Post by Berwald Oxenstierna on Sept 2, 2012 20:29:59 GMT -5
Berwald Oxenstierna
FULL NAME HERE Berwald Oxenstierna
NICKNAMES Sve, Su-san and Ber only if he consents to it. Waldy is out of the question.
GENDER Male
AGE 24 years old
ETHNICITY Swedish
NATION OF ORIGIN[/b] Rossiya
CLAIM TO FAME Becoming a bloodthirsty monster during battle
WEAPON OF CHOICE Two heavy long swords secured to his waist by a thick black belt. The one on the right lacks a sheath
WHAT SHIP ARE THEY ON?[/b] Ignis
WHAT IS THEIR POSITION?[/b] Boatswain
YOUR CHARACTER'S LIKES Swimming; Being raised away from the water most of his life, the second Berwald saw the ocean he taught himself how to swim. He's quite talented actually and can hold his breath for incredible amounts of time.
Pressing flowers; Yes, it's girly. No, he doesn't care what you think. He carries around a small journal full of flowers he's collected. It's a miracle when it's not on him.
Music; Being a rather stoic person, Berwald has always been fascinated with the way people can express themselves through music.
Dancing; For a man his size he's very light on his feet and an exceptional dancer. He won't do it whenever though. He has to be in the mood. Or drunk. Like, stupidly drunk.
Storms; The 80+ mph winds, pounding rain and hail have always excited him and he loves the challenge it presents on a ship.
Animals: Especially cute, fluffy ones. Though they don't seem to like him. They always run away when he tries to pet them.
Brawling; What can he say? Berwald enjoys a good fist fight. Off duty you can often find him in a bar duking it out with someone.
Heights; Even though he's taller than most, Berwald enjoys being even higher. He'll climb trees, the mast of a ship or even roofs just to be higher.
YOUR CHARACTER'S DISLIKES Mornings; Berwald really isn't a morning person and bothering him during that time is not something most would be willing to risk.
People touching his glasses; Since he's a dead man without them, people who touch them are practically begging to have their hands broken.
Slackers; People who shirk their work get on Berwald's nerves and anyone who he catches slacking off will likely be slapped upside their head.
Wearing uniforms; The idea of being just another faceless tool in uniform bothers Berwald so he'll often forego his own uniform in favor of his own clothing.
English; Since his accent is so thick, Berwald has trouble speaking clearly and pronouncing things correctly. He'd rather just not talk at all.
Government; Yeeeeeah so politics really isn't the big guy's strong suit. He's perfectly content to stay in the dark when it comes to discussing politics.
FEARS Falling; As a man addicted to heights, falling is always one misstep away so it's become a fear over the years.
A slow death; The thought of dying slowly and painfully sends shivers up Bernwald's spine. He'd rather be shot and have it done with.
Going blind; His vision has always been bad, even as a small child, and has only gotten worse as he grew. He's terrified of his vision deteriorating even further and getting so bad as to�leave him completely blind.
GOALS Berwald dreams of rising up the ranks and becoming a Captain of his very own ship.
QUIRKS/ODDITIES/HABITS Humming; If you listen close enough, you can catch him humming while he works. Pay attention and you'll find he hums every genre of music.
Intimidating presence; He's sorta stuck this way. Honest, he's tried to fix it and smile but it only makes it worse.
Traditions; Throughout his years, Berwald has adopted some... curious tradions of him own. For instance, on each new ship he joins he always jumps from the top of the mast into the water and hang from the crow's nest.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Berwald has been around 6'4" for the majority of his life and he's (hopefully) not getting any taller.
He has two miniature silver hoops in the cartilage of his left ear and a gold Nordic cross necklace under his shirt. They were both gifts from a childhood friend and he would rather take a flogging than take them off.
An ornate tattoo of a crowned cross supported by two lions spans across Berwald's right side, curving around slightly onto his chest and back and dipping below his waistband to his hip. As of yet, no one knows he even has a tattoo.
www.tillys.com/tillys/images/catalog/medium/165269145.jpg
If he loses or misplaces his glasses he'll wander around blindly trying to find him. Chances are, he'll be bruised and broken before he finds them; he's a total clutz without them because his depth perception sucks.
OVERALL PERSONALITY Typically a laid back guy, Berwald could easily pass as a definition of chill though he doesn't look it. He'd rather relax by building something or hanging out with friends, possibly even going out to eat once in a while. He tries not to let the little things get to him with success so far and mostly lets things run their course, letting the chips fall where they may so to speak.
Though a very mellow person, Berwald is also very serious and no nonsense. He doesn't put up with people slacking off or complaining. Often called a killjoy or boring, he can at times come off as overly stern and demanding. However, people do admit that his forceful tactics are effective and lead to good results even if they complain.
Even with his calm personality Berwald has different sides to himself. A truly frightful side appears when he loses his temper. He cares for no one when angry, be they friend or foe. The only thing he cares about is getting revenge. He'll kill anything that gets in his way and doesn't care. No measure is too extreme for him when he's in a rage. However, when angered over a friend being hurt nothing matters but protecting them. In fact, one of the only known ways to get Berwald truly angry is to harm someone he cares for. Eventually his anger does fade but it leaves a burning sensation in his chest and he retreats into himself in shame. Guilt for what he's done to others is overwhelming when he's calmed down and he's often depressed for days, even weeks, afterward. The only person to ever bring him out of his anger before he does anything is an old childhood friend though Berwald still isn't sure how he did it.
Berwald is also surprisingly playful, enjoying jokes and pranks like a teenage boy. He likes to tease as well though most people think he's making fun of them. Games of tag and kickball are among his favorite things to do and he'll often join younger children in playing them (though he'll go easy on them). Arts and crafts is another thing he likes to do and kids often rope him into doing them with him even though he pretends not to want to.
A truly commendable trait Berwald possesses is his unfailing loyalty. If someone proves themselves in his eyes, regardless of who they may be, and earns his trust there is no way in Hell Bernwald would ever let harm come to them. Berwald considers the those he trusts as 'his people' and no one will ever convince him otherwise. Few have ever earned this undying trust, however but for those who have he'd gladly follow them to the end of the world and take the first step off it they asked, no questions raised.
Though he gives off an aura of confidence and grace, Berwald can actually be rather self conscious and awkward. Because of his height he is always noticed by others which makes him uncomfortable in his body which leads to his clumsiness when moving around. This lack of coordination often leaves him tripping over things and hitting his arms and legs on furniture and doors. Because of this, he wishes he was shorter like other people so that they wouldn't stare as much and he could be comfortable. Despite this, he is proud of who he is and how he looks and eventually learns to relax around those who stare.
BACKSTORY/HISTORY Born and raised in what was formerly Sweden, Berwald didn't have a wonderous childhood with rich parents who loved him or a horrible one where he was ignored; it was what some would call underprivledged. His parents did what they could to get by, scraping by just enough to support themselves and their son. His father was a fisherman and left his wife and young son for long periods of time while his mother worked as a maid for wealthy people in town.
When Berwald was only three his father died at sea, drowned during a horrendous storm, and left them all alone. His mother was heartbroken after hearing of the news and never told Berwald what happened, instead convincing him that she never knew who his father was. It was that descision that led her to move away from the ocean, leaving behind the constant reminder of her husband's death to somewhere completely landlocked. And so he grew up, an only child raised by a newly overprotective mother who worked herself to the bone to support them.
As Berwald grew older he helped out his mother any way he could, getting odd jobs whenever he could to help earn money. However, very few people gave him the chance due to his demanding presence. It was during one of his jobs that he encountered his first bit of trouble, getting into a fight with a group of local ruffians. From then on clashes occurred frequently, often resulting in Berwald beaten and bruised beyond recognition.
For years he lived his life working infrequent jobs and getting into fights before he left on a spur of the moment idea, leaving for anywhere other than his home. He traveled around for a long period of time before he witnessed something that would change his life. A group of Imperial Navy officers had docked in the port town Bernwald stopped in. Seeing the way they moved about the ship, so effortlessly and efficiently, ignited a passion in Berwald to become just like them. So at the age of 22 he dropped everything and joined the Navy, giddy with the prospect of sailing the ocean and serving with everything he has.
Short painful breaths passed through a pair of pale lips as small puffs of frost billowed forth into the growing darkness. Sharp green-blue eyes flickered all around, looking for any movement. A wet tongue darted out to moisten a pair of chapped lips but only succeeded in making it worse.
