Here we learn about Ellyn.
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy? Six feet tall, thin and rangy, though there's wiry strength beneath all of it.
2. How old is she? 23.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch? Standing, she tends to stand straight, but once she's seated Ellyn has a bad tendency to slouch.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities? She's fit--one kind of had to be to make it through the Elemental Academy. She has no illnesses, conditions, or disabilities.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid? She sort of flows--not like water, but the languid creep of an encroaching wildfire.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror? Ellyn would never consider herself attractive, as she believes her features were far better suited on her father (though she does like her eyes, amber to his crimson). However, she is sort of compelling in her own way. Might be a bit of her personal, devil-may-care charisma.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred? Medium, sort of on the tan side. She hasn't got any visible scars, since the robes she wears fall to her wrists, but she has scarring up her arms and on her chest from taking a lightning strike cast at her by her older brother. (They were fighting.)
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style. Ebony black with no highlights or undertones, so it can be sort of flat. Worn shoulder length and unstyled, very wash-and-wear. It's suffered some singing and can be rather choppy and uneven in places.
9. What color are her eyes? Wolf-amber.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features? What she calls a hatchet of a nose.
11. What are her chief tension centers? The back of her neck, where the skull meets the first cervical joint. It gives her headaches and can make her shoulders tense up as well, but the stress is only held there.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit? Sort of dressy, as her robes are tailored for her specifically and go over the black suit of armor that her mother created for her. They are a bright crimson red. Beyond that, yes, she really does have six or seven of the same suit--maybe the only difference being in the fire patterns on them.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them? Yes. Put her in a dress and see what happens, though. She'd turn into a gawky teenager.
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences? No difference.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando? Commando. Seriously. But yeah, the armor is that comfortable--and she basically cleans it getting in and out of it anyway. Fire purifies.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse? She has a deeper voice for a woman, and a rasp like she smokes a few packs a day.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate? Somewhat fast, and she can get loud pretty easily.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics? She has a tendency to drop phonemes.
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency? Common and Idastrian tradetongue. Also, Gruntese, if you want to count grunting as a language.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations? Not really.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words? I suppose if speaking from the heart is worth anything she's good at impromptu speaking...
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change? Well, it's probably a challenge to understand her sometimes. She has a very articulate grunt, as did her father, and between the two of them, they can have an entire conversation in "Gruntese". I suppose if she had to seal off her pyromancy she'd be more articulate, as she wouldn't be burning off the phonemes before she could pronounce them any more.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart? She's actually well-educated in magic, can read and write, and has a small degree of street smarts, but only because she's canny and has listened to her parents as well. She certainly doesn't SOUND intelligent at all when she speaks...
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate? Ellyn definitely thinks on her feet.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical? She tries to be logical, but in the middle of trying to reason things out, she tends to have a breakdown of her patience and then just act out on what she might think is best.
4. What kind of education has the character had? Home schooled by a governess for reading and writing and arithmetic, and then sent to the Elemental College for a dozen years. There she gained a basic understanding of high magic/sorcery, and an intimate understanding of her own pyromancy, along with a basis in hydromancy, aeromancy, and geomancy. She can't actually use the latter three powers, but recognize them in use, and counteract them if necessary.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about? Burning things. Unburning things. Talking to fire. Being fire. She could be persuaded to learn more about blacksmithing, maybe, or anything else that has a use of fire, like cooking or baking. Or firefighting, as she's not exactly a destructive sort of pyromancer.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert? Extrovert all the way.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven? She can be moody, but for the most part she tends to be happy. She can seem laid back, but there's at least a bit of careful observation under the demeanor she puts up.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic? Usually fairly relaxed, unless she's got a good reason to be suspicious. If she does, she tries not to let on.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react? Depends on the situation, but usually more likely to act.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight? FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks? She's got a good one, usually, if it's not a joke directed at her. And she likes all of the above, though she'll usually groan about a pun if she's not making it.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them? No.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person? Discovering her pyromancy. Learning the tale of her mother's arrival on her father's world. Just growing up, even.
