Post by T-Bone on Sept 13, 2011 14:05:55 GMT -5
Name: Shad Streamdog
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Species: River Otter
Occupation: Otter Crew (Yup...The whole thing. ;D)
Physical Appearance:
Possessions:
Personality:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
History:
Relationships:
Other:
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Species: River Otter
Occupation: Otter Crew (Yup...The whole thing. ;D)
Physical Appearance:
Shad stands somewhat tall, and he is the proud owner of a strong build. He isn't exactly bulky, just muscular -- his shoulders are particularly broad and his arms particularly thick. And he is so active and energetic that it comes as no surprise to anybeast that Shad has no body-fat whatsoever.
From head to footpaw, he is covered in dark brown fur, and in his head exist two, blandly-colored dark brown eyes. But hey, at least they match the fur. Over this fur, Shad typically wears a sleeveless blue tunic, because blue is his favorite color. In the winter, he opts to wear a long-sleeved, lighter blue shirt under said tunic. He likes blue. His trousers are old and faded, but they've held together over the seasons well. On his footpaws can be found a pair of boots that wouldn't be caught dead without at least ten pounds of dirt caking their surface. The only time they get any sort of washing involves rain.
Possessions:
Shad, like any self-respecting otter should, carries a trusty sling that doubles as a belt. He's named it Clark. Slung over Shad's shoulder is a bag for supplies, provided he's not at Redwall Abbey, where food and such is no issue. Also attached to Shad's back is a sword that prefers to hide in its sheath. That would probably change if Shad actually knew how to use a sword. And finally, there is an item that Shad never leaves home without. . . It's the map, it's the map, it's the map, it's the map, it's the map, it's the map, it's the map, it's the map, IT'S THE MAP!
Personality:
The first thing beasts tend to notice about Shad's personality is that he is a strong advocate for having fun regardless of the situation. There are things he does solely for the sake of having fun. This involves acting like an otter of much fewer seasons. Indeed, Shad hangs onto his childhood as though it were his very life, though, in a way, it is. He attempts to approach reality with the innocence and eagerness of a dibbun. As a result, Shad is almost always in a good mood, is usually in a great mood, and sometimes can't contain his excitement. He is content with his life and believes himself greatly blessed. Shad therefore also has big heart and an unnatural level of compassion.
Shad's childishness, however, has a few side-effects. For instance, he doesn't really think things through as much as he should, making him highly impulsive. He suffers from terrible forgetfulness and a tendency to act irresponsibly. Furthermore, he finds it difficult to take anything seriously; this works to his detriment when the circumstances demand a more sober attitude.
Conversely, Shad can be terribly competitive at times. When he is, his work ethic magically improves. You think you can do something well? Shad can do it better. And faster. You think Shad can't do it? You'd better hold onto your socks. Because no matter the obstacle, Shad will overcome it so long as beasts say he can't. He even becomes a bit of a perfectionist when so determined.
As for Shad's brain, he does use it. Just not all of it. He predominantly uses the right hemisphere of his brain. This means that things such as art, sport, and fighting come easily to him, whereas things such as reading, writing, and arithmetic are disgusting to him. It means that he is creative and imaginative, but he could not remember a boring detail to save his life. It means that he is thinks and learns visually, while his abstract thinking could use some work. But he can improvise stuff pretty well.
Strengths:
Shad is an otter, so it can be safely assumed that he is a strong swimmer. . . Duh.
Shad is a good fighter. They don't give those slings out to just anybeast. (But he is a particularly skilled boxer.)
Shad is a decent singer. It is a skill that really just comes from being a part of his family. They are all good singers, meaning that they are generally on-key. But on top of that, Shad's baritone voice is particularly pleasing to the ear. And he rather takes pride in that.
Shad has a big heart and loads of sympathy for anybeast. He doesn't even mind vermin that much, so long as they don't do anything too horrible. He strongly believes that everybeast is entitled to a second chance, even though none deserves it.
