App Draft GP

APPLICATION

OOC

NAME: Pine
AGE: 18+
CONTACT: danceintoastruggle
CHARACTER(S): Marina sleepyone

IC

NAME: Sherwood
AGE: 65
CANON: Original Character
CANON POINT: Two years after banishment and founding the Springtide Clan.
CRAU: N/A
OTHER: Open to nerfing any of his powers, just let me know if anything is too much! Obviously, all his powers are opt-in only for other players to engage with.

SUITABILITY: Supervillain from a fantasy sex comedy. He's a horny prude that will get into the spirit of things without much trouble.

ABILITIES: Sherwood calls himself a Druid, but he's actually a Warlock. His magic is powered by his connections to other people's souls. Souls are defined by this magic loosely as the energy that connects body and mind, a person's consciousness and spirit. The antennae-like branches growing from his head are a manifestation of his own soul. If these antlers are fully removed or heavily damaged, he will die from the trauma. These antlers also make him extremely susceptible to short term possession by ghosts and spirits, as they're basically lightning rods for collecting loose soul energy. He's going to be kicking random, horny ghosts out of his body on the regular, throughout his stay!

Animal Transformation: Sherwood can transform full bodied into a specific animal that represents the shape of his soul. His animal form is a praying mantis. He can swap in and out of this form at will, though it takes a lot of his mental energy to do so. He can be a small, naturally sized mantis or one as tall as his human form, 6' 2". If he stays in this form more than a couple of days, he risks losing his mind and becoming trapped in it.

In this form he can use his various magics, speak, and comprehend others fully. Beyond that, he has the physical abilities of a natural praying mantis, including brief bursts of flight using his wings. He cannot partially transform to any degree, all or nothing.

Soul Bind: A magical connection represented by an ethereal, silver string visible only through magically aided senses. Sherwood passively links the souls of those he meets to his own. This connection is made stronger by feeling passionately towards Sherwood, in either positive or negative ways. This allows him to tap into other people's energy to use as a magical battery. This can drain someone's current energy level or overall lifespan. Sherwood uses this as the power source for his other magical disciplines.

In his age, he has very little of his own energy to use, so this is his most reliable method to have access to magical power. The binding can only be broken by keeping physical and emotional distance from Sherwood. If he is forgotten about by a person, the bond breaks and would need to be reestablished by being in Sherwood's presence again.

Basically, the more he's in someone's head and heart, the more he can drain the life out of someone. He uses this en masse back home, as he is an influential historical figure. He'll be greatly nerfed arriving in the Hotel, were nobody knows him, but gain back strength over time.

Anytime he uses any of his disciplines, magic is tapped from these various connections. He can pull for any number of his sources at a time, usually all of them so the energy drain is dispersed and unnoticeable by his victims.

Life Drain: Sherwood's healing discipline. He taps the bonds he has and channels the life energy there to use for healing. This sooths pain and will linger a few hours, generally being pleasant for the person being healed. This cannot heal old wounds, scars, or anything chronic/reoccurring. Sherwood can regrow some flesh, but not full limbs or organs. He can reattached lost limbs or transplant organs without any concern for compatibility. This requires direct touch of his skin to another person, most effectively through his hands.

Time Halt: Sherwood's shielding discipline. A time stop field wound into thin, red, piano-wire like strings. He can weave these through empty space to form blockades between himself and others, stopping time wherever the strings are touched. If he weaves these around a person's body, they will be physically immobilized, but consciously aware. The person held in stasis will continue to feel full physical sensation throughout their body.

These strings require constant, conscious upkeep and will disperse the moment Sherwood is distracted. He cannot cast these at long distances or within a space he does not presently occupy. If he leaves a space, they disappear immediately. He can cast and recast in short bursts, which is why these are particularly useful defensively.

Energy Enhancement: Sherwood's providing discipline. Using a concentrated pulse of soul energy, he can give a reviving jolt of power to a person or other organic matter. With this he can revive dead plants or dormant seeds, causing them to rapidly regrow to a thriving state, baring any fruit or seed. These are a relatively short lived revival and the plants will often die shortly after propagating once.

If used on a person, this gives a sudden jolt of awareness and energy. When this fades, it has a hangover-like effect. This is especially true if the person pushed themselves beyond their normal limits using that energy. Their body will be left sore and aching from overuse.

Channeling this takes the most energy of all of Sherwood's spells and he'll often need a long rest after use, even if he drew the majority of the energy from his bonds.

