Name: Chluaith Age: 2 turns Clutch: Zenobiath x Aresoth (3575.12.21) Egg: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Egg - A small egg whose shell has a textured feel. Color: brown Size: 80' (40') Physical Description: Chluaith is very large for a brown. He is heavily built broad shoulders, strong hind legs, a thick tail, and is very muscular. He is built to do the heavy lifting and while he will never be an agile or fast dragon, he isn't the sort to wear down quickly or easily. Chluaith is certainly heavy as far as a brown goes, and while he might be prone to over-eating (especially as a weyrling) most of his weight comes from the shear amount of muscle on him and less from fat. Positive Traits: Hard Working, Strong, Even Tempered Negative Traits: Traditionalist, Blindly Loyal, Stubborn Detailed Personality:
Chluaith is everything a brown should be. To start, this dragon is positively a support-class. He was hatched knowing his role, and has no objections against the High Reaches Tradition. Like his dam and sire, tradition is important to this brown, even at its ugliest. Not everything in life is fair, after all, and he is the sort who will automatically defer to those of metallic hide. He'll also only-too-happily call out any of his clutchmates who decide to go against the grain, or vocally object should he see something that doesn't follow tradition. He's not a mean dragon, or cruel, but he believes that everything has its place and that each color was hatched for a reason and they shouldn't try to fight their place. He might love his green clutchmates, but he would never encourage them to buck the system or attempt to break the mold.
He is a stubborn beast, and when Chluaith get an idea in his head, good luck trying to change it. This, of course, can be a problem, particularly when his rider and he don't see eye-to-eye. Worse, should someone not of metallic hide, or of any particular rank, tell him to do something, you can bet Chluaith will only go along with the plan if he agrees to the idea. If his rider wants to sleep in but Chluaith thinks its time to study, you can bet he'll have no issue waking His up. The same can be said if he thinks it's time to rest and his rider has a desire to be up and active. The more someone tries to get him to do something, the harder Chluaith will resist--unless, of course, someone of metallic hide or clearly higher rank makes the request! Then Chluaith will be more than happy to oblige. His rider will need to exert quite a bit of willpower to get Chluaith to see his way of things should they not see eye-to-eye. Obviously, he'd move the moons for his rider--but some things the brown just won't budge an inch on.
It's safe to say Chluaith is more of a follower and less of a leader. While there is absolutely no shame or issue with such a trait, it does become an issue when he's foisted into a position to lead. Should his rider be even remotely ambitious, he'll have to work double to get anywhere as Chluaith has a tendency to freeze when he's in a role he feels he shouldn't be in, and begin to panic when decision making falls on his shoulders. He would never aspire to be a Wingleader, and even the thought of being Wingsecond fills him with dread. Not, of course, because he doesn't think browns can't, but because he's most comfortable adhering to orders than making them himself, especially when a wrong move could result in injury or death. While much of the Wingsecond role does come with supporting the Wingleaders choices, Chluaith would much rather be a comfortable and supportive wingrider. Additionally, Chluaith can be blindly loyal to both Weyr and Wing. High Reaches is his home, and he desires to keep it just as it is. He will follow the orders of Weyrwoman and Weyrleader, simply because of their title. He's the sort of brown who doesn't feel as if they should question those who were hatched with metallic and instinct has him deferring to them, regardless of their experience of position. Chluaith doesn't begrudge this though-- everything has its place, and the natural order is the best order. This can cause him to be taken advantage of by those in power, or with the metallic shining hide--so his rider may need to ensure he's not simply a metallics doormat or yes man.
Flaws aside, Chluaith is a strong dragon, both physically and emotionally. He's always happy to support those in his Wing or Weyr as best he's able. Even if he doesn't agree with their views, he will be there to help support them when they're feeling low or are in need of a shoulder to lean upon. Physically, he's capable of carrying and toting all sorts of supplies and goods as needed. He'll never turn his nose up from some sort of hunting expedition, and will always enjoy doing a days hard labor. Swimming and flying are some of his favorite activities; if it's physical, you can bet Chluaith is all in.
Additionally, Chluaith is a brown who rarely loses his cool. He's as even-tempered as they come, even while in the midst of a disagreement or fight. He's not the sort of dragon to lose his head in most scenarios, which will make him a reliable wingrider and clutchmate. Though Thread might be dangerous, this brown isn't the sort to let fear or worry rule him. The only times he seems to lose his even-tempered nature is when he's grieving over the loss of a fellow dragon, or when put in a position of power. The former tears at his hearts in ways that he cannot fight, and the latter is a level of discomfort he can hardly handle.
