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30 Jun 2021, 23:30
Valentin "Niffler" Schnell  Durmstrang 
and the Orpheus Method
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Durmstrang's champion, quidditch captain, and 1st-string seeker
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Tatar: #1F0402, German: #680c08, Albanian: #772421, Russian: #992314, English: #CC3333
Face Claim: Sasha Moloko (aka Alexander/Nikolay Molochnij/Molokny)
Appearance:
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Valentin, or Valya for short, is not a typical athlete. His thin build makes him light and fast on a broom, but he lacks the physical strength of his peers. As a boy who wanted to stay light and fast on a broom despite growing in size every year, Valentin developed anorexia and became constantly concerned about his weight. After beginning to recover in his fifth year, the seeker grew to 178 cm/5'11” and had to adjust his flying style to accommodate. Despite being lightweight for his tall size, Valentin could never be mistaken for a wimp, as he welcomes being thrown around and beaten up to extremes when necessary during quidditch matches, backing up friends during a fight, and performing stunts on the side. Valentin endures this barrage of physical trauma and hospitalization with cheer and laughter, earning him speculation in the papers as being a masochist.

Through his pale complexion, Valentin’s blush and lip color are vivid, especially against the backdrop of his milky white hair. These medium-length locks have a soft, feathery texture (sometimes described as “duck fluff”) and are usually windblown from his active lifestyle. Perhaps Valentin’s most striking feature is his argentium-amethyst eyes, providing keen sight few can rival. The seeker’s other most prized assets are his long-fingered hands, which are highly sensitive and fine-tuned for precision in playing both quidditch and musical instruments. From his years as a sportsman and daredevil, Valentin has accumulated a large number of scars, most notably including Lichtenberg figures from the two times he was struck by lightning. The branching shine of both lightning scars is usually concealed except for when revealing his right palm, or in summertime when he wears short-sleeved jerseys and tank tops that expose the one running up the inside of his arm. Few know the location of his other lightning scar, which he has yet to reveal to inquisitive members of the quidditch press.

Valentin dresses simply most of the time, wearing the Durmstrang uniform at times when he doesn’t have to. On special occasions, he uses his abundant capital to finance elegant garments with subtle structural designs, especially in shades of black, white, silver, and ice or sky blue. If he’s feeling fancy he will wear red. Under pressure from his butler, Sergei, Valentin tends to dress at his finest when performing music on stage. In daily life, however, only someone with an eye for refinement would notice the high quality of his personal garments, as they eschew ostentatious designs and walk the line of what would be acceptable by elitist pureblood standards. The only bling on his person is a golden ring and a sterling earring, both representing his commitments to people he cares for. In winter, his Durmstrang cloak is lined with argent wolf fur that gains an iridescent blue sheen under the light of the moon and stars.

One wouldn’t need to see Valentin to recognize him by his characteristic tenor voice, smooth like wet silver and naturally melodic – the inheritance of his mother, a famous singer. Valya’s colorful swathes of emotions tint his speech with sometimes subtle, and sometimes powerful, character. Experienced with making speeches when in front of a crowd or his team, Valentin knows how to command his voice for the desired effect.
Personality:
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Valentin is playful and goodhumored, but he can be impatient and intolerant of things he is not interested in. He makes good friends with people he shares interests with, but he can be rather cold when he is bored. When he is passionate about something, Valentin’s energy and warmth can be stunning and downright charming. His laughter resonates pure and clear like little astral bells, and the innocence of his unrestrained smile resembles a child’s. Since Valentin craves social interaction, physical affection, and attention more than anything else, he gets sad when people are too busy to spend time together.

Growing up as an albino, Valentin had supportive friends and his unusual physical features actually made him more popular due to his overall good looks. Valentin, “the White Niffler,” adores the limelight and admiration of onlookers when he performs daring stunts or music. Quidditch has been central to Valentin’s life ever since entering Durmstrang, partly because of its social bonding and also because it provides an outlet for the speedfreak’s thrillseeking. Since his earliest days, Valentin’s exceptional visual acuity and movement tracking enabled him to channel his youthful energy into every risky activity that crossed his path. To date, “Hell-Chaser Val” has never turned down a dare with one exception — kissing people he doesn't love in spin the bottle.
Characteristics:
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★ Quidditch ★
‎⠀⠀- effective strategist & captain
⠀⠀- renowned seeker
⠀⠀- encyclopedic knowledge
⠀⠀- high-speed maneuvers
⠀⠀- broom maintenance expert

♬ Music ♬
⠀⠀- competition-grade piano
⠀⠀- composition
⠀⠀- versatile, compelling vocals
⠀⠀- plays the Turkish oud

☆ Adventure ☆

⠀⠀- charming & fearless
⠀⠀- leadership & heroism
⠀⠀- getting dirty, bloody, hands-on
⠀⠀- tanking damage for others
⠀⠀- keen eyes, highly observant
⠀⠀- hypnotic gaze & speech
⠀⠀- clutches under pressure
⠀⠀- evasive and durable
⠀⠀- fine motor control
⠀⠀- aim & proprioception
⠀⠀- reliable high-level spells
⠀⠀- enduring fighting spirit
⠀⠀- high pain tolerance
⠀⠀- fast runner and thinker
⠀⠀- surprisingly good thief
⠀⠀- innovative & spontaneous
⠀⠀- intelligent

★ Interpersonal Relationships ★
⠀⠀- extremely affectionate
⠀⠀- caring & compassionate
⠀⠀- fun-loving, gives comic relief
⠀⠀- loyal, honest, heartfelt
⠀⠀- magnanimous (and wealthy)
⠀⠀- has romance for blood
⠀⠀- tolerant (e.g. blood status)
⠀⠀- works hard to raise others up
⠀⠀- sees through others' eyes well
⠀⠀- skilled at predicting behavior
⠀⠀- confident & determined
⠀⠀- loves making hard decisions
⠀⠀- humble personality
⠀⠀- loves learning & growing
⠀⠀- potent intuition
⠀⠀- large, strong social network
⠀⠀- high-energy & positive
⠀⠀- passionate for loved ones
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❅ Inept Cooking & Baking ❅
⠀⠀- Dangerous to consume result
⠀⠀- Impatience yields high fire hazard
⠀⠀- Outcomes mistakable for war crimes

❅ Fast-Paced Temperament ❅
⠀⠀- Personality turns cold when bored
⠀⠀- Interrupts repetitive people
⠀⠀- Intense fidgeting
⠀⠀- Rushes through uninteresting tasks
⠀⠀- Retreats into his head & stops listening
⠀⠀- Tendency to make mischief when idle
⠀⠀- Can change his mind abruptly
⠀⠀- Moves too fast for some peoples' liking

