![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Apr. 3rd, 2011 10:35 pmAbout the character
Character Name: Aradol (Born Artaro) Alias: Feredir
Fandom, if applicable: Silmarillion. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Age: 2,900
Occupation: Dyer and weaver; partially retired revolutionary.
Appearance: Brown haired, grey eyed, pale-skinned. Just above average height and build for a normal human male. Most notable part of his appearance, excluding his leaf shaped ears, is the fact that he walks with a limp that gets better or worse dependent upon the weather, mood or his tiredness. He often resorts to walking with a stick. Aradol's hands are also stained, having worked with cloth from a young age the dye's used have entrenched themselves onto his skin. Typical 'medieval' style clothing is Aradol's usual fare, cloak, boots, thick trousers and tunic, their only noticeable difference from the 'medieval norm' being their weave, and the quality of their dye (a quality he prides himself upon).
Brief personality description: One word: neurotic. Aradol is kind, but getting through to find the “real” him has become harder as he has become older. He is disinclined to trust new people and new situations on face-value, this is not a new trait but has grown in depth over the years. He is also highly intelligent, but is more than a little bit of a dreamer, a problem for a revolutionary who would actually like to revolutionise things.
Deeply passionate about some things, Aradol is a friendly man who is always open for a laugh; yet due to his political stance he has not tended to do so, and he couldn't afford to be entirely open with many people. He doesn’t have many friends, but those he does he holds dear. Often prone to mild paranoia, something not helped by his frequent bouts of ill fortune with where he lives, Aradol although usually well aware of gossip is something of a recluse, a situation he quite likes and is not necessarily happy to change. He's also able to produce his own gossip if the situation should call for its creation.
Brief biography: Born in Tirion to a large family –3rd out of 5- His father, Elfaron was a dyer, while his mother was a weaver as such, by the time he was sixty (Elves become adults at fifty)he was apprenticed to his father. Aradol went to Middle-earth during the Darkening with his elder (Cuilwen) and youngest sister (Lenneth).
In Tirion, Aradol had been drawn to those who advocated for a Council of Elders to advice the King. As such he and others had sought for a life in Middle-earth that they hoped might be different. However, after going to Gondolin Aradol turned away from his belief in the idea of a Council of Elders, to instead campaign –under the alias of Feredir- for an end to monarchist rule and, the set up of a collective council to speak for the people. He also had a tendency to try to stir up unrest through his publishing of political leaflets and the occasional banner.
As has been mentioned Aradol was a citizen of Gondolin before its fall, he was one of the lucky ones; he managed to escape. This experience, later coupled with that of the Kinslaying, the destruction of Beleriand and his subsequent injury during the fallout, has clearly affected how he views the world.
During the Second Age Aradol joined others in setting up the “country” called Eregion, wherein the Gwaith-i-Mirdain were based, their chief being Celebrimbor. At this time, while remaining a dyer Aradol also branched into his mother's old trade of cloth weaving; by combining the two Aradol was able to both save money and attract increasing business. Unfortunately he was still in Eregion when it fell to Sauron, managing to escape the sack of the city by the skin of his teeth he found himself with those refugees led by Elrond; he has now settled in Rivendell. A situation he has not found entirely to his liking, the valley reminding him far too much of Gondolin and the citizens inability to get out easily. In his current time the valley is undergoing an ongoing siege by Sauron.
Any special abilities:
Ability to get into trouble. ;)
Compared to a human Aradol has greater stamina, better eyesight and hearing, but has no true special abilities.
Strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths:
Intelligent. Aradol can be highly intelligent if not in a scientific way. His mind is often quick in linking factors together, and he is politically astute. He is not a philosopher, in the traditional sense, and would scoff at anybody calling him one, he is however a dreamer. Having been born into a highly hierarchical society and not near the top, Aradol adores the idea of 'democracy' although he does not know the word.
Calm under pressure, usually. Having been a 'revolutionary' of sorts for most of his life and publishing inflammatory articles Aradol has become an adroit liar when the situation calls for it. That does not mean he is necessarily a good liar and people he is especially close to can usually decipher when he is fibbing. But, this ability to lie is aided by his ability to remain calm even when asked probing questions by local authorities. He might not like lying but he can do it. His calmness however can be severely tested if pressure is exerted upon a friend. Aradol is more than willing to get himself into trouble for his views, but he'd rather his friends remain out of this particular circle. His calmness is also abetted by his neuroses; but then it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
Weaknesses:
Unable to stand when people are being “oppressed”. Aradol has a strong sense of justice and actions he observes that are contrary to this cause him to react, whether in word or action. Whether this is a strength or a weakness is debatable, it all depends upon the situation.
Not a weakness of character but a weakness in body, Aradol was left with a damaged right leg after the Kinslaying in Sirion. He had been inside a building when it was destabilised by fire and collapsed, his leg was mostly crushed. He managed to walk again but he does so with a pronounced limp and often has to make use of a crutch when the leg is particularly troubling. Elves may be immortal but they can suffer serious injuries. He can also be highly affronted if someone should take his physical inability as a reflection of the mental.
Inability to trust easily. Both a strength and a weakness, Aradol's jaded response to trusting people can serve him well in uncertain times, but can also be a hindrance to those who mean no harm.
Mildly paranoid. It's not paranoia when people are truly out to get you. Whether people are truly out to get Aradol is debatable but that doesn't change the fact that he believes that they are. Certainly his ability to both find trouble with regards to social movements tends to put him on the wrong side of people in power. His paranoia also stems from the fact that he has been unfortunate in where he chooses to dwell; although 'chooses' may be the wrong word when it comes to Gondolin.
