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Table of Contents
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Description
Small and tidy, this mouse of a woman hardly seems the sort who'd be able to go toe-to-toe with Ista's current weyrleaders, let alone deal with their (at best of times) abrasive natures, but against all odds, the Headwoman has persevered and even flourished under the less than ideal circumstances. Appearance lingering somewhere in her mid to late thirties, plain brown hair is just beginning to be streaked with touches of grey, and often kept bound neatly in a bun or braided runnertail, wound at the back of her head. Slender limbs accompany a short but sturdy frame, having certainly been familiar with more physically demanding work in her youth. Sporting a healthy tan, she obviously spends much time outdoors despite the apparent deskjob rank she holds. Her face is gentle, already showing signs of age, with features that in past turns might have been delicate but have matured into something bordering matronly. Her attire is sensible for the climate, but otherwise reserved, favoring light linen dresses in muted hues and loose tunics with long, airy skirts. Her knot, however, speaks for itself, and while she might not be the most imposing authority figure, her voice does carry a reasonable edge which most tend to listen to. Because in the end, dealing with her is far preferable to dealing with those she works for.
History
Serri was born on one of the outer islands, possibly to a barkeep and a ferry worker. But she, like most of the children in the weyr, was raised communally and fostered early on, spending as much time with her parents as with the nannies. She grew up weyrbred, and has seen most of what Ista has to offer, from dashing riders to mischief in the lower caverns to drunken escapades and high seas adventure. The majority of her youth was spent working various jobs in and around the weyr, sometimes joining her mother on the boats and, for a short time, even as a bar wench in one of the many pubs. However, an aptitude for harper lessons and an eye for organization soon saw her doing desk jobs more often than not, eventually finding a spot as one of Channa's Assistant Headwomen in her late teens. This job, it seems, was ideally suited to her, and she spent many pleasant afternoons amongst the various weyrfolk, dealing with this or that behind-the-scenes matter, often taking inventories or sorting out where and when things needed to be done to keep the weyr running smoothly and efficiently. She was good at her job, though by no means stellar, having a fondness like many Istans for slacking off sometimes to dally with alcohol and friendly bronzeriders. And like many weyrfolk, the casual atmosphere led to many things, including two children and an off-and-on relationship which eventually became little more than a fond memory.
She continued as an Assistant Headwoman for many turns, although it wasn't until Cenlia became weyrwoman that she found herself taking on more and more of the essential duties, the friction between the leadership and the people who had to deal with them finally boiling over in a re-organizing that found the hapless assistant in charge, more or less, of everything non-rider related in the weyr. It was an adjustment, to be sure, but a challenge she's risen to admirably, dealing with it, like everything else, in her own stubbornly reasonable way. Now, having worn the knot of Headwoman for some turns, she's more than earned the job with her deft handling of weyr business and weyr politics alike. The patience to match her level temper, she's become the ideal balance to the sometimes-abrasive leadership, able to smooth things over and sometimes even talk sense into the fray. And while there might be a long-suffering sigh for some of the things she might have to deal with, she's managed to more or less keep the weyr's economic and organizational machinery running without fail.
Family
| Name | Relation | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorren | father | Ista Weyr | barkeep |
| Terri | mother | Ista Weyr | ferry driver/dockworker |
| Sione | daughter | Ista Weyr | weyrbrat |
| Sedric | son | Ista Weyr | weyrbrat |
Personality/RP Notes
Serri, despite her small and unassuming stature, is as patient and reliable as they come. Time and again, she's managed to sort messes and smooth things out, tackling any of the weyr's problems with a sense of perseverance and calm reason. Not an easy woman to ruffle, she seldom loses her temper and has a way of talking through issues rather than just throwing her authority around. More politically savvy than she might look at first, her ability to organize is nearly unmatched, with a good memory and eye for detail. Able to plan ahead and be flexible, she's kept Ista running through thick and thin, with enough fallbacks to ensure that, even should disaster strike, there's a contingency plan in place, and competent people ready to back up whoever's in charge. She's the deft and approachable side to the weyrleader's sometimes-abrasiveness, a friendly face anyone can talk to with whatever issue needs dealing with. She has become an essential part of the backbone which keeps Ista running day in and day out. Without her, chances are, things might have fallen apart quickly, and while she rarely speaks ill of anyone, she always acts in the weyr's best interests, willing to deal with any difficulty, without complaint or thanks at times. Long-suffering she might be, but more than happy with the skill she's cultivated to keep one of Pern's oldest weyrs functioning without fail.
Trivia
- Serri sometimes has to deal with extremely trying circumstances, but she rarely, if ever, raises her voice.
- Rumor has it, she once talked Zeek out of eating a chicken. This monumental feat, if true, might be why she and Cenlia seem to actually get along, more or less.
- She currently employs at least a dozen assistants, at all times, along with at least one temporary girl brought over from Ista Hold, supposedly one of the Lord Holder's own nieces, to help maintain the close ties between it and they weyr. She also has several replacements trained, and is always on the lookout for promising young weyrfolk, as well as candidates, who might be brought in for the various clutches. At least three of her current assistants were former candidates that didn't impress.
- She handles all the non-rider business in the weyr, up to and including keeping kitchens and storage caverns stocked, and organizing all sorts of events and commerce. If it happens in Ista, chances are, a report about it has come across her desk.
Quotes
- "quote"
- "quote"
Firelizards
Serri has three firelizards, as far as anyone's observed, a gold and blue which can be seen daily delivering messages and such, and a bronze which while obedient, isn't often given the job of ferrying things.
OOC Notes
(Communal NPC, which ISW staff pulls out on occasion - feel free to add to this page and use in scenes as necessary.)
