Character Name: Aurora Dolphinheart
Pronouns: She/Her, sometimes They/Them (sheās bigender-fluid)
Nickname: āRora
Age: 19
What is their homestable in-game? Why?
Starshine Ranch. Aurora is from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A and grew up riding western and Quarter Horse crosses. Like the founders of Starshine Ranch, she was looking for a little bit of home on Jorvik and found it on the ranch.
Where do they actually live in Jorvik?
Starshine Ranch, her room is in the barn loft. Though sheās been hanging out more and more at the Circus of Dreamsā¦ š¤
Who is their favorite NPC?
Sheāll half-lie and tell you Lisa, as they have similar passions in western and music, Rowan for being plain awesome, and Rania for her fearless spirit. But sheās considerably drawn to Ydris though sheās frustrated people only see him for his looks or consider him evil. She never cared for him much until they brought the Cosmic Clock. There was a fear and anguish in his eyes- one that she knew too well herself- and thatās when she began to see him as more than just a circus leader or magician. After the Clock fiasco, she eventually went back to try and help repair the damage. She wants to befriend him, but deep down she wouldnāt mind if they ended up being more.
Who is their Soul Steed? What breed are they? Do they have any markings or look different in some way from the in-game appearance you could give them?
Silvermist, a dapple gray Jorvik Warmblood mare with a white mane and tail. She would have some silver in her mane, and she may have some lighter patches of dapples on her back as a nod to her concealed wings.
What is their favorite location?
āRora is currently in love with Wildwoods and the mystery surrounding it. She thinks it could be the key to her theory that Earth and Pandoria can in fact interact in harmony, so she continues to search for the source of the Pandoric energy in the area. She used to love exploring the marshes of Epona, but after recent events in Gaurdianās Dale she tends to stay away from that area.
Whoās their favorite horse? Why?
āRora has too many horses. At least thatās what everyone tells her. Her favorite is obviously her Soul Steed, Silvermist, but the magic horses that bonded with her like Umbra (Royalfire) and Brincicle (Iceking) come close as well. She has a special place in her heart for her Dun-striped Jorvik Wild (Dawnfaith), her white/gray Morgan (Northstar), the gray Knabstrupper which her sister calls ācrusty oreoāš (Chaosmaster), and her sorrel Quarter Horse (Summerwings) who reminds her of all the sorrel AQH lesson horses she grew up riding.
What are their powers? Are they stronger with one Circle over any of the others?
āRora is definitely stronger in the Lightning Circle given she has more practice in it and utilizes it more often during missions.
She has always been able to subconsciously use the Star Circle to help heal herself (sheās always been quick to heal except for residual back pain), but she hasnāt been able to use magic to heal others. Sheās most powerful in the Star Circle when sheās singing, and finds it helps her heal her mental health when it plummets.
Sheās tried to use the Sun Circle to create portals from one part of the island to another in hopes of being able to create one to Pandoria, but has so far failed. However, she is able to use the Sun Circleās powers to find the naturally occuring portals.
She has little gifting in the Moon Circle, partially because of her upbringing and partially because she shut her mind off to dreams due to a past which had left her with nightmares. Her Moon Circle powers have thus manifested in empathy, she is able to feel someoneās emotions even if she isnāt near them.
She also has the ability to utilize some form of Pandorian energy after watching Ydris and attempting to copy him. So far, she can only summon fire and temporary shields, but she finds it surprisingly easier and less draining than trying to use the four circles. It has caused her to wonder about her ancestorsā lineage.
Whatās their usual style? Any favorite tack sets or colors for them?
āRora has a few favorite outfits sheāll rotate through depending on what sheās doing that day, who sheās with, and which horse sheās riding (all her horses have their own tack sets, so she changes her clothes to match). Her current favorites include the set Rhianna gave her during training, the Hartwood jacket she found exploring Wildwoods, and the Carnival outfit Ydris gave her during Halloween 2020 (she wears a pair of black chinks with it though, the carnival pants are too uncomfortable). Clothes with shades of blue have an almost guaranteed spot in her wardrobe. She also has a disdain for skirts and dresses, but will begrudgingly wear one on occasion.
