Approved by Con

Name: Biran
Age: 16 turns
Gender: Male
Rank: Second son of Lord Holder Tharandir
Appearance: Biran got his dark umber skin from his mother and his broad build from his father. He's a little taller than most lads his age and is fashionably stocky but it is his excellent bearing and complete self confidence that give him a presence greater than his height and beyond his turns, though of course the finery he wears and the presence of bodyguards helps with that too. His black hair is worn in gold and jewel adorned cornrows to the back of his skull and from there it positively explodes around him in a beautiful mane of tiny tight curls that spread out to and fall to just past his shoulders, it's fortunate that he has people to help him look after it all. Though Biran's eyes are nearly as black as his hair they seldom lack for warmth or for genuine interest in what's going on around him though when he is angered they can go as hard as two pieces of jet, he's had classes with a Harper on projecting icy imperious wrath. His face is a rectangular sort of shape and will probably have a good strong jaw one day but for now he retains a youthful softness. The lordling has a pleasant white-toothed smile too which he shares easily and not much spoiled by a couple of slightly crooked teeth.

As for clothing, well he's the second son of a powerful Lord Holder so he wears what you would expect; flatteringly tailored outfits in perfect fashion, fashioned from expensively dyed expensive materials with expensive embellishments. Naturally a lot of jewelry is present as well but Biran doesn't seem to be aware of any of it, again as is probably to be expected as he has been surrounded by finery his entire life. Given the choice he will tend to wear practical clothing as he's an active young man with a great love of riding and hunting, but for a Lord Holder's boy even 'practical' comes with a weighty price tag that shows.

Personality: Biran loves people, hunting, riding, feasting, and people. He thrives in lively groups whether as the center of attention or paying attention to somebody else but equally he loves to spend time with just one or two companions having a deep conversation or just trading silly jests. There's an undeniable charm about Biran that perhaps could be trained into a person but in him is all genuine affability and interest in what just about anybody has to say about anything, talk about something and he will listen and contribute where appropriate! If you're not the talkative type he has a thousand stories and topics of conversation of his own that he will happily supply, though he's a savvy boy who can tell when people are losing interest and change tack accordingly.

Some high born folk and indeed some folk in general are quick to accept credit that isn't really due to them but Biran is not one of those folk, indeed he's rather modest in general. Where credit is due to others he is quick to give it in full but when credit actually is due to him he will accept it with thanks and genuine pleasure, especially if it was something he worked hard on or found difficult.

Boisterous and energetic Biran is used to spending his days sparring, hunting, riding, and so on and loves little better than the aforementioned. Any excuse to be out and about in the open air is a good one so far as he is concerned, but doubly so if sport is involved or if stories are being exchanged. Biran has rather less love for sitting around studying. He is a dutiful boy and so he plods through his lessons and so on without too much complaint, but he is easily distracted from such things and has often had his knuckles rapped for daydreaming rather than listening to a tutor.

Though he knows a lot about history, diplomacy, all of that Biran has a distinct lack of 'normal person' life experience and doesn't really understand how life works for most people. He has his duties of course and he has his lessons but he's quite used to the bulk of his time being his own to enjoy, having to work all day every day to make a living is alien to him. He also doesn't know the value of money, at all. He tries to get it but he fails miserably, not quite to the point 'let them eat cake' but he can't really fathom how the other half live, and outside of being polite diplomat boy - ie in the kind of normal social situation candidates are in all day - his ignorance is startling.

Whatever is best for the greater good of High Reaches Hold is what ought to be done; this sounds good and noble but it is not necessarily kind to the individual. Biran firmly believes that all criminals should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, and while he does have genuine sympathy for the poor tithes must be paid to the Weyr and taxes to his father if the world if to work properly. If holders are unable to fulfill their duties in this manner then they must accept the care of another hold as drudges, and their land must be passed into better hands.

It would be a mistake to expect Biran to back down when he believes he's right, for although he has a kind and friendly manner he also has a steely core, the iron clad certainty of the very well bred. He has been brought up to be confident in himself and in his decisions, after all he is being groomed to take on an important role in his father's wher cavalry so he has to be able to stand up for himself and get his decisions respected. Of course this does mean that he can be rather stubborn when he's set his mind on a given course of action, and if he's really sure he's right the only people who can get him to back down are his parents and elder siblings. Listening to other people who may outrank him under the circumstances may well not be a thing that happens.


History:
- 189. Biran is born to Lord Holder Tharandir and Lady Holder Sybi. He is their third child, their second son, and so naturally it is intended from the moment of his birth that he grow up to Impress a wher and take on a commanding role in his father's wher cavalry.
- 193. Sybi's brown wher Sysk dies during the dragonplague. Biran recalls him only a little.
- 195. Sybi gains Mastery and Sybisk. Biran gets the vague idea that he will become a wherhandler and defend his Hold from the war and things - though he's young he is aware of the civil war going on - which is of course encouraged.
- 195-200. Biran is now growing out of an early shyness into a confident friendly young man who would much rather go riding or play with other children than listen to his tutors. He becomes more aware of the future that is planned for him and fully embraces the idea of becoming a handler like his mother, he expresses hopes of getting a green wher or a gold but probably a green as Sybisk wouldn't like another gold around so very much.
- 200. Biran gets his own bodyguards, former candidates of HR Weyr. They start telling him about the Weyr, about dragons, and he starts getting ideas in his head about defending his Hold from the Thread on dragonback rather than from other humans on a wher. He keeps these thoughts between himself and his guards however, it's just a silly dream after all as he has his duties and so on and his parents would never approve.
- 01. Threadfall returns, Biran starts to think more seriously about riderness. His parents don't like riders, but they need riders, but what if they make the riders too angry?... Maybe if one of their children went to the Weyr they would like them more? Whers are amazing too but... well maybe his real duty isn't what his parents think it is? Still, just a dream that he discusses with his guard friends alone. There is more serious discussion of Biran's marriage to various eligible ladies. Biran has always been more interested in riding than he is in girls and is depressed by the notion but doesn't complain (much). His elder sister is to marry first however which gives him a little breathing room, for now.
- 03. Biran attends the Hatching Feast for Hiraeth's tiny clutch and becomes more enthralled by dragons than ever, despite the mild unpleasantness of the deposed Weyrleader trying to challenge T'gall (Biran thinks T'gall is cool.)
- 05. The marriage of Biran's elder sister is fast approaching! After failing to receive a firelizard egg for his sixteenth birthday - his mother is not a fan of them, she finds them frivolous - Biran decides to go out and get one for himself with his own money. Sybi is not too pleased when Biran comes to breakfast with a green firelizard one morning but she's not quite cross enough to make him get rid of it.