Alysavri; wher candidate/Journeyman Mindhealer

Name: Alysavri (Or just Aly)
Age: Twenty Eight
Time at Hold/Weyr(s): Twelve years between holds (Trader), nine years Fort Hold (Healer Hall), Two years Ruatha Hold (Stationed as Mindhealer), Five years Fort Hold (Healer Hall), Presently at Sabishi Weyr (Mindhealer/Wher candidate)
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Bisexual; some male preference
Rank: Former trader, Journeyman Mindhealer (General Counsellor & traumatic incidents), Wher Candidate
Dragon/Wher: None Yet
Pets: None Yet


Play-By: Lee Pace (As Thranduil)
Eye Color: Blue-grey
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 6ft 5
Build: Wiry; slender but muscular
Overall Description: Aly will never be one of those people who can blend into a crowd of people; unless the crowd happens to be full of people who are as tall as, or taller than him. His height is one of his most noticeable attributes, followed closely by his ridiculously long, pale hair. He's not unattractive; though he does have the unfortunate curse of a face that always seems to look stern and sombre, not at all approachable - which works greatly to his disadvantage.


He is generally a very tidy sort of person, and this is reflected in his clothing and appearance. He tends to wear clothes that are a little smarter than what most would consider appropriate for day to day, but old habits die hard - and he always dresses to impress. Unfortunately most of his wardrobe appears to be rather dull in terms of colours, mostly greys and browns, with the occasional blue gather shirt for really special occasions. His hair, long and impractical as it is, is always brushed and clean, and on the occasions where it might really cause him an issue, he will tie it back - or even twist it into place at the back of his head. In terms of jewellery - he wears very little, even when the occasion might call for some glamour. The only thing he will wear daily, is a knotted leather bracelet that has clearly been the subject of repeated repairs. It's the shabbiest thing he possesses, and also the most precious.


Aly is graceful - infuriatingly so - he walks with purpose, dances with flare, and very rarely slouches when he sits. He is vain; not to the extent he will stop to check out his reflection, but he his appearance shows he takes a very deliberate sort of care in his personal appearance.


Physically, he is obviously fit. He has just enough muscle that he doesn't look like a beanpole, but nothing that could make him bulky. He has a few scars on his upper torso and his arms, though most are minor, with the exception of a deep, twisting scar that curls from his right hip to his right shoulder, catching his ribs. It causes little in the way of restrictive movement in day to day tasks, but long stints of heavy lifting can cause him some pain.


Likes:

[/b][/i] - he enjoys the way it feels on his skin; and although he prefers it when the rain is warm, he has no qualms about going outside in a down pour. If it is cold, he'll sit in a sheltered area and just listen.

Reading - especially romantic novels, but anything fictional will do, too. It doesn't mix well with his former like, but he enjoys reading outside.

Helping people - whether it is through his work, or just general day to day, it's something Aly really does enjoy doing. He doesn't do it for any reward aside from the warm feeling he gets.

Sweet things - Whether it is candies, desserts, or sweet drinks, the best way to Aly's heart is sweets.

Children - he adores children, and would like one or two of his own someday. Of course, he has the bad habit of always wanting to play the good guy; any children he does have, biological or adopted, will be spoiled rotten.

Romance - Aly is a romantic, in every sense of the word. He loves to impress and be impressed; he's just as open to being whisked off of his feet, as he is to doing the whisking.
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Dislikes:

[/i] - [/b]Aly doesn't like it when he loses control of a situation or himself. Flights and Runs will be a very delicate point for him, until he finds someone to share them with. Until then, he'll spend them alone, no matter how difficult it is.

Harming people - whether it is delivering bad news, or physically hurting a person, it always cuts him deeper than he lets show. He'll always seek peaceful resolutions to things, and he'll always be plagued with regret for any harm he causes where he has lost his temper, or even where force has been necessary.

Disloyalty - Aly is the sort of person who gives his loyalty to a person or cause for life. He doesn't understand it when people are disloyal to one another, and he will be deeply hurt by anyone who is disloyal to him.

Dishonesty - As someone who always endeavours to tell the truth, those who lie and cheat are a mystery to him. He can't stand lies, and they will have a strong negative impact on any relationship with him if they are told with any kind of frequency.

