Roleplay Practice Prompts: Character Development

[Taethowen]

Banner by @Aerlinn

Welcome to Character Development!

Not sure where to start with building a new character? Or how to mesh your old Plaza character with the NuPlaza, and how you've grown yourself in the intervening years? Or does your character keep running into situations you didn't expect and you're not quite sure how they should react?

If so, this is the thread for you!

I do not claim to be the ultimate expert on character creation, but I do enjoy creating complex characters with intriguing motivations for my fiction, and a lot of that translates over to role-play very easily.

So how is this going to work?

There are two available 'tracks: Basic Character Development and Advanced Character Development.

Basic Character Development is for those of you who have no idea where to start and need to work from the ground up. Usually you'll be starting with a brand new character, but not always.

Advanced Character Development is for those of you with established characters who want to delve deeper into your character's motivations, but want some guidance doing so.

For Basic, please fill out this short character questionnaire and answer the first set of questions. This is where those interested in that track should start. Feel free to answer any/all prompts as they become available, especially for those joining in later.

For Advanced, please start with an initial post where you either link to your existing character bio here on the Plaza OR fill out the basic questionnaire linked above, AND briefly explain what you're wanting to further explore with that character for development.

The Basic and Advanced Tracks consist of 15 questions each. This is self-paced, completely any/all that you wish to on your own time frame.

Jump in and out whenever you need to. Don't worry about completing every prompt, or doing them in order.

Posting Guidelines

1. New prompts and threadrunner updates will be posted in blue (#000080). Please refrain from using this color.
2. You are welcome to do both tracks at the same time for either the same character or different ones.
3. It is up to you when you switch a character from Basic to Advanced track, and you are also welcome to go from Advanced to Basic if you find that's what a particular character needs.
4. So that the thread does not get too confusing, please limit yourself to no more than 4 characters at a given time. Limit 1 prompt response per character per post.
5. In each post, include the character name, which track you're working them through on, and include the relevant prompt.(see example below)
6. If part of your character development touches on any sensitive topics (Abuse: sexual, verbal, emotional; Violence: domestic, assault, etc.) please include a content warning (bold, in red) with the appropriate character portion of your post. Please white out the portion of your post where that content is contained, placing it between parentheses ((like this)). (see example below)

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Post Example

Character Name: Taethowen
Track: Advanced
Prompt: #1 - Your character has just received tragic news about a dear friend or family member. How do they react? Are their inner reactions (emotions) and outer reactions (physical actions) different, even contrary, to each other? Why?

Response:

Content Warning: Domestic Violence

((Content requiring warning whited out)) Other part of the answer here. Or before the whited out part. Wherever it makes most sense. And of course, if your post does not require a content warning, no need to include that part at all.

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Basic Track Questionnaire & Prompts

Advanced Track Intro & Prompts

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Handy Plaza Links

Roleplay Practice Prompts: Vignettes
roleplay writing practice

Character Submissions - Rivendell/Lone Lands/Bree (Imladris)
Character Submissions - Lothlorien/Mirkwood/Lindon (Imladris)
The Dwarven Welcome Center: Character Creation
Character Submissions (Gondor)
Hall of Rohirric Histories
Character Submissions (Shire)
The Glade of the List -- Fangorn Character Submissions
Minions of Mordor (Character Biographies)

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Handy Resources

Fantasy Name Generators
Rinmaru Games Mega Fantasy Avatar Creator
The best way to 'save' your avatar from here if you make one is to screenshot it.
If you click the gold emblem in the upper left hand corner, it hides the creator menu.
Easy Damus D&D Alignments

5 Ways to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters
5 Ways to Use Myers-Briggs for Characters
Well-Storied.com - All Articles on Characterization

[Taethowen]

Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire:
Name:
Race:
Age:
Appearance:
Sex/Gender/Pronouns:

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born?

Do they have any living family members or close friends?
If not, how long has it been since they died?

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it?
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this?
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them?
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them?

Basic Track Prompt Links
Prompt #1
Prompt #2
Prompt #3
Prompt #4
Prompt #5
Prompt #6
Prompt #7
Prompt #8
Prompt #9
Prompt #10
Prompt #11
Prompt #12
Prompt #13
Prompt #14
Prompt #15

[Taethowen]

Advanced Track Initial Post
Feel free to answer the Basic Questionnaire if you wish to do so!

Character Name:
Link to Bio:
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore?

Advanced Track Prompt Links
Prompt #1
Prompt #2
Prompt #3
Prompt #4
Prompt #5
Prompt #6
Prompt #7
Prompt #8
Prompt #9
Prompt #10
Prompt #11
Prompt #12
Prompt #13
Prompt #14
Prompt #15

[Lirimaer]

Advanced Track Initial Post

Character Name: Sérëlindë Liriasîdh
Link to Bio: here
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? I have quite a clear idea about where I want to go with this character, but I'd like to explore her weaknesses, because at the moment she's a little too perfect. I am not sure if I want to do this through flashbacks or not.

(Technically, I just want to see your prompts and how this works.)

[Rior Laegiel]

Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire:
Name: Faylinde, but goes by Fay
Race: Elf
Age: 4473
Appearance: She is tall and slim. She has brown eyes and long blond hair that mostly hangs freely. She has a scar across her face made by a sword.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: She

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? She was born in Mirkood and will always consider the forest her home but she currently lives in Imladris.

Do they have any living family members or close friends? She has a son (Cavan) and a close friend (Merilda).
If not, how long has it been since they died? Her husband (Istir) was killed during the war of the last alliance.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? She used to be a mercenary for many years but she's decided to quit that lifestyle because she wants to be in one place for longer than a few days and no longer wants to move from place to place and her son will talk her into joining the halcyon guard.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? To spend time with her son or Merilda, having some wine and talk. Not often as she hasn't seen the two of them much in years.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? When she and her husband had their son.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? When her husband was killed.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track, Prompt #1

What prompted your character to pursue their occupation? What do they enjoy most about it? What aspects of it do they dislike?

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Taethowen]

Advanced Track, Prompt #1

What is the most selfish thing your character has ever done, and why? Did it hurt someone else, or were there few, if any, consequences?

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Taethowen]

@Lirimaer and @Rior Laegiel - Week 1 prompts are up! Let me know if you have any questions.

@Lirimaer I have... a vague idea of how I want this to work, so we'll see! I imagine it's going to be tweaked and evolve some as more people participate.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Character Name: Éomund
Link to Bio: here
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? I'm trying to work out some specifics of his background, namely trying to figure out what his skills might be as he has never really been given the chance to shine at/develop anything.

(And answering the questions from the Basic Track as well to get me thinking)

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? He has recently arrived in Edoras to begin Cavalry training. He grew up in a small, backwards town of Sceornbeorg a half-days ride from Helms Deep.

Do they have any living family members or close friends? His mum (who he is not close with), Grimthain, Caddrick
If not, how long has it been since they died? His father was killed in Southern Storm and Northern Wind when he was about 4.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? Éomund has just joined the Cavalry. It was done as a way to try and make a name for himself, get away from his mother, and make is deceased father proud. He is still trying to figure out exactly what he thinks about the Cavalry as he has had a rather rough start to it.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? Still working on figuring this out, but it probably involves horses cause, Rohan. Also, time away from his mother with Grimthain is very much appreciated.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? Prior to joining the Cavalry, probably his yearly week-long visits to the Hornburg/Helms Deep.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? Basically his entire life, though to be specific, probably his father's death, even though he can't really remember it.

[Lirimaer]

Nice - thanks. I think I'll use this thread as a stream-of-consciousness if that's alright, and roleplay what comes out of it later ...

Advanced Track, Prompt #1 - What is the most selfish thing your character has ever done, and why? Did it hurt someone else, or were there few, if any, consequences?

I've kind of touched on this in Liria's background here.

Basically, Liria was a golden girl for much of her early life, the youngest of seven children (when she was born) and after the deaths of four of her brothers in the Last Alliance, she has been so much the scholar, soldier, dutiful daughter and doting aunt to her brothers' children that she was in danger of never having a life for herself. Also, at this point, I have not yet introduced her younger sister into the narrative - mostly because despite creating an extensive family tree, I haven't quite decided when she will be born and also I haven't really got a point to her existence yet.

While her Naneth would have liked her to wed, she has not and while this may be a grief to her Naneth, it has not bothered Liria a whit. Liria is currently obsessed with the tales and histories and songs of the Ar-Golwen (yes, okay, she's in love - but she doesn't know that yet) and no one else signifies. It was the Ar-Golwen's suggestion to go to Imladris and find the Noldor histories (in an as-yet-unwritten interlude) and it is because he suggested it that Liria was determined to go. Once the people in high places had agreed she might go, she announced its imminent occurrence to her family as a fact, without discussing it beforehand.

The thing is, Liria has never done anything without her family's approval and consent before. Even as an adult, she has treated her parents with respect. The way they raised her, she ought to have sought their counsel and gained their leave to depart the Woodland Realm and go so far from home, alone without family, for a reason they think is pretty frivolous and unnecessary. Liria is basically asserting her autonomy here, but overdoing it because she knows they will not like it.

This made her Naneth very unhappy, as she saw it as an abandonment of her family/homeland and a direct snub to her desire to keep her family close (and under her wing). The loss of four (nearly six) of her children in war had done its damage.

Most particularly, her announcement came as a shock and Liria was rather cavalier about it, but we haven't seen (I haven't written/have glossed over) the consequences.

So what are the consequences?

Immediately her Ada checks her attitude, but as he clearly sees something of the mother in the daughter, his chiding is gentle. (See the above link.) I haven't written the next scene 'talking with her mother' because I knew it was going to be hard to reconcile the two personalities ... Liria clearly gave her mother little notice that she was off round the world, and because of that, they haven't actually reconciled. That little chat I need to write is not going to end happily, despite her father's attempts to help. Perhaps her mother doesn't make her travel clothes?

Clearly Liria's relationship with her mother is a source of conflict, and Liria has neatly avoided dealing with it by leaving the Woodland Realm and focusing all her energies on her work ... she needs to apologise, but she can't until she gains some understanding of her mother's fears and pov. I need to find a history for her to read which will lay it out clear as day.

Gosh, this was dead helpful! Thank you!

[Zôrzimril]

I'm planning on doing both basic and advanced tracks for this character, as time permits. If I'm short on time I'll probably choose whichever prompt feels most compelling/pertinent.

Name: Zôrzimril
Race: Human (Númenórean)
Age: Early 40s
Appearance: Thin, fairly tall (~5'11") with thick, wavy black hair. She has grey eyes and a pale complexion. She wears marquise-cut ruby earrings when she's feeling dressy and her wardrobe consists of all dark colors (lots of greys and blacks. And silks. She likes nice things. ). She is in her 40s but, thanks to those Númenórean genes, looks much younger. Essentially, she looks like this.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Cis female, she/her

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? Umbar, primarily (I think)
Do they have any living family members or close friends? No. Her parents died in an accident when she was a preteen (which Zôr survived), and she did not have any siblings. Zôr is very much a lone wolf who does what she needs to survive.
If not, how long has it been since they died? About 30 years

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? She's a naughty but clever thief who uses her smarts (and seduction) to get what she wants. She doesn't have a long-term "career" plan; she has a very pragmatic view of life and death, and thieving suits that (and her) just fine.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? Zôr is very happy enjoying what the spoils of her thieving can buy: food, drink, nice things. Of course, she prefers to partake of these in good company. She does so whenever she's able to.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? In a survival sense, probably learning to protect herself from an assault and using what she gained from that conflict to survive for a while afterward. In a more sentimental sense, she considers having known both her parents a gift.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? The accident that killed her parents - and how she survived said accident - is the thing that still haunts her.

From the advanced track questions:
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? I have lots of ideas, traits, motivations, etc. in mind for this character already, but I'd like to begin tying them together and giving her some more depth. I'd like to explore specifically how her vulnerabilities play into the choices she makes.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Similar to Tara, I'll probably be doing a combination of the two tracks.

What is the most selfish thing your character has ever done, and why? Did it hurt someone else, or were there few, if any, consequences? (Apologises for any awkwardness. This is my first time trying to write dialogue between two of my characters in the same post and I have only done it with the express purpose of doing the scene).

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It was the morning of his birthday, which meant that Grimthain would soon be there to enjoy a family dinner and then the next day, he would travel back to the Hornburg for what was his favourite week out of the year. But this year he was turning eighteen, not that it meant anything overly special, but perhaps it was now time to try and do the one thing he had often thought about, but never mentioned to his mother. Only Grimthain knew and perhaps Caddrick had an idea, but no one else.

Éomund pushed back the curtain that separated his bed, mattress more like, from the rest of their little one-room house. His mother was already gone for the day to work in the little seamstress shop down the street. Well, that would give him enough time to hopefully work up the courage to speak to her. After grabbing two apples, one for him and one for Sunbeorht, his horse. The horse had been a gift to him for his fourteenth birthday and the lovely horse was now about eight years of age, having been fully trained and ready to ride when Grimthain had gifted it to him. It was only because of a lot of pleading and begging on his part, and the knowledge that Grimthain would do something if the horse were to be sold, that Éomund still had his beloved mount. "Hey there, boy," Éomund murmured, giving the horse the extra apple. He stroked the horse's mane and whispered into its neck, "Only a little bit longer, and we'll be on the road. You like going to the Hornburg, don't you?"

Éomund didn't know how long he stayed there in the little stable, talking with Sunbeorht. It was the only living thing in the house he could really talk to. However, he had stayed there long enough to hear the front door open and then close again. He eagerly left the quiet of the stable and entered the main room of the house, hoping that it was Grimthain arriving a bit earlier than usual. But it was his mother.

"Hello mum," he said, trying to feign happiness at seeing her. It wasn't that he didn't love his mother, but at the same time he didn't have what would be considered a healthy relationship with her either. I'm not sure if this entirely fits as a "selfish" act, but Éomund certainly thinks it could be, but doesn't want it to be.

"Good day, Éomund," she replied, sniffing the air, "been spending a bit too much time with that horse I see."

"It's not too much time when it's one of the only things I can do!" exclaimed the lad. He was eighteen now and hardly knew how to do anything that most fourteen year olds in his small town knew. "I'm eighteen! I want to do something with my life that isn't taking care of the house, Sunbeorht, or doing the odd sewing skill."

"Éomund," said Leigh sternly, "the outside world is not a place you want to be. It's too full of grief and pain. Enjoy the simple life."

"I'm fed up with the simple life!" He bit his lip, wondering if now was the time to tell her, to speak up about what he had been thinking of for years. "Mum," he said, trying to speak firmly, something he had never done to his mother before. "I'm going to go to Edoras. I'm going to join the Cavalry." There, he had said it.

The look his mother gave him chilled him to the bone. "How dare you," she said icily. "Your father and your grandfather were both killed in the Cavalry. And my father died because of the Cavalry's incompetentance. If you think I'll let you be selfish and join a group of vagabonds that have no care for the life of their soldiers …"

Whatever Leigh was going to say, did not happen because Éomund interrupted her. "I don't care what you think about the Cavalry," he said. "They are a noble group of people. The stories about War and all their adventures, even Southern Storm, they care about this country."

"Get out." The words were delivered clearly and evenly.

"If you only would listen to what Fædera says about it."

"Get out." By this point, Leigh had crossed over to where Éomund's few belongings were kept in a chest. She pulled out a rucksack, stuffed it with his meager items of clothes, and shoved it in his face. "Go saddle that horse of yours and get out."

Tears threatening to stream down his face, Éomund entered the stable, where he saddled Sunbeorht and slowly led the horse out into the sunlight day, a day that looked the complete opposite of how he felt. Everything inside was black. He hadn't expected his mother to have such a violent reaction to him wanting to join the Cavalry. Was it selfish of him to wish to do so? Making his father proud, making himself proud, was all he wanted in life. But why, why was his mother so angry with him? It wasn't his fault his grandfather or his father had died. And it certainly wasn't Grimthain's fault. They had died defending the place the loved most. If anything, that had to be the opposite of selfish.

And it was there, walking down the street, the threatened tears finally starting to trickle down his cheeks, that Grimthain found him.

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Ok, that ended up more dramatic/depressing than I had intended. As for consequences, we'll need to see as this has only happened within the last week or two. At any rate, it damaged an already very difficult relationship with his mother. It will be interesting to see how (or if) they are able to repair this latest problem.

[Nen]

This is such an interesting thread. A really nice place, I see, to flesh out characters. I've got a couple of characters I would like to do just that with in here. One is a character I am already playing with in the Ranger RPG in Gondor. I would probably like to work on him through the Advanced track. He is currently a character that is absolutely running away with me. I had imagined him to be quite different from what he is turning out to be.
Character Name: Hirluin
Link to Bio: link
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? I think I want to explore why he is really a Ranger. He is 35 years old, much loved by a mother who finds her own son amusing and therefore gently pokes fun at him. I want to know why I poke fun at him! He was supposed to be a really cool, introvert. But there appears to be layers of him that I'm struggling to write out. I don't know...you must be able to tell I'm confused about this character.


The second is a character I've been longing to create (having been inspired by a pretty image ), but I haven't really got a clear idea of what to do, how to shape or form her. All I know is that she is one of the Dunedain of the North; she is quick and light like a bird; and a bit of a trickster -- quick-witted and silver-tongued.
Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire:
Name: Rien or Sparrow (Liririen Limlass is her actual name known only to a handful of people who were close to the family)
Race: Numenorean
Age: 22 (TA 3014 - the Imladris Plaza Timeline)
Appearance: She has the black hair and grey eyes of her race. She is, however, on the smaller side, being about 5'4" with a slender build. She dresses in the greens and browns of her kind who live in the wild. But is less inclined to be grim of face. Her eyes are bright with curiosity and intelligence. Her movements are said to be quick, reminiscent of a small bird of the wild. For this reason she is known among her people as Sparrow.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: she/her

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? She was born in Osdolen. She lives anywhere.

Do they have any living family members or close friends?
She has a father (Dravedir) who is a Ranger as well. They go on missions together fairly often.
At other times she has travelled with a Noldor elf who had rescued her in an orc skirmish when she was just 17 years of age. She took to following the elf woman around. At this current time, the elf has returned to Imladris, and Sparrow is still fighting off resentment at her having 'retired' from the wild.
If not, how long has it been since they died?
Her mother (Liria - to sing) has been gone so long she barely remembers her. She was likely around two years old when a sickness took her mother away. [Side note: Her mother was known for her lovely voice. The irony is that her daughter can barely croak in tune. However, Liririen can whistle different kinds of bird song.]

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? She is a Ranger of the North. She does not have any particular feelings towards it. It is a way of life for her and her kind. If she does feel anything in particular, it might be a strong sense of duty and responsibility towards the peoples who live in the old lands of Arnor.
What is their favourite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? She likes listening to stories, and has a strong affinity towards animals. Lying on her back and gazing at the stars without fear is what she would call an indulgence that she would like to have more often of in these dark times.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? To her it might be meeting the Noldor elf. The elf became something of a mother or sister-figure to her. [Better than this would be her first visit to Imladris -- which is yet to happen.]
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? The feeling of abandonment at the departure of said elf into 'retirement'.

[Androthelm]

Basic/Advanced Track Fusion Initial Post (I'll also probably be doing a combo of the tracks.)

Name: Androthelm Whitemane
Race: Man
Age: Old
Appearance: A man of middling height, wrinkled and withered but sturdy still. His beard and his hair are long and snow-white, lending him his epithet.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: He/Him
Link to Bio: viewtopic.php?p=9769#p9769
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? I'd like to explore some of his guilt -- so far he's been a lot of pleasant reminiscing, and I want to explore the harder edges of the Whitemane's life.

