[OOC] Written: A Fairytale RP

[HalfOfLancelot]

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How does our world work? Well, that's quite simple; to show you that, I'm going to need a world map.

Imagine your Earth. England, France, India, Argentina. Imagine it without borders––just the landmasses, the Horn of Africa, Vesuvius, the Barringer Crater, the Grand Canyon, the meadows of not-France, the deserts of not-Africa, the islands of not-Japan. Now, replace it with new borders and old, some of them where you might imagine them to be and others wider, more historical, more fantastical. Draw them in. Colour them in.

Now take a pair of scissors and cut them all up.

No, no, that's too neat: rip up the edges, because the Cataclysm wasn't gentle. Blast them all apart, and scatter them all over the room. That's the state of our world right now. Each of our kingdoms which once traded with each other over sea and land routes can no longer do that, because at the edge of our borders, there is just a gaping chasm – a void. Dark magic fills this, and laps up at the edges and leaks through.

Kingdom by kingdom, what you would call 'the fairytale world' (but what we would call 'home') fell apart with us still surviving in the cracked pieces. Famine. War. Death. We continued until we could no longer assure our continued existence, and channelled the very powers that broke up our world in the first place to come to send our best somewhere new, somewhere safe.

That's how we ended up here. Earth. It has been five long years of eking out a living in the sleepy city of Seattle, adapting to a world with technologies that do what our magic could not. Sticking together, sticking close. Our lives are the stories parents tell their children to make them fall asleep. Perhaps, in the last five years, some of us fables have had children of our own.

But all of that is threatened. Seismic events. Long, human shadows that steal away the innocent that only we can fight. Magic is coming to Earth, as those with the ability to tap into it have noticed, and with it, it brings a second Cataclysm.

We cannot let it happen again.

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Hello! And welcome to the OOC of Written: A Fairytale RP. Following on from the likes of Once Upon A Time and, more importantly, The Wolf Among Us, we want to focus on a dark, corrupted fairytale world that might once have been as innocent as the stories... but it certainly isn't now. It is important to note that it is not just the main fairytales that are being allowed: we accept legends and folktales with characters, classic literature aimed at children (Peter Pan, Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and so forth).

While this RP starts on Earth, it will likely progress at some points – many points – into the shattered remains of the fairytale world(s). For this, we already have some teasers written up to showcase the various tribulations our characters will face in these lands that they might once have originated.

Right now, we're looking at a big group of players. There a few guidelines that I expect to be followed: 2 paragraphs per post minimum, with an expected, but not strictly enforced, 1 post required a week. Reservations for characters last 3 days, after the 3 day period is up, then it's whoever can churn it out first.

If you have any questions you have your GM Team on at various hours of the day. Either PM or Tag us here. We are as follows: @HalfofLancelot, @McHaggis, @Roosan, and @Undine!

Let's make this RP the shit. But, most of all, have fun doing it! :)

Note: Concerning characters, what we're looking for in this Roleplay aren't completely original characters. We want your adaptation of pre-existing characters with already established lore. So! Find an awesome character you like, whether they're super obscure or really popular, and adapt them to this RP. Make them your own, make them interesting, make them a whole character. Whether you subvert them, change their sex/gender, or parts of their lore, as long as the core concept, what makes the character who they are, stays the same. They have to be distinguishable: Robin Hood still has to be Robin Hood.

Examples of this can be seen in the previous 'iteration' of this roleplay: Mystvale

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Our Discord Server

[HalfOfLancelot]

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• Albion; the land of chivalry, prophecy, and kingship.

History of Albion

All hail Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King of Camelot!

When the world was whole, Albion rested in the false version of England, and its numerous kingdoms spanned from the south all the way into the lowlands of Scotland. Its capital was Camelot, a jewel of the ancient world that attracted travellers from across the globe to her bustling marketplaces and royal courts. It was at the apex of its glory under King Arthur Pendragon –– just as the ban on magic was lifted, wars were hushed and the Knights of the Round Table became famed throughout the land –– that Albion simply... vanished.

A hole was left in this world: an impassable void of lifeless grey existed where borders used to be with other kingdoms. The people of Camelot and her surroundings were gone. Occasionally a nobleman or a knight might be found who was overseas at the time, and most of the Knights of the Round Table who were spread out on missions or quests survived what is known as The Cataclysm.

Given that The Moors to the North of Albion survived the initial disappearance of the rest of the kingdom, many who survived happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The knights had neither people nor their beloved Arthur to protect, and some broke their vows. Others, however, preserve the divine right of kings and searched for answers as everything crumbled around them. Even now there are those on Earth who seek to continue their lawful duty until their dying breath, but then there are those brothers who, with good intentions, want to leave the broken kingdoms behind them and start anew.

Tales of Albion

Fairytales and folklore originating from the following locations on Earth reflect characters and events that may have happened in Albion:

• England
• Wales
• Scotland
• Ireland
• France¹

^{1. Northern France only – Bretons.}

More specifically you have Arthurian Legend – the Knights of the round Table and so on and so forth – and other folklore.

• The Never; the land of innocence, childhood, and whimsy.

History of The Never

The Never wasn't originally called so. Each of the lands that makes up the Never were originally their own entities, featured in storybooks on Earth due to their time-twisting and space-bending nature. All the lands which include Wonderland, Neverland, and Halloween Town – had ways of accessing Earth before The Cataclysm by the way of portals connecting a string of worlds on an alternate plane of existence.

With The Cataclysm, these worlds collided into each other, mashing together to create the wasteland known as The Never. The name comes from the heart of it, which is Neverland; however, not as it once was. Forests burnt to a crisp during the impending collapse, taking treehouses and childhood dreams with it. The seas that protected it (and provided a safe haven for the pirates) drained into The Seven Seas. This part of The Never is a wasteland; grey and lifeless like the void, except for the scavengers who eek out a living.

A sudden line cuts across the dreadful wastes and blooms with twisted colours, all dark. This would be Wonderland. It was always barmy and incomprehensible, but The Cataclysm made it even more so. Bits of buildings become the landscape and vice versa. Labyrinths have formed, filled with dangerous creatures. More than all of that, however, is the Madness. The void is strong in this part of The Never... it whispers. Those left behind are not the same as you left them.

The portals that once lead to Narnia would have led to these other worlds, but now all of them have been destroyed, and it was only through the great wizard Merlin's help that anyone could be sent from there back to Earth. The Queens and Kings of Narnia originated from Earth in one of the original pathways from our world to this new one. Now, with the prophecy broken and the incorrect number of royals on the thrones in Cair Paravel, winter creeps back in...

Finally, there is Halloween Town. The other Holiday Doors are closed, and opening them reveals only the Void. They don't seem to be there anymore. Halloween Town is a place of refuge, surprisingly, despite its many horrors that carried over from the before times. Residents of Neverland and Wonderland ended up fleeing to the other side of its walls.

Tales of The Never

The denizens of what is now The Never can be seen reflected in Earth literature and well-known children's stories: Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Narnia. Halloween Town is also a representation of holiday figures, but all things grim and spooky exist there – boogeymen and the like, some of them with their own mythologies.

• Glacier Peaks; the land of forbearance, loneliness, and trials.

History of Glacier Peaks

The lands that survive in Glacier Peaks were always cold, freezing during the winters, but warm seasons and the hard-work of the people cultivated a way of living that could survive even the most perilous of temperatures. They were quick to adapt to the climatic changes of The Cataclysm. Without the sea routes previously used to trade, they suffered until it was too much for them, and they were forced to brave treacherous mountain passes and turn to other paths to survival.

The kingdom of Arendelle is central to Glacier Peaks, plagued with eternal ice and snow that even its young Queen could not have hoped to create. Perpetual storms rocket the land. Hunting in the ice-capped forests and fishing in their limited ocean range has taken precedence over farming, and the draughty castles are far less populated. The people hold out hope for their princesses (and other chosen few) to return with a cure-all for their problems; however, they know they were sent away to save their lives first and foremost.

Following the loss of Albion from its Southern border, DunBroch was one of the first kingdoms thrown into chaos. When Camelot disappeared, so too did trade routes and great swathes of land. When the Cataclysm officially started shattering the realm into pieces, this kingdom was blown out into the vast ocean of the void until it crashed into what would become Glacier Peaks, becoming the new land's warmer south. It too suffers from perpetually harsh weather. The islands to Dun Broch's north were scattered, and so joined a collection of islands, one of which is...

Berk: a cold land of Vikings and windswept islands and dragons. Glacier Peaks is resoundingly known as the last bastion of said mythical creatures: they seem to have disappeared from everywhere else, though they once existed in Bellgarde and Albion and everywhere else. Dragons could not come through the portal to Earth for those refugees who were chosen by Merlin to travel through.

Tales of Glacier Peaks

Fairytales that exist in Glacier Peaks include those from the northern hemisphere on Earth––coming from countries like Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark...––and generally snowy or wintry places. Scottish folklore may also be found here. As for the main tales, they take inspiration from Frozen/The Snow Queen; How to Train Your Dragon and Brave.

• The Undergrowth; the land of wildness, atavism, and the primeval.

History of The Undergrowth

The beauty of the jungle, untamable and vibrant against tall walls of bronze and gold. The Undergrowth earned its name in recent. The Cataclysm brought great destruction across the land once considered home to great culture and beauty, painted in the colors of the jungle teeming around it. Tradition held true against bulbous roofs encasing homes and grand temples, people humming hymns in the streets to rise with the cacophony in the tree canopies. India stood the capitol country in these lands, with its spires tall and proud against the golden sun. They once lived in harmony with their jungle, taking care to respect it and earn its respect, in turn.

