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(updated 2021) character survey of doom
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Roland is a fully grown adult man, of average height (5"6 - 5"7 at most) and build. His younger body is more on the athletic side, thanks to his extensive swordsmanship.
2. How old is he?
Physically, he is 20 years old. Mentally, he's 48.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Roland will rarely be seen slouching. He carries himself with confidence and dignity; he's always going to have a certain presence to him that's not really intimidating, but more of, you just know he's reliable. Don't let that stern face fool you.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
His younger self is definitely fit, with tons of energy and drive to get the work done. In fact, the DLC postulates that it's this literal de-aging that lends him the energy he needed to help King Evan succeed. It's not easy getting a kingdom up and running. No known illnesses, apart from the darkness that connects him to his soulmate in the second world (Doloran). DLC also confirms that the darkness stems from the corruption of the Godswind from Zayin himself - the source of all magic and kingmakers. Plus, Doloran cursed himself to have eternal youth in exchange for immortality, so spiritually Roland's a spillover from all that. No known physical disabilities, either. The guy is your standard melee fighter, so he's got pretty dependable stamina.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
He's got an above average range of movement, able to balance out heavy-hitting melee with agile dodging as needed. Roland's a fighter that'll get you out of a pinch, even if he can't tank like Bracken and Batu, or spray you with magic like Evan and Leander. He does forward barrel-rolls in mid-air to slash you with his sword, I mean the guy can move. Though there is something to be said about Roland being the only party member with less than 10 things to learn in Spellworks...
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Canonically, Roland is pretty good looking. In fact, a couple of NPCs do comment on his attractiveness in varying degrees: Boddly outright calls him a pretty boy in Goldpaw, her assistant stalks him when he visits to study stone tablets with the rest of Evan's crew, and Yoo-Hoo thinks there's something magnetic about his mature vibe.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
He's got lightly tanned skin, mostly clear, with no visible scars. There are postulations that Roland may not be a Caucasian president.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Very long, black hair, long enough to tie into a neat ponytail. I imagine he does take care of his younger body's hair better than you would expect, with a careful diligence you wouldn't expect from someone as pragmatic as the Chief Consul. No wonder it's so shiny and clean, no matter how many fights he gets into with Evan and the team.
9. What color are his eyes?
Dark brown.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Thick ass eyebrows, baby.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Roland will always look calm and collected on the surface, reacting only as called on by the situation, so a lot of his stress and worry is internalized like you wouldn't believe. I imagine he has very stressed out shoulders, a stiff back, and a really tight neck. He's always leaning down, analyzing, reading, writing...The guy likes to keep busy, and it shows.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
Definitely utilitarian. He'll dress when the situation calls for something appropriate, like when he put on his formal suit during Pugnacius' trial because he needed to play the part of an attorney. On a casual day, imagine something comfortable but smart, like a loose polo tucked into slacks, or a turtleneck with dark bottoms. All of his costumes in the game also tend towards long coats, culminating in his final DLC outfit, the Chief Consul's Coat.
He's not afraid of varying colors or textures, but he has his comfortable block color favorites. I used to think he might not be into flashy things but it's pretty much canon that he's a man of style. It helps to look the part, and he's pretty high maintenance. From leather thrones to Will commenting that his dad dresses better upon seeing a younger Roland in a Memory Lane, wearing the blue costume.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
Oh, for sure. Before his journey in Evermore, he was President. I assume he always got suits tailored to his body type. Roland's not gonna wear baggy clothes or clothes that don't fit him, since he values being practical and making the right impressions at all times.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
Most likely. The differences will probably be miniscule, if at all. Turtlenecks, polo shirts, slacks, coats, sweaters and vests...
