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childrenofathoria-rp-blog · 8 years ago

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◆Out Of Character Information◆

Name/Age: Zo, 26 Preferred Pronouns: My pronouns are fluid, so you may refer to me as he, she, or they. Please refrain from calling me “it,” though. Timezone: EST Desired Character: Crius

◆Character Information◆

(1) What pronouns will your character be using? Would you like to list their sexuality at this time?:

I would like to use traditionally male pronouns for Crius (he/his). I haven’t settled on what his sexuality might be defined as, so I’d like to hold off on listing that info at this time.

(2) Any changes or comments?

(3) Why this character?

There are many reasons why I chose Crius but I’ll try to parse it down to only the most pertinent things. The biggest reason for choosing him would be the possibilities I see for him having immediate connections in-game. Being part of a pack, he has so many opportunities to form close bonds with other characters that could push him in countless directions. That potential was the biggest draw for me, and closely relates to another reason why I chose him.

Having never played a werewolf in Athoria, I think it would be interesting to explore the pack dynamic through a wolf of the lowest rank. Again, I think this too will contribute to some great interactions with other characters, especially those in Anshega.

I also believe that Crius’ character will be a challenge for me, as I have also never played a character over the age of 30 in Athoria or a werewolf, as previously stated. Tackling a new species is always an interesting challenge. And given Crius’ age, I will have the opportunity to expand upon a larger timeline than I am used to and add even more history into what is an already intriguing bio.

And last but not least, who doesn’t love a good redemption story? I love that Crius’ main motivation is to redeem himself in the eyes of his pack, and I can’t wait to see how or if he is able to pull that off. I think with the current story arc there will be tons of opportunities for him to prove his worth, but at great personal risk. And seeing how he takes on those challenges will be extremely fun and rewarding to write.

(4) Interpret this character:

I see Crius as someone who has known struggle for most of his life. Even before he was demoted to the status of omega, he was never the strongest or the smartest or the most handsome. His appearance was impressive, yes. His wolven form was fearsome upon first glance. But when put beside the Warriors in his pack, he could never compare, and I think this has made Crius a very bitter person.

He is constantly comparing his achievements to those of others, and in doing so he finds himself constantly dissatisfied. Being born a lupus wolf, I think he believes he should be better than he is. And in writing Crius, I would really like to explore his connection with Gaia in regards to this. I could see him in his youth feeling very spiteful towards Gaia for his perceived failings, perhaps even cursing her in private. But after being demoted to omega and seeking spiritual guidance from Elsu, I’d love to write out how his perceptions and beliefs changed over the years.

While Crius has found some modicum of peace in his relationship with Gaia, I think his other relationships are largely nonexistent. Because he has such a massive chip on his shoulder, I can see him using whatever standing he still has to look down on others - his lupus blood being the best example of this. I think he will look down his nose at humans and hybrids alike, often making mention of his so-called superiority in their presence. I can see this behavior being quite tiresome for the humans he interacts with in Hala, but I’d also like to see his perceptions challenged and changed with time. I would also like to address how his prejudices might stem largely from the incident that happened that brought about his demotion to omega. I feel that would be a great subject to broach and work through with another character in-game.

And speaking of his relationships, since he has so few, he sees his pack as invaluable. Though he is looked down upon, he still has a place to call home, and for that he is ever grateful. I see Crius as someone who is deeply devoted to his alpha and Anshega as a whole. He would do anything to protect the wolves who allow him a place among them, even though some think him unworthy. And if ever one of his packmates should need his help, Crius wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever was needed to assist.

But the others rarely ask for help. The stronger wolves don’t need the assistance of one as weak as him. This leaves him frustrated among the ranks of humans who tend to the least important of tasks. He still endeavors to do well in his menial tasks, hoping to prove himself in whatever small way he can, but he knows these odd jobs will not move him any closer to his end goal. For Crius most wants to be a valued and useful part of his pack, and yet after two hundred years, he’s still failed to do just that.

