Post by Meira on Jul 9, 2012 15:52:57 GMT -5
Character permission: Sparrow
Name: Cuinn o'Dubhuir
Race: Duine
Age: 18
Height: 4'7"
Weight: 75 lbs.
Birth place: Lodahn, An Domhan
Appearance:
Most Duine have little differences in appearance. For Cuinn's part, he can boast that he is slightly taller than the average Duine. Like all of his species, he is covered in short fur. His is an ink black, with a patterning of silver in stripes along either side of his spine, a tuft of fur at the top of his head, and two eyebrow-like bits above his large black eyes. His lower jaw and most of his chest is a lighter, near white color. His pata are a dull grey.
As far as clothing is concerned, Cuinn tends to wear short pants with many pockets, common apparel among his kind. When not aboard his ship or back on his home planet, he is obliged to wear a pair of goggles to block the excess light from blinding him. These goggles are made of a fine, gold colored, material with red velvet cushioning around the eyes and a leather band to hold them on his head.
Personality:
Having grown up entirely aware of his intelligence and ability, Cuinn has developed a sense of laziness that he's never fully outgrown. Never having to really try at anything, he has a very laid back attitude. He also hasn't quite shaken his immaturity either. He can often be seen walking around on his forelimbs with a ridiculous smile on his face. Walking in this manner is often considered childish, and that's exactly why Cuinn does it.
As a fili, Cuinn is in no way uncomfortable in crowds. If anything, he craves the attention he receives when amongst groups. He is quick to joke and sing, anything to keep those around in in high spirits. He does, however, have a more brooding side as well. This, he tries to avoid at all costs.
To his friend, Athas, Cuinn is fiercely loyal. He has a love for Athas that cannot be adequately explained and Cuinn will do anything and everything in his power to help him. The two share a deep sense of adventure and curiosity, though in their own respective ways.
Occupation: Mac Leinn
Rank: Fili (a bard)
Skills:
Wordsmith
Musical instruments
Somewhat charming
Halfway decent pilot
Ships/Vehicles: Fenian's Flight
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 4
Intelligence: 6
Speed: 5
Leadership: 3
Unarmed: 2
Melee Weapons: 2
Ranged Weapons: 2
Bio:
Though his mother liked to invent dramatic versions of the tale to amuse him, Cuinn was born as most Duine. He was tiny and entirely helpless, spending his first few months in the protection of his mother's pouch. Lorna did not have to invent stories for when the boy finally began to venture into the world, however. From his first steps, Cuinn had a taste for adventure that could never be fully sated. Luckily for him, Cuinn would never remember a time in his life where he had to explore alone. The matter of blood meant nothing at all to Cuinn when referring to Athas. In all that mattered, they were brothers.
The truth was that Athas was the son of a brood house keeper Cuinn's parents employed. His mother would bring him along with her when she came to work. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. She would always have her son near, and Cuinn would have a constant playmate. This worked out well for Cuinn, who's parents were both well regarded in their fields and often called away for consultations or lectures. Their prestige within the Mac Leinn caste had earned them enough to live a wealthy lifestyle, but it came at the price of their time. Cuinn's father, Conn, in particular was away from the home more often than not. As a brehon, he worked closely with many of their colony's noble families and had even been called on in service to the old bloods at times.
Lorna did her best to balance her time as a starai at Lodahn's university and at home with Cuinn. Had she not made such a point to be there as her son grew, she might have never noticed how her son's dear friend seemed to keep at level with Cuinn. As time would pass, it would become evident that the boy was no brood child at all. While such a thing was rare indeed, the true implications would not be understood by Cuinn until some time later.
As far as Cuinn was concerned, he and Athas were the same, and so it was only natural that they would attend school together when they each turned three. Both boys were intelligent and talented, though in different ways. While Athas seemed to have a brilliant knack for gadgets and the like, Cuinn excelled in subjects that did not surprise his parents or his teachers. He grew to possess a distinct command of the spoken, and sung, word. He had an ear for the histories and a musical creativity that impressed his friends and instructors alike. While these things might not otherwise have seemed impressive, it was the ease with which he excelled in these subjects that caused notice. For Cuinn, these things were as natural as breathing. This would set the norm for how Cuinn would approach his academic career in the future.