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
MISTER PRESIDENT HOW SCANDALOUS -
- briefs.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
His VA is Jared Zeus and he sounds like this. It's a very pleasant sounding voice, and depending on the mood, he can sound determined, serious, or just plain commanding. But if you can get him to do so, his laugh and chuckle is very sweet too. Like he's still a wonder-loving boy, deep down, no matter how old he's gotten.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He speaks with purpose. He speaks knowing that he's going to be heard, and that he has something relevant to say. Roland will react verbally to things yes, but he also will never speak out his innermost thoughts unless prompted or truly necessary. The only time he'll hesitate is if something in his past comes up all of a sudden, and he deems it unnecessary to linger on the facts. He can plead his case, or anyone's case for that matter, because the guy is a statesman. He's not afraid taking to the stand.
He's also not the type to shoot himself on the foot. If he doesn't know what to say, he's not going to open his mouth. There's no room for uncertainty, and he always thinks before he speaks.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He has a general American accent. He seems to say "heh" a lot, when/if amused. "Gah" when someone annoys him and he can't help himself.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Good 'ol American English, and he's very fluent. He even knows ~ big fancy lawyer words! ~ And that's it, I reckon.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Nope.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Absolutely. But he...doesn't seem to be very good at the fantasy morale speeches that will get an army going. I think he's really more of a "I'm going to speak to get people to move and do their jobs" kind of guy, versus Evan who is a more inspirational speaker. Like I said earlier, he will 10000% overthink his words.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
He has his moments of not knowing what to say, especially when he's being forced to face things he keeps to himself, like how he feels about his son, or his past. Or his country that got nuked. In those instances, Evan usually speaks up to help him get back on track. But most of the time, Roland is eloquent in his own, brusque manner.
The closer someone is to him, the more candid he becomes too.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Both, if his canon behavior is what we'll be going by. He's also notoriously cunning and intelligent, and how could he not be when he helped build a literal kingdom out of nothing? He has been commented on by other NPC's in the game as a true asset, whichever monarch he chooses to serve. According to King Mausinger during Chapter 9, Roland impressed his entire council when he was working for Ding Dong Dell (though under a guise) because it always seemed like he already knew what to do and how to go about it.
But then look at him. It was his idea to be a double-crosser, putting on a show for everyone, after all.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
A little bit of both as well. He's the kind of guy who will always need to debrief and be alone with his thoughts, because he's never ever ever going to emotionally unload on someone else unless you force him under torture - and EVEN THEN he'd resist it!! - but he also knows when to get your ass moving. He won't dwell on the why's and what's, and he just thinks of the now and what he needs to do to get him and his friends out of a pinch.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Roland is a very logical and pragmatic man, though he always thinks of the majority with every decision that he makes. It's his time as President that's set him up for life; he can't think of just one person's benefit. Everyone has to be served, everyone's needs have to be considered and addressed. In fact, he'll be the first person to put himself in peril if it means it will serve a greater good - something he actually says in the game. He is also a very eagle-eyed type of guy, so he thinks things through. If something is shady, or if something is even just the tiniest bit suspicious, he'll think of a way to use that to their advantage. Which is why he and Leander work so well hand-in-hand as Consuls. Plus, he's more prudent than Evan is, the perfect counterbalance to young idealism. But one could just chalk that up to age or jadedness from serving as a politician for so long.
One throwaway conversation solidifies this, easily missed. In the Chapter where Evan must return to his deposed kingdom, Roland admits kindness and compassion are why Evan will succeed in being king. He seems to sound regretful, despite passing advice.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
I can assume he's had some sort of post-grad degree in his world, since he knows how to handle himself in a court of law. My headcanon is he had a firm, or was part of it, before running for the Senate. Then, the White House. Double term, baby.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
Politics, leadership, public governance, overall nation-building. He's a sharpshooter, a self-proclaimed natural with guns, and he's a swordsman with fairly strong capabilities. I think he might be interested to learn more about hobbies that really are just for relaxing. The guy never seems to stop working, so he could stand to learn about projecting away from work and start...calming down for the sake of it.
