Accepted! ~Elle

Character Name: Melanthe Grumman
List your other characters, if applicable: Myrni, Hayden, Grace, Maeve, Blake, Ian
Please provide a link to your Application:  Clickie
Age:  23
Special Ability: Parseltongue

When did your character master this ability? How long have they had it?:
Melanthe first learned about her ability to communicate in this manner since her first year at Durmstrang. In the years that followed, she saw ample opportunity to use the ability in the company of her father and their collection of pet snakes. Thus, Melanthe has been a "master" of the ability for roughly a decade. The possibility that this is a genetically inherited trait is there, as before he died, Orfeo disclosed that there were quite a few Grummans who are also gifted in this area.

How did they learn or hone this ability?:
For as long as she could remember, it was second nature for the Grummans to have snakes around as pets. For the most part, her father was the only one who really cared for them, but as Melanthe grew older, she naturally took on an interest as well. It wasn't until she began school when Melanthe became aware of a special ability to communicate with them. Her first experience with the language was overhearing her father using it. They were both surprised to discover that she actually understood what she had heard. From that time on, she and her father began to regularly use the language in each other's company.

Describe how the Special Ability influences their life.  What do they use it for?:
Primarily, Melanthe has only really used this ability to communicate with her pet snakes, many of which have venom that is considered quite lethal. She has used some of these snakes as a tool in seeking vindication for her father's death. Being able to converse with her serpent pets has been essential in manipulating their actions and overall disposition or mood. So in a sense, this makes her quite literally a snake charmer.

Write a description of what happens when your character is exhibiting this Special Ability:
It is rare for Melanthe to use this ability in public, but it would manifest itself not unlike any other individual blessed (or cursed) with it. It will sound like incoherent hissing, due to the language being high in sibilants and fricatives. For her, it is no different or unusual than if she were speaking in English or even Russian.