Application for karteria

[pythra]

OOC INFORMATION

Name: Jade
Are you over 18?: Y
Contact: drinksteapots, disco @ jade294, PM
Other characters: none, but I put in an app for  Louis Amamiya
Permissions & opt-out: Permissions/Opt-out

IC INFORMATION

Name: Pyra/Mythra/Pneuma.
Age: unknown, but appears early 20's
Gender: F
Species: Essentially, she is basically a sentient computer crystal AI.
Appearance:

• A slender woman with an athletic build. Aside from the color of their hair/eyes, they share similar features. Their figurines, to scale, put them at 5'6".
  
• Pyra has red hair, red eyes.
  
• Mythra has golden hair and golden eyes.
  
• Pneuma has teal hair and teal eyes.

Canon point: Pre-Xenoblade Chronicles 2, 500 years after the prequel, but just before the events of the main canon.

Content warning:: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 comes with the official warnings of violence, suggestive themes, and language. The plot itself deals with human trafficking, war, genocide, and suicide.

History:

• Plot of XC2.
• plot of XC2's prequel.
  
• Wiki pages for Pyra, Mythra, and Pneuma, the most relevant to this history.

Pneuma was part of the Trinity Processor (the others being Logos and Ontos), that processed and regulated the Conduit.The conduit was a mysterious artifact of limitless, pure energy that also appeared to have reality-warping abilities. Although the processors were originally developed by humans, the Conduit bled into them. The Conduit made the Trinity Processor a mere extension of itself, granting the Trinity Processor the ability to create and regulate its own defense mechanisms, as well as grant each Processor an unimaginable amount of power-- reality-warping abilities included.

A scientist named Klaus, one who viewed the Conduit as divine, accessed the Trinity Processor. It only took one of the three processors-- Ontos-- to tap into the Conduit and sever the world, make an entirely different one, and grant the scientist godhood of the new, separate universe. Ontos also jumped to this new universe as its creator. Pneuma and Logos stayed in the original, but the world was essentially reset, the earth and its population gone. The two remaining processors were essentially shackled, severely limited in both power and autonomy by the Architect, who made himself their "Father". Under the Architect's new directive, the two processors primed the world for the lengthy emergence and evolution of species and sentient life.

Eons pass, and civilization began anew. Throughout this entire time, Ontos and Pneuma functioned as observers over the life of this new world, every data point being transferred back to them-- until one particular man, Amalthus, decided to climb the World Tree and steal both Ontos and Pneuma to the surface world. And, yes, the Architect simply let him do so.

Upon the surface of the world, the Pneuma and Logos core crystals become known as "Master Blades" or the "Aegises".

Personality answers:

1. Who in your character's canon influenced the most growth in your character? What do they think about this character?

Addam awakened the Pneuma core crystal, which took the form of Mythra. Being the first human to awaken Pneuma/Mythra under the limiting Blade system-- Addam imprinted his wishes, ideals, and fears onto her. This did not make Mythra a good person, initially; she was distant, callous, prideful, tactless, with a penchant for destruction, and a very negative view of humans. Over time, Addam's love for helping others and belief in the future curbed her original uncaring and destructive personality. He subconsciously passed the emotion of fear onto her to buffer her pride and cynicism-- the fear that she might hurt others. He taught her about humanity, altruism, and the goodness in others through example, telling her that she would become more human. He was right. Her interaction with the world, the communities of various Titans, and her traveling party made her see just how beautiful humanity could be. By journey's end, she had grown to care about the well-being of humans, and that they were worth saving from destruction. From her destruction she caused.

The grief and guilt eventually made her seal herself, thus becoming Pyra. Pyra agreed to be physically entombed and sunk to the bottom of the Cloud Sea, as she was too dangerous. As grief-stricken as Addam was from Mythra destroying an entire continent, he agreed to facilitate this.

In short, both the goodness she saw in the world, as well as the fear of destroying it, came from Addam.

