View source for Confidant1/Strength

{{Character
|type=Archetype
|archetype=The Confidant
|name=Hodr
|aka=Holden Odinson
|portrait=HodrTF01.jpg
|occupation=Sideshow Marksman
|age=27
|muxname=Holden
|activity=Inactive
|story=Carnival
|alive=pending
|in-play=yes
|role=<h3>Coming To America</h3>

My brother will tell you all about how long we've been here. It's the Indians, then us. All the way back to the first millennium. For a while, things were tough and we were almost lost but our people eventually came. Came from the cold Northern lands with a fire in their heart for the old gods. Among those gods are Odin's twins of light and dark. Baldr the beautiful and pure and then...me. Hodr. The dimwitted blind god tricked by Loki into poisoning his brother.

I am not dimwitted.

Christianity came along and suddenly our believers were heathens. They were stripped of the traditions that fit theirs. Solstice. Yule. The rest is meant to be thrown away and replaced with Jesus and boy, are we feeling it now. Our faithful are dwindling. Nothing works as it should anymore. I know the sun is setting. 

In the meantime, we get the worship where we can. The carnival opened the door for me to gain a small, close following of believers. Believers I love. Believers who need me. They keep me going and in return, I won't let them down.

<h3>The Blind Marksman</h3>

We've been with the Carnival since near its beginning, "Logan" and I, going by Holden, just happened to cross paths with them in some town up north. I think Baldr dreamt about it and they took him on as a Roustabout. They didn't know what to do with me but I planned ahead. I don't miss, you see. Point me in the right direction and I'll hit anything. Or in my case, I miss.

The Blind Marksman has been a sideshow staple since then. I didn't use my own face, at first. After I couldn't shift at a new stop, I went out there as myself. It turned out to be a better draw. And I was moved to the sideshow. I'm not bothered though. I love the sideshow and I love its freaks. It's simply strange how much a difference appearance makes. For good or ill.

Today, I have my own wagon. Big upgrade from the tent. I have two lovely target girls, one exotic assistant and more blades and bows than I know what to do with. I have The Children, my closest and strongest believers. I love and I am loved in return. I may complain but I wouldn't trade these folks for the world.
|hooks=''Upgrade from Lesser'' - Hodr has spent years listening and guiding his cult through their problems, issues, hangups and personal drama. He doesn't know it but he's been a therapist. Thus, his evolution aims to become an avatar of mental health and psychology.
|faces={{Faces
|name=Holden Odinson
|facepic=HodrTwin01.jpg
|faction=Rousties
|role=The face that first arrived with the Carnival favors [[Pedagogue1/Heirophant{{!}}Logan's]] other visage. They are twins, after all. After he stopped performing with this face, he began to work with it. This is the face you see on the grounds, helping the Rousties as an extra pair of hands or a strong back.
|fp01=HodrTwin02.jpg
|fp02=HodrTwin03.jpg
|fp03=HodrTwin04.jpg
}}{{Faces
|name=Russ Keller
|facepic=HolderS01.jpg
|role=This is Russ, the first face he created when blessed with the powers to shapeshift. He claims that his is copying his brother Thor's look. He's tall and classically handsome but he stands out with red hair and beard, fair skin, and bright blue eyes. This is his most common presentation when off carnival grounds.<br><br>''(OOC Note: I call him Confidant Prime, in OOC spaces, in case you were wondering what the hell I was talking about.)''
}}{{Faces
|name=Molly Mars
|facepic=HodrFace02.jpg
|faction=Providers
|role=An indulgence that Hodr takes from time to time, is spending an evening at the Cooch tent. This is the face for those nights. The inspiration for her face in a guarded secret.
}}
|factions={{AF
|faction=Faces
|role=Sideshow Marksman
}}
|other-notes=OOC Shout outs!

Thank you, [[Pedagogue1{{!}}The Pedagogue]] for finding Logan's twin. Amazing googlefu!

Big Ups to [[Thrill-Seeker2{{!}}The Thrill-Seeker]] for giving my main portrait a quick photoshop that brought it all together.
|brawn=Normal
|brawn-qualities={{ABrwQ
|pn=positive
|qual=Blind Fighter
|note=Holden isn't a magical kung fu type, no. But he was a warrior once and he knows how to scrape and scramble and swing whatever he can get his hands on.
}}{{ABrwQ
|pn=positive
|qual=Stronger Than He Looks
|note=He seems like scrawny, wiry, weak thing until you see him throw an axe halfway across the stage with one hand.
}}
|finesse=Good
|finesse-qualities={{AFinQ
|pn=positive
|qual=Nimble
|note=A smaller frame makes for a quicker one.
}}
|brains=Normal
|brains-qualities={{ABrnQ
|pn=positive
|qual=Heightened Senses
|note=Hodr didn't blind himself yesterday. His other four senses are on point from the smell of a dust storm in the distance to the sound of a rat pissing on cotton.
}}{{ABrnQ
|pn=negative
|qual=Blindness
|note=He did it to himself as an act of penance in the time before time. By now, he's pretty used to it but obvious drawbacks are obvious.
}}{{ABrnQ
|pn=negative
|qual=Gullible
|note=Sweet, innocent, naive, trusting and, importantly, sincere.
}}
|spirit=Normal
|spirit-qualities={{ASprQ
|pn=positive
|qual=The Show-Man
|note=His marksman act has been a large draw for a while now and a major part of that is a wealth of charisma and showmanship. Under the lights, Holden can be funny and lively and charming.
}}{{ASprQ
|pn=negative
|qual=The Show-Off
|note=Always feeling like he has something to prove, It's not unlike him to behave recklessly for the show of it.
}}
|perkquirk={{APQ
|pq=perk
|pqname=Cult
|note=The Children of a Lesser God are a lovely bunch of roving sinners looking for redemption and they seem to think Holden is a vital part of their path.
}}{{APQ
|pq=perk
|pqname=Shapeshifting (Human)
|note=Loki promised the ability to become whatever human he wants and his sight would return. Loki was half right. Holden is still blind when he shapeshifts. He has a small selection of faces, all inspired by Asgardians, or so he claims.
}}{{APQ
|pq=perk
|pqname=Power: Perfect Aim (Minor) - Finesse
|note=He can hit anything he throws, draws, shoots or flings. He just has to be touched AND physically pointed in the correct direction.
}}{{APQ
|pq=quirk
|pqname=Weakness (Minor)
|note=Arrows will lay Holden lower than one might expect. Especially given that he uses a bow in his act.
}}{{APQ
|pq=quirk
|pqname=Weakness (Minor)
|note=As if Loki's gifts weren't annoying enough, he passed on a weakness to iron bindings. Binding Holden in iron chains drains the life right out of him and burns like venom.
}}{{APQ
|pq=quirk
|pqname=Goliath
|note=He really, really, really is stronger than he looks. He forgets this. A lot. He breaks things.
}}{{APQ
|pq=quirk
|pqname=Superstitious
|note=Holden is under the belief that his blindness is his penance and if he's not doing his penance then Baldr will die and prophecy of being rulers after Ragnarok will not come to pass and it will all have been for nothing.

This is why he doesn't possess his Believers unless the circumstances are dire. A possessed body is sighted one and every moment within it is easing his suffering. Or something. Anyone who's seen him make a switch has seen a very disoriented Holden, as he mind struggles to place reference on things and places he has probably never seen.

Other ways Holden is a weirdo:

*Keys: Don't put your keys on the table. If he hears that, he's going to give them back to you. Or shove them off the table.
*The Number 13: Once upon a time, Loki crashed a party, made the guest number 13 and Baldr ended up mute and Holden blinded himself and just don't clue him into the number 13, okay?
*Names: He won't used an unnamed weapon, nor will he leave a named one behind. This can, has, and will bring things to a complete halt. All the knives have names. Axes too. Bow? Gun? All named and all must be collected or he can't function.
*Baldr: He has a few superstitions surrounding his beloved twin. For one, he will never directly offer or hand Baldr food or drink. He gives it to someone else to give to him.
}}
|contacts={{AC
|contact=Pedagogue1/Heirophant
|name=Logan
|note=You forgive me. And now I do as well.
}}{{AC
|contact=Addict2/Devil
|name=Dia, delightful and most divine
|note=Wife. Being with her brightens my soul and eases my burdens. Fate has never been so kind.
}}{{AC
|contact=Explorer2/World
|name=Huntress
|note=I finally broke free from your gravity. But gravity can be strong. I worry.
}}{{AC
|contact=Martyr3/Hanged
|name=Osiris
|note=I don't think I could have begun to forgive myself without your advice. The weigher of hearts' blessing is a powerful one.
}}{{AC
|contact=Rogue3/Knight of Cups
|name=Kit
|note=I owe him...a few. Starting from that day at the state line.
}}
|desc=Holden is a scrawny sort of guy, lithe and lean. He's of average height, just a hair under six feet even. His dishwater brown hair is straight, thick and long, falling past his shoulder blades. It's rarely worn loose given the winds and dust. He braids it instead, wearing one or two plaits that hang on his shoulder. Shaving doesn't happen unless someone pins him down with a straight razor in hand. This gives his beard time to grown long. 

And then you get to his eyes, which mark him vividly, as was his intention long ago. Around their large size and round shape is scarred flesh. Scarred by blade, they tell a story of hesitation, fear, and anger. And the eyes themselves finish the story. They were blue once, most likely. The thick scarring and heavy clouding of the lens makes it nearly impossible to tell. Still, they remain as expressive as he is. They dart about when he thinks hard and tend to look towards people speaking

Lastly, no matter what face he wears, he doesn't leave his trailer without four items. One is a hatchet, small but heavy and ready to throw. The second is a wooden bo staff, painted a light blue that is chipped and faded. Countless runes have been carved into it. It serves the dual purpose of navigational aid and emergency weapon. In town, he uses lightweight long white cane. Some new thing out of Illinois. Finally, goggles are always on his person to protect his eyes from the dusty winds. They hang from his neck, they could be on his head or dangle from his belt. Lastly, but most importantly is his wedding band. He wears a gold band fashioned to look like ivy leaves. He wears it on his right hand, a tradition of his homeland. He touches it often, as the leaves are tactile.
|st={{AS
|song=Iron - Woodkid
|link=https://youtu.be/vSkb0kDacjs
|lyrics=Deep in the ocean, dead and cast away

Where innocence is burned, in flames

A million miles from home, I'm walking ahead

I'm frozen to the bones, I am
}}{{AS
|song=Hell Or High Water - Billy Raffoul
|link=https://youtu.be/2FyxBJYP_bY
|lyrics=You never know what tomorrow may bring

The woman lyin' next to you could be a memory

I've idolized, I've memorized your face

Just in case, I need it last me eternity

[Chorus]

Life's for the livin', I won't be givin' up

'Cause you taught me how to, you taught me how to love

Take all I cherished, beat me 'til my body's numb

But life's for the livin', I won't be givin' up

On you, on you...
}}{{AS
|song=Sunlight - Hozier
|link=https://youtu.be/PELeEo33JXs
|lyrics=All the tales the same

Told before and told again

A soul that’s born in cold and rain

Knows sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

And at last can grant a name

To a buried and a burning flame

As love and its decisive pain

Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight
}}
}}