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groundrules) wrote2021-01-08 03:30 pm
groundrules) wrote2021-01-08 03:30 pm
Entry tags:
applications
Eastbound is primarily an invite-only game — each existing player can currently invite up to one person per month, or get in touch about further invites. Existing players can hold two characters in game. A third character can be applied, if players can prove they have met activity requirements for two consecutive months with their existing two characters and have stayed engaged with the game. If you don't have an invite, somehow stumbled upon this neck of the woods, and you’d like to stay, drop the mod journal a line — we'll try to figure it out.
As of Oct. 1, cast/game caps are off. Please note, as of Dec. 1, Eastbound only has 3-4 months of gameplay left.
WHAT CHARACTERS CAN BE APPLIED?
YES: canon and original characters, if they have a solid and consistent personality and background. Characters brought in after they've died are a-okay. For characters taken from a time point just as they're in the process of dying, please read below on meeting medical requirements.
NO (at this time): real people, original characters set in a canon environment, characters from canons or canon instalments that have been released for less than one month, characters with imported development from other games (CRAU), alternate universe, or gender-swapped versions of canon characters.
Children or characters with very specific medical/magical/environment needs: appable, but please make a note of how your character will ICly meet their requirements and stay alive. Likewise, if you are applying for a character taken just as they're dying, provide a suggestion for how they can be kept alive on arrival (this might be easier in some app cycles than others). You can bend the world a little to make miracles happen (ex: a substitute for the medication your character needs to survive can be found for a high price at certain apothecaries, etc.)
Characters that were dropped or swept by activity checks: yes, but they’ll come back without their previous memories, if they are applied in by a different player.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
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Achilles | The Song of Achilles | Reserved
CONTACT:
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GAME?: I'm already in it!
CHARACTER: Achilles Peleides (Aristos Achaion)
CANON: The Song of Achilles
CANON POINT: As he is sailing to Troy.
BACKGROUND: His biography. Copy-Pasted below for easier reading:
"Achilles, known also as Aristos Achaion (best of all the Greeks) is Patroclus' best friend, lover and soulmate. He is the son of the King Peleus of Phthia and the Sea Nymph Thetis.
Achilles is a demigod, destined to gain glory and immortality in a war. Because of his mother dipping him in the River Styx as a baby, Achilles is invulnerable and resistant to injures, however, his weakness is in his heel where her hand held him whilst under the water.
Early Life
Achilles was born after the Olympic Gods convinced Peleus to force himself upon the sea nymph Thetis, who then had to stay married to him for a year. They did this due to a prophecy by Eileithyia that said that Thetis' child would become stronger than his father. The moment he was born Thetis shed her mortal clothing and dived back into the ocean, only coming back to shore to visit him occasionally.
Because of the prophecy, Achilles was trained in different aspects of fighting since birth and no one was allowed to watch him practice. He was raised by tutors and nurses overseen by Phoinix, Peleus’ most trusted counsellor. By the time Patroclus is sent to Peleus’ kingdom, Achilles is trained only by a lyre teacher and Peleus himself, although this mostly translates into him teaching himself.
Achilles' father ran an orphanage on his island for exiled sons of high ranking nobles and Kings, although Patroclus suspected that the real purpose of it was to train up soldiers for Peleus' army as they became indebted to his hospitality and catering.
Achilles is first seen during the games in King Menoetius’ kingdom at 5 years old. He wins a running race and becomes the beacon of Menoetius’ vision of a son, being the inspiration for the phrase ‘That is what a son should be.’ He is next seen when Patroclus is sent to Phthia and has to greet the Prince as King Peleus was away with business. He is seen lazily playing with a lute and is dismissive of Patroclus. Achilles first began to notice Patroclus when he was studiously ignoring him- a surprise, since no one had ever ignored him before. To gain his attention Achilles steadily began moving closer during dinner times until eventually sitting at the same table; he throws a fig towards him to gain his attention.
Achilles found Patroclus hiding in a storeroom one day, as Patroclus did not want to go to his lessons with the other boys. Patroclus, not wanting to be punished by Peleus, asked Achilles to tell his father he was with him. So, because he does not like to lie, Achilles takes Patroclus to his lessons, and after they practice on Patroclus' mother's lyre for a bit they go and see Peleus. When Achilles speaks to his father, he says he has chosen Patroclus as his therapon, and that is that. They become the best of friends.
