Roanoke

## Application Sheet

Roanoke was a lithe, brown-furred she-wolf with green eyes. She spent her time in the Domain in the pack of Damasca, but ultimately made the decision to leave the pack, encouraged to explore the world beyond by Nika and Novak's departure. She was created and RP'd by mongoosefangs.

## Personality

* ***Amicable and Adventurous.*** Amicable and easygoing, Roanoke exudes a steady warmth wherever she goes. Although she is quiet by nature she carries her own particular brand of charisma, a serene facade that belies a lively and dauntless spirit. She is not easily dissuaded or discouraged. Firmly walking her own road, Ro is always pushing the envelope and looking for new thrills on the horizon. One might almost think pack life would be too confining for her. Fortunately, the ragtag crew of Damasca suits her very well indeed- although she may not be much of a fighter and draws the line at spilling blood. She is nothing if not opportunistic and has spent enough time roughing it as a lone wolf to lose any hangups she might have had about stealing a bite to eat here and there.
* ***Resourceful and Headstrong.*** Small and unassuming though she may be, she seems to be able to worm her way into just about any social circle, making a stream of acquaintances from all walks of life. Imaginary boundaries mean little to Roanoke. She can be very direct in her interactions with others, expressing exactly what's on her mind- she's been known to hit on complete strangers with no regard for protocol. As the structure of pack life is still a relatively new thing for her, Ro may occasionally have trouble with following directions. It's not that she's defiant, per se, but ultimately she marches to the beat of her own drum. If she doesn't see the logic in an order, she may seek her own means to an end. In her experience the shortest or bluntest route is generally the best. Why overcomplicate things? Roanoke doesn't mind teamwork and is perfectly willing to pull her weight for the pack, but if she wanted to keep her head down and have her path laid out for her, she could have stayed at home.
* ***Hedonistic.*** Although she will boldly pursue whatever she wants, her goals are hardly ambitious. At her core Roanoke is a hedonist, driven primarily by her worldly needs and desires. Instant gratification is the name of the game. She'd much rather focus on the here and now than contemplate the deeper mysteries of the universe. If it feels good, do it: Ro intends to squeeze as much enjoyment out of life as she can. When it comes to bodily comforts she has a healthy appetite. Roanoke likes to flirt, and may even use seduction as a bargaining chip, but rarely does it ever lead to something more serious. She's loath to form lasting commitments in love or any other aspect of her life.
* ***Flighty and Indecisive.*** Flightiness and indecision plague her beneath the surface. Ro can never help but wonder if the grass is greener on the other side, and she's persistently torn about whether she should settle for what she has, or hedge her bets elsewhere. Roanoke is a dreamer and she's starting to realize that she likes the *idea* of a relationship better than the real thing more often than not. If there's one thing she can't stand it's clinginess or the prospect of being tied down forever. She may even find herself pulling away for no particular reason at all, as though nipping attachment in the bud, anticipating the inevitable change before the urge ever sets in.
* ***Unfulfilled.*** She doesn't mean to break hearts; nevertheless, she's quick to cut her losses and has left more than one jilted companion in her wake when the novelty wears off. She hasn't completely missed the idea that she should probably feel more guilty about being a fair-weather friend than she does. What bothers Ro even more is the recurring sense of unfulfillment, as though nothing is ever *enough* for her. No matter how content she may be in any given place or company, wanderlust rears its head sooner or later. She's always sure to have an exit strategy for when it does. Deep down, and more intensely than she will ever admit, Roanoke fears that she may never know what *true* happiness feels like. For now, at least, she's not going anywhere. Roanoke likes her new packmates and the ideology of Damasca. Their wild, free spirit speaks to her... and the alpha's not bad looking, either. She can often be found volunteering to scout ahead on raids, always ready for a new adventure. Perhaps pack life will finally fill the apparent void and give her the satisfaction she's been seeking. If not, well- it wouldn't be the first time. She'll burn that bridge when she gets to it.

## Pre-Group History

Roanoke originally hails from the unclaimed woodlands west of what is now Damasca territory, born to an extended group of parents, siblings, and other blood relatives. It was small for a pack- but large for a family. There was hardly a moment's peace in the crowded little den. Having to compete with four other littermates for food, space, and affection, Roanoke was neither a large nor especially dominant pup and she often found herself shunted to the sidelines in favor of her more boisterous brothers and sisters. These weren't unhappy times, as her family was loving and kind, but under the circumstances Ro often resorted to seeking her own amusement, becoming increasingly restless at home as she wondered what lay just over the next hill.

It came as no surprise, then, when she was all too ready to move out with the first handsome loner who flashed her a smile. Roanoke was young, eager, and had no worries. In the end her parents simply couldn't dissuade her. She was just shy of a year old when she left the family den on her lover's heels, padding away into the sunset together like something out of a fairytale. At the time she had no reason to believe that wouldn't be the case.

Eloping was fun at first. The young couple enjoyed each others' company, blazing new trails and living life on their own terms. To Ro it was an exhilarating change from the confines of home. She was happy, he was happy, they were free- nothing in the world could stop them! In another lifetime, she might have even been content to stay with her first lover to this day... it wasn't until he expressed a wish to start a family of their own that Roanoke began to have second thoughts. She could only think back to her parents' own crowded den, accosted on all sides by needy and demanding pups, shackled by obligation. There was so much more she wanted to experience. Motherhood was a commitment she would never be ready to make.

She gently declined, but her lover persisted, turning sullen and eventually sour when Ro refused to change her mind. The happiness drained from their relationship in a matter of weeks. In the end, he started courting another, and Roanoke was secretly relieved to shift the burden onto someone else. With his efforts focused elsewhere it was simple for her to walk away one night, telling him flatly but without malice that there was nothing in their partnership for her anymore and she would not be back.

Roanoke had no regrets. There was no joy he gave her that couldn't be found somewhere else. Determined not to go crawling back to the den of her youth, she was content to drift around as the seasons passed. She met other wolves here and there, dallied with them when it suited her, moved on when it did not, never settling down for very long. Above all she followed her own heart. Loner life taught her to be resourceful, resilient, and how to seize the day.

It was rarely an *easy* existence, however, and most recently lean hunting in the wake of the glacial flood pushed Roanoke southeast towards the desert in pursuit of a herd. As it turns out she wasn't the only one following those deer. In the middle of the chase she suddenly found herself side by side with the Hawkers of Damasca, and her cooperation in bringing down a nice fat buck earned her an audience with the Khasar and a trial membership in the horde. Just when solitude was starting to get grating for Ro, it seems as though she has found a pack that perfectly suits her needs. For now, she's looking forward to seeing where this new chapter in her life will take her.

## Group History

Roanoke was a relatively passive wolf in Damasca, sticking to the background of day-to-day life, not getting involved in the drama that surrounded the lives of several of her packmates. She was loyal to Vargas and the horde for the duration of her time there, but ultimately sought something more, and left on the heels of Nika and Novak, never to be seen again.

## Trivia

* Roanoke has a thing for dark-pelted wolves. She strongly prefers males, but she's... curious about other options.
* Don't ask her to babysit; she's awkward with pups at best.
* This isn't the first time Ro's attempted to join a pack. She's run with small loner bands in the past.
* Once she tried to seduce a guard at the Highvalley border but was promptly turned away.
* She's gone home to visit her family once in a while, she's not *completely* detached, but over the seasons they've stayed in contact less and less.

## Quotes

* *"I'll worry about that when I'm dead. For now, I'm going to live."* (in response to the question of whether she believes in higher powers, *Roanoke Moodboard + Interview*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* mongoosefangs's deviantART Gallery