Player Name: Brat

AIM Contact: SavvyRumPirate

Character Name: Mariah Kindred

Date & Place of Birth: October 3, 1975, New Orleans, Louisiana

Character Type: Lukoi

Character Occupation & Skills: A large trust fund and a series of investments have seen to it that Mariah does not have to work to support her lifestyle or the pack. Still, Mariah is not one to sit idle and has been working as a real estate agent for the past nine years. Since Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the housing market is at a stand-still and so Mariah isn't seeing many clients, and is instead using this as an opportunity to acquire more property for the pack.

Mariah's teen years were spent in a variety of exclusive girls' schools with more than a few summers spent abroad. As a result, she knows all the ins and outs of a formal dinner party, what not to wear at a cocktail party and where to find the best gossip (the kitchen staff). She speaks fluent French and passable Spanish. Also, if you want some kick-ass wedding invitations, just ask; Mariah has the calligraphy skills of a master-level artist.

Abilities: The typical symptoms of lycanthropy include enhanced strength, senses, healing, speed and they need to go furry on the night of the full moon. Mariah posses all of the above and quite a few extras -– namely, she's got better "control" of her beast than your average werewolf. Partial changes (hands into claws, elongated canines, etc.) are something she continues to perfect, and lately she's gone as far as to make herself slightly taller for periods throughout the day. Shifting forms entirely is remarkably easy and Mariah's able to go into full and half-forms and back to human again without ending up tired and useless.

What truly sets Mariah apart from her lycanthrope bretheren is her ability to force down or effectively tame another person's beast. She can stop another werewolf from changing, and this is a painful process on the person she's forcing it on, or if necessary she can chase the beast from someone who is already shifted. Her presence alone makes a more submissive lukoi cower and other alphas and dominants tend to feel uneasy. Still, not all her alpha gifts revolve around fear or intimidation –- Mariah can and often shares power with the pack. When sharing power the pack is bound closer together, because ultimately they are all experiencing the same thing at the same moment and riding that lunatic fringe like a tidal wave. Sharing power is both the ultimate joy and most dangerous thing she can do as it can get addicting for her and the pack.

Appearance: Mariah is tall, standing at 5'10", possesses the figure of a goddess and a complexion that is best described with a Starbucks menu. She's got the kind of look that makes other women hate her and men want her. Though it's her smile you've got to watch out for. Mariah's smile could light up the Vegas strip and make angels weep. Overall, her presence is commanding, intimidating and more often than not just a tad overpowering. Which is fine by her, Mariah is a big fan of distance both physically and emotionally.

Mariah's beast is something straight out of a nightmare. With shaggy black fur, yellow eyes and jaws that could crush skulls, she is the current embodiment of the big bad wolf. It's been theorized that her wolf forms are something of a throwback to prehistoric times. Not only is she bigger than any of the females in the pack, she surpasses many of the males as well. As a full wolf she's closer in size to a horse than a pony and in her half-form she stands at a terrifying 8 1/2 feet tall.

Her build is noticeably different from her more "modern" packmates. She's stockier, with wide-set shoulders and her legs are comparatively short for her size. Mariah's skull is larger and her jaws are more compact with teeth that a croc might envy. It's not really a build that was meant for running long distances, but there is little doubt in anyone's mind that as a wolf she's capable of hunting and taking nearly anything down by herself.

Personality & History: Mariah's past is a mystery to anyone but herself. And for a born and bred local socialite this is an accomplishment in and of itself. Rumors persist and Mariah is more than happy to let them; hell, sometimes she's been known to feed them. She's been everything from a fugitive to a runaway mistress, and while the truth isn't nearly so exciting, it's more than a little painful. Mariah's definitely got something to hide, and she refuses to remain unconcerned about it so long as the rumor mill keeps churning.

As a result, Mariah's history in New Orleans doesn't really begin until she became infected with lycanthropy at the age of twenty-three. Even the case of her infection is something of a mystery. She does not speak of an attack, but does not deny one, either. It is more likely that her infection was just a simple matter of a bad batch of serum. Whatever the case may be, when the full moon made its next appearance, so did the infection lurking inside Mariah.

She was reborn with the great black beast that burst from beneath her skin and Mariah was unafraid to embrace the power that came with it. The local Ulfric, Leon Butcher, welcomed the young woman into The Frenzy with little fanfare and no choice. The pack was less than thrilled with Mariah from day one. Her beast made them uneasy and Mariah found herself in the all-too-familiar outer circle. This was only made worse when Butcher was challenged and defeated by Philip Dumas. Pack dynamics changed radically under Dumas, and Mariah used this to her advantage, staying on the fringes and keeping a careful eye on everyone and everything.

Ever patient, Mariah played the part of a shadow. She was always present but made herself easily dismissed and even easier to ignore. It would be years before Mariah declared herself Fenrir, openly challenging and ultimately defeating Philip on lupanar grounds. Mariah's victory came quickly, and while it cowed many of the pack, it also made others uneasy and more than a little skittish. The same night she was named Ulfric, Mariah gave her wolves a choice. Stay and be hers, or leave and find their fortunes elsewhere.

Mariah was not surprised when more than a hundred wolves took their leave. What she had not counted on was the hurt and nagging sense of betrayal when they did go. She had little time to dwell on this, and instead had to work on protecting her new kingship. For months, Mariah was challenged again and again, and not once did she falter. Eventually the challenges would end and Mariah was free to start building her power base.

While the pack was greatly diminished (little more than two hundred wolves remained), Mariah wasted no time in proving herself an effective leader. Discipline was enforced with a heavy hand, and while she allowed her wolves to speak, Mariah's word and hers alone was law. She pulled the pack together, forcing them to act and think as one until they knew nothing else. Mariah's protection became an absolute thing, and while her wolves still fear her, they know as long as she's around they have nothing else to be afraid of.

Mariah continues to prove herself as king and provider to her pack. While her laws and views seem rigid within the pack, she is often viewed as being a terribly gifted diplomat outside of it. Mariah holds the rat king, Mahmoud, in high regard and makes it a point to acknowledge the other lycanthrope groups within the city. The sole exception to this being the leopard pard; Mariah does not trust Selene and has a quiet dislike for the cats in general. She keeps the pard under her thumb not only to watch them, but also provide a distraction for her own wolves. The Frenzy does not overtly bully the leopards but heckling is commonplace and a spats between the two are not unheard of.

Because of her power and refusal to share anything about her past, Mariah is a very a lonely woman. There is not a thing she wouldn't do for her pack and while they are aware of this, they are also very careful to keep their distance. Keeping people at arm's length is a defense mechanism that she can't seem to let go of. Yes, Mariah is more than willing to make conversation, be sarcastic and sometimes she laughs so hard tears form at the corner of her eyes and it's all good times until someone pushes her to open up. She's gracious enough to deflect the spotlight but if continually prodded, she won't get nervy, she'll just get mean.