"Violet Vigil"
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-- Umeko Rikimaru apologizing to a club leader at Garan Middle School
-- Violet Vigil's common dismissal of rookie magicals of the Ryūen Ward
In the dark of night, a streak of magenta shoots up into the air before swooping down like a wish come true. The figure lands onto the domed rooftop of a tower that no doubt serves a public function when underneath the sun. Yet here under the moon, it becomes but a place of rest. Shadowy arms of the deepest black tinted purple snake around her and tear off the decorated dress, revealing an apple white and pale violet seifuku. A cherry pink tie is tucked underneath a collar sporting an eye, discreetly embroidered on with equally pink thread. She stays standing like a hawk at roost, taking in the city skyline and drinking in the hum of distant nightlife down below. About the time her magic refreshes itself, she spots trouble yet again. Her purple eyes light up faintly, and so does the embroidery of her school uniform. A violet glow swallows her whole. In one plasmatic burst, she is donned back in her getup for duty. Porcelain skin shades itself ashen, magenta magic slowly burns from the cuffs, disembodied hands hold back her hair with curling fingers, and the many eyes decorating her outfit blink in affirmation. The breeze blows in her favor as she crouches down, ready to spring. Bones cushioned by spider silk rattle, veils and ribbons of gossamer flail, and hands of shade raise the soles of the purple boots accentuated gold. With one hefty thrust from her grim magic, she soars yet again, all while the lights of the empyrean smile down upon her.
Table of ContentsBackstoryMany look to the skies. Many reflect upon the moon. Many wish upon the stars. Seldom do the stars relay the ambitions they hear, and seldom does the moon nod to acknowledge the petitions. But the skies are not unkind, only meticulous in selecting the wishers worthy of wielding the wishes sent back. Sometimes, in the process, the skies find those with all the potential but none of the faith that their dreams can come true. Pity is shown, and power is granted. Umeko is one such case of receiving her destiny by earning it without asking for it.
The city-state of Hibika is situated in a region historically known for the magic constantly flowing through by air currents in the atmosphere. Due to this, natural miracles of magic are easy to catch sight of whenever the weather shifts, to the point one can simply look out the window instead of checking the forecast. One of the most scientifically volatile (but physically safe) phenomena that the most fortunate can witness is what the Hibikanese call the Masayume Mist. Foggy weather is uncommon in Hibika, and seldom is it considered a bad omen. The "mist of dreams come true", however, holds a special place in the hearts of these communal people; these magical vapors slither throughout areas both urban and rural as if it has a mind of its own, pushed along by the mildest of breezes but moving at the speed of blizzard winds. Masayume sightings are occasions that allow people to relish and play deep into the night, meandering through the saturated suspension of glimmering energy to absorb good luck… and potentially the right to power. On rare occasions, the younger of souls may find themselves so steeped in the magic of the mist that the means to achieve their dreams may manifest directly. With new color-coded powerful forms to dress up in, and arsenals of abilities pertinent to their psyche bestowed upon them, youths affected by this take on the mantle of "magicals". Most work with varying degrees of publicity in association with other people who they believe will help further their goals, tirelessly proving their worth through magic to earn their place in mundane society. Only when their own wish in the mist has been granted does the magical child lose the power they no longer need.
Rikamaru Umeko was just an ordinary girl until the Masayume Mist found her one twilit evening. She'd been sitting on the steps of her school, crying as quietly as possible by her lonesome when the magic mist swept through. Initially horrified by the bizarre appearance of her magical girl form, she has taken to fighting crime and evil in the wee hours, hoping to adhere to a schedule that would keep her beneath the notice of her community. That peace only lasted a short while. Night owls continuously reported sightings and stories of a magical girl dressed in violet and keeping watch from high places. After papers took to dubbing her Violet Vigil, Umeko decided there was no longer any point in working from the shadows. In the past two years, she has appeared on duty under daylight as well… but no one has yet made the connection that the heroine keeping sinister chaos at bay is the very same student who is easily distracted in class by the magical skies outside the windows. |
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Personality
At first glance, Umeko generally appears to be the timid sort. She prefers the company of familiar faces, and tends to be quiet when in the presence of those outside of her friend circle. Her tendency to avoid the less formal or mandatory of social situations stems from insecurities over her likability as a person. Commonly freaking out under duress, it is a struggle for her to not beat herself up over every little thing. Insinuations that she has caused any amount of displeasure to a group upset her… and frequently result in allies violently jumping to her defense as she withdraws with despondence. Teenagers being teenagers, however, she is not entirely without sass; though she keeps her savage streak under wraps, nothing stops her from stealthily insulting offenders while maintaining a shy yet amicable tone.
The facade of the sensitive schoolgirl peels off whenever Umeko transforms into the mysterious magical girl Violet Vigil. She is much calmer when donning this form, though her learned capacity to take matters in stride has not helped her place any more faith in herself. With great calm that is honest to her sense of self than the anxiety she exhibits in mundane life, Violet Vigil carries out her duties with great loyalty and dedication, willing to do whatever it takes to uphold the bonds of community that she values so dearly. Much more open to working with others towards common goals, this side of her has little issue with taking control of a situation, though she is prone to (professionally) downplaying or denying her part once is has blown over. Despite feeling more at ease as a magical girl, even that identity feels like another mask to her every now and then. Then what of the face that owns these two masks?