Headcanon dictates that he's a bit of a nerd too. His DLC journal entries indicate his penchant for referencing movies to relate to the other world. All the time. Even in the Memory Lane where we chase after his high higgledy, Roland is calling the experience akin to a horror movie with the amount of monsters across the map. I'm inclined to believe the President Nerd / President Geek TV Trope applies to Roland.
The guy wrote about wanting to fly a broom, for crying out loud. He's having fun.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
I honestly think he's an introvert, even though his job forces him to be out in the public all the time. Roland gets his energy replenished when he's alone with his thoughts. We see this in his canon game as well, during his first real conversation with Evan after the Ding Dong Dell coup. He goes up to the highest cliff of Hideaway Hollow so he can get some air and think. He needs to think by himself.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Moody is what you wouldn't describe Roland as. He's very, very evenly-tempered. He is laser-focused, very stern, very disciplined, and he's determined as hell to get the job done, come hell or high water. It's to a fault. He will literally stick to the facts no matter what, at least outwardly. He is also very resilient, and will fight to the bitter end until he sees with his own two eyes that the white flag has already been raised. When he does falter, they're because something is hitting too close to home.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Roland's home was leveled to ground zero, he almost died, everyone he loves is probably dead, and upon waking up in a new fantasy world, with a half-cat half-boy right in front of him, in a body that's been aged down to two or three decades younger than he really is, the guy's first instinct is to just...go with it.
He does not panic. Panic means you lose perspective and control. Panic means he's lost the power to move the situation in his favor. Roland will always meet every new situation with a certain sense of acceptance and blasé, because
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
React. He's going to wait for the first move, so he knows the playing field a bit better. The guy is a natural strategist. Plus, he's not really the type of person to throw the first punch. The only time he'll "act" is if someone is in danger, i.e. Auntie Martha being attacked, Aranella getting hurt, Evan getting threatened.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Depends on the situation. His default is neither. His default is to think about what warrants that particular reaction from him. If he needs to run, he'll run. If he needs to fight, he'll fight (especially when someone can't stand up for themselves; he hates bullies.) As he told Evan in Chapter 1: We all have our roles to play, and sometimes the role needed for the situation is to survive. That means if you need to turn tail, then you turn tail.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
He's very sarcastic, with lots of dry quips and jokes. He appreciates a good jab every now and again, though, but they won't be coming from him first, until you can break that cool facade of his. He won't respond too well to bathroom humor, but he could just drop the occasional dad joke on you if you're lucky.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
No, doesn't look like it. Though you could argue he's borderline neurotic when it comes to how much he refuses to talk about his story, his history, and how he really feels about his personal trauma.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
His presidency, his son being born, and his adventure in Evermore with Evan. And of course, it goes without saying that his world being destroyed by the rain of nukes until he was saved by Gateway. I think he'll never forget that once upon a time, in a land far, far away from here, he was Chief Consul to a kid who would live to be one of the greatest kings in history...
14. What does he fear?
Losing his son, failing his son, and failing his job as a President and ruler. All of which are tantamount to the destruction of his world - literally and symbolically, of which is harbors total guilt. For Roland, being bad at the job, and failing to protect his nation, is also the same as failing to be a good father to William.
His DLC reveals that Roland's strongest source of fear is the doubt that he often entertains regarding memories. If he spent too much time as a young man, would he eventually forget his son? He's afraid of a lot of things to be honest, he just doesn't think it pertinent to voice them out or let other people know about it.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Just like Evan, he was working on treaties that could get literally achieve world peace, since his country sat on the brink of a global war. Sadly, the Fifth High Higgledy story confirms that he was destined to fail, since he ascended the presidency too late. The seeds of world war had already been planted and he was averting a crisis bound to happen; it was only a question of when.
In the end, he hopes he can take all that he's learned from his time with Evan back home with him, so he too, can salvage and save the home he loves with all his heart. I think this is why it came easily to him to draft the Declaration of Interdependence from scratch, by the way. Without Evan asking him to do it.
