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 Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:08 pm
Quester Info Username: Xasanik First timer (y/n): Yes Character's name: Tobias Long, aka: Slim, Jackrabbit Slim Creature: Jackalope-Man Category: Hybrid Elemental type: Mind, Space, Chaos
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:14 pm
~Personal History~
Character Name(s): Tobias Long, AKA: Slim, Jackrabbit Slim
Gender: Male
Character Age: 59
Childhood Home: Small ranch in Nevada
Home Territory: Back Country of Nevada/Las Vegas/New Orleans Height: 6'4" Weight: 167 lbs Eye Color: Stone Blue Hair Color: Peppered Steel Gray Physical Build: Slim Physical Description: Tall, dark, and ruggedly handsome seems to best describe this walking relic of times past. Not because he is old in mind, but more specifically because of his look and mannerisms. He carries himself with a type of quiet pride, with a look on his rough hewn face like he gets a joke no one else does. More often than not, his cold blue eyes are hidden under the shadow of his black wide brimmed hat while only a quirky sort of smile peeks from behind a large handlebar mustache. His dress code usually consists of black dress pants, vest, and suit jacket, as well as a white dress shirt and a black leather bolo tie with the red diamond symbol as an emblem. Also, he carries around with him a black cane topped with the silver head of a jackrabbit. Last but not least: he wears his favorite pair of alligator skin boots with their worn down bootheels. Of course, this is only when he's playing poker. During his down-time, Tobias sticks with a pair of blue-jeans and a casual light colored shirt. Also, it is during these times that Tobias no longer tries to cover up his obvious limp. Instead of the silver topped cane, he uses a more practical wooden one. Special Notes: I always feel it's good if other people have a firm picture in mind of another person's character, which is why I geared Tobias' appearance toward the actor, Sam Elliot. Here's a few reference pics: 12Personal Information/History/Background: Born in 1949, Tobias was ten years old when the Vietnam War began. For the most part, it didn't concern him. He was content to work on his father's ranch since he was still young. He would have stayed on that ranch, too if he had any say in the matter. His parents though wanted their eldest son to get a proper education and scraped together every penny in order to pay for his first semester's tuition at Tulane University in New Orleans. He made good on their money for that first semester, getting straight A's. He even earned enough money himself to get that second semester's tuition. However, during this time he was introduced to his greatest love, and his greatest vice: gambling. More specifically, poker. It wasn't that he was bad, or that he didn't know when to cash out that ultimately led to his downfall. No, it was that he was too good. He had a natural knack for the odds, he could see the angles, and he was hard pressed to find a game where he would lose. It was this natural skill which told him he would make his living outside of the learning institutions. He was nineteen years old. The year was the end of 1968. And he was heading to Vegas. A myriad of ups and downs followed soon after he moved out to Las Vegas. For a while, he thought he could actually make his fortune out there. It was with a high-stakes game...every penny he had went into buying in...and he lost in the first round. It was luck, pure and simple, and he was on the wrong end of the spectrum. It was the first few days of 1970 when he crawled back home. It took two weeks for his father to speak to him again, and the circumstances around that talk changed Tobais' life forever. His father came up to him, and with a gruff voice hinted at with sadness he told his son, "Y'got a letter." It was from the Selective Service System. Tobias had been drafted. He spent six years in that hell hole, he doesn't like to talk about it much. After the war, Tobias was never really able to get back on his feet. One part of this had to do with the bullet lodged in his leg and the multiple surgeries needed thereafter, and the other had to do with the chunk of his life he left behind in a jungle half a world away. His father had a stroke and died while Tobias was over seas, and by the time he got back his younger brother had already taken over the ranch. Eli had always resented the fact that his older brother was the only one with the chance to go to college, and that he pissed it away on gambling. Not to completely turn his back on family, Eli let Tobias work for him...but never let him rise higher than ranch hand. He just didn't trust his older brother. Tobias knew his brother's feelings and soon went out on his own. There was little contact with the rest of his family thereafter; Tobias felt he deserved the lonely life that had been dealt him. Since that time he had been married twice, divorced twice, has a son who won't talk to him...and now spends his remaining days living in Las Vegas, trying to make it big in the poker industry. Special Note: How he got his name His father called him Slim since he was a boy, and that's how he introduces himself more often than not. This caught on during his time in Vietnam. But, since he was also known for almost always talking about hunting jackrabbits as a kid back in Nevada, they naturally started calling him Jackrabbit Slim. How he got his Pukka:It was a familiar scene...Tobias was down on his luck and trying to make some quick cash hustling people in a backwaters bar in Nevada. He normally wouldn't have allowed the stranger to offer a tarnished silver rabbit's foot of sorts as collateral...but he was really down on his luck...and he really needed the money. And the rest, they say, is history. Special Skills: -Horse and Livestock Handling -Basic Farm Maintenance -(not that it would be applicable here) M16 training -Bow Hunting -Tracking -Bulldog Marine Training -Gambling -Knows a little about how to play the acoustic guitar -Lock picking (there's a stretch of his life he isn't too proud of)
Character's Career: Professional Gambler. Fav. Saying/Quote: "Fate...a fickle b***h if there ever was one." Preferred Food: liquid and alcoholic Vices: Smoking, Liquor, Gambling. Elements:-Mind: To go far in poker, you must be able to read your opponents as well as being able to think on your feet in light of this. Tobias has a natural talent for this; and no matter what is going on, he finds himself hard-pressed to turn it off. -Space: As above, gambling is all about knowing the odds and how your hand fits in with the rest of the deck. Tobias bases his life around knowing how he fits into it...which could be why he never went far. He has a natural talent to solving problems, but hardly ever uses this ability in anything other than gambling situations. -Chaos: Ever since he had his mind-shattering loss in Las Vegas, losing every penny he had saved, Tobias never discounts chance. Now, no matter how well he may know a situation, Tobias knows that Lady Luck is always watching over his shoulder with her sister, Fate. Since there was no Luck or fate category, I feel that Chaos is the next best element that would fit Slim the best. Although he himself is a rather methodical person, Chaos is still a large part of his personality. He does not personify Chaos per se...no, he is dominated by it. No matter how well he tries to control the odds through his Space and Mind characteristics, he will always have to deal with Chaos in his life. So, in essence, Tobias is Chaos in his subconscious, and Space and Mind in his waking life. Hope that helps to clarify it a bit.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:15 pm
~The Jackalope~ Wiki EntryBecause of the rather vague and oftentimes conflicting stories surrounding the jackalope, I have deemed it necessary to take a rather liberal view on the beastie. Some local legends claim that the Jackalope is actually bad luck incarnate. The beast spends days following after someone lost in their area, attracting horrible bad luck to the person until he eventually is either too weak to go on or meets his demise. In either case, the person usually ends up in the belly of this beast. Underneath its relatively cute exterior lies rows of jaggedly sharp teeth and a vicious streak a mile wide. Reference Pics: 1234Special Note Behind the Myth: This version of the Jackalope dates back to the mid 1800's when settlers were heading across North America to live in the west. More often than not, a Jackalope was blamed whenever a wagon train fell upon a spot of bad luck. There is another version of the myth which was popular among the Native Americans of the midwest. This one said that it was a Jackalope-man that preyed upon those foolish enough to go out into the desert alone. He was said to take the form of a lone, hulking, traveler in the desert, who's features were hidden by the darkness of a desert night as well as a collection of baggy and concealing traveler's garb. Local legend claims that if you invite this Jackalope-man to your campfire, it marks the beginning of a streak of bad luck that is more often than not deadly. Still though, pioneers welcomed the Jackalope-man to their campfire, for he brought tantalizing tales of wealth and gold in desolate areas. It is for this reason that the Native American mothers in the mid-west always warned those passing through not to trust a lone traveler bringing tales of fortune, for it may be the Jackalope-man who is looking for his next meal. Of course, it is possible that a few of these myths were confused with Native American worship of the spirits, as well as more than a few old wive's tales that warn against trusting other travelers in the desert...but one can never know for sure. Slim embodies the spirit of the Jackalope due to his life's inalienable connection to luck. Like the Jackalope, whether or not he eats at night largely depends on his skill in manipulating luck. At first in his life, he was a part of the wagon train in the desert, welcoming the Jackalope-man to his campfire with promises of glittering fortune on the horizon. Later on in life though, after his stint in Vietnam, his encounter with the luck of the Jackalope forced him to become the Jackalope himself, living his life feeding off of other people's bad luck. Even the way he dresses embodies the Jackalope. Like the Jackalope-man who uses the darkness of a desert night as well as baggy clothing to conceal his bestial nature, Slim dresses in a flashy Cowboy garb to conceal his true nature as a desperate hustler.
Some more notes about the Jackalope-man:The Jackalope-man conceals his true nature behind bulky garb and the darkness of night for a reason: he looks anything but human. Although he has the ability to walk on his hind legs, the Jackalope-man can be comfortable on all fours as well. Physically, he looks like a hulking anthropomorphic Jackalope (Large Jackrabbit with horns). However, due to the more sinister nature of this myth, the Jackalope-man's appearance is reflected when stories are told about him. The Jackalope-man is said to be horribly emaciated underneath the traveler's garb to the point of looking almost like a dried-out corpse, with eyes as black as the devil's own. Although he still keeps the characteristic buck tooth look of his smaller brethren, the rest of the Jackalope-man's jaw is lined with the Cheshire cat's razor maw. This unsettling grin is almost constant on the beast's face. Finally, the Jackalope-man is said to more often than not have the horns of a ram or a goat rather than the many pronged antlers of a normal Jackalope.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:48 pm
~Character Art~ Hopefully some to come
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:49 pm
~Updates~ 3 February 2008-Quest Opens 4 February 2008-Updated info on the Jackalope 5 February 2008-Updated character page with information regarding his elements 7 February 2008-Updated list of skills 10 February 2008-Updated list of skills
11 February 2008-Updated Jackalope information 10 March 2008-Updated Elements area as well as added a bit more to include the Jackalope-man. 17 March 2008-Updated the Jackalope portion to include a description of the Jackalope-man and how he differs from the Jackalope.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:50 pm
~83 Questions~ Part 1: The Basics
1. What is your full name?
Tobias Callihan Long
2. Where and when were you born?
A small farm in the back country of Nevada, June 17th 1949
3. Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)
Jacob and Martha Long. They both ran the farm.
4. Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?
One younger brother, Eli. Resents his older brother for the opportunities he thinks he wasted. Now, he runs the farm with his wife and children. His children don't see their uncle very often...whether this i Tobias' or Eli's fault has never really been determined.
5. Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
Lives alone. He tried marriage a few times, but it never worked out. Tobias likes to think of himself as a free spirit, never staying in one place too long...but he always seems to come back to Nevada no matter where he goes.
6. What is your occupation?
Professional gambler
7. Write a full physical description of yourself.
(See Above) He has a bullet wound scar on his right shoulder, as well as one just above his right knee. Around this scar are a multitude of other scars from where he has had surgery. Because of this, he walks with a moderate limp if not aided by a cane.
8. To which social class do you belong?
Non-defined...probably lower class though
9. Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?
Relatively fit other than his right knee, though he has been getting some arthritis in his hands recently. Because of the near constant pain due to his knee, he always keeps a bottle of prescription painkillers on him. In addition to this, he has a smoker's lungs.
10. Are you right- or left-handed?
Ambidextrous, though more often than not writes with his right hand.
11. What does your voice sound like?
He's a bass with a gravely western voice tended to by years of smoking.
12. What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?
"Yep" "That about does it" "I'll bet on that" "Whatever floats yer boat compadre"
13. What do you have in your pockets?
Two packs of playing cards, lucky Zippo, box of matches, painkillers, wind-up time piece (was the only thing left to him by his father), lucky rabbit's foot, wallet with $5.00 and a couple of I.O.U's.
14. Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
At trying times, he's a boarder line alcoholic...which is almost always. In addition to this, Tobias is quite addicted to cigarettes but has yet to have any adverse affects to them other than a mild cough and a pain in his chest now and again. He also enjoys a nice dip when in private.
Part 2: Growing Up
(See Above)
15. How would you describe your childhood in general?
An altruistic and carefree time which he looks back on too often to be healthy.
16. What is your earliest memory?
Getting put on the biggest horse on the ranch for the first time by his father. The horse's name was Zydeco.
17. How much schooling have you had?
Highschool valedictorian, one year of college.
18. Did you enjoy school?
It was one of the things he was good at...but he liked poker more.
19. Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
Vietnam and the life on the road.
20. While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.
His father, being able to run the ranch as well as he did all the while caring for his family.
21. While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?
Surprisingly well...up until he dropped out of college, that is.
22. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
He always wanted to grow up to run the ranch with his father.
23. As a child, what were your favorite activities?
Horseback riding, hunting, and exploring the many acres of the ranch with his brother.
24. As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?
Eager and hardworking. As soon as he was able, he was up at dawn helping his father around the ranch. He was very good with the horses, usually able to tell what kind of mood they were in by their body language, as well as know just how to calm down the ones he was more familiar with.
25. As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?
As popular as you can be in a highschool with a total population of 100 kids. All in all, he was a big fish in a small pond until he went to college.
26. When and with whom was your first kiss?
Debra May, 1959 on the play ground as a dare.
27. Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?
Nope, he was 17 when he lost his virginity to Debra May. A relationship didn't pan out just then though since he was heading to college many states away.
28. If you are a supernatural being (i.e. mage, werewolf, vampire), tell the story of how you became what you are or first learned of your own abilities. If you are just a normal human, describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.
(See Above)
Part 3: Past Influences
29. What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
"I was twenty years old...I put everything on the line like a fool...and I lost due to luck, pure and simple. I'd do anything to relive that day..."
30. Who has had the most influence on you?
His father influenced his actions up until he went to Vietnam...after that though, he kind of just lived for himself.
31. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
"I have a son...he never talks to me though...which is probably a good thing."
32. What is your greatest regret?
(see above)
33. What is the most evil thing you have ever done?
He spent about a year hustling people for a crew in a casino. During that year he also helped out on a multitude of burglaries.
34. Do you have a criminal record of any kind?
He went to jail without probation for three years for the crimes above. Since then he's been straight as an arrow.
35. When was the time you were the most frightened?
Working for that crew was the scariest time of his life. He was thirty, married to Debra May, and to put food on the table he had to deal with those animals.
36. What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?
"I tell ya...nothing'll make you feel lower as a man than when you look into the eyes of yer son as the police are hand cuffing you."
37. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?
(See above)
38. What is your best memory?
"There was a time I actually thought I'd be happy. It was when my son was born. I was in love, doin' well on the tour...and then Fate intervened."
39. What is your worst memory?
"It's amazing how often yer most embarrassing memory coincides with yer worst memory."
Part 4: Beliefs And Opinions
40. Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?
When he's winning, he's an optimist. When he's losing, he falls into a slump of depression.
41. What is your greatest fear?
"It's already happened."
42. What are your religious views?
"Born and raised Catholic. Don't know if I hold much stock anymore...not in the Church, mind you...I don't think God holds much stock in me."
43. What are your political views?
"As long as the Casino's still open, the bastards up on the hill can do whatever they want...sure can't ruin my life anymore."
44. What are your views on sex?
"When yer young, take it when y'can. If yer lucky enough to find someone y'love...take hold and never look back."
45. Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?
"In the jungle, y'don't ask questions like that. They'll get you shot."
46. In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do?
"Sending boys away from their homes to a jungle half a world away to fight people he doesn't know for reasons he doesn't care."
47. Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
"I did, at one point."
48. What do you believe makes a successful life?
"It's all a roll of the dice, boy. You best remember that."
49. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e. do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)?
"...I play poker for a living, son."
50. Do you have any biases or prejudices?
He would say no, but he still finds it hard to look a Vietnamese in the eye. He also has an intense loathing for politicians.
51. Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it?
When the chips are down, you find yerself doin' all sorts of things ye never thought ye'd do.
52. Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)?
"I'd do anything for my son...just wish he'd pick up the phone and call."
Part 5: Relationships With Others
53. In general, how do you treat others (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how?
"In my line of work, y'jest can't trust anybody. I mean, sure there are people I do stuff with when I'm in town or on the tour...but y'just can't trust anybody." Although he truly believes this, he does have a soft spot for kids.
54. Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
"There was a time...but it's gone now, 'n I ain't talkin' about it."
55. Who is the person you respect the most, and why?
"I s'pose the person I respect the most...who's livin' mind you...is my brother: For knowin' a bad seed even through the haze of blood. Wish he'd call sometimes though...I'd love to see m'nephews."
56. Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? Describe these people.
"There was a time..."
57. Do you have a spouse or significant other? If so, describe this person.
58. Have you ever been in love? If so, describe what happened.
"Debra May was my first and only real love, if there is such a thing...'course, even love can't last through a bad decision and three years in the pen. My next wife, Veronica, was more lust than love...'n she married me 'cause I was doin' well for myself at the time. That ended soon as the luck turned sour."
59. What do you look for in a potential lover?
"Trust..."
60. How close are you to your family?
"Think we already discussed this..."
61. Have you started your own family? If so, describe them. If not, do you want to? Why or why not?
"Yep, got a son who's in college now. Plays football for LSU...man, I'm gettin' old."
62. Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help?
"The Pawn shop."
63. Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?
"Not anymore. Not unless you can revive a thirty five year dead buddy 'a mine from the muck near Saigon."
64. If you died or went missing, who would miss you?
"I'd rather not answer that question..."
65. Who is the person you despise the most, and why?
"Look above, son."
66. Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?
"Hell, I've been in my fair share of fights, 'n I think I can still lick one of these punk kids runnin' around today."
67. Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations?
"If y'mean in poker...yeah, I suppose. I gotta keep 'em thinkin' I got the best hand, y'know?"
68. Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not?
"I've been doin' it most my life...suits me just fine."
69. Do you care what others think of you?
"When it all boils down, you can break the mirror. But y'can't stop seein' how others look at you."
Part 6: Likes And Dislikes
70. What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
Horseback riding, animal wrangling, hunting, poker, playing the guitar.
71. What is your most treasured possession?
The silver watch his father gave him.
72. What is your favorite color?
"Y'can't go wrong with black."
73. What is your favorite food?
"Personally, I work on a liquid diet...but I s'pose some nice venison cooked just right'll do me fine."
74. What, if anything, do you like to read?
Despite his outward appearance, he's not some country bumkin. He's actually quite well read. Tobias'll read almost anything, though his favorite stories are in the fantasy genre.
75. What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, movies, art, etc.)?
"Johnny Cash 'n anything by Sergio Leone."
76. Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit?
"I smoke, drink, and am not afraid to say I need my pain pills...too old to quit now though."
77. How do you spend a typical Saturday night?
"Depends...if I'm on the tour, I'm at the tables. If not, I like to catch a movie or prowl local bars lookin' fer a game."
78. What makes you laugh?
"If ye can't find humor in everything, ye'd never be able to get through the day."
79. What, if anything, shocks or offends you?
"After the things I've seen, ye'd be hard pressed to shock me." Of course, he's only seen the mundane.
80. What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself?
"I like practicin' card tricks."
81. How do you deal with stress?
"Beer, whiskey, and cigarettes."
82. Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
"I just keep on, keepin' on, y'know?"
83. What are your pet peeves?
"These stuck up punk kids who complain 'bout everythin' more often than not piss me off...but, I try to see all sides, y'know? Ye've got to."
This is all I think really applies to him. Hope it helps get a better feel for the character.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:57 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:58 pm
And...comments, critiques, questions, or concerns? Bring 'em here!
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:38 pm
Why are you saying the type is humanoid, if your going for Jackalope? And aside from that the character sounds ok but could go for a detailed background of his history.
EDIT: OKies ignore the first part.
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:27 pm
Alright, major update. Added a bit about the Jackalope myth that'll make him a bit more humanoid. Also, put in 83 questions about his history. Hope that's detailed enough! Lemme know what y'all think.
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:46 pm
And, another major update!
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:27 am
And, one more update: added a bit more to the Jackalope-man myth.
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