N'IKOS
Welcome to Ista Weyr -- and congratulations!
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Sire and Dam: Gold Tajiath and Bronze Syrth
Hatching Date: Sunday, March 26, 2000
Theme of Clutch: Circus Things
Theme of Dragonets: Circus Personalities
Dragonet's Name: Camenath
Ring: Pantomime Ring
~~~ Egg
Big Top Egg
Brilliant stripes ripple across shell's surface, violent crimson and startling yellow boldly emblazoned in a garish display. Malformed, no true oval is this orb; instead, it is peaked at its top, flowing outwards to finally round out at each end, seeming pinned into its sandy nest by invisible stakes and ropes, so solidly does it sit. Despite this stillness, however, an aura of excitement exudes from within, a hint of the mysteries and incredible sights that will astonish and delight onlookers.
~~~ Hatch Message
Big Top Egg has been still till now, but activity erupts as a sudden flurry of ripples and rills shift the bold stripes along shell's surface, the garishly hued ovoid swelling with a final burst of silent effort. It bursts, solid fragments falling all around the huddled form within, a tight ball that rises slowly from the remains of a once great construction of gaudy brilliance...
Elusive Harlequin Bronze Dragonet
Slightness delineates a spare frame, lanky grace an intrinsic attribute of this sensitive dragonet. Elusive, subtle - a hint of rich bronze radiates through a somber mantle of blackened Dutch-gold and tarnished brass hues, lending a glint of dark opaline to taut hide. A slender baton of a tail taps out a relentless beat, matching the fluidity of tenuous wing sails all aglow with lambent moonlight as they settle over a lean back, the haunches spangled with a suggestion of brilliance to come - aged bronze iridescence a glimmer of rainbow over flat, wiry muscle. Blunted head knobs shade the too-big eyes, jewel-faceted spheres often whirling with nervous speed in a black-masked face tapering to an elegantly slim muzzle. Limber lines meld into a supple neck, curved with athletic poise and carried through to agile limbs to create a complex beauty.
~~~ Impression Pose
Tentative steps take the slight yet lanky bronze closer and closer to one he thinks might share his self-contained nature, and he hesitates briefly before the young man, the one with the strong chin but the pensive brow.... He pauses, then reaches forth, a slender muzzle nudging into Nicodemus' hands as whirling eyes meet the candidate's watchful ones...
~~~ Impression Message
At first there is silence, a nervous quiet that seems to envelop first the small bronze dragonet, then you, as his mind reaches out, tentatively touching, tasting, testing. A sudden nudge, physical this time, brings a warm, slightly slimy muzzle to your hand, and then the melody begins, an immature yet already deep baritone softly playing along the cords of your mind and soul, a drifting, sweet song of recognition. >>We will make music together.<< comes softly, shyly, his joy filling your mind. >>I am Camenath. I am yours.<<
Camenath
Welcome to your dragon, Nic! He is going to be a joy, I think, and exactly what you wanted. Katarra and I worked hard to meld together all those things you mentioned in your application, interview, and candidate questionnaire to bring you Camenath....enjoy.
~~~ Name
The name of your dragon derives from the Latin word Camena, meaning Poetry, Poem, or Song. We chose it because it started with a C, had a meaning that suited you (seeing as how you love both the written word and music), and because it has an elegant simplicity without being too simple. It is pronounced Kam (with the 'a' pronounced as in 'Cat) - Eh or Ah - Nath. This is of course our pronunciation...it is up to you to find one that you prefer. As well, it seemed to have the same flow as names such as Cavaloth and Tajiath, which you mentioned you had seen and liked (See? We are paying attention. Really! And you thought we were just being nosy!)
~~~ Theme for Elusive Harlequin Bronze
Did you notice how I used lanky quite a bit? You like that word so much, I felt it only fair to include it in as many ways as possible. And it fit, too, in the theme we finally settled on for your dragon, one that was within keeping with the entire 'Circus' theme, and yet one that also was a bit artsy, a bit steeped in historical significance.
