Post by Marley on Jan 27, 2013 0:55:12 GMT -6
Your Character’s Name: Jeannette Day
Your Character’s Age: 19
Your Character’s Gender: Female
Occupation: Panhandler/flower seller/unemployed
Physical Description (or a picture, if you have an actor image selected):
Personality: First and foremost, Jeannette is a deeply religious Roman Catholic. Her faith matters more to her than anything else. Before she left New Harmony, she attended Mass and received the Sacraments as often as she could, and she prayed and went to Confession at every available opportunity. Her faith is simple, and at times, all consuming. This firm trust in God helps to give her confidence--not necessarily in herself--but in her Voices. In spite of this devotion, her actual knowledge is limited--she's illiterate, and knows only two prayers, the Pater Nostre and the Ave Maria, as well as The Credo.
Besides her religion, Jeannette loves and is devoted to her Voices—three disembodied entities who spoke to her from out of a bright light. She calls them her saints and says that they are Saint Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine. Only she can see and hear them. They bring her messages and instructions--some of which she understands and some of which she doesn't. They have been coming to her since she was twelve or thirteen, and she loves them better than anything else.
Fiercely protective of her Voices, she doesn't suffer doubters gladly. Her Voices are good and they come from God. Anyone who says differently is liable to a sharp rebuke, at best. Due to her dedication to these heavenly messengers--and the words they bring--she's prone to slipping off by herself to pray and speak with them--and woe betide anyone who interrupts her at either, particularly if her Voices are speaking with her. She won't hesitate to complain that she can't hear her Voices because of the noise around her. Jeannette will also happily converse with her Saints if they arrive in the midst of a previous conversation--as their messages are, of course, more important, in her mind.
Though gentle, Jeannette can--and will--use her temper and her sometimes sharp tongue to get things done in the way in which she wants them to be done. Fully convinced in her own mind of her mission and its origins, she plans on using that confidence in dealing with those around her, especially individuals who were unwilling to listen to her at first. She was also very persistent, refusing to give up until she gets what she wants. Growing up a in the country--albeit a fairly well-off one--Jeannette is used to hard work and making do. Her practical, down-to-earth nature, coupled with her boldness and earnestness, should serve her.
However, Jeannette's stubborn streak, impatience and insistence on holiness have also led her into trouble on numerous occasions. She will clash with others who refuse to do or see things her way. Jeannette is also arrogant and pompish, believing that her way is best. This can--and has--led to clashes on numerous occasions, as Jeannette frequently appeals to her status as "La Pucelle" as a justification for why she's right and the other party is in the wrong. Thus, she is prone to thinking that she is always right about generally everything.
Jeannette doesn't take kindly to being ignored and will sometimes get hostile when she feels that she's being overlooked. This is particularly true if the matter involves something which her Voices have bid her to do. Though not hostile toward men, the rough treatment she's received from the men she's ran into on the streets has made her somewhat wary, and she's quick to misjudge harmless flirting and teasing as something more offensive--and deserving of a good scolding. She can be sensitive to criticism, and is prone to making snippy--and at times belittling--comments if she feels threatened by someone. Possessing no patience for absurdities, she doesn't hesitate to use sarcasm when confronted by them.
Although generally tough and unyielding, Jeannette can--and does--show compassion and behave gently. She cares deeply for her family and the friends that she has, and will go to almost any lengths to protect them. Children, animals and the less fortunate are the other most likely candidates to see this side of her. When necessary, she can be deferential--i.e. using proper forms of address, though that curtesy vanishes if a conflict arises. Violence, though necessary, disturbs her, and she takes pains to avoid it.
History: Jeannette was born to Pierre and Isabelle Day on January 6th, in a remote corner of the French countryside. From the start, her childhood was anything but typical. Her parents belonged to an ultra strict religious commune, made up of about 250 people. Members of the commune, who called themselves the Believers, followed a peculiar religion--a mix of Roman Catholicism and an extreme aversions to modern technology. Father Jean served as the group's priest and leader.
Members of the commune raised sheep, vegetables, and grain, selling the fruits of their labors at the nearby towns. Because the commune was several days' ride by wagon from the cities, the men did not go often. Jeannette's mother--like the other women Believers--stayed at home, tending to the children and the house. She and the other women would spin wool into cloth from which they made everyone's clothes, using natural dyes to add color. Jeannette's sister Marie married young and died in childbirth with the baby in spite of the midwife's best efforts.
For the first thirteen years of her life, Jeannette lived quietly, helping her mother about their house, tending to her chores, playing with the other children, and trying to avoid her father's stern discipline in the form of his belt across her bare back. Though schooling was generally discouraged the children were taught simple math--counting, addition and subtraction--and to write their names. Reading was discouraged, so the children learned by memorization or, in the case of addition and subtraction, counting on their fingers.
If she wasn't helping her mother or playing with the other children, Jeannette was inside the commune's church, praying. A devout girl, Jeannette would drop to her knees in reverence each time the bells sounded--a dedication for which her friends often mocked her. As she grew older, her visits to the church became more frequent, so much so that Father Jean gave her a key so that she could come and go as she pleased.
At thirteen, her life changed dramatically. One afternoon, while sitting in her father's garden, her voices came to her. Arriving in a blinding flash of light, they identified themselves as Saint Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine. They had told her to be good, go to church, say her prayers. She never told anyone, not even the priest.
In the months that followed, the voices continued to come. Though their message was simple at first, soon their requests became more difficult—and more insistent. They told Jeannette that she had to go to Paris. Once there, they would tell her what to do.
As the years passed, the voices became more insistent. In order to cope, she began to withdraw, spending more and more time with her Voices, as they spoke to her every day by this point. Her parents tried questioning her, but she refused to provide them with any information. She even avoided the church for a while, as the priest was becoming suspicious. He tried to encourage her to open up to him, as he was concerned that something wasn’t right at home. When Jeannette finally did return, she went to the church only at night, using the key the priest had given her. She remained this way for four years, a virtual recluse, almost mute.
When she was seventeen, she couldn’t ignore her Voices any longer. Finally, in the middle of the night, Jeannette stole away. She headed for Paris. Her Voices had told her that she’d find the people she needed there. She cut her hair and dressed as a boy to keep herself safe. Now she lives on the streets and waits for her Voices to reveal her mission to her.
Your Character’s Age: 19
Your Character’s Gender: Female
Occupation: Panhandler/flower seller/unemployed
Physical Description (or a picture, if you have an actor image selected):
Personality: First and foremost, Jeannette is a deeply religious Roman Catholic. Her faith matters more to her than anything else. Before she left New Harmony, she attended Mass and received the Sacraments as often as she could, and she prayed and went to Confession at every available opportunity. Her faith is simple, and at times, all consuming. This firm trust in God helps to give her confidence--not necessarily in herself--but in her Voices. In spite of this devotion, her actual knowledge is limited--she's illiterate, and knows only two prayers, the Pater Nostre and the Ave Maria, as well as The Credo.
Besides her religion, Jeannette loves and is devoted to her Voices—three disembodied entities who spoke to her from out of a bright light. She calls them her saints and says that they are Saint Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine. Only she can see and hear them. They bring her messages and instructions--some of which she understands and some of which she doesn't. They have been coming to her since she was twelve or thirteen, and she loves them better than anything else.
Fiercely protective of her Voices, she doesn't suffer doubters gladly. Her Voices are good and they come from God. Anyone who says differently is liable to a sharp rebuke, at best. Due to her dedication to these heavenly messengers--and the words they bring--she's prone to slipping off by herself to pray and speak with them--and woe betide anyone who interrupts her at either, particularly if her Voices are speaking with her. She won't hesitate to complain that she can't hear her Voices because of the noise around her. Jeannette will also happily converse with her Saints if they arrive in the midst of a previous conversation--as their messages are, of course, more important, in her mind.
Though gentle, Jeannette can--and will--use her temper and her sometimes sharp tongue to get things done in the way in which she wants them to be done. Fully convinced in her own mind of her mission and its origins, she plans on using that confidence in dealing with those around her, especially individuals who were unwilling to listen to her at first. She was also very persistent, refusing to give up until she gets what she wants. Growing up a in the country--albeit a fairly well-off one--Jeannette is used to hard work and making do. Her practical, down-to-earth nature, coupled with her boldness and earnestness, should serve her.
