Age: 22 Turns
Gender: male
Sexual Orientation: heterosexual
Craft/Rank: Wingrider
History:
Jaric is the son of greenrider J'ri and a man named Gerric who became a wherhandler. He and his older brother, named Jakkin, where often left with the crèche because his parents were working hard, but they came to visit him so often that it never seemed that were far away. He enjoyed an uneventful life in the crèche. He made friends his age, got to know the crèche caretakers enough that he was considered merely shy, not withdrawn and unresponsive, and occasionally wandered off, with or without friends, to poke around the weyr and maybe get in a little trouble for being where he shouldn't be.
He got to visit his mom's dragon often, and other dragons sometimes. He didn't feel nearly as shy with them and would grow familiar with them quickly, soon chatting with them as easily as his mom or dad. He had much less to do with whers. In fact, the only one he was formally introduced to was one his dad bonded, a blue. Even then he only met it briefly, but he was surprised when the blue couldn't talk like a dragon. Gerric assured Jaric that the blue understood him and could communicate, just not in the same was as people or dragons.
Soon after, when he was 10, the Revolution took place. Just before the Revolution, J'ri had gathered her sons and other children into a small side room and kept them protected and entertained, so he knew little about what was happening at the time. Only that once he was let out, suddenly a bunch of people and dragons he knew were gone, and so many new people and whers where there instead. His mother tried to soften the truth of what had happened, but he was old enough to figure it out. Not to mention that plenty of other people in the newly dubbed wherhold had no qualms about chatting, or even boasting, about what had happened to all the weyrfolk. He doesn't like that so many people had to be hurt, but he was always a quiet boy and decided to keep his thoughts to himself. It seemed safer, and he had trouble putting his thoughts into word anyway, even for his mom.
When a gold joined the Revolutionists and kids were asked if they'd like Candidate training, Jaric asked to join. He was almost Candidate age by then, and dragons always made him feel safe.
[timeskip]
After he Impressed bronze Imbeleth and became a rider, life got very busy. More busy than a usual weyrling, it seemed, because his curious dragon was always running off and getting into things. That actually worked to his advantage when he wanted to get out of things he was uncomfortable with, like social situations or anything involving the more violent aspects of wherhold life; Imbeleth could tell when his rider was unhappy and would go off to find something to cheer him up, requiring J'ric to go chase after him to stop him. J'ric chose not to curb this behavior because it got him out of things he didn't like, which unfortunately left the dragon to grow a bit wild.
Aside from that, J'ric kept his head down and did not get too involved in the wherhold's operations, beyond usual rider duties. He didn't care if some people thought less of him for being a rider instead of a wherhandler. He had his dragon, his mom and his brother, and that was enough for him. He didn't really like it there though, and it had been obvious for a long time that his mother didn't, either.
The raid on Benden gave them a chance to escape. Since he and his mom had dragons, and Imbeleth already had a history of running off at inopportune times, it was easy enough for them to find his brother and slip off in the confusion. They flew to Trine, where his mom begged for sanctuary for herself and her boys. Trine was naturally wary, but if anyone questioned Imbeleth, he would happily and without any reservation inform them that His and his family did not like it there one bit, and that J'ri had always been worried about protecting her sons.
They were able to remain there through the rest of the Wherwars, though they were openly watched. J'ric did as he and his mom had always done; keep their heads down and work hard. And chase after Imbeleth whenever he ran off to investigate things. Now J'ric tried to restrain his dragon and keep the bronze from making trouble, but Turns of giving him free reign had made him very used to running wherever he pleased.
When the Wherwars finally concluded, things started to calm down. J'ric settled into normal weyr life and tried not to let any lingering rumors about the displaced wherholders bother him.
Description:
Jaric is an average height and build for his age. He has his father's dark brown hair, though it tends to lighten in streaks when he spends long in the sun. His skin is fair like his mother's, but it tans some instead of burning straightaway. He still ought to take care when spending long in the sun, not that he ever does. He has a somewhat oval face, a little rounded at the cheeks as if with baby fat, in which are set wide, hazel eyes and a pink button of a nose.
Personality:
Jaric is shy with people he doesn't know, and tends to stay quiet and out of the way when any are around. He doesn't want to meet strangers at all unless someone he knows makes him, but he warms up to people after a time if made to interact with them. However, he's very affectionate with people he knows very well, and often will come up to them for hugs and requests to play. He's mainly this affectionate with his parents and a couple caregivers from the creche, and likes his mom more than anyone, though liked dad a lot, too. When he was younger he would happily cuddle in mommy's lap or curl up next to her when she told him a story, but he's gotten too big for that now.
His dislike of new people makes social situations hard on him. Especially after the Revolution, when many people he knew left and many people he didn't know arrived. With many of his friends, caregivers, and even his father gone, he grew very withdrawn for a while and only really opened up to his mom. In the years since the Revolution he grew to know the people in the creche better, but now that he's joined Candidate lessons he's gotten quieter again. That's not as bad though, since a some of the Candidates were friends of his in the creche. He doesn't get to see his mom as often now that he's a Candidate though, and he often misses her.
He will do most anything his mom tells him to, though the more fun he thinks it is, the more eagerly he'll do it. He is also relatively obedient to other people he likes. However, he's reluctant to listen to people he doesn't know or like, much less do what they say to. Mom had told him to mind the people in charge of him, and he doesn't want to get in trouble, so he tries. But if people he doesn't know confront him about things like whether he's doing his work right, he's often unable to answer them. That can lead to them thinking he's disobedient, stubborn, or otherwise intentionally being difficult. He doesn't want to be thought of as being bad, but he can't help it.
He has a bad sense of time, and as a result is often late for things, or takes too long to complete tasks because he's not sure how long he's been working on it. Or he may worry he's taking too long and rush the job, which often results in poor results. Then when confronted about that, he again has trouble explaining himself. He gets frustrated with himself for being unable to talk well, which he sometimes expresses with loud outbursts as he tries to get across what he wants to say, and sometimes with grimaces and pouts as he retreats to try and get away from whoever wants to talk to him.
Dragons make him feel safe. His mother told him since he was an infant that dragons would never hurt him, and her dragon Corbeth was one of the first people he got to know. (And he does think of dragons as people. They can think and talk and remember and have feelings, so why aren't they people?) Given the chance he'll always take chores involving being near them, like helping to wash them. That's why he chose to be a Candidate when he grew old enough to chose a craft, despite dragons being looked down on in the Wherholds. Joining any craft would mean having to work with people he doesn't know, but being near dragons made it bearable.
Jaric likes trying new things as long as it doesn't involve interacting with new people. He will always try new foods, or new games, or go new places, though since he's never gone far from the weyr, the number of new places available to him are few. He'll even try new chores at least once, especially if they're presented in a way that seems fun. Sometimes when he has free time he'll wander off to explore forgotten tunnels or other unfamiliar parts of the Weyr. He loves meat and fish, and would happily be a carnivore. Dairy products and baked goods are pretty good, but he only picks at vegetables if he can get away with it.
He's not sure how he feels about whers. His dad had one for a little bit, but he didn't get a chance to know it before the Revolution, and then dad and his wher were gone. He feels vaguely uncomfortable about whers because of that. He couldn't put it into words, but since the wher showed up shortly before his dad disappeared and all these changes happened to Benden, he unconsciously associates them with things he doesn't like. As a result, he would never want to be a wherhandler unless something happened to change his view of them.
Pros: willing to try new things, adventurous, obedient to people he knows
Cons: shy, has trouble following direction of people he doesn't know, not good at handling confrontation, bad sense of time
Other:
Name: Imbeleth
Description:
Springing Egg: Hatchling, Juvenile, Adult
Size: Above average
Build: Below average
Threadfall stats:
HP: 58
Agility: -3
Personality: If there is one thing Imbeleth is never short of it is energy, energy and mischief... mischief and energy. Two things he is never short of are energy and mischief... and curiosity. Three things he is never short of are energy, mischief, and curiosity... and an almost fanatical devotion to performing and improving feats of acrobatics. Okay, four things-
Anyway.
He's not one of those bronzes from a Harper tale who sits tall and proud on the watch heights surveying his domain, Imbeleth would much rather lurk just below the ledge for hours until the opportune moment to pop up at and seriously startle such a serious character arrives. Remorse isn't something he's all that good at and he will tend to scoff at people who get angry with him for his pranks, it was just a joke! Shesh! Anyone who spends their time sitting around brooding, or who does nothing but work, needs to seriously lighten up so far as this bronze is concerned; you only live once and you never know which day will be your last so you might as well enjoy yourself and do what you feel like today just in case there isn't a tomorrow.
