Name: Karoliina Tiainen
Age: 19
Nationality: Finn
Gender: Female(?)
Area of birth: Saimaa
Immunity: Yes
Profession: skald (more of a translator), mage
Languages: :finland:, :norway:, :iceland:, mostly fluent in :sweden:, knows enough of :china: to mostly hold a non-technical conversation, and trying to learn :denmark:
Karoliina moved to Keuruu with her family when she was 3 and quickly developed an interest in books. Her Chinese great-grandparents moved to Finland (specifically Saimaa, because dang do those mountains remind them of China’s) sometime before the Rash struck, hence her Asian features and ridiculous hair that came about when she was 13 (“妈, (MOOOOOOM) WHY ARE THERE CURLS?! NO ONE IN OUR FAMILY HAS CURLS!” “我的小猫咪 (my kitten), your great-grandmother had curly hair too. And probably a few relatives from your dad’s side too.”). Grandmothers both casualties of troll attacks (weren’t immune), one grandfather has chronic pain in an old wound area. Her father is of Finnish descent (hence her last name, which coincidentally could be translated phonetically into Mandarin). Her mother passed down what little Mandarin she knew, and Karoliina learned Norwegian and Icelandic during her studies to become a translator/skald. She’s attempting to learn Swedish and Danish on the expedition, when they’re not sprinting for their lives or busy with other work.
A total bookworm, she might be a little too well-read—she’s been terrified of the Silent World ever since she got her hands on detailed drawings of some of the walking nightmares out there at 5, and particularly afraid of the Maahinen (which may be the reason for one of her grandmothers’ fate, but no one knows). Is a cautious and observant person by nature. Introverted, reserved, and rather catlike but usually friendly (she can be quite untalkative or distracted and curt some days). A loyal and protective friend, she won’t hesitate to destroy you if you’re a threat. Loves her alone time. Adores cats (and gets along well with them too, wild or not) but will only pet if the cat seems okay with it (she’s not a touchy feely person anyway). Detests bugs and spiders and most creepy crawlies. Much prefers the safety of the walls. Absolutely hates needing sleep when she’s got work or a project and has gone into flow mode, and will complain about it (with a lot of swearing in different languages) if you tell her “Hiitos, go to bed already, we don’t need a sleepwalker,” as her parents and younger sibling have told her on many occasions. She’s actually quite practical though, ex., preferring pants over skirts (“UGH this skirt is getting EVERYWHERE”).
No one knew for sure if she was a mage until she was 16 so she’s rather untrained (but fairly powerful, fortunately). Thinks being a mage is pretty cool, but also that she really could do without visions of trolls (the unfortunate side of things), gory details or not—she’s already memorized by heart the few fictional stories that were written by the people of the Old World and brought to Keuruu, and they’re already scary enough. Is excellent at what defensive magework she’s demonstrated and a couple of offensive moves for desperate times. Her dad, also a mage, has taught her some more advanced stuff. Started working evening shifts with an older and more experienced mage before her dad, who is waaaaay too enthusiastic about his older child being one, signed her up for an expedition into the Silent World (“You need to practice your magework, Carole [Karoliina’s nickname], and this is the perfect opportunity!”). Needless to say, she was not pleased (“Are you trying to get me killed?!”).
Is probably scared and worried witless half the time but tries not to show it (and is successful most of the time, as she tends to block out the fact that trolls and giants and beasts exist). Absolutely useless when it comes to carrying books out of the buildings because she’ll be paralyzed with fear as they tiptoe around and will probably scream (and wake up the block) and forget that she has weapons if she comes across a grossling in such close quarters. Fast runner and on the short and skinny side, which will come in handy. Probably uses a revolver more than her rifle because she’s so freaking tiny (under 100 pounds still :I she blames a very crazy summer month full of grossling attacks when she was 14). More badass than she thinks she is, but has kind of a weak stomach when it comes to blood, gore, car rides, and grosslings. Totally overprotective of the expedition members. Has the worst and best luck—how that works, no one knows, but she's still alive :B.
wow i feel like my self-insert is such a mary sue