❅ Problems with Authority ❅
⠀⠀- Major trust issues with authority figures
⠀⠀- Turns cranky when bossed around
⠀⠀- Actively wreaks havoc on "dictators"
⠀⠀- Insecure about his own leadership
⠀⠀- Fears manipulation and control over others

❅ Adventure ❅
⠀⠀- Weak muscles
⠀⠀- Low arcane power
⠀⠀- Confrontational; may escalate a situation
⠀⠀- Courts danger when he is alone
⠀⠀- Prone to overconfidence in others

❅ Personality Complexes ❅
⠀⠀- Haunted by his past failures
⠀⠀- Blames himself for the failings of others
⠀⠀- Sets unrealistic standards for himself
⠀⠀- Pushes social, physical, emotional limits
⠀⠀- Expects ambition from almost everybody
⠀⠀- Sets exhausting standards for his teams
⠀⠀- Obsessive, often forgets to eat
⠀⠀- Dangerous addiction to speed & thrills
⠀⠀- Loses track of time when hyperfocusing
⠀⠀- Craves frequent physical contact
⠀⠀- Extreme anxiety about food
⠀⠀- Conflicted over shaping his public image
⠀⠀- Prone to staring
⠀⠀- Overpowered with hormones
⠀⠀- Lives under public scrutiny
⠀⠀- Has some crazy fans, downsides of fame
⠀⠀- Steals shinies to get someone's attention
⠀⠀- Loves engaging in "necessary" violence
⠀⠀- Enjoys feeling powerful
⠀⠀- Can turn intimidating or frightening
⠀⠀- Easily tempted by forbidden knowledge
⠀⠀- Tempted by sensation-seeking

❅ Greatest Weakness: Unconditional Love ❅
⠀⠀- Self-sacrificing to potentially lethal levels
⠀⠀- Prone to enduring unfair treatment himself
⠀⠀- Difficulty asking for what he needs
⠀⠀- Self-justifies not imposing boundaries
⠀⠀- Can do terrible acts in the name of love
⠀⠀- May have to choose between loved ones
⠀⠀- Vulnerable to abuse by hiding his pain
⠀⠀- Eager to grant loved ones great power
⠀⠀- Goes crazy if left alone for too long
⠀⠀- Greatest fear: being fundamentally alone

History:
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Valentin acquired his nickname, “Niffler,” because of not only his obsession with nabbing the golden snitch, but also his playful theft of people’s shiny objects. He “borrows” metallic or otherwise gleaming objects, such as bracelets and quidditch trophies, which he plays off as practical jokes. It is not that Valentin wants to acquire things, however. Ever since he was a toddler he has enjoyed the thrill of the chase, especially when he is the one being chased. As a baby he stole shinies to get his parents running after him. Fundamentally, Valentin steals people’s shiny objects in order to get their attention. However, he no longer “borrows” when bored or lonely, preferring it as a means of getting someone to see him when something more important is on the line – especially when that person would otherwise not make the time. Unfortunately not everyone is amused when their precious shiny object goes missing. Yet, everything Valentin has ever stolen ended up with its original owner eventually. As for quidditch, the White Niffler loves chasing the snitch for its own sake, but the limelight is what makes being a seeker so addictive for him.

When his life is tranquil, Valentin maintains his status as a top student due to his high intelligence and obsessive personality. In his early years he performed badly when the material was boring or the lectures were too slow-paced, but he has since made academic performance a game of his own. It was difficult for his parents to keep Valentin sufficiently stimulated as he was growing up, especially because they were often away on musical tours around the globe. His father bought him a piano, which he has used often to vent excess energy, especially by playing difficult and fast pieces. However, the rarity of his parents’ attention made Valentin into an extreme extrovert to cope. Growing up under his famous parents, however, educated Valentin on how to deal with fame and high-pressure public situations.
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Valentin’s hatred of boredom has led to hijinks throughout Valentin’s life, including his first accidental use of magic. Once, Valentin was in trouble again– this time for stealing his mother’s engagement ring. After all, when she already wore a wedding ring every day, what was she even doing with that engagement ring stuck in a jewelry cabinet? The object clearly needed some attention, so he took it in order to see if she would notice. His mother, accustomed to watching for the disappearance of shinies, noticed after two weeks. When confronted, Valentin took off running like he usually did until cornered. However, this time his parents were extremely upset because the ring was expensive compared to the usual silverware and household tools. When his capture turned overly serious, frightened Valentin tried to lie about taking it, which he usually did not do. Then, mysteriously, the ring vanished from his pocket during this extremely stressful conversation. His parents were never able to find proof of his theft, but Valentin’s good heart became haunted by his lies. He confessed that he did steal the ring and he could not find it either. This got him in a lot of trouble, of course, but Valentin’s affectionate theft has continued unabated to this day. On the day of his mother’s funeral many years later, Valentin conjured the ring back again using transfiguration, burying the ring with her.

With his undying need for affirmation and affection, Valentin became a tryhard with a fierce appetite for victory-- a natural fit for Durmstrang and the seeker life. Prone to flashy speeches, Valentin enjoys the leadership and strategic demands of quidditch. Commonly known as “the Frost Captain” due to his ability to perform coolly under pressure and the severe demands he expects of his team, Valentin is still happy enough to make personal sacrifices if they enable even fleeting enjoyment for his people. Humility has been a crucial means of surviving the adventures of his friend group, but Valentin is also prone to silently taking on greater burdens alone than is healthy. Issues like anorexia, grief over the death of his mother, and the loss of his father tended to get buried in the interest of maintaining an upbeat attitude around others. Willing to make a fool of himself if he sees it as necessary for the happiness of others, Niffler often offers comic relief and takes on dirty work while burying his pride. Yet, the accumulation of wounded self-esteem can become a buried problem for Valentin, who tries to resolve this by adding even more hours of practice and study onto his already exhausting regimen. Rarely, this leads to explosive results when the pain becomes too much to bear.

Occasions when Valentin is unable to get social support can lead him to the breaking point, when he cannot bury the problems anymore for one reason or another.
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Prophecies:
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Who is the best partner for Valentin? (Augury by Zinoviya Makarova, Oct. 30th, 2020)
A wild heart cannot be tamed with control, but only calming love and inner strength. Find one pure of heart who is infinite and loyal – this brings the power and will to overcome all. Accept taming by this person.
Who killed my mother? (Valentin to Seers, December 23rd, 2020)
You don’t have far to look.
What poses the biggest threat to me? (Valentin to Seers, December 27th, 2020)
There is no me, there is only you. This is why you are alone: you accept such limits. Your kind of unconditional love could kill an immortal.
Preferences:
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✦ Physical affection
✦ Stargazing
✦ Blunt honesty
✦ Romance
✦ Language learning
✦ No-holds-barred sparring & combat
✦ Making new peak experiences (thrills)
✦ Surprises, novelty, travel, adventure
✦ Being controlled by a trusted loved one
✦ People showing him his weaknesses
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✧ Slowpokes
✧ Eating in public
✧ Being ignored
✧ Feeling alone
✧ Limits
✧ Failing others & his expectations of himself
✧ Not knowing what someone wants
✧ Abuses of power, dictators, corruption
✧ Needless repetition, sluggish conversations
✧ People who live in the past
Niffnames:
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Public & Widespread:
✦ The White Seeker of Durmstrang (universal)
✦ Hell-Chaser Val (USA)
✦ The White Immortal (Europe)
✦ Der Niffler (Germany)
✦ Il Niffler (Italy)
✦ Nif, Niffy, and every other permutation of Niffler
✦ White Lightning
✦ Silver Falcon
✦ Snail Schnell (fans of enemy teams)
✦ Captain Frost / Capitano Brina ("Hexwizard Task 1") / Frost Kapitän ("Crashed Falcon")

Short-Form Names
✧ Valik (to himself)
✧ Valya (all friends)
✧ Valische ("Big Val")
✧ Valyusha (Zinoviya)
✧ Valenka (Sergei)
✧ Valka (Hugo)

Significant
Fulminetto (Italian: little lightning bolt) (Romeo)
✦ "My Pecos Bill" (Alexander)
✦ Lighthouse / Light (Mikael)
✦ Comet Icarus
✦ Quicksilver boy (Aida)
✦ Cupid (Johannes Sauer; Quidditch Game 2022)
✦ My little whirling dervish (Author)
✦ Like a Bludger (Romeo, “Tapping on the Glass”)
✦ Knight of Sweet Secrets (“Justice Candy”)
✦ Tribble (“The Enchanted Maze”)
✦ The White Knight of Durmstrang (Colin, “Faerietale Endings”)
One-Offs
✧ Pile of pick-up sticks
✧ Captain Anemia (Erin Ryan)
✧ Alabaster boy
✧ Lamp Post
✧ Beanpole
✧ Limit Break
✧ Whirlwind
✧ Snowdrop ("Faerietale Endings")
✧ Jack Frost body double
✧ Cottontop ("Tapping on the Glass")
✧ Cheetah!Valya
✧ Dedicated team stuntman
✧ Pale bowtruckle
✧ The Kleptomaniac (Kheanu Maravilho Mondelez)
✧ William Wallace (Yefim at the Fall Ball)
✧ Living Pinball⠀⠀
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Momentos:
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On Valentin’s Body
- Golden locket from Alexander (true love's locket)
- Golden ring from Yefim
- Silver earring from Horntail Horde group piercing excursion
Val's Turkish Oud

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Val's Favorite Piano

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On Display at the Schnell Estate
-Manuscript Copy of Romeo's Medicine Notebook given by Romeo for Christmas 2023
-Magic Moth (flavored as a Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)) from Piérre, Christmas 2023

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Habitat: They’re found in sunny woodland areas, especially in southern Italy.
Appearance: Dark brown wings adorned with striking white bands.
Size: A decent wingspan ranging between 2.2-2.6 inches (5.5-6.5 cm).
Diet: They sip nectar from flowers and also love tree sap.
Reproduction: After mating, females place their eggs on the leaves of host plants.
Lifespan: They live for about a year, enjoying the warm Italian sun.
Host Plants: Honeysuckle is a top choice for their caterpillars.
- Sprig of dried blackthorn flowers from Val's knighting ceremony
- Silver chain necklace on which hangs a silver ring with a broken amethyst stone. Chain formerly belonged to his mother
- Silver bracelet with tiny snowflakes on it from Amina

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- Niffler's fancy from Ginyami (Yule Ball 2022)
- Broom compass from Ginyami (Yule Ball 2022)
- Very fluffy white hat from Amina
- Romeo's crushed water bottle
- Romeo's bloodied hand wraps
- Lightning-scarred Silver Arrow
- Charles Alluring’s discarded Nimbus broom
- Chunk of amethyst from Yefim

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- Leather jacket from Felix

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- Pair of googly eyes from Prank Wars

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- Stuffed parrot (hyacinth macaw) from Truth or Dare, given by Greta
- Sticky fake spider
- Hunk of meteorite from Hugo’s tower ,
- Bag of silver glitter from Slava
- Hexiwizard commemorative t-shirt bearing Yefim's oversized face
- Discarded charcoal stick formerly belonging to Lysander

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- Crup sketch from Lysander, named "Küchlein" by Johannes

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- Gold necklace from Slava

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Costume Collection:
Golden snitch Fall Ball masquerade costume
Hermes costume from Blossom Ball "Underworld"
White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland) costume from Fall Ball -
Jareth the Goblin King (Thrills & Chills Bash 2022)
Snow King concert outfit
White King Hexiwizard outfit
Şehzade Ottoman Renaissance war general prince attire
Heritage colddrake robes
Annotated Threads Sorted Chronologically:
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2020
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30 Jun 2020: Chaotically Wild : Yefim, Mikael, and Valentin begin their hijinks as tent-mates

5 Jul 2020: Oh Sweet Anticipation : Valentin plays at the quidditch championship in London

5 Jul 2020: The Cost of Victory: Valentin tries to protect Yefim from a half-giant in the hospital despite being a complete wreck himself

10 Jul 2020: A Cocoon Against Entropy: Valentin encounters Aida's schizophrenia while just trying to play

12 Jul 2020: Campfire Stories : Valentin parks himself by Greta at the campfire

19 Jul 2020: Cupcakes and Birthdays: Valentin meets a fan on her birthday

9 Oct 2020: From the Deep: Valentin and Mikael stand up for Yefim in a fight against Erin Ryan

13 Oct 2020: Boiling Point: Valentin and Mikael duel over the right to Yefim's friendship

16 Oct 2020: The Fall Ball: Yefim and Valentin come in costume as a pumpkin and the golden snitch, inevitably making mischief. Mikael also shows up and revels in wearing his mask

24 Oct 2020: Day of Rain: Valentin and Yefim spectate a quidditch match together until Yefim decides to seek justice

24 Oct 2020: Justice: Valentin is prevented from backing up Yefim as the boy picks a fight over his grievances with non-humans in the Hufflepuff quidditch team

2021
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1 Jan 2021: Apart Together: Aida force-feeds Valentin and learns about the loss of his parents

29 May 2021: Underworld: Valentin attends a blossom ball dressed as Hermes alongside Yefim and Mikael. Valentin looks like death as he tries to bury his ghosts. Then, at Yef's command, Valya tries to stall Vladimir so that Yefim can get his girl

13 Aug 2021: Count Your Blessings: Yefim gets Valentin to open up about why he is still anorexic. Valentin then confronts Yefim about his terrible presence

15 Aug 2021: Battle Royale: Valentin leads Team Hydra in a quidditch match against Hogwarts and the Wixes United

2022
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1 Apr 2022: Justice Candy: Valentin rediscovers why he loves his fans while trying to rid himself of fan candy

2 Apr 2022: Midspring Celebration: Valentin attends the Spring Ball and backs up Yefim in his fights, although he accidentally sets him on fire. Valentin becomes horrified by the extent to which Mikael's disassociative episodes have progressed while he tries to protect Mik from the chaos. The seeker meets Hiro Bakugo from the Mahoutokoro quidditch team and Felix calls upon Valentin to help him in a fight against Mathias Pride

9 Apr 2022: Spectator Thread [Slytherin v. Gryffindor]: Valentin spots sweet royalty at a Hogwarts quidditch match

16 Apr 2022: Surface Pressure: Valentin challenges Romeo to a fight in order to purge their demons

29 Apr 2022: Crashed Falcon: Valentin gets struck by lightning and crashes his broom, only to be discovered by Romeo and Charles. Valentin changes forever

3 May 2022: The Sleepy Hell-Chaser and A Bomb: Valentin catches Charles in the hopes of returning his damaged coat

5 May 2022: It All Started with a Kinda Stupid Game: Valentin recruits Astrid Olsen as second-string seeker

12 May 2022: Glint in the Fog: Valentin steals Mikael's knife in order to get the boy to meet with him so that Valentin can figure out what is happening to Mik. However, Mik never shows up

1 Jun 2022: That Elusive Grandeur: Valentin and Charles talk about coming out

3 Jul 2022: Horntail Bootcamp: The Horntail Horde gather for training at Felix Kolbeck's manor

11 Jun 2022: Tapping On the Glass: Charles starts a fight, Valentin tries to protect him, and chaos ensues

19 Jul 2022: Schnell-Marchonné 2022 Quidditch Boot Camp Masterlist: All Threads

19 Jul 2022: Crystal Tower: Valentin seeks to part with his dearest possession

1 Aug 2022: Infinite Loop: Yefim, Valentin, and Mikael form a sacred pact

1 Aug 2022: Horntail Horde Tent 2022: Durmstrang's Hexiwizard Team assembles

2 Aug 2022: Once Upon a Time...: Val sits with friends around a storytelling bonfire

3 Aug 2022: Prank War II: Horntail Horde is pranked by Conspira-sea tent, only to retaliate

3 Aug 2022: Do You See What I See?: Mik shows Val a mirror in the dead of night

6 Aug 2022: Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022: In a thundering game of quidditch, Valentin fights to reclaim what was lost

6 Aug 2022: Dubious Altruism : Valentin goes with Romeo to attempt healing those wounded during their quidditch match

7 Aug 2022: Breathing is Eggcelent: Valentin crashes Romeo's detention

13 Aug 2022: Summer Duelling Funtime Extravaganza: Valentin cheers for Piérre in a summer duelling match

14 Aug 2022: Truth or Dare: Val becomes a pirate captain and engages in derring-do with Charles

14 Aug 2022: No Less Than Both Earth and Sea: Val asks Romeo about a sacred sword

20 Aug 2022: Summer Games 2022 Broom Racing Spectators: Valentin supports Durmstrang, Mik, Yefim, and Cielle by cheering for them during broom racing

28 Aug 2022: Instant Retaliation: Greta's allies intimidate a boy who issued their beloved Greta death threats

2 Sep 2022: The Best of All Possible Worlds: Valentin recruits Amina Petrovic to the quidditch team

17 Sep 2022: No Retreat for the Fearless? : Valentin confronts Mikael about Yefim

5 Oct 2022: The Seven Schools: Valentin goes to the Great Hall meeting in Hogwarts to support Yefim during his speech

5 Oct 2022: The Law of the Instrument: Valentin invites Ginyami to join him in the Hogwarts music practice room

7 Oct 2022: Hexiwizard Pregame: Valentin shows up at the demonstration wizard chess match, distracted by music

8 Oct 2022: Death Before Immortality: Valentin and Aida try to sneak into the Hogwarts library's restricted section

8 Oct 2022: Faerietale Endings: Valentin attends the Fall Ball as the White Rabbit, hoping to perform an important ritual

15 Oct 2022: Bypassing Trouble: Valentin joins Amina in sliding down stairs atop a knight's shield

21 Oct 2022: Let There Be No Light: Valentin rushes to defend Yefim after the latter smashes a chess board

22 Oct 2022: Thrills & Chills Bash: Valentin attends Kim Sato's Halloween Party dressed as Jareth, the Goblin King

22 Oct 2022: Ginyami + Valentin vs Galton + Bailey: Valentin and Ginyami throw spiders at their opponents

23 Oct 2022: Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang: Valentin participates in a Hexiwizard match of wizard's chess

23 Oct 2022: Hexiwizard Task Aftermath: After his team mates were confirmed to be in stable condition, Valentin goes to ensure Ginyami hasn't fallen victim to the same fate as Mikael

1 Dec 2022: Dear Ginyami (1/12/2022): Valentin sends Ginyami a Christmas gift and talks about family heritage

10 Dec 2022: As the World Burns: Valentin reads the sports section and funny pages in the Durmstrang dining hall

22 Dec 2022: Christmas Procastination: Amina and Val exchange simple Christmas gifts

23 Dec 2022: Window Onto a Broken Skyline: A new chapter of Valentin's life opens as he returns home for winter break

24 Dec 2022: Sato Yule Ball 2022: Valentin talks about the calamities recently befalling him

25 Dec 2022: Occlusion: Valentin comes to the ruins of his childhood home in search of his escaped ex-con father

2023
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10 Jan 2023: Where words fail, music speaks: Valentin is drawn into the music practice room by Maila's melody

30 Jan 2023: L.U.C.A.: Valentin helps Romeo learn more about the boy's shrouded heritage

14 Feb 2023: Dear Romeo (14/2/2023): Valentin asks Romeo to make an important decision

14 Feb 2023: To Valentin | From "Romeo" : Valentin receives a letter from "Romeo"

20 Mar 2023: 20/3/2023 | To Piérre: Valentin sends Piérre a gift for Turkic New Year's

20 Mar 2023: 20/3/2023 | To Romeo : Valentin sends Romeo a gift for Turkic New Year's

20 Mar 2023: Dear Ginyami (20/3/2023): Valentin sends Ginyami a gift for Turkic New Year's

16 Apr 2023: From Dark Waters: Valentin interacts with friends and plays a new instrument when arriving at Hogwarts by ship

