Saguara

A Prickly Powerhouse
Saguara
Player: @HNBC
Origin:	Science
Archetype:	Dominator
Security Level:	41
Personal Data
Real Name:	Cassandra Delavega
Known Aliases:	Cassie, Saggy, Cactus Cass, Prickles
Species:	Human Mutate
Age:	27
Height:	5'5"
Weight:	165 lbs
Eye Color:	Sandy Brown
Hair Color:	Dark Green
Biographical Data
Nationality:	Hispanic
Occupation:	Botanist (formerly)
Place of Birth:	Tuscon, AZ
Base of Operations:	Paragon City, RI
Marital Status:	Single
Known Relatives:	Juan Delevaga (father), Rosa Delavega (mother), Sofia Delavega (younger sister)
Known Powers
Contaminant/Disease Immunity, Thorn Protrusion/Generation/Projection, Plant Manipulation, Enhanced Durability/Strength/Regeneration, Self-Sustenance vis Sunlight, Water Absorption, Toxin Adaptation/Creation, Vine Generation
Known Abilities
Hand-to-Hand Combat Experience, Gymnastics Training, Botany
Equipment
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Appearance

Saguara’s appearance is striking and fierce, reflecting her connection to both her human past and her plant-altered mutation. Her skin is a vibrant, deep green, almost emerald, giving her an otherworldly presence. She has a lean, toned build, showcasing her physical strength and agility, with long limbs that hint at her resilience and adaptability. Wearing a sleek, form-fitting bodysuit that’s a rich brown color, similar to the earthy tone of desert soil. The suit is tailored to her shape, with intricate designs that mimic the natural contours of cactus spines along her torso. The design around her chest and midsection creates an organic pattern, almost leaf-like, that emphasizes her connection to plant life. Her bodysuit material has a matte, leather-like texture, giving it a rugged, durable appearance, as though it’s built to withstand harsh desert environments and combat situations.

Her forearms are covered with dark green gloves that reach to her elbow that provide both protection and a sense of weight. These gloves are equipped with three large buckles on each arm, securing them tightly and adding an almost industrial edge to her otherwise nature-inspired look. They are also be reinforced, designed to withstand heavy impacts. The earthy greenish tones of the gloves blend seamlessly with the rest of her costume. Saguara's boots are a striking, vibrant dark green that matches the hue of her gloves. The boots have a rugged design with thick soles, making them practical for traversing the rough terrain. They are fastened with several wide grey buckles running up the length of the boot, giving a slightly armored feel. The soles are grooved for added grip, suggesting these boots are designed for both combat and environmental exploration.

Saguara's face has sharp ad define features, giving her a slightly intimidating look. Her eyes are a warm, earthy brown that stands out against her green skin, giving her an intense, focused gaze. Her lips are dark, with a reddish hue that contrasts with her green skin, adding a touch of fierceness to her expression. Her brow and cheekbones are prominent, highlighting her determination and the weight of her past experiences. Her hair is a deep brown color, cut into a sleek, shoulder-length bob with sharp, straight edges that add to her bold and no-nonsense appearance. The style is simple but functional, allowing her to keep her hair out of her face while in action. But one of her most notable physical mutations are the thorny spikes that protrude from her shoulders, reflecting her cactus-like qualities. These spikes are naturally grown, almost bone-like extensions that emerge from her skin, giving her a dangerous edge and serving as both a defensive mechanism and an intimidating feature. They are a pale green in color, blending with her skin, and are sharp enough to deter close-range attacks.

Personality

• Passionate and Driven: Saguara is highly motivated by her mission to protect nature and defend the environment, especially delicate ecosystems. Her passion drives her every action, giving her a strong sense of purpose.

• Resilient: Despite her traumatic transformation and betrayal by her colleagues, Saguara has an iron will. She endures setbacks and hardships with determination, refusing to let anything, even her altered state, break her spirit.

• Intelligent and Knowledgeable: As a former botanist and environmental scientist, she is extremely knowledgeable about plant biology, ecology, and the science behind gene-splicing. Her intellect allows her to develop cunning plans and strategize effectively.

• Resourceful: Saguara makes the most of her powers and surroundings, using her control over plants to survive in even harsh environments and to create elaborate traps and defenses against those who seek to harm her.

• Protective: Though ruthless towards her enemies, she is deeply protective of those who respect nature and the people she deems innocent. She has a strong sense of duty to defend her “green family” and any allies who share her environmental goals.

• Honest and Direct: Saguara is straightforward in her interactions and doesn’t sugarcoat her words. She values honesty, preferring to tell people the hard truth rather than conceal her intentions or motives.

• Persistent: Once she sets her mind to something, she pursues it with tenacity. Her vendetta against BioFuture Industries and her commitment to her cause show her dedication to seeing things through, no matter how challenging the journey.

• Empathetic to Nature: Saguara has a deep empathy for plant life, especially those threatened by human development. She sees herself as a voice for the voiceless, which gives her a unique bond with her surroundings.

• Self-Reliant: With her powers, Saguara has learned to survive and adapt on her own, often making her self-sufficient and able to thrive without needing help from others. This independence makes her capable and prepared for unexpected challenges.

• Ruthless and Unforgiving: Saguara holds grudges, especially toward those who harm nature or betray her trust. She has little mercy for her enemies and often believes that extreme measures are justified if it means defending her cause.

• Paranoid: Her betrayal by former colleagues has left her suspicious of others’ motives. She struggles to trust anyone, often believing that others might be out to exploit or deceive her, which isolates her further.

• Stubborn and Inflexible: Once she believes in something, she sticks to her position rigidly, even when it might be wiser to compromise. Her stubbornness can make her difficult to work with, especially when others suggest alternative approaches.

• Aloof: Saguara often keeps an emotional distance from people, especially since her transformation. She struggles with vulnerability and maintains an aloof exterior to protect herself from potential betrayal or rejection.

• Self-Righteous: Her cause has given her a sense of moral superiority, leading her to believe that her view is the “right” way to protect the environment. She can come off as judgmental or dismissive toward those with different perspectives.

• Vengeful: Her experiences have left her with a thirst for revenge, especially toward those she feels wronged by. She harbors intense resentment toward BioFuture Industries, and her vendetta often takes precedence over her safety or well-being.

• Intimidating: Due to her plant-like appearance and intense demeanor, Saguara can come off as frightening or unapproachable. This often deters people from trying to befriend or understand her, feeding her sense of isolation.

