Name: IafriAge: 19
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
Craft/Rank: Wingrider
History:
Iafri was born Holdless, and knows little of the truth of life outside of her particular group (one which is rather large, by the standard of the nomadic groups). All she knows are the stories, which tend to paint outsiders in a very unflattering light. They can't be trusted, they had rejected them, cast them out, forced them into this dangerous life...nevermind that many of them are Holdless of their own doing, cast out of society for very good reasons, and for a handful it may even have been a choice. Since the return of Thread, opinions of both Holds and Weyrs, but especially of the latter, have plummetted even further.
Easily-influenced and eager to see the best in others even when it's not there, Iafri believes that the Holdless have become as they are - rough, survivalist, and sometimes even amoral - because they are Holdless, and not the other way around. This belief, along with a naturally meek personality, has led to her resisting the Holdless stereotype: she doesn't want to be 'bad.' This has taken her in the complete opposite direction, to be retiring and non-confrontational. These are not the best personality traits to have in such an environment, though, and so she has been easily bullied and taken advantage of for most of her life, including by her own siblings at times.
Iafri has two brothers, one older and one younger, and would have had a younger sister as well, but that youngest member of the family took ill shortly after she was born and died within a few sevendays. Other than that, her family was intact for most of her life, until Thread returned. Her father was an early casualty, and though Iafri was never especially close to him, he was still her father, and she still loved him, and losing someone hurt in ways she didn't know how to deal with. Her learned dislike of dragonriders has deepened, and she is terrified of Thread.
Speaking of her parents, her mother was born Holdless as well - and her parents, and as far as anyone knows, their parents as well. That side of the family has been Holdless for generations, and her family takes a certain amount of pride in that. Her father was a runnerthief, and made Holdless when he was caught...not that that stopped him for long, although he started stealing other types of livestock more and runners less. It made more sense to steal food directly than to steal something they'd have to sell (not that you can't eat a runner, but as they're worth a fair amount alive, that seemed like a waste). Their group as a whole makes their living in a variety of ways, depending on individual skillsets, but that of Iafri's family is theft.
As far as skills, she can do a passable job of most of the things this life requires, but has stalwartly refused to learn hunt, as she can't stomach it. She is best at mending, and with better training could make a fairly good tailor. And, like the rest of her family, she's a capable thief, although she doesn't enjoy it in the least, but she's a good hand with animals.
The group is aware of the Revolution, but while they approve of the riders being brought down a few pegs, it has little effect on their lives. Rumors of Flynn being involved are a source of curiosity, but not much else.
Description:
Her hair is dark brown, though lightened some by the sun, her skin is tanned, and her eyes are grayish-blue. Her height, at 5'4", is unremarkable in either direction, and her figure is simply average: feminine, but nothing worth drawing successive looks. Iafri's face is pretty enough, but always marred by dark circles under her eyes, and is rarely lit by a real smile.
Personality:
Iafri is meek and submissive, the sort of person who's always looking down and away from whoever's talking to her, and has a nervous manner at all times. She's forever chewing on her fingernails, shuffling her feet, or fussing with her clothes - she just can't be still. She'll speak, mostly when spoken to, but never raises her voice. If she didn't really hear what you said, she'll pretend she did and give whatever the most appropriate non-verbal response seems to be, because she'd rather not bother you by asking you to repeat yourself. She'll only double-check if you were telling her what to do, because she can't afford to not know that and get it wrong.
She shies away from violence entirely, even rough-and-tumble play, and conflict in general. She won't argue with anyone, even in a friendly manner; she would rather agree, get it over with, and have things go back to being peaceful. Well, as much so as they get. If someone asks her to do something, she'll do it with few if any questions asked, as long as it doesn't involve confrontation or physical harm of any kind. She'll take someone else's chores, give them something of hers if they demand it, help spread a rumor, or even steal.
Iafri doesn't like being this way, but what can she do? If she were to change, she'd have to stand up for herself, be responsible, lose her 'friends,' and all sorts of other terrifying things. She chides herself for being such a doormat, but doesn't have the courage to pick herself up off the ground, leading her to be self-deprecating and constantly frustrated.
When left to herself, Iafri is kind and gentle, especially with children, or with individuals similar to herself. She'll smile, laugh, and even stop chewing her fingernails. She's a good shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic listener, and surprisingly, a keeper of secrets to those she believes have been honestly friendly to her. Her loyalty and gratitude to those genuine few runs deep, and she will not betray them. If she were ever forced to choose between loyalties, though, it is impossible to say what she would do. How does anyone ever choose between friends?
Inspired by deer fables (primarily