Appearance Liam is neither what one would call imposing or scrawny, falling somewhere in the middle of the two with a small amount of extra muscle, though it's not particularly well defined among his typically loose fitting clothing. Possessed of a shaggy, though ultimately short mop of blonde hair atop his head and a pair of cerulean coloured eyes that can go from wide and observant to narrow and nigh-piercing at a moments notice, Liam is by no means unattractive. More often then not he's easy as a book to read, wearing his emotions upon his proverbial sleeve and not the sort to try hiding them most of the time. Wardrobe wise, Liam greatly prefers the easily adaptable style of loose jackets and hoodies over simple T-shirts in a variety of colours, mostly veering towards the darker shades of blue and green paired with simple black or white shirts underneath and a set of black sweatpants. This is not to say he is incapable of cleaning his appearance up, as he does own a number of lighter coloured dress shirts and sets of slacks for when formality is required. He simply prefers a more casual appearance for day to day life.
Within the World of Fog the other him has a much more ostentatious appearance overall. Liam's subconscious desires and repressed traits manifest into a very showy attire comprised of a connected black suit jacket and pants, the former trailing off into a split cape running down to almost touch the ground that is crimson on the underside. Beneath the jacket he wears a simple white button up shirt accompanied by a bright red tie, flanked by the equally red inverted collars of his suit jacket. Atop the figure's head rests a black top hat with a red band running around the brim. Most striking though is the ghostly white mask that typically obscures the shadow's face, bearing a large eerie smile and two crescent shaped slits through which his sickly golden eyes can be seen. Completing the ensemble is a set of white gloves reminiscent of the sort oft worn by magicians, and an ebony cane that bears a similar mask to the one upon the Shadow's face as the headpiece of the staff.
Pretty much this, but reverse the red and black.
Height
5'11" (180cm)
Personality
At first glance, one might mistake Liam as shy, timid, antisocial or some combination thereof. The truth however, is that he is simply not the sort to start conversation for the sake of conversation. When approached he is actually quite friendly, talkative and at times difficult to shut up. Often described as perpetually calm and possessed of a wisdom far beyond what one would expect of someone his age, it is no wonder Liam has earned the unspoken "honor" of being everyone's therapist among his friends and acquaintances alike. A role he sometimes embraces and other times is nearly resentful over, finding the constant seriousness to be an unfading reminder of the sort of person he once was. Perhaps his past experience with the darker elements of life have lead to his heightened wisdom, and a sympathy to those going through hard times.
Though not obvious to the casual observer, the perceptive may note that he never seems to say all that is on his mind. Liam is exceedingly careful with his words, keenly aware of the effects a careless statement can have on a person's psyche. He has in the past, used this insight to get what he wants out of people, and at the time developed a small manipulative streak. Nowadays, Liam much prefers to use his persuasive nature in a positive way, encouraging and advising the few people he can call friends in the best ways that he can manage. Those few he can call friends are precious to Liam, and as such he is unrelentingly protective of them, to the point of taking a slight against them as a personal attack.
Recently though, Liam has found himself in a corrosive slump and drained in almost all senses of the word, he feels as if his words and actions are becoming yet more hollow by the day. The once fiery passion he held for helping others seems to be withering away before his very eyes, leaving him empty. His greatest fear of squandering the second chance he was granted comes closer to becoming his reality day by day, and there seems to be nothing he can do about it. Part of him realizes that this is merely a slump, and he simply needs to fight back against it until he somehow breaks through. Yet on the other hand Liam can't help but wonder if this is simply his lot in life, to be doomed to purposeless mediocrity whilst others succeed and excel around him. Deep down part of him wants to come out of the shadows cast by his peers and take center stage for once... though he has no idea how he'd ever do that. The gradual numbness he feels overwhelming his senses and very outlook on life has made him feel almost calloused to the issues of others in recent times, much to his own internal dismay.
Deep within the World of Fog however, the other Liam is all the things he'd like to forget and bury amalgamated into a heartless parody of the original. His old manipulative streak comes to the forefront, the reflection a silver-tongued demon who enjoys belittling and tearing apart the mental states of those unfortunate enough to cross paths with him. Toying with the unfortunate guest by using every insecurity, secret, and personal weakness he knows against them until they either dance to his tune or perish, whichever comes first. His deep desire for attention and to take center stage twists into an inflated ego who oft speaks in hyperbole and is overtly showy about all things. The moniker of being "everyone's therapist" blooms into a superiority complex and an arrogant outlook centered on how everyone knows oh so little without him, perceiving others as helpless and lost without his guidance. The problems and woes of others are but petty and pale imitations of that which he has seen and lived through already, and are thus ultimately insignificant in his eyes.
Persona
Virgil is a tall if somewhat thin humanoid figure, who wears a gray-green hooded cloak over what seems to be a combination of a leather cuirass and metallic guards covering his forearms, furthermore the persona's face is obscured by what looks to be the visor and helmet of a medieval knight, all of which seems to have sustained heavy fire damage. The cloak is tattered at the edges, and the metallic armor has obviously been scorched many times over, with blackened sooty patches marring the steely surface. At the figure's hip, twin tomes are holstered on each side, one being a dark orange and the other a deep green close to the shade of his cloak. The helmet and gauntlets are most often a dark grey but can range from their cool looking natural state to an almost incandescent glowing orange in combat situations. One other thing to be noted is that Virgil doesn't seem to have a lower body, the persona's figure seemingly melting into a half corporeal state beyond the knee that seems to almost merge into his cloak.