Being so single-minded in his drive to be of use, Crius has forgone much in the way of personal hobbies. His days consist of working and his nights usually consist of drinking, and maybe playing with the pups if they seek him out. But as far as personal passions go, Crius would be hard-pressed to name any. The only joy he really knows is the warmth of ale as it slides down his throat. Anything else he sees as a waste of his time. But in playing Crius, I do plan for his mind to be expanded and for him to find new interests, perhaps even ones that help him to further his personal goals.

As small-minded as Crius is, he doesn’t hold a very high opinion of other supernaturals, I imagine. I think he’s not overly impressed with vampires - Gage is really just a passing distraction - and tries to avoid them largely. But I think he may be interested in angels and their connections to Gaia, so that might be interesting to explore in-game.

As far as headcanons go, here are just a few that I’d like to add to his history. I’m sure even more will come as I write him more in-depth.

1. Crius has a poor relationship with his family. Though he loves them as part of his pack, any familial bond has been strained because of the embarrassment Crius has brought upon them. His two eldest siblings had always belittled and look down upon him, but those tensions have worsened since he was demoted to the rank of omega. His youngest sister is the only one who bothers to offer any kindness towards Crius anymore, and those moments grow ever fleeting as the years pass. Crius does his best to just avoid them altogether. He finds things are much simpler that way.

2. I think Crius’ first transformation was something he’d looked forward to with blind hope. He knew himself to be less capable than his siblings, but he believed there was still hope for him. When his urhan form finally presented, he thought, he’d be just like everyone else. He wouldn’t slow down his family anymore, wouldn’t need their help with tasks ever again. But his first transformation came and went, and he was just as weak as he’d always been.

I think it is here that Crius would really start questioning Gaia, perhaps even believing that she had cursed him for some reason. Either way, I can see Crius being very spiteful and cruel at this time, even to those who have done him no harm.

3. While Crius has few companions, he finds the youngest of their pack are quite fond of his company. Perhaps it is because they feel they have nothing to fear from the omega, but all the same Crius will never turn away a pup searching for companionship. He has found over the years that his listening ears and cautious warnings have even helped those who would someday become Warriors. I personally believe Crius is at his best in these moments.

4. I don’t think it can be overstated how overly sensitive Crius is. He is always looking for perceived slights or insults, so anything that can be understood as such will be met with much snarling. But that’s only if you have the misfortune of being someone outside of his pack. All those who outrank him in Anshega can expect is an unpleasant look, at most.

5. The young wolf whom Crius disfigured in that awful incident still lingers at the fringes of his periphery. While no longer a pup, Crius keeps his distance and silently checks on the young garou from time to time, to ensure no further harm comes to him.

6. It almost goes without saying that Crius is rather grim in his mannerisms. He doesn’t have very much to smile about, at least not during the light of day, so it is more common to see his face set into into a stoic expression. It is typically around the youngest of their pack that he warms and a smile can be seen gracing his features. But more often than not, he refuses to emote much of anything outside of a grim stoicism.

7. Before his demotion to omega, Crius was even less pleasant than he is now. For many years he toiled away at strengthening his body, only to be constantly disappointed by his lack of progress.

I think this made him angry, and that anger was constantly simmering at the surface. It took little to provoke his ire, and he was not quick to apologize. I imagine Crius got into into a fair number of scuffles during this time, nearly all of which he lost. And with each loss, he grew more and more afraid, afraid that this is all he would ever amount to.

8. I think Crius’ fear is what inevitably led to his demotion to omega. His desperate need to prove himself and feelings of self-doubt came to a head in a moment of passion.

In my headcanon, this event transpired roughly 50 years ago and involved a human who had managed to gain Crius’ trust (maybe a love interest?). I think until this point Crius’ opinion of humans was uninformed at best. He didn’t think highly of them, but he did not despise them the way he does now. But I imagine he had worked beside this human for some time, and perhaps trusted them enough to be more candid with his feelings. He felt he did not need to put on airs with this person and revealed a more honest part of himself for the briefest of moments.

But the human did not treat his feelings with respect or caring. Instead, they mocked him before his packmates, proclaiming that even they, a measly human, were better suited to garou life than Crius.

