?
Become a respected celebrity in non-criminal circles. Help the family establish a name as honorable and trusty transport merchants. Inevitably become entangled in things out of her control.
Name: Cora Vane
Species: Human
Homeworld: Nar Shaddaa
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Specialisation: Racer, Pilot
Current area of operation: Nar Shaddaa
Species: Human
Homeworld: Nar Shaddaa
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Specialisation: Racer, Pilot
Current area of operation: Nar Shaddaa
Detailed appearance. Imagery insufficient.
Cora stands at an approximate height of 5’6” (171 cm). She has an athletic, lean build owing to hard training regimens and weight-limits for her chosen profession. Jet-black straight hair hangs free to just barely touch her shoulders and swept aside to keep her eyes free. Her face is dominated by defiant brown eyes and a sturdy jawline keeping her lips in a thin frown. Often seen in her racing gear, a full-body pilot suit with some padding modifications and a wind-wrap cloak, which she keeps as immaculate as the racing machine itself. Cora tends towards practical jackets and clothes when not on the clock, though is not beyond wearing something for it’s style. She presents herself with a straight back and raised chin often, together with a wide stance to take her rightful place in every room she walks into.
Report on skills and talents, including level of skill.
Cora Vane is first and foremost a swoop racer. Piloting these ‘engines with a seat’ has been been both a drive for the woman, and as time has shown, a natural talent. Her reflexes, physique and timing have been honed to master the art of racing at insane speeds. She is an up-and-comer in the world of racing, and how much is talent rather than luck remains to be seen, but the signs of a great racer are all there.
This has also carried over into her pilot skills, as training with her father’s light freighter has made her an acceptable, perhaps even good, pilot of the much heavier vehicle. As a result, she has an official pilot’s license for light freighter craft. She has issues at higher speeds, where the reaction timing of the larger freighter is much different to that of a small swoop bike.
She has basic mechanical understanding – enough to patch an engine and tamper with minor modifications. She could probably repair a smaller ship given a few months and a user’s manual.
She speaks both Huttese and Basic without any real issue. She reads and writes in both languages.
Report on known combat experience, training and weapons training.
Only the very basics have been taught to Cora, and as such she is proficient enough with a blaster pistol to assure her father she can “take care of herself”. She has never fired at a live target.
She is athletic and relatively strong, but does not have fighting technique beyond watching shockboxing on the holonet.
Does the Courier have, or have they ever had, a bounty on them? Are they wanted?
No.
Detailed notes on common/favored employers and any noteworthy contacts.
Arrel Vane
Her father and main employer, Arrel Vane owns and operates a small merchant office under the name Vane Trading & Logistics. He both sponsors his daughter’s racing habit, and employs her in his business as a pilot, warehouse technician, and courier. Cursory investigation into Vane Trading & Logistics suggests that they have a steady supply of odd-jobs and transportation gigs in and out of the Corellian Sector. They have no established long-term contracts and appear to be going at it day-to-day.
Niko Vane
Cora’s older brother by five years, and previously the main pilot and worker in their father’s business. Niko appears to have a recurring problem with keeping out of trouble, and his constant ensnarement in different underworld schemes and Cartel business have led the family to officially distance themselves from him. Despite this, he appears to interact with his family (and Cora) on a regular basis and there appears to be no friction beyond his voluntary exile from the family business.
Talik Vane
The youngest member of the family is Talik, Cora’s younger brother by four years. His attempts to follow in his sister’s footsteps proved less than fruitful, and now he mainly works in the small warehouse and fills in with loading and other tasks that need doing. Does his best to bask in the reputation of his family, whether that be whatever small fame Cora can earn, or ferocious stories about his ‘violent criminal’ older brother, which more than once has led to issues for other family members. The kid loves a good story.
Detailed notes on known rivals and enemies.
