OOC INFORMATION Player: Laure Age: 34 Personal Journal:quixotic_dreamer Contact Info: AIM/e-mail: reflected_stasis[@]gmail[.]com
IC INFORMATION Characters Name: Switzerland (Swiss Confederation) | Basch Zwingli Age: 721, looks 18 Canon:APH: Switzerland wiki Canon Point: Modern Day, October 2012 Species: Personified Country Gender: Male Orientation: Unknown. While he’s been around for over 700 years, he’s shown very little interest one way or another with regards to sexuality. He’s simply been too ‘work’ or ‘duty’ oriented to consider anything outside of that mentality. It’s something that, now that he doesn’t have his country to actively protect, he can eventually start to realize is out there for exploration. Albeit grudgingly! As far as the marriage goes - I'd say he'd be fine with either male or female given his lack of overall consideration for it.
Austria's first predecessor states were, interestingly, in modern Swiss territory. The Habsburg castle, which was the seat of the Habsburg dynasty, is located in Northern Switzerland rather than Austria. At first the two would-be countries cooperated well. Then the would-be Switzerland, for good reasons, revolted against Hapsburg intervention in its affairs. Among the chaos the Habsburgs understandably hastened to move their seat to modern Austria.
During the Austro-Swiss partnership, Austria granted the region military protection in exchange for Swiss allegiance. Though they both lay in the Holy Roman Empire, they were regarded as two separate entities. The then head of the Habsburgs were loved among the Swiss - like "we'd go to any length to serve him."
But the honeymoon was soon over.
The new man on the Austrian throne proclaimed, "Switzerland is my territory. Therefore the same tax laws apply." Thus, Switzerland fell under Austrian control. Austria even started appointing Vogts to govern Switzerland. (Remember, they were supposed to be separate entities.) That marked the end of the Austro-Swiss partnership.
Wilhelm Tell, a Swiss hunter, was demanded by the Habsburg-appointed Vogt, Gessler, to shoot an apple off the head of his son. He succeeded in spite of tremendous mental strife, and went on to shoot Gessler himself.
It was clear that Austria and Switzerland couldn't go back where they were. Switzerland now sought independence. Several cantons formed the "Confoederatio Helvetica", and challenged Austrian rule with their new army. (The place where the canton representatives took their oaths is still a tourist attraction.)
The Swiss army was nothing more than a bunch of farmers hastily donned in armors and equipped with swords. Nobody would have expected them to stand any chance against Austria's professionals.
But the Swiss army won devastating victories against the Austrian knights. The Swiss took advantage of their terrain and hurled huge rocks onto the enemy. The Austrians, taken aback by such Indiana Jones-like tactics, had to face defeat.
After winning its independence, Switzerland was plagued by its lack of natural resources, the low quality of its top soil, and the mountainous terrain which made agriculture almost impossible. Switzerland had to import raw material and export manufactured goods. Its men served for centuries as mercenaries. Through amazing efforts Switzerland, neighbored on all sides by great powers, made a living out of almost nothing.
In order to protect its permanent neutrality, Switzerland would shoot down any planes that flew over, Allied or Axis. What's more, Swiss postal workers are also all soldiers in the army, and carry special post office guns.
He’s rather short for a Germanic nation, standing at an unimposing 5’6”, but don’t let the lack of height fool you! His bearing more than makes up for the rather average vertical reach. He’s got dark, sandy-blond hair cropped in a chin-length bob with a fringe of bangs across his forehead and vivid green eyes.
He’s usually seen wearing a white beret with a simple white long-sleeve button up shirt hidden beneath his forest green jacket limned in black at the collar and cuffs to match the calf-high black boots. He tends to wear a camouflage weather coat over this on occasion.
He has a cross shaped scar on his left shoulder, though it’s not clear which particular fight it represents.
Switzerland ✚ Axis Powers Hetalia ✚ Not Reserved (2/3)
Personality: At first glance, Switzerland can seem standoffish to the point of being blatantly rude, disinterested, opinionated, and unapologetically blunt in all matters - and he really is. However upon closer inspection, it’s clear that there’s so much more to him than first impressions.
