[rider] Ophina of Gold Terasath [Approved]

[Sweet Symmetry]

Name: Ophina
Age: 23
Nameday: 3553.09.27
Sex: Female
Sexual Orientation: Demisexual
Weyr: Western Weyr
Rider Rank: Searchrider
Previous Rank/Craft: Apprentice Healer

Physical Description:
With long, honey hued curls that fall past her bottom, a tan complexion, and large, reddish-brown eyes, one thing can be said for certain about Ophina: she is utterly captivating. She has, perhaps, won the genetic lottery. Standing at 5'10 with slender, long limbs, and well-toned from Turns of dragonriding, it is evident that Ophina cares a great deal for her appearance.

She dresses for the situation, preferring the practical everyday wear of riders to the finery with which she was raised. She likes jewel tones of red and gold, as well as blacks and whites. What Gather finery she possesses, she treasures, as a lot of it was a gift from her mother. She has a small tattoo of a black flower on the left side of her chest, acquired in more recent Turns after her Impression and graduation.

Personality:
A shy and retiring creature at first, Ophina is reluctant to speak of herself, and much prefers to listen. It takes time and effort to get past her initial quietness. She is an insightful and observant young woman, capable of getting someone's measure quickly after initial introductions are made. She is slow to trust, not out of fear or reluctance, but because she prefers to let others show her who they truly are.

A hard, enduring worker, Ophina is not content with lazing about and leisure time. She derives a great sense of unspoken personal pride from a job well-done, and will work herself to exhaustion to achieve what she believes she can manage (which, often sadly, is far more than she ought to do). She is competent and tireless in this regard, although often at personal cost. Her wingleaders may very well need to enforce rest days as being strictly restful- if not them, then Terasath will encourage her to take frequent breaks.

This young lady believes staunchly in what her superiors tell her: in her opinion: every good and tough decision is made for the benefit of the Weyr. She would never think ill of anyone, not without first having proof of their malicious intent. Even then, she is reluctant to believe they wilfully mean wrong, and can be considered naive or gullible by some. The truth is, Ophina cannot believe that there is bad in people. The world is already so full of chaos and pain and torment- why would people choose to harm others? She cannot comprehend the fundamental darkness that lies in the hearts of some humans; despite her ability to read people and their moods fairly well, she would just as eagerly turn a blind eye to their shortcomings.

When it comes to love and romance, Ophina is very cautious. She takes a long time to truly open her heart, and her bonds of friendship are made with a lot of consideration. She is a good and loyal friend, and an especially wise confidante should anyone need to unburden their minds. She is patient and thoughtful, and expresses her love for others through little gestures and encouragements. She has all the time in the world for those who need her.

She has little in the way of fiery anger, preferring to treat her problems by sweeping them under the rug. Ophina tolerates a lot of mistreatment and mishandling from others, simply by handwaving away their flaws and intentions. Often others may need to step in on her behalf, lest folks take advantage of her kind, compassionate self. Fortunately for Ophina, she is an endearing soul, and rare is the person who may deliberately seek to hurt her.

Positive Trait List Compassionate - Humble - Insightful
Negative Trait List Perfectionist - Self-effacing - Blindly Obedient

History:
Content warning: death
Born last of two, Ophina and her older brother, Phiran, were the beloved children of Lord Orphian and Lady Nara, of the Minor Hold Goldshore. They were raised with duty and diligence in mind, Phiran poised to take over the Hold from his father, when the latter retired; Ophina trained to make a good marriage and a compassionate Lady. The Western continent was home to many new, budding Holds- and Goldshore was no different. It had a bustling port, and did good trade in fish, as well as fine cloth and clothing. Beholden though they were to Western Hold, Ophina and her family lacked for nothing growing up.

She was an earnest and eager child, enjoying her lessons in singing, weaving, and general bedside care. Even in her youth, rumours of her beauty preceded her; Ophina only blossomed as the Turns went by. A slew of proposals were received in those days, although Lady Nara was reluctant to accept any: none who saw them could deny the deep love and unbreakable bond between mother and daughter. Some said Lady Nara would never let her daughter go, but following Turns of gentle, persuasive conversations, she agreed with her husband that Ophina be allowed a say in her future when she turned eighteen- and accept an offer of marriage then.

Life seemed to pass according to a script, but Ophina never bemoaned her fate. Her kindness and compassion for her Holders had endeared her to them, for the most part, though she was the quiet, unassuming one of the children. It was only in her eighteenth Turn that life took a very dark cast.

Thread fell, after Turns and Turns of peace.

Goldshore, like many other Holds, did not fare well. Many lives were lost, including Lord Orphian and Lady Nara, and countless holders. Ophina survived by sheer luck- having taken refuge in a stone stable she had been passing. Her brother survived, ensconced in the Hold's records room and forbidden by their father from emerging. He rallied the survivors and organised for transport to Western Hold- he could no longer consider himself an heir or a Lord holder, but his sense of duty and responsibility meant he could not leave those who were left to their fates. Both he and Ophina traded away most everything they owned to provide shelter and sustenance to those left behind.

Shortly after the siblings' arrival at Western Hold, they were Searched for an upcoming clutch hardening on the sands. Although Phiran did not meet his match, Ophina locked gaze with a shy young gold who, with grace befitting a much more experienced and mature dragon, approached her with great care.

My Ophina… your heart aches so, but your Terasath is here now. I promise you that we can help those who need us. First we must grow… please, let us eat. Love and hunger wrapped themselves around the young woman as the gentle, soothing melodious voice washed away the pain and devastation that had rocked her world. She was as refreshing as the ocean, whose loving depths of which welcomed the young lady with a gentle, calming embrace. Ophina could scarcely believe that the beautiful young dragon had chosen her, and that her fate had been rewritten entirely.

There was still an adjustment during weyrlinghood. Ophina had to build up her physical endurance, and the focused, regimented training helped take her mind off her loss. The pair graduated after a Turn, and the young lady volunteered for Search duty when Fall did not call them away. In the following Turns, she acquired a clingy young green firelizard, whom she named Naraiya, in honour of her mother. Later she also got a tattoo on her chest, of her mother's favourite flower.

Life has once again settled into a routine, albeit far different from her childhood. Although Ophina does her duty to her Weyr and home, she has begun to yearn for a family of her own. She has also spent time encouraging her brother to continue with his candidacy, believing his dragon to be just around the corner.

Other:
Mother: Lady Nara (deceased)
Father: Lord Orphian (deceased)
Brother: Phiran (+3, available for adoption)
Firelizard: Green Naraiya (clingy, possessive, loving)

DRAGON
Name: Terasath
Age: 5
Color: Gold
Size: 82'

Physical Description:
With a sleek, willowy build, Terasath proves herself manoeuvrable both on the ground and in the air, with a preference for flying. Her proportions are rather delicate and long. Despite this, she is rather small for a gold, and there is a distinctive lack of muscle on her slender figure that lends her less endurance and stamina than her fellow queens.

She has a tendency to curl up when at rest, a picture of lady-like grace and femininity. Her long tail comes to rest upon her paws, wings tucked neatly by her side, her slender, tapering muzzle angled to watch her surroundings with large eyes.

Personality:
Terasath was never meant for a world of darkness and pain: she is a sweet, soft, marshmallow dragon who wishes to bring sunshine and love to those around her. Thread and Fall wound her very soul, although she has learnt to manage her pangs of shame and despair when others are injured. She is the kind of dragon who would have made an excellent healer, were she human. Her care and concern for others sees her roaming the weyrbowl in search of injured to console.

Blessed with deeply empathic hearts and a sensitive disposition, Terasath feels a great deal, an ability echoed in her rider. She is a bit of a bleeding heart, easily wounded by word and deed. Heartbreak and sorrow will destroy her happiness utterly, leaving her melancholic and aloof for sevendays on end. She cannot handle conflict well, and balks at the idea of facing anyone's anger or ire. She wilts in the face of tragedy and chaos, and depends on her rider to manage the stress and pressures of Fall.

When her serenity and sunniness are shattered, Terasath's first instincts are to retreat within herself, and to physically hide. She refuses to engage with others, and will prefer to conceal herself within her weyr. She can be moody and unpredictable in times like these, even becoming snappish if pressed for contact. Terasath needs time to recover her energy and spirits, and her personal space is very important to her. It may be possible to console her with trinkets or gifts of food, but it takes a patient and persistent soul indeed.

She is sweet and lovable, celebrating life's little joys with a sincere and genuine enthusiasm. Terasath adores raising and nurturing young of her own, a passion shared by her rider: her children will find her to be a doting and endlessly patient mother, with time to spare for each of her precious babies. And yet, her shyness can be crippling: this queen will be almost too afraid to approach and ask for their time and attention, a devastating blow to her loving nature. When it comes to her mate, she will expect utmost loyalty: she is not one to waver in her devotions unless her hearts are broken first. Terasath will be drawn to partners who share her ideals and values, and will be happy to pursue the shy and caring.

Positive Trait List: Sweet - Nurturing - Joyful
Negative Trait List: Retiring - Mercurial - Lofty

Dragon Art or Proof of Obtainment: Taste the Rainbow Gold  

[Uta]

Could you so kindly just remove this line? "they were Searched for Sheyoth and Minoth's clutch of 3571." Or at least change it to something like "they were Searched for Sheyoth's upcoming clutch." and kind of leave it vague?

We don't allow folks to specify exactly what clutch they Impressed to as it's essentially locking in a position on the clutch chart before the character is approved. As clutch chart signup is first-come, first-serve we kind of have to hand wave a little in approvals until it's confirmed. :3

If you take that out, we can approve it, and you can zoom and put in a request for it.

Thanks!

P.S. After you get approval from the clutch chart, you can edit that back in to make the history complete if you want. :joy:

Sweet Symmetry

 

[Uta]

Approved!