[Lail]

Love this idea, Taeth! Thanks for getting it rolling.
I'll stick to the Advanced Track for Lail since she has existed for a long time, but been through quite a few different iterations. I'm probably at Lail v 5.0 by now...

Character Name: Lailyn
Link to Bio: from Hall of Rohirric Histories
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? As an eternal optimist despite what she's been through, I'd like to test that aspect of her personality and challenge her way of thinking. She also trusts others quite readily, and therefore, may be easily taken advantage of. I've been playing with this a little bit already but would like to continue to do so.

Advanced Track, Prompt #1 - What is the most selfish thing your character has ever done, and why? Did it hurt someone else, or were there few, if any, consequences?
Lailyn is generally a selfless person, always wanting to help and encourage others. At this stage she's currently at, to her, the most selfish thing she thinks she's done is resigning from the Cavalry after the Northern Wind campaign. During the campaign, she began humanizing her enemies and while she wanted to protect and defend her own, she began to struggle with the reality of taking others' lives. Once she imagined them with families and children, living their lives, thinking of their families back home, she could not seem to push those images out of her mind. She grew tired of the pain battle caused to her comrades and herself and no longer felt she could continue on sustainably for her own sake. So she did the selfish thing (in her opinion) and retired and then went to Gondor for a while.

Since her recent return to Rohan after years of travelling elsewhere, she's struggling with the guilt she feels about leaving the Cavalry and is trying to find her place again without it structuring her life. Though its been many years, seeing some of her old comrades returned to, or still in service, seemingly without struggle, has sort of brought it back to light a bit. Part of her fears that they think she is weak and cowardly, like she sees herself. The fact that she is quite happy as a civilian also increases her guilt because while she loves that her life is her own, she feels she should be doing things in service of others. Basically, she needs to figure out how to balance her own needs with her desire to help others.

To top it all off, in the time she's been gone, her cousin's life has de-railed after he suffered permanent injury to his leg in the Cavalry. She blames herself for not being there for him and wonders if she stayed if things would have been different. While there may not have been direct consequences or harm caused by her choice, she feels that she has hurt her cousin in some way by not being there. Lail would probably invent a whole host of other consequences, too, since everything is connected, but the obvious ones are that she's lost touch with old friends.

[Taethowen]

Oh my goodness there's such a lovely, wonderful lot of you!

Also, I edited the OP because I forgot to say that this whole thing is self-paced. You can jump in and out at any time, and you do not have to completely every prompt, nor do you have to complete them in order. Work through whatever you need to as it is relevant to your character(s).

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All right... since character development is something that needs to be individualized to some extent, as I have the time/inspiration between prompts, I'll be reading over what each of you submit and making some suggestions/comments. You are welcome to disregard anything I suggest if I've completely misjudged your character or if you just don't like it, etc.

I will likely not get to everyone every round, but as I said in the OP, tag me if you need help with something specifically.

@Lirimaer - Glad you found it helpful! It seems to me that currently Liria's main flaw is stubbornness. More flaws will come to the surface as you put her in positions where she has to choose between selfish and self-less acts. Sometimes you'll discover a strength you didn't know Liria had, and sometimes you'll find a completely unexpected flaw. I'm glad you found it helpful!

@Dimcairien Luiniel - oooh, my heart hurts for Eomund. He's clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place and is at that age where he needs to start gaining his own independence, but has no idea how to do it without hurting his mother (and honestly, it's not possible.) He's been overly sheltered and not really prepared for life or allowed to dream. As a result, he might even pull super hard in the other direction, becoming a bit reckless, but hopefully Grimthain can help balance him out a bit.

@Nen - I find it extremely interesting that Hirluin values the unfinished sword that his father was making for him when he died. It's in interesting reaction, because many people would not be able to look at something that was a blatant part of the death of someone they loved. I'm surprised he doesn't feel outright guilt about it. So I guess one of the things you should consider would be how his father's death played a role in his decision to still become a Ranger, despite the situation that grew out of it. How much did the need to show his mother he was an adult play into these decisions?

@Lailorn - uuuugh I just want to hug Lailyn and tell her everything's okay. That not everyone is suited for the military, and there's different ways to help people, but I think she's going to need to figure that out for herself. She's definitely going to need to deal with that guilt before it eats her alive, though, but it could definitely play into the aspect of her trusting others too readily. Someone observant and manipulative might come along and play both the guilt and the trustiworthiness against each other and that could be not good for Lail. But it's also an option to play with, for potential, if you do want to really break her out of that eternal optimism. It just depends on what direction you do want to take her, overall.

@Rior Laegiel, @Tarawen,@Nen, @Androthelm - I will probably have comments/more comments for you all after you get a chance to answer some of the prompts.

Next prompts coming tomorrow!

[Lirimaer]

Stubbornness ... now that's an excellent flaw! I can see it, now you've said it ... I want to go back and read her whole story so far and pick her apart. Thank you for doing this!

I'm excited for the next prompt ...!

[Zôrzimril]

Ok wow so, uh, I went to write down a brief answer for Basic Prompt #1 and wound up with... this little scene that obliquely answers the question. My plan is to flesh out the accident referenced here in my response to Advanced Prompt #1.

Character Name: Zôrzimril
Track: Basic
Prompt: #1 - What prompted your character to pursue their occupation? What do they enjoy most about it? What aspects of it do they dislike?

* * *

The girl with thick, matted hair sat hunched outside a baker's in The Warrens. She had been so long scrounging and so long without a proper wash that it seemed she'd been born covered in dirt. Her skirts concealed the sores on her knees, earned while kneeling for hours on rough-paved streets to beg for whatever coin pitying strangers might toss her way.

The baker knew this particular urchin well enough, and she was odd for a street dweller. Despite the stains on her ragged dress, it had once been a fine and delicate garment. Since she had appeared as if from nowhere a couple of months ago, he assumed she had come from a good family, even if she had now sunk this low. Sometimes she would show up with a serious expression and a few copper coins to exchange for a fresh loaf; other days, she would walk by without stopping, kicking at rocks as she went. There had been stretches of several days at a time, too, when he had not seen her at all. Strangely, he found his days were a bit brighter when she did show up. There was something he liked about her eyes: sterling grey and haunted, but all the more beautiful for it.

Today was unusual; she hadn't inquired about purchasing anything, nor was she moving on. She was curled into a little ball, arms wrapped around her shins, forehead resting on her knees. A few of his regulars asked if he could do something about the dirty child by the door, complaining that the smell of her was overpowering even the rankness of The Warrens. When the morning crowd thinned, he wiped his hands on his apron and stepped into the street, stretching. He was large and bald and sweat-stained from his constant proximity to blazing ovens. "In or out?" he said at last, not unkindly but without looking directly at her. "You're putting folk off, just sitting here. If you want something, pay and be done. Else, get a move on."

The girl looked up. He was startled, when he glanced at her, to see a bruise on her cheek, her right eye purple and swollen. And her hands were coated in what he recognized as dried blood. "Here, what happened to you?" She stood. Her belly ached where she'd been punched and her dress had a fresh long rip up the skirt, but still she stood tall.

Content Warning: Attempted Assault
((It had happened last night. She had been curled up in her usual alley across from one of many seedy gambling dens in The Warrens, trying to ignore the rats scurrying past and clutching the little dagger which had survived the accident with her. Her head rested on a small bag containing the few things she could call her own. A man's voice suddenly boomed from the gambling den, light and the sounds of laughter spilling into the street with him. The girl tensed where she lay, then slowly sat up. The light framing the man in the doorway fell upon her as she moved. Staggering drunk, he'd puckered his lips tauntingly and moved toward her. He was unarmed, but a fat leather coin pouch hung at his waist and jingled softly with every step. His wagers had all gone his way tonight. What was one more?

The slim girl had stood to run, but he was strong and fast and she was still small. He caught her wrist and threw her to the ground. She punched and kicked wildly but managed to hold tight to her dagger. When she opened her mouth to scream, he pressed a hand sticky with sweat and beer and grease over her lips. Eyes wild, she shook with passionate rage. The girl drew her knees to her chest and kicked out hard at his stomach, using the ground as leverage to lend power to the blow. She felt an abrupt shift of the bones as she made contact; his lowest ribs had cracked. At this, he'd nearly collapsed to her side, wheezing and swearing. In the split second it took him to react, the girl sprang up and slashed wildly at his face with her little blade. A deep cut appeared on his cheek. Without pausing to think, she lay open his throat when he cried out.

She stood, trembling, over his body as blood ran in a slow but steady stream to mingle with the filth of the alley floor. What had she done? Nothing he wouldn't have done to her, she reasoned quickly. Only what she needed to do to survive. She tugged the coin pouch from his belt and opened it. She couldn't count the coins exactly in the dark, but it was heavy.))

Now she looked the baker in the eye. He took a step back as her fierce, grey gaze pierced him, her chin lifted with something akin to pride. From the worn bag at her side, she pulled a gold coin and held it out to him. He wordlessly took the coin and gave it a bite. Satisfied, the baker gave a slight bow and gestured wide for her to enter the shop. "Whatever you like, miss." Zôrzimril smiled.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track, Prompt #2

Who was your character's first love? Why were they drawn to them?

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Taethowen]

Advanced Track, Prompt #2

What is the most truly selfless thing your character has ever done? Was it a conscious choice or an instinctual reflex? Did other people recognize it as selfless? If it happened publicly, how did it make your character feel?

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Rior Laegiel]

@Taethowen I haven't had time to reply to the 1st one yet but I'll do both of them as soon as I can.

[Nen]

@Taethowen WoW! Thank you for that very insightful question. I hadn't thought about it at all, but even as I read what you'd written, I knew the answer right away. Especially after the latest RPG post I made with Hirluin in the Ranger RPG in Gondor.