Chluaith will come to enjoy participating in flights as he grows. He does feel as if greens should throw themselves at him, though it would take a special green indeed to capture his hearts and keep him from pursuing others. On the flipside, he doesn't feel as if it's proper for him to chase the golden queens. Not, of course, because he's uninterested in siring a clutch but because he feels it goes against tradition to have a queen and brown pairing.
Acquired:??? Colorist: stella cinere (written by Uta) Inspiration: The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse named for and derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, a county in Scotland. Although originally one of the smaller breeds of draught horses, it is now a tall breed. Often bay in color, they show significant white markings due to the presence of sabino genetics. The breed was originally used for agriculture and haulage, and is still used for draught purposes today. The Budweiser Clydesdales are some of the most famous Clydesdales, and other members of the breed are used as drum horses by the British Household Cavalry. They have also been used to create and improve other breeds.
The breed was developed from Flemish stallions imported to Scotland and crossed with local mares. The first recorded use of the name "Clydesdale" for the breed was in 1826, and by 1830, a system of hiring stallions had begun that resulted in the spread of Clydesdale horses throughout Scotland and into northern England. The first breed registry was formed in 1877. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported from Scotland and sent throughout the world, including to Australia and New Zealand, where they became known as "the breed that built Australia".
During World War I, population numbers began to decline due to increasing mechanization and war conscription. This decline continued, and by the 1970s, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust considered the breed vulnerable to extinction. Population numbers have increased slightly in the intervening time, but they are still thought to be vulnerable.
The Clydesdale was originally used for agriculture, hauling coal in Lanarkshire, and heavy hauling in Glasgow. Today, Clydesdales are still used for draught purposes, including agriculture, logging, and driving. They are also shown and ridden, as well as kept for pleasure. Clydesdales are known to be the popular breed choice with carriage services and parade horses because of their white, feathery feet.
Along with carriage horses, Clydesdales are also used as show horses. They are shown in lead line and harness classes at county and state fairs, as well as national exhibitions. Some of the most famous members of the breed are the teams that make up the hitches of the Budweiser Clydesdales. These horses were first owned by the Budweiser Brewery at the end of Prohibition in the United States, and have since become an international symbol of both the breed and the brand. The Budweiser breeding program, with its strict standards of colour and conformation, have influenced the look of the breed in the United States to the point that many people believe that Clydesdales are always bay with white markings. Impression Effect: To those who know Tonori, Impression would have a stunning effect on him. There is a newfound passion and feeling within him. He might not have been a complicated man, and maybe he never will be--but the feelings that he possess will now be felt all the harder, all the more passionately. There's a newfound fire and life in him that will make him easier to get to know. Why Tonori? There was only one Candidate for Chluaith, and that was Tonori. This is a brown dragon who knows what to expect out of life, and he appreciates very much that Tonori is much the same. The two of them will be about as even-tempered as they come, which suits Chluaith just fine! Where some might want a rider who thinks more outside the box, or could be a rebel and rule-breer, Chluaith could never abide such a thing. This brown accepts Tonori as he is, and he absolutely, utterly, adores him for it. To anyone who might look down at him, or think him somehow less intelligent, or somehow lesser period--they will have him to deal with! Tonori's ability to take orders without question, and to follow orders, fits nicely with Chluaith's code-of-tradition. He wouldn't want someone to buck the mold or fights against those in power, and appreciates Tonori's staunch reliability.
That said, Tonori's moral-compass should help temper Chluaith from blindly-following the orders and commands of those with metallic hide. Where Chluaith could easily become a yes-man, or do underhanded things at the whim of someone with power, Tonori might help keep Chluaith on the straight-and-true. Additionally, should Chluaith ever begin to struggle or panic when he's foisted into a position he feels he's not suited, or if they find themselves in some leadership role, such as being asked to take charge of the weyrlings for a drill, Tonori should have the strength of will and calm, soothing nature, to help his brown through such moments. This man is a master of using his skills and knowledge even when he hasn't direction--that could well help Chluaith to become a better brown with age and maturity. Just because Chluaith isn't comfortable doesn't mean Tonori might not take charge.
Ultimately, these two will be reliable and true right out of the gate. They are about as perfect and traditional a pair as High Reaches can find, and whether it's wanted or not, have all the makings of potential High Reaches leadership.
