Writer: Caryn
Name: Theodore John Chesterton the Fourth
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Sexual orientation: Heterosexual
Play-by: Karl Urban
Pernese Settler info
Craft/job: Veterinarian (Firelizard specialty)
Rank: Head Vet
Location at Threadfall: Landing
Do they approve of the genetic tinkering? Nope, but there’s no use locking the barn door after the horses have gone, so now they need to roll with it.
Appearance:
Ted is tall and broad-shouldered, his body well-muscled from a life of farm work, with the tan to match. His stringy, sandy-blond hair is cut to ear length, and has a permanently tousled look. His eyes are the solid blue of a beautiful summer’s day. The face they’re in is fairly attractive, but has the beginnings of a rough, weather-beaten look
Personality:
Ted likes to think of himself as a good person. He cares about innocent children and small puppies (cats are on their own). He embraces the persona of the country gentleman; pleasant, laconic and well-mannered when he has no reason to be mad at a person. And even when he is, his experience as a vest has taught him how to put on the professional mask and fake cheer, calm and steady hands even when all he wants to do is break something (or someone). He holds tenaciously to his opinions once formed and requires concrete, or at least visual, proof that there’s a good reason to change a particular stance before he does.
Ted likes sweet things and lazy mornings. He wishes everyone would just cool down, quit fighting with one another and get along, but is practical enough to accept that this will likely never happen-even in the face of a greater enemy like Thread. Human nature being what it is, he knows some folks never do see eye to eye. That’s why he tries to be the grease between the squeaky wheels when he can, quietly urging sensibility and understanding when those around him get too wrapped up in their own opinions to see another point of view.
Ted is a calm personality. If he’s got something to say, it’ll get said; if he gets his teeth into an issue, he’ll defend his stand ferociously; but he’ll never be the boldest or loudest person in a group. He prefers evasion or misdirection as tactics, rather than direct confrontation, because once punches get thrown they’re hard to take back (satisfying though they are on occasion).
Ted is patient, responsible and organized. Training and maturity have long burned away the impatience of youth and he knows how to wait for the most opportune moment instead of bolting at first opportunity- and how to soldier on in the event of first failure. He feels his responsibilities keenly and prides himself on keeping his word and fulfilling his obligations.
History:
Ted was born to a country lawyer and his wife, and quickly became known for dragging home all manner of animals: stray kittens, broken-winged birds and once even a horse covered in paint splotches and bruises. He coincidentally developed a reputation for being tough, too. The other boys weren’t always kind when a peer showed a gentle heart and despite the protests of his father, Ted’s grandfather took the boy in hand and taught him how to at least win his fights and put the bullies in their place.
Of course, fists couldn’t solve everything. Ted learned to use his wits and that southern charm as he got older to talk his way out of trouble before it got started. College was coming up, you see, and no school wanted a student with a record. There was no doubt about what Ted was going to be, and he busted his butt to finish as soon as he could. He went back home with his shiny new degree and set up a clinic. At the closest vet for a lot of folks, he saw everything from cats and dogs to livestock, and beyond.
He’d have been happy to stay there forever, but his sister’s husband died suddenly of a heart attack and the young vet moved in with her to help ride herd on his nephews. Then it turned out that Earth in general held too many memories for her and she wrangled a space for her family on the Pern expedition. Ted wasn’t about to let them head off into the unknown alone, so he joined up too. At least it would be an adventure.
The planet was all they were promised at first: new space to explore and fresh air to breathe. Then dragonets were discovered and Ted gleefully dove into becoming the expert on firelizard anatomy and treatment after he attached a trio of blues. He studied them avidly- the way they slept, ate, moved and breathed- and offered a bounty for the corpses of any hatchlings who didn’t survive to fly off with their fair. He acquired more eggs over the years from the grateful owners of patients, building the group to a fair of seven that the country doctor trained up right and which followed him everywhere he went.
