application to mudora

[pigtales]

PLAYER

Name: Sana
Journal Username: [personal profile] qinghua, [plurk.com profile] Nyanbu
Preferred Contact: Whatever.
Current Characters: N/A.


CHARACTER

Name: Peony Upala Malkuth IX
Canon: Tales of the Abyss
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Race: Hylian
Nationality: Hyrulean
Occupation: Duke of Midoro

Patron Goddess: Ehh, he's not too keen on any of the goddess, but if he had to go with one, it would be Nayru. Peony is not especially scholarly, but he possesses good social intelligence and is committed to being a wise leader.

Backstory:
Many years before Peony's birth, it was prophesied that a child of Karl V, Duke of Midoro, would rule as the next Emperor of Hyrule. The Duke took this prophecy as truth and had nearly twenty children by four different concubines with the goal of ensuring that one of his destined offspring would take the throne. But the prophecy proved to be a curse: the Duke's children began a bloody, decades-long battle for succession. Duels, poisonings, assassinations, and suspicious "accidents" gradually claimed the lives of his heirs. By the time Peony was born, several of his siblings were already dead. His mother tearfully insisted that her youngest son be sent far from Midoro, where he might be safe from his own brothers and sisters.

So, at the age of ten, Peony was sent north to the desolate Tantari Uplands to live as a ward of a former knight of Hyrule who now served as the current headmistress of an elite school for academically and magically gifted children. Peony was neither. Although he was of pure Hylian descent, Peony's lack of magical ability seemed to confirm fears of the Hylian bloodline's steady decline. Although he was certainly the least gifted of his peers, he became the center of their little group, binding the others together through sheer force of personality. He brought warmth and light to a school filled with cold, dark geniuses.

But where Peony knew his limitations, his friends did not. Their ill-conceived experiment in forbidden magic left the headmistress dead, and an even more forbidden ritual intended to revive her created a monster. The bonds of friendship weren't completely broken, but they were deeply fractured. The most gifted students were whisked away to be groomed for military careers, and Peony, now a teenager, was left behind in the Tantari Uplands.

There, Peony fell in love. She was a fellow student whose passion for politics and law finally spurred him to study the art of governing, although he still had no intention of becoming Emperor or even returning to Midoro. Peony put little faith in prophecies, having witnessed their power to destroy entire families. He would have been perfectly content to marry his childhood sweetheart, become a farmer, and support her political aspirations. They carried on a secret love affair for over a decade, unable to go public because of their large difference in status. But she was a far more devout believer in the Goddesses... so when a prophecy foretold that she would marry someone else, she felt that she had no choice but to comply with divine will.

Peony never quite got over the pain of losing his first love, but he had little time to dwell on it. Back in Midoro, his father's was dying and his few surviving siblings were engaged in a brutal struggle for succession. All were killed in the attempt, and Peony became the only remaining heir. He was summoned back to Midoro at once - a city he hadn't seen in almost 25 years.

There, he pretended to be an ignorant country bumpkin with little knowledge of politics. He let his pet pigs roam freely throughout the palace and amused himself with plays and acrobats. He ignored noble decorum and got into sparring matches and gambling contests with common soldiers. He skipped council meetings and snuck out to mingle with the townspeople. This way, he was shrewdly able to determine which of his advisors were trustworthy and which did not have the best interests of his citizens at heart. Peony still has enemies, though, and many of them would prefer to ensure that Midoro's unconventional, libertine Duke doesn't become Hyrule's next Emperor.

Personality:
Despite his noble heritage, Peony is easygoing and approachable, free from pretense or formality. He's well liked by the people of his city, and he in return seems equally dedicated to safeguarding their future. After decades of treachery and murder among Midoro's ruling family, the stability is much appreciated. But Peony's disarming smiles and easy charm conceal a surprisingly clever mind. During his brief rule as Duke, he's rooted out corruption within his own court and worked to strengthen Midoro's vulnerable position on the coast via diplomacy instead of military force alone. He's perfectly willing to appear foolish if being underestimated will work in his favor.

Peony wishes that he really was as carefree and irresponsible as he pretends to be. He feels a deep resentment towards fate, and even towards the Goddesses themselves. Prophecy lead to the violent deaths of his siblings, and prophecy stole the only woman he's ever loved. Now, prophecy threatens to push him into a bloody war for the throne whenever the current Emperor dies. It's likely that he'll once again find himself the target of assassins, and all the work he's done to stabilize his city will be for nothing. And so, in a sort of protest against the cruelties of the adult world, Peony frequently indulges in childish behavior. He keeps barnyard animals in his literal pigsty of a palace, he slips away from his guards to visit theatres and go drinking with commoners, he dresses his senior staff in silly costumes, and he refuses to marry or have children. He's fond of children, but he can't bear the thought of subjecting anyone else to his fate. And it's hard for him to fully trust other people - pets are capable of unconditional loyalty, but human beings are full of conditions and contradictions.

While he seems to be at ease around other people, he's actually quite guarded when it comes to his true feelings. Peony likes to banter, argue and tease with the people he's closest to, although never with any real malice. He cares about people. He cares about them so much that it's almost frightening.

Skills
Armed Combat: Like most young men of the noble class. Peony has been tutored in swordplay and military strategy. While he tended to nap through the latter, he was very enthusiastic about the former. He's athletic, agile, and a skilled duellist, but he lacks practical military experience.

Animal Husbandry: Peony tends to like four-legged creatures even more than he likes the two-legged variety. He's especially fond of pigs, but he'll adopt almost anything as a pet. He has a talent for taming the most ferocious beasts (and people).

Intermediate Knowledge of Magic, Science & Medicine: Peony was a mediocre student, but only because he grew up surrounded by geniuses. Although he lacks the magical ability to be a healer or the dedication to be a scholar, he's at least well educated enough to follow along when other people are discussing these topics.

Spells/Tools
Power Bracelet: Just a standard enchanted gold bracelet, which he usually wears unless it clashes with his outfit.
Hero's Cape: Useful for escaping from his own palace.

Peony has no talent for magic, at least that he's aware of.

Ambitions
Peony honestly does want to become a good leader and ensure the stability and prosperity of his city... but he fears that it's going to come at the cost of his freedom, and possibly his life. He fantasizes about abandoning his responsibilities, but he can't quite bring himself to do it. So he's looking for a balance that will allow him to be the leader that his people need while remaining true to himself.