Gabriel

Charlotte and Elisabet (Sisters)

Nikolai (Brother)

Tilika and Nadina (Aunts)

Saurugol (Uncle)

## Application Sheet

Gabriel was a large, brown-furred male wolf with orange eyes. Born in Vale as the eldest son and heir apparent to Astir Faust and Elska Ira, his siblings were Nikolai, Charlotte, and Elisabet. He had every hope and expectation of becoming the alpha when his parents retired - but his parents decided to pass him over and give leadership of the pack to Loki instead of him, due to his age. Thus, Gabriel ran away from home to join Vargas in Damasca as a Hawker. There, he tended another runaway royal - Nike of Highvalley - before he left the band and returned to his home, only to discover that the pack had departed. Nyru pointed him in the right direction to find Faust and Ira, and reunite with them, and he hasn't been seen since. He was created and RP'd by Quaylak.

## Personality

* ***Rebellious:*** As a pup, "no" meant very little to Gabriel. His curiosity towards the world often overpowered his ability to obey the rules and orders of his superiors; including his parents. This lead to a lot of his decisions as a young adult. He now actively avoids being anything like his father as a result.
* ***Selfish*:** He spent his youth focused on what others wanted for him, but those days are over. As a young adult, he refuses to live for anyone but himself. He does what he wants, when he wants, and few can stand in his way now that he knows what that sort of freedom and independence tastes like.
* ***Charming/Smooth***: As he's grown older, he has learned the art of sweet-talking his way out of tense scenarios; or at least negotiating his survival. If that fails, he has his strength and what little Sentinel training he still remembers to defend himself and live to steal another day.
* ***Cowardly***: A strong word to describe the prince, but one most may believe accurately describes him when it comes to saving his own hide. Gabriel isn't interested in dying over his loot and values his survival much more. In fact, he has high hopes he'll live to a ripe old age, so if turning tail and running away keeps his personal life boat on course, that's what he'll do. The wolves of Vale may also view his abandonment of the pack as an act of cowardice -- and they may be right to some degree, though he would never admit it.
* ***Charismatic:*** His ability to lead and organize others developed gradually through his adolescence and through various good/bad scenarios he encounters as a result of his arrogance, intelligence, etc. Overall, he is a natural leader, though he often opts out and avoid situations where that fact would ever be revealed. He wants no one to know that the ability to lead is in his blood.
* ***Reckless/Fearless:*** No matter the challenge, he will find a way to tackle it. This has proven to be quite useful in the art of thievery, as finding ways to steal what others believe cannot be stolen is a uniquely stimulating challenge he gladly accepts.
* ***Possessive/Protective:*** He is very protective over those he cares about, be them friends or family. It is one of the few remaining traits of his old self he refused to shed.
* ***Intelligent/Calculating:*** Extremely smart and capable, Gabriel's mind is like a sponge. He loves to learn from those around him. He has also become quite the problem solver and strategist.
* ***Humorous/Playful:*** He has a sassy, sometimes "smart ass" sense of humor that gets him in trouble with strangers. He loves to laugh and play (even as an adult) and be in the company of his friends or family.
* ***Guarded***: Like most, he has his secrets. His past is one he works hard to not only forget, but also keep hidden from his peers. He rarely opens up about himself to anyone and finds ways to change the subject if necessary.

UPDATE: Gabriel contains all the right ingredients of a natural leader, he's just always had trouble putting them together into one successful recipe. He has a heart of gold, loves his family, but has proven to be more reckless and, in some ways, selfish, than anyone expected -- himself included. It could have been his desire to prove himself that led him down a more criminal path, but after leaving Vale when he was turned down for the role of Alpha in Faust's stead, Gabriel has discovered a survivalist side of himself he was not aware of when he lived within the safety of his family's home. The ability to be cunning, charming, and swift-tongued has proven beneficial.

