Post by Skipper on Jul 10, 2009 19:21:06 GMT -5
[FINISHED]
(This one's a bit shorter than I'm accustomed to, it took way too long, and it certainly isn't my best, but it was a tough one to write.)
Name: Blake Enslin
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Species: Mouse
Marital Status: Widower
Position and Home: Blake Enslin lives at Redwall Abbey, and is very much a mouse, but he acts as though he were an otter, and even considers himself a member of Redwall's Otter Crew. Skipper hasn't yet decided what to do with the young rogue, and simply allows Blake to help the otter crew to an extent (he can't enter Camp Willow, for instance).
Strengths: Blake is amazingly talented with a sword, dagger, knife, or anything rather pointy (generally stated). Anybeast can throw daggers at a moving target, combat an adder with a kitchen knife, or launch a javelin several hundred yards, but when it comes to controlling something as clumsy as a sword (only for the true cake-slicing enthusiast), only a select few can handle the delicate instrument without having to pay a visit to the Infirmary Keeper (or the morgue) after an unsightly accident. Blake is one such selection.*
Able to flail a sword at impossible speeds, the young mouse is an epileptic seizure waiting to happen. Furthermore, his astonishing control of the sword -- whilst flailing -- is equally as impressive.
I say "the sword," but in all honesty, Blake's skills aren't limited to a single sword. Just about any sword will do, be it specially crafted by a Badger Lord or merely the former weapon of a now very unhappy ferret.
Blake's second best strength deals yet again with weapons and fighting (Surprising, isn't it?). Although he doesn't quite realize it yet, the little sketches and drawings of make-believe weapons he makes (usually by lazily-but-thoughtfully letting his footpaw drift through dirt as his mind wanders) are actually very plausible designs. The originality of these ideas can only be the product of a ignorantly brilliant mind. Of course, he is not exactly a genius in any other area -- he just likes devising new ways to fight things (inanimate or not).
Having always wished he were an otter himself, Blake is an excellent swimmer. As a matter of fact, he can out-swim a few of the Otter Crew mates.
Weaknesses: Blake is not the brightest mouse. He tends to be forgetful, doesn't understand many intelligent statements, is barely literate, and is generally only really intelligent when it comes to fighting. He's happy to do the fighting, but leaves the thinking to the thinkers.
Blake doesn't think much of himself, and can be something of a pessimist at times. This negative outlook isn't always a bad thing, but he is, nevertheless, quite the downer. He has a tendency to hang onto the past, but as of late, he seems to have learned better.
Blake can be something of a germaphobe. He doesn't take this to the excess, but still washes his paws quite often. There's no real reason for this -- he's always been drawn to water, and therefore holds cleanliness a rather high priority. Just don't sneeze.
Alignment: Good
Appearance: Blake stands at a somewhat tall 5'9... tall for a mouse, anyway. His build is one considered stronger than the average mouse's, muscles having more mass and less definition. That said, he has massive forearms, most likely from all the sword-swinging he does. In other words, he looks like a warrior.
He's covered head to footpaw in a ruddy-brown shade of fur, that is, it appears brown in the shade, and shines red in daylight. He possesses two eyes, one green, the other one green. And you expected anything different? Eyes have a tendency to tell something about a beast, and Blake Enslin is no exception. His eyes often dart hither and thither, sometimes even while conversing with another beast, which, although a bit rude, shows that he easily loses attention, yet somehow can carry on a conversation while lost in an entirely different thought -- usually a sign of an analytic mind. Would he were brighter. . .
Blake is, like many otters, practically covered in tattoos. Well, he would be were it not for the Abbott's strict I-don't-think-so policy. But he does, rather, have quite a few tattoos "gracing" his fur (or in the Abbott's opinion...). One is of Martin the Warrior's shield and sword, to indicate that Blake is a Redwaller. Another, located on his upper left arm, is a now-traditional Otter Crew tattoo of an anchor in front of a willow tree, naturally symbolic of Camp Willow, the meeting place of the otters of Mossflower. Two others are of an anchor, and a seagull. The final to be mentioned is of a ship, the only one found on his upper right arm. Visible is the name of the ship, Sophia. It is un-anchored, as the anchor chain has broken.
Being an abbeydweller, Blake does dress accordingly, donning the traditional green habit and sandals. But on his visits to Noonvale, he'll wear a green tunic, brown trousers, and the usual Abbey sandals, though only because he cannot seem to get his paws on a pair of fitting boots.
He does carry weapons, two of them actually, but only when outside the walls of the Abbey. These are two twin swords. They actually were once triplets, but the third was given away to a passing mole, who really needed the protection. The other two were given to Blake and Sophia as they left for Noonvale together.
He possesses a deep, gruff voice similar to that of a male shrew's, with a hint of molespeech. His rough song voice isn't very pleasant, which is why he refuses to sing, even with the otters. He's tried before, but it never worked for him.
Personality: Outwardly, Blake can seem very fun loving, kind, and constantly happy. Inside, though, he's still trying figure out how to deal with his wife's passing. But as with everybeast, there are different sides to this mouse. For a good majority of the time, he is cheerful, fun-loving, and mischievous. He is quite friendly, and enjoys a good conversation, regardless of familiarity -- id est, he'll converse with a complete stranger if in the mood. Blake's fun-loving/mischievous side shows itself less often as of late, but that doesn't mean he isn't willing to attempt some crazy plan. Although he doesn't always devise the clever plans, he usually executes them.
On the other paw, Blake is like a shrew, in a way. When in one of his quarrelsome mood, he'll argue heartily for hours, given the time. He enjoys a good argument as much as the next shrew, despite being a mouse himself. It is this quality that allows him to relate well to shrews.
On the other paw, the young mouse is much like an otter. This side of him shows more frequently than any other, a result of his many friends, most of which are otters. He hangs around with them so much that their jovial attitude has rubbed off on him (quite permanently).
Yet do not mention Noonvale, the North, or anything that might trigger memories of Blake's wife, Sophia. When he dwells on such memories, his mood eventually tries to drown them in his tears. He will not cry in the midst of other beasts, but instead holds back his sorrow as best he can. It is quite noticeable, as he will act more reserved and quiet. One might think him angry, but in all honesty, he wishes to leave the area to be alone. But this is a rare mood for Blake to be in, and it happens only once in a blue moon.
Blake's mind is an odd thing. On the outside, conscious thoughts, he is average, if not a little less intelligent than the average mouse. He tends to follow rather than lead. Yet on special occasions, he can surprise everybeast with a sudden burst of genius. A more frequent show of this intelligence lies in his designs. When bored, Blake will busy his mind, sketching rough designs of unique weapons. He doesn't think any of them could work, but they are, in reality, impressively effective. As of late, he is interested in explosives.
History: As a dibbun, Blake was very naughty, constantly wreaking havoc in whatever room he found himself in. Some cases were rather odd, such as the time when he was left alone in the Abbot's quarters. He was only alone for half an hour, but when they returned, he was sitting atop a rather large (and quite tall, I can assure you) bookcase, and all of the books were gone. They found them later in a pile near the kitchens.
Over all, Blake was a troublemaker through to most of his early teens, and even afterward. But upon reaching his fifteenth season, his attitude changed.** He became less destructive, and increasingly helpful. He was eager to work hard and become a strong and admirable mouse.
Blake greatly admired otters, and had always wanted to be a part of the otter crew. To this day, he continues to associate mainly with otters, such as his friends, Chab, Redpoint. Just as any Kitt (young otter), Blake dreamed of being a Skipper, though being a mouse, it was clear that he never could be. All the same, Blake was determined to at least be a part of the Otter Crew. That is not to say, however, that he didn't befriend any non-otters.
