Altruous

[Deleted]

-Player Info-
Name/Alias: Toggs
IM/Email: [e-mail], AIM: Lady Grimlock


-Character Info-
Name: Altruous (He insists everyone younger than him call him Alti--which means just about everyone, since he’s ancient.)
Age (or human equivalent): late 50’s early 60’s
Gender (or human equivalent): Mech
Species: Cybertronian
Faction: Neutral
Original Occupation: Monk/Ordained Priest
Occupation/Specialization: Pastoral counseling/care, occasionally assumes the duties of a military chaplain


Appearance/Altmode:
Altruous is a weathered, time-worn old mech who comes up roughly to Optimus Prime’s shoulder. He’s getting on in years, so his frame-type is of a considerably outdated model, comprised of worn, weathered parts that aren’t as sturdy as they used to be. He has no paint-job to speak of, as his plates are simply gilded with aged copper that has corroded in places, leaving him speckled here and there with flecks of blue-green- especially around his joints and feet. Simply put, Altruous looks like he’s being held together with strings and prayers... which he is. Due to his age and ascetic lifestyle, his frame is not in the best of shape, and it shows. He moves slowly and with great care, as if something might break if he were to move to quickly, and his gait is uneven, belying an old leg-injury that never quite healed correctly. His alt-mode is a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter.


History:

Altruous was sparked during the waning years of the Age of Wrath, to the Order of Vector Sigma--a community of monks renown for their social conscience, philanthropic efforts, and their (somewhat unnervingly) self-sacrificing nature. Believing Vector Sigma to be a conduit of the will and power of Primus, the members of the order, (titled “Vectors”, in honor of the supercomputer they so revered), dedicated themselves to being living extensions of this conduit. Their characteristic philanthropy was likewise inspired by yet another holy site/concept/artifact - namely the Well of Allsparks. They took the phrase “Till all are one” to its logical extreme, believing that in death, all sparks would one day return to the Well and carry with them the happiness or suffering they experienced in life. United in death, all souls would become one, and the accumulative experiences they endured would be shared by all. Thus, the Order saw it as their duty to do whatever they could to better the lives of their people, so that their shared afterlife would be filled more with joy than suffering.

The particular monastery Altruous had been born to was built in the Sonic Canyons, where Vector Sigma was commonly believed to be buried, deep beneath Cybertron’s surface. Like his fellow Vectors, Altruous began life as a novitiate and spent the better half of his formative years undergoing deep spiritual training, studying the whole of his order’s doctrine in order to prepare himself (and to see if he was cut out for) the life of a monk. Once he completed this time of training, Altruous undertook his religious vows and was subsequently ordained into Vectorhood. As his fellow Vectors before him had done, Altruous chose the virtue which he felt was most important and needed in the world, and bound himself to it, vowing to act as its the living embodiment. Altruism was the virtue he chose, and as tradition dictated, he was renamed in honor of the cause he had sworn his life to.

Along with his fellow Vectors, Altruous lived his life according to what he believed to be the will of Primus, doing what he could to ensure peace and unity amongst Cybertronian kind so that they would never again be divided as they were during the War of the Primes, when the Thirteen set against themselves.

Needless to say, he and his order protested fiercely against the divisive caste system when it was first proposed, however, they were tragically ill-equipped to prevent it from being implemented. For all their charity work, and efforts to spread peace and promote unity, Altruous and his order were unable to do anything more than put a small dent in the growing civil unrest that followed in the wake of the new social order. The Order lacked both the funds and manpower with which to aid the growing number of destitute mecha living on the streets, or to better the quality of life for those unfortunate enough to be assigned to a low caste. There was only so much they could do, and what little they could just wasn’t enough to stem the tide of suffering and discontent that swept through their world.

Wishing to extend the reach of The Order beyond their monastery, Altruous used a modest sum of the money donated to the Order to set up a small chapel in a little run-down sector of Kaon, as he felt the destitute population there would be of most use of his services. He wasn’t wrong. His chapel became a sanctuary for those who had fallen through the cracks of the caste system - empties and disposables, mecha who were too ill or injured to work and had been promptly written off by their employers as useless. He offered a place of rest to those who needed it, and though he was not a formally trained medic, the free medical care he offered in his humble sanctuary was frequently sought out by the denizens of the area. Despite his lack of proper equipment and supplies, he found a way to make due with what little he had.

Then, when the whispers of rebellion finally began to turn into shouts, then into actions, Altruous did what he could to mediate peace--though more often than not all he could do was implore his congregation and passers-by to protest non-violently. His efforts, just as they had been when he and his fellow Vectors had protested against the caste system, were all in vain.

Gradually the protests turned into riots, which turned into militia attacks, which finally turned into all-out war.

Altruous took a neutral stance the moment the war was officially declared, and for years he did what he could to aid those caught in the crossfire between the two factions as their planet was ravaged by warfare. He stayed on Cybertron until the mass exodus, at which point he did what he could to help as many people off-world as he could - namely by securing them spots on transport ships they otherwise couldn’t have afforded to board, by calling in favors and using what little funds he had left to barter for their safe passage.

He finally evacuated the planet himself when a few of the loyal members of his congregation strong-armed him into a ship, by threatening to stay on the dying planet with him if he didn’t join them. (Among them was the mech that would one day be his bonded, but that is a story for another time.) Together with his small congregation, Altruous spent the majority of the war traveling through the stars, being both harmed and aided along the way by Autobots and Decepticons alike. Gradually, the number of mecha he traveled with began to decrease: some were lost to death, others left the group to join planet-bound colonies, and some even changed their minds about being neutral, and joined the warring factions.

One by one, circumstance forced his congregation to leave him, until he alone remained upon the ship they once shared together.

Separated from his bonded and without a single soul left to look out for, Altruous decided to make his way to the Milky Way galaxy, to see if the mecha rumored to be stationed there could use the aid of a lonely old mech who had a need to be useful, but no one to need him.


Personality:

The cross between Mr. Rogers and Bishop Myriel.

Some people think Altruous is an excessively sentimental old fool who’s far too forgiving and far too willing to give second (or third, or fourth) chances. They think he’s a terrible judge of character because he always assumes the best of others, and genuinely believes that there are a scarce few people in the universe who are genuinely beyond redemption. They think he has an unreasonable amount of patience, and that he doesn’t know when to give up on lost causes.

And those people are entirely, 100% correct. Altruous takes being kind and, well, altruistic, to the extreme. (The latter is his namesake, after all, so that shouldn’t be terribly surprising.) He is unreasonably generous, obscenely cheerful, and overly invested in the welfare of others--and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Altruous is is a kind, sweet old mech with a warm, welcoming disposition. Sparked into a sub-sect of the temple of Primus, he has been hard-coded to uphold the laws and principles of his faith. Specifically, the virtue for which he is named: Altruism. Altruous simply does not have it within himself to neglect others or disregard their welfare. Quite the contrary; the wellbeing of others is his ultimate concern. His life revolves around bettering the lives of those around him, no matter the personal expense he must pay in order to do so. As such he is considerate, thoughtful, and generous to a fault as he always--without exception--puts the needs of others before his own.

Needless to say this often puts him in positions where his own well being suffers in the place of others, however, Altruous has very little concern for himself so this has never really bothered him much. He has long since accepted his lot in life, and he does not fear suffering or death as he has the constant assurance that Primus is with him in all that he does and all that he experiences. He treats the deity as an old friend, one whom he talks to and confides in, one who he draws strength and assurance from. He sees no reason to fear death when he is confident that the Well exists and that his old friend will be waiting there for him with open arms when his time comes.

Of course, there is more to Altruous than his faith and his devotion to philanthropy. He is a very outspoken, passionate mech who loves to debate and chat aimlessly with whosoever would enjoy his company. He is a social-butterfly who flutters from person to person, attempting to make friends with everyone he meets. Failing that, he tries to at least brighten their day a bit with a joke or a story before letting them be on their way. Thanks to his boundless empathy, seeing others happy makes him happy, and so he makes an effort to be cheerful and strut about like a beacon of good-will. Gregarious and amiable, he opens his arms to anyone who might want his company---and a few who most certainly don’t. Altruous has been known to sit himself down next to the most reclusive of mecha and chatter away at them until they either leave or join him in conversation. He simply can’t stand the sight of someone looking lonely, and he makes an effort to be a companion for whoever is in need of one, regardless of their faction or even species. If someone is hurt, or lonely, or in need of advice, Altruous will never turn away from them.

As one would expect of a mech his age, Altruous is thoughtful and wisened by his millions of years of existence. He makes sound judgements which are backed by careful consideration and a lifetime’s worth of experience, and he has learned from his own follies and the follies of others. Despite his age, his mind--and wit--are considerably sharp, so despite his general rule about thinking the best of others, he is not easily deceived or lead astray. Likewise, he is a formidable opponent in debates, as his critical thinking skills and use of dual perspective allow him to construct solid, thoughtful arguments. He also has a wicked sense of humor and a silver tongue that can somehow make even the most filthy jokes sound almost tasteful, but he doesn’t use it much because it tends to take people by surprise. Apparently a priest telling a dirty joke is something most mecha have a hard time processing--who knew?

In summation, Altruous is simply so nice, so kind, so decent that it can actually a little frustrating to be around him at times, especially when he’s preaching about how hope springs eternal. He has devoted himself and his life to his faith, and strives to be the living embodiment of the virtue he is named after--- though at the end of the day, he is as fallible as any other mech, and he can’t always be as good of a person as he wants to be. He tries, though. That’s the important thing.

Key personality traits:

Excessively sentimental. People-oriented. Outspoken. Loves to debate. Non-judgemental. Generous. Tries to bring out the best in others. Passionate. Laid back. Considerate and thoughtful. Warm. Idealistic. Intuitive. Patient. Acts as a mediator and motivator. Selfless. Courteous. Empathetic. Altruistic to a fault. Compassionate. Gracious. Firm in his beliefs. Unshakable faith.


Likes: Company, conversation, religious discussions/exploration, telling and hearing stories, dad jokes, new cultures, sunny days, flowers, cooking, music, board games, watching sunsets/sunrises, waking up early, meditating, physical displays of affection (no, really, he WILL hug you if given half the chance), reminiscing, humming, long walks, whistling at birds, knick-knacks

Dislikes: Pain and suffering (witnessing it more than experiencing it), being a detriment to anyone or inconveniencing them in any way, sour candies, stormy weather, religious intolerance, high-grade (he’s just not fond of the taste, is all), abusers of power/authority, corruption, getting sand in his joints, being coddled due to his poor health


Strengths/Weapons:

What do you mean weapons? - Altruous is a priest who holds tight to his doctrine of nonviolence, and as such he is a staunch pacifist who has no weapons to speak of, save perhaps for his walking-staff which could theoretically be employed as a club of sorts in a pinch. The staff itself is made of reasonably strong metal, so it could probably be thwacked over someone’s head at least twice before bending and becoming useless. The head of the staff is equipped with a bulb which can shine a bright light equivalent to that given off by a typical lighthouse. While this light is meant for ceremonial purposes, it could be used to temporarily blind/distract aggressors. Over the years, a few modifications have been made to his staff to give it more practical usages, aside from being a walking aid/glorified flashlight - it can also function as a medical-scanning device, on par with those inbuilt in born-and-bred medics, and broadcast/receive telecommunication signals across great distances.

Unflinching resolve - Simply put, Altruous is a mech who cannot be swayed, intimidated, or brought to heel. He fears no mech, and bows to no one but his god. Attempts to threaten him are almost always met with a calm, impassive stare, unless it it someone else who is is being threatened with harm in his stead, and being subjected to physical violence only strengthens his resolve to keep defying whoever is raising their hand against him. Though his corroded body is slowly crumbling to dust, his iron will is as strong as ever.


