IO Sirocco

> *"You boys look like you're in need of a ranger to set you back on the right path." - IO*
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**IO** is one of the main character of the Compass Project series, first appearing in Sirocco.

She is the first Avio introduced in Sirocco, and works as a park ranger at Big Bend national park in Texas, and is a former Project Sirocco synth, along with her nine other sisters.

## Appearance

IO has tanned skin, large red eyes and a deep scar across her nose. She has very long hair, that is usually tied back and is the same colour as her feathers with pink, red and black, and has a plush almost fur-like quality to it. Parts of her hair are dyed.

#### Synth Features

IO has white and pink feathers covering her face and shoulders.

She has extremely large wings that are primarily black, but have blue, white, and pinkish red markings. They are often described as being "cherry and cobalt" and the patterning extends into her tailfeathers. In a tumblr post, T.Hearts revealed that the pattern was based off the butterfly, *Ancyluris formosissima.*

She also has short claws which she keeps filed down and sharp little "monkey fangs".

Her wings are featured on the cover of Sirocco.

## Personality

IO is a cheerful and innocent character, who is very reluctant to hurt animals and critters alike, but is not so soft and naïve that she wont defend herself or believes things at face value. Despite her gentleness, she is capable of attacking and behaving in a feral manner, however she reserves it for when she is angry unlike San who is almost always on the brink of being feral.

IO is very good at analysing situations and behaviours, capable of recognising and deducing the direction of a single gunshot in a large open area, understanding Critter biology, and being emotionally aware of others.

## History

#### ARCDA

When IO was young with her sisters, they trained as some of the first Rubies and Sapphires before they were put into the wild.

#### Big Bend

IO was relocated to Big Bend National Park, Texas, when she was nine. The handler introduced her to the park rangers so that they could also keep an eye on her, and since then, every new Ranger gets to meet and work with IO.

#### Sirocco

In Sirocco, IO is a park ranger taking care of lost tourists and managing the park.

## Abilities

**UV Vision**

IO reveals that she has some level of ultraviolet vision, being able to see 'orange spangles' on the necks of the male Drake Raptors.

**Flight**

IO is capable of flying at high altitudes and across long distances, as well as being able to calculate her own flight times. She is an acrobatic flyer, utilising her long tailfeathers to change her direction and to provide additional lift when flying.

## Relationships

* Griffin

Although IO has every reason to be suspicious and wary of Griffin as an actively working Elite from ARCDA, IO is more concerned about Griffin breaking the laws of the park than she is about being captured by Griffin. Griffin is patient with her, and admires her happy attitude and misses her when IO is gone.

* San

As siblings, IO and San argue a lot, with IO being the baby, San takes it upon herself to be the more responsible one, however she does so aggressively and highly protectively. They still adore each other, despite getting on one another nerves.

* Peyton

IO and Peyton get along well. Peyton being a ranger, has radio contact with IO and is aware of both her presence as well as her sisters. Having worked with her for so many things, Peyton is the one who gets hold of items for IO that she cannot source for herself such as tinned fruit.

* Asher

IO respects Asher the same way she respects Peyton as being humans, trying to make sure that nothing seems too wild and extreme for his sensitivities, but does correct his mistakes when he makes assumptions and explaining to him things he might not know.

* Xavier

## Quotes

* "I said I wasn't a bird, never said that I wasn't a duck"
* "Like I said, don't think too hard on it."
* "Rude!"
* "I'm eating dinner and you want me to roll out to look for *mystery ostriches*?"

## Trivia

* IO's name is meant to represent the number 10 (ten) as she is the 10th sister of the Sirocco sisters.
* Compared to the concept art, IO hasn't physically changed much beyond slight adjustments to her wing patterns.
* She has been out of ARCDA for the last nine years.
* IO was origionally a concept character based off of a Scissortailed Flycatcher, which is the texas state bird, however during further development and revealed in a tumblr post, her wingshape along with her sisters have changed from being passerine to soaring, with them being based off swainson and ferruginous hawks however they retain the flycatcher tail feathers. T.Hearts also revealed that the colouring for IO's wing pattern comes from the butterfly Ancyluris formosissima

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 T.Hearts tumblr - https://scribbly-blue-hearts.tumblr.com/post/661333033714139136/is-there-a-real-bird-that-has-ios-wing-shape

 Storm Series
 Synths
 Other