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Description

I’m a princess cut from marble, smoother than a storm

And the scars that mark my body, they’re silver and gold

My blood is a flood of rubies, precious stones,

It keeps my veins hot, the fire's found a home in me

Name: Vayea (VAY-yuh)
Name origin: n/a (I made her name up lmao)
Nickname(s): Vay

Gender: Female

Rank: Leader of Air Empire

Species: Caracal (caracal caracal)

Age: 7 years, 3 months old
Starting age: 2 years old
Joined Empire at: 1 year 6 months old

Size: Length - 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the shoulder
       Weight - Approx. 45 pounds
            Note: She is slightly bigger than the average caracal due to her father, who was massive

Born in: Very early spring (March 20th, 52BCE)

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Voice: Charlize Theron (aka Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road)
Vayea's voice can be described as rather deep and rich, not really feminine but not at all manly.

Songs: "The Mother We Share" - CHVRCHES
                        "Yellow Flicker Beat" - Lorde

{{Personality:}}
[Silent] [Intelligent] [Fierce] [loyal] [Optimistic] [Worrisome]

[S i l e n t]
"..."
Vayea is actually quite mellow. She enjoys anything calm and quiet, and is often silent herself simply because she grew up that way. This caracal prefers to listen rather than speak, absorbing information and remaining attentive. However, she doesn't mind company. A lot of the time Vayea appreciates the presence of another. Vay doesn't particularly find it hard to completely open up to other felines, rather she would prefer to speak of personal issues to cats that she trusts nearly completely. Despite her quiet nature, Vayea will not hesitate to speak out if she must or if the time calls for it, as it is her duty to do so. She also has quite a sarcastic side to her if she is comfortable with those around her.

[I n t e l l i g e n t]
"...And so, I will attack the deer so that it will move straight towards you two, who will be laying in wait to ambush, attack, then take it down. Make sure that you..."
Her brain being one of her most powerful assets, Vayea relies on her wits to analyze a situation and come to a correct conclusion. Whether dealing with strategies to take down prey or how to deal with bounty hunters, she will try her very best to think of ways to benefit the safety of her empire. Of course, she isn't always right with her decisions. She does try her hardest to observe a situation from every angle, though sometimes she can act on impulse. Over analyzing is quite a weakness for the caracal.

[F i e r c e]
"I am not afraid of you, nor will I ever be!"
Despite her mellow attitude, when provoked Vayea can easily turn into one tough fighter. What she lacks in size she makes up with stamina and speed, landing quick and calculated blows to her enemies. She will fight for what she believes in, and will not hold back.

[L o y a l]
"It is my duty to protect you."
Ever since she first came to Air Empire, her loyalty to her home has become stronger and stronger by the day. Vayea will not hesitate to put her life on the line for her leader, as well as her fellow gladiators. She sees her empire as her family, and will do anything to protect it. She is respectful to those younger and older than her, no matter what rank or position.

[O p t i m i s t i c]
"Hahaha! You will certainly become a great gladiator, I am sure of it!"
Vay can be pretty upbeat when she wants to be. She has confidence in herself and her fellow empire mates, which can show during hunts or when she is comfortable and sure. She tries to look on the bright side of situations, not only for herself but for those around her as well.

[W o r r i s o m e]
"Do you think you'll be okay? Please, allow me to send someone to accompany you. Please."
Vayea is one of those cats that will pace back and forth when she's worried. When she gets this way its very difficult to take her mind off of whatever it is that's bugging her. She has a habit of concerning herself with the fact that she might over analyze a situation, which is something she heavily fears. This aside, the leader likes to stick around the healers den not only to chat with Ash, but to make sure the healers have everything they need for the sick or injured. She cares immensely for the safety of each member of the empire.

{{Background:}}

>>>>>>Past:

{{Spring has arrived}}

Vayea's story begins with a dream. A group of humans wanted to produce the most genetically perfect caracal cubs using one of Massilia's favorite caracal warriors paired with a very beautiful female who's pelt was light and rare.
Her mother never told her much about her father, only that he was a seasoned fighter that was much older than her when they met. Vayea's mother, Herema, was a breeding cat due to her pure and magnificent cream colored pelt. While she was light in color, she was also light at heart as well. She cared for and loved all of her cubs equally. The humans, however, hoped that the two would produce the most ideal litter with Herema and this seasoned fighter that would grow to be some of the strongest and most beautiful caracals seen in the pits.
She was born with two other siblings on the very first day of spring, a time of rebirth and renewal. The snow was finally starting to melt and the sun was just beginning to become noticeably warmer. Despite this, it was not warm inside the cage where the small family was kept. With no windows and no sunlight to pour through, the air in the enclosed space was dull and chilled.
The first thing Vayea remembers is the light fur of her mother. It was warm, despite their living conditions. Her mother's voice was smooth as honey, and just as sweet. Herema often sang to her little ones and told them stories about the outside world that was full of green instead of gray.

