|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:34 pm
Approved by Con
Link to approve profile & bonded partner profile: Approval Journal
Link to at least three eligible RPs: x x x
Zaqueth was written by the staff of Sands of Pern
THE RIDER
Name: S'ol (Senkol)
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Rank: 4th-2 wingrider
Appearance: When good looks were being handed out S'ol was most definitely at the back of the queue or quite possible not in the queue at all. He's short, barely 5'3", and wiry rather than impressively muscular. Facially he is... well, he has a huge beak of a nose, very little in the way of a chin, and a general lack of definition in jaw and cheekebone. At least his ears don't stick out though, right?
His hair and skin are nothing to write home about either: kind of pale lifeless milky-tea colour (currently just a pale fuzz) and unremarkable paleish (given to going blotchy red in the heat or when embarrassed) respectively. One could say that his eyes are striking at least, the right is deep brown while the left is a pale watery blue. If set in a handsome face they could probably make a man look exciting, but in S'ol's own countenance they just manage to make him look a bit lopsided and possibly creepy. Then there are the smallpox scars; his face, arms, hands, and legs are covered in pits left behind by the characteristic pustules of the disease. Such scars are hardly rare but that doesn't make them pretty, and his are really very dense.
Still, all this aside S'ol has a nice smile; he has a couple of slightly crooked teeth but his smiles are just so bright and genuine that this at least is forgiveable to a lot of people.
A practical dresser, S'ol he prefers clothes that he can easily move in and doesn't have to worry about if they get a bit dirty. His favourite colours and the ones he wears most often are blue and brown; they match his eyes, he says!
Personality: To succeed in life all you have to to is get up one more time than you're knocked down! This is one of S'ol's favourite phrases to live by; no matter what, this kid won't quit. He's a passionate young man, confident and unwavering in himself and his beliefs, and full of the energy and drive to pursue his goals. Indeed, energy seems to be something S'ol has a limitless supply of; he's up bright and early in the morning, runs around working all day, socializes in the evening and goes to bed fairly late before repeating the whole process the next day. Some parties have speculated that he has all of the energy required to power a much larger man packed into his tiny frame; this would almost explain the vast (for his size) amounts of food he is capable of ingesting.
As well as energy, he appears to have a limitless capacity for seeking adventure; he loves nothing better than seeing new places and trying new things. His taste for exploration has got him lost, stuck, and mildly damaged more than a few times in the past, and while he's always very apologetic on the occasions he's needed rescuing his enthusiasm for trying to squeeze through that mysterious gap or trying to climb right to the top of that tree has never diminished. As a result of this adventuring attitude S'ol usually has at least one bruise or cut or scrape somewhere on his person, and if asked he's quite happy to relate the story behind his latest injury, with greater or lesser degrees of sheepishness depending on how silly that story might be.
On a different note S'ol has a strong sense of justice, of what is right and wrong; he always strives to do said right thing even if it's harder than the wrong thing, even if he thinks it'll get him or somebody he likes into trouble. While he's loyal to his friends, he believes that if they screw up then they have to atone for their mistake, and will lose a lot of respect for them if they try to cover up what they've done to save face. He's rather unbending in his views, hard to persuade him that there are grey areas let alone that what he sees as black might look like white to another person, and can be a bit preachy/holier than thou on the subject; those around him can expect to hear a lot about the correct way to address a superior about an issue they have, etc etc. Since Impressing Zaqueth he has become better at not just condemning people who do wrong as irredeemable but he still has a very clearly defined view of what is correct and just, and what is incorrect and unjust.
Although S'ol is very much a part of Weyr life now and would seriously flounder in the culture of his small home Hold if he had to live there forever he still holds onto the romantic ideal of monogamy. Unfortunately his luck with women is less than stellar; he gets awkward around people he's attracted to and though he believes that he is a good person he certainly doesn't consider himself much of a catch romantically, something that has only been reinforced by unkind comments about his appearance over the turns. He hasn't given up on finding love by any means (quitting isn't in his dictionary) but he doesn't really expect to find somebody any time soon either.
