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Description
\\ G E N E R A L //

Name > Payara
Nickname(s) > Paya

Tribe > SeaWing
Occupation/Affiliation > Civilian/Travelling “Scholar”
Mentor/Apprentice (if applicable) > N/A
Talon/Order (if applicable) > N/A

Appearance > Payara is mostly a dark aqua blue with scales that look almost too glossy, as if she’s trying to impress those she comes across. While her brightly-colored membranes and underbelly are a nice contrast to her dark scales, the most striking of her features is the bright neon orange speckles dotting the tips of most of her extremities. She is a bit short and stocky, even for a SeaWing. She has two custom-made silver tips for her horns.
Scars > None.

Age > Seven
Birthday > January 20th
Gender > Female
Pronouns > She/Her
Sexuality > Bisexual (Female preference)

\\ A B I L I T I E S //

POWERS > Standard SeaWing powers, with slightly weaker swimming than one that may have been raised underwater.

SKILLS >

Survival > [3]
Tribe Abilities > [0]
Writing > [6]
SeaWing History > [8]
Medicine > [2]
Language: Aquatic > [5]
Swimming > [7]
Open Slot > [X]
Open Slot > [X]

Education/Training > Went through normal schooling in many advanced classes, with extensive further education after many years of learning under a kingdom-renowned tutor.

STATS >

LEVEL: 1
TIER: 1
Strength > 5
Agility/Dexterity > 2
Defense/Constitution > 6
Intelligence/Book Smarts > 10
Wisdom/Observation > 6
Charisma > 5
Stamina > 2
Flying > 5

\\ P E R S O N A L I T Y //

POSITIVE:

Hardworking > While she doesn’t commit to much, the things that Payara does deem worthy of her effort consume most all of her attention. Some may see her as lazy, but she can do a very good job on almost anything if she really wants to.

Ambitious > Paya awaits the day that she will gain the recognition she deserves- the day when she will receive the attention of the queen. For a large portion of her life, she has been working and researching and studying everything about the Kingdom of the Sea, so that one day she may gain the respect of not only her mother, but the whole kingdom.

Eloquent > As said formerly, Payara prides herself on her efficient and articulate writing. Not only is she quite adept at writing, but given she has prepared enough, she can be reasonably persuasive in conversation as well. However, this eloquence is almost exclusive to her writing.

NEUTRAL:

Dramatic > It’s not uncommon for Payara to cause a scene if it’s for her own benefit. She may react in a very exaggerated way to many things, so as to guilt-trip or gaslight others.

Competitive > In the most passive-aggressive ways she can manage, Paya will mess with and hinder dragons that she deems her competitors. Even a dragon who shows minor aggression towards her, she will mark them as an “enemy” (which is often unrequited).

Insecure > Although she would never disclose this information to anyone, Payara has a deeply-rooted insecurity formed as a result of her mother’s harsh strictness. She believes that she can fix this by growing close to the queen and gaining her mother’s approval.

NEGATIVE:

Manipulative > Paya will take advantage of anyone or anything to get her way, and her conniving tendencies by no means end there. She has no gripes with resorting to blackmail or other threats. She is something of a micromanager, and will spend large amounts of time planning just so she twist a situation to go her way.

Power-Hungry > Her goal to climb the SeaWing social hierarchy was originally to gain the approval of her mother. However, she has focused on this task for so long that she has internalized it to the point where she often believes that it is her only purpose to work with the queen.

Spiteful > Payara can recognize when she has been wronged, and will not let it go easily. Perhaps a result of her insecurity, she will take drastic measures to prove the other dragon wrong or get back at them. She can be somewhat paranoid sometimes, and will make assumptions that another dragon dislikes her, leading her spite to be angled towards them as well.

Vain > Payara very much cares about her appearance, always trying to keep up with fashion and other fads. She often doesn’t fully understand these trends, but tries to play it off as if she meant it. Although she doesn’t necessarily try to have much attention on herself, she still wants to look better than others.

LIKES >>
-Chaos, from a distance. She finds it very fun to instigate problems and watch the havoc unfold.
-Proving others wrong. Paya believes there is no greater sense of satisfaction than when she can show that she is superior.
-Food. Really almost any food. She particularly enjoys dumplings and sushi.
-Anything that allows her to expand her knowledge.

DISLIKES >>
-Getting caught in a physical fight. While she can often at least TRY to weasel her way out of verbal confrontation, when it gets physical she knows she has no chance.
-Anyone who thinks they’re better than her. She will by all means try to show off as much as she can in the presence of these dragons.
-Emotional vulnerability; both from other dragons and herself. To Payara, vulnerability is weakness and weakness is obviously strategic suicide. She hates any type of heartfelt conversation.

