Cattana's Theatrical Chestnut-Brown Sidamath
Wooden Leg Egg
Shade upon shade of brown is layered across the surface of this egg. Striations along the shell cause the colors to take on a grained, wood-like appearance, darker points suggesting knot-holes here and there. Rather bulging at the more rounded end, the pointier end of this egg maintains its place, dug deep into the sand.
Wooden Leg Egg shifts in the sands, seeming firmly anchored by one end. Then, quite suddenly, there's a jumble of brown and white, of dissolving timbers and flying sand. With a sound almost like a creak, the egg dissolves into so many shards, allowing a chestnut-brown to take the stage, and greet his adoring public.
Theatrical Chestnut-Brown Dragonet
Hushed, expectant darkness envelops his body with the weight of night, its shadows sliding over velvety chestnut. Soft hue belies the solidity of the form within; lean, muscular strength without bulk, powerful wings but finely proportioned. This dragon appears to be more black than brown but his true colours shines through; in the whisperings of colour that detail broad head knobs and steady haunches, in the sheen of anticipation glazing dark talons and in the tiger-eye that highlights the curves of his wingspars with such dramatic flair.
Private Impression Message
It's as though a curtain drops before your eyes, shutting off the vast audience of your fellow candidates, the hatchlings upon the sands, the cheering voices from the stands. Now you're backstage, alone with a chestnut-brown nose thats aimed at you. His voice sounds in your head, quick, leaping from one vantage point to another with a lightening-sharp energy. First he's behind your eyes, then off somewhere to the right, before skipping to the back of your head, where he settles, his lively baritone sounding with a hint of laughter, and a rush of sage-scented air. « Cattana! » He tries the name out, investigating each part. « Cat… Cata… Ttana! » He likes that one best, and there's a mental nod as he relaxes suddenly, becoming a part of you. « Ttana, I am Sidamath! Let the games begin! »
Name and Theme
Yo ho ho! Our eggs this time around were based on Pirates, as they were clutched just after International Talk Like A Pirate Day (www.talklikeapirate.com).
Sidamath's name is based on the Italian word 'sfida', meaning challenge. We looked to Italian because Much Ado is set in Tuscany, and 'challenge' is just what these two are going to do, to each other, and the rest of the world!
King Edward VIII is one of England's more famous, and more romantic monarchs. He loved an American woman named Wallis Simpson, and eventually abdicated his throne in order to be able to marry her and live his life with her - a grand, romantic gesture. Benedick is a character you know well - we thought that the perfect sparring partner for your Beatrice was a draconic Benedick, and that's what you're getting!
Edward VIII's abdication speech:
"At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.
A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my heart.
You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve. But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.
And I want you to know that the decision I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a different course."
Personality
Just as Cattana is not entirely Beatrice but inspired by her, your lifemate Sidamath has strands of Benedick and Edward VIII making up his personality. He's witty and argumentative, a grump who takes pride in cleanliness but loves Cattana with an undivided and romantic heart.
From Benedict, he takes a love of wordplay and the clash of wits. However, he is frugal with his wits and does not waste words with those he couldn't care less about. No, the more he teases, the longer the fight, the more he feels for a person. For those he doesn't know, or doesn't care about, he'll use the occasional pun and tease; however, it'll be just flashes of the fire that burns within. Cattana is the one that his life revolves around, and thus it is for her that he will tease unrelentingly. He revels in arguing with her it's a race of minds, a challenge that he could indulge in all days and nights.
While Sidamath might tease, Cattana is the one who comes first in his life. He would never, ever let anything come between them. There is an element of stubbornness in his personality; once he fixes on a course of action, he is difficult to budge. He'll state the way things stand in a determined tone, and counter every argument with that single, defiant statement. If he argues, then his mind can be changed if he refuses to argue, that's because he believes the matter is settled. The harder he's pushed, the less likely that he'll change his mind the best way to convince him will be to leave him alone for a while and come back to try again later through suggestions and trickery.
Cattana might be unsure about what she thinks about men, but Sidamath has similar qualms about women. Cattana, in fact, is one of the few women that he's entirely comfortable around. He's a man's man; he feels most comfortable in the company of males. That attitude of camaraderie is what he feels as the most honest friendships in the world. This will be one of the main sources of debate between the pair amongst the others that they'll find during the course of their lives together.
Unlike other dragons who might not care about cleanliness or order, Sidamath will insist on keeping your weyr regimentally clean. He'll nag until every little piece is picked up, every speck of dust swept away, everything in its place and looking spick and span. It's like living with a drill sergeant constantly inspecting your gear! He'll expect that your clothes and hair will be just as clean and orderly, and don't put it past him to inspect Cattana's friends and any weyrmates as well.
He won't welcome any lovers or weyrmates of Cattana with open… wings. Sidamath doesn't mind her having friends but he wants to be the one who is closest to her. There'll be moments of jealousy, and don't expect him to get attached to her special friend's lifemate either. It'll take time, understanding and perhaps a little sucking up before he'll accept the situation.
As far as children go, he's not convinced that mankind really needs them. If it weren't completely unethical and would probably upset people, he wouldn't mind dropping them off on the other side of Pern. He just doesn't have time for their games or pranks. Yes, occasionally he can be a bit of a grump. Yet every now and then, Sidamath's attitude will melt a little, and you'll surprise him acting as a plaything for a couple of children. He'll deny enjoying it, and justify his actions as doing a service to the Weyr. Then, for the next few days he'll act even worse than usual just to prove that he really, really, truly doesn't like children. He'll loudly begrudge every moment that Cattana spends on her own offspring (if she has them!); but at the same time he'll be pointing out the elements of her that they have in them.
From the moment he decides to chase in a flight, he'll suddenly become focused and there'll be a lack of words. Yes, the verbose one will suddenly run out of words! There'll be no poetry, no prose, but instead a mind that thinks and plans ands plots. If he loses, he takes it hard for an evening, but recovers quickly. If he wins, there'll be an equal and opposite reaction for one evening he'll want to stay close, want to talk to her, want to share his thoughts and dreams. Come sunrise, he'll begin to distance himself; by midday, he'll be avoiding her. Sidamath is capable of woeing and winning a heart, but the only heart he'll really, truly want is Cattana's own. He does have a sense of duty, though: if he ever becomes a clutchdad, he'll stand by his gold for the duration of the clutch. He'll eat when she eats, exercise when she exercises, and stay awake at nights to keep an eye on the eggs for her. But he'll easily become bored, and need Cattana nearby to test his wit and tease.
Physicality
Sidamath's description is based on a Shakespearean theatre - the dark brown of red velvet curtains when the lights are turned out Sidamath has the body of a master swordsman. There's strength there, real and true, but his muscles are understated. Instead, he combines that strength with a lean agility. In essence, Sidamath is a compromise between a blue and a bronze: He will never have the flexibility in the air of a smaller dragon, but he'll have the stamina to continue for longer; he'll not be able to beat a bronze for raw power, but can out-manouver the larger ones.
His progression to this point will be full of trials, however, and he'll have to continue to work towards that balance. There'll be times during Weyrlinghood where he'll have more bulk; he'll put on weight, and muscles, and look like he's going to turn into one of those huge browns. Then, just as you think that you know how he's going to turn out, he'll suddenly have a growth spurt and the weight'll distribute itself nicely. It'll take him some time to work out how to move with poise and grace; he'll trip over everything in the first few weeks and sometimes it'll seem like he spends more time horizontal than vertical! As he begins to work out how to coordinate five limbs at once, he'll slowly become more and more stealth-like, and by the time he's fully grown will be able to pace with the silentness of a hunter.
Sidamath does not like the water. To be more accurate, he hates it with a passion. It's a toss up on if this fastidious dragon wants to be clean more or stay away from water. When others may be playing in the water for sport, he'll lounge in the sand, teasing and rating the other's efforts. No, the air is more his element; if you want to see how this bloke flies, watch a nature movie showing the style of an eagle. At times, his showiness will cost him and he'll be a less efficiant flier than some others. But oh, what fun to watch!
Mindvoice
His mental presence is quite a sensation - he's quick and zippy, one moment here, the next moment over there, moving at light speed as he fires mental challenges at you and pulls you into a war of words, Beatrice and Benedick style. When he's happy, his lively baritone sounds like he's halfway to laughing, when he's grumpy it's far gruffer, deeper and slower. There's quite a distinctive set of scents that herald his mental arrival - sage, rosemary, the smell of Italian herbs - quite masculine, and always a pleasure to experience. For colour, he prefers the shades between red and brown, firing crimson, umber, russet, mahogany, oak and siena at you to augment his lightening-quick speech, ocassionally lacing it with a hint of gold.
Sire: Razgulth
Dam: Llydyth
Credits:
Egg: ???
Inspiration: Savarna, R'sin
Note: Cattana, Ttana, we're so glad to have you! Welcome to riding at Fort Weyr! Remember that only one person knows Sidamath inside out, and that's you - if something's not quite right, make sure you change it so that it is. We're looking forward to RPing with both of you for a long time to come!
Posted 2004-Oct-30 by Zephre
