Post by hseru on Jan 15, 2009 0:27:53 GMT -5
DIED OF SOUTHERN FEVER EPIDEMIC
Humans:
Name: K’roi
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Rank: Weyrleader
Physical Appearance:
K’roi is average height at best, some 5’7”, his body long and lean, though even at the age of 22, he still has some boyhood lankiness that will probably never go away. Narrow of shoulder and hip, his body is well toned, showing testament to agility and endurance rather than any great physical strength. His skin is lightly freckled and pale in contrast to his dark mahogany hair, shot through with the occasional sun bleached auburn strand to give it a lighter sheen. His bangs are long enough to brush his pronounced cheekbones, the majority parted to the left in a windswept cowlick. The rest is longer, gathered at the base of his neck in a tail that ends between his shoulder blades. Thick and rather straight, it falls to his shoulders when down, the very ends curling in every which way if not brushed. Possessing an oval face, high cheek bones, and a aquiline nose slightly on the thin side, his eyes are dual colored. The left is a pleasant honey-like brown, while the right is clear, dark blue, with flecks of the same honey surrounding the pupil.
Most of K’roi’s riding leathers are dyed a clean white, with much bronze stitching around the edges to give it flare. They make a stark contrast to Gareth’s dark bronze hide, making him easy to recognize from afar. This is further aided while on the ground by his walk. Jaunty, and with long, even steps a bit on the fast side, he usually strides with purpose and direction, even if that direction is not yet know to him. He can often be found smiling, most times at the antics of his mind companions.
Personality:
A fun loving type of person, K'roi is one to take chances that are best left alone. Often called brash by some of the other riders, he nevertheless is a person one can easily like. Happy, easy to smile and easier to laugh, he yet possesses a seriousness and level headedness that can be called upon in any situation, which has given him the respect of many said other riders. Upbeat, and charismatic, there are few things that can upset him, yet when upset, he is quick to anger and quicker to act. Not usually prone to acts of violence though, he will often let his wit end a confrontation. Never let it be said that K’roi backs down from a fight. He may not be the one to start it, but he most certainly will finish it.
Rather straightforward, K’roi has a talent for telling the truth without seriously angering the person he’s speaking with. Despite his occasional love of purposefully irritating the sensibilities of older riders, he only does so when there is time to patch any hard feelings before the need to work in a wing is voiced. He would never do something to injure the quality of protection the wings provide. His dedication to the Weyr rises above everything else. Nearly everything he does is to better the Weyr and the people and dragons that live there. His friends are many, and he tries to make a point of approaching and meeting with every new person to arrive in Selenitas, finding it easy to converse with people both in large crowd situations, and on an individual basis.
History:
A rather uneventful birth in Lighttower Hold led to a rather uneventful childhood for Kuroi. Born the only child of a fisher, Gerald, and his talented seamstress wife, Laurin, they lived in a ramshackle house on the edges of the Hold, barely scraping enough of a living to keep them above absolute destitution. Kuroi was not raised to hate dragons, as most people in Lighttower did. Fortunately for him, in some respects, his grandparents moved with his parents and their general love for dragons, to Lighttower Hold to try their luck and skill in plying the seas after mastering the fishing craft in the placid waters of the lake Blossom Hold is situated on. In later years, they regretted the move, finding that Lighttower was in much worse shape than it led others to believe. By then it was too late for them to return, however, as they had no funds, and no supplies for the trip or the transportation through the dangerous jungles of the Southern Continent. So they remained, eking out a meager repast from the harsh, unforgiving seas, sailing a second hand boat that needed repairs after nearly every tremulous voyage.
It was Laurin’s talents as a seamstress that kept the family alive during this time. Especially so after Kuroi’s grandfather was swept overboard and lost at sea during a particularly fierce storm that nearly sank the boat itself. At the age of 13, Kuroi joined his father in the fishing craft, taking his grandfather’s place on the two man boat. Wishing desperately to help his family, Kuroi put his all into learning the ways of the boat, and soon became the asset he had hoped to be. His parents bemoaned their son’s fate in silence though, and made plans to change the unfortunate series of events that led them to poverty, dragging their unborn with them. The surest way to raise the boy up would be to convince a search rider that he was candidate material, but the sight of a dragon on the horizon was a rare occurrence near the Hold. They tried to remain positive though. Even if he didn’t manage to impress, it was likely that he could stay on as a worker, giving him far better opportunities for a good life than if he stayed at Lighttower.
On his 14th birthday, it was thus that Gerald began sailing east along the coast, further each day only to return home that night, claiming to search for better fishing grounds. In reality, he was hoping that the trips would offer a glimpse of a Rider who might be willing to land so he could talk. Luckily, the day came when a large brown dragon winged out of the sky, spiraling down to land on shore in answer to Gerald’s distress signals via colorful pennants tied to the topmost part of the mast. Kuroi had no idea what was going on, but Gerald quickly turned the boat landward, beaching the ship with a loud squeal as wood scraped against sand.
Kuroi never saw the exchange of marks that passed from his father to the Rider, the meager savings his parents had scraped together for just such an occasion. It bought the Rider’s assurance that he would be taken to Selenitas, but not that he would be able to stand for candidacy. The Rider would need to study the boy first to see if he could Stand. Kuroi balked at leaving his parents without his help, but after his father practically shoved a small bag already packed with his few belongings, the boy gave in to his parents’ wishes. Joining the Rider then and there, the brown dragon lifted off and blinked to the frozen cold of Between, a tear blurred downwards glance the last time he saw his father.
The first few days at the hold were difficult for Kuroi. His mind was filled with worry for his family, and unease at how he’d left them to fend without his help, a deep feeling of guilt worming its way into his heart. Sick with grief, he took to wandering the Weyr and the surrounding area in a depressed stupor, studiously ignoring the people around him and searching for the only comfort available, that of being alone with his thoughts.
It was on one of these ramblings that he came across a ruined flitt nest on the beach, the sun warming his back and the cool water an inviting presence to his right. His heart wrenched with sadness at the loss as he kneeled down to look at the smashed eggs, each jewel-like shard of shell glinting with its own fire in the high afternoon sunlight. He brushed some of the sand away, noting that it was quite warm, and still a little wet from the contents of the unfortunate eggs. He picked up a piece of shell, glancing around to see if the mother was anywhere near still. No bright speck of color did he see, so he studied the piece he held, eventually dropping it back into the nest. Examining the nest further, his interest piqued, he was surprised to find a single unbroken egg hidden beneath the fragments of its brethren. He wasted no time, and quickly removed his shirt, tying knots in the sleeves and crafting it into a crude bag. He then scooped armfuls of the warm sand into it, a cradle for his misbegotten egg to keep it safe and warm until he returned to the Weyr and found someone who knew what to do with it.
Kuroi carefully tended the egg for a week, keeping it warm and dry according to what he was told, and his patience and care were rewarded when the egg hatched, revealing a tiny green flitt. He was alarmed at how weak she acted, nothing like the crazed hunger-driven actions that had been described to him. He gently nestled the newborn into the crook of his arm, holding pieces of meat in offering. She creeled weakly, suckling at the meat for a moment before eating the smallest piece he offered. He was touched by the flitt’s struggle to survive under such conditions, and vowed to help her live. With loads of care, and the help of the dragonhealers, he soon nurtured her back to a safe level of health, and Sakki, as he named her, soon became as rambunctious as any newly hatched flitt, though remained smaller than any green he’d ever seen.
The little flitt was the key to opening Kuroi’s heart to the new life he’d been given. He shortly found his natural affinity for people blossoming forth again, and the welcome he received from the people of Selenitas was like a balm for his bruised heart. He was completely swept up in Weyr life, and everything associated with it. It wasn’t long before he was running around like any other weyrbrat old enough to learn a trade craft, though at times he was still a bit more subdued than others of his age. It was during this time, that the Brownrider was keeping his promise to the lad’s father. Watching the boy, he found that Kuroi was indeed candidate material, and completed his search by officially registering him as a candidate, several weeks after his arrival.
Candidate training opened up a whole new world for Kuroi. The ins and outs of the dragon quickly became his passion, and watching the many dragons in the Weyr merely honed his wish for one. His first Stand passed uneventfully without him impressing, but he refused to give up hope. Others had stood multiple times and still impressed, why couldn’t he? He continued on as a diligent candidate until his second stand, where his wish was granted beyond his wildest dreams. Close to the end of the hatching, with only a few eggs yet to hatch, he suddenly found himself supporting the large, wobbly body of a beautiful though ungainly dark bronze hatchling. K’roimine, I have found you! You are Gareth’s forever. and after a moment. Hungry!
Their time as werylings passed quickly, and they were soon riding the skies for the first time with the other new riders. Time continued to pass, and it became obvious after two years of growth that Gareth’s now monstrous size was not an asset in the air. His girth made for slow turns and slow reactions, which could mean ill for the pair, especially with the sudden, startling new threat of thread in the air. After a particularly harsh threadscore on the bronze’s hind quarters had them out for a month in recovery, K’roi decided that enough was enough.
It was thus that the pair began a daily regime of practice concerning maneuvering Gareth’s bulk in different directions as quickly as possible. At first, there were no obvious results from the constant flying, but slowly, the bronze began to react sooner, and move faster. He would never be as nimble as a blue, or even a brown but his skills began to grow apace, and their training became an obsessive daily ritual for the pair. A secondary result of so much practice was that the pair became so directly in-tuned to each other, that during a fall, their thoughts were instantly transmitted and understood without the need for words. K’roi used Gareth’s wings to turn when he saw danger, and Gareth used K’roi’s hands to feed him more firestone when he had need. They became a perfectly tuned bronzepair.
After a while, with their maneuverability greatly increased by the daily practices, K’roi began adding difficult aerial techniques into the mix, trying to predict what they might need in any situation. Upside down turns, tight flips, the tossing of things from rider to rider and riders moving from dragon to dragon were a few of the initial objectives. Each maneuver was practiced until a degree of proficiency was reached, and then another was added. Gareth could catch K’roi if he fell, pick him up from the ground in mid-flight, and deliver him similarly with enough room. K’roi also worked diligently on being able to ride the big bronze from just about any location on his dark body, from the base of his skull to the tip of his tail.
The list was endless, and every new happening added another bright spark of inspiration to their practices. Soon, the disadvantage of size turned around to become an advantage in speed, and those turnstile wings could carry Gareth just about anywhere in a hurry. He was now a bronze that could be a tremendous aid in threadfall. That fact pleased the pair to no end. Being an asset to the Weyr, and to the protection of the Weyr was something he could live for; Protecting the place that had given him a home.
It was soon evident that their hard won skills might be put to use for more than threadfall. Two years after the 10th pass began, the Weyrwoman’s daughter failed to impress, and the girl Shmee took the gold instead. K’roi was interested in seeing what would happen, but the rumors, and the unrest caused by the young woman were a palpable buzz in the air, and he was worried that it would cause an irreparable break in the Weyr’s people. After the Weyrwoman’s daughter claimed her own life, it was obvious that Selenitas was in for some changes, and he and Gareth were going along for the ride. All they could do in the long run was support the Weyr as best they could on Gareth’s wide wings.
Two years later, the last of the Selenitas line died, and Shmee became Senior Weyrwoman in full, too young and inexperienced by most accounts. It was with some surprise that K’roi watched her build something out of the wreckage of the Selenitas line. The wings re-organized, and thread became manageable. Slowly, the loyalty that had grown into a definite thing for the Weyr transferred in some part to the young woman, and K’roi felt that her impression was a positive thing. As such, when Benden began terrorizing the Weyr with kidnappings, murder and those horrid drugs, each incident started to sully something inside the bronzerider. A deep and abiding hatred grew from each new weyrling death, each new incident. It grew until his distrust for any rider claiming to be from Benden was absolute until said rider managed to prove him or herself to him, no easy task. Only a few have managed to do so, and the rest, well, he merely waits for the day when they’ll show their true colors as an agent of Benden, where he’ll happily end their usefulness as a spy.
Dragons/Whers/Fire Lizards/Salamandyrs:
Name: Gareth
Color: Bronze #cd3700
Age: 7
Physical Appearance:
Gareth is large. Overly so. He dwarfs all but the largest bronzes and browns. His hide is dark bronze, a shimmery gilt color for the most part, though lighter patches of a pale bronze color splatter along his spine and over his long ridges, covering a few entirely, making them almost reflective. His hide has a few threadscore scars, but nothing largely noticeable. Once detrimental to their aerial maneuverability, his size is now an asset due to hours upon hours of training. His wings are more narrow and long than broad and wide, and his body follows a similar pattern. Despite his size, his head in narrow, with a pronounced beak and long ear-knobs, and his tail is long and thick, able to toss a draft runner with an easy swing. The muscle power needed to lift his bulk is visible in each corded sinew, and the muscles that run along his legs and wings are nearly half again their normal size to compensate, though on his large frame it still manages to look sleek, if a bit thick.
Personality:
If ever a dragon loved his rider, Gareth would be it. The two are rarely parted when there isn’t need for it, and the amount of connection they maintain constantly is closer to the level of a flight than usual mindspeech. Despite his rider’s pleasant acceptance of almost everyone, and K’roi’s tendency to be an easy talker, Gareth does not like to talk to other humans, and barely tolerates any close proximity. He is certain to warn them off with a growl, though he will not strike out unless provoked. As for other dragons, he can and does tolerate their presence, and will use them to transmit messages to their riders, or rely on K’roi to translate for him.
If K’roi is the fire and action to their partnership, then Gareth is the calm, cool inner voice he listens to. They balance each other rather well, even if they bicker back and forth quite a bit. It’s generally good natured, and it’s rare for either of them to feel genuinely insulted or hurt by the other’s words. So used to dealing with his bonded, Gareth is able to calm K’roi, or incense him to the point of blind rage with a few words. Such is their connection and the shared trust they have.
Gareth has a love for water, especially when he manages to find a pool deep enough to cover his form without the need to lie down. He can often be found lazing beneath the falls downriver of Selenitas, where the constant rush of water has long since hewn a deep pool out of the bedrock. Otherwise, he spends much time sunning on the nearby beach until his skin is hot to the touch. Having grown up with Sakki, he accepts her previous claim on K’roi, and even likes the little green flitt, which is more than can be said about most other creatures. She will often sleep between his back ridges when she can’t be with Hers.
Good 'n' Evil Brown
Name:
Color: Brown #35220A #1F1202 #854E07 #140B00
Gender: Male
Age: Hatchling
Looks To: K'roi
Physical Appearance: The look this brown has is distinctly delicate. He looks as if he'll break at the drop of a hat, or a pin. He's definitely not muscular in any way. As far as size goes, he's about average, leaning closer to small, but the fragile look his body possesses (even feminine by many standards) makes him appear much smaller than he truly is. He has a long, slender neck, with very small, almost bumpy ridges that are hardly defined at all, adding to the distinctly 'pretty' look as opposed to 'handsome.' Each of his limbs is thin and his legs end in tiny, razor-sharp claws that are slightly longer than the average firelizard's, emphasizing how dangerous they truly are. His wings are extremely long, and his wing bones look almost brittle as opposed to strong. The sails are extremely thin, which will make him adept at quick turns, but painfully low in stamina and if he's not careful, he will break bones. His bonded will have to take great care to keep him from becoming harmed. Complimenting this delicate look though is a very long, elegant tail which is thin, whippy and excellent for curling around things. Altogether when he perches on something, he almost looks like a female firelizard - just an extremely large one.
