Elian

Description

Male, late 30s. Small beard, Dark but graying hair.

Named Elian, he is one of Trimont's cloud skim pilot trainers, ever since a traumatic long-range flight (called "sorties") has refused to go on more. Ever since that incident, has a Owl Gryphon familiar named Chiboo which he cares deeply for, crediting him for still being alive to this day.

He is a skilled, experienced pilot, but his trauma makes him overly cautious and it has killed his curiosity.

His closest friend from childhood is Mira, Trimont's Geonomer.


Pilots have very functional, Ranger-like, survival uniforms/gear. Their culture doesn't have a military, so "uniform" is probably a bad term, but they do learn from each other and carry the same kind of gear... and everything has a purpose, so while the aesthetics can vary a lot between pilots, they will carry the same things.

  • The wear layered clothing to be able to adapt to different weather or even to rip part of it out bandage a wound.
  • Always a hood or scarf (always in the sun without shade... and rain!).
  • They can have some leather protection, but very light.
  • Pouches, belts and trinkets are a regular sight on pilot outfits. Ready for anything!
    • Multi-functional items are very welcome (examples only, ideas more than welcome) :
      • Bracers mounted with a compass
      • Looped belts that can be used to tie things
      • Shoulder pads that can act like bowls to gather water...? (I dunno)
  • They have a bird-styled mask that they use when piloting in difficult weather, shielding their eyes from the elements.
  • They represent a lot of the culture of the people of Trimont, so even their functional pieces will sometimes be decorated, from finds on their travails or gifts from the people of Trimont, who don't know if their friend/sibling/lover pilot will ever return...
    • Trinkets and embroidered pieces of clothing(?)

A lot of their gear goes from the skim to themselves (as needed)

  • They usually carry small and large knives, a bow for hunting
  • The backseat of the Cloudskim is basically a backpack, with a bedroll as headrest

Arc

  • Ghost
    • Two years ago, Elian went through a traumatic experience during a sortie
      • He left for a sortie that should have taken 3 months but ended up taking 2 years and almost killed him
      • The trip went wrong during a massive storm where he lost his first familiar, Swift (a kestrel)
      • Swift tried to help stabilize their flight during the storm but was torn away by the winds
      • His Skim crashed on an unnamed fragment where he was stranded
      • On day 12 of being stranded, Chiboo (an Owl Gryphon) appeared and began helping him
      • Chiboo brought materials from neighboring islands to help repair his Skim (branches, vines, canvas)
      • A pilot named Kestra was sent to find him but was lost (never heard from again)
      • He eventually made his way back after 2 years, mostly by "drifting"
  • The Lie They Believe
    • His Sortie/Exploration days are over, too afraid of messing up on another sortie
    • He feels responsible for Kestra's death and Swift's loss
    • He believes his overconfidence caused the disaster
  • Want
    • He wants to remain home, training others and preventing dangerous sorties
    • He wants to use his position to discourage risky exploration
  • Need
    • To face his fears and explore the world again
    • To understand that calculated risks are necessary for discovery
    • To forgive himself for past losses
  • Truth
    • The risks he took were accepted by all involved - Kestra chose to search for him
    • His experience has made him wiser, not just more fearful
    • Swift's loss and Chiboo's arrival were part of his journey to becoming who he needed to be
    • The community doesn't blame him - they understand the risks inherent in exploration