Kylo Ren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
disequilibrium) wrote2010-04-30 03:09 am
disequilibrium) wrote2010-04-30 03:09 am
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hadriel application
PLAYER
Player name: Sol
Contact:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
solarias
Characters currently in-game: none
CHARACTER
Character Name: Kylo Ren (Ben Solo)
Character Age: 29
Canon: Star Wars
Canon Point: Right as the elevator doors open up into Snoke’s throne room towards the climax of The Last Jedi.
History: The mighty Kylo Ren. When I found you, I saw what all masters live to see. Raw, untamed power. And beyond that, something truly special.
Personality:
Those days of happiness didn’t last. With adolescence came unpredictable Force sensitivity and a temper to match, along with the attention of a malicious creature called Snoke who served to worsen those traits for his own ends. During this time his relationship with his parents grew strained as they feared or failed to understand the growing darkness within their son. They decided to send him to his Uncle, something he perceived as abandonment, in the hopes he could learn control.
A decision that ultimately failed. The Dark side continued to grow within him and finally, after his Uncle’s betrayal, he chose to give in to it, leaving Ben Solo behind in the ashes of the academy and taking on the mantle of Kylo Ren.
The truth is that Kylo is a man at war with himself. Despite committing himself to Snoke and the First Order years ago, he remains torn, unable to fully embrace the Dark side. When we first meet him he’s almost fanatically devoted to the path he’s chosen, an allegiance which does nothing to prevent the pull to the Light within him. It continues to tear him apart. Every effort we see him make to reconcile the two sides only serves to enhance the conflict. This is exemplified with the murder of his father, done under Snoke’s command and with the belief that it would end the torment consuming him. It was a failure. The act achieved nothing and only further weakened his resolve, along with the faith he held in his master.
It should be noted that this discord does not stop him from committing truly heinous acts. He continues to work in support of the First Order, aiding their campaign to control the galaxy. Though he does not approve of all their methods, such as the use of Starkiller, he remains complicit and still continues to believe in their ultimate goals.
Fear and suffering are aspects of the Dark side, just as anger is, and Kylo has all of them in spades. It’s likely that part of him has always been afraid—of his abilities, of failing to live up to the legacy of heroes (and villains) he’s descended from, of never being enough—and that fear continues to define him. There’s a reason he chose to live behind a mask, hiding his human frailties behind something unfeeling and blank. The mask itself may have been left behind but the insecurities it hid are alive and well, no matter much he attempts to deny them. There's also a unique blend of arrogance and self-loathing present within him. He is proud of his strength and is shown to take some enjoyment out of exerting control over others. However, he's frustrated by the weaknesses he cannot seem to destroy. His need for family, for connection, continues to bloom despite everything he’s done to eliminate it for good. That is what stops him from taking the shot against his mother. He’s unable to murder her even after what he did to his father. Just as he’s unable to stomp out the compassion that still lives within him, stunted as it is after years of isolation and cruelty.
We primarily see this trait in relation to Rey. His interactions with her, particularly in contrast with how he treats others in comparable situations, are unusually gentle. Not necessarily kind in any normal way but distinctly different from the harshness you'd expect. This becomes stronger as he learns the depth of her loneliness and of her strength with the Force, similarities which serve to deepen their connection. It is repeatedly indicated that he, for some reason, seeks for her to see him as a man and not a monster. This is notable because he otherwise seems to embrace that type of fear around most everyone else.
Of course, his ability to care about people doesn’t mean he can interact with them in a healthy way. In many aspects, Kylo relates and reacts to the world as a teenager would. His view is myopic and entirely filtered by his own experiences. He projects his issues and coping mechanisms (or lack thereof) on those around him and assumes they'll feel the way he does. Whey they don't, he lashes out or otherwise reacts badly.
Between the aftereffects of his father’s death and the growing bond with Rey, this has started to change. Though not necessarily in a more stable direction. In place of Snoke’s hopes and manipulations for a ‘New Vader’, Kylo has chosen to take steps in determining his own destiny. One that he believes could truly mean leaving the mistakes and pain of the past behind. Whether that’s possible remains to be seen.
Whether that future will lead to anything positive or merely more ruination is even less clear.
Inventory:
His Outfit (sans cape)
Crossguard Lightsaber
Legacy Lightsaber
Abilities:
The Force: In the Star Wars universe, the Force is an energy that connects everything in the galaxy. It is generated and moves between all living beings. Some people, however, have the ability to channel the Force and harness it to use various abilities and exact change on the world around them. They’re called Force sensitives and Kylo Ren is an exceptionally powerful one, capable of drawing from both the Light and Dark sides of the Force. While the full extent of his power is unclear, below are some of the canon examples we’ve seen from him thus far.
Pain Tolerance: Kylo is able to fight even after receiving serious physical injuries such as a wound from a bowcaster, one that would have been fatal had he not used to the Force to reduce some of its impact. This indicates both a ridiculously high capacity for pain and a stubborn dedication to keep going regardless of the odds. At one point he’s even shown pounding on the wound in order to maximize his connection with the Dark side.
Piloting: Like much of his family before him, especially his father and grandfather, Kylo is a skilled pilot.
Calligraphy: In a galaxy where the use of paper (or 'flimsi') is incredibly rare, this totally counts as a skill worth mentioning.
Flaws:
Chaotic is basically the definition of Kylo’s character. His emotional instability, exacerbated by his connection to both sides of the Force, leaves him in a near-constant state of turmoil and pain. With no positive coping mechanisms his usual reaction to this involves lashing out. Violently. While his rage is primarily directed towards inanimate objects, that’s not always the case. Outside of his main flaw, Kylo wouldn't know a good decision if it slapped him across the face. Over the years, he's been responsible for many chaotic and evil acts. Recent examples include ordering the murder of a spiritual village and patricide.
SAMPLES
Action Log Sample: TDM
Player name: Sol
Contact:
Characters currently in-game: none
CHARACTER
Character Name: Kylo Ren (Ben Solo)
Character Age: 29
Canon: Star Wars
Canon Point: Right as the elevator doors open up into Snoke’s throne room towards the climax of The Last Jedi.
History: The mighty Kylo Ren. When I found you, I saw what all masters live to see. Raw, untamed power. And beyond that, something truly special.
Personality:
“I know where you come from. Before you called yourself Kylo Ren.”
Kylo Ren—or Ben Solo, as he was once known—was born to Leia Organa and Han Solo, heroes of the Resistance, on the day that the Galactic Concordance was signed, formally ending the Galactic Civil War. Under those circumstances, his birth should have been a representation of the peace and hope restored to the galaxy. And, for a brief time, it was. The glimpses we’ve been given of his childhood indicate he was once a normal young boy. And a very loved one, given the clear adoration his parents had for him despite the busyness of their lives. Those days of happiness didn’t last. With adolescence came unpredictable Force sensitivity and a temper to match, along with the attention of a malicious creature called Snoke who served to worsen those traits for his own ends. During this time his relationship with his parents grew strained as they feared or failed to understand the growing darkness within their son. They decided to send him to his Uncle, something he perceived as abandonment, in the hopes he could learn control.
A decision that ultimately failed. The Dark side continued to grow within him and finally, after his Uncle’s betrayal, he chose to give in to it, leaving Ben Solo behind in the ashes of the academy and taking on the mantle of Kylo Ren.
“There was too much Vader in him.”
Within the movies themselves, Kylo is introduced as a villain. Rather, not just a villain, but the villain. A masked, cloaked figure in black, all too reminiscent of his grandfather before him, who speaks in a mechanized voice and coolly orders the death of a village. It soon becomes clear that beneath his facade of control and stoicism is an instability that cannot be hidden. Whether it’s taking out his unhinged rage on a control panel or asking Darth Vader’s helmet for forgiveness and assistance, it’s obvious there’s more going on beneath the surface. The truth is that Kylo is a man at war with himself. Despite committing himself to Snoke and the First Order years ago, he remains torn, unable to fully embrace the Dark side. When we first meet him he’s almost fanatically devoted to the path he’s chosen, an allegiance which does nothing to prevent the pull to the Light within him. It continues to tear him apart. Every effort we see him make to reconcile the two sides only serves to enhance the conflict. This is exemplified with the murder of his father, done under Snoke’s command and with the belief that it would end the torment consuming him. It was a failure. The act achieved nothing and only further weakened his resolve, along with the faith he held in his master.
It should be noted that this discord does not stop him from committing truly heinous acts. He continues to work in support of the First Order, aiding their campaign to control the galaxy. Though he does not approve of all their methods, such as the use of Starkiller, he remains complicit and still continues to believe in their ultimate goals.
“You have too much of your father’s heart in you, young Solo.”
Contrary to how it may seem, there is more to Kylo Ren than conflict and violence. While most of his other traits, good and bad, are well hidden under the blunt instrument he’s become, they’re still present. Occasionally. For example, we see glimmers of a scholarly nature in his detailed post-flight reports and the ancient design used for his lightsaber. He’s intelligent though that isn’t always apparent in the choices he makes. Similarly, he’s capable of being an efficient battle commander when emotions are not getting the better of him. His determination and drive would be admirable were they used for any other purpose. Fear and suffering are aspects of the Dark side, just as anger is, and Kylo has all of them in spades. It’s likely that part of him has always been afraid—of his abilities, of failing to live up to the legacy of heroes (and villains) he’s descended from, of never being enough—and that fear continues to define him. There’s a reason he chose to live behind a mask, hiding his human frailties behind something unfeeling and blank. The mask itself may have been left behind but the insecurities it hid are alive and well, no matter much he attempts to deny them. There's also a unique blend of arrogance and self-loathing present within him. He is proud of his strength and is shown to take some enjoyment out of exerting control over others. However, he's frustrated by the weaknesses he cannot seem to destroy. His need for family, for connection, continues to bloom despite everything he’s done to eliminate it for good. That is what stops him from taking the shot against his mother. He’s unable to murder her even after what he did to his father. Just as he’s unable to stomp out the compassion that still lives within him, stunted as it is after years of isolation and cruelty.
We primarily see this trait in relation to Rey. His interactions with her, particularly in contrast with how he treats others in comparable situations, are unusually gentle. Not necessarily kind in any normal way but distinctly different from the harshness you'd expect. This becomes stronger as he learns the depth of her loneliness and of her strength with the Force, similarities which serve to deepen their connection. It is repeatedly indicated that he, for some reason, seeks for her to see him as a man and not a monster. This is notable because he otherwise seems to embrace that type of fear around most everyone else.
Of course, his ability to care about people doesn’t mean he can interact with them in a healthy way. In many aspects, Kylo relates and reacts to the world as a teenager would. His view is myopic and entirely filtered by his own experiences. He projects his issues and coping mechanisms (or lack thereof) on those around him and assumes they'll feel the way he does. Whey they don't, he lashes out or otherwise reacts badly.
“Alas, you're no Vader. You're just a child in a mask.”
In the novelization, both Snoke and Luke reference the idea that Kylo Ren doesn’t really exist at all. He’s ultimately a construct, a wish-fulfillment fantasy, used as a way to insulate and protect the reality that is Ben Solo. A boy who has never truly grown up and instead remains stagnant in his own self-destruction and in the destruction of everything he feels has hurt him. He claims to want to kill the past but in reality, he is the one unable to let go. Of his hatred and feelings of betrayal towards Luke, of his love and disappointment with his parents, all of it. Between the aftereffects of his father’s death and the growing bond with Rey, this has started to change. Though not necessarily in a more stable direction. In place of Snoke’s hopes and manipulations for a ‘New Vader’, Kylo has chosen to take steps in determining his own destiny. One that he believes could truly mean leaving the mistakes and pain of the past behind. Whether that’s possible remains to be seen.
Whether that future will lead to anything positive or merely more ruination is even less clear.
Inventory:
His Outfit (sans cape)
Crossguard Lightsaber
Legacy Lightsaber
Abilities:
The Force: In the Star Wars universe, the Force is an energy that connects everything in the galaxy. It is generated and moves between all living beings. Some people, however, have the ability to channel the Force and harness it to use various abilities and exact change on the world around them. They’re called Force sensitives and Kylo Ren is an exceptionally powerful one, capable of drawing from both the Light and Dark sides of the Force. While the full extent of his power is unclear, below are some of the canon examples we’ve seen from him thus far.
Telekinesis: The first example of his power that we see is the ability to freeze a blaster bolt in mid air and hold it there are a lengthy period of time with minimal effort expended. In addition to immobilizing objects and people, he can also use the ability to push or pull them away from him. He also implies within the novelization that he could freeze of a missile from a ship with enough concentration but we’ve yet to see this displayed.
Telepathy: Kylo is able to extract information from a person’s mind which makes him a skilled interrogator. This ability is uncomfortable at best for the other person and can be made intentionally painful and torturous. He can use the Force to sense someone’s general feelings or mood, particularly if those emotions are strong. This type of ability can also be used to put someone to sleep. We can assume he has similar competence with abilities such as the mind trick.
Combat: In addition to his space wizardry, Kylo is a formidable opponent when it comes to the purely physical arts. While his lightsaber style is unrefined, it is no less deadly. He’s shown to be incredibly brutal and efficient, often leveraging his superior size and reach in addition to his weapon. He’s capable of taking on multiple skilled opponents at once. Telepathy: Kylo is able to extract information from a person’s mind which makes him a skilled interrogator. This ability is uncomfortable at best for the other person and can be made intentionally painful and torturous. He can use the Force to sense someone’s general feelings or mood, particularly if those emotions are strong. This type of ability can also be used to put someone to sleep. We can assume he has similar competence with abilities such as the mind trick.
Pain Tolerance: Kylo is able to fight even after receiving serious physical injuries such as a wound from a bowcaster, one that would have been fatal had he not used to the Force to reduce some of its impact. This indicates both a ridiculously high capacity for pain and a stubborn dedication to keep going regardless of the odds. At one point he’s even shown pounding on the wound in order to maximize his connection with the Dark side.
Piloting: Like much of his family before him, especially his father and grandfather, Kylo is a skilled pilot.
Calligraphy: In a galaxy where the use of paper (or 'flimsi') is incredibly rare, this totally counts as a skill worth mentioning.
Flaws:
Chaotic is basically the definition of Kylo’s character. His emotional instability, exacerbated by his connection to both sides of the Force, leaves him in a near-constant state of turmoil and pain. With no positive coping mechanisms his usual reaction to this involves lashing out. Violently. While his rage is primarily directed towards inanimate objects, that’s not always the case. Outside of his main flaw, Kylo wouldn't know a good decision if it slapped him across the face. Over the years, he's been responsible for many chaotic and evil acts. Recent examples include ordering the murder of a spiritual village and patricide.
SAMPLES
Action Log Sample: TDM