His color, though, is definitely not feminine or resembling that of any other firelizard color. He's definitely a brown. Deep, rich brown hues color his entire body, varying in exact hues by one or two shades. The coloration seems to 'crumble' over his whole body, darker and lighter in places, never the same exact shade twice. Darker shades of brown 'drizzle' down his back, dripping over his sides toward his stomach like some kind of syrup. As a direct contrast, his wing sails and rings around his eyes are a much lighter shade of brown, adding emphasis to those few places. Finishing off his look is an oddly 'frosted' appearance, starting from the top of his head and spanning down over his back, down his ridges and the line of his tail along the top to the very tip. The frosting is an almost black shade of brown, giving him a chocolate-on-chocolate look, not unlike a cake.
Personality: As far as firelizards go, this little male is bizarrely quiet. Almost alarmingly so, actually. Much of the time, he sits on an out of the way perch or on his bonded and listens, head cocked to the side as if everything spoken to or around him is the most interesting tale he's ever heard. Occasionally he'll pipe up with little chirps to show he's listening but most of the time, he's quiet. He prefers to save his chirping and chattering for the opportune moment when it will make the most difference, and it could be said that this firelizard is most definitely the sort to make a point; he 'says' what he means, and thus, most of the time, any answers he offers are easily understood one direction or the other. For example, his bonded will usually be able to translate from firelizard-speak to anyone who this little male is talking so, so clear is he. Not that he has a lot to say, but it makes quite a difference, since the messages he does try to get across are often good ones. Wise would be a good word to describe this little guy - at least, most of the time. He's very, very intelligent for a firelizard.
He's also extremely laid back, one of the most noticeable things about him. While other flits get upset and fussy easily, this little guy doesn't. He's got the patience of a saint and will sit and tolerate things that the majority of his kind go into fits over. However, it is possible to embarrass him; being around bigger males often makes him feel insecure and he is prone to hiding rather than shows of pride and puffing up. In particular, he's extremely shy around other browns that are larger than he is, or more impressive in coloration. It takes quite a bit of effort for other firelizards to earn his 'friendship' as a result, and he's more of a loner than most browns happen to be. The few who get close to him and get to know him will find him an excellent companion and friend - but getting there is difficult, as he's more likely to listen and then move on than try to be truly friendly. He's just not good at expressing his own feelings with anyone but his bonded and to his chosen, he's endlessly loyal and faithful. Others... well, he's not sure how he should feel most of the time, but with some effort, he makes a good friend!
Name: Wren
Age: Hatchling
Species: Darter
Owner: K’roi
Appearance: This small member of the wherrie family probably won’t get much bigger than a green flitter when he is fully grown. His downy fur -it should be noted that wherries do not have true feathers- is a soft shade of tawny yellow, intermittently marked with cream and dark brown around on his face and feet. His eyes are large and faceted, giving him a charmingly ridiculous bug-eyed appearance. His owner will have to take care that he is marked out as a pet to the Weyr’s flitter population, because darters just so happen to be one of their favourite foods.
Personality: Inquisitive and affectionate, this little creature will certainly make up for his lack of sentience with sheer charm and fuzzy-wuzzy adorability. While he will never truly speak, he will quickly become adept at mimicking the sounds he hears around the Weyrs -flitter chirps, dripping faucets and perhaps even a chirping version of his own name if his owner is patient with him. It should be known that this avian will take to hunting if his owner does not keep him well fed and well watched, and for the sake of the Weyr’s salamandyrs this should always be made a priority.
DECEASED
Dragons/Whers/Fire Lizards/Salamandyrs:
Name: Sakki
Color: Green #7FFFD4 (I guess she doesn't need a color for text, but I liked picking one :3)
Age: 7
Physical Appearance:
Sakki is a tiny green, easily a third smaller than most. Healers think that her stunted size is due to the time her egg was left unprotected to the elements after her nestmates were destroyed. Nevertheless, small she may be, unhealthy she is not. Thin and slender, her limbs are all proportional to her size, save for slightly larger wings and an over-long tail that helps her to keep a strong hold on her current perch of choice, usually Hers’ shoulder or head.
Her coloring is rather unique. The clear, bright green of her body has a very visible blue sheen to it, changing to almost an aqua color in the delicate lines of her head and wings. She has been mistaken for a tiny blue before while flying, though if the unfortunate person who thought such voiced it in a way she understood, she would be right on them to chastise and correct such a misconception. Her small stature gives her a distinct advantage in agility, and she will often twirl about K’roi’s head in impossible turns and twirls, watching him watching her, and delighted to have his attention.
Personality:
Sakki’s unique jewel-like coloring has led her to believe that she is more important and beautiful than a queen. As such, she also believes that everyone should have their eyes on her. A chatterer, she is constantly talking to Hers, sometimes waking him at night to tell him something she thought important. When in the presence of other flits, she will often flutter about and demand their attention, sometimes with the desired result, and sometimes not. If ignored, she will retreat to Hers, curling inside the neck of his riding leathers to mope in depressed annoyance.
Gareth is a welcome addition to the family of Hers, and if not around K’roi, she will treat the bronze in the same manner, chattering animatedly to him while he listens good naturedly. She can often be found sleeping between his ridges while he sunbathes, or hanging on while he swims. His acceptance of her previous claim on K'roi only further bolsters her impression of self importance.
[Checkity check] By checking this box, I am saying that I have read the Rules and History, and will follow them.
