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 Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:13 pm
 08/22/08 Rehaul! <3
05/08/08 - Guess who's back, back again. 8D Re-reading stuff, fixing typos and generally adding more information to this quest, mainly in terms of the guardian. Will probably be posting a detailed set of questions for Tybalt in one of the reserved posts.
03/17/07 - After consulting with Puchi and Dubet, I've decided to change my concept over to Jörmungandr. Info is going up soon! <3
02/23/07 - Thank you everyone who helped me shape Barthy, in particular Lu who was full of support and fun ideas and Arri who critiqued him twice and really helped me to understand him. Today, however, is the day that I've decided to officially change my Fa'e concept and "give" my jackalope up. It wasn't an easy decision, but I've decided it is for the better. His place, unfortunately, is not the Fa'e community, though he will always have a place in my heart. His character will help influence my next concept, and I have no doubts that I will one day find a place for him among my RP pets.
Until then, I will start again, and try to build a character that can fit a different niche. New ideas, new prospects, and I welcome any critique that people have for me once I get my concept up in full.
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:13 pm
 1. Introduction
2. Table of Contents
3. On the Myth
4. The Story
5. The Fa'e
6. Images and Fanart
7. The Guardian
8. Thank yous
9. Character Questions
10. Reserved
11. Reserved
12. Reserved
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:14 pm
 Wikipedia Eloko (pl, Biloko) is a term in a Mongo-Nkundo language referring to a kind of dwarf-like creature that lives in the forests. They are believed to be the spirits of ancestors of the people living there. Legend has it that they haunt the forest because they have some grudge to settle with the living and are generally quite vicious. Biloko live in the densest and darkest part of the rain forest in central Zaïre, jealously and ferociously guarding their treasures: the game and the rare fruits of the forest. Only intrepid hunters are said to enter the deepest forest and survive, because in order to be successful, hunters have to possess strong magic, without which they would never see any game at all. There are many tales about wives who insist upon joining their husbands in the forest only to faint as soon as they see their first Eloko. The Biloko live in hollow trees and are dressed only in leaves. They have no hair; only grass grows on their bodies; they have piercing eyes, snouts with mouths that can be opened wide enough to admit a human body, alive or dead, and long, sharp claws. They possess little bells, which, in Central Africa are believed to be able to cast a spell on passers-by. Possessing an amulet or a fetish can offer protection from this type of magic. Quote: In Zaire mythology, the Eloko are dwarves who live in the densest and darkest parts of the forest guarding their treasure, which is the fruits and animals of the forest. The Spider's Den The Eloko is a man-eating dwarf of the Nkundo who lives in the hallow trees in the dense rain forest of central Zaire. The Eloko is hairless but covered in a coat of grass that grows over his face and body. His clothing is made of leaves and he has eyes like fire, as well as snouts, clawed fingers and although very small, their jaws can open wide enough to consume an entire human being. Their remarkable power is in their music. The Eloko bewitches its victims by ringing tiny magical bells while walking camouflaged through the forest. The bell is also associated with the god of death. The Eloko may have originated as one of his retinue. Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones Eloko are people-eating dwarves that live among the Nkundo people of Zaire. They live in the hollows of trees in densely forested areas. Eloko blend in well with their environment since they are covered in grass and their clothing is made from leaves. These dwarves are minute and green and easily mistaken for grass. If that happens though, they become infuriated. Only a hunter's magickal prowess can dispel an angered eloko. They can be invoked or repelled by broom-like, grass-clad masqueraders. Quote: It is only on rare occasions and for specific reasons that these types of spirits of the wilderness are invited to be a part of civilized society. These occasions include annual performances, harvest festivals, fertility rites, and purification activities- including sweeping. Forest spirits are believed to cower around the doors of human beings' homes, waiting for discarded food, drink, or clothing to bring to their own villages and families. It is frowned upon by villagers to sweep dirt out of the front door or even to throw wash water there because it would encourage the spirits' presence. To repel or dispel tiny spirits who hang about doorways and stoops, both are meticulously cleaned on a daily basis using spiritually charged herbs and special waters. The cleansing of doorways and front stairs is prevalent in many parts of West Africa and exercised by many practitioners of Vodoun and Hoodoo in the African diaspora. The Times World Mythology Other Central African peoples regard the forest as being the other or spirit world inhabited by dwarf-demons or imps, the elokos, who feed off human flesh. Anyone entering their world must perform certain rituals. Sorcerers carve a fetish or piece of wood taken from the spirit world (which therefore possess magical properties) and use it to kill their enemies. Every tree has its spirit, which survives in the wood even after it has been chopped down and made into a hut, drum, or boat. Without the spirit's goodwill, the the carved item will only bring bad luck. Bantu myths and other tales The eloko dwarfs posses the art of bewitching human beings by means of bells. The bell is the chief attribute of Ilela, the god of Death, the father of Lianja. The mysterious bell is a representation of the universe as it contains, in the form of secret symbols, all the mortal creatures of the earth. By means of this bell, the owner can put a spell on whoever he wishes to die. The dwarf may thus be one of Death's servants, a minor god who represents one of the many mysterious diseases that assail people in the Congo forests, perhaps some gangrene that "eats away" human flesh. The liver is the part of the body that is believed to contain the spirit of life of a living being, human or animal. When a person's liver is eaten, he is as good as dead. Links: [x] [x] [x] [x][x] [x]
