[Toffee]

Applicable BYOND Key: ChewingToffee2
Character Name: Emilia Schwarz
Request Type: Character Prosthetics + Ability
Specific Request: A pair of unique, birdlike prosthetic legs that coincide with an extremely potent ki aura.

Since her inception during the Interesting Things eventline, Emilia Schwarz was a character and antagonist that never had access to magic or the arcane like her peers. Her acts of capturing monsters more powerful than her, and using tools and her unfeeling intellect to turn them against Telegrad emphasized her strengths. She was, by all means, and ordinary human daring to force her way onto the same level as those unlike her. Her existence is defiance. Unbeknownst to even herself, this defiance would manifest into a willpower beyond the weakness of her mortal form.

During the finale of Interesting Things, "Emiliaville," Emilia's greatest achievement turned against her in her moment of weakness. Tiermol, a beast she dared to control, tore its shock collar apart and dished out the pain Emilia had given it, tenfold. It mauled her, crushed her legs between its jaws, and pulled her deep under the Earth. In those moments, Emilia's struggle began and never ceased, for six years. Her time spent underground was wrought with pain, hardship, and the indomitable will to survive.

The will to survive allowed her an exchange. As her mind and body deteriorated, her soul refused to die in some forgotten chamber. As she fended off beasts, drank murky water, and fed on whatever would maintain herself; she unlocked her frozen ki. Even without a single ounce of magical capability, she turned the hollow world she was trapped in, into ice. Her movements became precise, her fighting became sharp and simple. There was no time to waste hesitating, planning, or even thinking. Even as she devolved into a rabid monster, she had reached total equilibrium—the very definition of survival; a hunter.

This ki aura allows her the ability to fight with incredible prowess, utilize the cold of her soul to her advantage, and leap incredible heights and even appear to fly as she can control her descent.

Her other notable aspect are her mechanical legs, initially crafted as simple replacements with whatever remnants of scrap metal, wire, and ore she could locate in her fallen state. Chunks of lost armor, shock collar fragments and components, and even chiseled stone. As she devolved into her current state, however, the function changed. They became digitigrade, sharp, and able to perfectly complement her fighting style. A predatory hunter; an avian.

Due to the nature of Emilia's legs and her abilities, she has two notable weaknesses to counteract her strength. Nullstone is capable of minorly disrupting the flow of focus in her mechanical legs, which causes them to shake, slip, or lock up depending on how much null energy is applied. However, nullstone is not capable of disrupting her flow of ki energy.

Her primary vulnerability is present in ki suppressant objects and tools, such as ki braces. The entirety of her power is drawn from her spirit through this aura, and any impediment is capable of rendering her nigh-powerless. In the case of her capture, ki bracers being applied to her arms and legs would be as restrictive as nullstone cuffs on a magic user.

Reason why you are making this request (if applicable): Emilia is a character I have been working on for a long, long time (since October of 2023). Her story was always meant to be a tale that would take a very long time to properly develop, but its primary themes would be those of evolution and the unshakeable nature of the human spirit. Though Emilia's form and mind were lost in her fall to rabid insanity; her soul granted her one wish to live. It granted her the power to become the ultimate survivor at the cost of her identity as a human being.

If you couldn't tell, I'm a sucker for the "ordinary human pushes beyond their limits to reach supernatural heights" story.

Roleplay & Lore supporting your request: In terms of Emilia's abilities, this is an interpretation of the powers of Verglas and Firebird with more depth added to the circumstances and significance of the ki. Rather than it being honed from meditation in the traditional sense, it was honed through a constant and neverending survival struggle, hardening Emilia's soul into something beyond her nature as a human being.

Prosthetic-wise, Emilia has always been extremely clever in the ways of toolmaking and even some engineering. She handcrafted her cages and shock collars used during Interesting Things, and would have six years to figure out a process for replacing the limbs she would have no choice but to rid herself of.