“He’s too gentle, too weak. He’s never gonna be a Warrior. I got a better chance than him!”

Those words echo in Crius’ mind to this day, and every interaction with a human brings those words slamming to the forefront of his mind again. And try as he might, he cannot help but to blame every human for his failures that day. It will be difficult for him to forget this particular prejudice, I believe, but I very much want to help him move forward.

9. Crius abhors asking for help. He would highly consider biting off his own tongue before doing so. This tends to make his life more difficult and his work more troublesome than it needs to be. But he doesn’t want anymore reason to be seen as weak in the eyes of his pack.

◆ Interview Questions ◆

(1) Question One: Do you believe that Warrior training would help ground you? If so, do you have a plan to convince Alastair to let you begin training?

“I believe that if I was worthy of being a Warrior, our alpha would have made me one. But I am not, and to make me understand my limitations, he has made me omega. So, to answer your question, no. I do not believe that Warrior training would help me. In order to ground myself I must first find peace elsewhere. And for that, I turn to Mother Gaia.”

(2) Question Two: Does working with the humans in Hala with silly tasks help you more than you allow yourself to admit? Maybe you learned something new?

Crius sneered, a derisive little chortle escaping from his throat. “You think that a creature only a fraction of my age has anything to teach me? A weak little thing that I could snap like a twig? Humans have shown me precious little to endear me to them. I only tolerate the ones in Hala and our pack out of respect to our alpha.”

He shook his head, another demeaning chuckle rumbling in his throat. “Humans helping me… What an absurd notion. They’ve wrought more chaos in my life than I care to remember. I’d be much happier if they weren’t around at all…”

◆Writing Sample:◆

Crius loathed mealtimes. They were quite possibly the worst part of his day. While he could usually lumber about silently while he worked, mealtime reminded him of just how separate he was from his pack.

He looked around at his kinfolk, at the smiling faces that surrounded him. They chatted and laughed, whispered and giggled, all forgetting he was there so easily. But why shouldn’t they? He was not one who was meant to be offered love or respect. He was omega, and he had become accustomed to the fringes of the society he was once apart of.

But just because he was accustomed, didn’t mean he never felt lonely.

He was bold enough to admit that he was lonely this night. The contentment, the joy that his packmates felt in the company of each other was palpable. How he wished he could include himself among that group. But he had taken for granted that feeling of belonging when he was young. Now, with the weight of shame hanging upon his shoulders, the omega could do nothing but sit by and watch.

Prepared to leave his meal unfinished, Crius felt a gentle tap against his leg. Looking down, he saw a small ball rocking near his hip, and as he reached down to grab it a small voice shrieked out.

“I’m sorry!” the little one yelped. With wide eyes and chubby cheeks, he couldn’t have been more than eight. “I didn’t mean to throw it so hard.”

“It means your arms are strong then,” the omega replied with a gentle smile. He couldn’t help but to chuckle as the pup’s face broke into an excited grin.

“You mean it?” the young one squeaked. “Mother always said I was strong, but she doesn’t have big muscles like you.”

Crius huffed a small laugh. “Perhaps not, but your mother is obviously very wise. If you are already this strong, I’m certain you’ll be even stronger than me someday.”

The pup was gleeful to hear such words, stomping his little feet in excitement. Crius reached out to offer his ball to him once more, but suddenly the young one was whipped away from him.

He glanced upward then to see the pup bundled in his mother’s arms, a scowl directed right at the omega. “Do not ever speak to him again, child, do you understand me? He is beneath you, beneath all of us. Do not even spare him a glance.”

“But, mother, my ball!” the pup cried as they left Crius behind.

“There are other toys to play with,” his mother replied. “Nothing is worth wasting your time on that beast.”

And once again, Crius found himself alone. The toy still sat cradled in his palm. Looking at his meal, only partially finished, Crius found that his hunger was no longer pressing.

If he could, he would seek out the boy’s home and set the toy upon his doorstep. Until then, he would keep it safe in his own abode. And tonight, before his eyelids grew too heavy, he would drink to forget his loneliness.

