Status:
2780: Matriarch

Owned by BendustKas

Island: Isla Pera
Biome: Oceanic, coastal, urban, forest; various
Diet: Fish, crustaceans, cetaceans, mollusks, turtles, red meat from various sources
Faction: Steelwater Flock
Mate: N/A

Weight: Bulky
Height: Average
Length: Average

Despite her age, Matriarch is an imposing figure - moreso out of her weight than out of height. She's a little slower to get around than she used to be, and when wandering across her ship, she tends to walk more than she does fly. Landings are getting to be hard on her joints, and it is difficult to fly for long periods of time when there is no updraft to help keep her in the air.

Notable Traits: Aside from her musculature, Matriarch is quite average in appearance. She tends to sit in a slightly hunched position.

 

Personality
Calm, quiet, and collected; Matriarch has a level head on her aging shoulders. She has collected many stories in her long life, and looks to share her stories and all the knowledge that she's gained with others who are willing to listen. She hasn't gotten this far in life by being a headstrong, irrational hatchling - she is thoughtful, calculating, and careful. There is far more life to her thoughts and actions than her slow, relaxed demeanor suggests. She cares deeply for all those that have come to call the Steelwater flock their home and family, and will do whatever it takes - even that which is beyond her power - to keep them safe and secure while they are onboard her ship. Despite often appearing as a stern and humourless creature, she in fact has quite a sense of humour and is more than lenient to the occasional bit of mischief, so long as there is no intent to harm.
 
 
History & Relations
There's not much to say about Matriarch's early life - or rather, she won't say much. She's never spoken about her parents, or if she has any siblings or extended relatives of any kind. It's unknown, even, what her first name was. All that she goes by now is "Matriarch," though some refer to her as "Gargoyle" for her appearance and, occasionally, her stony disposition. She takes it all in stride, though. She has many stories that she tells now of the islands and the waters and lands beyond. There's even rumour that she understands the strange scribbles left scrawled around on walls, signs, and other odd surfaces. Some, though, are skeptical of such tales. All the same, there is certainly something that can be said about the elderly tropeo. There's not a lot that can ruffle her feathers anymore.

It's safe to say that Matriarch was a fighter in her youth, and an explorer. Though hidden beneath her feathers, she bears many scars that tell of her earlier exploits.

Once, she lived a relatively solitary life. She kept to her own company, and that of her family. They were simple fisherfolk, and preferred it that way, with other tropeos being few and far between. As she grew older, though, she longed more and more to stretch her wings into the skies beyond their sheltered bay. The first several times she encountered other dinosaurs, she stayed far away and often beyond all but the sharpest gaze. Matriarch was shy - she'd lived in the same little alcove all of her young life, and not heard anything of these others. Over time, though, she grew more and more bold - she was a flier, after all, and could easily stay out of reach if those that she investigated were any sort of trouble. And oh, it was grand! The tales she tells of the obstacles she faced and the battles she fought, the new places she found and the things she's seen. There were so many new faces for her to meet, so many new interesting regions to explore.

Eventually, she grew tired of the island, though where she went is anyone's guess. As far as she's told, she's never actually set foot on Isla Kela - which leaves the waters and wilds beyond.

Many years later, supposedly, she returned to the region. Matriarch found no comfort on the island, and instead preferred the seclusion of an expansive space that no other dinosaur had yet claimed as their own. An old ship, abandoned and dashed against a small, rocky "island" just past the shore of southern Isla Pera, her first "home." She set to work repairing the space - it gave her something to do and focus on, her mind often scattered in the first several months of her return. Occasionally, she would have a visiter - or perhaps she had truly invaded someone else's domain upon "claiming" the ship as her own. The tale changes from time to time. She paid little mind, accepting the company of those who wished to rest and directing those who wished to stay. There was much work to be done if they were going to ever keep the ship in working order. There were some that stayed out of necessity, others that stayed as repayment when she fished them out of the water. No matter the reason, the number of dinosaurs that inhabited the ship grew from a small population to an established colony, and has become a family to Matriarch. One that she will fiercely defend. Age is taking her strength, but not her spirit.
 
Some of the earliest members of the flock were less flockmates and more just individuals who chose to live on the ship with Matriarch, who she tolerated and even came to enjoy the company of. Kamui is one of the eldest members of the flock, aside from herself, and someone she considers an old friend.
 
Others, she went out of her way to adopt, to take under her wing and care for. She sees the flock as her family, and those that she adopts are very much her children, if not in some way her kin. Belladonna is one that she sees as such, and she keeps an ever-watchful eye over the young steward. Even those that she hasn't adopted, she has come to see as family. Silvercrest came to the flock ill and dying, and Blackbeard came with him. When the pair stayed, Matriarch took it upon herself to watch over the strengthening young tropeos - mothering them, from a distance. Her delight when Silvercrest and Belladonna nested a hatchling, Frog, was evident. She is incredibly proud and fond of the little family.
 
Even those that don't hang around, she still looks upon fondly. Felix comes and goes as he pleases, and Matriarch always finds his company to be interesting, to say the very least. Gulliver, though he no longer vists due to old injuries, has long since been considered a friend in the eyes of the elderly tropeo. She always enjoyed his stories - they reminded her of their youth. Some suspect, given the distant look in her eye whenever Gulliver is mentioned, that they must have been involved when they were younger.
 
It seems that the elderly tropeo has very few enemies, finding a way to make peace with most those that cross her path. There is one, though, that she won't hesitate to drive away from the flock: Baba Yaga.
 
 

Fun Facts:

  • Matriarch seems to be able to read the signs and billboards that humans left behind
  • She seems to know much more about the residents of Steelwater than she lets on, and often it seems she knows just as much about island residents
  • Matriarch has established working relationships with several factions across the islands, ensuring safety and safe travel for her flock in exchange for their services
  • Gift art is allowed
  • Please ask before gift writing