Being ill/injured - They say healers make the worst patients, and it's no different for Aly, even though he specializes in healing the mind. He's very much the person who pushes themselves too hard and does more damage to themselves in the process. He'll be a healer's nightmare.
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Strengths:

[/i][/b]mindhealing is his craft, but his hobbies are far more varied. From his time with the traders, he has picked up small skills that he has worked on in any spare time he could find; from sword play, to basic violin. There's so much more he wants to learn, too, but it's finding the time to do it.

Loyal - When he finds a cause or a person he can be loyal to, Aly will remain so for the rest of his life. Friends and family will feel the benefits of this loyalty.

Quietly confident - Aly may come across as shy, or even aloof, but he's no wallflower. There's a quiet confidence about him, a self assurance; he doesn't brag about his abilities, but he has faith enough in them that he will always help where he believes it is within his power.

Selfless - too many romantic novels have filled Aly's head with a romantic view on self sacrifice. Surprisingly, he'd be willing to do it, were a situation to call for it. Even in general, however, Aly puts others before himself; whether it's giving up his right to the last piece of bubbly pie, or caring for someone over and above the call of duty.

Empathetic - Aly is a good mindhealer, because he's able to empathise with those he deals with. When someone is sad, or upset, he finds it very difficult to be anything else himself (how can you be happy when someone is sobbing on your therapist's chair?)

Ambidextrous - Aly can use both his hands with equal skill in writing and sword play.[/ul]
Weaknesses:

[/i][/b] - Aly is slow to trust. He knows how easy it is to be harmed or used by people. He's felt first hand the consequences of trusting too easily, and it isn't an experience he wishes to repeat.

Doesn't forgive easily - Once his trust has been lost, it's difficult to get it back. To quote Jane Austen, his good opinion once lost, is lost forever.

Bottles up his own emotions - He's a mindhealer, so he knows he shouldn't do this, but Aly is particularly susceptible to keeping all of his negative emotions locked away deep inside. He doesn't show them to the outside world very often, and when he does, it's usually because he's been overwhelmed.

Explosive temper - Aly has a very long fuse. He doesn't often lose his temper, and under most circumstances keeps it under wraps until something or someone he holds dear is threatened. When he does lose his temper though, he explodes - all white fury and action, and he'll often do things he will regret later.

Damsels in distress - He can't help himself, he has to help. Whether that 'damsel' is male, female, old or young.
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Quirks: Aly has a peculiar quirk in that he doesn't ever contract his words. Its isn't a conscious choice, just a peculiarity that has occurred somewhere around speech development.


Overall Description: In a word, Aly could probably be described as good. He has all the best intentions, he puts people's needs and wishes above his own - often to his own detriment, and he never wants to cause any harm at all. He's a deeply emotional sort of man; he adores cute things, and children, he cries at romantic novels (although in private), and generally has a very optimistic outlook on life.

The problem is, he doesn't open up to people. He isn't one of those energetic types, who makes friends easily, who shows all their good traits and their bad within a few hours of meeting. Alysavri is reserved, keeping to himself in a crowded room, or distancing himself from those who would likely be good friends. It's not intentional, he isn't shy or socially reclusive, but for lack of a better word, Aly is scared to trust. He's been burned before, and it shows in the way he interacts with people outside of the therapist's chair.

It can often make him seem aloof, and unapproachable. He plays the part of a solitary creature well, and he has enough vanity in his own appearance that he might even come across as arrogant. Those who meet him briefly won't know about the romantic that lurks beneath the surface. Those who are more persistent, or spend enough time around him in day to day life to see him in action, will get to know him far better - despite some of his best efforts.

As romantic as he is, Alysavri has a surprising lack of history in the department. He's not ashamed of the fact that at twenty eight, he has never had an intimate relationship, but he is very aware of the fact. He's at an age he would like to settle down, but the difficulty he has opening up to people has had a very negative impact on his love life. He's all too willing to accept his fate as a man who dies alone, surrounded by his many pets, and he plans to get a few as soon as he is able.

