(no subject)
Sep. 10th, 2011 10:41 pm[PLAYER INFO]
NAME: Kevin
AGE: 21
JOURNAL:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dragon8writer - but I don’t really go there often. At all.
IM: dragon8writer on AIM
PLURK: dragon8writer
E-MAIL: dragon8writer.star@gmail.com.
RETURNING: one other – Primrose Everdeen. :)
[CHARACTER INFO]
CHARACTER NAME: Willow Rosenberg! AKA – Vampire Willow
SERIES: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
CHRONOLOGY: The end of Doppelgangland – when she was supposed to be getting sent home.
CLASS: Villain; though she can be an anti-hero in the right circumstances.
BACKGROUND:
Willow’s world is one of magic – technically a demonic dimension – originally shared with the Powers that Be, the Old Ones (ancient beings that had spilled over from another, theoretically less pleasant dimension) eventually chased them away to other dimensions, and completely overrunning the earth.
They were in turn overthrown, however, by humanity – though the how is unknown; only that, as they spread through the land, the old ones began to leave. It is likely that the Shadow Men had a hand in this. Ancient and powerful magic users, they trapped a girl, and forced her to take in power from a demon, thereby giving her the strength to fight others of its kind. The Scythe – a tool made specifically for them – was supposedly used to kill the last of the old ones who roamed this earth, implying that the first slayer co-existed alongside at least one of them.
Still, their demonic presence on the earth did not entirely disappear. They mixed with humanity, becoming more watered down and taking on more human features – often becoming bipedal, for example, or gaining the ability to resemble humans. This allowed them to live among humans, often in sewers, though occasionally at high levels of government – some even shifting back and forth between hell dimensions and our own universe to snatch up their pray.
The most notable – and most numerous – of these demons was the vampire, half breeds of demon and human who’s soul had been lost, and replaced by a demon. It was commonly accepted that they were created by the last of the Old Ones, due to the last of them them infecting a human with their own demonic essence –other reports conflict this, however; Illyria claimed that they were about when the Old Ones still roamed the earth, and the last of the Old Ones was supposedly killed by the scythe, rather than it simply leaving.
Despite their prolific nature, vampires generally inhabited the lowest rung among demon kind; although most demons on earth had some human blood mixed into their veins, those with a more recent “taint” are often looked down upon; Vampires in particular, for having been former human. Atop of that, their lack of prowess with magic – although they are capable of casting spells, they have by and large relied upon physical combat– may also contribute to their lesser status, when compared to those with special powers.
Regardless, their prolific nature – not only killing humans for food, but turning them as well – made them the most common enemy for a slayer, and they even became known as Vampire Slayers. When one died, another girl, one of multiple potentials, would receive her powers. Like the vampires themselves, these powers weakened over time as they became more and more distant from their progenitors, although they still remained far above normal humans.
Centuries later, demons continued to live, hidden among the human populace. Though most lived alone, or in small nests meant for hunting, a few of the older ones managed to develop followings – organizing “orders,” of their own progenies, and other weaker vampires. The Master in particular, and his Order of Aurelius, need to be noted here for their future effect on the world.
As old as he was, he had grown tremendously in power; the demon becoming powerful enough to permanently twist the once human visages, making it difficult for him to blend in with humans, and forcing him to wear a cloak when he traveled among them. Most of the time, however, he spent in the sewers. He rejected humanity at large, emerging only to feed or turn others, and worked hard in his attempt to return the Old Ones to the earth.
It was for that reason which he visited the hell mouth, in Sunnydale; a place where the dimensional walls were weaker, he could have opened a portal to where the ancient pure demons resided. Unfortunately for him, an earthquake hit mid ritual – and rather than releasing the old ones upon the earth, he instead became trapped underground.
It was sixty years later that he had his first chance to break free; in the original time line of his universe, his plans were foiled – by the current Vampire Slayer, Buffy Summers, her Watcher (one of the many in charge of guiding a slayer along their job) Rupert Giles, and her friends – Willow Rosenberg, and Xander Harris. Although he did eventually break free, it was only to be killed by her – and the hellmouth closed again. Though he managed to kill Buffy in the process, she was resuscitated by her friends, who together alongside her went on to battle a multitude of apocalypses, and keep both their town and the world at large relatively whole, if not exactly safe. They would have been joined by a multitude of others, friends and foes, including another slayer – awoken by Buffy’s brief death.
For this particular Willow, none of that happened. “Wishverse,” as it is occasionally referred to, was created when Cordelia Chase accidentally confided in a vengeance demon; her heart recently broken by Xander, she blamed Buffy for having every made her pay attention to the man, and wished that Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale. The affect was disastrous upon the town – and, to a large extent, upon Willow Rosenberg’s life.
Like her main verse self, Willow was born to Sheila and Ira Rosenberg, both of whom remained largely uninvolved in Willow’s life – a factor that would contribute both to her childish attitude as a vampire, and her confidence issues as a human.
During her high school years, she was relatively shy and somewhat nerdy, maintaining high grades in science, math, and computer classes, as well as a crush on her childhood friend Xander. In wishverse, this crush was never admitted while she lived - because Buffy, who would have been her best friend, never came to Sunnydale.
