application - ataraxion

[ironbanded]

P L A Y E R   I N F O R M A T I O N
Your Name: Eilidh
OOC Journal: brightness
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: n/a
Email + IM: inhyacinths@gmail.com | aim; fleijaing
Characters Played at Ataraxion: n/a

C H A R A C T E R   I N F O R M A T I O N
Name: Zelda
Canon: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Original or Alternate Universe: AU (previous game history)
Canon Point: Post game and post a_trialbyfire
Number: - 037

Setting: Hyrule is a world which appears based predominantly on European fantasy - in fact, it seems very idyllic and fairytale-fitting at a glance. There is a royal family with an always beautiful princess, there is always a brave hero, there is always a great evil, and these three are tied together through the Triforce, a sacred relic created by the Goddesses who created the world and are still very much considered a part of it. (Hylians, the race that Zelda is a part of, are said to have long ears so that they might hear their messages.) There is magic, generally well-known, and several humanoid races (in Twilight Princess, we see the aquatic Zora and rock-like Gorons, namely) in addition to the main races of Hylians and Humans that live side-by-side. In Twilight Princess, the barrier between Hyrule and a Twilight Realm made to contain powerful dark sorcery is broken, and the new wise princess and brave hero are against the great evil of legend. :D

World's End, the setting of the game Zelda spent time in, was based on Stephen King's Dark Tower series and was a survival horror. Characters were trapped in a largely ruined city at the 'axis' of the worlds, the Dark Tower. As such, they sometimes got to see aspects of other places - for example, Zelda has also visited Silent Hill, Raccoon City, Midgar, and several other settings.

Zelda is the only named member of the ruling family in the installment, and is shown to be the one leading the nation at the time.

History:

We are introduced to Zelda as a woman standing before her throne with sword in hand, surrounded by her knights, facing a coming storm - an enemy that she could not predict and could not prepare for. Her forces are immediately overpowered by the monsters under the control of the Twilit King, Zant. She is faced with a choice: relinquish her control, yield the palace and herself, or Hyrule's people will be slaughtered.

The princess lets her sword drop, and chooses life for her people.

Hyrule Castle burns and the realm is shrouded in twilight - in a perpetual, nightmareish dusk where the people are reduced to spectres that don't even realise what is happening. Locked in a tower at Zant's behest, Zelda can do little. The castle is emptied.

During her imprisonment, she is visited by a strange little creature calling herself Midna. Midna is a little cruel and self-serving, but there is help to be found in working with her. Besides, Zelda finds herself willing to trust the imp. Midna's plans do not lie with her, however, but with a foretold hero. Zelda knows the old legends well, and she places her faith in this.

Midna doesn't bring a man before her, however - she brings a blue-eyed wolf that had been captured by Zant's forces. After breaking free, Midna and the wolf go off to free Hyrule from the grip of Twilight. Zelda is resigned to waiting as light returns to the land.

Eventually, Midna and her hero - named Link - return to Zelda in the castle. Having encountered Zant, Midna is badly injured and close to death or something like it. Zelda, having had little to do but think, has come to realize that Midna's presence is intrumental, as is Link's. She also understands more of Zant's purpose in Hyrule. Subsequently, to save Midna, she pours her lifeforce into her. Not only does this renew Midna, it serves as a means of hiding the relic that Zelda carries - the divine Triforce of Wisdom.

However, in doing this, Zelda cannot hold back Zant - or his master's - power, and the castle is trapped in twilight once again. During this time, Zelda seems to be comatose. We do not see her again until the end of the game, when Link (no longer the wolf) and Midna (the true ruler of the Twilight) come to fight the one responsible for pulling Zant's strings against Zelda - Ganondorf, the big bad of the series the evil sealed away an age ago by Zelda and Link's ancestors.

Zelda, still catatonic, is taken over by Ganondorf (despite Midna's resistance on her behalf). She takes up sword against the Hero, attacking him with blade and with magic. When Ganondorf is bested in this form, and in a second, beastly form, Zelda is awoken by Midna, returning her earlier favour. Midna faces Zant with the power of her people, the Fused Shadow, head on - and Zelda and Link find themselves in Hyrule field.