He also hopes that he can be a better father to Will. He's all too aware of his shortcomings, of not visiting him in the hospital often enough...Roland probably thinks about his son more often than he lets on.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
EVERYTHING :)
Listen you guys, is his life story really important -
- I mean, we've all got a job to do, right
Let's just ignore all this messy trauma business and get down to business.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
He loves and adores his mother. He mentions her quite often in his IC-canon journals. We don't know about his father as he is never mentioned. Headcanon is he's a kid who grew up with just his mom. Which explains why he mentions to Leander and Batu that he wishes he had more time to prepare being a dad. There is a very strong implication that he did not have a father figure to base his experience as an actual dad on, and that his kid came unplanned.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
None that we know of! He may be an only child, and I like to stick to that.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Apart from his son William, nope and nope! He does consider Evan and the rest as family, as well as every citizen under his protection, whether in Evermore or back home.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Everyone in Evermore that they've recruited and helped build a kingdom with, his main party (Evan, Tani, Batu, Leander, Bracken), and of course, his own nation.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
I think Evan's the closest we'll get in terms of who his best friend is. I don't imagine Roland had plenty of time to make best friends when he was traveling around states and countries, ruling AU!America.
6. Does he have other close friends?
N/A, pls give him friends who aren't just workmates :C Or ask him to stop being the wet blanket and let Niall and the Sky Pirates open up a casino in Evermore lmao.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
I don't think he has trouble getting along with anyone in general, but I also don't think he's the type to be super warm on the onset. He'll strike up good conversation, he'll care, but he's not going to be bouncing on the balls of his feet asking to be friends, if you know what I mean. He's just a very open guy all in all, but he's also always kind of keeping a certain distance.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Family. Without a doubt. And if you're lucky, both can be the same thing.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
He is canonically a widower. He doesn't talk about his deceased wife, surprise surprise.
Judging from his Memory Lane though, it seems he also harbors some guilt over how he handled her death, since he didn't process the grief extensively enough for William to get over it. Remember that Memory Lanes are amalgamations of dreams, memories, emotions, and thoughts of real people. At some point, this kid no older than ten realized his dad was so absent that even his First Lady dying didn't warrant a stronger reaction, or more time away from the White House.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope. You wanna date a single dad with Adult Trauma by the spades? Go right ahead, lol.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
No clue! Probably a movie star, since he's so into watching shows and movies. I like to think he's into the Jane Russell types instead of the Marilyn's. Give him a sultry brunette any day.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
If it's a serious relationship? Someone who can be there for Will. If his son doesn't approve of his partner, then it's not happening. In general though, romance for Roland is tricky. It's a different dynamic when someone is coming from a widower situation; he's already had his share of the whole courtship experience. All in all, it helps if someone can see him for who he really is, without the label of leader or king or president. Someone who just likes him and is content with staying by his side. I imagine he is very soft for the one he chooses to love next, like he doesn't know what to do all over again. Dating is hard, man, even on the second time around.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Yep. He has one son, William - Will - Crane. A very sick boy who has always been in the hospital since he was born. He, sadly, has played the role of a slightly absentee father as per the latest DLC, since it was revealed that Will was usually alone with either his mother or the nurses in the ward. Roland was too busy to drop by, because he was elected very young and his world was tethering on nuclear apocalypse.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Back home, he probably had a LOT of enemies across and beyond the seas and borders of his country. Which is why he's actively trying to make peace and make sure peace is sustained, well after his tenure. Alas...
