User Name/Nick: Danielle
User DW: ddsapphire
E-mail/Plurk/Discord/PM to a character journal/alternate method of contact: ddsapphire
Other Characters Currently In-Game: N/A

Character Name: Kalim Al-Asim
Series: Twisted Wonderland
Age: 17
From When?: Vil's Overblot (Chapter 5, pre-battle)

Inmate Justification:

Kalim has a terrible impulse control problem. Although he’s a kind soul with a compassionate heart, his immense wealth and constant enablement has allowed him to constantly act on each and every whim that comes into his head no matter how impractical—or how much of an inconvenience for the ones around him. He doesn’t think about the consequences of his actions, often causing trouble for those around him. Working with a warden will help him slow down and consider the impact he has on those around him. What he desperately needs is a better perspective of the world outside of the luxurious bubble he’s lived in his whole life.

Arrival: He agreed to be here and graduate for a second chance at life!

Abilities/Powers:

Oasis Maker - Kalim's Unique Magic, an ability that is solely his and cannot be taught or learned by others from his world, allows him to create a vast amount of water (in the form of rain) by extending very little magical power. In canon, Kalim is shown fully filling the pool of a dry oasis as well as creating a river that spans the length of a desert. For any other magician, this would be an impossible feat--creating that much water through standard elemental magic would take far, far too much energy and drive one to exhaustion long before success. This water is neither particularly hot nor particularly cold: it's fresh, room-temperature water safe for immediate consumption. This ability of his has been touted by others both as "lame and useless" as well as "revolutionary and insanely marketable". After all, where it has little purpose in most established countries, it has the power to turn the lives around in places experiencing extreme levels of poverty or drought. The proposed nerf for Oasis Maker is that Kalim will only be able to generate roughly enough water to fill up a standard bathtub in a single use. That way, there's little chance for him to cause any physical damages to any part of the ship.

Elemental Magic - In Twisted Wonderland, the elements are divided into that of flora, fire, water, and cosmic. All Night Raven College students have proficiency in these four basic elements, though it's not uncommon to master one more easily than another. While the vast majority of students harnesses cosmic energy in the form of dark, Kalim is among one of three known students who harness cosmic energy in the form of light--perhaps a sign of his kind spirit. This magic, in all of the applicable elements, is generally displayed in their spontaneous creation versus manipulation of ones already existing. Kalim doesn't show any particularly out-of-the-ordinary aptitude for elemental magic over other types of magic and can't perform any particularly exceptional feats. Because these magics are shown as being used in offensive duels, Kalim's ability to perform this kind of magic would be fully nerfed.

Applied Magic - This category of magic refers to non-elemental spells, such as manipulating physical objects (Kalim, not being allowed to hold knives, is shown using magic to prepare vegetables for cooking), changing an object's colors, magically changing from one available outfit to another (students are able to switch from their standardized school uniforms to their dorm-specific uniform instantaneously), and other such spellwork that doesn't fall into the other categories listed in this section. Because this covers such a wide range of potential spells, but also keeping in mind Kalim's overall less-than-impressive magical ability, I'm proposing this kind of magic be mostly nerfed with exceptions made for such things as the minor examples listed above such as changing something's color.

Alchemy & Potions - The study of alchemy and potions (both poisonous and non-poisonous) is a required part of the Night Raven College curriculum. This entire ability, of course, completely depends on the materials that are available to work with, and ergo would typically be nerfed by default unless perhaps a player plot and mod permission allowed for non-lethal creations. That said, as well, Kalim is terrible in this subject, being required to take extra, remedial lessons to avoid failing the course outright. While this is something he could likely assist another magician in...well, don't expect him to get anything right. He doesn't know what he's doing, and is known to cause gigantic messes in his efforts to study.

