The New, Improved Character Survey of Doom

[barkingmad]

Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Ari is 5'7" and 120#.  She's more curves than angles, but they're lithe, athletic curves.

2. How old is she?
She's 36.

3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch?
She has a ground eating stride, and she carries herself with her head held high.  She owns any room she walks into.

4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
She's physically fit, and while she can run, she doesn't care to.  She's flexible and strong.  She works in the rigging of her ships, and she brawls for fun.

5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Ari moves like a big cat.  Everything about her communicates that she knows what she's capable of.  She's fluid and graceful, perhaps could be mistaken for a gymnast or a dancer.

6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
Ari doesn't spend much time on her appearance, passed keeping her hair brushed or braided.  That said, she's got a dark, dangerous beauty about her.

7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Her complexion is Mediterranean, sun-kissed and wind-blown.  

8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Her hair would be black if the sun hadn't bleached it into red highlights. It's thick and falls in long waves down to the middle of her back.

9. What color are her eyes?
Her eyes are dark golden brown. 

10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
She has more than a few scars, wounds from blades (knife or sabre).  She has one long, tapering serpentine scar that goes all the way around her right thigh from an encounter with a devil's snare.

11. What are her chief tension centers?
Ari carries her tension in her jaw, and in her neck and shoulders.

12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit?
Ari wears cotton chemises under cotton or silk work shirts, khaki trousers and knee high black boots (akin to riding boots).  Almost always utilitarian.  If she dresses up for an event, it'll probably be in a brocade captain's coat, black on red, or gold on ivory.

13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Her clothes are suited to moving quickly through the rigging of a ship.  Close or form fitting, but still flexible. And durable, if somewhat dirty.

14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
If she's dressed casually, she might indulge a blouse with flowing sleeves, or no sleeves at all.  Always trousers, always boots.  If she's at home drinking, and not expecting company, she might run around barefoot.

15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Bloomers, thank you very much.



Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Ari's speaking voice is a low for a woman's.  She has a deep contralto voice with a posh English accent.

2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
She speaks as if she's used to giving commands, clearly and concisely.  She speaks with an easy confidence and is comfortable speaking face-to-face or to a group.

3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
Ari speaks in a posh English accent, but she swears like -- well -- a sailor.

4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency?
Ari speaks the common Imperial tongue, and the pidgin dialects of Port St. Thaumaden, which have a generous helping of French and Spanish.  She can't speak French of Spanish, but she could probably understand it.

5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Ari codeswitches like breathing, when it suits her.  Usually, she's not really concerned about other people's comfort levels, but if her needs require it, she can be quite convincing.

6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words?
Ari has less trouble picking her words, and more trouble filtering her words.

7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
She speaks easily, but doesn't give much in the way of details unless she knows you.  Or thinks she should know you.  Around authority figures, she either gets cheeky as hell or clams up entirely.


Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
Ari's intelligent enough, and knows how to take care of herself in dodgy situations. She's had far more education than she prefers to let on.  And she's crazy like a fox.

2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
Ari is really good at thinking on her feet.  When you sail in the conditions she does, you have to keep a whole handful of factors in mind at all times, and you have to be able to react in milliseconds. She's a chess player, and a tactician as well.  And when it comes down to it, she doesn't hesitate to act, even if the choice may the wrong one.  "He who hesitates is lost." is her unofficial motto. 

3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Ari has a calculating mind, but for the most part, she works on gut instinct.  She has an idealistic streak that presents as a Robin Hood complex.

4. What kind of education has the character had?
She's had the training of an Imperial officer, in languages, navigation (terrain and celestial), cartography, meteorology, arithmetics, and the classical literature of her world's ruling culture.  She's an avid reader, consuming as much as she can get her hands on, when she has the time.

5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
Ari grew up sailing dust ships.  She was born to the air, and any craft that uses mechanical lift (sails and wings, not jets), she seems to have an almost instinctive ability to operate.  She's also a fair hand with any mechanical engine, but that takes a bit more tinkering and experimenting, but she can generally figure them out, given enough time.  

She is always interested in learning more about cartography, making maps, exploring, history and antiquities.

6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
An extrovert.

7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Most of the time, she's laid back and cheerful.  She does have a temper, but you have to be a real asshole to find out about it.  She's even-tempered when it suits her, but as brawling is one of her favourite pastimes, she's not above picking a fight for the fun of it.

8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Generally, relaxed with a healthy dose of wariness.  Unless she likes you, in which case, she'll keep you close and cut your throat if you betray her.

9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
Act.  Though if you get up in her face, she will definitely react.

10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Fight.

11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Wry wit and bawdy puns.  Her sense of humor tends to the filthy.  

