Introducing Iona, Siren Berserker

Introduction

This is my second character I created for Borderlands 2, Aerie the Eridian gunsmith being the first, Iona is a young hot tempered Siren that get stuck on Pandora thanks to Handsome Jack's scheme to lure her there. His plan fails when the ship transporting her crash lands, losing contact to Hyperion, killing the crew but saving Iona. Now free she wanders on Pandora looking for clues as to what she is and if there are others like her. And in mean while, smashing lots of Bandits skulls into a red goo.

Like Lilith and Maya, Iona is a pretty young female but what sets her apart from the first two mentions is that she like to channel her rage into effectively dealing out great elemental damage, both through melee and gun fire. This is why I call her a “Siren berserker”.

And then there's her action skill, Phasewarp. It teleports you and an enemy of your choice to another plane of existence, a large empty room with the selected foe in the middle and you in front of him. The skill is meant to pick out one particular dangerous foe and fight him alone without anything else to worry about. You can select skills that enhance Phasewarp, giving you benefits. More about this in paragraph 1.3.

There is another new gameplay element I came up with. Skills that offer you a choice in what area they should benefit you. I simply call them “choice skills” or “multiple choice skills”. An example is Iona's Sparkle witch skill. It's a skill you can only spend one point in, it gives immunity to an element. When you spent a point in this skill the game will ask from what element you would like immunity from. This is what I call a “choice skill”. But there's also a “multiple choice skill”. An example of such a skill is her Ammo depot skill. When you spend the first skill point in this the game will ask of you to select 2 ammo pools of which you would like to increase the maximum amount of bullets you can carry with you from. Selecting 2 types also increases the magazine sizes of all guns making use of that same ammo type.


1. General information

Name: Iona Seavencross
Class: Siren
Sex: Female
Age: 26
Race: Human
Personality: Ill tempered, confident, aggressive, cocky.

1.1 Background story:
Born with the typical Siren markings of unknown origin, Iona was lured to Pandora by Hyperion in an effort to capture the young Siren. After crash landing on the forsaken planet Iona sets off to find more of her kind and more importantly, find the bastard responsible for getting her stuck on Pandora in the first place.

Most of her background is explained in the ECHO log chapter.

1.2 Description:
Iona is a hot tempered young Siren that enjoys using brutal violence to hurt enemies but also doesn't shy away from using her potent healing skills to aid her friends in need. Her most fearsome ability is her action skill.

1.3 Action skill:
Phasewarp. Teleport yourself and 1 enemy of your choice to an alternate dimension. This plane is completely empty without any (harmful) obstacles of any kind. In there you can solely focus on fighting that particular foe (who, initially, isn't altered or harmed by Phasewarp). Initially, you don't have much extra benefits in fighting besides the fact there is only one enemy to think about. Iona has skills that enhance Phasewarp further.

Phasewarp ends when either of these conditions are met;

• The foe is defeated. In this case, the enemy will be teleported back to where he/she/it was standing and his/hers/its death animation takes place, dropping whatever loot on the ground. Of course you are teleported back to where you where standing upon activating Phasewarp.
• The time duration is up. Phasewarp has an initial duration of 25 seconds. If you fail to defeat the foe in this time the both of you will be teleported back to where you where standing when you activated Phasewarp.
• You are defeated. Phasewarp can make you much tougher but never invincible. When you enter “Fight for your life” and loose, you will simply respawn at the last New-U station. The enemy you selected will be brought back as well, back in full health.

Like with Phaselock, not all foes are legitimate targets for Phasewarp. Some boss creatures can not be targeted, instead, when you use your action skill on them a large explosion of slag will be set off right where they are standing, covering themselves and others in t heir proximity in slag.

1.4 Gameplay style:
Iona is different from the other two known Sirens, Maya and Lilith, mostly because of her Red Rock skill tree. This skill tree focus on an aggressive combat building up Siren rage to unleash the next time Sire rage mode is activated. During this mode you can spend the build up Siren rage to inflict huge elemental damage by either hitting foes by melee or gun fire. And then there's her action skill, Phasewarp, which teleports you and 1 enemy of your choice to an alternative plane of existence where you can focus on combating that particular foe without having to worry about any other harmful element.


2. Skill tree




2.1 Skill tree 1: Green leaf
About healing and preventing damage.

Skill 1: Walk a crooked mile: You regenerate health by walking. Skill points increase amount of regeneration.

Skill 2: Smooth sailing: After reloading a gun you gain increased accuracy and recoil reduction for 6 seconds.

