Ransom

(Original Character Description poster by Bepis (Ascended) on January 22, 2021)
Name: Ransom

Species: Unknown

Gender: Male

Age: 4 years

Backstory:

Ransom was a strange owl, and everyone knew it straight from hatching. His parents knew that he was too large for his age straight after birthing. He was naturally strong, opening his eyes two days early, and speaking even sooner. His parents, at first, thought nothing of it. They had no dreams that their son would be a warrior, but at least they knew that he could do that if he wanted to. They loved their son, if not a little put off by his quick aging. Soon after, as all owlets do, Ransom began growing his grey downey fluff. Once he was covered in down, his father decided that it would be time to begin educating his child. The son of a retired Ryb at the Great Tree, Ransom's father valued intelligence, and education. Ransom learned the basics of reading in a couple of weeks. He had begun writing in another. Among the other things his father taught him in his early months, Ransom also learned about history, philosophy, Other's Studies, and Mathematics. And

Ransom loved every minute of his learning. But, as the months went on, his parents knew something was wrong. Ransom was molting into his flight feathers, but not losing much down at all. And, all of the adult feathers he had grown were the same silvery grey. As he grew, They realized that Ransom didn't even look like their son. He was hardly recognizable as any particular species of owl.

This, combined with his growth, strength, and intelligence, cause his mother to believe that her egg had been possesed by the spirit of a hagsfiend. Fear slowly overcame her, and while Ransom was asleep, she broke both his wings, with which he had just learned how to fly, and pushed him out the tree. Ransom was trapped on the forest floor, with no way to escape. But he was smart, and found a way to protect himself from predators: Fire.

In anger, Ransom burned the tree his parents were in, killing both of them. The flames and heat scaring away all creatures near by. Here, near the ashes of his childhood home, Ransom created a Lean-to tent from stitched leather from his prey. As Ransom grew, he became more and more knowledgable of the owl world, and he grew disgusted by it. He could dissociate himself from owl-kind in his body that looked like no other owl, but he still felt trapped in his own species and mind. Because of this, he went on a pilgramage with the Order of Hoole, on which he discovered the Palace of mists.

In this grand library, Ransom discovered many philosophical books written by the others, including the philosophical teachings of Utilitarianism, and Stoicism, with which he formed a very self-condradictory personal view of the world: "Death is often avoidable, and unnecessary death is wrong. But, as I do not like owls, I don't need to feel any sadness for those who die. They never meant anything in the grand scheme of life."

After this, Ransom met the love of his life, Hrossa. Hrossa seemed to Ransom to be the exception to his own personal rules for the universe. She was a beautiful young Tyto who wanted to fight for the lifes of other owls, while Ransom was firmly neutral. Ransom and Hrossa fell in love, being mates for 2 months, before Hrossa was killed in the battle between the guardians and the owl of the sparks, acting as an outside help. After this, Ransom could practically feel his gizzard rip in two, becoming cold and completely dissociated with owl-kind. He fell more into his habits of acting like the others in an attempt to further distance himself, but he could never escape his own body.

Not that he hasn't tried.

Basic Info
Ransom is an owl of previously unknown species with grey fluffy feathers, and a cold personality, not allowing any owl to be close to him. He lives alone in the Spirit Woods in a lean-to tent that he fashioned from animal skin. Ransom is a loud flyer, so he typically hunts with pre-set rope traps, with rope made from vines and tree bark. Ransom also has a collection of knifes, created by an unnamed elf owl rogue smith that lives in Kuneer desert, and is known for making the most beautify and quality weapons, but charges a high price.

Ransom has been observed to interact with other characters with distain, often reaffirming that he doesn't care about his associates in any meaningful way, despite helping them when he can. Ransom often acts un-owl-like, in an attempt to distance himself more from his own species.

Due to an accelerated aging process, all of Ransom's feathers are grey, making him unidentifiable as any particular species owl, with the exception of Tytos, as he does not have a facial disk. It has since been confirmed that Ransom is a Burrowing Owl.

Trivia
- Ransom would likely be diagnosed as non-violent sociopathic, as he has no empathy for others, but will however, show sympathy for those who are experiencing the same, or similar struggles he has gone through.

- Ransom character alignment is Lawful Evil, as although he does not actively commit crimes, he has no problem with doing so, if it fits his own personal moral code, which is very strict and unorthodox.

- Due to his size, Ransom would likely be determined as a Burrowing owl, or a Snowy owl, however, he is, in fact, a Burrowing Owl.