Rising from his crouching position among the brush, Sweden hunched over and attempted a sprint to a large tree. Taking only a moment to assess possible footholds he scrambled up, his large size making it difficult. Grabbing a study branch with both hands, he hauled himself up, grunting quietly at the effort before straightening out against the branch.
Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Sweden tensed at the sounding of feet crunching through snow. Gazing down carefully from his perch, all of his senses were on overdrive. The rough needles of the tree digging into skin where they had gotten under clothing, the numbing pain of cold as it seeped through his warm winter clothing and stole away all his warmth... As if magic, a figure melted from the darkness with a small light in it's hand.
The figure was cloaked in thick clothing that masked it's gender yet allowed easy movement. It was small, much smaller than Sweden and under any other circumstances he wouldn't have thought twice about taking it on. After pausing and sweeping the light around slowly, obviously looking for something, someone, it began to move away and turned to walk another direction.
Relaxing his rigid position, Sweden let his head rest on the branch, arms wrapped around it in a bear hug. Relief washed over him in a welcome tide before dying instantly as an suckle subtle groan sounded. Easing himself up a slowly as possible, all hope fled from his body as a loud crack came below him and he plummeted towards the ground, slamming into branches on the way.
Finally his topple creased and he openned his eyes a crack to look out at the world. He saw nothing until blinding white flooded his eyes and caused him to give a low whine. After a moment the light moved to point away and Sweden risked opening his eyes. At first he saw only spots of light before they faded and revealed the figure from before, only this time upside down, his face lit up in triumph.
"I win, papa! But, uh, we should probably get mama to cut you down first so you don't look like Jerk England when he's mad."
Glancing up.. or down at himself he realized he was in fact caught hanging from a tree. Reaching up with his hands he made to undo the branches but fell back, numb fingers unable to grab anything. Huffing in resignation, he let his and dangle above his head as he waited for Peter to return with Finland.
Note t'self: no trees next t'me.
Rising from his crouching position among the brush, Sweden hunched over and attempted a sprint to a large tree. Taking only a moment to assess possible footholds he scrambled up, his large size making it difficult. Grabbing a study branch with both hands, he hauled himself up, grunting quietly at the effort before straightening out against the branch.
Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Sweden tensed at the sounding of feet crunching through snow. Gazing down carefully from his perch, all of his senses were on overdrive. The rough needles of the tree digging into skin where they had gotten under clothing, the numbing pain of cold as it seeped through his warm winter clothing and stole away all his warmth... As if magic, a figure melted from the darkness with a small light in it's hand.
The figure was cloaked in thick clothing that masked it's gender yet allowed easy movement. It was small, much smaller than Sweden and under any other circumstances he wouldn't have thought twice about taking it on. After pausing and sweeping the light around slowly, obviously looking for something, someone, it began to move away and turned to walk another direction.
Relaxing his rigid position, Sweden let his head rest on the branch, arms wrapped around it in a bear hug. Relief washed over him in a welcome tide before dying instantly as an suckle subtle groan sounded. Easing himself up a slowly as possible, all hope fled from his body as a loud crack came below him and he plummeted towards the ground, slamming into branches on the way.
Finally his topple creased and he openned his eyes a crack to look out at the world. He saw nothing until blinding white flooded his eyes and caused him to give a low whine. After a moment the light moved to point away and Sweden risked opening his eyes. At first he saw only spots of light before they faded and revealed the figure from before, only this time upside down, his face lit up in triumph.
"I win, papa! But, uh, we should probably get mama to cut you down first so you don't look like Jerk England when he's mad."
Glancing up.. or down at himself he realized he was in fact caught hanging from a tree. Reaching up with his hands he made to undo the branches but fell back, numb fingers unable to grab anything. Huffing in resignation, he let his and dangle above his head as he waited for Peter to return with Finland.
Note t'self: no trees next t'me.
YOUR NAME OR ALIAS Tori is fine. Flower child is cool too. Anything you want to call me is okay with me.
WHERE CAN WE CONTACT YOU? You could email or text me if you want. Just ask for it and I'll gladly give it out.
WHERE DID YOU FIND US? www.aph-manoroffate.proboards.com I'm Sweden there too so I borrowed some things (coughPersoalityAndRPSamplecough)[/size]
