[Mod PC-Bijuu] Tilda van der Meer {Horizon}

General Information

Name:
Tilda van der Meer

Alias:
The Mayor
Alpha Prime
The Ivory Tower

Age:
Perceived age: 44
Real age: unknown

Origin Game:
Horizon: Forbidden West

Homeland:
The City

Faction:
The Alpha Assembly
Far Zenith

Gender:
Female

History:
Tilda van der Meer's story is one shrouded in enigma. While a broad series of events and timeline have been pieced together, much of her life is still unknown and speculation at best.

In many ways, Tilda's history is the history of The City itself. Then known as Haven, it was but a fledgling, unsure of its future. Little is known about Tilda's early life, other than she was born in relative poverty, her parents dying only a few years after her birth. She bounced around foster homes, fueling her sense of loneliness and disconnect from the greater world. What helped her cope, was art. Elaborate works were what soothed her mind and granted her solace. Already considered a gifted child, Tilda additionally showed exceptional talent in the field of technology; computer engineering being her particular forte.

As she matured, so did her gifts. And her ambition. Her journey of higher education allowed her to combine the two things she admired most: art and technology. Her first fortunes were made through a program capable of detecting art forgeries with unparalleled accuracy. Tilda rose in the societal hierarchy quicker than expected, which illuminated the visionary to the true state of Haven. Something she wasn't able to see before; childish naivete, it was. A city ridden with poverty, crime, and corrupt management. Tilda realized her calling. And so, her plans were put in motion.

Tilda began to insert herself into government and military circles, acting as a private investor and managed to gain influence swiftly. The power structure of Haven was broken, to say the least, making it easier for an outsider to reach a position of importance. During this time, Tilda took her forgery program further, developing its technology into a suite of security counterintelligence applications. The suite became a means of securing highly valuable information, which she would then sell to interested parties, while still retaining ownership. One of these organizations would eventually become present day C-Sec. Her tech included an additional hidden surveillance application, ensuring her investment was being used properly and giving her eyes and ears almost everywhere

With this additional bevy of information reaching her channels, Tilda took advantage. Within a few years, she had set up an anonymous network on the side and became a powerful data broker. Selling and trading secrets to the highest bidder, Tilda gained a substantial amount of control in the intelligence business, none the wiser that it was her. The bulk of her wealth was built from there, all in service of her grander scheme.

From humble beginnings to greatness, Tilda became synonymous with evolution and prosperity. She pioneered infrastructure, revolutionized the energy industry, reduced unemployment to staggeringly low levels and was at the head of research and development innovation, along with several other fields. Under her genius, Haven transformed into a self-sufficient megalopolis. She became a powerhouse, revered by the people and untouchable by her competition. All this was accomplished through her vast finances, but more importantly, her most predominant invention: The Ochroid. A swarm of nanobots with almost limitless application and transformation capabilities. Wherever people looked, they would see its constructions, standing out from everything else. A deliberate choice. A statement. A woman who had come from nothing, rising to be the most powerful figure in Haven. Unbeholden to government or corporation.

Yet empires do not last forever.

Despite her achievements, other powers in Haven had their own agendas. Plans which could undoubtedly bring down all she had built. Running amok, Haven their playground. When Tilda learned of Project Sigma, all alarms went off. Her public face supported and endorsed the project, when in reality, she was doing whatever she could to sabotage it. All in vain. Sigma had already evolved to a point where interference was nigh impossible. And when the other shoe dropped, it became a game of survival. The Omega Impact (as it is now known) was the ultimate insult to Tilda's legacy. As if a divine sign of her hubris.

There was only one possible play she had left, in order to preserve even a semblance of what she had accomplished. She had to leave.

Tilda had been preparing for the eventuality for a while. Taking with her a group of like-minded individuals, they fled Haven to parts unknown. Mixed emotions enveloped her. The Process would reap the "benefits" of their labor, yet she left her people to suffer and die. But she reminded herself that not all was lost. As long as she lived, Haven’s legacy may not be forever tarnished.

Records detailing Tilda’s time away from Haven are practically non-existent. The most scholars and archaeologists have managed to piece together was that she resided in the Frontier for a period, with traces of her Ochroid technology found in its vast expanses. Eventually, however, Tilda was considered to be a name of the old days.

Then, she returned.

Tilda was a figure of legendary proportions, her reemergence seen by some as divine intervention. To others, however, it was shrouded in suspicion. Some claimed to see right through her, some didn’t believe it was her at all since she had seemingly not aged a day. Then there were those high up in the City’s societal hierarchy who saw her as purely a threat. A wildcard to their carefully established order. But what drowned most of it out was the amount of people welcoming her with open arms. Her glistening garb, her rousing speeches, her promises of a better future. It sounded almost messianic. It was time to reclaim what was hers.