There are a few facets of hers that remains constant (and true!) between both fronts. One is her humility. She does not ask for much in life, and is loathe to voice her own opinion aloud in a gathering where interests collide, taking a back seat so that others may shine brighter. Another is her secrecy. Information has about as much value to Violet Vigil as currency has to a miser, and she is more than willing to quietly go unseen if it means she can collect words exchanging mouths to use to her advantage. Even with her moral inclinations, she is ultimately manipulative, pulling and severing strings as needed. But why does she feel the need to be a whisper in the wind, a shadow on the wall… and little more? The truth is, Umeko lives a rather aimless life. While she does yearn above all else to claim the magic of the skies, she has no idea why she feels such an urge, and she fears pursuing an objective like so could prove counterintuitive to serving her society. She's resorted to intrigue as a result, searching for roundabout answers to her predicament. In the meantime, she has otherwise resigned herself to the lifestyle of an average schoolgirl, doing her best to keep up her plainness, all while ignoring the ache of the skies calling out to her heart, in her waking moments and her dreams…
Likes
- String games
- Gardening
- Cooking
- Video games
- Stories about magical girls/boys
- Studying psychology
- The sky
Dislikes
- People lacking conscientiousness
- Not being taken seriously
- Being a failure
Abilities
✦ See, Hear, Do All Good and Evil
The many bright eyes either making up Violet Vigil's jewelry or taking up space on her skirt frills spot for Umeko the intent to hurt or help, relaying these in the form of telepathic signals. Dark arms manifesting as shadows from her feet can extend to respond in kind, allowing her great maneuverability and dexterity that is not normally humanly possible.
✦ Lordship of the Skies
Violet Vigil's magic can imitate various weather phenomena, and she can also carry sounds better or worse through the air as she pleases by affecting air molecules. She can also fly magically.
Skills & Stats
Violet Vigil's magical form is incredibly well adapted to conditions that have to do with high altitudes and even vacuums. As a side effect of this, her form as Umeko Rikimaru does not suffer from ailments such as vertigo or suffocation… though her penchant for intrigue means she is really good at faking the part. But she's only willing to put on that act when not Violet Vigil.
✦ General Stats
| ✦ Strengths |
✧ Weaknesses |
|
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✦ Imperative Strengths
Violet Vigil does not suffer from the disadvantages that snow, breezes, and lightning can inflict upon the human body.
✧ Imperative Weaknesses
In contrast to the aforementioned, Umeko is not immune to the effects of cold and electricity.
✦ Psychological Stats ✦
| Charisma | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ | Kindness | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ |
| Patience | ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Intelligence | ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Confidence | ✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Perception | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ |
| Discipline | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | Psych stamina | ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Courage | ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ | Caution | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ |
| Honesty | ✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ | Loyalty | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ |
| Maturity | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ | Creativity | ✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ |
| Cleanliness | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ | Work ethic | ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ |
✧ Physical Stats (Without Transformation) ✧
| Physical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧
|
Speed |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
|
| Magical Strength |
✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
|
Constitution |
✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
|
| Physical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
|
Dexterity |
✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
|
| Magical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧
|
Stamina |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
|
✧ Physical Stats (With Transformation) ✧
| Physical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧
|
Speed |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
|
| Magical Strength |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
|
Constitution |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
|
| Physical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧
|
Dexterity |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
|
| Magical Defense |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧
|
Stamina |
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧
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Usage Notes
Extremely technically, anything can be done to, with, and by Violet Vigil. This being said, communication is expected. If you are uncertain, please ask, as what may be permitted when can differ on a case-by-case basis.
Assume the principles of loose constructionism apply for Violet Vigil's character portrayal. As long as something about her has not been explicitly stated or clarified in this character sheet or any of the author's entries, you may draw your own conclusions on the matter. Minor misunderstandings or misinterpretations on Violet Vigil may go uncorrected. Outright rejection of established facts about Violet Vigil, however, may receive a cease-and-desist. Time constraints may also affect whether or not the author pinpoints discrepancies or demands changes to any entry that contains Violet Vigil.
Gallery
Umeko with Color Palette and Reference Sheet [Art by Kid-die]
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| Initial Color Palette Test [Art by Kid-die] | Collaborators' Cosplay [Art by Kid-die] | A Gathering of Chibis [Art by Kid-die] |
Author's Notes
✦ When introducing herself by legal name, Umeko will change whether she introduces her given name or her surname first depending on who she is speaking to. She does not mind her full name being referred to in an order contrary to what she is accustomed to (i.e. given name first, surname last).
✦ In line with the culture of her city-state, Umeko does not refer to anyone by their given name unless the other party in question has not given her a surname to call them by, is in a close relationship with her, or has requested to be addressed that way.
✦ All of Violet Vigil's Psychological and Physical Stats are comparatively scaled to each other. The metrics displayed in the tables above may not be applicable for comparison against other characters. It is possible for a low-end stat of Violet Vigil's to be more powerful, or for a high-end stat of hers to be less powerful, than the exact same stat category (or value) of another character in the Bifrost Terminal.
✦ Any information on the magical children, along with their influence, is something that will be left intentionally ambiguous aside from the author's own written entries. The author holds no opposition against opponents or other community members creating their own magicals from Hibika, be they girl or boy or a gender-neutral child. That being said, magicals can exist and hail from outside of Hibika, though they would have to be from the same geographic region… or have another source of similar power.
✦ Though Umeko's general mannerisms are reflective of a Japanese upbringing, it is worth noting that certain aspects of her fictional Hibikanese culture may not cleanly line up with real Japanese culture, due to the differences between worlds.
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