Difference between revisions of "Mira Panikkar (WoD)"

Revision as of 23:00, 9 January 2020

SchreckNet Data File

Real/Birth Name: Mira Aishwarya Panikkar
Known Identiy/Mortal Alias: Mira Kaniyan
Place of Origin: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Height: 5'5"
Occupation: Club Owner/Crime Boss
Apparent Age: Mid-20s
Embraced: 1453
Kindred Status: Elder
Sire: Unknown
Clan: Assamite (Sorcerer)
Clan Status: Respected Elder
Sect: Camarilla
Sect Status: Primogen
Player: NPC

Appearance

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Mira is 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.

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 impressed an Assamite that fought with the invaders and she was turned to the Glory of Haqim's cause.

She 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. Like those of her bloodline, Mira excelled in Assamite Sorcery and knowledge, rather than focus on combat prowess.

Mortal Society

Mira is known to own an Indian-culture club/lounge called Kelara Spice which is quite popular due to it's 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. 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

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Combat Style

As a Kalaripayatu master, Mira is a master of both unarmed martial arts as well as melee martial arts (especially Kalaripayatu 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