{{But winter isn't over yet}}

One night, activity awoke the mother from her sleep, her cubs wiggling around restlessly. There were many human shouts and roars from what she guessed were Bounty Hunters. There were a group of escaped cats that had broken free of their chains and cages from the outside. Herema's heart beat quickened, what could she do with a group of three 2 month old cubs? She couldn't escape with all of them if she somehow broke free. Her thoughts were cut short as a loud roar echoed through the dusty chamber full of cages. A massive lion charged down the stairs, and one by one, smashed through the chains that held the cage doors shut. "Get out! Everybody, move move!" He bellowed as the newly free cats darted outside. Herema watched with wide violet eyes as the dark lion reached her cage, the last one in the dark room, her children pressed to her. "I'm gonna get you out of there, and when I do, you need to run as fast as you can" The lion said sternly and calmly. "I can't!" Herema protested, "I will not risk my cubs' lives, I wouldn't be able to keep all of them safe out there" She added, standing firmly. The lion looked between her and the cowering cubs under her. "I'll take two, you take the other." He said before smashing the chains with his armored shoulder. "Now go! We don't have much time!"
He scooped up two little caracals in his maw as gentle as he could before bolting out of the chamber. Vayea happened to be one of the two cubs that the lion grabbed, and all she could remember was the look in her mother's eyes as she followed him with her other sibling in tow. All around them, humans and Hunters fought to contain the escaped cats. Some were bleeding heavily on the floor, others were fleeing towards the gates. Vayea could feel the lion panting as he leaped and bounded towards the city gate, nearly there before a hunter barreled right into him. She lost visual of her mother as the lion roared, releasing the caracals from his grip and tumbling into battle with the equally large feline. Vayea and her sibling darted away in different directions, running as fast as they could. Vayea tried to get her bearings, but she had never seen this outside world. She had no idea where to go, where was her momma? The little caracal began to panic, tears forming in her eyes. She mewed and cried for her mom, but Herema was nowhere in sight. She dodged claws and teeth as best as she could, still running, before noticing a horse-drawn wagon close by. She darted to it and hopped on the back, hoping to gain a better view. Suddenly, the cart lurched, and Vayea was thrown off balance into bags of seeds. It began to move out of the city of Massilia, through the gates and away from everything Vayea had known.

{{And the rebirth begins}}

Somehow she had fallen asleep, suddenly realizing that she wasn't awoken by her mom's purring. The wagon had stopped, and now it was daytime. Vayea heard voices of humans, and immediately began to panic again. Where was she? Without thinking, she bolted from the sack of seeds she was hiding in, much to the surprise of the two humans, and ran as fast as she could.
Of course, she couldn't get far with a bunch of humans and grabby hands everywhere. So, she was picked up by a man who happened to raise cats for breeding. He saw that she had lots of potential, even at a young age, to grow to be a healthy caracal that can bear equally healthy cubs. So, he brought her to where he kept his breeding cats and tossed Vayea in with a rather old female leopard named Phoebe. The small cub was frightened out of her wits, but the leopardess tried to sooth her and keep her calm over the next few days. Phoebe had birthed and raised many cubs in her life, and was just as gentle as Vayea's own mother had been. After awhile, she grew to trust this new friend of hers and began asking questions. Where were they? Where was her mom? Phoebe answered that they were in a city called Arausio, a smaller town surrounded by rivers, but truthfully stated that she had no idea where her mother was. Vayea's heart fell, she missed her mom. But she was glad Phoebe was watching over her, it could be worse right?

