[B]Name:[/B] Cadenza Vega Madrigal
[B]Nicknames/Aliases:[/B] “Denza” or less commonly “Denz” by some friends and family.
[SIZE="1"](There is an incomplete list being compiled by the Blancwood Police Department of all the aliases she has used in crime in the past. It may never be complete. Inspector Tracey de Carlo also has such a list in the works, slightly more complete, but missing several aliases of hers in use on other worlds.)[/SIZE]
[B]Age:[/B] 30
[B]Sex:[/B] Female
[B]Race:[/B] Human, of mixed Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and South American origin. Slight hint of Romani, despite her [URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2011/08/cadenzas-musing-on-gypsies-snippet.html"]gypsy[/URL] roots being more akin to the Andalusian gypsies of our world. Possesses magic, believed to spring forth from the soul, and run in her blood. More specifically, she is considered a "mage" of an "enchanter" distinction (explained in terms of her world [URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2011/08/races-of-earth.html"]here[/URL], just scroll down to the section for "mages".)
More recent events have left her changed, and responsible for the balance of shadow magic in her homeworld, as explained in the following:
[espoiler=Spirit of Shadow]She also unintentionally gained the position of the current [url="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2011/01/spirits-history.html"]Spirit of Shadow[/url] for her world as a result of a conflict with the former one, but she cannot fully take on the role unless she surrenders and accepts the ultimate requirement for it--death. [URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2011/03/zu-present-lessons-from-forklore-draft.html"]Spirits[/URL] are the souls of particularly magically-gifted humans who have passed on, and have the duty of governing the balance of the various kinds of magic in the world. Each type (such as light, water, fire, etc.) has its own singular Spirit. The first two original Spirits, Gaia, the Spirit of Life, and Morticus, the Spirit of Death, were the first two living beings left to care for the planet by the gods who created the world. Other Spirits have come and gone in the following millennia.[/espoiler]
[B]Height:[/B] 5’5”, petite and well aware of it. Somewhat grudging of it.
[B]Weight:[/B] 123 pounds, in lean, dancer’s muscle and womanly curves.
[B]Eye Color:[/B] Deep, dark, midnight blue.
[B]Hair Color/Style:[/B] A true raven black, that tends more towards blue-black than brown-black, and long and lustrous, flowing into loose, soft, natural curls down to her mid-back. She has long, sideswept bangs that cover part of her forehead, but stay out of her eyes. Cadenza doesn’t fuss over them too much, leaving her hair tastefully taken care of but not overworked or overstyled. A woman’s hair in gypsy culture is a source of pride and a sign of her maturity and fertility as a woman. Cadenza keeps hers long and beautifully healthy and strong for just such a reason.
She often wears it down, but chooses different styles for different occasions. Three violet peacock feathers, as part of a gypsy charm, are always worn in some way in her hair, unless she’s sleeping or showering.
[B]Skin Color/Complexion:[/B] Tanned olive skin with a warm tone, that tends towards a deep caramel or bronze color, and is free of blemishes.
It’s rougher on her worn and battle-scarred hands, but smooth elsewhere, and she has to work to keep the impurities and harsh sunlight of living in a sandy, arid climate from damaging her skin. She takes good care of herself, and while not flawless, possesses a natural beauty that needs little enhancements from make-up. In order to save time, money, and effort, Cadenza has used the aid of a spell to magically and permanently remove all unwanted hair from her body, leaving her legs and other areas as smooth as if she was just waxed and her eyebrows neat and groomed, but not overly.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/sailormichiru/3profilecadenza.png[/img]
[URL="http://superaiko.deviantart.com/gallery/765176"]-More pictures of my characters, including Cadenza, on my DA account-[/URL]
[B]General Appearance:[/B]
[U][i]Face:[/i][/U] Cadenza has a beautiful heart-shaped face with gentle, feminine, and sultry features that reflect her mixed Latina and Italian heritage. Her eyes, dark in color and with a mystique to them, are almond-shaped, expressive when she allows them to be, and somewhat large, but not wide-eyed, giving her a more mature rather than innocent look. They’re unnervingly good at giving sharp glares. They are framed by a set of long, black, and full eyelashes, and are set slightly wider apart than average. This is further complemented by her high, defined cheekbones, and gently curved, narrow jaw, ending in a rounded chin to complete the "heart-shape" of her facial bone structure. Her nose is small and delicate, slightly upturned and rounded, with a straight, gently inward-curving bridge and small nostrils. Her lips are full, of a faintly wine-kissed color, and soft, often curved into a small smirk or sarcastic scowl, and they form alluring shapes when forming her musical words. She has a reputation for saying some rude or nasty things that one would not expect from such lips. Her teeth are straight and brilliantly white, and kept clean.
She values good hygiene and takes care in instilling the same value in her daughter Kate. She wears make-up when she has the time, often just a light dusting of radiant peach blush, light, natural bronzy eyeshadow to add a hint of glamour, waterproof black mascara, and lipstick and/or lipgloss.
[U][i]Body:[/i][/U] The two best words to describe Cadenza would be petite and curvaceous—-she is a tanned, toned, lithe woman who stands proudly at 5’5” in height, an average or even tall height for her heritage, albeit once she’s increasingly finding is more on the short side in other countries and even worlds. She has an hourglass frame, with well-shaped, ample bosoms that measure somewhere between either a C or D cup in size, and a shapely, toned bottom to balance it out, along with wide, womanly hips, shapely, curved, and strong thighs, a trim, slender waist, and average-sized shoulders that even her out and make her natural proportions appear more balanced, if not very curvy.
Her legs and thighs have strong, toned muscles, fit to jump, kick, and dance, and her stomach is flat and abdominals capable of taking a punch. Her upper arms are also strong, lean, and toned, able to perform pull-ups or climb a rope with ease. At age thirty, she has been described as being “still young enough to be flawless, but old enough to be all woman.”
Cadenza has petite feet and hands, and often wears various rings on her fingers, most often of gold or bronze and sometimes with gemstones. The recent absence of her ruby wedding ring to those that know her is rather noticeable. She wears feathered gypsy charm earrings, although she will occasionally switch for other ones. The charms can be used as protective talismans or as catalysts in spells (detailed further in both the possessions and skills sections.) While she likes necklaces, she finds them a bit impractical for many occasions, believing they are too easily turned into a weapon that could be used to choke her.
[U][i]Scars:[/i][/U] The area where you can find the most signs of her rough past are in her hands and forearms. Left scarred as a reminder by her sister, her hands are a patchwork of knotted, dexterous muscle under scarred skin, covered in burns, welts from whips, cuts and slashes and stabs from edged weapons, a series of bite marks, a gunpowder burn and wound, and a particularly curious coin-shaped burn on the palm of her right hand. Her forearms bear similar scars, but less of them.
She keeps both her hands and forearms bandaged up until the knuckles at all times, changing the bandages each time after she showers with fresh ones. Often they are also covered by fingerless leather, mythril-reinforced gloves with studded knuckles, and her forearms by gauntlets of the same. She has made attempts to heal many of the wounds, but some are stubborn or too old to go away or heal. Now she accepts them as old reminders to be more careful. There are a few scars elsewhere on her body, but none severe or of much note. Her fingertips have thickened, slightly rough skin, accustomed to years of playing guitar and other musical instruments.
[U][i]Clothing:[/i][/U] Cadenza dresses practically, but enjoys putting feminine, flirty, and gypsy flair and style into her clothing choices, often favoring dresses and skirts when possible. She detests pink, and tends towards warmer colors, such as reds and golds, or darker bluish hues, like navy or deep purple, for her colors. She is not averse to patterns but can be picky about the ones she wears, most of them being ones that she currently likes in fashion, an animal print, tastefully done flowers, or a more exotic, ethnic print. She likes wearing handmade or traditional jewelry, especially in gold.
She loves wearing jeans and feels comfortable in slim-fit, hip-hugging styles that highlight her curves, usually in dark washes. She also favors feminine, soft, and flowy blouses, like peasant blouses, or embroidered tanktops. She’ll wear shorts in warm enough weather, particularly tailored shorts, and when relaxing in Rubato, prefers sandals to any other footwear. She’ll avoid socks whenever possible. Cadenza loves high heels and walks gracefully in stilettos. Most often when traveling, she’ll opt for well-made, reliable leather boots with a slight heel. Underneath her clothing, if expecting trouble, she’ll wear her mythril bodysuit (detailed in the "Armor" section.) She sometimes carries a purse or bag with her to carry her belongings.
[U][i]Mannerisms and Movement:[/i][/U] She walks with a leisurely, casual pace, always ready to break out into a run or pivot with momentum into a punch without much warning needed. Her strides have a salsa dancer’s grace, flair, and smoothness to them, and her hips sway alluringly with each step. She tends to rest her hands on her hips, or when defensive or angered, cross her arms over her chest. She holds her tension and anger in the palms of her hands, and is prone to making fists, sometimes even until the knuckles are white. When walking she lets them rest naturally at her sides, or shoves them in her pockets when more relaxed, holding an iPod or just at the ready. When fighting, she is almost never still, always pacing or keeping on the move, ready to act.
A smile is rare from her, and even more so a genuine one. But if you do manage one from her, it is good-humored, unabashed, and warm, and often carries a great deal of meaning, affection, or acceptance. Cadenza most often smells subtly of lavender and sweet prickly pear fruit, along with a slightly salty, mild, earthy hint of sand.
[b]Theme Songs:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DSFyA7t4_EK"]Kelas (Let's Dance)[/url] (Fullmetal Alchemist)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f9GmkBZvr8&feature=related"]Requiem[/url] (Fullmetal Alchemist)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cucFfpsqf8&feature=related"]This Night[/url] (Black Lab)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-qgum7hFXk"]Tamacun[/url] (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqLkhuopUYk&feature=related"]Diem[/url] (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwconHSkuAk&feature=related"]Buster Voodoo[/url] (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Q9zngV52U"]Got Nuffin'[/url] (Spoon)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2DjNqXim6Y"]Dirty Dancer[/url] (Enrique Iglesias)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chJgaksG4sg"]Animal[/url] (Neon Trees)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J28KhdB8kE&feature=related"]Ixtapa[/url] (Rodrigo y Gabriela) - song for her and her best friend Louis, the guitar for her and the violin for Louis
[/LIST]
[b]Known Family: [/b]
Paris Santiago Valentia – first ex-husband (only legally deceased)
[URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2009/09/short-story-eve-on-la-isla-past.html"]Galliard Vinicius Madrigal – father[/URL]
Sonya Deneb Navarre-Madrigal – mother (deceased)
Clara Madrigal-Souza – paternal aunt, Galliard’s younger sister
Domenico Souza – paternal, younger cousin, Clara’s son
Aline Navarre-Ramirez – maternal, older cousin
[post=4185860]Vivace Altair Madrigal-Dionne[/post] – eldest sister (deceased)
Anton Lorenzo Dionne – brother-in-law (deceased)
Fabricia “Fabi” Muscida Dionne (Leos) – niece
Alessandra “Alex” Zaniah Dionne (Vossler) - niece
[URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2009/04/madrigal-and-avello-mini-profiles.html"]Algretta Gatria Madrigal[/URL] – second eldest sister
Luminari Maia Madrigal – third eldest sister
Arietta Mira Madrigal – fourth eldest sister
[URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/characters-and-resources/70881-sakumes-friends-of-mental-instabilities.html"]Katherine “Kate” Anne Seraph[/URL] – adoptive daughter
[URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/2210194-post2.html"]Rain Seraph[/URL] – second ex-husband, father of unborn twins
[URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/2210194-post2.html"]Jessica “Jessi” Seraphim-Black[/URL] – adoptive daughter (unofficially)
[URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/2210198-post3.html"]Raisha Seraph[/URL] - sister-in-law
Lahash – father-in-law
Two babies on the way, yet to be born or named
[B]Familiars/Nonhuman Companions:[/B] A violet-colored dragon [URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2009/04/madrigal-and-avello-mini-profiles.html"]Avello[/URL], and his adoptive "sister", the green dragon [URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/771252-post573.html"]Laurana[/URL]. Both live in the extensive yard around Cadenza's home, and do not often leave her homeland unless she travels with them or calls them elsewhere. Laurana is more prone to travelling around than Avello, who often doesn't wander unless with her or Cadenza.
Both see the human woman as their mother and treat her entire family as their own. They are trained to follow her guidance and drink the water and eat the food she provides them (although Laurana also occasionally hunts in places Cadenza takes her via the Dome.) Avello has been with Cadenza since he hatched from his egg, and is accustomed to her slightly tougher demeanor towards him, knowing underneath it lies affection, care, and trust. Laurana is also quickly learning to trust and rely upon her. Both dragons are curious, young, and do not react with violence towards neutral or kind humans.
[b]Homeplace:[/b] Santa Mariela, [url="http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2637/gaiamap3.png"]Rubato[/url], South Cordelia, Earth [I](city, country, continent, world)[/I]
[b]Current Residence:[/b] A very large, upscale single-family home with a garage in Santa Mariela, Rubato, with sandy, expansive side and back yards. Thanks to her late boyfriend Johnny's buyout of the surrounding area when the house had belonged to him, the neighboring lots also belong to the property, making up much of the yard.
Cadenza also has a dorm at the Dome, but rarely stays there nowadays. It is described below:
[espoiler=Dome room][I]Room at the Dome[/I]: A dark violet door leads to a room that is hexagonal, and deceptively small. Strange incense placed there by unknown forces burns in each of the six corners, and is rumored to incite hallucinations of one’s worst fears. These visions are said to be seen playing across the six mirror walls. The only person known to be immune to the incense is the room’s occupant, teacher Cadenza Madrigal, who has adapted to the smoke since first moving in. Some believe that she developed the resistance as a result of the Dome considering her to have coped with all of her fears—or at least, those which it feels it would be wise to interfere with. This implies that the Dome placed the incense in the room in order to help Madrigal overcome her fears. Nowadays the smoke more so functions as a security measure to keep intruders out of the teacher’s quarters.
In the main room, aside from the mirrors and incense, there is a wooden bar that one might use for ballet stretches, which runs the length of the wall opposite the door. In the center of the antechamber, there also lies an oval-shaped bed with a curved headboard and footboard, which is generally made up with lavish purple sheets and pillows with silver tassels, and a small cherry wood bureau that is often locked. On the floor, near the foot of the bed, there’s a plush violet pillow on which the dragon Avello slumbers.
In contrast to earlier days, each of the six mirror walls has now been split up, with two mirrors making up each wall instead of just one. Behind every mirror is a hallway that leads either to a newer room of Cadenza’s, or to somewhere else in the Dome. Of the twelve doors, it is known that one leads to a luxuriant full bathroom, one to a kitchenette, one to a guest bedroom, one to a library, one to a training room, and one to a sauna. At least one door leads to the outside of the Dome, but it’s only accessible from inside the gypsy’s quarters, and not from the outside. Another’s ultimate destination is said to shift about, following the nature of the Dome. And the last that anything is known about is said to lead to a place directly adjacent to the door to Florheim, the main connection between the Dome and Madrigal’s Earth.[/espoiler]
[b]Languages:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][i]Gaian[/i] (English, her world's global language) spoken with a mixed Hispanic/Italian/Portuguese accent, tending more towards the first two
[*][i]Rubatoian[/i] (a mix of Spanish, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese, formed over generations of gypsy and other immigrants settling in Rubato and making up much of the population, and their native languages blending), her native language
[*][i]Gardenian[/i] (Italian), learned from her aunt and the rest of her father's side of the family
[*][i]Castilian[/i] (Spanish), her mother's native language
[*][i]Magellan[/i] (Portuguese)
[*]A few words of [i]Stuttgartian[/i] (German, very broken and with a strong accent), learned from Louis Fritz and from travel
[*]A bit of [i]Zhenghese[/i] (Mandarin Chinese, also very broken and with a strong accent), learned from training and travel in Zhenghe
[*][i]Romani[/i] (can speak it better than she can read or write it)
[/LIST]
[b]Vehicles:[/b] Cadenza drives a gunmetal gray, custom-modified [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reventon]Lamborghini[/url] [URL="http://www.webwallpapers.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Lamborghini_Reventon_Wallpaper_by_nikita144.jpg"]Reventón[/URL], and a red [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespa]Vespa scooter[/url]. She also inherited a silver [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_ZX-6R]Kawasaki Ninja ZX-64[/url] sports motorbike when Johnny Bones passed away, but rarely uses it, finding it has too many memories attached to it for her to bear.
More recently, William Nira gave her a black [url=http://image.motortrend.com/f/government/mercedes-benz-e-guard-armored-e-class-sedan-stops-44-magnum-rounds-costs-58k/17699784+w750/black-34.jpg]Mercedes Benz sedan[/url] as a wedding gift, equipped with many gadgets and weapons, and suped up with custom options, like a red undercarriage, and tinted headlights.
[B]Occupation:[/B] Demon huntress, magical tutor
[B]Weapons:[/B] Cadenza carries a concealed [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M9_pistol"]Beretta M9[/URL] semi-automatic pistol with ammo and a number of knives, but her most notable weapons are listed below.
[LIST]
[*][u]Bow and arrows[/u]: Retired save for the simplest, most ordinary jobs is Cadenza’s old lightweight, purple-colored bow. It’s made of a carbon material half the length of the gypsy’s arm-span and its inner curve is reinforced with steel. The durable bowstring is made from the whiskers of tigers, and the grip with fine, black leather. Compared to her other weapons, the bow’s more so kept around for sentimental purposes than anything else, as it was handmade for her by her very own dad—but nevertheless, the thing’s seen her out of many a tight situation in the past. Steel-tipped arrows with white wooden shafts and purple and black guide-feathers are carried in a silver-rimmed, black leather quiver for whenever the bow might be needed. If Cadenza ever runs out of arrows, she may use the peacock feathers in her hair as a sort of makeshift ammunition.
[*][u]Daggers[/u]: For the quick and dirty jobs, Cadenza has a small, steel dagger that she uses when simple punches are not quite enough—some people need a blade in their gut to take the hint. It’s said that the dagger she favors is a trophy she won off some pirates in Bellavista before she had much in the way of magical strength—and the silver handle, encrusted with priceless rubies and sapphires, seems to prove the weapon came from someone with wealth, whether it be stolen or earned.
When a simple kick doesn’t seem to suffice, the gypsy has two smaller, retractable daggers hidden in the heels of her boots. They flare out when she gives a forceful kick and give her foes a nice, pointy surprise. They also serve her well in climbing and other tasks. They have been painted with a special mixture of a matte black coating by Omar Vargas to avoid being detected by a gleam in light, while still not dulling the cutting edge or piercing tip of the blades.
Other daggers are rumored to be hidden in various places on the shadows of the mage’s body, which she can draw out without much conscious effort through magic and use to attack surreptitiously. This has not, as one can imagine, helped improve her image of being… less than cuddly. These daggers are treated with Vargas’ matte black blend as well.
[*][u]Conquistatore da Luz[/u] [i](Conqueror of the Light)[/i]: A purely black cutlass, made of some substance as hard as adamant, with a basket-shaped crossguard for protecting the wielder’s hand. It glows darkly, like a shine but in reverse, gleaming with a black sort of energy that only those with magical awareness can see. Light doesn’t affect it as one might think—instead, the sword absorbs it, eats it up without being harmed in the least. It can break down barriers and penetrate force fields with considerable ease.
When not in use, the sword melds into the shadows on the gypsy’s dagger sheathe—it helps if you think of those as very deep magical pockets, of a sort. It can only be drawn out of the shadows and wielded by Cadenza herself.