Arcana: V. The Heirophant.
Skills and Affinities
Virgil makes use of Electric aspected skills when summoned. Though he is capable of direct offense, Liam oft makes use of these abilities in a more indirect manner, laying shocking traps and creating barriers of arcing electricity to limit enemy movement. In addition, Virgil is capable of supportive skills such as those from the healing category. At first simple healing spells are the only skill of this type available to him, though as time goes on the ability to cleanse detrimental status effects and beyond will be added to his repertoire.
Virgil is resistant to Fire and Electric abilities. Conversely, he is weak to both Ice and Psychokinetic abilities
Symbolism
Just as Virgil once guided Dante through the Nine Circles of the Inferno, with purpose restored Liam will guide those close to him through their own personal trials. Perhaps he isn't the main fixture in the journey, but unlike before, now he is noticed and respected instead of a background figure doomed to die obscure and unknown. Finally he is able to use his insight and persuasive talent once again, and for a greater cause. He has walked through hell and shall help others to do the same with his own wisdom, knowledge and otherwise.
Equipment
In the World of Fog Liam wields a Zweihänder as his primary offensive weapon, preferring to stay on the front lines of any given engagement in order to give his more range-inclined allies some much needed breathing room. The blade's large size grants him the advantage of reach, and subsequently allows a great many opportunities to influence and control the flow of battle. However, not all foes are so accommodating as to rush into close combat, for these such occasions Liam also brings a reliable Gewehr 43 rifle to harry distant shadows.
Education
Psychology, 1st Year.
Biography
Liam Koehl was born in London to a pair of parents with a somewhat unstable relationship. He never really knew his father, as he was long gone before the boy had even started attending school for reasons that are still unknown to Liam. Naturally, this placed the sole responsibility for raising the young boy on his mother, one Emilia Koehl. A hardworking soul with near unflinching determination who'd emigrated from her native Germany some five years prior to Liam's birth in order to get away from the demands and pressure of a family that ultimately cared little for her. She'd be damned if she would simply give up on her own son because his father decided to walk out on them, so Emilia grit her teeth, dug her heels in and resolved to raise the child on her own. His mother's job as a professor at a nearby college allowed her to provide a relatively nice, if ordinary life for their family of two. Sure she was often busy, but for the times she couldn't be at home to watch her son, family friends were more than willing to fill in the gaps for Emilia. From an early age Liam had a strong work ethic and sense of perseverance instilled within him, largely in part to his mother's infectious "never give up" attitude. Throughout his early school life Liam became known as a pleasant, relatively quiet student who was a touch too serious at the best of times. His circle of friends wasn't large by any means, but they all got along well and stuck by each other, which was what counted in Liam's mind. For a time things went well, with Liam excelling in school and the two being a genuinely happy family, in spite of the hand originally dealt to them.
But of course, Fate seldom lets good things lie the way they are. Near the end of Liam's final year in primary school, tragedy reared its ugly visage. His mother had collapsed whilst giving a lecture and despite the best of efforts from paramedics and other medical professionals, succumbed to cardiac arrest. Though the exact cause of the incident seemed to be cruel and simple fate, some did speculate the possibility of her over-exhaustion having contributed to the ultimately fatal episode. Liam was temporarily taken in and later officially adopted by a friend and former colleague of his late mother. To say this series of events had a profound effect on the young boy would be the penultimate understatement, for he had just lost his only known family and the resultant shockwave from that loss would be felt in all aspects of his life. Firstly, his quiet and serious nature had seemingly amplified itself to staggering levels, as Liam would withdraw from the world around him and fall out with many of his previous friends. His grades plummeted for the first time in his academic career, and his budding interests in the sciences faltered. Kids seeking a feeling of power as bullies found him exceedingly easy prey, with plenty of material for insults and being an oft isolated target. For a time he simply felt... hollow, as if all that made him who he was had died and been buried alongside the mother who always did her best for him.
How fortunate then, that the one whose care he found himself in knew just how to right these internal wrongs. Ava Hallum, Liam's guardian and eventual adoptive mother held a number of degrees in psychology. As such, she was able to guide the boy through the emotional upheaval he was living through and start getting him back on the right path. Grief is no easy beast to tame, though slowly and surely Liam overcame it, holding tightly to the mantra his mother had ingrained upon him.
"Never give up."
Before the year's end his grades had returned to their previously high levels, though many of the friendships he had before were fractured beyond reparation, for nobody wanted to be friends with the quiet and weird kid who was at this point the schoolyard punching bag of a few bullies. People would talk as if he wasn't even there half of the time, though this did have the side effect of having Liam learn many a rumor from the careless students surrounding him. Although things were far from perfect or ideal they were far better than they could've gotten for him at this point. It was during this transition to and during his first two years of Secondary school that Liam really developed a connection with his adoptive family, and realized what they had truly done for him. From the edge of a self destructive spiral that could've descended infinitely further they pulled him, and gave him a second chance as if they were his own flesh and blood. To say he was grateful for their intervention would be nearly insulting, he didn't want to even imagine where that spiral would end and so he swore to never let someone or something else make him think that little of himself ever again. So when those selfsame bullies who'd harried him all the way back in primary school decided to make their return visits to him, he'd give them nothing in return. He'd do their work and be their metaphorical punching bag no longer.
