There was a figure in the overgrown garden, tall and slender, lithe and lean. Phantom-like, they wandered beneath the purple wisteria, that fragrant sweet scent clinging to their gold-flecked cloak. They were too pretty to be handsome, too handsome to be pretty, cheekbones like a slanting cliff, eyes like an angry pool. Under their breath, they spoke in tones of silver, though no one listened but the crows and the breeze and the starlet ivy because all the children were indoors. The figure spoke of the children, locks of ebony lashing across their strawberry lips at the urgency of the Northwind (strange indeed, as such a silly thing as North did not exist here in Eladon).
"They're safe here," they said, bending to smell a rose that grew in sunset hues. "Nothing can enter without our say, not even the Expiravit. The children are happy here, more importantly, I would say."
The figure's face went briefly blank, their hand slipping down the flower's dark stem to graze across the sharp thorns. A ruby bead of blood slipped from the tip of their long finger, spreading into a unique stain as it hit the lace at their wrist. The figure sighed. "You're complacent. You lack perspective. You've forgotten what it feels like to be hunted - the children remember. I remember."
Their full lips pulled into a frown. "So dramatic, Tierney."
The frown slipped into an unbalanced smile. "Don't worry, brother Dashiell, dear. I'll remain vigilant enough for the both of us, as I always have. We'll guide the children, train them, and," The smile faltered, a storm brewing in their dark-blue eyes, "It will be enough. It will have to be."
So, that was the little intro - I hope you liked it! I know it was short, but how I am supposed to write something of substantial length when I'm missing half my cast? Yes, that's right…this is a SYOC. For those you who may be new to this game, that means submit your own/original character.
Now, on to the things you need to know to survive in this word!
This is a fantasy/magical/mythological alternate universe to our own. The time period is modern, but a specific year is probably not going to be mentioned. Mages exist. They're born like everyone else, except they rarely make to adulthood; heck, they rarely make it to adolescence. Why?
Because they're hunted, or rather haunted. On the day a mage is born, something else comes into the world with them. These dark, incorporeal beings are known as Expiravit (the Latin word for ghost); an Expiravit is known as a mage's umbra - their shadow self (they take the form of what the adult mage is going to look like). Their goal is to consume their mage, to literally absorb them and their magical energy. This is the only way an Expiravit can overcome their incorporeal state and fully flesh into existence in the "real" world. These phantom feeders hail from the shadowy realm of Somnum, which is - in simple terms - another dimension.
The only way a mage could survive was to spend their life running, living in terror, casting protection spells, dwelling in sacred places - that was before Eladon. Like Somnum, Eladon is a "pocket" dimension. It was created by a powerful mage named Eladonia Bloodworth whose dream was to protect all mages. Because of her, there now exists a safe place for mages - a sanctuary. No Expiravit, no dark beings, can get into Eladon. But no great feat comes without cost, and the price of her creation was her life. Eladonia was consumed by her spell; it tore apart her very being, body, mind, and soul.
Her children, Lady and Lord Bloodworth, attempt to carry on her selfless tradition by opening Bloodworth Manor to all displaced mage children, which is where your submissions come in. They magically scour the globe, trying to find the young mages before it's too late.
Now, the form! Please, if you will be so kind, submit them by PM only and fill out every section to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences in most parts unless it's appropriate not to do so. If you have any questions at all about anything, don't hesitate to ask me. I want to be involved with everyone whose character I accept. Detailed and thoughtful forms get accepted. I want unique, individualistic, diverse characters - go crazy! And please, for Bob's sake, give them flaws! Don't be afraid to send me "bad" people; bad guys/gals are fun, and I like them. I want depth, I want realism, I want people I'll have fun writing.
* means optional.
~FORM~
BASIC:
- Full name (first, middle, and last)
- Gender
- Nicknames*
- Birthday (year is not needed)
- Age (notice, this story is rated M, so let's try to keep everyone 14 and older, for violence reasons, and preferably 19 being the eldest)
- Place of Birth (the "real" world is virtually the same as ours, plus magic)
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:
- Height
- Weight
- Build/Body type
- Hair color
- Hair texture
- Eye color
- Eye shape
- Distinguishing facial features (nose, mouth, cheeks, etc.)
- Skin color
- Race/Ethnicity
- Scars*
- Birthmarks* (freckles count too)
- Physical handicaps*
- Type of "real world" clothes they wear
PERSONALITY:
- Describe their overall personality
- Myers-Briggs personality type (I recommend 16 personalities . com; all you have to do is take the test like your character is answering)
- Fatal Flaw
- Big fears
- Secrets*
- Pet peeves
- Quirks/Habits
- Quotes they would say (at least four, please)
FRIENDS AND FAMILY:
- How big is their immediate family
- Describe their parents/guardians (include their relationship with parents/guardians)
- Describe their siblings (include relationship with siblings, if they have any siblings)
- How many friends do they have
- Describe their best friend
- Do they have a pet or pets?
- Describe pet(s) (that is, if they even have a pet)
DAILY LIFE AND PAST:
- Are they organized or is their room cluttered
- What are their eating habits (sweet tooth, junk food, vegetarian, vegan, strict diet, etc)
- Allergies*
- What is the first thing they do in the morning
- What is the last thing they do at night
- Personal History/Backstory (What was their life like before Bloodworth Manor, how did they react when they were contacted by the Bloodworths, etc.)
LOVE:
- Do they believe in love at first sight
- Are they in a relationship
- Are they open to a relationship
- What is their sexuality
- Are they a virgin
- Have they ever been in love
- Have they ever had a broken heart
- Have they ever broke any else's heart
- What do they look for in a potential partner
- What is their outlook on love
- What is their outlook on marriage
- What is their outlook on starting a family
MAGICAL:
- Do they like being a mage
- Their opinions on magic
- Their opinions on Expiravit
- Their first impression of the strange Bloodworths
- How powerful of a mage are they (Let's not get too narcissistic here, okay?)
- Any specific magical areas where they excel (examples: divination, alchemy, enchanting, casting, aura reading, etc, etc.)
- How reliant are they on magic (examples: they never use it, try to use it as little as possible, or they use it for everything, even brushing their teeth)
AUTHOR QUESTIONS:
- Will you read and review (hint hint, this is important)
- Will you stay involved in the story, answering pms and such
- Will you reach out to me if you feel as if I am not doing your character justice
- Will you be okay if something really bad happens to your character (death, disfigurement, something worse)
- Is there anything you really feel I should know about your character
