(no subject)
Part One- Personal
Name: Priscilla
Character's Name: (who you are applying for) Ariadne Dahl i.e. an OC
Email: perfundity@gmail.com
AIM: N/A
Other Instant Messenger Programs: perfundity (Gtalk, Yahoo!, and MSN)
AGE:(Must be 18+) 19
Past Rpg Experience: HOL, HPU, and the Realm
Where did you hear about our RPG? Livejournal
The following situations may or may not arise over the course of the game. You, as a player, are never required to participate in anything you do not wish, but the situations might arise around you. This is an adult game set in a fantasy world where there are definite bad-guys out there.
Having said that, please tell us you you feel about:
Het, slash and femmeslash: I have never written any sort of slash, and I feel more comfortable playing heterosexual characters. However, I am ambivalent about story lines with homosexuality. In other words, keep the slash going as long as it’s not trash.
NC-17 material: I am an inexpert writer when it comes to NC-17 material, but I’m a quick learner. Adult situations are interesting for characters to be in if they are necessary for plot and/or character development.
Violence: I would prefer to keep violence levels low.
Part Two- Character Info
Character Name: Ariadne Therese Lee Dahl
Age:23 years old
Birthday: 05 January 1978
Wand: an 11 inch magnolia wood with a Chinese Fireball whisker core, which spurts green and gold sparks
House in School: Ravenclaw
Bloodline: Pureblood
Political View: Pro-Ministry of Magic, Ms Dahl thinks that enacting beneficial change is only possible by working within the system rather than outside of it. She agrees with the use of authoritarian policy in the transition period after the second wizarding war. For her, the good of the state is more important than the interests of a single party, whether in the minority or not.
Appearance
Height: 5 foot 5 inches
Weight: 125 pounds on average
Build: Medium build with noticeable curves
Eyes: Large gray eyes with naturally-curled eyelashes
Hair: Dark brown hair cut in a Vidal Sassoon-bob i.e. chin-length with a heavy fringe
Dress style: Ms Dahl chooses to dress conservatively in basic monochrome colours at work. However, she finds herself partial to 1960’s modern fashion, which she accentuates with her own homemade accessories.
Discerning Marks: Ms Dahl has a small mole at the corner of her right eye. Her mother often berates her bad posture and skinny ankles. Her hair is always neatly brushed, and she never forgets to paint her fingernails a deep pink.
PB: Anna Karina
Sexuality: Ms Dahl is straight, a hard zero on the Kinsey scale. Her parents raised her in a Roman Catholic home. Though she has become a more liberal Catholic in that she favours Mass in the vernacular, gay civil marriage, etc. Ms Dahl feels no urge to participate in same-sex relationships. She has never had a serious relationship, choosing to put more importance on furthering her career in the Ministry.
Psychology
Introvert/Extrovert: Ms Dahl is an introvert, and often finds making new personal acquaintances difficult. She is reserved and self-reliant, but she still enjoys conversations and get-togethers with her close friends. However, she believes that having strong social contacts is essential for her political career so Ms Dahl practices public speaking as often as she can.
Boggart is? Explain. PLEASE NOTE: A Boggart assumes the shape of a *creature* or physical object. This is not the same as a Dementor Effect - it cannot be something vague like 'loneliness' or 'sadness' or 'darkness'. It must have shape and form. Ms Dahl was bitten by a garden snake when she was seven years old so it is no surprise that her boggart assumes the shape of a pile of writhing serpents.
Patronus--can they produce one? What is it and why does it have that form? Again, please note, as per canon - a Patronus is a *creature* of some kind. We have been very flexibe as to allow fictional creatures to be Patronuses, but it cannot be an inanimate object. A Beater's Bat cannot be a Patronus. Never finding a need to know anti-Dark Arts spells, Ms Dahl cannot produce a Patronus. She’s never bothered to learn.
Personality
Ariadne Dahl is a patient and pragmatic individual who was encouraged at a young age to use her intelligence and observation skills as much as possible. She keeps collected under extreme amounts of stress, yet she is not afraid to show her scorn for people less clever or efficient as she is by dropping a scathing word or two. Ms Dahl puts a premium on competence and quality work ethic. Her desire to be efficient makes her seem restrained and even heartless to other people.
Ariadne has always followed the rules and believes that the law is the foundation for a successful society. She also feels that individual freedom can be sacrificed for the benefit for the entire community. Given her strong sense of right, she often finds herself at odds with her colleagues at the Ministry of Magic. During these confrontations Ms Dahl argues logically and calmy, never finding a need to raise her voice.
