Breaking characters?

[NightSister]

Hi there everyone,

So having (yay) just reached Knighthood, it's finally time to well and truly Break Aria™. I have some ideas about how it'll fit in story-wise and such, but that's really all I've got and I definitely don't want to rush over the story arc as I did the first time she had a semi-broken patch.

Anyway, I have two questions. The first is aimed mostly towards people who've RPed Lightsiders (mostly because for Darksiders or at least Sith, breakage comes with the training): in what ways have you broken your characters? I've seen imprisonment, enslavement etc - is there anything else? And the second is a request for advice on writing a character in their stage of being broken and unhinged - feel free to cite links to your best 'broken' RPs.

But since the tag says discussion, let's also chat about the differences in breaking Jedi v breaking Sith, what constitutes as character breakage - discuss!

 

[Mr. OOC]

I've played both sides of the card so I'll weigh in.

With Jedi, I've broken them through relationships before. I had a Jedi whose beloved was taken from him by a dark lord. She was taken in such a way that she was made to think that he was a monster, which gutted him worse than if she'd died. I also have Kytra now who was broken through torture by a dark Jedi, snapped, murdered the Dark Jedi and a bunch of his people, and basically developed a split personality because of it.

I think part of how Jedi break is the same as with Sith: how they bounce back from being broken can ultimately define them. The breaking itself can be a huge character device for expanded roleplay, however, like what Leos did to Kyra. That kind of thing can add a whole new dimension to the character that's fun to roleplay out.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

[member="Aria Vale"]

As you've said, character breaking is a tradition among Sith - to them, one must first be broken before they can be re-moulded into something more useful, a being aware of their limitations, breaking points and therefore also aware of their resilience, and ability to withstand what is thrown at them.

A Jedi breaking is a bit more difficult, and is primarily psychological: to my mind, it tends to come from reality smashing up against ingrained Jedi principles (particularly their sense of ethics). It can be as simple as having a very sensitive character suddenly forced to kill, which breaks them down and forces them to re-examine everything they thought they believed, but it can also be a more complex, prolonged process, one that happens gradually over time: perhaps the character becomes disillusioned, and finds themselves a little directionless, unable to decide how to proceed.

The dangerous thing for a Jedi is, ultimately, the absence of careful structure that their Order provides: though they're trained to work independently in the field, the Jedi Order has always required their members to remain centered within the Order itself. Thus, everyone has connections with everyone else, and that stable foundation of faith with the Jedi's doctrines is key to remaining one, and ascending towards Mastery. A good breaking, therefore, challenges this: it demands that the character comes to realise that the Jedi don't hold all the answers, and the ones they do provide often aren't entirely satisfactory. The character therefore has to look inside themselves and outward at the Galaxy to find their own version. This will, of course, shatter any chance they have of remaining 'Lawful Good', since they no longer wholly abide by Jedi doctrine (or, if they do, it's a slightly warped version), thus pushing them firmly into the 'Chaotic Good' category

I will note: physical injury or imprisonment often doesn't cut it for a good breaking. These are wounds that they'll recover from in time, so they absolutely must be combined with a strong psychological component. Otherwise it's just a temporary setback, and not a true breaking.

 

[Garza]

[member="Aria Vale"], I hate the term "break" characters. Really all you are doing is changing their view point on the galaxy. Honestly, I like seeing the ones where no one is "broken" physically. They have a Sith who "corrupts" them from a mental view point and doesn't even have to touch them. Either by manipulating what the Jedi sees, or by "indirectly/directly" causing accidents to make the person think poorly on the situation, or make the Sith look glamorous.

Something that causes the character to think. "Is this true? Have I been deceived all this time?"

However, its your character, and your story. I look forward to reading about your character and how they act later on.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

I've written several characters that have been Broken, both Jedi and Sith. I think most people define "breaking" on SWRP as turning to the darkside or vice versa, but imo that's a bit limiting. In my point of view it's really important that these characters are human(or aliens?), they have flaws, and they deal with the exact same problems that we do. This includes depression, anxiety, and other mentally debilitating problems that can cause them to suffer. I think too often people just focus on the more immediate and cruel aspects of characters breaking, the immediate flip flop from light to dark. In my opinion the best stories are told where its slow, gradual, and focuses more on the human(alien?) aspect of the character.

Change is gradual, not instant. For instance with Anakin Skywalker some people would argue that his turn to the darkside was rather quick, but I would argue that it was actually years in the making. Small subtle changes, actions taken, and eventually the pressure he(and others) put on himself caused him to ultimately fall and "break". His redemption...well not so much, but you get the idea that I'm trying to paint here.

Returning to my earlier point of "breaking" not necessarily being a turn to the light or darkside; I think this is an aspect that is too often ignored. Again these characters are human(or Alien) they have problems, and in all honesty these problems aren't usually dealt with. Jedi for instance, especially on this board, literally have the weight of the galaxy placed on their shoulders. They're scrutinized for any infraction, expected to save entire planets, and looked up to as heroes. That fucks with a persons mind like nothing else and can, and should, in my opinion lead to some sort of a mental breakdown(I've written this before).

In the end though, it all really depends on what you want to write and what your character is. "Breaking" no matter how or what you do it is a catalyst for change, as others have said. What that change is ultimately depends on you.

 

[NightSister]

The breaking itself can be a huge character device for expanded roleplay, however, like what Leos did to Kyra. That kind of thing can add a whole new dimension to the character that's fun to roleplay out.

That's what I had in mind - I've got a whole load of stuff planned for what happens to Aria while she's broken and recovering which I'm veeeeeery excited for. Just deliberating over how to go about with the actual breakage part.

I will note: physical injury or imprisonment often doesn't cut it for a good breaking. These are wounds that they'll recover from in time, so they absolutely must be combined with a strong psychological component. Otherwise it's just a temporary setback, and not a true breaking.

Honestly, I like seeing the ones where no one is "broken" physically.

Agreed. Physical torture combined with mental torture can work (think Theon Greyjoy without the castration) but it's got to have an element unique to the character, otherwise it's pretty boring. As per love for motivation [member="Darth Ignus"], the death of Aria's foster parents was what led to her original sort-of breakage, but with involving a love interest in her *full* breakage I'm sort of reluctant due to a number of things.

And I also agree with [member="Kurt Meyer"]. In Aria's case, turning to the Dark Side would be a potential consequence of being broken, but in such a way that she doesn't even realise it's happening (I can't go into more detail for fear of spoiling the surprise ). Struggling with Jedi philosophy is intended to play a part as well. What I'm stuck on is the actual event that causes her to snap, break down, whatever you want to call it. I've been building up to it for a while now to the point where it's now easier to break her, but am simply unsure on how exactly it will happen.

 

[Mr. OOC]

[member="Aria Vale"]
The love thing doesn't work for everyone, it was just an example. Though it's sort of worked on Connor, heh.

Honestly, I like severe mental trauma for breaking lightsiders. Forcing them to witness something horrific that they can do nothing about, or mental torture. Works well.

 

[NightSister]

[member="Darth Ignus"]

I might just have to call you up to do the deed. Would give you a running streak of breaking two of Connor's apprentices

 

[Mr. OOC]

[member="Aria Vale"]
Well, we do still need to thread.

I could think of reasons to do it, and I have a particular fondness with this character of mental torture that actually requires little to no external stimuli, so he's basically built for mental breaking.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Forcing them to witness something horrific that they can do nothing about

*Looks at [member="Joza Perl"]*

Soon™

 

[Mr. OOC]

[member="Darth Carnifex"]
lol

Now THAT I look forward to seeing.

 

[The Hound]

Hehe...Breaking

 

[Cathul Thuku]

The one that I consider my best character breakage was Cathul: she was forced to reconsider her loyalties to the Mandos although the main driver was her being rendered unable to do therapy by some patient (even though it's the IC explanation of what is really my inability to write about therapy from the therapist's side). Before that patient came, she lived and died by her therapy practice. The rest was rather gradual and, as time went on, she was less and less recognized as a Mando, and at the same time, not fully recognized as a Jedi (and whether she is recognized as a Jedi now is still up in the air).

She had to reconsider why she was even welcomed by the Mandos in the first place, even though she still harbored that burning desire to make the galaxy a better place, and realizing that she bought a corporation that wasn't used to its fullest, decided that she would need to do it in a way that would also allow to make the galaxy a better place: from there began that corporation's operations as a general contractor, as well as its land reclamation activities.

Might not be the best breakage of a witch but I haven't seen a whole lot of Witches being broken in the sense [member="Aria Vale"] means it before. But I also "broke" Jessica: discovering after a substantial NFU career as a PC that one is a latent Force-sensitive is a painful process, and yet there was no obvious sign that she was a FU before she became neurotic for some reason.

 

[NightSister]

[member="Darth Ignus"]

Well, I do have somebody in mind for this task currently, but if things do not go as planned rest assured a PM will be coming your way.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

Do you just have beef with everybody?

 

[Mr. OOC]

[member="Aria Vale"]
Sounds good.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

[member="Aria Vale"]

We could always murder [member="Connor Harrison"] in front of you, while you remain helpless to stop it. That might do the job...

 

[Joza Perl]

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

Just another day

 

[Mr. OOC]

[member="Tirdarius"]
He IS about to get stomped so it could happen.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

I like breaking or hurting my characters. They must be tested, challenged and suffer so that they can grow and become stronger for it. They develop best through adversity. It has to be connected to logical character progression, though. Hence why I dislike sudden and inexplicable alignment switches in which characters do an abrupt 180.


Siobhan was already messed up by her sister's death. She was forced to confront her own survivors' guilt and self-loathing issues when Kaelin Isandros tortured her. Then, much later, she was possessed by Darth Shadow's spirit and compelled to do bad things, which resulted in her exile from the Jedi Order.


Then later on Adril Tythorin, her lover and master, sacrificed herself to save her, which also messed Siobhan up a lot and ultimately resulted in her ditching the Jedi order. That was ultimately a good thing because she never fit there anyway. Then things were good for a while because [member="Valiens Nantaris"] persuaded me to be nice for some reason. Siobhan took a further descent into ruthlessness during the First Battle of Roche and the Bando Gora War, delivering victory but at great cost.


Then Kaelin returned, fooled Siobhan by posing as her impressionable secretary, and managed to brutally torture and almost kill Tegaea before Siobhan broke and slew her. That was obviously unpleasant. Not all of it was Siobhan's fault, but she certainly shares some of the blame. Much later, Sio's own pride turned out to be undoing when she threw caution to the wind and pursued Darth Shadow, which ended up with her getting spaced and ending up in a coma. All this helped make her stronger - and a bit more sensible, though pride will probably always be her main flaw. Of course, Siobhan was never light side in the first place, so violence doesn't shock her. Nor did she ever care about the Jedi Code or believe it had answers for anything. She's also been maimed an awful lot, but I don't count that anymore because it's par for the course for her. Everyone, Sio included, just treats it as business as usual.


Enyo will slowly come to the realisation that her entire life has been a lie, for she believes that Siobhan created her as a host to house her essence, whereas in reality the genocidal droid cult Archangel created her to one day fight Siobhan and help them fulfil their nefarious plans as their tool. Unbeknownst to her, she also has mental conditioning to make her obey Archangel without knowing she's being manipulated. Almost dying when Korriban City was torched has been a catalyst for her getting an actual personality and a mind of her own.


There may also be some body horror if the HRDs take extreme steps to make her 'perfect' and more like a machine. She'll have to question her entire world view and overcome her Archangel indoctrination (and maybe take over). Perhaps after a confrontation with her big sister.


Breaking served as a tool for character development for Naamah since she was sent to hell during the Netherworld incident and was forced to grow a conscience since I was unsatisfied with her being a Chaotic Evil psycho. Hence she got a redemption arc, without suddenly doing a 180 and turning hardcore light side since that wouldn't have fit her.

 

[Ellie Mors]

I miscarried child #2 around the time Silara was 22. She suffers from manic depression, PTSD, and heavy anxiety.