Individual
Character's full name: Rowan Gray
Alias/ Nickname/ Code name: "Monster" given by mother
Gender: AFAB, but uses He/They pronouns.
Age: Fourteen
Date of Birth: 11/25/2006
Birthplace/ Home/ Place of origin: Was born in England, in a village called Hambledon, but was recently moved to the United States.
Nationality: British
Ethnicity/ Cultural Heritage: White European
Appearance
Hair color and style: Rowan's hair is mousy brown. It's chopped short and messy, clearly their own work.
Skin Tone: Fair and freckled skin tone.
Eye Color: Hazel
Height: Just about five feet tall, insists they are 5'1
Build: Slim, maybe a bit slimmer than the average teen. Struggles to keep weight on given how much energy their mutation uses.
Visible mutation: One might occasionally catch a glimpse of a sharp tooth.
Scars/ Tattoos/ Piercings: Has a scar, maybe two inches long, on their upper lip, that ends at their cheek.
Other features: Fingernails are always chewed short.
Everyday clothing style: Rowan wears clothes that are probably a size too large for them. Rowan gets uncomfortable when the fabrics touches them. These clothes all appear to be hand-me-downs.
Uniform: Standard - Male
Sleepwear: Oversized T-shirt and shorts.
Miscellaneous clothing: Dislikes shoes.
Character
Personality: Rowan, initially, comes off as a very grumpy and stand-offish teenager. He has a near constant scowl, often refuses eye contact, and won't speak to strangers. If forced to speak they curt and dismissive. Rowan rarely asks for help, and will push himself to the point of exhaustion to avoid depending on others. He also struggles to share, especially food and clothes, hoarding and hiding things that are given to him. Digging deeper its obvious that Rowan's aggressive defensiveness is from some sort of abuse or trauma.
If one was to get to know Rowan they would find he is surprisingly sweet and shy. Well, shy until you get him talking about a subject he is passionate about. He struggles with praise, and wants to make those he is loyal to proud.
Hobbies/ Interests: Like most teenagers Rowan is into video games, card collecting, and getting into places they shouldn't be. Mainly abandoned buildings and very tall trees.
Job or part time job and description: Student, currently struggling through 7th grade.
Fears/ phobias/ concerns: Is fearful around loud noises, especially yelling and thunder. Scared of needles and most medical settings. Is uncomfortable around women, especially older women.
Special talents: Rowan is pretty good at climbing things and squeezing into small places, skills learned from their time urban exploring.
Morality
Good/ bad/ neutral/ other: Rowan would like to have a more good and positive morality and outlook on life, but has recently grown more cynical. Their mutation doesn't help this (nor does being a teenager)
Mutations
Mutation description:
Rowan refers to his mutation as his Monster Form, and it's clear to see why. Rowan has the ability to shift into a
terrible creature. It is wolf like in appearance but with just enough strange traits; elongated teeth and claws as well as sharp, bone like, protrusions from his back, that they more resemble a mythical werewolf than a normal wolf. Rowan's monster form is large, maybe six feet from snout to tail and three feet from floor to shoulder. Rowan doesn't appear to like his mutation very much, avoiding talking about it.
There is also what Rowan, silently, calls the "sweet spot" the halfway between human and monster. In this form Rowan's teeth and nails sharpen and his strength increases significantly from his human form. The best part, however, is that in this sweet spot Rowan remains in control of his actions. He has never been able to stay in this form for more than a few seconds before tumbling into his monster form. A lesser form of this can be seen when Rowan starts to get overwhelmed, especially angry or stressed. His hair grows slightly, his teeth and nails sharpen, and his eyes appear more beast-like.
Strengths:
Rowan's monster form was built for battle. In his monster form Rowan becomes extremely strong and resilient. Teeth and claws with the ability to rend flesh and metal alike. A thickened hide capable of shrugging off, almost, any physical attack. The monster is also rather quick, capable of speeds similar to a wolf. And it should be mentioned that the Monster is a bit of a demoralizing presence for enemies. It is rather frightening watching a soft spoken teenager turn into a nightmare. Rowan can 'talk' in his monster form, but this is mostly gravely shouts of rage. Any words spoken by the monster are always done in a growl, but it can occasionally get a point across. The point being 'I am mad and I hate you'.
Weaknesses and Limitations:
Rowan's mutation comes with several, many debilitating, weaknesses. Firstly, and perhaps the largest drawback of his Mutation, is that Rowan has almost no control over his Monster form. He doesn't get to pick when he shifts, this shift occurs when Rowan is under a great amount of stress, especially fear. He has enough willpower to tell friend from foe, mostly. The Monster simply charges and attacks what it interprets as the largest threat. But during a battle Rowan will take no direction, no tactics, and no prisoners. A complete blind frenzy. The Monster also doesn't understand retreat. Rowan could be terribly injured, and yet continue to fight.
