last voyages; application

[bethmoras]

Character Name: Prince Nuada, called Silverlance
Series: Hellboy II (mainly movie but also supplemental info from the novelization)
Age: 6,000+ years old, the equivalent of a 40 year old human. (See notes)

From When?: End of the film, post-fight after he attempts to stab Hellboy but before he turns to ash.

Inmate/Warden: Inmate. Nuada is an elven prince, heir to the throne of Bethmoora (respectively the Tuatha De Danaan in his canon), who loathes humans and will do just about anything to genocide the younger species so elves and other magical races can retake Earth. He comes very close to putting that plan into action but is foiled at the last minute by Hellboy. Needless to say, he does not take that defeat well.

Item: N/A

Arrival: [(INMATES ONLY) -- Was your inmate character brought in against their will, snatched at the moment of their death, or did they agree to come to the Barge and graduate instead of dying forever?

Nuada was snatched from the jaws of victory defeat just after his fight with Hellboy and brought to the Barge.

Abilities/Powers:

Longevity
Elves are nigh immortal, tied to the natural world, and do not age as other races do. They can theoretically live forever unless they are killed through violent means. When one of Nuada's people die, their bodies turn to solid ash and resemble marble statues.

Dexterity
In the novelization, Nuada is described effortlessly jumping great distances from building to building and scaling walls without the use of a rope. His fighting style is partially acrobatic in nature, keeping out of the reach of his enemies means he can best them more easily without risking injury to himself.

Psychic Bond
He and his twin sister have a unique bond. They are bound to one another both physically and emotionally; what happens to one also happens to the other (most likely a reason for Nuada's fighting style), and they can locate each other even over large distances. They are not, however, of a single mind - each twin has their own likes and dislikes. Further, Nuada cannot read his sister's thoughts easily when she works to shield them (and her heart) from him.

Magic
Elves are innately magic. Nuada is capable of spells such as transforming a person's face (in the novelization he removes a man's mouth to prevent screaming), and possesses the art of glamour; that is, shielding his presence from human notice until he wants to be seen. As a warrior, it is unlikely that he studied the highest levels of spells needed to be considered a sorcerer but probably knows enough magic to keep his weapons in shape and protect the natural world (plant care, specialized herbology, medical know-how, etc) due to his heritage as one of the Tuatha De Danann.

Mechanics
When Nuada isn't honing his martial skills, or out killing people, he likes to tinker with goblin mechanics, such as the hand he made for Mr. Wink. Taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and putting a better model back together is one of his greatest joys. It also sets him apart from most of his people, who don't understand his obsession with mechanics and modern technology.

Leadership
As the only son and heir of King Balor, Nuada has been trained to lead his people - both in battle and by example. This is illustrated during the council session when he declares his intent to make war on humanity, and then subsequently kills his father for the right to save their people. All of the noble houses are represented in the council and not one speaks up in protest, so it is implied they acknowledged the change in status. (This may also be a nod to Celtic mythology, where Tuatha kings could not rule if physically imperfect, which Balor, being one-armed, was.)

Personality:

First and foremost, Nuada is a warrior. Intense, alone, and driven to do what he thinks is right. It is how he is introduced; working through a series of training exercises in a lair underneath the streets of New York City, most likely getting his thoughts in order before taking two boxes of tooth fairies to a swanky auction above ground. Alongside his troll companion, Mr. Wink, he has no problem getting into the building, despite what appears to be a lot of security, and kills an employee without thinking twice. He is clearly presenting himself as inhuman and dangerous, but there is also something inherently regal in his bearing. This is not a man who rushes recklessly in and instantly murders everyone. While that is one of his two objectives, he takes his time and even calls the head auctioneer 'sir' when asked who he is (I am Prince Nuada Silverlance, son of King Balor. And I am here, sir, to reclaim what is rightfully mine). When he does raise his voice, it's to make a point, but he does get frustrated easily with humans and is not above using the auction guests as dramatic props, telling them "Let this remind you why you once feared the dark," illustrating he is also not above using grisly theatrics to get his goals across.

The novelization states that he was 'trained since birth' in the martial arts, as befitting a royal prince of his status. That means thousands of years given solely to weapons and tactics training in order to defend and serve his people. It is what his primary function is - the sword hand of his father, Balor, the leader of Clan Bethmoora (aka the Tuatha de Danann). And for thousands of years, Nuada apparently did exactly what was expected of him; martial and kingship training, going into battle at his father's side and therefore holds himself to exceedingly high standards. Honor means a great deal to him, as does his responsibilities (real or perceived) to his people. He does not just claim the (Tuatha De) elves, but goblins, trolls, fairies, and most likely all other magical races.

After his father had second thoughts about unleashing the unstoppable Golden Army to wipe out humanity, and opted to make a truce with the mortals ("King Balor's heart grew heavy in regret, so he called a truce"), Nuada voluntarily went into exile, "vowing to return when his people needed him the most". This showcases his love for, and loyalty to, his people especially when measuring fey standards of civilization to what might charitably be considered the lesser race - humankind. He does not think they are capable of keeping the treaty. It's set out point-blank in the movie: "In exchange, man would keep to the cities and the magical beings would own the forests. This truce would be honored by their sons and the sons of their sons until the end of time, but Prince Nuada did not believe in the promises of man." This is partly because he is naturally suspicious and distrustful of mortals but also because they wreaked so much havoc on his kind. Admittedly, this also could be seen as a somewhat self-fulfilling prophecy - don't trust the humans, treat them unkindly, watch them then rise up and slaughter the different, "sometimes mean" people, and voila! A situation where he can say he was right.

The fae also believe that humans are born with holes in their hearts or souls, holes that they try to fill with material things, a poetic way to explain mortal greed and expansion - stealing land meant for the fair folk and pushing them into the corners of civilization. For Nuada, this is an affront to his honor as a royal prince, and to his father's honor as well. When he returns to court after approximately two thousand years of exile, Balor signals that he intends to let the status quo stand ("What humans do is in their nature; to honor the truce is in ours"), indicating his understanding of human society.

Nuada does not understand this reluctance to act, to draw back from fighting on behalf of those they are both sworn to protect, and reveals his plan to awaken the army and let it exterminate the mortals to save the magical races from the same fate. When his father wonders if he has gone mad, Nuada acknowledges the possibility, hinting that their disagreements, and the long separation from his people, has put a toll on his mental stability. But considering he had no problem with the army destroying all humans before the exile, it may be more desperation to save the older races from annihilation than full-on psychiatric madness.

Showcasing a ruthless streak and the ability to execute a longterm plan, Nuada is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this aim, including killing his father. However, he does this not out of a desire to claim the throne, but because no one else has any intention of stepping forward, and he does not act until given a death sentence for his intention to wake the army. In this regard, his actions in the council meeting can be seen as both a call to arms and self-defense. The production team mentioned that Nuada and the Golden Army was akin to giving someone like Geronimo access to a nuclear bomb and there are some broad similarities. A proud warrior from a 'less civilized' tribe, fighting against white men who kill or enslave his people versus the last warrior of a race of warriors, fighting advanced technology with a magical spear and thousands of years of fighting prowess and strategy. Neither Geronimo nor Prince Nuada can stop the fading of their people and way of life.

Nuada puts almost every conceivable option on the table when it comes to his responsibilities. The only option he does not seriously consider is extending the truce. And he clearly has the inner strength to follow through personally. He delivers the tooth fairies to the auction, personally tracks down his sister, and forces Hellboy to choose between the citizens of New York and the last plant elemental. Nuada squarely places the blame for wrecking the planet at humanity's feet in a very visible way with how Hellboy ultimately decides to deal with the threat.

Speaking of his twin sister, Nuada obviously adores her. When he is asked to surrender his weapon prior to entering the council, the prince is ready to kill the functionary out of what appears to be an insult, but Nuala's appearance and request of the same thing reveal that he is not prepared to deny her wishes (For you, sister, anything). She is his mirror - calm and serene where he is warlike and prompted to action. It is implied that their relationship was very close, and it is outright stated that the two share a psychic bond when Nuala tells Abe that since she knows where the BPRD headquarters are, so does her brother. It is further implied, with the way Nuada looks at her once they are together again, that his feelings may not be entirely platonic where she is concerned. It isn't hard to extrapolate that he extends this respect for his sister to other women (it is primarily male humans on the receiving end of his wrath), or at least female members of non-human species, but he is not noticeably aggressive toward Liz Sherman onscreen. He does, however, demonstrate the power of his link with Nuala to Abe by cutting her cheek so that they both visibly bleed; a clearly possessive action.