SECRETS:

> Paya is really an incredibly emotional dragon, but she just knows that she would be taken advantage of if she ever revealed that. After all, that’s what she would do.

FEARS:

> What she fears above all is a situation in which she feels trapped, with no escape. She’s felt that way before and never wants to again.
> Despite never having met one in the flesh, mindreaders sound like all the things she hates rolled into one little ball. She knows she’d stand absolutely no chance against one.

WISHES/DREAMS:

> To work at the queen’s side and gain the approval of everyone around her. Above all, the approval of her mother.
> Ever since she was old enough to read, Paya has wanted to visit every single place of historical significance around the world.

\\ H I S T O R Y //

Baby Dragonet >
Payara had grown up as the wealthiest family in a small above-water village. As a studious little dragonet, it didn’t take long for her to realize that this was due to her parents’ social standing; her father had been born into a family of minor nobility, and her mother a high-ranking soldier fighting in honor of (soon-to-be) Queen Dreadnought. She lived in general comfort, her father raising her with care that she deemed “good enough.”
However, her father, normally quite level-headed and laid-back, had been tense ever since political tensions started rising in the Kingdom of the Sea. Paya, of course, wasn’t aware of this behavior being abnormal, as it was essentially all she had ever known at this point, but the reason her father was often detached and couldn’t spend much time with her was as a result of his career as something of a socialite. He had to spend his time and energy remaining in a stance of neutrality to the public eye while also secretly supporting Dreadnought in private. Now, years later, he regrets not giving her more attention but believes it has been too long to attempt to fix it.
For the first three years of her life, Payara barely knew Krait- her mother. After all, she was off helping the queen. She had heard stories, though. Her father spent those years filling Paya’s little head with fabrications of honor and loyalty and fighting for Queen Dreadnought. Payara wanted to do that! She wanted to be a soldier! She wanted to work for the queen and help her kingdom and fight the bad guys!
Nigh every day before school, she went to the library and checked out every scroll on SeaWing history she could find, not to mention the daily news that she memorized as soon as she could get her talons on it.
By the time she turned three, though, she recognized that she couldn’t be a soldier. Well, not that she COULDN’T, but quite frankly she didn’t feel like putting the effort in, even at that age. But if there was one thing she did know, it was history. And economics. And every possible way to write a persuasive essay! (Her school REALLY seemed to have a high demand and low supply of good essays. Maybe that’s why she had to write so many?) She could aid her kingdom in so many other ways than she first thought. She could be a historian, or a secretary… She could even settle for inter-tribal ambassador, if she had to.
After Salmon realized little Payara’s intellectual potential, he began taking her on trips to see his aunt, and her great-aunt- the renowned Madam Estuary. Payara considered it an honor knowing no bounds, and began working as hard as she could to impress this dragon she held in such high regard. On every multi-day long break she got from school, they would make the short trip to Estuary’s home, stay one day, then return. It became familiar to Payara, a reassuring constant in a world of variables. After just a couple months, she had fully memorized just about every route that led there. Paya had never missed a session, and none were ever cancelled. She was a star student; a prized pupil! She was getting the best grades at school; she’d even been personally approached by her teachers and complimented on her work! She believed her life had never been better. Sometimes she even forgot about her absent mother or distant father. Before, her dreams had felt so far away, a distant hypothetical… Now, it was almost in her grasp! All she had to do was reach out and grab what she wanted- it all came easily.
Then, one fateful day in 6025 A.S., the SeaWing Civil War ended.
Payara’s mother was finally coming home for good.

Dragonet >
Her whole life, Payara thought she was a smart dragon. She thought that it made LOGICAL SENSE that it would be a grand reunion once Krait returned!
So why hadn’t it been? Why couldn’t it be? Why hadn’t her mother cried, and swept Paya into a hug as soon as she saw her?
Payara made attempts to get to know her mother. She tried to bring up things about the war she had learned in her scrolls, but that was always met with a growl. Why was this so hard, and what was she doing wrong? She even started POSTPONING tutoring sessions! She was putting her furthered education on hold for her mother, why couldn’t Krait show some interest?
It took a year for Paya to fully admit to herself that her mother did not care about her. A year of aimlessly gazing through rose-colored glasses.
That final realization… It hurt! It hurt a LOT! Payara didn’t DESERVE this. She tried so hard to impress Krait. It WAS NOT FAIR.
So, she resolved to not care about her mother anymore either. Yes, she hated her mother!

But... maybe she could prove Krait wrong.

The perfect idea began to formulate in her head. It would take months- no, maybe years- of planning to make it go exactly right. It HAD to be perfect. Her mother needed to love her.
Payara stayed at school until the library closed every single day. The few friends she had, she used to aid her plan. Then, once they had done their job, well, they were naught but distractions. Unneeded, and frankly unwanted. So she thanked them and moved on.
She knew the first step she had to take. Back to tutoring, back to the regular schedule; no, twice as often as the regular schedule. Paya gathered her thoughts and wrote an extensive letter to Madam Estuary, spanning approximately three feet of her finest paper. She explained her current situation, her beginnings of a plan, and… at the end, an apology and a request.
“I have regretted nothing deeper in my few years of life than cancelling my lessons- I need them. So, if you will, my lady, please allow me to return. My schedule is as flexible as you may need it to be.”
And she had never been more stunned than when she received a letter back, no longer than a half-foot. The words inside were even shorter.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, all sessions will be cancelled indefinitely.”
What “UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES” could come up for an old lady like Estuary?! No, something else was going on, and Paya needed to find out what. She NEEDED these sessions and she wasn’t planning on letting anything stop her.
The night that their next lesson WOULD HAVE BEEN scheduled for, Payara snuck out, following one of the many currents that she believed would bring her to Estuary’s house the fastest.
Upon arrival at the Madam’s rather grandiose abode, she had to keep herself from about-facing and swimming straight back home, despite her sore, drooping wings. But, the young SeaWing pulled herself together and knocked on the door.
Instead of being met by a roar as she’d very much expected, Paya was greeted with a simple exasperated sigh and ushered inside.
Madam Estuary allowed her to stay for the night, so long as she left as soon as the sun rose.
After minutes of sitting in awkward silence, Payara asked why she had been ditched by her mentor.
It was obvious that Estuary was doing her best to keep her composure as she slowly explained the situation.
The dragon that was taking her place was some random, homeless, scraggly NOBODY. (NOTE: This character is a future player character belonging to another member of PPAU. Their application has not been posted yet.)
She had to keep herself from scoffing out loud! She was sure Estuary was toying with her. Honestly, if her tutor didn’t want her around, she wished she would just SAY it to Paya’s face. It couldn’t hurt more than this… this clownery!
No matter how much she demanded to see this new subject of her hatred, this new RIVAL, Estuary insisted that, no, it’s dangerous, you are forbidden from entering that room, blah, blah, blah…
So Payara fell asleep that night, utterly drained, and completely defeated. She may have shed more tears than she would like to admit, too.
She left as the very first rays of sun rose over the horizon, before anyone else in the house was awake. And so, the conversation of the night before were the last words she ever exchanged with her great-aunt, her idol and her teacher.
As soon as she returned, she set to work. She herself could learn and study everything she needed on her own. She was a fool to think she needed a tutor in order to achieve her goal.
After more than two years of meticulous planning and strategy (and.. near complete isolation and loneliness), it finally, finally fell into place.
What was this ever-so-carefully crafted plan?
The plan was that Payara would not prove herself to her mother, but Queen Dreadnought herself.
She knew how much her mother valued the queen’s approval, of course. No dragon with even half a brain would be able to miss that. If she could climb up the hierarchy, gain the queen’s favor through proving her worth… well, that was just going above and beyond! And above and beyond was exactly what Paya needed to succeed.
She also knew exactly where to go- the Isle of Mezzo. The biggest, most prosperous intertribal melting pot ever recorded in dragon history. The thought of the millennia’s-worth of knowledge held there… it was mind-blowing to imagine. That knowledge, that information... Not only would the records be useful, but it was common knowledge that the island was something of a magnet to strange dragons (not to mention the queen’s own daughter). And these dragons- they could have access to secrets that were otherwise unknowable! The little, excitable dragonet of days long past still lurked deep inside her, and at these thoughts it was practically bouncing around with excitement. She’d finally be supplying her kingdom, her queen, with all the information they could want for DECADES, just as she had dreamed of all those years ago. If Payara was queen, well, she’d make a dragon who went to those lengths honorary royalty immediately!
Finally, one day, when the sun was near its highest, Payara left her home, leaving naught but a note for her father. She knew she would soon have her mother’s love.
Her heart had never beaten harder than it did that morning.
She left with a reasonably sized sack slung over her shoulder, packed full of small jewels and valuables that she had gathered from her parents’ belongings- should her calculations be correct, these would be more than enough to pay for any expenses on her flight to the Isle.
She swam for the first few days, although, not without stopping for the nights and regular half-hourly breaks. Her progress was considerably slower than she had hoped it would be. At this rate, it would take at LEAST a month to reach her destination. She began to think that she should've maybe stayed home.
But she pushed on, thinking of the possibilities that could come about if she continued- a rare spurt of determination that wasn’t often seen in the stout SeaWing.
Within five days, she reached a city on the border between the Mud and Sea kingdoms, close to the kingdom of the Sky but not reaching it. She believed she could recall it from her studies- a rather prosperous trading city of medium size, a known gathering place for travellers as a result of its proximity to so many tribes’ territories.
She rented a room in a modest inn run by a kind MudWing and her SkyWing wife. Although she had the means to stay in a place that was much nicer, this inn was the closest to the city’s entrance.
The following morning, as Payara was eating a breakfast of smoked salmon, a trio of young SkyWings approached her. They looked almost identical- triplets, she’d assume.
However, despite her grand intelligence, Payara wasn’t exactly well-versed in what most would call “street smarts.” A dragon with an upbringing different than hers would likely immediately be able to tell that these dragonets’ intentions were not pure.
However, she was easily fooled, of course. They approached with friendly smiles, and after some simple small talk, requested to travel with her, claiming they wished to be reunited with their parents deeper in the Sky Kingdom. She was reluctant to accept, but… she could definitely use the protection. She would rather depend on herself, but even she couldn’t act like she’d be able to defend herself.
And after that, she decided to stop trusting dragons.
The triplets had seemed so approachable- kind, even. Kindness was a thing she hadn’t received in years. They had travelled with her for a day, encouraging her to fly faster and keep travelling. They’d set up camp late into the night, Payara thinking maybe she could actually start being happier now. She’d fallen asleep with a warm feeling.
And when she woke up, both the triplets and all of her supplies were gone without a trace.
She’d roared and stomped and.. cried, for most of that day. She did not want to be let down anymore! This was not fair. Why was NOTHING fair?
She had to continue travelling, though. Alone. No more let-downs.
She avoided all civilization as much as she could, save for small towns in which she could pick up supplies. It was a painfully long journey, traversing the entirety of the giant continent of Pyrrhia. It wasn’t particularly eventful, and she really wouldn’t have it any other way. She didn’t want any distractions- she had her sights set on the Isle Mezzo and wanted to get there as soon as possible. She admittedly took a detour southwards, aiming to avoid the Kingdom of Sand as much as possible. However, she ended up having to cross a stretch of it to reach the ocean and the route to Mezzo, which was arguably the most physically miserable she had ever been in her life.
Now, her trek across the continent has ended, and she finds herself arriving at the beautiful seashores of the famed Isle Mezzo.
A new chapter has begun for Payara.

