i'll make a mistress of a little wiccan thing ; character dump

[basorexia]

leif leif leif leif leif

[Wafture]

[align=center][div style=" background-color: transparent; border: 0px solid black; width: 450px; min-height: 9px; font-family:; line-height: 110%; text-align: justify; color: black; padding: 20px"]Shit to help me with playing him realistically:

White-tailed deer have superior senses and can detect the slightest danger.  A long nose gives them a long olfactory system, sixty times as many olfactory sensors than humans; in return they can smell the slightest of smells (.  Eyes on the side of their head give them a wide range of vision, up to 310 degrees, to pick up the slightest movements (Moyer 2009).  Large cupped ears that can be turned in almost any direction allow them to detect the smallest of sounds.  When combined the whitetail is a well equipped animal and can pinpoint predators rather easily.  When alerted, a deer will run away with its tail up.  The bright white underside is very visible.  This is called flagging and could be used to confuse predators and/or to warn other deer in the area. Other danger warnings consist of stomping their feet and snorting loudly.  Since whitetails are polyandrous there is a high amount of competition for does.  Bucks will fight vigorously with their antlers, sometimes even to the death, to show dominance and claim territory and does.  Bucks throughout the breeding season, also called rut, make rubs on trees and scrapes.  Rubs consist of rubbing antlers on trees to leave scent behind to let other bucks know that they’re in the area.  Scrapes consist of removing leaves from under a tree and urinating on the fresh dirt.  Along with this, but not always the case, the buck will have a licking branch which it will use to leave more scent behind.

When deer detect a potential threat all of their senses are directed toward that area of concern. The deer assumes what is called a stereotypic alert posture. This posture includes the cocking forward of both ears and erection of the hair, particularly along the back. The deer is then immediately prepared to either fight or flee. At this time, much the same as in humans, adrenaline is released, which prepares the animal to most efficiently react to the situation. Should the potential threat continue, or if a deer is unsure as to the actual presence of a threat, it will usually stomp a forefoot in an effort to evoke a response from the unknown object. Other deer in the immediate area are then warned of the possibility of danger. The possibility exists in this instance that deer may even be able to communicate by the ground vibrations generated by these foot stomps. Repeated foot stomps readily occur, probably for the same purposes as already mentioned. If or when the threat is identified as danger, deer will erect their tails, providing another cue to other deer of the imminent danger. In addition to the tail-up response, deer will erect the rump and tail hairs providing an immediate cue to flee the area. Mature does will flee the area of danger waving their enormous white flags as they depart. This highly visible flag waving provides a ready reference for her young fawns as they attempt to follow her. whitetail bucks do not seem to be as conspicuous as they flee from an area of danger. Bucks, of course, do give the tail-up warning, but in some instances, immediately lower the tail after giving the cue.

As assorted deer of either sex meet throughout the year, visual communication cues readily display the intentions and social status of the animals. During most of the year, physical contact and especially eye contact is avoided. However, many encounters of deer during the early spring and summer are for the purpose of establishing dominance. When two bucks who have not established this strict order of dominance meet in the early spring/summer, visual cues immediately begin which will terminate in dominance being established. The conflict is usually initiated by one of the bucks initiating an aggressive posture toward the other. If this threatening posture, which is characterized by laying back the ears, erecting hair, and lowering the head, is answered by a similar posture from the threatened buck, a fight usually develops. During this fight both deer rise to their hind feet and maneuver for position. After a few slashes with their forelegs the fight is over.

These fights are not limited solely to bucks. Does also fight after the same routine of threat followed by a corresponding aggressive posture from the threatened doe. Most people think that only bucks fight and then only with their antlers, but both bucks and does have numerous bouts with each other throughout the year. This type of skirmish is usually settled quickly with most of the fighting being done with the hooves. Once dominance is established, sometimes after several of these battles, the deer then quickly recognize each other in relation to their respective position in the pecking order. Harmony can then exist between the members in the herd until an animal, because of age, condition, or other factors, necessitates a change.

With the arrival of fall comes the hardening of antlers, a drying of antler velvet and an increasing number of sparring matches. These sparring matches are little more than bouts of shoving, which assist in confirming rank in the social hierarchy. At the end of many of these bouts a clear winner is not apparent. The two combatants will leisurely stop sparring and begin to browse together as if nothing has occurred. This type of sparring is usually terminated by the arrival of the breeding season.