That was a good thing when deadly rain fell from the sky. Ted was visiting his sister on a break when his fair herded them all inside. He could only watch in horror as the bone chilling realization of the deadly danger they’d wandered into sank into his soul.
Ted did a lot of work with survivors in the aftermath of that terrible First Fall. He comforted where he could, let his flitters cheer and distract where they could, shared sympathies with the adults. His own family had been fortunate enough to be in the cover of Landing for First Fall, but the first was not the last, and each as potentially deadly. The government and Colony leadership had brought them to a death trap, and no better plan was being floated around than some half-baked idea about making dragons. Dragons! It was crazy. Ted wasn’t the only one less than confident in the Council’s decision and fell in with a group who quietly decided to do something about it.
The conspirators succeeded in infiltrating the storage where the distress beacon was stored by having one of their own stationed there. Careful layers of misdirection and bribery were used to cover its transport to a secluded location and knowledge pooled to launch it secretly into space. It was a long shot, they all knew, even if it worked, but it was something *they* could do to save themselves instead of waiting on distant leadership and scientists playing at myths and godhood. Ted didn’t regret his involvement for a minute- his family was worth it.
Time passed and Thread became the new normal. They learned how to fight it and how to hide and Ted put in his time with the ground crews to help protect what they had left. Then Pern laughed in their face again and again, volcanoes and rough seas conspiring to strand him with the group on Ista island instead of the relative safety of the North. He’s almost philosophical about it by now, and doggedly determined not to give in and let the stupid planet win.
The crash of the Amherst and news of the Dragon Incident were by turns disturbing and a relief to him. The conspirators had to act quickly to limit their exposure in the face of their plan’s failure, killing their Supply member in hopes the witch-hunt would stop with him. Ted himself was deeply distressed to have contributed to the deaths of the good men and women on the Amherst crew (even if their Captain brought it on them all by poking at the Oort cloud instead of getting his ass down their and just recuing them like he shoulda). The experience did simplify his feelings on the Dragon Program, however. If the beasts are their only remaining option, they should be hatched ASAP and woe to any politician telling them to settle down and wait. It’s time to take control of their own destiny instead of being good little boys and girls.
Dragon
Name: Perwelth
Colour: Brown
Hatching date: 10.8.28
Perwelth is a perfectly average dragon, prim and poised. He’s a uniformly plain shade of brown, nothing that could ever be mistaken for flashy or exciting. Somehow he keeps a rigid and proper posture even at rest and there will be many a joke that if he just removed the stick from his arse…
But Perwelth it quite content with that stick right where it is, thank you very much. It keeps one in good form after all. First and foremost he is a follower, a solid supporting role that is the sort of right hand that is good at anticipating what is needed before it’s even asked. Putting him in any sort of position of authority or command won’t sit well, though he’ll do his best to try (and he might have a good time being puffed up about it for a little while). It’s not in him to be in charge and that’s not where his skillset lies. He likes knowing his place and expects everyone else to as well. He’ll follow strictly to the colour hierarchy and encourage the rest to as well, because that order is what’s going to keep them alive. There will an almost unwavering support for the higher ranked colours, because it’s right, even if he disagrees. They must know best, right? It would take a lot for him to be convinced that someone in a position of authority is wrong.
Fun doesn’t seem to be a word in this brown’s vocabulary and there isn’t much in the way of sense of humour. He’s practical and literal, jokes often go right over his head (which is fine because he’s easy to make fun of). He tends to be tightly wound and struggles to relax and he’ll be hard on those around him that are too liberal in their fun. Noise and rowdiness offend him, as does mess and disorder and you can be sure he’ll happily patrol their living quarters to get after anyone not keeping their area up.
Pets:
Name: Billy
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Robin's-egg blue, avid fisher.
Name: Bob
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Cobalt blue, lazy and vocal.
Name: Frank
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Navy blue, affectionate and clever, clingy after volcano explosion.
