From Changeling Venue

Seeming	Ogre Stonebones
Court	Summer Court •••
Freehold	Seven Hills
Player	Christopher Williams

Contents 1 Information 2 Descriptions 3 Those at his Back & Those at his Side (Allied Groups) 4 Friends In Need & Friends Indeed (Allied Characters) 5 On the Last Straw (Grey-Area Characters) 6 Even Good Guys Hate Somebody... (Semi-Antagonist Characters) 7 Enemies at the Gate (Antagonist Characters) 8 Character Inspirations 9 Soundtrack 10 Quotes - Words Spoken By Friend or Foe 11 Rumors - Tall Tales & Bulls**t Stories 12 OOC Information

Information

Name: Horace "Race" Ardent
Mortal Alias(es): Harold Russel Dent, Harry Dent, Russ Dent
Real Name: Jonothan Horace Harper
Location: Freehold of the Seven Hills - Seattle, WA

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Birth: December 28th, 1947
Date Taken: 03:17:42 a.m. Cambodia Time Zone, July 21, 1969
Date Returned: June 30th, 1998
Apparent Age: Mid/Late 30s
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Mississippi

Seeming: Ogre
Kith: Stonebones
Court: Summer
Titles: Knight of the Summer Court of Seven Hills; Knight of the Black Order

Descriptions

Concept: Reluctant, yet Relentless, Hero, a.k.a. "The People's Champ"

Overview: Race Ardent is a solid joe, a man of faith, honesty, good-will and bravery. He's largely an unassuming fellow, never seeking the spotlight or seemingly reluctant to accept accolades of any sort. But he's a giver, and he's also someone whose exceptionally blunt and forward about what he believes is right and wrong. Returning from the Hedge some 4 or 5 years ago, he's traveled the US seeking answers to his past, and doing his part to help out those he's come across who needed a helping hand, or defending fist. One of the most easy going of Ogres, those who have crossed his path or have acted to harm those he has befriended and vowed to protect have come to learn that he's one of the toughest, most determined combatants to come out of the Hedge in many a year.

Mask: Race is a tall wiry man of corded muscle and solid build. Of African-American heritage his chiseled features and stern expression is handsome yet distant. Dark skin and dark eyes, form a face that has a talent for communicating the smooth and solid charisma of a granite mountain. Yet when his temper flairs there is the hint of burning magma in his presence. He generally wears black clothes of simple cut, and speak with a deep, rich bass tone. On those rare occasions that he smiles in good humor his bright smile is infectious.

Mein: With skin the color and texture like smooth cooling lava rock and eyes like obsidian, Race moves with the steadiness and undaunted persistence of a tectonic plate. Fissures of red, like molten earth, can occasionally be seen in his skin, growing brighter in times of temper or frustration. Some jokingly refer to him as the result of an Ogre's love affair with a volcano. A palpable warmth can be felt around him as if his rocky yet smooth skin rests upon the hot magma pulse of the earth. His voice carries with it a deeper bass and his implacable stare has the feel of ageless mountains.

Current Mortal Activities: Currently employed as a Taxi Cab driver and part-time Bail Bondsman (Bounty Hunter/Skip Tracer) in and around Seattle, WA.

Current Fae Activities: PENDING

Fae Society:

• Member of the Freehold of the Seven Hills

• Mantle of Summer - 3
  
• Autumn Court Goodwill - 1
  
• Winter Court Goodwill - 1
  
• Spring Court Goodwill - 1
  

• Head of Security (aka "Captain of the Guard") - The Driftwood House

Mortal Society:

• Driver - Yellow Cab Seattle (Licensed Professional)
  
• Bail Bondsman - Puget Sound Bail Bond (Licensed Professional)
  

Those at his Back & Those at his Side (Allied Groups)

Motley: Georgetown Stingrays

Entitlement: None Currently

Other Oaths/Alliances:
+ Oath of the Black Order
+ Brotherhood of Poole's Promise

Armed Service: United States Army

• 101st Airborne Division, "Screaming Eagles"
  
• 3rd Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment (Airmobile)
  
• 3rd Battalion, "Iron Rakkasans"
  
• Foxtrot Company, "Fool's Company"
  
  • Commanding Officer: Captain W. Poole
    
• First Platoon "Nomads"
  
  • Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant C. Driscoll
    

Friends In Need & Friends Indeed (Allied Characters)

(Allies and Race's thoughts on them.)

• Ox - "The definition of Hard; I've been with him into Hell and out the other side, I owe him more than my life... and I'll never forget that."
  

• Die Rattenkönigin - "I admire her strength, if not her methods. If she only stood tall she really would be a Queen."
  