Socially, Cuinn made friends without even trying. He had a manner about him that drew others in. Though this would never lessen the bond between himself and Athas. Such a thing was inconceivable to the two boys. In fact, when the truth of Athas' parentage was discovered by some of their classmates, Cuinn stood up to those who thought to ridicule his best friend. In his way, Cuinn managed to soundly shame the others for being so cruel, yet also managed to ensure that there were no hard feelings when all was said and done.
While he had many friends within the schoolyard, outside of those boundaries, Cuinn spent his time almost exclusively with Athas. They shared each others dreams and supposed adventures, sometimes to their own detriment when such ventures ended in a good scolding. More than once, the boys had been caught *re-purposing* bobbles and other small objects for their collections. One such incident occurred during a rare occasion; while Cuinn's father was home.
They had been caught trying to smuggle a crystal figurine from Conn's study. The smooth surface had such a pretty sound to it, soft and delicate, the boys could hardly resist. Conn was gone so often, surely he wouldn't miss it. The boys had made it almost out of the house when they were startled by Conn's deep, serious voice calling them back. Cuinn had borne the brunt of the chiding. Conn had always adored Athas for his genius and never seemed to anger with him as he did with Cuinn. Though Cuinn knew this was because Athas was not Conn's son, it didn't stop the ache it caused in his heart to see his father favor the other boy so. Even so, the love shared between Cuinn and Athas was solid and strong and Cuinn did not begrudge his dear friend Conn's approval.
When the world seemed against them, or when they simply felt the need to conspire, their sanctuary was a fort they'd built together behind Cuinn's home, complete with a "no gurls alowd" sign. They often referred to their beloved escape as Fenian's Crag, after a famous Duine fili who dared venture beyond An Domhan into the mysterious voids of space and the spectacular worlds beyond. It was in Fenian's Crag that they began to dream of the wide wonders that might wait beyond An Domhan.
The only other being ever able to penetrate even partially into the exclusive circle that was Cuinn and Athas' friendship did so through sheer force and coercion. Kassidy was a school friend in the same year as the two boys, and she cared not at all for the sanctity of their exclusiveness. Time and again, she would threaten and bribe her way into their activities to the point where Cuinn and Athas simply began to allow her to tag along. She never was able to force her way into Fenian's Crag, but she came quite close. Had she not moved away, she might have found a way to twist their arms into taking down that magical sign.
Their school years would pass quickly and before long they'd reached the end of standard education. But with two such bright minds, standard would never be enough. Athas was quickly enrolled in a technical school where he was quickly showing his own instructors a thing or two, and Cuinn entered the hallowed halls of Lodahn's university where all expected him to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a brehon.
It would be inaccurate to say that Cuinn was against becoming a brehon. He had nothing against the profession. The truth was simply that Cuinn had no real intentions at all. As he had managed to do his entire life, Cuinn began his college years coasting by on natural talent alone. He took classes, skipped classes, excelled and failed (though rarely). His professors were often frustrated with the young man, sure that if he'd just put forth the effort, he'd be the most brilliant mind of his generation of Mac Leinn. But Cuinn was more interested in the things many young men find distracting Women, in particular, were a major downfall for Cuinn.
A hopeless romantic, Cuinn seemed to fall in love with every girl he met. He'd compose odes to the beauty of their songs, to their ears, their feet; whatever won him a kiss. When in the favor of a particular girl, Cuinn was lighter than air and would droll on endlessly to Athas, musing over the wonders of love and happiness. When out of favor, Cuinn's moods would be as dark as An Domhan's skies as he forswore the very thought of love as a disease that clouded the senses and better judgement of men. Athas, for his part, was a bastion of patience through Cuinn's late adolescence.
Cuinn managed to continue his habits through his first year of college, but in his second year, Conn retired from his active service as a brehon. Now at home regularly, Conn became much more involved in his son's academic career. Bickering over course loads quickly became all out debates between father and son, transforming Cuinn into a bitter, brooding mess. He felt stifled by his father, who looked down on Cuinn's desire to explore some fili courses as a waste of time. Their confrontations came to a head one night Conn's choice of words struck a raw nerve for Cuinn.
He had compared Cuinn to Athas, pointing out how Cuinn's friend never seemed to take the easy way out. The accumulation of this observation over the years finally became too much for Cuinn. The next day he applied for a transfer to a neighboring colony's university. When his transfer was approved, he wasted no time. He told his mother he loved her, suggested to his father that he disown him and adopt Athas instead, and left his home behind.