14. What does she fear? Nothing comes to mind, but she doesn't much like water. Failure, maybe? She's confident and most things have come very easily to her.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations? Be the best at pyromancy. Maybe make a bigger name for herself than that of Athros Vitner.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her? That so-called hatred of dresses? Really a big show. She kind of likes wearing them, but it's situational.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents. She loves her parents, but she's MUCH closer to Athros, her father, than she is to her mother, Narancelia. It's the pyromancy.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like? Two older siblings, Eiros and Syrienna. She isn't close to Syrrie at all, because her sister is far more feminine than Ellyn even wants to think of being. Eiros, she tends to torment as much as she can get away with, but she'd also be at his back in a moment's notice if he were in trouble. The same is true of Syrienna. Family is family.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom she is close? Are there ones she can't stand? No. Athros' parents are dead, and Nara's father and surviving brother are back on her world, and unaware of Ellyn's existence anyway.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them? She actually considers the Bladewolf a godfather/uncle type, even if he's sort of the annoying uncle who your parents put up with because he's Important. Ellyn treats him as a counselor of sorts. It's always interesting to get perspective from an intelligent wolf covered in sharp, pointy blades.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet? Baroclin Keel. He's a hydromancer whom she went to school with. They've had a relationship somewhere between best friends and friendly rivals ever since she saw him getting knocked around in the halls, and came over to take umbrage at it.
6. Does she have other close friends? Not really.
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people? She's prickly, so it can be difficult to get along with her and vice versa, but if one gets past the rough exterior, you tend to get a friend for life.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends? Friends are family you get to choose. So neither, really.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once? Single...sort of.
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse? She's interested in a man named Lucent Isimu.
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest? Oh...first was probably the hydromancer she ended up training with. At least 'til she found out he was gay. Lucent is her latest.
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner? Strength--mental more than physical. Integrity. Kindness.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does she relate to them? If no, does she want any? No, no, and...maybe in a dozen years.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies? Baroclin fills a lot of roles, doesn't he? Rival indeed, because fire and water are opposites. Ellyn hasn't really got enemies, per se. Though she opposes anyone who opposes her parents. Lusiphral Alcoran might count as an enemy as well.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does she fall on the Kinsey scale? Before she met Lucent she probably would've said asexual, but she's exclusively heterosexual. Only guys, thank you!
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to her? Not very important, usually. She usually is utterly asexual, until "a good man shows up and her nether regions roar to sudden if confused and hungry life".
17. What are her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits? No weird habits I can think of.
Turn-ons: Being talked dirty to. Having little care for the condition of one's clothing, so she can tear it off.
Turn-offs: Too much silliness. Ice play.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type? If we're talking Western, Ellyn is Aries and lives up to type well. If we're talking Eastern, Ellyn is a Horse, and is equally true to type.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life? She's spiritual in the fact that she believes spirits exist, but she didn't pick up religion from her mother at all.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it? She does. It can be rather quirky, but it's very patterned after what she saw from her parents. They're both rather just and kind rulers, and intolerant of injustices, perceived or real. Ellyn, like her father Athros, is a bit less goody-good. She doesn't like or enjoy killing, but if it's the ounce of prevention that prevents a pound of cure? Done. She doesn't go out of her way or enjoy being cruel, but she is more crude than her elegant older siblings, and says or does stupid things sometimes.
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from hers? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent? Tolerant and curious, though if she doesn't agree she may be a bit derisive.
5. What prejudices does she hold? Are they irrational or does she have a good reason for them? She doesn't like people who are only out for themselves.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt? Very comfortable, being the equivalent of a princess.
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected her? Both of her parents are Monarchs of their respective countries. Before Ellyn and her siblings, Monarchs never married or had children, so they are, all three, rather celebrated and seen as novelties. This has sort of worn off over time, but it still grants her celebrity status on her world. Not that Ellyn is the type to give a rat's ass about celebrity status.
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others? She has personal quarters in her mother's castle, the Aerie.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on? Cigars and booze, usually. She has a fondness for whiskey and Cubans.
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else? Technically, she's a pyromancer for a living. She is what she does. She's good at it, and she loves it.
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time? Burning stuff. Tormenting her siblings. She's still a little immature sometimes. Sometimes she goes out in servants' attire to spy on the countryside. She also likes hanging out with the Bladewolf. Sometimes, she even cooks.
7. What are her eating habits? Does she skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods? She loves to drink alcohol, especially since she doesn't get tipsy. It's just fuel for the fire. She has the odd habit of eating her cigar butts as well. Being that she can turn into fire, she doesn't necessarily have to eat like a normal human--but food is very enjoyable. Though there's a certain allure to a nice pile of apple wood...
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Crimson red.
2. Smell? Woodsmoke. Or cigar smoke.
3. Time of day? Sunrise.
4. Season? Autumn.
5. Book? Only if it's burning.
6. Music? Violins. If she knew of the existance of heavy metal, she'd be enthralled.
7. Place? The very top of the Aerie, her mother's castle. She likes the openness and the breezes.
8. Substance? FIRE!
9. Plant? Michelia champaca, an evergreen tree with strongly perfumed flowers. It's used in incense like Nag Champa.
10. Animal? Wolf.
END
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