~Rise From The Ashes - Arc I ~ : Staff and Lead VAs (CLOSED)
Grim13 for Ash
Summary: Ash is the protagonist of the story, a sweet, gentle and slightly reserved fourteen year old boy with powers he has been told to keep hidden for his own safety. He is a very caring boy, if a little naive and overly trusting at times, especially in the beginning events. He loves his foster family (especially his younger siblings) and enjoys playing the viola, photography and nature-watching and being with is friends. He tries to keep positive and live by the morals his mom taught him, so he's a good kid, even if he does suffer from brain fog and random memory lapses now and again. Later in Arc II, he becomes stronger and more confident, growing in confidence and struggling with the difficulties of balancing growing up, exams and relationships with being a sidekick training to be a hero. His powers include the production of a green gaseous substance called 'essence' which he can manipulate with his mind (including for offensive and defensive purposes). It also gives him an enhanced healing rate himself and later can be utilised to help heal others. As a sidekick, he is better known as his chosen alias, Lightbug.
Note - Ash's character may deal with some rather sensitive topics, including abuse and psychiatric illness. If this is something that discomforts you, then you may prefer to try another role. If you want more details about his topic then please feel free to message me!
Appearance: Arc I (Protagonist) and Arc II (Leading role throughout)
UPDATE: Due to the issue of Ash's age and the topic of puberty, it may be likely that we will cast two Voice Actors for Ash: One for Arc I and another for Arc II (where he will have a bit of a deeper voice, having transitioned more from his higher younger sounding voice). If you get cast, more details will be provided of course :)
Personality: Gentle, Reserved, Kind, Caring, Unconfident, Meek, Childish, Naive, Considerate, Helpful, Sweet, Warm, Apprehensive and a little cowardly initially.
Throughout the course of the story, Ash will develop and grow as a character and through Arc II, he becomes much more confident, brave and mature. That being said, the player's choices in Arc I can influence how Ash's personality develops and the ending they receive, with the potential to become rather vengeful and jaded...
Voice: Boyish and innocent, pitch medium - mid high range, warm and light when happy or contented, but also be able to carry a slight stammer and anxiety to it when he is nervous or afraid. Some of his lines will require screaming and near hysterical states. Therefore a good voice range is best if you don't mind doing this.
Although Ash is Male, his voice is on the higher side and I don't want to block access to playing him, so any gender is free to audition!
(Narrating calmly, with a slight air of mystery, a slight pause between each question mark) Have you ever wondered...what's it like to be different? To be the odd one out? To be the outsider amongst a normal society? To have to live with the expectation to blend in, to not be free to be yourself? ...Yeah. (slight awkward laugh) I know that feeling pretty well.
(A little shakily, frightened but trying to calm down) B-Breathe in...breathe out...b-breath in...breathe out. Nnn...n-not now prickles. Go away! I-I have to focus! Nnn...in...out...just like Mom said. Mind over the Matter. M-Mind over the matter...
(Confused and curious) This corridor seems to go on forever. Those doors back there...I wonder what could be behind them? Hmm...should I...go and see? I'll...need a key though, won't I? ...Oh? This thing in my pocket...it's the...the key? But...how? I don't remember picking that up...nnn, maybe it's all those yucky medications making my brain mushy.
(Touched and warm) Thank you, Dr Slade. Really, for everything. I...really believe we can get out of here. Together, the two of us can escape this place. We just need to...be careful. (A little shakily and with a swallow) He...h-he'll punish us really badly if he catches us, but...it's our best chance of freedom. I have to prove that it isn't true. I have to prove that there *is* an escape - and we'll find it, together!
(Terrified, close to a breakdown, panting) N-no...n-no stop...s-stop it...! Stop it! N-Not real, not real! I-I...! I-I...n-no...nononononono! N-Not real, not real not real not real not real not real! (Panting, close to tears) C-Can't...I-I can't...c-can't...(scream) AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
(Quietly, teeth gritted, half hissing and a little dark) You're...begging *me*? ...You never listened to me when I begged you. Over and over. Y-You just told me...told us...that this was for the 'Greater Good'. ...Heh...maybe it was. So...why should I listen to you now? After everything you did to me? Everything you'll do to countless other innocent supers? No...There is one thing we have in common, Voss. I don't like to take my chances...
*BONUS LINE: (Muffled, best spoken with something covering the mouth) "Lmm mmm gmmm! Plfff! Nmm mmm!"
Also, I apologize it there's a slight bit of a static sound in the background. I just realized I forgot to do the noise reduction before saving the clip
Ahhhh wow Grimmy, that was way quicker than I was expecting, thank you so so much! :D haha no need to worry about the static, it can easily be cancelled out so no issue there. I really appreciate how on board you took the feedback you were given, it really shows! Regarding the scream, don't worry I totally get you there but that first take was definitely an improvement for the scream, I loved it! :D also the line where he's speaking to Slade is definitely warmer and brighter sounding, which sounds perfect! Looking back at your other audition, I think a combination of the two pitches at different points works to avoid sounding too high, but with both your auditions combined, I thoroughly enjoyed the end results and there is one stellar performance there. Thank you so much for your retake and have a great week! :D