![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
app: escordvi
PLAYER INFO
CHARACTER INFO
ARMADA SELECTION
Zenyatta could fit into either armada- he's all about balance! On one hand he's very much a free spirit, and believes wholeheartedly that everyone must find their own path in life. The world can be charted, yes, but first and foremost it should be experienced; as such Zenyatta lives in the moment, perhaps a little capriciously, as part of his personal journey to uncover the secrets of the universe and the Iris itself. He also maintains a certain level of distrust in traditional structures of law and order, prone as they are to corruption and bias. Basically he'd be more of a heroic, adventurous sort of Corsair, out to follow the stars and chase the horizon- too much order can blind a man to the beauty of the world, after all.
On the other hand, Zenyatta cannot endorse selfishness, particularly not when it leads to the suffering of others. Fundamentally he's an advocate for peace, and his wanderlust is equally a manifestation of that: discovery can become understanding, and understanding can become unity with the world and its inhabitants. Unchecked chaos, to his mind, inevitably devolves into the strong devouring the weak, and into those most in need being left with scraps. Yes, he believes in redemption, but he could never stand idly by and allow cruelty to go unchallenged. As a Paladin he'd be unafraid to reject orders from above and ultimately act as an advocate for the disenfranchised, with an occasional and unfortunate habit of trying to rehabilitate criminals.
SAMPLE
![[discord.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_other.png){kind=small}
CHARACTER INFO
Character: Zenyatta
Canon: Overwatch (as of October '24)
Age: 33
Background Information: wiki
Personality:
1) Tell us about who your character is and what someone’s first impression would be upon meeting them.
Zen by name, Zen by nature. On meeting the omnic himself it seems difficult to imagine that anything could get under Zenyatta's titanium plating; even in the heat of battle he remains almost comically serene, usually with a wise proverb or revelation to share, too. An intelligent, philosophical man, he spends much of his time deep in meditation, contemplating the existential mysteries of life and his own place within it as a thinking, feeling individual- which he quite adamantly is. Like his Shambali brethren he follows a Buddhist-esque ideology that strives to reach what they refer to as the Iris, a kind of metaphysical nirvana through which all life is harmoniously intertwined. Even moreso than most of his brothers and sisters, he is highly sensitive to the Iris' ebb and flow and treats his subsequent intuition as a virtual sixth sense, lending him an air of mystique and a spiritual, almost lyrical way of conceptualising the world around him.
In fact, sometimes he can be just a little too insightful for his own good, seeming at times to understand others better than they understand themselves. Not everyone appreciates his tendency to matter-of-factly lay out the mysteries of their personality. Being intuitive does not mean he is also polite, after all, and though he tries to be tactful it can be unnerving to be on the receiving end of his cryptic little summations of your soul. It's for your own good.
For the most part though he is a gentle, grounding presence, ever a friendly face or a shoulder to cry on in a crisis. While you might expect a monk to be reserved- with that lofty monotone you'd think he would be above chitchat- it's obvious that Zenyatta loves meeting new people and learning all about them. Often he plays on the expectations of others as a way to deflect aggression and tension without seeming cruel or dismissive; one of his emotes involves him fist-bumping himself, while another is a stern warrior's stance that immediately drops into a playful taunt.
2) What is a driving force your character has? What goals do they have, what motivates them, etc?
Zenyatta was born into a world where he was first a mindless commodity, then cannon fodder, and then a second class citizen, inspiring fear and loathing in a great many humans. After all the pain he's seen, he wants to make the world a better, safer and more harmonious place. His master, Mondatta, chose dogma and cultural movements. Zenyatta believes that the world can be changed only through individual change. He has a seemingly endless capacity for empathy, driven by his curiosity and his belief that any soul can be reached, no matter how dark or twisted it may seem- he himself was saved by the Shambali after his Awakening, after all. These days he has something of a sixth sense for lost souls, and, for better or worse, will not rest until he has reached them in some way, no matter how insignificant. Real change can only come from within, but sometimes a little guidance is necessary to set them on the right path.
In that respect there's real steel under the softness. Zenyatta is also doggedly persistent; though Genji initially resisted his teachings, presumably while he was at his most hopeless and aggressive, he eventually does win him over not only as a student but as one of his closest friends. While part of it is simply innate in his personality, it's also the kind of determination born out of personal suffering; although his past has not yet been explored in canon, as an omnic he has faced prejudice on almost every level. It's this that sets him apart from his brother Mondatta, and part of what drives his general philosophy of forging connections between all sentient beings based on sympathy and understanding rather than doctrine alone. This, he believes, is what the Iris truly represents.
An additional motivator is his curiosity. Part of the reason he chose to leave the Shambali was to explore the world, and that goes double for the people living in it- there's a reason why Blizzard lists one of his occupations as "adventurer".
