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 Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:21 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:22 pm
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 Name: M'yk
Age: 33 (3542.07.12)
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Weyr: High Reaches Weyr
Rider Rank: Wingrider
Previous Rank/Craft: Journeyman Tannercraft (Tack Specialty)
Physical Description:
Standing at 5'7", M'yk may not be particularly tall, but he is sturdy. In shape and well-muscled due to his active lifestyle, he is attractive in a rough, unpolished way. His black hair is always short-cropped and practical, and depending on how recently it's occurred to him to shave, he usually sports some degree of stubble if not a bit of a beard. He has a tanned complexion and honey-colored eyes.
Personality:
What starts with his appearance carries straight on through to his personality: M'yk is, in many respects, a walking brownrider stereotype, and he not only knows it, he's shaffing proud of it. He is reliable, consistent, and usually level-headed. He can always be relied on to do what's asked of him to the very best of his ability - exactly what's asked of him. You're not likely to get less or more from this man, who lacks both ambition and creativity. It's not that he's lazy, he just doesn't have motivation beyond wanting to do his job; he works hard to do what needs to be done, but is completely unconcerned with any rank-climbing. That's not to say that he's utterly incapable of filling a leadership role, he just doesn't have any innate desire to do so.
M'yk finds great comfort in the order that comes with putting people into boxes, including himself. Some of this stems from being born and raised in an insular, highly conservative cothold, an upbringing that resulted in an individual who was 'hidebound' to say the least a badge he very happily wore for most of his life. He once had all the typical Holder views of promiscuity and sexuality; after many turns spent in the Weyr working alongside all sorts of people, however, he now accepts the latter...but continues to disapprove of the former.
Though with time, exposure, and the encouragement of his dragon, M'yk has left behind his old-fashioned views on gender identity and which parts belong with which, he is not progressive by any means. He is still a sexist; not full-on 'shut up, stay at home, and have babies,' but men are men and women are women, and there are certain things each is better suited to. The ladies really ought to just stand back, let the big, strong men take care of things, and enjoy the view. Not that they can't have an opinion or do things, they just need to stay on their side of the gender line and do things they're good at, whether that's supervising or just cooking. Let the boys do the heavy lifting! On the maybe-slightly-not-necessarily-positive side of such opinions, he's very much a gentleman in the presence of women. He'll treat them politely and gently, as the delicate ladies he sees them as. If he's paired with a female for a more physical task, he'll likely attempt to assume most of the work, whether she likes it or not.
He has also fully, without question, embraced the traditional views and hierarchy of High Reaches, as it dovetails nicely with his need for labels: ditzy greens, flightly blues, steady browns, princely bronzes and commanding golds, with riders meant to match. Being solidly in the middle, and conveniently fitting in with traditional standards and agreeing with traditional viewpoints, this brownrider is quite comfortable with his place in the Weyr. If others aren't happy with their place, well, that's their problem, not his.
M'yk often has a hard time when he's confronted by things he doesn't like, because he doesn't know what to do with them. When he first came to the Weyr, he had a very difficult time not reacting with obvious disapproval, but for the most part he tried to keep it under wraps, because he knew he'd likely be outnumbered if he started something. Still, despite his best efforts to hold his tongue, he did slip up a few times. After getting into a good scrap that landed him in a bit of trouble, he developed an 'ignore it and it will go away' strategy, one he continues to deploy to this day. He'll be short with individuals he disapproves of, playing the I'm-too-busy-for-you card, and make it clear without being aggressive that he doesn't want their company.
If he's called on his views, however, he will defend them, and if the situation escalates into the physical, then so be it. Once a fight starts, he's got no problem brawling, and he definitely doesn't like to lose. It's more acceptable if it's a more playful-type fight with a friend when everyone's had a little to drink, but if it's a real fight, you're going to have to drag him off or otherwise render him incapable of continuing. If he does lose, he holds an indefinite grudge, but is relatively tolerable if he wins; he'll do the requisite proud posturing, then go back to business as usual without much fuss.
