'Naomi' Mei Li, Lady in Red

Character Name: Mei Li; Naomi

Character Stats:

Strength - 3 - Being small of stature, Naomi didn't start off with a great base for muscle power. Add to that a culture and training that relies more on stealth and tact more than power and pure athleticism, and it's not hard to imagine that many women from her home don't possess much in terms of upper body strength.

Perception - 7 - Naomi is a rather observant person, certainly capable of picking up small, unconscious habits or spotting a small smudge of strange residue with a brief glance. It is this perceptive nature that leads to her preference for subtle interaction. However, her introspective and analytical nature can sometimes cause her to overlook more simplistic details in favor of more unusual and simulating one.

Endurance - 3 - Though the agile and cautious woman plots her course to safety, Naomi isn't one to take a punch in stride, much less anything more dangerous. She might be an elusive and resourceful target, but if one can take that away from her, she can prove rather fragile and easy to break, both physically and mentally. Extended conflicts don't suit her well, preferring to finish the matter quickly, or plan for an escape if that isn't possible.

Charisma - 7 - Although she isn't the statuesque figure of mature feminine beauty, Mei Li is rather comely and easy on the eyes. When it suits her, she can be playful, pleasant company, and even in rejection, holds a reserved sense of dignified grace. That said, she can be choosy with her companions and even those whom she holds with a favorable light tend not to get much from her, being rather short and concise with her choice of words.

Intelligence - 7 - While hardly a genius, Naomi is markedly more intelligent than most in the wastes. Well versed in general topics and history (albeit a rather skewed and biased one through the prism of Chinese supremacy), she is surprisingly knowledgeable, thanks in part to her intellectual curiosity, and proceeds to live her life by the ideal of a taciturn and logic-based manner. However, she can be a little uncomfortable around those who are more intelligent, and tends to rely on having an intellectual superiority in an unhealthy manner.

Agility - 8* - Mei Li walks with a grace that is rarely seen in the wastes, with an astounding sense of balance and poise. Her sense of coordination and manual precision is second to none, thanks to natural agility and strict training, aiding to the Chinese specialties of stealth and espionage. However, her cerebral nature and hesitance for acting on impulse sometimes interferes and limits her otherwise quick reflexes.
*= +1 to Agility due to the effects of the Small Frame trait

Luck - 6 - Though conceived from a less than fortunate parentage, karma seems to favor Naomi, albeit in slight ways. In general, from a day to day perspective, she seems to have fortunate and misstep as much as the next person. But in the overall life-long picture, things seem to go her way notably more often than not, even when accounting the prejudice she received from an early age.

Character Race: Human - Mixed heritage, primarily East Asian/Chinese

Approx. age: Early adulthood (~20)

Character Personality: When first interacting with Naomi, what becomes immediately apparent is her sense of calm reserve, one that often leaves her mistaken as the silent type. As a fairly perceptive person, she finds that most statements about a person's character can be inferred not by the manner of content of their message, but how they choose to say it, if one has a mind to look for the subtext. And, as a simple matter of preference, she reveres a subtle touch. This philosophy has left her with an appreciation for a precise, but articulate manner of speech. As such, she doesn't have much of a high regard for the brash, the loud, or the nonsensical, often returned with either a sly rebuttal, a sharp rebuke, or out-and-out ignoring of the perpetrator. Likewise, when it comes to important matters, she prefers a discussion to be all about business. That said, when it suits her, she can prove a rather graceful conversationalist, both witty and charming, if a bit concise from her end, but nonetheless capable of keeping up with even the most intellectual of discussions, so far as general knowledge is concerned.