3) What are their flaws as a character? What is something they've messed up, or have done that they regret?
On the other hand, Zenyatta's spirituality means that he can sometimes wax a little too lyrical. He can lead even the most casual conversations into a philosophy lesson- though he is, at least, a patient teacher, albeit an infuriatingly obscure one. Some find his demeanour a little smug or self-righteous, even moreso when he takes it upon himself to ask sudden, penetrating questions or, worse still, imply that their soul is troubled. At best, it can come off as sheer nosiness.
Likewise, his serenity can easily get peoples' backs up. Given how difficult he can be to read- he doesn't have a face, after all, and speaks in a near-monotone- and how uninclined he is to explain himself at times, he can be just plain annoying to deal with. He's also, in spite of his wisdom, still a little on the naive side. Three years of servitude lead to two of drone warfare, and then, shortly after gaining sentience, a healthy chunk of time spent in a monastery before Zeyatta was in any place to experience the world. There's a lot for him to learn, particularly when it comes to humans.
4) Optional: What is something unique and interesting about them, or what is a fun little tidbit that sets them apart from the crowd?
Zenyatta is absolutely not a pacifist, and will not hesitate to use force where diplomacy fails. In battle he comments that, while he does not take any pleasure in slaying his foes, nor does he feel remorse for it- he's seen too much pain in the world to stand by and allow it to flourish when action could end it. Ugly as death may be, it is inevitable. Without discord, there cannot be harmony.
Also, on a lighter note, Zenyatta is surprisingly mischievous for a former monk! Over time he's managed to develop a rather dry wit, although, having only recently come to appreciate certain aspects of human language, he's certainly not above a good pun either. He's quick to laugh and enjoys a little teasing here and there, where he knows it will not offend.
Abilities & Inventory: To that end, he carrises nine levitating metal orbs (see the wiki). In short, they act as conduits for Zenyatta's spiritual power, which he uses to channel positive and negative energy; Harmony orbs heal, while Discord orbs can not only cause physical damage in projectile form but also attach to a target and cause them to experience intense feelings of doubt, fear and despair.
In a pinch, he can also reach Transcendence, a temporary state of immortality that radiates healing energy to those within range of its light. This should probably be nerfed- Zenyatta will only be able to reach Transcendence in dire situations, and will only do so for a matter of seconds. Afterwards he'll be exhausted, mentally and physically, and will require rest and meditation before he can channel any kind of energy at all.
Canon: Overwatch (as of October '24)
Age: 33
Background Information: wiki
Personality:
1) Tell us about who your character is and what someone’s first impression would be upon meeting them.
Zen by name, Zen by nature. On meeting the omnic himself it seems difficult to imagine that anything could get under Zenyatta's titanium plating; even in the heat of battle he remains almost comically serene, usually with a wise proverb or revelation to share, too. An intelligent, philosophical man, he spends much of his time deep in meditation, contemplating the existential mysteries of life and his own place within it as a thinking, feeling individual- which he quite adamantly is. Like his Shambali brethren he follows a Buddhist-esque ideology that strives to reach what they refer to as the Iris, a kind of metaphysical nirvana through which all life is harmoniously intertwined. Even moreso than most of his brothers and sisters, he is highly sensitive to the Iris' ebb and flow and treats his subsequent intuition as a virtual sixth sense, lending him an air of mystique and a spiritual, almost lyrical way of conceptualising the world around him.
In fact, sometimes he can be just a little too insightful for his own good, seeming at times to understand others better than they understand themselves. Not everyone appreciates his tendency to matter-of-factly lay out the mysteries of their personality. Being intuitive does not mean he is also polite, after all, and though he tries to be tactful it can be unnerving to be on the receiving end of his cryptic little summations of your soul. It's for your own good.
For the most part though he is a gentle, grounding presence, ever a friendly face or a shoulder to cry on in a crisis. While you might expect a monk to be reserved- with that lofty monotone you'd think he would be above chitchat- it's obvious that Zenyatta loves meeting new people and learning all about them. Often he plays on the expectations of others as a way to deflect aggression and tension without seeming cruel or dismissive; one of his emotes involves him fist-bumping himself, while another is a stern warrior's stance that immediately drops into a playful taunt.
2) What is a driving force your character has? What goals do they have, what motivates them, etc?
Zenyatta was born into a world where he was first a mindless commodity, then cannon fodder, and then a second class citizen, inspiring fear and loathing in a great many humans. After all the pain he's seen, he wants to make the world a better, safer and more harmonious place. His master, Mondatta, chose dogma and cultural movements. Zenyatta believes that the world can be changed only through individual change. He has a seemingly endless capacity for empathy, driven by his curiosity and his belief that any soul can be reached, no matter how dark or twisted it may seem- he himself was saved by the Shambali after his Awakening, after all. These days he has something of a sixth sense for lost souls, and, for better or worse, will not rest until he has reached them in some way, no matter how insignificant. Real change can only come from within, but sometimes a little guidance is necessary to set them on the right path.
