Michael Woodshroud - Mouse

[Hermie]

Name: Michael Woodshroud
Nicknames/Aliases: Specter, Mossflower's Ghost
Gender: Male
Age: Fourscore and six seasons
Species: Wood mouse
Occupation: Cook

Physical Appearance:

General--
Slender and lightly built, Michael can get into places most other beasts can't. His slim body deceives his occupation. His fur is brown on his back, with a lighter tan on his belly, which extends to his chin. His eyes are a green-tinted blue, and his smile radiates warmth and friendliness. He doesn't have much upper body strength, but his legs are very strong. He also has a spear-shaped burn on his left arm from a cooking accident. The burn is long healed, but the fur on the burn is slightly thinner.

Attire--
Michael wears a simple green tunic with a brown and green splotched cloak, allowing him to hide from predators. This is how he got his name. He also wears a leaf-shaped pendant on a simple brown string. Michael's eyesight is rather poor, so he wears a set of spectacles of a simple round design.

Possessions:

Always prepared, Michael carries a dirk. It is easily concealed within his cloak, and has a smoke-darkened blade. The handle is a simple and leather-wound, with a short cross tree hilt. In his home, he has various cooking tools and basic furnishings carved from the soil and covered with blankets. He also has a small library of books, writing tools, and a six-stringed musical instrument he made himself. He also has a stout yew branch he uses for fishing in the river. Other than that, he doesn't need very much.

Personality:

He is a friendly mouse who would sooner offer a pawshake than his blade. He has never had to kill another beast. Preferring to scare away foebeasts than to meet them in a fight, his blade has rarely shed blood, and when it did, it was nowhere near fatal. He always welcomes friendly beasts into his home, which is a den underneath a giant oak tree that he dug out himself. Inside, there is enough room for himself and a few guests. There is a workable kitchen inside, and he uses it to it's fullest extent. He is also quite intelligent, having spent a lot time to study the ways of nature among other things. He is also very good with riddles, and regularly challenges his brain to a new puzzle. He also enjoys writing poetry.
Michael is also analytical and inventive. He is always looking for ways to improve things. He can also read otherbeasts very well, and is an excellent judge of character. He also enjoys being around babes, finding their growing minds an endless fascination. He always says he's an old soul that's young at heart.

Strengths:

Michael has learned to blend in with the scenery, making him nearly invisible to all but the keenest of eyes. His legs are also very strong, allowing a powerful kick and a fast sprint.

Weaknesses:

Although his legs are strong, he lacks endurance to run long distances. He also is very hesitant when it comes to attacking anybeast, and without his spectacles, his vision is very poor.

History/Background:

As a wood mouse, Michael has lived under the threat of vermin all of his life. His parents and siblings were nearly killed by a group of rats when their home was raided. However, he and his family hid from view, using their natural surroundings to hide. This is how they began to teach Michael and his siblings how to use camouflage. Though during the raid, one of the vermin killed another fighting over their meager possessions. This is how he came across his dirk. It was kept well hidden on the rat's body, and Michael found it checking to see if the rat was alive or dead. Seeing the dead rat made Michael think twice about life and death, and he decided he would only kill another beast when absolutely necessary.

Several life lessons like this aided him in learning survival skills. His mother taught him basic field medicine and how to stitch wounds, as well has how to cook. His father taught him how to forage an find the best roots and berries, as well as how to fight. He and his siblings worked together to keep the family alive. In time, Michael's skills in camouflage grew enough so that he was able to conceal the entrance to their home, and vermin passed by harmlessly. Only if one knew what to look for, they would find it.

In time, he grew restless, and decided to strike it on his own. Their family lived in the southern parts of Mossflower, so he decided to move to the northern areas, only a short walk from the River Moss. Having lived near the waterways, he naturally met the Guosim. He was also quite good in their "debates", usually sparking new viewpoints and adding new opinions. He also met various otters, and sometimes sea otters.

Relationships:

• Mother, Father, brother and sister, all living in the southern reaches of Mossflower.
  
• Friend of the Guosim among other woodlanders
  
• Friend of the otters and sea otters

Other

Although he is a cook and as such samples all new flavors and foods, he cannot tolerate fermented drinks. This drew curious looks from the Guosim, who loved their shrewbeer.

Final edit: A few things tweaked and polished. It's good to go now. ^^

[Blackbeak Silvertalon]

I ish feeling nice today. Not like Ash, who would make you redo the history cause it doesn't have paragraphs. Accepted.