16 Apr 2023: Panic in the Lake: Valentin spots a strange aberration in the Great Lake and suspects trouble

18 Apr 2023: What Dreams May Come: Valentin finds Piérre "playing dead"

21 Apr 2023: The Enchanted Maze: Valya attends the spring ball dressed as an Ottoman wartime prince

21 Apr 2023: Haven't We Been Here Before?: Valentin finds Mikael drowning

22 Apr 2023: An Unspoken Price of Victory: Valentin dreams of a sacred white dragon

22 Apr 2023: Dalliance Under the Influence: Val and Romeo get dosed by a devious jester

28 Apr 2023: Metamorphosis: Val discovers that Romeo has obliterated his brother in retaliation for drugging them

28 Apr 2023: Chains That Bind: Valentin comes to terms with having been drugged and manipulated, confronting Ginyami and asking for his help

30 Apr 2023: At the Edge of All Possibilities: Valentin is lured in by a familiar song and opens a new path in his life that he never assumed possible

9 Jul 2023: DURMSTRANG vs INTERSCHOOL SUMMER 2023 : Valentin cheers on Mik and other Durmstrangs during a broom racing match

9 Jul 2023: Cognitive Dissonance 101: Valentin gets hit really hard in the head with a bludger and begins to suffer temporary amnesia

11 Jul 2023: Spin the Bottle Beans!: Valentin faces one of his greatest fears in life: spin the bottle

17 Jul 2023: Where Earth Meets Sky: Valentin recruits Maila to the Horntail Horde via a mid-air combat challenge

28 Jul 2023: Pre-game Jitters: Valentin tries to soothe Alaric's anxiety and recruits Nichlas to the team less than 24 hours before the big game

29 Jul 2023: Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023: Durmstrang tries to maintain their quidditch title after reclaiming the championship in 2022

29 Jul 2023: Quarterless: Val visits Romeo in the hospital after the 2023 summer quiddtich match

13 Aug 2023: Devil's Tongue, Evil's Eye: Val helps Romeo uncover the identity of his father

15 Aug 2023: Retaking the Lake: Valentin revisits Starfall Lake after receiving his father's inheritance

6 Oct 2023: Lanterns and Boat Rides: Val's would-be date never appears, implanting doubts that everything was as it seemed and leading Valentin into the blackest depths of the Great Lake

15 Dec 2023: Frosted Footfall: Valentin finds a mysterious blonde in the frigid backcountry of Durmstrang

2024
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5 Jan 2024: Mental Stormclouds: Valentin and Kim find each other in a book store, but both of them appear to be haunted by...?

3 Apr 2024: Skeletons Can't Walk: Valentin tries to pull Mikael away from a black hole

13 Apr 2024: Magical Masquerade: The Entrance: Val appears at the Hogwarts spring ball with an unusual look on his face...
Threads Sorted by Relationship:
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Romeo Marchonné - Co-captain and Closest Friend - Oh Sweet Anticipation , The Cost of Victory, Surface Pressure, Crashed Falcon, Judgment, Tapping On the Glass, Crystal Tower, Horntail Horde Tent 2022, Prank War II, Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022, Dubious Altruism, Breathing is Eggcelent, No Less Than Both Earth and Sea, Instant Retaliation, Hexiwizard Pregame, Faerietale Endings, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang, Sato Yule Ball 2022, Occlusion, L.U.C.A., Dear Romeo (14/2/2023), To Valentin | From "Romeo" , 20/3/2023 | To Romeo , From Dark Waters, The Enchanted Maze, Dalliance Under the Influence, Metamorphosis, Cognitive Dissonance 101, Spin the Bottle Beans!, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023, Quarterless, Devil's Tongue, Evil's Eye, Lanterns and Boat Rides, Mental Stormclouds, Magical Masquerade: The Entrance

Mikael Halldorson - Friend and Team Mate - Chaotically Wild , Oh Sweet Anticipation , From the Deep, The Fall Ball, Boiling Point, Justice, Underworld, Midspring Celebration, Glint in the Fog, Infinite Loop, Horntail Horde Tent 2022, Do You See What I See?, Faerietale Endings, Summer Games 2022 Broom Racing Spectators, No Retreat for the Fearless?, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang, Haven't We Been Here Before?, DURMSTRANG vs INTERSCHOOL SUMMER 2023 , Spin the Bottle Beans!, Skeletons Can't Walk

Yefim Rumyantsev - Friend - Chaotically Wild , Oh Sweet Anticipation , The Cost of Victory, From the Deep, The Fall Ball, Day of Rain, Count Your Blessings, Justice, Underworld, Midspring Celebration, Infinite Loop, Prank War II, Summer Games 2022 Broom Racing Spectators, Instant Retaliation, Let There Be No Light, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang

Piérre Marchonné - Friend - Midspring Celebration, Once Upon a Time..., Summer Duelling Funtime Extravaganza, Faerietale Endings, Bypassing Trouble, 20/3/2023 | To Piérre, What Dreams May Come, Dalliance Under the Influence, Metamorphosis, Lanterns and Boat Rides, Magical Masquerade: The Entrance

Amina Petrovic - Friend and Team Mate - The Best of All Possible Worlds, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang, Bypassing Trouble, From Dark Waters, The Enchanted Maze, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Johannes Cyprian Sauer - Friend and Team Mate - Tapping On the Glass, Horntail Horde Tent 2022, Prank War II, Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022, Faerietale Endings, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrangj, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023, Magical Masquerade: The Entrance

Charles Nako Alluring - Friend- Oh Sweet Anticipation, Battle Royale, Crashed Falcon, The Sleepy Hell-Chaser and A Bomb, That Elusive Grandeur, Tapping On the Glass, Horntail Horde Tent 2022, Summer Games 2022 Broom Racing Spectators, Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022, Truth or Dare, Prank War II, Instant Retaliation

Greta Fransson - Friend and Team Mate - Campfire Stories , Oh Sweet Anticipation , Midspring Celebration, Horntail Horde Tent 2022, Prank War II, Instant Retaliation, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023, Magical Masquerade: The Entrance

Slava Preobrazhensky - Friend and Team Mate - Bypassing Trouble, From Dark Waters, The Enchanted Maze, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood - Friend - A Cocoon Against Entropy, Apart Together, Underworld, Death Before Immortality

Nikolai Volkov - Frosted Footfall - Friend

Ginyami Midorimori - Friend - The Seven Schools, The Law of the Instrument, Thrills & Chills Bash, Ginyami + Valentin vs Galton + Bailey, Hexiwizard Task Aftermath, Dear Ginyami (1/12/2022), Sato Yule Ball 2022, Occlusion, Dear Ginyami (20/3/2023), Panic in the Lake, Chains That Bind, Spin the Bottle Beans!

Felix Kolbeck - Friend and Team Mate - Midspring Celebration, Horntail Bootcamp, Horntail Horde Tent 2022, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang

Cielle Johansen - Friend - Tapping On the Glass, Faerietale Endings, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang

Ileen Knight - Queen of All Candyland - Justice Candy, Faerietale Endings

Kim Sato - Prince of Sweets - Justice Candy, Spectator Thread [Slytherin v. Gryffindor], Thrills & Chills Bash, Mental Stormclouds

Nichlas Forsberg- Friend and Team Mate - Pre-game Jitters, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Maila Aurora Laine - Friend - Where words fail, music speaks, The Enchanted Maze, Where Earth Meets Sky, Lanterns and Boat Rides

Hiro Bakugo - Friend - Midspring Celebration, The Seven Schools, Hexiwizard Task Aftermath, Panic in the Lake, Spin the Bottle Beans!

Astrid Olsen - Friend and Team Mate - Prank War II, Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022, It All Started with a Kinda Stupid Game, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang , Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Alaric Havertz- Friend and Team Mate - Pre-game Jitters, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Erin Ryan - Person to Protect - From the Deep, Day of Rain, Justice, Midspring Celebration, Hexwizard Task 1: Beauxbatons v Durmstrang

Colin McCoire - Citizen of Candyland - Justice Candy, Faerietale Endings

Sophia Nelson - Fan and Queen of Confections - Justice Candy, Spectator Thread [Slytherin v. Gryffindor]

Kheanu Maravilho Mondelez - One-Time Tent Mate - Chaotically Wild , DURMSTRANG vs INTERSCHOOL SUMMER 2023

Yevgeny Isaevich Ogarev - Intriguing Broom Racer - DURMSTRANG vs INTERSCHOOL SUMMER 2023

Dan Palmer - Rival Seeker Acquaintance - Spin the Bottle Beans!

Tristan Theramin - Acquaintance and Fellow Quidditch Player - Spin the Bottle Beans!

External Quidditch Folk - Oh Sweet Anticipation, The Cost of Victory, Justice, Battle Royale, Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Aurelia Roberts - Fan and Acquaintance - Cupcakes and Birthdays

Cassie Heather McGregor-Martin - Suspicious Frenchie - Let There Be No Light

Percival Gray - Suspicious Hogwart - Let There Be No Light

Edward Smith - Antagonistic Ex-Team Mate - Hogwarts v. Durmstrang & Koldovstoretz - Summer 2022, Instant Retaliation

Hanako Tone - Antagonistic Acquaintance - Spin the Bottle Beans!

Alexander Harland - Phantom - At the Edge of All Possibles, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023 Spectator Thread, Hogwarts vs Durmstrang - Summer 2023

Solo Threads - Self - The Goblet of Fire, As the World Burns, Window Onto a Broken Skyline, An Unspoken Price of Victory, Retaking the Lake
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Family:
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Valentin's mother, Zinoviya Makarova, was a famous wrock star from Russia who married a German concert pianist, Hugo Schnell. Valentin inherited Zinoviya's beautiful vocal timbre in addition to an intense pressure to perform at the highest echelon of musical competitions. After Zinoviya was killed by an obsessive fan and his father was sentenced to prison for the pursuit of revenge against his wife's killer, a friend of the family whom Valentin had never met became his caretaker: Leonid Shaykhlislamov. Unable to open up to Leonid about his feelings, Valentin's motivations and attitudes quietly shift with little adult input other than from his butler, Sergei Kozlov. However, in recent times friends have done much to ameliorate Valentin's anorexia and other issues.
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Hugo and Valentin Schnell, Germany
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Hugo Schnell
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Hugo Schnell
Faceclaim: Jeremy Dufour
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Zinoviya Makarova
Faceclaim: Şebnem Ferah
Amortentia:
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Stormy air & fine agarwood
Mirror of Erised:
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Boggart (STROBE WARNING):
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Flower:
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White Stargazer Lily ("Siberia" Variety)
Race Owl Breeding:
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Amet: Val's personal favorite; slow but scrappy and protective
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Kupalo: Fearless, sweet, and dedicated twin belonging to Romeo Marchonné
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Kostroma: Smart and ambitious but temperamental twin belonging to Romeo Marchonné
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Karakuş: Innovative tool user, independent, might open window faster than her recipient
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Hiranur: Intelligent, fast owl; polite but dangerously curious. Reads the subtleties of human communication; now belongs to Ginyami Midorimori
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Çäkçäk: Old, fat owl that once served Val's parents. Spends retirement getting into trouble
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The Schnell Estate:
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Zinoviya's Tower and Valentin's Tower

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Valentin's Tower and Zinoviya's Tower (Illuminated)

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Tower of the Lost Child and Performance Dome / Central Compound

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Top of the Tower of the Lost Child

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Hugo's Tower (Rebuilt)

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Last edited by Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood on 22 Apr 2024, 01:14, edited 797 times in total.

★ Valentin's Ency ☆ ☄ койрыклы йолдыз килә-ә ☄ ☽ Aida's Ency ☾

30 Jun 2021, 23:32
Valentin "Niffler" Schnell  Durmstrang 
Statistics:
STA 8
EVA 20
STR 3
WIS 16
ARC 1
ACC 16

64 stat points [55+9 sport wins: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
Extracurricular: Quidditch First String Seeker
Keen Eye
Reducio

As mentioned in his full backstory, Valentin has genetically superior eyesight. This natural advantage led to him taking advantage of his vision from his earliest years, thereby enabling him to hone it further with many years of practice. Even before quidditch, Valentin had always tried to impress other people with feats of visual acuity and proprioception. After all, if there was one thing Valentin needed other than food, water, and air, it was attention. Often he would combine his lightweight frame with these visual talents, balancing on a high tightrope while catching grapes or marbles that his friends threw from ever-farther distances. After stealing shiny objects this boy “Niffler” would often run off to climb a high tree in the park from which he could observe his pursuers from a distance. The fact that it was almost always the same tree, however, was a symptom that he had always really wanted to be caught in the first place. That, and it was a very fine tree for climbing.

Another habit of Valentin’s that contributed to developing a keen eye was his kleptomania itself. The people he stole from were always people he loved or otherwise wanted attention from, so a lot of people came to expect this game from him. His family especially stayed highly vigilant since his little bouts of thieving could end up inconveniencing them if he was not spotted beforehand. As a result, Valentin needed to become very observant of his targets and be able to spot openings where his theft could succeed without being detected. Also, as many people tried to hide away their shiny objects, Valentin had to practice spotting and guessing where any given precious MacGuffin might be tucked away.

Ever since he learned how to mount a broom, Valentin has loved to fly fast. Not only was speed flashy and could garner a lot of praise from his peers when augmenting stunts, it made running from pursuers even more exciting. However, with speed comes great danger, so his sometimes reckless maneuvers often require for him to quickly spot an incoming branch and other obstacles that can be hard to see at high velocities. Although his keen eye continues to get practice during high-speed chases and daredevil stunts, this does not prevent Valentin from occasionally failing and wiping out. Usually the Niffler can be seen with wounds, sometimes bandaged and sometimes not, that resulted from moments when his powers of observation failed. Broken bones can be an excellent deterrent, but pain is no match for Valentin’s habitual dangerous behavior – instead, the threat of injury compels him to see better, spot faster, and predict with ever-greater precision.

To sum up, a natural genetic gift combined with a lifetime of practice has given Valentin a keen eye, which is a trait that has surely saved his life on a number of occasions.

Charmer
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Valentin was known for being the (in)famous first-string seeker of Durmstrang’s quidditch team, and with it came fame that spawned from not just the fans’ love of the game. No, Valentin had a magnetic, charismatic personality and he truly loved his fans... resulting in them feeling that his victories were theirs. Energetic, extreme, flashy: Valentin was born for the limelight and high-pressure situations. Win or lose, Valentin was always able to say something inspiring, funny, or exciting to his people, to whom he was always selfless and loyal.

With his silky voice (inherited from his musician mother) and his striking pale features, the White Niffler stood out like no other on the quidditch pitch. Wherever he went his fame came with, so he tended to attract the attention of those around him. Still, even people with no interest in quidditch were often charmed by his positivity, spontaneity, and high-speed antics. For all his life Valentin fed off attention, actively seeking it out and thriving in its crucible. Together all of these positive facets made for a gravitational well for onlookers. However, his negative traits could also be extremely distracting.

Though not a loud boy, Valentin was one of the most impatient people around when it came to anything but quidditch or his fans. When his world seemed to exist for only these, little else could hold his attention for long unless it was as fast-paced as this quicksilver boy. Whenever he would get bored in class or other obligatory occasions Valentin would find something to amuse himself with, even if it distracted others and earned him the scorn of teachers.

In his free time Valentin was obliged by his family to perform at piano competitions and concerts, but whenever those required a bit too much waiting around he was likely to get into trouble, regardless of his mischief drawing the eyes of others around him. It didn’t seem to matter to Valentin when his impatience made a scene in public: his charismatic smile, laughter, and banter usually turned it into something positive, or at minimum, neutral.

Altogether, Valentin was naturally a charmer, but even more, when bored or lonely he went out of his way to get even more attention.

Evasive Maneuvers
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One year ago, Valentin's life was shattered within a breath. It only took one lapse of concentration to fail to notice he was alone, and this would contribute heavily to his team's loss and the consequent disintegration of his team.

Valentin's friends, specifically his quidditch team, were at the center of his life and always had been. Nothing was more important. Ever since that day, the boy has been haunted by his failure to evade the opposition. The only thing he could do to keep himself together despite the overwhelming, unending guilt was to train-- train so it could never happen again.

Every day, even after their discouraging loss, Valentin trained his evasive maneuvers. He could not, would not allow himself to fail again.

Despite all his training, however, the ruined friendships didn’t come back. Relations between himself and his friends grew tense. It seemed like his friends turned dark after that terrible loss, and though Valentin would follow them to the depths of hell, everything in Valentin’s life grew strained under the stress of trying to preserve what remained of his friendships. It didn’t help that one day a duel broke out in order to prove himself worthy of friendship. During that fight, Valentin exchanged blows and bled into the sacrificial bowl of combat.

Valentin was not a strong boy, having maintained a severe and unhealthy diet in order to lower his weight and maintain his in-flight maneuverability for the sake of his team. Lacking muscle, Valentin already understood in this battle that he needed to be able to outmaneuver opponents. Yet, despite all his training, his duel still proved difficult. Everything rode on his success in that fight, not allowing himself to be bludgeoned into unconsciousness, and it was just like that day… that terrible day when everything shattered.

Valentin had to be faster, had to get out of the way. Maybe he could no longer depend on his friends, since he had been abandoned at a critical moment… but even if he could, it was clear to Valentin that he had to pick up more weight. He had to be able to carry the team. Only then could the boy have any hope of evading disaster once more.

Fearless
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Ever since the day Valentin was struck by lightning, he was never the same. The boy, reckless from a lifetime of daredevil stunts in the limelight, knowingly courted the danger. Rumor had it that the Russian “White Immortal” seeker could never die despite the many devastating falls he had taken in the public eye. It was only in the secluded wilderness of Durmstrang that Valentin’s dance with death finally stopped the boy’s heart. Yet, rescued by his fellow Durmstrang students, Valentin came back to life-- not traumatized into finishing out his life timidly, but instead wanting more. More action, more sensation, more heroism. If there was a daredevil’s enlightenment, this was it. In death, Valentin’s electricity-scrambled brain changed deep in its core as he took on his greatest fear: the possibility that he was fundamentally alone.

Extroverted Valentin had always based his happiness on the joys of others. Although striving for quidditch victory was a main way of channeling his life energy, he fought for the sake of those team mates and fans who wished for him to win. In backing up his friends in fights, Valentin joined the fray because his friends wanted to overcome the opposition. It was for this reason that the shattering of the Durmstrang quidditch team in 2020 so ravaged Valentin’s self esteem and his direction in life. He did not know what to do with himself when his dearest friends abandoned the game. What was his purpose, if not to fight for their happiness? How could he hope to give them satisfaction now? As his friends changed, Valentin felt locked out, not privy to the secrets of their hearts, and increasingly alone in their presence. In living to make their wishes come true, had he not become a tool for them to simply manipulate without any real love for him? How much of his efforts for them were really for them, rather than because he wished to be loved?

On his deathbed, Valentin wondered what his purpose really was. In daily life, Valentin was a key strategist and source of wisdom for Durmstrang’s quidditch team, and he implicitly offered the same to his friends… if only they would ask him for it. Whatever he may have meant to his friends emotionally, Valentin figured he had been focusing too much on himself. The thrills of fame and admiration felt hollow as he died: his moments of pride were short-lived compared to contributing to a greater, immortal cause. In this moment, Valentin decided to torch his old lifestyle of clinging to the praise and adoration of others, desperate for attention. His feverish need to win, to restore pride to Durmstrang and himself, was eating him alive. Through reckless competitive obsession, the boy was wasting away from anorexia. His friends wanted him to eat, but Valentin’s stubborn pride still masqueraded as the greater good. He would take on the sickness for the sake of the team’s victory, he self-justified. Now, frail and bleeding out, Valentin sensed the self-centered gravity of his problem. He wanted to be loved for winning, in addition to ensuring the joy of others.

Dying in Romeo's arms, Valentin no longer felt alone. Feeling the other boy’s tear on his cheek, Valentin felt a connection of their wills and concluded that they were not mere bodies going through the motions of life. If Valentin’s self could be his will, rather than his body, he could never be alone so long as he lived for the sake of his people. His spirit would outlive his mortal shell to the extent that his deeds protected and enlivened their futures.

As his friends’ heroism breathed life into Valentin, an overwhelming desire to join that continuum of will consumed him. His desire for attention and admiration felt inconsequential compared to the force of Life trying to survive, unconstrained by whose body it inhabited. Now understanding that Death was real, Valentin found a new game with greater stakes and that required far more from him than quidditch ever did.

For Valentin, quidditch was an important game that taught people how to live rightly, and a game that brought passion and meaning to its participants' lives. Yet, life had just taught Valentin that the game is forever lost when someone dies. A world of quivering cowards was not what he wanted, though-- a world without seekers and beaters, a world without adventure and romance. No. Let the children play, he concluded. Someone had to know how to protect people so that they could go on playing, as carefree as children-- as if truly immortal. Let me take on the burden, he thought: let me take on the true danger so that others don’t have to. I just have to be good enough to not die again. Awakening from death, Valentin resolved to win against the Reaper itself in order to keep his loved ones in the game of life, immortal.

In order to take on the risk of those he wanted to protect, he would not only have to train harder. He would have to become perfectly fearless without being needlessly reckless. If he died again for something trivial, the boy’s entire game would go to waste. It didn’t matter if immortality was ultimately impossible, though. He would play the game as if it were, and whatever Life he saved would have to be good enough.
--

The lightning started a fire from which a new boy would rise, reborn. His powers were always those of perception, and Valentin had come a long way in accurately perceiving and reaching targets in quidditch and life. Much as he had the bravery to take on fist fights that were not his strong suit, he knew this was rarely a powerful use of him. He needed to be where his sharp eyes and keener mind could determine the best path forward. Every day, he had been hiding behind his weaknesses by acting as if he were a jester or a muscular knight when what people needed most was his mind and spirit through leadership. Valentin’s plan to win against the Reaper was to evolve into a great leader, as he predicted this power could extend farther than the arms’ reach of being a dedicated healer.

With renewed vigor, Valentin threw himself into his studies in the pursuit of understanding how to cheat Death. Knowing that theory was fragile without experience, he also embraced new physical training regimens and quidditch took on a special role in honing himself for his greater quest. At moments of tiredness, Valentin drove himself on by using the memory of his friends resurrecting him as inspiration.

Although the natural thrillseeker had always been intense in how he lived and loved, Valentin’s survival of his lightning strike further augmented his passionate engagement with life. His pre-existing qualities of being a highly sensitive person (clinically known as an HSP) became supercharged after his dance with death. As the volume of his life amplified, Valentin had to begin looking for new means of staying functional, in addition to his old standby of meditative flying. Music played a key role in keeping himself put together as his everyday life felt like it was exploding from the inside out. Yet, even with his increasing use of self-regulating behaviors, Valentin’s heightening sensitivity drove him to further embrace dangerous training stunts. As much as he had always been a daredevil, Valentin’s fervor, when paired with his newfound life purpose, forged him into an extremely fearless person. He had died once already, and now that he was far more driven by his greater purpose than his wish to be loved, Valentin became a master of controlling his fears.


Comprehend Languages (Parseltongue)
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It had been a few months since the susurrations began, but Valentin had kept almost entirely quiet about them. Half suspecting he was losing his mind after recent events with his friends Romeo and Ginyami, the captain and champion of Durmstrang hadn’t wanted the faintest stray rumor about his changes to reach the ravenous press and those who would use it against his teams. Although Valentin was aware that his friend, Aida, had schizophrenia, he did not want to risk bringing the possibility up to the pathological truthteller and blabbermouth. There was only one person he truly trusted with the secret that he was beginning to hear strange voices, and he wasn’t here today.

Sinuous coils of wet silver hair swam in Valentin’s eyes from a summer downpour in late evening. Hard as it was to see, the boy would almost step on the white snake winding its way through the grass below his home’s crystal tower. Simultaneously, a sharp hiss rattled Valentin’s brain: watch it, missssssster! With a jerk to the left, Valentin’s deft foot recovered just in time to keep him from tripping over himself or rolling his ankle, and realization struck him like a thunderbolt. It was a snake, and it really was talking to him.

«Гафу үтенәм I’m sorry replied Valentin instinctively in his native Tatar. Yet, the serpent merely slid by to shelter from the rain under an eave. Skilled polyglot that Valya was, however, he could not seem to get the snake to understand him – not in Tatar, Russian, German, nor English. Yet, the leucistic steppe viper (Vipera renardi) was perfectly intelligible when replying that it did not understand. Stooping to reach out his hands, Valentin tried to speak with his body instead, his words becoming a mere formality. «Давайте спасемся от дождя. Let’s get out of the rain he offered in Russian, only for the snake to slither another foot away.

«Бу гадәти, It’s okay,» persisted Valentin. “My mother always taught me to respect your kind, which she called our brethren. She said her ancestors had a special connection with serpents. Come in. Even if we didn’t, it’s still Tatar tradition to set out a bowl of milk for white snakes such as yourself, and to let you share our hearth. I’ve never had the occasion before, so I hope I can treat you right. All I know are the stories. You see, in our culture, we revere the old tales of the great white Aq Yılan, king of snakes, known for advising heroes on their trials and journeys, bringing good to the world and bestowing blessings... Do you know of such legends?” whispered the pale seeker, not really expecting an answer.

I am cold, was the snake’s only reply, coiling in on itself as water droplets rolled off its scales.

“Apologies, I have kept you waiting far too long,” said Valya, opening the door. “My mother said some of our predecessors could speak Parseltongue, and somehow it always just seemed like a fable, so here I fumble in disbelief. I just wish I knew how to talk to you. Your language is so beautiful.”

Without even the faintest hint of a hiss, the viper slid past Valentin through the doorway to find itself a warmer corner to pass the night.

Chuckling to himself, Valya closed the door behind them. «Так что я не безумный. Э, хм... Ладно, не суть. So I’m not insane after all. Er... Hm... Well, nevermind.»

Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering other people's weaknesses.
STA: 15 | EVA: 9 | STR: 2 | WIS: 20 | AP: 10 | ACC: 14
Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Perfectionist | Poison Resistance