Imbeleth is not the best with authority, he doesn't want to hold high office particularly - it sounds like it would probably be boring - but he doesn't want to just follow blindly either. In general Imbeleth will give his best work to people he likes or people who can appeal to his sense of mischief and desire to seize the day. He also works well as a free agent so long as his task is interesting or provides him with opportunities to indulge himself; long patrols that take advantage of his great stamina for example are a great chance to practice his loop-the-loops or other aerial stunts. While he'll never be agile like a green in the air the sheer effort he puts in to trying to improve himself is impressive, and on the ground he will prove surprisingly acrobatic for a dragon; he will learn to walk around on his hind legs quite competently - quite an intimidating sight given his size - and can make quite astounding leaps from a standing start meaning that he will never be slow to get into the air!
Though he can be pretty insensitive and doesn't always care too much if he hurts a sensitive sort's feelings Imbeleth is a generally amiable fellow who likes to be around others, he's pretty lost without an audience in fact! As well as pulling pranks and performing stunts he readily cracks jokes and laughs easily at the jests made by others. While not even his close friends are safe from his practical jokes Imbeleth is generally good to those he likes and always willing to lend them a paw; though he'll drag his feet a little if giving said help is boring he'll still do it.
And so on to curiosity. If he's not pulling pranks or cracking jokes with friends Imbeleth loves to do and see new things, and will frequently poke his large thin snout in where it doesn't belong! The fact that this may get it bitten at times does nothing to deter him - there's his desire to live for the day again, to not worry too much about the future. In the end so long as he finds out something interesting or at least has a hilarious story to tell about how he acquired that massive bruise he is satisfied.
Why me? C'mon, a guy's got to have fun, right or what's the point in life? These curious lads both like to try new things and work best for people they know but Imbeleth's unbridled self confidence and love of people could help Jaric come out of his shell a bit with new people. In return, well just maybe Jaric can encourage Imbeleth to be a little less insensitive. Either way though these two are going to have a blast together, seeking out fun in the most mundane of situation and generally making the most of life. Whatever else they're going to be in the future Imbeleth fully intends to - above all else - make them both happy.
Inspired by Spring-heeled Jack is an entity in English folklore of the Victorian era. The first claimed sighting of Spring-heeled Jack was in 1837. Later sightings were reported all over Great Britain and were especially prevalent in suburban London, the Midlands and Scotland. There are many theories about the nature and identity of Spring-heeled Jack. This urban legend was very popular in its time, due to the tales of his bizarre appearance and ability to make extraordinary leaps, to the point that he became the topic of several works of fiction.Spring-heeled Jack was described by people who claimed to have seen him as having a terrifying and frightful appearance, with diabolical physiognomy, clawed hands, and eyes that "resembled red balls of fire". One report claimed that, beneath a black cloak, he wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white garment like an oilskin. Many stories also mention a "Devil-like" aspect. Others said he was tall and thin, with the appearance of a gentleman. Several reports mention that he could breathe out blue and white flames and that he wore sharp metallic claws at his fingertips. At least two people claimed that he was able to speak comprehensible English.
The vast urban legend built around Spring-heeled Jack influenced many aspects of Victorian life, especially in contemporary popular culture. For decades, especially in London, his name was equated with the bogeyman, as a means of scaring children into behaving by telling them that if they were not good, Spring-heeled Jack would leap up and peer in at them through their bedroom windows, by night.
However, it was in fictional entertainment where the legend of Spring-heeled Jack exerted the most extensive influence, owing to his allegedly extraordinary nature. Three pamphlet publications, purportedly based on the real events, appeared almost immediately, during January and February, 1838. They were not advertised as fiction, though they likely were at least partly so. The only known copies were reported to have perished when the British Library was hit during the Blitz, but their catalog still lists the first one. The titles were:
-- “Authentic particulars of the awful appearance of the London Monster, alias Spring–heeled Jack, together with his extraordinary life, wonderful adventures and secret amours. Also an account of his horrible appearance to Miss N— and his singular letter to the Lord Mayor of London”
-- “The surprising exploits of Spring-Heel Jack in the vicinity of London, etc.”
-- “The Apprehension and Examination of Spring-Heel'd Jack, who has appeared as a Ghost, Demon, Bear, Baboon, etc.…”
Spring Heeled Jack remains in the popular consciousness today, receiving mentions or appearing in a range of books, television series, web comics and even video games. In the video game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion during the Thieves Guild quest line you are asked to retrieve the boots of a dead thief named Springheel Jak from the family crypt of a man called "Jakben, Earl of Imbel"