She got to work immediately. Gaining the favor of the people was remarkably simple. She knew exactly what to say, what talking points to use, and what promises to make. Simultaneously, she began to reclaim her wealth. While her technology was advanced, this was a new city. Meaning that she couldn’t work entirely on her own anymore. Hence her increasing involvement in government affairs. Tilda quickly rose in the City’s hierarchy, getting a say in legislation, economy, and security. With her newfound allies, she began charming or eliminating her competition with surgical precision. It didn’t take her long to establish herself, once again, as the major power player in the City.

That was doubly compounded by her being elected Mayor in a landslide victory. If anything, Tilda was a woman of her word, rebuilding what was lost and bringing newfound prosperity not seen in decades. Perhaps her crowning achievement in this new era was the establishment of the Alpha Assembly. A collection of the significant figures in the City, unified towards a common purpose. All under the Mayor’s enlightenment. Her legacy was alive and thriving once more.

Since then, Tilda van der Meer has staunchly held her position as the Mayor, influencing the City and its innovation through the Assembly as well as her own endeavors. A figure whose accomplishments for the megalopolis spanned back to its very inception and whose return brought about another age of prosperity. A giant among men, sitting atop her ivory tower, looking over all she had made. Yes, Tilda remains a force to this day, stalwart in her convictions to drive her creation to its very zenith and beyond for a better tomorrow.

Drive:
Tilda's primary goal has always been the continuous development and prosperity of The City. With her gaze firmly towards the future, Tilda will stop at nothing to see her past dreams come to fruition. Currently, rumors persist that the Mayor is developing new, advanced machines to act as an additional peacekeeping force, alongside C-Sec.



Visuals

Image:

Visual Appearance:
Tilda is perhaps not a significantly imposing figure from a mere look. Standing at 5’9”, she has a light figure and combined with her suit, makes her movements seem almost as if she were walking on air. But it is how she carries herself, that makes her beam of power and significance. She is a professional through and through, her stance and posture reflecting that seamlessly. When she is in a room, everyone knows she’s in charge. That is accentuated by her striking hazel eyes, piercing to a fault and yet never telling anyone what she’s truly thinking. Her hair is short, styled in a wavy pattern, making it all look exceedingly wealthy.

Clothing/Armor:
Tilda doesn’t have a wardrobe in a classical sense. Instead, her entire attire consists of her own creation: the Ochroid. A swarm of nanobots capable of transforming into anything at will. As such, Tilda is able to change her appearance at a moment’s notice. Be it elegant gowns, comfortable suits or anything leisurely. Her primary choice is a garb of ivory white and gold, adorned in patterns that make it all seem almost alien. The most prominent part of said suit is the neckpiece. A tall collar and a golden, patterned neckpiece reaching all the way to her chin. It all moves as she does, making it all exceedingly comfortable.

Because of her technology, the suit is always in pristine condition, never requiring Tilda to remove it. The suit cleans and repairs itself quickly, but more importantly, it also acts as armor. The suit’s materials protect Tilda from severe damage, enabling her to brush off most types of weapons and abilities. By conventional means, it is nigh-indestructible. To make the point even more clear, Tilda is constantly surrounded by a glimmering force field. A statement of power. She doesn’t need to hide the fact that she is untouchable. The suit is additionally capable of transforming into a variety of weapons, making her offensive capabilities just as formidable as her defensive. After all, a woman in her position can never have too many options.

Personality
Tilda van der Meer is a woman of the people. She has proven that time and again. She listens to her people, takes to heart their issues, and does everything in her power to ensure their prosperity. Tilda is effortlessly charming, capable of wooing a room in a staggeringly short amount of time. Her social skills are second to none, knowing exactly what to say and when to say it. She knows how to work people, regardless of their standing with her. Her charisma is second nature, ensuring that any who may have doubts about her or her goals will be eventually convinced otherwise. Tilda knows how the world works and can expertly maneuver in a variety of fields that she has expertise in. Yet she is not immune to criticism, which she takes in stride and makes the necessary adjustments where needed. In such cases, her small army of capable advisors aids her wherever possible. Which, to be frank, doesn’t happen often. Tilda is a trailblazer, more often correct in her ways than she is not. It is part of why people love her and why the Mayor has remained in her position for so long.

While the aforementioned is accurate, this is a public mask that Tilda dons daily. Very few people know her personally and even fewer have the privilege to be privy to what makes her tick.

In truth, Tilda is a cold and distant woman. Scarred as a child and further damaged by her regrets, she let go of personal attachments, focusing solely on her work. She has been that way ever since. Business, government, innovation, personal ambition. Those are what drive her forward. And while her promise to keep the City prosperous is true, it is also fueled by her need to stay in power. Because too few are capable of doing what she can do. For those few, she has respect. For the rest, she can muster little. In her own way, she truly does care for her people, because they are useful to her success. Necessary even. The same goes for her allies, as well as enemies. Their usefulness outweighs their moral core, something Tilda really cares little about.

This doesn't exactly mean that Tilda herself lacks emotion. However, the occasions where she displays anything akin to real emotion that doesn't serve her needs, are rare. Perhaps the only time she shows any sort of sincerity that isn't followed by a subtle threat is when she's enveloped by art. Her collection is vast, all of it kept securely in her tower. Those pieces are for her eyes only. Anyone granted access has either managed to squeeze themselves into Tilda's inner circle or has made her an irreversible and merciless enemy.

In many ways, Tilda is obsessive. That much became clear with her return to the City and inserting herself into its hierarchy again. It’s blended together with her own desire for significance that may lead some to believe that deep down, she has cripplingly low self-esteem. The truth is anything but. Tilda has shed any semblance of personal weakness, at least that’s what she believes.

Which is why Tilda is ruthless and cutthroat when she needs to be. Her demeanor rarely changes, however. Anger is an emotion she almost never shows, opting to be much more piercingly uncaring instead. If anyone gets in her way, she will meticulously dismantle them. Anyone is replaceable, even her. She has just made sure for that possibility to be improbable. If someone can’t do their job, what is asked of them, she will find someone who can. Anyone looking for remorse will not find any in her eyes.

Frankly, anyone trying to properly read Tilda will come away with next to no results. The woman has a mastery over expression and what she decides to portray. She is most definitely a wildcard in that her true thoughts are almost unknowable. Next to nothing escapes her expression unless she wants it to. It’s one of the many things that make Tilda so dangerous. Indeed, her status and power make her imposing. However, her skill in presenting herself and effortless power over people are her true weapons.



Weapons/Items

The Ochroid
Tilda’s magnum opus. A swarm of nanobots with near limitless capabilities. Donning the signature ivory and golden colour scheme, the swarm is mesmerizing to watch, especially when in the process of construction. From generating clothing, to forming into weaponry, to constructing buildings and other technology in the fraction of a time compared to other advancements, the Ochroid is truly a miracle of innovation. The evidence lies in the City’s skyline. Buildings of ivory and gold cementing Tilda’s influence.

The swarm is self-replicating when needed and nigh-indestructible, making sure that anything built with them can stand the test of time. Furthermore, they are the source of Tilda’s might and protection. They can morph into a plethora of weapons at will, as well as being able to create functioning tools, along with robots and suits of armor. Most of these weapons use plasma and electricity as their primary ammo. The Ochroid is capable of generating its own energy, making ammunition generally a non-issue, aside from a brief cooldown period. The swarm can also replicate/imitate different materials and textures with remarkable accuracy. This means that whatever Tilda decides to generate with the bots, will look and feel like the real thing if she so desires.

Because the Ochroid can generate its own energy, anything it morphs into can theoretically function forever. The swarm is also impervious to outside interference, making hacking or disabling the swarm impossible. At least according to Tilda. If, by any chance, the swarm is hacked, there is a built-in failsafe which causes that said swarm to self-destruct immediately. This can also be triggered by Tilda herself as a nasty surprise.

The Ochroid was also built to retain any type of data. Its sensors can pick up almost anything and add said information to Tilda’s own database, which she can access from her suit. This ensures that she has a constant flow of information, leaving few secrets within the City that Tilda doesn’t know about. Naturally, the swarm and Tilda can filter out and prioritize what’s most essential.

Additionally, Tilda knows the location of each bot and swarm at all times. Or rather, her suit can feed her the information when needed. They are all connected to the mainframe, which is Tilda herself. Her suit also allows her to control the bots with a mere thought or gesture.

Abilities/Powers

Genius Intelligence
Tilda’s intelligence is a point of no real discussion. It is a constant of the universe, woven into its tapestry. Innovation runs through her like blood. The Ochroid is a big enough example. She is skilled in technology, particularly those pertaining to robotics, security, and intelligence. One of the foremost inventors of her time, there is little Tilda cannot accomplish if she sets her mind to it. Her understanding of complex patterns and how to make something work (particularly for herself) is unmatched. Additionally, Tilda is well-versed in various cultures, languages, and anthropology. After all, her winning over the City’s populus wasn’t because of luck.

