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Name: Emer Canavan
Age: 34
Birthday: April 19
Sex: F
Height: 5’ 4”
Weight: 148
Country of Origin: Ireland
Occupation: The owner and main bartender of The Shak, a small bar at the edge of Saltaire. She is sometimes seen drinking with regulars than serving them.
MOTHERLAND Occupation: Emer runs a strip club in the basement of The Shak.

Relationships:
Daughter of Eimile (deceased) and Erik Canavan.

History

Pre-War:Emer grew up in Breeogue, a small town on the outskirts of Sligo in Northern Ireland. Her father, Erik, was a priest of the Catholic Church and her mother, Eimile was the owner of Killian’s, a small pub in Breeogue. Emer loved to go down to Killian’s and help her mother serve drinks to working men and women. She especially loved hearing stories of the interesting people that they met.

When Emer was about the age of 8, she went with her mother to Killian’s to help. Although the lunch and dinner rushes were tough, Emer usually helped Eimile behind the bar, cleaning glasses and serving fizzy drinks to those not of age. During Eimilie’s days off, they would walk down to a small blueberry orchard and pick baskets of blueberries to take home. Eimilie spent as much time with her daughter as she could, seeing as Erik was always away, working with God and helping others. She knew that Emer was special, different than other mother’s daughters. Emer was kind and gentle, but firm and stubborn…just like her mother. Eimile explained to her daughter that “One day, your gonna get a fine man that’ll love you for you, and no un else. Treat him like you’d treat me, Emer, and you’ll never be alone. Me mother told me that, and you’d better tell your child’n, too.”

During her late teen years, Emer began to create drinks for the customers to try, not letting her mother know. On a sweltering summer day, she asked Zed about a mixture of pomegranate juice, cranberry juice and a small bit of orange zest with vodka. He said that if she were to make it, he'd drink it. Once Zed had tasted the fruity concoction, he immediately ordered another, saying it was the perfect drink for a day like this, and soon word of her drink became popular in Breeogue. She decided to call it a Malgnam and began serving them at Killinan’s. Once her mother found out about her behind-the-back bartending, Eimile hired her daughter to work there, part time until she graduated from high school.

Emer had taken an interest in Chemistry because of her mother: creating different mixtures with elements that could explode or even change texture. One day, in her honors chemistry class, Emer's teacher, Mr. O’Crupal, asked if anyone had any ideas for a new invention. She shyly raised her hand and explained a mixture that would change to the person’s eye color. The class laughed and he asked her to stay after so he could talk to her. Once the class left, he explained that Emer’s idea was ingenious and decided to help her with it. She, along side Mr. O'Crupal, began working with different elements and created such a mixture that could be mixed with other liquids, but non-toxic. The research and lab hours were numerous, their work paid off when the elemental combination was complete. Emer asked if it could be combined with other liquids for possible ingestion: she wanted to try and mix the newly found syrup with vodka to create a new drink. Mr. O’Crupal researched further and concluded that it could be with no side effects. Emer told her mother about the invention and asked if she could serve it at Killian’s one night. Eimile agreed, and the drink was an instant hit. Emer decided to call it Doth Deoch, a Gaelic combination of “color” and “drink”.


Post-War:
At the age of 22, she saw the after effects of the war beginning to spread throughout the countries, and saw it take its effect in Breeogue. Her mother became sick through a type of radioactive blood poisoning. In her younger years, Eimile had a weak immune system, causing her to fall ill through most of the year. Over the course of her life, Eimile knew her risks of her immune system, but that didn’t stop her from doing what she loved: bartending.

One night, a soldier of the MOTHERLAND who had been drinking elsewhere came in and decided he was going to have Eimile as his own. He pulled out a hunting knife with a homemade poison (rotten potatoes, isopropolene alcohol, and a pinch of black powder) and began swinging it. A scuffle ensued in the bar, leaving her with a gash on her right shoulder and the man thrown out on the street, a broken leg and a black eye. Needless to say, the people at Killian’s were worried about Eimile, but she waved them off and continued to serve them.

