Hello, Fellow Mizaharians!
Keeping with our tradition, the Founders Circle and Regional Storytellers are proud to announce that the Featured Character of the Month, March 2014 is Hadyn Skellig! Hadyn is a flawed, no-nonsense smith from the city of Syliras who exemplifies the merit of the "everyman." Let's reward her fantastic dedication!
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1. If I remember correctly, you once upon a time sported Natalie Portman from the movie Your Highness as your model. What prompted the change to Eva Green? Any particular reason?
Honestly, it had more to do with me selecting Natalie Portman and being told someone else was using her - which ended up in my favor. The change to Eva Green didn't take much. I was formulating Hadyn's character and the way Eva Green carries herself (particularly in "Kingdom of Heaven" and her role as Morgan in "Camelot") really jived with the woman Hadyn was becoming. I liked her unique yet understated look - though Eva Green has a penchant for the glamorous and sultry, which suit Hadyn on occasion. She captures the confidence and fortitude Hadyn possesses with the occasional but genuine tenderness. I think it's been a good fit.
2. Describe the relationship between Hadyn and Orion Michaels. Be sure to fill us in on the juicy details!
Your guess is as good as mine as far as their relationship. No one quite knows what it is - especially them. Complicated certainly. Tumultuous at times. Sometimes it seems like whenever they take a step forward they also manage to take two steps back. But that's entirely in keeping with their personalities. It would be a huge breach of character for Hadyn (and I can assume for Orion as well) to suddenly become close and loving. Both have lived a large portion of their lives alone and intentionally removed from intimate relationships beyond late night romps. So to be forced into what society expects of them has repercussions, as we've seen. For her part Hadyn is learning to trust Orion and she does care for him on some level but it's a long road. Shifting from fiercely solitary and self sufficient to having to except help is a trial she often fails.
But their dynamic is pretty interesting. It would be havoc if he was needy or pushing her to be a person she isn't. For a long time they were both so wrapped up in their personal woes and the changes a baby would bring to their lives that thinking about them as a collective was out of the question. They've each experienced personal growth as a result of their mistakes and interactions. The fact that Orion is as much of a commit-a-phobe actually allowed Hadyn to see an aspect herself from the outside. I can't speak for Orion but the selfishness, independence and self-degradation she relied on to keep others out has been changing for the better because she saw those characteristics in someone else who was forced to be close to her.
3. By extension, what is it like to have a child in-game? Being a parent is a choice few make here on the site. What influenced your choice to have her become pregnant?
I flipped a coin. It was a decision to add such a choice into the story but once I knew it was going to be a legitimate option I wanted it to be left to chance. It's a consequence of their interaction. And I really didn't know which way it would go even as I wrote the thread in which she notifies Orion. I tossed the coin before I wrote her dialogue telling him. If it ended up that she wasn't pregnant she would inform him she had a miscarriage. But fate and a penny decided she would tell him she was carrying his child. It was (and will continue to be) a massive challenge for both Hadyn and myself. She's naturally introverted and having a child forces her to change and evolve. It isn't particularly easy or simple. There are issues she's forcibly ignored and flaws she swept under the rug which now become glaring and in need of addressing.
Having a baby in the game has required me to do quite a lot of extra-curricular research. I'm not a parent myself so I've relied on the kindness of OOC parents to educate me on the various stages of development. I do work with kids, though, so I've been able to draw on that - at least I plan to as her son grows. I'm working through her financial situation just as much as she is and I will have to contend with both her personality and the baby's evolving one. It's been a little rough but I enjoy a challenge.
4. What was the initial inspiration for Hadyn? Was there a particular piece of literature or media that really defined her as a character
Hadyn's initial inspiration has a rather silly origin. The blacksmith from the movie "A Knight's Tale" was the beginning of my formulation of a character. Although Kate (the blacksmith) was a supporting character I found her more intriguing and worthy of screen time than the leading actress, who was vapid and a bore. That's not to say a woman working in a predominantly male field hasn't been done before (to death in some venues). But a woman working in a typically sidelined peripheral male-dominated profession interested me.
Admittedly there are pieces of myself in her. Because a lot of the things I'm writing about (ie weaponsmithing, traumatic loss of a sibling, having a child) are foreign to me she and I share quirks and attributes making it easier for me to tap into her mind. Of course I strongly believe any writer pours a bit of themselves into their character. For me it was the sometimes crippling introverted and independent streak dominating most of Hadyn's life. She and I also share a love of strong drinks, close friends over large groups and a stubbornness that often gets us in trouble. I can put her in situations I've never experienced when I can relate to specific emotion or habit.
The other aspect of Hadyn's character I like is her average-ness. She's not a hero, she doesn't use magic, she's rife with vices, she leads a simple life by choice. All those facets appealed to me because in a setting so full of vibrancy and sometimes over-the-top characters I find the challenge is to play an ordinary citizen. Her struggles and the drama she's faced recently have (for the most part) been real life issues. Being emotionally closed off, promiscuous, hard-headed and a borderline alcoholic all have long lasting significant consequences. I don't see a need to send her into the heat of battle or mix her up in a tragic hero scenario. I have enough on my plate trying to illustrate her daily attempts at being a good person and, more importantly, a good mother.
