☐ want to do ☑ completed

As of February 27th 2016:

☐ be stuck in a situation where someone is possessed or something and he has to harm them
☐ kill him obv... but no it'd be great if he faced something that could knock him down a bit
☐ cute domestic things
☑ set a microwave on fire
☐ find out what to do with the FUCKING HORSE or just pretend it never happened
☑ use the stocks on someone and/or throw rotten tomatoes at them ... yEAH
☐ give the amulet he arrived with to someone after finding out how to make it into something protective
☐ learn more magic so i can go past using only up to season 2 stuff
☐ i'll admit my thirst and add a crush to this list i guess
☐ and a date one day over the rainbow waits forever tries to get over ptsd first
☐ work stuff (cr/logs etc)
☐ get involved with anti-CERES stuff
☑ work on telepathy stuff with other magic users (has the ability to do it but we only see him receive really in canon)
☐ learning more technology things
☐ learning more science things
☐ actually learning other ways to heal
☐ ONE DAY for an event?? losing his magic temporarily
☐ prank........s........
☐ give more people magic gifts... all the beautiful parts of magic weh
☐ neIGHBOURS CR

i need to add more later i can't think of more right now

Applicant Info

◎ Name: Liah
◎ Journal: sheffield
◎ Contact: otp
◎ Current Character(s): n/a

Character Info

◎ Character's Name: Merlin
◎ Character's Canon: BBC's Merlin
◎ Character's Age: When he's first sent to Gaius in series one he's 18, so by series two he should be around 19 though it may be a little more/less
◎ Canon Point: Series Two, Post-The Witchfinder
◎ Background/History: His wiki page is actually incredibly detailed...
◎ Is the character a hacker and/or do they have a sixth-sense? Hacker? No. Sixth-sense? Yes. Merlin has been seen using a sort of telepathy in series though it isn't entirely clear if it's purely based on the other person. Originally Mordred would only communicate with him, presumably because his magic was already quite strong, though once Morgana's came to light he also spoke to her. With this in account it's quite possible that even if it isn't entirely him, his magic takes a part of it. He definitely has the potential for it over time. (Especially as I'm using an earlier canon point and there are lots of things he still hasn't learned yet)

There is also the fact that he has a certain knack for finding out that creatures are not what they pretend to be. Two examples of many are the troll that pretended to be Lady Catrina and the Sidhes, Sophia and Aulfric, who were trying to regain their immortality by offering Arthur's life as sacrifice.

◎ Personality:

“Magic isn't just a part of me. It is me. It's who I am.”
— Merlin
It's impossible to see Merlin as a normal person in a sense that magic has been embedded in him since birth. He was born with the abilities of the Old Religion, able to use magic without incantations and without study. His mother thankfully recognized his gifts as something good unlike King Uther who banned any use of magic in the realm. It's because of her raising him with this mindset that he came to understand that magic isn't evil, it's more that the hearts of men can be cruel and they twist magic into something evil instead. As the King is so against magic, and Merlin was raised to believe there is nothing to be afraid of, at first he can't understand why it could ever be viewed as purely evil. This is important, as this naivety is what often gets him into trouble throughout the show and is precisely why in the first series he's more reckless and thinks less of the consequences of his actions.

As time passes Merlin's eyes are opened to the kind of problems he can unleash if he isn't careful about his magic. One example of this is when Guinevere, the King's Ward Morgana's maid, is to be executed for being a sorceress. Guinevere's father, Tom, becomes ill from the water that Nimueh poisoned with the use of an Afanc (a creature of magic) and Merlin cures him overnight. Merlin finds the creature with Gaius, his master and mentor while he resides in Camelot, and Morgana insists that she, Arthur and Merlin go into the well where the water supply is kept and slay the creature and thus save Guinevere. However, despite the problems he caused by saving Gwen's father, Merlin would do the same all over again if it meant Tom wouldn't die from the disease. Generally, Merlin will put others before himself, which is part of what makes him such a great sorcerer.

The only time this hasn't been the case is when his friend William took the blame for his use of magic when they were defending Merlin's hometown; yet, that would have played out incredibly differently had William not given his life for Arthur's and taken an arrow for him.

