Post by Callum Montana Roderick on Jul 6, 2013 3:22:31 GMT
Oh hey there, folks. If it's not too much trouble, I'm looking for a few Canucks to fill out the ranks of the Casswell clan. The Casswells are a powerful and well-respected sorcerer clan based in Alberta, Canada. They were very active during the war, and are known for not being afraid to get their hands dirty and their ability to work through rough conditions.
As with many pureblood families, centuries of intermittent inbreeding and strict tough-or-die wartime attitudes produced more than a couple nutjobs, including Callum's mother, Nancy. Her family was upset when she was knocked up by a half-blood, but her ruthless nature and wartime know-how kept her in their good graces. She raised their only son in the backwoods with the sole intent of turning him into the perfect soldier. In her family, this was seen as good parenting.
After Nancy died, Callum went to live with her brother, Wade, and his family. Wade was not quite so ruthless and insane as Nancy, but he and his wife still focused on strict rule enforcement, survival skills, and preparing the children for war. Callum fought alongside three of his cousins before he was sent to the UK to fight, but he was fairly close to all five.
I'm not expecting all of them to magically show up at Northvale, but since this is the place to be for magical folk, I think it would be fun to bring at least a few in! Who knows, maybe it'll turn into a family reunion. PBs are totally just suggestions. I would ask that I get to take a peek at the application before you posted it, just to make sure we're on the same page with the character. Take a look and fall madly in love with one please!
Here's this branch of the Casswell family as I imagine it.
Wade Casswell
PB: Alec Baldwin
Age: 59
Wade is the second child of the current Casswell elders, born after Nancy. He has two younger siblings, and (since Nancy was crazy) had to be the strong, firm leader of their family. He was arranged to marry his wife, Peggy, at 25. The two get along very well, though their relationship is based on mutual respect and dedication to their family more than actual love for one another.
He fought in the wars as a young man, but cashed out fairly early to help his wife with the children. After that, he worked from home as an officer and adviser for the North American Sorcerers' Army, gaining a reputation as an expert strategist.
Wade put a lot of pressure on his children to succeed, and was sometimes obsessive about making sure they carried on the family's legacy of success. When it really came down to it, though, he understood that his children were just that - children - and they needed love and support in order to succeed.
Peggy Casswell
PB: Rene Russo
Age: 56
Peggy was raised in Montana in a smaller, less influential branch of the Casswell family. She and her arranged husband, Wade, are third cousins. She was defiant as a young woman and often got in trouble for defying the orders of her superiors in battle - usually because she was sure she knew best. When she was 22, her parents married her to Wade because he was known for his strong will and authority. They had hoped he would make her more compliant.
What actually happened was that she became the only person that could tell him what to do. Wade recognized fairly quickly that Peggy was an astute young woman who, once you actually listened to her ideas, was actually rather brilliant. Though she spent most of her time wrangling her children and orphaned nephew, she controlled a lot of Wade's military decisions from behind the scenes.
In raising her children, Peggy did not tolerate any nonsense, and was quick to dole out a spanking if the kids were being reckless or needlessly insolent. At the same time, though, she recalled her own frustrations at being ignored, so she was very good at listening to what they had to say and ensuring she understood the reasons for their actions.
Cole Casswell
PB: James McAvoy
Age: 32
The oldest child of Wade and Peggy, Cole was put under intense pressure to succeed from a very young age. He became a talented sorcerer and warrior on the outside but also a bit of a nervous wreck under the surface. His siblings knew better than to provoke him, because he was likely to snap at them if he was in a bad mood. His youngest brother, Tanner, was the only one he let his guard down around because Cole talked about his problems to him when Tanner was just a baby too young to understand. He vented a lot of his anxiety and fears onto Tanner, but in return he spoiled the kid rotten every chance he got.
He had already left for war by the time Callum came to live with his family, but they grew close while fighting side-by-side for four years. It was also during battle that he finally managed to form real emotional bonds with his other siblings. Nonetheless, by the time the war was over, stress and violence had taken a pretty hefty toll on Cole, leaving him emotionally fragile and prone to flashbacks and violent outbursts. He still sees himself as Tanner's protector, but if those roles hadn't been reversed from the start, they certainly are now.
Joel Casswell
PB: Garrett Hedlund
Age: 29
When they were kids, if one of the Casswell children was in trouble, it was usually Joel. He liked to push boundaries and question authority. He, Holly, and Cal were very close as teenagers, often deciding that they were in need of a "mental health day" so they didn't turn out like Cole. This usually entailed transfiguring some fake IDs and driving to the city to go to strip clubs or bars. Because he was the oldest and (they were pretty sure) his mother's favorite, he always took responsibility when they got caught.
Peggy has a soft spot for Joel, because he very much takes after her. Even though she spent a good amount of his childhood punishing him, she also spent more time with him than any of the others. He's too smart for his own good and incapable of taking orders without knowing why. This wasn't a huge problem for him during the war because he was under Cole's command, and they understood one another fairly well. He became very talented with protective wards and booby-trapping curses, so he became an important figure in security for the sorcerers' camps.
