BRONZERIDER R'IOKE

Persona : R'ioke
Writing Status : NPC/Free
Age : 30
Gender : Male
Rank/Craft : Bronzerider
Residence : Thread's End Weyr

Physical Description : R'ioke is a striking man, though more in his bearing than in any physical feature. He always appears confident, which he has over the turns whittled down from arrogant. He is of average height and northern descent. R'ioke has dark hair and though his skin is tanned, it is pale on parts hidden from the sun. His eyes are blue, which to some appears odd on a man of a dark complexion. He gets his cheek bones and strong facial features from his mother, which were not pleasing on a woman but are the reverse on her son. R'ioke's skin shows his age as wind and ash left their marks, but his hair is untouched by balding or graying. He is well toned from life as a dragonrider, especially his upper body, but he is of a wiry build that loses definition quickly whenever he is grounded with a threadscore. His only major scar is on his right shoulder, an initially clean cut by a knife that has not healed well due to being repeatedly reopened during Threadfall. When affecting a manner other than his natural swagger (which happens rarely), R'ioke can pass as average in a crowd.

Personality : R'ioke has the utmost confidence in himself, which disappointments and mistakes have not beaten out of him. He believes it is better to make a wrong move that to show indecision in public. He has stated that there is no advantage to explaining a mistake in matters of dragonrider business; good wingmates will not dwell on the past while opponents will use anything to their advantage. R'ioke views Threadfall not only as an external battle, but also an internal one to keep humans functioning as one unit. R'ioke's confidence has served him well in leading men and tempting women. Turns of experience with both have lent him a measure of patience and an appreciation for tact. However, he still cannot hold his tongue if he catches an error in another's actions. Wingsecond Th'rek once told him that if he only learned when not to speak, most of his enemies would instead be friends. R'ioke is diligent to the point of obsession when striving toward a goal, but can fall into brooding and petty mischief if given the time. His mind is quick and his perceptions of people usually accurate, which can make him a great asset to any team, or its greatest problem.

Life Story : Renioken was born into a well off family in the Fort Harpercraft Hall. Though his parents were from High Reaches, his father's craft brought them to Fort and later to Sonnette's Dawn Hold. His mother was an affectionate woman that fawned over her only son, and worked hard to support her husband's endeavors. Arriving at Sonnette's Dawn Hold in the early turns of existence, the family was well established in its dealings, profiting from facilitating trade and construction of new holdings, though no one dared question exactly how. Renioken's father traveled frequently, sometimes on Harper and Hold business, others for his private dealings, it was hard to tell where duty ended and ambition began. As a child, Renioken was taught to hold himself above the crowd of children running underfoot, to study his Harper lessons, and observe closely the dealings of adults. He was also spoiled, owning his own runner, own weapons and tailored clothing. His father taught him much, though more from pride than affection. Renioken was the bully of Sonnette, harassing other children with condescending remarks and pranks whenever he had free time, and few could retaliate due to both his training and family's status.

Renioken began to travel with his father as he got older, in the capacity of an Apprentice Harper, and eventually was sent North to study at the Harper Hall. He walked the tables to Journeyman before being Searched by Fort Weyr. Impressing bronze Ciorith made R'ioke a whole new person. For the first turn of weyrling training he walked around like a smiling idiot, and though no less arrogant with a bronze at his side he was at least in such a great mood that he sought to make everyone around him cheerful too. It was not until he joined the fighting Wings that he started butting heads with his superiors, and his performance became more varied. He had a single-minded determination to be a great dragonrider, which would have mostly made up for his tongue. However, he was too impatient to wait for promotion within the large, old structure of Fort Weyr. Shortly after losing a close friend, brownrider F'res, R'ioke transferred to Thread's End Weyr both to get away from the memories and in hopes of being more appreciated in the ranks. He brought along F'res daughter, Anel, to foster in the Lower Caverns.