• Candy - "My momma always warned me about girls like her, bad news in a pretty package. I ain't the first boy to ignore the common sense his momma gave him. Won't be the last neither."
  

• Tommy Blue - "You know why I fight? Because I ain't living in a world that makes little girls go through shit like this, not for a moment longer than I have to."
  

• Orion - "It is a fearsome thing when the ferocity of the wolf and the focus of a man walk side by side. In Orion's case, it's even more daunting when they run as pack in one man."
  

• Touchstone Madwise - "If the Gutter Prince didn't live in dreams half the time, he'd be a sight easier to keep outta trouble. But truth to tell - we could use a few more dreams like his."
  

• Tanis - "She's been there when I needed her, proof that even a serpent's heart beats with warmth. I wouldn't suggest pissing her off though."
  

• Clyde - "Two things rise to the top... cream & shit. With Clyde it's hard to tell the difference."
  

• Myo - "It's gotta say something when, even when living like there's no tomorrow, you can find the time to offer a helping hand. She taught me that lesson, along with so many others, I only hope to remember them when she's gone."
  

• Valanga - "My little sister, and a true friend... she's shown me some of the most beautiful vistas on this God's green earth. I can understand how she's found her center, and I thank her for helping me keep mine."
  

• Althea Sexton - "I never truly took to the Winter way, but watching her sometimes as she stares out over that water... it makes me wonder if... *silence*"
  

• Elizabeth Ann Sexton - "Sweet kid. With a little luck and the Good Lord's blessing maybe we can be sure she can get to be a sweet old lady."
  

• Belladonna - "One of the first to show me the beauty in Winter. I can't walk that path... but I gotta respect those that do. It takes all seasons to keep the world goin', she taught me that."
  

• Dane - "Lotsa folk say that those who fight are Summer's Children. That's bullshit, anybody can fight the good fight, it don't matter the season or the seeming. You want proof? Dane is it, I don't care that he's different from me, when shit goes sideways I know what he is most of all. My brother in arms."
  

• Athanor - "Experience may have made him Ashen Court, but his heart still beats Crimson like mine. When the lines must be held, when it comes time to fight... he'll raise the Iron Spear, you mark my words."
  

• Thorn - "One day the end will come and the Lord will call me home. It's good to know kids like Tuck will be around to continue doing what needs to be done."
  

• Sundowner - "Downer may not be the man he was, but the man he has become is still something to be proud of. The world could use more folk like him, it damn well needs them."
  

• Catherine Wheel - "Under all that ice, she's got a good heart, and a giving soul. I'm proud of her, and I'm willing to put up with the chill if that's what it takes to get through to her."

• Gaius Arctorus - "You can tell a man by the caliber of the company he keeps. If that's true, then Gaius is an example for us all."
  

• James Daniels - "In 'Nam we had a name for guys like him, the kind of fellah that would be there to the very end. We called them brothers."
  

• Lalita Das - "It's not every day you get to meet a real classy lady. A lot of the Lost have style, a lot have grace, but Miss Das takes it the next step. I'm not that kind of fella, but even I've got to stop and watch as she walks by."
  

• David "Gilded" Manning - "A soldier born from the same Hell that birthed me, it's good to know that the Devil can't break a good man... no matter how hard he tries."
  

• Doc Shepherd - "I've seen a man face the Devil himself to do what he thought was right. Doc did all he could to save each and every one of us. I'll be damned if I'm gonna make his sacrifice a waste."
  

• Morgana Damphair - "In a different time, in a different place, maybe in a different life, we could have been... but that's the beauty and tragedy of dreams, you know? When you wake up they show themselves to be a fragile as soap bubbles."
  

• Candlestick Jack - "Jack was an average shot and a poor soldier, but he was the best of men and regardless of what he might seem... he's still the truest hero of us all."

• Gaea - "Competing against her showed me that when you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn. Summer's lucky to have her around."
  

• Copper - "No matter how tough it got, no matter what kind of hell we we're in... we knew that if we saw his stupid smile we'd be okay. We we're only wrong once, but once was enough... for him, and for all of us; but then that's why its our turn to look after him."
  

• Elias Briarshear - "We all end up looking for something out there in the borderlands, some people try to find what they lost, some people try to find an end to it all, some people want to discover a way to the past. 'Lias... he's not trying to find anything... except maybe some peace of mind. I respect that."
  

• C Faraday - "Sparks is a good kid, she lost a lot of herself as we all did... we can't really blame her for being a bit out of touch with the ins and outs of what it means to be human. All that matters is that she's trying to bring a little light to the world as best she can. A lesson for us all I think."
  

