Character Builder:
___
Let’s create a character for our mawmaw!
You may use these questions to flesh out your mawmaw characters, in any order you choose, or use the entire guide as a template for your own biographies!
You may use these questions to flesh out your mawmaw characters, in any order you choose, or use the entire guide as a template for your own biographies!
Basic Information
What is your mawmaw’s name?
Mawmaws often have first and last names; a name for them and a name that indicates which family they are from. Here are a few examples: Crimson Nightpaw, Roscoe Tempest, Aleena Swiftfeet, Treble Whitewing, etc.
___
Does your mawmaw have any nicknames?
Some mawmaws may choose to shorten their names, or might have developed several nicknames over the course of their lives! Nicknames can come from numerous sources; family, friends, even the individual themselves.
___
What are your mawmaw’s pronouns?
Mawmaws live in a very open-minded society where gender plays little role in what an individual can or can’t do; and anyone can choose their own identity, so long as it’s most comfortable to them! While the most common tend to be Cisgender males and females, there are a large number of Transgender, Genderfluid, and even Nonbinary individuals out there!
___
Who is your mawmaw attracted to?
Like with gender identities, mawmaws generally have an open-minded view about who others are attracted to- in a romantic sense. You’re just as likely to find mawmaws who are attracted to others with the same gender identity as you are those who are attracted to others with the opposite gender identity; or something entirely different from their own!
___
How old is your mawmaw?
Mawmaws age a little differently than humans do; they grow up quickly and live very long lives! On average, mawmaws are fully mature by age 15 but can live to be around 200 years old. The older a mawmaw is, the more experience they likely have!
___
When was your mawmaw born?
The people of Mesaya, including mawmaws, use a 12 month calendar similar to our own! One year is divided into four seasons, with each season being broken up into three months, and each month is made up of 30 days. When your mawmaw is born is crucial to their elemental attunement!
The months are as follows: Spring (Mur, Avis, Mei), Summer (Jut, July, Augus), Fall (Serpis, Oronor, Noct), and Winter (Dember, Jarr, Fer).
The months are as follows: Spring (Mur, Avis, Mei), Summer (Jut, July, Augus), Fall (Serpis, Oronor, Noct), and Winter (Dember, Jarr, Fer).
___
Where was your mawmaw born?
Many mawmaws travel great distances through their lives; so where they live now may not be the same place they were born! You may use the world maps and the information of each of the cities to figure out where your mawmaw was born.
___
Where does your mawmaw currently live?
As mentioned before, most mawmaws travel throughout their lives, and may end up living in another place from where they were born. Mawmaws can choose where they end up settling for good based on climate preference, jobs, relationships, and so on! Of course, your mawmaw doesn't have to move from where they were born, either!
___
What does your mawmaw do for a living?
Mawmaws may have many different kinds of jobs; from gathering, processing, and distributing raw materials to building, cleaning, teaching, and even becoming a pirate! What your mawmaw does and how well they do at their job can impact their finances, relationship, and overall attitude.
___
What is your mawmaw’s elemental attunement?
Depending on the month your mawmaw was born in; more specifically, which season they were born in, will decide what their elemental attunement is! Mawmaws that are born in the spring will have an affinity for air. Mawmaws born in the summer will have an affinity for fire. Mawmaws born in the fall will have an affinity for earth, and mawmaws who are born in the winter will have an affinity for water!
___
What is your mawmaw’s soulstone?
A soulstone is the very object a mawmaw channels their magical energy through, and without it, they wouldn’t be able to cast more powerful or complex spells. All mawmaws select or receive a soulstone when they are young, and the soulstones themselves can be just about any material- from rocks, metal, and gems to bone and wood!
Personality
How would you describe your mawmaw’s personality?
Like humans, mawmaws vary greatly between individuals by personality! Some mawmaws may be more or less social than others, some are generous while others are selfish; for example. The personality a mawmaw has may largely depend on how they were raised, what they do for a living, and so on.
It’s important to note that mawmaws can have good or bad personality traits; or a mix of both!
It’s important to note that mawmaws can have good or bad personality traits; or a mix of both!
___
What are some things your mawmaw likes?
All mawmaws have personal preferences! Like us, they may have certain hobbies and interests, activities they enjoy, preferences for certain styles and aesthetics, and even favorites.
___
What are some things your mawmaw dislikes?
Again, all mawmaws have personal preferences- especially for things they don’t like! Mawmaws may have certain types of people, places, or things they don’t like, some situations they may try to avoid, activities they prefer not to do, and so on.
___
How does your mawmaw act when they are alone?
While mawmaws are social creatures, some may find their own company preferable to that of others. Whether they prefer their own company or the company of others, most mawmaws behave a certain way when they are alone.
___
How does your mawmaw act when they are around others?
Mawmaws are social creatures, with varied and complex relationships with others. Some mawmaws prefer the company of others, while others may be a bit less interested in socializing. How a mawmaw acts around others may depend on their relationships with whomever they are around, and their own personal preferences!
___
Does your mawmaw have any characteristics that are unique to them?
Sometimes, mawmaws have quirks, habits, or certain characteristics that make them stand out from others. These could be something that shapes their personality, the way they see themselves, or the way other people see them!
___
What are some of your mawmaw’s personal goals and aspirations?
Like us, many mawmaws have certain goals or aspirations they wish to achieve in life. It can be something simple, like moving to a new city, or something a bit more grand like becoming incredibly rich! Anything from simple desired to far-fetched dreams can influence what a mawmaw wants to do with themselves and their life!
History
What was your mawmaw’s childhood home like?
Almost all mawmaws live in homes, kind of like our own! Depending on where they live and what the climate is like, a mawmaw’s abode may be different from homes and buildings built in other places!
___
What was your mawmaw’s family like, if they had one?
Mawmaws are social creatures and it’s common for them to come from large families called commons. A common of mawmaws is usually made up of multiple families; adults and children, who share the responsibility of protecting and raising the youngsters. Of course, this isn’t the case for every family!
___
How did your mawmaw gain their spark?
Between the ages of 2 and 4 years old, a mawmaw will gain their connection to their elemental magic and go through a process called ‘sparking’. What triggers the connection varies between individuals, and how they discover their elemental magic can be different from others their age.
___
How did your mawmaw’s stone search go, if they participated in it?
When young mawmaws find their spark, or their connection to their elemental magic, they embark on a journey to find their soulstone. This stone search can last anywhere from a few minutes to several weeks, or even months; giving every mawmaw ample time to find the perfect soulstone for them! Of course, not all mawmaws participate in the stone search- especially if they are given a hand-me-down soulstone, or if they find theirs a little early.
___
Did your mawmaw go to school?
Like human children, young mawmaws usually go to school to learn! Some schools are physical buildings, with teachers and classes; others are parents, or adults within a common teaching the youngsters that belong to it. Education is important for learning how to communicate, picking up skills that may help mawmaws provide for themselves and their families, learning about the history of their world, and how to use their magic!
___
Were there any particular events of importance to happen in your mawmaw’s life?
Sometimes, things may happen in a mawmaw’s life that changes their course- for better or worse. Mawmaws are long-lived creatures with complicated lives much like our own. Things like moving away from home, getting (or losing) a job, or relationship; may have a massive impact on the present and future of a mawmaw!
___
What is your mawmaw’s life like, currently?
Depending on where a mawmaw came from, what they have been through as they grew up, and the things they’ve experienced; where they are in life now may be vastly different from where they were when they were younger!
___
Does your mawmaw have any plans for the future?
Even mawmaws have hopes and dreams! Many mawmaws work towards personal goals and aspirations; be they ones like finding a romantic partner and moving to a particular city… to things like raising a family, getting a particular job, or changing the world!
Relationships
Who is your mawmaw’s family?
Mawmaws typically live in large family groups called ‘commons’; which are made up of multiple families. While most grow up in these commons, there are some who don’t! Some mawmaws live in small families that consist of parents and siblings… and some may even be alone.
___
What is your mawmaw’s relationship with their family?
Despite being social creatures, the relationship a mawmaw has with their family may vary! Depending on how an individual was raised, what their personality is like, or what has happened over the course of their life; they may have a better or worse relationship with their family than others- if they have one at all.
___
Are there any important figures in your mawmaw’s life?
Because they are social, mawmaws often have important figures that play a role in their lives. This can be anything from a trusted parent or friend, to a role model, or someone who inspired an individual to become who they are today!
___
Does your mawmaw have many / close friends?
Again, mawmaws are generally quite social, and many of them have friends! How many friends an individual has, or how close they are to their friends varies- but it’s quite common; even for less social mawmaws to have some kind of friendship with another!
___
Is your mawmaw in a romantic relationship?
When mawmaws come into maturity, some of them begin seeking out romantic partners! Like us, they will date potential partners and become mates if they are a good match! Mawmaws typically pair for life, but can move onto new relationships if something happens to their partner. Polyamory in mawmaws is less common, but still present in modern day mawmaw culture!
___
How did your mawmaw meet their partner, if they are in a relationship?
Some mawmaws may base their decision to date someone based on looks, while others may be more emotionally drawn to their partner/s! What sparks that interest varies between individuals!
___
Does your mawmaw have any children?
Mawmaws can reproduce with other mawmaws when they become mature; around 15 years old. Since the act of reproduction involves magic; mawmaws can have children with others of any gender! Young mawmaws are raised by the entirety of a parent’s common; with a bit of extra attention from the parents, of course!
___
How does your mawmaw feel about their children, if they have any?
It’s common for young mawmaws to be treated especially well by their parents; but there are those unfortunate few who simply do not care much for their own children. To what degree varies- and some may even feel regret for having their children. Having children is quite the involved process and is generally not done accidentally, so most are overjoyed to bring children into the world!
___
Does your mawmaw have any rivals or enemies?
Being social means that mawmaws can, and do, have relationships with others that aren’t so great. This can be in the form of an individual simply not liking someone else, to a mawmaw having a mortal enemy!
___
Is it easy for your mawmaw to form and maintain relationships?
For some mawmaws, forming and maintaining their relationships is like second nature! For others, however, it may be difficult to get along with others, check in, or keep in touch once they’ve found a friend or become close with someone. Everyone is different and some may be alright with their relationships either way!
___
Has your mawmaw ever lost someone that was important to them?
Sadly, mawmaws are not immortal and some eventually perish from this world; be it peacefully or otherwise. Like us, mawmaws with strong connections to those who pass on may struggle to cope with loss, or learn something from losing a loved one. The way an individual handles a situation like this and how it affects them in the long run also varies.
___
Is there any specific type of relationship or relationship with a particular other that your mawmaw would like to have?
Some mawmaws may dream of finding love, some may wish for friends (or even enemies)! Perhaps those feelings extend even further to a specific individual- it’s not totally uncommon for mawmaws to have a crush on someone else!