Hello, everyone! We’re running a series of interviews with our Player Characters to get to know them as we come up to the beginning of the campaign. Next up, we introduce a creative circusgoer, carrying a lot more on their shoulders than it might seem…

Introduce yourself!

Hello, I’m Rune.

What do you study?

I’m studying at Luctonside – I’m doing Art, Design and Photography. If you can’t tell, I really enjoy doing art… it’s kind of my whole thing. I’m just a creative person, I guess.

How was your first year of college?

Chaotic! The shift from secondary school to college was… a lot. I’m enjoying the course, though. My art teacher, Mrs Brown, is great. I’ve been able to learn a lot and develop my practice, and the teacher’s super supportive. I started the circus society, too, that was pretty fun. It’s nice to meet other people who like performing – not just the theatre kids.

Who are your friends at college?

Well, there’s Allie, who I sort of know from my course. I made some friends in the circus society as well, like James, who is kind of cool, I guess. Not really into the magic side of things myself, though. Oh! How could I forget Dorian, on my photography course?! He’s my aerial partner, and we have a lot of trust in each other. You kind of have to when he’s the only thing holding you up on a metal hoop. Don’t have a huge circle of friends, though; don’t really need them. I’ve got my brother, after all.

Are you dating anyone? What’s your type?

No. Uh, haven’t really had the confidence at college yet… I’ve been single for a while. For… reasons. But, well, if you’re asking about my type… girls? I think they’re really cute… it’s just… the way they smile… and talk to you… and bounce along… uh- but I don’t like talking to girls. They scare me.

What kinds of things do you do in your spare time?

Practice circus, mainly. I’ve got an aerial hoop set up at home, and my brother, Rowan, helps me practice. We go to the local park to fire-spin, too. That was a pain in the ass to get permission to do from the council… other than that, doctor’s appointments, mainly, along with whatever I need to do for my studies. I like visiting galleries when I can, but I don’t always have the time.

What do you like to do at home?

I kind of already answered that… practice aerial. My brother and I like to watch TV shows together, mainly things like Supernatural and Buffy. My brother really likes to cook, so I end up testing a lot of his cooking. He’s, uh… gotten better, that’s for sure. But he can make a really, really good curry now.

Do you have an object of special significance?

Ember! Ember is my plushie dragon. He’s bright red, and I’ve had him since I was a kid. He’s really special to me… always protected me growing up, you know? He lives on my bed so he doesn’t get damaged. He’s a bit old now.

What are your best or worst memories?

I think my best memory is the day I moved in with my brother. I was twelve, he came and picked me up. He said “Right, pack your bags, you’re going to come live with me now.” When I got to his flat, he’d already decorated, with a big sign saying ‘Welcome home’. He’d made cake, and made sure my bed was all set up… we ordered pizza. We just spent the evening curled up on the sofa, watching stupid TV and… yeah. That was probably the best day.

Worst memory..? God, I’ve got a lot to choose from. If you want a palatable one, the time I fell off the aerial hoop and broke a rib. A slightly less nice one is… the day my mum and dad forgot I existed, and locked me out of the house when I’d been at school. I had to sleep in the garden. And then there was… him. He… didn’t like taking no for an answer, and… I… don’t want to talk about this any more.

Is there anything you’re particularly afraid of? What’s your worst fear?

I don’t like being stalked or followed. Or people touching me, really. Particularly if I haven’t, you know, told them I can. It’s like when people try and touch my wheelchair or move me. Urgh. That’s my worst fear – someone grabbing my wheelchair and moving me, and I can’t stop them. I don’t like the idea of feeling like I can’t, you know, defend myself. But hey, being chronically ill kind of does that to you… I don’t really like being on my own, either. When I first moved in with my brother, he had to sleep in the same room as me for a while, because I was too scared to be on my own. For the most part now, Ember fulfils that role for me.

What do you think this second year of college is going to be like?

Probably more chaos… hopefully, now I’ve settled in a little bit, I’ll be able to have a better routine and manage the course a bit better. Hopefully I’ll be able to practice circus a bit more, too, now the society’s up and running. I dunno, I just hope I come out of it with my A-Levels, and then I can run away with the circus like I’ve always wanted to.