[i]More details, skills, and backstory:[/i]
[espoiler]From the moment the Conquistatore da Luz appeared to Cadenza, moments before her encounter with shadow master Tsuukai Ita in “The Shadows' Favored”, it was clear that this sword was not just another chunk of metal. This weapon had abilities, and an agenda—there was something more that made this blade up. As she’d find later, this sword was a sort of tangible form the gypsy Spirit of Shadow took on, all in order to siphon magic away from Cadenza and reassume control of the shadow element in their world. But, in “Chinatown Rush”, she would prove to have too much power for the Spirit to absorb—a side effect of her exposure to the Dome and its many worlds, from which shadow magic was drawn to her—and with some help, she trounced the Spirit and the sword was left to her as a sign of her victory and her new position as her world’s reigning Spirit of Shadow.
Presently, the sword’s capacity for containing shadow magic seems to be equal to that of the old Spirit of Shadow before Cadenza—put simply, this basically means that it cannot hold all the power that flows into it when Cadenza uses it. The excess magic therefore rides off the blade in waves (see “Blade Wave” under “Other Special Skills” for more description.)[/espoiler]
[*][u]Gunblade[/u]: The gunblade crafted by the metalsmith Omar Vargas is a marvel; adamant-hard, and dark blue in color, it is, at face value, similar to an arming sword in that it has a straight blade, is double-edged, and can be wielded using just one hand. ([URL="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/sailormichiru/gunblade2.png"]Very rough MS Paint sketch of the gunblade found here[/URL], which should be helpful in understanding the following description.) Trace your hand down from the tip of the blade, however, and you’ll find there is a thin line in the metalwork—merely a sliver—where the blade is divided from cutting edge-to-edge but bonded together by a force stronger than the most powerful magnetic or gravitational attraction. It is when this opens, and tip/the half of the blade further from the hilt swings away as if on a hinge, an action that is controlled by magic or the grip Cadenza takes on the hilt, that the gun-part is revealed within the other half and is brought to bear. The trigger extends from the crossguard to the handle, and the safety catch is on whenever the mouth of the gunblade is shut, or if Cadenza turns it on otherwise. The kind of bullets the gunblade takes are unknown, and are provided by a special supplier in the Dome.
When not in use, the gunblade is kept in a burgundy sheathe carried on Cadenza’s back.
[i]More details and backstory:[/i]
[espoiler]It started off as a sketch in chalk by the eccentric metalsmith Omar Vargas, on a lazy afternoon where he was, as usual, pondering over the feasibility of combining a long-range weapon with the shorter range of a sword. There were a lot of problems in the design—finding a force strong enough to maintain the integrity of the blade while still allowing it to be hollow for the gun’s barrel, finding a material strong enough to do the same, and perhaps the most worrying of all for him… finding someone who could use it effectively and responsibly. There was, he thought, no point in forging a weapon of this caliber just to let it lay forgotten and unused in his “finished” heaps. It’d be boring, for one. And people would talk about the wasted potential too, he figured.
Then his friend, Cadenza Madrigal, happened upon his sketch. She smiled, and made some small, jokingly disparaging comment about how Omar’s mind worked, but Vargas knew his friend well enough to see that she was interested. The next day, two tons of fine adamant, some notes from technological experts of other worlds, and some strange bullets, marked only by a label bearing the seal of the Dome, were all piled up in a giant, packaged heap outside of his workshop on the Sereia docks. He didn’t need to read the note to know who they were from, or why they were there. The man just grinned, and got to work on the gunblade before the red morning sun crested the last sand dune on the Rubato horizon.
Finally, his work came to fruition in "The Chain of Pursuit". He handed the finished weapon over to the gypsy proudly, and even after seeing all of his amazing accomplishments over the years, she felt he had outdone himself this time.[/espoiler][/LIST]
[B]Armor:[/B] Cadenza wears a suit of white mythril full-body armor underneath her clothing (see "Battle Weaknesses" for details on its defensive strength.) There’s a layer of insulation underneath the mythril now that prevents the metal from chafing the skin or conducting any electrical attacks aimed at the woman, but still keeps the lightweight quality to the armor and does not restrict motion.
She wears gauntlet-like cuffs of black leather padding strapped around her forearms, with light mythril between the layers. On her hands, she wears black, fingerless leather gloves with a layer of very light mythril between the leather, sometimes with studded knuckles.
[B]Carried Possessions:[/B] A red iPod nano, her black Motorola Razr smartphone, keys, wallet, make-up, other personal items, and some magical herbs and charms (used for various purposes, often for healing and other workings.)
The peacock feathers and earrings she wears are magical catalysts used in her spells and to strengthen her magic in general. The earrings have some protective properties, mostly helping to guard her against hostile spells, enchantments, and other outside influences that might try to affect her mind, magic, or body.
[list][*][u]The Amulet of Choros[/u]: Once it slumbered deep within the Altari Mountains, but it was found by Cadenza, Kellson, Jhans Frenn, and TDC on a Dome assignment, and until Kellson’s death, belonged to him. His friend Spiny Norman passed it on to the gypsy when Johnny Bones ascended to Heaven.
The amulet was described in the ancient books of the Dome’s main library as, “An amulet that bestows upon its wearer unlimited energy so long as they wear it, destroying the need for sleep or rest.” It’s a source of seemingly limitless stamina; but the wear and tear on the human body as it’s pushed through its energy limits and out the other side make extended, continual use without a break dangerous to one’s health. Pain still takes its toll. Cadenza once wore it frequently to forgo her need to eat or sleep, and to nullify the effects of alcohol on her liver, so that she could be ever-alert, despite the fact that such frequent use could be somewhat self-destructive. She has taken to wearing it less since adopting Kate and marrying Rain Seraph.
As far as looks go, the Amulet of Choros is an icy blue, with a small but nicely cut sapphire set in the middle. It hangs from a finely-wrought golden chain, which, despite its age, still gleams brilliantly in the sun.
[*][u]Totem and Rings[/u]: Crafted in “[url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/the-crossroads/107801-snow-white-mischief-altamira.html]Snow White Mischief[/url]” as a part of a deal with [url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/characters-and-resources/86461-omentus-anima.html]Omentus Anima[/url], these artifacts contain energy from some of the goddess Arienna’s blood (more info on her found in Omen’s profile.) When the numerous rings and the totem (which is worn on a string) are all used together, with a conscious choice on Cadenza’s part to tap into their energies, the gypsy’s magical abilities change to reflect the goddess’ control over nature, animals, and healing.
As such, her healing abilities grow more potent, her shadow senses become instead attuned to nature and manipulating flora and nature in general, and she gains the ability to speak to animals and glean information from her natural surroundings. Cadenza finds the rush of sensory stimulation, information, and change that comes with these effects to be rather overwhelming, especially within the first few moments of use. She is still learning much about using these new abilities and their overall effect on her magic. Her first use of the totem and rings came when she was pursuing a unicorn in “[url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/the-crossroads/115859-a-birthday-wish-tiroth.html]A Birthday Wish[/url]”.
She cannot use her shadow magic again without first removing the totem and rings and therefore ceasing use of their powers. Without every last ring and the totem all worn together, the powers will also not work. As far as appearance goes, they are crafted of wood, with an antique look to them, and their cores contain amethyst, which is fused to the wood of the rings themselves. Some of Arienna’s blood is visible in the wood, as though a tree had absorbed it through its roots.
A description of her first time purposely using the powers is detailed below, from “A Birthday Wish”:
[espoiler=Using the totem and rings] One by one, she began to tap into the rings on her fingers, feeling their energy link and grow together. A warmth began to surge in her, unfamiliar power, power outside herself, quite unlike the gypsy magic that ran in her veins naturally--and then once she called upon the energy of the totem, the chain was complete, and the goddess' blood powering the artifacts flooded her with its power, from the very tips of her toes to her fingertips, and up through to the top of her head, filling her petite body with the vitality of a long-dead goddess. Ironic, that, but the effect wasn't lessened in the least by the fact that the original source of the powers was long gone. Suddenly, awareness of the whole forest rushed into her senses, and Cadenza staggered back, dizzied and overpowered by it all.
[i]A dewdrop trickles down a wide maple leaf, and then... --bright sunlight cascades down on a thicket of orchids-- a butterfly settles on a golden petal, little feet tasting, a tiny tingling sweetness--the heartbeat of a red fox, beating, small, but steady, the beat of a tracking predator--the scent of wet grass, by a gurgling stream--
F***ing gravity...![/i]
The world hurled upside down and Cadenza fell flat on her back. Ugh...! The canopy of trees and sky swirled in her vision as blood pounded in her ears, and off somewhere, a dryad giggled. Her head ached. She'd caught her foot on a large tree root, and as soon as she'd hit the ground, she was jolted out of her rush of forest sensations as unceremoniously as a car wreck throws an unbelted passenger out of the windshield.[/espoiler][/list]
[B]Powers/Magic/Skills:[/B] Cadenza is an example of an otherwise plain vanilla human with the one strength her world has granted to them--magic, and the ability to attract magical energy from other worlds. This was one of the causes for her power-up after so much time at the Dome--people of her world are attractive to magic. Others, had they not been afraid of the worlds beyond, or had not forgotten of the Dome door in their world, would be strong as well if they left. The gypsy was not aware of this phenomenon when she was first made to go to the Dome by her sister Vivace years ago. The two kinds of magical energies she has amassed the most of are shadow magic and strength/vitality magic, the latter of which accounts for her increased physical abilities. (Physical skills detailed in "Battle Strengths".)
Cadenza can sense things through various qualities and fluctuations and disturbances in shadow, as a tactile or visual sensation to her. She often uses these deductions and sensations to make judgments or estimates on the spur of the moment. Her supernatural sensitivity is great and the shapes of shadows often allow her to see the natures of things even when they try to hide their real forms. The depth and darkness of shadows also are informative. Her willpower and mental and psychological defenses are strong.
She can mask the bulk of her magical power from the senses of others if she chooses to, or exert her powerful aura even more to overpower someone or strengthen her control on something. Otherwise it is perceptible to those who are sensitive to energies as a dark, deep, intensely powerful field of violet-colored magical energy surrounding her and running in her veins.
