[J] Pach's Crew

[demon_pachabel]

D'rok of Bronze Khazariath
Original Profile

 

[demon_pachabel]

Name: D'rok
Age: 18
Nameday: 3558.01.11
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: /Pach laughs in the background, I never know/
Craft: Weyrbrat
Rank: Candidate
Location: High Reaches Weyr
Physical Description: Dorok is exceedingly average in height and build for a teenage boy. He has red hair and muddy brown-green eyes. He has a burn scar from one ear down to his neck.
Personality: Dorok is his father's last hope for a child on a metallic dragon and he is handling that pressure about as well as one would expect - he is tense all the time and often comes off as dismissive of others around him in this tightly wound expectation. However, one would be hard pressed to argue Dorok is a Daddy's Boy. If he has any ambitions of being a Bronzerider, they are absolutely out of spite for his father - he will climb the ladder well past his father and then deliver onto him what he did onto his siblings.

Because of his lofty goals, Dorok carries himself as though everything he does has much more meaning than it likely does. Every failure is absolutely unacceptable and every success is not grand enough. He is a father-and-self-tormented soul and while he is not one to revel in anguish, his standards are unrealistic and put off many who may try to befriend the young man.

In spite of his unrealistic standards, Dorok is a noble heart who dreams of being a hero. A hero to his siblings, a hero to his mother (sorry dad, you kind of brought it on yourself), and a hero to Pern. While he is not scrambling to lay down his life on behalf of anybody else or jump into harms way, he believes that the first step towards doing good is being good person. His moral standards for himself are extremely high and to a higher-than-average degree he looks down on people who fall into less savory ones (he's looking at you bullies, cheaters, and liars especially).

While one would not call Dorok book smart, and he's not the sharpest whistle whittled of the bunch, he has the mind of a tactician and has a natural sense of how to read for potential disaster and conflict. While he may not make a natural leader as he is now, he will memorize drills quickly and in the thick of trouble be quick on his mental feet to adjust to any situation he's thrown into.

Positive Trait List Ambitious, Noble, Tactician
Negative Trait List Tense, Burdened-with-purpose, Haughty
History: Bronzerider E'rok was already well into a series of disappointments when his youngest son was born, with an obvious age gap between the youngest and his next oldest sibling. Almost as soon as Dorok could recognize his mother, Dorana's, maternal love for him as what it was, he was also having his head filled with ideas of how he was meant to be - a strong boy who would impress a fine bronze and make High Reaches quiver in their boots with how much stronger they would be to have them in their upper ranks.

Dorok would have clung more tightly to this ideology if he wasn't just old enough to see what happened to his older siblings - one who would leave entirely and two more that were quickly swept away upon impressing colors that didn't suit him. That Dorana struggled to try and keep everybody together while still appeasing her weyrmate (if what there was between them could be called love) did little to inspire much paternal affection in the young boy who instead found his first seed of rebellion against the standards he was born into in the form of actively attempting to bond with his siblings anyways. It would not be easy with E'rok attempting to keep his rejected 'failures' away from his youngest.

In his later childhood he had an accident with boiling water would give him the burn scar on one side of his face - something E'rok would blame on his weyrmate's irresponsibility, whether it was actually her fault or not.

As candidacy came closer, so did E'rok's pressure on his youngest son - who was already starting to plan out his life in spit of his father's ambitions ahead of him. That he would not - and has not - impressed quickly has only increased his familial pressure which was pressed harder by his 'chance' to shine coming with the return of Threadfall.

As far as Dorok is concerned, the only good thing that came with Thread was that his eldest brother returned home - allowing, perhaps, a chance for more of his spite-bonding with him.

Mere days before his 18th Nameday, Dorok would impress the Bronze he desired so strongly from Zenobiath's maiden clutch - and as far as the young man is concerned, his Khazariath is perfect.
Other: Siblings belong to Uta, Smerdle, and Teiha!  

[demon_pachabel]

Bronze Khazariath
Written by Mr Cheri
Colored by Mr Cheri



Origin of Name: Khazariath, from the Khazar Horse, another name for the Caspian Horse. Khazaria was a great trading empire, and the Khazars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people, were known for their relationship with Byzantium. Masters of the western range of the Silk Road, the Khazars were ultimately betrayed by Byzantium and destroyed by the Kievan Rus in medieval times.

Inspiration: Caspian

The Caspian is a small horse breed native to Northern Iran. Although its original height probably ranged between 9 and 11.2 hands (36 and 46 inches, 91 and 117 cm) it is termed a horse rather than a pony because, size apart, it has much in common with horses in terms of conformation, gaits and character. It is believed to be one of the oldest horse or pony breeds in the world, descended from small Mesopotamian equines that, in competition with larger animals, had faded from attention by the 7th century AD.

