SchreckNet Data File
- Real/Birth Name: Mira Aishwarya Panikkar
- Known Identity/Mortal Alias: Mira Kaniyan
- Place of Origin: Aloor, Thrissur, Kerala, India
- Height: 5'5"
- Occupation: Club Owner/Crime Boss
- Apparent Age: Early-30s
- Embraced: Late Byzantine Empire era
- Kindred Status: Elder
- Sire: Jayakar Dristi Boparai (deceased)
- Notable Descendants: Idris Kamara (Childe)
- Clan: Assamite (Sorcerer Caste)
- Clan Status: Respected Elder
- Sect: Camarilla
- Sect Status: Primogen
- Player: NPC
Appearance
Mira relies on her Obfuscate Discipline to look like she did during her mortal days - an attractive woman of obvious Indian heritage. She was in good physical fitness at the time of her Embrace and has a confident bearing that gives her an imposing presence, despite being a little under average height, and which gives her an air of authority that could easily be described as a regal bearing. Her hair is long and dark, typically kept tied up in some graceful manner whilst around social company. Her eyes are equally dark brown, and she typically wears dark-coloured make-up which accentuates her natural looks and adds to her imposing presence. Around kindred (or to the perception of those with the ability to pierce her obfuscate) there is one dramatic difference - rather than the naturally dusky colour of her Indian heritage, due to Mira's age and the Assamite Curse of Growing Darkness, her skin has become unnaturally jet black. Whilst not specifically a Masquerade breach to be perceived by the kine in this way, there are few humans who naturally have jet-black skin (those that do, just as for albinos, are considered biological oddities outside the norm in a societal sense) and therefore can both raise questions or attract attention, as well as making kine uncomfortable by its unnaturalness - all things Mira prefers to avoid. Although Kindred are less affected by this, she still maintains her Obfuscate around most Kindred simple to keep them at ease, dropping the Obfuscate at Elysium, Primogen or Clan meetings, or other situations where doing so acts as a clear reminder to onlookers of Mira's age (and commensurate status).
When in formal or social situations she favours dresses of styles popular to her homeland and American-Indian communities, but casually she will either wear similarly (though more casual variants) or more western style clothing such as jeans or mid-long skirts and blouses. She is rarely seen wearing t-shirts, miniskirts, shorts or anything similar which might be considered revealing or sexy to traditional and conservative Indian sensibilities. Unless, of course, there is a specific need to. As she owns and hosts an Indian-culture club, it is common to see her wearing elegant and highly-embellished sari dresses and blouses, such as Mysore silk and Ilkal or Paithani, or Kurta/Salwar-like Choli when she will be performing a traditional dance.
Background
Mira has revealed little about her background other than that she was born to the Kalari Panicker caste and raised to be a panicker. When she was old enough she was sent to Constantinople to serve the Byzantine Empire, as many of her kind had done as part of a trade agreement between their people. She served loyally and fought in many wars - including the fall of Constantinople, which would be where she would greet death… but not be her final war. Whilst Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire, Mira's battle-prowess and tactical intellect impressed an Assamite that fought with the invaders. Believing that death was a waste of such a glorious combination of intelligence and skill (for a mortal), the Assamite decided to turn her to the Glory of Haqim's cause.
Mira states that she has served well and excelled within the Assamite clan, despite gender-bias by traditionalists, and she fought with her Clan during the Anarch Revolt which led to the Convention of Thorns and the Treaty of Tyre placing a Tremere curse on her clan; a curse that had no effect on those of Mira's specific bloodline. Although she began her unlife as a warrior, like those of her bloodline, Mira excelled in Assamite Sorcery and knowledge, which her caste allowed her to prosper in, rather than focus on combat prowess. As she often states, "In death, I found my true calling."
Mortal Society
Mira is known to own an Indian-culture club/lounge called Kerala Spice which is quite popular due to its traditional Indian menus and entertainment. Despite its profitability and popularity, it is better known in the underworld as a place where those with who have gained trust with Mira, or have the right connections/references, can obtain other services which are far more discrete, and expensive - being given access to the opium den and harem are the most commonly known of these services, especially amongst the kine, but even this is still a cover and information-gathering facility for Mira and her clan (Mira knows well that influential people tend to reveal things they should not when properly stimulated).