He didn't have the heart to tell Athas to his face. Instead, he left him a note, telling him that he was taking a verse from Fenian's song and venturing out to explore beyond what he knew. It broke his heart to leave Athas that way, but there was something inside of him that felt as is it would explode if he didn't leave right then, and Athas would have stopped him.
In his year abroad, Cuinn continued to enjoy the benefits of his family's good name, but with a welcome difference. His family was known *of*, but not known personally. This provided Cuinn with a beautiful freedom that he'd never known before. Professors seemed to favor him, but did not press him to strive any more than he wished. They did not know what his father was like, and so simply accepted his choices for what they were: *his* choices. In this year, Cuinn would study the philosophies and histories of the fili to his heart's content and even took a whole course studying the life and works of the great Fenian. He sang and drank and wooed. Looking back, Cuinn would say that year was both the best and worst of his young life. For no matter how free he felt, or how happy, he was alone without Athas by his side.
Cuinn tried to fill that emptiness as best he could, finding himself in a string of relationships that all inevitably ended badly. Whatever the cause, be it homesickness or -more likely- a fear of commitment, Cuinn could never truly open himself to anyone. And he tried, he truly did. He longed to feel like the lovers in the old ballads, but the passion never found its way to his heart. He could say the words, sing them, and go through the motions, causing more than a few girls to fall for him. But in the end, they left him, feeling cheated and disappointed.
His return home was inevitable, but did not come the way Cuinn had expected it it. He had envisioned himself returning as something of a hero, having graduated as a celebrated young fili on the verge of forging his own place in the songs that would be sung of his time. Instead, he came home panicked and feeling helpless to watch his mother deteriorate slowly in illness. Lorna chuckled and chided Cuinn for his needless worry. She was simply overworked and needed to slow down. She retired from the university and began a strict regiment of relaxation at home. Cuinn promised he would be at her side, for whatever she needed, but she refused. He had a year left at the university. She would not see him waste it when she didn't even need him.
Cuinn and Athas fell back into pace with each other as if not a day had passed. Cuinn never said it out loud, but he'd missed his friend far more than he could have realized. To be back at his side made him feel whole again. Before long, his final year had passed and Cuinn graduated as a fully honored fili. Cuinn's mother managed to make it to the ceremony with Athas' help, but Conn was nowhere to be seen that night.
It wasn't hard for Cuinn to find work. Once again, the family name made it easy for Cuinn to meet the right people. Performing, speaking, as a fili, Cuinn was often paid simply for his presence. Such Duine were well regarded for their ability to give a party life, or to facilitate philosophical discussions at elite dinner parties. Cuinn's knack for impromptu poetry recitals earned him the love of many a patron's doting wife and daughters. It was all a courtly love, of course. Even Cuinn wasn't foolish enough to overstep certain lines.
Conn continued to make it clear that he disapproved of Cuinn's chosen path, but Lorna required the bulk of his attention and energy and so Cuinn enjoyed the peace of his father's absence once again. This became a boon for Cuinn and Athas when a discovery set the two onto a path that would certainly change their lives.
This discovery was an old model space ship. Amongst the Duine, space faring vessels were odd contraptions that held little value. Their species didn't care much for travel off their own planet, and seemed to care less about the technology other beings brought to An Domhan. Trade was done, surely, and An Domhan even earned a name as a luxury spa tourist attraction in the galaxy, but the Duine preferred to keep to their own planet. Only a few ever ventured forth. Of those, even fewer did so for the simple sake of adventure.
When Cuinn and Athas happened across the vessel, it was bound for a scrap yard. In the eyes of the two young men, it was a priceless treasure. They managed to haggle a price with the owner of the scrap yard, thanks in no small part to Cuinn's family means, and secreted it away to a shop where they could work on it and dream about one day flying it out into the great unknown. To be fair, Athas did most of the working and Cuinn most of the dreaming, but this ship brought back memories of two young boys crammed together in a tiny fort, protected from girls and the world at large, dreaming of what it might have been like to be Fenian among the stars. It was for this nostalgia, and for the dreams of adventure which would soon come true, that the pair named the ship Fenian's Flight
While Athas worked on the ship, Cuinn made himself useful in other ways. He gathered information about other systems, slowly began stockpiling supplies and equipment, and even managed to take piloting courses. He was no expert pilot, but he certainly learned enough to be of use when the day came for them to leave. But as fate would have it, as their departure date was slowly becoming something far more real than a dream, Kassidy came back into their lives.
