Profile
Bounty hunters and outlaws alike keep an eye on the competition, and Macha Arashi has no intentions of keeping out of their sight. She's a woman of ambition and lets her actions do most of the talking.
She's made a name for herself as a one-man army, actively refusing allies and taking on jobs meant for a group. No one knows why— and many don't see a reason to pry. Macha's defense is a sharp tongue, twin daggers, and a vile of venom. There's one thing many agree on, though, and that's her uncaring disposition. Everyone knows that Macha only serves herself and that she'd never do what isn't to her benefit.
So why, then, has she been spotted with nobility? The rumor mill runs rampant with what it can wring, and this unheard of decision has people talking.
"Has someone bribed her?"
"Was she arrested?"
"Did she turn traitor?"
This decision of hers baffles many as there's no benefit to allying with nobility. Not with the target out for her head by the empire itself.
Though many speculate as if they know Macha. In truth, very few people in this world can truly claim that they know who Macha Arashi is.
— / MAH-chah ・ ah-RAH-shee /
— Born January 10th.
— Addressed with she/her only.
— "Beast" refers to the animal the character is combined with. Only the greater classification is known in-universe; the exact animal is specified for reader clarity. Please see here for more information.
— Her exact residence lies outside of towns and cities.
— Artwork and moodboard images have individual credits linked.
First Face : The World
What's Macha's general demeanor in the public eye?
Macha carries herself with an aloof air that wards off most. It's not a hidden fact that she prefers solitude, and she lives up to the archetype of a "lone wolf". Her stubbornness is what dictates a lot of her actions. When she sets her mind to something, including shutting others out, she'll see it through.
Though this distant wall that Macha puts up isn't good at hiding her poor social skills. There's much she doesn't seem to understand about interacting with others. She struggles to read the room and often delivers her blunt advice at inopportune times. Empathizing with others is a whole different matter, as much of her advice if self-centered and clearly would only work for her.
Her selfishness is the driving force behind her actions. Anything that isn't to her benefit is seen as a worthless time investment. Though her mind works in odd ways and her rationalization for what's considered menial is very much a personal definition.
Second Face: Close ones
Among loved ones, what changes in Macha's behavior?
While much of Macha's initial disposition isn't a front, it does serve as a wall to divide herself from her vulnerability. In her mind, weakness is merely a burden and showing it to others gives them the opportunity to exploit it. This belief is core to her being and makes breaking beyond her outermost shell near-impossible.
There are moments, though, where she lets herself care about others beyond herself. It shows in the smaller gestures and idle conversation, instances where she's comfortable enough to let the cracks in the wall be pointed out. After all, Macha has emotion beyond her ambition. It often comes out without her fully realizing. It's hard for her to process the idea of being vulnerable, but it's even harder for her to recognize her own vulnerability in the moment.
Perhaps the strangest thing of all is Macha's unusual formality among friends. She has a wide vocabulary and the way she'll discuss things is far from usual for a bounty hunter. It doesn't seem to be something she's aware of, and is more prominent among close friends as she talks more among them.
Third Face: True Reflection
What are Macha's true thoughts? What is she like when she's completely alone?
Macha often finds herself lost in thought to the point of spacing out entirely. What's visible is known, but what's on her mind is something she'd never share. The distant look she gets in her eye when she does space out is the only tell that she can't be thinking of anything good.
Much of Macha's hidden struggle is figuring out what to do. Her resolve for her goal is clear and she'll do anything to achieve it. But lately, she's been doubting if it's even worth the pursuit. What she wants is personal, but it's been her desire for the past fifteen years. So is it truly worth it, then, if she isn't even sure what she wants anymore?
Two of Wands
Ace of Cups (reversed)
- Adaptable and resourceful, good survival skills.
- Stubborn and willing to see things through to the end.
- Has a one-track mind.
- Lacks empathy, doesn't see it as a problem.
- History repeating once more.
- Getting too attached to others.
- An act of revenge.
- Survival and desires of comfort.
- Collecting trinkets.
- Stargazing.
- Due to her lack of depth perception, Macha avoids taking on jobs that require her to fight long-ranged creatures.
- Macha has a specific way of speaking (shown more in her misc. tab) that comes across as rather calculated in nature. It's defined by a few key features:
- No contractions: Aside from indicating possession ('s), Macha doesn't use contractions in her speech.
- Exclusively using last names: With the exception of characters who have no last name (e.g. Acerbic), Macha refers to everyone by last name. It doesn't matter what they are to her, it's something she insists. Furthermore, she'll often introduce herself either by full name or just her last name.
- Eloquent wording: Macha's word choices are either straightforward or flowery, though not abundantly so.