A few weeks passed and Eimile began to feel sick. She became disoriented during her shifts, fainted while cooking at home and soon Emer decided it would be best to take her to the hospital. One of the doctors noticed the gash on Eimile’s shoulder and concluded her illness to be Toxic Shock Syndrome from the infection and told Erik about the options that were open.

Although the doctors assured Erik that they could cure his wife with the right antibiotics, he dismissed them, stating “God has made a plan for us from our birth and has decided that it was Eimile’s time.” Two days after his wife had passed, the hospital called again, but Emer listened to the conversation on the other line. Apparently, they had misdiagnosed Eimilie’s condition and concluded after the autopsy she had Sepsis, a life-threatening condition with her immune system. The doctors apologized multiple times, saying that they “could have saved her if they knew” and Emer didn’t buy it. This was her mother they were talking about, not some test subject. Emer knew the MOTHERLAND was to blame: the soldier, the doctors…everyone was part of it, but she kept silent for fear of it. One day, she knew that the MOTHERLAND would fall, and things would go back to the way they were.

Once word gotten around town that the owner of Killian's had passed, a buzz hovered around town with one question: who would take over the bar? Certainly not Erik...he was too busy thinking about His work. Emer was thinking of her own future and her own bar she may own. The town decided that the best thing to do, for both them and the Canavan family would be to shut down Killian's. After the burial, the town gathered at the bar and said a few prayers for Eimile and boarded up the windows and doors.

Emer, being commanded by her father, began to clean up her mother’s things and throw them out; her father didn’t want the idea of hanging on to something when they weren’t there. While searching through the closet, she found a letter from her mother. Inside the envelope was a small amount of money, just enough for Emer to start her own bar. In the letter, Eimile explained that she had saved since Emer began working at Killian’s. She said that she loved her “with all of her heart and the rest would come to follow. Trust your heart and let it guide you."

She tried talking with her father about leaving and opening up her own bar, but Erik wouldn’t talk about anything that connected to Eimile. He demanded that she enter the convent and become part of His service. Emer, being the independent and free-will person she is, decided she would rather starve and leave her father than be in a penguin suit for the rest of her life. Religion was his thing…she wanted to find her own thing. A few nights later, she packed her things, left her father a note saying she needed space and set out on foot to find a better place.

While travelling near the border of Germany, she overheard an elderly couple talking about a town, Saltaire. Emer had taken a German course in high school and vaguely understood what they were talking about. She caught the words “mutations” and “princes” and built up the courage to ask the couple what they were talking about. Although they assured it was only a rumor, they explained as much as they could: a man, known only by Maximilian Y, had helped begin new life in the town. He began creating “frog princes” which he sold to only those whom he saw fit. Emer knew if she could get a prince, she would be able to care for something just like her mother had, and reciprocate the love she gave her while shielding the prince from the evils that surrounded her and the town. Emer asked the couple to help her find Saltaire, giving them a helping hand along the way. They agreed, and led her to the small town. With her mother’s money and some she had saved from working, Emer opened her own bar, The Shak.


Personality
Honest: Emer will never sell you short of the truth. Although it may be a bit harsh, she will always make up for it by making you feel like the best person in the world.

Open Minded: She's not a person that will cover her ears to others. If you have something to say about a subject, Emer will listen and be ready to debate or agree.

Compassionate: Having always been taught to be kind to others, Emer's compassion will win over the biggest brute in the pub. She's been through some rough times in her past, and she's always willing to lend an ear...or a shoulder to cry on.

Flaws
Secretive: Although Emer can listen for days about what someone did to their husband/wife, she will not tell about her past life. All she will tell you was that "me mother died and me father's a bastad."

Blames Self: If something happens inside The Shak, she immediately believes it to be her fault. If a drinks spills, the money's out of order, Emer makes sure she is the one to blame.

