Post by M'kel on Sept 3, 2008 0:06:28 GMT -5
The times are controversial ones, and Sitareh has never been one to avoid controversy in the pursuit of her goals.
Her paranoia has been growing by the day. While other Weyrfolk have gone about their lives with as much ease as can exist in Araelen Weyr, the Weyrwoman's tension has been building. After the Gather and the slightly less-than-friendly welcome dragonriders received there, in particular from the Lord Holders, she deemed it was time to step up the Weyr's security.
Thus, a mysterious vessel arrived at the docks late one evening, and in the dark of night, its cargo was smuggled into the Weyr. A recently renovated cavern set deep within the volcano's walls was immediately corded off, with only a select few allowed to enter.
But Weyrfolk are not known for resisting the desire to gossip, and word spread quickly, albeit quietly, that the Weyr had just become home to a golden Wher. And she was pregnant.
Some days later, a notice was posted in the Lower Caverns, officially announcing the Weyrwoman's intent (though with a firm note that word of this was NOT to leave the Weyr - Sitareh had at least acknowledged that it would be impossible to keep this a secret from those within the Weyr). The wher had been shipped to the Weyr for the purpose of laying its eggs, the hatchlings of which would then be Impressed off to members of the Weyr to form new security. They would be called the Night Watchers.
It will be both an opportunity and a curse for those chosen to become Night Watchers. They will be forced to isolate themselves from the rest of the Weyr, for whers are solely nocturnal creatures, and their partners must assume the same existence. They will rise when others take their beds and settle in to sleep as the rest of the Weyr comes alive. Their duty has one purpose only: to guard the Weyr while its most precious inhabitants slumber.
And this will become painfully clear to the Night Watchers as they assume their new lives, clear that they are not precious. There will be minimal staff on duty to prepare meals and provide assistance in the night. They will also find themselves a caste apart, the 'different ones', somehow lesser because they have bonded to whers instead of almighty dragons.
This division will be made even more painful in the source of the 'wher candidates'. Dragonriders will continue to scour the Holds on the pretense of Searching all those with potential to bond to dragons. But now the screening process will become even more intense. Now, those deemed unworthy of standing at the next Hatching will be shunted to presentation to the wher Clutch.
Every candidate will undergo extensive interviewing by a dragonrider recently declared the 'Fatedealer'. The decision will not rely solely upon a candidate's first interrogation, however. Although the candidate may initially be slotted to stand in the Hatching Ground, his/her later actions may change this fate.
So what does all of this mean for rping? Well, all characters should have heard by now of the new resident in the Weyr, Neisk, who is bonded to Neima, a spindly girl who used to be responsible for the protection of a Minor Hold. She is weak and carries no influence, for she is there for one purpose only, and this is to ensure a healthy laying of Neisk's eggs.
The 'Fatedealer' will, at this point, be an unknown NPC. Characters are welcome to invent interactions with him, as all candidates will have experienced an 'interrogation'. And hopefully, if we get a volunteer for the position, the interviews can be rped. For those wishing for their candidates to become wher candidates, you are encouraged to come up with a reason for why they were slotted into that position (or at least a reason why the candidate believes they were shunted that way).
And just what will our whers be like? For those of you have read all of the Pern books, you will know that Todd's interpretation of the creatures is very different from Anne's. The Meddlers have discussed it, and we would like to stick mostly to Anne's original interpretation of whers. This means that they will not be capable of speech, although their communication skills will somewhat surpass that of fire lizards. There will be 'Impressions' of sorts, but, again, it will resemble that of fire lizards more than that of dragons. The Wher colours will follow the dragons and fire lizards, but Impressions to colours will not be as restrictive as dragons. Although we might not go so far as to have a male Impress a gold, the other colours will be much freer.
Whers will not be capable of flight. Their builds are just not right for manouvering in the air. They will, however, be capable of small leap-glides and will be able to move with ease on the ground, if not grace. 'Mating' will occur in more of a Chase than a Flight.
Those chosen by Whers will be a breed apart...they will live in separate quarters, they will have difficulty forming relationships with anyone but fellow Wherhandlers, and they will be forced to adapt to a life of isolation and darkness.
