The Land of Stories

We all know that there is a huge trend right now about rewriting and retelling fairy tales. What would happen, though if Snow White and Rose Red were Cinderella's step sisters? What if the neighbors were Beauty and her family, and Hansel and Gretel? And the Kingdom was ruled by Auroa's family? Here, you can pick out a fairy tale, or a character from a fairy tale, no matter how large or small, and we all try to live together, while avoiding the bad parts of our tales."

This RP is for fun, and not profit.

OOC: Here's my main character and her brother. He won't be in the story as much near the beginning, but you'll see him again soon enough... *ominous stare*

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Name: Gretel

Age: 13

Hair: Golden blonde with big loose curls. It’s cut short, nearly to her ears, from when she sold it at the beginning of the famine.

Eyes: Pale blue

Build: Thin, bony, and flat at her chest and hips, but rather tall for her age.

Clothing/Costume: Working shift, apron, and a short coat that hugs her neck (her prize clothing) when she is dressed as a girl, but she can also appear as a young boy by switching to breeches with her coat. She has yet to acquire shoes.

Job: “Woman’s work” as a young daughter to a wood cutter.

Behavior: Quiet and clever. She might not always argue her point, but when she makes a decision, she sticks to it. But she’s not naively brave-- she fears what any thirteen-year-old would fear. And she has very little faith in the prophets and little belief in destiny.

Affiliations: The Onyx Forest of the northern villages. Raise far outside a tiny, nameless village that has wasted away with the famine.

Backstory: When she was born her mother passed away, leaving her and her older brother with a father who quickly decided to take a new wife. She grew up in a normal life secluded in the woods. Gretel, like most of the poorly educated people of the villages in Onyx Forest, knows of the prophets but has never fully read their works, or even been told all of the “prophecies,” but when a famine sweeps across the area, leaving many dead and her father and step-mother whispering about their children in the night, she and her brother both recall the Prophet Grimm’s story of “The Woodcutter’s Two Children.” Her brother tells her he’s overhead their step-mother convincing their father to abandon them. Hansel wants to follow the “prophecy,” excited by the prospect, even though he has only ever heard half of the tale. Gretel doesn’t like the idea of playing into destiny’s hand. When their father finally does abandon them in the woods, she has a hard decision to make.

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Name: Hansel

Age: 16

Hair: Shaggy, but shorter than his sister’s, as golden blond as his sister‘s (as their birth mother’s was), and cut to curl upward all around his face.

Eyes: Blue

Build: Lanky, muscular from this work but too thin

Clothing/Costume: pants and a coat that matches his sister’s but it slightly longer. Boots with holes in them.

Job: Woodcutting with his father, but he did other woodwork for their nearest neighbors before they all died or moved away.

Behavior: Optimistic, excitable. Smiles even though he’s starving to death. Believes in following one’s “true path.” Loves his little sister, but sometimes his excitement leaves him less than protective.

Same Affiliations and Backstory as Gretel, accept he wants to follow fate.

*The forest was dark and deep and, most of all, cold. Gretel sat down upon the frosted ground, her bare feet curled under her skirt. This was it, the third morning. The third day since their father had left them, the third day since they had eaten more than a few berries and stale crust. And yet, Hansel stood a few paces away, staring into the woods with a small smile at the corner of his mouth.*

Gretel: “We’re lost, Hans. The further we go, the more lost we become. We need to go east of here, and south.” *Her jaw stiffened.*

Hansel: “No, sister, we need to go in the opposite direction--lost three days were they two, before the bird appeared. It’ll happen today, little sister, I promise.”

Gretel: *frowning* “That’s what worries me!”

*The two stared at one another, both with lowered brows, but, finally, Hansel shrugged his shoulder, his aggravation turning to amusement.*

Hansel: “Little sister.” *He sighed, bending down to put an arm around her shoulders.* “You shouldn’t be afraid. . .”

Gretel: “But Hansel, we only know half of Prophet Grimm’s tale-- and we don’t even know if we’re the two he was speaking of! After all, we’re not exactly children.”

*Hansel dismissed her with a wave.*

Hansel: “I know. I know it with all my heart… And this will be a tale of riches and adventure. I’m sure.”

*Gretel slowly stood, staring at her brother with a hard gaze.*

Gretel: “How can you even think of such things-- riches, Hans? Riches?” *She crossed her arms, guarding herself from the cold.* “You dream too much. Me, brother? I don’t dream. I remember, instead. I remember that our parents chose to abandon us.”

*Gretel rarely raised her voice, but when she did, all took notice. Her words left the forest strangely silent for a moment.*

Hansel: *licking his chapped lip, his voice was softer when it returned* “They were only doing as they were supposed to do. You’ll understand that soon enough.”

*Gretel shook her head, stunned by his persistence, by his still apparent smile. Before she could reply, a nearby limb shook with new weight, and then again when the weight disappeared… What landed on the ground in front of them was a fat, white snow-bird. The animal cocked its head, staring at them before bouncing back and repeating the move. Gretel didn’t need to be told what it meant: this was his sign.*

Hansel: “See! I told you!”

Gretel: “I didn’t doubt that part, Hans….”

*Hansel moved forward, following the bird, but he paused when he realized his sister wasn’t with him. He raised a brow at her.*

Gretel: “I’m not going.”

Hansel: “But, Gretel…”

Gretel: *shaking her head* “I’m not. I’m off to find the road. If you want to chase a prophecy, then do so. But I will not.”

*Gretel couldn’t recall what her last words with her brother were, or how his arms felt when they wrapped around her… All she could remember is that he left, following a bird, and she in the opposite direction. She walked, and she walked, and she thought to herself…*

Gretel: :: Once upon a time, I would have been afraid of this… of wolves and monsters and no bread…:: “Not anymore.” *For a split second, she thought of trying to find home. But she wouldn’t return there, either. Anger gave her will strength and she marched away, determined to live and to not have her future planned out for her…*

Name: Annabellah

Age: 20

Hair: Auburn brown

Eyes: warm brown

Build: Medium height, she has a few extra pounds on her, but they are all in the right places, making her look better, instead of chubby

Clothing/Costume: Blue sundress, with a white, long sleeve shirt under it, and a white apron. She wears flat, black shoes, tied to her feet with blue ribbon. They tie at her ankles.

Job: ledger keeper and secretary for her father, a merchant.

Behavior: Loves her life, and usually quite a joy to be around. She sometimes annoys people by singing too much, but they usually get over it because she sings well. When around her family and friends, she has a sarcastic sense of humor, for everyone else, it’s just very dry. Just as she is usually cheerful, she has a dark side, a Nega-Annabellah, if you will, that is depressing and sarcastic in the extreme. Free thinking.

Affiliations: THE Trading Company, Books-R-We.

Backstory: Middle child of three, Annabellah is a psudo tomboy. She likes to horseback ride, and work with her hands in all of the dirty stuff, but she is sweet on her father, and will do all of the girly girl things he wishes she would do. Annabellah sorta took over being the mom figure after their mom died in the current famine. Her mother didn’t starve, but famines also bring death by various diseases, one of which killed her mother. She now goes to work with her father, trying to help keep his now struggling business afloat. Her sisters, one older and one younger, usually get along with her pretty well. Her older sister, Chastity, is constantly out courting, and generally, for lack of a better phrase, being a total slut. Her younger sister, Irene, is out at all hours, trying to solve mysteries, usually ending up with her causing a fight, but she can give as well as she can get. Because Annabellah love to read so much, she has read many of the Prophets’ works, and has noticed, based on her research of past events and the Prophets’ stores, a definite pattern. A pattern, that many of which seem similar to her current situation. She is unsure if she wants to follow these patterns or not. Time will tell…