Them Apples
03-31-14, 04:29 AM
Name
Italo Applehall.
Alias
Tal; Talo.
Age
22
Race
Human
Height
185cm
Weight
Around 155lbs
Occupation
Between jobs – mercenary work; errand running; stableman. No discernible specialism.
Personality
The first thing one might notice is a misplaced self-assuredness that many vain, naïve young men carry with them; an arrogance that reminds of a belligerent first time drunk, too quick to say the wrong thing and too slow to take it back. This shell, though, will quickly crack and crumble should Italo feel intimidated or when he becomes a spectacle, for he doesn’t respond well to pressure or expectation.
Typically Italo is wary, non-committal and argumentative. Despite being in his early twenties, his behaviour reflects a younger man; sometimes one might think he’s closer to seventeen than twenty-two. He lacks a decent work ethic and is unmotivated if the task at hand is not beneficial to him. He does, in defiance of these traits, take the pursuit of knowledge and acquisition of new skills very seriously. If he is pursuing a personal goal, he will work diligently to reach it.
Probably the least alluring facet of Italo’s personality is his apparent aloofness towards lower-class women and the destitute. When he lays eyes upon a barmaid or a prostitute he might snarl uncontrollably like a dog at a rat; when he passes a beggar he gives often them a customary boot in the leg, or empties whatever spit or phlegm occupies his mouth at the time upon their person. He has never had to face repercussions for this abhorrent behaviour, and one wonders what in the past has disturbed him so to adopt such vile tendencies.
History
Italo is very dismissive when questioned on his past. He will sometimes allude to his being “from a relatively wealthy family in a place too distant to have heard of,” but even that is a scripted response that he recites verbatim, perceivably to discourage inquiry. He might mention that he was one of many siblings, or of how he loves and misses his mother dearly, and that he hopes she is well and thinks of him often. He never says her name. He seldom recounts on childhood memories, but has spoken of ‘frolicking in the orchards’ and of ‘gazing dreamily upon the mountain tops’ visible from his family home. He might sigh absently: “There’s no purpose or reason in dwelling, for the days and nights continue to pass.” Then he might glance away for a fraction of a moment, return eye contact, and enquire keenly of the asker’s own family, or of their profession, or of their fondest memory in their childhood.
Appearance
He retains disciplined posture, his lithe frame and graceful movement reminiscent of an explorative spider or a deer bounding around the low brush. His hair is dark brown but easily mistaken for black, short and tidy on the sides and roughly a hands length on top, where it is combed neatly back to leave his profile roughly heart-shaped. He is clean shaven but quick to stubble. His clothes are almost always pristine and his general appearance tidy.
His hooded eyes are slightly upturned and wide-set, and coloured like chestnut shells, sitting below sharply arched brows that give him a naturally austere expression. His nose is larger than average and hooked ever so slightly, his lips thin and pursed, and his jaw square and pronounced.
Equipment
Gauntlets (Leather) - Italo wears a pair of lightweight leather gauntlets when travelling or anticipating trouble.
Tremor Boots (Leather) – Italo’s boots are enchanted and give him the ability to stomp heavily causing a small shockwave. They are fashioned from leather. Details of the effects are listed below under Abilities.
Italo carries a leather satchel in which he keeps his day-to-day possessions - a leather water flask; a cloth pouch for storing gold; a steel comb; a thin blanket, and any other items he is in possession of at the time.
Weapons
Rapier (http://www.ornamentmagazine.com/backissues/361/To-Die-For_Rapier_of_Christian_II.jpg) (Iron) – Italo’s rapier, or more specifically it’s hilt, is his most prized and valuable possession. The intricate piece is adorned with jewelled and ceramic embellishment. It is currently mounted with a unflattering iron blade, the original blade presumably broken at some point in the past.
Kama (Iron) – Though usually wielded in pairs, Italo sometimes utilises his solitary sickle as a secondary weapon for close quarters combat, or in desperate situations for long-range assault. Surprisingly, it would appear to have originated as a farming tool rather than a weapon, and is an odd addition to a man’s arsenal. The blade is curved and made of iron, in likeness in shape to a crescent moon, and it’s handle is simple and carved from oak.