It's not a large step from a mere observation of her social habits to infer that this Asian youth is a harsh pragmatist, and to a point, that would be an accurate description. Mei Li is, at her best, cool, serene, and calculated, placing a hefty regard to tact and a mindful, well-thought out approach to life and decision making, careful to understand and properly evaluate the cost of one's actions before taking them. In her world, the consequences one's own foolishness or ignorance is not to be coddled or sympathized with, as they are well deserved, as are those decisions derived from those who can't separate their emotions from rational choices. It's a rough philosophy, but one understandably derived from her upbringing, and not to be mistaken for cruelty. In the commune, an injury gained from one's own poor decisions doesn't only hurt the wounded, but hurts the entire community, as precious time and assets must now be wasted on their correcting their mistakes. They may be obligated to assist their brethren, but it should not be without constant admonishment and rebuke, to discourage further thoughtlessness, and to encourage learning from the mistake.

Unlike a true survivalist bent on personal survival and success, however, Naomi holds one reality to which most all other decisions and choices are ultimately bent towards: that her life is not her own. It belongs to the family, to her commune, and, in a much more broader, abstract sense, to the People's Republic of China. She is not out in the wastelands for her own amusement. She is not out here to get wealthy and set long roots into the local towns. She's not wandering to find the white prince who can wisk her away to settle down. She has a specific set of tasks - observe the forsaken lands, learn, procure valuable information and resources, and return to the cell to enrich the community with her findings. That isn't to say that she doesn't have any regard for her personal well-being. After all, if she doesn't take care of herself, she can't complete the mission, and her commune will suffer for it. So many operatives end up missing when sent on this task, so it's very important that as many return with as much as they can afford, or the cell will be thrown into jeopardy from a lack of supplies and a lapse of intel. A respect for one's personal self is necessary, but the context puts a higher understanding on being careful and thoughtful with one's choices, one beyond just self-interests, for not only will she suffer for it, but her brothers and sisters are also compromised.

To that end, she makes an effort not to needlessly interfere with the social dynamics present in the Southern Wastelands. She is an observer, scavenger, and benefactor of this land, not a player or a social engineer, and to make herself too visible threatens to expose the existence of the cell, not to mention, possibly corrupt present available intel. Given that, she won't take the initiative to disrupt the local trading and politics, no matter the morality involved. Whether local tradesmen, a bureaucrat, a tribal, or a slaver, it really doesn't mean much to her, at least in regards to official interactions, unless the people concerned threaten to compromise her health or objectives. And, if it can prove a useful enough end, just about anything is on the table for negotiation, regardless of public tastes and sensitivities. She is to hold herself apart from the concerns of morality or politics. It might prove her dangerously open-minded, but to her, that is simply part of her duty. It would be difficult to face her community and say to them that her personal taste and principles is more important than the medicine or rare acquisition they would receive for following a distasteful seller.

That said, it's much different speaking to such strict abstinence from the plights and concerns of the outside world in theory than it is to see it personally, and to find oneself inside it. Naomi tries her best to remain logically objective in all regards, and tight-lipped when it comes to her personal feelings, much like one would be expected to within the commune, but in the blatant freedoms and open nature of the wastes, she sometimes finds herself surprised at the emotion she feels in certain situations. Having always been rather divorced of her feelings as a necessity, and in the presence of strict authority, she sometimes doesn't really know how she really feels inside about many subjects, and against her better nature, sometimes an unexpected emotion bursts through to action before she can hold it in. Anger when a selfish youth steals from the shop they're working, anxiety wondering about the fate of an outsider, or an unexpected tear hearing the cry of a grieving mother. In many ways, as time goes on in the wastes, she fears that the American wasteland is rubbing off on her, and corrupting her thoughts, to which she tends to react with shame or vehement denial.

After all...it's not her land. And it's not her destiny.

Above all, Mei Li is someone who prefers to have control in any situation she finds herself in, whether it be in combat, or a simple battle of wits. Although this could be attributed to a manipulative personality, which wouldn't be totally inaccurate, it's really not about power. Rather, it's about safety and pragmatism. She doesn't like to appear vulnerable, and never feels comfortable in a scenario unless she has at least some measure of control over the variables within, so much so that, despite her otherwise reserved manner of action, she's willing to go out of her way to attain that measure, even if she has no intention of using it. It simply gives her a valuable peace of mind.