Soul Manipulation: Sherwood's necromancy discipline. Allows him to reach into anything with a soul to grasp, study, and discern its qualities. He can transfer a soul into any nonmagical and inert object for storage, though the item needs to have a sentimental connection to the person whose soul is being placed inside it. When removing a soul this way, Sherwood leaves their body comatose, without connection between mind and body, which loses consciousness while continuing to function. If someone's body is dead or dying, he can remove the soul and revive the flesh with his healing. Returning the soul to the body thereafter will fully resurrect the person.

He can also transfer people's souls between bodies this way. If swapping two or more individual's souls, those involved all need a social connection to one another to complete the swap. While these swaps can be novel and interested for a few days, this will eventually cause an existential crisis of identity and rejection of the host body. This can kill both a body and soul if not swapped back to an original or more compatible body.

Puppetry: Sherwood's favored discipline. Using a combination of his above powers, he can transfer a soul into a marionette of his own creation. He manipulates a soul into an object of importance to a person, then uses that as a semi-conscious battery at the core of a Puppet. Lacking any mind and only a body to pilot, these Puppets are controlled entirely by his subconscious will. He orders them around verbally for show, but it is unnecessary to tell them anything as they lack conscious comprehension of outside stimulus.

If a Puppet's body is damaged or destroyed he can rebuild it, but if the item anchoring the soul is broken then it could set free a ghost. An unbound soul tends to be pretty vengeful towards Sherwood, so he likes to avoid that. He is very afraid of ghosts, which will be a real treat for him to deal with around the haunted hotel.

VICES:
Manipulative: Sherwood is a man who seeks attention, acclaim, and respect at any cost. If there is power to be gained and a mark to leave on history, he seeks to achieve it. He's willing to do anything it might take to achieve his ambitions, which are ever evolving. One of the most effective methods to accomplishing his goals is to leverage those around him. He's always been very keen at getting others do his bidding or sacrifice themselves for his benefit.

He's a man who is affable, friendly, charming, and generous to those around him. He is swift to offer his help and assistance to others. After which, he can try to position himself as a figure of authority over them. Sherwood will seek out those he sees as vulnerable in order to gain control over their lives and allegiance. He's never afraid to give so he can later get back his investment of time, energy, or other resources. He doesn't forget a favor given or owed.

Sherwood is very strict, yet affirming and gracious, towards those he seeks to manipulate. He draws people in with something they desire of him and then plays a delicate game of denial and reward, molding their behavior to suit his wants and needs. His composure and intellect make him very appealing to those personalities who seek approval and validation from a respected leader. Sherwood is not easily won over and the appeal of his high standards is a well considered tactic. He not only gets the best of the best fighting for his approval, but the sunk cost required forms a great emotional investment in him. That makes for fiercely loyal allies. He creates a barrier of these allies around him, who make easy shields to protect him from any consequences due his way.
Impulsive: Though he will brag and flaunt over his great sense of composure and lack of emotionality, Sherwood is a very instinctual man. His impulse control is distinctly lacking, especially in regards to chasing pleasure of any kind. Sherwood puts up an air of righteous prudishness and self restraint that is entirely disingenuous. He lacks for rigid morals, acting however is most convenient or accommodating to a situation. If he wants something, he pursues it with complete abandon.

Anything that presents itself as an opportunity for gain is one Sherwood will seize upon without much hesitation. Gambling is a vice he engages in often and recklessly so. While he is responsibly minded enough to not waste money needed to accomplish his professional goals, anything that is considered his personal wealth will be staked upon games of chance. He's one to carelessly sink himself into debt of all kinds. The hotel environment is going to have him constantly broke regardless of rank.

Disloyal: Social bonds are important, but in the end, Sherwood is a leech upon the soul. He purposefully developed his magic around this, crafting his abilities to utilize others for exploitation. He is not forthright about this. There is no guilt nor feelings of obligation he feels to those around him. Love is something he considers only in terms of value, a commodity he can tap into if he cultivates it in others. Care and affection are things he feigns and performs, rather than feels genuinely.

Most people buy it, he's a very convincing conman.

The most telling example of this would be what happened to his wife. Adelheid was a powerful warrior, a centaur who had been reincarnated throughout all the recorded history of the world. She loved Sherwood with her full heart, something he knew better than to protest. They aligned with a group known as the Unquestioned and sought to conquer the whole of Myddvai. Their "rebellion" was long fought and hard lost. At the end of it, when Adelheid was slain in battle, Sherwood was left to clean up his mess. Something he could not do without her.