\\ R E L A T I O N S H I P S //

PARENTS >
>> Krait- Payara’s mother. Although she knows she should hate her and shouldn’t care what she thinks, Paya still desperately wants to prove that she is more than her mother thinks she is.
Krait is a born-and-bred soldier, hardened by years of training and harsh command. This may lead one to believe that beneath the cold exterior, she truly does care for Payara. However, the harsh truth is that she cares just as much as she seems to- that being, not at all. She sees dragonets as annoyances and distractions from the things that are truly important.
>> Salmon- Payara’s father. He was generally caring and nice to Payara when he could be, but she has never felt any particular connection to him.
He cared for and loved Payara to an extent, but feels extreme guilt for not being there for her in her earlier years. Despite that, he believes it is too late to rectify his actions and that there is nothing he can do anymore.

SIBLINGS > None

MATE (if applicable) > None

DRAGONETS (if applicable) > None

------------------------------

(Describe any others your OC is connected with here, including friends, enemies, etc.)

Madam Estuary > Payara’s paternal great-aunt. They used to be reasonably close as she would assist in tutoring Paya, but have drifted apart due to having Estuary shifted all her time to tutoring a certain different dragon.
Payara looked up to Estuary for the majority of her life, wanting to one day be as knowledgeable and fancy as the elderly SeaWing. She was one of Paya’s biggest pillars of support throughout her dragonethood. Of course, that connection has now been severed.

>

>

\\ I N V E N T O R Y //

(Things that your dragon is carrying with them all the time!)

Worn Journal > Despite its intention to be used as a diary, this journal is filled with mathematical equations, scribbled notes, and what looks to be budget planning. There is a watertight inkwell attached to it via a tough piece of string.