Sometime around age nineteen, he fell in love with a pretty young mousemaid. Blake saw Sophia, for that was her name, as the purest, kindest, and over all most perfect mousemaid in the Abbey. Sophia actually lived in Noonvale for most of the time, but visited Redwall with her father every two seasons. Her visits to the Abbey were so frequent, that Blake had practically grown up with her there. This particular Autumn, Sophia's visit was much more significant. The two became something of a couple, though not officially married. For the next season, the two spent as much time as they could with each other, and nearing the end of it, Blake proposed. Both wanted to wait much longer, but Sophia was to leave for Noonvale in only a month, and they knew that maintaining the relationship afterward would be difficult. After a week of thought and discussion with a few of the older, wiser beasts of the Abbey, Blake finally concluded that Sophia was most certainly the only mousemaid to be his mate. His proposal was smooth. Throughout the day, Sophia received roses from various beasts without apparent reason. The beasts would come, present the rose, then leave without a word -- all of them smiling, of course. Finally, just as the sun was setting, Blake himself approached Sophia, carrying a rose (everybeast was watching at this point), and as she took the rose, he proposed in the traditional manner.
The day she was "scheduled" to leave, Sophia and Blake were married. Rather than have Sophia stay at the Abbey, Blake left to live with Sophia at Noonvale. Blake had never visited Noonvale before; he scarcely left the Abbey. The experience was foreign, but welcome. Yes, there was much welcoming. Blake had never met the Noonvalers, and therefore the Noonvalers had never met Blake. It was because of this that, upon arriving, Blake was virtually smothered in hospitality. The Noonvalers welcomed him very warmly -- almost uncomfortably so. It seemed that Sophia had talked about Blake quite a bit to her friends and family. . . and acquaintances. . . and strangers. . .
Blake lived very happily with Sophia for the next three years in a small house resting on the outskirts of Noonvale, on the banks of the Broadstream. It was a very nice little house on the prairie donated to them by a very generous rabbit. The rabbit was a hermit, however, and didn't really put much effort into creating much space when building the house (but then, why would he need the space?). Therefore, Blake spent part of the Winter expanding the rooms' sizes.
It was the middle of Summer when life turned cold. Sophia's heart seemed to disagree strongly with hard work. If it began to beat too quickly, she would feel immense pain. Blake soon learned that she had contracted -- or possibly had been born with -- a disease so debilitating that she could hardly perform any sort of activity within six months of preliminary symptoms. Blake wished deeply for the disease to go away, but not only for Sophia's sake. . .
For two years, it seemed that Sophia and Blake would never have a child***. But one day, Sophia came home from her visit to her parents' house, and seemed in quite a rush. It wasn't clear what she was up to, until she exclaimed excitedly that Blake was to be a father. The young mouse almost fell out of the chair he was sitting upon. The two couldn't believe it. But it was bittersweet. They were excited to be parents, but afraid for the mousebabe's sake, as well as the future-mother's sake. Sophia's condition created too much danger for the impending birth to be taken lightly. The birthing process could create too much stress and kill Sophia, and if she were to die too early, so too would the unborn mousebabe.
Blake's worst fears were realized on the day of the mousebabe's birth. The babe was born, healthy as could be, but Sophia's heart couldn't take the stress. She died that day, her son resting in Blake's arms.
Before their son's birth, they had decided to name the mousebabe Kitt, a fond reference to Blake's admiration for otters. (Had it been a female, it's name would have been Cait, the name of Sophia's grandmother.)
At the end of the season, Blake had left Noonvale to raise his son in Redwall. He intends to keep the tradition of traveling between Noonvale and Redwall. And although he doesn't know it, the pain he feels has made him stronger than he ever dreamed of becoming.
Codeword: Martin the Warrior
Other: Today's program was brought to you by the letter "S." The best letter in the alphabet, because it has the honor of beginning my name, and will most likely do so for the rest of eternity. Bow, silly leprechauns! Bow!
*. . . wait. . .
