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13:35, 3rd May 2024 (GMT+0)

Shiori

Name: Shiori
Nickname: The pen name, Irene Golden.
Species: Demigod
Gender: Fluid, though defaults to female with She/Her pronouns.
Age: Late 60s
Lineage: Anansi (West Africa) / Aunt Nancy (Caribbean)
The Physical
Height: 5'
Weight: 100 lbs
Hair Color: Silver
Eye Color: Golden Brown
Distinguishing Features:

All of Shiori’s hair is naturally silver, the same color as her webbing. Although she prefers to retain a human appearance,  her true form bleeds through in times of stress and excitement. Multiple eyes, arms and fangs all lie beneath the facade of an unassuming woman.  Her hair and clothes always have the smell of fragrant smoke.

Physical Description:

It’s hard to discern Shiori’s age at first glance. Her small stature makes her look more youthful than she is, yet the silver hair covering her face makes it easy to mistake her for elderly. Maybe the trick is intentional. Upon closer look, Shiori has gaunt features and tired, golden eyes. Her skin is dark umber and peppered with pale freckles. Although she isn’t very impressive in stature, her body courses with lean muscle from acrobatics and training alongside her partner, Meihua Yang. Although she stopped aging when she was 30, scars from past wounds remain even decades later.

Shiori prefers conservative clothing such as long skirts and sleeves, though she adorns herself in more extravagant accessories such as nose rings, black lipstick, long nails, and is especially fond of big coats she can drape over herself like a child does a security blanket. Sometimes, she ties her natural hair into a head wrap, but silver coils always escape. She is the sort to wallow in the same t-shirt for as long as she doesn’t have to leave the home, and she can hole up indoors for an unhealthy amount of time. Her favored colors are black, purple and gold.



Under The Hood
Personality:

Shiori is a quiet and gloomy woman with a rich interior life. She prefers books, games and solitary activities to socializing with others. Traveling with Meihua Yang has made her more outgoing, though she still covets her alone time. Although she keeps to herself, she is no way shy, and speaks her opinions freely. Shiori does not like being told what to do and has a scathing tongue and wit. It’s almost scary to watch the meek-looking woman speak so crudely. Although introverted and cynical, Shiori has a strong sense of humor, especially gallows humor. She loves works of satire and admits her works are romantic farces, parodies and raunchy affairs. As someone who suffers from depression, she intimately knows laughter is the strongest medicine. She is also a strong proponent of self-care (taking breaks, playing a game, est.)  because she knows how easy it is to burn yourself out.

Strengths:

Shiori is open minded and easy-going, the sort of person you can get comfortable with. She loves a good story, and is the sort of friend you can vent to for hours. A thoughtful and wise soul, her strong sense of justice and truth ignites her relentless determination.

Weaknesses:

Pride is a vice that runs in the family. Shiori is well aware of how clever she is and takes great pleasure in outsmarting others, from simple games to all out war. Her ego in terms of ability can blind her, and when faced with defeat, it deeply compromises her self-worth. Vengeance is her greatest indulgence, and she will hold a grudge for a life time, even to her own detriment.

Talents
Mundane Skills:

Tactician – Shiori is well versed in psychological warfare and subterfuge. Her strength is not in physical battle, but in extracting information and abusing it to her gains. She also understands the importance of morality and diplomacy, both on the battlefield and in every day life.

Contortionist – Although she is not overtly strong or durable, Shoiori is an accomplished acrobatic. Not only is she flexible, she is able to use her silk and athleticism to scale architecture, sneak around, and remain unharmed in a fight. Practicing gymnastics is also very therapeutic to her, especially in high places.

Powers:

Itsy-Bitsy Spider – The blood of Anansi runs thick through her veins, making her as much spider as she is human. Like many gods, Anansi was a shapeshifter who enjoyed all manors of forms between man, woman and spider, a trait passed onto Shiori. In her true form Shiori possesses fangs, 8 eyes and limbs. Her eyesight is not exceptionally good, and they are all located on the front of her face, in the configuration of an orb weaving spider.  Shiori’s male body is almost identical to her female one, except for genitalia and a lack of breast tissue (remains 5’, 100 lbs).


