WritingCamp 2021- Hurt

Week 2- Character Design

Isla MacKinnon Muir

-Stable and soothing, her personality is fairly docile. Though she is not particularly submissive, she tends toward a motherly, nurturing role. Centuries of torment under her curse have left her somewhat bitter in regards to certain people and things (particularly others dictating the lives and actions of those around them). She is hopeful, but it seems to be waning. What she lacks in physical ability she makes up for with magical ability.

-waist length, wavy auburn hair, usually pinned into a bun at her crown with strands falling loose around her face and neck as she goes about her work. Large, almond shaped eyes a rich, grassy shade of green. Oval faced with delicate bone structure, her skin is not overly fair with a neutral undertone and with freckles scattered across her nose, cheeks, and shoulders. She is petite, but not waif like, at around 5’2 with a somewhat trim waist/stomach and rather ample curves for her size. Her body does show some muscle tone from her work over the years, but she shows no signs of any supernatural physical strength.

Duncan Muir

-rather domineering and set in his ways, he is neither aggressive, nor passive aggressive, but direct and confident. Centuries of entanglement between the curse and feelings he can’t explain for the woman left at his side to aid his endeavors have left him more bitter and calloused than most. His cold air and bluntness have earned him quite the reputation as a businessman, bringing equal parts disdain and respect from those around him.

-neatly trimmed jet black hair is kept combed and styled to the current fashioned most of the time and always kept out of sharp eyes a bright shade of ocean blue. His face, not overly narrow nor too harshly defined, is rather ruggedly angular and attractive in a way that is more wild than classical with a slightly crooked nose and a heavy, rather brooding brow. His broad shoulders and functionally muscular frame speak more to a soldier than a man of the upper middle class merchants. Over time his skin tone (warm undertone) has faded from the medium-bronze of a man used to spending his time outside seen among sailors and soldiers, to a medium beige seen among those of the upper working classes. Approximately 6’ tall.

Sir Darning

-Eager and a little rash, he is a focused and intelligent troublemaker. He is quickly able to sift through useful information to pass along to allies and just as quickly able to determine useful allies from potential pawns or trouble.

-A lupine shifter, and as most are, he is quite tall and lithely muscular. Sandy hair is kept cut close and combed back. His eyes are a cloudy grey and somewhat round. He is the son of a lesser knight and well educated, and his complexion is pale in reflection of a more wealthy and highly educated upbringing.

Aileen MacKinnon

-Wise and kind, but firm. The aged matriarch within clan MacKinnon cares very deeply fir the safety and well-being of all who are her family- blood or not. She is determined to ensure Isla is left in good hands as the end of her life approaches and spent many years looking for a loophole in the orders handed down from the ancient head of the Clan regarding how much help can be given to the Muirs.

-frizzy, white hair is kept in a long braid twisted into a bun at the nape of her neck. Age has caused her skin to pale to a near translucence- even fading out the freckles covering her face, neck, and arms, but her green eyes are still alert and bright. Her back is bent with age, but she is still noticeably taller than Isla. She is very slim, her wrinkled skin hanging loosely on her form and the muscle wasting that comes with greatly advanced age is apparent. Her face, like Isla’s is oval and delicate, hinting at a the beauty she had been in her youth.

Tiva MacKinnon

-Strong willed and defiant, she has a mind that is both tactical to a degree, and firmly ‘outside the box.’ She has a heart that calls for freedom and a life of her own design and has the determination to see that dream through. She is very protective of her twin and her friends, and cares very deeply for her clan mates even if they often butt heads over mismatched ideas of propriety and a fulfilled life.

- Rich mahogany waves are cut to just brush her shoulders and braids are often worn to keep the strands back from her face. As seems to be the most noticeable MacKinnon family trait, she has large, rich green eyes, though more round like her mother’s. Her face is slightly rounder with a small, straight nose and eyebrows that seem to naturally give her features the impression that she’s out for mischief. A dusting of freckles is just noticeable on her nose and cheeks. Her skin is a pale ivory color and she tends to always have a pink tinge to her cheeks and the tip of her nose from her time in the sun as a member of the Wanderer’s Guild.

“The Gruagach: Not to be confused with the Pictish God of the Sun with the same name. She is a solitary female faery, extremely grotesque in appearance but with a heart of gold. She is also know as the Herdswoman and the Firesitter. She carries a shepherd's staff and her gown is usually green in color but it has been said to be cornsilk gold. She enjoys any brief human contact she can get and will offer whatever help she can in your spiritual quests if you show no fear or revulsion. She is most active in the Summer during the day.

She is primarily a protector of livestock, mainly cattle. She protects herds from the Buachailleen and leads the herds to water. She is always cold loves a warm fire, but being a faery she cannot start her own. To keep warm she makes her home in the Summer of Faeryland. Scottish lore says that when she travels the physical plane she will appear at the doorstep of Highlanders and ask to sit beside the fire. If allowed she will look after the home and herds, if not she will cause trouble and steal animals. Highlanders still pour offerings of milk into hollow stones as offerings to her. She can be contacted on the physical and the astral plane in Faeryland in the Summer. Be aware that she has a very limited attention span. As far as magical assistance she can help in spiritual quests and in guarding herds. She can also lend much energy to spells involving human, animal, or plant fertility.” -scottish-gatherings website