@folkmore application

[drawnbythesword]

❥ Character Information

Character Name: Asbel Lhant
Character Age: 18
Character Species: Human
Current Health: Alive
Outfit: Asbel's outfit as can be seen here, a white long coat and pants with ornate silver trim, over top of a blue and green dress shirt. The style and cut of his clothing is meant to invoke images of a samurai (befitting of his battoujutsu style of swordsmanship) crossed over with a formal appearance that you might expect from a person of his status.

Character Canon: Tales of Graces f
Link to History: As Asbel is the main protagonist of his game, he has quite the extensive role in its story, which can be found here.
Canon Point: post-main arc, pre-Lineages and Legacies arc. Note that at this canon point Asbel has Lambda sealed inside of him, which manifests in his left eye turning purple. The being is asleep and it's only through specific events after this canon point that causes him to reawaken, so it is likely that he'd stay asleep during Asbel's time in Folkmore. If I elected to change this down the road, I'd reach out to the modteam to establish this of course!
Canon Iteration: Original
Canon Iteration Explanation: N/A

❥ Folkmore Roles & Attributes

Skills:

• Swordsmanship/Martial Arts
  
  It's unknown where Asbel learned or developed his style of swordsmanship from, as it doesn't appear to be one practiced by the Windor Knights, but Asbel practices a variation of iaijutsu, wielding a fighting that allows him to fight effectively with his sword both sheathed and drawn. He also appears to have studied some form of martial arts, as he's learned various footwork-based attacks that he combines with his swordplay.

• lockpicking
  
  It's not clear whether Asbel still possesses this ability, but as a child he was shown to know how to pick locks, which he would use to escape his bedroom if he was grounded.

• Athleticism
  
  Asbel is in peak physical condition, able to move and react at high speed, jump great heights and lengths, and boasts impressive strength for a young man.

• leadership and diplomacy
  
  Asbel is the Lord of Lhant, a provincial leader within the kingdom of Windor. He sees himself as inexperienced for the role, but he demonstrates numerous times that he does have the ability to lead others and to conduct himself in a diplomatic way when handling his duties. He just needs to learn to believe in his abilities.

• empathy and understanding of animals
  
  Asbel is shown to have some ability to understand animals, as if their eyes were speaking to him. The game usually uses this as a way to sneakily have gameplay reminders out in the world, but there are cases where it's shown for them to have their own thoughts and feelings as well.

Canon Abilities:

• Sheathed Blade Artes Style/Drawn Blade Burst Style
  
  Asbel's fighting style and his set of artes that he's capable of using. He demonstrates control over a variety of elements in his fighting style, including fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, ice, light, and darkness. Note that at Asbel's current canon point, he has yet to awaken the ability to use Spiral Surge.

• Cryas Artes
  
  Cryas stones are crystalized masses of eleth (basically his world's version of mana, but more elementally aligned). These stones can be grafted to weapons, allowing its wielder to draw and utilize eleth in combat. Although Asbel doesn't demonstrate any ability to cast spells (being the only member of the party unable to do so in some capacity), it is through this trait that he is able to wield a variety of elements in battle through his strike artes.

• Light
  
  Due to his connection to Sophie, Asbel also has the innate ability to control a "light" inside him, which was infused into him when she died. This power resonates with Asbel's desire to protect his friends and manifests itself as an offensive power and its primary application is as a counter to Nova monsters (essentially demons). He's learned how to weave this into his fighting style, but there are other applications Asbel has not learned to do, such as healing others.

Role: Legend
Role Qualities/Attributes: Asbel will develop color-changing eyes, which will display rather uniquely due to the nature of his heterochromia. He'll also develop the ability to manifest wings, which will change in shape and size as Asbel continues to stick to his path. The right one will be white, while the left will take on a more grayish hue.
Role Reasoning:
Asbel is a hero, a protector, and a leader. As a person, he's always been an altruistic defender of the people he cares about, even to the point of placing his own wellbeing in danger for their sake to keep them safe. He struggles with feeling like he's fully capable of doing so, as well as how he can balance this desire with his newfound status as the Lord of Lhant. His own values align greatly with what is typically found in a Legend, and by placing him in this role, I hope to have him be able to find this balance, with him growing both in his role as a protector while also learning how to be the forthright and earnest leader that he truly is.

