@Dynamo Frokane I'll repeat something the GM said to me when I submitted my Animals/Plants character in the interest check thread: You do not control the animals, you understand their speech and can talk to them.
And to repeat another thing from the interest check, I'll be moving Sir Isaac over here once I'm done fluffing up the Earth/Stone part of his sheet. I've done a bit, but I need sleep so I'm not half asleep while playing with strong acids and bases tomorrow morning.
@Scrapula How long should I wait before I ignore @Rick Sanchez so we can move on? I want to give the benefit of the doubt, but I've seen him viewing the thread since my post and we've had nothing in three days. If he returns we can say he was in a different hallway or something.
I'm willing to wait longer, but I'm getting kinda antsy at present.
My boss told me to watch a security program for a while, which translates to "goof off online and glance at the server monitor every minute or two". Here's Animals/Plants expanded. I'd like your opinion before I do the same to Earth/Stone.
It began with his master's pet dog. The first time it spoke and he heard it, he thought he'd gone loony. The dog was known for being friendly to the shop's customers, greeting them with cheerful barks as they entered. However, that day, Sir Isaac heard only the coarsest of profane terms leave its mouth. For years this dog had been insulting customers, and they'd happily greeted it with treats and friendly pats. Surely Sir Isaac must have been placed under a terrible curse!
Slowly, he began to understand other animals and came to understand something: Many pets were horrible to their owners. They knew they could get away with anything and be rewarded in the end, and so took pleasure in throwing the vilest insults they could at their owners. Where multiple pets were involved, they'd have "conversations" where they tried to outdo each other's insults. The knowledge was jarring to Sir Isaac - though he was a party to thieves, pirates, and smugglers, he had yet to meet any who took such pleasure in negativity. He became certain in that year that he had been cursed.
That idea quickly shattered while traveling through a forest to meet with a long-distance client. The calls of birds, squirrels, and insects filled his ears with the (relative) goodness of wild animals. Enchanted by the newfound beauty of their songs, Sir Isaac found his journey through the woods to be far more pleasant than usual - until a wolf howled. Startled, he sat bolt upright. Being able to understand the wolf's howl, he initially thought they were under attack by bandits - after all, the wolf had called that the "target" was surrounded. Nobody else in the caravan seemed to have heard the "bandit" shout, and the group continued forward. When they rounded a bend, Sir Isaac saw what had been - a pack of wolves had taken down a large buck and were taking the catch off the path.
As time went on, Sir Isaac began to learn from the calls of the wild animals. He learned much of hunting strategies from the howls of wolves. He learned how to avoid predators from the calls of fleeing prey. He learned the locations of poisonous plants, nutritious leaves, and fresh sources of water. By putting what he learned into practice, he quickly became the most well-respected gatherer of wild herbs and spices in Jeorvo. His flora-based alchemical studies flourished with the availability of fresh ingredients, and his alchemical business began in earnest.
That was not all that Sir Isaac learned to use his power for. He began approaching animals, starting with the smallest and working his way up, and starting conversations. At first he wanted to squeeze information out of them, but soon came to realize he could use the animals as workers. By "paying" them with deeds simple for humans but quite difficult for animals, he could earn their favor. By creating a predator-resistant door for rabbit dens, he increased his herb supply dramatically. By purchasing cows and giving them to wolves, he ensured that the black market's caravans would gain safe passage through the forests.
Finally, Sir Isaac learned to play inter-species politics in his favor. Snakes, as it turns out, are hunted by a number of species that humans like to keep as unique pets or hunt for exquisite meats or furs. Thus, snakes would often complain of species like foxes, hawks, raccoons, and boars in the area. Sir Isaac could ask where he should avoid in order to not run into such creatures and be led practically to the animals' front doors. He quickly turned this to his favor in business, selling furs, rare pets, and fresh meats through the black market's many fronts and turning a pretty profit.
EDIT: I'd also like to know about the animals in the setting a bit. Are they able to understand humans by default, or do they need to be speaking to the Animals elementos or have been around humans a long time?
@Baklava I left that section rather terse because I just wanted to give a general idea, not each and every detail. I felt it would be sort of a lost effort, as one of the two would be cast out in the end. That's not to say I haven't been pondering where each would take Sir Isaac uniquely. I intend to greatly expand the section once his elementos had been chosen, but I'll flesh them out a bit further once I find myself a bit of time for creative writing. That'll be in anywhere from a couple hours to a day or two, though.
Please also keep in mind (and this is for everyone) that the ability to communicate with animals is not akin to the ability to control them. While I can see Isaac as being a very persuasive person, he might have a difficult time convincing rare animals to forsake a life of freedom for one inside a cage or enclosure (unless he were to trick them, in which case I would be interested to hear more about why he may not be the kind of person to feel sympathetic to their cause-- is he one to befriend animals or manipulate them?).
This is actually one of the things I had thought about in detail. The animal world is not all rainbows and gumdrops - certain animals prey on other animals. Naturally, some animals would be willing to help another dispose of their natural enemies, be they in competition for the same prey or their predators. In the same vein, should one get close to a predator, the predator might be willing to impart some tips on how to hunt for their prey. Personally, I'd ask a snake how to find a bird's nest.
Sucks for anyone who might've wanted to snatch the slot, new or old, eh?
Give me a break, it's called courtesy.
I think if anyone new wanted to join, they would have done so by now. Besides, I was in a very inspired mood, so I took advantage. You may or may not agree, but what's done is done. ^^
I was considering returning. Had a character idea for that slot and everything. Really liked the character, too.
I am truly soooooo glad you're still coGM. It's saved me a lot of my valuable free time.
@Scrapula@Zombehs The visions of the city come after the youngest turns 17, while the powers come to each individually when the person themself turns 17.
@McHaggis I'll try to reword it so it's a little more clear, but yes. As soon as any one of them turned 17, they're powers kicked in. This is mainly to add some diversity of skill amongst the group. Obviously, the older the character the more experienced they are with their abilities and vice versa.
I've gone with a somewhat different approach to my character's audition. He's auditioning for both the Animals/Plants and the Earth/Stone elementos. No, I don't want him to have both; I intend for him to end up with one that conflicts least with the other auditions and/or that you find most fitting of him. Text in lime indicates something reliant on the elementos he is chose for.
Without further ado, I present to you Sir Isaac Dorovich.
Name: Sir Isaac Dorovich
Element: Animals/Plants OR Earth/Stone
Age: 23
Race: Human, with a bit of human blood mixed in on his mother's side. Some call him a snake.
Gender: Male
Appearance: As a man from the higher classes of the world, Sir Isaac carries himself with pride, standing at his full height of 6'2" with no slouch in his posture. His wavy, prematurely greyed hair is kept neat yet long, with the bangs kept to the sides to frame his facial features. His paler-than-normal complexion emphasize his piercing golden eyes, which reflect his lust for power and wealth. His dainty, pointed nose and thin lips belie his noble heritage.
Also speaking of his noble heritage are his clothes. Sewn of fine silks and linings by one of the finest tailors in Coake, the dark colors of his outfit contrast beautifully with his skin and hair. His coat is decorated with golden lining and embroidery, removing any doubt of Isaac's supposed standing among the classes of Coake. The dark grey silken robe worn beneath that merely serves to hide whether he is wearing the muffled chainmail he uses for protection on excursions. Finally, his black trousers are tucked neatly into his tall and tough black leather boots, which are lined with golden silks themselves. Feature changes if Animals/Plants: Eyes are snakelike - vertically slitted and solid gold elsewhere.
Nature: Sir Isaac is every bit the shrewd businessman that a black market salesman needs to be. He is known throughout the "underworld" for his reliability and skill. He has a rebellious streak, which is what led him to his current profession. Some may find his matter-of-fact, all-business manner when working to be cold or even abrasive, though to him he's merely being "detached". Those who have gotten onto his bad side find he is quick to take up his trusty lance. However...
A few mannerisms remain from the days of his high-class upbringing. He conducts himself with an air of elegance that makes him stand out from those outside the inner district. Those lucky enough to be on good terms with him find he's quite the pacifist, as he frequently moans about times he is forced to use force. So long as he's given the respect he believes he deserves, he is happy to return the favor.
Backstory: Sir Isaac was born to a wealthy noble family in the city of Jeorvo. His family spared no expense in his education, sending him to the college in Jeorva as soon as he was old enough to attend. There he learned a great many truths of the world, though none were as valuable in his mind as those he learned in alchemical classes. Something just seemed to click for him, and both he and his teachers were startled by his aptitude for the subject. The professors were certain that Isaac had a bright future ahead of him.
However, the future was not so kind. During Sir Isaac's fourteenth year of life, disaster struck the Dorovich clan. Like the other wealthy families of Jeorvo, Sir Isaac's parents decided to move the family's home from Jeorvo to Frel while Sir Isaac studied at college. During the journey, they were accosted by a group bandits that quickly disposed of the hired bodyguards and Sir Isaac's parents, then looted their fortune from the caravan. When Sir Isaac received the news, he was stricken; his whole life had been shattered in a nightmare of brutality. His professors offered to let him study for a year free, but Sir Isaac chose to head home and see what he could salvage of his family's wealth.
When he arrived in his home he found it being burglarized. Isaac, then a man of pure scholarship, had no way to defend himself from their blades nor stop them from taking what they wanted. Thus, he uttered four words that changed his life forever: "Let me join you." The group, surprised, took him in when he told his story. It turned out that the group was part of a crime syndicate which ran a sort of black market in the city, procuring valuables and contraband for their clients. They taught him the ins and outs of the job from the ground up, taking him with them as they stole everything from jewels to rare animal eggs. At age 16 the merchant he procured goods for began to teach him the skills needed for fencing them on the black market proper, such as finding clients, setting up trade locations, and negotiation tactics.
When Sir Isaac turned 17, he awoke to his power. General details in the hiders below. A more specific explanation will be added when Sir Isaac's elementos power is determined.
Sir Isaac uses animals to help forage for alchemical materials, beginning his alchemical business as a front to his black market shop. He also uses it to help procure rare "pets" for clients.
Sir Isaac shifts the earth to create tunnels for the black market, and to enter unsuspecting basements without a trace. He also finds success panning for precious metals, both for alchemy and sale to jewelers.
By age 21, Sir Isaac had a business in the black market, handling both the procurement and sale of goods himself. He had built a strong name for himself with his service guarantee and results. Only one of his orders ever went unfulfilled, and that due to special circumstances. A client approached him and requested a peculiar stone and a number of research journals find their way out of the possession of an old man deep in the third district and into the client's hands. Sir Isaac agreed (after more than doubling the client's price) and began his work as normal.
In the old man's home, things quickly became paranormal. The old man was bedridden when Sir Isaac arrived and held the stone in his hands. After a short conversation, the man requested that Sir Isaac destroy the stone and protect the research from thieves, not realizing why Sir Isaac had visited, then promptly died of old age. Upon reading the research, Sir Isaac decided that it would be far more valuable to do as the man had requested, destroying the stone and keeping the research. He justified the action through his client's mistake: the client attempted to short-change Sir Isaac, resulting in the black market itself voiding the transaction and silencing the client.
Contained within the journals was a plethora of information on alchemy. The knowledge contained in the pages was far beyond anything he'd learned at the college in Jeorva. By incorporating them into his alchemical front business, he began to turn enough profit to lessen his black market dealings. He does, however, maintain a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the black market that spared his life and helped him find his new calling: to rebuild his family's greatness.
Goal(s): As a former member of the nobility, Sir Isaac seeks only to find his way back into the upper echelons of society. He intends to reach this end by whatever means he finds necessary, up to and including dethroning a king or two. Of course, as a businessman, he would greatly prefer negotiation over the use of force. Inventory:
Alchemical Supplies
Mortar and Pestle
Glass Jars w/ Labels
Apron, Gloves, and Eye Shield
A small supply of alchemical ingredients
Tinderbox
Research Journals
Lance (Bei)
Muffled Chainmail
An assortment of pre-prepared poisons and antidotes
Now well and truly lost within the corridors of the prison, Aoi had about as much chance of finding her way back to the office she'd awoken in as she had of finding an exit. She'd run past the cafeteria's doors twice, not once so much as glancing in, and had come to the conclusion that the prison was, in fact, a labyrinth. Back home she'd found herself in many such places, as post-apocalyptic office buildings weren't very easy to navigate.
As she prepared to execute her tried and tested method of escape - cutting through walls until she was freed - there came a clanging from down the hallway. She hefted her God Arc into position for a clean swing, then began to approach the source of the noise cautiously.
Before she'd made it halfway down the hall, the door from which the sound emanated crashed open, unceremoniously releasing a teen from within. As the boy flailed around for balance, Aoi confirmed that he was, in fact, human. He smelled human enough, though he was quite a bit greasier than any she'd smelled before. He looked a bit different from the humans she'd seen as well, but as he was the right size and general shape, she was convinced he was human.
Aoi lowered her God Arc and finally approached the boy openly. "So, uh, any idea where we are?" @Rick Sanchez
