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 Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:49 pm
Cavalier Juventus
“The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.”
For the Prince!
The First Battle
There is a battle to be fought,
Before the weapon is in hand,
Or the enemy is in distance to strike.
The battle is in the mind,
To take captive our fears and doubts,
To secure our thoughts and
Command our mental faculties.
To focus these moment of our life
For a greater purpose than our own needs,
Our own wants or even our own preservation.
To walk into the shadow of death placing our
Destiny in the hands of God,
For Him, for Country, for family,
For the defense and well being of others,
For children yet to be born.
To remove all jealousy, envy, strife
And hatred from our heart.
To forgive all who have wronged us.
To be thankful for all the beauty in the world.
And every voice and smile of friendship.
To pray for our families and loved ones,
To pray for our enemies as well;
That in this ensuing battle,
Whatever the outcome,
That the Will of God be done.
To pray for courage that we might encourage others.
To pray for the forgiveness of others,
That we may be forgiven ourselves.
For if this be our last moments,
We want to be right with Him.
This is the Heart of ancient Knighthood,
When every day was a battle in the mind.
This is the heart of true patriots,
True Soldiers, for all who serve God,
In serving their Country and
In service to others.
—Sir R. I. Tulak
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:50 pm
Cavalier: Cavalier Juventus, of the Garden Name: Donovan Hawthorne Nickname: N/A Gender: Male Age: 20 (Can lower if it's a problem) Virtues: Virtuous and Chivalrous --(Personal) He believes in not only doing the right thing but living life as virtuously and chivalrously as possible. His morality is very important to him and it seeps into his personal life. Those ways are as follows: Refrain from the wanton giving of offense -- He tries his best to avoid unnecessary confrontation. If someone tries to pick a fight with him, he will back away as pleasantly as he can.
To despise pecuniary reward -- He does what he believes is right. If he defends a young woman from the unwanted attentions of a man, he does not do so to earn her favor. He does not look for rewards for his actions, monetary or otherwise.
To fight for the welfare of all -- Okay, maybe not all but definitely the innocent and fair.
To obey those placed in authority -- Give respect and loyalty where it is due. This goes for your elders, for faculty at a school, anyone that deserves it.
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit -- Be fair, be just, be kind, be honest. Do not give in to the temptation that evil brings. It's far too easy so the real honor comes from refraining from such activities. Because of this, yes, Gabriel is a virgin and will remain so until he finds the right person.
At all times to speak the truth -- "Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive." No truer words have been spoken. He believes that one lie, one single lie can open up the floodgate to more. He is honest at all times.
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun -- If you take on a task, you see it out. This goes to anything. If he starts building a birdhouse for the old lady down the street, he will finish it. He will not give up mid stride. Do not take on something that you are not willing to see finished.
To respect the honor of women -- This is harder to do in this day and age but he tries anyway. He will open the door for girls, he will see them seated first. He will treat them with respect and kindness no matter how they may act towards him.
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal -- Though he loathes fighting, a duel is a duel. If he is challenged by an enemy to single combat, he will not refuse.
A Knightly Code --(Cavalier) He is sworn to do whatever necessary to protect his Prince and the world he has come to love. It pains him greatly at the possibility of having to kill someone, even for the better good but he will do whatever must be done. He would rather his blood be stained red and carry the burden of actions than see the Prince come to harm. Sometimes, you have to do what is necessary so someone else won't have to. He cares so much for his Prince and world that he would sacrifice his own life unquestioningly. While the aforementioned beliefs under the Virtuous/Chilvalrous virtue could also be fitting of this as well, I wanted to take it a step further all the same. Those were beliefs in his personal life. The ones below delve into his Cavalier duties and beliefs. They are even more strict than how he acts in his personal life. Prowess: To seek excellence in all endeavors expected of a knight, martial and otherwise, seeking strength to be used in the service of justice, rather than in personal aggrandizement.
Justice: Seek always the path of 'right', unencumbered by bias or personal interest. Recognize that the sword of justice can be a terrible thing, so it must be tempered by humanity and mercy. If the 'right' you see rings agrees with others, and you seek it out without bending to the temptation for expediency, then you will earn renown beyond measure.
Loyalty: Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. There are many places where compromise is expected; loyalty is not amongst them.
Defense: The ideal knight was sworn by oath to defend his liege lord and those who depended upon him. Seek always to defend your nation, your family, and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty.
Courage: Being a knight often means choosing the more difficult path, the personally expensive one. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people you value. At the same time, a knight should seek wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are cousins. Courage also means taking the side of truth in all matters, rather than seeking the expedient lie. Seek the truth whenever possible, but remember to temper justice with mercy, or the pure truth can bring grief.
