Old Gods Crusade [ooc]

Achilles

his descent was like nightfall
Original poster
FOLKLORE MEMBER
Invitation Status
  1. Look for groups
  2. Looking for partners
Posting Speed
  1. 1-3 posts per week
  2. One post per week
  3. Slow As Molasses
Writing Levels
  1. Adept
  2. Advanced
  3. Prestige
  4. Adaptable
Preferred Character Gender
  1. Male
  2. Female
  3. Nonbinary
  4. Transgender
  5. Primarily Prefer Male
Genres
romance, historical, horror


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GM: @sing o muse

Co-GM: @Kat



INTEREST CHECK || DISCORD || IC (coming soon)





  • For thousands of years, Hellenism was the dominating faith of the Mediterranean region. The polytheistic religion, know for its fascinating, infinite pantheon and complex mythology, provided the people of the area with an incredible sense of spirituality. Every lived experience was attributed to their beloved gods, who were present in every aspect of the world at all times. Well after Christianity entered the picture, this was the religion that dominated the region.

    After the conversion of Roman Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 312 AD, this new, monotheistic faith began to find its footing in the Roman Empire. With time and effort, it became the official religion of the empire. While both religions were accepted in the empire for a time, the tolerant nature of paganism versus the evangelizing nature of Christianity made it difficult for the faiths to coexist for long. The end of tolerance for paganism came two emperors after Constantine – ironically, with his half-brother, Julian, the last pagan ruler of Rome.

    When Julian came into power, he made aggressive attempts not only to restore Hellenism as the official state religion, but to thwart the spread of Christianity – he wanted to enforce religious tolerance, but to keep Christianity out of the highest ranks of Roman society. His efforts proved futile, however, and the end of his reign brought forth a more decisive stance against paganism by Christian rulers. The last defender of the old gods had unintentionally led to their final downfall.



    Now...



    It’s 2019, and something stirs. People across the United States begin to experience strange dreams – dreams that, they say, feel less like dreams and more like memories. Dreams where they can feel and hear and smell and see every little detail so vividly that it feels unlikely that they had not experienced it. And that seems possible – some psychologists believe that dreams can reveal repressed memories, and for many of these people, the dreams depict traumatic events worthy of repression. There’s just one problem: they could not have experienced these things, because it’s 2019, and all of these dreams are of the ancient world. All dreamers report similar things – swords and spears, chariots, loose linen and sandals, languages they do not understand or immediately recognize. Local historians interview those affected and identify what they can: a phrase in the ancient Greek language, a famous Egyptian temple, a well-known Roman general. Still, no one has any idea where any of this is coming from…



    until one Friday afternoon, when all of the affected receive the same letter.


    Dear dreamers --

    You must be confused. I am sure you are wondering why this is happening to you and why you feel that this is so much greater than a dream – that this is so much greater than you. If that is your instinct, you are correct. This is bigger than you… but you are also bigger than what you know.

    I cannot say much here – I will reserve the details for when we meet in person. But in order to get you here, I will tell you this:

    You are more than what you realize. You are extraordinary, chosen and favored by the gods, and it is time you come to understand why. What you see when you close your eyes feels like you – it is. You were of great importance to the world once and the gods, in their infinite wisdom and power, have orchestrated your return so you may be once again. A war is coming, and you have a part to play.

    Included, you will find an invitation to our first formal meeting as a group, as well as a plane ticket. Make it a priority to be there, but the Fates will see to it that we meet one way or another.

    -- Imperator Caesar Flavius Claudius Julianus Augustus






  • This RP will follow an attempt to establish a new Hellenistic pagan state in the region that is now the United States, due to the region's unique religious history, led by the reincarnations of famous historical figures of the ancient Mediterranean world. This effort will be led by the mysterious reincarnation of Roman Emperor Julian, who attempted to reestablish paganism in Rome and also (possibly) believed in the transmigration of souls. His theory is that the old gods have decided to revitalize their worship, and have worked to bring back some of their most influential worshipers to see that happen, but no one knows for sure what is causing this. Nonetheless, the other reincarnations eventually agree to take part in the Crusade. The plot will unfold in two parts: first, the discovery of the past lives, and then the Old Gods Crusade.