The horse breed was brought to public notice again when rediscovered in 1965 by Louise Firouz, an American-born breeder of Iranian horses living in Iran. In 2011, the remains of a horse dating back to 3400 B.C.E. were found at Gohar Tappeh, Iran, giving rise to claims that the Caspian is the oldest known breed of domestic horse that still exists. It is also called Khazar Horse, after one of Caspian sea's native names in Iran.

A partial answer to the existence of the Caspian is the fact that the Persian Empire, which flourished in the first millennium B.C, has been called "the first great road empire". Before the Romans built their first road for marching men, the Persians constructed broad straight dirt roads, well maintained for speedy couriers and busy senior administrators. Herodotus wrote that:

"There is nothing in the world which travels faster than these Persian couriers. It is said that men and horses are stationed along the road…a man and a horse for each day. Nothing stops these couriers from covering their allotted stage in the quickest possible time, neither snow, rain, heat nor darkness."

The origin of the Caspian is said to be the mountainous regions of northern Iran, which explains how the breed is tough, athletic, and nimble. Indeed, the oldest known specimen of the Caspian horse was found in 2011, in a cemetery dating back to 3400 B.C.E., in the archaeological dig at Gohar Tappeh in the province of Mazandaran in northern Iran, between the cities of Neka and Behshahr. They were depicted in ancient art, where they appeared in scenes pulling chariots. The horse was identified by its "form, figure, and size" as having a light frame, thin bones, short, fine head with a pronounced forehead, large eyes, short ears, and small muzzle. The Caspians were first mentioned in recorded sources sometime in 600 CE.

The Persian Empire required land transport on a huge scale. They were the first people to breed horses especially for strength and speed. That these horses were very small by modern standards is shown by a miniature golden chariot, a toy or perhaps a votive offering, found in the so-called Oxus Treasure, discovered in the extreme east of the empire but apparently made in central Persia. The vehicle was obviously built for speed. Its wheels are higher than the horses, which are themselves of lesser height than the two passengers - and not because of the status of the passengers. Neil MacGregor likens this vehicle to a Ferrari or Porsche amongst cars – fast and luxurious. King Darius (the Great) trusted his life to the little horses during lion hunts, and honoured them on his famous Trilingual Seal.

As seen on the bas reliefs on the great staircase at Persepolis the Persian Shah demanded tributes of only first class animals. Those depicted were probably from Lydia in Turkey, judging by the grooms' appearance, and the horses are of similar size to the four in the Oxus Treasure. Skeletons with the same bone structure as the Caspian were found at Hamadan.

Yet the fine little horses so valued by the Persian Empire virtually disappeared from history after libraries and monuments were destroyed in the great Mongol and Islamic conquests. Almost no further mention was found of them after 700 AD and until 1965, modern scholars believed that they had become extinct.

It is now assumed that the modern Caspian descended from the great pool of quality stock that once formed the essential foundation of the Persian Empire. Caspians, known locally as moulek or pouseki ponies ( "little muzzle" ), now inhabit an area in the north of Iran between the Caspian Sea and the Elburz Mountains. Horses potentially related to the Caspian have also been identified in a much wider range, as history might lead us to expect.

At first thought to be a pony, the Caspian Horse was re-discovered in 1965 in this mountainous region of northern Iran by the American-born breeder of Iranian horses, Louise Firouz, while searching for small ponies to be ridden by children. She saw a small bay stallion in the town of Amol pulling a clumsy cart, but with the body of a "well-bred oriental horse." She purchased the stallion, naming him Ostad (and later nicknaming him 'The Professor' due to his 'wise' nature). Following her discovery, Firouz concluded:

" ….. there was an elusive beauty and grace about this small horse which did not seem to fit into the accepted picture of ponies. Ponies are chunky, strong little equids generally developed under austere conditions of climate and food. Why a "pony" on the relatively lush shores of the temperate Caspian: and, in spite of his small size, was the light, graceful animal on the Caspian a pony at all? Was there any historical precedent for a pony-sized horse in Iran and, if so, how well documented was it? These questions initiated a study in the spring of 1965 to determine the range, nature and historical precedent for a horse of this size in Iran."

With seven mares and six stallions, Firouz began a breeding program at her riding school in Norouzabad, with the horses she named "Caspian" from the area where she had found them. The horses themselves were much enjoyed by the children; Ostad became a successful sire of children's ponies and was ridden daily in the company of mares. Firouz started the Iranian stud book in 1966. In 1973 the stud was sold to the Shah of Iran, who established the Royal Horse Society at the Norouzabad Stud.

