The Navigator
From Changeling Venue
"While evil flourishes and wrongs go rank, while men are persecuted and women wronged, while weak things, human or animal, are maltreated, there is no rest for me beneath the skies, nor peace at any board or bed." - Robert E. Howard, 'Blades of the Brotherhood'
NOTE: Currently under construction. Please bear with me as I flesh things out.
THE NAVIGATOR: A summary
He has come from a world of illusion to one of harsh reality. Often confused by memories that aren't his own, he stumbles on, finding a new course to travel. Forever a wellspring of hope and optimism, he uses what he learned in Arcadia to help others. He is loyal and fierce in his beliefs. He gives to those in need, defends those who are weak and picks up those who have fallen.
Seemingly always travelling the Hedge, he will track, navigate and investigate for others. He also is known to have quite the collection of curiosities that he has picked up during his travels.
| Seeming | Elemental Woodblood |
|---|---|
| Court | Spring Court |
| Freehold | None |
| Player | Ray Bruels |
Name: The Navigator
Concept:Explorer, traveller and seeker of dark places
Real Name: Unremembered
Keeper: The Mad Monk (Page under construction)
Apparent Age: Mid to late 30s
Motley: None
Mask: A robust man, well built with short blond hair and green eyes, he often sports an unkept mustache and goatee. Often dressing in comfortable, weather appropriate clothing, he could be mistaken for a lumberjack or wilderness enthusiast.
Mein: His fae appearance is often hidden under a weathered large brimmed hat and long leather duster. His face when seen is roughly hewn from wood, with his left eye consisting of a large knot. Bearing the cracked spectacles of a member of the College of Worms, he seems more scholarly than sinister. Etched with precision on his right cheek is an exotic symbol.
Mantle:
Entitlement:College of Worms (Pending)
Merit Details:
Character Livejournal:http://humble-savage.livejournal.com/
Known History
"The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery." -Anais Nin
Before the Fall
- January 10, 1939 – Born Julian Wells Thomas in Huntsville, Alabama. Son of Mary and Preston Thomas, sibling of Darlene, age 6 and Aaron, age 10. Father served in World War II in the 501st airborne division. Mother worked in the Redstone arsenal. Extremely patriotic family, dedicated to a Nation of prosperity and wholesome values.
- January 11, 1839 - Gideon Taylor is born in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents, Sullivan J. Taylor and Margaret Taylor are textile merchants who moved from South Carolina to establish new business in the Missouri frontier.
- December 18, 1944 – Having been wounded in WWII, Julian’s father returns stateside and is discharged honorably. He then goes on to gain employment with Bay Line Railroad.
- 1948 – Father encourages young Julian with puzzles, mazes and wooden blocks. Boy has a sharp mind, curious and quick-witted.
- October 3, 1952 – Father dies in railroad accident. Mother dies later that year after becoming alcoholic. Aaron leaves College to raise siblings. Julian at this time is very involved with the Boy Scouts.
- October 11, 1953 – After heated argument with brother, Julian runs away and lives for three weeks in the William B. Bankhead National Forest. Finally comes home and reconciles with Aaron.
- June 1, 1957 – Graduates from Huntsville High School and is admitted to the University of Alabama. Aaron marries Susan Jensen, Julian serves as best man. Julian starts program in Engineering and enters ROTC program.
- May 5, 1962 – Julian receives letter from crazy Uncle, Albert Wells Thomas, who lives as a writer in Kentucky. Julian graduates later that year, Magna Cum Laud with Bachelors in Engineering. Recruited and commissioned by the Army to serve in Vietnam.
- May 14, 1861 - Missouri Governor, Claiborne Fox Jackson, approves act to disband the old informal Missouri State Militia and reform it to the Missouri State Guard. Gideon joins out of a sense of State pride, rather than supporting the continuation of Slavery.
- September 1-2, 1861 - Participated in Battle of Big Dry Wood Creek
- March 6-8, 1862 - Participated in the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge, Ark.)
- March 17, 1862 - MSG merged into the Army of the West
- April 11, 1965 - Is assigned to the 326 Combat Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, Company A.
- September 3, 1966 – Promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded the Purple Heart for taking shrapnel during a mission. It doesn’t take him long to rest and heal before he is requesting to go back to his unit.
- October 1, 1966 - Darlene dies tragically on West Coast Airlines flight 956, as she was heading to Portland, Oregon.
- January 20, 1972 – 326 CEB was recalled stateside. Julian immediately requests a transfer to the 101st to continue support in Vietnam only to find that the conflict is coming to a close and they 101st is also being recalled home.
- May 11, 1972 – Is honorably discharged. Listless, Julian drifts for a bit. He visits Aaron and his family, but doesn’t feel comfortable dealing with society. He later seeks out his Uncle Albert and stays with him at his Cabin outside of Erwin, Tennessee.
- October 4-6, 1862 - Retreated during the Battle of Corinth. While trying to regroup with Confederate Forces in Ripley, Mississippi, Gideon is pushed deep into hiding from what he believes to be Union Forces. It is at this time he finds his way into the Hedge and is captured.
- November 17, 1972 – While out hunting, he is attacked by something he doesn’t recognize. Angry and frustrated he stalks his attacker and finds his way into the Hedge and is captured.
Lost in a Dream
He finds himself in a strange land, answering to a Keeper known as the "Mad Monk." After punishments and harsh treatment he is literally planted in the ground. Time seems to have no meaning as he is rooted in place and begins his transformation into a tree. Identity seems to drift away, though he hangs on desperately for a sense of self.
Decades or only days later, he eventually is cut down and woodworkers being the process of shaping his new form; the chisel and hammer, the sanding and eventually polishing of his new image, dicated by his Master. Turned into a Woodblood, he is named The Navigator and branded.
His Keeper gifts him with blood-splattered gear and simply says, "Let us hope you are more successful than your predecessors." The gear consists of a floppy hat, long leather coat and a travel bag filled with various implements. In the bag he finds the journal of The Explorer, a man formerly known as Gideon Taylor. It is this journal and the memories within that help shape (unknowingly by his Keeper) the fresh mind of The Navigator. He begins to believe that he is Gideon Taylor, though his memories are muddled with flashes of another life.
The Scribe, a fiendish Wizened appointed by the Monk to keep records of the travels of his scouts, then gives The Navigator his directives:
- He is to travel undetected the length and breadth of Arcadia.
- He is to gather as much information as possible about the lands he enters and the Keeper who dwells there.
- He is to map the lands he enters, being as specific as possible to every detail of the geography.
- He is to collect samples of fauna and flora when possible as long as it does not bring harm to himself or endanger his mission.
- Should he be captured he is not to bring shame upon the Mad Monk. His Keeper will ransom for his release as long as he has been true in his duties.
So armed, he begins his travels in the lands of Arcadia. Along the dark paths and forgotten roads he finds:
Add Connections, explored lands and Keepers here
Pulled to Reality
- 2001 - The Navigator is pulled out of Arcadia by a group fleeing who need a guide. (Need to fill this in with a contact)
- 2002 -
- 2003 -
- 2004 -
- 2005 -
- 2006 -
- 2007 -
- 2008 - Travels to Colorado to make a home.
Allies and Associates
- Nycto Feraz - A friendly enough gent who I happened upon in the Hedge. I have always wondered what he was doing out there...
Enemies
Tales and Tempests: Quotes and Rumors
"He speaketh to me the words of men. I listen to him and I repeat to him the words of gods." -Unknown
Add quotes here!
- "Come now, the way is not so dark, the path not so broken that we cannot enjoy our travels." - The Navigator
- "Hold villian! You shall answer for the attrocities of this day!" - The Navigator
"The flying rumours gather'd as they roll'd, Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told; And all who told it added something new. And all who heard it made enlargements too." -Alexander Pope
Add rumours here!
- It is said that he is old. He speaks of battles from the United States Civil War as if he witnessed them with his own eyes.
- There are rumors he is a loyalist and that he harbors a grudge for being pulled out of Arcadia.
- He came out of the sky, like a cross between a cowboy, and an Angel. I'm thankful he found me there, stranded in the hedge... but i'm also glad he didn't ask what I was doing there.~ Nycto Feraz
The OOC
Character Inspirations
Solomon Kane, created by Robert E. Howard
The Tracker, What Dreams May Come
Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes
The love of Aragorn and Arwen, The Lord of the Rings
The Hero with a thousand faces, Joseph Campbell
Vietnam Soldiers
Charles Remington,Ghost and the Darkness
The Pilgrim,Just a Pilgrim
Van Helsing,Van Helsing
Soundtrack
Character Ties
Were we travel companions at some point? Have I helped you navigate through the Hedge? Perhaps you sought something from the Hedge and required someone to retrieve it? Could we have sat by a campfire and told stories to one another? Did we share the tender embrace of lovers? Have we clapped hands as brothers in battle? Did you invite me for a cup of tea and civilized discourse? Drop me an email and we can work out the character connection.
Regarding Images
Top picture of Solomon Kane used with respect from Michael Bassett's webpage.
The picture of the Traveller used with respect from Bruton H.
The image for the Navigator thumb is used with respect from www.KaneFilms.com
