Welcome to Gaia! ::

10/1/2007 - Quest thread created, currently under construction
10/2/2007 - Finished tweaking descriptions
10/5/2007 - New Fel Essence Concepts added
10/9/2007 - Added new guardian story! Placating Princesses
11/26/2007 - New Art of Harley. Thank you Mouse!
12/28/2009 - Revamp of the guardian concept heart

The Soul: Harlequin

Harlequin is not just a certain mask or pattern of clothes, he is the historical Hellquin, a demon emissary from Hell sent to earth and often a member of the Wild Hunt in the tales of Europe. A wicked tricksy creature, he became a popular servant character in the Venetian Commedia dell'arte, passionate plays of love and folly usually performed on the streets during the Carnival.

In the Commedia dell'arte, Harlequin became a bit of a bumbling fool with an appetite for the pleasures of food and love, and an extremely agile gymnastic streak. But beneath his foolish exterior lay the wickedly sharp wit of a trickster who delights in causing chaos among his fellow characters.

In Venice, a city of sin and decadence, the mask was more than just a costume. The men and women of the city wore masks and disguises at all times of the year, dating back to the early 1400s. By putting on a mask, a person transformed himself into someone else, slipping into another's being that allowed himself to induge in taboo, illict love, or illegal acts with the guarantee of anonymity. The rich could live as the unrestrained poor, and the poor could masquerade as the wealthy nobles.

Masks were not just for secrecy, they held the soul and spirit of what they represent, allowing the wearer to become someone new. In a shop of masks and and puppets, the ancient souls of gods and demons are bound into their earthly shapes, awaiting a chance to live during Carnival.

The Guardian
NAME: Connor O'Ryan
GENDER: Male
RACE: Deer fey
AGE: Looks in his 30s
OCCUPATION: Ex-Army, currently dealing with being a vet and looking for work.
HEIGHT:6'1"
EYES: Pale green
HAIR: Short messy blond, very casual

Physical Description: Conner's body is a complete mess. His jobs tend to be very physical and with a risk of violence that has left him scarred and broken over the years. He is badly scarred from burns across most of his body and lost an eye while injured in the military. He has no piercings or tattoos, but he has a small cursed seal written into the skin above his heart.

CLOTHES: Modern and casual. Jeans and long sleeved t-shirts. He likes graphic type shirts and button downs to class it up a bit. He also wears an eye patch or a bandanna to cover his ruined eye.

PERSONALITY : Connor is always smiling and joking, even when something bothers him. He doesn't like letting on when he's upset. He's very self deprecating and outgoing with a love of terrible B movies, designer fashion shows, and high quality DJ music. Since his latest tour of action, he's been a little more subdued than normal, perhaps more shaken then he'd like to admit.

HISTORY: Connor was cursed at a young age to "never have luck in love." It sealed any supernatural abilities he may have had except for longevity and a slightly faster rate of healing, and earned him an exile from his home. It forced him to live as a human and over the years, he's completely assimilated into Gaia's human population. He'd rather be considered a human than discussing any racial differences. Even with a curse, he's never really given up on love, pouring everything he's got into every relationship and always ending up bruised. He always seems to be looking for that most basic thing, an actual connection with another being.

He's had a string of jobs over the years, mostly in areas where he could help people: police officer, firefighter, military, etc. After his latest failure in love left him brittle and somewhat broken, he went back into the military to what he knew, trying to get a little discipline and direction in his life. A year or so in, a roadside bomb killed several members of his unit and Conner was shipped home after suffering severe burns across his body and losing his left eye in the explosion. He's recently back in Gaia, trying to readjust to civilian life.

Name: Silver Vermouth
Age: 25
DOB: 5/15/1984
Gender: Female
Location - Washington, DC USA
Date joined Gaia: February 2004

Hello all, I thought I'd give you a little introduction to me since I haven't had the pleasure of meeting everyone in the lab yet. ^_^ I am an active member of Gaia with an unhealthy love of the towns. I love to role play, but a lack of literate and creative stories have mostly driven me from the forums. Finding a place like the lab is a bit of a miracle, and I'd love to be a part of such a wonderful community of skilled and interesting role players! <3

I am currently living in Washington, DC and finished up my Masters degree in 2008. I studied the new, infectious diseases and lovely wiggly parasites coming out of Asia, especially China. I will admit to being a bit of a Sinophile, and I've spend some time both studying and traveling around that country.

I will also admit to being...well...a nerd. Flat out can't deny it. I do have a 6ft tall cardboard cut out of Boba Fett in my living room at home and can fire back Star Trek trivia as long as I don't face any serious trekkies not to mention an unhealthy adoration of Doctor Who (oh 10!). XD I have an addiction to Art Nouveau, especially the works of Alphonse Mucha, good books like the Anita Blake vampire series, an interest in religion, mythology, and folktale, an enormous collection of gothic Scented Oils, love for Broadway, and an adoration for pearls.

Open for critique! <3

^^ Thank you very much.

XD Thank you very much!