Sissel's original application when he was first created for the site, as a Time Travel Investigator

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Accepted by Sarah!

Your Nickname: Will
Have you read and do you agree to the Code of Conduct?: Yes
How did you find us and decide to write with us? Other
If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: Heliotrope LeJean
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary


Full Character Name: Sissel Jowd
Character Birthday & Age: June 2, 1975 (34)
City & Country of Birth: Possum Lake, Ontario, Canada
Blood Purity: Halfblood
Alma Mater: Gryffindor, Hogwarts
Job/Position: Time Travel Investigation & Regulation Bureau, Investigator

Wand: 11 in, Lacewood, Dragon Heartstring

The wand is bendy, becoming rather bent as of late, meaning Sissel has to adjust his aim by a few degrees. This reflects the quirks of his work.

Physical Description: Sissel is around 5'5'', kinda short for a guy. He's built lean and still able to jump or sprint when the call is needed. For his work he has two sets of clothes; more professional looking suits for the desk job and Wizengamot appearances. For field work he keeps it to easily manageable pants, shirts and open jackets. Despite the formal or casual needs for his clothes, Sissel is always seen wearing trainers with bright, colorful stripes, because you never know when you may have to hit the ground running.

He has minimal styled brown hair and a cheeky grin. Some say he looks younger than he should and doubt that he's approaching forty. Given the nature of his work his known age may not be reliable. As mentioned he keeps a spry physicality and adds little flourishes to his walk that it almost looks like he's dancing.

Personality Description: Sissel is friendly, like the cool guy people wanted to be around in school. During his Gryffindor days he traveled with a clique of pals that got into various hijinks. He kept a clean image though and if not in the top of his classes performed rather well. He likes any kind of entertainment and usually has the wireless on his desk tuned to WWN.

However, he's known to flip out whenever someone calls him "Sissy" a rather multi-layered and disliked nickname. He'll get feisty and defensive and if applicable would duke it out with the insulter right then and there. While he'll hold some work ethic and not loose his cool in the middle of a crisis he'll jump on the chance to prove his guts when the time comes available.

Sissel is sociable and doesn't mind talking a great deal. His speech pattern is...eccentric to say the least, often switching verb tense between past, present and future or going off on random tangents with an odd anecdote or extrapolation. It's as if he was talking in a series of in-jokes.

History: Sissel was born to Bailey and Lynne Jowd while the couple was visiting relatives in Canada. His father Bailey worked for the UK Ministry of Magic, Department of Transportation, and his mother Lynne worked in an apothecary. After he was born, the couple heard of the rise in terror caused by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Fearing for their family’s safety, Bailey and Lynne decided to remain in Canada to sever ties from the MoM, even going so far as to live as muggles. For the first several years of his life Sissel grew up in Northern Ontario, frequently spending time with an uncle with an affinity for duck tape and taking apart cars. At the time, Sissel thought his parents were “squares” and found the mechanical hapazards designed by his uncle much more interesting. As such, Sissel has grown up with an appreciation for muggle culture, especially the cars, music, and styles of the early 80s. He also had an American pen pal from Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Upon hearing of the fall of Voldemort, Sissel’s parents finally told him that they were all witches and wizards. His approval of them shot up astronomically with this sudden knowledge. Both of his parents were able to reconnect with their old jobs and moved back to the UK to reintegrate Sissel into magical society. There was some discussion of leaving him in Canada to attend Pinebrook Academy but Hogwarts had the better reputation ad it was better for extended family to not realize that Sissel was a wizard.

Sissel entered Hogwarts in '86 and was sorted into Gryffindor. Within his second and third years he uncovered what power wizards had over time. First, his pen pal from Middlesex, also a wizard, relayed a story of how a rouge púca and a broken time-turner totally screwed up this kid’s life.  Sissel’s dad was called in by the American magical government to help with the problem. He let slip a few other details. After this, Sissel dreamed of having his own time-turner. That wish sorta came true during his third year. Sissel became confident for a geeky friend, Terrence, who had to use a time-turner to attend all the elective classes. He and Sissel used it for various other adventures. However constant time-travel soon began to disagree with Terrence making him very nauseous and he had to give up the time-turner. Sissel was saddened but realized that the time-turner was not his to keep.

Assorted mischief aside he was a good student and got OWLs in his core classes and two of his electives, Divination and Arithmancy (joint time exploits with Terrence helped). He would later graduate in ‘93 with NEWTs essential for his future job: Charms, History of Magic, Transfiguration, DADA, Divination and Arithmancy. After spending a year assisting with his uncle in Canada he traveled abroad for further training, intrigued to see if other Magical societies had time manipulation methods of their own. He picked up Far East trance and meditation techniques, more practical than the "fortune telling" Divination in Europe.

In '94 he returned to the UK and began employment with the Ministry of Magic in the Muggle Worthy Excuse Committee, the only opening he could get through one of his father’s contacts. Knowing of his son’s interests with time, he worked to help Sissel transfer departments after a few years. Sissel jumped at the chance to enter Time Travel Investigation (TTI) training, comparable but not equitable to Aruor training. By '96 he was promoted to TTI and transferred to the Dept. of Mysteries.

Describe your job duties and how you go about them: Sissel's job straddles field and paper work. The top definition of his job is to investigate unlawful uses of time travel. Being a reactionary service, this is actually a role he rarely gets to fill. Since the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, the Unspeakables of the Time Chamber have been working to restore order but broken Time-Turners and other devices have been leaked out to the wizarding populace. Other methods of time manipulation have also been rumored. This has caused many of the cases Sissel has investigated.

During the dry stretches, Sissel may have to take a part or full work day at the office processing permits for time travel use, application by application, whether from citizens or other Ministry members. Time Travel is often used in house as the Ministry prepares for major events, such as setting up the Quidditch World Cup, TWT and similar.

However, Sissel still gets plenty of field work. There is Temporal Tinkering Tracker set up in his office that does exactly what it sounds like. Built similar to a Foe Glass, it will project the image of a picture that will suggest a paradox that will invoke in the next four hours, give or take. The image is often obscure, usually without geographic landmarks and offers a 13 minute window around when the offending problem will take place. Part of Sissel's gear is an egg timer linked to this device that buzzes whenever a paradox is detected, informing him to return to the office. He is authorized for time travel to sort out the problem as indirectly as possible.

Sissel also works between departments and can be called upon for investigation for crimes or disasters that seem strangely "too quick or disjointed." His presence adds an extra dimension to the investigation. As part of his cover story, Sissel is said to work on Level 6, Magical Transportation. In fact the first time somebody hears of TTI they might uncover a arced corridor office with the acronym that looks completely deserted. The Bureau uses this for public interface to keep unauthorized personal out of the Department of Mysteries. He carries two badges: one for the Dept. of Transportation (the fake one) and a specialized one for TTI that he shows to ministry workers with the clearance to know what his actual job is. The Bureau is somewhat clandestine given the secrecy and laws that govern time travel, so it is not advertised in your everyday career fair.

Although the work sounds exciting, you can quote Sissel here: "TTI encompasses long stretches of boredom with short spikes of near panic."

Elaborate on your expertise in your field: Sissel is a skilled apparator, able to cross the breadth of the UK without splinching, with a soft pop. It is important to be able to get to precise locations when dealing with time travel.

It should be noted that Sissel is not a Seer despite his success with Divination. True, working with time travel he often has to deal with the future or prophecies. However, his use of Divination is to scry backwards through time to flesh out the details of a strange occurrence. He his aided with a cup sized portable pensieve to collect the memories of eyewitnesses. With these memories as a starting point he is able to flesh out most of the details on an event within an hour's meditation.

Arithmancy is also a much used tool of his trade. Time travel often occurs along time dates with significant numbers. He can preform quick calculations in his head when determining how long something will take. He has a marvelous internal clock when predicting his motion through time without needing to double check a clock.

Most beneficial to Sissel is his mind's ability to wrap around non linear webs of cause and effect allowing him to quickly make the right decision. This can make him hard to talk to.

Writing Sample: See Heliotrope's if need-be.

Sum up your character in one paragraph: Sissel is a pretty sly guy, working to make sure history is correct for you and everyone else. If you hear his trainers screeching across the ground you'll know time is about to be tricked out.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

There has previously been some confusion on where exactly the Time Travel Investigation and Regulation Bureau is placed. It is part of the Department of Mysteries, ajacent to the Time Chamber. The cover story for all TTI operatives is that they work on Level Six, Department of Magical Transportation. There's also a phony office there for public interface.

End of line.

Character Stat Sheets:
Physical Characteristics
Sociological Characteristics
Family/Friends Information
Magical Characteristics
The Six Stats
Gear, Possessions, Familiars, Protectorates
What Ifs
In and Out of Character Info

Physical Characteristics

[Name:] Sissel Jowd
[Nickname:] If you value having a face without black eyes, DO NOT CALL HIM SISSY!
[Age:] 34
[Height:] 5’5’’
[Weight/Bodyshape:] Healthy and fit.
[Ethnicity:] Mixed European with Canadian concentration.
[X] Male    [ ] Female
[Clothing Style:] Casual when he can with tees, open jackets and the like. Business is a well worn suit with snappy ties. Ever present are white trainers with blue and/or orange stripes.
[Hair Color:] Brown.
[Hairstyle:] Neatly trimmed yet scruffy.
[Eye Color:] Blue
[Eyewear:] Mirrored Sunglasses.
[Complexion:] Lightly tanned.
[Voice:] Chipper.
 [Outstanding Features:] Not so much a physical feature, but all his movements are fluid and dancelike.

