"The List" event

Team name: The Gandalf, The Bird and the Fox
Team members (profiles linked on their names): Robin Harker, David Sullivan, Synova Mortifera

Which character will...

• Throw the first punch
Synova. He prefers to avoid physical altercations, but David and Robin are also fairly non-confrontational. If other shoppers are “bullying” those two, Synova may be the first to get fed up and throw the first hit.

• Steal all the bath bombs
David

• Get trampled by the crowd
David. He’d be the one to trip and fall in a crowd

• Purposely tip over someone else's cart
Synova. If Robin is fed up by the end of the shopping trip, then he will. (“He will be petty as fuck.” - Robin’s writer)

• Accidentally tip over someone else's cart
David

• Runs over a child
None of them will intentionally do it, but Robin won’t feel bad if he accidentally hits a kid with his cart if he’s pissed off

• Get into a fight with their own team member
Robin, if Synova is trying his patience

• Gets in line to sit on Santa's lap
David: “How hot is the santa?”
Robin: ‘Respectfully’ eyeing Santa if he is, indeed, hot

• Climb the shelves to get an item off the top shelf
David

• Has to help the character above get items off the top shelf
Robin

• Hijacks the intercom & makes a fake announcement
Synova

• Waits in the car
None of the above. They’re not scared of a little bit of chaos

• Be the extreme couponer at the checkout
None, they don’t need coupons

• Pay with a jar of coins
Synova. The coins were all found in multiple couches, probably yours included.

• Be the first to get fired if they worked at the store
None. David doesn’t mind working, Robin is dedicated to tasks he is assigned to (hypothetically,) and Synova would try to one-up all the other employees

• Pepper sprays someone
David. He’s not going to randomly pepper spray someone. However, if worse comes to worse, David is prepared.
If Robin is pissed off and fed up by the end of the shopping trip, his gremlin mode will activate, and he WILL start randomly pepper spraying people. Both David and Synova will be trying to wrestle it out of his hands.

• Who shoplifts?
Synova
(“Is that even a question?” - David’s writer)

• Who starts playing Marco Polo
None of the above. They don’t know who Marco Polo is, or why he’s important.

• Camps out at the store before opening time
None of them. Camping? Ew.

• Most likely to shop in an inflatable T-Rex costume
None of them

• Most likely to be the streaker
Synova. Foxes don’t need clothes (8

• Goes to the 20-item or less line with two carts full of items
David

• Steals CDs/discs/games and leaves the empty boxes on the shelf
Synova. He’d most likely just scramble the discs and put them in the wrong boxes over stealing

• Get to checkout only to realize they HAVE to run back and get one more thing
Robin

• Which character just needed groceries?
David. He’s the only one that actually needs to eat out of these three.

• Who forgets their wallet?
None. They’re all fairly diligent about not forgetting things like that.

• Which character gets lost and ends up in the backrooms?
David. (“Bitch ends up in all kinds of places.” - Robin’s writer)

• Which member has the closest Karen haircut?
Robin (But don’t tell him that.)

• Which member has the most Karen personality
None of them. That behavior is discouraged by Old-Timey standards as far as Robin and David are concerned, and while Synova may be difficult in a humorous manner on occasion, but it is more petty than aggressive or hostile.

• Who's idea was it to go shopping to begin with?
David needed food, Synova suggested they go shopping, and Robin is tagging along as the watchdog.

• Who actually finished the shopping list?
Robin, he does not like leaving tasks unfinished. David would probably not finish his list, and Synova did not need anything.

31CD - WEEK 2

|| Week 1 || Week 2 || Week 3 || Week 4 || 

Full detailed prompt list

Day 8: Family

• The Mortifera family was large in number and diversity, yet those that Synova genuinely got along with could be counted on one hand. Sibling rivalry was commonplace among Acheron's heirs, as was general competition between the family tree

• Silurian Mortifera was Synova's uncle and Emperor of the territory they resided in. Silurian was one who spent a decent amount of time training Synova in various magical practices

• Leif Mortifera was the only sibling that Synova ever bothered remembering. The little Arctic fox shifter never spoke too much, yet he stuck close to Synova wherever he went. Syn did not mind the boy's affectionate nature, and would often aggressively defend him from the elder siblings. Synova thinks of Leif somewhat frequently, and hopes his sibling is faring well.