{{While some things still reach for warmth}}

Months went by, many months, and Vayea had indeed grown to be a healthy young caracal. She accepted her fate of becoming a breeding cat, though she didn't like it, she had no other choice. At this time she had nearly reached the breeding age of 2 years at 1 and a half years old. Though she hadn't really left her owner's small encampment of cages other than once in a blue moon, she just wanted to see what was out there, remembering her mother's words of the outside world. The various sized cages were set outside under a makeshift overhead tarp, and everyday Vayea dreamed of someday escaping the grip humans always seemed to have on her life.
After all this time had passed, her friend Pheobe became too old to bear healthy cubs. Vayea was worried, she had seen once before what their owner does to old felines who cannot breed anymore. Phoebe reassured her from her cage, which was now separate as Vayea now had her own. One late night, the caracal paced her small space, unable to think clearly. She had to find a way to escape with Phoebe and the others.
A stroke of luck came her way as their owner along with his friend came towards the cages, obviously drunk. The cats stirred, uneasy. The owner, barely understandable, assured his friend that his cats could do tricks and were as obedient as they come. The friend had wagered to him that this was not true, and with that, the owner fumbled with Phoebe's lock first. Vayea watched as he did this, her heart racing as an idea formed in her mind. She caught the eyes of Phoebe, pleading silently to not move or do anything rash just yet. The leopard nodded slightly, hopping from her cage as the owner opened the door. She painstakingly tried to understand what he wanted her to do, remaining still when he held up the palm side of his hand and laying on her belly when he pointed to the ground. His friend however, argued that Phoebe was one of his oldest cats. He pointed to Vayea's cage, a challenge in his voice. The owner laughed nervously, walking over to her cage to again fumble with the lock and key. The caracal again caught eyes with Phoebe, nodding once subtly. The other cats around them were restless, kneading their paws on the metal floors of their prisons. Vayea lightly stepped out, placing one paw after the other on the cool dirt floor. She flicked her violet eyes to the nearby leopardess, who was seated. "Run" a caged cheetah mewed softly. "Run" said another lioness. "Run!" Vayea shouted, and again, found herself running as fast as she could. She glanced behind her, Phoebe right behind her tail and their owner shouting trying to run after them. The young caracal almost laughed. Finally! They were free!! The exit of the town came into view, and Vayea could nearly taste the outside world. All those dreams, her mother's stories...they were all about to come true!
A yowl broke through the mostly silent air. Vayea slowed to look behind her, startled at what she saw. There was her friend, shot in the leg by an arrow of a guard. She moved to return to the bleeding leopard, attempting to lift her heavy body with her own weight. "No, no, you have to go" Phoebe panted, cringing. "Go!! Go!" She urged as another arrow landed in the dirt, barely missing her flank. Another whistled past her ear. She placed her friend back down gently, tears freely flowing down her face. Vayea licked her cheek as they whispered their goodbyes, and bolted past the gates of Arausio.

{{And with determination, will find it}}

That night was full of running. She ran, and ran and ran some more. Over a bridge, past another town, through trees, under fallen logs. Vayea ran until she couldn't anymore. As the sun lifted into the sky, an odd scent caught her nose. Other cats have passed through here, and a lot of them at that. Too exausted to think or worry about who or what was out there, the young caracal collapsed where she stood, her breathing slowing and the sounds of the forest growing much, much louder.
When she awoke, she was not in a cage. No, far from it. Her eyes fluttered open as a white tigress stood over her with a gentle smile. The tigress told her where she was, a place called Air Empire. Vayea stood from the bed of moss and leaves, confused. Slowly she walked towards the mouth of the cave, her jaw dropping in awe. Felines of all kind passed by her, the sky was wide, no walls, no cages.
Her dream had finally become reality. She was free.

>>>>>>Present (RP history)
After a month of being named Silver Gladiator, things didn't go as smoothly as she thought it would. A group of Bounty Hunters made their way onto Air Empire soil, aiming to capture Velafor to bait Valon into coming quietly with them. Here is where she first faced off with Caelina the jaguar, attacking the large cat head on. With a yowl and a roar, she gashed Caelina's right eye, blinding it permanently. What resulted was victory. Victory! Air Empire still had all of their felines safe and sound and the Hunters ran with their tails between their legs off of their territory. The caracal was ecstatic, maybe even a little naive. She can and will protect her empire fully and without fail.

Nope, not even close.

((To be continued!))

{{Armor and Items:}}
Armor: Vayea's armor is made of slates of silver that are made especially light, yet strong enough to protect her. Her shoulder plates are layered in threes for further protection, and for the option of ramming into her enemy with less harm done to her. These plates are carved and painted with a light blue hue simply for design. The wings and arrows painted on the biggest pieces on her shoulders and her arm halters are reminders that she needs to stay quick on her feet. Also serve as symbols for being in Air Empire.
Thick, blue-dyed silk hold the plates together. Darker blue leather are under her plates for comfort and style.
Five aquamarine stones are wedged on her harness, the biggest in the center.