Weaknesses:

Aside from being a pacifist who staunchly refuses to partake in battles, Altruous is an aging priest who has lived an ascetic lifestyle since the day he was sparked. This has resulted in his frame not being maintained as well as it should have, as its owner frequently neglected his own health for the sake of ensuring the resources which could have been used upon him would be saved for others. Unfortunately, this means Altruous’ frame is comprised of more rusty, jury-rigged parts than it is of sound, fully functional parts. His proto mass has not aged well either, and has grown increasingly more brittle over the years. While these collective problems make him considerably fragile and cause him a few aches and pains every now and then, none are outstandingly debilitating save for the damage to his left leg.

Due to an age old injury, the brittle proto-mass in his left hip and knee has begun to flake away, and while his joints are in no danger of falling off within the next fifty years or so, his movement is still considerably hindered. He cannot move quickly, or for very long, without putting strain on his weakened joints and causing himself pain and discomfort. He uses his staff as a walking-stick to aid his movement, though even with the assistance he still has a distinct limp.

To make matter’s worse, Altruous is a bonded mech, meaning he can quite literally die of a broken heart if his bondmate passes away; if his mate’s spark is snuffed out, his will most likely go out right along with it.

The old mech is clearly not in any condition to be running around, let alone engaging in active combat--not that he would be very useful in a fight to begin with, given everything listed above.

In short, mecha don’t get much weaker than a disabled old priest who hasn’t aged well.


Special skills (that are not weapon related):

Take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew - Due to his ascetic lifestyle, Altruous’ frame has been modified to make him more fuel efficient. Specifically, he has been outfitted with thin, flexible solar panels beneath his armor which provide enough power to sufficiently sustain his secondary systems, sot he does not require as much energon as the average mech to remain functional. Unfortunately, his solar panels take time to convert the sun’s rays into energy, and so it is necessary for him to spend a great deal of time outside, with his armor plates folded back to allow the solar panels access to the sun, thus leaving him vulnerable to attack.

+ 5 Diplomacy - Altruous is skilled in the fine art of discourse. With his social grace, fair, peaceful disposition, and his careful use of tact and reason, he has an uncanny talent for influencing others with his words. Thankfully, he only ever uses this talent for good – from fostering peace and settling disputes, to inspiring good-will and boosting morale. At the drop of a hat he can give an inspiring, heartfelt speech, or he could talk a reasonable person into at least considering an idea they had never thought much of before. However, at the end of the day, his success relies heavily on how open the person he is speaking to is to his ideas/prompts. Some people simply cannot be negotiated with.

Pseudo-therapist - Altruous is a trained pastoral counselor, and as such he is well versed when it comes to helping people through their emotional and spiritual difficulties. He is not a trained therapist, and does not claim himself to be one, however he is better trained than the average mecha when it comes to helping others resolve or come to terms with their mental, emotional, psychological, or situational troubles. Though he is a pastoral counselor, and as such he specializes in evoking religion to help others, he is more than capable of consoling others without a single mention of religious texts.

First Aid - Though he is nowhere near as skilled or knowledgeable as a formally trained medic, Altruous has enough know-how to repair minor to moderate injuries and provide initial care to more serious injuries, to prevent them from worsening for a short amount of time. In truth, he’s better at providing comfort, inducing stasis, and blocking sensor-nets than he is patching up grievous wounds, but he can at least reduce pain and keep mecha from flatlining till more skilled medical personnel show up.

Religious rites - As a priest, it should come as no surprise that Altruous is qualified to perform religious duties and services, from delivering blessings, to leading sermons, to giving last rites.

Choirmaster/Preachers gonna preach - Born into the Sonic Canyons, Altruous’ vocoder has been modified to allow him to increase the volume of his voice, amplifying it to levels loud enough to be heard over the roar of noise which plagued the area in which he once lived. Additionally, he is capable of being a one-person Choir, as he can speak/sing with up to six voices simultaneously. This really has no practical use, beyond enabling Altruous to sing hymns that normally require the participation of an entire congregation.


Extra Info:

“There are men who toil at extracting gold; he toiled at the extraction of pity. Universal misery was his mine. The sadness which reigned everywhere was but an excuse for unfailing kindness. Love each other; he declared this to be complete, desired nothing further, and that was the whole of his doctrine.” - Victor Hugo