Heraldic OC Questions.

Heraldic OC Questions.

Here is a little list of OC Questions based on some Animal Charges used in Gallo-British Heraldry (obviously this is not an exhaustive list and there are plenty of other Heraldic traditions, such as German-Nordic, Latin and East European).

Lions: Bravery.

Is your OC seen by others as particularly brave or courageous? Is this view accurate?

What is their greatest fear? Have they ever had to confront this?

How do they steel themselves to overcome something they fear?

Are they too proud to admit to being scared? Or are they happy to admit when something frightens them?

Have they always been particularly brave or cowardly? Or has this changed over the course of their journey? Have the things they have seen and overcome inured them to things that would terrify the average person? Or have their experiences so damaged them that they are precipitated into anxiety by things that others would take in their stride?

Are they good at helping others to master their fear and able to encourage them to be brave in the face of danger or anxiety? What is their strategy for achieving this?

Dogs: Faithfulness and Reliability.

Is your OC someone that others can rely upon? Is this true in all situations or only certain ones? Can they (for example) be relied upon to back up their friends in a fight, but not to remember their birthdays?

Is your OC loyal to their friends or their family, regardless of the rights and wrongs of a specific situation? Or can they set aside personal loyalty when judging a person's actions or behaviour?

Has your OC ever been unfaithful to a partner? What led to this?

Has their faithfulness to another person ever been tested? What might tempt them to cheat on a partner or betray an oath in the future?

Who relies most upon your OC? Is it their children? A partner or lover? An employer or leader? How does the idea of letting this person (or people) down feel to them?

Is your OC as faithful (whether to another person or to a set of beliefs or principles etc.) as they like others to believe? How important is it to them to be seen as trustworthy or pious? Alternatively, how important is it to them that others see them as an unprincipled rake or scoundrel?

Stags: Wisdom and Long Life.

Has your OC inherited any traditional or "folk" wisdom from their upbringing? What value do they place upon this?

Does your OC have a notable respect for their elders? Do they believe that older people have the wisdom of experience? Or do they tend to think that older people have just had longer for their stupidity to become ingrained?

Has your OC ever been told something that they consider particularly wise? Did they think so at the time? Or is it only with the benefit of hindsight that they see the truth of it?

Does your OC expect to live a long life? Do they take active steps to ensure they will be healthy and comfortable in old age? Or do they believe that they will die before then, perhaps violently, as a consequence of their lifestyle or role?

Would your OC rather have a long, but dull or unremarkable, life or to burn brightly for a shorter time? If the latter, then what would they like to achieve or experience that is more important to them than living into old age?

What distinction does your OC make between "wisdom" and "cleverness"? Do they see one or the other as more valuable or worthy of respect?

Eagles: Power and Nobility.

How comfortable is your OC around those who are politically or socially powerful? Do they make a point of being especially deferent? Are they interested (or particularly capable) in playing the social game by being obsequious to their "betters"?

Does your OC consider themselves to be powerful? If so, then how important is it to them that others see them as such? If not, then would they like to be more powerful than they are? Would this be to feel safer? Or in order to impose their will upon others?

How aware of social class is your OC? Are they conscious of their position in society? Do they look down upon certain social groups (such as tradespeople or servants)?

Do they believe that it is achievable to move between social classes? For example, would they see it as possible (or even desirable) for someone of a lower social class to join the upper classes if they suddenly became very wealthy? Or do they make a distinction between class and (for example) the mere wealth of the nouveau riche.

Given the choice, would your OC prefer to be loved or feared by others?

What does "nobility" mean to your OC? Is there a moral or social code by which they live? What values drive them? Are there some that they reject?

Hares: Speed.

How important is efficiency to your OC? Will they always choose the fastest route or the least wasteful approach to a task? Or do they prefer to dawdle whenever possible?

Is your OC a fast talker? Or do they take their time over their words? Does this change when they are excited or anxious?

Is your OC particularly impatient with those slower than themselves? Or are they able to make allowances for them in accordance with their needs or age?

Has your OC ever rushed to complete something and then regretted missing out a detail or opportunity as a result? Or have they ever taken too long over a task or decision and lost out on a possible reward or outcome that they now regret?

Does your OC prefer activities or jobs that are frantic or require quick responses and decisions? Or are they more drawn to slow and contemplative roles, with more planning and reflection?

How quickly does your OC bounce back from failure or rejection? Do they appear to recover faster to others than is actually the case?

Badgers: Endurance.

Does your OC have notable stamina or a particularly hardy constitution? Are they able to undertake hard physical work when required?

Is your OC stoic in the face of adversity? Are they able to manage hardship without complaint? Or do they tend to moan and complain? Does this depend on the nature of the challenge? Or even on who is around at the time?

What was the most difficult time of your OC's life? What helped them to get through this? Have they recovered fully?

What is the most difficult thing about your OC that others around them have to put up with? Are they remotely aware of this (alleged) fault? And do they have the slightest intention of addressing it?

Does your OC have a particularly high pain threshold? Are they a good patient? Do they ever exaggerate an illness or injury for attention? Conversely, do they ever minimise the seriousness of their pain in order to avoid worrying others?

When your OC is enduring hardship or suffering, what do they hold onto in order to get through it? Is there a particular philosophy they reflect upon? A mantra they repeat to themselves? Or are they driven more by bitter spite? Or a stubborn refusal to allow themselves to be defeated?

OC Questions on the Seven Colours of Medieval Heraldry.

A little list of OC questions based on colour symbolism in Medieval English Heraldry. This is a very simplified version of the subject, which is unlikely to impress any serious Medievalists and is intended more for the purposes of entertainment than education.

Gules (Red) - Military Fortitude and Magnanimity.

Does your OC have any experience in the military? Perhaps they come from a long line of soldiers or army leaders? Or were they conscripted or press-ganged into an army at a young age? If they have not had a formal position in an army, then what is their view of the military mindset and hierarchies they have observed?

Does your OC believe in the concept of a "just war" or do they believe that all conflict is to be deplored? Could they conceive of a justifiable reason for one nation to invade another - perhaps to free an oppressed people or prevent the development of a dangerous technology? Or would they only support a war of defence against an aggressor?

Is your OC usually magnanimous in victory - whether against a defeated foe, or against a friend in a game or competition? Or perhaps they enjoy exulting in their success at the expense of others? Perhaps with ribald mockery or spiteful vengeance?

What has been the most difficult thing your OC has ever had to forgive (assuming they have ever done so)? Did they do this of their own accord? Or only after they felt justice had been done or penitence suitably demonstrated?

Does your OC harbour resentment towards a particular person, group or faction? Or are they perhaps part of a widely resented group themselves?

Azure (Blue) - Loyalty and Truth.

Does your OC have a guiding principle by which they live their life - such as duty, self-restraint or vengeance? Has this ever been tested by circumstance or challenged by another person?

Is your OC loyal to a particular nation, clan or social group? How far would they go in ensuring the safety and success of this faction?

How confident is your OC of the loyalty of their companions, lovers or followers? Do they ever feel tempted to test this through spying upon them? Or by engineering circumstances where their loyalty might be tested?

Is your OC honest about their true loyalties? Or are they happy to feign belief in a cause or leader in hopes of material (or other) reward?

Does your OC believe that people should only believe or take inspiration from something if it is actually true? Or are there circumstances where a motivating lie is to be preferred to an awkward or uncomfortable truth?

Sable (Black) - Constancy and Grief.

Is your OC consistent in their behaviour and responses? Or do others see them as unpredictable or even capricious at times? Are there factors at play dictating their reactions of which others might be unaware?

Has your OC always been fundamentally the same person? Or would someone from their past struggle to recognise the person they have become?

Is your OC comfortable in expressing their grief? Such as by crying at funerals or memorial events? Or do they always keep their emotions intensely private? Or perhaps not express them at all?

Has your OC always feared the loss of the same thing - perhaps a loved one, a valuable artifact or a carefully nurtured reputation? Or do they look back with amusement on what once felt important to them?

Does your OC believe that they will be mourned when they die? Or do they suspect they will be quickly forgotten - or even hope that this will be the case?

Vert (Green) - Hope, Joy and Fidelity.

Does your OC feel comfortable expressing feelings of joy - do they laugh or smile easily? Or do they have a constantly stern or dour countenance? If so is this entirely genuine? Or something they feel they need to maintain for the sake of appearances?

How hopeful is your OC about the future? Do they see things as becoming better in general - either for them personally or the world at large? Or do they feel as if decline and disaster are inevitable and all that can be done is to delay the final end for as long as possible?

What makes your OC laugh (if they laugh at all)? Do they have an intellectual or ironic sense of humour? Or do they prefer ribald jokes or slapstick routines?

Does your OC believe in the importance of fidelity in romantic relationships? Or does it not worry them so long as a lover or spouse never discovers their peccadillos in this regard? Conversely do they worry or obsess over the loyalty of their partner or partners?

If your OC could be granted one wish for the future, but could only wish on behalf of another person, who would they choose? And for what would they wish?

Purpure (Purple) - Majesty, Sovereignty and Justice.

Does your OC find it easy to express deference or homage to someone of high social standing? Or is this something they would only do if it benefitted them directly? Or for the sake of a scheme or intrigue?

Is your OC comfortable in the higher echelons of society, such as aristocratic functions or assemblies of the rich and powerful? Or do they prefer to avoid these events if possible?

Does your OC feel that exchanges of ideas or customs between nations or cultures can be positive? Or do they fear the dilution or devaluing of one culture by another? Has there ever been a foreign cultural practice they have adapted for themselves? Or are they fiercely loyal to their own cultural inheritance?

Does your OC have a strong belief in the importance of justice? If so what does justice mean to them? Do they follow the philosophy of "an eye for an eye"? Or are they careful in distinguishing between justice and revenge? Is this the case even if they consider themselves to be the injured party?

Does your OC believe that there can ever be fair and just relations between nations or tribal groups? Or do they assert that might will always make right when it comes to interactions between such factions?

Or (Gold) - Worthy Ambition.

Does your OC have a long-term goal or ambition to which they are constantly working? Or do they tend to bounce chaotically from situation to situation, with no clear plan or sense of what the future may bring?

Does your OC have any wishes or desires of which they are ashamed or otherwise wish to keep secret? Or do they loudly proclaim their every wish to those around them?

Is your OC part of a wider group or organisation working towards a shared goal? If so, then do they always agree with their associates on the correct strategy to adopt? Or are there frequently tensions or disagreements in this regard?

Does your OC have political ambitions, or a strong desire for power or influence? Or are they content to leave the messy business of governance and politicking to others and focus on smaller or more immediate goals?

What does your OC consider to be the noblest or most admirable ambition for a person to hold? Perhaps spreading a particular religious faith? Or improving the lives of the poor? Or even perfecting their own martial skill?

Argent (Silver) - Peace and Sincerity.

Does your OC feel comfortable during times of peace? Or do they only truly know who they are during times of war or conflict? Do they always need an "enemy" to focus upon? Or even just a rival?

Is there a certain person, group or faction with whom your OC believes peace would never be possible? Is this due to their diametrically opposing beliefs? Their historical actions? Or their fundamental untrustworthiness?

Does your OC find it easy to be sincere when expressing their views or feelings? Or do they prefer to adopt an air of detached irony? If so, then why is this the case? Do they fear rejection or mockery by others?

Do others find your OC easy to believe? Or is there something about them that makes others distrustful or cynical about their motives or trustworthiness?

Is your OC a pacifist? Or have they ever had pacifist sympathies? If they have changed their position on such things then what caused this shift? If they reject pacifist arguments, perhaps because they believe that violence can be justified in self-defence, then how do they respond to those who believe in pursuing peace at any cost? Do they see them as weak or naïve? Or as idealists whose ideas deserve serious consideration?

YORHA NO.3 TYPE B — SORA AMARIYO

“I never thought I would return to the place where it all began. It is here that I was born—created, from methods that humanity viewed as vile. For countless days and nights I endured the monotony of destruction. I was given life without meaning or purpose… until the seed of will grew in this empty vessel and filled my body with the power to break free from the shackles of fate. I may have rewritten my destiny, but I cannot erase my past. It is a burden I must continue to shoulder… even as I journey into Norvrandt’s everlasting light.”

OC Questions on the Seven Forms of Love.

A little list of OC questions based on the seven types of love identified in Ancient Greek thought. Obviously this is a highly simplified presentation of some quite complex philosophical concepts from Classical History, intended more for the purposes of entertainment than education. I also left out Mania, which is arguably an eighth type of love (Obsessive), because I'm keeping it mostly positive in these tricky times!

Eros – Romantic, Passionate Love.

Is your OC romantic in the traditional sense? Do they enjoy giving or receiving gifts of flowers or confectionary? Or are there other courtship traditions from their culture of origin that are important to them?

How important is sex to them in a relationship? Do they see it as something essential to their happiness? Would they be able to remain in a monogamous relationship with someone they loved without sex?

How do they feel about public displays of romantic affection? Does it make them uncomfortable? How do they feel if a romantic partner kisses them in public?

Do they believe in love at first sight? Have they ever developed a crush or romantic (or erotic) fixation upon a stranger based on their appearance alone?

How closely is their opinion of their own beauty (or lack thereof) linked to their confidence? Do they see themselves as more or less worthy of love or sex based on how attractive they feel?

