Chaplain Oran, the Songless.
So I've presented an unfinished chapter 3 about a week ago. I've yet to figure out how I'd like to progress the character development in the end of the chapter and bring it to a close. In order to attempt to figure out these characters and how their conversation or plot might flow to develop them I've gone ahead and followed Novel Writing Help's guide on How to Create Character Profiles to write up a Character Profile for Chaplain Oran the Songless.
What is Her Age?
Chaplain Oran is an aging soldier, just having past her 37th Nameday. Since her 14th Nameday she's been with the Keepers of Dawn, she's an anointed Dawnsinger and a veteran Chaplain of 18 years. She's been a steady faithful of Betsol having consistent communication with the Goddess who has shaped her faith and worldviews. She believes Kamok is not as wholesome as the Keepers would have you believe and that they've some how tainted the teachings of Betsol. Oran is also a worshiper of Mori, Lunan, and Alumas all having high places in the Pantheon of Kamok. If she hadn't been a Chaplain there is a high probability that she'd be a Marshall by now, however her status as a Chaplain has kept her from advancing among the military's hierarchy. This is her fourth crusade, yet it is the first she's openly questioned.
What does the Character Look Like?Oran is a short statured human, measuring hardly over five feet and having the lean body of a career soldier. Her body is toned, her spiritual diet combined with the daily marches resulting in a lean muscular appearance. Oran's bright orange hair is kept back in a knot behind her head as is the fashion among Chaplains. Her eyes a vibrant emerald and are her most distinguished feature. The honeycomb wax used to create the prayer candles she uses lends her a consistent smell of honey that mixes with wax and aged parchment, a sweet library. Her plain robe of linen is often covered by the Veridian Plate she wears to battlefields. The Veridian darkened to a blackish red, the pauldrons rising above he ears and causing her to look particularly top heavy. Attached to the back of her army is a Solet, a large disk of gold in representation of the sun. This large circle appears like a rising on the horizon over her shoulders, polished daily and catching the suns rays to be reflected forward. Outside of this Solet Oran also carries a Divining Stone, a piece of rope with a sphere for each of the 12 known Gods often used in meditation and carried by pious individuals. Oran has an unsure presence, never sure of her place in the cosmos or the army, she's often timid in approach or command of others. She's often found gazing into Sol, or holding her Divining Stone.
Do They Use Any "Props"?
She's perhaps most notable for the large Solet carried on her back. Outside of this her Divining Stone will often come up in description of the character and in her actions and telling of the Divinities.
How Do They Speak?Timidly, quiet as mouse and unsure of herself. She's aware that she's someone of importance but isn't aware anyone else sees her as such. She's one to speak to herself when she believes she's speaking to Betsol despite knowing that those conversations take place in her mind. She's a proper speaker having been trained by The Keepers and would scorn someone for cursing in her presence. She's taken to using blessing throughout her conversations such as radiance shines on me, or enlighten them. Oran is a solemn and serious person due to feeling as if a great weight of responsibility has been put on her shoulders. She's not one for lively laughter but if she were to laugh it would be light like a singsong bird. While the priestly order she belongs to is referred to as the Dawnsingers, her soft voice is rarely heard while performing her miracles. Preferring to work in quiet as opposed to singing the hymns of Betsol. She's also made a habit of gesturing while conversing even when the setting doesn't call for the formal gestures, she'll still make small ones to herself despite their recognition by those she speaks to.
What Are They Like As a Person?
Oran is a timid individual, such as a field mouse to be her spiritual animal. While she carries a great burden she is not above happiness and optimism. While you might believe her timid nature would prohibit her from partaking in an adventurous life, she's constantly finding herself in harms way and in position to be of use to her Divinities. Oran sets to life with a quiet determination, knowing that she must accomplish what's set before her but not taking great pride or pain in accomplishing her task. She is a caring and devout individual, embodying Lunan's ideals of honor where Betsol's code's lack. Her greatest fear is that she won't be strong enough to do as her Divinity requires of her. While she looks on the spiritual realm with a romantism due to her cloistered child, her life as a Chaplain has left her with a stark realistic view of the mortal realm. She's looks to avoid the spotlight but often finds herself thrust into it. While believing herself charged with an important task, she views herself as unimportant and has the lack of confidence to show for it.