Items:
-Her cloak, which can be attached to the rings on her harness or worn by itself as a warm scarf. She sometimes uses it as a hood when moving silently isn't a factor. ((Worn mostly during winter or just to have something on around camp))
-Her helm, made from the same silver as the rest of her armor but dyed darker and made to be a bit more heavy. Antlers of a young buck are sealed extremely tight to the very top of the helmet. The actual helm piece is made to look like a deer skull, though it is made completely with metal. Between the eye holes are two sapphires given to her by Spurius. One is a regular, slightly transparent gem while the top gem is a star sapphire with 6 rays splayed across. Thick leather straps fasten together to hold tightly to her head. ((Will only wear to gatherings or when she knows she will go into an attack))

{{Traits and Appearance:}}
Dominant: reddish-brown coat [Aa], ear tufts [AA], muzzle markings [AA]

Recessive: violet eyes [aa], thicker tail [aa], continuous body stripe [aa]

Carrier: stubby tail [Aa], brown hair tuft [Aa], light cream coat [Aa]
*These traits cannot be seen!

Vayea's pelt is a reddish brown, a common color for caracals. She has a thick brown stripe starting on her nose that runs down the length of her back down to her tail. Her belly and toes are a light creamy color, not white! Her natural eye color was a deep purple before she was scarred. Now her irises are a grayish purple, with her pupils a darker color. Her ear tufts are a bit short for her age.

{{Wanted Status!!:}} Vayea is wanted by the bounty hunters for her trickery, as well as her intelligence of the Air Empire. Capturing her won't be easy; she is quite cunning and speedy. Being the leader, taking on Vayea is basically taking on the whole empire.
Wanted alive

{{Fighting skills:}}
When in action, Vayea transforms into the complete opposite of her usual quiet nature. She is not afraid to take charge if the time calls for it, and is known for her smarts rather than her strength. Shes hard to catch, with her agile movements and swift thinking, she could disappear just as fast as she could reappear. Though she is small, her jaw is powerful. She can deliver nasty bites without hesitation.
She is not at all strong, in fact close combat is something she tries to avoid. Vay prefers to use her opponent's weight against them if they are significantly larger than her. If her enemy is around her size, she just might have to resort to close combat.
Vayea has taken a liking to ram her opponents with her layered shoulder armor, and can now ram head first with her shiny brand new helm to deal lots of booboos and owies.
Her downfall is her sense of sight. She cannot see very clearly at all from far away, but the few feet in front of her are just a bit better. Vay relies on her other senses, especially auditory. She uses her hearing to "see", such as how far away something is, and fill in the gaps that her sight leaves. Therefore, if her opponent is loud and obnoxious and won't shut up with snarky remarks, it just makes it that easier for her to take them down. She's learned another useful skill from her apprentice, Homer, as he uses clicking to "see" using echolocation. Vayea has begun to use this skill as well, but not to the full extent just yet.

{{Relations:}}
Blood Family:
Mother: Herema , breeding cat NPC --living status: unknown--
Father: Cerus , colosseum fighter NPC --living status: unknown--
Siblings: (paternal half sister) Zinnia , Bounty Hunter --living status: alive--

Maternal Cousin: Roxanne , Gladiator of Lightning Empire --living status: alive--
Let me know if you would like your character to be related to Vayea!

Adopted Family:
Daughter: Aela , Gladiator of Air Empire --living status: alive--
Son: Homer , Apprentice of Air Empire --living status: alive--
Son: Alexandros , Blacksmith Apprentice of Air Empire --living status: alive--

Mate: Spurius
Cubs: Son -- Paris
       Daughter -- Faye

Past mentors: none
Current apprentice: Homer
Past apprentices: Asteus, Jazmin, Aela

Go here to view Vayea's relationships!

{{Empire Statistics:}}

Empire Points: 255 total EP
Base Stats: (cannot exceed 50 total)
Stealth: 7
Intelligence: 9
Strength: 4
Defense: 4
Speed: 9
Stamina: 10

{{Interesting Facts}}
- Vayea's mother was named after the Greek primordial deity Herema, goddess of light. She was given this name because of her unusual lightly colored fur.

-Though caracals are excellent climbers, Vayea is actually uneasy when it comes to heights. She would rather lay low in bushes than climb trees. The only high place she is comfortable with is Sky's Peak. But even then, she doesn't stick there very long.

-Ever since Vayea received the scars across her face from Caelina, she has become way more self conscious of herself. She doesn't like to look at her reflection, and tries to forget that her scars are even there. Vayea, of course, tries to hide this insecurity. She's beginning to get over this thanks to Homer. That, along with the fact that she's grown from the young Silver Gladiator she once was.

