Post by Kadeem Szilard on Aug 2, 2018 11:57:39 GMT -8
Kadeem Xavier Szilard
alias / nickname | 26 | Male, Pansexual |
Faraday City | Pokemon League | Gym Leader (Steel) |
Appearance
Dark hair. Dark complexion. Green eyes. Athletic build. 6'2" | 187cm
Kadeem's unruly hair is worn freely, or tied back depending on the climate. His dark skin tone is marked with various bruises and scrapes resulting from his everyday hiking routine. He shaves when he can but is often seen with a shadow of facial hair on his chin. He embraces the appearance of a vagabond proudly, choosing to wear fitted utilitarian pants, a ragged maroon shirt, and a dark olive rain/utility jacket.
Kadeem carries himself causally with a relaxed walk and manner of speech most of the time, though his posture is often telling of his inner emotions. If he feels uncomfortable, threatened, or is intently focused he often becomes rigid, like a feral Meowth ready to pounce. Though his body is often littered with bruises and scars or abrasions, a dark, permanent scar decorates the space under his right eye.
Personality
Kadeem harbors deep passions for travel, community, and bouldering. While these things at first appear to be an odd combination, Kadeem finds the common ground of human interaction within each one. Above all, Kadeem enjoys meeting new people, learning about their experiences, sharing his own, and gaining new knowledge as a result. He strives for this connection in all of his relationships to the best of his ability. Travel, community engagement, and the sport of bouldering each allow him to do this. When traveling thoroughly enjoys immersing himself in the cultures, lifestyles, cuisine, rituals, and every day routines of other locales. Within his own community he finds fulfillment in aiding those around him and helping to build the community up a group as a whole. Kadeem took an interest in bouldering not because of the sport itself, but rather the community that was built around it; from sharing approaches to problems to giving suggestions and advice to other climbers. Through each of these passions Kadeem creates connections and relationships with others. He also finds these connections in Pokemon battling, viewing it as the epitome of testing a bond and forming new ones between trainer and Pokemon. It was this mindset that led him to pursue the career of a gym leader.
It might seem odd then that Kadeem comes off as shy or quiet. One might expect him to be outspoken and extroverted. However, Kadeem isn't the type to strike up a conversation so easily and would rather listen and observe before blurting out the first thing to come to mind. It isn't easy to make conversation and this feeling is exacerbated in larger groups. Yet it isn't for a lack of trying. As such, his disposition often leaves Kadeem feeling frustrated that he might be missing out on an experience or connection with someone, had he only have spoken up. This is why he forces himself into social situations despite his reservations. In most cases, Kadeem is laid back, casual, and easy to approach. His introverted nature aside, Kadeem opens up relatively quickly once he feels comfortable with someone. And this happens even more so during climbing or battling. He feels he can truly feel comfortable and get to know someone in the thick of these activities.
However, he shuts down quickly around those who don't have an open mind or are intolerant of certain lifestyles. Furthermore, Kadeem abhors individuals with racist and bigoted outlooks, as well as those who are quick to blame their Pokemon for faults that are not theirs. Though he is usually relaxed, such things set him off very easily. He has been fortunate not to have encountered very many individuals like this, but they irk him to a point where his vibe is just off. And when he is truly angry, all hell breaks loose. Kadeem has no reservations about publicly ridiculing (or even slugging, if it comes to that) these kind of ignorant individuals.
History
Kadeem's life has been full of ups and downs. Born to a small family in Ecruteak City, Kadeem spent much of his childhood romping through forests and mountains while his father was away on business trips to Kanto and Hoenn. Despite his father's position in a wealthy company, the family barely scraped by for several years. So with only his mother around to raise him, Kadeem grew attached to many of the people living in Ecruteak and calling them part of his family. His childhood was full of joyful memories playing in the forest and the hills as they rose up toward the mountain ranges. H also recalls befriending his family's Pokemon, and pulling silly pranks with other kids. Kadeem was very out going, rambunctious child and he recalls his childhood fondly.
As time passed and Kadeem came into his teens, he became suddenly solitary. While he wouldn't entirely neglect his routine and taking part in chores, he often wandered farther into the mountains with each day's free time. The absence of his father had began to irk the boy of the years, especially as his mother grew ever more lonely. So for Kadeem, being out of the house, the city, and in the mountains felt much more comforting at times. After being scolded several times by his mother for his wandering off, she decided to embrace his curiosity. With what savings the family had, she helped to gift Kadeem his first Pokemon; an Onix at his request. During his 14th birthday the boy met his first real partner and he was thrilled to call himself a 'trainer'. His mother felt at ease knowing the boy would be safer in the mountains with a Pokemon of his own. However not long after, his Father returned home from an exceptionally long business trip and announced that he had received a promotion and they would have to relocate to a city in the Veria region. It wasn't until after the move that Kadeem realized how attached he was to his life in Ecruteak. He would miss the people he had called his extended family. Sometime after the family had settled, Kadeem announced that he wished to return to the Johto region to challenge the Kanto/Johto league. Though his father was home more often and their life in Faraday City was better off, Kadeem resented the man for never being a part of their lives until it benefited his goals.
Surprisingly the family agreed and gave Kadeem the means to return to the Johto region not long after his 15th birthday. Perhaps his father had hoped to win him over and make up for lost time, but Kadeem would have none of that. The boy wouldn't realize until much later just how much his family had been supporting his wishes and cementing his foundation. When he arrived in the Johto region, Kadeem's first visit was back to Ecruteak City. He spent several months there in fact, living with friends and keeping in minimal contact with his family back 'home'. Once he had regained his composure, the boy decided to actually attempt the Johto league challenge. So he set off for Olivine City where he would meet a gym leader that introduced him to the steel type, as well as the thought of becoming a cornerstone in one's community.
In short, several years passed by and Kadeem never finished the Johto/Kanto league challenge. Rather he had gotten caught up in traveling experiencing the different places and people as he travelled with his Pokemon. Now twenty years old, the last five years traveling across regions had sharpened his curiosity and desire to see new locales, meet new faces, and enjoy his time slowly. He had nearly forgotten about challenging the league, instead aiming to visit as many cities and towns as he could. He would stop to help out where possible or talk to the locals when the opportunity presented itself. His introverted nature was in conflict with these desires and so to unwind he spent a lot of time in nature, hiking up the routes to his next destination and sleeping outside in the elements. He kept in contact with home more frequently than he had during the first year, but in his mind Faraday City wasn't home just yet. His family put on airs about how well they were doing, but the truth of the matter was that his father and mother had fallen on hard times. Though they would dare not tell their son that. Rather, they continued to give their support from afar. Kadeem even opened up to his father during these years, attempting to patch things up though he still felt resentment toward the man for his absence during Kadeem's childhood. As another year passed and Kadeem continued his traveling through Johto and Kanto, his father fell ill. When the news reached the 21 year old Kadeem, he unthinkingly rushed for the Veria region by ferry.
Seeing his father lying bed-ridden was disheartening and uncomfortable. There were no special words passed between them during this time; Kadeem merely wanted to spend time with the man. Kadeem was now back in a city he did not know, but was home nonetheless. The man he had resented for so long was now on his death bed. Everything about his current situation felt foreign to Kadeem. It certainly wasn't the same type of feeling he had gotten as he had during his travels. There was no excitement or adventure here. This was the end of one road and the young man wasn't sure how to find words to express how he felt. Without a fuss, his father passed away one evening and that was the end of it. The family had made arrangements to bury him back in Ecruteak City and off to Johto they went once more. A small funeral was held, family affairs were settled, his mother wished to move back to Ecruteak City, the company his father worked for offered little support,....
The rush of events and changes that occurred over the next year felt claustrophobic to Kadeem; unwelcome and disheartening. Yet, they also served to open his eyes to just how involved his father had been in his own life and the communities they had lived in. Though the man might not have been around much, he indirectly supported all of these with his endeavors. As Kadeem uncovered these facts, he realized that his desire to do the same was a trait passed down from both of his parents. Though his mother would stay in Johto, Kadeem would thus relocate to Veria and this time he would finally call Faraday City home.
As time passed and Kadeem made an effort within the city of Faraday, he slowly realized he didn't mesh well with most of the citizens from the city itself. Their 'work of play' attitude was too overbearing for the young man, and the busy lifestyle of the city felt much different than that of Ecruteak, Golden Rod, and even Saffron. Rather, Kadeem felt more at home on the outskirts of the city, in the rural villages surrounding the floating isles. The city had many avenues of support and infrastructure, but these things rarely extended this far out. Thus he felt that he was much more useful with the rural residents of Faraday. Kadeem made his home in a rural borough very near to one of the largest floating islands around the city and he would spend the next four years making a life here. He took time when he was able, to travel through the Veria region and get used to other cities and peoples, but he always made a point to return home and reconnect with the community he now called family. The small suburb operated much like a mix of Azalea Town and Ecruteak city, in that it was a small tight knit community that lived in harmony with their Pokemon, but held an odd reverence for the large floating island over their heads. Those towns were places Kadeem was fond of back in Johto; here he felt at home. As he was consistently seen within the community, helping in the gardens, repairing structures and houses, and holding community meetings Kadeem became a prominent figure in this little suburb. As such he was often a voice that began to pop up in the larger city itself in support of providing infrastructure and improving living conditions to the outlying suburbs. Yet, such a large city had so many voices to be heard and Kadeem soon realized that his small little village was only one of many lying at the edge of the industrial hub.
It was for this reason that Kadeem decided to pursue become a Gym Leader within the Veria region, making a gym in Faraday City. He pushed hard within the city for this development and insisted it be near the outskirts rather than within the bustling city itself. Kadeem received much push back from this, but his passion for bettering the lives of the smaller communities around him burn brightly and thus he has not backed down. When the Life Pillar event took place, resulting in the Wasteland not far south from Faraday City, Kadeem was one of many whom volunteered to help relocate citizens leaving on that side of Faraday City's suburbs. He put his mind to aiding these individuals in resettling in the city proper with relief aid or in other suburbs. Yet as the city government did little else aside from initial relief, many citizens from the south side were stuck. These resulting events cemented Kadeem's choice to pursue a role in the Pokemon League, especially so that he might be seen as a proper representative for the citizens in the rural areas of his city. Now at the age of 26, Kadeem stands ready to take on the responsibilities of becoming a gym leader of Faraday City and aiding his community in such a role, all while challenging trainers on their own journeys. In this way, Kadeem hopes to find fulfillment in his own life and be able to have this new experience.
Pokémon
Pokedex Name: Steelix
Nickname:
Gender: Male
Ability:Sturdy
Moveset:
Heavy Slam* | Wide Guard* | Earthquake+ | Stealth Rock | Gyro Ball | Crunch |
Thunder Fang
Pokedex Name: Doublade
Nickname:
Gender: Male
Ability: No Guard
Moveset:
Destiny Bond* | Wide Guard* | Shadow Ball+ | Swords Dance | Power Trick | Slash |
Night Slash
Pokedex Name: Magnemite
Nickname:
Gender: Genderless
Ability: Sturdy
Moveset:
Zap Cannon | Flash Cannon | Light Screen | Magnet Rise
Pokedex Name: Mawile
Nickname:
Gender: Female
Ability: Intimidate
Moveset:
Sucker Punch* | Fireblast+ | Play Rough | Crunch | Iron Head | Fairy Wind
Pokedex Name: Bronzor (Class bonus 1)
Nickname:
Gender: Genderless
Ability: Heavy Metal(HA)
Moveset:
Protect+ | Heavy Slam | Safeguard | Extrasensory | Confuse Ray
Pokedex Name: Piplup (Class Bonus 2)
Nickname:
Gender: Male
Ability: Torrent
Moveset:
Hydropump* | Bubblebeam | Drill Peck | Bide | Mist
Legend:
* = Egg Move
+ = TM move
Skills (3/11)
Endurance - Major (2)
- As an avid climber specializing in bouldering, Kadeem put a lot of his training and practice efforts into his endurance. He approaches a problem very technically, with skillful foot placement and weight/balance management. Being a technical climber means he doesn't need the strength of a body builder to top out on a problem, but he does need the power-endurance. As such he can push himself in other situations beyond normal limits and is capable of sustaining a fair amount of pain and injury.
Athleticism - Minor (1)
- As an avid climber specializing in bouldering, Kadeem is overall an athletically built individual. His strength is adequate enough to hold finger jams and pull up with small pockets. He is dexterous enough to throw heel hooks on overhung problems while maintaining position with his forearms. Finally, coupled with his major endurance, he is adequately agile so that he might climb high-balls quickly while still maintaining his technique.
Other Information
Kadeem's physical skills are a direct result of his time practicing his bouldering technique as well as his participation in bouldering competitions. As such his skills are written with his preferred sport/hobby in mind.
RP Sample
(As I am applying for Gym Leader position I figured I'd provide two RP samples, both from a previous Pokemon site. I can provide links if required.)
SAMPLE 1:
"Oy!"
Wham!
A red mark appeared on Kadeem's forehead as he jolted up, his face smacking against the underside of a table. He'd fallen asleep. In a booth. In a dive bar. In the biggest city in the region. He'd have probably stayed asleep too, were it not for the booming voice that had startled him awake. As his hand went to rub the growing bump on his forehead, his eyes fumbled around for the source of the pseudo-alarm clock. Finally, a burly figure came into Kadeem's peripheral vision, a towering hulk with an eye patch and a mean face. He was glaring at Kadeem for some reason or another. The young man yawned groggily, raising his free hand in a sloppy wave as he sat up. "Yo what time is it, Pops?"
Kadeem glanced around for clock, taking in the scenery before him. The dive bar was in poor condition: the booth he was in was a faded blue, the wood of the table different from that of the booth. The bar itself was small with only a handful of seats around it. The walls were littered with posters and graffiti of all sorts, but the smoke that hung low in the air obfuscated most of the rest of the place. How the hell did I end up here anyw....?!!?
Without warning Kadeem was flailing in midair, the uncomfortable lump of the booth no longer drilling into his backside. Either gravity had suddenly given up on doing its job or someone had hauled him into the air. Startled, Kadeem glanced down (or up depending on who's perspective we're talking about) to see the burly monster man had heaved him over his massive shoulder. Before even a peep of protest could be uttered a large, clammy hand tightened around Kadeem's mouth, muffling his eagerness to be put down.
"Time for yens to get the hell outta me bar!"
The burly man roared as he heaved Kadeem like a sack of potatoes across the bar, slammed his right boot into the side door, and chucked him through it with a tenacity that revealed this was probably not the first or last time the owner would be kicking people out today.. or ever. Kadeem rolled into the alleyway, body tumbling and crashing into the hard pavement. Gravity stills works I guess, he decided to himself as he landed face first into the ground. The last thing he heard was the door slamming shut and the bouncer/bartender/monster-man shouting something about staying out. He took a few moments to right himself upwards and stand up as he got his bearings.
The alley was empty.... wait, scratch that. Two other people occupied the area and had most likely heard, if not seen the commotion. The embarrassment levels were rising in Kadeem as he stood there awkwardly for a moment, staring in the direction of the other two people that he could barely see at the moment. Suddenly he threw a hand behind his head, scratching his messy hair casually and belting out a laugh, "Wild night eh?"
SAMPLE 2:
Route 9, Una Way. It was perhaps the ugliest site Kadeem had seen across the region. Very much the opposite of the prairie he grew up on, the area was littered with broken down machinery, while road signs and advertisements dotted the path. Having recently left the big city, the site of nature again was welcome to the man, but this area still looked like a blight in some ways. Junk heap after junk heap passed by as Kadeem moved along. Dressed in his utility pants, maroon t-shirt, with his jacket slung over his shoulder along with his duffel bag, he felt comfortable with the weather in his current attire.
The city had been packed with tourists, trainers, shopkeepers, and nearly every walk of life one could think of. Kadeem had been enthralled by the hustle and bustle; it never got old. Yet there was something about leaving the city that took the edge off. perhaps it was the fresh air or the more open space. Regardless, Kadeem felt pretty laid back about this part of his trip. He had decided to head to Stipes City, supposedly a very religious area that was a sight to behold. After having left the Prairie seven years ago he was surprised that he had yet to visit Stipes. What better time than now?
He thumbed the Pokeball in his pocket, containing his Onix. Maybe there would be plenty of trainers willing to battle there. The thought of this and the experiences he might have made him smirk. He continued to walk along, one hand swinging lazily at his side as he trekked on through the littered area. What a garbage heap...
SAMPLE 1:
"Oy!"
Wham!
A red mark appeared on Kadeem's forehead as he jolted up, his face smacking against the underside of a table. He'd fallen asleep. In a booth. In a dive bar. In the biggest city in the region. He'd have probably stayed asleep too, were it not for the booming voice that had startled him awake. As his hand went to rub the growing bump on his forehead, his eyes fumbled around for the source of the pseudo-alarm clock. Finally, a burly figure came into Kadeem's peripheral vision, a towering hulk with an eye patch and a mean face. He was glaring at Kadeem for some reason or another. The young man yawned groggily, raising his free hand in a sloppy wave as he sat up. "Yo what time is it, Pops?"
Kadeem glanced around for clock, taking in the scenery before him. The dive bar was in poor condition: the booth he was in was a faded blue, the wood of the table different from that of the booth. The bar itself was small with only a handful of seats around it. The walls were littered with posters and graffiti of all sorts, but the smoke that hung low in the air obfuscated most of the rest of the place. How the hell did I end up here anyw....?!!?
Without warning Kadeem was flailing in midair, the uncomfortable lump of the booth no longer drilling into his backside. Either gravity had suddenly given up on doing its job or someone had hauled him into the air. Startled, Kadeem glanced down (or up depending on who's perspective we're talking about) to see the burly monster man had heaved him over his massive shoulder. Before even a peep of protest could be uttered a large, clammy hand tightened around Kadeem's mouth, muffling his eagerness to be put down.
"Time for yens to get the hell outta me bar!"
The burly man roared as he heaved Kadeem like a sack of potatoes across the bar, slammed his right boot into the side door, and chucked him through it with a tenacity that revealed this was probably not the first or last time the owner would be kicking people out today.. or ever. Kadeem rolled into the alleyway, body tumbling and crashing into the hard pavement. Gravity stills works I guess, he decided to himself as he landed face first into the ground. The last thing he heard was the door slamming shut and the bouncer/bartender/monster-man shouting something about staying out. He took a few moments to right himself upwards and stand up as he got his bearings.
The alley was empty.... wait, scratch that. Two other people occupied the area and had most likely heard, if not seen the commotion. The embarrassment levels were rising in Kadeem as he stood there awkwardly for a moment, staring in the direction of the other two people that he could barely see at the moment. Suddenly he threw a hand behind his head, scratching his messy hair casually and belting out a laugh, "Wild night eh?"
SAMPLE 2:
Route 9, Una Way. It was perhaps the ugliest site Kadeem had seen across the region. Very much the opposite of the prairie he grew up on, the area was littered with broken down machinery, while road signs and advertisements dotted the path. Having recently left the big city, the site of nature again was welcome to the man, but this area still looked like a blight in some ways. Junk heap after junk heap passed by as Kadeem moved along. Dressed in his utility pants, maroon t-shirt, with his jacket slung over his shoulder along with his duffel bag, he felt comfortable with the weather in his current attire.
The city had been packed with tourists, trainers, shopkeepers, and nearly every walk of life one could think of. Kadeem had been enthralled by the hustle and bustle; it never got old. Yet there was something about leaving the city that took the edge off. perhaps it was the fresh air or the more open space. Regardless, Kadeem felt pretty laid back about this part of his trip. He had decided to head to Stipes City, supposedly a very religious area that was a sight to behold. After having left the Prairie seven years ago he was surprised that he had yet to visit Stipes. What better time than now?
He thumbed the Pokeball in his pocket, containing his Onix. Maybe there would be plenty of trainers willing to battle there. The thought of this and the experiences he might have made him smirk. He continued to walk along, one hand swinging lazily at his side as he trekked on through the littered area. What a garbage heap...
OOC Information
OOC Name: chainsaw
Player Pronouns: he/him/his
Face Claim: [b]Megalo Box[/b], Gearless Joe [i]Szilard, Kadeem[/i]
Continuity: Original
Starter Items:
Gym Leaders
4 PokeBalls, 2 Great Balls, 1 Ultra Ball, 4 Move Techs, 2 bonus Starter Pokémon, 1 free Egg Move for each starter
made by Wolf of GS