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« PLAYER INFORMATION »

Name: Dk
Are you over 18?: yes
Contact: eflat
Other characters, if any: N/A


« CHARACTER INFORMATION »

Character: Tali'Zorah vas Normandy
Canon: Mass Effect
Canon point: just before Priority: Thessia
OU or AU?: OU
Age: 25
Species: quarian



« RECORD »


Disposition:

curious ✦ Tali has an insatiable desire to learn how things work and, more importantly, how she can improve on their functionalities. She has a knack for machines and technology of all sorts, learning completely foreign systems and designs with ease and never shy about offering up suggestions for improvements— or going ahead to make those improvements now and explain herself later, because she is nothing if not confident in her abilities. New experiences or people also earn her attention, and encountering something she considers particularly novel for the first time is something she'll remember or even make recordings of.

The downside to this is that Tali can find herself in less-than-ideal situations because curiosity gets the better of her, having her taking unnecessary risks or asking naïve, sometimes overly personal questions of the people she's getting to know. She knows this isn't always helpful, though, and after all the time she's spent serving on a human ship, Tali's both gotten better at knowing which questions shouldn't be asked and learned enough about the galaxy to dull down her optimistic enthusiasm.

friendly ✦ Although she can be guarded at first, wary of the assumptions others might make about her, Tali is incredibly loyal and supportive once a friendship is established. She's naturally chatty and happily offers up conversation when she's comfortable, whether the other person has questions for her, needs her help, or just wants company. Often, her affection comes in the form of teasing, as she enjoys sometimes snarky banter with the people she spends her time with, and gentle, joking insults or offers of friendly competition are sure signs that she's fond of someone. That doesn't stop her from being deeply compassionate when the situation calls for it, though, and even if all she can offer is kind words or company, she always wants to be helpful.

Quarians tend to be perpetually tied up in one another's business, so that secrets and silence are equally rare on the Migrant Fleet. While she's gotten used to serving on a human ship and spending time with other aliens, learning just how many individuals in the galaxy aren't as chatty as she is, Tali still uses socializing (and periodic hugs) to make up for the persistent loneliness of living her life confined to her enviro-suit. It's something that bothers her when she lets it, so it's better to keep herself busy so it can't.

duty-bound ✦ Growing up in a closed, community-oriented society means that Tali's never given much thought to her role within it, accepting the high expectations put on her as an admiral's daughter and the brilliant engineer that she is and simply trying to meet them at every possible opportunity. Striving to make the people around her proud isn't a choice but an obligation and even as she gets to know people who can and do go against the expectations placed on them, she sees it as a freedom that others might be able to act on, but she could never even really consider. While she'd never turn her back on her people or the human commander she so devotedly follows, Tali does at times feel envious of those who choose their own paths. It's not a resentful feeling, thought, just wistful.

Over time, she's proven herself to be a respected and selfless sort of leader when the situation calls for it, such as during research expeditions that had Tali leading marines into dangerous situations that few quarians would ever volunteer for. Ensuring both a successful mission and as many survivors as possible requires her to be more stubborn than the company she keeps and Tali isn't above yelling a little to encourage her colleagues to make smarter and safer decisions, so long as it works. Even in less serious situations, she tries to be a good role model and shares what she learns, wanting to help those around her, a trait that makes her well-respected both in and out of the fleet, and also provides the reason she's been promoted to her deceased father's empty position on the quarian Admiralty Board. Although Tali claims that she's simply too young and inexperienced for the role or that it's "only a formality," because of her knowledge of the synthetic enemy she could not stop her people from going to war with, she has earned the respect that comes with the title and has people to remind her as much, something she needs from time to time. This duty does weigh heavily on her, though, and despite an aptitude for keeping up professional appearances and turning difficult emotions into productivity, Tali very much appreciates her friends checking on her privately, when they offer her the same compassion she shares when the roles are reversed.


Suitability:

Growing up in a society that focused on community above all else, Tali is totally on board with the concept of socializing and connecting with others as a measurably good thing to do. The Gembond thing is weird, sure, but she values getting to know the people around her and Synchrony will be a good motivator. On the other hand, she's going to struggle with the culture's casual approach to physical intimacy, even knowing it's not necessary for Manna generation. She sees herself as largely incapable of casual sex or anything close to it with another person because of her immune system, used to being overly cautious of who she 'links suits' with and assuming that very few, if any, people are interested in being patient while her body adjusts. While I intend to find in-game ways to improve her immune system and mitigate this (and her body is much more resilient than she thinks it is), Tali's perception of this problem is definitely going to make her feel like she's missing out on something important and discourage her to some extent. At this time, I'm not planning any physical transformations for her because this is going to be enough of a struggle for her, but that may change as she settles in.

Tali is also going to be excited to learn about the native gems, once the shock of not being able to get home (and news from castmates further along in canon than she is) wears off. When interacting with aliens in her own universe, Tali's very used to being instantly judged as dishonest or less deserving of respect because of the actions of her ancestors, and has mostly gotten used to dirty looks or derogatory comments about her or her enviro-suit. Having a whole planet of sentient beings that don't already believe "quarians = bad" is going to be great.

Condition upon arrival: A little banged up from recent fighting and probably in need of a break after how eventful her last few months have been, but ultimately pretty okay.

Abilities:

technological/mechanical skills ✦ The quarian stereotype is to be good with technology, but Tali is basically considered a genius even among her people. Using the omni-tool she has on her at all times or a computer interface, she can familiarize herself with any new tech with ease; it's just as easy for her to find ways to modify or improve it, hacking or changing systems to suit her needs. She also has great mechanical skills, able to turn scrap and minimal tools into working devices with ease, or to modify just about any spaceship to do what she wants it to, given enough time and miscellaneous parts. Additionally, she has some skills used through her omni-tool that she finds useful in battle, such as an ability to sabotage enemy weapons or synthetics, one to drain an enemy's kinetic barriers to recharge her own, or the deployment of a combat drone, affectionately named Chatika vas Paus.

armed combat ✦ Before leaving home for the first time, Tali was given training in various basic weapons, meaning she knows how to use her boot knife if needed and pretty much can figure her way around any gun or similar energy weapon and be a decent shot with it. Her favourite weapon, however, is the shotgun and the bigger and more heavily modded it is, the better

alien stuff ✦ Not a talent but a general state of being, Tali is a quarian, which means she is brilliant with technology and also lowkey allergic to everything. Quarians are considered generally sturdier or "less soft" than some other species in their universe and have a number of implants in order to help their body's immune responses and to better interface with the environmental suits they wear at all times. Physically, she has a similar facial structure and body shape to a human, outside of backwards-bowed legs and three digits per limb.


Inventory:

✦ her environmental suit, which is a self-contained sterile environment equipped to minimize infection and adverse reactions to possible antigens (pretty much everything, for her immune system); she'll have a few sets of antibiotic applications and medi-gel already integrated into the suit, as well as built-in kinetic shields and pockets filled with assorted tools, technological scraps, and a rock.
✦ her omni-tool, full of customized programming for first aid, combat, communications, and interfacing with electronics.
✦ boot knife


Gembond: Sapphire
Gem Location: the back of her right hand


« MISCELLANEOUS »

Sample: top level at TDM #8

Notes: