Name: Li’ra (Liseran)Age: 18
Nameday: 3557.10.01
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: ...
Weyr: High Reaches Weyr
Rider Rank: Wingrider
Previous Rank/Craft: Weyrling/Apprentice Starcrafter
Physical Description: Standing at 5’10, Li’ra is not precisely dainty, but he’s certainly not the tallest among his fellows. He is the scion of a Bitran woman and a Southern Boll man, and inherited his mother’s violet eyes and his father’s pale blond hair. The latter is worn in an uneven chop, cropped and shaved quite close to the head in places and left longer in others. Well muscled and trim, Li’ra is aware of the figure he cuts… but seems not to care overly much about it. When he doesn’t paint his face, his eyelashes tend to get lost against his light skin. He has an intricate tattoo on the entirety of his back in an abstract, tribal design, and several small stars tattooed above his hip.
Personality: An arrogant little brat. Or so many have assumed - what is at first taken as arrogance is in fact painful shyness, and a tendency to not quite know what to say in a larger group. He was holdbred, to be sure, although due to his particular background he was never really prudish or prejudiced as some may think. It was comfortable and easy for him to fit into the Weyr when it came down to it, as he’s quite accustomed to women ruling the roost. Lady Zheria is no exception to his overall idea of a woman’s place in the world. It actually made him feel quite at home, when he’d previously felt a little adrift at Telgar. He was raised in Southern Boll Hold and only went to Telgar to pursue Starcrafting full time. He was a fish out of water, completely adrift in the larger world.
A very intelligent and quiet young man, Li’ra nevertheless possesses a passionate heart. What initially manifested as a search for knowledge later grew to be a thirst to prove himself to the Weyr. As a greenrider, he certainly does not possess the easy advantages of a metallic rider or brownrider, but he can be useful. It took awhile of watching and learning to realize that the best way to assist the Weyr, apart from as a pure Threadfighter, was to quietly and dividently pass along suggests to his ‘better’. Those in charge certainly had open ears, which was quite refreshing and unexpected. Not that he’s gotten far; he’s still too young and untried to really have much to contribute. It’s easier to fade into the background, especially when that’s more of what’s expected of him.
Fascinated by all that appears in the night’s sky, the young man is a night owl, and does perfectly well on limited sleep. However, he has come to learn that it’s unwise in the extreme to keep such hours. After all, that was one of the factors that contributed to the loss of at least one dearly beloved clutchsib for his precious Voloth. As practical as he can tend to be, Li’ra has a true love of the finer things in life. Namely because up until now he hasn’t really gotten much of a taste of them, but always saw others indulging in them. He has an envious streak, which he’s not overly proud of, and a tendency to hold and harbor grudges as ‘lessons’ to protect himself in the future.
There is a deeply hidden yearning place within Li’ra that has not yet been fulfilled. He once possessed a core of untouchable sadness and loneliness that was finally smoothed away by his Impression to sweet Voloth, for she was and is the best and truest friend anyone might ever wish for. Yet the sense of longing has never entirely faded. For what does he yearn? If only he knew. Perhaps for love, or success, or… or… discovery. Something shining and brilliant that he could find if only he looked far enough, hard enough. He just doesn’t know. But he’s had that sense of unfulfilled desire for as long as he can remember.
Positive Trait List Bright, determined, passionate, dutiful
Negative Trait List Shy, envious, complacent, yearning
History: Born and raised in his father’s native Southern Boll Hold, Liseran was as happy a quiet as one might hope for. His mother was a strong and successful woman, an entertainer from Bitra seeking to make her fortune. Upon arriving in Southern Boll, however, Lisara decided that she liked the place enough to put down roots… especially after meeting a handsome bartender by the name of Eren. The two opened a tavern together - part stage show, part mead hall, all entertainment. Several deliriously happy Turns later, the couple were married… and with children on the way! First Nisa and then Leren were born, followed by little Liseran. His older siblings were loud and in charge, much like their mother before them. Liseran was, not to put too fine a point on it, nothing of the kind.
Although he was the wallflower of the group, Liseran didn’t mind… even when they were joined by Rena and Eresa, and Niran. It just meant that he could more easily fade into the background, where he much preferred to be. Everything he owned was either secondhand or of cheap make, due to the sheer number of children his affectionate parents had managed to produce. He could not help noticing that the older children and the younger ones always seemed to have new things - probably because Nisa and Leren were the first, and therefore needed different sizes than any of the rest, and because everything was terribly worn by the time it got to Niran. All the same, he was admittedly a bit jealous, the overlooked child who was by no means unloved by his parents. It was just a lot to run the family business and take care of six (soon to be seven) children. Besides which, Liseran was more than capable of taking care of himself.
Surrounded by playmates and yet socially awkward, Liseran found ways of entertaining himself. He was the middle child, and even Rena was two Turns younger than him, and closer with the youngest set. The boy very much enjoyed watching the stars in the night’s sky, the very time when he could be alone. Apart from the snores of his family, which he could escape by climbing onto the rooftop, it was a peaceful time. Staring up at the sky he could pretend that he was a part of that great immense thing, the cosmic dance that played out in beautiful sequence before his very eyes. True, the stars moved slowly, but there were other things in the sky - planets, moons, and… something very sinister indeed. For there was always something a bit alarming about the Red Star, no matter what the old tales said.
Throughout his childhood the Red Star had been slowly approaching Pern, and although he’d taken note of it, he hadn’t fully understood the import of that return. When his interest in stars had him (tenderly) shipped off to Telgar and the Starcraft Hall, he began to learn a little more. What he did learn alarmed him greatly - yet every record regarding the interstellar intruder suggested it had been somehow nullified. Why, indeed, should he be frightened? It was only an old wive’s tale, something that no one really believed. That was… until he was Searched by a rider from High Reaches Weyr. When he arrived at High Reaches, he quickly learned that some people believed that Thread would return.
