Shadows Edge

Here’s the first piece for character #3 in the Character Challenge:

Name: Meniz the Seer
System: D&D
Character Class: Wizard, specializing in Divining

I’ll admit I haven’t rolled the actual stats for Meniz yet, but I do know what he looks like.

Meniz is about as average as its possible to be. His dull brown hair is falls in a shaggy mess to his shoulders. A sharp intellect can be seen in the brown eyes, but so can fear. Even if you spent time speaking with the wizard, you wouldn’t be likely to remember much about him. Certainly you wouldn’t remember that he was a wizard, at least not by his appearance. Having spent time in his prince’s army, he eschews wearing the robes that normally make it a simple matter to pick a wizard out in a crowd. Instead, non-descript breeches clad his slender legs, and his scrawny torso is covered in a loose brown tunic.

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Now that I’ve completed 2 of the 5 characters in the character challenge, I need some help.

The first character was of my choice.

The second character was of Gemini’s choice.

Where shall the final 3 characters come from?

What kind of character do you think I should try next? It can be a concept, class/profession, physical type, genre, etc. Basically anything that provides a starting place for a character/story.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think I should try next!

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Although Anna has always preferred to interact with machines and computers over other people, she needs human contact. Thus, she will find herself looking for ways to get out of the game even though it is someplace she “should” enjoy. In addition, Anna is not used to being in a position of authority and power. While she may have dreamed of escaping into one of her games, the reality will be uncomfortable for her.

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Things were moving along at their normal, boring rate - until today.

Even as she started to wake up, Anna knew that something was different. Shw wasn’t in her familiar bed. In fact, the room she awoke in was far different than any other she’d ever slept in. It was an odd mix of luxury and not-yet-finished.
Finding something even slightly familiar in the wardrobe was difficult - all the clothing seemed to be from an earlier time period and definitely not from the American Geek culture she was a part off.

Anna opened the door and started down a long hallway. At the end of the hall, she found herself facing a throneroom of sorts. That, along with a bodiless voice informing her that a warrior had just been built, made her realize where she was - if where was the proper term.

However impossible or implausible, she had somehow been transported within one her favorite computer games - Civilization. From all indications, she not only was within the game, but was there as the leader of one of the civilizations.

She’d have to do two things - keep the civilization alive and watch for any hint of a way out - somehow, this didn’t feel like it was just a dream.

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There is very little external opposition or conflict in Anna’s life. Internally is completely different matter. Anna’s dissatisfaction with her life is in constant conflict with her need to support herself and pay her bills. Given the opportunity, however unlikely or implausible it might be, she would rather live within the confines and strictures of her games. At least there the rules are straightforward and easy to determine.

In addition, Anna’s need to feel confident and secure makes it difficult for her to pull herself out of her games and return to the “real” world where she feels powerless and insecure. This inner conflict is probably the most difficult for her to overcome.

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Anna spent her childhood as a military brat - moving from place to place every couple of years. Her shyness, combined with the frequent moves, made it difficult for her to make many friends. Knowing that she would be moving before too long, she rarely put much effort into establishing close relationships with her peers.

Instead she retreated into solitary pursuits - reading and, when she was old enough, computers. Books and computer games gave her entrance to worlds beyond possibility. She could create herself anew with each one, becoming, within the scope of the game or story, whatever she wished to be. Video games became an escape for Anna. They were always more interesting than her real life. Within them, she could be a powerful person, noticed, appreciated and respected.

It was her computer studies that got her a good-paying job. Her solitary tendencies made it simple for her to concentrate her work efforts, giving her job security. That’s all it was. She has never had any emotional investment in her work. As far as she’s concerned, she’s nothing more than another mouse in the maze at work. She’s watched as collegues were promoted to team and technical leads, knowing that her own shyness and solitary ways were what kept her from following in their footsteps.

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Anna Salorene is shy, though not timid. Whenever possible, she interacts with computers and machines rather than actual people. After all, you always know what to expect from a machine or computer - they don’t become emotional or have bad days to take out on others. Anna has very few relationships - preferring to keep most people at a distance. She is polite, if somewhat distracted, most of the time. Often she gives the impression of being somewhere else mentally. Video and PC games are her escape of choice - and she escapes her normal, boring life as often as she can. Rarely does emotion seem to touch her, at least at work, though there is definite annoyance visible when processes or goals are changed midstream or she is unable to complete her work due to unforeseen circumstance.

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Okay, here’s the 1st of the new character descriptions, finally I know it’s not prettily written, but if I didn’t get it posted, I was going to lose it.

Name: Anna Salorene
Gender: female

• Tends to carry 10-15 extra pounds due to the time spent sitting in front of a computer or game console.
• mousy brown hair, lacking luster and cut in a chin length bob
• average height
• chocolate brown, wideset eyes
• slouched posture
• clothing outside work - jeans or sweatpants with t-shirt or sweatshirt
• complexion - prone to minor acne outbreaks due to her diet and lack of time spent outside.

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I’ve updated the progress meter for Dawn. Got another thousand words down and to the end of the second chapter as the outline currently stands! I’m still not sure that I’ll make the 75,000 word goal on the first draft, but we’ll see.

Things are going to be hectic over the next couple of days, so I don’t know how much time I’ll have to post or write, but I’ll do my best to at least get some work done on the character challenge

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Gemini has given me my marching orders for my next character -

A normal female, not overly pleased with her current life, who finds herself within her favorite video game.

It would be a lot easier if I could actually choose a favorite video game. My possible selection choice isn’t all that large, since I don’t play a lot of video games. I take the easy way out and have her end up in The Sims 2. I play that one on a fairly regular basis.

Do I make this character into a game fanatic? Someone with a normal job and only a decent interest in gaming? This is the kind of decision that will affect her appearance and set her personality.

Hmm….. looks like I have some decisions to make!

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