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• Player Information •
Name: liz!
Age/18+?: thirtymumble
Contact: ragweed @ plurk, middlemarching#9936 @ discord
Other Characters Played: the Fool, Kit
Most Recent AC Link: here and here
• Character Information •
• Writing Sample •
Age/18+?: thirtymumble
Contact: ragweed @ plurk, middlemarching#9936 @ discord
Other Characters Played: the Fool, Kit
Most Recent AC Link: here and here
• Character Information •
Name: Antarcticite
Canon: Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous); anime/manga
Canon Point: Volume 3, Chapter 18, right after they have been shattered by the Lunarians and taken to the Moon.
Age: Appears to be an androgynous young person in their late teens, but actual age unknown; generally perceived to be rather young, for a gem, and probably around 400 years old.
Type of Character: Canon
Reference:
- Land of the Lustrous; wikipedia article
- Antarcticite; HnK wiki
- Gems; HnK wiki
[ image 1] [ image 2 + sword ] [ image 3, from the manga ]
Quick canon summary:
Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous) is highly stylized anime/manga series centred around the experiences of humanity's evolutionary descendants, their lives, and their conflicts, both internal and external. The principle cast are all gems, an immortal, genderless humanoid species that are each composed of different gemstones, and they have been engaged in near constant warfare with the Lunarians (considered to be another descendant of humans, who supposedly harvest the gems to be used as jewelry) for centuries. As immortal beings composed of crystals and minerals, gems do not have the same biological needs as living things; they don't breathe, eat food, procreate sexually, etc. In canon, they are energized by sunlight, and grow tired and weak without it.
Each gem has a different role within their society depending on their unique composition (e.g., harder, less brittle gems, such as those of the diamond-class, are better suited to combat), but the inevitability of Lunarian attacks have coloured all aspects of gem society.
Personality: HnK wiki article.
Antarcticite is a solitary, slightly socially gauche gem who works as a caretaker for the gems' communal living space and environment during the frigid winter months when the rest of their peers are hibernating. Their responsibilities vary, but normally include breaking up ice floes in the surrounding sea, shovelling copious quantities of snow around the gems' school, putting other sleepwalking gems back to sleep (yes, this is a thing), and fending off the rare winter Lunarian attack. (NB: Antarcticite's chemical composition means that in their canon, they remain in liquid form at warmer temperatures, only solidifying into their recognizable gem form during the winter months when all of the other gems, with the exception of Adamant, hibernate. This physiological trait has isolated them from nearly all of their peers, and greatly influenced their personality.)
(Please also see this note on pronouns and gem gender identity from Rutile's app.)
Like their composition and name would suggest, Antarcticite's initial demeanour is "frosty" (pun entirely intended); they come across a bit like a stern public school prefect--complete with the tie and part of the school uniform--but with none of the social skills required to actually play well with others. That they are almost pathologically hard-working in spite of their relatively low hardness as a gem is undeniable; as they say to the show's protagonist Phosphophyllite during their brief time as partners during the winter months, "We low hardness gems have nothing if not our courage." Dedication to their role aside, however, they have almost no experience with teamwork, and little patience with incompetence; as a character trait, this had only just begun to thaw (...pun not intended that time) when they were taken by the Lunarians at the end of Chapter 18, so this will be something they continue to grapple with in Aifaran.
Bristly exterior aside, Antarcticite is not a mean-spirited or spiteful person; during their time paired with Phosphophyllite they come to feel responsible for the 'junior' gem, taking it upon themselves to teach them how best to manage their responsibilities despite also being of relatively low hardness. Their stern disposition and the high standards to which they hold themselves, and others, are demonstrated frequently in both the manga and the anime to be a result of their devotion to Adamant, the leader of the gems, their teacher and mentor, and (before Phos) also their only companion during the winter hibernation. Antarcticite clearly thrives under Adamant's tutelage and praise, and pushes themselves constantly to perform their duties beyond the best of their abilities in order to please him. Note that Adamant himself does not push them to do this--but because Adamant is the primary relationship in Antarcticite's life--the only relationship in their life for centuries--their approval and affection holds incredible significance for them.
"Walk until you can't--then walk some more." This is something they once said to Phos early on in their partnership, and while it is intended to motivate Phos to push past their exhaustion to keep performing their work, it also reveals the standard against which Antarcticite measures themselves, and their self worth. Their weaknesses are not seen as hard and fast limitations that must be acknowledged, but goal posts that are to be surpassed at any cost to themselves. While this tenacity is admirable and is most often represented as a character strength in both the anime and the manga, it is also Antarcticite's Achilles heel. They recklessly put their life at risk, even if acknowledging a short term failure would be the safer and more tactical option (e.g., nearly allowing themselves to be captured by the Lunarians in order to reacquire their hand, and the memories contained within it). Contrast this against the behaviour of seasoned combatant, diamond-class gem Bort, who on more than one occasion calls for a tactical retreat from a dangerous situation so that they and their peers can regroup. It is ultimately this shortcoming that results in Antarcticite's shattering and capture by the Lunarians.
