OOC ⊗ Biography Part II ⊗ Personality/Abilities In-depth
A really in depth look at Raven's personalities and abilities (minus the actual arte list as that is in another entry), plus how I personally play Raven in the RP setting, particularly for Somarium.
PERSONALITY
This is written as IC as possible, but some of it may be my own interpretation. I try to stay true to canon however.
Very laidback, pretty smart/wise, and likes to use his excuse of being an “old man” to try and get out of things. If Raven doesn’t like something, he’ll certainly whine about it, and he’d prefer doing as little as possible “Takin’ it easy” would probably be his motto, if it wasn’t already.
Still, he does act more like a father figure for the group, always keeping the party in check as well as giving them encouragement. Of course, he also likes to say these things in cryptic, philosophical ways that make them go “What the hell are you talking about, old man?” and he’ll just respond “What? You don’t like my eloquent, poetic comments~?” He will give out advice that’s straight to the point and will be down to earth when necessary. If anyone ever needed any advice or a sort of pep talk, Raven would be the one to go. Whether or not the person will actually understand it depends on how “deep” he wants to go.
He can also be pretty silly, especially in some of his reactions. Raven also has a tendency to not show what he’s really thinking and joke around. Raven goes into nostalgic bits sometimes, though it’s hard to tell if he’s serious or joking…probably both. He will don several masks if necessary so it really is hard to tell what the old man is thinking. The fact that he will also tend to dodge the question by focusing on more pressing matters is a skill that he is quite good at. He can also be very serious when necessary, and though he prefers watching from the sidelines and letting others take the lead, if he needs to take charge, he can and will. And then later complain about it.
Raven also loves women. Particularly the busty kind. He is totally not above peeping or encouraging the ladies to wear certain clothing. However, he apparently can’t seem to take things rather well as he will pass out or faint at certain thoughts or images. Too much for the old man, it seems. Still, he has a lot of energy for an old guy…well when he actually uses it. But possibly due to what happened with Casey, he has never actually settled in on a relationship and just maintains the flirting relationships. There is also the potential reason of him always believing to be a dead man and not really looking forward into anything in life that he just turned to women as a sort of escape. Now, however, he probably would be looking more into settling down with someone. …Or continue to chase women, but hey, it’s Raven.
Raven is also very adept for the heat. He can take it very well. Cold on the other hand…no. He also doesn’t like sweet foods. It’s not really clear as to why but he doesn’t. Yet he makes an awesome crepe (all for the women, as he says).
It should also be noted that Raven is very much a “pal around” type of guy. Which does make it easier for people to open up to him. He is also great with kids. He also enjoys learning information about other people and is pretty good at reading people, or noting their change of expression. And while he was a double agent, he’s pretty good at keeping secrets, especially his own. He does not willingly talk about his past if he can help it, except for maybe to those close to him. The past is the past, and there’s nothing he can do about it but move forward now, especially since he technically has a third chance at life.
If there is one thing that Raven focuses on, it’s doing what you can do instead of worrying over it.
When it comes to anything regarding his past, he tends to prefer to ignore it, or say that it happened to someone else. That Schwann Oltorain was a completely different person. This is either because he no longer wishes to associate with that past or he just wants to forget and move on with his new life as “Raven”. On several occasions he’ll refer to how Schwann had done this and that and now he, meaning Raven, must amend those past mistakes. Also, when acquiring Vanji Lost from Drake, he calls Schwann his brother.
RP PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
If anything I’ve noticed in all the RPs that I’ve played Raven in, the necessity for him to play the “father” role is usually high, if not almost immediately. This is particularly so in Somarium. I find that Raven slips into the “looking out for the younguns’” mode a lot. Not that that is a bad thing, but it is a bit amusing.
Another thing that I am personally exploring and forcing a little on him is the fact that he does have his past. Basically, Raven must confront has past. In Somarium in particular, as that is the only game so far in which he has to physically look at his past through the dreams and then later questioned by those who watch them. There is also the fact that Raven can connect to those who faced similar experiences or is going through such things.
In his normal canon, Raven probably would not have to worry about this so much (well, unless we go with the theory that he aids Flynn in fixing/helping the Imperial Knights. Rejoining is a different thing entirely, but not impossible. Just less likely.).
While he still would rather not talk about his past if he can help it, I think there is slightly aversion to it. Instead of running away or just parting from it completely, he has to come to grips that yes, this happened, yes he did those actions, and now he has to live with them while also moving forward. His past is just another tale to tell the kids around the fire. Some people might take a different approach in how he handles his past, but I like taking this avenue as it opens up the character development.
