[quote=@c3p-0h]
[hider=Aja][color=gray][center][h1]|Aja Kay|[/h1]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/HaTTyEF.png?1[/img][/center]

[color=7ea7d8]Name:[/color]
[indent]Aja Janine Kay[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Gender:[/color]
[indent]Female[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Age:[/color]
[indent]15[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Year:[/color]
[indent]5th[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Blood:[/color]
[indent]Muggle-born[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]House:[/color]
[indent]Rain Birds[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Pet:[/color]
[indent]Maxwell the Chinchilla
[img]http://i.imgur.com/DSpF1EM.jpg?1[/img][/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Electives:[/color]
[indent]Arithmancy
Care of Magical Creatures
Divination[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Clubs:[/color]
[indent]Choir[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Personality:[/color]
[indent]Upon first meeting her, Aja is easy to categorize as "that friendly girl with good grades," an archetypal Rain Bird. And indeed, this is an accurate description. She's helpful and empathetic, has a warm, welcoming air about her, and never fails to achieve impressive marks on her assignments and tests. But while Aja seems like all smiles and sugary sweetness, she's actually rather introverted. She'll wave to people she knows in the halls, and chat with her neighbors in class, but if asked, no one would be able to say who her friend group is. In fact, no one would know much about her at all. Aja is a private person who prefers to reveal only superficial things about herself to others, though she's fine with others confiding in her. The constant smile she wears throughout the day keeps everyone out of her thoughts, and if she was upset about something you would never know.

Many would be surprised to learn that Aja has a very calculating nature. She knows how to assess a situation (or person), how to pick her battles, and how much she can get away with. That's not to say she's ever malicious or outright manipulative – she's just always measuring everything around her. Aja often uses these skills to understand others and put them at ease, though sometimes she does manipulate just a bit to get her way. Aja knows it's easy to be charmed by a young, friendly girl and that people often underestimate her. In her opinion this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Aja's lack of any real friend group is likely why she gets such good marks – that, and the fact that she's still absolutely fascinated with magic. Because she's often left to her own devices, she spends most of her free time in the library or garden, learning new spells or finding other ways to entertain herself. She is adaptable and can thrive in most environments, but is surprisingly stubborn when it comes to certain, more personal beliefs and practices. This applies to the few people she truly cares about, also. If you manage to win her loyalty she is fiercely protective and unendingly caring, but thus far only her family can claim this status – her big brother, Ollie, in particular.[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Likes:[/color]
[indent]Performing Arts
Privacy
Animals
Spicy Food
[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Dislikes:[/color]
[indent]Nosy People
Conflict
Large Open Spaces[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Fears:[/color]
[indent]The Dark
Vulnerability
Uncertainty[/indent]
[color=7ea7d8]Biography:[/color]
[indent]Growing up the middle child of nine was chaotic, to say the least. The Kays are a high-income family from Chicago, though you wouldn't believe it from the state of their house: while big enough for eleven people to live comfortably in, it's always in a constant state of disrepair. Most of the money goes towards things like food, electricity, food, water, clothes, school, and [i]food[/i]. Aja's childhood, while always a clamoring mess, was a happy one. 

Though a Muggle-born, she knew about the existence of magic long before she received her acceptance letter to Salem's – her oldest brother, Olorun, got his own letter when Aja was just five years-old. The entire family was astonished, of course. Not only was magic very much real, but little Ollie was a wizard! While surprising, this also cleared up several mysteries surrounding the boy; the uncanny way he could quiet his siblings when he was trying to do homework, how he somehow got his sister's flower to bloom for her after she pouted that it wasn't "waking up yet," how easily he fixed his brother's action figure after it was launched out of a second story window… suddenly there was an explanation for why the eldest child was so gifted.

