King of the Wendigos Alex Eli Winship (a.k.a. Grim (prev. Dirge))
Alex, the younger Winship sibling. Unlike his brother that has tried to live on the outskirts of civilization as much as a human as possible, Alex has fully embraced his wendigo side to live ferally. However, with the wolves and his brother claiming the only forested areas around in Philadelphia, Alex has claimed the city as his territory.
Physical Description
Alex is tall with a build of lean muscle. Shaped more like a runner than a bruiser, his lighter build has deceived many that would think he was an easy target.
Alex is almost unmarred by any scars save a sizable jagged one across his chest. His legs look far more powerful than his arms.
Sharper than the norm ears and piercing ice blue eyes with a slight glow show people he's not exactly human. More like his mother, Alex isn't just paler than Lee, but has a narrower and sharply angled jaw, a lighter brow, and a narrower nose.
Those ears and eyes for one are the best telling feature. Not many wendigos have blue eyes either.
Alex sports a dark reddish scar from silver burns across his chest. The streak starts above his left pectoral near his collarbone and quickly skates towards his sternum to go down it, beginning to turn out towards his ribs, but fading before it can reach under his left pectoral. It looks like someone planned to get to stab out his heart.
Alex sometimes smiles when he has no reason to. In some cases he may lack any emotional features on his face and be completely blank when bored. This is due to having hooded or heavy lidded eyes with his resting features.
Quick Regenerative Healing - Alex has extremely fast healing and regeneration typical of other wendigos. He is capable of even growing back limbs in minutes, and doing so on the fly mid combat with little effort to do so. Without focusing on healing, Alex can heal broken bones and lost antlers passively over three to four hours. Burns must first be cut out, including burns from silver if he is to heal. So long as his body isn't destroyed by fire, heart isn't consumed or pierced with silver, likewise his brain, Alex will heal and live to die another day.
Cold Front - Capable of generating ice and frost, Alex is known for cooling the air around him instantly should he need to negate hot temperatures. This however does not stop fire from hurting him. Passive ability.
Inhuman Strength - Alex for all his skinny form's worth can lift just as much as Lee, if not more, in his feral state. His max lift is at 3,500 in feral form, and half of that in his human form. The perks of eating humans, he never had to train to hit that level of strength.
Inhuman Durability - Alex can withstand crushing forces, his lungs filling with fluid, going without oxygen, and massive amounts of blood loss that would send humans to an early grave. The rush of adrenaline he gets like all wendigo numbs most of the pain out during the heat of moments, allowing him to fight as needed. However, this disables his ability to assess risk clearly, and he may fight right up into hibernation, leaving him at the mercy of anyone and anything nearby.
Terminal Velocity - Alex has a top speed of 80mph at a run, usually done so in feral form on all fours. Like Lee however, Alex's quick lunges are far faster, hitting 120 in a quick burst of a pounce. This leap when turned vertical can send him in the blink of an eye 80 feet up. However this means Alex needs to use quick reaction time to do whatever he needs to mid lunge in order to not fall on his face. In rapid succession to cross a vast distance quickly, that speed would be halved to 60mph, meaning really to get anywhere, Alex is best off jus running, unless his goal is within 25 feet. Outside of a fight, the extent of control Alex needs usually has him running just above the normal speed of a human at 30mph.
Dexterous Claws - Alex's feet are pamprodactyl, meaning they have a digit facing forwards that can pivot to face backwards to make a more secure grip. The outside talon of Alex's foot can shift as such to mimic how his rear talon works on the inside of his feet, making an X shape before grasping. If he wanted, Alex could climb with just feet alone, hang upside down like a bat, grab and toss people, or do something as delicate as pick a pencil up.
Spur Kicks - Called so because of the attack style of cockerels, Alex's main attack is in the form primarily of kicks, getting in close and quickly delivering kicks and boots to people with his powerful legs. In feral form, one must also contend with the talons that may claw or grab you in order to fling you away. Alex could literally kill you with only one arm, or even no arms.
Voice Mimicry - Alex has the ability like all Wendigo to mimic an animal, item, or a person's voice down to the octave. Harder to do in feral form, Alex contorts the muscles in his throat around his voice box to distort the voice into the one he needs.
Intimidating Presence - It's like people already know they don't want to be around Alex. Already looking brooding and cold, and on some occasions absolutely psychotic, Alex needs to do the bare minimum to scare others. In feral form, he has to put forth zero effort at all. Alex lets his monstrous size and wide gaping maw full of teeth and saliva do the talking. Like many he can release a loud scream that can freeze people in shock to the spot for a few moments, locked in absolute fear.
WTF - Alex has an impressively long tongue like the rest of their species. In human form, this muscle is five inches long. It can reach a full 13 inches outside of the maw and is extremely flexible in feral form to the point it is prehensile. On top of that, their saliva is slightly more acidic than your normal human's; not only working to destroy harmful bacteria and microbial colonies in foods to let them eat safely, but it works well with cleaning wounds like rubbing alcohol without the sting, giving a slight topical numbing feeling. It does not work as well to numb deep tissue wounds, but they are clean.
Berserker Rage
Through intense stress, rage, or triggering Alex's full wrath via hurting/endangering a certain someone close to him that he has attuned to, Alex will fly into a blind rage to destroy any threat to him or said person's safety. Alex will sprout teeth throughout his mouth wherever there is gum present, including the roof of his mouth to make rows and rows of teeth. A way to distinguish this change is the red sclera, and a full loss of human intelligence. Alex becomes more brutally efficient, but also self destructive, ignoring lethality or permanent grievous injuries. A way to circumvent this is by rendering Alex unconscious if you cannot wait for the danger to pass. However if he wakes and said person he is attuned to is still in peril, the state will return. He is dangerous to any forms posing as a threat, including allies if they direct any hostility towards him or said person.
Alex has few clothes left. One thing he's been dragging around now is the old silver edged battle claws that Jade Mori made back when they were employed by Narsuss. It is equipable only in his wendigo form, and only to his right foot.
A blue dyed bone bead necklace with a small silver knife hidden in the fang pendant. Was gifted to him from his wife Astrid on their wedding day. Worn mostly on tribe lands.
Mental characteristics
Thanks to Lee, Alex had a pretty smooth transition through life from childhood to adulthood, albeit it may have done more damage than aid. Alex was always shadowed by Lee. He never experienced the lack of food in the family's struggle for sustenance due not only in that he was the "baby", but from Lee generously always sacrificing his own wants so Alex could selfishly take, as well as giving him what Lee claimed he had no room to eat. While Lee ate the junk parts of some meat, Alex got some of the best parts.
When it came to bullies, Alex didn't need to fight his own battles either, as Lee almost appeared to have a vendetta on anyone that would bully another. That seemed to grow ten fold when the bullying turned its gaze on Alex.
All this gain without a sacrifice or struggle blinded Alex to how difficult life really was. It left him idolizing his father and how free his life seemed to be when he went feral. Because of that, Alex looks to be following in his hoofprints.
Alex sees himself as male regardless that he can change gender.
Unknown, but he has shown apparent interest in a transwoman that he knew was before transitioning. He may be simply ignoring what he can't see.
Alex has a high school diploma and graduated out of auto mechanic shop.
Personal chef or bodyguard to Astrid, whichever is needed at the time.
He's done a stint as a bouncer for a strip club.
Created the wendigo tribe.
Quit smoking in 2021.
Proposed to Astrid Aug. 20th 2021. Got a yes.
Married Astrid Sept. 26th 2021.
After proving and seeing himself as stronger than Lee, when it came to a territorial dispute between him for the wooded area around Jade's home in Frackville, Alex's left foot was shorn off, and a battle claw was stolen. It was then subsequently used to cut and beat Alex up into fleeing by his own brother.
On top of that, while hungry and hunting in the wooded hills around Philadelphia, he was interrupted mid meal by the Philadelphia pack. Outgeared, outgunned, and outnumbered, Alex was sent fleeing once more with even more wounds to treat.
Alex did not need the full truth of the story, not that he would listen to all of it. But the loss of his father is a pivotal point of his character whether he likes it or not. Knowing it was at the hands of humans, and that Lee was there and "did nothing" to prevent it has turned Alex terribly bitter, vengeful, and violent.
Alex shows symptoms of PITS (Perpetrator Trauma) due to an acute sense of trauma from his first kill that happened to be a bully at the age of 16. This is revealed in the fact he may hear the same sounds again, and be unable to decipher if they are real, or imagined. His short temper and perchance for violence and to be abrasive likely developed from this one instance.
Alex shows a broad understanding of the culinary world and mild interest in it.
Boredom causes Alex to grow rather destructive. It's a point that if he's gone out to make trouble, such as him harassing Astrid at a bar, was because he grew bored.
Alex is intently intuitive of Astrid's needs. This os likely from being raised almost exclusively by his mother.
Alex believes like his brother that everyone should experience life in some form, and thus refuses to kill children, rather instead defending them.
In Alex's own twisted and highly selective way, he will remain loyal to those he deems as allies, and pay back debts or favors that he owes. Because of this, Alex will demand favors back if he feels he's not getting his due.
Personality Characteristics
Alex wants to unite the wendigos to a unified race similar to how the werewolves have. This is practically impossible due to the nature of them to be isolated. The reason for this however may just be because Alex wishes not to be subjugated.
Alex knows and has a strong inkling for the culinary arts.
Alex has graduated from a vocational school where he learned auto mechanics. However his field of work rarely has any spots open to hire, and his rude, standoffish nature makes him last pick.
Alex's hands are dexterous, and he also has heightened reflex timing. This enables him to play rather difficult guitar styles such as flamenco and games with high reflex requirements easily.
Alex despises victimhood, especially in those that would rather remain a victim than learn to protect themselves.
Alex likes sushi.
Alex is a consumer of all forms of music so long it suits him. He leans more towards metal/rock and roll. His favorite bands are Slayer, Stravaganzza, and Pantera.