Name: Ara Age: 19 (3558.12.26) Sex: female Sexual Orientation: homosexual Craft: n/a Rank:drudgecandidate weyrling Location:Western Weyr High Reaches Weyr Physical Description: On the tall side for a woman, Ara has spent her life trying to take up less space. She slouches, hunches her shoulders, and keeps her arms folded across her chest all. She has light brown hair with is fine and very, very straight, but not unattractive: when she's in the sun it gets warm highlights that are quite appealing. She is not often in the sun though, and so her hair rarely has that golden gleam. She is more bony than curvy, but she's not entirely without soft spots. She is a good deal stronger than she looks, and she has hands that bespeak a lifetime of labor. She sees nothing wrong with that. Positive Traits: modest; cheerful; forgiving Negative Traits: unfocused; impractical; gullible Detailed Personality:
Upon first meeting Ara it would be easy to believe that she is simple. Her eyes rarely seem to focus on things and she tends to narrate whatever she is doing. Usually while singing. The fact that she's highly credulous as well as perpetually willing to forgive would add to the impression of simple-mindedness. And if a person only interacted with her once, or only superficially, they could be forgiven for their mistake (certainly Ara would forgive them - she'd forgive anybody anything).
Aside from an undeniable tendency to go vague and unfocused and lose the train of conversations, there's a not-wholly-useless brain inside her skull. She simply hasn't found that she has much use for it yet. After all, she was born and raised as a drudge, and has never had much of a demand made on her mental abilities (I wouldn't quite say it's still in its original packaging, but mostly she uses it to remember the schedules of her employer so she is never doing her work in their presence and to remember how to properly mix cleaning solvents). Obviously she's illiterate and untutored, but she could probably remedy those things, eventually. (It would be a slow and frustrating process for her instructor, because she would be an abysmal student, constantly distracted or losing her train of thought, though always genuinely contrite when called on it).
That said, her poor focus means that Ara frequently misses portions of what is being said to and around her, often leading her to draw mistaken conclusions based on what she actually did hear, and then, if asked, put forth opinions and suggestions that make little to no sense. This definitely contributes to the impression that she's not very bright, but looked at another way it could indicate that she's a quick and creative thinker who could be very good at both if she ever had all the information in her head at one time. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to give her misinformation, because Ara tends to take just about everything everyone says at face value if it's said with a straight face or a sufficiently authoritative tone of voice. She can tell when someone's teasing or joking or being sarcastic, but people with deadpan delivery get her every time.
History:
Ara was born to a pair of drudges who raised her and her siblings with the idea that their work, while not fun, clean, or mentally challenging, was vital. It was impressed upon her from an early age that the best she could or should expect from life was to make it through without attracting the notice of anyone who outranked her, and to maybe someday aspire to be on the good work schedule. Whether her parents actually believed this or simply wanted to raise children who wouldn't be disappointed with their lot in life is up for debate, but she grew up to be an obedient young woman who didn't dream above her station and whose ultimate goal was to someday settle down with another drudge and raise a family.
When she was Searched, Ara was almost more embarrassed than overjoyed. She was attracting so much unwarranted attention! Her parents would be so disappointed! They weren't, of course. They were scared for her, because they worried about the effect the Weyr's "loose behavior" would have on her, and whether she would be fit for anything after she aged out of candidacy. Unfortunately, they have absolutely no faith that she will Impress a dragon (what would a dragon see in her?), but they don't want to see her hurt either, or given the mistaken idea that there would be greatness in her future when she was truly destined for drudgery. This little blip could ruin her.
Western Weyr is a constant source of wonderment to Ara and since arriving she has been a dreadful pupil, despite her best intentions and her parents' admonishment to work hard, stay focused, and not embarrass herself. It's just so hard to concentrate on anything when there are dragons and their riders and firelizards and strangers and so much to see and do. Hopefully some of the awe will wear off eventually, and she'll start to show some of the positive traits that the Search dragon saw in her to begin with.
Name: Damahath (Damahath is a modification of the Hindu damah, or dama, which is equivalent to temperance. It is characterized by self-control and self-restraint. Along with dama, a person of good character is thought to possess daya, which is love of living things, and daana or charity.) Age: 1 turns Clutch: Anakumath x Elzebuth (3576.13.25) Egg: No. 2 Pencil Egg Color: gold Size: 81' (40.5') Physical Description: In her dimensions, Damahath is very average, though on the daintier side of that scale.
There are many queens who aim to rock the foundations of Pern with their sheer presence. Damahath is not among them. This queen does not in any way enjoy the spotlight, although she is not afraid of it. In her opinion, it is a waste of her time and frankly in poor taste. There is room for everyone at the table, and one thing Damahath is very good at is holding space for others. Naturally inclined toward graceful acquiescence, she cannot abide the pretention that runs rampant among her peers.
