Your Name ∙ Katie//Procne [In the 'box]
Contact Information ∙ MSN is probably the best way to contact me, or by email. My MSN is stegmutt@hotmail.com (also found in my profile).
Time Zone ∙ General Mountain Time


Character’s Name ∙ Sir Senz of Pirate's Swoop
Age ∙ 21
Gender ∙ Male
Residing ∙ It seems to change frequently enough. However, Senz typically lives either in the Palace, or in Pirate's Swoop, visiting his mother and his father. However, for the past few months he has been living in the Copper Isles, until he returned to Tortall.
Character Class ∙ Nobility [Lord]
Occupation ∙ Knight
Squire ∙ Landon of Tirrsmont


Sexual Orientation ∙ Heterosexual
Gift ∙ Senz has had less training in the use of his gift than most would have knowing that they possess such a skill, however he has had enough that he is more than capable of casting small-scale spells effectively and with some ease. Such spells would include lighting candles, urging plants to glow - magic that one could use to cause mischief. And that's exactly what it was used for, in his younger years. Although he is not known now to to use his Gift as a means to cause minor havoc, there have been the occasional moments where a candle will flare to life unnexpectedly or a tiny puff of air will push loose strands of hair into one's eyes. The colour of Senz's Gift is reminiscient of the sea, ocean blue in hue.
Overall Personality ∙ If ever there was a happy person in all the world, it would be Senz. Flamboyant and boisterous, he is the epitome of optimism, if ever there was one. Mischief might as well be his first name. Despite his knack for causing frustration among the general populace with his lack of solemnity, Senz has a charismatic quality about him. Flashing a wide, silly grin, he is able to win the hearts over of most, although it's often not enough to dispell their exasperation with him. With time, however, most can learn to accept his general disposition and are able to effectively deal with it, regardless of the situation. That doesn't necessarily mean all do, and Senz has made enemies out of a number of people simply because he lacks the ability to be serious at all times. An unfortunate consequence, but one that he tends to ignore.

Senz has a particularly difficult time gauging when a situation calls for a more sombre attitude and when it does not. He knows that, while on duty, he must be serious and more mellow and that in meetings of war and conflict his demeanour must be much the same. Beyond that he appears to be fairly clueless, choosing to treat a wide array of situations with his lighthearted and carefree attitude. Some would say that he doesn't even know that that line in the sand exists, let alone that he's crossing it.

Only two things have seemed to calm the lively knight: the sea, and his Ordeal in the Chapel of the Ordeal, the latter of which had a very sobering effect on him. Travelling has mixed results. On one hand he can be very mellow, and on the other he can be brimming with so much excitement that it gives his fellow companions headaches from all of his animated chatter. One can tell when something is bothering Senz: he says little, his gaze is vague and distant, and it seems as though he's in another world, as if he's somehow detached himself.

Despite his apparent lack of sobriety, Senz knows his place in society. His loyalty to his king and queen runs high. Passing by fellow nobles, he acknowledges them with a nod of his head, a bow if they stop to talk. To his king or queen he kneels and bows his head, very much respectful. Still, however, one cannot diminish the mischievous dancing in his eyes, nor the contagious smile that twitches on his lips.

It is difficult to anger Senz, although it is entirely possible. And, when angry, he's anything but kind. Tearing apart the one who upset him - whether it was because of that one final insult, or because a friend was in some way harmed, either emotionally or physically - Senz has no tolerance. Not even a shred. On those rare occasions where he has been pushed to his limit, he is entirely confrontational.

On the whole Senz is: loyal, cheerful, kind, and mischievous with a lack of respect for the rules at times, a lack of solemnity, and a temper that flares only when the beast is provoked.


Height ∙ 5' 11"
Weight ∙ 140 lbs
Overall Appearance ∙ Messy dark brown hair falls in vivid, deep blue eyes. Not particularly long, but not cropped short, Senz's hair tends to cover his forehead, is extremely disorganized, and has a very unkempt appearance, although he does do his best to brush it when he has a moment to do so. He has somewhat boyish features, his chin being slightly rounder while his jaw line is very defined. His nose is long and on the smaller side and certainly doesn't stick an inch away from his face. His eyes are constantly possessed by a lively, dancing fire, and there is, usually, a grin of sorts permanently plastered to his lips.

Training for knighthood has left Senz with a somewhat muscular body, although he's more toned than anything else. There is muscle definition, but he doesn't appear overly muscular, his frame leaning more towards the slender, agile side. He has worked hard, however, to be able to lift his weapons and to be able to swing them without teetering over like a small child. That doesn't go to say, of course, that he can lift and swing anything effectively that is heavier than his longsword.

Not one for capes, cloaks, or other heavy garments, this particular knight prefers the standard short-sleeved tunic that laces up at the neck and breeches and, on occasion, pants that may fit a little looser than is typically the norm. He usually chooses to wear plain, knee-high brown leather boots, although on occasion he'll aim for something a tad fancier. When riding into battle, Senz does don armour, although he prefers a chainmail shirt and lighter armour to cover his torso, shoulders, and legs, if at all possible. Movement is a high priority on his list as opposed to protection.

Senz is not particularly pale, his skin very healthy in colour. It is a little on the tanned side due to his visit to the Copper Isles.


