Post by Zaxal on Feb 20, 2013 12:45:54 GMT -5
[Lyjas]
Age: 17
Gender: Man
Rank: Wingrider
Appearance: Lyjas can be a difficult person to figure out just by the first glance. He seems to be a big fellow, standing just under six feet tall with a noticeable belly and roundness to his face. It make him seem almost unassuming and friendly, supporting his smiles and animated body language, the side of him most people will see.
Lyjas's skin is dark brown, smooth and unmarred except for the calluses on his fingers from needlework and on his hands from Weyrling training. His eyes and hair are almost black, but caught in bright light, one can see the slightest hint of brown. He has rounded features and a large, flat nose. He prefers to wear gentle, earthy colors, and his everyday clothes often sport some minor ornate decoration that Lyjas has done himself when he needed a break from the world, which is when he turns to needlework.
Personality: Lyjas is, at his core, an introvert. If such a thing were widely recognized on Pern, it would be easy to diagnose. He can be social and often is, but he needs time alone or peaceful time to relax and recharge. He prefers small groups to large crowds and often finds himself shying away from loud and demanding people to find others that are more subdued as he is.
Lyjas also copes with anxiety which is mostly caused by his interactions with others. He desperately wants to do his best and make everyone happy, and he worries constantly that he won't be able to or that he'll do something wrong. Over the Turns, he's found ways to deal with his nerves -- finding someone supportive turned into having his firelizard Mey and his dragon Garronth who help bring out the best in him and give him the confidence to weather the storm of his emotions.
Due to his need to please everyone, Lyjas is often either run ragged trying to fix all of the problems he can or hiding away and recharging through needlework. It's an almost meditative pastime for him, and it helps him get out of his head while he works. As both he and Garronth have the need to try and fix and take care of everything going on around them, Lyjas is often the one who has to realize when it's time to take a step back, but it takes caring for Garronth for him to realize his own limitations.
Lyjas trusts easily and genuinely wants to believe in the best of all people. He can overlook major flaws for the sake of the good that may not quite balance out, and as such, he has a bad habit of ending up as a doormat for people who aren't necessarily healthy for him. It often takes stepping away from the relationship and reexamining it before he can see the flaws, but he can often reach these conclusions on his own eventually.
The one thing that Lyjas has in him that makes him a great protector of Pern is his bravery. While Lyjas has a hard time standing up for himself, standing up for others and taking care of them is easily the place where he feels most comfortable, and he would face anything if someone needs him. He takes wing drills and Threadfighting extremely seriously, and the quiet man can find more of himself in the physical exertion of helping to keep a wing flowing in smooth motion, like a memorized pattern of needle and thread.
When it comes to his relationships with others, Lyjas loves other people, dragons, firelizards, whers, and so on. While he might take a while to come out of his shell, he does genuinely enjoy meeting new people and having new experiences, and someone who can help him have adventures while also staying within his comfort zone is going to be a fast and strong friend, and Lyjas would take one of those over hundreds of relationships with others. Which is why he and Garronth are perfect for each other. Because Garronth wants to push himself and everyone around him, and Lyjas needs to be pushed while still having someone who will take care of him. Garronth doesn't seem to have a problem being the louder personality of the two, and when it comes down to what needs to be done, Lyjas is almost always willing to step up to the plate.
History: Lyjas was born at Southern Weyr, the second child of three born to a Joined pair of dragonriders, Jerian of brown Etteruth and Lyleas of blue Baraneth. Thanks to the lack of Threadfall at the time, Lyjas grew up being taken care of by his parents as opposed to the creche or other Weyrfolk, and this fostered a close friendship with his family members that he still holds near and dear to his heart.
Around his family, Lyjas was loud and friendly, as much a troublemaker as any of his other siblings, but when it came to the other Weyrbrats, there was a noticeable change. He found it difficult to make friends, an acute shyness that kept him from even so much as speaking around people he didn't know. His older brother, Jolierus, acted as a bully buffer, discouraging others from making fun of him and teaching him which kids it was safe to be around.
Regardless, Lyjas was a quiet child outside of his familiar family setting, even becoming quite stressed with monumental changes such as the birth of more children. When he was troubled or worried, he would find solace hiding with Etteruth or Baraneth. His parents' dragons were quite fond of him, and he was more than comfortable around them as well.
Lyjas's nerves kept him from learning easily when the Weyrharper tried to teach him. Lyjas might have let it get to him, but his supportive family helped him as best they could, helped him understand that there wasn't anything wrong with him. He just needed help.
He didn't resent that care, and his answer soon came in the form of Lioria, his youngest sibling, his baby sister. Lyjas adored Lioria from the moment she could speak, from the dark curls of her hair to the birthmark that covered most of her face. However, as she grew old enough to see others, it became clear that many others didn't adore her as he did. An off-handed remark by a visiting dragonrider -- 'shame about the winemark' -- had Lyjas furious. Sputtering and stammering, he stood up to the dragonrider, showing an immense amount of bravery that seemed to shatter his shyer self. From now on, he needed to be brave for Lioria, and with that in mind, he was able to mostly deal with his nerves, though he still has difficult days where his social anxiety strikes him out of nowhere.