2. Explain which event in canon is most pivotal to your character's development, and who they are today.

While destroying the continent and being sunk to the bottom of the Cloud Sea was significant, it was actually the wake of this that caused a change.

For 500 years, Pyra/Mythra remained in a dormant state. Within this hibernation, she was able to reflect more of her sealed memories. They, as core crystal on the earth, did not completely understand who they truly were (Pneuma). The name "Pneuma", too, was sealed from their memory, their power limited by the Architect. Yet all this time, they were aware of their destructive power; they called the Architect their Father while knowing a piece of themselves and their memory was missing. They were aware they weren't complete, that something was grossly off. Worse, their connection to the Conduit was strained, and this felt inherently wrong.

Despite this distant connection, they were also aware that their tether was even greater than that of their brother Malos, as they alone could activate the world-destroying mechanism. During this time, Pyra/Mythra concluded that they could not remain sealed forever: for the safety of the world, they must journey back to the Architect.

With their decision made, all they needed to do was wait for someone (whom they foresaw) to reawaken them. They would use this person to travel back to their father the Architect, and when they would meet the Architect once more, they would beg him to let them die. With their death, the key to destroying the world would be lost.

3. What does your character think about physical appearances? Are they the sort to meticulously primp themselves, or could they not care less?

Pyra/Mythra/Pneuma's body is a mere construct around the crystal seated upon their chest. While they can show some physical, superficial wounds to mimic being human, anything deeper reveals a state that is composed entirely of energy. Their skin, hair,  eye color, height,  gender, clothes, and adornments are all constructs. Mythra even calls Pyra a construct of her own.

So why do they choose to appear the way they do? Their outfits do not appear to be influenced from any of the various cultures found in their world. Their style does not even relate to Addam himself, the one who first awakened them. Simply put, their appearance is a personal preference. While they needn't traditionally primp themselves in front of a mirror, choosing to manifest as they do-- from the color of their hair, to their earrings, to the minute detail of an incredibly subtle brush of red at the corner of their eyes-- certainly counts as being meticulous with appearance. It is a form of self-expression, signifying their individuality; possibly one of the most human things about them.

4. What is your character most afraid of?

Pyra/Mythra/Pneuma are most afraid of destroying the world. While originally a part of the Trinity Processor, for whatever reason, they alone have the keys to activate another world-ending mechanism. For whatever reason, their brother, Malos/Logos, does not have this ability.

Pyra/Mythra not only bring the protagonist back to life to achieve this goal, but they also convince him to escort them to the World Tree, where the Architect resides. The protagonist himself wishes to save his world and speak with the Architect. Pyra/Mythra have a similar goal, but "saving" the world means ensuring their destruction-- something they omit telling the protagonist.

Inventory:

• Sword. Pyra/Mythra/Pneuma can manifest their signature swords from their crystal, but listing it here just in case!
  
• Tea. Pyra would have some tea leaves with her.

Powers/Abilities:

• Pyra, Mythra, and Pneuma wiki ability sections.
  
• Superhuman physiology, speed/strength/endurance. She can leap and fall from great heights. The Aegis's form takes that of a human; she "breathes", she can sweat, she can feel pain, and so on.
  • While her skin can be cut to show gashes and bleed, anything deep enough reveals that, internally, she is comprised of a matrix of energy: see here and here. Malos, her brother, is comprised of the same energy.
  • Since their appearance is a construct, their accessories are as well. For example, Pyra is seen offering an earring to use to use for payment as if it is nothing-- when it is a natural energy crystal worth 60k in her world.
• Shield. All the Aegises can make a barrier fashioned out of a light- hexagonal-pattern. This barrier can negate physical as well as ether/magic-based attacks. All Blades have this ability, but the Aegis's barrier has been shown to protect her from entire missile bombardments.
  
• Sword. Their sword can form from their crystal, or they can simply wield it in their hand as they see fit. They can kinetically control their sword from a distance, and if they pass the sword to another and let them use it,  they stay back and activate their Blade Arts.
  
