somarium
[Player name] Errin
[Age] 25
[Personal Journal] N/A
[Other characters currently played] Lily Evans / Harry Potter / gryffindoe
[Character name] Psyche (or, in Greek, Ψυχη)
[Age] Unknown, but she looks to be in her mid-teens. That would be around the proper marriageable age in Ancient Greece.
[Canon] Greek Mythology.
[Point in time taken from canon] Right after she partakes of Ambrosia - thus making her an immortal and Eros's true wife.
[Background]
"She was once a mortal princess whose astounding beauty earned the ire of Aphrodite when men turned their worship from goddess to girl. Aphrodite commanded Eros make Psykhe fall in love with the most hideous of men, but the god himself fell in love with her and carried her away to his secret palace. However Eros hid his true identity, and commanded her never to look upon his face. Psykhe was eventually tricked by her jealous sisters into gazing upon the face of god, and he abandoned her. In her despair, she searched throughout the world for her lost love, and eventually came into the service of Aphrodite. The goddess commanded her perform a series of difficult labours which culminated in a journey to the Underworld. In the end Psykhe was reunited with Eros and the couple wed in a ceremony attended by the gods."
Taken from Theoi.
(In the version of the story I possess, Psyche partakes of the godly Ambrosia as apart of her wedding vows.)
[Personality (this includes her background and how it affected her).] Psyche, as a mortal, was a young, impressionable child. When her suitors stopped pursuing her and her parents started worrying what the gods had in store for their youngest daughter, Psyche, too, was fearful. She didn't want to leave home or become bound to some monstrous deity - especially since she knew Aphrodite must be angry with her (thanks to the rumors that had been spread).
Princess Psyche is Aphrodite reborn!
No, no, her beauty outshines that of the goddess of love!
Abandon the temples of Aphrodite and worship Princess Psyche instead!
When her parents were instructed to take her to a hill in order to wait for her husband, Psyche mourned for her fate. And she wasn't the only one. The whole party that escorted her to said hill wore black and stifled sobs behind their funerary veils. However, it wasn't long before Psyche was left alone.
Yet her fear was not enough to keep her awake. Upon falling asleep, Zephyr lifted her up and carried her to Eros's palace. Her first day was spent being attended to by invisible servants and her first night was spent in the arms of her new husband. ("The pleasant entertainment came to an end, and the advent of darkness induced Psyche to retire to bed. When the night was well advanced, a genial sound met her ears. Since the was utterly alone, she trembled and shuddered in her fear for her virginity, and she dreaded the unknown presence more than any other menace. But now her unknown bridegroom arrived and climbed into the bed. He made Psyche his wife, and swiftly departed before dawn broke. At once the voices in attendance at her bed-chamber tended the new bride's violated virginity.") Based on that quote, it can be assumed that Psyche's first time was...not gentle. Thus her first night with Eros was a turning point for the girl. With the loss of her virginity came the loss of her innocence; that night Psyche became a woman.
The days that followed taught Psyche even more about herself. When she had arrived in the palace, she wouldn't have dared to ask her husband for anything - especially since he provided her with so much. However, when her loneliness became too much, Psyche used their night together to make a request. She wanted to see her sisters. She wanted to be connected to her family even if she wasn't meant to see them ever again.
Thankfully, Eros loved her enough to grant her request. Yet Psyche knew that the gods could be petty and spiteful. Eros could have gotten rid of her the moment she asked something of him. Therefore, for perhaps the first time in her life, Psyche showed real bravery. She also showed the depth of her love for her sisters by wanting to see them especially.
When her sisters arrived, Psyche was overjoyed. She freely offered them whatever they wished and remained naive to their jealousy. Therefore, while Psyche might be more experienced (thanks to Eros), she has not lost all of her emotional innocence. In a way, Eros shielded her from the cruelty and harshness of the world by locking her in his palace. Yet, her sisters partook of a far more bitter reality in which they felt they were lacking their little sister's wealth and prestige. As a result of Psyche's continue innocence, she was easily manipulated by them.
