OOC: 100 Questions
I saw this meme circling around on other character journals back in March, when I was still putting together my character application. So I'm quite late to the game, but I thought I'd do it, as it seems a good character development exercise. Some stuff canon doesn't have answers to (who WERE Subala's parents?) so I made things up.
Short answers are: Raftfleet, Kisara, fish, sun run war, fish, Long Sunset, fish.
Part 1: The Basics
1. What is your full name? Subalalalalalalalala. No, just Subala. Really.
2. Where and when were you born? I was born in Raftfleet, on the Feitas River in Falena, at the height of summer in433.
3. Who are/were your parents? Did/do they have occupations? My ma was a seamstress, if I remember correctly, and I don’t know who my pa was. My ma died when was I was pretty little, and then most of Raftfleet sorta looked after me, with Kisara (she was Vice Admiral, then) tryin’ to keep me out of trouble most of all.
4. Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like? No blood siblings, but I consider my crew my brothers an’ the like. Kisara used to say me’n her daughter Lun used to be like sisters. I suppose we were, for a time.
5. Where do you live now, and with whom? Before I arrived to Budehuc, I lived on my fishing boat, the Long Sunset, with my mates, Henry, Bartok, Frida, and Misha. Now I kip up in a bunk on that old boat in the back lagoon of Budehuc.
6. What is your occupation? Fishing buss captain in the Island Nations Merchant Marines
7. Write a full physical description of the character. (Third Person)
Subala is a woman of medium height, with a wiry muscular build and a slender, nearly androgynous frame. At 48, she has many smile lines around her eyes and mouth, and her skin is weathered and golden from constantly being out in the sun and wind. She has purple hair that she keeps wrapped in a yellow cloth, as a nod to her Raftfleet heritage (oddly, when she lived with Raftfleet, she didn’t actually wrap her hair), and bright, impish grey eyes. She usually wears a white shirt off the shoulders, a pair of overalls, and rubber boots (or goes barefoot if there aren’t splinters to be risked).
8. To which social class do you belong? Working class, and damn proud of it.
9. Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses? Not bein as young as I used to be, I get awful stiff in my shoulders, hands, and hips sometimes, but I try to keep myself as limber as I can. Peanuts disagree with me.
10. Are you right- or left-handed? Right
11. What does your voice sound like? Medium pitch, and slightly hoarse from shoutin all my life.
12. What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently? Dunno. “Misha, git yer ass on deck!” probably. And words that end in apostrophes.
13. What do you have in your pockets? I got pockets’n pouches, and at the moment I have some money, some hooks and lures, and a letter from Kisara (that I need to write an answer to).
14. Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? I don’t seem to think so, but I imagine my crew or my friends would tell you different. I yell a lot, and I can’t back down from a challenge, I know that. I like to tease people.
Part 2: Growing Up
15. How would you describe your childhood in general? Sometimes, lonely, sometimes, a lot of fun.
16. What is your earliest memory? My ma singing to me. I can’t remember her face really well, but I remember her voice.
17. How much schooling have you had? I know my letters and numbers. I couldn’t write really well until my late teens... I wanted to write to the Prince, and Lun made fun of me because I couldn’t make out a note to him without royally messing it up. When I started working on ships, I got taught better arithmetic, and how to chart a course and read maps.
18. Did you enjoy school? Never had formal schooling, really, just Kisara (and later, my captain) sitting me down and showing me things when she could get me to pay attention.
19. Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities? I learned fishing and riverboat sailing from Logg (Kisara’s husband), sail work and rigging work from a Mate named Ferd, and navigation and other arts of the sea from Captain Grey.
20. While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them. Kisara, I suppose, who was (and is) beautiful and wise, two things I will never be. But when I’m not sure what to do, I think of what she’d do, and it’s usually the right decision to make.
21. While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family? I barely remember my own ma. Kisara and Logg looked after me, and I got along with’em well even if I rubbed Kisara’s patience raw sometimes (no more raw than Logg or Lun did, tho!). Lun and I fought a lot, but it was a friendly kind of fighting, usually.
22. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? The Prince’s wife A fisherwoman.
23. As a child, what were your favorite activities? Fishing, fighting with Lun, fishing some more.
24. As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display? I was really jealous, really competitive. I was also very loud, which hasn’t changed much.