Humans:
Name: K’roi
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Rank: Weyrleader
Physical Appearance:
K’roi is average height at best, some 5’7”, his body long and lean, though even at the age of 22, he still has some boyhood lankiness that will probably never go away. Narrow of shoulder and hip, his body is well toned, showing testament to agility and endurance rather than any great physical strength. His skin is lightly freckled and pale in contrast to his dark mahogany hair, shot through with the occasional sun bleached auburn strand to give it a lighter sheen. His bangs are long enough to brush his pronounced cheekbones, the majority parted to the left in a windswept cowlick. The rest is longer, gathered at the base of his neck in a tail that ends between his shoulder blades. Thick and rather straight, it falls to his shoulders when down, the very ends curling in every which way if not brushed. Possessing an oval face, high cheek bones, and a aquiline nose slightly on the thin side, his eyes are dual colored. The left is a pleasant honey-like brown, while the right is clear, dark blue, with flecks of the same honey surrounding the pupil.
Most of K’roi’s riding leathers are dyed a clean white, with much bronze stitching around the edges to give it flare. They make a stark contrast to Gareth’s dark bronze hide, making him easy to recognize from afar. This is further aided while on the ground by his walk. Jaunty, and with long, even steps a bit on the fast side, he usually strides with purpose and direction, even if that direction is not yet know to him. He can often be found smiling, most times at the antics of his mind companions.
Personality:
A fun loving type of person, K'roi is one to take chances that are best left alone. Often called brash by some of the other riders, he nevertheless is a person one can easily like. Happy, easy to smile and easier to laugh, he yet possesses a seriousness and level headedness that can be called upon in any situation, which has given him the respect of many said other riders. Upbeat, and charismatic, there are few things that can upset him, yet when upset, he is quick to anger and quicker to act. Not usually prone to acts of violence though, he will often let his wit end a confrontation. Never let it be said that K’roi backs down from a fight. He may not be the one to start it, but he most certainly will finish it.
Rather straightforward, K’roi has a talent for telling the truth without seriously angering the person he’s speaking with. Despite his occasional love of purposefully irritating the sensibilities of older riders, he only does so when there is time to patch any hard feelings before the need to work in a wing is voiced. He would never do something to injure the quality of protection the wings provide. His dedication to the Weyr rises above everything else. Nearly everything he does is to better the Weyr and the people and dragons that live there. His friends are many, and he tries to make a point of approaching and meeting with every new person to arrive in Selenitas, finding it easy to converse with people both in large crowd situations, and on an individual basis.
History:
A rather uneventful birth in Lighttower Hold led to a rather uneventful childhood for Kuroi. Born the only child of a fisher, Gerald, and his talented seamstress wife, Laurin, they lived in a ramshackle house on the edges of the Hold, barely scraping enough of a living to keep them above absolute destitution. Kuroi was not raised to hate dragons, as most people in Lighttower did. Fortunately for him, in some respects, his grandparents moved with his parents and their general love for dragons, to Lighttower Hold to try their luck and skill in plying the seas after mastering the fishing craft in the placid waters of the lake Blossom Hold is situated on. In later years, they regretted the move, finding that Lighttower was in much worse shape than it led others to believe. By then it was too late for them to return, however, as they had no funds, and no supplies for the trip or the transportation through the dangerous jungles of the Southern Continent. So they remained, eking out a meager repast from the harsh, unforgiving seas, sailing a second hand boat that needed repairs after nearly every tremulous voyage.
It was Laurin’s talents as a seamstress that kept the family alive during this time. Especially so after Kuroi’s grandfather was swept overboard and lost at sea during a particularly fierce storm that nearly sank the boat itself. At the age of 13, Kuroi joined his father in the fishing craft, taking his grandfather’s place on the two man boat. Wishing desperately to help his family, Kuroi put his all into learning the ways of the boat, and soon became the asset he had hoped to be. His parents bemoaned their son’s fate in silence though, and made plans to change the unfortunate series of events that led them to poverty, dragging their unborn with them. The surest way to raise the boy up would be to convince a search rider that he was candidate material, but the sight of a dragon on the horizon was a rare occurrence near the Hold. They tried to remain positive though. Even if he didn’t manage to impress, it was likely that he could stay on as a worker, giving him far better opportunities for a good life than if he stayed at Lighttower.
On his 14th birthday, it was thus that Gerald began sailing east along the coast, further each day only to return home that night, claiming to search for better fishing grounds. In reality, he was hoping that the trips would offer a glimpse of a Rider who might be willing to land so he could talk. Luckily, the day came when a large brown dragon winged out of the sky, spiraling down to land on shore in answer to Gerald’s distress signals via colorful pennants tied to the topmost part of the mast. Kuroi had no idea what was going on, but Gerald quickly turned the boat landward, beaching the ship with a loud squeal as wood scraped against sand.
Kuroi never saw the exchange of marks that passed from his father to the Rider, the meager savings his parents had scraped together for just such an occasion. It bought the Rider’s assurance that he would be taken to Selenitas, but not that he would be able to stand for candidacy. The Rider would need to study the boy first to see if he could Stand. Kuroi balked at leaving his parents without his help, but after his father practically shoved a small bag already packed with his few belongings, the boy gave in to his parents’ wishes. Joining the Rider then and there, the brown dragon lifted off and blinked to the frozen cold of Between, a tear blurred downwards glance the last time he saw his father.