She happened upon then as the two were re-purposing a few sets of unused power converters. It was an innocent thing, truthfully, but Kassidy had a way of blowing things out of proportion when it suited her. The two had no choice but to let her in on their secret project. Once Kassidy became aware of the ship, she decided it was only prudent that she come along with the boys as well. As it had in the old days, Kassidy's insistence caused instant refusal and eventual (reluctant)acceptance. She did, however, promise to pull her own weight along the way and, truth be told, Cuinn didn't mind the idea of having Kassidy around once he really thought about it. Prospective priestess or not, Kassidy had grown into an attractive woman, and if she could be believed, she could cook as well.
More time passed, and before they knew it, the time had come to say their goodbyes. Cuinn had opted not to share the vast majority of their plans with his parents, instead allowing them to believe that he and Athas were simply tinkering and messing about in their spare time. In those two years of planning and dreaming, Cuinn hadn't given much thought to this part at all. The most he'd imagined was the look on his father's face, and that had always made him smile. But now, sitting in the hospital room where his mother now resided more often than not, Cuinn felt a terrible ache in his chest whenever he tried to speak the words. When he finally managed to explain, his mother smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I always knew you were meant to forge your own path." she'd told him. She said she was proud of him and that she looked forward to hearing the songs he would come home with. Neither gave voice to the sad truth they both knew in their hearts, but the music of it filled the air around them. Cuinn nuzzled her cheek for what would fatefully be the last time and then steeled himself for what was bound to be a bitter parting with his father.
Their encounter was surprisingly short. Conn said nothing as Cuinn told him of their plans, but stared at his desk instead. When Cuinn had finished, Conn looked up with a strange expression on his face. Cuinn had never heard such subtle notes playing across his father's features. It sounded strangely of sadness, but it was gone quickly. With little more than a grunt and a wave of his hand, Conn dismissed him.
With only the slightest bit of regret, and more fear than he'd ever admit, Cuinn finally found himself seated in the cockpit of Fenian's Flight. The sound of the rockets filled him with the boisterous music of a battle hymn as he, Athas, and Kassidy were lifted from An Domhan and everything they'd ever known. Cuinn couldn't help but let out a verse of Fenian's ballad as the ship tore through the atmosphere and they crossed into the great beyond.
RP Sample:
His room had once been filled with bits and bobs collected throughout his years. Much like Athas, Cuinn had a habit of saving things. The difference, however, was the reason why things had been saved. In his friend's case, items were collected for their potential. Athas always seemed to have an eye for what something might be able to do, or what it might become. For Cuinn, the objects he collected tended to have a significance more rooted in the past. Trinkets that reminded him of his mothers songs, treasures found on adventures; these were the things that adorned the nooks and crannies of his room in his parents home.
Over the past few years, as the boys planned their eventual departure from An Domhan, Cuinn was slowly letting these things go. Some that he associated with his mother were concealed among her own things. He'd place them on night stands, or by her side at the hospital. Others he packed and stored away. Still more, he'd take out and around Lodahn, leaving them in places where other young adventurers might stumble across them. Slowly, he was letting go of home.
Cuinn might not admit it if asked, but this process was quite difficult. The Duine were a people well established in their homes. They were not fond of travel, even on their own planet. In spite of the ache he felt to explore and travel and be among the stars, Cuinn still had that instinct to remain.
The only thing left in his room was a box. It was made of a dark wood that gave off a smooth hum. Inside, resting amongst plush velvet, were a pair of goggled. They were ornately decorated with brass and leather parts. They'd cost a fair few credits to obtain, but for Cuinn, this was nothing.
Opening the lid, he lifted one pair out carefully and slipped the strap around the back of his head, settling the lenses over his eyes. Here, in his room, the difference was negligible. Though wherever they chose to travel, he knew these would be invaluable. They fit perfectly, snug and light. He knew the other pair would fit Athas just as well. Cuinn hadn't told his friend about the gift yet, but he was sure the goggles would be well received.
Cuinn placed his pair back on the box and closed the lid. Holding the box with one hand, he turned in the room, letting out a series of clicks and letting their echo wash over his mind. He memorized the sound of each nook and cranny. Who knew when he would stand here again. With a sigh, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Name: Cuinn o'Dubhuir
Race: Duine
Age: 18
Height: 4'7"
Weight: 75 lbs.
