Name: Kengari (K'gari)

Gender: Male, bisexual

Age: 18 (standing) **note also that Ang'eh's impression was slightly earlier and in a different location, and his page reflects his adult-rider era rather than Kengari's current searched era

Origin: Dawnlight / Blackstone Weyr

Family: Mother Kyree rider of blue Lerinth, father N'ai rider of brown Mortath, fraternal twin Ang'eh rider of bronze Osth

Other Relations: Note that he was unaware that he had a twin, only that he had 'siblings' around the Weyr and Hold

Height: 5'10"

Build: sturdy, quite muscular, with exceptional torso strength

Hair: tan-brown with brighter streaks, taking after Kyree's line, tightly braided, kept to around shoulders

Eyes: reddish brown, large and observant

Appearance: brown-tan skin with small scars from helping around the Weyr, he is known to be quite attractive, with a natural ease to his stride and a smooth voice

Skills: Though his mother seemed to scoff at it, he has been required to learn to read, write, do maths, and for the dragonry he can read both cartographical maps as well as star charts, including threadfall charts. He's not really great at any one of those, but is able to pass tests and understands them in theory quite well. Additionally he has been training with several riders as well as Guardians, learning how to fight with a staff or shorter blunt weaponry. Otherwise he is a pretty typical Weyrbrat so he knows his way around a location since he's been running through the weyr halls since childhood, and has a network of people he knows to contact for specific needs

Personality: he is markedly polite to everyone, and knows that he's handsome so he has used that to his advantage among those who can be plied with praise or hints of romance. Just because he says please and thank you however, doesn't mean he's all completely goodie-goodie, and he usually gets what he wants out of someone, and then is fully at ease ignoring them forever. He tends not to share what he's gained or bought, save for information about dragons and threadfall, or learning weapon handling skill - he does love to spread that joy as much as he can. He is quite eager to become a dragon rider, for the freedom that this will offer him to soar over the countryside, and visit other islands as well as maybe... other worlds.

As the son of riders, bold riders at that, Kengari was fully expected to be Searched and ride by the time he was a teen. And though he was Searched, he had not had the opportunity to stand anywhere until fairly recently. For whatever reason, even when there were clutches being warmed on sands nearby, he was simply not brought to them. N'ai explained in a strangely hesitating fashion: this was to keep their dragon bloodline from getting too bogged down. When a weyr or caer opened that had unrelated, and maybe new dragons... That would be the right place. He was too young to realize that this was actually because they didn't want him coming across an oddly similar boy, one who he'd meet much later as a slightly bitter man.

"Slightly". Ang'eh was already a rider for several years before his twin Kengari was able to Stand somewhere, and perhaps he'd always lord that over this estranged brother of his. But before then, he was only marginally disappointed to be shunted into other duties or given free rein to practice his staff and mace fighting with the others just when the clutch was due to hatch. This went on for quite a while. Far from being resentful however, Kengari simply took it as read that he would eventually Impress. Practically everyone in his family - his known family - had done so anyway!

He loved visiting some of those extended relatives, too: aunt Lake and her lovely green, her family with plentiful cousins for Kengari to play with as kids, and even N'ai's family - patched up some since the move from one world to another (which... he actually completely missed, all Kengari knew was that they were at odds 'before' and then more or less fine 'after' this move). He had people of the Weyr as well as the nearby Hold coming and going constantly in his early life, and hardly thought twice about the adult-muttering and strange-glances-away that dominated those early years. All but forgotten later as a teenager, but then brought back into focus just recently.

Because he'd finally been Searched for a specific spot, and was sat down by his parents with serious looks on their faces. His young sister Nyali was kept busy with the other six-turn-olds racing around the Weyr halls, rather than being included in this little conversation.

"You're going to make us proud," N'ai asserted, it was hardly a command, it was a proud admission. Kyree nodded her ascent. "It... is time we told you about your brother Anganeh."

Kengari's lower eyelid twitched up suddenly, surprising even himself. "I... have a brother?" He knew they meant more than 'those scattered kids that N'ai sired' which ran around the lower Holds and craft areas. How had they kept this a secret? Here in the Weyr? His brother had been there all along? "I have a brother?"

