shylarah — Roleplayer Guild

@lady horatio Right, I just followed you here from your profile because of your status, and I am very happy I did.  First off!  I have an opinion on the Oxford Comma.  I am in favor (and I do have a reason), though I understand like honor/honour both ways are acceptable.  Secondly, @Phoenix@Vilageidiotx@Wade Wilson I am a huge fan of the semicolon.  I am the one who first proposed the dare of using 100 (might've been 500) of them in one's NaNo novel.  I recently took a writing class, and the lady who led it -- a published author, I should mention, though not a big name by any means -- said that she knew more than one editor who says the semicolon is dead.  Apparently either periods or commas are considered acceptable replacements.  I've found very few places where a comma would be okay, and two separate sentences or the insertion of a word or two to connect the sentences never feels right particularly as I am very picky about the flow of text.  Separate sentences often feel choppy and stilted, and if I wanted those extra words I would have used them in the first place.  I will agree that semicolons can seem a bit stuffy and pompous, but when used /well/ I feel they add flair and elegance.  There really is no way to precisely replace them; nothing else has the same feel.  <3

My biggest issue is comma indecision.  I pause here, but how /much/ do I pause?  Is it a matter of phrasing, or is it a grammatical necessity?  Is it grammatically incorrect to insert a comma even though I want the reader to pause?  I also tend to use a lot of ellipses to indicate silences or hesitations in dialogue, though very rarely in narration.  I do use the dash (and parentheticals!) a good bit, but usually it's in either dialogue or when I write as if I or the narrator is speaking.

AND RIGHT THERE!  That's something that always troubled me.  What do you do if you're describing two instances with one word, but they have different conjugations?  I am speaking, the narrator is speaking.  So I/the narrator is speaking?  But then I is speaking, and I is NOT speaking like that!  Then again, if the narrator am speaking, the narrator am having problems too.  WHAT DO?!

@Gowi I seem to remember that a lot of people mistakenly use a hypen - instead of a dash --.  Granted, without autocorrect/autoformatting or knowing the special characters the -- has a tiny break, but that's the one that's correct, I think.  But there's some things about it I don't remember.  I think it's a space on either side, if it's in the middle of something, and if it's at the beginning or the end (such as if someone is cut off when speaking) there's no space.  But that /might/ be a slightly longer dash than the em dash?  *frowning*  Anyone remember?  When it comes to dashes versus semicolons, my opinion is that the dash has a faster, more haphazard feel to it, while the semicolon is a very deliberate pause and indicates something more complete than marked by a comma.  So I mentally hear a dash as less of a pause, instead of more as Lady Horatio mentioned.

Another thing I do is start sentences with a conjunction.  No, it's not technically correct.  But I have always felt that it can indicate a connection to the preceding sentence, an additional thought or a contrasting idea.  When I write as if talking -- forum posts are the biggest example -- I tend to be very all-over-the-place.  My brain moves too fast, and I don't organize my thoughts well.

As an aside, I do tend to pick up memetic mutations and then employ them freely.  The best part of knowing the rules is the freedom to deliberately break them for effect.  <3  Additionally, I think those on this thread might enjoy various humorous grammar books.  Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynn Truss was the first one I ever encountered, though I know there's more of them.

Emma Ellison /// Elian Zefra

If you can find a short-haired elf without egregiously pointy ears in dancer's clothes, preferably holding fans, let me know.  Because I can't.  X.x  Though I wager it's impossible, now that I've detailed the specifics of appearance and attire.

“If you want me to heal you, STAY WHERE I CAN @#$%ING HEAL YOU!”

O V E R V I E W

N A M EEmma Ellison

A V A T A RElian Zefra (also answers to Elly, Zef, and a few other nicknames)

A G E26

G E N D E Rfemale

V I S A G EEmma is a fit young woman, her body shaped by years of dance classes.  She is solidly built, not willowy, and if she isn't mindful of what she eats she gains weight.  She's taller than most women, but this doesn't stop her from wearing heels if she wants to dress up a bit.  Her dark hair is untamably curly and she keeps it cut very short so it is manageable.  Her eyes are unremarkably brown, her brows thick, and her face rounded.  Emma favors intense colors, be it vibrant crimson, royal purple, eye-searing green or jet black.  Outside of the dark and the bright, she also likes metallics, and a lot of her jewelry is metalwork, where it's not chunky modern-art plastic.  Her fashion sense is a bit quirky, and she is just as likely to be wearing a blouse and a skirt as she is jeans and a T-shirt.  One thing she does insist on is comfort -- if it bothers her too much she won't wear it, whether she's having a day in or a night out.  Because she can't do much with her hair, Emma has a whole collection of hats, and she'll wear one more often than not.

Emma is very aware that her avatar is not herself.  While she might embody Elian while she's logged in, and while MMOs are really not roleplay-heavy in most cases, outside of specific groups, her concept of Emma-as-Elian and Emma-irl are quite distinct.  Since that is the case, it's not too surprising that Elain only somewhat resembles Emma herself.  The build is the same, with perhaps an extra inch or two of height, but her brown hair has darkened to jet and her eyes lightened to gold.  Since it was an option, she elected to get her hair permanently straightened.  It's still a shorter style, but now the back is completely off her neck while the very front reaches her collarbone.  Her skin tone is slightly darker too, more bronzed than tanned, and she's come out with elfin ears, just pointed enough to have the tips show through her hair.  She's traded her hats for a woven golden circlet, but her fondness for dark colors is still very much in evidence.  Her attire is three pieces of black velvet, a close-fitting tank top, a long-sleeved jacket, and flowing pants.  The pants might be mistaken for a skirt at a distance, cut loose in the leg and widening from hip to ankle.  The waist is broad and snug, providing a bit of padding between her skin and a leather utility belt.  Her jacket has no collar and only a single, small button near the top so it doesn't fly completely open.  Unlike shirt and pants, this garment is covered in gold filigree,  Even the smallest movement is accompanied by sparkle and flash as the embroidery catches the light.  Leather boots with a slight heel finish off her outfit, with sturdy soles and metal reinforcement for the toes.  In addition to the utility belt, Elian often also carries a leather satchel strapped to her thigh to carry somewhat larger items.

P E R S O N A L I T YEmma is generally kindhearted and compassionate.  She's known among her friends for being a good listener and willing to lend a hand.  She is mostly cheerful, with a good sense of humor, and fluent in sarcasm.  She is willing to laugh at anything, including herself -- and all the inappropriate jokes as well.  Her outlook tends to be a mix of optimism, pragmatism, and cynicism.  She did well though not great in school, but she is particularly adept at puzzle-solving and thinking on her feet.  She's mostly dependable and trustworthy, though she tends to have trouble learning names, and will forget when things are if she doesn't write them down.  She enjoys a good party, so long as it's not too loud, and is perfectly at home among strangers.  Emma is outgoing, eager to meet new people and make new friends.  This desire for new experiences leads her to be the sort of gamer that enjoys exploration.  

She's always had one foot in the virtual world, and the people she befriends online are just as real to her as those she knows in the physical one.  She believes there are advantages to each sort of relationship.  She's had a number of boyfriends over the years, some starting irl, some starting online, but she's yet to find the person she'd like as her permanent Player Two.

Emma is a huge geek, and acknowledges her various fandoms openly.  She is also a dedicated gamer, though she does not play competitively.  For her, gaming is a way to step away from any worries she might have and immerse herself in another world, a chance to be whoever and whatever she likes.  It's not that she dislikes her life -- indeed, she is quite happy with it.  But that doesn't mean there isn't time to let her imagination take the lead while chilling with whomever happens to be on.

Emma is quick to anger, but just as quick to forgive.  She's mostly a good sport, though she never likes losing.  She hates trolls and people who mess things up for others through sheer stupidity.  It should be noted that kindhearted does not necessarily mean kind or polite.  She tends to give those she likes a hard time, teasing, taunting, and being generally snarky.  This verbal abuse is given with the greatest affection, a casual lack of concern for what's proper or polite that shows she's truly comfortable with that person.  Of course, if she really hates someone she's likely to insult and mock sincerely, and this can be a bit confusing if one is not sure where one stands.

As a gamer, Emma tends to be a completionist, and she enjoys experimenting with what a game will let her do.  She loves turning up secrets, and the accompanying thrill of discovery.  Her temper also shows in games, and there is a dent in one of her game room's walls where she once threw a controller a bit too hard after some idiot turned a challenging but doable boss run into a TPK.  It's interesting to note that while she doesn't often yell at people in the real world, she has no such qualms in virtual combat and an impressive array of curses to boot.  All of which she will unleash on...well, just about anyone.  The guy that got the party killed.  The camper that keeps killing her.  The one that steals her kills.  The teammate that ruined her perfect shot -- even the tank she was healing who moved out of range.  But give her a brief break after a fight and she will settle down again.

Emma will play any class, but tends to favor melee DPS fighters and ranged DPS casters when playing alone.  However, because she is very familiar with the shortcomings of MMOs, she knows that a healer and support caster will rarely lack for willing companions in dungeon runs, and these are the areas she chose to have Elian focus on.

B A C K G R O U N DEmma's life has been nothing particularly exceptional.  She grew up in midwest America, the elder of two siblings from an upper middle class family where affording the latest game system was never much of an issue.  Both her parents had jobs dealing with computers, and Emma entered the world of the internet and video games young.  She'd try just about anything, but has always gravitated toward puzzle games, rpgs, and open-world games.  With a network of fellow gamers that spans the globe, it was no surprise that she heard about Pariah very early on.  She had to tighten her budget and do some saving, since dance instructors don't exactly make a ton of money, but it was more than worth it when she first entered the world of Pariah.

A T T R I B U T E S

R O L Ecaster (primarily healer and support)

A F F I L A T I O NTyhrien

P R O F E S S I O Nhealer, dancer

W E A P O N   O F   C H O I C EButterfly's Wings - Rather unconventional implements, the Butterfly's Wings are deadly weapons masquerading as ornate, ornamental fans.  The ribs are quite sturdy, made of metal with wooden handles and extending beyond the dark fabric of the fans themselves.  Those tips are sharpened, as well as the leading edges of the outermost ribs, designed to slice and stab as effectively as long knives.  Each fan can open as far as a hundred and eighty degrees, revealing a bright swirl of butterflies on the fabric, and she can lock the fans in any position, to keep them from collapsing on impact when this is not desired.  The hingepoint of each fan consists of a large gemstone, a magical focus allowing the wielder to cast much like with a wand or a mage's staff.

B E N C H M A R K SPhysical
Healer - Elian specializes in magic with healing properties, whether for a single person or for a group.  Because she's cast so many of them, the healing effects of her spells are improved, and she is better at casting them.

Support Caster - The vast majority of Elian's participation in combat is as a support caster.  Because of her experience, she has excellent endurance when it comes to casting.

Dancer's Grace - Elian is a dancer, like her player, and she makes use of these skills even when not dancing.  Between practicing routines and pushing herself in exploration, Elian is flexible and acrobatic.  Her balance in particular is superb, and she can keep her footing and land jumps even on difficult terrain.

Agility - Before Elian started partying up regularly, and before she'd developed her skills as a mage, she employed a nimble in-and-out fighting style.  She still relies on her agility to react to threats and make herself a more difficult target, as well as for getting past obstacles in her explorations.  As a result, Elian is highly agile, able to get close and then fall back, and changing directions easily.

Saw It Coming - Elian relies mostly on grace and agility, trying to avoid taking damage as much as she can -- particularly since if she goes down, there's usually no one to come to the rescue.  Practice anticipating and avoiding has left her better able to identify attacks that will hurt her in time to cast a counter spell or get the heck out of the way.

Mental
Battlefield Awareness - Healers are responsible for keeping people alive, and this means knowing when they need help.  Elian has done her best to consistently track her partymates and healing them when they need it, and now she has a general though vague awareness of who is in trouble, and how badly.

Danger Assessment - A squishy healer does not last long if she doesn't know how to avoid danger.  Experience (and a number of early deaths) have taught Elian how to recognize unsafe terrain and places where unpleasant things might lurk, and now she is much better at noticing such things.

Identify Monster - Emma enjoys the tactical aspects of combat, and she believes that is important to know your enemy.  To this end, she's made an effort to remember the appearance and location of various foes, and what sort of abilities they used.  Upon reaching a town, she would look up the things she'd encountered to learn more about them.  Her dedication and research have paid off, and now in addition to knowing almost all of the ones she's encountered, there is a small chance that Elian has skimmed over the entry for a monster that she has never encountered herself and knows a bit about it and what it is capable of.

Enemy Assessment - If she identifies an opponent, she may know this automatically, particularly for common foes.  For others, Elian tries to keep track of what works and what doesn't, and she thus has some skill identifying weak points and what kinds of attacks are effective based on the ones tried.  Once she has, she is highly likely to retain that information for future reference.

Pathfinder - With her love of exploration and taking the road less travelled, Elian has honed her pathfinding skills.  She is quite good at figuring out ways to get somewhere, including less conventional routes.

R O U G H   V I R T U A L   H I S T O R YElian has been in Pariah since near the beginning, though she spent a good amount of time getting used to an entirely new system, and then playing with it.  For Emma, the new system was almost counter-intuitive, given that she expected it to function like...well, a game.  However, once she got the hang of it she immediately set off to see what she could do with it.  A lot of time was spent exploring, whether by herself or with a party.  A lot of solo explorations ended in death.  Embarrassingly many, actually.  While Emma is a dancer, she is not a fighter, and the lack of HUD and various other supposedly necessary weasels of gaming made things harder.  She still /likes/ solo exploration, as she does in just about any game, particularly the open-world ones, but Emma's learned that Elian's far better off travelling with a group in many cases.  There was some benefit to all the dying, and it takes the form of Elian being able to actually land hits in melee combat and then get out of range.  She can even do respectable damage, for a character that isn't offensively oriented.

To the community of Pariah as a whole, Elian is known as a reliable healer who will do everything she can to take care of her party.  She's known to be adventurous and not afraid of a challenge.  She is, however, also known to be a real firecracker, between her habit of shouting profanity at friend and foe alike, as well as her low tolerance for fools.  One rather interesting rumor says that after a particularly close call, the feisty healer ressed, killed, and then reressed her party's DPS archer multiple times in a row, since he'd drawn aggro on not only the mobs they were fighting but several more beside, and then failed to back off when he was told he was making a mess of things.  The rumor isn't true, of course.  Elian only killed him once.  And she had help.

@Gowi updated.  Doing minor formatting edits and pickinba color now~

Color will probabkprobabky change once I can figuire hex codes after gwttinoff work.  But it'll be something close to golden.

EDIT: For those that care, Emma/Elian is FFCC55

shylarah Member

the crazy one

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