She was relatively shy and somewhat nerdy girl during her early high school years, Willow maintained high grades in science, math, and computer classes. She also maintained a crush on her childhood friend Xander, which – as Buffy never came to Sunnydale – she never admitted to anyone while still alive.
Also without Buffy, no one was able to stop the Master’s rise. As there were no Old Ones raging about the town of Sunnydale, and the school – located directly over the hell mouth – remained operational, it is likely that Giles (still located in Sunnydale) was able to stop the completion of his plans. But this did not stop the Master from taking over his town.
The town – which had so far managed to live in denial – was no forced to accept the presence of vampires in their midst. They stopped wearing bright colors, for fear of attracting attention; they went home with the sunset, to avoid getting caught, stopped hanging out at the Bronze, Sunnydale’s only club. Instead, it became the Master’s headquarters, wherein humans were often kept in cages.
The only real resistance was Giles, and a group of students he led. Although they were capable of saving individual humans, their resistance was so ineffectual that they were jokingly called the white hats by vampires; avoided as an inconvenience, but not taken seriously as a threat to their rule.
At some unidentified point of his rule, both Willow and Xander were turned by the Master, becoming his right hands. Their relationship, never more than friendship as a human, altered dramatically once they were vampires. Although Willow’s love for him seemed to dwindle, they nevertheless became lovers, at least physically. Sexual content became the norm in fact, with her generally touching and stroking him as a matter of course.
She became something of a dominatrix, enjoying torture – particularly that of Angel, the vampire with a soul, wearing tight leather clothes, and adopting an extremely childish persona, often pouting about boredom.
As the Master’s right hand, she also took a part in the Master’s plan to make Sunnydale the center of mass blood production, kidnapping humans for the cages and draining their blood with machinery for easier drinking. Unfortunately for her, this was the point where Cordelia came to her world, thanks to the wish. Her talk of Buffy Summers resulted in the Master ordering her death – but not before she piqued Giles’s interest. He placed a call to Buffy’s watcher in that world (in Cleveland), drawing the slayer to Sunnydale, where she moved to attack the vampire stronghold.
In the process of her attack, she killed Xander – dying herself shortly afterwards, although Willow missed it. Willow herself was pushed backwards by two of the white hands, towards a projecting piece of wood; she would have been killed (and was, in her original episode), but was rescued by a spell cast by the human willow in the main verse.
In that universe, the Master of course had failed in his plans, and Willow had never become a vampire; Sunnydale had gone on (by and large) without knowing about vampires. People wore bright clothes, visited the Bronze, and didn’t go back home before sundown. The entire thing was not only confusing to Willow, but “boring” by comparison to her own world.
Willow’s solution was to take the place over; to make it as “fun” as the vampire-run place she had come from; unfortunately, her dislike of responsibility, and her impulsive idea of fun, made for a varying plan. At first it started with taking minions down to the bronze, to turn people; then, when Anya – the vengeance demon who had initially sent Cordelia to that world – appeared, it changed. By capturing her human self, she thought she could force the witch to send her back.
That plan also shifted when she saw her human form, and she shifted again to her thoughts about making the main verse fun; she was struck by the urge to turn her human self, to make this version like herself, and together conquer the town… but the human willow managed to knock her out with a tranquilizer, and the whole thing came crashing down around her ears. She was nearly killed by the slayer, and only saved by being an alternate of Buffy’s own friend.
Instead, beaten and defeated, Willow was indeed returned to her own universe. To the exact time and place, in fact – where she was again to be pushed back upon the wooden stake, and killed.
For the sake of the game, I’d prefer if Porter intercepted her on the way home, taking her to the City.
PERSONALITY:
Human-Willow (at this point in canon) was often shy, unwilling or unable to stand up for herself when she thought things were unfair. By contrast, vampire Willow tends to be outspoken – though she didn’t always use words to communicate. When pleading with her world’s version of Xander, for example, she preferred whimpers in lieu of an actual argument. Similarly, when she wanted another vampire to work for her (in “doppelgangland”), she did not tell them to shift allegiances – she asked them who they worked for, and broke a finger each time they asked her wrong.
This isn’t to say that she's incapable of normal speech, or even that she necessarily disliked it – she had relatively normal conversations with both Cordelia, and her own human alternate, among others. But she seemed to enjoy cultivating a playful - often childish - persona, somewhat like Drusilla (another vampire on her world),although less insane. (The similarity may even have been on purpose, due to her fondness for tormenting her “puppy,” AKA Angel, the vampire that sired Drusilla in the first place.) Regardless of her other intents, however, her “playful” side serves to offset the sadism that has Willow portrayed since becoming a vampire, on level with some of the worst from her race. Between pouting facial expressions, and calls of “puppy,” she would playfully drop matches upon Angel’s chest to watch him burn.
Fueled by the predatory nature of her inner demon, Vampire-Willow claimed to love the thrill of chasing down a human, apparently relishing it as much as the kill itself– her love of the latter reminding the Master of his younger days. Where some vampires are content simply to feed, and others seem to treat pain as an art, Willow drew her drive from a combination of the two. The moment she was denied either the fun of the chase, or the thrill of the kill, she seemed to lose interest – becoming moody and despondent at any obstacle. For example, when presented by Wesley’s rather weak attempt to stop her with a cross and holy water, she didn’t even bother get past him to her prey, but rather rolled her eyes and left, apparently bored now that her chase had been interrupted.