_____

Day 9: Turning points

• When his creator ordered him to kill for the first time. The completion of a metamorphosis: from Mindless to Sentient

• When his creator passed away. The descent into Insanity

• When Acheron found him. The hand that pulled him from the sea

• When he chose to protect two particular innocents. Is redemption even possible?

• Synova did not particularly acknowledge most of those moments as truly at the time, yet in hindsight, he does indeed recognize these points as pivotal moments in his life

_____

Day 10: Food

• Synova technically does not need to eat, so cooking is a rarity

• He can cook if the occasion calls for it, but he chooses very simple meals or simply grabbing food elsewhere

• Synova can follow recipes very well, but getting him to put forth the effort to make more complex dishes is a challenge in and of itself

_____

Day 11: Partnership

• Synova is no stranger to the carnal pleasures of the flesh. He has had multiple partners and flings in his lifetime, yet has only truly loved one thus far

• Synova has grown accustomed to temporary. The life of an Immortal brings an ebb and flow of people like waves in the sea: Many lost to death, some lost to time and diverting paths. He never expects anyone to stick around anymore, and he himself has been known to disappear once interest or usefulness is lost

• The demonic she-fox he had once loved so dearly was one of those lost to unknown circumstances. Hel's sudden disappearance left Synova in a frantic state as he searched for his lover -- a search that would last for years with no trace of her fate. The loss of his long-time mate left Synova wounded and heavily guarded

• Synova is still capable of love, but earning it is a time-consuming challenge. Actions speak much louder than words, first and foremost. Become a point of familiarity, and prove through your actions that you are someone he can truly trust. Synova takes particular interest in those who do not easily yield to his antics, and are not afraid to throw antics back at him in return. As much as Synova prefers working alone, there must be a good teamwork dynamic between him and a potential long-term partner.

• Synova has no preference towards any gender, overall appearance or even species.

_____

Day 12: Technology

• Synova has next to no need for technology, so his overall technological prowess is sadly lacking.

• The most he will bother with is a phone. The phones he does use are commonly stolen, yet he has taken up a burner phone or two in the past

_____

Day 13: Happiness

• Synova found genuine happiness with his creator, his past mate, and when he grasped a new magical technique back when he was being trained

• He is an adrenaline junkie, so anything that would provide a "rush" would get him excited

_____

Day 14: Serenity

Gentle tears of frost trickled lethargically from the grey-eyed heavens, seeping past the gnarled and moon-washed branches of young trees. There were pawprints in the thin layer of snow, illuminated by the ambiance of single lamp post set next to the cobble-stone pathway.

The shadow that knitted the Fox’s figure had been temporarily abandoned, pulled together and condensed into lush tresses of physical fur as black as the interior of an ink well. Orbs now cast in a vision of gold scrutinized the hushed premises, analyzing the wooded surroundings as the creature tasted the air through hinged jowls.

The gentle breeze wrapped itself around the lone animal, whispering in his ears and caressing his paws. The cold midnight breeze toyed with his fur, as if desiring to hurry him along the path. The fox heeded not the urges from breaths of lunar ambience, however;

No, not now…

That park bench looked welcoming.

31CD - WEEK 1

Full detailed prompt list

Day 1: Seasonal

• Synova's habits, routines, activities and energy levels do not alter much with the turn of the seasons. He does personally prefer the stillness of winter over the other seasons.