• Morally Gray: Saguara’s approach to justice often involves extreme measures, and she’s willing to harm or endanger others if it means achieving her goals. Her moral code can conflict with that of more traditional heroes, leading to clashes in ideology.

• Uncompromising: Once she commits to a path, she rarely considers other perspectives, believing that her mission is too important to be altered. Her unwillingness to adapt her goals to fit others’ values can lead to conflict with potential allies.

• Obsessive: Her focus on avenging herself and defending nature borders on obsession, driving much of her behavior. She often neglects other aspects of her life, putting her entire identity into her role as Saguara.

• Vindictive: Saguara has a tendency to go to great lengths to make her enemies suffer, sometimes excessively. She takes pleasure in making those who betrayed her pay, even if it borders on sadism.

• Blames Others Easily: Since her lab accident, Saguara often externalizes blame, holding others responsible for her situation. This refusal to consider her own role can create a sense of denial and reinforce her victimhood.

• Reclusive: Saguara tends to human contact unless absolutely necessary, preferring the solitude of nature to the complications of society. Her isolation exacerbates her suspicion and loneliness, reinforcing her disdain for humanity.

• Resents Technology: Saguara resents technology and industrial development, seeing it as a force of destruction against nature. She’s quick to lash out against anyone who relies too heavily on machines or corporate infrastructure, viewing them as complicit in ecological harm.

• Prone to Melancholy: Her experiences have left her with a deep-seated sadness, especially about her lost humanity and relationships. Though she masks it with anger and sarcasm, she occasionally falls into moments of quiet sorrow and longing for the life she had before.

• Impatient: Saguara has little tolerance for delays or obstacles, especially when it comes to her mission. Her impatience can make her reckless, as she’s often unwilling to wait for the “right” time to act, preferring immediate action.

History

Cassandra "Cassie" Delavega was born and raised in a small town in Arizona, to a close-knit Hispanic family who had lived in the desert for generations. Her parents, Juan and Rosa Delavega, instilled in her a deep respect for the land. Her father was a landscaper, while her mother worked as a teacher, both teaching Cassie the importance of nurturing and preserving their environment. Juan would take her on hikes through the desert, showing her the resilience of native plants and wildlife, and Rosa encouraged her to read about botany and ecology. These experiences sparked a lifelong passion for nature in Cassie, particularly the unique and resilient beauty of the desert.

Cassie was especially close to her younger sister, Sofia, a free-spirited artist who often used desert landscapes as inspiration in her work. The sisters shared an inseparable bond, often exploring the local flora together. Sofia would sketch various cactus species while Cassie took notes and studied them up close, dreaming of ways to help the plants thrive even in harsh conditions. Sofia’s art and Cassie’s research became intertwined, with Sofia occasionally using her sister's notes to add authenticity to her pieces, while Cassie used Sofia's art to visualize her own scientific ideas.

Despite her family’s warmth, Cassie had always been somewhat reserved, struggling to make friends outside her family. In school, she was often teased for her quiet nature and intense focus on her studies, earning her the nickname "Cactus Cassie". She embraced it, however, using it as motivation to prove herself to those who doubted her. Driven and determined, Cassie eventually earned a scholarship to a top university, where she pursued degrees in botany and environmental science.

During her university years, Cassie found camaraderie with a few like-minded friends who shared her passion for environmental activism. One friend, Isabel "Izzy" Santos, became her confidante and closest friend outside of her family. Izzy was a fiery environmental law student who shared Cassie’s passion for conservation, and they often organized protests and petitions together to protect local wildlife habitats. They even briefly dated, though they eventually decided they were better as friends. Izzy often referred to Cassie as “prickly but loyal” – a phrase that would stick with Cassie for years.

After university, Cassie returned to Arizona, where she took on a research position at a prominent environmental science lab. She specialized in desert ecosystems, dedicating her work to studying and preserving arid environments. Her primary goal was to develop drought-resistant plants that could survive extreme climate changes, hoping her research would benefit not only Arizona but other regions facing desertification. Despite her promising career, Cassie often felt underappreciated in her field. Many of her colleagues dismissed her ideas as unrealistic, especially when she proposed gene-splicing techniques to combine resilient cactus traits with other plants. Only one person in her lab seemed to truly believe in her – her lab assistant and mentee, Mateo Cruz, a young, ambitious intern eager to learn from her.

As Cassie’s research progressed, she faced increasing pressure from a corporate sponsor funding the lab, BioFuture Industries, a subsidiary of Crey, who wanted immediate, profitable results. The head of the company, Warren Voss, saw Cassie’s work as a potential goldmine and pushed her to speed up her experiments, ignoring her concerns about the risks. Cassie’s clashes with Voss grew intense, as she felt he was corrupting her vision for the sake of profit. She suspected he had cut corners, ordering cheaper and potentially unstable chemicals to save costs, but she didn’t have enough proof to confront him directly.

One evening, when Cassie stayed late at the lab to conduct a pivotal experiment in her gene-splicing research, she noticed a strange odor in the air. Before she could react, an explosion tore through the lab. The blast killed several of her colleagues, including Mateo, and left her critically injured. She later discovered that someone had sabotaged her equipment, and the unstable chemicals she'd been forced to use combined with her serum, causing her body to absorb the cactus DNA she had been working with.

When she finally awoke from the incident, she found herself transformed. Her skin was green and rough, her body covered in spikes and thorn-like protrusions, and she felt a strange connection to plant life. Horrified and desperate, she sought out her surviving coworkers for help, only to be shunned and discredited. Even Izzy, now working for a law firm, initially didn’t believe Cassie’s claims of sabotage and urged her to “accept what happened and move on,” thinking Cassie’s suspicions were born out of grief.

Heartbroken by the betrayal and with nowhere to turn, Cassie fled into the natural world, finding solace among the plants she had once studied. Embracing her new form, she adopted the moniker "Saguara" after the resilient saguaro cactus, a symbol of endurance in the harsh desert landscape. She began using her powers to take vengeance on both BioFuture Industries and Crey, targeting those she held responsible for the lab explosion, starting with Warren Voss and the higher-ups at the company.

Saguara’s motivation stems from her desire to protect nature and punish those she sees as a threat to it. She views her transformation as a symbolic merging with the nature itself, and she now acts as a fierce guardian of the ecosystem, seeing herself as a voice for the voiceless land. Her attacks are often directed at corporations and industrial facilities that encroach upon or harm natural areas, and she has even developed a network of radical environmentalists who view her as a hero.