The first few days at the hold were difficult for Kuroi. His mind was filled with worry for his family, and unease at how he’d left them to fend without his help, a deep feeling of guilt worming its way into his heart. Sick with grief, he took to wandering the Weyr and the surrounding area in a depressed stupor, studiously ignoring the people around him and searching for the only comfort available, that of being alone with his thoughts.
It was on one of these ramblings that he came across a ruined flitt nest on the beach, the sun warming his back and the cool water an inviting presence to his right. His heart wrenched with sadness at the loss as he kneeled down to look at the smashed eggs, each jewel-like shard of shell glinting with its own fire in the high afternoon sunlight. He brushed some of the sand away, noting that it was quite warm, and still a little wet from the contents of the unfortunate eggs. He picked up a piece of shell, glancing around to see if the mother was anywhere near still. No bright speck of color did he see, so he studied the piece he held, eventually dropping it back into the nest. Examining the nest further, his interest piqued, he was surprised to find a single unbroken egg hidden beneath the fragments of its brethren. He wasted no time, and quickly removed his shirt, tying knots in the sleeves and crafting it into a crude bag. He then scooped armfuls of the warm sand into it, a cradle for his misbegotten egg to keep it safe and warm until he returned to the Weyr and found someone who knew what to do with it.
Kuroi carefully tended the egg for a week, keeping it warm and dry according to what he was told, and his patience and care were rewarded when the egg hatched, revealing a tiny green flitt. He was alarmed at how weak she acted, nothing like the crazed hunger-driven actions that had been described to him. He gently nestled the newborn into the crook of his arm, holding pieces of meat in offering. She creeled weakly, suckling at the meat for a moment before eating the smallest piece he offered. He was touched by the flitt’s struggle to survive under such conditions, and vowed to help her live. With loads of care, and the help of the dragonhealers, he soon nurtured her back to a safe level of health, and Sakki, as he named her, soon became as rambunctious as any newly hatched flitt, though remained smaller than any green he’d ever seen.
The little flitt was the key to opening Kuroi’s heart to the new life he’d been given. He shortly found his natural affinity for people blossoming forth again, and the welcome he received from the people of Selenitas was like a balm for his bruised heart. He was completely swept up in Weyr life, and everything associated with it. It wasn’t long before he was running around like any other weyrbrat old enough to learn a trade craft, though at times he was still a bit more subdued than others of his age. It was during this time, that the Brownrider was keeping his promise to the lad’s father. Watching the boy, he found that Kuroi was indeed candidate material, and completed his search by officially registering him as a candidate, several weeks after his arrival.
Candidate training opened up a whole new world for Kuroi. The ins and outs of the dragon quickly became his passion, and watching the many dragons in the Weyr merely honed his wish for one. His first Stand passed uneventfully without him impressing, but he refused to give up hope. Others had stood multiple times and still impressed, why couldn’t he? He continued on as a diligent candidate until his second stand, where his wish was granted beyond his wildest dreams. Close to the end of the hatching, with only a few eggs yet to hatch, he suddenly found himself supporting the large, wobbly body of a beautiful though ungainly dark bronze hatchling. K’roimine, I have found you! You are Gareth’s forever. and after a moment. Hungry!
Their time as werylings passed quickly, and they were soon riding the skies for the first time with the other new riders. Time continued to pass, and it became obvious after two years of growth that Gareth’s now monstrous size was not an asset in the air. His girth made for slow turns and slow reactions, which could mean ill for the pair, especially with the sudden, startling new threat of thread in the air. After a particularly harsh threadscore on the bronze’s hind quarters had them out for a month in recovery, K’roi decided that enough was enough.
It was thus that the pair began a daily regime of practice concerning maneuvering Gareth’s bulk in different directions as quickly as possible. At first, there were no obvious results from the constant flying, but slowly, the bronze began to react sooner, and move faster. He would never be as nimble as a blue, or even a brown but his skills began to grow apace, and their training became an obsessive daily ritual for the pair. A secondary result of so much practice was that the pair became so directly in-tuned to each other, that during a fall, their thoughts were instantly transmitted and understood without the need for words. K’roi used Gareth’s wings to turn when he saw danger, and Gareth used K’roi’s hands to feed him more firestone when he had need. They became a perfectly tuned bronzepair.
After a while, with their maneuverability greatly increased by the daily practices, K’roi began adding difficult aerial techniques into the mix, trying to predict what they might need in any situation. Upside down turns, tight flips, the tossing of things from rider to rider and riders moving from dragon to dragon were a few of the initial objectives. Each maneuver was practiced until a degree of proficiency was reached, and then another was added. Gareth could catch K’roi if he fell, pick him up from the ground in mid-flight, and deliver him similarly with enough room. K’roi also worked diligently on being able to ride the big bronze from just about any location on his dark body, from the base of his skull to the tip of his tail.
The list was endless, and every new happening added another bright spark of inspiration to their practices. Soon, the disadvantage of size turned around to become an advantage in speed, and those turnstile wings could carry Gareth just about anywhere in a hurry. He was now a bronze that could be a tremendous aid in threadfall. That fact pleased the pair to no end. Being an asset to the Weyr, and to the protection of the Weyr was something he could live for; Protecting the place that had given him a home.