• He doesn't acknowledge or partake in any holidays, simply because he has no reason to

• Syn does like to hang around places that partake in Daylight Savings time. He does appreciate the time of the year where darkness comes early, for he is a creature that becomes stronger in the dark

• Way back in the day, Synova used to submerse himself more into his "naturalistic" fox form during the mid-fall and winter seasons. He would then seek solitude in the deep woodlands and live out the colder months just as a wild fox would. He used to embrace the primal nature of what he was created to be, yet it has been many, many years since he partook in such habits

• It is uncertain exactly when or why Synova stopped vanishing for months at a time to live as a wild beast. Maybe he grew bored of it, or maybe unexpected responsibilities disallowed him to just disappear for such lengths of time. Regardless of the reason, it is highly unlikely that he will ever go back to doing that again.

_____

Day 2: Vices

• Oh, where to begin

• Synova sometimes feels the need to have the last word, and will continuously jab at an individual so long as they give a reaction

• His leadership skills very much border a "Do as I say without questioning" style. Synova is incredibly good at strategy and planning, but he doesn't feel the need to share or run his ideas past anyone before they happen

• Piggybacking off of the last one, Synova gets highly aggravated if he needs to explain himself in anyway, and has oftentimes outright refused. He has gotten a bit better about being transparent about his plans, due to a handful of strong-willed followers refusing to blindly tag along, henceforth foiling some plans he had set into motion. He still despises having to explain himself

• Syn will flirt to get a reaction, and tends to flirt back if someone makes the first move. He will often reciprocate flirtatious behavior even if he has no actual interest in the individual, and that is simply because he enjoys the attention. Don't play Chicken with him, he will not be the one to back down

• If a situation pops up that Synova does not want to deal with, the fox has been known to occasionally just flat out disappear and come back after the metaphorical dust settles

Day 3: Paradigm shift

• Synova is a highly chaotic, yet highly neutral individual. He tends to fling himself haphazardly across all levels of the "tranquil / maniac" spectrum depending on what's going on, so it is difficult to say what will make his personality do a 180 turn
• There are many ways to "ruffle his feathers," so to speak, but it is suprisingly difficult to get him truly enraged about something. Destroying something or someone he truly cares for (which are few and far between to begin with) and repeatedly foiling plans he had will most certainly make him dive for the kill

• To calm him.... Hum. Softly humming tunes, especially in the minor keys, unlocks an odd sense of tranquility within him. One will need to catch him at an already - quiet moment, however, for humming absolutely does not work as an "off switch" when he's riled up. 

Day 4: Scars

• Synova has no scars on any of his forms

• While his humanoid shell has gotten severely damaged multiple times, his skin is entirely unflawed. Synova is able to "dissolve" his body back into shadow when he shifts into his vulpine forms, which repairs any damages over time. The more damage done to his humanoid body, the longer he has to wait until it is usable again. Think of it as putting his humanoid body into a pokéball when it's not in use

•  Fun fact: If a humanoid shell falls victim to irreparable physical damage, he will abandon it and steal another shell. He has had to do that only one time with the original shell, which he then replaced with the one he has now. Synova has had this current humanoid shell for roughly five-hundred years

Day 5: Parents

• Synova was created through means of Paracosm. He happily served as the friend and pet of his creator, then ultimately evolved into her caretaker due to the present circumstances of the time. Synova was utterly doted upon and spoiled by his creator, and it turn, never left her side. She has long since passed on, and he keeps her name and their history hidden away

• Syn was later "adopted" by Acheron Mortifera, a dragon shifter and brother to the Emperor of a large territory called The Abyss. Synova was a force to be reckoned with when they met, but Acheron gained his respect by quite literally beating sense into him over and over again during Synova's time of uncontrolled mania. Acheron and Synova got along tremendously well once the dust settled, and each knew how to push the other one's buttons to a T.

  - Synova was, and absolutely still is the favorite childe of Acheron

Day 6: Erasure

• The short answer is "No."

• Synova does not regret much in his life. There are a few points where a do-over would be accepted if given the chance, but there is no point in his life that he would like to erase entirely 

Day 7: Sleep

• Synova does not need sleep, but he has his own version of it. His conciousness seems to drift between this world and somewhere else in the very rare occasions he allows it to

• His humanoid shell does require all of the necessities that a normal human needs. If he remains as a humanoid instead of shifting, Synova will sleep

• Synova is a very light sleeper in his humanoid form. It takes him a while to actually get to sleep, and it doesn't take much to stir him awake. 

