Tanuki's Scrawlings

Art By CraftyYokai

Name: Niah Timetale Arboria Lockwood Age: Unknown Physique: Varies

Profession: Librarian/Small Business Co-Owner Nationality: Europan Height: Ranges from 5'7" to 12'4" (Rarely 20') Race: Matron Demon Fox

Hobbies: Reading, Video Games, Eating, Horticulture, Arcanum Related Temperament: “Resting Bitch Face”, Curious, occasionally standoffish, but warm and loving to those close. Abilities: Deep Magic Capacity, Endless Matronly Blessing, Exceptional Flexibility, Superhuman Durability Passive Abilities/Flaws: Uncontrolled growth, Passive influence, Psudo-Immortality,

Favorite Food: Beef, Baked Sweets, Tea, Sweet Fruit

Marital Status: Widowed

Preferred Music: Orchestra, “Video Game music usually”, “Anything with a good beat”

Niah, Matron Demon, Librarian

Niah Arboria Lockwood, a Matron Demon Fox who lives a relatively quiet life in the megaopolis of Ocea, The Northwestern Capital of the Pacifica Province in Americanus. Here she owns the Province’s largest book archive, The Silver Fox Library, with a shopping mall’s worth of ground-space to its right. The library holds an unexpected volume of books as well as historical data that is often deemed fictional of other, presumed lost lands outside of Americanus, all of which is printed and loaned out in-house.

While she would be considered an inert, she is a magically exhausted Magisoul. She had made no efforts to restore her magical nature, finding it comfortable with the further distancing of her original nature, as well as it allowing her to lessen her demonic powers. She works in the core-most part of her library as the head librarian, and manager along side her friends and part-time workers, Maribel and Lori Bostaurus, Nora Lupicanis, Unofficial Mascot Gisela Lockwood, as well as her regular client and investor, Yuro Windsong.

It is a widely spoken of fact, something Niah will admit when asked, that she is from United Europa, and is one of the very few who is being permitted to live in Americanus regardless of the bad history between the two nations. Additionally, she will admit to being a former Magisoul, if she is asked about the rumor.

Her home, while less time is spent here than at her work, is well furnished in a United Europan style, giving the air of magic and mysticism. The doorways are generously wide and occasionally set with two doors, as opposed to one. Here, she keeps her past belongings in close regard, the rooms littered with decorations of non-functional Arcanitek, as well as functional Americanus Technology in place of the Arcanitek Appliances she has stored in her basement. It is built in a near-manor-like size, with several rooms. Aside from her bedroom and a guest room, she also has an office, a personal library, and an indoor garden that extends into the back yard of the property.

In her room, is a modest living. A curtain-drawn bed with its own mood lighting with space for her and Gisela, or any other visiting bedmate willing to share space. The decorum is fitting with the rest of the home, with a more Americanus focus on appliances and luxuries. Her desk holds a set of screens for her computer that Nora insisted she should have, though only one screen is ever on. Set in front of her bed is a large panel display with a pair of game consoles set for use. While it is something she would say collects dust, its frequent movement and lack of aforementioned dust betrays her statement. A bookshelf also resides in her room, built firmly as part of the wall with an unusual nature to it’s wood, giving it a “Grown out” look from the wooden decorated panels that would reside behind it. It’s book stocks are revolving, typically collecting games she is playing, as well as books she is reading.

Her room is also built with a covered balcony, built only far enough to allow her to grow plants and tend them, as well as enough room for Gisela to sunbathe and get fresh air. On this balcony are several planters and a remote retractable covering. During the holidays, she will often place decorations that pertain to a United Europan holiday style, over the Americanus version. The wall decorum as well as the balcony decorum is a mixed focus on subtle nerdy references, as well as ideas given by Maribel, featuring a set of photos of fake family, hinting at Maribel having an inkling Niah was going to need help upkeeping appearances.