25. As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like? I’d like to think I was then, but I think my only real friend was Lun. She was a crackerjack like her pa, but she had a little bit of common sense thanks to her ma. Only a _little_ bit, mind. She was pretty and smart, so I was always jealous of her.
26. When and with whom was your first kiss? A cabin boy about 30 years ago, no one anyone ‘round here would know.
27. Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity? Same cabin boy.
28. If you are a supernatural being (i.e. mage, werewolf, vampire), tell the story of how you became what you are or first learned of your own abilities. If you are just a normal human, describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today. Well, I just always loved fishing, so I just kept doing what I love. I do fight monsters and pirates from time to time, and the experience I got in the Sun Rune War really helped with that.
Part 3: Past Influences
29. What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Even now, probably the Sun Rune War back in 449. Something like that you don’t forget, and it changes you at least in some ways, forever.
30. Who has had the most influence on you? Kisara, Lun, Prince Frey, my captains
31. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Getting the Long Sunset and being recorded as her Captain.
32. What is your greatest regret? At the moment, trying to harpoon that giant fish. Not that I don’t mind being here, but I got myself well separated from my crew, and I should know better than that. Hell, it was fun though.
33. What is the most evil thing you have ever done? Evil? Sweet Feitas, I hope not much. I’m told I can be rude, but I try not to hurt those who don’t deserve it. When I was 15 or 16 I probably played some tricks on Lun that were borderline cruel, but she did the same to me at times. Not that that justifies things, but still.
34. Do you have a criminal record of any kind? No.
35. When was the time you were the most frightened? When Queen Arshtat zapped Lordlake. The whole sky lit like the sun rose twice, and the whole river shook; we were and miles and miles away and still nearly capsized. I remember that clear as day and I was still pretty young.
36. What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you? I don’t have time to recount most of my life to you right now. :)
37. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why? I probably wouldn’t have fought quite so much with Lun. Quite so much, mind. Some of that fighting was fun.
38. What is your best memory? I am lucky to say I got a lot to choose from. Family dinners. Be they the ones Kisara used to make, or sitting and eating with my crew.
39. What is your worst memory? The ones I’ve forgotten, I imagine.
Part 4: Beliefs And Opinions
40. Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic? Optimistic. Ain’t much point of livin’ if you don’t think there’s somethin’ to look forward to.
41. What is your greatest fear? Seeing the Sun Rune-or any True or other powerful Rune-go out of control (again)
42. What are your religious views? I pay my proper respects to Sweet Mother River and Old Man Sea
43. What are your political views? Rulers of nations should not be allowed to keep tac nukes in their foreheads. Other than that, I don’t care what politicians do as long as innocent people don’t get hurt.
44. What are your views on sex? Can be fun with the right person.
45. Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable? Well, I kill fish all the time, but I imagine that’s not what’s meant here. I don’t wanna kill a person, but if somebody is attacking friends or my crew, then if a killing blow is what stops them, I’ll live with that.
46. In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do? Kill a whole lot of innocent people at once, or violate someone’s body, or take away their freedom.
47. Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love? I suppose, but it hasn’t happened to me. Well, my soul mate might be my boat.
48. What do you believe makes a successful life? Working as hard as you can and earning fair dealings for it, and being with your friends.
49. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e. do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)? Ah... I try to be honest as I can. I think sometimes my pride stops me from fully expressing myself, though. I’ve always wanted to be stronger than I am, so I don’t like to admit weakness.
50. Do you have any biases or prejudices? No, I treat pretty much everyone the same. Whether they like bein’ treated like that is another discussion....
51. Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it? I won’t hurt a friend (teasing doesn’t count), and I won’t keep a fish caught that’s too small.
52. Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)? My crew, anyone who’s been good to me.
Part 5: Relationships With Others
53. In general, how do you treat others (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how? I treat others the way I want to be treated; I don’t go for fancy pomp and circumstance, and I try to be friendly. If I know someone is a traitor or a killer though, they get no quarter from me.
54. Who is the most important person in your life, and why? Me! Heh, no, I guess... geez, one person? That’s hard. I guess... I guess Kisara, because I probably would have been lost a long time ago if she hadn’t looked after me when she did.