A similar yet unmistakably different battle takes place between bucks during the rut. The fight begins in much the same manner, but now both animals have hardened, polished antlers and deep seated motives, altering the fighting conditions and stakes for both deer. Bucks are fighting now for territory and dominance, but a different twist raises the stakes: the right to breed the doe(s) in this area. Normally the two bucks exchange threatening glances and at times a sidling, circling and stiff-legged walk, which is followed by a clashing and pushing done with the antlers until the larger or more aggressive buck gains the upper hand. Bucks seldom fight with members of their own group, but occasionally a younger buck will get ambitious or a transient buck will pass through. These battles can be brief or can last for several minutes, depending upon how evenly matched the two deer are. Occasionally the two bucks will lock antlers resulting in the death of both deer. These cases are the exception rather than the usual, since this situation largely requires mature bucks existing in herds with a tight buck/doe ratio. Competition for does is greater in this situation than in a typical deer herd in Mississippi.

During the above-mentioned aggressive behavior between deer, and their visual communication efforts to mutually warn fellow members of potential danger, other cues are being used simultaneously to reinforce the visual cues. These signals are called vocal cues, some of which are anecdotal. Others are simply the sounds deer make to communicate with each other. These vocal cues may certainly be used solely to communicate a response which visual cues may fail to elicit.

Reports vary as to the exact number and purpose of the known deer vocalizations. Some eight stereotypic sounds made by whitetails have been recorded, and behavior unique to the specific call has been described. The foot stomp is certainly another tool (not vocal but auditory) which deer utilize to communicate.

Probably the most commonly heard vocalization by deer is the alert snort. It is almost always preceded by the foot stomp. Mature and yearling deer of both sexes uses the alert snort when imminent danger is detected. Many times deer will escape to the edge of what they consider the danger area and give repeated warning snorts to alert other deer. This vocalization is made with the mouth closed while the deer forcefully expels a single blast of air primarily through the nostrils. Deer in family groups more commonly give alert snorts; members of buck groups rarely give a repeated series of this call.

Deer make another vocalization during times of acute distress. It is commonly referred to as the distress call. This apparently uncontrollable outcry is typically made when a deer is severely distressed, such as during an attack by a predator or when the deer is critically wounded. During our efforts of capturing and tagging deer this response was typically made by deer caught in a net or while they were being handled. Deer of both sexes and all age classes seem to be capable of this vocalization. Much like the snort, other deer are instantaneously and acutely alerted when a deer makes this sound. Apparently, individual deer recognition is possible to members of the family group as this call is made.

Vocalization between does and fawns are also common. Both the fawns and their dam (mother) make vocalizations to find each other when separated. This is one of the sounds commercial deer call manufacturers attempt to emulate. The call can best be described as a low bleat. Bleating intensity by the fawn appears to be related to the response generated from the bleat. If maternal care is not acquired after repeated bleating, intensity greatly increases, and conversely, a mothered fawn rarely bleats. Still another vocalization utilized between doe and fawn is the nursing whine made by the fawn during feeding periods. Maternal bonds are certainly reinforced by this vocalization, but other purposes for the whine may exist as well.

Undeniably, the most talked about sound during recent years is the grunt of bucks made while trailing an estrous doe. Commercial calls imitating this sound, as well as testimonials to the effectiveness of the call, seem to dominate hunter conversation during the rut each year. A dominant buck is apparently challenged by the possibility of another buck "grunting" a doe in his territory and, in many cases, responds accordingly. Females have been detected emitting the grunt as well. The grunt is utilized by does during dominant-subordinate interactions as well as to call fawns and initiate nursing interactions.

Two final vocalizations made by deer of both sexes are the aggressive snort and the snort/wheeze. Deer emit these sounds to challenge other deer either hierarchically or territorially at any time during the year, but especially by males prior to serious fighting associated with the rut. The level of arousal that the deer experiences apparently determines which of these two sounds will be made. The aggressive snort is the more serious of the two.