Once the family finally knew the rhyme and reason for these strange events, they began noticing the same pattern with Aja. It wasn't until Ollie came home for winter break, however, that their suspicions were confirmed. Of all her siblings, Aja had always been the closest with Ollie. She adored her big brother, and Ollie doted on her even more than their parents did. When he'd left for boarding school, Aja'd been devastated to lose her brother, but all the more devoted to him when it was revealed he could do magic. When he finally came home, she all but tackled him with a hug, and wouldn't leave his side for hours. She babbled on and on about all he'd missed at home, and peppered him with questions about magic and his new life as he unpacked. Her eyes lit up when they fell on his wand, and like the curious little girl she was, she picked it up. Unfortunately, the moment her fingers closed around the hilt, all the lightbulbs in the house blew up.

With this final confirmation that Aja was a witch, she began playing more and more with her magical abilities. Eventually she actually got pretty good at directing her magic – at least, as good as she could get without a wand or any real knowledge of spells. She learned to entice wild animals to come to her, make her mom think her room was cleaner than it actually was, and change the colors of her toys, among other things. She was, and still is to this day absolutely delighted with magic. At first the other Kay siblings didn't know how to react to their magical brother and sister. Some were jealous, others were enthralled, but eventually everyone just accepted them as more quirks in their eclectic family.

Aja's first year at Salem's was also Ollie's last. She was sorted into the same house as him (though it took longer than usual to sort her – she was nearly placed in Azeban instead), and throughout the year the two could often be seen together at night in the common room, working on homework or teasing each other. Ollie had a friend group of his own that he'd have fun with, but whenever Aja wasn't with her brother, she was alone. When the two went home for break, Aja took full advantage of having a seventeen year-old brother. Ollie was no longer underage and thus could freely use magic outside of school – which meant that as long as Aja practiced her spells near him, the Republic of Magic wouldn't be able to tell which of the two was casting outside of Salem's. Ollie (and their parents) was disapproving at first, but he'd never been able to deny his little sister anything, and if there was one thing Aja was good at, it was getting her way. She even got Ollie to teach her some of the more advanced spells.

This continued even after Ollie graduated, as he continued to live in their family house to help take care of his younger siblings. He currently works in Chicago's wizarding world in a vet's office for magical pets. As for Aja, she's continued her studies at Salem's without her brother. By all accounts, she's a friendly girl and a good student, but no one seems to know anything about her besides that.[/indent][/color][/hider]
[/quote]

Accepted

[quote=@Prints Avoid]
Here is my character. I had to rewrite this from scratch so I may have missed something the second time around. But I'd say this represents the character I have in mind about 98-99%
[hider=Dorado Schmitz][color=gray][center][h1]|DORADO SCHMITZ|[/h1]
[img]http://i0.statig.com.br/fw/co/zj/4d/cozj4dmblx09b8ltngefnawvy.jpg[/img][/center]

[color=7ea7d8]Name:[/color]
[indent] Dorado Schmitz(Please, please, please just call him Dor)[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Gender:[/color]
[indent]Male[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Age:[/color]
[indent]16[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Year:[/color]
[indent]6[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Blood:[/color]
[indent][s]O positive[/s] Pureblood[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]House:[/color]
[indent]Azeban[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Pet:[/color]
[indent]
His mother has a doberman named Nebula and she is just the sweetest most beautiful dog in the world, yes she is[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Electives:[/color]
[indent]Muggle Studies
Care of Magical Creatures
Apparition
[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Clubs:[/color]
[indent]Magical Creatures Club
Potions Club
Quidditch[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Personality:[/color]
[indent]
Dorado is sure of himself in almost every degree. He was rarely denied anything growing up and quickly found that he's good at what he likes to do. That's not to say he doesn't work for it, he does. He's just lucky enough to have that extra bit of talent adding to what he accomplishes. He's a social person, enjoying conversing with people of different backgrounds and learning from them. He strives to treat everyone with the respect they deserve. Dor loves attention and is not afraid to stand out with what he does. He'll answer any question in class, pull impressive maneuvers on the Quidditch pitch, and often speak out loud and at length of his various accomplishments. However, he'll gladly play up the accomplishments of others as well, especially his friends. So long as he's the one who gets to tell the story. He can be a competitive guy, enjoying proving that he's better at Potions or Quidditch or chess, and he finds it very difficult to be a graceful loser when he's bested. 