In terms of ambition, Alysavri is not a person who aspires to lead. He aspires to help people, and to protect them where he can. He respects those who outrank him, and he respects and cares for those who are below him on the ladder. He could take up a position of authority if he was pushed to do it, but he is just as happy to be among the masses.

Aly dotes upon his younger sister something terrible. He misses her dearly, but unless she happens to come to the Weyr, it is not likely he will see her any time soon. This affection he has for her, is likely to be the same for anyone who gets close to him. He is fiercely protective of those he loves, and any threat to them will be destroyed where he is able. He is possessive of those he holds dear, too. He doesn't like to share them with strangers, and can get jealous where time is spent with others he doesn't know well.

He is very formal, in addition to his strange speech quirk, his manners and the way he conducts himself is like something from a book. He is very polite, never crude or inappropriate.


Season of Birth: Mid Winter
Birth Hold/Weyr: Fort Hold (Registered, born on the road)
Mother: Alyria; 48, Trader
Father: Savrichious; 57, Trader
Siblings: Salyr; 18, Trader
Children: None
Background: Alysavri's parents were traders, part of a large caravan that bought and sold produce and helped trade among the holds. They were married for two turns before Alysavri was born, and his birth was much anticipated as children among the caravan were rare and wonderful creatures. The route was planned carefully for the rest of that turn so Alyria would be at Fort Hold at the time of Alysavri's birth, in case healers were needed to assist. As it was, they never made it to the Hold - Alysavri was almost a full month earlier than expected, but healthy enough that once he had been checked over by the healer travelling with the caravan, he was presented as their son, and registered with Healer Hall as an addition to the population of Pern.

Of his early life, Aly remembers little enough. He spent his turns as a baby in the arms of his mother, his father, or one of the women in the caravan. He was quiet and alert, and he learned quickly, showing an interest in walking at eight months, and fulfilling his interest at nine. He was late in talking, not forming sentences until his third turn - although he would remain rather quiet throughout his youth, never saying much more than he needed to, but developing his manners quickly through the careful mentoring of a harper who had joined the caravan for a few turns.

As a toddler and young child, Aly developed a curiosity that was nearly insatiable. He wanted to learn how everything worked, and why. He learned to read at an early age, gaining the advantage over some of the older children that travelled with the caravan. At first it was assumed he might grow to become a harper, like those who were influencing his learning. At the age of five, a violin was put into his hands for the first time - to his delight, and the caravan's chagrin. Ears were tormented for an entire turn as Aly screeched and slipped his way through songs he was being taught, until eventually the lessons caught, and he could play the violin well enough that it didn't make the canines howl.

His curiosity during that time wasn't fulfilled only by the stories of harpers and the music they played. Aly wanted to know much more than what they could offer him, and pursuits of the mind weren't the only way he could learn. He watched as the caravan guards practised with their swords, most of their movements for show, rather than real fighting. And he began to emulate them in secret, when the caravan had paused for the night, and he was brave enough to venture beyond the light of the fire to attempt some of the wonderful moves that they had practised.

At seven, he was caught on one of his nightly attempts, by a grizzled old guard by the name of Michron. Instead of being reprimanded, as he had expected - for it was long past curfew - Michron offered to teach him some of what he knew. So Aly learned basic swordplay, and eventually the more complex moves of those that accompanied his caravan. And he still read, and he still played the violin. His education in mathematics was limited, basic sums he could grasp but the more complex equations baffled him. It was quickly established that if he chose a craft over Trader life, then he would not be a smith, or any other crafter that required a grasp of more complex equations to progress in their crafts.

By the age of nine, Aly's head was filled with the dreams of any young boy - to ride a Dragon. This wish would stay with him for a few turns, but he held off on the idea of going to the Weyr when his mother fell pregnant again, with what would be his only sibling. Up until that point, Aly had been the baby of the caravan with never more responsibility than the task of washing up pots and dishes. The loss - however temporary - of one of the adults, meant more work needed to be done, and Aly was quickly educated in how to hitch a caravan, and take care of the dray beasts and horses. His responsibilities grew, and his free time was limited. Often he had to choose one of his hobbies over the others.

