Kassia

Emperor Yu, divine ruler of the celestial heavens, watched over the blissful souls that had earned their way into paradise. Yet, loneliness and a touch of boredom led him to select twelve heavenly creatures as part of a competition for the most worthy assistant, and send them to best display their merits in the guise of a human. Tiger, as an apex predator, had a tenacious will and the prowess to match. When she arrived in the human world, she sought out the most capable humans she could find—which, in the alpine mountains, happened to be no more than a ragtag group of hunters. They were useful insofar as navigating their home terrain was concerned, but lacked the proper training to fend off the more organized bandits that threatened the very villages they were hired to protect. Seizing the opportunity, Tiger introduced herself as Kassia—their new commander in charge. Their confused glances and doubt over the authenticity of a sharp-eyed woman who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere soon gave way to looks of determination as Kassia roused their spirits with the promise of gold and glory. The now-elite squad, Skyroar, was now known throughout their snowy domain and further afield for their overwhelming ambush tactics and single-mindedness. Like any other group, however, it wasn't smooth flying all the time. Kassia's greatest strength was also her biggest flaw. Once, having tracked their enemies into a gauntlet, their prideful leader marched straight ahead... and promptly disappeared from view as the floor gave way to a trap. Sent to the mortal world in human disguise as part of Emperor Yu's competition to select a capable assistant among twelve celestial creatures, Tiger was sure she had the upper hand. Fiercely independent and ever alert, it was only natural she took up leadership of her now elite company of alpine mercenaries known as the Skyroar. Their reputation for loyalty and tenacity strikes fear into the hearts of foes far and wide. To most, this unflappable commissar was as inscrutable as their ambush tactics, but one isolated incident within their group offers some insight. After falling for a floor trap set by their enemies, Kassia insisted it was never a lapse in her judgment. She had intended this all along—by triggering the trap herself, the enemies would be lured into a false sense of achievement and accomplishment. Kassia's men attempted to evacuate her, but the feisty feline brooked no argument; further questions to her authority would constitute insubordination. Kassia continued barking orders from the pit (later coined the "Tiger Trap" by detractors, though never to her face), and the mercenaries dutifully concealed themselves in the vicinity. Official post-operation records describe the enemy being flanked by the Skyroar moments after examining their sprung trap, with the notable detail that their fearsome commissar leapt out of the pit in a single athletic jump and sank her kukri into the scout's neck. While this has done much to prove her talent for thinking on her feet, perhaps pride tells a different story—for no one, not even her sharp-eyed deputy, noticed the frazzled state of her cap-tail as she stalked away from the pit.