Knights of Legend App

[quarrelsomecat]

Player Name: Jess
Player E-mail: Dreamwolfed@gmail.com
Instant message contact (AIM/MSN/etc): idealistictruths
Plurk (if applicable): Bakerhound
Is the player at least 18 years of age? Yes

Character's Full Name: Tybalt
PB: Benedict Cumberbatch
Character Age: 28
Physical Description:
As a cat, Tybalt is a sleek and large Bengal cat, with one blue-green eye and the other a milky blue of blindness all the way through.

As a human, his eyes are the same, though the rest is vastly different. He is a tall (1.84m) and lanky man who looks to be around 27. He has slightly curled ginger hair and is generally clean shaven, though he let's his shadow grow from time to time, never full enough to be a beard or moustache. He has a faint scar through his left eye, which is a milky blue.

He is not picky on his dress, though he chooses sensible clothes that will not impede him in a fight. He carries himself tall and unencumbered and moves with an agility most men can not claim.

Character's Species/Race (aka human, elf, dragonblood human, etc):
Human/Free-Shifter (Felidae)

Character History:
Tybalt was raised in the Shadow World, a member of a court of shifters. The court of a Dragon King. While there were many shifters in the Dragon's court, Tybalt's family were felidae shifters. His mother was the Advisor to the King and as such, Tybalt was often left to care for his three sisters while she was in the court. His father left the Dragon's domain just days after arriving, and Tybalt and his sister's never knew him or much about him. Watching his mother's constant struggle with them and the hard work she did for the King, Tybalt grew up fast, determined to be strong enough to protect his family and help his mother.

Tybalt had become a member of the King's court by his own right a few years before the mists had taken him. He was an enforcer of justice in the Dragon's lands, and though he was always fair, he had also been harsh. He would defend an innocent man to his last breath, but a guilty man would die on his blade with little recourse, if his punishment suited it.

On one of his early assignments from the king, he was charged with bringing an accused murderer and thief before the court. Another shifter, known as Reinhart. He knew the thief himself, and those who were accusing him, and stepped before the king with his own accusations. The men accusing Reinhart had been just as guilty of crimes they were accusing the shifter of. Tybalt had no qualms in pointing out each crime the men of the court had committed. He made only enemies that day, and the King sent Tybalt to collect the shifter for questioning.

Tybalt pleaded with Reinhart to come willingly and confess to the king, so that the Dragon might see fit to spare him the punishment for his crimes. However, Reinhart had on him a cunning silver tongue, and no desire to face his accusers. He betrayed Tybalt, tricking him by playing on his stubborn pride, and in doing so, cost Tybalt his eye. Tybalt returned to the court empty-handed and hardened against the other shifter's betrayal. Putting forth his own list of crimes for Reinhart to face before the King.

A short while before the mists took him, he was wrongly accused of treachery to the King, by Reinhart himself. When finally captured and brought before the dragon, the shifter used his silver tongue to talk his way into the King's good graces and had Tybalt and three other members of the court banished.

Tybalt left the kingdom, but never lost his loyalty to the king. It was not the Dragon's fault he had been tricked. So the feline shifter searched the realm for a way to prove both his innocence and his worth to his king, in the hopes of one day returning to the court.

He remembers little of his life before arriving in the world of KoL. What little he remembers are more vague ideas and notions that drove him to be the man he is now. He remembers his mother, and the sword she gave for him when he was still too small to lift it. A sword forged by her, with the help of the King. Among those memories of her, Tybalt always tries to catch a glimpse of the faces of his mother and sisters but it is never more accessible than a half-forgotten dream. He holds fast, instead, to the values he remembers being raised on in the dragon's court. Loyalty, Courage and a fearless dedication to protecting the weak. It is the few faded memories of caring for his sisters and mother that make him especially devoted to the protection and defense of women and children. And though he does not remember his hatred toward the man who abandoned his mother, it bleeds through in a distaste for men who are disloyal or shirk their responsibilities. He has no tolerance for liars and will die before he allows his sword to be taken from him.

He has a nagging feeling that he is meant to be doing something. A purpose he can not remember and never fulfill. This drives him to constantly seek distraction and purpose to try and push back that feeling so close to failure, of a purpose never achieved.