Despite her hardened heart, Saguara still has moments of vulnerability, especially when she remembers her family. She sometimes wishes she could visit her old home. She feels torn between her vendetta and the part of her that wants to reconnect with her family, but she fears they would not understand her transformation – or worse, they would reject her like everyone else did.

Cassie still occasionally sends Izzy anonymous letters, subtly suggesting that her suspicions about BioFuture Industries might be worth revisiting. Although Izzy remains unaware of Cassie’s true identity as Saguara, she has started to quietly investigate her friend’s claims, leading her down a dangerous path that may bring her closer to Saguara’s new world.

Powers

• Contaminant/Disease Immunity: Saguara is able to resist certain illnesses and toxins, rarely getting sick from germs.
• Self-Sustenance via Sunlight: Similar to plants, Saguara can absorb sunlight to replenish her energy and heal faster. In direct sunlight, her physical strength and resilience increase significantly, allowing her to overpower opponents and sustain longer battles. She also does not need to sleep through absorbed sunlight.
• Toxin Adaptation/Generation: Saguara can generate a variety of toxins with different effects, such as hallucinations, paralysis, or lethargy. She can control the potency and type of toxin depending on her goal, whether it’s to incapacitate or merely disorient her foes.
• Thorned Vine Generation: Saguara can summon long, spiny vines that she can control with great precision. She uses these to ensnare her enemies, pin them to walls, or pull herself to high places. The thorns on the vines can also inflict poison on contact, making them more dangerous to handle
• Spine Projectiles: She can launch her cactus spines as projectiles, each one coated with toxins that cause paralysis or a slow, painful reaction similar to that of a cactus sting. The toxins vary in potency and effect, depending on her intent.
• Cactus Physiology: Saguara’s body is partly composed of cactus-like skin and tissues, with small, prickly spines covering her arms, shoulders, and back. Her skin is tough and waxy, able to withstand harsh climates and even some physical attacks.
• Plant Manipulation/Generation: Saguara can control and grow variousd flora. She can create vine-like extensions from her body or cause nearby plants to grow into obstacles or weapons.
• Regeneration: Like a cactus, Saguara can heal from minor injuries relatively quickly. Her regenerative abilities are heightened when she’s exposed to sunlight.
• Dehydration Resistance: She can survive in arid conditions with minimal water and draw water from plants or soil around her.

Weaknesses & Limitations

• Extreme Cold: Saguara’s physiology is ill-suited for cold temperatures, which make her brittle and susceptible to injury. Prolonged exposure to cold can render her paralyzed.
• Photosynthetic Dependency: Although she can heal in sunlight, long periods of darkness significantly drain Saguara’s energy. If she’s deprived of sunlight for too long, she becomes weak, disoriented, and may eventually go into a hibernation-like state to conserve energy.
• Overhydration Risk: While she needs some water to survive, too much can harm her, making her heavy, bloated, and sluggish. If she absorbs too much water, her regenerative abilities slow down, and she becomes vulnerable to physical attacks due to the weight of the water within her body.
• Allergy to Pollutants: Pollutants in the soil or air, like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or heavy metals, weaken her powers and cause her pain, as her cactus physiology is extremely sensitive to unnatural toxins. Pollutants also diminish her chlorokinetic abilities, making it harder for her to regenerate or control plants.
• Intense Fire Vulnerability: Saguara is particularly flammable due to her plant-based physiology and dry, cactus-like skin. Flames spread quickly over her body, making her extra cautious around fire-wielding opponents or fiery environments.
• Fragrance Sensitivity: She’s extremely sensitive to strong, artificial fragrances, finding them offensive and unnatural. This sensitivity extends to perfumes, cleaning products, and even some synthetic fabrics, which can trigger sneezing fits or make her visibly uncomfortable. Natural desert scents, like sagebrush or mesquite, however, are pleasing to her.
• Chemical Exposure: While Saguara has a high resistance to certain toxins, particularly those found in plants, she isn’t immune to everything. She’s still vulnerable to highly toxic chemicals such as pesticides and even alcohol.

Affiliations

Family

Name: Juan Delavega

Relation: Father

Details: Juan Delavega is a sturdy, salt-of-the-earth man with deep roots in Arizona. In his early 50's, he has worked as a landscaper for most of his life, developing a quiet but profound appreciation for nature. Juan is a man of few words, preferring actions over speeches, yet his presence is solid and comforting, like the earth beneath one’s feet. He believes in hard work, respect for nature, and loyalty to family, values he has instilled in his daughters. Juan raised Cassie and her sister Sofia with a firm but kind hand, teaching them to cherish the land and treat it with respect. He loves his daughters deeply, though he doesn’t always show it openly, and often struggles to understand Cassie’s scientific pursuits. However, he is deeply proud of her and has always supported her, even if he doesn’t fully comprehend her work. Juan’s favorite bonding activity with Cassie was taking her on long hikes through the desert, where he would point out native plants and animals, fostering her early fascination with desert life.

Name: Rosa Delavega

Relation: Teacher

Details: Rosa is a warm, nurturing woman with a boundless heart and a quick smile, a beloved elementary school teacher in their small Arizona town. In her late 40's, she is deeply connected to her Mexican heritage, often teaching her daughters about their culture through family recipes, stories, and holiday traditions. Rosa is the emotional cornerstone of the family, always finding a way to support her husband and daughters, no matter the circumstances. She encouraged Cassie’s interest in learning from an early age, reading to her about nature and fostering her intellectual curiosity. While she sometimes worried that Cassie’s intense focus made her lonely, Rosa respected her daughter’s determination and independence. She is the type to worry constantly, but she trusts in her children’s abilities and only steps in when absolutely necessary. Since Cassie’s disappearance, Rosa has clung to the hope that her daughter is still alive, unable to accept that she could be gone. In her heart, she believes that Cassie will one day come home, and she keeps a candle lit for her each night.

Name: Sofia Delavega

Relation: Artist

Details: Sofia, Cassie’s younger sister by five years, is a free-spirited artist who has taken a more creative path in life. In her early 20's, Sofia is vibrant and expressive, with a rebellious streak and a fierce love for her family. She has always admired her big sister’s intelligence and drive, though they couldn’t be more different in temperament. While Cassie is quiet and methodical, Sofia is spontaneous, constantly sketching, painting, or crafting something inspired by the desert landscapes they grew up in. She inherited their mother’s warmth and charm, and her easygoing nature makes her popular among friends and strangers alike. Despite her friendly exterior, Sofia is deeply sensitive and feels the weight of Cassie’s disappearance intensely. She often wanders the desert with her sketchbook, finding comfort in the places she and Cassie once explored together. Unbeknownst to her, Sofia’s art has started to attract attention online, drawing subtle hints from Saguara herself, who sometimes leaves clues in the shadows of Sofia’s drawings, hoping to protect her from afar.

