Edith Swain - The Widowmaker (WIP!)

Name:
Edith "E" Swain

Gender:
Female

Age:
29

Race:
Human

Appearance:

Clad in black from head to toe, Edith is equipped purely with the intention to maintain her agility and keep herself hidden in the night. A shadowed longcoat covers a blackened bodysuit, shrouding her frame and hiding her smaller arsenal from the eyes of onlookers. Thick greaves cover her arms with the intention of steadying her aim, aiding her accuracy and trigger discipline at the cost of firing speed. With heeled knee-high boots and a lithe frame, it's apparent that her attempt at "stealth" often has a reverse effect. Finally she's taken to wearing a pair of crimson glasses, completely opaque on one-side to prevent any view of her eyes. There are many rumours as to why she does this - the most common being that she wishes to hide her true feelings behind these mirrors.

Loyalty:
The NOL - Edith has been a low-ranking officer within the NOL throughout the majority of her life, having gained her education and tactical know-how from the Librarium. She has risen to the rank of captain as of late, commanding her own small company of NOL troops.
Independent/Benjamin Swain - Ever since the mugging and murder of her husband by a singular Beastkin, Edith has grown an increasing, disproportionate vendetta against the Beastkin races. Outside of her time working for the NOL she is set on a quest to rid the world of Beastkin and other "stains" to humanity, hoping to cleanse the world of abnormalities and restore it to a realm of peace.

Relations:
Benjamin Swain (Deceased husband, cause of her quest.)
Makoto Nanaya (Foresaw departure, remained silent.)
Kokonoe (Blames her for the current crisis.)
Taokaka (Stereotypes her as the common Beastkin.)

Personality:
A silent and deadly woman, Edith clearly thinks little of others - especially Beastkin. Dedicated to her mission to eradicate all "unnatural" things from the world in order to appease to her own demented moral compass, she often ignores individuals to the fullest degree. It is often debated how she somehow maintains her rank within the Librarium despite her blankness and sheer distance from the politics and events unfolding in Kagutsuchi daily, yet her higher ups see little issue - she files her papers, obeys her commands and orders her own underlings as she should.
However, with her insane dedication to duty comes an equally bizarre sense of regret. She obediently accepts any form of punishment from her superiors for her actions, regardless of their severity. It is clear that Edith doesn't even value her own life. All that matters is that her god-appointed task be completed - regardless of the morals she breaks to attain it.
Remarkably, Edith wasn't always a cold hearted killer without a conscience. Before the death of her husband she was just as accepting a human as anyone else - to some even kind and protective. It is clear that the death of Benjamin drove a significant wedge into her heart, the loss of her love plaguing her mournful mind with the animalistic solution of misguided revenge - the only cure her desperate hands can cling to.

Weaponry:
"Good Omen" (Crossbow): A sleek, hand crafted crossbow almost half her size, this weapon is chamber loaded with four foot-long bolts at a time. With thick, sturdy ammunition these projectiles can easily pierce flesh and impale hostiles, ending the lives of even the bulkiest of foes with a single shot. So proud of her racial superiority to those she hunts, Edith rarely carries more than twelve shots with her at a time - a punishing amount, if she were pressed through sustained combat.
"Thorn", "Nettle" and "Stalk" (Throwing knives): A collection of three throwing knives that lay strapped across her thigh, these weapons bare blunt lengths yet needle-sharp points. Primarily used as ranged weapons, in times of need they can be used in close range - something Edith often does her best to avoid. While her bladework is swift and accurate, her lack of physical strength often forces her to rely on speed and precision to quickly dispense of foes at this range.

Abilities:
A human purist at heart, Edith has little desire for the lucrative powers that the world has to offer. With that in mind she has shunned all form of supernatural power, and almost foolishly restrained herself to her own mental and reflexive prowess alone. Quick on her feet and sharp with her shots, Edith is a skilled and agile duellist adept at dodging blows and landing her own.
Outside of combat she also possesses an intensive knowledge of survival skill and tracking - perhaps at the cost of her lack of social skill. At several times in her career she has disappeared for weeks on end without a trace, only to return as if nothing had ever happened - a product of ability to survive.