They begin to spend more time together and Patroclus becomes the first person beyond his father to witness him fight, eventually challenging him to duel; their friendship is fast following. Nothing noteworthy happens during their childhood beyond Achilles visit’s to his mother (although the contents of which is unknown to both Patroclus and the readers).
When Achilles is thirteen his father begins to suggest for him to partake in sexual relationships with serving/slave girls however he ignores all offers and appears uncomfortable at the suggestion. Later he and Patroclus share their first kiss, a chaste peck on the lips, however he runs away back to the palace shortly thereafter.
The next time he is seen, Achilles announces that he is being sent away to Mount Pelion to train with Chiron and must leave Patroclus behind. When Patroclus awakes the next morning he has already gone. He would not return to Phthia again except for a call to war.
Mount Pelion
After Thetis sees that Patroclus kissed Achilles, she sends him to Mount Pelion to be trained by Chiron. Patroclus follows him there, despite Thetis telling Chiron that he is to be barred from seeing Achilles. Patroclus, however, follows Achilles to Mount Pelion with nothing but the clothes on his back. Achilles has been waiting at the base of the mountain in hopes that he would do so and tackles him. Chiron collects them and takes them up the mountain on his back. Chiron teaches them skills as they grow up. Thetis is angry to learn that Patroclus is there with Achilles, but she cannot see them there on the mountain. When Achilles learns this, he tells Patroclus and they kiss and have sex in the cave.
Scyros
Achilles pretends to be a woman and hides on the island of Scyros because it is what Thetis wants. She doesn't want him to go to war. When Patroclus comes for him, Achilles claims him as his husband. Thetis had forced Achilles to marry and lie with Princess Deidameia in exchange for telling Patroclus where he was, but she lied and Patroclus had to find out from Peleus. Deidameia then becomes pregnant with a child, named after Achilles, Neoptolemus or Pyrrhus."
The biography continues here. Again, I'll copy-paste it to make it easier:
"Patroclus follows Achilles to Skyros, where they live until they are discovered by Odysseus and Diomedes. Patroclus is obligated to join the war in Troy as a result of his blood oath, while Achilles joins after vowing that he will never fight Hector in order to avoid his prophesied death."
ABILITIES | POWERS: Achilles is the best warrior of the Greeks, Trojans and just about anyone else on the playing field he knows. He is swift, agile, graceful and completely mechanical when it comes to killing. No one can throw a spear as hard or fast as him; no one can bear his armor or use his sword like him. He is the son of an immortal and a mortal and the gods have blessed him with the ability to fight and kill.
I am however willing to make him vulnerable to injury since him being untouchable seems unfair. But it won't be easy to get the best of him and he will certainly seek revenge after.
On a lesser note, he is a gifted musician (on the lyre) and his voice is said to be hauntingly beautiful too.
PERSONALITY: First and foremost, Achilles does not like being forced into anything. He abhors lies (and refuses to make use of them); he has no time for those who seek to attach their names to his for glory or power or money. One of the reasons he was drawn to Patroclus when they were still boys was because Patroclus avoided him and refused to compliment him. He knew that prince at least would be honest and Achilles values honesty. As a result, Patroclus knows him in a way few others do - and ever will. With him, Achilles is open, gentle, playful and infinitely passionate. To the world, he is untouchable - like water turned to ice. Much like his mother, in fact, though the heart that beats in his breast is much kinder than hers will ever be (otherwise he wouldn't have noticed or befriended Patroclus in the first place).
However, since receiving the news that his dear Patroclus must fulfill a blood oath and fight the Trojans, Achilles has become quicker to anger as of late. The weight of the prophecy made about him (that he will perish once Prince Hector dies) is heavy on his shoulders and he is determined to not see it through. No matter what. His stubborn resolve will fly in the face of what the Greeks expect of him and even Patroclus will eventually beg him to intervene to save lives. Yet Achilles's pride will be his true downfall; he just can't see it.
At his canon point, he is the proud prince leading his Myrmidons (2,500 of them) to the Trojan shore. He has appointed leaders (each commanding 500 of his army) and he fully expects to be victorious. Surely within a season or two, he can return to Greek lands and make a home with his Patroclus. He can't foresee the war carrying on for a decade and he can't foresee how many will be lost - his sweet Patroclus included.