But like the child’s toy, it too would be awaiting him come sunrise.

#athoria accepted

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childrenofathoria-rp-blog · 8 years ago

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◆Out Of Character Information◆

Name/Age: Jo, 28 Preferred Pronouns: She/Her Timezone: PST Desired Character: Aaliyah Tenney

◆Character Information◆

(1) What pronouns will your character be using? Would you like to list their sexuality at this time?: Aaliyah uses she/her pronouns and has no sexual preference. She’s less accustomed to women paying that sort of attention to her and feels more pressure to impress when it happens.

(2) Any changes or comments? If anything, I might want her to not be one of the first mages to leave the Hallowed Oak just because I want to roleplay out her moving from Southwind to Hala (and I feel like she would have come to that decision a long time ago if she’d been out of the woods for any more than 2 - 3 years).

(3) Why this character? My previous character was much younger when I started playing her and had a “finding yourself” narrative, and when she was aged up for Season 4, I didn’t stick around long enough to really enjoy the new “knowledgeable, opinionated, highly skilled” version of her. Aaliyah is starting at a very different point altogether: unlike Eira whose past was darker and tainted with sadness, Aaliyah is starting her journey with a sense of purpose and a whole clan of people who love her. The world outside the Oak is shiny and new, but among her own kind, she is a master surpassing her elders. When it comes to white magic, she is the one you listen to, defer to, ask for help. Despite her insecurities, she has always fit in until now, and she has to learn to judge who to help and who to trust all over again.

(4) Interpret this character:

I see Aaliyah as someone who was initially very clumsy as a child and had every interest in getting over knocks and injuries as quickly as possible. Her rapidly growing skills made her a bigger risk taker as fewer and fewer physical consequences applied to her, but her perilous beginnings instilled a sense of exactitude in her. To her there’s nothing more important than getting things right, checking and double-checking your answers before committing, especially when the experiment being played with is someone’s health. I can also see her parents being very exacting people - gentle, supportive, but vocal about the fragility of living things.

Her mother was probably a great beauty surpassing her daughter, something Aaliyah tried hard to live up to as the coven saw her face far more often than her mother’s. Once she surpassed the elders and became master healer of the Mighty Oak, it fell upon her to lead younger white mages in their learning, oversee the wellbeing of the entire community, and always be present beside the Forest Sage during great communions as a representative of the coven’s strength and survival. With so many eyes on her, Aaliyah grew addicted to the attention and affection. It is very easy to slight her, but that’s something she discovers outside the Oak, where she’s surrounded by strangers who have no history of loving or needing her. Aaliyah tries not to show it when her pride or vanity have been damaged, but her overly expressive face undoes her every time.

In terms of dress, she has a lifelong love affair with neutral colors, the better to blend into her beloved forest home and feel a part of it. However, I can definitely say that her wardrobe underwent a transformation after leaving the Hallowed Oak: other species did not react too politely to a woman draped in green, crowned with horns, owl mask shielding her face and a tapestry of bones adorning her neck. Now she dresses to blend in - for the most part. When she experiments with colors, they are always the brightest; and her dresses are always cut to allow parts of her body to experience the sun, an aspect of nature that was often absent in the forest.

She can do all the same minor spells any trained gifted human can - stirring the liquids in a cauldron, summoning a broom to her hand, lighting and blowing out a candle - but only her expertise in the branch of alteration magic can rival her grasp of white magic. Some wounds could only be healed by physical alteration, while others needed tending so quickly that only through conjuration could she acquire all the needed components in time. And for moving through the more perilous regions of the Oak, nothing proved more effective than cloaking herself in the dense shadows of the canopy.

I feel like it occurred to her after living among other species for a few years that those who ate certain things seemed more capable and lively, while those who indulged in drink and ate too much meat were slower, more mature in the lines of their faces regardless of actual age. It was by studying this matter further that she stumbled into becoming a gourmand. The better healthy food tasted, the more likely one was to eat it! She considers Nita a powerful ally of public health and visits Hala primarily to stock up on ingredients for potions and meals alike. The werewolf is her go-to person for explanations of each new spice’s qualities, as the world outside the forest has a much greater variety. As a general rule, Aaliyah is eager to listen to anyone more experienced than her in any respect.