Family History ∙ Will fill this out when I figure it out. I haven't quite figured out how I would go about describing this as it pertains to Pirate's Swoop.
Family ∙
Lord Vespasian of Pirate's Swoop [Father; alive]
Lady Adelaide of Pirate's Swoop [Mother; alive]
Birthplace ∙ Pirate's Swoop in his father's manor.
Background ∙ Senz was born in his father's manor during the fall in the year 179 H.E. to Lord Vespasian and Lady Adelaide. He was their only child, although they had had plans to have more despite the birth of a legitimate heir to the estate. Unfortunately, several years after Senz's birth, Adelaide became barren and, no matter what they did - be it drinking herbal teas to improve fertility or speaking with a clerical mage - she was unable to conceive again. Whether this was because there was a fault directly with her body or some other cause is unknown.

Roughly around the time that he was six years old, Senz's father hired a professional to teach his young son basic combat skills. The child took a liking to it, although the man did not stay long as the turmoil in the Copper Isles had finally caught his attention. He boarded a vessel in a matter of days, leaving behind Pirate's Swoop. Senz's training was put on hold until he was ten years old when, deciding it was for the best, Vespasian arranged for his son to move to the palace and to train to become a knight.

The first few years were difficult for the young boy. The sudden change of lifestyle and the separation from his parents smothered his generally optimistic and ecstatic disposition. Yet, as he grew accustomed to the order of daily life and came to know his fellow pages, Senz quickly crawled out of his hastily-made shell and opened up again, flowering into the mischievous boy that he was known to be. He wrote letters to home frequently, received them back, and returned home when he was able.

At fifteen Senz received both disturbing and horrifying news: his mother had tried to commit suicide, the reason being her immense heartache at having not been able to produce another child. As a youth he had known his mother was not happy, per se, but had never known the extent of her feelings. When the news came, he was devestated. He could not, however, abandon his place at the palace and therefore remained, writing letters as often as he could. He was eventually told that his mother had survived and was doing well. Beneath his carefree attitude he buried his feelings, telling only a select few of his fellow friends and squires.

As training progressed for the squire two things became clear: one, that he was best equipped to handle a sword that could double as one-handed or two-handed, depending on the wielder's preferences and two, that he was relatively skilled with a symmetrical composite bow (otherwise known as a Hungarian composite bow). At eighteen Senz, during midwinter, was among those who were to face the Chapel of the Ordeal.

Both excited and nervous, he took the sacred bath and swore to the oaths presented to him. Finally, he entered the Chapel in order to face his Ordeal. When he later emerged from the small room he was only half conscious, eyes swollen and red as tears fell from them in small bursts. Senz never spoke of his Ordeal aloud, although it had a massive effect on him. Until the time of his official knighting he was quieter and withdrawn. The moment the flat of his King's sword touched his shoulders, however, it was dispelled in favour of victory, recognition, and the realization that he was finally what he had trained so hard to be: a knight.

If Senz were to be known for anything in the palace, it would be his mischief. On a number of occasions - there became too many to count off the top of one's head - Senz was caught and reprimanded for causing havoc among the other pages and squires. Although friendly, he had a knack for causing unnecessary frustration. Following his knighting these incidents decreased to the bare minimum, in part because his Gift had not been trained enough for him to do more than simple tasks, and also because maturity had finally come to him, however late it may have been.

A couple years following his knighting, Senz chose to leave the capital and Tortall for a time, setting his sights on the Copper Isles. Wanting to see them for his own eyes and also interested in the turmoil, he remained there for several months before finally returning to Tortall. Having reached Tortall's beloved shores, Senz spent several weeks at home before riding for the capital, Corus.


He wanted to scream. More than anything in the world, he wanted to scream.

His mother was before him, blood running across the floor. Dead. Tears streamed down his face as he lunged for her, tripped, and felt his knees slam into cold stone. A cry hovered in his throat and was repressed, biting it back with all of his might. He couldn't let his voice carry now. He wanted to sob. More than anything, he wanted to break down and whisper to her, to tell her he loved her, that he needed her and he missed her. Yet... The Chapel would not allow for it. Not now, not ever. I mustn't speak... his mind whispered quietly. I can't...

Senz stared down at his mother with vivid blue eyes. Had there been a light, the tears would have glimmered as they fell from his eyes, the pain in his strained face would have been more than obvious. I couldn't protect you... I just couldn't be there... That knowledge was only second to the fact that she was dead. That he couldn't have helped her, cheered her, protected her from her own ruthlessness damn near destroyed him. He loved her, loved no woman more than he had ever loved his mother, the woman whose gentle touch had cured those nasty childhood wounds, whose words had touched him while so far away. Was it his fault that she could not give him a younger brother or sister? Had it somehow been his fault? Why a second time, mother? Why? He almost sobbed then, caught it in his throat, and hunched over her body, fisting her dress in his hands.

Why are you doing this to me? Those cold words materialized in his mind. There was no pulse; he'd felt for one, searched for one, to no avail. As slowly one of the major terrors of the squire's heart played out, it finally began to dissipate. He knew his Ordeal was far from over - this was just the beginning, and he knew other squires would face the same, think they were safe and, like him, realize that they weren't. Not yet. Bracing himself as he continued to allow tears to streak down his paling face, Senz awaited the next assault.

When finally the door swung open, a very weary squire staggered out. Half-conscious and with bruised knees, he stumbled, fell forward, and was caught. Hauling him up, those awaiting the end of his Ordeal saw the way the tears had streaked down his face, the way his lips trembled and tears continued to fall from his eyes in sporadic spurts. His blue eyes were only slightly open, his dark hair matted to his forehead by sweat. He could hardly speak but he forced himself to, finally breaking the silence.

"Is it over...?"

One of the ones who caught him nodded. "Yes, Senz. It's over. You survived."

All he could do was smile.


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--Katie