Shad is generally just a fun otter to hang around. He is friendly, funny, and, may it echo, fun. He isn't afraid to say or do something that most beasts would have second thoughts about. This is either because he has completely eliminated his ability to have second thoughts, or because he simply doesn't care. Whatever the case, Shad is ridiculously easy to get along with.
Shad's most significant skill is that which he is most passionate about. He can dance. But he doesn't dance the way most beasts do. While he can easily take a partner and spin her around like a top, Shad prefers to dance his way. He dances like water. It is really quite impressive, how much control he holds over his muscles and joints, how easily his energetic movements flow, but it is, at the same time, somewhat hypnotic. He captures the eyes and holds their attention, putting those who watch him in an almost trance-like state. That is, assuming they aren't presently occupied with some other matter, like trying to throttle him for misplacing their prized possessions.
Weaknesses:
Shad is terribly nearsighted -- literally. His eyes are terrible at what they do, as every image sent to his brain is nothing more than blurry blobs of color. He still has ample depth-perception; he just can't easily discern objects more than a foot away from his face.
Shad does not know how to use a sword. He can carry one around, but he honestly hasn't had any experience using it or learning how to use it. He's much more accustomed to using his fists or his sling to fight.
Shad has attention problems. The nearest interesting-looking object will catch his attention a lot faster than the Foremole's detailed speech on how to properly build a tunnel. It's not so much that he has ADD (or ADOS) as it is that he has a selective attention span. As long as he cares about it, he can focus on it. But after that. . . good luck.
Shad is irresponsible and forgetful. It is generally a bad idea to place much responsibility on his shoulders. Don't get me wrong. His shoulders are plenty strong enough to support the weight, but they need a convincing reason to support it in the first place.
Shad doesn't handle change very well. He likes things to be the way they always have been. Any deviation from the beaten path will be met with whining, the crossing of arms, and the stomping of little footpaws.
Shad is ridiculously competitive. He simply must be the best at everything, and this, while occasionally a beneficial trait, often leads to Shad overdoing it. He just takes it a little too far sometimes.
Shad can't read. Not because he lacks the ability to learn how, but because he never had to, and he really doesn't want to. Reading is boring.
Shad is also an acrophobic. He can do mountains, so long as he knows his footpaws are on solid ground. But the moment he finds himself standing atop a steep cliff, he will demand a way down that does not involve leaping.
Poor Shad is the only otter in the Crew who is allergic to hotroot. It causes his throat to constrict and therefore restrict his breathing. So, he generally just tries to avoid the spice. . . because he has to. . . *sniff*
History:
Shad was the first otterbabe born to Alec and Leah Streamdog. Shad was raised in the most diverse, most fun-loving family this side of Mossflower. They were also the most welcoming in their homes. The only beasts who knocked were those who had never been there before.
Alec was an otter who worked primarily with plants, plows, and pitchforks, but he also had quite a history wearing boxing gloves. Alec's father (Shad's grandfather) was a storyteller, and everybeast on that side of the family was accustomed to singing at every family gathering (which are triannual). Leah wasn't particularly talented at any one thing, thanks to a peaceful and uneventful life at Redwall Abbey. Alec's sisters were both skilled with herbs and bandages, as well as with swords. Their brother was a seer, or so he claimed; some in the family were fairly certain he was just a really good detective. Shad was really the first in his family to take up dancing, but it was not a talent he developed quickly. As a kit, he would sit on the riverbank watch, fascinated with how the water flowed. When he swam downstream, he would sometimes pretend to be the water. Only seasons later would he turn his fascination into a form of dance.
Now, Alec, Shad's father, was terribly competitive, whilst Leah, Shad's mother, was tender and compassionate. These were their more dominant attributes, and both rubbed off on young Shad. He would oft challenge other otter kits his age to silly, frivolous contests, quite determined to win whatever it was. Yet when somebeast, even vermin, fell upon misfortune, he would feel sad for them. Similarly, Shad picked up his father's habit of animatedly using his paws while talking and his mother's habit of laughing. At everything.
