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MapleSamurai

Ben Cormier
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Wow, I haven't posted a journal in over a year (not that my content uploading has been all that better, but I digress). Anyway, I was just tagged by in this "8 Facts About Your Character" meme, and he requested I do one for Eva Naamahspawn, my tiefling bard (actually a depowered succubus) from our Curse of Strahd campaign in the Dungeons & Dragons group.



And fittingly enough, I'm actually in the process about writing a one shot story about Eva that takes place during the campaign (originally intended for the group's October contest, but the deadline for that's tonight it's not finished yet), it it's about the right time to do that!

Rules:
1. Post rules
2. Post 8 facts about your character
3. Tag 8 other people
4. Post the characters names with the owners

1) Despite her habit of sleeping around with anything that moves, Eva has zero chance of ending up with child from one of her encounters due to being infertile. She sees this as ultimately being a good thing, partly because it removes one potential consequence of her lifestyle, but mostly because she knows full well that she would be a terrible mother.

2) While being raised in the Nine Hells doesn't exactly leave one with a strong moral compass, Eva does have some standards when it comes to potential partners, including keeping her hands off anyone currently in a monogamous relationship (which is why she's never made a move on Faylen the elven druid, despite finding her attractive).

3) Speaking of Faylen, she's probably the party member Eva has the closest connection to, and the one she's the most comfortable opening up emotionally to. It might have to do with the both of them being free spirits... but it's probably due to them writing smutty fanfiction together.

4) Speaking of the above, while Faylen writes said erotica under the pen name of "Little Brown Mouse," Eva just credits herself under her real name. It's not like anyone who knows about her would be surprised, so why hide it, you know?

5) Eva is a character imported from my currently dormant Crowley University series of fantasy slice of life stories (although I have developed this Eva in a different direction throughout the course of roleplaying her), but since both versions have a history of interplanar travel, and I tend to consider all my characters as being part of the same multiverse, it's entirely possible that my two Evas may have met at some point! 

6) Speaking of Eva's planar adventures, before she ended up in Barovia, she spent quite a bit of time in the Forgotten Realms setting, only to get the Nine Hells out of dodge when the Spellplague hit, after which she spent some time in Eberron until she got the Church of the Silver Flame on her tail, at which point she was about see what Ravnica was like this time of year when she found herself shrouded in mist and ended up in Barovia.

7) Before she met the party, Eva worked as a spy and assassin for the campaign's Big Bad, the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich. She didn't exactly like what she had to do, but she maintains that she did it to survive. This made her desertion from Strahd's ranks a major surprise to all involved, including herself.

8) Since losing her powers and living life as a mortal tiefling, Eva's grown to appreciate how fragile mortals can be, now that she's susceptible to nonmagical physical harm.

Now, as for who I'm tagging...

Marianna (it's still Halloween while I'm writing this, so seems appropriate).
The Elegant Alphons Cid.
Mortimer (same as the first one).
Emona.
Umbra.
Archangel Michael.
Teeny.
Hack.

Whether those tagged decide to do one of these or not, I wish everyone reading this a Happy Halloween... or belated Halloween, depending on when you read this. ^^;
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Just a while ago, I saw and and do that OC questionnaire in their journals, and I thought, "Hey, that looks fun!" Sure, no one's tagged me to do it, but rules are dumb anyway. :P

So anyway, since it's the only story I've actually bothered to update for a while, here's some from the cast of The Witch's Apprentice. Starting with the Witch of the Woods herself!

1. What is your name? And what is your opinion of it?

I have been called many names over the countless centuries mortals have known of me, but these days they do not call me much other than simply, "the Witch of the Woods." It's a bit obvious for my tastes, but I'll admit it has a certain ring to it.

2. What are some names you would give your children (even if you don't want any)?

The Witch gives a sly grin to the interviewer, as she coyly says, Oh, so I don't have any yet, do I?

3. What's the best feeling in the world? And what's the worst?  

Nothing makes me happier more than knowing those I have met, whether for good or ill, ultimately learned from the experience and have grown better for it. I can be a harsh teacher for sure, but I believe even the most painful lessons can do a learner a world of good. That is also why it pains me so when those who seek my help and make a mistake in doing so learn nothing.

4. Best and worst food?

If one counts beverages in such a category, then I can name only tea as my favourite, particularly green teas with honey and lemon. If you speak of food in its strictest sense, I do have a certain fondness for pumpkin and mushrooms.

As for my least favourite, again if beverages count, I simply cannot stand beer and ale. How Melion has grown so fond of guzzling down such putrid liquids, I may never know. But, again, if we are
not counting beverages, I could never get myself to enjoy human flesh, in spite of what an oddly large number of people assume of me. So many in fact that when I settled down to start this business, I made a point to reassure uneasy customers of that fact. Although I had to stop bringing it up after a while, since it strangely had the opposite effect. I wonder why that is?

5. Do you like animals?

Well, of course. I would not enjoy living in a forest so much if I didn't have a fondness for the beasts of this world, after all. In fact, most of the time I even prefer animal company to the human kind. Of course, there are times when I find a depressing lack of the former in favour of the latter, but with my particular talents, such circumstances can be easily... mended. 

Just as the Witch begins to ready herself for the next question, she has a moment of epiphany and adds, Please don't tell Arthur I said that. The boy is uneasy enough around me as it is, and given recent developments, the sooner he can be at ease around me, the better. Better he not have more reason to walk on eggshells around here. But given how much use I have for his services, I likely would not change his form even if the whim came to me.

...Or at least not permanently, anyway.

6. Are you a Marysue / Garystu?

Ah yes, the fallacious form of literary criticism that falsely equates a character's narrative merit with an arbitrary power limit. How quaint of you to ask.

7. Are you a thrill-seeker/adventurer, or do you prefer the safe and familiar?

I mostly enjoy staying in my own neck of the woods, if you will pardon the pun, but that is not to say I dislike travelling. Occasionally the demand for my services will require me to travel far to conduct my business, but I'm sure you will read all about it when this Maple fellow finally chronicles more of Arthur's life as my servant. (Hey, I'm working on it! - MS)

8. Most embarrassing situation you can imagine?

Being tricked by a customer into providing my services without them upholding their end of the bargain. No such customers have succeeded yet, but that does not stop more still from trying. I have heard tell of djinn and devils falling for such chicanery though, so it would behoove me not to grow complacent with such things.

9. What compliment would make you the happiest?

Oh my dear, flattery will get you nowhere! All joking aside however, I do like it when people say they enjoy my tea or my cooking. Sometimes customers will even commend the taste of my potions, and I rarely ever take flavour into account when making them, so that's always a nice surprise. 

Aside from that, I would like to hear an old customer tell me one day that their experiences with me, good or bad, taught them a lesson that allowed them to live their lives for the better. 

10. What supposed compliment would you take the most offense at?

As far as specific compliments go, "You look good for your age." I mean, really? I know I'm older than most historical records can measure, but have you ever met an immortal who actually looks like their chronological age? We all look good for our age, thank you, so please try to think of a better compliment! 

As for situational compliments, I rather dislike any attempts to butter me up with flattery for preferential treatment, which is a sadly common occurrence in my business. If I had a gold piece for every customer who resorted to flattery to weasel their way out of my requested payment, I would have enough for a dragon to sleep on!

11. Are you a realist, optimist, pessimist, idealist, cynic or opportunist?

A realist, naturally. I've spent too long seeing how this world works to see it any better or worse than exactly how it is, and I encourage others to do the same.

12. What's your MBTI?

I believe my result on such a test would be ISTJ.

13. What is your zodiac (and do you identify with it)?

I honestly have no idea. I was born long before the constellations were even named, and I certainly don't remember that far back well enough to recall which stars were in the sky at the time. Besides, I doubt you would recognise the constellations that can be viewed from my world, anyway. 

14. What is your fashion sense or preferred style?

I do enjoy black clothing, especially in the form of long dresses. I also have a fondness for detached sleeves. In terms of the fashion of your own world, I like your "Gothic" fashions quite appealing. I shall have to try such styles for myself if I ever visit.

15. What's your favourite quote?

"A witch ought never be frightened in the darkest forest... because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in her forest was her."

Clearly this Sir Terry Pratchett understood witches far better than many mortals I have met. A shame I never had the pleasure of meeting him.

16. What's the worst injury you've taken?

Would you really like to know? Interesting. I could tell you that I have lost my head or my heart one day and walked away in no worse health than before. Or perhaps I have encountered no force that can injure me. Which would you believe... and which would be the more comforting answer from the being sitting here in front of you?