She Has a concealed, underground area where she trains assassins (she oversees this, but the actual training is typically carried out by others) - which she hires out to the highest bidders… and the of them are turned into ghouls for further special training and potential recruitment into the clan. Mira also acts as a hub for other assassins based in Kern county, including a rumoured secret coterie known as The Guild, comprising of kindred assassins, bodyguards, bounty hunters and similar sword-for-hires, which includes non-Assamites. It is rumoured that at least one kindred of Clan Senya as well as the infamous Toreador Tatjana are amongst those that can be contracted via Mira (which, if true, would mean the nature of the relationship between Tatjana and the Assamite clan has seemingly changed; as it is known that Tatjana murdered an Assamite that was hired to kill her, souring relations with the Assamite clan). Mira also brings in illegal weapons to sell - but these are typically only sold to those that she contracts, rather than sold openly on the black market like Boris 'The Butcher' Balagula is known to do.
Whether her legal or illegal activities, Mira herself is famous for being a highly pleasant, polite and respectful host and businesswoman, renown to have never been heard raising her voice in anger. She has also built a reputation as a woman not to be trifled with, as accidents and sudden disappearances seem to befall those who earn her ire.
Personality
The grace and outgoing personality for which Mira is famous when dealing with clients is not just an act for good business. Mira is, in fact, a naturally urbane and friendly person who lives very much for the moment. Sure, she may have been raised to be a panicker and sent off to war even as a mortal, but that just meant that she learnt quickly to embrace each day at its fullest, for on any given day a blade could make that her last. She takes enjoyment in her interests and the company that she chooses to keep and, whilst she prepares for the future, does not concern herself overmuch beyond the affairs of the day. She believes that even though kindred are immortal, that her time will come and there is little she can do about that - but she CAN do something about TODAY, and she intends to. She does what she feels is best - for herself and her satisfaction, as well as (and more importantly) for her clan and those she is responsible for.
Others have therefore described her as having two faces - that of the Deva, and of the Asura. Mira is normally amiable and friendly with all kindred, easy to get along with and seemingly a caring disposition. She is polite and respectful to everyone and enjoys their company and conversation, but the astute will note that there is a subtle air of superiority around her when dealing with those she innately considers inferior to her. This is believed to be as she is a follower of the old Path of Devaraja variant of the Road of Kings (Via Regalis), once popular with elders of the Vizir and Sorcerer castes of her clan. Followers of this path believe that there are only two roles in the world: master and servant, and that the kindred masters should be (and act) like Gods. As such, she naturally places everyone into one of these two roles (it is worth noting that there may be other "masters", ie people she would consider peers) and although the road teaches that your word is your oath and it is against the tenets of the path to treat others with disrespect (as respect must be given to be earned), it is considered a greater sin to treat those who are inferior as equals. Therefore those with understanding of her path, or the astute, will notice the subtle differences between how she treats those she considers peers and inferior in status.
Those that get in her way, however, will find that she adheres to the path belief that the divine smite their detractors, and she will crush them and make them know the error of their ways.
Other Notes
Whilst most Camarilla kindred would simply take Mira gaining the Assamites a seat in Ashford to be an astute political move, scholars with knowledge about the Assamites are keeping a wary eye as they think her actions will have serious and dangerous consequences - for her.
Although Mira has not proclaimed it in an official sense, her actively bringing the Assamites under her charge into the Camarilla marks her as an obvious proponent of the Preservationist Conspiracy - a major faction within the Assamite clan that believe that the controlling (and majority) faction the Web of Knives does not represent the best interests of the clan and has bastardised the teachings of the sacred founder, Haqim, to their own bloodthirsty ends. The Web of Knives are fanatical followers of the Path of Blood, which teaches that all non-Assamite kindred are to either be converted, or killed, whilst Mira's faction has very different beliefs.