Qir-Zavu Osk
A weequay swoop racer of some repute in the Nar Shaddaa racing scene, having made headway in official circuits and sponsorships. Placed second in the most recent Sel’Von Swoop Circuit Tournament, being beaten by Cora Vane after a few run-ins and minor rivalry bouts on minor circuits. What was an amicable rivalry of competitive spirit has since heated up to anger on his part, allegedly badmouthing Cora in local cantinas and racing hangouts. Rumors suggest he is connected to the Cartel in some way, although how much pull he has is unclear.
Joxel Trask
A small-time criminal operating out of the Sapphire Veil Casino in the Corellian Sector with a minor crew and gang connections. Inextricably linked to Cora through previous friendship and romantic relations, her choice to remain on the straight-and-narrow with her father’s business and focus on her racing career meant the end of their connection, but not for lack of trying on his part. Joxel presents a different front and switches freely between ally, rival, and enemy depending on his mood, jealousy and reminiscing of the past.
’Honest’ Ruzii
A long-time rival of Cora’s father, a quarren merchant who dabbles in transportation, security solutions and over-the-counter bulk sales. He has traditionally competed with Vane Trading & Logistics on many occasions, and has a reputation for threatening his competition or making sure they cannot compete in other ways. Is not beyond hiring thugs or stealing from others, and only seems to keep in line when the fallout of such actions would be too great. While he has no direct quarrel with Cora, he finds her as despicable as her father, and considers her an enemy of free trade because of her decision to stay with the business.
List and description of other known associates.
Jal Ersk
Her old raceway mentor, an older Corellian man with some renown around the Nar Shaddaa racetracks. Though he doesn’t race anymore, he has considerable breadth of knowledge about both the sport, machines, and the inner workings of the Smuggler’s Moon. He has tucked away the daredevil spirit and retired to cantinas and easy enjoyment. How he stays afloat is anyone’s guess.
Dubra Jell
A rodian mechanic with a long list of misdemeanors and consistently indebted to one Cartel member or other, Dubra Jell is nonetheless one of the main personalities contracted to work on the family business’ equipment, both their transport vessel and Cora’s own swoop bike. She works a whole garage of gear-heads that take care of the real work, but has the know-how to get things done when it matters.
List of known belongings, including but not limited to planetary surface property, civilian and military vessels, vehicles, weapons, tools.
Aggressor
Cora’s swoop bike, the Aggressor, is her most prized possession, and the result of significant investment of time, credits and sweat on both her and her family’s part. Originally an off-brand Lhosan Industries copy, it has seen so many upgrades, modifications and complete replacements of the shell that it is arguably no longer anything like the original model or specs. It drives very fast, with excellent handling for a swoop, and features soft-fold wingflaps for air-braking rather than standard repulsor-brakes. It can lift from the ground with a burst of engine power, and then gracefully ‘fly’ in a manner more reminiscent of controlled falling.
Spirit of Inquiry
A Dynamic-class light freighter owned by her father and registered to the family business. It is kept in a reasonably maintained state for it’s age, but the old girl has definitively seen better days. The starboard turret has been unmounted due to damage prior to the current ownership, and the port turret has never actually been fired by the Vane family. It works, allegedly. Mostly used for cargo runs and passenger shuttling, the freighter is fairly barebones, save for a few family trinkets that have personalized the main hold and starboard bunks over the years. The ionic impulse compensator chokes and threatens to kill the engine at the most inopportune of times, but the regular mechanic, Dubra Jell, assures the family that it’s fine. The craft isn’t exactly owned or even always available to Cora, but she does have access to it’s use and sometimes frequently finds herself in the pilot seat.
Vane Trading & Logistics
A watershed warehouse in the neglected half of the Corellian Sector, this accommodating mess of workshop halls and lodging pulls triple duty as a storefront, a warehouse, and living space for the Vane family. Cora has her own bunk in a tight crawlspace, plastered with posters and racing memorabilia.
Cora usually has a few multitools and slap-patches close at hand in case of vehicular breakdown or medical emergency. While on the clock for her father, she carries an old hold-out blaster for protection.
Psychological evaluation of Courier.