However, Jeannette's stubborn streak, impatience and insistence on holiness have also led her into trouble on numerous occasions. She will clash with others who refuse to do or see things her way. Jeannette is also arrogant and pompish, believing that her way is best. This can--and has--led to clashes on numerous occasions, as Jeannette frequently appeals to her status as "La Pucelle" as a justification for why she's right and the other party is in the wrong. Thus, she is prone to thinking that she is always right about generally everything.
Jeannette doesn't take kindly to being ignored and will sometimes get hostile when she feels that she's being overlooked. This is particularly true if the matter involves something which her Voices have bid her to do. Though not hostile toward men, the rough treatment she's received from the men she's ran into on the streets has made her somewhat wary, and she's quick to misjudge harmless flirting and teasing as something more offensive--and deserving of a good scolding. She can be sensitive to criticism, and is prone to making snippy--and at times belittling--comments if she feels threatened by someone. Possessing no patience for absurdities, she doesn't hesitate to use sarcasm when confronted by them.
Although generally tough and unyielding, Jeannette can--and does--show compassion and behave gently. She cares deeply for her family and the friends that she has, and will go to almost any lengths to protect them. Children, animals and the less fortunate are the other most likely candidates to see this side of her. When necessary, she can be deferential--i.e. using proper forms of address, though that curtesy vanishes if a conflict arises. Violence, though necessary, disturbs her, and she takes pains to avoid it.
History: Jeannette was born to Pierre and Isabelle Day on January 6th, in a remote corner of the French countryside. From the start, her childhood was anything but typical. Her parents belonged to an ultra strict religious commune, made up of about 250 people. Members of the commune, who called themselves the Believers, followed a peculiar religion--a mix of Roman Catholicism and an extreme aversions to modern technology. Father Jean served as the group's priest and leader.
Members of the commune raised sheep, vegetables, and grain, selling the fruits of their labors at the nearby towns. Because the commune was several days' ride by wagon from the cities, the men did not go often. Jeannette's mother--like the other women Believers--stayed at home, tending to the children and the house. She and the other women would spin wool into cloth from which they made everyone's clothes, using natural dyes to add color. Jeannette's sister Marie married young and died in childbirth with the baby in spite of the midwife's best efforts.
For the first thirteen years of her life, Jeannette lived quietly, helping her mother about their house, tending to her chores, playing with the other children, and trying to avoid her father's stern discipline in the form of his belt across her bare back. Though schooling was generally discouraged the children were taught simple math--counting, addition and subtraction--and to write their names. Reading was discouraged, so the children learned by memorization or, in the case of addition and subtraction, counting on their fingers.
If she wasn't helping her mother or playing with the other children, Jeannette was inside the commune's church, praying. A devout girl, Jeannette would drop to her knees in reverence each time the bells sounded--a dedication for which her friends often mocked her. As she grew older, her visits to the church became more frequent, so much so that Father Jean gave her a key so that she could come and go as she pleased.
At thirteen, her life changed dramatically. One afternoon, while sitting in her father's garden, her voices came to her. Arriving in a blinding flash of light, they identified themselves as Saint Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine. They had told her to be good, go to church, say her prayers. She never told anyone, not even the priest.
In the months that followed, the voices continued to come. Though their message was simple at first, soon their requests became more difficult—and more insistent. They told Jeannette that she had to go to Paris. Once there, they would tell her what to do.
As the years passed, the voices became more insistent. In order to cope, she began to withdraw, spending more and more time with her Voices, as they spoke to her every day by this point. Her parents tried questioning her, but she refused to provide them with any information. She even avoided the church for a while, as the priest was becoming suspicious. He tried to encourage her to open up to him, as he was concerned that something wasn’t right at home. When Jeannette finally did return, she went to the church only at night, using the key the priest had given her. She remained this way for four years, a virtual recluse, almost mute.
When she was seventeen, she couldn’t ignore her Voices any longer. Finally, in the middle of the night, Jeannette stole away. She headed for Paris. Her Voices had told her that she’d find the people she needed there. She cut her hair and dressed as a boy to keep herself safe. Now she lives on the streets and waits for her Voices to reveal her mission to her.