What Does She Like and Dislike?
Oran enjoys the hymns of Betsol despite being too shy to sing herself. She has a fond memory of the tales of the immortal realm, the virtues taught by the Dawnsingers, and the lessons of the Divinities. She's a closet botanist despite Betsol not believing someone should take the time to tend to nature. Her career as a soldier has lead her to enjoy the camaraderie among the Keepers and Knights, the stories shared by camp fire, and the marching ballads sang on hot days of walking. Her most treasured possession is the Divining Stone given to her by her father before she was sent to the Keepers for training as the first child of her family. She dislikes staying in one place for too long, cold meals, and sarcasm being too naive to nose it out most of the time. She prefers honest men and those with divine hearts which is becoming harder to find. She dislikes the direction the Keepers have been taking their faith and the secular power they've been securing for themselves.
Who Do They Know?
She's an established figure in the army, knowing and having worked with Lord Marshall Jhev, Marshall Hevsid, and Marshall Johanna. She knows many of the knights by face and a good deal by name. More importantly she's revered as a Dawnsinger and in line to eventually head the chapter. These secular connections perhaps pale to the Divinities she has come to know personally. She has been a tool of Betsol's for near 15 years now, after finding herself in communion with the divinity during her first crusade. She's also received answers from Lunan, Mori, Alumas, Trife, and Shoku though she has only made mention of communing with Betsol, for fear of being marked for a higher calling. At her campsite she maintains two Booknyts, a type of nyt that enjoys reading and hearing stories, fitting in the palm of Oran's hand. Each maintain a traditional off-white color, she's named them Alu and Bet.
Where Do They Live?
Oran was the first child born to her family in Kamok. As such she never received her families name and was instead given to The Keepers upon reaching maturity. Her household turned out to be large in the custom of her people but she has spent many more years on the march and in foreign lands than she has at home in Kamok or even learning among The Keepers in the capitol or her Chapter House.
What Do They Do?
She is a Chaplain in Lord Marshall Jhev's army. She maintains spiritual guidance of the soldiers as well as offering the wisdom of the Divinities to Jhev should he seek it. As a Dawnsinger she is also the principle healer among the army, though she has a few others with her to assist in the task. She's a rather bookish individual, her kit maintaining an ever evolving collection of books and scrolls about the Divinities and their Virtues. She tends to her Booknyts and to her flock of soldiers and maintains contact with Betsol and keeps herself along the path set before her. She's respected among the soldiers but her other Dawnsinger's take her timidness for weakness and her commanding officers believe she's a pawn to their games.
What About Their Past?
I touched upon this in the section about her age and where she lives, she was raised by her family in Kamok before being sent to The Keepers to be trained to the countries purpose. She was gifted enough to be sent to the Dawnsinger's chapter and rose through their ranks to become an anointed Dawnsinger. After her anointing she volunteered to join her first crusade and it was during this crusade that she first spoke with Betsol. Ever since she's been attempting to do the Divinity's bidding and found her self in the middle of an evolving political dilemma. Her past is rather ambiguous outside of her communication with multiple divinities which if reveled could either lead to her becoming a threat for the political movers or a tool, as such she has kept quite about the Divinities reception of her. She had a childhood crush after first joining The Keepers before they were separated into different chapters for further training. She lost touch with this crush during the first crusade, believing the individual to have fallen during one of the battles.
What Is Their Role in the Novel?
Oran will become the center plot mover, as she's positioned by Betsol to react to the starting action and then be central to the climax. Oran seeks to serve Betsol to the best of her capabilities and prove strong enough to carry the burden of the Divinities. The events of the novella should result in the growth of Oran from a timid soldier to a bold leader and powerful diviner in her own right.
