I wanted to do a fancy height chart but it’s not coming out so great and I lost my tablet sooooo here’s a list. My personal headcanon is that troll heights are not determined/influenced by caste. From rust to Tyrian:
Hi all! I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, but here’s a list of all my current trolls and some things they might be famous or notorious for. This is to better facilitate character relationships, so that maybe our trolls know each other, or at least know OF each other, before they actually meet. Anyway, stuff below the cut!
KEANOR PROMET
Fame: She's a Tyrian in the Winterlands. If you're into royalty, or a suckup, or a particularly well-connected seadweller, you have probably heard of her.
Notoriety: She has abdicated the throne and is infamously reclusive. She's the head honcho of a group of like 24 trolls who are known all over the Winterlands as 1. dangerous and 2. weirdos. Probably spurned by other heiresses as a pacifist homebody loser, or maybe they respect her decision? Who knows!
Connections:
ASSEER:
Fame: Probably the highest-ranking Mirthful dude anywhere (as far as the hemospectrum goes). He's a fairly good and enthusiastic organizer and ringleader of dark carnivals across Alternia, and is the current acting leader of the Winterlands carnival. Very wealthy and good to clowns.
Notoriety: Clearly a subjug poser and a seadweller. Somewhat annoying, known for hitting on any and all clowns and acolytes. Asseer is also very enthusiastic about subjugglating, and is often cruel to those of lower castes.
ARTORI:
Fame: None. Was once fairly well-known as the ACTUAL ringleader of the Winterlands clowny activities but recently fell into obscurity.
Notoriety: He's an ex-subjugglator, but still fairly elusive.
MANDRA:
Fame: A frequent participant in Mirthful carnivals all over the world, Mandra is probably well-known amongst subjugglators as a very committed Pierrot-type clown. He takes the Carnival and the Messiahs very seriously--almost deathly seriously. He's also known by trolls of all castes as a very effective exorcist, and is often called upon to deal with troublesome ghosts and hauntings. He also deals with psionics who get out of control, but that's somewhat less often.
Notoriety: Kind of a huge downer! Even trolls that admire his commitment to the role may think he goes a bit TOO far, never smiling or expressing a positive emotion if he can help it. Also tends to be somewhat judgmental of clowns that he deems 'not serious' enough, or those he thinks are into subjugglating just for the perks and parties. Tends to categorize acolytes as either 'pitiful cullbait' or 'cruelty-prone hangers-on.' He holds any troll involved with the Carnival to his own very exacting standards.
WARTAG:
Fame: He's a respected cavalreaper who wields a complicated and difficult weapon. He challenges trolls to single combat to test his strength and is well-known for doing so. He also has a crazy suit of grub armor that's kind of a biotech marvel.
Notoriety: He's known to pick on lowbloods, and will challenge even unarmed or untrained trolls to combat. Also known for being kind of a sleaze and kind of a jerk to everyone, including people he wants to sleep with.
TIWANI:
Fame: Bounty hunter and organized crime queenpin (sort of), Tiwani is the definition of 'just business' when it comes to crime on Alternia. She'll work with trolls on a heist, only to turn them in for a bounty later on. She takes any job that pays, though more for the love of fulfilling a contract than any monetary reward; she will never betray trolls while completing a job. Her style is also rather distinctive, favoring a uniform, a face mask, and with only one hand--she almost never uses a prosthesis.
Notoriety: Has attempted to start an organized crime syndicate of her own with very little success; approaches any female troll she meets to join but is almost always rebuffed. Something of a flirt, she may have hit on your (female) troll in the past, with whatever degree of sucess. Is not super-hemoist, but is not swayed by lowblood sob stories either; she does whatever is required to see a job through to completion.
JERATH:
Fame: Translator and publisher of numerous ancient Alternian texts of history and poetry; if your troll is interested in any of these, they may know of him. A lot of these works feature ancestors--mainly his own, but those of other trolls are certainly present. Very active in online forums related to these subjects. Occasionally publishes poetry of his own; most often featuring romantic themes and borderline-erotic content. Borderline.