Trickster – Shiori possesses illusion magic, which she can inflict on others so long as she as she is able to trigger her chosen sense. She can create illusions to mask or alter someone’s perspective of the world around them, and with the aid of props and atmosphere, simulate more compelling sensory effects. This allows her to confuse, intimidate and outwit others. These illusions can be broken by disrupting sensory trigger, immense pain, or Shiori loosing her control over the illusion.  She can equally use her illusion magic to disguise herself (any form that deviates from her human-spider spectrum, and includes changes to her eye, hair or skin color), though she will usually adorn herself in a way that complements the illusion she is making. Shiori’s illusions cannot cause someone physical harm, only affect them psychologically. However, a manipulated brain may send pain and sensation signals through the rest of the body based on perceived stimuli.


Society Info

Length Of Time In Asphodel: 5 Years

Questions:

1. Rumor has it that a new sect of cultists, loyal to the New Gods, has begun kidnapping and sacrificing children, in exchange for blessings. You've just witnessed one of these kidnappings. How do you react?

I use this opportunity to follow the cultists and discover their secrets. I want to know where they worship, if there is a pattern to the children they kidnap, and if they are sacrificed on the spot or kept somewhere. Hopefully, I can save the child too, but I can’t promise they’ll come away unscathed.

2. You've just witnessed a group of Resistance sympathizers ransack a temple built in honor of Breya, the patron goddess of Asphodel. What do you do?

Although not a smart choice, I can’t help but enjoy the sight. I use my illusion magic to ensure their get-away, as well as entertain myself.

3. You've been captured and thrown in a cell by city guards, under suspicion of conspiracy with traitors, with the Resistance. Despite whether you are or are not affiliated with the traitors, a group of New God loyalists (humans) has you cornered in your cell. What do you do?

I’ll be cooperative and give them no reason to suspect me. Once their guards are down, and I’ll weasel my way into their minds with my bag of tricks, either the easy way or the hard way.

4. You've heard rumors of an Old God living beneath the city. Do you delve into the tunnels in hopes of finding it, ignore it and go about your business, or report the rumors to the city guard?

They say curiosity killed the cat, but they should say the same about spiders. I’ll make sure to go searching with an offering befitting a God, like Yang’s chocolate chip cookie recipe.

5. What brought you to Asphodel, and how have you fared since moving to the city?

I came searching for Resistance connections, with the hope of reclaiming at least some of what I’ve lost. Since loosing Yang, I’ve felt so alone, but the friends and comrades I’ve made since has eased the pain a little.

Occupation:

Romance Novelist & Bookstore Owner. Much of her work is unpublished, usually essays on topics of interest and extensive diaries (and the Book of Stories) where she keeps her investigative journalism. She anonymously sends her serious work to sources that will accept it and sometimes to places that will just be infuriated.  She writes infamously absurd (and raunchy)  tales under the pen name, Irene Golden. They are just bad enough to make her enough money to live on, though by no means luxuriously. To stay afloat, she runs a small, hole-in-the-wall bookstore where resistance members can gather. It is protected by her illusion magic, making it difficult to find without proper direction.

Organizations/Factions: Jund & Asphodel Resistance

The Juicy Bits
Backstory:

Anansi’ s true power lies in stories, theirs of which has spread all across Africa, influencing tales of spiders who weave fate and destiny into the fabric of reality, from India to Japan. Their influence followed the slave trade to the Americas, where they became the trickster and revolutionary, Aunt Nancy. Perhaps it was Anansi’s ability to weave a good tale that has kept them alive in the hearts of mortals for so long, even in the world of the New Gods. Anansi stood against Typhon’s brood, not in battle, but by whispering tales of revolution and praise for the Old Gods into the ears of mortals, observing the New God’s and their weaknesses from the shadows. When the army of the Old Gods fell at the Island of Rhodes, Anansi knew their approach would have to be more drastic. Anansi was sought out by the New Gods and their loyal followers, determined to eradicate the last of the Old Gods. Anansi was pursued across Africa and Asia by paladins of the New Gods, one of which would become their consort. After a decade long pursuit, countless encounters and battles, Anansi was unable to kill the paladin. The two eventually laid together, Anansi in the form of a beautiful woman.

