Approved by Tsunake
Roka's journal can now be found here.
Name: Roka
Age: 30
Sex: Female
Sexual Orientation: Unknown at this time.
Craft: Healercraft - Trauma x MindHealing
Rank: Sr. Journeywoman
Physical Description: Of average height and less than average weight, Roka, literally, is a sight for sore eyes. She doesn't look as old as she is, often mistaken for being in her twenties. This both helps and hinders her work; many assume her to be younger and thus less experienced than she is, but on the other hand, it's easy to have good beside manner when you're easy on the eyes. She has a traditional hour glass figure and isn't exactly lacking in the chest area, nor is she short on tops that flaunt this feature.
Her skin is dark enough to suggest it's the product of lineage rather than the sun, but being commonplace among Weyrbrats, no one seems to know what said lineage is enough to be sure. Her hair, too, is very dark, running down her back with a slight wavy sort of curl to it. Both are a contrast to her fairly light brown, oval-shaped eyes.
Personality: The first thing that Roka would make known about her is that she is a firm believer the healing of the body is no good without the mending of the mind. Other healers may feel the same, but Roka takes it to the extreme. It took some life experience to influence such a strong opinion, yes, and now she couldn't imagine thinking any other way. Although Pern has no established science for psychology, chances are, Roka is one of the closet things you'll get. She spends much time observing others behaviors, placing unknowing parties into what she calls "reaction tests"; scenarios which she involves multiple people in and pays close attention to the most and least common reactions. Of course, as this practice is more of a hobby than a job most of the time, it's of no surprise she's a specialist in trauma as well.
Cuts, bruises, burns, broken bones. That kind of thing she can handle, and handle well. Roka has a very gentle hand with her patients most of them time since she began her study of Mindhealing. In the past, however, she was known for skilled hands but a nasty bedside manner and, sometimes, it still shines through when a patient is being too stubborn for her liking. Her real conflict is most often with other healers, actually, because being so take-charge she has a hard time working with anyone whose personality stacks up to hers. In addition, her room for error is assumed to be zero. Seeing mistakes repeated is Not Acceptable; Heaven help you if you mess up twice! This makes her highly unfavorable for apprentices and spawned many less than fond nicknames in her prior residence.
When it comes to matters not involving her craft, she actually enjoys interaction, even loves it. Being so confident has, not surprisingly, led to her being assertive. She's as outgoing as she is outspoken and not usually effected by criticism. To some, she appears arrogant and confrontational, and may even overwhelm the more shy types by seeming intimidating and controlling. Well aware of this, Roka admires those who can stand up to her that argue persuasively on their behalf. So long as it is persuasive and it isn't in the workplace.
Unfortunately, work is usually where you'll find her. She can't seem to pull herself away, perhaps too goal oriented for her own good. If she doesn't have a goal, have something she's supposed to be aiming for, Roka isn't happy. And if Roka isn't happy, people around her probably won't be either. Thankfully, she always seems to have a clear vision of what could and should be and is realistic on how to reach that point. Sometimes, she might decide things too quickly. Hesitation? Never heard of it. It's both a good and bad thing, like most things about her are.
Roka strives to learn new things, especially ones that can help her. She is organized and efficient in all she does, or at least, she tries to be. Fiercely independent in decision making, she will either become something great or be led straight to her downfall by the very things she assumes make her strong.
History: Roka never knew her parents. Don't feel bad, who does when it comes to Weyrbrats like her? As a child, she was interested in dragons enough to agree to candidacy. Obviously, she never impressed. This didn't devastate her, but it did, however, offend her. Why wasn't she good enough? Stupid dragons!
Her best friend since childhood didn't face this rejection, becoming a greenrider among many. Roka, too, remained with her, though only after she spent more turns learning the tricks and trade of her craft. A sickness swept across the Weyr somewhat similar to the one that struck Ista. The flu was vicious enough to have causalities, and among them, her friend's beloved younger sister. So beloved, in fact, her friend just seemed to... lack the willpower to try and get better.
As others revived themselves, aided by other healers, from the illness, Roka watched helpless as her friend wasted away, too consumed in mourning the loss to concern herself with her own. She died, and after her dragon would suicide, they both left behind a completely baffled woman. It was this loss that prompted Roka to seek out more information about not just the physical needs of humans, but their emotional needs. She saw first hand that, without things she had previously cast aside as useless (willpower, love, feelings in general), not even a healer could help.
Somehow, she caught wind of the illness plaguing Ista. Her request to transfer was denied. After all, her hands were meant to heal burns and bruises, not sickness. What good would she be? It wasn't until the recent clutch was prematurely touched, preventing the actual touching from taking place, that she was allowed to move there under the claim she would be an ideal standby for probable injuries resulting from the mishap when the hatching occurs.
Pets: N/A
Other/Talents:
- Stitches, burns, broken bones and things of that nature she can heal, mend, handle and treat with all the experience she's gathered over the years.
- Extremely good memory; not likely to forget anyone's name, or even their dragon's name.
- Excels in leadership.
Will this character be a candidate?: No.
Picture: [x]