At least, that held true until the normal clique of degenerates turned the focus of their scorn and insults from him specifically to the few who stood by him, namely his very few friends and his family in an attempt to get under the boy's skin once again. An attempt that would prove very successful, the anger and indignant rage he felt as he watched his friends suffer because of him was nigh-all consuming. The desire to strike back so very strong within him, yet if he did he'd not only be outnumbered and beaten by the gang of miscreants but also be likely labeled as the aggressor by the school's authorities and thus have to face suspension or expulsion. There had to be something, anything he could do to make this end! So when the pack of predators decided to descend upon Liam and his best friend between classes and started letting loose with their usual stream of mental torment, Liam tried something that was a long-shot at best out of pure desperation. He let loose every secret and rumor he'd learned about his assailants from keeping his head down the past two years in front of everyone present. For a moment there was silence, and then chaos as the tormentors turned on one another for letting each-others secrets slip through the cracks. The temporary turmoil allowed the two boys to slip away from the clique, currently busy tearing into one another. The damage was done, and Liam found himself aware of the power secrets and rumors held.
After that ordeal, he noticed the clique wasn't often seen together again, much less did they try to pick on him. People looked at him differently, the kid who was the school punching bag was suddenly possessed of a backbone and lashed out (albeit verbally) at the top dogs. That fleeting power he held was exhilarating, and he wanted more of it, growing very interested in the workings of the human mind and just what made people tick. He could use these rumors and pieces of information to finally stop being the bottom of the food chain in school! So for a short time he did just that, anyone who gave Liam Koehl or his friends trouble would swiftly find themselves on the unfavourable end of newly leaked rumors and secrets. Alternatively, those who gave him what he wanted would find their social lives considerably less endangered. In quite a short order, the abused had become the abuser. It was fun to watch the usually untouchable kids squirm and dance to his tune, and it's not like he went out of his way to ruin the undeserving's reputation. People flocked to his new false-strength, and with them yet more secrets and woes were added to his arsenal. Though as time went on, he started to wonder.
Was any of what he was doing right? What made him any different to those who once pushed him around? Is this how he wanted to spend that oh so precious second chance he was given? Why did he feel the need to be this way?
Those questions ate away at his resolve until slowly but surely his power trip came to an end, and along with it his time as a respected personage by his peers, though he had made some genuine friends who stuck by him during this time. He didn't want to be the villain in all this any more, instead electing to use what persuasive talent he held to help those close to him, rather than harming those against him. As it turns out, he was quite good at helping others, swiftly becoming the smart, dependable friend among his remaining peers and it made him feel... like he was doing something befitting of the second chance he was given for once. He'd determined that he'd follow in the footsteps of the same person who helped him at his lowest point, get a degree in psychology and help people with the talent he had been given. A far-fetched, childish dream some would say yet the more he dwelled on it, the more convinced Liam felt that this was the course he should follow.
Near the end of his mandatory academic career, doubt began to creep back in. All around him his friends passed their respective final tests and exams with flying colours, each and every one of them possessed of this incredible confidence Liam just couldn't seem to grasp. Needless to say, he felt like an observer, simply watching as those around him rocketed to prominence, whilst he is left behind in their collective shadow. His goals seemed so much more abstract and difficult to follow when compared to theirs. Could one man even hope to make a mark against an endless sea of human troubles? Did he perhaps waste the second chance he was given long ago? Is he even here of his own will? Why is he doing this in the first place?
As the new year at Thames' Edge begins, Liam's remaining convictions and resolve will be tested in many and more ways than he could've ever foreseen....
Affiliations
Emilia Koehl - Liam's Birth mother and an otherwise hardworking tough as nails woman who died of a heart attack when Liam was 10. Had nigh unmatched tenacity and instilled the values of working hard and not giving up unto her son at a young age. Previously worked as an Anthropology professor at a college in London. Constantly worked herself to the bone in order to raise her son alone, ultimately costing her life. The two shared a tight bond, and as such her loss devastated her son.
Ava Hallum - Liam's adoptive mother and a close friend/colleague of Emilia, who looked after her son shortly after her passing. A therapist by trade, she pulled the young Liam out of his self destructive, grief-fueled spiral before it was too late. Whether consciously or not, she's become a massive influence on her adopted son, who wants to now follow in her footsteps and help others as she did for him.
Megan Hallum - Liam's adoptive sister and the biological daughter of Ava Hallum. A couple of years older than Liam, and as such was the sibling Liam didn't have in his earlier years. While he's more of the perpetually calm sort, she's prone to outbursts of emotion and has a fiery passion for any and everything that catches her eye. Currently she's studying Medicine at Oxford, and though it is limited, communication is still open between the two.
Daniel "Dan" Barrett - Liam's best friend since Primary School, who stuck with him throughout his mother's death and his later power trip. Dan and Liam have a friendship outsiders would describe as nearly unbreakable. Dan was the one who taught Liam to loosen up a little bit, and stop taking things so seriously, for which Liam is incredibly grateful. Currently studying Engineering abroad.
