Delph Pythia

"I can protect them."  Delph Pythia is a member of team DASY. She is an avid sword practitioner, and advanced user of dust talisman’s. She began as a support on her team, but currently works alone.

Appearance
Despite the bandages across Delph’s eyes her everyday wear is quite casual. Her attire is born both out of laziness and comfort. Since Delph herself cannot see her own clothes she never pays too much attention to detail. Her stylistic choices pair well with her fighting style. Her thin dark skirt, and flowing open white blouse paired with her agile style allowed her to move freely without feeling constricted under heavy armor. The bandages around her eyes contrast well with her light pink hair, and are rarely if ever taken off. Her soft, delicately pure white eyes hide behind her bandages. Her bandages work almost as a mask to hide her more tender nature.

Post - Fall of Beacon
TBD

Personality
Her behavior prior to the fall of Beacon would usually have been considered timid at first glance. She can be quiet, and off to herself. This behavior was quite opposite to hers as a child. As a child Delph’s personality would have been described as more hyperactive and adventurous. However after succumbing to the unrealistic expectations of her family Delph’s more timid personality began to manifest itself more evidently. Although she is quiet and timid, this isn’t to say she is cold. Delphs goal from a very young age was to protect the people she cares about. This goal and motive drove her through stressful times, and caused her to in turn internalize a lot of her own struggles instead of sharing them. Delph easily handles stressful situations, and within her team was looked for as a pacifier during times of stress. She is easily trusted, but does not easily trust. Even within her team she has her reservations about her teammates, whereas they all easily trust her with their lives.

After the fall of beacon Delph’s demeanor becomes even more reserved and withdrawn. Subsequently being scattered from her team. Delph currently struggles with connecting with others, and even finds talking to other people to be troublesome. She sometimes can come off as rude, or dismissive, but this behavior that may be seen as aggressive is more of a defensive tactic to not let herself get close to anyone else. Regardless of her relationship with others Delph would easily give up her life to save someone else. Even though her very small village saw her as some diluted ‘angel’ and treated her with an elevated status Delph does not see herself that way in the slightest, and tries to believe that everyone should be treated equally.

Backstory
Delph was born into a very small village in a secluded area. As a child she wasn’t really surrounded by many other children. However the people of the village often teased that she had enough energy to be counted as one hundred children.

Although Delph was rambunctious and hyperactive as a child she still had her duties regardless of her young age. As a new child within the Pythia family she had expectations of her. Children were not born into the village too often. As their numbers dwindled close to Delph’s birth, her birth was seen as some sort of miracle. Causing her to retain many burdens, and to be looked at as an elevated member. She began training at a young age. This was customary of a child within her small village. At night when she laid to sleep her parents often told her fairy tales of the Pythia family conquests. How their little village once had warriors who saved the world. These fantasies were sold to Delph as her training became more intense. She would realize much later these dramatizations were just fantasies her parents created.

She began to rebel as she became older, not understanding why she had to endure such intense training as a child. Her responsibilities became clear as she was punished for not completing her training, and was praised highly for doing so. In order to avoid punishment she began to follow her parents schedule, leaving her childlike ideologies in the past. Despite being such a young age she was given a weapons. Delph was no genius, or quick study in the slightest. She would often endure punishments for not learning at an acceptable pace. Her studies continued, and she continued to follow suit. Her primary studies were dust usage, and swordplay.

Her parents continued to push insurmountable burdens on her in the form of absurd standards. What Delph didn’t know and wouldn’t come to understand until later was that her little village had dwindled in size, and as such the fairy tales of Pythia warriors faded with time. Soon the harsh reality of the Pythia people became very real for Delph.

People in the village began to look at Delph for guidance, even at the young age of twelve she was put in the position to help decide their future. This responsibility continued to way down on her, but she kept quiet. Burying her fears and frustrations deep within herself, with all this pressure on her, her only goal was to help the people she could. Delph was not special, in fact the only special thing about her was her birth. She was an average girl who wished to experience everyday things, but that was not the life she was expected to live. She continued to train, trying to make the people of her village proud.

One night in her village Delph was awoken by the scream. The schreek was enough to wake Delph from her sleep. Her eyes were glossed over, but with each passing moment she realized the nightmare she had woken up to. She sprawled out of her bed, running for her weapon, the darkness of the night was illuminated in flames. All she could see was flames, surrounding her whole village, and in an eruption of courage she found herself moving without even thinking. As she reached the edge of her house she heard another scream, without a moment of hesitation she leaped out of her house. Even within the illuminated city there was a darkness that seemed to jump into the depths of her core.