Holly Casswell
PB: Nicki Aycox
Age: 27
Holly, with two older brothers, had a lot to prove from a very early age. She can spit, drink, and fight with the guys, and she often does. She and Joel were always best friends, then Callum as well when he moved in with them. Her parents made half-hearted efforts at making her more lady-like, but were actually pleased that she would be well-prepared for battle.
Indeed, Holly turned out a brutal warrior, often considered by her commanders as their "ace up the sleeve". She wasn't afraid to live in difficult conditions, so she would often live for weeks in treetops and caves while she staked out enemy encampments. She lost her stomach for the war, though, after finding her younger brother mauled by a werewolf. She was a strong advocate for the peace treaty.
Tanner Casswell
PB: Shawn Ashmore (or Aaron Ashmore - who can tell the difference?)
Age: 24
Tanner was first and foremost "Cole's brother." From the time he was a baby, he had been his oldest brother's emotional crutch, and taking on that role left him more empathetic and intuitive than most sorcerers. He was also treated a lot better than his older siblings because of Cole's pampering. As the second to youngest child, he was often lost in the mix for his actual parents, but Cole was always there to fill the role of a father.
By the time Tanner entered the war, his older siblings were well beyond basic soldier, front-line duty, so he was more or less on his own. He saw them on occasion, but never really got to work with them. During a raid on a werewolf camp, Tanner was caught and mauled by one of the wolves. His sister, who had been leading reconnaissance on the area, found him and carried him to safety. He survived, but he was turned into a werewolf. There was controversy in his family, some saying he should do the "honorable" thing and end his own life. His immediate family was very supportive, though, and helped him to adjust.
Emily Casswell
PB: Abby Elliott
Age: 20
A late 'surprise' to her parents, Emily was the baby of the family. By the time she came along, her other siblings had already formed close bonds with one another, so she spent a lot of time alone with her parents. She was born with severe birth defects (not uncommon in interbred pureblooded sorcerer lines), leaving her blind and paralyzed from the chest down. She underwent two years of complicated magical treatments before she had gained her sight and mobility. Because of this, her parents were very protective of her. It also meant that her development was a bit behind other children, and she didn't get her magic until the age of 10.
She bonded the most with her father, often accompanying him to strategy sessions when she technically shouldn't have been allowed in. Everyone knew that little Emily was an exception to the rules. She was the only one of her siblings not to go to war. Though most thought it was simply because the war was nearly over and everyone was too protective of her, it was also because her wand magic hadn't developed to be as strong as her brothers and sister, likely because of her early illness. Instead of fighting, she studied rigorously at home, making up for her lack of magical energy with careful study and deep knowledge of subject matters, specifically potions.
As with many pureblood families, centuries of intermittent inbreeding and strict tough-or-die wartime attitudes produced more than a couple nutjobs, including Callum's mother, Nancy. Her family was upset when she was knocked up by a half-blood, but her ruthless nature and wartime know-how kept her in their good graces. She raised their only son in the backwoods with the sole intent of turning him into the perfect soldier. In her family, this was seen as good parenting.
After Nancy died, Callum went to live with her brother, Wade, and his family. Wade was not quite so ruthless and insane as Nancy, but he and his wife still focused on strict rule enforcement, survival skills, and preparing the children for war. Callum fought alongside three of his cousins before he was sent to the UK to fight, but he was fairly close to all five.
I'm not expecting all of them to magically show up at Northvale, but since this is the place to be for magical folk, I think it would be fun to bring at least a few in! Who knows, maybe it'll turn into a family reunion. PBs are totally just suggestions. I would ask that I get to take a peek at the application before you posted it, just to make sure we're on the same page with the character. Take a look and fall madly in love with one please!
Here's this branch of the Casswell family as I imagine it.
Wade Casswell
PB: Alec Baldwin
Age: 59
Wade is the second child of the current Casswell elders, born after Nancy. He has two younger siblings, and (since Nancy was crazy) had to be the strong, firm leader of their family. He was arranged to marry his wife, Peggy, at 25. The two get along very well, though their relationship is based on mutual respect and dedication to their family more than actual love for one another.
He fought in the wars as a young man, but cashed out fairly early to help his wife with the children. After that, he worked from home as an officer and adviser for the North American Sorcerers' Army, gaining a reputation as an expert strategist.
Wade put a lot of pressure on his children to succeed, and was sometimes obsessive about making sure they carried on the family's legacy of success. When it really came down to it, though, he understood that his children were just that - children - and they needed love and support in order to succeed.
Peggy Casswell
PB: Rene Russo
Age: 56
Peggy was raised in Montana in a smaller, less influential branch of the Casswell family. She and her arranged husband, Wade, are third cousins. She was defiant as a young woman and often got in trouble for defying the orders of her superiors in battle - usually because she was sure she knew best. When she was 22, her parents married her to Wade because he was known for his strong will and authority. They had hoped he would make her more compliant.