\\ D R A G O N T E A R S & L E V E L L I N G R E C O R D S //

Quest:
Rewards Gained:

Quest:
Rewards Gained:

Total Dragon Tears Gained: 0
Inspiration:
Levelling Rate: [Nonban]

Starting Stats: STR [5], DEX [2], CON [6], INT [10], WIS [6], CHA [5], STA [2], FLY [5]
Starting Skills: Survival [3], Tribe Abilities [0], Writing [6], SeaWing History [8], Medicine [2], Language: Aquatic [5]

\\ E X T R A //

Voice claim > www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWurgM…

Description
\\ G E N E R A L //

Name > Payara
Nickname(s) > Paya

Tribe > SeaWing
Occupation/Affiliation > Civilian/Travelling “Scholar”
Mentor/Apprentice (if applicable) > N/A
Talon/Order (if applicable) > N/A

Appearance > Payara is mostly a dark aqua blue with scales that look almost too glossy, as if she’s trying to impress those she comes across. While her brightly-colored membranes and underbelly are a nice contrast to her dark scales, the most striking of her features is the bright neon orange speckles dotting the tips of most of her extremities. She is a bit short and stocky, even for a SeaWing. She has two custom-made silver tips for her horns.
Scars > None.

Age > Seven
Birthday > January 20th
Gender > Female
Pronouns > She/Her
Sexuality > Bisexual (Female preference)

\\ A B I L I T I E S //

POWERS > Standard SeaWing powers, with slightly weaker swimming than one that may have been raised underwater.

SKILLS >

Survival > [3]
Tribe Abilities > [0]
Writing > [6]
SeaWing History > [8]
Medicine > [2]
Language: Aquatic > [5]
Swimming > [7]
Open Slot > [X]
Open Slot > [X]

Education/Training > Went through normal schooling in many advanced classes, with extensive further education after many years of learning under a kingdom-renowned tutor.

STATS >

LEVEL: 1
TIER: 1
Strength > 5
Agility/Dexterity > 2
Defense/Constitution > 6
Intelligence/Book Smarts > 10
Wisdom/Observation > 6
Charisma > 5
Stamina > 2
Flying > 5

\\ P E R S O N A L I T Y //

POSITIVE:

Hardworking > While she doesn’t commit to much, the things that Payara does deem worthy of her effort consume most all of her attention. Some may see her as lazy, but she can do a very good job on almost anything if she really wants to.

Ambitious > Paya awaits the day that she will gain the recognition she deserves- the day when she will receive the attention of the queen. For a large portion of her life, she has been working and researching and studying everything about the Kingdom of the Sea, so that one day she may gain the respect of not only her mother, but the whole kingdom.

Eloquent > As said formerly, Payara prides herself on her efficient and articulate writing. Not only is she quite adept at writing, but given she has prepared enough, she can be reasonably persuasive in conversation as well. However, this eloquence is almost exclusive to her writing.

NEUTRAL:

Dramatic > It’s not uncommon for Payara to cause a scene if it’s for her own benefit. She may react in a very exaggerated way to many things, so as to guilt-trip or gaslight others.

Competitive > In the most passive-aggressive ways she can manage, Paya will mess with and hinder dragons that she deems her competitors. Even a dragon who shows minor aggression towards her, she will mark them as an “enemy” (which is often unrequited).

Insecure > Although she would never disclose this information to anyone, Payara has a deeply-rooted insecurity formed as a result of her mother’s harsh strictness. She believes that she can fix this by growing close to the queen and gaining her mother’s approval.

NEGATIVE:

Manipulative > Paya will take advantage of anyone or anything to get her way, and her conniving tendencies by no means end there. She has no gripes with resorting to blackmail or other threats. She is something of a micromanager, and will spend large amounts of time planning just so she twist a situation to go her way.

Power-Hungry > Her goal to climb the SeaWing social hierarchy was originally to gain the approval of her mother. However, she has focused on this task for so long that she has internalized it to the point where she often believes that it is her only purpose to work with the queen.

Spiteful > Payara can recognize when she has been wronged, and will not let it go easily. Perhaps a result of her insecurity, she will take drastic measures to prove the other dragon wrong or get back at them. She can be somewhat paranoid sometimes, and will make assumptions that another dragon dislikes her, leading her spite to be angled towards them as well.

Vain > Payara very much cares about her appearance, always trying to keep up with fashion and other fads. She often doesn’t fully understand these trends, but tries to play it off as if she meant it. Although she doesn’t necessarily try to have much attention on herself, she still wants to look better than others.

LIKES >>
-Chaos, from a distance. She finds it very fun to instigate problems and watch the havoc unfold.
-Proving others wrong. Paya believes there is no greater sense of satisfaction than when she can show that she is superior.
-Food. Really almost any food. She particularly enjoys dumplings and sushi.
-Anything that allows her to expand her knowledge.

DISLIKES >>
-Getting caught in a physical fight. While she can often at least TRY to weasel her way out of verbal confrontation, when it gets physical she knows she has no chance.
-Anyone who thinks they’re better than her. She will by all means try to show off as much as she can in the presence of these dragons.
-Emotional vulnerability; both from other dragons and herself. To Payara, vulnerability is weakness and weakness is obviously strategic suicide. She hates any type of heartfelt conversation.

