checking in app;

[acrimsongaze]

OUT OF CHARACTER

Name: ree
Personal Journal: pontaneous
Age: like at least 2, maybe 3 millennia
Contact: aim + plurk: pontaneous
skype: wondering.what.breakfast.is
Characters Played: Renge Houshakouji managedthat

IN CHARACTER

Name: Neophyte Redglare (actual name unknown)
Canon: Homestuck
Age: 66 sweeps/143 years (appears to be in her mid-20's)
Timeline: mid-Mindfang trial; essentially as she is being hanged.

Age Up?: hell no.

Background: Oh god, Homestuck is. So much... Redglare specific bits of importance:

Ancestors
Alternia
Terezi Pyrope

Not much is known about Redglare's life when she was younger. She was raised by Pyralspite, a dragon, likely alone in the forest like her descendant. It can be assumed she chose her title, joined the League of Legislaceration at a young age (before she was ten sweeps old), and was heralded as a prodigy. (hence, the Subjugglators' wild card.) Considering the longevity of higher blood castes, Redglare was going to be kept at the "Neophyte" level long past her death.

The Mindfang case was given to her, potentially for her to prove her greatness, but more likely because the Subjugglators were sure of such greatness. What follows is the apprehending and the trial, one of which was a victory and the other a most immense loss for Redglare.

Her further involvement in the story only continues through Terezi and Latula.

Personality: (Please scroll to the bottom if you want a more concise explanation for Redglare! This section is four pages long, and gives reasonable proof, rather than headcanon, on her personality. It is The Redglare Thesis Paper.)

Redglare's personality is never experienced firsthand-- we never meet her ourselves, but we do learn about her, through her rival and eventual undoing, Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, her descendant and greatest admirer, Terezi Pyrope, and her alternate Beforan self, Latula Pyrope. These three people paint a picture of her that presents her as a danger, an oddity, but mostly, someone who is worthy of the legends.

First, we have to look at Mindfang's journals, that chronicle her life through an apparently tumultuous time in Alternian history. Mindfang, though, is an unreliable narrator, through and through, easily demonising those that oppose her, and flattering those that don't. As the legislacerator tasked with bringing her down, Redglare is firmly planted in the former. Yet, she does tell of their first meeting with eloquence, and provides us with information on "immensity of the Su8juggl8or's high jinx" and "their wild card"-- Mindfang's capture and first meeting with Redglare. She tells it plainly (or as plainly as Mindfang can manage): Redglare arrived with her lusus (essentially an animal guardian), a dragon by the name of Pyralspite. Mindfang locked eyes with the dragon, whose glare was incredibly intense-- "each like a sun concentr8ted into a small jewel, as two hot garnets searing through a 8lack veil"-- and permanently lost her sight in the eye that bore the Vision Eightfold. Once she was able to see again, Mindfang's entire fleet (vast, and comprised of the Gamblignants, the most fearsome pirates Alternia has seen. Or so she says...) was on fire, and Redglare was on the deck of her ship. After telling her lusus' name "through her ridiculous forced grin", Redglare cut off Mindfang's arm, which Mindfang theorises was given to Pyralspite as a snack, and that it was a show of force and bravado. "May8e she meant to prove she wouldn't need me in irons to have my su8mission?"

What verifies this is [S] Seer: Ascend, that presents the story without a word from Mindfang. There is verity to her words. (But really, can we ever fully trust a pirate?) Redglare was dangerous, capable, and clever, using her lusus as a weapon against a fleet of pirates. In the face of a criminal that has taken down countless members of her league, she smiles and offers not her own name, but the name of her mount. She is bold, and certainly daring. She was also confident in her skills, willing to apprehend Mindfang without "irons". Redglare didn't even handcuff Mindfang. She is audacious, if not anything else.

The journal continues to Mindfang's trial, which should have been Redglare's shining moment in her career. The execution of one of the Empire's most wanted criminals should have launched her through the ranks. The story does not go so well.