There was a monster in front of her, an amalgamation of death and decay stood within a few feet of her. Sprawled on all fours, with a tail wrapping around the bodies of Delph’s family. She screamed in a rage, throwing her talismans at it. Releasing every ounce of energy within her tiny body. This was what her training was for, this is what she was here for. To protect her family, she would protect them. As she launched her first attack, reaching behind herself and throwing her sword as it began to detach. Each individual blade spread out further, finally connecting against the beasts abdomen. She felt a new vigor as she unrelentlessly continued her assault. Sending more and more talismans, and yet as her fatigue set in it was made evidently clear her efforts were in vain. The beast wrapped its tail around her, and flung her about as if playing with a new toy. Her body flailed against the ground as she screamed out for help.

Everyone looked for her for guidance, for strength, but she was just a child. She couldn’t handle this, she couldn’t save them. She felt her body being enraptured in flames as the beast turned its attention to a new challenger. Delph, struggling to breathe tried opening her to see this new figure, but soon everything became painted black.

Delph was saved that night by a huntsman. She barely survived, but didn’t come out unharmed. She lost her vision, her eyes. However this new alignment didn’t stop Delph’s ambitions. In fact it only gave her a more clear vision of what she needed to do. In order to protect the people she cared about she needed to get stronger. Her new goal was to train at Beacon academy. After that night Delph truly understood her abilities, and her semblance. As she lost her eyesight she became more in tune with herself. After that point Delph lived to train, and trained to live. Even being in a more remote location of vale. She quickly became accustomed to the style of Signal academy. As it was customary to create your own weapon Delph used her previous weapon, which was destroyed in the grim attack, as a basis and created her current weapon Phemonoe.

Delph had impressive entry scores, however she quickly realized she lacked the ability to function well in a team. After she was placed in team DASY this weaknesses became apparent. While attending Beacon she understood that she truly wasn’t special. She was a warrior in a school of warriors who were better, or faster, or smarter, but she continued to push herself to do good. She was placed in a support position, and was almost forgotten by her teammates. She remained a quiet figure, placed in the back to support her team. This both did and didn’t mesh well with Delph’s protective tendencies. It was nice to be put in a position that allowed her to push her semblance and it’s capabilities. As she came to understand that she could be someone who offered her strength to other teammates. However a passive role did not bode well with her. Her team leader Amary took notice of this, and without Delph even asking her position was changed.

Delph continued to train, and become stronger. She found little conversation between her teammates, but slowly warmed up to Amary. The two understood each other, and never really had to communicate what they needed. She began to understand that as strong as she got she couldn’t save everyone, and accepting help didn’t make her weak. She slowly became more open to her team, however her true allegiances were with Amary.

Post - Fall of Beacon
During the fall Delph and her team would be defending the citizens from grim. Delph was the only member of her team to remain calm during the fall. Even her leader Amary was in a daze, as they tried defending the citizens. Delph remained calm as the countless leagues of grim began to attack. However as more swarms of grim came in Delph found herself surrounded. As she pushed past the grim she found herself lost. With no one in sight. After the fall Delph found herself separated from her team, and separated from Amary. With nowhere to turn she returned home. She helped move her village to a safer location, and is currently working to be strong enough to protect the teammates she believes she’s lost.

Relationship
Amary Eos- One of Delph’s closest friends. Prior to the fall of beacon she was the only teammate Delp truly opened up to. Amary looked at Delph as a tender soul who would constantly bite off more than she could chew. Many times Amary came to Delph’s aid, without Delph even having to ask. She always was there for Delph, and Delph for her. After the fall of beacon, Amary is split apart from Delph, but is currently seeking her out.

Elder Pythia- Pythia’s father. They aren’t as close as they once were. As Delph moved away she saw how close minded, and stuck in the past her father was. She still loves and cares for her family, but she no longer shares their point of view. Although her father would easily describe her as respectable and obedient. She respects him for his position in their village, and for giving her the means to train at Beacon.

Weapon
Phemonoe: Phemonoe is Delph’s current weapon. It has three forms (sword, whip, saw). However Delph generally uses it, in its sword form. In its sword mode the bottom red base holds each individual blade with a wire connecting them all. Generally the blade feels much heavier than it appears, and although in the beginning it weighted Delph down, she’s grown accustom and waves it with ease. Each individual blade within the weapon has been enchanted by Delph. Allowing her to have a partial dust control within her weapon, and causing her to be able to release elemental blasts depending on which blade she activates. Delph also carries an additional round of blades within a compact compartment, as each individual blade can fold in on itself. These compartments allow her to store her blades in what appears as a regular ammunition cartridge.

