Name: Jane "Janie" Simpson
Age: 14
Race: Human
[Class: Cleric ]
[Alignment: LG]
[Deity: Toran]
[Domain if applicable: Protection, Good]
Hometown: Outskirts of Fort Llast
Father's name: Ronan Simpson
Father's occupation: Farmer
Mother's name: Marla Simpson
Mother's occupation: deceased
Do you have any siblings?
Yes. I have 4 older brothers and 2 younger sisters.
Why do you want to be a part of this program?
My father has always worked hard on our farm as long as I can remember. My older brothers have gone off for training with the temple, and when the call went out to able-bodied followers of Toran to go and fight in the war against the Cult, my brothers all left, even my brother Jesse, who was only 15 when he left. James came back last year. He got hurt when fighting. He lost an eye. He says he's lucky that's all he lost, and he says he doesn't want to talk about what he saw out there. We're still waiting to hear about my other brothers. I don't know if they're okay. My father says we should always have faith that Toran will take care of them, though. I guess why I want to be part of the program is because I want to be able to help people like my brothers, and I know there are people in the church that can do that sort of thing. I know that when they left for the war, it was because there was something that needed to be fought for, and I want to be able to help and do my part too. Right now I take care of my little sisters, but they're getting old enough that they can take care of themselves. James said he can help take care of the farm with my father, and they've given me permission to get training to do something else.
How do you feel Toran has influenced your life thus far?
I remember when I was little, before my mother died, she used to teach me prayers that she learned growing up. She said that Toran was a great leader, and that we should try to be like him. We should always try to help people around us that need it. She said that Toran teaches us to be respectful of others and of our elders, and that sometimes He calls us to make hard decisions. I admit I don't know exactly what those hard decisions are yet, but maybe sort of like when my brothers decided to go to war. They could have stayed home where they were safe, but they didn't because they said it was something that was worth fighting for. My mother told me to always be a good example for other people and that would take me far in life. I don't know if I always do, but I try. I know it's important to tell the truth, even though sometimes we might not want to hear it. My father says that's "tough love" when he tells me something I don't want to hear, but it's how I can learn a good lesson.
What training have you received up to this point?
I know how to read and write. My brothers and I used to play when we were little with wooden swords my father made us. Jesse used to say that I was a girl, so I shouldn't be allowed to fight, but my father told him it's better for a woman to be able to defend herself in time of need than to have to hope that there might be someone around to protect her, and that they should be nice and teach me, so we used to practice like that when our chores were done. I think I'm pretty decent with a wooden sword, and I know how to hold a wooden shield, but I've never fought with a real sword or shield yet.
Also, when you live on a farm people get hurt sometimes, so I know how to set a broken bone and how to wrap a cut so it won't turn bad. Before my mother died she taught me a prayer to say that would help cure little injuries like cuts and bruises. She said if I have enough faith, Toran will help the cuts heal faster when I say them. I know it used to work for her, when she would pray, I could almost feel things just getting better. I keep praying, so maybe someday I'll be able to do that, too.
In what ways do you feel you are being called to serve Toran and the world?
I know that with the war and everything there are a lot of people that are going to need help. From the little bit I've been able to get James to tell me about what he saw, it sounds like a lot of people died, and a lot of people are without food, or homes, or have lost people that they care about. I want to be able to go out and help people get back some of what they lost. I don't know if I'm strong enough to be a soldier, but I think I'd like to be someone that they can talk to about some of what they've seen. I hear James screaming or crying in his sleep sometimes. I don't think he wants anyone to know, but he's different since he came back from fighting, even beyond him losing an eye. Sometimes I wonder if maybe he felt like he could talk to me or anyone about it he might feel better. I don't like seeing my brother hurting. He's always been so strong, but sometimes maybe strong people need help too.
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
I think I'm pretty good at talking to people and listening, and I try hard to understand other peoples' points of view.
What do you consider to be your greatest weaknesses, or something that you think you need to improve on?
I probably have a lot of things I need to improve on really. I'd like to figure out ways I can fight a bit better than I do now, and I know I'd like to find out more about the prayers like my mother used to say that you could see when Toran answered them. I've been told that through prayer some really incredible things can happen if you have enough faith. I'd love to be able to see that or even do that if Toran lets me.
Oh, and sometimes I tend to ramble a bit.
//OOC Statements:
* My character has no claims or ties to wealth or nobility.
* I have read and understand the requirements and expectations of the Toran Leadership Program and I promise to abide by those rules both in and out of character for the five (5) months of the series.
* I understand that this series is a rp-intensive opportunity, and my character will be undergoing the training in game that is normally covered in submission backgrounds to support the class that I have chosen, and that I will role play my character skills and abilities only so much as has been covered in the training as I go
.
Dogmatic statements for Cleric, Paladin, and Champion submissions:
1. I have read and understand the dogma and expectations of a Cleric of Toran and I intend to follow them to the best of my ability.
2. Janie is still learning the true dogma of Toran, but as she sees it now, she believes that Toran teaches His followers to be leaders and to care for others, and that some things are worth fighting for, and that people are worth protecting. She also has a desire to help those who have been traumatized by the ugly nature of fighting so that they can be more at peace.
3. Janie will continue training with the longsword and shield. She is of humble origins and will wear clothing that reflect her service to Toran and to the world, or full plate armor if necessary. She will wear the blue, gold, and silver that will mark her as a follower/priestess of Toran and she wears an Ankh pendant that was once her mother's before she died.
there are several temples that are not represented in game
That's actually a good question, which leads me to ask where the application takes place? For example in case of a child who hasn't learned his letters, is there the possibility of an interview and does this interview need to be at a major temple of Toran?
Have you considered allowing submissions that are not so much shining examples of Toranite youth, but rather something like juveniles in need of reform? I am more familiar with that subject than the other. ;)
We can play a juvenile delinquent? Hmm...
Edit: For the record though, if they are -not- those shining examples, probably starting submission would be Fighter and then if you chose to add a divinely gifted class later, resubmit.