Side-notes on Sassaral's Wolf Pack

Sassaral's coloration in her Hume and Wolf forms hold a degree of congruency, and there is a reason for this: her pack. The wolf pack from whence Sassaral came was situated in a relatively recluse part of Wonderland. Specifically: a low valley, filled with golden fields and fertile land. There had also been a moderately sized lake, fed by a small river leading into the sea.

The pack was large enough to be diverse in mated pairs but small in comparison to some other packs that were settled throughout the world. This often resulted in members of Sassaral's wolf pack having to seek out mates from neighboring packs.

However, there was still a very strong presence of that which made these salt-of-the-earth wolves distinct:

Typical Jobs: Farmers, hunters, carpenters, artisans.
Taboos: Mages (tolerated, but met with nervousness), aggressive warriors (this pack was peaceful), thieves (rare instances were often killed/exiled)

Key Physical Features: Hair and fur colors were mainly of 'warm' colorations... auburn, mahogany, fiery red, hues of brown, honey-gold, strawberry blonde. Skin tones, for hume forms, were often imbued with a slight tan. Eye colors ranged from gold, crimson, brown, hazel and green.

Physical Exceptions: Save for foreign wolves coming into the pack by way of adoption or one half of a mated pair (and the children reared), there weren't many instances of silver, white or black haired/furred wolves.

Notable Wolves:

• Rupei the Elder (Mage, received with mixed feelings but nonetheless a holder of status due to her sheer age before she was killed.)

(Pending)

Trivia

• Envisioned voice actresses: (ENG to be determined), Yamazaki Wakana (JP)

• Name pronunciation: pretty much sounds the way it's spelled... Sass - ah - ral. Though, her people sometimes elected to use Sass - erell, speaking it fairly quickly.

• Don't let the diminuitive size fool you, Sassaral can throw a punch and eat like a horse. Being a werewolf, she has a very demanding metabolism... and a way to see a 'grumpy' Sassaral is to starve her. On the flipside, she derives energy from that which she eats and her body, a finely-tuned machine of digestion, makes the very best of what she eats.

• Sassaral rarely experiences indigestion. Again, epic werewolf ironguts.

• In conjunction to the previous points, the girl is a pretty decent cook. No gourmet chef, but that good sniffer has to account for something. She will try almost anything, as well, when it comes to foodstuffs.

• Favorite snacks: Beef jerky, bacon, almonds, any manner of 'tart' fruit.. whether berries (cranberries) or citric (she loves oranges)
  

Favorite meals: Hearty stews (ie. beef barley) and/or chicken noodle soup.
Dislikes: Shellfish, celery.

• The kid is an affection junkie. She loves nothing more than to be held and hugged; in turn, she is affectionate with those she trusts. Strangers receive ready handshakes and touches to the shoulder or wrists, but Sassaral knows when Not To Touch by way of observing body language.

• Seeing people and/or creatures running does not instill into Sassaral a need to chase and hunt but rather, makes her extremely anxious.

• Though she has not been blessed with an excess of feminine curves, Sassaral harbors little to no insecurity over the matter. She is content in her own skin and sees superficial longings as a 'waste of her brainpower'. Raised around all manner of peers, of all shapes and sizes, the girl is not at all superficial.

• Hidden beneath the copious over-sized dresses is, in fact, a proportionately fluffy wolf's tail! This appendage grows when she shifts to her berserker form. As for her ears, Sassaral keeps them hidden within her tresses. They are mildly tapered, though not as overtly as an Elf's.

• Noteworthy irrational fear? Though she enjoys close-quarters with others, Sassaral can be somewhat claustrophobic. She hates being bound and/or pushed into corners.