“Gaius, don't even think about telling me not to go because there is nothing you can say that will stop me.”
— Merlin to Gaius

Despite being aware that people could be caught in a crossfire if someone ultimately sees him using magic, Merlin is stubborn. He has a keen sense of what he believes to be right, and given how Kilgharrah and Gaius both talk of how his destiny is so important, he has thought of himself as invincible at times. His ego has grown tremendously over time, though this is also due to the fact that even when plans to help others have gone awry, he has always managed to find a way to solve it -- at least at this point in his life.

Merlin's stubbornness and unwillingness to listen to Gaius' or even Kilgharrah's advice is his own undoing. Kilgharrah warned Merlin to not help Mordred, a little Druid boy, who later would kill Arthur when he was made King. Kilgharrah also warned Merlin to make sure Morgana wouldn't learn the extent of her powers. Both of these instances Merlin was naive and believed he knew better than the dragon. He saved Mordred's life with the help of Arthur and Morgana and returned him to the Druids ensuring that he lived and thus ensuring that Arthur's fate to die at his hands was possible. In Morgana's case he offered her the advice to go to the Druids for help which lead to the deaths of so many of their people. Perhaps without his own stubbornness, neither of these instances would coincide to ensure that the future of Albion--the great land that he and Arthur would create--would be so bleak.

While this is definitely a fault of his personality, it can also be considered a virtue for the fact that it's usually Merlin's emotions and righteousness that lead him to standing up so strongly for something. In Mordred's case it was because he didn't feel it was fair to punish a little boy who still had many years ahead of him for doing nothing but living. When his hometown was targeted by a warlord, Merlin's desperation to save his people alongside a kind and understanding Prince is what moved William to take the blow for them both. It's because he wouldn't stand down and took the risk that his friend came to understand that Merlin, while incapable of being honest with Arthur about himself just yet, wouldn't abandon his family and friend's either.

This doesn't only apply to people, as when Arthur kills a unicorn during a hunt Merlin feels grief for the animal. Unicorns are magical creatures, creatures of the Old Religion just like himself. He finds it difficult to comprehend how Arthur can only think of it as a trophy when it's something old, beautiful and graceful. When the curse of the unicorn by the unicorn keeper Anhora comes to Camelot, leaving them with destroyed crops and only sand for water, it's Merlin who has to convince Arthur that the death of the unicorn was the cause of everything. He understands how important it is for Arthur to impress his father, but he also understands that while it may be important to him, the people of Camelot are even more important to the Prince.

"I willingly give my life for Arthur's."
— Merlin to Nimueh
While Merlin thinks of creating Albion, a land where magic can be practiced freely and isn't seen as something horrible, there are certain people he will put first. His own life is tied with Arthur's, often described as them being "each one side of a coin" as their destinies are so closely entwined and over time he finds himself growing attached to the young Prince of Camelot. In fact, he often goes out of his way for Arthur, even back when Arthur bullied him during his servant duties. He even saved Arthur's life at the start of the series when a sorceress pretending to be a singer tried to kill Arthur during a dinner party and he believed Arthur to be a pompous prat. At even this canon point in series two he's saved Arthur's life countless of times even though he isn't given any thanks for it. He is, without a doubt, selfless.

When Arthur is on the brink of death Merlin travels to the Isle of the Blessed to search for the cup of life. However, with the Old Religion another life must be taken to keep balance, and as it is Arthur that Merlin intends to save and he wouldn't wish to sacrifice someone else for his decision, he gives his own life in the trade. The fact that this isn't what unfolds isn't important, it's Merlin's dedication to ensuring someone he loves doesn't die that is important here. He'd rather bargain his own life, than let someone else take his place.

“I won't sacrifice a friend to save myself”
"Bravely spoken, but Gaius is already doomed”
— Merlin and Kilgharrah
While Gaius is not Merlin's father (Merlin doesn't actually meet his real father until later on), or even his relative, Gaius has become more than a mentor to him over the time he's spent in his care. There are times when Merlin hasn't listened to him, hasn't helped him clean up their shared quarters etc., but Merlin does genuinely respect Gaius and takes his opinions to heart. Gaius has, over time, grown to be like a father to Merlin in a way neither of them probably expected. In fact, Merlin even comments that Gaius has helped him grow into a better person, too: "My destiny? This is my mother. My powers mean nothing if I cannot save her. You have taught me so much. Taught me who I am. Taught me the purpose for my skills. Taught me that magic should only be used for great deeds. But most of all, you have always taught me to do what is right."