- A childhood dream of hers was to one day travel the world. While she still has dreams about this, she has no desire to leave Oshar.
- Macha has a few quirks about her as she's used to solitude. While she doesn't care for others' judgement, she refuses to do these when she's in a public area to maintain her image. These include...
- Picking her nose and scratching at herself, both pretty gross.
- Humming or quietly singing. Even a few external monologues as she talks to herself to organize her thoughts.
- Mindlessly spinning a dagger or tugging at her cloak.
- Macha is arguably my favorite of the Travel Trio. Due to my biases, many believed she was the protagonist of Forged From Dust as opposed to Kezo. The story since had an overhaul in September 2022 to avoid the confusion.
Macha is rather quick to judge and doesn't hide her disdain for her peers. She'll talk down to those around her, which may include herself, when she believes her commentary is necessary.
This particular quote is in reference to the town of Meraj, which is based by an oasis.
Macha is a lean, tanned woman with sandy blonde hair and red eyes like daggers. She often has a dangerous look in her eye that tells others to "back off!" before she makes them. Her beast is very minimal, only showing in her horns, eyes, and tail.
Her clothing is often full of sand but you wouldn't notice due to its coloration. She keeps on a stark cape and a mask made of a skull to sell that she means business.
- She has muscle and a lean body type, leading to it only showing in her arms and legs.
- She has an aquiline nose.
- Her scar runs from the right side of her face to her left.
- Her hair has a specific, stylized shape to it.
- Please see this tab for in-depth design notes.
Macha is a skilled fighter, using her speed to her advantage and falling foes with ease. She focuses on taking down the opposition quickly and with strong attacks, bolstering an impressive amount of strength despite her appearance. She's the type to ask questions later and doesn't waste time if she deems something a target. Her only weakness is her neglect for pacing herself; she tends to expend all her energy quickly if she has a strategy in mind. It backfires on occasion, but not enough for Macha to reassess her approach.
Like all Noveans, Macha possesses magic within her body. This magic, known as Aepiron, enables her to channel the magic present in certain objects. In dire circumstances, this magic reserve can awaken and "power up" the wielder. This enhances their physical capabilities past their limits for a short time. You can find more information about Noveo's magic system here.
- Skill over specialized spells.
- Neglects basic spells.
Abilities
Macha's restoration class Aego is capable of all its expected base spells to a basic level. Her proficiency in a focus, however, implies she may have once mastered the basic spells but had lost her touch over time.
Her skill over her Aego comes with her mastery. She's been able to resonate with it and has developed a few poison-based spells. The poison's effect tends to impact bodily functions for a short period of time. This includes weakened muscles, blurred or missing vision, vertigo, and delayed reaction times. Stronger spells can completely stun a foe. However, this poison by itself is not lethal.
- Proficiency in dual-wielding.
- Unique functionality involving venom.
- Hard to repair due to being made of bone.
Abilities
The Twin Chiliad Daggers are seen as Macha's ultimate prize for taking down the beast. They serve as a reliable pair of daggers that are strong enough to endure a plethora of jobs. However, due to Macha's rough handling of these, they're prone to chipping, dulling, and breaking.
The most unique feature of these daggers, and what could be the reason why Macha prefers them, is the hollow chambers within. These are remnants of the beast they're from as they had once contained Chiliad's venom. Macha is able to siphon her own venom from her fangs into the daggers, allowing them to store a large amount.
- To inject her own venom, the handle of each dagger has four small holes, two on each side. She's supposed to bite down and allow the venom in her fangs to drain into the chamber.
The amount of venom that's injected into an opponent, whether from a stab or slice, will have different results. It takes more than half a chamber of a single dagger to kill. She can control if venom is injected with a button on the hilts, which allows her to use the daggers both as a typical blade or a transmission of poison.
10ft maximum (poison spells).
TL;DR: "Too Long, Didn't Read"
WARNINGS: None applicable.
- Macha is from an outskirt town and was close enough to Asran to go there frequently.
- Her father had been engaging in illegal activity, which finally caught up to her family one day. This resulted in her family life becoming tense and unstable.
- She left home in her early teens and was taken in by a ragtag gang of outlaws. This is where she got her first scar, being the one cuting across her face.
- The gang fell apart and Macha took up bounty hunting. She slayed a feared creature and became known for it.
- Kezo enlisted her help upon an agreement. Though skeptical, Macha accepts with little hesitation.
- She insists that all she does is to further her revenge against the gang that ruined her childhood, and doubles down on how she uses the Travel Trio.
- Deep down, Macha has started to care for her allies and now struggles with what to do.
Chapter One: "Ripping Out the Rug" (The Past)
WARNINGS: Gang activity, implied child abuse.
