Name: Euma
Age: 27
Sex: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Weyr: Western Weyr
Rider Rank: Wingrider
Previous Rank/Craft: Apprentice Courtesan (Spymastery/Clothing designer) turned mercenary
Physical Description: Euma has quite the head of hair, a cloak of voluminous golden blonde that spills in ripples down to the soft curve of her lower back. She keeps it well groomed, as she does the rest of herself. Her fair skin is well looked after with creams and other daily preparations, and just a touch of makeup to enhance her round blue eyes. Euma isn’t too tall, only about 5’3”, but she compensates for it with her style – and some heeled footwear if necessary. The womanly contours of her body are complemented by the flattering cuts of her self-made clothes. Lately she’s been dressing a little more practically while on duty as a wingrider, what with all those chilling hops Between, but she keeps two chests full of outfits and fabrics in bright and rare colors for special occasions.
Personality: If you’re looking for this little blonde at a party, she’ll be that sweet, polite girl who floats about, looking pretty and making small talk. You might notice her standing awfully close to you, but she probably doesn’t realize she’s in your space. She’ll be completely absorbed in her conversation partner – not that you aren’t terribly interesting too! Indeed, Euma will cheerfully hang on your every word with her “third ear,” whether they were meant for her or not, and file them away for a time when they’ll be profitable.
It’s something she does almost without even being aware of it as she goes through the day. And goodness, she hears a lot at Western Weyr. Funny thing, though, most of it she’s been keeping to herself. That’s strange. Must be something in the water there.
When she’s not busy socializing, Euma can often be found sewing, drawing outfit designs, or reading. She’s actually quite literate – part of her nosiness, of course. All those forged business records and illicit love notes..! But back to the sewing. This young woman relishes the creation of a good outfit, and a great outfit will keep her glowing for days.
Speaking of glowing, she’s got this big green bodyguard who does something like that every couple of months or so. Yeah, that’s her dragon, Reth. Reth is the source of her courage. Before Reth, Euma was easily spooked and consequently suffered a lot of cold sweats. Now, though, the only thing that really scares her is The Dark. She won’t enter a dark room without a light source, and even with light she’d much rather have Reth or a good friend with her when she goes in.
Euma’s other main source of strength is her brother, Ambrin. From him she learned loyalty to family… well, loyalty to a band of offbeat drifters and castoffs. Shhh, they’re good people! And big brother taught her how to enjoy her lot in life, to have pride and independence. So she loves herself, her own looks and talents… sometimes a little too much. What? It’s not her fault she has more than some of those other girls! They’re just jealous.
Positive Trait List Polite, outgoing, inquisitive, creative
Negative Trait List Superficial, nosy, nervous
History: When Euma arrived, Western Hold welcomed its newest little resident with a smile, a hug, and a handoff to a master spy. The family business... wasn’t particularly family-centric. Euma was lucky enough to be able to grow up nearby her older brother Ambrin, but never knew her parents. She spent her early years onstage as a child actress, and there, surrounded by the most beautiful costumes, discovered her love for clothing. Her master approved of clothing design as her official cover and set her up with a prominent seamstress, who was also secretly a spy.
From this woman, Euma learned how to do what she loved, and how to practice her true craft at the same time. In the seamstress’s high-class shop, talk of all sorts could be heard as ladies browsed the displays. The girl learned how to filter out important information from the gossip, and who to sell it to when she wasn’t sharing it with her brother. She also attended many gathers and other events and learned how to blend in, even if she wasn’t nobility herself, just by dressing and acting the part. Her innocent appearance was a great boon in leading others to overlook her while she listened in on their conversations.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t all a completely positive experience. A pretty little thing in pretty little dresses, Euma was targeted by men in ways she was not always willing to accept. She had a few close calls in the streets after dark, which led her to learn some self defense… and develop a terrible fear of the darkness. She became hyper-vigilant and never went anywhere without a knife tucked up somewhere inside those ruffles. She also became a bit too focused on judging by people’s outward appearance, conveniently forgetting that she was a fraud herself.
When Ambrin Impressed a dragon and summarily whisked her away from that life to be mercenaries, she was relieved to escape the dangers but very sad about losing her (fake) social status. She did warm to the freedom of working with her brother for themselves, setting herself to the task of outfitting every member of their posse with functional, yet stylish gear, as well as continuing to make marks from selling clothes at gathers everywhere they went. The information she gathered through her business no longer went to the highest bidder, but went straight to Ambrin for the good of their group. It was by far a better life, but she was still scared of many things, and was never able to truly relax her vigil unless Ambrin was in sight.
Before long, Ambrin got Euma her own dragon, presenting the chance to stand as a Candidate as a gift for her nineteenth nameday. He’d told her it was a favor from a friend. She did Impress, and green Reth became her world from that moment on. Reth was her truest friend and constant guardian – with the loyal green at her side, she was safe.
After wandering Pern for several turns, Ambrin’s posse became hired guards for a holder who loved the races. They spent most of their time in Keroon, watching over their employer’s interests, including a particular jockey. This jockey also happened to be a dragonrider – Jakoli of brown Auroth. Reth was taken with Auroth’s odd dichotomy of being both nurturing and, well… a bad boy. Euma was taken with Jakoli’s sunny, affectionate and altogether benign disposition. He was also terribly cute. She drafted him into the posse as soon as he expressed a need for more income to feed his brown.
Like several other girls before her, when Euma discovered that Jakoli didn’t return her romantic interest, she was heartbroken. Reth, fiercely loyal as she was, instantly revoked her affection for both Auroth and his rider. She hated those two and wanted to get back at them by getting them kicked out of the posse, but Euma was not vindictive. She fought with her green for the first time ever, over boys, of all things. From that point on, Reth became overprotective of her rider whenever a man showed even the slightest hint of interest.
The calamitous phenomenon of Pern’s first Threadfall in a thousand turns was frightening when it hit Keroon, but ultimately caused little trouble to Ambrin’s posse. They simply loaded up the dragons and winked Between, avoiding damage and any responsibility to anyone else. The holder they’d worked for would just have to fend for himself. There was plenty of opportunity elsewhere for employment.
Not long after that, Euma and Reth found themselves enlisted into one of Western Weyr’s fighting wings, thanks to Ambrin’s strategy for their next big payday. Ambrin told them to blend in, but not to get too attached to anyone or to any fanciful ideas of heroism. They weren’t going to stay long.
It was weird, frankly, to be surrounded by so many other dragons and their riders… but Euma quickly came to love it. It felt, to her, almost like being a courtesan back at Western Hold, attending gatherings full of people every single day. She easily fell back into her pattern of dressing to impress, hobnobbing and soaking up every bite of gossip she could wrap her ear around. And unlike in the past, she no longer felt the need to carry a concealed knife, not with Reth there to protect her.
Other:
DRAGON
Name: Reth
Age: 8
Color: Green
Size: 24’
Physical Description: Reth is a square, compact, medium-sized green. Each limb is rippling with muscle, and her large ribcage is built for deep breaths and stamina reserves. The curves of her neck and tail are strong but feminine, as is her fine-featured head, with a narrow muzzle, large eyes and headknobs that stand upright, as the ears of an alert canine. She carries herself with proud elegance, a bearing which she also takes into the air. She has good endurance for a green, and a lot of speed. She tends to use it in short bursts to conserve her strength.
Personality: Don’t you touch my rider. Don’t touch! Don’t! Don’t! Don’t!
That’s hers, thank you very much!
To a fault, Reth is loyal to her rider. She wants to be everywhere Euma is, and to be included in everything she does. If she can fit, she’s coming, and she’d better fit... or else! If other humans have to be there, she’ll tolerate them, but one funny look, one step too close, and the Warden will have her eye on that one henceforth. The exception to this rule is children. She finds the little ones to be curiously pleasant and amusing.
She’s much more forgiving with her own kind, but still picky with her friendships. She is most attracted to dragons with an interesting, unusual trait or habit. With her loved ones, Reth is quite playful and affectionate, and fiercely protective. She’ll only show her sensitive side to those special few. Her sensitive side hates being alone, is a little self-conscious, and gets bored pretty easily – hence her preference for dragons who are naturally a little stranger than the rest.
As for life at Western Weyr, Reth thinks there are far too many suitors, and far too many mating flights going on. She has her claws full looking after her rider, who seems a little too comfortable with their situation, and a little too oblivious to potential dangers, for her tastes. What she does like about being in the weyr is the chance to use her own abilities, to fall in line and serve those above – and below – herself. It appeals to her sense of honor, and makes her feel strong. She prefers being part of the mechanism, seeing how her contribution makes it just a little more effective as a whole.
Dragon Art or Proof of Obtainment:
