#ruth and lailoken

[a-mute-on-a-mule]

Eight-Limbed Nightmare, feat. Ruth and Lailoken

Based on the only SSO dream I've ever had, and that I likely had @juni-ravenhall 's animatic on my mind at the time. Which probably gives you an idea for how long ago I started this file.

Winter is the season for finishing off ancient WIPs, apparently.

[stellaron-hunter]

star stable sketches! 4/?

@ruth-westside’s lailoken

[wintry-art]

Ruth and Lailoken for @ruth-westside ~

[ruth-westside]

Might I interest thee in a new OC meme?

Build your character(s) in this here Hero Forge site and reblog to show them off. https:// www .heroforge. com/ [Remove the spaces]

You can make a free account so you don't lose your works. HF periodically adds new customization options so you can also update projects whenever you want.

Have a Medieval!Ruth and Lailoken to guide you on your missions.

[courtsnort-sso]

Sketch of @ruth-westside‘s long eared boy Lailoken making a friend!

[a-mute-on-a-mule]

Realized two separate files looked very familiar if combined. Late 2018 versus late 2022.

[ruth-westside]

How to Train Your Mule

Ruth learned the hard way that mules really need breast collars. 

Also you can blame @rebecawolfforest for the idea of Ruth having suspenders in her wardrobe.

[ruth-westside]

Grey Ghosts 

One hand nudged to her mount’s neck, ‘Why does nobody here see me?’  A quiet nicker in response, ‘Garnok’s plague. The people... are spirits that still linger here. You didn’t come in time.’ 

I really just took these because I was in a foggy greyscale mood, but the feel did loosely fit an AU concept I had once. So there you go.

[ruth-westside]

4, 14, 21 for the ask game!!!

4. Describe your SSO OC poorly. (Lailoken edition) Unorthodox Soul Steed creeps other Soul Steeds out with his abnormal neighing. He loves it.

14. If your SSO OC had a Youtube channel, what would they post? Survival hacks, bushcraft, maybe the occasional traditional art timelapse. Pass the knowledge she’s acquired onto others who may want it.

21. What is your SSO OC’s go-to halloween costume? "I am the Trash Guardian, guardian of the trash. Big Bonny quivers before me!"

Ruth keeps a lot of trash bags around for various purposes so this is 100% within her range. And the best kinds of costumes are ones you can also pull pranks with

Design based on this video, just trade out the gas mask for the Miscreant one and add a hood.

[a-mute-on-a-mule]

Wild West AU - Ruth Slorach

For @ssowildwest @carina-go-lightlee​

Name: Ruth Misha Slorach (Ruth Westside in game)

Age: 24

Occupation/Role: Since it’s Jorvik and I’m assuming lots of horses, she’s probably a ranch hand most of the time.

Team Good or Team Evil?: Neutral in the past but has become more Team Good in recent years in an attempt to be a good role model. Doesn't always work but she tries.

APPEARANCE

Hair/eye/skin: Dark brown hair that's almost always kept in a loose ponytail, equally dark brown eyes, and suntanned skin with some freckling.

Build: About 5'5" (she can be a little shorter if needed), slightly underweight with lean muscle. She could basically pass as a teenage boy if she wanted to and has done so in the past.

Defining Characteristics: Large deep eyes, straight nose, and an old-ish bullet graze scar on the right cheekbone.

Clothing Style: Simple, practical, and layered for adaptability. Flat crown bolero, jacket, shirt, trousers, suspenders, and boots. If she ever wears a skirt, you can be certain she's wearing trousers underneath and no heels, in case she has to run. She generally wears darker and earthy colors like brown, black, and blue, but red and white can also appear. Most of her clothes are old and weathered and have clearly seen repairs over time.

Signature Look: A thigh-length black coat with 3/4 length sleeves (used to be a full length duster jacket).   Has two pistol holsters; one holds a pistol while the other holster has been cut up and modified to carry an Irish tin whistle and a jaw harp.