At the base of the sword, if pressed the blades will begin to detach, and the wire attaching them will become more evident. Each individual blade along the wire will extend out forming a whip. In order to reload the blades Delph must place the cartridge at the base of her sword, connecting it to the individual wire. At the base exist a long wire, wrapped around many times that can extend and retract at Delph’s will. This allows for more control and fluidity in Delph’s attacks. Controlling the wire means that Delph can both retract, and propel the blades.

The final version of Phemonoe can only be used if the wire is extended and the blades are apart. Pressing another button at the base begins activation, upon activation each individual blade begins to spin. This intense speed and motion allows for Delph’s attacks to be much more aggressive and damaging.

Abilities
Swordplay: Delph is an intermediate sword practitioner. She has a quick and decisive manner when attacking. Delphs style is an adapted version of old sword techniques that use single precise movements to overpower their enemy. Borrowing thisquick, and precise manner she uses the sword version of her weapon to make quick devastating blows. Her sword is generally what she uses to finish an enemy, as she wears them down with her talismans.

Talismans: Talisman’s are the main dust conduit the people of the Pythia use. It’s more archaic nature requires a much more clear and concise use. In the beginning novice practitioners who have a basic understanding of their aura can only create dust talisman’s not use them.

As an intermediate user you must grasp a deeper understanding of the dust being weaved into the talisman. This both being the paper-infused dust, and the ink-infused dust. Intermediate practitioners will train their activation and usage of the talismans, by first using one primary dust and then branching out as they master each branch of dust.

The final level of talisman manipulation is the ability to weave different dusts together. This can be achieved by using different talismans with various dust attributes, or one talisman that has a combination of different dusts weaved into it. During this training one is expected to fully understand their aura, and to be able to effectively use it to manipulate the dust. Delph is an intermediate practitioner. `

Semblance: Talisman
Within the Pythia family talisman’s are generally a mechanic used to produce dust attacks. However Delph’s ability is not the creation of her dust talisman, but instead works in tandem with them. Pythia family talismans are not the same as Delph’s. She has the ability to imbue an item or object, and then use her semblance as a catalyst to create a desired effect. Although Delph has not reached the peaks of her abilities she can create a few talismans currently. Although any item can be turned into a “talisman”, she prefers to use her families scrolls as a conduit. This is because Delph’s talismans have quite a few drawbacks. She generally cannot ‘create’ a talisman on the spot. Creating a talisman takes quite a bit of time an energy. The creation of talisman needs two things. A conduit to push Delph’s energy and a desired effect. Then Delph must write out her desired effect into the conduit, and later activate it. Delph’s semblance cannot generally be used in quick succession even if she has a myriad of paper scrolls as their activation does take energy. Talisman’s that affect physical attributes take far more energy, and any augmentation offered by a talisman is short lived. Typically Delph will use this on a party member, or herself to go in for a final attack. Dust can heavily augment the effect of Delph’s talismans.

Currently known talismans:

Burst- creates a burst of energy. The energy created is dependent on the dust used. This is Delph’s main attack, and the one that costs the least amount of energy. As Delph has trained this is something she can use in quick succession, however too many uses will quickly drain Delph’s stamina. Although this could effectively be used without Delph’s semblance, however it is used to empower it. This is ability offers the most ingenuity, as Delph has control over the burst released. She can even change the shape and form it takes before it essentially explodes. However the more complex the shape, the more energy, and the more time she’d need. Simple bursts are far less energy, and take far less time.

Bind - creates a rope of energy to bind the enemy. Dust also changes the attribute of rope summoned. This is not an easy talisman to maintain, if Delph’s enemy has a far superior physical strength they will be able to break out of the binding.

Amplify: generally this is used to augment a physical attribute. This talisman is hard to maintain, and Delph only has the ability to augment one stat at a time. For example increasing an ally’s speed, strength, defense, etc.

Barrier: Produces a barrier. The size and strength of the barrier is dependent on the energy used. Typically Delph cannot create multiple barriers in quick succession. She often uses barriers to help deal with range attacks.

Summon- Creature: Delph’s last resort. Delph can use a collection of talisman’s to summon a creature. The creature generally takes the form of an amalgamation of shadows, and its form isn’t really controlled by Delph. It’s form is capable of even changing after being summoned. She has no power over its form, and after summoning it’s a mindless zombie under her enchantment, with its only purpose being destruction. A summon costs a constant amount of energy, and after using typically Delph cannot continue fighting.

Trivia
- Delph plays homage to delphinium a flower that comes in an array of colors.

- Delph’s backstory pays homage to Pythia an oracle of greece.

- Delph’s talisman abilities takes inspiration from both Natsume Yuunjinchou and Jackie chan.

- Delph’s weapon Phemonoe is a reference to her tale, as Phemonoe was the first oracle.