Yet at home with her family, Ariadne Dahl is more relaxed and finds great enjoyment in playing with her brother, sisters, and little cousins. With the youth she can be as wild and as childish as she wants to be. Ariadne has a talent for growing plants and cooking delicious treats from her homegrown ingredients. The only time she has ever lost her temper was when the Appleby Arrows lost 4-0 to the Wimbourne Wasps.
Family
Parents? Thomas Young Dahl and Sylvia Benton Lee met at a fund-raising gala before the first wizarding war. Thomas Dahl owned an apothecary in Oslo and was looking to branch out in the United Kingdom. So it was singularly fortuitous that he met Sylvia Lee who was a daughter of a Singaporean trader and an English herbologist. They married within four months, choosing to reside in Soho within easy distance from Westminster Cathedral.
Mr Dahl ran an apothecary in Chinatown as well as his original pharmacy in Norway, but during the war he was arrested as an accessory to Death Eater activities. The Ministry of Magic accused him of supplying several Death Eaters with spell ingredients. Mr Dahl did not deny that he provided large quantities of herbs and spices, but claimed he was under the impression that they were being used for educational and medicinal purposes. He was sentenced to a year in Azkaban, but was released after a few weeks thanks to the efforts of his family. Mr Dahl has since left daily management of his stores to his eldest son Sebastian. He now resides in Sheffield with his wife and two youngest children. It is from Thomas Dahl that Ms Dahl inherited meticulous and organised habits.
Mrs Dahl continues her mother’s studies on plant-based poisons while managing the Benton Lee Charity for Socially Awkward Botanists. She enjoys Wagner operas and cooking fried Chinese doughnuts for her family. Though Mrs Dahl can trace her wizarding blood back two centuries, she teaches her children to accept other people no matter their family history because she was once a victim of racial snobbery. She likes to sing and gamely passed this talent on to her children.
Siblings? Ms Dahl is second in a line of eight children. Her brother Sebastian (25) managed the family business ever since the war ended, but wishes he had more time to play Quidditch. Lately he has been stressed about financial troubles and is considering selling the apothecary in Oslo. He was sorted into Ravenclaw and is married to a Squib named Emily Wood. Ms Dahl is closest to her sister Constance (22) who works at Florean Fortescue’s ice cream shop. They share a common love in Muggle horror films and pumpkin-based foods. Constance was never particularly good at magic so she dropped out of Hogwarts despite the protests of the Hufflepuff head of house.
Ms Dahl has twin siblings, Eleanor (17) and Nathaniel (17), who both study in Hogwarts. The former is a Hufflepuff prefect while the latter is a Beater for the Slytherin Quidditch team. Both of them enjoy the musical arts and plan to open a summer school for musically inclined wizards and witches once they graduate from Hogwarts. Ms Dahl is unaware that Nathaniel is researching a method to disable integral components of the Registry.
There is no end to the racket that Ms Dahl’s remaining family members make. Charis Dahl (12) hopes to be sorted into Gryffindor in her fifth year, so she has begun a rigorous training programme that necessitates an early morning three-mile run and Death Eater battle practice. During the holidays Death Eaters in this programme are eagerly played by her younger siblings Porto (9) and Rupert (8) who have yet to display any signs of magical ability.
Family dynamics--do they get along? Opposite sides of the war? Accept their child's magical talent? Pressure for 'pure blood' marriage? The Dahls never had problems that threatened the family dynamic until the beginning of the second wizarding war. Previously both parents supported their children without question. However, relationship between Mr and Mrs Dahl and Constance has been strained following the latter’s flight from Hogwarts. Ms Ariadne Dahl thus acts as a mediator between her parents and sister. Yet she has lately come under some disapproval from her father following her decision to continue working for the Ministry of Magic. He feels that she should not be working for the institution that sentenced him to jail. On the other hand, Mrs Dahl has been urging her daughter to settle down and ‘make a home for yourself with a sweet Hufflepuff boy’.
Lifestyle
Occupation: Ms Dahl works as an aide for the International Magical Trading Standards Body at the Department of International Magical Cooperation and occasionally does accounting for Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Residence: Ms Dahl shares a small attic with her sister Constance in Belgravia.
Financial Status: Ms Dahl is financially independent from her parents though they often send monetary gifts by owl. Her grandfather left her ten thousand Galleons upon his death in 1998, but she has barely touched the lump sum. She earns approximately 200 Galleons a month.
History from student days at Hogwarts to the present time: include any affiliations since Hogwarts, jobs, family life, significant events in the character's recent history, how was this character affected by the war, how does your character feel about the present political climate?