Philia – Affectionate, Platonic Love.

Does your OC have a Best Friend? If they do then how long have they known each other and how did they meet? If they don't then do they have a close group of friends they love equally? Or are they more of a loner?

Does your OC find it easy to make friends? Or are there barriers to them doing so? If so then are these due to issues of inclination, communication, or something else entirely?

What qualities does your OC most value in a friend? Loyalty? Shared sense of humour? Or something else?

Is your OC able to build close friendships with people very different from themselves? Perhaps in terms of culture, age or personality?

What is their most fervent wish for their best friend(s)? How far would they go to make it happen?

Storge – Unconditional, Familial Love.

Did your OC's parents love them unconditionally? If so then has this helped them feel confident as an adult? If not then how has this affected them? What were the conditions their family attached to their relationship?

Does your OC have children? If so then how fiercely do they love them? If they have more than one then do they love them all equally? If they do not have children then is this part of their future plans?

How far does parental approval (imagined or expressed) impact upon their current sense of self-worth? What might they sacrifice or attempt to achieve in order to ensure the approval of their parents?

Does your OC have any siblings? If so then did their parents have a favourite growing up? Has their relationship with their sibling changed in adulthood? If they don't have any siblings then do they perhaps feel they have missed out on an important relationship? Do they have any especially close friends who go some way towards filling that role?

Is your OC able to love without necessarily needing or expecting reciprocation or reward? Or are all their relationships to some extent transactional? Have they ever loved another person unconditionally, whether a child or another adult?

Agape – Selfless, Universal Love.

Does your OC wish to make the world a better place? How far do they see that as being their responsibility? What lengths would they go to in order to help achieve this?

Does your OC feel a spiritual connection to the world around them? Do they have a particular love for nature or living things?

To what extent does your OC believe in the value (or even existence) of true altruism? Do they see an unselfish concern for the welfare of others as being naïve or foolish? Or as a moral quality to which people should aspire?

Does your OC have a religious faith which emphasises the importance of a love for all people? If so then do they try to follow these teachings authentically? Or do they just pay lip-service to them? If not then do they follow a more martial or mercantile faith? Or none at all?

Does your OC find it easy to empathise with their enemies? Or do they see it as important to dehumanise them in order to combat them with sufficient determination?

Ludus – Playful, Flirtatious Love.

Does your OC have any particular favourite chat up lines? If not for themselves then perhaps ones they have suggested to a friend? How effective do these tend to be?

Is your OC particularly skilled at flirting? Have they had to practice this or does it just happen naturally?

How does your OC feel about one night stands? Have they ever enjoyed a night of passionate romance with a stranger? Is this something they are quite keen on recreationally? Or only something they might engage in under specific circumstances (such as the eve of a battle or after a difficult breakup)?

Who was your OC's first crush? How do they feel about it now?

What seduction techniques are most likely to be effective when it comes to your OC? Are there some things guaranteed to get them going? Or are they immune to such things?

Pragma – Committed, Long-Lasting Love.

Is your OC in a committed long-term relationship (or relationships)? If so then what has contributed to this relationship lasting so well? If they are not in such a relationship, then is this something that saddens them or which they regret?

What is the biggest challenge that your OC has had to overcome in a long-term relationship or friendship? What helped them get through this?

Are your OC's parents still together? To what degree do they look to their own parents as a model for their own ideal relationship?

After the initial fires of passion cool to some degree, what would keep your OC engaged in a relationship? Shared goals? Similar values? Or contented companionship?

What importance or value does your OC attach to marriage? Do they believe that it is important to make a public statement of commitment to another person (or persons)? Or are they more concerned about inheritance rights and security for their family? Or do they not see marriage as a necessary signifier of commitment and loyalty?

Philautia – Self Love.

Does your OC have a healthy sense of their own worth and value? Or do they see themselves as failing to live up to their original potential? Perhaps they are convinced of their own sinful or inadequate nature?

Does your OC believe that it is important to love themselves in the first instance? Perhaps in order to be able to give and receive love authentically? Or because they believe first and foremost in "looking after number one"?

Does your OC judge themselves by the same standards as they apply to others? Or are they sometimes hypocritical in condemning others for faults they also possess? Or perhaps they find it easier to forgive others for things that they cannot abide in themselves?

Which of your OC's qualities makes them the most proud? Do they think more people should be like them in this regard? Or do they quite like being rare in possessing it?