They explained that back when the Protectorate was still turbulently figuring itself out, shortly after their arrival to Alskyr itself (he knew that this happened, it was part of the harpers' songs!) things were precarious. Dragons were flying and mating, producing too many nests with not enough candidates to go around. When N'ai and Kyree actually hooked up as a couple, it was during this time of unrest among the riders and locals. And when Kyree bore not one but two children as the dragons were being re-conditioned to hunt for the local dangers... They had decided that one was more than enough to raise. They'd fostered Anganeh to some of those who had come with the Weyr, living down among the holders and crafters instead of up here.

They had not maintained contact, save for the brief moments of being told how the boy had developed into a strapping young man, been Searched - and impressed? At fourteen?

The silence at this table was immense, it pressed on the trio of people at it like the tons of stone above in their weyr. But Kengari leaned back, eyes not focused on anything in particular as he gazed at the stone ceiling. "That ... explains so much."

How those adults would come through their weyr, discuss things in very hushed tones, and get enthusiastic responses, or dimmer ones if whatever news was grim. They were talking about this brother. It also went a long way to explaining why he only had a much younger sibling: Nyali was twelve years his junior after all, and they absolutely doted on her. Their duties to the Weyr and to Alskyr had changed slowly over time, and they had that time now to dedicate to raising a family "properly". He also realized... That was a bitter pill. He was part of that 'proper' family, his brother... not so much.

He had to determine how to approach this idea, though. Would they be on wings or duties together if he Impressed? Would that cause trouble? What if their dragons fought? He exhaled a little, knowing that was foolish - dragons usually didn't act tremendously spiteful, they didn't have the same moods as humans. But from what Kyree and N'ai were saying, his brother, now Ang'eh, was more than a little snippy on the few occasions that he'd encountered his own parents in the field. ** pending

"But now you've been properly Searched for Darkling Dawn, and we're so proud of you," Kyree said, "you'll be able to go... wherever you wish, I know how you love being in the sky."

"It's in your blood," N'ai agreed. "It... we really should have told you." His father looked away, "we really should have kept you together."

It was too late for regrets, now, but perhaps some day their family would be patched. Kengari knew it would hardly be 'whole' - after all, Ang'eh had been raised by people who cared for him, they made sure he had what he needed, plus he was a rider now - he had everything he could possibly want, right?

Kengari settled his mind, cracked his knuckles and looked back at his parents. "Well I suppose I should get packed? I'm glad you'll be taking me," he looked to his father, "I do want to make you proud. And I don't think it's wrong of you to have kept me from those hatchings now that I've thought about it a bit." That seemed to surprise the pair. "We can't be compared to each other, now. He impressed first, he'll always have that. I'm sure that he's doing well?"

"He impressed bronze," N'ai muttered with a smirk, "so yes, he's done well for himself..."

"Oh ho then? Well I have high sights to set, but you know I'm not going to try and compete with this brother I've never met. Only with myself," Kengari promised. He was mostly truthful too, that was his intent. But of course once the notion that his twin had impressed a bronze crept in of course he was a bit worried that maybe he wouldn't do as well. If he could say he rode at least a brown, and then he corrected even that thought. The smallest, slowest, weakest fire breathing dragon was still the best dragon for whoever it chose! Besides, here at Blackstone - or Dawnlight, since they were all but interchangable these days what with the number of dragons attached to their own people who had not changed allegiance in the shift from one planet to another - there were ranks and jobs for every kind of dragon and rider. Crafters that carried goods and hefted stone, merchants that kept roads free of bandits, fighters and protectors and couriers. Everyone needed duties. They were all better with a dragon.

Kengari got to packing, and was finally sent off to Darkling Dawn, his father claiming that they'd be told when the hatching was to occur. And though this was called a 'weyr', ostensibly, when they traveled between it was a very long and very very cold trip. Kengari's teeth clattered as they arrived to this place, and he had the strangest feeling. This was neither Alskyr nor that old world, what was it called? Pern? Well, wherever this was, it wasn't there. The dragons looked quite intimidating, but strong, long legged, big wings! Just the right kind for soaring for long periods over stretches of any world.

Kengari would like it here. He had a great sense of belonging, he knew this would start his life as a rider... Where he'd wind up after that? Who knew?

***

(some from hatching)

As Lissuinth urged her rider toward the feeding station, the blue hatchling studied the candidates thoughtfully, but not shy, the way Ovitelth had been. Instead, he seemed to be considering his options carefully. With a decisive nod, the brown sat down at Kengari 's feet, staring at him expectantly. Ah, yes. You're definitely the one I'm looking for. My name is Harboath .

The smile broadening across K'gari's lips just would not stop. "This is the best thing ever, isn't it?" He asked of Harboath. "You're positive it's me you want?"