His newfound bravery for Lioria only grew as she did, and he stepped into the place that Jolierus had for him to take care of her and keep others from being mean. Where his brother had gone for stern no-nonsense protection, Lyjas's method varied. More often than not, he helped people get to know Lioria. Her sweet personality helped them win many people over, and before he knew it, Lyjas felt more like himself around people than he ever had before.
Though he had decided that he someday wanted to be a dragonrider, Lyjas knew he needed to do something around the Weyr until he was old enough to be a candidate. He did various weyrbrat chores until a particularly observant Masterweaver noticed that Lyjas had steady hands and an eye for detail that made him ideal for intricate needlework. Once Lyjas learned the basics, he took to sewing like a fish to water. He still has the needle calluses on his fingers from the Turns he spent learning. Sewing brought him into a semi-meditative state. It evened him out, and he genuinely enjoyed it to the point where he even embroidered some of his own clothes for practice and for fun.
When Lyjas was eleven, he found himself in a crowd of people invited to a firelizard Hatching. He, Jolierus, and Lioria all Impressed firelizards, though Mey was clearly, from the start, the most mischievous of them all. Their firelizards became their companions, able to keep them company as their father and mother became integrated into wing drills. Before the Turn was up and before Thread began to fall, Jerian and Lyleas put in a transfer request to Ista Weyr. Lyjas didn't understand their reasons for leaving, but he liked Ista well enough, though he missed the Masterweaver that had been teaching him and his friends among the other weyrbrats.
Jolierus stood as a candidate and Impressed green Shaxoth at his first Hatching. Lyjas, lost without his sewing, joined the ranks of candidates at Ista Weyr. He stood for two Turns without Impressing, though it didn't bother him too much as he still spent a lot of time with Lioria and having fun with the other candidates.
However, when Lyjas was fourteen, his parents took him and Lioria on a trip to Igen Weyr, and Lyjas fell in love with it. The river, the mountains, the warm lake, and the smaller-sized Weyr all appealed to him. Even when he returned to Ista, he found himself missing Igen, and eventually, his parents arranged for him to become a candidate there.
Forced to make new friends without the aid of his family was frightening, but Lyjas handled it well. At fifteen, at a rather large Hatching, a demanding bronze hatchling nosed at him quite imperiously, saying with as much authority as he could, I am Garronth, and I am hungry. He then promptly turned and knocked Lyjas over with his tail before his wobbly legs gave way and collapsed next to him.
Lyjas and Garronth's Weyrling Turns were a special time for them, each day bringing a new challenge and a new chance for them to learn and to teach others. They were easily the top of their class, not from sheer ambition, but because Garronth insisted that they be ready at any time for anything. Lyjas's nervous energy gave way to a competitive spirit, as he refused to let Garronth down.
Nearing their graduation, Lyjas couldn't be happier.
[Mey]
{Firelizard}
Age: 5
Color: Brown
Sex: Female
{Clutcher}
Appearance:
Mey is a little small for a brown firelizard with a lithe neck, tail, and limbs that make her long as opposed to being bulky. Her wings look to be the strongest part of her, with well-defined shoulder muscles leading to incredible feats in the air that she makes seem almost easy. She's quicker than most browns, but it comes at a cost to her overall stamina.
Mey's color is like the color of dry clay, a rich orange-ish brown that covers her entire body. However, lighter markings, so light tan that in bright light they appear almost white, form a mask over her face, paint the tip of her tail, and give the appearance of socks on all four of her feet.
Personality: Mey is probably the worst tame firelizard in the history of Pern. When she's around Lyjas, she's demanding, fussy, and wants as much attention of his as is possible. She wants to be fed, she wants her eyebrows skritched, she wants to be rubbed down with dragon oil, and then she wants him to hold her and not do anything else. Don't even think, Lyjas, you're disturbing her nap.
However, most days, Mey isn't with Lyjas. Mey is fiercely independent, sometimes gone for up to a full sevenday before she returns to Lyjas with the spoils of war or to be taken care of and pampered. During these absences, she gets up to so much mischief that Lyjas has been asked more than once if her name isn't short for "mayhem". While not a total klepto, occasionally Mey sees something unclaimed, which means it's therefore hers, and not even Lyjas knows where all she stashes things simply because it's impossible to keep up with her.
In spite of this independent streak, Mey will gladly join a fair and be around other firelizards. She likes her kin, likes being social with them and getting into trouble with them as a unit. However, at the end of the day, she's more likely to find someplace to curl up and sleep by herself.
On that note, Mey is not the best mother to her clutches. More often than not, she shows up in Lyjas's room already gravid, him being maybe only partially aware that she'd even had her Flight, and sticks around long enough to lay her eggs and tend to them until they're ready to Hatch, and then she's off again, leaving it to Lyjas and Garronth to make sure that her babies find proper homes.