Notoriety: Raider. Jerath occasionally sails into poorly-defended settlements and 'barters' with the locals, mainly by threatening them until they give him food and, occasionally, other supplies. He doesn't actually attack, however, unless threatened or attacked first. Known to be a pretty ferocious fighter, and is actually rumored to have killed an entire clan of subugglators in his youth (actually it was mainly acolytes, but rumors favor the 'cult of subjugs' story).
DJAGOR:
Fame: Probably known in hemorebel sects as an outspoken, almost suicidally-zealous proponent of equality amongst castes.
Notoriety: Famously shuns contact with anyone, even if they happen to share his views. Tends to go on longwinded rants against any and all things he deems immoral, including the quadrants system. Known as a pest, especially among hemoloyals; has probaby called your troll a harlot if he's ever met them. A horrible nerd.
BRIONI:
Fame: The only guide for a treacherous mountain pass in the Winterlands. This is a popular tourist destination in the summer, and an impassible wilderness in the winter. If your troll is there for sightseeing, or trying to get from one side of the Winterlands to the other, they will probably have need of her services. She also runs rescue operations, so if a troll gets lost or caught in a blizzard she will be the one to rescue them. Trolls that she rescues get taken back to her hive to recover and treated very hospitably--plenty of brandy, hot cocoa, and board games. Known as a sweetheart.
Notoriety: Talks a lot; seems somewhat starved for company. Possibly seen as a pushover, despite her toughness.
OSLIAN:
Fame: Lowblooded psionic legislacerator. Tries any and all court cases, and usually works on the cheap. Specializes in inheritance law; making sure shit that your ancestor left goes to you, instead of someone claiming to be your signmate (or even your actual signmate). Verifies ancestral documents and notarizes any legal documents your troll might need drafted. He also frequents online forums about history and ancestors, giving advice and opinions. Sells handcrafted leatherbound books and things.
Notoriety: Not a particularly good or bad lawyer, if you're trying a case with him you have exactly a 50/50 shot of winning, no matter how good or bad your case is. Has possible mob affiliations. Argues with himself, and has a weird mutation that gives him two distinct brains. Kind of a big dork.
PERTHA:
Fame: Good hand-to-hand fighter, lots of fun at parties. Pertha runs a fairly highly-viewed Instagram page and maintains a presence across most popular social media sites. Highly gregarious, Pertha can be found pretty much anywhere a party is. Her distinct style of dress and loud, constant 'censor-beep' vocal tic are difficult to mistake or forget; if a troll has seen her before (and they likely may have), they will probably remember her.
Notoriety: Everything stated prior and then some. Rude, crude, and lewd, Pertha is not shy about insulting or denigrating others in the most humiliating or funny (to her, at least) manner. Used to FLARP, was incredibly belligerent and used a huge-ass gun. Definitely said 'GG EZ' a lot.
JUNIPA
Fame: Runs around in the daytime and fights the walking dead on a regular basis. Any dayrunner or undead-fighting trolls could have run into her; she roams far and wide in search of undead to fight, so trolls from any region are likely to have seen her. She also fights with a broken sword, so anyone who has noticed this has either probably been very impressed, very worried, or very confused.
Notoriety: RUNS AROUND IN THE DAYTIME AND FIGHTS SHADOW-DROPPERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. Also pretty ditzy, generally baffling to talk to.
FETTLE
Fame: Possibly my most famous troll, owns a large-and-growing chain of fast-food restaurants. Started as a ranch hand, eventually acquired most of the meatpacking industry in northern Alternia and then expanded into restaurants. Chances are your troll has eaten at one of her restaurants, though they may not know her name/what she looks like (though it's equally possible they do). The mascot of the restaurant looks like her, so they might realize the connection.