Sociological Characteristics

[Emotional Level:] An impervious state of optimistic ethusiasm, although some may find the chipperness tirering.
[Occupation:] Unsepakable/Investigator of sorts for the Time Travel Investigation and Regulation Bureau, Department of Ministries.
[Income:] Satisfactory.
[Transportation:] Skilled Apparator. Also has a Flying Doormat that sits just outside the British Ban on Flying Carpets, thank you for not noticing.
[Interests:] Thrills, music videos, soap operas.
[Quirks/Vices:] Speaks in a roundabout method right over people’s head. An adreneline junkie.
[Special Talents:] He knows what the air smells like if any Disaparation has occurred in the past five minutes. Impeccable internal clock.
[Greatest Strength:] A resivor of optimisim, able to see the silver lining in any hardship.
[Greatest Weakness:] The belief that he can fix anything, usually added more time to the problem. Also he rarely steps down from a challenge, leading to difficult sometimes avoidable failures.
[Favorite Music Style:] 80’s classics like pop and rock, also becoming an electronica fan.
[Band:] Huey Lewis and The News
[Favorite Place to Visit:] France
[Favorite Book:] Thief of Time, that Terry Pratchett and the Monks of Time are hilarious.
[Favorite Number:] 12, the hours on the clock.
[Favorite Food:] Buffalo wings, anything spicy.
[Least Favorite Food:] Fried Green Beans (who came up with that?!)
[Favorite Color:] Red or Orange
[Allergies or Physical Handicaps:]  [ ] Yes [X] No
[Chemical Dependency:]  [ ] Yes  [X] No
[Criminal Past:]  [X] No  [ ] Yes
[Educational Level:] Hogwarts graduate, Gryffindor alumnus; NEWTS in Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Arithmancy and Divination.
[Musically Inclined:]  [ ] No  [X] Yes
[What Instrument:] Gibson ES-345 guitar (it’s red).
[Extra Information:] Rarely seems to spend time at home; when he does he watches soap operas or music videos in his time off.

Family/Friends Information

[Location:] A tiny apartment somewhere unspecified.
[Marital Status:] Swingin’ Single, though if anybody could ever get him to settle down (from work, that is).
[Children:] Maybe someday.
[Family Information:]
 Father – Bailey Jowd, works in the Department of Magical Transportation.
 Mother – Lynn Jowd, worked in an apothecary.
[Pets:] Surprisingly, he’s never had the time for them.
[Any Family Traditions:]  [ ] Yes [X] No
[Faction:] DoM, MoM
[Best Friend:] Cillian Cuthbert (ever since he flipped the young Hall of Prophecies Curator’s work life upside down).
[Nemisis:] The mysterious Time criminal, the Cowled Figure.
[Romance:] Nothing sparking yet, but he and Healer Vivienne Thorpe know how to have a good time (or at least an eventful one).

Magical Characteristics

[WAND:] 11 in, Lacewood, Dragon Heartstring; it’s rather bendy and curves in such a way that Sissel makes adjustments to his aim.
[ERISED:] A family of his own someday.
[AMORENTIA:] Hot sauce, Canadian beer, fresh ink.
[BOGGART:] A Banshee, it’s wails signify the end is near…
[RIDDIKULUS:] A Banshee singing “All I Want is a Couple Days Off” by Huey Lewis and The News
[DEMENTOR:] The one time you would find Sissel depressed, second guessing himself.
[PATRONUS:] A shaggy dog, like a sheep dog.
[FAVORITE SPELL:] Evanesco Differedeo, it sends stuff into the future.
[MOST USED SPELL:] Protego, or some defensive varient (he gets blasted at a lot).
[BEST OFFENSIVE SPELL:] Incarcerous, if you need to incapacitate but still question a suspect.
[BEST DEFENSIVE SPELL:] You can Apparate a few feet out of the way.


The Six Stats
Fans of traditional tabletop RPGs will recognize these characters stats which determine strengths and weaknesses. I do not use actual numerical values but rather use them for characteristic definitions.

[Strength:] Average – Sissel has no herculean muscles but can hold his own in a pinch.
[Dexterity:] Above Average – Sissel runs a lot or dodges with dancelike steps.
[Constitution:] Average – Sissel is healthy and reacts in the typical manner to many ailments.
[Intelligence:] High – Sissel studied multiple subjects to NEWT level and applies them to everyday life.
[Wisdom "Street Smarts":] High – Sissel learned the ins and outs of his work very quickly and maintains a solid thinking of cause and effect no matter how screwy time gets.
[Charisma:] High – Sissel is a chatty fellow, though at times he forgets to let others in on the joke. He dishes plenty of spin and can smooth talk his way out of almost anything.

