Margaret "Maggie" Ekster

TW: Illness, indoctrination into an organization, vague references to death/killing
"A single magpie in the spring, foul weather it will bring." ― 19th century proverb about the bad luck of seeing a lone magpie
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==Subplot Status: Root==
*Magpie does not have a birthname. She was given the Specimen ID #SRI-451-208.
*She was born a modern variant of Shadow Monster offspring, specifically to be added to Root's roster.
*She is especially adept at assassination and espionage and is able to be a social chameleon to blend in among regular civilians without forming emotional attachments, willing to "get close" to people for the sake of finding information or assassinating them. Her biological mother was a Dhampir (vampire x human hybrid), and passed down some Supernatural traits in her physiology but with additional human genetics to dilute much of the adverse affects of her Shadow Monster genetics.
*Root tattoo on her right bicep.
*Magpie has no desire to escape from Root.
*Current mission: awaiting next assignment.
===Mask===
==Supernatural Status==
*Magpie is a Dhampir x Shadow Monster hybrid.
*Born as a hybrid rather than turned.
*Magpie resides in the Restricted district of Cedargrove. She has no feelings about where she lives.
===Abilities===
Dhampir Physiological Enhancements – enhanced endurance, agility, durability, strength, speed and senses; fang projection/retraction, decelerated lifespan, dark vision 
Blood Empowerment – though she doesn’t require blood for sustenance, she can gain/regain a moderate boost of strength by consuming it.
Contaminant Immunity – impervious to human-grade toxins, poisons and diseases.
Supernatural Detection – she can generally sense when someone she is interacting with is a Supernatural being, though not with any specificity.
Mastery in skills relevant to her work as a Root agent – assassination (her main specialty), espionage, infiltration, and interrogation. She is a highly efficient and ruthless combatant, trained in a fusion of different martial arts styles, knife wielding, staff fighting and adept marksmanship with a gun. She is willing to use torture and psychological cruelty to achieve her goals without remorse.
===Weakness===
Caveat to Blood Empowerment – if she drinks the blood of certain creatures, it could have the opposite effect and make her sick (ie: she cannot drink the blood of Werewolves or Reapers); it’s also possible for her to become addicted to certain types of blood.
Caveat to Contaminant Immunity - Still susceptible to various toxins/poisons/diseases that are of Supernatural origin.
Photosensitivity – though she is able to walk in the daylight, prolonged periods spent in the sun tends to make her not feel well and cause ocular migraines. Her eyes can be sensitive to bright light, especially those paranormal in nature to the extent of temporarily affecting her vision. This is something that could be exploited (ie: cause her temporary blindness).
Destructible – she is not impervious to Supernatural attacks of various kinds and despite increased durability, is still able to be severely injured or killed.
Rot Sickness – there is always the potential for her inherited Rot Sickness to worsen, should she experience any kind of great emotional upheaval. In her childhood, her symptoms of instability (ie: black tears) were able to be managed by way of extreme emotional repression and intense training. She has struggled the most with power surges, leading her further stifle her emotions, which could actually end up blowing up in her face one day.
===Supernatural Form(s)===
N/A
===Weapons===
A tactical knife, a Glock if a mission calls for it (ie: assassination).
== Legend: Shadow Monster ==
=== Supernatural/Original Beast Offspring ===
* Magpie is a Gen 3 Shadow Monster, born from a Dhampir mother and the DNA of Umbralius. 
* Like her Original Beast parent, she possesses shadow/blood related powers.
* She is only aware of her species and that her biological mother died during childbirth. 
* She views the SRI as basically the Dollar Tree Version of Root. In other words, she holds them in low-esteem in comparison, but will work with them at Root's behest. She'll also turn on them at Root's behest.
* She is not currently considered imperfect or unstable. Through intensive training early on in her life, she works hard to keep her Rot Sickness as stabilized as possible.
=== Shadow Monster Abilities ===
Increased Intuition - Just having a "feeling" about something that turns out to be true.
Psychic Abilities - Very basic psychic powers.
Prophetic Dreams - Dreams of what the future holds in snippets.