Flight - The students at Night Raven College can't fly on their own, but rather are able to use magic to control enchanted (or otherwise magical) brooms. Kalim is much more skilled in this field than most of the others--as a talented and energetic dancer, he has good muscle strength and shows decent control over a broom. Just like most other things he does, however, his overexcitability can often work against him. Kalim also has a magical carpet that he often flies around campus in place of a broom. Carpets, unlike brooms, have the ability to fly on their own. His ability to control where and how it flies depends completely on how well he's paying attention. In flying both, he's been known to nearly get into accidents, knocking himself clean off and into a freefall due to his own carelessness. Kalim won't be able to fly without a relevant magical item and otherwise non-violent so I'd like this ability to avoid being nerfed. Maybe someday he can take someone on a magic carpet ride within the bounds of the Barge and show them a whole new world?

Animal Linguistics - Another mandatory field of study at Night Raven College, where students learn to communicate with animals by learning their dialect. There's nothing dangerous about this ability, as nothing that a magician says while in communication with any animal can compel them to act in a specific way. Rather, it's made very clear that animals in Twisted Wonderland will behave however they choose--and often refuse to work with a magician if they don't feel it's worth they're time. While the most important part of speaking with animals is to have a good understanding of dialect and behavior of any given animal, as well as being sure to speak clearly and directly, Kalim takes a very personal approach in the way that he works with animals. When asked, he states that the best way to communicate with animals is to use empathy...and his mixed results show about how well this works for him. He's pretty good at talking with and understanding animals, but handling them is a whole different matter. Sometimes they work with him, other times they do whatever they want. I would like Kalim to keep this ability as it is. He'll be able to have simple chats with the animals kept on The Barge, but won't be able to influence their behavior in any manner. The chickens will do as the chickens will do, with or without him.

Overblot - When an individual from Twisted Wonderland uses magic, it produces a negative substance called "blot", which fades with rest and proper nutrition. Magicians with a particularly high aptitude for magic have the ability to overblot if certain requirements are met: an excessive overuse of magical reserves often paired with an extreme stressor. Overblotting is a phenomenon that maxes out the magician's magical output at a deadly cost, creating a phantom of negative emotions that will sponge off of them until they die. Kalim has never overblotted himself and it's not known if he's technically strong enough to overblot...but it's a possibility that must be acknowledged. Overblotting would only happen if approved as a Player Plot and under circumstances where the lead up makes sense in game and has been likewise approved by the surrounding cast of Twisted Wonderland.

Inmate Information:

Kalim Al-Asim is the eldest child in the Asim family--one of the wealthiest and most well-respected families in all of the Scalding Sands. As such, he's the heir to a massive fortune, expansive estate, and all the power that comes along with it. With so many younger siblings he's incapable of naming an exact number, there are just as many people who see him as the only thing keeping them from a chance at that inheritance. His childhood was one of sheltered affluence, in part for very good reason: would-be kidnappers have attempted to use him for ransom, and even more troubling is the frequency in which he's been poisoned. Often growing sick after meals, it wasn't until Jamil--the son of a servant family his own age who he came inseparable from before he can even remember--took over as taste tester that his health improved. The trade off, of course, was Jamil's own well-being.

When a young Jamil fell into a coma following a taste of Kalim's curry, Kalim swore off ever eating curry again. The reality of his station really hit home when he nearly lost Jamil, and while Jamil still tastes his food to this day, he has never forgotten. In fact, he refuses to eat any food prepared by anyone other than Jamil himself. Unaware of any grudges their differences in station may have caused in Jamil and trusting him fully, this arrangement would make it incredibly unlikely that either boy would suffer from poisoning ever again. Beyond just himself and Jamil, Kalim also has a completely different outlook on these attempted murders.

To him, such dangers have always been a part of his life that he has no control over. He brings them up as if it's to be expected that he'd be a target. He also says, however, that he wants to stay alive at all costs, to be sure that no one could ever have the chance to regret taking his life--because such an action would come with a heavy price. No matter how terrifying his own reality becomes, Kalim always thinks of the well-being of others before his own.

