App for Holloways Keep
Name: Dai
Age: 21
Journal: daishutian
Contact: aim @ daishutian
1. Character's Name: Kino
2. Fandom: Kino's Journey (Anime series)
3. Time Frame: At the end of the series
4. Age: About 15
5. Background: In this world, being a traveler is more than just a hobby; it's recognized as a sort of occupation. Travelers journey across the land, experiencing the customs of different countries.
A traveler named Kino stopped in a country where all the children have an operation to become perfect adults at the age of twelve. During his stay, he spent time with a girl who was only a few days away from her twelfth birthday. She told him about her country while he worked to repair a motorrad, a mechanical being resembling a motorbike. Kino showed distaste at the idea of the operation to create an adult who would do anything, even things they hated, with a smile. What would be the point of being forced to do things you hate?
The girl took this idea to heart, and on her birthday, questioned her parents and requested that she not get the operation. Horrified and outraged, her parents shouted at her and their neighbors soon joined in. Their wrath turned onto Kino, figuring that the traveler was the one who had put the nonsensical idea of not becoming a perfect adult into the child's head. They demanded Kino leave right away, and he agreed. While this was happening, the girl's father had retreated into his home and came back with a knife, intending to exercise his right to remove a ruined daughter from his household. The father rushed at the girl, knife extended to run her through, but Kino stepped between them and took the knife instead. The traveler named Kino fell to the ground and died.
The adults could not figure out why he had done that as it was not a sensible adult thing to do. They laughed it off, and the father removed the knife to finish what he had started. Frozen with horror, the girl started when she heard a voice behind her. It was the motorrad Kino had repaired. It told her that it was foolish to stay here and die, so she climbed onto the motorrad, and they escaped that country together. When they finally stopped, the motorrad asked the girl what its name was, and she said it was Hermes. When Hermes asked the girl what her name was, she said it was Kino, and that is the name she answered to from then on.
At some point, Kino and Hermes encountered a woman who had them refer to her as The Master. The Master taught Kino to use guns, which she showed a prodigal aptitude for. With this skill, Kino went on as a traveler, traveling across the world and visiting different countries, some friendlier than others. The only rule she followed was that she remain in each country no longer than three days. Unfortunately, Kino's travels were interrupted and she appeared in a keep...
6. Personality: Around others, Kino is a little distant and reserved; she'll smile and talk with anyone she meets, but she rarely laughs and her favored area of conversation is anything far away from herself. Generally speaking, her manner is polite, serious, and straight to the point. She won't actively seek company unless she needs information, but she usually won't turn anyone away if they start a conversation.
Even in difficult situations, Kino isn't easily fazed. To be blunt, she has seen some shit in her travels, so not much can surprise her. Kino has a general rule of not getting involved in the affairs of others, though she's not averse to giving her opinion or advising those involved. If she is forcibly involved, then she'll do her best to deal with the situation quickly, efficiently, and (if it's that kind of situation) with as little bloodshed as possible. When she does need to use her guns or knives, she shoots to kill without hesitation and aims to make it quick, though not always clean. She values her own life over that of others, and she'll fight to keep it.
Kino is dedicated to her journey and sticks faithfully to her rule of only remaining in a country for three days. It's very rare that she considers breaking that rule, and she always decides against it for one reason or another, because once you decide to stay, you're not really a traveler anymore, are you? Confined to one place for an indeterminate period of time, she'd probably get to know the place first; learn about the history, see the sights, and experience the customs of the locals. The variety of people around means she'll probably have a lot of stories to hear, so she won't get bored soon. Other than that, Kino likes reading (she gets to do very little of it on the road; limited supply space, you know).
7. Previous Game Developments: None
8. Appearance: Small and skinny, dressed adrogynously in a large coat, pants and boots with a hat and goggles.
9. Abilities: Kino's only extraordinary abilities are her skills with her guns and survival. As a traveler, Kino spends a lot of time out in the open, so she can handle living outdoors for a while. She's a quick draw and sure shot with her handguns, and makes for a deadly opponent.
10. Languages: English/Common
11. Items: Unfortunately, most of Kino's supplies were attached to Hermes, so all she has is her wallet, her weapons, extra bullets in her belt pouches, and a small bag of tree seeds.
12. Weapons: Kino has guns. And knives. And a gun-knife. The bullets will be replaced with rubber ones and the knives blunted.
13. Writing sample - Third Person Prose:
Kino couldn't stop thinking about what happened last night. The vision of glowing lava pouring down the side of the mountain and enveloping the city below was still vivid in her mind. All those people: the couple who had just been married, the old gunsmith who had repaired the Persuader, Lily... all of them were gone in a few moments, and Kino had watched from a cliff with a perfect view of the disaster, unable to do anything to help them.
The people of the country had known that the volcano was going to erupt and destroy their city, and they had decided to stay and die with it. It wasn't the most horrible thing Kino had seen people do, not by a long shot. As shocked as she'd been when it was happening, Kino had accepted the people's choice and was moving on.
She wouldn't forget, though. The citizens of that country had done their best to turn around their reputation for being inhospitable to travelers, and as the only traveler who had seen their effort, Kino was determined to make it known to others.
For now, she and Hermes continued their journey. The road was empty as Hermes roared along it. They rode in relative silence for a while, until Hermes brought up an earlier question:
"Have you decided where we're going yet?"
Kino did not answer right away, only answering after a moment had passed. "Not yet."
"This road isn't going to go one way forever. Are you going to choose as soon as we hit a fork again?" Hermes asked disdainfully.
"Maybe." Hermes sighed, apparently giving up. Kino gazed out at the road and the scenery beyond it. She could see the fork that Hermes had predicted would show up in the distance.
"I think we'll go... left."
"Well, at least that's one decision," Hermes replied, and went left.
14. Writing sample - First Person:
Hello?
[Talking to a book is... awkward.]
My name is Kino; I am a traveler. I suppose I'm visiting your country-- your world for a while.
If anyone sees a motorrad, please let me know. He answers to Hermes.
[Uuuuuum is there anything else she needs to say to the general public?]
Perhaps someone could show me around? If anyone has the time to give me a tour and tell me about this place, I'd appreciate it. The history must be very interesting. And I've never seen a book like this before. Is this a world with advanced technology? Though I suppose it must be if it can take someone from another world...
[A thoughtful pause, then she closes her introduction.]
Thank you.
[Transmission end.]
15. Tattoo: Around her right hand
16. Room Preference: No preferences