With the Cataclysm the jungle rose in rage and anguish, tearing its roots from the blackened, tainted soil and seeking new ground. The trees engulfed great cities, tore down mountains as they rose above in great sweeps. In these twisted, gnarled branches animals sank in the void that roiled off the bark in great waves. Now unspeakable horrors stalk the remaining jungles, looking for more magic or living creature to suck dry - whichever came first. No many who enter the Undergrowth live to see the light of day, if the light could even reach beyond the thick canopies. It's easy to hear the cries across the safe zones, small villages that somehow survived in barren clearings. If this goes on for any longer, they might not live beyond the year; the soil denies life, sucks it dry and demands more in sustenance.

The Undergrowth is a dangerous place; don’t tread alone; to be safe, don’t tread, at all.

Tales of The Undergrowth

The stories of the Undergrowth span all of India, and stretch even to Westernmost Asia. Places like Pakistan, Turkey, and other obscure tales across the span of mountains and jungle. The most popular stories, however tell of the wild, of boys and girls who lost their parents and allowed the beasts of the jungle to care for them. Tales most popular: The Jungle Book and Tarzan.

• Easternmost; the land of tradition, honor, and competition.

History of Easternmost

Hidden by a large mountain range, the Easternmost has long since been the subject of intrigue and speculation from the surrounding lands. Due to the relative isolation from its neighboring lands, the Easternmost has developed a culture that is often considered exotic and mysterious to outsiders. Residing on the remains of Eastern Asia, the history of the Easternmost goes back centuries and its traditions are still upheld today — as much as possible after The Cataclysm, that is.

Due to The Cataclysm, the isolated islands of Japan are no longer accessible; a huge rift separated Japan from the mainland, pushing it further and further East. At the current moment, it's unknown whether there were survivors from the sudden split, or if the island was engulfed by waves.

China is the only large civilization that remains standing after the disaster; even then, it wasn't completely unscathed. A significant chunk of the eastern mainland including the Koreas and the Eastern part of China have crumbled into the void. Even though China has a strong sense of community and order, the disappearance of the Emperor has thrown everyone into chaos. Without a strong leader, China is rapidly unraveling; panic is taking over the remaining residents, and they're too distracted to notice the danger lurking right around the corner.

Tales of Easternmost

The Easternmost is where all of the stories from Eastern Asia originate, the most famous perhaps being Mulan and her efforts to save China from the Huns. Folktales from Japan and the Koreas also take place here; though they may be lesser known, they are no less significant.

• Westernmost; the land of spirituality, brotherhood, and history.

History of Westernmost

Welcome to the Frontier.

In days gone by, Westernmost was once a land of those trying their absolute best to get by – forcing a living out of inhospitable land and travelling great trails of exploration in wagons. Before that there were great tribes of seemingly impossible history, culture and magic who live on even after the Cataclysm.

The continent that Earth would call North America has been torn asunder, ripped horizontally across the middle. There is the South, there is the northern tip of Mexico, and then there is the void. That is Westernmost. The people of this land live in dustbowls and prairies, or in great forests as their ancestors had for centuries. The city of New Orleans is the only large piece of civilisation left post-devastation: a place of colour, vibrancy and, of course, magics good and evil.

There is one quirk that made the isolated Westernmost different from all of the other kingdoms ruined by the Cataclysm. After their panic as the void closed in on their borders, a great discovery was made: gunpowder.

Tales of Westernmost

Westernmost is the home of most North American folklore, be they the pioneers or the natives of the land. Mainly this has to do with Pocahontas and other similar themes as characterized on Earth, but the further reaches of Westernmost include characters of The Wild West and in the south there is The Princess and the Frog and other bayou tales.

(If you don't know where a fairytale originates from or want to put a spin on it, why not have them be from Westernmost?)

• Bellegarde; the land of beauty, learning, and magic.

History of Bellegarde

Land of culture, of art and great feats of romance; Bellegarde sits in the remains of continental Europe: France, Germany, Spain and everything in between. Before Albion's fall the cities of Bellegarde were some of Camelot's closest trading partners and many of the Knights of the Round Table originated from these places. Before the Cataclysm, the many kingdoms of this land were in a Golden Age of creation. It was one of the busiest places of all our world.

Now... The bells of Notre Dame no longer sing, the cathedral having crumbled during a seismic event at the very beginning of the world-ending event. The capital itself is full with refugees from famine-struck villages or worse, villages that simply... disappeared into the void. Outside its borders, the shadow creeps in closer to the settlements and camps that lie under the city walls.

Magic has been outlawed in most of Bellegarde––in the sleepy hamlets from Paris to Corona––and chevaliers are sent out to enforce it.

