Application for Mask or Menace
May. 4th, 2015 01:28 am〈 PLAYER INFO 〉
NAME: Kerry
AGE: 29
JOURNAL:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
halfbloodly
IM / EMAIL: AIM: mysterytourist
PLURK:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
halfbloodly
RETURNING: Yes - I also play Grey (kinesia) here.
〈 CHARACTER INFO 〉
CHARACTER NAME: D'Artagnan
CHARACTER AGE: 24 (approx)
SERIES: The Musketeers (BBC)
CHRONOLOGY: I would like to bring him from the end of Series 2 (episode 2:10, 'Trial and Punishment')
CLASS: Hero
HOUSING: If we are both accepted, I would very much like him to share with Athos, who is also applying this round! Barring that, I have no preference.
BACKGROUND:
A full list of episodes and their summaries is available here.
D'Artagnan is from France in the seventeenth century, a time when the monarchy was still very much in control of the country, and more than a century before the French Revolution would take place. He is from a time before people had either electricity or running water, when it was common to ride on horseback or use horse-driven wagons and carriages for transport. It is a time when the Catholic Church had a great deal of power and influence, and citizens were expected to subscribe - at least nominally - to the Roman Catholic faith.
However, it is also a time when social norms are beginning to be challenged - questions are being asked about social class, women are seeking education and greater choices in life, some people are defecting from the Catholic faith to the Protestant one. Those who are not royalty are seeking to influence political decisions and are seeking an influence they have never had before. It is a time when traditions are respected, but those who look for it can detect change in the air.
The country is ruled by King Louis XIII, supported by his wife Queen Anne of Austria. However, King Louis has lived a sheltered and cosseted life, and despite his position, he lacks both maturity and independence. This can lead to him behaving more like a spoiled child than a powerful ruler. As a result, those who are skilled at currying favour with the King are able to exert a good deal of influence on his decisions and attitudes. He relies heavily on the opinions of those close to him, originally being guided almost exclusively by his First Minister, Cardinal Richelieu. Richelieu's death leads to something of a power vacuum, which the less than honourable Comte de Rochefort can take advantage of, to the detriment of the Musketeers. While Richelieu was shown to be self-serving, he was also shown to act for the good of France, whereas Rochefort has betrayed his country to Spain. His ability to manipulate and manoeuvre his way into a position of power means that he is able to influence - and endanger - the country at a very high level. Although the King is technically in charge, those who are close to him can wield an extraordinary amount of power, and a challenge for the Musketeers is ensuring that they remain true to the ideals of honour, duty and chivalry even while those in power do not.
Though raised on a farm in Gascony, d'Artagnan originally harbours ambitions as a soldier. Already a skilled swordsman and marksman in his own right, he seeks to join the King's Musketeers - a group of elite, highly trained soldiers whose sole purpose is to protect the King. They often act as bodyguards to the King and Queen, but will also undertake other missions and go into battle at the King's behest. They are one form of law enforcement in France, and are able to make arrests and take prisoners. There is some rivalry and tension between the Musketeers' regiment, and the Red Guards, the military regiment which reported directly to Cardinal Richelieu, and then later to Rochefort. Although the regiments are allies, and both act for the good of France, there is a lack of trust between them and they each have a desire to prove that one regiment is greater and more skilled than the other. D'Artagnan is drawn into this rivalry from the beginning; first when a member of the Red Guards - later believed, incorrectly, to have been a traitor - is responsible for killing his father, and later when he wins his commission to the Musketeers by defeating the Red Guards' chosen champion Labarge. He is therefore immediately drawn into the Musketeers' world of protecting the King, defending the interests of France, and behaving as a soldier.
By the time of the second series, he has been a Musketeer for just short of a year. He is the least experienced among his friends, but has proven himself as one of them and is no longer an apprentice. Instead, he is a fully fledged part of the team and has been shown undertaking duties both with the other Musketeers and by himself.
PERSONALITY:
"My name is d'Artagnan, of Lupiac in Gascony.
Prepare to fight, one of us dies here."
D'Artagnan is a young man, filled with notions of bravery, honour and justice. His introduction shows him fighting for his life and then, on witnessing his father's murder, swearing to avenge him. His courage and valour are two of his most notable traits. He is a confident swordsman with a brash and impetuous nature. He is the kind of person who jumps into every fight convinced he will win, and he's often right.
On an ordinary day, d'Artagnan has a quick, somewhat dry humour, and a frequently sarcastic wit that sits alongside a manner that appears calm and almost lazy when he's at peace. He will often be seen leaning against walls, looping his hands over his belt or leaning back in a seat as though he’s utterly calm and unflappable. He will stand to the side, leaning against a wall or sitting quietly while other people talk or argue. He is fond of other people and is quick to seek their friendship and trust - in particular the three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis. He becomes fast friends with them and settles easily into their group, expressing curiosity about their pasts and acting in general as a supportive presence. Despite his youth, he's not afraid to challenge or backtalk others, and he'll generally have a dry comment to fit whatever situation he's in.
"Pastor Ferrand: Then you're outnumbered. I have God on my side.
d'Artagnan: Oh, I do hope he's good with a sword."
While this attitude is often displayed as a strength, and the reason why he succeeds where others fail, it is also a notable weakness. For all that he seeks justice, he is also vengeful. His need to avenge his father's death obsesses him, turning his mood darker than it would usually be and driving him through multiple duels, challenges and fights until at last he can face his father's murderer. This trait comes to the fore again when he discovers that the criminal Labarge has burned down his farm, and he exhibits the same obsessive, vengeful attitude all over again.
Even when his reaction is not so extreme that it leads him to seek vengeance, his bravery and confidence often lead to a lack of caution. His confidence slips very easily into arrogance, both when it comes to his skill as a fighter - especially when faced with an opponent of equal, or superior skill - and the strength of his opinions. He is often not as respectful as he should be, having a tendency to run his mouth off when he disagrees with someone, to demand answers from his superiors when he's upset, and to imagine that he will always be better than his opponent no matter how experienced they are.
The combination of his bravery and his arrogance means that d'Artagnan is prone to getting into trouble. His recklessness means that he is generally willing to take a course of action that others see as dangerous or inadvisable. He is far more likely to assume he will succeed than worry about what will happen if he fails. He is capable of both logical and strategic thinking, and despite his recklessness he's not stupid - but when his temper is hot, he tends to follow his heart rather than his head. His easy, lazy demeanor only lasts until he loses his temper, or rushes into a fight. An angry d’Artagnan tends to be something of a loose cannon, throwing himself into dangerous situations with very little care for his own safety.
"And that could have been your back!
Now, fight me, or you will die on your knees! I don't care which."
This is why Athos initially describes him as promising, but raw, and cautions him against his tendency to let his heart rule his head. His temper can be his undoing in a fight, since it leads him to act with reckless abandon instead of precision or control. In order to truly fulfill his potential, d’Artagnan needs to learn to control his emotions and fight with a clear head. This is something he clearly struggles with, and is something that the other Musketeers – and Athos in particular – are trying to direct him in. The importance of this is that d’Artagnan is not yet the complete soldier. For all his skill and natural ability, he’s still young and brash, lacking both the years of experience and the extent of formal training of his friends. Yet just as his strengths are also his weaknesses, so is this weakness also a strength; despite his youth and relative inexperience, d’Artagnan is able to keep pace with the other Musketeers, and he’s able to bring down the majority of enemies he must face. It is this potential that has made him a part of the already established and more experienced team of Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and he seems to fit as easily into their number as though he has always belonged there.
