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The basics

Name: Melunha
Gender: male
Alignment: Noir
Rank: Rook
Cert Personality Keywords: Flamboyant, Reckless

Character Creation Contest!
October 7th @6PM PST - October 31st @6PM PST


Response: (Done journal style)
October 23

I've been running around, nonstop, all week. Longer, probably, as the days keep melting into each other. There is so much to do to get ready for winter. Supplies to be stored, buildings to repair, scouting trips, guiding in the last few caravans before snow chokes the passes and trade stops for winter.

The Rooks and Bishops also have to heal, any number of wounded from battle, or even accidents. There have been a few in the mad dash to get all ready for winter. And we still have our own skirmishes to deal with, patrol duty and everything else. It's like Rooks are pulling triple duty, while the Pawns only have double duty. There is little time for sleeping or eating, just grab what you can when you can.

I shouldn't complain, we are all short on sleep. Still, the only thing keeping me from cursing my choice to join the ranks of Rooks is the light at the end of the tunnel. Winter will end, spring will come, and one day I will be Queen.

Still, I haven't been my old self, even my bunkmate said as much, wondering why I've seldom joked around, or stopped my pranks. Well, nearly stopped, as Halloween draws near I have spooked a few people and we are planning a big prank on Halloween. With ghosts, goblins and other spooks. We've roped in nearly every Rook, and a few Pawns too, to help. We plan to turn one of the houses in town into a spooky house, it's owned by an aunt of one of the Rooks.

We are worried about time constraints, will we be able to pull it off? But we have a back-up plan if not. Some of us will just wander around (the costumes and make-up are exceptional) and scare our fellow soldiers in the barracks.

This is all distractions, though, from what winter will bring. We won't be bunking down to wait it out, war will continue on no matter how cold it gets. Or how much snow falls. This does worry me, cold is one thing but snow and blizzards are another. How will we fight? How will we defend ourselves? Snow is hard enough to walk in, let alone try to fight a war in. I wonder what they were thinking when they decided to fight on through winter. Not just Noir. Blanc as well, it seems they will fight through the coldest of seasons too.

I wonder if their soldiers are doing the same as us. From the important tasks right down to the pranks and jokes meant to keep moral up. I hope so. We are, after all, essentially the same people. Though we have been split for a long time, so maybe not. It makes me wonder about the war. It's over the Gate, but Prophylaxis has control of that. Why, then, don't Noir and Blanc reunite? Together we could beat Prophylaxis and take control of the Gate.

Maybe it's been too long that Noir and Blanc have been apart. So now we are stuck fighting both Blanc and Prophylaxis. Even though they claim to be neutral, at least they seem to have retreated to their own boarders. So winter should see mostly action with Blanc. At least I know Blanc will have all the hardships we will face. Still, it is nice to think that, someday, this war will be over. Even if Noir and Blanc never reunite, it would be nice to have peace.

And that reminds me. Where does the Hong Empire fit in all this? I've heard there are Ambassadors here from the Hong. I hope it's peaceful, what ever it is. Having to add to our already crowded war efforts would be unpleasant.

Here's hoping the command (on both sides) decide to give us winter off. I doubt it will happen, but being able to visit home for winter would be a welcome change of pace. Hell, even just staying in the barracks all winter would be better then going out in the snow and cold to fight.

The personality

Melu is fun loving, and for him fun can come in many forms. Even just humming a tune to make work go by faster. Though, Melu would be more likely to sing a lively song (sometimes with lyrics that might upset some delicate sensibilities XD) or make up a game to get things moving faster. He is rather loud, having very little sense of volume control, even what he calls a whisper most people would consider a regular speaking voice. Melu is also blunt, unafraid to speak his mind or tell you the truth. He doesn't think words should be sugar coated. As such he also tends to wear his emotions on his sleeve, though he rarely whines about his woes.
Melu won't let anything stop him from completing his goal, to be Queen. It's just about his only goal, short term goals aren't something he sticks to well. But he won't let anyone tell him he can't or won't be Queen, he'll fight however many battles needed. For now, though, this determination is put into his Bishop. What ever he wants, Melu will do his best to get it. He's also creative, able to piece together something from spare parts. Or make a slap-job repair that actually lasts as long as needed. He can see the potential in things, even busted things, and get the parts together in some semblance of working order. Art, too, when he's got free time, is something Melu uses his creativity for. Mostly painting, but if a costume is needed Melu is the Rook to see.
Melu is very reckless, often running into a battle with out thinking it fully through. This has gotten him into much trouble, and he's not always been able to get himself out of it. Many think he'd have been better as a Pawn, considering his rush in reckless ways. However, Melu does not see himself a fighter, even when he can manage to hold his own. He's always done better as support, but often his concern for fellow Noir is great enough to have him rushing in to attract the enemy's attention. He figures that with his healing knowledge, he'll be able to buy a wounded Noir time to self heal, with verdant leaves or some such other thing that most carry. And if the other is too badly injured, Melu can at least attempt to get a heal/attack (or defend)/heal pattern going, to hold out for reinforcements. It is an aspect of himself Melu has, and still is, trying to change. An unconscious healer is no use to anyone, after all.

reserved

and posting is go

I'll get it edited, since it is a bit weak (re why Queen). But for now.

