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PLAYER INFO

Name: Lausanne.

Age: 25+

Contact: blackspire

CHARACTER INFO

Character Name: Fedyor Kaminsky
Canon: Shadow And Bone.
Canon Point: Post- Season One.
Appearance: Here.
Age: 31.

Character snapshot: Fedyor is a member of the order of the Corporalki, an order that deals with the living and the dead. As a Heartrender he is considered an elite and valued Grisha - his skills of manipulating the inner workings of the body have given him a good status. While not in the Darkling's inner circle, Fedyor is still trusted to carry out sensitive assignments. He's a good and loyal soldier, but unlike other Grisha of his standing, he's seemingly more empathetic. He's good-humoured and well-natured, friendly and easy to get along with.

World description: Fedyor is from a war-torn country called Ravka. It's a country that mimics real, old world Russia, with similar cultural and lingual aspects. Ravka is relatively cut off, as everything it boarders is wholly unfriendly. To the south and north are enemies, Shu Han and Fjerda respectively, and a mass expanse of shadow (The Fold) blocks Ravka from reaching the coast. Despite the horrors that dwell within The Fold, this is largely the safest and surest way of transporting goods. For Grisha, the rest of the world is particularly unfriendly, as they are either sold, experimented upon, or executed for being witches when they are out of the safety of Ravka. In fact, the Grisha aren't entirely popular with the rest of the Ravkans, either.

Much of Grisha live evolves around life at The Little Palace. Located in the capital, it sits near the Grand Palace of the king, and it's where Grisha live and train. Despite the luxuries afforded them (meals, laundry, massive bedrooms, and many other amenities), it is expected that Grisha train hard as well as devote time to their studies until they are old enough to join the Second Army. The General does what he can to keep them humble (for example, by insisting their meals consist of "peasant fare"). It is a space where the Grisha are meant to feel safe and protected.

History: Fedyor's life would have lacked anything noteworthy until the time came for him to be tested. The Grisha testers descend upon homes and if a child shows abilities, they are immediately taken from their homes.

Young Grisha are brought to the Little Palace where they immediately begin their lessons. Fedyor's early years involved a lot of theory, studying books and papers on how Grisha small science works on a fundamental level. He also learned hand-to-hand combat. These sessions were long and sometimes grueling, but a necessary part of training. While other Grisha know their specialties right away, as a Corporalnik, Fedyor eventually had to make the choice of following the path of Healer or Heartrender. While the decision wasn't necessarily easy, in the end, Fedyor ultimately decided that he could do more good as a Heartrender, out in the field, as opposed to healing. Somewhere in the midst of all this training, he also met Ivan, a fellow heartrender with whom he started a romantic (and lasting) relationship.

As time went on, Fedyor proved himself to be a good member of the Second Army. While not in the Darkling's favoured circle, he achieved high enough status that he was tasked with important assignments, both on his own or in tandem with others. When the events of canon pick up, we see Fedyor (along with Ivan) accompanying the newly found Sun Summoner to the Little Palace when their caravan is attacked. Not long after this, another Grisha goes missing and Fedyor is tasked with leading a team to find her. This assignment takes him away from everything that happens following Alina's escape of the Little Palace, and, subsequently, he has no knowledge of the events that transpired in the Fold at the end of the first season.

What are your character’s mental/emotional strengths?

Fedyor is loyal and trustworthy. Yes, he was raised under a Grisha lifestyle, which largely plays into it, but not everyone can earn the good will of the Darkling. No, he's not favoured, but he's put in the work and proven himself to be a good soldier who follows orders. This is evident in the way he's trusted with critical assignments (such as escorting Alina or leading the search for Nina, an important Grisha informant). He also chose to become a Heartrender because he felt it was the best way for him to support his fellow Grisha and the cause for a better Ravka.

He's a strong heartrender, which means he's level headed and can keep his composure. Heartrendering isn't nice business, so to perform it without letting it get to you requires the ability to not get caught up in what's actually happening. As a heartender, Fedyor is also often in the direct line of danger, being considered a valued member of the Second Army. Like any soldier, he's learned to adapt to situations and to stay calm under fire. He's not one to overreact or panic, he just gets the job done (when the carriage carrying Alina gets attacked, Fedyor even manages to give Alina a bit of a quip before slipping out to address the situation).

He is also quite charming. While most Grisha seem to maintain a relatively stoic demeanor, Fedyor sets himself apart with his good humour and easy smile. It makes it easy to trust him, or feel at ease in his presence (for example, when he manages to get Ivan to lighten up a little at the Winter Fete, despite Ivan clearly not wanting to be there).

What are your character’s mental/emotional weaknesses?

Some may think Fedyor is too friendly. While this normally isn't a bad thing, it is detrimental to his position. Grisha have a tendency to group together by order, but Fedyor is often seen being friendly to more than his fellow Corporalki. His good nature also puts him in a precarious position of nearly stepping out of line, and potentially facing consequence. He easily forgets himself in front of the Darkling, resulting in being chastised promptly.

Along with that comes a good deal of empathy, another dangerous trait for someone in his circumstances. It's something that others could view as a weakness, making him appear vulnerable and affect his authority among the ranks. The biggest show of this is when, after finding Nina, he lets her leave and he doesn't immediately punish the Fjerdan hunter she's with. While a part of that was to remain diplomatic and protect Grisha interests, there's no doubt that Fedyor could have easily handled the situation. Instead, a part of him understood what Nina wanted of him, and he let her go (even knowing he'd likely face harsh consequences upon his return to the Little Palace).

For all that he's travelled Ravka and its borders, Fedyor is also quite sheltered. His formative years were spent entirely in the Little Palace, making him aligned only to Grisha sympathies and their way of life. Yes, he is friendly, but his warm attitude only extends so far to anyone that doesn't wear a kefta or reside alongside him. He lacks the same optimism for anyone on the outside of that (such as telling Nina that Fjerdan hunters can't change).

What events or circumstances in your character’s past have impacted them the most?

Becoming Grisha. Or, at least, discovering he was Grisha. For many Ravkans, life is hard and the only hope most have if they're not from the cities is joining the First Army (or, if they're lucky to be in the cities, they may scrape by as a merchant of some sort). To be Grisha is to be afforded both luxury and status, and it provides a better life not only for the Grisha but for their family, too. Life at the Little Palace evidently suits Fedyor - he maintains a polished look with his neatly styled hair, it gives him a chance to do something he believes has purpose, and, of course, it's where he met his partner, Ivan.

Choosing to be a Heartrender. Unlike other orders, Corporalki get to choose the path they want to take after a few years of basic study. Fedyor's mannerisms suggest he would have made an excellent healer, and choosing the other option meant a very different path. Being a heartrender presents more challenges. While healers do go to the front lines, they are not actively thrown in the same dangerous situations as their counterparts. Fedyor would have understand the risks, but it's those risks that put him in the high-ranking position he's found himself in.

The discovery of the Sun Summoner. Alina's discovery altered life for everyone, but for Fedyor, it meant a newly reinvigorated hope. A Sun Summoner means the end of the Fold, which means peace for Ravka, which means the end of fighting. Beyond that being the ending that Fedyor is fighting for, a Grisha bringing unity to Ravka again also means that everyone else might see Grisha in a more favorable light. Being able to live without the protection of the Little Palace might even be a greater dream than peace, and you can see in the way Fedyor takes a liking to Alina and watches her powers that he feels great things are about to come.

What impressions do others tend to have of your character and how do those impressions differ from who your character truly is?

To anyone familiar with the Second Army, all they have to do is see the red-and-black kefta that Fedyor wears and immediately an impression is formed. Heartrenders have the derogatory nickname of bloodletter, as most people see them simply as a tool for torture or death (or both). Out in the field, Fedyor displays a degree of ruthlessness in the way he doesn't hesitate to bring down an enemy, and he takes his position seriously when leading an assignment. It's easy to assume that Fedyor would be as cruel as his abilities can be, or, at least, that he lacks any morals that lend themselves to a conscience.

So it might be surprising that he's more compassionate than he may let on to those outside of the Little Palace. His easy likeability has been touched on a lot by now, and it's a trait that sets him apart from others. He also has a goofy side to him, such as when he pretends to imitate the ever serious Ivan before dissolving into laughter, or when he's telling an animated story to Alina and another Grisha, Nadia. Fedyor's love of joking even slips out sometimes when he's speaking to the Darkling, as it just comes naturally to him. A little known fact about him, too, is that he heavily romanticizes the old ways of Ravka, and all the heroes and noble gentleman of Ravka's history.

What motivates your character?

The largest motivation that Fedyor has when it comes to everything he does, is that he does it all for the betterment of his country. That is the purpose of the Second Army, to defend Ravka in a way it's First Army cannot, and to use their powers to provide safe passage of goods or people through the Fold. To serve under General Kirigan is a large point of pride. Fedyor, like all other Grisha, is prepared to do whatever he must to ensure the cause is supported. Of course, his loyalty to his country also extends to the loyalty of his friends and his comrades. To Fedyor, there is no Ravka to protect if there are no Grisha to protect and look out for. Their best interests are always in his mind ahead of his own. Again, going back to the encounter with Nina, Fedyor is ready to start a fight before he's warned that his actions may put Ravka at war with yet another country. Only then does he seem to reconsider things, despite it meaning he's failed his mission. Fedyor is a good example of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

How does your character handle crisis or adversity?

He is a soldier, which means he's trained to handle crisis and adversity with ease and quickness. There's never a moment where Fedyor seems about to panic. He steps into the line of fire with confidence and without hesitation, and even when he's injured he grits his teeth and bears it. As he's often put in more dangerous situations than others, he knows the importance of clear, rational thinking and how that might mean life or death. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that Fedyor knows when to back down. Crisis doesn't always mean action's needed, and he very clearly understands that sometimes it's better to de-escalate a situation rather than advance it.

Skills, abilities, and physical weaknesses:

Body Manipulation. This includes, but isn't limited to, affecting the function of a person's lungs (restricting airflow or keeping someone breathing), quicken or slow the heart, alter blood flow, or restrict the body's healing process. These talents can be used negatively, or sometimes positively (lowering someone's heart rate or breathing to help keep them alive, inducing sleep/calm when someone is panicking, etc). This can only be done if the target is in his line of sight. In game, this will be nerfed to have minimal and not lasting effects - he may be able to do enough to help in the moment, but it will be fleeting.

Emotion Manipulation. Just like bodies can release serotonin, a heartrender can induce that effect as well, having control over a body's natural chemical release as they do with the body's organs. This can also only be done if he can see the target, and will be nerfed much in the same way his other abilities are, and will be unreliable (perhaps he means to soothe someone and instead causes distress).

Hearing heartbeats. What it says on the tin. He can tell when someone is lying or telling the truth this way, or he can determine how many people may be lurking around by listening for their heartbeats. This will mostly be non-existent in the game, or only come up after discussion with parties involved.

Hand to hand combat. In lieu of being able to use his fancy powers, Fedyor can throw a punch if he has to.

Inventory:

His kefta.

Tunic, trousers, and boots that are worn under said kefta.

HORROR INFO

What aspects of your character are you most interested in exploring in a horror setting?

Fedyor's seen a lot of horrible things, especially if you consider he's probably crossed the Fold a few times, but he's good at not dwelling on it. I'm really interested in putting him in situations where that all comes up, and subsequently dealing with it (or maybe finding out he can't actually deal with it all). Let's push him to his breaking point.

What is your character’s mental state upon entering the game?

Fedyor's mind is very sound. He's had no immediate traumas that may alter this, and, thankfully, he's wholly unaware of the disaster that went down between the Darkling and Alina that resulted in many, many deaths (including Ivan's potential death). As they say, ignorance is bliss.

What unsettles and frightens your character? What sort of encounters would chip away at your character’s psychological stability?

Losing the sense of security he has is definitely one of them. Not having a space to feel safe would largely affect his easy-going nature and put him on edge. And, of course, being responsible for the death of one of his fellow Grisha/someone he cares about. Even if Fedyor isn't directly involved in it, he'd find a reason to feel guilty, and that lose is a real fear.

Encounters that chip away at his certainty and optimism would get to him. Maybe it's something that brings up questions he hadn't thought of before, or things that paint situations in a new light. Anything that might make him second guess himself would alter his mindset.

What horrifying events or genre elements would you like to see utilized in the game?

I love the psychological stuff. I also love possession plots, or things like not being able to sleep / experiencing intense nightmares upon sleeping, ghosts (a solid classic), and phobias.

SAMPLES

Test Drive Thread: Here.
Log Thread Sample: Here.
Log Thread Sample: Here.