    Characters do not know who their past life was until they have their epiphany. Until then, they will receive dreams and flashbacks of their past life from the GM. These visions come with time, but are also triggered by objects, people, and places strongly associated with their former lives. They will start out their journey in the fictional city of Fortuna, New York, and then as part of the discovery process, the group will be travelling the Mediterranean region in order to potentially trigger these memories.


    • Follow all Iwaku rules at all times.
    • Keep the GM and/or co-GM informed about extended absences whenever possible.
    • Stay involved! Player input is extremely important to the course of this RP. Check our Discord as regularly as possible.
    • Posts will be expected at least once a week unless you let us know otherwise.
    • Post lengths will vary, but please contribute at least 2 solid paragraphs (per character, if taking on multiple).
    • Multiple characters will only be allowed with permission from the GM, but do feel free to ask!
    • Potentially triggering subjects such as rape, incest, extreme abuse, will likely come up in backstories, but please avoid playing them out. If you're unsure whether something is okay, please ask.
    • If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask!

  • If an unlisted person interests you, or if you want more information about any of these individuals, feel free to contact the GM.
    • Hephaestion
    • Aspasia
    • Plato
    • Socrates
    • Aristotle
    • King Leonidas
    • Ptolemy Theos Philopator
    • Julius Caesar
    • Livia Drusilla
    • Octavia

  • In progress.
    Taken: Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Diogenes, Augustus, Pericles, Hypatia, Marc Antony

  • Name:
    Age:
    Reincarnation of:
    Occupation:
    Personality:
    Background:
    Appearance (faceclaim image or detailed physical description):


IMPORTANT: Unless you have your character sheet ready to go, PLEASE make a post here reserving your past life before you start working on it.

Thank you, and I can't wait to see your characters!
@Rook @TheDevil'sGame @KasaiVictoriano @The Dapper Mog
 
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Reporting for duty. Now if you excuse me, I’m going to steal some character sheets format
 
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Diogenes for me please!
 
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Alexandra "Alex" Vasilakis

Full Name: Alexandra "Alex" Vasilakis

Nickname: Alex (by Close friends, Preferred)
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Reincarnation: Cleopatra

Personality:
Alexandra is a tough woman who has a lot of faith in herself and the kind of power she holds. She's brave and feels very deeply. Alexandra can also be feisty at times and quick to anger. Integrity plays a huge part in who she is but insecurity gets in the way sometimes. She does not like her feelings to be toyed with and when she feels passion, sometimes those feelings are hidden by the subtle mannerisms she uses to manipulate and prove herself to other people.

Background:
TW: INCEST, BLACKMAIL

Alexandra was born in Mykonos, Greece, but raised in Fortuna, New York for some of her early years and all of her teenage years. Her Mother was an orthopedic surgeon and her Father a psychiatrist. Dad stayed behind with her and her eldest brother, while her younger sister and her mother to Los Angeles because of a job opportunity her mother had. At thirteen, Alexandra went into ninth grade. She got involved in different sports, including swimming and soccer. Heck, she even tried out for the football and cheerleading team. Her dad took in a foster child- a seventeen year old male named Theo- when she was fifteen and before Theo was officially adopted, Alexandra and Theo had an intimate moment.

The two tried to keep their encounter secret but Nyke, her elder brother found out later on what they'd done and used that against them, threatening Alexandra that if they continued, he would tell dad and get rid of Theo because he loved her as more than a sister and he knew she felt the same. Alexandra became distant from her immediate family after that encounter. She went into dual enrollment at age fifteen and graduated with a liberal arts degree and her high school diploma at age eighteen.

At twenty years, she graduated with her bachelor's degree and immediately started her master's degree. When she was twenty one, she started her career as a patrol officer and got her first boyfriend. Twenty three, Alexandra's boyfriend cheats on her and they break up before she finds out five months later that she's pregnant. She ends up not telling her ex boyfriend about their daughter.

After Alexandra and her boyfriend broke up, she met another man who was located in another precinct and he became her fiancé later on, however, the relationship didn't last. Alexandra felt left to depend on her parents one last time while she struggled to finish up her PhD in Forensics and move forward into the homicide division while also caring for a baby. Her best friend from college became her living crutch as she endured the difficulties of motherhood while striving to be successful. Now, she has her phD and her real journey is just beginning.