All of S'ol's energy, sense of what's right and wrong, and determination are aimed at being the best that he can be. While he was a miner he was determined to become a master one day, and now that he's a rider he's determined to be the best at that he can possibly be. Part of this is a burning determination to prove that he and Zaqueth are worth just as much as any bronze rider of 1st wing; he cannot stand the injustice of how the Weyr is organized is actively campaigning against it. His focus at the moment is on sexism but colour prejudice is well on his radar too! No matter how many times he is knocked back or shushed he will keep on going until he sees the changes he knows are needed.
History: Senkol was born in a small Hold attached to a small mining Hall. He had an elder brother some ten turns his senior, one seven turns his senior and a sister five turns his senior, plus a sister who would have been two turns his senior but for her death in infancy. His father was a miner - not a crafter but no less a hard working man for his lack of knots and expert knowledge - while his mother made baskets and took in laundry to bring in a few extra marks. Senkol was four when his father was killed in a mining accident and his mother pregnant again; out of necessity she soon remarried to the brother of her best friend (another miner), who had recently lost his wife in childbirth. He brought a three turn old girl with him and the two shattered families became one.
Not long after this Senkol's eldest brother was Searched to High Reaches Weyr and the young boy fell in love with the idea of dragons; he had always loved adventure and exploration and what greater adventure could there be than Impressing a dragon? At that stage he did not appreciate the responsibilities of a rider, merely dreamed of how wonderful it would be to fly wherever he liked on Pern with his dragon and probably rescue people and discover things nobody had ever seen before.
Over the turns four healthy half siblings came along (though the 'half' never occurred to Senkol, they were family and that was that), his second eldest brother moved out, and then his elder sister married and moved out. Senkol became to work in the mines himself aged ten - his family needed the money - and the tiny but tough boy excelled in getting into tight spaces to start opening up new tunnels. It was a hard existence but he was undeterred, remaining optimistic and enthusiastic. Though he still daydreamed about dragons he was practical enough to have other dreams; maybe he would earn enough to get himself an apprenticeship, become a masterminer and discover glorious caves full of beautiful crystals. He never really gave up on the idea of being a rider though and was encouraged in his desire to attend Searches by both of his parents; two riders in the family would be quite an honour! It was a dangerous life, yes, but so was being a miner and at least riders didn't die young of blacklung and he could earn money the simple family could only dream of.
Senkol was Searched when he was twelve, along with a girl from a neighbouring Hold which had joined up with his for the convenience of the riders. After a joyful celebration and a hasty packing session Senkol bid farewell to his family and departed for the Weyr. Candidacy turned out to be tougher than he had expected but the energetic youth quickly adapted to the schedule, throwing himself enthusiastically into all of his lessons and completing his chores with if not good grace at least not bad grace. The sheer number of people - strangers - around him was quite a shock; having lived in a small Hold all his life the only strangers he ever met were Harper and Traders but after a wide-eyed first day the adventurous boy greeted the new people and new experienced with boundless enthusiasm. Illiterate when he arrived (well, he could write his name) Senkol found learning to read and write hardest; basic maths he could do in his head and learning to translate that to squiggles on paper was easy enough comparatively especially with the help of an abacus. While he is perfectly comfortable reading and writing today it took several turns beyond his candidacy for this to become the case.
He was squired to L'ris of green Pennath in turn 192 and got into a bit of trouble here and there by her life lessons in things such as 'learning the finer points of bar brawling'. He survived her exciting tutelage however, becoming fond of her and her dragon, and at the beginning of turn 193 he was deemed ready to Stand.
Then the plague came. Senkol watched in horror as dragonkin dropped like flies and even he, optimistic in any situation, feared that this could be the end of dragonriders - the end of the world. Fate however had at least a little mercy in her heart and gold Hiraeth, who had fallen ill quite early, recovered. Knowing she was due to rise soon the Weyrmistress arranged for Hiraeth, her rider Venk, and a small retinue of recovered browns and bronzes to go to the desert near Igen in a desperate attempt to protect her and her clutch-to-be. The arrangement with Igen, also being decimated by the plague, was that if they permitted Hiraeth to clutch in their territory they could send Candidates to her and any who Impressed would be allowed to return to Igen once the sickness was passed. High Reaches of course sent its own candidates too, Senkol amongst them.
At a chaotic and bloody hatching Senkol was chosen by blue Zaqueth, after he had finished trying to protect candidates from an especially vicious bronze that was. Their early days as dragon and rider were spent in the desert; supplies were fetched in by the browns and bronzes of High Reaches while Hiraeth and a handful of recovered dragons from Igen guarded the hatchlings from any mishap. They were educated by one of Igen's assistant weyrlingmasters with help from the rest of the adult riders when required. When the plague finally abated in early 194 the clutch moved to Igen Weyr where they remained until they were old enough for those whose riders came from High Reaches to between home.
They returned to a place changed from the one they had known, and for Senkol at least it really hit home how those candidates from Igen must have felt when they returned to their Weyr from the desert those months before. People he had aspired to be like were gone. The skies were still, barely a dragon aloft to be seen. Weyrs lay empty, and empty-eyed Dragonless men and women wandered the halls. The returning dragons and weyrlings were welcomed with as much celebration as could be mustered, Hiraeth and the gold she had clutched represented a future of dragonkind in High Reaches and the rest of the clutch represented the rebuilding of their fighting forces.
It was not only sadness at the devastation that he felt upon his return to High Reaches Weyr but frustration and anger as well. At Igen all the clutch had been treated as equals but in High Reaches it quickly became clear to him that his 'place' was down near the bottom of the pecking order, that bronze pairs were innately more valuable than he and Zaqueth and their fellow small chromatics. He hadn't noticed the sexism endemic to High Reaches culture when he first arrived, his own Hold had held similar attitudes, but when he returned from Igen the unfairness of it all was something he couldn't ignore. Senkol became very vocal about equality and justice, and generally made quite a nuisance of himself from the point of view of many.
Although he was a bright, able, enthusiastic youth when it came to graduation time Senkol was not asked to join a combat wing; this was probably partially because he was rocking the boat and partially because Zaqueth disliked the limelight. Instead they were offered a place in 4th wing (there was only one in the aftermath of the plague); Senkol accepted readily, took his oath and elided his name to S'ol. This saw the blue pair throw into disaster relief work helping to manage refugee camps that came as a consequence with the war that swept across Pern, work that they both thrived on. Although he loved his work and felt that it was just as important as anything anyone else did however S'ol couldn't help being angry at being viewed as lesser than those who had been chosen to fly with the higher wings.
Still aged only 16, although S'ol really wanted to make a difference to the world - to change the Weyr for the better - he had no idea of how to go about it. Undeterred by not having a clue he continued to loudly voice his opinions and tried to persuade others to feel the same way. When he received his first pay packet he went to Kimmer Hold and opened three different accounts; one to hold money earmarked for apprentice fees for his younger siblings or young nieces and nephews, a personal one for his own use, and a 'campaign fund'. Into the latter he put what he saw as the 'extra' money he wasn't due, that was paid to him but not to his female wingmates. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with the 'campaign fund' but, well, the money was there and when he worked out how to effectively fight the system he would have some cash in place to pay for anything that might be needed.
In the summer of turn 195 S'ol was working with his squad (one third of the wing, answering to one of the wingseconds) in a small refugee camp that was housing cotholders who had lost their homes to a fire. All was well - as well as could be expected under the circumstances - until a couple of the children developed first a rash and then pustules all over their skin, concentrated on their faces and limbs. Recognizing the symptoms of smallpox the wingsecond grounded his riders immediately and set up a perimeter that nobody was allowed to pass. With memories of the dragonplague so fresh in their minds many of the riders were terrified, S'ol included. This might be a threat to them not to their bondmates but many of them had developed an understandable horror of disease they had no way to fight. Afraid or not however they did their duty, keeping those who became ill as far from the healthy as they could but ensuring nobody slipped away to potentially infect others. S'ol spent most of his time with the cothold's healthy children; he was non-threatening and able to maintain an air of optimism despite the deadly danger so close to them.
