Yes, it's me. Guild-hopper, credit/RP whore extraordinaire. It's been so fun to come back and experience all the amazing quality of life changes to the game!
Despite his long history as a bad baddie, Sry has recently gone to the Spirit side. Let me know what you think of his character arc and growth!
Thanks!
Tell me how I'm doing!(Web): Mileta says, "Okay... Sry is an edgelord..."
(Web): Dreww says, "Sryaen just wants to be the best Dhar boi and slaughter everyone."
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Comments
But where to even start?
You've mentioned in the past being self-conscious about being rusty with RPing, but honestly? I can't tell at all. Your writing is great, and you manage to portray Sryaen in a lot of subtle ways with body language, the things he says (or doesn't say), or the things he finds interest in. You also do it in a way that makes it easy to RP back and forth. Scenes have a good pace, and you do a lot without going overboard with walls of text. It's also been kind of fun pointing out all the neat RP tools that have been introduced over the years (the THINK command, Insight, being able to pose items) or offering advice on how to go about different things (the flower letters), and then seeing you integrate them as part of your regular RP. I also love that you like to balance SUPER DRAMATIC AND EPIC RP with calmer, more mundane RP, though from my experience you seem to really enjoy the mundane stuff.
As for Sryaen as a character, I feel kind of honored and privileged to have been able to see his growth since he swapped sides, and even more so knowing Phoe has been a part of it.
Seeing him evolve from simply a soldier that lives only for battle to a weary veteran yearning for something more out of life, not really knowing what or how, but slowly realizing it has been a treat to watch over the course of so many interactions, and I'm always eager to see just how much has changed with each.
Phoe and Sryaen's interactions are always fun regardless of whether the scenes are short or something longer, and I've realized just how mundane a lot of their meetings tend to be, which kind of seems to reflect his desire for a simpler, more mundane life. Visiting Phoe in her shop, her teaching him about different flower meanings, exchanging coded flower letters, shooting the breeze and talking about life. Not every scene is epic and dramatic (in fact, I think very few of them have been), but I can tell each one has slowly changed Sry's world over time in large ways, and they've formed such a strong bond in such a short time that it still kind of surprises me.
In regards to Phoe's end of things, Sryaen started out as someone she wanted to help. Someone going through a massive life change, and who she thought could use some emotional support and a friendly face. But I think over time, they've started to help each other, though Sryaen might not see how he's been affecting her quite as visibly. I think part of what makes their bond as strong as it is is their parallel journeys: both of them trying to rise above a checkered past they can't quite fully escape, but try to be better anyway, and I think having that similar path has helped them develop a deep understanding. They also kind of seem to be living reminders to each other to remain on the paths they've set themselves on, and continue to help and encourage the other during moments of doubt or self-loathing. It leaves me excited to see how things further progress, and how they'll both look further down the line or if they achieve their respective goals.
You're a great RPer, and Sryaen is a great character with a lot of depth, and I love that interactions are pretty laidback, though even so, you let those interactions shape the character just as much, if not more than the dramatic ones. Keep it up! I've greatly enjoyed RPing with you, and I hope others get to see the amount of depth, variety, and fun I've experienced so far.
Sessi sortof relates to Sryaen. Despite them being each other's opposites, they both recently started waking after a long rest and are trying their best to get aquainted with the world as it is now. I am excited to see where this friendship might lead.
Either way, you are extremely fun to roleplay with, and I hope to be able to continue finding opportunities to do so. Don't stay too far, but also don't wander too close. You know what they say about Icarus flying too close to the sun!
I've enjoyed the RP so far, both as a bystander and as an active participant. RPing with you feels effortless. As has already been said, you manage to portray your character and his moods very well in your emotes, without making it seem forced. The slight hesitancy in regards to some things, contrasted by the dead-certainty in others makes the character believable, since few things are ever certain in life. It is a delight to see someone truly deliver when it comes to showing the internal struggle of someone trying something new.
In short, the way you add layers and depth to your character always makes me want to improve my own performance, which is a very good thing. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.
My biggest regret from when I stopped playing before was that I never gave people an equal chance at RP. If I didn't feel like interacting with someone was in tune with Sry's "lol I'm a baddie" RP, I didn't give them much thought and really only kept to established "darkie" RP circles. But since I've been back, I've been very conscious of my past toxic behaviors and have opened up to any and all RP that might come Sry's way, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised when it comes to Sessi. Total opposite of Sry, very bubbly and cheerful - her character description is adorable (and so vivid!). I'm so glad Sry and Sessi crossed paths and I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops.
Sry has a real love/hate relationship with Elene. I'd always thought Sry and Elene had an unusually intimate relationship, mainly because of all their past history together with removing Sry's eyes, Ashmer & Co, Sry pretty much always saying "yes" to whatever Elene asked of him. Throughout the years and despite growing to be an established man, there will always be a part of Sry that is that scared little Grook Cabalist, terrified of Elene but also so willing and eager to please her. It was a refreshing change to have Sryaen tell Elene "no" for once in his life, though the consequences of such were entirely deserved on his end. Elene is that devil on the shoulder character for Sry right now, always whispering in his ear and being the temptation for him to slip back (rather easily) into his darker ways. I suppose that's why he was so willing to engage with Naos because a part of him knows that Elene will be close by, and simply by being near her, he can allow himself to engage in those darker feelings and emotions he's been working so hard to work past (read: suppress). I'm not sure how their RP will go, but I will say this: The story of Elene and Sryaen is far from over. And I am HERE for it, bby. Tysm for being an amazing constant presence in Sry's life, and it's been so fun to roleplay with you over the years. I missed you greatly.
Tell me how I'm doing!
This should be Sry's theme song as of late. 😅 An oldie but a goodie.
Tell me how I'm doing!
Sry's been feeling a bit more melancholy lately, so this song has really been ringing true as he questions the steps he's going through on his path. For those that don't want to listen to the song, the lyrics go:
'cause I've got heaven in my veins,
But heaven doesn't numb the pain.
I could be your doomsday.
I could be your worst ever nightmare
Super edgy and emo I know, but I LOVE the Amity Affliction.
Tell me how I'm doing!
Truly I am dumbfounded Sayb and Sry didn't really interact way back in the day (Even though Sry was baddie dark dark man). But boy, loving you being back and being a quirky, angsty, trying-to-find-his-new-place-in-the-world sort of thing. I will try to find more ways to interact with Sry that don't involve grinded meat secret missions. Maybe.
Conversation and dialogue was seamless to traverse and none of that "dogs sniffing" each other ever happened.
There's probably a lot more to Sryaen under the surface that's just not being let off the chain to f*** off with, and it's going to be fun to see it come out one day.
Cool character, bro-ham, I approve
Thank goodness I trolled this thread long enough to find you in the mix of things. Allarani has not had a ton of interactions and it just comes tit for tat with him. I keep finding myself going ‘is it too much?’ Because I do not want to hog all the time! I have laughed so much the last day or so with the unexpected ornery side of Sryaen.
It genuinely was and is a relief to know I can ask some hard questions and see the way it affects and tugs on a softer side. I can’t wait to see more layers of him, definitely tossing out if you haven't interacted with him, you are ABSOLUTELY missing out. I really hope to continue growing as a player and Allarani growing as a character with those same assured gentle nudges with a hint of provocation. Please don’t lose that, it makes him so memorable.
TLDR: go rp at him, and who cares about dignity iykyk, it leads to some great scenes!