Ariadne Dahl was Head Girl when she studied at Hogwarts, excelling in Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Charms, and History of Magic. She was not particularly fantastic in the practical magics like Transfiguration and Defense Against Dark Arts. She was chosen as a delegate to Wizarding World Schools Leadership Conference in Geneva in her sixth year. There she met Viktor Krum who became a close friend, as both enjoy chess games and silent walks along the hillsides of Switzerland. Despite her more academic pursuits Ariadne is a fanatical supporter of her house Quidditch team and the Appleby Arrows.
During the war she worked as a record keeper at the Ministry, tasked to preserve official documents in warehouses underneath the British Museum. There she began to feel an inclination for politics. Former schoolmate Penelope Clearwater and the hundreds of political economy books Ariadne read while hiding from Death Eater mobs encouraged her to pursue her dream. She took an apprenticeship at Gringotts for a few months in order to improve her financial magic as well as to gain contacts among the more affluent members of wizarding society.
Ariadne does not have feelings as strong as her peers about the second wizarding war. Her family had temporarily moved to Singapore once Voldemort’s return was undeniable. Her parents and younger siblings were safe in the maternal ancestral home, though Sebastian and Constance did volunteer to serve in the army in the final months of the war. Ariadne’s job as record keeper kept her away from the fighting most of the time. Even when she and her colleagues had to take precious records across enemy lines, she always felt safe under the guard of a set of Aurors. Though Ariadne was exhilarated by Voldemort’s defeat, she immediately felt that order must be restored to society or all the fighting would be for naught.
Despite clamours for the resignation of Rudiger Shingleton, Ariadne Dahl feels that he is temporarily the best person for the job. Any sort of political infighting would only serve to severely undermine the security of the wizarding state. Only after the wizarding world is stable can a new Minister of Magic be elected. Ariadne believes people must follow government policies and failure to do so deserves equal punishment. She is a supporter of the Registry, and she cannot understand how people are reacting so negatively to something that will help keep wizards and witches safe all over the United Kingdom.
Currently Ariadne Dahl works as a finance wizard for Percy Weasley at the Ministry of Magic, Department of International Magical Cooperation. She and Percy Weasley disagree over the Registry programme, but otherwise share a tolerant and professional relationship. Occasionally she joins him, Penelope Clearwater, and Lisa Turpin for drinks down at Diagon Alley. In her spare time she likes to drop by the Ministry to help Kingsley Shacklebolt with his accounting.
How does he/she feel about the more infamous events and people in the world around him/her?
Harry Potter and his victory over Voldemort? Ms Dahl ecstatically celebrated You-Know-Who’s downfall with the rest of the wizarding world. Her respect for Harry Potter increased upon learning that he wanted nothing to do with the Ministry. She believes that even defeating Dark Lords does not automatically qualify you for a high government position.
Dumbledore and his murder by Severus Snape? Initially, Ms Dahl desired the immediate capture of Severus Snape. She felt that the man deserved nothing less than life imprisonment in Azkaban for the murder of a beloved headmaster. However, once it became painfully obvious that the act was done to protect a young Draco Malfoy and to followthrough with Dumbledore’s plans, Ms Dahl supported Snape’s return to society.
Lucius Malfoy's pardon and book publication? Ms Dahl feels that Lucius Malfoy is eyeing a major seat in the Wizengamot and keeps close tabs on the former Death Eater. The publication of his book supports this assumption, and as laughable as Ariadne Dahl thinks it is, she will not underestimate his public draw. The incompetent Fudge had been elected Minister of Magic once after all.
Snape's pardon and appointment back to his old job at Hogwarts? Ms Dahl is ambivalent about Snape’s current activities. However, she is certain that students at Hogwarts should feel no worry about their Potions professor thanks to the Registry program.
The Registry? Ms Dahl thinks that the Registry is a clever idea as long as there are proper checks-and-balances i.e. an independent body should be monitoring Ministry-led operations concerning former enemies of state. Arguments for privacy and freedom are held negligible given that the Registry was created for the sake of public safety. She does not understand what all the fuss is about, especially since only Death Eaters are monitored and even then no private information can be disseminated or privately catalogued.
Werewolf Remus Lupin's job at Hogwarts? Once again, the Registry collar should stop Lupin from harming anyone should he ever decide to do so. Ms Dahl believes that if a werewolf is the best ‘person’ for the job then by all means he should be given the position.