Raven is certainly not comfortable with talking about his past. Up to a certain point he can proud of what he did, but then after that he would just rather not go there. But it’s a tale that provides a lesson to others.
He is still the “come on, let’s have a drink and not worry about the little things” kind of guy; the guy that people will initially think that he probably just hung loose and partied when he was younger. To have this alternate personality, this different persona that he only reserves for certain situations gives him a different dynamic. It’s still his secret. Being serious is not something telling. But being able to take command and be the complete opposite is.
ABILITIES
Raven is mainly a bow user, though he can also use a small dagger to help with close combats. His bows are actually unique, as well, in that they can actually fold and come together to form a katar that he can also use in close combat. He is also able to use a sword, but he prefers the bow. However, if he must use a sword, he will use the Imperial Knights style and be rather fast. He’s also rather…acrobatic for an old man. Despite complaining about old bones and all, he can do a no-handed backflip (repeatedly) and when he uses his skills, he can jump high into the air and twirl around and all that jazz.
As well as being able to use various bow techniques, he can also cast a few spells. Most of them are wind based, but he does have one ice spell and can stop time for a few seconds. One other unique skill he has can heal people. As it is a skill rather than a spell, he can use this frequently without worrying about cast delay and it does not take as much energy. [Note, all his skills and descriptions are written in a different entry.]
In terms of cooking, Raven is actually rather good. Chock it up to having to be a bachelor or the incentive of impressing the ladies, but Raven is probably the third best cook judging from the skits. He just doesn’t want to have to do it a lot. And his main specialty is something that he himself would not eat: the crêpe. He might not be able to make awesome, creative dishes like Yuri and Judith, but when it comes to simple, good cooking, Raven is probably the guy to go to.
Because of his personality, Raven is also able to get along with people very well. He can adapt and understand them fairly quickly, as he does have personal experience. Since he also had to pretty much watch people and be able to read them so he can extract information for his past line of work, Raven is adept at reading expressions. This makes it fairly easy for him to learn something or let the person slip on certain things. It’s not always easy or simple. He’s not a mind reader and can easily judge incorrectly or just fail. But he is certainly good at it.
This is also true for Raven himself. As stated before, he is naturally very secretive, and for good reason. So if there is something he does not want to talk about, he will say partial truths or flat out lie, whichever is easier. Or if there is something more pressing at hand, he will deter the attention away from him and to that instead. He’ll slip up every once in a while though, or talk of the truth in such a way that it just sounds like he’s making a story or just rambling. Making things vague also works very well.
PERSONALITY
This is written as IC as possible, but some of it may be my own interpretation. I try to stay true to canon however.
Very laidback, pretty smart/wise, and likes to use his excuse of being an “old man” to try and get out of things. If Raven doesn’t like something, he’ll certainly whine about it, and he’d prefer doing as little as possible “Takin’ it easy” would probably be his motto, if it wasn’t already.
Still, he does act more like a father figure for the group, always keeping the party in check as well as giving them encouragement. Of course, he also likes to say these things in cryptic, philosophical ways that make them go “What the hell are you talking about, old man?” and he’ll just respond “What? You don’t like my eloquent, poetic comments~?” He will give out advice that’s straight to the point and will be down to earth when necessary. If anyone ever needed any advice or a sort of pep talk, Raven would be the one to go. Whether or not the person will actually understand it depends on how “deep” he wants to go.
He can also be pretty silly, especially in some of his reactions. Raven also has a tendency to not show what he’s really thinking and joke around. Raven goes into nostalgic bits sometimes, though it’s hard to tell if he’s serious or joking…probably both. He will don several masks if necessary so it really is hard to tell what the old man is thinking. The fact that he will also tend to dodge the question by focusing on more pressing matters is a skill that he is quite good at. He can also be very serious when necessary, and though he prefers watching from the sidelines and letting others take the lead, if he needs to take charge, he can and will. And then later complain about it.
Raven also loves women. Particularly the busty kind. He is totally not above peeping or encouraging the ladies to wear certain clothing. However, he apparently can’t seem to take things rather well as he will pass out or faint at certain thoughts or images. Too much for the old man, it seems. Still, he has a lot of energy for an old guy…well when he actually uses it. But possibly due to what happened with Casey, he has never actually settled in on a relationship and just maintains the flirting relationships. There is also the potential reason of him always believing to be a dead man and not really looking forward into anything in life that he just turned to women as a sort of escape. Now, however, he probably would be looking more into settling down with someone. …Or continue to chase women, but hey, it’s Raven.
Raven is also very adept for the heat. He can take it very well. Cold on the other hand…no. He also doesn’t like sweet foods. It’s not really clear as to why but he doesn’t. Yet he makes an awesome crepe (all for the women, as he says).