Initially, his plan for promotion was a great success. Within his first turn at the Weyr he was promoted first to Wingsecond on Center Flight Left Fore, then to its Wingleader. His personal life was also merry as he met his childhood adversary, Aleandra, now a greenrider at the Weyr. Teasing her was a source of great amusement to R'ioke, as was meddling in business at a holding along the Paradise River. Anel' mother was of their blood, and they wanted the Holder's grandaughter back. R'ioke treated the matter brashly, as most everything else in his life, and the lack of caution eventually led to the knife wound in his shoulder.

The untimely loss of Weyrleader A'dlar at Thread's End Weyr suddenly left R'ioke as the Temporary Weyrleader. Though initially thrilled by the advance and eagerly awaiting the next gold flight, R'ioke soon found himself out of his depth. Many Wingleaders railed at his leadership, due both to his relative youth and his lack of tact. His appointment was a heated debate, and the time to the next gold flight stretched as Cadrina left him as the sole leader. After only three months at the head of the Weyr, R'ioke was an irritable mess. He was physically drained, and did not have many supporters among the Weyr residents. He lost the next Gold flight, which seemed to negate everything he worked day and night to achieve in the months previous. In the very next Threadfall he scored his right shoulder and Ciorith his wing. Due to complications of reopening his previous shoulder wound and residual tensions in the Weyr, as soon as Ciorith was able to take flight R'ioke went to Fort Weyr to recover. His recovery dragged on, and not only for physical reasons, though in three months the bronzerider decided to return to Thread's End after all. His former weyrmate was gone to Ierne Island Weyr. Anel was taken by her relatives, some might say kidnapped. Almost no friendships remained to welcome him. R'ioke found himself a regular wingrider in the Wing he formerly led, led by a man he viewed as less capable. Unable to keep his opinion to himself for long, he was soon at odds with his new Wingleader.

Over a turn later, R'ioke still struggled to find his place in the Weyr's hierarchy. After a heavy fall in the beginning of the 39th turn, R'ioke was moved to fill the gaps in Upper Flight and hoped this change would break his stagnant streak. That break came in the form of Wingleader L'len, who with some encouragement managed to deeply insult the Weyrwoman during a strip poker game in the dining caverns. R'ioke took his place as Wingleader of Left Fore in the second month of the turn.

Dragon's Name : Ciorith
Dragon's Colour : Bronze
Dragon's Age : 13
Sire/Dam : Transfer
Rider's Age at Impression : 17

Physical Dragon : Ciorith is a dark bronze, of a wiry build. When not well oiled he could almost be mistaken for a brown in color, were it not for his large wing span. He is one of the biggest bronzes as the Weyr, and his more slender features make him appear even longer, when seen next to another dragon. He has great endurance, and for a bronze, good maneuverability. His burst is not as quick as of bulkier bronzes, but at the end of a long Fall he looks far fresher.

Dragon's Personality:Ciorith is a reserved dragon, he rarely speaks or chats with other dragons. This makes him appear proud at times, though really he's as friendly as any dragon. He even has a mischievous streak, usually manifested in carrying out whatever prank his other half thought up. He tries to be the voice of reason whenever his rider is excitedly leaping to decisions, but if one is made he is quick to follow. Ciorith is usually very happy with himself and likes to look down benevolently on his charges. If his rider is in a bad mood however, Ciorith does not commiserate with others, he doesn't leave his weyr at all until his rider is at ease again.

Pet Name : Polaris
Pet Species : Firelizard
Pet Color : Blue

Pet Description : Polaris is a pretty, carefree blue. He has been with his master since his master was young. The training of the blue has been sporadic, and though he is quick to pick up a task he usually forgets how to do it soon after. He does not carry messages well, and has never succeeded in waiting for a reply. He is still a favorite wherever he goes, as he is a very handsome blue of a rich, deep color. He was closely bonded to R'ioke's fosterling Anel when she was still at the Weyr, and spent more time with her than with his master, who usually shoos him away and forgets to bring snacks.

Last updated on 06-Dec-10.