Unlike Angelus – another vampire - , for whom pain seemed a form of art, Willow has historically treated it as simple entertainment – good so long as nothing is in her way, but not a strict requirement if something is more pressing. When actually ordered to kill Cordelia, for example, she simply did so – with no attempts to play along the way. And when presented with a slayer - even one who had killed her lover - she mostly wandered away in disgust. Where some have been willing to cut out their own hearts for the chance at revenge, Willow marks self-preservation first and foremost, and (despite her sadistic love of power) will cause trouble only when she feels she can get away with it.
This means in a city of heroes, she is extremely unlikely to go on a killing spree – or even to kill anyone at all, unless convinced no one will stake her for the trouble. Though this will cause her to mope, she will bounce back easily enough if given other (more willing) venues for blood and play.
It is important to note that, she was willing to go forward with the Masters plan of “mass production” – the drawing of blood from humans via a machine - which would remove the hunt (and fun) out of most drinking, leaving them with easy access to blood. (She is capable of respecting the utilitarian benefits of easy access, even when it isn’t always her favorite path - particularly when it involves less obstacles, and not getting on a powerful figure’s bad side.)
Although the vampire’s traits do not always directly connect to their human half, Willow’s own vampire self seems to be a twisting of her own desire for confidence, to better express herself; as Willow occasionally wanted freedom from the responsibilities often thrusted upon her, vampire Willow eschewed all responsibilities not connected to her own preservation (following the Master's orders, as stated, but otherwise following a generally care free lifestyle.)
Thoughts of rewards can further drive her, whether in cash or otherwise – though she will get into trouble if she honestly believes she can get away with it.
Her playful and seemingly carefree personality, her absolute openness when it came to taking what she wanted – her general disregard for consequences, such as when she allowed Cordelia to escape her without a thought upon their first meeting (despite the girl bringing up the slayer), all reflect Willow’s resentment for being seen as the reliable and responsible one.
This is further emphasized by her occasional vindictiveness. Although it was not a major part of her personality, Willow enjoyed knowing that Giles was in a cage, unable to look away while she drained Cordllia; and she made a point of mentioning to Angel that the people he tried to save would soon be killed.
Another side effect of her newfound openness – as seen when she goosed her human self – was Willow’s sexuality. Her human side shifted from straight to lesbian, generally forming few relationships, all high in emotional content as much as physical. Her vampire side, on the other hand, was openly bisexual – and seemed to experience things mostly on a sensual level.
This is probably connected (in part) to the differences created by the wish that made her world. In mainstream buffyverse, Willow had friends who loved and cared for her, Buffy among them. In wishverse, she had parents who most likely (as in the mainstream verse) ignored her, and a Xander who (while human) probably continued to view her as nothing more than a friend, despite her occasionally obvious crush on him. This undoubtedly contributed to the shallow, overly-sexual relationships she formed. Without Buffy as a friend, or Buffy’s mother as a parental figure, it is likely Willow still maintains a well hidden wound (and uses her preoccupation with fun to avoid thinking about what she has given up, in rejecting her humanity.) Just as Angel continued thirsting after his father’s approval, and Spike still wanted his mother’s love, can not so easily get over the pains of their humanity; they simply shift the manner of how they deal with those pains, as Willow has done here.
In the course of two episodes, she touched and kissed Xander, licked her human self’s neck, and even straddling Angel during their torture sessions, in many cases playfully mixing her playful/childish actions with her sexual touches, in the same way she did her sadism - emphasizing it to the world, as part of her emancipation from her formerly geeky self. (Her confidence in herself may have also led to some minor narcissism – although she didn’t generally show any adoration with her own personality or reflection, she seemed actively turned on by the thought of pairing up with her own duplicate. In fact, human-Willow was among the only ones she spoke to in a mostly adult fashion, actively trying to bring over to the dark side, showing a fascination most likely fueled by her own rejection of her former humanity.)
This history also seemed to create a slight possessiveness; human Willow was generally willing to lend out to others – she didn’t seem to have too strict a sense of what was hers, although she could be very protective of things and people. Vampire Willow did not seem to get particularly jealous – she would share food, for example. But she would it subtly make clear that someone was hers, touching Xander in front of Cordelia while looking at her.
POWER:
Metaphysical strength; as in her own canon, Willow has superior strength to most humans – allowing her to lift several hundred pounds (For the purpose of the game, it starts to become a trues train around five hundred.)
This metaphysical strength allows her to leap high distances, as well as to run faster than the average human being (although her movements are not nearly fast enough to blur, she can reach a maximum of 30 miles per hour, with 20 being closer to the norm.)
Enhanced senses – Again as in her own canon, Willow can hear and smell far better than the average human – hearing a whispered conversation from ten feet away, and being able to track someone by scent similarly to a dog. In the game, her hearing will be further enhances – allowing her to hear the beatings of a heart when close enough.
Her sense of feel and taste are only slightly heightened, and are largely human.
Her sight is somewhere between the two, with good night vision and the ability to see sharp details on objects up to 30 feet away.
Transformation: Again canonically, all vampires are capable of shifting between their human and demon form – the latter being mostly human in appearance, with the exception of a ridged brow, yellow eyes, and teeth.
As when Angel visited Pylea, her transformation in the game will be more distinct than it was on her own world.