"Much fanfare was made of the trial. More than I would have dared to hope. It seems my luck has 8een returning of l8." So begins the second part of the journal. The highbloods had filled the courtblock with lowbloods waiting to see the undoing of a highblood, likely those who had been personally wronged by Mindfang herself. Redglare was prepared to fight her, need be, and was fully ready for the execution. This isn't what happened, though. By using her psychic powers, Mindfang nudged "the hostility of the low8loods from one aristocrat to another", and the audience then turned on Redglare.

"I only regret I didn't get to hear the opening st8ment the neophyte had prepared against me. The case she compiled from all that evidence she 8urned must have been damning. I 8et her remarks would have stung worse than when she severed my arm. She certainly would have shown me gr8ter mercy 8y taking the other instead!" While her statements about Redglare are cruel and taunting, she does offer some odd affection, and regret regarding her. "Alas, I mock to disguise the extent of my regret. Had my escape not necessit8ed her demise, she would have made a lovely rival. If she'd only discarded her childish preoccup8tion with justice, we might have made a striking scourge. Had we inched 8lacker we'd have torn red miles across the land and sea. Unfortun8ly, the only miles to 8e found through her 8ureaucratic calling were those of red tape. When so ensnared, one is eventually 8ound to 8e choked." And choked she was. Redglare was hung from the rope that she had prepared for Mindfang by the crowd that had been waiting to see the pirate taken down. Upon her escape, Mindfang stole Redglare's sword, and commented, "Upon reflection, Redglare showed the foresight of a true seer in thieving my arm 8efore the trial. It permitted a fair fight."

Through these journals, we learn much about Mindfang, and what to ends she was willing to go in order to live. In contrast, we see her enemy, Redglare, as someone who was strong, but not strong enough. She was admirable, in a pitch way, and perhaps through her own merits. Redglare was young for her blood caste, thus the title of "Neophyte", but she was extremely ambitious and dedicated to her profession. The Subjugglators would not have sent her out on a mission that had killed so many before if they did not believe in her skills or her loyalty. Mindfang called it a "childish preoccupation", but Redglare's descendant would call it otherwise.

In Alternian culture, all adults are sent off into space, and the children of the race remain on the planet. To learn their capabilities and to train for a future where they will serve in the Empress' army in some way, many young trolls FLARP (the "F" is unknown, but the acronym is believed to be "Fatal Live Action Role Play", which seriously reflects the "do or die" ideas of the trolls) and several of the trolls use their ancestors as the basis for their characters. Eridan Ampora, Vriska Serket, and Terezi Pyrope use Orphaner Dualscar, Mindfang, and Redglare, respectively. There are other players, but these three do their best to emulate their ancestors and follow in their footsteps. Highbloods put credence in the idea of ancestors far more than lowbloods do (simply because they have a chance of meeting them), and these three are, in fact, highbloods. Vriska and Mindfang are incredibly similar-- beyond genetic and hereditary similarities, both have very bold personalities, are unafraid of theatrics, are both highly dangerous and have little remorse for murder (a good thing in Alternian society!), and are extremely confident in their skills. If we follow this path, and look at the histories of both sets of trolls (Eridan/Vriska/Terezi and Dualscar/Mindfang/Redglare, along with the Cycle of Revenge), then Terezi is an interpretation of who Redglare was. Terezi's formal introduction offers us hints as to who she is, and to who she seeks to be. She loves colours of any kind, particularly red, is relatively friendly, and takes "an interest in justice, holding particular fascination for ORCHESTRATING THE DEMISE OF THE WICKED." With this in mind, she's extremely intense, even in her roleplaying. As she prepares a game with her Scalemates as the prosecuting attorney, Terezi comments on the Alternian law structure-- "On Alternia, there is no such thing as a defense attorney, or a defense. In a courtblock, the word defense itself is offensive." Violence is also permitted in the courtblock-- "You don't want to slap too hard. Enough to sting, but not to bruise. It must be methodical, business-like. And persistent. You only stop when you smell tears." Terezi is undeniably crazy... CRAZY ABOUT HER FUTURE JOB! In actuality, she's a natural for the League of Legislaceration, abiding by the laws as well as her ancestor did.

The wiki describes Terezi's personality as "alternatingly civil, flirty, manipulative, derisive, and outright sociopathic in her interactions" and makes mention of her ever-present grin, which makes her look like she's constantly cackling. She's shown to be helpful throughout the series, serving as Dave's patron troll, and giving Rose information of SGRUB after labelling them "hatefriends". She is not exactly romantic, but she was involved with Dave (matespritship), Gamzee (kismesissitude), and Karkat (???). She will flirt with people, even if comes across as a bit crazy and weird. Her manipulation comes through the fact that she is a troll, and trolls... troll. (That's it. That's the joke.) She leads John to his untimely death, and works with and against Vriska throughout their time together. As she is a troll, mocking is second nature, and taunting and teasing any sort of opponent (or friend) is absolutely necessary. After all, the word for "friend" and "enemy" are the same in the Alternian language. Mentioning Terezi's relationships and interactions with other trolls is key, as the Beta trolls follow the footsteps of their ancestors, relationships included. Eridan killed Kanaya as Dualscar killed the Dolorosa, the Signless led and preached and Karkat led his friends through SGRUB, and Vriska and Terezi had an incredibly tumultuous relationship that led to both of them being blinded and seriously hurt, just like Mindfang and Redglare.

After Act 5, and Hivebent's end, Terezi becomes a different person that no longer reflects her ancestor so well, dealing with madness upon a meteor for three years. (though, we can continue to parallel both trolls and what could've been with Redglare.) From this, we can look to Latula Pyrope.

Latula existed on the same planet, but under a different name, and with a differing culture. Where Alternia was violent and cruel to it inhabitants, Beforus was gentler and more accepting of weakness. Latula didn't necessarily have a disability that was incredibly debilitating, but she lost her sense of smell, and would have been culled (coddled, not murdered like those Alternians...) which Aranea says "that would have 8een a fate worse than death".

But who is Latula, exactly? She is the Beforan version of Redglare-- the same person presented under different circumstances. Latula is younger, and much less mature than even the "Neophyte" was, but both Pyropes reflect the woman Redglare was at different points in her life. Latula is wild, a rad skater girl who always want to prove that she is totally rad and the best. (and also, her headstand trick is hella, and her high fives are WICKED!!!!) She is young, and she has something to compensate for, so she has to always be something admirable, someone who is worthy of attention. Latula is not as her persona is, though. She is insecure, in love with someone that she can't have, stuck in a relationship with a shadow of someone she loved, and anxiety-ridden. Yet, she is loyal, devoted to Mituna, protective, feisty, fun-loving, fearless, and a little bit rebellious. How this translates into Redglare is told by way of Doc Scratch.

Scratch tells the story of the Signless, a preacher with visions of a past life, of a world filled with compassion, forgiveness, and peace. (This world was Beforus, and the Signless was seeing his own life.) He tells of his end, his transformation into the Sufferer, dying for his beliefs in the face of the Condesce. As he died, in his last sermon was The Vast Expletive, which radiated through the universe, and in its wavelengths held the truth in his teachings, waiting for the Second Signless to carry his burden and legacy.

"His teachings would also persist through surviving disciples, but in hushed tones. His following would dwindle to an obscure cult facing persecution for centuries. After his execution, the body was burned leaving only his irons. They cooled in the ash, as if his anger itself was subsiding, and his followers appropriated their shapes in defiance of the Highbloods. The symbols became the sign of the Signless, always shown as colorless as the cold iron, to conceal the stigma of his hue. This was as much a reminder to his followers to remain hidden as it was of the Sufferer's sacrifice, and his rage hidden like heat in the iron, one day to be reignited by another of his bloodline. The Sufferer preached that after he passed, another Signless would come, heralding the end times for their planet. The Second Signless would continue his work, and lead his people to glory beyond this realm. The followers kept his teachings alive for ages, even as the uproar surrounding the movement subsided. By modern times, the Sufferer's scripture was little more than ancient superstition all but forgotten. Hardly the anathema of old. But the followers had already made their preparations in the shadows, and when the Second Signless finally came he would have a lusus to raise him and a sign to his name." Scratch details the plan for a young Karkat, but we are shown Redglare bearing the sign of the Sufferer around her neck, making her a part of this underground movement, putting her as a highblood in a seriously dangerous position. Yet, she takes it on for equality's sake-- her sign is Libra, she seeks balance. (All three Pyropes exhibit Libra traits in strange ways.) Redglare works against the laws the Empress put in place regarding him. Mindfang mentions that even writing about him in private journals was punishable by death. Knowing Alternia, that actually happened. To support the Sufferer was an incredible risk, but one that Redglare took in the name of a better world in the future.

It's hard to find who Redglare really was by gleaning bits of information from wildly different sources, and not one of them is the woman herself. To Mindfang, she was a child, a puppet of the empire, a villain wrapped up in delusions of justice. To Terezi, she was a role model, righteous in her actions, a danger and a beauty in one. And through Latula, we see that she is just a person, with flaws and quirks, but not incapable of love and compassion. Scratch presents a final piece: she was a rebel with dreams of a gentler world. But with all this in mind, we create the image of a legend, a woman defined by something more than her actions.

(list of traits: bold, intelligent, confident, inexperienced, capable, dangerous, ambitious, justice-seeking, friendly, witty, manic, rebellious, loyal, flirtatious, manipulative, merciful.)

Powers: midblood troll strength, easily triple that of a human.
Do you want a power wipe? no.
Humanization: Absolutely. Redglare will go from a troll (with grey skin and yellow horns, pointy teeth, and a mess of other headcanon-y bits...) to a human (with red hair, blunt teeth, and other actual human changes!!). Her mentality will not fully switch over to human, so there's no loss of quadrant-seeking behaviours, but she will not be so violent and inclined to murder. She will also lose the more instinctual natures of trolls, like pursuing filling pails. (ugh writing that made me feel gross...) Still crazy, but a different kind of crazy. Like, sleeping in bathtubs and walking around naked crazy.

Suitcase: three (3) legislacerator uniforms, the necklace bearing the Sign of the Sufferer, two (2) casual outfits, a book on Alternian law, and a cord of rope.
Surprise? YES.
Other Notables: Her canesword is just as it sounds. Part cane, part sword. While the sword part couldn't possibly stay, could the cane bit stay? The sword appears to be passed down through generations, and Redglare would hate to lose something so important to her.

SAMPLES

Network Sample:

[the feed begins, showing a woman with red hair, and scarlet glasses, glaring so intensely at the camera you'd think she was trying to burn it with her eyes. she's absolutely unhappy with the current situation for several reasons, the first being--]

I am sure someone is viewing this, and who ever is should know where the hell I am. If this is supposed to be paradise for the dead, this is the poorest rendition of it I've ever seen. And trust me, I've heard of one with Faygo rivers and trees that grow special stardust. I believe I'd take that over this.

[even after their subtle betrayal, she'd take the damn clowns' idea of heaven, and all the clowns in it. at least then she'd be in her own body, and would understand so much more about it.]

The matter of where can be addressed with ease, as can the matter of why I'm here, how I was brought, and who did so. What I do not understand is the "what" of things. Particularly, what am I? Am I some sort of slug? A strange relative of the cholerbear? Is this what reincarnation really is? If it is, I think I would've been more content as a ghost.

[she gives a thoughtful pause, then softens slightly. her answers would come in due time. they always did. no need to be so upset... her gaze focuses back onto the camera, but this time it is not so harsh.]

If anyone has any information regarding any of my questions, please contact me as soon as possible. I am willing to work with anyone who has an idea of what is happening to me. [her calm facade shifts into something a bit more manic, a grin suddenly splitting her face.] And if anyone has any intelligence on the pirate, Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, please report it to me as well. [for what reasons? none that could be too good. before the feed ends, redglare winks, and offers few parting words:]

A good evening to you. Until we meet again.

[end feed.]

Threads:

i.

ii. (despite the title, it's not smut, as of posting this.)

iii.

iv.