Thoughts about Jorvik City? How do they feel about Raniaās petition for a horse-friendly Jorvik City?
āRora could care less about Jorvik City. Cities always gave her anxiety, even the relatively small ones where she grew up. Jorvik City is too crowded and thereās nowhere to run other than streets and alleyways. Aideenās Plaza is pretty cool though. And she will sometimes go wreak havoc on the Pier just because she can. Having her horse with her would make her feel better, but having been a Ranch Hand and knowing how liability works (the āvictimā always wins even if it was the āvictimāās own stupidity or fault they were injured) having a horse-free Jorvik City is probably safer for everyone.
Thoughts about Justin?
He needs help. āRoraās been through a lot, but Justin? Just imagine what heās feeling, finding out heās the grandson of some ancient evil guy, being kidnapped by said guy, thrown off an oil rig, caught by a flying horse, held hostage by druids, nearly turned into a tree while using magic to find a missing foal, going against a magician whoās turned his coworkers into horses until giant tentacles erupt through the ground!? Yeah, no. Heās not okay and āRora is considering how to help without setting Lorretta off.
How do they feel about the magical horse race at the circus? Did they enjoy being a horse?
āRora had way too much fun considering the circumstances. She honestly considered losing on purpose so she could stay a horse forever. She goes back often to race against Zee, and has thought about asking Ydris to turn her into a horse outside of the race, but so far sheās been too shy to ask save for one incident involving Pandoria.
Do they trust the Druids? Or how do they feel about them?
After recent events and unearthing Cathrineās diary, not so much. āRora will still help them, but coming from a religious background herself, sheās weary of how good intentioned groups can turn into a tyrant themselves. She hates how many secrets they keep. She feels used for her powers and is beginning to question their moral compass. Thereās no doubt they mean good, but some of them are becoming blind by the cost of their war, and because of that are in danger of becoming what they seek to destroy.
āRora has more trust for Rhianna out of all the druids. āRora wishes she knew more about Pandoria so she could have asked Fripp questions before he went down. She used to trust Evergray because he was exiled and so different from the druidsā secretive ways, but after discovering he was behind the death of Cathrineās Soul Steed, āRoraās beginning to question his motives as well.
After rescuing Fripp, āRora still has a distrust towards him. She refused to tell him somethings, but was comforted when he didnāt push it. As she choose to say āWords are a bandaid for deeper issuesā but it seems Fripp is on the right path to solving those issues. She isnāt placing bets just yet though.
Least favorite NPC?
It honestly used to be Ydris until she began to see him more. Now it might be James. Nevermind, itās definitely James. Why? Heās a kid with eyes on money and nothing else. Granted, he is running a tourist attraction as a teenage entrepreneur, which is an accomplishment, but it definitely isnāt without unscrupulous deeds and thankless tasks done by others. Heās an okay kid, but āRora definitely isnāt friends with him. Lorreta isnāt a friend either but āRora manages to roll her eyes enough to make it through their interactions.
How do they make their money?
āRora began to realize she didnāt have enough space or money to take care of all her horses. She had to sell a few to Starshine Ranch for trail and lesson horses, and people began to notice her gift for training horses. She started getting horses sent to her for her to gentle and train.
She used to participate vigorously in races for money prizes, but recent events left her with a need for quiet and solidarity, so she now focuses on training and exploring. She also helps around the Circus, and Ydris makes sure sheās given fair pay for her work despite her protests.
How many horses do they own?
As of February 2021, 32 horses and counting.
How many pets do they have? What kind? What are their names?
Her pets kind of come and go. Most of them are strays which some of her horses adopted and bonded to. She hasnāt given any of them names, she just calls them what they are, like Panda (ray), Yule (goat), Gull (seagull), ect. She has no idea how many there are, she just puts out food in the barn and in the morning itās gone.
How do they feel about the Soul Riders? Do they trust them? Feel like an outsider? Are they closer to some over others?
āRora trusts the Soul Riders just a bit more than the druids. Sheās concerned that because they have more history on the island, theyād choose the druids over āRora if the druids were proven to be frauds. If.
Outside that fear, she gets along well with Lisa, and has talked to Linda more after completing the Cathrineās diary. Sheās offered to befriend Alex, but they just donāt seem to be able to connect outside of missions and training. She doesnāt have enough experience with Anne, but Anne isnāt as stuck up as she thought she would be so thatās a plus.
When theyāre all together, though, āRora definitely feels like sheās getting left behind. Itās okay though (not really), sheās used to it. She hides her feelings by riding ahead ākeeping a lookout for dangerā.
Do they believe something mystical, magical, or otherwise strange really exists in Dino Valley? How did they feel about the leaving of the Kalter and the roar/scream/screech in the valley?
Dino Valley was always a place of wonder and mystery to āRora. She heard legends of it and when she got the opportunity to explore it, she rarely left. After exploring every nook and cranny, discovering glowing blue energy lighting the road and the ice cave that sends chills down her spin, sheās sure thereās a reason the valley is perpetually trapped in ice- whether it be a curse or otherwise. She was sad about the Kalter leaving, yet after hearing the roar she and her horse flew out of there and back to the safety of Valedale. Sheās curious about what it is out there, but is growing more cautious since that dark rider almost killed her and her horse when they were trying to make the keystone. Sheās decided to wait until a team is formed to solve the mystery.
Thoughts about Jorvik Wild Horses?
If referring to the magic horses that used to be called JWH, āRora was surprised when Gary Goldtooth first appeared with the Nixie and Whinfell. She adopted the blue Nixie (Echoeffect), and is always confused as to his definition of inhabited places or not.
She also bonded with an Umbra (Royalfire), a very flighty horse that turns a lot of heads, even in her disguise form. The mare is very secretive, but has chosen to trust āRora, a trust that is rewarded with patience and a gentle hand.
Iceking, a Brincicle, arrived on an iceberg in Jarlaheim, was chased by the townsfolk, and taken in by Rihanna until he bonded with āRora. Listening carefully to him while practicing her wild whispering, āRora learned he was separated from his herd in a freak accident when the ice floe broke. He befriended a seagull- ironically one who hates cold and always wears a little hat and scarf.
If referring to the newly rediscovered JWH of Wildwoods, āRora respects them as sentient beings and was deeply honored when the dun-striped mare (Dawnfaith) chose to bond with her. If there was a horse she trusted as much as Silvermist, itās Dawnfaith. To āRora, the JWH represent horses in their purest form, and their connection to Pandorian energy has captured her imagination.
Do you think they are a Wild Whisperer? Or are they just bonded with their Soul Steed?
āRora is definitely a Wild Whisperer and always has been. Itās only recently sheās had the words to describe her experiences and a mentor who understands. She loves all her horses almost equally, and readily bonds to new horses, even those who are not her own or hard to bond with (Zee, Tin-Can).
Whatās their favorite Jorvegian holiday or celebration?
For a long time it was Christmas but she never really enjoyed Halloween. That was until Ydris decided it would be an absolutely FANTASTIC idea to lock up the legendary GALLOPER THOMPSON and expect everything to be fine. Yeah, that was pretty dumb, but it was a legit party, though āRora would never admit that to Ydris. Itās not like he needs the encouragement to do more stupid things. Then again, she never did get that dance he promised...
What do they think or feel about Pandoria? Have they or do they visit outside the quests? If they have or still do, why?
Pandoria was once a place of fear and hopelessness to āRora, especially after rescuing Lisa. While working towards freeing Anne, however, she was blown away by its beauty. Until āRora had to run for her life. She didnāt go back for a while after the loss of Elizabeth, but after being around Ydris more, she finally got the courage to go back and try to see it from his perspective. After going once, she kept going back. It became more beautiful every time she went, and she explored further and further from the portal. She now has a pretty good idea of the area the portal usually takes her to, but she stumbled upon a new area sheās working to familiarize herself with.
She feels Pandoria is misunderstood, itās dangerous for sure, and scary but only because itās so different. Kind of like Wildwoods. She feels an injustice has been done in sending Garnok to Pandoria, and has vowed to herself to do whatever she can to save Earth, and Pandoria.
Sheās not quite sure why she keeps going back. She hasnāt told the other Soul Riders, pretty sure their reactions wouldnāt be pleasant. She mentioned her visits to Ydris, and at first he didnāt say much though she had a strong sense of a mixture of pain and hope radiating from him. He told her to be careful and the conversation ended.
Later on it came up again, and āRora asked if heād be a guide on her next visit. He finally agreed, and with āRora offering to carry him if she could be the golden horse again, the two set off to find the portal. Their visit to Pandoria was relatively peaceful, Ydris gently guiding her through the ever changing caves until they reached a plateau where they found a large purplish tree like the sentinel trees of Jorvik...
How has their visit(s) to Pandoria affected them? Do they have any scars? Has it affected any of their life views?
During the first visit to Pandoria, after finding Anneās prison and Darko sending Garnok after āRora and Silvermist, āRora was struck by one of Garnokās tentacles and knocked from the saddle. Silvermist saved her life, but āRora now has a blue scar over her left eye from the incident.
On the visit with Ydris, when they found the tree āRora asked to be changed back to her human form. She stared at the tree, feeling herself drawn towards it. Apparently Ydris was calling her, but she couldnāt hear him. She reached out a hand and rested it on the trunk. Light filled her sight, and she has fragmented memories of nightmares or visions. She doesnāt remember anything after that except waking up back at the Circus, sore as heck. Apparently Ydris had gotten them back when Garnok became alerted to such a strong energy spike.
āRoraās brown curls had become Pandorian-purple with hints of blue and pink, and it didnāt seem like the color was fading. She panicked and told the Soul Riders she dyed her hair so they wouldnāt find out what sheās been up to, but sheās worried Linda already knows. Her hair doesnāt seem to have any special tricks, but Ydris has noticed itās tendency to shimmer or glow when āRora is practicing on her powers.
Would they ever consider working for Dark Core or believing their side?
āRora would consider trying to get to know Mr. Sands and understand why he believes what he does- despite how much he scares her. It seems like he has some amount of heart given he didnāt want his grandson killed for his lack of powers, but as for believing their side? That would depend on if what the druids have told her is accurate. If Dark Core is truly after power and world domination, she certainly isn't going to side with them. But, if thereās something more to their side, sheās at least willing to hear them out.
What or who is Garnok to them? A dark presence? A squid-like monster? A child with a ridiculously complicated jumping course (####in @ Lizzy)?
To āRora- still rooted in her religious upbringing- Garnok isn't the ultimate evil but another evil being in the grand scheme of the universe. That doesnāt make him any less dangerous though, as proven by their interactions so far.
āRora is also very confused how a tiny child like Lizzy is able to set up something like that course. Itās almost scary.
Do they ever go to the disco? If they donāt would they ever consider going? What would it take to make them go?
āRora used to go more when she hung around Moorland in the early days, but recently sheās been elsewhere on the island. She does enjoy going once in a while though.
Disco or Moorland Beach party?
Disco, āRora enjoys being able to feel the music in her chest. The beach party is cool too, but itās weather dependent.
Are they interested in helping with archeology or fishing?
āRora loved casual fishing back home, but competitive fishing on Jorvik is the bane of her existence. Occasionally, sheāll do some archeology if she stumbles across a promising spot, but sheās not actively hunting for them.
How do they feel about Igor, the waiter/manager of the Dino Valley cafe, and whom seemed very interested in your horse forā¦ āculinary reasonsā?
āRora stays as far away as possible from Igor and keeps her horses out of sight.
Do they like the perpetual winter of Dino Valley or the perpetual autumn/fall of Goldenhills Valley, or is it strange to them? Do they prefer one over the other or neither?
āRora used to enjoy Dino Valley more than Goldenhills, but strange events in Dino have made her favor Goldenhills a little more as a relaxing destination. She does find both beautiful, though strange.