• He does get incredibly cranky if he is awoken when he is actually asleep 

Memories taken from a very old roleplay thread. Slightly edited to keep a consistent writing format.

- - - - -

R e s t l e s s n e s s

     Such a quiet evening… like a fairy tale setting brimming with underlying serenity. Gentle, lethargic tears of frost trickled from the grey-eyed heavens, seeping past gnarled, moon-washed branches and enveloping the ground in a thin layer of white.

     The gentle breeze wrapped itself around the lone animal, whispering in Synova’s ears and caressing his paws… toying with his tangible fur as if desiring to hurry him along his way. The fox heeded the urges those breaths of lunar ambience gave, however, he took a moment to pause -  for the winds whispered memories of an evening quite like this.

Much blood had been spilled – innocent blood, if he remembered correctly; mere campers who had fallen victim to a cruel force.

Yes, he remembered it quite well…The memories of a b e a s t with fur as white as the surrounding snow

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Synova had always been fond of testing the fates…

      “Oh, White Fox; Once as noble and pure as the breaths of lunar beams. Yet are you not unlike the golden moths that flutter about the night? You have dipped your teeth in how many sins?”

     Red eyes shot up from the mangled heap of red at his paws, and those rage-filled hues met the beast of fur black as ink. The large, white fox snickered through a blood-welled mouth; a wretched noise it was.

     “Pure is weak, and the world is cruel –“ Tomodine’s voice hissed past bared teeth. A trickle of blood from a wound on his cheek trickled down and pooled in his mouth as the white beast spoke. “I seek out those who cloak themselves in the name of righteousness and rip off their delicate little wings.  I may look pure, Synova, but I have sinned many a time.” Tomodine then grinned at the fox, a grin that outweighed the larger beast’s grin in utter mania.

     A quiet cackle from Synova was all that voiced protest to the other male’s words. A chilling noise it was; rattling with contempt and amusement hand in hand, colligated with blood within a piano of bone. “So consumed with hate for a creature so white; Surely it must take forever to clean your pelt~”

     Fluidity took hold of the predator’s movements as he advanced; Prowling, unafraid… unintimidated by this other Fox of demonic origin. Rather, a Glasgow grin curled the maw of the black animal, gracing the shade’s features with an air of utter amusement. Testing… he was testing his old acquaintance.

     “What happened to you, my friend? Were you that traumatized when daddy tore off your silken wings? Did his malice finally fester into that brain of yours and bring forth its decay? You are nearly as bad as Rosco now.”

     Tomodine would not let the other male’s words get to him. “Rosco, Pah! I could gut that blinded worm before he could twitch an ear.” The demon’s grin twitched into more of a snarl. “And you knew my sire, you know of the demons we are. I do not know when I began embracing my lineage, All I know I am an outcast. I am hated where ever I go. But that is the fun of it….”

     Tomodine’s ears flattened as he turned to truly face Synova. His jaws remained held agape as he spoke, prowling closer with every step. “I kill, so they fear me. So they fear us. I don’t ever want to clean my pelt. So, shadow, I won’t let your words get to me.” The White-furred Demon cackled. “I wonder how you can kill a shadow. I know you can’t cut it, but I have other ideas.”

     “Now that’s just anti-hygienic.” Words were formulated in the most casual of manners and chirped daintily through that grin. Never washing his fur? What of the maggots that would surely lay their spawn on the dried blood? 

     A distinct aura radiated from the beast’s anatomy as the other fox took on the predatory stance; Hostile… fervid… and yet that Godforsaken grin had yet to falter. On the contrary, it seemed to spread father even on Synova’s ashen maw.

