T'paz, bronze Jaspyth's rider

Topaz is the 4^th of 5 children, from a small mining family that lived in the outskirts of Crom. His father, Tologar, is a former Crom Hold guardsman, turned Crafter, and his mother Opazna Minecraft Journeyman. They established a happy little home on a plateau in the Crom Valley, and produced Blackrock and some small gems for thier livelyhood.

Growing up, T'paz learned how to handle stone, and assisted in Masonary work around the house. He also learned various fighting techniques from his father, including how to use different weapons, like the pike and even the sword. He and his older siblings, brothers Josek and Rinet, sister Ralea , and younger brother Rubin all had many happy days practicing their skills against each other.

When he reached the age of about 15 Turns, Topaz became restive, and it was clear to him that he didn't want to keep the quiet hold/craft life that he grew up with, and that there wasn't going to be a lot of land left to him by his father. Seeing this in her 4^th child, his mother bade made contact with a few friends in Crom Hold. She arranged for him to go there to work in the kitchens, for an Auntie who was becoming unable to do her work there. So, with many hugs, and promises to write as often as possible, Topaz began his journeys.

He stayed at Crom for about a year, then set off on his own, having earned the reputation of being a hard worker and a bit of a smiling rogue. He hitched up with a travelling band of Enlanders who were heading south. He made his way south, working stone and defending travelers to pay his way. He wound up at Southern Boll Hold, and discovered that the warmer climate agreed with him. He was offered the job of mate on a ship bound for Ista island, and he jumped at the chance. Within 2 sevendays, he stood on the shores of his new home.

He saw the lush vegetation, felt the sea breeze on his face and knew that he was home. He made his way to Ista Weyr, and made a point of making himself useful somehow. He was posted in the kitchens, under the tender cares of a tyrannical Scullery drudge named Denna. She saw this 16 Turn old upstart, who stood tall and proud, even when cleaning out the waste bins, and decided that he would be her designated victim for as long as he was there. So began the Turns of travail that taught Topaz everything there was to know about the inner workings of the Weyr.

<At this point, it must be pointed out that most of this story, from this point, belongs to the part of my RP'ing life that existed on DragonsFire MOO. The facts remain the same, but the characters were adapted to be NPC's upon my transfer to StarStones MOO. This info is still valid, cause it's the history I use.>

Topaz did make contact with the residents of the Weyr, making friends of the newly impressed riders there, like Fiora and N'ikos. These contacts, and others, kept him sane regardless of how Denna tried to break him. He was eventually encouraged to find a way to escape her clutches, and thus began the "Topaz Courrier Service". He found out that there were residents of the Lower Caverns that needed special deliveries made to friends and relations around Pern, and that didn't want to bother the Dragonriders with trivialities. So, Topaz would periodically disappear to make deliveries, around the island and to the mainland. He maintained this pipeline of communication and deliveries for at least 3 Turns, became known to the little holders dotting the landscape between Ista and Igen as a dependable sort of fellow that kept his word and, being the son of a Guardsman, was able to handle himself.

Life abroad was good for him, taught him many things, but he knew that he would return to the yoke of his oppression eventually. Denna would rant and rave at him, despite the fact that he stood head and powerful shoulders above her now, and didn't even flinch when she whipped him for some imagined slight. He did his best to stay in contact with Fiora, his friend from before, and since he knew all of Denna's secret stashes of luxuries, he made sure that Katarra, Jeretta, Fiora, Wullan, D'san and any others who came to the Living Cavern was well supplied with special treats.

Then, one night, after a particularly savage beating from Denna, Topaz was clearing the tables in the LC when Fiora walked in, with a look in her eye. Putting the rogue's grin on, and his eyes sparkling good humour, Topaz gnoshed with his Greenriding friend. He inquired after her health, wondered if she wanted another mug of that secret cider that he knew about, when Fiora made a request that Topaz couldn't quite beleive. She asked him if he would like to stand on the Sands for the next Hatching. It was all Topaz could do to remain on his feet when he heard this. He enjoyed living in the Weyr, but had never imagined the possibility of being a Candidate. It took him a full 5 seconds to compose himself, before he stood up to his full 6'-5" height and accept the invitation. In his sheer enthousiam, he swept Fiora off her feet and kissed her in a knee-melting, head spinning sort of way. He set her down, and, grinning, walked into the kitchens and let Denna know. When she tried to beat him for telling such lies, he ably defended himself against her for the first time. And that ended his drudgery, and began the next phase of his life.