Faith: A knight must have faith in his beliefs, for faith roots him and gives hope against the despair that human failings create.
Humility: Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds. In this way the office of knighthood is well done and glorified, helping not only the gentle spoken of but also all who call themselves knights.
Largesse: Be generous in so far as your resources allow; largesse used in this way counters gluttony. It also makes the path of mercy easier to discern when a difficult decision of justice is required.
Nobility: Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of a knight, realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done in the service of rightness.
Franchise: Seek to emulate everything I have spoken of as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure then you will be well remembered for your quality and virtue.
Merciful -- "To Err is Human, To Forgive Divine". He believes this wholeheartedly and he will show compassion even to his enemies. This is however, not to be mistaken for stupidity. While he may forgive and be open to second chances, he will not forget. He believes that one should atone for their crimes and sins to earn the honor of being treated as a friend or ally. When at all possible, he will try to save someone from being executed for upon entering death, the chance to make right what you have done wrong is no longer there. Big Brother/Best Friend -- It seems he lets out a certain energy to those around him and many consider him a "big brother" type. Someone they can trust and depend on when the going gets tough, go to for advice or help, or simply feel safe around. Have you ever had a friend that you just felt safe around? That you could trust completely to never let you down? That's Gabriel. Flaws: Jealous of the Shitennou -- It is not always simple trying to be perfect. In fact, it is impossible, no matter how knightly you man want to be. Gabe is prone to.. being jealous. He may not speak of it for he considers it to be a grave sin but it exists all the same. He's especially jealous of the Shitennou. They appear to have a closeness that he can only hope to experience with his fellow Cavaliers, but they are closest to the Prince. While he takes his role as Cavalier seriously, there will always be a bitterness towards the Shitennou. What makes them more special than he and the other Cavaliers? Evil must be vanquished! -- And no, I don't mean by his sword. Like I said, Gabe avoids bloodshed if at all possible. However, what he cannot do is IGNORE when some misdeed is taking place. This can be something as simple as a shoplifter or someone running off with an old ladies purse. He cannot ignore such wrongdoing, almost to the point of obsession. Okay.. okay, it's clearly pass the point of obsession. He can be on a date with the girl of his dreams and he will leave her jaw dropped in the middle of a restaurant as he runs down the street after said purse snatcher. Too Serious -- Gabe is so wrapped up in his ideals and beliefs that he sometimes forgets HOW to be a young man. He doesn't take time to play and enjoy the little things in life. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and let me tell you, Gabe is bff's with Jack. He needs friends to bring him out of his shell. To show him the joy in the little things, even something as simple as running out in the middle of the night for ice cream. He lives so strictly by his codes that he doesn't have as much fun as he should. He is so prepared to die for his beliefs that he has yet to fully LIVE. Sacrificing -- One of his biggest flaws is that he sacrifices a lot of what he wants because he feels that they are not important. If he wants to ask a girl out but feels he is in the role of friend, he will refuse to act on his desires. If he is torn between doing something he really wants and doing something he feels is right, he'll always do what he feels is right. This can be something as simple as him having plans with friends right as his neighbor asks him to fix her kitchen sink because the water is leaking. Naturally, he would forsake his plans in order to fix that sink. He never puts himself first and while that may sound like a great thing, it actually drives him to unhappiness and loneliness. Perhaps that's part of why he buries him so deeply into his role as Cavalier. He excels at that. Not so much his personal life. Challenge: One for all, and all for one!
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:51 pm
Personal Details
Eyes: Pink (almost a perfect match to his outfit)
Hair: Long. Never got it cut kind of long, down to butt at the very least. It's always kept in a ponytail tied with a black cord. No fancy style, he's a pretty simple guy. He only takes his hair down for grooming purposes, such as showering or brushing. Black probably, or pink if artists chooses.
Face: Maybe a scar going over the bride of his nose? A small black goatee on his chin? Both of these can be optional.
Body: He has broad shoulders for a boy his age though thins down at the waist and legs. His strength is clearly upper body, which helps since he tends to use his fists more than his sword.
Fuku Colour: Sugar pink
Fashion: His every day clothes are simple and modest. Jeans and a t-shirt seems to suffice in nearly any situation. He does not dress up except for social functions.
Hobbies
Boxing -- Gabe likes to spend his time at the local boxing ring, duking it out. He considers this a sport so it doesn't fall into his local idea of hurting others. People that step in the ring want to be hurt. They want to become better boxers and essentially, fighters. It's no different than any other physically training exercise. Fighting is not something that comes naturally to a Cavalier. They have to work at it too and since he would prefer to solve things without his blade, fighting by hand is a necessity. He also enjoys it though you won't see him brag about it or admit it too often.