If you ever wondered how to break a demigod: slaughter his soulmate viciously. Achilles longed for death then and sought it viciously, tearing through anyone who stood in his way. But, for now, he can't imagine losing someone so dear to him. Who would dare? Who would dare touch him? Achilles trusts his battle prowess to keep them both safe and he looks forward to scaling and conquering the Trojan walls. The Greeks will cry his name in triumph - not in agony or anger.
Upon finding himself in a strange place, he will be tense, ready for battle. It will take time for those defenses to soften and for him to reveal the youthful prince beneath his flashing golden armor. However there will inevitably be those that call to his heart and he won't be able to deny them his ear or his might. He might even play or sing for them; Achilles is a talented musician.
SAMPLE: I.
He fastens his armor tight, flush to his skin, when the shore comes into view. His helmet is tucked under his arm, ready to be placed over his golden hair when his view shifts. The shore of Troy disappears and he is standing in the middle of a desert. A city lies before him - one that is opulent enough but certainly not Troy - and Achilles feels a curl of anger. Placing his helmet resolutely on his head and drawing his sword, he races to the buildings in the distance, his feet flashing, quicker than a deer.
His breath isn't even labored when he reaches the city, pausing on the outskirts, shining in the harsh sunlight. When he sees no enemies, no one to fight, his anger grows and he states, to any god who might be listening:
"What is the point of this? Have I sailed for nothing? Where is Prince Hector?"
Achilles has wanted to see the prince in battle; he wants to understand his prowess in the art they share. He doubts Hector will outshine him in any capacity, but he can't help being curious. Stalking through the city streets, he likely looks like a myth or a legend shining like he does. A star fallen from the heavens. Aristos Achaion indeed.
Later, he enters the palace proper and removes his helm, remembering his princely courtesy. For the time being, anyway. His green eyes seek the face of the one he loves, but he is disappointed each time Patroclus fails to appear. Swinging his sword absently, he takes his time in sheathing the weapon.
"Explain." he demands, unprompted, to the first person who approaches him.
II.
(Network; Video; UN: sing of the rage)
Bringing Achilles Peleides to your beck and call was a gamble. You took me from my ship; from my Myrmidons. Do you think I would allow that to pass without judgement? Without punishment? (The part that angers him the most is that he has been torn from Patroclus. But a warrior never reveals their weak spot.) Speak. I will only give you a moment before I burn your city to ash.
(Granted it is likely not the best idea, but he is a demigod. He doesn't have all of the needs of a mortal. Though when he finds himself changed, he might be forced to be more cautious.
Then again, likely not. Achilles lives life to the fullest; the gods be damned.)
INVENTORY: His armor (helmet and sword included), a shield and spear. And maybe his lyre (with an extra set of strings)?
NOTES: I think he'll fit in just fine. He doesn't need any pampering, though he won't say no to it. ;3
IF ACCEPTED, WOULD YOU WANT A PLOT-LIGHT OR PLOT-HEAVY CUSTOM INTRO? Plot-light this time. He has a lot to contend with and I don't want him to break.
APPLICATION RECEIVED
ACCEPTED
Thank you for your application!
ADMIN
NOTES
One of the more merciful healers takes him in, with an eye to help cure him while undertaking her duties at the Doxe’s bedside. For two days, Achilles is held largely within a small quarter he shares with the healer — who does not speak his tongue — and the gardens. On the third day, he encounters the sorceress Karsa, an employee of the party’s Merchant benefactor who is currently journeying with the caravan.
She gives Achilles a communication and translation device and explains both his whereabouts and the story so far. As part of the electoral espionage team divisions, Achilles will be assigned to Vannozza Spina, and he will reside in his patron’s wing of the Palazzo of the Doxe while in Taravast.
He is architected the identity of an infamous wine taster, whom noblemen frequently invite to their gatherings. They either make use of his discerning palate to help choose the best offerings for their (many) fetes – or they parade their wine collections before him, hoping to gain his approval and flourish their own reputations as wine connoisseurs. His job is to drink himself silly on other peoples’ dime, then make them feel particularly bad for their wine tastes.
He will find himself easily influencing gentry and having very easy access to the best gatherings. (Nearly) any gatherings. He’s walking that red carpet.
Karsa can also explain the piazza — a style of communicating to the city at large, with an eye to influence public opinion.