Name: Ro'di
Age: 72
Gender: Male
Sexual Preference: He's too old to bother with that anymore.
Rank: Wingleader
Former Craft: Guardsman
Personality: Disciplined, Confidant, Non-judgmental,
Stubborn, Nosy, Lies to himself, Over indulgent of children and youth
Cantankerous old b*****d. No really, Ro'di, if anything is the kind of grandpa you WISHED you had and your parents are glad you didn't. He tells stories you're far too young to hear, and'll slip you sips off his wine cup when your parents aren't looking. Unless you're a weyrling. No wine for you.
He's come to realize through experience that if you don't live your life while you can, you'll regret it when you can't. He figures he's got 40 turns to catch up on and while discipline and responsibility are always good things to have throughout your life, the ability to relax and take time off is just as important to a person's well being. So he'll spend time among the new weyrlings, and encourage them to play hard, and work harder.
Ro'di is more indulgent of younger children and candidates. They might as well have their fun when they can right? While he didn't experience it personally, he's seen that candidacy generally ends in three ways, and only one is a happy ending. While he doesn't regret being a guard exactly, he does regret spending his childhood in drills and lessons rather than being a kid.
Not to say he's not above spending his time with the other riders or even people his own age. Most of his time will be spent among adults, leading his wing, and relaxing with his riders in the off hours. He's not ready to give up his position of authority just yet, and frankly not many riders would appreciate the onslaught of 'pointers' and advice the old man would be slinging their way if he did.
Ro'di says he's here to relax, to let go of some of his tension. He says a lot of things. He's even half convinced himself of some of them. He, and Orthoth, both know that being old codgers doesn't agree with them. Well, with Ro'di at least. Orthoth is perfectly happy to just do nothing until a green rises. Ro'di will find himself sticking his nose in the other Wingleader's business, maybe even shadowing the young Weyrleaders. He'll pester the guards, the crafters, the lower cavern workers. All under the guise of socialness and curiosity but truthfully he just can't stand being out of the loop.
Physical Description: Looks old but test him and he'll still whoop your rear into the next sevenday. Despite his age, Ro'di is still a solidly built man and barely looks over 50. He may not be a brick house but at 5'10 he can still haul a couple bags of firestone on his own with a straight back and only minimal grunting.
His once dark blond hair is now ashen with greys but still long and has barely begun to thin. Ro'di feels he ought to enjoy it while he still has it. His beard and brows have also gone grey and a little bushy but he keeps his face well trimmed with a clean shaped goatee.
He usually tries to appear approachable. He may be a Wingleader and a Guardsman but he never wanted anyone to be intimidated by him or his rank. Ro'di prefers face to face communication.
It's just a good thing he's not afraid of standing out either. Ro'di's pale looks will stick out like a sore thumb among the dark hair and tanned skin of the native islanders.
History: Roverodi spent the majority of his life at Benden Weyr. At least, from the moment he Impressed at 19, to the moment he decided a tropical semi-retirement might be in order.
Roverodi originally hails from the mountainous Lemos in the north. Second oldest in a line of brothers born to a moderately large holding, Roverodi started his training as a guard young. For a couple turns he worked at both the main hold, and his families holding. Mostly as patrols against wild animals or the rare holdless. He was searched from Lemos it'self at 19, taken to Benden and eventually Impressed bronze Orthoth.
His discipline and training as a guard served him well during his first few turns with the large bronze. It didn't take them long to earn their place among the ranks after graduation, starting off as watch riders, then wing thirds, seconds and by the time Ro'di was 32 they'd earned a Wing of their own.
The problem with being a wingleader in uptight traditional Benden is you have to be responsible both on and off the clock. You had to keep up appearances at all times, either to impress those outside the weyr, impress those inside the weyr, or to keep your own riders in line. Ro'di had been 'responsible' his whole life and after 40 turns leading a wing in the cold skies of Benden, Ro'di decided he and his joints had had enough of it. He was still in prime condition and he intended to use his body to it's fullest while he still could.
With some coordination with the Weyrleaders he arranged his transfer to a warmer weyr down south. While he won't be spending every night getting completely blitzed and letting loose, he does intend to take it easy for a while. At least until he gets bored.
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