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:16 pm
 Quote: One day a hunter took his wife, at her insistence, into the forest, where he had a hut with a palisade around it. When he went out to inspect his traps, he told her: "When you hear a bell, do not move. If you do, you will die!" Soon after he had left, she heard the charming sound of a little bell coming closer, for the Eloko has a good nose for feminine flesh. Finally, a gentle voice asked to be let in to his room. It was like the voice of a child. The woman opened the door and there was an Eloko, smelling like the forest, looking small and innocent. She offered him banana mash with fried fish but he refused: "We eat only human meat. I have not eaten for a long time. Give me a piece of your arm." At last the woman consented, totally under the spell of the Eloko. That night, the husband found her bones.
To the Mongo people, the dense forests are guarded by angry ancestral spirits who take the form of man-eating dwarves. Covered in grass and with eyes like fire, these Eloko jealously guard their treasure, the best fruits and game of the forest. Though they may eat any who come into their territory unprotected, it is believed that they exist to seek revenge on those who have done them wrong when they were alive. Only when they have had their revenge will they return to the spirit world.
Our story begins with a man named Nuru, who lived in a small African village near the Congo river. To woo the woman he wished to marry, he needed to prove himself a competent hunter. However, he had yet to kill anything worthy of an offering. Day after day, the woman's mother shooed him away from their hut and told him that if he could not provide for himself, he would not be able to provide for his family. Nuru knew that if he did not prove himself soon, one of the other hunters would catch something powerful and would win the woman's hand in marriage.
One night, he consulted the witch doctor, who took pity on him and told him that he could find great treasure in the forest depths. But he warned Nuru it would be dangerous if he did not take this amulet, carved from the wood of the forest. The amulet would protect him, the witch doctor promised. Nuru said his thank yous and prepared for his trip into the forest.
Little did he know that several of the village's hunters had overheard his conversation with the witch doctor. Jealous of the opportunity he had been given, they followed Nuru into the forest. When he was far enough away from the village, they ambushed him, killing him and stealing his amulet. With the blessing, they were able to enter the darkest parts of the forest and return to the village with the treasure. As for Nuru, the villagers simply assumed he had gotten lost and died in the woods. What else would they expect of such a poor hunter?
After his death, the spirit of Nuru met with Mbomba, the master of life and death. He fell onto his knees before the great god, and begged, “Please Mbomba, great god of life and death, give me a chance to avenge my death! I will not be able to rest until I have rid the village of such dishonorable warriors!” At Nuru's request, the god sent his spirit back into the forest where he had died. Upon touching the forest floor, the ground grew up and enclosed his spirit in a new body. Grass-covered and with fire in his eyes, Nuru became an Eloko.
He spent years in the depths of his forest, waiting for the hunters to seek out his treasures. Anyone who was foolish enough to venture into his territory would be eaten, though he was truly seeking the descendants of those who had ambushed him. If he could eat them then he would finally be given peace. However, it seemed that one treasure run had been enough for the hunters. Whether they feared that Nuru's vengeful spirit resided there or they simply didn't need to prove themselves again, nobody entered the deep forest for several decades.
Now, an Eloko can only exist for so long before their craving for human flesh begins to drive their actions. Those who are strong-willed resist the temptation, their desire to satisfy their grudge much stronger. In his hunger, however, Nuru began to lose sight of his purpose. When a hunter brought his wife into the forest with him and set up camp, Nuru left the denser forest to follow the enticing smell. The moment the hunter was gone to check his animal traps, Nuru made his move. He circled the hut once, almost as though he was thinking, and then as he made his second pass he reached for his bells. With every jingle the spell wove its magic, and at the end of his second circle he stood before the door to the hut. He didn't knock, instead calling out to the woman in the voice of a child. "May I come in please?" The wife, under the spell of the bells, did not hesitate to open the door. She smiled at him, perhaps thinking he was a child, and offered him banana mash with fried fish. Nuru refused. "We eat only human meat," he replied, with a smile of his own. "I have not eaten for a long time. Give me a piece of your arm." The woman obliged, and he cut off a piece of her arm and ate it. Once his meal was finished, his disappeared.
