Jorann

Ehecatl (Half-Brother)

## Application Sheet

Jorann was a gray-brown male wolf with green eyes. He was born in the pack of Hintertomb alongside his brother, Ruadh. After the loss of his parents, Jorann and his brother were taken in as wards to their (unknowing) half-brother, Ehecatl. His story is just beginning. Jorann was created and RP'd by k-eilonwy.

## Personality

* ***Intelligent, with Gumption.*** If anything, Jorann prides himself in his intelligence. Thinking, questioning, planning, exploring is his expertise, and he doesn’t take anything at face value, no matter how heart-wrenching a story sounds. His mind has only an “on-button” and he can’t stop questioning until his thirst for knowledge and truth is satisfied. It plays a trick on him as he just can’t ignore certain things, keeping fixated on details - if ignorance breeds uncertainty then he will get to the bottom of the situation no matter the price. He is fastidious, calculating the outcome before acting. Yet he is quite adaptable and resourceful, able to blend in any environment through observing others’ moods and actions. He surely knows how to make the most of any situation.
* ***Empathetic and Passionate.*** No matter how cool and detached he wishes to be seen, Jorann is still a wolf who gives his all. He does nothing in halves, pouring his heart into everything he does. When it comes to family, the darkling values nothing more, even if he is terrible at showing affection: while he probably won’t smother his loved ones with hugs and cuddles in public, in private he is known for being quite a darling and a brutal protector. As aloof as he appears, Jorann can’t stand seeing someone in distress and will likely approach someone in pain to see if he can diminish it. And if he can’t, well, good luck trying to get away from him cause Jor won’t leave you alone from now on. His behaviour is largely based on close relationships with others so he can act quite cold to the outsiders and strangers at first - but when the ice is broken, his big heart knows no limits.
* ***Poetic, and Secretly Sentimental.*** Sappy feelings make Jorann roll his eyes; romantic stories make Jorann irritable; public displays of affection make Jorann groan. But he cannot live without them! He appreciates the beauty and mystique in the world around him, finding something precious in the plainest leaf, crooked twig or an old stump. There is something so unique in the way the world works, including the relationships the living creatures build with each other. He likes to be reminded that there is some good on this Earth, even at his lowest. The ground he walks on is old and ancient, and everything works in unique ways - so how can he *not* be enamoured by everything?
* ***Sulky and Disgruntled.*** That is to say, most of the time Jorann can get petty about small things. Someone has woken him before the sunrise? He’s gonna be grumpy about it. He didn’t get his favorite part of meat at the dinner? He’s gonna be grumpy about it. Someone has stepped on his paw? *He’s gonna be grumpy about it.* Living with such a (secretly) dramatic persona is hard, and Jorann sometimes gets grumpy with himself for being grumpy! He doesn’t always control it, it’s just that negativity and misfortune seems to follow him everywhere… He gets in all sorts of trouble from big to small, and it gets harder to consider the silver lining in such situations. He gets frustrated and discouraged easily, and it might take some time and affirmations to remind him of his own virtues.
* ***Introverted and Humble.*** Social interactions are *intimidating* and *draining*. Jorann would rather lay in soft grass somewhere in the forest glen by himself than engage in small talk or fake politeness. He bows to no one (ok, maybe to the Omen himself…) and views friendships/connections as something that should never be forced. Due to his private persona, Jorann is viewed as being impersonal and unapproachable, making friendly conversations only when it’s required of him or… for his own misty reasons. He hates boasting about the achievements of others (or his own), competition and social expectations make him really mad: he’s not the one to flaunt his share, especially not his personal feelings or opinions, unless a deep bond is shared between him and the other wolf. But even then it can be difficult to pry anything out of him!
* ***Temperamental and Headstrong.*** Jorann is pretty chill if left alone and unbothered. However rub him the wrong way and he is going to snap quickly, flaming up like a wildfire. He has a fierce temper, but worse it that you can never know what will trigger it - a careless word? A small joke? A simple misunderstanding? Once he gets emotional, anything may become the source of discord. Jorann’s rational font strips away, and he goes out of his way to prove he is right or that he is not a coward - and you better believe it the first time. While he’s not some bloodthirsty fearsome warrior, he won’t hesitate to bite and bark. He stubbornly cling to his idea of being in the right: and as a result, he can be a sore loser if proven wrong.
* ***Cynical, but Realistic.*** Jorann wants to believe in some sort of goodness in this world, the gracious nature of all wolves and best intentions - but he is not a fool. He holds a practical, downright cynical view on life and believes that most act according to their own needs and wishes. He doesn’t trust easily for this reason, and doubts even his loved ones in case of anything… He doesn’t mean harm, it’s just that reality is easier to accept than sugarcoat. The darkling can be forward and harsh in his speech, and doesn’t always understand that he is being too negative. It’s better to be prepared for the worst though.
* ***Envious and Greedy.*** While it's something that displeases him, Jorann is quite clingy and jealous with his friends and loved ones: “Why are they devoting so much time to that other fellow? Am I not worth their time anymore?” He doesn’t like being ignored when he wants the attention, easily becoming envious if another wolf gets more validation than him. Yes, he prefers to hide in the shadows far more, but… sometimes he wished he wasn’t so damn *sulky* and *boring* and *crude*, and maybe then he’d have more wolves cheering for him… As much as he tries not to let on to it, he is deeply envious of those more successful than he is - he is terribly insecure, in fact. So he holds onto things he calls his own, afraid of losing them.

## Pre-Group History

If one could choose one’s birth, Joran would change almost all of it. Born an unwanted child to a couple that didn't mean to stay together - the darkling had a rocky start indeed.

He was the oldest of the two pups born to Mearna, not a Hinterborn herself, at the edge of autumn and winter; his tender brother, Ruadh, following like a little shadow. In a sense both of them were their mother’s shadow, a reminder of the betrayal and hurt she had experienced, a reminder of tainted, unrequited love. A trivial tale, really. Just a used girl confusing passion for true romance, and now the fruits of such union were hers to tend to. Only she didn’t want to, neither did the elusive father.

Jorann and Ruadh didn’t even get to know his name at all, let alone see him; they only vaguely remembered hearing their mother bickering, violently, hysterically, with some male under cover of night. It was all the proof they needed to know that their “family” wasn’t like other, normal families of Hintertomb. They’ve heard whispers and speculations, the seemingly unanimous disapproval of the pack weighing down on the innocent pups. Besides their immediate family, not many were welcoming of the pups’ existence; Jorann could not understand as to *why*. Were they truly as broken and vile as the others saw them? Nothing more than *bastards* born to a former stray outside of Melding?

Regardless, the brothers had each other. For them, it was enough: if no one would love them for who they were, Jorann and Ruadh would grow strong on their own. Smarter, faster, *better*. They’ll show everyone just how great they were! Jorann clutched at the idea and would raise hell to prove that he wasn’t broken or worthless. *She* would see too.

Poor ashkin! How naive he truly was thinking he should deserve his mother’s love, that he should be worthy of it when she didn't care if the pups would die or survive another day. Ruadh had always been weak of health, and Jorann was the only one thoughtful of that fact. Early on he picked up an interest in herbal medicine, seeing it his responsibility as an older brother to care for what little there was of his family. He would protect his brother from anything the world threw at them, in place of the mother which largely ignored them. Trying to ignore her *mistake*.

Perhaps Fate had partly granted her wish as the *Southpoint Collapse* occurred. A natural accident or a Gods’ wrath, but it left the pack and its members scarred, physically and emotionally, and considerably lessened in number. Trapped in one of the caves, Jorann and Ruadh luckily were found by their kind packmate, young Ehecatl. The pups turned out to be the lucky survivors of the disaster where not everyone managed to survive… Including their mother, whose body was left buried under a landslide. And along with it - all of the old life. All the familiar misery now replaced with the fear of the unknown, the uncertain future laying ahead of the parentless pups.

Jorann found himself eerily numb with his mother’s demise: he did not love her, but no, he did not wish her *dead* either. Alas, whatever sadness the pup had almost felt was smothered by the harsh reality of the situation: they were alone, and his brother needed him to be strong and reliable as ever. Where one fire had died out and only ashes had remained, nothing could be rebuilt… So the pack picked up the last coals, making way to relocate.

Of course, the pups followed - they had nowhere to go and nothing else to do but keep close to their saviour, who promised to protect them. However, when the older wolf took this scattered little family under his wing, Jorann proved to be a tough one to crack: distrustful and dismissive of everyone who wasn’t Ruadh. Over the journey period he slowly began to realise the need to adapt to this newfound state… Especially with how patient Ehecatl had been with him. *Maybe blood didn’t mean that much after all?*

And like that, their journey led to the East, with their new home, - and a promise of new life, without the stains of a broken childhood - on the horizon. In the *Domain*.

## Trivia

* While he is still young, Jorann has a clear interest in the motives and true nature of the Hintertomb gods, the Great Ones. It’s yet unclear what kind of opinion he holds on the gods or the concept of god-like creatures, however.
* He really likes hiding in dens, burrows and tree barks and could nap there for hours.
* Despite his hot-headed and unstable temper, Jorann is repulsed by the thought of killing another wolf, unless in self-defense, but even in that case he'd be haunted by the consequences and paranoia.
* Jorann is an avid collector of *things:* twigs, leaves, petals, antlers, insects, everything he hoards is protected fiercely. He is pretty attached to his collection.
* Jorann likes climbing small trees and spending his time hanging on the branches: they provide good observation spots AND are good for pranking others by unexpectedly jumping at them!
* He’s a cool-kid type and presents himself in a very casual manner. However this doesn’t mean that he’s not just a huge *nerd* on the inside.
* Hates birds, thinks they're annoying little pests. Secretly dreams he could fly like them…

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* k-eilonwy's deviantART Gallery