This table contains commentary on my character to clarify the concept and motives, provide some out of character goals, list relevant characters applicable to Neils' backstory, and provide the requisite roleplay sample asked for in the application process.
Neils grew up wishing that his eyes were purple. His mother's were, his brother's were, but not his. He dreamed that one day he would wake up, and they wouldn't be brown anymore, but instead that clear, piercing color signalling his abilities as a Psychic. That day never came, and Neils grew more and more disillusioned with human psionic power as he grew up. It distanced him from his mother who spent her time coaching Neils' brother in how to control his power. To distract himself from reality, Neils turned his attention to other kinds of occult, perhaps as vestiges of dreams never come to pass. He found himself in one of Cinnibar's smaller arcane libraries studying various other applications of magic, where it quickly became clear that he had no potential as a mage. The reading was interesting however, and Neils poured over the texts more as a testament to dedication rather than its ability to practically improve his life. It was during these exploratory stages that the 10 year old caught the eye of Ibis Blackwell, who frequented the library. She didn't approach him for years however, and Neils didn't even know that he'd become the object of interest for a Charizard Knight.
It was about this time that the dreams started coming to Neils. Well, nightmares might be a better phrase for it. Tortured landscapes frequented by a black shadow that loomed over him. Each night he experienced some new torment, and he quickly began to avoid sleep altogether. Bags quickly developed under his eyes, and Neils lost weight that he didn't have to begin with. For a whole year Neils was scared to go to bed, because the monsters were not under the bed. They were inside his brain. They wormed his way into his consciousness no matter what half-baked herbal remedies his father tried.
It was a year before Rem arrived. The Munna found Neils slumped over a book, unable to keep his eyes open any longer. Rem had been drawn by the intensity of Neils' nightmares, which appeared to the pink floral creature as a veritable feast. It quickly latched onto Neils' head and began to to consume Neils' tortured dreams. As the Munna ate, Neils' head cleared and, for the first time in over a year, he slept soundly. After the awkward first encounter of waking up to find a giant pink fetus latched to his head, Neils quickly accepted Rem as a companion. The Munna desired Neils' dreams as sustenance, and Neils quickly became addicted to the rest he got when Rem consumed his nightmares. It was a symbiotic relationship of the oddest sort. The constant nightly contact with Rem, with all of the intimacy of dream sharing, eventually began to develop the only supernatural ability that Neils would ever have the potential to learn: Channeling. While it wasn't the psychic powers he desired as a child, Neils took great pride in this skill. It meant that he was special, that he had something that others didn't. And to Neils, that made all the difference.
With Rem at his side, Neils began to hone his research, focusing his attention on the world of dreams and dream interpretation, discovering just what kind of Pokemon Rem was, and the limits of its abilities. He religiously began to harvest the dream mist that Rem produced for use in his experiments. He even discovered that he could evolve Rem with a moon stone and immediately did so. When he finally learned to share senses with Rem, he began to accompany Rem in reading other's dreams. The mind became an object of fixation for him. It was incredible, capable of literally anything imaginable. By venturing into the dreams of others, Neils got a high stronger than any Qwilfish quill could produce. It was an intoxicating experience that even he struggles to describe in words. Every day Neils would slip inside Rem's mind while it read dreams, oftentimes without the subject's permission. He studied how he could use the dreams of others to learn things, gain an advantage, and explore their hopes and fears, and quickly began to develop plans for his future, knowing that he finally had a skill that could allow him to get ahead in the world.
Well into his own research and experiments, Ibis Blackwell approached him once more, this time with a gift. She presented him with a baby Abra, one from her own brood. She told him what he already knew, that his specialized skillset and abilities showed promise. The woman was famous for getting her chosen trainers into cherished positions, although Neils knew of her penchant for manipulation. He finally had his opportunity. All he had to do was prove himself. And so he finally began to study as a trainer, practicing battle techniques, evolving the Abra into a more skilled Kadabra, and developing battle techniques uniquely suited to his own interests.
When Neils had proved himself in battle a couple times against other young trainers, Ibis finally approached him again, this time with more than just a gesture of support and encouragement. She said that she had acquired a spot in the Knights for any youth she decided deserved a shot. She said that Neils might just be that person. She said that she'd need a favor before she could formally reccomend him however. Ever the ambitious one, Neils leaped at the chance to join the prestigious organization, realizing that he would soon be too old for consideration. All Ibis wanted was for Neils to spend a week reading and recording the dreams of the daughter of Yvonne Brielle, Ibis's staunchest rival. With his predisposition to dislike psychics already, Neils quickly agreed and spent a week reading the girl's dreams. While he didn't find any of the dreams particularly revealing, Ibis seemed pleased with his work and informed him that his training as a Knight would begin tomorrow, and, most importantly, not to be late.
Neils is meant to be a rather ruthless character. He's not a cold blooded killer, but he also doesn't care whom he knocks down in his quest to get to the top. As for what I envision his abilities and pokemon ending up being, think a less extreme version of Scarecrow from the Batman franchise. Of course, Neils understands the importance of team play. He doesn't have brute force on his side yet, and if working in a group is what it takes to get ahead then he'll do it. He'll also abandon them as soon as its advantageous, but having long term allies is a necessity in the world, and Neils understands that. In short, his cruel pragmatism won't interfere with a team game.
The dark figure in his dreams is, ooc, meant to be Darkrai. If feasible, I want Neils to end up a Touched of Darkrai. If that isn't a route you're interested in, Neils works totally fine without those influences. Neils knows nothing about this in character and has no idea that Darkrai even exists. This allows the power to be in your hands as to the development of that aspect of his character over time.
As far as plot hooks and such to build on, there's his own dreams, his relationship with Ibis, his fear of being caught by Yvonne all can be manipulated to make him dance whatever dance is needed. What Ibis found in Anak's dreams is up to you, though she's certainly plotting something.
Finally, I don't know if Neils has any control over this or not, but right now I want his eventual title to be Knightmare. If he survives that long of course.
'The Headhunter' Ibis Blackwell
As a Charizard Knight, Ibis Blackwell doesn't fit the norm. She's more concerned with amassing support among the younger generations than riding into battle. She handpicks recruits that show promise and gifts them with one of her Abra. Ibis has singlehandedly built up a small Abra population on the island, and they trust her nearly unconditionally. Any trainer with an Abra on the island is generally recognized as her subordinate, and releasing the Pokemon is tantamount to a declaration of loyalty to the woman. This alliance which comes with pros and cons however, as she is not the most popular knight around. After decades of recruiting, her allies are finally rising into positions of significance, though this hasn't changed older knight's opinions on her. Ibis specializes in psychic type Pokemon but despises Psychics, especially Yvonne Brielle. Most assume that Ibis is simply jealous of Yvonne's powers. Ibis's Charizard is also somewhat derided by the Knights, causing further friction between her and much of the order. It's the size of a Charmeleon, and it enjoys delving into the minds of those nearby with its Telepathic powers. Between her own skills at manipulating people and her Charizard's unique skills, Ibis has finally become something of a power figure in the Knights, able to manipulate things from behind the scenes using others as her puppets.
Neils has a mixed relationship with Ibis. On one hand he respects her, her ability to create allies and dispose of them when convenient. Ibis gave Neils his start, the opportunity to move up in the world. She gave him his second Pokemon, and she supported his research. They are of the same cloth, and they want similar things. However, Neils also realizes that both view the other as nothing more than a tool. Neils understands that he owes Ibis favors, several of them, and they'll only get bigger the higher he rises. Eventually Neils will have to cut ties with Ibis, but he can't afford to do so until he has enough of a position to do so safely.
Yvonne Brielle, the Psychic Warrior
Yvonne is one of the few psychics who serve as part of the Charizard Knights. A capable Telepath and Warper, Yvonne is an aggressive Knight, both politically and militarily. Unlike Ibis, her team is full of brutes, bruisers who prefer to chomp and smash than manipulate. Her Charizard is a giant, not nearly as big as Kasai's mount, but still a giant. It particularly enjoys swallowing Tauros whole, but Tauros are scarce on the island. She and Ibis Blackwell despise each other in a well known and well publicized feud. However, just like Ibis, Yvonne isn't the most popular Knight around. Her comrades are intrinsically skeptical of Psychics, and Yvonne is well known for being more than willing to dip into other people's minds to get an edge. Naturally this upsets a number of the Knights, but there's little they can do about it.
Neils has never met Yvonne, but he did read her daughter's dreams and take them to her sworn enemy, so he'd prefer to avoid meeting her any time soon. It doesn't help that he's an unofficial subordinate of Ibis. That being said, there's no reason for her to ever suspect him of anything because theoretically nobody knows he read the daughter's dreams. So everything should be ok right? One can dream I suppose.
As Neils waited, he tried to ignore the itch in his head. No, itch wasn't the right word. It felt as if someone had let a very small Ekans worm its way inside his brain, and the Ekans wasn't gentle with its movements. He glanced at the perpetrator, Ibis's Charizard, as it sat contently on its perch. It was small, about the size of a Pidgeotto, one of the smallest Charizards on the island. It also didn't seem to care the Neils could feel its every move as it maneuvered through his brain.
