| Character You're Applying For |Garth of Shayeris
| Age |12
| Powers And Abilities |Garth is a full-blood Atlantean, physiologically adapted to the crushing pressures, low light, and freezing temperatures of the deep ocean. In the water, Garth breathes through special pores in his skin. He is able to survive for brief periods on dry land before he begins to experience dehydration, varying based on ambient humidity. A few other notable distinctions from baseline humans include:
• Superhuman Stamina: Garth can tolerate depths in excess of 3,600 feet, routinely experiencing ocean pressures equivalent to 1,602psi (10,900 kPa). He also does not suffer any ill-effects from prolonged exposure to the sea, such as hypernatremia (salt water poisoning) or desquamation of the skin from continuous immersion. He is able to maintain a stable body temperature even in deep ocean water (33-37˚F) and does not experience hypothermia.
• Superhuman Strength: Garth's arms and legs are able to propel him at 90 mph (78 knots) while under thousands of pounds of ocean pressure.
• Telepathy: Garth can communicate both telepathically and empathically, both with people as well as marine life. This is commonly used as the means of communication underwater due to the nature of sound transmission at depth.
• Magic: He has the rare ability to wield Atlantean magic, giving him the potential to control currents, manipulate the elements, or even teleport across dimensions... if he ever learns to control it, that is.
| Origin And Backstory |Garth is the son of Thar, King of Idyls -- a political off-shoot of Atlanteans who rejected the ways of Poseidon and sought a pacifist utopia inside of the Hidden Valley, where they founded the underwater city of Shayeris approximately 4,000 years ago. His mother is Berra, Queen of the Idylists. Garth's ability to use Atlantean magic was inherited from his father, who is regarded as the Idylist's second most powerful sorcerer. The title of most powerful was held by Thar's elder brother, who held the original claim to the throne of the Idylist Kingdom. Then Crown Prince Slizzath was rejected for his study of the forbidden arts of necromancy, resulting in his banishment for dabbling in the black arts. Eventually, Slizzath raised an undead army and sought to take the throne of Shayeris, but was defeated by Thar and Aquaman.
The underwater city-state of Venturia invaded the Idyls, led by Queen Clea (who wielded the Trident of Poseidon). In order to maintain their pacifistic way of life, Shayeris appealed to Atlantis for aid and were liberated by the combined efforts of Aquaman and Diana of Themyscira (Wonder Woman). As a result of this incident, Garth was taken as a ward of Atlantis.
As he has grown older, Garth has started to gravitate toward the only other outsider in all Atlantis, the half-blood known as the hero Aquaman. Self-described as Aquaman's greatest fan, Garth would follow the adventures and escapades of his idealized idol, which had the inadvertent coincidence of putting Garth in the right place at the right time to rescue his hero. Afterward, the two began to interact and travel together more often, resulting in Garth earning the moniker Aqualad by those who saw the boy graduate from groupie to sidekick status.
As Aqualad, Garth met fellow sidekick Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) and the Justice League. These experiences introduced Garth to the concept of life on the surface of the Earth, something he'd only heard of through the accounts of Arthur Curry (which seemed more like flights of fantasy).
| Summary of Version Differences |The origin of Garth has been re-worked to better distinguish him from Aquaman. Instead of being exposed/abandoned as an infant, Garth is a ward of Atlantis and the prince of Shayeris. Otherwise, it's exactly what it says on the tin.