The Intolerable Clock: A Non-Canon Hexarchate RPG

Taking the first plunge, I guess!

Player name or handle: Simon/mercuryhatter

RPG DW account (if separate): N/A

How can we get in touch with you? (email, DW messaging, other): DW messaging, discord @simon#9532

Character name: Vauhan Istradez

One-paragraph (100 words) summary of your character. Istradez is the brother and former professional double of Hexarch Shuos Mikodez. After volunteering for what was intended to be a suicide mission for one of his brother’s plots, he survived when the ensuing explosion pushed him through one of the rifts in space that have been opening across the hexarchate. Left with the effects of head trauma and a confused memory surrounding the circumstances of his death, he found his way to the rebellion and lent them his skills as an actor and inside knowledge of the hexarchate, though he does have to be careful of his recognizable face.


NOTE: In the following section, limit your answers to up to 100 words per question.
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How did your character first learn of the hexarchate? Istradez was born into the hexarchate and worked for the Shuos faction, although he was not officially Shuos himself.

Why did your character join this rebellion? Due to his damaged memory, Istradez does not remember volunteering for the mission that was meant to kill him. He thinks he was sent to his death by Shuos Mikodez. But even before that, he harbored conflicted feelings about the hexarchate, given the unique view he had into its inner workings through his brother. The trauma and confusion of his near-death was enough to sever his former loyalty and convince him to work against the hexarchate. He has a vague idea that he could potentially save future versions of himself and his brother by preventing the hexarchate from ever forming.

What would make your character consider giving up the cause?
(Note for this and further questions: Tell me things that you're willing to have happen in the game. I may go this far with your character. I will not go further. What I'm asking for is story/character hooks.) There are a number of people from his past who could convince Istradez to abandon the rebellion, including Mikodez, his old lover Spirel, and others who knew him or could pretend they did. This would probably rely on either clearing up or manipulating his memories to convince him to be on the side of the hexarchate again. There is also the possibility that he could recover his memories and change his mind, given enough time, although at that point he might have been with the rebellion long enough that he supports it for reasons other than his personal motivations.

Name something your character does not want to lose. At this point, Istradez does not have a massive amount left to lose, but he is very protective of his remaining sanity and memories, and would probably react very badly to anyone attempting to screw with those.

Name something your character would die for. Loyalty to family or friends, or as a preference to being useless or unneeded. He is a “go out with a bang” sort if at all possible.

Name something your character would kill for. Personal morality (if he thought it was the best or only option), or to protect friends and family (unless personal morality outweighed this-- i.e., a choice between one family member and 1000 strangers, or something. Depending on the family member and the circumstances, this could get shaky).

Who is your character's best friend? Up until recently, Shuos Mikodez, who he grew up with and has always had a close relationship even before he became Mikodez’s double.

Describe your character's perfect partner (romantic or friend or coworker, your choice). With a quick temper exacerbated by his circumstances, Istradez’s ideal partner would be steady and level-headed, or at least capable of projecting this, though still understanding of strong emotions. He likes artistic types and a certain level of intelligence, which doesn't always have to be the obvious kind. He likes someone he can both confide in and spar with. He has no particular gender preference, though he can be somewhat shallow on appearances-- he likes pretty people.

What is your character's secret dream or desire, the one they've never told anyone? If someone offered him a way to take himself and his loved ones off to a pocket of the universe where nothing could touch them while the rest of civilization burned, he would take it. Or rather, he wishes he could say he would take it. He wishes that he could turn off caring about wider consequences and just take care of his own, but the chances of that happening are pretty slim.

How will your character die?
(NOTE: I will not kill your character unless you pre-arrange it with me, but I may put you in a dangerous situation based on this.) No particular preference, willing to talk through possibilities. As stated above, if given the choice he prefers an option that lets him go out dramatically, preferably with some strategic value. He does not expect to die peacefully of old age.

Does your character have any powers that the hexarchate would consider "exotic" (magical)? No.

What do you (the player) enjoy most in an RPG? It's been quite some time since I've RP’d, but I imagine my predilection for intense emotional scenes, hurt/comfort, and reunion has not changed. However, I am up for trying anything! I also tend to prefer at least some level of plot most of the time rather than unstructured character development.

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You have 500 words to tell me anything else you want me and the other players to know about your character. Do it here.

Having several friends with brain injuries, I'm pretty committed to accuracy in that area (did you know the effects from even a minor concussion can last up to two years?). Therefore, in addition to the memory issues that are central to Istradez’s changes of heart, he will also experience some difficulty focusing, trouble with emotional regulation, and intermittent dizziness and headaches for quite some time after the explosion. However, I'm also not above messing with any of this for plot reasons as necessary.

Also for plot reasons, the exact location and time period he ends up in after falling through the rift is flexible.

Re: the answers about best friend and partner: though Istradez won't get over Mikodez any time soon, and misses his long-time lover Spirel as well, he can multitask. I'm willing to discuss romantic or platonic relationships with any character with whom he might be compatible.

He also retains a few odd habits, some of which he doesn't totally understand: a tendency to order sweet foods without thinking and then immediately dislike them, occasional inadvertent shifts in body language or speech patterns, and a nervous habit of rubbing his palm with the fingers of the opposite hand.

He will not surgically alter his looks even though they are recognizable to many hexarchate officials, but he will make less permanent changes such as growing his hair or wearing heavy makeup. He dislikes bright colors, especially red, and prefers to wear pastels.