Xailah Alptraum

Placeholder/Reminder to put current and past occupations here.
Primary Occupaton: Dream Keeping (she harvests dreams to take them back to her world!)

She has Barbie's work history, since she's done a little bit of everything here and there, it's awful.

Mostly personal notekeeping, will be added on to when I find all her past/current jobs. An asterisk means this is her go-to occupation regardless of setting.

She is a patron to lost souls and minds that yearn for the wonder of something new, she is enlightenment and consequence: a companion, a Harbinger. And one must always bear in mind that she works with them, not for them. At ones side she may perch, but ultimately, her loyalties lie with herself and her chosen kin.

-Gogo Dancer
-Getaway Driver
-Gunslinger
-Cat Burglar (hired or otherwise)*
-Informant for hopeless lawmen
-Trauma Nurse (from several wars long passed, has also been an asylum nurse once)
-Burlesque Girl*
-Sideshow Attraction*
-Radio Host for Classical stations
-Runner (causes chaos in the street to distract from other far bigger hijinks- most often times it involves some illegal dealings)
-Dominatrix- Typically used for undercover operations. This will only be written out for "risqué" comedic scenes. I will not do kink, fetish, or erotic roleplay. Please do not ask.
-Street Racer.
-Nun. Very brief undercover operation.
-A companion*
-Generally takes up any gigs in need of a showman or light fingers, or whatever sounds compelling and interesting enough in the moment.



This entire page is a huge work in progress, and there is still quite a bit that needs to be added. Note that in "modern" or low-fantasy settings (or settings where magic is taboo and frowned upon), Xailah will not use her magical abilities unless absolutely necessary, or if she can get away with doing so. With the exception of Skimming and Dream Keeping. Mentions of her magic in such settings may be hinted at. This does not apply to abilities that she can't help however, like ones that affect her senses since they are not a matter of magic, its just her and they can't be "turned off". They will always be passively active.

Her abilities will never be used to godmod or metagame.

⊰ Talents ⊱ ⬩ Theft ⬩ Hypnosis ⬩ Preservation {taxidermy, embalming- the works} ⬩ Forgery ⬩ Mimicry ⬩ Escape ⬩ Singing ⬩ Dancing {ballroom, aerial/silk, freestyle} ⬩Item Restoration ⬩ Harp ⬩ Piano ⬩ Violin ⬩ Hand-to-hand combat {most forms, including swordplay} ⬩ Sharpshooting {experienced with rifles, shotguns, pistols, and akimbo weapons} ⬩ Seamstressing {sewing, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, and knitting} ⬩ Deception ⬩ Story weaving ⬩ Tinkering/Crafting ⬩ Language Comprehension {speaks and understands: English, German, Feline (?), Elvish, Latin, the High Tongue, as well as various forms of eldritch communication} ⬩ Discovery

⊰ Resilience ⊱ ⬩ Radiation: As a child of Zuul, radiation does not faze. The nuclear war which ended the old world, made the eldritch beings beneath the surface resilient to the substance. ⬩ Poisons: Most poisons have little to no effect. Strong poisons will only make Xailah very ill, and cannot kill her. ⬩ Darkness: Blessed with night-vision, able to see through the darkest veil. ⬩ Physical Injury: Can be severely damaged, but health regenerates quickly over time- which means a little hack-n-slash won't do her in. This makes her exceptionally hard to kill. ⬩ Starvation: Can go without consuming food for months. While it weakens her, it can not kill her. Her body goes into a hibernation-like state if deprived for long enough. ⊰ Susceptibilities ⊱ ⬩ Bright Light: The cost for being nocturnal. Bright lights can stun or disorient Xailah, but are otherwise non-harmful to her. ⬩ Infection: Though physically durable, Xailah is very susceptible to infection from open wounds. She typically only gets very sick from them, leaving her vulnerable. ⬩ Loud Noises: Like bright lights, Xailah is particularly sensitive to sounds. The louder they are, the more negative of a response she will have. Again, it works well to stun, but does not cause physical harm. ⬩ Catnip: Completely dopes her out when exposed to it. ⬩ Psychedelics: Potentially harmful when in contact, they can induce seizures and possibly force a transformation into her bestial form. There is no known reason as to why they have this effect on Xailah, but it is suspected that they clash with her eldritch powers. It is not uncommon for Cryptids have this problem.

DeSoto's Key: A key more peculiar than most. It appears as if it would not fit any lock. DeSoto's key is comprised of many retractable metal pins attached to a rod and base. The design allows the key to fit into most keyholes, and should it be used on a machine- say an automobile- it can transfer DeSoto's conscience into the object allowing the horse to possess it, so as long as the key remains inserted. This is sometimes worn around Xailah's neck.
Vial of Dreams: A pristine crystal vial used for collecting and concealing dreams, until they can be taken to a stable area for release. A few are always carried on Xailah's person. If opened improperly while containing a dream or broken by hands that are not hers, a Feral Nightmare will be released into the physical realm. Only a trained Keeper can tame and subdue the Nightmare.
Unusual Umbrella: While it appears normal at first, it's wielder may find that it is heavier than usual. It is adorned with fine filigree that hide small levers and openings. Stylish, multipurpose, and unexpected, the umbrella is Xailah's weapon of choice. Beneath the clever guise, the accessory is actually fashioned to function as a rifle and shield if need be.
Dream Keepers Pocket Watch:
Twin Pistols: Pew pew.
Locked Journal: A leather-bound book with intricate design. A lock keeps it from being opened. Perhaps DeSoto's key will fit? Inside are a number of entries dating back to Xailah's childhood. The more recent describe places she has been, and the people she has met; so she does not forget them entirely. The entries are primarily written in German; some are in other tongues she speaks, though never English.
Deaths-head Hawkmoth Chrysalis: (Something about the chrysalises here) Characters that have been given a Chrysalis:

-

[Redacted] Not given, but stolen. Chrysalis was destroyed.
-Martyr, gifted as a means of contact. The moth hatched. GAH its in her house somewhere, and she can't find the damn thing. It definitely follows her.
-Bertha. A token of gratitude and affection. Moth was let go when it hatched, but it hangs around Bertha's tavern.
-Poppy and Peony. A gift to a new generation. The two girls seem to adore the moths, and frequently ask for chrysalis' to care for.

Treasures

Her ancestral home is a museum, a shadowbox for her adventures. There she hoards her little trinkets, and trophies (which are often stolen from the places she visits), putting them on display as artifacts- despite being warned not to take objects from other worlds. Objects were a sign of attachment, of remembrance. The elders discouraged such things. Yet, her ever-hungry curiosity could not be helped. And so she became a collector of all odds and ends: a curator of memories beloved and bittersweet.