• Speaking of fluffy dresses, Sassaral loves 'em. She doesn't let on much about it to others, but lil' wolf loves to dress up and she has an eye for flouncy, cute ensembles. While she harbors enjoyment for such things, the girl is frugal and she would be hard-pressed to spend the money. Still, Sassaral is not above window-shopping and dreaming~

Background Summary

I. Golden Fields

(OOC: BG kept concise for ease of reading.. more in-depth version to be posted soon on a side-page.)

In a recluse corner of the multi-faceted world known as Wonderland, in a tiny realm inhabited by werewolf folk, Sassaral came into being. The youngest out of the three children born to mated pair Kinverra and Solilai, the little girl had been raised by parents who were stable in both body and mind. She had two older siblings: the eldest, a sister known as Saiishuke and the 'middle' child, Sallarai. Life wasn't all milk and honey as indeed, siblings fight and life throws curveballs.

Life was good to the wolf pack that was settled in low valleys and golden fields; they were made distinct by their pelts of ruddy red, brown and honey gold. Sassaral and her family, like many of the wolves that comprised this small pack, were a salt-of-the-earth sort who worked hard, hunted hard.

But for the most part, little Sassral had been so well and thoroughly adored by her kith and kin; her pack. Days were spent in golden fields, running in the mornings and losing herself in the wilderness... though never left to wander /too/ far. Sassaral, though of an unorthodox race, grew up enjoying all of the fancies that many little girls favored. She sang, she danced.. and when she became old enough to consider her innate gifts and desires, the child nurtured a profound love for helping others. A calling toward the art of holy, pure magic had arisen in her, and as the girl had grown this gift was nurtured by her elders.

More than anything, Sassaral enjoyed seeing the strain leave one's face, when any manner of 'pain' is relieved. While her sister had been an artisan, given to song and dance.. and her brother both a hunter and builder, Sassaral branched off into a more arcane calling. With the support of her family, and the teachings of one werewolf in particular -- a nigh-ancient medicine woman known as Rupei -- the little girl approached adolescence with a knack (and passion) for curative magic. Life, for Sassaral had been busy and comfortable... perhaps even a bit predictable.

That suited her just fine.

II. Rip and Tear

As many stories go, there is always a 'pivotal' point.. be it a silver lining in difficult beginnings or alternatively, an idyllic life being undermined by tragedy. Unfortunately Sassaral's tale leans moreso toward the latter, and upon the girl's comfortable transition into adolescence /everything/ hit the fan. It had been on a clear day; a day that began to unfold like the countless many before it. A touch of warmth, the twinkling reflection of the sunlight upon the water, fellow wolves savoring routine...

.. and abruptly, catastrophically, the skies darkened and before most knew what was upon them, the wolves' village was decimated by an entity. Those who weren't in the line of fire for Omega's first strike had only the barest chance to run, and as the fragment carried on with it's blind, destructive search others fell. Sassaral, bid to run for her life by her family, very reluctantly took that desperate chance. Her parents already decimated, Sassaral and her siblings made for the edge of their village. Sallarai had been the first to fall, his sturdy boy's body wiped out by Omega's flailing. Next, had been Saiishuke.. but Sassaral's elder sister had been instrumental in the younger werewolf surviving.. almost miraculously.

Before the next strike, as both girls ran, Saiishuke had forcibly shoved Sassaral from behind and down a rather steep, grassy incline. The last thing Sassaral witnessed before falling into that rut in the earth was that of Saiishuke being decimated. For awhile, Sassaral knew nothing more. When she closed her eyes and saw darkness, surely it was the blackness of death...

III. By the Skin of Her Teeth

.. the best way to describe Sassaral's survival. For a day and night the girl laid partially buried in the shattered earth of her homeworld; her village destroyed, most of her people destroyed, and even the lake razed dry. When the girl opened her eyes once again, however.. it hadn't been emptiness awaiting her.. but.. some manner of room.

A small, dark, 'mechanical' space throughout which a dull thrum resonated.

An engine..?

