"It is not old-fashioned to believe in right and wrong."
BASICS
RETIRE INFO: Adopt
NAME: Varda
GENDER: Female
PRONOUNS: She/her/hers
ORIENTATION: Prefers males and nonbinary individuals
BIRTHDATE: Early Summer 2742
AGE: 25 as of Fall 2767
LOCATION: Semaca Weyr
OCCUPATION: Wingrider
WING: Nocturne Wing
APPEARANCE
EYES: Dark blue
HAIR: White blond, worn short
HEIGHT AND BUILD: 5'8, stocky and muscular
PLAY-BY: Gwendoline Christie
FULL APPEARANCE: Varda is not the most beautiful of ladies. Despite being of no more than a bit above average height, she is built thick and muscular, with broad shoulders, sturdy hands and a hardness to her features that suggests strength rather than elegance. She cuts her hair brutally short. Because if she's never going to be lovely, why not be comfortable? She avoids dresses, as they always make her feel a bit silly, and prefers loosely fitting clothes, usually bought as cheap as she can find them, since she finds she's always ripping them in one way or another.
PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY: Varda was born to be an adventurer. Fearless, athletic and quick of mind, she enjoys challenges of all sorts, from puzzles to climbing to fighting. Give her a task and she'll handle it calmly, competently and extreme confidently, betraying no doubts in her ability to succeed. But ask her to sit still and wait? She drifts away, losing herself in her own thoughts and completely ignoring the world around her. Disaster usually follows, as she knocks something important to the ground or burns herself on hot klah or lets the laundry soak until all the dye leaches out.
In social situations, on the other hand, Varda can be quite shy, particularly among attractive individuals of all genders. She knows she's not all she should be and she suspects everyone is talking about her and staring at her and will laugh if she attempts to make conversation. She blushes and stammers and sometimes finds herself completely at a loss for words. She often wishes she could just disappear and let Magmeth do all the talking. Her brown is good at that.
Varda has a firm sense of right and wrong and a strong belief in her own moral compass. She'll respect the hierarchy most of the time but if they ask her to go against her conscience? She'll fight back tooth and nail. And if it means betraying those who have put their trust in her? Well principles are more important. Right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter what anyone says, wingleader, parent or even lifemate. She may not be much of one for socializing, but give her a moral conflict and she'll speak plainly, bluntly and at length. No matter who wants or doesn't want to hear it.
HISTORY
FAMILY:
Father: Varnev
Mother: Ayada
Older sister: Anev, Journeyman Smith, deceased
3 younger siblings
Daughter: Tarva, 2768
SIGNIFICANT OTHER: R'tan of White Mazath, Weyrmate
BIRTHPLACE: Benden Hold
HISTORY:
Varda grew up among the vineyards of Vintner Hall, for all her parents were not themselves crafters. Instead, they were among the residents of Benden that supplied manual labor under the vintners' supervision. Varda received a basic education that covered the Harper's ballads and little more, as she was not expected to require it.
From an early age, it was apparent Varda would have trouble making a suitable match. She was shy in public and it was quickly evident that she would never grow into the looks needed to make her blushing and stammering charming rather than strange. Her parents despaired of what to do with her. Because while she was useful enough in the vineyards and around the house, they had little interest in spending the rest of their lives looking after a girl who always got herself into trouble during the quiet winter months. And she couldn't live alone! They were a traditional family and that would be improper.
Her first hint there could be more to her life came from her older sister, Anev, who had left to enter the smithcraft. Varda didn't know what had happened to her after that, as her parents rarely spoke of her, due to some sort of tensions between them Varda didn't fully understand. Still, Varda considered the possibility of following her. She had been close with her sister and was certainly strong enough to manage the work...But instead, at 19, Varda was Searched, to the relief of all.
She went to Benden Weyr without argument, where she was kept occupied in all seasons by books and learning and training to fight. But she was trouble there too. She disagreed with the way chromatic riders were treated and voiced that belief, loudly and often, in stronger and more numerous words than anyone would have believed her capable of. Just after it was forcefully suggested she might be happier at another weyr, Varda Impressed, to a brown named Magmeth who preferred to be use feminine pronouns.
For all they proved a competent pair, Varda's weyrlinghood was rocky, speckled by fights and squabbles and talking back to authority. As soon as they graduated, Varda starting looking for a new home and settled on Semaca, mostly because it was as far away from Benden as she could get and small enough that they were unlikely to complain about a too-mouthy transfer. Her parents were horrified at the very idea. She went anyway.
UPDATES
- Late Fall, 2766- Despite the short Fall, Magmeth's left wing is caught by Thread and scored along the trailing edge (Moderate).
- Early Spring, 2767- Varda catches some Thread, quite literally. She, unthinkingly, reaches out to catch it. Her left arm is badly scored, and she'll be left with virtually no use of her left hand (Permanent).
- Late Summer, 2767- Magmeth chases in Nebulaeth's maiden flight while Varda...uh...enjoys the company of friend and training partner R'tan of white Mazath. She agrees to let him move in, so long as he leaves behind his sea serpent skull.
- Late Fall, 2767- Varda learns she is pregnant with R'tan's child.