Cora is a speed demon, and the desire to chase that thrill, and win, appears to be in her blood. She is level-headed enough under pressure to make quick decisions and socially apt enough not to fly off the handle around others. She relishes a challenge, and spends much time practicing and training to better herself at whatever new problem lies before her. She handles most situations with stoic professionalism, and generally tries to be cordial – if competitive – towards her rivaling racers, as well as anyone else she meets. She is, like many with the Corellian spirit, fiercely protective of the family unit. The blood runs thick, and she is quick to help those she includes in her circle of family and friends.
List and description of known and suspected flaws. To be put into restricted database.
Notably, her family ties are a source of weakness for Cora. Her father has racked up an impressive list of problematic deals, debts and enemies over the years – as any trader trying to make it on their own on Nar Shaddaa – and his troubles easily spread onto his daughter. Likewise, her older brother Niko has a knack for angering gangers, crime bosses, and debtors on the smuggler’s moon, and they do not always discriminate between family. Lastly, her younger brother is hot-headed and eager to live up to his siblings; he almost inevitably ends up in the middle of trouble by his own making. That would be trouble enough, but coupled with Cora’s strong sense of familial loyalty, she will answer any call for help from her family without fail. Someone who wanted to go after her could certainly get her exactly where they wanted, with a little motivation from the family.
Furthermore, Cora is extremely proud of her climbing achievements in the world. She considers her reputation part of her own worth, and her accomplishments proof of her competence. She has issues turning down challenges, competitions, or letting insults go. While she has good control of her emotions in general, she has issues with dropping a perceived slight, and generally wants to beat her opponents into the ground, usually by besting them at their own game. So far this has really only been racing. Pushed enough, she would surely snap harder.
Thirdly, Cora is confident bordering on reckless, and her competitive spirit pushes her to take risks – in racing, in shortcuts on the cargo route, in gambling. She likes danger, even if she doesn’t admit it. What started as thrill-rides and sneaking around at night has become dangerous choices for better results, taking on tougher odds, and betting on the underdog.
Known interests of the Courier.
As a swoop racer, Cora’s main interest can squarely be placed in swoop racing. She loves the life of speed and danger, and the mix of trash-talk and celebration with her competitors. She can trace the same enjoyment in piloting a craft, but it usually doesn’t go fast enough. Or close enough to hazards.
She also enjoys gambling in all it’s forms, and is an avid dejarik player in her past-time.
She frequents cantinas and casinos in the Corellian Sector and seems to splurge for higher quality entertainment when she can.
Major achievements on record.
Third place in the Lhosan Limited Cup on Nar Shaddaa, 4 ATC.
Winner of the Sel’Von Swoop Circuit Tournament on Nar Shaddaa, 5 ATC.
Major failures on record. Confidential.
Last place out of twenty-eight in the Annor Fele Memorial Circuit swoop race on Nar Shaddaa, 3 ATC. The Aggressor, Cora’s swoop bike, stalled after a reckless boost through a plume of smoke to shave seconds off her time. While Cora managed to keep from crashing, it took her almost a full minute to get the engine under control, leading to a result that may as well have been a disqualification.
Cora lost a shipment of medical supplies contracted for delivery onto the smuggler’s moon. According to witness accounts, her old contact Joxel Trask had been resuming relations for a time, and was seen around the docking bay when Cora landed. Cora has to this day refused to say exactly what transpired, and theories range from her working with criminal elements to disperse the supplies, to her simply being robbed. The supply shortage severely impeded a local clinic, terminated future relations with the client, and put her father’s business into temporary debt until insurance handling came through.
Personal biography, as detailed by the subject for future record. Acquired shortly after last achievement of note.
Cora had the average life of a kid in the bad half of the Corellian Sector. At least that’s what she had always thought. Mother left the picture when her little brother was three, doctor said she didn’t have it in her to go on. She’d been pale for a while, and Niko told her later that she’d been coughing blood. Father struggled to keep it together. Three clawing kids running around the industries and making trouble with merchants and gangers.
