cassi's last night summary
nergui might seem crass at times and a bit egotistical at first, but she’s not that bad once you get past the hardheadedness and stubbornness and chronic older sister syndrome and feigned stupidity and… well, she might be that bad. flirty one day, cruel the next; moody is the nicest way to put it, and her demeanor can change swiftly depending on who she’s talking to. she hates to show emotions she deems too exposing, or ones that do not benefit her or her reputation – she hates to lose her control over her image and how others perceive her like nothing else.she is highly adaptable, and changes her demeanor, manner of speech, and behavior to better fit in and make those around her feel more comfortable. this is not for their benefit; she finds it easier to get what she wants from someone who is comfortable around her, and sees her as harmless.
innate traits
as a xaela, she is covered in sturdy black scales, which grant her some natural protection, and the ability to see well in the dark. additionally, the tribe she’s from is known for their exceptionally large tails, which often grow to nearly double their height. additionally, she has a mastery of both lances and chakrams. she’s highly proficient with acrobatics, both from being a dancer and from hunting with a spear and leaping around with it for years. she can move at an almost deceptively high speed, considering her huge tail. she has a fantastic aim, both with her lance and with her chakrams.
abilities
nergui, as one of hydaelyn’s chosen, has the echo. it gives her the ability to predict an attack very shortly before it occurs, as well as protects her from tempering by primals. her echo manifests in the form of short, vague glimpses of the future, most frequently occurring in dreams. the visions are not always of important events, and are sometimes confusing and hazy, so she often mistakes them for regular dreams, and they do not always serve to benefit her. she also possesses the blessing of the kojin, which allows her to breathe underwater. she is able to manipulate aether, particularly wind and fire aether, and weaves magic into her attacks, or uses it to propel herself great distances, or just to make a showy and eye-catching spectacle.
items
a single well-loved, well-used lance (the rose);a pair of chakrams, engraved with roses (the thorns);
sarangerel, a loyal hunting hawk;
uyanga, a moderately sized yol, or giant bird of prey trained for riding
interview record
████: How do you feel about the idea of being far from home? Is there anything you’ll miss?NERGUI: I'm far from home more often than not. I miss being around people like me. Not necessarily my family, but, you know, a lot of people where I'm from share similar, um... philosophies? [she laughs.]
████: You seem like a resilient person. Would you say that you are?
NERGUI: I hope so. You think I got this far on luck alone?
████: Alright, how about this? Describe some of your strengths and weaknesses.
NERGUI: I don't have any weaknesses, so just remember that... But I have a way with people. They like me, usually. I'm pretty. I know my way around a battlefield. And I'm humble, too. People say I have a temper, but it's really not true, you know.
████: Imagine the world ends today. What does that look like to you?
NERGUI: I stopped it the last couple times it happened. Honestly, there isn't a lot you can do that I haven't already seen... But it looks like people losing themselves to fear, and none of them understanding why.
████: Let’s say you’re faced with a twist on the classic trolley problem: a trolley is headed for five people who’ve been tied to the tracks. You could pull the lever and divert the trolley, killing four people. Do you pull the lever? Does it make a difference?
NERGUI: Who lets themselves get tied to a trolley track without being able to break free? I won't pull the lever. [she pauses, and looks like she just realized something.] I'd like to stop it, of course, but it's a trolley, and that's easier said than done, sometimes...
████: Tell me about a dream you’ve had before. Good, bad… it doesn’t really matter.
NERGUI: I'm standing in a field of long grass, back home, on the steppes. About 50 paces away is a yurt — it's my family's, I can tell by the Sarnai banner hanging there. I can hear laughter, song, talking. Smoke comes out of the crown, like there's a fire going and they're cooking something. Every time, I tell myself to not go in, but I always do. When I get in, the sounds are from the outside, now. My family is in there. They're burned beyond recognition, but I know who is who. I can smell the singed flesh. I never forgot. My brothers are there, children again, and they're facing the wall, not looking. I never let them look. They ask me what's burning. I don't answer. They... no, this is stupid. Are we finished, yet?