Bellatrix' capture, insanity defence, followed by her "cure" and release from St. Mungo's? Ms Dahl believes that the release of Bellatrix Lestrange into public society was an unforgivable blunder. St Mungo’s is the best place for Lestrange, guilty or not, for the hospital is most capable to protect Bellatrix from others and herself. Ms Dahl thinks that Lestrange should have been kept under observation despite the cure for at least a decade.
What plots would you like to pursue with this character? What short and long-term goals does the character have for his/her future? I see Ariadne Dahl as an ambitious person who wants to climb the political ladder in order to avenge the suffering of her father in the hands of an inefficient government and help create a new administration based on more modern, meritocratic ideals. I want to see how far the character is willing to go to achieve her goals. I’d love to get her into situations where she has to choose between two values such as family vs work, pride vs pragmatism, freedom vs safety, and eventually success vs love. I intend for Ariadne Dahl to be a major player in the political game. Whether on the side of good (HP) or bad (LM) remains to be seen.
Once you start playing the game and get a feel for your fellow players and characters, assuming the interaction is favourable, how long could you anticipate staying with this character and this game? What is your usual pattern of longevity in role-playing games? I usually play an RPG regularly for several months to a year, but I go offline whenever major exams are close. If ever I find myself swamped with schoolwork I will reduce the number of posts I make, but I make it a habit to post at least once a week. I anticipate sticking to this character for as long as possible, though realistically, I would participate in this RPG for a year to a year and a half before taking a break. I like the quality of writing and the challenge of the current story line.
What is your usual pattern of availabilty and play-time for a character and game which you enjoy? If I like the plot and characters I post often which entails five to seven entries a week. I am available in the morning and mid-afternoon GMT+7 during schooldays and at all hours during summer.
Now that we've got a sense of your characterization, this is where you get to really showcase your writing style! Give us everything you've got! Remember--this sample must be a 'fresh' sample relevant to our game and the current setting.
Sample Journal Entry:
[Private to Sebastian Dahl]
Seb,
I can’t understand why you’re putting off letting Dad know about the problems at the apothecary. I know you don’t want to disappoint him, but I’m certain he will be able to help you find some sort of plan to get that dear old place out of debt! At the very least, Dad will feel much better if this awful news came from you. He always wanted his children to trust him. Look, if you are too nervous about telling him yourself, Constance and I can come over and back you up.
You asked in your last letter about work, but nothing much has happened since Luna Lovegood published that scathing commentary on the Registry, which had Shingleton in an uproar. Bulstrode down at the Department of Mysteries told me that Shingleton demanded an immediate investigation of the Lovegood estate on grounds of national security. The man was promptly denied by the head of Unspeakables, which was only right. The Ministry doesn’t need anymore negative publicity! Sometimes I think Moody or even Shacklebolt would do a better job only to remember that it’s political plays that distracts the Ministry from more pressing issues such as rebuilding Hogwarts or finding a new dragon to guard Gringotts.
Oh, bugger. The boss just owled for the file on the new trade regulations for singing saucepans. I’ve got to go, but do write back quickly if you need me to accompany you to see Dad. Give my love to Emily.
Your loving sister,
Ariadne
[/Private to Sebastian Dahl]
Sample Third Person Writing:
Ariadne Dahl ducked as an internal memo came whizzing down the hallway. Rotten paper planes, she thought, I’ve got to get someone to set their flight levels several feet higher! Brushing an unruly strand of dark hair behind her ear, Ariadne quickened her pace as she turned a corner. Her shining patent shoes went clickety-clack against the burnished black marble that lined the floors of the Ministry of Magic.
‘Oy! You with the noisy feet!’ cried a voice directly behind Ariadne. She swivelled sharply on her heels and found herself face to face with a gangly and rather smug boy barely out of Hogwarts. Ariadne swept her eyes up and down his body, taking note of his muddy Muggle sneakers and the smattering of freckles across his beaked nose. ‘Yes?’ she replied, an immaculately groomed eyebrow raised ever so slightly.
The boy hesitated, and then took a breath. ‘You Ariadne Dahl, yeah?’ Ariadne nodded, then asked if there was anything he needed from her. ‘Er, yeah.’ He said, ‘Know some bloke called Nat? He’s got curly hair, yeah, a kinda brownish colour like mud, yeah, except a little lighter, I guess-’
‘Of course, he’s my brother,’ Ariadne retorted. ‘Well, what about Nat? Spit it out, boy.’ She watched the kid fidget in front of her, all the while wondering what sort of mess Nat got himself into this time.
‘Well,’ said the boy, drawing out the word as long as he could. ‘Your bro’s got locked up down at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and he’s wondering if you could get ‘em coppers to let him go, yeah?’
Ariadne sighed. Those singing saucepans were going to have to wait.
Name: Priscilla
Character's Name: (who you are applying for) Ariadne Dahl i.e. an OC
Email: perfundity@gmail.com
AIM: N/A
Other Instant Messenger Programs: perfundity (Gtalk, Yahoo!, and MSN)
AGE:(Must be 18+) 19
Past Rpg Experience: HOL, HPU, and the Realm
Where did you hear about our RPG? Livejournal
The following situations may or may not arise over the course of the game. You, as a player, are never required to participate in anything you do not wish, but the situations might arise around you. This is an adult game set in a fantasy world where there are definite bad-guys out there.
Having said that, please tell us you you feel about:
Het, slash and femmeslash: I have never written any sort of slash, and I feel more comfortable playing heterosexual characters. However, I am ambivalent about story lines with homosexuality. In other words, keep the slash going as long as it’s not trash.
NC-17 material: I am an inexpert writer when it comes to NC-17 material, but I’m a quick learner. Adult situations are interesting for characters to be in if they are necessary for plot and/or character development.
Violence: I would prefer to keep violence levels low.
Part Two- Character Info
Character Name: Ariadne Therese Lee Dahl
Age:23 years old
Birthday: 05 January 1978
Wand: an 11 inch magnolia wood with a Chinese Fireball whisker core, which spurts green and gold sparks
House in School: Ravenclaw
Bloodline: Pureblood
Political View: Pro-Ministry of Magic, Ms Dahl thinks that enacting beneficial change is only possible by working within the system rather than outside of it. She agrees with the use of authoritarian policy in the transition period after the second wizarding war. For her, the good of the state is more important than the interests of a single party, whether in the minority or not.
Appearance
Height: 5 foot 5 inches
Weight: 125 pounds on average
Build: Medium build with noticeable curves
Eyes: Large gray eyes with naturally-curled eyelashes
Hair: Dark brown hair cut in a Vidal Sassoon-bob i.e. chin-length with a heavy fringe
Dress style: Ms Dahl chooses to dress conservatively in basic monochrome colours at work. However, she finds herself partial to 1960’s modern fashion, which she accentuates with her own homemade accessories.
Discerning Marks: Ms Dahl has a small mole at the corner of her right eye. Her mother often berates her bad posture and skinny ankles. Her hair is always neatly brushed, and she never forgets to paint her fingernails a deep pink.
PB: Anna Karina
Sexuality: Ms Dahl is straight, a hard zero on the Kinsey scale. Her parents raised her in a Roman Catholic home. Though she has become a more liberal Catholic in that she favours Mass in the vernacular, gay civil marriage, etc. Ms Dahl feels no urge to participate in same-sex relationships. She has never had a serious relationship, choosing to put more importance on furthering her career in the Ministry.
Psychology
Introvert/Extrovert: Ms Dahl is an introvert, and often finds making new personal acquaintances difficult. She is reserved and self-reliant, but she still enjoys conversations and get-togethers with her close friends. However, she believes that having strong social contacts is essential for her political career so Ms Dahl practices public speaking as often as she can.
Boggart is? Explain. PLEASE NOTE: A Boggart assumes the shape of a *creature* or physical object. This is not the same as a Dementor Effect - it cannot be something vague like 'loneliness' or 'sadness' or 'darkness'. It must have shape and form. Ms Dahl was bitten by a garden snake when she was seven years old so it is no surprise that her boggart assumes the shape of a pile of writhing serpents.
Patronus--can they produce one? What is it and why does it have that form? Again, please note, as per canon - a Patronus is a *creature* of some kind. We have been very flexibe as to allow fictional creatures to be Patronuses, but it cannot be an inanimate object. A Beater's Bat cannot be a Patronus. Never finding a need to know anti-Dark Arts spells, Ms Dahl cannot produce a Patronus. She’s never bothered to learn.
Personality
Ariadne Dahl is a patient and pragmatic individual who was encouraged at a young age to use her intelligence and observation skills as much as possible. She keeps collected under extreme amounts of stress, yet she is not afraid to show her scorn for people less clever or efficient as she is by dropping a scathing word or two. Ms Dahl puts a premium on competence and quality work ethic. Her desire to be efficient makes her seem restrained and even heartless to other people.
Ariadne has always followed the rules and believes that the law is the foundation for a successful society. She also feels that individual freedom can be sacrificed for the benefit for the entire community. Given her strong sense of right, she often finds herself at odds with her colleagues at the Ministry of Magic. During these confrontations Ms Dahl argues logically and calmy, never finding a need to raise her voice.
