Daybreak App

[norangeskill]

PLAYER INFORMATION

NAME: Grif
CONTACT: Grifstar, Grif#1704
OTHER CHARACTER(S) IN GAME: Hat Kid/Puella, Emizel

CANON INFORMATION

CHARACTER NAME: Kali Coh
CANON: Original. FFXIV character and very much retired Champions Online character (where she first came from), but is only loosely based on both for the sake of this AU.
HISTORY: N/A. Follows basically just the main story of XIV as I never quite developed anything much beyond that yet, and Champions background is even less existent.

STRENGTHS:
- Tabletop JRPG protagonist. Does things for the greater good (most times), or simply for the amusement/thrill of it. Pretty easy motivated to go on adventures if there's something worthwhile by the end. She does border kind of close to the 'Jerk with a Heart of Gold' trope in that while most things she does is for herself, injustice and other people suffering can make her stand up for them. Doing stuff for free just because they need it more than she does.
- Surprising Fast Thinking. Though definitely, definitely not smart (see flaws), impromptu skills are kind of through the roof. Her style of combat has made her pretty flexible and so she's well aware of what physical limits she has. If danger comes her way she's usually about 3 steps ahead with how to avoid it. Either that or she is incredibly lucky that most of her plans actually work, given that they seem impractical and haven't been tested even once.
- Survival Skills? What little background Kali does have was that she was mainly a scruffy, roguish loner before prior to XIV MSQ. Without much family she had to do basically everything on her own; figure out what things are edible, shelters to make, how to deal with specific monsters, street smarts, etc. And despite her many mistakes and fumbling she's managed to pull it off pretty well without anybody to learn it from. Always looking for more and strives for it, but can live off of little. It's not her proudest strength and she hates it, but it got her this far. And it's why Fortune and Adventure™ are always big motivators because the more she can forget that old life, the better. (Until it turns out, being the WoL means having a fuckton of responsibilities instead. It's not exactly the best trade off but not worth discussing here.)

FLAWS:
- Cat. Can be fussy, temperamental, moody, or petty. Especially if she can't get what she wants. A little too persistent. Selfish.
- Not Actually that Bright. Should not be trusted with anything too complicated and impulsively makes bad decisions constantly...before finding some way to wiggle out of it. If there's something very shiny or interesting on top of a tree or cliff, she will climb up there to get before thinking she will also need some way to get back down. If there's treasure guarded by some scary monster she will go right in and then realize "hey maybe I don't have the skills for this". Those sorts of things.
- Trigger Happy. If Kali gets mad, punches are thrown. It's pretty simple. The only times she doesn't do it (thankfully) is if she obviously stands no chance of winning or it will cause an even bigger mess.


CANON ABILITIES:

In XIV: Your standard WoL flair. Monk main so therefore plenty of punching and kicking, complaining about Greased Lightning stacks, and occasionally the chakra button. Can change to any other classic Final Fantasy job. Has the Echo which is the XIV MacGuffin for exposition visions, communication with just about anyone, and Primal slaying capabilities. Is also besties with like....several nations and ancient, all powerful beings.

In Champions: Martial arts again but with claw/fist weapons or legit claws. Had various stages of transformations, her normal catgirl form was balanced, furry weretiger mode for tanking, and a berserk mode that was kind of a mix the two and range offensive. Could also shoot green fire.

AU INFORMATION

AU CHARACTER NAME: Kali Coh. ...At least that is what she files the papers with.
AGE: Around the 70-90 year range, not very old at all by Fae standards. Looks to be early to mid 20s when transformed.
GRADE: Grad student. Presumably came back when finding out the school needed more watchdogs (or cats) to keep students safe. Especially those able to work all hours of the day and not look too suspicious while doing it. Could also do some TAing but pray that she never has to substitute.


AU BACKSTORY: Over a millennia or so ago, a tribe/clan of fire cats migrated out of the Outlands due to their corner of the realm becoming to desolate to live (Even by Outlands standards). They settled deep in the middle of Japan as it had practically everything they ever needed, and decided pretty early on that they would live along side rather humans than hunt them. Complications did eventually arise with their true forms causing panic, thus they began to learn of shapeshifting ways to hide themselves better. This works for a very long time, but to this day there is still stories of demonic, tiger sized cats lurking in the fields and mountains. Or guardians depending on who you ask.

The sun and daylight are very important symbols to them, so when Nightfall began to loom ever closer, they did their own part to work on protecting their home. It was only after hearing from passing mages and hunters that they learned about Daybreak. Many cats volunteered to go, to see a lot more of the world and to help globally; Kali was one of those. Because if the sun is blotted out forever and all the humans die, what else is there left?

And so some cats enrolled into Daybreak, to see what it was like and the rest of the world while at it. Kali was one such one, though it is amazing that she somehow managed to graduate at all, given that academics has never really been her thing. But apparently she loved the experience enough to even consider coming back, right when they seemed to need it.

AU PERSONALITY DEVIATION: In some ways she has leveled out personality-wise, but in others she has doubled down more on being nonsensical, though it's harder to tell now if it's real or just an act. Despite her age she is part of a newer generation of cats and has stayed more in touch with how humans are like this day and age, which has lead to them learning stuff like the internet and memes (and anime). So of course they know everything about how the world love cats, and they can get away with literally anything. And they will absolutely use this to their advantage.