Hirluin comes from a very healthy, happy and secure childhood. Of course, his father was a Ranger, and that meant that his father was out with the other warriors fighting the forces of Mordor during the pre-War of the Ring years. For all of his childhood he was his parents only child, and that mean he had all of their love. Arion's frequent absences occassioned opportunity for his parents to speak to Hirluin about why his ada had to go. Naturally, the boy regarded his father in the light of a hero, but along with that came a love for Gondor and a sense of duty towards his countrymen. There was a catch, though. Hirluin showed a strong leaning towards scholarly pursuits, and he often haunted the public library once he had devoured the books in their own, decently large library. And while he learnt to wield a sword from his father, Arion watched as Hirluin headed towards his books if given a choice. Yet, Hirluin, having a strong emotional affinity to people knew his father's desire that his son become a ranger, and because he loved him greatly he reasoned that he could be both a scholar and a Ranger.

He worked out an understanding with his parents. Until his 21st birthday he would pursue bookish learning whilst continuing to train under his father's tutelage. At 21, he would join the Ranger Corp. And so it was. He entered the training barracks and as he advanced discovered that he had the natural talents and skills for a scout. This intrigued him and suited the desire for solitude that his sometimes scholarly mind sought. In the meantime, Arion was delighted and wanted to give Hirluin a gift that he made with his own hands. This lead him to trouble a smithy friend of his, to pick up the necessary skills to forge a blade for his son. But the results were disastrous and fatal for Arion. The sword he had begun for his son was half done.

When Hirluin heard of it, he wept. After the funeral, he considered the sword that lay on a table forgotten. Someone had brought it there. Probably the smith friend. To Hirluin, what he saw, however, was not an unfinished sword, but a labour of love. This sword was made to express the words -- I love you, son. This was a piece of his father, all for him. But he turned and saw his mother regarding him, and her eyes then fell upon the sword. At that moment, Hirluin thought -- not all for him, but for them. This was a piece of Arion that was left to his family -- his wife, his eldest son, and his twin son and daughter who were only a year old and would never know their father's love except through the sword that he had sought to fashion.

And that, I believe, is the story behind the sword having a prominent place in their home!

For the record, Hirluin uses his father's own parrying knife, and prizes it above all the other weapons he uses, for that reason alone.

Thank you so much, Taethowen! This really made me think about it a lot more!

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

What is the most truly selfless thing your character has ever done? Was it a conscious choice or an instinctual reflex? Did other people recognize it as selfless? If it happened publicly, how did it make your character feel?

I think Éomund is about 9 or 10 in this scene.

---

It was a hot summer day and Éomund sat curled up in a ball just in front of his house. He had just returned from his yearly visit to the Hornburg and had sat outside watching Grimthain ride away for as long as the horse and rider were in view. At last, his stomach reminded him that it was time for food. He stood up stretched, and entered the house. There on the table, his mother had left his lunch - an apple, a small loaf of bread, and a bit of dried meat. It wasn't much as his tummy rumbled yet again, but it would hold him over until his mother returned and they had another just as meager meal. He loved his yearly week with Grimthain, but to a growing boy, one of the best parts of that week was getting to eat as much as he wished and not having to worry about what or when he would be eating that day. There was always enough food at his mother's house in the village to not starve, but not always quite enough to actually be full, which was a huge problem for a growing boy. And of course his mother was too stubborn to ask for any help.

Éomund picked up the apple, tossed it in the air, and caught it. Just as he was about to take a bite, there was a noise just outside of the door, which he naturally had forgotten to close. He quickly turned and saw an even smaller boy, perhaps around the age of four or five, who looked to be very dirty and perhaps a bit lost. Éomund didn't recognise him, but then he didn't recognise a lot of people, not being a frequenter of places in the village.

"Hello?" he said to the child, coming closer to the door, the apple still in his hand.

The little child looked up at him, eyes huge with hunger and stared at the apple.

"Are you hungry?" Éomund asked, pushing a hand into his stomach to try and hide the next rumble.

The child nodded, still not saying a word. Éomund looked at the apple in his hand, the clearly very hungry child, and back at the bread and bite of dried meat still on the table. "Do you have a mum or da?" he asked, not knowing what else to say. Again, the child shook its head. Éomund bit his lip, uncertain of what he should do. He was hungry, but so was this other kid, even younger than he was. But he at least had a mum and knew that there was more food coming - either for the evening meal or in the morning. But this other kid seemed to not have parents or even a semi-reliable source of food.

Éomund didn't have a choice. Helping someone out with less was important. He held out the apple and the child took it and eagerly bit into it. With a smile, Éomund went back into the house, picked up the small loaf of bread and the bite of dried meat, and hurried back to where the child had nearly finished the apple. "Here," he said, handing the rest of his lunch over to the little boy. "I hope you can find someone to help you. Maybe go to where the shops are." He watched as the child scurried off, mouth full of apple and tiny fists holding onto the bread and meat. Éomund's stomach rumbled yet again, and he stared down at his belly, trying to will it into silence. It would be several hours before his mother returned for the evening, bringing with her whatever her wages could afford for the evening meal and the next day.

Going back into the house, he took a long drink of water from the pitcher, grimacing slightly at the tepid flavour, but he knew all too well that it would help with the growing feeling of hunger. Wandering back to his spot just outside the house, he once again curled into his comfortable ball, wishing that nighttime would come quickly as it would mean a bit of food and sleep, when he wouldn't be thinking about food.

---

Why does so much tough life have to happen to this kid?

[Zôrzimril]

Uhh I guess I can't stop writing these as narratives.

Character Name: Zôrzimril
Track: Advanced
Prompt: #1 - What is the most selfish thing your character has ever done, and why? Did it hurt someone else, or were there few, if any, consequences?

* * *

Zôrzimril walked into her rooms, kicking the door closed behind her. She shook her shining curls out of a bun at the nape of her neck and dropped the silver hair pin into a copper bowl on a table. The table was cluttered with treasures - necklaces, earrings, a thick gold bracelet . . . All things that had come into her possession recently through one scheme or another. (She had not had to resort to outright murder in a number of years.) Tonight, she added a dagger with an ivory hilt to the pile. The pommel curled into the form of a serpent's head, scales carved finely along the entire length of the handle. Its emerald eyes sparkled as she lit a small candle.

It wasn't to this fine item that she turned her attention, though. Zôr opened the bottom drawer of a mahogany jewelry box that sat atop her vanity and plucked from it a large oval-cut onyx. She knew its every line. She sat on the stool before the vanity and held the onyx up, turning it gently back and forth so its ridges caught the candlelight until, eventually, the flame guttered and went out.

Her rooms were small enough that the journey from vanity to bed was a few quick steps. She cast her dress over a worn armchair in the corner and crawled into bed. She was on the brink of sleep when suddenly she was falling from a great height. With a gasp, her eyes flew open.

She was in her room. She was in her bed. The harbor was far away. She coaxed herself to sleep by repeating these three incontrovertible facts.

But then she was falling again. With a whoosh, the water enveloped her. She struggled toward the surface, arms moving wildly and kicking at random. She was not a swimmer. When the air finally hit her face, she took gulping, frantic breaths. The firelight blazing on the ship - where she had been just moments before - flickered unevenly over the choppy waves.

She kicked and flailed toward a crate floating nearby. It must have fallen from the deck as she had. She grabbed for it and missed as it moved unpredictably in the water. She grasped it firmly with both arms in a kind of desperate hug, but then it was moving again. She was pitched downward, and water filled her mouth. Inarticulate sounds of panic escaped her and she struggled to hold onto the crate once more. But now it was turning again, and she saw two hands reaching for it from the other side.

She made eye contact with the other girl as they both grasped for this precious lifeline. Zôrzimril held on with her left hand and pushed the girl away with her right, but the other girl had her by the wrist now. They both sank, struggling, beneath the surface, skirts and dark hair swirling weightlessly in the water.

Zôrzimril couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't free herself from the girl's clutches. She was being dragged down and down. Small lights began to pop before her eyes; death was here for her. In a last act of desperation, Zôr reached out for the girl's throat with her free hand, scratching her face mercilessly and seizing the necklace around the other's neck. She tugged, hard. The girl's head jerked forward and the necklace broke free. The sudden motion snapped open the girl's mouth in a surprised gasp. As the other choked on water and sank away, she loosened her grip on Zôr's wrist. The two girls locked eyes once more. The drowned girl's eyes were frozen in a pleading expression. Zôr tore her gaze away and fled to the surface.

As she grasped the crate at last, she realized her left hand was still balled into a fist around the necklace. In the firelight, she gazed at it: a gold chain with a sole, large onyx pendant.

Zôr startled awake, choking as if she'd swallowed a mouthful of water wrong. She opened her hand. The onyx was still there.

[Lirimaer]

Advanced Track, Prompt #2 - What is the most truly selfless thing your character has ever done? Was it a conscious choice or an instinctual reflex? Did other people recognize it as selfless? If it happened publicly, how did it make your character feel?

Hmmmm. I think Liria would look at this question with a blank face - with perhaps a million small kindnesses coming to her mind, but no great selfless act that she can point to and say 'Here, I show that I am selfless!'

And it is true. She has hunted extra rabbits or caught fish to leave at a neighbour's home if she thought they needed it, she has done others' shifts on watch or patrol if they have asked. She has watched young children, so that their parents may go out - if things need doing, she does them, and it is not selfless in her eyes because she was brought up to think of others by her role model parents and, in fact, she enjoys doing those things. Therefore, not selfless.

As the author, I know that she was not thinking of herself when she went to comfort her sister-in-law after her brother/sister-in-law's husband died, nor was she thinking of herself when she wrote extensively to her Naneth that she was bringing her brother's family back to the Greenwood, and giving her Naneth something to live for. But Liria does not remember these things as 'selfless acts' she remembers them as desperate necessities and her own role in them was administrative. She does not cast herself as the heroine in a great story.

The Ar-Golwen of the Woodland Realm might have more to say about Liria's selflessness than her, for she was kind when he could accept no kindness; from a child she got under his skin and stayed there, pestering him and demanding his attention with an eagerness to please which surprised him, for he kept everyone at a distance with his taciturn and gruff demanour and she overrode his defences. Liria would not agree that this was selfless, of course - she was in pursuit of knowledge and he had it! Rather than selflessness, she would call this relentless selfishness!