Yet at home with her family, Ariadne Dahl is more relaxed and finds great enjoyment in playing with her brother, sisters, and little cousins. With the youth she can be as wild and as childish as she wants to be. Ariadne has a talent for growing plants and cooking delicious treats from her homegrown ingredients. The only time she has ever lost her temper was when the Appleby Arrows lost 4-0 to the Wimbourne Wasps.
Family
Parents? Thomas Young Dahl and Sylvia Benton Lee met at a fund-raising gala before the first wizarding war. Thomas Dahl owned an apothecary in Oslo and was looking to branch out in the United Kingdom. So it was singularly fortuitous that he met Sylvia Lee who was a daughter of a Singaporean trader and an English herbologist. They married within four months, choosing to reside in Soho within easy distance from Westminster Cathedral.
Mr Dahl ran an apothecary in Chinatown as well as his original pharmacy in Norway, but during the war he was arrested as an accessory to Death Eater activities. The Ministry of Magic accused him of supplying several Death Eaters with spell ingredients. Mr Dahl did not deny that he provided large quantities of herbs and spices, but claimed he was under the impression that they were being used for educational and medicinal purposes. He was sentenced to a year in Azkaban, but was released after a few weeks thanks to the efforts of his family. Mr Dahl has since left daily management of his stores to his eldest son Sebastian. He now resides in Sheffield with his wife and two youngest children. It is from Thomas Dahl that Ms Dahl inherited meticulous and organised habits.
Mrs Dahl continues her mother’s studies on plant-based poisons while managing the Benton Lee Charity for Socially Awkward Botanists. She enjoys Wagner operas and cooking fried Chinese doughnuts for her family. Though Mrs Dahl can trace her wizarding blood back two centuries, she teaches her children to accept other people no matter their family history because she was once a victim of racial snobbery. She likes to sing and gamely passed this talent on to her children.
Siblings? Ms Dahl is second in a line of eight children. Her brother Sebastian (25) managed the family business ever since the war ended, but wishes he had more time to play Quidditch. Lately he has been stressed about financial troubles and is considering selling the apothecary in Oslo. He was sorted into Ravenclaw and is married to a Squib named Emily Wood. Ms Dahl is closest to her sister Constance (22) who works at Florean Fortescue’s ice cream shop. They share a common love in Muggle horror films and pumpkin-based foods. Constance was never particularly good at magic so she dropped out of Hogwarts despite the protests of the Hufflepuff head of house.
Ms Dahl has twin siblings, Eleanor (17) and Nathaniel (17), who both study in Hogwarts. The former is a Hufflepuff prefect while the latter is a Beater for the Slytherin Quidditch team. Both of them enjoy the musical arts and plan to open a summer school for musically inclined wizards and witches once they graduate from Hogwarts. Ms Dahl is unaware that Nathaniel is researching a method to disable integral components of the Registry.
There is no end to the racket that Ms Dahl’s remaining family members make. Charis Dahl (12) hopes to be sorted into Gryffindor in her fifth year, so she has begun a rigorous training programme that necessitates an early morning three-mile run and Death Eater battle practice. During the holidays Death Eaters in this programme are eagerly played by her younger siblings Porto (9) and Rupert (8) who have yet to display any signs of magical ability.
Family dynamics--do they get along? Opposite sides of the war? Accept their child's magical talent? Pressure for 'pure blood' marriage? The Dahls never had problems that threatened the family dynamic until the beginning of the second wizarding war. Previously both parents supported their children without question. However, relationship between Mr and Mrs Dahl and Constance has been strained following the latter’s flight from Hogwarts. Ms Ariadne Dahl thus acts as a mediator between her parents and sister. Yet she has lately come under some disapproval from her father following her decision to continue working for the Ministry of Magic. He feels that she should not be working for the institution that sentenced him to jail. On the other hand, Mrs Dahl has been urging her daughter to settle down and ‘make a home for yourself with a sweet Hufflepuff boy’.
Lifestyle
Occupation: Ms Dahl works as an aide for the International Magical Trading Standards Body at the Department of International Magical Cooperation and occasionally does accounting for Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Residence: Ms Dahl shares a small attic with her sister Constance in Belgravia.
Financial Status: Ms Dahl is financially independent from her parents though they often send monetary gifts by owl. Her grandfather left her ten thousand Galleons upon his death in 1998, but she has barely touched the lump sum. She earns approximately 200 Galleons a month.
History from student days at Hogwarts to the present time: include any affiliations since Hogwarts, jobs, family life, significant events in the character's recent history, how was this character affected by the war, how does your character feel about the present political climate?