It is true that he values his privacy, but much like protecting his borders, he’s worked hard to establish himself as a neutral party despite being a small nation literally surrounded by major world powers - his intention for being so steadfast in being aloof is simply a matter of self-preservation. Action long ingrained into habit in order to keep his house in order and protect his people in accordance to his own sense of justice. And yet, it’s this same sense of justice that, when he came across a sickly Liechtenstein, prompted him to pick her up, adopt her, and not only nurse her back to health but to protect her even after she was stable once again.
Unlike other nations, it was this sense of justice rather than a desire for control over either her or her lands - or the need to increase his power and influence in the world order - that had him stepping into the rare role of an 'equal guardian' for her. Protect her, teach her (ie constantly lecture), but always respect her own sovernity. They were and have always remained equals with a mutually beneficial relationship. In this way he makes clear that he has definite views of how people should treat each other - views that he’s maintained since he was a young nation, as evidenced with the way he spent his youth both picking Austria up and lecturing him to act less recklessly, to become stronger, and following him around to be sure he was safe.
He simply believes that the strong should use their strength to protect their own lands first and to treat others with decency and respect rather than an intent to control or dominate. That helping someone when they’re down and out is the right things to do, and not for personal gain - and if you have to tighten your own belt for a little bit to do it, then so be it.
Just be mindful of how you spend your resources and take responsibility for how they’re managed in order to make them last while doing so. Which also brings up his frugal nature. Because he knows the pains of having such a tenuous and uncertain beginning, and the struggle to establish a sustainable independance, Switzerland is always cognizant of the need to spend money and resources with caution and prudence - not to the extent of oppressing his people under the weight of greedy taxation, but if the choice is the expensive brand name or a generic that tastes just as good? He’s buying the generic, hands down.
He is absolutely unapologetic in voicing his opinion when he needs to - or encouraging others (like Japan) to step up and form their own opinions as well. This is especially important for smaller nations if they want to be heard and listen to with respect from the larger idiots that are always squabbling. It’s a means of survival that, over the years, has helped to establish his neutrality because when he says absolutely no one is authorized to cross neutral borders, he means no one - regardless of alliances outside his borders. Therefore it’s better to say what you mean, and absolutely mean what you say in the clearest, most unmistakable manner possible and if it comes off as curt or rude, well, at least they know where you stand without question, right?
It’s much the same with his seeming disinterest in others affairs - because if anything, it’s quite the opposite. He’s actually got quite the extensive intelligence monitoring program in place. And the reason is simple: In order to stay on top of what the larger, squabbling idiots are up to, he’ll watch and he’ll listen all so he can be better prepared to turn them aside at his borders when they move from posturing to action against each other.
And all of this reveals a deeper, more complex person. He does have compassion, despite his cool exterior and for those that he accepts into his close circle of important people, he offers a surprising yet gruff wealth of sincerity, support, and strength - he’s a protector that pushes them always to stand strongly on their own two feet. He has a definite love for music and art and the beauty found in nature and, if given the opportunity to relax his guard, would much rather spend his free time out under the open skies with his sister or Austria though he refuses to acknowledge that point anymore than anything else.
And yet.
He absolutely will not hesitate to take up arms at a moment’s notice to defend what’s his - or his sister’s - so don't forget it.
Abilites: As the personification of a nation that has spent centuries as a mercenary followed by a rigid defense of his own hard-won borders, Switzerland has become the epitomie of a soldier through and through. So while it’s not impossible to kill him (nations can fall, even neutral ones) he’ll make it pretty damn hard to kill him. Aside from that, he’s fairly close to immortal - alive so long as his lands survive.
Switzerland ✚ Axis Powers Hetalia ✚ Not Reserved (3/3)
Other: He’s going to be rather stubborn about protecting his home in game - as in setting old school hunting traps (As soon as he finds enough rope) around the edge of his property and creating makeshift weapons to protect his house with.... people will figure out the idea to stay off his lawn eventually, right?