Notoriety: Ruthless Businesswoman. Known in the business/restaurant world as doing anything it takes to get ahead. Intimidatingly wealthy for a lowblood and not exactly deferential towards 'old-money' bluebloods--but will work with them to suit her own ends. As a result she isn't particularly well-liked by many of low or high castes.
BOTNIK
Fame: Makes a lot of weapons and robots. Like, constantly. The market is flooded with reliable but ugly pieces of technology stamped with his symbol. Definitely prefers function over form, it's said that anything he makes could be buried in a swamp for 5 sweeps, dug up, and used immediately. A strong proponent of lowblood solidarity and a hemorebel, he occasionally publishes pamphlets and attends rallies with this purpose.
Notoriety: Again: hemorebel and proponent of lowblood solidarity. Thought of as something of a recluse, but in reality is just too busy to do much socializing. Blunt and somewhat abrasive, not the friendliest sort either.
THURIN
Fame:
Notoriety: Fuck that guy
RAYLOX
Fame: Travels all over the world, renowned violinist and dancer. Widely considered a great talent by those who have heard her, and those who have seen her dance demand an encore. Her dancing is hypnotic-literally-and even though the effect is gone once she stops, trolls tend to remain enraptured (she is quite a good dancer, and very attractive besides). Also composes her own songs but tends not to write them down; as a wandering minstrel, she's actually thrilled when people copy or share her work.
Notoriety: Most trolls don't realize they've been hypnotized (it's a very subtle effect; Raylox has no direct control over trolls in her sway), but if a troll were to find out I can't imagine they'd be thrilled. Raylox also has a habit of not sticking around; given that a lot of trolls are infatuated with her, it's given her something of a bad reputation. She also tends to sleep around and couch surf, which doesn't help this perception. She, unfortunately, has a good amount of stalkers.
Does your character have any noteworthy features? Freckles? Dimples? A scar somewhere unusual? etc.
Pertha has freckles and a small, slightly upturned nose. Her curls and unusual style of dress might be her most distinctive features, though she’ll be wearing more casual clothes soon. Surprisingly scar-free.
Brioni has rough hands and noticeable dimples. She keeps her hair in pretty distinctive braids and rarely wears anything that isn’t a sweater.
Are they afraid of death? Do they have any regrets?
Pertha lives her life with no fear and no regrets. As she becomes more introspective I think she’ll regret not doing more to help people around her who were clearly in need of some help (e.g. Sorrja, Junipa, Jerath). As she becomes more involved in her clade she’ll become less reckless too.
Brioni has a healthy fear of death tempered with the resolve to persevere even in the face of death. She has plenty of regrets, though this is more of the ‘grass is greener’ type of regret--she kind of wishes she had taken up traveling instead of staying rooted in one place. When she finds out that Ilsana has died, she’ll have regrets about that too :)
Mirk the other question you asked is gonna require like an essay so I’m doing that tomorrow.
1: What does your OC feel is important to be talented at?
Jerath puts a lot of emphasis on literacy, and considers trolls who are well-read and well-spoken in high regard. He enjoys arguing points of history, literature, grammar, and foreign language with anyone who will give him the time to do so, and the more heated these exchanges get the more Jerath considers them to have been a rousing success. He also believes that martial prowess is a must for a troll, and if a troll is incapable of defending themselves (at the very least) his respect for them tends to plummet--though his pity levels might go through the roof. Jerath also holds art and industry in high regard, so if your troll can create something beautiful or useful then Jerath is usually very impressed--especially if it’s something that he could never do.
Pertha recognizes that each person is unique, and possesses their own innate skills and talents. That said, she does think that each person should be good at something. Trolls who have no discernable talents, or who are content to sit around watching Grubtube all day, rarely get any respect from her (not that she’s generous doling that out in the first place). Like Jerath, she considers fighting skills quite highly, though she tends to prefer flash over substance--she’d definitely rather watch the WWE than the UFC. It’s the one talent that she would actually enthusiastic support; a lot of the time she tends to react underwhelmingly, even if she privately is impressed by somebody’s talent.