If there is anything that Damahath knows, it is that there are many, many queens at the Weyr. The chances that she herself might one day become Weyrwoman are slim, and the overweening pride of so many others is distasteful to her. She would never assume that she is some sort of heir to the throne, although she is not weak or undeserving. Rather, Damahath prefers to live life lifting others up rather than treading on them on her way to power.
She is self-restrained, if not a little inhibited. Averse to change, Damahath is content to follow the current leadership, whomever that might be. Balance is of high importance to this queen, who is keenly aware of every ripple made by her footsteps - and strives to avoid making them in the first place. In a perfect world, she would be a serene and unintrusive element of the background. This is where she is most comfortable. As one cog in the very large wheel, Damahath seeks to help make the Weyr run.
Force her to the forefront and you will find a very unwilling dragon. It is not her place, it is not wanted, and certainly does not make her happy. Taking care of others and ensuring their happiness is Damahath's own road to that very thing. While she is certainly capable of asserting herself when necessary, she does not enjoy the act. Due to her dutiful hearts, she will do what she must, but that does not mean that she will enjoy it. In such a position, she would feel like an imposter, and ashamed to put on such a mask.
Yet those who are wounded surely can come seek succor from her. She is naturally talented when it comes to soothing injured or distressed dragons - they can take from her a calm, ocean deep sense of balance. Damahath is capable of enveloping others in that serenity, lending them a bit of her own quiescence, as so many queens before her. This is perhaps her most striking trait, and one which she feels comfortable sharing with others. Rather than being a damage dealer herself, Damahath fits the support role as if made for it.
When it comes to Threadfall, Damahath will be a little better than average at soothing wounded dragons. In terms of future romance, she may struggle to find the right partner because she inherently believes in balance. A queen who has a set mate is not, in Damahath's opinion, being fair to the other Chasers, so it would take true love to push Damahath into one particular dragon's arms over and over. It might take her awhile to find Mr. or Mrs. Right, due to her nature.
Acquired:??? Colorist: Uta Written by: Mr Cheri Inspiration: Temperence. Temperance in its modern use is defined as moderation or voluntary self-restraint. Temperance has been described as a virtue by religious thinkers, philosophers, and more recently, psychologists, particularly in the positive psychology movement. It has a long history in philosophical and religious thought. It is the fourteenth trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination. Impression Effects: Where Ara once struggled with a sense of vagueness and difficulty focusing, she will now find that bolstered by Damahath's careful attentiveness. The gaps will be filled in, and her ability to track conversations will be elevated. She will also find it much, much easier to apply herself to her studies, with Damahath's mind and memory paired with her own. Damahath's internal sense of etiquette will make the transition to junior weyrwoman significantly easier, for Ara will acquire that nearly instantly. Why Ara Oh Ara, how could Damahath have chosen anyone but you? From the very first moment they met, Damahath knew that they were destined for each other. Her gentle nature saw right into Ara's heart, and weighed her worthy. Damahath wants to show Ara what is possible for her in the world, and to take care of her in the way that only she can. In return, Ara can offer her a reprieve from the pressures of being a queen among High Reaches Weyr. Those with strong ambitions frightened the little gold away, for she craves nothing so much as a quiet place to work diligently for the Weyr's good. Never again shall either have to worry about not belonging, or being in some way inferior. Ara is and forever shall be a Queenrider of Pern, and Damahath is hers.
Name: Drina Age: 96 (3481.05.03) Sex: female Sexual Orientation: heterosexual Craft: n/a Rank: Retired Goldrider Location: High Reaches Weyr Physical Description: Drina grows her hair very long and mostly keeps it braided into a crown, even though it is grey and thinning. Her eyes are still brown and she still has all of her own front teeth (though some of her molars had to go quite a while ago). She carries extra weight around the hips, thighs, and tum, but everything sort of tugs downward, succumbing to age and gravity. Generally her clothing is chosen to hide her figure and keep warm simultaneously. It is rarely flattering. Her posture is rigidly erect, despite her diminutive size (she barely scrapes 5'), and although she has pain in her hips and shoulders especially, she does her best to move as if she doesn't. Her hands, arms, and shoulders are etched with countless crosshatched scars from serving for decades as firelizard perches. Positive Traits: thoughtful; compassionate toward non-humans and humans in need; cooperative Negative Traits: shy; anxious; pushover Detailed Personality:
In her youth Drina was a very biddable young woman. Some of this came from Impressing at a young age, but a lot of it was simply that she has always preferred to avoid confrontation and other people because they represent the possibility for confrontation. Prior to Impressing Vicortath she was easily intimidated by people, and that didn't really change post-Impression, but riding a gold dragon allowed her to distance herself from the majority of people, and she simply did her best to be agreeable to those she couldn't avoid. She has spent a lot of her life getting bossed around by other goldriders and more assertive bronze and brownriders.
Now that she's lived for nearly a century and retired, Drina has become more assertive, but still rarely on her own behalf. She will stand up for others if she must, but she would rather allow a situation to unfold and later step in to ameliorate it. With people that sometimes means offering aid and comfort, even though she, herself, rarely feels comfortable around people. More often, she does her best to simply orchestrate things behind the scenes so that someone else is made aware of the problem and encouraged to do something about it. This means she rarely gets any credit for the good she attempts to do, but that's more than all right with her. Drina is more than happy not to be the recipient of thanks, praise, or attention, especially in her old age.
She is thoughtful, though, and because she is observant and inclined to anxiously overplan she is usually very good at solving problems and planning ahead. The one exception to this is when it comes to firelizards. She has a weakness for firelizards which borders on ridiculous, and will adopt them with the slightest provocation. In her youth she was told by someone that it was unseemly for a goldrider to desire a fair of firelizards in addition to a gold dragon. It would make her appear ungrateful as well as uncouth (because who would want something as common as a firelizard when they already had a dragon?). Nowadays, the fastest way to get on her good side is to make a good impression on her collection of firelizards (whose bloodlines she has been tracking forever, though with no attempt to control it) or gift her with a firelizard egg.
History:
Searched at a young age from a cothold that no longer exists, Drina's childhood was one of hard work. In the cold months, when nothing grew, her parents sent her into town to learn history, letters, and figuring from the harper. Her parents were proud when she was Searched, but she never saw them after her first hatching because it was just too difficult for them to come to the Weyr for social calls, and Drina felt uncomfortable using her free time to go home. She was pretty sure her parents would be uncomfortable around Vicortath. Since Drina Impressed Vicortath at her very first hatching, she has effectively gone most of a century without seeing her parents (who are now very dead anyway).
Being a shy goldrider was a constant struggle for Drina, who felt a great deal of pressure from leadership to do and be more, and she considered herself fortunate to have a tireless advocate and ally in Vicortath, who never hesitated to tell people to back off. She nevertheless spent a good portion of her life perpetually sick to her stomach due to anxiety about failing to live up to everyone's expectations.
Things were made harder by Drina's unfortunate taste in men. When she was fifteen a handsome rider many years her senior but confident and fiercely protective took her under his wing, which was at first a relief, but as she got more mature and Vicortath rose for her maiden flight, he, too, began to pressure her. He thought that as close as they had grown (and they had, indeed, grown close - Drina fancied herself in love with him), his dragon should have caught Vicortath. When that didn't happen, he was bitterly disappointed, and Drina was sorry that he was unhappy. Vicortath, while sorry for her rider, said simply that she had standards and his dragon wasn't up to them. It was a sore point in their relationship, and every time Vicortath flew and wasn't caught by his dragon he would be spiteful for a while. Nevertheless, she remained with him for years and years.
It wasn't until their youngest son chose to leave candidacy at age twenty three that she finally broke with her partner, and it only happened because he publicly denounced their son as a worthless failure. After that she refused to have anything to do with him and made one of her rare requests to the Weyrwoman at the time: make sure she would never have to see or speak to that man again. She almost never did, too, which has suited her and Vicortath quite well.
Aside from her rather unfortunate relationship, Drina has spent her life doing her best to be useful around the Weyr without having to be around a lot of people or the center of attention. When Vicortath announced with regret that she had probably flown her last flight, Drina was palpably relieved and retired as soon as she could get the paperwork filed. At that point she began to accumulate flits. She is now on her way to becoming a crazy flit lady, though not as crazy as she allows people to think. Sometimes she plays a game where she acts far stranger about flits than she actually is when people are around. This is largely to discourage people from visiting. Despite the paragraphs above devoted to personal drama, Drina has basically led a quiet life, keeping as much to herself as her position allows.
Name: Vicortath Age: 83 turns Clutch: Palanith x Fastath (3495.02.01) Color: gold Size: 81' (40.5') Physical Description: Small for a gold, and always inclined toward pudginess, Vicortath's old age has allowed her to finally indulge and become plump. Positive Traits: protective; responsible; authoritative Negative Traits: opinionated; fussy; imperious Detailed Personality:
Vicortath has a very definite idea of how things ought to be done, and feels a very strong sense of responsibility for the Weyr. Vicortath will speak up in any meeting, stating her opinion most decidedly (and sometimes Drina's, if Drina is unwilling to speak on her own behalf). Like Drina, she has a powerful urge to protect, and she has a similar soft spot for flits, whers, and humans in need. She is also very fond of children, as long as they are properly polite to her and treat animals nicely. Generally speaking, she is outspoken where her rider is reserved, pushy where her rider is a pushover, and flashy where her rider is unobtrusive, and she adores these ways in which they are different because they make their similarities seem, to her, all the more apparent, and because (secretly) she considers Drina one of the humans in need of protection and extra care. Vicortath very much likes to feel needed, even though she is imperious and fussy, stubborn and inclined to sulk when things don't go her way. She enjoys good food, good music, and good-looking men, and isn't afraid to let people know when things aren't up to her standards.
Name: Z'men (formerly Zamen) Age: 41 (3536.04.30) Sex: male Sexual Orientation: asexual Craft: n/a Rank: wingrider Location: Western Weyr Physical Description: Long of limb and longer of face, Z'men is best described as homely, but after approximately two and a half decades of daily exercise, he's not lanky. He has a very well-kept beard that brushes his chest Positive Traits: hopeful; organized; compassionate Negative Traits: stubbornly naive; excessively chatty; inattentive Detailed Personality:
Z'men loves to talk to anyone and about anything. Before Impressing Brilath, he would talk to himself when things were too quiet. He still does, actually, but now he has a dragon in his mind who will sometimes respond. Actually he's pretty good at giving other people a chance to talk, he's just not so good at listening to what they say. He's basically the embodiment of that "just waiting until it's his turn to talk again." Which is unfortunate, since he rarely has much that's interesting to say. He doesn't really pay attention to other people talking at all.
For someone who pays relatively little attention to what people say, Z'men is pretty good at keeping his possessions in good condition and in order. When he's stressed he likes to reorganize his weyr to better display objects that he's found or purchased which can only be called conversation pieces (and he really hopes someone will ask so that he has the chance to explain why the pieces are on display). Even more mundane possessions are kept in an orderly manner. Growing up, his dragonrider parents insisted on a tidy weyr, and he always complied even though it was not until he Impressed Brilath he finally understood the importance of caring for the things one uses daily and keeping them in working condition. A dragonrider who can't find his gear in a timely manner, or whose gear is shoddy is going to have a bad time. So he keeps things organized.
Although he could talk the hind leg off a runner, Z'men is not unfeeling. In fact, the feeling he has most of the time is hope. He's definitely the person who finds the silver lining to every cloud, and enjoys brainstorming ways to improve the situation, no matter how bad it may seem. This is largely because he hates to see people suffer. Visiting the infirmary is hard on him, but he absolutely does it after every Fall, checking in with injured wingmates and friends and staying to talk until healers shoo him away. Sometimes he's probably kind of obnoxious to be around, between his determination that things will somehow turn out all right, no matter what and his tendency to talk too much and listen too little. Positive Trait List hopeful; organized; compassionate
History:
The son of a rider pair, Zamen had an uneventful, Thread-free childhood. His parents loved him and each other. He didn't excel at much, and his parents seriously worried about what would happen if he didn't Impress a dragon. He didn't worry nearly as much because that's not his nature. He was always pretty sure things would work out, whether he aged out of Impressing or not. When he Impressed Brilath at age twenty his parents were so thrilled they conceived another child that very night. Z'men hasn't had much to do with his younger sibling because of the age gap, but he's happy that his parents are happy, and now that Z'mya has grown up a bit and Impressed a dragon he's beginning to think she might be worth talking to.
Z'men and Brilath tended to get in trouble for talking during lessons, but were otherwise average weyrlings and are now average wingriders. They can be relied on to keep up a steady stream of commentary throughout Fall, to each other if no one else. He's had a few serious relationships, but nothing that stuck. He really hopes to find someone soon because he's begun to feel like he'd like to have a child (biological or adopted makes no difference to him).
Name: Brilath (taken from brilas, meaning "[he] shines," in Esperanto) Age: 21 turns Clutch: Vimiath x Cormath (3556.03.19) Color: blue Size: 52' (26') Physical Description: A vibrant blue dragon of average size and build, Brilath has some scarring from Thread, but nothing debilitating or even bothersome. He's been fortunate all his life. Positive Traits: sunny; friendly; communicative Negative Traits: chatty; lazy; tends toward malaprops Detailed Personality:
Brilath is a sunny, hopeful dragon who shares his rider's fondness for conversation. The two of them always have a lot to talk about, even when they should be listening. He's a very tactile dragon who even likes humans who aren't his rider to touch and talk to him, as long as they have something interesting to say, but even if they don't, that's okay - Brilath does! Unfortunately, he has a tendency to use malaprops, which can make him look less intelligent than he is. He also tends to be a bit on the lazy side, preferring to sun himself in the afternoons, rather than drill, and rarely rising to chase greens unless he has a very close relationship to the green in question, and, honestly, he'd rather end up with another blue.
Name: B'shir (formerly Bashir) Age: 34 (3543.06.10) Sex: male Sexual Orientation: heterosexual Craft: n/a Rank: wingrider Location: High Reaches Weyr Physical Description: Although he and his family have been residents of High Reaches for several generations, Bashir's Igen heritage is plainly written in his face - and the rest of him. His hair is a very dark brown that is nearly black and tends to look a little reddish in certain kinds of light and tends to curl when short or wet, and his eyes are an even darker shade of brown that look nearly black in nearly all lights. He has a long, slightly aquiline nose over a reasonably well-formed mouth, though his lips are perhaps a little thin and not given much to smiling. His cheekbones are high but not overly prominent. Naturally, his skin is a golden brown that seems at odds with High Reaches climate. In terms of physique, he is not particularly tall - only about five feet ten inches - but he's got some decent muscles on him from training rigorously all his life. B'shir's face is not expressive. He can make expressions, but because he has to think about it, they tend to come a fraction too late and they rarely look convincing. Most of the time he doesn't bother, and does most of his emoting with his voice. His default facial expression, unfortunately, looks like a scowl. It's just his eyebrows, he promises. Positive Traits: driven; rule-follower; thoughtful Negative Traits: mule-headed; sexist; soft-hearted Detailed Personality:
B'shir is a very driven, serious young man. The fact that he is driven can translate unflatteringly into stubbornness. Once he sets his mind on something, very few things can sway him from his path, even when he's wrong, he will cling to an idea until he is forced to abandon it. He's much the same with people: once he decides how he feels about a person, it's going to be incredibly difficult to change his opinion. Fortunately, he isn't given to making snap decisions, and so a bad first impression will not ruin his view of another person for all time. He prefers to take his time to make up his mind.
And, although he is serious much of the time, B'shir does have a dry sense of humor that occasionally comes out when he's relaxing with friends. Those who are less familiar with him may not realize this, though, because he has a very flat affect and doesn't smile when he cracks jokes or when he's amused. B'shir is most comfortable around his family and friends, who are usually male. Raised by a sexist father and grandfather, B'shir's opinion of females is somewhat unfortunate: he feels that women are to be protected and sheltered, and so he's not likely to befriend any female who isn't extraordinary. Aside from his hangups with women, B'shir is actually outgoing and likes people (he's just really not good at interacting with females, whether or not he likes them...he gets very awkward). he can be laughably awkward.
B'shir is a firm believer in the benefits of rank and seniority. He believes that authority should be obeyed when it's correct and that a person who puts in the time deserves the respect that comes with it, working on the assumption he will be treated with similar respect if he ever attains any sort of rank or authority. Similarly, when it comes to taking risks, B'shir doesn't. Not really. He's not afraid of anything High Reaches Weyr can throw at him, though he has a healthy respect for the dangers involved in his lifestyle. He is not someone who can be dared to do stupid things, though he won't rat out others who do them unless there's a possibility people or dragons will be hurt in the process. He doesn't like to see anything in pain, though he's able to slaughter and butcher beasts as needed. Having to do so, however, tends to make him feel guilty.
History:
Born to a dragonriding family (his father and grandfather were both brownriders) , B'shir's first priority growing up was Impressing a dragon. His grandfather, a brownrider, preferred that he Impress a bronze, as did his father, but B'shir would have been happy with any dragon that chose him. With the hopes of his family resting on him to Impress, B'shir was raised with the idea that he had to become a dragonrider. Nothing less would be satisfactory or acceptable. When he was young this was fine because it meant he got to spend a great deal of time with his grandfather and his brown, but as he got older there was more pressure on him to excel. His grandfather made him practice flying on his dragon and executing flight drills. The pressure intensified after his father died from an accident going between from which he never returned.