The lizard seemed to take offense at Neils observation of its relatively tiny size though, and Neils winced as it twisted something inside of his mind. It's lip curled malevolently, and it let out a soft purr at Neils' reaction to the invasion. He decided it was best to focus his attention elsewhere and surveyed the room for what seemed like the hundredth time.
The room was cozy, filled with small poufs, paintings, and little containers of incense that burned slowly in the soft light. Platters of expensive food sat on the desk, bits of juicy roasted Tepig sausage and the finest fruits of The Volcano. This was a place of creature comforts, a place meant to entertain and show off the owner's wealth to whomever they desired. Of course, Neils wasn't allowed on any of the poufs, and the food was not for him, but Neils didn't expect it to be.
Ibis had been silent for several minutes as she paged through the documents that Neils had brought her. She had her mousy brown hair tied back in a bun, and her spectacles lay low on her nose. She looked like a mage in her scholars robe, though Neils knew that she had no supernatural abilities whatsoever, as much as the woman might want to. Her lips were pursed. They always looked like that however, so Neils didn't take it as a sign that his work had been unsatisfactory. Of course, he didn't even know if she was actually reading the document. Her eyes were moving across the pages, but for all he knew she was talking with her sadistic Charizard about what was inside his head.
Said Charizard obviously heard his thoughts, as another jolt of pain coursed through his head, and Neils put his hand on the back of an eagle backed chair to keep himself from collapsing. Get it together Neils he thought quickly, turning his attention to anything, anything but the Charizard. Today was one day he could not afford to muk up. Almost instinctively he slipped one of the dream vials out of its holster and began spinning it between his fingers with the ease of long practice. It calmed him, and kept him from speaking too eagerly.
He watched Ibis carefully, measuring her reactions to his work. It was a series of narrative entries and rough sketches that approximated the dreams of Anak Brielle, daughter of Ibis's most vocal opponent in the Knights and initiate of the Knights for a little over a year. What she hoped to gain from the transcripts he wasn't sure, but there had been nothing especially unique about what was inside of Anak's head. Fear of bug types could be used as an embarrassment tool, but otherwise it just seemed like a lot of nonsense with tall men with odd hats rising out of the ground and wishful dreams of fighting alongside her mother. It was what Ibis wanted though. If it meant he had a spot in the Charizard Knights, then he'd record as many dreams of Anak showing up to morning drills naked as Ibis wanted him to.
As the pause dragged on, Neils finally decided to speak up. But not rushed. Slowly. Carefully. Each word measured for its benefits and potential pitfalls. This was not the time to lose his footing. I was surprised at the lack of protection around Anak's barraks, he said. I would have thought the Knights would have taken precautions against nighttime attacks, but it seems that they're growing complacent. He hoped the comment would appeal to her sense of superiority over the other Knights, including those who ran the barracks and training regimes. Their failure to post a guard, when he knew very well that she never slept with less than two Kadabra outside her door, would put her in a good mood.
Ibis didn't respond. She didn't even look at him. It was as if his words were as irrelevant as the waves that crashed futilely against the northern crags. Neils decided not to speak again as the woman continued to silently page through his notes and drawings. She was almost at the very end when she paused, and a smile creased her lips as she read through one of Neils' transcripts. With an abrubt change of pace she put his notes aside and looked at him, a smile as false as a ditto on her face, and her voice was warm with false affection.
I must say that I'm quite happy with your work Neils. This is exactly what I was hoping for. She took a sheet parchment on her desk and slid it across the table. You skill at recording dreams has improved, although your interpretations are woefully inadequate. This will do just nicely for what I have in mind. Her grin indicated that she enjoyed knowing things that Neils didn't, and it was clear to everyone in the room that Neils had no idea what she had found. That was Ibis, constantly maneuvering herself into power positions, even when she had her target in the palm of her hands. That was why he respected her more than most others. That was also why he knew to be wary of her.
Neils took the documents and paged through them quickly, verifying the contents. There it was, the seal of the Charizard Knights and an invitation to come for orientation under the sponsorship of Ibis Blackwell. He slipped the documents into his bag. He did not thank Ibis, and Ibis did not ask for it. This was payment for services rendered, with the price agreed on long ago. One did not give thanks for a job well done when favors changed hands. Of course, Neils still owed Ibis loyalty and service, but he would never work for free. Transaction complete, Neils turned to go and began to leave Ibis's study.
Oh, and Neils? He stopped at the door, hand on the ornate brass handle, looking back at her. All the warmth had left Ibis's voice.
Don't muk it up