Aaliyah is very talkative and ready to share most of her ideas. Her opinions on the monarchy are still developing after a few years of life outside the Oak. King Nathaniel has never touched the Oak or posed it a threat, and that is her primary concern. Still, the forest expanded with speed, almost urgency, ever outward as if on the march. Her neutrality is delicate as she prepares to take whatever side Gaia favors. In spite of herself, she feels uneasy in the company of vampires (“The dead aren’t meant to walk…”).

◆ Interview Questions ◆

Please copy and paste each question along with your answer. Must be in first person, present tense, no minimum length required.

(1) How much time have you spent in the Gardens?

“Oh,” she started, clearly pleased by the question, “So much time, I couldn’t really begin to quantify it. It’s a divine place, not of this world, and near impossible to find” she paused for effect “unless you’ve the nose for it. The scent of the moonrose - too blue to call blue, too fragrant to smell with your nose alone - pierces your very skin as you grow closer to the garden’s edge. But only those that have known it once before can ever know it again, and the first time is always an accident.”

(2) Do you believe any species shouldn’t be extended your kindness when it comes to healing?

“I don’t bear any ill will to any species, I assure you - not even mermaids. All beings have their ways: swallows fly south when the winds grow cold; foxes will always chase rabbits; and moss will always grow wherever it wills.” There was an obvious “but” waiting on the fringes of her words. “We of the Mighty Oak also have our ways. We protect our own, and we respect the balance of life and death. There are circumstances where death is what’s called for to maintain that balance…”

◆Writing Sample:◆

Hastily sitting between her mother’s legs, Aaliyah tucked into her celebratory meal: spit-roasted carrots glazed in sycamore sap; dandelion greens mixed with cherries and figs still coated in dew; a plump leg of hare seasoned with crow garlic, angelica seed, and cloveroot; and a goat’s horn-full of tea brewed from apple blossoms and rain water. Her mother chided her to slow her pace and take care not to spill a drop of the precious drink. “Yes, mum,” she replied shortly, a tad embarrassed but no less famished.

A roaring bonfire towered at the center of a clearing often used for coven observances. The dead were honored there, the newborn welcomed there, and new masters confirmed there. It was a rare, shining place in the Hallowed Oak, unconcealed by thick canopy, where sun and moonlight could touch their entire fold. The whole of the Mighty Oak - elder and younger, mages and even kin whose magic never manifested - gathered tonight in honor of the full moon rain. Each drop that fell to earth on the glowing mother’s watch was sacred and a powerful component for spellcraft. On this night, and only this night, everyone was allowed to drink from the collected reserve.

Aaliyah remembered where she’d been before hurrying back to join the water collection effort, which was exactly where she shouldn’t have been. The still-forming girl’s long limbs had carried her up the branches of a beech tree so tall that she had to climb a different tree to reach its first branch. Although she was at least strong enough to hoist her own weight, this deciduous tower put her endurance to the test.

If she could just take one small peek above the treeline, her hunt for the faes’ moving garden would bear fruit at last. This was a dangerous way to go about finding it, but her elders insisted she must “discover it for herself” - and she was running out of ideas. Her cloak and fox mask rested meters below, tucked neatly between two massive roots. Her thick, dark hair was braided around her wand to keep both safely out of the way. Her body collected light scratches and bruises on the way up - nothing compared to what would happen if she didn’t take each step with assurance.

The young mage was breathless when her head emerged atop the canopy. There was plenty of height left to the beech tree, but there was no need to venture higher. While Aaliyah caught her breath, near-black eyes scanned the new world ruled by sky and great mountains afloat a sea of green. Her desperation to spot anything out of the ordinary was quelled by the beauty that spread out before her. It was a strange feeling, looking down at the entirety of your own world.

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