Pragmatic Power

Unwelcome residents
Dear Diary,

Hi I am 16 years old, my name is Arkadia. As far as I can remember it has always been just me and my dad. I grew up on Arkania, a desolate and unforgiving place, submerged in frigid weather. The only thing worse than the brutal, harsh environment was the people. You see I am an Arkanian...well sort of. I'm what they call an offshoot or a "pale" as some say. A genetically modified version of the original that spawned into a race of it's own and because of this we are seen as fakes, imposters or replicas. We are often treated poorly and aren't allowed access to the same rights and privileges as normal Arkanians. As a child things weren't so bad or at least they didn't seem so then. My father worked very long hours in a mine while I spent most of the day alone. My father told me that my mother left my father and I when I was a baby to marry some wealthy Arkanian to gain citizenship and leave her "miserable" life behind. My father had longed considered military service as it would grant us citizenship after he served for a designated term. However there is a reason more AOs don't sign up for the military. Since the government and the arkanian people as a whole care little about the welfare of AOs they are used as cannon fodder. Signing an application is like signing your death certificate with military service being close to a 78% mortality rate for AOs. I don't mind staying here as long as I have my daddy I'm happy...

Startling changes
Dear diary,

Today daddy told me he is going to join the military. He was recently fired from the mines because all of the workers were replaced with droids which require no income and can work in uninhabitable conditions. I wish he wouldn't go...I wish we could leave this horrible place and fly amongst the stars. Daddy always talks about it, about how someday we will be able to leave this place and go anywhere. He often says he will take me there someday and we can be free of this horrible place. I know we will get there someday I can feel it...

An angel
Dear diary,

.....today daddy left...I'm sad. I've been sent to the youngling care center. I don't like it here...the Arkanian kids are mean and call me many names. Even the other AO child joins in to win the approval of the others. I never learned how to talk to others, just my dad which didn't translate well with the other kids. I preferred to be alone for it was better than suffering the scorn I received from the other kids. Even though I've spent my most of my life alone I've never felt like I was. There has always been this...thing in my mind, I've never been able to express exactly what but lately it's felt stronger. My dad told me stories about these invisible powerful creatures called angels that help people. I wonder if that's what this is...maybe there is an angel watching over me...

Sameria
Dear diary,

I've named my angel Sameria. She doesn't talk to me but I talk to her sometimes. I know she's there because I can feel her presence. She saved me yesterday, I was being attacked by one of the other kids and as soon as I held my hand up he flew back. Since then the other kids won't come near me and call me a demon. I don't mind, now they don't bother me and I have Sameria to keep me company. While I dream she sometimes shows me glimpses of my father to let me know he is ok. It's strange but I can sort of feel him now. Although I can't shake this overwhelming sense of dread...

A lonely demon
Dear diary,

My connection to Sameria seems to be growing. I've been able to make myself invisible and alter my appearance. I changed the color of my skin to that of a normal Arkanian. I can look normal, no one will look at me with disgust and I can blend in. I was able to masquerade as a new arrival today and was welcomed warmly by the others. No names, no harsh remarks or dirty looks. I feel...accepted...wanted...I found myself breaking down in tears. As my concentration waned my disguise wore off and the cold curtain of reality draped over me once again. When everyone saw who I really was the look on their faces shifted from kind to horror to anger. As they glared at me they began to shout "pale demon" and tried to attack me. Sameria shrouded me as I fled from the center and ran out into the piercing Arkanian air. I had nowhere to go now and didn't know what to do. I was feeling mentally exhausted from using my powers so I wasn't able to forsee what would happen next. I was searching for shelter before fervently before dusk came or my chances of surviving the night would be minimal. Then as I turned down an alley I came across an ARC squad, a racist extreme cult hell-bent on erasing AOs from the galaxy. I quickly ran as fast as I could but they hopped on their speeders and were gaining on me. I had no options for escape so I sprinted towards the city gates. I ran through as they were closing and the speeders quickly gave up pursuit. It wasn't like I had won, they knew I had no chance to survive outside the city at night and so did I...I got down on my knees and pleaded with Sameria to help me. I felt weak and had little strength, but somehow I kept moving through the increasingly severe storm. I feel as though Sameria was guiding me, pushing me to safety. As my vision began to darken I noticed a small cave in the distance. I was able to crawl my way through the sleet and snow until I stumbled my way inside, tripping over what appeared to be a deactivated mining droid. I nestled up to it's still warm exterior and passed out. I'm still alive...