❥ Personality

Please choose one of the following options for your personality section:

Option 2. Choose FOUR-FIVE of the following questions to answer and expand upon. Each answer has a 100-300 word requirement.
Option 2 questions (4-5). 100-300 word limit each:

❥ What was the most traumatic experience your character endured? How did this change them?
In Asbel's childhood, he once snuck away from home with his friend Sophie off to the neighboring city of Barona. His newfound friend Richard was actually the crown prince of Barona, and Asbel wished to see him. After rendezvousing with his little brother Hubert and his other childhood friend Cheria in town, all of them attempting to sneak into the castle through a secret passage that Richard had told them about, through the catacombs.

...The series of events that unfolded were ones that nobody could have foreseen. The group found the unconscious body of Richard on the ground deep within the catacombs. As they go to check on him, they're attacked by a fierce monster, later revealed to be Lambda. At the cost of Sophie's life, they manage to stop the monster and save Richard's life.

But the aftermath was too much for Asbel. He woke up days later back home, finding out that Sophie was dead, his little brother had been adopted away, and he was in big trouble for everything. These events shook Asbel to his core. His friend was dead, his brother was gone, and he was just supposed to accept all that and resign himself to a life of learning to take on a role as the future Lord of Lhant, a role he wasn't interested in?

Asbel looked at everything that had unfolded and what it led to for him, and saw only one path forward: he needed to become stronger. Strong enough that he could protect everything he holds dear, so he never lost anyone again. And thus, he ran away from home, cut off contact with his family, and enrolled himself in the knights.

❥ What is the most important and defining relationship(s) in your character's life and why?
There are two key relationships Asbel possesses, and they're both equally important to him and intertwined with one another. The first is Sophie. Sophie is a mysterious girl that Asbel finds one day, and forms a fast friendship with her; she seemed lost, confused, and had amnesia, and this awakened a desire in Asbel to keep her safe. Her initial death completely disrupts everything Asbel ever believed, and her resurrection inspires Asbel to work even harder to help her figure out who she is and to keep her safe. The nature of Asbel's relationship isn't romantic, he fashions himself to be her caretaker, and even eventually adopts her into the Lhant family.

The second relationship is with Richard. Richard is the crown prince of Windor, who was brought to Asbel's home as temporary refuge. Despite being told not to engage with him, Asbel defied his father's orders and tried to befriend the prince. Initially, Richard refused, feeling certain Asbel only wanted to use him like everyone else, but Asbel was persistent, and after an incident in which Asbel saves Richard's life, the two of them become true friends. Richard becomes a dear friend to Asbel; Richard's had a difficult life as the heir to a contested throne, and Asbel wants Richard to know that he'll always have at least one true friend.

Asbel, Sophie, and Richard all agree to form a friendship pact, an oath where they solemnly swear to always remain friends. Unfortunately, things become difficult in the present, with Richard becoming possessed by Lambda, and Sophie's purpose to destroy Lambda putting her in conflict with Richard. Asbel's mission becomes one of finding a way to resolve everything and renew the pact the three of them shared once again.

❥ What is your character's moral code? Do they have one? Why or why not?
Asbel has always possessed a strong moral code, even before he enlisted in the knights. He's kind and selfless, and he has a strong belief in doing what's right. His desire to uphold his own belief of justice is so strong, he'll defy orders if he feels they aren't what is the correct thing to do, something that has gotten him in trouble in the past multiple times. He'll even risk his own life for the sake of another if he feels the situation requires him to.