Despite his best efforts to be respectful towards all, he can sometimes fail. Those who seem to lack both talent and work ethic . But in particular with girls. Not that he thinks women are inferior. His mother is a clear example of why that's absolutely idiotic. No, he's just a teenage boy who often overlooks the feelings and personalities of young women in his quest to get some action. But it's harmless, it's not like he's actually gone after another girl while in a relationship. Well... except that one time. He enjoys a good party and a good time. He waves away any concerns that he could damage his reputation for the future with a favorite quote from his father: "No politician is to be trusted. But I'd take one who's flaws I can see over one who seems flawless."[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Likes:(At least three)[/color]
[indent] Girls
Sports (mostly Quidditch and basketball)
Wizard's Chess
Parties
A challenge
the Outdoors
[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Dislikes:(At least three)[/color]
[indent]Willful Ignorance
Losing
Being told he can't do something
Rainy Days
[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Fears:[/color]
[indent]Becoming a representative in the Republic only to grow complacent and corrupt.[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Biography:(At least two paragraphs)[/color]
[indent]Dorado was raised by relatively average magical parents. His mother is a gifted witch of Brazilian descent. In her time at school she was a Nolka Nari, skilled potioneer, and head of the Astronomy Club. His father was never too skilled in magic. Despite that he managed to charm the young witch working at Foxglove and Mushrooms in his seventh year. The two later moved to Arizona and run their own apothecary outside of Tucson.

Growing up an only child, Dorado has always considered himself something special. His parents' love and full support gave him the confidence and to after any goal he had, no matter how small or how outlandish it may be. His parents allowed him to learn for himself what was within his limits rather than squash his dreams outright. His parents' apothecary served as the primary source of potions and ingredients in much of the area between Texas and California, and as such his mother often had to restock. From an early age, Dorado was fascinated by the man who dealt in ingredients from magical creatures. He came in every month with wild stories and great quantities of ingredients for his mother. As he grew up and slowly got to know the man that was Ezra Noyer, he learned more and more about the magical natural world. Specifically, how unhappy it was with wizard-kind.

When it came time to go to Salem Witch's Institute, Dorado was overjoyed at the idea of finally learning more about magical creatures for himself as well as the art to which his mother had devoted her life. As he continued his time at Hogwarts, a few things became very clear to him. One was that non-wizards had a place much lower in society than he thought they deserved. He also began to think that he was the one who would do something about it. It also became clear to him that he was good at Quidditch and that that got him attention from girls and that he enjoyed time spent in the gazebo. He chose his classes in his third year with the intention of one day going on to represent the interests of magical beings and muggles alike. After graduating from Salem Witch's Institute he plans to either attend a Muggle University or spend a few years assisting Mr. Noyer in his work, perhaps one then the other. Following that he wishes to become a representative in the Republic once he feels he really understands these outside parties.[/indent]

[/color][/hider]
[/quote]

Accepted

[quote=@Emma]

[hider=Clarice Dashwood][color=gray][center][h1]|Clarice Dione Dashwood|[/h1]
[img]http://medias.unifrance.org/medias/146/140/101522/format_page/anamaria-vartolomei.jpg[/img][/center]

