Post by Stranger on Jan 13, 2011 18:21:46 GMT -8
Name: Mi’red (formerly Mildred)
Age: 23 years (born early winter)
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Rank: Bluerider, Southern Sweep Lieutenant
Location: Eyrie
Personality:
Mi’red comes across, at first meeting, as being the quiet sort. Calm and collected, pleasant enough - but distant, as if one can never quite reach her. Not that she is unfriendly in any sense, if she acknowledges others in her own way: with a nod of a head or sturdy eye contact. Yet somehow she stills manages to appear...aloof. It is not a front she puts up deliberately - living in a world of silence, unbroken by sound, she cannot be blamed for being a tad disconnected. And it is hardly helped by the fact that she switches off in the face of idle chatter: reading lips takes effort, effort more deservingly given to necessity (such as teamwork for the sake of completing a task) rather than wasted on random topics like how the weather was today.
It is also not helped by her no-nonsense manner and lack of patience for tomfoolery. Mi'red is a workaholic by both nature and habit, always striving for improvement in herself and in others. Nothing in her life is exempt from the ever-present struggle for perfection; not her fighting skills, her riding techniques, endurance of character strength or general knowledge of the world. It is a trait that end to put her at odds with others (particularly when she has pointed out their flaws - out of goodwill). Her idea of bettering herself, however, tends to be highly theoretical in nature. Apart from obvious physical endeavors such as riding, sparring or mending, Mi'red much prefers to sit down and browse copious amounts of literature rather than leave her eyling to experience the world outside. This has, not surprisingly, led to complications whenever the bluerider finds herself in a situation requiring more street-sense than she has. She is very aware of this; and wariness of how others might capitalize on her naivety means she prefers to keep only working relationships instead of anything deeper, though she would never reject sincerities or true friendship where it is offered.
Get beyond these initial barriers however, and you will find a soul graced with an immense sense of responsibility and a heart of dauntless courage. She never forsakes a duty without consternation, much convincing and even the need for force at times. And she never leaves a team member to perish if she can help it, which she sometimes can't. Should anyone ever have the guts to bridge her cool outer shell and approach her for help, she is ever ready with a smile and a considered opinion of practical value to that person's situation. Oddly, though Mi'red might not actually care for spare words and chatter, she enjoys being in the company of others. It is not uncommon to walk into a crowded area and find the bluerider tucked happily into a corner with a bunch of her closer friends, a soft smile lighting her features even though she might have long switched off from the general conversation. She herself can think of no reason why she likes beings with others despite her aloofness, or being well-thought-of by those close to her; ask her, and she will just give you a blank look and a shrug. There is no doubt, however, that she enjoys it.
True to this, Mi'red's workoholic nature also tends to translate into picking up odd jobs on behalf of those who need it - her leisure hours are usually spent tending the gardens, patching traders' canvases or just helping to mind the livestock in the feeding pens. She asks for no pay as well, believing that one should do things because it is desirable and not for any financial gain. It is this willingness to do things without asking anything in return that has, in her personal opinion, bonded her to Audeph (what is more certain is that it has gained her many grateful supporters amongst visiting traders and within the Eyrie's ground staff at large, little though she might have noticed). Mi'red's nature, in the end, is best described as steel - cold, but true.
Appearance:
Mi'red stands at 5'3", a height accentuated by her slender frame although her delicate build is saved from being willowy by the moderate muscling she has gained from being a rider. While one might still gets the impression a stronger hug would be enough to flatten or break her into two, the way she carries herself, tall and forward, tends to dispel any notion she is a woman easily daunted or taken advantage of. The scatter of scars that adorn her arms, shoulders and back help that impression - too few to be alarming but quite enough to convince that she is no gentle upper-class lady. Mi'red's facial features are simple enough, petite and feminine, and her skin tone is fair and nearly blemish-free (to her secret gratitude at not having to run the gamut of jokes usually given to a scarred women). Her eyes are a deep almond brown, well-matched with the soft dark chestnut curls of her hair, once long but cut short after the koxi attack on the Eyrie in the Year 57. It is her smile, however, that makes her stand out - in the times she smiles genuinely, a warm and glowing radiance breaks out on the usually stern-set features, forming the smallest of dimples in her cheeks and making her brown eyes sparkle. A rare sight, and rarely seen: Mi'red hardly smiles openly, reserving her emotions for those close to her.
Mi'red is as practical in her dressing as with her lifestyle: trousers, blouses or shirts both fitted and loose, tunics, leather vests for flying and knee-high boots. Color-wise, these tend to the muted range of earth hues from cream to brown to black, though green and blue have some representation as well. Jewelry, trinkets and other accessories are completely out of the question - just think what would happen if they ripped or got torn off in some scuffle or spar! It is this ability to dress as needed, however, that also accounts for the elegant (if sparse) evening gowns and the random accompanying bracelets in Mi'red's wardrobe; all reserved for those once or twice in a year events that require better ornamentation than mere tunic and leggings. Whatever else might be of her, this is one bluerider who knows how to stay in order, no matter the circumstance.