Positive Trait List reliable, hardworking, content
Negative Trait List sexist, judgemental, unimaginative
History:
Born in an unremarkable little cothold, M'yk - then Maldryk - was the oldest of six children born to a Tanner father and a mother who never took up a craft, just married young and proceeded to have half a dozen children: five boys, then finally a girl. They were a stable, fairly unremarkable family, and there were no great upheavals or traumas in his early life. As the oldest especially, Maldryk was expected to take up his father's craft, and as has always been his way, he did exactly that. Patient and hardworking, he was well-suited to the work of a Tanner, able to produce sturdy goods of consistency and quality. He initially learned from his father before moving on to the Hall at Igen per his father's insistence, who wanted him to be not as good as him, but better. Maldryk, for his part, would have been perfectly content with a minor crafthall or simply continuing to learn from his father, but did as he was told.
He became a Journeyman at 20, and having demonstrated a particular aptitude for making tack, began studies under older, more experiences crafters of runner and wher tack. It was at Keroon, 5 turns later, that he was Searched to High Reaches. He was actually a bit bemused by this development, but as he was getting ready to move on anyway, he simply went with it. And besides, since he was already at the upper end of the age range for Candidates, he could Stand just the one time, maybe two, and get on with his life, having gained a story with which to entertain his eventual grandchildren. He could also learn something about dragon tack in the process, so why not?
The possibility that he might actually Impress never really entered his mind, but Impress he did to brown Dobrokhoth. He was initially a bit perturbed, in all honesty; besotted with his dragon he might be, but this had not been in the plans. Still, he could theoretically finish out his Weyrling training, then get back to what he was 'supposed' to be doing, albeit with a dragon in tow. By the time that first turn was up, though, he'd not only adjusted to his new life, but found he rather liked it (and there was no way Dobrokhoth would have been willing to leave the Weyr, besides). The more time passed, the more comfortable he became, and M'yk wastes no time on 'what ifs.' There is nowhere he'd rather be than High Reaches, with his dragon, though he certainly hasn't let his skills go to waste. Dobrokhoth will always have the best flight gear, and M'yk is happy to craft anything within his ability for wingmates or friends - or for extra marks - in what bit of spare time he has.
M'yk has taken the return of Thread in stride, secure in the training they've received and confident in his dragon's abilities. Dobrokhoth, while not happy per se, is eager to do what he dragons were always meant to do. |
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:23 pm
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Name: Dobrokhoth
Age: 8 (3566.07.18 Eveleth x Thistreth)
Color: Brown
Size: 74'
Physical Description:
Dobrokhoth is a perfectly respectable brown of average size and average build, but - though neither he nor His take notice of such things - has a fetching pale gray-brown hide accented by the darker stripes that climb up his legs before fading away.
Personality:
Dobrokhoth is and always will be a protector at heart, there's little he would not do to defend and aid his friends and comrades. Whether he's needed to do something as unglamorous as helping to shift heavy loads or something as dangerous as protecting his home from Thread or even intruders with claws, teeth, and flame he will do it without hesitation. He regards this as his solemn duty and cannot be dissuaded from it no matter the cost to himself or even to his beloved rider, keeping their home safe and prosperous is vital to him and should he ever feel that he has failed in this he will be very hard on himself.
Those who are unwilling to pull their weight around the Weyr are the very worst kinds of people in Dobrokhoth's book. He doesn't mind if not everyone is as brave as he - he takes pride in being a strong defender of the weak - but he does mind if people don't work hard for themselves and for others. One might expect a dragon with this brown's protective streak to be up front about his displeasure but Dobrokhoth is not that sort at all, indeed anyone thinking he is a stoic protector is dead wrong. In fact if he takes against somebody Dobrokhoth will play tricks on them to start with. He makes no secret of that fact that he is doing it or why he is doing it, hoping that peer pressure will persuade the lazy to change their ways. If they continue to offend him however he will step up his campaign, for example he might start buzzing them or trying to chase them off a kill if they're a dragon or a wher. If even this level of harassment doesn't work he will do what he can to actually chase them out of his home and will try to recruit others to help him do so. Those who cannot be bothered to help maintain the home he defends have no business living there and he has no patience or mercy for with anyone who can't or won't contribute.
