Expanded Information

Background

The boy who eventually became known as Peter was born to be a hero. As a child, Peter grew up in a small town in Missouri, located at the edge of an old wood. The town had an uncanny sort of luck, always able to provide for its people and prosper in any weather. The older folk claimed there was magic coming from the woods, and their stories and traditions steeped the people in superstition--though their homespun rituals and methods always worked. Set apart from other bigger towns, the people of the region were isolated and self-reliant, avoiding much of the outside world. When disaster struck the country, the little town was spared the economic calamity thanks to the fortune that living so near the woods provided. The one misfortune that threatened the little town was the monsters that lived in the deep forest just outside of the town borders. Peter was the son of the town's Woodsman, a man born with a natural gift for understanding the wood's magic and dealing with the creatures that came from it. Inherently able to perceive the monsters and enchanted items of the other realm, Peter was brought up to be the town's protector after his father was killed by the Beast, a monster that lived near the town. While the monster stalked the people of the town, they were unwilling to give up the magic provided by the woods and move to nearby cities due to the depression. Instead, they relied on those with a natural gift for magic to fend off the predators around them. This stubborn way of life cost the Woodsman his life and left Peter the new defender at an early age.

Peter lived with his grandfather, a man who, after losing his son, disagreed with the town's way of life. He lived on the outskirts and kept his grandson as far from his chosen destiny as he could, discouraging him from venturing into the forest as long as he was able. Unable to completely reject the lifestyle with nowhere to go, he tried to keep them isolated and only reluctantly stayed at border. The rest of the town, both dependent on the boy's power and resentful that he was young and inexperienced for a hunter, tried to find an other means of survival. The town leaders resorted to sacrificing people to the Beast as part of a contract to save themselves, in the meantime hoping that Peter would grow into a hero to take his father's place. However, the uneasy sentiment toward Peter isolated him from other children, causing them to pick on him and creating tension between the entire town and their young hunter. The one exception was a young girl, who was too naive to pick up on the resentment and treated Peter as her favorite playmate. Gradually, the rest of the townsfolk decided to force the hunter's hand. They decided to sacrifice the girl and told him that the Beast had murdered her. The angry young man snuck out against his grandfather's wishes and went into the deep woods where he confronted the Beast. He captured the large wolf-like creature and buried it up to its head, starving it slowly in revenge for his friend. While it was dying, the Beast revealed the truth about the town and its contract, telling Peter that the other townsfolk had been using him all along. After learning that the town was to blame, Peter formed his own contract with the monster, promising to release and feed it in return for its service. The Beast, half-mad from starvation, swore an alliance to the boy with the caveat that it would turn on Peter if he failed to provide food for it.

The two returned to town and the Beast was set loose on it, hunting the people who had tried to sacrifice others in order to keep their good fortunes. The name of the town and its history was lost in a fire that consumed what the wolf didn't. After that, the boy and the monster disappeared, roaming other dark places to hunt predators both human and spirit. With no purpose other than hunting, Peter turned his dislike against everyone else, seeking a challenge as satisfying as the wolf he had captured. Living halfway in the spirit realm, Peter became like a spirit himself wandering at the edge of reality and rumor.

Character Information

NAME: real name unknown, called Peter or The Boy In Red/The Boy Wearing Red
RACE: Human
AGE: appears to be in his late teens
HAIR/EYE COLOR: dirty blond/hazel
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5'11"/200 lbs

Background
AT A GLANCE: There isn't much information about where the boy originally came from, or when. Some people say there were stories of a wild boy running around near some small towns in Missouri, but those supposed sightings date back as early as the thirties and can't be confirmed to be connected to him. Over the years, he's been seen in many different parts of the US, becoming something of an urban legend in more recent times. The boy is always seen wearing a red jacket and younger children who claim to have seen him often say that he invites them to play, saying that they can go have adventures in nearby woods or park areas after dark. At face value this does not appear to be malicious, and none of the stories report the boy ever actively harming the children he talks to no matter their answer. However, "Peter" does not appear alone. Wherever the boy goes, people tend to die or go missing. Some say they have heard a large predator stalking the darkness at the same time Peter has been seen in an area. Others say they've actually seen a wolf following him, standing as tall as a tree, and there have been animal attacks in the areas where they have been seen, but this is all speculation.

Because of unclear accounts, the boy is mostly just an urban legend that people have decided to nickname Peter because of his appearance and the phantom wolf that supposedly follows after him. Some people say the wolf is actually hunting the boy, while others say that it is his companion. In the end, the rumors are too vague to confirm anything. After all, most people will tell you he doesn't even exist.

EXPANDED BACKGROUND

Personality
Peter is the embodiment of a youthful adventurer. His initial presence is the casual confidence of a young man and that only gets stronger the longer he's around. He's bold to the point of reckless, willing to take on challenges seemingly much larger than himself on guts alone and looking down on those who find the thrill of danger too much for them to handle. While he is arrogant, that arrogance is not merely for show. Peter backs up what he says and is willing to take a beating as well as give one, so in that much he's honest. However, he has a strong dislike for people in general, whom he views primarily as cowardly and weak thanks to his upbringing. The one exception to this is young children: Peter generally likes kids whose straightforward and simple logic reflects his own values. While children may cheat or show fear, they aren't as sophisticated in their schemes and that vulnerability is the one human trait that earns Peter's sympathy.

At his core, the constant trait Peter has is fearlessness. This manifests as everything from playfully daring to fierce. He can be cocky and almost charming while playing games, with a willingness to try new things and encourage others to do the same. When it comes to a challenge such as facing danger, he has single-minded focus and shows patience and tactical knowledge that gives him an edge when he deals with malicious spirits. But that fearless attitude comes with drawbacks. Peter is restless and easily bored, making him moody when there's no challenge and fickle about what keeps his interest. He can quickly become impatient when things don't go his way, and he's stubborn to a fault about his opinions. He's a brave spirit without a cause and therefore doesn't feel fulfillment. Instead, he craves excitement and challenge, chasing after big game to satisfy him.

Peter has all of the elements of a hero misapplied. He's courageous against unfair odds and a cunning hunter who is good at thinking on his feet. When it comes to dedication, Peter is steadfast and loyal to his beliefs, never allowing himself to be bribed or intimidated into compromise. He respects honesty and is always true to his word, as well as being self-sufficient and good at assessing situations, making him a strong leader. However, his general disgust with most people and spirits makes him selfish. He'll use and discard spirits without hesitation, dominating by using his strength and wiles, generally in trial by combat. In another situation, he could be considered heroic, but his jaded view of humanity and dislike for spirit kind means he's not likely to consider anyone his friend. What allies he has are taken only for convenience and kept at arm's length, with the understanding that sooner or later he's going to have to assert his dominance using his own strength against them.

HMD

This is my HMD post for my original character, a boy called Peter. Any comments, concerns, thoughts, or general feelings are welcome. I'm always happy to hear ideas and what people think might improve him.