17. One random fact about you.

While I rarely accept mortal currency for my services, there is a certain circumstance in which I do. Sometimes, far more often than I'd like, some fool will come to me for the most meagre of services. The kind they could easily accomplish for themselves if they put their minds to it. In such cases I simply give them a placebo and tell them I gave them the power to do what they asked me for and just take the lowest sum they can offer. Given how frustratingly a common occurrence this is, these payments add up so much over time that I am rarely low on funds in those rare instances that I actually need money for something. 

And even if that were not the case, I still have my earnings from the line of work I did prior to my current business...
 (Me, foreshadow something in this Q&A? Surely you jest! ;P - MS)
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Well, that was the Witch of the Woods, everybody! Thank you all for reading, and we'll see you- wait, why is that interviewer looking at me? Uh... look, I'd love to, but I really have to... HAVE YOU MET MY FRIEND ARTHUR?! *Throws Arthur in front of the interviewer and runs away*
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1. What is your name? And what is your opinion of it?
Oh, right! I'm Arthur Butcher. It sounds like a normal enough name, but I was actually named after an ancient king of my homeland of Albion, so that's pretty cool.

2. What are some names you would give your children? (even if you don't want any)

Huh. You know, I've never really thought of it before. I guess since I'm named after King Arthur, maybe I'd name my kids after the knights and ladies of his court in the old stories or something?

3. What's the best feeling in the world? And what's the worst?  

The best feeling is when I can make a difference to the people I care about. The worst is when those same people need me, and there's nothing I can do to help them. Unfortunately, I've been feeling a lot of the latter lately.

4. Best and worst food?

I actually really like my green vegetables. I know those aren't the kind of foods most people prefer, but I love them anyway. In fact, since we were kids, I'd actually let Morgan sneak her veggies onto my plate when Ma wasn't looking. Other than that, I've always enjoyed dishes that mix meat and rice whenever we could afford them.

As for my least favourite, again this is kind of unusual, but I've never liked most sweet foods, other than a bit of honey and sugar in tea or stuff like that, and even then only in small amounts. In fact, the only times I've ever gone out of my way to get candy or other sweets is when I've bought them for my sister, if I could afford it.

5. Do you like animals?

Well, I've lived on a farm all my life, so I'd be pretty miserable if I didn't.

6. Are you a Marysue / Garystu?

I... don't know what those are. They sound like names, but I just said my name is Arthur, didn't I? (What, you expected him to know about idiot Internet buzzwords? He's from a medieval fantasy world, give him a break! -MS)

7. Are you a thrill-seeker/adventurer, or do you prefer the safe and familiar?

I've always been interested in other lands beyond Albion, but until recently I'd long since accepted that I would be tending our farm for the rest of my life. I mean, I was never uncomfortable with that prospect, and I've been content with just reading about far off lands and hearing tales about them from Uncle Melion and any foreigners that stop by the local bar.

After a drawn out sigh, Arthur concludes, In fact, with everything that's happened recently, I think I'm going to miss my familiar, predictable life back at the farm.

8. Most embarrassing situation you can imagine?

Horrendously screwing up something I've done right a thousand times already. I mean, failing at something I've never done before isn't pleasant, but I at least have the excuse of being new at it. But if I messed up milking the cows or weeding the garden back home? Now that would be horrible!

9. What compliment would make you the happiest?

Honestly? Nothing makes me happier than just telling me that what I did helped people when they needed it. Especially from my family.

10. What supposed compliment would you take the most offense at?

"Well, you did your best." I know that's supposed to be reassuring, but all it does is remind me that I still failed. That I still let people down...

11. Are you a realist, optimist, pessimist, idealist, cynic or opportunist?

I like to think I'm an optimist. I like to believe that as bad as things get, there's always hope that they'll get better, even if you have to make them better yourself.

12. What's your MBTI?

I'm sorry, my what? Is this like that "Mary Stu" thing?

The interviewer graciously hands Arthur a card explaining the MBTI test.

Oh, thank you! Now let's see... Huh, looks like I'm an ISFJ. That's good, right?

13. What is your zodiac (and do you identify with it)?

I don't know if you have the same zodiac where you're from, but I was born under the sign of the Firekeeper in the cycle of the Ox. I think the Firekeeper means someone is dependable and hard-working, and being born under the Ox usually means someone is honest and content with the work they're given, if a bit stubborn. I certainly hope I have most of those qualities... but considering I just recently charged into a monster-infested forest when everyone told me not to, it's pretty much a given I have that last one.

14. What is your fashion sense or preferred style?

Honestly, since my family isn't all that wealthy, none of us here can usually afford clothes that aren't strictly functional. So my wardrobe rarely gets more varied than tunics and trousers, except a cloak or coat when it's cold or rainy, or a hat when it's hot and sunny out.

15. What's your favourite quote?

"If something bad happens, and you can't do anything about it, but you can't do nothing, what do you do? You do what you can."

16. What's the worst injury you've taken?

Once I was working in our barn's upper floor and I fell and broke my arm. It was the most painful thing I'd ever felt and I couldn't do any work for almost a month. Luckily I was all healed up before harvest that year, but the family still lost a lot of work because I wasn't more careful.

17. One random fact about you.

I'm actually the best cook in our house. Maybe it's because I've always been the first one to offer to help with any job that needs doing, including Ma's cooking, but eventually I picked up enough from her that everyone prefers it when I cook dinner. Ma's still great at it of course (I'm only as good as my teacher, after all), and Pa's okay at it when he needs to fix up a meal for everybody, but Uncle Melion's culinary skills are limited to roasting wild game and fish over a campfire and gathering fruits and nuts, and don't her Morgan I said this, but every time she says she wants to cook, I start wondering if the pigs will be willing to share their slop with me instead.
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*Gets approached by the interviewer again*
 YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!!!! *books it past Melion, who turns toward the interviewer and shrugs after taking a swig of ale*
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1. What is your name? And what is your opinion of it?

Name's Melion. Well, that's wot Harry decided to call me once he took me into his family. Wargs don't really have "names" so much as we r'member wot sommun' smells like. I 'spose it's as good a name as any.

2. What are some names you would give your children? (even if you don't want any)

Never thought of it. Mind ye, I prolly already have loads of kids of me own, but I don' know where any of 'em are.

3. What's the best feeling in the world? And what's the worst?  

Best feeling's prolly spending time with the pack. I travel on me own a lot, so it's always great to see Harry, Summer and the kids again.

Or being drunk. Always like that, too.

Worst feeling's when I'm reminded of me old life, and how I gave it all away. Why d'ye think I got so fond of ale? *takes another swig*

4. Best and worst food?

Mebbe it's the wolf still in me, but nothing beats meat right off the bone! Used to like it bloody, until Harry showed me what cooked meat's like.

Also, ale.

Worst food's gotta be green veggies. I know Harry and the rest put a lot of work into growin' the stuff, but I just can't stand 'em! Good thing Arty'll eat 'em up whenever I sneak them on his plate. Or when I sneak 'em onto Morgan's plate.

5. Do you like animals?

Course I do. They're delicious!

6. Are you a Marysue / Garystu?

I dunno wot those are. I might have bedded a Mary or a Sue once. (The more you ask my characters that, the more I'm taking the piss. -MS)

7. Are you a thrill-seeker/adventurer, or do you prefer the safe and familiar?

Ha! I don' roam the land huntin' monsters 'cause I wanted a desk job!

8. Most embarrassing situation you can imagine?

After all the mighty beasts ah've felled, ah'd be mighty embarassed if summun' hired me t' take care of sumthin' measly like their house's rat problem. Even more so if I took da job and failed miserably.   

9. What compliment would make you the happiest?

Summun tellin' me I'm like family t' them. To a wolf, nuttin's more important than bein' part a the pack.

10. What supposed compliment would you take the most offense at?

Anytin' dat involves "being one of da good ones" of whatever group people want to lump me in with. Even ingnorin' how bigoted dose remarks are, every time I hear em', all I really hear is, "as much good as ye do, yer still an outcast, an outsider... not one of da pack."

11. Are you a realist, optimist, pessimist, idealist, cynic or opportunist?

Prolly a realist. I take the world as it is. Not much point in hopin' things get better or fearin' they'll get worse since it won' change any of it.

12. What's your MBTI?

Well, according to this here card Arty left here, I'd be an ESTP. Dunno wot good that does does me, though. (Huh. Wonder why all my characters score Sensing? -MS)

13. What is your zodiac (and do you identify with it)?

Can't say for sure, since I don' know my real birthday. Wargs don' really keep track of those things, or wot stars are in the sky when we're born. But Harry and the fam celebrate me birthday on the day we met, which I've bin told is under the sign of the Satyr, in the cycle of the Hound. 'Parrently the Satyr makes me wild, spontaneous and merry, an' the Hound means ah'm honest, loyal an' straightforward. People tell me that fits me pretty well, and that's good enough fer me.

14. What is your fashion sense or preferred style?

Look lad, in me line of work, ye can only afford tae wear two kinds of clothes. The kind that keeps the weather from killing ye, and the kind that keeps yer quarry from killing ye.

15. What's your favourite quote?

"Family means no one gets left behind."

Or something about ale.

16. What's the worst injury you've taken?

Trust me, after ye get bitten, mauled, stung, gored, trampled, pulverised and wot have ye by ev'ry beast that roams the land, ye start to lose count of these things. 

17. One random fact about you.

Ah'm actually a knight in da royal court of Albion, with a noble title an' an estate an' ev'rythin'. Well, I actually gave the estate away to an old mate for a good cause an' left 'em most of the money there to keep it goin'. Before that, I offered to share it wit' Harold an' Summer, but they made it clear they won' accept charity from family an' that they prefer life on the farm.

Sometimes, ah wish ah'd insisted they take it, wit' how much they're strugglin' to make ends meet lately. Especially with Morgan's sickness. If only ah'd convinced them to share in the estate, maybe ah'd have prevented Arty from making dat accursed bargain. But now we'll never know.

As the interview concludes, Melion sadly downs the rest of his ale bottle.
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Huh. Didn't think I'd end this on such a downer when I started writing this. Oh well, this probably isn't the last time I'm doing this meme, so there's always next time. I had fun doing it, and I'm surprised how much I ended up learning a about my characters in the process. I'm not going to answer the questions myself this time, but there's always the next. 

That being said, I should probably get out of here before that damn interviewer finds me again, so... 
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Saw Black Panther with :icondetective-barricade: last week, and it was great! Seriously, this has to be one the best solo Marvel movies so far! It's just too bad that I have to wait till May to see all these characters again in Infinity-

mobile.twitter.com/marvelstudi…

...April 27? I just have to wait less than 2 months?

Yay yay yay YAY Neko Emoji-37 (Yay) [V2] Yay! Eddsworld Yay Anime Emoji (Blush Oh yay dance) [V6] GIF Star vs. the Forces of Evil -  Yay! Anime Emoji (Oh yay dance) [V2] Pikachu Yay Plz 
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End of 2017

3 min read
Well, there's another year come and gone. Since my last New Years post was basically me complaining about everything that was shit about 2016, and since reminders about how shitty this year got is the last thing most people need right now, I think I'll swing in the opposite direction and list some of the good things that happened in my life this year, some minor, others less so.

1. I finally got a job since my move to my new hometown two years ago, finding employment in a local business with bosses that appreciate my sense of humour.

2. I joined a social group for adults with Asperger's Syndrome, through which I've met quite a few new friends.

3. I got my Christmas shopping as early as October this year, meaning I missed the holiday rush entirely, and my bank account wasn't completely drained by December's end.

4. In terms of movies I watched this year, all three Marvel movies this year were not only great, but managed to have entertaining villains that weren't Loki (including the one that actually had Loki), and DC released their first non-shitty movie in years in the form of Wonder Woman.

5. I got into two excellent anime series, namely My Hero Academia and The Ancient Magus Bride.

6. The Nintendo Switch came out this year and has been a smashing success for Nintendo, with such games as Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, both of which I have played and am enjoying thoroughly.

7. And, since it's only fitting that I include news concerning the content I produce for this very account, I tried out a new writing technique that has helped me conquer my writers' block and get a lot of progress done on my new story. Said technique involves writing scenes out of order, since my biggest source of writers' block is not knowing how to write the next scene before I can get to the scenes I actually have a clear idea for. But now, I just write the scenes I have a clear vision for first, allowing me to actually make progress on my stories while I'm still working out how to write the in-between scenes. And as a result, I'll have the first chapter of my new story posted before my folder gets deleted for inactivity... hopefully. ^^;

Well, Happy New Year, and regardless of how well the old went for you, hope you have a better one! :) 
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Just a quick look at what I've been working on lately apart from my writing. Since I am a visual artist as well as a writer, I thought I might try my hand at drawing my own characters. I tend to have a good idea of what each of my characters look like when I write them anyway, so I thought I'd share some doodles of the Crowley University crew.

Crowley University Cast Sketchbatch WIP v2 by MapleSamurai
Work in progress, of course. Expect to see more finished versions in the near future. :)
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Featured

8 Facts about Eva Naamahspawn by MapleSamurai, journal

OC Questions Meme by MapleSamurai, journal

Dammit Marvel! XD by MapleSamurai, journal

End of 2017 by MapleSamurai, journal

Works in Progress by MapleSamurai, journal