GENERAL APPLICATIONS

[paradisamods]

GENERAL APPLICATIONS

General Applications | Returning Character Applications | Game Imported Character Applications

If you wish to apply for a character, then please copy and paste the form in the box below into a new comment to this post. Do not link it from another journal.

If your application does not fit into one comment, split your application into as many comments are needed. You can mark them as part 1, part 2, etc if you feel the need. A mod or helper will reply to it in a timely fashion.

If you are applying for a character you reserved recently, please put 'Reserved Character - ( Character Name )' on the subject line.

Applications take on average 3-7 days, depending on how accessible canon is. If a revision is requested for your application, you have 72 hours to make the noted revisions. If after 72 hours revisions are not made, the application will be declined and must be resubmitted.

Please space your paragraphs properly; improper spacing may be grounds for a decline over writing quality.

<b><big><big>PERSONAL</big></big></b> <b>NAME:</b> <b>PERSONAL JOURNAL:</b> <b>EMAIL:</b> [ Required. ] <b>AIM:</b> [ Optional, but recommended. ] <b>CURRENT CHARACTERS:</b> [ If applicable. ] <b><big><big>CHARACTER</big></big></b> <b>CHARACTER NAME:</b> <b>SERIES:</b> <b>CANON POINT:</b> [ After which point in their canon storyline does the character enter Paradisa? ] <b>LOSS:</b> [ Paradisa takes something precious from residents when they arrive, as a "price" for a ticket to paradise. This can be an object, an ability, a memory –– anything precious to the character. What is your character's loss, and why is it precious to them? How would losing this effect them? ] <b>ABOUT THE CHARACTER:</b> [ 500 WORDS MINIMUM. Please describe who the character is, including any relevant details from their history. This will be a measure of your characterization and understanding of the character; who they are, what drives them, how their experiences have shaped them. For a rough idea of what you should consider when writing this, please see <a href="http://paradisamods.dreamwidth.org/14746.html">What We're Looking For.</a>] <b>ABILITIES:</b> [ If applicable, provide a summary of your character's supernatural, magical or technological abilities, or anything that might make them otherwise exceptional compared to your average human being. Links are welcome if the character has too many abilities to expand on here.] <b>THIRD-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:</b> [ 250 WORDS MINIMUM. In a third-person perspective, write a couple of paragraphs featuring your character. It will used as a measure of your characterization and writing ability, so we advise to choose a premise that will best demonstrate those things. ] <b>FIRST-PERSON JOURNAL SAMPLE: </b> [ 100 WORDS MINIMUM. In the first-person voice, write as if the character were making an entry in their journal, ideally using little to no action descriptors. It should be long enough to show that you have a grasp of the character's voice. ] OPTIONAL: If you prefer, you may link to sample threads in place of writing a 100 word sample. The replies from your character should equal or exceed 100 words. ] <b>INTENT: </b> [ BONUS QUESTION. What draws you to play this particular character? Ideally, what would you like to do with the character in Paradisa? There is no wrong answer, and no penalty if you don't have one; we're simply curious.]

Comments

[shallwe]

ABOUT THE CHARACTER:

Prior to the death of his father, Haytham was raised as an Assassin (though unknowingly). As such, his father trained him not just in swordplay, but also in thinking. Haytham was taught to question everything and to not simply accept someone's word as truth. When Reginald Birch took Haytham under his wing, Haytham was immediately attracted to the Templar way because it was far more black and white than what his father had presented him with. But Haytham didn't experience a massive crisis of faith or agonize over his decision to join the Order because it was still his decision. In a way, he was still upholding his father's beliefs because he was questioning his father and he's managed to hold fast to his beliefs in the Order - order, purpose, direction and all that good stuff is the way to peace not that silly freedom bullshit the Assassins keep trying to pass off as anything other than chaotic - ever since.

As he trained, Haytham became an efficient killer. He was able to get in, take out his target, and leave without being detected. But more importantly, Haytham once held onto a code as far as killing was concerned. Haytham never approved of the brutality and indiscriminate killing Braddock employed when he was with the Order and when Braddock's loyalties eventually drifted away. In his later years, however, Haytham started to adopt the notion that the ends justify the means. The more Haytham saw of people - such as what became of his half-sister, what happened to Holden, and the numerous betrayals of people he once trusted - the more convicted he became in his beliefs that humanity was ultimately weak and needed to be controlled in order to achieve peace.

As far as the way Haytham presents himself, he can be best summed up by a single word: aristocrat. He's congenial and charming when he wants to be and still has some of that same charisma he was outright oozing with when he was younger. (Lee-kouhai really wanted Kenway-sempai to notice him.) As a result, Haytham didn't have a very hard time befriending people or making them feel at ease with him because he knows how to move about in a social sense. Not much of that is happening in his twilight years, but Haytham is far less concerned with making friends than he is meeting his goals so it's just a skill that's not as handy as it used to be. Haytham does still hide much of himself from others, however. It's not that he doesn't have emotions, he just prefers to filter them as much as possible. Part of it is out of politeness and what's proper in particular social contexts, but part of it is also incredibly manipulative. Although Haytham does still retain a belief in honesty, he has much fewer qualms about withholding information in his later years because he recognizes that it gives him the upper hand. Even the most carefully laid plans - of which Haytham has many because he's a smart and calculating man who tries to abstain from being impulsive - require leverage if they're going to be successful. So, what's a little callousness and lying? It's for the greater good, so it's fine.

There are times, however, when Haytham has difficulty hiding his emotions. One such example is when Connor informs Haytham of Ziio's death and he does display a moment of legitimate regret and sadness to hear of it. Haytham had, in fact, loved her in his own way at one point. And while many decades had gone by, Haytham still did wonder aloud about what might have been. Partially, of course, to manipulate Connor, but also out of genuine thought. Another is just, well, get him started about the Order. Not much else will get under Haytham's skin enough to have an open display of anger, but he speaks with such passion about his beliefs and the Templar ideology that his temper quick to flare in response to it being questioned/opposed. That said, Haytham can also be ridiculously scathing and sarcastic. Especially when it comes to a certain someone.

Speaking of that certain someone, Haytham's relationship to Connor is best described as an antagonistic distant relation. Although father and son stand at very opposite ends of the paradigm and Haytham recognizes Connor as an obstacle to achieving his goals, Haytham does not actively wish ill upon his son. He actually makes attempts to reconcile with him arguing with him literally to the death about why the philosophy/stance of the Templars is far greater and all around better than the philosophy/stance of the Assassins. Granted, Haytham is still taking an all-or-nothing stance and really he needs/wants Connor's agreement (because to Haytham, there's no way the Assassins and Templars can ever unite), but this is a man who kills with little discrimination these days. The fact he's not just purely making attempts on Connor's life speaks to more of a basic care toward Connor in that he wants to save his son from what Haytham believes to be naive and overly idealistic beliefs about the world/humanity. In a really weird and twisted way, Haytham is looking out for Connor in just about the only way he knows how - passing along his father's teachings about questioning things. Just don't question him, okay? Father knows best. Sssshhh.

In short, a very dramatic statement about Haytham Kenway would be that he is someone who has been forged in violence, betrayal, and suffering going all the way back to when his father was killed and his childhood home burned. But a little less dramatic, he is someone who has witnessed a great deal of loss and betrayal and because he has seen these uglier sides to humanity, he clings to the rigid black & white thinking of the Order to the point you could very well label him a zealot. As a result, Haytham has abandoned his earlier code when it comes to violence and is far less discriminant in who he opts to kill. Likewise, Haytham has shut himself off from most people and feels only a minimal amount of care towards his son. It's enough that he feels as though he needs to save Connor while also trying to respect Connor's wish to sever ties with one another all the same. There are, however, still shades of a younger Haytham to be seen. Haytham is still intelligent and cunning and he can still command. He could even still be congenial and friendly if he wanted to be with others. But much of this is overshadowed by the violence he's mired himself in and his willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals regardless of who suffers or dies as a consequence.

ABILITIES:

Freerunning/Stealth: Haytham might be getting up there in age, but he hasn't really slowed down all that much as far as his parkour skills are concerned. He can scale buildings stealthily like it's nobody's business. Haytham is also adept at picking locks and pockets when the need for it arises. Or if there's no time for that, you can always just football tackle him through any door. He makes a pretty useful battering ram, okay.

Combat: Trained in swordsmanship since he was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Haytham is an incredibly skilled in close quarters - both armed or unarmed. Haytham also is not a bad shot with a pistol or musket. He also doesn't have much of a problem in terms of improvising if need be. So basically, you have a quick thinker who's adaptable in a fight and decent with pretty much any weapon you put in his hands. He is, again, getting up their in years, but he's still a formidable opponent.

Eagle Vision: Because Haytham comes from a bloodline that's got First Civ/Those Who Came Before/Precursor blood in it, he also possesses Eagle Vision. This is essentially a sixth sense in which Haytham can read the intentions of people around him. It makes for quick identification of friendlies, enemies, neutrals, and targets with handy-dandy color-coding.