- Education:
PhD in Forensics
Master's Degree in Psychology
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

-Career/Profession:
Homicide Detective (Current)
Police Officer (Former)

-Family:
Danaë Vasilakis (25 years, Younger Sister)
Nyke Vasilakis (37 years, Eldest Brother)
Theo Vasilakis (Adopted Half-Brother, 33 years, Deceased)
Chloë Vasilakis (Daughter, 9 years, NPC)
Colson Vasilakis (Half-brother, Father's Son, 4 years old, NPC)

Others: Amunet could possibly be the reincarnation of her best friend in college or someone like Mark Antony.
 

Joseph Lemke
Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας || Alexander the Great

Currently: PhD student in Comparative Literature
Past life: Basileus of Macedon, Hegemon of Greece, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharoah of Egypt, Lord of Asia



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Name: Joseph "Joey" Lemke
Age: 27
Reincarnation of: Alexander the Great


Personality
Joey has a strong personality, and those who know him remember him well, whether for better or worse. He is introspective and often quiet, which makes him quite suitable for his scholarly career. He is warm and generous with those he loves, and earns incredible loyalty from his friends. However, he also suffers from a hot temper. He is unafraid to speak his mind to those who anger him, and many find this confrontational side to him insufferable.

Biography
Born to a working class family in Indiana, Joey was destined for mediocrity. His father worked in masonry, and his mother was a high school English teacher. His father was the typical Midwestern family man, leading a simple but hard-working life, and tried to raise his only son to be just like him. However, Joseph was much closer to his mother, and as he grew up, it became clear that he was mostly taking after her. She taught him to read picture books before he entered kindergarten, and his love for literature only grew from there. Eventually, his passion shaped the teen he became. He kept a small, close group of friends, and was happy to spend much of his time alone. His father was a kind man, but he did not know how to relate to his son's distaste for sports and typical boyish shenanigans, so they grew increasingly distant.

As he grew into a young man, he began to realize that there were more ways than one that he differed from the man his father pictured he would be. He came to realize that he was interested in men in his early teens, but was far too nervous to try to pursue relationships with his fellow schoolmates. While his family was not significantly religious, he lived in a very Christian area, and did not think it was worth the risk of being found out. At age 17, however, he developed an intimate relationship with his older next-door neighbor, a married man in his late 20s with a lot of baggage and no capacity to handle the fragile heart of a young, vulnerable boy. Naturally, this didn't end well for either of them and when Joseph moved away to college, he was glad to be moving far away.

Joey's passion for literature blew up in college. He maintained a 3.9 GPA and immediately enrolled in a PhD program after graduating with his Bachelor's in English Literature. Neither of his parents really understood the pursuit of scholarly endeavors, and just wished he would take a decent job somewhere and settle down, but they were overall just happy to see him off pursuing anything after the rocky end to his teen years. He is 5 years into it now, and he's hoping to snag an academic position within the next couple of years. He thinks this will be inevitable, of course, after his research on the evolution of the masculine ideal in Western literature rocks the world of literary scholarship.






 
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Name
Cassidy "Cas" Capone
Age
21
Reincarnation of
Diogenes
Occupation
Bartender/Owner
"Siren's Song"
Personality
Cassidy is spontaneous and unpredictable at times as she loves to be the life of the party. She tries to keep those around her happy and laugh as she does not like to see her friends unhappy. Cassidy is a prankster and loves to tease like the huge pervert she is. Even with such a loud and happy personality, Cassidy can be very dark and twisted. She is extremely sly and cunning as well as intelligent. If anyone threats her or someone close to her,even if you threaten a stranger, Cassidy will be there to protect them and will beat you into a pulp. She isn't afraid to get violent or to spill blood.
Background

Cassidy grew up with a loving father, they were always every close to each other. She has a large family, but they never went without anything, always got what they wanted and lived a posh life without the slightest idea what kind of business their father ran. As ironic as it was, her father was the head of a large mafia group, fear by many and he was intending to pass this business along to her, she was his favorite child and his only daughter. At 16, Cassidy decided she didn't want to be a part of the family business, her father sweetly granted her this.

Cassidy later went to college, getting a business degree and with her father's help was given a bar, naming it The Siren's Song.
 
