Welcome to Gaia! ::

ToC:
:: The Weyrling
:: Their Story
:: The Manipulative b*****d
:: Friends and Foes
:: Living Quarters
:: Portraits
:: RP Log

Born in a moderately sized cothold near Nabol Cai was one of the various orphans of the plague brought to the Sofianes shelter as a toddler. Cai was raised among the order rather than being fostered out. As a young child, she had trouble socializing with the children around her age, preferring the company of older children and adults. This persisted throughout most of her time in the orphanage. She spent most of her free time among the women of the order, listening to their stories and absorbing the messages within them.

As she aged, she began to help the Sofianes in caring for the younger children. It started as picking up after them and holding the youngest while they cried, then progressed to feeding, changing clothes and bathing as she grew large enough to safely hold the toddlers. By the age of ten it looked like Cai had made up her mind to become a Sofianist herself and devote her life to the 'greater good'.

The effects of the Dragonplague were largely removed from where she lived, though she'd heard small snippits of worried conversations among the adults around her, many did not want to speak in front of the children.

Entering into her pre-teens during the Civil Wars she developed a wider understanding of the political and social aspects of the order. What with the influx of orphans and refugees from the battles it would be hard to keep the knowledge of the war away from her. Cai began to learn more about the world outside of her Hold and even Nabol. Cai learned of the actions taken by other groups of Sofianes in their effort to improve the lives of the unfortunate. While in her own small hold, activism wasn't even considered, she craved news from various travelers of Sofianes in other Holds. Of minor uprisings and protests, even of those that turned to violence to affect change. In her eyes, these actions were justified. Did not Sufia herself spend her life fighting the vicious ruler of Nerat to bring peace and prosperity to her people?

It had been well over a turn since the last Search passed by their area. She was now 13 and among those presented to the passing rider. The young man, a firm believer in Rider Servitude, didn't need to say much to inspire the young girl to accept his offer of Search (never mind the fact that two other children her age who she'd managed to befriend were also searched). In her mind she rationalized it as a quick and efficient means to gaining the political power to Do something. Merely by being a rider, she would have the ability to create change, plus every one knew riders were rich. She wouldn't need the marks, but she could send them back here and to other Sofianes so that they may do good in her stead.

That she would be away from her small hold and those who raised her did not scare her. That she may not find like-minded folks or that she would encounter those who believed far different from her never crossed her mind. She had the luxury of a couple of friends and even if she didn't, she had her mission. She left everything behind, bringing only enough clothing to keep her warm for the short hop between to the Weyr. She had no real idea of what she'd just signed up for.

During her first turn of Candidacy, with hair shorn and body beat into shape that Cai really came into his own identity. While candidacy was the same in theory for both boys and girls, Cai found comfort in adopting a more masculine persona though he still identified mostly as female. At first it was to assert his position in the weyr's society. He was observant enough to notice that while they weren't as bad as some places, High Reaches still held a preference for males in general, especially male riders. Cai used this opportunity of being a relative stranger to most to adopt a new identity to further his own goals. As he settled into the role, he found a relief in it of a stress that he hadn't really been able to place before.

Cai took a little longer than average to finally be ready for a squire. Between puberty doing it's best to drive him insane; his rather outspoken, stubborn and somewhat rebellious temper; and the fact that no matter how hard he worked it seemed his body was not the type to put on the muscle he wanted, it was a miracle that Cai managed. It was the support of his friends that got him through those turns after the first. When he was chosen though, it was by a rider of third wing one. Seeing violent death first hand, being exposed to the reality of it rather than just the concept from second hand talk put a damper on his belief the the ends justify the means. It also sparked a surprising and previously unexplored interest in anatomy and medicine. While he'd only had two turns with his first squire, it changed Cai's mindset in a very dramatic way.

During that time he also began to once again question his identity. He'd put himself into his current position out of what he thought was necessity to begin with, then found comfort and ease in it that allowed him to relax some of his more uptight tendencies. His friendship with his two companions had grown stronger and much closer than any of them had anticipated. The trio kept it to themselves for the most part, not wanting to get caught out but it wouldn't be impossible to an observer to note that there was a distinct intimacy forming between the three. Still, Cai found himself growing tired of the constant self-imposed pressure to prove his masculinity. To who, he wasn't even sure anymore.

Cai was transferred to a new squiremaster when his previous was demoted for a bad habit of challenging other riders to duels... and not settling for just a scratch on the cheek. For Cai this was purely a good thing. His new squiremaster was a young woman who'd flown in 3-1 with his previous squiremaster and had just been promoted to Second Wing. The 16 turn old found himself absolutely in awe as he got to know her. Re'ka was impressive to say the least and challenged his impression of who and what female riders could be in the weyr. While Cai never could quite let go enough to be completely at ease with her hedonistic ways, and flirting with anyone was something that still turned this redhead's ears a bright shade of crimson, he did find their hours working together to be quite the lesson in being yourself despite others opinions.

Cai would stand for another three turns, leaving the Sands empty handed with his friends each time and yet he felt little disappointment in it. Yes he wanted to become a rider, but his initial devotion to the Sofianes had matured along with his identity and was more ambiguous than his youthful zeal. Soul searching had very much become the name of the game in Cai's late teens and he started thinking of himself as less male, but no more female than he had since he'd arrived at High Reaches.