=== Shadow Monster Symptoms ===
Rot Sickness - An illness where they cough up black sludge that smells of rot.
Power Surges - Extreme surges of supernatural strength. Results in extreme fatigue after.
Black Tears - Typically after overexerting themselves, their power cannot be contained within their body. Their eyes begin to leak tarry, black liquid.
Obsidian Combustion - If allowed to stay in the Black Tear state for too late, the Gen 3 specimen will combust into black flames and melt into a puddle of tar, ending their life.
==Background==
===History===
Having been born for the sole purpose of being added to the roster of Root as a modern variant of Shadow Monster offspring, Codename: Magpie has no memory of anything so mundane as parents. She knows nothing of her outcast of a Dhampir mother, just that she died due to complications of birthing such a child. Nor does she know anything of her beastly sperm donor and frankly, that’s how she prefers it. Things like family and affectionate upbringings are the kinds of prosaic nonsense belonging in children’s books and Magpie has no use for such frivolity. Her life began with Root and as far as she’s concerned, will remain with Root until the day she dies.
Magpie took the indoctrination of Root to heart and excelled in the Root Prep Program, which is a source of pride for her and further hinged her entire identity on being an exemplary, reliable agent. Especially after working so hard to manage the symptoms of her Rot Sickness. She diligently keeps a record of every flare up; every power surge, every slimy hacking cough. As long as she doesn’t overdo it and deadens her emotions to perpetual numbness, she is able to keep in check. 
Proving especially adept in espionage and assassination, they became her main areas of expertise and over the years, she has proven herself as the kind of loyally cold-hearted, cut-throat that makes for an exceptional member of the organization. Given that her life has been devoid of all else, she latched onto this facsimile of purpose and devoted herself to it.
However, sometimes in the dead of night, while staring at the blank walls of her lifeless little apartment… Maggie’s lifetime of forcibly smothered emotions have begun to feel like the quiet hum of static, crackling beneath the surface. She knows it’s wrong, that she isn’t allowed to yearn or have interests or abstract things like personal bonds. Truly, she has no use for those things and is disgusted at herself for these occasional ponderings of “what if?” It can only lead to trouble and makes her have to clear her throat against the sudden tickle of rising bile. 
So she continues throwing herself into her work to keep her mind distracted. Her part-time job at a cafe must be taking a toll. Playing at being a regular person for the sake of blending in and observing while serving coffee to useless civilians is clearly tedious enough that the boredom of it is getting to her. That must be it, because she’d never do anything to go against Root or its interests. She watches her customers and the people of Cedargrove, wondering who will be next to end up on her hitlist, and well… that’s their problem. There’s already so much blood on her hands, what’s a little more? She’s good at her job and that’s all that matters. No one needs to know about any vague feelings of discontent or ill-ease she may be feeling, surely it will pass… right?
===Motivations and Goals===
Do her job and do it will, manage her Rot Sickness, don't rock the boat, and keep her emotions numbed.
===Relationships with other Characters===
None currently.
==Living Situation==
===Home===
A nondescript studio apartment with minimalist, monochromatic furniture and nothing of any sentimental value or personal touches in the decor. 
===Never Leaves Home Without===
Her mask, sunglasses, two electroshock batons that can be connected to form a combat staff, a tactical knife, a work phone, occasionally a Glock if a mission calls for it (ie: assassination).
===Travel===
A black Yamaha YZF-R1 Motorcycle.
===Roommates===
Magpie currently lives alone.
==Plotting==
===Played by===
Beastie
===Desired Ships/Plots===
Would love for her to have her dedication to Root to be challenged (positive or negative), explore interaction dynamics with fellow Root agents, and of course anything to explore her existence as a Shadow Monster offspring (ie: meeting possible siblings, parent or ramifications of Rot Sickness etc). 
===Where to Encounter Magpie===
The Restricted District, French Press Cafe, or various places around Cedargrove.
===No-Go's for RP===
Nothing comes to mind.
Category:Beastie
Category:OC
Category:Cedargrove
Category:Supernatural
Category:Shadow Monster
Category:Aware
Category:Root