It should also be noted that Raven is very much a “pal around” type of guy. Which does make it easier for people to open up to him. He is also great with kids. He also enjoys learning information about other people and is pretty good at reading people, or noting their change of expression. And while he was a double agent, he’s pretty good at keeping secrets, especially his own. He does not willingly talk about his past if he can help it, except for maybe to those close to him. The past is the past, and there’s nothing he can do about it but move forward now, especially since he technically has a third chance at life.
If there is one thing that Raven focuses on, it’s doing what you can do instead of worrying over it.
When it comes to anything regarding his past, he tends to prefer to ignore it, or say that it happened to someone else. That Schwann Oltorain was a completely different person. This is either because he no longer wishes to associate with that past or he just wants to forget and move on with his new life as “Raven”. On several occasions he’ll refer to how Schwann had done this and that and now he, meaning Raven, must amend those past mistakes. Also, when acquiring Vanji Lost from Drake, he calls Schwann his brother.
RP PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
If anything I’ve noticed in all the RPs that I’ve played Raven in, the necessity for him to play the “father” role is usually high, if not almost immediately. This is particularly so in Somarium. I find that Raven slips into the “looking out for the younguns’” mode a lot. Not that that is a bad thing, but it is a bit amusing.
Another thing that I am personally exploring and forcing a little on him is the fact that he does have his past. Basically, Raven must confront has past. In Somarium in particular, as that is the only game so far in which he has to physically look at his past through the dreams and then later questioned by those who watch them. There is also the fact that Raven can connect to those who faced similar experiences or is going through such things.
In his normal canon, Raven probably would not have to worry about this so much (well, unless we go with the theory that he aids Flynn in fixing/helping the Imperial Knights. Rejoining is a different thing entirely, but not impossible. Just less likely.).
While he still would rather not talk about his past if he can help it, I think there is slightly aversion to it. Instead of running away or just parting from it completely, he has to come to grips that yes, this happened, yes he did those actions, and now he has to live with them while also moving forward. His past is just another tale to tell the kids around the fire. Some people might take a different approach in how he handles his past, but I like taking this avenue as it opens up the character development.
Raven is certainly not comfortable with talking about his past. Up to a certain point he can proud of what he did, but then after that he would just rather not go there. But it’s a tale that provides a lesson to others.
He is still the “come on, let’s have a drink and not worry about the little things” kind of guy; the guy that people will initially think that he probably just hung loose and partied when he was younger. To have this alternate personality, this different persona that he only reserves for certain situations gives him a different dynamic. It’s still his secret. Being serious is not something telling. But being able to take command and be the complete opposite is.
ABILITIES
Raven is mainly a bow user, though he can also use a small dagger to help with close combats. His bows are actually unique, as well, in that they can actually fold and come together to form a katar that he can also use in close combat. He is also able to use a sword, but he prefers the bow. However, if he must use a sword, he will use the Imperial Knights style and be rather fast. He’s also rather…acrobatic for an old man. Despite complaining about old bones and all, he can do a no-handed backflip (repeatedly) and when he uses his skills, he can jump high into the air and twirl around and all that jazz.
As well as being able to use various bow techniques, he can also cast a few spells. Most of them are wind based, but he does have one ice spell and can stop time for a few seconds. One other unique skill he has can heal people. As it is a skill rather than a spell, he can use this frequently without worrying about cast delay and it does not take as much energy. [Note, all his skills and descriptions are written in a different entry.]
In terms of cooking, Raven is actually rather good. Chock it up to having to be a bachelor or the incentive of impressing the ladies, but Raven is probably the third best cook judging from the skits. He just doesn’t want to have to do it a lot. And his main specialty is something that he himself would not eat: the crêpe. He might not be able to make awesome, creative dishes like Yuri and Judith, but when it comes to simple, good cooking, Raven is probably the guy to go to.
Because of his personality, Raven is also able to get along with people very well. He can adapt and understand them fairly quickly, as he does have personal experience. Since he also had to pretty much watch people and be able to read them so he can extract information for his past line of work, Raven is adept at reading expressions. This makes it fairly easy for him to learn something or let the person slip on certain things. It’s not always easy or simple. He’s not a mind reader and can easily judge incorrectly or just fail. But he is certainly good at it.
This is also true for Raven himself. As stated before, he is naturally very secretive, and for good reason. So if there is something he does not want to talk about, he will say partial truths or flat out lie, whichever is easier. Or if there is something more pressing at hand, he will deter the attention away from him and to that instead. He’ll slip up every once in a while though, or talk of the truth in such a way that it just sounds like he’s making a story or just rambling. Making things vague also works very well.