One thing that Merlin's world has shown us is that people affect and influence one another more than they might realise. Arthur first appears as a prat, but over time grows into someone that the people would gladly worship, would gladly follow and lay down their lives for. Merlin was reckless and arrogant about his powers, but both Gaius and Arthur humble him. Gaius was sometimes cowardly, and wouldn't put himself out for other people yet he was willing to give his life for Merlin's on more than one occasion. Despite the dark situation he often finds himself in, it's a loving environment that Merlin finds himself growing further within, just as his mother had given him for the first eighteen years of his life, too.

“Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.”
“Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?”
— Arthur and Merlin
While Merlin's life is often filled with peril and distress, he often finds it in him to be comical. Not long after finding out Arthur was a Prince and already being shamed by being put in the stocks for kids to throw rotten fruit at him, he still can't keep his mouth shut and uses his magic as a means to try and humiliate Arthur. It's dangerous in its own right, but also proves him as someone brave, but also someone who can find humor in even the worst of situations. While he and Arthur are on a mission to rescue Guinevere later on he jokes about how careless Arthur is with their lives, saying that "Oh! Oh, what's that Wilddeoren eating? It's all right. It's just Merlin."

It makes things easier, all things considered. At this stage in his life while the biggest threat to Uther's throne has been Nimueh, and Morgana hasn't betrayed them yet, it's easier to take time to relax. He still has lee-way to take his time and find enjoyment in watching Arthur find his feet without the pressure of taking his father's place while grieving his father's death. Everything is less grim, and that holds a huge importance of Merlin's disposition to life.

◎ Powers/Abilities: As a preface, I'll link this wiki page that uses the Merlin: the complete guide as a source. Here there are links to different types of magic as well as lists of the spells used in the show. It's also broken down a little on this page.

In my own words, however, I will say that Merlin, is considered somewhat immortal as he lives way too long and is pretty difficult to kill later on in the show. In series two, meanwhile, he's still in the learning stage and still messes up spells pretty often. This is definitely something I'll keep in mind while in game, as part of the reason I chose this canon point is to explore the learning path while in game.

In terms of the kind of magic he possesses, he can control all of the elements to an extent. He's used air to propel flames forward to kill a creature when Arthur was in danger and to create a tornado to force a group of bandits away. He's used fire to make lights and to kill creatures. He's used water to try and wake Gaius and has used it for healing. He's used earth to break down rocks that have blocked a door and to create an earthquake. I would say, however, that his two stronger elements are fire and air at this point, as they are the two most commonly used.

He can lock and unlock doors. He's even copied a noble scroll from a book so Lancelot could try to be a knight for Camelot. He can also do verbal and non-verbal types of telekinesis which can range from getting keys from Arthur's belt to ...forcing someone's trousers to fall. This links to an animation spell which is like making boots walk themselves forward or turning a dog stone statue into a real dog.

He's able to stun or throw a person or thing back by using a verbal or non-verbal spell too. This is shown by how he killed one of the stone statue gargoyles Cornelius controlled in The Curse of Cornelius Sigan and when he threw Jonas back in the episode Beauty and the Beast. He's able to force someone to fall asleep, though at this point hasn't tried to wake someone from a spell.

More importantly, Merlin has gained powers of the Old Religion from the Isle of the Blessed that would be considered as the dominion over life and death. Nimueh was the one who gave him the water from the cup of life, but after she tried to claim his mother's and then Gaius' lives, Merlin took hers by striking her down with lightning, thus creating a balance that was necessary to save Arthur's life.

At his canon point Merlin hasn't used a teleportation spell which is pretty much the only type of magic he hasn't at least tried at this point. He also hasn't scryed at this point either, which is seeing the future with a crystal or by using water. He hasn't done this spell just yet, but in the series after his canon point he's able to age himself, turning into an old man to disguise himself so he could use magic freely in front of others. (This definitely still has consequences, but it's safer than doing it in his own image.)

◎ Weapons & Other Special Inventory:
1. Gaius' grimoire given to Merlin so he can study magic
2. ...the keys to Arthur's rooms
3. a horse
4. the amulet Aredian tried to frame him and Gaius with
5. Excalibur (a relica without the dragon's breath magic to it is fine too because otherwise it's pretty over powered)
6. Medieval stocks
7. A pair of dirty boots that have been used to muck out the stables

CEREALIA-Specific

◎ Element: Fire: Simply because despite having a warmth and will to keep others safe, more often than not Merlin's help can be destructive. The best example of this is when Morgana's magic came to light, she told Merlin the truth and he told her to go to the Druids. This, in turn, sent Arthur on a mission to rescue Morgana from her kidnappers who were not her kidnappers at all. It resulted in the deaths of many Druids, along with pushing Mordred down his path to destruction.
◎ Sense: I would have to say sight as Merlin's magic possesses powers that help him reveal the truth. There have been times when he has seen the truth of a person/creature way before anyone else and he's revealed it at a later time. His magic is also able to be produced non-verbally and only with him viewing an object.
◎ Seven Character Traits:

Positive: Compassionate, Understanding, Loyal
Negative: Arrogant, Ignorant, Stubborn
+ Naive (both with trusting too easily but also with life itself sometimes)

Samples

◎ First-Person Sample:
tdm links:
1. top level
2. sougo.
3. adrien.

◎ Third-Person Sample:

It has been a decent amount of time since winding up in Cerealia at this point. He's had time to explore, to meet new people and come to understand that what he'd heard back in his first experiences here about magic not being forbidden and about many others having similar gifts was actually true. Stepping into the world of ViViD once more is done with a bit of a bounce in his step this time, an excitement to practice and hone his skills in an environment that wouldn't shun him or pronounce him dead is a blessing.

It's like he's already walked into his vision of Albion already, all without having to fight for that kind of world. He hasn't had to convince anyone, everything already there for the taking. It's strange that he's learned that this is some kind of device, something scientific that Gaius would no doubt find fascinating, yet it holds the key to other worlds no matter how unreal they might be.

When he opens his eyes on this side all he can see is sand as deserts stretch out for miles and miles ahead of him. In front of him lays one medium sized red dragon that puffs soft little gusts of smoke from its nostrils while it breathes. It's beautiful. Merlin takes slow steps forwards, hand reaching out for the creature. Kilgharrah would never be this placid, he doesn't think. The Great Dragon wouldn't sit and wait for his hand to reach out and hesitantly come into contact with scales. He might have considered trying it at one point, when he hadn't made a promise of freedom for a selfish creature that only cares for itself. Now, however, he can't say for sure he'd feel this calm.

It's like putting his hand through water, stroking down along scales that glisten under what must be a replica of the sun.

Though he and the dragon aren't the only things here in this place. That's something that takes him a moment to realise, when the sun rises an inch more to reflect on something white to the side of him. To the side sits what he thinks must be some kind of basin as it has a tap to let out water. It feels hot here, however, and the need for water feels too great. With a glance to the dragon's face, taking note that it nudges its head in the white object's direction, he moves towards it.

The tap on the top has no indication of which way to turn it, so he presumes it must be up like the well in town back home. To make it easier to observe, Merlin sinks down to his knees, thinking he's ready for the water this contraption must release when instead the water doesn't pour down, it hits him straight in the face.

"...Wonderful." He rubs at his face to try and dry it before the sun starts to burn, but when he looks down what was water is now... sand? "You know, I thought this was supposed to be something to test yourself, instead I get a lazy dragon--" A look over his shoulder reveals that the dragon in question has only gone to sleep in the time he's been occupied. "--and a water dispenser that seems to look like a toilet that they have back on there."

That's when the bidet decides it has had enough of this and just starts shooting sand from the tap and from the drain and the dragon having been asleep moments before wakes with a roar. It readies itself, rises up as though it has been offended. Well, it has, hasn't it?

Merlin stumbles back, raises his hands in a sign of surrender. "That was..." He looks back, but there's nothing to hide under, nothing to offer cover as the dragon rears its head back, ready to spit fire at him. "was... just, uh--" He can't think quick enough though, as talking his way out of it doesn't seem to work at all.

But magic is allowed here. He can be himself.

His hand raises up as the fire comes, his mouth opens and the words come out more confidently than they would back home: "Scildan!

The fire flies over his head, wrapping around the shield that covers him and protects him. A small smile forms on his lips as he feels proud of himself, but it isn't over yet. The dragon starts to run at him, making Merlin jump to the side, grimacing as his arm takes most of the impact on the floor. He's quick to get back on his feet with the safety of this place all to himself. The difference in his confidence is outstanding. He brings himself to stand tall again, staring the dragon eye to eye and yells out: "Astrice!" The dragon is thrown back, rolling away as it's stunned and it seems whatever test this was meant to give has finished for now.

◎ Is your character retaining any previous game memories? Nope!