[color=7ea7d8]Name: [/color]
[indent]Clarice Dione Dashwood[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Gender: [/color]
[indent]Female[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Age: [/color]
[indent]13[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Year: [/color]
[indent]Third[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Blood: [/color]
[indent]Pureblood[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]House: [/color]
[indent]Rain Birds[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Pet: [/color]
[indent]A white parakeet named [b]Zallory[/b]
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/3978374187_5f7e85ff0c.jpg[/img][/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Wand: [/color]
[indent] Laurel, Hippogriff Feather, 12 1/3 inches, unyielding.[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Electives:[/color]
[indent] Divination & Muggle Studies[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Clubs:[/color]
[indent]Potions Club[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Personality:[/color]
[indent]Clarice is a clever, intelligent and quick-witted girl, with a curious nature, a sharp tongue and a direct way of approaching things, she is not afraid to speak her mind. Her grandmother describes her as being reckless, and a daydreamer. Clarice is an energetic, tomboyish child filled with life and humor. Though she is also stubborn, strong willed, and an old soul type of child, being mature and innocent all at once. She does not warm to strangers easily, and appears afraid of nothing. As the youngest child in her family she gets away with a lot more then her older sisters, less responsibility and more carefree. 

She is extremely loyal to her family and true friends, but to others not at all, unless she gets something out of it. She hates being is talked down to, and will attack back verbally or physically if insulted/bullied. She’s a tough kid, and not a big fan of adults who treat her like a child or think their smarter then her. She likes to think she is smarter then most people, vanity being a trait from her moms side of the family. She wants to be strongly independent, but being so young that's not always possible. As she grows older the more sly, brave, and Prudent she becomes. Don't cross her, she has a tendency for revenge and holding grudges...she can be a fierce monster when she wants to be.
[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Likes:[/color]
[indent]Reading, writing, birds, cats, carousels, riding horses, Flowers, Italian food, banana flavored things, fancy stones/Gems, and she collects little trinkets like muggle coins, shells, buttons, and so on.[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Dislikes:[/color]
[indent]Spiders, angry yelling, sour candies, The feel and sound of chalk, taking medicine, wearing socks, and the smell of coffee, pot roast, and rum.[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Fears:[/color]
[indent]Losing her family, Losing her mind like her mother, Dying, Being betrayed by people she trusts, and hights[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Biography:  [/color]
[indent]Clarice grew up in the Dashwood country estate, located on the outskirts of the muggle town of Abingdon Virginia. She lived with her lovable father Magnus Dashwood, Her beautiful mother Liberty Dashwood, who was the oldest daughter of the aristocate pureblood Goodspeed family, and of course her two older sisters Janis and Shelby. She grew up in a happy caring environment and spent most of her time reading, writing, drawing and playing Wizard's Chess with her dad. Any other spare time was spent eavesdropping on her older sister's conversations, or pretending to be a teacher at Hogwarts for which she would get dolls to be her students. She also loved pretending to fly, and mixing the hair products and lotions in the bathroom with juice and mud, brewing potions she like to call it. Being just minutes old she showed signs of magic, unlike her older sisters who were a bit slower to show there's. It was a picturesque life in the American south, and her summers were spent in the riverside village of Starcross, in England with her family at her maternal grandparents home.

When Clarice was eight her mother was accidentally hit by a spell, that caused her to loose her mind, and come in out of a catatonic state every few months. Clarice's father was devastated, as was the rest of the family. After ten months with her mother in bed, and mind lost, it was clear that nothing would fix her mom. So her father at the urging of his parents-in-law the Goodspeeds, sent Liberty to St. Mungo's in England, to be a resident of the Janus Thickey Ward, were she still remains even now. The family as a whole had to adjust to the absence and overall loss of there mother. Her father became so depressed and detached that he thought it best to send his three daughters to stay with their grandparents for awhile. So the girls lived with there maternal grandparents for over a year. Her father after receiving some help for his disrepair, had the girls come back to him after about sixteen months. 

At age eleven Clarice got her letter from SWI. She was so happy, seeing that she was sick a tired of being the only one not going, and missing her sisters and cousins all year long, sitting at home alone, with nothing but the cat. When Clarice was being sorted into a house by the sorting hat as a first year, she proved to be a Hatstall. The sorting hat had difficulty choosing a house for her, which was odd for a blood member of the Dashwood line, seeing as they were always 'Rain Birds'. Clarice had many of the qualities of each house, some more strong then others. In the end it came down 'Nolka Nari' or 'Rain Birds'. Six Minutes and 42 seconds pasted before a decision of 'Rain Birds' was made. It was exactly the house she wanted to be in of course, with her sisters. Her first year was spent mostly studying, and following her cousins, and older sister Janis around, she learned quickly and excelled in Transfiguration, Potions, and Charms. Clarice got very high marks in all classes, except for flying. Flying seemed to not agree with her, finding heights to be a fear of hers.