Nuada is also possessive of his friends. Or friend, as the only other being he interacts with outside of his family or the Bureau agents is Mr. Wink, a large troll with whom he shares a friendly if unequal relationship. It is indicated in the novelization that Nuada made a mechanical hand for the troll, suggesting that there is a true sense of camaraderie between them. The magnitude of this bond is highlighted after Hellboy indirectly kills Wink, and Nuada tracks him down for vengeance purposes. It stands to reason he would do the same for anyone who was allowed into the trust of his inner circle.

This ancient elf is the last protector of his people, a warrior straight out of Celtic mythology, who has had to watch his people be pushed out of their own spaces, killed and ultimately forgotten by the human race, who were charged with upholding a truce with King Balor. Because humans pillage their stolen land, he is extremely bitter and hateful towards them, believing that only with the extermination of their race will the Earth and his own people be able to recover their former status and glory. When removed from that situation, he can a deeply honorable, soft-spoken man who is accustomed to looking after himself and frequently extends his protection to all the fae races.

Barge Reactions: Nuada is going to hate the Barge. Stripped of his weapons and possibly his innate magical abilities, surrounded by humans, his bond with Nuala either severed or heavily muffled - this is literally the worst scenario for him. He won't respond well to the reality of being an inmate, although his acting skills are decent enough that his discomfort with the whole idea probably won't be immediately apparent. However, because he's been in a mental rut for so long, being shaken up and put into outlandish scenarios by floods and breaches, or exploring ports sufficiently different from his own experiences should help to broaden his outlook a little.

And any fellow inmates who aren't (or don't look) human might find themselves under his protection simply because he does believe in a fairy version of noblesse oblige.

Path to Redemption: There is a path to redemption for Nuada! One of his biggest stumbling blocks is his hatred of mankind. He's old enough to remember when humans in his world were mere babes in the wood, when they feared the dark and kept out of the forests and realms allotted to the Fae. It's conceivable that, because of the perceived "childlike" quality in their characters, Nuada can learn to tolerate humanity again as a whole.

This will be difficult since he's hated them for literally thousands of years, watched his own people and other fairy races pushed to the edges of civilization and vanish. Respect for a mere human doesn't generally figure into his world view, but that's one of the lynchpins to his redemption. It's going to take a lot of patience on behalf of his Warden. Nuada will defy anyone who comes at him straight on with an edict about liking or not killing other races.

He'll need a lot of patience and someone who thinks outside the box, who can gently guide him to making a connection with humans and other short-lived 'mortal' races on a personal level. If he can learn to separate the vast majority of "good" humans/mortals from those deliberately trying to genocide the Fair Folk, then Nuada has a good chance of rearranging his attitude towards anyone not like him and learning to be more open-minded. (Which is actually a good tactic to turn back on him once a warden has established some measure of trust.)

Deal: N/A

History: Wiki

Sample Journal Entry: TDM

Sample RP:

The chapel is not a place on the Barge he frequents often. Or at all, really, save for a curious peek inside back when he was newly arrived and had little idea of the layout. Most of the humans frequent it, praying to their god. Hoping the deity hears and delivers on their prayers. Occasionally - very occasionally - Nuada wishes he could do the same. But the gods of his people are his relatives, and they have been gone for a long time.

Nevertheless, he takes a look around and makes sure the area is empty before sliding into a pew. The bench is flat and uncomfortable, but he pays that little mind, and simply stares into the shadows. They lost a lot of Barge inmates during the last flood. Whatever it has preyed on the bloodlust of everyone prone to it. He shed much of it himself, with an ill-gotten weapon, but that's not exactly why he's here. He's taken lives before, willingly, for what he considers a noble cause. That sort of bloodstain is one he is accustomed to bearing.

No, this time, he murdered his own Warden. One who has tried time and time again to get through to him. Has tried patience the most, sprinkled with what the humans call "tough love" more than once. It seems grotesque that the spirits controlling the vessel's numerous mishaps would steer his blade into the body of someone who did not deserve it. Nuada slumps, leaning forward to brace his forehead against the pew in front of him, and quietly starts praying in his native language.

Maybe one of his ancestors is listening and will grant a little miracle.

Special Notes:

His age is never given in canon, but my headcanon is that the twins are at least 6,000 years old and potentially older. I also headcanon that their mother is the sea god's daughter Clíodhna. This technically makes them akin to powerful demi-gods ― more durable than regular elves ― but still susceptible to dying.