• Joey Shears - "Joey is a happening cat, I've never been a rock guy but the stuff he plays it speaks me like all the greats. You know growing up I asked a Blues Man what it took to play so good, he said 'Pain and Persaverance'; well Joey... he don't play good, he plays great... think about that for a while next time you hear him."
  

On the Last Straw (Grey-Area Characters)

(People riding the Border and Race's thoughts on them.)

• Laurel Thorn - "My momma told me a story about an old lady who took a snake in from the winter cold, it killed her for her kindness. Some things are damned by their very nature... a harsh lesson to learn, but an important one."
  

• Capricious - "There is a cliff that all the Lost face at some point when they get back to the World. The madness calls to us all; some of us do best to keep off the edge of that cliff, some can't help but fall in screamin'... some jump."
  

• Static - "I can't say for sure whether the Other-Side changed Lou much at all. We thought he was crazy before we got snatched... I really hope that made the hell we went through easier, but I doubt it."
  

• Jack Sprat - "You look into his eyes and see a killer, but I see more. I gave my word that I'd do my best to bring back that spark... or put it out forever."
  

• Dominic Jackson Hunter - "I'm told he's finally broken his chains and walks among the free. They say redemption is possible for anyone, well I'm telling you that those that got dragged back into Hell because of him deserve more than just letting bygones be bygones. I'm gonna watch him, and I'll be the first to act when he shows his true colors."
  

• "Fast Eddie" Clerogen - "You can't really be friends with a guy like Fast Eddie, the man has got the Devil's Own sense of honor and would probably lean on his own mother if she was late on the rent. Even so, when the shit hit the fan, he walked on the side of the angels... even if he did ask for a percentage when it was all over."
  

• Virginia Wolfe - "She's... she's one hell of a woman, I can't say she's a good one... not by a fair margin. I can see why Duncan fell so hard, unfortunately I can also see why it buried him."
  

• Rook - "What happens when a man becomes defined by his actions rather than his soul... what happens to a killer when there's nothing left to kill. I guess we'll find out."

• Justice Drago Verdetti - "Seems like a good enough fella. Fair, just, impartial all that jazz... but something about just don't sit right."
  

• Penny Mal - "I wanna like Penny, I do. She's tormented by demons I can't even pretend to understand, regardless of my own. I can only pray for her really, and leave her with the knowledge that if she loses herself to her demons... they won't outlive her for long."
  

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Even Good Guys Hate Somebody... (Semi-Antagonist Characters)

(Those that deserve an asswhuppin and Race's thoughts on them)

• Wilhelm - "A staunch son of a bitch, no matter how close he walks to the line. He keeps it up and one day'll we'll have to find out which our "mights" will make right."
  

• Ulysses 'Cudgel' Carter - "He's the best example of the worst of our kind. Brutality without restraint, justice without mercy."
  

• Vestigere - "You learn the true meaning of darkness and evil in the hands of the Others. Some of us learn to work against it... others like him... they learn nothing but to make it a part of all they are."
  

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Enemies at the Gate (Antagonist Characters)

(The Opposition and Race's thoughts on them.)

• The Twilight King - "The best example of the worst of the Gentry. It stole our lives, stole our friends, stole our minds, I'll be damned if I'll let it steal my destiny."
  

• Duke of the Nine Keys, Taker of Dreams, Breaker of Souls - "My daddy always used to turn to the Good Book for guidance, well this is what the Bible tells me about what I should feel about that demon. 'Psalm 58:10 - The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.' That's my final word on the subject."
  

Character Inspirations

The Film Career of Bruce Willis

• John McClane - Die Hard {1 thru 4} (Movie)
  
• Joe Hallenbeck - The Last Boy Scout (Movie)
  
• Hartigan - Sin City (Movie)
  
• James Cole - Twelve Monkeys (Movie)
  
• David Dunn - Unbreakable (Movie)
  
• Butch Coolidge - Pulp Fiction (Movie)
  
• John Smith - Last Man Standing (Movie)
  
• Korben Dallas - The Fifth Element (Movie)
  

Other Sources

• Dr. Sam Beckett - Quantum Leap (Television)
  
• Brock Samson - Venture Brothers (Animated)
  
• Roland - The Gunslinger Series (Novels)
  
• Captain America/Steve Rogers - The Ultimates (Comics)
  
• Sean Thornton - The Quiet Man (Movie)
  
• Preacher - Pale Rider (Movie)
  
• Chris Vaughn - Walking Tall (Movie)
  
• John Stewart - Green Lantern (Comics)
  
• Race Bannon - The Adventures of Johnny Quest (Animated)
  

