The most recent rendition, for an RP that never made it off the ground, but theres a huuuuge write up that I’ll kind of condense I guess. NOT. ENJOY YOUR WALL OF TEXT. Or just skip to the bottom and go to the first link.
NAMES: Balin and Balan Heart
BIO: Balin and Balan were born from an unwanted union between a high-born lady from Heartland and one of the Children. Their deformity merely added insult to injury, and their grandfather planned to immediately kill the monstrosity. Their mother interfered, out of love or delirium, and her father conceded to her wishes, as long as the creature never left the vicinity and kept to the lower reaches of the castle with the staff.
The brothers’ childhood was filled with exploring the secret passageways and hidden rooms of the castle, and, although the staff initially avoided them, the twins’ precociousness eventually won them over. The Master-at-Arms was especially charmed, and would teach them close-combat techniques and how to ride side-saddle.
At first, their mother would sew them nice shirts and teach them reading and writing from her bed, but her health and sanity continued to deteriorate.
It was at this time that they realized their magical talents. Knowing no better, they did not think anything of it, assuming that everyone had the power to dance with shadows and talk to ghosts (though they had very little if any power over it at the time, most of these things happened regardless if they wanted it or not).
Unfortunately, their grandfather happened upon one of their shadow games. Terrified and wrathful, he grabbed the boys and hauled them to their mother, who had taken a turn for the worse and had been restrained to her bedposts. He blamed them for her lapse in sanity and health, and locked them in her room as she wailed and cursed and eventually died. It was probably his intention to leave them in there until they suffered the same fate, but, one night, the Master-at-Arms sneaked in and took them out of the castle, handing them over to a traveling Mummer’s caravan.
At that time they were given the names Balin and Balan, after a legend of two brothers who accidentally killed the other. Everyone in the troupe got a big kick out of that. Another witch in the troupe recognized their talent, and mentored the young brothers Heart for awhile, before he too fell ill and died. Under him they learned about the Branches, and the dangerous line their particular branch crossed. They both decided that it was their magic that had in fact killed their mother, and decided to not let it affect anyone that way without their knowledge. After their second mentor died, they used their skill to transform their image to that of a single boy, and under this disguise they left the mummer’s caravan to travel and see the world they had only read about in books.
It was in their wanderings they came upon Able. Being only 10 years old and oblivious to the world outside of their mummer’s caravan, Able stepped in during a moment that would have possibly cost them their lives. It is with him and the outcasts he gathers that they have continued to hone their craft.
PERSONALITY: Adventurous and endlessly curious. Both are pretty much inside their own little world full of distractions. They are complete sociopaths haha. Little to no respect for authority, though they enjoy pretending to be humble with great exaggeration.
Balin (with short hair) loves a good monologue and a dramatic magical trick. Singing and rhyming and waxing poetically. Balan is much more quiet, and if he can get away with doing instead of saying, he’ll take that path. He is more about pictures than words.
APPEARANCES (not including this tumblr):