Samwell

Sophie and Alexis (Sisters)

Samwell was a brown-and-russet-furred male wolf with gentle, topaz-colored eyes. He was born in Kausen, to parents Saba and Finnegan, alongside two sisters: Sophie and Alexis. At a young age, Samwell became a loner, and lived for a long time as a loner before eventually settling in Highvalley to be near a she-wolf he'd become smitten with: Gwyndolyn. After a long struggle to become a Keeper, and his unrequited love, Samwell decided to find his place outside of the Domain. Samwell was created and RP'd by Wildfire-Tama.

## Personality

* ***Trusting, but Wary.*** Samwell is very trusting, despite all the unpleasant experiences he has been through. It is very easy for him to be taken advantage of by a wolf who is a good liar. But initially, after his long time as a loner, he at least will resist trusting at first. But give Sam a comforting smile and a well-executed promise to be good and he will believe you. It is not that Sam is *dumb* per se, but he has never had the sharp mind of others in his family. He makes up for it with his good heart and the best of intentions.
* ***Hardworking and Sensitive.*** Things do not come to Samwell as easily as they do for others. “Talented” is not a word to describe him, for he is often clumsy and his mind can be slow to pick up new things. Sam can get frustrated and discouraged with this, after having worked so hard and only just barely being adequate while young wolves may soar in skills around him. He tries to cope with the fact that he will have to work harder to get the same things and he does just that, working tirelessly so he can keep up. Even if hopeless and beaten, Sam will always get up and keep trying. He often feels upset at his lack of talent and fears for his place in whatever pack he hopes to someday find. Hearing others criticize him or call him out on being stupid or inadequate affects Sam a lot. Samwell also has a sometimes competitive nature, which makes his lack of natural talent even more difficult to deal with. He is also sensitive to the moods of others, and is quick to pick up on of someone is upset. He likes to make up backstories for random wolves he meets, even if he will never say them out loud.
* ***Family-oriented and Devoted.*** Samwell has a lot of love in his heart. He considers his family as anyone who has his unconditional love, which means you do not have to be blood related for him to consider you part of his family. But of course, his blood family, the ones who raised him, hold the dearest place in his young heart, and he misses each one of them desperately still. When he loves someone it gives him courage. He is very quick to defend those he cares about against anyone speaking badly about them. He does not care to hear if there is another side to the story before he sides with his loved ones. They have his unwavering devotion. He is also quick to jump in if he believes someone he cares about is in danger.
* ***Playful and Clumsy.*** You wouldn't guess it by the shy aura he gives off initially, but playing brings out a pup-like joy in Samwell, who has loved it since he was a pup, even if he has not been able to enjoy it much since he became a loner. But he loves games and having fun. His favorite kind of game is play fighting. He has come a long way since the happy-go-lucky pup he once was, and he feels far away from the happiness he once felt with his family. But playing with Sam is the only way to bring out that more confident, outgoing, and fun-loving side of him that has long since been buried by his hardships. He is clumsy even in games, though, often tripping over himself or his playmate. And this translate to more serious matters as well. He is an average hunter at best, and only because of how long he had been forced to hunt or starve. Still, he lacks the talent and natural coordination of many wolves. It's often discouraging for him but he tries his best.
* ***Insecure and Nervous.*** As an adult Samwell has accepted his flaws and the fact he will have to work harder than everyone else, but still cannot help his insecurities. He wants to find a pack where he can be accepted and loved, where he can contribute to making the lives of other wolves better, but he is always anxious that no one will want him. He gets nervous and even timid around wolves of high authority, or wolves who remind him of his father who he respected greatly, and pretty girls. He is afraid that others will see him as he sees himself; inadequate.

## Pre-Group History

Samwell was one of three pups born to a pair of Kausen wolves, Finn and Saba. His more laid back personality was always overshadowed by the more prominent natures of his older and younger sisters, but he was often a breath of fresh air for his parents due to his obedience and sweet affection. The perfect son. Happy and talkative as a very young pup, Sam was quite gullible but quick to steal hearts since there seems not a negative bone in his body. As he grew, however, he realized that his mind was not as sharp as his sisters’ and his paws were clumsier than they should be. Undaunted, the puppy pushed on in an attempt to keep up with his companions. In the back of his mind, Samwell was deeply bothered by his struggling and feared for his place in the pack. But he journeys on as best he can with his head high, trying his best every day in hopes that it will soon pay off.

## Group History

Little Samwell quickly met some of his packmates, with a lot of admiration for his grown packmates. Amoux was immediately one such hero-worshipped wolf! Samwell attacked a badger that had gotten close to the den-site, and though he was injured, he was *so* proud, and raced to Finnegan to show him his new battle-scar - after all, now he was just like Amoux, a good guardian! Finn was upset (as any father would be) but told Samwell that he was proud of him regardless, and just didn't want his boy getting hurt. As much as Samwell loved his father, he was truly a mama's boy. He spent lots of time with his mother Saba, snuggling, talking about his aspirations to be a guardian, and so on.

When he became a juvenile, Samwell took his duties as a guardian-in-the-making (still not officially a rank) very seriously. He was near the border when a wolf from Chandor named Derevenski approached. Sam challenged the intruder, who remarked that the borders were unclear, and Sam agreed to make the borders clearer thenceforth.

The young male interacted with his other Kausen packmates and loners- he learned from Inanna, met Red Lightning, and escorted a new packmate, Alvaro, to the pack to speak to the alpha, Gregor. He and Alvaro would become good friends. He also met a few other loners, such as Rikki. He was quick to try defending the borders from the interloper, but Rikki assured him he was just walking by, searching for feverfew, and didn't intend to raid the pack. Sam offered to help him find the herb he was looking for.

One day, seemingly out of the blue, Gregor announced to the pack that he was going to lead them to Chandor, and merge the pack with Chandor. Those who wished not to join Chandor were free to find their own path. Originally, Samwell chose to go with the rest of Kausen to Chandor, but he was sad his two closest friends, Alvaro and Amoux, chose not to go. He realized without his closest friends he wouldn't be happy, and so he decided to go find them.

He didn't find them at first. Instead, he crossed paths with Derevenski again, who wished him luck and told him he'd be welcome to come back to Chandor if he had no luck finding Alvaro.

Samwell struggled as a loner, at first. He was prone to getting injuries, and struggled to catch prey and sate his hunger. Fortunately, most other loners were friendly, and offered him help. Inanna tended to his wounds, shocked at the news Kausen had disbanded. He was near Chandor when a flash flood swept through, and he managed to guide Nadia to safety, much to her gratitude.

He got better at being a loner, though. He was able to overcome trials like fires and floods, he met wolves from Aryn, like Echo and Lawson, and he even hunted with the alpha's daughter Teva! Samwell was a very friendly and familiar face. He was informed by Lawson that Amoux may have taken up residence in one of the northern packs, and was directed towards Vale.

Pack wolves were often willing to give the young loner survival lessons, like Valerian Brunhilda, who taught him to be brave, and Niels, who gave him fishing lessons. He traveled towards Havir, where he met Stein, who told him Amoux wasn't there. He suggested Samwell check Vale (Sam had *no idea* he'd been near Vale, and Brunhilda was a Valerian). He traveled back towards Vale, but his paws carried him to Vektren, where two loners attacked him, and a Vektreni, of all things, named Lykos, saved him!

He turned northward again and managed to reach Vale again, and, much to his delight, he found Amoux! They spent some time together, catching up, but Samwell wanted to find Alvaro, and since he wasn't here with Amoux, Samwell couldn't remain. He'd have to move on.

While traveling, he met another loner named Keeva, who was *super* nice! The two would become good friends with time. Keeva was on her way to Vale to see her sister, Savoy. A couple days would pass before Keeva found him again, distressed that her sister had changed since she'd last seen Savoy. Samwell didn't know *how* to comfort her, but thought Savoy must have changed because she wanted to *belong*, and it was how she'd *belong* in Vale.

While near Vale, Samwell met Keme, who informed him that Alvaro was in Fellfang, and they decided to travel there together. He crossed paths with Echo again along the way, but by the time he arrived in Fellfang...Alvaro was gone. Sam was devastated, and with no new leads, he began to wander as a loner once more.

Briefly, he returned to Chandor, where he and Nadia played in the water together, but he continued on, moseying between the various packs and territories. He met wolves like Adelphia, Aspen, and Shoshana, and reunited with Keeva again, of course! They were excellent friends! His journals took him towards the western territory of Heylguard, where Kestrel warned him not to drink from the potentially toxic streams.

He even made 'allies' in Vektren. Shirubafurea warned him he was close to the borders, and carefully escorted him around them to get where he wanted to go. Sam liked her quite a bit, and they had a nice chat before parting ways. Shortly after parting ways, he reunited with his sister, Alexis, for a brief time. The two spent quite a while together, Samwell offering comfort to her after the disappearance of her beloved Riley.

Eventually, they parted ways. Sam was alone again, for quite a while, continuing his lonesome journeys, and he stumbled upon a young she-wolf in grave peril: Rue. She'd been attacked by a pack for crossing its borders, and she was freezing and hungry. Samwell took her in and began to care for her, and before long, she was back on her feet. They decided to travel together for a little while, growing to be close friends, before Rue decided to join a band of loners led by a charismatic she-wolf named Shiloh.

Samwell, on the other hand, found himself compelled to join a pack. He was caught up in a stampede when a Highvalley she-wolf put herself in harm's way just to save him! The she-wolf's name was Gwyendolyn, and Samwell was *immediately* smitten with her. He learned she was a Highvallian, and after flitting around near the borders for a time, he eventually met Highvalley princess, Sveta.

He asked the permission of the princess to join the pack. Sveta asked him just what he could *offer* Highvalley, and Samwell told her, a bit sheepishly, that he'd managed to fend for himself as a loner *and* take care of others for stretches of time. Sveta decided he had potential, and brought him to her father, Rodwen, for further questioning.

Upon joining Highvalley, Samwell set his paws on the path of a Keeper - similar to the Kausen task of a Guardian. He would defend the borders. He would be strong and he would protect his new family. He wanted to prove himself, and found himself keeping an eye on Gwyndolyn as he trained. She was...*so pretty.*

He began growing acquainted with the various members of this new family, even the odd ones. He collected rocks with Aria! He also spent quite a bit of time with the healers, like Livia, who often treated his sore paws, muscles, and various injuries obtained during training. He trained with the other Keepers, worked his *tail* off to keep up, but he was, admittedly, clumsy, and at the bottom of the 'class' when it came to training. He improved, though, slowly, under the sharp eyes of Hayes, Rune, Alyan, Alpine, and Vladimir.

Samwell recognized Alpine almost immediately, of course, because he wore the same pelt as his sister...who Samwell had met, long ago. Samwell approached Alpine and told him of the similarity, and wondered if they were twins. Alpine was mortified to learn that Aspen was not happily married, but in the "clutches" of the supposedly evil Fellfang. He and his brother-in-arms, Ragnor, went off to find her, and 'rescue' her, but they wouldn't find her living in Fellfang anymore. Still, Samwell had delivered the information, and that was all he could do.

Rodwen wanted his Seekers to track down some of the missing Highvallians - in particular, Klaus and Robin. He wanted his son and heir back, and Thallo continuously pestered him to send Seekers after his daughter. He summoned his niece Gwyndolyn to search for Klaus, where his beloved late mate Fia (NPC) had last searched for their son. Gwyn wasn't to go alone, though, and Samwell was appointed as her escort and bodyguard. Samwell was delighted by this; Gwyn was less than thrilled.

Eventually, they encountered a loner who frequented the area named Ronelle, and she was *not* willing to share information with a sharp-tongued Gwyndolyn. Samwell's kindness, however, was able to earn them some information from her. She didn't know about Klaus, but she admitted that she'd traveled briefly with a young she-wolf named Robin, but admitted she could be anywhere by now. She also noted that Aryn was at war over the kidnapping of one of their youngsters, before departing.

After their searches turned up neither of their targets, Gwyn and Sam returned to Highvalley. Samwell introduced himself to newcomer Joseline, and introduced himself to Amalthea. Later, when Kestrel, now Heyl's alpha female, visited Highvalley, they exchanged key information. Kestrel told him that the pack of Heylguard had moved to its original territory, and taken its original name, of Heyl, and despite the horrible plague (the Curse of Pajackok) weakening them, the plague had left those lands. Furthermore, there had once been a Robin in the pack, but she had left when the plagues started. Sam told her that Aryn was in some kind of war, and that one of the wolves who'd left Heyl, Poppy, was actually part of Highvalley now! The two parted ways delighted at the news they'd received.

Samwell told Poppy that Kestrel had asked about her, and informed her that Heyl now knew of her location, which alarmed Poppy at first, but she accepted it, and Sam proposed they become friends.

Still, despite the good news, and the adventures he'd taken in Highvalley, he was still behind on training. He wanted to be *better*, and he approached Grand Master Maerac for one-on-one training. At first, he wasn't sure Maerac would accept, but the Grand Keeper was willing to teach him with a vigorous training regimen.

While training, he saw Keeva again, but they realized a rift had grown in their relationship. Keeva questioned why he joined such a harsh pack, and when he learned it was because of a lady he liked, who didn't like him in return, she turned away in sorrow, criticizing him for being a fool because he was blinded by love.

Though he lost Keeva's friendship, he gained new friends in Akela and Calumina, continued to hang out with Livia (and learn a little bit about herbs from her) and he even tried to give his beloved Gwyn a gift at the Highvalley Full Moon Social (no luck, she was with Sveta and Yuaei and he couldn't gather the courage).

Samwell needed to learn how to traverse the deep Highvalley snows, and Gwyn taught him how to do so. He grew stronger and navigated better, joining various patrols (with wolves like Aragon) and continuing to train under Maerac.

But...he wasn't happy. Gwyndolyn seemed like she'd never give him the time of day, and he thought a lot about Keeva's words...calling him a fool for loving someone who'd never love him back. After some contemplation, Samwell decided to leave Highvalley behind him.

He hasn't been seen in the Domain since.

## Quotes

* ”Dad, look! I protected Kausen! I chased a mean badger away from the den site. And look! My first battle scar!” (a proud puppy Sam to Finnegan, *Future Guardian*)
* ”I think one of the best things about being young, actually, is looking forward to growing up. The world is amazing, everything is new and exciting, the your whole life is there before you and the possibilities are endless.” (to Nadia on youth, *Flood and Friendship*)
* ”I… I don’t know. Wolves change… and sometimes, if they want to belong somewhere, they will change so that they do belong…every wolf wants to belong." (to Keeva, *Wolves Change*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
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