Valyn is a roleplayed character in a wonderful Pern-based MOO called Dragonsfire MOO. He is, in a nutshell, a Harper of extremely optimistic persuasion.
Valiant in velvet, light in ragged luck
Most vain, most generous, sternly critical
Buffon and poet, lover and sensualist;
A deal of Ariel, just a streak of Puck,
Much of Antony, of Hamlet most of all
And something of the Shorter-Catechist.
- excert of "Apparition" - W.E. Henley
Valyn
Leaf-green eyes look back, the mischievous gleam finally toned down but still residing with an omnipresent twinkle. Tall and lithe, this Harper carries
himself with pride and a jaunty step. A crop of wavy black hair, parted everywhere and nowhere all at once, is constantly having bangs pushed back by
long-fingered hands. His high cheekbones and aquiline nose give him a somber demeanor: quickly dispelled by a charming smile.
Avery
From the precise double-fold of sepia wings to the languid, feline flick of tapered tail, this dark brown rogue is the embodiment of cunning. Sly humor darts outward from every self-centered glance; forked tongue slips casually between sand-speckled jaws, lisping lies. Not one to trust, but he's not one to fear either. His ingenuity in matters of personal benefit is exceeded only by his limitless capacity for disaster.
Aerdin
Slow and steady, this bronze firelizard prefers the simpler life, his hardworking body subject to spells of shaking in those rounded wings and knobbled 'ridges. Warm-hearted but painfully shy, he's a kindly old gentleman who takes too much upon himself without complaint; he hides himself behind the bashful blush of champagne-bronze, the bubbles too ritzy for his down-to-earth nature but truly expressive of his generosity and kindred spirit.
Circe
Lustrous dark-green skims from narrow face to whiplash tail only springing warm peridot on the fullness of wingsails. Beauty, yes, but a dangerous and an unpredictable beauty, present in the large whirling eyes which absorb the world in a wary cadence. Prepared to fight or fly.
Valyn's Cubicle
Small, but cozy. The Harper's possessions are packed snugly into the homey room, lit only by a wide westward window, perfect for observing sunsets in their natural habitat, and a thoughtless arrangement of glowsconces. Hides, slates, waxed tablets, and papers litter the desk and sand table, leaving the woodwork to wonder when it will ever see the light of day again. Luckily the table is clean and near the 'hearth', it and it's three chairs ready to serve as a parking area for weary souls. Behind a very heavy curtain lies impenetrable darkness, presumably the 'bedroom.' Also scattered haphazardly about the room, along with the papers, are 'knick-knacks' commemorating the past few turns.
Valyn was first started on a MUD that was, for someone as literary driven as me, too much like a video game or Dungeons and Dragons. The character's name was Valyn, but aside from that, and the fact that he was male, there were very few similarities between the two. So, on to the Valyn we all know and love.
Off-Screen Childhood
Valyn was born at High Reaches Weyr, the child of two Dragon Riders: Avelyn, rider of green Elaranth and V'han, rider of blue Tovanth. Since both parents were Riders (as already stated) Valyn did not receive too much parental attention, though his mother was always extremely kind. He ran around with the other children of the Weyr and lived a young life full of fun and frolic. But at the age of eight turns, his mother caught a fever and, despite Healer warnings, went out on a training exercise in the cold. The fever worsened and she died, Elaranth throwing herself between. But Valyn kept going through life, saddened, but not overwhelmed by his mother's unexpected death, since she was basically not much more than another friendly face to him.
Amongst the children of the Weyr were many half-brothers and half-sisters to Valyn. One of them, N'than rider of blue Russoth, instigated sibling rivalry almost unmatched in history. Valyn, now sixteen turns, finally got in an all out war with his half-brother after N'than picked a fight with him while in a mating flight/wine/anger induced daze. So Val ran off from the Weyr and began turns of traveling everywhere from Balen Hold to Benden Weyr.
Trading Days
This is where Valyn's on-screen life begins. March 6, 1998. 16:41:40 CST. Almost twenty-one turns of age.
During this all-Pern fun-filled travel excursion, Valyn met up with a cousin at Fort Weyr. Maradydd (called affectionately and sometimes not so affectionatly Mardy) was a Trader with the Enlander clan. And after Mardy claimed the right to protect Valyn from Pern, people, and, most of all, himself, they formed an inseparable duo. He terrorized the Weyr, put fellis in the klah, got in fights with Mardy, and made a friendship for a lifetime with Katarra, a traveler like he had been for so long, had left her father's Hold, Druhl's Ridge, to explore the world.
Apprenticeship
Then, one day while at Fort Hold, Valyn looked across the way and spotted Harper Hall. In a sudden flash of inspiration (or perhaps just random interest) he ran over and joined the ranks of Harperdom. After quickly trading his Probationary badge for a full Apprentice knot, he settled happily into the routine of the bards of Pern. Mardydd soon joined him as a Harper.
The first few turns of Valyn's apprenticeship were filled with pranks and fun. Many a seven days span was spent peeling tubers, especially after his roguish brown, Avery, tried playing vulture with then Journeyman Gaelin. Then there was the time he lost a bet to Mardy and was forced to dress in drag as Gordita and do interpretive dance for all people in the Dining Hall. And of course there are all the infamous tales of his relationships which are best alone, though Mardy will tell you if she's asked.
Suddenly, after three turns of studying and being a rascal, Val wanted something entirely different. He wanted that illusive Journeyman's knot. Work ensued and he completed two projects - A report of the developing Ista Weyr Smith incident and a textbook entitled 'Singing for Dimglows' - before recieving his new knot from Gaelin, now a Master and his mentor.
The Journeyman's Life
Finally a Journeyman, Valyn was lost what to do with himself. His motto had always been, "Wine, women and, song" but an apprentice can only have song, and merely sing about the other two. It was too late for the motto to be restored though. He had met someone, a shy Healer named Ryanan. A few turns into his Journeyman-ship, Valyn got handfasted to Ryanan which caused quite an uproar among a few people, some even started to say unprintable things to him, but he continue on his chosen, optimistic path.
Now the proud father of a little girl, Avi, and the proud husband of a newly knotted Healer Master, Valyn is still working endlessly on classes and his Masters project.
Who can tell what the future holds?
* = copyright L. Walley
** = copyright T. Fulford
*** = copyright K. Kapphan