Skills
Duelling – Italo is an accomplished duellist. In a one-on-one sword fight, he is exceptional at reading his oppositions movements and finding an opening through which to strike. One gets the feeling he was trained from an early age, and by someone with great talent. These skills also lend him an advantage in an unarmed brawl, although his lack of strength lets him down.
Horse riding – Italo is a natural rider. He is swift on horseback and commands the beast with apparent ease. He has a great way with most animals, but horses especially seem to take to him without resistance.
Yoga/Meditation – Italo has practiced both yoga and meditation for many years. Owing to yoga, he is very supple, physically fit and agile. Due to extensive practice meditating, after occupying an amplified meditative state Italo can return to the conscious world with an unnatural focus. This is explained further in Abilities below.
Propensity for education – Italo pursues new knowledge relentlessly. He is often buried in the pages of a book, and his fascination with a variety of subjects including history, topography, cartography, magic, smithing, politics and war can often prove valuable.
Abilities
Stomp – Utilising Italo’s Tremor Boots produces the following effects:
Stomping will cause anyone in the affected zone to stumble and lose balance. Children would be thrown to the floor but larger men might only be rocked slightly;
Each stomp affects a two metre radius, although this differs slightly depending on terrain;
Italo also stumbles slightly himself from each tremor, giving him a second or two to gain an advantage over his opponent.
Forced Focus – After entering a heightened state of meditation:
Once a day, Italo can utilise his higher level meditation experience to enter a state of hyperactive awareness. When occupying this state, Italo feels like he is moving at about four fifths the speed of real time, giving him an edge over his opponent.
While Italo can tap into this ability voluntarily given around ten seconds to do so, it can be induced naturally when under extreme stress or in great physical pain. Each episode lasts for ten seconds or so, but can be cut short if injury is inflicted or his focus is interrupted by a noise or distraction.
Italo Applehall.
Alias
Tal; Talo.
Age
22
Race
Human
Height
185cm
Weight
Around 155lbs
Occupation
Between jobs – mercenary work; errand running; stableman. No discernible specialism.
Personality
The first thing one might notice is a misplaced self-assuredness that many vain, naïve young men carry with them; an arrogance that reminds of a belligerent first time drunk, too quick to say the wrong thing and too slow to take it back. This shell, though, will quickly crack and crumble should Italo feel intimidated or when he becomes a spectacle, for he doesn’t respond well to pressure or expectation.
Typically Italo is wary, non-committal and argumentative. Despite being in his early twenties, his behaviour reflects a younger man; sometimes one might think he’s closer to seventeen than twenty-two. He lacks a decent work ethic and is unmotivated if the task at hand is not beneficial to him. He does, in defiance of these traits, take the pursuit of knowledge and acquisition of new skills very seriously. If he is pursuing a personal goal, he will work diligently to reach it.
Probably the least alluring facet of Italo’s personality is his apparent aloofness towards lower-class women and the destitute. When he lays eyes upon a barmaid or a prostitute he might snarl uncontrollably like a dog at a rat; when he passes a beggar he gives often them a customary boot in the leg, or empties whatever spit or phlegm occupies his mouth at the time upon their person. He has never had to face repercussions for this abhorrent behaviour, and one wonders what in the past has disturbed him so to adopt such vile tendencies.
History
Italo is very dismissive when questioned on his past. He will sometimes allude to his being “from a relatively wealthy family in a place too distant to have heard of,” but even that is a scripted response that he recites verbatim, perceivably to discourage inquiry. He might mention that he was one of many siblings, or of how he loves and misses his mother dearly, and that he hopes she is well and thinks of him often. He never says her name. He seldom recounts on childhood memories, but has spoken of ‘frolicking in the orchards’ and of ‘gazing dreamily upon the mountain tops’ visible from his family home. He might sigh absently: “There’s no purpose or reason in dwelling, for the days and nights continue to pass.” Then he might glance away for a fraction of a moment, return eye contact, and enquire keenly of the asker’s own family, or of their profession, or of their fondest memory in their childhood.