Macha Arashi is a woman of little consequence, and this carries over all throughout her early days. She grew up in a small town not far from Asran. She'd visit the large city quite often, mostly due to how close they were. It was always for fun trips; seeing the sights with her mother and father, truly taking in what a grand place had to offer. They were never prestigious enough to stay among the nobles but that didn't seem to bother Macha. Such a big place was already a lot to take in for her.
This lasted up until Macha hit her early teens. It wasn't until then when she learned the truth of why her family would always go to Asran. Her father had a shady business, one she didn't know the full extent of, until her family faced true danger. As it turns out, he was involved with an underground gang. He wasn't welcome anymore, for reasons Macha had guessed later in life, and it resulted in the family being ambushed. They all made it out, aside from some pretty nasty injuries. But Macha would never forget this experience, or what caused it in the first place.
Her home life grew increasingly unstable. Her mother started to doubt what was real, her father became more aggressive in response, and the safety of the family was constantly called into question. It grew to be too much for Macha, and one night, she fled. She always intended on returning, always imagined herself coming back to at least be with her mother, but knew she couldn't stay.
But as it's been proven time and time again, Macha never gets her way.
She was taken in by some shoddy group of outlaws, and they barely let her live when other young members of the group stepped in. This is where Macha got her first scar, a cut clean across her face. That's what taught her to do as they say, think as they think, and don't ask too many questions. But she could only take so much of having to fall in line and listen to someone so corrupt.
An insider had attacked the gang. She figured that they were all fed up at that point, and fled the scene before anyone could get to it. Get to her. But her time with this ragtag group of outlaws had taught her more about survival than she's ever known. That survival involves finding ways to get what you want. Not all have to be lethal, but it's one way to ensure what you want.
It wasn't long before Macha learned about bounty hunters. She's never been oblivious to them, but having the chance to be one is what taught her the most. She learned about what's offered. What's hunted. What's rewarded. She learned about what's feared, and wanted to be the one to take it down. To beat back the fear, if it meant to prove herself. A scrawny kid was all they saw and she was going to make them see differently. That's why she took on a hunt to take down Chiliad, the Beast with a Thousand Faces. A fearsome creature that was known to take down entire groups of hunters. A friend had tipped her on where to find it, as she was refused its den each time she asked.
She brought back fangs and a skull. Awe met her, enough to where she didn't need to do hundreds of hunts just to gain a smidge of recognition.
But Macha was quick to break this. Her attitude towards curious hunters, even ones who had wanted to work with her, had set up a certain air to her. A lone wolf is what she'd frequently be called. She embraced it, not particularly caring for the title but bearing it over the idea of working in a team once more.
As no one could spot her on her hunts, rumors started to begin. People speculated about her methods, style, magic, and goals. No one could figure out what she'd want as the story always has small changes. Things only grew more concerning when the wanted posters got put up. Rumors of her having slain people, something only done by a select few hunters.
She doesn't care. It's all meaningless to her, so long as they never catch on.
Chapter Two: "A Fickle Allyship" (The Present)
WARNINGS: None applicable.
Macha's life stagnated for a while once she found a routine. Though there's lots of excitement, given her job and that she's a wanted criminal by the empire, it's not at all what she wants anymore. She has her mission. Revenge on those that had ruined her, that destroyed her life. She knew it'd be impossibly difficult. Getting into Asran while having a target on your head is suicide. But she doesn't care much.
Not when the stars aligned and she had an easy way in.
Initially, she was skeptical when a woman bearing the royal emblem approached her. A soon-to-be member of the Royal Court, no less. It's preposterous but exactly what she needed. This woman had offered her a deal without so much as a hint of wariness, any sort of fear or betrayal hiding behind that cheerful grin was either masked very well or nonexistent.
It's not in her benefit to travel, especially not to places like Sunken Peak that are filled to the brim with nobility and guards. But it'd be such a waste not to take the opportunity life laid out for her.
Macha soon finds herself traveling with Kezo and Irit. Two women that she doesn't care to get closer to but, with their extended time together, finds it happening regardless. It's subtle at first, with a conversation here or there, but it turns into long nights of staying up together. Thinking about the next day. Planning where to go. Things that something of a friend might suggest.
She's convinced that she's just playing along. She doesn't do this sort of thing. These people are simply a means to an end... but if that's the case, why does Macha find herself enjoying the company?
Though her doubts start to creep in more and more as, whenever she's away from her newfound allies, she has whispers in her ear leading her closer. Her goal will soon be in sight, and she's willing to sacrifice anything to obtain it.
Chapter Three: "The Stars are Aligned" (The Future)
WARNINGS: None applicable.