** A bit late, but nevertheless...
*** mouse?... dibbun, maybe?
(This one's a bit shorter than I'm accustomed to, it took way too long, and it certainly isn't my best, but it was a tough one to write.)
Look to the sky because it's almost over
Name: Blake Enslin
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Species: Mouse
Marital Status: Widower
Position and Home: Blake Enslin lives at Redwall Abbey, and is very much a mouse, but he acts as though he were an otter, and even considers himself a member of Redwall's Otter Crew. Skipper hasn't yet decided what to do with the young rogue, and simply allows Blake to help the otter crew to an extent (he can't enter Camp Willow, for instance).
Strengths: Blake is amazingly talented with a sword, dagger, knife, or anything rather pointy (generally stated). Anybeast can throw daggers at a moving target, combat an adder with a kitchen knife, or launch a javelin several hundred yards, but when it comes to controlling something as clumsy as a sword (only for the true cake-slicing enthusiast), only a select few can handle the delicate instrument without having to pay a visit to the Infirmary Keeper (or the morgue) after an unsightly accident. Blake is one such selection.*
Able to flail a sword at impossible speeds, the young mouse is an epileptic seizure waiting to happen. Furthermore, his astonishing control of the sword -- whilst flailing -- is equally as impressive.
I say "the sword," but in all honesty, Blake's skills aren't limited to a single sword. Just about any sword will do, be it specially crafted by a Badger Lord or merely the former weapon of a now very unhappy ferret.
Blake's second best strength deals yet again with weapons and fighting (Surprising, isn't it?). Although he doesn't quite realize it yet, the little sketches and drawings of make-believe weapons he makes (usually by lazily-but-thoughtfully letting his footpaw drift through dirt as his mind wanders) are actually very plausible designs. The originality of these ideas can only be the product of a ignorantly brilliant mind. Of course, he is not exactly a genius in any other area -- he just likes devising new ways to fight things (inanimate or not).
Having always wished he were an otter himself, Blake is an excellent swimmer. As a matter of fact, he can out-swim a few of the Otter Crew mates.
Weaknesses: Blake is not the brightest mouse. He tends to be forgetful, doesn't understand many intelligent statements, is barely literate, and is generally only really intelligent when it comes to fighting. He's happy to do the fighting, but leaves the thinking to the thinkers.
Blake doesn't think much of himself, and can be something of a pessimist at times. This negative outlook isn't always a bad thing, but he is, nevertheless, quite the downer. He has a tendency to hang onto the past, but as of late, he seems to have learned better.
Blake can be something of a germaphobe. He doesn't take this to the excess, but still washes his paws quite often. There's no real reason for this -- he's always been drawn to water, and therefore holds cleanliness a rather high priority. Just don't sneeze.
Alignment: Good
Appearance: Blake stands at a somewhat tall 5'9... tall for a mouse, anyway. His build is one considered stronger than the average mouse's, muscles having more mass and less definition. That said, he has massive forearms, most likely from all the sword-swinging he does. In other words, he looks like a warrior.
He's covered head to footpaw in a ruddy-brown shade of fur, that is, it appears brown in the shade, and shines red in daylight. He possesses two eyes, one green, the other one green. And you expected anything different? Eyes have a tendency to tell something about a beast, and Blake Enslin is no exception. His eyes often dart hither and thither, sometimes even while conversing with another beast, which, although a bit rude, shows that he easily loses attention, yet somehow can carry on a conversation while lost in an entirely different thought -- usually a sign of an analytic mind. Would he were brighter. . .
Blake is, like many otters, practically covered in tattoos. Well, he would be were it not for the Abbott's strict I-don't-think-so policy. But he does, rather, have quite a few tattoos "gracing" his fur (or in the Abbott's opinion...). One is of Martin the Warrior's shield and sword, to indicate that Blake is a Redwaller. Another, located on his upper left arm, is a now-traditional Otter Crew tattoo of an anchor in front of a willow tree, naturally symbolic of Camp Willow, the meeting place of the otters of Mossflower. Two others are of an anchor, and a seagull. The final to be mentioned is of a ship, the only one found on his upper right arm. Visible is the name of the ship, Sophia. It is un-anchored, as the anchor chain has broken.