The dragon butted his head into K'gari's leg, Positive!

***

As the rider pairs started to disperse from Darkling Dawn, Harboath patiently waited their turn, but then before leaving he himself bowed low to the leaders and their dragons. It was a good day, clear, sunny but a bit chill with Spring. They had been trained in many aspects of flying and fighting, but it was the long-haul training he enjoyed the most. They emerged from their travel between worlds back over the familiar Paniyan island, and he suddenly realized... He could go anywhere. He could make a life for himself that his parents and their generation had never even dreamed about. He didn't have to fight. He could do... anything. From up there, over the brilliant green-blue waters and the tall peak that the Protectorate operated out of, and then along the narrow long island that Paniya formed, K'gari urged Harboath to see if they could just... follow the whole coastline.

And it took some time, as the island, while on the small side, was still several hundred miles long! The sun was setting by the time he finally urged the dragon to find a landing spot near his family's home. Where he would be staying with this dragon, that was another question he hadn't really considered... Maybe the mountain, maybe... in fact, yes, up near the top of the peak where Blackstone had its weyrs and caverns? That would be the best spot indeed, because they could get a good starting speed just jumping off the ledges on a high enough hillside. Anything that took effort down a notch? That was great!

His parents were thrilled, his sister even more so, to see this dramatically blue dragon land on their plot. Lerinth was quite a bit bigger than this burly blue, and a radically paler shade to boot. But he came to sniff the new pair (well, truth be told everything was 'new' to the blue, he had a memory like a sieve) and approved. Brown Mortath was actually closer to Harboath's size, but quite a bit stronger and leaner by the look of him. Their riders beamed to see their son; finally both of their sons, had impressed!

They were slightly less impressed with what he said he wanted to do now, however. He hadn't expected outright disapproval, but it was likely more or less due to politics, they somewhat hoped that he'd remain with them to sway more of the votes and policies of Dawnlight to their favor, and K'gari just wasn't interested in that. He had the skies to look forward to, after all. And in the long run, though they grumbled a bit, both of his parents admitted - they had dragons too. They could fly with him if they wished!

dragon

Name: Harboath
Gender: Male
Size/Shoulder/Length: medium-small 7'8" s / 29' l / 32' ws
Colors: very dark blue body and limbs, with more faded blue-grey wingsails, and very dark indigo neck ridges, eyes change, claws white
Features: traditionally pernese with more paw-like feet, split tail, 3-fingered leather wings
Powers: Winged Flight, Harboath takes a while to get up to speed, but once he does there's no stopping him. He is a powerful flier, and is considerably more durable than most blues. He is an excellent long-range sort, and can maintain a soaring modest gait for hours on end. He is thankfully not required as a 'thread fighter' whatever that is - or was - on the old world they had much different threats than here on Alskyr that's for sure. He uses his powerful stride in the air to cross straits between islands, and thus Dawnlight has a good messenger in this dark blue. On the flip side, he's not remarkably agile, so get him going in a straight line, and virtually nothing will stop him. Put trees in his way? He'd rather walk...
Or Teleport, which he's very good at! In order to spare himself and his rider a lot of long boring trips through thin clouds, he likes to rise to a good soaring height on a warm updraft, and then teleport a mile or so along, skipping weather eddies or flocks of birds, and then returning to his slow flap. He really doesn't seem to tire of doing this, though he can only teleport about a mile or two at the most in one hop. So it's generally three or four miles of flying, then one or two broken dots on the map - where he's teleported and arrived...
Communication, Harboath is smart and calm, patient, and soft-spoken to anyone when he must telepathically speak. He generally keeps his opinions to himself, and surprisingly he doesn't care for picking on those who would normally be considered annoying. He hopes some day that he can help train young riders, so he practices a nice supportive tone. His mental connection with his rider cannot be broken by distance, not that they're often too far apart. But he can also communicate with dragons bearing telepathy or T-Powers similar to his, at distances up to 20 miles.
Assisted Firebreath, as most Old World dragons, he is able to produce hot flames that were originally intended to fry Thread, but now serve to light up the sky when he's bringing messages or goods to places. He never aims it downwards, of course... He could fry any of the dangerous creatures on the ground, but they are not really considered fighters.
Parentage: clutch #41: Pernese Gold Jasmith x Pernese Brown Anubith
Origin: Darkling Dawn
Other Info: Calm, steadfast, endless wells of patience for other people's bs