Appearance Rei Sato has a light build to her, leaning onto the thinner side when it comes to her weight. Additionally, she has chest-long silver hair that she often wears down and allows to flow free, complimenting her purple eyes. Rei's complexion is also rather pale, due to her tendency to stay indoors and away from where the sun can touch her.
Rei's wardrobe consists of many jackets, sweaters, and such that are often very baggy. Lately, Rei has been getting better about allowing her figure to be shown but from time to time she struggles with it and often goes back to the safety of being hidden underneath the safety cushion of her outerwear. These clothes often fall under a shade of purple, gray, blue, or red, and she hardly ever wears anything colored otherwise.
In the World of Fog, Rei's outfit turns into one with a light blue sleeveless jacket, complete with black tights, fingerless gloves, and top of the line trainers to allow for mobility, because Rei thought going through someone's consciousness required that much freedom of movement.
Height 5'6"
Personality Rei is a very by-the-books sort of person. There's little leeway given by her when it comes to the rules, and she very rarely tolerates people bending them to their favor. Rei is also reported to have a wicked "resting bitch face", often leading to the impression that she's often unapproachable and overall a very hard person to talk to. Which is sort of true, as Rei doesn't really like to talk to people she is unfamiliar with, nor does she desire to associate with people she knows for a fact are troublemakers and simply up to no good. The student's experiences in university have trained her to be able to detect someone who is simply wanting to associate with her for the sake of alleviating the work of amount they have to do and see if they can get Rei to help them out. To this day, Rei has never assisted who desired to do something like this. On some occasions, she has even gone as far as reporting those offending individuals to the Administration.
To those that are familiar with Rei, however, she is most often the anchor when it comes to judgment and morality. Rei's defining trait in the social circles that she is involved in is her rather keen sense of judgement and impeccable moral compass. Often, her decisions and rulings may come at the dismay of her peers, since she often chooses what may be beneficial for the greater good, even if it is at the expense of her peers' livelihood. Rei is considered as sort of a double edged sword for advice, since she has an innate ability to stay objective no matter the people involved, and she will make a decision and judgment based on her senses alone. No outside interference permitted for her.
Lately, Rei has been struggling with the extent to which she should be following the rules. Her experiences in university have lead her to find out that many of her peers have been engaged in illicit activities. The balance between doing what she considers to be the right thing and being the ideal friend is one that she often has to think about. Should she inform the administration that her friends are consuming drugs? Turning a blind eye had always been a hard thing for Rei to do, if not impossible.
Her shadow, however, is quite the opposite. Rei's shadow is an amalgamation of chaos and disorder. Rules simply don't exist with her, and anarchy rules the world. It doesn't matter what, as long as it provides the most unruliness, she'll pick it, with little regard for the consequences.
Persona
"[Themis] is described as "[the Lady] of good counsel", and is the personification of divine order, fairness, law, natural law, and custom. Her symbols are the Scales of Justice, tools used to remain balanced and pragmatic. Themis means "divine law" rather than human ordinance, literally "that which is put in place", from the Greek verb títhēmi (τίθημι), meaning "to put".
Skill Themis relies primarily on bless and physical skills. Conversely, Themis is susceptible to electric and curse attacks.
Biography Rei Sato was born to Megumi and Jin Sato in Manchester, England, where she has an older sister, Yui. Rei and Yui didn't know their father much when they were growing up, as Jin passed away very early on in Rei's life due to pancreatic cancer. Rei's childhood was full of struggles as the Sato family struggled to cope with the loss of their patriarch, as he was the source of their income and overall livelihood and the reason behind their quality of life. They quickly had to move out of their house and into a flat into a rather dodgy neighborhood to avoid being rendered homeless.
As a result of this sudden loss of income, Megumi had to take on multiple jobs in order to keep a roof over Rei and Yui's head, often leaving the two alone by themselves once Yui was old enough to watch over Rei. However, it wasn't enough to keep Rei from witnessing the true horrors the world around them had. Often, Rei was peering outside the window, bearing witness to a variety of crimes such as robberies and assault, a constant reminder to Rei that there was little that she could do with her situation. As a result of being around so much disarray and chaos, Rei quickly figured out that rules were the way to keep her safe. That meant not being outside after a certain time, not going into certain areas, or associating with certain people. Rules were what kept her safe, and a lot of them were drilled into Rei's head as Yui and Jin tried to protect the youngest member of the Sato clan.
As a result, as she entered primary school, Rei was often one to be reminding the class as to what they could and couldn't do. No talking while they were reading books! No running in the hallway! Rei was under the impression that people heeded her word, as well as that her word was what was keeping people safe. After all, if they abided by the rules and stayed out of trouble, they would be safe, right? It was working for the young Rei, so there was certainly no reason for her to believe otherwise. Rei didn't understand that people naturally wanted to break the rules and do their own thing. Additionally, she didn't understand that rules were merely words to some people, and failed to heed the words of those who proclaimed those rules.
Every night, Rei would be watching the news, and she would often see reports of happenings in not only Manchester, but all over the country, and even the world. The amount of people that broke the rules all the time were extremely shocking to her, and she couldn't figure out why people would want to put themselves into so much danger and break all the rules. Even the words of her sister and mother couldn't help her understand why people behaved like this and refused to follow rules.