If you think your character is up to it, feel free to specify that he/she be a Wher candidate! All in all, I think this should be very fun.
Her paranoia has been growing by the day. While other Weyrfolk have gone about their lives with as much ease as can exist in Araelen Weyr, the Weyrwoman's tension has been building. After the Gather and the slightly less-than-friendly welcome dragonriders received there, in particular from the Lord Holders, she deemed it was time to step up the Weyr's security.
Thus, a mysterious vessel arrived at the docks late one evening, and in the dark of night, its cargo was smuggled into the Weyr. A recently renovated cavern set deep within the volcano's walls was immediately corded off, with only a select few allowed to enter.
But Weyrfolk are not known for resisting the desire to gossip, and word spread quickly, albeit quietly, that the Weyr had just become home to a golden Wher. And she was pregnant.
Some days later, a notice was posted in the Lower Caverns, officially announcing the Weyrwoman's intent (though with a firm note that word of this was NOT to leave the Weyr - Sitareh had at least acknowledged that it would be impossible to keep this a secret from those within the Weyr). The wher had been shipped to the Weyr for the purpose of laying its eggs, the hatchlings of which would then be Impressed off to members of the Weyr to form new security. They would be called the Night Watchers.
It will be both an opportunity and a curse for those chosen to become Night Watchers. They will be forced to isolate themselves from the rest of the Weyr, for whers are solely nocturnal creatures, and their partners must assume the same existence. They will rise when others take their beds and settle in to sleep as the rest of the Weyr comes alive. Their duty has one purpose only: to guard the Weyr while its most precious inhabitants slumber.
And this will become painfully clear to the Night Watchers as they assume their new lives, clear that they are not precious. There will be minimal staff on duty to prepare meals and provide assistance in the night. They will also find themselves a caste apart, the 'different ones', somehow lesser because they have bonded to whers instead of almighty dragons.
This division will be made even more painful in the source of the 'wher candidates'. Dragonriders will continue to scour the Holds on the pretense of Searching all those with potential to bond to dragons. But now the screening process will become even more intense. Now, those deemed unworthy of standing at the next Hatching will be shunted to presentation to the wher Clutch.
Every candidate will undergo extensive interviewing by a dragonrider recently declared the 'Fatedealer'. The decision will not rely solely upon a candidate's first interrogation, however. Although the candidate may initially be slotted to stand in the Hatching Ground, his/her later actions may change this fate.
So what does all of this mean for rping? Well, all characters should have heard by now of the new resident in the Weyr, Neisk, who is bonded to Neima, a spindly girl who used to be responsible for the protection of a Minor Hold. She is weak and carries no influence, for she is there for one purpose only, and this is to ensure a healthy laying of Neisk's eggs.
The 'Fatedealer' will, at this point, be an unknown NPC. Characters are welcome to invent interactions with him, as all candidates will have experienced an 'interrogation'. And hopefully, if we get a volunteer for the position, the interviews can be rped. For those wishing for their candidates to become wher candidates, you are encouraged to come up with a reason for why they were slotted into that position (or at least a reason why the candidate believes they were shunted that way).
And just what will our whers be like? For those of you have read all of the Pern books, you will know that Todd's interpretation of the creatures is very different from Anne's. The Meddlers have discussed it, and we would like to stick mostly to Anne's original interpretation of whers. This means that they will not be capable of speech, although their communication skills will somewhat surpass that of fire lizards. There will be 'Impressions' of sorts, but, again, it will resemble that of fire lizards more than that of dragons. The Wher colours will follow the dragons and fire lizards, but Impressions to colours will not be as restrictive as dragons. Although we might not go so far as to have a male Impress a gold, the other colours will be much freer.
Whers will not be capable of flight. Their builds are just not right for manouvering in the air. They will, however, be capable of small leap-glides and will be able to move with ease on the ground, if not grace. 'Mating' will occur in more of a Chase than a Flight.
Those chosen by Whers will be a breed apart...they will live in separate quarters, they will have difficulty forming relationships with anyone but fellow Wherhandlers, and they will be forced to adapt to a life of isolation and darkness.
If you think your character is up to it, feel free to specify that he/she be a Wher candidate! All in all, I think this should be very fun.