• Seal creation. Mythra placed a seal on herself to create Pyra, essentially constructing a new AI version of herself in the process. Mythra places a seal on Ophion (her dragon-type Artifice) to circle the World Tree and create the Great Void.
  
• Artifice constructing/summon/control. The Aegis can control their Artifices remotely, which are basically space-faring giant mechs. The mechs are capable of functioning in their absence, as long as Pyra/Mythra/Pneuma give their AI an order. They can also manually pilot their Artifices. They can direct the Artifice's AI from afar. Pyra cannot access their main weapons, but Mythra and Pneuma have complete control.
  
• Tech savvy. As processors/AI that have been essentially co-opt'd by the canon's stand-in for a deity (the Conduit), they are incredibly knowledgeable about technology and software.
  • At their most powerful (Pneuma), they are able to create Artifices to protect the Conduit.
  • For another example, Mythra is able to understand the problem with the super computer/conduit known as the Omega Fetter. By merely raising her hand to it, she can diagnose its errors and fix it, although it takes her some time.
  • Information processing. This is more relevant in her canon world, but her core crystal constantly receives evolutionary data. Being inundated with this vast amount of information at all times does not impede her.
  • Information exchange. She can exchange information via their core crystal to another. She uses this information to restore another person's health (such as the protagonist's heart), or to restore a Titan to its original form. Information can also be forced from her: her brother siphons the data needed to repair his own broken crystal, as well as the code necessary to destroy the world.
• Ether manipulation. Ether = energy in canon. Blades in canon have different ether affiliations such as earth/water/fire/dark/light. Pyra's appears as fire, but it's also not normal fire like other fire-type blades, either (it can't be doused by rain). Mythra is a little more straightforward, since her energy appears as light. Pneuma's energy can automatically become any element. In canon, her power automatically becomes the opposite/weakness to an element she is fighting against, and some attacks incorporate all elements. Likewise, her power can become someone else's power to boost their own.
  
• Conduit Connection. Pneuma-specific, but we see Mythra tap directly the Conduit's destructive power in the prequel when she loses control. Merely channeling it herself grants her the power to undo anything that comes near her back into energy particles.
  
• Energy Transfer. Pyra's is the weakest transfer, Mythra is second, while Pneuma's is the strongest. This mostly manifests in the Blade Arts.
  
• Healing/revival. While Mythra and Penuma can heal a party member, Pyra cannot.  However if someone dies, Pyra/Mythra can splice their crystal to put it into them to bring them back to life. For instance, the protagonist's heart was impaled, but Pyra reconstructed his heart using her crystal. After some time, she can take back her crystal from the subject, and they'll be able to live on their own.  In her true form, Pneuma can touch someone and restore/reveal their own true forms or the forms they had once adopted before (i.e. she restores a Titan from its infant state to its former dragon-like state from 500 years ago).
  
• Core Crystal (Blade/Driver) Bonding. If someone touches their crystal, they will have the chance to bond to her if they have the aptitude, intention, and worthiness. Upon touching this, Pyra is able to know a person's heart.
  
• Encephalon/mind palace. They can construct an environment within their crytsal/mind in which to meditate. Most often, we see Elysium from her data banks. Other times, it can simply be a void.
  • Soul-harboring.. We see that Pyra/Mythra/Pneuma can transfer someone into her crystal even while their body remains in reality, whether they are dead or alive. This happens with Rex in the beginning of the game when he is killed, and Pyra takes him to a replica of Elysium. In a later cutscene, we also see that Addam's soul is also there in Elysium, indicating that she kept him in post-death.
• Foresight. Mythra/Pneuma only. They can see into the future and transfer their visions to another. More power channeled into the foresight = further into the future, with canon shows Mythra seeing 500 years forward.

Samples: Here & Here
Player Goals:
Right now, Pyra is in, well, her sealed state. Eventually, it would like her to develop to the point that she shifts into Mythra once again! I hope to play her in a way that allowed her to regain her confidence and self-assurance, and that she needn't fear herself to the point of always remaining sealed. This would be a massive character growth.
Soul Choice: 
Golem.