• +5% increased accuracy per skill point.
• +5% increased recoil reduction per skill point.

Skill 3: Half past dead: Team skill. Hitting a fellow team player by melee gives that player a temporary health regeneration. Also, reviving a team mate goes faster.

• +1,5% health regeneration for 5 seconds per skill point.
• +5% shorter reviving time per skill point.

Skill 4: The sledge: An amount of melee damage you cause is added to your health. Also increases melee damage.

• +2,5% of melee damage added to health per skill point.
• +10% melee damage per skill point.

Skill 5: Enter the metal world: Increases the duration of Phasewarp.

• 5 seconds of extra time per skill point

Flavortext: Beware the killer jaws of steel

Skill 6: Sparkle witch: Game changer: Choice skill. Choose an element you wish to gain immunity from. Choose from fire, shock and corrosive.

Skill 7: Sword and shield: Kill skill. Killing an enemy causing your shields to recharge, it also gives you health regeneration for a short time. Investing skill points increases amount of regenerated health and shield, not duration.

• +1% shield regeneration for 4 seconds per skill point.
• +1% health regeneration for 4 seconds per skill point.

Skill 8: Long time dyin': Bullets have a chance of healing you instead of dealing damage to your health. Skill increases chances and amount of healing. Skill only works when your shield is depleted.
COLOR="Red"]Flavortext: Happened to me once before, little of touch of denial. [/color]

Skill 9: The mourning after: Team skill. Upon leaving Phasewarp your team mates and your shield will be recharged.

• 1 skill point: Shield will be at least 10% charged.
• 2 skill points: Shield will be at least 20% charged.
• 3 skill points: Shield will be at least 30% charged.
• 4 skill points: Shield will be at least 40% charged.
• 5 skill points: Shield will be at least 50% charged.

Skill 10: N/A

Skill: 11: Game changer: Die-hard warrior: Anything that heals you or recharges your shield is amplified with 20%.


2.2 Skill tree 2: Blue drop
Mish mash of various skills, no focus on anything particular. Some skills enhance skills from the other 2 trees.

Skill 1: Wolf's blood: Increases your max health. Also gives you increased non-elemental resistance.

• +5% max health.
• +5% non-elemental resistance.

Skill 2: Enchanted tower: Increases shield capacity. Your shield also electrocutes enemies close by.

• +5% shield capacity per skill point.
• +1 rank of electrocute damage per skill point.

Flavortext: Will you safely reach the hour when you find the lost tower?

Skill 3: Please don't touch: Enemies that perform a successful melee attack on you have a chance to be set on fire. Skill increases chances and duration.

Skill 4: Hearts on fire: Increase the damage you do with guns. Also increases elemental damage.

• +5% gun damage per skill point.
• +5% elemental damage per skill point.

Skill 5: I am Praevus: Non-elemental bullets fired during Phasewarp are slag bullets. You also increase the chance of inflicting status effects with fire, shock, slag and corrosive guns.

• +5% chance of causing status effects with fire, shock, slag and corrosive guns.

Skill 6: Game changer: Lost in the void: Enemies that are caught in Phasewarp are dazed for 10 seconds.
Flavortext: Play against the rule and try to find a way

Skill 7: Thunderhead: Kill skill. Killing an enemy gives a chance of gaining increased bullet speed and damage for a short time.

• +5% chance of triggering skill benefits.
• +5% bullet speed per skill point.
• +5% gun damage per skill point.
• +3 seconds of duraton per skill point.

Skill 8: Beneath the iron hand: Enemies that survive Phasewarp have a chance of fighting other enemies for a while. Skill increases chances and duration.

• +5% chance that enemy fights others for 5 seconds per skill point.

Skill 9: Advanced gunner: Slightly increases gun damage, reload speed, recoil reduction and accuracy of all guns.

• +3% gun damage per skill point.
• +3% reload speed per skill point.
• +3% recoil reduction per skill point
• +3% accuracy per skill point.

Skill 10: Ammo depot: Multiple choice skill. Choose from 2 ammo pool types you wish to increase the max ammo carrying capacity from and gun magazines of the same type.

• 5% magazine size increase and 5% max ammo carrying capacity increase per skill point.

Skill 11: Game changer: Hail and kill: Anything that increases gun damage or reload speed is amplified with 20%,
Flavortext: I will bring salvation, punishment and pain


2.3 Skill tree 3: Red rock
Entire tree is about Siren Rage and expanding it, encouraging an aggressive play style.

Skill 1: Charge into overkill: First skill point enables Siren Rage. You build up Siren rage by taking damage. When enough damage is taken Siren rage will be activated. When you enter “Fight for your life” Siren Rage will end at once. The amount of damage required for activating Siren Rage depends on your character's level.

Advantages;

• +10% gun damage per skill point.
• +10% bullet speed per skill point.
• +10% melee damage per skill point.

Disadvantages;

• -10% recoil reduction per skill point.
• -10% accuracy per skill point.

Duration: 20 seconds. Minimum time between Siren Rage: 30 seconds.
Flavortext: Onward into fire, baptised in the roar

Skill 2: Like a raptor: Increase movement speed, aim speed and weapon swap speed during Siren rage.

• +10% movement speed per skill point.
• +10% aim speed per skill point.
• +10% weapon swap speed per skill point.

Flavortext: Looking with dark eyes, they're aiming at you

Skill 3: Bite the bullet: Bullets do less damage to you during Siren rage.

• -5% damage reduction per skill point.

Skill 4: The rip n tear: Melee strikes causes explosions during Siren rage. It also gives enemies a knock-back.

• +1 rank of explosion damage per skill point.

Skill 5: DV8R: The shorter the amount of time there is left during Siren rage, the greater increase in elemental damage and reload speed you gain.

• Up to 10% elemental damage per skill point.
• Up to 10% reload speed per skill point.

Flavortext: Mass contortion bullets burning, cauterizing pain.

Skill 6: Game changer: Smiling like a killer: Entering Phasewarp always enables Siren Rage. When Phasewarp ends so does Siren Rage.
Flavortext: What if I was right behind you, smiling like a killer?

Skill 7: Able killer: Damage that would otherwise kill you enable Siren rage. Also you will regenerate some of your health. Skill points increase chances and amount of health regenerated.

• 1 skill point: 5% chance of triggering Siren rage. 10% health recovered.
• 2 skill points: 10% chance of triggering Siren rage. 20% health recovered.
• 3 skill points: 15% chance of triggering Siren rage. 40% health recovered.
• 4 skill points: 20% chance of triggering Siren rage. 60% health recovered.
• 5 skill points: 25% chance of triggering Siren rage. 80% health recovered.

Skill: 8: Kill, burn, be evil: Kill skill. Upon killing an enemy during Siren Rage you extend the duration of Siren rage with a few seconds. 3 seconds extra time per skill point.

Skill 9: N/A

Skill 10: N/A


3. Quotes / Talk lines

Kill quotes;

• At least it made you stop yelling.
• I hope you enjoyed getting shot by a girl! *giggles*

Critical kill quotes;

• Brain rain! Bwahahaha!
• It's all in the wrist!

Entering “Fight for your life”;

• I'm not down, just tying my shoes!
• You're all dead! If I can get up that is.

Gaining second wind;

• The mad bitch's back!
• The bitch is back!
• Ok, who just shot me?
• Aaaaaaaaand we're back! Missed me?

Being revived;

• Polite people would say thank you. Bye!

When reviving someone;

• If you didn't had me, huh?
• Can't move on without me? Happens more often.

Opening chests;

• Well, what do we have?
• Time for presents!
• Anything of value?
• And what does Iona get today?

Looking at a white item;

• Yeah, that's crap.
• No, not going to pick that up.
• That must have fallen from the back of the garbage truck.

Looking at a green item;

• If it's green throw it in the trash machine.
• At least I can vend it.

Looking at a blue item;

• Well, not too shabby I guess.
• That will do. For now.

Looking at a purple item;

• Oh lovely, that will go with my other gear just fine.
• Very nice!

Looking at an E-tech item;

• Alien stuff? Kinky!
• Does it shoot explosive teddy bears?

Looking at an orange item;

• Now thát's what I call awesome!
• Gimme gimme gimme!
• I want! Nowish.

Activating action skill;

• Come and enter my world of pain!
• Lets get one-on-one!

Activating Siren Rage;

• I'm madly in anger with you all!
• Iona smash!
• Slaughter time!
• Welcome to dying!

Looking at skill trees;

• Here's how a badass chick is put together.
• So awesome, yet so much to improve.

Standing idle;

• I need to move................muscles getting stiff here.
• I'm sure there's a bandit over there that loves to get shot. True story.
• My dad works for DAHL One day he came home with a gun he called “Get your ass moving”. Really.
• My mom is an over expensive stripper who is currently giving rich people a lap dance while I could be shooting stupid bandits. Think about it.
• Standing still is boring. You know what helps? Moving.
• You're not really looking at the screen anymore, right?