Second year during the carriage ride up to the castle she was one of few who could see the Thestrals whom pulled the carriage, as she had witnessed her grandfather, Phillip Dashwood's death when she was only two, as he fell off the roof having a heart attack. Not that she remember it at all. Clarice tried out for her house Quidditch team trying to be more like her older sister Shelby who was the 'Rain Birds' seeker four years running, failing miserably after she fell off her broom and broke her arm in two places. She spent the rest of the year studying and reading books in library, she had even snuk into the restricted section three different times. She also joined The Potions Club that year making friends with more people. She ended up with top marks in nearly all her classes. Near the end of her second year she chose Divination and Muggle Studies for her extra classes for next year. The summer before she started her third year she spent with her Cousins, Myra, Tallion, and Breckett at the wizard resort in France, visiting her mother in the hospital, and riding horses at the muggle's neighbors farm.[/indent]

[color=7ea7d8]Family:[/color]
[indent]
[url=http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ae/01/e3/ae01e389dc812b481993836c1e9bbee7.jpg]Father[/url]- Magnus Bartholomew Dashwood. The oldest child of the wealthy Phillip and Joanne Dashwood. He worked as a Wandmaker for a short time, and then went on to become a well known Arithmancer. During his days as a student at SWI he was in Animikii house and was well know for his skill at Wizard chess, known never to lose a game. He also was a Keeper on his houses Quidditch team during his 4th and 5th year.

[url=http://htc-wallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Catelyn-Stark.jpg?0adeb3]Mother[/url]- Liberty Muriel Dashwood (nee' Goodspeed) a pure blood witch. She worked as a Spell Registrator before the accident. During her years as a student, she went to Hogwarts, she was know as the teachers pet and grade grubber girl. She was in Hufflepuff House and was head girl and a prefect. Sadly she is now a resident in the Janus Thickey Ward at St. Mungo's, due to a incorrect spell accidentally hitting her five years ago.

[url=http://assets-s3.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/photo_galleries/regular_galleries/1473-rooney-mara-style-transformation/photos/1325112066_rooney-mara-1-lg.jpg]Sister[/url]- Shelby Leto Dashwood, Graduated SWI Last year, was a 'Rain Bird'. Working as a intern at 'The Weekly Witching'

[url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8AT0ZtHYqQ/T1s8L1T21DI/AAAAAAAAO5Y/mmc1jHy1lfY/s640/astrid-berges-frisbey.jpg]Sister[/url]- Janis Megara Dashwood, 6th year 'Rain Bird'. Popular with boy, because of her beauty, but she is very vain and snobbish. Most of her friends are in Azeban house. 

[url=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nozRGV7oj-M/S98I4WZNRZI/AAAAAAAACx0/8ApX4Or7m2E/s1600/LRedgrave.jpg]Grandmother[/url] - Wilhelmina Jillian Goodspeed (nee' Blackery). She went to the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, when she was a student. Not the nicest woman. She works for the Beaubaton Academy as a Professor of etiquette/manners. Pureblood b-witch all the way, long time friends with the Malfoy and Black families. Husband died two years ago. They had two daughters together. Clarices mom Liberty, and Her Aunt Grace. 

[url=http://static.cinemarx.ro/stiri-cinema/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Eva-Ionesco.jpg]Aunt[/url]- Grace Alyssa Goodspeed, never married, spinster type women. Well known Herboligist, who discovered a new magic plant, fifteen years ago. Her work is her life.  

