Cypher

* Main Portrait
* Hero Costume
* Chibi

## Meta

> "*Don't worry, I've been practicing punching holograms of myself for just this moment.*"
> ― Cypher
>
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## Appearance

Ivy is 5'11", comparatively tall to her peers. She has bright blue eyes and long, wavy hair (although it can be a bit of a mess sometimes). She is fairly skinny, although toned from her combat training.

In casual wear, she generally wears goth-punk clothes, consisting of white hoodies, dark colored t-shirts, black or grey jeans, an assortment of booties, and silver necklaces and earrings. She also usually has a beanie on, although sometimes goes without it when it's hot out.

For her costume, she has a fairly utilitarian look. She wears a black cowl and half-cloak, with an indigo enforced jumpsuit under it. She wears dark jeans, which end up streaked with ink. For accessories, she wears a satchel and belt with pouches, along with fingerless gloves and a lower face mask, finishing it off with combat boots.

## Powers

**Magical Aptitude (runica)**: Ivy has the ability to channel magic through three different styles, all of which she classifies as 'runica'.

She can make gestures, called sigils, with fingers or other straight objects she holds (such as staves, spears, glaives), creating effects such as push, pull, hold, shield, using elements of force, fire, lightning, and ice.

She can use magically charged ink that she creates in her downtime to paint marks, similar in shape to sigils, on surfaces, people, or objects to create empowered effects of the sigils which can be triggered by concentrating and channel magic into them, even from a distance.

Finally, she can create brands by painting this ink intricately onto her skin, allowing her to swiftly cast sigils without requiring the gesture as well as being able to enhance her physical ability. These brands fade to a very faint black after being painted on, but glow faintly when she is using her magic. Brands must be repainted every week or after being washed off by oily substances (they are waterproof, though), or else they lose their potency and stability.

All of her magic becomes stronger, if more draining, with larger runica, meaning long gestures with an extension, such as a staff, creates powerful spells. Note that excessive use of her magic causes exhaustion, then pain, before leading to unconsciousness. It is most noticeable through her brands, as they will start to burn hot red and flake off, further decreasing her strength.

Note that she can also channel magic through what she calls 'long' or 'slow' runes, a more standard and slower, if more expansive way of casting. However, her experience with this is limited, and mostly just lets her channel things she is already trying to turn into runica but hasn't quite learned well enough yet.

**Impressive martial prowess**: Both from intense training, as well as brands for stamina, strength, and speed, Ivy is quite capable in combat, especially when she is armed with a polearm (preferably a glaive).

## Background

### Pre-Big Team

Ivy's parents were both vigilante heroes from the Bronze Age who traveled around searching for evil artifacts they believed to be corrupting regions of the world. Therefore, Ivy was constantly on the move as she grew up, being taught by her mother and father, along with their assistant. Unfortunately, her father was killed in pursuit of their greatest hunt yet. Ivy was eight at the time, so her memories of her father are present, but faded.

At first, her mother grieved for some time, and Ivy was mostly taken care of by their assistant. However, eventually her mother sought to finish this hunt of theirs, and actually managed to, taking down the villains who guarded it (violently, they are still vigilantes), and securing the artifact, an ancient crystal which pulsated with dark energy and whispered in your ear. However, instead of destroying the artifact or sending it to the League of Heroes, her mother decided she would secure the citadel (located near Detroit) where it was held, and study it, thinking she could use it to make sure she lost **nothing** else.

By this time, Ivy was around age ten, and showing the same powers her mother had, begun training in the use of runica. She also began to learn how to fight, drilling to practice hand to hand, swords, spears, and axes. Polearms became of importance to her when her mother realized that Ivy inherited her father's magical substance permeation, allowing her to draw sigils through the point of a spear, or sweep of a glaive. Her mother's focus on the training was mostly so Ivy could defend herself, but she also talked about hunting down villains and artifacts, and other such heroic things. At this time, Ivy saw her mother as a hero, and for the most part, her mother still was one.

