~Gonzo
Hello. Many of you who are new to "The Pack" may not know me yet, but I know at least some of you do, and certainly those who have been around for a while do, as I've been here since the very beginning, (though not so much over the past year). I've been a member of this community since before the "Introductions" thread was created, and thus I never made my own. ...why am I doing it right now?... I don't know.
My Online alias is "VULDARI", (the one and only Vuldari on the internet ...take THAT everyone who has to add a number to the end of their name), but my real name is Joseph.
I was born and Raised in Minnesota (USA) and am of mixed European heritage. I am currently 27 years old.
I originally came to be a part of this community after following a link posted on the old "YERF" art forums (RIP, Yerf), way back when this was called the "Creating the Ultimate Werewolf" website, "Freeborn" was still called "Devoured", and THE PACK did not yet fully exist.
I identify my religious affiliation as Agnostic, (though I come from a deeply religious Christian Family), and am simultaneously a brutally ungiving skeptic of all things supernatural (Ghosts, Werewolves, Visiting E.T.s and Angels alike) but also an avid daydreamer and huge Fantasy/Sci-Fi fan.
My interest in Werewolves (and thus this Community), stems from several sources.
1. - I love Animals (Both real and Fantasy/Anthropomorphic)
2. - Shapeshifting is my favorite fantasy ... especially if it is into a form that is very cool.
3. - I am deeply intrigued and very fond of the Literal/Metaphorical struggle between Civil and Feral mindsets, and/or Human and Wolf that developed out of the centuries of Legends/Myths/Stories about Werewolves (and similar entities), and the fearsomeness of the Monster that is a Beast hidden within the Flesh and Mind of a seemingly ordinary Human Being. ... one which can spring forth in literal form, (at or against the persons will), at almost any time.
... many here feel that this scenario and creature is a tired and played out tale, and is a Cliche that they would rather leave behind and forget ... but I am not one of them.
As many have, spending so much time creating and conversing with subjects of fantastical variety has created and inspired a need and desire to have a fantasy interpretation of myself, and for me, that is VULDARI.
Vuldari is actually many things to me. I originally created that name to identify the beastly transformed alter ego of my Roleplaying/Fantasy character "Alexander Jacob Rahl" ("Ander"), who was literally a mirror image of myself with different colored hair and eyes, tanner skin and an inch shorter. "Vuldari" (originally "Fobidra" and then "Vuldra/Vuldar") is/was quite literally a Fox-Dragon (Dragon shaped, with Fur, Feathered Wings and a Fox-like face), which I considered at the time to be the Ultimate alter-form. However, it was also a psychological bookmark of sorts for me, showing the transition in my mind from my childhood obsession with Dragons, to my Current affiliation with Foxes.
Today, though I still remember the name is a derivative of "Vulpine-Dragon", Vuldari is essentially Exclusively a FOX now, untethered from Ander Rahl, as his own Foxy identity. I depict Vuldari most often as an Anthropomorphic Fox with a very large, bushy tail, though sometimes I depict him as a quadraped as well. (Still with a larger-than-normal poofy tail). =^.-= ~
In spite of appearances, and my frequent affiliations with the sub-culture(s), I do not consider or identify myself as a "Furry", nor a "Therian/Were/Otherkin/etc".
Rather ... I have recently amused myself with the idea that I am actually an "Aspiring Reverse Kitsune".
[According to Asian/Oriental Mythology, a "Kitsune" is an ordinary Fox which has lived so long and become so clever that it has actually gained supernatural abilities, up to and including the ability to shapeshift into Human form ... which according to the ideologies of the area, is the pinnacle of mortal existence.
A REVERSE Kitsune, as I see it, would be similar, but flipped upside down. A HUMAN who lives long enough and becomes wise, clever, skilled and strong enough to gain supernatural abilities themself, peaking at gaining the capacity of total physical Metamorphosis (into a FOX).]
As an "Aspiring Reverse-Kitsune", I am essentially saying I admit I am not one Yet ... but I'm working on it.
That Reminds me ... I think many around here best remember me as the Fox/Guy who posts really, really LONG messages and uses all the little Fox-Faces in my posts, (rather than using the default wolf ones).
Here is the full set:
These are all also posted on my Online Gallery, where you can see some of my other artwork I've created over the years.
http://vuldari.deviantart.com
And if you want to see some of my Photography exploits, from my ongoing adventures in Yellowstone National Park, check out:
http://yellowstonejoeman.deviantart.com
I Guess that's me in a Nutshell. (*struggles to resist quoting "Austin Powers"*)
Later ...
