Achilles's Journal

[Achilles 0]

 

 

 

Profile
» Username: Achilles
» Real name: James Blackwood
» Age: 23
» Gender: Male
» Height: 180cm or 5’9’

» Weight: 74kg or 165lbs

» Profession: To be determined

 

About: History & Personality

Part 1: Greek Heroes

 

In a small town in England there were three brothers: James, Robert and Edward who lived in a rundown house in the edge of town. The boys were each 1 year apart and were incredibly close with each other. James and Robert had dark brown hair, while Edward had blonde hair similar to their mother. James was the oldest among the siblings but was not the tallest, Robert the middle child was the tallest among the three who constantly brought up the fact to annoy James. James and Robert were very similar in their personalities while Edward was the youngest and the shyest, often protected by his older brothers. The brothers loved their mother dearly but James and Robert disliked their father, while Edward was too young and naïve to understand why.

 

Ron Blackwood was a catholic priest but not a very good one at that, he was an extreme religious fanatic who was a part of the Opus Dei, a branch of the Catholic Church that was criticized for its religious practices. Mr. Blackwood was obsessed with the Opus Dei and loved to participate in the “Mortification of the flesh†which was about inflicting self-harm to atone for an individual’s sins. It was rumored that the Opus Dei enjoyed the “Mortification of the flesh†on individuals the Church deemed sinful.

 

Mary Blackwood was a sensitive and caring mother and realized how deranged her husband had become, unable to leave him since the children were too young, Mrs. Blackwood endured her husband’s antics in order to help her children survive.

 

Often Mrs. Blackwood would read bed time stories for the brothers, who loved to hear about the great Greek heroes such as the story of Achilles, Hercules and Odysseus. The brothers would prance around their room each pretending to be a Greek Hero and they would pretend fight each other to vanquish their foes and determine which hero was the best. Mrs. Blackwood loved to see her boys laugh and play, it was the one thing that brought her true joy in her life. Shrouded by the ever present shadow of her husband and his fanatic cult-like church members.

 

Every night as the boys were all worn out Mrs. Blackwood would sing them a song that was taught to her by her father. It was a song meant to instill courage into hearts of young boys, the brothers loved listening to the song though they did not understand the meaning until much later in life.

 

Gafflwn Dihenydd

O’r fuddugol yn wiriol sydd,

Ni fydd neb yn ein drechu,

Falch ydy ni I drochu,

Traed o flaen I’r Annwn,

Mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni.

 

Part 2: Disappearance

 

5 years later…

 

As the brothers lay sleeping in their beds, there was the sound of a loud slap and a moan from the street below. None but James had awoken from the sound, crawling out of bed James neared the window in order to see what was going on. His eyes widened as James stared in disbelief, there were 5 men in black hooded robes surrounding a blonde hair women in rags who was laying on the ground. Upon closer inspection James realized that the women on the ground was actually his mother, frozen in utter shock as blood poured down Mrs. Blackwood’s forehead she slowly picked herself up. The men started to shout in anger for the women to leave the area, one of the black hooded men stepped forward closer to Mrs. Blackwood. The hooded figure lifted his hand to slap the women but Mrs. Blackwood pushed herself forward to grasp the man’s hand, in doing so she knocked off his black hood revealing the man to be Mr. Blackwood. Mrs. Blackwood begged Mr. Blackwood to stop the madness and to let her be with her boys, Mr. Blackwood scoffed and spat in the fact of Mrs. Blackwood. Declaring that Mrs. Blackwood was a sinner in the eyes of god and the Catholic Church, Mrs. Blackwood was to be hereby banished from the town and to never see her boys again. The hooded figures grabbed Mrs. Blackwood by the arms and hair and dragged her away down the street, as Mr. Blackwood followed behind them.

 

James couldn’t move, he was glued to the window as his mind raced a million and one thoughts of what to do. The adrenaline was too much for the young boy’s body and James simply fell over and passed out on the ground. James had told his brothers what he saw in the morning, and the three searched all around the town for their mother but to no avail, their mother was seemingly lost to time.

 

Part 3: Branding

 

Several months later…

 

 

After their failed efforts to find their mother, the brothers had finally gotten the courage to confront their father about the issue, who swept the issue under the rug. Mr. Blackwood had said that Mrs. Blackwood was a wench who ran off with the tavern innkeeper, they were spotted leaving the town in a horse carriage all in love with each other. The brothers never believed a word of what their father had said, knowing the truth about their mother.