Ariadne Dahl was Head Girl when she studied at Hogwarts, excelling in Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Charms, and History of Magic. She was not particularly fantastic in the practical magics like Transfiguration and Defense Against Dark Arts. She was chosen as a delegate to Wizarding World Schools Leadership Conference in Geneva in her sixth year. There she met Viktor Krum who became a close friend, as both enjoy chess games and silent walks along the hillsides of Switzerland. Despite her more academic pursuits Ariadne is a fanatical supporter of her house Quidditch team and the Appleby Arrows.
During the war she worked as a record keeper at the Ministry, tasked to preserve official documents in warehouses underneath the British Museum. There she began to feel an inclination for politics. Former schoolmate Penelope Clearwater and the hundreds of political economy books Ariadne read while hiding from Death Eater mobs encouraged her to pursue her dream. She took an apprenticeship at Gringotts for a few months in order to improve her financial magic as well as to gain contacts among the more affluent members of wizarding society.
Ariadne does not have feelings as strong as her peers about the second wizarding war. Her family had temporarily moved to Singapore once Voldemort’s return was undeniable. Her parents and younger siblings were safe in the maternal ancestral home, though Sebastian and Constance did volunteer to serve in the army in the final months of the war. Ariadne’s job as record keeper kept her away from the fighting most of the time. Even when she and her colleagues had to take precious records across enemy lines, she always felt safe under the guard of a set of Aurors. Though Ariadne was exhilarated by Voldemort’s defeat, she immediately felt that order must be restored to society or all the fighting would be for naught.
Despite clamours for the resignation of Rudiger Shingleton, Ariadne Dahl feels that he is temporarily the best person for the job. Any sort of political infighting would only serve to severely undermine the security of the wizarding state. Only after the wizarding world is stable can a new Minister of Magic be elected. Ariadne believes people must follow government policies and failure to do so deserves equal punishment. She is a supporter of the Registry, and she cannot understand how people are reacting so negatively to something that will help keep wizards and witches safe all over the United Kingdom.
Currently Ariadne Dahl works as a finance wizard for Percy Weasley at the Ministry of Magic, Department of International Magical Cooperation. She and Percy Weasley disagree over the Registry programme, but otherwise share a tolerant and professional relationship. Occasionally she joins him, Penelope Clearwater, and Lisa Turpin for drinks down at Diagon Alley. In her spare time she likes to drop by the Ministry to help Kingsley Shacklebolt with his accounting.
How does he/she feel about the more infamous events and people in the world around him/her?
Harry Potter and his victory over Voldemort? Ms Dahl ecstatically celebrated You-Know-Who’s downfall with the rest of the wizarding world. Her respect for Harry Potter increased upon learning that he wanted nothing to do with the Ministry. She believes that even defeating Dark Lords does not automatically qualify you for a high government position.
Dumbledore and his murder by Severus Snape? Initially, Ms Dahl desired the immediate capture of Severus Snape. She felt that the man deserved nothing less than life imprisonment in Azkaban for the murder of a beloved headmaster. However, once it became painfully obvious that the act was done to protect a young Draco Malfoy and to followthrough with Dumbledore’s plans, Ms Dahl supported Snape’s return to society.
Lucius Malfoy's pardon and book publication? Ms Dahl feels that Lucius Malfoy is eyeing a major seat in the Wizengamot and keeps close tabs on the former Death Eater. The publication of his book supports this assumption, and as laughable as Ariadne Dahl thinks it is, she will not underestimate his public draw. The incompetent Fudge had been elected Minister of Magic once after all.
Snape's pardon and appointment back to his old job at Hogwarts? Ms Dahl is ambivalent about Snape’s current activities. However, she is certain that students at Hogwarts should feel no worry about their Potions professor thanks to the Registry program.
The Registry? Ms Dahl thinks that the Registry is a clever idea as long as there are proper checks-and-balances i.e. an independent body should be monitoring Ministry-led operations concerning former enemies of state. Arguments for privacy and freedom are held negligible given that the Registry was created for the sake of public safety. She does not understand what all the fuss is about, especially since only Death Eaters are monitored and even then no private information can be disseminated or privately catalogued.
Werewolf Remus Lupin's job at Hogwarts? Once again, the Registry collar should stop Lupin from harming anyone should he ever decide to do so. Ms Dahl believes that if a werewolf is the best ‘person’ for the job then by all means he should be given the position.
Bellatrix' capture, insanity defence, followed by her "cure" and release from St. Mungo's? Ms Dahl believes that the release of Bellatrix Lestrange into public society was an unforgivable blunder. St Mungo’s is the best place for Lestrange, guilty or not, for the hospital is most capable to protect Bellatrix from others and herself. Ms Dahl thinks that Lestrange should have been kept under observation despite the cure for at least a decade.