Thanks to her sisters, Psyche was doomed to learn a lesson about the world in the harshest way possible.
After looking upon her husband's face - something he had asked her to never do - Psyche realized that her sisters had been wrong. He wasn't a monster. He wasn't going to devour her. In fact, he was quite...beautiful. The moment she looked upon him, she realized that she loved him and she wanted nothing more than to be with him. The ache for him was so strong that when he left her - wounded by her deceit - she felt as if her heart had been torn to shreds.
The belated realization of her love for Eros displayed another facet to Psyche's slowly maturing personality: she is not someone who gives her heart to another freely. By the time her sisters arrived, she had lain with Eros many times. And yet she needed to see him for who - and what - he truly was before she gave him her heart. After all, the saying is "love at first sight" not "love at first touch".
Psyche searched for Eros endlessly. Finally, she ran into the goddess Aphrodite - Eros's mother. Aphrodite assigned Psyche cruel tasks in which the girl's delicate beauty was damaged. She even sent her to the Underworld to retrieve a box from Persephone. Unfortunately, because of what Aphrodite had said about the box (that it contained some of Persephone's beauty), Psyche could not stop herself from peering inside. She wanted to look beautiful for her lover, after all. She couldn't bear the thought of him rejecting her again. Yet the box contained a sleep so deep that it mirrored death. As the sleep fell over her, Psyche lost consciousness. Thankfully, Eros was flying overhead when she opened the box. He rescued her and carried her off to be married (and immortalized).
Throughout Aphrodite's tasks, Psyche matured even further. She became stronger - inwardly and outwardly - and learned that even if something seems hopeless, there are always options. She also learned that she - as a mortal - can stand up to an immortal and be their equal (at least where will-power is concerned).
In summation, Psyche - as an immortal - still has a long way to go before she is fully mature. There are times when she is almost childish, but one shouldn't mistake her for being cowardly or dim-witted. The goddess is actually quite versatile, especially when she is put in harsh/challenging situations. But she does cling to her family - which, thankfully, no longer includes her mortal sisters - and she does have a tendency to despair when things don't go her way. However, she does not allow herself to stay in that state. There is always a small ray of hope gently burning within the goddess. With time, she will learn all the information she lacks. Watching mortals - or her fellow immortals, even - for any extended period of time should fill in the gaps quite nicely.
[I realize that parts of the background don't fit the story written on the Theoi. I am using a version of Eros and Psyche from one of my books.]
[Abilities]
She is immortal. She is also depicted with butterfly wings. I realize that she is the goddess of soul, but I don't think she has any powers related to reading another's soul - though she might be more open to perceiving what others are hiding (emotionally). But, even as a mortal, she seemed sensitive to the feelings of those around her.
[Other important stuff]
A portrait of the lovers.
[Sample post]
[First Person] What is a soul without love? What is love without a soul? [Psyche's voice is sweet and pure, though there is something sad about her tone.] We were wed before your family and friends and now I am without you.
[Her desperation and loneliness becomes clear after those words.]
Eros, what shall I do? You promised we would be husband and wife forevermore. But how can that be if I'm here and you're beyond my reach? [There is a hitch behind her words - almost as if she is on the verge of tears.] I overcame so much for you. Why would you send me back to live amongst mortals?
[Burying her hands in her hair, Psyche loses herself, briefly, in despair.]
...must I wait? Is that what you desire? As an immortal... I must wait? [Her brow creases in confusion.] Will that prove my feelings?
I can't think of another reason I would be sent here. [The smallest of nods follows that musing and the girl straightens, balling her hands into small fists.] Residents, tell me more of your city.