 

James had decided he would speak while Robert and Edward would not say anything. One evening when Mr. Blackwood was watching TV in the living room,

 

James leading his brothers went up to their father and said “I want to know the truth about our mother, where is she? Where have you been hiding her you old bastardâ€.

 

Coming off stronger than intended James was determined to find out the truth. Mr. Blackwood looked up from the TV towards his sons as Robert and Edward stood behind James, Mr. Blackwood’s eyes had locked onto James.

 

“What did you call me you ungrateful piece of ****.†said Mr. Blackwood as he rose out of the couch.

 

“James let’s forget about this, I don’t want to do this anymore.†whispered Edward to his brother.

 

“No Ed, this **** of a father needs to understand he can’t just do whatever he wants anymore.†said James as he stared down his father.

 

Mr. Blackwood rushed over and grabbed James by his hair, tugging at his head and shouted in James’s face “You will learn to respect me boy, one way or the other.â€

 

Robert and Edward were frozen in fear as their brother was mangled by their father. Mr. Blackwood yanked on James and pulled him down some stairs into the cellar below, “Robert, Edward come down here as well or I’ll rip out your bloody hairs as wellâ€

 

The boys had never been to the cellar, as they were banned from venturing below. Though the brothers did dare Edward to go down 5 steps, they never went beyond the few steps at the top. It was dimly lit and there seemed to be contraptions stacked everywhere. Mr. Blackwood threw James onto a medical table in the middle and flicked on the light switch. The lights flickered on and off until there was a loud crack, the boys had all scream in unison. Mr. Blackwood barked at them to shut up, he said it was just the light bulb busting, frustratingly Mr. Blackwood replaced the light bulb and turned the light on. The brothers were shocked and disgusted by the objects around the room. The entire basement was reconfigured into a torture room which included prods, swords, and knifes laying on a table nearby. There were blood stains all over the room and on all of the equipment. Mr. Blackwood strapped James down on the medical table to ensure he would not move, then Mr. Blackwood strapped down Robert and Edward in the chairs in front of the table.

 

“You’ll have a perfect view for the show boys† Mr. Blackwood said

 

Robert and Edward were squirming in their chairs trying to get themselves loose, while shouting at their father to let them go. James lay motionless on the table, he lifted his head and looked towards Robert and Edward.

 

“Robert, Edward don’t look no matter what happens.†James said in a calm manner to his brothers.

 

As the brothers stared in sadness towards James, there was a loud prang sound as Mr. Blackwood grabbed a cattle prod that was shaped to resemble a massive cross. The metal prod was burning over a hot coal fire in the corner of the room, the only sound was that of the fire slowly cackling. As a tense and ominous atmosphere hung over the room, Mr. Blackwood turned around with his bright red prod he had a devious grin on his face.

 

“Alright boys it’s time for you to learn a lesson in life. You never disrespect your father boys, didn’t your mother teach you nothing?†said Mr. Blackwood.

 

James looked up at Mr. Blackwood as his father placed the metal cross just above James’s chest.“I hope you burn in hell for this old man†said James as he stared straight to the dark and rusted ceiling. Mr. Blackwood simply grinned at James as he lowered the metal cross onto James’s chest, James began to hear drums that were in the old song his mother used to sing. The metal cross seared onto James’s skin as the stench of burning flesh filled the room. James screamed in agonizing pain as he struggled to move on the medical table. Robert was screaming at Edward to stare at Robert and no one else.

 

The sound of drums were blaring as James passed out from exhaustion.

 

Gafflwn Dihenydd

O’r fuddugol yn wiriol sydd,

Ni fydd neb yn ein drechu,

Falch ydy ni I drochu,

Traed o flaen I’r Annwn,

Mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni.

 

 

Part 4: Turning a new leaf

 

Branded a heretic by Catholic Church and the town all of which was led by their father, the brothers were outcast and thrown out of the town. With nothing but the clothes on their backs the boys set out for the last place they knew where to go. The brothers had an Uncle David O’Connor who lived in the next town over. Determined to reach their uncle the boys hitched a ride on a truck on the 4 hour journey…

 

The brothers found safety and comfort in living with their Uncle David, who was concerned for James after he had discovered all the burn marks on his body. The brothers did not tell their Uncle what happened in the cellar, but David could guess where the marks came from.

 

 

Part 5: Military

 

7 years later…

 

 

The brothers had created a stable new life for themselves with their Uncle living in peace away from their religious father. Edward was finishing his last year of high school, he was set on becoming a city engineer and was on track in doing so. Robert had joined the police force and rose through the ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant for the local police station. James had joined the military and had gone to fight in the Middle East conflicts. James was a gifted individual and rose through the ranks just like Robert, becoming a sergeant in a short time. Excelling in battle tactics and strategy, James displayed amazing abilities to command several squads with no mismanagement. James was just as good on the field, honing his skills and becoming known “Achilles†among his comrades.

 

Part 6: Nerve Gear

 

6 years later…

 

After 6 years of war James had retired from the battle field, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. James suffered with emotional swings, addiction, and depression, in order to help James resolve the inner demons he was sent to several doctors and therapists. As a solution James was recommended to use a test program called the Nerve Gear which was a virtual reality environment that could help James heal. Skeptic at first James reluctantly accepted the using the Nerve Gear which turned out to be a life saver, as James was able to quell his inner demons. As if James was born again, the events of the past which had haunted him constantly were all gone from his mind. Over time James forgot the horrors of war but the only thing that remained was the visible burn marks on his body, the one thing that seemed to be unfix able in his life.

 

The three brothers swore to each other they would keep that horrendous day a secret between them for the rest of their lives.

Virtues

»Courageous – Having to deal with emotional and physical horrors in his life, James is able to muster courage from deep within himself in order to take any action he feels is necessary. Not particularly in favor of good or evil, but the ability to act when needed. Seeing an individual who is willing to act in a situation where the odds are against them, even the world may be against them but the individual still chooses to act, this is the meaning of courage and it is was James sees to be the best way to determine the character of an individual.

 

»Leadership – Experience from being the oldest of his siblings and more importantly having gone through several years of war, has shaped James to be a successful commander. Through years of war and hardship James is able to understand how to motivate not only himself but others. James understands in order to be a successful leader there are several factors that come into play such as: negotiating, teamwork, and motivation.

 

»Disciplined – Years of war had molded James into being a well-organized and motivated individual. No matter if it’s maintaining a physically fit mind and body or reading new types of strategies and tactics. James values idea of training not other people but rather his own mind, creating a strict regiment for him to follow and live by.

Flaws
Reference: http://www.darkworld...lore/flaws.html

»Pride – Resulting from years of military experience, in which James was taught to hone his skills. James will often not look for help from others determined to find a solution on his own. This type of behavior does not do James any favors with people, instead sometimes people are deterred from approaching James. James's pride is not intended to come off as boastful but rather a confidence in his abilities.

 

»Cold – Not intentional in his actions, James can come off as being a cold individual. James does not always engage in topics that are mundane to him, instead James tends to observe, learn and understand his surroundings. The result is that James seems to be an unfriendly individual at times. Instead of engaging other people in conversations he would not like, James enjoys training his body and mind in order to constantly improve himself.

»Opinionated – Not afraid to speak his mind, James does not always understand the proper time to speak about a certain topic. The idea of being opinionated is not necessarily a flaw or virtue, but in the case of James it is a flaw. If engaged into a heated conversation James tends to forget about the social mannerisms that he is typically aware of. This is a result of James being reshaped into having a militaristic mindset.

Skills Points

»Total Skill Points: 2

»Used Skill Points: 2

»Unused Skill Points: 0

 

Skills
Non-combat: 0/0
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Passive: 0/0
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Combat: 0/0
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Weapon skills: 2/2
» Two-Handed Straight Sword – Rank 1 Novice

Inventory
Weapons/Tools:
» Basic two-handed straight sword

» Beginner’s pack

» 10 bread

» 15 water

» Cloth clothing

Roleplays
[solo/private/open] LinkedTitle

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[solo/private/open] LinkedTitle - in progress

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(note "in progress" means its complete; "incomplete" can mean one or the other person stopped replying for a long time)


Relationships
Brother: Robert Blackwood

Brother: Edward Blackwood

Story Thus Far
Will be filled in as character is developed.

 

Col

Total: $0.00

 

Credits:

Pictures: Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante%27s_Inferno:_An_Animated_Epic

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