Persona Profile: Z'kylo

Writer: Iluva

Name: Z'kylo
Pronunciation: Zuh - kai - low
Age: 22
Birthday: m3 d17
Rank: Wingrider, Cyclone Wing
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Craft: Weaver
Craft Rank: Senior Apprentice

Physical Description of Persona:
Just under six foot, head to toe freckles, wild platinum hair - these are some of Z’kylo’s permanent, unchanging features. But there are some days that Z’kylo barely recognizes himself - he’s just not the skinny kid he thought he was destined to be for another few Turns. Dragonriding’s taking a lean and sharply angled body and steadily packing it up into something _solid_ and able, taking crafter hands and hewing them into instruments of battle. He’s not particularly intimidating in size or demeanor, but with his long arms slowly thickening and dexterity growing, he does privately fear what this building competency means, what these changes reflect.

The sun is not kind to him and he’s not really pale. He’s pallid. In fact veins would ribbon his skin like stria in marble if he wasn’t completely dusted with freckles, something else he is uncomfortable with. He likes to dress well, if modestly, with sun protection in mind and fusses about his appearance more than he would like to admit. Z’kylo would actually be an attractive man, except for his sharp, white-blond eyebrows having basically knit themselves together, and his primary facial expression is one of long-suffering rage. His eyes are an unusual, almost translucent steel grey up close, but from a distance they are washed out in between the paleness and patterns of pigment across his skin. Where many riders have a cocksure walk, and some even a tangible aura of confidence, Z’kylo’s is more a rigid stalk, his every emotion emanating like a sulky steam.

Emotional Description of Persona:
Not all that long ago, prior to Impression, Z’kylo was mostly even-tempered and dependable. He never thought of himself as exceptionally creative or talented, but industrious with his time and patient with the work, he became the type to derive enjoyment out of learning the skill as much as applying it.

That is not Z’kylo now. Ironically, while suffering from never wanting to be a dragonrider, Z'kylo also suffers from never wanting to do anything half-assed, either. So, although perpetually bewildered, he's constantly threading some sort of compromise between what he wants to do and what he _has_ to do. He’s also not that good at it. The man is a mess, just trying to find dry land in the midst of an endless storm - and since a dragon wasn’t ever actually going to choose him, and wasn’t ever supposed to be a green dragon, that storm is now his life. So, Z'kylo is not living the dream. Z'kylo is not satisfied, or excited, or deriving enjoyment, or probably ever going to see his circumstances clearly again. Most people just stop asking how he's doing.

Otherwise, he's prickly, polite, and reliably upfront. He tends to be reserved and often painfully, angrily uncertain, and his stubbornness reaches into self-sabotage. He resists his dragon’s suggestions as much as she resists his, and they are rarely on the same page. He does, however, have a good mind for mathematics and strategy, and when not overwhelmed by his or his dragon’s emotions, and by some off chance is in a good mood, he’s decently pleasant company, too.

Independent to the point of being aloof, Z’kylo is social enough, but he is terrified of being fenced in. He's running scared. He wants life on his own terms, and he’s not so afraid to arrange things, twist, cultivate the world to ensure it fits his image of it. He's just got to figure out how first.

History of Persona:
Z’kylo grew up insulated, tucked in amongst his close knit crafting family. His father served as a well-respected Master Weaver at Sapphire Meadows Hold for as long as he could remember. But when Ankylon was struck down by firehead when Zirkylo was just old enough to start his apprenticeship, Zirkylo’s grief-stricken mother packed up the rest of the children and moved them to her home of Sunstone Seahold.

He eventually found new family amongst the other apprentices, though the absence of so many dear people all at once wasn't easy. To compensate, Zirkylo applied himself with fervour, steadily determined, having eyes for little else than his craft. By his 18th turn, an arrangement was struck for Zirkylo to wed the eldest daughter of a family friend. Maveppa. A kind girl of semi-questionable repute, Maveppa came with her family's plot as part of the deal, and Zirkylo wasn’t one to look a gift runnerbeast in the mouth. He had not been consulted first or last for his opinion, but he was largely fine to inherit a family plot, raise children, and call that life. He and Maveppa could tolerate each other, and were even starting to become friends when he made one grave error. Listening to a green dragon.

At the time, she was merely a Searchdragon appearing on official visit from Dreams End and eagerly seeking Candidates for the latest clutch. To everyone’s surprise, the green chose both Zirkylo and Maveppa as suitable choices, and then to the immense shock and astonishment of their respective families, they decided to try their luck. They had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before them; the opportunity to fly high with dragons, to be deemed worthy, was more than they could have imagined. The worst case scenarios that they did imagine mostly involved feeling ashamed and foolish but nevertheless returning to family plot. It would be a fun story to tell, that after their wild trip to the Weyr, in a few weeks’ time they were back home in bed ready to firmly lay their roots.

That all changed when a tiny little green with a big mouth and big feelings strolled up to Maveppa, gave her one appraising glance, and elected to take her fiancee instead. Veth effectively severed every connection, understanding, and plan Z’kylo had ever had. Maveppa - gone. Plot of land - gone. Family - gone. Future family - also gone.

Things didn’t exactly go smoothly for them going forward either. Impression brought a new mind into his and she wilfully shattered everything he wanted for his future. His ongoing identity crisis was only made worse by the fact that he remains aghast at much of Weyr culture, at Veth’s thoughts and behaviours, and Z'kylo's still not sure what he hates more - riding a green dragon, or the things he's learning about himself on a green dragon.

Unprepared for the reality of Weyrlinghood awaiting him, rider and dragon struggled to strengthen their bond, one always pushing, the other pulling. They were paired up with classmates for various lessons -- much to everyone’s mutual chagrin -- though despite some minor improvements, the pair continued to underwhelm and underperform, and had to be held back. It took more than Z'kylo thought he had to give, but ultimately their eventual Graduation into the fighting wings was hard-earned. Though entire planetary systems away from being the best, they were no longer the _worst_, and that meant their lives, their efforts together, were finally starting to amount to something in the fight to protect Pern.

It was delightful, and terrifying.

But the thing that truly sent him over the edge was Veth Rising - Z’kylo panicked during her first flight and nearly lost her _between_ and the amount of anxiety that followed him over who _could_ have won the second flight had him putting in a request to transfer. That it was Dolphin Cove hadn’t meant much to him - they had their share of issues lately, too. He just needed a clean slate.

Family and Friends
Ankylon, 46, Master Weaver (father (deceased))
Ziraida, 46, Holder (mother)
Lorzirad, 27, Journeyman (brother)
Ankyra, 23, Holder (sister)
Kylona, 25, Holder (sister)
Zirayl, 20, Holder (sister)
Maveppa, 21, Cotholder (ex-fiancee)

Dragon's Name: Veth
Dragon's Age: 2
Dragon's Hatching Date: m10 d6
Dragon's Colour: Green
Next Mating Flight: m4 d14 of turn 13
Description of Dragon:
Wrapped in a bright forest green hide, she’s what most would regard as ‘cute’ for a dragon rather than beautiful or elegant, sharply angular in a way that curiously mirrors her rider. Veth has yet to pack on much musculature straight out of weyrlinghood and is markedly leaner than she probably should be. She is however sturdily built, and the waifishness isn’t enough to detract from her overall appearance, especially aloft. She does however look a bit unbalanced on the ground.

A tiny little whip of a dragon, Veth can just barely last half a ‘Fall and her mating flights tend to be short, intricate, savage affairs that only the most agile blues have any hope of winning.

Very much an extrovert to Z'kylo's stubborn introvert, horrifyingly, Veth is a wide open book. Where Z'kylo is uncertain and self-effacing, Veth is unfailingly outgoing, more than a little hard-headed, the ‘always right, never wrong’ type. The ‘you should really take her advice the first time if you want to save yourself a headache’ type. She can also cause a headache and be a bully if she thinks it’ll prove a point or be an effective means to an end. She commands with very little finesse - Veth’s just figured out how to swing her sledgehammer at just about everything and waits to see what happens. The things she likes most are to socialize, show off, and flirt with every male dragon she comes across - all things that cause Z’kylo the spectrum of mortal panic.

Socially, Veth relishes being in charge and doesn't hesitate to involve herself in any situation that might somehow grant it, even in subtle or exceedingly pointless ways. Even within her own bond with rider she tends to be the dominant personality, the one with an agenda, a schedule, or a list of demands for him through the run of a day. Her intent is to _help_ - its just gonna be in whatever ways _she_ sees fit; unsurprisingly she has the kind of pompous self-regard more stereotypically found among metallics, or dragons many decades her senior. She has surprisingly little fear given how tiny she is, but is rather spoiled. She Expects, because she is a Giver - a bonafide helper in the bossiest, nosiest, and most overbearing sense a dragon can be.

Approved: February 1st 2025
Last updated: February 1st 2025

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Persona Profile: Z'kylo