SECRETS:

> Paya is really an incredibly emotional dragon, but she just knows that she would be taken advantage of if she ever revealed that. After all, that’s what she would do.

FEARS:

> What she fears above all is a situation in which she feels trapped, with no escape. She’s felt that way before and never wants to again.
> Despite never having met one in the flesh, mindreaders sound like all the things she hates rolled into one little ball. She knows she’d stand absolutely no chance against one.

WISHES/DREAMS:

> To work at the queen’s side and gain the approval of everyone around her. Above all, the approval of her mother.
> Ever since she was old enough to read, Paya has wanted to visit every single place of historical significance around the world.

\\ H I S T O R Y //

Baby Dragonet >
Payara had grown up as the wealthiest family in a small above-water village. As a studious little dragonet, it didn’t take long for her to realize that this was due to her parents’ social standing; her father had been born into a family of minor nobility, and her mother a high-ranking soldier fighting in honor of (soon-to-be) Queen Dreadnought. She lived in general comfort, her father raising her with care that she deemed “good enough.”
However, her father, normally quite level-headed and laid-back, had been tense ever since political tensions started rising in the Kingdom of the Sea. Paya, of course, wasn’t aware of this behavior being abnormal, as it was essentially all she had ever known at this point, but the reason her father was often detached and couldn’t spend much time with her was as a result of his career as something of a socialite. He had to spend his time and energy remaining in a stance of neutrality to the public eye while also secretly supporting Dreadnought in private. Now, years later, he regrets not giving her more attention but believes it has been too long to attempt to fix it.
For the first three years of her life, Payara barely knew Krait- her mother. After all, she was off helping the queen. She had heard stories, though. Her father spent those years filling Paya’s little head with fabrications of honor and loyalty and fighting for Queen Dreadnought. Payara wanted to do that! She wanted to be a soldier! She wanted to work for the queen and help her kingdom and fight the bad guys!
Nigh every day before school, she went to the library and checked out every scroll on SeaWing history she could find, not to mention the daily news that she memorized as soon as she could get her talons on it.
By the time she turned three, though, she recognized that she couldn’t be a soldier. Well, not that she COULDN’T, but quite frankly she didn’t feel like putting the effort in, even at that age. But if there was one thing she did know, it was history. And economics. And every possible way to write a persuasive essay! (Her school REALLY seemed to have a high demand and low supply of good essays. Maybe that’s why she had to write so many?) She could aid her kingdom in so many other ways than she first thought. She could be a historian, or a secretary… She could even settle for inter-tribal ambassador, if she had to.
After Salmon realized little Payara’s intellectual potential, he began taking her on trips to see his aunt, and her great-aunt- the renowned Madam Estuary. Payara considered it an honor knowing no bounds, and began working as hard as she could to impress this dragon she held in such high regard. On every multi-day long break she got from school, they would make the short trip to Estuary’s home, stay one day, then return. It became familiar to Payara, a reassuring constant in a world of variables. After just a couple months, she had fully memorized just about every route that led there. Paya had never missed a session, and none were ever cancelled. She was a star student; a prized pupil! She was getting the best grades at school; she’d even been personally approached by her teachers and complimented on her work! She believed her life had never been better. Sometimes she even forgot about her absent mother or distant father. Before, her dreams had felt so far away, a distant hypothetical… Now, it was almost in her grasp! All she had to do was reach out and grab what she wanted- it all came easily.
Then, one fateful day in 6025 A.S., the SeaWing Civil War ended.
Payara’s mother was finally coming home for good.

Dragonet >
Her whole life, Payara thought she was a smart dragon. She thought that it made LOGICAL SENSE that it would be a grand reunion once Krait returned!
So why hadn’t it been? Why couldn’t it be? Why hadn’t her mother cried, and swept Paya into a hug as soon as she saw her?
Payara made attempts to get to know her mother. She tried to bring up things about the war she had learned in her scrolls, but that was always met with a growl. Why was this so hard, and what was she doing wrong? She even started POSTPONING tutoring sessions! She was putting her furthered education on hold for her mother, why couldn’t Krait show some interest?
It took a year for Paya to fully admit to herself that her mother did not care about her. A year of aimlessly gazing through rose-colored glasses.
That final realization… It hurt! It hurt a LOT! Payara didn’t DESERVE this. She tried so hard to impress Krait. It WAS NOT FAIR.
So, she resolved to not care about her mother anymore either. Yes, she hated her mother!

But... maybe she could prove Krait wrong.