[Third Person] In the sunlight, her hair shimmered like gold. While it had been vibrant during her mortality, there was nothing short of untarnished gold that rivaled it in her immortality. Yet Psyche took surprisingly little care of her appearance. She wasn't a vain goddess - despite the claims about her beauty. She knew what it meant to scrounge in the dirt and go days without eating. Aphrodite had taught her that and, humbly, she thanked the goddess for her lessons - even if a part of her still found them cruel.
Gathering up the hem of her dress, Psyche walked slowly through Somni, her sky blue eyes taking in the buildings with wonder. She had never seen such architecture nor could she quite comprehend the lack of temples dedicated to the gods. How did these residents expect to prosper? Surely the gods would strike them down!
Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself and tried her best not to think about Eros. Every time she did, she felt sick with worry. It was high-time she accepted her new life. Surely, once she proved herself, Eros would come back for her?
Psyche certainly liked to think so.
"Excuse me?" she gathered the attention of a passer-by, "Where might I find something to eat?" she was terribly hungry. Even the gods had to eat. Or maybe she hadn't quite adjusted to immortal life yet. Either way, her stomach was rumbling and she needed to rectify it if she wanted to be able to think straight.
After procuring an apple, Psyche continued her journey through Somni, biting into the apple idly. A few times, she smiled shyly at those who looked her way. Who would think she was anything more than a mortal girl? Sure, her appearance was striking and she did have a tendency to glow in the sunlight (and moonlight), but she wasn't...proud or boastful. Psyche had never been those things. Even as a Princess she had been mild-mannered and sweet, which was why she had attracted so many suitors.
Stopping by a fountain, the girl sat down and finished her fruit. Maybe spending some time here wouldn't be so bad? For the first time since her arrival, Psyche felt hopeful. It was amazing what a little food could do.
[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] I think a dream-land is perfect for Psyche. Since she represents the soul, I imagine her dreams will be filled to the brim with metaphors.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?] No Godmodding. I like controlling my character in all situations. When someone takes that from me, it irritates me.
[Where did you hear about Somarium?] I don't remember.
[Any questions?] Nope!
[Age] 25
[Personal Journal] N/A
[Other characters currently played] Lily Evans / Harry Potter / gryffindoe
[Character name] Psyche (or, in Greek, Ψυχη)
[Age] Unknown, but she looks to be in her mid-teens. That would be around the proper marriageable age in Ancient Greece.
[Canon] Greek Mythology.
[Point in time taken from canon] Right after she partakes of Ambrosia - thus making her an immortal and Eros's true wife.
[Background]
"She was once a mortal princess whose astounding beauty earned the ire of Aphrodite when men turned their worship from goddess to girl. Aphrodite commanded Eros make Psykhe fall in love with the most hideous of men, but the god himself fell in love with her and carried her away to his secret palace. However Eros hid his true identity, and commanded her never to look upon his face. Psykhe was eventually tricked by her jealous sisters into gazing upon the face of god, and he abandoned her. In her despair, she searched throughout the world for her lost love, and eventually came into the service of Aphrodite. The goddess commanded her perform a series of difficult labours which culminated in a journey to the Underworld. In the end Psykhe was reunited with Eros and the couple wed in a ceremony attended by the gods."
Taken from Theoi.
(In the version of the story I possess, Psyche partakes of the godly Ambrosia as apart of her wedding vows.)
[Personality (this includes her background and how it affected her).] Psyche, as a mortal, was a young, impressionable child. When her suitors stopped pursuing her and her parents started worrying what the gods had in store for their youngest daughter, Psyche, too, was fearful. She didn't want to leave home or become bound to some monstrous deity - especially since she knew Aphrodite must be angry with her (thanks to the rumors that had been spread).
Princess Psyche is Aphrodite reborn!
No, no, her beauty outshines that of the goddess of love!
Abandon the temples of Aphrodite and worship Princess Psyche instead!
When her parents were instructed to take her to a hill in order to wait for her husband, Psyche mourned for her fate. And she wasn't the only one. The whole party that escorted her to said hill wore black and stifled sobs behind their funerary veils. However, it wasn't long before Psyche was left alone.