Has your OC always had the same opinion of themselves or has this changed over time? Have they learned to love themselves - perhaps with the help of others - as their journey progressed? Or have the consequences of their actions only served to erode their sense of self-worth?

useful/fun character development questions for couples

there are a lot of “otp questions” lists out there but I just wanted to make a list that was specifically helpful for writers, especially for working out the technical stuff of conveying Romantic Love. so, here ya go, stuff to answer for each character

What, specifically, was the catalyst for their physical attraction (if applicable) to the other character? In other words, what in particular had them like “Oh, they’re...hot...”

Does this change over time? What things do they find “hot” about their partner after they’ve been together for some time, and have had more time to, well, notice and appreciate?

By contrast, what was the moment that first made their ~heart~ Soft for the other person? Not necessarily a conscious realization of “I love this person,” but a moment that had them like “Oh...I adore them...”

Does this change over time? What will always reliably make them melt with how much they adore the other character?

How do they consciously realize that they like the other character? Does it take them a while?

How do they react to the realization that they like the other character? Is it an “oh my god I’m never going to think about this again” thing, or are they pretty comfortable with it?

Do they (or would they) pursue the other character’s affection, and if so, how? Do they tell the other character how they feel? Try to earn their admiration? Woo them with romantic gestures? Flirt with them, skillfully or otherwise?

What do they think about romantic love? Do they have baggage surrounding it? Do they idealize it? Is it an object of longing and wanting, or were they really not thinking about it until they started falling for the other character? What are their expectations like?

What do they think about commitment? Is a long-term partnership the goal? Are they thinking about building a life with their partner, or are they focused on the present?

What scares them about entering a relationship?

What fears, past traumas, etc. would be hardest for them to talk about with their partner?

How much independence do they prefer in a relationship—do they want to share their lives as much as possible with their partner, or do they prefer to mostly do their own thing and let their partner do their own thing?

What is their go-to for making a partner feel loved?

What makes them feel loved? Would they build up the courage to ask for it?

What, for them, constitutes a level of intimacy that they would only rarely share with someone? This can be physical, emotional, etc.

If they had the ability to just spend free time with their partner, what would they do? Would they go out or stay inside?

Under what circumstances would they want to be left alone by their partner?

They’re going through something incredibly difficult—perhaps they’re very sick, have lost a loved one, or have gone through a traumatic event. Do they ask for or accept support and care from their partner, or try to isolate themselves?

Are they okay with public displays of affection? Do they like them?

When would they say “I love you?” Do they say it first? Do they say it often, or is it reserved for special moments?

If sex is something that would be part of a relationship for them, do both or either of them have prior experiences? If not, how do they feel about it?

What does sex mean for them? Socially, religiously, what attitudes are they bringing with them? Is “virginity” something they care about? Do they want sexual experiences to occur within a certain “level” of relationship, or does that not really matter so much to them?

How comfortable are they talking about, and openly communicating during, sex?

What would their partner do that would really turn them on, perhaps unintentionally?

They accidentally hurt or upset their partner. What happened? How do they respond? What do they do to make their partner feel better?

They have an argument with their partner—what is it about? Do things stay respectful, or is there some shouting and accusing going on?

They have to apologize to their partner. Is this difficult for them? How do they approach it?

How do they feel about the prospect of parenthood? Do they plan on it? How would they react if they suddenly found out they were going to be a parent?

What compromises are they making in their relationship?

What completely petty topic (music taste, favorite food) do they find themselves completely at odds with their partner about?

What little thing do they find incredibly (though harmlessly) annoying about their partner?

How do their friends react to finding out they’re a couple? Do they have lots of mutual friends? Did their friends know, perhaps before they themselves did?

Under what circumstances would they feel jealous?

Under what circumstances would they feel protective?

Would they get a pet? What kind? Who brings up the idea, and who takes a little longer to convince?

The Evermore Grimoire: Witches

Technopagan is a modern term for those who wield the power of technopathy. It's also a term that was coined by the older generation of witches who refused to acknowledge any of their own kind out of fear that they would become too powerful and uncontrollable. However over time the term "Technopagan" has slowly changed from being a stigma to one of empowerment and freedom against outdated stereotypes that no longer fit into today's society. Even those who don't wield this unique power may identify as a Technopagan as it could align with their own beliefs surrounding gender and sexuality. This also includes a desire to create safe spaces for young witches and warlocks as well modernise witchcraft as a whole in order to reflect the world of today. One things for sure, they're here to stay because they're the future of the magical community that must be nurtured in order to survive any future battles.

artwork by Małgorzata Motyka-Karnas