Siobhan of Gold Lyraneth

[44 Caliber Love Letter]

Dragonrider Application

Name: Siobhan

pronounced: SHEE-vaughn

Age: 17
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Rank: Weyrwoman

Appearance: Somewhat on the short side, Siobhan stands at a mere five-three. She’s slender, leaning toward rail-thin, and her build is decidedly lacking in curves. The words Eat something! spring to mind when looking at her, for its painfully obvious she’s never gotten a lot to eat. Even if she did, it’s likely though that she would be a slight woman: petite of build, streamline face leaning more toward oval and slanted, smallish eyes that actually give her a sneaky, almost playful look. Her features are more feline than anything else, and well – she’s not the most gorgeous woman in any room, unless she’s the only one there. It’s not that she’s ugly but more that she’s unobtrusive, seeming more like someone who just bleeds back into the background. Her posture plays a big part in this, often with her head tilted down and a very quiet demeanor, shoulders tense and awkward – Siobhan’s definitely not someone who comes across as aggressive in a group.

Her hair is a dark brown leaning toward black that she typically tied back out of her face, save for the strands that inevitably fall around it and into her eyes. It’s actually very slightly wavy, though it’s difficult to tell since it’s inevitably worn in a braid of some kind, usually messy and inelegant as though done in a matter of a few moments. Her skin is an average tan that leans toward fair, hinting that she might actually have naturally light skin – that or maybe she just spends more time indoors than one would like. The only thing ‘pretty’ about her is her eyes, which are more of blue-gray shade with a crystal-like quality containing distinct mischief and defiance that very nearly belies the rest of her submissive behavior. Behind them is a fighter that almost never gets to surface, but hasn’t completely died out over the Turns – not yet, anyway.

Because of her slight build and her tendency toward hiding in the background in an attempt to be unnoticed, it’s not at all unusual for Siobhan to wear clothes that are not only too big for her, but also don’t flatter her in the least. Men’s garments are particularly common for her and since she’s not exactly wealthy (though she saves any mark she does manage to make with zeal), she also doesn’t own a wide selection of clothes: sometimes she wears the same things several days in a row to compensate and laundry is a frequent, unpleasant chore on her part. Her clothes are often smudged and faded, and she owns no Gather finery to speak of; most of what she favors is darker colors that match her hair, though. She doesn’t believe in jewelry and in fact finds it stupid – so don’t expect her to wear any of that, either. Coupled with her tendency to end up dirty one way or another (usually through bizarre accidents), and well – Siobhan looks a bit like a homeless ‘brat most of the time. Alas.

Personality: To most people, Siobhan would appear to be shy. It’s true that she’s unlikely to approach anyone first and she doesn’t meet people’s gazes. She comes across as insecure due to her reluctance to approach anyone first on pretty much any situation. If she has a problem, Siobhan herself is the first one to try and fix it – and she is very much a fixer. She doesn’t like to see anything and not try to fix it; be it a broken pot or pan to a crying child. In her mind, asking someone else for help is a sign of weakness that she can’t tolerate, so she doesn’t do it. She’s more inclined to try to clumsily bandage her own wounds than find a healer, unless it’s an emergency and no amount of pestering will break her of that habit. She doesn’t like to approach people first period: her mentality is that she’s bothering others when she does that and there’s little that Siobhan dreads more than being a bother to people. She doesn’t make friends easily, because of that, and she’s also a bit awkward in conversations – nervous laughter, bowed head, quiet words and shy blushing at odd moments; she’s never quite sure of what to say. Eloquence is definitely not her specialty.

Because of the fact that she’s shy, she also tends to come across as a doormat. Lesson one: She’s definitely not. Though she has trouble saying anything mean about someone or confronting them when she’s faced with a problem, she definitely doesn’t like to take things lying down. The end result is that she tends to blubber incoherently, say things that no one is phased by and earn odd looks, or just throw punches to try and defend herself when she’s desperate. She won’t let anyone pick on her and she doesn’t tolerate being insulted, but uh – handling it well is definitely not her best aspect. Also, she’s an absolutely lousy fighter. Flat out terrible. When wounded (literally or metaphorically), it’s also not unusual for her to run away and hide alone. Too proud to let anyone see; too sensitive to let insults bounce off of her, she’s at an awkward position between confidence and insecurity that often leads to her being upset. It’s not hard to get under this girl’s skin.

The fact of the matter is, she’s simultaneously too patient and not at all at once. Siobhan is more inclined to get angry and up in arms in the defense of someone else than she is of herself, though certain things (like insults to her appearance, which bother her way more than they should) will always set her off. She’s very protective of other people, especially children, and it’s not unusual to find her babysitting or cooking treats for them when she’s got an off-hour. She finds young people much easier to identify with than other teenagers and really, what it comes down to is that she’s a very family-oriented individual: she always dreamed of getting married and having her own children and in her mind, that has all but been shattered. She substitutes by spending as much time as she can with people younger than herself who remind her of the family she left behind. Loneliness is a major issue for her, and so is the fact that she doesn’t talk about most of her problems. Here is a girl who comes across more mouse-like than she needs to – or perhaps more like a kitten: she scratches when you push but she’s more inclined to back away hissing than anything else.

Family:

♀ Mother: Shirali (35; Drudge; cothold outside of Igen)
♂ Father: Vaneir (46; Farmer; cothold outside of Igen)
♀ Sister: Shelara (19; Drudge; cothold outside of Igen)
♀ Sister: Varinya (20; Kitchen cook; cothold outside of Igen)
♂ Brother: Neshir (15; Harper senior apprentice)

Background: Born in a small cothold in Igen’s territory, Siobhan was the youngest of three girls. Her father was a mild-mannered farmer and her mother a drudge of sorts, and the family made their way by living off their livestock and land to the best of their abilities. Her birth was followed by her younger brother’s and he would be the last of their parents’ children. Her childhood was typical for living in such a rural area. It was pleasant enough, all things considered: though there was never quite enough food to go around for all of the family members, no one completely starved, and everyone learned to make their way. She had a healthy rivalry with her older sisters, both of whom were more beautiful than her, and her father made it clear to her that the girls were expected to find husbands quickly and produce heirs, lest they be cast out from their own home. It wasn’t his job to look after a bunch of daughters, he’d proclaim, and Siobhan would not have disagreed then – nor would she ever. Her competition was fierce, as she was one of the least attractive girls in the region: small and slight, she had very few boys who were interested in more than just lifting her skirts, and she had no desire to let them ‘til she knew she would have a husband in the making. Needless to say – Siobhan was not a popular individual.

Despite the intense rivalry between Siobhan and her two sisters, she had a close relationship with her brother that she nurtured and he supported her in the things that she was good at – which, it turned out, would be a fairly large number of things. The youngest girl was arguably the smartest, easily comprehending basic classes though she couldn’t read or write, and she was able to track star movements almost as well as sailor. But her real expertise was with cooking. When it came to the kitchens, Siobhan was capable of close to magic. There wasn’t a single thing she couldn’t cook and make it outstanding. Meats. Vegetables. Desserts. Grains. You name it, she could cook it – and that was enough to redeem her in the eyes of one of the boys from the nearby farm. She drew the attention of a boy only a few turns older than her who asked for her hand in joining and the date of their joining was set for the Spring following her sixteenth turnday.

She wouldn’t make it that far, though.

Shortly after the beginning of the Turn, when she was out gathering fruit for some bubbly pies that she planned to give to her fiancé, Siobhan was confronted by dragons in the sky. Specifically, one dragon: a blue who was hunting the cattle that her family worked hard to raise. Enraged, she did the only thing she knew how to do: she removed her boots and clunked them straight at the blue dragon’s head and screamed profanities that would surely have made her mother turn funny shades of red. What she expected, she couldn’t say – but it was not for the dragon to turn around and literally sweep her from her feet, blood still dripping from its maw. Nor did she expect to be pulled up by her collar by the man riding it. And what she especially didn’t expect was to be told to put her boots back on because – “You’re coming with me, girl.” The last thing she remembered after putting them on was the blackness of unconscious when she screamed and was knocked out and then her beloved home of Igen was ripped away from her without a trace.

When she came to, it was at Smuggler’s Drop. A drudge explained to her what had transpired: she was to be a candidate for the ‘Weyr’ (which, given that she knew of no Weyr in the region, did not impress her in the least) and there would be no going home for her. She was immediately given a change of clothes and assignments around the island, responsibilities that she would tend to and – given her nature – Siobhan smiled pretty and pretended to comply. However, in private, she began to scheme: she had a fiancé to get home to, and a family that was relying on her to be responsible and make them good business connections. There was nothing on these forbidding islands for her and she had absolutely no intentions of staying. None! As soon as she could find a way… she was so out of there.

Or well, that was her plan. But her plan came to a skidding halt during the second hatching of dragon eggs, when a small pink dragon approached her. Rose-gold, technically, though Siobhan could not help but think her ‘pink’ instead. She was a very intelligent creature, but seemed to lack in any form of compassion. Siobhan found her beautiful, but most would find her fierce; her ego was unmatched, but so too was her ability to learn – an ability that was heightened by the hiring of Re’laur, a bluerider with a dragon Lyraneth actually favored for companionship. Re’laur taught Siobhan through her weyrling turn what it meant to be a queenrider, and all about the politics of the north – and she also taught her how to fight.

But learning to fight wouldn’t teach her to protect the entire Weyr against the onslaught of a coalition of riders from the north intending to attack them. Like the others, she fled, and the attack drove home what she’d already known in her heart of hearts: she could never actually go home. The new Weyr, which they called South Run, was immediately divided on how to handle the threat from the north. Some sought to keep the peace and remain in their own confidence. Some sought to fight them on their own turf. Siobhan, for her part, sought to strengthen their ranks and learn how to fight them with minimal damage – her belief was simply that the best way to protect themselves was to be smarter than any of their opponents. Lyraneth believed that science was the answer – and Siobhan was inclined to side with her.

West. Central. East. Divided they stood – but they were still one Weyr, and outsiders were not exactly welcome… or aware of them… yet.

Pets:

Mist
Species: Firelizard
Age: Hatchling (July, 1257)
Color: Green
Appearance: Of average size, this green sports an odd feature: she has half a tail. Or so it would seem; her tail is exactly half as long as it should be; aside from the odd length however, it is not deformed in any way, still sporting two tips. This abnormality can and does affect her flight and unlike most firelizards, she will have to ‘learn’ how to fly with it rather than getting up and taking off like her siblings. Aside from this unique feature, her hide is also remarkably eye-catching, with patches of brilliant shimmering greens and blues glistening across her rump and sides. Aside from these patches, her hide is a pale, soft green not unlike the silvery-green buds that appear on trees in springtime in the north.

Personality: This green is rather shy, in spite of her unique features. She seems almost self-conscious, as though she knows she’s different and she isn’t quite sure if it’s a good thing. She will always stick close to her human and it will take quite a bit of gentle coaxing to get her to try anything new or approach anyone unfamiliar. This green is not at all standoffish or mean and is in fact quite affectionate to her bonded and friendly to those who become familiar faces. Getting her to run errands is more than likely not an option. Some basic training might work if her bonded is patient and goes slowly but she will never be an outgoing messenger.

Gold Lyraneth

Name: Lyraneth
Age: 1 turn; nearly full grown
Hatch Date: April 1256
Color: gold ; #f2af82

Description: The first thing that strikes the eye when one see’s Lyraneth is her gawky and angular form. Lyraneth’s head is a severe wedge, with long and narrow nostrils, deep-set eyes under heavy brow-ridges, and a broad forehead. The narrowness of the front of her muzzle gives her awkward teeth, with her fangs cramped for space and several generally showing between her jaws, as she cannot close her mouth entirely. However, the back of her mouth is wide, with larger molars than usual. She can crush bone, stone, and just about anything else with remarkably little effort, and will usually eat her kills entirely whole, without so much as tearing the body apart with her fangs. Her long and narrow neck might be called elegant on another creature, but the sharp angles of her neck ridges make her neck look almost segmented and mechanical, looking quite reminiscent of armored tunnelsnakes. Her limbs are longer than usual, with bony wings and very sharp shoulderblades and hips. She’s not unhealthily thin, but she is a skinny dragon, and will always have a little bit of a racing-hound look. At 35 feet in length when full-grown, she is a smallish gold, and much more agile than many of her color due to her narrow and somewhat short wings.

Like her dam, Lyraneth is a highly metallic gold. Her hide gleams even when unwashed and when she’s ill, and when she’s freshly oiled or reaching her heat she is practically blinding in the sunlight. However, Lyraneth is far from a classic gold. Instead of being a bright yellow-gold, Lyraneth is rose gold. Her hide undeniably bears a pink tint, though she is nonetheless completely golden. Her head, back-ridge, and most of her tail are pale platinum, nearly white; three palm-sized spots of the same color mark the furthest wing-sail of her left wing. Even more strikingly, a dark rose arrowhead marks the underside of her throatlatch, the narrow point trailing onto the bottom of her jaw and the wide bases trailing onto the sides of her neck. Areas of her hide are washed with slightly more yellow gold, giving her hide a “ripple effect” in her coloration. On a more curvaceous female, the effect might have been even more feminine, but on the sharp angles and powerful lines of Lyraneth’s form, she looks as if she is made out of metal which has been folded and beaten thousands of time, producing a wave underneath the hard metal surface.

Personality: Ever fascinated by the way things work, Lyraneth is far too curious for her own good (or the good of those around her). While most people think of curiosity as endless questions, Lyraneth is no font of questioning. While she is quite obsessed with the world around her, Lyraneth is an observer. Rather than ever ask anyone to clarify her misunderstandings, this gold will much prefer to muddle along, altering her basic assumptions as she goes along. Attempts to correct her assumptions will be met with open disdain, though she will secretly take that information under advisement (though do her level best not to be caught taking the advice of others). This gold hates to seem weak or like she can’t understand something, and will bluff and bluster her way through anything that she’s forced to do without knowing what she’s doing. She refuses to ask for help, no matter what she’s doing, even if she is going about something in the most boneheaded fashion ever.

Lyraneth is quite fond of figuring out the inner workings of just about everything, and will try and take just about everything apart. She is quite dexterous with her foreclaws and can do a lot of fine motions, though she is absolutely horrendous at putting anything back together. Quite often she will simply lose interest once she has taken things apart. Of course, things aren’t the only objects that will fall prey to her curious claws. Lyraneth will take apart trees and creatures with the same clinical curiosity that she observes social interactions and takes apart inanimate objects. It’s rather gruesome, but she’s not trying to be horrible. She will honestly be surprised when they die, writhe, or are otherwise no longer in good condition.

This gold will stop at very little to discover the truth, and will put her Will on any dragon she feels is telling a lie. Lyraneth is quite aware that she is a queen, and always talks in the royal “we,” absolutely refusing to be looked down upon (part of the reason she won’t ask for help). She hates dishonesty with a fierce passion, which is one of the few ways to get her to express the deep force of emotion that lies behind her analytical and calculating face. Lyraneth expresses her love for Hers rarely and in sudden bursts of inspiration; she wants to do everything the right way, but she is unwilling to have anyone else’s way forced upon her. Often, she will be quite an infuriating creature to be around, but that’s just who she is. Never try and control her, and be willing to forgive a few oversteps of her curious nature, and she’ll be a worthy friend to stand beside.

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