Compared to most who reside elsewhere in the galaxy, the Cynekin family may seem to be simple people of simple roots. Skyler Cynekin was a fisherman, just as his father was and his father before him. In fact, the Cynekin men for the past seven generations have carried on the tradition of taking over their father's role in the fishing business. Renah Cynekin, Skyler's wife, raised the children and took care of the home. She also does the office work required for the family business, named appropriately enough - Cynekin & Sons.
Until the twins Jess & Rhyn were born. Both Jess and Rhyn had developed other desires at a young age as far as their futures were concerned. Jess wanted to get involved with politics, and of course, because they are twins, Rhyn wanted to as well. Though Skyler was disappointed, he never voiced it. He and Renah supported and encouraged their sons' dreams. Now adults, both serve in the political arena of Sanctuary as life-term members of Parliament.
Racen, the third child and son born to the family, did follow in his father's footsteps. Racen emanated his father and wanted to do everything he did and be everything he was. Everything that is, except for married with children. Racen didn't inherit the patient personality traits common to the family or to their people. He didn't particularly like children, but he was tolerant of them. He's dated a few times, but women are not his concern or top priority. His energies and attentions are solely focused on keeping the Cynekin & Sons family business operating, along with the next son born - Shane.
Unlike his older sibling, Shane did marry. However, his wife had developed a cancerous-like disease of the blood that slowly killed her. Shane now raises his two children, a son and a daughter, on his own. Their grandmother cares for them during the day while Shane is at sea with Racen, much to her delight. It will be his son who assumes Shane's role one day in the business.
Cedron, fifth child and son born to the busy couple, wanted nothing to do with the family business, either. Again, Skyler and Renah supported their son's goals. However, Cedron dreamed of a higher education that wasn't available on Sanctuary. In exchange for working on the boats during the summer months, his earned income would be put toward his education at the University of Coruscant where he studied medicine. Just four short years ago, Cedron graduated with his medical degree and is now employed at Centers for Advanced Medicine on Coruscant.
The sixth child and son to be welcomed into the family was Lancen, now thirty years old. The fact that he's reached his thirtieth birthday is a miracle. Doctors had told Skyler and Renah that they should leave their son behind and just go home, pretend he never existed just minutes after he was born. They refused, even though doctors explained that their son would be nothing more than a vegetable, a burden on the family's finances - and on society - should he survive his first three years of life.
Lancen was born with physical and mental handicaps. Though chronologically he is thirty years old, mentally he is roughly six years old. Though Renah is aged, she still continues to give Lancen the daily care and love he needs. "Love keeps him here," she once said softly as she watched the doctors work hard to save his life when he was just nineteen years old and had suffered an internal arterial bleed . "We have no answers, Mrs. Cynekin. By all accounts ... he shouldn't be here." They had said. Renah never harbored any ill-will toward the doctors, even though these were the same ones who wanted to end her son's life before it could ever truly begin. Skyler on the other hand ---
The seventh, and final child, born to Renah and Skyler was Ryann. She was also the first daughter born to the couple. Skyler, insisting that Renah was going to bless him with yet another strapping son, chose the name Ryan for the baby. However, when the doctors announced that the couple had a beautiful baby girl, Skyler demanded that the doctor look again and make sure. The father was certain the physician had been sorely mistaken. To humor the man, the doctor checked again and confirmed that the infant was in fact -- female. Renah, though exhausted, laughed.
So stunned that he did not get another son to hopefully follow in his footsteps, Skyler ran over to see for himself, certain that the doctor had poor eyesight. "But -- how can this be?!" He questioned the staff in the delivery room, looking to the nurses tending to the newborn and then finally focusing on his wife.
It was the sight of his wife that melted his heart immediately. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her skin aglow. Swaddled in blankets and all cleaned up, the nurse handed the newborn to her mother. Renah's eyes immediately filled with tears of overwhelming joy. To see his wife holding their baby so tenderly -- he thought she never looked more beautiful than she did right at that moment. "Ryann Skyler Cynekin," she whispered their daughter's name. Just because she was a girl didn't mean she couldn't have her father's name.
Never before had the Cynekin & Sons fishing business had a female aboard one of its three boats. Skyler wasn't about to break tradition, either. A long-held belief (more like a superstition) among Sanctuarians was that a female aboard a boat spelled disaster. It was an omen. Any boat that had a female aboard would suffer the turmoils of a tumultuous sea and even worse -- they'd never catch anything for a full year; which was disastrous to the fishing business.
Though, growing up, Ryann wanted so desperately to accompany her father and older brothers whenever they took the boats out. But Renah, the gentle mother that she was, always diverted the girl's attentions elsewhere. Bed time stories were filled with adventure amongst the stars, discovering new worlds and encountering new species. Of course, Renah made everything up. But these fantastic tales fueled Ryann into wanting to be that lofty explorer, the one who discovered new planets and new species.
Skyler passed away due to natural causes just after Ryann graduated from the Astrographic Survey Institute and the Mrlsst Center for Linguistic Studies. She immediately started working for the Interstellar Survey Corps after graduation, a division of the Republic. Three years later, at the age of 25, Ryann Skyler Cynekin was promoted to Captain and given command of her crew and 2 ships which are the property of the Interstellar Survey Corps. For the past three years, she and her men have been scouring the galaxy, discovering new planets and new species.
Personality
Sanctuarians generally have reserved personalities, which has led to the stereotype of being quiet, cold, and unfriendly. However, in spite of the common shyness, Sanctuarians are generally nice, friendly people. They tend to be somewhat wary around unknown people. This has made it a little difficult for foreigners and immigrants to assimilate on Sanctuary. At the same time, Sanctuarians are well known for their tolerance and appreciation of other cultures.
Ryann, perhaps as a result of her occupation, is a bit more outgoing than her kinfolk. Just as the rest of her people enjoy hiking and using nature for various forms of exercise and/or recreation, Ryann does too; including picking berries and mushrooms, as well as hunting. For Sanctuarians, going for a walk in the woods is used by her people in a similar way to a visit to a church that is used in other places.
She has a strong will and a well of inner-strength that seems to be never-ending. The youngest of seven children, and the only daughter, Ryann has a tough exterior and mindset, thanks to her six older brothers. Though her brothers taught her how to handle herself physically, her parents were responsible for the deep sense of moral values she carries with her wherever she happens to go.
She's human, therefore prone to the weaknesses suffered by humans. Being female, she's definitely not stronger than the opposite sex, though training through the Corps - and from fighting her brothers as a child - has taught her a few tricks in case a situation ever becomes sticky.
Though jealousy is a trait that is frowned upon by her culture, there are times when Ryann is prone to feeling it, even if she doesn't show it.
Also frowned upon by her culture is the flaunting of riches. Sanctuary's political system is designed so that every person is equally paid for the profession they are employed in. This has kept the incomes relatively even throughout their society for hundreds of years.
Social classes are non-existent on Sanctuary. Because of this, Ryann was both shocked and dismayed to learn that there are other cultures elsewhere within the galaxy that allow their inhabitants to be extremely poor and extremely wealthy; and that the governments fuel the fires between their societies divisions to keep them separated and disdainful of each other.
These facts that she has learned has driven her curiosity to the point of needing to learn more.
