"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
BASICS
RETIRE INFO: Character - Retire, Dragon - Adopt
NAME: T'challa
GENDER: Cis male
PRONOUNS: he/him/his
ORIENTATION: Heterosexual
BIRTHDATE: Late fall 2738
AGE: 30 as of summer 2769
LOCATION: Semaca Weyr
OCCUPATION: Wingrider
WING: Nocturne
APPEARANCE
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Black, tightly curled
HEIGHT AND BUILD: 6' 0", sturdy
PLAY-BY: Chadwick Boseman
FULL APPEARANCE: A tallish, well-built man, T'challa carries himself with an assurance and presence befitting a bronzerider or Lord Holder. He keeps his beard neatly trimmed, with hair cut close to his head and kept neatly. He is usually found in fine clothes in dark colors when not in his riding leathers - nothing ostentatious, but clearly well-crafted. On formal occasions, he adds a touch of silver embroidery. There is a hint of humor in his brown eyes, but it only reveals itself fully when he is around his family. He wears his father's ring in memory of him.
PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY: T'challa is determined to be a great rider, forging a new path away from the traditionalism of his father's generation while still leading by example. He projects the easy confidence of a natural leader. When he is called upon to take the lead, he will do so without hesitation. But he is usually willing to listen to the counsel of others and is open to new ideas. His emotions can still get the best of him, though. He has trained for years to control his emotions, but strong passions - love, hate, determination - still guide his actions. When he is determined to follow a certain path, then it is near-impossible to stop him. Above all, he longs for unity and peace for Pern, for a new start from the blood-tainted past of the Interval War.
Around his family, dragon, and closest friends, T'challa loosens up. He lets his little sister and dragon poke fun at him to their hearts' content, bearing it with fond exasperation. He usually defers to the guidance of his elders, except when he's absolutely set on doing something. In the romance department, he has an embarrassing tendency to turn into goo around his crushes, freezing up when he's near them. He loves deeply and fully, and is devoted to the ones he holds dear...sometimes at his own expense.
HISTORY
FAMILY: Ramonda - mother, T'chaka - father, Ramaka - older sister, Shuri - younger sister
SIGNIFICANT OTHER: N/A
BIRTHPLACE: Wakanda Hold
HISTORY: Born as the second child to a bronzerider and the Lady of Wakanda Hold, T'challa - born Takchalla - was brought up with the same training as his older sister, just in case something were to befall her and he were to become Lord. He was very close to his father, spending a great deal of time with T'chaka when he visited. Though his duty was to his home, his heart lay with his father - with dragonkind. But unlike his father before him, he did not leave to live among the outside world.
That changed when news came of T'chaka's death in Threadfall. His possessions were returned to the family, including his ring, which T'challa wore from that moment in honor of him. T'challa was determined to become a rider, to fight Thread and avenge his father's death in a way. He was confident that his home was in good hands. Venturing to Telgar Weyr with a caravan, he was Searched upon his arrival. At his first clutch, he Impressed to bronze Lockoth, who helped him loosen up from his determination to follow his father's path. After learning more about the atrocities of Benden and High Reaches during his candidate and weyrling lessons, he was determined to become a better bronzerider than those riders had been. He graduated and made it a point to visit home as often as he could, to see his family and remind himself of his roots.
He was worried for his sister when she wanted to go to Semaca, but realized that she was growing up and agreed to take her when she Turned fifteen. He was as proud as any older brother could be when she Impressed to a brown at her first Hatching. He transferred down to keep an eye on her and help Semaca through its initial growth. Perhaps through his example, those who had fled to avoid metallic tyranny would be able to see that not all bronzeriders were despots. He would have to try his best. It was all he could do.
UPDATES
- Summer 2767 - T'challa and Shuri reunite, and Lockoth and Motath make friends.
- Summer 2767 - Lockoth somehow manages to get his right wing caught on the ground, badly wrenching it when he tries to take off (Major).
