Calico Tess

Calico Tess
[[Image:|250px]] A fish out of water.
Gender	Female
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Limsa Lominsa
Age	28
Height	5'3"
Weight	97 lbs.
Profession	Pirate, Sailor, Airship Pilot
Patron	Llymlaen
Server	Balmung

INTRO TEXT

Appearance

Calico Tess is a rather small individual. Possessing strength far beyond what one would assume of her, her sun tanned skin is contoured with worked muscles from head to toe. Aside from a variety of scars that pepper her whole body, she has four tattoos. The emblem from The Megalocrab's flag across her back, a ring around her upper left arm of rolling waves, and an anchor on her back left hip. Her most predominant and most noticed is the serpentine figure curling across the left side of her face. The tattoo cuts into her hairline, and as a result she keeps the left half of her scalp shaved down. The right half of her hair is long and black, accentuated with reddish-brown highlights from the sun's bleaching. Her eyes are an icy blue, striking from the rest of her darker features, and she will usually wear a black eyeliner or eyeshadow to further accentuate the hues. Also, as a habit, Calico wears an eye-patch over her left eye, keeping it accustomed to the dark. Following the make up trend, she will paint her lips any dark shade of red, up keeping a rumor she had started of herself about painting her lips with blood.

A fan of movable clothing, the pirate dislikes the idea of long dresses and frocks, and prefers cut off shirts and loose fitting pants above all else. Disliking the confines of footwear, Calico is most likely seen barefooted, and the bottoms of her feet are littered with old scars and callouses from her life on deck. Another predominant scar would be seen on the inside of her left wrist, where a clearly branded "P" can be seen. She will usually cover her hands with gloves, though much like her feet, they are scarred and calloused from work.

History

Most of what Calico knows of her history came from the mouth of her Captain. He claims that she was found in a box of Coeurl kittens as a young child (Hence naming her Calico), seemingly having lost her way from her family. The roe admitted to kidnapping her, thinking he would raise a prodigy pirate to prove another sailor wrong over some silly dispute. He foolishly had not a clue how to raise a child, but with the help of his crew, the child was raised into the life of piracy.

Most of her upbringing was at sea, and the dock of the ship is where she claims home. She grew to be a weathered woman, having been raised on hardtack, grog, and the occasional tussle with her Roegadyn crew mates. She learned quickly the arts of self preservation and less than lawful activities, becoming an expert pickpocket, and addictive gambler, all under the instruction of her crew mates and Captain.

When she became of age, she was presented with her first axe, choosing the weapon out of a pile presented to her by the first-mate of the ship. Years of training between her usual life at sea had made her relatively proficient in axe wielding, though she would rather choose more unconventional means of weaponry.

Reaching twenty cycles of age, there was strife on The Megalocrab. Conflict between their trusty Captain, and their ever violent first mate had divided the alliance of the ship, and mutiny ensued. Calico stayed faithful to her guardian, as did most of her crew-mates, and the battle was short lived with the uneven odds.The only woman on the ship took the life of the first mate, decapitating him gladly at the orders of her Captain. By unanimous election, Calico was given the position, and their lives of piracy returned to normal. It was around this time, that the Captain expanded the operation, purchasing an airship to further expand their barely legal relations. Calico Tess was put in charge of the ship, which she affectionately named The Aurelia, and piloted the vessel when she was not working on the boat at sea.

Seven years later, the alliance of the crew was tested again, as the Captain decided to add the transportation and selling of slaves to The Megalocrab's list of duties. Ever faithful to the Captain, Calico once again sided with him, fighting by the old man's side as another quick battle took place. Once again, the Captain reigned victorious, with his faithful Calico at his side, but the woman's faith was shattered.

On a slaver voyage, a sickness broke out at sea, running rampant through the hundreds of slaves kept below deck. Many of the crew members fell ill to this disease they called "The Rot", and Calico personally tossed many into the brig, isolating the infection as best as they could. When it truly grew out of control, the Captain, herself, and four uninfected members of the crew sealed themselves into the Captains quarters, letting the rest of the vessels inhabitants die a slow death.

Towards the end of that same voyage, their ship was overtaken by a Lominsan vessel, and boarded on suspicion of piracy. What they found below decks was carnage, rotting corpses and those living far beyond the realm of help as maggots ate at their barely living bodies. Those holed up in the Captains quarters were immediately taken to jail, branded as Pirates, and sentenced to death; Calico being one of them. As a female, she was able to claim pregnancy to extend her sentence before the hanging, and they kept the Captain alive for an unknown reason. With Calico's extension, she was able to break herself and her Captain free, where they ran immediately to find a new vessel.

A new ship and a new crew was acquired, but the Captain had changed. In his old age, he became more volatile to the young first mate, eventually blaming her gender for the downfall of their old crew and ship. He began to maroon her at the docks, making her wait until the next voyage should she miss cast off to join them again, and the third time of abandonment was her last straw. She quested to find her beloved airship, traveling from port to port in attempts to find it. Getting thoroughly lost in the process, she happened upon an adventurers guild and mercenary group. At the promise of housing, work, and food, she signed up immediately.