The reason for this is not solely to do with his abilities as a soldier. In common with his three friends, d’Artagnan possesses a very strong sense of personal loyalty and duty. His word is his bond, and he takes very seriously any promise that he makes and any debt that he owes. He seeks always to behave with honour, which to him means that he will defend those who cannot defend themselves, he will protect those who need it even when they do not ask for it, and he will stand by his friends when they need him. In part this is because his meeting with them coincides with the death of his father, and for d'Artagnan this represents a crossroads in his life. Having grown up as a farm boy, he now aspires to join the regiment of Musketeers as a soldier, and in place of his father are three older Musketeers who both inspire him, and earn his respect. He finds with them the sense of belonging that he loses with the death of his father, and once his initial need for revenge abates, he's able to find something of a surrogate family among their number. His response to this is to treat them as though they are his blood. He will take on any amount of risk for them, seeking only that they should repay that loyalty by placing their trust in him.
"If this gets me hanged, I'm going to take it very personally."
Time and time again, he takes the harder road rather than let down one of his friends; he helps to conceal a known criminal when Aramis seeks his aid in doing so, he refuses to hear that same criminal’s accusations against Treville because he is loyal to his Captain, he seeks the life of his father’s killer no matter what the consequence may be for him. Even on the one occasion when he doubts one of his friends – when Porthos appears to have murdered someone in cold blood while drunk – d’Artagnan still works to exonerate him and later says that Porthos being guilty had never crossed his mind. This continues into the second season, when d'Artagnan continues to treat Treville as his Captain even after he is demoted, and when he stands by and supports Aramis even after discovering that he is accused, and technically guilty of, treason. He would both kill and die for his friends; he considers this a duty and a privilege, and to have any other attitude would seem dishonourable to him. His loyalty to his friends comes first, above anything else - even his official duties.
Yet this attitude is often what gets him into trouble, particularly when his loyalty for one person clashes with his loyalty for another. When Constance challenges him over not telling her that Aramis’ friend Marsac is a criminal, d’Artagnan angrily states that he had owed Aramis his loyalty – and then apologises, remembering that he owes loyalty to Constance as well. It’s not always easy for him to strike the right balance when it comes to the trust he places in others, and he’s been shown to make, regret, and apologise for, mistakes. His determination to be loyal means that he does not always make the 'right' choice, but so long as he considers that he behaved with honour, he will live with the consequences of that.
As the case with Aramis' treachery proves, he has also been shown to place his own idea of what it means to be a loyal friend and honourable person over what is strictly legal – despite his role as one of the King’s Musketeers. However, this trait is also something he has in common with Athos, Aramis and Porthos, all of whom have a sense of natural justice which has been known to fly in the face of official law. This is most notably seen when all four of them conspire to hand the tax-evading slaver Bonnaire into the hands of the Spanish - despite the fact that relations between France and Spain are difficult, and despite the fact that Bonnaire has been commissioned by the King to establish colonies abroad in the name of France. It is acknowledged that to give Bonnaire up is technically treason, but the Musketeers do it anyway because of their sense that slavery is morally wrong (despite being legal) and their belief that Bonnaire should be punished for his crimes and not rewarded. Likewise, the decision to support Aramis even after it is revealed that he has slept with the Queen and most likely fathered the Dauphin means that d'Artagnan is helping his friend to get away with treachery. However, Aramis has only been accused as part of Rochefort's plan to betray the whole of France to her enemy Spain, and the Musketeers will always act in the interests of France as a whole. They all abide by what could be termed as a shared sense of chivalry - a duty to serve one's Lord, to defend the weak, to defend one's honour, and to do so in a manner that is right and fair. When their duty comes into conflict with their honour, they will do what they believe is right - even if that means trying to find a way around their orders. D'Artagnan has even been shown disobeying a direct order from the King for this very reason. When ordered to execute a man that Louis had promised to pardon, d'Artagnan balks, saying:
"I am a soldier, not an executioner."
Though this provokes his King's anger, d'Artagnan is more willing to live with Louis' disapproval than with the knowledge that he had killed someone who was promised freedom. His own idea of justice matters more to him than what anyone tells him he should do. D'Artagnan already displays this attitude when he meets Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and his association with them only serves to reinforce it. This means that as a soldier he will follow orders, but he will place his personal sense of justice and rightness above those orders if and when the two conflict.
The idea of chivalry also evokes the notion of romance. D'Artagnan is a particularly romantic character, with a capacity to love very deeply. This is not to say that he will not engage in a relationship unless he is in love; in fact he seems familiar enough with casual relationships, as shown when he sleeps with Milady in the first episode after having just met her. There is no sense that he loves her; at the time he is mourning the loss of his father, and he indicates both that he does not want to talk about what is wrong, and that he would like to just lose himself in her and forget for a while. Despite this, when he discovers that her neck is marked from where (as she explains) a man she loved tried to kill her, d'Artagnan offers to kill the man in question without even knowing the full story. Even without being in love, he acts on the instinct of his feelings rather than with logic or discernment. It is only later, after Milady tries to frame him for murder, that he becomes more suspicious and wary of her, and even then she holds enough of a sway over him that he accepts her help when she offers to sponsor his entry to a competitive fight. He is not quite able to forget his association with her, even when her duplicitous nature reveals itself to him. However, d'Artagnan's relationship with Milady is something that the Musketeers are later able to use to their advantage, since they are able to trick her into believing that he would side with her over the man who tried to kill her - revealed to be his friend, Athos. In this case, d'Artagnan's loyalty to Athos proves far stronger than any hold Milady may believe she has over him, and once he knows the full extent of her crimes as the Cardinal's assassin, any sway that she still holds over him evaporates. By the second season, d'Artagnan both distrusts and actively dislikes Milady, openly telling her that he would rather sleep with a polecat than touch her again. However, by this point in time, it was also clear that d'Artagnan's true romantic feelings lay not with Milady, but with Constance instead.
His tendency to put romance over reason becomes even more evident when he meets Constance, and begins to become her friend. It's soon very clear that he has a growing affection for her, far greater than any form of lust he had ever shown for Milady. Constance is a person who challenges his ideals, who tells him that she wants to be seen as his equal and not just someone he protects, who becomes a trusted confidante and who has helped him and the other Musketeers on more than one occasion. D'Artagnan reacts badly (and violently) towards anyone who threatens Constance, and he is impressed both by her humility and by her capacity for kindness, eventually telling her that she is the finest woman he has ever met.
"You shine so brightly in my eyes,
it puts every other woman in the shade."
In the second season, he recommends Constance to the Queen as a Lady in Waiting, a position that she accepts and through which she is able to gain some independence from her increasingly abusive husband. He also tells her that he loves her, quite by accident, in spite of the fact that she is married. Eventually this results in him having an affair with her, even though both of them know that it's wrong. D'Artagnan cares far more about how they feel for each other than anything else, meaning that his attitude towards love is another example of his tendency to let his heart rule his head. His illicit relationship with Constance is one that cannot last, and this is something he should logically know - but he acts according to his feelings instead, and this sets his heart up to be broken. In spite of this, d'Artagnan remains in love with Constance and shows himself to be unable to move on, even when other women flirt with him, and even when he knows he can't have a future with a married woman. He continues to pursue Constance, asking her to be with him regardless of her husband, and making clear that he believes real love to be more important than society's objections:
"We can do anything if we dare, Constance."