12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
Not that would interfere with her day to day life.  She's not prone to black moods, but when she gets in one, she prefers to distance herself from people until she's got her head on straight again.

13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
The loss of her parents.  The first time she flew solo.  The first time she killed a man. The first time she lead an Imperial cruiser into the Seven Sisters.  

14. What does she fear?
Being helpless.  Being earthbound.  Falling in love.

15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
She has always dreamed about mapping the Southern coasts and finding a place to establish an Aerie of her own.  And she wants to be stinking rich.

16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her?
She hates being alone.

Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents.
She never knew her parents.  She was raised with the belief that her mother was a murderer and her father a hero of the Empire.  Or the opposite, that her father was a bloodless oppressor, and her mother was a revolutionary hero.  To say it's complicated is to beg the question.

2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
No siblings.

3. Are there other blood relatives to whom she is close? Are there ones she can't stand?
No blood relatives.  She was hidden from the Imperials by Port St. Thaumaden's priest, and conveyed to the Aerie, the hidden city of criminals and other enemies of the Empire, hiding out on Icarus. Port Royale, basically.  Her mother grew up there, learned to sail there, captured her father and kept him prisoner there.  She was raised by her mother's crew. 

4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them?
[tbd]

5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Her first officer. [tbd]

6. Does she have other close friends?
Not especially.  It's difficult being a woman and running a crew.  She doesn't get to have the same kinds of friendships.  They're tight, but not close.

7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people?
It really depends on the person.  She's pretty laid back unless you think you can tell her what to do.  Then she'll be up in your face.

8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends?
Her friends are her family.

9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once?
Single.  Never married.

10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Negative.

11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest?
Sailing.

12. What does she look for in a romantic partner?
Passion.  A good sense of humor.  Loyalty.

13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does she relate to them? If no, does she want any?
No children.

14. Does she have any rivals or enemies?
The Imperial commander in charge of putting Icarus IX back under tight Imperial control.  She's destroyed fourteen of his light warships, and four heavy cruisers.

15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does she fall on the Kinsey scale?
She's straight with a dash of aesthetic appreciation for the opposite sex.  (1)

16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to her?
Ari is a very sensual, physical person, and she enjoys sex, but she doesn't indulge casually.  If you get close enough to her to see her without her clothes on, you've been deemed worthy of a very rare honor.

17. What are her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Turn ons:  A strong sense of identity.  An intellectual awareness. A man who isn't afraid of her intense nature.  Who isn't afraid to fight for what he believes in.  Turn offs: Stupidity. Lack of personality. Lack of self-respect.


Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type?
Scorpio.  Dead on.

2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life?
Superstitious, somewhat spiritual.  She tithes once a year, and has her ships blessed, but that's largely for the crew's benefit.

3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
She believes in being fair.  She doesn't have any problem cheating or swindling someone out of their gold, and she is a big believer in standing up for the underdog.  Though truth be told, she gets a much bigger rush out of just poking the overlords in the eye with a sharp stick.

4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from hers? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
She can be curious, but if the beliefs are what she considers to be irrational or pointless, she wouldn't hesitate to point that out.

5. What prejudices does she hold? Are they irrational or does she have a good reason for them?
Imperials are all assholes.  All of them.  She's been raised to believe not to trust them, and for the most part, that's with good reason.  Someday that attitude might bite her in the ass.


Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Comfortable, but steady work is appreciated.  Work can mean an hour or two at the card tables, it can mean a season's worth of breaking and scrapping, it can mean running guns or illicit cargo between the settlements, or it can mean taking on legitimate cargo.  That happens.

2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected her?
She's definitely a fringe element, though she's well known in certain circles.  The past few years has seen her try to establish a reputation as a legitimate business person.  If backing the brothels and gaming houses could be considered legitimate.

3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others?
When she's not on the Daedalus, or her own ship, the Zephyr, she keeps rooms in the Aerie.  But it's very rare to find her sleeping landside.

4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on?
Alcohol and books.

5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else?
Pirate.  Loves it.  See #1 in this section.

6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time?
Cards, duelling, cartography.  And books.

7. What are her eating habits? Does she skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
She eats like a bird most of the time.  When the food is good, she can be convinced to hang out at the dining table, as long as the company is good.


Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:

1. Color? Terracotta
2. Smell? Cinnamon
3. Time of day? High noon or midnight. 
4. Season? Summer
5. Book? Dune.
6. Music? Stravinsky's Firebird Suite  
7. Place? Shangrila
8. Substance? Silk
9. Plant? Live oak.
10. Animal? Red-tailed Hawk or Maned Wolf


END
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