Having betrayed the New Gods, the paladin took to wandering, and soon after laying with Anansi, became ill. He sought out sages who still clung to the ways of the Old Gods in the mountains of Asia. There, wise women revealed he was not sick, but pregnant. For 9 months he constructed a cocoon-like structure to give birth to Shiori in, most likely in the form of an egg, as she did not emerge for another 2 months. Fearing a monster, the paladin was surprised to find a healthy, human infant. Shiori was kept hidden for most of her youth by her father. He knew the agents of the New Gods would one day come for them, and when Shiori was 17, they did. Shiori and her father escaped, but the village of her youth was burned to the ground, and Vennic’s image was erected in the ashes. Knowing there was no use in running from Vennic and his half-siblings, Shiori set out to fuel the fires of revolution, and from afar, Anansi was pleased.

The first member of Shiori’s resistance was the mortal, Meihua Yang, a baker who’s incredible stature and strength made it difficult to live among other humans, especially ones who saw his power as the stain of an Old God. He, who had never met another like him, begged for Shiori to become his teacher. They traveled together for many years, facing the monsters unleashed by the New Gods, and narrowing escaping the clutches of their cultists. The pair soon became inseparable, and found others sympathetic to their cause, emboldened by Shiori and charmed by Yang's kindness. Nearly 20 years into their quest, and the pair had become figures of leadership in Jund’s resistance, as well as life partners. However, Yang’s body was broken in battle against Vennic’s demonic agents, and never recovered fully. The warrior fell into despair, and tormented by his pain, Shiori left to seek a cure. His heart was broken by her abandonment, and he threw himself into recuperation. Although he became strong enough to walk again, it was clear his fighting days were over. With Shiori’s prolonged absence, their home was left vulnerable and Vennic launched a surprise attack. Yang and the resistance managed to hold the monsters back, but Yang's body could no longer handle the toll of battle, and his soul was taken to Nyktho’s underworld. When Shiori returned, and learned of Yang’s passing, she vowed avenge him, no matter the cost. She has since been hot-listed as a revolutionary and demigod in Jund, forcing her to make a swift retreat. She eventually settled in Asphodel to make connections with the local resistance group, hoping to contribute to their cause, as well as serve her own ends. She has been acting as an agent of the resistance of Asphodel for 5 years.



Relic:

Shiori possesses the Book of Stories, bestowed upon Anansi by the supreme creator, Nyame, after successfully completed three impossible trials. Anansi however, realized it was unwise for one man to hold all stories, and released them into the world. Now, the book only contains the knowledge that Anansi and his bloodline put into it. The book can be summoned in a simple ritual, which requires a bound book of some kind and the blood of Anansi placed on the paper. Once anything is written on a page in the book, it remains forever, even if the physical book itself is destroyed, or removed from Shiori’s possession. The “Book of Stories” does not exist in the physical world and can only be accessed by Anansi’s bloodline. If a notebook used in this ritual is stolen, it will appear blank to anyone who tries to read it. If Shiori writes in one notebook and performs the ritual on another, all her former entries will appear. All information stored in the book is summoned in the ritual, and pages continue, indefinably, for as long as there is content. However, as the god of stories, most of Anansi’s accounts are fiction, spinning exaggerations and half truths. Extracting information requires extensive study, translation, or even solving a riddle to decode the secrets within.

Like Anansi, Shiori had to complete three trials (concocted by Anansi) and become worthy to access the book. She sought it out after the death of Meihua Yang, hoping it may contain secrets to entering the underworld, bringing back the dead, and defeating the New Gods. After all, Gods only exist because of stories. Perhaps they are the secret to their undoing.