As a person who values intellectualism and thoughtful expression, Naomi has a special regard and respect for those of great intelligence, one that borders both admiration and jealousy. Although hardly lacking in mental facilities, there's little that intimidates her more than someone who's obviously smarter than she is. It's a rare insecurity in her that is almost visibly uncomfortable, and often leads to more risky behavior to compensate.

Character Appearance: At about 5'4" (~162cm), Naomi stands somewhat short for an adult woman, though not unusually so. Although nothing about her looks notably unhealthy, her small stature seems to fit in with a slender form, graceful, if vulnerable. Flowing strands of black silk fall around her countenance, in a loose, longer variation of pixie cut, just past neck length but just shy of her shoulders, with bangs trimmed just enough to stay out of her almond shaped gray-blue eyes. Her skin holds an almost porcelain complexion, an unusually fair color that accommodates only a slight tan, one that's obviously recently acquired. Holding a rather petite figure, Mei Li is not a picturesque vision of mature femininity, possessing proportionally long willowy limbs and a respectable but undeniably modest (some say small) chest size. However, with an exotic visage, shapely hips, and a delicate facial structure, most men and woman would agree that she has the appeal enough to make up for her imperfections.

Despite her petite stature, Naomi holds a near tangible aura of elegance and dignity. When she speaks, she displays an impressive vocabulary, dipped in a rather rich, almost sensual tone, unusually low and mature for her small size and youth, but undeniably feminine. In most situations, her watchful eyes hold a very cool, calm disposition, one that makes it obvious that the gears inside are always turning. To the perceptive observer, the brunette's reserved nature emphasizes her subtle gestures, allowing even the slightest movement of her eyes to convey a message that doesn't need to be spoken to be understood. She moves with an unparalleled poise and balance, bringing a fluid feminine sway to each step.

She dressed in a loose shift made of sewed up materials, some of which obviously weren't originally clothing. It makes for a rather poor quality visually, but despite it's tattered feel, is actually relatively clean and well-constructed. The base garment itself is a little light and revealing, leaving her arms bare and possessing a loosely flowing skirt hangs a couple inches above the knee, held together by a rope cord tied at her waist. However, a sense of modesty is preserved by the rather large cloak, made from a faded, dark-red curtain designed to cover large, human-sized windows, cut to fall just above of her worn leather boots. A hood is fashioned out of the long cloth, tied and weaved in with a similar rope cord, and is worn often while in her travels, but left to bunch up behind her neck in more civilized occasions. Most noticeable, however, is the tinted glasses, semi-shined with proper cleaning, she wears often, both as a manner of eye protection, and for obscuring her eyes, which are obviously of an East Asian origin.

Starting equipment:

Weapons - Junk Flinger, 10 bolts (poor quality), 3 Stun Grenades, Switchblade

Armor - Wastelander Clothing (Unarmored), Tinted Glasses

Misc -

Mentats (5)
Iguana stick (2)
Water (Canteen)


Character story: War...War never changes. Even when civilizations die in the flash of brilliance that matches the wraith of the divine in even the most conservative of scriptures, as long as two people survive, there will always be conflict. Eden itself wouldn't be enough to sate the selfish and fear driven insecurities of these feeble personae that is the collective of humanity. War will always exist. Especially when such drastic and catastrophic measures didn't even get the job done.

Indeed, just because every known country lies in shatters, even when the governments of such formerly great nations can't even be seen in the dimmest of shadows, doesn't mean the last battle has been waged. For some, the Great War never ended. It still rages on, just in a new form.

When the bombs dropped, the Communist spy cell XHS-11 lost all contact with the motherland, but that didn't mean that their job was finished. They were given instructions on what to do if such a scenario occurred, and they followed it to the letter. And even after 200 years, they continue the operation.

Naturally, some accommodations had to be made. The operatives originally sent weren't really meant to form their own families, but over time, it appeared to be a necessary tact. Sure, the walls of the Mother Made Delights factory that they used as their cover may not look to be in the most tip top of shape, nor smell as fresh as it used to, but the underground expansions made such changes much less noticeable, or so they said. And the food isn't has pleasant as it used to be, but...well, sacrifices must be made in harder times. Such is the nature of their trials.

