Highlander: Character Concept Thread

[Ristaron]

I'm calling this a character concept thread because no matter how well you define a character's history and such, the personality that comes out when you actually write with them is something you can't convey with a biography. In any case, here is one of the older immortals I have created, as a Watcher file would record him:




Matthias
Born: 323 B.C. (age: 2,331 years)
First Death: 295, Battle of Sentinum
Nationality: Samnite
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Chestnut
Skin: Light bronze
Confirmed Quickenings: 728
Preferred Weapon: Roman Spatha (c.100 A.D.)
Preferred Martial Arts: Judo, kung-fu
Current Alias: Matthew Cole
Current Estimated Net Worth: $6.2 million USD
Current Occupation: Part-time university professor of Late Roman Antiquities at University of Bristol
Current Residence: Bristol, England
Current Watcher: Derek Barnes

Born Matthias, son of Orias, in modern day Benevento, Italy, Matthias was first killed in the battle of Sentinum during the third Samnite War. Following the defeat of the Samnites by the Romans, he continued waging his personal war against Rome until he was found and taken in by his first teacher, Ettu of Mycenae (then using the pseudonym Terellus Andonius) in 291 B.C.. Matthias' most famed mortal persona was that of Artorius in the 2nd century A.D., England, which spawned the legends of King Arthur. Today he still carries the same Roman Spatha he used those years ago, Excalibur.







I have most of the aliases he's worn recorded in a word file, along with their appropriate dates and his approximate location in the world. It has a more complete biography, as well, but I let on one of the juicier tidbits about the character already.

As I said, Matthias is one of the oldest immortal characters I've made. I have done extensive research on the period in which he originated from, which is why I prefer him to most others I have made (most of whom are between two and six hundred years old). I'd recommend that your first characters be younger, unless you are extremely familiar with a specific period in history that you would like the character to be from. The oldest immortal character I've made was Elead of Persia, born c.3,000 B.C. in modern day Iran. Really, he is more appropriately named Elead of Susa, the ancient Elamite city of his birth. Unlike Methos, who is a scarce few centuries older, Elead has maintained his cover very well and only his former students who still live are aware of his age. I've intentionally not used him as a starting character here because I am more familiar with the Roman era.

Anyways... let's see your characters!

[Opunaya]

(I'm going to just make this one up as I go along for now, just to get back in the swing of things...I'll probably go through edits and re-writes a couple of times. I'll post it as soon as possible.) Just to double-check, any hand-to-hand edge weapons are acceptable? Or just swords?

[Ristaron]

Any martial weapons are good. Hell, some immortals use guns, though it's generally considered dishonourable and contrary to the rules of the Game. 99% of immortals will fight fair, though a fair few keep tricks up their sleeves (hidden daggers, for example). From what I've seen in the show, only one immortal has had gunmen shoot down an enemy and then decapitate him. I've seen lots of other shit, though... Kalas once ran over an immortal, took his sword, and killed him with it. Slan Quince had a special attachment to his sword that shot a projectile from the hilt. Methos used a hidden dagger to defeat someone who had been after Duncan's head when he had gotten to the guy first.

Yeah, it depends on the person...

[Opunaya]

I was thinking of basing my character within the Native American culture, so making him more prone to use a spear fighting-style in battle--or probably something similiar to a zanbatō, though perhaps alot shorter.

[Ristaron]

Here's another one of my older characters.



Karreigh-Lynn
Born: 404 A.D. (age: 1,604)
First Death: 432 A.D., stabbed by supporters of Vortigern near Stonehenge
Ethnicity: Celtic (Britain)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Auburn
Skin: Pale
Height: 5'8”
Weight: 135 lbs
Confirmed Quickenings: 517
Preferred Weapon: Arming Sword (12th century)
Preferred Martial Arts: Kung-fu
Languages Spoken: English, French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Latin
Current Alias: Carry Lynn Ashburne (2002-Present)
Current Estimated Net Worth: $4.9 million USD
Current Occupation: Independent employment (resident owner of apartment complex)
Current Residence: Edinburgh, Scotland
Current Watcher: Debra McConnell

A strong-willed woman tempered by centuries of war and peace, Karreigh-Lynn was a soldier until the late 12th century following the Third Crusade. After the bloody massacre of nearly 3,000 Saracen prisoners under Richard the Lionheart, she retired from warfare and returned to her beloved Britain. She has since passively protested war, giving up killing in all forms except for the Game.

--------------- Added 19 Jul 2008 at 12:14 am ---------------

alright, here's another one. I am personally very fond of this character.



Tsering Choden
Ethnicity: Newa
Born: 1,057 A.D. (951 years old)
First Death: 1,086 A.D., stabbed by dissenter who opposed the Chalukaya Empire
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black (shaved)
Skin: Light brown
Height: 5'6”
Weight: 120 lbs
Confirmed Quickenings: none
Preferred Weapon: none
Preferred Martial Arts: Shaolin Kung-Fu (specialist in Tai-Chor style)
Languages Spoken: Aramaiac, Awadhi, English, Greek, Latin, Mandarin, Nepal Bhasa, Nepali
Current Alias: Tsering Choden (1,057 A.D.-Present)
Current Estimated Net Worth: n/a
Current Occupation: Monk (Bhiksu)
Current Residence: near Kathmandu, Nepal
Current Watcher: Felix Hayes (1987 A.D.-Present)

Inducted into the Buddhist temple at the age of twelve, Tsering was killed in a vicious attack on his temple during the rise of the Chalukaya Empire. He awoke a short time later, immortal, and initially took it as the ultimate chance to achieve enlightenment. Tsering cares nothing for the Game, though he has many immortal friends who return to visit him every few centuries at the temple he has remained at for almost a thousand years.