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Name: Arthur Nicholson

Age: 52

Reincarnation of: Octavian/Augustus Caesar

Occupation: Four Star General and the current Head of Operations within the Middle East.


Personality: Kind, Respectful, Charming and Confident. This is a man who is determined to their job and who focuses on their ability to make the right decisions in conflicts expanding the globe. Chosen for these numerous specific reasons. He has created tensions with placing marines in horrendous situations while also calling for strikes on civilian centers. He is often known for his rationality and calm demeanor but these wars seem to have grated on him. Creating someone who is becoming more frustrated over the loss of American lives as well as having to deal with guerrilla warfare that can cause conflicts with civilians. He still seems to have the respect of many others and despite his losses, his successes in stabilizing the regions he controls as well as leading effective strikes against religious radical forces has kept him in his position.

Background: Being a part of the military ever since he was eighteen. He has followed a long line of family who have done the same to great success. Growing up to live up to the status that his family had before him made him focus only on these few aspects of his life He has participated in combat himself and knows the difficulty of warfare as he has seen friends suffer on the front lines of war. Slowly climbing himself to the top and eventually finding himself a four star general within a time of tense American history. Losing his wife and son due to a terrorist attack that happened within New York city. He has remained sectioned off and removed as his efforts go into nothing else but his work.
 
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Name:

Liam Russo

Age:

34

Reincarnation of:

Pericles

Occupation:

Soldier (Formerly)
Politician (Currently Running For Mayor of Fortuna)

Personality:

Liam is something of an enigma, his perspectives an intricately woven web of moral standards and self proclaimed rules of living. He tends to be respectful towards most people, unless they are giving him specific reason not to be. Thanks to his upbringing, he has a taste for the finer things in life, yet, has lived with little to nothing, creating an attitude that appreciates kindness but also admires ambition.

Liam enjoys classical music, boxing, conversation, philosphy, philanthropy, as well as several known human vices. He doesn't preach perfection, only the pursuit of it, and as such, accepts people's limitations and doesn't shy away from seeking fairness in every day life for every person.

Background:

Liam was born into a loving family, though was an only child. His mother college professor, and his father a renowned neurosurgeon, allowing for a fairly comfortable lifestyle for the three of them. While he was young, Liam displayed attributes of social phobias and a difficulty grasping social situations, leading him to a fairly reclusive childhood. He spent most of his time studying, and learned to play the cello as an outlet and extracurricular activity to engage in. Though he was proud of his son's studious nature, Liam's father worried that his son would be too sheltered going into his teenage years, so, had him choose a more physical activity as well. Since even in his youth, Liam didn't enjoy sports and saw no real use for them, he chose a boxing class, seeing a practical use for it as well as a means to appease his father.

Though Liam struggled at first, the decision helped him to break through his social barriers. He became physically active and fit, developed more confidence, made several friends in his high school years, and even dated a few times. Of course, those years go fast, and Liam found himself struggling to find a more long term direction for his life. After learning that a couple of his friends were also unsure, they, as a group, insisted on joining the United States Military, each of them signing onto the Marin Corps.

As a now grown man, void of direction, Liam served admirably as a marine, primarily on active duty in Iraq. Multiple tours led to multiple traumas and lost friends, including Brody, his best friend of several years. Enough was enough. Upon returning the the US, his home state of New York, Liam was again lost. It wasn't until he became interested in politics and public affairs that he had found a true means of making a difference and helping people. He hasn't been back very long, but, serving as a public spokesmen for a variety of causes has brought him to the forefront of political matters, and led him into the daunting challenge of running for public office in his home town.

Appearance (faceclaim image or detailed physical description):

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Reincarnation of
Hypatia of Alexandria

Age
24

Occupation
Part-Time Tutor

Personality

Ambitious and ardent, Lenora is a woman of great passion. Particularly where it concerns the acquisition or sharing of knowledge. She is a model pupil always eager to learn more. Lenora isn't all classrooms, however, and is an adventurous woman, who enjoys exploration and examination of the world. Cool-headed it takes a lot to bring her down and she is usually in a good mood. Lenora is decisive and committed to her decisions, although she scrutinizes herself against her own high standards. She enjoys puzzle games, jazz music, and tea. She is not a fan of sports and is a picky eater. Her favourite colour is grey-green.

Biography

Shortly after Lenora was born, her mother and two siblings immigrated to the United States from Russia, her father having died in the homeland. The small family settled into a small apartment along the East Coast and her mother took any job she could find. The first couple of years were difficult, especially when the youngest was a mere babe in need of near-constant attention. Their situation changed for the better when the oldest, Anastas, was able to get a job.

Things again improved for the Volkovs when in Lenora's 6th year her mother married a well-off American man by the name of Cleveland Lark. Lark was a studious man with a passion for sciences and mathematics. And he made an effort to teach all three of the Volkov children, however, only Lenora took to his teachings. She soaked up the information he shared like a sponge. His passions became her own and the two became close.

When it came time for Lenora to enroll in school, her step-father made the decision to instead home school himself. Lenora enjoyed all her subjects, especially the sciences, but her favourite by far was astronomy. Since the moment she learned about the planets, Lenora was fascinated. After graduating high school, Lenora took a break from her studies to travel with Lark. They visited much of the United States as well as Europe. When she finally returned home at the age of 20, she enrolled in college in pursuit of an astronomy degree. She has since completed her bachelor's and is working on her master's degree.

 
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Reincarnation of
Marc Antony

Age
34

Occupation
Defense Lawyer

Personality

A word which is rarely applied to Lance – or one would hope is rarely applied to him – is boring. He fancies himself an intelligent philanderer with a penchant for celebration. He’s gregarious and socially adept as well as proud and driven by success. Quick with a laugh or a grin, some might call him ever-amused, even – or especially – at inappropriate times. He doesn’t take things too seriously and might even be considered dispassionate. Though he does not anger easily, he will hold a grudge until his dying breath. Most of his free time is spent in revelry or maintaining his physique. He likes ballroom dancing, too.

Biography

Born and raised in the southwestern United States, Lance’s parents were strict ranchers. While his father had lived in Oklahoma his entire life, his mother had once been a city girl who moved to be with the man she loved. Country life had only hardened her disposition and neither parent was especially affectionate. The simple life his parents lived wouldn’t do for the aspiring young man and he always had ambitions beyond his small town.

One of his mother’s few exciting interests was that of true crime. Like his mother, Lance was rather fascinated. Not with the crime, but with the legal aspects of the cases. Around the age of ten, and with little prompting, the young Lance decided he was going to escape his small town and become a lawyer. Until he was old enough to do so, he readied himself by reading all of the law books he could find at the library.

He suffered in mundane simplicity for several more years until at the age of 16 he convinced his aunt, who lived in along the West Coast, to take him in. Lance loved the city. He loved the crowds and the constant stimulation, even if it was a touch overwhelming at first. He made many friends and he made them quickly, often attending social events with them. The only aspect of his old home he missed was his little sister.

By 25 he had graduated from law school and taken on a clerkship at a small firm. It was during this time that he was engaged in his longest relationship which lasted all of half a year. Following two years of clerkship, he applied at several well-established firms until one finally accepted him. Since then, he worked his way up through meager cases into high profile ones.
 
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Name:

Giovanna Mascen (Simply known as 'Gio')

Age:

26

Reincarnation of:

Queen Gorgo

Occupation:

The heir to the Mascen's family business. An illegal drug and human trafficking ring that is also involved in prostitution, elimination services, and numerous white collar crime. They have made a business in Fortuna since the days of prohibition and will continue to find new occupations that people may require.


Personality:


She is constantly doubting herself. Not knowing if she will even survive once her father passes. While she knows there are people willing to protect her. She is constantly fearful of those that don't. Not only that but anyone she doesn't recognize or know may be someone that is capable of killing her. This has caused someone who panics and often overthinks things. Though, the way she has portrayed herself is one who is formal and cold. How she was trained to act and how she is expected too. She is certainly capable though and this fear can lead her to analyze any situations carefully. Though, they may cause her to focus on things that absolutely do not matter. She is quick to judge and not one to be quickly merciful. Being the queen of this place has essentially made her wary of any potential monster that might be eager for her throne.


