Name: Chellemana
Age: 16
Gender: Agender
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual
Craft: VintnerCraft
Rank: Apprentice
Origin: Fort, through the VintnerCraft Hall (Ruatha)
Appearance.
Physique: Chellemana is of medium-tall height, around 5'6", and will not grow much taller. Their long and thin appendages, especially in contrast to their face and broad shoulders, and hourglass shape without all the curves, give them a malnourished but willowy appearance. As one might imagine, this affects their ability to perform certain tasks, but their frame is so springy that momentum is a force often used to Chelle's advantage.
Hair: Chelle's eyebrows are light-brown, unlike the rest of their hair, which is a rich honey-blond that lightens readily in the summer sun. their hair is thick and naturally quite wavy and they keep it in wild multi-length locks and layers. The overall effect shows several shades of color and looks attractive on them.
Face: Their face readily freckles with a lesser capability to tan. It is heart-shaped, with round cheeks and a gently pointed chin. Their blunt, slightly long nose is a common characteristic in their family. They kind of like that their full siblings have the same nose, thus marking them as close relatives. Their right eye is hazel-green, left eye hazel-brown, and the difference is not always noticeable. But they are large and almond shaped, framed in brown eyelashes.
Fashion: Their clothes always seem androgynous and Chelle likes it that way. An example of clothing may be a wine-red shirt with a ruffled, sloped neckline, along with scuffed-up work trousers and old boots. Overall, Chelle does like to look presentable at the right time.
Other features: Chelle has a quirk where they pinch up their lips in uncertainty, such as how they should speak or act, or if two people are arguing.
Personality: Positive.
Open and friendly. They seem to like everyone, remembering names and important details such as hobbies or a recent death in the family. They know how to word things to upset or insult no one. And when they are insulting someone, so smooth and easy their smile that the other can't really tell.
Competent. Works hard to become more capable and especially more efficient. This process less about cutting corners and more about understanding well enough about something to know when to make the smart cut or addition.
Compartmentalization. Objectifies a situation, removing their feelings and others' feelings from the equation and moving forward without guilt or lingering hard feelings. This is due tot heir ability to compartmentalize feelings for a certain amount of time before being overwhelmed.
Independent. Can work independently, make decisions, etc. without relying on others.
Personality: Negative.
Once bitten, twice shy. Do not double-cross them or the resulting grudge will last a lifetime.
Workaholic. Often needs reminders if deadlines are approaching, as they will immurse themselves into something and forget to stop and take breaks.
Egotistical. Motives are often self-serving, though they seem very kind and considerate. Bending of rules can be done surprisingly coldly and nonchalantly.
History: Family.
Father: Cheney, 39, Journeyman GlassSmith.
Mother: Nal, 45, Journeywoman VintnerCraft.
Half-brother: Zren, 28, Journeyman MetalSmith. His father, MetalSmith, deceased.
Half-sister: Salley, 23, Senior Apprentice GlassSmith.
Brother: Al'zan/Alek, 18, Bronzerider; Apprentice VintnerCraft.
Sister: Nashanna, 13, Fort Weyr Candidate. Apprentice GlassSmith.
Pronunciations:
chee nee, naal, zrehn, saal lay,
aal ehk (zaan duhr), ahl zaan, kah nohl lahth
shaa lah may nah, shehl
naash aan nah, naa sah
In Alekzander and his full-blooded siblings' childhood they were surrounded by an interesting group of people to say the least. Not only is their mother older than their father Cheney, but their half-brother Zren is old enough to be Cheney’s younger brother. Zren and Cheney often do treat one another as brothers, the relationship they found best suiting their lives. Cheney could not see treating a full-grown man eleven turns his junior as a child, and Zren could not for the life of him call Cheney "father." Friendship was the most practical choice, and so it stands to this day.
Their mother, Nal, is perhaps the most colorful person in the family. Because of her, Alek and his siblings were born with high tolerances to alcohol. In her younger years, she was quite wild, enjoying a good arm-wrestling contest, and could match most men shot-for-shot. But after losing her first husband, a MetalSmith, to the mines and later with her handfasting to Cheney, Nal has mellowed considerably. To this day however, she loves a good social gathering.
Cheney and Nal are very attentive to their children despite their many responsibilities, and are not the type to impose upon their children the study of crafts directly related to theirs. They believe in supporting whatever decisions their children might make in life, yet every one of the kids, even little Nashanna, decided to focus their talents in supporting the winemaking traditions. First Salley then Nashanna would follow Cheney around, raptly studying his work with glass, fascinated with the concept of a material shaped with fire to first melt then solidify. Zren is the same way, though he has pursued his talent with metal, which he opines is much stronger and in some ways less delicate than glass.
History: Shared Timeline.
Turn 164: Month 11, Alekzander (Alek) is born
Turn 167: Month 2, Chellemana (Chelle) is born
Turn 169: Month 4, Nashanna (Nassah) is born
Turn 177
- Autumn: First cases of plague
- Winter: First plague fatalities
- - Alek (13), Chelle (10), Nassah ( 8 )
Turn 178-9
- Alek (15), Chelle (12), Nassah (10) leave Tillek as Apprentice Merchants
Turn 180
- Month 2:
- - Jr Gold Zilzilth & Bronze Ronloth (7/21 eggs - 4/1/1/1/0)
- - Alek (15) Impresses to become Al'zan of Bronze Conolloth
- Month 4:
- - Jr Gold Zilzilth dies of plague
- - Chelle (13) and Nassah (11), Candidates
- - Candidates and Weyrlings sent on to Fort Weyr (month approx)
- Month 8: Conolloth and Al'zan now fly together
- Month 11: Conolloth (9 Mo) and Al'zan (16) now can fly between
Turn 181
- Month 2: Conolloth (12 Mo), Al'zan (17)
- Month 6:
- - Jr Gold Malsalth & Bronze Naranth (8/28 eggs - 5/1/1/1/0)
- - Jr Gold Malsalth dies of plague
- - Malsalth's death adversely affects Chelle (14) and Nassah (12)
Turn 182
- Month 1: Green Lithustoth rises
- Month 2: Conolloth (24 Mo), Al'zan ( 18 ), now graduate
- Month 4:
- - Green Lithustoth clutches (4 eggs)
- - Chellemana (15), Nashanna (13) to attend Touching
History: A Narrative.
Alekzander has always admired his mother and enjoyed the brewing process. As a very small child Nal carried him around wherever she went. He became so accustomed to the atmosphere within the Hall -- the sounds, smells, and processes -- that the very idea of studying a different craft was nearly inconceivable to him. However, by the age of fifteen, it had become apparent that while his knowledge was already considerable, his aptitudes leaned more toward that of a scribe. Lists. Recipes. Vintages and their high and low points. As for tasting, he could not taste one vintage from another! But why? Perhaps it was his adorable little nose, or allergies, or some unseen deformity. Who could say? Finally, his impairment persisted and Nal suggested that some people have the gift while others don’t. She tried to explain it as gently as she could, but he seems to have known for a while but stubbornly stuck with the craft he loved.
With a heavy heart, Nal contrived a scheme that would help the family while expanding Alekzander's horizons. She sent Alek and younger sibling Chellemana east to trade with precious Tillek wines and preserves, Zren's jewelry and the family's glasswares. As many crafters will do, they employed a travelers' caravan to make the journey east. They would travel a circuit that eventually passed Benden Hold. They were to be supervised by one of the journeymen during the trip, only to be apprenticed at Benden. Nal's exact motives could be questioned, but deep down Alek believed she wanted him to understand as much of the craft as he could... while spying on Benden's WineCraft for Tillek.
But Alekzander was utterly dismayed. While Chellemana tried to console him, he put on a brave smile while silently questioning his worth in the Craft. What stopped his brooding was something completely unexpected, to him anyway! Chelle, not so much. A stowaway was discovered: Alek and Chelle's youngest sister, Nashanna. The sense of adventure was everywhere: the landmarks, new smells, different schedules, and camping under the stars. Her reasoning? She loved to travel! During this time, they met the teenaged trader Cliviri (Thaliawen), whom they befriended.
During his extended fit of self-pity, Alek was almost oblivious enough to miss the stories of the plague that had besieged the Weyrs across Northern Pern for less than a turn. Ignorant to its existence previously, he now listened freely. At the beginning of this trip, golden queens still rose and laid their eggs. But shockingly, now the Weyrs were tallying the eggs that did not hatch as well as the ones that did. Alek's younger siblings clung to his elbow and onto each other. Their decision began to grow in their minds as they gazed at each other with uncertainty and hope in their eyes. It became undeniable conviction, as they felt like they could do something about it.
Arriving at Benden Hold, a very precious clutch already graced the Sands of the Weyr. Alek and Chellemana agreed that dragonriders have a different, higher calling than those who develop the wines of Pern. And though they worked for Tillek, sent to spy on Benden and learn their trade secrets, they attended the gather and hatching and decided to stay. And Alek ended up Impressing there.
Not long after the ceremony, Benden's last surviving queen died. Al'zan could not help but mourn along with little bronze, Conolloth, and the rest of the Weyr. That included Chelle and Nassah. For sevendays afterward, the younger of the two had vivid nightmares that awoke her sister. Nassah told Chelle that she did not want to stand anymore. But she was fond of dragons and often changed her mind. The youngest sister, originally just a little stowaway looking for fun and adventure, had realized her first great decision. She was torn, and she needed all the support her siblings could give. Al'zan and Chelle did not care to send her back home in this state, despite misgivings all around. And in the end, Chelle decided the Candidatemaster did not need to know of Nassah's deep emotional struggle.
Alekzander, now Al'zan, has transferred to Fort Weyr only recently, with one another surviving classmate. All dragons from all the Northern Weyrs are transferring to Fort. So few dragons remain that Fort has more than enough room to spare. So Chellemana and Nashanna came with him. Perhaps she and Chelle will Impress at Fort. Stranger things have happened.
Other:
Elided Name: Ch'em (shehm)
Nickname: Chelle
