Welcome to Gaia! ::

"My heart has joined the thousand, for my friend stopped running today."

The wind that sweeps the down has grown cold and wet as summer recedes into Autumn. Frith appears far less frequently behind the dense gray clouds, and with his absence the woodlands turn from green to their myriads of orange, gold and red, as if in rebellion of the coming winter when all their foliage withers and dies. In sad parallel, the last of the warren's founders draws his final breath in a chill underground burrow. The Owsla in attendance observe in reverence as Bigwig's once mighty chest stills and then fails to rise ever again.

The gloom that settles over the warren is succeeded rapidly by a quiet, but persistent panic. 'What becomes of us now?' 'Who shall take his place?' 'Is there no one left who knows what to do?'

The warren is in a desolate state as the season turns harsher yet. The coming winter will be more frigid and desperate than the last, and without a solid leader to direct the necessary preparations, the outlook appears to be grim for the rabbits of Watership Down.

You're welcome to play as many characters as you like, provided you're able to remain relatively active with all of them. If you tire of one, please do not hesitate to have them devoured by elil. >.>
At that point myself or another crew member will remove the unneeded profile. : ]

Currently active characters:

Name: Knapweed
Rank: Captain of the Owsla
Gender: Male
Appearance: A solidly built rabbit in his prime, Knapweed outsizes most others and would be a handsome looking buck if not for the cragged scars across his face and a halved left ear, both result of a near fatal encounter with a Homba. Yet another encounter with the same breed of elil has left his left haunch scarred. His coat, now that winter approaches, has lost some of its deeper browns and has become an even duller ashen shade, nearly gray but for the slightest muddy hue. The golden hairs that circle his hazel eyes have also dulled, becoming a tawny brown color, and the underside of his belly is pale and grayish.
Personality: As always a bully, Knapweed is not liked by much of anyone. He seems immune or simply oblivious to this fact and considers himself to be, without a doubt, the very strongest and most qualified of the Owsla (all other rabbits he wouldn't deign to compare himself with). His manner is constantly that of an officer, rigid, dignified, and (though this isn't necessarily a trait of officers) harshly condescending.
Relations: He is the grandson of General Woundwort
Bio: Knapweed has lived at the warren of Watership Down for all of his life. Some might speculate that his often cruel and cynical behavior ascends from the traumatic Homba attack endured as a kitten, but any who remembered the now Captain of Owsla in his juvenile days would assert that he'd always been a bit of a bully. He has only ever sought to be better and stronger than those around him and seems to disguise this with a false ambition for a safer warren. Now with Bigwig dead, he expects it won't be difficult to gain what a part of him has always wanted; supreme control over everyone else.
Played By: Rabscuttle

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Name: Thistledown
Rank: Hlessi
Gender: Male
Appearance: A smaller breed, though quite hardy. He has whiteish gray fur that was quite thick, making him look shaggy. He also has quite a "mane", similar to Bigwig's, only of the same colour. His ears are tattered and torn, and his right ear is partially coloured dark grey. He also has multiple scars across his face.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/Kayscolour/Thorndown.jpg
Personality: Somewhat bipolar, usually quiet and reserved, patient to others around him. When he loses his temper, however, he will suddenly become headstrong and charge at practically anything, becoming reckless and over confident.
Relations: A domestic Dwarf/Angora cross named Snowflake and an exiled Owlsla named Thornclaw.
Bio: Thistledown has always had a fair share of issues, perhaps from his domestic genes combined with the strict raising from his father, but having never had a warren of his own, he had wandered the fields since his father was caught by an owl. He was used to being on his own, though wouldn't make much of an effort to stay that way, allowing other travelers to accompany him for a while, though they would always split off after some time on their own routes. He himself was unsure where he was going, though a permanent home would likely do nicely.
Thistledown had found himself at the warren a season or so ago, quickly earning a little bit of respect from those whom saw him fight off the ferocious homba. Few remember that even now, of course, though that suited the small rabbit fine, not being one to brag. But as the news of the chief, Bigwig's death spread, he too became uneasy, even if he was yet to become settled into his recent home.
Played by: Kiwi-Kiwi-chan