It was soon evident that their hard won skills might be put to use for more than threadfall. Two years after the 10th pass began, the Weyrwoman’s daughter failed to impress, and the girl Shmee took the gold instead. K’roi was interested in seeing what would happen, but the rumors, and the unrest caused by the young woman were a palpable buzz in the air, and he was worried that it would cause an irreparable break in the Weyr’s people. After the Weyrwoman’s daughter claimed her own life, it was obvious that Selenitas was in for some changes, and he and Gareth were going along for the ride. All they could do in the long run was support the Weyr as best they could on Gareth’s wide wings.
Two years later, the last of the Selenitas line died, and Shmee became Senior Weyrwoman in full, too young and inexperienced by most accounts. It was with some surprise that K’roi watched her build something out of the wreckage of the Selenitas line. The wings re-organized, and thread became manageable. Slowly, the loyalty that had grown into a definite thing for the Weyr transferred in some part to the young woman, and K’roi felt that her impression was a positive thing. As such, when Benden began terrorizing the Weyr with kidnappings, murder and those horrid drugs, each incident started to sully something inside the bronzerider. A deep and abiding hatred grew from each new weyrling death, each new incident. It grew until his distrust for any rider claiming to be from Benden was absolute until said rider managed to prove him or herself to him, no easy task. Only a few have managed to do so, and the rest, well, he merely waits for the day when they’ll show their true colors as an agent of Benden, where he’ll happily end their usefulness as a spy.
Dragons/Whers/Fire Lizards/Salamandyrs:
Name: Gareth
Color: Bronze #cd3700
Age: 7
Physical Appearance:
Gareth is large. Overly so. He dwarfs all but the largest bronzes and browns. His hide is dark bronze, a shimmery gilt color for the most part, though lighter patches of a pale bronze color splatter along his spine and over his long ridges, covering a few entirely, making them almost reflective. His hide has a few threadscore scars, but nothing largely noticeable. Once detrimental to their aerial maneuverability, his size is now an asset due to hours upon hours of training. His wings are more narrow and long than broad and wide, and his body follows a similar pattern. Despite his size, his head in narrow, with a pronounced beak and long ear-knobs, and his tail is long and thick, able to toss a draft runner with an easy swing. The muscle power needed to lift his bulk is visible in each corded sinew, and the muscles that run along his legs and wings are nearly half again their normal size to compensate, though on his large frame it still manages to look sleek, if a bit thick.
Personality:
If ever a dragon loved his rider, Gareth would be it. The two are rarely parted when there isn’t need for it, and the amount of connection they maintain constantly is closer to the level of a flight than usual mindspeech. Despite his rider’s pleasant acceptance of almost everyone, and K’roi’s tendency to be an easy talker, Gareth does not like to talk to other humans, and barely tolerates any close proximity. He is certain to warn them off with a growl, though he will not strike out unless provoked. As for other dragons, he can and does tolerate their presence, and will use them to transmit messages to their riders, or rely on K’roi to translate for him.
If K’roi is the fire and action to their partnership, then Gareth is the calm, cool inner voice he listens to. They balance each other rather well, even if they bicker back and forth quite a bit. It’s generally good natured, and it’s rare for either of them to feel genuinely insulted or hurt by the other’s words. So used to dealing with his bonded, Gareth is able to calm K’roi, or incense him to the point of blind rage with a few words. Such is their connection and the shared trust they have.
Gareth has a love for water, especially when he manages to find a pool deep enough to cover his form without the need to lie down. He can often be found lazing beneath the falls downriver of Selenitas, where the constant rush of water has long since hewn a deep pool out of the bedrock. Otherwise, he spends much time sunning on the nearby beach until his skin is hot to the touch. Having grown up with Sakki, he accepts her previous claim on K’roi, and even likes the little green flitt, which is more than can be said about most other creatures. She will often sleep between his back ridges when she can’t be with Hers.
Good 'n' Evil Brown
Name:
Color: Brown #35220A #1F1202 #854E07 #140B00
Gender: Male
Age: Hatchling
Looks To: K'roi
Physical Appearance: The look this brown has is distinctly delicate. He looks as if he'll break at the drop of a hat, or a pin. He's definitely not muscular in any way. As far as size goes, he's about average, leaning closer to small, but the fragile look his body possesses (even feminine by many standards) makes him appear much smaller than he truly is. He has a long, slender neck, with very small, almost bumpy ridges that are hardly defined at all, adding to the distinctly 'pretty' look as opposed to 'handsome.' Each of his limbs is thin and his legs end in tiny, razor-sharp claws that are slightly longer than the average firelizard's, emphasizing how dangerous they truly are. His wings are extremely long, and his wing bones look almost brittle as opposed to strong. The sails are extremely thin, which will make him adept at quick turns, but painfully low in stamina and if he's not careful, he will break bones. His bonded will have to take great care to keep him from becoming harmed. Complimenting this delicate look though is a very long, elegant tail which is thin, whippy and excellent for curling around things. Altogether when he perches on something, he almost looks like a female firelizard - just an extremely large one.