## Pre-Group History

Eldest son of Faust and Ira, the (former) alphas of Vale, Gabriel and his littermates were born at the tail end of a year-long war to return their pack to its former glory. Hearing only stories of the Dark Ages, the pups had no real-world experience in regards to starvation, torture, and death. They were born into a new, more cautious and sheltered Vale and would learn over time that the outside world was not to be trusted.

## Group History

Gabriel was raised to believe that one day, the responsibilities of his father would fall to him and he would become Vale's next Astir. His young mind devoured the idea of growing up to be as powerful and strong as his father and put into a position to protect and serve Vale to the best of his ability. He would prove himself to his parents, his siblings, and his packmates.

But when Faust's health began to affect his ability to lead, his opportunity never came, and the crown was passed to a wolf beyond their bloodline - Loki. His mother and father tried to explain their reasoning, but he would hear none of it. They claimed he was still too young to lead; that he wasn't ready to bear the burdens of the pack. All he could hear was that they didn't trust or believe in him. In Gabriel's mind, it was *Loki* who should have been the one to support *his* rule, not the other way around. All of his teachings and training, all the time he missed being a pup and enjoying his childhood - wasted. He felt betrayed and angry and left Vale shortly after Loki was crowned. He had no intention of staying within the pack, surrounded by wolves who believed him to be the rightful heir. How could he walk among them knowing that they all likely wondered why he was not their leader in Faust's absence? Sure, his parents likely explained their choice. But where he once took pride in the title of "Faust's son and the eldest prince of Vale," he now felt forever burdened with it; as if he would have to spend the rest of his life explaining *why* he was not chosen to carry the crown. It was embarrassing and he couldn't bear the weight of it.

So he ran away.

Life outside of Vale seemed liberating and fun at first. He traveled farther than ever before and was relieved when he was surrounded by the unfamiliar. But reality set in quickly, and before long, he found himself without food, shelter, or the protection of the Sentinels he had come to rely on in Vale. With little experience as a hunter, he learned quickly that it was easier to find a stealthy way to steal his meals rather than fight for it. Rather than learn to be a better warrior, he learned to be a better thief. Without the pack's medics, thievery also proved a beneficial way to avoid unnecessary injury when possible. With time and practice, he found he had quite a knack for his new occupation.

His skills allowed him to remain alive, but not to thrive. It took a chance encounter with a wolf he *thought* would be an easy target, but learned the hard way that was not at all the case. Vargas had caught a fair-sized meal, which Gabriel was able to successfully steal with one of his diversion tactics that lured the true hunter away. Prize in paw, he fled the scene and made his way back to his makeshift den - only to find Vargas there and waiting for him. Instead of bringing anger and a fight to the younger male, Vargas instead complimented his skills in thievery and admitted he had been setting a trap for him in an effort to catch him. Little did he know, Gabriel had started building a bit of a reputation around the area, which attracted Vargas' attention while he was passing through.

He had expected scorn and punishment for his actions as a result of his conditioning within Vale and the expectation that he always behave perfectly. But instead, Vargas commended him and offered him something he could not refuse - an *opportunity*. Ever since, Gabriel finally found a way to thrive under the rogue's guidance. He learned everything he could from him in an effort to prove to not only Vargas, but to himself, that he was capable of greatness; even if the path he chose turned out to be darker than expected.

From beloved prince to thievish rogue, Gabriel's adventure had only just begun. He assisted Vargas in liberating Stormhaven and founding Damasca, a pack he now calls home. The successful use of his strategic abilities and infiltration techniques to help free the slaves and wolves of Vargas's past gave him a confidence boost like never before. He couldn't help but hope that his future would be bright in Damasca.

Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't. He definitely found himself a place amongst the ruffians, and enjoyed the freedom from his princely responsibilities as a younger wolf. He never took on a rank higher than that of a Delta Hawker, preferring fewer responsibilities to more. However, he had another responsibility outside of the pack that he needed to tend to: Nike.

