Pjotr Magnusson

[Kaiser]

Player Name: Kaiser/RJ
Name: Pjotr Magnusson
Age: Twenty-one
Race: Human
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 195 lbs.

Physical Description: Pjotr's hair extends down to his lower back but stays tightly knit in a pony-tail whenever he is out in public. His hair is bleach blonde, the sun almost reflecting off every strand. Pjotr's eyes are ice blue, reminding him always of home of his snow-shod shores. Laugh-lines and smile-lines crease up his lips to his nose. Pjotr is barrel-chested and wide-shouldered, while some may find him threatening - He is never in an aggressive posture. His body seems to always be relaxed or calm, his body language always speaks of kindness, he is welcoming. Pjotr's hands are large, like a gorilla yet have a soft feel like a woman's touch.


Possessions: A book of Botany, Pjotr is currently writing it. Pjotr wears his (hooded) black robes wherever he goes, he also has a various set of other colored robes.

Powers or Strengths:

- Martial Arts: Pjotr comes from a long-line of soldiers and generals. While his brothers had practiced with their swords and shields, Pjotr found no pleasure in cold steel, found no pleasure in the thick red river that would flow down a blade whenever puncturing a wall of flesh. Pjotr instead sought to disarm and humiliate opponents through agility and hand-to-hand combat. Pjotr mastered his hand-to-hand combat at a young age while rarely only picking up a sword. He feels evil even wielding one.

- Healing: Pjotr is fascinated by magic, and while not being particularly adept at it. He makes up for it in his knowledge of botany and medical science for his time. Pjotr is an alchemist - using plants and other natural herbs and spices to create tonic for his patients.

- Archery: Pjotr's hands are steady, he feels the wind course through him when a bow is in his hands. Pjotr has a thrill for the hunt and as of such, has also a minor set of skills in stealth and tracking. Pjotr can track for distances of up to a hundred and fifty yards, while also hitting moving targets whether they be horseback or not.

- Charismatic: Pjotr is a very charismatic man, his words flow off the tongue like a serpent hissing and pierce the minds of the young and weary. Pjotr is a smart man, his intellect helps his smooth-talking and he's known to talk his way out of any situation, or to fool anyone naive enough into one.

Weaknesses:

- Kindness: Pjotr is a very kind man, very accepting to any stranger and sometimes - this may be his downfall.

- Sword-play: Pjotr fails to be able to grasp a butter-knife and cut his bread let alone a sword.

- Horse Riding: Pjotr has never ridden a horse, he has always traveled by foot. He doesn't even know how to climb on top of one.

History: Born in the Gulf of Ayana, Pjotr was the youngest of Oleg and Brutia Magnusson. The youngest of three others, one whom had died at birth. Oleg Magnusson was revered for his fishery business and dominant outlook in their small-town politics that kept their economy afloat. This had meant that the Magnusson's had a mass of wealth, not necessarily to make them rich - but enough to give them expenditure. This had meant that Pjotr and his brothers could attend the highest of the schools available. While Pjotr's brothers received proper education, he was not as lucky - on his eighth birthday, Pjotr was taken from his home by Ayanian Monks and in his sadness, his parents smiles burned into his mind.

" They wanted this " Pjotr thought as he was carried away by the four monks who came for him.

They had traveled for days, Pjotr whom was now drifting in and out of consciousness - can only recall parts of the way he had traveled until arriving to a stone-wall that covered a massive plain and lined just a few hundred feet from the tree-line. Pjotr awoke in a comfortable mattress, feeling the bed creak when he shifted his shoulders - slowly he rose to come face to face with a masked man in front of him.

" You begin your training today, Pjotr. You are the third son of Magnusson and to our customs of the region - you will complete your brotherhood and spend your time with our Monastery to be taught our ways. "

Pjotr had heard legends of the masked men who rode through the night - stealing children from their families but he had never imagined that it could be real. Pjotr could only see the smile that his father had born as if he was un-loved. Pjotr was disturbed by the fact that he wasn't loved by his family. Tilting his head to one side, the masked man reached forward and put a hand on Pjotr's shoulder.

" Nothing you ever heard about our people is true - we may be mysterious but we are not the shadows of death, now come. Put on your robings and follow me to the courtyard with the rest of our acolytes. "

Pjotr did as he was told, slipping on the typical brown robes and following the man out. Pjotr stood in the front line with the biggest of all the children. The boy looking down at him then back to the altar that sat atop a platform above the marble staircase leading to it. A man walked out with his hands behind his back - looking at all twenty of the children.

" You have all been brought here because you all hold a very special gift, a gift that is part of a dormant bloodline. I want you all to forget who you once were and become the person you are now. I want you to be confused and I want you to seek answers, I want you to live for the answers and not spend your whole life pondering a question. You are all young and so as you all shall learn the way I learned and the men around you. Men who have devoted their lives to this order - this too; is where you shall devote your life. "

Children looked around confused, they looked up and some fell to their knee's in tears - crying for their parents and to go home. The biggest child looked at Pjotr, snickered and turned to him while the children who cried were rushed out of the courtyard and back to their private quarters.

" Aren't you going to sit and cry like the rest of your Ayanians? Bumble around and look for false hope? "

Pjotr looked up to the boy, who was about eleven and sized him up. His eyes traveled to the boys freakishly ugly face, looking as if it were maimed by an exposure to a fire - his skin had become boiled and covered in small craters. The boy had seen turmoil and Pjotr backed up from the boy. Feeling almost threatened by the subtle comment made - He left the boy standing alone in the courtyard.

" That's right run! Walk away like the rest of your weak brothers! "

Pjotr stepped into his quarters to the crying boys and the stress of all that is happening forced him to his bed. The next morning - the boys met in the courtyard and each was given a choice. two plated gloves or a staff. Pjotr took the gloves and felt them light-weight, yet powerful. His hands steady - Pjotr spent weeks sparring with other boys in order to learn to fight. Eventually - he was taken on by a Master.

Pjotr's Master was one of the oldest men in the Monastery, his body was old and frail and his hair was snow white. He had gone blind in one of his eyes and communicated mostly through demonstration. He was often considered as an Elder of the Monastery and many of the Masters traveled to the top of the monastery to speak to him for guidance. Pjotr spent most of his time with the old man, and generally adapted to his training methods. Constantly meditating and studying the world around him. Pjotr was first taught humility, then he was taught about his power. The old man instructed Pjotr to three hours of physical training followed by daily history lessons.

" If we did not have a past, we would commit the same mistakes that those before us had made. "

Pjotr aged and so did the old man, soon he could no longer walk and as Pjotr grew strong - he would carry the old man wherever he needed to go. Pjotr felt a burning sense of fatherly love for his Master and it sickened him to see him slowly deteriorate but often - the man did nothing but smile and Pjotr could never bring himself to ask why he smiled so much.

Now at the age of fifteen, Pjotr had been training with the masters in their Martial Arts training for a few months . His body had become a working machine and whenever Pjotr was not training - he was bringing fresh water to the meal hall, or he was collecting flora and plants for another Master who had asked a favor. It had been a year since his Master had passed and while Pjotr chose to not accept a new master, his training rituals stayed the same.

Late at night, boys would sit outside Pjotr's quarters, which were once his Masters - listening to him recite the history of the region and old tenants of the order they belonged to. There was never anyone else in the room and the boys never knew who he was talking to.

Pjotr's eyes fell upon the old man now in his youth, sitting in a chair and Pjotr smiled while having a conversation with him.

" It's kind of funny isn't it? " Pjotr said with a snicker.
" What is so funny? " His master replied.
" You aren't even passed, well that form of you is - but there's a force drawing you here and keeping your soul from leaving. "
" That is kind of funny, but I will not be able to rest until your training is complete. Soon enough, my son. "

Pjotr smiled and bowed to the empty chair, then rested for the night and in the morning - a monthly meeting was taking place. Pjotr found himself and six other boys his age and a seventh boy - the bigger boy who was now nineteen. The grandmaster came out and spoke again as he did every other time.

" My children, it is time for our annual feast and tournament. These eight are our contenders of this year and will represent their Masters at this years games. "

All eyes fell on Pjotr, soft clear tears had streamlined down his cheeks, his head bowed and the pavement wetting in droplets. The students all went to their knee's, a mutual sign of respect and Pjotr turned when the collective force of the knee's had clapped the tiled courtyard. His eyes fell upon every student and he slowly turned back to the altar - to see all of the Master's bowing to their knee's for Pjotr.

Pjotr clasped a closed fist against an open palm and mouthed the words: "thank you" to the Grand master - before leaving for his training quarters.

Pjotr spent the seven days before the tournament meditating, the largest boy - who's name was Goliath had let himself into the meditation gardens and spoke to Pjotr, while kneeling down to him.

" Why don't you fight, Pjotr? you do not train for your tournament but instead you sit and reminisce? Are you preparing to lose the fights or are you not even going to show? "

Pjotr did not budge, he did not smile or flinch. The boy lost interest and slowly left, kicking up water over Pjotr when he walked by and once he had gone. Pjotr rose up and looked into the water.

" Give me strength. "
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The tournament day came and the opening fights were long and extensive, obviously to give a good show to the younger children who had been brought in. Soon enough, Pjotr's turn came to fight the first boy. The boy did not swing and instead bowed to Pjotr and tapped the canvas of the ring three times. Pjotr left the ring without having to raise a fist.

Goliath's fight was next, he fought a boy of equal size and had won, His fists that were rumored to be made of the strongest Ayanian ore had broken and re-aligned the boy's jaw in one swift blow, blood had soaked the canvas. Pjotr simply meditated and as Goliath left, began to point to Pjotr and while all eyes fell on Pjotr, he did not open his eyes.

Eventually the finals came and it came down to Goliath and Pjotr, across the ring from each other - Pjotr paced back and forth around Goliath, they came level with a stone wall behind them and as Goliath ran forward - Pjotr jumped with his feet extended at Goliath. Goliath caught Pjotr's feet with his hands, swinging him around like a helicopter rotor and released him into the air. Pjotr flew up into the air, gliding as he went over the stone wall to a river that flowed into the Monastery. Pjotr splashed in and arose out of the water. He immediately began running for the woods and while the Masters all watched as Pjotr ran for the woods and none pursued. Goliath smiled and walked out of the ring. The grand master ran up with him with a sword, pushing it against his neck.

" Why!? Why would you assist him in an escape?! "
" Because a wise man once told him, Stop seeking an answer where the question began. "

Goliath pushed the blade from his neck and the order fell silent as Goliath walked away.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pjotr headed for the dockyards. His mind only seeking an answer - he looked at the shipwright and explained his situation, upon hearing he was an Ayanian Monk, a title well respected - the man offered to put him on a voyage to Athena as a ship-hand.

Pjotr then spent the next three months on his way to Athena, learning survival skills at sea and how to avoid scurvy and other related illnesses. His body only growing hungrier to see more than just forests everywhere. The ship had arrived after what seemed like forever, Pjotr smiled as he stepped onto the wooden dock of Athena and began walking through the town. He stopped when a man cried out for help.

" I'm looking for a group of hardened warriors to lead a convoy of goods to Koltaris! Any man or woman willing to make the trip to the town, come now - large sum of pay at the end of the trip! High risk of death! "

Pjotr immediately walked over, needing the cash - he volunteered and climbed aboard the caravan. They set out that night to get as far as they could before dawn break. It wasn't long until highwaymen had found the caravan that was being led by the twelve guys was suddenly surrounded by the fifteen robbers.

" Give us coin for safe passage through this country-side! "
" Fuck off you bumbling tarts, You're lucky we don't cut your heads off! " One of the warriors, whom was named Rask yelled.
" If you wish to die, then so be it! " The Highwaymen said before attacking.

The warriors clashed while Pjotr just watched the men plunge themselves into utter chaos. Pjotr made his way into the combat with his hands clenched, ducking under a large swinging war hammer and taking an open palm to the thief's head. The thief's head jerked back but kept swinging violently while Pjotr just kept moving around the large weapon. His body slid under the thief's shoulders, popping his left shoulder blade right out of place and the man dropped. Rask driving his gladius sword into the head of the war hammer-wielding barbarian. Pjotr turned his back only to feel a sword slide through his back, it drove through a rib bone and Pjotr fell to the ground injured, eventually drifting out of consciousness. He awoke in a hospital bed of the city watch of Koltaris and slowly rose up, his ribs in sharp pain. Pjotr climbed out of bed, his hands trickling to his bandages and was stopped by a doctor.

" No no no, lay back down "

(I'll finish this later, I've been writing for two hours)

[Saruna]

Allooo! Always nice to see a monkish character! We get very few of those.

Could I see a corresponding weakness to his martial ability and skill with bows?

Having a preplanned home and occupation, on the other hand, is totally cool beans.

Did he learn his skills in the monastery? Was he part of a warrior monkhood? I ask because as strengths it's always nice to see how the character got them in the history as it gives readers (and fellow rpers) more to go on when looking at your character as a possibility (monk trained vs for survival vs by a bunch of brigands vs an expensive tutor etc). Also, did getting trained in the monastery affect his outlook on life?

Finally are there any big culture shocks for him, being from Ayana? Ayana is very different from the rest of the world, it likely has a different language and is steeped in magic. While there is trade, it is more of a difference than what you would get going from America today to any individual country in Europe. Does he adapt naturally to his surroundings or did he have to struggle to find his way?

As he was drawn towards Thar Shaddin, how does he feel about their anti-magic sentiments? That's not something you need to put in your app, but it is important to think about in terms of your character.

If you have any questions/comments don't hesitate to hop into chat, send me a pm, or leave a reply to this thread. If you make any changes to your app, please leave a reply in this thread so I know to look.

[Kaiser]

Allooo! Always nice to see a monkish character! We get very few of those.

Could I see a corresponding weakness to his martial ability and skill with bows?

Having a preplanned home and occupation, on the other hand, is totally cool beans.

Did he learn his skills in the monastery? Was he part of a warrior monkhood? I ask because as strengths it's always nice to see how the character got them in the history as it gives readers (and fellow rpers) more to go on when looking at your character as a possibility (monk trained vs for survival vs by a bunch of brigands vs an expensive tutor etc). Also, did getting trained in the monastery affect his outlook on life?

Finally are there any big culture shocks for him, being from Ayana? Ayana is very different from the rest of the world, it likely has a different language and is steeped in magic. While there is trade, it is more of a difference than what you would get going from America today to any individual country in Europe. Does he adapt naturally to his surroundings or did he have to struggle to find his way?

As he was drawn towards Thar Shaddin, how does he feel about their anti-magic sentiments? That's not something you need to put in your app, but it is important to think about in terms of your character.

If you have any questions/comments don't hesitate to hop into chat, send me a pm, or leave a reply to this thread. If you make any changes to your app, please leave a reply in this thread so I know to look.

These are awesome questions and I'm definitely going to revise my biography. The wiki description for Ayana isn't very big and I'd love to see it extended in order for me to immerse myself more in the culture of being from Ayana and what-not. Thank you for the constructiveness!

[Metarie]

Hihi!

As I mentioned in chat, I'm not sure about being the Shim Cemetery groundskeeper. We will need to check with Fruggles on that one.