In vampire form, her body is physiologically dead – although blood continues to move through her body, her heart does not breathe, and she does not require air; because she is dead – with unnecessary systems shut down – she has far more endurance than an ordinary human, and can heal about three times faster than a normal human in this form, so long as she has a supply of blood to maintain her functioning.
She has no reflection, and – having no brain activity as such – is difficult if not impossible for most telepaths to read.
She is immune to bullets, and deadly poisons – although she can be paralyzed, or put to sleep, the same way a normal human can. Instead, she is weak to sunlight and fire, will burst into dust if staked through the heart with wood or beheaded, and cannot touch a holy item. Further, if she returns to human form while any poison or wound is affecting her, she will suffer the full affects a human would under those conditions.
As a human, she becomes alive; she loses all vampiric-based abilities, maintaining her strength and senses only – and trading out her vampire weaknesses for mortal ones.
Although she does not regain her soul in human form, the predatory instincts are somewhat less present, and she can enjoy human form (although it will not sustain her as a vampire – she must drink something, either human or animal, at least once once per day if she does not wish to suffer hunger pangs in her vampiric form. The longer she goes without, the more she will suffer upon return to her vampire form.
As in canon, particularly potent blood can give her a temporary boost – although any blood will do.)
[CHARACTER SAMPLES]
COMMUNITY POST (VOICE) SAMPLE:
[Video.]
[Viewers today will be treated to a pout – courtesy of a vampire far less than happy at her current predicament.] Don’t like this place. Everyone’s all… good. Heroes. Helping the helpless. Starting to think no one knows how to have fun…
[Ideally this is where she’d pan her cameras on a group of captured slaves; but as she’d rather not get dusted... and as it’s annoyingly difficult to get slaves when half the city seems to have super powers… sadly, the cameras stay strictly on her; she leans back – allowing some of her flesh to show amidst the leather.]
Unless you just don’t wanna play with me… I promise not to bit; much. And we could always go back to my world; if you know how. Bet we could have all sorts of fun there. [She’d toss them in a cage, for starters...] If you know how to get back…
Or we could just paint the town red. Bet we could have all sorts of fun. Me and you; stopping… crime… and stuff.
Or just stay at home. If you really wanna play. [That brings a more lavicious smile.] I… like… playing.
LOGS POST (PROSE) SAMPLE: The name of the game is introspection, folks. This sample will both showcase how you will play in the logs community, and how well you understand your character’s motivations, hopes, dreams, quirks, etc. This sample should be a bit longer than your first, and, again, make us cry, make us laugh, or make us never want to meet your character in a back alley and you’re doing a good job!
Additionally, this sample should also be set in-game, so we can get an idea how you will play this character in a collaborative environment.
A note: In the cases of both first person and third person samples, we do NOT accept links to samples written at other games. If, however, you are a returning player applying for a character that you have played previously at Cape&Cowl, you are allowed to link to posts made by that character in this game.
A deep growl emerged from the depths of Willow’s throat, as she stared from out between the buildings; a step. One step, she knew, and she could be out and about in the world. Out in the sun. She’d experienced it once already since arriving, the warmth of it against her skin…
The Master, she knew, would never approve. Willow wasn’t entirely sure what she thought of it herself. She was human… yet she didn’t feel weak. She could walk into the sunlight, could lift her eyes and stare into the sky… and still slink back into the shadows to become a vampire again.
The Master would tell her to reject it all; that being a vampire meant never being one of the human filth, only emerging for food… but the Master wasn’t here; and Willow, like her predecessor Darla, loved her comfort. Besides; there was prey to be had.
She closed her eyes and stepped outside, allowing the sunlight to strike her skin; warm, and for a moment she thought she would burst into flames after all. But she didn’t. The sunlight struck her hair, highlighting the red strands, and she tilted her face up to the warm rays; and she didn’t burst into flames. For a moment she dared to think she might like this place.
And then she heard it; cries, from up above – people flying. She could see another juggling fire, the little balls dancing across her fingertips. If she attacked, it would be over. If she attacked in the sight of so many, they would hunt her down. It was like having an army filled with slayers… “No fun,” she whispered, ignoring the odd looks given to her – glaring at someone who looked too close. If not for the sun she’d transform; if not for the heroes she’d show them a good time. But she couldn’t afford to risk being killed; not over something so stupid.
…Her puppy had drunk pigs’ blood, before his capture; she wasn’t willing to go that far, though; not when she still had a chance of luring someone into a hallway. When no one was around. She might even leave them alive – give the heroes one less thing to worry about. Or she could try to turn them – though that would lead too obvious a trail…
No. Willow didn’t want to risk getting caught; not after her last trip to another world, especially. She just wanted to have a little fun. Before this place got even more boring than the last…
FINAL NOTES:
Although it is not a super power, it may be worth noting that Willow was canonically a genius – although she has not made much use of it since becoming a vampire.
Her ability to fight was also initially magical in origin – all vampires wake up knowing how; she will be split off from the power that gave her this in the game – but already knowing, will not simply forget what she has already learned. (Like any human, however, she will need to practice if she wishes to remain sharp or improve.)
Willow is obviously very sexual in nature – an immature vampire who isn’t concerned much beyond the fulfillment of her immediate needs, and her continued survival. That said, I would very much like to watch how she could develop beyond that, if given time and motivation.