Initially his attitude causes tension between himself and Constance. However, after seeing him offer to die for her when her life is threatened, Constance begins to agree with him. Both of them choose to put their feelings before any sense of reason, regardless of the scandal this may cause in a society that would have disgraced Constance for her infidelity. D'Artagnan promises that he would marry Constance as soon as she was able, and he keeps his word far sooner than either of them could have predicted, following the death of Constance's husband. By the end of the second series, the two of them have wed, and their relationship has been legitimised instead of scandalised. It is an example of one of the many risks d'Artagnan takes that leads to success, though the progression of their relationship also shows how bull-headed and stubborn d'Artagnan can be. All that matters to him is that he loves Constance, and wants to be with her; as far as he is concerned, nothing is more important than that. He will put her safety above everything from his duty to his own life, and his sense of honour fluctuates when she is in question. This is most obviously seen when he is the first to reach her husband, who has been shot with a crossbow and is dying on the floor of the palace. For a brief moment, d'Artagnan genuinely hesitates to help Bonacieux, and is shown to be conflicted over his actions. His morality is quick to reassert itself, and he attempts to stop the bleeding and save Bonacieux - only to have the man die in his hands, cursing d'Artagnan and Constance and claiming they will never be happy. It is evidence that d'Artagnan is not always as righteous as he would like himself to be. There is a side of him that is selfish, and willing to act in his own interests rather than doing what is objectively 'right'. Milady de Winter knows this, dismissing d'Artagnan's judgement of her with the comment that "your morality will not stand, Musketeer."
This is a very clear example of how d'Artagnan's passionate nature can be seen as a flaw, rather than a strength. He speaks the language of black and white morality, yet when his own feelings for his friends and the woman he loves are involved, he becomes more grey. It is no surprise that this personality often gets him into trouble. Whether the context is his blossoming career as a soldier, or his personal life, he is a man very much ruled by his passions. He may seem calm, witty and dry at first glance, but he is driven by ambition, by honour and duty, and by love. He has the potential to be a great Musketeer, but he is still young, and lacks both the experience and control of his Musketeer friends. In addition his desire for justice and morality can sometimes be twisted by his own passions. He can be vengeful when he has been wronged, a trait that particularly presents itself when he is emotionally compromised. The death of his father causes him to seek the murderer without prejudice, first attempting to kill Athos and then, on realising that Athos was not the killer, helping to clear his name by going after the true murderer. Although this seems to sate his desire for vengeance, his passion for it comes back in full force when he discovers that Labarge has burned down his father's farm. D'Artagnan's rash nature sends him into an ill-advised confrontation with Labarge which, if not for Athos' intervention, may well have seen him dead. Only the influence of his new friends encourages d'Artagnan to think with his head rather than his heart, and he is forced to defeat his own desire for vengeance and control himself in order to finally overcome the test of Labarge. This lesson has a considerable impact on him, and its effects continue to be seen in Season 2. When Pepin, a man he had befriended while captured by slavers, is killed in front of him, d'Artagnan is furious enough that his old urge for vengeance is provoked. However, instead of rushing straight into a fight and getting himself hurt, he becomes far more cold, and uses that anger to fuel him instead. He wraps a scarf around his hand, grabs hold of the slaver's sword as he rides by, and throws him off his horse before killing him with his own sword. The move is brutal but effective, and shows how dangerous d'Artagnan's passion can be when he is able to control it. In this instance, he is both a soldier and an executioner - but he remains guided by his own personal moral standing, on which he continues to believe he can rely.
This also shows the positive impact the Musketeers are having on him. He is maturing through his friendship with them, learning to control his impulsive spirit and establish himself as one of their number. His drive to become one of them is what pushes him on, and his attachment to them has meant that they have become something of a surrogate family to him after the death of his father. When he finally achieves his goal of becoming a Musketeer, it is at the end of a powerful test of character for him; he has controlled his anger, defeated Labarge in a controlled duel, and attained justice rather than giving into revenge. His new role as a Musketeer is one that he is growing into. He has found a sense of belonging and community with his new friends, and it is ultimately this attachment and ambition which always drives him forward regardless of how much trouble he finds himself in. He is beginning to grow and mature, is beginning to see a more complicated world with more difficult decisions to be made than previously. Thus far, he has risen to the challenge, though things have not always gone his way. In general, however, he is still someone who will make the choice that 'feels' right, even if it is a choice that costs him personally. He continues to be highly protective and loyal to his friends, and he continues to prize the concept of chivalry and all that it entails - honour, justice, and romance.
POWER:
Canon Skills
He has a great deal of natural ability in hand to hand combat, despite having grown up on a farm and not having received formal military training until he falls in with the established Musketeers. He is proficient in the use of firearms (particularly pistols and muskets), though he is not as accurate with them as his friend Aramis. However his most notable skill is with the sword, with which he is extremely versatile and can use it either by itself, or with a second blade (such as his main gauche) in his other hand. He is an instinctive fighter with a quick, agile style which involves him employing multiple turns, pivots, changes of position and movement while fighting. He rarely fights with just one weapon, and his quick style allows him to easily switch between his sword, his knife and his pistols - as well as using each of them in combination with the others, while taking on groups of enemies.
D'Artagnan's personal level of skill is shown to be very high, and is regularly remarked upon by others. He is good enough that he has been shown teaching others (notably, Constance) the basics of shooting and swordfighting. He is generally able to defeat any enemy that he takes on, with the notable exception of the three Musketeers whom he befriends - Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Where they are concerned, he is able to keep pace with them and fight alongside them without looking out of place; however, he cannot defeat them. His proficiency develops further under their (particularly Athos') guidance. Athos initially describes him as 'promising, but raw', indicating a high degree of natural talent which needs to be refined through formal training. He has a tendency to let his temper get the better of him when it is raised, and so when a fight is particularly personal, he loses some of his focus and his fighting ability suffers as a result. It is this aspect that Athos has begun to work with him on. At this canon point, he has shown enough improvement in that area to be able to win his greatest personal test to date by defeating Labarge in episode 8. However, it remains his most notable weakness in battle and is the area that requires the most work for him.
In the second season, d'Artagnan's skill as a fighter has continued to improve. He is shown using two full length swords at the same time with ease, and is also shown improvising with makeshift weapons (such as a scarf and a cape). He continues to be shown as a forceful fighter, and is strong enough to kick down locked doors by himself. He is still more prone to recklessness when he is angry. His anger is both a strength and a weakness for him - it gives him the rush of adrenaline he needs to overpower stronger enemies, but he still has a tendency to rush off without thinking. However, working with the Musketeers has also increased his sense of discipline when in combat. He has a steady hand, and has learned to be patient and vigilant of others around him - shown particularly in episode 2, when he unhorses and kills his opponent in one movement, and in episode 8, when he is aware enough to notice a woman lifting a sword behind him, and he is quick enough to disarm her before she can attack. He has become faster, with improved dexterity and ability to improvise on the spot. It should be noted that Season 2 takes place at least 6 months after the end of Season 1, and his improved skills are likely the result of his experience with the Musketeers during that time.