Languages spoken: Quenya, Sindarin, Westron
Character Name: Aradol (Born Artaro) Alias: Feredir
Fandom, if applicable: Silmarillion. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Age: 2,900
Occupation: Dyer and weaver; partially retired revolutionary.
Appearance: Brown haired, grey eyed, pale-skinned. Just above average height and build for a normal human male. Most notable part of his appearance, excluding his leaf shaped ears, is the fact that he walks with a limp that gets better or worse dependent upon the weather, mood or his tiredness. He often resorts to walking with a stick. Aradol's hands are also stained, having worked with cloth from a young age the dye's used have entrenched themselves onto his skin. Typical 'medieval' style clothing is Aradol's usual fare, cloak, boots, thick trousers and tunic, their only noticeable difference from the 'medieval norm' being their weave, and the quality of their dye (a quality he prides himself upon).
Brief personality description: One word: neurotic. Aradol is kind, but getting through to find the “real” him has become harder as he has become older. He is disinclined to trust new people and new situations on face-value, this is not a new trait but has grown in depth over the years. He is also highly intelligent, but is more than a little bit of a dreamer, a problem for a revolutionary who would actually like to revolutionise things.
Deeply passionate about some things, Aradol is a friendly man who is always open for a laugh; yet due to his political stance he has not tended to do so, and he couldn't afford to be entirely open with many people. He doesn’t have many friends, but those he does he holds dear. Often prone to mild paranoia, something not helped by his frequent bouts of ill fortune with where he lives, Aradol although usually well aware of gossip is something of a recluse, a situation he quite likes and is not necessarily happy to change. He's also able to produce his own gossip if the situation should call for its creation.
Brief biography: Born in Tirion to a large family –3rd out of 5- His father, Elfaron was a dyer, while his mother was a weaver as such, by the time he was sixty (Elves become adults at fifty)he was apprenticed to his father. Aradol went to Middle-earth during the Darkening with his elder (Cuilwen) and youngest sister (Lenneth).
In Tirion, Aradol had been drawn to those who advocated for a Council of Elders to advice the King. As such he and others had sought for a life in Middle-earth that they hoped might be different. However, after going to Gondolin Aradol turned away from his belief in the idea of a Council of Elders, to instead campaign –under the alias of Feredir- for an end to monarchist rule and, the set up of a collective council to speak for the people. He also had a tendency to try to stir up unrest through his publishing of political leaflets and the occasional banner.
As has been mentioned Aradol was a citizen of Gondolin before its fall, he was one of the lucky ones; he managed to escape. This experience, later coupled with that of the Kinslaying, the destruction of Beleriand and his subsequent injury during the fallout, has clearly affected how he views the world.
During the Second Age Aradol joined others in setting up the “country” called Eregion, wherein the Gwaith-i-Mirdain were based, their chief being Celebrimbor. At this time, while remaining a dyer Aradol also branched into his mother's old trade of cloth weaving; by combining the two Aradol was able to both save money and attract increasing business. Unfortunately he was still in Eregion when it fell to Sauron, managing to escape the sack of the city by the skin of his teeth he found himself with those refugees led by Elrond; he has now settled in Rivendell. A situation he has not found entirely to his liking, the valley reminding him far too much of Gondolin and the citizens inability to get out easily. In his current time the valley is undergoing an ongoing siege by Sauron.
Any special abilities:
Ability to get into trouble. ;)
Compared to a human Aradol has greater stamina, better eyesight and hearing, but has no true special abilities.
Strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths:
Intelligent. Aradol can be highly intelligent if not in a scientific way. His mind is often quick in linking factors together, and he is politically astute. He is not a philosopher, in the traditional sense, and would scoff at anybody calling him one, he is however a dreamer. Having been born into a highly hierarchical society and not near the top, Aradol adores the idea of 'democracy' although he does not know the word.
Calm under pressure, usually. Having been a 'revolutionary' of sorts for most of his life and publishing inflammatory articles Aradol has become an adroit liar when the situation calls for it. That does not mean he is necessarily a good liar and people he is especially close to can usually decipher when he is fibbing. But, this ability to lie is aided by his ability to remain calm even when asked probing questions by local authorities. He might not like lying but he can do it. His calmness however can be severely tested if pressure is exerted upon a friend. Aradol is more than willing to get himself into trouble for his views, but he'd rather his friends remain out of this particular circle. His calmness is also abetted by his neuroses; but then it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
Weaknesses:
Unable to stand when people are being “oppressed”. Aradol has a strong sense of justice and actions he observes that are contrary to this cause him to react, whether in word or action. Whether this is a strength or a weakness is debatable, it all depends upon the situation.
Not a weakness of character but a weakness in body, Aradol was left with a damaged right leg after the Kinslaying in Sirion. He had been inside a building when it was destabilised by fire and collapsed, his leg was mostly crushed. He managed to walk again but he does so with a pronounced limp and often has to make use of a crutch when the leg is particularly troubling. Elves may be immortal but they can suffer serious injuries. He can also be highly affronted if someone should take his physical inability as a reflection of the mental.
Inability to trust easily. Both a strength and a weakness, Aradol's jaded response to trusting people can serve him well in uncertain times, but can also be a hindrance to those who mean no harm.
Mildly paranoid. It's not paranoia when people are truly out to get you. Whether people are truly out to get Aradol is debatable but that doesn't change the fact that he believes that they are. Certainly his ability to both find trouble with regards to social movements tends to put him on the wrong side of people in power. His paranoia also stems from the fact that he has been unfortunate in where he chooses to dwell; although 'chooses' may be the wrong word when it comes to Gondolin.
Languages spoken: Quenya, Sindarin, Westron
