Characterization Corporation

Alrighty-o! I made Pearl, a new character, to incorporate a hobby of mine into roleplay. I'm still working on completing her profile but I figured I'd get some of you guys' input!

Pearl is a (good) witch who weaves fortification spells into knitted clothes, items and dolls. Her line of witch uses an object from nature (in her case a blue dendrobium flower) to bind to oneself as a vessel for the earth's natural energies, aka their magic. Witches put wards on their vessels to protect them, but they remain delicate and fragile (even though they never wither or rot as the magic sustains the item). Destroying a vessel destroys the witch's ability to use magic. A witch can only bind a vessel to her once in a lifetime so they often hide the vessel and never speak of this vulnerability to others.

Pearl wants to have a family one day, but she's been burned by failed romantic relationships repeatedly. Witches aren't very popular or tolerated! She lives as much off the land as possible but knits items she sells to get by when she can't. She feels she failed her parents when they died and she couldn't cure their flu (which eventually killed them) and has made it a personal goal to do as much good as she can with her abilities so that others don't have to suffer as she did.

There's more on the profile of course, but she's still a fairly new brainchild. If anyone has any tips (maybe I missed something that creates a huge inconsistency?) I'll be happy to hear them!

Looks pretty good to me, and the image I have of her in my head is kinda adorable. The only thing I'm wondering about is how magic is "bad," but she puts magic in the stuff she makes. I'm guessing she does that without people knowing?

Thanks!

The 'bad' magic thing that is actually just the really common idea of 'magic is a neutral force, whether it's good or bad depends on how the user applies it'. Meaning she uses it in ways that helps people, rather than hurt them. But there are people who use it to do bad things, and they have a large impact when they decide to pop up. She does weave the spells into the stuff she makes without people knowing, but they're all good kind of spells. Like if someone puts one of her healing blankets on a sick person, that person has higher chances to and recovers more quickly than usual. That kind of stuff.

I actually have a question. I want to compose a list of spells that she uses, but I'm kind of brainfarting on those right now.

I know that I want her to practice mainly defensive, supportive and healing spells, with a select few offensive spells that are on the back burner for those 'just in case' scenarios. But when I try to think of anything specific my mind just goes blank. I'm probably just tired and need to sleep, but I could use some help getting started probably.

Oh wow, you could have a lot of fun with this character, creatively-speaking.

As far as spells go--are they magical incantations or less about what she says and more about putting her feelings/good-will into the objects?

As far as healing spells go, I would imagine she'd have an assortment of spells to combat high body temperatures/fevers (a knitted cloth that stays cool?), wounds and open sores (perhaps a knitted bandage that makes them heal faster?), and as far as broken bones go--maybe some sort of stabilizing cast-like implement?

For defensive/offensive spells, she could borrow from plants and their natural properties: pollen or dust that would induce paralysis, hallucinations, or even sleep (like anesthesia--to keep with healing). I'd suggest googling plants and their medicinal properties to begin with, because you'll probably find a ton of side-effects to add as offensive/defensive counter-measures.

I think I will go with incantations (which is more true to the traditional witch).

Although - fun fact - people do make things like prayer shawls where they put a prayer into each row they knit for the whole work, and only knit when they're in a good mood. I do this myself (no prayers, but more good feelings of love) to some of my works.

I suppose I could have her make it a routine to think of positive things for all her stuff, just for herself like I do. It won't have any measurable effect on the wearer but it adds to her character. Or would it be too much?


I like those ideas! My only concern is that she knits these items without people actively knowing of their properties. She knits them and then sells them, picking the item she thinks has the best spell woven into it for the buyer - or the buyer is drawn to a particular item that they need subconsciously. The buyer doesn't know of the item's magical properties so a cloth that stays cool would freak people out.

That does help me think of spells though. A hat could have spells to help cure headaches, fortify calmness, fortify concentration. A scarf could have increased protection from cold and accelerate recovery from colds and so forth. I could probably take a lot of ideas from real witch spells for this.


I really really like this. I'll go digging around for some of that stuff and see what I can brew up, thanks!!

Heh, it's nice when you can bounce ideas off someone.

I don't think it would be too much for the character if you add the positive things to her stuff--in fact, it might be kind of fun to explore what would happen if she started off with good feelings, but was interrupted with some bad feelings. Does she knit solely when she's happy? Or does knitting make her happy? Perhaps she has a few articles that she won't part with because of the more negative vibes she has put into them--thus only selling her good stuff. (You mentioned she has terrible luck with relationships--perhaps she had knitted them something and they were returned or their spells have worn down/become twisted?)

Do the spells wear out along with the article of clothing? The more often its worn, the less effective it becomes? Or do they remain strong? For that matter, if the spells are tied with Pearl, perhaps they get their strength from hers...so if she's feeling run down or particularly unhappy, maybe the spells aren't as strong? I dunno.

I really like where you're going with the knitted articles. You could add gloves and shawls, tunics and trousers with a variety of abilities--unless she focuses solely on certain knitted clothing items.

Glad I could help jumpstart some of those creative ideas! I look forward to seeing what else you come up with!

I freaking love the idea of weaving enchantments into clothing. I had an idea for a character that creates enchantments by doing silk embroidery & needlepoint. Great minds I suppose.

If you're going for more subtle spell effects, I think expanding on the protection idea is good. Dolls for children that protect them against disease, articles of clothing that strengthen immune systems or guard against negative effects of exposure to the elements. If you're going for effects that people aren't aware of, preventative is best. However you could also do something like a luck enchantment. Maybe an item that gives a character a 'luck roll' to succeed at something they ordinarily wouldn't, or protect against something that would ordinarily harm them. Then the magic becomes more of a mechanical aspect of the RP, but the characters assume it's blind luck.

This could also be interesting when characters begin to suspect that the thing she made them is lucky.

Alrighty! Set up a page with all the knitted items and an explanation of the spells' durability.

Now all I have to do is write down the specific spells she knows. Since knitting is the same for pretty much all items, every item can have any spell woven into it. But only one.

I'm still not sure how to get there quite yet, but I'm letting it grind in my head.

I didn't even think of any luck rolls or anything like that. That'd be awesome if people want to implement it!

As for characters suspecting the items are magical, that is both good and bad. She doesn't want to be known as a witch, and in a medieval fantasy setting, witchcraft isn't exactly smiled upon! I like the direction that can go in.

Thanks for all the lovely feedback guys!!

You know how sometimes, when people are upset, they write down what their problems are and then burn the paper as a form of/metaphor for the release of those problems? I'm now thinking about her doing that with the stuff she knits when not happy.

Then again, I like fire.

^ Yes, that exactly.

Also, I love what you've added to her profile, Sanne! It looks great! I just wish I had someone to throw at her.

Except that wool is a son of a bitch to try and burn properly. That and burning something you worked 50+ hours on is kind of eh.

Maybe she can soak or wash items that carry negative feelings in a salt bath (salt banishes evil and stuffs) with an incantation to wash out all the bad feelings. It would revert an item back to being ordinary without spells woven into it.


Thanks! I'm going to be test driving her in Rynh's group RP first (if it's still happening) but if you have a character you think would allow for a good story, I'd be happy to play her with you.