NAME: Kevin
AGE: 21
JOURNAL:
dragon8writer - but I don’t really go there often. At all.IM: dragon8writer on AIM
PLURK: dragon8writer
E-MAIL: dragon8writer.star@gmail.com.
RETURNING: one other – Primrose Everdeen. :)
[CHARACTER INFO]
CHARACTER NAME: Willow Rosenberg! AKA – Vampire Willow
SERIES: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
CHRONOLOGY: The end of Doppelgangland – when she was supposed to be getting sent home.
CLASS: Villain; though she can be an anti-hero in the right circumstances.
BACKGROUND:
Willow’s world is one of magic – technically a demonic dimension – originally shared with the Powers that Be, the Old Ones (ancient beings that had spilled over from another, theoretically less pleasant dimension) eventually chased them away to other dimensions, and completely overrunning the earth.
They were in turn overthrown, however, by humanity – though the how is unknown; only that, as they spread through the land, the old ones began to leave. It is likely that the Shadow Men had a hand in this. Ancient and powerful magic users, they trapped a girl, and forced her to take in power from a demon, thereby giving her the strength to fight others of its kind. The Scythe – a tool made specifically for them – was supposedly used to kill the last of the old ones who roamed this earth, implying that the first slayer co-existed alongside at least one of them.
Still, their demonic presence on the earth did not entirely disappear. They mixed with humanity, becoming more watered down and taking on more human features – often becoming bipedal, for example, or gaining the ability to resemble humans. This allowed them to live among humans, often in sewers, though occasionally at high levels of government – some even shifting back and forth between hell dimensions and our own universe to snatch up their pray.
The most notable – and most numerous – of these demons was the vampire, half breeds of demon and human who’s soul had been lost, and replaced by a demon. It was commonly accepted that they were created by the last of the Old Ones, due to the last of them them infecting a human with their own demonic essence –other reports conflict this, however; Illyria claimed that they were about when the Old Ones still roamed the earth, and the last of the Old Ones was supposedly killed by the scythe, rather than it simply leaving.
Despite their prolific nature, vampires generally inhabited the lowest rung among demon kind; although most demons on earth had some human blood mixed into their veins, those with a more recent “taint” are often looked down upon; Vampires in particular, for having been former human. Atop of that, their lack of prowess with magic – although they are capable of casting spells, they have by and large relied upon physical combat– may also contribute to their lesser status, when compared to those with special powers.
Regardless, their prolific nature – not only killing humans for food, but turning them as well – made them the most common enemy for a slayer, and they even became known as Vampire Slayers. When one died, another girl, one of multiple potentials, would receive her powers. Like the vampires themselves, these powers weakened over time as they became more and more distant from their progenitors, although they still remained far above normal humans.
Centuries later, demons continued to live, hidden among the human populace. Though most lived alone, or in small nests meant for hunting, a few of the older ones managed to develop followings – organizing “orders,” of their own progenies, and other weaker vampires. The Master in particular, and his Order of Aurelius, need to be noted here for their future effect on the world.
As old as he was, he had grown tremendously in power; the demon becoming powerful enough to permanently twist the once human visages, making it difficult for him to blend in with humans, and forcing him to wear a cloak when he traveled among them. Most of the time, however, he spent in the sewers. He rejected humanity at large, emerging only to feed or turn others, and worked hard in his attempt to return the Old Ones to the earth.
It was for that reason which he visited the hell mouth, in Sunnydale; a place where the dimensional walls were weaker, he could have opened a portal to where the ancient pure demons resided. Unfortunately for him, an earthquake hit mid ritual – and rather than releasing the old ones upon the earth, he instead became trapped underground.
It was sixty years later that he had his first chance to break free; in the original time line of his universe, his plans were foiled – by the current Vampire Slayer, Buffy Summers, her Watcher (one of the many in charge of guiding a slayer along their job) Rupert Giles, and her friends – Willow Rosenberg, and Xander Harris. Although he did eventually break free, it was only to be killed by her – and the hellmouth closed again. Though he managed to kill Buffy in the process, she was resuscitated by her friends, who together alongside her went on to battle a multitude of apocalypses, and keep both their town and the world at large relatively whole, if not exactly safe. They would have been joined by a multitude of others, friends and foes, including another slayer – awoken by Buffy’s brief death.
For this particular Willow, none of that happened. “Wishverse,” as it is occasionally referred to, was created when Cordelia Chase accidentally confided in a vengeance demon; her heart recently broken by Xander, she blamed Buffy for having every made her pay attention to the man, and wished that Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale. The affect was disastrous upon the town – and, to a large extent, upon Willow Rosenberg’s life.
Like her main verse self, Willow was born to Sheila and Ira Rosenberg, both of whom remained largely uninvolved in Willow’s life – a factor that would contribute both to her childish attitude as a vampire, and her confidence issues as a human.
During her high school years, she was relatively shy and somewhat nerdy, maintaining high grades in science, math, and computer classes, as well as a crush on her childhood friend Xander. In wishverse, this crush was never admitted while she lived - because Buffy, who would have been her best friend, never came to Sunnydale.
She was relatively shy and somewhat nerdy girl during her early high school years, Willow maintained high grades in science, math, and computer classes. She also maintained a crush on her childhood friend Xander, which – as Buffy never came to Sunnydale – she never admitted to anyone while still alive.