The Asim family has historically been a non-magical one--with Kalim's mother being the only known magic user amongst the lot. When Jamil began to show his magical abilities at a young age--displaying clear talent and aptitude, Kalim thought it was so amazing that he tried to emulate him. Kalim would pretend that he was doing magic too, practicing and practicing until one day, he actually managed to control a small gust of wind. His family was so thrilled that no expense was spared in financing his magical education. His abilities were encouraged alongside his other private tutelage, and eventually Jamil would apply for the prestigious Night Raven College, leaving Kalim to continue learning from the closed in walls of his home.

Two months later, however, and an unheard of late invitation arrived. While Kalim is unaware of it himself, it's implied that his father paid Night Raven College's headmaster a hefty bribe to allow his son to enroll despite his lack of outstanding talent. What he couldn't have known was the events this decision would lead to--as Kalim's arrival at the school set Jamil, who had been looking forward to the time away from a life of servitude, down a bitter path of vengeance nearly leading to the death of them both--and likely many other students who happened to be in the way.

Kalim's lackluster abilities and poor study habits should have had him struggling his way through his education, but with Jamil by his side feeling beholden to lifting him up for the sake of his own family, Kalim always had a helping hand to keep him afloat. Jamil would tank his own grades to stay on par with Kalim, bend backwards to prepare him extravagant meals between his own classes and homework and club work, spend gross amounts of energies catering to his whims just because Kalim didn't consider the burden he was causing. At the end of their first year, Kalim was nominated to be the Housewarden of Scarabia regardless of all Jamil's talent and hard work. Once again, Kalim was above him. With each new stressor, the rift Kalim was blind to was growing between them. Though he continued to view them both close friends, Jamil was forming a plan to get him expelled.

During the winter holiday of their second year, Jamil puts his plan into action. Hypnotizing him using his own Unique Magic, Jamil turns Kalim into a tyrant. He spends large amounts of time blacked out, only to be told that he'd treated his dorm's students cruelly--forcing them to stay voluntarily behind for a study-related boot camp instead of visiting their families for the holiday. Each time he's made aware of the damage and tries to reverse it, Jamil would put him under again. Underneath it all, Kalim knows exactly what's going on but refuses to believe it...because Jamil's his best friend. Jamil would never do something like that to him. Jamil would never betray him.

And that's when, his plan foiled by meddling outsiders, Jamil tells Kalim point blank how it is: that he hates him. That Kalim has made his life miserable. All the terrible, awful qualities about his personality that have ruined his time at school. That because of Kalim, he always had to hold himself back. The admission shakes him to his core--not all at once, but gradually. When Jamil overblots from the stress of the encounter, Kalim's concern is simply for his friend's health. Surviving that, there's so much damage control to be done. Despite all the vitriol Jamil throws his way, Kalim insists that they're friends, and as friends and equals he doesn't want Jamil to ever hold himself back.

From there, Jamil begins to shine even as he continues to look after Kalim. Not long after the incident, auditions are posted to participate in the yearly Song and Dance Competition and the two both try out and make the team. For Kalim, all things are fun and games until, for the very first time, Jamil rises above him as a main singer in the group's performance. Kalim is relegated to the background, and after congratulating Jamil and proclaiming his happiness for him...begins to realize that something is bothering him.

He reflects upon all that he's learned about Jamil, about how poorly he misunderstood their relationship. If Jamil had been letting Kalim win all this time--from board games to course grades, who else was giving him praises and rewards that weren't earned? The more he sat with this thought, the more he realized that he had no way of knowing how many of his accomplishments were ever real. As far as he could tell, his whole perception of himself and the way anyone felt about him had all been fabricated. The magnitude of his sheltering was visible to him for the very first time...and he didn't like it.

In typical Kalim fashion, of course, he refused to let himself wallow in these feelings. For all the discomfort they cause him, for how shaken and full of self-doubt that he feels, he ultimately always comes back to the same realization: if he works hard and puts his best foot forward, he can make a positive change. Before, he thought that he was talented because everyone around him made him feel that way, so he never challenged himself. But now he can work hard in earnest. Maybe he isn't a natural talent, and maybe he'll never be as smart and as strong as Jamil, but it's a goal that he'll keep trying for. This bright determination keeps him going forward no matter how much he struggles. When he falls off the magic carpet, he picks himself up and climbs back on again, no matter what.

At least, until the day of the competition. When Vil Schoenheit, the Pomefiore Housewarden and leader of their performance (and notable poison-maker) begins to act strangely, Kalim is reminded of the behavior that led to Jamil's overblot. Hurrying after him, Kalim arrives just in time to save another student, Rook Hunt (Vil's Vice-Housewarden and another member of the team) from drinking poison. As everyone present watches the poison bubble and hiss on the floor, Vil overblots, and the group of students succumb to a poisonous miasma that floods the area.

Path to Redemption:

Fortunately for whichever warden receives Kalim as an assignment, he already has an idea of what it is he needs to do to change himself for the better. Not long before his untimely demise, he had a bit of an epiphany: that his view of the world around him, as well as his place in it, is completely skewed. He hadn't realized that due to his status as the heir to an extremely notable family, everything had been handed to him his whole life without any regard to his own merit. For better or worse, Kalim has finally begun to understand that he's been living in a bubble, and that when he's standing on his own two feet there's nothing particularly worthy about him.

Right now, he's only just begun to try and be his own person without his family name's weight. Kalim wants to be someone that others can depend on. He wants to be someone who can rise to any challenge on his own merit. He was born with a future of leadership in mind, and has even earned a leadership role in school--but in both regards, he's done a poor job in handling responsibility. To graduate, he'd need to widen his perspective, become truly mindful of others in a way that doesn't pass the burden of responsibility on to others, and show that he has the competence to take charge.

Finding himself on the Barge is something that Kalim will embrace as naturally as if he's been sent on a surprise vacation. Due to his easygoing nature and willingness to go with the flow, he'll quickly past his feelings of horror at being dead and instead focus on getting back home. He'll take it so well, in fact, that it may seem suspiciously like a coping mechanism. Perhaps it is, though he won't be altogether conscious of it. Kalim's always dealt with the traumatic aspects of his life with a baffling level of optimism. As such, anyone wardening him will be treated as a friend. He'll hang onto their every word...though maybe be altogether a little too casual, to the point where it might seem like he isn't taking their responsibility over him all that seriously. Any slights are unintentional--he wants to be a good inmate and learn and not cause any trouble. Being helpful is all he has in mind, it's just his absurdly gung-ho attitude and general airheadedness that trip him up.

Training Kalim is like training a dog. He responds very well to consistent reinforcement and patience. He's also very food motivated! The excitable boy tends to get carried away with himself and lose focus when he gets a fun idea in his head, and often only manages to reign himself in when he remembers that he's been previously reprimanded. Basically, treat him like you would a child: he's lived such a sheltered and privileged life that he may as well be one. Trying to let him figure things out and learn from his mistakes is a great way to get frustrated, as Kalim will likely remain blissfully unaware of where and why he's struggling to learn. Keeping a hands-on approach is for the best, especially as he has a high propensity for accidentally launching himself into trouble and causing more problems in his attempts to solve them.

That said, though, his heart is in the right place. He does want to change, but lacks the perspective to do so on his own. Kalim has made baby steps in the right direction, but it's easy for him to veer off course and backslide due to a lifetime of having his every whim enabled--sheltered to the reality that others face. A great way to help keep him focused is to remind him of the people close to him, what his affluent position means for them and how he can make them happy through change.

History: here

Sample Network Entry: voice test meme toplevel

Sample RP: voice test meme toplevel

Special Notes: I can think of nothing! This is all there is!