Family:
Father: Mendal (Iron Smith, 51)
Mother: Lorica (Maid, Deceased)
Elder Sister: Holda (Midwife, 33)
Simourv Name: Audeph
Simourv Color: #333399
Simourv Age: 4 years
Personality:
Audeph is, in many ways, a match for his rider. Cool, calm and collected by nature, he is often quite content to sit unnoticed in the background, watching and listening. And he accomplishes this with finesse - despite his striking colours of black and white with blue, he is very capable of blending into his surroundings easily and passing by without notice. His awareness of those same surroundings is so sharp it can be called intuitive; and it is with this uncanny sense of things that he keeps track of whatever is happening around him; running what he sees through his formidably logical, tactician mind. Mental exercise is Audeph's element, and there is little he enjoys more than applying himself to a riddle or pondering the meanings of existence and life. And by the same token his curiosity is well-nigh insatiable, drawing him to investigate things from every angle conceivable to his erudite mind; though unlike Mi'red he usually knows by instinct when he should withdraw rather than pursue a matter.
Yet despite his excellent wit and alacrity of thought, Audeph is not the hero type; like most blues he doesn't crave or need recognition, seeing his role as more that of the follower and supporter of a worthy cause. He only speaks his mind or lends weight to an occasion when it necessity demands it - to save lives perhaps, or to prevent some unfortunate soul from suffering a horrible embarrassment. As a follower, he is also known for taking the orders given to him seriously. Though blind loyalty is not something that Audeph is much given to, he can also sometimes be loyal to a fault - particularly where the one giving the orders is someone he trusts or respects. His attention to given commands and reticence to act on his own can sometimes be interpreted as weakness or cowardice; but the blue tends to just brush off any comments in that vein. He knows well enough that he is neither weak nor cowardly, and that his actions will have meaning when he chooses to intervene in things.
Like Mi'red, Audeph loves having company around, particularly other simourv though the odd human is also welcome. Of the two of them, he is the more outgoing; and though still a quiet sort tends to speak more than his rider would, pushing her to speak up as well when he feels she has kept silent long enough. He enjoys listening to others converse, picking out the inflections and considering the hidden meanings behind their words - or just discerning whether there are hidden meanings at all. Not that Audeph eavesdrops, which he considers a very rude thing to do; he just likes hanging around those he considers friends or acquaintances, offering them a listening ear and his own opinion occasionally.
Appearance:
Standing at a a tad over 50 feet, Audeph is no miniscale blue, and his medium build is a sturdy one - no lankiness or litheness about him, and no bulkiness either. He manages to come nicely in the middle on the wide spectrum between speed and stamina, and though he has no advantage in either extreme he has learnt to leverage on both based on the circumstances.
Where it comes to appearance however, Audeph's greatest pride is in his feathers. Blue dominates much of his body: but at his wings, flanks and tail, it does so in shades that colour individual feathers rather than sections of his frame. The result is a sorting of feathers that ran from pale electric blue to dark midnight blue at the tips of each feather, creating an intricate patterning across his wings and hindquarters. The medium blue of his chest and shoulders also darkens to near-black around his neck, creating the impression of a collar that covers the pure white river of his throat and underbelly. The midnight blue of his "collar" and the white of his throat run together up his muzzle and ring his eyes, creating a sort of mask around mellow amber eyes. An abundance of white "freckles" spot his beak as well, to his eternal amusement. Despite the impression of black created by all that midnight blue at his neck and wings however, the only true black on Audeph may be found at his horns and beak.
Despite their vivid patterns, Audeph's feathers do not carry a natural gleam; no amount of preening, buffing or polishing with beak, brush or cloth will ever amend the bland matte that marks them - which suits him just fine. Who wants all that attention from over-shiny feathers anyway? Good enough that they are healthy and kept in shape, which Audeph does on a daily basis. Though he also carries himself with subtle confidence and a firm, forward step, the blue simourv usually manages to blend in with the crowd rather than stand out. The matte sheen of his feathers helps; in general though, Audeph simply moves with a quiet precision and alacrity that flows rather than jars, melding easily into his surroundings without too much thought.
Vocally, Audeph's calls and chirps are strong and heavy, a contrast to his cool nature and easy stance. His voice is deep and rumbling, more bass than baritone and calming when spoken normally. Which is often as the blue's humble gentleness tends to outshine the weight of his heavy chirps and rumbles, giving them a warm and welcoming feel more than anything else. Should he ever use his voice in anger, however, it would be nothing short of a terrifying roar, raw and powerful.
Parentage:
Wild Gray X Wild Black
History:
Mi'red was born as Mildred, the second child of an iron smith and a house maid in the western city of Itnala. Born with almost no sense of hearing at all, she was fortunate to have had parents who thought no less of her than they would of her older sister Holda, who was normal in every way. Mendal and Lorica had both been from large families, with a total count of 16 siblings between them - more than they had fingers on both hands. Having married young, they had both looked forward to a home full of children as well: boisterous, noisy and altogether happy. But fate would decide otherwise; and after turns of unsuccessful attempts and two miscarriages, they more than happy to have had a second child at all. Thus it was that the discovery of Mildred's disability, though traumatic at first, did not diminish their attentions or hopes for her. Lorica, when she had gotten over fretting about her toddler's inattentiveness, proved a steadfast, diligent comforter and teacher. Mendal, whenever asked how he felt of his second child's disability and general silences, would merely shrug; as a smith he was a man of few words himself, and saw no need to have a daughter who could talk nothing but air. And Mildred, a focused and determined child from birth, thrived on her parents' careful instruction. By the time she was eight she could read others' lips and body language with such ease that no stranger would even guess she was partially deaf.