Somehow, he kept them going. Food kept coming in, even if Cora remembers going hungry sometimes. They all started helping young. Niko and Cora had to help raise Talik, and they took turns watching and helping their little brother and causing mischief around the neighborhood. Cora practiced her reading by reading little Talik stories about ancient heroes and news articles from the holonet.
The older she got, the more she had to help with father’s business. Father managed to grow his network, more people said hello on the street, local vendors traded favors and discounts with a smile. She left it to Niko to be the scion of the family. He knew how to talk to people better than she did – he was older after all – and he was growing up to be just as good as father at this merchant gig. Maybe better, even. He didn’t argue or get sour like father did.
When she was twelve, Niko took her to a swoop race for the first time. He didn’t really take her there; she tagged along with him and his friends. It was love at first sight. The speed. The thrill. The danger. Just watching, and later – thinking about it – sent Cora into a spiral of excitement. She snuck out to watch the races often after that, and her holo-movies took a very distinct turn.
It didn’t take her long to branch out. There were many kids like her. Many star-struck speed devils. Some of them had family who raced, or worked with speeders. Cora got involved. She got to sit on a speeder bike. After that, it was destiny.
Niko started vanishing more and more, as he got older. More excuses. More late-night knocks on the door from shady gangers. More bruises. As a result, Cora shouldered more responsibility in the shop. In return, she could spend ever more of her free time at the circuits. She learned, mingled, and trained.
Eventually, she was old enough to learn for real. She does not remember now, but she must have badgered her father about it every day for at least three months, until he finally gave in. She started practicing for real, with a teacher; Jal Ersk. It was a simple paid affair, but the more she practiced the less it became a formal tutorship. The old man thought that she was good. Real talent. If she trained – she could win. This realization did not go over well at home, at least not at first.
Around the same time, Cora entangled herself for real in the underbelly of Nar Shaddaa’s average youth. Just as Niko had done. She met Joxel. He was funny, clever, confident. He told her she should be able to do whatever she wanted. It was an easy match. Together, they tore through more of Vane Trading & Logistics reputation in a week than a bad deal would do in a month.
The compromise was simple. Her father needed more of her time at home, in the shop, and eventually, in the sky. He didn’t want her vanished for days at a time, like her older brother. So he encouraged her racing. He came to watch her practice. Encouraged a few friends to pitch in for a celebration when she won her first practice circuit. In the end, he too was convinced that she had a real shot at something. She was rapidly gaining recognition from her family, from her friends, from her trainer. She could be a contender. Her rise to success was further cemented when her father proved his dedication for her career, investing in a swoop bike as her first official sponsor.
Her first real race was the Annor Fele Memorial Circuit. She had practiced the circuit. She had done hundreds of small-time races for the enjoyment of traders, tourists, cartel folk even. This was a real race. The pressure got to her. She made bad calls. She let the praise get to her head. She failed. A total wash. She nearly put away the racer spirit for good. Her father taught her how to fly for real, got her a pilot’s license. Talik was old enough to help out like she had done now, but Niko wasn’t around to fly anymore.
Eventually her father, her brothers, and her trainer convinced her to stay at it. In all honesty, it didn’t take long to put her back on the bike. There was another big race around the corner. She had a few months to practice. To tune the engine so the same thing didn’t happen again. Cora pulled out all the stops. Her swoop bike got a full makeover, a considerable investment from father, her own saved money, and some from acquaintances.
She came in third. It was enough to prove to herself that she had it. The talent, the skill. It was in there, waiting to come out and make her famous. Free of the average. Cora put in the time, devoted herself more and more to her racing. She even sought out the unofficial races, built some credibility with private entertainers and corporate interests. When the next big race, a whole tournament, rolled around, she was ready.
Everything came together. Her form was good. The bike was excellent. The track sang under her repulsorlift drive.
She could hardly believe it when the time proved she had advanced. Again and again, she pulled excellent times. In the end, it was her name at the top of the board. Her legacy had just begun, and the name Vane was not just a middling transport business. It was power.
She wanted more.
Edit: Fixed a name.
1x Laugh
