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 Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 7:56 pm
Vuk & Zorya Concept Contest Entry He once considered himself a brother to wolves, culler of the fold, removing the weak so that the strong may further prosper. And he, groomed for this work, was meant to reap the greatest rewards.
His career was ended when he was bested by his own prey, betrayed by a coward he could not kill. Hunter becoming the hunted, he was forced to flee.
She may not know his past, but she senses the predator in him, try as he might to bury it and live as honestly as he can. She does not trust him completely, but she would only be the second.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:00 pm
The Chosen Name: Vuk Ivanovich Aristov Nickname: Insists on Vuk Ivanovich Gender: Male Age: 37 (11.6.63) Occupation: Tailor Homeland: Okraina Residence: Eastern Palisade Obligatory Man Man Song: End BossAppearanceFirst impression of Vuk: forgettable. Not much of an impression to be made by looks alone, really, as he's average in many ways. Average of height and average of weight, though his active lifestyle gives him a wiry sort of strength, his cleanshaven face is rather plain and even boyish despite his age, his short hair a dark brown. It's his smile that might earn a second look, and he smiles easily, welcoming others with a warmth like old friends reunited even when it's first introductions. His high-energy antics and good-natured grin serve a nice distraction from cunning green eyes, always watching. PersonalityIf photographs were a thing in this time period, Vuk would be that guy always shoving pictures of his wife and kid in everyone's faces. He's a family man through and through, enthusiastic and doting and protective—sometimes dangerously so. There is no one else he cares for more in the world than his dear sweet family—because he doesn't care about anyone else. He would do anything to provide for his wife and son—anything. Are things sufficiently ominous?
His love for them is genuine, but to anyone else who might make Vuk's acquaintance, he is deceptively kind. A seemingly jovial and reliable friend, in actuality, Vuk is dangerous, the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing. He's spent his life using and backstabbing others, and old habits die hard. He is a killer and the urge is still there like a hound's need to hunt or a shepherd's need to herd, but he does not betray others needlessly. Deception is what Vuk knows; it's pretty much an unconscious and instinctual thing, how he privately rates others on usefulness, internally scorning them even as he laughs along with them. But he is practical and seemingly trying to change, easily keeping others around without ever posing any real risk to them.
See, Vuk likes to know people because he likes to know things—information-gathering is his sustenance, even if it's no longer blackmail and strategies but rumors and legends. He can be charming, a well-read and adventurous sort who likes to share stories, true or not, and is always willing to tag along and pal around with others. Not one to grab for attention despite his often boisterous and flamboyant manner, Vuk seems more content to be the sidekick, goading others on as impetuously as if he were still a young man, always on the lookout for excitement, or even showing a more paternal side by offering advice and support if need be. But to ever think of him as loyal and sincere would be a mistake.
It should come as no surprise to learn that Vuk is extremely prideful. Try as he might, he is selfish to the core and whatever favors or gestures he may offer are only moves to better his standing, like moves in a strategy game. He considers himself infallible to a delusional degree, and any failures on his part (try as he might to minimize them, yes, they do happen) are completely unforgivable, sending him into rages liable to make others suffer just as much as he does when his pride is wounded. Vuk is not insecure in the least, however, honestly believing himself to be a perfect man destined for great things. Anything pointing to the contrary is ignored or eliminated. HistoryIt's a tragic start. Vuk's mother, Vera, died in childbirth, and his father, Ivan, was thrown into a deep despair that he would never quite shake, but he didn't necessarily blame Vuk for the fact, no. Even though Ivan became distant, fully immersing himself into his political position to cope, he still cared very much for his son and wished to give him the best upbringing he could. So, Vuk had a strange, extended family. With Ivan an influential Okrainan lord, appointed by the ruling Belastranan power, he was neck-deep in politics and traveled often between the two countries, leaving Vuk in the care of the many other boyars, bureaucrats, ministers, commanders, and so on of the powerful upper ranks.
It was an eclectic childhood education Vuk received, but a very thorough and well-rounded one. All the while, he was told what a great, great man his father was, and how very much he was doing for his country. He became, in young Vuk's lonely and dreamy thoughts, a legendary figure he hoped to someday live up to. It's no wonder Vuk demands on "Ivanovich" being appended to his name. The pride he felt for his father became full-on hero worship, so one can only imagine what a devastating blow it was to the young man when his father was killed when travelling to the nearby country of Katchia.
In what seems to be the Aristov way, Vuk devoted himself fully to to supporting Belastrana's ambitions from then on as well. A darker age began to loom as industrialization made the rival territories more powerful and, with that, more aggressive. Wanting to keep Katchia in line, but far too pre-occupied with its own growing civil unrest, Belastrana chose Vuk as the perfect candidate to sabotage the unruly country from within. Promised a lofty position in the government once the annexation of Katchia was complete, Vuk lived in deep cover in the smaller territory, much like his home of Okraina, but enemy all the same.
Starting with undermining various political moves and acting as Belastrana's eyes and ears, his subversive activities grew to include more direct measures, such as capturing and imprisoning political enemies, to eventual assassination. But, as with any good spy thriller, Vuk made a dangerous and revealing mistake: He fell in love with and eventually married a woman named Tihana, and espionage became a little trickier, a little less fun.
Though Vuk's sabotaging and spying slowed, it did not cease completely. He saw an opportunity in Tihana's brother Damir, a young writer whose pro-Katchian opinions would eventually twist into a growing pro-Belastrana movement under Vuk's tutelage. With a splintering government and dividing politics within, and external attacks from Okraina only growing fiercer, Katchia seemed doomed to fall to Belastrana's rule completely once again. But it wasn't a clean collapse as Vuk had wished. Katchia would not go down without a fight.
Katchia and Okraina went at war with each other. Vuk's identity was revealed thanks to Damir, who'd he'd used as a scapegoat, and it was only a matter of time until he was hunted down. Not wanting his wife to know what he had done (and it had been a hell of a chore keeping his activities secret from her through their marriage), but unable to return to Okraina with the war raging, nor Belastrana where he was seen as a disgrace who would not be formally recognized, he could think of only once place to go. It was time to put his Common to use in Sunderland. CurrentlyVuk has been living in Sunderland for quite some time now, seemingly forgotten by his government. He's heard of the end of the war, of Okraina's victory, and writes desperately to what contacts he has left, but he's received no response. He considers this a failure and is left bitter—worse, restless, but his Warden status reminds him that he is still special. Important.
Oh, but his dear sweet family makes him feel special and important! Nevermind all of that. There was a bit of a scare in the sudden arrival of another one of Tihana's brothers, who Vuk was sure must have known something about his past, but—nope. Nope. Everything's fine. He's gone again. The Aristovs have recently moved from Oldcastle to Eastern Palisade, and Vuk is having a fun enough time being a tailor. He often serves higher-class clientele, entertaining them by being the upbeat foreigner with exotic fashions, and in return he gets to hear some juicy but ultimately meaningless gossip. Far cry from his old job, but that's not necessarily always a bad thing.
His Guardian, Zorya, is more like a family pet than anything else. She seems fine with that, but Vuk can't help but want to sniff around a bit for more about what being a Warden is all about. The stories of monstrous wolves really capture his imagination. It's a matter of perspective who the enemy is, if you ask him.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:08 pm
The Details The Family[[I LOVE MUH WIFE N KID]] Okraina
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:15 pm
The Guardian [Choosing TBA][[bouf bouf like a glorified family dog bouf]]
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:18 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:20 pm
The Cast [[no one met yet!]]
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:22 pm
The Credits
Wardwood - Official art, concepts, and all that good stuff is totally Umbrology's doing
Zorya colored by Amorpheous
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