Though much loved by her parents however, Mildred's relationship with her older sister was never better than distant. With an eleven-year gap between them, they had little in common; it helped little that they were worlds apart in personality as well. Holda took after gentle, feminine Lorica and had slipped easily into domestic life, learning cooking and sewing without more fuss than the usual gripes of young girls trying these things for the first time. Mildred, on the other hand, was the exemplary tomboy - she despised dresses and sewing, helped with all the rougher chores at home and in the smithy, could best a couple of the neighborhood boys her age with her fists, and was the despair of her mother even as Mendal took pride in her as the son he never had. He even joked at times, to Lorica's disgust, that Mildred should take over the running of his smithy when he eventually retired. It was no secret that Holda felt their parents, Mendal in particular, spoilt the youngest child of the house by giving her so much attention and refusing to curb her boyish ways too much.
But the energy and toughness that Mildred developed those early years would eventually give her the strength to support her father and sister when the koxi came. A vicious attack on Itnala in the winter of Year 50 destroyed many buildings and left five dead at first count, with dozens of others wounded. For many with severe injuries, this would eventually be fatal as winter pressed in; and amongst them was Lorica. Having suffered severe blood loss from a major laceration to the thigh, she managed to hold on for nearly a week more before a sudden onset of the common cold overcame her.
The death left the family devastated. Mendal retreated to his room after the funeral, and for three days did not emerge except to take the food trays that a worried Mildred placed at the door. Holda, at that time already married, was not around to bear the brunt of things - she had moved to Chydyn the year before with her husband Jeyden, a tailor. Mildred, pulling herself together from the despairing sullenness that had seized her those first few hours after Lorica's passing, set herself to providing for the family in place of her mother.
Having never apprenticed to any craft (unless one counted the long hours she had spent assisting her father at the smithy), she sought work in every form she might - sometimes in the neighbouring farms but mostly at the fishing wharves where an extra hand was always welcome with the preparations for boats' departures in the mornings and the loads of fish coming in in the evenings. Many of the fishermen knew Mildred, having made orders for hinges, hooks, pulleys and other assorted metalwork at her father's smithy; and they were happy to lend a hand in offering her work or giving her small extras during that hard winter. Truly struggling to support her family for the first time in her life, the young woman became a quieter person yet as her determined focus, always an integral part of her nature, became workaholic perfectionism in the drive to survive long hours on the wharves and farms of Itnala. But however difficult things were in that winter and in the spring after Lorica's death, they were assured of one thing - there would always be fish on the table.
Things began to stabilize, but father and daughter decided in the spring of Year 51 that they would move out of Itnala, leaving behind the memories too painful to think of but too ingrained with the city's familiarity to avoid. Mendal sold the forge, they packed their things, and with many farewells they made their way to Chydyn to take up with Holda and her husband. Life was no easier in Chydyn than it had been in Itnala however - Jeyden had just moved to set up his own business, and Holda was carrying her first child. Mendal, while hoping to set up a new forge himself, joined one of the local forgeworks first to help make ends meet first. And Mildred returned to being an odd-job helper, covering everything from farming to the loading of the giant nuts for export and running errands for shopkeepers. Being able to read and write, thanks to Mendal and Lorica's instruction early on, helped too - she was soon known as a trustworthy and diligent worker, a perfectionist in many ways. Those years of struggle would shape Mildred's life forever - the playful tombay had given way to a dedicated workaholic, determined to succeed in whatever she did.
It was, eventually, this drive to perfectionism that made Mildred jump at the chance to join a hunting expedition heading into the mountains in search of food for the winter of Year 53. Many called it foolhardy and desperate, more likely to end up as a moving buffet for the koxi; but for the girl it represented a chance to gather some much-needed supplies for her family, not to mention pick up a skill in hunting. She wanted to make something more of her life; and given her tomboyish upbringing a life as a hunter would be an honorable option. Few other steady professions would take an apprentice as old as 18 years of age. At any rate, her family situation had stabilized enough for her to consider it seriously: Jeyden's tailoring business was beginning to thrive, Holda's toddler was healthy, and Mendal had made enough to purchase a new forge, where he had just set off to a good start. She made the move to sign on despite her father's protests and stubbornly pushed through with her wish to go with it. The old smith, shaking his head at a girl who was every inch as idealistic and determined as he had once been, eventually gave in and sent her off with his blessings. With fear and hope mingling in her heart, Mildred set out with the rest on a journey that would change both her life and Pohono's fate forever.
The road had its share of difficulties - in fact, they abounded. With twenty-four people of every kind and a relatively undefined timeline it was impossible to avoid equipment breakdowns, hunting accidents, injuries sustained on rough terrain, food rationing and meat storage concerns, disagreements over duties, interpersonal conflicts...the whole lot of problems that would plague a group of humans in the wilderness. Add to that the harshness of the environment, the occasional dangerous weather and the ever-present threat of koxi, and it was no surprise the expedition had been expected to end badly from the word 'go'. Mildred, for her part, buried her worries and did her part of the works without complaining; aloof as always, she preferred to stay out of the main life of the group, though no one would ever doubt her loyalty and commitment. In another time and place she might have liked to get to know them better, seeing as they were all people with a common goal and purpose. But she was too burdened with her own fears and concerns - chief of these being that what people had said about the foolishness of their expedition might prove true in the end.
But the fact remains - and Mi'red herself still has some difficulty believing it even now - that they didn't fail. They succeeded; and in the most unprecedented way possible.
The discovery of the sickly gray simourv and her clutch of eggs took all of them by surprise, and the shock that ran through the group was palpable. Mildred had been one of the last to hear the news, being as she was back at camp helping to keep watch on things, but the decision to stay on with the great creature hit her hard - she had been hoping to return to her family before winter's end with their hunting gains. Though she did not want to run off and leave the expedition to its choice, the thought did cross her mind that she should just take her share of the catches so far and return to Chydyn alone - somehow.
