Charr and the effects of stress
This has been talked about just a bit on the GW2RP boards, but I wanted to go a little further with it.
The topic of discussion was role playing mental health issues, and in particular, the example of PTSD cropped up.Ā Which is understandable, for a world like Tyria where there is a constant threat of war, such things would come into play.
But something struck me as very dismissive.Ā I often run into this when the topic comes around to the charr and mental illness.Ā The automatic response seems to be that any charr with mental illness, such as PTSD, would be turfed from their warband and barred from the Black Citadel and shunned from charr society.
That is, firstly, very problematic, and secondly, extremely dismissive of how the charr would act around such things.Ā To automatically assume that a race bred for war would have no use for anyone with a mental illness is, without a doubt, greatly underestimates exactly what the charr are capable of.
Given the in game examples of what could be called classic mental illnes, the charr know well enough that these things exist and that even they can be affected by them.Ā A prime example is Tybalt Leftpaw.Ā Remember, he wasnāt cast out of charr society, he left on his own.Ā His warband did force him out but he left the Citadel on his own after an accident caused the death of many of his bandmates.Ā Tybalt, while appearing lighthearted and having a sense of humour, does display classic signs of self doubt, anxiety and depression.
Another example is given to the player from Vesta Scorchpath.Ā Vesta speaks of another charr named Salina.Ā Stating Salina was rescued from a Flame Legion camp and has been invaluable as a guide.Ā Vesta says Salina is still a little feral after being held captive by Flame, and that sheās endured unspeakable things.Ā Salina is obviously a survivor of abuse and possibly rape.Ā The way Salina was introduce was well done, without giving the player the immediate information, but just enough to put together that Salina has survived abuse.
Then thereās Lorzohaz Huntblood, found at Almuten Estates in Gendarran Fields.Ā She remains with the winery as she waits for her warband.Ā Sheās been there for over six months (now for several years), still waiting.Ā Most likely sheās in denial that her warband is most likely gone and sheās not accepting that they possibly could be.Ā Sheās just following orders to wait for them.
Those are just a few examples of charr that could be, and most likely are, suffering from some form of mental illness.
But I doubt the charr would give up so easily on anyone that is suffering from some form of mental illness, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and so on.Ā Theyāre probably very aware of the fact that constant combat has an affect on the mental health of their soldiers.Ā After all, everyone from the highest tribune all the way down to a farm hand considers themselves a soldier.Ā They all work, in their own way, for the betterment of the Black Citadel.Ā Everyoneās job is just as important as everyone else.Ā You canāt have soldiers without having doctors.Ā You canāt have a standing army without having the agricultural system to feed them.
The charr, being masters of industry, most likely are masters of knowing just how fragile the mind is.Ā Itās not strength to hide this, itās strength in knowing when one of your bandmates is suffering.Ā Thereās most likely warbands built around the idea of tending to those very soldiers who do in fact suffer from PTSD.Ā The best way back into a fight is to heal, and the mind like the body, needs time.
The charr are not mindless beasts bent of destruction and war.Ā Theyāre very intelligent, strategic, and resourceful.Ā Theyād be aware that their lifestyle can have extreme shock to their system, body and mind.Ā And so theyād make sure there are those in place who can deal with and help soldiers carry on.
This isnāt coddling.Ā Itās meeting a problem head on and finding a way to deal with it.Ā The charr are like that.Ā They see a problem and they find a way to deal with it.Ā Each of the Legions would most likely have warbands dedicated to medicine, dedicated to mental health and even dedicated to overseeing that each frontline warband is taken care of.Ā Those ābands that are have a better opportunity to take down objectives and complete missions.
We only see the charr as mindless beasts bent on war. But by removing that stereotype or removing that perception, the charr become far more interesting and much deeper in their entire society.
Told yall that charr arenāt evil! I love those big fluffy muffins. Protect the charr. Thank you for this post, it will help a lot by expanding the stories of some of my charr.
This post reminded me of this one Charr near the big smelter in the Black Citadel.
As far as I can tell, he is clearly looking for soldiers suffering from mental health issues.
Charr society are the best! Thats why i love them so much!
They are not mindless beasts, they are a proud race inteligent enough to use thier inteligent to continue conquering the world!
Charr is hardest working pact race for a reason