City Power 1 - Empathic Creation
I would like d'Artagnan to be given the power of Empathic Creation, meaning that he can change his emotional energy into weapons. This will allow him to create swords, guns, bombs and ammunition at will. The power comes from his emotions, and will be fuelled by them, meaning that the strength of the weapon he creates will be dependent on the strength of the emotion behind it. For example, losing his temper will enable him to create a solid and usable sword from his anger - but when he calms down, or his anger disintegrates into another emotion such as fear, the sword will lose its structural integrity and eventually disappear. Maintaining the objects he creates will therefore require d'Artagnan to control his emotions, something he finds incredibly difficult in canon.
Limitations
City Power 2 - Empathic Inducement
I would also like to give d'Artagnan the power of Empathic Inducement. In canon he is regularly shown to approach others about their feelings - he is the person who pushes Athos, Aramis and Milady to talk about their past in Season 1. He also strongly believes in the importance of love, believing society's complications to be irrelevant next to the strength of the emotion between two people who love each other. He encourages Constance to act on her feelings, regardless of what anyone else may think of it. In game, I would like for this aspect of d'Artagnan's personality to manifest as an empathic power. This would mean that he would be able to induce the emotions that he is feeling on anyone that is close to him. In theory, he would be able to induce any emotion - so he could promote a feeling of happiness when a person is sad, he could project a sense of calm when they were panicking, and so on. However, given d'Artagnan's natural temper, it would be most usual for him to radiate his anger, which would temporarily rouse the anger of those around him as well.
Limitations
〈 CHARACTER SAMPLES 〉
COMMUNITY POST (VOICE) SAMPLE:
[ You'll all be treated to a good few moments of silence, while a frowning dark-haired Frenchman from the seventeenth century tries to decipher the workings of a smartphone. Realisation that it's already recording strikes all of a sudden, and he quickly clears his throat, holds the device at a distance, and tries to look like he knows what he's doing. ]
All right. Presuming anyone can actually hear me...
I'm d'Artagnan, of the King's Musketeers. The guards who took my name claimed that there was no way home, no way to leave this new world.
Don't get me wrong, it's not as though I don't like it.
[ He's never seen anything like this place. It's incredible. There are carriages that not only move without horses, but float above the ground. There are these devices, broadcasting his words to - supposedly - hundreds of people. There's a gate that literally moves people between worlds. These are things that shouldn't exist, things that he had not ever imagined could exist. It's like a fantasy. A dream, though not his own. Absolutely not his own, because even his wildest dreams could not have depicted all that's here.
He wishes that Constance could see it. He would pay a great deal to see the look on her face.
Therein lies the problem. She is not here, and neither should he be. So, fascinating though it is, he needs to take his leave. ]
But I have somewhere to be. I was married one day ago, and today I make war on the Spanish. Send me back to the garrison or to battle directly, I don't care which, but I cannot stay here. I know there are those of you who feel the same. There must be. I cannot imagine that an entire community of kidnapped people would be content to simply stay in their bonds.
[ Even if they are, admittedly, appealing bonds. That's not the point. ]
Tell me now. Who is searching? I need to join you.
LOGS POST (PROSE) SAMPLE:
The weather here made d'Artagnan despise his leathers. Was it always like this? He'd heard many tales of the New World, most of them filled with plantations and stories of riches and loose living. In a way, he'd even expected the heat.
The humidity was what was really killing him. It made his doublet cling to his chest, and his hair stick to his neck. Paris had never seen weather like this on the hottest of its days. Even now that the sun was low, the heat remained. Of course, it didn't help that he was running.
The streets flew past him, one after another. He'd long since lost track of where he was going. He knew Paris' streets well enough that it was never a concern there, but this place? This was different. If he'd had time, he'd have mapped all of this out and committed it to memory before he even started. But he'd barely taken to these too-wide streets before he saw a man with a hood over his head snatching the purse from a woman three times his age, and there'd not been time to ask directions. He'd just run.
"Stop!"
As if that would do any good, he thought, given that he'd shouted it three times already. He pulled his pistol from his belt, levelling it at the thief, and pulling the trigger. The musket ball glanced off the side of a building, sending concrete dust into the air, and missing its target entirely. D'Artagnan cursed, not for the first time wishing he had Aramis beside him. Despite that, he kept going. He reloaded while he ran, and as he turned, saw the thief heading for the more crowded zone of the city centre. With growing irritation, d'Artagnan raced after him, pushing people aside in his effort to get through. Cutting down the adjacent street was a risk, since it could have taken him in the wrong direction entirely - but his luck held, and ahead of him he saw the criminal. Drawing his sword this time, he ran out to collide with the man directly.
Both fell. The man scrambled and d'Artagnan turned, his elbow connecting with the thief's face, and the sharp crunch that followed told him a nose had been broken. While the thief crief out and clutched at his face, d'Artagnan swung back to his feet and levelled his sword at the man's chest. The point was pressed against his heart, creating a little dent in his shirt
He held out his hand.
"Give."
The man actually hesitated. D'Artagnan raised his eyebrows and stared, willing the thief to refuse him. At length, the purse was held up, and d'Artagnan snatched it back.
"She was an innocent woman. The sun had not even set; what's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with me?!" The thief stared back at him, the effect of which was only slightly dimmed by the way he still held his nose. "You fucking imports. Who the hell uses a sword anymore, what's the matter with you?!"
The boy had a point, loathe as d'Artagnan was to admit it. But the sword at his side, and the pauldron on his shoulder, were reminders of his true duty. He was a Musketeer. He didn't care whether they registered him as a hero or a soldier here. The words didn't matter. There was always a peace to protect. And apparently, there was never any shortage of petty criminals wasting his time to try and disrupt it.
"Get up," he ordered, ignoring the thief's question. "You're under arrest. Unless you want to take us all on another little chase around the place. We just about missed the beach."
The thief looked ready to interject again, but d'Artagnan pulled him to his feet, and bound his hands behind his back. His world had changed, and so had the person giving the orders - yet it seemed the job had not changed at all. At least some things stayed the same.
FINAL NOTES:
✖ Inventory:
Wearing:
⚜ 1 tan leather jacket with detachable beige leather sleeves
⚜ 1 pair dark brown leather trousers
⚜ 1 pair brown leather boots
⚜ Undergarments
⚜ 1 greying undershirt
⚜ 1 pair leather gloves
⚜ 3 brown leather belts (seriously)
⚜ 1 Musketeer uniform (a brown leather pauldron, embroidered with the fleur de lis symbol, and a pale blue cape)
Weapons: One rapier sword with sword belt, one main gauche, 2 pistols, ammunition for said pistols (pouch of gunpowder and fuses, pouch of musket balls), coin purse and small amount of loose change.
NAME: Kerry
AGE: 29
JOURNAL:
halfbloodlyIM / EMAIL: AIM: mysterytourist
PLURK:
RETURNING: Yes - I also play Grey (
kinesia) here.〈 CHARACTER INFO 〉
CHARACTER NAME: D'Artagnan
CHARACTER AGE: 24 (approx)
SERIES: The Musketeers (BBC)
CHRONOLOGY: I would like to bring him from the end of Series 2 (episode 2:10, 'Trial and Punishment')
CLASS: Hero
HOUSING: If we are both accepted, I would very much like him to share with Athos, who is also applying this round! Barring that, I have no preference.
BACKGROUND:
A full list of episodes and their summaries is available here.