Also without Buffy, no one was able to stop the Master’s rise. As there were no Old Ones raging about the town of Sunnydale, and the school – located directly over the hell mouth – remained operational, it is likely that Giles (still located in Sunnydale) was able to stop the completion of his plans. But this did not stop the Master from taking over his town.
The town – which had so far managed to live in denial – was no forced to accept the presence of vampires in their midst. They stopped wearing bright colors, for fear of attracting attention; they went home with the sunset, to avoid getting caught, stopped hanging out at the Bronze, Sunnydale’s only club. Instead, it became the Master’s headquarters, wherein humans were often kept in cages.
The only real resistance was Giles, and a group of students he led. Although they were capable of saving individual humans, their resistance was so ineffectual that they were jokingly called the white hats by vampires; avoided as an inconvenience, but not taken seriously as a threat to their rule.
At some unidentified point of his rule, both Willow and Xander were turned by the Master, becoming his right hands. Their relationship, never more than friendship as a human, altered dramatically once they were vampires. Although Willow’s love for him seemed to dwindle, they nevertheless became lovers, at least physically. Sexual content became the norm in fact, with her generally touching and stroking him as a matter of course.
She became something of a dominatrix, enjoying torture – particularly that of Angel, the vampire with a soul, wearing tight leather clothes, and adopting an extremely childish persona, often pouting about boredom.
As the Master’s right hand, she also took a part in the Master’s plan to make Sunnydale the center of mass blood production, kidnapping humans for the cages and draining their blood with machinery for easier drinking. Unfortunately for her, this was the point where Cordelia came to her world, thanks to the wish. Her talk of Buffy Summers resulted in the Master ordering her death – but not before she piqued Giles’s interest. He placed a call to Buffy’s watcher in that world (in Cleveland), drawing the slayer to Sunnydale, where she moved to attack the vampire stronghold.
In the process of her attack, she killed Xander – dying herself shortly afterwards, although Willow missed it. Willow herself was pushed backwards by two of the white hands, towards a projecting piece of wood; she would have been killed (and was, in her original episode), but was rescued by a spell cast by the human willow in the main verse.
In that universe, the Master of course had failed in his plans, and Willow had never become a vampire; Sunnydale had gone on (by and large) without knowing about vampires. People wore bright clothes, visited the Bronze, and didn’t go back home before sundown. The entire thing was not only confusing to Willow, but “boring” by comparison to her own world.
Willow’s solution was to take the place over; to make it as “fun” as the vampire-run place she had come from; unfortunately, her dislike of responsibility, and her impulsive idea of fun, made for a varying plan. At first it started with taking minions down to the bronze, to turn people; then, when Anya – the vengeance demon who had initially sent Cordelia to that world – appeared, it changed. By capturing her human self, she thought she could force the witch to send her back.
That plan also shifted when she saw her human form, and she shifted again to her thoughts about making the main verse fun; she was struck by the urge to turn her human self, to make this version like herself, and together conquer the town… but the human willow managed to knock her out with a tranquilizer, and the whole thing came crashing down around her ears. She was nearly killed by the slayer, and only saved by being an alternate of Buffy’s own friend.
Instead, beaten and defeated, Willow was indeed returned to her own universe. To the exact time and place, in fact – where she was again to be pushed back upon the wooden stake, and killed.
For the sake of the game, I’d prefer if Porter intercepted her on the way home, taking her to the City.
PERSONALITY:
Human-Willow (at this point in canon) was often shy, unwilling or unable to stand up for herself when she thought things were unfair. By contrast, vampire Willow tends to be outspoken – though she didn’t always use words to communicate. When pleading with her world’s version of Xander, for example, she preferred whimpers in lieu of an actual argument. Similarly, when she wanted another vampire to work for her (in “doppelgangland”), she did not tell them to shift allegiances – she asked them who they worked for, and broke a finger each time they asked her wrong.
This isn’t to say that she's incapable of normal speech, or even that she necessarily disliked it – she had relatively normal conversations with both Cordelia, and her own human alternate, among others. But she seemed to enjoy cultivating a playful - often childish - persona, somewhat like Drusilla (another vampire on her world),although less insane. (The similarity may even have been on purpose, due to her fondness for tormenting her “puppy,” AKA Angel, the vampire that sired Drusilla in the first place.) Regardless of her other intents, however, her “playful” side serves to offset the sadism that has Willow portrayed since becoming a vampire, on level with some of the worst from her race. Between pouting facial expressions, and calls of “puppy,” she would playfully drop matches upon Angel’s chest to watch him burn.
Fueled by the predatory nature of her inner demon, Vampire-Willow claimed to love the thrill of chasing down a human, apparently relishing it as much as the kill itself– her love of the latter reminding the Master of his younger days. Where some vampires are content simply to feed, and others seem to treat pain as an art, Willow drew her drive from a combination of the two. The moment she was denied either the fun of the chase, or the thrill of the kill, she seemed to lose interest – becoming moody and despondent at any obstacle. For example, when presented by Wesley’s rather weak attempt to stop her with a cross and holy water, she didn’t even bother get past him to her prey, but rather rolled her eyes and left, apparently bored now that her chase had been interrupted.