Yet her fear was not enough to keep her awake. Upon falling asleep, Zephyr lifted her up and carried her to Eros's palace. Her first day was spent being attended to by invisible servants and her first night was spent in the arms of her new husband. ("The pleasant entertainment came to an end, and the advent of darkness induced Psyche to retire to bed. When the night was well advanced, a genial sound met her ears. Since the was utterly alone, she trembled and shuddered in her fear for her virginity, and she dreaded the unknown presence more than any other menace. But now her unknown bridegroom arrived and climbed into the bed. He made Psyche his wife, and swiftly departed before dawn broke. At once the voices in attendance at her bed-chamber tended the new bride's violated virginity.") Based on that quote, it can be assumed that Psyche's first time was...not gentle. Thus her first night with Eros was a turning point for the girl. With the loss of her virginity came the loss of her innocence; that night Psyche became a woman.
The days that followed taught Psyche even more about herself. When she had arrived in the palace, she wouldn't have dared to ask her husband for anything - especially since he provided her with so much. However, when her loneliness became too much, Psyche used their night together to make a request. She wanted to see her sisters. She wanted to be connected to her family even if she wasn't meant to see them ever again.
Thankfully, Eros loved her enough to grant her request. Yet Psyche knew that the gods could be petty and spiteful. Eros could have gotten rid of her the moment she asked something of him. Therefore, for perhaps the first time in her life, Psyche showed real bravery. She also showed the depth of her love for her sisters by wanting to see them especially.
When her sisters arrived, Psyche was overjoyed. She freely offered them whatever they wished and remained naive to their jealousy. Therefore, while Psyche might be more experienced (thanks to Eros), she has not lost all of her emotional innocence. In a way, Eros shielded her from the cruelty and harshness of the world by locking her in his palace. Yet, her sisters partook of a far more bitter reality in which they felt they were lacking their little sister's wealth and prestige. As a result of Psyche's continue innocence, she was easily manipulated by them.
Thanks to her sisters, Psyche was doomed to learn a lesson about the world in the harshest way possible.
After looking upon her husband's face - something he had asked her to never do - Psyche realized that her sisters had been wrong. He wasn't a monster. He wasn't going to devour her. In fact, he was quite...beautiful. The moment she looked upon him, she realized that she loved him and she wanted nothing more than to be with him. The ache for him was so strong that when he left her - wounded by her deceit - she felt as if her heart had been torn to shreds.
The belated realization of her love for Eros displayed another facet to Psyche's slowly maturing personality: she is not someone who gives her heart to another freely. By the time her sisters arrived, she had lain with Eros many times. And yet she needed to see him for who - and what - he truly was before she gave him her heart. After all, the saying is "love at first sight" not "love at first touch".
Psyche searched for Eros endlessly. Finally, she ran into the goddess Aphrodite - Eros's mother. Aphrodite assigned Psyche cruel tasks in which the girl's delicate beauty was damaged. She even sent her to the Underworld to retrieve a box from Persephone. Unfortunately, because of what Aphrodite had said about the box (that it contained some of Persephone's beauty), Psyche could not stop herself from peering inside. She wanted to look beautiful for her lover, after all. She couldn't bear the thought of him rejecting her again. Yet the box contained a sleep so deep that it mirrored death. As the sleep fell over her, Psyche lost consciousness. Thankfully, Eros was flying overhead when she opened the box. He rescued her and carried her off to be married (and immortalized).
Throughout Aphrodite's tasks, Psyche matured even further. She became stronger - inwardly and outwardly - and learned that even if something seems hopeless, there are always options. She also learned that she - as a mortal - can stand up to an immortal and be their equal (at least where will-power is concerned).
