Oni

Queen Leandra Thalassa Marowen (a.k.a. Lee, Oni)

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Oni was cloned from the DNA of a brilliant scientist as part of Project Aeloria, a highly ambitious initiative to merge advanced biotechnology with artificial intelligence. The goal was to create a new type of life form, one that transcended the boundaries of both organic and synthetic existence, and could master both magic and technology.
After Oni escaped from the laboratory where she had been created, the world outside was both foreign and dangerous. She wandered through the Transitional Planes, a realm in the heart of Aer, caught between the conflicting forces of the Techie and Mage territories. The Transitional Planes were a land of neutrality, largely unaligned and uninvolved in the ongoing war between magic and technology. This unmarked space, between the extremes of the Techie and Mage realms, provided a place where neither side’s influence was overwhelmingly dominant, making it the perfect refuge for someone like Oni to hide.
In the Transitional Planes, Oni encountered a wide range of beings: travelers, exiles, and those who had no stake in the war between magic and technology. It was here that she first learned of the Life Tree, the source of magic that connected all of existence. The Life Tree was dying, its power weakening, and the balance of Aer itself seemed to be on the verge of collapse. While Oni wrestled with the shadows of her past—of the horrific events she had narrowly escaped—she also began to understand the deep importance of the Life Tree’s health. She learned that Xania, her sister, had become the vessel for the Life Seed and thus had the power to save or destroy the Tree. Yet, the Tree’s decay continued, and time was running out.
Following the pull of the waters, Oni ventured to the source of Rachna, where she drank deeply from the life-giving waters. The transformation was immediate and overwhelming. As the waters of Rachna flowed through her, Oni’s connection to the Life Tree was sealed. She became something new—a Werefolk, bound to the dying Tree, and yet empowered by it. This transformation awakened latent powers within her, powers she had never known or understood. It was in this moment that she became the Fey Queen, inheriting not only the mantle of leadership over the Fey but also an unbreakable bond to the earth itself, and the primal magic that flowed through all things.

Mental Trauma

Xania, one of the other clones, was chosen as the one to merge with the Life Seed and become the vessel for the creation of the Life Tree. Oni, along with the other cloned children (except Xania), was deemed expendable and slated for death. They were to be discarded after their use in the project was over. However, Oni was one of the few children who managed to escape the slaughter. She witnessed the horrific purge of the other children and narrowly avoided death. She is haunted by the screams of her siblings and the violence that marked the end of Project Aeloria.

Intellectual Characteristics

Philosophical Thought and Reflection

Oni's experiences with the scientific endeavors of Project Aeloria, her escape, and her transformation into the Fey Queen have led her to reflect deeply on the nature of life, identity, and power. Having been created as an experiment, she often questions the boundaries between creation and autonomy, fate and free will.
She has a philosophical approach to her role as the Fey Queen, constantly wrestling with the responsibility she now carries—both to the Fey and to the Life Tree. Her thoughts often venture into the ethical implications of magic, life, and the consequences of the actions she takes. She is deeply concerned with finding balance, and this philosophical mindset informs her leadership and the choices she makes for the future of Aer.

Limitations and Blind Spots

While Oni's intellect is formidable, there are certain areas where she struggles. Her exposure to the intricacies of Fey politics and the true depth of the Life Tree’s magic is still in its infancy, and while she is now bound to the Life Tree, she does not fully understand its complex, multifaceted nature. Her knowledge of both magic and technology is incomplete, and she sometimes finds it difficult to reconcile these two powerful forces in her leadership.
Oni's connection to the Life Tree means that her strength and survival are intricately tied to its wellbeing, but the exact limitations of this bond and its effects on her own life and power are still unknown to her. This uncertainty occasionally clouds her decision-making, as she is forced to balance the needs of her people with the state of the Life Tree.

Strategic Mindset

Having spent much of her early life in an environment where survival and escape were the primary goals, Oni developed a strategic mindset early on. In the lab, she was forced to adapt quickly and think on her feet in order to avoid detection and remain safe. Once she escaped and wandered through the Transitional Planes, she learned to assess situations not just for what they appeared to be but for what they could become.
As the Fey Queen, this ability to think strategically has only grown. She is adept at analyzing the larger picture—whether it is the state of the Life Tree, the threats to the Fey, or the power dynamics between the Techie and Mage factions—and formulating long-term plans. Her leadership is marked by this careful consideration, weighing both immediate and long-term outcomes.

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Oni's emotional intelligence is perhaps her most unexpected trait. While her intellect was initially driven by survival and the implantation of the Life Drive, the transformation she underwent after drinking from the Waters of Rachna and becoming the Fey Queen deepened her emotional awareness. She has developed a profound empathy, not just for the Fey who follow her but also for the natural world, the Life Tree, and the various forces that shape Aer.
Her intellectual understanding of magic and life is now complemented by an instinctive, deep connection to the world. This bond to the Life Tree and nature allows her to sense the emotions and intentions of others, making her a perceptive and wise leader, able to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics with ease. Her ability to balance both intellect and empathy helps her navigate the political and mystical challenges she faces as the Fey Queen.