Topaz was herded into the Candidates' quarters, along with a whole host of others: Klari, Zaselpha, Alezan, Phredrik, Ziryel, Saldia, Rissa, Mesopha, Kassanna, and Caoimhe. These people turned out to be from across Pern, of all different temperaments and histories. Topaz made friends quickly with all of them, and felt like he was surrounded by family. He now had different duties, many of them just as despicable as before, and he had to do shifts in the Kitchen, under Denna, again. But now, it was a different time. His experience there made it an easy time for him, to the point of hopping off with Ziryel and Alezan and catching up on some sorely needed sleep in unused corridors that only he could find. Once, a weyr was painted pink, and he and his fellow candidate Klari took heat from Weyrleader D'san for it, (even though Phredrick and his brother were to blame. :-)

Finally, it came, and Topaz stood on the Sands, watching the Eggs wobble and rock. One after another, the dragonets Impressed to almost all the other Candidates. It almost seemed as if no more would hatch, but then the last one, a little bronze with black limbs and a confident air, appeared. With all the dignity of a newly hatched dragon, he came up to Topaz and introduced himself as Jaspyth. T'paz could barely believe it. He had Impressed! Thus began a new chapter in his life.

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<At this point, I move to StarStones. There were a number of adventures at Ista, and there are logs of them at the Ista Website...including Jas' attempt to catch Tajiath and Isabeth on the same night. Now, though, the tale resumes...>

The bronzeriding T'paz found himself now in the dry heat of Igen now. The drought was very severe, and S'karn (NPC Weyrleader of Ista on SS) sends off the WingSecond of Phoenix Wing to help in the releif efforts for the beleaguered Igen. He arrives, having gathered a bronze dragon-load full of supplies from all around Pern, and from his various contacts. His arrival is the source of much happiness, and allows Gamma, Siobhan, G'min, and various others to meet this high energy, dynamic Istan. He remains at Igen, on loan, to help out with food deliveries, and other sundry duties. The desert air seems to agree with both bronze and rider, and eventually, S'karn transfers the pair to Igen permanently. He resumes his WingSecond rank, and is moved through the various Wings of Igen, ending up in WindScorher. Once there, he starts training the riders there in basic formations in the sky, as well as some Istan variations that are somewhat more challenging.

He enjoys bringing a little bit of balmy Ista to the dry landscape, teaching a class on how to make Istan-style candy, helping out with weyrlings, and whatnot. He makes several new friends there, and begins to feel at home there.

There is the a bit of history that remains back at Ista, though. He has a daughter back there, named Faelze, that he visits whenever he can. Her mother, greenrideing Faelte, and he fostered her off to an older couple in the Lower Caverns, and both visited when they could, being working riders. She had grown up knowing how to handle herself in a busy Weyr. Well, one day, when T'paz arrived for an unannounced visit, the couple was not able to find her, nor even remember who she was immediately. It turns out that they had lost her in the Jungles of Ista. After a frenetic search for her by T'paz, Faelte, and all of Griffon and Phoenix Wings, there was found only two things: a pink, child's slipper, and a long wherry feather. Most assumed the worst, and left the parents to their greif. They consoled each other for a bit, then returned to their duties.

When T'paz got back to Igen, he tried to keep it all in, but one night, while talking with some friends in the Living Caverns, he began to lose control over it. To their credit, Halis and Eilish were able to get him under control and help him out to his weyr. He had 3 days of this sort of grief, then he found a sort of balance, again.

About a month later, a group of Istan riders came to Igen...clutchmates of Jaspyth's, and good friends all. They were a welcome sight to him, and they bore some interesting news. It seems that they had been continuing the search, and had found a few leads that would be interesting. There had been others in the jungle that day. A group of harpers, the crew of a Fishercraft ship, and a family of Traders. Well, that was enough for T'paz to find a purpose again. With the help of Eilish, Echo, Halis and a few others, he started his own little quest. Whenever they could, this group searched for clues as to where Faelze might be...sustained by the faint hope that she might still be alive. They searched for 3 months, till even the hope of a rapidly despairing father was not enough. In the end, T'paz said his goodbyes and let go of her.

Then, he was made flight leader for Threadfall...a joint Igen/Telgar Fall. Oddly enough, Faelte was up for a social call, riding with Igen that day. Right before they rose, a family of Traders arrived inside the Igen Bowl. There were children amongst them. One seemed to know what she should be doing too. Jaspyth saw her, and stored the image away, neither rider nor dragon able to resolve any detail there. The Fall itself was vicious, and T'paz was doing his best to keep casualties down, when suddenly, he saw the image of the little redhaired girl, and recognized his daughter. Suddenly, everything became much more urgent, and bronze and rider started flying madly. The WindScorchers kept up with him, and thanks to their heighten energy, the Fall was defeated, with only a couple of serious injuries.

As the Thread finished falling, and the Wings circled down for a landing, FlightLeader T'paz stayed aloft to get the final picture of the aftermath, as per his duties. Once Jaspyth noted the condition of all the dragons, he powerdove to the floor of the Bowl, and landed as quickly and as gently as he could, given his utter exhaustion. Landing in a heap and pulling himself to his knees, T'paz saw his daughter again, and she saw him too. She ran over to him, and they were able to hold each other for the first time in months.

So, now T'paz has his daughter back. They are beyond happy at being together, again. Faelte is moving up to Igen, as well as another bronzeriding Istan named G'briel . He has had a few adventures since, including having his swimtrunks burnt off by a weyrling. And the rest of the story is still being written....

<There it is, the joint story of the rider known as T'paz. As I get better with these HTML commands, there will be links to photos and other sites too. Clear skies.>