[url=http://static.cinemagia.ro/img/db/actor/06/41/16/eva-ionesco-578933l.jpg]Aunt[/url] - Pippa Corrine Stevenson (nee' Dashwood) Married a muggle, so she lives and works in the muggle world. She is a Kindergarten teacher. As a student at SWI she was in 'Rain bird' House. 

[url=http://img.csfd.cz/files/images/user/profile/159/107/159107704_bab336.jpg]Uncle[/url] - Andrew Allen Stevenson. He is a muggle and only learned about the wizarding world after his oldest child received his acceptance letter to SWI. He works as a IT guy for a big company, and sells model airplanes on ebay. 

[url=http://www.teen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/lucas-till.jpg]Cousin[/url] - Victor Baylor Stevenson. He is a seventh year Azeban. 

[url=https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6BPj--JITbnwb_v4KQ4vRvIYeiCcpwArOK2aYFaNGGg]Cousin[/url] - Erica April Stevenson.  5th year 'Rain Bird' house.   

[url=https://40.media.tumblr.com/4d2e021aa8e13ed7e798f843df61415d/tumblr_n7hbj7X7fJ1sw3mezo1_500.jpg]Cousin[/url] - Paisley Marie Stevenson. 4th year 'Rain Bird' House.

[color=7ea7d8]Other: [/color]
[indent]Can speak French rather fluently

Patronus - Hummingbird[/indent]
[/indent][/color][/hider]
[/quote]

So, there are a couple of things with this. One, she needs to have one more elective. Two, at SWI, there are no thestrals or carriages and I have not decided if there is going to be a hat for deciding the houses. Thirdly, she seems to be a bit of a special snowflake what with the having traits of every house, witnessing death, her mom going insane, her dad becoming distant, and showing signs at a young age. It's too much. Limit it, please. Also, for the choice of her being a Rain Bird, I feel as if she will either be a Nolka Nari or a Azeban, not even close to being a Rain bird. If you want her to be a rain bird, then you might want to make her less sly and focus more on loyalty - which I read that she doesn't have much towards others other than family - and hardworking. 

[hr]

So, I want to remind everyone that Salem Witches' Institute is not as medieval-esque as Hogwarts and all the other Eruopean wizarding schools. The wizarding community is still pretty new compared to the British Ministry of Magic or the French's community. They have only been around for a small amount of time, since America had been "found" by Columbus. The American wizarding community is also closer to their muggle counterparts and are more ready to accept new age technology. Carriages aren't used, there is no castle - it is more of a Victorian boarding school - and, so far, I'm debating about having a wizarding hat considering that it is more European witch than anything else. Also, the houses are named as such due to having Native American influences and so I'm debating how much influence the Native Americans should have. Considering, in America, today, Native American names can be found anywhere in every state. 

Also, if you guys want to do something, you may submit to me politicians over PM if you want. If not, I'll make more. I am not finished with all of the information yet, there is still the transportation - which I'm debating on having it every-man-for-themselves, considering that is how most American boarding schools or having a bus like the Knight bus be transportation, which in that case, there will be several and it will cross-country. There are no carriages to and from the school due to it being near the street and not having to ascend a hill or anything. 

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. I want to make this highly interactive. I plan to make it where you guys can sumbit news articles and such other things in order to get you guys really involved in the world. However, school has started up again for me, so I will be updating the OOC at a slow pace right now because of immediately having to write a paper after coming back from spring break (I hate school). But I swear, I will not let this die. I will continue to badger you guys, and if this dies, I will revive it or renew it over and over and over again. Because I stayed up for three days straight working on this information. So, I hope you guys are in this for the long haul (:

EDIT: Also, I forgot to add wands to the CS. [url=http://pottermoreschosenfew.weebly.com/wandlore.html]Here[/url] is a resource for wands, but don't go over the top. You cannot have an extremely rare/special wand core AND a special wood as well as having it rigid. It has to have balance. And anything listed as extremely dangerous, not used much, only found in pureblood families, or illegal, cannot be used.