In fact, I am going to need to add him as a character into this thought-provoking exercise.

Character Name: Daehaeron (?)
Link to Bio: here
What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? I am very clear on this character's history and where I want to go with this character - but since I am bringing my two characters together in an epic love story (one hopes, at least!) I will add in the things I haven't wholly written yet. Thus: getting over an ex, living with regret, forgiving the ex, forgiving oneself, living without regret, living peacefully, living abundantly. Hopefully not too tall an order!

[Pele Alarion]

Finally made my way over here! Suppose, I might do a mix of basic/advanced track stuff, and possibly for more than one character.

Basic/Advanced Track Character Beginning Questionnaire:
Name: Pele Alarion
Race: Human
Age: Some 36ish
Appearance: shoulder-length brown hair; blue eyes; even though she is not tall enough to stand out in the crowd, she is strong and fit due to her military training (currently rebuilding strength). Even though Pele may put on a dress for some special occasions, rather most often she would be dressed either in her uniform or clothing suitable for her duties at the Houses of Healing or otherwise something rather comfortable and casual that would allow her to feel relaxed, or to jump into action immediately, if necessary. While she did have her share of scars from battles and captivity, these were all hidden away under clothing, though one or two could be spotted on her arms and shoulders, if she wore some garment with short-sleeves.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Female

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? Mostly living in Minas Tirith (Ranger barracks), though coming from Lossarnach originally.

Do they have any living family members or close friends?
If not, how long has it been since they died?
Both of her parents and her two sisters are alive; some of her closest friends are other Rangers with whom friendship has been built over time.
Pele lost her husband several (at least 5) years ago, and she still blames herself for not having been able to protect him in any way.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it?
Pele is a Ranger, as well as a healer, managing to combine the two different roles quite well. She tends to build her purpose and identity on her work, which causes her to overwork and feel lost at those times when she is forced to be without work (and not resting).
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this?
She enjoys being out in nature, just walking, picking herbs, camping; sometimes also reading or enjoying company of good friends. She does not get much time to enjoy relaxation because she doesn't let herself do so by working too much.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them?
Joining the military, as it provided her a way to pursue a career, whilst also making good friends, and at the same time allowing for occasional adventure.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them?
Losing her husband, and being captured and taken to Umbar - all within a short period of time, making everything much more difficult to deal with.

What aspect of your character do you want to further explore?
Pele is my primary character, so has been quite well-developed, and yet, as I look at the prompts, I see that there are areas and questions that I have not explored at all. I think looking into those would help me delve even deeper.

[Taethowen]

Sorry, folks. I was down with a migraine Friday night, and Saturday and Sunday were both crazy hectic, so I'll be getting the next set of prompts up tomorrow instead of today. Thank you all for your contributions to this thread so far, I'm so glad many of you are finding it helpful!

[Pele Alarion]

Basic/Advanced Track Character Beginning Questionnaire:
Name: Shamara
Race: Human
Age: 23
Appearance: All in all Shamara could be described as beautiful, her brown eyes always keen and attentive, her black shoulder-length hair usually secured with an intricate pin. More often than not a smile played on her lips, though it did not necessarily mean that she wanted to express kindness. She liked to use oils and other means to ensure that her skin was always well cared for, soft and clean. A couple of marks on her person denoted her affiliation - former or current. A tattoo of a small black dragon sat on her shoulder, and a scar in a form of double crescent was permanently embossed on her hand. Her garments, though not excessively lavish, still showed that she had no lack of money, though she could easily adapt a disguise to fit in the environment she was in.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Female

Where do they live? Umbar

Do they have any living family members or close friends?
If not, how long has it been since they died?
She doesn't have any family she knows of; though she did meet her brother, he disappeared, and she no longer knows whether he is alive. In relation to friends, she does not really allow anyone close enough, nor lets herself befriend anyone, except to the extent that would benefit her interests.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it?
Employed by a slaver, searching for new souls to capture. Shamara has chosen this as a way of building her career, slowly working on skills of luring and capturing people.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this?
Shamara likes visiting inns to enjoy good company, food and drink, yet she never fully relaxes, always aware of her surroundings.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them?
Her brother finding her - it helped her to get off the streets and find footing to begin a new lifestyle, as well as gain some measure of wealth.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them?
None of the things that have happened in her life Shamara considers too worse, as she has always managed to find a way out and gain some benefit or other for herself. The worst is yet to come...

What aspect of your character do you want to further explore?
I have not explored Shamara too much in depth, so looking forward to developing this sneaky character and see what she is made of.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track, Prompt #3

What is your character's relationship like with their family? If their family is deceased/absent, who do they consider to be most like family, and why? If they have no one, is it by choice, and what was the catalyst behind that choice?


You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Taethowen]

Advanced Track, Prompt #3

Who would your character die for? Who would they kill for? Are the answers for each question the same or different? Why?


You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Lirimaer]

Character Name: Liria
Track: Advanced
Prompt: #3 - Who would your character die for? Who would they kill for? Are the answers for each question the same or different? Why?

On the subject of killing, Liria has only ever killed Spiders and Orcs, and that only as part of her role protecting the Woodland Realm. She has never killed one of the free peoples, and the question has never presented itself in her mind - it is not something she thinks about. She is prepared to defend herself, and would defend others, when abroad, if necessary.

On the subject of dying, she assumes she won't. Maybe she is naive. If it came to it, and her death could prevent others from torture or capture, she might offer herself up or rush in to defend - but she can't see that it would ever come to pass. Those she loves, she loves fiercely, and would stand with them to face whatever end in a heartbeat. There are few that command her heart like this: her family, her extended family and the Ar-Golwen. Maybe the king, just to be dutiful.

She doesn't daydream about doing heroic deeds and dying nobly though. She would rather live peaceably, and read/hear about others doing their great deeds, for to live in such times that require such deeds must surely be tumultuous and worrisome. She has no delusions about being a great champion.

[Pele Alarion]

Character Name: Pele Alarion
Track: Basic
Prompt: #1 - What prompted your character to pursue their occupation? What do they enjoy most about it? What aspects of it do they dislike?

Pele had chosen the difficult task of combining soldiering with healing, as she saw the need for both and thought she could master both and use each skill as was necessary. She was drawn towards soldiering both because she felt the need to defend the people and the country she loved, as well as partly because it offered her a bit of adventure that she relished. As for the healing, she saw that there was much need to mend the wounds left by the weapons, and this was a way to help others when there was no need to wield a sword.

Pele takes great pride in her work, both healing and soldiering, and her identity is partly based on it. She likes keeping busy and finding ways to help people whenever she can.

Now and then she runs into trouble when working too much and getting herself too tired, so that the quality of whatever she does suffers, as well as her health. What she dislikes the most is losing a life when her healing skills prove to be insufficient, as well as taking a life of someone who is not an orc. While she may be a soldier and thus bringing death when in battle, her heart is in protecting life.

[Lail]

@Taethowen - yes, she definitely needs to work it out herself. And I do have plans for her guilt and trustingness (its a word now. I made it one.) to do not good things to Lail.*evil laugh*

I also want to say I have really enjoyed reading everyone's character development here. You are all writing some very interesting and moving pieces! And thank you to Taeth for facilitating and prompting us.


Since I hate writing in first person, I decided to challenge myself to give it a shot with the next prompt. It might not hit all of the points directly, but the prompt inspired the scene, so here goes.

Advanced Track, Prompt 2 for Lailyn
What is the most truly selfless thing your character has ever done? Was it a conscious choice or an instinctual reflex? Did other people recognize it as selfless? If it happened publicly, how did it make your character feel?

CW: animal euthanasia, NOT graphic
(Was not sure what to white out as its emotional not graphic, but could still be potentially triggering for some.)


“I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do.”

I heard the words. But I didn’t quite listen to them. I blinked at the stablemaster in front of me. His wrinkled face was drawn even further into a furrow as he frowned at me. “What?” I asked. Part of me hoped his answer might be different the second time around.

“There’s nothing we can do.” Despite having to repeat himself, he spoke in a soft tone.

This time, I listened and the words struck me. I felt a great wrenching tear through me as I looked at my faithful gelding, Leoma. His bay coat looked dull in the shadow of the stable’s roof. Nothing looked wrong with him. He just wasn’t eating as he should. That was all.

“But he’s still young...there must be something.” I insisted, hearing the desperation in my voice as I wished for some way to help him. I couldn’t face it yet. Not now. Not here, so far away from home. “If I could get him back to the Mark-”

But the stablemaster cut me off. “He won’t make it.”

I stepped closer to my steed and laid my hand on his flank, stroking his side. The familiar motion and the soft feel of his coat beneath my hand steadied me. Like he had always done. And would do no longer. I took a deep breath, but it faltered and tears prickled in my eyes.

“He can’t eat. He’ll starve and waste away...it will take a long time. It won’t be pleasant. You understand, don’t you, what needs to be done?” Although he must have seen hundreds of animals follow the same one-way path, his words came with sympathy and for that, I was grateful.

I wiped a tear from my cheek and nodded. “Yes.” It was all I could manage to say. Of course I understood what he meant. It wasn’t something new to me, to take an animal’s life like this. But I never expected it to come so soon for my beloved steed.

I didn’t want to be without him. He’d been with me through so much. Through all the battles and bloodshed, he survived. We survived together. Now, he was my only companion since I arrived in Gondor. Without him, I would be truly alone. I didn’t want to be alone. I couldn’t imagine living without him by my side.

I didn’t want to say goodbye to Leoma, but I turned to the stablemaster anyway. “I can’t do it. Will you?” My love for Leoma was so different from the love of a person, but it was no less real and no less deep. And that was why I would do what was best for him no matter how much pain it brought me. I had to do what was right.

