Tatia is called many things by many people - and nearly all of them are accurate at one point or another. She's a flurry of contradictions that are born out of her tendency to judge quickly and believe firmly in her own opinion and mixed in with her strange insecurities and doubts..

She's often called scary, intimidating, bitchy - and she certainly is all of these things. That's only the tip of the iceberg, though. Tatia is, above all, a person who views the world in very strict shades of black and white - the world tends to be divided in halves. Because of this, when she believes something, she believes it firmly and passionately, and she'll defend it violently (although that's not quite as literal as she's matured). When her life is good, it tends to be very, very good. But when it's bad...

Tatia's life is often bad, simply because she conflicts with people so often. She's outspoken and blunt, and very rarely tactful. When something needs to be done, she demands that it be done. When someone steps out of line, she puts them firmly into place with a dressing down. When she disagrees with a decision, she makes it known, vocally. It's earned her a few enemies - but also the grudging respect of a few.

Tatia is quite responsible and dedicated - it's half of why she clashes with people. She believes firmly in giving respect, when it's been earned, in doing a job well, and in the importance of the job riders do. As a wingleader, she was strict and disciplined, but also amazingly patient when it came to the actual task of teaching others the way things are (or ought to be) done. She is not, however, a diplomat - and so while she may have been good in leading the wing, she was not good at dealing with weyrleadership, and she never did learn to employ the tact that can be helpful at times - that, more than anything, is why she lost her knot in a row with Sii'kyn.

Tatia is not, contrary to popular belief, a mindless bundle of raging, angry greenriding hormones. She simply believes that the world ought to work the right way - in other words, everyone ought to do what she thinks is right. She's quick to judge those who don't, although she also tends to be willing to give folks a second chance, though they're sure to hear a lot of sniping before that really becomes clear.

Ironically, the woman who feels Pern would be a better place if she were writing the rules is completely lost when it comes to making her own personal life work. She's got massive insecurities, a slight phobia of being left completely alone, and she's easily guilted into things by those she loves. It's made her bond with Vespurath and her relationship with K'nex interesting - and it tends to be a surprise to most people who actually get that far.

The thing that I have learned about Tatia after nearly four years of playing her, first as Tatoria, Starcraft apprentice, and then as Tatia, High Reaches greenrider, lifemate, mother, lover, wingleader, messed up emotional wreck, is that she is never, ever simple. She's a tightly packed cliche - fiery red-headed greenrider - who simply refuses to stop revealing portions of her pysche that I never expected and who absolutely will not conform to the standard.

I have to admit - I like it that way.