55. Who is the person you respect the most, and why? Kisara, for the reasons above. I respect most folks who are good.
56. Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? Describe these people. My current best friend is my first mate Henry. Here at Budehuc, I don’t know many people yet (except the young Prince and a lot of people from the Sun Rune war I don’t remember real well), but Eileen’s been particularly nice to me, and so’s Lazlo... and so most people who’ve come to talk to me, really. Lots of good people here.
57. Do you have a spouse or significant other? The Long Sunset. Heh.
58. Have you ever been in love? Yep. Don’t know a soul who hasn’t been.
59. What do you look for in a potential lover? Someone who’ll put up with my ugly mug, and is kind and strong. And has a nice ass.
60. How close are you to your family? My current family is my crew, and I am close to them, save for the whole being kidnapped by a fish thing. To the Raftfleet folks, I don’t see them very often-I hit a point where I needed to find my place in the world on my own-but I still write Kisara when I can, and see them every few years.
61. Have you started your own family? If so, describe them. If not, do you want to? Why or why not?
I’ve never had kids, and while I haven’t gone through the change of life yet, I’m pretty effectively past childbearing age at this point. But I’ve looked after a lot of motherless cabin boys and girls over the years.
62. Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help? My crew, and where I am right now, seems everyone is willing to give a hand. The hard part is asking for it.
63. Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why? Pretty much all the folks I’ve mentioned in this so far. And I’ll protect them.
64. If you died or went missing, who would miss you? Hoooo.... well, I hope somebody does.
65. Who is the person you despise the most, and why? Anyone who is a traitor or a killer.
66. Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict? Heh. Heh heh heh heh heh. What do YOU think?
67. Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations? Being a captain on a fishing vessel, I’m used to being in command-but it kind of depends on the situation and who else is there.
68. Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not? Sure, though I prefer small groups or being by myself-easier to get a word in, and large groups scare the fish.
69. Do you care what others think of you? More than I ought.
Part 6: Likes And Dislikes
70. What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes? Fishing. I know, you’re surprised, right? I also like singing, but I ain’t good at it, playing cards, telling or hearing a good story
71. What is your most treasured possession? My sasumata. Great for fishing as well as spearing bigger nasties.
72. What is your favorite color? Yellow.
73. What is your favorite food? Blueberries. Hard to find fresh, and so sweet.
74. What, if anything, do you like to read? Letters from Raftfleet.
75. What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, movies, art, etc.)? I like a good joke or a good prank.
76. Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit? I drink, as most sailors and mariners tend to do, but I ain’t a drunk.
77. How do you spend a typical Saturday night? I like to spend time off or at port after work is done... to have a drink with likeminded souls and playing a game or telling stories.
78. What makes you laugh? A fool getting his comeuppance.
79. What, if anything, shocks or offends you? Very little, save deep cruelty.
80. What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself? I’d go fishing. (I know! I live a very complicated life.)
81. How do you deal with stress? I go... guess. Guess what I go do. Also, I yell. I yell a lot.
82. Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan? Mariner life requires some planning, but I’m personally inclined to go where the winds take me.
83. What are your pet peeves? Women who flaunt their looks, and people who repeatedly jab elevator buttons.
Part 7: Self Images And Etc.
84. Describe the routine of a normal day for you. On ship, I get up early and send Frida to bed, as she’s usually on watch at night. I check the sails and the riggings, and check our course, and then by that point Misha’s usually got breakfast ready. Depending on where we are and what we’re fishing, it’s a day of dropping nets and trawling, or harpooning the big fish and pulling them in, taking inventory, and so on.
Since I got here, I get up in the morning and try to get some fishing done, see if I cans ell any, and earn myself enough supplies to make myself a rod and maybe get myself a change of clothes.
85. What is your greatest strength as a person? Well, I’m pretty physically strong, come to think of it, and pretty stubborn.
86. What is your greatest weakness? I think I mentioned earlier, I can’t back down from a challenge.
87. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? When I was younger, I’d say I’d want to be prettier or have a nicer figure. At this point, though... you know? I’m doing what I want for a living, and wherever I go, I seem to be surrounded by good folk. Can’t ask for more than that.