Kali loves humans so much, they are very amusing and entertaining and bring her gifts, and that's why she doesn't want to see them go. Even if she absolutely mess with them at any moment possible. Because it's funny.

Her serious side only really shows when it's upmost necessary, typically in conjunction with her true form. In many cases she is like a completely different person when it happens (or cat, or whatever), which is probably just a result for being around long enough. She is not knowledgeable on world topics, but she is more so aware what the supernatural one is capable of. Even if the status of the Outlands is far beyond her too.

Other favorite pastimes include laying around in the sun, tearing up furniture, climbing trees, and chasing mysterious tiny red dots.

RACE: Fae/Yokai, a variation take on the bakeneko/nekomata, and possibly distantly related to other Fae feline types as well.
SECRET SOCIETY: Though not affiliated with them, Hunters have certainly crossed paths with Kali's tribe multiple times. Other societies are welcomed to have heard about them too, at varying levels of hostility.

POWERS: One of Kali's main features is the ability to shapeshift, namely the change between her actual form to an ordinary looking house cat. Transforming into a human is kind of more complicated and difficult to pull off, as it is for the rest of her tribe members. Only the eldest have perfected it, while the rest can only go as far as minor imperfections like tails and ears - Although these days it can pass off as very convincing cosplaying. Some of them have even attended conventions!

Fire is also a pretty common skill of hers, but it is kind of more of a physical(biological?) trait than a magical one. Fur and claws can radiate flames, possibly have a fire breath.

Some fire is possible as a human but resemble more like really weak fire spells, at least at the time of this app. Transforming in and out of forms creates flames too (for an additional flair, no pun intended). And changing hands to claws is another common form of offense.

It is also safe to assume that Kali is quite strong physically. Far more than she looks at any rate. The 'being able to lift things 2-3 times her own weight' variety.

HOUSING: Available for RAing!

RP SAMPLE
A Sample may be any of the following:

► A group of threads totaling 10 comments in the TDM between at least two characters, with each thread having at least 3 comments from your character
► A one-paragraph in-character first person informal sample and three-paragraph in-character third person narrative sample
► Answers for at least 10 of the sample questions, found here: https://thewatchers.dreamwidth.org/1112.html


First Beta Introduction post:

WELL HELLO~ It is so good to be back! 🐾

I see that so much has changed. Since when did you get a network?! Do you have any idea how useful that would have been ages ago?

But anyway, you don't have to worry about me. I am just here to take care of a little, erm, problem. I'm sure it'll go fine.

But I am also here to answer anything any of you might have. I'll be in the common room if you need me. 😸

[Upon entering, there is was no one to be found, just a red fluffy cat that was curled up on one of the couches and already asleep. Maybe it was another floor they meant...]



Third:

Two of them, definitely daemon, the red cat thought to herself. In most other cases she would have sprung to action my now, but instead it was more interesting just to observe then from the tree. Even if she looked far from entertained by how sprawled out on the branch she was. They aren't even trying anymore...



They were most certainly the most henchmen-iest, level one daemons you could get. It's practically a miracle that they got pass through all of the other defenses at all. Or it could have something to do with their own extra small size. Scouts. No doubt about it. Looking to whisper whatever offers their master could grant to students that might be out on their luck. One of the oldest tricks.

"Would you stop--rattling the door? You're going to wake everyone up!"

"I can't help it. It's locked."

"Well of course it's locked! There's probably another way inside."

"I don't know, I don't see anything..."

"It's not going to be that obvious, you idi--GAH" the daemon jumped at a sound of curious little mew right behind him. Quite the overreaction given what it turn out to be. He sighed with relief. "Oh jeez, it's only a cat."

The second daemon kept watching, tilting his head to the side as if it might help. Indeed the cat was merely watching them back, sitting in the shadows and boping its tail on the ground with interest.

"Alright...Alright. Let's go check the wall, there's got to be some entrance there." As the daemons began to move, the cat stood back up and made a trilling noise. So eager to follow. The second daemon turned around to notice this too.

"Ah...I'm not sure if that's a..."

Then the other one stopped as well. And by doing so, so did the cat. Or at least it did for a little while. Soon the cat would take another step to close the gap. And then another. And then another.

Despite something about the cat's advances was freaking the daemons out, there was still an oddly friendly demeanor about it. At least right up until the cat walked a bit faster, then suddenly a quick sprint and a leap. Like a predator catching its prey.

The last thing either of them saw was massive jaws and sharp teeth. And then there was only darkness and silence.



Epilogue:

Kali, still very clearly a big cat, was later seen wandering just a little ways off from the campus grounds with two very traumatized, imp-sized daemons hanging limp in her mouth. As soon as it seemed like safe enough distance, she unceremoniously spat both of them out. An unpleasant experience for everyone involved, really.

And she gave them the most deadpan look.

"That was the worst I have seen. Please try better next time."

Hard to tell if they would take that offer, considering as soon as they were cognitive enough they took to their portals to get out as fast as possible.