Alex hates having to wait, and is impatient. His hotheadedness has also lead him to being baited into unsavory situations, rather than wait and observe. His animalistic instincts and speed is usually what saves his ass.
Alex, no matter what, will not harm or devour children.
Alex has a bit of a bleeding heart for cats.
Alex is severely loyal to Astrid to the death.
Alex likes to smoke every now and then when he can afford it. He is also very lewd and perverted. As of 2021, he has given up the habit.
Alex revels in violence, causing issues left and right in search of broken tempers. This means he can be baited into bad situations where he will likely lose tather than find a better opponent. At times it means he can be unbelievably cruel to those he's bested.
Alex is a heavy drinker and will consume alcohol at times as soon as he's woken up.
Alex can flip his tongue and swallow it half down his throat. Oh, so charming.
Alex has am impulse to scratch his neck, under his jaw, his ears, and the back of his head that usually arises when bored.
Due to current events, Alex makes an effort to wash at least once a day, halving the smell of rot if he uses a mild soap. He nearly can cover it completely with strong scented soap. He also has an actual brush for his teeth.
Social
Alex's mother lives in the tribe territory as a member.
Alex is the younger brother of Lee, with his brother only two years his senior.
Alex is more interested in Norse than other religions that his family is tied to.
Alex is confrontational and instigating. He prefers to piss others off, and proposes that they are best leaving him alone, and letting him die. He introduces his behavior by self proclaiming himself an asshole.
Alex is a very vulgar being making all the rude gestures you'd expect. He has no issues in defiling and humiliating corpses and losers.
Pantera, a small black cat pulled out of a dumpster.
Odin, a one eyed orange tabby main coon that had some shit happen to him before Alex caught him.
Block children's ears. He has a similar speech pattern to his brother understandably, with even more swearing.
Shared Secrets
Both know about Jade, her location and her child with Lee. Only a select few do, but Alex is the only one on the wrong side of the tracks that knows.
History
Following the events of the October Rebellion, Astrid was on a vacation from all matters of the pack. She's had minimal pack contact, though continued to operate and organize the pack's businesses. In her words, no one else within the pack would be capable of taking over without compromising drastically on their position. A management change would have the pack taking a financial stumble.
It wasn't exactly a happy spot for her. She attempted to escape to the usual pits of human misery: cheap bars. It wasn't as much for the booze as it was the atmosphere. A place with a depressed attitude, the absence of all joy, and so on. She didn't want the upbeat attitude of another bar. Didn't want the happy or the loud music.
In the process, she encountered Alex Winship. There was no good blood between Alex and the The Philadelphia Pack. He had previously invaded pack territory for food and been chased off. They had been content with him wandering and killing things in far-flung Centralia, but violating pack borders closer to home was a good way to get shot. And they did shoot at him. When it comes to the pack, Astrid had a policy of giving no ground. If you lose an inch, someone will take a mile.
Alex Winship spent his time at the bar digging under Astrid's skin. And then following her between the bars. She began to move towards more dangerous territory, intending to lead him where he couldn't possibly follow: The Lab. This however, didn't quite work out. He kept digging, she snapped, and stabbed him with silver.
Afterwards, Astrid decided to save him. The pack has a cure for silver poisoning, a chelation agent which will bind to the silver and extract it from the body via the kidneys. In Alex's case, the poisoning was extensive and would require an extended recovery period. It gave them time to start dating.
Nicknames & Petnames
Names for Astrid
Relationship Reasoning
There isn't a lot of logic to the relationship other than timing and random chance. Astrid is lonely, particularly with her separation from the pack. There is ample evidence to indicate she had isolation issues prior to her vacation from the other wolves. Having an injured Alex around has given her an outlet for some of the energy no longer going to the wolves and organizing the pack. It's also given her an opportunity for a relationship where she need not worry how someone will react to her lycanthrope nature or necessarily worry about beng hunted for such.
For Alex, she represents a relationship where he wouldn't be the sole person bearing the weight and doing the work. In his prior relationship with Rei, he was the one saving her, chasing her, working to make things better. Astrid is a sharp departure; self motivated, independent, and able to return gestures of affection. The farthest difference being Astrid is turning Alex away from eating humans, whereas Rei was ready to sacrifice Alex's sanity to grow his strength further through cannibalism.
Overall the relationship has benefitted Alex the most between them. The amount of stability has allowed him to slowly begin to work back into a civil lifestyle rather than feral. Alex remains unfriendly and confrontational, but strikes out far less. He shows capabilities in showing compassion to others, and gives in to his guilt rather than enjoy the emotional destruction he may have caused. Humans will remain a struggle for him to be around, but he's doing much better. This is in part of Astrid becoming his anchor not just for his hunger but his aggression as well. Admittedly, Alex feels just as protected by her as he ensures she's protected by him, something lacking from his relationship with Rei. The mutual sense of protection aligns more with Alex's wendigo background and takes off a ton of stress at the same time.
All of this hasn't gone unnoticed by Alex, and has turned him fiercely loyal and protective. If anyone can twist his arm, it's Astrid.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
Both enjoy movie nights. The two also like to go on runs through the woods.
Legal Status
Married
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