So, he called her back from the dead, something he could only do if she was willing. Her love for him was so strong that she sacrificed her very soul to an endless, trapped existence, unable to be reborn as she had been so many times. While her brother was devastated by the tragedy, Sherwood was simply relieved it got sorted out. He fulfilled his end of a bargain to those who would punish him for his part in the war. Sherwood feels no empathy and no grief to have doomed his wife to such a fate. Adelheid served her purpose to him, she was a good wife in that way.
VIRTUES:
Jovial: Despite being so heartless, this guy puts out really good vibes. He is engaged, attentive, and interested in what surrounds him. His enthusiasm has a charm that is often contagious. Sherwood asserts himself as an inspirational figure in the lives of those around him. While his sharp wit is not always kind, he's quick to offer an uplifting sentiment or words of wisdom. How much Sherwood really believes in anything he's saying is questionable.

This jovial attitude is a persistent thing, unwavering even in dark times. Sherwood is capable of being quite serious and reading a room when a mood is dire, but he isn't the kind to despair. He's always moving ahead and looking forward. This is a part of the inspirational quality he had to him. He is going to be the first person to offer a helping hand in time of need, to lift someone back up. Better to catch flies with honey, rather than vinegar.

Intelligent: Sherwood understands and navigates the world first and foremost with his mind. He is a deeply thoughtful man who wishes to consider every angle and perspective. Intellectually, he's very wise and consider to the emotions of others, understanding them through the lens of cause and effect. He could shortcut this if he just felt empathy, but that's not in his cards. This analytical outlook is at times cold and stern, but his jovial nature tends to cover up his heartlessness.

Combined with his ambitious nature, Sherwood is always seeking to learn and grow his understanding of any subject. He can truly find anything at all interesting, all subjects are fair game. This equal opportunity outlook on knowledge has made him a skilled Jack-of-All-Trades types, taking interest in and pursuing various disciplines throughout his life. He's learned academics, swordplay, archery, military tactics, planning, and developed his own disciplines of magic never before possible on Myddvai. He learns best for himself when teaching. So, he has a good grasp on being a mentor to those around him.

Generous: Accommodating others is second nature to Sherwood. Regardless of his present standing, he is always looking for what he can gift to gain favor with those around him. Wealth, attention, knowledge, connections; Sherwood will gladly give what he can to cultivate an ally ship. He demands nothing in return when doing this, at least upfront. Loyalty is only formed through complex and layered transaction, not simple tit-for-tat exchange. Sherwood is easy to recruit when needed, needing very little convincing to be of assistance. Whatever it takes to ingratiate himself to others and make them feel like they owe him back, he does with no fuss.

The only exception to this being when he senses he's being used or manipulated in turn. In such a case, he's busy. There can only be so many predator's in the nest.

SURVEY

▶ I REGULARLY MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
▷ 5, strongly agree. "Why, this is a necessity for survival! Humans are such social creatures. We need one another and our bonds are what drive us. Anybody I meet is a potential ally or a potential enemy, both are useful to have. Friends are of utmost value, especially to me. I have a certain knack for picking out the loyal ones."

▶ SEEING OTHER PEOPLE CRY MAKES ME WANT TO CRY TOO.
▷ 1, strongly disagree. "Haha, I cannot much relate when others are swept up in their emotions. To weep is to be out of one's own mind, which I'm too well composed for. At my age, I've seen and felt all there is for a man. Sinking to such depths are unimpressive to me, people should have better control of themselves."

▶ I OFTEN MAKE A BACKUP PLAN FOR A BACKUP PLAN.
▷ 3, neutral. "If I always had things my way, yes. My mind tends to wait well ahead of me, far off in the future. I am always considering what is yet to arrive. Reality doesn't always reward such far sight, things in the present intrude upon even the best laid tactical decisions. An impulsive act is often what saves or costs most in life. I know better than to not leave room to adapt in the moment."

▶ I USUALLY STAY CALM, EVEN WHEN UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.
▷ 5, strongly agree. "Composure is a necessary trait for affective leadership. If the general of an army cannot control himself, why should any of his soldiers fall in line? I've served in many leadership roles; aristocrat, warlord, chancellor. Remaining calm when faced with the weigh of responsibilities is a base requirement of such station. I've always had a talent for remaining collected in a world of chaos."

