OOC: Application
CHARACTER
NAME: Patchouli Knowledge (Patchouli Valenziano in this game)
FANDOM: Touhou Project
CANON SYNOPSIS: Her Touhou Wikia Article.
Patchouli is a shut-in bookworm first and foremost. It's a key part of her character, for the most part. Because of this, her social mannerisms are a bit odd. She talks down to most people, even if only subtly, but not in a manner that's meant to insult them. It's typical of people with stunted social growth, after all, to speak incredulously in situations and not see anything at all wrong with what they're saying. Therefore, she often finds herself insulting people without realizing it. Or caring.
Beyond that, Patchouli actually is not a bad person. She only attacks people who attack her first, with the exception of those who interfere in her library. And, at times, she expresses an honest interest in forming friendships with others. However, her unwillingness to leave her comfort zone, the library, hinders this greatly. Outwardly, she acts as if this isn't something that bothers her, and even expresses surprise when people like Marisa Kirisame refer to her as a "friend", but in all likelihood it probably does get to her that she has so few people she considers close. The only friend she's managed to consistently be around is Remilia Scarlet, but Patchouli also serves as her tutor, so even that is a bit strained at best.
All in all, Patchouli is much like any nerdy shut-in type. She is interested in the things outside her comfort zone, but doesn't seem to have the chutzpah to actually pursue any of those interests.
Emotionally, her strength probably lies in her ability to keep a level head in tense situations. She rarely gets worked up over anything. at least outwardly. People in Scarlet Mansion often come to her with their problems, hoping her immense knowledge and ability to look at things objectively will help them. However, her social awkwardness is a big factor. She has a bad habit of offending people without even trying. She will often say things completely not meant as insulting. This makes it rather difficult for her to make friends, unfortunately.
Mentally, she has very few weaknesses. However, when she IS outwitted, she often finds herself too focused on finding a means to place herself back on top and will forget what it is she's supposed to be doing. This sort of single-minded determination is another thing that can lead her to make mistakes she never would have otherwise. It's not emotionally worked up, so much as she takes her mind off of things she shouldn't.
In rare cases, she CAN become outwardly emotionally bothered to the point of looking a bit crazy. This often is due in fact to her lack of ability in expressing herself emotionally in a manner that is clear to others. Canonly, in Subterranean Animism, Marisa Kirisame has trouble telling what Patchouli is really thinking as she tries to aid the other, given her emotional responses to some situations seem awkward or just wrong.
Patchouli has no clear physical strengths. She is one of the only Touhou characters with absolutely ZERO melee capability, so there's little point in looking for anything like that. Mentally, however, she is one of the most powerful magicians in the Touhou-verse. She has command over the seven elements of the Japanese calender, earing her the name the "One Week Wizard". Her magic is practically peerless, and she always seems to be learning new spells. On top of being able to use seven different types of elemental sorcery, she can combine these elements to form new and stronger magic on the fly.
Patchouli's physical weaknesses are her greatest hurdle. She is stricken with both anemia and asthma, and never exercises. She'd stand a whelk's chance in a supernova if she were to enter any sort of physical contest, and has no athletic talent whatsoever. In fact, it is said that the only reason she losses her battles is because she can not physically keep up with her opponents for long, and even her magic wears her out.
CALABRIA-VERSE BACKGROUND:
Patchouli is part of a part of a long line of intellectuals in her family. They have served the Vescovo for generations, perhaps did so even before the fall of the Old World. The loyalty Valenziano family to the Vescovo has never been in question. However, in all that time, the Valenziano have managed to keep their noses relatively clean of scrutiny and have never fallen along side their brothers. And why is this, you wonder? Well it's a simple matter, really. One that many people find flabbergasting, however. You see...
The Valenziano are all wizards.
The very idea is just ludicrous, is it not? Well, dear reader, believe you me it is TRUE! And Patchouli is no exception. How they have such power over the arcane arts is entirely a mystery. Maybe it was some form of genetic mutation caused by radiation? If they were in pulp comics, perhaps. Maybe they have access to some highly advanced technological achievements? After all, Arthur C. Clarke wrote that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". Well, that may be, my young companion, but the real matter is entirely a mystery. What is NOT a mystery is that the Vescovo have long used the Valenziano and their abilities to their advantage.
Enter Patchouli, the daughter of the current line of Valenziano and a hard working consig within the Vescovo. And by "hard working", this writer means that she sits in her library all day and reads and MIGHT be bothered to answer her caporegime's questions on the occasion should it catch her interest. Which isn't the say she's lazy. Oh no, dear reader, make no mistake that Patchouli Valenziano is very good at what she does. Perhaps the best in her family yet. But, you see, Patchouli was born frail. Asthma, anemia, Vitamin A deficiency, and a slew of other health problems have prevented her from having a more active involvement in the family. She will, perhaps, be the only Valenziano what will not reach the head consigliere position simply because it's doubtful she could physically handle the workload. A shame, really...
Still, Patchouli is a reliable source of information on a variety of subjects. Her library, Voile, is considered the best in the city. And if there's one thing that can make you VERY RICH in Reggio di Calabria... it's information. And in that metaphorical sense, Patchouli Valenziano is the richest woman in town...
CURRENT SITUATION: Patchouli owns and operates Voile, the unofficial library of the Vescovo family and the Valenziano heirloom, though under Patchouli's direction it has expanded in size five fold since her predecessor. As a consigliere, her primary purpose is to act as an adviser to her caporegime and their soldati. However, her other purpose is simple as a bibliographic information treasure trove. Need a book? She has it. Need something researched? She'll do it. For a price, of course. Given her library is private, the government has no say in its contents or its operation. To the rest of the city, she's just your local librarian. Though a lot of people tend to just note how cold she is and go to the city library anyways...
ALIGNMENT: Vescovo
RANK: Consigliere