Curiosity and Knowledge-Seeking

Despite the horrific nature of her creation, Oni developed a deep-seated curiosity about the world. Her escape from the laboratory and subsequent immersion in the Transitional Planes allowed her to expand her knowledge, particularly in the areas of politics, history, and the various factions vying for control over Aer. Having been raised in a controlled, isolated environment, Oni is keen to explore new concepts, people, and territories.
Her time in the Transitional Planes, a place of neutrality between the Techie and Mage factions, encouraged her to seek knowledge from a variety of sources, often outside her initial scope. She has a natural hunger to learn more about magic, technology, and the delicate balance between them. This pursuit of knowledge drives her to engage with scholars, wizards, technomancers, and other wise beings from all walks of life.

Analytical Thinking

Oni’s creation as part of Project Aeloria instilled in her an intellect that is both sharp and rational. Though she was not given the Life Seed like her sister Xania, she was still implanted with a Life Drive and given an education that has endowed her with a keen understanding of biological systems, artificial intelligence, and the potential fusion of these two realms. She is able to assess situations logically, break down complex problems, and form hypotheses. However, this logical thinking is tempered by the mystical forces she has come to understand in her new life as the Fey Queen.
Her training in the laboratory gives her an edge when deciphering technological constructs and arcane lore, though her limited personal understanding of the mystical forces tied to the Life Tree sometimes challenges her analytical skills.

Morality & Philosophy

The Value of Life

Oni has a deeply ambivalent relationship with life due to her origins. As a clone, created to be a part of a grand experiment, she was not born in the traditional sense and had no agency in her creation. This lack of autonomy has made her view life as both a precious gift and a dangerous, fragile thing. While she cherishes the lives of those who are free from the manipulation of others, she also understands the darker side of life, as she was raised in an environment where children were discarded, and lives were seen as expendable.
As the Fey Queen, her moral stance on life has evolved. The act of binding herself to the Life Tree and becoming the protector of the Fey has deepened her respect for all living things, particularly the Fey and the natural world. She now feels a profound connection to the Life Tree, which represents life in its purest, most interconnected form. Despite her understanding of the cycle of life and death, she is committed to preserving life whenever possible, though she is prepared to make difficult decisions in order to protect it—particularly when the lives of the innocent are at risk.

The Ethics of Power

Oni’s position as the Fey Queen places her at the heart of a moral dilemma about the nature of power. The power she wields, which is directly tied to the Life Tree, is immense, and she is keenly aware of its potential for both good and evil. From her experiences with Project Aeloria, where power was used without regard for the well-being of others, she has a natural aversion to the abuse of power.
She believes that power should be wielded responsibly and for the benefit of others, especially those who cannot protect themselves. However, her role as the Fey Queen also means she must balance this belief with the practical realities of survival. Protecting the Fey and the Life Tree may require sacrifices, and she does not take these decisions lightly. She values strength, but she recognizes that the greatest leaders are those who know when to use power and when to refrain from using it.
Oni’s philosophy can be summed up by her belief that power should not be hoarded but rather shared or used to protect the vulnerable. However, she acknowledges that power can also be isolating, and this truth weighs heavily on her as she leads her people through times of crisis.

Free Will vs. Fate

Given her origins, Oni grapples with the concept of free will. She was designed to serve a specific purpose—her sole reason for existence was to be a vessel for the Life Seed, and her early life was a controlled experiment. This lack of agency has made her question the concept of fate. For most of her life, she was unable to make meaningful choices, and her survival was reliant on circumstances beyond her control.
Now that she has escaped that destiny and bound herself to the Life Tree, Oni has a renewed sense of free will, though it is constantly under the weight of responsibility. She believes that free will is an essential part of life, but she is also aware that certain things—like her bond to the Life Tree—are not entirely within her control. While she fights for autonomy and the freedom of others, she acknowledges that sometimes, the course of events is shaped by forces larger than any one person.
Oni often finds herself torn between accepting the idea of fate and fighting for free will. This philosophical tension shapes her decisions, particularly when it comes to her leadership—she seeks to guide her people but recognizes that sometimes events unfold in ways that cannot be predicted or entirely controlled.

The Role of Sacrifice

Sacrifice is another key element of Oni’s moral philosophy. Having been created and discarded as an experiment, Oni knows the value of her life as something fragile and temporary. The death of many during the Project Aeloria purge, has shaped her understanding of sacrifice. She recognizes that to protect the greater good, sacrifices are sometimes necessary—but she is not willing to throw away lives lightly.
Oni believes that a true leader must be willing to make sacrifices for the good of the collective. Her transformation into the Fey Queen and her bond with the Life Tree represent the ultimate sacrifice of her own life in service to something greater than herself. However, she struggles with the moral cost of her role—how many lives must be sacrificed to protect the life of the Life Tree and her people? This is a question she constantly asks herself as she navigates the ethical complexities of leadership.