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Name: Magpie
Rank: ex owsla from a far-off warren, no interest to returning to such a position
Gender: Male
Appearance: A large, bulky rabbit with dark blue-black fur. He has a band of white across his eyes like a bandit mask, he also has white markings on the inside of his for-paws. He also has tattered ears, and what remains of them he has what appears to be staples and metal pins within them.
Mapie and Snowbell
Personality: Quite up-beat and relaxed, and an optimist. He would often keep morale up when it was needed. Is considered quite a strange owsla for his relaxed ruling, often undermining other owsla as they tried to keep a firm paw on the rules.
Relations: Seems quite attached to a strange bird that follows him now and then, who just happens to be a magpie named Shiner. Guards Snowbell closely, as well, like a big brother.
Bio: Magpie was exiled for being much like a bohemian within his warren.
His warren was hidden within a scrap yard in the town several miles along the great road. It was surrounded by a large stone wall and the chief rabbit forbid anyone to leave. Unfortunately, Magpie would often sneak out, enjoying the fresh meadows beyond, and was soon sent out there for good after he tried convincing the others to leave also.
The staples within his ears were caused by hooligan children being creul, but he doesn't hold it against man. He likes the way it attracts some birds.
Now he wandered across the lands and banded with Snowbell when he found her by a road.
Nowadays as the cold draws closer, he spends most of his time being concerned for the others, especially as fights begin to break out throughout the owsla who think themselves worthy to be chief. He came to find himself more of a peace-maker than anything else.
Played By: Kiwi-Kiwi-chan

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Name: Snowbell
Rank: Domestic rabbit
Gender: Female
Appearance: A pretty, pure white rex rabbit who appears to be of an imported breed.
(refer to Magpie's ref picture for her appearance)
Personality: Soft and kind, though very naive which may often get her into trouble. She doesn't often speak, and even more so seems to lack an understanding of lapine speech, being foreign herself. She often grooms herself, though, being used to being a sparkling white.
Relations: Close friends to Magpie and Shiner.
Bio: Snowbell is an ex show-rabbit, who after an accident on the way home, escaped from her men and hid within the bushes, before she was lead away by what she describes as a "feint lapin". Somehow following this thing kept her from danger, and before long she ran into Magpie, and stuck with him ever since.
She often sees strange things, though her lack of language skills make it hard for her to tell people that she's seeing them, but would often be seen talking to air in a strange language.
Recently, as the air grows ever cooler, her dreams have been becoming much more traumatic, and she'd often wake shaking violently. Her communication skills have improved much, but she is still a shy one, especially from being mocked and abused for her continuous zoning out, and muttering about an "Inle-roo".
Played By: Kiwi-Kiwi-chan

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Name: Bryony
Rank: Outskirter
Gender: Female
Appearance: Far from frail bodied, Bryony is strong, and though not as large as a buck she has a taut, wiry build of muscle. Her features, however, are long and sleek, and her golden eyes are large and pleasantly almond shaped. The color of her fur, usually short and shiny but now thickening for winter, is a deep hazelnut brown with ivoyr markings under her eyes and beneath her throat.
Personality: Mischievous and sometimes ill-tempered in her resistance to authority and tradition. She doesn't appreciate the Owsla very much, or bucks in general, and doesn't mind saying so. Deeper than that, however, she's a friendly doe who wants to be useful, just in other ways than merely producing young. Her youthful eagerness gets in the way sometimes, as she isn't quite experienced enough to put it to good use.
Relations: Her parents were Efrafans.
Bio: Bryony is a yearling whose primary motive is to prove she can do something. Having grown up on stories of the founders and their amazing accomplishments, the liberation of Efrafans like her parents most notably, she's developed a bit of a rebellious nature, and desires more from her life than raising kittens. She has left the warren only a few times and has never gone very far, and has a reckless habit of talking back to Owsla, though only when its well deserved.
Played By: Rabscuttle