A friend
Dear diary,

That night I had a dream, of a pale man possibly a AO standing over a squad of AO soldier corpses. He had an inscription on his shoulder that had three big red letters, ARC.
Before the dream continued I was woken up by a loud sound and a sharp cry. A young arkanian dragon had flown into the cave screeching and thrashing about before curling up in the corner in fear. It had blaster marks on it as well as a vibrorang stuck in it's back. It took notice of me as it got ready to launch it's fire breath at me before I took my hood off and lowered myself to the ground to appear nonthreatening. It delayed it's attack, softly exhibiting cries of pain and fear. I slowly approached him, shushing him with my hand raised as I attempted to calm him. As I gently put my hand on his head the smoke and fire from his mouth ceased. He let out a faint before reaching back around to gnaw at the weapon still lodged in his back. I briefly tried to comfort him once more before I decisively grabbed the knife and ripped it from his flesh. He let out a loud roar as I jumped back and covered my face thinking I was about to die. I peeked through my fingers to see him staring back at me with his ears lowered. As I slowly lowered my hands he pushed himself up against me, he wasn't afraid and at that moment neither was I. I used one of my shirts to make a bandage for his wound and said goodbye. However as I went back into the mine, I sat down next to a warm droid and he followed me and proceeded to curl up next to me.
I think I found another friend, like Sameria he doesn't hate me for the color of my skin. I named him Amory...

Disturbance
Dear diary,

I dreamt the same dream again, only this time it continued. I followed the eyes of my vision until it showed me my father leaning against a hillside, clutching his chest, couching blood and saying his final words. "No...no not yet, I can't die here I can't...I can't! I have to see my baby girl!" *Cough* After crawling a few feet his strength started to leave him and his eyes began to fill up with tears. "I'm sorry baby... I'm sor..." I leapt up out of my slumber unable to stop the tears from rolling down my face. Then I stopped and gazed around and noticed that things seemed different. The storm had stopped, Amory was gone and there was a pile of dead jellyfish next to me. I was barely standing from hunger so I dived faced first into the pile of jellys, slurping down their slimy membranes. I wandered out of the cave wondering where my new friend had gone. "How long have I been asleep I muttered to Sameria?" After a few moments I heard a faint cry from overhead as I saw him flying towards me with more food in his mouth. He landed in front of me, dropped the jellyfish and then tackled me to the ground before cuddling up to me. He looked as though he hadn't seen me in days, maybe he hadn't...I don't know how long I was asleep for. The storm was supposed to last several days and now it has vanished completely. Then Amory's ears perked up as he turned his head and then proceeded to run inside the cave while whimpering. I could hear faint voices shouting "it flew that way". It must be poachers looking for Amory. Immediately I run inside the cave and attempt to use my power to hide the caves appearance. I'm still weak and my mind fills like it's going to fracture, I try to power through it before I get a nosebleed and fall over. My vision is blurry, I see several 4 men attempting to restrain Amory with cables. I give Sameria a quick peptalk as I pull myself up and draw the vibrorang from my belt. My chest tightens as my heart begins to beat rapidly as I slowly approach the hunter in the rear aiming his blaster at Amory. I raise my arm to strike him but freeze as he turns around to check behind him. My eyes widen as I freeze in place, I'm unable to move. He looks right at me...and then to my surprise he turns back around. I wondered how did he not see me? Did Sameria save me? With no time to dwell on the matter I lunged forward stabbing him in the back with my dagger. The blade instantly pierced his heart as I put my hand over his mouth to kept him silent. He falls out of my arms on to the ground as I watch his blood stain the white snow around him red. His breathing slows down until it finally comes to a halt..."I killed someone" I whispered to myself attracting the attention of the other three hunters. Acting quickly I threw the vibrorang at the one of the left, hitting him in the ribs and loosening his grip on the cables tying down Amory. The young dragon was then able to wiggle his mouth free and sprays a wave a fire at the other two, igniting one on fire and knocking the vibroblade from the hands of the third, forcing him to flee. Immediately I run jump over to the first hunter and grab blaster pistol. I fix my sights on the fleeing hunter and slow my breath. With my hands shaking uncontrollably whisper "guide my shot Sameria" and pull the trigger. The blaster shot whistles through the crisp winter air leaving a trail of steam in it's wake until it finds the flesh of the fleeing hunter. He groans before plunging into the snow, lifeless. I turn around to find Amory finishing off the wounded hunter with his long talons. I search the bodies to find a credit chip worth several thousands among food rations and some basic gear. I also grab the vibrorang and blaster pistol I fired earlier. It was strange...I've never used weapons before but I wasn't half bad, I wonder if it's because of Sameria. With Amory safe and myself geared up I set my sights on finding my father, although I couldn't help but be weighed down by my nightmare and the disturbing fact that I could no longer feel him...

Revelations
Dear diary,

I had to find my father, I'd do whatever it takes...I left Amory in the cave at dawn to go back to Silverlight my "hometown" if you could even call it that. He should be back by now, he was supposed to arrive last night, he's gotta be here... I run straight home and find it empty, just as the day he left. I head to the nearest military compound to inquire about his squad, I can feel the lump in my throat getting bigger and the weight on my heart increasing. I quickly run inside to the general and ask if he has arrived, they said no and I when we will he!? He says "that's classified"...I pull my pistol from my belt and aim it in his face and demand to know his location. Without even blinking the general leans in with a smirk and says "deceased". I barely able mutter out the words "where, how?" While holding back tears. "It's unfortunate, but these things happen all the time you see, their squad received a distress signal on Katarr and were sent to investigate." "Shortly after we lost contact, oh well...between pirates, slavers and the war, the galaxy is a very dangerous place... especially for your kind." At that moment I felt broken, my father was dead and no one seemed to care. My will left me and I fell to my knees ready to accept whatever fate await me. The general turned his back to me to call security to take me away but as he turned around to face me I was gone. I don't know what motivated me to move, maybe it was Sameria but I found myself fleeing the facility, barely escaping before my shroud failed me. I had to get off this planet, I'm not safe here and I need to find my father's whereabouts...

New horizons
Dear diary,

I was able to find an outbound cargo ship that was willing to allow me passage. I used most of my money to pay for the journey but at least they let me take Amory with no questions asked. I don't know much about the galaxy, but I know plenty about this place and I doubt it's any worse than here. I've been thinking alot about Sameria, about the amazing things she has allowed me to do and I hope I can find some more information about her nature so I can get to know more about angels. However my primary goal is information of my father's last known location as well the pale man I've seen in my dreams. The only thing I have to go on is he is part of ARC. I know very little about them, other than they are some sort of cult. I'm told by the crewmen that tatooine is home to all sorts of lifeforms and can be a good and/or bad place to ask questions...

Revenge

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Desire: Vengeance- Arkadia seeks to avenge her father's death and being to justice the one responsible. She also hates to see evil go unpunished.
Fear: Isolation- Arkadia has struggled with loneliness her whole life. Whether it was trying to fit in or find a place she belongs, she has always strived to find a place where she can feel at home.
Strength: Adaptability- Since Arkadia has always been thrown through loops and pushed to the curb, she has always found ways to exist and function no matter the circumstances. Whenever a new trial or event presents she has always managed to somehow make it seem normal and adapt to it.
Weakness: anger- To go along with her hunger for justice and vengeance, Arkadia has a tendency to let her emotions get the better of her and react with aggression.

Even though she is relatively new to the affairs of the Galaxy she can clearly see how sick and diseased it is. The corruption and injustice she perceives recall the mental and physical scars she endured in her youth. She sees the scum of the Galaxy as tumors that need to be removed no matter how "messy" the operation.
+10 xp

5'3"
White skin and hair
Black pupils
Purple tattoos