-Vayea can leap up to 11 feet straight into the air

-As she ages, she will slowly lose more and more of her eyesight

-She has always seen everyone in Air empire as her family. She sees importance in making sure her empire mates are safe, and will go through many many lengths to make sure they feel that way. (Fun fact: right before she became leader and Avita was captured, she paced the perimeter of camp nearly every night as the empire slept)

-----
Art and character (c) notadonkey

Description

I’m a princess cut from marble, smoother than a storm

And the scars that mark my body, they’re silver and gold

My blood is a flood of rubies, precious stones,

It keeps my veins hot, the fire's found a home in me

Name: Vayea (VAY-yuh)
Name origin: n/a (I made her name up lmao)
Nickname(s): Vay

Gender: Female

Rank: Leader of Air Empire

Species: Caracal (caracal caracal)

Age: 7 years, 3 months old
Starting age: 2 years old
Joined Empire at: 1 year 6 months old

Size: Length - 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the shoulder
       Weight - Approx. 45 pounds
            Note: She is slightly bigger than the average caracal due to her father, who was massive

Born in: Very early spring (March 20th, 52BCE)

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Voice: Charlize Theron (aka Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road)
Vayea's voice can be described as rather deep and rich, not really feminine but not at all manly.

Songs: "The Mother We Share" - CHVRCHES
                        "Yellow Flicker Beat" - Lorde

{{Personality:}}
[Silent] [Intelligent] [Fierce] [loyal] [Optimistic] [Worrisome]

[S i l e n t]
"..."
Vayea is actually quite mellow. She enjoys anything calm and quiet, and is often silent herself simply because she grew up that way. This caracal prefers to listen rather than speak, absorbing information and remaining attentive. However, she doesn't mind company. A lot of the time Vayea appreciates the presence of another. Vay doesn't particularly find it hard to completely open up to other felines, rather she would prefer to speak of personal issues to cats that she trusts nearly completely. Despite her quiet nature, Vayea will not hesitate to speak out if she must or if the time calls for it, as it is her duty to do so. She also has quite a sarcastic side to her if she is comfortable with those around her.

[I n t e l l i g e n t]
"...And so, I will attack the deer so that it will move straight towards you two, who will be laying in wait to ambush, attack, then take it down. Make sure that you..."
Her brain being one of her most powerful assets, Vayea relies on her wits to analyze a situation and come to a correct conclusion. Whether dealing with strategies to take down prey or how to deal with bounty hunters, she will try her very best to think of ways to benefit the safety of her empire. Of course, she isn't always right with her decisions. She does try her hardest to observe a situation from every angle, though sometimes she can act on impulse. Over analyzing is quite a weakness for the caracal.

[F i e r c e]
"I am not afraid of you, nor will I ever be!"
Despite her mellow attitude, when provoked Vayea can easily turn into one tough fighter. What she lacks in size she makes up with stamina and speed, landing quick and calculated blows to her enemies. She will fight for what she believes in, and will not hold back.

[L o y a l]
"It is my duty to protect you."
Ever since she first came to Air Empire, her loyalty to her home has become stronger and stronger by the day. Vayea will not hesitate to put her life on the line for her leader, as well as her fellow gladiators. She sees her empire as her family, and will do anything to protect it. She is respectful to those younger and older than her, no matter what rank or position.

[O p t i m i s t i c]
"Hahaha! You will certainly become a great gladiator, I am sure of it!"
Vay can be pretty upbeat when she wants to be. She has confidence in herself and her fellow empire mates, which can show during hunts or when she is comfortable and sure. She tries to look on the bright side of situations, not only for herself but for those around her as well.

[W o r r i s o m e]
"Do you think you'll be okay? Please, allow me to send someone to accompany you. Please."
Vayea is one of those cats that will pace back and forth when she's worried. When she gets this way its very difficult to take her mind off of whatever it is that's bugging her. She has a habit of concerning herself with the fact that she might over analyze a situation, which is something she heavily fears. This aside, the leader likes to stick around the healers den not only to chat with Ash, but to make sure the healers have everything they need for the sick or injured. She cares immensely for the safety of each member of the empire.

{{Background:}}

>>>>>>Past:

{{Spring has arrived}}

Vayea's story begins with a dream. A group of humans wanted to produce the most genetically perfect caracal cubs using one of Massilia's favorite caracal warriors paired with a very beautiful female who's pelt was light and rare.
Her mother never told her much about her father, only that he was a seasoned fighter that was much older than her when they met. Vayea's mother, Herema, was a breeding cat due to her pure and magnificent cream colored pelt. While she was light in color, she was also light at heart as well. She cared for and loved all of her cubs equally. The humans, however, hoped that the two would produce the most ideal litter with Herema and this seasoned fighter that would grow to be some of the strongest and most beautiful caracals seen in the pits.
She was born with two other siblings on the very first day of spring, a time of rebirth and renewal. The snow was finally starting to melt and the sun was just beginning to become noticeably warmer. Despite this, it was not warm inside the cage where the small family was kept. With no windows and no sunlight to pour through, the air in the enclosed space was dull and chilled.
The first thing Vayea remembers is the light fur of her mother. It was warm, despite their living conditions. Her mother's voice was smooth as honey, and just as sweet. Herema often sang to her little ones and told them stories about the outside world that was full of green instead of gray.

{{But winter isn't over yet}}

One night, activity awoke the mother from her sleep, her cubs wiggling around restlessly. There were many human shouts and roars from what she guessed were Bounty Hunters. There were a group of escaped cats that had broken free of their chains and cages from the outside. Herema's heart beat quickened, what could she do with a group of three 2 month old cubs? She couldn't escape with all of them if she somehow broke free. Her thoughts were cut short as a loud roar echoed through the dusty chamber full of cages. A massive lion charged down the stairs, and one by one, smashed through the chains that held the cage doors shut. "Get out! Everybody, move move!" He bellowed as the newly free cats darted outside. Herema watched with wide violet eyes as the dark lion reached her cage, the last one in the dark room, her children pressed to her. "I'm gonna get you out of there, and when I do, you need to run as fast as you can" The lion said sternly and calmly. "I can't!" Herema protested, "I will not risk my cubs' lives, I wouldn't be able to keep all of them safe out there" She added, standing firmly. The lion looked between her and the cowering cubs under her. "I'll take two, you take the other." He said before smashing the chains with his armored shoulder. "Now go! We don't have much time!"
He scooped up two little caracals in his maw as gentle as he could before bolting out of the chamber. Vayea happened to be one of the two cubs that the lion grabbed, and all she could remember was the look in her mother's eyes as she followed him with her other sibling in tow. All around them, humans and Hunters fought to contain the escaped cats. Some were bleeding heavily on the floor, others were fleeing towards the gates. Vayea could feel the lion panting as he leaped and bounded towards the city gate, nearly there before a hunter barreled right into him. She lost visual of her mother as the lion roared, releasing the caracals from his grip and tumbling into battle with the equally large feline. Vayea and her sibling darted away in different directions, running as fast as they could. Vayea tried to get her bearings, but she had never seen this outside world. She had no idea where to go, where was her momma? The little caracal began to panic, tears forming in her eyes. She mewed and cried for her mom, but Herema was nowhere in sight. She dodged claws and teeth as best as she could, still running, before noticing a horse-drawn wagon close by. She darted to it and hopped on the back, hoping to gain a better view. Suddenly, the cart lurched, and Vayea was thrown off balance into bags of seeds. It began to move out of the city of Massilia, through the gates and away from everything Vayea had known.

{{And the rebirth begins}}

Somehow she had fallen asleep, suddenly realizing that she wasn't awoken by her mom's purring. The wagon had stopped, and now it was daytime. Vayea heard voices of humans, and immediately began to panic again. Where was she? Without thinking, she bolted from the sack of seeds she was hiding in, much to the surprise of the two humans, and ran as fast as she could.
Of course, she couldn't get far with a bunch of humans and grabby hands everywhere. So, she was picked up by a man who happened to raise cats for breeding. He saw that she had lots of potential, even at a young age, to grow to be a healthy caracal that can bear equally healthy cubs. So, he brought her to where he kept his breeding cats and tossed Vayea in with a rather old female leopard named Phoebe. The small cub was frightened out of her wits, but the leopardess tried to sooth her and keep her calm over the next few days. Phoebe had birthed and raised many cubs in her life, and was just as gentle as Vayea's own mother had been. After awhile, she grew to trust this new friend of hers and began asking questions. Where were they? Where was her mom? Phoebe answered that they were in a city called Arausio, a smaller town surrounded by rivers, but truthfully stated that she had no idea where her mother was. Vayea's heart fell, she missed her mom. But she was glad Phoebe was watching over her, it could be worse right?

{{While some things still reach for warmth}}

Months went by, many months, and Vayea had indeed grown to be a healthy young caracal. She accepted her fate of becoming a breeding cat, though she didn't like it, she had no other choice. At this time she had nearly reached the breeding age of 2 years at 1 and a half years old. Though she hadn't really left her owner's small encampment of cages other than once in a blue moon, she just wanted to see what was out there, remembering her mother's words of the outside world. The various sized cages were set outside under a makeshift overhead tarp, and everyday Vayea dreamed of someday escaping the grip humans always seemed to have on her life.
After all this time had passed, her friend Pheobe became too old to bear healthy cubs. Vayea was worried, she had seen once before what their owner does to old felines who cannot breed anymore. Phoebe reassured her from her cage, which was now separate as Vayea now had her own. One late night, the caracal paced her small space, unable to think clearly. She had to find a way to escape with Phoebe and the others.
A stroke of luck came her way as their owner along with his friend came towards the cages, obviously drunk. The cats stirred, uneasy. The owner, barely understandable, assured his friend that his cats could do tricks and were as obedient as they come. The friend had wagered to him that this was not true, and with that, the owner fumbled with Phoebe's lock first. Vayea watched as he did this, her heart racing as an idea formed in her mind. She caught the eyes of Phoebe, pleading silently to not move or do anything rash just yet. The leopard nodded slightly, hopping from her cage as the owner opened the door. She painstakingly tried to understand what he wanted her to do, remaining still when he held up the palm side of his hand and laying on her belly when he pointed to the ground. His friend however, argued that Phoebe was one of his oldest cats. He pointed to Vayea's cage, a challenge in his voice. The owner laughed nervously, walking over to her cage to again fumble with the lock and key. The caracal again caught eyes with Phoebe, nodding once subtly. The other cats around them were restless, kneading their paws on the metal floors of their prisons. Vayea lightly stepped out, placing one paw after the other on the cool dirt floor. She flicked her violet eyes to the nearby leopardess, who was seated. "Run" a caged cheetah mewed softly. "Run" said another lioness. "Run!" Vayea shouted, and again, found herself running as fast as she could. She glanced behind her, Phoebe right behind her tail and their owner shouting trying to run after them. The young caracal almost laughed. Finally! They were free!! The exit of the town came into view, and Vayea could nearly taste the outside world. All those dreams, her mother's stories...they were all about to come true!
A yowl broke through the mostly silent air. Vayea slowed to look behind her, startled at what she saw. There was her friend, shot in the leg by an arrow of a guard. She moved to return to the bleeding leopard, attempting to lift her heavy body with her own weight. "No, no, you have to go" Phoebe panted, cringing. "Go!! Go!" She urged as another arrow landed in the dirt, barely missing her flank. Another whistled past her ear. She placed her friend back down gently, tears freely flowing down her face. Vayea licked her cheek as they whispered their goodbyes, and bolted past the gates of Arausio.

{{And with determination, will find it}}

That night was full of running. She ran, and ran and ran some more. Over a bridge, past another town, through trees, under fallen logs. Vayea ran until she couldn't anymore. As the sun lifted into the sky, an odd scent caught her nose. Other cats have passed through here, and a lot of them at that. Too exausted to think or worry about who or what was out there, the young caracal collapsed where she stood, her breathing slowing and the sounds of the forest growing much, much louder.
When she awoke, she was not in a cage. No, far from it. Her eyes fluttered open as a white tigress stood over her with a gentle smile. The tigress told her where she was, a place called Air Empire. Vayea stood from the bed of moss and leaves, confused. Slowly she walked towards the mouth of the cave, her jaw dropping in awe. Felines of all kind passed by her, the sky was wide, no walls, no cages.
Her dream had finally become reality. She was free.

>>>>>>Present (RP history)
After a month of being named Silver Gladiator, things didn't go as smoothly as she thought it would. A group of Bounty Hunters made their way onto Air Empire soil, aiming to capture Velafor to bait Valon into coming quietly with them. Here is where she first faced off with Caelina the jaguar, attacking the large cat head on. With a yowl and a roar, she gashed Caelina's right eye, blinding it permanently. What resulted was victory. Victory! Air Empire still had all of their felines safe and sound and the Hunters ran with their tails between their legs off of their territory. The caracal was ecstatic, maybe even a little naive. She can and will protect her empire fully and without fail.

Nope, not even close.

((To be continued!))

{{Armor and Items:}}
Armor: Vayea's armor is made of slates of silver that are made especially light, yet strong enough to protect her. Her shoulder plates are layered in threes for further protection, and for the option of ramming into her enemy with less harm done to her. These plates are carved and painted with a light blue hue simply for design. The wings and arrows painted on the biggest pieces on her shoulders and her arm halters are reminders that she needs to stay quick on her feet. Also serve as symbols for being in Air Empire.
Thick, blue-dyed silk hold the plates together. Darker blue leather are under her plates for comfort and style.
Five aquamarine stones are wedged on her harness, the biggest in the center.