Overprotective: She tends to try and mother everyone who walks into the bar. Although she means well, there are times when it gets to the point of trampling on someone's privacy.

Description
Emer is a Black Irish girl: medium length, wavy chocolate hair with deep brown eyes. She’s usually dressed in jeans, working boots and jacket. Her hair is usually up in a ponytail or bun, but on special occasions she’ll straighten it and let it down.

JOBS
By Day: Emer is the owner and bartender of a small pub, The Shak. Although it's not the biggest bar, she's sure that it will become the best.

By night: She operates an underground strip club, Things And Thongs for the lonely men of Saltaire. Her views of the place always mix: sometimes she enjoys bringing happiness to those who can't find it, but there's always the voice in the back of her head telling her that "when you got it, flaunt it" doesn't mean all the time.
Every week, Emer joins the girls she hires...and sings. Her voice is educated, lively, somber, playful, sultry and sophisticated. She can tame the wildest man with a few hums and can melt the coldest of hearts with a verse. Emer's become the singing sensation at Things And Thongs

Quirks
Favorite Food: Twice Baked Loaded Potatoes.
Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Coca-Cola
Favorite Alcoholic Drink: Malgnam

EXTRAS

Concepts, story and artworks created by Djubre.
Templating, wording of story, fashion designer, and general B/C help from King Inversitle
Thread graphics and cert designed by the talented Digispectre.
General B/C help and lots of support from the regulars of the shop.

Personality Flaws
Personality Traits

So this is my first crit. Hopefully it doesn't sound mean, because I really like Emer.

In regards to how she gained her wealth, I’m not entirely sure if the idea holds up. In our present day, it’s hard to earn any real money with tips. If a nuclear war occurred, a communist regime took over the majority of the world, it can be assumed that there would be less of a desire to part easily with money. Tips would probably be pretty low.

Her mother died of radioactive blood poisoning, which is feasible. I think Dju and King would be impressed if you continued to elaborate, though. How did Emer feel when her mother became sick? Were she and her mother close? Obviously, Emer is agnostic if not atheistic. Why is this? Is it entirely because of her mother’s death, or are there other reasons? Did religion have any positive effects on her, or was it entirely negative?

Here in the history, you contradict your previous statement that Emer’s wealth comes from tips. If her mother did give Emer the money, how did her mother get the money? When she left home, how did she find out about Saltaire? Why did she choose to go there, and not somewhere else?

I really like the idea of having Emer be a mother figure. I think a lot of characters will be responsive to that.

You say that she can be very touchy and aggressive about some subjects. What subjects are these? What makes her tick?

Also, I think that we still need to know a little more about Emer outside of her business. What does she do at home? What does she enjoy? You might even include some things like her favorite foods. Even little weird details like that can make a character come to life.

Be careful with her reasons for wanting a frog. From what I have noticed so far, the admins get quite irritated with characters that want frogs for unconditional love. It does seem to be a common reason. If you haven’t already, maybe try reading through some other quest threads to see what you can find. Make sure Emer stands out!

This is personally just something I think you should include: where did the name malgnam come from? Does that have any significance?

As a final note, I would like to know more about her strip club. You only mention it once, and it leaves a lot of room to develop Emer further. I can tell that she’s a very independent person. It seems to me that she might dislike the idea of a strip club because it would take away a woman’s pride and dignity. Does it bother her that she runs such a club?

Overall, the quest thread isn’t bad at all. Just elaborate more and do whatever you can to make her come to life.

same with lolla, hope i don't sound mean =-_-=

It is pretty much impossible for her to have obtained a prince, with what you have told us at this point. Bartenders don't have the money or the connection to receive a prince from the oh-so-high Mr. Maximilian, even if they have invented an eye color changing drink, gotten a lot of tips, or gotten some sort of small inheritance from their mom. Reference: the current owners of Princes are: a model, a cuban warlord (i think), an heiress, another heir to some huge company, a famous toymaker, the two scientists that created them, oh, and a guy with a rich wife.