The thoughts vanished when she finally managed to get a chance to see the gray and her clutch: the creature, though still majestic, was obviously dying. Somehow Mildred never doubted the gray was a female. Perhaps it was the way she brooded over her eggs, watching them warily and glancing at the clutch all the time, ensuring her unhatched childrens' safety; perhaps it was her build - some sense of feminineness in the ailing frame and stance. At any rate, she looked so much like Lorica had in her final days that it melted Mildred's heart to see it, and she had no doubts of staying after that. She did, however, watch the skies nervously during the weeks they stayed with the clutch - the simourv had been known to turn up in groups, and she half-expected anytime that a flock of them, or at least the father of the clutch, might appear and vent his anger at having his territory invaded...
It never happened though; and as spring finally came around, the eggs hatched. The expedition members found themselves confronted by a whole bunch of chicks - all hungry, at the very least dog-sized, and coming right at them. A most intimidating sight, but no one got eaten that day. They got chosen instead: each by one or another of the queer little babies. It was a day Mildred would never forget as a ball of blue and white fluff bundled up to her, settled coolly at her feet, and gazed up at her with calm amber eyes. Lightning jolted her in a wild shiver up her spine as she fought the overwhelming urge to reach out, failed, and found herself stroking the soft blue head. Audeph has never left Mi'red's side since.
Having dispatched her duties, the ailing gray mother breathed her last almost the same day, leaving a confused and awkward bunch of humans to figure what to do next. It was a difficult time: Audeph's demands as a growing chick were many and constant, and Mi'red was not the mothering sort in any sense despite her past experience working part-time on farms. Her sole consolation was that the rest were having it as hard as she was, and some were faring worse than her with the physical demands it made of them. Yet though she developed camaraderie and bonds with her fellow riders through their shared predicament, she remained always aloof and impersonal, preferring to keep loose friendships and rarely if ever sharing her deeper feelings with the others. Audeph alone was her true friend - and no one else. They spent long hours together, honing Audeph's skill at pouncing and stalking even as the relationship between them strengthened into love. The only love, perhaps, that Mi'red would ever openly admit to.
And when the time came for Audeph and the other youngsters to fledge, the pair were ready. The hours of discussion, observations of the skies and practice at wing-flapping paid off as they became one of the first to gain proficiency in flight. Audeph was not the fastest flyer, nor would he ever be the most graceful, but he had elegance and poise in his wings and could conduct himself well. And whenever they leaned together into the wind, dancing over the clouds on wings as blue as sea...it felt like pure magic. Mi'red nearly burst with pride and joy those first few days of flying.
The first attack of koxi came soon after - an event that served to give tremendous boost of confidence for the pair, Mi'red in particular. Blood-thirsty and vicious though the combat was, both came out of it with little more than minor scratches. No lives were lost on their side, and though Mi'red had nightmares of blood and gore the few nights after it, she soon grew out of it, emerging a more hardened and definite personality. There was hope for Pohono if their little band could take on the koxi so handily; and in that hope Mi'red reveled.
It was not long after that that the group came to the decision to return to civilization, making known the secret they had hidden for nearly two years now. Fear and anticipation chased themselves through Mi'red: she would give almost anything to see her family again, but the past years had shaped and molded her beyond anything she had ever thought she might be. She could scarcely imagine what their reaction might be to see her with Audeph by her side; could not find the words to explain to them how everything had changed from the moment she set eyes on the ailing gray simourv and made the choice to stay, to rough out the struggle to survive in the wilderness with the rest. She was also afraid too (though she wouldn't admit it) of how the rest of Pohono would receive them - they were a completely new concept for everyone, and she was only too certain they would be rejected or looked upon with suspicion, if only for the first few years of their return. Audeph, who had never seen any humans other than the riders within their group, simply thought she was over-reacting and told her so whenever she fell to griping.
The return to society (an unnerving event for a pair so unused to the public attention they now received) was, however, marred by an attack of koxi on the city of Sayaie. Or accentuated, perhaps - the simourv and their riders sprang into action and the koxi were beaten back, leaving them heroes to all of Sayaie, if not Pohono. The first week of their return was hectic as they settled into schedules, routines, and the developing structure that Ro'za was building for the new establishment of riders.
But the first chance Mi'red got saw her on Audeph's back winging towards Chydyn - and the family she had not seen in over two years. The reunion was a watershed - Mendal, always so stern, teared on seeing the daughter he had thought lost to the wilderness. Mi'red teared too to see how much her father had aged; his gray hair was white now, and his face wrinkled. Holda and Jeyden were welcoming of her return, but they were very much consumed with their own concerns: her elder sister was now expecting her third child, and life in the family was hectic. The couple were not exactly pleased at having to lay a spread of their strained resources on the table for the blue rider, but Mi'red took comfort in seeing how happy her father looked at having a rambunctious family full of children once more. She stayed the night (with Audeph sitting patiently on the roof and letting Holda's curious toddlers play with his dangling tail), then returned to the Eyrie the next morning to take up her new life with the riders.
The next few years passed quickly enough - a flurry of drills and sweeprides and late nights spent drafting notes on her personal observations during their training sessions. Quiet and studious, she made little impact on the world around her save when Audeph chased the greens (which was rare); but her attitude was steadfast and meticulous, and she spared no effort to improve herself. The hard work and commitment eventually aid off, however, when she was given the post of Lieutenant of the Southern Sweep in the Year 58.
