Name: Silas "Sil" Blackwood
Full Name: Silas Thaddeus Blackwood
Age: 19
Nationality: English (with a possible Romani lineage on his mother's side, though it's rarely spoken about)
Talents/Skills:
Master of Disguise: Silas is incredibly skilled at transforming his appearance. He can alter his demeanour, posture, voice, and use makeup and prosthetics to completely become someone else.
Lockpicking & Stealth: He is adept at bypassing security measures, picking locks, moving silently, and blending into the shadows.
Sharp Intellect & Observation: Silas is highly observant and possesses a quick, analytical mind. He can quickly assess a situation, identify weaknesses, and formulate a plan.
Knife Skills: His skills surrounding knives aren't used for cooking, but rather for throwing, fighting, performing tricks and more.
Parents:
Julian Blackwood: Deceased. A gambling addict and con artist who was often absent from Silas' life.
Esmeralda "Esme" Ryland: A mysterious woman who kept largely to herself. Esme did her best to ensure Silas was looked after, but would often go long lengths without seeing her son as his dad often took him away from her or kept her far away.
Significant Others: No siblings. Kept his parents at arm's length, not trusting or relying on anyone. He has had encounters with many women, almost all of them ending in heartbreak.
Sexuality: Bisexual (but very private about it).
Relationship Skills: Distrustful and emotionally guarded, forming superficial connections but struggling with genuine intimacy. He is skilled at manipulation and can be charming when he wants something.
Physical Characteristics:
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 160 lbs (lean and agile)
Eye Color: Piercing grey, often seeming to change shade depending on his mood.
Hair Color: Dark brown or black, kept neatly groomed but with a slight rebellious streak.
Skin Color: Tanned, with a few faint scars.
Distinguishing Features: A small "hangman's knot" birthmark behind his left ear, a silver ring that always holds on his right hand, and an intense, unwavering gaze capable of unnerving others.
How Does He Dress?: Silas adheres to the Hermes Powder Academy dress code with a calculated flair. His clothing is always impeccable, but he favours subtle variations – a silk cravat instead of a standard tie, a silver chain discreetly hanging from his waistcoat, or boots polished to a blinding shine. He likes to pull his sleeves to his elbows, making sure the scars he has obtained during his life are visible to others. Always wears simple black gloves.
Mannerisms: Possesses a charismatic but unsettling demeanour. He often has a faint, knowing smirk on his face. He is always alert, scanning his surroundings and observing the people around him. Rarely speaks unless it's necessary, and is often very monotone when forced to do so.
Habits: Practising lockpicking, cleaning and maintaining his collection of knives, studying people's behaviour, disappearing for extended periods, and has a knack for getting into or causing trouble.
Health: Generally healthy, but prone to restlessness and vivid nightmares.
Hobbies: Disguise, acting, lockpicking, knife throwing, sleight of hand, observing people and planning out the perfect murder.
Favorite Sayings:
"Everyone has a secret. I just find them."
"Trust no one, especially yourself."
"Every person has a weakness, I just need to find it."
Speech Patterns: Possesses a smooth, articulate voice that can be both charming and menacing. He knows how to use silence to his advantage.
Disabilities: A slight limp on his right leg from an accident when he was younger (he does not like to talk about it)
Style: Deadly Elegance
Greatest Flaws: Distrustful, manipulative, emotionally detached, prone to violence, has a dark past he's trying to escape, and has a constant desire to murder.
Best Qualities: Intelligent, resourceful, adaptable, skilled at deception, possesses a strong sense of self-preservation.
Emotional Characteristics:
Strengths: Decisive, observant, rational, fearless, persuasive.
Weaknesses: Emotionally detached, distrustful, prone to violence, haunted by his past, has a hard time with women, and is constantly wishing to commit a murder.
Extrovert or Introvert?: Ambiverted. Can blend into any social situation but prefers working alone.
How Does This Character Deal with Anger?: Represses it and channels it into calculated actions. He seeks revenge rather than engaging in uncontrolled outbursts.
With Sadness?: Dismisses it, viewing emotion as a weakness. He prefers to focus on practical solutions and survival.
With Conflict?: Approaches it strategically, seeking to exploit weaknesses and gain an advantage.
With Change?: Adaptable and resourceful, able to adjust to new situations with ease.
With Loss?: Views it as an opportunity for growth or revenge.
What Does This Character Want Out of Life?: To escape his past, to find a purpose beyond survival, and perhaps (secretly) to know what it means to truly trust someone.
What Frightens This Character?: Loss of control, vulnerability, and someone seeing through his carefully constructed facade.
What Makes This Character Happy?: Successfully executing a complex plan, mastering a new skill, feeling in control, and finding some sort of satisfaction.
Is This Character Judgmental Of Others?: Yes, he constantly evaluates people based on their perceived strengths and weaknesses.
Is This Character Generally Polite Or Rude?: Charismatic and polite when it suits his purpose, but can be ruthless and cruel when necessary.
Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn Response?: Primarily fight (calculated and strategic) or flight (disappearing without a trace).
Spiritual Characteristics:
Does This Character Believe In God?: Skeptical. He sees the world as a chaotic place without divine intervention.
What Are This Characters Spiritual Beliefs?: He believes in the power of knowledge, self-reliance, and the survival of the fittest. Something his dead father would always say.
Is Religion Or Spirituality A Part Of This Character's Life?: No.
Does he have a favourite type of knife?: As long as it is sharp and pointy, Silas doesn't care.
How He Ended Up At Hermes Powder Academy: Silas's arrival at Hermes Powder Academy was a matter of...circumstance in his view. Having left a trail of unanswered questions, disappearances, and whispers behind him, Silas found a strange offer of acceptance fall into his lap. Word had reached the Academy of his unique 'talents' and his particular understanding of the darker aspects of human nature. With the law not too far behind him and his mother's words ringing in his ears, Silas decided to take the offer as an opportunity to learn, to possibly control his dark impulses towards strangers, and to test the limits of his skills within the Academy's unorthodox curriculum. Whether Hermes Powder Academy can reform someone with Silas's dark past remains to be seen, and whether he wants to be reformed at all is an even bigger question. But it sure would be interesting to find out!!
Theme song/s:
"Bad Things" by Jace Everett (especially the True Blood version with Lera Lynn)
"Control" by Halsey
"House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals
"Take Me To Church" by Hozier
"Darkside" by grandson