[Wafture]

Bachelor Parties
Young male deer will sometimes seek out the company of others, according to the website Deer Worlds. Forming a group affords these young and relatively inexperienced bucks a better chance to find food and shelter. These alliances last only as long as it takes for the bucks to reach maturity, however. Once the urge to reproduce has surfaced, a buck becomes territorial and will not abide the presence of another male. Fighting among bucks can establish the dominance of one animal over another, and determine territory or breeding rights.

Communication
Deer communicate by using body language and limited vocalizations. A deer's head position may indicate his social status among his kind, or his willingness to establish himself as dominant. Both male and female deer avoid making eye contact with more dominant herd members, and avoid making physical contact with them as well. A high head posture indicates a deer that is ready to rear and fight with another, while a lowered head indicates a deer prepared to chase a rival or subordinate, according to Outdoor Alabama. Vocalizations may be characterized as grunts, bleats or snorts. Fawns bleat to indicate hunger. A doe may grunt to her fawn to keep it close, while a buck in pursuit of a female may grunt to warn off other interested parties. Deer in distress may utter a unique high-pitched bawl. A deer may stomp a fore hoof to indicate danger to others of its kind.

Establishing a Pecking Order
A social pecking order is crucial to the survival of the herd. It is usually the eldest, most experienced doe who leads a herd, and the most seasoned buck who has first access to territory and available does. Though bucks do not stay with a herd except during breeding season, they too have a hierarchy. Should two equally dominant animals meet, they may fight to determine which will be subservient to the other. Fighting may include boxing with the front feet, kicking or charging one another, according to the Deer Initiative.

[Wafture]

[align=center][div style=" background-color: transparent; border: 0px solid black; width: 450px; min-height: 9px; font-family:; line-height: 110%; text-align: justify; color: black; padding: 20px"]HIS MANNERISMS AND PERSONALITY, in no particular order

Leif is a genuinely good guy - he isn't rude and has a more neutral view of the world, not quite optimistic but not low enough to be considered pessimistic, either. Being virtually powerless and not having much except his antlers and his normality to get him by proves a disadvantage over the more powerful creatures in this new world, but he's a brave soul and will face it head-on; he isn't one to back out of a fight and actively tries his hardest to win, and even when losing he's quick to be a good sport and congratulate others. True to his roots, it is, however, hard for him to stay in one relationship - mating seasons make him far more flightier than usual, his ingrained instinct to mate causing him to be aggressive and overprotective over potential partners (plural because he won't stay with just one.). Outside of mating seasons he's more apt to slow down but still has a hard time settling down, especially with his attention to hierarchy and his aversion to causing conflict during the warmer seasons.

Despite this, he's a romantic, cheesy guy, the kind that'll chase you down until he gets his answer, and drown you with affection. He goes to ridiculous lengths to achieve the more favorable of the two outcomes, stubbornly getting himself in trouble in the process.

Nevertheless, this also makes him overbearing and at most overprotective, because he'll do anything to keep his loved ones safe. Even if that means locking them up in a tower and swallowing the key, killing himself in the process.

At this stage in his life he's young and gullible, a maturing young buck growing into something splendid.

[Wafture]

[align=center][div style=" background-color: transparent; border: 0px solid black; width: 450px; min-height: 9px; font-family:; line-height: 110%; text-align: justify; color: black; padding: 20px"]A goal I want for him is him eventually ending up as a more mature, adult version of his current self. He'll be more assertive and dominant, calmer and less buzzing with energy, as well as a touch of fatherly grace that transforms him into a leader-like figure. He'll have an easier time looking people in the eye and making his position in society clear rather than back off and avoid anyone above him.

[Wafture]

Reminder that I need to post a thread going deeper into his ptsd.

[Wafture]

I also need to update the guide by next meeting with a better name for the stepping stone shp rank.

[Wafture]

Michaelis is going to start becoming aggressive / easily startled / emotional with other people after the nightmare thread. It's going to be harder for him to resort to the person he once was, and it will continue until he resorts to just shutting himself out and develops a smoking addiction. Smoking will help sate him a tiny bit and make him a more reserved character, completely different from the dry, snarky character he is now.

[Wafture]

[Wafture]

i was looking at brienne/jaime stuff through tumblr and since michaelis is based slightly off of jaime i thought this was way too fucking funny

[member=155]Pyretridge[/member]