[LIST]
[*][I]Dome doors[/I]: As a privilege granted to her as a former Teacher of the Dome, Cadenza is capable of summoning up Dome doors at will, by visualizing the place or person she wishes to find. Destinations she is already familiar with are far easier to summon doors to than new, unfamiliar destinations. With the former, she can call a door with just the will to do so. With the latter, it often helps to imagine many sensory details or other known information about the place or person, such as looks, smells, sounds, etc. By adding a magical touch of her own will, she helps the summoning be more successful than it would be normally.
[*][I]Wards, barriers, and misdirection[/I]: As a talented enchanter-level mage, Cadenza possesses considerable skill in the intricate defensive magics of creating wards and barriers. These defenses can shield a building, a room, or simply an object, depending on the spell's scale and intentions. Focus items are often helpful in these spells, as are the thresholds of homes. Wards and barriers can come in many kinds and can be multi-layered and built up over time. The wards and barriers over Cadenza's family home are one such example of this. In addition, she is capable of dismantling other mages' wards and barriers given enough time to study them and work on them. The more complex they are, the more and more energy, time, and effort they require.
Along with these defensive measures, she is also capable of casting misdirection spells that make a location appear to move around or disappear like a mirage when an intruder draws near. While having some skill with this type of spell-casting, she is far better at dismantling other mages' misdirection spells than casting her own. She generally prefers more durable or direct means of taking on her threats.
[*][I]Gypsy charm-crafting[/I]: While not as skilled in the craftsmanship of charms as her mother was or her sister Arietta is, Cadenza is capable of creating protective charms out of various materials, most commonly wood, gold, silver, and jewels, as well as channeling charms, by hand with the use of a few tools. Protective charms can vary in range, particular uses, and strength, and the time each requires to make depends on these attributes. Channeling charms are often simple, and strengthen the effects of other charms or magical spells. Some are only for a single use, and others can be used multiple times, but are more complicated to make. Cadenza practices her skills in this art whenever she can find time, building upon the things she has learned from her mother and others.
[*][I]Curses:[/I] Using a artifact from a person (hair, blood, a personal belonging, etc.), and/or their full and true name, Cadenza is capable of laying various curses on a target. While educated in curses by her mother when she was younger, she has always been one to prefer a direct approach to confronting those she has problems with, and therefore has not studied curses much further than these earlier lessons. As such, most of her curses are nowhere near lethal, and instead do things like cause hair to fall out, or have a target erupt in hives, etc.
[*][I]Spell-writing:[/I] Cadenza can devise new spells through research, study, and the act of putting will into the words upon paper. She often writes her spells on parchment paper, with a special quill pen, and in her native Rubatoian language. A great deal of practice and refinement must follow the creation of a new spell to ensure its success. Both the words and intent are important.
[*][I]Remedies and brews:[/I] Thanks to her mother's lessons, Cadenza can concoct a few simple herbal medicines and teas to aid such ailments as the common cold, a sore throat, a stomachache, sleeplessness, and various minor bodily aches and pains. These often begin with an herbal tea base, and then other ingredients and a touch of magic are added to multiply the effects.
[*][I]Exorcism:[/I] Time spent working with Raisha and Rain has taught Cadenza how to exorcise both ghosts and demons from people and places, using a number of ordinary tools, such as mirrors, and techniques, such as spell circles and binds. Candles, crystals, charms, and other objects are also helpful in these efforts. Cats seem to have a particular effect on many demons.[/LIST]
[U][i]~Named Spells:[/i][/U] (Long section, click spoiler to view)
[espoiler][I]Enchantment[/I]- Cadenza removes the trio of peacock feathers from her hair and spreads them out like a fan, as she begins an incantation. The sounds of the chant, when filtered through her mystic feathers, appear to be a beautiful melody, lulling foes into a false sense of peace. Once Cadenza finishes, she swings the fan at her opponent with a flourish, putting them under her spell, which paralyzes most enemies for upwards to 5 minutes when successful. Spell takes 1-2 minutes to complete.
[I]Mesmerize[/I]- Mesmerize is a stronger version of Enchantment, and is executed in the same fashion. The spell, however, requires a longer incantation, and drains far more energy. The incantation takes 5-7 minutes to complete and necessitates complete concentration. Most enemies are paralyzed up to 20 minutes when successful. Cadenza is often severely drained after finishing the spell, unless she is in peak condition and has expended very little of her energy beforehand.
[I]Premonition[/I]- Cadenza begins a different incantation, often closing her eyes to concentrate. A purple aura appears around her as the chant draws to a close, shielding her as she views a glimpse of the future. Shield lasts upwards to 2 minutes when successful, length of visions vary. Spell takes 1-2 minutes to complete.
[I]Crescendo[/I]- A shroud of shadow magic engulfs an enemy or enemies, gradually increasing the pressure underneath the shroud at Cadenza’s will, or just naturally if she leaves it to take its course. If trapped underneath for a certain length of time (generally 5-8 minutes for a human) the pressure can reach lethal levels. If not trapped long enough to be killed, the pressure may damage eardrums and other sensitive membranes. Incantation takes 3-5 minutes to complete. Spell lasts until Cadenza is sapped of energy, calls off the spell, or the foe breaks out of the shroud (using extremely intense light or similar means.)
[I]Void[/I]- Discs of shadow magic nullify light (both magic and regular light waves) and can redirect it back elsewhere (at an opponent, or simply a different location.) Effectiveness of spell and the amount of Cadenza’s energy consumed depends on the intensity of the light. Discs are shot from the palm of the hands or the fingertips. No incantation needed.
[i]Staccato Burst Shadow[/i]- Hurls short, intensified bursts of pure shadow magic at an enemy, requiring no chant or preparation time. Blasts may be fired until Cadenza is completely drained of energy. Blasts are fired from the palm of the hand or fingertips.
[list][*][I]Shade Fist[/I]- Developed while training with both magic and martial arts, this technique allows Cadenza to use the pure and potent shadow magic energy of her Staccato Burst Shadow spell to back a punch with raw magical power. She merely needs to summon the magic for Staccato Burst, creating an orb in the palm of her hand, and then focus it to surround her fist--all of this takes less than seconds, occurring automatically without any real conscious effort from Cadenza aside from the will to punch something. The resulting blow is countless times more powerful than her normal punches, but saps a bit more energy than a normal Staccato Burst attack. This same concept can be applied to kicks, and other strikes, at will.
[*][I]Sharpshooter[/I]- This technique allows Cadenza to shoot dart-shaped projectiles of pure shadow magic that can pierce an enemy’s flesh and ravage their insides with magic or damage armor. Similar to her Shade Fist attack, the gypsy first needs to summon the magic for Staccato Burst, but instead she then creates orbs upon her fingertips, focusing to form them into needle-sharp darts--all of this takes less than seconds, occurring automatically without any real conscious effort from Cadenza aside from the will to perform the attack. The spell is stronger than a Staccato Burst, but saps a bit more energy than the normal attack itself.[/list]
[I]Dark Shield[/I]- Around Cadenza forms a domed shield constructed of shadow magic that lasts for as long as Cadenza has energy, or until she willingly calls the spell off on her own. A short incantation taking 1-2 minutes is required to incite the spell.
[list][*][I]Dark Shield Mobile[/I]- Cadenza casts her regular Dark Shield spell, but with a slightly longer incantation that allows her to create a mobile, circular barrier of the same strength as the original spell around her body. Like Dark Shield, this technique lasts for as long as Cadenza has energy, or until she willingly calls the spell off on her own. The incantation takes 2-3 minutes to complete.[/list]
[I]Noir Armor[/I]- As the name suggests, this skill allows Cadenza to form a suit of full-body, ebony-hued armor constructed of pure shadow magic to guard herself. The armor disperses any and all forms of energy used to attack her, scattering the particles harmlessly off its surface, and it can absorb magical energy in order to replenish the gypsy’s own reserves. The armor lasts for upwards to 10 minutes, or until she willingly calls the spell off herself, and requires an incantation of 2-3 minutes to create. It drains significantly more energy than either form of her Dark Shield skill.
[I]Dance of the Shadows[/I]- Cadenza begins this attack by singing the first few measures of a song with magical qualities, which was specially composed for her by Louis Fritz's protégé and musical prodigy, Melody Ferrier. As the last few notes ring out, human-sized figures of pure shadow magic appear on all sides of an enemy, and collide erratically and forcefully into the foe as they dance and careen around. The masses of energy move to keep up with their target, so they can't miss. The attack ends when Cadenza calls it off or is sapped of energy. The spell has sometimes been nicknamed the “Bloody Ballet” by those who have seen it in action.
[I]Revoada das Sombras[/I] (lit: “Flight of a Flock of Shadows”)- Literally called “flight of a flock of shadows”, this spell begins when Cadenza sings the first few measures of a song with magical qualities; but unlike the tune of Dance of the Shadows composed for her by Melody Ferrier, the lyrics are entirely in the old Rubatoian language, and draw upon the gypsy’s own, more potent magical energies rather than a bond with the girl prodigy. As the last few words are sung, pure shadow magic materializes in the form of a flock of beastly dragons, who divebomb at their target in wild, unpredictable patterns and mind-boggling speeds. Like in the Dance, the masses of energy move to keep up with their target, so they can never miss—but unlike the Dance, the dragon-sized figures can attack aerial foes with greater ease, and have a far more intense and destructive concentration of magical power behind their attacks. The spell, which drains more energy than the Dance, concludes when Cadenza calls it off or is sapped of energy.
[I]Silhouette of Stealth[/I]- Learned during training with shadow magic-user contacts in Rubato (after "Her Rebellion"), this spell allows Cadenza to meld into any nearby shadows (or shadow magic), disappearing into them completely without a trace. She can freely move through any space where the shadows or spells themselves are cast--along walls, through windows, etc. for as long as she has energy. No incantation is needed--the spell only necessitates energy and shadows within range.
[list][*][I]Drain[/I]- When Silhouette of Stealth is in effect, the gypsy may use a short incantation to grant herself the ability to drag a foe or foes down into the shadows with her—gradually draining them of their energy and giving it to Cadenza every second they are in the gloomy depths. The incantation takes 15-20 seconds to complete, and the attack lasts until Cadenza calls it off or the opponent manages to break away.
