Name
Ambroz
Name Meaning
Greek origin; "immortal"
No real nicknames to speak of.
Age
25
Gender (Pronouns)
Male/masculine (he/him)
Subspecies
Giant Moray eel
Sexuality
Demi-Pansexual
Role
Hunter (tentatively - he has yet to build up rapport with the pod, so they watch him closely.)
Personality
Ambroz, on a surface level, comes across as fairly laid-back, quiet and passive. He is amiable to most, if not overly talkative or social. But there is an energy of... unpredictability, that most catch onto upon meeting him. Although he acts calm and easygoing, you just get the feeling that he could turn on a dime, going from casual and low-key to a fierce predator whever the opportunity presents itself. This means he gives off untrustworthy vibes, so there is usually that barrier between him and other people. He makes sure never to show too much weakness, not to share too much information about himself, and always keeps his cards close to his chest. He seems to have it all together, always having a plan to escape any situation, and his cool, unbothered attitude makes him seem more powerful and untouchable than he really is. If people don't think they even have a chance at hurting you, they won't try, right? Right. ;)
He is quite intelligent and very observant - newcomers will often get the feeling they're under a microscope when he is looking at them, even though his conversation is light and casual. He is clever, and knows when he will be overpowered, so he tends to be very passive and unassuming around larger, stronger mercreatures like sharks and such. He is careful not to tick off the wrong people, and is very aware of who protects who, and which groups like or dislike each other. He is a highly independent, self-serving creature, not truly loyal to any group, and will shift alliances as it suits him, without a thought to those he's left behind. (Although every once and a while he'll stick around too long and get attached to someone, and then things get messy.) But he is very strategic and an effective hunter, and knows how to be a great team player. The risk might be worth the reward with this shady eel, because he usually knows how to get out of a sticky situation unscathed.
In times of peace Ambroz gets a little more approachable, with less tension to be aware of. He can have a very calming, stable presence, especially with children and animals - though this is usually when he is alone and not as guarded. And although these soft, non-transactional relationships come with insecurity and unexplored territory (read: he doesn't know what he's doing most of the time) he can be extremely soft-hearted, attentive and even protective (rare for him.)
Strengths / Weaknesses
+ Specializes in stealth, short bursts of speed, incredible flexibility and able to squeeze into shockingly small spaces. A naturally-built ambush hunter/attacker.
+ Observant and clever, as well as opportunistic and adaptable. A sneaky, slick bastard who can lie as easily as breathing. He's also an excellent thief and will rob someone blind if they're not careful.
+ Amazing night vision, and he almost exclusively hunts at night. This adds to his intimidation factor when he knows where he's going and you don't.
+ Socially adept and picks up on subtle cues (though he tends towards introversion), good at getting information from others without sharing anythinf about himself. A good listener overall.
- Brute strength and durability. As much as he likes to present himself as untouchable and so strong you might as well not even try to attack him, he relies heavily on agility and speed, and is qute a bit weaker than he looks. If you can corner him (which is quite a feat, to be fair,) a few well-placed punches will leave him down for the count.
- Socially and emotionally distant from others, doesn't form real, genuine bonds easily. Most know of his opportunistic ways and will be careful letting him into their group or trusting him with anything.
- Stamina. He can accelerate rapidly over short distances to chase down prey or escape predators, but long-distance chases are not a thing he does. Especially in the open sea, he is a liability if they are attacked, and will immediately try to find a place to hide.
- Flighty, cautious and very skittish when it comes to new situations. He's been living on the same reef for basically his whole life from 16 to the present, and he has the general sense that the world is out to get him. He can be described as hypervigilent and even anxious.