Gear, Possessions, Familiars, Protectorates
The unique items the character has beyond standard (wand, basic school equipment, etc.) and the creatures or people they can call on for help.

[Flying Doormat:] Sissel rides it like a skateboard. It can’t clear twenty feet but makes for smoother motion over rough terrain.
[Time Turner:] Sissel wears it on an armband filled with other clocks and doodads to keep track of ‘when’ he is.
[Egg Timer:] Connected to the Temporal Tinkering Tracker in the DoM, it goes off whenever a temporal paradox is detected.
[Rememberall:] The smart TTI operative never leaves home without it!


What Ifs

[Where does character see herself in 10 years:] Sissel has seen himself ten years down the line: he grew a mustache.
[Oddest thing that has ever happened to them:] Got stood up on a blind date with a giant plush moose he was supposed to give to the date’s kid sister.
[Personal goal not yet achieved:] Going back to the beginning of time.
[Biggest Regret Mistake:] Finding out he was the one at fault for everything in the “Skirmish of the Quidditch Stadium” due to 15 loops with the Time Turner. After that many iterations, your fixes become the problems you were “once” facing.

In and Out of Character Info

[Avatar:] Michael J Fox

[Polyvore:] Pardon Me A Moment, I Need To Trick Out Time - Details the equipment Sissel carries as a TTI agent, plus his bloody tie from the Crossing the Streams/Bleeding Hearts interlude where he meets Vivienne Thorpe.

The overhaul to make Sissel History of Magic professor. This is the most important one to read now, being his former bio but expanded for his new role.

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Character Name: Sissel Jowd


URL link to the Character's Bio: (You may use BBCode) Bio


Sections of Bio needing Changes:

Physical Description - edits to remove former job.

Personality - to support new History.

History - The largest overall, his backstory before working at TTI will be changed.

Career - TTI operative --> History of Magic Professor *(part time consultant to TTI, though Hogwarts is his new allegiance and priority)

IC and OOC, written as a Career Change.

Job Duties/Experience - Explaining his role as History of Magic Professor

Changes/Additions in cyan

Requested Changes:

Physical Description: Sissel is around 5'5'', kinda short for a guy. He's built lean and still able to jump or sprint when the call is needed. For his work he has two sets of clothes; more professional looking suits for class. When dressed casual he keeps it to easily manageable pants, shirts and open jackets. Despite the formal or casual needs for his clothes, Sissel is always seen wearing trainers with bright, colorful stripes, because you never know when you may have to hit the ground running. Always. Even, to the horror of other staff, during fancy dinners and functions. This attire is also aided from his silk top hat that occasionally changes into his pet rabbit Layton. Under his sleeve he has an armband with several watches and timekeeping devices on it only he can understand. There is a space where he inserts his time-turner, but nowadays only when he is able to use it again. The gap otherwise remains empty.

He has minimal styled brown hair and a cheeky grin. Some say he looks younger than he should and doubt that he's approaching forty. Given the nature of his previous work his known age may not be reliable. As mentioned he keeps a spry physicality and adds little flourishes to his walk that it almost looks like he's dancing.

Personality Description: Sissel is friendly, like the cool guy people wanted to be around in school. During his Gryffindor days he traveled with a clique of pals that got into various hijinks. He kept a clean image though and although not a stellar student from the outset, eventually became a dedicated pupil in his older years. He likes any kind of entertainment and usually has the wireless on his desk tuned to WWN.

However, he's known to flip out whenever someone calls him "Sissy" a rather multi-layered and disliked nickname. He'll get feisty and defensive and if applicable would duke it out with the insulter right then and there. While he'll hold some work ethic and not loose his cool in the middle of a crisis he'll jump on the chance to prove his guts when the time comes available.

Sissel is sociable and doesn't mind talking a great deal. His speech pattern is...eccentric to say the least, often switching verb tense between past, present and future or going off on random tangents with an odd anecdote or extrapolation. It's as if he was talking in a series of in-jokes.

Sissel is much smarter than what he appears to be. At surface value, Sissel seems like your typical Gryffindor hot-headed jock personality. But he is very smart in matters of History, annoyingly so at times when he spouts trivia that he knows few others will get. His intelligence has been hard earned, rather than an innate trait, so in matters outside his expertise he is one of the common minded. Though given his lightning quick wit and ability to think on his feet, Sissel is no dumb opponent. He picks up on new subjects quickly, managing the preliminary research to scrape the proverbial iceberg. This makes him a jack of all intellects, the kind that could ace a trivia quiz but not debate the finer points until he puts the effort into pursuing a topic more in depth.

