Ulrep

*Special note: Ulrep was created as a candidate for Llonock'ceras Island, an adoption agency which later closed. Since he did not have much of a description, he has been altered and his background story written for Vella Crean.

Bonded at Vella Crean

Ulrep is aged 20 years, approximately to same as Earth years. He is very healthy and fit, rather short in height but muscular in build. He has dark tan skin and short, straight medium brown hair, about the same colour as his skin. His eyes are an odd red-orange colour, a difference from the human norm. Overall, he is not handsome, but quite striking in appearance.

He lives with his parents and 3 siblings in a busy town on Vella Crean (the planet), but the townspeople simply call their planet "the home world". His family runs a tavern catering to the many visitors passing through the town. He gets along well with his family, but their relationship is not very close due to Ulrep's frequent absences.

Ulrep enjoys outdoor activities and exploring his surroundings, especially alien planets. He loves adventure and new experiences. He also has a mild psychic ability, which allows him to "sense" living things close to him, indicating a higher-than-average empathy. This empathy also makes him quite emotional even though he may not show it. He is strong-willed, and wants to leave the past behind and start afresh.

Ximboth

Story

Ulrep woke up one morning to find that there was something wrong with his griffin egg. He had been checking on it every day for several weeks. It had been developing perfectly all along, but today it felt too light and hollow. Somehow he sensed the egg was dead.

The egg had come from a place called "Llonock'ceras Island", located on a nearby planet his own home world was currently orbiting. Ulrep knew he had to go back, so he dug out a map of the planet showing the location of the island and hurried to the temporary portal that had been set up in the town square for easy access to the nearby planet.

In a few minutes, he had landed on Llonock'ceras Island. The island looked different from the place he remembered. It looked strange, and it took a while for Ulrep to realise why. The island was deserted. Ulrep ran straight to the Ilaran Ledge where the griffins lived, but found no human or griffin there.

Ulrep came back dejected. Obviously, all the inhabitants of the island had left, without leaving any sign of where they were going, or why. Almost like his own home world, coming and going mysteriously.

There was nothing else to do, so Ulrep returned to his home. The griffin egg was still there, and still dead. It has died without even a name.

He buried it in an open field behind his house. The grave was unmarked, because he did not know what to write for the tomb of his unhatched companion. He was strangely quiet for many days afterwards.

- - - - -

The home world moved many times in the following year, but Ulrep never found Llonock'ceras Island again. Eventually, he recovered from the shock of losing his griffin companion.

He heard from traders and travellers passing through the town that a group of off-worlders had settled on the home world some time ago. They had even brought their own dragons with them. According to rumours, these "dragonriders" were allowing inhabitants of the home world and other off-worlders to bond hatchling dragons.

Ulrep considered this interesting news for a while, and decided to check it out. He had lost the griffin he was to hatch and bond, but now he decided it was time to leave the past behind. It was time for a new beginning, and he would try to bond a dragon. The place where the dragonriders lived was called "Vella Crean", and located a long distance away from the town.

He managed to get a map showing Vella Crean's location and set out on his journey. It was a long trip, but fortunately, Ulrep was used to travelling, after having explored many worlds on foot. Finally, after many days of walking, he arrived at his destination, worn out and panting. Then he saw the dragons. They were magnificent, huge fierce-looking beasts in many different colours. Some were flying, and others lounged around basking in the warm sunlight.

Ulrep walked further in, and spotted a large sandy area surrounded with tiers of seats. He realised this was the Sands as soon as he spotted two dragons lying there and large mounds of sand where the eggs had been buried.

The two dragons had noticed him as well, and were glaring at him. He quickly backed away and left the Sands. Next to it, he saw a board with a list of the names of candidates. So it was really true that they were accepting candidates to bond dragons.

Ulrep quickly found the chalk sticks in a box near the board. He hesitated for a moment, then determinedly started to fill in the space on the board. When he was done, he headed back home, hoping that he would be accepted. This could be the beginning of a new life for him.

- - - - -

Days passed, but Ulrep never forgot the decision he had made back at Vella Crean. He kept hoping for a Searcher to arrive throughout the days that seemed an eternity.

Nearly a week later, he was listlessly sweeping the floor in the main room of his family's tavern. It was late at night, and all the lodgers were all fast asleep. Even his parents and siblings had retired for the night. Ulrep was alone in the silence with his thoughts.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a loud whoosh and a thump just outside the taven. The noise immediately woke everyone up. In minutes, the main room was filled with a sleepy-looking crowd, all demanding to know what was going on.

Ulrep opened the door and peered out. Then he stared at the white dragon standing in the middle of the road. The dragonrider, a middle-aged man, was walking towards the open door.

"Do you know where Ulrep is?" asked the dragonrider. "Tell him it's B'nir from Vella Crean."

A smile spread across Ulrep's face. "That's me. So you came after all."

"What's going on here, son?" Ulrep's father demanded from behind. His mother and siblings were standing there too, looking worried but curious at the same time.

"Father, I've been Searched to be a candidate to Impress a dragon at Vella Crean," Ulrep replied. "I want to move on, and stop wallowing in the past."

His father frowned and sighed, but said, "You're old enough to decide things for yourself. Just be sure you're making the right choice."

"I know I am," Ulrep said, still smiling as he turned towards B'nir.

"Pikceth and I will take you to Vella Crean," said B'nir, gesturing to Ulrep to follow him to the dragon.