4. Echo logs

4.1 Echo log #1 – Checking in
Iona: “*sigh* Can't believe I'm actually doing this. Well, all the cool kids are doing it, heck I even saw a bandit talking into a silly recorder so maybe this hype is something for me to. So, my name is Iona Seavencross, I'm born will strange markings all over my body. That and making people disappear raised the odd question of how I did that. A Siren is what they call people like me. Sirens are always females with incredible magical powers or whatever crap that DAHL scientist person told my parents. Extremely keen on learning more about me, they where quick to offer me a trip to one of their top research facilities located somewhere on [=]. They never researched a Siren before and were hoping to find answers to questions like “How come she can teleport herself?”, “What's that amusing sound she makes when she sleeps? “ and “Is smashing heads into a bloody mess really her hobby?”. I couldn't care less about DAHL but what makes me like this is something that I always wondered about. So yeah, in a few days I'm off, leaving our home on Themis. This better be worth it or skulls will be smashed. Iona out.”


4.2 Echo log #2 – Do I have to go?
Iona's mother: "But you need to go dear, you can't stay here without knowing what it means. The kind DAHL corporation has arranged transport for you, do take good care of yourself."

Iona: “Oh yes, the very same kind DAHL corporation that will disassemble me with great love and joy.”

Iona's mother: "As long as it will earn us some answers right dear? Your transport leaves in 15 minutes, better be ready!”

Iona: “Like I have a choice.”


4.3 Echo log #3 – Take off
Guard #1: “Are you strapped in? We're taking off in a few minutes.”

Iona: “I have my mother to worry about me. And she prefers to give lap dances in a strip club while I'm hold at the police station for another assault”.

Guard #1: “Ha ha, I love your mom already!”

Iona: “So does the male head staff of Maliwan!”

Pilot: “Get ready, we're taking off!”


4.4 Echo log #4 - Quarrel squirrel
Guard #2: “Survived the launch did you?”

Iona: “No, I died 2 minutes ago. You're talking to my ghost.”

Guard #2: “Oh a comedian. This is gonna be a long trip.”

Iona: “Sure, oh, nice Hyperion SMG you have. I'm sure you got that as a bonus from DAHL.”

Guard #2: “Got a problem with my gear ducky?”

Iona: “No, but there's gonna be a problem with your helmet though. A huge gap right after I pulled back my fist”

Guard #2: “Figures, you got the hands of a Bullymong all right.”

Iona: “I AM A LADY!”

Officer #1: “We're not making trouble at the back do we?”

Guard #2: “No Sir, just checking with the passenger.”

Iona: “Actually, he was just about to tell me where he got his Hyperion gear from.”

Guard #2: “SHUT UP BITCH!”

Officer #1: “Right, that's enough, go check the cargo bay.”


4.5 Echo log #5 – Wondering
Iona: “One thing though.”

Guard #1: “Which is?”

Iona: “If this is a mere transport of, apparently, one single person, then why are there 6 armed guards on board?”

Guard #1: “See it as protecting an investment. We like to make sure you arrive in one piece.”

Iona: “I also assume you bought this spacecraft second hand?”

Guard #1: “What do you mean? This ship is brand new, a colony of Bullymongs can go wild in there without taking the ship off balance.”

Iona: “Then why is the Hyperion logo plastered all over the ship?”

Guard #1: “We rented it. DAHL is cheap like that.”

Iona: “What a smooth answer.”


4.6 Echo log #6 – Welcome to Pandora
Pilot: “Strap yourself in, we're landing in a few minutes.”

Iona: “Excuse me, this isn't [=]. That thing over there is the greatest ball of puke called Pandora.”

Guard #3: “Yup and that's where we're heading.”

Iona: “Care to tell me why?”

Guard #1: “Because Handsome Jack says so, that's why.”

Iona: “So you do work for Hyperion. My, I am so surprised.”

*ship starts to rumble because of landing*
Iona knocks her head on a metal crate, knocking her unconscious. Wear your seatbelt next time lady.
*30 minutes later*

Iona: “Ouch, my head. Damn, that hurts. What happened?”

Iona looks around and sees the spacecraft has landed. Unfortunately for Hyperion, it didn't work out well, the ship has crash landed, killing the crew in the process, leaving Iona unharmed.

Iona: “I'm sore as hell but at least I'm alive. I can't say the same thing for my captors. Everybody dead. I like that.”.

While moving towards the exit Iona picks up the Hyperion SMG from Guard #2.

Iona: “You won't be needing that friend. I'll take it.”

Before leaving the ship, Iona removes the shield from another guard, hoping it will protect her for a bit against whatever there is out there. Upon leaving the ship Iona's greeted by a bright sun that blinds her for a moment.

Iona: “Urgh, damn sun. What is this place? Nothing but sand and sun. I guess I can start working on my tan now.”

Her eyes spot a large bill board half buried in the sand, bearing a message she hates already.

Iona: “Welcome to Pandora. F**k, I really am stranded on the greatest hell hole in history.”


4.6 Echo log #6 – Making your way, marking your targets
After a few hours of strolling through a desert, encountering several bandit camps and clearing them out, Iona finally reaches Sanctuary.

Iona: “A city, maybe that's where I can be a bit safe for a while.”

Guard #4: “Yes, and you are?”

Iona: “Hungry, thirsty and tired. All at the same time.”

Guard #4: “What the.......you're a Siren aren't you?”

Iona: “And you're not the eastern bunny. What city is this?”

Guard #4: “Sanctuary. The last stronghold of the resistance against Hyperion. Or the largest collection of scoundrel that mostly keep their guns silenced if you will.”

Iona: “Hyperion again? Not entirely the same bastards responsible for getting me stuck here.”

Guard #4: “We sure could use your assistance, go talk to commander Roland if you're interested.”

Iona: “Smashing up Hyperion is always interesting, where is this Roland guy?”

Guard #4: “Over at the command centre in the centre of the city.”

Iona: “Then I'm off.”


4.7 Echo log #7 – The Crimson Raiders
Roland: “Welcome to Sanctuary. I know it's full of bandits, murderers, lawyers and politicians but we can call it home nonetheless. My name is commander Roland, I lead the resistance against Handsome Jack and his Hyperion corporation.”

Iona: “Iona's the name. So, any other Sirens by any chance around here?”

Roland: “Lilith will be here shortly. What got you to Pandora?”

Iona: “Hyperion tricked me into transporting me to [=] but lead me to Pandora instead. The crash landing killed the crew but spared me. I wandered around for a while and here I am.”

Roland: “That sounds unfortunate and fortunate at the same time. By the way, what's that strange red colour on your clothes?”

Iona: “Bandit blood. I smashed up a few to much. I shoot and smash up everything around me when I'm angry and these guys pisses me off hugely. Oh, who's that strange lady downstairs that can't stop staring at me? I'm not into women.”

Roland: “That'll be Tannis, a former DAHL archaeologist, she studies everything related to Sirens, eridium, vaults and the Eridians. She's harmless. Mostly.”

Iona: “Oh then I won't face the risk of being asked to go on a date with her. She managed to conjure up several facts that distinct me from other Sirens in 3 minutes. Like the size of my rack being larger then normal.”

Roland: “By the way, have you encountered Claptrap? He's the funny one-wheeled robot that lives around here.”

Iona: “Oh, that orange babble box? I recognized him being Hyperion made so I kicked him straight over the city walls. Was that wrong?”

Roland: “As much as I hate to say it, yes, we need him later on. Could you please retrieve him?”

Iona: “All right, but it will mean the amount of bad jokes around here will rise.”

Roland: “That's an acceptable risk. I'll see you soon.”


5. Trivia facts

• Even though Iona is a young lady who enjoys smashing up bandits, weight lifting, acting rough and tough she still values her “feminine figure” a lot more then you might think. Calling her a tomboy earns at least a good smack in your face.
• Don't be scared or surprised if you ever caught Iona acting overly girl-like. She enjoys that too from time to time.
• Her childhood consisted of a lot of moving thanks to the job her father has at the DAHL corporation. Having switched of schools more then is good for you, Iona quickly became the target of bullies thanks to the Siren markings she even has in her face. Having not discovered her Siren powers yet, she started weight lifting so she could smash up the school bullies real hard. Needless to say, she never had enemies.
  Iona had several boyfriends which she dumped because she beat them all at arm wrestling.
• Iona hates steroids. Drugs for losers she says.
• Iona once took a bullet to the head. The bullet splintered into a hundred different parts. Iona herself complained of a “slight headache”.
• Iona wears special gloves made by DAHL that enhance her punches ever further. Father knows what his daughter wants for Christmas.