Stage: Youngling
Race: Ice
Gender: Boy
3 Base Traits: Conceited, Spirited, Independent
Personality: In stereotypical Zenan form, Ergon was taught early on that the Zenan people were the ‘cream of the crop’ of the Tendaji people, and he believes every word. In particular, he is the cream of the Zenan crop. Thanks to his mother’s dismissive nature, he is used to getting things his way. If he doesn’t get his way, he storms off and finds a way to distract himself. Though his mother is no longer able to reinforce the ideal as strongly, he has taken a recent tragedy and made it into what he perceives as a strength. He took his pain and hid it under pride of being "the survivor."
He is a little boy who radiates confidence, false and real. He always walks with his head high, a determined step, and a willful gaze. He has no doubts about his importance or his worth. Quite cocky about his abilities, he isn’t one to turn down any sort of challenge; be it a foot race or seeing who can eat the most desserts in one sitting. If he loses, it’s certainly not his fault! He boasts about himself simply and contently though, in such a matter-of-fact manner that his father sometimes teases that he has a split personality.
A more positive turn on this over-confident nature is that Ergon has a well of willpower and bravery. He loves to challenge himself to do better, get stronger, and beat the odds. This helps him stay buoyant in the face of adversity and steadfast in what other children might find tedious. When he sets his mind on something, he sticks to it until the results come in.
Due to the situation with his mother, Ergon has learned to take care of himself. He has taken up most of the lead chores around the house, such as preparing meals and shopping at the market. Rather than feeling loathing against his situation, he takes great pride in being head of the house while his father works.
Ergon also hates being alone. After the loss of his brother, any alone time makes it clear that there is someone missing from his life. Being alone intensifies the empty place at his side where his brother used to be.
History:
Ergon was born first of twin boys to a rich Zenan couple. He and his brother, Kaygon, were seen as gifts from the gods by their family. Snowelle and Grashni wed when they were quite young through an arranged marriage. Initially, their attempts to grow their family were unsuccessful. As the years passed, the strain wore down the couple. Finally, Snowelle found out she was pregnant. When the twins were born, the couple latched onto parenthood with all of their being.
Ergon and Kaygon were both healthy and rambunctious baby boys. They learned quickly, ran soon after learning to walk, and chattered non-stop after learning to talk. The boys had a healthy and competitive rivalry, constantly pushing each other to do better. They did nearly everything together. They laughed, fought, played, and chased parak through the woods together.
It happened recently, the sudden and devastating change to their lives.
They were going on a family trip, taking advantage of the lovely, sunny day. It was the day the boys were learning how to skate on the ice. As with anything, both boys took on the lessons like every challenge they faced. They competed to see who could stand upright first, who could stay upright the longest, and, of course, who could go the fastest.
A faint form under the ice was Snowelle’s only warning that something was about to happen. A gorogorum hole had only a thin layer of ice over it, and its hungry crafter lingered underneath. Snowelle fell through the fragile layer, taking Kaygon with her into the freezing water. Eragon watched his mother and brother vanish in the blink of an eye. Their screams seemed to emit from the bubbles that surged along the surface. Ergon started to run for the hole, but being on the skates had him falling over in his struggle to reach his loved ones, heart racing as the strange, scary feeling of helplessness washed over him. Grashni reached the hole first, arm thrust into the water. Ergon reached them as his mother was pulled out. Snowelle’s hand that had been holding Kaygon was torn by the gorogorum’s sharp teeth, and Ergon saw the expression of overwhelmed shock on his mother’s face as she looked at it. ..Kaygon was lost.
Now, each family member is dealing with the loss in his or her own way. Grashni has turned his focus to his work for distraction and the empty satisfaction of wealth. The man tries to be a father for his remaining son, but the pain is still raw. Snowelle hides in the house, devastated and blaming herself, barely able to fix a meal for even herself. Guilt unconsciously drives her to avoid her living son. Ergon has shoved his pain deep inside himself, and seeks to take care of what remains. He doesn’t blame his mother for Kaygon’s death, and tries desperately to get the attention he is now lacking. While at home, that means making dinner and doing the laundry. While outside of the house, he continues to compete with anyone in any way he can.
If anything.. it is Kaygon he blames; for being “weak” enough to be taken. It’s easier for him to take his sadness and turn it into a driving force. Every so often, his mother will call him by his brother’s name. This is a point of frustration and sadness; a reminder of the cause of his family’s pain. He seeks to always get better, so that he won’t hurt his parents like he feels Kaygon did.