Speaking of his home, Dobrokhoth is rather territorial about it and deeply distrustful of new arrivals. Who are they? What do they want? Why should he put effort into sheltering these strangers? At first he will play the same sort of tricks on them as he would on somebody who has mildly annoyed him, only relenting when he feels they have proved some kind of worth to the Weyr. Anyone arriving from a more progressive Weyr (or worse, a dragon and rider not from a Weyr!) will be subject to extra strong disapproval; he regards those places with utmost contempt not particularly because of any politics or strong feelings about hierarchy but rather because they are Other, and a potential threat to his home and people. Were the Weyr ever to take up arms against anyone, for any reason, his 'us' and 'them' attitude would into a complete lack of compunction when it comes to warfare. So far as he's concerned a good defense is often a good offense and he would have no qualms about employing underhanded tactics. Whatever must be done must be done and that is simply the end of the matter.
While it's true that it takes Dobrokhoth a while to warm up to people once he does decide you're a decent sort who works as hard as they can he's an absolute blast to be around. There is nothing Dobrokhoth loves better than a great celebration with friends and comrades; he will try anything once, loves to feast and chase and tussle, and is always full of ideas for fun activities. If one works hard, he feels, then one has earned the right to play hard too!
 Inspired by the Domovoi.
A domovoi (literally, "[he] from the house" ) is a house spirit in Slavic folklore.
Traditionally, every house is said to have its domovoi. It does not do evil unless angered by a family’s poor keep of the household, profane language or neglect. The domovoi is seen as the home's guardian, and he sometimes helps with household chores and field work. Some even treat them as part of the family, albeit an unseen one, and leave them gifts like milk and biscuits in the kitchen overnight. To attract a Domovoi, you would go outside of your house wearing your best clothing and say aloud "Grandfather Dobrokhot, please come into my house and tend the flocks." To rid yourself of a rival Domovoi, you would beat your walls with a broom, shouting "Grandfather Domovoi, help me chase away this intruder." When moving, some might make an offering to the Domovoi and say "Domovoi! Domovoi! Don't stay here but come with our family!"
It is said the favorite place for these spirits to live is either the threshold under the door or under the stove. The center of the house is also said to be their domain. The Domovoi maintains peace and order, and rewards a well-maintained household. Some peasants feed him nightly in return for protection of their house. The domovoi was also an oracle, as his behavior could foretell or forewarn about the future. He would pull hair to warn a woman of danger from an abusive man. He would moan and howl to warn of coming trouble. If he showed himself, it forewarned of death, and if he was weeping it was said to be a death in the family. If he was laughing, good times could be expected, and if he strummed a comb there would be a wedding in the future.
The domovoi does have a more malicious side. Although one's own domovoi could be considered an ally, the domovoi from a neighboring household brought no happiness. Russian folklore says that a domovoi could harass horses in the stable overnight, as well as steal the grain of a neighbour to feed his own horses. Still, domoviye could befriend one another and were said to gather together for loud winter parties.
Tradition says if a domovoi becomes unhappy, it plays nasty tricks on the members of the household. Those include moving and rattling small objects, breaking dishes, leaving muddy little footprints, causing the walls of a house to creak, banging on pots and moaning. If the family can determine the cause of their domovoi's discontent, they can rectify the situation and return things to normal. If not, the spirit's tricks may escalate in intensity, coming to more closely resemble those of a poltergeist , or he may threaten to stifle people in their beds. More often than not, however, families live in harmony with the spirits, and no problems arise.
It is also said that Domovoi like to make the sound, "He! He! He!, Ho! Ho! Ho!" when they are excited or happy.
Why Me? You need motivation Maldryk? Well Dobrokhoth has it, and with the best of intentions too, this brown will happily put his rider's steady hard-working approach to work in defending their home. Dobrokhoth can understand and appercaite his rider's dislike of the unfamiliar and for better or worse won't push him to embrace anything he doesn't want to too fast, though over time he will start to give gentle nudges towards accepting some of the aspects of their home that Maldryk would rather didn't exist. In return Dobrokhoth gets exactly what he wanted and needed from his rider; a hard worker who has the ability to step up to face a tough situation in order to defend the Weyr. No matter what happens this pair will not be backing down in a hurry.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:24 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:25 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:27 pm
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