Friends/Allies

Name: Isabella "Izzy" Santos

Relation: University Friend and Former Confidante

Details: Isabella, or Izzy, is a passionate and fiery environmental lawyer who met Cassie during their university years. In her early 30's, Izzy has a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue, with a no-nonsense attitude that matches her fierce dedication to environmental activism. She is a natural leader, quick to rally people to a cause, and was often the outspoken counterpart to Cassie’s quiet determination. The two bonded over a shared passion for conservation, organizing protests and campaigns to protect endangered areas around their home state of Arizona. Though they briefly dated, they quickly realized they were better suited as friends, with Izzy calling Cassie “my prickly little cactus.” Izzy’s boldness and charisma were a significant influence on Cassie, inspiring her to take risks and stand up for her beliefs. Since Cassie’s disappearance, Izzy has been haunted by guilt, unsure if she did enough to support her friend. Although she initially dismissed Cassie’s concerns about BioFuture Industries, she now believes something is deeply wrong and has begun investigating the corporation herself, piecing together the truth about her friend’s transformation, unaware of the dangerous path it leads her down.

Name: Mateo Cruz

Relation: Former Intern and Lab Assistant

Details: Mateo was a bright and eager young man in his early 20s who served as Cassie’s lab assistant, working under her mentorship at the research facility. Born and raised in Arizona, he shared Cassie’s love for the desert and saw his work with her as an opportunity to make a difference. Mateo was charismatic and a bit of a jokester, bringing a lighthearted energy to the lab that helped balance Cassie’s more intense demeanor. He admired Cassie greatly, seeing her as a mentor and even a big-sister figure. His ambition sometimes led him to take risks, which Cassie tried to curb with guidance and caution. Tragically, Mateo was one of the victims of the explosion that transformed Cassie, his life tragically cut short by the sabotage that destroyed her lab. His death has weighed heavily on Cassie, intensifying her feelings of guilt and responsibility. She frequently visited his grave in secret, often leaving cactus flowers in his memory. She considers his death one of the most unforgivable sins of BioFuture Industries, fueling her quest for vengeance in his honor.

Enemies/Foes

Name: Warren Voss

Alias: N/A

Designation: Head of BioFuture Industries

Details: Warren Voss is a wealthy, calculating, and ruthless businessman in his late 50s, the head honcho of BioFuture Industries, a biotech corporation and subsidiary of Crey with a dubious track record when it comes to ethics. Warren is known for his “progress at all costs” mentality, which has led to questionable practices in the pursuit of scientific advancement and profit. Behind his polished public image lies a morally bankrupt individual willing to cut any corner, manipulate any law, and sacrifice anyone if it means staying on top. He saw promise in Cassandra Delavega’s research on genetically modifying plants for harsher climates, envisioning it as a way to secure lucrative government contracts and open new markets. When Cassandra resisted his plans to commercialize her work too quickly, fearing the potential risks, Warren grew frustrated and eventually ordered his associates to sabotage her lab to force her out. The explosion and the resulting deaths were an unintended but convenient outcome in his eyes, allowing him to cover up her findings and frame the accident as a result of her recklessness. Now, as Saguara seeks vengeance, Warren remains unrepentant and determined to protect his empire, viewing her as nothing more than a “failed experiment” that needs to be eliminated.

Name: Tobias "Toby" Tremont

Alias: N/A

Designation: Saboteur and Corporate Spy

Details: Toby Tremont is a cunning, morally ambiguous corporate spy in his late 30s, known for infiltrating companies and causing “accidents” to manipulate stock prices and eliminate competition. Hired by Warren Voss, Toby was the one who orchestrated the sabotage at Cassandra’s lab. Toby is a charming sociopath with a penchant for danger and an impressive resume filled with blackmail, espionage, and sabotage. He takes pride in his work and doesn’t care about collateral damage, viewing it as part of the job. The explosion at Cassandra’s lab was one of his biggest “successes,” and he boasts about it in certain circles. However, Toby never expected that one of his victims would survive and come back as Saguara, a relentless avenger with powers beyond anything he’s ever encountered. Now, he’s constantly looking over his shoulder, fearing retribution. In their encounters, Toby taunts Saguara, mocking her loss and pain, but he’s genuinely terrified of her, knowing that she’s one of the few people capable of turning the tables on him.

Name: Horatio Horton

Alias: The Botanist

Details: Dr. Horatio Horton, known as "The Botanist," is a radical eco-terrorist and former environmentalist in his mid-50s. Once a respected biologist, Horace became disillusioned with humanity’s disregard for nature and has taken extreme measures to protect the environment. He believes that people are inherently destructive to the natural world and has developed an intense hatred for those who harm nature, viewing them as abominations. He has created an army of genetically modified, semi-sentient plants that he uses to attack polluting industries and urban areas he considers threats to nature. When he learns of Saguara, he sees her as both a rival and an aberration. Though they share an environmentalist background, his methods and views are far more extreme, and he considers Saguara’s transformation a “corruption” of nature. Their ideological clash over how to "save" the planet puts them at odds, as Saguara tries to protect innocent lives while Horace justifies any means to achieve his ends.

Name: Otis Vandermeer

Alias: The Salt Baron

Details: Otis Vandermeer, known as “The Salt Baron,” is a wealthy industrialist and salt mining magnate in his late 50s. His salt empire stretches across various desert regions, where he exploits the land and local communities for profit. Otis is an arrogant jerk and dismissive of environmental concerns, viewing anyone who stands in his way as an enemy. When Saguara confronts him over the environmental damage caused by his operations, he mocks her, knowing how vulnerable she is to salt. Otis isn’t a superhuman himself, but he commands a small private army of heavily armed mercenaries and has access to cutting-edge technology. He often uses his resources to create traps filled with salt, designed to weaken and capture Saguara. Although he initially sees her as a minor inconvenience, their confrontations escalate as he realizes she poses a genuine threat to his empire, leading him to develop increasingly elaborate plans to neutralize her.