But Aly wasn't a resentful child at the prospect of giving up his free time. He was excited to have a sibling - and he hoped for a boy that he could play with, as many of those among the caravan were much older, and were either too busy or too rough. It was after Aly's tenth turnday that his mother went into labour. It was a difficult birth, and the exhaustion of both Alyria and the baby were so great, and the health of both so fragile, that it was three days before Aly was even allowed to know the gender of his sibling.

When he did finally meet Salyr, his little sister, he was smitten. She was a tiny little thing, so fragile and delicate that he felt it was his responsibility to keep her safe. He doted on her for those first two turns, never once showing resentment for the attention she received, or the fact he was no longer the only pride of the caravan. She talked earlier than he did, and walked just as quickly - though she remained small, not growing at the same rate that Aly had. For those two turns, Aly rather thought that he knew where his path would take him in life. He still dreamed of Dragons, but he cared for his sister and his parents too much to chase that dream. He was convinced that he would remain with the caravan for the rest of his life, eventually taking over from his father.

When he was twelve, that path changed.

Salyr was two, a toddler, and in the care of one of the older women of the caravan while Aly's parents were busy hitching the wagons. Aly was helping them, attempting to deal with a troublesome mule. Salyr had wandered away from her sitter, in an attempt to find Aly, and was blissfully unaware of the danger that surrounded her. As they were finishing their task, a Dou dragon swooped overhead, startling the wagon beasts and sending one of the carts rocketing back along the procession line - and right towards Salyr.

Aly was closest; managing to push Salyr out of the path of the terrified draybeast, and disappearing underneath the wheels of the wagon himself. The pandemonium that followed, he remained unaware of - unconscious and severely injured, everyone attempting to take responsibility for his fate. The trader caravan was too far from any Hold to seek help. The rider, however, offered his assistance - feeling awful that a child had been injured, even more so when his dragon revealed that the young boy would have been perfect for the clutch that was hardening on the Sands. He offered to take Aly to Healer Hall, where his injuries would be treated.

It was unfortunate for Aly, that his only ride on a dragon in his young life would be spent unconscious or in too much agony to be coherent. His injuries were great; a deep cut twisted up over his hip and ribs, finishing at his shoulder. His leg was broken, his wrist fractured, he had a head injury - and for the first few sevendays that he spent at Healer Hall, it was a cause of concern that the boy had been moved so soon with possibly spinal injuries.

He was confined to his bed for several months; the deeper wound caused him severe pain when he moved, and the therapy sessions would be long and arduous. His only comfort would be his mother and his sister, who had joined him at the Hall while he recovered. Eventually, he was able to move about among the other patients, and listened to tales like he had never heard before. Tales of pain, suffering, death. It was after one particularly heart-wrenching tale that he was discovered by Master Firthen, crying in the corner of the infirmary, away from the other patients lest he disturb them. Firthen questioned Aly, and discovered Aly's wish to help people, and ease their suffering. He discovered the boy had no idea how he might.

Firthen suggested, then, that if Alysavri wanted to make a difference, he should become a Healer. If he wanted to heal the body, then he could do so, but Firthen recommended that Alysavri become a healer of the mind, to become a therapist and a counsellor, for people to come to and talk to when they might not otherwise have that ability. Alysavri accepted, and became an apprentice Healer, taking on a craft and turning his back on the career path of Trader.

He was surprised to discover his parent's pride that he had taken on a craft. He had expected to be scolded, punished even, as one of the other Trader Children had been. But his parents had never been cruel, and they wanted what was best for their children. "Times are Changing, Alysavri, it's not going to be as safe on the roads as we would like. Best you get out of Trading while you can." His father had said. And with that, the next chapter of his life had begun.

His apprenticeship as a healer was spent in study. The first few turns were spent catching up with the other students; many had come from families who had already been part of the Healer Craft, and those apprentices already knew things and had experience with things that Aly had no idea about. He spent these turns in an uncomfortable position, feeling as though he were surely going to fail in his chosen craft, always feeling as though he were behind. His injuries were as healed as they would ever be, and he slowly got back into practising his flashy sword play, and violin. His ability to entertain his classmates earned him the respect he hadn't managed to earn in lessons.