In a way, Tilda is constantly aware of everything and everyone around her. She can pick up slight cues from anyone and interpret them in a moment. Her skill with people has already been noted, but bears repeating. Being able to discern a person’s nature and goals is a particular forte. The same goes for any shifting winds in larger societal cornerstones. Economy, government, the list goes on. Tilda’s intelligence is almost frightening, often being the smartest person in the room and knowing how things function. As well as knowing how to keep everything together or take it all apart.

Nigh-Immortality
Tilda's return to the City proposed one significant question: how was she alive? While details on that are scarce, her suit seems to be the most obvious answer. Through whatever means, the Ochroid has kept her alive throughout hundreds of years without aging her any further or aging her very slowly. The truth has not yet emerged, however, but immortality through technological means is the most popular theory thus far.

Art expert
Having worked with art for a bulk of her younger years, Tilda now has an expert eye all on her own. She is able to snuff out forgeries without her technology and correctly guess the value of a piece after examining the piece for a short time. Of course, this often considers its age, composition, artist, etc. Much of that is still done through her tech, but Tilda is skilled and experienced enough to examine it with her own eye and guess correctly.

Expert combatant
While Tilda’s combat capabilities aren’t her bread and butter, she is still dangerous with more than just her intellect. Truthfully, her suit augments her skill considerably, but it’s the handling of the weapons and armor that she has been honing for a long time. Anyone facing Tilda physically is going to have a rough time.

Flight
Through her suit and the Ochroid, Tilda is capable of self-propelled flight. She cannot reach high speeds without an additional layer of the swarm, but in general she is fast enough to get from one place to another in less time than walking. It is perhaps more akin to gliding, though she can keep herself suspended in the air for however long she needs.



Roleplay Sample

It was quiet. Quiet enough to hear one's own heartbeat. Quiet enough to think that outside, nothing existed. It was how the Mayor enjoyed her mornings. To shut out all unnecessary noise and simply take in the silence. Tilda stood at the entrance of her residence's balcony, looking as vehicles of various sizes, makes, and conditions flew by. The row stretched as far as the eye could see, seemingly infinitely. Her morning coffee was still pleasantly scorching, its plume reflecting against the sunlight.

If she had witnesses to her morning ritual, they'd likely be wondering what thoughts went through Tilda's mind. The truth would bore most. She thought of practically nothing. It was what kept her sane. That brief moment in her day, where her mind could simply be still. Because the rest of her time was enveloped by thoughts, plans, opinions, ideas. Her mind swallowed whole by the monumental task that was the City. A most demanding job. But one absolutely suited for someone like Tilda.

Tilda's time was up. Her suit giving her a meeting alert. Not something she was particularly looking forward to. She didn't need to remind herself of the nature of said meeting, so she simply kept looking at the silent outside. A moment later, she had put down her mug and opened her balcony doors, letting in the almost overwhelming amount of noise. Tilda's mind jolted awake, thoughts pouring in as she took a deep breath. The floodgates had been opened. She closed the balcony doors and sat down at the end of her almost comically long dinner table.

A panel within the table opened, revealing a device that would momentarily bring up her subject of the day in full view, head to toe. The quality was pristine, the colours bright, everything as it should be in the residence of a tech tycoon. It was a shame that this technology was being used to broadcast such an uninteresting man. Almost offensive.

William Taggart was a deceivingly pompous man. Someone who thought himself much smarter and more capable than he really was. A manipulator through and through, albeit doing so while yelling about his intentions and having a neon sign above him. Miraculously, that actually worked from time to time. He still remained a man who believed he was doing the right thing and was one step ahead of everyone else. Delusions of grandeur.

Had Tilda drawn comparisons between herself and Taggart? She had. And then quickly dismissed them. If only for the sole reason of their current and long-standing positions in the government. There were plenty more reasons to dismiss such claims and comparisons, none of which were important.

She had already put on her "mask," throwing a warm-ish smile at Taggart's frowning expression. Their topic for the day? The Canopy Consortium and their lack of regard towards the boundaries set in place ever since Tilda had been in office. Strife between her specifically and the Consortium was a known battle within certain circles. And because William was, of course, one of their finest and also Tilda's own subordinate, her plan didn't even need much forming. But she did know that it was going to be an unpleasant exchange regardless.

"William. Good to see you. Let's get down to business, this may take a while."