Caitlyn Therrien
"You are a most resourceful man, and your loyalty to your king is commendable. That being said, I absolutely despise working with you, and by Tiõ's grace, I will never have to bear with you ever again in this lifetime."
Caitlyn Therrien is a Valkyrie and one of the Monarchy of Cleolinia's flying aces. She maintains a close relationship with her superior, Princess Irelia Stillingfleet, and forms a part of her permanent retinue.
Hailing from simple origins along the Eastern Cleolinian shoreline from a family of fishers, Caitlyn has demonstrated an aptitude for martial arts and a basic understanding of the ethereal arts since a young age. Despite her parents' protests in her taking up any sort of martial career, she his herself aboard a caravan that was headed for Harton, where she applied herself immediately as a member of the Valkyries, her potential seeing her brought inside of the castle gates and formally inducted.
Caitlyn is often selected as Irelia's escort wherever she goes, and it is through Irelia that she has run into other adventures and people outside of her usual line of work. In contrast to other serving Valkyries, Caitlyn remains verbose and expressive, and has little issue with engaging with others - making her an ambassador and front woman for the otherwise quiet and aloof Irelia.
Description
Caitlyn is a pale youthful lady who stands at 165 centimeters. Her blue eyes complement her light blonde hair, and her irises exhibit faint tracing of light whenever she calls upon a working or invocation. She tends to keep her hair tied back in a simply ponytail, even when not on standby.
Personality
"It is not everyday where you find someone so young and vibrant, someone who throws their entire being into bettering themselves and the people around them. That is why I have her close to my daughter."
Caitlyn is best described as an dedicated and diligent lady, who constantly strives to demonstrate her worth. Her outgoing energy and easy smile conceals an iron-hard will and steeled mind, eager to prove that she is worthy to stand at the top.
Her attitude with respect to others has had others mistake her for a natural born noble. She holds herself to the highest levels of decorum, and conducts herself in a matter that exemplifies her friend and superior.
History
Early Life
Little is known about Caitlyn's early life, other than that she hailed from a small nameless village on Cleolinia's eastern coast, and that her parents were known as fishers in the enclosed bays of the nearby ocean. Caitlyn is the youngest of four.
Runaway
Not content to spending the rest of her life in a small town fishing village, and pursued by a larger dream, the 8 year old Caitlyn resolved to make it big, and to make something of herself. Without even a note, and with the barest of belongings packed into her bag, Caitlyn left the family house in the late evening, resolving never to return until she has become someone greater than what others claimed she would be.
To her fortune, a traveling Kurol caravan was in her town in the morning, making a supply run and destined for Harton. Paying a token fee, she was allowed to sit with the caravan's merchants as they began an Etherspace translation, instantly taking her to Harton, and directly to the square where she saw the capital for the first time.
Spreading Wings
Sparing not a moment, she immediately headed in the direction of Harton Castle, where older girls were lining up to apply as Valkyries in training. She was originally looked over by the recruiting Valkyries, until an older girl decided to prove herself by fighting Caitlyn directly. The fight was stopped by the other Valkyries, but not before the first fist had fallen, only for it to not reach its target - Caitlyn had subconsciously invoked a ward and wardbounded herself, with the older girl having cracked her wrist by hitting the barrier as hard as she could.
Formally inducted as one of their youngest, Caitlyn knew that she would be immediately targeted for her youth, and because of the expression she was able to pull forth in a time of distress. Nevertheless, she gritted her teeth, and immediately put herself fully to the training and to the screening that all potential Valkyries were scanned against. She kept her head towards the top, and always pushed herself to match her older peers, never once asking for a break.
Meeting Irelia
"She was one of my first friends, even before I met you. That is how much she means to me, even if I am terrible at showing it."
Even as young Caitlyn threw herself into her training with gusto, her progress was being monitored for different reasons by no other than Queen Isana, wanting to see just how one of the youngest Valkyrie candidates was performing.
On one particular day, Caitlyn was summoned by Queen Isana, to appear before her in the upper garden of the Castle. Unsure of its meaning but not wanting to disappoint, Caitlyn appeared post haste before Queen Isana in the upper garden, only to see that it was just Isana and her daughter, Irelia.
Introducing Caitlyn to Irelia, Isana stated her hope that the two, being of similar age, would soon become fast and true friends. Irelia's quiet disposition would be complemented by Caitlyn's boisterous one, and pairing the two would strengthen and ameliorate both of their negative traits. To this point, Caitlyn was invited to the upper gardens at least once a week to socialize with both Irelia and Isana, and was exempt from usual formal protocol during those periods.
The Grisett Function
Caitlyn was one of Irelia's escorts during her first ever Grisett Function, serving as one of her attendants while apprenticing under Valkyrie Maria. As a member of Princess Irelia's retinue, she was permitted to carry her sword to the Grisett Function.
Feather Against Feather
In one of the most entertainingly memorable spats of the 1875 Grisett, Caitlyn openly challenged Mithambian Prince Jacob Mitfield in Castle Manhesto's courtyard, mistaking him for a lecherous pervert that threatened Irelia's dignity, and not realizing his true station or the Authority that was beginning to blossom within him. Her challenge was answered by a reluctant Jacob, who did not know why the fiery blonde wanted to skewer him, but he drew his saber and held his guard.
Their duel lasted approximately two minutes, within which both Caitlyn and Jacob demonstrated excellent martial skill with their blades. Passersby and orderlies within the castle and its grounds paused to watch, including the Knights and Talons who were on duty that day. Not wishing to escalate an already absurd situation, Jacob resolved to remain on the defensive - utilizing both sheath and sword to parry and counter Caitlyn's aggressive assault. No Authority from either was manifested throughout the course of the duel.
"Enough, both of you. Can't you see that you're already drawing unnecessary att-"
Before the duel could escalate with significant and deadly consequences, Crown Prince Hector stepped in and stopped both combatants from continuing their duel in the courtyard, having already drawn plenty of attention. His attempts for peaceful reconciliation fell flat when Caitlyn, mistaking him for a threat, turned around and socked Hector in the face, just as the Mithambian and Cleolinian royals showed up. For her effort, she was only given a light scolding by Valkyrie Maria, while Jacob was seen as an innocent party and praised for his demonstration of skill and restraint by Clarisse. Hector was admonished by both Marcus and Amelia for attempting to stop a live duel without any form of weapon or armor.
Afterwards, she personally apologized to Jacob, who readily accepted her apology and who put the first impression of her behind them. She would soon become fast friends with the Third Prince, finding his disposition similar to Irelia's. Through him, she would become acquainted with the other crown princes and princesses around her age, and would soon become one of the few commoners who would regularly enjoy company with the royals of the next generation.
Maturation
Caitlyn's training would complete itself on her 16th birthday, where she was ready to endure the final test for all Valkyries - a pure martial test against a threat to the Monarchy of Cleolinia as a whole. Her target would not take long to present itself - early warning scrying detected a column of Seraxi scythers making landfall on the southwestern coast, with multiple causalties already incurred by Juzenese forces attempting to stymie the tide. Caitlyn and three other Valkyries were scrambled and made haste towards their selected targets.
Flying Fury
For Caitlyn, this would be her first time encountering the dreaded Serax - prior to, she had only heard stories from other survivors, and Queen Isana would detail some of the Serax she had personally studied in her youth. Putting all rumors aside, she soared high above the setting sun, and her armor's sensors showed her the carnage below.
Although she was armed with powerful weapons, including an Aftercore rifle, the front and flank plates of a Seraxi scyther were simply too heavy to pierce through without significant firepower or an artillery barrage. Nevertheless, the Valkyries were the first to arrive, and they were to either drive off the enemy or hold them until the 2nd and 4th Battlegroups could arrive.
Caitlyn conducted herself in an exemplary fashion throughout her first engagement, including using her Valkyrie's wings to shear through a Scyther's side plates, opening its softer core for her fellow Valkyries to discharge their rifles into it, neutralizing a Scyther and opening a critical hole in the column for Cleolinian land forces to exploit, turning the tide of battle. The side plates would be incorporated into her own armor, adorning her as the first of many kills as a Valkyrie to come.
Jacob and Iris' Wedding
Caitlyn was present at Jacob and Iris' wedding, as a member of Irelia's retinue.
Untimely Reunion
In 1891, one year after the Falkner Square Massacre, Princess Irelia made a personal journey to Mithambe in order to visit both Jacob and Iris - namely to see how they were doing with their rapid unplanned ascension to the throne. Caitlyn would join Irelia's side as her escort.
True to her nature, Caitlyn first acquainted herself with the rest of Jacob's retinue, making fast friends with Julian and Rachel. Zoey's bashfulness caught Caitlyn off guard, though she did not state any discomfort with the tiefling archmagus, easing Zoey's concerns.
Sky Knight vs. Rocket Knave
Things took a different turn when both Caitlyn and Jason Marune met - one holding her head high, while the other merely glared at his counterpart. The other noble retainers immediately detected the impending friction, but were held fast by both Jacob and Irelia, intending to see how the two ascended commoners would compare and contrast their differences. This was to be decided with Jacob casting multiple locations in Manhesto's crowded sky via Emanation, with both of them tasked to hit off all points in the sequence dictated, before returning to Castle Manhesto.
"You and him are more alike than what even you would admit to. Both of you, take to the skies and see that point proven."
Their duel was eventful, with Caitlyn having to contend with the fact that Jason was a proven aviator, able to compete with her at high speed flying through Manhesto's populated skyways. As they weaved through the various towers and passing vessels taking off and landing at Port Manhesto, they continually traded insults and spats whenever they got close enough, even as they hit off the locations that Jacob had marked with his Emanation.
Both returning to Castle Manhesto at the same time, they were approached by both Jacob and Irelia, their lieges having been impressed with their demonstration of aptitude. Caitlyn conceded that Jason appeared more capable than she originally suspected, but still wants absolutely nothing to do with him; Jason found Caitlyn's attitude repulsive, and likewise aims to keep away from her in anything but a professional setting.
Skills & Abilities
"Falling through the air and coming to meet the earth makes a lot of issues seem small."
As a Valkyrie Ace, Caitlyn is renowned for her aerial martial ability, and her proficiency with handling aerial combat as befitting a Valkyrie. In addition, she is capable of casting multiple invocations while airborne and mobile, which is a feat that even senior Valkyries struggle against.
- Superior Perception: Even without the use of ethereal or technological means of sensory enhancement, Caitlyn is in tune with her body and environment, and can rapidly detect slight changes in her surroundings or on her person;
- Master Aerobat: Caitlyn has demonstrated artful ease in maneuvering at high speeds in a Valkyrie armor set, including weaving around and through moving vehicles, high speed chases through forests and mountaineous terrain, and high-G maneuvers to dodge locking missiles and tracking invocations;
- Superior Reaction Time: Caitlyn is able to process and command her body to react in an astoundingly short period of time, which is critical to survivability as a Valkyrie. She can make and execute split-second decisions and maneuvers that would take the average human at least two seconds to process before committing to action.
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