Until, the day the sanctuary of her own home was violated. Coming home from school one day, Rei had come home to discover that her home had been ransacked by thieves. They took whatever the family had left, breaking apart the little foundation they had to keep themselves afloat. Very little was left, and Rei had an epiphany. Why did people follow rules things like this still happened to them? Maybe people no longer followed rules because of how often it failed them. That was the day Rei decided she'd make a commitment toward following the rules, as well as making sure those who didn't would receive proper punishment for doing so. She decided that those who didn't abide to the rules that were meant to keep people safe deserved to be punished.
Rei had gone into secondary school with the conviction to become a lawyer, in the hopes that she could assist with defending those whose safety have been violated by the hands of criminals and see to it that they be punished accordingly. She grew tired of seeing rulebreakers get away without little consequence and she wanted to play a part in taking these people out of the world and issue them what they deserved.
Toward the end of her secondary education, it was determined that Rei Sato would be attending Thames' Edge university as part of their law program due to her merits as a student while in secondary education. Rei, of course, had accepted the offer without a doubt in her mind. It was away from her home, and she was away from her family, but Yui was around enough to make sure that she could hold down the fort and ensure that their mother would stay safe.
Now, in the coming year of her tenure at Thames' Edge, her unwavering conviction toward the law and upholding it has been wavering. Why bother if people continued to keep breaking rules and laws and put people at risk? With every day that passed and every event, it seemed like her contributions would be for naught, which severely disheartened Rei.
Affiliations Megumi Sato - Mother
Rei holds a very close relationship with her mother due to the bond they had while growing up. She's practically her world and talks to her as often as she can, especially due to the distance between the two due to Rei's situation as a student.
Yui Sato
Rei's older sister. Yui is Rei's closest friend and biggest confidant, and Rei tells Yui about pretty much everything that is on her mind and affecting her, regardless of the nature.
@Majoras EndHeyo, just checking you're still on the okay with the Fool Arcana. No rush, we're updating the list so we just need to know if yah still on it?
Appearance Tate is a tall young man with an athletic body. He's not too overly muscular, but has a fairly toned physique with a majority of his muscle mass concentrated in his arms and upper body. His skin is beige, and he has dark brown eyes. He has a messy bed of hair that is generally kept uncombed. Tate usually doesn't care too much about his appearance, but keeps his face clean-shaven at the behest of his dad. Tate stands tall and rarely if ever slouches. His face is normally stuck in a cocky grin, allowing all to see his well-maintained pearly whites.
Tate's casual wear can best be described as... well, casual. His wardrobe almost entirely consists of t-shirts, hoodies, loose button-up shirts, jeans and cargo pants. His clothes are generally found in dark blues, saturated reds, and dark grays and blacks. Tate has a pair of white running shoes that he wears all the time, which have dirtied quite considerably from overuse.
Height 6'0"
Personality If one were to spot Tate from afar, and noted how he carried himself, they would probably be quick to assume that he is cocky, brash, and hot-headed. However, if they were to actually approach and interact with him, they would figure out that that assumption is absolutely correct. Tate is all of these things to a T and more. Tate is impulsive, always the type to act first and think later. He carries an air of confidence about him wherever he goes, even when (or perhaps especially when) he has no idea what he is doing.
Those who've interacted with him, then, and fully understood how he acts in everyday life, would assume that he is not a very smart man. This assumption is incorrect. Well, partly incorrect. Tate is incredibly book smart, having grown up as a child in the gifted program. Tate is intelligent on subjects that interest him, and those that generally assume he is a bumbling oaf may be surprised to hear (perhaps pleasantly so) that Tate can hold his own on discussions of math and science. The caveat here, then, is that Tate's impulsiveness often gets in the way of common sense, and he usually only realizes that he's made the wrong decision after he's made it. Very often, Tate gets into trouble simply because he's not thought the consequences through.
Tate is very loyal to those he deems his trusted friends. Although he is loud, brash, and standoffish at times, those who put their trust in him will find that he will just as easily put his trust in them as well. This can be a double-edged sword, however. Tate has often done things at the behest of his "friends" that have later backfired on him, and he is a very easy person to backstab.
Biography Tate is a man of many words and actions, even if they aren't necessarily the right words or actions. Born in Newmarket, Ontario, Tate was the only male figure in his family after his father left the family when Tate was four. His twin younger sisters, Penny and Jeanie, always looked up to him as a strong older brother. Because of this, Tate grew up a fighter and a protector. He would always be the kind of person who would stick up for those that were weaker than he was. This caused him to make a few enemies, especially bullies that saw him as a goody two-shoes. As Tate grew, the bullies' focus turned away from their original targets and onto Tate himself. Tate got into many fights in school, but was rarely the aggressor. Because of this, and because Tate was otherwise an academically gifted student, that he never got into major trouble for it. His mother was called several times due to his behavior, but his mother never scolded him too much, especially since his sisters were always on his side.
Tate's time in his elementary and high school years, especially in his time in the gifted program, set him squarely on the path of higher education, not just physically, but also mentally. He was sure that pursuing a career in research or teaching was the way for him. Tate was often at the top of his class every grade, all the way up to the end of high school. However, his home life was beginning to sour. Although Tate still cared for his mother and siblings, he began to feel a lack of freedom while he was living in the household. He decided then, when it came time to pick a university for his post-secondary education, that he would move away from his home, and sent out many different applications to many universities around the world, mostly in the United States, Great Britain, South Korea, and Japan. When the invitations came back, Tate initially had trouble deciding where to go. However, literally two days after he received the invitation from Thames' Edge, he learned that one of his online friends, a girl named Jocelyn Salt, was also going to attend Thames' Edge. This sealed the deal for Tate, and he packed his bags and set off for London.