In that respect there's real steel under the softness. Zenyatta is also doggedly persistent; though Genji initially resisted his teachings, presumably while he was at his most hopeless and aggressive, he eventually does win him over not only as a student but as one of his closest friends. While part of it is simply innate in his personality, it's also the kind of determination born out of personal suffering; although his past has not yet been explored in canon, as an omnic he has faced prejudice on almost every level. It's this that sets him apart from his brother Mondatta, and part of what drives his general philosophy of forging connections between all sentient beings based on sympathy and understanding rather than doctrine alone. This, he believes, is what the Iris truly represents.
An additional motivator is his curiosity. Part of the reason he chose to leave the Shambali was to explore the world, and that goes double for the people living in it- there's a reason why Blizzard lists one of his occupations as "adventurer".
3) What are their flaws as a character? What is something they've messed up, or have done that they regret?
On the other hand, Zenyatta's spirituality means that he can sometimes wax a little too lyrical. He can lead even the most casual conversations into a philosophy lesson- though he is, at least, a patient teacher, albeit an infuriatingly obscure one. Some find his demeanour a little smug or self-righteous, even moreso when he takes it upon himself to ask sudden, penetrating questions or, worse still, imply that their soul is troubled. At best, it can come off as sheer nosiness.
Likewise, his serenity can easily get peoples' backs up. Given how difficult he can be to read- he doesn't have a face, after all, and speaks in a near-monotone- and how uninclined he is to explain himself at times, he can be just plain annoying to deal with. He's also, in spite of his wisdom, still a little on the naive side. Three years of servitude lead to two of drone warfare, and then, shortly after gaining sentience, a healthy chunk of time spent in a monastery before Zeyatta was in any place to experience the world. There's a lot for him to learn, particularly when it comes to humans.
4) Optional: What is something unique and interesting about them, or what is a fun little tidbit that sets them apart from the crowd?
Zenyatta is absolutely not a pacifist, and will not hesitate to use force where diplomacy fails. In battle he comments that, while he does not take any pleasure in slaying his foes, nor does he feel remorse for it- he's seen too much pain in the world to stand by and allow it to flourish when action could end it. Ugly as death may be, it is inevitable. Without discord, there cannot be harmony.
Also, on a lighter note, Zenyatta is surprisingly mischievous for a former monk! Over time he's managed to develop a rather dry wit, although, having only recently come to appreciate certain aspects of human language, he's certainly not above a good pun either. He's quick to laugh and enjoys a little teasing here and there, where he knows it will not offend.
Abilities & Inventory: To that end, he carrises nine levitating metal orbs (see the wiki). In short, they act as conduits for Zenyatta's spiritual power, which he uses to channel positive and negative energy; Harmony orbs heal, while Discord orbs can not only cause physical damage in projectile form but also attach to a target and cause them to experience intense feelings of doubt, fear and despair.
In a pinch, he can also reach Transcendence, a temporary state of immortality that radiates healing energy to those within range of its light. This should probably be nerfed- Zenyatta will only be able to reach Transcendence in dire situations, and will only do so for a matter of seconds. Afterwards he'll be exhausted, mentally and physically, and will require rest and meditation before he can channel any kind of energy at all.
ARMADA SELECTION
Zenyatta could fit into either armada- he's all about balance! On one hand he's very much a free spirit, and believes wholeheartedly that everyone must find their own path in life. The world can be charted, yes, but first and foremost it should be experienced; as such Zenyatta lives in the moment, perhaps a little capriciously, as part of his personal journey to uncover the secrets of the universe and the Iris itself. He also maintains a certain level of distrust in traditional structures of law and order, prone as they are to corruption and bias. Basically he'd be more of a heroic, adventurous sort of Corsair, out to follow the stars and chase the horizon- too much order can blind a man to the beauty of the world, after all.
On the other hand, Zenyatta cannot endorse selfishness, particularly not when it leads to the suffering of others. Fundamentally he's an advocate for peace, and his wanderlust is equally a manifestation of that: discovery can become understanding, and understanding can become unity with the world and its inhabitants. Unchecked chaos, to his mind, inevitably devolves into the strong devouring the weak, and into those most in need being left with scraps. Yes, he believes in redemption, but he could never stand idly by and allow cruelty to go unchallenged. As a Paladin he'd be unafraid to reject orders from above and ultimately act as an advocate for the disenfranchised, with an occasional and unfortunate habit of trying to rehabilitate criminals.
SAMPLE