All day, he'd been wandering from Gate to Gate in order to get a better understanding of this place that could, apparently, hold entire countries prisoner - and for what? To live a mundane life, cut off from their true homes? Think nothing of their bosses that needed them, or the people that relied on them - oh no. Here, they had to play house in strange marriages and with children no less. He scowled at the mere thought and mumbled a few curses under his breath, his expression foreboding as he continued walking through the shopping district, automatically memorizing the layout as he went.
Add in the utter lack of proper banks or arms production and... well, his options were clear.
He was going to have to both open a real bank and a firearms production line, from scratch.
Again.
Which was fine, he'd done it before so he knew the best ways to do it again but the real question was... which to work on first?
He stopped his wanderings and sat on a bench opposite the Ikea store, unsurprized to see such a store there given the likely owner, and continued his little self-debate.
On the one hand, he knew he should establish a bank near the other nation's stores first, so as to ensure there was economic stability for their combined capital growth and because... he certainly wasn't going to trust them to keep a neutral financial institution running between them.
On the other hand, there were already quite a few of the more idiotic nations already established in this place. Could he really afford to be lax about his home security with so many of them here? It was a dilemma, alright, and one he'd have to consider a bit longer.
What a pain in the ass.
OTHER Housing Request?: If they’re game, he’d like to be housed with his sister, Liechtenstein. Did you read the rules and FAQ?: Sure did~ Would you like your application to be unscreened? Yes~
Edited (/edited for unscreening) 2012-10-02 22:10 (UTC)
ACCEPTED Congrats, your application has been accepted! Your character is now living at 1448 in Holly Heights, with a spouse slot. In order to get the ball rolling, here's what you need to do:
Comment back with the journal you'll be using for your character so that they can be accepted into the communities.
Create an IC Mailbox post on your characters journal that is not friends only. You are also free to treat this as an information holding post with your character's family and address listed if you wish.
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Switzerland ✚ Axis Powers Hetalia ✚ Not Reserved (1/3)
Player: Laure
Age: 34
Personal Journal:
Contact Info: AIM/e-mail: reflected_stasis[@]gmail[.]com
IC INFORMATION
Characters Name: Switzerland (Swiss Confederation) | Basch Zwingli
Age: 721, looks 18
Canon: APH: Switzerland wiki
Canon Point: Modern Day, October 2012
Species: Personified Country
Gender: Male
Orientation: Unknown. While he’s been around for over 700 years, he’s shown very little interest one way or another with regards to sexuality. He’s simply been too ‘work’ or ‘duty’ oriented to consider anything outside of that mentality. It’s something that, now that he doesn’t have his country to actively protect, he can eventually start to realize is out there for exploration.
Albeit grudgingly!As far as the marriage goes - I'd say he'd be fine with either male or female given his lack of overall consideration for it.History:
Canon Appearances:
Volume 2: Liechtenstein's Journal of Swiss Dopiness
Volume 3: I am Switzerland
The Moon, the Unsocial Guy, and the Old Dude?and also Italy
France & the Olympics
America’s Birthday
Grasping European Economy
Liechtenstein’s Journal of Swiss Dopiness
Germany is playing an impossible game
Turkey-san & the EU
Halloween 2011
Christmas 2011
Early history ( Summarized via Himaruya):
Austria's first predecessor states were, interestingly, in modern Swiss territory. The Habsburg castle, which was the seat of the Habsburg dynasty, is located in Northern Switzerland rather than Austria. At first the two would-be countries cooperated well. Then the would-be Switzerland, for good reasons, revolted against Hapsburg intervention in its affairs. Among the chaos the Habsburgs understandably hastened to move their seat to modern Austria.
During the Austro-Swiss partnership, Austria granted the region military protection in exchange for Swiss allegiance. Though they both lay in the Holy Roman Empire, they were regarded as two separate entities. The then head of the Habsburgs were loved among the Swiss - like "we'd go to any length to serve him."
But the honeymoon was soon over.
The new man on the Austrian throne proclaimed, "Switzerland is my territory. Therefore the same tax laws apply." Thus, Switzerland fell under Austrian control. Austria even started appointing Vogts to govern Switzerland. (Remember, they were supposed to be separate entities.) That marked the end of the Austro-Swiss partnership.
Wilhelm Tell, a Swiss hunter, was demanded by the Habsburg-appointed Vogt, Gessler, to shoot an apple off the head of his son. He succeeded in spite of tremendous mental strife, and went on to shoot Gessler himself.
It was clear that Austria and Switzerland couldn't go back where they were. Switzerland now sought independence. Several cantons formed the "Confoederatio Helvetica", and challenged Austrian rule with their new army. (The place where the canton representatives took their oaths is still a tourist attraction.)
The Swiss army was nothing more than a bunch of farmers hastily donned in armors and equipped with swords. Nobody would have expected them to stand any chance against Austria's professionals.
But the Swiss army won devastating victories against the Austrian knights. The Swiss took advantage of their terrain and hurled huge rocks onto the enemy. The Austrians, taken aback by such Indiana Jones-like tactics, had to face defeat.
After winning its independence, Switzerland was plagued by its lack of natural resources, the low quality of its top soil, and the mountainous terrain which made agriculture almost impossible. Switzerland had to import raw material and export manufactured goods. Its men served for centuries as mercenaries. Through amazing efforts Switzerland, neighbored on all sides by great powers, made a living out of almost nothing.
In order to protect its permanent neutrality, Switzerland would shoot down any planes that flew over, Allied or Axis. What's more, Swiss postal workers are also all soldiers in the army, and carry special post office guns.
Actual Historical Info
Appearance: HERE and HERE
He’s rather short for a Germanic nation, standing at an unimposing 5’6”, but don’t let the lack of height fool you! His bearing more than makes up for the rather average vertical reach. He’s got dark, sandy-blond hair cropped in a chin-length bob with a fringe of bangs across his forehead and vivid green eyes.
He’s usually seen wearing a white beret with a simple white long-sleeve button up shirt hidden beneath his forest green jacket limned in black at the collar and cuffs to match the calf-high black boots. He tends to wear a camouflage weather coat over this on occasion.
He has a cross shaped scar on his left shoulder, though it’s not clear which particular fight it represents.
Switzerland ✚ Axis Powers Hetalia ✚ Not Reserved (2/3)
It is true that he values his privacy, but much like protecting his borders, he’s worked hard to establish himself as a neutral party despite being a small nation literally surrounded by major world powers - his intention for being so steadfast in being aloof is simply a matter of self-preservation. Action long ingrained into habit in order to keep his house in order and protect his people in accordance to his own sense of justice. And yet, it’s this same sense of justice that, when he came across a sickly Liechtenstein, prompted him to pick her up, adopt her, and not only nurse her back to health but to protect her even after she was stable once again.
Unlike other nations, it was this sense of justice rather than a desire for control over either her or her lands - or the need to increase his power and influence in the world order - that had him stepping into the rare role of an 'equal guardian' for her. Protect her, teach her (ie constantly lecture), but always respect her own sovernity. They were and have always remained equals with a mutually beneficial relationship. In this way he makes clear that he has definite views of how people should treat each other - views that he’s maintained since he was a young nation, as evidenced with the way he spent his youth both picking Austria up and lecturing him to act less recklessly, to become stronger, and following him around to be sure he was safe.
He simply believes that the strong should use their strength to protect their own lands first and to treat others with decency and respect rather than an intent to control or dominate. That helping someone when they’re down and out is the right things to do, and not for personal gain - and if you have to tighten your own belt for a little bit to do it, then so be it.
Just be mindful of how you spend your resources and take responsibility for how they’re managed in order to make them last while doing so. Which also brings up his frugal nature. Because he knows the pains of having such a tenuous and uncertain beginning, and the struggle to establish a sustainable independance, Switzerland is always cognizant of the need to spend money and resources with caution and prudence - not to the extent of oppressing his people under the weight of greedy taxation, but if the choice is the expensive brand name or a generic that tastes just as good? He’s buying the generic, hands down.
He is absolutely unapologetic in voicing his opinion when he needs to - or encouraging others (like Japan) to step up and form their own opinions as well. This is especially important for smaller nations if they want to be heard and listen to with respect from the larger idiots that are always squabbling. It’s a means of survival that, over the years, has helped to establish his neutrality because when he says absolutely no one is authorized to cross neutral borders, he means no one - regardless of alliances outside his borders. Therefore it’s better to say what you mean, and absolutely mean what you say in the clearest, most unmistakable manner possible and if it comes off as curt or rude, well, at least they know where you stand without question, right?
It’s much the same with his seeming disinterest in others affairs - because if anything, it’s quite the opposite. He’s actually got quite the extensive intelligence monitoring program in place. And the reason is simple: In order to stay on top of what the larger, squabbling idiots are up to, he’ll watch and he’ll listen all so he can be better prepared to turn them aside at his borders when they move from posturing to action against each other.
And all of this reveals a deeper, more complex person. He does have compassion, despite his cool exterior and for those that he accepts into his close circle of important people, he offers a surprising yet gruff wealth of sincerity, support, and strength - he’s a protector that pushes them always to stand strongly on their own two feet. He has a definite love for music and art and the beauty found in nature and, if given the opportunity to relax his guard, would much rather spend his free time out under the open skies with his sister
or Austria though he refuses to acknowledge that point anymorethan anything else.And yet.
He absolutely will not hesitate to take up arms at a moment’s notice to defend what’s his - or his sister’s - so don't forget it.
Abilites: As the personification of a nation that has spent centuries as a mercenary followed by a rigid defense of his own hard-won borders, Switzerland has become the epitomie of a soldier through and through. So while it’s not impossible to kill him (nations can fall, even neutral ones) he’ll make it pretty damn hard to kill him. Aside from that, he’s fairly close to immortal - alive so long as his lands survive.
Switzerland ✚ Axis Powers Hetalia ✚ Not Reserved (3/3)
SAMPLES
First Person:
1. Meme thread here
2. Here, just shy of 10 for this one, but longer tags each. XP
Third Person:
All day, he'd been wandering from Gate to Gate in order to get a better understanding of this place that could, apparently, hold entire countries prisoner - and for what? To live a mundane life, cut off from their true homes? Think nothing of their bosses that needed them, or the people that relied on them - oh no. Here, they had to play house in strange marriages and with children no less. He scowled at the mere thought and mumbled a few curses under his breath, his expression foreboding as he continued walking through the shopping district, automatically memorizing the layout as he went.
Add in the utter lack of proper banks or arms production and... well, his options were clear.
He was going to have to both open a real bank and a firearms production line, from scratch.
Again.
Which was fine, he'd done it before so he knew the best ways to do it again but the real question was... which to work on first?
He stopped his wanderings and sat on a bench opposite the Ikea store, unsurprized to see such a store there given the likely owner, and continued his little self-debate.
On the one hand, he knew he should establish a bank near the other nation's stores first, so as to ensure there was economic stability for their combined capital growth and because... he certainly wasn't going to trust them to keep a neutral financial institution running between them.
On the other hand, there were already quite a few of the more idiotic nations already established in this place. Could he really afford to be lax about his home security with so many of them here? It was a dilemma, alright, and one he'd have to consider a bit longer.
What a pain in the ass.
OTHER
Housing Request?: If they’re game, he’d like to be housed with his sister, Liechtenstein.
Did you read the rules and FAQ?: Sure did~
Would you like your application to be unscreened? Yes~
Accepted
Congrats, your application has been accepted! Your character is now living at 1448 in Holly Heights, with a spouse slot. In order to get the ball rolling, here's what you need to do:
I hope you enjoy your stay here!