The perfect idea began to formulate in her head. It would take months- no, maybe years- of planning to make it go exactly right. It HAD to be perfect. Her mother needed to love her.
Payara stayed at school until the library closed every single day. The few friends she had, she used to aid her plan. Then, once they had done their job, well, they were naught but distractions. Unneeded, and frankly unwanted. So she thanked them and moved on.
She knew the first step she had to take. Back to tutoring, back to the regular schedule; no, twice as often as the regular schedule. Paya gathered her thoughts and wrote an extensive letter to Madam Estuary, spanning approximately three feet of her finest paper. She explained her current situation, her beginnings of a plan, and… at the end, an apology and a request.
“I have regretted nothing deeper in my few years of life than cancelling my lessons- I need them. So, if you will, my lady, please allow me to return. My schedule is as flexible as you may need it to be.”
And she had never been more stunned than when she received a letter back, no longer than a half-foot. The words inside were even shorter.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, all sessions will be cancelled indefinitely.”
What “UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES” could come up for an old lady like Estuary?! No, something else was going on, and Paya needed to find out what. She NEEDED these sessions and she wasn’t planning on letting anything stop her.
The night that their next lesson WOULD HAVE BEEN scheduled for, Payara snuck out, following one of the many currents that she believed would bring her to Estuary’s house the fastest.
Upon arrival at the Madam’s rather grandiose abode, she had to keep herself from about-facing and swimming straight back home, despite her sore, drooping wings. But, the young SeaWing pulled herself together and knocked on the door.
Instead of being met by a roar as she’d very much expected, Paya was greeted with a simple exasperated sigh and ushered inside.
Madam Estuary allowed her to stay for the night, so long as she left as soon as the sun rose.
After minutes of sitting in awkward silence, Payara asked why she had been ditched by her mentor.
It was obvious that Estuary was doing her best to keep her composure as she slowly explained the situation.
The dragon that was taking her place was some random, homeless, scraggly NOBODY. (NOTE: This character is a future player character belonging to another member of PPAU. Their application has not been posted yet.)
She had to keep herself from scoffing out loud! She was sure Estuary was toying with her. Honestly, if her tutor didn’t want her around, she wished she would just SAY it to Paya’s face. It couldn’t hurt more than this… this clownery!
No matter how much she demanded to see this new subject of her hatred, this new RIVAL, Estuary insisted that, no, it’s dangerous, you are forbidden from entering that room, blah, blah, blah…
So Payara fell asleep that night, utterly drained, and completely defeated. She may have shed more tears than she would like to admit, too.
She left as the very first rays of sun rose over the horizon, before anyone else in the house was awake. And so, the conversation of the night before were the last words she ever exchanged with her great-aunt, her idol and her teacher.
As soon as she returned, she set to work. She herself could learn and study everything she needed on her own. She was a fool to think she needed a tutor in order to achieve her goal.
After more than two years of meticulous planning and strategy (and.. near complete isolation and loneliness), it finally, finally fell into place.
What was this ever-so-carefully crafted plan?
The plan was that Payara would not prove herself to her mother, but Queen Dreadnought herself.
She knew how much her mother valued the queen’s approval, of course. No dragon with even half a brain would be able to miss that. If she could climb up the hierarchy, gain the queen’s favor through proving her worth… well, that was just going above and beyond! And above and beyond was exactly what Paya needed to succeed.
She also knew exactly where to go- the Isle of Mezzo. The biggest, most prosperous intertribal melting pot ever recorded in dragon history. The thought of the millennia’s-worth of knowledge held there… it was mind-blowing to imagine. That knowledge, that information... Not only would the records be useful, but it was common knowledge that the island was something of a magnet to strange dragons (not to mention the queen’s own daughter). And these dragons- they could have access to secrets that were otherwise unknowable! The little, excitable dragonet of days long past still lurked deep inside her, and at these thoughts it was practically bouncing around with excitement. She’d finally be supplying her kingdom, her queen, with all the information they could want for DECADES, just as she had dreamed of all those years ago. If Payara was queen, well, she’d make a dragon who went to those lengths honorary royalty immediately!
Finally, one day, when the sun was near its highest, Payara left her home, leaving naught but a note for her father. She knew she would soon have her mother’s love.
Her heart had never beaten harder than it did that morning.
She left with a reasonably sized sack slung over her shoulder, packed full of small jewels and valuables that she had gathered from her parents’ belongings- should her calculations be correct, these would be more than enough to pay for any expenses on her flight to the Isle.
She swam for the first few days, although, not without stopping for the nights and regular half-hourly breaks. Her progress was considerably slower than she had hoped it would be. At this rate, it would take at LEAST a month to reach her destination. She began to think that she should've maybe stayed home.
But she pushed on, thinking of the possibilities that could come about if she continued- a rare spurt of determination that wasn’t often seen in the stout SeaWing.
Within five days, she reached a city on the border between the Mud and Sea kingdoms, close to the kingdom of the Sky but not reaching it. She believed she could recall it from her studies- a rather prosperous trading city of medium size, a known gathering place for travellers as a result of its proximity to so many tribes’ territories.
She rented a room in a modest inn run by a kind MudWing and her SkyWing wife. Although she had the means to stay in a place that was much nicer, this inn was the closest to the city’s entrance.
The following morning, as Payara was eating a breakfast of smoked salmon, a trio of young SkyWings approached her. They looked almost identical- triplets, she’d assume.
However, despite her grand intelligence, Payara wasn’t exactly well-versed in what most would call “street smarts.” A dragon with an upbringing different than hers would likely immediately be able to tell that these dragonets’ intentions were not pure.
However, she was easily fooled, of course. They approached with friendly smiles, and after some simple small talk, requested to travel with her, claiming they wished to be reunited with their parents deeper in the Sky Kingdom. She was reluctant to accept, but… she could definitely use the protection. She would rather depend on herself, but even she couldn’t act like she’d be able to defend herself.
And after that, she decided to stop trusting dragons.
The triplets had seemed so approachable- kind, even. Kindness was a thing she hadn’t received in years. They had travelled with her for a day, encouraging her to fly faster and keep travelling. They’d set up camp late into the night, Payara thinking maybe she could actually start being happier now. She’d fallen asleep with a warm feeling.
And when she woke up, both the triplets and all of her supplies were gone without a trace.
She’d roared and stomped and.. cried, for most of that day. She did not want to be let down anymore! This was not fair. Why was NOTHING fair?
She had to continue travelling, though. Alone. No more let-downs.
She avoided all civilization as much as she could, save for small towns in which she could pick up supplies. It was a painfully long journey, traversing the entirety of the giant continent of Pyrrhia. It wasn’t particularly eventful, and she really wouldn’t have it any other way. She didn’t want any distractions- she had her sights set on the Isle Mezzo and wanted to get there as soon as possible. She admittedly took a detour southwards, aiming to avoid the Kingdom of Sand as much as possible. However, she ended up having to cross a stretch of it to reach the ocean and the route to Mezzo, which was arguably the most physically miserable she had ever been in her life.
Now, her trek across the continent has ended, and she finds herself arriving at the beautiful seashores of the famed Isle Mezzo.
A new chapter has begun for Payara.

\\ R E L A T I O N S H I P S //

PARENTS >
>> Krait- Payara’s mother. Although she knows she should hate her and shouldn’t care what she thinks, Paya still desperately wants to prove that she is more than her mother thinks she is.
Krait is a born-and-bred soldier, hardened by years of training and harsh command. This may lead one to believe that beneath the cold exterior, she truly does care for Payara. However, the harsh truth is that she cares just as much as she seems to- that being, not at all. She sees dragonets as annoyances and distractions from the things that are truly important.
>> Salmon- Payara’s father. He was generally caring and nice to Payara when he could be, but she has never felt any particular connection to him.
He cared for and loved Payara to an extent, but feels extreme guilt for not being there for her in her earlier years. Despite that, he believes it is too late to rectify his actions and that there is nothing he can do anymore.

SIBLINGS > None

MATE (if applicable) > None

DRAGONETS (if applicable) > None

------------------------------

(Describe any others your OC is connected with here, including friends, enemies, etc.)

Madam Estuary > Payara’s paternal great-aunt. They used to be reasonably close as she would assist in tutoring Paya, but have drifted apart due to having Estuary shifted all her time to tutoring a certain different dragon.
Payara looked up to Estuary for the majority of her life, wanting to one day be as knowledgeable and fancy as the elderly SeaWing. She was one of Paya’s biggest pillars of support throughout her dragonethood. Of course, that connection has now been severed.

>

>

\\ I N V E N T O R Y //

(Things that your dragon is carrying with them all the time!)

Worn Journal > Despite its intention to be used as a diary, this journal is filled with mathematical equations, scribbled notes, and what looks to be budget planning. There is a watertight inkwell attached to it via a tough piece of string.

\\ D R A G O N T E A R S & L E V E L L I N G R E C O R D S //

Quest:
Rewards Gained:

Quest:
Rewards Gained:

Total Dragon Tears Gained: 0
Inspiration:
Levelling Rate: [Nonban]

Starting Stats: STR [5], DEX [2], CON [6], INT [10], WIS [6], CHA [5], STA [2], FLY [5]
Starting Skills: Survival [3], Tribe Abilities [0], Writing [6], SeaWing History [8], Medicine [2], Language: Aquatic [5]

\\ E X T R A //

Voice claim > www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWurgM…