February's Featured Character: Lazlo!

Me · by **Colombina** on February 1st, 2012, 6:01 am

PC of the Month: Lazlo

I am pleased to announce Lazlo as our featured PC. From day 1 he has been a great addition to the site. He is both a phenomenal writer and helpful guy. He puts a lot of thought into his posts and the cultivation of his character.

(FYI, Lazlo has lost his "s" on account of referring to Eth/Syms as "fallen angel drow vampires”. I knew there was something missing from the description in the writeup. We may consider giving it back in light of his nomination. For now, it is in sXalet's safekeeping.)

1. So why did you pick the Ethaefal/ Symenestra combo, what was the draw?

Let me think... To be honest with you? A big reason was that it allowed me to disguise my learning curve with creativity. As you put it before, Ethaefal are basically amnesiacs but without the actual amnesia cliche. It allowed me to learn about the world and the Symenestra (my supreme favorite from the race list) through Laszlo's eyes at an easier pace. I was new to Mizahar, and I hate being bad at anything or being uninformed, so if Laszlo had an excuse to be inept, so did I, and everyone would just think I was terribly clever.

After reading through all the races, I was particularly in love with Symenestra and Nuits. I almost made a Nuit actually, and even read through much of the Sahova lore and learned about Drainira and all that epicness. Yet I wanted the organic feel of the Symenestra, who like Nuits were largely apathetic toward the rest of the world, but unlike them were driven by this desperation to survive and preserve their kind. An Ethaefal was, SORT OF, a happy medium between that.

Like a Nuit, Laszlo is separate from everything, a being that shouldn't really exist at all, but like a Symenestra, he was fragile and capable of emotional vulnerability. Everything he felt, every opinion he had would have to be learned.

On top of that you have this supreme religious following of his goddess, Syna, being the only thing he has to cling onto. Over time, that could be what pulls him through, or it could drive him insane. I would have been happy with either outcome.

And of course, now that I've gotten more familiar with the Ethaefal as a race, with a little Symenestra mixed in, I've really grown to appreciate both as Laszlo's identity.

2. You have an interesting approach to your character and his life stages, could you explain them to us a little?

Laszlo is very young; he just turned two this Winter. In this short time, he's gone through like a miniature version of a childhood, from infancy, to his teenage years, to his early adulthood. His entire personality has evolved thanks to interactions in the game with other players.

Initially his life story was very vague to me. I knew only that he dropped into the Suvan Sea, washed up in Syliras, went to Kalinor (originally as a device to explain his knowing Symenos and Hypnotism), and wound up in Alvadas because certain players convinced me to go there. As the character evolved through writing, however, these became significant events in his life, and why wouldn't they be?

In Syliras, a fisherman named Fenwick took him in to stay with his family. At this point Laszlo is disillusioned, confused, and empty. He doesn't know what he's supposed to do except breathe, but he does feel grateful for the family's charity and spends a day or two working chores around their house. It relieves him to help them while it gives him time to think. He's so majestic in this period of his life, which was inspired by an anecdotal quote from the wiki about the Symenestra-Ethaefal sleeping in someone's barn. "I couldn't resist a traveler handsome as him." Forlorn and silent, as much a mystery to me, and himself, as he is to the Fenwicks.

Before he's even three days old, he accidentally injures fisherman's oldest daughter. The elder Fenwick tries to defend her, but in Laszlo's desperation he gouges out the man's eyes with his very strange claws. Life becomes hectic very quickly for him in Syliras, so the first chance he gets, he hops on this voyage across the sea to Kalea. He hires himself as a laborer onto a caravan headed to Kalinor, where the next chapter of his life unfolds.

Being in Kalinor allows Laszlo to begin understanding the mortal half of his existence as a Symenestra. He makes a very important friend, Duvalyon Hellebore, who seems familiar with this strange world and gives him a sense of guidance. An intellectual, but concise being, Laszlo can see the world through Duvalyon's mortal lens, developing morals and a sense of friendly affection and appreciation. Later that year, Laszlo is also reunited with his Web, and learns something of family. It gives him a chance to truly be a Symenestra, but he only ends up learning that as an Ethaefal, none of it means the same to him as it does for another Symenestra. He loves Syna, and being underground and away from her makes him feel stifled and perpetually uncomfortable. This puts some bitterness in him, and tames his naive curiosity for the world's denizens.

In Alvadas, he is experiencing the newest phase in his life: independence. He made new friends there, but unlike with Duvalyon, he didn't develop a sort of avuncular attachment to them. They were his peers, preoccupied with their own lives. They didn't help Laszlo get along the way Duvalyon had, so he had to find his own way. He's done well enough so far, developing a lovelife, opening a tavern, having social dilemmas.

There's no saying what he'll be like come next season. Maybe he'll start developing earthly ideals worth defending and fighting for, or maybe he'll become shrewd and cynical. Maybe he'll become a dad. ._.