Despite efforts to contain the sickness to the initial handful of cases others began to get sick, S'ol included. Confined to a large tent with the other victims he spent two weeks in agonized delirium. It was fortunate for him - and the rest of the sick - that the Weyr was able to send in a few healers who themselves had been sick with the pox in the past and so were (mainly) confident that they wouldn't catch it again and as such were allowed in to care for the infected.
Of the twenty who fell ill five eventually died of the disease, including another rider who had become ill shortly after S'ol. S'ol himself recovered and, as he'll always be quick to point out, is quite lucky to be alive and also not blind or suffering ongoing complications. He was however scarred rather badly; the ravages of the illness left his face, hands, arms and legs covered in unsightly pockmarks. Such scars are relatively common but that doesn't make them any nicer to look at. Still, S'ol said that at least it was better him than somebody who'd had good looks to lose; he was upset by them, and the reaction some have to them, but he tried not to let it get to him. He was alive and he had his dragon, what more could anyone ask for? He tried to feel it as well as to say it with little success at first but more as time went on and he came to terms with his new appearance; it hurt when people were repulsed but his friends weren't and if he ever found a weyrmate at least he'd know they weren't just interested in his looks.
Later in this turn S'ol requested and was granted permission to spend a turn as an atachee back in his home Hold. He spent the time getting to know old friends again and of course forming new links with people from all walks of life. He spent quite a lot of time with some of the senior miners and builders, learning about the stabilization of shafts and structures alike, things he had always wanted to learn more about as a boy and useful knowledge and skills for a fourth wing rider to possess. While he enjoyed his time in the Hold, and extended time with his family, S'ol was keen to get back to work as soon as he returned to the Weyr; the Hold was lovely to visit, even to stay in for a while, but High Reaches Weyr was his home now.
When S'ol turned 20 in turn turn 199 he joined the Special Investigators and also signed up as a Searchrider. So far the candidates he and Zaqueth have brought in have had a good to average rate of successfully Impressing.
Probably the most distinguished moment of S'ol's career so far came in turn 200 when his wing responded to a flooded and storm damaged holds. The combination of high winds and the force of the water had caused the partial collapse of a home near to the river, and the family was still trapped inside. S'ol was the only rider in the immediate vicinity small enough to squeeze through the gap left by the remains of a window, and so in he went even though the water was still rising and threatening to cut off retreat before long. Locating the family by the light of his glow he was able to get the two youngest children back out the way he had come but the two elder daughters and her parents couldn't fit. Using his knowledge of shoring up mineshafts S'ol worked quickly with the girls and their parents to shift some of the fallen roof beams slightly to make a small corner of the house stable enough for the dragons outside to rip off a wall and allow them to escape. S'ol was wet, freezing, bashed, scraped, and a little bit dazed because he got hit on the head by a falling window shutter somewhere during proceedings but he was triumphant and got a kiss on the cheek from the eldest daughter so he considered it a good night over all!
When the new Pass began S'ol and Zaqueth rose to the occasion along with their wingmates, the whole Weyr come to that. Zaqueth took a serious score down his back and across his right flank during the first turn, putting them out of action for several months but the blue fully recovered. They have been injured in action since but never as seriously as the first time, the longest they have been grounded is three weeks.
The 8th anniversary of S'ol's oath taking has recently passed and he chose to mark it by shaving his head and renewing his vows. Before he made the vow however he made a speech about the pay inequality in the Weyr, and tied in his intention to change it with the oath he then spoke: 'When I swore my oath eight turns ago I said that I would fight all who do wrong. This is wrong, and as I renew my oath today I swear to keep fighting until it is righted.'
I will be kind to the weak
I will be brave against the strong
I will fight all who do wrong
I will fight for those who cannot fight
I will help those who call me for help
I will help my fellow riders
I will be true to my friends
I will be faithful in love
THE DRAGON
Name: Zaqueth
Age: 10
Colour: Blue
Feel of voice: Seven stars gleam in a dark sky. A gentle breeze whispers through the branches of a tree. A raised shield.
Appearance: Zaqueth is primarily a handsome but understated dusky shade of blue He has elegant silvery-grey-blue running from his shoulders down his spine, perhaps calling to mind a stylized sapling tree. Little elegant markings in the same hue sweep back from his eyes and running from his nose down the back of his skull, and he has adorable star shaped markings on the top of each foot.
Roughly average sized for a blue, his build is small and his wings are broad giving him greater speed. He looks a good bit larger in flight than he does on the ground, thanks mainly to his wings, but lacks the stamina to keep up with larger colors due to his size. A speedy, agile flier. x x x
Personality: Zaqueth is a decent size…for a blue. But while he may be small physically in comparison to the other colors, he is not small of heart. Noble and compassionate, he might have one day been a great partner to a weyrleader if he had been born a bronze…but instead he is a mostly unnoticeable color and actually prefers as much. Responsible and kind, he is both a guide and a guardian of those who would look to him for aid, and a steadfast defender against those who might ‘bully’ the smaller. But rather than claim leadership outright, he prefers to be more of a shadow supporter, there when needed and capable of leading, but more comfortable in his anonymity. There is a desire there to look after others, but not to rule them.
He understands how to make someone work up to their potential, and is more inclined to gently nudge and suggest rather than give directions or criticize. He wants others to grow into their best selves...not make them 'better' in some way that isn't theirs. Everyone counts, everyone has a gift, everyone deserves a chance. Just as he is confident within himself, he seeks to help foster confidence in others. If they need looking after and protecting, he will gladly give it to them, but he would rather not become a crutch and will constantly push others to stand on their own, even if it means forgetting all about him.
Fighting is not something he likes or approves of, but it is something he views as a necessary evil. Even someone who might be an enemy today could be an invaluable ally tomorrow, and they still possess good qualities that could make the world a greater place. However, sometimes those who are stronger might try to push those who are weaker, stifling or breaking them. This is unacceptable, and if diplomacy fails then Zaqueth will gladly fight to protect those who need protecting. He does not need to know he will 'win' in a confrontation to know it is the right thing to do, and if it is the right thing to do then he will do his best. It matters to him that those whom he confronts do know that he does not dislike them, but rather disapproves of their behavior. There is, in the blue's mind, no such thing as an inherently 'bad' person.
Zaqueth is a friendly dragon, but a quiet one. Patient, approachable, calm, and not the least bit judgmental, there is no problem too silly or petty for him to take the time to tend to. Zaqueth is here if you need him, and will listen to anything you feel you need to say. Disagreements will be mild, and advice is never harsh or critical, always carefully considered and gently delivered in the form of questions that lead his visitor to find the answer they need on their own.
Attention is not necessary, and the blue will not be bothered if, pleased with the solution he has led you to, you run off and forget all about ever needing his help. He doesn't need anyone to 'owe him', he isn't looking for power or renown. Far from it, he prefers to be just another blue and is content in knowing that he is capable of making a difference. The limelight merely makes him uncomfortable and embarrassed, not because he is shy or awkward, but because he is modest. While is never the sort to run and hide from anything, he will spend the least amount of time dragonly possible in the center of attention. Surely there is someone else more deserving of praise after all, he's just a blue...
Why me?: There are bigger things in the world than a simple blue and his rider, and Zaqueth needs a partner who can understand that. Understand it, but not simply give up because of it. Someone who can get knocked down but stand up again because it needs to be done is a partner that would suit him and in that aspect Senkol is unwavering. Doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do, regardless of personal cost, is another thing that Zaqueth’s partner must be able to understand, and again Senkol can do that. They can be their best, together, and together they can help others to become their best as well, because being kind to others and making sure everyone is safely looked after very important. Advising others is a skill they share, but Zaqueth is likely to try to persuade his new partner that the world is not quite in black and white and a gentler, quieter touch is sometimes needed. As Zaqueth works to encourage Senkol to be more humble and open-minded, Senkol’s confidence and thirst for adventure are just the pull the blue might need to dare a bit more of the spotlight. They make a good team, and even a simple blue and his rider deserve notice and approval. The world is out there, just waiting for them.
Link to firelizard cert/s if applicable:
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:56 am
 "Welcome to Fourth-Two S'ol, Zaqueth. Come quickly now, no time to lose, we have work to do!" - Wingleader J'ian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
