Earth Pony Rain Shadow/"Talis Mane" [Ready]

[Solaria]

Name: Rain Shadow, but often uses the alias Talis Mane

Gender: Female

Age: Young Mare

Species: Earth Pony

Eye Colour: Dark Slate

Character Colour: Deep Blue-Grey

Mane/Tail/Other: Her medium-length mane and tail are both black in colour, and simply brushed straight.

Physique: Very fit and trim from regular training and exercise. Talis is of average height for a mare her age, though her normally calm stance seems to belie a sharp and fervent energy twitching just below the surface.

Residence: Most often seen wandering about the outskirts of Stalliongrad.

Occupation: Shinobi, though outwardly anything that suits her needs.

Cutie Mark:

Three water droplets spiraled into a mostly cohesive circle. Symbolizes many of her teachings that led to a cumulative enlightenment several years into her training, with the most important being: adapability, unity, a calm mind, and a spirit steeped in reflection.

Unique Traits: Talis focuses on the ancient ways of stealth and espionage, and her specialized skills reflect this. She's rather talented in the art of disguise and unseen observation. While adverse to open and direct combat, as it draws much attention she'd love to avoid in her line of work, the pony is versed in several weapons arts and employs them when absolutely necessary. Her favored arms are silent in nature.

History: Rain Shadow was birthed in an undisclosed location beyond the bustling industry of Stalliongrad, her world a near-constant of snow, ice, and jagged peaks. It was here that the young earth pony was raised and trained, born and bred to be ninpony, a shinobi. Never leaving the immediate area surrounding the collections of dark, wooden buildings that comprised her home, she was instilled with a strong sense of honor, duty, and loyalty from the time she could understand speech.

First came simple reading and writing, alongside basic exercises. Naturally Rain developed a few friendly and even competitive relationships with other colts and fillies her age, despite the rigid code of conduct that their elders imposed upon them. By normal standards she learned at a rather exceptional pace, but in a small, driven society that strove for perfection her progression was merely adequate. This didn't bother Rain Shadow, as she knew her brothers and sisters, as well as herself, had a special place and duty in Equestria and that only the best could do what they did.

As the filly grew, so too did the complexity of her lessons. Rather than practicing not to let her hooves make noise on hard surfaces, she had to move unseen through narrow, occupied corridors. There were no more haiku sessions, there was translating coded missives. Strength of mind and body, together as one, was preached to her as gospel. Unfortunately, this pillar of her society continued to elude the pony. Ultimately it would result in her downfall if she could not live that lesson, she knew. Failure was unacceptable in her eyes.

After meditating for countless long hours in the evening on the subject, Rain found she could more easily visualize her focusing issues if she equated them with the elements some of her lessons taught her about. Wind, Water, Fire, Earth... Her thoughts definitely weren't strong and steady as stone, nor were they as raging as an inferno. Wind seemed like it almost fit, but she didn't feel THAT flitty... When she came to Water, however, there was an inherent sense of calm that would envelop her thoughts.

Any time from that night onward, Rain would use aquatic visualizations to help her when she struggled in her tasks. All hurdles just became tiny ripples, eddies that were insignificant against the ocean of her passion and determination. It didn't take long for her to earn her cutie mark after that: a swirl of water droplets converging inward.

In the months that passed Rain Shadow became a full-fledged shinobi in her own right, utilizing her non-descript appearance to her advantage: she could easily pass as almost anypony or anything. She could be a beautiful countess one moment, a pauper the next. It all came naturally. She has worked in this way for quite a while now, working jobs usually set forth by rich nobles but always adhering to honor and clan first and foremost.

Character Summary: Rain Shadow is rather reserved and introverted, often choosing to turn to her thoughts rather than engage in conversation. Rather than attend a party, she'll meditate on a small island in a pond. Dinner with friends? She'd prefer writing by candlelight. This is an unfortunate circumstance of her upbringing, though she doesn't resent it. In fact, she knows that she views Equestria in a rather unique way, usually without the constraints that most ponies place upon themselves.

This objective viewpoint affects her social life, as well. To her, the path of a shinobi is shared only by her brothers and sisters within the clan, and even then it isn't about getting together for a game night. She'll only even see them if she returns to her village or if a job requires the talents of more than one of her ilk. On duty, however, she does enjoy ponies who would see good done in Equestria. Selflessness, optimism, and laughter go a long way by her even if she doesn't believe that she shares the qualities. As her duty demands objectivity and the removal of self from emotionally-charged decisions, Rain rarely judges others for less-desirable qualities. If pressed, she'll reveal that she can't stand to be around those who scheme only for their own gain without regard to those who stand in the way.

This, of course, applies only to Rain Shadow and not "Talis Mane," her alias. As Talis she can be any personality that suits her needs and tastes at the time, as she often researches a disguise long before utilizing it. In this manner, she is not unlike a very dedicated actress. Moreso than just acting, however, she must become her disguise so as to completely fool others as necessary.

Her typical clientele includes nobles, merchants, and the like (she doesn't come cheap), but she'll often do a job for less if she feels its a worthy cause, such as finding a roaming band of diamond dogs preying on less-defended settlements so that the authorities can handle it from there on out. Another might be posing as an underling of a particularly corrupt noble to try and lay them low from the inside (ill-gotten gains tend to disappear around Talis). If she suspects that her client his/herself isn't fully honest in their intentions, or discovers something abominable about them in the process of working, she'll abandon the job without ever looking back.

She will often attempt to continue with her favored pastimes even in disguise, though she'll alter them to be believable. If posing as a noble, for example, rather than meditating she'll state that she's retiring for a long relaxing bath, etc. In this manner, she can still be herself without the need to give any hints that she is not who she appears to be. Discovery and failure isn't an option, for only dishonor and shame await.

Her favorite foods are tangy, and she rather likes woodwind instrumental numbers. Her favorite colour is obsidian, and though she is an Equestrian shinobi by calling, she one day hopes to visit the lands beyond the borders. After all, trying to pass for a gryphon would be most entertaining...

Edited October 10, 2013 by Maxim

[Armony]

How is this application coming along?

[Armony]

If no comment is made saying you would like to keep this application within 5 days, this thread will be locked and removed.

[Solaria]

Working on it.

[Armony]

How's it coming along?

[Solaria]

Terribly, thank you

[Armony]

Still working on this?

[Solaria]

Indeed.

[Solaria]

Changed to [Ready].

[Bellosh]

This character sounds very cool and well-suited for CC! Although I like everything in this app so far, I feel like the Character Summary can use just a tad bit more expansion. Here are a few ways you can add to it:

• What sorts of ponies can Rain Shadow tolerate better than others? Whom would she despise?
  
• What types of individuals does your OC typically advertise her services to? Is there anyone she would refuse to work for?
  
• What are the types of missions that Rain Shadow usually takes on as a shinobi? What sorts of jobs would she refuse?
  
• Are there situations where your OC might be tempted to "break character" for whatever reason?
  

I hope my suggestions help you expand the Summary.

[Solaria]

Edited.

[Armony]

Glad to see this one getting approved, you've done some great work on this