Hey everybody, hope you had a chill and relaxing holiday. Mine was more stressful than I would have hoped but I made it out the other side. Currently I'm waiting on @Dogematix and @Aislynn's prologue post, and building my first post to start the story.
While we're on a similar note! I've finally packed the last of our guests off but am totally wiped. Luckily I've got a half formed idea of how I want it to go in my head so tomorrow this is the only thing on my schedule for after work.
I've certainly had some nice reading material to go over. I've got work and the in laws to dine tomorrow but after that things should be calming down and I'll be able to work in something.
Appearance: Tall for his age and slim in the way only teenage boys can be. Sam has the dark hair and features that would make him look pale or drained out if he didn't spend so much time in the sun. With a sharp face and a distant look in his eyes that some people have described as a serious case of “RBF” he's been told he can look like a thug. He kind of likes it when people say that... but he kind of hates it too.
These days Sam has started putting more pride into his looks. He showers every day, applies plenty of conditioner and can spend a lot of time in the mirror making sure he looks effortlessly natural. Yeah it's vain but so what? It's worth! This attitude extends to his wardrobe too as Sam makes sure to step out in crisp shirts and form fitting pants, whether it's jeans or chinos. His colours are always in sync, complementing each other perfectly and he's got ironing and fabric softening laundry down to an art so that he can present himself to the world exactly how he wants to. He slouches, he leans, Sam knows all the tricks to make looking effortlessly cool truly effortless.
Some guys have made fun of his domestic training and fashion focus Sam couldn't care less. In his eyes it just shows he knows how to look after himself and fashion is just a matter of colors and shapes, anyone could do it.
He tends to favor darker colors, working with his lithe frame but when he goes more casual Sam has a few T-Shirts he can whip out. They've gotta be cool though, so most come with psychedelic designs or funny pictures he liked. Like the skull made totally out of flowers or a door to door salesman holding cats that says “Pussy Magnate”.
Personality: Too confident for his own good at times. A self styled man of the world. Someone with a strong sense of right and wrong and a hot headed brash side that mixes with that sense of morality all too often. Sam learned from a young age that you have to stand your ground. Give the bastards an inch and they'll take a mile, that kind of thinking. He stands up for himself and those he sees as getting the shaft, be it by bullies or institutions and he does it loudly. In fact he does most things loudly, subtlety is not one of this kids strong points.
He's seen people treat others like crap and never get what they deserve for it. Looking back he'd say it was that kind of thinking that first got him to look into studying law. That and the cool TV shows and the prospect of earning mad cash. He's always been the stubborn and argumentative type so why not making his calling out of it. Though sometimes he lacks the patience for debate and may feel the urge to just throw down, Sam sees studying and knowledge as the real equalizer in the world. It's the thing that can shatter boundaries and despite the jokes people make he thinks of being a lawyer as a noble profession. He's looking into a focus on prosecution. Being the shield of the weak is all pretty and nice but what use is it if the bad guy gets away in the end.
As a Boston native a certain case study of abuse and power makes up a big chunk of Sam's local history and it the embodiment of the powerful getting away without real justice. It's thoughts like that, of people leaving broken things in their wake that set a fire in him.
When he's not got his hackles up Sam can be the life of the party. A true extrovert, and one that happily (and literally) enjoys the spotlight... but he doesn't like to hog it. He's something of a nurturer you see, like a mama bear or whatever the macho version of that is. Papa wolf? In his experience people who are shy are that way because something made them so, making them think that their voice wasn't worth hearing. So he might set himself to luring them out of their shell. Making the effort to invite others to take part in conversation or drawing attention to their strengths, downplaying their weaknesses or putting them in a light they may not have seen. If you're in then you're in and Sam's got your back, Buddy! Although sometimes his mouth outruns his brain and he ends up firmly putting his foot in it.
History: Originally from Boston, the eldest of three and growing up on the rough side of the tracks. Both his parents worked until late most of the time so Sam grew up a latchkey kid and thanks to drawing the short straw in the order of birth it meant he had to look after his younger siblings most afternoons. It was always important to his parents that kids do their chores and pull their weight around their little house, especially with so many hands available. That meant Sam got domesticated quick, learning how to cook and clean for himself, even if it was the basic stuff. At home if he didn't have an apron on then he had his nose in a book. After all it got hammered into him from a young age that if you didn't do well in school then you didn't do well in life. “You wanna end up working in WicDonalds all your life, punk!”