Fame, too, is something that Pertha is generally in awe of. Somebody who is renowned, especially online, will get instant respect from her.
16: How openly does your OC show their emotions?
Jerath has a veneer of civility that is actually quite easy to break down. It’s not a facade, he just has a rather rigid idea of how a Blueblood Must Act, and this includes a degree of stoicism. Among friends, however, Jerath opens up a lot more; and even in public, whether pleased or displeased, Jerath is rarely shy about telling people how he feels. He just does so in as measured a tone as he can muster; swearing notwithstanding, Jerath tries to remain ‘civil’ in discussions. He is also not shy about heaping effusive praise on his friends. Jerath is almost always genuine; he never lies, and at worst he’ll tell a half-truth, or he may lie by omission if he has to. Jerath is also very gullible for this reason, and tends to take everything at face value. The only detail in which Jerath may not be totally genuine are the self-aggrandizing, braggadocious statements he sometimes indulges in; Jerath has a big ego, but it’s very fragile, and it’s unclear how much of this is due to genuine confidence or to cover up his own insecurities.
The only time Jerath really completely loses his cool is when he goes Berserk, which is like an actual state he enters related to his SGRUB Aspect. I haven’t used it literally in years, it’s more of a plot device than anything else, and it hasn’t come up recently. This is called Jerath Gets Mature and Gets a Handle On His Rage Bullshit.
Pertha is very open with her emotions, when her typical emotion is “disdain.” This can quickly change to “joy” or “excitement,” especially when fighting or eating. These, however, are more surface feelings, and when it comes to talking about actual emotion, she tends to get tripped up. Actual red or pale emotions are hard to draw out of her, partly because she thinks she’s ‘above’ feeling these emotions or expressing them--or, more likely, she feels she’s incapable of them. This has been challenged recently in her moiraillegiance and budding matespritship, and since she’s pledged herself to trying her best in the pale quadrant, she’s trying her best to open up more. She’s finding it somewhat difficult, but I think she’s made some very important progress.
Pitch emotion is different. Because a large component of it is ‘disdain,’ and the other component is flirtation, Pertha is very comfortable feeling and expressing these emotions. As she settles into her pale and red quadrants, I think she will find a great deal of satisfaction in opening up as a genuine person. Pertha seems to consider herself something of a joke, or an instigator of A Good Time; I’m hoping that, as she gains healthy quadrants, she will consider herself a troll of value and become more in tune with the side of her that craves genuine interaction. However, I don’t know if she’ll ever settle down in the black quadrant; it may be her one outlet for aggression, and it seems unlikely that she could remain committed in that particular quadrant.
21: How much of an attention seeker is your OC?
They both are huge attention seekers. The biggest difference is that Jerath craves positive attention; he wants to be beloved by everyone, and not necessarily because of his caste. In his own, awkward way, he tries to reach out to other trolls and really wants a close group of friends who have each others’ backs and admire one another. This is why he sometimes flips between arrogant and obsequious; he thinks that bragging will elevate his position in the eyes of his peers, and if this fails, he will stoop to any level to regain a modicum of respect or amity from his peers. This often backfires as well. He willingly gave up his eye to avoid losing the only friend he thought he had left. It’s kind of sad!
Even in rivalries, Jerath thinks a healthy level of respect is important; otherwise the rules go out the fucking window, people get hurt, and collateral damage is inevitable. For this reason he tries to cultivate some measure of decency, even amongst people that he despises. In trolls that he has designated as Worthy Enemies, however, he will revel in negative attention, which he often couches as ‘jealousy.’
