Description

Zechariah the Disciple

“The virus is an act of God, but it is more than that: it is a test upon mankind and how it interacts with itself. Ultimately, by continuing to live in sin, which anger and hate are sin, we throw ourselves into the eternal fires upon death.”
Full Name
Joshua Ossi Abbot
Nickname/New Name
Zechariah, Disciple
Age: 17
Male/Female: Male
Ethnicity/Race: White/Choctaw
Orientation: Heterosexual

"I am an Echelon, seeking to bring my people back to the path God set for us."

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“Do not even Pagans greet only their brothers and sisters? Jesus will tell you, 'Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'”
Role Medic, Piper’s Advisor, and Head Priest (one of two; highest rank in the Echelon clergy)
Tribal Mark Placement
"My Cross is emplaced upon my chest, a constant reminder that I must always keep God's word within my heart."
Years With Tribe:
"I have been with the Echelon ever since they formed."
Rival Tribe:
The Mystics "It is more of a friendly rivalry than anything. I may not like their teachings, though I do appreciate their expertise in the medical field. There is that, and I try not to hate."
Power and Chaos "Their general sinful joy in war and violence will send them to the eternal fires upon death, there is no doubt in my mind about that. Then again, one must always remember to love the person, yet hate the sin."
Allied Tribe:
The Mystics "Weird, isn't it, that my rivals are also my friends? It all depends on how I am received as I speak to them. Besides, a good preacher must always try to keep an open mind and understand others."
The Inner City "Like with Power and Chaos, I do not support the Inner City's sinful violence, yet I do appreciate their passion for standing up for what they believe to be right. I merely need to remind myself of this quote whenever I am around them: 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God.'"
The Dryads "Without them, we would all starve."
The Cybers "What little is left of the Internet, I often use for research."

Zechariah the Disciple

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“Knowing the Word is one thing; to live it is something else entirely.”
Personality
Zechariah is extremely committed to his work as Head Priest, quoting from the Bible every sermon he gives on Saturdays. You will rarely see him without his Bible in hand. It is his sword and shield in the battlefield of rhetoric, in regards to tackling the problems within his tribe. He will not hesitate to point out the corruption within Echelon that is spiritually plaguing its people. This often places him at odds with fellow Echelon who favor feuding with the Mystics, since he fervently believes the true blasphemy being performed is in the form of wrath and people’s hatred of each other. This same conviction which gives him purpose in life is also a weakness of his, as he will sometimes get so hyped up, he forgets his own standards of respect.
Likes the Bible, nature, civility, music
Dislikes sin, committing sin, politics, war, violence, people hating each other (considers it a sin), feuds, the “R”-word (he has ADHD, mild autism, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder)
Habits
He has a tendency to fidget with his fingers, pace around, or even move his right knee up and down due to hyperactivity. He can also get too hyped up about his opinions, sometimes.
Skills
Charismatic, Skilled Farmer, Above-Average Medic, Capable Fisherman, Talented Singer & Guitarist, Unarmed Specialist
History:
“I have always been into research and scripture. I learned from a young age the Ten Commandments, the story of Jesus, and other important part of Scripture which have made me the man I am today. My peers would often tease me for being a ‘stick in the mud’, though in my opinion, it is much better than having an illegitimate child. My older brother was severely autistic, which did wonders for my attitude toward life. I would often sing at church and learn how to play guitar with my friends.

And then, the virus struck. I knew God decided it was time for my parents and brother to go, yet for a while, I felt as Job did, having lost all I held dear. I still miss them, but I have moved on. Because of my belief in God and expertise in speeches, I was placed in Echelon and made the apprentice of one of the two previous Head Priests. He taught me everything he knew about being a spiritual leader before he died at age 25, two years later.

Since then, I, as one of the two current Head Priests of my tribe’s church, have been giving sermons every Saturday, Bible in hand, speaking out against the evils of human wrath whenever necessary. Each time, more of a gathering took place. People are gradually seeing how unjust their hate of other people has been, for it is written in the Book of Matthew to show kindness and compassion wherever you go, loving the person, yet hating the sin. Eventually, some Pharisee amongst the blasphemers who advocate feuds will try to end me, something I feel that, if it happens, shall serve to contribute to the undoing of the corruption, for a martyr can bring about a massive call against a heretic, maybe even more so than a live advocate. God willing, whatever will be, will be.”
Theme Song: Door of Flames (Gundam SEED Destiny Song; I recommend these versions (before you watch Gundam SEED Destiny, you have to watch Gundam SEED to understand the whole story): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p8pn3EF-RU, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWNnpQziwmQ )

So begins...

Zechariah the Disciple's Story

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Setting

The Raging Forest

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Character Portrait: Artemis The Huntress

Character Portrait: Zechariah the Disciple

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#2013-04-16 02:38:19, as written by ZacharyTC

It was Saturday, with another sermon prepared and told to the Echelon masses. This time, he made a reference to 1 Corinthians 13, the Passage of Love, wording it exactly as written in his Bible:

"And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a canging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I can have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it I not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put my childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. NOw I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

He gave an entire sermon on that passage, afterwards. It was one which took a boldness in tackling the spiritual problems within Echelon. He even went so far as to condemn the current political climate between the tribes, calling the act of hatred towards fellow people the most blasphemous of all crimes against God. The entire assembly within church walls was moved by his words, as it always is. It would not be long before the same boldness Zechariah the Disciple displayed in his sermons spread across the rest of Echelon territory, at this rate. Each Saturday, the crowd becomes bolder in defying the norm of hatred towards one another, resorting instead to respect and compassion, even beyond the tribe's territory.

The sermon ended with music, Zechariah being one of the male singers and guitarists, giving praise to the Lord. Once it was all finished, the Disciple bid everyone a great week and stayed behind to clean up the chapel, as out of habit. He and the other Head Priest made friendly chatter as they worked to tidy things up.

"Zechariah the Disciple, you continue to impress me. I may not agree with all of your sermons, though I admire your passion in giving them to the crowd."

"When you know what you believe to be true, you will defend it to your grave."

The church was clean within a half hour, and he was off to walk beyond Echelon borders, which did not take long, since the church he gave all his sermons at was close to the Dryads. Zechariah soon came across a pair of children playing with wooden swords and hatchets, whom he greeted with a wave, the children doing so in response. It was rather convenient that the Disciple's cross was on his chest, since it meant that it was always hidden so people focus on him instead of where he comes from. Eventually, his walk led him to where young Dryads practiced archery and whatnot.

There, he caught a glimpse of the current piper of the Dryads, Artemis the Huntress. There was something about her that made him grin from ear to ear, his heart accelerate. Perhaps it was her beauty in the all-natural clothing, or perhaps it was her attitude and strong personality. Whatever the reason, he felt as though he was meant to spend the rest of his life with her. Alas, he knew the odds of it. The other suitors already failed to win her heart, yet somehow, he thought he would succeed where they failed.

Walking up to Artemis until he was about ten feet away from her, he tipped his hat and said, "Good morning, Miss Artemis! How are you, this fine morning?"

Setting

The Raging Forest

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#2013-04-16 03:08:43, as written by MaliceInWonderland

Artemis looked over as War spoke. She smiled breifly. “ Ohaiyou.” She said quickly. It was a habit, Artemis has picked up a long time ago. Her parents would sometimes go days speaking just Japanese so that she and her sister could speak it fluently. She even had a slight twang when she spoke English, even though was born in America.

She then noticed Zechariah approaching. People came to the Dryads for food and medicinal herbs, or clothes from time to time. They weren't allowed in to the Treehouses but they were allowed on the grounds. It would seem like a bad idea with Power and Chaos running around, rounding up Lost Ones. Children who somehow managed to not have a Tribe, but since the Dryads were just as skilled fighters are PaC, they were safe.

She gave him a respectable bow. “Ohaiyou, Zechariah. What brings you here?”She asked though she had a pretty good idea already. He probably thought himself attracted to her though she really hadn't the time. She had to make sure that all of her people were fed, skilled and comfortable. Love wasn't really in the cards right now. Where she younger, then perhaps

Setting

The Raging Forest

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#2013-04-16 03:49:41, as written by ZacharyTC

Zechariah figured Artemis would ask why he was here. Being leader of a tribe was troublesome and stressful. Being a leader, period, always took much to handle. Being Head Priest back at Echelon, he knew the stress all too well. As such, he thought it best the conversation not be long, since he realized there was much she had to attend to. "I was just passing by, after having given a sermon, back home."

Walking over to one of the stalls, he purchased some bait for his rod and went back to Echelon territory. Not only did the church have a yard which bordered Dryad territory, but it was also near a river that had plenty of salmon. Applying some of the bait, he let loose the line and hook and perched himself on one of the rocks along the bank of the river. This was one of few times he could relax before his duties as Head Priest began to take up most of the rest of the day. He had to keep the clergy below his rank organized, after all, with next week's sermons, the charity work to be done within and beyond Echelon borders, education for children, and more. Fishing here was one of few moments where he could even pray to god without an interruption.

There was that, and Adam the Follower, the Co-Piper of Echelon, was not the kind of person which he could be comfortable around. In fact, the very character of that man deeply sickened the Disciple. The "Follower" was an utter disgrace, in his book, always preaching a hateful Gospel different from the truth written in the Bible. Why was that heretic even given a leadership post, to begin with?

Setting

The Raging Forest

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#2013-04-21 15:12:09, as written by ZacharyTC

Zechariah shrugged. "I purchased some bait for fishing." Crossing his arms, he added, "You know, you can attract more flies with honey than vinegar, yet you still use vinegar. That is why I do what I do. I strive to show God's image through charitable actions, giving credit for the ability to do so to God. A man will better approach a believer when he knows he or she has no ill will towards them. Then, when the times comes that they are curious about what we believe, we answer their questions to the best of our ability. That is how we convert people, not through words alone. Talk is for naught when what is done does not reflect what is told."

The Disciple shook his head while looking sideways. "Pardon my rudeness. I just know how you truly react to what I do."

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