D'Artagnan is from France in the seventeenth century, a time when the monarchy was still very much in control of the country, and more than a century before the French Revolution would take place. He is from a time before people had either electricity or running water, when it was common to ride on horseback or use horse-driven wagons and carriages for transport. It is a time when the Catholic Church had a great deal of power and influence, and citizens were expected to subscribe - at least nominally - to the Roman Catholic faith.
However, it is also a time when social norms are beginning to be challenged - questions are being asked about social class, women are seeking education and greater choices in life, some people are defecting from the Catholic faith to the Protestant one. Those who are not royalty are seeking to influence political decisions and are seeking an influence they have never had before. It is a time when traditions are respected, but those who look for it can detect change in the air.
The country is ruled by King Louis XIII, supported by his wife Queen Anne of Austria. However, King Louis has lived a sheltered and cosseted life, and despite his position, he lacks both maturity and independence. This can lead to him behaving more like a spoiled child than a powerful ruler. As a result, those who are skilled at currying favour with the King are able to exert a good deal of influence on his decisions and attitudes. He relies heavily on the opinions of those close to him, originally being guided almost exclusively by his First Minister, Cardinal Richelieu. Richelieu's death leads to something of a power vacuum, which the less than honourable Comte de Rochefort can take advantage of, to the detriment of the Musketeers. While Richelieu was shown to be self-serving, he was also shown to act for the good of France, whereas Rochefort has betrayed his country to Spain. His ability to manipulate and manoeuvre his way into a position of power means that he is able to influence - and endanger - the country at a very high level. Although the King is technically in charge, those who are close to him can wield an extraordinary amount of power, and a challenge for the Musketeers is ensuring that they remain true to the ideals of honour, duty and chivalry even while those in power do not.
Though raised on a farm in Gascony, d'Artagnan originally harbours ambitions as a soldier. Already a skilled swordsman and marksman in his own right, he seeks to join the King's Musketeers - a group of elite, highly trained soldiers whose sole purpose is to protect the King. They often act as bodyguards to the King and Queen, but will also undertake other missions and go into battle at the King's behest. They are one form of law enforcement in France, and are able to make arrests and take prisoners. There is some rivalry and tension between the Musketeers' regiment, and the Red Guards, the military regiment which reported directly to Cardinal Richelieu, and then later to Rochefort. Although the regiments are allies, and both act for the good of France, there is a lack of trust between them and they each have a desire to prove that one regiment is greater and more skilled than the other. D'Artagnan is drawn into this rivalry from the beginning; first when a member of the Red Guards - later believed, incorrectly, to have been a traitor - is responsible for killing his father, and later when he wins his commission to the Musketeers by defeating the Red Guards' chosen champion Labarge. He is therefore immediately drawn into the Musketeers' world of protecting the King, defending the interests of France, and behaving as a soldier.
By the time of the second series, he has been a Musketeer for just short of a year. He is the least experienced among his friends, but has proven himself as one of them and is no longer an apprentice. Instead, he is a fully fledged part of the team and has been shown undertaking duties both with the other Musketeers and by himself.
PERSONALITY:
Prepare to fight, one of us dies here."
D'Artagnan is a young man, filled with notions of bravery, honour and justice. His introduction shows him fighting for his life and then, on witnessing his father's murder, swearing to avenge him. His courage and valour are two of his most notable traits. He is a confident swordsman with a brash and impetuous nature. He is the kind of person who jumps into every fight convinced he will win, and he's often right.
On an ordinary day, d'Artagnan has a quick, somewhat dry humour, and a frequently sarcastic wit that sits alongside a manner that appears calm and almost lazy when he's at peace. He will often be seen leaning against walls, looping his hands over his belt or leaning back in a seat as though he’s utterly calm and unflappable. He will stand to the side, leaning against a wall or sitting quietly while other people talk or argue. He is fond of other people and is quick to seek their friendship and trust - in particular the three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis. He becomes fast friends with them and settles easily into their group, expressing curiosity about their pasts and acting in general as a supportive presence. Despite his youth, he's not afraid to challenge or backtalk others, and he'll generally have a dry comment to fit whatever situation he's in.
d'Artagnan: Oh, I do hope he's good with a sword."
While this attitude is often displayed as a strength, and the reason why he succeeds where others fail, it is also a notable weakness. For all that he seeks justice, he is also vengeful. His need to avenge his father's death obsesses him, turning his mood darker than it would usually be and driving him through multiple duels, challenges and fights until at last he can face his father's murderer. This trait comes to the fore again when he discovers that the criminal Labarge has burned down his farm, and he exhibits the same obsessive, vengeful attitude all over again.
Even when his reaction is not so extreme that it leads him to seek vengeance, his bravery and confidence often lead to a lack of caution. His confidence slips very easily into arrogance, both when it comes to his skill as a fighter - especially when faced with an opponent of equal, or superior skill - and the strength of his opinions. He is often not as respectful as he should be, having a tendency to run his mouth off when he disagrees with someone, to demand answers from his superiors when he's upset, and to imagine that he will always be better than his opponent no matter how experienced they are.
The combination of his bravery and his arrogance means that d'Artagnan is prone to getting into trouble. His recklessness means that he is generally willing to take a course of action that others see as dangerous or inadvisable. He is far more likely to assume he will succeed than worry about what will happen if he fails. He is capable of both logical and strategic thinking, and despite his recklessness he's not stupid - but when his temper is hot, he tends to follow his heart rather than his head. His easy, lazy demeanor only lasts until he loses his temper, or rushes into a fight. An angry d’Artagnan tends to be something of a loose cannon, throwing himself into dangerous situations with very little care for his own safety.
Now, fight me, or you will die on your knees! I don't care which."
This is why Athos initially describes him as promising, but raw, and cautions him against his tendency to let his heart rule his head. His temper can be his undoing in a fight, since it leads him to act with reckless abandon instead of precision or control. In order to truly fulfill his potential, d’Artagnan needs to learn to control his emotions and fight with a clear head. This is something he clearly struggles with, and is something that the other Musketeers – and Athos in particular – are trying to direct him in. The importance of this is that d’Artagnan is not yet the complete soldier. For all his skill and natural ability, he’s still young and brash, lacking both the years of experience and the extent of formal training of his friends. Yet just as his strengths are also his weaknesses, so is this weakness also a strength; despite his youth and relative inexperience, d’Artagnan is able to keep pace with the other Musketeers, and he’s able to bring down the majority of enemies he must face. It is this potential that has made him a part of the already established and more experienced team of Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and he seems to fit as easily into their number as though he has always belonged there.
The reason for this is not solely to do with his abilities as a soldier. In common with his three friends, d’Artagnan possesses a very strong sense of personal loyalty and duty. His word is his bond, and he takes very seriously any promise that he makes and any debt that he owes. He seeks always to behave with honour, which to him means that he will defend those who cannot defend themselves, he will protect those who need it even when they do not ask for it, and he will stand by his friends when they need him. In part this is because his meeting with them coincides with the death of his father, and for d'Artagnan this represents a crossroads in his life. Having grown up as a farm boy, he now aspires to join the regiment of Musketeers as a soldier, and in place of his father are three older Musketeers who both inspire him, and earn his respect. He finds with them the sense of belonging that he loses with the death of his father, and once his initial need for revenge abates, he's able to find something of a surrogate family among their number. His response to this is to treat them as though they are his blood. He will take on any amount of risk for them, seeking only that they should repay that loyalty by placing their trust in him.