Inspirational Quotes

"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero, he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor, by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world." - Rebecca Harding Davis

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." - Christopher Reeve

"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nothing is given to man on earth - struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible - the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen." - Andrew Bernstein

"A hero is simply someone who rises above his own human weaknesses, for an hour, a day, a year, to do something stirring." - Betty Deramus

"I believe it is the nature of people to be heroes, given the chance." - James A. Autry

"A true champion is someone who wants to make a difference, who never gives up, and who gives everything she has no matter what the circumstances are. A true champion works hard and never loses sight of her dreams." - Dot Richardson

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." - Arthur Ashe

Soundtrack

• Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
  
• All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
  
• The Letter - The Box Tops
  
• Jesus Walks - Kanye West
  
• Holding Out For A Hero - Frou Frou
  
• The People - Common
  
• Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five for Fighting
  
• I'll Be Around - The Spinners
  
• We Could Be Heroes - The Wallflowers
  
• My Hero - Foo Fighters
  
• Ball & Biscuit - The White Stripes
  
• Stronger - Kanye West
  
• Paint It, Black - Rolling Stones
  
• Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
  
• Converted - Alabama 3
  
• Carry on my Wayward Son - Kansas
  
• Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
  
• Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
  
• Days Go By - Dirty Vegas
  
• Daughters - John Mayer
  
• Like A Stone - Audioslave
  
• Fortunate Son - Creedance Clearwater Revival
  

Quotes - Words Spoken By Friend or Foe

(Open to public edits)

• "It is easy to forget that there are people on this earth who are good. Not necessarily gentle or sweet, but truly, genuinely good. Race reminded me that they are here when I most needed it." - Tanis

• "In the face of anger, some men loose their religion, Race writes scripture. I have yet to meet another man who maintains chivalry amongst fear, anger, injustice and outrage. He is a teacher as much as he is a fighter." - Belladonna

• "His strength is the strength of ten, not because his heart is pure, but because he will not permit it to be any other way. The Immovable Stone incarnate." - die Rattenkönigin

• "Big, strong, noble, proud, blundering, simple, unstoppable. Race-y Race Race, quick as a boulder and twice as yielding. What's that, love? No, no. We don't let him hurt, little dove. If he hurts, precious, it'll be our knife does the cutting. Ours and no other." - Jack Sprat

• "When I give word to "Hold the line", Race will hold the line. Some would do it out of desire to find fame and glory, Race will do it because it must be done. Can you find a better definition of courage?" - Field Marshall Desert Wind

• "Is it GO TIME?!?!" - Calliope

• I like Race. He's simple, predictable, and has a sense of honor. Nothing easier to work with then that.' - Laurel Thorn

• "Another white froth of foam in the ocean, reaching under. He isn't a cool Spring breeze with a fire behind it. He isn't the first gasps of Autumn, hot and sticky. Sometimes we have to pull him out of the mud and shake the stick a little, but we see the summer warmth around him better than from most because he is pure Summer. We admire him for that." - Alice Black

• "Fella like me prob'ly be needin' a parole officer. Big brown & bad oughtta do." - Clyde

• "In war, I would have my men and my army at my back. In a barfight... I'd have him." - Gaius Arctorus

• "It is idiosyncratic, this. Strength is transparent. Truly perplexing are the possibilities that are disregarded in favor of the conspicuous. We find such peculiarities tasty." - Capricious

• "Now Race, he's a good fight. Good knock down, drag out, tooth spittin' fight. There ain't many who can stand up like him. No matter if he's in front of me, or beside me, if he's there it's gonna be good. One of these days we might finally figure out which one of us is better." - Wilhelm

• "I like to watch Mr. Race. He smiles with his mouth, but not always his eyes. It would be rude to ask, but I do wonder what his eyes are seeing that I don't. Perhaps I must look harder. Perhaps I don't want to see." - Elizabeth Ann Sexton

• "Preacher hurts my head. Too nice sometimes. Talks too much." - Static

• "The world needs good men. Race lends the strength of his goodness to that world, and I will honor him for it." - James Daniels

• "I remember someone strong, who smelled of hot stone and will. It was a long time ago." - Nujalik

• "This is one I may never live down... good man, it seems... but I think he remembers more than I'm confortable with about my time in Arcadia" - Justice Drago Verdetti

• "Somedays I think Race is everything I wish I could be. Except for the black part. Got enough troubles with cops as is." - Ox

• "Someone has to be the boogeyman. Race just can't understand...this was the role given to me. I must play my part, as he plays his." - Rook

• "Race just . . . is. I need nothing from him and he needs nothing from me. In my country it's called 'patthar' - the calm of a stone. And it's wonderful." - Lalita Das

• "He is the only man that I will ever sing for." - Morgana Damphair

• "I just patched up the men. Preacher...he patched up our souls. The only reason we survived that whole mess was cause of him." - Doc Shepherd

• "He helped build my hostel, how could I ever repay him for it?" - Gaea

• "It'd be hard for me to pick someone I'd rather have around. He's known hell, known fire, known loss, and still has the heart to help people out when it's needed. On top of that, I know he's ready to crack a skull or two when it hits the fan. A good man, pure and simple." - Elias Briarshear

• "I had a dream about Summerstrong. He hid his strength inside an egg - so fragile I had to weep, and every tear was a raindrop on the cheek of a stone-cold statue. But stone cannot cry. Who cries for stone?" - Touchstone Madwise

• "It's a great gig, but I can't be under the lights all the time. Every now and then, I have to talk through this ... that which happened, and his shoulder's always been there, man. He guarded me, kept me safe, and I helped him touch his dreams. The man is righteous." - Joey Shears

• "A long time ago, pillars were made to hold up the world. These pillars shouldered their burden without complaint nor need for praise, as they weren't conscious of the world above them or the creatures within it. Over time, however, the pillar that was Obsidion developed a small shard deep in it's center. This shard looked up and saw beauty, but did not understand it; saw happiness and wanted to be a part of it; saw injustice and wanted to end it. And so, this shard of obsidion encased itself in harder stuff and traveled through the pillar into the world, wishing to walk amongst its peoples and become a part of its life. And though the Heart of Obsidion walks among us, he still has yet to feel that he is a part of us. Perhaps he feels that deep behind those eyes, he is still just black glass..." - Calliope

• "I'm there for him, he's there for me. That's how it was, that's how it is, and that's how it's gonna be. Preacher Jon's always got a friend in me." - Copper

• "There isn't another man in all the world so good and true as Race. Sometimes...you've just got to stop daydreaming and look at what's right here in front of you. Stop pulling apart over what's lost or what will never be, to see what you have. Race is alive. He does just that, without even trying." - Thorn

• "The world is awash in colors your monochromatic vision can never hope to fathom. Condemn all you wish, enforce on me at your peril. I will be watching." - Vestigere the Usurper

• "I'd hate Race, if I didn't know that he's the real deal. The fairy tale Hero in disguise. And every story needs a Hero." - Penny Mal

• "I've never met anybody like Race. He had such passion, such a drive to do whatever it takes. I think there's a fire in him that will keep burning until the day he dies, something eternal almost. I'm amazed by that. I don't understand how he can live with that kind of urgency in his heart, but I respect him a lot for it." - c Faraday

• "I don't deserve his friendship, but I'll take it as long as he keeps offering." - Candy

• "Race? He's a solid guy. You can count on him. Too many beings in this world take that for granted, people you can count on. When everything has gone to hell and someone's got to do the job right, cause the job has to be done? Well I can count on me...and Race." - Gilded

• "He didn't understand why I was going but he stood there and let me talk and listened to my story and guarded my life. There's a lot I owe him for that, for the guarding yes, but more for the kindness." - Edria Meredith

• "A good man when things go wrong." - Mrs. Smythe

• Growl. - Happy Funball

Rumors - Tall Tales & Bulls**t Stories

(Open to public edits)

• Race Ardent has sworn a Vow of Chastity that is said to be the source of his strength and resolve.
  
• Race is wanted by the The Tolltaker Knighthood for interfering with several of their bounties, and by interfering they mean, putting several Knights in the hospital over the last decade.
  
• Race has been seen bench-pressing a truck in an effort to save a trapped kitten.
  
• Race will have milk and cookies with Elizabeth when she's home at Driftwood...and when no one's looking.
  
• Race's constant struggle to help people is derived from his sense of guilt for murdering several people in a deranged rage soon after leaving the Hedge in the late '90s.
  
• Laurel broke Race's heart in Arcadia through trickery and lies. It is why he says she is untrustworthy.
• It is said that Joey Shears eschews cursing largely due to Race's influence. Whereas the young rocker is quick to tell others to readily get bent, he goes out of his way to keep it clean around Race ... seemingly not from fear, but from respect.
• It is said that Morgana Damphair and Race are more than fond of each other, but for reasons neither of them will discuss, they keep their distance to keep the other safe.

OOC Information

Played By: Christopher J. Williams (US2002021540)
Character Livejournal:TokenTales
Chapter: House Sthavirasabha
City & Region: Seattle, WA - Northwest Region