I managed a reassuring tone when I whispered goodbye to him. My face pressed against his neck and I breathed in his smell, letting his short hairs tickle my face. I tried to etch the feeling in my memory so I would never forget. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms and by its slow and steady beat, I knew he felt no fear as his life was taken away.

When it was done, I collapsed upon his body, my fingers gripping his mane as I sobbed. “Leoma, Leoma, what will I do without you?” I uttered the words I felt deep in my heart, but could not bring myself to say aloud to him while life still thrummed through his veins. But now that he was gone, though his body was still warm, all my fears, my despair and my grief were unleashed. I knew I had prevented him from suffering. I knew I had done the right thing. But it was no cure for the wounds in my heart as I knelt beside his lifeless body. A body that would never again lift me, or my spirit, again.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track, Prompt #4

Name 3 items your character always carries with them:
1 sentimental
1 practical
1 luxury

Briefly explain each item, or why there are no items your character carries. It's okay of an item meets multiple criteria (practical and sentimental, for example), but do try to have at least two items you describe, and they should not include basic clothing/supplies if at all possible. (Exceptions can be made for, say, the last piece of clothing someone was gifted by a parent/lover/etc. before that person died, especially if it was handmade.)

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Taethowen]

Advanced Track, Prompt #4

Describe two of your character's deepest fears:
1 rational (plausible: such as a fear of fire after having been trapped in a burning house or witnessing a fire where someone died, etc.)
1 irrational (such as a phobia with no known event that triggered it)

Have they ever had to face these fears? What was their response?

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.

[Taethowen]

Reminder to All: Please remember to follow the below example with your posts, just so I can keep track of what character and prompt you're working with (especially since several of you are now working with *multiple* characters). Thank you!

Post Example

Character Name: Taethowen
Track: Advanced
Prompt: #1 - Your character has just received tragic news about a dear friend or family member. How do they react? Are their inner reactions (emotions) and outer reactions (physical actions) different, even contrary, to each other? Why?

Response:

Content Warning: Domestic Violence

((Content requiring warning whited out)) Other part of the answer here. Or before the whited out part. Wherever it makes most sense. And of course, if your post does not require a content warning, no need to include that part at all.

---

@Tarawen

Basic Track #1 (Zôr) - First off, I'm so glad this was only a close call for Zôrzimril. I love how fierce she turns to defend herself. Presumably, this is the first time she's killed though. How does it affect her once she's had time to process it?

Advanced Track #1 (Zôr) - Eesh, moments like these are so hard to overcome. In a sense, it was selfish for Zôr to decide that she would be the one to live (and taking that necklace at the last instant was *definitely* a purely selfish act and it seems by this point Zôr has fully embraced her identity as a thief), but the will to survive is also such a basic human instinct.

(Also like... holy sheesh no wonder IC Taeth is so intimidated by Zôr! The woman is everything Taeth thinks Frost should want and she feels positively inadequate, if not a bit baffled by his affections.)



@Nen You're so welcome! I'm glad the exercises have been helpful so far!



@Dimcairien Luiniel

Advanced Track #2 (Éomund) - Auuugh poor Éomund! Already so much of an adult at a young age! Food security is obviously going to be a big deal for him in the future. Is it part of the reason he eventually joins the Cavalry, especially after seeing that his uncle is able to eat well?



@Lirimaer

Advanced Track #2 (Liria) - Isn't it fun to see how selflessness/selfishness might change, depending on the character's view point?

Can't wait to see what you do for Daehaeron as well!

Advanced Track #3 (Liria) - She definitely sounds naive in some ways, but there is also nothing wrong with striving to live peaceably! Hopefully Liria will get her wish as time passes!



@Pele Alarion Welcome, glad to see you here!

Basic Track #1 (Pele) - Ooooh, I love the conundrum of being both soldier and healer! It seems so easy for people to slot their characters into either fighters or healers without acknowledging some of the common ground between them - the desire to save/defend. I can't wait to get to know Pele a little better!


@Lailorn You're welcome, dear!

Advanced Track #2 (Lailyn) - *sobs*
That's really all I have to say about that. Poor Lailyn.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Character Name: Éomund
Track: Combining Basic and Advanced
Basic Prompt: #3 What is your character's relationship like with their family? If their family is deceased/absent, who do they consider to be most like family, and why? If they have no one, is it by choice, and what was the catalyst behind that choice?

Éomund's relationship with his family is complicated to say the least. He has only the vaguest of memories about his father Éodred - he can recall the tall man holding him as they rode a horse one time. But other than that, all he knows about his father comes from stories. These stories have helped him to learn about the man his father was, but have also greatly increased his desire to know him. Despite (or perhaps because of) his young age, Éomund feels the absence of his father on a very deep level. He tries not to let it show and the only person who knows just how much he misses is father is Grimthain.

His relationship with his mother Leigh is extremely rough. She loves him, but shows it in a rather harsh way, which often results in a combination of overprotectiveness (he was hardly every allowed to do anything remotely "dangerous" such as learning basic outdoor survival skills and weaponry) and being overly strict about keeping all problems within the family. Éomund knows his mother loves him, but struggles to understand how she can, yet refuses to ask for assistance when it comes to providing necessities. She is a strict woman and Éomund quickly learned to never cross her. He doesn't blame her for being poor, but wishes they could have had a few more basic necessities. She rarely, if ever, mentions her husband, and whenever Éomund would ask about his father, she usually would say that she didn't have the time to discuss it.

The one person Éomund truly considers to be family is his "uncle" Grimthian, his father's best friend. He was not around as much as Éomund desired, but that was entirely due to his respect for Leigh's wishes. Despite a physical absence during much of the year (aside from Éomund's birthday, the anniversary of Éodred's death, and Mettare), Grimthain played a substantial role in Éomund's development. This was done through a variety of ways including teaching him how to ride, giving him a kitten for Mettare when he was six, and always willing to talk about Éodred. While Leigh outright refused anything that could be remotely considered charity, Grimthain was able to ensure that Éomund learned the basics of reading and writing, gave him a horse and arranged for regular deliveries of food and tack as necessary (it was his personal mount and Éomund was not afraid to ask for needed assistance), and simply was there as a listening ear for the growing lad. He was the only person Éomund could truly share his heart with.

Now in Edoras and finishing up his Cavalry training, Éomund has no idea what to do about his relationship with his mother. They did not part on the best of terms and she is illiterate, so writing a letter is not a possibility. He has no desire to return home in the near future as he needs some time away from her, but he also doesn't want to abandon her.

His relationship with Grimthain is also beginning to shift ever so slightly. He will always love and respect the man who became his father-figure when it was so desperately needed, but he is also realising that he is now an adult and shouldn't "need" Grimthain all the time. He is now trying to figure out what that means. Part of him wishes to go back to his childhood and lean into having a father figure who is always nearby (and not a half-days ride away), but he also knows that the past is the past. He had someone there, even if it was intermittent, who played a positive (and perhaps the only) role in his childhood. Éomund is grateful Grimthain is still in Edoras and hopes that his father-figure will continue to teach him what it means to be a "member of the Cavalry".

OOC: (Sorry for forgetting about the format! And yes, Éomund is struggling to not totally destroy his relationship with his mother. He loves her, but is very frustrated with her and hates her stubbornness that clearly had a negative impact on his life. As for food security, I would think that reliable food is a factor for joining the Cavalry.)

[Taethowen]

Why yes I have decided to do this thing for... 4 characters. I would definitely appreciate feedback from all of you.

---

Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire

Name: Aldith
Race: Rohir, human
Age: mid- to late-20s? maybe?
Appearance: Typical Rohir. Tall and lean, fair skinned. Long blond hair that she keeps braided and pinned up. Gray eyes. She dresses tidily in garb made from homespun cloth.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Female, she/her.

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? Born and raised in Sceornbeorg in the Westfold, no more than half a day's ride north of the Hornburg (Helm's Deep). Her parents were the housekeepers/stewards for a wealthy merchant family. The mistress of the house had no daughters of her own, and her sons were nearly grown by the time Aldith was born, and the mistress took a shine to her.

Do they have any living family members or close friends? No living family. She had no siblings, and she was a surprise baby late in life for her parents, long after they'd given up hope of having children. The mistress who employed her parents is probably the closest thing she has to family now. Aldith is probably acquainted with Grimthain (@Allafyrefleorhtlig), Leigh, and Éomund (@Dimcairien Luiniel), though none of them are likely close friends.
If not, how long has it been since they died? Her grandparents were deceased before she was born. Her parents both died in the last 4-5 years.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? Based on personal recommendation by her mistress, she worked as a private tutor for Éomund, and has also worked as head washerwoman at the Hornburg. She will soon be hired on as the ceorl (civilian personal assistant, essentially) for Taethowen, the newly-instated Second Marshal of the Westmark. She enjoys intellectual challenges and is grateful that she has the chance to do something other than be a housekeeper or farmer.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? She enjoys reading about various histories of the different regions of Middle-earth, though she’s beginning to suspect she will have to learn how to read Elvish eventually if she wants to maintain this habit.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? Learning how to read and write, thanks to the mistress' affection for her.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? Her parents both dying so closely together.

---

Erm. I was going to do all three of my Basic Track questionnaires for new characters in one post, but I think that would be insane now. So here's the first one.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Character Name: Éomund
Track: Combining Basic and Advanced
Basic Prompt #4: Name 3 items your character always carries with them: 1 sentimental, 1 practical, 1 luxury

It was his first night in the barracks in the city of Edoras. After the incident in the After Party tent, Éomund found himself sitting on the simple bed that was his, he began to slowly unpack the lone rucksack of personal items. Despite his hasty (and emotional) departure from his hometown of Sceornbeorg, between the rucksack and what he had on his person, everything material (aside from Sunbeorht's tack) he cared about in the world was in this little space.

