RIDER
Name: I'lan, formerly Iriolan
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual; inclined toward emotional attachments first and physical second. For the most part, it's as they say: the dragon chooses and the rider follows.
Craft: Dragonrider of blue Luceth

History: Never one to make much of himself, the modest Iriolan was certainly not conceived under any great circumstance. His father was I'ben of brown Corioth, and his mother, Elaire, a Healer journeywoman who happened to be nearby when Corioth turned up the loser of a Flight. As so many Weyrbrats do, the serious-eyed little Iriolan did not grow up knowing much of his father, only that he did indeed have one, of course. He knew his mother, at least, who when he was old enough to begin learning more than his alphabets and numbers, began teaching him the simplest arts of healing, of the "apply numbweed, then bandage" type.

For several Turns, little Iriolan learned with surprising facility under his mother's judicious tutelage, taking those lessons as well as lessons alongside the other Weyrbrats in the crèche. His mother assumed that he would wind up a Healer, as he showed a surprising skill at it, often patching up and fussing over the other weyrbrats when they'd batter each other up or wind up in accidents.

In fact, that wound up being how Iriolan managed to Impress. When he'd turned fifteen, a Hatching occurred. He had never intended to stand as a Candidate. Instead, he was going to stand to one side at the edge of the sands, with the other healers, just in case. However, that did not seem to happen -- when he'd been sent down to make sure that one girl who'd gotten in the way of an angry little green was all right, and to escort her off the sands, he found himself more than a bit surprised to hear a rather brassy, frustrated voice inform him that Luceth's Iriolan needed to come now and get him, because if he didn't, he was going to have to cross all that sand, and he didn't want to step on anyone -- but make no mistake, he would if Iriolan made him. Besides, Luceth had said, pouting, he had stepped on his own claw, and he needed Iriolan much more than the girl did.

From that moment, Iriolan's life changed -- centered firmly on the little blue that had chosen him when he had never expected to Impress. Contracting his name to I'lan was the least of the changes: despite himself, he was not able to continue with his studies, and never went beyond Apprentice status as a Healer.

Still, once I'lan became old enough and had enough free time to pull his head from the day-to-day goings-on in the Weyr, he became aware of the call going out from High Reaches and Telgar. He sat on the thought for several fortnights, discussing it ad nauseam with Luceth, who was much more eager to simply go and see, before finally announcing that he intended to transfer to High Reaches, to see what good he could do there.

Appearance: Tall, narrow, and dark -- he stands just under six feet tall, with fair skin tanned to a warm, pleasant brown that will fade in the cooler climate, loose, fluffy feathers of wheat-gold hair that falls around his shoulders, and narrow, dark grey eyes. He tends to tie back his hair with a beaded leather thong unless he's sleeping or relaxing. His features are handsome enough, if a bit sober, with lips that tend to settle into a small closemouthed smile and dark brows that arch faintly. His build is fairly sturdy with broad shoulders and long limbs, but if he wasn't a rider it'd lack much definition. An accident involving a panicked Luceth flailing about in pain after he came afoul of an angry green broke I'lan's right ankle a few Turns ago, and it never quite set right, leaving him with a very faint limp that only becomes a problem in deep winter or very stormy weather.

Personality: Serious and quiet, I'lan is much better at listening than he is at talking. While he has plenty of his own opinions, he wants to hear yours first, just as much as you want to tell it. He's patient, dependable, and has several dragonlengths of fuse before you get anywhere near his temper. A man of few words, what he does say tends to have meaning to it.

Still, pushing I'lan will get you nowhere -- if he doesn't feel like he's made his own conclusion, he'll dig in his heels and refuse to do a thing until he's looked at the problem from every angle. Some would consider that this might make him stubborn: that's not so, really. If there's a quick answer needed and no one else better suited is around to make the decision, he'll do his best to snap off the right decision, but he would much, much rather not have to. Such things often wind up in decisions not as well-thought-out as he'd like, and a frustrated, worried I'lan until he sees things have turned out all right. He's got a good head on his shoulders, but lacks the confidence to put forth his ideas unless he's considered the flaws they might have.

To others, I'lan is very much a mother hen; he'll be your best friend if you'll let him, and also your mother. Subtly parental in his approach toward most people, he wants the best for everyone, and will work himself silly to make sure the people he cares for -- and sometimes everyone -- are well-contented and taken care of.

DRAGON
Name: Luceth
Color: Blue
Personality: Despite -- or perhaps because of -- his somewhat delicate and smallish stature for a blue, Luceth's personality is larger than life. Bossy when he can get away with it, headstrong to the point of stubbornness, and utterly possessive of his and those he considers his, he often forgets that he's a little bit dainty physically and can't tumble about and tussle with larger dragons, and has been injured more than he would ever like you to know, even if most of the incidents were small and not worthy of worry. He's friendly, but wants to be rather rough and tumble and physical, something he just can't sustain. However, his small size makes him quick and agile and somewhat acrobatic, even if he can't last as long as most of the other blues.

This is something that I'lan needs! Luceth's quick thinking and pushy move-first-and-ask-questions-later tempers his rider's tendency to hesitate and overthink on matters that would be best done now. His tendency to be easily injured works well with I'lan's inherent gentleness and need to take care of someone, as well.

As far as Flights go, Luceth is right there ready to go, and if he turns up the loser, he tends to sulk for quite some time unless I'lan is willing to devote quite a lot of energy to restoring his dragon's pride and keeping him from lashing out at others.