Character Application Example (PEC)

5. Name of the character you're applying for:
Thunderwing

6. What is it about this particular character that appeals to you?
Thunderwing strikes me, odd as it may seem, as a lion. The mental image may be a strange one, but consider this: These are creatures who spend most of the day doing...well, not a lot, to be honest. But when they -do- move into action, they're formidable indeed.
Thunderwing himself is something like that. People who see him as the stereotypical warlord, or the arrogant noble, always spoiling for a fight, may be surprised by the fact that he prefers to sit back and watch, waiting for everything to come into focus before he makes his move. But this is the nature of predators. Beginning the hunt before everything is perfectly in position is at best a foolish waste of energy and will only endanger the pack. Thunderwing knows this well and applies it to his own hunts, be they for knowledge or enemies of the Empire. He is able to look beyond the present situation to take in the big picture and the long-term effects of the actions of himself or others.
Unfortunately, this also makes him something of a control freak. So used is he to having a perfect overview of the situation, that he absolutely hates it if the details begin escaping him. Thus, he is more than happy to let his subordinates be in charge of their own operations, but he will demand continual updates of their plans, progress and any changes in said plans.
His scholarly side is also one that may be somewhat unexpected. While he isn't a specialist, he is a creature of great learning in any number of areas, most significantly history and various lores that might seem arcane by the standards of 'modern' Decepticons. Though by no means a rambling mystic, Thunderwing has a deep respect for the unknown and will not dismiss the legends of old without being sure there isn't the slightest grain of truth to be found in them. One learns to respect the teachings of history in whatever form they take when one is the product of a tradition that stretches back through the aeons.
In fact, this one is on a constant quest for knowledge, leaving no store unturned when searching for things that could benefit the cause. He is possessed of a curiosity that easily matches his confidence and does not shy away from looking for the solution to a problem in the most unexpected of places. After all, one never knows where the next great discovery will show itself. And Thunderwing doesn't intend to sit back and wait for things to come to him. If you want something, go get it. The universe doesn't wait for anyone, and it certainly doesn't do charity work. And so, Thunderwing continues looking for knowledge and an edge at every turn.
There is something about the air of 'old world nobility' about him that when added to the sense of pragmatism and realism that the 'Lord High Commander' nevertheless possesses, creates a creature of wonderful contrasts. Almost a walking anachronism, this one, but an anachronism that has learned one vital lesson: Keep your back to the past and draw strength from it, your eyes to the future for this is the direction you are travelling in, but above all; keep your feet firmly planted in the present.

7. How do you perceive this character's role within the faction? What's unique about this character - that is, what do they contribute that nobody else can do quite the same way? How does this character interact with those above, below, and of the same rank as themselves?
While the seekers are a heady mix of Regency aristocrats and swashbuckling Musketeers, Thunderwing epitomises the medieval feudal lord, gaining autonomy over his own protectorate in return for providing military support for his Liege's campaigns. Part of him resents this fact. Though one cannot deny the fact that Megatron is an outstanding leader, possibly the best the Decepticons have ever seen, Thunderwing, 'born to rule' as it were, still chafes at the fact that a mere commoner has risen so far. His is a situation of several conflicting perspectives, all born in a formidable mind of strong convictions. Yes, he was created to rule in the fine tradition of the Valckasta lords. Yes, every inch of him has been developed to that one goal. Yes, he believes in his own right to be at the top. But the fact remains; Megatron is a great leader, and the Decepticons have made the ex-gladiator their focal point in a way Thunderwing at first didn't think possible. The subsequent conflict should be clear. But what few personal qualms he has about all of this, are kept in check since having Megatron as a leader is very obviously in the best interests of the Decepticons. And if there is one thing Thunderwing would never do, it is willingly disrupt the power balance and put his race in jeopardy. Now if only Megatron, commoner that he is, didn't inspire such grudging respect in him. Thunderwing does see why the Decepticons follow the former gladiator and sometimes finds himself caught up in the same enthusiasm and loyalty. Most...disturbing.
In an odd way, Thunderwing becomes an anchor for those who choose to see him in that particular way. Say what you will about great lineages and the dubious virtue of hereditary power; Thunderwing is the ultimate product of both and does the concepts great honour. But then, he who sometimes finds himself looking down on the upstarts who call themselves his equals, has to admit that their struggle to the top has given them the credibility he sometimes has to fight to gain with those who have not heard of him. He has proven time and time again his worthiness to be in his current position, and still there will always be those who will assume that the scion of the Valckasta line has gained his power and influence through his name alone. They could not be more wrong. But what Thunderwing's lineage has given him is a connection to Valckasta and Cybertron itself that is close to unparalleled. He can trace his lineage directly back through the millennia, following his ancestors' deeds as they make a name for themselves and forever marking their place in the planet's history. Individuals may come and go, but the names of the Valckasta line is etched on the very bones of Cybertron itself, and this gives Thunderwing a sense of focus and history. No matter what, he knows where he comes from and the proud tradition that created him, and this will always serve to anchor him more firmly to the present than others. After all, how can you hope to build a future if there is no firm foundation for it to rest on? And it is this certainty that Thunderwing can lend to his followers. This firm link to the planet they all fight for. But deep down, he wants more. He wants to be remembered as something more than just the 34th (or what have you) Valckasta lord. He wants to be remembered first and foremost as 'Lord High Commander Thunderwing of Valckasta, one of the greatest champions of the Decepticon cause'.
Because of his awareness of the tradition he is the keeper of, he is something of a stickler for protocol. Fortunately for him, he has managed to move away from the more petty inclinations of the aristocracy and is a rather pragmatic creature, but he will insist that certain rules be observed. For instance, he is 'Lord High Commander Thunderwing' in all his official communications, but will accept 'Lord Thunderwing' if for no reason other than the fact that it speeds things up somewhat when dealing with people, efficiency being the watchword here. He will not accept the 'Lord' being omitted by anyone other than his 'equals' and not at all while in his own protectorate. The obvious exception to this is Megatron, of course. Thunderwing might also address his fellow commanders as 'Lord so-and-so', regardless of wether they find this archaic or not. In a way, the Valckasta lord -is- a rather archaic creature, placing high value on decorum. It speaks highly of him, though, that he has moved beyond the traditions that would prove impractical when running his protectorate in the now.
Perhaps it is a little sad that the 'Lord' will never be omitted by anyone other than his fellow commanders. He does not cultivate friendships, as such. Close working relationships with trusted subordinates, certainly, but rarely friendships. After all, he still has the sense of somehow being above the 'commoners', and this places hindrances in the way of any kind of personal relationships. And then there is the crux that all command-level people must face: Can you get personally involved with the people under your command? In Thunderwing's case, the answer is 'no'. If there is one thing that his grooming to take his current position has imprinted upon him, it is that he must always stay aloof, never quite living the same life and seeing things in the same way as the people under his command. And this turns into an unfortunate weakness to, for he cannot always see the world as they do.
This is not to say that Thunderwing is the stereotypical noble who never deigns to walk among his subordinates. Rather the opposite; he is loathe to have anyone do something he would not do himself and prefers to be in the thick of things. But there will always be this invisible shield made up of a rich family history and a commander's duties, keeping him separate from other Decepticons. In dealing with those of the same rank and above, he comes across as aloof, contemplative and possessed of a dry, understated sense of humour. Far more interested in the big picture and long-term effects of his actions, Thunderwing doesn't scrabble for power and fame in quite the same way as others. He is the one who sits in the shadows and waits for everything to shift into position before striking. But when he does, he is able to bring a formidable amount of power into play, be it physical or political, and strike in the exactly right places. And then, he will withdraw, returning to the age-old game of watching and waiting. Thus, he brings his own unique take on things to the friendly (and not so friendly) competition between the various regional lords and commanders of Cybertron.
It is also among these people he finds the closest things to friends, if a friend can be said to be someone who will compete with you for almost anything one day, cooperate with you toward a common goal the other, and then go back to competing again. Perhaps it would be safer to say that he finds 'spiritual equals' there: People whose worldview is similar to his own and who plays the same game, even if the rules vary from person to person.
One might think this isolation would cause him the angst it seems to inflict on other people in the same situation, but it doesn't. And why should it? This has been the way of things for as long as Thunderwing can remember, and there seems little reason to change it now. He is a very independent creature, after all, possessed of supreme confidence in his own abilities. What need has he of companionship? It may turn out that he may come to change this point of view.

8. What do you perceive as this character's goals in life, both on a personal level and as regards the cause they're fighting for? Why does this individual risk themselves for this particular cause?
Again, Thunderwing has been created with a single object in mind: Leadership of the Decepticons. Barring that, his are the duties of a Valckasta lord and Decepticon warrior, something he will never shirk.
The dream of a Decepticon Empire that spans the galaxy is shared by Thunderwing and his guiding light in all things. Though he himself could never be as comfortable offworld as he is on Cybertron, he recognises the worthy cause it represents. He is a warrior at heart, so the vision of 'then maybe I can stop fighting' doesn't occur to him, but if the Empire gets to expand to its fullest potential it would mean stability and prosperity for the Decepticons on a scale that has not been seen for as long as Thunderwing himself can remember. Think the vision and politics behind the Roman Empire. On a sidenote, one wishes the Decepticons a better outcome than that ill-fated Empire.
Above all, he wants immortality. To leave a legacy that will have his name whispered on a thousand worlds, and that will bring about a glorious future for the Decepticons. And why shouldn't he be the one to usher in the new age? In a manner that might seem less than modest, Thunderwing is supremely confident in his own qualities. Has he not always served the Decepticon cause with distinction? Was it not he, who through his foresight and abilities, led his people through times of hardship? So why should he not be the one who will help shape the future?

9. Give an example of an IC situation that you can see this character taking part in and contributing to.
What would 'Lord High Commander Thunderwing' get up to? Well, most obviously he would be running the day-to-day business of his subgroup, keeping up to date on what his subordinates are accomplishing. He'll probably take an advisory approach to most things, unless his direct guidance is needed. Idle, silly question: Do you think the Cybertron commanders would meet to discuss current situations? Should be interesting if they did: Shockwave, Colossus, Straxus and Thunderwing in the same room, trying to iron things out. Methinks the council chamber would need to be constructed like a fireworks factory...thick walls, thin roof. *ahems* Anyway, enough foolishness from me.
What it all boils down to is that there is no 'one' answer here. This is a character of many aspects and with great potential for RP. He will change the course of RP, and it will change him. How could I possibly single out one particular situation and say; 'this is what he'll do if this ever happens'. That's what makes writing apps such a thankless task in the first place, remember? You go ic and find that the character refuses to behave. Rather, they grab the reins, turn around and glare at you, "Back off. I know what I'm doing." It's scary when it happens, but ultimately very rewarding.

10. What types of actions would you consider unacceptably twinkish for your character? What would you do if another character acted toward you in a manner that you consider twinkish?
This is where I assure you I have no intention of gleefully powergaming myself into oblivion, right? ;)
Well, one should begin with the painfully obvious things, no? If one checks Thunderwing's stats, it becomes clear that he is rather amazingly powerful. But a character's stats, no matter how off the scale, shouldn't really matter if the player knows what he or she is doing. True, handling Thunderwing in a situation purely directed to combat would mean treading carefully and constantly keeping tabs on the ooc situation, lest one lose sight of what he can do and the ungodly amount of damage and destruction he can wreak on easily breakable things; walls, furniture, other characters...that sort of thing.
Right, now that that's over with, we reach the more treacherous ground of actual RP. It is here the pitfalls of powergaming become a little harder to spot, but the pits themselves have spikes at the bottom. Thunderwing is, as I've already stated, an incredibly powerful person statwise and politically speaking, he is a commander...warlord, even. This means that he will be in a position to order people around. What this means for me as a player is that I must always bear in mind that there are actual people behind the characters I interact with. It would be unacceptable and inexcusable to not keep as close an eye on the ooc situation as on the ic one. One should keep asking people for their ooc opinions and take on what is happening and never, ever script their responses. The individual player knows his or her character best and should be trusted to act in accordance with this. Waltzing in with Thunderwing and more or less taking over the situation and monopolise the attention by virtue of him being 'Lord High Commander' or what have you, would be close to a hanging offence.
And yes, acting out of character might be considered twinkish, and in most cases it is, but there are times when flexibility is needed for the sake of keeping the RP interesting. The trick is being able to walk the balance and knowing when to do this and when not to.
Twinks...that most wonderful of breeds. This has to be the mother of all catch-all terms, doesn't it? And it's such a narrow and obscure little border you have to cross before you end up being classified as one. Thing is, there is one rather good catch-all definition too: The person who will in some way put his/her own need for attention, entertainment or what have you above all else's. This is easily achieved through powergaming, spamming at a bad time, scripting scenarios and other character's actions. You know the type. So, what would I do if someone acted like this? Try to work it out oocly, of course. Any problems can usually be solved ooc and should be, if the need arises. After all: It's only a game, folks.
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