In summation, Psyche - as an immortal - still has a long way to go before she is fully mature. There are times when she is almost childish, but one shouldn't mistake her for being cowardly or dim-witted. The goddess is actually quite versatile, especially when she is put in harsh/challenging situations. But she does cling to her family - which, thankfully, no longer includes her mortal sisters - and she does have a tendency to despair when things don't go her way. However, she does not allow herself to stay in that state. There is always a small ray of hope gently burning within the goddess. With time, she will learn all the information she lacks. Watching mortals - or her fellow immortals, even - for any extended period of time should fill in the gaps quite nicely.
[I realize that parts of the background don't fit the story written on the Theoi. I am using a version of Eros and Psyche from one of my books.]
[Abilities]
She is immortal. She is also depicted with butterfly wings. I realize that she is the goddess of soul, but I don't think she has any powers related to reading another's soul - though she might be more open to perceiving what others are hiding (emotionally). But, even as a mortal, she seemed sensitive to the feelings of those around her.
[Other important stuff]
A portrait of the lovers.
[Sample post]
[First Person] What is a soul without love? What is love without a soul? [Psyche's voice is sweet and pure, though there is something sad about her tone.] We were wed before your family and friends and now I am without you.
[Her desperation and loneliness becomes clear after those words.]
Eros, what shall I do? You promised we would be husband and wife forevermore. But how can that be if I'm here and you're beyond my reach? [There is a hitch behind her words - almost as if she is on the verge of tears.] I overcame so much for you. Why would you send me back to live amongst mortals?
[Burying her hands in her hair, Psyche loses herself, briefly, in despair.]
...must I wait? Is that what you desire? As an immortal... I must wait? [Her brow creases in confusion.] Will that prove my feelings?
I can't think of another reason I would be sent here. [The smallest of nods follows that musing and the girl straightens, balling her hands into small fists.] Residents, tell me more of your city.
[Third Person] In the sunlight, her hair shimmered like gold. While it had been vibrant during her mortality, there was nothing short of untarnished gold that rivaled it in her immortality. Yet Psyche took surprisingly little care of her appearance. She wasn't a vain goddess - despite the claims about her beauty. She knew what it meant to scrounge in the dirt and go days without eating. Aphrodite had taught her that and, humbly, she thanked the goddess for her lessons - even if a part of her still found them cruel.
Gathering up the hem of her dress, Psyche walked slowly through Somni, her sky blue eyes taking in the buildings with wonder. She had never seen such architecture nor could she quite comprehend the lack of temples dedicated to the gods. How did these residents expect to prosper? Surely the gods would strike them down!
Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself and tried her best not to think about Eros. Every time she did, she felt sick with worry. It was high-time she accepted her new life. Surely, once she proved herself, Eros would come back for her?
Psyche certainly liked to think so.
"Excuse me?" she gathered the attention of a passer-by, "Where might I find something to eat?" she was terribly hungry. Even the gods had to eat. Or maybe she hadn't quite adjusted to immortal life yet. Either way, her stomach was rumbling and she needed to rectify it if she wanted to be able to think straight.
After procuring an apple, Psyche continued her journey through Somni, biting into the apple idly. A few times, she smiled shyly at those who looked her way. Who would think she was anything more than a mortal girl? Sure, her appearance was striking and she did have a tendency to glow in the sunlight (and moonlight), but she wasn't...proud or boastful. Psyche had never been those things. Even as a Princess she had been mild-mannered and sweet, which was why she had attracted so many suitors.
Stopping by a fountain, the girl sat down and finished her fruit. Maybe spending some time here wouldn't be so bad? For the first time since her arrival, Psyche felt hopeful. It was amazing what a little food could do.
[Why do you want to play this character in Somarium?] I think a dream-land is perfect for Psyche. Since she represents the soul, I imagine her dreams will be filled to the brim with metaphors.
[Which rule was your favorite and why?] No Godmodding. I like controlling my character in all situations. When someone takes that from me, it irritates me.
[Where did you hear about Somarium?] I don't remember.
[Any questions?] Nope!