At school it was a different story. Sam got into fights, talked back to teachers and generally got himself into trouble whenever he ran into an obstacle. Things might have turned out differently if it weren't for the mentoring of concerned teachers and bit of shaming at the hands of his strung out mother. It took time but Sam did manage to get his act together, doubling down on his studies and getting pushed into the school debate team. He knew now he had to step up and prove to everyone and himself he wasn't just some punk.
Sam couldn't believe it when he got the letter saying he'd gotten into Casper Academy! His sudden improvements in grades and his performance at the inter-school debate competition had helped get him in through the door for some place where everyone got called “Gifted” but in the good way. It said something about his essay to them being incredibly heartfelt too but he always brushed that off whenever his parents brought it up.
It does raise some issues though. He hasn't lost the same drive that brought him to wanting to study law and stuff but even that isn't without issues. When he first got into it Sam was inspired by the idea of studying criminal law and behavior, to get the kind of job where he could make a difference, but his dad keeps bringing up the corporate stuff when they talk. Sam isn't an idiot, he knows those guys make mad bank and he's looked a suits like that in their flashy cars with envy. It's just that he doesn't know if that's what he wants for himself. He owes his family for all the chances they've given him and they could sure use the help... but life's supposed to be more than working to pay bills right? Whatever happens it looks like Sam has a some serious choices ahead of him.
Extras: Sam tried a drama course over the summer to help his public speaking and so that he could learn to downplay his accent and speak in a more neutral one, making him easier to understand. He only really uses it on the stage or in debates though. It sowed the seeds for a love of theater!
His main hobby is jogging. Gotta love plugging some headphones in and losing yourself in a good run.
He does well academically but it doesn't come naturally to him and Sam has to put a lot of work into his studies.
Go Redsocks!
HARLEQUIN
THE LOVERS
"The comic servant. Their role is to serve the very old or the young and in love. One day perhaps he will win the one he loves."
Harlequin appears as an inhumanly lank and spindly humanoid figure that moves in over the top, theatrical, ways like a marionette made of liquorish. Its body is covered in red and green diamond motley adorned with bells around its neck. It wears a comically wide brimmed red hat adorned with a green feather. Harlequin often toys with its hat in a way that it thinks is dashing. Its face is covered by a black mask stuck into a theatrical laughing mask. The eye holes on this mask are just a little too big and if you get close enough you can see the eyes are underneath are bright and bloodshot and the skin around them is an unnaturally milky white.
The closest thing to a weapon Harlequin carries is their "Slapstick" a short and simple block of wood that it uses as a catchall prop, allowing the audience to imagine details onto the item with their imagination. Sometimes the spirit will menace the block around like a blackjack ready to strike, or waft it like an ellegant fan.
Strengths: Strong magic skills with a focus on Psi and Curse spells. Harlequin is an irreverent manipulator after all but he always has their best interests at heart, even if he hides his own dark side. He's resistant to Agi and Physical attacks.
Weaknesses: This sprite is a talker and a trickster, not a fighter. He also has a past when it comes to wizards. He has weak physical attacks and is weak to Zio and Curse spells.
Fighting Style and stats: Sam and Harlequin prefer to hang back in fights, keeping their cool and nudging things in the right direction. They support their team through the healing arts to keep them in the fight and snipe away at their foes with mind breaking attacks and ranged shots.
Weapons wise Sam uses a cane and a high powered revolver.
@DogematixHey I like him alot. One small change is that you have not been to Casper Academy yet, the game will begin on the train into Seattle to start your first year. Maybe just change it so that he had recently started Drama at his public school in Boston?
Noted. I've made the changes. In retrospect I think I might hold off on giving him dreams of being an actor and keep his choice between idealism and responsibility. I think it suits the nature of his arcana better.
Lol I'm not actually from the city either so no offence taken either way, I also picked it because it's one of my favourite American accents. I'm looking forward to having Sam instate himself as Jeff's wingman to help him win over his secret crush XD
@Gummy1295Lol thanks. I did just do a little edit to include all the stats and add a bit more to his appearance. If only his human was so easy to whip up! His luck may go a bit lower in the final draft but right now I'm going average since his schemes always go wrong for him but the character always manages to get out of the trouble he gets himself into as well.
