Name: Shanley (Shanny to Willim)
Age: Sixteen
Sex: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Craft: Vinter
Rank: Apprentice
Location: High Reaches
Physical Description: Shanley has a stocky build with a round face. She has freckles just under her brown eyes, which are often hidden by shoulder length messy brown hair. Her bangs aren’t yet long enough to pull into the rest of her hair. Freckles also adorn her neck, arms and shoulders. She smiles often, especially when she’s outdoors. She stands about 5’3. She often wears darker colors to compliment her shape.
Personality: Shanley is a creative person, but she was born to the wrong family. Her family valued tradition more than the individual's dreams, and so while she never quite expressed her desire to be a harper, it was known that she spent time creating worlds. She is often creating, rather than expressing herself; finding ways to write out her feelings rather than share them. Though she was never encouraged to continue by her parents, she kept at it. Writing was something she has to do, she feels. It's her outlet, but more than that, it's a way of feeling connected to others. Shanley knows that she's most comfortable behind a desk, but she's adjusted to her craft.
Selling things means talking to people. Talking to people, she's found, is a good way to create in secret. Talking, even idle chatter about the weather, can lead to interesting conversations that can be used in a story. Sometimes it leads to talking to someone who's led an interesting life. Through her craft, Shanley's learned that people all lead their own stories. Sometimes they're side characters, but that doesn't make them any less interesting.
She enjoys meeting others of various crafts. She knows a little about harpers, but little else. Willim was the first brewer she ever met, and she was immediately fascinated by him. She feels he's great fun to tease--which is better, wine or beer? She doesn't care either way, but he certainly seems to. It's become a bit of a game. She insists that she could make a better wine than he could brew a beer, he challenges her. It does cause him to notice her, at least. She doesn't think he will. He's different from anyone she's ever met before.
Shanley is confident in her work, whether it be chore, wine or story. She knows she'll always improve, but at that point in time, she's doing her best. The best she can do is close enough to perfect--until she gets better, anyway. She tries to hide any mistakes. Especially as a newer candidate, she's going to work hard to hide any cuts she gets from peeling tubers, any scuffs she gets on her boots from chores, any failed answers during lessons... She knows mistakes are an essential part of learning, but she'd rather show them like drying laundry.
Positive Trait List Confident, persistent, sentimental, creative
Negative Trait List Stubborn, competitive, oblivious, desires attention, faces depression when there’s no creative outlet.
History: Shanley was born to a prosperous vintner and his wife, and when she was old enough, was encouraged to learn the craft along with her three elder siblings. While successful in her craft, Shanley’s heart wasn’t quite in it and her interests took root during free time. She loved to write. Harpers were respected among her family, but her father wished for her to continue her studies. She didn’t object. Much. Not verbally, anyway. Stubbornness and a need for that free time to create worlds of her own drove her talents. She did respect her father’s wishes.
Still, she couldn’t put down that pen. She couldn’t. An idea would pop in from between, and she’d have to see it through. She learned to take pride in the wine she made, however, and did enjoy hearing her father boast over supper that they would be sampling something she’d had a hand in. She wished he had been so eager so sample something she’d written. Words didn't have the same appealing taste, Shanley learned, not to others.
The taste of words was limited to those who wrote, and meeting those people proved a task. There was the hall harper, but the precious hours she had free from studying her craft were filled with the scratching of charcoal.
Thread delayed her plans of building her confidence and talking to her father about her work. It destroyed the majority of their vineyard. They were suddenly strapped for marks, something that Shanley had never experienced. Food was still available, but there was less of it. There was left laughter in the small hall. There was less time to write, because she was helping her family replant. Writing didn't seem as important anymore. Was there a purpose for writing, really? What benefit was it to anyone? It brought her joy, but she had yet to share it with anyone.
When a dragon stopped to visit--for what reason, Shanley had never learned--she had been eager to speak with him. Instead of the intelligent conversation she sought, however, she received an invite to the Weyr. His dragon had taken an interest in her, and she could Impress! This was her chance, she'd thought. Her chance to change how her life had gone so far. Maybe dragonriders were more open to creativity. Maybe she'd Impress and be able to help fight Thread, keeping it away from her home.
Other: Anything else you want to add?
Candidate Specific Questions
Do you want them to have an official Search RP? No
Do you understand they will age every passing year regardless if you're there to RP the or not? Yes
Do you want them to have a possible Stands Impression? No
- - - > Please keep in mind that Stands Impressions are very rare. This means that not everybody will get an opportunity to have a surprise Impression, and you lower your chances of being picked by a dragonet. Given the character is not ICly an official Candidate, they will need a reason to be at the Weyr of their choice long-term, or at least for every Hatching.
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