the games; application

[theevenstar]

OUT of CHARACTER

Name: Kat
Other characters: N/A

IN CHARACTER

Name: Arwen

Alias: Undómiel (Evenstar)

Fandom: Tolkien

Canon point/AU: LoTR; post-Council of Elrond, after the Nine Walkers have left

Journal: theevenstar

PB: Liv Tyler

Age: Appears to be in her early 20s, actually 2777

History: Wikipedia | LoTR Wiki | Tolkien Gateway | Thains Book

Arwen is being played as a blend of her film and book self, primarily movie canon. I'd like to keep major events from both, except where Jackson’s interpretation takes precedence (the Flight to the Ford, for example).


Presentation:

Outwardly, the first thing people notice about Arwen is her beauty. She’s the second most beautiful elf who ever lived in her world, and carries herself with a quiet, assured presence that may be hard to ignore. She's gracious, willing to start conversations with strangers, or just sitting and listening to those who want to talk. Physically, she’s tall and graceful, just over six feet, thanks to her elven heritage. Her movements can seem ethereal or otherworldly; to the point where she’s perfectly capable of sneaking up on a Dunadan ranger.

Her speech patterns will sound flowery or archaic, possibly both, although she may start picking up some modern syntax the more people she is around. Elves have perfect memory, which she can use to more easily learn speech patterns.

Arwen likes to give people her full attention, but is not incredibly touchy-feely for lack of a better term, unless she knows you, or the person in question is a child. Otherwise, repeated or overbearing contact makes her uncomfortable, and liable to try and extract herself from the situation. If there is no quick exit, her politeness will sharpen until it could almost be considered a weapon in its own right. She is a lady, after all, and does not want to make a scene in public unless it's absolutely unavoidable.

Speaking in private is another story. It is highly unlikely that she'll fly into a tantrum, but her arguments will have more force to them, both in reason and volume. She's also prone to using her hands when she feels intensely about something, either in gestures or physical contact if she thinks that is necessary. It doesn't always work, but she's fairly persuasive when she wants to be. If she gets to the point of shouting, though, the situation has gone from bad to worse.


Motivations:

Arwen is, first and foremost, the daughter of Elrond. This means that she grew up with access to the biggest collection of information on her world, good and bad, and knows a great deal about her people, and other races such as Men and dwarfkind. When Frodo encounters her in Rivendell, he states that ‘the light of her eyes fell on him from afar and pierced his heart’ and ‘thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring.’ (Many Meetings) She’s obviously well-taught and possesses a quick mind.

She has also experienced a few stressful events, not the least of which is standing up to the Ringwraiths at the Ford of Bruinen, in order to protect an innocent hobbit. But her courage is not always so blatantly displayed. She has the courage to ask her father to reforge the shards of Narsil, then give the sword to Aragorn so that he can command the legion of undead traitors in the mountain. She has the courage to turn around on her journey to the Grey Havens, after seeing a vision of her future son. She has the courage, and the selflessness, to give her place on a ship bound for Valinor to a hobbit who needs healing. Perhaps most importantly, she has the courage to give up everything she has ever known - her family, her people, and her immortality - for love.

However, Arwen’s also been sheltered, as the youngest of Elrond’s children, and his only daughter. She has some practical knowledge of self-defense, and her father taught her how to wield a sword, but she’s an elf princess for all intents and purposes. Going into battle is not an event she’s experienced first-hand, only through recollections of relatives and the lore preserved in her father’s house. The idea of hurting another is abhorrent to her, but that distaste only extends to the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. It is entirely possible she would break her pacifistic stance if faced with an orc or uruk-hai. Her mother was captured and tormented by orcs, and Arwen loathes them, as she loathes all evil creatures, and those bred to its taint.

While she is content to live under the rule of her grandparents, or the rule of her father, when it comes to important decisions that directly impact her life, Arwen makes her opinion known. Even if it goes against loved and trusted authority figures. Case in point: as one of the Half-Elven, she is allowed to decide which side of her heritage to belong. Because of her love for Aragorn, a mortal, she makes the choice of Luthien – to become mortal herself and receive the Gift of Illuvatar (death). The cost being that she will never see her family again. She’s more than capable of standing up for herself and demonstrates agency more than once: making the choice in the first place, arguing with her father, and ultimately following through by marrying Aragorn at the end of the story.

Finally, Arwen is a healer. She was trained by her father and, while nowhere near his level, is able enough to slow the damage made by a Morgul weapon long enough to get the victim to the greatest healer in her world. She prefers to help others, by healing, by stories, by example if she is well versed enough on the subject. However, that can also work against her by virtue of her own stubbornness. She has inherited the Finwean stubborn streak in full, and there is a high probability of digging in her feet and not listening if she thinks she's in the right. It may take a lot of coaxing, or something horrible happening, for her to change her mind, especially on when morality is an issue.

If she feels someone is deliberately being cruel, Arwen may take it upon herself to intervene. She would gladly run the risk of being injured or killed in order to help someone else. Not only is helping others the right thing, it is what her father does, and she does not want to let him down.


Setting:

Arwen is going to be horrified, and see the Games as an extension of the depravities (including human sacrifice) practiced by the Numenoreans during the late Second Age. Murder is not an act she’s prepared to commit. Even in self-defense, she’s more likely to injure the other party in order to flee. She’ll die a lot, unless she forges friendships and alliances with those willing to protect her, and that will eventually start to wear down her spirit. Either she’ll get depressed enough to try and die permanently, or she’ll get mad and start fighting back in non-murdery ways. Perhaps the only ‘bonus’ of the whole experience is getting accustomed to dying in the first place.

SAMPLES

First Person Thread:

[ The cold registers first, before the medical slab and the waiting audience, and everything else. She’s still not completely adjusted to being cold – her people have long been able to shrug off the effects of weather – and not being able to do so is humbling. Arwen sits there silently for a while, replaying the memory in her mind until she’s sure there were no other choices to make.

The slab is so informal, a far cry from the cots in the halls of healing that her own people prepare for injured patients. There is no warmth, no sense of connection, both so important in the well-being of those who need treatment. It just cements her opinion that the Gamemakers care for no one but themselves.

She channels her anger -- justified anger -- against the people in charge for providing such ‘entertainment’ to their populace, taking slow breathes until she can focus on something else besides negative emotion. Like thinking about the populace brainwashed into thinking this is okay. ]

My current feelings [ Her voice is soft, laced with regret, but full of resolve as well. ] center on how despicable this game is. If you can even call it a game, for I do not see what is playful about stalking and murdering others simply for the enjoyment of the elite.

An elite who should be focusing their resources on helping those who need it. But I suppose such kindness is beyond your understanding.

[ Arwen swings her legs over the side of the table and slides off, straightening up. ] I am done talking. You will get nothing more from me today.

Prose:

Arwen won’t give these strangers the satisfaction of seeing her fear. And she is afraid; how could she not be, plucked from the safety of her father’s home without warning, and shoved into this room with the barest of explanations. She’s not entirely sure this whole situation isn’t a terrible joke gone wrong, though her gut insists otherwise, and the only candidates with enough power are … well, it is theoretically possible these individuals are under the dominion of the Dark Lord. But that may be giving them too much credit.

She lifts her chin, staring all of them down for a moment as only an elven noblewoman can, then turns her attention to the arrangement of weapons. One of the bows is picked up and examined, but she is not proficient in its use, and sets the weapon back down. An axe is next, discarded just as quickly, along with a javelin – easy for her to heft and handle, but it still doesn’t feel right.

Then she finds a sword, similar in length and shape to Hadhafang, and lifts it up, examining the flat of the blade. Inferior make – this is not an elven-forged weapon – but it will do for this travesty of an interview. Arwen walks over to one of the dummies and stands just out of reach, staring down at her hands. Then, with one swift, fluid movement, she raises the blade and decapitates the dummy. The head hits the floor with a thump, and rolls away as Arwen lowers her arm.

“I have no intention of ever doing that to a living person.”

Her voice is soft, musical, and laced with utter determination. If they wanted a warrior woman to parade in front of the masses, this is not the one they should have picked. There's a tiny little voice that wonders, in the back of her mind, if maybe that wasn't the point. Not everyone subject to the horrors of the Arena will be an expert.


What is your character scored:

Based on Arwen’s history, including both movie and film canon, I think she’d be a 6. She’s been raised to be the lady of a large household, and, while trained in the use of blades by her father, is not a soldier. She does not have the temperament to go out and start killing people just to win a game. As a healer, the idea goes against everything she believes in. But, as a healer, Arwen is good enough to slow the progress of a wound given by an evil weapon; she probably also knows a fair amount of herb lore, first aid, and general common sense.

On the other hand, she does know basic swordplay and is versed enough in woodcraft to survive on her own in the wild for a few days. She is an expert equestrian, is a good seamstress (she made the banner Aragorn uses as king and can presumably sew clothing and small items), knows several languages, and has enough charisma and political adroitness to move in elite circles, which may attract a sponsor.

In regards to special/racial abilities; elves are stronger, faster, and more durable than most humans. They can see farther and hear better, do not need regular sleep, are immunte to adverse weather, and are functionally immortal. They can be killed, but their souls are tied to Arda for as long as it lasts. Additionally, Arwen has a streak of divine ancestry, and her ability to heal is likely given a boost from it.



Token:

Arwen’s token will be her Evenstar pendant.