Post by Bixir on Feb 10, 2023 23:38:23 GMT
Personal Information
Name:
Ballad
Alias(es):
The Pale Muse, The Dragonfly Prince, Blue Nocturne, Godfather of Opera
Age:
Adult
Gender:
He/Him
Race:
Dragonfly
Pitch:
A grand and passionate soul, with a voice yearning to reach the heavens and beyond. A sentimental fool, too in love with the world and its art to be taken by its faults.
Genre:
Intrigue and Political Drama, Magic and Fantasy
Affiliations:
The Grand Oyster Theatre, The Midnight Cabaret
Background:
The tale of the dragonfly is often enigmatic, lost within hundreds of layers of thousands of universes folding inwards towards that place called Buster City, not the least of which is the thread to which that individual now known as Ballad is bound. He never speaks of his past, nor does there seem to be much evidence of where or what it might have been. The few certainties that exist paint his upbringing as one of simple means, far from the princely stature for which that dragonfly has become synonymous with. Whatever little he must have had in those times were naught before the passions he carried with him throughout his storied life, interested solely in the performing arts. Be it vanity, a means of living, or some sense of sincere purpose, that drive alone seemed to suffice for what that dragonfly, calling himself Ballad, would go on to do.
It was clear upon Ballad’s arrival in Buster City that he had been at this business for a great deal of time already. He quickly dominated theatre circles, drawing tens of thousands to his first performances. This popularity only cascaded from there, until he was the greatest dramatic sensation in all of Buster City. He was an unparalleled tenor, ushering in a resurgence of opera that most critics had dismissed long ago. With this came a renaissance of the arts as a whole, something that Ballad embraced wholeheartedly. He would not see his greatest passion wither away into obscurity in favor of the vain industries that had come to dominate music and theatre. He was there for the reopening of the derelict Grand Oyster Theatre, and has starred in every production that it has hosted since, an establishment long known for its operas of yore.
Operatic theatre was only the foremost of Ballad’s fascinations that have come to inform Buster City’s arts. A connoisseur of literature, painting, and so much more, Ballad took it upon himself to frequent those circles of high society. Though he was no noble by blood or deed, the “Dragonfly Prince” took to the lifestyle well enough, to the point that he felt compelled to begin a society of his own: the Midnight Cabaret, an organization devoted to the preservation and perpetuation of the arts in Buster City, and most importantly, the appreciation thereof. For without that selfsame audience to whom the artist offers their soul, they may as well have never found that voice to begin with. Ballad continues to be one of the greatest advocates in that regard, and will never rest until that idea resonates within the heart of every citizen in this impossible nexus.
Appearance
Profile:
Description: Ballad is a towering creature, even without his wingspan. Easily the tallest of the Grand Oyster Troupe, the elder Scabiri stands well over two meters, though he doesn’t weigh like most humanoids, on account of his physiology. He is remarkably light, particularly his wings. They are a majestic, mesmerizing sight, themselves at least two meters long, arguably longer than Ballad is tall. They glitter and glow with an ethereal bloom, unmistakably marking his beauty and mystique as one of a higher calling. Like others of his home, Ballad’s complexion is a darkly one, taking after the midnight pattern throughout his body, and of course, his wings. Two antenna curve backwards from his brow, deceptively for form rather than function. In spite of the dramatis personae that he exudes on and off the stage, it is a rare thing to find Ballad not grinning from ear to ear, or at the very least keeping a positive air about him.
Ballad does not dress much, though whenever he is performing, he wears an operatic suit top, a prim white-collar shirt with a dark waistcoat, ivory cufflinks, white performer’s gloves, and of course, a blood-red bowtie. All of these materials are custom-tailored, though from where, and of what, Ballad has been surprisingly tight-lipped about these details.
Abilities
Gear
N/A.
Abilities:
Body of the Arts
Ballad is a limber, athletic sort, bearing a body that can withstand the many physical demands of theatre. He is many times stronger, more durable, and more agile than a standard human, something that he often uses to his advantage as the crown jewel of the Grand Oyster. There is no role that Ballad is not suited for physically, nor is there much for him to be fearful of, be it stage accidents or those who may come after him off of the stage out of envy, spite, or other foolish notions. Ballad’s eyes are also of note, purported to see far more than the mortal eye (and in some cases, perhaps even do, ranging from hypnosis to divination), claims that Ballad has never attempted to dispute.
Mind of the Arts
A bug of over a hundred years, Ballad is incredibly learned for one of his kind. Beyond the performing arts, he has studied a great deal in history, philosophy, literature, and the high arcane to name but a few. He is a proud member of many fellows’ societies in Buster City, and the founder of the Midnight Cabaret. THere are few things that Ballad does not know at least something about, and many things of which he knows a great deal. More than intelligent, he is cunning, and not someone easily tricked, if at all. Though Ballad is much more concerned with how these things apply to his craft, his reputation as a higher mind among Buster City’s elite is not in question.
Soul of the Arts
Ballad is a prodigal performer, speaking, singing, moving, regaling with every inch of his soul, in every moment. It is at once evident why he has become as renowned as he is, his skill a mere afterthought after witnessing his very being in motion for but a moment. His singing itself carries a supernatural quality, speaking to his furtive lineage, to his status as a masterful tenor, and more importantly, to what he has done with such a gift. Ballad’s ability to captivate goes beyond that of a performer, wielding magic as an art form to do just about anything that he can put his mind to. His power is seemingly tied to the constellations beyond the purview of even Buster City, though when those stars align, there is little limit to what Ballad could accomplish with his voice, to those who would hear it. His dancing, his performativity, are no different. A masterful actor, short of physical limitations, there is no one that Ballad could not portray with complete believability. Many are thankful that such a charismatic force of nature did not consider corporate enterprise or legal prowess, too compelling Ballad often seems.
