[Master of Nothing]

Username Master of Nothing
Name Count Sergei of Tobolsk
Better Known As Chernobog
Gender unknown, he/him pronouns
Theme Song Komm Zuruck by Die Ärzte; translation here

╔════════════════════════♛☦♛════════════════════════╗

You find a scrap of newspaper drifting around in the streets of Chernobog's city, Tobolsk.
The first thing you notice is that it is written in English, not Russian. Its title and date is
torn, the rest soggy and caked with dirt, but at least it's readable. It says:
╚════════════════════════♛☦♛════════════════════════╝

The Pallas' cat leapt onto the leather couch where her master lay. "They're talking about you, Sergei," her strained, distinctly feminine voice reported.

"Mm?" The sleepy Count asked, sipping a glass of wine.

"They say you possess supernatural powers, like you're... a demon or something."

Chernobog choked on his wine and coughed, his cough slowly growing into a laugh. "Well, Alžbeta, I can tell you they're dead wrong. I am simply a man, with no power other than that science offers me. I am only a hypnotist, and I don't work for evil."

"They call you Chernobog," Alžbeta croaked, "and I'm sorry, but I don't recall you ever saying who you do work for?"

"Myself!" Chernobog erupted, raising his arms and spilling some of his wine. His voice echoed across the stone walls of his cave residence. "I am trying to find a knife that was stolen from me. It's very important, very valuable. And as for the name... It's pretty cool, right?"

Alžbeta paused. "Um... sure. How can a knife be so important as to scare so many innocent people?"

"They choose to get scared because they don't understand. That knife was given to me by someone of spiritual power-"

"A religious Starets?"

"Maybe, I never did find out. But he did tell me that the knife would keep me safe. And I believed him. So I need it. And I know I will get it back."

"You're just scared, aren't you?" Alžbeta teased slyly. "Afraid of getting hurt!"

"Not in the least!" Chernobog was unconvincingly too quick to answer. "I was also told the knife would be the cause of my death when the time came. If anything, I'm brave!"

"So I keep talking to anyone, everyone, to see if they knew where the knife was taken. I hypnotize them to force possible thieves to spill their souls, and so that no one will remember my desperation. I'm a Count, a rich man. If they knew I wanted the knife so badly, and happened to find it, they'd demand my entire fortune!"

"Master," Alžbeta mumbled, "you may not be evil, but you are quite low."

"Awe," Chernobog cooed, setting down his wine on the marble table and picking up the cat, "but we are best friends, and you know that." He stood up, nearly hitting his head on a stalactite. Living in a cave had its downsides. He still held Alžbeta in his arms. "Now, lets go have dinner. I've prepared your favorite, salmon kulebyaka!"

[worshipthesquid]

username: worshipthesquid

NAME: Luis (second letter of the tree-based Ogham alphabet. assoc. with the red-berried rowan or with flame. kennings: lustre of the eye, friend of cattle)
SEX: male (if this is a thing we can select!)
GENDER: female (probably. she isn't really bothered)

Only the truth that in life we have spoken
Only the seed that in life we have sown
These shall pass onwards when we are forgotten
Only remembered for what we have done

The bottle is the source of her power (or she thinks it is). From the day she dug it up and decided to wear it, her personality and priorities have changed rather dramatically. She is happier, though, than she was before.




LIKES:
⤀ to be under the sky, surrounded by greenery
⤀ light filtering through tree leaves, and the half-real atmosphere it creates
⤀ cleaning red road-dust off the leaves of her plants and off her palms
⤀ fog, and other obscurings of vision and tricks of the light. fire and smoke, as long as they won't harm plants. ash.
⤀ baking heat with the sun pressing in on dry taut skin (when the plants are adequately watered, that is)
⤀ summer thunderstorms (electricity thrumming in the air, thick heavy raindrops hammering on the ground, possibility)
⤀ living amongst plants she's helped grow
⤀ introducing other people to her plants; befriending new plants (and people)
⤀ old-fashioned gardening books
⤀ clear glass trinkets, e.g. marbles
⤀ maintaining ecosystems, accumulating even more kinds of plant and coaxing them to live in harmony
⤀ destroying her enemies or those who would harm her plants and feeding them in compost form to her garden

Tell me the story just one more time
Where the grass is green and the water runs wild
Where forever is forever and no-one has to die

DISLIKES:
⤀ being in places without plants - she hates being alone, but counts plants as people so is only alone when separated from nature
⤀ people who don't value plant lives
⤀ bullies and distant parents (because of her past)
⤀ being reminded of her old life/childhood
⤀ plant diseases
⤀ people scorning enthusiasm or genuine feeling
⤀ weedkiller
⤀ organised gardens and trimmed hedges

And if you muddy my water I'll come after you

HISTORY:

There once was a time when I was a girl
That darkness hung in my sky
...
And the weeds in the ground had grew up through my skin.

The truth is in the dirt on the ground.

PLAYLIST (some bad language. also pretty long, you don't have to listen. best listened to with rain)



RELATIONSHIPS:

HARLEY is one of the few who have managed to stumble across Luis up on the side of the hill where she spends most of her time - in Harley's case, while practicing her photography outside of the city. Though an initial misunderstanding showed Harley a little more of Luis' vengeful side than either would perhaps have preferred, Harley's request to photograph Luis' precious plants went down very well - Luis still keeps some of the stained and tattered plant portraits in her pockets - and she was eventually allowed to see the newly planted seedlings, protectively netted off from the outside world. Though Luis is loath to leave her garden for long and Harley doesn't understand why Luis is quite so devoted to her plants, their shared optimism and enthusiasm for action means that each is always willing to assist in the other's adventures.

MISC:
⤀ believes in a vague cosmic system of spirits and forces, including things like the spirits of rivers and particular hills, but doesn't have it fully thought through yet



---

wordcount: [616/700]
image count: [2/3] (both by me)

[Anza]

reservd <3

[hellbent]

.

art by hellbent (me)

about // Mars is a young talented psychic, with a strong sense of the
supernatural. Their bottle of herbs allows them to see spirits which
would otherwise be invisible to them. Mars spends their time traveling
and helping spirits pass on to the afterlife. This way of life produces
a physical toll on Mars, leaving them sickly, spacey, and often injured
from violent spirits who refuse to cross over. However, Mars' work helps
bring peace and acceptance to any plumerians who are mourning over
loss. (continue later..)
notes: mess with layout?, art 2/3, words 168/700, add short story if
there is time

The Psychic
entry by user hellbent
name: Mars .... pronouns: they/them
gender: agender .theme: beekeeper

personality // Mars is known for being
an introvert, with a quiet, deep voice
and a handful of nervous habits. They
try their best to fit into regular conver
sation, but more often then not, Mars
is singled out, if not for their odd aura,
then because of the rumors surrounding
Mars concerning the paranormal. Despite
this, Mars refuses to push their problems
onto others, and speaks politely to all.


art by hellbent (me)

[kirill]

There's been a request for an extension to the 25th!! Would you guys be interested, or would you prefer that I end the contest tomorrow as was originally intended? c:

[Tynahi]

25th would be great but whatever the majority prefers

[Master of Nothing]

I really would rather not personally ;u; I've had enough time and have tried hard to get everything done by the original date. If others really need it I guess I don't mind it, but I'd prefer not!

[benjeep]

extension to the 25th would be a blessing! I'm really having a hard time fitting in time for art since my exams are coming up, and any extra day would really help out!

[Shoe.]

I'd rather not have an extension. I understand people are busy, but usually when I ask for an extension it is because i forgot about the adopt (wasn't really a priority, was trying out for other things, etc). If we ended up having an extension though, I won't pout. My vote is no, though.

[kirill]

I'm going to go ahead and extend the competition since there seem to be a few people who need it 0": I likely wouldn't be able to begin judging until the 25th anyway, as I'm busy all of next week, so that actually works for me as well!!