Unlike Angelus – another vampire - , for whom pain seemed a form of art, Willow has historically treated it as simple entertainment – good so long as nothing is in her way, but not a strict requirement if something is more pressing. When actually ordered to kill Cordelia, for example, she simply did so – with no attempts to play along the way. And when presented with a slayer - even one who had killed her lover - she mostly wandered away in disgust. Where some have been willing to cut out their own hearts for the chance at revenge, Willow marks self-preservation first and foremost, and (despite her sadistic love of power) will cause trouble only when she feels she can get away with it.
This means in a city of heroes, she is extremely unlikely to go on a killing spree – or even to kill anyone at all, unless convinced no one will stake her for the trouble. Though this will cause her to mope, she will bounce back easily enough if given other (more willing) venues for blood and play.
It is important to note that, she was willing to go forward with the Masters plan of “mass production” – the drawing of blood from humans via a machine - which would remove the hunt (and fun) out of most drinking, leaving them with easy access to blood. (She is capable of respecting the utilitarian benefits of easy access, even when it isn’t always her favorite path - particularly when it involves less obstacles, and not getting on a powerful figure’s bad side.)
Although the vampire’s traits do not always directly connect to their human half, Willow’s own vampire self seems to be a twisting of her own desire for confidence, to better express herself; as Willow occasionally wanted freedom from the responsibilities often thrusted upon her, vampire Willow eschewed all responsibilities not connected to her own preservation (following the Master's orders, as stated, but otherwise following a generally care free lifestyle.)
Thoughts of rewards can further drive her, whether in cash or otherwise – though she will get into trouble if she honestly believes she can get away with it.
Her playful and seemingly carefree personality, her absolute openness when it came to taking what she wanted – her general disregard for consequences, such as when she allowed Cordelia to escape her without a thought upon their first meeting (despite the girl bringing up the slayer), all reflect Willow’s resentment for being seen as the reliable and responsible one.
This is further emphasized by her occasional vindictiveness. Although it was not a major part of her personality, Willow enjoyed knowing that Giles was in a cage, unable to look away while she drained Cordllia; and she made a point of mentioning to Angel that the people he tried to save would soon be killed.
Another side effect of her newfound openness – as seen when she goosed her human self – was Willow’s sexuality. Her human side shifted from straight to lesbian, generally forming few relationships, all high in emotional content as much as physical. Her vampire side, on the other hand, was openly bisexual – and seemed to experience things mostly on a sensual level.
This is probably connected (in part) to the differences created by the wish that made her world. In mainstream buffyverse, Willow had friends who loved and cared for her, Buffy among them. In wishverse, she had parents who most likely (as in the mainstream verse) ignored her, and a Xander who (while human) probably continued to view her as nothing more than a friend, despite her occasionally obvious crush on him. This undoubtedly contributed to the shallow, overly-sexual relationships she formed. Without Buffy as a friend, or Buffy’s mother as a parental figure, it is likely Willow still maintains a well hidden wound (and uses her preoccupation with fun to avoid thinking about what she has given up, in rejecting her humanity.) Just as Angel continued thirsting after his father’s approval, and Spike still wanted his mother’s love, can not so easily get over the pains of their humanity; they simply shift the manner of how they deal with those pains, as Willow has done here.
In the course of two episodes, she touched and kissed Xander, licked her human self’s neck, and even straddling Angel during their torture sessions, in many cases playfully mixing her playful/childish actions with her sexual touches, in the same way she did her sadism - emphasizing it to the world, as part of her emancipation from her formerly geeky self. (Her confidence in herself may have also led to some minor narcissism – although she didn’t generally show any adoration with her own personality or reflection, she seemed actively turned on by the thought of pairing up with her own duplicate. In fact, human-Willow was among the only ones she spoke to in a mostly adult fashion, actively trying to bring over to the dark side, showing a fascination most likely fueled by her own rejection of her former humanity.)
This history also seemed to create a slight possessiveness; human Willow was generally willing to lend out to others – she didn’t seem to have too strict a sense of what was hers, although she could be very protective of things and people. Vampire Willow did not seem to get particularly jealous – she would share food, for example. But she would it subtly make clear that someone was hers, touching Xander in front of Cordelia while looking at her.
POWER:
Metaphysical strength; as in her own canon, Willow has superior strength to most humans – allowing her to lift several hundred pounds (For the purpose of the game, it starts to become a trues train around five hundred.)
This metaphysical strength allows her to leap high distances, as well as to run faster than the average human being (although her movements are not nearly fast enough to blur, she can reach a maximum of 30 miles per hour, with 20 being closer to the norm.)
Enhanced senses – Again as in her own canon, Willow can hear and smell far better than the average human – hearing a whispered conversation from ten feet away, and being able to track someone by scent similarly to a dog. In the game, her hearing will be further enhances – allowing her to hear the beatings of a heart when close enough.
Her sense of feel and taste are only slightly heightened, and are largely human.
Her sight is somewhere between the two, with good night vision and the ability to see sharp details on objects up to 30 feet away.
Transformation: Again canonically, all vampires are capable of shifting between their human and demon form – the latter being mostly human in appearance, with the exception of a ridged brow, yellow eyes, and teeth.
As when Angel visited Pylea, her transformation in the game will be more distinct than it was on her own world.