Despite his family's efforts, B'shir continued to fail to Impress turn after turn, and his grandfather began to make it clear how very not okay it was that he hadn't Impressed. Rather than cracking under the pressure, B'shir worked harder. He also got into the business of looking out for newly Searched candidates, much to his grandfather's ire. They didn't think he ought to be helping others to Impress when he had yet to do so. It became a source of tension which ultimately had two good side effects: first, it began a process in his slow-to-change mind which eventually concluded that the low-level emotional abuse he'd been subjected to when he failed to live up to his family's expectations was unacceptable; second, it encouraged B'shir to view women less dismissively, since it was possible his grandfather's views there might be less than completely accurate. When he Impressed Sakneth in his nineteenth turn, B'shir was the family's golden boy once more, but he was through with them.
Since then, he has looked to his friendships, his wingmates, and his continuing interest in mentoring people new to the Weyr for companionship, rather than his family.
Name: Sakneth Age: 14 turns Clutch: Sharath x Entath (3562.11.24) Color: bronze Size: 82' (41') Physical Description: In the matter of physical stature, Sakneth's standard. If he's any bigger than the others, it's so slight that most people won't note the difference. He has a scar over his right eye from a fight he got into at his hatching before Impressing to B'shir. Positive Traits: intelligent; charming; self-confident Negative Traits: prejudiced; arrogant; manipulative Detailed Personality:
The size of his ego is where Sakneth unmistakably surpasses most of his peers. If there's one thing that drives him, it's his pride. He's got more than enough to sustain him and an abundance of leftovers to share with his rider, who will quickly be set straight if he ever dares doubt either of them.
Sakneth is bronze with a silver tongue. Within seconds of meeting them, he can ordinarily tell what someone wants to hear and be on their good side if he really aims for it. That isn't to say he doesn't think before he opens his big mouth; he just makes snap decisions, and instinctively brilliant ones (at least in his opinion). The full extent of his manipulative prowess is known only by his rider and those few who see through his facade. Sakneth knows they're great, so what anyone else thinks doesn't matter to him. His goal is to have whatever he wants, not work on his public image. In his not-so-humble opinion, there's nothing wrong with this behavior. All he's doing is playing the game of life.
Once he's reviewed another dragon enough to judge them, that opinion is set in stone and carving in something new is a wearisome task indeed. Sounds harsh? Good. He knows nice guys finish last. Believe it or not, Sakneth fancies himself quite the lady-killer. Probably not many females do, however. He treats them like a game to be won, and seems convinced he's got the rule book and all the cheat codes memorized. They want a bad boy, he'll tell his rider, and go so far as to encourage him to defile them with his words, even though B'shir never follows this advice. He would never suggest B'shir use his fists. Sakneth hates seeing anything in pain, but he doesn't understand the emotion called sympathy and so ignores it quite well. (All the while, he's drawn to people who do, and he doesn't know why that is. Could there be a good dragon underneath it all?)
Other males are either his apprentices, underlings or enemies. There is no in between. They'll get along until the first sign they might be trying to do something Sakneth doesn't like. Male or female, anyone who questions his authority will be subject to his temper. Just because he doesn't care about your opinion does not mean you can tell him what to do. If he feels like it, then he will do so then and only then. He very much despises being told to do things by equal and lesser colors.
Yes, that's right. Lesser colors. He's a bronze, so you browns, blues and greens learn your place on the food chain. It's below him, in case you're not smart enough to figure that out. He can't really blame you considering you're, you know... you. The one part of his reputation he does care about is maintaining an alpha male image. When it comes time for a queen to rise, he will chase her! And if he needs to fly a green just to prove he's top dog, then he will. Those silly browns need to be reminded at every given turn who the big man on campus is.
Acquired:Old Shop Conversion Colorist: Andranis Inspiration: Sakneth was inspired by the song "Nice Guys Finish Last" by Cobra Starship. Why Bashir Life is a b***h, Bashir. And so is Sakneth, so you best be ready.
Bashir might not want Sakneth as his dragon, but that’s just too sharding bad, because he’s picked him so he doesn’t have a choice. His intention is not to bully the young man, however. He has legit reasons for his decision. First off, he knows a person like Bashir will just make Teharth angry. How funny!
He likes Bashir’s view on women quite a bit. The boy needs some work there, but nothing a little tough love can’t fix. His has the potential to be what Sakneth wants him to be, and he’ll do his best to make that dream a reality.
Bashir believes in ranks, but not enough to follow orders like a deadglow. He’ll need that with a bronze like Sakneth, who doesn’t think any of the other bronzes have any right to tell him what to do. And, although it didn’t necessarily influence his choice, Sakneth doesn’t mind his family. Boy could learn a thing or two from a certain someone in this bronze’s opinion!
They may not be the best of friends, but together, they will be close to unstoppable.
Name: Chluaith
