Post by Carew Weyr Admin Lissa on Aug 20, 2009 13:58:03 GMT -5
Carew Weyr is now accepting applications for candidates, mature riders, weyrfolk and crafters. There are many ranking positions available for which to apply. We are currently running a New Member Appreciation raffle to kick off our reopening. Every new member who signs up between 8-19-09 and 9-5-09 will have the opportunity to win a Gold Firelizard! Click here for more details.
The History and Setting of Carew Weyr
Carew Weyr was established towards the end of the first interval, shortly after Benden, High Reaches and Telgar. In our setting, Ista Weyr does not exist and Carew Weyr was founded in its place. Likewise, Ista Hold does not exist. Instead the principle hold is Carew Hold. When Carew Weyr was established, its construction utilized the last of the energy of the ancients' rock cutting equipment, which enabled quite spacious and comfortable accommodations.
Since Carew Weyr is located where Ista Weyr would be in the published novels, it enjoys the same tropical type of climate. There are basically two seasons; the hot season and the rainy one.
Since our timeline starts during the end of the First Long Interval prior to the Fifth pass of the Red Star, AIVAS has not been found (nor will it be), none of the events of the 9th pass have taken place, and green dragons impressing to women is neither unheard of nor uncommon.
During the preceding turns, Pern has been enjoying the first of the prolonged intervals; four hundred long turns during which the Red Star has passed out of Pern’s orbit and Thread has not fallen upon the planet. Because of this, Thread is viewed at worst, as a myth, and at best, as a threat no longer. Only the most traditional and stalwart holders and craftsmen believe that the Threads will return. Even some dragonmen have become convinced that Thread is no more.
At this time, several factors have converged to put the future of the Weyrs and indeed, all of Pern, in grave peril. Due to the long interval, the Lord Holders are disgruntled at tithing to their beholden weyr. Such tithes have become skimpy and in some cases, have fallen off altogether. Dragonriders have fallen into planet-wide disfavor and are not being accorded the courtesies which were prevalent during earlier times. Most recently, in turn 1255, three turns before the pass is due to start, a virulent plague has swept through the populace and decimated the ranks of Dragonriders. Though the illness was not often fatal to humans, it happened to be one of the few zoonotic diseases which could affect dragons as well as people and it hit the dragon population far harder than the humans.
Many of Pern’s great dragons were killed by the illness, with the disease hitting those in the prime of their lives the hardest. Worse, of those Queens that are left after the plague, many have not risen in mating flights, though in the prime of their lives and are feared to be sterile. It is believed that those Queens who were but mildly stricken with the plague are still fertile, but no one knows what strange effects, if any, the illness will have upon future generations. The only thing that has possibly saved the dragon population is that just before the plaque hit, several clutches were laid, and several of them with Queen eggs.
Now, mid way through turn 1256, the plague has finally dwindled to an end, leaving the weyrs demoralized and filled with such ex-riders as did not suicide when their dying dragons went between and the grieving families, friends, weyrmates and lovers of those riders who could not bear life without their beloved lifemates.
Will the Weyr and indeed, all of Pern, be able to recover from the Plague before thread returns in less than 2 turns? That is the challenge which hangs over Carew Weyr as the residents struggle to regroup from the terrible tragedy which befell them.
~~Current Events~~
The oddly colored Gold egg hatched out twin Amber dragonets, presumably due to genetic aberration from the plague which affected their mother. These little beauties are unmistakeably of Gold heritage but with a curious green sheen over their bodies. They are assumed to have all the other characteristics of Gold dragons but until the twins rise to mate for the first time, it will not be known for certain. What other surprises will the plague have in store for Pern, if any?
The History and Setting of Carew Weyr
Carew Weyr was established towards the end of the first interval, shortly after Benden, High Reaches and Telgar. In our setting, Ista Weyr does not exist and Carew Weyr was founded in its place. Likewise, Ista Hold does not exist. Instead the principle hold is Carew Hold. When Carew Weyr was established, its construction utilized the last of the energy of the ancients' rock cutting equipment, which enabled quite spacious and comfortable accommodations.
Since Carew Weyr is located where Ista Weyr would be in the published novels, it enjoys the same tropical type of climate. There are basically two seasons; the hot season and the rainy one.
Since our timeline starts during the end of the First Long Interval prior to the Fifth pass of the Red Star, AIVAS has not been found (nor will it be), none of the events of the 9th pass have taken place, and green dragons impressing to women is neither unheard of nor uncommon.
During the preceding turns, Pern has been enjoying the first of the prolonged intervals; four hundred long turns during which the Red Star has passed out of Pern’s orbit and Thread has not fallen upon the planet. Because of this, Thread is viewed at worst, as a myth, and at best, as a threat no longer. Only the most traditional and stalwart holders and craftsmen believe that the Threads will return. Even some dragonmen have become convinced that Thread is no more.
At this time, several factors have converged to put the future of the Weyrs and indeed, all of Pern, in grave peril. Due to the long interval, the Lord Holders are disgruntled at tithing to their beholden weyr. Such tithes have become skimpy and in some cases, have fallen off altogether. Dragonriders have fallen into planet-wide disfavor and are not being accorded the courtesies which were prevalent during earlier times. Most recently, in turn 1255, three turns before the pass is due to start, a virulent plague has swept through the populace and decimated the ranks of Dragonriders. Though the illness was not often fatal to humans, it happened to be one of the few zoonotic diseases which could affect dragons as well as people and it hit the dragon population far harder than the humans.
Many of Pern’s great dragons were killed by the illness, with the disease hitting those in the prime of their lives the hardest. Worse, of those Queens that are left after the plague, many have not risen in mating flights, though in the prime of their lives and are feared to be sterile. It is believed that those Queens who were but mildly stricken with the plague are still fertile, but no one knows what strange effects, if any, the illness will have upon future generations. The only thing that has possibly saved the dragon population is that just before the plaque hit, several clutches were laid, and several of them with Queen eggs.
Now, mid way through turn 1256, the plague has finally dwindled to an end, leaving the weyrs demoralized and filled with such ex-riders as did not suicide when their dying dragons went between and the grieving families, friends, weyrmates and lovers of those riders who could not bear life without their beloved lifemates.
Will the Weyr and indeed, all of Pern, be able to recover from the Plague before thread returns in less than 2 turns? That is the challenge which hangs over Carew Weyr as the residents struggle to regroup from the terrible tragedy which befell them.
~~Current Events~~
The oddly colored Gold egg hatched out twin Amber dragonets, presumably due to genetic aberration from the plague which affected their mother. These little beauties are unmistakeably of Gold heritage but with a curious green sheen over their bodies. They are assumed to have all the other characteristics of Gold dragons but until the twins rise to mate for the first time, it will not be known for certain. What other surprises will the plague have in store for Pern, if any?