[hider=The Enemy!!!] [center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e6/d0/8e/e6d08e2fe5b6b7e25eab3b59cfb4a94c.jpg[/img][/center] _________________________________________________________________________________________ [b]Name:[/b] Tomyris [b]Title:[/b] Queen of Scythia, Warrior-Queen of the Massagetae, Empress of the Steppes [b]Class:[/b] Archer, though can be summoned as a Lancer, Rider, or Berserker. [b]Gender:[/b] Female [b]Alignment:[/b] Lawful Neutral [b]Height / Weight:[/b] 167.8 cm (5ft 6in) / 52.3 kg (115 lbs) [b]Source:[/b] Scythia (Southern Kazahkstan), Historical Fact _________________________________________________________________________________________ [b]Personality:[/b] [indent] Her disposition varies depending on the class she was summoned as, but as an Archer, Tomyris embodies the cleverness and shrewdness of the Saka Cavalry. Although she retains her honorable nature, she is not above the use of poison, hit-and-run, or ambush tactics-- to her, these are simply tools in her arsenal with which she can do combat with. Her knowledge of these techniques is indicative of one thing: she refuses to be fooled by these ploys a second time. To her, any battle where both opponents use everything at their disposal to win is a battle well-fought, but there are lines in the sand she will not cross. In spite of the use of such tactics, her pride will not allow her to stoop to more unscrupulous means, such as the sacrifice of one's own men to gain an advantage, the taking of civilian hostages, or surprise attacks during parleys and truces. Naturally, anyone who acts in this manner earns her disdain, and she is particularly wary of those who have been known to employ such strategies in the past. Tomyris is a just, but harsh queen. She has no wish of her own, but will reluctantly accept fighting for a well-intentioned Master. Outside of battle, she is a reserved individual who prefers the simpler things in life-- her clothing is a Scythian cloak, her shoes are the hard soles of her feet, her bed is the earth, and her food is only seasoned by hunger. The Queen of Scythia enjoys spending time in wide, open spaces, and dislikes staying indoors for too long. Tomyris hates alcohol and pities those who drink, though she is no stranger to the recreational and ritual use of hashish. Lastly, she has a bit of a matronly side and is quite fond of children, though she is neither overbearing nor overprotective of them. Treat her with respect, and she will return the gesture, but woe to those who betray her trust, for the Queen of Scythia always intends on fulfilling her promises. [/indent] [b]Bio:[/b] [indent] Tomyris was the widow of a Scythian chieftain who had assumed his leadership of a group of tribes. The chieftainess also had at least one child, the ill-fated Spargapises, who commanded the first rank of horse-warriors. Meanwhile, King Cyrus I had taken command in the Achaemenid Empire (too often referred to as the “First Persian Empire”); although he had plans to expand to the south, which would bring him into conflict with powerful Egypt, he had to first secure his eastern borders, where the unpredictable Scythians (of which the Massagetae were a branch) were raising hell. Cyrus first tried the usual ploy – if you couldn’t avoid trouble, marry it. He dispatched envoys to Tomyris with an offer of wedded bliss. Tomyris, obviously no fool and realizing it was not her that Cyrus courted but her kingdom, replied in the negative. Cyrus, therefore, marched his army to the River Syr Darya; not concealing his hostile intent, Cyrus ordered boats built. No doubt he figured there’s more than one way to skin a horse. Tomyris, in turn, dispatched a message that called for a battle between the two forces (she’d also assembled her host), reading, in part, “leave your useless toil of bridge-making; let us retire three days’ march from the river bank and do you come across with your soldiers; or, if you like better to give us battle on your side, retire yourself an equal distance.” In council, the great king’s advisors recommended having at it on the Persian side. But Cyrus was convinced that a different plan would prevail. Upon the advice of Croesus the Lydian, Cyrus agreed to meet the Scythians on their side, crossing the river and marching well inland. There a camp would be established, well stocked with wines and spirits, with which the barbarians were unfamiliar. And it would be guarded by a handful, as Cyrus led his army away to the planned battlefield. But, in truth, the army would march a short ways and await the inevitable attack on the camp by the horsemen. Then, after a suitable time had passed for them to be well intoxicated, Cyrus would fall upon them and thus win the day. And so it fell out. The drunken Massagetae-Scythian rabble, led by Spargapises, were overwhelmed, losing a third of their number in minutes with most of the rest captured, including Tomyris’ son. Upon hearing of the debacle, Tomyris dispatched a herald to announce that, since he had been captured “by trickery not in the battle of strengths,” her son was to be released. Cyrus refused, and now-sober Spargapises committed suicide after convincing the king to loosen his bonds. The enraged queen gathered her horse-archers and allies, and gave battle. According to the old Greek’s account... “The following, as I understand, was the manner of it: First, the two armies stood apart and shot their arrows at each other; then, when their quivers were empty, they closed and fought hand-to-hand with lances and daggers; and thus they continued fighting for a length of time, neither choosing to give ground. At length the Scythians prevailed. The greater part of the army of the Persians was destroyed and Cyrus himself fell, after reigning nine and twenty years. Search was made among the slain by order of the queen for the body of Cyrus. When it was found, she dipped the head of Cyrus into blood and thus insulted the corpse, ‘I live and have conquered you in fight, and yet by you am I ruined, for you took my son with guile; but thus I make good my threat, and give you your fill of blood.’ Of the many different accounts which are given of the death of Cyrus, this which I have followed appears to me most worthy of credit.” And, with that, Tomyris, warrior-chieftain of the Scythians, disappears from history... as the Scythians themselves would do a few centuries later. The authenticity of this tale seems questionable... but it does make for a rousing tale of a mother’s vengeance. [/indent] [b]Weapon:[/b] [indent] Tomyris is well-known for using a [i]Scythian Bow[/i], otherwise known as a composite bow. She has different types of arrows to suit the situation, whether it is for hunting or for battle. These arrowheads are often dipped in a poison known as Sythicon. In addition, both bow and arrows are held in a special bowcase-quiver known as a [i]Gortos[/i]. [/indent] _________________________________________________________________________________________ [b]Parameters:[/b] [indent] [i]Strength:[/i] C [i]Endurance:[/i] D+ [i]Agility:[/i] B+ [i]Mana:[/i] D [i]Luck:[/i] D [/indent] _________________________________________________________________________________________ [u][b]Class Skills:[/b][/u] [list] [*][i]Independent Action C:[/i] The capacity of Servants to subsist without a Master.​ At Rank C, Tomyris is capable of remaining in this world for one day without an established contract. [*][i]Riding C:[/i] The ability to ride beasts and vehicles. At Rank C, Tomyris is capable of handling most mundane animals and vehicles with considerable skill. She can achieve difficult maneuvers with some effort.​ [*][i]Magic Resistance D:[/i] A skill that grants the Servant some resistance against spells. At Rank D, Single-Action spells are cancelled. This level of Magic Resistance is comparable to an amulet that rejects magical energy. [/list] [u][b]Personal Skills:[/b][/u] [list] [*][i]Subversive Activities D+:[/i] The talent to reduce the enemy forces in the preliminary stages, before going into battle. An expert on traps and ambushes. However, the higher is the ranking of this skill, the more one's spiritual status as a hero declines. At Rank D+, Tomyris may reduce an opponent's combat effectiveness by nearly 22.5% before combat begins. [*][i]Clairvoyance C:[/i] This skill grants a superior visual perception. It supplements long-range aiming and increases dynamic vision. Furthermore, at higher ranks, it is possible to acquire precognition and other forms of perception that are beyond normal eyesight (X-ray vision and the sort). At Rank C, Tomyris is capable of accurate aim in a four-kilometer range. She is able to track down moving targets with considerable ease. [*][i]Disengage B:[/i] The ability to withdraw from combat. At Rank B, Tomyris can usually retreat even in the most unfavorable conditions. She gains bonuses to defense while fleeing, and also has the ability to return an unfavorable battle to the first turn, along with the status of the battlers. [/list] _________________________________________________________________ [b]NOBLE PHANTASMS[/b] [hider=Noble Phantasms] [b]Title:[/b] Mrgu Mda'ef Satakewn - Bane of Immortals: Envenomed Arrowheads [b]Rank:[/b] C+ [b]NP Type:[/b] Anti-Unit [b]Range:[/b] 1-99 [b]Maximum Number of Targets:[/b] 1 [b]Description:[/b] Scythian arrowheads were small, barbed, and often laced in rancid poison called Sythicon. It was a mixture of rotten bodies of small snakes and their venom, human blood, and excrement buried in the ground until complete decomposition. The Roman poet Ovid claimed that this substance when applied to the arrowhead, “promises a double death”. [i]"I warned you that I would quench your thirst for blood, and so I shall."[/i] During her battle against the Achaemenid Empire, Tomyris had slain a number of soldiers and Persian Immortals. By the end of the battle, even Cyrus the Great himself had fallen to her arrows. His body was crucified and decapitated, and his head sealed in a vessel filled with blood. The queen had made good on her warning and fulfilled her promise. Cyrus' body was then drained of blood and mixed into another batch of Sythicon, his Divinity having a curious effect on the poison. Passively, enemies struck by her arrows take damage over time, though targets with a high END stat or Resistance to Poison are less affected by this. In addition to being agonizing and often fatal to weaker enemies, the poison itself aggravates present impurities in the target’s system, further amplifying the effects of diseases, curses, or other poisons that may be circulating within the target. At her discretion, Tomyris can invoke the name of her Noble Phantasm to release an arrow dipped in poison made from the blood of Cyrus the Great. In addition to the previous effects, this arrow works on a Conceptual level, bypassing defenses caused by blessings or general immortality. Enemies with a high Magic Resistance may be able to resist this effect, but enemies with Divinity are particularly susceptible. [/hider] [b]Fighting Style:[/b] [indent] Tomyris prefers an indirect approach when fighting, mainly striking over long distances when the enemy has no chance to fight back and evading anyone who tries to get close. Bleeding out the enemy through attrition and constant attacks, never giving them a moment of respite-- that is her strategy. She isn't cowardly, for she will bravely take on any challenge and any foe, no matter how inferior she might be to them. This is merely the most appropriate method to achieve victory at her disposal. As an Archer, she can easily attack from almost a kilometer away, the range of which can be further extended depending on both her Clairvoyance as well as external factors. Her Endurance and Agility increase when fighting defensively with allies on territory she has prepared on before. The effectiveness of her Subversive Activities skill also increases when she has faced the opponent in battle before, to represent the fact that she is bringing her full arsenal to bear, now that she has met the enemy previously. [/indent] [/hider]