Pertha constantly seeks attention from everyone around her, whether this is positive or negative. Negative attention is easier for her to get, in her mind, so that’s what she often goes for. This is why Pertha’s current M.O. is to just show up at peoples’ houses and start eating their food (she does this to Jerath particularly); it’s a very easy way to immediately piss people off and get their eyes on you. She also keeps up a presence on social media for the same reason, and is addicted to garnering as many views, likes, and shares as she can, by any means necessary. Recent and near-future events will cause her to re-evaluate this stance, however; again, getting settled into the conciliatory quadrants will calm her down somewhat, and she’ll appreciate genuine warmth and affection a lot more than attention just for attention’s sake. Right now she has to be the loudest, brashest, cussingest person wherever she is; being around other trolls who are popular and love attention (such as Starla) who don’t resort to just screaming and fighting everyone in sight has altered her stance on this somewhat. Soon she will be getting alternate, casual outfits; part of the reason she continued to wear her current attire, which she is not shy about saying she hates, is that 1) it’s distinctive, and often leads trolls to comment on it, 2) it’s not what trolls would expect her to wear, leading to further commentary, and 3) it gives her something to complain about--loudly. It’s another outward manifestation of her unhealthy relationship with her lusus, and changing her wardrobe will allow her actual personality to shine through and give her a more understated way of getting attention--namely by actually meeting trolls and getting to know them on a more genuine level.
28: Is your OC loyal or more prone of take advantage of people close to them?
Jerath is the least likely person to take advantage of somebody close to him. As I mentioned above, he is very trusting of those around him, to an almost naive extent, and he constantly seeks their adulation and praise. As I mentioned in earlier asks, Jerath also thinks it’s his job to look out for other trolls, and sort of assumes that the people around him are looking out for him as well. He is incredibly loyal, to the extent that he’ll make oaths upon meeting a new friend and punish himself if he ever goes back on his word, even by accident (see the above incident with the eyeball, which was because he didn’t show up to a friend’s house at the time he was supposed to). This can have even more disastrous consequences; Jerath killed Vide’s lusus because she was 1) abusive toward Vide, and 2) preventing her from becoming matesprits with their mutual friend (or so he thought). Womp.
Jerath’s loyalty should also be evident in his quadrants; Jerath firmly believes that all of his quadrants are serendipitous, and betraying their trust is not a thought that even enters his head. He’s kind of the Dale Gribble of trolls; outwardly suspicious and wary, but almost stupidly loyal to people he considers “trustable.” Jerath only loses friends when they leave him, or when they do something absolutely unforgivable. In short, Jerath is far more likely to be taken advantage of than the other way around.
Pertha, on the other hand, takes advantage of everyone she knows--to an extent. She’ll use them to get information, or food, or for entertainment value, but that’s about the extent of it. People she ‘likes’ get this treatment, in which she is more of an annoyance than anything else. She has no qualms about messing with people outside of her ‘friend group,’ and while I wouldn’t describe her behavior as overtly malicious she certainly doesn’t seem to have many scruples when it comes to trolls she isn’t personally invested in. Interestingly, Pertha seems to think that all trolls have inherent worth, whether this is as an individual worthy of some manner of respect or as someone she can ask for a favor of later--this is part of the reason she stopped using guns, and instead favors a nonlethal approach to combat.
All that said, though, and I’ll sound like a broken record here, she is at least trying to change her stance when it comes to her very first quadrant ever--her moirallegiance with Vide. Pertha has kind of taken the lead, and retained her ‘annoyance’ status, but this time with the intent to help! Vide, I’m sure, is trying to cope with this rather aggressive meddling as best she can, and has made it clear to Pertha that this relationship cannot be a one-way street. Pertha is gradually opening up, however, and is beginning to realize that she isn’t beyond reproach, either; rather than trying to ‘fix’ Vide, she has to open herself to being ‘fixed’ as well. This includes, among other things, trying to see trolls as trolls, and people that she can have a genuine connection with--rather than just a means to an end.