Appearance
He retains disciplined posture, his lithe frame and graceful movement reminiscent of an explorative spider or a deer bounding around the low brush. His hair is dark brown but easily mistaken for black, short and tidy on the sides and roughly a hands length on top, where it is combed neatly back to leave his profile roughly heart-shaped. He is clean shaven but quick to stubble. His clothes are almost always pristine and his general appearance tidy.
His hooded eyes are slightly upturned and wide-set, and coloured like chestnut shells, sitting below sharply arched brows that give him a naturally austere expression. His nose is larger than average and hooked ever so slightly, his lips thin and pursed, and his jaw square and pronounced.
Equipment
Gauntlets (Leather) - Italo wears a pair of lightweight leather gauntlets when travelling or anticipating trouble.
Tremor Boots (Leather) – Italo’s boots are enchanted and give him the ability to stomp heavily causing a small shockwave. They are fashioned from leather. Details of the effects are listed below under Abilities.
Italo carries a leather satchel in which he keeps his day-to-day possessions - a leather water flask; a cloth pouch for storing gold; a steel comb; a thin blanket, and any other items he is in possession of at the time.
Weapons
Rapier (http://www.ornamentmagazine.com/backissues/361/To-Die-For_Rapier_of_Christian_II.jpg) (Iron) – Italo’s rapier, or more specifically it’s hilt, is his most prized and valuable possession. The intricate piece is adorned with jewelled and ceramic embellishment. It is currently mounted with a unflattering iron blade, the original blade presumably broken at some point in the past.
Kama (Iron) – Though usually wielded in pairs, Italo sometimes utilises his solitary sickle as a secondary weapon for close quarters combat, or in desperate situations for long-range assault. Surprisingly, it would appear to have originated as a farming tool rather than a weapon, and is an odd addition to a man’s arsenal. The blade is curved and made of iron, in likeness in shape to a crescent moon, and it’s handle is simple and carved from oak.
Skills
Duelling – Italo is an accomplished duellist. In a one-on-one sword fight, he is exceptional at reading his oppositions movements and finding an opening through which to strike. One gets the feeling he was trained from an early age, and by someone with great talent. These skills also lend him an advantage in an unarmed brawl, although his lack of strength lets him down.
Horse riding – Italo is a natural rider. He is swift on horseback and commands the beast with apparent ease. He has a great way with most animals, but horses especially seem to take to him without resistance.
Yoga/Meditation – Italo has practiced both yoga and meditation for many years. Owing to yoga, he is very supple, physically fit and agile. Due to extensive practice meditating, after occupying an amplified meditative state Italo can return to the conscious world with an unnatural focus. This is explained further in Abilities below.
Propensity for education – Italo pursues new knowledge relentlessly. He is often buried in the pages of a book, and his fascination with a variety of subjects including history, topography, cartography, magic, smithing, politics and war can often prove valuable.
Abilities
Stomp – Utilising Italo’s Tremor Boots produces the following effects:
Stomping will cause anyone in the affected zone to stumble and lose balance. Children would be thrown to the floor but larger men might only be rocked slightly;
Each stomp affects a two metre radius, although this differs slightly depending on terrain;
Italo also stumbles slightly himself from each tremor, giving him a second or two to gain an advantage over his opponent.
Forced Focus – After entering a heightened state of meditation:
Once a day, Italo can utilise his higher level meditation experience to enter a state of hyperactive awareness. When occupying this state, Italo feels like he is moving at about four fifths the speed of real time, giving him an edge over his opponent.
While Italo can tap into this ability voluntarily given around ten seconds to do so, it can be induced naturally when under extreme stress or in great physical pain. Each episode lasts for ten seconds or so, but can be cut short if injury is inflicted or his focus is interrupted by a noise or distraction.