His transformation also doesn't last very long. The exact duration varies depending on how much Rowan had to eat and drink that day, but it rarely lasts over fifteen minutes. Once this timer is up Rowan shifts back into his human form, completely exhausted and often unable to stand or walk. And while the Monster sees impervious to pain Rowan is not, and he will immediately feel his wounds catch up to him.
Rowan has never shifted twice in one day, but suspects if given enough rest, food and medicine, he might be able to shift again (not that he would really want to)
Physical Abilities
General Physical Capabilities: In human form Rowan has slightly above average strength, speed, reflexes, stamina and flexibility, Nothing to brag about, but their mutation just sets them barely over a normal teenager. In Monster form, however, Rowan get's a significant boost to his strength and speed. His reflexes and flexibility get slightly better, but in Monster form Rowan is more likely to tank an attack then dodge it. His stamina, however, drops greatly. It takes a lot of energy to maintain his Monster form.
Fighting Style: 100% blind aggression.
Fighting Style Pros/Cons: Firstly, Rowan can only really fight if they are in their Monster form. A fourteen year old really won't put up much of a fight, even if they are a mutant. Rowan's Monster form, while physically powerful, has very little style or grace. It is completely aggressive with no strategy, meaning they can be thrown off their rhythm very easily. This, along with all the other drawbacks of his mutation (short time limit, very little control, etc.) Rowan's lack of control also makes him difficult to partner with during fights, as once they frenzy there is very little that will stop them and they will rarely take directions.
History Of Your Character
Rowan did not grow up in a particularly nurturing household. His father was a truck driver, and was often gone from the home for long periods of time. Thus, Rowan never really formed a relationship with his dad. His mother, on the other hand, he did form a relationship with. Albeit a very negative one. His mother, throughout his childhood, abused him terribly. She seemed to blame young Rowan for his father leaving so often for work. At first the abuse was only verbal and emotional. But as Rowan grew older the abuse became more physical. Rowan didn't really mind the occasional smack or shove, he prided himself on being a tough kid.
He first realized he was a mutant shortly after his eleventh birthday. When his mother threatened him with a kitchen knife. Something about this felt...different from the other times she would threaten him. Maybe it was the smell of alcohol, or the thunderstorm raging outside. But Rowan was terrified.
The next thing he remembers is coming to consciousness on an ambulance stretcher. From what he could make out the police thought he had attacked his mother with a knife. His mother was alive, but terribly injured, and Rowan had a deep cut on his lip. No one had seen the Monster, and Rowan sure as hell wasn't gonna tell anyone. Over the next three years Rowan was passed from troubled youth school to troubled youth school. And every time he was moved it was for the same reason, starting fights. It was during these years Rowan began to experiment with their gender identity. Being gruff and masculine just seemed to fit Rowan better. And when other students started calling Rowan 'he' he didn't stop them. Through these years Rowan was able to keep the Monster in check, terrified of a punishment far worse then finishing school.
But he couldn't hold back forever. Two weeks ago a fight broke out at Rowan's school, and the Monster again emerged. Rowan wasn't sure what caused it. Maybe the pocket knife the older boy was waving in his face, or the distant rumbling of thunder, but Rowan did shift, and did attack a fellow student. At that point it was undeniable was Rowan was, all that was left to do was to figure out what to do with him. And that's how Rowan ended up on a plane to the United States. There a police car met him, loaded him up, and drove him to the Mansion. Hopefully being among fellow mutants would be positive for Rowan.
Roleplay
What’s your OOC alias?: Pigeon [they/them]
Where did you learn about this site?: Google
Do you have any other characters on MRO, if so who: N/A
Sample RP:
"Are they sure you're a mutant? You don't look like one of the freaks to me."
Rowan's eyes meet the eyes of the police officer reflected in the rearview window. The older man was trying to be funny, that much was clear, but Rowan wasn't in the mood for jokes. After a moment of scowling the young mutant tore his gaze from the police officer. He instead turned his attention to the landscape outside the cop car, speeding past.
"Rowing? Ronald? Was that your name? R-something-or-other."
Their eyes again meet at the mirror, Rowan's gaze sharp. As if daring the cop to push harder.
"I hear you like to fight, I'd be careful if I were you. The people at this school aren't innocent, defenseless, humans. They'll teach you a lesson if you mess up."
Rowan wouldn't say he liked to fight. But the almost faded throbbing of the bruise under his eye seemed to tell a different story. Okay, maybe he didn't like to fight, but that didn't mean he wasn't constantly finding fights. The mutant was, again, silent. He hugged his duffle bag closer to his chest. All his earthly belongings were inside the faded and worn bag. A spare change of clothes, a gameboy, and a few other random possessions. Probably nothing he could live without, and yet the idea of losing the few things he had filled him with...fear.
He was pulled out of the dangerous spiral of fear by the car slowing, and eventually stopping. The police officer unlocked the doors and said, in a mocking tone,
"Alright kid, taxi ride's over. Good luck out there."
Rowan didn't look back at the cop, he didn't want to see his sneer. Instead the young mutant simply took a deep breath, held tightly to his bag, and opened the door.