Tsering has expanded his studies beyond Buddhism over the centuries, also learning Taoism, Confucianism, and Hinduism. His invaluable wisdom has kept his innumerable friends from spreading news of his evident immortality, and he has motivated many black-hearted, misguided individuals to better lives.

[Ginevra]

So I've got some ideas for the rp since it's starting, so I figure I'll put what I've got.

My character is Léana (LAY-in-a) Wendell and she's only 17, and has just in the past few months had her first death. She's Irish but ran away from her home country where everyone believes her dead, and is massively confused, not knowing yet why she woke up alive at the bottom of the canyon after falling from one of it's highest points. [This is my working idea so far anyhow, we'll see how it works out]

[Ristaron]

Originally Posted by Ginevra

So I've got some ideas for the rp since it's starting, so I figure I'll put what I've got.

My character is Léana (LAY-in-a) Wendell and she's only 17, and has just in the past few months had her first death. She's Irish but ran away from her home country where everyone believes her dead, and is massively confused, not knowing yet why she woke up alive at the bottom of the canyon after falling from one of it's highest points. [This is my working idea so far anyhow, we'll see how it works out]

North Ireland? War-torn, civil war, all that fun stuff?

--------------- Added 20 Jul 2008 at 11:04 am ---------------

Well, here's another one of mine. I'm trying to give you all ideas for your characters.





Aragon of Antioch
Ethnicity: French
Born: 1,117 A.D. (891 years old)
First Death: 1,146 A.D., killed during the Third Crusade (age: 29)
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black
Skin: Pale
Height: 5'10”
Weight: 150 lbs
Confirmed Quickenings: 487
Preferred Weapon: Side-sword (c.16th century)
Preferred Martial Arts: Kung-fu
Languages Spoken: Aramaiac, English, French, Latin, Spanish
Current Alias: Alain D'Artois II
Current Estimated Net Worth: $7.7 million USD
Current Occupation: Investment banker
Current Residence: Paris, France
Current Watcher: Richard Stevens (2004-Present)

Born in Antioch during the era of the city's rulership under the Crusaders, Aragon joined the ranks of the Knights Hospitallers in honour of his adopted father, Alain, whose name he also borrowed as a later alias. Though nearly into his ninth century, Aragon still lives in a world of black-and-white, testament to the training he received by his first teacher, Karreigh-Lynn, before she retired from war. Nonetheless, his upbringing as a Knight Hospitaller has left him with an aversion to combat, and he plays the Game only reluctantly.

[Opunaya]

I'm gonna do a recent immortal as well...that way I can learn more about how to RP in this than

Wade Howlett
Ethnicity: Cauasian-American
Born: August 12th, 1980
First Death: January 4th, 2000 (shot while being mugged)
Eyes: Gray
Hair: Red
Skin: Pale
Height: 5'7''
Weight: 198 lbs
Confirmed Quickenings: 4
Preferred Weapon: Twin short swords (Is that acceptable? I'll pick a proper era later, this is just a place-holder mostly)
Preferred Martial Arts: Brazlian Jujutsu, street-fight boxing
Languages Spoken: English
Current Alias: None
Current Estimated Net Worth:
Current Occupation: Pawn Shop Owner
Current Residence: Bristol, England
Current Watcher: Reginald McKirk, unknown to Wade though.

Brief History: A recently-born Immortal, Wade hasn't had much of a chance to adjust to this new never-ending life...especiall since the only Immortals he's encountered have been ones after his head--and each one was a surprise attack, most of them being newly-born themselves. Though through the Quickenings he's received, Wade has gotten a little more knowledge about The Game, he yet truly understands it or The Rules, since he has yet to find a older Immortal to teach him. These surprise attacks have left Wade paranoid about his head, leading him to take to wearing a metal neck-brace when he goes out into public--which is rarely (though he'd take it off during a formal matches...if he was taught about them). Mostly, he spends his time practicing in his store/home, trying to perfect his patchwork swordplay.

This is the best I've got for now, I was originally intending to make a 800+ year old Immortal, that had gone somewhat insane from his long life, but I figured a paranoid young one would be just as good.

[Ristaron]

Nice, Opu. Normally I avoid making really young immortals, probably because I have no respect for the modern times (except for certain elements of society) whereas I thoroughly enjoy reading about the ancient times. I suppose I simply hate to tarnish the concept of immortality with today's values.

You'll probably use that character better than I could.


Also, most immortals aren't aware of their watchers. I've not even decided whether or not most of my characters even know of the existence of the organization.

[Opunaya]

I was just making sure to point that out. Actually, I was going to build on a slight backstory where his first Watcher decided to approach him after seeing what a hard time he was doing and offer to tell him about The Game...and Wade, mistaking the Watcher for another Immortal (not yet connecting the headaches to sensing other Immortals) and kill him.

Lat on, I'm planning on making an older Immortal...but for now, I'm just testing the waters, so to speak.