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 Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 6:19 pm
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 6:26 pm
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Reflection in the Oval Glass
Character Profile
Name: Lyria
Age: Twenty Turns
Sex: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Craft: Healer / Tanner
Rank: Nonranking (Craft-bred, Never Initiated)
Location: High Reaches Weyr
Physical Description:
"Small and early from birth 'til death." That was the phrase oft uttered in exasperated humor, following the punctual young woman through girlhood. To name her intimidating would be a disservice to the term - she was everything but. Standing a hand-span shorter than most (and sometimes smaller still), this diminutive denizen of the northern reaches cut an unimposing figure of sylphine grace and fit health. Femininity gave her roundness of breast and hip at odds with her evident activity, smooth and buxom curves standing defiantly atop lithe muscle that saw much use - this was no timid craftborn girl meant to warm a hearth.
A visiting harper had once mentioned her presence as "striking", her natural palette monochrome laced with splashes of vibrant color. The snows of the high peaks were reflected in her flesh, dyed with the hue of freshly fallen powder, fair and pale. What subverted that natural beauty was the girl's penchant for adventure and all that entailed: often to be found with patches of red on that porcelain canvas where the sun touched her for long intervals, never tanning yet easily crisping with sunburn. Hair spun of midnight satin hung in feathered layers just past her shoulders save for the braid at her nape which had never been cut that fell to her calves, bound securely and interspersed with colorful wooden beads. Valuing efficiency hand-in-hand with fashion, her clothing was made by her own hands, the cloth fitting nicely and the leather worked to precise measurements that did not inhibit movement or activity. Fur was a common theme, given the colder climates of her native land.
At odds with her charm was her stare. Blue, infinite and pure, dominated the frigid irises of almond-shaped eyes, granting those orbs the deadly grace of ice cold Between. Hers was not a comfortable gaze, always too sharp, too calculating, as if she would discover the secrets of one's thoughts through the simple act of a stare that lasted a shade too long for propriety. This one had an analytical mind behind that front of charismatic charm and affable smiles, the warmth of which so rarely touched her glacial eyes.
Personality:
Not the ideal traits that come to the traditional craftsman's mind when he thinks of his daughter, Lyria is certainly bull-headed and set in her ways. Her spirit is adventurous with youthful rebellion against the strict adherence to tradition drilled into her very bones. Fortunately, age has polished the dissent in her heart, but she has never lost that free-spirited charm; to hear her speak would be to find the tried and true traditions of old blended seamlessly with the efficiencies of the new. She is an old soul proud of her family, her dual crafts, and the noble traditions of Pern. This has been the cause of some disagreement when her outspoken thoughts meet with misaligned opinions - the little spitfire is mulish to the last. At least she is affable enough and as quick as she is to butt heads, she's just as quick to apologize when she is indeed in the wrong. With an indomitably positive attitude, there are queens lining every cloud in this girl's mind. On those rare cases someone does manage to pierce her veil of gilt joy, they can expect as much passion in anger as in delight.
Lyria is the first to the side of those who require medical aid or assistance, and pays particular attention to those younger or weaker than herself, courageous to an occasionally self-detrimental fault. Still, patience often wins out over excitement, though she is quick to rile both positively and negatively, fiery and luminous in disposition. Conversation with this individual is animated and inundated with a perhaps unexpected abundance of articulate thought. As much as she would wish others to view her as the vivacious young lady, there is always that hint of something hidden behind eyes too wise, and too ambitious, for her age. She knows what she wants out of life, and strives to achieve her goals unerringly, sometimes too ardently.
Positive Trait List
Fiery; Brave; Positive; Charismatic
Negative Trait List
Willful; Outspoken; Proud; Incautious
History:
Life in a minor crafthall situated at the northern edge of the High Reaches range might not have been the most luxurious, but what child could lament for the lack of that which they did not know? Lyria's early turns were spent in dutiful study of her trades with the intent to allow her to choose her path after her adolescence; because of this, she was educated in the most rudimentary aspects of both Healing and Tannercraft, though to consider her an aspirant of either course was always a vague prospect. The girl's parents were adamant in the instruction of Pernese tradition, old ways, respect and admiration of the land, and of course, of the due owed to Dragonkind and the Weyrs filled with their kith and kin. An unpopular debate amongst others--even traditionalists--was the recollection of historical mentions of Thread - a concept her family made certain to wary their daughter of, for if the thread indeed returned (as some claimed it was destined to) she would have to be ready to face such a menace.
