- Calista, known as "The Damned" (although it is not known that this is literally true - it was originally just a colourful pirate sobriquet) grew up on the mean streets in the Orion Colonies. When she was 18, she joined the Orion Trade Fleet and completed her command training under an assumed name. At age 25, her ship was taken by pirates, whose number she joined. She was a Captain by age 29, and has commanded a series of ships (each named the Armida) ever since. Three years ago, she encountered an immensely powerful incorporeal entity called the Verlegg, with whom she entered into a pact. Since that time she has lost a number of body parts, which have been replaced by bionic implants, and her reputation has become increasingly fearsome. She believes the entity Verlegg to be a dæmon who will make her immortal - the replacement of her limbs she sees as first steps on that path. Verlegg has triggered and enhanced her latent psionic abilities, and triggered an empathic broadcast ability causing everyone within sight to feel sensations ranging from a vague unease to outright terror.
For several years, her ship was the fourth she'd commanded; an Orion Lightning class Blockade Runner called the Armida IV, until in early 2290 Verlegg transported her to an alternate universe where magic was a reality. After breaking with its family, the Verlegg captured and presented her with a new vessel, an Ilithid Nautiloid which she promptly christened the Armida V. Verlegg also transported her entire crew aboard, save for her cabin girl, a young Human girl named Bellandra ferch Jaime. She enlisted one of the Ilithids' slaves a dwarfen artificier named Dürin Dürin who converted the Armida V's steering gear to something more resembling the starship helm/navigation module the crew was familiar with. The Nautiloid is as much a living being as it is a ship, and is powered by an Ilithid Pool Helm using the original Ilithid crew (named Huey, Dewey and Louie by Simon deLarue) to drive it. The ship is capable of travelling at the equivalent of Warp Factor 12 with near-unlimited endurance.
Calista is a short, slight woman with strking features. Although half Orion, she appears to be a caucasian Human. She wears an eyepatch to conceal her artificial eye, which glows a dull red. This eyepatch is transparent to the eye's sensors. She dresses in loose, black, natural silk clothing of the highest quality, often with a black leather jacket and a black wedge cap. The left sleeve on her blouse ends at the elbow, revealing her bionic arm and hand, which are enameled a glossy black and chased with silver brightwork.
 
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