Shinnai, Route Harper of Pern

Shinnai is a native of Ista Hold, having apprenticed at Ista and then studied at the Harper Hall until she reached the rank of Journeyman. She served at Benden Weyr for a few turns, then returned to Fort to study for her Master's examinations. After passing, she again found a post at Ista, assisting the hold's other Master Harpers in their tasks of teaching, entertaining and politicking.

[ Benden Weyr ]

When the recent hurricane hit the Hold, she was one of the lucky ones. While the storm raged outside, she gathered with her family in their apartments on one of the upper levels. One of two surviving harpers, and the only Master left at Ista, she felt a strong duty to her fellow crafters as the Senior Hold Harper to rebuild the hall and to do her utmost in teaching and in leading.

[ Ista Hold ]

Some four turns after the hurricane, the Harper Hall at Ista was again a thriving center of learning. Her duty accomplished, Shinnai has decided to leave her home once more to learn more of the rest of Pern. She left the hall in the capable hands of Master Seamus, whose meteoric rise through the ranks left even his mentors reeling.

She kept abreast of happenings at home enough to be there for important events, and reappeared periodically when the other harpers least expect her. Finally, when the Istan Harper Hall began to attract larger numbers of students, she settled down once again at the request of the Masterharper. She assists Hold Harper Katja and keeps her wanderlust at bay by travelling periodically on the harper route around Ista Isle.

Shinnai is of average height for a woman in her late 30's, with an average build that has become athletic and slender. Her hair is her best feature, long and silky and the color of volcanic sand in the sunlight. Her face, otherwise angular and sharp, is saved by laugh lines and a dark skin color which tends to give her an exotic look rather than an unattractive one. Her eyes are such a deep blue-green as to almost appear black, but are more of a match for the stormy seas of her home hold than she ever expected. Often flitting nearby is her young green firelizard, Rhymert.

S'cud did a character sketch for me! -->