I do like her history, it's well written and all sides are considered. I'm going to mention minor details here, all for your good D: Vodka? Was she allowed to drink vodka? Wasn't she like, underage? How could she mix vodka with a bunch of other things and not know what it tastes like? As for the eye color thing, I would avoid it -- it's been done way too many times, but it's a nice idea putting it into a drink. Also, how in the world would a young student in her late teens manage to make a mixture that could change eye color, unless she was some sort of genius or something?

Also, I'm a bit confused -- sorry, I don't know much about this, so correct me if I'm wrong -- would a priest marry a bartender? owo i'm sorryyy

... I'm not sure if Maxi's counted as a hero towards the public. At the moment it's just a rumor that they're all talking about, because most of the people who got the Princes wouldn't really have talked about it. Also, why couldn't she have a child? Because that's pretty much the same as a Prince, only a Prince is more intelligent, faster, and stronger. 'Destruction of the MOTHERLAND', I don't really understand that? Maxi doesn't have much to do with the MOTHERLAND, and I certainly don't think that he'll be revealing his creations to them.

I also fail to see how her Prince would be lazy -- if she wanted love, wouldn't she have held the pin really tightly and taken care of her Prince really well?

Oh, and what happened to her mother's bar? XD just wanted to know~

I really like Emer, but the fact is that she is a very generic character just sort of bothers me. She's very common, and you see characters that are like her all the time -- can you try to infuse a unique trait into her veins? She works at a strip club. >> Should be pretty easy ~

Uh don't have anything else.
and remember~ You're free to disregard everything I say. :3

I read your info and the crits, and I thought I understood your concept, but then I read your response to Domi and I'm actually confused all over again. Could you please elaborate on two points for the elucidation of us dumb simple folk?

1. I don't think you've really responded to Domi's assertion that "it is pretty much impossible for Emer to have obtained a prince, with what you have told us at this point. Bartenders don't have the money or the connection to receive a prince." Look, being "unique to the group" or whatever is fine; nobody's crapping on uniqueness. Make your character as special as you like... as long as you play within the rules of the game. It's cool that Emer has had to really pull herself up by her bootstraps, and it's cool that this makes her an outlier in the group, but that doesn't change that as a bartender, it doesn't seem that likely that she'll be able to afford a Prince or have the connections necessary to get one, "even if [she has] invented an eye color changing drink, gotten a lot of tips, or gotten some sort of small inheritance from their mom" (quoted from Domi). And I mean, I get that she has a strip club, but in the Saltaire world, would you really be able to raise that much money from a strip club? How exactly is Emer going to be able to afford her Prince?

2. I also didn't understand your response to Domi's question about why Emer couldn't just get a child. I mean... rebellion is all well and fine, but I think you need to give us a little more detail so we can see why Emer is rebelling the way she is. You say that Roman-Catholic couples are encouraged to have kids, and you say that Emer is rebelling against her priest father, and... therefore that's why she doesn't want to have kids? I'm sorry, but I honestly don't follow the logic for this. Emer has actually left her father, according to the backstory you gave us; he doesn't have control over her life and he can't force her to abide by his own Roman-Catholic rules. She is free to do what she wants. I can understand her not wanting to be Roman-Catholic, and I can understand her not wanting to have a Roman-Catholic marriage, but it doesn't logically follow that therefore she wouldn't want to give birth/adopt kids at all, despite the fact that she "would do anything to get one" (your words). She could easily still enter a non-Roman-Catholic marriage or simply have kids out of wedlock - in fact, if you wanted to follow this twisted logic re: rebellin' against dad, you might argue that the best way for her to really reject the "lots of kids in church-sanctioned marriage" model is to be a single mother via the sex-before-marriage route.

I look forward to seeing what you do with your concept.