Mei Li was raised among the commune in a manner much as her parents were, and their parents before them, holding steadfast to communist principles and upholding the mission, with the latter holding just as much importance as the former. Everything came second to the need to continue the strength and function of the cell. Although there were something that most could identify with "families", children were the responsibility of everyone old enough to watch over them, just another duty like regular maintenance of the facility or scouting the perimeter and those around age were your siblings. It may provide for an unusual existence, but that strength and unity is all the separated them from the society outside that was collapsing into anarchy all around them. A chaos maintained only by violence and wealth. That was the greedy blight of capitalism. But the order within, one that was able survive generations in the wasteland intact, that was the strength of Eastern Communism.

But, even in a deeply institutionalized and fortified society, the commune cannot remain isolated from the world, especially if they wanted to continue the mission. Thus, once of age, older teens are sent on a quest to the outside, to further their mission, and bring supplies back home. These Chinese loyalists are trained from childhood to prepare for this departure, and to be given the best chance possible of coming back. The success rate isn't very high, but if enough agents are sent, the return is profitable enough, especially since greater rewards await those who bring back rare or needed assets. Of course, there are exceptions to going. For example, a rather high-percentage of female youth end up pregnant early on, thus forgoing the trip, and though skipping such an important duty brings about a level of shame. But, quite frankly, the more children to eventually make the quest, the better, and some young women find the alternative quite attractive, even despite the cost.

However, Mei Li isn't amongst them. After all, she has enough shame. Her mother was little more than a breeder, and her father, once thought dead, was discovered hiding within a local town and promptly executed as a traitor. Although each child theoretically belongs to the community, there is a certain stigma that has followed her since childhood in regards to the elders and veterans, and one she has dedicated her life to ridding herself of, and redeeming her reputation. And, despite proving herself a rather capable student and worker, she has yet to accomplish this. That's why she needs to not only succeed in her trial in the wastes, but to exceed all expectations. Enough to rid herself of her father's stink, and to prove she's more useful than as a simple comfort girl. And to make sure that her future descendants face a better start than she did.

It's not that simple, however. Despite the unique resources of the Chinese cell, the settlement can't allow those leaving the commune to possess anything that might be linked back to their location, or lend credence to their continued existence. As such, those that are sent off are given the most basic and common of equipment to start them on their journey. A harsh measure, but one for the greater good, especially if it would otherwise mean losing valuable munitions. Mei Li is no exception; quite the opposite, thanks to her minor standing, as she has been issue items of a lesser condition than most. But that's not all she was given. Given the nature of prejudice, those taking the quest are also issued a new name, one that they will use in the wastes to throw off guesses. Although many choose a more westernized title, many choose a name of East Asian origin, hoping to use their appearance and American ignorance to identify themselves as a different ethnicity. To that end, the name "Naomi" is recognized both amongst westerners and the Japanese, to appeal to a more friendly familiarity.

Despite her grand aspirations, after leaving the cell more than a year ago, 'Naomi' has found herself with little to show. She had initially joined a merchant caravan, operated by an established agent, trading with gruff work and general assistance for living expenses, a grasp on the local geography and an exposure to the economy of the wastes. While it has proved a rather educational and rather safe, little can be said for the rewards, both monetarily and in terms of physical assets. Although she expects this journey to last many years, wandering the waste proves to be an understandably time-consuming affair, and that even a decade could easily be lost trying to build one's fortune to a respectable level. If she is to accomplish her personal objective, she must become more...ambitious. With the coming trade stop in Bucket Town, being one of the larger settlements amongst the route, she is certain to find something more promising to start her solo venture.


Character strengths and weaknesses: Physically, Naomi is rather petite, and while she isn't necessarily weak, her frame is small and slender, and she lacks the physical power of most adults who wander the waste and survive. She is quite agile, and quicker than a hiccup, but in a confrontation, mostly relies on her educated feet, keen hand-eye coordination and surprise tactics to force a quick end to a fight, seeing as she doesn't have the endurance to match most competent fighters blow for blow or hold out in an extended firefight. Given the opportunity, she would avoid physical conflict entirely, unless she had a firm reason to believe that she could end it quickly, one way or another, or she truly has no other choice.