Fencing/Swordplay -- Though he would prefer to never have to use it, he wants to be able to wield it properly when he has no choice but to rely on it. As such, he also takes fencing lessons in his spare time and will take part in swordplay with his fellow Cavaliers. Practice makes perfect. The swordplay with his fellow Cavaliers bring him the most enjoyment. It's nice to let loose and relax with your friends.
Romance Novels -- He loves books of all kinds, especially romantic novels of a historical nature. Now now, don't laugh. If you lived a lonely life, you'd like them too. Though he will not admit it often, he's a romantic at heart and yearns for nothing more than to find his Lady Love, someone worth fighting for. It's not that the Prince isn't enough, he is, but the Prince can't fill the emptiness that having someone to truly love in all ways could. For now, the books help.
Boy Scout -- His morals have been a part of him all his life. When he was five years old, he joined the Boy Scouts and he is still a proud member to this day. He would love to become a den leader to a group of scout children when he is an adult. It's important to start young because youth is the window to life. It is there that you begin to see the world and take your journey towards becoming the person you will be. He wants to help shape them to become gentleman, upstanding adults and I suppose in a sense, a knight, at least when it comes to moral beliefs.
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:53 pm
The Garden
Gardens are thought of as an image of the soul and innocence. It also symbolizes consciousness because of its enclosed characteristics, as opposed to the forest. Gardens are commonly considered feminine and represent fertility.
Lastly, these places are symbols of happiness, salvation, and purity.
Gardens are used to create peace between people.
I feel that this sphere fits Gabriel beautifully. It seems to symbolize everything he stands for and wants to protect. I also understand that it might typically be a sphere or role for a woman but this does not phase Gabriel at all. Even a rough guy can know sensitivity, can know innocence, can know purity. He is not perfect though. While he fights to maintain that others are happy, he is not as happy in his personal life. I leave that open for growth as perhaps one day, he can learn how to be happy outside of being a Cavalier.
Though he is male, there's some feminine elements to this character but not enough that it takes too much away from his gender. He is like an oreo. Hard on the outside but soft gooey goodness on the inside. I think this will bring a good balance to the sphere as he will have the compassion and understanding to do the Garden justice but also the know out and ability to defend the Prince and do whatever is necessary when it's called for. A Cavalier's duties is nothing to be trifled with.
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:55 pm
Why I want a Cavalier
I had an extra post so what the hell. I love knights. I love honor. I love everything about having a code to live by, to the point of obsession and self-sacrificing. To live for others, to do for others. It's harder than people realize. It's a constant emotional and mental struggle as well as physical because it's hard to actually live by the codes you believe. To not give into temptation. It takes a damn lot of work to be perfect, or at least as close to perfect as you can be.
Also, having that set belief can harden you in ways that you never imagined because you have to be a shield. You have to be that shield to protect those you care about and what does a shield do? It takes the hits so you don't have to. Your personality becomes as calloused as your hands.
That's what I see a Cavalier as and what Gabriel as. He's the one that will take the beating so the Prince doesn't have to, so the citizens don't have to. He's put so much of himself forward when it comes to his Prince, fellow Cavaliers and others that he doesn't know how to be a normal young man. He doesn't know how to live for himself. I see a lot of opportunities there for him meeting people that will help him learn to have fun, to possibly fall in love, to learn that you can make a mistake and still be a GOOD person. To take a moment and just be selfish, to live in the moment and just for yourself.
I want him to grow. I want him to start out being a lost little puppy in the world of big dogs, at least when it comes to his personal life. He's so drawn into being a Cavalier that he stopped being anything but, even when he's a normal boy. Even as a child, he was into the boy scouts so even if he doesn't remember his past life, etc, it could still be such a raw part of him that it never left him. That it grew as his body grew, to the point of fanaticism. I would lgreatly love to see this character exist and to watch him grow and change, perhaps learn to balance the two one day, with the help of his peers and friends.
There's not many Cavaliers so I understand the possibility is slim for any one of us to acquire one but I am happy they exist. We all need our knights, good or bad. There's something beautiful and romantic about them, despite the fact that they can do evil things in the name of good. Go Cavaliers!
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:15 am
Possible Background Story
To be filled out.
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:45 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:04 pm
Just something I noticed browsing through--there's already a Gabriel (Lt. Graphite, Gabriel O'Leary) and using a name that's already been taken is looked down upon. ): You might want to change that
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:40 pm
Name changed to Donovan Hawthorne.
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