He has a maniac, youthful energy, the vigor of a child in a grown man's body, though thankfully mature (or at least not a whiny preteen). Even after time travel and reliving hours of his life, Sissel feels and acts years younger. (In actuality, over the years he's added only less than twenty days to his age) In this way Sissel always remembers how to have fun and relax, all while maintaining his perpetual chipperness. His hobbies include rocking out on his guitar, surf based sports, and reminiscing on the days of old while he's young enough to have few of them. He likes spicy food and has a bizarrely specific knowledge of soap operas (from TV marathons generated during his 'downtime' during his TTI days).

But don't let this jokester fool you. If Sissel sees a need that he can fill, he is doggedly persistent to the lengths he would go to help. For Sissel, a grudge is not merely a building block of petty revenge. It is a mission statement where failure is not an option. You'd rather wish you had a terrier on your hind end then when Sissel steps up his game.

History: Sissel was born to Bailey and Lynne Jowd while the couple was visiting relatives in Canada. His father Bailey worked for the UK Ministry of Magic, Department of Transportation, and his mother Lynne worked in an apothecary. After he was born, the couple heard of the rise in terror caused by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Fearing for their family’s safety, Bailey and Lynne decided to remain in Canada to sever ties from the MoM, even going so far as to live as muggles. For the first several years of his life Sissel grew up in Northern Ontario, frequently spending time with an uncle with an affinity for duck tape and taking apart cars. At the time, Sissel thought his parents were “squares” and found the mechanical hazards designed by his uncle much more interesting. As such, Sissel has grown up with an appreciation for muggle culture, especially the cars, music, and styles of the early 80s. He also had several American pen pals, one being Jimmy Hart.

Upon hearing of the fall of Voldemort, Sissel’s parents finally told him that they were all witches and wizards. His approval of them shot up astronomically with this sudden knowledge. Both of his parents were able to reconnect with their old jobs and moved back to the UK to reintegrate Sissel into magical society. There was some discussion of leaving him in Canada to attend Pinebrook Academy but Hogwarts had the better reputation ad it was better for extended family to not realize that Sissel was a wizard.

Sissel entered Hogwarts in '86 and was sorted into Gryffindor. Within his second and third years he uncovered what power wizards had over time. First, his pen pal from Middlesex, also a wizard, relayed a story of how a rouge púca and a broken time-turner totally screwed up this kid’s life (or so the tale went).  Sissel’s dad was called in by the American magical government to help with the problem. He let slip a few other details. After this, Sissel dreamed of having his own time-turner. That wish sorta came true during his third year. Sissel became confident for a geeky friend, Terrence, who had to use a time-turner to attend all the elective classes. He and Sissel used it academically, to free up their 'free time' with concentrated time warped study sessions. However constant time-travel soon began to disagree with Terrence making him very nauseous and he had to give up the time-turner. Sissel was saddened but realized that the time-turner was not his to keep.

Assorted mischief aside he was a good student afterwards and got OWLs in his core classes and two of his electives, Divination and Arithmancy (joint time exploits with Terrence helped). Sissel found that, when he 'made the time' to apply himself fully to the subject that he actually liked History of Magic, where in previous years he shrugged off the subject. Being muggle raised for a portion of is childhood, Sissel was not as jaded with the subject as wizard born children, having a sense to ask more questions when the magical kind would stop. When Terrence stopped using a time-turner, Sissel went from a partying jock to sudden egghead to keep up with the good grades he had accumulated across his classes. He would later graduate in ‘93 with several NEWTs. The most Outstanding was, well, an 'Outstanding' in History of Magic.

After graduation Sissel took to traveling the world, a common tour for post-graduates. This was more important as it would fuel his later work. Visiting all hotspots cultural and magical, Sissel expanded his knowledge of international history in the process. Sissel had a cycle of staying abroad for many months then retiring with family in the UK or Canada in between trips.

One such visit abroad occurred when Voldemort was confirmed back in the wizarding world, after the Dark Lord's appearance at the Ministry of Magic. Sissel of course knew that there were unanswered questions about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but never conceived Voldemort had returned until then. In the mounting terror of Voldemort's second rise Sissel researched more and more into the Dark Lord's old ways, looking for the patterns that could indicate his future actions. Sissel's parents, like they had before, returned to living in Canada. With no family to worry about, Sissel could be slightly selfish and not be present in the front lines of Voldemort's reign of terror. But, he was not a coward, and spent most of the year traveling to meet his foreign contacts, trying to appeal to them to aid the resistance. Sissel was abroad when the Battle of Hogwarts finally climaxed and the magical world became safe once again.

