Dhanya

by **Dhanya** on February 25th, 2010, 2:58 pm

Dhanya, once known as Pygmy

Basic Information

Name: Dhanya
Race: Kelvic (Pygmy goat)
Date of Birth: Day 1 of Spring, 508
Current Age: 2
Gender: Female

Physical Description

Pygmy is a cute little thing. Her heart-shaped face and short stature are a good match for the bouncy cuddliness of her animal form. Pygmy is only 5'3'', unusually small for a Kelvic and it is unlikely that she'll ever grow beyond that height, given her age. From a distance, she hardly cuts a striking figure. In either form, she is basically fluffy, with round limbs and soft shoulders. She's very physical with solid muscle from her active lifestyle, though it is hidden beneath an enduring layer of baby fat or fur.

When in her human form she could best be described as fertile, with strong, thick legs, full hips and a waist that is proportional, not thin. In her animal form, she has a trimmed fur pattern, with dark brown fur accenting her otherwise caramel-coloured coat. As a human, her hair colour reflects this pattern, with lighter coloured hair beneath the dark. She keeps her hair cropped just below her ears, though rarely evenly since she performs this task herself and without a mirror. She prefers it to be kept that way. She appears as common as they come, until you take a second look at her.

Pygmy will never pass for human. Even a cursory glance is enough to see just what she is. Pygmy has the eyes of a goat, no matter what form she is in. While the whites of her eyes are apparent when standing on two legs, she still has horizontal pupils and honey-coloured irises that mark her as a Kelvic. Not even that, they make it obvious that she is a prey animal and goats make for good eating. It's not entirely unusual to see intelligence in a wolf or a cat, even a horse but it's not comforting to have a food animal look back at you and meet your stare. The horns are small but they don't help matters.

Thus, Pygmy is cute and she has a sweet smile, full lips, an energetic walk, she dresses well and... quite frankly, she is a little disturbing to look at.

Character Concept

Personality - Pygmy is extroverted and energetic, always dancing, running and moving, moving, moving. She values enjoyment and personal freedom over more socially minded pursuits but she's not without a caring nature. Unfortunately, she tends not to think too far into the future and often dwells on her own immediate needs. If she's hungry, she will tell all present and continue to tell them until she is fed. She is not entirely selfish though, she's always quick to comfort someone when they are upset and she likes to make people happy.
Ethics – Pygymy's morals aren't set in stone. If asked, she wouldn't be able to relate just what her moral code amounts to. She won't take what she doesn't deserve but her measure of deserving is largely related to how hungry she is and how much she likes what she's looking at. She's not malicious but she's not thoughtful either. If someone sat her down and explained morality to her, she would probably change her ways. Pygmy is still childish in her view of the world but she's going to have to grow up soon or pay the price for it.
Likes – Dancing, singing and trying new things. She loves any opportunity to try new food. She likes all things colourful and bright but especially enjoys positive attention.
Dislikes – She's not a big fan of meat. She also finds hunting distasteful, since she feels an affinity for other prey animals.

Character History

Pygmy was born in Zeltiva, in the house of a rich wizard. There was little fanfare after her birth. As would be the case for the rest of her life, she was a surprise. Her mother was pleased, although her owner was perplexed.

Pygmy's mother was a wolf Kelvic called Katya, a name that caused her daughter a small amount of amusement. Katya had spent her childhood and formative years in a pack with other Kelvics. She had never had a master of her own, content to be among others that were like her. When she found a bond mate, it was with another Kelvic and she had been proud that her child would be born among people that would understand and love it, without judgement or condescension.

Two months into her pregnancy, she was kidnapped from her camp while the other members were out hunting. Her pregnancy had not been an easy one and her morning sickness had been so severe that she was unable to fend off her attackers. Within a week, she had been shipped to Zeltiva and three days after that she was sold. She was bought by an affluent wizard named Jenon. Though Jenon was not a cruel person, he was not a kind master. Katya found herself largely ignored, except for when Jenon wished to make a statement that benefited from the presence of a captive shapeshifter and hunter. She did not bond with her master and pined for her pack and mate near constantly. Jenon had paid guards and servants but no family to speak of, so she had little respite from her loneliness until Pygmy was born. Katya gave her the name Amala.

Where Katya was overjoyed with her healthy, happy baby, Jenon was unimpressed. He hadn't been expecting Amala to be the same species as her mother but he had been hoping for something that had a fighting instinct. Something with claws or sharp teeth. Something intimidating or sleek, that would look impressive at parties. Instead he got a miniature goat that slipped on the floorboards and frequently fell over loudly while learning to jump. He would sometimes watch her, trying to understand just how she had come to be. Katya, hurt by his neglect and less than fond of him, did not trust his motives. Every night before bed, Katya would hold her daughter and tell her softly and firmly, “That man is not your master, you have to find your own.” Amala listened to her mother.

Still, there was only so much do in a largely empty mansion and the servants and guards didn't have a lot of free time for a child, so Amala spent many mornings watching Jenon. A serious person, Jenon did not initially know what to do with her intense, focused gaze. For a few days, neither of them said anything and Jenon ignored her until she got bored and went away. After a week of measuring Jenon up, she grew tired of his silence and chose to speak. He had never heard her do so before.

Her first sentence was this. “The sheep go bah.”

Jenon found this highly amusing. His own laughter surprised him. As time passed he began to enjoy his time with Amala and saw potential in her that he had not seen before. Now actively aware of her existence, he began to put money into teaching her how to dance and sing. Unlike her mother, she had possessed a deep naivete and sweetness that meshed well with her boundless energy. Jenon liked this about her and decided that if he could not keep her as a show of his excellent security detail, then she would make good light entertainment instead. He certainly found her entertaining, so he imagined others would too. In reality, he had grown to love her but couldn't justify the emotion, so he gave himself a reason to keep her close. During this period of her life she learned a great deal about upper class deportment and etiquette, so as not to embarrass Jenon during events. Even if she doesn't enjoy conforming to such standards, she is at least aware of what they are and capable of doing so.

Amala spent many hours a day in his office, finding an outlet for her need of a master, without truly bonding with him. This time allowed her an insight to the workings of his magic, although she could not yet perform any of it herself. He often saw her trying and would pat her head after every failed attempt. Unused to bitter failure, Amala one day broke down weeping and threw a loud, unhappy tantrum. A more aware father might have told her that not everything in life is easy but Jenon was not as mature as he was intelligent. He sat her down in front of a mirror and spent a month teaching her the basics of hypnotism. He was relieved that it stopped her crying.

When Amala told her mother of this, Katya told her this made Jenon a bit of an idiot but that she should keep practicing the skill. Amala's lack of interest in hunting, tracking or fighting had made Katya worry for her safety, so she considered any potentially defensive ability to be a boon.

Still, time crept forwards and soon Amala's easy childhood came to an end. Amala became physically mature quite quickly but was a long way from being emotionally so. Jenon took to bringing her along to dinner parties, where she would dance or sing between courses. Though it takes many years to train a competent, classical dancer, it takes less time to bring a beginner to a passable level of ability, especially when they are good at improvisation. While Amala was not of a professional level, Jenon's friends could see some potential in her and made an offer for her.

Jenon did not want to accept but could not think of a reason that didn't lie in affection. Unwilling to admit to his feelings, he agreed to sell her. Being a foolish man, he let her know in advance. Katya told her it was time for her to leave and gave her blessing. Jenon was fond of walks in the mountains around Zeltiva, with Katya at his side more for the look of things than for protection. Amala asked to go with them, having never gone along before and offered to carry Jenon's pack.

In a tragic turn of events, the young Kelvic fell off a high cliff edge after stepping too close to look at the view. Jenon blamed himself for bringing along a completely inexperienced hiker and to Katya's surprise, did not even comment on the loss of his possessions. It did not even occur to him that goats aren't known for a lack of balance. Jenon grieved for months and released Katya in an act of apology. Confused by his behaviour, Katya left quickly, seeking out her old pack. She never told him the truth, unable to write it in a note and unsure of whether she could forgive him for stealing years of her life and treating her poorly.

Amala wandered off on the day of her escape with a large amount of money, some papers she did not know how to read and a week's worth of non-perishable food. It was more than enough to get her out of town and started on the road to finding herself a mate that she felt she deserved. Katya's advice is always in her ears and she remains unwilling to settle for anything less than the perfect person for her. She's just not sure what that is yet.

In the six months since she left home, Amala has faced a fairly steep learning curve. She's had to endure hunger, thirst and a wide array of dangers she had only been warned about before. She hasn't enjoyed all of it but she continues to move forward, determined to see as much as she can while she's on the move. She's learned to ride a horse or at least sit on one, a necessity for long distance travel even when you are capable of turning into another ungulate yourself. She's also learned to beg, an art that she finds conceptually but not emotionally difficult. On the whole, she has been glad to build a broad set of basic skills. She is a jack of all trades and master of approximately none of them.

Her travels have finally led her to the Sea of Grass. She has recently changed her name to give herself some anonymity, a concept she has only just become aware of. She renamed herself Pygmy because she's not very creative that way. It's the same reason her Pony is called Pon.

Character Present

Pygmy has matured as a result of her travels and recent experiences with love and kelvic bonding. She has left the sea of grass to travel once more, with a new name given to her by Vanator. She now calls herself Dhanya and wishes to live up to the name.

Dhanya's experiences in the desert have been marked by casual bad luck and occasional serendipity. She has encountered a higher power, met one of her own people for the first time in a season and been saved from a potentially fatal fall by Hirem, a Benshiran. She has also discovered that she is pregnant, which has weighed heavily on her. Circumstance drives her forward, bringing forth changes in her thinking that go against her nature.

Her life has changed course irrevocably and she is not yet ready for the future.

Equipment and Possessions

Clothing- one purple dress, dark red leggings, walking boots, thick socks, black cloak with crudely hand sewn flower detailing, blue tunic, belt.
Pack- brush, oats, small knife, rice, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, waterskin.
Family heirloom- her mother's necklace, handmade with a claw pendant taken from her first hunt.
Travel gear- one tent, tarp, 100 ft of rope, flint & steel, lantern, two torches, bedroll, blanket, fishing tackle & hooks, a full set of tack, a large set of saddlebags.
Horse- Tidal pony (named Pon).

Ledger

See below.

Thread List

See below.

by **Dhanya** on March 11th, 2010, 11:26 am

Training (Skills, Arcana, Gnosis, Lore)

Key Skills
Singing
Dance
Hypnotism
Hypnotism
Points
12
18
15
Acquired
SP, IG
SP, IG
SP, IG

Auxiliary Skills :

Lore: Traditional Zeltivan dances.
Lore: Upper class Zeltivan etiquette.

Acquired Lore :

Thread List

Grandmothered threads :

Out of shoes and howling at the moon, 42nd of Summer, 510 (abandoned)
Seasons of change, 43rd of Summer, 510
Salutations, 68th of Summer, 510 (completed)
Catching sight of the future, 72nd of Summer, 510 (abandoned)
Cry Sanctuary, 54th of Autumn, 510
Oooh, babies! 55th of Autumn, 510

Flashbacks

Midnight in the garden of goat and evil, 509 (abandoned)
Amala's day at the shipyards
And then she grew hooves, 509 (abandoned, points awarded)
The true nature of things (abandoned, points awarded)

by **Dhanya** on April 9th, 2010, 4:21 am

Pygmy’s Songography:

Was Feeling Fine:

To Her Door: Paul Kelly

I Ain’t Telling the Truth:Bluejuice

Sweet Guy:Paul Kelly and the Messengers

You Gotta Be: Des’ree

Songbirds Sing for Food:

Little Lion Man: Mumford and Sons

Fidelity: Regina Spektor

Red Sun Over the River: Anon

When the Sun Goes Down:

Can Anybody Find Me Somebody to Love: Queen

Guess I'm Doing Fine: Beck

Possession: Sarah Mclachlan

by **Dhanya** on April 9th, 2010, 4:54 am

Rough notes:

Seasonal expenses: 45gm/s, poor.

Ledger:
100 gold mizas, SP.
10 gold mizas, performance.
21 gold mizas, performance, 3 songs * 7 gold mizas.
-45 gold mizas spring season.
Current total: 86 gold mizas.

by **Dhanya** on July 23rd, 2010, 5:02 am

Secret Songs :

Dhanya

Dhanya

Re: Pygmy

Pygmy

Pygmy

Pygmy

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