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CHARACTER INFORMATIONCharacter name: Ellis Walker
Previous and/or Current Character(s) if applicable: Ren Al-Sayeed, Allison Marie Sinclair
Character age: 50 (on June 13th)
Character education: Ellis has an extensive education from his military service and academic career. He taught at West Point and the Royal Naval Academy, where he became known for his experience in intelligence and military tactics.
Strength and weaknesses (details please): Strengths: Ellis has a strong background in the military, especially in the Special Forces, where his tactical abilities and leadership skills were well-respected. His years in both wars and the outdoors have made him resilient. He can push through hardships and adapt to difficult situations. He's also proficient in hunting, fishing, and navigating the outdoors, making him resourceful in any environment. Also, despite being a squib, his academic career and life experiences have given him a wealth of knowledge and a love for learning, which he'll apply in the magical world.
Weaknesses: Being a squib, he inherently has a major flaw in not being able to cast magic. Also, having learned about the magical world so late in life, his general knowledge on even the most rudimentary skills is lacking. Although he is okay being a loner in many settings, his isolation in the magical world comes at a high cost. He also has various injuries, physical and psychological, stemming from his time in special forces. He doesn't like to dwell on them, or even talk about them. they can be a sore spot.
Physical description: Ellis Walker has a rugged, yet toned physique, though his muscles have softened slightly since his military days. His build is solid and muscular, shaped by years of service and outdoor activities, but with the more weathered look of a man who’s seen both physical hardship and the passage of time. A slight, rugged beard frames his jawline, adding to his outdoorsman appearance. His posture is confident, with a purposeful gait that speaks of someone who has spent a lifetime in harsh environments, whether on the battlefield or in the wild. Despite the weight of his experiences, there’s a warmth in his eyes that contrasts with the roughness of his look.
Personality: Ellis is a man who's seen a lot. Although he was a much more serious person when he was younger and throughout his war days, he is much more relaxed now. He peppers light humor in his conversations and tries to make dad jokes in order to lighten up any moment he's in. Although not particularly funny, he seems to get along with people and tries not to take anything too seriously. However, whenever he sees something that goes against what he believes in, or that he considers truly evil, his expression hardens and his personality reverts to that of his special forces days. He just wants to be a chill grandpa sipping wine and enjoying the exploration of his new magical world.
Hopes and dreams. Why are you teaching at Hogwarts?: Ellis tried to see where he could possibly fit in when he was shown this new magical world. There wasn't much in the way an old man like him could do, even in the way of labor. But when he discovered there was a magical school, and one that teaches about the ways of non-magical folk, he thought it was the perfect match for him. Surely even without the ability to cast a spell, he could impart the knowledge he had about the world he'd learned about his whole life, as well as learn a little more about his magical heritage. Teaching students, albeit older ones, had been one of his passions before he retired from it. And now he wants to give training and learning about the magical youth the ol' college try.
Biography (500 words minimum. There is never such a thing as too much.): Ellis Walker was born on June 13th, 1924, in the quiet town of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Raised by his American mother after a brief and unremarkable encounter with his Scottish father, Ellis grew up with a strong connection to nature. His childhood was marked by the Great Depression, but despite the financial hardships, his mother’s love and kindness provided a stable foundation. From an early age, Ellis developed a love for the outdoors, spending much of his time fishing, hunting, and exploring the wilderness. His rugged upbringing in the heart of America’s rural landscape helped shape the man he would become. Tough, independent, and deeply connected to the land.
When Ellis was a teenager, the winds of war blew across the globe. Eager to serve his country, Ellis lied about his age to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War II. His courage and tactical abilities led him to become a highly decorated soldier, though his time in the war left him with scars—both physical and emotional. After World War II, Ellis continued his service during the Korean War, where he further honed his skills in combat and intelligence. His ability to think critically under pressure earned him a coveted position in the Special Forces, where he continued his work until an injury in his late 30s forced him into early retirement in 1962.
While recovering from his injury, Ellis began to look into his family’s mysterious background. Using contacts from his military days, as well as the help of private investigators, he traced his father’s lineage to a long-standing magical family in Britain. His father, a pureblood wizard, had never known of Ellis’s existence, but when Ellis discovered the truth, he was welcomed with open arms by his newfound relatives. It was during these meetings that Ellis learned he was a squib—a person born into a magical family but without the ability to perform magic. Despite the disappointment his new family felt, Ellis felt no bitterness. Instead, he was grateful for the connection to a new world he had never known.
After retiring from the military, Ellis pursued a career in academia, teaching at prestigious institutions such as West Point and the Royal Naval Academy.
SAMPLE ROLEPLAY(Please respond to to this in third person past tense. Do not write the other characters' reactions. Only your own.) It was the largest office in Hogwarts and, perhaps to students and newcomers, the most intimidating. The shelves were filled with paperwork, and lots and lots of books. A few of the shelves had various odds and ends that had been saved from previous owners. The sorting hat had a place of honour, but less of one than before. The walls held all the portraits of past Headmasters and Headmistresses, as well as her Russian portraits. Anneka Ivanova's was closest to Karina's desk.
In the middle of the room sat a large desk. Everything was in order. Almost a ruthless order. Important papers were closest to her, with her favourite quill. Then other documents further away. And at the edge is her favourite Venus flytrap and a picture of Vlad.
A clock sat on the desk, which currently showed the time to be 2:05. The meeting was supposed to begin at 2:00 precisely.
Karina was not always punctual. Yes, she was aware of the time, she would just deliberately come late. She valued control. And what better method of control than making people wait for you. But she expected others to be punctual to the second. Or early. So naturally Karina Ivansko was not happy.
"You have five minutes to assure me that you'll never be late again." Karina said to the applicant gesturing to the ancient and uncomfortable chair across from her. Her fingernails drummed irritably on the desk. And she had a look on her face that imitated a Russian winter.
(Yes, she had learned well from the great Anneka Ivanova).
Roleplay Response: Ellis Walker entered the room, taking his time as he surveyed the surroundings. The office was grand, filled with old papers and books, giving off a distinct air of authority. His boots thudded softly against the floor as he moved toward the chair Karina had indicated. He wasn’t in any particular rush; after all, he’d been navigating Hogwarts' labyrinthine hallways for the past fifteen minutes.
“Staircases move here, huh?” he remarked dryly, settling into the chair with the ease of someone who’d spent a lifetime adapting to the unexpected.
“Wasn’t aware I’d signed up for a game of hopscotch. Thought I was just looking for a meeting room. I thought maybe someone had given me some special tea or something when I saw them move.” He chuckled lightly, but there was a slight twinkle in his eyes that spoke of the many strange situations he’d found himself in over the years. “I wonder if the hallways move as well..."
He glanced at the clock on Karina’s desk, noting the five minutes that had passed.
“My apologies for being late,” he said, leaning forward slightly,
“but it’s all this magic. I’ve tried to brace myself to expect the unexpected, but the staircases don’t take too kindly to a man who’s spent his life walking the same ground.” He let out a deep sigh and leaned back in the chair, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.
“Guess I’ve gotten a bit used to things staying still in my old age.”Despite his relaxed demeanor, there was a sharpness in his gaze as he studied Karina. He wasn’t one for games or threats, but he understood the importance of respect.
“But I’ll say this, if I’m gonna be working here, I'll get used to the stairs and, I suppose, maybe even those moving paintings, too. You don’t ever stop learning, do you?” His tone was frank and slightly joyful, as if exploring the boundaries of this new world he was so eager to discover in its entirety.
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