After he had gone, the hunter's wife was in terrible pain, and wrapped her arms in leaves to hide her wounds. When her husband returned to the hut she refused to show her injuries to him, insisting that they were only sores. The next morning, the hunter went away again to test his luck in the forest. Nuru, having tasted human flesh, hungered for more. Once the husband was out of the way he returned to the hut. Twice he circled, jingling his bells as he walked. Finally, the wife opened the door and called out, "I am here! Come!" Nuru entered the house for a second time. Again, she offered to cook for him, and again he denied her. "Have you forgotten I only eat human flesh? Give me your liver." Under the spell of his bells, the woman lay down and let him eat her liver. But Nuru was still hungry, his hunger for revenge and human flesh blending until it was impossible to tell one from the other. He ate the rest of the woman, her very presence reminding him of the woman he had been unable to marry. If he could not have her then nobody could! In an act of spite he even left the bones of his prey behind. A fitting punishment, in his mind, for a hunter. They were all like the ones who had killed him, and this one was only the first who would pay the price.
When the hunter returned to the village with news of the death of his wife, more hunters began to travel into the dense forest to seek revenge. Those without an amulet were eaten by Nuru, unable to protect themselves from the magic of his bells. Nuru counted every man that left his forest alive, and as payment for their life he killed any woman who ventured too far into the forest. Soon, however, the people did not leave their village, both hunters and women alike never venturing close enough for him to eat them. Once he tried to leave his forest and enter the village, but he found that he was unable to step beyond the boundaries of his territory. Trapped, his anger grew worse with each passing day. He would find a way to get rid of that village even if it killed him!
One morning, his luck seemed to have changed for the better. A hunter set up a hut near the edges of Nuru's territory and brought his wife along with him. Like those before him, the hunter told her to keep the door closed no matter what she heard outside. With that warning, the hunter set off into the forest. This was the chance Nuru had been waiting for. He did not wait for the hunter to go far, and only circled the hut once while jingling his bells. Nuru approached the door as he had done so many times before, and called out, "Won't you let me in?" Under his spell, the woman ushered him in, and offered him human food. His hunger making him impatient, Nuru brushed her offer aside. "I do not eat human food. Let me eat you!"
But as he moved to swallow the woman whole, the hunter burst in behind him and impaled him with a spear made of spirit wood. It was a trap! The hunter had only pretended to leave, instead lying in wait for the Eloko to show himself. In his hunger Nuru hadn't realized until it was too late. Before he could flee, the hunter cut off his head, ending the reign of Nuru the Man-eater. His head was brought back to the village as a sign, and the remainder of his body burned.
His spirit was once again sent before Mbomba, and the god was less than pleased. "Nuru!" he said, "How can you expect join the rest of the ancestral spirits? You could not even settle your grudge with those who persecuted you. Instead, you allowed yourself to become a monster, going after those who could not defend themselves!" But Nuru pleaded with the god, saying, "Mbomba, give me another chance! The hunter tricked me and killed me when I was weakened! He has no honour as a warrior!" Mbomba did not falter. "I will not send you back to terrorize the villagers! You will not be reborn by this hand. Go! You are a disgrace to your ancestors, Nuru."
Without a body to return to in the living world, the spirit of the Eloko was banished to the realm of the dead, waiting for perhaps another opportunity for a second chance.
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:17 pm
 When I was a young boy
I was honest and I had more self-control
If I was tempted I would run
Then, when I got older
I began to lie to get exactly what I wanted
When I wanted it- And I wanted it
 Name: Shaol D'amarnga
Meaning of Name:
Past Name: Nuru
Gender: Male
Myth/Legend: Eloko
General Appearance: While Shaol is not a pygmy in his current life, he definitely has a short, rather stout build and will never grow to be very tall. Being of African descent, his skin is a very dark brown, with lighter coloured palms and the bottoms of his feet. His hands are large with broad palms and long fingers, much like a gorilla’s in structure, but ending in short, black claws. The skin on his palms is thick and almost leathery to the touch. He has a snout-like nose with nostrils on the top (think crocodile snout), and a wide mouth sporting very sharp teeth. Like in his former life, he has no real hair. Anything that would have been hair on a normal human is replaced by grass, from the hair on his head to the hair on his arms and legs. If left to its own devices, this grass-like hair would grow rampant until it covered his body and face. His guardian, however, likes hair styles to at least be tempered. Thus, most of it is shaved/cut to a reasonable length. The most startling feature on his face is his eyes, which are the colour of fire. Clothes seem to bother his grass-hair (the rub of grass against his skin can make him itchy, especially if it’s dry) but his guardian insists that he has to wear them regardless of what he feels. He dresses rather plainly, as though still trying to blend in with his environment. (Side note: the picture I have there is from a face generator, which didn’t allow me to do anything super crazy. XD So while it doesn’t match his appearance exactly, it’s kind of like a little place holder.)