Tate was sure he had it figured out. Tate knew what he was going to university for, and what paths he was going to pursue afterwards... for the first semester. Ennui hit him like a truck midway through the second semester. He had been so sure, that he wanted to teach, or to study or do research in some STEM field, but now... now? He wasn't so sure. He felt like something was missing... like he had looked the other way while his true calling had passed him by. Was this really the path for him? If it was, why did he feel so empty inside? And if it wasn't, what was? What was his true calling? And... was it too late?
Affiliations Do-hee Hwang - Tate's mother, a hard-working, soft-spoken woman whose husband left after a messy divorce, leaving her with three mouths to feed. Thankfully, Do-hee had a supporting family of her own, who often sent her money and helped out with the house whenever they could.
Penny & Jeannie Hwang - Tate's younger sisters, they are fraternal twins. Penny is the more outspoken and extroverted of the two, while Jeannie is the shy, quiet one. Both of them look up to Tate and have been a constant point of contact to combat homesickness while Tate is in London.
Jocelyn Salt - The reason that Tate finally settled on Thames' Edge as his university of choice. Jocelyn is a serious, rational thinker, always ready to rein back Tate with a sarcastic quip. She and Tate are thick as thieves, despite their opposing personalities. Or perhaps because of them.
Hi. Been browsing around looking for a cool RP to join and this is the only one that actually piques my interest. If there's still a slot open, I'd like to join in. Only thing is, while I find the Persona games to be cool, I've not actually played them in any capacity (only watched a bit of my brother and roommate play P5, since I was busy with Fire Emblem: Three Houses when my roommate finally got P5 on his PS4), so I'm not all that knowledgeable about the series. Is that problematic or is this detached enough from the main series to play without knowing everything about how the games work?
I'm not 100% sure that I'm finished with this. If it needs any adjustments, let me know. Also edgy healer yay XD
Name Tryg Truman
Male, 20 Years, Born in Finland
Appearance Standing at five feet, seven inches tall and weighing 67 kilograms, Tryg isn't the owner of an imposing build, but he likes it that way. He requires glasses to see properly, at least in the real world. Tryg owns a great many black t-shirts, and has a tendency to wear a light gray and black jacket. For legwear, khakis are preferred. His nose is quite pointed, his eyes sunken, and his hair jet black. On his right temple is a wire-thin scar. Anytime Tryg has been seen awake, he seems to have his bass trombone (which he dubs "Dainsleif") strapped to his back, if it's not in his hands.
Personality Tryg is rather arrogant, but he is not without his idols. He holds his trombone in such high regard that some think it to be worship, but his true undeniable worship is given to JJ Johnson, a jazz trombonist from the Americas. Before moving to the UK for University, he had a shrine erected in JJ's honor in the closet of his bedroom. He sees no other musician as worthy of his attention, and can even be condescending to those who are not musically inclined, believing them to be lacking in education.
Even for all his arrogance, though, there's something about those who are downtrodden that tugs at Tryg's heartstrings. Maybe because he feels he relates due to struggling to meet his goal? He couldn't admit that, though, could he?
Persona
Mist rarely reveals her true form to anyone considered "beneath" her. However, when she is convinced of a warrior being worthy of a place in Valhalla (in Tryg's mind, those of Valhalla are Soloists or First Chair musicians), she at last reveals her face. Even to a lesser companion, she will ensure they are not harmed beyond healing. She will remain faithful to any considered a "friend" until their demise, even if they are not deemed worthy in her eyes. Or perhaps it's not a matter of an improvement outsiders must make . . .
Arcana Faith
Skill Mist grants the ability to Heal allies, as well as the ability to create a concealing fog.
Equipment While in the World of Fog, Tryg utilizes a rapier for melee combat and a light crossbow for ranged attacks.
Education Tryg is in his third year of University, and as the trombone being carried around probably indicates, he is majoring in music.
Biography The product of an inconsequential family out of Tampere, Finland, Tryg was clearly influenced by music at a young age. His parents seemed to be proud of this, as he was taking after his father. After his seventh birthday, he discovered American Jazz, and it became an obsession, enough that Tryg's primary instrument of choice was the trombone. His parents initially granted his wish, and even paid for private lessons, but as the costs of another musician in the family grew greater, so did the tensions between parents and child. Tryg's musical abilities grew rapidly, yet his parents grew weary of this increasing obsession, both in terms of money and morale. At the age of 14, Tryg got into a horrible confrontation with his father that left Tryg's mother terrified. Tryg would never admit it, but he was the first to throw a punch that day. The fight left Tryg with a broken wrist and a scar on his temple, and his father managed with only a couple of bruises.
Yet Tryg refused to give up his passion, and became more determined to follow this obsession through to the end. He even took up odd jobs around town and earned small jazz gigs to earn money, and applied for scholarships to help pay for further tuition. By the time he finished his local schooling, he had amassed enough to go abroad for the remainder of his tuition. At last, it was time to escape from his parents and show the world what he was capable of.
To celebrate "moving up in the world," Tryg had managed to save enough money to purchase a new bass trombone, which he gave the name Dainsleif with the promise that any time he touched the instrument to his lips, the sound would be so pure it would "kill" those who listened. He found it entertaining when he arrived at Thames' Edge to learn of their motto: Find Your Purpose. "Heh. I've got my purpose," Tryg thought. "I'm here to fulfill it." His first two years of school were uneventful, but it's now that he has begun to question his goals. Once he finishes this, what is it he's going to do?
Affiliations Brennus and Candace Truman, his parents, though he likes to not bring it up
Relationships None, at the moment. Views himself a lone wolf.
Appearance Kjell has an above-average build with short brown hair and gray eyes. He tends to wear jackets most days regardless of the weather. Normally open and most black, or gray but, has one green and red jacket that he wears sometimes. His shirts vary in colors but, most are gray or white. He sometimes wears a hoodie which is gray on rainy or cool days. Also wears a necklace all the time that he got from his grandparents.
Height 5'9
Personality Kjell could be described as an introvert, shy, reserved, and likes to be alone. He also can be very social, outgoing, and rather active when he wants to. Trending the line really with being an introvert and is generally friendly to those around him. Along with being a positive and hopeful person despite his history. Able to see the bright side to a situation no matter how bleak. Sometimes to the annoyance of others. Though he tries to hide the self-doubt and the grief his has over his involvement with his sister's accident. Which he tries to get past it but, it hard to dislodge as he has found. Generally, Kjell is a go with the flow kind of kind guy. Though he can be stubborn at times and sometimes if he sets his mind to it. He can be very hard to dissuade him about something he cares about.
Biography Kjell was born in Stavanger, Norway, and the eldest of three. His parents were middle class and own a small hardware store. Growing up Kjell was content with his life and would form close bonds with his family. Particularly with his sister and it was when he was ten did he show interest in astronomy. Always curious about the stars and would spend nights looking up at the night sky, finding constellations, and wanting to know more about the stars.
Things were looking bright for the family, until when Kjell was twelve. When his parent's bank accounts got hacked and someone stole most of their money. On top of that, the family had to close their hardware shop after losing customers to the hardware regional chain Clas Ohlson. Now having to live off of welfare and the possibility that they may have to move given the high cost of living in Stavanger. His father fell into depression and while he tried to hide it from Kjell and his siblings. It was clear the state of his father and Kjell could not help but, feel about his father. While also worrying about the future though he tried to be positive.
By the time he was fourteen, the family had moved to Bryne and had started to recover. His parents found work and things were going well. Then an abrupt accident involving his sister and left her in a coma. Kjell was distraught over what happened since the accident was his fault. He could not forgive themselves for what he did to his sister and started to doubt himself. When she finally woke up a month later, Kjell was overjoyed at the news. While she recovered fast, she was angry at him over what happened and a rift started between the two. Kjell thinking that he deserved this and for a time did not know to rebuild the ruined relationship with his sister.
For years this went on and he clung on to some hope that maybe he could salvage relations with his sister and it seemed like she was starting to forgive him. Then Kjell suffered a falling out with his best friend and it was a explosive end. It left Kjell to think about things and it affected him deeply. After graduating from high school, Kjell earned a scholarship to several collages and under his parents wanting the best for him. Recommended him to go to Thames'Edge University in England. Which he thought it would be fun to study aboard and moved to London. So far he is enjoying himself in London though his grief and self-doubt have not left him. Still, he hopes that he will get better down the road and fix the relationship with his sister.
Affiliations Torgeir Granum - Father Johanna Granum - Mother Vivi Granum - Younger Sister Joar Granum - Younger Brother
Sexuality Heterosexual, with a preference for older ladies
Nationality Japanese-Australian
Appearance The air of eccentricity surrounding the stylish and slender David is accentuated by his outlandish outfit and hairstyle, both purposeful choices designed to elicit a reaction. The literal crowning feature of his daily wear is his bronze-plated leather headgear that doubles as a pair of vanity goggles and headphones. The accessories don't stop there as a six-piece gold skullhead necklace and a choker adorns his neck, while a copper chain makes sure that no one is able to steal his perennially cashless wallet. The more typical pieces of his wardrobe happen to be whatever graphic tee shirt he had meticulously chosen at least a night before wearing it, a designer full-grain leather belt, one of many identical pairs of navy blue slacks, and a pair of brown slip-on shoes. Barring extreme cold weather conditions where he's forced to wear more layers, this is pretty much David's daily clothing choice.
The World of Fog just happens to call for that extra layered outfit. David's new chosen ensemble is more muted while also managing to cover more of his body. The leather layers include pauldron and fauld portions, while the neck wear is replaced by a scarf. Lastly, the goggles become somewhat functional instead of being purely decorative as it provides a calming hue for placebo stress relief.
Personality An easy going and fun loving guy, David likes nothing more than enjoying life and laughing his misfortunes away. Previously known to be shy and asocial, he has actively tried to push his limits and be more outgoing. Sometimes this dips into being carefree and excessively familiar even with strangers, causing some unnecessary friction. While he may not be quick to notice this, it does bother him when he catches this occurrence often prompting him to apologize.
