Character Origination Prompts: Week 10

[The Mood is Write]

Character Origination Prompts​

Time to make a new character, but you're clueless? Just want to invite a new person to live in your head? Want to round out a character who's been untouched for a while?

This thread is for you and anyone else who feels like doing character work today.

Use as many or as few of the prompts as you like, and create!

How Do I Take Part?​

Each week, I will post three random prompts in line with the title theme: images, text, dialog, links to articles, or other neat things that seem like they could spark new life. I may also include bonus rounds! You can make whatever character you want, and they don't have to fit everything (or anything at all).

I'll provide an (optional) "basic" character sheet that you can use.

Click Here for the Optional Character Sheet

[b]Full Name:[/b]
(Including titles.)

[b]Nicknames:[/b]
(Including titles that aren't part of formal address.)

[b]Species:[/b]
(Could include a few notes on if they're variant or unusual.)

[b]Occupation:[/b]
(Don't be afraid to be descriptive!)

[b]Age:[/b]
(Actual and/or apparent.)

[b]Sexuality:[/b]
(Gender, physical sex, and preferences.)

[b]Eyes:[/b]
(Color, shape, position...)

[b]Hair:[/b]
(Color and style.)

[b]Features:[/b]
(Facial and skin descriptions. Eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, etc.)

[b]Height:[/b]

[b]Build:[/b]
(Bone structure, musculature, amount of fat, body shape—this is great for giving an idea of history and personality.)

[b]Outfit:[/b]
(What do they wear?)

[b]Body Mods:[/b]
(Scars, tattoos, piercings, prosthetics, and more.)

[b]Impression:[/b]
(What do people think when they encounter this character the first time?)

[b]Voice:[/b]
(Describe the tone, manner, volume, and more about how a character communicates: should include any nonverbal communication methods too!)

[b]Fears:[/b]
(Big or small, what frightens the character?)

[b]Motivation:[/b] (One of the two links below might be helpful.)
https://dragonwritingprompts.blogspot.com/2013/08/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-for-writers.html
http://www.fiction-writers-mentor.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/

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[b]Virtues:[/b] (Definitions below, pick however many fit and describe how, if you are so inclined.)
Chastity ([i]Castitas[/i])
A habit of controlling inappropriate physical desires and impulses.
Temperence ([i]Temperantia[/i])
Attentiveness to one's needs, with restraint from wasteful excess.
Charity ([i]Caritas[/i])
Willingly giving of the self to ensure others' happiness and health.
Diligence ([i]Industria[/i])
The habit for performing work with perseverance, honesty, and care.
Patience ([i]Patientia[/i])
The ability to forgive and eagerness to seek paths toward harmony.
Kindness ([i]Humanitas[/i])
The sharing of one's skills and possessions for the sake of others.
Humility ([i]Humilitas[/i])
Prioritizing of other individuals and the community above oneself.

[b]Vices:[/b] (Definitions below, pick however many fit and describe how, if you are so inclined.)
Lust ([i]Luxuria[/i])
The lack of self-control over one's bodily desires and urges.
Gluttony ([i]Gula[/i])
Overindulgence and overconsumption to the point of waste or harm.
Greed ([i]Avaritia[/i])
A disproportionate valuing of material wealth and its acquisition.
Sloth ([i]Acedia[/i])
Habitual apathy or aversion to effort that results in detriment.
Wrath ([i]Ira[/i])
Uncontrolled urges that encourage one to harm to others and self.
Envy ([i]Invidia[/i])
Sad or resentful desire toward traits or possessions of another.
Pride ([i]Superbia[/i])
Obsession with one's own superiority to the detriment of others.

[b]Strengths:[/b]
(What they're good at.)

[b]Weaknesses:[/b]
(What they're not good at.)

[b]Quirks:[/b]
(Habits and other little things.)

[b]Racial Details:[/b]
(Optional details about the character's race.)

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[b]History:[/b]
(Write a brief backstory.)

[b]Hook/Summary:[/b]
(You can include something meant to catch interest here.)

Prompts:

1. This character is blind in one eye.
2. They work a dangerous profession.
3. If they have a gruff appearance, something about them is unexpectedly soft and sweet—or they appear soft and sweet, but have something hard and abrasive about them.

 

[Alexandra]

Ooh. I like this section of the forum.
I reckon I'll come back here for practise ~

I have a character that pretty much already fits the bill, so to ease into the prompts idea I reckon I'll rework her. Technically cheating, I know......

*** *** *** ***

Name; Little Bird. It's probably not what her mother called her, but damned if you're going to find out.
Age; approaching 40 maybe? Don't ask.
Sex; F
Orientation; Men have lost fingers trying to lay hands on her. Whatever happens in private happens in private.
Species; Human

Origin; The gravity-defying archipelago of Shaydensea. Knows the floating island of Moonbend like the back of her hand, so perhaps that's her home, but the same could be said for it's sister island of Kontina.
Occupation; A guide and information broker with a side line in doin' a violence.

Background
"Why d'ya want to know?
Who d'ya work for?"

Little Bird is a jack of all trades. According to anything anyone knows about her, she grew up on the streets somewhere in Shaydensea, thieving and fighting by way of survival. Proficient in enough languages to mange the melting pot of Shaydensea, she seems more at east in dark and dirty places. Familiarity, no doubt.
She knows the best way across a city to keep from being seen too much. She can tell you where your kind should or shouldn't go for a pint. She knows who's fighting, who's fucking, where the drugs are, and the best place to bury a body. She enjoys coarse humour, bawdy stories, stiff drinks, and most importantly; getting paid in a timely fashion.

Appearance
A hard life has given her sharp features and ruddy skin - close encounters have scarred her up a bit, especially the keloid mess occupying the space where her left eye used to be. Tried to save a client from smugglers on Kontina, you see - lost an eye for her trouble. Lost the client too. These days saving costs extra. She would probably tend towards soft, round and small if the violence, drinking and paranoia didn't keep her solid. Dirty blonde hair is kept short for practical reasons.

Personality
Abrasive, even if you're the one paying her, and very much of the "ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer" mindset. She likes to know the specific terms of a job, gets everything nailed down in advance, and expects half the amount upfront. Pay her to guide you to a place, and she'll do just that, but oh! You didn't ask her to also intervene if you get mugged along the way? That costs extra. She has no problem milking the wealthy for all they're worth, but there are a number of street kids, homeless elders and brothel madams she keeps an eye on - she hides those soft spots out of sight.

Powers
Little Bird has mutant powers, that much is known. No-one can be that sneaky naturally. Whether she might secretly be a full-blown Magus is dependant on what rumours you believe, but whatever the truth, she keeps it under wraps.