Appearance: See the above reference images. Like all gems from their world, Antarcticite has a refined, delicate-looking appearance that belies their solid internal structure. With the notable exception of their light-catching crystalline hair, they resemble an androgynous young person who might be in their late teens or early twenties--but the pale colour of their skin is actually a very fine white powder that is not water-resistant without the aid of a waxy resin. Without the powder, they very much resemble a human-shaped collection of crystals.
Abilities: Antarcticite received education and training from Adamant in a little bit of everything that they would need to know to survive the long winter months, simply because they would not have the support network enjoyed by the other gems during the warm months of the year. They're able to patch themselves up if they experience cracks or breaks in their body, attend to various chores around the gems' school, are very aware of structural weaknesses as that was integral to breaking up ice floes during the winter, etc. They have also received combat training, and wield an obsidian sword with a serrated edge that, while more suited to breaking up ice floes, can still be used to fight Lunarians when necessary.
Suitability: With Antarcticite, I am hoping to play a 'fish out of water' kind of character who must learn how to exercise patience and cooperate with others in order to solve the mysteries plaguing Konryu. They are also far more likely to automatically toe the line as far as the laws of the land are concerned than either of my other two characters, though I look forward to putting them in situations where they'll be forced to bend the rules to do the right thing. Additionally, given the canon point I've taken Antarcticite from, I want to expose them to their fellow HnK cast members in game to see how they react to learning about what has transpired in their world since they were shattered by the Lunarians. Khu Ioduan presents so many opportunities for growth and change for them!
Inventory: Their crisp white gem uniform, and a black obsidian sword with serrated edges. They have no other material possessions of any real worth.
Talent Preferences: Conjuration, Alteration, Restoration
NOTE: Due to their unique makeup, Antarcticite spends the warm weather months in HnK canon in liquid form, only solidifying when the temperatures dip well below freezing. The colder the temperature, the harder their composition, though they are still only have a Mohs hardness rating of 3 even at their most solid. Obviously under normal circumstances in their canon, they'd melt in Aifaran! I'd like to hope that the Dreaming would intervene to keep them solid and at a hardness rating of 3, both to make them playable from an OOC perspective, as well as to ICly give them an opportunity to actually live their life in-game.
Canon: Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous); anime/manga
Canon Point: Volume 3, Chapter 18, right after they have been shattered by the Lunarians and taken to the Moon.
Age: Appears to be an androgynous young person in their late teens, but actual age unknown; generally perceived to be rather young, for a gem, and probably around 400 years old.
Type of Character: Canon
Reference:
- Land of the Lustrous; wikipedia article
- Antarcticite; HnK wiki
- Gems; HnK wiki
[ image 1] [ image 2 + sword ] [ image 3, from the manga ]
Quick canon summary:
Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous) is highly stylized anime/manga series centred around the experiences of humanity's evolutionary descendants, their lives, and their conflicts, both internal and external. The principle cast are all gems, an immortal, genderless humanoid species that are each composed of different gemstones, and they have been engaged in near constant warfare with the Lunarians (considered to be another descendant of humans, who supposedly harvest the gems to be used as jewelry) for centuries. As immortal beings composed of crystals and minerals, gems do not have the same biological needs as living things; they don't breathe, eat food, procreate sexually, etc. In canon, they are energized by sunlight, and grow tired and weak without it.
Each gem has a different role within their society depending on their unique composition (e.g., harder, less brittle gems, such as those of the diamond-class, are better suited to combat), but the inevitability of Lunarian attacks have coloured all aspects of gem society.
Personality: HnK wiki article.
Antarcticite is a solitary, slightly socially gauche gem who works as a caretaker for the gems' communal living space and environment during the frigid winter months when the rest of their peers are hibernating. Their responsibilities vary, but normally include breaking up ice floes in the surrounding sea, shovelling copious quantities of snow around the gems' school, putting other sleepwalking gems back to sleep (yes, this is a thing), and fending off the rare winter Lunarian attack. (NB: Antarcticite's chemical composition means that in their canon, they remain in liquid form at warmer temperatures, only solidifying into their recognizable gem form during the winter months when all of the other gems, with the exception of Adamant, hibernate. This physiological trait has isolated them from nearly all of their peers, and greatly influenced their personality.)
(Please also see this note on pronouns and gem gender identity from Rutile's app.)
