NEW HOPE CHARACTER PROFILE

 
Originator of Character:  Margaret R. Dean
Name:  Lodestar; also called "Kizhuneko" or "Lakaazashiro-xalu" by the Taiakaari
Soul Name:  Keth (known by his parents, Kestrel and Starsinger, and by Lyeth, his soulbrother; he in turn knows Lyeth's)
Race:  Elf
Gender:  Male
Generation/Approximate Age:  Late-generation, the usual tenth-or-so; young adult
Origins:  Born in the Aerie, native of the tribe called the Hawkfriends.  Stayed in the Hidden Valley while his soulbrother was studying with Arteuran, then moved to New Hope when his soulbrother Recognized Snowflower.
 
Hair Length/Color/Style:  Medium red-brown, to middle of back, mostly straight; usually wears it in a tail, often with a headband
Eyes:  Grey-green, large
Skin:  Fair, lightly tanned
Height:  3'  7"
Build:  Trim and compact
Voice Quality & Speech Mannerisms:  Clear tenor; has a lovely singing voice.  Speech is usually direct and simple, with a few archaic/rustic locutions common to his home tribal dialect.
Other Physical Attributes:  Small, straight nose, level brows, cleft chin; "musician's" hands
 
Parents:  Kestrel, mother; Starsinger, father (at the Aerie)
Siblings:  Lark, elder sister (at the Aerie)
Other Relatives:  Lots, but they're all back at the Aerie
Current Mate:  Lovemates with Vallaree a few years after coming to New Hope (NH 234 or so?)
Recognized?:  No, though it could happen . . .
Previous Mates:  Possibly a few casual lovematings here and there, though a long-term, committed relationship would be his personal preference.
Children:  None
Closest Friends:  Lyeth (soulbrother); Afterglow.  Will also likely make friends among the Deathwater Falls elves since they're most like his birthtribe.  Comes to like Zaadire (and likely others among the monks) more than he ever expected to like humans.
 
Special Talents:  Healer of moderate power; has exact sense of direction
Skills:  General survival skills; excellent archer, decent herbalist, bowyer and fletcher; skilled mountaineer.
Hobbies:  Singer
Weapons Used:  Bow, knife
Bondbeast:  None
 
Jewelry Worn:  Bead and feather choker similar to Lyeth's; Lodestar wears his nearly all the time
Clothing:  Plain, serviceable leathers for the most part, though if Lyeth wants to dress him up, he'll let him.  Adopts Taiakaari novice garb after Lyeth begins his apprenticeship, but still wears his headband, choker, and fringed boots with this.
Other Special Possessions:  None known
 
Personal Info:  Lodestar has a strong sense of right and wrong coupled with a healer's natural compassion, though his outward manner can sometimes be brusque, especially when defending his soulbrother.  Usually he gets along well with others.  Insightful and occasionally intuitive, but mostly pragmatic, though he has a definite romantic streak.  He usually suppresses this, however, feeling that Lyeth is romantical enough for both of them put together.  Normally Lodestar's stability serves as an anchor to Lyeth's fits of temperament.  More important from Lyeth's point of view, Lodestar (as one who knows his soul name) is capable of calling him back if he gets lost in an impersonation.  Lodestar is protective of Lyeth and does his best to shield him from others' hostility.  While he didn't necessarily like living with the Exiles and was fairly quick to scent "something rotten in the state of Denmark," he put up with it for Lyeth's sake.  When Lyeth apprenticed to Arteuran, Lodestar is content to stick around and act as the ancient healer's "lab assistant / grad student," picking up what advanced healing knowledge he can and at the same time keeping an eye on his soulbrother.  Lodestar is honest by nature, with a good deal of moral courage.  He is one either to speak the truth or to keep his mouth shut.  He generally has enough sense to know when to do the latter.
 
Has occasional bouts of severe homesickness, compounded by the fact that he knows perfectly well how to =get= home.   He and Lyeth have occasionally been lovers, though Lodestar is basically heterosexual.