Name: Dr. Zara Ansari

Alias: Phantomirage

Details: Dr. Zara Ansari, known as “Phantomirage,” is a former psychologist and illusionist in her mid-30s with the power to create hallucinations and distort reality around her. Zara’s powers developed during her teenage years, but her inability to control them led to a tragic accident that drove her into hiding. Over time, she refined her abilities, eventually using them for personal gain and revenge. She preys on people’s insecurities and fears, often luring them into traps by making them see what she wants them to see. Zara views Saguara as an intriguing subject due to her traumatic transformation, using her powers to manipulate Cassandra’s memories and exploit her emotional vulnerabilities. Phamtonirage’s illusions blur the line between reality and nightmare, forcing Saguara to confront her deepest fears, including guilt over the lab accident and the loss of her former life. Their encounters are psychological battles as much as physical ones, with Zara taking sadistic pleasure in tormenting her.

Name: Mary Anne Goldstein,

Alias: Mistress Marigold

Details: Mary Anne Goldstein, known as "Mistress Marigold," is a former botanist and rival of Cassandra from their university days. In her mid-30s, Mary Anne specializes in floriculture and has gained the ability to manipulate floral pheromones to control emotions and minds. Mary Anne and Cassandra were once close friends but drifted apart due to differences in their scientific philosophies, with Mary Anne becoming increasingly ambitious and profit driven. After gaining her powers through a mysterious experiment, Evelyn rebranded herself as "Mistress Marigold," using her abilities for personal gain and manipulation. She sees Saguara as both an old friend and a rival, wanting to prove her superiority. Her pheromone-based mind control abilities allow her to manipulate people to do her bidding, and she uses them to try to sway Saguara to her side, hoping to corrupt Cassandra's environmentalist ideals. Their battles become as much about personal history as they are about ideological conflict.

Name: Alan Rodriguez

Alias: Scrapmetal

Details: Alan Rodriguez, or "Scrapmetal", is a skilled combat engineer with a talent for constructing mechanized suits from scrap and raw metal, often outfitted with weaponry tailored for desert terrain. In her early 30s, Alan was once an environmental engineer until an industry scandal caused him to lose her job and become disillusioned with conservation efforts. Now he operates as a scavenger and mercenary, selling his engineering skills to the highest bidder. He absolutely despises Saguara, seeing her as an idealist who fails to understand the harsh realities of survival. Scrapmetal’s exoskeletons allow him to endure extreme environments and withstand physical attacks, and he frequently uses his machines to bulldoze natural habitats for profit. Saguara must often outwit and disable Alan’s machinery to protect the land from his destruction, creating a battle of ingenuity versus engineering.

Name: Russell "Rusty" Grant

Alias: Steel Rattler

Details: Rusty Grant, known as "Steel Rattler," is a bandit in his mid-40s with cybernetic enhancements that give him enhanced speed, strength, and a mechanical "rattlesnake" arm that injects venom. Once a bounty hunter, Rusty turned to crime after he was betrayed by his employer and left for dead in the desert. His enhanced arm has a coiled metal mechanism that extends like a snake, delivering venomous strikes at close range. Steel Rattler harbors a grudge against environmentalists, seeing them as a barrier to his operations, and sees Saguara as an opponent he wants to break. His blend of physical power and venomous strikes forces Saguara to balance offense and defense as she faces his brutal tactics.

Name: Akil Nadim

Alias: The Mummified Man

Details: Professor Akil Nadim, or "The Mummified Man," is a centuries-old archaeologist turned immortal after he discovered a cursed Egyptian amulet. His body is preserved, wrapped in enchanted bandages that give him heightened strength, agility, and resistance to injury. In his late 50s physically (but well over 150 years old), Nadim seeks rare mystic artifacts, claiming that they belong to him by right. He sees Saguara’s protective efforts as disrespectful and often tries to unearth hidden treasures from the land, sometimes disrupting ecosystems in the process. The Mummified Man’s ancient knowledge and survival instincts challenge Saguara’s modern approach, and his curse prevents her usual plant-based abilities from easily defeating him, forcing her to think creatively to preserve both her desert and its history.

Name: Rhea Masters

Alias: Parched

Details: Dr. Rhea Masters was a brilliant scientist, known for her pioneering work in hydrology and bioengineering. She was part of a project that aimed to create advanced moisture-retention technology—intended to help humans survive in desert regions and extreme climates. During a high-risk experiment to merge advanced biotechnology with synthetic water-storing materials, there was an explosion that caused a catastrophic accident, exposing Rhea to an unstable biochemical compound that fused with her DNA, giving her the ability to absorb moisture from living beings and the environment. She couldn't survive without water for prolonged periods of time. The more moisture she absorbed, the more her appearance and mental state retained. Rhea found herself in a constant struggle to control her urges and avoid draining those around her. Realizing the extent of her powers, she began to withdraw from society, retreating into the shadows, where she became the reluctant villainess known as Parched. Despite her growing thirst for moisture, Rhea still longs for a way to reverse her condition and restore her life as a scientist.

Name: Grant "Grubby" Grueber

Alias: The Grub

Details: Grant Grueber was born with his unusual mutant features, a genetic anomaly that manifested early in life. He grew up in a quiet suburban town, but his peculiar features—grub-like skin, small eyes, and the ability to burrow through the earth—led to bullying and isolation. His parents, afraid of his abilities and what others would think, kept him hidden. As he grew older, Grant’s frustration with his reclusive life intensified. He eventually discovered that he could use his powers to escape his isolated existence, carving tunnels beneath the earth to explore the world on his own terms. However, his experiences of rejection led to a dark shift in his mentality. He began using his powers for criminal purposes, stealing from underground facilities, robbing banks through subterranean tunnels, and causing havoc by sabotaging subway systems or underground utilities. Grant adopted the persona of The Grub, a pest that could appear from anywhere, strike from below, and disappear into the earth without a trace. As a villain, his goal is not just to seek power, but to prove his superiority to those who once rejected him, carving a path to control from beneath the surface.