The guest room is more sparsely furnished, containing a modest bed for what one would assume is two people, but to Niah, it is for one. A desk is also present, with a guest computer Nora also insisted should be present, albeit with far more things locked down than Niah’s own PC. The screen is also set up to serve two purposes. As a TV, as well as a monitor. And, like Niah’s room, a well stocked bookshelf is present, however it lacks the personality of Niah’s own, she will rotate the books present on a regular basis. In this room, the decorum is more focused on landscapes and passive comfort, paintings showing landscapes considered foreign to Americanus, but home to United Europa.

In the back yard, she houses what she calls “Decorative Fictional Art”, which is her personal Yacht-Size Skyboat, and a half-planted Branch-Size Treeboat that resides half-way in her back garden. In the Skyboat, is another livable space, furnished more in-style with her home nation, as well as some half-built hybrid appliances and machinery that she passes off as “part of the artwork”. Nora will frequently spend nights here between college classes helping Niah with the projects present in this skyboat, and is the only one aware that the Skyboat is a little more than just artwork.

Due to the magical nature of her demonhood, she will often draw the brief attention of governmental officials in passing, however due to her Passive Influence, they will often spend little time thinking about it, and going about their day. However, Maribel is one of the very few more aware that something about her is not in line with their known world, and will often probe the fox for information that Niah seems all to eagar to avoid.

What further’s this inquisitive habit of Maribel, is the fox’s luck on procuring out-of-the-ordinary shipments of Arcanitek appliances. Even though there is an intense inspection on most packages that are shipped into the country from other lands, Niah’s seem to make a pass without any question or proof of inspection, indicating that the fox may be illegally smuggling in banned resources and objects that would be otherwise sent to governmental officials.

The fox herself is often seen as distant and unfriendly, presenting little opportunities for any more interaction beyond what is needed. Onlookers from the outside looking in often cite her as a bit isolationist, however, she is often seen looking longingly at others interactions with friends and family. Though, from the inside looking out, her friends carry the same general opinion of her. They describe her as an out-of-touch young woman who is always curious about things her closer friends do. Though, all share one impression in common. Niah seems like someone who may be running from a time that she does not want to catch up to her.

She often frowns, as she herself admits she has a “resting bitch face”. However, when she is brought out of her shell, she can be quite expressive and will convey how she feels or give her views things, even if she isn’t asked. It is often presented in a way that feels almost old-world-like, with more contemporary views mixed in. Nora, the friend who most often spends her time around Niah, lovingly calls her “Grandma”, as a playful jest at her platinum blond hair and fur, however the nickname only ever gets used when Niah fails to understand why something is the way it is with Americanus Technology. Lori, however, spends a more modest time around Niah, seeing her more as a partial love interest, but is never able to further it due to her post-school work life. While Niah does not feel the same way, she isn’t above indulging in the cow’s feelings, often telling her it’s not platonic. It’s a statement she’s always hesitant to make.

On her good days, for the fox, she will spend time drinking tea with a tail wagging. While she isn’t one to sing, she will frequently put on music as she trots about with an uncharacteristic grin on her face. On these good days, she often indulges in excess eating to keep herself in the good mood, as well as friendly banter with people she is close to. She will also increase the frequency of her roaming the library grounds and encourage longer visits and provide recommendations from herself personally. This particular mood is more frequent the larger she is, but does not prevent her from having bad days.

On her bad days she will further the distant and unfriendly nature, often being standoffish with others and demonstrating little patience for anyone who tests it. If she is working the desk in the main part of her library, she will often establish a “Fast track” rule, frequently disallowing pleasantries and urging customers to spend less time at the counter. She will also spend more time in her office, as opposed to her usual roaming the library and greetings of visitors and friends. On her more severe bad days, she has been known to lock herself away in her office, or will opt to not come in at all, resorting binge eating in an attempt to sway her mood on occasion. She is also referred to the sealed devil by more unruly, abrasive customers on these days.

When the fox is depressed or feeling downed, she will never show it on her face, but she will spend longer periods of time watching others, as if imagining what her life would be like if she were anyone but herself. Her default, unamused and bored look will remain, and hardly shift from anything more than her near-iconic frown. But pulling her from this state is as simple as than offering her gifts of food and snacks, and a soft hug from those she trusts.