Ganondorf overcomes Midna and brings the fight to them. Praying to the Light Spirits for aid, Zelda accompanies Link into battle, firing arrows that stun and weaken their foe. Eventually, Link overcomes Ganondorf, sealing him away once more, and freeing Hyrule from the threat. Midna, seeing her duty done and her own, less-impish form returned, goes back to the Twilight Realm.

It was shortly after this that Zelda was taken to World's End.

Personality:

Princess Zelda may well seem like something straight out of a fairytale at a glance. She is virtuous and righteous to an extreme, good, kind, noble - as well as intelligent, reliable, and wise. She is proud, but never conceited. Logical, but never detached. Just, but always compassionate. She possesses a wisdom and clarity beyond her years, and is level-headed and reasonable regardless of what turn the circumstances around her take. 

When forced to surrender her land to the Usurper King, Zelda does not give up. She is confined to a single room - a glorified cell - and yet maintains her dignity, even a level of pride. She does not renounce her place, nor do we see her cowed by what's happened. She is, first and foremost, a ruler - and she strives to be the best possible monarch she can be. She lives selflessly, devoted to others rather than to herself, and would never hesitate in carrying another burden, another weight, if it would spare someone else's shoulders. Soft though she may seem, soft though part of her may be, there's a diamond-hard core in there, and her strength is sometimes overlooked by those willing to dismiss a young woman with pointed ears. Adversity is approached with dignity, with an unfaltering determination to see things through. Zelda does not lose herself to despair, or to anger, or to bitterness - for one thing, she is a ruler, and such things are not hers to give in to. And, most importantly, Zelda genuinely believes that there is always hope. 

With this in mind, Zelda can appear idealistic, or naive. In some ways, she is - she remains young, after all, but scant though her years may be, they have taught her a great deal, and her idealism is tempered by her wisdom. World's End, too, broke down black and white into shades of grey - Zelda became a sharper mind there, more wont to consider something from different aspects then to risk a poor judgement. Rooted in logic as she is, she can appear cold and impartial - such things are necessity, arguably, and she can be sharp-tongued and aloof when the situation calls for it. She does not tolerate fools, nor those who would treat her as such. 

In her determination lies tenacity, too, and though she will do her best to avoid a fight, if needs must, she will stand by what she believes in until the last. She is more than willing to involve herself in dangerous situation if she deems it necessary - and, admittedly, there's a bit of an adventurer's spirit in there somewhere. World's End drew it out somewhat - no longer was Zelda cooped up in a castle, and no longer was she expected to generally sit back and watch the world go by. She enjoys new experiences, and for all her intellect, feels that one is never finished learning. Composed and graceful as she is, it's not unheard of to find her slightly giddy at the prospect of, say, being carried over rooftops by a daring Persian. 

Zelda can be prone to strong feelings of guilt, something she seems to display when she is met throughout the game. When things turn ill, she often blames herself first and foremost. Even in her wisdom, there is a sense that the responsibility is hers. As stated, she never shies away from a burden. A great weight hangs on her brow, one she is almost constantly adding too, and her solemnity and wisdom do often make her seem older - but those who become friends may soon realise that her laughter and smiles are distinctly girlish. She may not be quick to show her true emotions, often favouring a more prudent, diplomatic response to things, but in her dedication to her people and her willingness to save Midna we see that she is, ultimately, a kind, loving woman - someone who seeks to serve those around her to the best of her ability. A leader, after all, is there to serve. She is seemingly eternally patient, polite, and considerate. She loves easily, and with all her heart. 

Wisdom need not go hand in hand with cold, and the princess is a prime example of this.

Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:

As the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, Zelda has a few notable abilities she can call upon.

