[hider=A hero of hearts and words] [h3][u][b]Basic Information[/b][/u][/h3] [b]Name[/b]: Andrew Callum [b]Age[/b]: 48 [b]Gender[/b]: Male [u][b]Appearance (Before Awakening):[/b][/u] Andrew was a slight and unassuming man, barely over 5'5" with no muscle mass to speak of, along with glasses and a penchant for sweater vests like he was trying to be a walking nerd stereotype. Dirty blond hair with straight blunt ends that never went past his cheeks, ruddy complexion, stubble on his chin that never seemed to go away. The only striking things about him were murky green eyes like swamp water in the fog and a set of persistent callouses on his knuckles. Otherwise, he wasn't much to write home about. [u][b]Appearance (After Awakening):[/b][/u] Now, though, Andrew was like a whole new man. Sprouted no less than a whole foot taller, he gained a much stockier physique, broad shoulders and thick limbs and angular jaw distancing him from being another face in the crowd. His hair had an insane bit of growth as well, flowing locks down to his shoulder blades (though he tends to keep it tied up some kind of tight ponytail or bun, since it can't be cut anymore). He keeps the same fashion sense and mannerisms, however, awkward in handling his new body. [u][b][h3]Awakening Details[/h3][/b][/u] [b]Vision[/b]: A cliff; behind him, a dense leafless forest, ahead a vast plain teeming with life and hope. A group of all ages stands at the edge of the cliff in front of him, facing the new world with heads held high. A sense of pride fills him, a wistfulness more sweet than bitter, knowing that they will succeed. [b]Rank[/b]: 2nd [b][u]Summoned Weapon(s)[/u][/b] [list][*][b]Sharur[/b] - Mesopotamian myth [*][b]Sword of Freyr (Sumarbrander)[/b] - Norse myth [/list] [u][b][h3]Lore & Power[/h3][/b][/u] [b]Origin Story[/b]: [b][i]Sharur[/i][/b] was the weapon and symbol of Ninurta, God of healing, scribes, and war. Its name means “smasher of thousands”. Sharur could communicate with its user and fly across vast distances on its own, functioning as an emissary as well as a weapon in times of strife. The [b][i]Sword of Freyr[/i][/b] is said to be able to fight of its own will, should the wielder be wise enough to receive its power. Notably Freyr did not use the sword himself, giving it up in exchange for the goddess Gerðr’s hand in marriage. This would leave him defenseless when Ragnarok came to pass, ensuring his death. [b]Relative Strength[/b]: [i]5[/i], all around. The armaments of gods have good power to throw around, but their ties to their respective mythos are minor in the grand scheme of things, oft overlooked for weapons with more pomp and circumstance. [b]Manifestation[/b]: Callum's weapons appear in a more literal sense, flying to his side from who-knows-where whenever he requires them, as if they had been off doing their own thing and showed up late to the fight. Similarly they act independently from him, though to different ends. • [b]Sharur[/b] is made of precious silver, a thin handle the length of his forearm engraved with depictions of wheat and farming tools, and a three-pronged head, one in the image of a proud lion's face and two as wings to its back. Much like its myth, Sharur can talk to Callum, relaying information it may have gathered or otherwise offering advice and wisdom, and can fly great distances in a short time. It must be wielded to be of use in a fight, however, and won't attack on its own. - Along with its strengths as a mace, Sharur can be used to instill a warrior's passion in others, boosting their overall effectiveness in battle, curing fatigue in a second wind, or aiding in wounds and injuries, but doing such can drain Callum's own energy. • [b]Sumarbrander[/b] is humble in comparison, with a blade made of dark iron and a simple hilt of wood and leather, though being as long as a whole arm gives it presence. It's capable of fighting all on its own, maneuvering around Callum as if swung by an invisible hand, though unlike Sharur it won't travel far from his position. [u][b]Attributes[/b][/u] [list][*]Might: 2 [*]Agility: 1 [*]Endurance: 3 [*]Presence: 5 [*]Instinct: 1 [*]Resonance: 3 [/list][u][b][h3]Guild Information[/h3][/b][/u] [b]Hero Alias[/b]: Speak Easy [b]Costume[/b]: A white mask that covers the upper half of his face, only a pair of blank eyes on its front, partially covered by a dark gray cowl trimmed with yellow. Underneath he wears a high-buttoned military coat, white leather gloves, a pair of padded motorcycle pants, and steel-toed boots. It's a holdover from before he joined a Guild. Ramshackle, but earnest. [b]Guild Assessment Result[/b]: - [b]Affiliation[/b]: Callum is actually a very vocal opponent of Guilds, seeing their shocking rise and corporate backing as omens to disaster. His joining of one was more out of necessity than support, and he's aware of the hypocrisy. He goes without most benefits being in a Guild would afford him to compensate. [u][b][h3]Background[/h3][/b][/u] [b]Personality[/b]: Callum is an idealist, someone who strives to see the good in others and instill hope and support in them. He's also a realist, very much aware of the state of the world and its immediate future. This doesn't do much to hinder his spirit, instead driving him to double down and try to embody those ideals. He speaks his mind, and holds fast to his convictions - he's not someone who turns over easily. While this should make him annoying and stubborn, though, it's tempered with genuine care, compassion for people and the world at large. He talks a big game, but he's too much of a softie, for better and worse. He's also got something of a self-esteem issue, at least in the sense of devaluing his own capabilities, preferring to prop his fellows up over himself. [b]History[/b]: Callum is (was?) a professor of philosophy at a local college. Ever since he was younger he was an activist, participating in protests and speeches for the betterment of society. At some point though, he grew disillusioned with it, and took a step away from active participation for... maybe a bit too long. Instead he decided to prepare the next generations for the challenges of the world, which is to say he became a middle school history teacher. But through perseverance, patience, and a good tenure deal, Callum grew from an underpaid tween-wrangler to a proper-ish university professor. It was around this time that he, as well, "got back in the game" as the rise of masked heroes fighting against injustice sparked the old flame of rebellion in his heart. Not wanting to jeopardize his new position, he took to the streets in costume, not as a man of violence, but a man of attitude, protesting and speaking his mind to the throngs of civilians and newscasters who took to this movement. And then, one day, he Awakened. He didn't plan for it, nobody does, but he tried to stick to his methods prior, not wanting to utilize his weapons for what they were meant for. Of course, having them made him a target for undesirables and, more importantly, Guilds. He had to fight, in self-defense, which he wasn't able to keep up for as long as he'd have wanted, and was given an ultimatum: be arrested and tried for whatever crimes he could be pinned with, or join an officially sanctioned Guild. He chose the option he thought would help his words reach the most people. But maybe... maybe that wasn't the right call. He's still trying to decide. [b]Motivation[/b]: Hope. Callum fights not for himself, not for money or fame, not even for what the world was, but what it [i]could[/i] become. He wants to be a hero to inspire others, to show them the ways they can help and succeed where he can't. Of course he still fights for those that can't defend themselves in the Now, all very classical Heroic archetype stuff, but he may perhaps be a bit full of himself. [u][b]Optional[/b][/u] [b]Side Roles[/b]: [b]Theme Song / Quote[/b]: [/hider]