▶ I AM VERY SENTIMENTAL.
▷ 5, strongly agree. "Absolutely, all we have in this world are our sentiments. I do a lot of writing as a result, as I like to put my memories to record. Nothing is more precious to me than my journals, each holds a great deal of knowledge and experience. Sentimental items are also important in my spell craft, as one leaves a part of their soul in those things they interact with often and feel attached to. Even negative sentiment holds great power."

▶ EVEN A SMALL MISTAKE CAN CAUSE ME TO DOUBT MY OVERALL ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE.
▷ 1, strongly disagree. "Now, now, what a defeatist attitude! Mistakes are made by even the gods themselves. No reason to be so fussy over errors made and roads ill travelled. Learning from a mistake is a marvelous thing. For thpse mistakes with nothing to learn from, well... those I can always outrun."

▶ I AM MORE INCLINED TO FOLLOW MY HEAD THAN MY HEART.
▷ 5, strongly agree. "The mind is my guiding force, not a doubt about that. Following one's heart is a fool's errand, but fools are often happy creatures. My wife was one to conquer kingdoms in the name of her hearts desire. I always admired, respected, and feared that about her. Loved-? No, no, that would have been a silly thing. She was a very silly thing..."

▶ I AM PRONE TO WORRYING THAT THINGS WILL TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE.
▷ 3, neutral. "Worry has a form and function, a time and a place. To be consumed by it is unproductive. Chaos and order are at war eternal. Things will always turn for the worse, they will always turn for the better. As Ives would mutter beneath his breath, this too shall pass."

▶ I ENJOY WATCHING PEOPLE ARGUE.
▷ 1, strongly disagree. "Only watching? No, I do not care for it. I would much prefer to be arguing for myself. Actually, I'm not sure I could control the impulse to join an argument I was witness to... I would end up involved."

▶ I TEND TO AVOID DRAWING ATTENTION TO MYSELF.
▷ 1, strongly disagree. "Ahahaa! Oh, oh, the day I am starved of attention would be my downfall, I should think. I've always needed the affirmation or distain of those around me. I developed my magical disciplines to suit that need and strength. To be unimportant is a fate worse than even the most long suffering death."

▶ I OFTEN DO THINGS AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
▷ 2, disagree. "While I have my fair few moments of impulse, given the choice and opportunity, I would rather be well prepared. One doesn't accomplish that with last minute execution. Groundwork is best laid in advance, battle plans drawn, experiments well tested. Last minute scrambles are inevitable, but should be mitigated for."

▶ I FIND IT EASY TO EMPATHIZE WITH A PERSON WHOSE EXPERIENCES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MINE.
▷ 1, strongly disagree. "I find it difficult to empathize regardless of context."

▶ I BECOME BORED OR LOSE INTEREST WHEN THE DISCUSSION GETS HIGHLY THEORETICAL.
▷ 1, strongly disagree. "Theory is food for the mind and soul! I could speak upon theory for endless hours. The only way I would grow tired of such discussion is without any action taken. Theories exist to be proven and disproven, so to follow through on discovery is key to my intellectual pursuits."

▶ I RARELY FEEL INSECURE.
▷ 5, strongly agree. "Insecurity is a social failing, more than a personal one. Or so I believe. I've spent my life building up loyal bonds and social fabric to protect me. All so I could stand confident on a well supported foundation. Even when the Unquestioned sundered beneath me, I could find those willing to hold me up and rebuild with. I always feel secure, because I always have the sway to leverage those around me."

▶ I AM STILL BOTHERED BY MISTAKES I MADE A LONG TIME AGO.
▷ 3, neutral. "Bothered is one word for the mistakes of my past. Many things I've done continue to cause me bother, inconvenience, and strain. Being banished to the Below Lands is not how I envisioned my life at this age. If this is asking if I hold regret, then my answer is different. No. Strongly disagree. I am not a man who holds onto regrets or bemoans what I cannot change. Tt, tt... What a troublesome question. Are we through here?"

SUIT REQUESTS: Diamond or Spade! He has a prudish sensibility to him, so Diamond would force him out of his comfort zone. Spade matches his conniving personality and soul based magic.
RANK REQUESTS: High or VERY LOW. Sherwood is very used to living a charmed life with control and resources to rely on. He will likely try to do the jump to Ace if started on the low end.
SAMPLES: April TDM Top Level, Multiple Threads.