Out of Character Information
player name: Maddy
player journal: ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
miss_m_cricketplaying here: bitofanarsewhere did you find us? [Bad username or unknown identity: ”app_this_plz”]are you 16 years of age or older?: Definitely
In Character Information
character name: Carver Hawke
Fandom: Dragon Age
Timeline: Act 3 after the quests Best Served Cold and Finding Nathaniel. Grey Warden path.
character's age: 25 years old
powers, skills, pets and equipment: Powers
- Grey Warden abilities such as increased stamina, speed and strength. Also increased hunger and uh…sexual appetite. He can also sense others with the Taint, particularly Darkspawn and other Grey Wardens.
Skills
- Carver is an accomplished warrior, favouring the two handed weapon styles. He has competency with battle axes and mauls but he much prefers greatswords.
- His combat style is aggressive. He’s solid, with heavy armour and a big weapon. He’s the first line of attack and defence.
Equipment
- Heavy Grey Warden issue armour, custom made for him. It’s solid armour, built to suit his preferred combat style…which is attack.
- His greatsword Vigilance. Given to him by the elder Hawke, it’s fitting that it made its way back into the hands of a Grey Warden. Some say the sword has a mind of its own. Carver thinks that’s bullcrap.
canon history: Carver was born ten minutes older than his twin sister Bethany, in a small cottage somewhere in the Kingdom of Fereldan. His mother was a former noble, who chose to marry for love, rather than status, and chose a Fereldan Apostate Mage. In the world of Dragon Age, Mages are closely monitored, kept locked up in Circles of Magic, to train them in their gifts, and to protect the world from them. Carver's father, Malcolm Hawke, had once been a Circle Mage, but had been allowed to escape by one of his keepers, a Templar named Maurevar Carver. Still, magic is forbidden, so life for the Hawkes was dangerous, and they had to keep moving every few years or so.
It became worse when both Garrett, the eldest brother, and Carver's twin Bethany, both started showing signs of Magic. Left out of the group when Malcolm trained the other two, Carver headed into the town of Lothering, and begged to be trained by the Guardemen there, but in the art s of the swordsman.
Years passed and the Hawkes stayed in Lothering, even after Malcolm sickened and died, until King Maric's army passed through to fight the Darkspawn incursion in the south. The Grey Wardens claimed it was a Blight, a terrible horde of the creatures, that would destroy anything in its path. Bethany and Garrett had to stay home, unable to help, because of the dangers of revealing their magic. But Carver signed up, and left with the Kings army for Ostagar, thrilled to finally have a purpose, and a chance at his own glory, out of the shadow of his charismatic elder sibling.
It did not go the way he hoped. The army was defeated, routed, massacred, the King betrayed on the field by his most trusted general, when he refused to send the reinforcements in. Thousands died, and Carver was one of the few who managed to get away. He was hunted through the Korcari wilds until he reached Lothering, and found his family had lingered, despite the danger, waiting to see if he would come, if he had survived. Together they fled, but by then it was too late, the horde was upon them, and despite finding help with Aveline Vallen and her husband Ser Wesley, a Templar, they soon found themselves trapped, and Bethany was smashed to death, in front of her twins eyes, by a huge ogre. They were saved by Flemeth, an ancient witch of the wilds, who guided them to safety in Gwaren to take a ship to Kirkwall, his mothers old home. But Bethany and Ser Wesley remained behind, slain.
Upon reaching Kirkwall they soon found the only way into the city was by indenturing themselves as helpers to a smuggling ring, as Leandra's good for nothing brother, Gamlen, had gambled and wasted the entire family fortune and left them destitute. One year, Garrett and Carver paid off their debt and then sought money and influence, hoping to keep the circling Templars at bay. Garrett made friends and allies easily, a pirate queen named Isabella, Aveline, a Dalish elf named Merrill that Carver mooned over for a little while, Fenris the former elven Tevinter slave, Anders the former Grey Warden and now underground healer, and also Varric, who helped Garrett sign himself up for a Deep Roads expedition that would make him famous and rich beyond imagining.
The expedition did make Garrett famous and rich, but Carver did not return to Kirkwall with his brother. The expedition was to the Deep Roads, the home of the blighted Darkspawn, and while down there, trapped by Varric's treacherous brother, Carver contracted the blight, and slowly was tainted, until it became obvious he was going to die. Anders was the one to save him, stating they could take him to the Grey Wardens and they did, Anders locating them in the depths using the Grey Warden talents he'd forsaken. They took Carver with them, and he did not see his brother again for three years.