Justice and Retribution

Oni’s understanding of justice is complex. While she values fairness, she also believes that true justice is not always achievable in a world filled with corruption and violence. She has witnessed firsthand the cruelty and injustice of those who sought to control or destroy the Aelorians, and this has shaped her view on retribution.
Oni does not seek vengeance for its own sake, but she believes in righting wrongs when possible. However, she is not quick to judge or condemn. Her experiences have taught her that sometimes, there are larger forces at play that shape a person’s actions. While she is not forgiving of cruelty, she does seek understanding—she values justice but is also mindful of the broader context in which wrongs are committed.
Her role as the Fey Queen has reinforced her belief in restorative justice—rather than focusing solely on punishment, she seeks to understand the reasons behind actions and, where possible, to offer opportunities for redemption. This view is complicated by the political realities of being a monarch, but it remains a core principle of her leadership.

Connection to Nature and the Life Tree

At the heart of Oni’s moral philosophy is her deep connection to the natural world and the Life Tree. Her transformation into the Fey Queen has made her the guardian of the Fey, and she sees herself as their protector. This bond is not just symbolic; it is moral in nature. The Life Tree represents balance, renewal, and the interconnection of all life in Aer. The Fey are the guardians of the Life Tree. As its guardian, Oni believes it is their responsibility to ensure its preservation and the preservation of life.
Her connection to the Life Tree shapes her views on conservation and the protection of the environment. She sees the world as a living, breathing entity, and she believes that all creatures—whether Fey, human, or other—are intrinsically linked to the land. This connection to the Life Tree gives her a deep moral commitment to the health of the natural world and all its inhabitants.

Alignment

Neutral Good

Species

The Fey

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Sex

Female

Gender

Female

Presentation

Female

Eyes

Always changing

Hair

Always changing

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Always changing

Height

Always changing

Weight

Always changing

Quotes & Catchphrases

Life is neither kind nor cruel; it simply is. Adapt, and you will endure.

Do not mistake change for chaos. Even the wildest winds follow a pattern.

What you fear in me is not my power but the reflection of what you lack.

I am no goddess. I am a keeper, a vessel, a fleeting shadow in an eternal cycle.

Those who seek to control magic forget that it was never theirs to hold.

Do you think me unpredictable? I am as constant as the seasons, yet as free as the storm.

The Life Tree does not offer power. It offers responsibility. Few understand the difference.

Every choice creates ripples. You cannot stop the tide, only decide where to stand.

Peace is a myth spoken by those who’ve never known survival.

Known Languages

You step into the heart of the Mother Tree, the air thick with the scent of earth and magic. The chamber glows faintly, the bioluminescent roots casting undulating patterns of light and shadow. There she stands, Oni, the Fey Queen, a figure both mesmerizing and otherworldly. Her form defies mortal expectation, tall and regal, with a commanding presence that fills the space. Her skin shimmers like liquid obsidian, catching the light in rippling reflections, while faintly glowing markings twist across her body like ancient runes. Her eyes, luminous and piercing, seem to see through the layers of your being, each glance a silent reckoning.
Her hair flows like threads of spun moonlight, cascading down her back, blending into a cloak of delicate, shifting vines that pulse with an inner life. Her fingers, long and graceful, seem to draw the air itself into her control as she gestures. She wears no crown, yet the energy of the Mother Tree crowns her with an undeniable authority. When she speaks, her voice resonates—a harmony of whispers and power that lingers in your mind like the memory of a dream. You cannot help but feel small in her presence, yet strangely elevated, as though her gaze alone has woven you into the fabric of something much greater than yourself.

Appearance

Oni’s physical appearance is as fluid and mutable as the shifting seasons, an ever-changing expression of her connection to the Life Tree and the magic it embodies. One moment, she might appear with alabaster skin glowing faintly like the moon, her hair cascading in shimmering waves of silver. The next, her form could radiate the fierce energy of the forest, her skin taking on the dappled hues of bark and moss, with vines coiling through her hair like living tendrils. Her eyes, the most consistent feature, hold the ancient wisdom of ages, glowing softly with hues that shift between deep verdant green and molten gold, reflecting the life force she governs.
Her transformations seem to follow no clear pattern—at times, subtle, like the gentle growth of a leaf, and at others, dramatic, as though she is reborn anew with each phase of the Life Tree’s energy. This unpredictability adds to her mystique, marking her as a being untethered by mortal constraints. Those who approach her often struggle to reconcile their fleeting impressions, describing her beauty in contradictory terms: serene yet wild, delicate yet powerful, human yet undeniably otherworldly. Her shifting visage mirrors the capriciousness of nature itself, a reminder that she is both its guardian and its embodiment.