Like their composition and name would suggest, Antarcticite's initial demeanour is "frosty" (pun entirely intended); they come across a bit like a stern public school prefect--complete with the tie and part of the school uniform--but with none of the social skills required to actually play well with others. That they are almost pathologically hard-working in spite of their relatively low hardness as a gem is undeniable; as they say to the show's protagonist Phosphophyllite during their brief time as partners during the winter months, "We low hardness gems have nothing if not our courage." Dedication to their role aside, however, they have almost no experience with teamwork, and little patience with incompetence; as a character trait, this had only just begun to thaw (...pun not intended that time) when they were taken by the Lunarians at the end of Chapter 18, so this will be something they continue to grapple with in Aifaran.
Bristly exterior aside, Antarcticite is not a mean-spirited or spiteful person; during their time paired with Phosphophyllite they come to feel responsible for the 'junior' gem, taking it upon themselves to teach them how best to manage their responsibilities despite also being of relatively low hardness. Their stern disposition and the high standards to which they hold themselves, and others, are demonstrated frequently in both the manga and the anime to be a result of their devotion to Adamant, the leader of the gems, their teacher and mentor, and (before Phos) also their only companion during the winter hibernation. Antarcticite clearly thrives under Adamant's tutelage and praise, and pushes themselves constantly to perform their duties beyond the best of their abilities in order to please him. Note that Adamant himself does not push them to do this--but because Adamant is the primary relationship in Antarcticite's life--the only relationship in their life for centuries--their approval and affection holds incredible significance for them.
"Walk until you can't--then walk some more." This is something they once said to Phos early on in their partnership, and while it is intended to motivate Phos to push past their exhaustion to keep performing their work, it also reveals the standard against which Antarcticite measures themselves, and their self worth. Their weaknesses are not seen as hard and fast limitations that must be acknowledged, but goal posts that are to be surpassed at any cost to themselves. While this tenacity is admirable and is most often represented as a character strength in both the anime and the manga, it is also Antarcticite's Achilles heel. They recklessly put their life at risk, even if acknowledging a short term failure would be the safer and more tactical option (e.g., nearly allowing themselves to be captured by the Lunarians in order to reacquire their hand, and the memories contained within it). Contrast this against the behaviour of seasoned combatant, diamond-class gem Bort, who on more than one occasion calls for a tactical retreat from a dangerous situation so that they and their peers can regroup. It is ultimately this shortcoming that results in Antarcticite's shattering and capture by the Lunarians.
Appearance: See the above reference images. Like all gems from their world, Antarcticite has a refined, delicate-looking appearance that belies their solid internal structure. With the notable exception of their light-catching crystalline hair, they resemble an androgynous young person who might be in their late teens or early twenties--but the pale colour of their skin is actually a very fine white powder that is not water-resistant without the aid of a waxy resin. Without the powder, they very much resemble a human-shaped collection of crystals.
Abilities: Antarcticite received education and training from Adamant in a little bit of everything that they would need to know to survive the long winter months, simply because they would not have the support network enjoyed by the other gems during the warm months of the year. They're able to patch themselves up if they experience cracks or breaks in their body, attend to various chores around the gems' school, are very aware of structural weaknesses as that was integral to breaking up ice floes during the winter, etc. They have also received combat training, and wield an obsidian sword with a serrated edge that, while more suited to breaking up ice floes, can still be used to fight Lunarians when necessary.
Suitability: With Antarcticite, I am hoping to play a 'fish out of water' kind of character who must learn how to exercise patience and cooperate with others in order to solve the mysteries plaguing Konryu. They are also far more likely to automatically toe the line as far as the laws of the land are concerned than either of my other two characters, though I look forward to putting them in situations where they'll be forced to bend the rules to do the right thing. Additionally, given the canon point I've taken Antarcticite from, I want to expose them to their fellow HnK cast members in game to see how they react to learning about what has transpired in their world since they were shattered by the Lunarians. Khu Ioduan presents so many opportunities for growth and change for them!
Inventory: Their crisp white gem uniform, and a black obsidian sword with serrated edges. They have no other material possessions of any real worth.
Talent Preferences: Conjuration, Alteration, Restoration
NOTE: Due to their unique makeup, Antarcticite spends the warm weather months in HnK canon in liquid form, only solidifying when the temperatures dip well below freezing. The colder the temperature, the harder their composition, though they are still only have a Mohs hardness rating of 3 even at their most solid. Obviously under normal circumstances in their canon, they'd melt in Aifaran! I'd like to hope that the Dreaming would intervene to keep them solid and at a hardness rating of 3, both to make them playable from an OOC perspective, as well as to ICly give them an opportunity to actually live their life in-game.
• Writing Sample •