Time and time again, he takes the harder road rather than let down one of his friends; he helps to conceal a known criminal when Aramis seeks his aid in doing so, he refuses to hear that same criminal’s accusations against Treville because he is loyal to his Captain, he seeks the life of his father’s killer no matter what the consequence may be for him. Even on the one occasion when he doubts one of his friends – when Porthos appears to have murdered someone in cold blood while drunk – d’Artagnan still works to exonerate him and later says that Porthos being guilty had never crossed his mind. This continues into the second season, when d'Artagnan continues to treat Treville as his Captain even after he is demoted, and when he stands by and supports Aramis even after discovering that he is accused, and technically guilty of, treason. He would both kill and die for his friends; he considers this a duty and a privilege, and to have any other attitude would seem dishonourable to him. His loyalty to his friends comes first, above anything else - even his official duties.
Yet this attitude is often what gets him into trouble, particularly when his loyalty for one person clashes with his loyalty for another. When Constance challenges him over not telling her that Aramis’ friend Marsac is a criminal, d’Artagnan angrily states that he had owed Aramis his loyalty – and then apologises, remembering that he owes loyalty to Constance as well. It’s not always easy for him to strike the right balance when it comes to the trust he places in others, and he’s been shown to make, regret, and apologise for, mistakes. His determination to be loyal means that he does not always make the 'right' choice, but so long as he considers that he behaved with honour, he will live with the consequences of that.
As the case with Aramis' treachery proves, he has also been shown to place his own idea of what it means to be a loyal friend and honourable person over what is strictly legal – despite his role as one of the King’s Musketeers. However, this trait is also something he has in common with Athos, Aramis and Porthos, all of whom have a sense of natural justice which has been known to fly in the face of official law. This is most notably seen when all four of them conspire to hand the tax-evading slaver Bonnaire into the hands of the Spanish - despite the fact that relations between France and Spain are difficult, and despite the fact that Bonnaire has been commissioned by the King to establish colonies abroad in the name of France. It is acknowledged that to give Bonnaire up is technically treason, but the Musketeers do it anyway because of their sense that slavery is morally wrong (despite being legal) and their belief that Bonnaire should be punished for his crimes and not rewarded. Likewise, the decision to support Aramis even after it is revealed that he has slept with the Queen and most likely fathered the Dauphin means that d'Artagnan is helping his friend to get away with treachery. However, Aramis has only been accused as part of Rochefort's plan to betray the whole of France to her enemy Spain, and the Musketeers will always act in the interests of France as a whole. They all abide by what could be termed as a shared sense of chivalry - a duty to serve one's Lord, to defend the weak, to defend one's honour, and to do so in a manner that is right and fair. When their duty comes into conflict with their honour, they will do what they believe is right - even if that means trying to find a way around their orders. D'Artagnan has even been shown disobeying a direct order from the King for this very reason. When ordered to execute a man that Louis had promised to pardon, d'Artagnan balks, saying:
Though this provokes his King's anger, d'Artagnan is more willing to live with Louis' disapproval than with the knowledge that he had killed someone who was promised freedom. His own idea of justice matters more to him than what anyone tells him he should do. D'Artagnan already displays this attitude when he meets Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and his association with them only serves to reinforce it. This means that as a soldier he will follow orders, but he will place his personal sense of justice and rightness above those orders if and when the two conflict.
The idea of chivalry also evokes the notion of romance. D'Artagnan is a particularly romantic character, with a capacity to love very deeply. This is not to say that he will not engage in a relationship unless he is in love; in fact he seems familiar enough with casual relationships, as shown when he sleeps with Milady in the first episode after having just met her. There is no sense that he loves her; at the time he is mourning the loss of his father, and he indicates both that he does not want to talk about what is wrong, and that he would like to just lose himself in her and forget for a while. Despite this, when he discovers that her neck is marked from where (as she explains) a man she loved tried to kill her, d'Artagnan offers to kill the man in question without even knowing the full story. Even without being in love, he acts on the instinct of his feelings rather than with logic or discernment. It is only later, after Milady tries to frame him for murder, that he becomes more suspicious and wary of her, and even then she holds enough of a sway over him that he accepts her help when she offers to sponsor his entry to a competitive fight. He is not quite able to forget his association with her, even when her duplicitous nature reveals itself to him. However, d'Artagnan's relationship with Milady is something that the Musketeers are later able to use to their advantage, since they are able to trick her into believing that he would side with her over the man who tried to kill her - revealed to be his friend, Athos. In this case, d'Artagnan's loyalty to Athos proves far stronger than any hold Milady may believe she has over him, and once he knows the full extent of her crimes as the Cardinal's assassin, any sway that she still holds over him evaporates. By the second season, d'Artagnan both distrusts and actively dislikes Milady, openly telling her that he would rather sleep with a polecat than touch her again. However, by this point in time, it was also clear that d'Artagnan's true romantic feelings lay not with Milady, but with Constance instead.
His tendency to put romance over reason becomes even more evident when he meets Constance, and begins to become her friend. It's soon very clear that he has a growing affection for her, far greater than any form of lust he had ever shown for Milady. Constance is a person who challenges his ideals, who tells him that she wants to be seen as his equal and not just someone he protects, who becomes a trusted confidante and who has helped him and the other Musketeers on more than one occasion. D'Artagnan reacts badly (and violently) towards anyone who threatens Constance, and he is impressed both by her humility and by her capacity for kindness, eventually telling her that she is the finest woman he has ever met.
it puts every other woman in the shade."
In the second season, he recommends Constance to the Queen as a Lady in Waiting, a position that she accepts and through which she is able to gain some independence from her increasingly abusive husband. He also tells her that he loves her, quite by accident, in spite of the fact that she is married. Eventually this results in him having an affair with her, even though both of them know that it's wrong. D'Artagnan cares far more about how they feel for each other than anything else, meaning that his attitude towards love is another example of his tendency to let his heart rule his head. His illicit relationship with Constance is one that cannot last, and this is something he should logically know - but he acts according to his feelings instead, and this sets his heart up to be broken. In spite of this, d'Artagnan remains in love with Constance and shows himself to be unable to move on, even when other women flirt with him, and even when he knows he can't have a future with a married woman. He continues to pursue Constance, asking her to be with him regardless of her husband, and making clear that he believes real love to be more important than society's objections:
Initially his attitude causes tension between himself and Constance. However, after seeing him offer to die for her when her life is threatened, Constance begins to agree with him. Both of them choose to put their feelings before any sense of reason, regardless of the scandal this may cause in a society that would have disgraced Constance for her infidelity. D'Artagnan promises that he would marry Constance as soon as she was able, and he keeps his word far sooner than either of them could have predicted, following the death of Constance's husband. By the end of the second series, the two of them have wed, and their relationship has been legitimised instead of scandalised. It is an example of one of the many risks d'Artagnan takes that leads to success, though the progression of their relationship also shows how bull-headed and stubborn d'Artagnan can be. All that matters to him is that he loves Constance, and wants to be with her; as far as he is concerned, nothing is more important than that. He will put her safety above everything from his duty to his own life, and his sense of honour fluctuates when she is in question. This is most obviously seen when he is the first to reach her husband, who has been shot with a crossbow and is dying on the floor of the palace. For a brief moment, d'Artagnan genuinely hesitates to help Bonacieux, and is shown to be conflicted over his actions. His morality is quick to reassert itself, and he attempts to stop the bleeding and save Bonacieux - only to have the man die in his hands, cursing d'Artagnan and Constance and claiming they will never be happy. It is evidence that d'Artagnan is not always as righteous as he would like himself to be. There is a side of him that is selfish, and willing to act in his own interests rather than doing what is objectively 'right'. Milady de Winter knows this, dismissing d'Artagnan's judgement of her with the comment that "your morality will not stand, Musketeer."
