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 Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:47 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:56 am
An Appendix of Terms
1 - Cover Page
2 - Appendix of Terms
3 - My Name and Credentials
4 - A Brief History and Commentary on High Reaches Hold
5 - Listed Inventory and Living Space
6 - Field Notes on Specified Individuals
7 - Brave Leoth, Strong Leoth
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 11:00 am
My Name and Credentials
 Name: Alcine
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Rank: Weyrling
Appearance: Alcine never grew out of her 'all limbs' phase of childhood, and at this point it seems likely that she'll keep her scrawny frame her entire life. She's exceptionally tall at 5'11", and her height only adds to the gauntness of her figure, her arms and legs long and bony. She never manages to quite look sickly, as there's a healthy flush to her pale skin and an alert gleam in her blue-grey eyes, but she's never put on more than the lean muscle in the entirety of her training. Her hands have nimble crafter's fingers that would have done well in a weaver hall, and the trademark tell for her is when she begins to wring her hands, either in distress or disgust.
Her face, like her body, is long and gaunt, with high cheekbones and thin features. Her eyes are mildly downturned at the corners, and her default expression looks wistful and a little sad. Her nose takes up a little too much of her face to be considered conventionally 'pretty', and her ears stick out particularly far without a veil of hair on her shaved head. Given the chance to grow, her hair is wispy, straight and blonde, though no one has seen it longer than about a inch for turns.
Personality: What are you holding there? How does it work? Alcine's first words must have been 'how' and 'why', and her curiosity hasn't abated since. She absorbs new material like a sponge and has a voracious appetite for knowledge, with little patience for those who learn more slowly than she. A textbook introvert, she prefers to keep to herself, though she warms up to anyone who could possibly give her something to read. If you want to get her talking, though, just ask her about dragons. She knows factoids by the dozen, and could sit for hours describing the smallest trivia (did you know the size of a bronze's gizzard is bigger than your head? That's amazing!). However, the combination of a low voice and a calm demeanor means she's often spoken over, and she's quick to keep quiet.
It's not enough to be intelligent, though, and Alcine is extremely critical of herself in all aspects of life. If she scores anything lower than the highest marks on an exam, she's put in a dour mood for the rest of the day, even on subjects where she's not known to excel. There was always more time to study, more practice to be done, more technique to be learned, and the unconscious mantra in the back of her mind is 'why haven't you tried hard enough?'. In group studies, she tends to go with the flow, bending to the will of stronger personalitites until she's received a particular assignment. However, once her place has been set, she has to be the best at what she's been tasked to do, or she considers herself a failure.
There are likely a few of her classmates who think the only words in her vocabulary are 'I'm sorry', and she's developed a reputation as something of a pushover. Even if challenged in an area of her own expertise, she is hesitant to defend herself, at least initially. She's a patient girl, and has no qualms about waiting until her opponent is at their weakest before she chooses to initiate confrontation, and the pushover act has done wonders in the past to make people underestimate her. Alcine has the potential, if fostered, to be completely ruthless and manipulative, her detached and intellectual personality perfect for isolating and destroying someone from the inside out. However, she knows from research that it is empathy that draws someone to a bondmate, and its a trait she tries to cultivate as much as she can, whether being a tutor to less-skilled pupils or just existing as a shoulder to cry on. She's learned over the years that most people don't like her honest and brusque brand of advice, so she's stopped trying to give it, but she's a good listener for anyone who wants to talk. She's not the sort to betray a person's trust while in confidence, but she also isn't afraid to use that information to her own advantage, should she need it. Because of her tendency to over-analyze people, she's shy about revealing much about herself, afraid that someone might be able to manipulate her the way she sees the potential to manipulate others. After all, the mind is such a frail, fragile thing in so many people, and the only thing she would ever want in her head was a bondmate she knows won't betray her.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 11:05 am
A Brief History and Commentary on High Reaches Hold and the Activities of Candidacy
Alcine was born at High Reaches Hold to a Journeyman Harper of Melpomene and a minor courtier, in the midst of the skirmishes plaguing the area. She was too young to remember details, but all she heard growing up was the stories of its impact on their sizable hold. For a young one with a thirst for knowledge, she had something of an ideal childhood, trailing behind her harper father and miming his moves. Even as a child she had a good memory and deft hands, and it seemed that the girl was destined for a healers hall. However, at six years old she saw her first dragon, and from then all she was purely transfixed. Every question she asked was about dragons--how big they got, what they ate, how they flew--and while the trait was endearing at first, her father eventually tried to lead her back to healercraft, in the hopes that his daughter would choose something a little less militant for her lifelong career. Alcine could not be swayed, however, and the moment she was old enough she snuck herself away for the Searchrider's inspection, sure that her passion would be enough to whisk her away to candidacy. However, this particular Searchrider didn't seem to find the right stuff in the girl (perhaps clouded by the residual guilt from disobeying her father), and so she was left at the Hold, bawling for the better part of a day. She had tried so hard, so hard, but it hadn't been enough to impress a real rider, which meant that she could never be a rider herself! Disappointed beyond belief, she began to reluctantly prepare for placement in a craft hall.
Plague happened, and its influence reached even the holds, where hushed whispers worried about the state of the world without dragons in it. Alcine herself pored over books, as if the ten year old could find a secret cure to end the plague, but she ultimately had to watch it run its course, decimating the riders she so heavily revered. What came after was worse, though, seeing the effects of the civil war first hand as she started the first few years of healer apprenticeship. If only she had been a dragon rider, she could have stopped the suffering herself instead of patching up the aftermath, and as turns passed she begged and begged her father to allow her to try again. He maintained his reservations, having remembered her disappointed state each time she was refused, but with an increasing pressure to recruit more candidates she was eventually searched at the age of thirteen and permitted to make for High Reaches.
Weyr life was a new and exciting experience, and Alcine took to the first few weeks with absolute zeal, learning everything she could get her hands on. However, once basic training truly began, she slammed into a wall of grueling day-long exercise and painful conditioning. She excelled in the classroom, particularly in tactics and survival, but she was a mess in the ring, falling all over herself and quick to call for mercy. Having just grown into her legs, she was an awkward yearling, prone to bumps and bruises, and being an outsider left her the object of ridicule for most of their early training. However, late in her first year she was matched to spar with one of her prime bullies and pinned him almost instantly with her longer reach, holding him by the throat until he nearly blacked out. It's unclear if she would have continued to choke him if the candidate master hadn't pulled them apart, but after that scene she was largely left alone.
Alcine squired to a grumpy bluerider from the 3rd-2 wing with a reputation for whipping whimpy candidates into shape, and the first thing he did was limit her reading time, sometimes even pulling her out of class for specific training exercises. She'd proven she was smart, yes, but how much was that actually going to help her in the field if she couldn't wield a sword, a bow? The girl eventually took to some amount of archery and learned to use her reach in a sword-fight, but even with the additional tutelage she was always a subpar foot soldier, fit for only 5th wing according to her dragon-master. She stood for Hiraeth's last clutch of the pass but didn't Impress, much to the bluerider's chagrin, and while her classmates were tending to their newly bonded dragons she was doing double-time with her training, as if the blue-rider could beat worthiness into her. She stood for two more hatchings before threadfall arrived, and each time she returned dragonless her rider grew more and more exasperated. Some of his peers had been given three squires in the time he'd had one, was she just that dense? The relationship that grew between rider and squire was not one of affection but of growing resentment, the rider because his squire was beginning to earn him flak from his wingmates who teased that he'd picked a dud, and Alcine because she felt increasingly overwhelmed by his lack of trust. During the first turn of threadfall, Alcine watched as several of her former classmates--now riders--took to the skies and never returned, but instead of feeling grief all she could muster was a bitter sort of envy. They had died heroes, while she was stuck on the ground with decreasing chances of ever taking to the skies.
When she failed to Impress in Cinnamath's most recent clutch, something in her rider broke, and instead of trying to train her harder he began ignoring her studies entirely, helping her only in trying to choose a craft for when she inevitably aged out. Alcine had thought it would be a relief to have the man's scorn finally lifted from her shoulders, but she found his apathy to be an even greater affront, and out of an intense desire to prove him wrong she kept to her candidate duties, going so far as to ignore the texts on wherhandling he 'graciously' procured for her. Her twenty-first birthday looms on the horizon, and with it an impending sense of dread. If not dragon-riding...then what?
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 11:29 am
Listed Inventory and Living Space
Life in the weyrling barracks isn't so different from those belonging to Candidacy--the quarters are tight, the living is still communal, and secrets don't exist. The biggest difference is fairly easy to spot, and of no surprise to anyone. With the added company of newborn dragons, there is a certain livelihood amongst the new weyrlings, as well as a sense of accomplishment. We did it. We are dragonriders. And yet, if Wingleader G'vian is of any indication, our trials have only just begun. It is good that the weyrlings are already fostering a sense of camaraderie and loyalty. We will need it in the months to come if we're going to see any placements in a wing.
Alcine has a single chest of her belongings, set at the foot of her bed. Its contents are as follows:
- Her weyrling uniform, consisting of matching tunic, hose, and boots.
- Two sets of formalwear, one for summer and one for winter. They both seem to be slightly short and ill-fitting.
- A series of well-worn books, most of them using letters from home as bookmarks. In the bottom of the chest, there appears to be a book on whers and wherhandling as well, though it lacks a bookmark.
- One sturdy quill and three wells of ink, in black, blue, and brown.
- A loosely handbound journal, made of vellum.
- A small purse with a sum of marks, tucked away in a bottom corner for safekeeping.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:37 pm
Field Notes on Specified Individuals
(OOC Note: This is by no means exhaustive! If you would like to have canon interactions with Alcine in her backstory, just let me know, and I can add your character to the list.)
Kidder - Candidate Weyrling - Rough around the edges with a propensity for jokes and the potential for cruelty, he seems to carry a classist grudge given his upbringing. At some point he was an annoyance, but has since proven to be a valuable acquaintance, as we are somewhat alike in mind. His cause, at least, is noble. Leoth holds a strange protectiveness for him, something about her impression of him at the touching. She always sends me the image of flower crowns. His stunt at the Hatching Feast was rash, but certainly bold.
Deruvene - Candidate Weyrling - So very naive, but also kind-natured, which is much appreciated in times of duress. He has insight about my relationship with my squiremaster, and gives valuably optimistic advice. He is the sort of person we need more of in the world, but I would never wish such a sensitive, empathetic demeanor on a person. I imagine it to be a rather exhausting station. His Ellioth seems to be one of the only wholly healthy members of Hiraeth's final clutch, so it is of paramount importance that he graduate and take to a wing.
Bakarn - Candidate Weyrling - Cocky, brash, but there's leadership material there for sure. His sort of bravado is commendable, but useless unless he survives weyrlinghood. He needs a brain to his operation, someone to hold him back when he might rush forward and fight. Possibly Seytev, but the boy is just as likely to fuel the fire as to douse it, and their compassion for one another is sure to be used against them at some point. It seems his green is another of the healthy few, and the ticket to securing a spot in a combat wing for one of us. Despite my reservations, if any of us is going to make it, it'll be Bakarn.
Seytev - Candidate Weyrling - Bakarn's little wingman, cheerful and enthusiastic. At one time, the two of us might have been mistaken for twins, though he is quickly outgrowing that comparison. There could be leadership potential if not for the beta-personality-type, but nevertheless his loyalty is well suited for being wingsecond in the future. His Ankheth puts Leoth on edge after their confrontation, but at the very least she approves of Seytev himself. I can attest that his optimism is contagious, and that alone is...dangerous.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 12:09 pm
Brave Leoth, Strong LeothDragonbraved Quote: “A dragon has just flown over the tree-tops and lighted on the beach. Yes, I am afraid it is between us and the ship. And arrows are no use against dragons. And they're not at all afraid of fire." "With your Majesty's leave-" began Reepicheep. "No, Reepicheep," said the King very firmly, "you are not to attempt a single combat with it.”
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven high fantasy novels by author C.S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. Written by Lewis between 1949 and 1954, illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published in London between October 1950 and March 1956, The Chronicles of Narnia has been adapted several times, complete or in part, for radio, television, the stage, and film.
Set in the fictional realm of Narnia, a fantasy world of magic, mythical beasts, and talking animals, the series narrates the adventures of various children who play central roles in the unfolding history of that world. Except in The Horse and His Boy, the protagonists are all children from the real world, magically transported to Narnia, where they are called upon by the lion Aslan to protect Narnia from evil and restore the throne to its rightful line. The books span the entire history of Narnia, from its creation in The Magician's Nephew to its eventual destruction in The Last Battle.
Inspiration for the series is taken from multiple sources; in addition to adapting numerous traditional Christian themes, the books freely borrow characters and ideas from Greek, Anatolian and Roman mythology as well as from traditional British and Irish fairy tales. The books have profoundly influenced adult and children's fantasy literature since World War II. Lewis's exploration of themes not usually present in children's literature, such as religion, as well as the books' perceived treatment of issues including race and gender, has caused some controversy.
Aslan (/ˈæsˌlæn/ or /ˈæzˌlæn/) is the main character of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. He is "the great Lion" of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and his role in Narnia is developed throughout the remaining books. He is also the only character to appear in all seven books of the series. Aslan is Turkish for "lion". Lewis often capitalises the word lion in reference to Aslan, since, at least partially, he represents Jesus.
Aslan is depicted as a talking lion, the King of Beasts, son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea, lord of Narnia; a wise, compassionate, magical authority (both temporal and spiritual); mysterious and benevolent guide to the human children who visit; guardian and saviour of Narnia. The author, C. S. Lewis, described Aslan as an alternative version of Christ; that is, as the form in which Christ might have appeared in a fantasy world.
Throughout the series, it is stated that Aslan is "not a tame lion," since, despite his gentle and loving nature, he is powerful and can be dangerous.
Name: Leoth
Feel of Voice: A rumble of thunder, the wind in your hair, the deep blue of the sky in summer.
Personality:
This green is aggressive. She’s here to bite tail and chew bubblegum, and she’s all out of bubblegum. Don’t take her tone-deafness for stupidity, mind - she’s not stupid, just… forthright in her opinions. If you’re doing something she doesn’t approve of, you’re going to find out exactly how she keeps those around her in line: through brute force and the application of sharp teeth. Larger dragons may well be taken by surprise by a sudden flurry of wings and claws, and her sheer bloodymindedness and reluctance to give in will win her many fights.
Leoth is strong-willed to the point where even a gold may occasionally have problems keeping her in check (and her rider will certainly have difficulties), as well as being independent: although she enjoys the company of others, she doesn’t need anyone but her rider. This may backfire on her if (or rather when) she attempts to tackle things too big for her on her own - because there are things too great for her.
Leoth is also a territorial and tribal creature: she dislikes other dragons impinging on her weyr, and really dislikes dragons who don’t ‘belong’ in her space. Dragons visiting from other Weyrs or even other wings should watch themselves, as she may become aggressive or uncomfortable if she doesn’t already know them. She doesn’t take criticism well, and her pride is easily dented by harsh words - which may lead her to bite back.
However, she is also - to those who she loves and who belong to her group - capable of great gentleness and loyalty. Claws that could rend can just as easily draw delicate and beautiful pictures on the wall of her rider's weyr, given paint, and wings that allow her to descend with a thunderclap can just as easily be spread protectively over a fellow. She and her Rider against her Wing! They and their Wing against the Weyr! Their Wing and the Weyr against the world! When forced to think, or when it comes to her close friends, she can be surprisingly insightful - when she wants to be, at any rate, and cares enough.
She is, however, sometimes over-protective in a way that can be suffocating - Leoth is reluctant to let others stand on their own two feet and care for themselves, and though she is ready to leap to their defence without a second thought it may sometimes be better to let them learn to defend themselves.
Positive: Strong-willed, independent, decisive, ferocious, dignified, compassionate
Negative: Over-protective, territorial, controlling, aggressive, proud
Appearance: Leoth is a large and strong green, with a broad chest and wide wings. Her tail is large and thick, and will be surprisingly good at knocking other dragons around - a weapon, along with her claws and teeth, that's not to be scorned. Her most striking feature are the white blotches on her hide, which are prone to sunburn if not carefully monitored.
Other: Leoth's aggression is made worse by her deafness, for which she is definitely compensating. Though with work and understanding she will be perfectly capable of flying in a wing like any other dragon - she will absolutely be capable of psychically hearing other dragons and her rider - it will always be wise to approach her carefully. She may well respond violently to being surprised, and her siblings will quickly learn not to sneak up on her... though there may be a few near-casualties before that lesson sinks in.
Leoth will work incredibly hard at overcoming her problems, even as she may well refuse to agree that she has any. It will be her riders responsibility to assist her as a sort of hearing-aid (and Leoth will frequently piggyback on their hearing), as well as helping to ensure that their dragon doesn't end up badly sunburnt on their white patches.
Why me?: Leoth will not take ‘I’m sorry’ as an answer - if Alcine insists on being a pushover or being hesitant to defend herself, then Leoth will defend her. Now. Wherever Alcine feels bad about herself, Leoth will be there to bolster and encourage her: what’s done is done, and it’s time for Alcine to forgive herself and move on. They’ll do better next time, but no sense dwelling on things!
In return, Alcine is all the intelligence and caution Leoth needs - where Leoth rushes in, Alcine can hold her back. Though Leoth’s loyalty may restrain Alcine’s ruthlessness a little, in the end Leoth is just as ambitious as she is. 
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