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Rider
Name: Cai
Age: 30
Gender: Androgyne (she/her/hers)
Sexual Orientation: Asexual / Weyrmated
Rank: J-man Healer, Crimson Rider
History: Chrysicai was born and spent her early life at Benden Weyr. Her mother was a blue rider and her father a baker who first attracted her by plying her with sweets. After a brief romance he fell disinterested and left her with child, telling her to drop it between as he wanted nothing to do with fatherhood. Distraught she kept the child, naming it strongly after him in hopes of regaining his affections. Sicayris was true to his word though, even though the child obviously bore the stamp of his genetics he wanted nothing to do with her or her mother.

Cai was relegated to the creche to be raised with the rest of the weyrbrats. Her mother visited her rarely, regretting her decision to keep the child. It never terribly bothered Cai, it was a natural fact of weyrlife after all. Dragonrider children rarely had strong bonds with their parents. The one thing she learned from her mother is to hate her father for leaving her and to never give herself completely to any man.

Cai was a very independent child from the get go. Stubborn and sure of herself she fought her way to the top of the pecking order, developing a circle of friends who followed her like canines. Cai showed an interest in medicine early and instead of Standing at the weyrs dwindling clutches, she chose to go to the Healers Hall for training.

Five years of training later and Cai has opted to return to her home weyr to study dragon anatomy, possibly considering dragon healing as a future career path.

UPDATE HERE:

An attack, a revolution, and the first of what would be many battles to come saw Cai's life turned upside down in the matter of months. Within her first turn after leaving the Healers Hall, Cai was living half a world away and had two new lifemates (though Wen she wouldn't recognize for what he was to her until much much later).

As a unprepared crimson rider Cai struggled to create her own space in the weyr hierarchy. She, and her bonded, were no fighters. At least not in the traditional sense, but neither would she stand to be a 'useless waste of space' in her own mind, doing busy work between her dragon's rare clutches. Cai wasn't going to let the happy accident of Impression deter her from the path she had set herself and while training, life, and politics delayed her for some turns, Cai finally earned her Journeyman's knots just before Sharath's ill-fated final clutch.

Her intent upon the start of the wher-wars had been to put her skills to use as an emergency field medic, which she did do in time near the later half of the war but initially she was delayed by yet another unexpected surprise. She was pregnant and it was that twisted fate she was growing accustomed to that she only discovered it for certain after Miath had grown heavy with her first clutch as well.

Her pregnancy was hard, not only because of her being ill suited to carrying such a heavy burden, but because she was constantly bickering with the healers who attempted to tend to her about what she could and could not handle, even after a visit to the Tri-lakes pod confirmed the fact that she was not having just one child, but two. (Wen came very close to losing his life on that short trip. Cai is not the most gracious of expectant mothers.)

Labor came early and lasted entirely too long. Cai was left drained and weak for months afterwards despite delivering two small but healthy fair haired girls. Just as she had been during pregnancy though, Cai was stubborn and argumentative about the care of her infants. Yes she may not have intended to start a family but she'd already raised one small and sickly dragon she wasn't about to let anyone else get their hands on her daughters. Well, except for Wen and Jemi when they weren't off fighting.

The girls were only about half a turn old though when Cai could take the feeling of idleness no longer and she took up active duty again, leaving them with the creche workers (and very detailed warnings about what she could do to them should they not live up to her expectations for her daughters.) During the final turning tides of the war, Cai flew with small teams of fast dragons, retrieving and caring for riders and dragons injured in battle. It was hard and bloody but before she knew it, the war had been won, Keller was defeated and she was able to return home with her weyrmates and their children and just breath for a time.

Of course peace never seemed to last long. With nothing to occupy their minds it seemed those of rank and importance needed something new to entertain themselves (as Cai saw the growing tension between Pern's Goldriders and the rest of the world) Before her children were even speaking in full sentences it seemed the planet was about to erupt into yet another war.

Cai once again, unable to keep her nose out of anything she may have the slightest opinion on was one of the first riders to join the Rogue hunters. While Miath was a breeder and not a fighter, Cai insisted that her experience as a field medic and Miath's ability to resist gold command made her invaluable to the teams tracking and capturing the rogue riders.

Description: Time, war and childbearing have all left their mark on the once willowy youth. Now, at near three decades of age, Cai has finally grown into her long limbs and strong features. The softness of youth has melted in favor of sharp lines and sturdy muscles developed by her duties as a healer, a rider, and a parent. While she'll never catch up to say, Jemi, in terms of sheer size and strength, Cai has taken what nature gave her and trained it to suit her needs.

One thing that hasn't changed is the still obnoxiously orange braid that runs down her spine. At least, no one but her partners are allowed close enough to actually see the strands of wiry grey hairs threading their way back from her forehead or the lines of past tension defining the corners of her eyes and mouth.


Personality: Sit Down. Shut Up. Do as I say. Cai is In Charge and you'll just have to deal with it. This is her show and she'll run it whichever way she likes. She wants her fingers in every little pie and everything going her way. Cai is very much the micro manager. She'll constantly be on others backs, making sure they're doing their work properly. She doesn't so much agree with lazing about. There are things to be done and people need to do them NOW not later or when they feel like it.

Cai believes she's doing what's best for the Weyr and it's inhabitants though many will just find her bossy. Cai will question anyone and everyone's methods if she doesn't think they're the best. "Why not do it this way? It would go a lot faster if you did this..." ect. The terrible thing is when she's given the control she needs she does a good job! While she won't make friends with those she bosses around, you can't deny she gets results.