88. Are you generally introverted or extroverted? Both, oddly. Sometimes I like sittin’ in quiet with just the water and a rod, but sometimes I also like to be with people and joke around.
89. Are you generally organized or messy? Natural inclination is to be messy, but through work and habit I can be pretty organized.
90. Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at. Good at fishing, tellin’ a good big fish story, tying knots. Bad at looking nice, thinking of the right thing to say, and anything that requires more schooling than I have.
91. Do you like yourself? Sometimes.
92. What are your reasons for being an adventurer (or doing the strange and heroic things that RPG characters do)? Are your real reasons for doing this different than the ones you tell people in public? (If so, detail both sets of reasons...) When I was 16 and got drawn into the Sun Rune War, I saw a lot of people from all walks of life, rising against what was wrong and giving whatever gifts they had to the cause. Even if what they could do was man the soldier roster, or cook a meal, or even just sing a song, it was all important. And I realized, where I went, I might have my own gifts to bring somewhere. So if I see something wrong being done, I try to help however I can. Just seems like the right thing to do.
For the sillier side of things, I heard stories about a giant fish/sea monster that I left home to go hunt down, because I thought I could make a name for myself that way...
93. What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime? There’s this huge black fish I’ve spent most of thirty years trying to catch....
94. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Probably still hunting that stupid fish, though maybe being chucked up here has taught me a lesson. Hopefully, I’ll be back on the Long Sunset, catching loads of fish and chumming with Henry and teaching the cabin boy the ways of the sea.
95. If you could choose, how would you want to die? Fast as possible, and not in front of someone young.
96. If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left. I’d write Kisara and Lun, eat the best meal I could get, and then... well, I’ll die like I lived. I’ll try to catch just one more big one.
97. What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death? Being a strong person, and a good captain.
98. What three words best describe your personality? Honest, ornery, and well-meaning.
99. What three words would others probably use to describe you? Long time ago, there was a detective that “deduced” I was “coarse” and “vulgar.” We can add to that “loud,” and that sounds about right. ;)
100. If you could, what advice would you, the player, give to your character? I’m not sure I’d presume to tell Subala what to do. ;) Maybe I’d tell her to chill and not worry about being old (48 isn’t that old). I think maybe I’d like her to find Lun again someday and rekindle their old friendship.
Short answers are: Raftfleet, Kisara, fish, sun run war, fish, Long Sunset, fish.
Part 1: The Basics
1. What is your full name? Subalalalalalalalala. No, just Subala. Really.
2. Where and when were you born? I was born in Raftfleet, on the Feitas River in Falena, at the height of summer in433.
3. Who are/were your parents? Did/do they have occupations? My ma was a seamstress, if I remember correctly, and I don’t know who my pa was. My ma died when was I was pretty little, and then most of Raftfleet sorta looked after me, with Kisara (she was Vice Admiral, then) tryin’ to keep me out of trouble most of all.
4. Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like? No blood siblings, but I consider my crew my brothers an’ the like. Kisara used to say me’n her daughter Lun used to be like sisters. I suppose we were, for a time.
5. Where do you live now, and with whom? Before I arrived to Budehuc, I lived on my fishing boat, the Long Sunset, with my mates, Henry, Bartok, Frida, and Misha. Now I kip up in a bunk on that old boat in the back lagoon of Budehuc.
6. What is your occupation? Fishing buss captain in the Island Nations Merchant Marines
7. Write a full physical description of the character. (Third Person)
Subala is a woman of medium height, with a wiry muscular build and a slender, nearly androgynous frame. At 48, she has many smile lines around her eyes and mouth, and her skin is weathered and golden from constantly being out in the sun and wind. She has purple hair that she keeps wrapped in a yellow cloth, as a nod to her Raftfleet heritage (oddly, when she lived with Raftfleet, she didn’t actually wrap her hair), and bright, impish grey eyes. She usually wears a white shirt off the shoulders, a pair of overalls, and rubber boots (or goes barefoot if there aren’t splinters to be risked).
8. To which social class do you belong? Working class, and damn proud of it.
9. Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses? Not bein as young as I used to be, I get awful stiff in my shoulders, hands, and hips sometimes, but I try to keep myself as limber as I can. Peanuts disagree with me.
10. Are you right- or left-handed? Right
11. What does your voice sound like? Medium pitch, and slightly hoarse from shoutin all my life.
12. What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently? Dunno. “Misha, git yer ass on deck!” probably. And words that end in apostrophes.
13. What do you have in your pockets? I got pockets’n pouches, and at the moment I have some money, some hooks and lures, and a letter from Kisara (that I need to write an answer to).
14. Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? I don’t seem to think so, but I imagine my crew or my friends would tell you different. I yell a lot, and I can’t back down from a challenge, I know that. I like to tease people.
Part 2: Growing Up
15. How would you describe your childhood in general? Sometimes, lonely, sometimes, a lot of fun.
16. What is your earliest memory? My ma singing to me. I can’t remember her face really well, but I remember her voice.
17. How much schooling have you had? I know my letters and numbers. I couldn’t write really well until my late teens... I wanted to write to the Prince, and Lun made fun of me because I couldn’t make out a note to him without royally messing it up. When I started working on ships, I got taught better arithmetic, and how to chart a course and read maps.
18. Did you enjoy school? Never had formal schooling, really, just Kisara (and later, my captain) sitting me down and showing me things when she could get me to pay attention.
19. Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities? I learned fishing and riverboat sailing from Logg (Kisara’s husband), sail work and rigging work from a Mate named Ferd, and navigation and other arts of the sea from Captain Grey.
20. While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them. Kisara, I suppose, who was (and is) beautiful and wise, two things I will never be. But when I’m not sure what to do, I think of what she’d do, and it’s usually the right decision to make.
21. While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family? I barely remember my own ma. Kisara and Logg looked after me, and I got along with’em well even if I rubbed Kisara’s patience raw sometimes (no more raw than Logg or Lun did, tho!). Lun and I fought a lot, but it was a friendly kind of fighting, usually.
22. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? The Prince’s wife A fisherwoman.
23. As a child, what were your favorite activities? Fishing, fighting with Lun, fishing some more.
24. As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display? I was really jealous, really competitive. I was also very loud, which hasn’t changed much.
25. As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like? I’d like to think I was then, but I think my only real friend was Lun. She was a crackerjack like her pa, but she had a little bit of common sense thanks to her ma. Only a _little_ bit, mind. She was pretty and smart, so I was always jealous of her.
26. When and with whom was your first kiss? A cabin boy about 30 years ago, no one anyone ‘round here would know.
27. Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity? Same cabin boy.
28. If you are a supernatural being (i.e. mage, werewolf, vampire), tell the story of how you became what you are or first learned of your own abilities. If you are just a normal human, describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today. Well, I just always loved fishing, so I just kept doing what I love. I do fight monsters and pirates from time to time, and the experience I got in the Sun Rune War really helped with that.
Part 3: Past Influences
29. What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Even now, probably the Sun Rune War back in 449. Something like that you don’t forget, and it changes you at least in some ways, forever.
30. Who has had the most influence on you? Kisara, Lun, Prince Frey, my captains
31. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Getting the Long Sunset and being recorded as her Captain.
32. What is your greatest regret? At the moment, trying to harpoon that giant fish. Not that I don’t mind being here, but I got myself well separated from my crew, and I should know better than that. Hell, it was fun though.
33. What is the most evil thing you have ever done? Evil? Sweet Feitas, I hope not much. I’m told I can be rude, but I try not to hurt those who don’t deserve it. When I was 15 or 16 I probably played some tricks on Lun that were borderline cruel, but she did the same to me at times. Not that that justifies things, but still.
34. Do you have a criminal record of any kind? No.
35. When was the time you were the most frightened? When Queen Arshtat zapped Lordlake. The whole sky lit like the sun rose twice, and the whole river shook; we were and miles and miles away and still nearly capsized. I remember that clear as day and I was still pretty young.
36. What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you? I don’t have time to recount most of my life to you right now. :)
37. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why? I probably wouldn’t have fought quite so much with Lun. Quite so much, mind. Some of that fighting was fun.
38. What is your best memory? I am lucky to say I got a lot to choose from. Family dinners. Be they the ones Kisara used to make, or sitting and eating with my crew.
39. What is your worst memory? The ones I’ve forgotten, I imagine.
Part 4: Beliefs And Opinions
40. Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic? Optimistic. Ain’t much point of livin’ if you don’t think there’s somethin’ to look forward to.
41. What is your greatest fear? Seeing the Sun Rune-or any True or other powerful Rune-go out of control (again)
42. What are your religious views? I pay my proper respects to Sweet Mother River and Old Man Sea
43. What are your political views? Rulers of nations should not be allowed to keep tac nukes in their foreheads. Other than that, I don’t care what politicians do as long as innocent people don’t get hurt.
44. What are your views on sex? Can be fun with the right person.
45. Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable? Well, I kill fish all the time, but I imagine that’s not what’s meant here. I don’t wanna kill a person, but if somebody is attacking friends or my crew, then if a killing blow is what stops them, I’ll live with that.
46. In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do? Kill a whole lot of innocent people at once, or violate someone’s body, or take away their freedom.
47. Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love? I suppose, but it hasn’t happened to me. Well, my soul mate might be my boat.
48. What do you believe makes a successful life? Working as hard as you can and earning fair dealings for it, and being with your friends.
49. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e. do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)? Ah... I try to be honest as I can. I think sometimes my pride stops me from fully expressing myself, though. I’ve always wanted to be stronger than I am, so I don’t like to admit weakness.
50. Do you have any biases or prejudices? No, I treat pretty much everyone the same. Whether they like bein’ treated like that is another discussion....
51. Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it? I won’t hurt a friend (teasing doesn’t count), and I won’t keep a fish caught that’s too small.
52. Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)? My crew, anyone who’s been good to me.
Part 5: Relationships With Others
53. In general, how do you treat others (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how? I treat others the way I want to be treated; I don’t go for fancy pomp and circumstance, and I try to be friendly. If I know someone is a traitor or a killer though, they get no quarter from me.
54. Who is the most important person in your life, and why? Me! Heh, no, I guess... geez, one person? That’s hard. I guess... I guess Kisara, because I probably would have been lost a long time ago if she hadn’t looked after me when she did.
55. Who is the person you respect the most, and why? Kisara, for the reasons above. I respect most folks who are good.
56. Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? Describe these people. My current best friend is my first mate Henry. Here at Budehuc, I don’t know many people yet (except the young Prince and a lot of people from the Sun Rune war I don’t remember real well), but Eileen’s been particularly nice to me, and so’s Lazlo... and so most people who’ve come to talk to me, really. Lots of good people here.
57. Do you have a spouse or significant other? The Long Sunset. Heh.
58. Have you ever been in love? Yep. Don’t know a soul who hasn’t been.
59. What do you look for in a potential lover? Someone who’ll put up with my ugly mug, and is kind and strong. And has a nice ass.
60. How close are you to your family? My current family is my crew, and I am close to them, save for the whole being kidnapped by a fish thing. To the Raftfleet folks, I don’t see them very often-I hit a point where I needed to find my place in the world on my own-but I still write Kisara when I can, and see them every few years.
61. Have you started your own family? If so, describe them. If not, do you want to? Why or why not?
I’ve never had kids, and while I haven’t gone through the change of life yet, I’m pretty effectively past childbearing age at this point. But I’ve looked after a lot of motherless cabin boys and girls over the years.
62. Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help? My crew, and where I am right now, seems everyone is willing to give a hand. The hard part is asking for it.
63. Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why? Pretty much all the folks I’ve mentioned in this so far. And I’ll protect them.
64. If you died or went missing, who would miss you? Hoooo.... well, I hope somebody does.
65. Who is the person you despise the most, and why? Anyone who is a traitor or a killer.
66. Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict? Heh. Heh heh heh heh heh. What do YOU think?
67. Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations? Being a captain on a fishing vessel, I’m used to being in command-but it kind of depends on the situation and who else is there.
68. Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not? Sure, though I prefer small groups or being by myself-easier to get a word in, and large groups scare the fish.
69. Do you care what others think of you? More than I ought.
Part 6: Likes And Dislikes
70. What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes? Fishing. I know, you’re surprised, right? I also like singing, but I ain’t good at it, playing cards, telling or hearing a good story
71. What is your most treasured possession? My sasumata. Great for fishing as well as spearing bigger nasties.
72. What is your favorite color? Yellow.
73. What is your favorite food? Blueberries. Hard to find fresh, and so sweet.
74. What, if anything, do you like to read? Letters from Raftfleet.
75. What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, movies, art, etc.)? I like a good joke or a good prank.
76. Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit? I drink, as most sailors and mariners tend to do, but I ain’t a drunk.
77. How do you spend a typical Saturday night? I like to spend time off or at port after work is done... to have a drink with likeminded souls and playing a game or telling stories.
78. What makes you laugh? A fool getting his comeuppance.
79. What, if anything, shocks or offends you? Very little, save deep cruelty.
80. What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself? I’d go fishing. (I know! I live a very complicated life.)
81. How do you deal with stress? I go... guess. Guess what I go do. Also, I yell. I yell a lot.
82. Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan? Mariner life requires some planning, but I’m personally inclined to go where the winds take me.
83. What are your pet peeves? Women who flaunt their looks, and people who repeatedly jab elevator buttons.
Part 7: Self Images And Etc.
84. Describe the routine of a normal day for you. On ship, I get up early and send Frida to bed, as she’s usually on watch at night. I check the sails and the riggings, and check our course, and then by that point Misha’s usually got breakfast ready. Depending on where we are and what we’re fishing, it’s a day of dropping nets and trawling, or harpooning the big fish and pulling them in, taking inventory, and so on.
Since I got here, I get up in the morning and try to get some fishing done, see if I cans ell any, and earn myself enough supplies to make myself a rod and maybe get myself a change of clothes.
85. What is your greatest strength as a person? Well, I’m pretty physically strong, come to think of it, and pretty stubborn.
86. What is your greatest weakness? I think I mentioned earlier, I can’t back down from a challenge.
87. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? When I was younger, I’d say I’d want to be prettier or have a nicer figure. At this point, though... you know? I’m doing what I want for a living, and wherever I go, I seem to be surrounded by good folk. Can’t ask for more than that.
88. Are you generally introverted or extroverted? Both, oddly. Sometimes I like sittin’ in quiet with just the water and a rod, but sometimes I also like to be with people and joke around.
89. Are you generally organized or messy? Natural inclination is to be messy, but through work and habit I can be pretty organized.
90. Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at. Good at fishing, tellin’ a good big fish story, tying knots. Bad at looking nice, thinking of the right thing to say, and anything that requires more schooling than I have.
91. Do you like yourself? Sometimes.
92. What are your reasons for being an adventurer (or doing the strange and heroic things that RPG characters do)? Are your real reasons for doing this different than the ones you tell people in public? (If so, detail both sets of reasons...) When I was 16 and got drawn into the Sun Rune War, I saw a lot of people from all walks of life, rising against what was wrong and giving whatever gifts they had to the cause. Even if what they could do was man the soldier roster, or cook a meal, or even just sing a song, it was all important. And I realized, where I went, I might have my own gifts to bring somewhere. So if I see something wrong being done, I try to help however I can. Just seems like the right thing to do.
For the sillier side of things, I heard stories about a giant fish/sea monster that I left home to go hunt down, because I thought I could make a name for myself that way...
93. What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime? There’s this huge black fish I’ve spent most of thirty years trying to catch....
94. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Probably still hunting that stupid fish, though maybe being chucked up here has taught me a lesson. Hopefully, I’ll be back on the Long Sunset, catching loads of fish and chumming with Henry and teaching the cabin boy the ways of the sea.
95. If you could choose, how would you want to die? Fast as possible, and not in front of someone young.
96. If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left. I’d write Kisara and Lun, eat the best meal I could get, and then... well, I’ll die like I lived. I’ll try to catch just one more big one.
97. What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death? Being a strong person, and a good captain.
98. What three words best describe your personality? Honest, ornery, and well-meaning.
99. What three words would others probably use to describe you? Long time ago, there was a detective that “deduced” I was “coarse” and “vulgar.” We can add to that “loud,” and that sounds about right. ;)
100. If you could, what advice would you, the player, give to your character? I’m not sure I’d presume to tell Subala what to do. ;) Maybe I’d tell her to chill and not worry about being old (48 isn’t that old). I think maybe I’d like her to find Lun again someday and rekindle their old friendship.