Now the fire of passion seeks to burn strong again as old beliefs are brought forefront and center with the sudden appearance of Sharath and her entourage in their time. Cai was right there with those who pressed at any perceived weakness in the protections around the time riders, seeking any opportunity to catch sight of them or better yet get in to talk with them. As a candidate with little sway anywhere in the weyr, Cai was unable to breech the tight quarantine until it was lifted. With Sofianes crowding the weyr, and their entire idea of what dragons were capable of shaken, Cai is thinking hard again on Impression. Maybe there was a reason Cai had gone unbonded so long...

Jemaselle of Green Lanceth
Status: Weyrmate
Opinion:

Wenric
Status: Weyrmate
Opinion:

Re'ka of Brown Pycath
Status: Former Squiremaster
Opinion: There are few that have earned my respect like she has. I value my time spent under her tutelage.

Name
Status:
Opinion:

Future Rider

A short chat rp between Cai and Shaddaling's characters Wen and Jemi, fellow candidates. (considered npc's till she finishes their profiles)



Jemi: *Kisses Cai's cheek* So, have you talked to Sereth yet?
*Topic change*

Cai: *huffs* Still working on that one. They're never around when I have a spare moment and I never have a spare moment when they're around! I'm disappointed one of her bronzes didn't fly Evmeth. What in Faranth's name was she thinking choosing a blue?! It's not like the last clutch wasn't a shitstorm as is. Now we have to wait and see if she's even going to clutch eggs! Honestly I'm hoping she doesn't. It would serve her right to fail the weyr so spectacularly with her selfishness. Aedreiath chose a strong mate over her blue lover because she knew her own desires were second to the needs of the weyr. Even Hiraeth knew that while clutching was dangerous for her, the weyr needed the large clutches she could produce. She was willing to make that sacrifice for High Reaches. I fear for the weyr if Evmeth remains Sr. Gold. *gets right back on track*

Wen: *Glares at Jemi*

Jemi: *Smirks and pets Cai*

Cai: If she doesn't clutch... Sereth might take the position you know. Cinnamath is gone and if Evmeth fails to clutch and Sereth rises before Cinnamath returns there would be no denying her right to the position of Sr. Gold. Sereth would be wise in her choice and I fully believe she would do what is right for the weyr if they'd just give her the chance.

Wen: *nods, eating his food*

Jemi: *Kisses Cai's brow and pets her on the rear* I know love

Cai: *sighs and leans into Jemi, thoroughly fed up with the weyr system*

Jemi: *Smiles and snuggles Cai, happily basking in warmth* Give them a few turns, either things work out, or someone else takes charge. Sereth and her rider still need to adjust to this time period, give them a few turns, and I bet they'll be smashing at it

Cai: I just want to talk to them...Can you imagine the knowledge they must have? It's no secret we lost so much after the massacre... They were there. They lived it. Why they're being treated like dirt is beyond me.

Jemi: Well, Sereth getting involved in the Gold flight probably didn't win her any points. And it thread... people are stupid when thread falls.

Wen: Stress... more mouths to feed on top of the tiny clutch of Hireths and T'gall's attack

Cai: It's not like there's that many of them Wen. :/ There's what? 15 - 20 max? And their dragons are small. They probably don't eat half of what our own do. In fact, if they were able to fight thread and survive just fine with their dragons at that size, I'd imagine breeding ours down a bit might save the weyr Marks in the long run. Maybe even more meat on our tables if it's not all going towards dragons bellies.

Wen: *Waves a hand* But they did not have as many cotholds and holds to protect. We have grown in size over those years. And not even twenty, I want to say a dozen. But, my point was it has been a rather stressful pass. The Timeriders just happened to be the icing on the cake that broke the table

Cai: I still say their arrival Here and Now could be a boon. It's possible that with their help we'll come out of this pit we've dug for ourselves. It's not often a wing of healthy bronzes and a gold just drop into your hands. No one's even giving Sereth credit where it's certainly deserved: She saved their lives. She managed to lead a portion of the riders targeted for death over 400 turns into the future and lived to tell the tale! AND at the same time she was able to save enough lives in her own time for dragons, and Pern! to survive. We owe so much to her and no one seems to remember that.

Wen: *Pets Cai* I know, it just 400 turns in the past is a long time to be continuously grateful. Cai, let it be for now. *Presses his head to theirs* It is too bad that none of the timeriders are eligible for the position of Weyrleader
Cai: I'd vote for them anyways though I don't think their chances are good. I'd wait for Sereth to rise. So long as Evmeth doesn't clutch (and how could she it's a blue there's a reason they don't fly golds). I've heard J'ian is campaigning all of a sudden though. It's too bad Re'ka is too young too. Pycath gave an amazing show during the flight.

Wen: Mmhm. *Sips his drink*

Jemi: Would be an interesting clutch.. if she did.

Cai: I can't imagine it going over much better than the last one if she does end up gravid. Though I suppose that would work in Sereth's favor in the end as well. It would be more unfortunate though for the resulting hatchlings and weyrlings.

Jemi: Hierth was sick though. Evmeth seems fine.

Wen: We'll have to see. *Simple*

Cai: She was. But her mate wasn't a blue. Had she been healthy she wouldn't have become egg bound. Evmeth may be healthy and fertile, but if Malcarreth isn't then it's a moot point. No one's ever seen a blue dragon sire a clutch. We literally don't know if it's possible or advisable.

Jemi: We are making history then.

Wen: mmhm. *Finishes his drink*

Cai: *steals a bite off of Wen's plate* Well I wish history would hurry up. Patience is not my strongest attribute.

Wen: *Eyes Cai and shrugs*

Jemi: *Chuckles* I hate waiting as well