Cai doesn't like people arguing with her. She's very stubborn and set in her ideas. Things will go a LOT smoother if you'll just do as she says. As a healer she's shown a talent for it. Her serious attitude applies itself well to her chosen craft though her bedside manners leave much to be desired. She can be sympathetic but she's never empathetic. In fact she's quite blunt in telling you the truth and exactly what she thinks.

Friendships are easy enough to maintain so long as she surrounds herself with followers. She hates being challenged for her position. If you want someone to give you direction she's the girl for you. She doesn't respond well to authority herself unless she agrees with their means. If she wants to learn something by all means she'll put everything into it but as stated, if she feels there's a better way to do it she'll find it and demand a change of methods. Should she be punished for something she'll not take it kindly. How DARE they put her on tuber duty when she was only trying to make things better?! They're just stubborn old hidebound wherries. She'll show them.

Cai strongly believes in what she does. She loves her home and wants what's best for it. Whether that means challenging old ideas and traditions or upholding them she'll do everything within her power to improve the lives of everyone in the Weyr according to her idea of how it should be. She values self motivators and those with a strong work ethic as well as education and people with open minds.

She has a petty streak. She'd not above doling out her own form of punishment...such as numbweed on the rim of your cup. It's just her way of solving an annoying problem that hasn't responded to other more conventional methods. (as in shutting up when she tells you to) She never does anything that could seriously harm someone and she doesn't see these antics as pranks. Just teaching them a lesson that they're apparently too dim in the head to learn.

Though she's interested in dragonhealing, her favorite subject of study is herbology. She loves learning about Pern's flora and what type of uses and dangers they may have.

She doesn't react violently, at least not physically. Sure she'll imagine punching someone in the gut but she won't actually do it. The only time she'd strike someone is if they were attacking her or invading her personal space in a way she dislikes. Even then it would take some button pushing before she really lets loose on you. (Hugs and kisses are a no no) She's not above yelling and scolding or insulting someone though.

Cai doesn't quite fit with her home weyr. Being of a younger generation she's thought long and hard about it and it just makes sense to her that Benden needs to change if it's to survive in this Pass. Being exposed to the medical advancements AVIAS provided centuries ago as well as a more open minded knowledge of what goes on outside of old hidebound Benden she firmly believes they need to accept the changing of the times. She wholly supports the Ancient Crafter Archimonde in his works but believes there is more to be done. Atypicals have proven themselves sturdy and useful to the southern Weyrs and with Benden's dwindling health and wing strength, they need all the dragons they can get. If a young dragon as small as a green can grow to be the size of a bronze AND produce a larger flame, shouldn't that be considered an asset rather than a liability?

As far as romance goes. She's doesn't want anything to do with it. It's frivolous and if what her mother taught her is true, only gets you hurt. She walls off the little part of herself that says this boy or that is cute and tries to ignore any obvious attempts at flirting. Falling in love is something she's determined NOT to do.

While she can be friendly with people who don't rub her the wrong way, she doesn't ever take the time to relax. She'll chat with people while doing chores, or eating meals. But during her down time she wants to be doing something. Sitting around lounging in the sun or playing games makes her feel very awkward. She'll usually prowl the weyr looking for someone who needs help with what they're doing or she'll use her free time to further study the dragons or her herbs.

Pros: Motivated, Strong work ethic, responsible, bold, honest, brave,
Cons: Cold, bossy, argumentative, Demands perfection from others, petty.


Other:
Cai and Wen's daughters are about ten turns old now.

Dragon
Name: Miath
Age: 13
Colour: Crimson
Description: Custom Crimson

Size: Very Small
Build: Below Average

Personality: Miath is a creature of the senses. Things that look nice, feel nice, sound nice, or smell and taste nice all appeal to this self indulgent dragon. Unpleasant things like chores, and lessons are generally to be avoided. She'd much rather laze about on a perfectly sunny beach then attend to her rider's studies. With the threat of Thread over their heads and war amongst the weyrs should they not live every day to it's fullest? A day spent indoors hard at work is a day wasted that they will never get back. Miath intends to never waste a single day this way.

Not to say she will never pull her weight among the wings. She can be convinced to put effort towards a common goal... if you bribe her. Promises of a deep scrubbing or an extra fat herdbeast can be quite the motivators so long as you keep up your end of the bargain. Miath will be severely disappointed in you if you don't. You may find yourself something that is no longer pleasant and shouldn't be around her till she forgets about the incident. This can even extend to her rider. Should Hers not follow through with a promise she may find herself shut out of the crimson's mind and given the cold shoulder. Thankfully due to a stereotypically draconic memory, Miath most likely will have forgotten your transgression by the next morning.

When it comes to a crimson's reputed temper Miath displays little of it. She has a very long fuse and explosive reactions are extremely rare. She forgives and forgets with relative ease. Miath would much rather move past any unpleasant nonsense and get back to sunning.

A dragon so focused on personal pleasure might be seen as conceited and vain. Miath is gregarious in her indulgences, wanting to share her time and pleasures with as many companions as possible. It's not all about her enjoyment but that of everyone. They had better hope they enjoy her own brand of pleasures because Miath can be VERY insistent. Being alone does not agree with Miath. What is a swim in the lake if she has no one to talk to or play with?

Miath is not entirely an open book either. What goes on between her and her rider is Their Business and not to be discussed amongst others. Attempts to pry into their relationship are a quick ticket to shuns-ville and if you persist? It's one of the few things that can make this crimson snap.
Other: