Name: Sjell Pronunciation: see - elle
Age: 14
Turnday: 3562.09.06
Sex: Female
Sexual Orientation: No ty.
Weyr: High Reaches Weyr
Rider Rank: Weyrling
Previous Rank/Craft: Weyrbrat / infirmary aide (not officially apprenticed)
Physical Description:
Petite and slight, Sjell has a dainty build, which seems to be the first thing people notice about her (much to her annoyance). She stands at 4'10 (although her bouts of rage seem to make her tower). Her athletic prowess lies in her ability to sprint from one place to another, but she lacks stamina or muscle to endure. She is prone to High Reaches' rounds of sniffles and colds, and her physical well-being is easily influenced by shifting seasons and weather.
With a mess of pale blond hair, cut to shoulder length, coupled with a pale complexion, Sjell might seem frailer than she actually is. A long, side-swept fringe often covers half of her face, although she'll tie it all up, out of the way, with some white fabric strips (they're not ribbons, thank you very much). She has a round face with large, expressive spring green eyes. Thin lips are not often seen smiling. She has dyed a small part of her fringe black, as an expression of her discontentment towards her mother.
Sjell prefers practical clothing in neutral tones. Due to her more accident-prone ways, this young woman has taken to keeping a roll of bandages in her pockets, more than happy to patch up any cuts she or her friends might suffer.
Personality:
Sjell is a strong-willed and independent young lady, with a good, practical head on her shoulders. She knows what she wants out of life, even if her paths are limited. She is resourceful and smart, preferring to rely only on herself. Sjell is the type of person who has few friends- not from having a callous or cold heart, but simply from her belief that she can go it alone: she doesn't need anybody's help to get where she wants to be.
And what does she want? More than anything else, Sjell wants to be a dragonrider. Having admired her father for so long, she has her heart set on becoming one of Pern's strongest and fiercest defenders. There are no rosy-hued goggles here: she's witnessed enough of Thread's devastation within the infirmary to understand that life can be snatched away in an instant. But there is no nobler and worthier sacrifice than laying down one's life to protect one's home. She would forsake bonds of friendship and love to pursue this course with single-minded, dog-like determination.
Sjell, perhaps, needs to learn to have a little fun in her life. She is somewhat stilted in conversations, needing time to relax her guard around people. Afraid that folks will judge her for what she looks like- and not take her seriously- Sjell already expects the world to stop her from achieving her dreams. When someone proves themselves otherwise, they will find in Sjell a loyal friend, with a strong shoulder upon which to cry, and a willing ear to listen. She may not have the best advice- Sjell prefers to confront things directly when she is bothered- but friends can rest assured that she will always have their backs.
Perhaps to counteract her feminine appearance, or maybe to rebel against her mother, Sjell loves activities more traditionally associated with males. She's learnt to fight and wrestle, and also enjoys running as a way to cool her anger and push herself further. Her forays as an infirmary aide were intended to silence her mother's pressing demands about apprenticing to the weavercraft, and she enjoys the complexity of diagnosis as well as the urgency of high pressure situations. Although the healercraft accepts both men and women, Sjell decided against a formal apprenticeship: she knew that her dream of candidacy would interfere with her studies, and prefers to be useful in whatever way she can be at any given time.
In a way, Sjell has a very solid sense of self (even if she may not be the most confident or outgoing person), and will do almost anything to escape her mother's grasp. Her acts of rebellion are limited to doing things people claim are beyond her capabilities, or ill-suited to her disposition. She has a thirst to prove herself capable and worthy: being told no simply spurs her on further. She can be reasoned with, especially by friends and those she trusts, and is not without common sense. Reckless at times, she would never risk her life (just her limbs) unless it would save another.
Sjell doesn't like being told what she can and can't do, at least when it comes to who she is as a person. She respects authority and hierarchy just fine- they are essential to the effective running of the Weyr… But nothing infuriates her more than her mother telling her to pick a more feminine profession, or telling her how to do her hair, or what clothes to wear. Nothing rankles deeper than people stepping on her personal freedoms, and as a consequence, Sjell can be snappy and quick to argue and anger. She is her own person, shards- not some lifeless mannequin for others to press their expectations upon.
Positive Trait List Determined, Independent, Fearless
Negative Trait List Defensive, Rebellious, Snappy
History:
The result of a rather tempestuous goldflight-night, Sjell was raised by her mother with knowledge of her father's identity and very little else. Her mother, Srelle, worked odd jobs in the lower caverns, getting by with pretty words and prettier looks. Sjell very quickly became independent as she grew, enjoying her time spent exploring the winding passages and caverns of High Reaches Weyr. She was something of a wild child, attracting trouble with her endless curiosity. Scrapes and bruises were a common thing, beginning a lifelong attachment to the infirmary.
She was a clever child, but the socialness of Harper classes left her a little drained and quiet. She made a few friends during her childhood- people she still treasures to this day- and enjoyed going on adventures with them. She was eight when she discovered her first firelizard clutch with her friends, and bonded to a small, ravenous brown she later named Lock.
Her relationship with her mother grew more strained and difficult as she aged. Her mother wanted things to be a certain way, and… Well… Sjell did not. She hated how her mother dressed her in frills and showed her off, often running away to escape her clutches. The young girl cultivated a deep seated anger towards her mother over time, resenting the woman for her controlling tendencies. On the other hand, she had a great deal of respect and admiration for her father, which only grew when Thread returned. Here was a man who, in her eyes, could do no wrong: noble and unerring in his duty, he and his dragon-partner rose to the challenge and always returned home at the end of Fall.
At ten, she began to help in the infirmary, slowly learning basic first aid skills. Over the Turns, the healers gave her extra responsibilities, praising her for her dutifulness and motivation. When Sjell turned twelve, she was gifted a firelizard egg by her father. With love and care, the egg hatched a darling little green she named Leaf.
As soon as she was allowed, Sjell joined the ranks of candidates (much to her mother's horror, who had yearned for a pliable daughter she could parade around). She was steadfast despite her awareness of the horrors of Thread. Despite her lack of luck at Anakumath's hatching, Sjell was certain this was her path, her calling: after all, her father was a great and noble dragonrider. It was in her blood! This had to be her future… Little did she know what awaited her a few sevendays later, at Banshideth and Balizarth's clutch…
All seemed to be proceeding smoothly, when a curious and eager green trotted up to her. Fluttering eyes too large for her skull, the creature peered up at Sjell, and a delicate, gentle voice entered her mind. My Sjell, you are so splendid, so perfect. There's no one but you for me!
Love rushed through her mind, causing the young girl to tremble. The sudden acceptance… The knowledge that she was forever worthy of this beautiful, wonderful soul, was like a light in the dark. Sjell beamed- a rare expression of pure and utter love. "Oh, my Soralieth. Of course- and there is no one but you for me." She whispered, stroking the green's headknobs with fondness. Already the creature had entwined herself so perfectly with her own heart, and never again would Sjell have to despair of the judgement of others. She and Soralieth were going to be astounding, just as proper dragonriders were meant to be. "Let's go and show the world what we are made of…" She could not stop beaming as she led her hungry dragon-partner to the feeding tables.
And so began their journey through weyrlinghood.
Other:
- Sjell has two firelizards: brown Lock and green Leaf.
Her mother, Srelle, is a NPC.
Her father is a dragonrider (who may be a PC).
She might have half-siblings through either parent.
Name: Soralieth
Hatchday: 3576.13.28
Personality:
A creature who enjoys hiding her true self, Soralieth is a dragon of many faces, wearing a new mask for every encounter. She thrives on being socially adaptable, proving to herself that she is the ultimate chameleon. Soralieth is no mastermind, no clever schemer: her love for acting stems entirely from a love for attention and a desire for acceptance. Perhaps her imitation may even be construed as a very strange form of flattery.
One of her most infamous quirks is her incessant desire and need to copy others. If another dragon has piqued her interest, she will copy what makes them so fascinating- from mannerisms to heroic deeds. She collects habits and moods from those around her; it would be easy to call her malleable, but that would gloss over Soralieth's utter obsession with fitting in by using mimicry and imitation. Sometimes she does it for the attention- why should her siblings hog the spotlight just because of who they are? It becomes easier for her to be praised and loved when she is just like them, right?
As an extra social and sunny dragon, Soralieth has no issues with making friends and small-talk. She is bubbly and friendly, reaching out to any soul who might need company. Charming and sweet, Soralieth will say or do whatever it takes to get others to like her. She loves love, and will be the type of dragon to gather multiple mates. She is a flatterer, and even though she may be insincere at times, her hearts are usually in the right place. Rarely does she copy or imitate out of malice, although sometimes she will do a false impression of those who annoy her.
Positive Traits: Cheery - Adaptable - Sweet-talker
Negative Traits: Imitative - Attention-seeking - Insincere
Egg Size: Medium
Adult Size: 56'
Physical Attributes:
It's almost comical to watch Soralieth hunker down as she does her fly on the wall routine: she is not a small and dainty creature. Not by a long shot. Soralieth is well built and muscular, with a long neck and tail. A tapered muzzle makes her look innocent, with large eyes to finish the look. Of maximum size for her colour, Soralieth is a classic, tough green- very much a product of her parents gold Banshideth and bronze Balizarth. There will be no neat tricks or acrobatic flying: this dappled dragon is a powerhouse of strength and endurance.
Additional Notes:
Soralieth has a long but imprecise flame that she sustains well, although she must concentrate to keep it up. Flights are a frequent, frenzied and fun dance, and she'll often pick different winners to suit her whims. Her choices are the ones that seem the most interesting and quirky in recent times. Endearing one's self to her is rather easy, and she prefers those who have made an effort to befriend her. Kindness and quirkiness are rewarded.
Why Me:
Sjell- you need to lighten up sweetie. Her determination and focus keep the pair on the level, but Soralieth helps remove the stick from her butt. The infirmary aide could stand to make more friends and open up, which is one of Soralieth's absolute favourite things.
Soralieth doesn't mind that her partner is so closed and defensive. In fact, the green's adaptability opens her human's mind to possibilities she might not have considered before. No longer will Sjell fight for her right to do what she likes without judgement- with Soralieth by her side, she'll have an answer to every conundrum she faces, every issue laid before her, every obstacle to overcome. Sjell won't need to prove herself to anyone: Soralieth is of the firm belief that she is the best, and will constantly reassure her of this. As a consequence, Sjell will relax her guard, and become more approachable as she learns about life through her bond with her dragon.
Soralieth will benefit from Sjell's dutifulness, as her rider's firm, guiding hand will teach her that life is more than just a game: it has Serious Consequences, with which Soralieth must come to terms. With Sjell's help, Soralieth will adjust well to flying in a Wing and taking orders, and perhaps she might even learn about accountability. Sjell’s structured world will give this green room to reflect on the impact of her words and actions.