Name: Joe
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Beige, squared-off look, curious and adventurous
Name: Daisy
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Jade-green, fussy and elegant
Name: Theodore John Chesterton the Fourth
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Sexual orientation: Heterosexual
Play-by: Karl Urban
Pernese Settler info
Craft/job: Veterinarian (Firelizard specialty)
Rank: Head Vet
Location at Threadfall: Landing
Do they approve of the genetic tinkering? Nope, but there’s no use locking the barn door after the horses have gone, so now they need to roll with it.
Appearance:
Ted is tall and broad-shouldered, his body well-muscled from a life of farm work, with the tan to match. His stringy, sandy-blond hair is cut to ear length, and has a permanently tousled look. His eyes are the solid blue of a beautiful summer’s day. The face they’re in is fairly attractive, but has the beginnings of a rough, weather-beaten look
Personality:
Ted likes to think of himself as a good person. He cares about innocent children and small puppies (cats are on their own). He embraces the persona of the country gentleman; pleasant, laconic and well-mannered when he has no reason to be mad at a person. And even when he is, his experience as a vest has taught him how to put on the professional mask and fake cheer, calm and steady hands even when all he wants to do is break something (or someone). He holds tenaciously to his opinions once formed and requires concrete, or at least visual, proof that there’s a good reason to change a particular stance before he does.
Ted likes sweet things and lazy mornings. He wishes everyone would just cool down, quit fighting with one another and get along, but is practical enough to accept that this will likely never happen-even in the face of a greater enemy like Thread. Human nature being what it is, he knows some folks never do see eye to eye. That’s why he tries to be the grease between the squeaky wheels when he can, quietly urging sensibility and understanding when those around him get too wrapped up in their own opinions to see another point of view.
Ted is a calm personality. If he’s got something to say, it’ll get said; if he gets his teeth into an issue, he’ll defend his stand ferociously; but he’ll never be the boldest or loudest person in a group. He prefers evasion or misdirection as tactics, rather than direct confrontation, because once punches get thrown they’re hard to take back (satisfying though they are on occasion).
Ted is patient, responsible and organized. Training and maturity have long burned away the impatience of youth and he knows how to wait for the most opportune moment instead of bolting at first opportunity- and how to soldier on in the event of first failure. He feels his responsibilities keenly and prides himself on keeping his word and fulfilling his obligations.
History:
Ted was born to a country lawyer and his wife, and quickly became known for dragging home all manner of animals: stray kittens, broken-winged birds and once even a horse covered in paint splotches and bruises. He coincidentally developed a reputation for being tough, too. The other boys weren’t always kind when a peer showed a gentle heart and despite the protests of his father, Ted’s grandfather took the boy in hand and taught him how to at least win his fights and put the bullies in their place.
Of course, fists couldn’t solve everything. Ted learned to use his wits and that southern charm as he got older to talk his way out of trouble before it got started. College was coming up, you see, and no school wanted a student with a record. There was no doubt about what Ted was going to be, and he busted his butt to finish as soon as he could. He went back home with his shiny new degree and set up a clinic. At the closest vet for a lot of folks, he saw everything from cats and dogs to livestock, and beyond.
He’d have been happy to stay there forever, but his sister’s husband died suddenly of a heart attack and the young vet moved in with her to help ride herd on his nephews. Then it turned out that Earth in general held too many memories for her and she wrangled a space for her family on the Pern expedition. Ted wasn’t about to let them head off into the unknown alone, so he joined up too. At least it would be an adventure.
The planet was all they were promised at first: new space to explore and fresh air to breathe. Then dragonets were discovered and Ted gleefully dove into becoming the expert on firelizard anatomy and treatment after he attached a trio of blues. He studied them avidly- the way they slept, ate, moved and breathed- and offered a bounty for the corpses of any hatchlings who didn’t survive to fly off with their fair. He acquired more eggs over the years from the grateful owners of patients, building the group to a fair of seven that the country doctor trained up right and which followed him everywhere he went.
That was a good thing when deadly rain fell from the sky. Ted was visiting his sister on a break when his fair herded them all inside. He could only watch in horror as the bone chilling realization of the deadly danger they’d wandered into sank into his soul.