In late 1965, while visiting her family in Great Falls, Virginia, Firouz told Kathleen McCormick the Caspian story and showed photographs of the ponies she had brought to Norouzabad. They decided to export a Caspian stallion from Iran to the United States and McCormick selected the foundation stallion Jehan from the photographs. In April 1966, William M. Santoro, DVM, accompanied Jehan on the four-day, 8,000-mile journey to New York. Due to the difficulties experienced in exporting Jehan from Iran, only a part-bred breeding program was established in the US at that time and plans to import mares were put on hold. In 1975 a further stallion was exported to Venezuela from Iran.

Meanwhile, a new herd of twenty mares and three stallions established on the Turkoman Steppes by Firouz, suffered repeated and fatal wolf attacks. This forced the emergency evacuation of six mares and a stallion to the Caspian Stud UK in 1976 and the remainder were taken over by the Royal Horse Society of Iran. They were later widely dispersed during the Iranian Revolution, leaving only one traceable stallion. The subsequent ban on keeping horses ended the breeding program in Iran until 1986, when Firouz found and purchased three mares and a stallion.

Personality: There are depths to Khazariath that are surprising, even for a bronze of his breeding. He possesses a wisdom and erudition beyond his Turns - indeed, there are few enough of those. Always conscious of the company that he finds himself in, Khazariath balances between caution and clear paranoia. Erring on the side of caution, he nevertheless is good at reading others. Particularly good, in fact. One might say that he is always on his guard, and that might be true, but it is because this wise young bronze is afraid of getting his hearts bruised. Indeed, they were be easy to destroy, if he were to allow another close to them.

He feels a certain duty to his family and Weyr to keep them safe. It is for the good of all, indeed, that he is so careful. While many around him might throw themselves into danger, Khazariath will assess the risk first, determining whether it is beyond his capacity to handle. Of course, it is entirely possible and even likely that he therefore puts limits on what he actually can deal with. When he feels particularly close to another, he will tend to lean on them a little, seeking reassurance from a source that is not his wary soul. There are times when he can be far too cautious, stemming from not only his intelligence, but also from a certain lack of confidence.

Hatched small, and small to this day, Khazariath is keenly aware of his own mortality. He is also aware that he would be easily replaced, were it to come to it. And Khazariath does not want to find himself dispensable. To that end he will do everything in his power that he can to make himself useful, and have a tendency to cling to his rider and to any who might worm their way into his sheltered hearts. He longs for nothing short of pure devotion from another, and though he knows that it is unlikely that he will receive it, he will quietly coil himself around whomever that cherished object might be, attempting to possess them utterly.

Positive Traits: Alert, perceptive, wise
Negative Traits: Paranoid, avaricious, clingy

Santa Egg: A small sized egg.

Adult Size: 35'
Physical Attributes: A dainty, delicate creature with a diminutive yet elegant muzzle, Khazariath stands no taller than a medium sized brown in the shoulder. His movements are expressive and elegant, each one selected with care. This bronze was clearly built for speed above stamina or strength.

Additional Notes: Although he would hardly admit to such a thing, Khazariath would prefer a male in a long term partner. He will chase Queens because it is expected of him, and because he would like to be a father, but would like a fellow bronze, brown, or blue to take home to his ledge. It would not occur to him to chase a green, as he sees nothing for him to gain in the exchange. And, too, it would be unfair to the lady - he is, after all, not interested. Best to leave that activity to another who would truly enjoy it. Due to his avaricious nature, he would prefer a shiny hide to match his own, but only if the bronze in question truly appreciated his company.

Impression Effect: There is just something about Dorok, post-Impress. A kind of je ne sais quois. One could never again call him average, and would be forgiven for wanting to draw closer to the newly minted bronzerider. Dorok will find it easier to forget his father's behavior, as his new life is so much more than anything the man might have said or done to him. He will also find his intelligence enhanced by Khazariath's own - as though his pool of knowledge and resources just got a little deeper.

Why Me? Although there were many on the Sands when it came time to make his choice, Khazariath knew that there was only one Dorok. And Dorok, of all of those seeking a bronze dragon, at least understood the overwhelming pressure that is placed on one who is expected to accomplish great things. It is in Dorok that Khazariath finds safety, for he knows that the young man dreams of one day being a hero. If they are to succeed, they must do so together. Frankly, Khazariath could not abide a rider who did not have the Weyr's best interests at heart. Dorok's tactical abilities will be aided by Khazariath's wisdom and Khazariath's caution might well be overcome by Dorok's nose for danger.

 

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