Items:
-Her cloak, which can be attached to the rings on her harness or worn by itself as a warm scarf. She sometimes uses it as a hood when moving silently isn't a factor. ((Worn mostly during winter or just to have something on around camp))
-Her helm, made from the same silver as the rest of her armor but dyed darker and made to be a bit more heavy. Antlers of a young buck are sealed extremely tight to the very top of the helmet. The actual helm piece is made to look like a deer skull, though it is made completely with metal. Between the eye holes are two sapphires given to her by Spurius. One is a regular, slightly transparent gem while the top gem is a star sapphire with 6 rays splayed across. Thick leather straps fasten together to hold tightly to her head. ((Will only wear to gatherings or when she knows she will go into an attack))

{{Traits and Appearance:}}
Dominant: reddish-brown coat [Aa], ear tufts [AA], muzzle markings [AA]

Recessive: violet eyes [aa], thicker tail [aa], continuous body stripe [aa]

Carrier: stubby tail [Aa], brown hair tuft [Aa], light cream coat [Aa]
*These traits cannot be seen!

Vayea's pelt is a reddish brown, a common color for caracals. She has a thick brown stripe starting on her nose that runs down the length of her back down to her tail. Her belly and toes are a light creamy color, not white! Her natural eye color was a deep purple before she was scarred. Now her irises are a grayish purple, with her pupils a darker color. Her ear tufts are a bit short for her age.

{{Wanted Status!!:}} Vayea is wanted by the bounty hunters for her trickery, as well as her intelligence of the Air Empire. Capturing her won't be easy; she is quite cunning and speedy. Being the leader, taking on Vayea is basically taking on the whole empire.
Wanted alive

{{Fighting skills:}}
When in action, Vayea transforms into the complete opposite of her usual quiet nature. She is not afraid to take charge if the time calls for it, and is known for her smarts rather than her strength. Shes hard to catch, with her agile movements and swift thinking, she could disappear just as fast as she could reappear. Though she is small, her jaw is powerful. She can deliver nasty bites without hesitation.
She is not at all strong, in fact close combat is something she tries to avoid. Vay prefers to use her opponent's weight against them if they are significantly larger than her. If her enemy is around her size, she just might have to resort to close combat.
Vayea has taken a liking to ram her opponents with her layered shoulder armor, and can now ram head first with her shiny brand new helm to deal lots of booboos and owies.
Her downfall is her sense of sight. She cannot see very clearly at all from far away, but the few feet in front of her are just a bit better. Vay relies on her other senses, especially auditory. She uses her hearing to "see", such as how far away something is, and fill in the gaps that her sight leaves. Therefore, if her opponent is loud and obnoxious and won't shut up with snarky remarks, it just makes it that easier for her to take them down. She's learned another useful skill from her apprentice, Homer, as he uses clicking to "see" using echolocation. Vayea has begun to use this skill as well, but not to the full extent just yet.

{{Relations:}}
Blood Family:
Mother: Herema , breeding cat NPC --living status: unknown--
Father: Cerus , colosseum fighter NPC --living status: unknown--
Siblings: (paternal half sister) Zinnia , Bounty Hunter --living status: alive--

Maternal Cousin: Roxanne , Gladiator of Lightning Empire --living status: alive--
Let me know if you would like your character to be related to Vayea!

Adopted Family:
Daughter: Aela , Gladiator of Air Empire --living status: alive--
Son: Homer , Apprentice of Air Empire --living status: alive--
Son: Alexandros , Blacksmith Apprentice of Air Empire --living status: alive--

Mate: Spurius
Cubs: Son -- Paris
       Daughter -- Faye

Past mentors: none
Current apprentice: Homer
Past apprentices: Asteus, Jazmin, Aela

Go here to view Vayea's relationships!

{{Empire Statistics:}}

Empire Points: 255 total EP
Base Stats: (cannot exceed 50 total)
Stealth: 7
Intelligence: 9
Strength: 4
Defense: 4
Speed: 9
Stamina: 10

{{Interesting Facts}}
- Vayea's mother was named after the Greek primordial deity Herema, goddess of light. She was given this name because of her unusual lightly colored fur.

-Though caracals are excellent climbers, Vayea is actually uneasy when it comes to heights. She would rather lay low in bushes than climb trees. The only high place she is comfortable with is Sky's Peak. But even then, she doesn't stick there very long.

-Ever since Vayea received the scars across her face from Caelina, she has become way more self conscious of herself. She doesn't like to look at her reflection, and tries to forget that her scars are even there. Vayea, of course, tries to hide this insecurity. She's beginning to get over this thanks to Homer. That, along with the fact that she's grown from the young Silver Gladiator she once was.

-Vayea can leap up to 11 feet straight into the air

-As she ages, she will slowly lose more and more of her eyesight

-She has always seen everyone in Air empire as her family. She sees importance in making sure her empire mates are safe, and will go through many many lengths to make sure they feel that way. (Fun fact: right before she became leader and Avita was captured, she paced the perimeter of camp nearly every night as the empire slept)

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Art and character (c) notadonkey