Tales of Bellegarde

The inhabitants of Bellegarde are those of European fairytales, mainly originating from France but ultimately sourced from anywhere in continental Europe. As far as popular Earth culture goes, you would find most of the princesses there: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Cinderella; as well as other tales such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

• The Shifting Sands; the land of fortune, trickery, and ancient secrets.

History of The Shifting Sands

Due to the harsh climate of The Shifting Sands, not many people are willing to venture into the desert. However, if they should find the courage to brave the dry heat, they would be rewarded with the beauty of the sand dunes glistening in the moonlight, as far as the eye can see. The vast desert is the home to several civilizations and landmarks, though they have quite a bit of distance in between them.

Quite a few oases used to be found frequently throughout the desert, but after The Cataclysm, an already perilous environment became even more dangerous to live in. All of the oases in The Shifting Sands dried up due to a terrible drought, sandstorms are constantly whirling around, and ominous shadows fall over the sands.

During this time, the last remaining stronghold in the Shifting Sands is Agrabah. The walls around the kingdom have more or less kept dangerous animals and monsters from invading, but earthquakes have started to make the walls crack and it's only a matter of time until they crumble. The Sultan is trying to keep order, but there's only so much he can do when there's no water for his parched citizens. It's said that the Cave of Wonders hides a spring in its depths; however, the Cave of Wonders was long buried underneath layers and layers of sand and no one knows where it is. It's Agrabah's last hope... But it's far too dangerous to leave the safety of the kingdom to go searching for it.

Tales of the Shifting Sands

Any story taking place in the desert originates in the Shifting Sands. Most famously, the Arabian Nights story is from here, but the mysterious desert is the home to many more strange, wondrous stories.

• The Seven Seas; the 'land' of adventure, exploration, and lawlessness.

History of The Seven Seas

What words can truly capture the essence of the waves, the majesty of the tides? They are beguiling, bewitching, beautiful, dreadful, destructive, deadly, truly indescribable but someone must try. So while these seas hold riches unimaginable, chests of gold doubloons and access to lands undreamed of, they also present unlimited opportunities for the unwary, unskilled or plain unlucky to die. Storms will shatter your ship and bones while sirens fill your ears with songs but lungs with water as the Kraken stirs beneath the waves. Let go of a rope or let your mind wander for an instant and you may soon wish you'd never left the safety of the land, if you're still capable of wishing at all.

You might now be thinking, why sail the Seven Seas? Well, the terrible risks and splendrous rewards draw those of an ambitious or adventurous disposition, while the borderless and perhaps unending expanse of the waters lures many a disaffected rabble rouser to life under the sails. There's no rules on the sea, no law that can be extended over and ever shifting ocean, no sherif that can't be outrun. And those that yearn to expand the horizons and see sights never before glimpsed can find their desires here too, for no map has ever truly mapped the vastness of the seas. Explorers and restless souls alike can find satisfaction in any of the thousands of dangerous isles and incredible sights.

And all this was before the Cataclysm. Now, the void lurks beneath the waters and upon those islands most far removed. Its alien creatures from behind the stars now prowl the deeps while their fanatical followers sharpen heart-rending knives in jungle temples, eager to satisfy their eldritch masters with the blood of the curious and the greedy. And where once the great naval powers each attempted to enforce their own versions of order, the City of Atlantis atop the waves and the Sea Court of Neptune beneath them, now the strong take from the weak before being destroyed by the stronger. Rapscallions, seadogs and every type of vagabond sail the seas in search of fame, fortune and more.

Drink up me hearties, yo ho, yo ho...

Tales of The Seven Seas

Most things sea based can find their home in the Seven Seas, including but not limited to:
• Sinbad
• Davy Jones
• Captain Hook and the Pirates of Neverland
• The Little Mermaid
• The Princess Bride

[McHaggis]

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[Undine]

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[Morose]

Reserving Aravis Tarkheena [Narnia] and Harlianne Hook, the daughter of Captain Hook and Rumplestiltskin ^^ Will have the CSs up soon

[Morose]

@HalfOfLancelot @McHaggis @Undine @Roosan

Aravis Tarkheena

A R A V I S T A R K H E E N A

_{"I did not do any of these things for the sake of pleasing you." - Aravis Tarkheena, C.S. Lewis' the Horse and His Boy}

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T H E H E R O

• N A M E

Aravis Tarkheena, Queen of Archenland, the only daughter of Kidrash Tarkaan, the son of Rishti Tarkaan, the son of Kidrash Tarkaan, the son of Illsombreh Tisroc, the son of Ardeeb Tisroc who was decended in a right line from the god Tash

• S T O R Y

The Horse and His Boy; the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

• B I R T H P L A C E

The Never (Calormen)

• M A G I C

No. Despite claiming to be descended in a direct line from the god Tash, Aravis has no magical abilities.

• A G E

Twenty Two Years

• R O M A N T I C I N T E R E S T S

Aravis was previously married to King Cor of Archenland, allowing her to become Queen. He husband subsequently perished, causing Aravis to become a widow. Pansexual, she has displayed some interest in Queen Lucy of Narnia. She is not currently receiving suitors.

• A T T I R E

In her home country, Calormen, Aravis tended to wear belted tunics and loose cloth pants. She dressed more like a tomboy than a lady, only wearing dresses such as this and this when forced to by social events. She preferred things that were comfortable, things that she could fight in, and whatever would help to spare her from the overbearing sun. In Archenland, with the cooler climate and due to her responsibilities at court, Aravis adopted warmer clothing that would still prove functional in battle, such as this and this. Of course, this never prevented Aravis from wearing a finely crafted piece of Archenland made armor.

On Earth, however, Aravis found herself most comfortable in tunic dresses. They reminded her of her dear home of Calormen, but on occasion, she would wear traditional English clothing, living with the Pevensies in England. No matter what she wore, however, she was always ready for a fight.

As for her physical appearance, Aravis has long locks of brown hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion. Nimble and lean, she has almost the body of a sailor, springy and ready for action. In Archenland, she was hailed as being one of their most beautiful queens. Of course, she never tried to look pretty for anyone other than herself.

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I N A L A N D F A R F A R A W A Y . . .

• H E R O ' S N A T U R E

Incredibly brave and loyal, Aravis never suffers from a shortage of courage. Before traveling with Shasta/Cor, Aravis was arrogant and egotistical, looking down on those who were not Tarkheenas or Tarkaans. Overtly prideful, this almost reckless pretentiousness toned down quite considerably throughout her journey to Archenland. While she still is a bit prideful, she no longer is the entirely self-centered person she once was.

Aravis can also be incredibly manipulative, able to analyze a situation quickly and make the best moves needed. However, she only does this if she believes it is for the greater good, never trying to actively cause harm to anyone. After punishment from Aslan due to her causing a slave to take a beating, Aravis has become more cautious and considerate towards the impact of her actions on others. She has, essentially, become a hero, willing to put her life on the line for others.

That doesn't mean however that she's going to suffer fools. Confident and decisive, Aravis is a very firm and serious personality, getting everything done. She hates those who sit around all day, preferring herself to constantly be accomplishing things. Hard work is how she relaxes--that, or reading a good book. She loves stories.

• R E N O W N S K I L L S

Aravis is a talented swordsman, trained in various types of blades and styles. She is skilled in horseback riding as well, being able to fight while mounted. Skilled as well in diplomacy and strategy, Aravis has successfully led Archenland for several years. She is also a highly skilled storyteller, a quality prized among Calormen nobles.

• F A T A L F L A W

Aravis can be rather hotheaded and self-centered, looking out for herself first. She's incredibly stubborn and prideful, believing that she can do everything better than anyone else. Most of this, however, is to cover up some deep insecurities brought on by her upbringing and the death of her husband. And furthermore, she's a bit of a martyr waiting to happen.

• O N C E U P O N A T I M E

Aravis was born in the province of Calavar, in the country of Calormen, deep to the south of Narnia. Her father was the ruling lord of the province, making her a member of the nobility, a Tarkheena. She grew up with a rather pleasant childhood in the supposed Golden Age of Narnia. She spent her time with her good friend, Lasaraleen, often playing at the lake. While Lasaraleen was more into gossiping and preparing for married life, Aravis enjoyed learning to sword fight and to wear armor, taking lessons from her brother Devadas before he perished in a war. It was a world where women were expected to be objects and where slavery was commonplace. For the most part, Aravis was unhindered by both of those aspects.

That changes when her mother died and her father remarried. Her stepmother despised her and plotted to marry Aravis off to Ahoshta Tarkaan at the tender age of thirteen. Ahoshta Tarkaan, a vile and hideous man, was nearly fifty years her elder. Repulsed and expecting to have her father acquiese to her demands, Aravis was shocked when he refused, insisting that she marry Ahoshta. Finding no help from her family or her dear friend, Aravis decided it was best to kill herself. There was no other way out, as her eyes were opened to the cruelties of the world she lived in.

Deep in the woods, under the pretense of going off for a several day journey to pray to the gods before her marriage, Arravis readied her dagger, and began to drive it towards her heart. Instead, her horse Hwin began to talk. She thought she was delusional at first, but when it happened again, Aravis learned of the mythical land of Narnia. Determined to escape Calormene and go to the seemingly perfect place, she ran off under the disguise of a young Tarkaan. Along the way, she ran into a poor boy named Shasta, journeying with him. In the process, they ran into Queen Susan and King Edmund of Narnia, and overheard a deadly plot to invade Archenland, proposed by the Tisroc's son.

Eventually making their way into Archenland, Aravis' back was skinned by Aslan as punishment for her crimes. Shasta went on to the battle, leaving Aravis behind, wounded. It was there that Shasta learned of his identity as Prince Cor during an epic battle between the Archenlanders and the Calormene. Prince Cor invited Aravis to remain at court with him in Anvard. Having been disowned by her family and not wishing to return to Calormen, Aravis accepted.

Growing closer with Prince Cor each and every day, Aravis began to train harder and harder, hoping to escape the nightmares of her past. She developed a bit of PTSD from her experiences, especially after learning her childhood friend, Larsaleen, was beheaded for aiding Aravis and Cor in their escape. Nearly bringing Archenland to rage war against Calormen, Aravis found herself lost in the middle of Narnia, having been sent there by Aslan.

Because of this, she met Queen Lucy, and the pair of them became great friends. Healing and grieving the loss of her dear friend, Aravis returned to Archenland, and when she was sixteen, accepted Cor's proposal. The wedding was a somber affair, as King Lune had perished on that very day. Aravis became Queen of Archenland, leading her country in and out of war, despite having a bit of a temper. Two years into the reign of Cor and Aravis, her husband died of the same illness that had ailed King Lune. Dawning her mourning garb, Aravis became the sole ruler of Archenland.

It was a few weeks after that Aravis found she was pregnant. Vowing to name the child Ram, as Cor would have wanted, Aravis' troubles only continued when she miscarried. All of Archenland wept for their Queen, and Aravis soon realized her fear: she wouldn't be able to conceive a child ever again. Throwing herself into her work, Aravis continued to rule Archenland, with her niece, Ramna, being groomed to rule Archenland after Aravis. Prince Corin, Aravis' brother-in-law, helped handle the matters of a king, despite not bearing the title.

Life went on.

• A N E W C H A P T E R

With the dark magic separating the lands, winter engulfing Narnia, and the portals closing, Archenland had fallen into chaos, with Calormen gearing up for yet another invasion. Princess Ramna, only five years old, was far too young to rule. Prince Corin and Queen Aravis were the only remaining guiding figures. With the chance to use magic to escape to a new land, Aravis had insisted that Corin and Ramna use it, and stay with the Queens and Kings of Narnia in the new world. She would remain behind, and look after the rest of Archenland.

But by some cruel twist of fate, Aslan intervened, and ensured that Aravis was the one sent to the new world. Living in England with the Pevensies, Aravis continues to be haunted by memories of her lost family in Archenland. She currently works as a fencing instructor, trying her best to make do in another world that judges her by the color of her skin and her gender. Taking a bit of a fancy to Lucy, Aravis still retains her mannerisms, swearing by Aslan and Tash out of habit. She hasn't truly adapted to the new world, still feeling lost and out of place.

Archenland had been the only place she felt at home. And now, it was gone.

Harlianne Hook

H A R L I A N N E H O O K

_{"You didn't expect a girl like meself could do such things, now did you? You can whine about it to Davy Jones like the rest, mate."}

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T H E H E R O

• N A M E

Harlianne Shay Hook

• S T O R Y

Peter Pan & Rumpelstiltskin

• B I R T H P L A C E

The Seven Seas

• M A G I C

Due to Rumplestiltskin being one of her fathers, Harlianne does have the ability to use magic. However, her magical prowess is incredibly limited, able to be compared to mere parlor tricks.

• A G E

Twenty Six Years

• R O M A N T I C I N T E R E S T S

Harlianne doesn't have any romantic interests. She doesn't see a reason to hunt for that booty when there's a far more profitable booty, often involving gold and adventure, to be found.

• A T T I R E

With a shock of ginger hair, Harlianne stands out in a crowd. She's shorter than most pirates, likely due to her imp heritage. Her pale face, by some miracle, is only nearly always sunburnt. Of course, she manages to cover it up with the same old hat she's been wearing since she was a little girl, a gift given to her by her father, Captain Hook. As often as she can, she wears the beaten brown coat pictured in the photo, partnered with various weapons. On Earth, it seems to attract a bit of attention, so she swaps in her coat and traditional pirate gear for a billowing white shirt, capris, and firm shoes. The hat, of course, is mandatory.

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I N A L A N D F A R F A R A W A Y . . .

• H E R O ' S N A T U R E

Harlianne was raised to be a pirate, and so, she acts like a pirate. She looks out for her own self interest, twisting words and manipulating individuals if needed to get what she desires. The difference between good and evil doesn't bother her, as she follows her own moral compass in order to determine right from wrong. However, Harlianne doesn't wish ill on the world. She isn't out for the pain of others. She's merely doing whatever it takes to survive, using her resourcefulness to solve any problem that comes across her. At the end of the day, she'll make the choice that keeps her alive--but she won't needlessly maim or injure.

Of course, she's also got healthy curiosity and a sense of adventure! She constantly yearns for excitement and brand new sights, never content with just staying still. The sea calls to her, with the new wonders it brings each day, allowing her to move and to be free. Harlianne is a restless soul to the bitter end.

• R E N O W N S K I L L S

Harlianne's special talent is, without a doubt, survival. She has a natural inclination towards it, lending itself to her childhood aboard a pirate ship. Skilled with a cutlass and a pistol, Harlianne knows everything there is to know about smuggling and pillaging, having been taught how to do so since a young age. From her other father, Rumpelstiltskin, Harlianne learned how to do extremely minor magic. It's nothing incredibly impressive or flashy, but in a pinch, it could just be helpful.

• F A T A L F L A W

Given that one of her father's was an imp and the other a pirate, something quite peculiar happened to dear Harlianne. She becomes gravely ill if kept away from the sea too long, and if not returned to open waters (or areas near by), she will perish. Beyond that one unfortunate occurrence, Harlianne's weakness is her loyalty to her family: her father and his crew. She'd do anything for them. And lastly, it is indeed sometimes true that curiosity killed the cat: a lesson that Harlianne has been forced to learn time and time again.

• O N C E U P O N A T I M E

To understand the story of Harlianne Hook, it is necessary to see how she came to be...The daughter of the infamous Captain Hook, Harlianne had no mother. Instead, she had but another father. The imp Rumpelstiltskin, skilled in all manners of concealment and disguise, was renowned in all the lands for his penchant for making deals. While initally Rumpelstiltskin would ask for jewels and positions of power, he soon moved on to asking for children. However, that mere amusement could only last the imp so long. He began to desire a child of his own.

Rumpelstiltskin, taking on the form of a young dark skinned woman, seduced Captain Hook. He became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, named after three prominent loves of Rumpelstiltskin and Captain Hook. Harley, a famed criminal; Anne, after the famed pirate Anne Bonny; and Shay, another word for Rumpelstiltskin's beloved gold. Of course, it wasn't before long that Captain Hook realized the mother of his child was in fact a devilish imp. After a brawl, the two men came to an agreement. Hook would get to raise Harlianne until she reached the age of thirteen, and then, Rumpelstiltskin would have sole custody.

For the next thirteen years of her life, Harlianne grew up on a ship. She got her sea legs before she even walked on land, traveling the seven seas and seeing all of the wonderful sights and sounds. Her father and his crew taught her everything they knew, from fighting to aiming a pistol to steering a ship. The sea and the Jolly Roger were her life, everything that she ever cared about. For the most part, Harlianne lived like a pirate, able to do whatever she wanted. There was only one rule.

Harlianne was forbidden from stepping foot in Neverland.

And as any child who was raised on the principles of rebellion and selfishness, Harlianne did exactly that. On the night before her thirteenth birthday, Harlianne snuck out onto a little dingy, and rowed it to shore with the cover of darkness. Setting foot on the land, Harlianne heard the giggles of other children. Ecstatic to see someone else her age, Harlianne went deep into the forests in Neverland, searching and finding only more adventure. The young pirate spent the entire night at ease, enjoying the new sights and sounds.

Meanwhile, Rumpelstiltskin had appeared on the Jolly Roger at the stroke of midnight, prepared to collect his daughter. Having never known about her true parentage, Harlianne remained clueless on the island. Captain Hook, having discovered Harlianne's absence, informed Rumpelstiltskin that she was missing and it was likely she drowned. Enraged, Rumpelstiltskin searched the Jolly Roger, not finding the girl. Rumpelstiltskin then informed Captain Hook that if Harlianne truly had died, he'd have no issue sailing on and leaving Neverland. Hoping desperately that Harlianne was on the island, Captain Hook followed Rumpelstiltskin's commands, sailing to Tortuga.

The next morning, when Harlianne went to sneak back to the ship, she saw what appeared to be the devil, waiting on the shore. With the Jolly Roger nowhere in sight. Instantly suspicious, Harlianne ran back into the depths of Neverland, struggling to survive in an area that appeared whimsical the next day. She talked, walked, and looked like a pirate, causing some of the inhabitants of the island to fear her. She scavenged what she could, going back to the shore each day in order to see if her father had returned, only for the devilish Rumpelstiltskin to be there.

This went on for years, with Harlianne stealing from the mermaids, the Lost Boys, and each person on the island in order to live. The shore was forbidden for her, lest Rumpelstiltskin catch a glimpse of her. The entire time, Harlianne was convinced that her father had been killed. It was on her twenty-second birthday that Harlianne spotted the Jolly Roger sailing towards Neverland. She dashed to the shore, blinded by hope and desperation, only to be captured by Rumpelstiltskin. It had been a mirage, an illusion.

Rumpelstiltskin whisked his child away to his home in Bellegarde, imprisoning her in a tower. And unfortunately, no prince came to rescue her. It took ages for Harlianne to accept Rumpelstiltskin as her father, though she still hoped that her other father, Captain Hook, would come to rescue her. The imp promised that once Harlianne learned to love him, he would teach her his tricks, and let her roam as she liked.

And so, Harlianne did what any self respecting pirate would do: she lied. She convinced Rumpelstiltskin that she did indeed love him, and became privy to how to perform small bits of magic. Eventually, he taught her enough that she managed to escape the tower, dashing madly away. For a day, Harlianne thought she was free, only for Rumpelstiltskin to capture her once more. He locked her away, forcing her to spin straw into gold, and held her captive. She grew sickly, yearning for the sea, but also suffering physically from her captivity.

The sea was her heart, after all. Without it, Rumpelstiltskin came to learn, she'd surely perish. But of course, he also couldn't bear the thought of surrendering his only child to Captain Hook. Taking advantage of the impending crisis, especially with magic becoming banned across the realm, Rumpelstiltskin used all of his strength to send Harlianne to the next world, still hopeful that she would learn to love him one day.

• A N E W C H A P T E R

For the first time in years, Harlianne woke up to an open sky and the feel of the waves beneath her. Fearing that it was too good to be true, Harlianne glanced around, finding herself on a small sailboat, the size that could serve as a home and be operated by a single person. Her possessions were there as well, along with a note from Rumpelstiltskin. Reading it, she then tossed it into the sea in disgust. It took her a bit to become accustomed to the new world, but with the help of the sea, Harlianne's illnesses soon vanished.

Becoming largely self sufficient on her boat, Harlianne sailed from port to port, learning the new globe. She found that her namesakes, Harley and Anne, were both popular cultural characters: one was a costumed villain and the other found in video games. Her father had been turned into a lunatic, chased by a mere crocodile and bested by Peter Pan. The world hardly made any sense to Harlianne, and given that she'd been to Wonderland, it was saying a lot.

However, at least she had the sea. With that, she could survive--until she found a way back to the Jolly Roger. It'd do.

[Fabricant451]

Droppin my flag here to reserve the Boo Hag of Gullah folklore.

_{also finna bring back Kei from Queen and Country because I love her and her FC dammit}

[Fabricant451]

ignore

[tanderbolt]

Reserving Percival and Scheherazade because I enjoy characters with names that are hard to spell.

[FantasyChic]

It's gonna take me a bit to get a CS up, with work and all that. Just know I am here and anxious to get started.

[fluorescent]

Also here, and will get to work on a CS ASAP, but it might take a little bit for me to get it posted!

[Undine]

.

[FantasyChic]

So I have a question about character making. We can use existing fairytale and folklore characters and re-imagine them? Also what's the deal with children of certain people, is that a possibility too? If so, could you make a character that is a child of an existing couple in fairytales, such as Cinderella and the Prince, or Alladin and Jasmine? Just wondering, cuz I got ideas flowing and I'd like to reserve one that fits.

[Undine]

.

[BurningCold]

Just wanted to point out that Harlianne Hook doesn't actually exist anywhere.

EDIT: Strongarming Rumpelstiltskin into being a part of the backstory in the way he is seems kind of ridiculous.

Though I may be starting something, that isn't the goal. I can't help but speak up when I see silly stuff.

I'd also like to reserve everyone's favorite wolf killer, Little Red. :)

[Barrett]

I've already done this in the GM chat but I should probably do it publicly as well.

@Undine
Reserving the Big Bad Wolf of multiple myths and Prince Hans from Frozen. Don't judge me yet, I have plans.

@HalfOfLancelot
Are we still on for our double act?

[Morose]

Just wanted to point out that Harlianne Hook doesn't actually exist anywhere.

EDIT: Strongarming Rumpelstiltskin into being a part of the backstory in the way he is seems kind of ridiculous.

Though I may be starting something, that isn't the goal. I can't help but speak up when I see silly stuff.

I'd also like to reserve everyone's favorite wolf killer, Little Red. :)

@BurningCold

I talked with two of the GMs about this character prior to the OOC coming up. They didn't have a problem with Harlianne and I showed them drafts as I worked on her. They also approved of the idea with Hook and Rumplestiltskin.

[BurningCold]

@Morose Then I must concede. The way I see it, it just severely limits the options of anybody wishing to use either of those characters.

[Kaiachi]

@Undine
Reserving The Little Mermaid! Thanks.

[fluorescent]

So just because I'm paranoid and I need to make sure I'm 100% clear on the character selection and creation: we can pick characters from folklore and children's books and such and twist them in any way we want to, from their appearance to their backstories, as long as they're fundamentally the same characters?

If I'm understanding that properly, then I think I'd like to reserve Huckleberry Finn and Alice in Wonderland! @Undine