Age: 23 years (born early winter)
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Rank: Bluerider, Southern Sweep Lieutenant
Location: Eyrie
Personality:
Mi’red comes across, at first meeting, as being the quiet sort. Calm and collected, pleasant enough - but distant, as if one can never quite reach her. Not that she is unfriendly in any sense, if she acknowledges others in her own way: with a nod of a head or sturdy eye contact. Yet somehow she stills manages to appear...aloof. It is not a front she puts up deliberately - living in a world of silence, unbroken by sound, she cannot be blamed for being a tad disconnected. And it is hardly helped by the fact that she switches off in the face of idle chatter: reading lips takes effort, effort more deservingly given to necessity (such as teamwork for the sake of completing a task) rather than wasted on random topics like how the weather was today.
It is also not helped by her no-nonsense manner and lack of patience for tomfoolery. Mi'red is a workaholic by both nature and habit, always striving for improvement in herself and in others. Nothing in her life is exempt from the ever-present struggle for perfection; not her fighting skills, her riding techniques, endurance of character strength or general knowledge of the world. It is a trait that end to put her at odds with others (particularly when she has pointed out their flaws - out of goodwill). Her idea of bettering herself, however, tends to be highly theoretical in nature. Apart from obvious physical endeavors such as riding, sparring or mending, Mi'red much prefers to sit down and browse copious amounts of literature rather than leave her eyling to experience the world outside. This has, not surprisingly, led to complications whenever the bluerider finds herself in a situation requiring more street-sense than she has. She is very aware of this; and wariness of how others might capitalize on her naivety means she prefers to keep only working relationships instead of anything deeper, though she would never reject sincerities or true friendship where it is offered.
Get beyond these initial barriers however, and you will find a soul graced with an immense sense of responsibility and a heart of dauntless courage. She never forsakes a duty without consternation, much convincing and even the need for force at times. And she never leaves a team member to perish if she can help it, which she sometimes can't. Should anyone ever have the guts to bridge her cool outer shell and approach her for help, she is ever ready with a smile and a considered opinion of practical value to that person's situation. Oddly, though Mi'red might not actually care for spare words and chatter, she enjoys being in the company of others. It is not uncommon to walk into a crowded area and find the bluerider tucked happily into a corner with a bunch of her closer friends, a soft smile lighting her features even though she might have long switched off from the general conversation. She herself can think of no reason why she likes beings with others despite her aloofness, or being well-thought-of by those close to her; ask her, and she will just give you a blank look and a shrug. There is no doubt, however, that she enjoys it.
True to this, Mi'red's workoholic nature also tends to translate into picking up odd jobs on behalf of those who need it - her leisure hours are usually spent tending the gardens, patching traders' canvases or just helping to mind the livestock in the feeding pens. She asks for no pay as well, believing that one should do things because it is desirable and not for any financial gain. It is this willingness to do things without asking anything in return that has, in her personal opinion, bonded her to Audeph (what is more certain is that it has gained her many grateful supporters amongst visiting traders and within the Eyrie's ground staff at large, little though she might have noticed). Mi'red's nature, in the end, is best described as steel - cold, but true.
Appearance:
Mi'red stands at 5'3", a height accentuated by her slender frame although her delicate build is saved from being willowy by the moderate muscling she has gained from being a rider. While one might still gets the impression a stronger hug would be enough to flatten or break her into two, the way she carries herself, tall and forward, tends to dispel any notion she is a woman easily daunted or taken advantage of. The scatter of scars that adorn her arms, shoulders and back help that impression - too few to be alarming but quite enough to convince that she is no gentle upper-class lady. Mi'red's facial features are simple enough, petite and feminine, and her skin tone is fair and nearly blemish-free (to her secret gratitude at not having to run the gamut of jokes usually given to a scarred women). Her eyes are a deep almond brown, well-matched with the soft dark chestnut curls of her hair, once long but cut short after the koxi attack on the Eyrie in the Year 57. It is her smile, however, that makes her stand out - in the times she smiles genuinely, a warm and glowing radiance breaks out on the usually stern-set features, forming the smallest of dimples in her cheeks and making her brown eyes sparkle. A rare sight, and rarely seen: Mi'red hardly smiles openly, reserving her emotions for those close to her.
Mi'red is as practical in her dressing as with her lifestyle: trousers, blouses or shirts both fitted and loose, tunics, leather vests for flying and knee-high boots. Color-wise, these tend to the muted range of earth hues from cream to brown to black, though green and blue have some representation as well. Jewelry, trinkets and other accessories are completely out of the question - just think what would happen if they ripped or got torn off in some scuffle or spar! It is this ability to dress as needed, however, that also accounts for the elegant (if sparse) evening gowns and the random accompanying bracelets in Mi'red's wardrobe; all reserved for those once or twice in a year events that require better ornamentation than mere tunic and leggings. Whatever else might be of her, this is one bluerider who knows how to stay in order, no matter the circumstance.