However, as Ivy aged, her mother started to get more and more paranoid. Her studies of the relic became closer and more dangerous. Ivy could see the corruption getting to her, the same things her mother and father once fought against. Her mother always promised that her studies were safe, that, "As long as I am slow and careful, it can never control me." But overtime, her demeanor changed, her actions became more harsh, brutal, and controlling. She assembled groups to hunt for more of those artifacts she once sought to destroy, now to retrieve. She thought there had to be an answer to all this struggle she had been through.

Reaching age seventeen, Ivy had already had many arguments with her mother. That she hurt civilians, that she cared not for the damage she was doing, that she didn't protect herself from the influence these artifacts had on her. Even that while once the people knew her as 'Rune', a vigilante hunter, they now called her 'Banshee', a villainous puppetmaster. Ivy gave her an ultimatum: change, or she would leave. And while her mother promised she would change, a few months passed and nothing had. So Ivy left.

Figuring there was still time to save her mother, Ivy traveled to Halcyon. She wanted to atone for her mother's actions, and to gain the trust of the heroes there. Then she might be able to get their assistance. Then, she might be able to save her mother. In the meantime, she has to deal with teenage drama, something she isn't quite prepared to deal with. However, she sticks up for what she believes in, while getting distracted with interesting books, writing her own short stories, and of course, cute girls.

### Post-Big Team

Ivy had a run in with her mother, Banshee, which resulted in Ivy procuring a small part, a catalyst, of the Night's Paragon. Ivy and her mother never traded blows, although they were opposed against each other in the fights. However, Ivy harshly cut down Banshee when she tried to get her to come back home. Whether this will result in further pursuit or distancing, is yet to be seen.

With a piece of the Night's Paragon in her possession, Ivy is scared she may be hunted down by others to procure it. She is hoping that her mother will focus on other pursuits, as she is still scared (and believes herself to be not powerful enough) of fighting her.

## Relationships

### Family

**Asha Noverre**: Ivy's mother, Asha Noverre, better known as 'Banshee'. A vigilante-turned-supervillain currently in charge of her own group of agents known as the 'Seekers', who are trying to collect evil artifacts scattered throughout the world. Asha cares deeply for Ivy, but in a controlling, paranoid way. Ivy is worried for her mother, believing the artifacts she seeks to be corrupting her.

**Catherine Veraya**: While not blood family, Catherine was a major influence and big-sister figure to Ivy as she grew up. However, as Banshee grew apart from Cypher, Catherine did too. While Cypher stiil believes Catherine can be saved, their relationship is currently antagonistic, with Cath thinking Cypher has betrayed them by leaving.

### Friends

**Greg Kellman**: A previous friend of Ivy's father when he was younger, Greg is a bar owner in Halcyon City. He has given Ivy temporary shelter in Halcyon, as well as providing her details into the workings of both Halcyon's hero scene and the underground.

**Boon**: Ivy respects Boon after she helped denounce Banshee's plans and ideals in the hunt for the Paragon. She sees Boon as someone she can trust after this.

**Libra**: Although the Seekers once attacked Libra, Ivy feels like they are one of the few people they can truly trust, possibly due to them both having issues with the whole 'city hates you' thing. She also still feels bad about the whole 'my mother's agents attacked you' thing, so is trying to help Libra and make up for it still.

**Bolt**: Ivy and Bolt have been on quite a few missions together, and although Bolt can be a bit chaotic for her, Ivy enjoys Bolt's company and wants to make sure he stays safe. Bolt's positive energy helps Ivy a lot when she is feeling down or insecure about her powers. She also enjoys his robots.

**The Jackal**: Quite a few times, Melody has helped Ivy in a highly dangerous situations. Ivy holds a great deal of respect to her, and feels like she needs to make up for all the times Melody has 'caught her when she fell'. Ivy trusts her to help if things get dark.

## Journal Entries

First, Ivy's detailed magic book: **Cypher's Book of Runica**

As for the journal: **Cypher's Journals (Season 4)**

Her current (always WIP) playlist: Soundcloud

 Members