Of all the teachings and records-reading, of all the laborious tasks in healer- and tannercraft, of countless tellings and re-tellings of tales.. nothing quite prepared one for their first Dragon sighting. And from that very instant at the tender age of six, Lyria's subconscious learned passion and dreaming--the same dream almost every one of Pern's children was to know at least once--a fervent need to ride astride a Dragon companion, soaring above the world in irrefutable dominion of the skies. The fact remained that only individuals either born in the Weyrs or found on Search were eligible candidates for such a fate.
One did not force such things, but innocent youth and enthusiasm were powerful rudders that steered her pretend whimsies into that territory. On every jaunt through the trees, every climb over mountainous rocks, she would imagine it. She and her mind-mate, a creature more beautiful and breathtaking than any other, sovereign protectors of Pern.
Imagine the child's stomach-dropping delight when a bonded pair who had ridden out on Search came to the humble Tanner crafthall to find her. Fifteen, elated, beside herself with insurmountable joy, scarcely had she bade her farewells to hall and familiar before she was aloft on Dragon-wing seated in front of the man on his hefty blue beast, clinging to the ridge as if that were all she had waited for and more. She, Lyria, born of dual-craft and nothing special, was bound for the Weyr of High Reaches.. bound to impress a Dragon!
Excitement was a thing of radiant splendor, tarnished all too easily by time. The turns melted by, passed in study of a craft of a different sort - Weyr life. So much was to be learned of the history of Pern, of Dragon lore, so many topics that even a Candidate had to cover that it was a wonder there hadn't been a craft made devoted solely to that!.. But then, hadn't there been? The Dragonriders of Pern were, in a sense, a craft of their own. The thought had always amused her.
As magical as one's first sighting of a Dragon could be, the first sighting of Thread was its antithesis. Fortunately, she had been Weyr-bound and only attended to scorings and lacings.. but even that was enough to put the fear of the stars in her soul, and redouble her desire to be aloft with flamethrower or stone in-range, searing the terrible filaments from Pern's skies. Dark times brought an excitement of their own born of bustling activity, and even that died down in short order following the Falls. Nevermind that the Weyr became strangely quiet and tense in those after-bells for nights on end.
While schooling kept her busy, and her mind in a sense of ever mounting accomplishment, it became more and more obvious that she might never Impress. Perseverance was a staple of her life, something that kept her going. It took a stout person to present themselves on the sands time and again, watching her peers find their lifemates. However, realism was hounded into her after her twentieth turn--her fifth spent among the citizens of the Weyr. It was not common for turns to pass candidates over with such flagrant disinterest from Dragonkind. To assuage the notion of her inadequacy, Lyria instead turned her attentions to helping the younger candidates settle themselves in after they were Searched out, easing them in to Weyr life as only a peer could: with level familiarity a superior could not achieve.
Having spent her most formative years in the Weyr, it was in her blood as much as her adolescent crafts were. Lyria's face was commonplace and well-liked at High Reaches, where she was often found in the lower caverns attending to the latest notes on botany and medicine, or else in her own quarters assisting with the mending of wherhide gear where her skills were useful. There was only so much that could be taught and re-taught to an essential fosterling to the Weyr now - making herself an asset was top priority. Still, ever present was the persistent thought that she would one day impress, despite her age. The turns of failed impressions weighed on her with significance due a yawning skepticism that threatened her precious optimism: the rider who had Searched her out had to be wrong about her. Men were fallible.
The one spark that kept her stoutly faithful of her destiny past all else.. was the reminder that a Dragon was rarely mistaken.
Other:
Networking Notes
You May Know Lyria If You...
• ... have been afflicted with a minor injury at the High Reaches Weyr. She is often to be found nursing those not grievously hurt, helping with the dosage of medicine and distribution of aid to alleviate the Headwoman's workload.
• ... own hide clothing or effects which have needed mending in recent turns. Tanner-skilled, she can mend these things, and has made it clear that she wants to maintain her skillset just in case it is needed in the future. A well-rounded woman of the Weyr learned as much as she could!
• ... are a candidate at High Reaches! This is an older girl who has been around the sands a time or two. She is always on hand to answer questions that might not be comfortable asking others of a higher rank, and to help bolster her peers during Hatchings. .. Okay, and yes, the occasional helpful tip surreptitiously delivered during scored reviews, but don't tell anyone!
• ... were a candidate at High Reaches, in the past five turns! This was one of your peers who was not selected. Cheer loud and long for her from the stands, Weyrlings! |
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 7:10 pm
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 7:23 pm
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