In the years following the war Sissel made something of a name for himself, should anyone have noticed, as a promising mind rejuvenating the old scholarly subject of History of Magic. It took Sissel several different methods to earn a living with this career. He would publish new discoveries or postulates of ancient mysteries in noted wizarding journals, usually under a pen name. For most of his twenties and early thirties he would hire himself out as a private tutor, not having the 'experience of age' to become a full fledged teacher. He still traveled regularly, joining expeditions or cursebreaking (when ol' Terrence was shoved away from his desk job at Gringotts) at several sites of magical history. During these ventures Sissel picked up on Ancient Runes. He hadn't taken the subject in school, finding his passion for History late into his education, but he developed a basic knowledge since then.

Starting in the year 2005, Sissel began to do more work consulting for the Ministry of Magic. Some of this consulting became readily bizarre: researching events that, it would turn out, were only possible in a nonlinear timeframe. Sissel eventually discovered that his expertise was getting called on by the Time Travel Investigation and Regulation Bureau, a sub-office of the Time Chamber in the Department of Mysteries. TTI (acronym) was attracted to Sissel's energetic, unorthodox approach to studying history, finding it refreshing. Sissel, when finding out all about TTI, had his old schoolday love of time travel sparked again. He wanted his own time-turner for the limitless potential for recording modern history. TTI said he could...but he had to earn it by becoming an operative. So Sissel joined the department in October 2008, going through a crash course of being a Time Travel Investigator, the training much like condensed auror training. To the public eye, Sissel was working at the Ministry in the Department of Magical Transportation. This wasn't just a cover story, as after Time Sissel also had interests in Transportation, absorbing facts about how things worked and the associated policies for the UK, this being the office his father worked in. During his carer at TTI, Sissel quickly learned the odd relations of Time and History in both the Time Chamber and the Hall of Prophecies, helping in both areas when 'recording History before it would ever happen.' He would become close with the likes of Cillian Cuthbert, Seer, who became the Hall curator and Francis Pepper, who worked in the Time--Turner workshop.

When it came to fieldwork, Sissel survived through several high stakes escapades, including the work of this annoying time criminal dubbed the Cowled Figure and the robbery of the Magicarium Apothecarium by Nate Briggs, who stole a time sensitive historical artifact. But work for TTI was not all it was cracked up to be. Whenever there wasn't action, there time travel permits to sort, requests ranging from the dangerous to borderline lunatic. The work distracted from Sissel's historical research. He grew worried about living live too much on the edge. Sissel began to appreciate a lesson his buddy Terrence learned long ago, when too much time travel to handle his full school schedule was driving him crazy.

Thus, as the summer of '09 drew to a close, Sissel asked to be relieved of active duty from TTI, so he could return to his work in History while remaining a consultant with TTI. And Sissel got to keep his time-turner!...only with several stipulations and rules and his own time travel permits to fill out, as being a consultant he no longer had a (mostly) free pass for its use. Looking to the future, Sissel noticed the History of Magic teaching position was open. With all of his newfound experiences he felt confident he would get the job. Although untangling from the intrigue of TTI would bleed into the first month of school. It took Sissel a couple weeks to wrap up active TTI duties, so he was surprised going into the middle of September that the teaching position was still open. He was quick to send in his application.

Job Description: Describe the duties of their position and how they go about them

Sissel, as History of Magic Professor, is at Hogwarts to teach history. He realizes that it is a hard subject to keep children interested in. Heck, he learned the subject under the ghostly droner Professor Binns, and only time-turner escapes that sparked his interest in the subject gave him the motivation to put in honest effort in the class after he could no longer 'cram 3 hours of study into 1.' Even for his days tutoring, you can't force the subject onto rich folks' snotty little brats frustrating pupils.

So Sissel wants to get students actively participating in class, with plans for high energy demonstrations, reenactments and similar activities with minimal lecture. In attempts to appear cool and hip he'll gather his students' interests and show them the history behind their favorite bits of magic to make them realize how significant events can leave consequences that impact the rest of the world, showing that History is broad and can apply to any field of study.

To this end he'll get his students ready for their standardized exams but will be flexible with the subjects of study based on the interests of each class to get them motivated. This broader, modern study of History of Magic will also delve into culture, law, and parallel muggle history to give students a broader picture of the world. For example, one unit could be how Grindelwald's rise to power influenced World War II, and vice versa. Muggleborns have a lot to learn, while the magical kids have a lot to relearn.