She wasn't brought into the wastelands unprepared, however. She's received training on a number of survival skills and general espionage to complete her mission, including proper rules of stealth, lock-picking, hacking, and pick pocketing. Among martial skills, she is trained to defend herself, and has been versed in the use of some of the more common firearms and explosives. She's also been taught a modified form of Wu Shu, an explosive and acrobatic form of Chinese martial arts. That said, while she's quite proficient at it and the style is very impressive to watch, Wu Shu was ultimately designed as a performance art, not so much as a proper fighting style, like Kung Fu, where it was originally derived from. Although certainly enough to take on the uneducated or uncertain, when it comes to pure fighting ability, a well-trained fighter will definitely find obvious holes in it, especially since the practitioner in this case isn't a master of the style. Still, the flexibility and acrobatic nature of Wu Shu's techniques comes in handy from time to time, and it's rather intimidating to those without the proper know how or a keen eye, useful to test the skill of an observer or bluff out minor threats.

Naomi feels that, above any other attribute, intelligence and proper analysis are the keys to success, much more than attractiveness or physical strength. She has a profound respect for genius and intellectuals, but is perceptive enough to know that, as smart as she is, she's not the brightest one around, and against her better nature, feels strangely threatened by this. Even when she may genuinely like them, she gets very uncomfortable around people who are obviously smarter than her. To compensate, when faced with an intelligent adversary, or just about any time she's feeling stressed, she has a habit of taking mentats, often in high dosages, even in situations where their benefits don't really apply, believing truly that, if she was just smart enough, she can find a superior answer. Although one could attribute this to an addiction, and it's certainly true that Mei Li is no stranger to the withdrawal effects of the mind-enhancing drug, such a dependence isn't physical. It's entirely psychological, a mental crutch that she falls back on to comfort her insecurities, much as like a child's security blanket.

Her perceived inadequacy and the issues related to it all hint towards a guiding force in her actions that governs almost everything she does: the need for control. She is, in essence, a control freak, possibly due to a minor form of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. Her reservations are all about how much control she has in any given situation, often passed or reasoned off as logic. She's frankly obsessed with control, and ultimately dependent upon it. In her silence, Naomi is often rationalizing multiple options or plans for any given task, thinking up alternative after alternative. But because life is such a fluid and ever changing thing, she ultimately spends so much energy on coming up with various mental scenarios and modifying them that it often leaves her tired and more exhausted by the end of the day than one would normally reason (often remedied with more Mentats). And, if something completely unexpected occurs, her first priority is to retreat and regroup until she can accommodate the new development to her exiting plans, even if she clearly has the upper hand. In the end, she's not quite as composed and level-headed as she leads others to believe, and really, she may not even realize it.

A rarity in the wastes, Mei Li is, in fact, a true communist, a label that's often thrown about in post-apocalyptia, but so rarely is accurate. Needless to say, should anyone actually find out about this, or worse, find out about the cell, she'll have no choice but to get rid of them, and quickly, before they can spread any word around.

Traits:

Finesse - Not possessing much strength, and learning on less than quality equipment, Naomi has learned to compensate by aiming for vulnerable points, even if they are a little harder to land than most. Even with someone of her stature, a blow to the throat will hurt or at least daze.

Small Frame - Mei Li is undeniably slender and petite. While this tends to make her lighter on her feet, it also limits her strength base, forcing her to travel light or find another method of transporting weighty acquisitions.

Sex Appeal - Naomi is a striking woman, with exotic looks, an aura of feminine grace, and a dignified composure that some men find alluring and hard to ignore, a trait she's all too willing to exploit if it gives her control. However, her short manner of speech and de-emphasis on emotions or needless gossip tends to put her at odd ends with many of her own gender.