Being a Warden was difficult, but it gave Carver the chance to grow outside of his brother’s influence, and away from the Magic and Templars that had so influenced his early life. He grew up quickly, but still retained loyalty to his former life. When missions came up in Kirkwall, Carver took them. He helped his brother defeat the ancient magister Corypheous, helped him steal a mystical jewel and protect qunari state secrets, and he aided a little when the qunari invaded Kirkwall. His brother became the Champion of Kirkwall and then....Anders blew up the chantry...determined to start a Templar/Mage war, and Carver still in Kirkwall, came to Hawke’s aid.
personality: The problem with Carver isn't that he isn't talented, or that he isn't motivated, or athletic, or even quite appealing in looks. No his problem is that giant chip on his shoulder and severe inferiority complex.
His whole life he has felt overshadowed by Garrett, his older brother, and resentful of the special treatment he and Bethany got from their parents. It’s painfully obvious that Garrett is their mothers favourite, and Malcolm was concerned by his two mage children’s gifts. This tended to leave Carver our in the cold, resentful and angry about being so readily dismissed. His brother’s charm, natural leadership qualities and ability to come out on top made things even worse, as Carver was not allowed to try and stand out, to achieve or seek acclaim in case it would draw attention to the Hawke family.
This inferiority complex is coupled with a sharp tongue, and an even sharper temper. He hates being given advice, being told what to do. He knows, he /knows/ that they are trying to help, but all he can feel is impotent rage at them seeing he needs it, and drawing attention to it. He doesn't have to do what you tell him to do! He's his own man, and his own path has to be found. You can't tease Carver into changing, or into good humour. He just sees it as mocking, you are mocking him, you think he's some kind of joke, and instantly he's defensive, and won't listen, no matter how many good points you bring up.
He's not all bad though, he's fiercely loyal to his family and friends, and any time anyone even made the smallest hint of a threat to his father, Garrett or Bethany soon found they also had Carver solidly in their way. No one threatens his friends or family, not without dealing with him, and it won't be gentle words either. No prepare to be spitting out your own teeth when he smashes them right out of your smug mouth.
The fact of the matter is that Carver is a bit of a dork. He tells terrible jokes, laughs at the stupidest things and tends to bumble and fumble his way through conversation with pretty women and men. He's not smooth, usually coming out with something aggressively confrontational, incredibly silly or occasionally something rather meaningful, which he proceeds to ruin by trying to overcompensate with epic manliness. Really all Carver wants are people to call his own, who believe in him, who love him for him, who are his…his alone. Until he has this framework of support, he will continue to be a bit of an arse, alienating everyone around him.
why do you feel this character would be appropriate to the setting? Carver is an emotionally complex character, with a few residual issues from a childhood of being the middle and different child. The Dragon Age universe also lends itself to interactions of supernatural/magic and other. I think it would be interesting to see him interacting with the world.
Writing Samples
Network Post Sample:Look, I've never been one for much...introspection, but since I'm apparently required to share my thoughts, I will.
I didn't want to be a Grey Warden, Anders and Garrett made that decision for me, but at the time it was that or die. And I didn't much fancy dying, thanks very much. So...a Grey Warden I became. And yeah it was an honour and all, but you know when you dream of being recruited into a legendary order, you kinda imagine being chosen for your prowess, your skills, and your talents. Not because a coward ex-Warden decided to stick his neck out and beg someone to take you along.
It's a bit demoralizing you know. Being the pity party in an Order of Legends.
I miss it now though. Never thought that would happen.
It was home. Typical that I only realise that now.
Third Person Sample:There were few paying gigs in Kirkwall as good as working in the Blooming Rose.
Located up in the upper class area of the bustling city, and catering to both the refined tastes of the rich as well as the aspirations of the common man, it was one of the most successful enterprises going around. The women and men that worked there were paid quite well, much better than the ones at other establishments, and so were the people hired to protect them.
Which was Carver’s gig tonight.
He often got work at the Rose, being young and quite handsome, he added to the appeal of the entire establishment, and his skills with weapons and fighting make him a perfect bouncer.
He even earned enough credit with the Madam to have a…rendezvous of his own organised, free of charge. He’d been embarrassed by his lack of experience, shamed by his older siblings constant strutting and flirting with the people who helped them out.
So he’d taken her up on her offer. Once with one of the young women…once with a man.
Both times had ended up with Carver sitting on the bed, fully dressed, and stroking the whore’s hair as he told them about stuff. He’d been too damn shy, and too self conscious. The woman and the man, both of whom he’d known through working security were understanding and even perhaps a little relieved at the break and the chance to relax and talk. Of course…he’d never admitted that the visits had been basically shams. Not to the Madam, not to his brother, and not to Isabella, even when she teased him about seeing him in the Rose.
Still, the Rose was an excellent gig, which was why Carver was leaning against one of the pillars inside, arms folded as he scanned the room, keeping an eye out for trouble. They were not so rich as to turn their noses up at good coin.
Anything else? …I’m good!