What actually happened was that she became the only person that could tell him what to do. Wade recognized fairly quickly that Peggy was an astute young woman who, once you actually listened to her ideas, was actually rather brilliant. Though she spent most of her time wrangling her children and orphaned nephew, she controlled a lot of Wade's military decisions from behind the scenes.
In raising her children, Peggy did not tolerate any nonsense, and was quick to dole out a spanking if the kids were being reckless or needlessly insolent. At the same time, though, she recalled her own frustrations at being ignored, so she was very good at listening to what they had to say and ensuring she understood the reasons for their actions.
Cole Casswell
PB: James McAvoy
Age: 32
The oldest child of Wade and Peggy, Cole was put under intense pressure to succeed from a very young age. He became a talented sorcerer and warrior on the outside but also a bit of a nervous wreck under the surface. His siblings knew better than to provoke him, because he was likely to snap at them if he was in a bad mood. His youngest brother, Tanner, was the only one he let his guard down around because Cole talked about his problems to him when Tanner was just a baby too young to understand. He vented a lot of his anxiety and fears onto Tanner, but in return he spoiled the kid rotten every chance he got.
He had already left for war by the time Callum came to live with his family, but they grew close while fighting side-by-side for four years. It was also during battle that he finally managed to form real emotional bonds with his other siblings. Nonetheless, by the time the war was over, stress and violence had taken a pretty hefty toll on Cole, leaving him emotionally fragile and prone to flashbacks and violent outbursts. He still sees himself as Tanner's protector, but if those roles hadn't been reversed from the start, they certainly are now.
Joel Casswell
PB: Garrett Hedlund
Age: 29
When they were kids, if one of the Casswell children was in trouble, it was usually Joel. He liked to push boundaries and question authority. He, Holly, and Cal were very close as teenagers, often deciding that they were in need of a "mental health day" so they didn't turn out like Cole. This usually entailed transfiguring some fake IDs and driving to the city to go to strip clubs or bars. Because he was the oldest and (they were pretty sure) his mother's favorite, he always took responsibility when they got caught.
Peggy has a soft spot for Joel, because he very much takes after her. Even though she spent a good amount of his childhood punishing him, she also spent more time with him than any of the others. He's too smart for his own good and incapable of taking orders without knowing why. This wasn't a huge problem for him during the war because he was under Cole's command, and they understood one another fairly well. He became very talented with protective wards and booby-trapping curses, so he became an important figure in security for the sorcerers' camps.
Holly Casswell
PB: Nicki Aycox
Age: 27
Holly, with two older brothers, had a lot to prove from a very early age. She can spit, drink, and fight with the guys, and she often does. She and Joel were always best friends, then Callum as well when he moved in with them. Her parents made half-hearted efforts at making her more lady-like, but were actually pleased that she would be well-prepared for battle.
Indeed, Holly turned out a brutal warrior, often considered by her commanders as their "ace up the sleeve". She wasn't afraid to live in difficult conditions, so she would often live for weeks in treetops and caves while she staked out enemy encampments. She lost her stomach for the war, though, after finding her younger brother mauled by a werewolf. She was a strong advocate for the peace treaty.
Tanner Casswell
PB: Shawn Ashmore (or Aaron Ashmore - who can tell the difference?)
Age: 24
Tanner was first and foremost "Cole's brother." From the time he was a baby, he had been his oldest brother's emotional crutch, and taking on that role left him more empathetic and intuitive than most sorcerers. He was also treated a lot better than his older siblings because of Cole's pampering. As the second to youngest child, he was often lost in the mix for his actual parents, but Cole was always there to fill the role of a father.
By the time Tanner entered the war, his older siblings were well beyond basic soldier, front-line duty, so he was more or less on his own. He saw them on occasion, but never really got to work with them. During a raid on a werewolf camp, Tanner was caught and mauled by one of the wolves. His sister, who had been leading reconnaissance on the area, found him and carried him to safety. He survived, but he was turned into a werewolf. There was controversy in his family, some saying he should do the "honorable" thing and end his own life. His immediate family was very supportive, though, and helped him to adjust.
Emily Casswell
PB: Abby Elliott
Age: 20
A late 'surprise' to her parents, Emily was the baby of the family. By the time she came along, her other siblings had already formed close bonds with one another, so she spent a lot of time alone with her parents. She was born with severe birth defects (not uncommon in interbred pureblooded sorcerer lines), leaving her blind and paralyzed from the chest down. She underwent two years of complicated magical treatments before she had gained her sight and mobility. Because of this, her parents were very protective of her. It also meant that her development was a bit behind other children, and she didn't get her magic until the age of 10.
She bonded the most with her father, often accompanying him to strategy sessions when she technically shouldn't have been allowed in. Everyone knew that little Emily was an exception to the rules. She was the only one of her siblings not to go to war. Though most thought it was simply because the war was nearly over and everyone was too protective of her, it was also because her wand magic hadn't developed to be as strong as her brothers and sister, likely because of her early illness. Instead of fighting, she studied rigorously at home, making up for her lack of magical energy with careful study and deep knowledge of subject matters, specifically potions.