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
A 2 or a 3 on the Kinsey Scale, described as Heteroflexible. That is, his experiences have mostly been with women, and that might be where his preference lies, but I wouldn't count out the other gender. He borderline flirts with Leander, "You sure know how to keep things interesting." Okay, Roland calm down. Maybe he just likes good people, regardless of who they are.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
Loaded question, but it's not something that comes up as often as perhaps it once did. I would imagine him up for casual hookups and flings, but it's different when he has to have sex with someone he cares about. He'll be more conscious, overthinking every little thing.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Call him sir. Mister President, if you want it nasty.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Since he doesn't have a canonical birthday, I pegged him as a Scorpio (cusp of Libra), birthday October 23. He could be from the year of Ox or Rooster.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Neither! This isn't a big part of who Roland is, though he is very determined and very hopeful. He will fight for what he thinks is right and what he believes in, that's for damn sure.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
Yes to all! And judging by his Chapter 7 fake!betrayal, he's willing to get down and dirty with espionage if it means he'll be able to get a one-up for his king/liege. I think the fact that a greater good comes out of it makes him partial to allowing such shady behavior. Roland definitely swings towards the end justifies the means sort of mentality, if he is the only collateral damage.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
He seems to be a very tolerant man, as he did pass a universal healthcare system in his home world which helped his ratings a TON. He is also a firm believer that nobody should ever be oppressed or bullied, and he gets uncharacteristically mad when he sees this injustice in front of him. He will go out of his way to make sure that's corrected. The one thing I am certain of is that Roland is far from indifferent. He cares deeply.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He's prejudiced against bullying and doesn't seem to tolerate vices such as gambling in casinos. That's about it. He's a more or less good president. It's just that his world was really bound for chaos, and his hard work in trying to keep global peace was almost out of his control at some point.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
He's the President of a superpower.
Evermore at Level 4 in the Kingdom Management system also gains you almost 8B in your coffers.
Just, gonna leave that there.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Growing up, we can assume he was of a low-to-middle income household. But of course that has changed, thanks to his hard work!
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
In his original world, I assume as president he had to live in their version of the White House. In the other world, he lived inside Evermore Castle, together with the rest of the main counsel. Roland also seems to be the type of person to prepare for all outcomes, so chances are he's got assets waiting for him after his term. Single dads gotta think of these things, okay.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Books, empty journals for his thoughts, pens, maybe some stuff for his gun, and I think he'd also indulge in some movies, or theatre shows. He likes watching new genres!
Gifts for William are a given. I'm a firm believer that his two love languages are gift-giving and acts of service.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
He is the President, he is the Chief Consul, and he is canonically reaaaally good at his job. Like, really good. Roland is the Ace of the series, played to the nines. But also, he is absolutely fine with taking a backseat from a leadership role because you know what, being a mentor is good too. He's a natural protector and strangely enough, a natural nurturer, even if his brand is a bit more on the tough love side; of doing what has to be done despite the struggles that come with it. It's part of the job, which is why he tries his best not to coddle Evan throughout the game.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
What are hobbies? No, really, the guy works on his job and things related to his job incessantly. He NEEDS to discover that he can be passionate about things that aren't about his work.
IF he had the time, he'd admit to heavily enjoying movies and other such related things.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He is the type to skip meals because he's engrossed in research, that is absolutely correct. I can imagine Leander or Evan having to prod him to please eat with us tonight stop...reading stuff...and just eat for 30 minutes please rOLAND--
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Royal purple, navy blue, shining gold, charcoal black.
2. Smell? Vanilla musk & ginger citrus.
3. Time of day? Midnight to Dawn.
4. Season? Autumn.
5. Book? Memoirs, history books, and children's books, for his son. He does love a good story. On his free time, he'll probably pick up a mystery/adventure thriller, or something exciting that can take him to another world.
6. Music? Operatic, musical theatre, and maybe some old school jazz and blues. Secretly, he also listens to 70s rock ballads and 80s synthpop for those disco hits. A dork we stan.
7. Place? The library, the movie theatre, an office space, the Oval Office, the top of a mountain, a scenic park.
8. Substance? ...coffee????
9. Plant? A really old tree that can live for centuries, leaving thick, sturdy roots to weather any storm.
10. Animal? An eagle, a crane, a wolf.
END
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