Naufragio Application

[funwithknives]

IC
Name: Maes Hughes
Age: 29
Canon: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.
Canon Point: The day he went off to the office and didn't come back. However this time I'm sparing him the knowledge that he almost died.

Appearance:

Maes is 6'0" with a medium build in that he is neither lanky nor stocky. He's got the military lean muscle though. However while Maes' presence commands attention, he isn't an actively imposing figure. With black hair, yellow-green eyes, and usually sporting a chin beard, Maes Hughes is more often than not seen with an easy smile and a relaxed (by military standards) posture. Since he is a man of Amestrian Military, Hughes is often in uniform, though he more than happily sheds it when he's off duty. He wears glasses which just seem to suit his disposition and his military position.

Underneath the clothes though there is a bit of different story. Hughes, like most soldiers who survived Ishval, did not escape the Conflict without physical scars: a long diagonal scar on his forearm from a knife, a bullet wound just above his left hip, and a long slash across his back are the notable ones. There are other assorted marks from smaller cuts and bullets that grazed rather than pierced.

Personality:

At first blush, Maes Hughes is not a man that belongs in the military. He is compassionate to a fault - always seeking to help those closest to him and anyone who hits his considerable soft spots. Tall and clean cut with a welcoming smile, his easy demeanor puts others at ease and often gains him their confidence with in hours (or less) of meeting the man. With those he cares about, Hughes backs without hesitation. He'll do anything he can for them even if it means putting himself in danger. The biggest draw backs to having him as a friend are that viewing the pictures of family whenever the mood strikes him is mandatory (he will shove them in anyone's face), and enduring jibes about marriage. Maes can be rather pushy and will herd others verbally and physically, giving them little opportunity to interject an objection (if they do manage to object he rarely listens). However, when the chips are down, Maes isn't the fair weather sort. Really a person could hope for no better friend than Hughes.

His laid back attitude often makes others question his suitability for the rank and position that he holds, yet the discerning mind understands the method behind the smile. As head of the Investigations Office in Central, it is necessary for Hughes to easily and quickly gain peoples' trust, and not to offer the perception of an immediate threat. However, underneath the love of family friends is a shrewd man who understands what it means to be in danger and get his hands dirty. In fact it is that love for the people closest to him that often guides Maes' actions - he doesn't want them exposed to the world he has lived. He understands the danger in Amestris and the risk it poses to all the people that he cares about and will do whatever it takes - helping the Elric Brothers find the Philosopher's Stone, aiding Roy in climbing up the ranks, and going off on his own. Maes views his position in Central as the perfect spot for him to help advance Mustang's goal of one day becoming Fuhrer and he often cautions Mustang against taking any action that might threaten that goal while feeding him information.

Maes is not blindly devoted, however. With a shrewd mind that has a keen understanding of the intricacies of politics Maes is a realist and will actively countermand his closest circle when it seems they're taking off on the wrong path. He has no problems inserting himself into delicate situations through the use of his charm and easy smile in order to learn something useful or exert subtle/not so subtle influence. In fact Maes' mind is his most valuable attribute. He is able to dissect a situation and strip away the unimportant parts without letting his emotions get the better of him, and is often the voice of reason in volatile situations. Maes almost always maintains his calm and changes his tactics at a moments notice when necessary.

While Maes is generally well liked with a wide circle of friends and colleagues, there are not many people that penetrate his inner circle. He's also the type to keep his anxieties to himself, seeking to project an aura of calm decisiveness even when he might be unsure of the path in front of him. He's not one to sit around. His mind is always working even if he's not in uniform. Maes' biggest worry in life is that he might fail those he loves. It's why he drives himself as hard as he does to meet problems before they becomes problems and to steer his friends away from avoidable trouble.

However, don't think that it's a good idea to cross Hughes just because he's an all around nice guy. He is wicked smart and has an ability to correlate events that would leave other people's heads spinning. There's a reason why (aside from charm and good looks) that he was made a Lt. Colonel and put in charge of the Investigation Office in Central. If you have a secret, you better stay well out of his way, because this is a man that can find it out.

Powers & Abilities:

Fire arms- Military trained in rifles and hand guns
Push Knives - The little blades don't seem like much, but Maes is well trained in their use.
Analytical Thinking/Investigation - Maes is very, very good at analyzing pretty much anything.
Military Combat Training - Hand to hand


NAUFRAGIO SECTION: Initial Entry

How are you entering Naufragio?

The Skyway - where does this strange path lead anyway? It happened that Hughes party stumbled upon the Skyway while answering a distress call.

What were you doing before the Calamity struck?

It was a beautiful day outside: the sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, and the wind had just a bit of chill to it. Hughes inhaled deeply. The smile on his face was not just from the glorious day, but also the thoughts of later when he'd return home, kiss Gracia on the cheek, and spend the rest of the time entertaining Elicia before dinner. With his hands in his pockets, Hughes headed off.

Then that perfect, beautiful day changed.

A purple-black cloud rolled over the sky, blotting out the sun, and Hughes' smile dropped. A cold, cold chill raced up his spine as that day went straight to hell.

How did you deal with it?

The first day was chaos. Hughes turned around and raced back home even as the ground shook beneath him. The dark cloud rolled through the streets and over everything, choking up his lungs. It was not nearly as bad though as when he re-entered his home and found neither Elicia nor Gracia anywhere in sight. Not a trace of them to be found. Not a sign of how or when they'd left. They were just gone.

The phone rang and it was Central command. Hughes did not want to go in, yet knew that the resources of the military were his best bet at finding his wife and his little girl.

Could this be alchemy? Was this the culmination of the threat that had been looming over Amestris? Hughes did not know the answers to those questions. He almost didn't care. Yet finding out the answers might very lead him to missing family and missing friends.

The days dragged on and while it became apparent that this was not the work of alchemy, Hughes gained no more ground in finding those he loved. His days were filled with rescue missions and working relay for command as what remained of the military struggled to maintain order, protect the people, and kill off the strange monsters that kept appearing everywhere. By the time he had time to sleep, Hughes was worn through and through.

Sleep though was never easy. Most often he sat in his chair and stared at the ceiling, running plans through his mind. Planning, after all, was much easier to think about than anything else. If he didn't keep his mind busy, it traveled darker paths.

It was always a bittersweet blessing when exhaustion finally forced him under.

How did you end up in the Bastion?

On foot? XD Since he's comin' in through the Skyway, I'm guessing he'll either find it or get rescued.

Where will you keep your Soul Fragment?

Around his neck with his dog tags.

What does your communicator look like?

It looks kinda like a camera and a phone. The cover of it is a picture of Gracia and Elicia on the back.

Do you have any pets or animal companions that you're bringing in?

Nope

What are you bringing in now?

1 Amestrian Military Uniform
5 Push Knives
1 Military Issue Handgun
1 Pair of Glasses


General Game Stats.

Level: 0
Missions Completed: 0
Base Level Modifier: 0



Advantages/Disadvantages

A/D	Major/Minor	Description
Crippled	Minor	A particular part of your body isn't functioning up to par, or you need something to aid it (like, let's say, glasses for poor eyesight). This disadvantage automatically gives a -1 modifier to dice rolls involving physical activity that require the body part or sense that's been hampered/impaired.
Not-A-Super-Powered-Freak	Major	In a broken world that has gone to shit with creepy stuff crawling around, it'd be nice to have an advantage, a little extra pep in your step. Well - SUCKS TO BE YOU. Thanks to your lack of remarkable Other abilities you have to try harder than your super hero friends. Combat Modifier: -2 against monsters and (sorry bub) -3 against those with high other worldly abilities.
Human Compass	Minor	You never get totally lost because you either know exactly where you're going or you've got the amazing ability to figure it out fast. You automatically gain a +1 modifier to dice rolls that involve things that take place in Nowhere and the Skyway.
Lovable Derp (Unique)	Major	You have an incredibly easy time getting people to trust you even on the first meeting. An honest smile and ooze of sincerity go a long, long way. Even when you're railroading people into doing what you want, they can't seem to stay mad at you for long. +2 Rescue Missions, or jobs/tasks that involve talking to people and managing social situations.

Skills

Name	Modifier/Effect
Awareness: I've Got a Hunch	The muse automatically gains a +1 modifier to Exploration & Scouting, Core Retrieval, Research, and jobs/tasks involving investigation.
I'll Kill You With My Teacup	The muse automatically gains a +1 modifier to dice rolls for Caelodia Defense, Skyway Sweeping, Core Retrieval, Monster Hunting and Rescue.
Melee Combat: Up Close and Personal	The muse gains a +1 modifier to any missions, requests, jobs and special tasks that specifically require weapon combat.