Family:
Father: Mendal (Iron Smith, 51)
Mother: Lorica (Maid, Deceased)
Elder Sister: Holda (Midwife, 33)
Simourv Name: Audeph
Simourv Color: #333399
Simourv Age: 4 years
Personality:
Audeph is, in many ways, a match for his rider. Cool, calm and collected by nature, he is often quite content to sit unnoticed in the background, watching and listening. And he accomplishes this with finesse - despite his striking colours of black and white with blue, he is very capable of blending into his surroundings easily and passing by without notice. His awareness of those same surroundings is so sharp it can be called intuitive; and it is with this uncanny sense of things that he keeps track of whatever is happening around him; running what he sees through his formidably logical, tactician mind. Mental exercise is Audeph's element, and there is little he enjoys more than applying himself to a riddle or pondering the meanings of existence and life. And by the same token his curiosity is well-nigh insatiable, drawing him to investigate things from every angle conceivable to his erudite mind; though unlike Mi'red he usually knows by instinct when he should withdraw rather than pursue a matter.
Yet despite his excellent wit and alacrity of thought, Audeph is not the hero type; like most blues he doesn't crave or need recognition, seeing his role as more that of the follower and supporter of a worthy cause. He only speaks his mind or lends weight to an occasion when it necessity demands it - to save lives perhaps, or to prevent some unfortunate soul from suffering a horrible embarrassment. As a follower, he is also known for taking the orders given to him seriously. Though blind loyalty is not something that Audeph is much given to, he can also sometimes be loyal to a fault - particularly where the one giving the orders is someone he trusts or respects. His attention to given commands and reticence to act on his own can sometimes be interpreted as weakness or cowardice; but the blue tends to just brush off any comments in that vein. He knows well enough that he is neither weak nor cowardly, and that his actions will have meaning when he chooses to intervene in things.
Like Mi'red, Audeph loves having company around, particularly other simourv though the odd human is also welcome. Of the two of them, he is the more outgoing; and though still a quiet sort tends to speak more than his rider would, pushing her to speak up as well when he feels she has kept silent long enough. He enjoys listening to others converse, picking out the inflections and considering the hidden meanings behind their words - or just discerning whether there are hidden meanings at all. Not that Audeph eavesdrops, which he considers a very rude thing to do; he just likes hanging around those he considers friends or acquaintances, offering them a listening ear and his own opinion occasionally.
Appearance:
Standing at a a tad over 50 feet, Audeph is no miniscale blue, and his medium build is a sturdy one - no lankiness or litheness about him, and no bulkiness either. He manages to come nicely in the middle on the wide spectrum between speed and stamina, and though he has no advantage in either extreme he has learnt to leverage on both based on the circumstances.
Where it comes to appearance however, Audeph's greatest pride is in his feathers. Blue dominates much of his body: but at his wings, flanks and tail, it does so in shades that colour individual feathers rather than sections of his frame. The result is a sorting of feathers that ran from pale electric blue to dark midnight blue at the tips of each feather, creating an intricate patterning across his wings and hindquarters. The medium blue of his chest and shoulders also darkens to near-black around his neck, creating the impression of a collar that covers the pure white river of his throat and underbelly. The midnight blue of his "collar" and the white of his throat run together up his muzzle and ring his eyes, creating a sort of mask around mellow amber eyes. An abundance of white "freckles" spot his beak as well, to his eternal amusement. Despite the impression of black created by all that midnight blue at his neck and wings however, the only true black on Audeph may be found at his horns and beak.
Despite their vivid patterns, Audeph's feathers do not carry a natural gleam; no amount of preening, buffing or polishing with beak, brush or cloth will ever amend the bland matte that marks them - which suits him just fine. Who wants all that attention from over-shiny feathers anyway? Good enough that they are healthy and kept in shape, which Audeph does on a daily basis. Though he also carries himself with subtle confidence and a firm, forward step, the blue simourv usually manages to blend in with the crowd rather than stand out. The matte sheen of his feathers helps; in general though, Audeph simply moves with a quiet precision and alacrity that flows rather than jars, melding easily into his surroundings without too much thought.
Vocally, Audeph's calls and chirps are strong and heavy, a contrast to his cool nature and easy stance. His voice is deep and rumbling, more bass than baritone and calming when spoken normally. Which is often as the blue's humble gentleness tends to outshine the weight of his heavy chirps and rumbles, giving them a warm and welcoming feel more than anything else. Should he ever use his voice in anger, however, it would be nothing short of a terrifying roar, raw and powerful.
Parentage:
Wild Gray X Wild Black
History:
Mi'red was born as Mildred, the second child of an iron smith and a house maid in the western city of Itnala. Born with almost no sense of hearing at all, she was fortunate to have had parents who thought no less of her than they would of her older sister Holda, who was normal in every way. Mendal and Lorica had both been from large families, with a total count of 16 siblings between them - more than they had fingers on both hands. Having married young, they had both looked forward to a home full of children as well: boisterous, noisy and altogether happy. But fate would decide otherwise; and after turns of unsuccessful attempts and two miscarriages, they more than happy to have had a second child at all. Thus it was that the discovery of Mildred's disability, though traumatic at first, did not diminish their attentions or hopes for her. Lorica, when she had gotten over fretting about her toddler's inattentiveness, proved a steadfast, diligent comforter and teacher. Mendal, whenever asked how he felt of his second child's disability and general silences, would merely shrug; as a smith he was a man of few words himself, and saw no need to have a daughter who could talk nothing but air. And Mildred, a focused and determined child from birth, thrived on her parents' careful instruction. By the time she was eight she could read others' lips and body language with such ease that no stranger would even guess she was partially deaf.