Heartsick and broken, Sassaral had awoken upon the Interdimensional Train. An enigmatic machine (entity?) that, ironically, bore a piece of the very calamity that destroyed the girl's people and home! Driven by that 'portion' of Omega, as the train crossed over the ruined world of the decimated werewolves, it had been by sheer fluke that the girl laying amidst the desolation be spotted by one of the wayward souls riding the craft. Or.. had it been the train itself...? The strange sort of 'consciousness' that the machine exhibited..?

Was there even a real /reason/ behind collecting this lone girl? In so diverse and strange a world as Wonderland, when did all thought have to be logical..?

Rather quickly after this stop, the Train moved on.. continuing it's steady journey amidst the individual worlds of Wonderland. Sassaral, lost, confused and heartsick, remained inconspicuous and kept a low profile during the journey. In some remote part of the Interdimensional Train, the little werewolf slept.. was too exhausted to even contemplate her next course of action, let alone what world she could seek out as refuge.

IV. Conclusion

(NOTE: Another note.. it is stated upon the wiki that the Interdimensional Train crashed during the merging of worlds. It does not state exactly 'where'.. would it have been in the Darkness? World of Ruin? I didn't imply much in this section in regards to 'where', bnut tried to indicate heavily that Sassaral found her way to The Crossroads by way of worldly portals and her own volition.)

Bearing a piece of Omega at it's helm, which therefore operated the Train itself, undoubtedly the other pieces that composed the entity saw to it to harass the Train at every turn. This would not spell out the Train's ultimate undoing, alas... for it had been the monumental meshing of worlds -- and the maddening whirlwind of magic -- that disrupted the Train's journey and sent it crashing down into a 'new' world.

To cap off Sassaral's murky, peculiar journey.. from the comfort of family to the mismatched surroundings of a new world... the girl departed the vicinity downed Train and stepped forth into the something especially curious: a sort of.. portal. Thinking herself to have nothing left to lose -- and admittedly, wondering how she was still /alive/ -- the addled werewolf stepped forth...

.. upon The Crossroads. It wouldn't be long until Sassaral's vacillation ended, and she set off blindly into the world by way of the strange portals...

Relationships (OC/FC)

(OOC: A blurb and quote on how people jibe with Sassy! A note, too; if you and Sassy have ICLY met but only at-a-glance (no further interaction), please take no offense if you're not up here right away. She just needs more of an opportunity to get to know you. <3)

Katyna Redsvaren - (Curious) - One of two helpful individuals who happened upon Sassaral in the barren desert near Fluorgis. Sassaral had little time to forge much of an opinion of the Ember Knight before passing out due to exhaustion... especially after she tried to heal some of Katyna's wounds.
"Who dealt you such a grievous wound...? Sorry I couldn't be of much help.."

Ivo Galvan - (Curious) - During her recovery at Fluorgis, Sassaral spied this Knight on many an occasion. During the 'flower-picking' escapade in the Golmore Jungle, she really got to see him in action! Though she has yet to come to know Ivo better, Sassaral thinks kindly enough of him.
"Did I do something amusing..?" *O_O*;
(^- Regarding Ivo's amusement, at her tail wagging beneath the hem of her dress.)

Reize Seatlan - (Fond/Shy) - Having also been present to find Sassaral wandering tired and sickly in a desert, Reize came to the werewolf's aide along with Katyna. The boy surprised Sassaral with his knightly code, but she wasn't able to consider it for long before falling into unconsciousness. Since then a few encounters in Fluorgis -- mostly in the gardens -- have resulted in moments of cute fluster for this hapless little werewolf and the boy adventurer.
"I'm not offended, honest... it was an accident, afterall.." *.___.*;;;

Sköll Ulfang - (Fond/Awe) - Prior to their actual meeting in the kitchen at Fluorgis, Sassaral had only heard tale of 'another wolf' in the midst. Her skeptical response had been well and thoroughly dashed when, in said kitchen, she encountered Skoll while he made some breakfast! By sheer innocence Sassaral remained ignorant to the 'differences' inherant in this mysterious wolf, and it was all she could do to share breakfast with Skoll and come to know that no, she is NOT alone.
"I... I can't believe it! He has been so good to me.. too good! H--have I now found a brother in this scary world...?