3. What is Lazlo's theme song A. During the day and B. At night?

So for his day side, I couldn't think of a song in English that really conveys how kind and warm he is, while privately a little contemplative. I figured he deserved something in accoustic, so this is his day side theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjff7W4bU8c

For his night side, and to commemorate his promiscuous sex life and in particular Abalia's feelings for him, I picked this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18oYGsmUprM :3

4. What has been your favorite thread to date?

A Bad Mood

It's about Laszlo hypnotizing (YOU'RE. SO. HYPNOTIZING. get it) Seven, who's freaking out about nightmares he's having about this murder they both witnessed. Laz wants to calm him down, like he [theoretically] used to do for surrogates at the Place of Purging, but he ends up prying a little more than he should. I'm not sure I'd call it sweet whispers, but the power of the magic entices Laszlo to ask deeper questions about Seven's past. He learns then that Seven murdered his own father in a fugue, and even worse, seems to think Laszlo is his dad.

What I liked about it, well, it was dramatic. I think it was the first time Laszlo showed private interest in another person—and it terrified him. Laszlo's social skills are lacking, and he has almost no tact, so he sort of took information from Seven in a really thoughtless way. It helped him grow a little to discover why he needs to establish personal boundaries with people.

5. If you could give Lazlo a piece of advice, what would it be?

Lose the ego. It doesn't do you any good. You're as much a part of the world as everyone else. This is your life, for better or worse, and you should live it surrounded by people you love. If you keep belittling them in your mind and studying them like science projects, you're never going to be happy.

6. What are three things Lazlo really wants right now?

People who deeply care about him, a deeper understanding of his existence and why he fell to Mizahar, but mostly he just wants his "s" back.

That's four. This whole number limit never works out for me.

7. What do you like best about writing your character?

What I enjoy most about Laszlo is that he has so many moods. He can be warm and caring, or he can be cold and ruthless, depending on the time of day or season. It makes him really versatile, and very interesting. This is, in part, due to a large lack of identity on his part. He doesn't understand who he is, and so it's difficult for him to settle on a basic set of principles. This made him REALLY hard to write for, starting out, because I couldn't get a handle on him. Now that we've gotten acquainted, he talks to me a little better lately (boy do I sound crazy xD).

It's also largely attributed to the duality of his existence, part as Symenestra and part as an Ethaefal. When the sun is shining, he's in a better mood, and more in tune with his celestial identity. He is more patient at this time of day, and sometimes even compassionate. At night, he becomes more cynical, feeling a little closer to his time in Kalinor with the Orthilia Web. I'm a little fuzzy on exactly why he gets grumpier, but the part of his identity that used to be Vethis Orthilia, somewhere in the back of his mind, may be bitter that he died so young and abandoned his family. During this time, he's also more earthly and restless, and more prone to giving into passions.

Through all of it, he remains fairly self-centered and elitist, which makes it very difficult for him to make friend. xD But he's a smart boy, maybe he'll learn a little humility.

8. What do you think is in Lazlo's future?

I think he'll fall in love, but it may be a long time before he admits it. I'm almost positive he'll be back in Kalinor one day. I've also toyed with the idea of bringing him to Ravok with Seven and Victor, where he'll have to pose as a slave to get by. I think some time will go by in Alvadas and his life will start to settle down. And just when he gets a bearing on things, his mean old creator (me) will send him to some other city. Maybe Lhavit, though I don't know if he'll survive another trip through the Unforgiving.

Here's some questions in the spirit of the season (Valentine's).

9. Lazlo has to write some Valentines to those "special people" in his life, what would they say?

Dear Victor and Seven,
You are both my closest friends, but I'm fairly sure one or both of you will be the death of me. If that happens, please don't revel in it. Best wishes to you both.

Dear Abalia,
I care about you more than I thought I could for a human, and that must account for something. I think there's a lot I could learn from you about what it is to be mortal. Perhaps I really am full of myself. Ifran says to write, "be my Valentine," whatever that means.

Dear Duvalyon,
I value your friendship and guidance. If I had a father, I'd be honored if you were him. I hope you find someone special to you, and if we ever meet, please don't kill my girlfriend. Happy Valentine's.

Dear Ifran,
Please don't yank my horns so hard. You have no idea how uncomfortable it is. You've shown me just what it is for a man to have eight limbs, and how to make good use of them. Let us just agree that you are the better lover, and stop making our nights a competition. Lots of love.

Dear Siofra,
You are insane and I regret ever trying to help you, but at least you helped me learn how crazy I wasn't. Best of luck in the afterlife, love.

Dear Raelynn Fenwick,
Sorry I blinded your father, but I still think you are a lovely girl. Happy Valentine's.

10. Name three things Lazlo loves.

Syna, having his own bed, and sex. I tried not to be lewd, but that's the honest truth. He loves all these things.

11. If Mizahar had Valentine's, how would Lazlo be celebrating it?

I think he'd love to take Abalia sailing. He doesn't know how to sail, so he'd have to charter a boat and a sailor, but the open sea air would be crisp and refreshing in February--er, mid-Winter. >_> It's also something to do on a sunny day, and he feels best during the daytime.

Despite nearly drowning in the Suvan the day he fell, he really likes being close to the water. He likes the sea air, and there's something about that particular body of water that's just motherly to him. Kind of like us West Coasters and the Pacific Ocean. We love it, and we would miss it if we left. The Atlantic Ocean can't compare.