Though much loved by her parents however, Mildred's relationship with her older sister was never better than distant. With an eleven-year gap between them, they had little in common; it helped little that they were worlds apart in personality as well. Holda took after gentle, feminine Lorica and had slipped easily into domestic life, learning cooking and sewing without more fuss than the usual gripes of young girls trying these things for the first time. Mildred, on the other hand, was the exemplary tomboy - she despised dresses and sewing, helped with all the rougher chores at home and in the smithy, could best a couple of the neighborhood boys her age with her fists, and was the despair of her mother even as Mendal took pride in her as the son he never had. He even joked at times, to Lorica's disgust, that Mildred should take over the running of his smithy when he eventually retired. It was no secret that Holda felt their parents, Mendal in particular, spoilt the youngest child of the house by giving her so much attention and refusing to curb her boyish ways too much.
But the energy and toughness that Mildred developed those early years would eventually give her the strength to support her father and sister when the koxi came. A vicious attack on Itnala in the winter of Year 50 destroyed many buildings and left five dead at first count, with dozens of others wounded. For many with severe injuries, this would eventually be fatal as winter pressed in; and amongst them was Lorica. Having suffered severe blood loss from a major laceration to the thigh, she managed to hold on for nearly a week more before a sudden onset of the common cold overcame her.
The death left the family devastated. Mendal retreated to his room after the funeral, and for three days did not emerge except to take the food trays that a worried Mildred placed at the door. Holda, at that time already married, was not around to bear the brunt of things - she had moved to Chydyn the year before with her husband Jeyden, a tailor. Mildred, pulling herself together from the despairing sullenness that had seized her those first few hours after Lorica's passing, set herself to providing for the family in place of her mother.
Having never apprenticed to any craft (unless one counted the long hours she had spent assisting her father at the smithy), she sought work in every form she might - sometimes in the neighbouring farms but mostly at the fishing wharves where an extra hand was always welcome with the preparations for boats' departures in the mornings and the loads of fish coming in in the evenings. Many of the fishermen knew Mildred, having made orders for hinges, hooks, pulleys and other assorted metalwork at her father's smithy; and they were happy to lend a hand in offering her work or giving her small extras during that hard winter. Truly struggling to support her family for the first time in her life, the young woman became a quieter person yet as her determined focus, always an integral part of her nature, became workaholic perfectionism in the drive to survive long hours on the wharves and farms of Itnala. But however difficult things were in that winter and in the spring after Lorica's death, they were assured of one thing - there would always be fish on the table.
Things began to stabilize, but father and daughter decided in the spring of Year 51 that they would move out of Itnala, leaving behind the memories too painful to think of but too ingrained with the city's familiarity to avoid. Mendal sold the forge, they packed their things, and with many farewells they made their way to Chydyn to take up with Holda and her husband. Life was no easier in Chydyn than it had been in Itnala however - Jeyden had just moved to set up his own business, and Holda was carrying her first child. Mendal, while hoping to set up a new forge himself, joined one of the local forgeworks first to help make ends meet first. And Mildred returned to being an odd-job helper, covering everything from farming to the loading of the giant nuts for export and running errands for shopkeepers. Being able to read and write, thanks to Mendal and Lorica's instruction early on, helped too - she was soon known as a trustworthy and diligent worker, a perfectionist in many ways. Those years of struggle would shape Mildred's life forever - the playful tombay had given way to a dedicated workaholic, determined to succeed in whatever she did.
It was, eventually, this drive to perfectionism that made Mildred jump at the chance to join a hunting expedition heading into the mountains in search of food for the winter of Year 53. Many called it foolhardy and desperate, more likely to end up as a moving buffet for the koxi; but for the girl it represented a chance to gather some much-needed supplies for her family, not to mention pick up a skill in hunting. She wanted to make something more of her life; and given her tomboyish upbringing a life as a hunter would be an honorable option. Few other steady professions would take an apprentice as old as 18 years of age. At any rate, her family situation had stabilized enough for her to consider it seriously: Jeyden's tailoring business was beginning to thrive, Holda's toddler was healthy, and Mendal had made enough to purchase a new forge, where he had just set off to a good start. She made the move to sign on despite her father's protests and stubbornly pushed through with her wish to go with it. The old smith, shaking his head at a girl who was every inch as idealistic and determined as he had once been, eventually gave in and sent her off with his blessings. With fear and hope mingling in her heart, Mildred set out with the rest on a journey that would change both her life and Pohono's fate forever.
The road had its share of difficulties - in fact, they abounded. With twenty-four people of every kind and a relatively undefined timeline it was impossible to avoid equipment breakdowns, hunting accidents, injuries sustained on rough terrain, food rationing and meat storage concerns, disagreements over duties, interpersonal conflicts...the whole lot of problems that would plague a group of humans in the wilderness. Add to that the harshness of the environment, the occasional dangerous weather and the ever-present threat of koxi, and it was no surprise the expedition had been expected to end badly from the word 'go'. Mildred, for her part, buried her worries and did her part of the works without complaining; aloof as always, she preferred to stay out of the main life of the group, though no one would ever doubt her loyalty and commitment. In another time and place she might have liked to get to know them better, seeing as they were all people with a common goal and purpose. But she was too burdened with her own fears and concerns - chief of these being that what people had said about the foolishness of their expedition might prove true in the end.
But the fact remains - and Mi'red herself still has some difficulty believing it even now - that they didn't fail. They succeeded; and in the most unprecedented way possible.
The discovery of the sickly gray simourv and her clutch of eggs took all of them by surprise, and the shock that ran through the group was palpable. Mildred had been one of the last to hear the news, being as she was back at camp helping to keep watch on things, but the decision to stay on with the great creature hit her hard - she had been hoping to return to her family before winter's end with their hunting gains. Though she did not want to run off and leave the expedition to its choice, the thought did cross her mind that she should just take her share of the catches so far and return to Chydyn alone - somehow.
