Cheska is an odd blend of her very diverse parents (her mother was a Clydesdale, her father a Saddlebred). Physically, the lady takes more strongly after her Clydesdale blood, standing at 16.2 hands with defined features and a slightly convex profile. Her eyes are chestnut brown, but they are flecked with forest green, and often appear to have a soft green luster in the light. Her slightly undersized ears sit atop an arched crest that leads into sturdy proportions. She bears her father's long tapered legs and her mother's light feathering on her fetlocks.
Cheska is a bay roan. Her base coat is a deep, copper bay, but the plains of her shoulders, barrel and flanks are interspersed with white hairs, leaving them a lighter shade. Her dark points remain wholly intact, with all four stockings as well as her points a dark coal black. When she is well-fed and happy, she sometimes develops a subtle reverse dapple in warmer months, but she is perpetually freckled with dark corn marks, especially heavy on her shoulders and flanks. Though Cheska's mane and tail are unimpressive in length, they are both thick and dark. The mare wastes no vanity on them, however, so they are often tangled and filled with flowers, branches or burrs that she has collected in her journeys.

Diplomatic ○ Protective ○ Independent ○ Cheerful
Obstinate ● Sarcastic ● Defiant

At heart, gentle giant Cheska is a pacifist, always preferring diplomacy over bloodshed. She is wholly unimpressed with machismo and aggression, and has no problem making her feelings about them known. The only time she'll engage in a fight is in order to protect those who she perceives are being victimized. As a mother herself, she has a particular soft spot for foals and their parents. However, she's willing to help anyone who is truly in need. Cheska is the kind that would take a bullet for even her worst enemy.

Though she is very capable of being a strong leader, she is happier these days settling into quieter company. She can be a bit elusive, and is easily overwhelmed by crowds. She will usually avoid drawing attention to herself (excepting when she is telling a story), preferring instead to dote on her herdmates. She is most herself when alone or in the company of few close friends. Those few who she holds particularly dear will find themselves in possession of an unwaveringly loyal ally and an incredibly selfless and cheerful soul.

Cheska is quick to laugh and able to find comedy in nearly any situation, and is usually armed with a quip or a joke to lighten the mood. She loves fables and myths, and she's always happy to spin a tale. She has a silly streak that often makes her a favorite among foals, as well as a darkly comedic edge for older tastes. Her propensity for humor in even the direst straits has led to accusations that she can't take anything seriously. While the truth of that remains to be seen, Cheska chooses to laugh in the face of despair so that she does not succumb to it.

Unfortunately, her history has left her a bit wary of stallions, and she can fall anywhere on the spectrum from edgy to outright hostile with them, depending on how they present themselves. She can be particularly sensitive if she feels a stallion is exerting undue authority over her. She will sometimes go to extremes in the interest of spiting what she perceives as a superiority complex.

Tales Woven