• Zelda possesses a wisdom beyond her years, and a considerable clarity even when the odds are stacked against her. Though this is not entirely the doing of the Triforce, it does help to keep her grounded and make just judgements. It also enables her to get a better 'sense' for the people she meets - she won't know immediately good from bad, but she might get a better idea of the type of person she's speaking to.
• Presence - Nayru gave her wisdom, but also love. Her presence is noteworthy in that it can be almost unfalteringly calming, even soothing. This can make it easier for her to placate or reassure people in strenuous situations.
• Barriers/Wards - Zelda is capable of crafting shields to keep out things that would mean her or her allies harm. They can vary in power, with the strongest generally being the shortest. For long-term use they need frequent renewing. She can also break many barriers crafted by others.
• Healing - An ability refined in World's End, Zelda is a skilled healer, and is able to fix a great deal of damage done to a person. The process can be a taxing one, however, and it's important that the healing is timely.(This does not really emerge in canon, but it seems like a suitable application of the power she'd have given what little we do see. In OoT, Zelda creates hearts to heal Link, which I see as being a form of healing, and in TP, of course, she is able to heal Midna at great cost to herself - though this is largely dependant on the Triforce itself, it seems.)
• Clairvoyancy - this power is not nearly as well developed as it has been for some of Zelda's ancestors and descendants, and occurs rarely and at random. Usually, it only manifests in precognitive dreams. It is possible that Zelda could hone this ability and vary it, but such would take time to be reliable. (Again, it isn't seen in TP, but it seems to be recurring in other princesses of the series such as in ALttP and OoT.)
(The following four are taken from Super Smash Bros.. While not canon, I think it's a reasonable stretch.)
• Farore's Wind - Allows Zelda to warp over a short distance.
• Din's Fire - An offensive spell allowing Zelda to either conjure a ball of flames she can then control, or a dome of fire that grows around her.
• Nayru's Love - A temporary shield that appears as a transparent blue diamond around her. Nothing can get through it, but the time span is very short.
• Other magic - Zelda can, if necessary, call upon a little light magic, or energy, either in the form of a ball or as something to charge her movement, such as a slap.

The power of the above is often depicted as being enhanced through prayer - as Zelda will be far from home, out of reach Hyrule's Goddesses and Light Spirits, she'll be limited further.

Weapons:

• Archery - Zelda is a skilled shot with a bow, even on horseback. Her marksmanship has the potential to carry over to other weapons if given the chance.
• Swordsmanship - She is capable of using a sword if she must - though not a great strength, she honed this ability somewhat in World's End. Her physical strength, however, isn't much to speak of, and she is very inexperienced.

Other:

• First-aid. Zelda learned this in World's End, and has passable medical skill even without her magic.
• Zelda also learned a bit about cooking and cleaning, both things she'd had no previous experience with.
• She can sew, though her practise was always based more in embroidery than tailoring.

Inventory:

• one diadem, golden, set with blue stones
  
• one circlet, iron, engraved with the words the lady of world's end
  
• a copper bracelet, plain but beautifully wrought.
  
• her communicator from World's End, now utterly useless beyond revisiting old communications.
  
• I'd like her direwolf, Sahar, to show up too. Sahar was acquired in World's End as part of an event and has a generally placid temperament, but can be fiercely protective. As she's not yet full grown, she'll be around the size of a large dog.

Appearance:

Tall and willowy, Zelda is a fair woman with clear blue eyes, pale skin, and blonde hair dark enough to be approaching brown, often braided. She carries herself straight-backed, chin up, never one to appear downtrodden. Instead, she seems to possess an almost perpetual, unshakeable calm. She is not a woman who needs a crown to announce herself, and in Hyrule is considered a great beauty.

World's End has left few marks on her, since her hair grew back - she bears only a few, very faint scars from her time there on her back and her abdomen. Despite being used to rich clothes and jewels, she has a fondness for more practical wear, even donning riding boots and leggings beneath her gown. As for notable features, Zelda has long, pointed ears that most would consider elven.

Age: I place Zelda in her early twenties.

AU Clarification:

Her history in the game a_trialbyfire follows.

