Allure Competition I

[M'kel]

Eligibility: Blues and Greens

Materials Available: Regular oils to smooth dry hide are available to all. No one has purchased ribbons or sweet smelling oils. One fire lizard may be used however you please.

Activities: Describe dragon’s appearance, noting special touches done by rider. Dragon and rider must walk down stone ramp built for purpose, pose at end, and walk back.

Procedure: Everyone wishing to compete will have 3 days to post starting June 3rd. At this point, the winners will be determined from those who have posted by dice rolling.

[Kitari]

The nerves were gnawing at B'rec like a pack of mangy canines, and he paced back and forth while waiting for the event to begin. When he had heard about the Dragon Tournament, the young man's initial reaction had of course been fear and certainty that he wouldn't risk competing. However, after seeing how excited Dagonth was about competing with the other dragons, he had decided to give it a second consideration. Of all of the events, Allure seemed the most harmless and least likely to result in an embarrassing failure. As well, the Weyrfolk were always commenting on Dagonth's sapphire hide...

Thus, the Sr. Weyrling had decided to register. Now, he was beginning to wonder if it was a mistake. So far, the only competitors he could see were all female...was this supposed to be a feminine competition? B'rec had assumed that any good-looking dragon could try their hand at it. This had resulted in his extreme nerves (although he had already been anxious about such a public spotlight) and a nearly constant blush, as the young man avoided eye contact with everyone and devoted his attention fully to Dagonth.

"It's time!" a voice called, and B'rec looked quickly in the man's direction. He was helping to organize the event and was currently waving Dagonth and B'rec off. It had, of course, been their luck to be slotted as first to perform. Oh well, it would be better simply to get it over with. He hoped.

Do I...do I look all right, mine? The excitement in Dagonth's tone was nearly overwhelmed by uncertainty. B'rec mounted and patted his dragon reassuringly on the shoulder.

You look very handsome. I'm so proud of you. Dagonth's eyes whirled green with pleasure as he made his way to the beginning of the platform.

Dagonth's deep sapphire blue hide shone with the care his rider took in preparation for today. The oil that coated his form glistened along every ridge and down his curving tail. He kept his wings tucked to his sides as he marched proudly along the 'dragonwalk', his head held high on his unusually long neck. Griffin appeared out of between on cue, spiraling around the pair and carrying a hide sack with many small holes pierced in it. The result was that water droplets sprinkled lightly upon both dragon and rider, as if mist from a waterfall, catching the light as they fell and sparkling on hair and hide alike. Upon reaching the end, the blue dragon reared on his hind legs, B'rec leaning in and gripping the riding straps tightly, and Dagonth's wings flared out to steady him. In this position, the lighter blue undertones of his belly were visible, blending marvelously into his darker sides. He flapped once, boldly sweeping the air to demonstrate his strength, then settled back down and turned, sheepishly making his way back down the stone ridge.

How was that? he asked, nervous colours in his tones.

You were marvelous, B'rec replied, unable to hide his grin from the judges.

[Flamewolf]

First one was done. Minelli watched as the blue and his rider finished with bright eyes. They did a very, very good job, she had to admit. The water was a fantastic touch, sprinkling it over them like that. She doubted that it would have been better on any other hide except for blue, so they were pretty safe that nobody else would use the trick. She turned to her green, whose eyes were whirling fast with excitement. “Ready?” she asked.

I’ve been ready. This will be so much fun, the enthusiastic Elainuth responded. Minelli laughed at her just as the announcer called them up. She gestured for the green to lead, in which she responded with a rumble of a laugh, and walked ahead. Minelli walked beside her with a chuckle of her own before they faced the crowd.

The oil had been used on the green in an event coat, though none touched two sea green strikes that ran down her flanks. Her wings were unfolded and lightly dragging against the ramp as she started down. Minelli walked leisurely behind her left wing, hand on her dragon’s hind leg. Her head was down low, so her body was straight, and the two streaks that accentuated her were highly visible now. When she got the end of the ramp, a blast of cold alerted them to Mini’s presence. Elainuth’s wings slowly unfurled slightly to reveal the rest of the two horizontal stripes and the branches of them on her hind quarters. Mini, in her paws, carried a small sack. She ripped the bottom open with her tail, and white sand trickled down from it. She shook it gently, as Minelli had taught her to, and the grains stuck to the green’s oily hide.

When it emptied, Elainuth’s forest green hide now sparkled with dusted silver, save for the two stripes which stood out even more and made it look like a foresty sea shore. Her wings lifted all the way, and she lifted her head to. Then she took a bow, mainly bowing her head and leaning forward, one leg lifted slightly, before she folded her wings and turned back around. Minelli followed as the green flit landed on the girl’s shoulder, giving a soft trill as they walked back up the ramp, the green rider smiling.

[Shikai]

Anya fidgeted, unable to stand still as her eyes blazed with excitement. “Lyonesth, we’re almost up now! I think…yes, Minelli and Elainuth are heading back this way!” She exclaimed to her dragon. The green beside her took a step forward, looking over the dragonwalk and the place where the judges sat as she prepared herself.

That sand was a nice touch! Although I have to say, I liked the water used by Dagonth and his as well.[/color] Lyonesth commented, turning her eyes upon her rider, the facets whirling dizzyingly fast in a mix of blue and green as a reflection of Anya’s excitement. “They were! Marvelous ideas.” But we’re going to beat them all! You look beautiful, Lyonesth! So beautiful! Anya replied, leaning her cheek against the soft, smoothly oiled hide of Lyonesth’s shoulder, admiring the stunning patterns and variety of shades that seemed to dance over her form, as though Lyonesth were a dragon-shaped canvas upon which a skilled artist had painted a whirling display of sunlit leaves. How she had impressed such a dragon was still a mystery! Anya, whose face was all too often smeared with dirt, carelessly rubbed on by a dirty hand as she was working on something, her clothes usually in disarray. But for all Lyonesth’s beauty, she and Anya were a perfect match within. Both bold, confident, and with an ambitious streak one wouldn’t expect.

Ambition such as they felt right now, to win the contest! Never mind that Lyonesth’s legs were a bit short. There was nothing wrong with her beloved dragon’s proportions, Anya thought dismissively. She had the utmost confidence in her dragon, and her beauty. “We’re up!” She whispered, her voice full of anticipation, as Minelli and Elainuth passed them. She smiled, waving cheerfully, before passing, walking beside her dragon down the dragonramp. We can win this![/color] Lyonesth replied, and put on her most confident, graceful walk as she made her way to the end. It was going marvelously! Now, it all came down to Raziel. After all the training she had done with the blue, Anya very much hoped he would come through, or she would be quite annoyed with him. For a while, at least, for it was hard to stay angry with such an innocent, cheerful little creature.

They stopped at the end, and Lyonesth unfurled her wings slowly, stretching her elegant neck, and Anya gave the command for Raziel. However, as she had feared, the blue did not immediately appear. Lyonesth? Yes, just a minute. RAZIEL![/color] The dragon called with a mental roar, anger tinging her mental voice.

Some distance away, Raziel awoke with a squeak of alarm, and the sapphire colored firelizard nearly fell off of the rock he’d fallen asleep on. Suddenly remembering his task, he grabbed the sack beside him and took off into the air, betweening at once to his rider.

Fortunately, Raziel was late by but a moment, which would hopefully not be too noticeable. Leaves cascaded down from the pouch, which looked nearly too large for him to carry, but it was lightweight, as were the leaves within it. The leaves, selected for their colors that so well complemented the multitude shades of Lyonesth’s hide, swirled about in the wind as the dragon held her pose, and as they began to twirl down to the ground, Anya and Lyonesth turned and made their way back. How do you think we did, mine?[/color] Lyonesth asked, excited. You were great! It all went perfectly, save for the mishap with Razzy, but he came through for us after all.