[*][I]Saber[/I]- When Silhouette of Stealth is in effect, Cadenza may create a short sword constructed of shadow magic to attack persons and objects outside of the depths of the shadows she travels in. The blade cuts much like metal, but can be formed or dispelled like magic. The sword disappears when Cadenza calls it off or is sapped of energy.
[*][I]Missile[/I]- When Silhouette of Stealth is in effect, Cadenza may send an attack or other weapon/person/object through the shadows rather than herself. A predetermined destination point can be chosen before the item/attack enters the shadows, or it may be chosen while the item/attack is still in transit. The destination is flexible and can be changed as long as Cadenza can see the travel path of the item/attack.
[*][I]Breakaway[/I]- Gained after overcoming the former gypsy Spirit of Shadow. When Silhouette of Stealth is in effect, Cadenza travel outside of the shadows, appearing as a circular silhouette on the surface where she goes; this allows her to slide through even in direct light. This skill, however, drains more energy, unless shadows are used as a starting-off point.
[*][I]Cast[/I]- Upon becoming the Spirit of Shadow, Cadenza gained the ability to create shadows, or “cast” them, so to speak, wherever she needs them to jump into or to drop something else into. This ability is linked to “Breakaway”, in that it makes it much easier.
[*][I]Shade Touch[/I]- With Silhouette of Stealth in effect, Cadenza may send force through the shadows, instead of sending herself. The skill, as described to King Olmo in "The Chain of Pursuit", works as follows: "a new way to send force—to send kinetic energy—through shadows. Using this, I could just tap the armrest here…' and Cadenza drummed lightly on the crimson padding to illustrate, '..and by touching the shadows there, I could poke out your eye, by sending the force through the shadows on your eyeball. It would be as if had I just jammed my thumb into your eye—only from a comfortable distance here, where I don’t need to avoid any flailing, defensive arms, or gnashing teeth that could bite my arm before I got the chance. All I have to do is see what I want to touch or harm—and use the shadows near me to do so.' "
This skill allows the woman to punch people from a distance (by, for example, punching a shadow in the palm of her hand), redirect bullets, move things even when her hands are restrained, and much more. She’s yet to fully explore all the possibilities of this ability.[/list]
[I]Healing Sonata[/I]- Cadenza starts this spell by singing the first few measures of a song with magical qualities, which was specially composed for her and Louis Fritz by the minstrel’s own protégé, Melody Ferrier. As the melody flows, energy gathers at the gypsy’s feet, and rises in bright rings until it has traversed her whole body, healing any non-lethal injuries, internal or external, as it goes. Melody’s flute can be heard echoing in unison with the song when the spell is cast. This can also be used on other people or creatures.
[list][*][I]Inner Melody[/I]- If ever impaired vocally or otherwise not in a state to sing, Cadenza may merely think the melody of Healing Sonata to herself, holding her hand over a specific wound to heal it with the same effects.[/list]
[I]Gloom Tornado[/I]- By surrounding herself with a veil of pure shadow magic to draw upon, Cadenza can run on pure magical energy, increasing her already impressive speed fivefold and creating twisters of shadow power in her wake. These twisters trail after her, engulfing any foe she passes and damaging them with both forceful shadow magic and fierce winds. The technique requires no incantation, but consumes a considerable amount of magical energy, leaving Cadenza somewhat drained afterwards.
Weaker tornadoes of the same kind may follow after the gypsy when she runs at certain speeds, similar to the waves in “Blade Wave” (see “other skills” for details.)
[I]Razorfeathers[/I]- By enchanting one of the peacock feathers in her hair with magic, Cadenza can toss the feather into the air to incite an attack quicker than the eye. Once the tossed feather dissolves, a downpour of razor-sharp feathers made of dark magic flutter down, unable to be deflected, and then all at once, they abruptly slash in countless different places on their target, cutting deeper than a knife without warning. The attack causes both great blood loss and significant magical damage. As Cadenza only carries three feathers that can serve this purpose, this attack can only be used three times; once for each feather. Mysteriously, the feathers she uses rematerialize after a day.
[I]Shadow Golem[/I]- After an incantation of 6-8 minutes, a great deal of the shadow energy from within Cadenza rises to the surface in a visible form, and manifests itself around the woman’s body in a destructively powerful giant of pure magic. In this form, Cadenza retains her impressive speed, but commands far greater physical and magical power and defense (increased by at least 15-fold, depending on how much magic is used to form the giant) within the golem’s dark, semi-transparent form. Her Void ability, Dark Shield (and related skills), Staccato Burst Shadow (and related skills), and Silhouette of Stealth (and related skills) can all still be used when in this form. The spell lasts for as long as Cadenza has energy, or until she willingly calls it off herself. The energy used will absorb back into her afterwards, but she is still considerably drained after the spell in most cases (just how much depending on how long she maintained the golem form.)
[I]Shadow’s Blessing[/I]- Gained after overcoming the gypsy spirit of shadow. Cadenza may grant one shadow spell of her own (not removing the ability to perform the spell from herself) to any living being for a single day.
[I]Harmony[/I]- After years of being excluded from its circle, this spell has finally been granted to Cadenza, as it has been to her sisters. She simply chants an incantation taking 1-2 minutes, and then, through a bond of gypsy magic, is allowed to call upon a spell from one of her sisters. Unlike when they use the spell, however, the proximity of the other women is irrelevant to the skill’s strength, thanks to the Cadenza’s own intense training. (See sisters’ profiles for list of possible spells.)
[I]Soul’s Flare[/I]- Learning Harmony has opened upon the world of Rubatoian magics to the gypsy, where the spells draw upon not only the user’s own energies, but other sources like emotion, the soul, or bonds with others. Cadenza began learning these skills under the tutelage of various mages countrywide, and this training has come to fruition in the first of the gypsy’s spells in this vein of magic.
By focusing these newly-tapped energies, she’s able to release invisible shockwaves of magical energy whose effect differ depending on her emotions. Anger brings a devastating magical attack that can bypass barriers of any kind; happiness a burst of energy that restores her reserves and heals her wounds; sadness a crippling blow that paralyzes targets until they’re released or can break free from the extremely strong grip of the spell. Other, more complex emotions have yet to be explored, but many are thought to fall under the three broader categories. The attacks can be charged with her own innate shadow element by will.
[list][*][I]Holy Blast[/I]- Through her old bond with Johnny Bones, the holy magic for this attack has been left to Cadenza. She feels as though the energy is radiating from the man’s amulet when she uses it, but even without wearing it, the spell still functions. All it requires is that she draw a quick cross in the air, before whatever her target is, and a blast of whiteish-gold energy emerges from the center, with the cross image still shimmering faintly in leftover magical light.
The blast is typically a short-range attack, since the need to draw a cross makes aiming a little tricky from longer distances.[/list]
[I]Fumo de Crepuscolo[/I] (lit: “Smoke of Dusk”)- After an incantation of 1-2 minutes, this spell will fill the area with dark, thick smoke which emits from all shadows within a certain radius. The smoke will continue to be produced unless Cadenza willingly calls off the spell, or is several miles away from the point where she cast it.
[I]Pendants of the Setting Sun[/I]- Learned while training in Zhenghe, this spell sends a pocket of Cadenza’s innate shadow magic, or if she wills it, multiple pockets, enough to fill the target’s entire body, into the deepest parts of their body, behind the bones, and underneath the flesh. At first, they will only feel a twinge of unexplained pain—the pockets are not seen or perceived otherwise—but as time goes on, the pockets expand, and the pain grows more and more severe. It’s almost like a tumor—because this grows, and expands, the shadows getting deeper and darker. The target’s strength starts to go first—then, their consciousness. Left in long enough, the “pendant” or pendants brings death. Healing magic does not affect them—it cannot even detect them. Holes are slowly bored into the target’s bones and organs.
This spell is slow in nature—and drains Cadenza more and more, depending on how many “pendants” she uses. Because the spell is, as a rule, based on the setting and rising of the sun, its effects will be stronger and quicker at night then during the day.
[I]Phantasmagoria[/I]- Loosely related to “Enchantment” and “Mesmerize”, this spell uses the same type of magical energies to intoxicate its target(s), numbing their senses and reaction time, and causing them to see hallucinations, such as this dancing before their eyes. How long the effects lasts for depends mainly on the person targeted themselves, but it typically lasts for upwards to 20 minutes when successful.
[I]Ritmo Globale[/I] (lit: “Global Rhythm”)- This spell will change Cadenza’s surroundings, depending on how the song that acts as an incantation is sung—if she sings it quickly, her surroundings will speed up in response, making them move faster as she moves through them at normal pace. If she sings it slowly, the surrounding area is also slowed, so that she moves through them as if time has almost stopped, a blur amongst all the sluggishly moving world. Whether the spell can have other effects if sung in other ways, the gypsy has yet to discover.
[I]Song of the Madrigal[/I]- A lyrical song written in Old Rubatoian for Cadenza and her four sisters by their mother Sonya, the song of the Madrigal is a chant that allows one sister in a desperate situation to bind the magic of another sister, or send her own power to that sister, whichever she chooses. Each sister has another that is their contrast, and is the one they have the power to bind; for Vivace with her fire, there is Algretta with water; for Luminari with light, there is Cadenza with shadow. Arietta with wind is their mother's contrast, for earth, and serves as a balance; when she sings the spell, whatever the other sisters may have changed is returned to normal, and powers are restored.
The spell has only been used once so far, by Cadenza, in Let's Start Anew, when she sang it to bind her sister Luminari's powers in order to purge the Spirit of Light from her. Cadenza's lyrics begin as:
[I]"Esta é a canção do Madrigal;
Uma canção cantada por muitos, cantado agora por uma.
Eu sou a cadência; o ritmo;
Esse que mantem a canção unida."
("This is the song of the Madrigal;
A song sung by many, now sung by one.
I am the cadence; the rhythm;
The one that holds the song together.")