Personality and Psychology:
Any who have read or seen Romeo and Juliet may recognize the name, Tybalt, The King of Cats. The young nephew of Lady Capulet whose fiery temper and brash attitude led him to murder and then his own demise at the hands of Romeo. This character of Shakespeare was named for another Tybalt. A true King of Cats whose life and honor were duty bound to the great King Noble. It is this feline from whom Tybalt gets his name, not the brash young Capulet. But perhaps both would have suited him, as he is driven both by an inner sense of justice and an insistent prideful fire that demands to be allowed to burn.

Like any feline may be expected to be, Tybalt is a prideful character. He is confident and sly, and very self-assured. However, Tybalt's pride is often his downfall. He believes firmly in his abilities and strengths, and will fight to prove them whenever challenged. A fact often used against him by both his enemies and his peers.

He is also very keen to justice. A quality that afforded him a position on the King's court as a trusted voice of reason and justice, as well as an officer of law. When others brought forth arguments of injustice, Tybalt initially protected the rights of the accused, arguing that those who submitted complaints could be found equally guilty of their own sins. Even when justice would go against his own desires, Tybalt more often than not would strive to protect and enforce it.

He is also temperamental. He can be easily goaded into a fight and is quick to draw his sword. If Tybalt's pride is challenged, he will not hesitate to cast aside justice and reason, both, to reclaim the lost pride. Not intentionally, but as an ingrained response.

Tybalt does not plan ahead, nor does he often learn from his mistakes. His head is centered in the now, and he only looks forward when trying to predict his opponents moves in a fight. It is for these reasons that he is often seen as brash and reckless. He prefers immediate gratification to the promise of future triumphs, and rarely stops to wonder how his actions might affect his future.

On first look, he appears to be quite a prickly fellow, often quick to stir up a verbal crossing of words or to dismiss anyone he does not see as worth the time wasted on speaking to them. He is thin and wiry, and it gives him the impression of being weak in many people's eyes, but Tybalt makes up for what he lacks in strength with spirit, determination and skill with a sword that rivals that of many larger and stronger than himself. He knows well how to use an opponents own moves against them to tip the scales in his favor.

His manner of speaking can often come off as sarcastic or brash, even rude, and at times it truly is. Much of it stems from the fact that Tybalt believes honesty is important. He was raised on beliefs of truth and justice, and he holds to them a touch too firmly. He knows the difference between being honest and being too honest, but some rebellious piece of his pride likes to goad on anyone he does not like, and his truths become more brutal than necessary. His willingness to call people out on their own shortcomings is part of what made him so unpersonable with those he grew up with, and it is this more than anything that makes him so standoffish now.

More than anything, Tybalt loves a good fight. Unlike many, he does not fight to reach the end result, but for the pleasure and thrill of the battle itself. He would sooner end a fight with the point of his blade to his enemy's throat, and let them live, than run a good opponent through. For this, many others he has defeated either respect him or attempt to fight him again in the future. He is often counseled to dispatch of his enemies, lest they kill him in his sleep, but once more, his pride triumphs over reason.

It is a surprise, with the number of times he has been beaten through means of trickery or cheating, that Tybalt still abides to and holds the honor of a swordsman. For Tybalt, that honor is as much a part of the justice he swore to uphold as any. He believes in using the weaknesses of opponents against them, but he will always face an opponent, rather than stab them in the back. He is not naive. In fact he is really quite cynical and sarcastic, at times. But he believes in an honest fight, and he will try to keep it one as long as he can.

Killing without honor is tantamount to murder, and Tybalt refuses to fall to the level of those he accuses. This does not make him kinder, however, and if justice calls for it, he will play the part of the executioner.

It has always been clear that Tybalt is loyal. Even after someone had turned his king against him, Tybalt remained loyal to his sovereign. His prickly, prideful shell tends to keep many at a distance. But those who manage to slip past it, quickly realize the truth about this swordsman. He has a good and loyal heart, and he would willingly set aside his own values in the name of protecting the people he cares for. Even if it means helping a bitter enemy. Once a friendship has been forged, he will go far out of his way to keep that friendship alive.

He does not fear blood or his own death, so much as he fears losing. And while he prefers to spare a life than end one, he will kill when it it necessary. He would like everyone to believe he is a hardened warrior who is unaffected by the trials and tribulations of life. But that projection is nothing more than a front for his pride. Tybalt would rather see his opponents live to fight another day than kill them. He has seen and dealt enough deadly blows in his life to not wish for more. And while he is often harsh and provoking to potential opponents, he will only ever show kindness to children. His memories of his own siblings and helping to raise them have made him particularly invested in protecting others. Whether in a fight or in his life, Tybalt knows the importance of patience. This shows most when he is around children.

Fears/Weaknesses/Points of note: 
Tybalt has an intense fear of water. He never learned to swim, and it is likely he never will. His phobia extends beyond rushing rivers and great lakes. His pride is the only thing that will force the cat across even the shallowest streams. If he can avoid even the rain, he will. Often holing himself up indoors, far out of sight of others. He stubbornly refuses to allow others to know of this fear, which is the only reason you might find Tybalt out in the rain or crossing one of those streams. But any who look close enough will see the shake in his shoulders.

He is also reckless with his own life. Tybalt is not afraid of death, and he will face opponents he could never be expected to win against to test his own ability. It is losing that he fears, if anything, in these fights. Generally, he rarely stops to think on the possibility during the fight. This makes Tybalt a dangerous opponent. He can attack with almost reckless ferocity and tenacity. His moves are often unexpected for the danger inherent in them. Where a swordsman should always keep their opponents at arms length, Tybalt is happy to shove forward and slip right into the danger areas.

Which brings up another important point. That whole not looking to the future thing. Tybalt lives in the now, and this is a problem. Many of his actions could have serious future consequences. From picking a fight he should not have, to sparing the life of an opponent who may later attempt to seek revenge on him. He is, unfortunately, just as like to disregard or forget the past. So when said prior opponents return with their vendetta, Tybalt rarely remembers that they were out there to want revenge on him. He does not often learn from his mistakes, as a result.

Powers and Abilities:
Tybalt is a skilled swordsman and fighter. He has had a sword in his hands since he was old enough and strong enough to lift one, and he will still be holding one when he dies. He is also very agile and quick to make up for his lack of bulky muscular strength.

His power is his ability to shift his shape, from cat to human, and back again. He is not to be confused with Lycanthropes or Shifters of the half-breed sort. Tybalt can either be a man or a cat, and never both. The power for this lies in the old magic, and his cat form affords him no special abilities beyond that of any other cat. He can not speak, nor does he have thumbs, but he does gain considerable balance, night-vision and an ability to go places no man could have gone.

As a cat, he maintains his understanding of human language and ability to read. As a man, he maintains the flexibility and balance afforded cats.
Roleplay Samples

Link to a sample of your character in action:
sixwordstories.dreamwidth.org/68721601.html
Link to a sample of your prose writing style:
http://quarrelsomecat.dreamwidth.org/2773.html

Any other important information (including special inventory items in their possession):
Tybalt would have with him his sword, forged for him by his mother and simple in appearance but sharp and deadly in his hands. The handle is bound in plain, soft leather straps with no adornments, but the blade is crafted of a light steel and honed sharp. It's the only possession Tybalt has been known to keep on him, beyond the clothes on his back.

Why do you think this character would join/work with the Knights?
Tybalt was raised with a code of court that is very similar to that of a knights code. His entire life he was taught to seek justice, to uphold the truth and to look out for those who were weaker than him. He has his short-comings, as most creatures do, but Tybalt has a good and loyal heart at his center, and a fierce determination to back it up. He has been a knight all his life, without the title. It only seems right for him to choose to join them.

Besides. He is always looking for a good fight or challenge, and what better way to find both these things than as a Knight?

Do you have a preference for which NPC brought in your character?
I know little about the NPCs but from what I can read on the NPC page, I think Sir Sandazhard is the most likely to win Tybalt over. It will not take much to convince him to join the knights, as he was raised on a code very similar to their own and is seeking a purpose more than anything else. Eventually I 'd love to see him ending up in Dragon's Hide, as he is most certainly a fighter and "those who fight for justice on the edge of the blade" might have been his life's summary.