However, behind the facade is still the anxious, cautious, and cowardly individual who runs hypothetical scenarios on how something could go wrong. As previously alluded, David had been a socially withdrawn person who didn't dare take any risks for fear that he might get hurt. Purposefully misinterpreted facts and pseudo-philosophy pervade his empathy to others who take those risks, which he struggles to suppress during stressful situations. This in turn fuels the justification for whatever horrible action he might have to take in the name of self-preservation. His Shadow embraces this brash hedonism and schadenfreude, pushing for David's desire to enjoy the pleasures of life at the expense of others. After all, if nothing truly matters, why not laugh as the world burns around you?
Persona
Known to Australians as either a folk hero or a murderous bandit, Edward "Ned" Kelly was a major figure in their nation's modern mythology as a gentleman outlaw. Though he was the son of an Irish convict, the young Ned Kelly had tried his luck at honest work for most of life. However, he would be forced into banditry after the authorities had stacked the laws against people like him and his father, often leading to harassment from police agents bribed by rich landowners. Sick of being accused a villain, Ned would finally become the monster they had painted him out to be.
He, along with his brother and childhood friends, would go on a spree of bank robberies that made fools of the Queen's constables as they would either surrender to or be captured without much resistance by the Kelly Gang. A significant portion of the loot would often go to poor farmers like Ned had been, absolving them of their debt and allowing them to hire good defense attorneys to stave off the corrupt police force's wrongful arrests.
Near the end of his banditry run, Ned had staged a confrontation against the policemen that he knew he wouldn't walk away from. In preparation for this, he had forged iron armor for himself and his gang that stopped the bullets of their enemies. During the battle, Ned Kelly would walk towards his enemies and laugh as their bullets bounced back. However, in the end, his unarmored leg would be shot and the police had captured him for trial though not without some of the officers wanting to kill the outlaw right on the spot he fell. While there were tens of thousands who protested against Ned's arrest, the 25 year old was still sentenced to hang.
His last words would be quite poignant: "Such is life."
Though in his death, Ned Kelly has transcended from man to legend. One of the postmortem deeds that contributed to this happens to be the mysterious death of the judge that condemned the outlaw, with Ned Kelly mentioning he'd see him in hell. The honorable lord died 12 days after the trial.
Now, this bush ranger is romanticized as a rebellious freedom fighter against the unjust authorities in power - a personification of Australia's colonial legacy.
Skill Earth/Support. David will no longer run from his problems, both because he will now stand his ground and the fact that Kelly's armor is quite heavy. Like the Iron Outlaw before him, David will provide protection to those that he considers his gang.
Biography The cutthroat world of business is the same the no matter where you go - the bigger company eats the smaller ones for breakfast. This reality was easily understood by David's grandfather, a real-estate mogul based in the heart of Tokyo who had expanded into the Australian market. To oversee the overseas operations, only one option opened opportunity: Jiryu Okada, David's father. Why would that be, one would wonder? Jiryu would be arranged to marry an heiress of another prominent business family based in the former British colony of Australia, securing a strong power base for both conglomerates. And of course, to seal the deal, they needed the marriage to bear fruit.
Unfortunately (or fortunately depending who you ask), this wouldn't be David. At least not primarily as his elder brother by one year, Ryoto, is the one groomed to take over once enough time would pass. However, David's entrance into this world would be marked with misfortune as his mother would die in childbirth. A depressive and an alcoholic, her physical condition was already deteriorating and the trauma of delivering David would be too much. Much of his and his brother's childhood would be spent with servants in homes located in either Tokyo or Canberra as their father would delve more into his work.
Wealth didn't make David's childhood free from bullying. No matter where you are, school kids can be cruel and being biracial certainly didn't help. At one point, he had pleaded his father for private homeschool tutors but the stern Jiryu refused as this would hamper his social skills that were essential for business. This merely reinforced the social aversion David already had, believing that self-sabotage would make his remaining parent reconsider. Of course, it didn't work and it remains a bitter memory of regret. As David became more reclusive, this incensed his bullies to push things further as they began to push him around, get in his face, and even spit on him.
When it became too much, David finally snapped. A wind-up haymaker from him had caused one of his schoolmates to lose their front teeth. To his surprise, he only got a verbal warning and the teacher delivering it was seemingly reluctant - even scared - to do so.
The secret was out - the young heir was untouchable, and all he could do was laugh at how ridiculous it all felt.
He knew he had done wrong and he wasn't punished.
Such a rush would turn anyone drunk with power.
He knew better but the temptation would always haunt him.
He would cultivate his new found infamy into an insulation shield where he wouldn't be bullied and even befriend some of those mates as they targeted other unfortunate kids. Better them than him, he gleefully thought. This would also mark the point where he would begin to be more outwardly expressive in both clothing and personality as if to taunt others that he's done with their crap.
As he entered into adulthood, David's life would again be struck with tragedy as his grandfather would be die, with foul play being suspected. A target had been painted on him and his family, prompting him to relocate from the Pacific and continue his education elsewhere. Wanting to experience a metropolitan lifestyle in Europe, David suggested he be transplanted to London.
And by fate, he would end up at Thames' Edge University.
Affiliations
Jiryu Okada - Father, current head of their combined company holdings.
Ryoto Okada - Older brother, next in line to their family business.