His color, though, is definitely not feminine or resembling that of any other firelizard color. He's definitely a brown. Deep, rich brown hues color his entire body, varying in exact hues by one or two shades. The coloration seems to 'crumble' over his whole body, darker and lighter in places, never the same exact shade twice. Darker shades of brown 'drizzle' down his back, dripping over his sides toward his stomach like some kind of syrup. As a direct contrast, his wing sails and rings around his eyes are a much lighter shade of brown, adding emphasis to those few places. Finishing off his look is an oddly 'frosted' appearance, starting from the top of his head and spanning down over his back, down his ridges and the line of his tail along the top to the very tip. The frosting is an almost black shade of brown, giving him a chocolate-on-chocolate look, not unlike a cake.
Personality: As far as firelizards go, this little male is bizarrely quiet. Almost alarmingly so, actually. Much of the time, he sits on an out of the way perch or on his bonded and listens, head cocked to the side as if everything spoken to or around him is the most interesting tale he's ever heard. Occasionally he'll pipe up with little chirps to show he's listening but most of the time, he's quiet. He prefers to save his chirping and chattering for the opportune moment when it will make the most difference, and it could be said that this firelizard is most definitely the sort to make a point; he 'says' what he means, and thus, most of the time, any answers he offers are easily understood one direction or the other. For example, his bonded will usually be able to translate from firelizard-speak to anyone who this little male is talking so, so clear is he. Not that he has a lot to say, but it makes quite a difference, since the messages he does try to get across are often good ones. Wise would be a good word to describe this little guy - at least, most of the time. He's very, very intelligent for a firelizard.
He's also extremely laid back, one of the most noticeable things about him. While other flits get upset and fussy easily, this little guy doesn't. He's got the patience of a saint and will sit and tolerate things that the majority of his kind go into fits over. However, it is possible to embarrass him; being around bigger males often makes him feel insecure and he is prone to hiding rather than shows of pride and puffing up. In particular, he's extremely shy around other browns that are larger than he is, or more impressive in coloration. It takes quite a bit of effort for other firelizards to earn his 'friendship' as a result, and he's more of a loner than most browns happen to be. The few who get close to him and get to know him will find him an excellent companion and friend - but getting there is difficult, as he's more likely to listen and then move on than try to be truly friendly. He's just not good at expressing his own feelings with anyone but his bonded and to his chosen, he's endlessly loyal and faithful. Others... well, he's not sure how he should feel most of the time, but with some effort, he makes a good friend!
Name: Wren
Age: Hatchling
Species: Darter
Owner: K’roi
Appearance: This small member of the wherrie family probably won’t get much bigger than a green flitter when he is fully grown. His downy fur -it should be noted that wherries do not have true feathers- is a soft shade of tawny yellow, intermittently marked with cream and dark brown around on his face and feet. His eyes are large and faceted, giving him a charmingly ridiculous bug-eyed appearance. His owner will have to take care that he is marked out as a pet to the Weyr’s flitter population, because darters just so happen to be one of their favourite foods.
Personality: Inquisitive and affectionate, this little creature will certainly make up for his lack of sentience with sheer charm and fuzzy-wuzzy adorability. While he will never truly speak, he will quickly become adept at mimicking the sounds he hears around the Weyrs -flitter chirps, dripping faucets and perhaps even a chirping version of his own name if his owner is patient with him. It should be known that this avian will take to hunting if his owner does not keep him well fed and well watched, and for the sake of the Weyr’s salamandyrs this should always be made a priority.
DECEASED
Dragons/Whers/Fire Lizards/Salamandyrs:
Name: Sakki
Color: Green #7FFFD4 (I guess she doesn't need a color for text, but I liked picking one :3)
Age: 7
Physical Appearance:
Sakki is a tiny green, easily a third smaller than most. Healers think that her stunted size is due to the time her egg was left unprotected to the elements after her nestmates were destroyed. Nevertheless, small she may be, unhealthy she is not. Thin and slender, her limbs are all proportional to her size, save for slightly larger wings and an over-long tail that helps her to keep a strong hold on her current perch of choice, usually Hers’ shoulder or head.
Her coloring is rather unique. The clear, bright green of her body has a very visible blue sheen to it, changing to almost an aqua color in the delicate lines of her head and wings. She has been mistaken for a tiny blue before while flying, though if the unfortunate person who thought such voiced it in a way she understood, she would be right on them to chastise and correct such a misconception. Her small stature gives her a distinct advantage in agility, and she will often twirl about K’roi’s head in impossible turns and twirls, watching him watching her, and delighted to have his attention.
Personality:
Sakki’s unique jewel-like coloring has led her to believe that she is more important and beautiful than a queen. As such, she also believes that everyone should have their eyes on her. A chatterer, she is constantly talking to Hers, sometimes waking him at night to tell him something she thought important. When in the presence of other flits, she will often flutter about and demand their attention, sometimes with the desired result, and sometimes not. If ignored, she will retreat to Hers, curling inside the neck of his riding leathers to mope in depressed annoyance.
Gareth is a welcome addition to the family of Hers, and if not around K’roi, she will treat the bronze in the same manner, chattering animatedly to him while he listens good naturedly. She can often be found sleeping between his ridges while he sunbathes, or hanging on while he swims. His acceptance of her previous claim on K'roi only further bolsters her impression of self importance.
[Checkity check] By checking this box, I am saying that I have read the Rules and History, and will follow them.
Double approved on the bronzerider app and the charrie app, buttttt you're still at 48 posts, and no exceptions to the flitter rule. >>; So once you hit that mark, I'll approve him. ^^