And so it did, to devastating effect. Ashen, certain that somehow he, a rank apprentice, could have done something to prevent the sheer unmitigated destruction faced by all of Pern, Li’ra was consumed by terrible guilt. Some might say survivor’s guilt… for that happy, jolly family back in Southern Boll was not destroyed by Threadfall, but the tavern was. His parents’ dreams would come to nothing, and he would receive frantic letters begging for some sort of assistance. So it was that Li’ra’s family became refugees, like so many others, and ultimately would end up in High Reaches Hold. Nearby, yet out of reach unless on rest days and during Gathers. … And it wasn’t the same, not ever again.
Until one beautiful, terrible day. It would be the best and the worst day in Liseran’s young life. For he would see firsthand the horrible cruelty of young hatchling dragons, and also meet the most wonderful dragon in all of Pern. When little Aureliath sang her heartbreaking final song, the newly minted Li’ra was clinging onto his still damp dragon… and the pain of her loss was almost too much for Voloth to bear. Keening her despair for all to hear, Voloth threw herself fully into her dear Li’ra, and he was, for the first time in his life, the strong shoulder which she cried upon. Something in him melted and cracked all at once, the emotions he’d been holding back flowing forth in great measure.
This precious being, his Voloth, needed him… and he would do anything, anything at all, to protect her and keep her safe.
Other: At least one flit egg! Li’ra has a few starcrafting tools that he keeps in excellent repair and takes out to gaze with Voloth from time to time.
DRAGON
Name: Voloth
Origin of Name: One of several Latin words meaning desire, Volo refers to a want, a wish, or a dream - from the Mirror of Erised. Also meaning to fly! Which Voloth does quite often!
Inspiration: The Mirror of Erised
The Mirror of Erised is a magical mirror, which, according to Albus Dumbledore, shows the "deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts." The name "Erised" is "desire" spelled backwards, as if reflected in a mirror. The happiest and most satisfied person in the world would look in the mirror and see a reflection of them, exactly as they were, for they would then have no one and nothing more to yearn or desire for that the mirror could ever show them. But of course, it is intrinsically inherent for human nature to desire something greater than one's own self - meaning that an event wherein the mirror fails to carry out its intended purpose rarely, if at all, happens.
The writing engraved on the frame of the mirror is supposedly in a foreign and probably dead language, but if you look closely it says "I show not your face but your heart's desire" backwards, with the spaces rearranged. Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.
Personality There is almost limitless love within this green, although whether she is giving her true hearts or merely showing another what they most wish to see is another question entirely. Voloth has deep desires, and does not share them with many. Outwardly, she’s a bit of a chameleon, never entirely letting others see the vulnerable creature hiding beneath whatever mask she might be wearing at any given time. She does have a very clear personality, it’s just that she doesn’t think it’s very important for anyone to know who she is. Why not let them see in her what they want to see, when it seems to suit them so much better? After all, if she were to open up and show them her true self, they might reject her. As a dragon, she cannot completely hide herself from her clutchmates and Wingmates, but she can put greater emphasis on one aspect than another.
Deep in her hidden hearts, she is a brittle creature who might break if those closest to her aren’t careful of her tender feelings. There is a great danger in giving too much, and placing too much importance on others than on herself. She is very proud, and very wise… but also lacking in self-reflection. Her rider will have to temper her when she tries to push herself beyond her own means. Voloth wants so badly, so desperately to be everything to everyone, and it’s just not possible. She cannot help herself, yet it must be helped. Some of this tendency has been built around a seed of hurt and pain that was sewn during her Hatching. Her own brother Cadereth killed their sweet cousin, and Voloth will never be able to know her the way she wanted to. Any loss of family would have been taken hard, as those reservoirs of love run deep.
None of that is to say that Voloth isn’t strong. She is a fighting Green to her core, and filled with pride in herself and her family, a High Reaches green of good lineage. Her pride in her Weyr is immense, and gives her a greater fortitude and perseverance than she might otherwise have had. They are worth fighting for, and she will defend Pern with every fiber of her being. Even if that should cost her her life. … Needless to say, Voloth can have a tendency to wax dramatic over things, much to her rider’s frustration. Thankfully, she doesn’t linger too long in deep melancholy, for all that she feels keenly. Every tragedy must be felt, every triumph must be turned over and over in her mind until she thinks she knows how to repeat it.
Size: 18’
Physical Attributes: A small, delicate Green with a very fine and lovely build. Voloth has largeish wings and an overall pleasing appearance. Well muscled but sleek, she plainly enjoys flying quite a bit, with every evidence shown in her form. Built for speed and sudden turns, but not at all for stamina. Voloth has a rather weak constitution which can get her into trouble if she’s not careful.
Additional Notes: Although Voloth would happily accept any lover, she has a marked preference for blues. To her dismay, it hasn’t been clear that any of her blue clutchsibs have returned said admiration. Her Flights will likely be short and full of twists and turns. She likes to tease, but does not have the deft skill of some of her sisters in that regard.
Why Me: In Li’ra, Voloth has found a true partner, along with someone who truly needed her. As much as Li’ra needs Voloth, he is also needed by her, and he revels in that knowledge. In his own quiet way, Li’ra is her rock… and he has quite a bit of experience looking into depths and seeing worth within. Seeing her for who she is, loving her for who she is, is the greatest gift that Li’ra can offer Voloth. When she is weak, he is strong. When he is sad, she finds ways to jolly him up. They are the best and dearest of friends, and their match is a true partnership. For indeed, they have each found what they most desperately needed: endless devotion and the most profound and deep respect.