Background:


Raised as an only child not necessarily because she hadn't had brothers but because the all had succumbed to unfortunate circumstances. Her oldest had passed during a shootout with police, the second passed when protecting his father from an explosion. The third had abandoned the business only to have a rival faction kill him once he was out of the families protection. She was too young to truly remember any of these people. Her father had her late in his life and while the group had encouraged him to have more. It seemed the heartache and frustration had caused him to reject any further parenting. This only placed more emphasis on keeping her alive and allowing her to understand the tools of this trade.

She is also expected to marry someone close to the family but these potential partners see this as a power grab to become the new head of the family. Seeing this, she has been treated kindly by many but she has learned that this kind of treatment comes with expectation. Only making her more closed off and less trusting of anyone that caters to her.

This has only left her with few people she can trust and confide in and even less she can feel safe around. Surrounded by dangerous people and people that need to protect her. Makes her never feel safe as she is always reminded of their presence that she is someone worth killing.

Her father is only getting older and the group is becoming ever more tense. She is learning whatever she can from her father but she worries about how stable these relationships are. Even if there is anything more than murder and greed.
 
Name:
Surku Huo
Age:
27
Reincarnation of:
Sappho
Occupation:

Definitely not an assassin
Personality:
Dark, brooding and emotionless is what people often see Surku as, but once she opens up she can be quite likable. She is a bit reserved, not engaging with other people. Once people get past the staring them down part, Surku is a bit sassy, always quick to anger and not wanting to deal with other people's bull. She is rarely seen sad or worried, hiding those emotions away from everyone as she would like to be seen as emotional strong.
Background:
Surku comes from a similar background as Cassidy. She was adopted by their father as an act of generosity, but trained and reached her differently than Cas. She was raised as the group assassin, killing without a care and worry for their father until she was shot in the knee. Her kneecap had shattered and left her unable to do the work she was use to. She now works alongside Cas at her bar.
 

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Reincarnation of
Hephaestion

Age
26

Occupation
Grocery Store Cashier

Personality

A quiet individual, Asher is soft-spoken and reserved. He rarely initiates conversation, especially for the sake of conversation. He’s introspective and observant, as well as a great listener. His patience is also unquestionable. Despite harboring rather pessimistic views, he is practical in most situations. Unfortunately, Ash is also plagued by a deep-seated sense of self-loathing which plays into his reckless bravery. He is extremely temperate and hates to be wasteful or indulge in excess. He’s generally cautious and distrusting of people and their intentions.

Biography

Ash was born as the son of a Catholic Preacher in rural Maine. His mother was a stay at home wife and mother and he was the second youngest of seven. His childhood was strict and he and his siblings were raised to be seen and not heard. This was extremely true of the younger members of the Alessi family. Naturally a quiet child, Asher had little trouble fitting into the mold his parents designed for him, especially compared to the more rambunctious nature of several of his older brothers. That didn’t stop him from getting into trouble, however, as he had a habit of sneaking out and seeking out danger.

And then there was Rooney. Rooney was Asher’s childhood best friend. The two bonded over being the same age in an incredibly small town. Otherwise, the boys were quite different. Rooney was a loud outgoing daredevil who encouraged Asher to misbehave. The Alessi parents hated him and did their best to keep him from their son. Efforts which resulted in the two boys running away together for a day when they were 10. Although this was the only time the two tried to run away together, Asher tried to run away several more times on his own.

Unfortunately, Rooney aged poorly. As the years drug on he became hostile and rude, if not downright aggressive. Shortly before the older boy reached adulthood the two had a falling out which left Asher emotionally desolated. He withdrew into himself and became almost unresponsive at times. This lasted for several months until his own 18th birthday when the two briefly reconciled. It was a short-lived reconciliation, however, and in less than two years Asher departed his hometown on missionary work in an attempt to escape from unpleasant memories and faces. Having no close friends and not having the best relationship with most of his family made it an easy move.

For two years, Asher served as a missionary in Mexico. It was during this time that his faith started to waver. He began to question his long-held beliefs and found himself conflicted. More than a year of his time in Mexico was spent in doubtful introspection. Eventually, when he could no longer stand to preach something he was so ambivalent about he returned to the USA. Although he returned to his home country he refused to return to his home town and instead settled in a mid-sized area. He took up work as an assistant for a local pastor but eventually felt deceitful doing even that and resigned. His next and current job was taking on the mantel of a cashier at a food market. Most of his time is spent working or brooding as he continues to remain unresolved about his faith.