Character Design: Athena Lithegood, Intergalactic Gunslinger
PRIMARY CHARACTER
Mentor (minor); Ally
Character Overview:
ATHENA LITHEGOOD is a seasoned Ganymedian gunslinger (NPC) who formerly performed in Sappho’s Intergalactic Wild West Exhibition and served as a bodyguard-for-hire for over 10 years. Once the most sought-after markswomen in the galaxy, Lithegood now lives in exile and disgrace after a fateful mistake. However, if given a chance to redeem herself, Lithegood will teach the hero how to shoot and will fight alongside the hero.
Name of Character:
Athena Lithegood
Core Personality Traits:
BOLD
INDEPENDENT
AUTHENTIC
ENIGMATIC
GAME
Genre: ARPG/FPS
Mechanics/Actions:
-Teaches the player how to aim and use different types of guns (initial mentor state)
-Can join the player’s party and fight alongside the player
-Buffs that provide focus (improved accuracy) and dexterity (faster reload) for self, player, and other party members
-Dialog exchanges with the player: if the player gets along with Athena, the player earns certain bonuses to Athena’s stats/abilities
-Can step in for player in difficult fights or conversations
-Buffs that provide protection from extreme cold for player, and other party members (limited elemental magic)
-Especially effective in duels/fighting a single opponent (increased speed, dexterity, and accuracy against single opponent)
-Has the unique tracking skill: can detect nearby enemies within a certain distance (increases with level up)
Tools/Weapons:
-Can use any gun in the game, although Athena is more accurate with short range weapons, especially pistols.
-Cowboy hats and bandanas provide bonuses for her stats, including tracking, charisma, speed, dexterity, and focus.
Inspiration for Athena Lithegood
PHYSICAL FORM
Species: Ganymedian (humanoid); born on Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons and the largest moon in the Solar System
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Physical Description:
-forest green skin
-high cheekbones
-large, full purple lips
-light, piercing, almond-shaped grey eyes
-long, thick, fine white hair with a lot of split ends that make it apparent that she hasn’t gotten a haircut in a very long time
-ties hair back in either a ponytail or one giant, messy braid
-5’8
-broad shoulders, narrow hips
-muscular legs from years of performing physical stunts in Sappho’s Intergalactic Old West Exhibition
Physicalities:
-struts with inherent confidence; she knows that she is still the best gunslinger in the galaxy, even if she is living in exile
-is unaffected by cold temperatures, as Ganymede is covered in ice
-is very vulnerable in hot temperatures, as she is not accustomed to it
Clothing/Adornments:
-small purple tattoo on her left shoulder blade of her deceased wife’s name
-hats and bandanas that the player can find throughout the game provide different bonuses (see Tools & Weapons section above)
Original Environment:
In order to perform in the exhibition, Athena regularly traveled from planet to planet, never really calling any one place home. Although she has a good relationship with her family, Athena is not able to see them often, as they still live on Ganymede. The most important person in Athena’s life was her wife, Rhaeda, who was a galactic dignitary and keeper of all history in the universe. Athena and Rhaeda met during a private performance for politicians on Rhaeda's home planet: another one of Jupiter's moons, Metis.
Situational Environment:
Because of Athena’s terrible mistake, she lives in exile in a small, one-horse town on Ganymede. Most of the locals have no idea who she is, save for the town drunk. The player stumbles upon Athena in the course of investigating the stolen historical recordings, guided by another performer in the exhibition, Marvin Attleboro (see next character design entry for more details on the character).
Job/Work:
Athena used to work as a sharpshooter for Sappho’s Intergalactic Wild West Exhibition, performing seemingly impossible feats for enraptured attendees. She earned her place in the exhibition by dueling and beating nearly every gunslinger across the galaxy at the tender age of 16. Given her reputation, she was also routinely hired to act as a bodyguard for celebrities, wealthy aristocrats, and political leaders.
Backstory:
Although Athena is very talented, she became arrogant after achieving success and celebrity at such a young age. In the course of acting as her wife Rhaeda’s bodyguard, Athena was careless in her duties and did not notice an assassin until it was too late. Not only did the assassin kill Rhaeda, but the assassin also stole the recordings of all history in the universe.
In order to cope with the loss and disgrace, Athena drinks alcohol heavily, but deep down, she also wants her revenge.
Emotional Arc:
At first, Athena is resigned to her fate as a lonely has-been. After teaching the player how to shoot, she regains her confidence and works with the player to find the assassin and claim the justice she deserves.
DIALOG
Speech Patterns, Accents, Dialect:
-Old West slang
-French accent and speech patterns, such as placing emphasis on the last syllable rather than the first
Sample Dialog:
1) Player: What are you doing here?
Now, the real question you should be askin’ right now is what you’re doing here. Unless you been livin’ under a moon rock, you outta know that you’re in the presence of a [hiccups drunkenly] bonafide failure.
2) Player: How do I (whatever the quest is for the player in your world)?
Well, darlin’, first you gotta close that gapin’ yapper’a yours and listen to your old aunty Athena. My skin might be green but there ain’t nothin’ green about me when it comes to trackin’ the [some gang].
3) Player: I've heard about you, that you don't like strangers.
Stranger must’a told you that. ‘Course, if they had met me, they would not have teeth or tongue left to tell you ‘bout it.
4) Player:I really hate this place.
You’re awful young for that kind’a hate. ‘Sides, you get used to it.
Copyright Alexandra Lucas 2014