Shad worked on a farm for half of his life. It was a family trade, one that Alec and his brother intended to expand. Alec raised his own farm in eastern Mossflower, and his brother maintained their father's. As close family, they gave to each whatever the other needed. It was really the same farm, just separated into two parts. After a time, however, one of their sisters expressed an interest in farming, and Alec took full advantage of it. He had always liked storytelling, and he had wanted, for seasons, to make a living out of it. Farming bored him. So, he eagerly gave her his farm, knowing that he could always come back to it. The only beasts who knocked were those who had never been there before.
And for several seasons, Shad would find himself living in places all around the world. His family traveled to Southsward, Green Isle, and even Noonvale for a time. Noonvale was Shad's favorite. One day, however, Alec received news of his father. Immediately, they packed up and moved from Noonvale to southwestern Mossflower. There, they spent the next four years. There, Shad grew up. Shad and his younger siblings visited their grandparents' home frequently. It became their second home (all counted, they had five). In fact, it was home to many beasts. On special occasions, over thirty-five beasts would be crammed into the small house. Yet such gatherings were always filled with laughter and fond memories. But even on a regular day, company was expected. At any given moment, family or friend might come through the door. The only beasts who knocked were those who had never been there before.
Now, Shad grew very close to his grandfather in the latter's final seasons. The old otter would teach him things about nature, about reality. Shad, though initially quite skeptical of some of his grandfather's ideas, came to understand that the universe was built on a few absolute truths -- on truth itself. And from this single idea flooded many, many others. From it flowed endless inspiration for Shad.
As Shad grew in size and stature, he left his home to join the Otter Crew at Redwall Abbey. Prior to departure, Shad was endlessly excited to begin his new adventure as a member of the Otter Crew. But leaving was much harder than he had anticipated. Having grown so close to family all of his life, parting with them for even a little while was a formidable obstacle. He will readily admit that he did cry a bit after the day of travel. In fact, he is proud of it, because he believes that he has the best, most tight-knit family in the world. He is proud of it, because few beasts share the close connection that his family does.
Now, when Shad joined the Otter Crew, he fit right in. He had taken after his father and become a boxer during his time on Green Isle. Fighting, therefore, came fairly easily to him. And thanks to his mother's constantly positive attitude, Shad had adopted a likeable, sunny, happy-go-lucky disposition that made him easy to get along with. And because of his father's, uncle's, and grandfather's work ethics, Shad had the potential to be a great worker. The only problem was, and still is, his refusal to grow up.
Shad became a dancer shortly before leaving home. For seasons, he had tried to imitate the movement of water, and what had once been but a passing interest became his passion. He taught his body to flow, to crash, like water. His movements became fluid, swift, and energetic. Initially, he worked with his younger brother and cousin; the former was a drummer and the latter an excellent fiddler and violinist. Together, they formed a small performance that showcased each otter's talent. They were all very proud of it. But it was not long before the rest of the family began making contributions. However, dancing is so personal to Shad that he practices only in private or with family. He has not even so much as mentioned the matter to his friends in the Otter Crew.
Shad continues to visit his home, particularly his grandparents' house. His grandfather is approaching his last season, and Shad wants to be there for him, walking by his side 'til their paths split. And so Shad visits as often as Skipper will allow him, sometimes inviting his abbey friends to his home. And the only beasts who knock are those who have never been there before.
Relationships:
Alec and Leah Streamdog -- parents
Barron and Thornflower Streamdog -- grandparents
Skidd Streamdog -- brother
Riggaw "Uncle Rigg" Streamdog -- uncle
Two other siblings, six cousins, two aunts, and a veritable plethora of friends, all of whom I am much too lazy to name right now.
Other:
-Shad has learned to enjoy the rain. Ever since he was a child, storms have given him a childish sense of excitement that he loves.
-His style of dance is best accompanied by drums and violins or fiddles (bonus points if you have small bells to give it an eerie sound).