Zia - (Fond) - Sassaral met Zia upon returning to the girls' dorms in Fluorgis, one day. An amicable conversation followed between werewolf and gargress, through which each came to know of the other. It had also been through Zia that Sassaral came to know of the existance of another werewolf! As it stands, Sassaral is acutely curious of the fair gargress, and can very easily call her a friend.
"What a striking being you are! Are all gargoyles so neat looking..? I hope you stick around Fluorgis!"

Relationships (NPC)

Saiishuke - (Love/Deceased) - Sassaral's older sister, and the one who -- through a brash, yet simple action -- saved the girl's life. Along with the rest of Sassaral's family and peers, Saiishuke had been swiftly destroyed by Omega's carnage. Prior to her death, Saiishuke had been both a skilled huntress and by contrast, a wonderful songstress. Though she harbors equal love for all members of her lost family, it is Saiishuke whom Sassaral misses terribly. She tries not to let on, but to allow her thoughts to drift toward her doomed sister fills Sassaral with acute sadness.

Sallarai - (Love/Deceased) - Sassaral's older brother, who was rapidly following in the footsteps of their father by way of a vested interest in the land and how best to work it. Before his death, the adolescent Sallarai nurtured a knack for carpentry.. and this made up for the boy's difficulties in hunting (was too impulsive). Sassaral and Sallarai got along well enough, with the typical brother-sister squabbles... but though he loved her til' the abrupt end of his days, Sallarai was unnerved by his little sister's lessons with elder Rupei.

Solilai - (Love/Deceased) - Sassaral's father, who had been a harvestman and alternatively, an expert hunter. Like many in the valley wolf pack, he lived for the land and had been very skilled in reaping it's boons. Solilai, seen by some as a no-nonsense and occasionally hardened man, nonetheless harbored a soft spot for his youngest girl, Sassaral.. even in the wake of the girl exploring the oddity known as 'magic'. He tried his best to rescue others in the pack, before Omega wiped the village away with a single blow.

Kinverra - (Love/Deceased) - Sassaral's mother, who had been a medicine woman and devout mother to her 'pups'. While she sought to pass on her lore of herbs to her daughter, she was one of few who condoned Sassaral's lessons in the arcane by way of the ancient wolf, Rupei.

Rupei - (Respect/Deceased) - Old as dirt even before being decimated by Omega, Rupei had been a pack elder and a somewhat controversial prescence. Shunned by some for her arcane ways and proclivity for 'magic', it had been Sassaral who gave the old woman more than just a wary greeting. It was from Rupei that the girl acquired her knowledge of white magic, and truly found a calling. Sassaral misses the old wolf, but takes comfort in knowing she had led an extensive, full life.

Weaknesses

Two Sides of a Coin: Sassaral must trade two sets of abilities between forms, and she suffers consequences as a result. As a girl (mage), she is small and easy to physically beat around... but obviously, magic is a boon. As a wolf (berserker), there is no magical know-how... there is only brute force and a very short fuse that can push Sassaral into erratic behavior... but the strength and staying power is a boon.

Sensitive: Sassaral is hurt easily, and dwells for quite some time as a result. As noted already, she gets squirrelly when left without social contact for a Very Long Time (ie. a week at most) .. so therefore this alludes to a fear of being abandoned. She cares greatly about how people perceive her, despite her sense of self-worth.. and this can be quite the drawback.

Elemental: Darkness: If Sassaral were to have an elemental affinity, of course it would be Holy. Naturally one would consider Holy's polar opposite to be the girl's weakness.. which /is/ true. Not only does dark-aligned magic sting, but it's nefarious nature can affect her wolfish half and very effectively ensnare it or lead it to madness.