While obviously not the most intelligent or social creature, Mey does have a soft spot for Lyjas -- and occasionally Garronth even though she firmly believes that he stole Hers. If Lyjas is in serious distress or need, Mey will between in from whatever adventures she's been having on her own to tend to him and be his close companion until he's well enough to stand on his own without her.
[Garronth]
{Dragon}
Age: 2
Color: Bronze (#555533)
Sex: Male
Appearance:
Garronth is an awkward hatchling. With his long, knobbly legs and rail thin body, he seems to be half finished, as if he forgot to bulk up properly in the egg. Maturity won't help much in the bulk department, but he'll finally leave the awkward 'looks like a baby horse with wings' stage. When Garronth is done growing he'll be a sleek dragon, with a thin build and long, graceful wings. Until then, however, he is about as graceful as a newborn horse that also has wings that are too big for him. Garronth will forever be falling over, smacking into things and getting stuck in doorways. His long tail won't help matters, either, since he's practically guaranteed to trip someone with it. He is quite tall for a dragon, thanks to those long legs. They won't be very useful in the air, but Garronth will be more skilled on the ground then many of his kin.
Garronth's face is quite handsome, or at least it will be. He has a long, tapered muzzle that is perfect for looking down at others over. His cheek-bones are well developed, giving his face an elegant appearance. His eyes are large and expressive, often giving him away even when he's trying to be mysterious and broody. His headknobs are long and curl towards the back of his neck instead of away from his skull. Unfortunately, as a hatchling he'll still look pretty ridiculous, especially with those big puppy eyes.
In coloration, Garronth is a dark, grayish bronze. Greenish bronze marks decorate the underside of his wings, chin and belly, marbling with the dark bronze and giving him the appearance of a weathered bronze statue. As he ages, his hide will begin to take on a more green tint as is the case with many bronzes, and these markings will likely be less notable. While he is young, however, they are quite striking.
Personality: Garronth takes himself a bit too seriously. He often acts like an old dragon in a young dragon's body, painting himself as being wise beyond his turns. Garronth firmly believes that he is the boss and is the one that should be calling the shots around here. For the good of everyone else, of course. He's an ambitious dragon and he likes the idea of being in charge, if just because that means it's easy to fix the things that bother him. He doesn't particularly want to be a weyrcouncil member, because that sounds too complicated (and boring), but running a wing? Sounds great. He's going to be over here, starting up a Pernese police wing.
Despite that obvious arrogance of that assumption, Garronth really does do his best to be a good leader. He's young and inexperienced, but he readily pays attention to what other people say, even if he doesn't admit it. He wants his team to succeed, and power isn't worth sabotaging them. Garronth is fond of those who he views as being 'on his team', acting like an overbearing father figure. He is always ready to give out advice or offer comfort or beat up a bully, though he probably won't admit that he loves them. He really does, though. He worries a lot about those he cares for, and often frets about their health. Expect a lot of coddling from a concerned dragon if someone he cares for is sick!
Garronth is a bit of a grump. It's easy to irritate him, even though he tries to soften his temper for those who are close to him. He doesn't particularly get mad at individuals, just the world at large. The desert is too hot. The Weyr is too unfair. He isn't, however, a complainer. Garronth likes to fix the things that make him angry, even if it can lead to some very absurd things. A dragon standing outside of a council meeting and protesting about food rationing? A dragon trying to set up tarps so that the weyrfolk won't get burned by the sun? Of course. When Garronth sets his mind to fixing a problem, it can be incredibly hard to discourage him. He will fix that problem and make everyone happy! He will! Just watch him! Look, he's doing it right now! He is fixing all of the things and no one will stop him.
Garronth is actually a bit awkward in normal, friendly situations. He's very much all business all the time, and can easily be caught off guard by a friendly conversation. He's easily tongue tied and freezes up when embarrassed. He's even a bit insecure, worrying that he'll chase his friends away with his abrasive nature. Don't even bother complimenting him, because you'll just embarrass the poor guy to death. He is prone to hero-worship towards older, more experienced wingleaders or council members who have established themselves in the Weyr. In fact, Garronth is prone to respect in general. While he is not a trusting dragon, once his trust is gained it's very hard to lose it. He would gladly go to the ends of pern for someone who he cared for and trusted. Then do it again.
Garronth, despite all of his flaws, is a pretty smart dragon. While his memory isn't the greatest, he has a talent for thinking on the fly and reacting quickly to stressful situations. He's got a good head for threadfall, able to stay clear-headed through scores and continue giving orders despite being injured. Garronth is brave and not afraid to die for the Weyr, if so be it. Thread-fighting is his duty, after all, and the duty of every dragon. Unfortunately, Garronth doesn't really have much of a head for time slots and organizing a schedule, so he may be better off as a wingsecond then a wingleader.
(Garronth lovingly created for me by Chinchilla.)