There it is, the Character Profile for our Chapter 3 PoV Chaplain Oran. Hopefully with this profile written down and put to action I'll be better able to figure how the natural progression for chapter 3 is. I may continue to hold off on finishing that chapter until I've profiles for the other characters introduced in this chapter, Arlaen and Natal. Comment below if you have other tips for me on how to flesh out this character even more.
What is Her Age?
Chaplain Oran is an aging soldier, just having past her 37th Nameday. Since her 14th Nameday she's been with the Keepers of Dawn, she's an anointed Dawnsinger and a veteran Chaplain of 18 years. She's been a steady faithful of Betsol having consistent communication with the Goddess who has shaped her faith and worldviews. She believes Kamok is not as wholesome as the Keepers would have you believe and that they've some how tainted the teachings of Betsol. Oran is also a worshiper of Mori, Lunan, and Alumas all having high places in the Pantheon of Kamok. If she hadn't been a Chaplain there is a high probability that she'd be a Marshall by now, however her status as a Chaplain has kept her from advancing among the military's hierarchy. This is her fourth crusade, yet it is the first she's openly questioned.
What does the Character Look Like?Oran is a short statured human, measuring hardly over five feet and having the lean body of a career soldier. Her body is toned, her spiritual diet combined with the daily marches resulting in a lean muscular appearance. Oran's bright orange hair is kept back in a knot behind her head as is the fashion among Chaplains. Her eyes a vibrant emerald and are her most distinguished feature. The honeycomb wax used to create the prayer candles she uses lends her a consistent smell of honey that mixes with wax and aged parchment, a sweet library. Her plain robe of linen is often covered by the Veridian Plate she wears to battlefields. The Veridian darkened to a blackish red, the pauldrons rising above he ears and causing her to look particularly top heavy. Attached to the back of her army is a Solet, a large disk of gold in representation of the sun. This large circle appears like a rising on the horizon over her shoulders, polished daily and catching the suns rays to be reflected forward. Outside of this Solet Oran also carries a Divining Stone, a piece of rope with a sphere for each of the 12 known Gods often used in meditation and carried by pious individuals. Oran has an unsure presence, never sure of her place in the cosmos or the army, she's often timid in approach or command of others. She's often found gazing into Sol, or holding her Divining Stone.
Do They Use Any "Props"?
She's perhaps most notable for the large Solet carried on her back. Outside of this her Divining Stone will often come up in description of the character and in her actions and telling of the Divinities.
How Do They Speak?Timidly, quiet as mouse and unsure of herself. She's aware that she's someone of importance but isn't aware anyone else sees her as such. She's one to speak to herself when she believes she's speaking to Betsol despite knowing that those conversations take place in her mind. She's a proper speaker having been trained by The Keepers and would scorn someone for cursing in her presence. She's taken to using blessing throughout her conversations such as radiance shines on me, or enlighten them. Oran is a solemn and serious person due to feeling as if a great weight of responsibility has been put on her shoulders. She's not one for lively laughter but if she were to laugh it would be light like a singsong bird. While the priestly order she belongs to is referred to as the Dawnsingers, her soft voice is rarely heard while performing her miracles. Preferring to work in quiet as opposed to singing the hymns of Betsol. She's also made a habit of gesturing while conversing even when the setting doesn't call for the formal gestures, she'll still make small ones to herself despite their recognition by those she speaks to.
What Are They Like As a Person?
Oran is a timid individual, such as a field mouse to be her spiritual animal. While she carries a great burden she is not above happiness and optimism. While you might believe her timid nature would prohibit her from partaking in an adventurous life, she's constantly finding herself in harms way and in position to be of use to her Divinities. Oran sets to life with a quiet determination, knowing that she must accomplish what's set before her but not taking great pride or pain in accomplishing her task. She is a caring and devout individual, embodying Lunan's ideals of honor where Betsol's code's lack. Her greatest fear is that she won't be strong enough to do as her Divinity requires of her. While she looks on the spiritual realm with a romantism due to her cloistered child, her life as a Chaplain has left her with a stark realistic view of the mortal realm. She's looks to avoid the spotlight but often finds herself thrust into it. While believing herself charged with an important task, she views herself as unimportant and has the lack of confidence to show for it.
What Does She Like and Dislike?
Oran enjoys the hymns of Betsol despite being too shy to sing herself. She has a fond memory of the tales of the immortal realm, the virtues taught by the Dawnsingers, and the lessons of the Divinities. She's a closet botanist despite Betsol not believing someone should take the time to tend to nature. Her career as a soldier has lead her to enjoy the camaraderie among the Keepers and Knights, the stories shared by camp fire, and the marching ballads sang on hot days of walking. Her most treasured possession is the Divining Stone given to her by her father before she was sent to the Keepers for training as the first child of her family. She dislikes staying in one place for too long, cold meals, and sarcasm being too naive to nose it out most of the time. She prefers honest men and those with divine hearts which is becoming harder to find. She dislikes the direction the Keepers have been taking their faith and the secular power they've been securing for themselves.
Who Do They Know?
She's an established figure in the army, knowing and having worked with Lord Marshall Jhev, Marshall Hevsid, and Marshall Johanna. She knows many of the knights by face and a good deal by name. More importantly she's revered as a Dawnsinger and in line to eventually head the chapter. These secular connections perhaps pale to the Divinities she has come to know personally. She has been a tool of Betsol's for near 15 years now, after finding herself in communion with the divinity during her first crusade. She's also received answers from Lunan, Mori, Alumas, Trife, and Shoku though she has only made mention of communing with Betsol, for fear of being marked for a higher calling. At her campsite she maintains two Booknyts, a type of nyt that enjoys reading and hearing stories, fitting in the palm of Oran's hand. Each maintain a traditional off-white color, she's named them Alu and Bet.
Where Do They Live?
Oran was the first child born to her family in Kamok. As such she never received her families name and was instead given to The Keepers upon reaching maturity. Her household turned out to be large in the custom of her people but she has spent many more years on the march and in foreign lands than she has at home in Kamok or even learning among The Keepers in the capitol or her Chapter House.
What Do They Do?
She is a Chaplain in Lord Marshall Jhev's army. She maintains spiritual guidance of the soldiers as well as offering the wisdom of the Divinities to Jhev should he seek it. As a Dawnsinger she is also the principle healer among the army, though she has a few others with her to assist in the task. She's a rather bookish individual, her kit maintaining an ever evolving collection of books and scrolls about the Divinities and their Virtues. She tends to her Booknyts and to her flock of soldiers and maintains contact with Betsol and keeps herself along the path set before her. She's respected among the soldiers but her other Dawnsinger's take her timidness for weakness and her commanding officers believe she's a pawn to their games.
What About Their Past?
I touched upon this in the section about her age and where she lives, she was raised by her family in Kamok before being sent to The Keepers to be trained to the countries purpose. She was gifted enough to be sent to the Dawnsinger's chapter and rose through their ranks to become an anointed Dawnsinger. After her anointing she volunteered to join her first crusade and it was during this crusade that she first spoke with Betsol. Ever since she's been attempting to do the Divinity's bidding and found her self in the middle of an evolving political dilemma. Her past is rather ambiguous outside of her communication with multiple divinities which if reveled could either lead to her becoming a threat for the political movers or a tool, as such she has kept quite about the Divinities reception of her. She had a childhood crush after first joining The Keepers before they were separated into different chapters for further training. She lost touch with this crush during the first crusade, believing the individual to have fallen during one of the battles.
What Is Their Role in the Novel?
Oran will become the center plot mover, as she's positioned by Betsol to react to the starting action and then be central to the climax. Oran seeks to serve Betsol to the best of her capabilities and prove strong enough to carry the burden of the Divinities. The events of the novella should result in the growth of Oran from a timid soldier to a bold leader and powerful diviner in her own right.
There it is, the Character Profile for our Chapter 3 PoV Chaplain Oran. Hopefully with this profile written down and put to action I'll be better able to figure how the natural progression for chapter 3 is. I may continue to hold off on finishing that chapter until I've profiles for the other characters introduced in this chapter, Arlaen and Natal. Comment below if you have other tips for me on how to flesh out this character even more.
No comments:
Post a Comment