{ Mocking, the Shadow was mocking him. One false move, and things might just get nasty~ }

     “Oh, you silly creature~ You assume your triumph far too soon.” Upper lip curled upwards as the fox parted his mandibles, brandishing the set of dagger-edged incisors in something a bit more… unfriendly than formerly eerie grin. But it was still testing… always testing;

“I wouldn’t recommend trying.”

     Tomodine glared at him strongly. His grin was getting bigger, almost unnaturally splitting his face into rows of pointed teeth. His heart started to pound hard as his breaths picked up in eager rasps. His blood was racing and his body was telling him to fight. But Tomodine knew better; he continued to study his enemy. The fox snarled at him. “I don’t think I can win. I know I can win.”

     Tomodine then started to circle him very slowly. Watching the black fox’s every move. “I’ve been watching you, Synova. I know where your weakness lies. I know what you fear.” So before I destroy that façade you call an existence, tell me, why call me a Moth?”

     Sanity and reason, insanity and voids. An unearthly screech of laughter resonated from the guttural depths of Synova’s throat. Yes… open laughter was the only reply to Tomodine’s threatening advances. “I call you a moth simply because you flutter straight to what you might find appealing, confident in your own strengths and pride. However, that leaves you blind to the dangers that accompany your attractions, and the fact that there are just so many others who are so much stronger than you~”

     Abandoning rationality, Synova stooped to the other Fox’s level, proceeding to prowl opposite of him and completing the circumference. Humor and amusement swiftly took up a much more hostile turn; Ears became pressed against the black animal’s skull as the villous mane and hackles alike rose and bristled… – Just as the mocking chuckle faded into an out-right guttural growl. The rare display of raw aggression seemed to ripple the very air as it resonated from the beast’s chest, accompanied by parted jaws and the deadly gleam of well-brandished fangs.

It was no hidden fact of life: this shadow-strewn beast, now cloaked in tangible fur, was dangerous.

Yet then again, so was the demon before him.

“Tomodine, be not a fool and heed my words; This is, and forever shall be your most cardinal error.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You were such a rascal when you were a pup, Tomodine. For shame it had to end that way.

     Gold spilled past black as Synova’s eyes cracked upen, ceasing the memory as a gust of wind tickled his ears. A quiet and vaguely curious hum was brought forth, and the fox rose to his paws and padded down the impervious path.

Synova had ultimately stripped the hide straight from Tomodine’s body, and watched as the bloodied demon writhed until his body froze.

He felt no remorse in hanging the pelt up as a warning for the next passing demon to find. 

War, famine, Religion and massacre.

     The 30 Years War was still ravishing the early European countries, shredding lives and destroying the world as many knew it.

     The heart of the German states was home to a girl named { Anneliese. } In the shadows of her quiet abode she dwelled, in the company of no one save her servants. Her parents were seldom home, for they were occupied fighting for the Protestant army of the German States within the Alliance, and the nurses hardly kept up their duties of caring for the child.

     Nearly her entire life, Anneliese remained in { solitude }. Even though she could not yet read, the little girl took refuge in stories of fantasy and ancient myths that she had grown up with. She replayed the stories in her head, and even altered them to create her own fantasies. At the tender age of three-and-three-quarters, Anneliese’s lonely mind inevitably morphed creatures — “friends” — out of the shadow that always clung to her walls.

     A { Fox } did this young, attention-deprived imagination create - der Fuchs - a cunning creature who served both as entertainment, her guardian, and a method to inflict {misfortune } and { unease} onto the servants whom had neglected her. This Fox was her favorite out of all her creations, and she quickly named him { “Synova” }. The two were as inseparable as the brain is to the inner mechanisms of the mind, and one by one all of her other imaginative creatures were cast aside and forgotten until only S Y N O V A remained.. As the years went by and the affection and utter obsession for her companion grew, the Shadow Fox became more { his own being } rather than a fragment of imagination. 

     However, there came a time in the year of 1631 where Anneliese – Now nine years of age – got news that her parents had { perished } from their injuries during the Sack of Magdeburg. Tired of the dispute between the servants as to whether or not they should assume responsibility of the household and of her, Anneliese ordered Synova to { destroy } them, and destroy he did.