I will say, however, given the setting there's no shortage of fascinating stories to involve her in. But I tend to see Hadyn as a side character and in fact prefer her in that role. She's a step in the hero/villain's path when he/she buys his/her weapon at Sultros Blades or she's the voice of experience when Shiress needs advice. And I'm truly pleased with her in that role. She can facilitate a lot of cool albeit minor roles. Because all the exciting stories need everyday people in some form or another and Hadyn has happily served that function many times.
Looking back I'm fairly certain I way over-did this answer.
5. Do you have any writing habits? Any special foods you eat or music you listen to while replying to a post?
No special foods though I have been known to post with a beer in hand. Music is usually a must. I'm variable in my tastes and what comes up on shuffle can easily dictate Hadyn's disposition in a given post. There are a few staples I have on if I'm stumped or trying to get into a specific mindset: Florence + the Machine, the Black Keys, Silversun Pickups, Coldplay, Iron + Wine, Pink Floyd, Third Eye Blind and Ellie Goulding. But I've been known to write happily with anything from Alicia Keys to the Kongos. Diversity in music helps me access certain elements of a character (as I'm sure many of you can relate). There are a few songs embodying facets of Hadyn's personality but I don't typically need them for posting.
6. What is your least favorite thing to do in a thread? Skill-training threads? Social threads?
This is going to sound worse than I mean it but I have no boundary with threads. I'll involve her in just about anything provided it's realistic. That's my only fairly glaring stickler. I don't put her in situations she'd never find herself just for the thrill of the writing, which is why, while it would be tons of fun to send her on an adventure and see her deal with it, it's not likely to happen. I don't have a least favorite threading topic but there are certain ones that don't make much sense to pursue. A thread centered around romance is going to be one sided because it is entirely out of character for her at this point. Perhaps later on in her evolution but right now I'm cautious to warn folks if the subject arises. Combat/weaponry is another that, while it would be sweet to see her master a sword or even a slingshot, there's typically no impetus for it.
7. Imagine Hadyn existed in real life. Now turn out her pockets. What would we find?
A baby pacifier, tissues, lots of keys, hand written notes, and a bottle opener.
8. Do you have an endgame in mind for Hadyn? Or are you letting the character sort of write itself, so to speak? How do you feel about OOC planning?
No endgame. I'm kind of a loose canon that way - particularly because I don't often write for XP. It's an extra awesome perk but my writing is not heavily influenced by skill or lore goals. I probably should be more conscientious of those things but I'm mostly focused on the thread's progression whether it's a solo or otherwise. I try to let the writing dictate her evolution and choices. If the situation is realistic let's go for it. I have the parameters of her personality established and I'm comfortable with what she will and won't do in a given situation but as far as where she'll end up... I haven't a clue.
There have been times where I'm entirely disgusted with her choices or I'm banging my head on the keyboard because she really just said that but I have to be true to this person I've created. As much as I'd love for her to find someone to love, settle down with and raise her son with I'm not going to compromise or veer from the character concept of Hadyn. That's the frustration and delight of writing. Of course there are absolutes such as being a mother and continuing as a weaponsmith. But I don't know how to structure a character with an endgame, which is probably more telling of me than her.
I started out thinking OOC planning would help but it ended up being too limiting. I'd feel bad when I was forced to write an entirely different scene from the one planned because Hadyn wouldn't realistically do or say something. I've strayed from OOC machinations except for the bare minimum: how are they meeting, when does this take place, is there booze involved? Even when folks suggest "How about this happens?" I lean more toward "let's see where the words take us." I think it keeps a writer on his or her toes and opens up all kinds of possibilities. Hadyn writes herself.
9. Okay, now force imaginary Hadyn to watch the Olympics. What happens? Does she watch with interest, or does she turn off the TV? Which of the sports does she favor?
Force her? maybe if there's booze involved. I think she'd probably enjoy hockey. High contact sports are likely her preference. I don't think she'd be all that interested in watching the Olympics but if she absolutely had to she'd sit through hockey, snow boarding, rugby and (if she was really bored) water polo.
10. Here is your moment. Say whatever you'd like!
No pressure. I suppose I can't end this without thanking those who selected me. I can honestly say I never expected it and thought the PM alerting me was either a joke or a mistake. It's not only flattering but a positive sign a character who's fairly average and unassuming can garner interest enough to be featured.
Thank you to all the mods who have suffered my dumb questions, artists who've gone out of their way to make me pretty things, and most significantly fellow writers who have been my reason for being here and helped shape my character. I raise this nearly finished beer to you in true Hadyn fashion.
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by Orion Michaels on March 1st, 2014, 4:39 pm 
Go Skellig, Go Syliras!