Being an abbeydweller, Blake does dress accordingly, donning the traditional green habit and sandals. But on his visits to Noonvale, he'll wear a green tunic, brown trousers, and the usual Abbey sandals, though only because he cannot seem to get his paws on a pair of fitting boots.
He does carry weapons, two of them actually, but only when outside the walls of the Abbey. These are two twin swords. They actually were once triplets, but the third was given away to a passing mole, who really needed the protection. The other two were given to Blake and Sophia as they left for Noonvale together.
He possesses a deep, gruff voice similar to that of a male shrew's, with a hint of molespeech. His rough song voice isn't very pleasant, which is why he refuses to sing, even with the otters. He's tried before, but it never worked for him.
Personality: Outwardly, Blake can seem very fun loving, kind, and constantly happy. Inside, though, he's still trying figure out how to deal with his wife's passing. But as with everybeast, there are different sides to this mouse. For a good majority of the time, he is cheerful, fun-loving, and mischievous. He is quite friendly, and enjoys a good conversation, regardless of familiarity -- id est, he'll converse with a complete stranger if in the mood. Blake's fun-loving/mischievous side shows itself less often as of late, but that doesn't mean he isn't willing to attempt some crazy plan. Although he doesn't always devise the clever plans, he usually executes them.
On the other paw, Blake is like a shrew, in a way. When in one of his quarrelsome mood, he'll argue heartily for hours, given the time. He enjoys a good argument as much as the next shrew, despite being a mouse himself. It is this quality that allows him to relate well to shrews.
On the other paw, the young mouse is much like an otter. This side of him shows more frequently than any other, a result of his many friends, most of which are otters. He hangs around with them so much that their jovial attitude has rubbed off on him (quite permanently).
Yet do not mention Noonvale, the North, or anything that might trigger memories of Blake's wife, Sophia. When he dwells on such memories, his mood eventually tries to drown them in his tears. He will not cry in the midst of other beasts, but instead holds back his sorrow as best he can. It is quite noticeable, as he will act more reserved and quiet. One might think him angry, but in all honesty, he wishes to leave the area to be alone. But this is a rare mood for Blake to be in, and it happens only once in a blue moon.
Blake's mind is an odd thing. On the outside, conscious thoughts, he is average, if not a little less intelligent than the average mouse. He tends to follow rather than lead. Yet on special occasions, he can surprise everybeast with a sudden burst of genius. A more frequent show of this intelligence lies in his designs. When bored, Blake will busy his mind, sketching rough designs of unique weapons. He doesn't think any of them could work, but they are, in reality, impressively effective. As of late, he is interested in explosives.
History: As a dibbun, Blake was very naughty, constantly wreaking havoc in whatever room he found himself in. Some cases were rather odd, such as the time when he was left alone in the Abbot's quarters. He was only alone for half an hour, but when they returned, he was sitting atop a rather large (and quite tall, I can assure you) bookcase, and all of the books were gone. They found them later in a pile near the kitchens.
Over all, Blake was a troublemaker through to most of his early teens, and even afterward. But upon reaching his fifteenth season, his attitude changed.** He became less destructive, and increasingly helpful. He was eager to work hard and become a strong and admirable mouse.
Blake greatly admired otters, and had always wanted to be a part of the otter crew. To this day, he continues to associate mainly with otters, such as his friends, Chab, Redpoint. Just as any Kitt (young otter), Blake dreamed of being a Skipper, though being a mouse, it was clear that he never could be. All the same, Blake was determined to at least be a part of the Otter Crew. That is not to say, however, that he didn't befriend any non-otters.
