Tower of Animus application

[forhylia]

Player Information

Name: Lauren
Personal Journal: latiaos
Age: 18
Contact Info: latiaos
Other Characters Played: None

Character Information

Character Name: Link
Character Series: The Legend of Zelda manga- prequel to Skyward Sword canon
Character Age: Early 20s
Character Gender: Male
Original Canon
Canon Point: His death
Background Link: His canon history

Personality: This Link is unlike his other, later-born counterparts in that he is older and more mature. By the time of his introduction, he has already left many long and difficult battles behind him. He can stay calm in situations of violence, and can think quickly during a disaster. His incredible reputation as a knight of Hylia comes from his adaptability in battle. He isn't just all muscle; Link has a good head on his shoulders. He thinks creatively and is excellent at coming up with alternative solutions for problems. It also makes him an excellent puzzle solver. Link bears every essence of a great leader, and is prepared to take on a role he feels it is duty to fill. He knows that he is a skilled fighter and takes full advantage of that. He is an expert swordsman and archer.

Incredible skills noted, Link can let himself become overconfident in the heat of battle. Until his final duel with the Demon King, he had been undefeated. His confidence in his abilities often leads to him getting into something over his head, and he is caught off guard when he isn't strong enough. He also tends to charge headlong into danger with little consideration for consequences- strange, for someone who is so good at thinking on his feet in the midst of a conflict. Link has a tendency to through caution to the winds in regards to his own safety. He will allow himself to get one or two steps too far ahead, and that can easily be his undoing. He goes into battle assuming he is going to win. This flaw does not carry over to his treatment of others. If he plans to do something others would consider reckless, he will attempt it alone. His strength and sense of duty give him a deep feeling of protectiveness toward others, and he will quickly and without question put his life on the line for another.

In spite of his initial battle-worn appearance, Link is still emotionally affected by violence. He is not aloof, simply level-headed. He cares deeply for his country and was at his lowest when he thought he had failed it. Because of this very strong emotional bond he has formed with his people and his country, Link is also an emotionally exhausted man. He has seen the land of Hylia fall apart at the seams for years, then he had to watch it be burned to the ground by the Demon King. Many of the people he knows are now dead. He has faced a much grief and isolation in his life. He does realize, however, that much of this is not through any fault of his own. There is a bitter streak in him about the mess that became of the war for Hylia: Link was locked away for four years when he spoke out that danger was coming. The people were arrogant of themselves, and he recognized that. They didn't think they needed a hero? Fine. His mentality of devotion wavered when he was thrown into the dungeon. They didn't think they needed him? Let's see how long they last. But his loyalty will always win over his pride in the end, as it did when he chose to fight for same people who threw him in a cell to rot. This loyalty runs deeper inside him than just for his country. He would sooner die than betray a friend or even a comrade in arms. If he ever holds a grudge, he does not let it affect his decision making and actions. He is ashamed of his own lack of faith and loyalty while he was imprisoned, even though it was through no fault of his own.

Like all Hylians, Link is very religious. The concept of religion among Hylians is much more concrete and integrated into everyday life than we are familiar with. Praising the goddesses is not considered a social requirement, however not believing in their existence would be like a modern person saying that they do not believe Earth to be round. The goddesses are an indisputable real part of reality in Link's setting. They interfere with daily life, and physical proof of their power exists among humans. Because of the nature of divine presence in Link's universe, the worship of the goddesses is not something that is set in stone. There is no list of beliefs, practices, or lifestyle choices that people must follow in order to remain in the goddesses' favor. The goddesses are simply there. There are those who love them, and those who hate them. They're almost more like politicians than deities! Link himself has mixed feelings about the goddesses. Although he understands that it was his fate to suffer in prison and that it was for the sake of his countrymen he loves so much, there is a streak of bitterness that he was 'cheated' out of his life.

In a purely social setting, Link is an extrovert. During his free time in Hylia, he used to enjoy hunting (for necessity, but the sport of it was enjoyable as well), horseback riding, and relaxing with his friends in the local tavern. He is friendly and clever, and a good conversationalist unlike his... more silent descendants. Being a top knight of Hylia also meant being something of a politician and public speaker, and he takes on the role with ease and charisma. He has a quick-witted, slightly sarcastic sense of humor, and he knows when is the right time to make a joke and when not to. Rather than getting overly angry at an enemy or somebody whom he just plain doesn't like, he will poke subtle, sarcastic fun before getting out-and-out angry. However, if it is a matter of what is right or wrong, he can lose his temper. Link has a very strong sense of his own morals, and the basic rights of people are very important to him. He hates bullies and people who abuse power; he has no patience for it. He will always give someone he feels to be in the wrong what's coming to them, however he also knows when to back off and mind his own business.

Abilities: No superhuman abilities, however he is the only person (along with his later-living reincarnations) who can wield the Master Sword.

Sample Entry: Link returned from the fields that night with stiff shoulders and a tired back, but he had certainly been successful. A few easy kills on his most recent day trip made for plenty of good meat to sell at the market. Now, though, it was time to settle in and rest up. He strolled into Talma's bar with a smile despite his long day in the sun, and was greeted by a whole host of bright welcomes and slaps on the back. In spite of the growing crime rate and looming shadow of war, the young people of Hylia still knew how to drink and make merry. Link was no exception. He hung his sword and bow on hooks by the door and settled at a stool next to his dearest friend Orville.

"I trust by that foolish grin on your face that you were successful?"

"More than!" Link held up a small leather pouch, shaking it an letting the rupees inside jingle. "Drinks are on me. I simply ask that you do not make too much of a fool of yourself on my account."

"I cannot argue with that." The two laughed as Link slid a purple rupee down the counter. "We will have whatever that'll get us." Talma knew what the two young men liked; by now Link had tried everything she had to offer. Alcohol was becoming expensive thanks to the failing Hylian economy. Talma's was the only tavern that was left. Two mugs slid their way in no time.

"Bottoms skyward-"

"-and here's to the Great Land Hylia!" They unwound and shared stories well into the night. The older folks had long ago gone home, but that only meant that the younger crowd could let loose a little. One man was playing the fiddle, another patron sang a drunkenly off-key performance of the Ballad of Hylia.

It was halfway through the second verse that the pub door burst open. The music froze, the chatter stopped, and all eyes were on the door.

Link was one of the first to react; he was off his stool and halfway to his sword when he realized that the intruders were Hylian guards. He wasn't ready, however, for them to grab him by the wrists and tie his hands behind his back.

"What is this?"

"Sir Link, you are under arrest by order of the King of Hylia on charges of High Treason."

"High Treason?!" He struggled against his bonds, thankful he had not been drinking too much. "Have you even any evidence?" Of all the charges to press on him, treason was by far the most difficult to make even remotely believable. Link's record was flawless, and he was furious, putting up quite a struggle, managing to whip his head around to glare at the man restraining him.

"...Lord Dagianis has not taken kindly to your outspokenness of what is to come. It is a conspiracy to move you out of his way." A pause. Link stopped struggling, but it did not matter; the guard had ceased to grip him tightly. There was shock in his eyes, betrayal. Lord Dagianis had his hands on all the king's strings. Link knew from that moment that he was damned. They wanted him gone. This was how they did it. He was well-liked by soldiers and civilians alike, but when push came to shove in these dark times... It was either do as you were told or be thrown into the dungeon yourself.

The young hero's shoulders sank. Orville was protesting furiously somewhere in the background, but Link hardly even took notice. He was too busy watching the guard holding him with a mix of pain, anger, and betrayal in his eyes. This was it. The people he had served for his entire young life were turning on him so easily to save their own sorry selves.

"I beg your forgiveness." Link watched the soldier for another moment, not sure if he could forgive this man, or the other he had brought with him for the sake of crowd control. Even though he knew that it was nothing personal, and that they were acting for their own lives... How could they betray him like this?

It was only proof, he would tell himself later, of how naive he truly was.

Link ended up saying nothing to either of them. He only cast a crestfallen look to Orville as he was escorted from Telma's Tavern for the last time.