MARIKO KURIBAYASHI
PERSONALITYFriendly and outgoing, she is an outspoken progressive. Unlike her older brother Mitsuyoshi, she did not display any particular martial inclinations at school and was far more interested in the liberal arts as a youth. She is compassionate and prefers non-violent solutions to her problems.
SKILLS AND POWERS |
As a youth Mariko showed an aptitude for languages and political sciences, and was an enthusiastic organiser in several academic and extra-curricular groups. She received regular swordfighting, first aid and self-defense classes, and is an avid jogger. Mariko has a spiritual connection to the Far thanks to her lineage, and is still learning to understand her powers, but she has a strong command of Idshii magic. Her abilities primarily revolve around telekinesis, allowing her to move objects and exert pressure remotely. She is also able to generate light, and is excellent redaction in the form of detecting and countering psychic attacks on the consciousness thanks to her past experiences. Her powers are currently limited by her lack of training and relative youth.
BIOGRAPHYBorn to the Jade Empress and her consort, Mariko enjoyed a stable and well-rounded childhood. Since her older brother Mitsuyoshi was the heir apparent, Mariko was afforded some freedoms as a child and that relative independence, combined with the resources and benefits available to her as a member of the royal family, resulted in an inquisitive and critically-thinking mindset. Educated in the standard broad base of language, literature, sciences, mathematics, history and sports, she excelled at chess and
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hnefatafl and showed an affinity for languages and political sciences.
At the age of 17, she was present at Legacy System when it was assaulted by Frankish warfleets during the Legacy War. Merger agents took advantage of the situation to attempt to kidnap her, accidentally transporting Mariko through a portal to the Ancerious Galaxy. Rescued from her pursuers by Agent X2C2 of the Gauss Dominion, alias Takamo, the pair were forced to seek shelter on the planet of Carcaros, but were attacked by a being of Corruption and fled. Narrowly avoiding capture by a Merger fleet under the command of Captain Alcazar aboard his flagship, the EIC Heart's Mercy, Mariko and Takamo were saved by the intervention of the warship IJN Ritual of Service and escaped to a KanshoCorp Mining Facility, designation XEN-KT-1615. Unknown to them, the facility had been attacked by a Flesh Knight, killing most of the crew aboard. Briefly deceived by the Flesh Knight's avatars, the Flesh Knight attempted to psychically control them. Mariko used her growing abilities to fight back mentally and the struggle manifested itself as the Siege of Beringford during the Vong War. Together Takamo and Mariko were able to overpower the Flesh Knight and psychically destroy it. Defeating the mental assault of the Flesh Knight and banishing it back to Corruption, the two awoke and were able to fight their way back to a hangar, |
where a Dominion landing force drove off the remaining avatars of the Flesh Knight and rescued the two.
Dominion guidelines stated that all psychically compromised agents were to be euthanised, but before the crew of the Dominion warship could carry out their orders the Merger once again caught up to the fugitives. An intense naval battle and boarding action saw most of the Merger fleet destroyed, along with the Dominion warship. Mariko and Takamo, along with a trio of other agents and officers, Valeem, Verma and Katrina, were able to escape aboard a Shogun-class frigate, leading to both the Gauss Dominion and the Jade Empire offering a bounty for their recovery. During the course of their escape, Mariko demonstrated further growth in her abilities by killing a Merger daemon using psionic powers. Aboard the frigate, Mariko was visited by Juan Carlos la Sana who explained his plans for the Curse of Light. Using faked video footage of Mariko, the Colonel was able to convince the population of Ingen both of the veracity of Jade Shinto and of the existence of a curse he had laid upon them. This belief channeled energy through the Far Anomaly, turning almost all citizens of the Jade Empire into Yokari, Mariko included. This groundswell of belief also greatly magnified Mariko's powers. The team tried to infiltrate the Furrelian-occupied system of Luasu, following visions sent by Kragleosha Gauss to Takamo. However, Furrelian warships managed to intercept their ship, severely damaging Contagion and killing Takamo. The survivors jumped into FTL and were nearly captured, but were rescued by a Jade warship during the Capture of the FDS Dilinam. |
Aboard the frigate, Mariko was visited by Juan Carlos la Sana who explained his plans for the Curse of Light. Using faked video footage of Mariko, the Colonel was able to convince the population of Ingen both of the veracity of Jade Shinto and of the existence of a curse he had laid upon them. This belief channeled energy through the Far Anomaly, turning almost all citizens of the Jade Empire into Yokari, Mariko included. This groundswell of belief also greatly magnified Mariko's powers.
The team tried to infiltrate the Furrelian-occupied system of Luasu, following visions sent by Kragleosha Gauss to Takamo. However, Furrelian warships managed to intercept their ship, severely damaging Contagion and killing Takamo. The survivors jumped into FTL and were nearly captured, but were rescued by a Jade warship during the Capture of the FDS Dilinam.
The survivors were escorted to Sanrin, where a new body was built for Contagion and they were able to recuperate. Shortly afterwards, however, they were attacked in the Garden of Lights teahouse by Merger cultists. Simultaneously, Conclave separatists attempted to kidnap Mariko whilst House Jaros rebels attempted to assassinate Verma and a bounty hunter unit attempted to collect on Blight and Contagion. After a confused multi-way combat in which Blight and Verma confronted the Rook, a powerful member of the Chessmen, the different attacking groups retreated or were killed and the area was secured by Jade marines.
The team tried to infiltrate the Furrelian-occupied system of Luasu, following visions sent by Kragleosha Gauss to Takamo. However, Furrelian warships managed to intercept their ship, severely damaging Contagion and killing Takamo. The survivors jumped into FTL and were nearly captured, but were rescued by a Jade warship during the Capture of the FDS Dilinam.
The survivors were escorted to Sanrin, where a new body was built for Contagion and they were able to recuperate. Shortly afterwards, however, they were attacked in the Garden of Lights teahouse by Merger cultists. Simultaneously, Conclave separatists attempted to kidnap Mariko whilst House Jaros rebels attempted to assassinate Verma and a bounty hunter unit attempted to collect on Blight and Contagion. After a confused multi-way combat in which Blight and Verma confronted the Rook, a powerful member of the Chessmen, the different attacking groups retreated or were killed and the area was secured by Jade marines.