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Name: Inlethlay
Rank: Outskirter
Gender: Male
Appearance: Black, nearly iridescent fur. Has a short thick scar above his left eye and a vague limp in his front left. With the approaching season his coat has taken on a glossy deep blackness. Eyes a deep shining brown with reddish glow in darker lighting. A gaunt and lank muscular build with notable agility.
Personality: With the deaths of the founders Inlethlay has taken more and more to solitude and become more withdrawn and cold.
Relations: Mixed from Watership and Efrafan warrens. Has deep respect for Thistledown and Magpie. Considers Knapweed to be the embodiment of everything the warren was built to escape.
Bio: Has always been viewed as an outsider since the night of his stillbirth and inexplicable revival. Has spent much of his time patrolling and guarding the warren of his own accord. Tends to keep to the night. He is disgusted with the behavior of the warren Owsla, and has taken several opportunities to forcibly "diffuse" conflicts between them and the warren residents. He sees a deep and growing need to involve himself in the warren happenings as he believes the tides of the future are darkening rapidly. He has no idea what an outskirter can do, but he would rather die fighting than allow Knapweed to destroy the cherished history of the founders.
Played by: Kenna1313

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Name: Riverrose
Rank: normal
Gender: doe
Appearance: Nearly full grown now, River is light tan with black markings on her nose, ears and feet. She has grown to be a medium sized doe with a slightly wiry frame and strong legs. Her almond eyes are dark with a caramel tint to them. Riverrose as a kitten
Personality: Very friendly and caring, she can also be a bit shy. Since Bigwig's death, she's started to close down a bit, while still staying close to her friends.
Relations: daughter of Pipkin
Bio: River was born in the Watership Warren and has spent her entirely short life there. She has always been curious about the outside world, but so far has been too nervous to actually go too far away on her own. However, depending on the way things go in the warren this winter, she may finally gain the courage to leave.
Played By: Neptune Bride

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Name: Heather
Rank: Kitten
Gender: Female
Appearance: Her fur is a mix of creams near her belly and front and cappuccinos on the rest of her body. Her ears are a dark chocolate with a similar colored pattern on most of her face. Rough/quick pencil sketch.
Personality: Heather is a VERY curious kitten, she'll stick her nose in just about anything. She doesn't like adults well, especially when they try and act sweet around her, she'll snap.
Relations: Unknown
Bio: Heather wandered onto the Down recently after apparently becoming very frustrated with another warren where her parents had lived. When they were killed by a man, some of the adults tried to sooth her and said that they would come back for her eventually. After realizing the truth, she became bitter towards the adult rabbits and wanted nothing more to do with that warren. Still fairly young, she found her way to the Down, just barely escaping a riled up badger. Maybe here she can find an adult worthy of looking up to.
Played by: Teh Shoujo

Name: SpringBuck (Buck for short)
Rank: Unknown
Gender: Male
Appearance: A very large, well built belgian hare. His markings are similar to that of a common german shephard dog, with a tan belly and darker, near black markings covering his back and muzzle, along with tan "eyebrow" markings. He has a few chunks missing from a few fights with other rabbits, but his main distinguishing feature, aside from being more hare-like than rabbit, is that he "wears" two springs on his front arms, like long bracelets.
As a rough estimate of size, Knapweed, the largest rabbit so far in the roleplay stands (on all fours) at his shoulder, not including his ears. Thistledown is as tall as his knee.
Personality: Buck is incredibly laid back. He rarely tries to cause trouble, yet somehow always ends up in it due to his large size. He can be quite clumbsy, walking into things and getting in the way, again, because he's quite slow and hefty. Yet, when he needs to, he can run extremely fast due to his powerful back legs.
He can be a little slow of mind sometimes, too, not quite thinking of the obvious at times.
Relations: None known.
Bio: Buck appears to be from another warren, used as an intimidation tool more than anything else. However he's grown weary of this life and moved on, being generally stronger than everyone except the chief, no one really made to stop him.
He found himself at watership down by following what appeared to be a scout, only to grow a feeling of loyalty to the place he's found.
Played By: Kiwi-Kiwi-chan

It was a surprisingly clear Autumn day. The pale grey clouds were cracked in places which revealed a deep blue sky, though the sun remained hidden and the wind was sharp with cold. The leaves of the Beech tree had turned a rusted gold and flittered dryly in the wind, occasionally dropping to the ground or being carried off in the persistent breeze.

