Temper Character Bio

From the Desk of Dr. Ramawaron

Order Institute of Therapeutic Services and Support

Session: 1

Patient: Temper

Notes:

When Gemma and Lodevic, a dwarf couple, came to me to set an appointment for an anger management session for their ten-year-old son, I was expecting to counsel an angry young dwarf--not the adult minotaur, Temper, who walked into my office today.

I'll admit to being a bit flustered, but I asked him to sit and define for me his reasons for being there. He seemed anxious but genuinely interested in getting help with his anger issues.

He told me that ever since his parents found him in a burnt-out field ten years ago, he's had a bit of a, well, temper. However, even from an early age, he had been able to focus his rage into his talent for blacksmithing. He excelled at it, so much so that the dwarves began calling him, "The Rage of the Forge." He was proud of the moniker and proud of the service he was performing for the dwarves.

Unfortunately, recent events have put Temper's time with the dwarves in jeopardy. In his own words, "He picked the wrong time to go and have a dust up." The crown prince of Arctos, Tundra, came to Dusty River to meet with the dwarves. In an act of goodwill towards their allies, the Territories Humaine, Tundra was traveling to areas where Unchained attacks were frequent pledging their help and support. At a benefit dinner in Tundra's honor, one of his speeches about the terrors of the Unchained went a little long, and Temper began to feel, as he put it, "Hangry."

With the discussion of the threat of the Unchained, his hunger, and, finally, a small child good-naturedly starting to make faces at him, Temper said he, "Kinda became like the bull in a china shop everyone talks about."

Temper recalls stomping much of the dwarves' fine china in his table-flipping, stampeding tantrum. Tundra himself had to come over and cool him down. After a few hours "on ice," Temper was told that he would be banished from the dwarven mines of Dusty River if he could not contain his anger.

The seriousness of the consequences of not being able to help the poor man made me want to help him even more. I began discussing his treatment immediately, showing him how to do breathing exercises to calm himself. We spent the remainder of the session practicing these exercises, and at the end, Temper said he already felt better. I have scheduled another session for him in two weeks.

For next session, I must remember to switch couches with Dr. Wiffenbottem. Her couch is a garish floral, but I don't think making Temper sit on my leather couch would be… sensitive to him, even though he didn't seem to notice.

I will also ask him more about his childhood and about the Unchained. This may be a point of agitation for him.

From the Desk of Dr. Ramawaron

Order Institute of Therapeutic Services and Support

Session: 2

Patient: Temper

Notes:

I have met once more with Temper, the minotaur raised by dwarves who has anger management issues.

I started by asking him how his breathing exercises were going, and he sheepishly told me that he had thrown a hammer at someone. He bawled as we discussed it, moo-crying in a most distressing way. I decided to let him cry it out. I gave him a box of tissues… and another… and another… and another… He finally used all of my stock before he stopped.

Once he had himself under control, I asked him what had made him angry this time. He told me he wasn't sure. "I'm usually purty happy hammerin' out shields, swords, armor, trap parts, and whatever else a dwarf needs, but I guess it's the fixin' that's gettin' to me," he said. When I asked him to explain, he said he was tired of having to fix what the Unchained had done to his friends' armor "And see what they've done to my friends!"

As he told me this, the room started to grow hotter and his horns began to glow with heat. I had to think of something quickly to calm him down. Making it up as I went along, I began to dance--badly. It seemed to confuse him and take his mind off his anger, so I continued. He began to dance with me. He was surprisingly limber for someone so beefy and who had hooves for feet.

I explained to him the concept of "dancing it out" and finding his "happy place." For him, of course, it was his dwarven home and his forge. He called me the "Best goldern doctor" he'd ever had. I told him my analysis of the situation: that the conflict with the Unchained may be the root of his problem. I posited that perhaps he feels ineffectual because he is not actively fighting against the Unchained.

He seemed to take the analysis well, and told me he'd "Think about it a piece" and see me next time.

I do hope Dr. Wiffenbottem does not want her couch back. There is now a perfect burnt outline of a bull's derriere and tail on it. Perhaps I'll take this as an opportunity to get it recovered for her. It is [i]such[/i] a horrible print.

From the Desk of Dr. Ramawaron

Order Institute of Therapeutic Services and Support

Session: 3

Patient: Temper

Notes:

Today's session was a sad one, but I am glad that Temper has seemingly found some closure. Although reluctant to hurt "Even a lil' ol' fly," Temper realized he could no longer live amongst the dwarves due to his "Ravin' and ragin.'" He has decided to set out on his own and fight against "those varmints" the Unchained. I told him that perhaps that was for the best, but that he should still strive to contain his anger, so that he could return periodically to the dwarves. He agreed, and I spent the rest of the session teaching him meditation techniques.

At the end of the session, I scheduled a few more appointments for him far in the future. I wished him the best, and I sincerely hope that he finds peace and purpose in his fight against the Unchained.