The Preservationist Conspiracy has always operated subtly, principally amongst the Vizier and Sorcerers of the clan, but Mira has openly dragged her affiliation into the limelight. Whilst she still runs all Assamite contracts through her clan elders as is her duty (including that of The Guild) and although she has also made clear her loyalty is to her clan first and foremost, and that Camarilla membership is principally for the benefit of the clan, the fact that she has done this is an action that is considered either heresy or outright treason by the Web of Knives. Mira is walking a very fine tightrope and her actions have made her many enemies within her own clan, especially with the ruling caste and elders who see her actions as open defiance to their traditions and rules - but, at least so far, Mira has walked the line carefully and still follows the rules of the Web of Knives for the clan, so it is hard to directly act against her treason and doing so directly without more obvious evidence could cause more political ramifications as she may be seen as a martyr, possibly igniting the fires of rebellion and internal war within the clan.
Nevertheless, those in the know watch with interest to see whether extremist loyalists of the Web of Knives take action against her (likely considered "rogue" if caught, but unofficially sanctioned anyhow), or if she will build enough personal status with the Ashford Assamites, along with enough status to rely on the Camarilla for defence, to openly defy the Web of Knives and their traditional rules.
Combat Style
As a Kalarippayattu master, Mira is a master of both unarmed martial arts as well as melee martial arts (especially Kalarippayattu swords). She is also an expert with firearms and at stealth and has some degree of Celerity, although it is not a clan Discipline for her. Therefore she is quite capable of directly engaging and defeating in personal combat any kine, and most younger kindred. Against tougher kindred foes, she is capable of using her Assamite Sorcery to lethal effects, employing blood effects, using wards on her weapons that can magically harm kindred, setting targets on fire or using mental telekinesis against them. Typically, however, she would use subtler means such as poisoning targets or using her powers or skills to arrange accidents or get close to her target for a quick kill, which can then be covered up if required by her clanmates/employees.
In a protracted battle or if ambushed, she would rely firstly on her martial skill using her sword (if available) or pistol, before falling back on more sorcerous means if necessary. This gives a small window of opportunity for targets to take her out as she effectively feints in combat to gauge her opponents before bringing all her (if necessary) abilities to bear. If she thinks they are needed from the offset, she will engage with all her might, but this would rarely be done against perceived low-danger threats, which can be exploited by those who appear to not be a threat, but can have a devastating attack. Mira, ultimately, does not have the survival toughness of elders of other clans such as the Gangrels, and this can be exploited. When with allies (which is common), Mira will usually fight to support them, rather than directly attempt to eliminate the enemy herself.
Social Style
To be able to get along with Mira all one has to do is be respectful, as she firmly believes that she must give respect in order to earn respect. This is true regardless if she believes herself superior or inferior to whoever she is dealing with.
That said, status is important to her. She will expect deference from those who are inferior to her - typically in age/power or status, which can be subjective. She treats some of Ashford's Primogen with obvious respect as peers, whilst other Primogen she is respectful but obviously considers inferior to her. This does not mean she expects people to fawn and grovel before her but simply speak to her with appropriate respect, humility and decorum. Interrupting her when she talks, or openly defying her as if she was an equal will gather her ire, but appropriate eloquence and respect will go far. Those she considers peer (which are few in Ashford) can have a little more flexibility in their need to show her respect, but not be as submissive. The very limited few in Ashford that she considers her superiors she will naturally defer to, but expect to be treated with respect.
Mira does not mind being disagreed with, even by inferiors. She prefers others to speak their mind so she can be fully informed and make decisions. However, disagreements by inferiors should be voiced in appropriate ways, at appropriate times; an embarrassing rebuke by an inferior in front of peers is a good way to make her an enemy, whilst going to see her privately to respectfully point out disagreement with her, would gain her respect. But her decision is final when it comes to inferiors - she will respect their opinion and take it into account, but when she makes a decision, she expects those inferior to respect and abide by it - and those who do not are seen as problematic at best, and traitorous at best. This especially applies to those of her clan, but can also apply to those outside her clan and, whilst she may not be able to punish non-Assamites who do not do what she tells them, it will certainly never be forgotten and, in time, Mira will bring appropriate divine retribution.
Signature Equipment
- Traditional Hindu clothing
- Talwar (sword)
- Katar (punch-dagger)
Signature Quotes
- "In death, I found my true calling."
- "I just take on what I can commit to completely at that point in time, and that way I'll be able to give my best."