Macha would be the first to say that she doesn't care what happens to the group. So long as she survives, she doesn't care if Kezo or Irit succumb to whatever fate awaits. They're of little concern to her! But... that isn't entirely true. Part of Macha longs for them to stay around and for them to be something of good friends. It's something she doesn't want to acknowledge that she needs.
But, when push comes to shove, Macha knows that she'll get what she wants. She knows that her goal, however impossible it may seem, will be hers to obtain soon enough. She's waited for fifteen years for the right opportunity. If it presents itself on a gold-plated platter served by a cheerful waitress, she won't hesitate to take action.
This section is written as Macha's hopes for the future rather than being definitively canon like her past and present. Authorized users can view this tab to access spoilers and learn what happens.
"Her integrity would be admirable if it belonged to another. Yet her naivity is her downfall... and an annoyance."
The Past: First Impressions
Macha's initial encounter with Kezo is a bit of a funny story, if not concerning. She was on the end of hot-pursuit by some of Asran's guards and had thought she escaped when Kezo had shown her face. Macha was quick to scrutinize and only a few seconds away from fleeing the scene, not interested in someone boldly wearing royal colors and the crest.
Being met with an attempt to understand and appease was the last Macha expected. But she was curious. So she listened to Kezo, heard out her argument, and agreed with some reservation. Her twin daggers were broken and needed the repairs the artificer could provide. Plus, if she refused, she's sure that those guards would've been called for.
The Present: Attitudes and Dynamic
Not a lot has changed since Macha first met and agreed to travel with Kezo. The only signs of her starting to open up and be more comfortable is found in Macha's willingness to cooperate and compromise. She's even begun to accept the task of protecting both of the women she travels with.
Macha is very much skeptical of Kezo still. She isn't entirely sure whether she can trust her, especially with knowing the artificer's goal. But she's made it this far and knows that it's one way to get what she wants. So if she needs to pull her along on a few loose promises and acts, she'll do it for her own ambition.
The Future: Hopes
Ultimately, Macha claims to not care one way or another what happens to Kezo. She believes she'd be better off without the noble constantly around. It'd be much easier to get things done, especially without drawing attention to herself. But part of her betrays this sentiment as she grows closer to Kezo. For as much as she wants to believe she's only stringing her along, Macha's begun to warm up to her companion, and there's no telling how she'd react if something were to happen.
"Hardship forges you into a stonger self. This strength is lost when you read like an open book and cower at your own shadow."
The Past: First Impressions
Meeting Irit was an unexpected thing. It was due to Kezo introducing her into the duo that they became a trio and that these two met. Macha felt somewhat of a connection to Irit, both dealing with hardship that the cheerful member of the trio can't say. But she doesn't quite understand the immediate reaction Irit seemed to have to her, being both cautious and curious.
She finds it hard to get past Irit's flighty demeanor, mostly seeing it as a weakness and annoyance at best. She can at least tolerate Irit and say that they get along, but it's more or less Macha tuning her out.
The Present: Attitudes and Dynamic
While neither woman is open about their past, there's a sense of understanding between the two of them. Macha recognizes that Irit faced hardship but there's such a difference to where she's hesitant to acknowledge it more than that. Irit is much too gentle, already broken down by what she's faced, and it disgusts Macha. It reminds her of things she'd rather forget.
There are moments where they flip-flop, where they get along very well and poorly. It depends on how receptive Macha is to what Irit does. She's noticed Irit pointedly avoiding topics that have gotten on her nerves, and out of respect, Macha tries to bite her tongue when she know what she'll say would hurt Irit. She believes their relationship is unusual but doesn't bother to dwell on why.
The Future: Hopes
Ultimately, Macha claims to not care one way or another what happens to Irit. She doesn't have any strong feelings about what'd happen if she stuck around her, but sees her more as a liability with her skittish personality and the kindness she holds onto. But part of her betrays this sentiment as she grows closer to Irit. For as much as she wants to believe that they're merely stuck together by circumstance, Macha's begun to warm up to her companion, and there's no telling how she'd react if something were to happen.
"Put your Deluns where your mouth is. That phrase alone defines Acerbic's whole character. How brash."
Another bounty hunter with quite a name for herself. Acerbic is someone that Macha knows a little too well for being a rival. She'll double down on this claim, though, and doesn't let herself be seen with Acerbic alone. There's definitely something more going on between the two. For starters, she's the only one outside of herself that Macha seems genuinely concerned with.
"The wisdom in her years is evident in her advice. She offers much, though her concern is unsolicited."
Laila is a well-known tipster among bounty hunters, even owning a tavern that they often come to. Macha is no exception and she does respect what Laila does. However, she only sees Laila for what she can offer and doesn't care for idle chatter. If she can get in, get a job, and get out without her ear being talked off, she'd consider it a successful job acquired.
