WEYRLINGMASTER D'SELIN

Persona : D'selin
Writing Status : PC/Active
Age : 55
Gender : Male
Rank/Craft : Bronzerider, Weyrlingmaster
Residence : Ierne Island Weyr

Physical Description : In his youth, D'selin was heavily built, all height, bone and muscle; now, that's fading a little as age starts to take more of a toll than he'd care to admit. He's still in good condition, but starting to lose some muscle and show a little softening. However, he's still strong enough to throw bags of firestone around, and it shows. When he was younger, D'selin's hair was flaming red; now it's more grey than anything else, and his once bright blue eyes have faded to a paler grey-blue. His knuckles are thickening somewhat with age, and cold mornings will make his joints ache and force him to move more slowly than he'd like, but vitality and humour still shows clearly in his eyes and smile.

Personality : D'selin at his current age is a far cry from the young Daramselin. Previously arrogant and headstrong, he has now calmed and turned into a patient, steady man. He takes the long view of people; knowing how he has changed over his life, he can see potential in most youngsters, if they're prepared to knuckle down and put in the work.

That doesn't mean he tolerates slackers; he means it about being prepared 'to do the work'. Those who expect life to hand it all to them will be given a quick lesson in how things really work; those who are willing to work will have all the help he can give them.

He's also learned to enjoy the finer things in life; good wine, good music, good company, and would rather forego items of lesser quality, preferring to wait for the good stuff. In general, he's level-headed, valuing his sense of equanimity.

Life Story : Born in the Old Time at Telgar Weyr to a dragonrider father and a weyr-woman mother (woman of the weyr, not a queen rider), D'selin - then Daramselin - spent his life around dragons. He was presented to a clutch early, and Impressed Pasalith on his first try. That was something that made everyone who knew him heave a sigh of relief; Daramselin had been a headstrong, impetuous and short-tempered lad, and the hope was that Impressing Pasalith would settle him down some.

It did - but it took a while for maturity to take a hold. Though D'selin and Pasalith were a bold pair in fall, they frequently crossed the line into 'foolhardy' and for a while it looked like they wouldn't make it through their first turn of fighting thread. On the ground, D'selin was equally arrogant and proud and coming forward 400 turns only added to that; they were the saviours of Pern, and that was heady wine for a young bronze rider.

In the new, modern day Telgar, D'selin took risks in the air. While they did some spectacular flying and emerged (mostly) unscathed, it wasn't the type of flying that encouraged the promotions for which a bronze rider might expect himself to be considered.

The first few times D'selin was passed up for a wingsecond's spot he didn't question it; other, more experienced pairs won the positions. But when a wingsecond's slot became available, and he and Pasalith were the most experienced, unranked bronze pair in the Weyr and were ignored again, he raised the issue. The response, in no uncertain terms, was that he wouldn't get a wingsecond's position until he showed that he deserved it - that he cared about his wing more than he cared about showing off. "Reliability counts," he was told.

That stung D'selin - but he recognised the truth of it, and began to buckle down. He and Pasalith restrained themselves, slowly changing from foolhardy and reckless fliers to something more reliable. They worked better within the wing, on the ground and in the air, and after two turns of hard work, the effort was recognised with an eventual promotion to wingsecond. He became a solid wingsecond, gradually earning the respect of those who still remembered the impetuous youth he'd been. He remained as wingsecond for six turns before being promoted to wingleader.

He went south with the majority of the Old Timers, but when things changed and the 'blockade' of the Southern Continent was lifted, he moved back to his beloved Telgar, and gladly took up the full responsibility of being a rider and wingleader again; with no grubs to rely on in the north, and after turns of indolence in the south, it came hard at first, but he knuckled down and flew as a dragonrider is supposed to.

In the last few turns, he has begun to notice signs of age, with arthritis creeping in, and Pasalith feeling the cold as well. He can still manage a full fall, but it's more of a strain than it used to be. Not relishing the idea of full retirement, he stepped down as wingleader and moved to a lower wing, and took on some duties acting as the Telgar weyrlingmaster's assistant.

D'selin has known Meruya, gold Sinevath's rider, most of her life; she moved south to Ierne Island Weyr and, when Sinevath clutched, she asked if he'd consider moving to Ierne to act as Weyrlingmaster for the new dragonpairs. He's discovering that he enjoys being able to impart the knowledge and experience he's gained in nearly 40 turns of threadfighting to a new generation as a full time weyrlingmaster.

Dragon's Name : Pasalith
Dragon's Colour : Bronze
Dragon's Age : 40
Sire/Dam : Transfer
Rider's Age at Impression : 15

Physical Dragon : Pasalith is an impressive-sized bronze for one clutched in the Old Time, and of near-perfect conformation. After a lifetime fighting thread, he does bear scars; the ones on his wings are the most obvious, being a little darker than the sails. Some little nicks on his flanks and tail show up if you know where to look. Like D'selin, he's starting to show his age, with grey around his muzzle, and some thickening of his joints and neck.

Dragon's Personality : Like D'selin, Pasalith has aged well. He's mellower than he used to be, and more patient - not that he remembers his youth, except through D'selin's memories. He loves finding a hot rock or beach to lie on, and will soak up the heat for as long as it lasts. When it comes to weyrlings, he's like his rider; patient with those who are trying, but he will not hesitate to pull up those who shirk responsibility or don't do their best.

Last updated on 22-Sep-07.