I spent about a week or so coming up with this idea. Sorry if it's a little wordy. Don't really mean to be a pain or anything. As I wrote it, I was also sorta exploring the character, and the more I wrote, the more I started to understand her. Just sorta got away from me. ^^;;

Alas, anything written here isn't set in stone just yet, so feel free to speak your mind. I like to think I have pride enough to take reasonable criticism gracefully, and I don't think there's anything wrong with being a little off, so trust me, you won't hurt my feelings.

In particular, I'm a little uncertain on the traits. Finesse fits solidly, but either of the other two could easily be replaced by Skilled. The only reason Skilled didn't make the final cut is because, in my perception, that trait is mostly for characters with an established profession who are pretty set in their ways. A Physician, a Hitman, an Engineer, highly skilled and rather well lived, whereas I saw Naomi as still adapting and learning her niche. That said, if you have a more liberal interpretation than my own, feel free to say so, and I may make a swap.

Thanks for your time, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Problem here.

Stimpacs....ain't going to be allowed. They're too high up for level one anyway.

I'm not sure on the mentats. You'll probably get em, but I'm not sure.

The easy fix is to replace the Stimpaks with a small, home-made First Aid Kit. Things like Butterfly Sutures, Rubbing Alcohol, Bandages, Rubber Gloves, Scissors and so on.

Other than that, my only issue is that you're making the rest of us look bad

o_0 Thats a lot of writing

I thank you for the generous compliment, but as we often hear, quantity doesn't equate to quality. It's a lot, but that doesn't make it good. I think the names, for example, are rather bland and unimaginitive in this piece, but I've alway been terrible at that sort of thing. As some in the chat pointed out last night, it also fits common Chinese or Communist stereotypes, which, now that I think about it, is quite true. I could also point out that the lack of my ability to keep the description itself concise is both ironic and a definely legitimate point of criticism.

The items, however, I actually expected, and for the reason pointed out. I had a feeling Stimpaks would be too advanced. But, unlike with weapons and armor, I didn't notice any official hardline limits on general consumables, so I figured the worse that could happen was a request to modify the list.

At any rate, I know it's a rather lengthy description and cumbersome to look through, so please feel free to take your time going through it at your leisure. I'm in no real hurry. Once more, sorry for the trouble

Look at you, with your modesty and all.

It's actually pretty good. This description gives a good definition of your character and definitely numbers among one of the better ones I've seen on here.

I'm going to forego the gear criticism, as that's already been covered. You'll find it difficult to keep a good supply of mentats on you, however, so keep that in mind.

I'd say that my biggest criticism is that you seem to be a little redundant at times and perhaps a little too descriptive. Your prose isn't purple, but you mention some details several times. The biggest offender that I can think of is your emphasis on control. The description is good, but I feel like you continue to describe your character even though the reader knows your meaning. Although it's not out-and-out repetition of detail, it's a little fatiguing to read descriptions that are so in-depth.

That's all I can think of. I look forward to role playing with you.

WATCH AS I COME IN WITH MY AMAZING POWERS OF ADMIN CRITIQUE AND SAYY:

Yeah, your special adds up to 41 by my count, which is just one more then the standard.

We can get into other stuff later, but so far the rest of the reg. looks pretty solid.

Alrighty then. After a bit of advisement, I made a note clarifying the additional Agility for Small Frame, removed the Stimpaks, and shortened the areas on the subject of "control". Minor changes, really, but I understand the remarks made about it.

Don't take this as a rush of any kind. I wouldn't be surprised if several more revisions are necessary. Please, take your time. Just wanted to make a note of the modifications.

Honestly, it isn't much of a rush at all. If anything, you've put in more then enough work to be passed. That isn't so much to say you can't revise, just that it isn't really needed.

Instead of going on, I'll just say you pass!

Welcome to the deserted land known as the wastes.

I'll go ahead and move this over to the character database. This topic is a great place to keep an eye on your character and her exploits, and maybe even change up her appearence if it comes up in the RP.

You might also wanna throw together a signature with your characters basic stats, because it generally makes your character easier to grasp at a glance.

It's good to have you! Have a nice stay. Well. As nice a stay as you can have trudging through the dunes.