This is a very clear example of how d'Artagnan's passionate nature can be seen as a flaw, rather than a strength. He speaks the language of black and white morality, yet when his own feelings for his friends and the woman he loves are involved, he becomes more grey. It is no surprise that this personality often gets him into trouble. Whether the context is his blossoming career as a soldier, or his personal life, he is a man very much ruled by his passions. He may seem calm, witty and dry at first glance, but he is driven by ambition, by honour and duty, and by love. He has the potential to be a great Musketeer, but he is still young, and lacks both the experience and control of his Musketeer friends. In addition his desire for justice and morality can sometimes be twisted by his own passions. He can be vengeful when he has been wronged, a trait that particularly presents itself when he is emotionally compromised. The death of his father causes him to seek the murderer without prejudice, first attempting to kill Athos and then, on realising that Athos was not the killer, helping to clear his name by going after the true murderer. Although this seems to sate his desire for vengeance, his passion for it comes back in full force when he discovers that Labarge has burned down his father's farm. D'Artagnan's rash nature sends him into an ill-advised confrontation with Labarge which, if not for Athos' intervention, may well have seen him dead. Only the influence of his new friends encourages d'Artagnan to think with his head rather than his heart, and he is forced to defeat his own desire for vengeance and control himself in order to finally overcome the test of Labarge. This lesson has a considerable impact on him, and its effects continue to be seen in Season 2. When Pepin, a man he had befriended while captured by slavers, is killed in front of him, d'Artagnan is furious enough that his old urge for vengeance is provoked. However, instead of rushing straight into a fight and getting himself hurt, he becomes far more cold, and uses that anger to fuel him instead. He wraps a scarf around his hand, grabs hold of the slaver's sword as he rides by, and throws him off his horse before killing him with his own sword. The move is brutal but effective, and shows how dangerous d'Artagnan's passion can be when he is able to control it. In this instance, he is both a soldier and an executioner - but he remains guided by his own personal moral standing, on which he continues to believe he can rely.
This also shows the positive impact the Musketeers are having on him. He is maturing through his friendship with them, learning to control his impulsive spirit and establish himself as one of their number. His drive to become one of them is what pushes him on, and his attachment to them has meant that they have become something of a surrogate family to him after the death of his father. When he finally achieves his goal of becoming a Musketeer, it is at the end of a powerful test of character for him; he has controlled his anger, defeated Labarge in a controlled duel, and attained justice rather than giving into revenge. His new role as a Musketeer is one that he is growing into. He has found a sense of belonging and community with his new friends, and it is ultimately this attachment and ambition which always drives him forward regardless of how much trouble he finds himself in. He is beginning to grow and mature, is beginning to see a more complicated world with more difficult decisions to be made than previously. Thus far, he has risen to the challenge, though things have not always gone his way. In general, however, he is still someone who will make the choice that 'feels' right, even if it is a choice that costs him personally. He continues to be highly protective and loyal to his friends, and he continues to prize the concept of chivalry and all that it entails - honour, justice, and romance.
POWER:
Canon Skills
He has a great deal of natural ability in hand to hand combat, despite having grown up on a farm and not having received formal military training until he falls in with the established Musketeers. He is proficient in the use of firearms (particularly pistols and muskets), though he is not as accurate with them as his friend Aramis. However his most notable skill is with the sword, with which he is extremely versatile and can use it either by itself, or with a second blade (such as his main gauche) in his other hand. He is an instinctive fighter with a quick, agile style which involves him employing multiple turns, pivots, changes of position and movement while fighting. He rarely fights with just one weapon, and his quick style allows him to easily switch between his sword, his knife and his pistols - as well as using each of them in combination with the others, while taking on groups of enemies.
D'Artagnan's personal level of skill is shown to be very high, and is regularly remarked upon by others. He is good enough that he has been shown teaching others (notably, Constance) the basics of shooting and swordfighting. He is generally able to defeat any enemy that he takes on, with the notable exception of the three Musketeers whom he befriends - Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Where they are concerned, he is able to keep pace with them and fight alongside them without looking out of place; however, he cannot defeat them. His proficiency develops further under their (particularly Athos') guidance. Athos initially describes him as 'promising, but raw', indicating a high degree of natural talent which needs to be refined through formal training. He has a tendency to let his temper get the better of him when it is raised, and so when a fight is particularly personal, he loses some of his focus and his fighting ability suffers as a result. It is this aspect that Athos has begun to work with him on. At this canon point, he has shown enough improvement in that area to be able to win his greatest personal test to date by defeating Labarge in episode 8. However, it remains his most notable weakness in battle and is the area that requires the most work for him.
In the second season, d'Artagnan's skill as a fighter has continued to improve. He is shown using two full length swords at the same time with ease, and is also shown improvising with makeshift weapons (such as a scarf and a cape). He continues to be shown as a forceful fighter, and is strong enough to kick down locked doors by himself. He is still more prone to recklessness when he is angry. His anger is both a strength and a weakness for him - it gives him the rush of adrenaline he needs to overpower stronger enemies, but he still has a tendency to rush off without thinking. However, working with the Musketeers has also increased his sense of discipline when in combat. He has a steady hand, and has learned to be patient and vigilant of others around him - shown particularly in episode 2, when he unhorses and kills his opponent in one movement, and in episode 8, when he is aware enough to notice a woman lifting a sword behind him, and he is quick enough to disarm her before she can attack. He has become faster, with improved dexterity and ability to improvise on the spot. It should be noted that Season 2 takes place at least 6 months after the end of Season 1, and his improved skills are likely the result of his experience with the Musketeers during that time.
City Power 1 - Empathic Creation
I would like d'Artagnan to be given the power of Empathic Creation, meaning that he can change his emotional energy into weapons. This will allow him to create swords, guns, bombs and ammunition at will. The power comes from his emotions, and will be fuelled by them, meaning that the strength of the weapon he creates will be dependent on the strength of the emotion behind it. For example, losing his temper will enable him to create a solid and usable sword from his anger - but when he calms down, or his anger disintegrates into another emotion such as fear, the sword will lose its structural integrity and eventually disappear. Maintaining the objects he creates will therefore require d'Artagnan to control his emotions, something he finds incredibly difficult in canon.
Limitations
- He will only be able to create objects that he has seen and understands. This means that at first, he will only be able to create the kinds of swords, shields, pistols and muskets that he would use at home. He will be able to create modern objects and weaponry as well, but will need to learn about them ICly in order to do this.
- As a general rule, the weapons he makes will be small, meant for personal use. He could create a handheld bomb or grenade, but not a larger missile or projectile. He would have the potential to create larger weapons, but to do this would need his power to be temporarily strengthened either artificially, or by an import with the ability to amplify.
- The weapons he makes will only exist for as long as he can maintain the emotion which fuelled their creation. As the strength of that emotion weakens, the object's structural integrity will begin to fail and eventually it will disappear completely.
- Using his power effectively requires emotional control. At first, d'Artagnan will find himself accidentally creating swords and guns every time he gets angry. He will have to learn how to balance holding on to strong emotions for creation, but still function effectively without being hindered by that emotion. This will be a steep and challenging learning curve for him, as he generally finds it difficult to control his emotions - in particular, his temper.
- He will only be able to create inanimate objects - he cannot create living things.
City Power 2 - Empathic Inducement
I would also like to give d'Artagnan the power of Empathic Inducement. In canon he is regularly shown to approach others about their feelings - he is the person who pushes Athos, Aramis and Milady to talk about their past in Season 1. He also strongly believes in the importance of love, believing society's complications to be irrelevant next to the strength of the emotion between two people who love each other. He encourages Constance to act on her feelings, regardless of what anyone else may think of it. In game, I would like for this aspect of d'Artagnan's personality to manifest as an empathic power. This would mean that he would be able to induce the emotions that he is feeling on anyone that is close to him. In theory, he would be able to induce any emotion - so he could promote a feeling of happiness when a person is sad, he could project a sense of calm when they were panicking, and so on. However, given d'Artagnan's natural temper, it would be most usual for him to radiate his anger, which would temporarily rouse the anger of those around him as well.
Limitations
- This power would be active rather than passive; it would not work unless d'Artagnan was purposely using it. Examples of when he might do this would be during battle - he could project anger to give strength and courage to his allies, or project fear onto his enemies. He may also use it to try and calm down someone who was panicked or afraid.
- The effects of this power would be temporary. Some characters may be naturally resistant, while others may be naturally susceptible; the exact length of time any one emotional 'push' would last would be up to player discretion, but the effects should wear off quickly once d'Artagnan stops actively using the power.
- D'Artagnan will not be able to feel what others feel, or read their emotions or thoughts in any respect. Rather, he will empathically radiate a certain emotion, which will induce this emotion in other people.
- He will not be able to affect anyone who is resistant to psychic or empathic abilities. He would have no way to 'break' a mental shield.
- D'Artagnan will have personal limitations on how much he is willing to use this power - he would consider it morally wrong to influence someone without a good reason, so he would not use it lightly.
- The use of this power would additionally be governed by an opt-in permissions post.
〈 CHARACTER SAMPLES 〉
COMMUNITY POST (VOICE) SAMPLE:
[ You'll all be treated to a good few moments of silence, while a frowning dark-haired Frenchman from the seventeenth century tries to decipher the workings of a smartphone. Realisation that it's already recording strikes all of a sudden, and he quickly clears his throat, holds the device at a distance, and tries to look like he knows what he's doing. ]
All right. Presuming anyone can actually hear me...
I'm d'Artagnan, of the King's Musketeers. The guards who took my name claimed that there was no way home, no way to leave this new world.
Don't get me wrong, it's not as though I don't like it.
[ He's never seen anything like this place. It's incredible. There are carriages that not only move without horses, but float above the ground. There are these devices, broadcasting his words to - supposedly - hundreds of people. There's a gate that literally moves people between worlds. These are things that shouldn't exist, things that he had not ever imagined could exist. It's like a fantasy. A dream, though not his own. Absolutely not his own, because even his wildest dreams could not have depicted all that's here.
He wishes that Constance could see it. He would pay a great deal to see the look on her face.
Therein lies the problem. She is not here, and neither should he be. So, fascinating though it is, he needs to take his leave. ]
But I have somewhere to be. I was married one day ago, and today I make war on the Spanish. Send me back to the garrison or to battle directly, I don't care which, but I cannot stay here. I know there are those of you who feel the same. There must be. I cannot imagine that an entire community of kidnapped people would be content to simply stay in their bonds.
[ Even if they are, admittedly, appealing bonds. That's not the point. ]
Tell me now. Who is searching? I need to join you.
LOGS POST (PROSE) SAMPLE:
The weather here made d'Artagnan despise his leathers. Was it always like this? He'd heard many tales of the New World, most of them filled with plantations and stories of riches and loose living. In a way, he'd even expected the heat.
The humidity was what was really killing him. It made his doublet cling to his chest, and his hair stick to his neck. Paris had never seen weather like this on the hottest of its days. Even now that the sun was low, the heat remained. Of course, it didn't help that he was running.
The streets flew past him, one after another. He'd long since lost track of where he was going. He knew Paris' streets well enough that it was never a concern there, but this place? This was different. If he'd had time, he'd have mapped all of this out and committed it to memory before he even started. But he'd barely taken to these too-wide streets before he saw a man with a hood over his head snatching the purse from a woman three times his age, and there'd not been time to ask directions. He'd just run.
"Stop!"
As if that would do any good, he thought, given that he'd shouted it three times already. He pulled his pistol from his belt, levelling it at the thief, and pulling the trigger. The musket ball glanced off the side of a building, sending concrete dust into the air, and missing its target entirely. D'Artagnan cursed, not for the first time wishing he had Aramis beside him. Despite that, he kept going. He reloaded while he ran, and as he turned, saw the thief heading for the more crowded zone of the city centre. With growing irritation, d'Artagnan raced after him, pushing people aside in his effort to get through. Cutting down the adjacent street was a risk, since it could have taken him in the wrong direction entirely - but his luck held, and ahead of him he saw the criminal. Drawing his sword this time, he ran out to collide with the man directly.
Both fell. The man scrambled and d'Artagnan turned, his elbow connecting with the thief's face, and the sharp crunch that followed told him a nose had been broken. While the thief crief out and clutched at his face, d'Artagnan swung back to his feet and levelled his sword at the man's chest. The point was pressed against his heart, creating a little dent in his shirt
He held out his hand.
"Give."
The man actually hesitated. D'Artagnan raised his eyebrows and stared, willing the thief to refuse him. At length, the purse was held up, and d'Artagnan snatched it back.
"She was an innocent woman. The sun had not even set; what's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with me?!" The thief stared back at him, the effect of which was only slightly dimmed by the way he still held his nose. "You fucking imports. Who the hell uses a sword anymore, what's the matter with you?!"
The boy had a point, loathe as d'Artagnan was to admit it. But the sword at his side, and the pauldron on his shoulder, were reminders of his true duty. He was a Musketeer. He didn't care whether they registered him as a hero or a soldier here. The words didn't matter. There was always a peace to protect. And apparently, there was never any shortage of petty criminals wasting his time to try and disrupt it.
"Get up," he ordered, ignoring the thief's question. "You're under arrest. Unless you want to take us all on another little chase around the place. We just about missed the beach."
The thief looked ready to interject again, but d'Artagnan pulled him to his feet, and bound his hands behind his back. His world had changed, and so had the person giving the orders - yet it seemed the job had not changed at all. At least some things stayed the same.
FINAL NOTES:
✖ Inventory:
Wearing:
⚜ 1 tan leather jacket with detachable beige leather sleeves
⚜ 1 pair dark brown leather trousers
⚜ 1 pair brown leather boots
⚜ Undergarments
⚜ 1 greying undershirt
⚜ 1 pair leather gloves
⚜ 3 brown leather belts (seriously)
⚜ 1 Musketeer uniform (a brown leather pauldron, embroidered with the fleur de lis symbol, and a pale blue cape)
Weapons: One rapier sword with sword belt, one main gauche, 2 pistols, ammunition for said pistols (pouch of gunpowder and fuses, pouch of musket balls), coin purse and small amount of loose change.