Three Features: (i) Grass for hair. All of the hair on his body (head included) should be rainforest-y grass. It can be styled into something that may resemble a hair style, or just sort of sprout out his head like one of those grow your own grass pets. Whatever looks best. XD
(ii) Dark brown skin. Skin-colour wise he should look African.
(iii) A short snout that should resemble that of a crocodile's (nostrils on top, and a long mouth)
Personality: At first glance, Shaol appears to be nothing more than a common bully of the verbal variety. He runs at the mouth more often than not, wielding words and key phrases like "your mom" in the place of physical strength or great intellect. Why bother doing more than that when he can coerce people to do what he wants and let them do the dirty work? Shaol dedicates a great deal of his time to collecting ‘minions’ to do his bidding, handpicking those he believes are "the right type" for him. The right type, of course, consists of people who are so big and so stupid that they don't seem to mind being bossed around by a squirt who enjoys surfing the internet for new and exciting ways to insult people. He decidedly likes owning people almost as much as he likes owning things. His favourite choice for minions is females, who he thinks are inferior to men (and especially to himself). He is adamant that women cannot make strong decisions and are very easily swayed. They’re nice only to look at, but not to actually do anything (save cooking and cleaning).
Minions also serve the purpose of taking the blame for just about everything that goes wrong in his life, but especially his failed plans to take over the world. Becoming the ruler of the known world is one of Shaol's childhood dreams, and he intends to accomplish it in his lifetime. Unfortunately, he hasn't seemed to realize that he lacks the intelligence to create any real world-dominating plans. He is almost a comedic villain in this respect, his plans frequently full of large holes and impulsively made decisions. Though he may start out on the right foot, he'll ignore something obvious and end up flat on his face (and often times in a worse place than he was to begin with). Frequent failures, however, don’t seem to put him off, perhaps a reminder from his past life that since he isn’t dead yet he gets to try again. If at first you don't succeed, blame someone else for your faults and try again!
Minions and pretty women are about the only people Shaol has any relationship with. He argues that he doesn’t need any friends; however the truth of the matter is that he has no idea how to make or keep them. Not only is he incredibly selfish and pushy, he is also very self-serving and frequently puts his needs before others around him. He has no trouble butting in line for things, especially if people aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. If you snooze, you lose, after all. While this applies to others, however, it does not apply to him. Anyone who buds him in line is going to be in serious trouble. He was, after all, the lord of the forest (so to speak) and anything in his "territory" is of utmost importance. What is his is His, and His things do not leave Him unless they’re pried from his dead fingers. Thus, he doesn’t share easily, and has a very nasty temper when things are taken from him without his permission. The only time he would ever give an item away is if there was something in it for him, or – at the very least – the person who received his gift would owe him a great debt. He has no inclination to aid others if it does not in some way benefit him, and even then he is extremely stingy. Jealousy also has a tendency to hit him rather hard, and he dislikes it when he loses his minions' attention to other people, men especially.
When forced into situations in which he has to interact with others who he is not lord and master of, he has a hard time understanding why he can't say whatever he wants. Subtlety has completely avoided Shaol, making him sound both blunt and callous. He says what’s on his mind without thinking, and is prone to asking uncomfortable, direct questions. Though he’s not exactly the easiest person to get along with, his bully attitude is really only a front which can be easily quelled by someone with an unquestionable authority. It is these too bossy and domineering types that bring out the whiner in Shaol, and he tends to be mouthy and immature while under their control. Definitely not a team player, he can only be forced into working with people, and hates doing it unless there’s some sort of benefit for him. Shaol lives for himself and only himself, and would like to live that way as long as he can.
It is worth noting that Shaol has mixed feelings about himself. On one hand he would very much like to bring about ruin to all of humanity for what they did to him (twice no less). On the other hand, having a little voice in the back of your head advocating for peace and goodwill towards men can definitely put a stopper in someone’s plans to destroy humanity. His conscious is something that he did not retain as an Eloko, and he has a hard time re-accepting it now that he's human again (so to speak). Thus he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place, not entirely sure whether he’s a good person or a bad person or really a person at all. His feelings of self-worth are masked as fully as he can manage under his bully, ‘villain’ persona, a role which is comforting because it’s familiar. Typically he avoids his own problems by simply blaming other people for any of his mistakes. All of his failures are a result of the flaws of other people, and nothing is ever his fault.
Likes: Being acknowledged (especially as a leader), the woods, the feel of grass beneath his feet, smell of bark, being allowed to do as he pleases, light and free flowing clothing, nighttime, his own “ordered chaos”, observing people (especially their mannerisms), being in charge, bossing his minions around, feeling smart
Dislikes: Anything that repels monsters, people with unnaturally good auras, being bossed around, washing dishes, his reflection, losing things, having things taken without his permission, people reordering or cleaning up his room, being hunted, feeling watched, people who are bossier and more controlling than he is, being forced to work with people
Hobbies: Spying on people, making trails in the forest, collecting unique items for his "treasure chest", creating plans to take over humanity, recruiting minions, being a pain in the a**
Favourite Colour: Red
Favourite Food: Chicken
Greatest Fear: Being hunted
Biggest Pet Peeve: Bossiness (especially from women)
Most Important Item: A sign for his door that says "Genius at Work" despite the fact that the G looks like it barely make the evolutionary jump from a J.
Image Song: Flawed Design - Stabilo
Abilities:
- Spell of Bells: When activated, Shaol can create a magical sort of sound hypnosis that makes the listener very inclined to do what he asks them to do. Any sort of hand bells will work for him, and so long as the target is close enough to hear the bells they will feel the effects of the sound. As a general rule, the spell works best on women, especially those who are attracted to the beauty of the sound. Men may also find themselves more easily won over if they turn to look at Shaol. The spell can be blocked by protective magic, and it can be broken if the sound is stopped or if the target is hit forcefully. Individuals under his spell will also not feel any pain until the sound is gone.
- Wide Mouth: Can open his mouth wide enough to swallow anything the size of an adult man. He is also able to selectively regurgitate anything that he has eaten (for example, if he ate a whole chicken he could regurgitate just the bones).
- Natural Camouflage: Naturally suited for the forest, Shaol can blend completely into his surroundings if inside a dense forest. He can sit as still as stone for great lengths of time should the necessity arise and is virtually indistinguishable from a tree branch or a large patch of grass. His camouflage is aided by his natural smell. Shaol does not smell human, but instead, smells like a dark, wet forest.
Weaknesses:
- Amulets/fetishes: Any of Shaol's magical abilities (spell of bells and wide mouth) do not affect any creature possessing a magical item of protection or with innate magical protection. He cannot swallow anything that has magical protection without becoming physically ill. He also cannot enter dwellings that are protected by a charm or spell against monsters or evil spirits.
- Brooms, Grass Masks, And Other Similar Things: A broom-like masquerader can dispel an Eloko, and while Shaol cannot be dispelled anymore he undergoes a momentary existential crisis when he has, say, a broom shaken in his direction. This applies to anything that looks like a broom (i.e. a hula skirt, grass curtains, etc) if it is thrust or waved at him. (Similar to what happens to Discworld bogeymen when you put a piece of blanket over their head).
- Fire: Since his body was burned in his past life, Shaol has a natural fear of fire. While he is not as flammable as he was in the past, he will refuse to be anywhere near an open flame. His grass-hair is capable of being lit on fire, but it would take a concerted effort to get close enough to him to actually do it.
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:17 pm
 Eyes like Fire
Eloko Bells: While the traditional design for African bells is the square, cowbell shape, there are also very small, golden bells which I think fit the Eloko image a little better (not to mention it’s hard to shrink cowbells and have them make the same distinctive sound). Eloko bells would probably resemble something like these, which would make a more “magical” ringing sound than the traditional square shaped bell. Additional bell shapes: [x] [x] [x]
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:20 pm
Name: Zufli D'amarnga
Meaning: "baby witch"
Nicknames: Mama Zufli
Age: 46 human years
Gender: Female
Race: Marsh Troll
Basic Appearance: A large, bucksome woman in the tail end of her prime, Zufli's size isn't the only thing that helps her stand out in the crowd. It's rare to see one of her kind roaming the streets, and if the four arms and the distinctive hair style isn't enough to catch your attention then her mouth is what will merit a second glance. Like the majority of her race she has dark, smooth skin, marbled with bits of white and small bits of a chocolatey brown. Her overall build is humanoid with five fingers on each hand (all four of them) and five toes on each foot, though her limbs are much thicker than those of a human of her age. She has a round face with short, tusk-like teeth protruding from her bottom row of teeth. This gives her a noticeable under bite (and a very strange smile) but she tries not to look too imposing when she first meets people. Zufli wears her deep purple hair in long dreads that fall to her lower back, collecting them into a ponytail when it's time for work. Her eyes are a plain green – standard for her species – and she often chooses clothing that will compliment both her hair and eye colour, as well as her skin tone. After she adopted Shaol, she doesn’t wear her expensive perfumes as often, instead adding more jewellery to her already large collection. Though you can no longer smell her when she approaches, you can certainly hear her jingling from miles away.