Éomund fingered the necklace that he always wore. It was old, worn, and something that most people wouldn't take a second look at. But it had been his father's and it was the lone item that he had from him. He held the medallion in his hand as he gently traced the outline of the horse with his forefinger. In so many ways, this item was the most important thing he owned: it connected him to his father, his grandfather, and perhaps even further back. He had no idea how old the necklace was, but it didn't matter. The fact that he owned a single item of this father's was reason enough to love the simple necklace. He squeezed it tightly, wondering what his father would think of his joining the Cavalry.

With a quick shake of his head, Éomund came out of his moment of reverie and continued to unpack is meager belongings. Aside from the basic necessities of clothing, which were threadbare in places and had been repaired numerous times, there was only one other item that was especially important to him - a little box containing a small stack of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink. Such items were an extreme luxury for him as they were not by any means an item needed for day-to-day living. They had been his birthday gift from Grimthain just the other day and he was going to use them wisely. But it many ways, it was also a practical item. He was (hopefully) a member of the Cavalry now and knowing a bit of reading and writing would surely be a useful skill. As much as he had hated the lessons from time to time as a child, he loved and was proud of the fact that he could read and write. He carefully hid the little box under his pillow, not wanting to risk it in any other storage place at the moment.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire

Name: Ceadda
Race: Rohir, human
Age: 19
Appearance: Tall (probably a little over 6') and well-built, with broad shoulders. He has dark brown hair, gray eyes, and a smattering freckles across the his face. He spends most of his days outdoors, so his skin is tanned.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Male. He/him.

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? Born, and still living, on a small family farm in the Eastfold, on the plains between the Aldburg and the Entwash. The farm is for sale, though. It's not quite prosperous to be worth the effort anymore.

Do they have any living family members or close friends? His mother (Trewyn), two younger twin sisters (Sigerun, Estrun, about 9 years of age). There were a couple of lads he considered friends during childhood, but they've moved away since.
If not, how long has it been since they died? His father died the previous winter.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? He grew up working side by side with his family on a farm, and was apprenticed at a larger estate for about five years when it was discovered that he had a knack for numbers and management. He had to leave his apprenticeship early when his father began ailing, though. He was able to take advantage of an opportunity recently, though, when Mistress Anhyrne (Taethowen) returned to the Riddermark and reclaimed her family's estate, hiring him on as her steward.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? Camping out under the stars, by himself, for a night or two. It doesn't happen terribly often, as he is the 'man of the house' now, and before that he was an apprentice with time commitments.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? Receiving the steward's position at Ærn Anhyrne.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? His father dying.

[Lirimaer]

Character Name: Daehaeron
Track: Advanced
Prompt: #3 - Who would your character die for? Who would they kill for? Are the answers for each question the same or different? Why?

He would have killed for his ex, wanted to, in fact, but had no opportunity. He would have died for her too, and almost died for loss of her. Twas only a supernatural intervention that kept him going, though he stayed away for a long time.

On deciding to live, he returned in time to fight in the War of Wrath, though not in any Elvish army. And after the drowning of Beleriand, sought and found a place with Oropher, an Elf he had known, though he often wandered far from home. In the Last Alliance, he found under the Greenwood's banners, and seeing Oropher fall, resolved to protect his son. Since that time, he appoints himself as personal bodyguard if Thranduil goes out armed.

Since meeting Liria, he's refused to allow himself to feel the extent of what he feels is unwholesome possessiveness, but yes. He'd burn the world for that one. He tries not to feel it.

He no longer wants to die, even for someone. But he would, if king or loved one were in danger and he could affect the outcome. He fears he would not be able to survive the loss if he didn't.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire

Name: Sighard
Race: Rohir, human
Age: 18
Appearance: A bit on the short side (about five and a half feet in height), lean and muscular, with the posture of a soldier. He has blonde hair a little longer than chin length and brown eyes.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Male, he/him.

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? In the barracks at the Aldburg. Sighard doesn't know where he was born. He grew up in an orphanage in the Folde, so he is Eastmark through-and-through, just has no family and no home.

Do they have any living family members or close friends? No family that he knows of, and he has so far not gotten incredibly close to anyone in his eored, though he knows a little something about all of them--enough to be friendly without looking like he's distant on purpose.
If not, how long has it been since they died? ???

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? He joined the Cavalry as soon as he looked old enough to do so. Which meant he was more like 15 instead of 16, and that was three years ago. Not that he really knows his birthday, since he was abandoned at the orphanage as an infant.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? He enjoys a good sparring session.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? Joining the Cavalry.
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? When he realized, as a small child, that he would have absolutely zero support for any of the things he might ever want to accomplish.

[Taethowen]

Basic/Advanced Track Hybrid

Name: Taethowen Anhyrne
Race: Rohir/Gondorian, human
Age: 30/31
Appearance: Taeth is not-quite petite in stature at roughly 5' 5" in height. She has some curves, but her build is mostly lean and muscular. She has long, brown hair that she prefers to wear braided and pinned up for day-to-day life. Her hazel eyes more often look green than brown, and her skin is usually a touch tanned from working outdoors frequently. Her hands and fingers are calloused, both due to her work as a seamstress and maintaining her skill as an archer. She has a long scar on her right hip from an unfortunate incident with an enemy spear during the Northern Wind campaign.
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Female, she/her.

Link to Bio: Hall of Rohirric Histories, Minions of Mordor (Character Biographies)

What aspect of your character do you want to further explore? Her motivations and vices. She's been through a very rough decade, and it's not quite over yet, and I see Taeth being completely transformed through some of the things she will experience, but to know how she'll change, I need a firm grasp on who she is now.

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? Currently, she resides in Edoras, in a house she owns there. She also has a family home (Ærn Anhyrne) in the Eastfold which encompasses roughly 5,000 acres roughly half a day's ride north of the Great West Road along the eastern border of Rohan. She will soon be stationed at the Hornburg as the Second Marshal of the Westmark as well, and will likely acquire a house there.

Do they have any living family members or close friends? Her immediate family (mother: Sheona, sister: Cary, brother: Cadman, stepfather: Grimbur) is currently missing. Taeth lost contact with them during her 10-year journey outside of Rohan. she has a distant cousin on her birth father's side (Eldreda) who she still has contact with. For close friends, she would count Thalionwen Hunigfolm, Culfinwen, and Lailyn. She also has a recently acquired paramour, Frost.

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? By skilled trade, she is a tailor/seamstress--a good one. Her family has long bred horses, as well, working toward a specific rare coloration that would be extremely valuable. Additionally, she has served in the Cavalry of Rohan not once but twice, and has recently been instated as the Second Marshal of the Mark.

What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? Well until recently, she would have enjoyed just quiet time by herself, possibly reading a book or working on a sewing project, or going for a ride. Pretty sure it's safe to say her favorite way to relax now is... Frost.

What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? Probably Frost.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? Emotionally, the death of her father as a child. Physically, when she was struck down with a mysterious illness on a trip to Gondor a little over ten years ago, and it stole a good portion of her memories, and it took her months to recover enough to even think about traveling home.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Character Name: Éomund
Track: Combining Basic and Advanced
Describe two of your character's deepest fears:
Advanced Track Prompt 4: 1 rational (plausible: such as a fear of fire after having been trapped in a burning house or witnessing a fire where someone died, etc.)
1 irrational (such as a phobia with no known event that triggered it)

Rational
To put it simply, Éomund fears being without basic necessities. There was never quite enough to go around when he was a child. His mother did her best to make ends meet, and there was always something small, such as a bit of bread or dried meat, to eat on a daily basis, but never quite enough. Even basic things such as firewood was sometimes a luxury and all too often there would be nights during the winter where Éomund couldn't sleep because of how cold it got.

He is determined to never go without enough food or warmth again, but is uncertain how best to do this. The first time he entered the Mess Hall, he was shocked at the sheer amount of food that was available.

Irrational/justified?
Éomund struggles with insecurity and self-doubt. He never had much support or encouragement as a child, especially from his mother. Not because she didn't love him, but mainly because she rarely had the time to listen to Éomund. She showed her love and support by working hard to try and keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. There simply wasn't time to listen to the thoughts and worries of a small child. Thus Éomund learned from an early age to keep things to himself and that he shouldn't bother others with his thoughts.

In many ways not receiving this deeply desired emotional support from his mother resulted in his deep fear of disappointing others, especially those he looked up to, and loosing their support. He also has a deep fear of disappointing the memory of his father and not being able to live up to the man he believes he was. He struggles to share this worry with Grimthain, because of how much he cares for and respects the man.

Joining the Cavalry is forcing him to confront this fear of disappointing others as well as teaching him that it's ok, and actually a wise idea, to share his thoughts with others. While the incident with Marshal Gwai will always be one of his more mortifying moments, the subsequent "ent-wife" hunt taught him that he doesn't need to be perfect and that he won't lose those he loves and respects by accidentally messing up. And his initial training has taught him that he does have some capabilities.

[Jenny Harper]

Basic Track Character Beginning Questionnaire:
Name: Jenwyn
Race: Rohirrim
Age: 19
Appearance: Average height, long chestnut coloured hair, average build
Sex/Gender/Pronouns: Female She/Her

Where do they live? Is it different from where they were born? Currently she lives in Edoras. Jenwyn was born and grew up in a village in the Westfold.

Do they have any living family members or close friends?
If not, how long has it been since they died? She has three cousins whom she lived with. Her mother and two siblings died around 8 years prior while her father died in battle when she was 2

What does this character do to survive (occupation and/or lifestyle)? How do they feel about it? Prior to arriving at Edoras, Jenwyn worked as a farmhand in the village she grew up in.
What is their favorite way to relax? How often do they get to indulge in this? Singing, she does not induldge in this very often as due to shyness she only does this when there's no-one about, usually late at night.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to them? Surviving the attack that killed her family
What is the worst thing that has ever happened to them? Her family was killed by Uruk-Hai in front of her eyes when she was 11 years old

[Lirimaer]

Character Name: Liria
Track: Basic
Prompt: #4 Name 3 items your character always carries with them: 1 sentimental, 1 practical, 1 luxury

Response: Liria's 'always' items are all sentimental.

• The most purely sentimental item she carries with her always is a poem that her Ada gave her. Her Naneth wrote it when she discovered she was expecting Liria. It's very precious, and she keeps it in a tiny notebook that fits in the smallest of pockets.

• Her Lórien bow is the most practical item perhaps. It belonged to her eldest brother Gîlmeren, who went to live in the Golden Wood when he married Calëindonya. He was gifted with the bow when he joined the Galadrim archers, and after he died it was kept by his widow. When Liria planned to travel across Arda, Calë gave it to her for extra protection. It is not strictly hers, and she will return it when she goes back home.

• Her luxury item(s) are beads. She has some in oblate green beryl, from her Ada, which were given her when she reached adulthood. They are carved with leaves and flowers. She has many white pearl beads now too, the gift from her mother denoting honour and innocence given at her first moontime and every year thereafter. She also has been given gold beads - they are of Dwarven design in different shapes: cylinders, cubes and cuboids, with Dwarven runes as decoration - and this may tell you who they're from. She generally threads a few through her hair at celebrations, although the custom in the Greenwood is to wear them on collars and belts. (She doesn't take all of them with her everywhere - but some of each are always kept in a velvet pouch if she is not wearing any.)

Track: Advanced
Prompt: #4 Describe two of your character's deepest fears: 1 rational, 1 irrational Have they ever had to face these fears? What was their response?
Response:

• Rational - the fear of not being good enough. She is aware of her eagerness to please the Ar-Golwen, and not just because of her family's teasing, but as she has gained more knowledge, she has become aware of how much she doesn't know - and she worries that he will not think well of her and that is not good, because of the aforementioned eagerness to please! She does not want to let him down, since he has placed his trust in her.

• Irrational - she is wary of dogs, wolves and wargs, having experience of neither close-up, and only tales to feed the fire. The large hound she saw recently in Rivendell was almost knifed in the throat because she was surprised by its careening unchecked through the hallways. She didn't actually do it though.

Character Name: Daehaeron
Track: Basic
Prompt: #4 Name 3 items your character always carries with them: 1 sentimental, 1 practical, 1 luxury

Response:

• He wears a blue riband on his wrist, a remembrance of his lost love.

• He carries a little set of tools with him, including tiny chisels and a hammer. He says it's very calming and restful to create beautiful things out of stone instead of with brush and ink. Liria and he have opposing viewpoints on this and it is an ongoing argument, but each secretly thinks the other's work is beautiful.

• He carries his silver flute everywhere, though it is unlikely that folk would ever see it, since it is secret. He has had it in a long narrow pocket hidden in his tunics for thousands of years now. It is sentimental, but also a fundamental part of who he is.

Track: Advanced
Prompt: #4 Describe two of your character's deepest fears: 1 rational, 1 irrational. Have they ever had to face these fears? What was their response?

Response:

• Rational - he fears not being loved for who he is, not being enough for the one he loves to love him back, or being supplanted. He has faced this in spades in his own past, publically, and it did a lot of damage to his psyche. He also fears being discovered, though this fear has been muted for many years now. But these fears have made him reluctant to allow himself to get close to people, or to allow them to get close to him.

• Irrational - not known

[Androthelm]

So, uh, I wrote a bit for the first Advanced track post as Androthelm, and then I didn't like it, and then I finally got around to rewriting it tonight and it is... both longer and less on-topic than I meant it to be. I'll try to catch up on the other prompts (and write a little less, for the next few).

Anyway, here's a little bit of Androthelm's guilty conscience and a little bit of how he transitioned from upstart rider of the Riddermark to aging bard and adventure-hunter.

Character Name: Androthelm
Track: Advanced
Prompt: #1, What is the most selfish thing your character has ever done?

In the sunny marketplace of Dale—a delightful place, really, a place full of laughing children and dancing fools, of street-performers and kites and stalls selling wonders that only the cooperation between dwarves and men could hope to create—an old man sat and frowned.
He was thinking about another city—but, not even another city. He was thinking of a village, a hamlet, a nameless homestead nestled between the Entwash and the Entwood, between the river which bisected Rohan and Fangorn Forest.
Androthelm Theromal was thinking of home.

It had been a sunny day like this one, when he left. If it had not been sunny, he might not have left. If he had not been bringing in the harvest, he would not have seen the travelers winding by—and if he had not seen the travelers, he would not have left. If it had rained, as he’d prayed the night before, and they’d delayed bringing in the harvest for a day of songs by firelight—
Then Androthelm would be have children of his own by now, most like. Like as not, they would be older than those in front of him. They would be grown, and bringing in the harvest themselves—
Androthelm’s long hair was not yet white, but his bones were beginning to creak. My bones would be beginning to creak at home.

His parents had not wanted him to go, of course, but whose parents ever want them to go? Trade with the north—with the empty wood and ruined land that was said to stretch forever beyond the wilderness of Dunland—was impossible. And they had been right. There were settlements, and Androthelm had seen them—Bree-town and the Hobbit-towns, and the waning Dwarf-holds of Ered Luin—but few of the traders who’d hired him to outride and guard survived the passage.

And in the Dwarf-holds he had met the Brothers Goldhand, and with the Goldhands he had come east — but now they were pleased to stay with their reunited kin in Erebor, and Androthelm was left to sit and watch the city of Dale pass him by. And think of home.

He wondered if his parents were alive. Possibly, though they would be old now indeed, if his graying mustache was any judgement. He wondered if the Tree-Spirits had ever come out of Fangorn and gobbled up Theromal-town, as Androthelm’s great-mammy had warned him they would, if he were naughty. Possibly. Of course, his mammy’s great-mammy had told her much the same.

He wondered if he had done the wrong thing, in setting out to seek his fortune. He suspected he knew. We need you, his father had said. How’re we meant to get the harvest in? his father had said, and he, in turn, had said what?
There'll be no need of harvest-bringing, when I return with my fortune.
And where were his gold coins? Where were his dwarf-coats and elf-gems? Where was Androthelm’s fortune?

He watched the streets of Dale pass him, wondering what all these wonders were worth. There was a portion of a dragon’s horde in the Long Lake, free for the taking if any dared swim down among the dragon-bones. But what did the people of Dale need dragon-gems for? They have their own hoard, right here, and what good does it do them?

“Excuse me, sir.” said a small voice. “Do you do tricks?”
Androthelm turned, his sulk a mental fog. There was a small Dale-person. A little girl, with a larger boy beside her.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Do you do tricks?” asked the girl again. “Are you a street-performer?” She gestured down the lane, where a very thin man was doing a good job of swallowing a very large sword.
“Ah.” said Androthelm “No.”
“I told you.” said the boy. “He is just a sad old man.”
Androthelm bristled. There was a new target for his ire. “I am not old.”
“Yes you are.” said the boy. “Your beard is gray.”
It was. “Well I’m certainly not sad.”
“What are you doing, then, sitting all alone?”
“I am—“ Androthelm searched his memory for an excuse. But why was he excusing himself to a child? Still—what did children like? What had he liked, when he was young?
I’m not old, he corrected himself, and then remembered. Songs. I used to pray it would rain, so that we might lose a day’s work and gain a day of song. “To tell the truth, I am a bard.”
“Of course you are.” said the boy. “Bards are always sad old men.”
“We are not.” said Androthelm, feeling suddenly defensive for a professional class to which he did not belong.
“You are.” said the boy.
“I am not. I know plenty of happy songs.”
“Okay.” said the boy. “Sing one.”
So Androthelm frowned, dug through his memory for the joyful songs of his youth, and began—out of spite for a child—to sing.

[Pele Alarion]

Character Name: Shamara
Track: Basic
Prompt: #1 - What prompted your character to pursue their occupation? What do they enjoy most about it? What aspects of it do they dislike?

Having all but grown up no the streets of Umbar, she had been involved with a gang of pickpockets and thieves for many years; it was nothing to be liked as she was always mistreated as one of the youngest members. When her brother accidentally found her at the age of 20, she gave up thieving and mostly stayed at home, practicing skills of knife throwing and stealth under her brother's tutelage, as well as enjoyed learning about various herbs, mostly anything that could be used as poison.

When her brother disappeared, Shamara continued to enjoy life for some time, though she understood that she would have to undertake some business or other if she did not want to run out of money and end up on the streets. Once, while going about her shopping at the market, she showed some interest in slaves being sold though without intention to buy any; however the slaver - Relic - attracted her attention, and eventually she became her subject for the purposes of hunting down people to be enslaved.

The Umbarian finds enjoyment in the fact that she can exercise power over people by using her subtle skills and persuasion, which works most of the time, though sometimes she has to resort to other means, like incapacitating them by means of poison. At the same time, she dislikes the feeling of being subject to someone yet again after enjoying freedom of doing whatever she liked. However, she can work with it in the name of higher objectives, perhaps with an intention of reaching a higher status in time.

[Jenny Harper]

Character Name: Jenwyn
Track: Basic
Basic Prompt #4: Name 3 items your character always carries with them: 1 sentimental, 1 practical, 1 luxury

On her 11th birthday, Jenwyn was given a silver necklace by her mother. The necklace itself was embedded with a small aquamarine which is the birthstone of the month she was born (March). Following the death of her family, Jenwyn keeps it with her, wearing it at all times and rarely taking it off due to it's sentimental value. For a peasant woman like her, this would also be considered a luxury.

Along with her necklace, Jenwyn also carries a more practical item in the form of a trowel. In her life as a farmhand, she also has her own vegetable garden which she tends to alongside working on the fields and helping to maintain the lifestock. She carries it with her mostly out of force of habit. In addition, since the attack on her village and following her learning to fight, she carries a long knife in a sheath at her side so if she ever finds herself in a similar situation to when she was 11, she will not be helpless.

[Taethowen]

Basic Track, Prompt #5

Does your character(s) have any pets/animal companions? How did they acquire them? What do they look like?

You may simply answer these questions, essay-ish style, or you are welcome to role-play it in a short scene, whichever helps you most.