Jarvela Tribe adopts

If this is still a thing, I'm just gonna... (since it's gonna take a while to get them up and running, I may add to their personality if I think of anything else)


Name: Samael Jarvela (I know it's not 100% Finnish, but I can change it if you'd rather I did)
Gender: Nonbinary (genderfluid)
Age: 2 years old (born in winter)
History: Born to a couple of nomads who happened upon each other by chance, by all appearances they little family was a miracle in the wastelands of the far northern tundras where not even snow would fall. With two other siblings in the middle of the worst winter the parents had ever encountered, it seemed like the loss of the entire litter was the only thing in the cards. The pair began to mourn the loss of their children, who had yet to even open their eyes to see the world. It came down to one of the hardest decisions a parent can ever have to make. Themselves, or their newborn pups.
They could always have another litter, but they couldn't guarantee surviving this storm. When the time came to cut their losses, as it were, an idea surfaced. They had two sets of jaws, to carry two pups. The obvious choice, the ones who were making the most noise, suckling the fiercest. These were the ones they took. The other, they left behind. It was nothing malicious, simply survival of the fittest. With tears in their eyes, sobs caught in their throats like brittle bird bones, they abandoned the lone child, who already had seemed to be angel touched as the old saying goes.
The storm approached fast, and so did the reindeer, fleeing it. They discovered a child, with pigmentation similar to that of their food source. However, when they nibbled on the pup, it wailed something awful. Neither mosses nor lichens were wont to screech like that. The wailing brought the attention of a hunter, a she wolf named Leena. It was a miracle that she happened upon the infant, who was mostly dead by now. The attention from the reindeer, coupled with the strange coat that was already beginning to mark the child, warranted a life with the tribe. Deciding to take a chance, as one might with the stray cat you just hit with your car, she picked the bundle of fluff up from the cold cavern floor. No one in the hunting party expected the child to survive, Leena included. However, it would be wrong to ignore the obvious omen.
They named the child Samael, a spin off of the Finnish word for moss.
The weak child didn't die in the night. Instead, thriving under the attention of the nursing mother who had taken on the burden of care. Over time, Samael grew strong. Leena took charge of the new arrival, teaching the pup of their culture and lifestyle. With the knowledge that this runt was nothing to scoff at, for now, it seemed worth the trouble to raise the child, despite not sharing blood. Alongside the strong broods of other parents, it didn't look like the pup would live longer than a year. Eventually, they would likely leave Samael in their wake to move on. The child was well aware of this, and strove to avoid that at all costs. Growing strong in a different way from the other children, and developing a wily kind of survival strategy, the runt found amidst a reindeer herd kept pace with the larger children.
It took a few months for Samael to begin having the dreams. Sometimes, they would tell of a future event. Samael told no one of this, not even Aunt Leena. The noaidi lifestyle wasn't a good fit. Too much responsibility, too many expectations. It would only tighten the noose of being different, further ostracising the runt who wore a lichen coat. Samael tried to keep interactions with sprites and faeries limited to locales where the rest of the tribe wouldn't see. It became easier with time.
Samael grew older, and the urge to leave the tribe grew as well. Many others had taken to the open road already. Aunty Leena was not pleased with the notion, uneasy with seeing the frail looking youth out in the wilderness where Samael would surely die. Granted, it would be no one's fault if the lichen furred wolf died, but Leena would want a proper burial for her surrogate child. Regardless, she parted with Samael on friendly terms, and wished the wolf well.