• She arrived in a city named Purgatorium imminently following Ganondorf's defeat. Based on two levels, Zelda found herself in a drab grey place, unable to see the sky, and being penalized for her apparent sins. The circumstances, her canon point, and the uncharacteristic actions of the Midna she found there weighed heavily on her mind, but she found a place to stay and worked as a tailor for Misa Amane.
• Her enemy from Hyrule, the one who first usurped her throne, turned up. Her wariness of him gave her a more solid footing and a focus. She turned from despairing over what was lost to looking ahead.
• Purgatorium was destroyed in a war between the gods, tearing the city into ruins. Much of the population died or vanished - Zelda was one of the survivors. With her powers now returned to her, she set about doing what she could to help the others still trapped there, as well as the newcomers that continued to arrive.
• Because of the work she was doing, as well as her attitude to the situation, Zelda was able to begin strong alliances. She was disliked, however, by the 'evil' god, Atra, and also made an enemy out of Albert Wesker due to his judging her a hopeless princess.
• From some of the renovated buildings, Zelda began to build a Sanctuary - somewhere to offer peace and safety to her fellow refugees. It was also the place where she did the majority of her healing. (Over the course of her time in World's End, the Sanctuary was upgraded to contain a block of apartments for people to stay in, was fully renovated after a world event, and was warded with magic against harmful forces).
• After rallying a group together to rescue Zack Fair from being one of Wesker's test subjects, Zack pledged himself to her service. This was the formal beginning of her Queensguard, which over the course of time saw a variety of members - Sheik, Riqis, Prince, Nina, Itachi, Link, Naoto, Impa, and Angeal. She had a strong network of friends and allies, and on more than one occasion had a prophetic dream, loosely foretelling a number of deaths as well as the appearance of the wizard's rainbow.
• Well-respected and looked to as a spiritual leader by many, Zelda was elected the city's foremost governor. She was given a crown - a simple band of dark, silvery metal, engraved with the words Lady of World's End.
• Zelda began to develop romantic feelings for Prince, which would not be uncovered despite it being obvious as all get out until a lowered unhibitions event. She would eventually be betrothed to him, despite their knowledge and intent to return home one day.
• Though Rufus had always been an ally - even a friend - after an altercation consisting of her wanting to ensure he was unharmed after a death, he ceased supporting her and often spoke out against her. He was one of the loudest voices in insinuating that Zelda was attempting to take over the Task Force, a rumour largely discredited thanks to her network of friends.
• At one point, during an AU event, Zelda became the pirate, Tetra, from the Wind Waker game. During this time she was captured by Alex Shepherd, also affected by the event, and upon returning to her own form, she was brutally murderered. Though some of those close to her were willing to take action against him, Zelda forgave the man who was a friend of hers, given the circumstances.
• Zelda continued her work, even becoming a sister or mother figure to some of the city's residents. She did a great deal to organize resources, renovations, and the set-up of a seperate medical centre.
• She returned to Hyrule suddenly, after over a year in World's End - whilst there, the memory of that place was like a vague dream. It was not too long, however, before she returned. Her recollection grew stronger and the knowledge began to come back to her - and then she was taken from World's End once more.

A month or so after this, she will awaken on the Tranquility. World's End is fresher in her mind now, but still feels almost like something unreal or imagined. Arriving on board, however, will remind her of how utterly possible these circumstances are.

S A M P L E S
Log Sample:

There are two crowns in her hands. one is a band woven of golden leaves, bejewelled and gleaming. The other is a simple ring of iron, unblemished but dark. She has dressed in the clothes they gave her, but she will cling to these things, material as they are. Sentimentality can count for a great deal, and she's grateful to have this much. Pieces of home - both of them, as is the sandy wolf that pads alongside her, somewhat disgruntled and ruffled from being cramped up.

Despite the trepidation, the anxiety, the unease at this foreign, strange place and everything it might mean, she can't deny a thrill of something near excitement. Perhaps it's the wanderlust that was left to her by her ancesters, perhaps it's the idea that this is proof, proof that the past she'd known was not a dream.

She had known that, in her heart, but the proof is good all the same, something to rely upon, real as the metal in her hands and the beast at her side, the rasp of fabric on her skin and the ring of her footsteps on metal floors. This was not World's End, but it was still a branch from that axis, the smell of roses and seasalt replaced with something sharp and sterile.

There was no panic in her demeanour, no urgency, as though she'd been through this all before and could face it with infinite patience. But she would, however, like to find some answers.

(Taken from a test drive meme thread!)

Comms Sample:

[ the screen flickers and for a moment, she allows a smile, small, but reassured. ] This device is different from what I knew, but I believe it should be broadcasting now. I am no great scholar of such technology, but - it is a sort of communicator, is it not? A phone, I believe.

[ her lips quirk again - this time, more wry. she needn't ask, and there's as much use in it as talking to herself. knowledge is one thing, complacency something else entirely, something has has been taught against. ]

I know a little of our situation, I believe - that is, if more of you have been taken from your homes, as I have been. But I lack the specifics, and I would be grateful if someone could explain more to me. This place is like little else I have seen, certainly not any sort of ship.

Ah - and introductions will be in order, as well. My name is - Zelda. [ no title, no honourific. I am not a monarch here, displaced. ]

Thank you for your time.

(And a bonus dear mun post, as I feel it gives a better range of her speaking to different people!)