Elemental: Fire: Fire instills in Sassaral immense fear, when it is cast magically. Even huge naturally-occuring blazes frighten her, and as a result of her emotional turmoil in regards to this elemental, Fire-aligned attacks harm her acutely.

Poison: When successfully administered via cast magic or other means (injection, tainted weapon, etc), Sassaral experiences a rough time as a result of these detrimental effects. Attacks of this nature frightens Sassaral, and though she has the curative magic to soothe such maladies it troubles her immensely when she becomes inflicted.

Impressionable: Strong, confident personalities make Sassaral stand at attention. This can be beneficial, for if a good-hearted, strong-willed individual seeks to influence Sassaral there is no question of her being receptive. However! Should those with darker designs impose a confident will upon the girl --- ie. an Alpha mannerism -- she could very well be sucked in. This is all due to, you guessed it... her wolf.

Swimming: As it stands, Sassaral does not know how to swim. Though she enjoyed a very full, active childhood... for whatever reason, she could never bring herself to go into the lake near her village or any other body of water that covers the top of her head. Somewhere along the lines of her childhood, 'Something' (woooOOOoo...) happened to sour the girl's thoughts of swimming. Save for bathing, Sassaral does not tread deep water if she can help it; not if she runs the risk of being submerged. Sassaral is nearly phobic when it comes to the thought of drowning, and one can only wonder when and if she will every learn how to truly swim. When it comes to putting her feet in water or sitting on a beach, however, Sassaral is comfortable.

Abilities - In and Out of Combat

Shapeshift (Hume/Wolf): Should she ever find another of her kind, Sassaral is able to shift between forms upon looking into their eyes. In the meantime however, any manner of reflective surface -- typically a mirror -- shall do! Upon doing just that, as a girl, Sassaral morphs into a humanoid wolf. Though she acquires a couple more inches in height, the most substantial gain is to be found in a bulking up of musculature, the acquisition of fierce teeth and claws, and amplified senses. When not in action (ie. battles) Sassaral can maintain this form for a couple of hours before tiring out. However, should she fly off the handle and fight, she is typically left absolutely wiped out. Sassaral's 'wolf' is her last defense, and not frequently employed.

Enhanced Strength (Wolf): Exclusive to Sassaral's wolf form. While as a hume girl she is petite and not much to flinch at, when wearing her moreso 'furry' guise Sassaral jettisons all magical knowhow and pours all of her energy into beating the Fates-fearing snot out of targets. She goes from flimsy to brick sh*thouse, and in the short time that this form is available to her Sassaral takes advantage of this.

Enhanced Senses - Smell, Taste, Sound: Strong enough as a girl, especially acute as a wolf. Of the three, Sassaral's sense of smell proves to be the strongest in either form.

Endurance: As a girl, Sassaral can run and jump until the cows come home. She can handle repetitive activities with little duress. The same extends ten-fold to her wolf form, though the key difference is her ability to have the stuffing beaten out of her.. whereas, as a girl, Sassaral falls easily. Should Sassaral receive grievous injury as a wolf and is not healed immediately, when she shifts /back/ she is left in a world of pain.

Locomotion: Sassaral is very limber as a girl, and is able to run and jump effectively. As a wolf, this is of course amplified, and powerful legs grant her excellent mobility in leaping and sprinting.

Resistance - Natural Illnesses: Sassaral enjoys a very strong immune system, and due to this she has a much easier time fighting off naturally occurring illnesses.. even keeping them away in the first place. Poison status as inflicted via magic or artificial means can still reap havoc upon her, however.

Resistance - Cold: Sassaral holds up very well against frigid temperatures. In both forms her body temperature runs much higher than what is commonplace for Humes, therefore she can buffer chilliness quite well. She is almost always warm to the touch, and those who do not know any better may think her to be feverish.

Pain Tolerance: Applicable to both forms... Sassaral is able to 'suck it up' when she is in immense discomfort. Though admirable in hume form, as expected wolf!Sassaral can weather grievous levels of pain.

Empathy: A nod to Sassy's white mage calling.. the ability to be acutely perceptive in gauging peoples' moods.. most typically, their upsets. Sassaral has pretty good judgement, and is very adept at reading body language and reactions. Even through touch, the girl is able to tell when things 'aren't entirely right', to which she can respond accordingly.

Combat Details - Style I (Hume/White Mage)

Sassaral's typical form; the hume guise that she shows to the world and strives to maintain. As expected she is both a strong healer and dealer of beneficial Buffs. She is a peace-loving soul, but she nonetheless packs a few offensive Holy-aligned spells.

Combat Details - Style II (Wolf/Berserker)

Used only in situations of emotional duress and/or emergency circumstances. Sassaral is very self-conscious of the beast that she becomes, upon looking in a mirror... but when the going gets tough, the beastly, brutish side of this small girl can come in handy. While favoring magic as a girl, by inverse Sassaral subscribes moreso to 'might' in this humanoid wolf form. It is to be noted that she cannot hold this form extensively.. while at rest, she can manage two hours at most. But in battle? Either until K.O, or approximately 40 IC minutes. Curative magic is jettisoned, replaced by the profound ability to beat the fates-fearing crap out of prone targets.

At a Glance

(Hume:)
Eyes: Amber
Hair: Dark 'chocolate' brown with reddish highlights; no discernable part atop head, hair is pulled back into two low-hanging (butt-length) ponytails. Pieces frame her face; style is rather carefree.
Skin tone: Caucasian, slightly tanned.
Distinguishing features: Eyes, elongated canine teeth, tapered ears (usually hidden in hair).
Favored attire:Practical, loose-fitting stuff... colorful dresses and alternatively, tunics and slacks. Sassaral dresses predominantly for ease of movement.
Short description: A pretty, healthy girl who is of a petite (spritely) build. Loose-fitting attire has a bohemian aspect to it. Has a very approachable look about her.
Manner: Friendly, gregarious, lively.
Favored elements: Holy (* if someone ICLY has magic-sense, or can detect 'auras', this has the potential to be sensed.)

(Wolf:)
Eyes: Amber
Fur: A ruddy red (mahogany), with a touch of gilt coloration in sunlight. Tail tip and bell are of a cream coloration.
Distinguishing features: ... she's a big frickin' humanoid wolf, likely on a rampage. That should suffice!
Favored attire:Liiiiikely shredded at this point.
Short description: A large, bi-pedal humanoid wolf; svelte shape with curves marking her as female. Red-furred with twin braids of darker brown hair crowning a lupine head.
Manner: Pissed off!
Favored elements: Holy (* if someone ICLY has magic-sense, or can detect 'auras', this has the potential to be sensed.)

Personality Pros:
• Helpful
• Affectionate
• Trust-worthy
• Dutiful

Personality Cons:
• Naive
• Separation Anxiety
• Sensitive
• Trusts too easily

Timeline

OOC: More for reference, a brief layout of Sassy's IC experiences.)

• Sassaral is revived, and deposited into the World of Ruin. Terrified and alone, she ends up wandering aimlessly. Stubborness and fear leave Sassaral tired and worn out. She continues to drift...

• Collapsing in the heat of the Dalmascan sands, Sassaral is soon discovered by Reize and Katyna. Gathered up, she is taken to Fluorgis -- the stronghold of the Shard Seekers -- and it is there that the little wolf recuperates. For days, and days. Throughout this process, she comes to know the routines of the place and see people come and go.

• Deemed well enough to set out, Sassaral joins a group on a journey into the Golmore Jungle to procure the flower from atop the Blind Ochu's head! Calamity ensues! .... Back to bed, in Fluorgis, for Sassy. c_c;