The thoughts vanished when she finally managed to get a chance to see the gray and her clutch: the creature, though still majestic, was obviously dying. Somehow Mildred never doubted the gray was a female. Perhaps it was the way she brooded over her eggs, watching them warily and glancing at the clutch all the time, ensuring her unhatched childrens' safety; perhaps it was her build - some sense of feminineness in the ailing frame and stance. At any rate, she looked so much like Lorica had in her final days that it melted Mildred's heart to see it, and she had no doubts of staying after that. She did, however, watch the skies nervously during the weeks they stayed with the clutch - the simourv had been known to turn up in groups, and she half-expected anytime that a flock of them, or at least the father of the clutch, might appear and vent his anger at having his territory invaded...
It never happened though; and as spring finally came around, the eggs hatched. The expedition members found themselves confronted by a whole bunch of chicks - all hungry, at the very least dog-sized, and coming right at them. A most intimidating sight, but no one got eaten that day. They got chosen instead: each by one or another of the queer little babies. It was a day Mildred would never forget as a ball of blue and white fluff bundled up to her, settled coolly at her feet, and gazed up at her with calm amber eyes. Lightning jolted her in a wild shiver up her spine as she fought the overwhelming urge to reach out, failed, and found herself stroking the soft blue head. Audeph has never left Mi'red's side since.
Having dispatched her duties, the ailing gray mother breathed her last almost the same day, leaving a confused and awkward bunch of humans to figure what to do next. It was a difficult time: Audeph's demands as a growing chick were many and constant, and Mi'red was not the mothering sort in any sense despite her past experience working part-time on farms. Her sole consolation was that the rest were having it as hard as she was, and some were faring worse than her with the physical demands it made of them. Yet though she developed camaraderie and bonds with her fellow riders through their shared predicament, she remained always aloof and impersonal, preferring to keep loose friendships and rarely if ever sharing her deeper feelings with the others. Audeph alone was her true friend - and no one else. They spent long hours together, honing Audeph's skill at pouncing and stalking even as the relationship between them strengthened into love. The only love, perhaps, that Mi'red would ever openly admit to.
And when the time came for Audeph and the other youngsters to fledge, the pair were ready. The hours of discussion, observations of the skies and practice at wing-flapping paid off as they became one of the first to gain proficiency in flight. Audeph was not the fastest flyer, nor would he ever be the most graceful, but he had elegance and poise in his wings and could conduct himself well. And whenever they leaned together into the wind, dancing over the clouds on wings as blue as sea...it felt like pure magic. Mi'red nearly burst with pride and joy those first few days of flying.
The first attack of koxi came soon after - an event that served to give tremendous boost of confidence for the pair, Mi'red in particular. Blood-thirsty and vicious though the combat was, both came out of it with little more than minor scratches. No lives were lost on their side, and though Mi'red had nightmares of blood and gore the few nights after it, she soon grew out of it, emerging a more hardened and definite personality. There was hope for Pohono if their little band could take on the koxi so handily; and in that hope Mi'red reveled.
It was not long after that that the group came to the decision to return to civilization, making known the secret they had hidden for nearly two years now. Fear and anticipation chased themselves through Mi'red: she would give almost anything to see her family again, but the past years had shaped and molded her beyond anything she had ever thought she might be. She could scarcely imagine what their reaction might be to see her with Audeph by her side; could not find the words to explain to them how everything had changed from the moment she set eyes on the ailing gray simourv and made the choice to stay, to rough out the struggle to survive in the wilderness with the rest. She was also afraid too (though she wouldn't admit it) of how the rest of Pohono would receive them - they were a completely new concept for everyone, and she was only too certain they would be rejected or looked upon with suspicion, if only for the first few years of their return. Audeph, who had never seen any humans other than the riders within their group, simply thought she was over-reacting and told her so whenever she fell to griping.
The return to society (an unnerving event for a pair so unused to the public attention they now received) was, however, marred by an attack of koxi on the city of Sayaie. Or accentuated, perhaps - the simourv and their riders sprang into action and the koxi were beaten back, leaving them heroes to all of Sayaie, if not Pohono. The first week of their return was hectic as they settled into schedules, routines, and the developing structure that Ro'za was building for the new establishment of riders.
But the first chance Mi'red got saw her on Audeph's back winging towards Chydyn - and the family she had not seen in over two years. The reunion was a watershed - Mendal, always so stern, teared on seeing the daughter he had thought lost to the wilderness. Mi'red teared too to see how much her father had aged; his gray hair was white now, and his face wrinkled. Holda and Jeyden were welcoming of her return, but they were very much consumed with their own concerns: her elder sister was now expecting her third child, and life in the family was hectic. The couple were not exactly pleased at having to lay a spread of their strained resources on the table for the blue rider, but Mi'red took comfort in seeing how happy her father looked at having a rambunctious family full of children once more. She stayed the night (with Audeph sitting patiently on the roof and letting Holda's curious toddlers play with his dangling tail), then returned to the Eyrie the next morning to take up her new life with the riders.
The next few years passed quickly enough - a flurry of drills and sweeprides and late nights spent drafting notes on her personal observations during their training sessions. Quiet and studious, she made little impact on the world around her save when Audeph chased the greens (which was rare); but her attitude was steadfast and meticulous, and she spared no effort to improve herself. The hard work and commitment eventually aid off, however, when she was given the post of Lieutenant of the Southern Sweep in the Year 58.