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Rumors

• Cassandra purposely caused the explosion that transformed her, in a drastic attempt to sabotage BioFuture Industries reputation, taking her environmental beliefs to the absolute extreme.
• Saguara has the ability to communicate with ancient nature spirits, drawing power from them to protect ecosystem.
• Anyone who tries to harm Saguara is at risk of being poisoned because her blood is infused with a plant-like toxin.
• It is said that, in desperate situations, Saguara can drain water from nearby animals or even people to keep herself alive.
• Saguara’s abilities are rumored to be growing more powerful with each encounter, with reports of new plant-based abilities appearing every time she’s seen.
• Saguara can create sentient plant creatures that do her bidding, acting as guards and spies throughout the desert.
• Saguara’s has a secret lair that's said to house a garden filled with rare and aggressive plant species that she’s cultivated for both defense and experiments.
• Saguara’s family and friends completely rejected her after her transformation, leaving her with no one to turn to.
• Due to her "nature" as a plant hybrid, Saguara is supposedly effectively immortal, with her body regenerating from almost any injury.
• Saguara has infected poisonous desert plants all over the Southwest to attack anyone she marks as an enemy
• Her transformation has made her fully photosynthetic, meaning she can survive without food.
• She once took down an entire BioFuture convoy single-handedly and left it buried in the desert sands.
• She possesses a poison strong enough to kill with a single touch.
• It is said that Saguara is the reincarnation of Egyptian goddess Hathor
• Her powers are slowly consuming her, and one day she’ll fully transform into a plant

Opinions

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RP Hooks

• Has a high bounty placed on her by BioFuture Industries and Crey. Bounty hunters and mercenaries might show interest.
• Anyone who knew Cassandra Delavega in her pre-Saguara life —especially former colleagues or friends like Isabella Santos or Mateo Cruz— who might attempt seek her out, either out of concern, curiosity, or an attempt to rekindle a past relationship. These interactions could range from emotional reunions to confrontations if they blame her for past incidents.
• Due to her control over plants and toxins, Saguara has developed an extensive knowledge of herbal remedies and plant-based treatments. Heroes or villains who need unique medicines, healing, or even poisons might come to her. In return, she may ask for their help in her vendetta, creating alliances based on mutual benefit.
• Heroes with a strong sense of justice but less extreme tactics may see Saguara’s eco-terrorist methods as excessive or dangerous. They might try to reason with her, seeing her as a misunderstood figure who can be “redeemed” with guidance. This could lead to ideological debates, attempts to stop her, or even moments of reflection on both sides.
• Other nature heroes and villains might see her as a friend or a rival, due to ideological differences or as competition. Saguara could clash with these characters in dramatic confrontations, each trying to prove their dominance or ideology.
• Characters with knowledge about her lab accident or her connection to BioFuture Industries might use this to manipulate her, offering information about the people responsible. These characters could leverage her anger and desire for vengeance, either to gain an ally or set her on a destructive path.
• Scientists, researchers, or inventors might approach Saguara with an interest in studying her plant-based mutations, whether out of genuine curiosity or for darker purposes. She could be suspicious of these approaches, leading to tense conversations, confrontations, or even temporary truces if they offer her useful resources.
• Law enforcement, superheroes, or reporters may investigate incidents in the desert where Saguara has taken action, such as sabotaging BioFuture’s operations across the country. They could seek her out as a suspect or informant, leading to tense interactions or mutual curiosity.

TV Tropes

• Anti-Villain: While her methods are destructive, Saguara’s motives come from a deep-seated sense of justice and protection for the nature. She sees herself as a necessary evil, and her actions often blur the line between villainy and activism, depending on one’s perspective.

• Appearance Angst: The transformation left her with a unique and sometimes monstrous appearance—green skin, spikes, and plant-like features. Her angst over her appearance is tied to the trauma of her transformation and the alienation she feels from her human past.

• Back from the Dead: After surviving a near-fatal lab accident, Saguara emerged with altered DNA, her former self effectively "dead", transformating into something new and more dangerous.

• Badass Pacifist: Although Saguara is aggressive when protecting the nature, she prefers non-lethal methods when possible, such as using plants to restrain or disable her enemies rather than outright killing them. She resorts to deadly force only when left with no other choice.

• Beneath the Mask: While she adopts the persona of Saguara, the villainous plant woman, there are moments when Cassandra’s original personality shines through—her love for nature, her passion for botany, and a lingering desire to be accepted. This makes her a complex character with internal conflict, embodying this trope.

• Berserk Button: Saguara is especially triggered by those who disrespect or harm the ecosystem. Corporate polluters, illegal loggers, and anyone exploiting nature for profit provoke her intense wrath, often leading her to escalate conflicts into full-blown confrontations.

• Beware the Nice Ones: Before the accident, Cassandra "Cassie" Delavega was a passionate, albeit aloof, environmental scientist. The betrayal by her colleagues and the tragedy that altered her appearance pushed her into a more vengeful and aggressive persona, but at her core, she still has a sense of compassion for the natural world she seeks to protect.

• Body Horror: Her cactus-like physiology and spikes evoke an eerie, plant-human hybrid appearance that unsettles even those who sympathize with her. This transformation element reminds others of the accident that created her, giving her a tragic and somewhat terrifying presence.

• Broken Bird: Beneath her tough exterior, Saguara is a wounded and deeply hurt person who feels betrayed by both her former friends and society. Her rage is a shield that masks her sorrow and disillusionment, adding layers to her character as someone who’s lost nearly everything.

• Creepy Good: Despite being a villain, Saguara maintains an oddly nurturing side, particularly towards plants. She’s capable of creating beautiful floral displays and safe sanctuaries amidst her destructive tendencies, reflecting her genuine care for nature.

• Cursed with Awesome: Although her cactus traits give her impressive abilities, they come with drawbacks, including her spiky, inhuman appearance and occasional social isolation. Her powers and appearance are a permanent reminder of the life she lost, making them both a blessing and a curse.

• Dark and Troubled Past: Cassandra’s transformation into a plant/human hybrid after a lab accident that killed and injured her coworkers, destroyed her career and ruined her life has left her with significant emotional scars, making her more sympathetic, despite being a villain.

• Defiant to the End: Saguara’s stubborn streak makes her fiercely protective of nature. She will fight tooth and nail to defend what she loves, even if it means facing overwhelming odds. This attitude defines her resilience and unwillingness to give up her cause.

• Determinator: Saguara is often relentless in her pursuit of revenge and her mission to protect nature. Her cactus-like resilience makes her hard to defeat, and she returns again and again, often stronger and more determined than before.

• Driven to Villainy: Cassandra didn’t start as a villain—she was once a dedicated scientist with a noble goal. It was only through the betrayal of BioFuture Industries and the dismissive treatment by her colleagues that she transformed into the dangerous figure she is now.

• Eco-Terrorist: Although she wouldn’t describe herself this way, others see her as a classic eco-terrorist due to her extreme and violent methods. While she’s trying to protect nature, she’s not afraid to use drastic tactics to make her point.

• Face-Heel Turn: Saguara went from being a well-respected, if not eccentric, botanist to a supervillain after being betrayed and shunned by the scientific community. Her transformation into a cactus hybrid and the subsequent alienation from her former life prompted her to adopt a darker, more antagonistic outlook on humanity and society.

• For Science!: Saguara’s origin as a botanist conducting experimental gene-splicing research ties into this. She was a scientist dedicated to her work, trying to make breakthroughs to help the environment, which led directly to her transformation.

• Freudian Excuse: Saguara’s actions are rooted in the tragic sabotage of her life’s work and the alienation she faced from former friends and colleagues who blamed her for the lab accident. This deep betrayal provides a psychological excuse for her turn to villainy, making her motivations understandable, if not justifiable.

• From Nobody to Nightmare: Once an ordinary scientist with a specialty in botany, Saguara’s powers and appearance were forced upon her by a tragic lab accident. Now, she’s a powerful and frightening figure, unrecognizable from the quiet, passionate scientist she once was.

• Green Aesop: Saguara’s entire existence is a cautionary tale about respecting nature and the consequences of exploiting the environment. Her battles often come with a ecological message about the balance between humanity and nature.

• Green-Eyed Monster: Saguara has a deep-seated jealousy towards those who can blend into society without prejudice, stemming from her own feelings of being outcast after her transformation. This resentment is particularly aimed at those who gained their powers and are still accepted by society

• Green Thumb: With her plant-based abilities and connection to desert flora, Saguara is literally and figuratively a "green thumb" character. Her powers reflect her past as a botanist and environmental scientist, extending her deep connection with plant life into the superpowered realm.

• Good Is Not Soft: While her motives are arguably noble—saving nature and punishing those who harm the environment—Saguara's methods are far from gentle. She believes that being effective sometimes means being ruthless, especially in the face of corporate exploitation and destruction of nature.

• Half-Human Hybrid: Saguara’s cactus-like physiology definitely makes her a half-human, highlighting the duality of her nature—both human and plant. Her struggle to reconcile these aspects is a core part of her identity and drives much of her story.

• Hidden Depths: Saguara’s outward anger and ruthless behavior often mask her underlying compassion for the environment, her love for her family, and the scientist she once was.

• Heel–Face Revolving Door: Saguara might occasionally work with heroes if they share a common goal, like protecting nature, but she always reverts to her more villainous tendencies when it comes to her grudge against BioFuture Industries, Crey and others who harm the environment.

• Hot-Blooded: Saguara can be fiercely passionate, especially when it comes to the environment or her sense of justice. Her temper flares easily when she perceives disrespect for nature or if her past wounds are reopened, leading to impulsive and intense reactions.

• Hulking Out: In moments of extreme stress or anger, Saguara can lose control of her powers, causing massive bursts of plant growth and unleashing defensive cactus spikes without restraint. This makes her powers unpredictable and dangerous, especially if she’s emotionally overwhelmed.

• I Am a Monster: Saguara’s transformation leaves her conflicted and horrified at her new appearance, feeling more like a creature than the human she once was. She often uses her “monstrous” look to intimidate others and sometimes even embraces it, but deep down, it’s a source of pain.

• It’s Personal: Saguara’s vendetta isn’t just about abstract ideals — it’s deeply personal. The betrayal by her colleagues and their scapegoating makes her feel that she has to personally deliver justice to those who wronged her.

• Lady of War: Saguara is a combatant who fights with the ferocity of a desert storm, defending nature with her plant-based powers. Her confidence and willingness to engage in battle make her a formidable force of nature.

• Laser-Guided Karma: Saguara’s targets often involve corrupt corporate executives, scientists, and industrialists who exploit the environment. Her quest for vengeance can be seen as karmic justice for those who contribute to ecological destruction.

• Living Weapon: Saguara’s body is now a bio-engineered force of nature, with cactus-like spikes, thorn-covered vines, and natural defenses that make her dangerous in any confrontation.

• Morality Pet: Her younger sister, Sofia, and her friendship with Isabella Santos are remnants of her humanity and the reason she sometimes hesitates to fully embrace her darker impulses.

• Nature Hero: While more of an anti-hero in her methods, Saguara’s core mission of protecting the environment fits. She’s dedicated to preserving plant life and often finds herself in direct opposition to those who disrespect or exploit natural resources. Her focus on revenge and destruction, however, makes her a dark twist on the Nature Hero.

• Noble Demon: Though she operates as a villain, Saguara has a strict moral code regarding nature and will go out of her way to protect nature. She may show mercy to those who genuinely respect the land or seek redemption for their environmental mistakes.

• Pet the Dog: Although primarily seen as a villain, Saguara has her moments, where she saves an endangered species or helps someone in genuine need. These moments add complexity to her character and remind others of her original, kinder self.

• Plant Person: Saguara's powers are entirely based on botanical abilities, and her appearance is cactus-like due to the genetic splicing accident. She even has personality traits that reflect her "cactus" nature—prickly, aloof, and defensive.

• Power Born of Madness: While Saguara’s powers are "rooted" in a lab accident, there’s an element of instability to her control over them, especially during emotional stress. Her powers may surge unpredictably when she’s overwhelmed, hinting that her emotional state is deeply linked to her abilities.

• Pragmatic Villainy: Although a considered a villain, Saguara can and will ally herself with heroes or antiheroes if it benefits nature. Her environmental goals make her morally ambiguous, operating as an eco-terrorist who justifies her actions in the name of a "greater good."

• Sins of the Father: While Saguara’s vendetta comes from her own experiences, she also feels the weight of ecological injustices inflicted by corporations and scientists before her, making her seek retribution not only for herself but for the damage done by those who came before.

• Tragic Villain: Saguara’s motives stem from betrayal, loss, and a love for the environment, which makes her a sympathetic figure despite her violent and vengeful actions. Her transformation from passionate scientist Cassandra Delavega to the vengeful Saguara follows a classic tragic arc where good intentions spiral into villainy.

• Revenge: Saguara’s primary motivation is to get revenge on those responsible for her transformation, particularly her former colleagues and BioFuture Industries. This is central to her character's storyline and drives many of her actions.