What plots would you like to pursue with this character? What short and long-term goals does the character have for his/her future? I see Ariadne Dahl as an ambitious person who wants to climb the political ladder in order to avenge the suffering of her father in the hands of an inefficient government and help create a new administration based on more modern, meritocratic ideals. I want to see how far the character is willing to go to achieve her goals. I’d love to get her into situations where she has to choose between two values such as family vs work, pride vs pragmatism, freedom vs safety, and eventually success vs love. I intend for Ariadne Dahl to be a major player in the political game. Whether on the side of good (HP) or bad (LM) remains to be seen.
Once you start playing the game and get a feel for your fellow players and characters, assuming the interaction is favourable, how long could you anticipate staying with this character and this game? What is your usual pattern of longevity in role-playing games? I usually play an RPG regularly for several months to a year, but I go offline whenever major exams are close. If ever I find myself swamped with schoolwork I will reduce the number of posts I make, but I make it a habit to post at least once a week. I anticipate sticking to this character for as long as possible, though realistically, I would participate in this RPG for a year to a year and a half before taking a break. I like the quality of writing and the challenge of the current story line.
What is your usual pattern of availabilty and play-time for a character and game which you enjoy? If I like the plot and characters I post often which entails five to seven entries a week. I am available in the morning and mid-afternoon GMT+7 during schooldays and at all hours during summer.
Now that we've got a sense of your characterization, this is where you get to really showcase your writing style! Give us everything you've got! Remember--this sample must be a 'fresh' sample relevant to our game and the current setting.
Sample Journal Entry:
[Private to Sebastian Dahl]
Seb,
I can’t understand why you’re putting off letting Dad know about the problems at the apothecary. I know you don’t want to disappoint him, but I’m certain he will be able to help you find some sort of plan to get that dear old place out of debt! At the very least, Dad will feel much better if this awful news came from you. He always wanted his children to trust him. Look, if you are too nervous about telling him yourself, Constance and I can come over and back you up.
You asked in your last letter about work, but nothing much has happened since Luna Lovegood published that scathing commentary on the Registry, which had Shingleton in an uproar. Bulstrode down at the Department of Mysteries told me that Shingleton demanded an immediate investigation of the Lovegood estate on grounds of national security. The man was promptly denied by the head of Unspeakables, which was only right. The Ministry doesn’t need anymore negative publicity! Sometimes I think Moody or even Shacklebolt would do a better job only to remember that it’s political plays that distracts the Ministry from more pressing issues such as rebuilding Hogwarts or finding a new dragon to guard Gringotts.
Oh, bugger. The boss just owled for the file on the new trade regulations for singing saucepans. I’ve got to go, but do write back quickly if you need me to accompany you to see Dad. Give my love to Emily.
Your loving sister,
Ariadne
[/Private to Sebastian Dahl]
Sample Third Person Writing:
Ariadne Dahl ducked as an internal memo came whizzing down the hallway. Rotten paper planes, she thought, I’ve got to get someone to set their flight levels several feet higher! Brushing an unruly strand of dark hair behind her ear, Ariadne quickened her pace as she turned a corner. Her shining patent shoes went clickety-clack against the burnished black marble that lined the floors of the Ministry of Magic.
‘Oy! You with the noisy feet!’ cried a voice directly behind Ariadne. She swivelled sharply on her heels and found herself face to face with a gangly and rather smug boy barely out of Hogwarts. Ariadne swept her eyes up and down his body, taking note of his muddy Muggle sneakers and the smattering of freckles across his beaked nose. ‘Yes?’ she replied, an immaculately groomed eyebrow raised ever so slightly.
The boy hesitated, and then took a breath. ‘You Ariadne Dahl, yeah?’ Ariadne nodded, then asked if there was anything he needed from her. ‘Er, yeah.’ He said, ‘Know some bloke called Nat? He’s got curly hair, yeah, a kinda brownish colour like mud, yeah, except a little lighter, I guess-’
‘Of course, he’s my brother,’ Ariadne retorted. ‘Well, what about Nat? Spit it out, boy.’ She watched the kid fidget in front of her, all the while wondering what sort of mess Nat got himself into this time.
‘Well,’ said the boy, drawing out the word as long as he could. ‘Your bro’s got locked up down at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and he’s wondering if you could get ‘em coppers to let him go, yeah?’
Ariadne sighed. Those singing saucepans were going to have to wait.