Appearance: Note: It'll take me a bit to get all the gems for this beaut' (lemme know if I'm out of line here)
32"- 95 lbs
Coat:A pelt of dulled greens drapes itself over an unusual frame. Standing out from the natural hues of the tribe are the pale, unnatural hues of a stranger's lineage. The strange pigments come from a prominent bloodline with no name. A pale base hue makes up the majority of Samael's coat, tinged with the barest traces of peridot. From forehead to shoulder blades, deep emerald paints over tall audits and a thick ruff, while marking the area underneath each eye. The same colours form a band over flanks and spine, climbing up lanky limbs, staining the backs of powerful thighs and bushy tail tip. A lighter hue of fern greens covers the area over cheeks and muzzle, stopping just above the cheekbones but below the dark eye markings. Then, the shade extends further around the neck and up the legs, and creating another long band in front of the first, while claiming more fur of the tail. Pale brow spots add character to an already expressive face. Eyes of a toxic green occasionally seem gentler in colour, when given the proper lighting.
Build A shrine to androgyny. Delicate, but not feminine. Many tend to leer, "Come here, pretty boy" they shout, "Hey, sweetheart" they jeer. Gifted with a lean frame with plenty of dense, wiry muscle that does nothing to lend an imposing air to the wolf. Slender of limb and without discernible hips or shoulders, it is hard to determine gender based on appearance. While the muscles of the shoulder are well defined, they are not necessarily those of a male. Built for the north, the wolf has paws meant for displacing weight across the snow. Thick fur softens the sharp angles of shoulder blades and hip bones, drawing attention to Samael's sleek body instead. A long torso with a deep, narrow chest that were meant for a runner. A strong jaw and tall audits perched atop a blocky skull further confuse the appearance. To round it all off, a thick furred tail sweeps across strong thighs. Thick lashes and a long muzzle are the most prominent features of the face, aside from the brilliantly coloured eyes.

Personality: Defensive: A lifetime of justifying their own existence means that Samael is quick to defend themself. No matter how the gesture was intended, Samael will take it to be an insult. Friendly banter is not something that comes easily to them. Their flaws are too raw, and when brought to light, it only serves to make Samael feel worthless. When threatened, the immediate reaction is aggression. Vitriol drips from the tongue, teeth are bared. Samael feels the need to prove their worth with vigour.
Friendly: A side to Samael that not many got to see, was the one that makes easy conversation and laughs with strangers. There is no reason that they can see to show any animosity towards others. Strangers are all they have now that they have left the tribe, and there is something to be said about a friendly conversation. Warmth exudes from every pore of the lichen pelted wolf, and an easy smile is often easy to find on their lips. Sitting with someone and having a nice talk, or joining in on someone's hunt is surprisingly easy for the wolf.
Flirtatious: Unfamiliar territory without a doubt, but Samael is a shameless flirt nonetheless. Over time, it has become easier to twist words in a manner that both compliments and attracts. Sometimes, it happens without noticing. Others, it is all too intentional. There isn't always a goal to Samael's flirting, sometimes it simply entertains the wolf. There are no exceptions to who will be on the receiving end of endless compliments and subtle allusions, which only adds intrigue to it all. For the most part, Samael is not all that physical with their flirtations, unless the other party is entirely comfortable with it. Crossing someone's boundaries and invading their personal space is one of the things Samael will not do without express permission.


RP Sample: Broad paws met the ground rather soundlessly, as the mossy wolf crept through the tall grass. This was a new environment, unfamiliar in comparison to the barren tundras of the north they were used to. There, the grass was short, stubby. It felt more like needles pushing through your flesh when you stepped on them. The grass was soft here, brushing against their flanks with the gentle caress of a lover. They rather liked it here, and enjoyed the way the sun warmed their back, heat sinking into their very bones. Why would anyone choose to live in the north, when this was an option?
After more walking, the answer became apparent. Harsh breaths escaped them, tongue lolling in a desperate attempt to vent the heat that threatened to overwhelm them. Time to find shade, and perhaps some water. Tall audits flicker to and fro, seeking the rush of flowing water. Nothing. A similar sound, only softer, is what becomes apparent. Following the direction of the sound, verdant optics find a strange tree. It is rounder at the top, with actual leaves on its branches. How odd! There was often a stray coniferous tree to be found in the north, but nothing such as this. Trotting towards it, Samael finds themself utterly baffled by the foliage. It's greener than they are! This tree speaks louder than the ones at home, the breeze in its leaves makes its voice louder, indecipherable language spilling into the hot air. Somewhere in a dream, a distant voice had told them of the language of the trees. Samael wondered if it was the truth, or simply nonsense from the dream realm. Hoc iam dudum ego vidi tam stupendo. The tree whispers into the air, but Samael doesn't understand it.