History:
Edith Swain, wife of Benjamin Swain and corporal of the Novus Orbis Librarium. There couldn't be a more generic woman in all of Kagutsuchi - she was eager to work, to learn, to please, and to obey the chain of command. Edith had met her husband during her education in the NOL, and a spurring friendship quickly grew into love. While their marriage was unceremonial, it was clear that there was a firm bond shared between them.
The Swains were the epitome of a young couple facing a big world, yet mutual dependence drove them to success in their respective careers. Rest assured, the strength of this love came to be the undoing of Edith one boiling summer evening when she was taken from work early to be given the news - Orient Town, one body, male, one wound, a Beastkin in custody. She was never given any more information about her husband, and it was something she was at the time glad about.
Days at work froze, as did her progress. Often times she simply sat, dazed in thought about what had happened - how little control she had over the fate of her loved one. A sheltered mind from birth, her thoughts simply couldn't decipher it - why would anyone want to take Benjamin away from her? Surely no good man could have conceived such a thought?
No good Beastkin?
A middle-class life had given her little insight into the lives of the Beastkin, yet occasionally she spied one or two wandering about Kagutsuchi. Human, yet inhuman - a farce in appearance, and surely of mind? Such extreme thoughts clouded her judgement, and with nothing else to turn to she clung on tightly for guidance.
Why was Benjamin taken from her?
Because he met a Beastkin.
Yet a widowed brain needed confirmation. Deal after deal, bribe after bribe, tryst after tryst brought her closer and closer until months later, her flesh a deathly pale from isolation, she found him - behind bars, just a moment with the beastkin that had slain her husband.
He seemed a reasonable fellow - a twirling tail, trembling ears and whiskery stubble giving him an almost innocent visage. Of course that was to be expected - you'd never expect a kindly face to be born by a filthy murderer, would you? He prattled on about hunger and poverty, how Benjamin seemed wealthy with affluent and smooth clothing. The Beastkin insisted that it was all a mistake - he had drawn a knife, begged for money and wished that no blood would be spilt. He even dared to accuse Benjamin of inciting violence, attempting to tear the knife from his hands without announcement.
But that didn't change the result now, did it?
Edith didn't realise how fragile the beastkin was, nor could she comprehend the vice-like strength of her grip. Simmering rage from lie after lie, she found herself squeezing the prisoner's throat with unannounced fury and disbelief. He tumbled to the floor with her, wheezing pathetically for her to stop, desperately trying to push her away until at last he ceased to draw breath.
It was probably three minutes she spent sat upon his corpse, her bonelike fingers clasped tightly across his motionless body. Again she was debating, again she was torn - was she just as foul as the man she straddled, taking the life of another without a care in the world?
But he wasn't a man, was he?
He was just a Beastkin.
Edith stumbled away from the prison, her eyes filled with a chaotic madness. She'd found what she sought since that fateful summer evening: an answer to why Benjamin Swain - her lover - was torn from her like poison drawn from a wound. And that alone was all she needed to continue with life towards a purpose.
Within months she rocketed through the ranks, making every deal and signing every warrant she could to gain power - the power she needed to arm herself, to train herself, and to craft a staunch weapon from her own weak body.
She would be the instrument that purified the world - from disgusting abominations of humanity to rising magicks alien to perfection, they would be cleansed from the goodness of earth. Why would a perfect world desire such power that brought misery and evil upon the weak and vulnerable?
Progress began with extermination, and all would understand - in time.
Benjamin would surely be smiling at her from the heavens.
And she couldn't help but return it.

RP samples:
She could smell the thick scent of crimson - hear the incessant drip of drying droplets against the flimsy wood flooring. "You're bleeding." she pointed out, holstering her weapon upon her back. With long strides and painful creaks, so closed the gap - a sickening smile tugging at her lips. "Good."

The captain remained entirely silent and motionless throughout the meeting of officers, her frozen eyes shrouded by the fog of her crimson shades. No questions were directed at her, nor were any glances spared - it was clear that this was the norm. Hours later as the group were dismissed she slinked away, returning to her office and continuing her work as if she'd never even existed.

Edith scoffed at the beastkin's mewls, stomping her heel against his throat. "Mercy." she repeated, his pained and agonising sputtering being the only indication that he still drew breath. She tilted her head, raising her weapon and prodding the tip of a blackened bolt against his heart. "He begged for it too." she croaked, pulling the trigger with the thought of Benjamin fresh in her mind's eye. As the filleted beast fell limp, she kicked his body away. "Same result."

Rumours of her widowhood had crept into her company, yet a curious sergeant made the error of asking her directly. "Do not speak of him." she spat bitterly from her desk, the frame of her eyewear descending the bridge of her nose. The sergeant shuddered under her stare, thick purple bags of sleepless nights upon light, pale flesh revealed by this slip. "You have no right." Edith growled with a husky gravel, her sight unwavering. He could've sworn she continued to glare as he left, piercing through his flesh with violent intensity.

Always good to have a raceist Bayonetta on board.

I think I likes this, quite a profile and one that proves of the Great Chaucer's work! I'd say this holds more than a bit of merit.~ well done sir! A character that has simple weapons, undertaking things with only what she was born with and not caring for armagus or the like. While putting her at a disadvantage, I'd like to think she gives a good sport in battle. Well done, its got my seal, 'd like to see her in action xD