Demeanor: She's a selective mute (it would have been termed "aphasia voluntaria" in this AU’s setting). She’s not charismatic, per se, but her unusual method of communication does attract curious stares pretty often. It's also not uncommon for people to believe she's rude or an idiot due to her silence. A flaw she tries to downplay by amping up the cheeriness and the comedic antics.  She’ll also put things in order if others have left things in a chaotic state. It’s less of an “I must do this” reaction and more just an anxiety tic to get her mind off things.

(The selective mutism element can be subbed out so she's just someone of few words if that would make things easier for you guys!)

STORY Origins: Ruth is the child of a railroad engineer and a vaudeville performer. Her family was often on the road and she grew up to become a trick shooter which earned her a spot both as a performer and an unexpected guard on her father's trains.

For as much as her parents taught her, their methods were not always the kindest, especially her alcoholic mother’s. Ruth eventually struck out on her own to escape, with her father's blessing. He was a bit rough around the edges but he was as much her friend as he was her parent so he sympathized and prepped her with a mule, Lailoken, and enough supplies to last a while.

During her travels, she rescued Johann, a 7 y/o street urchin in a town she was passing through. With a second rider, she eventually had to get a second mount and so she bought another mule and later a small covered wagon which their mule team was perfect for. The wagon became a makeshift home, Johann helped take care of the mules and camp chores and Ruth took whatever work she could find to keep necessities covered on their journey.

By the time they've reached New Jorvik, it's been a couple of years so she is 24 and Johann is 9. Economic Status: Earns enough to keep them supplied with absolute necessities plus a little extra that's reserved for repairs and emergencies. Motivations: To eventually find a place to settle so Johann can live a better and safer life, which she has yet to find anyone she trusts to do a better job of than herself. As much as she values her freedom to do as she pleases, her parental instincts are just as strong.

ALLIANCES Horse Name/Breed/Color/Sex: Two mules. (for Sister Sara)

Lailoken - Silver black gelding with socks.  He has been with Ruth since she first set out on her own. Agro - Bay mare with stockings and star-stripe (pretend the trakehner’s wraps are leg markings and it’ll be about right).  Bought for Johann and to complete the wagon team.

Pets: N/A Partner/Love Interest: N/A Stage of Relationship: N/A Other Alliances: Johann, a 9 y/o homeless boy Ruth took in. He is her son/little brother and sometimes her partner in crime. He's the most familiar with how Ruth communicates and sometimes acts as a translator. (more info in the future)

SKILLS Level of Education: Average level for the time. Fighting Skills/Style: Gunman (she carries at least one pistol and rifle) and a knife she uses for anything that requires one.  Trades and Talents: Jack of all trades, master of few. Trick shooting, farming/herding, domestic tasks, a little bit of blacksmithing, and an intimate knowledge of trains.   Some of these she already knew, others she's picked up while doing them.

MISCELLANEOUS: 1) Johann is the only person she verbally talks to as he is who she’s the most comfortable with in the beginning. She can’t talk if someone else is around or she knows they’re in hearing range of her. She switches to writing or using gestures and body language in such situations.

2) She’s basically a casual stunt double, complete with mild parkour habits and the ability to take falls in a way that causes the least amount of damage to herself where most people would usually risk serious injury and broken bones. She’s certainly injured herself before but it’s a rare occurrence. 

3) Her musical instruments are of course used for music but she does also use them to “Epona call” the mules, especially her tin whistle.

4) She has likely committed thievery a few times in the past when she got truly desperate for money. Can’t say she’s terribly proud of it.

5) She is often associated with an owl, and not necessarily for the silent and majestic “tiger of the skies” image.

6) Buster Keaton is one of the main inspirations behind her behavior, and like his comedic stunts her antics are often her doing normal things in a weird way. Johann also gets in on it from time to time.

IMAGES:

She does have an RDR Pinterest board that’s pretty fitting for this.

Note: The last image is ancient and one of the few that has Johann in color, so Ruth and the dog can be ignored in that one.