The inspiration for your dragon's hatchling name is based on a clown. But not just any clown, no. The Harlequin can be anything you want it to be. He can be mischievous, he can be sad, he can be an acrobatic dancer, and He can be a magician. But most of all, we chose Him because in times past He has been the attendant to the Hero (that's you, if you hadn't figured it out), and You are His champion. Here is a quote of what the Harlequin is/was; believe it or not, I got it off the back of a Harlequin romance book! Go figure!
"In the 16th Century, Italian actors formed themselves into traveling troupes known as the commedia dell'arte. Each troupe had the same cast of characters; and one of those characters was Harlequin. Harlequin's role was that of a servant or valet. It was his job to provide comic relief in the light plays of the company performed for the people of the countryside. Although Harlequin was essentially a clown, his character also contained elements of romance and sadness. In the plays, Harlequin was required to perform elaborate gymnastic feats. As he teased the other characters, he danced, jumped into the air and walked on stilts (lanky!)"
Your Harlequin is not so much the clown (though he will tease you into doing everything he wants, when it comes down to it!), but much more the sad, romantic figure, or the servant to you, the Hero.
We are confident that you will appreciate the humble beginnings from which the Harlequin began, not to mention the impact he had on various countries as entertainment for the masses.
~~~ Mind Voice
Musical. It is the only way to describe Camenath's mind voice, whether it is the deep throb of a bass or the more elegant yet ethereal tones of a cello, there is always a melodic quality to your dragon's mental words. When excited, the high, quick bow strokes across resined violin strings will be what you hear. When he is sad, the cry of an oboe or bassinet. Anger is the harsh sound of a chaotic piano piece, and happiness is the laughing trill of a flute. No matter what the emotion or the occasion, there is such variety in Camenath's speech as it seeps into your mind. Colors, too, flicker behind your eyes when he speaks, from starkest black and white to the more mellow blues and greens, a symphony of pigments that are evidence of his every thought and feeling. The two blend, music and color, to create a unique form of speech, and every word is made more memorable because of it.
~~~ Mind Scent
Camenath's mental aroma is tangy, spicy, a complex mixture of many things indefinable, although, depending on his emotions, certain fragrances become more evident, more easily recognized. When he is upset or sad, there is a definite hint of rain, that smell of water hitting thirsty earth, the two elements mingling to create a heavy, stifling odor. Happiness brings with it a gust of breezy freshness, perhaps with the faintest hint of vanilla mingling, or perhaps far away flowers, and the ocean, zesty and stimulating, is the tang in your mind when he is excited. Anger is the bitter taste of iron and rust, although this is an emotion you will rarely perceive. Together, these scents create a delightful bouquet, and one you will never tire of throughout your life together.
~~~ Personality
Despite his being a Harlequin in the physical sense, only part of his personality centers around the clown-like. If either of you is to be embarrassed, it will mostly likely be you. You wanted a dragon to make you more social - well, here he is. Camaneth is shy, almost timid. He will never put himself forward unless you push him into it, and even then his actions will always speak louder than his words. His movements will be light, dance-like when he is excited or happy, or he will use heavier, slower movements to show he is upset or displeased...or reluctant (which is true quite a bit of the time, although he will always try to please you!). He is a backdrop for you, the stagehand behind the scenes, and you are the actor playing Hero - that is the role this dragon will put you in! And sometimes, it might get a bit...trying.
Take, for instance, the day he spots a little girl wandering lost in the bowl, crying her eyes out. It will be up to you (with many a mental prod from Camenath) to console her, soothe her fears, end her tears in any way possible. If this means having her sit on your lap, cuddling her and feeding her cookies, well then. That's what you'll do, because Camenath will nag until the little girl is happy again >>She's still crying../Do/ something!<<, hovering anxiously, but not doing anything himself. He's too shy.
Or perhaps the day you try to walk across the bowl to the caverns, only to be held back by that long, lanky tail about your ankle. >>No, No! See? Trundlebugs!<< And there they are, migrating across the dusty ground..>>You might step on one!<< And so you wait, because Camenath will insist.
