Welcome to Gaia! ::

From the beginning there was something special about this stallion. Marked by Fate and destined for much joy and sorrow. He would walk a harsh and treacherous path. And in so doing he would touch lives and change the fates of others. He would, against his will, become a leader. One worthy of respect. ((Note: It is my goal to try and see him achieve Elderhood))

Name:Giolladhe
Meaning: 'golden'
Temper: dutiful
Personality: Inquisitive, lively and bright, the stallion matured quickly because of the burdens placed on his shoulders at a very young age. Due to said responsibilities, he has learned to place duty first before anything else, though deep down, he longs for the chance to cast off the shackles of his position and find out who he is. ((note: he has started to discover the small differences between thoughts he was taught were right and what comes from him... he has begun to accept that these are him, and he is allowed to think and feel and be)) He has a somewhat impish and interesting sense of humor and the ability to 'see' the good in anyone and everything….

Brief history-
When he was a very young foal, Gio was adopted by his herd’s mystic and second-in-command who had no heirs, and groomed to take over the position. He was a brightly lively colt with an insatiable curiosity and desire to learn.

He was encouraged in his pursuits and not coddled. From the beginning he was made aware that he would suffer the consequences of his actions. This forced him to actually think things through.

When he was a young adult, his mentor died and he was forced to take his position and bear the weights and responsibilities, which many thought he was yet too young to handle. But he proved he was more than ready to take his place among the herd during the investiture ceremony where he voluntarily gave up his sight and took the marks of the herd Mystic.

At the ceremony as the paste which would mark him as special, different- the herd’s mystic- set apart, he bore the scarring of his eyes and loss of his sight without a whimper, proving that he was willing to suffer for his charge.

New to his position, the very young stallion literally stumbled upon a solitary basket during one of his walks to clear his mind. Not sensing any parents around, he couldn’t leave the poor defenseless thing to be destroyed. So he carefully dragged it back to the herd and announced his intentions to adopt the foal, sight unseen. The herd matriarch denied his request, but upon hearing the story, she relented enough that the foal would be taken in, but the duty to raise it would not be added to his burdens- the herd would band together and take their turns to care for the little one. But if it was his desire, the mystic would allow him to claim it as his sibling.

Though the entire herd was rather amazed to find that the newest member was a mere regular, and they didn’t know her physical limitations, so they treated her as glass. Early after hatching, Gio convinced the herd elders to give his “sister” the same markings he bore, showing that she was family of the mystic, that she was under his protection.

Then came the day that broke his heart. He was forced to put the safety of the herd before the ties of family. He did what all believed was right, including the sister he was cruelly betraying. He brought to the attention of the other herd leaders the existence of a danger to the herd- in the form of his sister. Steeled to banish her himself, the young stallion was shocked when the council was needed to come to a decision.

In the end, she had taken it upon herself to leave. Though it broke his heart, he let her leave. Though he promised that one day, he would see her again.

Shortly after Liliah was exiled, great disaster struck the herd, and it was decimated, the few survivors scattered to the four winds. Giolladhe made his way to the Kawani lands, hoping to find his sister. But when he found her, the reunion was not what he expected, and both parted unhappily.

After this, he met up with a mare who was heartbroken. They became friends, and one thing led to another, leading to them having offspring - two sons and a daughter. They stay together while the offspring are still foals. They eventually part, and Lumriel returns to the stallion that held her heart.

By being a father, Giolladhe has learned much and is almost ready to let go of the past, to which he has held on so tightly. The first step he will take is to find his beloved sister and apologise -hopefully beginning to heal the rift between them. She will forgive him... eventually. But she will set in motion the events that lead to him seeking out someone to heal his eyes. And perhaps rekindle his desire to find and become a part of a herd like the one he felt he had failed so miserably.



Notes:
-The position as 'mystic' was as much he was second in command and advisor as a spiritual guide, he retains the confidence and air of authority, his spiritual beliefs and the knowledge gained.

-Giolladhe is almost completely blind, he can see enough differences in light to be able to tell time of day, if not much more. (this is caused by build-up of scar tissue, and will be able to be healed)
Because of the wounds, scarring and light sensitivity, he wears the bandana at all times. He navigates by sound, smell and feeling the terrain beneath his hooves. As well as with the help and occasional companionship of his goat familiar, Valencianne whom he affectionately calls Vale

-While it might make more sense for him to stay within a specific comfortable region that he learned well, Giolladhe is too inquisitive and restless to stay still for too long, so he travels anywhere and everywhere, but is careful to take his time and fix certain landmarks in his mind so he does not get lost.