Personality

At fist glance, Calico Tess comes off as an easy-going, sea-loving, sailor, free of any care in the world. She will steal by habit, and freely admit her status as a pirate, brushing it off as it is no big deal. She is not quick to anger, and would rather choose diplomacy over fists. But, when the bottles start flying, she will be the first to break a chair over someones back, and toss another into a table. Other than her well hidden violent streak, she is grudge free and easy to get along with, especially if one can keep up with her voracious drinking habits. If you do choose to partake with her, keep your wits close, and your gil closer, as she will take any opportunity she has to get at that bag of money.

Self preserving to a fault, she will do anything it takes to be one step ahead of the crowd. Her carefree attitude bleeds into all of her actions, and because of this, the woman holds little to no regard of the law or the feelings of others.

At the surface, she loves a good drink, and a joke, and the companionship of others. But until she finds true companions who can delve deeper and set her straight, she is a terrible 'friend' to have.

Affiliations and Known Associates

Calico held the position of 'first-mate' on a sea vessel by the name of The Megalocrab. She also piloted it's sister airship, The Aurelia.

She happened upon a Free Company by the name of The Reclaimers, and is contracted to work for the guild for an indefinite term.

Characteristics

• Nicknames: Cali, Tess, Tessy
• Age: 28
  • Nameday: 6th Sun of the 6th Astral Moon
• Gender: Female
  • Sexuality: Pansexual
  • Marital Status: Not married, in a relationship
• Class: Marauder
• Height: 5'3"
• Weight: 97 lbs
• Body: Lithe, muscular
• Hair: Long, black, highlighted/half shaved
• Eyes: Icy blue.
• Skin: Tanned, scarred, weathered
• Clothing: Loose pants or a skirt, half shirts or tight fitting tops

Likes

• The Sea
• Sailing (Air or Water)
• Alcohol
• Brawls
• Gambling
• Money

Dislikes

• Nasty Storms
• Serious Fights
• Children
• Chains
• Nooses

Areas of Expertise

• Martial: She's very handy with an axe, and it is her go-to weapon in battle as long as there are no bottles to bash into someones skull, or chairs to break over one's back.
• Crafting: Decent enough with machinery, she doubled as a mechanic on her Captains air-ship and sea vessel. She is a master at the fine art of 'jerry-rigging'.
• Other: She can keep up with a Roe, if it comes to drinking.

Strengths

• Alcohol tolerance
• Easy-going nature
• Impressive physical prowess
• Extensive knowledge of air and sea vessels
• Impressive swindler

Weaknesses

• Small stature
• Easily loses direction
• Can be caught off guard easily
• Impulsive
• Addictive personality

Other Notes

Religion

Calico will claim religion when the mood finds her, usually choosing her own patron deity when she does.

Habits

• She will tap her finger against her lips, usually when she is in thought.
• If nervous or uncomfortable, she will comb her fingers through her hair.
• At any mention of a noose, or her time in the stocks, she will rub at her neck.
• She will scratch at the serpentine tattoo on her cheek unconsciously.
• Calico keeps an eye-patch on out of habit, making the switch from light to darker areas easier.
• Most of her movements are exaggerated, especially if she is excited.

Equipment

There is a dagger tucked under her belt, with its pair in her right boot. She has a pair of flintlocks, though these are usually kept hidden away.

Rumours

Common rumours

• "Did you see the woman walking mindlessly around the docks? I've heard she's a sailor!" -Tavern Wench (The Gods Grip: Lower La Noscea)
• "Th' lassy w'the shaved 'ead? She sailed w'The Megalocrab, don' she?" -Shifty-eyed Sailor (The Gods Grip: Lower La Noscea
• "What a troublesome woman, fighting with those sailors as though she were a man. Such a disgrace." -Pompous Traveler (Moraby Drydocks: Lower La Noscea)

Uncommon rumours

• "Aye, she's a pirate. Ye' bes' watch ou'fer her, son." -Concerned Father (Red Rooster Stead: Lower La Noscea)
• "Don't listen t'a word she says, stranger. The woman plead that she was with child, just to avoid the hangman's noose. Just like a skeevy pirate, aye?" -Sutler (Moraby Drydocks: Lower La Noscea)
• "You'd best keep our gil close, lad. Calico's been seen around here lately." -Merchant (East Hawkers' Alley: Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks)

Rare rumours

• "Calico Tess? She was one o'the crew tha' was run down a couple moons ago. The vessel was packed wi'slaves, i'was." -Coxwain of The Astalicia (Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks)
• "Report that dastardly pirate to the authorities the moment you see her! Her crimes at sea will cost her, her life! She sacrificed the lives of her crew to save her own neck! We can not suffer her to live!"- Overzealous Yellowjacket (Moraby Bay: Lower La Noscea)

Known Haunts

You might have run into or otherwise know Calico Tess from:

• Moraby Drydocks- Lower La Noscea
• Lominsan Ferry Docks- Limsa Lominsa: Lower Decks
• The Salt Strand- Lower La Noscea
• The Reclaimers Mansion- The Goblet

Other

Theme Song(s)

• "Numb"-Marina and the Diamonds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylLpplWSrNk