Post by Angelo Elden Reese on Jan 9, 2012 20:45:05 GMT -7
THE QUESTION
I have one more available slot for a character. I've been pondering for almost a month now who to make and its a toss up between two individuals. I have models selected, names selected and basic personalities selected, but I am having a hard time picking one or the other. So basically I am going to tell you about them, and I want to know who you think I should go with and any plots you would make with either of them. Just to help me decide. =)
VLAD THE IMPALER
1431 - 1476
The History
Vlad was born in the winter of 1431. At age 5 Vlad was initiated into the Order of the Dragon a society that was all about defending the cross and Christianity. During his father’s first reign he was brought to the capital of Wallachia where he received an exceptional education where he is believed to have learned combat skills, geography, mathematics, science, languages (including Slavonic, German and Latin), Classical Arts and Philosophy.
His father secured Ottoman support by sending his two legitimate sons (including Vlad) to the Ottoman court as hostages of loyalty. While here Vlad was imprisoned, often whipped and beaten because of his verbal abuse towards his trainers and for his stubborn behaviour. His brother on the other hand converted to Islam and entered the Sultan’s service. This developed into Vlad’s hatred of the Turks and his brother. He was envious of the attentions his father gave to his older brothers and distrusted everyone for what was done to him.
Vlad’s father was killed by boyars in league with the Hungarians and his older brother was blinded and buried alive. The Ottomans hoped to prevent Hungary from taking Wallachia and put Vlad on the throne to secured it but this rule was short. Vlad fled and Hungary, impressed with Vlad’s knowledge of the Ottoman Empire made Vlad an advisor.
Constant war began to steadily wear on Wallachia so with his bower he used severe methods to restore order and prosperity. He aimed to strengthen the country’s economy, its defense and his own political power. He did wonderful things for the peasants and the development of Wallachia. To secure his rule he had many leading nobles killed and gave their positions to those loyal to him. He added new punishments for crimes and treated everyone with the same harshness.
In the name of politics he did many horrible things to many different people, including by impaling them on stakes. He defeated the Ottomans in a campaign of his own and his own brother was sent in to deal with him. Radu’s loyalty was now completely with the Ottomans. Radu pushed further and further in until he reached Vlad’s castle. When Vlad requested help from his Hungarian allies they arrested him and threw him in the dungeon for high treason. He was held there for 10 years. He was released with the help of a distant relative.
His brother Radu suffered a strange and sudden death in 1975 and Vlad declared his third reign in November the following year. It lasted no more than two months before he was assassinated. His head was taken as a trophy to Constantinople and his body was buried unceremoniously.
Best Known For: Vlad III is remembered for spending much of his rule campaigning efforts against the Ottoman Empire and its expansion and for the impaling of enemies. Already during his lifetime, his reputation of excessive cruelty spread abroad, to Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The total number of his victims is estimated in the tens of thousands.
Past Family Relations Mircea the Elder (father), Cneajna of Moldavia (mother), Mircea II (older half-brother), Vlad Calugarul (older half-brother) and Radu III the Handsome (younger brother).
Nicknames: Toby, Vlad
Current Home Town: Munich, Germany
Current Income Level: High
Current Family Mom, Dad, Two Older Brothers and a Younger Brother (At Riverdale)
Dominant Traits: Cruel, Sadistic, Distrustful, Lonely, Conflicted, Angry
What’s his story:
Tobias has a miserable home life that he doesn’t fit into. The family is a bit dark and strict and they have no interest in their children because they are too busy with status and power. They flaunt what they have and Tobias is very disliked within the family hence he was sent to Riverdale to get him out of the way, his little brother soon followed. He doesn’t get along at all with his younger brother because of past experience that he feels no one can relate to.
He is well aware of who he is and would be in RSOR, but up till now was not a frequent visitor and chose to stay away instead. He sees his opportunity for a better life this time around, but is too caught up in what’s already happened. His inability to trust others has a huge impact on his difficulties with moving on. He is hunting for his chance to make a different life for himself, but at the same time he maintains cruel and sadistic tendencies and feelings, making him overall not the nicest person to be around. His interests conflict and he is overall just very confused and uncertain of how to proceed, especially with the older RSOR members knowing who he is.
Rain or Sunshine? Rain.
Do you like cuddling? No.
Do you hold grudges? Yes.
How important are looks? Very Important.
Are you a forgiving person? No.
How long does it take you to get ready to go out? 45 Minutes.
Is it easier to forgive or forget? Neither.
Do you believe in second chances? No.
Is your life simple or complicated? Complicated.
Does everything happen for a reason? Yes. It is all a bi-product of human frivolousness and poor decisions.
SARAH WINCHESTER
1839 – 1922
The History
Sarah was the wife of William Winchester, the owner of Winchester Repeating Arms Company. When he died she got a 50% holding over his company and his estates. She was convinced spirits would kill her if she completed construction on her California home and used her fortunes to continue construction round the clock for 38 years.
She married her husband in September of 1862. The two had one daughter but she died only a few weeks later of a common childhood disease. Sarah became depressed following her death and the two had no more children. When William’s father died in 1880 the company fell to William who died only a year later. This left the company to Sarah, or at least half of it. She had an income of $1000 a day (amounting to $22, 000 a day in modern currency).
She felt her family was cursed and sought out spiritualists to determine what she should do and one told her the family was cursed by those who had been killed by Winchester rifles and that she should move west and build a house for herself and the spirits. Supposedly if construction of the house ever stopped Sarah would die. She added rooms, stair cases and just about anything anywhere to the house. The work continued 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year for 38 years. She also had a fascination with the number 13.
Construction finally stopped when Sara died in her sleep of heart failure at an age of 83 years. Her house is now a museum and major landmark. Her niece, who the house was left to, took what she wanted of the furniture and the rest was auctioned off and no mention was made of the former home of the furniture.
Best Known For Being a slightly crazy woman with wild beliefs who made workers continue non-stop to renovate her house for 38 years. She turns up in some pop culture and her house remains a historical site to this day.
Past Family Relations Leonard Pardee (father), Sarah W. Burns (mother), William Winchester (husband), Annie Pardee Winchester (daughter).
Nicknames: Emie, Em & M, Loony, Sarah
Current Home Town: Riverdale, North Carolina
Current Income Level: Middle
Current Family Mom, Dad, Big Brother
Dominant Traits: A little Crazy, Superstitious, Paranoid, Gullible, Naïve, Cheerful, Talkative and Strange.
What’s Her Story:
Emri is from a happy family that is really normal, her aside. They live in the country and Emri was always encouraged to do her own thing, but her family never anticipated shed be so superstitious and unusual. In fact, her personality often makes her own family a bit uncomfortable but they love her all the same.
She has been in RSOR since her sophomore year and until recently forgot that they met up on a regular basis, insisting that she “forgot the attic stairs led anywhere”. She is consistently strange and tends to have weird habits and often hands out protection against various ailments including rabbits feet for good luck, little baggies of salt, small bottles of ‘holy water’, crosses, talismans with weird symbols, and various foods, saying they ward off spirits. Emri has gone a couple years surprisingly under the radar, but many would still know of her and how strange she is.
Rain or Sunshine? Sunshine.
Do you like cuddling? Yes.
Do you hold grudges? No.
How important are looks? Not important at all unless certain visuals could attract supernatural attention.
Are you a forgiving person? Yes.
How long does it take you to get ready to go out? 20 Minutes.
Is it easier to forgive or forget? Forget.
Do you believe in second chances? Yes.
Is your life simple or complicated? Simple.
Does everything happen for a reason? Yes of course. It’s all pre-determined.