Personality: You come to Mama Zufli, she make all your troubles go away! No cost! A very open, jovial woman, Zufli prides herself on being the mother to any wayward travellers who are in need of a warm bed, some hot food, and a little TLC. No one is safe from her mothering once they're in her territory, and anyone who sets foot in her restaurant/inn should be prepared to be stuffed so full of food and love that they can barely walk to their beds. She loves talking to her patrons, and never misses an opportunity to hear out the exciting adventures of some new traveller that has found their way to her home. Her deep, rumbling laugh can be heard at all hours of the day, and it is rare that she finds something or someone that doesn't tickle her fancy. Regular patrons to her restaurant/inn become part of her family, an inner circle of people she trusts and would protect with her life. You look out for your family, and your family looks out for you. In the rough and tumble world outside the space port, her attitude towards people is a refreshing concept for many a traveller.
This Marsh Troll has spent her entire life caring for the needs of others, and while some may think that her kindness makes her a pushover they couldn't be further from the truth. Once riled, she has a temper like a raging bull, and she swears up and down that she takes all of her grudges to the grave. Getting on the bad side of Mama Zufli is rarely on anyone's to do list. Her temper is fairly short-lived, however, and a properly played joke can calm her down easy enough. Zufli has got her own brand of verbal sass, however, and she's not the type to take anything lying down. Anyone who comes to her "home" looking for trouble will swiftly find that trouble isn't welcome and they'd be better off poking an angry bear than messing with Zufli's "family." There are some lines that should never be crossed, and she does not tolerate anybody who comes looking to disturb the peace.
Mama Zufli is not without her own troubles, however. She has devoted her life to her work, and by doing so, missed out on an opportunity to settle down and start a real family. One day she had hoped to have children of her own, however years went by quickly and before she knew it she was getting on in her years and she had no mate to father her children. Though her patrons appreciated her as their mother figure, very rarely do Marsh Trolls get approached for one night stands. For several years she submitted an application for adoption, but with the queue as long as it was, she expected that she would be too old to raise a child by the time they got to her name. Despite this, Mama Zufli tried to keep a positive outlook on the situation, and consider her patrons as her children. She would have to be satisfied with that.
That was, of course, until Shaol came along. Believing that he was sent by the adoption agency, Zufli was ecstatic. Her overbearing, motherly love could now be directed to her child, who she was insistent on smothering from the moment he opened his eyes and looked at her. She is more tolerant of his misdemeanours than she is of any of her patron's, and defends him like a bear defending her baby. And that's exactly what he is; her baby, no matter how old he gets. Of course, her love is a tough kind of love, and while she may defend him no matter what he's done she's not above smacking him with a dishtowel for staying outside long enough to catch a cold. She's quite happy to sass him for causing trouble, but she'd back him no matter what trouble he gets into. He is her one and only baby, after all.
Occupation: Owner of a family restaurant, Mama Zufli's that serves cuisine from every part of the galaxy and doubles as an inn for weary travellers
Family: No children, has a brother that works off-planet
World: A small planet on the outskirts of a galaxy, situated in an elliptical orbit that brings it near several other systems. It is an ideal planet for an outpost, where space travellers may seek temporary lodging before they continue on their journeys. Aside from the major cities, the majority of the planet is agricultural, home to a variety of rare mushrooms and medicinal plants. The land is farmed by Hogsmen and several breeds of Trolls, who live in urban communities with fairly low technology use. The farmers tend to only travel to the city when necessary, and use their planet's bountiful resources to trade for the things they cannot make themselves. In the big city space ports, industry and tourism are booming. Though technology may not be up to par with some of the neighbouring systems, the Outpost on Gamma 12 possesses enough knowledge of space ships to successfully repair virtually any model that happens to pass them by. They also live rather comfortably, and their city is passably clean. On the whole a very peaceful, hospitable planet, though whether this is because of the climate or the nature of the people who live there is unknown. It is noteworthy, however, that the urban Hogsmen and Trolls have as deep a dislike of troublemakers as their rural cousins, and take very effective measures to ensure that their cities are kept in order.
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:20 pm
Anya! XD For creating Fa'e in the first place and bringing together a wonderful community of rpers, lurkers and the insane. XDD heart
Lucifer Force: For poking me into getting off my lazy behind and convincing me to make a questee thread. And, in general, for just being an awesome person. You make me smile. I luff you! heart
Jade, Tsu and Stae: Thanks you guys for approving all of the bits of Barthy that made him unique. Your acceptance of him was greatly appreciated.
Arrien: Who read through everything TWICE a fine-toothed comb. I owe you my soul, seriously.
All those who read over my original entry: Your comments and criticism really helped me (whether you know it or not) to shape Barthy!
Good luck charm from Nimmeh! 4laugh heart
\o\ \o/ /o/ FOR LIFE
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:22 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:23 pm
FIRST STEP: Introduction
Why do you want a Fa'e?
The answer to this one is pretty simple: I love the community. XD I've been hanging out with pretty much the same people there since I started Gaia (pretty much), and I really like you guys. <3 Not to mention there are some absolutely amazing Rpers there, so I think anyone would enjoy the opportunity of being able to roleplay in a shop that's chock full of really creative people. I had lots of fun in the third RP contest ( o o/ /o/ for life!) and I'd love to eventually join the ranks of the guardians. ;3
SECOND STEP: Mythbase and Backstory
How do you kill a myth (god/legend)?
If you said "many ways" then you would be correct! 8D There is no correct way to kill an Eloko; you can kill them by burning them, or by cutting off their heads, or even by impaling them with a spear. Nuru had his head cut off, and then his body was burned to make sure that he did not come back. The reason he was not brought back by Mbomba (the African god of life and death) was because Mbomba didn't believe that Nuru deserved a second chance since he made a mess of his right to become an Eloko. He never punished the families of those who had killed him when he was a human, and thus he could not join the rest of the ancestral spirits.
What is the relationship of his past life to his present?
As far as Nuru is concerned, he's returned to a body that's a perfect for what he wants. It's not as vulnerable as a pure human body would be and at the same time, he's got most of the magic that he had in his past life. Unfortunately, however, Nuru did not expect to be reborn with a conscience. He would have to frequently do battle with his "mortal side", which will end up being extremely hard to do the fact that his guardian backs up his conscience. For him, there is a possibility that he could continue on to regain his position as guardian of the valuable parts of the forest, all the while striving to take revenge on the villagers, however he could also be changed by the people around him to perhaps put his talents to a more positive use. I'd like to leave this bit up to the RP to see where he goes.
What is in a name?
Frayne's naming was fairly simple. His guardian has a French name, and so he has a French name. Frayne means "ash tree" as well as "stranger", and both of the meanings apply. He was a stranger to Ghislaine's village, and he also looked like a tree. Ghislaine was not a very creative person when it came to names.
THIRD STEP: Personality Development
Sexuality and Relationships?
I'm sure the thought has crossed some people's minds when they hit the part in his personality that says he doesn't have any respect or particular fondness for women. Frayne, however, is very much heterosexual. He just is not the type to be in an equal relationship with a woman. Women are only good for a few things, and just because thinking isn't one of them doesn't mean he hates them. He just considers them to be inferior to him, which means he can basically do what he wants with them. At the same time, however, his guardian would beat him if he did anything stupid with a girl, thus he tends to avoid anything that would set his guardian on him with her cane. Much like the villagers would have viewed homosexuality, he considers it to be right up there with witchcraft and it is therefore a crime not a sexual preference.
How well does he play with others?
His temperament is not meant to be taken too seriously, as Frayne is supposed to be a rather comical villain type. He's a generally self-serving and unkind Fa'e, but with a backbone about as strong as a limp noodle. Though he plays it tough, he has a bully complex, and can have his ego flattened pretty easily. He'd be drawn to people with power, those who have what he wants, or those that could be easily persuaded to do his bidding. Heroes and the extremely noble/do-gooders would annoy him to no end, and he would probably be pretty sensitive about any height comments (especially after he sees how tall and generally imposing some of the Fa'e are. They just don't make them like that in Africa. >: ) At some point in time he may find himself unnaturally drawn to something who manages to catch and hold his attention (for some peculiar reason), though he'd be the type to never admit that he had anything to do with that person. Frayne would only be "friendly" or "nice" if threatened with some sort of punishment.
Is your character open to change?
Yup! Some of my favourite RPs come from shoving my characters into random situations to see how they react to them. XD He definitely has some room for what he's going to do with himself after the teen stage, and I'd like a lot of how he changes as a person to be influenced by the Fa'e around him. I can see him starting out as generally ill-tempered but maybe slowly becoming a little more tolerant. It'll all depend on how the roleplay goes. I also think that while I'm open to him being changed, he himself might put up some resistance to changes or throw the occasional tantrum when things don't go his way. He'd be cranky like that. XD
Is there something solid about him that won't change?
I think when it all comes down to it he'll never be a really nice guy. He'll never be all sunshine and butterflies, but at the same time I don't think he'd ever become emo. Frayne would pretty much stay irritable, but perhaps become a little bit more tolerant or a little less self-serving depending on roleplay. His core self is not really the hero type, and there's nothing that anybody could do to make him so.
What does your Fa'e do? (hobbies)
I wrote some up in his profile as some things he may enjoy doing. I believe Frayne would take an interest in anything that could potentially give him more power (in his mind) though I don't imagine he would be very good at too many things. It wouldn't stop him from trying – especially if someone offered to teach him – but he doesn't strike me as being particularly talented.
What cultural background does he follow?
His myth is from Africa, and I intend to incorporate as many African beliefs and traditions as I can get a hold of. As the memories come back it would be easier for him to remember things about the place that he lived. A lot of his view points especially pertaining to things like homosexuality, witchcraft and some religious things will have been carried over from his past life, so his tolerance level for things like that would be fairly low. I'd definitely like to give him the opportunity to explore his culture since it's very rich and very detailed. I also think it would be hard not to identify himself as being African, especially if he gets his darker skin colour either as a second gen or as a lost child.
What is his Edjyoukayshun? (Education)
Frayne's genius extends only to coming up with plans to help him rule the world. He is most definitely not book smart, and it would be safe to say that he hates reading. Books would provide a problem for him and his claws, not to mention there weren’t any books in his village for him to read. Instead, Frayne would learn the best orally, as most of the African traditions and teachings were passed down this way. His writing would only be barely legible at best since he wouldn't put very much effort into it (why should he write things down when he can just tell them to people?) and if he actually did get sent to school it is doubtful he'd do very well.
FOURTH STEP: Powers
What are his powers?
Sound hypnosis using bells, able to open his mouth wide enough to swallow a person, natural camouflage in the forest, very sharp claws. All of them come straight from his mythbase.
Powergaming: The Puchi Solution
So there are four categories: strength, magic, intelligence and speed. The method I'm going to use is sort of like the D&D character sheet. You can use ten points total and divide them as you like among the four categories. You can even put them all in one category. XD The build for Frayne would probably look like this:
Strength: 1
Magic: 4
Intelligence: 2
Speed: 3
Frayne is strongest in magic and speed, weaker in intelligence and the weakest in strength. His is not meant to be strong in combat, but rather to win his opponents over with his sound hypnosis (magic) and then eat them. If he can't beat them then he would try to out-run them (speed).
How do you mess with him?
Easily. XD I'll do this in point form for now and probably come back and rewrite it when I'm feeling smarter.
- plans often don't apply to real life
- fairly easy to outsmart
- easy to boss around if the personality is strong enough
- ego the size of the C.N. tower and easy to puncture
- hates broom-like items with a passion
- weak against amulets and fetishes
- fear of fire
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:25 pm
Links on the Mongo People: [x] [x]
Links Regarding other Mongo Dieties: [x] [x] [x]
Links Regarding African Religions (Ancestor spirits, witchcraft, etc): [x] [x] [x] [x]
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:26 pm
Prompt Responses (taken from the L/C contest)
Quote: It was obvious from the moment you discovered a seemingly abandoned baby on your doorstep that the child was far from ordinary -- and unfortunately, this is something that'll be difficult to keep from the rest of the world. What do the other members of your community (whether they be neighbors, other villagers, the people at the daycare you leave your child at) think of and how will they react to your Fa'e child, probably knowing as little about his or her origins as you do?
Quote: Your Fa'e child has been growing, and strange things begin to happen from time to time around it. Talk about your Fa'e odd manifestation of powers as a child/teen in their world - how do they deal with having powers and with being different from the rest of the children? What the results of the power manifestation and how does it affects them and the world around them?
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:43 pm
Vo doesn't quite know what to say. Barthy doesn't really seem to have many problems- well, actually, any problems- with his backstory or character concept...
Except that, well, he seems kind of one-dimensional in his personality. I don't know if I'm one to talk (actually, I'm pretty sure I'm not, considering the problems I had with Yumi's personality) but he doesn't really seem to have any trait other than simple-mindedness. You don't really mention anything negative about him at all, which kind of makes it hard to think of him as a "round" character.
Of course, I could just be missing it. You never know.
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Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:05 pm
Personality updated, as per critique. ~<3
Hobbies section was added, to be filled in later.
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:29 pm
Hobbies added and guardian profile finished. ;3
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