Janus Klaudin, The Hurdy Gurdy Man
The Basics ––– –
Name: Janus Klaudin
Nickname(s): Jan; 'That' Brother; The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Age: 29
Birthday: Midsummer
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Physical Appearance ––– –
Hair: Black
Eyes: Green
Height: 6'1
Build: Wiry
Distinguishing Marks: Wild hair, three scars on his right cheek hidden behind a beard
Tattoos: A winding vine of red and black roses along his right arm; random bits of art from his back to his front
Piercings: Right ear hoop
Common Accessories: Hurdy Gurdy, flute, long knife, tinder box, pipe, flask, leather cord with a small bag attached smelling of herbs
Likeness: Tikhon Zhiznevskiy
Personal Information––– –
Profession: Bard, storyteller, Mist Walker
Hobbies: Music, storytelling, dancing, knife throwing
Languages: Multiple languages to match his locale
Residence: Nomadic
Birthplace: The back of a caravan
Religion: The Road
Patron Deity: Tymora
Fears: Losing control; being alone
Relationships ––– -
Spouse: None
Children: None
Parents: Gregor Klaudin (father); Wilmina Klaudin (mother)
Siblings: Alfred Klaudin (brother)
Other Relatives: Arther Klaudin (grandfather; deceased); Verida Klaudin (grandmother; deceased); Eldridge of Kovir (godfather)
Pets: None
Sex & Romance ––– -
Sexual Orientation: Homosexual
Preferred Emotional Role: submissive | dominant | switch
Preferred Sexual Role: submissive | dominant | switch
Libido: High
Turn ons: Smiles, dance, life
Turn offs: Violence, spitting
Love Language: Touch
Relationship Tendencies: Short and often
Traits ––– -
* Bold your character’s answer.
Extroverted / In Between / Introverted
Disorganized / In Between / Organized
Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded
Calm / In Between / Anxious
Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable
Cautious / In Between / Reckless
Patient / In Between / Impatient
Outspoken / In Between / Reserved
Leader / In Between / Follower
Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic
Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic
Traditional / In Between / Modern
Hard-working / In Between / Lazy
Cultured / In Between / Uncultured
Loyal / In Between / Disloyal
Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful
Additional information ––– –
Smoking Habit: Often
Drugs: When available
Alcohol: Always on hand
RP Hooks ––– –
The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Janus is an accomplished bard, having studied song and dance with other members of the Vistani as they traveled through the Mists. With a multitude of tales to mind and songs to match the wits of the smallfolk, the coin never ceases to fall in his favor when he opens his mouth. Most of those in his trade would pick to carry a fiddle or flute, but somehow or another a silver handle came to hand to match the strange box that he cranks from. None would think that such a contraption could make men weep, women kick their heels, or bring the old back to youth but such was the power of the song in Janus's hand and heart.
Magic is Impressive
There is an air of chaos to the bard, not only in his manners and movements but in the very songs he sings. He's learned many through the years and travels, but sometimes they come to in a way that hits home with a crowd or himself that he doesn't understand. In some places, some might call it magic and it could very well be for where he rests his head that day. A slight shrug and push off would try to deny the thoughts, but late words with his 'uncle' and his mastery of the 'aard' symbol say other wise to a latent talent in the raconteur.
Mist Walker
Janus is a member of the Vistani, a roaming culture that has found a way to traverse the domains of the universe by way of the Mist without tether to those worlds. It may not always get them where they need to be, but that is half the adventure of the travel. Learned from his father who had learned from his father before, the lineage of the Mists has traveled all the way back to the first families of Barovia. Recently, Janus and his brother have decided to strike out on their own as they feel it was time to give their parents space with the years passing. With the Mist clinging to their wagon wheels and urging them ever forward, the Brothers Klaudin are hitting the dire trail for fortune and glory.
Hey Wolf Moon
The full moon is not something to trifle with. Despite a life of carefree wheeling and dealing on the winding roads of the Mists, trouble has still caught up with the Brothers. Janus sadly was the most recent to reap what they sowed in the wild work they find themselves in. Hidden as best he can beneath cape and cowl on those final days of the month, the wild struggles to break free from within. For a man who can't help but grin, when the pale moon rises fear and desperation are all he knows. It is grim, terrifying, and beyond a doubt dangerous. Luckily with his brother Alfred on hand, he has been able to control it and lay hidden during the change. But there is always the fear of the day when he will be alone when the sun sets on the 29th day.
HOW TO CONTACT:
OoC
tumblr (https://acrowamongsparrows.tumblr.com/ )
Discord ( Mogwai Kraken#7988)
IC
The whining drone would begin as the silver handle flashed along the edge of the strange instrument wielded by the smiling blue coated man. Knees slightly bent, back straight, eyes shining the bard would begin to let the words flow from his mouth like a wizard's magic spell.
"Joseph was talking," Janus began as his voice floated above the music that poured from his instrument. He never moved as he began his song, only letting his eyes roam about the crowd. "Grooming a rumor; He said 'Somebody drowned the other day'."
"That somebody was me, but I never drowned," Klaudin continued as he turned slowly about in the center of the room, turning the handle of his instrument with one hand as the other played the keys with otherworldly ease. "I just simply slipped away."
As the final word of the verse fled his lips, it didn't begin to dissipate in the music it only seemed to gain more ethereal power as it floated in the tavern room air. A hush gripped all as they watched him. "So if you need me, I'm sorry; cause I'm not around anymore."
"I'll never tell you what I'm thinking," the bard continued to slowly rotate with his silver flashing handle as he continued to look about the room. "You don't deserve to know."
As the final word hung in the air another voice would rise from the crowd, a woman's. A barmaid who looked perplexed to suddenly be matching Janus's speed and lyrics though how she knew them, who could say?
"You came through stumbling hard, I knew
Mumbling words untrue, only to undo;
All the good I had achieved, you would
Stampede all over it, because you could."
The maid matched him perfectly, their voices winding with the music of the hurdy gurdy in supernatural majesty. She would gently drop away her tray and come to stand before him in the center of the common room. The bard's voice dying away behind the music as she would now take the center stage to sing the next verse. Alone.
"Joseph had captured a bird without wings
Writing in gold, making shapes in the fire.
His anger met silence, a death in the woods
My freedom was mine again, mine again, all mine."
At one point she would begin to falter as if the music was leaving her with the absence of Janus's voice but a slight strength in the mention of fire brought her back. Her voice carried again, high and beautiful with a sound that no one of this small backwater town knew she had in her. As she closed on the final word of the verse, again Janus would join with her in perfect harmony. The barmaid in turn would begin to walk about him to match his slow turn to see all the patrons of the evening.
"You won't find me crying
So don't you feel sorry for me.
All that I have is in my head;
And all that you took you can have."
The maid would come to stand before him as they locked eyes in the center stage, the lyrics flowing from the bard and girl in a beautiful argument.
"You came through stumbling hard, I knew
Mumbling words untrue, only to undo.
All the good I had achieved, you would
Stampede all over it, because you could."
How a pair of mortals could draw out such a force to bring lights lowered and shadows build as the argument seemed to be more than just a song now. Eyes locked and words billowing forth in such heartbreaking contempt for the other, the verse repeated.
"You came through stumbling hard, I knew
Mumbling words untrue, only to undo.
All the good I had achieved, you would
Stampede all over it, because you could."
As the final word came from them both, Janus would let his head fall back and scream to the ceiling above as his instruments voice drowned out the world from earth to sky.
"You don't heal me!"
"You don't heal me, like you used to," the gurdy continued to rumble and roar as the maid stumbled back, with fear in her eyes as the crowd's shock was deafened by his music. Wood would creak, mugs rattle, fires would die to embers as the magic of his song seemed to unsettle the fabric of their reality. Again his voice would rise in near angelic anger to mix with his playing all the while he would repeat his scream. "You don't heal me, like you used to!"
"You don't heal me no more;
You don't heal me no more;
You don't heal me no more!"
From the crowd a similar pair of eyes kept with a frame much like the bard's would come to the edge of the stage. A rattle of a sword at his side as he cried out above the magical song with a stern foreboding to his voice. "Janus!"
"You don't heal me
Like you used to
You don't heal me."
The name was drowned as the bard let his howl rise into the howl of the gurdy at his waist. But it was the barmaid's voice who cut through it like the sword at the man's side. The fear she had before was gone as she stepped forward to lay a hand on his, the turning of the handle stopping instantly as Janus looked up into her eyes. His face wet with tears as she reached up to his cheek.
"You don't heal me like you used to,
You don't heal me no more.
I don't need you like I used to,
You can't cure me like before."
How she knew the words, even Janus wouldn't know as he stood with the maid. Her eyes somber to his exposed pain and fear, her hand still on his cheek as she gently drew him close. And he embraced her back just the same, two strangers who had found a song.
3 notes
·
View notes
Watched Major Grom: Plague Doctor today. Was pleasantly surprised
I’ve been waiting for this movie since the 2017 short film, I had hopes but they were not very high since Russian movies are generally (not always but, sadly mostly) shit and they changed pretty much everyone who was involved in the short film that I liked in the first place. (It’s also the second time I went to cinema since Covid started and the other movie was also a Russian one (The Last Bogatyr). Weird)
So I sat through almost 2,5 hours and there wasn’t a moment I wanted to fast-forward. Also weird. Snatchy non-spoilery thoughts:
Igor Grom is painfully thin. I mean he’s ripped but he doesn’t have enough meat on him for his height. He’s like Skarsgard-tall. Also I’m very glad he’s not an alcoholic, just a shawarmaholic (I feel ya Igor). Also also if you thought Ilya Kuryakin was your ultimate Scarily Persistent In Pursuit Tall Russian Officer crush - think again. (gif credit)
Sergei is... a trap. I mean it’s enough that he’s excruciatingly hot but they had to go and make him very very likable? I mean was it strictly necessary? Like... he’s precious? Soft boy. Doesn’t even look silly with that (very soft-looking) ginger hair. (gif credit)
Once in a while I encounter these kinds of characters that if the writers would make them a couple I would like to see that. But at the same time I don’t feel the need to make them a couple in my head. I don’t ship them I just acknowledge that they are shippable and leave it at that. Igor and Sergei are that kind of characters. (Or maybe they’re just both handsome and I’m gullible).
Not to be unfair - Yulia is a solid character who exists outside of being main hero’s romantic interest and she has a very important part to play in the big finale, she is also well portrayed by an interesting young actress. She just isn’t as flushed-out as Igor and Sergei are.
All in all - I hope it will be a first entry in a future Cinematic Universe because (as far as I know) there are more stories to tell within it and the bar was set at a very respectable level. Fingers crossed
61 notes
·
View notes