In vampire form, her body is physiologically dead – although blood continues to move through her body, her heart does not breathe, and she does not require air; because she is dead – with unnecessary systems shut down – she has far more endurance than an ordinary human, and can heal about three times faster than a normal human in this form, so long as she has a supply of blood to maintain her functioning.
She has no reflection, and – having no brain activity as such – is difficult if not impossible for most telepaths to read.
She is immune to bullets, and deadly poisons – although she can be paralyzed, or put to sleep, the same way a normal human can. Instead, she is weak to sunlight and fire, will burst into dust if staked through the heart with wood or beheaded, and cannot touch a holy item. Further, if she returns to human form while any poison or wound is affecting her, she will suffer the full affects a human would under those conditions.
As a human, she becomes alive; she loses all vampiric-based abilities, maintaining her strength and senses only – and trading out her vampire weaknesses for mortal ones.
Although she does not regain her soul in human form, the predatory instincts are somewhat less present, and she can enjoy human form (although it will not sustain her as a vampire – she must drink something, either human or animal, at least once once per day if she does not wish to suffer hunger pangs in her vampiric form. The longer she goes without, the more she will suffer upon return to her vampire form.
As in canon, particularly potent blood can give her a temporary boost – although any blood will do.)
[CHARACTER SAMPLES]
COMMUNITY POST (VOICE) SAMPLE:
[Video.]
[Viewers today will be treated to a pout – courtesy of a vampire far less than happy at her current predicament.] Don’t like this place. Everyone’s all… good. Heroes. Helping the helpless. Starting to think no one knows how to have fun…
[Ideally this is where she’d pan her cameras on a group of captured slaves; but as she’d rather not get dusted... and as it’s annoyingly difficult to get slaves when half the city seems to have super powers… sadly, the cameras stay strictly on her; she leans back – allowing some of her flesh to show amidst the leather.]
Unless you just don’t wanna play with me… I promise not to bit; much. And we could always go back to my world; if you know how. Bet we could have all sorts of fun there. [She’d toss them in a cage, for starters...] If you know how to get back…
Or we could just paint the town red. Bet we could have all sorts of fun. Me and you; stopping… crime… and stuff.
Or just stay at home. If you really wanna play. [That brings a more lavicious smile.] I… like… playing.
LOGS POST (PROSE) SAMPLE: The name of the game is introspection, folks. This sample will both showcase how you will play in the logs community, and how well you understand your character’s motivations, hopes, dreams, quirks, etc. This sample should be a bit longer than your first, and, again, make us cry, make us laugh, or make us never want to meet your character in a back alley and you’re doing a good job!
Additionally, this sample should also be set in-game, so we can get an idea how you will play this character in a collaborative environment.
A note: In the cases of both first person and third person samples, we do NOT accept links to samples written at other games. If, however, you are a returning player applying for a character that you have played previously at Cape&Cowl, you are allowed to link to posts made by that character in this game.
A deep growl emerged from the depths of Willow’s throat, as she stared from out between the buildings; a step. One step, she knew, and she could be out and about in the world. Out in the sun. She’d experienced it once already since arriving, the warmth of it against her skin…
The Master, she knew, would never approve. Willow wasn’t entirely sure what she thought of it herself. She was human… yet she didn’t feel weak. She could walk into the sunlight, could lift her eyes and stare into the sky… and still slink back into the shadows to become a vampire again.
The Master would tell her to reject it all; that being a vampire meant never being one of the human filth, only emerging for food… but the Master wasn’t here; and Willow, like her predecessor Darla, loved her comfort. Besides; there was prey to be had.
She closed her eyes and stepped outside, allowing the sunlight to strike her skin; warm, and for a moment she thought she would burst into flames after all. But she didn’t. The sunlight struck her hair, highlighting the red strands, and she tilted her face up to the warm rays; and she didn’t burst into flames. For a moment she dared to think she might like this place.
And then she heard it; cries, from up above – people flying. She could see another juggling fire, the little balls dancing across her fingertips. If she attacked, it would be over. If she attacked in the sight of so many, they would hunt her down. It was like having an army filled with slayers… “No fun,” she whispered, ignoring the odd looks given to her – glaring at someone who looked too close. If not for the sun she’d transform; if not for the heroes she’d show them a good time. But she couldn’t afford to risk being killed; not over something so stupid.
…Her puppy had drunk pigs’ blood, before his capture; she wasn’t willing to go that far, though; not when she still had a chance of luring someone into a hallway. When no one was around. She might even leave them alive – give the heroes one less thing to worry about. Or she could try to turn them – though that would lead too obvious a trail…
No. Willow didn’t want to risk getting caught; not after her last trip to another world, especially. She just wanted to have a little fun. Before this place got even more boring than the last…
FINAL NOTES:
Although it is not a super power, it may be worth noting that Willow was canonically a genius – although she has not made much use of it since becoming a vampire.
Her ability to fight was also initially magical in origin – all vampires wake up knowing how; she will be split off from the power that gave her this in the game – but already knowing, will not simply forget what she has already learned. (Like any human, however, she will need to practice if she wishes to remain sharp or improve.)
Willow is obviously very sexual in nature – an immature vampire who isn’t concerned much beyond the fulfillment of her immediate needs, and her continued survival. That said, I would very much like to watch how she could develop beyond that, if given time and motivation.