Likes / Dislikes
+ Close-knit or busy spaces like reefs or kelp forests where he can hide in plain sight and relax, collecting shiny or interesting things, hunting, being in control, being independent, being free to do what he wants, being allied with strong mercreatures, being part of an effective team, peace and quiet, catnaps, feeling secure and like he can escape if needed, the rain, being accepted, harassing seagulls, telling/listening to stories. He also likes human literature and music, having had a couple of human friends in his youth who introduced him to such things. He also has a soft spot in his heart for children and small, weak animals, and will be very calm and gentle around them. Think "cool, much older brother" vibes.
- Being controlled or bossed around, wide-open spaces with nowhere to hide, being forced to commit to a group or alliance, sharks, feeling insecure or dependant, being manipulated, feeling foolish or incompetent, fighting or confrontation (whether it involves him or those he cares about), getting attached to others, being left behind or betrayed without expecting it. Being caught off guard.
Physical Appearance
Ambroz appears fairly nondescript, not particularly strong but certainly not weak. His top and bottom half are much more separated than many of his companions, with his top being much more human and his tail being that of an eel. His top half is muscular but very lean and slender, and he would be quite tall, thin and lanky if he were fully human. His skincolor has a strange green undertone, leaving it a muted tint of sage-green (roughly #83b27c hex code, if that helps). His face can be described as angular, with defined features and a strong jaw. His eyes are a vivid golden-yellow shade, contrasting with the comparatively dull colors of his skin and tail, and they are highly reflective like a cat's. His hair is a dark shade of ash-brown, also with murky, kelp-green undertones. It has highlights of different shades of brown and green in it, giving it a textured look. It is ruffled and messy, cut longer on top and a bit shorter on the sides.
His tail is over three times the length of his upper body and it is very long, muscular and flexible. It is the tail of a giant moray eel, so it moves horizontally in snakelike waves, propelling him forward. He has one long dorsal fin running all the way down his spine, starting at his lower back and ending in a wide, flattened fin. He has no other fins aside from this dorsal fin. His tail is a much darker shade than his skintone, with the color shift taking place a little ways below his waist. The top of his tail is covered with spots and splattered darker markings, while the underbelly is slightly lighter. (May just draw a reference later.)
His teeth are sharp, curved backwards to hold onto slippery prey like fish and octopi. His long tail is covered in a thin layer of mucus. It is not enough to be obviously gross (not hagfish levels of slime) but it makes his tail very slippery and smooth to the touch. It protects him from being cut by sharp rocks, getting stuck in small spaces, and it makes him almost impossible to grab successfully with your hands alone. It also means parasites aren't much of a problem for him.
Clothing
His clothing is minimal, as Ambroz has no alternate human form. He often just disreguard it altogether, save for his accessories, but can sometimes be seen wearing a dark green poncho-like shirt.
Accessories (opt.)
Ambroz can almost always be seen wearing a series of belts around his waist, one is tight enough to stay around his waist while the others are more loose. He carries various things on these belts, from weapons to potions to currency.
History
2-3 paragraphs
Relationships
- Family
He is not in contact with any of his family, as is typical in this subspecies of mercreature. Once you are old enough to care for yourself (so, about 16-18) you are kicked out to find your own territory and hunt for your own food. They went their separate ways and haven't heard from each other since.
- Friends
Aside from agreements with surrounding mercreatures to stay off their property, Ambroz doesn't have much in the way of friends. He is too suspicious to really trust others, so most fendships he's formed are little more than surface-level agreements to tolerate each other. Although he's got himself convinced that he doesn't need anyone and that's how it should be, deep down he is a rather lonely creature.
Crush and S/O are open. PM if you want your character to have any sort of prior relationship to him.
Fun Facts
- His favorite food is octopus. He eats all of his food raw, fancy seasonings and combinations aren't really a thing he thinks about.
- He made friends with humans in the past - even had a relationship with one, but that's a whole other story - and has generally had more human contact than with other mercreatures.
- If anyone wants to play his partner (a grouper fish perhaps?) PM me and they can be buddies. I don't want to start out with him having a love interest but maybe we can develop something later.
Winter 
Night Weather: 
Clear Moon: 