• Revenge Before Reason: Her quest for revenge can sometimes overshadow her desire to protect the environment. She is known to be impulsive and reckless when her anger takes over, often focusing more on punishing those who wronged her than on protecting nature.

• Revenge by Proxy: Unable to strike directly at the scientists and corporations that betrayed her, Saguara often targets anyone she sees as harming or exploiting nature. Her rage is directed at a system rather than just individual people, and this results in a broader, less discriminating approach to vengeance.

• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: When provoked, Saguara becomes a fury of thorns and nature, lashing out with her full power in her relentless pursuit to exact vengeance on those who betrayed her.

• Science Is Bad: Saguara's backstory involves a tragic lab accident that transformed her into a plant/human hybrid. Her distrust of scientific institutions and the corporate greed behind them highlights this trope, showcasing the dangers of reckless scientific experimentation without proper ethical considerations.

• Sympathetic Villain: Saguara is undeniably a villain, but her sympathetic motivations—loss, betrayal, and a desire to protect the environment—make her relatable. Her goals are understandable, even if her methods are a bit extreme.

• The Atoner: Although it doesn’t always show directly, Saguara’s guilt over the lab explosion and the resulting deaths haunt her to this day. She’s grappling with her own role in that tragedy, even if it was due to sabotage. Part of her crusade against BioFuture Industries and similar corporations is her way of atoning for the disaster that ended her previous life.

• The Cassandra: Saguara warned her colleagues about the risks of gene-splicing experiments and cautioned BioFuture Industries about the potential environmental damage their projects could cause. However, her concerns were ignored, much like the mythical Cassandra, whose prophecies went unheeded until it was too late.

• Took a Level in Badass: Cassandra Delavega was once a reserved, though passionate scientist. After her transformation, she became a ruthless vigilante with a terrifying mastery of desert plants and a will to take down those who stand in her way, becoming a far more dangerous and powerful figure.

• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Saguara’s motives are pure, but her execution is extreme. She’s willing to go to great lengths and harm others to accomplish her environmental goals, which puts her in direct conflict with heroes who see her methods as unethical.

• What Have I Become?: After the accident, Cassandra’s transformation into a plant-hybrid left her feeling monstrous. This internal conflict is at the core of her identity as Saguara, as she grapples with the loss of her humanity.

• What Measure Is a Non-Human?: As a hybrid with cactus DNA, Saguara often grapples with her own humanity. Her transformation raises questions about what makes someone human and how society treats those who are “different”.

• Woman Scorned: Her betrayal by her colleagues, former friends, and the scientific community drives much of her villainy. Saguara's desire for revenge against those who wronged her gives her a personal vendetta.

• Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: Saguara is deeply sympathetic; someone who once had a promising career and a genuine desire to help the world but was betrayed and left scarred by it. Despite her pain, she’s driven by anger and a desire for vengeance, often causing destruction herself. She’s a villain who people might feel sorry for, understanding that her actions stem from the loss and betrayal she endured.

• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Saguara’s betrayal by her scientific peers after the accident feeds into this trope. When she was a renowned environmental scientist, her colleagues respected her; once the accident transformed her, they cast her aside, fueling her desire for revenge.

Trivia

• Saguara dislikes physical contact and avoids being too close to others, both for practical reasons (her spines are sharp) and because she’s somewhat aloof. If someone does try to touch her without permission, she reflexively flinches or even "prickles up" by making her spines more prominent as a defense mechanism.

• She has a tendency to hold grudges against anyone she catches polluting or harming nature. If she sees someone litter, wasting water, or damaging a plant, she might silently vow to “teach them a lesson", leading to minor acts of eco-themed sabotage (like wrapping their car in vines or filling it with cactus needles).

• When stressed or exhausted, she finds a sunny spot, stands very still, and closes her eyes to “recharge” through photosynthesis. Others may see this as her version of meditation, and she often ignores anyone who interrupts her during these sessions.

• Saguara has a distinctly dry, sarcastic sense of humor, often making pointed remarks or responding to others with biting wit. Her humor is as sharp as her spines, and she’ll often make puns about plants, water, or the desert when talking to her enemies. She particularly enjoys the irony of telling people they “need to grow a spine”.

• Saguara despises people who can’t take care of plants, and she’s quick to judge anyone with a history of “killing” houseplants. If someone tells her they have trouble keeping plants alive, she might sneer, saying, “You’d never survive in my world”, and offer unsolicited (but sharp) advice on plant care.

• Every so often, Saguara takes what she calls a "Hydration Holiday" where she overindulges in water. She’ll find a place rich in groundwater like a grotto and spend a few days “soaking” to restore her vitality. During these times, she becomes unusually mellow and almost friendly, as though she’s savoring a rare luxury. Her body also swells up slightly, which also makes her somewhat lethargic.

• Saguara’s smile is unsettlingly sharp, with slightly pointed teeth that mirror her prickly nature. She might flash this smile as a warning, knowing it often has an intimidating effect. When amused or angry, she tends to show this smile even more, just to keep others on edge.

• Saguara has a habit of sighing loudly whenever something annoys her, with a sharp, almost thorny exhale. She tends to do this whenever people fail to understand her perspective or underestimate her powers. It’s her subtle way of expressing disappointment with “less resilient beings.”

• Saguara is uncomfortable around luxury items and prefers rugged, natural materials. When visiting well-decorated places, she sits stiffly on couches and refuses to touch silk or velvet, muttering about “unnatural softness”. She might even take a seat on the floor if it means avoiding overly fancy decor.

• Her ideal voice claim would be Stephanie Beatriz with her deadpan, fierce portrayal of Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and her voice role as Mirabel in Encanto. Stephanie adds a tough, defiant edge to Saguara, making her sound both dangerous and deeply motivated.

• Instead of traditional bathing, Saguara sometimes prefers to "cleanse" herself by rolling in fine sand or desert dust. She believes it helps protect her skin and absorbs unwanted moisture, making her feel more connected to her desert origins.

• Her laugh is surprisingly loud and has a “spiky” tone to it, sounding almost like a dry cackle. She’ll laugh at her own jokes or at her opponents’ mistakes, and her laughter tends to linger long enough to make others uncomfortable, often echoing with a sharp edge.

• Saguara loves spicy and bitter foods and sees bland flavors as a personal affront. She has a penchant for cactus-based dishes like nopales and prickly pear, and she always adds hot peppers or something sharp-tasting to her meals. Anyone who tries to serve her “plain” food risks getting a thorny scowl.