     Synova then went out and { possessed } the mind of a young man, { leeching } off his consciousness until that solid shell became his own. Using the stolen skin for public view, Synova assumed the role of {guardian } for his mistress. However, it wasn’t long before the wings of misfortune fanned her foul breeze over them;

Mortality itself is mankind’s biggest { d o w n f a l l }

     Anneliese caught a { disease } during her late-teen years, which was derived from one of the many sicknesses the famines brought as they raged throughout the war-stricken countries. Synova did all that he could, but he was no healer. Anneliese knew that Synova had become his own creature, and so she decided to order Synova to {remain behind } rather than { die } with her. She did it with the best intentions, yet Synova was subjected to a cruel, cruel fate. 

     Cruelly deprived of his { mistress}, his { creator } and very reason for existence, the fox has wandered throughout the centuries, observing wars come and pass, hiding among the humans, bringing misfortune and wreaking havoc onto those deemed worthy of his antics.

     Even then, Synova was miserable. He was RESTLESS. 

He soon began to k i l l. 

     He killed without reason, he slaughtered without mercy. Not only did humans fall victim to his torturous methods, but animals as well: Dogs, cats, livestock... nothing was safe. He broke anything with a spine, he gouged out many eyes and devoured anything that breathed. 

Synova's rage lasted for countless years in countless regions of the world. Yet one can never spill too much blood without attracting V U L T U R E S

_____________

     The Fox came across many dark-dwelling creatures in his time. Demons, Vampires, Werewolves, Phantoms, and the list continues. Many tried to challenge him, many tried to recruit him into their own clans or groups. They all parted ways with either torn throats or a very large headache.

     Yet there was one fatefull night he stumbled upon a strange man in the midst of his own blood-bathed hunt. The man's magic was strong, and his abilities exceeded anything Synova had ever seen. The man was a powerful sorcerer and Dragon-shifter, and his name was ACHERON MORTIFERA. 

The Dragon-Shifter's elder brother, Silurian Mortifera, was the Emperor of the Kingdom of Abyss, and Acheron himself had a very high rank in Abyss' High Council.

     Despite Synova's complaints, Acheron took Synova to the Abyss, and the Fox was ADOPTED into royalty. He learned that Acheron had a great many creatures he had previously adopted, including two Fox-shifters; a red vixen named Ember, and a young, white Irish fox named Leif. Aside from those two and a vampire named Max, Synova did not bother to aquatint himself with any of his other would-be "siblings."

     Surprisingly, Synova later became mated to a psychotic female named HELSING. 

However, ‘love’ is not the word one would use. Despite how they may act around each other in public settings, their relationship is quite parasitic on both sides. Neither foxes say a word of it, but neither of them mind it one bit. 

     Synova gained much favor among the members of the Council and members of other High Ranks, which gave him the title of "The Mortifera's Shadow." He even worked his way to become Acheron's favorite son. This festered much envy, anger and rivalry between himself, some of his other siblings, and creatures that held lesser ranks in the councils. He did not care, however; with every spat, every confrontation, and every scheme, Synova grew quicker. He grew smarter, he grew more crafty and industrious. And not to mention... he grew increasingly stronger. 

     After being trained by several willing members, Synova became a master of many trades within the Abyss. He became an elite Weaponsmaster and assassin, he proved extraordinarily talented with bargaining, gambling, and mediating. He learned much about potions, amulets, charms, healing and other forms of magic, yet he does not particularly favor those skills. It came to a point where he was offered a place in the High Council, Yet it was an offer that Synova refused.

He did not want to deal with the tasks of co-running a kingdom and solving other people's problems. 

      Even though Synova prides himself with carrying the title of { Mortifera }, he still remains a wanderer. Even to this day, the fox travels roads both untouched and worn; acquainting himself with immortals and mortals alike, yet never staying in the same place for very long unless he has some sort of task to complete. 

He’s always lingering, yet never really there.

Like a { s h a d o w }