Kahna Caldwell

Description
A half-Chinese, half-Caucasian woman in her early 20s, Kahna has a fairly unassuming appearance.1 Her attire mostly consists of monochrome blacks, whites and denim. Despite the simplicity of her modestly-sourced wardrobe, Kahna's well-developed sense of style2 shines through--she can make thrift store clothes look like they belong on a runway. Whether it is something in her carriage or her dark brown eyes, her presence3 can be felt: there's a otherworldly4 allure5 to her. She has straight shoulder-length black-brown hair, which is frequently paired with a scarf tied in the form of a hairband.

Although Kahna is slight in build, she is athletic. She's neither bulky, curvy nor a soft and smooth girl; there's clear definition in her arms, for instance, between where the shoulder ends and her bicep begins.6 Either on account of her unflappable demeanor7 or her past, she frequently wears a look interpreted variously as either stoic seriousness or thoroughly-unamused-by-your-bullshit.

Notes:


 * 1) Does NOT have Quality: Attractive
 * 2) Quality: Fake It Until You Make It
 * 3) Soul 6
 * 4) Soul Specialization: Supernatural
 * 5) Heart Specialization: Alluring
 * 6) Body 4
 * 7) Quirk: Steady

Personality
Kahna is smart.1 She's not shy about showing it, either, when the moment arises. Her academic success prior to arriving at Ravenswood, however, was fueled just as much by a work ethic that borders on overcompensation. She absolutely loathes being unprepared. Rather than possessing some internal placidity or serenity, to anyone that's paying attention, it quickly becomes clear that her steadiness is the result of her control and self-discipline2 over the inner tempest.

Between her previous name-brand college experience and Ravenswood, however, resentment has developed as powerful motivation.3 While she must align herself with members of the powerful families to "make it," Ravenswood is more of the same as her previous prestigious university: struggling on the back of natural ability to keep pace with the rich legacy kids who have probably had private tutors for this for 5 years before setting foot here. It's an ongoing cognitive dissonance to prove she's worthy, but despising the people from whom she has to earn that stamp. She wants to believe in the promises and idealism of a merit-based world but ... you know, it's not quite that way.

While she's extremely attentive to etiquette and proper forms of behavior due to her magical background, socialization is far from her strong suit.4 Although Kahna frequently comes off as socially awkward or cold, she has been known to show deep compassion and affection in select cases, acting as a light in the darkness5 during others' moments of anguish. When someone manages to get past her unsociable exterior, she has also shown a way with words in both argumentation and flattery.6

Notes:


 * 1) Mind Specialization: Intelligent
 * 2) Soul Specialization: Disciplined
 * 3) Motivation: Envy
 * 4) Heart 2
 * 5) Soul Specialization: Beacon
 * 6) Convince Specialization: Silver Tongue

History
"Kahna" is the Americanized version of her Chinese name, 夏聂 Xià Niè--which roughly translates to "summer whisper"--combined with her father's given name, Connor. The contribution of the latter was influenced, in no small part, by the fact that if she had been born a male, she would have been given her father's name.

Kahna was raised in a low-income single parent household by her Chinese mother. Her father died when she was young, leaving her mother in a perpetual state of either working shifts at two jobs or being too exhausted to do much else. Consequently, Kahna more or less raised herself and enjoyed a childhood with a disturbing lack of parental supervision. When she wasn't doing youth kickboxing classes at the local YMCA, she was busy being a book nerd, an unchecked obsession which later ignited her interest in the occult.

A Child Prodigy, Kahna always succeeded academically. Her scholastic accomplishments landed her a full ride to a prestigious university. Since her maternal grandparents weren't thrilled with her mother marrying some white American and severed ties, Kahna developed a fascination with the Chinese culture she was largely dispossessed of, leading her to study it for two and half years at her university.

When Kahna was forced by circumstance to drop out due to the occult bleeding into her facade of normalcy, the pride her mother once had for her evaporated. Since Kahna appeared to drop out without any rational explanation, "throwing away" her future, she's a Huge Disappointment to her mother. They don't talk.

Roleplay Hooks
How can people get involved or tied in with your character?


 * Kahna is a brand new first-year student and seems to be unconnected to the powerful families behind Ravenswood. She came with next to nothing; word is she was homeless prior to her admission.
 * Update: Some benefactor seems to have helped her out. Maybe she's not so disconnected after all?
 * Rumored to have caught the attention of Ravenswood through her dealings with demons.
 * She nearly pledged to Armitage instead of Leng. By all accounts, she was expected to pledge to Armitage. It's unclear what caused the last minute change. Maybe she just doesn't like cats?
 * Update: To add to the curiosity, Kahna seems to hang out with members of House Armitage quite a bit.
 * Before arriving at Ravenswood, Kahna went to a prestigious (mundane) university for two and a half years where she studied Chinese culture, language and history.

Relationships

 * Rhysalla 'Rhys' Salem - The nature of the relationship between the two is largely unknown but it was Rhys that was sent to retrieve Kahna and bring her to Ravenswood Academy for her admissions interview. Whatever their past, there is at least some trust there.
 * Zoe Kimber - Kahna was given her campus tour and taken to her first class by Zoe and Rhys, leaving with them after. There's a connection forming evident by, if nothing else, Kahna's uncharacteristic willingness to show Zoe affection.