Knapweed had ventured down the slope a ways, sitting on his haunches to observe the fields and sparse woodlands below for any sign of danger or abnormality. He sniffed the wind, how it smelled deeply of the cold season approaching, and how he enjoyed it despite the slightest shiver of anxiety. These days were crucial. Bigwig was gone, and with him the last of the warren's history. Many feared that the great stories would be forgotten, but this was last on Knapweed's mind. Beneath a facade of grim reverence, he was ecstatic and impatient, doing as much as he could to suggest his own competence and readiness to lead.

He was taking on much more authority already, and meanwhile scoping out the warren for anyone else who might have some faint idea that they themselves would be the next Chief Rabbit. Knapweed doubted there was any more capable than he for the ruling of this warren, but that didn't mean he could simply plow his way through. He was aware that he was disliked by most of the rabbits in the warren. This couldn't be changed, but even if he was disliked, he could prove that he was strong and cunning and knew what needed to be done.

The rabbits would follow whoever they trusted to protect them. He need only assert that he could do this better than any other and he would at last have fufilled his goal. And he was already aware of what they would need to do. He would lead an expedition of choice bucks to Nuthanger farm, where they would collect as much Flay-rah as possible to bring back to the warren for winter. It would take a series of ventures, but that couldn't be helped. They needed food, and he needed a chance to prove his worth. Not that I should have to. He tilted his head toward his hind paw as he scratched at his ragged left ear with irritable quickness. They ought to realize I've more experience than most. Who else is any bit as prepared as I am?

Riverrose sat near the top of the hill, watching the goings on around her distractedly. She had become somewhat depressed and rather withdrawn since Bigwig's death, especially watching Knapweed slowly make his bid to rule the warren. She hated the idea of leaving her home, but she wasn't sure if she could stand living here with him in charge. She shivered as she remembered hearing old tales of the way the Effrafa warren had been run before, and she could just imagine that Knapweed's rule of the Down would be just as terrible and militaristic.

As she scanned the hill, she thought she caught a glimpse of the new little kitten that had showed up on the Down a while ago. Heather, River thought her name was. At first, River couldn't tell what Heather was up to, but then she saw a toad come hopping out of the tall grass. 'Ahh, the little one is hunting. Cute. Bit of an attitude problem at times, but she's got potential, I think,' River mused, watching the young doe at play.

She giggled when the toad jumped away at the last moment and Heather's leap sent her tumbling. But the mirth was short lived as the fall landed her right in Knapweed's side. River cringed and hunkered down, not wanting to see the scolding she was sure was coming Heather's way. With a sigh, she laid her head on her paws, looking up at the cloudy fall sky, pondering the future.

((and in the meantime))
Thistledown shivered lightly as he appeared from the hedgerows. He had been looking around, sizing up the boarders around the hill of the downs. He was covered in the dew that refused to dry in the undergrowth, and set to pulling the burrs out've his longer fur.
He seemed troubled, he had been for some time now, but refused to tell any of the others his issues. He was also getting edgey, snapping at many who pried too much, and especially at the owsla who tried getting a bit too authoritive with him.

River gave Magpie a sad smile and a friendly rub when he came up to her. He was one of the few rabbits that she still felt mostly herself around, even if he was still treated like little better than an outsider by many of the others.

She smiled a little at his joke. "Maybe so. I'm almost certain I won't be staying if he does take over. It's just.... I'm a little afraid of leaving on my own. I dreamed about it so often when I was a kitten, but now that the actual possibility is so near, I'm a bit nervous. I've never been beyond the sight of the home tree my entire life. I don't know where I'd go, I don't know if I could make it out there on my own. You've got an advantage over many of us, Magpie. You've been a hlessi. You might prefer warren life, but you're no stranger to the outside world. I guess I'm just kind of nervous and missing Bigwig a bit, not that I knew him very well, of course."

The whole time she was talking to Magpie, she had kept one eye on Knapweed and Heather, hoping he wouldn't be too harsh on the poor little kitten. Thankfully, it seemed as if he was able to mostly keep his temper in check. Even if Heather was a bit unfriendly at times, River didn't like seeing any kitten being scolded for natural, playful behavior.