Making the last of his kind

[atemu1234]

I'm working on a mission that involves a being (I'm thinking a reiteration of some type of angel) shows up and is asking for help, because he is the last of his kind. Any tips on how to roleplay something that's immortal and watched its race crumble to dust?

[Lightlawbliss]

why is he the last?

Has the event(s) causing him to be last changed him, or made him believe more strongly in doing the same again?

[Nettlekid]

The Doctor.

[atemu1234]

The Doctor.

Which one?

[atemu1234]

why is he the last?

Has the event(s) causing him to be last changed him, or made him believe more strongly in doing the same again?

He watched them fall due to petty squabbles for power, corruption eating them away, vanity destroying them. He was also forced to kill the last other member of his race (because why not angst it up a little more?).

[With a box]

The Doctor.

Doctor who?

[With a box]

The doctor in new doctor who in BBC tv extinted his own race(gallifrayan) well ,(spoiler)

[atemu1234]

The doctor in new doctor who in BBC tv extinted his own race(gallifrayan) well ,(spoiler)

No, which regeneration. I got the show.

[With a box]

No, which regeneration. I got the show.

From 9th to 11th
Just saw the new seasons(from 2005)

[atemu1234]

From 9th to 11th
Just saw the new seasons(from 2005)

Well, I need specifics. I'd probably go with nine though (jaded, bitter, looking for a way out, etc.). What do you think?

[Lightlawbliss]

He watched them fall due to petty squabbles for power, corruption eating them away, vanity destroying them. He was also forced to kill the last other member of his race (because why not angst it up a little more?).

was he part of the power seeking, corruption, and vanity or did he try oppose it? Why did he kill the last other member of his race? Did he know when he did it that that was the last other member?

[Red Fel]

No, which regeneration. I got the show.

Basically, Eccleston!Doctor and Tennant!Doctor are two excellent models of the "last survivor of a once-great race" archetype, when it comes to character concepts.

Eccleston was the scarred veteran. He was hurt, he was angry, and he channeled his pain and frustration into trying to be a better person. But it was clearly visible, there below the surface. (Think that episode where Rose discovered the Dalek.)

Tennant's Doctor was more layered, because he was trying to cope. Instead of being angry, he ran an emotional spectrum. His behavior was frenetic, which gives you plenty to work with, but in essence, he was a whirl of activity specifically so that he didn't have to dwell on the past. Because when he did become serious (see "The Family of Blood") that frustration bubbled up into something truly terrifying. Which was why he wore the mask of a clown so often. He also demonstrated the pain of trying to fully escape your past (see "The Waters of Mars," and what happens when you decide the rules no longer apply) and what happens when an eternal and lonely being finally believes it has found true companionship (Donna Noble, enough said).

Another idea is to create an eccentric-yet-secretive character. Think of the Mysterious Old Man from Into the Woods. This character saw his own people rise up against one another - himself included - and watched friends, enemies, loved ones all fall. He'd have a hard time trusting or caring again. But being some sort of angelic being, he'd still feel the primal need to aid others, and being in need of help himself, he would have to reach out. So how do you resolve a need to help and be helped with a need to never open yourself up to pain again? Simple answer - garb yourself in enigma. Come across as eccentric, perhaps mad. Offer assistance, riddles, quests, in a cryptic-yet-demanding fashion.

Lastly, consider The Highlander. Your choice which version, but I think the TV series (Adrian Paul) had the most characterization. Here is a person who has experienced so much, lived and felt so many things; in flashbacks, he is constantly smiling, laughing, adventuring, living every moment of his life. But in the present, he is muted, restrained, withdrawn. The few times he has opened up to someone, they have died. The few times he has tried to protect someone, they have died. No matter what he tries, he will live and those around him will be dust; the sheer, mind-numbing angst of it all has basically squeezed most of his emotions out.

Basically, here are the key motivators; you can choose one, or any combination:

• Angst: Everything you ever loved will be dust. You will remain, because you can and because you must. You will be alone, forever.
• Robot: Because you will only know suffering if you do, you will never open your emotions up to others. It will only cause pain. You will bury your emotions deep inside, and feel no pain. There is only the mission, the immediate need before you; no joy, no love, and no regret.
• Clown: Wear the mask. Become the mask. Live every moment as if it were your last. Dwell on every thought, no matter how inane. Laugh at every joke, and write a few of your own. Experience every last sensation the world has to offer. Because if you stop, even for a moment, the sheer hollowness of your miserable charade will be perfectly clear to you, and the house of cards will collapse.
• Determination: There's no time to feel. There are things that must be done. If you must feel sorrow, anger, hurt, use them. Let them drive you forward. You've tasted more pain than anyone should, and you'll use it to ensure that nobody suffers as you have. You can cry when you've finished your task, and no sooner. That's the only way to cope.

Because that's the key word: Cope. That's the question: Can your character cope with his emotional burden? If so, how? Will he let it swallow him, and drown in his own despair? Will he hide it, even from himself? Will he try to bury it, along with all emotion? Or will he turn it into fuel, and let it propel him forward?

[Ranting Fool]

Basically, Eccleston!Doctor and Tennant!Doctor are two excellent models of the "last survivor of a once-great race" archetype, when it comes to character concepts.

*Snip*

+1

Damn you all now I am grumpy that there isn't any new Doctor Who till Augusts

[Val666]

There is this feat called Weeded to History which gives you the Endless ability. It also have different benefits and you must select one of them.

Here's a link: http://blackmarches.wikidot.com/wedded-to-history

[Renen]

As great as Tennant is, be this:

[atemu1234]

was he part of the power seeking, corruption, and vanity or did he try oppose it? Why did he kill the last other member of his race? Did he know when he did it that that was the last other member?

As great as Tennant is, be this:

He was a general once upon a time, and of course feels a lot of guilt for his actions. The quote is good, but I really, really do not think 11 would make a good character for this one. I wanted this to be a fairly dark character, so basing it off of nine would probably work best.

Basically, Eccleston!Doctor and Tennant!Doctor are two excellent models of the "last survivor of a once-great race" archetype, when it comes to character concepts.

Eccleston was the scarred veteran. He was hurt, he was angry, and he channeled his pain and frustration into trying to be a better person. But it was clearly visible, there below the surface. (Think that episode where Rose discovered the Dalek.)

Tennant's Doctor was more layered, because he was trying to cope. Instead of being angry, he ran an emotional spectrum. His behavior was frenetic, which gives you plenty to work with, but in essence, he was a whirl of activity specifically so that he didn't have to dwell on the past. Because when he did become serious (see "The Family of Blood") that frustration bubbled up into something truly terrifying. Which was why he wore the mask of a clown so often. He also demonstrated the pain of trying to fully escape your past (see "The Waters of Mars," and what happens when you decide the rules no longer apply) and what happens when an eternal and lonely being finally believes it has found true companionship (Donna Noble, enough said).

Another idea is to create an eccentric-yet-secretive character. Think of the Mysterious Old Man from Into the Woods. This character saw his own people rise up against one another - himself included - and watched friends, enemies, loved ones all fall. He'd have a hard time trusting or caring again. But being some sort of angelic being, he'd still feel the primal need to aid others, and being in need of help himself, he would have to reach out. So how do you resolve a need to help and be helped with a need to never open yourself up to pain again? Simple answer - garb yourself in enigma. Come across as eccentric, perhaps mad. Offer assistance, riddles, quests, in a cryptic-yet-demanding fashion.

Lastly, consider The Highlander. Your choice which version, but I think the TV series (Adrian Paul) had the most characterization. Here is a person who has experienced so much, lived and felt so many things; in flashbacks, he is constantly smiling, laughing, adventuring, living every moment of his life. But in the present, he is muted, restrained, withdrawn. The few times he has opened up to someone, they have died. The few times he has tried to protect someone, they have died. No matter what he tries, he will live and those around him will be dust; the sheer, mind-numbing angst of it all has basically squeezed most of his emotions out.

Basically, here are the key motivators; you can choose one, or any combination:

• Angst: Everything you ever loved will be dust. You will remain, because you can and because you must. You will be alone, forever.
• Robot: Because you will only know suffering if you do, you will never open your emotions up to others. It will only cause pain. You will bury your emotions deep inside, and feel no pain. There is only the mission, the immediate need before you; no joy, no love, and no regret.
• Clown: Wear the mask. Become the mask. Live every moment as if it were your last. Dwell on every thought, no matter how inane. Laugh at every joke, and write a few of your own. Experience every last sensation the world has to offer. Because if you stop, even for a moment, the sheer hollowness of your miserable charade will be perfectly clear to you, and the house of cards will collapse.
• Determination: There's no time to feel. There are things that must be done. If you must feel sorrow, anger, hurt, use them. Let them drive you forward. You've tasted more pain than anyone should, and you'll use it to ensure that nobody suffers as you have. You can cry when you've finished your task, and no sooner. That's the only way to cope.

Because that's the key word: Cope. That's the question: Can your character cope with his emotional burden? If so, how? Will he let it swallow him, and drown in his own despair? Will he hide it, even from himself? Will he try to bury it, along with all emotion? Or will he turn it into fuel, and let it propel him forward?

This is all really good advice, but this character probably isn't going to exist long enough for me to have him go through all the stages, so it's probably best we have him as a 9 expy. 9 you could tell right off had some issues, albeit they were buried under layers of snarkiness and (quite frankly) awesome.