Islands of Pern

Apprentice Harper Macken

Name: Macken
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Rank/Craft: Level 4 Apprentice
Residence: Ithaca Hold

Description: Macken is fairly tall for his age, standing at almost six feet. He is tan, slim, and lithe. His height and body were inherited from his father. However, the feature most commented on was inherited from his mother. Looking out from behind sooty lashes are a pair of unusual eyes. They are bright violet in color, keen and intelligent, always full of emotion. Framing his slim, delicate face is a mop of thick black hair. The locks are normally long but not overly so; the waves touch the collar, and curl upward. The hair style isn't a fashion statement, or even preference, merely a boy's tendency to be too lazy to get a hair cut.

Macken dresses for comfort. Usually donned in a simple pair of trousers and a tunic of neutral color, but the young man would prefer to wear less. He often does when appropriate, and quite often when it is not! The apprentice is not ashamed of his body and is not afraid to flaunt it, after all he knows he looks good, why shouldn't others? Macken hates boots! If able to get away with it, the young man goes barefoot, if not...well, then he will settle for a pair of worn boots.

Personality: Macken is cocky and a bit - well, more than a bit - on the arrogant side, a flaw that he readily admits to having. His sharp harper tongue gets him in and out of plenty of trouble, but also seems to win him friends. He is very bright, things usually come very easy for him, so he doesn't understand why it isn't the same for everyone, and is impatient. The young man is often bored with his studies, normally finishing the work quickly, leaving plenty of time to get into trouble. Give him a challenge and he'll soak up information like a sponge, don't and reap the consequences. Macken is working on some anger issues, his temper is easy to ignite and slow to burn out. The harper is too quick to fight, and although he usually comes out as the victor, one day he'll meet his match. Macken is aware of the problem; he just doesn't know how to fix it yet. Although the boy comes off as brash on the outside, he is really a very caring, loving and loyal person. He just tries to mix in a little fun.

Background: Macken was born in the north, at the Harper Hall to a journeywoman. And when he was three his young mother was struck with a wasting disease. He watched her sicken with his own little eyes, unable to do anything. Then at five, the little boy's world fell out from under him, for how does one live without a mother? Macken is often distressed that he remembers so little of her, and yet he can remember every other nuance of his life, even that young. His only memory of the woman was her love of music and her eyes...so much like his own.

The harpers didn't want to give the boy up but honored his mother's wishes. She wanted Macken to be raised by his father who lived in the South, a man that she loved very much, but neither was willing to give up their craft for the other. The boy had never met the man, but his mother often spoke of him. She told him before she died that he would go live with Journeyman Marius. That he would be near the sea and sail in ships.

One summer morning, with his watchful harper escort, he stepped off a little boat. She asked around for the journeyman and was pointed in the direction of a nearby man. So Macken stood eyes full of tears, a small pack on his back, and a folded piece of hide clutched in his little trembling hands. The young man turned away from his task, and Macken recognized him from a drawing folded safely tucked away in his pack. The boy quickly thrust out the letter his mother wrote just before her death.

Marius looked at the boy's escort, eyes questioning, and the harper shook her head, she didn't know what the letter contained. He opened it, and as he read the flowing script, his eyes widened, then at last filled with tears. He looked down at the boy and held out his arms, the boy literally leapt into his embrace. Marius picked up his small son and cradled the now sobbing boy in his strong tan arms.

With a wave of his hand, he beckoned one of his crewmates, "Erlan?"

The mate came forward, "Aye?"

"Will you see to the lady's comfort?" he asked.

"Of course, Marius."

Then the fisherman left his boy in his arms, ready to start their life together.

For nine turns, Macken lived with Marius. His father, although sexually active, never took a wife or had a serious relationship. He was resigned to raise his son alone. He could never replace the mother the boy already lost, nor did he want to. Macken learned to cook, clean, mend, and many other household tasks from his father. The two males lived and prospered together, alone, and enjoyed a close relationship that they both cherished.

When the boy turned fourteen, two turns past the normal apprenticing age, his father, made a decision. It was time for the boy to apprentice to the Seacraft. He broached the subject one morning, and was astonished to find the boy crying. Macken couldn't imagine doing anything other than singing, and told his father so.

With his father's permission and a Master's recommendation in hand, Macken left for the Harper Hall. Living with the harpers surrounded by music and learning seemed to be perfect, at first. However, as time progressed and the lessons weren't as challenging to the boy anymore, his behavior deteriorated quickly. He became disruptful, disrespectful, and just all out bad. The journeymen and masters tried various methods to stimulate the apprentice, but nothing seemed to work, and they grew frustrated. What does one do with somebody so full of talent and yet full of bad attitude at the same time? For a long time, nobody knew the answer, and so Macken was able to get away with entirely too much. Finally, defending the honor of a close friend, Macken involved himself in a fight so vicious that the Hall Master was no longer able to look aside. Something had to be done. The apprentice was given a choice, either leave the Hall and the craft for the rest of his life or use his sharp tongue, intelligence and cunning to be useful to his craft. If Macken chose the latter, he was to turn himself over to a single man's harsh training and learn the ins and outs of covert operations. The "other side" of the Harper Craft.

It didn't take the apprentice but a few seconds to make the choice. He was a harper and he planned to remain one for the rest of his life. After departing with the man, a mere two hours after they met, Macken caught himself wondering how long that life would be.

Pet Name: Imp
Pet Species: Firelizard
Pet Color: Brown

Pet Description: Imp, is a rather large firelizard. His hide is a rich chestnut brown, and his belly is slightly darker than the rest of him.

Imp is a rascal and a scamp, just like his human. He is independent, often disappearing for days without warning. The flit is in trouble a lot, but for the most part is able to get out of any mishap himself. The brown is almost completely untrained, and his young owner despairs that he'll be impossible to train. For training Imp, is a task that has been set upon Macken by his new teacher, and to be completed with the utmost speed. Imp has decided that he isn't too keen on the idea either. Better to stay away.

Last Updated: 8/28/2004