[/I]
It is unknown what might have happened had all five sisters ever sung the song together, but with Vivace's death, it will never be learned.[/espoiler]
[U][i]~Other Special Skills:[/i][/U] (Click spoiler to view)
[espoiler][I]Worldly Exchange[/I]- Gained after overcoming the gypsy spirit of shadow. Cadenza is able to draw shadow magic energy from any nearby shadows when her own natural magical resources are depleted to a certain extent.
[I]Blade Wave[/I]- As of "Between Darkness and Light", whenever Cadenza slashes or moves her cutlass, the Conquistatore da Luz, waves of shadow energy will ride off the cutting edge and crash into anything they touch. This takes no conscious thought on Cadenza's part--it's simply a result of her shadow power flowing into the blade, and being more than the sword can contain within itself. Thusly, to give off the excess energy, it releases these devastating waves. This consumes no more energy than a normal swing of a sword would--it's just the product of a transfer of magic like blood flowing through a body.
Further description of the waves from their first appearance can be found here:
"The room was filled with a series of clanging noises for a long while, like the working chambers of a blacksmith, blades striking blades with sounds just like hammers beating metal into shape. But then, a wobbly, wave-like sound, like thin cardboard being moved like ocean tides from hand to hand (poor children have few things to entertain themselves with, okay?) entered the ears--and I blinked, and Zorlo blinked, and we looked at the Conquistatore da Luz as the weird little noise came again. Shadows seemed to rise off the blade, like steam, and formed this wave, like a shock wave, or an ocean current, that rode off from the edge and ran out in the direction the sword's cutting side was pointed in until it crashed into something. Like thin, wavering, bending walls of energy, they rushed out. Considering the battle from a bird's eye-view, it might have looked as if I were dancing, and these giant ribbons of shadow were flying out from the cutting edge of my blade."
[I]Luisa’s Arrow[/I]- This is a another skill of the Conquistatore da Luz that Cadenza has only just learned of--its power comes from the fact that the former Spirit of Shadow, once a human named Luisa, still has her soul entwined in a way with the blade. Even though her spirit is dormant, she lends the ability to fire magical, arrow-shaped energy blasts to the blade, which can curve and travel through solid objects at Cadenza's will. The blasts are fired from the tip of the curved sword, but so far, the woman has only been able to call upon them in desperate situations.
[I]Dead of Night[/I]- By shrouding herself in shadows, Cadenza can become invisible to the eyes, to technological devices, and to the senses of even those able to trace people through magic, aura, or other energies. This skill makes a cloak, of sorts, appear around her, so that she seems to have just become a black blur, and fades into the background, out of sight and attention. It can last for as long as Cadenza has energy.
[I]Shadow Skip[/I]- A movement skill where Cadenza manipulates the magic within her to accelerate her body and sprint, leap, etc. so quickly that she will appear to vanish and then flicker into existence briefly again as a faint shadow before once again disappearing.
[I]Extrasensory[/I]- With the aid of magic, this skill heightens Cadenza's perceptions, allowing her to sense magical presences and other disturbances and oddities more clearly and accurately.
[I]Steel Crows[/I]- Like the spell Razorfeathers, this attack moves quicker than the eye--but there's no enchantment or prep time necessary. Cadenza needs to simply summon up all the daggers hidden in the shadows on her--which is as easy as deciding to clear out your pockets, and focus to arrange them in a circle, like a flock of crows or vultures hovering before their prey. This takes less than a second of effort, being done by mostly will. Then, without warning, all the daggers will dart towards their target, like diving birds, to pierce into them, often leaving very bloody results.[/espoiler]
[B]Battle Strengths:[/B] Honed specifically to be a weapon for the mafia starting from the age of sixteen, Cadenza possesses superhuman speed, strength, and stamina, and a wealth of magical power and knowledge. She is agile and flexible, and trained in many forms of martial arts and other combat, skilled at wrestling holds, boxing, improvising, the use of knives, swords, daggers, guns, bows, and other weapons, and has the instincts and tenacity of a true brawler. The magic of strength and vitality from her world, with energy attracted from other worlds, powers her body and pushes it far beyond human capabilities and limits.
She has especially become very knowledgeable about vampires over the years, and highly proficient in combating them, along with other supernatural threats, partially thanks to Rain and Raisha's tutelage. This has earned her a certain reputation in many communities that creates fear in preternatural creatures before she even is seen by their kind in person. She has a strong, instinctual understanding of predators, and understands how to communicate and interact with them to her advantage. Upon encountering a person for the first time, especially one that appears to be a potential foe, she analyzes and ultimately sizes up the amount of threat they may pose to her. She does this so habitually in any new meeting that the mental calculations have almost become second nature.
Cadenza also has acrobatic abilities to put a gymnast to shame, capable of flips, leaps, and dives, and such daring moves as a huracanrana when practical or advantageous. Her greatest natural attribute is her speed, which is helped by her petite size, and nimbleness. But she is no fragile speedster. Her strikes carry power and physicality, real brute force and weight that belies her appearance. She can break through walls and more than knock a strong man down with her blows. She runs fast enough to blur and vanish from human vision.
One of her greatest strengths is her ability to adapt, and devise new strategies in a split second, rolling with the punches until new avenues of opportunity open up. She is shrewd and decisive, not easily led into ruses, but capable of devising her own. She heals fast, and with the aid of magic, can heal otherwise grievous injuries if she has the energy. Her magic supplements her skills, but can also serve as a deadly and overwhelming weapon of its own. She uses her magical spells with precision, cool nerve, and strong will, and sometimes emotion can provide additional energies. Her resistance to mental and psychological-altering magics is strong. She takes a punch expertly and can shrug off many physical strikes. Her tolerance for pain is remarkably high. One man who gained strength from feeling others' pain once said this made her an ideal target for his abilities.
Cadenza has a dangerous and sometimes dark temper that certain threats to her family, other loved ones, or innocents can bring out. (More on her magical skills in the section above.)
[B]Battle Weaknesses:[/B] As a native of the desert who prefers heat and dry weather and has only learned to swim enough to doggie-paddle, Cadenza struggles against water and water-based magics, giving many creatures and mages who use such skills an advantage. This especially comes into play in closed settings where the water can collect more and grow deep. Ice magic also can be more difficult for her to adapt to or stand against, compared to other magics. While it doesn’t harm her any more than a normal human, Cadenza intensely dislikes cold and humidity in general and prefers to leave those conditions as soon as she can.
Her mythril armor, crafted and refined again and again by Omar Vargas, is able to repel bullets, the brunt of the force--if not all of the force--from most magic, attacks from all earthly metals (steel, bronze, titanium, etc.), and hits from most magical metals as well, but it can eventually be damaged by repeated, powerful blows from some of the stronger magical metals (like adamant.) Taking Cadenza’s speed into consideration, however, this is often a rather challenging feat. The only other shortcoming of the armor is that it does not offer protection to the woman’s head, neck, feet, or hands. Unprotected, she is as vulnerable as any normal human to bullets, fire, poison, etc. unless she gets a chance to shield with magic. She does, however, heal much quicker than normal humans, and can take nonlethal blows far better for this reason, coupled with the benefits of her magically-enhanced strength.
Intense, unfettered light, especially of an otherworldly nature, can give her a headache or migraines when exposed to it for long enough and make it difficult for her to focus. She prefers being in the shade, or natural sun, where shadows can be present, but isn’t necessarily weaker to most light magic, as she is no kind of dark or malevolent creature. She tends to act more impulsively and recklessly whenever the safety of children, especially her daughter Kate, is concerned, putting their well-being before her own. She is quick to anger, and sometimes her temper can be played upon, and she can be distracted or pushed too far by it.
[B]Personality:[/B] Cadenza can be a difficult and often complex woman; she adapts well to new situations, but her natural stubbornness and her strong sense of humor and sarcasm are almost always present. She is also a very physical and impatient person, can act curt or cold towards strangers, and prefers to take action rather than sitting and complaining about things that she wants or that cannot be changed. She would define herself as shrewd and resourceful, as well as a realist. Others might consider her more pessimistic. It can often be very difficult to get her to admit what she really thinks or feels about most people, even when she is asked directly.
The gypsy often gives off the impression that she does not care what others think of her, and makes jokes or evades questions at their expense, simply to get a chuckle herself or a reaction out of them. Often there are also other motives at play under this behavior, but sometimes she simply gets some amusement out of being contrary or irritating particular personality types. She never quite grew out of being the wisecracking troublemaker she came to be under her sister's employment in the mafia. She approaches the more authoritative and strict Spirits of her world in the present day in much the same way, where an even greater hint of fear is hidden beneath her outward disrespect toward them. She personally expects to be respected and perhaps even feared. Cadenza will often not say with a word what she could say better with a punch, letting her actions speak louder than her words.
Humor, dance, and music are her best methods of coping with what life has thrown at her. Alcohol is the crutch that used to fill that place. She has now been sober for over a year, thanks to her daughter Kate giving her the motivation and reason to quit and take better care of herself. Her pregnancy has only strengthened her resolve to stay clean. To her, music, dance, and family are her soul.
She is a bit of a thrill-seeker, and loves fast cars, poker, soccer, flamenco and salsa dancing, playing guitar, and making love. She doesn't mind flying, by plane or one of her dragons, but she can't stomach boat rides well and is pretty wary of the sea in general. Trying to get her to eat seafood is nigh-impossible--she's taken to calling shrimp "sea-leeches". But besides seafood, she'll eat almost any kind of food, and even likes many of the less conventionally appetizing things she grew up eating in the desert for sustenance--like camel meat, scorpions, and the pads and fruit of the prickly pear. These foods and other traditional recipes have become comfort foods to her, and remind her of her mother. She also enjoys Italian, Spanish, and Argentine cooking, and most foods with lots of flavor and spice. She doesn't have a big sweet tooth, mostly preferring dark chocolate and fruits instead of other deserts. Cadenza has a tendency to turn competitions into opportunities to make bets.