[B'kay]

Ravyna's heart pounded, and she felt the more silly for her nerves. "Allure" had worked for her countless times before she'd become a dragon rider, but now it was her dragon's beauty she must show off to it's best effect. It should be easy ... after all, wasn't Igrainth the most glorious green on Pern?

The young green nuzzled her rider as they looked down from above on the competition. We will be fine, she said softly, no touch of nerves in her thoughts.

And then, it was their turn.

A graceful whirl of green floated down toward the ramp, long, long wings stretched toward the skies. Igrainth landed lightly at the end of the ramp, and, keeping her slender wings raised to show their elegance, walked gracefully toward the onlookers. Ravyna had taken fresh young sea weeds from the ocean, and decked the flight harness as if with lace. The delicate tendrils matched the algae and moss green of the dragon's glowing hide, which had been carefully oiled and gleamed with health. The rider, too, wore green, a long, lacy tunic of fine gossamer, which perfectly matched Igrainth's magnificent hide, and in her hair Ravyna wore a hand-crafted corsage of green leaves, chartreuse flowers, and a touch of the lacy sea greens at the center.

As Igrainth moved, wings held aloft, her long, lithe body shimmered in the sun. The kelp-lace swayed with her movements, causing light and shadow to ripple on her hide. As the reached the end of the ramp, Ravyna stood lightly, on bare feet, between her dragon's wings, and both gave the judges and onlookers a graceful bow of appreciation.

[Journye]

Calysta fidgeted and chewed lightly on her bottom lip as she and Luneth waited their turn. She was awed by the performance of them, applauding them along with the spectators. Luneth turned her head and nudged her rider gently We will do fine my Calysta[/color] she told her rider, her eyes whirling quickly with excitement.

Calysta smiled and nodded "Yes we will Luneth," she said as she smoothed her dress out. Since learning of the contest she had worked in all her spare time to make a dress that complemented Luneth's lovely hide. The dress was a soft sea green in color with wave like swirls of algae green along the hem and neck lines. She had her hair in a simple braid, for she knew her own aluure worked just fine, this was her Luneth's day.

She took a deep breath and smiled up at Luneth who was shifting from foot to foot eagerly. At last they were called upon and Luneth stepped gracefully onto the "dragonwalk" Her wings folded neatly upon her back.

Calysta had spent all morning carefully oiling her hide so that it gleamed. The sun sparkling off of the lovely algae green of her hide, the wave-like swirls of sea green a subtle under tone to her hide. The sea green also making tiself present one her eye ridges. She paused at the end of the walk and spread her wings, showing off the sea green at their tips. She arched her neck in a regal nod of her head, which was slightly longer and thinner then average, but lovely none the less. She was also slightly larger then an average green, but proportioned just right and still carried herself gracefully.

Calysta let out a short whistle and the bronze flit that her fellow Weyrling Journye had allowed her to borrow appeared from between with a sack clenched in her front claws. He chirped and shook the bag as he had been trained and gentle shower of bright red and yellow flower petals drifted down over Luneth, sticking to her oiled hide and giving the appearance of small, colorful fish swimming in a calm, tranquil ocean.

Luneth folded her wings back into place neatly and with another bow of her head turned and made her way back up the ramp, Calysta smiling brightly beside her. You were beautiful Luneth! she told her green lovingly. Luneth crooned to her rider I hope that I did well mine[/color]. Calysta nodded "You did lovely."

[M'kel]

And the results are in!

First Place: B'rec and Dagonth (ability: 16, die: 6)

Second Place: Calysta and Luneth (ability: 17, first roll: 2, second roll: 5)

Third Place: Minelli and Elainuth (ability: 16, first roll: 3, second roll: 4)

Fourth Place: Anya and Lyonesth (ability: 13, first roll: 6, second roll: 1)

Fifth Place: Ravyna and Igrainth (ability: 14, die: 2)

That's right, folks! In our first round of rolling, we had a three-way tie for 2nd! After the 2nd round, this was not the case.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all competitors! It was a blast to read/participate in!