Birth place: Lodahn, An Domhan
Appearance:
Most Duine have little differences in appearance. For Cuinn's part, he can boast that he is slightly taller than the average Duine. Like all of his species, he is covered in short fur. His is an ink black, with a patterning of silver in stripes along either side of his spine, a tuft of fur at the top of his head, and two eyebrow-like bits above his large black eyes. His lower jaw and most of his chest is a lighter, near white color. His pata are a dull grey.
As far as clothing is concerned, Cuinn tends to wear short pants with many pockets, common apparel among his kind. When not aboard his ship or back on his home planet, he is obliged to wear a pair of goggles to block the excess light from blinding him. These goggles are made of a fine, gold colored, material with red velvet cushioning around the eyes and a leather band to hold them on his head.
Personality:
Having grown up entirely aware of his intelligence and ability, Cuinn has developed a sense of laziness that he's never fully outgrown. Never having to really try at anything, he has a very laid back attitude. He also hasn't quite shaken his immaturity either. He can often be seen walking around on his forelimbs with a ridiculous smile on his face. Walking in this manner is often considered childish, and that's exactly why Cuinn does it.
As a fili, Cuinn is in no way uncomfortable in crowds. If anything, he craves the attention he receives when amongst groups. He is quick to joke and sing, anything to keep those around in in high spirits. He does, however, have a more brooding side as well. This, he tries to avoid at all costs.
To his friend, Athas, Cuinn is fiercely loyal. He has a love for Athas that cannot be adequately explained and Cuinn will do anything and everything in his power to help him. The two share a deep sense of adventure and curiosity, though in their own respective ways.
Occupation: Mac Leinn
Rank: Fili (a bard)
Skills:
Wordsmith
Musical instruments
Somewhat charming
Halfway decent pilot
Ships/Vehicles: Fenian's Flight
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 4
Intelligence: 6
Speed: 5
Leadership: 3
Unarmed: 2
Melee Weapons: 2
Ranged Weapons: 2
Bio:
Though his mother liked to invent dramatic versions of the tale to amuse him, Cuinn was born as most Duine. He was tiny and entirely helpless, spending his first few months in the protection of his mother's pouch. Lorna did not have to invent stories for when the boy finally began to venture into the world, however. From his first steps, Cuinn had a taste for adventure that could never be fully sated. Luckily for him, Cuinn would never remember a time in his life where he had to explore alone. The matter of blood meant nothing at all to Cuinn when referring to Athas. In all that mattered, they were brothers.
The truth was that Athas was the son of a brood house keeper Cuinn's parents employed. His mother would bring him along with her when she came to work. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. She would always have her son near, and Cuinn would have a constant playmate. This worked out well for Cuinn, who's parents were both well regarded in their fields and often called away for consultations or lectures. Their prestige within the Mac Leinn caste had earned them enough to live a wealthy lifestyle, but it came at the price of their time. Cuinn's father, Conn, in particular was away from the home more often than not. As a brehon, he worked closely with many of their colony's noble families and had even been called on in service to the old bloods at times.
Lorna did her best to balance her time as a starai at Lodahn's university and at home with Cuinn. Had she not made such a point to be there as her son grew, she might have never noticed how her son's dear friend seemed to keep at level with Cuinn. As time would pass, it would become evident that the boy was no brood child at all. While such a thing was rare indeed, the true implications would not be understood by Cuinn until some time later.
As far as Cuinn was concerned, he and Athas were the same, and so it was only natural that they would attend school together when they each turned three. Both boys were intelligent and talented, though in different ways. While Athas seemed to have a brilliant knack for gadgets and the like, Cuinn excelled in subjects that did not surprise his parents or his teachers. He grew to possess a distinct command of the spoken, and sung, word. He had an ear for the histories and a musical creativity that impressed his friends and instructors alike. While these things might not otherwise have seemed impressive, it was the ease with which he excelled in these subjects that caused notice. For Cuinn, these things were as natural as breathing. This would set the norm for how Cuinn would approach his academic career in the future.
Socially, Cuinn made friends without even trying. He had a manner about him that drew others in. Though this would never lessen the bond between himself and Athas. Such a thing was inconceivable to the two boys. In fact, when the truth of Athas' parentage was discovered by some of their classmates, Cuinn stood up to those who thought to ridicule his best friend. In his way, Cuinn managed to soundly shame the others for being so cruel, yet also managed to ensure that there were no hard feelings when all was said and done.
While he had many friends within the schoolyard, outside of those boundaries, Cuinn spent his time almost exclusively with Athas. They shared each others dreams and supposed adventures, sometimes to their own detriment when such ventures ended in a good scolding. More than once, the boys had been caught *re-purposing* bobbles and other small objects for their collections. One such incident occurred during a rare occasion; while Cuinn's father was home.
They had been caught trying to smuggle a crystal figurine from Conn's study. The smooth surface had such a pretty sound to it, soft and delicate, the boys could hardly resist. Conn was gone so often, surely he wouldn't miss it. The boys had made it almost out of the house when they were startled by Conn's deep, serious voice calling them back. Cuinn had borne the brunt of the chiding. Conn had always adored Athas for his genius and never seemed to anger with him as he did with Cuinn. Though Cuinn knew this was because Athas was not Conn's son, it didn't stop the ache it caused in his heart to see his father favor the other boy so. Even so, the love shared between Cuinn and Athas was solid and strong and Cuinn did not begrudge his dear friend Conn's approval.
When the world seemed against them, or when they simply felt the need to conspire, their sanctuary was a fort they'd built together behind Cuinn's home, complete with a "no gurls alowd" sign. They often referred to their beloved escape as Fenian's Crag, after a famous Duine fili who dared venture beyond An Domhan into the mysterious voids of space and the spectacular worlds beyond. It was in Fenian's Crag that they began to dream of the wide wonders that might wait beyond An Domhan.
The only other being ever able to penetrate even partially into the exclusive circle that was Cuinn and Athas' friendship did so through sheer force and coercion. Kassidy was a school friend in the same year as the two boys, and she cared not at all for the sanctity of their exclusiveness. Time and again, she would threaten and bribe her way into their activities to the point where Cuinn and Athas simply began to allow her to tag along. She never was able to force her way into Fenian's Crag, but she came quite close. Had she not moved away, she might have found a way to twist their arms into taking down that magical sign.
Their school years would pass quickly and before long they'd reached the end of standard education. But with two such bright minds, standard would never be enough. Athas was quickly enrolled in a technical school where he was quickly showing his own instructors a thing or two, and Cuinn entered the hallowed halls of Lodahn's university where all expected him to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a brehon.
It would be inaccurate to say that Cuinn was against becoming a brehon. He had nothing against the profession. The truth was simply that Cuinn had no real intentions at all. As he had managed to do his entire life, Cuinn began his college years coasting by on natural talent alone. He took classes, skipped classes, excelled and failed (though rarely). His professors were often frustrated with the young man, sure that if he'd just put forth the effort, he'd be the most brilliant mind of his generation of Mac Leinn. But Cuinn was more interested in the things many young men find distracting Women, in particular, were a major downfall for Cuinn.
A hopeless romantic, Cuinn seemed to fall in love with every girl he met. He'd compose odes to the beauty of their songs, to their ears, their feet; whatever won him a kiss. When in the favor of a particular girl, Cuinn was lighter than air and would droll on endlessly to Athas, musing over the wonders of love and happiness. When out of favor, Cuinn's moods would be as dark as An Domhan's skies as he forswore the very thought of love as a disease that clouded the senses and better judgement of men. Athas, for his part, was a bastion of patience through Cuinn's late adolescence.
Cuinn managed to continue his habits through his first year of college, but in his second year, Conn retired from his active service as a brehon. Now at home regularly, Conn became much more involved in his son's academic career. Bickering over course loads quickly became all out debates between father and son, transforming Cuinn into a bitter, brooding mess. He felt stifled by his father, who looked down on Cuinn's desire to explore some fili courses as a waste of time. Their confrontations came to a head one night Conn's choice of words struck a raw nerve for Cuinn.
He had compared Cuinn to Athas, pointing out how Cuinn's friend never seemed to take the easy way out. The accumulation of this observation over the years finally became too much for Cuinn. The next day he applied for a transfer to a neighboring colony's university. When his transfer was approved, he wasted no time. He told his mother he loved her, suggested to his father that he disown him and adopt Athas instead, and left his home behind.
He didn't have the heart to tell Athas to his face. Instead, he left him a note, telling him that he was taking a verse from Fenian's song and venturing out to explore beyond what he knew. It broke his heart to leave Athas that way, but there was something inside of him that felt as is it would explode if he didn't leave right then, and Athas would have stopped him.
In his year abroad, Cuinn continued to enjoy the benefits of his family's good name, but with a welcome difference. His family was known *of*, but not known personally. This provided Cuinn with a beautiful freedom that he'd never known before. Professors seemed to favor him, but did not press him to strive any more than he wished. They did not know what his father was like, and so simply accepted his choices for what they were: *his* choices. In this year, Cuinn would study the philosophies and histories of the fili to his heart's content and even took a whole course studying the life and works of the great Fenian. He sang and drank and wooed. Looking back, Cuinn would say that year was both the best and worst of his young life. For no matter how free he felt, or how happy, he was alone without Athas by his side.
Cuinn tried to fill that emptiness as best he could, finding himself in a string of relationships that all inevitably ended badly. Whatever the cause, be it homesickness or -more likely- a fear of commitment, Cuinn could never truly open himself to anyone. And he tried, he truly did. He longed to feel like the lovers in the old ballads, but the passion never found its way to his heart. He could say the words, sing them, and go through the motions, causing more than a few girls to fall for him. But in the end, they left him, feeling cheated and disappointed.
His return home was inevitable, but did not come the way Cuinn had expected it it. He had envisioned himself returning as something of a hero, having graduated as a celebrated young fili on the verge of forging his own place in the songs that would be sung of his time. Instead, he came home panicked and feeling helpless to watch his mother deteriorate slowly in illness. Lorna chuckled and chided Cuinn for his needless worry. She was simply overworked and needed to slow down. She retired from the university and began a strict regiment of relaxation at home. Cuinn promised he would be at her side, for whatever she needed, but she refused. He had a year left at the university. She would not see him waste it when she didn't even need him.
Cuinn and Athas fell back into pace with each other as if not a day had passed. Cuinn never said it out loud, but he'd missed his friend far more than he could have realized. To be back at his side made him feel whole again. Before long, his final year had passed and Cuinn graduated as a fully honored fili. Cuinn's mother managed to make it to the ceremony with Athas' help, but Conn was nowhere to be seen that night.
It wasn't hard for Cuinn to find work. Once again, the family name made it easy for Cuinn to meet the right people. Performing, speaking, as a fili, Cuinn was often paid simply for his presence. Such Duine were well regarded for their ability to give a party life, or to facilitate philosophical discussions at elite dinner parties. Cuinn's knack for impromptu poetry recitals earned him the love of many a patron's doting wife and daughters. It was all a courtly love, of course. Even Cuinn wasn't foolish enough to overstep certain lines.
Conn continued to make it clear that he disapproved of Cuinn's chosen path, but Lorna required the bulk of his attention and energy and so Cuinn enjoyed the peace of his father's absence once again. This became a boon for Cuinn and Athas when a discovery set the two onto a path that would certainly change their lives.
This discovery was an old model space ship. Amongst the Duine, space faring vessels were odd contraptions that held little value. Their species didn't care much for travel off their own planet, and seemed to care less about the technology other beings brought to An Domhan. Trade was done, surely, and An Domhan even earned a name as a luxury spa tourist attraction in the galaxy, but the Duine preferred to keep to their own planet. Only a few ever ventured forth. Of those, even fewer did so for the simple sake of adventure.
When Cuinn and Athas happened across the vessel, it was bound for a scrap yard. In the eyes of the two young men, it was a priceless treasure. They managed to haggle a price with the owner of the scrap yard, thanks in no small part to Cuinn's family means, and secreted it away to a shop where they could work on it and dream about one day flying it out into the great unknown. To be fair, Athas did most of the working and Cuinn most of the dreaming, but this ship brought back memories of two young boys crammed together in a tiny fort, protected from girls and the world at large, dreaming of what it might have been like to be Fenian among the stars. It was for this nostalgia, and for the dreams of adventure which would soon come true, that the pair named the ship Fenian's Flight
While Athas worked on the ship, Cuinn made himself useful in other ways. He gathered information about other systems, slowly began stockpiling supplies and equipment, and even managed to take piloting courses. He was no expert pilot, but he certainly learned enough to be of use when the day came for them to leave. But as fate would have it, as their departure date was slowly becoming something far more real than a dream, Kassidy came back into their lives.
She happened upon then as the two were re-purposing a few sets of unused power converters. It was an innocent thing, truthfully, but Kassidy had a way of blowing things out of proportion when it suited her. The two had no choice but to let her in on their secret project. Once Kassidy became aware of the ship, she decided it was only prudent that she come along with the boys as well. As it had in the old days, Kassidy's insistence caused instant refusal and eventual (reluctant)acceptance. She did, however, promise to pull her own weight along the way and, truth be told, Cuinn didn't mind the idea of having Kassidy around once he really thought about it. Prospective priestess or not, Kassidy had grown into an attractive woman, and if she could be believed, she could cook as well.
More time passed, and before they knew it, the time had come to say their goodbyes. Cuinn had opted not to share the vast majority of their plans with his parents, instead allowing them to believe that he and Athas were simply tinkering and messing about in their spare time. In those two years of planning and dreaming, Cuinn hadn't given much thought to this part at all. The most he'd imagined was the look on his father's face, and that had always made him smile. But now, sitting in the hospital room where his mother now resided more often than not, Cuinn felt a terrible ache in his chest whenever he tried to speak the words. When he finally managed to explain, his mother smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I always knew you were meant to forge your own path." she'd told him. She said she was proud of him and that she looked forward to hearing the songs he would come home with. Neither gave voice to the sad truth they both knew in their hearts, but the music of it filled the air around them. Cuinn nuzzled her cheek for what would fatefully be the last time and then steeled himself for what was bound to be a bitter parting with his father.
Their encounter was surprisingly short. Conn said nothing as Cuinn told him of their plans, but stared at his desk instead. When Cuinn had finished, Conn looked up with a strange expression on his face. Cuinn had never heard such subtle notes playing across his father's features. It sounded strangely of sadness, but it was gone quickly. With little more than a grunt and a wave of his hand, Conn dismissed him.
With only the slightest bit of regret, and more fear than he'd ever admit, Cuinn finally found himself seated in the cockpit of Fenian's Flight. The sound of the rockets filled him with the boisterous music of a battle hymn as he, Athas, and Kassidy were lifted from An Domhan and everything they'd ever known. Cuinn couldn't help but let out a verse of Fenian's ballad as the ship tore through the atmosphere and they crossed into the great beyond.
RP Sample:
His room had once been filled with bits and bobs collected throughout his years. Much like Athas, Cuinn had a habit of saving things. The difference, however, was the reason why things had been saved. In his friend's case, items were collected for their potential. Athas always seemed to have an eye for what something might be able to do, or what it might become. For Cuinn, the objects he collected tended to have a significance more rooted in the past. Trinkets that reminded him of his mothers songs, treasures found on adventures; these were the things that adorned the nooks and crannies of his room in his parents home.
Over the past few years, as the boys planned their eventual departure from An Domhan, Cuinn was slowly letting these things go. Some that he associated with his mother were concealed among her own things. He'd place them on night stands, or by her side at the hospital. Others he packed and stored away. Still more, he'd take out and around Lodahn, leaving them in places where other young adventurers might stumble across them. Slowly, he was letting go of home.
Cuinn might not admit it if asked, but this process was quite difficult. The Duine were a people well established in their homes. They were not fond of travel, even on their own planet. In spite of the ache he felt to explore and travel and be among the stars, Cuinn still had that instinct to remain.
The only thing left in his room was a box. It was made of a dark wood that gave off a smooth hum. Inside, resting amongst plush velvet, were a pair of goggled. They were ornately decorated with brass and leather parts. They'd cost a fair few credits to obtain, but for Cuinn, this was nothing.
Opening the lid, he lifted one pair out carefully and slipped the strap around the back of his head, settling the lenses over his eyes. Here, in his room, the difference was negligible. Though wherever they chose to travel, he knew these would be invaluable. They fit perfectly, snug and light. He knew the other pair would fit Athas just as well. Cuinn hadn't told his friend about the gift yet, but he was sure the goggles would be well received.
Cuinn placed his pair back on the box and closed the lid. Holding the box with one hand, he turned in the room, letting out a series of clicks and letting their echo wash over his mind. He memorized the sound of each nook and cranny. Who knew when he would stand here again. With a sigh, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