While fairly intelligent, with a good grounding in languages, music, magic, and geography, she is more gifted with a natural cleverness and skill for observation, especially when concerning people. She's a bit sensitive about the fact that she never got to finish her schooling, but she jokes that it's a better thing to be [I]clever[/I] than smart. She is full of guile and street smarts, not above using lies whenever advantageous, or obscuring the truth with jokes or half-truths. Sometimes she feels she can express herself better in her native language of Rubatoian, and finds her own English a bit clumsy or lacking for what she feels or wishes to say.
She tries her best to recognize her own flaws and does not delude herself about them, often making jokes about them herself. She fears her darker moments and her temper, and their possible impact on her family. Cadenza does not particularly like herself, but tries to be content with how she is at the present time. She believes there’s always a chance to change, and she is sure as heck trying more than ever now that she has her daughter Kate. The young girl is her hope. Recent events with the Spirits and Marcus have made her a bit more wary and paranoid than usual, adding to her already careful and mistrustful nature. She can often be cynical and forms strong first impressions of people, although some do manage to earn the benefit of her doubt. Cadenza often also thinks the worst of her impression on others, but jokes about this. She knows she can be a tough and frustrating woman at times.
When around her family or close friends, Cadenza can be playful and more lighthearted, sometimes even silly. She’ll make more warm-hearted or teasing jokes, shoot off quotes or do impressions, and even sing. She’s not afraid to look foolish or humorous when she’s comfortable, especially if it will win a smile or laugh from a loved one. She is protective, and once a person is a part of the circle of people she cares about, she will not easily abandon them. She instinctively watches over them with tenderness and tries her best to always display consideration for their feelings. The gypsy often considers herself something like their guardian; this especially applies to her daughter Kate and the other children in her family, like her nieces Alex and Fabi. When danger comes, she is the first defense, and will take a bullet or worse for someone she loves. Family as a whole is the most important thing to Cadenza in the world. She regrets never having been able to grow up with a gypsy tribe, the way her mother or ancestors had in the past, before the gypsies came to settle in Rubato.
She has been close to her father Galliard since childhood, and even though she feels somewhat distanced from him and her sisters after her many odd, extraordinary, and hazardous experiences in other worlds, they still maintain that bond of communication, friendship, and trust. Her friend Louis Fritz is her next closest confidant, and she finds solace and comfort in his wisdom, good humor, and easygoing and understanding manner.
In regards to her magic, Cadenza is often reticent and vague around most people who ask. It’s a topic she feels she must shield much of her family from, and her friends who do not quite understand the world of the supernatural and mystic. However she has strong pride in both her magic and her culture as a gypsy. As a fighter, she is ruthless and pragmatic, a brawler at heart, with techniques honed in many styles of martial arts and other methods of fighting, but instincts sharpened in the streets.
Cadenza has great respect for good parents, who self-sacrifice when needed and raise their children to behave well and grow, imagine freely, learn about their world and other people, have fun, and appreciate other cultures. A struggling parent’s plight resonates deeply with her, as does that of a widow, or abandoned or frightened child. She values education. She wants her children to have all the good things she never had, and to be there for all the times her parents never could for her. She is a hard-worker when motivated, and doesn't mind sewing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other household tasks for the benefit of her family and home. While she has a respect for religions and especially Christianity, she is somewhat jaded about her own moral outlook and future, and the closest thing she has to a faith are the gypsy beliefs, lore, and traditions of her heritage.
Kate can often charm her mother into spoiling her a bit, but when discipline is called for, Cadenza is firm. She knows herself not to be the best role model, and fears her magic and tendency to get into fights might frighten her daughter. She has to watch what she says (especially with swearing or more curt comments) and does (with her tendency to be flippant towards police and some other authority figures) around her daughter, who has become somewhat of a moral conscience for her. The person she is when she’s around her daughter Kate--a good mother, a gentle and loving woman, a moral, generous, and happy person--is the person she wants to be, but knows she never completely could be. Too much about herself holds her back.
In her darker moments, she recognizes something ruthless and fierce in herself that goes beyond her normal temper and impatience. Violence has been a part of her life, ever since her mafia days. She has a strong will and a strong constitution.
[LIST][*][I]Likes:[/I] Music (more like LOVES music), Madonna, Michael Jackson, Maroon 5, The Offspring, Oasis, Ottmar Liebert, Lady Gaga and a myriad of other artists and groups of a number of different styles, she loves anything she can move to with a good beat, especially flamenco, rock, salsa, and samba music.
Also likes dancing, love-making, comedy, teasing friends, drag-racing, sports cars, playing guitar, singing, writing music, flowers, she dotes on babies and well-behaved children, enjoys fighting and exercising, especially running, gymnastics, soccer, and aerobics, cooking for loved ones, playing with her daughter and spending time with family, watching movies (crime, thriller, action, suspense, some comedies, film noir, especially foreign film noir), history, languages, culture, TV (House and a few others), fiction novels (especially action, mystery, and thrillers), crafting charms, poker, taking photos of her family's moments, being able to be herself without reservation, people who can laugh at themselves, people who can take a punch or a joke, a good laugh, men
[*]Food likes: Dark chocolate, Italian food, tomato sauces, cheeses, spicy flavors, foods with full-flavored seasonings and garlic, flank steak, chicken, Mexican food, Indian food, Brazilian food, Spanish food, Argentine food, salads, flan, vanilla or dolce de leite ice cream, cornbread, traditional gypsy dishes, nopales, eggs, edible cactus fruits, breads, citrus fruits, strawberries, cherries (she can tie their stems with her tongue, thanks to practice), lemonade, citrus juices, coffee (two sugars), teas, cool water, pineapple, whipped cream, guava, grapes, tequila, rum, wine, bread, bagels. After growing up poor, she’s not picky about most food.
[*][I]Dislikes:[/I] Snobs, prim or otherwise stuck-up people, bigots, those who are willfully ignorant, haters of magic, women without respect for themselves, police, Cernilians, vampires and other creatures who prey brutally on humans, necromancy, slow drivers, mornings, long-winded speakers, people who mistreat women, children, or the poor or otherwise unfortunate or defenseless, romantic comedies, minivans and other bulky cars, war and the losses that come with it, dogs, rats, snakes, being used, being tricked, having her family or culture insulted, cold weather, mud
[*]Food dislikes: Most white chocolate, overly sweet foods, fish and other seafood, cheap beer
[*][I]Fears:[/I] Deep water, fierce dogs, losing or failing to protect loved ones, having those that look up to her repeat her mistakes, repeating her mother’s mistakes, being helpless, being trapped, not having control over her own decisions/being at someone else’s mercy or under their forcible authority, losing control of her magic, any harm coming to her daughter, Death coming to claim her in her nightmares
[*][I]Virtues:[/I] She’s a natural mother, and caring and reliable to her loved ones, especially family. A protector and someone who can call out your bluffs and give you the straight, even if harsh, truth. A dependable friend and good listener and sympathizer. Proud of her culture and respectful of other cultures and faiths. Defends children and can't help but look out for a child in trouble. Observant of human behavior and often more understanding than she may seem when given the chance. She's also not afraid to laugh at herself.
[*][I]Vices:[/I] Alcohol, gambling, risk-taking, violence, lying, impatience with most, theft, swearing (mostly when angered), sharp sarcasm, occasional rudeness, and sometimes disrespectful or flippant behavior. Fights dirty and generally employs underhanded, albeit practical, methods to solving problems. She has trouble opening up to people, and often keeps many things from others, with few exceptions. She tends to keep a grudge (unless it's toward a loved one or friend) and sometimes judges others too quickly upon first meeting them.[/LIST]
[B]History:[/B] Much of her backstory is given in [url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/character-fiction/43675-bittersweet.html]Bittersweet[/url] and [url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/character-fiction/71082-the-chain-of-pursuit.html]The Chain of Pursuit[/url], as well as various other earlier [url=http://aikies.blogspot.com/2010/05/cadenzas-rough-zu-timeline.html]threads[/url], [url=http://aikies.blogspot.com/2009/04/cadenza-madrigal-valentia.html]profiles[/url] ([url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/characters-and-resources/41964-cadenza-madrigal.html]the first ever here[/url]), and [url=http://aikies.blogspot.com/search/label/Cadenza]stories.[/url] What follows here is a summary, but is by no means complete in its details or events.
A gypsy born to a large family of five daughters in Rubato, Cadenza has grown up facing the realities of crime, poverty, magic, and family struggles all throughout her life. In those days, her Rubatoian father, Galliard Madrigal, took what jobs he could as a gifted but underfunded inventor and engineer, and her Castilian gypsy mother, Sonya Madrigal-Navarre, worked as a seamstress, midwife, mage, housewife, and occassional fortune-teller. Both of them labored day in and day out to make ends meet for their beloved girls, who studied and helped out around the house. Their father helped them with their schoolwork whenever he could and built them little trinkets with scraps between jobs, and their mother taught them magic, music, and dance, immersing them in her native culture. But many things changed as the girls aged, and conflict came when Cadenza was sixteen, in an ongoing dispute between her eldest sister Vivace, Viv's fiancé Anton Dionne (a criminal in his native country of Cernilia), and the girls' father Galliard Madrigal, which Cadenza would not come to fully understand until over a decade later. But it was this conflict, along with all its many repercussions, that would shape her life for years to come.
After that day, when it all came to a head, she would lose her father to prison for thirteen years, and find herself manipulated into working under her sister Vivace in the crime empire she sought to build in Rubato. In the years that followed, her mother's illness, brought on by her addiction to smoking, would worsen, and her descent into crime went further and further, with no one to prevent or stop it. Her sense of morals became jaded and corrupt, as did her relationship with her eldest sister, and much of her family at home. At the hands of her abusive and controlling sister, her skills would be honed until she was a weapon for the Madrigal-Dionne mafia, and one of Rubato's most wanted criminals. These were dark years, in which Cadenza's only light was her highschool sweetheart, and later fiancé and husband, Paris Valentia. He remained with her throughout her troubles, without knowing the full extent of her burdens after she was forced to quit school. She wished to shield Paris from the harsh realities of her home life. The two were wed when the couple were both twenty-one years of age, and they lived happily for five years, as Paris worked as a soldier in the Rubatoian army and was away for training from time to time.