Asbel's moral code also extends to how he handles situations himself. He's constantly engaged in battle, but he refuses to kill another human being, or sacrifice another's person life for the sake of a goal. He believes in the goodness of others, and refuses to slay his foes, no matter how fallen or depraved they may be, or how many atrocities they may have committed. In his eyes, everyone deserves a second chance to be understood by the world.

❥ What are your characters dreams and nightmares? Do you believe they are more likely to obtain one rather than the other?
Normally, Asbel maintains a strong, level-headed front when it comes to his feelings, but this isn't borne out of being a naturally cool-headed person. Asbel doesn't like to trouble others with his own struggles, as he wants to be able to handle his friends' troubles as well as his own. Asbel struggles with expressing his own emotional troubles, but he never forgets them. His traumas and mistakes weigh heavily on him, and will manifest themselves in his nightmares.

His nightmares often depict events that have already unfolded for him, forcing him to relive his own perceived failures over and over, as his psyche attacks him over what he could have or should have been able to do in those situations. One such example shown in game relates to his father's untimely demise, as Asbel is forced to face the fact that he'll never have a chance to really understand his father, or attempt to make any sorts of amends with him now.

❥ Is your character capable of forgiveness or will they hold a grudge until they die? Would anything ever make them change their mind?
Asbel is trusting and forgiving of others and believes it's never too late to someone to make things right, often to the point of naivete. Grudges don't come naturally to him, and even when they do they don't last long. He tries to believe the best of others and doesn't like to take things too far. He doesn't begrudge his brother Hubert for kicking him out of Lhant. He doesn't begrudge Richard for his actions during the game. He doesn't even begrudge his father for everything that happened in their childhood in the end, and he can't even bring himself to hate Emeraude or Lambda after everything they've done. A lot of this stems from acknowledging that he himself has made mistakes in his life, and he should not judge others for their own mistakes as a result.

That said, those same mistakes give Asbel a deep self-loathing of himself, as he constantly holds himself accountable for the actions of his past and how they continue to affect his future. His regrets lay heavy upon his shoulders and he holds himself to high standards to try and make things right that he believes he's done wrong.

❥ Permissions

OOC opt-outs: I'm not really interested in writing smut/sex with Asbel, but that's it.
IC opt-outs: N/A
Content warnings related to the character: Just a good old warning about grief and death.
Sensitive subjects related to the character: n/a

❥ Player Information

Player Name:
Pronouns: He/Him
Are you over 18?: Yes
Contact(s): mamoritai
Link to invitation: Link
Current Characters: N/A
Permissions: Here. Please ensure the information in the application is included in the journal page linked here.
Writing Samples: A sample ye shall have!

Comments

PERMISSION

[drawnbythesword]

OOC

BACKTAGGING: Yes

THREADHOPPING: Yes, if asked

FOURTHWALLING: Yes, if asked

OOC OPT-OUTS: I'm not really interested in writing smut/sex with Asbel, but that's it.

ANYTHING ELSE: None


IC
PHYSICAL AFFECTION: Yes

ROMANCE: Yes

MINDREADING: Yes

MANIPULATION: No

FIGHTING/VIOLENCE: Yes

INJURY: Yes

KILLING: No

IC OPT-OUTS None

CONTENT WARNINGS RELATED TO CHARACTER: Grief, death, trauma, war/conflict, possession

SENSITIVE SUBJECTS RELATED TO CHARACTER: the above, family, familial duty, sacrifice


Asbel carries a strong sense of grief and guilt over the past seven years of his life, and it's only recently that he's allowed himself the space to process his feelings on everything that had transpired. While none of these subjects are likely to trigger him or make him spiral, it may be difficult for him to discuss them with others.


He also has another being living inside his head, by the name of Lambda. Due to the events of the game, Lambda is asleep and unlikely to awaken for any reason. However, characters with high spiritual awareness may be able to sense a second presence inside Asbel.


Feel free to contact for more information and plotting!