Gabriel knew her as Lark. He found her when the Highvalley flood swept her away from her homeland in the mountains, and deposited her near Damasca. Her ribs were broken, and she couldn't return home. Gabriel pressed for details, and she took on the alias of Lark and told him she was a lowblood, fleeing an arranged marriage she didn't want (which wasn't a *complete* lie).

Gabriel hunted for his new charge and helped her to heal, though the pair seemed to do nothing but argue. Gabriel eventually told her to get lost and go back home, since she was recovered - but Nike, against his *adamant* wishes, chose to remain in Damasca and become a thief like Gabriel. He was more than disgruntled by this, but couldn't stop her, no matter what he told her.

Gabriel felt listless in the pack. He missed his family dearly, especially his father, even though he still bore some resentment over their choice to pass him over for the title of Astir.

When Vargas first called for them to leave the territory, Gabriel knew it was time.

Damasca had become his second home. He learned skills he would never forget from wolves that would always be in his heart. But he needed to go home. His *true* home.

It had been in the back of his mind for several months now - a nagging he could not explain that picked at him daily. He missed his family. He missed his friends. He missed Vale and the beauty of her lands. As Damasca became more and more barren, his paws ached for the touch of cool mountain stone from the base of Sollunta Summit. As the air became more arid, he craved the crisp, fresh winds of Ellon Moors. And as the heat became more unbearable, he yearned for the shade of the mighty trees nestled within the Hall of Giants.

After saying goodbye to his comrades and thanking Vargas for all he had done for him, Gabriel left early one morning and headed East. The journey took several days, but it hardly felt like much effort at all. His heart was filled with exhilaration and excitement at the idea of seeing everyone again, though in his quiet moments, he worried about whether or not Loki would allow him back.

When he arrived, however, all he discovered was Nyru.

Nyru told him what had happened, and told him which way his parents had gone, and which way the pack had gone. Gabriel said a tearful and affectionate goodbye to the white she-wolf before setting his paws on the path to his parents, *knowing* that they would be reunited. And with that, Gabriel left the Domain.

## Trivia

* Gabriel never told Vargas of his past or that he was ever a prince of Vale. Instead, he claimed to be just a runaway.
* Despite his age and experiences thus far in life, Gabriel is still fairly immature on many levels. He has a bit of a temper at times if he doesn't get his way, makes inappropriate jokes, and overall doesn't always "act his age." Without the scorning eye of his mother parents on him at all times, he is now taking advantage of this opportunity to "misbehave" and be, more or less, a delinquent to society.
* While he was initially training to become a Sentinel/warrior in Vale, those days are now over. Gabriel is a hunter of Damasca and uses his skills in thievery to provide for the pack. He would rather run than fight, as a dead wolf does the pack no service.
* He has worked hard to leave his former life behind, but finds that his mind often wanders to thoughts of Vale and his family. Despite his resentment toward his parents and Loki, he can't help but miss his siblings when he finds himself alone.
* His relationship with his sister Charlotte was strained as pups (as he helped Elisabet bother her endlessly as kids) but as he matured and had to take on more princely duties, things between him and his dark-furred sister improved.

## Quotes

* *"So you think I am not old enough to take on the role you raised me to believe was mine and mine alone? Is this not what you've trained me for all this time? Prepared me for? I trusted you. Believed you. And you filled my head with false hopes and lies. Fine then. I too will leave this place and all the dreams and aspirations you led me to believe in. I will follow my own path until I find my true purpose and place in this world. I will leave you all behind."* (his thoughts on being passed over for the title of Astir, *You Let Me Down*)
* "And that's where you'd be wrong, m'lady. *Everyone* is someone, even us ‘lowbloods.’ I would imagine you're not no one to someone, right?" (to Nike upon her rescue, *What The Current Brought*)
* "Even when down is the only way to go, Damascans do it with style and strength!" (after a raid, *Among Thieves*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* Quaylak's deviantART Gallery