Or an even more embarrassing moment...a gather perhaps, and everyone dancing but you and a girl, who is standing to the side, looking embarrassed. A muzzle will nudge you in your back, and that melodious voice will ring softly in your mind, but urgently >>Look...no one's dancing with that one. You do it. Go on.<< And you do, because Camenath asked you to.
Because, despite his shyness, his self-contained air, Camenath is a lover of humans and beasts alike, to the smallest Vtol flittering about to the most ill tempered of brats...he loves them all, and he hates to see them hurting. His caring, kind nature is an inherent part of him, one that makes him observant despite his seeming to be looking within. He knows what's going on around him at all times, and, because he will not, or cannot do it himself, you will be his Champion. You will be the one who saves the world for him (as opposed to his clutchmate Seienth, who has the same nature, but is a bit braver, doing for himself what Camenath needs you to do in his stead).
Don't be worried, however, that Camenath doesn't have time for you while he is making sure that you are making sure everyone else is happy. Your happiness comes first and foremost, and you are the most important thing in his life. And he shows you every day, every second how important you are to him, because he shares with you the one thing that he shares with no one else; his music.
Yes, Camenath is steeped in music, it is what makes him tick, what keeps him going. That tail? The one that taps constantly? He is conducting symphonies with that tail, with you as his one person audience. Your mind will always be filled with some melody, be it subtly in the background or ringing in your ears; he will share with you every emotion with this music, from dark, heavy sounds like a Chopin concerto, or perhaps a lighter, romantic Beethoven sonata. At times his song will have a definite bluesy air, or when he is mellow; something Sondheimish. Or when he is happy, feeling carefree and at peace with the world, well. Big band, baby. The way Coltrane and Parker do it. Excitement comes in a fast piano piece, perhaps something by MacDowell.... But no matter what the music, the only one he shares it with is you...his lifemate, the other half of his soul.
In an every day sense, Camenath seems a fairly quiet, elusive dragon, somewhat like the Harlequin...he plays for one person and one person only, although with you he seems more open. Others might find him standoffish, but you know the truth. He is just shy, self-contained...quite a bit like you. It will be up to you to make him more social just as he makes you more social by depending on you for so many things. It will be a trial at times, but in the end, it will make you both stronger.
Despite his timidity, he has strength of mind and heart as well as body. He can be brave if he has to, although, since he has you, his hero, there is no necessity of that. This becomes obvious in many ways, although perhaps you might be the only one who knows how much he truly feels. To others, he will be the same shy, reserved, high-strung bronze; it is up to you to make him leave his shell.
And perhaps one day, when you feel that the time is right, he will change; be more the trickster, the magician, the one who takes action on his own without needing someone to do the work for him; that is where the variety comes in. Camenath can be anything you want him to be. Never, for one moment, feel that you have to restrict him to such a one-dimensional role. From this point on he is yours; and as you change, he can change with you. The choice is yours.
~~~ Physicalities
The description of your dragonet is only a jumping off point, a place from which to start from; the end result is up to you. Taking what we offer, you can create your perfect dragon, whatever makes you happy. However, he is already somewhat in the way of what you wanted; lanky, of course. And smaller, perhaps, than the average bronze.
But do not sell him short! No, despite his smaller stature, he will be a long dragon, slender and wiry; he will never have the bulk of other bronzes, but he will be able to hold his own in any flight. His acrobatic and agile facility for flight making him a contender in every way will be evidenced once he hits the skies. However, even on the ground he will have the elegance of a dancer, the careful steps of the cautious and quick. He won't be tripping over his wings, even if they are long, nor will he be overbalanced by his lankiness as he grows; being born with it, he will learn to adapt to it naturally, using his length to his advantage rather than to his disadvantage.
His coloring, too, is somewhat of what you requested. A mottled and darkened covering to the bronze that is just waiting to be discovered, a crusting over the brilliance that is truly Camenath. It is up to you, his rider, to bathe and oil him to a glowing sheen, helping him to stretch his hide as he grows to maturity. This will bring out the patina of old bronze that Katarra and I felt would be his final hue, although his wings will retain that moonlighted glow, a nice contrast to such an antique-looking dragon. The blackness of his youthful crusting will fade eventually into that bronze, except for the mask over his face; that is there eternally, the mark of the elusive Harlequin residing within Camenath forever, even if his personality changes drastically.
His scent is pleasant, easy on the olfactories, a combination of the fresh aroma of the rushes he sleeps on as well as the fragrant oil he insists you use on his hide, depending on what you use. He will like anything from flowers to more earthy scents or musks, and will complain bitterly if his oil is not thusly doctored. No musty or dusty smell for this dragon; he demands cleanliness, and in this regard he will most likely be a good influence on you as well, whether you like it or not.
Despite his small stature, he has strength. The length of his bones makes them somewhat hollow, less heavy; he will have endurance in flight, less body weight meaning less strain on delicate wing sails. He will be more maneuverable than the other bronzes, dancing among them with ethereal grace, there and then not there, a shadow to their larger bulk, but just as effective in his speed and quickness.
As he grows, he will lengthen and become even leaner. He'll be one of the longest dragons in the Weyr, if not the widest. But don't think that just because he isn't as bulky and big as the other bronzes that he won't need a lot of feeding. No, he will eat a lot, but in smaller amounts at a time, so you will be required to watch him feed more often then the other dragons. Lucky for you, he is fastidious in just about everything, and eating is no exception. Not for him the brutal slaying of the 'beasts....for him it will be a quick, clean kill, efficient and painless - he cannot stand to see anything suffer, after all, not even his food! And his eating habits beyond the kill are just as quick and sure. He doesn't burrow his muzzle messily into the animal's belly but rips at it with delicate regret...making the entire act look as elegant and refined as possible, even if he is tearing an animal up with sharp teeth.
In a flight, on the rare occasions he will participate in such, he will be up to any queen's challenge, able to stick it out to the end, although perhaps that might not be what he wishes. He would, of course, rather be off with you somewhere, creating a symphony or helping those who cannot help themselves. However, the thought of being a father will give him sufficient reason to rise, although, because he only does it for procreation, even more rare will be the times he chases a green. Despite his lack of randiness, however, there comes a time when instinct and nature take over >>Babies! I love babies!<<; at those times, he will shake off his apathy in regard to females, his blood lust will be all consuming.
At those times, it will be your duty to keep him in control. For as, like one who only imbibes alcohol on occasion, but then does it to excess (does this ring a bell, Nic?), he will drown in his lust unless you hold him tight. He will drag you along, and you will have to follow where he leads, the rein on a runaway steed, though your hold will be tenuous at best.
~~~ Habits
This dragon is fastidious. He is neat. He is clean. He hates to be dirty and will always be on you about cleaning him, the weyr, your clothes, etc. He will almost nag at times, until you let him know he is getting too picky, at which point he will apologize. This will last all of five seconds, of course, and then he is back to nagging!
In grooming, you will be required to bathe and oil him constantly, even when he is not growing and doesn't itch. He likes the physical contact, for one, but he also likes to be clean. Not for him the soiled rushes on his bed. No, he insists they be changed daily. >>These rushes smell. Can't I have new ones?<< And only the best oil, with a bit of a scent to it; he can't stand the smell of rendered fat, perhaps. >>I want to smell like flowers! Like that Lady Holder did!<< (but don't get the idea he is a pansy because he likes to smell good. He isn't).
However, as you do these chores (which will be more arduous as he grows, and grow he will), he will keep you entertained with a variety of compositions, filling your mind with his lovely music, so that it will be fun rather than hard work. >>Did you like that one? It followed the rhythm of your scrubbing. Wasn't it nice?<< Of course, the music will be interspersed with demands and requests: >>Oh, more oil! You missed a spot!<< or >>Are you sure you scrubbed all the dirt off? It was dusty today. I feel gritty.<<
And, of course, your own personal habits will be of great importance to him. >>You didn't pick up your trousers..you left them lying there. Are you going to put them away?<< or >>Those socks have holes in them. Are you going to mend them?<< It will definitely drive you crazy to have his constant nagging, but knowing that he does it out of love for you, and concern, makes it that much easier to tolerate.
