Griffin

[Griffin]

Player’s Name: Bri
Roleplay Experience: 6+ years

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Got a cause, now call me a rebel

Name:

Griffin

Species:

Guardian

Gender:

Male

Age:

19 (born on the 6th day of September)

Face Claim:

Eric Hamann

Appearance:

With his mostly laid-back personality, it’s not a surprise his appearance carries the same attitude. In his human-esque shape, he has a tall, lanky build that’s mostly lean muscle and bone under a cover of pale skin. He stands at a little over six feet, allowing him to look down on others and eye-to-eye with some of his canine enemies. His hair is usually a mess from not being cared for properly, more often than not riddled with debris from the outside. It’s a pale blonde color to match his skin tone. This lack of color is offset by his eyes, which are a dark, intense green. Though his skin is mostly free of blemishes, his feet are quite calloused from running barefoot along the forest edges searching for his enemies.

His feline form, species differences being excepted, is remarkably similar. His is tall and long-legged as a cat. Cream-colored fur covers his body, with the lightest hints of ginger around his face. His long, thin tail gives him the characteristic grace of a cat to counter his disproportionately big paws, which sometimes make him feel clumsy. His large eyes are green with black pupils, perfect for night-vision. His large, pointed ears allow him to hear a Gewyn before he sees or scents it and, hopefully, before he himself is sensed.

Personality:

Asking among his own kind, descriptions of Griffin differ widely. The kinder, and often younger, Guardians call him well-meaning with "interesting" ideas who will grow out of his rebellious phase eventually. The stricter deem him a troublesome radical who could be a bigger danger to their kind than the Gewin. Still, has not acted on his ideals, he is accepted among his species for his playful ways in times of peace and courage in times of danger.

Griffin is one of the very few (certainly the only one to speak of it) that questions the rules of his ancestors. He believes that the secrecy of the Guardians makes it harder to do their job and that they should reveal themselves to the humans for what they are. He believes a closer bond with the humans could one day allow them to completely kill the Gewin and have the disgusting race annihilated forever. It’s rumored that he's inspired by the death of his grandfather, who died at the jaws of a Gewyn because the old Guardian didn’t dare shift in front of the human he accompanied, but no one knows for sure.

Because of these ideals, Griffin has to defend himself at least once a day from verbal attacks. From this constant arguing, he has grown a short temper that’s painfully easy to ignite. The slightest criticism unsheathes his claws and he despises being too restrained. Like his namesake, this boy needs to have the freedom to spread his wings every once and awhile. He also refuses to seriously listen to any opinions other than his own. Part of it is the over-confidence of youth and his characteristic pride, but it’s also partially because the most common argument against him is usually the same: “Because the rules say so.” The rules, as far as he’s concerned, were made by a bunch of ordinary Guardians long ago that aren’t any better just because they’re older and whose rules only make things harder for no reason. This stubbornness makes him impossible to logically argue with and, according to the elderly Guardians, all the more dangerous.

Aside from that, Griffin is an easy-going guy 89% of the time. He’s always up for the next game, be it chasing kittens around the farm or killing a Gewyn to protect the village, he tried to do it with a light-hearted outlook. Though quick to anger he is equally quick to forgive in most cases. He does have a sarcastic tendency, but most don’t take it too personally. They know that, is they’re having a bad time of things, Griffin will be glad to help take their mind off of it.

He has a distinct weakness for pretty females of both the Guardian and the human variety.

Biography:

Though he was cared for by his parents, Griffin always favored his grandfather, Boulder. He was a noted Guardian with a number of brave stories to share with his only grandson. His parents, seeing the good impression the father’s father had on the new generation, encouraged their only son to spend time with Boulder.

When Griffin was 12, his grandfather took him to stand guard for a night. When danger came, the old Guardian left his precious grandchild in the hands of one of the humans to prevent to foolish boy from following him. Unfortunately, when the elderly cat entered the forest, a human followed him. They found the bodies the next morning, so torn apart that they would be unidentifiable if other anyone else had died. Griffin mourned deeply, crawling under one of the houses and staying in isolation. His parents decided that it would be best to leave him alone awhile to calm down and then speak with him.

But those moments of solitary thought gave Griffin time to reason things out in his young mind. His grandfather hadn’t shifted, but why? Was it because the human followed him and his presence made it against the law for Boulder to change and save them both? It seemed most likely. The tomcat couldn’t bring himself to blame the human; he had no way of knowing what he did. And he wasn’t going to blame his hero!

Griffin came out the next day, with ideas that shocked everyone. His parents were embarrassed and, though they still loved him, told him to keep his mouth shut and shape up.

But he’s become more outspoken with time and more eager to challenge what he sees as ideals that are useless and dangerously out-dated. Rumors circulate that he's planning on doing more than speaking, but who knows with rumors?

Role-Playing Sample:

She was the creation of gods if any human was. The most eligible bachelorette in Benevolence in terms of beauty, she was his current favorite.

Griffin padded up, silent to her dulled hearing. He suspected, however, that the book she held as blocking her to even the loudest noises of this world. A bit spacey, the girl was, but still a catch by any standards. When he was a couple yards behind her, he mewed to announce himself. She jumped as she turned back, but he face lit up to see him. “Master Griffin!” She exclaimed in pleasured surprise. “What brings you here, you handsome boy? Were you afraid I was lonely?”

“Something like that,” he explained, knowing she couldn’t understand. He had decided to spend today, the warmest autumn day in awhile, outside enjoying the sun. He had spent the morning hunting mice and playing games with a couple of young kittens who were disappointed at being confined indoors. Now, however, he had sought a haven to nap and he could think of no better companion than the pretty girl.

I wish I could tell you that, he thought with bitter annoyance. Defeated, the pale-pelted tom moved to curl up in her lap. There was a certain joy in being so close to her, closer than anyone but her husband would likely ever be. “One day I will tell you everything about us,” he purred the promise, but her head was back in the dog-eared book; she had no idea of what he wanted to say, much less that he wanted to say it.

“Griffin!” This voice was not aloud, but a hiss in his head. Glancing up, he spotted a pair of golden eyes in a nearby tree, watching him scornfully. “Are you still spouting that nonsense? You talk like a traitor!”

Annoyed, Griffin unconsciously unsheathed the tips of his claws as he answered. “No one would call me a traitor; I fought as many of those blood-sucking cowards as any of you! Just because I am the only cat who thinks a bunch of rules made before our lifetime may be out-dated, it does not make me lesser than you or any other!”

“Foolish, proud idiot,” the female spat, turning away. “I hope you grow up one day, for your own sake.”

“Ow! Put those claws back if you plan on staying in my lap!” The young lady scolded gently. The young Guardian realized claws had been testing the threads of her skirt and grazing her flesh. Guilty, he sheathed them, tucked his bulky paws under him, and laid his head down. Silently apologizing for his mistake, Griffin narrowed his leaf-green eyes at his fellow Guardian.

“For all our sakes, I hope I never do.”

ADMIN NOTE:
OH MY GOSH this is wonderful! I'm totally impressed beyond impressed. Welcome to Benevolence!