During their marriage, Cadenza resisted and rebelled against Vivace's control and orders more and more, as Paris' good influence spurred her on. The young couple planned to have a child together, but after an injury in a conflict with the police, the child was lost and Cadenza took to alcohol, as Paris needed to be away more and more to prepare for the growing conflict with the neighboring nation of Cernilia. They did not have a chance to try for another child before, at the age of 26, Paris Valentia was believed to have been killed in battle. Legally, he was declared so. His widow Cadenza would not learn what truly happened until three years later.
Her sister Vivace took advantage of this darker, more vulnerable time in her life, and pushed her to take part in her criminal duties more so than ever. These days were the Madrigal mafia's Reign of Terror, as the newspapers had called it. But Vivace eventually grew weary as Cadenza drew nearer and nearer to learning the true cause for their father's imprisonment--and thus sent her away to a mysterious, otherwordly place known as the "Dome", in order to distance her and yet still make use of her. Cadenza was told to learn more forms of combat there, and to steal from other worlds. Vivace did not count on her discovering more about what had transpired in the past, or regaining the will to defy her command. The gypsy would become first a teaching assistant, and then a full-fledged teacher at the Dome, and would make several new friends and allies, many of which she still is in contact with to this day, such as Prince Hunter Merridale and Louis Fritz. She was also given her trusted dragon, Avello, by her elven teacher Sileya, whom entrusted her with the care of the creature after it hatched from an egg the gypsy protected as part of a required lesson.
At the age of twenty-eight, Cadenza returned from the Dome to Rubato to take her final stand against Vivace, once and for all. In the ensuing struggle, Vivace was shot and killed by a man originally believed to be her own husband, Anton Dionne. But things turned out to be far more complicated than that. She travelled to other countries in her world, and began studying martial arts, magical lore, and other forms of magic more extensively than ever before.
Due to her exposure to greater magical energies at the Dome, and her growing collection of skills and spells, Cadenza would discover that she had disrupted the balance of shadow magic in her world, and furthermore, found herself entangled in a conflict with the Spirit of Shadow there because of it. The Spirit, Luisa Umbra, attempted to absorb the gypsy and her magic in order to restore things, but thanks to some of Cadenza's friends, her efforts were thwarted, and Luisa was overpowered in a struggle for both her and Cadenza's lives. Luisa's soul now rests dormant in the sword she had created as a trap for Cadenza. Meanwhile, the gypsy herself faces scorn and hostility from many of her new "colleagues", the Spirits. Reymundo Alvarez, the Spirit of Light, seeks revenge on her for usurping his wife Luisa's role and causing her to be locked away in the sword. Morticus, the Spirit of Death, simply wishes to do his duty and claim Cadenza's soul, so that she would finally have to fully embrace the job of a Spirit. The gypsy continues to resist both of their efforts and put off death. These experiences have left her more paranoid, and filled with nightmares of Morticus's coming for her in her weakest moments.
Sometime after her twenty-ninth birthday, the gypsy embarked on a mission to find Dionne and extract revenge on him, after having learned that he was involved in framing her father and getting him imprisoned, as well as believing him guilty of the murder of her sister. Even despite her resentment toward Vivace, she felt that in that instance blood was thicker than water, and Dionne had no right to interfere in their disputes. But what she found, however, was a far more thorny discovery. Due to a mishap with Dionne's unique powers during the war, her own husband Paris Valentia had been trapped in the man's appearance, and had lived that way for three years since, searching for a way to revert back to his real self. Cadenza aided him, but turned down his requests to rekindle their relationship. In that time, she had already become involved with a demi-angel man named Johnny Bones, a former student of hers at the Dome who had helped her to recover after the grief of losing Paris years before. She did, however, strike a deal with her country's king, and had her father Galliard freed from prison and the false charges, along with her own crimes pardoned. In exchange, she was expected to keep clean of any future criminal activities and attend sessions with a life coach, a bargain was she has only partly upheld.
Johnny himself had a deal for redemption with Heaven that meant his time on earth was limited. When he eventually had to leave, loneliness settled in with Cadenza again, who was reluctant to return to some of the more casual, detached relationships or flings she had rebounded with before Johnny. The money and possessions gained from his inheritance added to a more modest wealth she had amassed from crime. Not long after, her mother passed away, before she ever came to grips with her guilt and troubles with her. In an alcohol and grief-induced episode afterward, the gypsy quit her job at the Dome. After a night at the bar, she ended up in a situation that led to her choosing to help out some friends in trouble over another night drowning sorrows in drink, and she and her friend Louis Fritz rescued and adopted the needy orphan Kate Aleski from the clutches of a man named Pyralis, who worked for another, known only then as Marcus. In order to adopt Kate and save her from more cruelty, Cadenza and Louis had to enter into a contract with this man, and were later subject to occasional visits from his other employee, a man called Ruin.
Shortly after, the new, still grieving mother took a trip on a cruise ship with a ticket she received from a former colleague at the Dome. There she met her second husband Rain Seraph, a Grim Angel. She lived with Kate, Rain, his adopted daughter Jessi, and their dragons Avello and Laurana at the large house that Cadenza inherited from Johnny Bones, in her hometown of Santa Mariela, Rubato.
Her marriage to Rain was short-lived, however, and fell apart during their honeymoon due to issues of trust. Rain realized he could not come to terms with forgiving his new wife for an unwise kiss she shared with the womanizing vampire Descartes at their wedding, and despite her genuine attempts to change and repent for what happened, they could not resolve their issues. They filed for divorce and Rain left with Jessi, while Kate stayed with Cadenza. Yet there still seemed to be some hope left for an amicable relationship between Cadenza and both Jessi and Rain's sister Raisha in the future.
Some weeks after the divorce process began, Cadenza learned she was pregnant with Rain's children. She is now expecting twins later on.
****
Cadenza has held numerous jobs in the past, amongst them a killer, saboteur, thief, representative, and all-purpose weapon for the Madrigal mafia as run by her eldest sister, and many others that she held as cover-jobs. Amongst these cover jobs that she held for short stints, some only for as much as a day, have been a dancer (back-up dancer, gogo dancer, exotic dancer, flamenco and salsa dancer, belly dancer), model (runway, lingerie catalogue for Victoria’s Secret, print ads), prize fighter, yoga instructor, fortune teller, fruit merchant, drag racer, guitarist, singer, weapons merchant, politician’s aide, and others.
She has worked as a teacher at the Dome, a magical consultant, a rebel organizer in Medina, a diplomat, and now currently freelances as a demon hunter and exorcist (after getting her start in the business with her ex-husband Rain and his sister Raisha, and occasionally as a combat and magic tutor. Learning to pose as many of these professions has given her a wealth of skills and experiences, and an ability to be a quick-change artist and actor with a great capacity to adapt to any situation, given the chance and sufficient resources.
Currently she is researching the [URL="http://aikies.blogspot.com/2009/07/short-story-gypsy-purge-of-airopa-parte.html"]Gypsy Purge of Airopa[/URL] (circa 1750, over 260 years ago), which was the cause for much of the gypsy immigration in exile to Rubato, as well as methods for restoring her dragon Laurana’s memory, whenever she can find the chance. Some of her research has brought her into greater contact with the Royal Mage of Rubato, Carla della Fonce, a friend of her late mother’s, and a midwife in Agra. Some have mistakenly begun to speculate that Carla is preparing Cadenza as her successor during these research visits. The International Council of Mages, or ICoM, has largely been following a policy of avoidance and non-recognition towards Cadenza, out of both wariness and disapproval of her and her outlaw status with the Spirits of the world.
In Rubato, her reputation still garners her fear, reverence, and loyalty from much of the country, especially outside Blancwood. Santa Mariela is still viewed as Madrigal turf, and rumor has it that Cadenza still employs and controls the remnants of their mafia. She has taken to neither denying nor confirming these rumors, instead enjoying the effects of the ambiguity on the police and the community at large. Many truly are still in service to the family, if not a criminal organization, and continue to do so for friendship, money, protection, or all three. Cadenza’s adoption of two dragons has gotten mixed reactions and feelings from many, and the increased connection and immigration from the Dome have slowly begun to alter the community and its feelings on the supernatural and much more. Rubato is going through changing times.
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[B]Awards:[/B]
Most Powerful Character - Fall BA 2007
Most Attractive Female Character - Fall BA 2007
Best Battle (Chinatown Rush) - Fall BA 2007 and ZU Winter 2007-2008
Best BA Character - ZU Winter 2007-2008
Character with the Most Angsty Backstory - EH Summer 2008
Most Attractive Female Character - EH Summer 2008
Best Romance (with Johnny Bones) - EH Summer 2008
Best Battle (Knockin' on Heaven's Door) - Fall BA 2009
Best NPC character (Cadenza's family) - Fall BA 2009
Best Romance (with Rain) - Fall BA 2009
Most Mystically Strong Character - Fall BA 2009
The Person Award (Most Developed Character) - Fall BA 2009
Funniest Character - Spring BA 2010
Most Attractive Female Character - Spring BA 2010
Most Mystically Strong Character - Spring BA 2010
The Person Award (Most Developed Character) - Spring BA 2010
Best Quote: "You try to run again and I'm stapling your bloody trousers to a chair. Got that?" by Cadenza Madrigal to Zorlo, in "Can I Really Help Anyone?" - Spring BA 2010
Best RP: "Fashion Police" - Spring BA 2010
Best Romance (with Johnny Bones) - Spring BA 2010
The Stork’s Dilemma Award (Best Character Name) - Character Awards 2011
The Politician Award (Best Liar) - Character Awards 2011
The Pretty Woman Award (Hottest Female) - Character Awards 2011
The Person Award (Most Developed) - Character Awards 2011
The Archemage Award (Most Mystically Strong Character) - Character Awards 2011
The Popularity Award (Best Character) - Character Awards 2011
[B]RP Timeline located here[/B]: [post=4165554]Cadenza's Rough ZU Timeline[/post]
BA Characters:
- Super Aiko
- Maryland, United States
- My BA characters' profiles are stored here as back-ups.