Sometime around age nineteen, he fell in love with a pretty young mousemaid. Blake saw Sophia, for that was her name, as the purest, kindest, and over all most perfect mousemaid in the Abbey. Sophia actually lived in Noonvale for most of the time, but visited Redwall with her father every two seasons. Her visits to the Abbey were so frequent, that Blake had practically grown up with her there. This particular Autumn, Sophia's visit was much more significant. The two became something of a couple, though not officially married. For the next season, the two spent as much time as they could with each other, and nearing the end of it, Blake proposed. Both wanted to wait much longer, but Sophia was to leave for Noonvale in only a month, and they knew that maintaining the relationship afterward would be difficult. After a week of thought and discussion with a few of the older, wiser beasts of the Abbey, Blake finally concluded that Sophia was most certainly the only mousemaid to be his mate. His proposal was smooth. Throughout the day, Sophia received roses from various beasts without apparent reason. The beasts would come, present the rose, then leave without a word -- all of them smiling, of course. Finally, just as the sun was setting, Blake himself approached Sophia, carrying a rose (everybeast was watching at this point), and as she took the rose, he proposed in the traditional manner.
The day she was "scheduled" to leave, Sophia and Blake were married. Rather than have Sophia stay at the Abbey, Blake left to live with Sophia at Noonvale. Blake had never visited Noonvale before; he scarcely left the Abbey. The experience was foreign, but welcome. Yes, there was much welcoming. Blake had never met the Noonvalers, and therefore the Noonvalers had never met Blake. It was because of this that, upon arriving, Blake was virtually smothered in hospitality. The Noonvalers welcomed him very warmly -- almost uncomfortably so. It seemed that Sophia had talked about Blake quite a bit to her friends and family. . . and acquaintances. . . and strangers. . .
Blake lived very happily with Sophia for the next three years in a small house resting on the outskirts of Noonvale, on the banks of the Broadstream. It was a very nice little house on the prairie donated to them by a very generous rabbit. The rabbit was a hermit, however, and didn't really put much effort into creating much space when building the house (but then, why would he need the space?). Therefore, Blake spent part of the Winter expanding the rooms' sizes.
It was the middle of Summer when life turned cold. Sophia's heart seemed to disagree strongly with hard work. If it began to beat too quickly, she would feel immense pain. Blake soon learned that she had contracted -- or possibly had been born with -- a disease so debilitating that she could hardly perform any sort of activity within six months of preliminary symptoms. Blake wished deeply for the disease to go away, but not only for Sophia's sake. . .
For two years, it seemed that Sophia and Blake would never have a child***. But one day, Sophia came home from her visit to her parents' house, and seemed in quite a rush. It wasn't clear what she was up to, until she exclaimed excitedly that Blake was to be a father. The young mouse almost fell out of the chair he was sitting upon. The two couldn't believe it. But it was bittersweet. They were excited to be parents, but afraid for the mousebabe's sake, as well as the future-mother's sake. Sophia's condition created too much danger for the impending birth to be taken lightly. The birthing process could create too much stress and kill Sophia, and if she were to die too early, so too would the unborn mousebabe.
Blake's worst fears were realized on the day of the mousebabe's birth. The babe was born, healthy as could be, but Sophia's heart couldn't take the stress. She died that day, her son resting in Blake's arms.
Before their son's birth, they had decided to name the mousebabe Kitt, a fond reference to Blake's admiration for otters. (Had it been a female, it's name would have been Cait, the name of Sophia's grandmother.)
At the end of the season, Blake had left Noonvale to raise his son in Redwall. He intends to keep the tradition of traveling between Noonvale and Redwall. And although he doesn't know it, the pain he feels has made him stronger than he ever dreamed of becoming.
Codeword: Martin the Warrior
Other: Today's program was brought to you by the letter "S." The best letter in the alphabet, because it has the honor of beginning my name, and will most likely do so for the rest of eternity. Bow, silly leprechauns! Bow!
*. . . wait. . .
** A bit late, but nevertheless...
*** mouse?... dibbun, maybe?