It's not that anyone thinks he's better suited to King, his father simply wanted Melu to join the ranks of Pawn because it is what Melu's father and grandfather were. Sort of a tradition thing. I do have that in there, though I'll have to add a stronger reason for Queen then his sister dressing him in girl clothes.
Especially since I just realized that Queen and King in Checkmate won't carry the female and male persona it does irl. Unless Queens are more likely to wear frilly dresses then Kings?
Even still, I'll have a better reason in there for Queen. *thinks* Ah! I got it, he didn't think he'd like fighting so choosing the path of a healer seemed a better way to enlist, thus keeping (somewhat) family tradition, and he'd get to be Queen. No, wait. Still doesn't say why he wants to be Queen. Can it be as simple as just liking the word Queen better then King? Hmm, or his memories of playing Queen and Princess are just that strong.

As far as his clownish side it's a way to deal with stress, now at least. Melu thinks laughter is the best medicine and has found it not only keeps people's spirits up but it also relieves stress and makes one forget their worries, even if for just a few moments.
As far as being reckless, Melu often doesn't think things through fully before acting, he just sees danger and jumps in. His thought is to take down the enemy before further harm can come to his comrade. And if that fails, as in Melu realizes he's not going to beat the enemy, then plan B is to get his fellow Noir out.

I'm on a borrowed lappy and hate the touchpad, so no quotes on separate issues. I'll try and be as clear as I can.

re: Other's thinking he'd be better suited as a Pawn/King. + His recklessness/rash actions.
Melu may rush in, but he's not really a good fighter. He sorta figures if the danger can be deflected to him then his fellow Noir will be able to regroup and rejoin, or if it's really bad then just get away. Melu sorta assumes that since he has more healing knowledge then a Pawn he'd be able to get a heal/attack/heal pattern going if push comes to shove. Not the best strategy, but it is something I'll work on as he grows. It's a fault Melu is fully aware of and is consciously trying to improve. As a Rook it'll be hit and miss, especially if he is close to the Noir in question. Noir pieces he isn't as close too, he'll be less likely to rush in. Unless it seems they are seriously wounded.
I hope, that by the time I've got him to Bishop this fault will be resolved. Possibly replaced with over thinking things before going in.

If push comes to shove, I can switch reckless with over thinking things now.

There's no more rebellion between Melu and his dad then there is between any strict parent and their children. It's not why Melu choose the Queen's path, though. If Pawn led to Queen that';s where Melu would be.
Melu's grandad doesn't care one way or another, so long as Melu follows the path that makes him happy.

re: Deeper into Queen vs King
He doesn't want all the armor. Frilly clothes and accessory overload are his thing. Again, this goes back to his sister dressing him up when they were kids. Even though it annoyed his family, those memories of playing dress up with Serno are his best. His father may not have been around as much as an unlisted parent, but his rules were still strict. He expected perfection at everything, from both Melu and Serno. Serno's games were as much a shelter from those rules as his jokes and pranks in school were a release from the boredom of 'learning' what Serno had already taught him.

*ttly didn't just make that up* XD

More info, yespls. Like what is a Queen expected to do, act, wear. Are there rules on how he or she should behave, do they differ between private and public? Would he have to reform his prankster ways and if not how far could he push it?

Did that cover it all?

Re: pranks:
I don't think its a personality quirk, just a stress reliever. But I think by the time Melu is old enough to be considered a Queen candidate he'll have outgrown it.
I doubt he'll ever stop joking, even if his thought of laughter being the best medicine changes, Melu will always believe there is healing in laughter. And crying, too, both can relieve the pressure/stress/tension/other emotions. And a healthy mind can lead to a healthy body, or help at least.

How much medical knowledge do I personally need? The medicines are plant based? Things like (plant name here) turned into a tea, plaster or salve type thing? What other medicines or practices do they have?

Melu loves to learn, another gift from his sister. She's a constant talker, so every chance she got she'd watch baby Melu and talk to him about everything from what happened that day at school to telling him colors and such. Though she didn't start actually trying to teach him until he was 2 years. But by the time he was 1 year Melu had a larger, understood, vocabulary then average. It's carried over into his adult life and he's always willing to learn something new, be it facts/knowledge or skills.

I'll figure out his clothes, pants and shirts can still be girly. His Queen hair might be braided, something similar to Aerith from Final Fantasy VII. Possibly his Bishop hair too, depending on how much it gets in his way.

For now I think that's all, I'll ask other questions as they come up.

I think I can fake it, or ask you if I have doubts. And research herbal medicinals.
Are plants the same in Checkmate as in our world?

Would studying Hong medicine mean going to the Hong Empire or would he make a request, through the Queen or directly to the Ambassador, for a Hong healer to come teach him? Or is that something normally covered in Rook/Bishop/Queen candidate training?