Ted did a lot of work with survivors in the aftermath of that terrible First Fall. He comforted where he could, let his flitters cheer and distract where they could, shared sympathies with the adults. His own family had been fortunate enough to be in the cover of Landing for First Fall, but the first was not the last, and each as potentially deadly. The government and Colony leadership had brought them to a death trap, and no better plan was being floated around than some half-baked idea about making dragons. Dragons! It was crazy. Ted wasn’t the only one less than confident in the Council’s decision and fell in with a group who quietly decided to do something about it.
The conspirators succeeded in infiltrating the storage where the distress beacon was stored by having one of their own stationed there. Careful layers of misdirection and bribery were used to cover its transport to a secluded location and knowledge pooled to launch it secretly into space. It was a long shot, they all knew, even if it worked, but it was something *they* could do to save themselves instead of waiting on distant leadership and scientists playing at myths and godhood. Ted didn’t regret his involvement for a minute- his family was worth it.
Time passed and Thread became the new normal. They learned how to fight it and how to hide and Ted put in his time with the ground crews to help protect what they had left. Then Pern laughed in their face again and again, volcanoes and rough seas conspiring to strand him with the group on Ista island instead of the relative safety of the North. He’s almost philosophical about it by now, and doggedly determined not to give in and let the stupid planet win.
The crash of the Amherst and news of the Dragon Incident were by turns disturbing and a relief to him. The conspirators had to act quickly to limit their exposure in the face of their plan’s failure, killing their Supply member in hopes the witch-hunt would stop with him. Ted himself was deeply distressed to have contributed to the deaths of the good men and women on the Amherst crew (even if their Captain brought it on them all by poking at the Oort cloud instead of getting his ass down their and just recuing them like he shoulda). The experience did simplify his feelings on the Dragon Program, however. If the beasts are their only remaining option, they should be hatched ASAP and woe to any politician telling them to settle down and wait. It’s time to take control of their own destiny instead of being good little boys and girls.
Dragon
Name: Perwelth
Colour: Brown
Hatching date: 10.8.28
Perwelth is a perfectly average dragon, prim and poised. He’s a uniformly plain shade of brown, nothing that could ever be mistaken for flashy or exciting. Somehow he keeps a rigid and proper posture even at rest and there will be many a joke that if he just removed the stick from his arse…
But Perwelth it quite content with that stick right where it is, thank you very much. It keeps one in good form after all. First and foremost he is a follower, a solid supporting role that is the sort of right hand that is good at anticipating what is needed before it’s even asked. Putting him in any sort of position of authority or command won’t sit well, though he’ll do his best to try (and he might have a good time being puffed up about it for a little while). It’s not in him to be in charge and that’s not where his skillset lies. He likes knowing his place and expects everyone else to as well. He’ll follow strictly to the colour hierarchy and encourage the rest to as well, because that order is what’s going to keep them alive. There will an almost unwavering support for the higher ranked colours, because it’s right, even if he disagrees. They must know best, right? It would take a lot for him to be convinced that someone in a position of authority is wrong.
Fun doesn’t seem to be a word in this brown’s vocabulary and there isn’t much in the way of sense of humour. He’s practical and literal, jokes often go right over his head (which is fine because he’s easy to make fun of). He tends to be tightly wound and struggles to relax and he’ll be hard on those around him that are too liberal in their fun. Noise and rowdiness offend him, as does mess and disorder and you can be sure he’ll happily patrol their living quarters to get after anyone not keeping their area up.
Pets:
Name: Billy
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Robin's-egg blue, avid fisher.
Name: Bob
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Cobalt blue, lazy and vocal.
Name: Frank
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Navy blue, affectionate and clever, clingy after volcano explosion.
Name: Joe
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Beige, squared-off look, curious and adventurous
Name: Daisy
Type: Firelizard (original)
Description: Jade-green, fussy and elegant