It would be three turns after his decision to become an apprentice when he met Firlana - the daughter of Master Firthen, two turns Aly's senior, but by no means did she use her age to her advantage. Aly was already among the tallest of his class, and he had a reputation already for being unable to understand the nuances of the human body. They were just starting to touch upon the subject of the mind, and he was beginning to show serious promise in the area. Firlana was an older apprentice, determined to become a Healer, not 'just a mindhealer' like her father before her. She helped Alysavri with his studies, providing he helped her with studies of the mind, a point in which she was very weak, much to her father's disapproval.

They became friends, and Aly's teaches became impressed with the way his work improved. Firlana became a Journeyman when Aly was seventeen, and a turn later, he was promoted too. He moved into his desired field, focusing solely on mindhealing, glad to put his knowledge of the human body to rest for good. He went through another growth spurt, and only two sevendays after he had walked the tables, he received a surprise visit from his mother and his sister; his old trade caravan was in Fort Hold again, and they'd taken the time to visit.

Their visits over the last six turns had been frequent, more so when Salyr had demanded to see her brother more often. She was eight, then, and already known as the sweetheart of the caravan. She gifted Aly a leather bracelet, which he has worn every day since then, aside from when he has needed to have it repaired. His sister stated a dislike for Firlana not long after they met, and Alysavri - who had been harbouring an affection for her, was dismayed by the idea his sister didn't like the woman he enjoyed the company of. He decided that it was merely the worry of a little sister, and chose to carefully ignore her dislike.

At the age of twenty one, Alysavri was offered his first posting at Ruatha, as one of the mindhealers there. Firlana was to accompany him, as she had been offered a position as a surgeon. They travelled together, and after a full turn in their mutual roles, Aly admitted his attraction to her. Firlana claimed an attraction to him, too. Three months later, Firlana was pregnant - however it wasn't Aly's, as they hadn't been intimate. Aly was distraught; they had gotten engaged only the month previous as Aly had wanted to do things the 'right way' and be married.

He kept his word, however, as she claimed that the incident had been a one off. He planned to marry her before the child could be born, however six months after the discovery of her pregnancy, and a month before their wedding day, Firlana declared she didn't wish to marry him, and that she would instead marry the father of her child, whom she had continued her relations with in secret. Aly was heartbroken, and struggled with his duties at Ruatha, falling into a depression himself. The final straw for his posting there, was the wedding of Firlana. Her father was displeased with the match; Firlana's husband had been a beastcrafter, but not a renowned one. He embarrassed Alysavri by drawing attention to the fact Firthen thought him a far more worthy match even though "he was only the son of a trader".

The people of Ruatha's attitudes changed towards him, then. Among the caravan, he'd never had cause to notice the suspicion cast upon the Traders, and while he'd never kept his heritage quiet, he'd never been open about it. But he soon found that his patients were fewer, and those who claimed they didn't care who his family were, were among the first to blame him when things went wrong or missing. After two turns at Ruatha, Aly made the decision to return to Healer Hall, hoping to work towards mastery of his craft.

So he returned to his studies, and his hobbies, turning his hand to helping patients recovering from traumatic events, the loss of a wife, or something terrible enough that they were awake long into the night. His sister visited more often, and he showered her with presents he bought from passing traders who weren't among the caravan. In turn, she told him of the newest stories she had heard in her travels, or brought him books to read from other Holds. Aly could tell she worried for him; the pain in his heart at the loss of his friendship with Firlana hadn't healed, and the news that she had been forced to drop out of her craft because her husband had demanded it played on his mind constantly. The suspicion that had been shown by the Ruathans had cut him deep too, though Salyr was ignorant of that.

The damage done never really faded. Alysavri kept himself distant to his peers, he played the violin in front of his sister only, and he trained his body when no one was around, or with the guards at Fort Hold. For five turns he focused purely on his work and his sister's visits. It was accidental, then, that he ended up at Fort Hold when he was knocked out and taken to Sabishi Weyr; kidnapped.

The situation was explained, and apologies were made, and with a heavy heart Aly pointed out that he wasn't within the age range for the dragon clutch; he was three turns too old. He offered, however, to stay on at the Weyr as a mindhealer - and not long after, became a wher candidate. He worries about the tension between the Holds and the Weyr, and wonders if the kidnapping of candidates has done little but escalate the situation.