But beyond just learning history, the students also have to learn how to learn history, so as an undercurrent in all these lessons Sissel is working to improve their researching skills, the likes of finding credible sources and where to distinguish that myth from fact. Sissel isn't discouraging of the dreamers that begin their essays with tag-lines ripped from The Quibbler (he admittedly reads the magazine himself) but to earn the grade the students will have to legitimately prove why their theories should be believed. He encourages students to find their own interests in the parameters of assignments. He'll bump up their everyday grade if they showed the effort, if not the best material. Though no, bribery will get you nowhere (expect a laugh to the face).

Whenever the 'Standard Method' isn't working for a student or they struggle in some other way, Sissel has no qualms improvising to make sure the student has the best chances to pass. He frees up time for students with his office hours they need only ring the doorbell (yes, he installed a magical doorbell--like his former TTI issue egg timer, it alerts him, wherever he may be, that someone is looking for him at his office).

Above all, Sissel wants to prepare students for their exams, yes, but also to make them realize how prevalent History is to their everyday world.

What expertise makes your character qualified for their position?:

Sissel's contributions to the magical community in the subject of History have helped to 'dust off' the old facts. He cut his teeth through travel, publishing and tutoring, so he is no stranger to teaching the subject to children. He also, before work with TTI, assisted the Ministry committee in recording the most modern of former current events, Voldemort's second rise to power, finally squashing the rumors and building up the facts.

TTI, while not exactly a skill set that transfers well to the academic sector, nevertheless bettered Sissel's instincts to think on the fly, along with his sense of timeliness. He knows how to work quickly both with and without a time-turner, having an internal clock and twisted sense of logical that can adapt to whatever chaos and class schedules Hogwarts would throw at him without batting an eye. Being quick with the wand is outside his subject entirely but he would never mind helping out Dueling Club, a sport, or some other active seminar.

Most of what makes Sissel unique in the field is his progressive and alternative methods to recording and researching history. He uses divination practices, arithmetic profiling and memory analysis to find the patterns and significance of dates (and even observation via time travel when he can get away with it). Also, he doesn't just 'limit' History to an antiquated subject. In the full scale it is the Past, the previous life on the planet that covers everything. EVERYTHING! So History, to Sissel, is not something to overlook.



Why do you wish to change these areas?:

While playing Sissel as a Time Travel Investigator was fun when he was first accepted, it is very hard to write material for this career given the kind of complex plots required that flounder with little interest or no other characters in the department.

Instead of retiring Sissel, I seek to give him a new role, one I've contemplated for a while to give him consistent activity. To do so I put forth that he becomes History of Magic Professor, updating parts of his bio to show his credibility to fill the role.

As I use the guise of this being a career change, this creates minimal disruptions of Sissel's previous site history and the characters that have interacted with him in the past, and further strengthens his new future. In such, I am leaving a small connection to his former work, as a 'part-time consultant' that would rarely appear alongside his new role. This is for IC purposes, keeping his experience and some of his equipment.

The only plot related to his TTI days that will be left open is the Muhra Glass plot (mentioned below). Barring the thread set in Azkaban, Sissel's involvement will be a peripheral role in comparison to his duties as a Hogwarts Professor. It is my full intention to have Sissel's primary obligation be to Hogwarts. The side of being a TTI consultant keeps an opening for the future; the potential of time travel related plots separated from his school duties but it does not suggest any such plots in the immediate future.


What other RP characters may this affect?: (You may use BBCode)

Very few have interacted with Sissel in his actual career. Most of the public know him as a ministry worker, and the new IC reasoning will be that he was a rising historian with promise that worked for the Ministry the past several months before teaching at Hogwarts. This is the reasoning for most of his previous interactions.

Sissel as a TTI operative interacted with the following Unspeakables that knew the full details of his job, active, inactive, or author missing: Francis Pepper, Cillian Cuthbert, Dorian MacCullen, Veronique Rossignol, Jacqueline Lumpkin. Out of these Francis and Cillian are ones Sissel has the strongest connections with: Sissel is friendly with the Peppers, knows the family, and as he has kept his Time Turner with Francis, who has become his primary contact when looking to use it again; he would probably pester Cillian for teaching advice and remain in friendly contact, though ears keen if the Seer has any new visions (especially if they're Hogwarts related).

Sissel met Vivienne Thorpe after being injured on the job, but used his cover story. They flirted but have not been romantically minded, though distant friends. She will find that there's more to this funny guy from the Ministry than she thought (i.e. being an infamous historian and taking the teaching job at Hogwarts).

Sissel was also involved with Nate Briggs and his robbery of the Magicarium. Sissel is still interested in this loose end from his old job, not only from his former obligations but because how rare, historically, muhra glass artifacts are. This thread where Sissel sees Nate at prison (Let Me Azk You Something) will, going forward, be a vehicle to reflect Sissel's changing career, as it is dated during the school year. IC: Sissel only got the authorization to meet Briggs just after he stepped down from TTI, but being involved in the incident he still has to go to Azkaban. This was done 'after' a day's teaching by using his Time Turner. The thread will be edited to reflect this.

From above, the Hitwizard Apollo Ackerzonne knew Sissel was an Unspeakable, but like so many will learn that he has changed careers.

Sissel met Torquil Foley and Hogwarts student Raine Almasy by chance abroad. (Forbidden Secrets We Shall Know) They (will) know of him as a Ministry worker at that time and nothing more.

Griffon Manley told Raizel Cohen of Sissel's former job when he was still TTI employed in the summer. They, like many, will learn that he moved on to Hogwarts. (I am exhausted…) Unless the Goblin Unrest plots become active again, it is unlikely Sissel will be involved as related to his former role (when TTI was under budget scrutiny).

Member Name: Will/evilpizza

Major Role: Head of Gryffindor

Have you read and do you understand the requirements for this major role?: Yes

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Character Name: Sissel Jowd
Please describe how your character's past and professional experience make them a good candidate for the role:

As a former 'wild and crazy' Gryffindor himself for a few of his school years, Sissel is aware of what kinds can be in the house and how to temper them. In some ways his story of academic turn around could be a role model for more off the rail Gryffindors. He's also close to Muggleborns/those mostly muggle raised, given that he lived most of his childhood around the non-magical relatives when his parents hid abroad during the first Wizarding War.

As a History of Magic professor Sissel has been very keen on getting all early year students cemented in their Hogwarts History and frequently has very elaborate classes to liven up the boring subject. House-elf 'Goblin' rebellion reenactments, Merfolk colony meetings and classroom sized pensieve 'trips' included.

Sissel is also keen to protect and help any students in need, not just Gryffindors, especially after his part of being duped during Lucy Matthew's abduction and disappearance; also his efforts in finding the students trapped in the infamous boggart infested 'Terror Dungeons' around October.

Don't let the joking, energetic child at heart demeanor fool you, though, because when push comes to shove Sissel knows how to step up his game for any challenge, making him more intelligent and observant than he appears. His consulting and fieldwork with the Time Travel Investigation and Regulation Bureau leaves him quick witted, a street-wise duelist, paperwork fiend and superior-time managing aficionado. He also has detailed knowledge of the castle, both from HoM expertise and his own exploration of secret passages from his school days.

How did/will your character come into the position, in-character:

Likely it would be appointed by the Headmistress.

Special Title Request

Character Name: Sissel Jowd
Title Applying For: Head of Gryffindor
Character Biography: http://absitomen.com/index.php?topic=7795.0

What Experience has Prepared You For This Honor?:
As a former 'wild and crazy' Gryffindor himself for a few of his school years, Sissel is aware of what kinds can be in the house and how to temper them. In some ways his story of academic turn around could be a role model for more off the rail Gryffindors. He's also close to Muggleborns/those mostly muggle raised, given that he lived most of his childhood around the non-magical relatives when his parents hid abroad during the first Wizarding War.

As a History of Magic professor Sissel has been very keen on getting all early year students cemented in their Hogwarts History and frequently has very elaborate classes to liven up the boring subject. House-elf 'Goblin' rebellion reenactments, Merfolk colony meetings and classroom sized pensieve 'trips' included.

Sissel is also keen to protect and help any students in need, not just Gryffindors, especially after his part of being duped during Lucy Matthew's abduction and disappearance; also his efforts in finding the students trapped in the infamous boggart infested 'Terror Dungeons' around October.

Don't let the joking, energetic child at heart demeanor fool you, though, because when push comes to shove Sissel knows how to step up his game for any challenge, making him more intelligent and observant than he appears. His consulting and fieldwork with the Time Travel Investigation and Regulation Bureau leaves him quick witted, a street-wise duelist, paperwork fiend and superior-time managing aficionado. He also has detailed knowledge of the castle, both from HoM expertise and his own exploration of secret passages from his school days.

What Do You Think the Most Important Aspect of This Job Is:?
Being a Head of House is not just about managing a dorm or having qualities relating to its original founder; it's about helping students with whatever the situation requires. Be it care or discipline or an encouraging ear.

Thus a good Head of House is not only fulfilling duties such as determining punishments or student roles from their house but also being a role model in each task. Sure, back in his school days Sissel didn't appear to have leadership potential as it was his friends who were house prefects or quidditch captains. And some of his lessons or habits might get a little silly.

But to take on this role is to showcase the Gryffindor value of taking responsibility, being there in a pinch and staying dedicated to a cause. Since coming to Hogwarts Sissel has become dedicated towards the students. Largely in education matters but with other advice to be had as well should anyone need it.

Tell a Story From Your Past That Has Proven Your Mettle: 
November Staff Meeting