Post by DMITRI on Jul 8, 2017 3:28:29 GMT
--These norms are lifted mostly from the canon of the books, with alterations made as results of the storyline.
WEYRS
The Weyrs are notoriously free-minded about sexuality. When dragons mate, their riders follow suit, as a result of the seamless telepathic connection between dragon and rider. This sex does not necessitate a permanent attachment between individuals and riders typically copulate freely during mating flights and go their separate ways afterwards. Female dragons may choose different mates at different times, furthering the norm of detaching mating-flight sex from distinctly chosen, longterm relationships. Riders are typically serially monogamous, sometimes with other riders, sometimes with weyr staff. Sex that takes place during a mating flight and outside of that chosen relationship is not seen as cheating.
Mating dragons also do not take into account the sex or the sexuality of their rider. Traditionally green riders were bonded to men, who engaged in sex with the male riders of blue and brown dragons, regardless of the sexuality of anyone involved, although green riders were typically homosexual. Men may have sex with men, or women with women, depending on their dragons' mating preferences.
There is occasionally the practice of 'substituting' a preferred partner during the mating flight. If a rider is sequestered with their preferred partner, away from the other riders engaged in the mating flight, sex can occur with that chosen partner instead. But this is not a common practice.
Also occasionally, a pair of dragons and riders will be bonded to the point of monogamy. In canon this is seen most typically with Gold and Bronze riders, where the senior Queen's rider is Weyrwoman, and the rider of the Bronze who mates with that Queen becomes Weyrleader by virtue of mating with her. This coupling typically continues with each successive mating flight, allowing for a continuity in leadership. The Queen dragon's strong preference comes into play, as a Gold dragon is much more physically able to elude her suitors than a Green, and the strong mind of a Queen's rider can also manipulate the playing field. These individuals often remain monogamous even outside of the context of mating flights. The repeated matings contribute to a strong relationship.
Riders and their dragons who consistently mate in the same pairing are often referred to as weyrmates in general, or Weyrmates referring to specific individuals. These are the equivalent of a committed couple outside of the Weyr.
However, no rider is bound to one relationship. Dragonriders are notorious for promiscuity, which they actually encourage, both to produce many children and possible future candidates, and to prevent jealousy-driven conflict during mating flights.
Children are generally not reared by their parents, but are raised communally by the Weyr. They are usually named by some combination of their parents' names, and know who their parents are, and parents will keep tabs on and nurture their children to varying degrees, but children usually only know their parents from a distance. This is especially true if their parents are higher ranked riders (such as a Wingsecond, or a Queen's rider, etc) and live busy lives.
While women are encouraged to have as many children as they can, abortion is also a readily available option. The cold of traveling between will kill an unborn child. A woman without a dragon can request 'a quick ride between' from any rider and they will typically oblige.
HOLDS
The Holds have a decidedly different approach to all of the above.
Firstly, the Holds have generational leadership, and are patriarchal with few exceptions. The Lords are the sons of Lords that have led before. A Lord keeps an eye on his children's rearing and education with the goal of one day passing the title to them.
Children are reared by their parents and typically reach adulthood to do the same job that their parents did: raising runnerbeasts, running the kitchens, managing crops, etc. Occasionally they are taken on Search to the Weyr to Impress (where often young women will stay even if they don't Impress, to partner with a rider and live in their weyr, as life is cozier in a Weyr than in a field), or are sent away to learn a particular craft they've exhibited a talent for, but most of them have their lives set in stone from an early age.
Current events have only exaggerated the differences between Hold and Weyr. Where once Holds would willingly send those of their bloodline to stand as candidates at a hatching, they now attempt to withhold their children, and will go as far as to disguise, conceal, and send away their sons and daughters to preserve them.
Polygamy has also risen as a trend. Several Lords have taken on multiple women, often with one serving as Lady, and the rest as slightly subordinate and under her direction. This allows the Lord to have more children, and lessen the damage if a son or daughter is taken on Search and does not return.
They also have stricter roles for men and women and less tolerance for homosexual or bisexual behavior. Traditionally, Searchdragons would take homosexual and bisexual leaning individuals to the Weyr, because their sexualities lent them to success in Weyr procreative culture, but now that children are being held back from the Weyr, homosexual and bisexual individuals are facing harsher treatment in the Holds. They are expected to operate and procreate 'normally'.
Casual sex is not approved of. Previously, the problem of unplanned pregnancy would have been alleviated with 'a quick trip between', but now dragonriders are less trusted and this option is unavailable. More women risk dying in childbirth, more bastards are being born, and unwanted children are often relegated to menial servitude. Many of these 'unplanned' children ultimately become scavengers or ravagers, as there are few opportunities for them in the traditional and strictly-held-to structure of the Hold.
Marriages are also increasingly arranged. As the Weyr has fallen into chaos, many Holds are trying to forge alliances for safety and for power. Lords send their daughters either to be second (or third, or fourth) wife to another Lord, or to be wives to their sons. These marriages have always existed as a means to avoid inbreeding and keeping healthy ties between Holds, but they have never been as strictly enforced, and women have never been treated as much like chattel. Women married to Lords are expected to devote themselves wholly to child-rearing and are often tasked with hiding those children from potential Searchdragons. Some sons and many daughters have fled these arrangements to join the bands of ravagers and scavengers.
WEYRS
The Weyrs are notoriously free-minded about sexuality. When dragons mate, their riders follow suit, as a result of the seamless telepathic connection between dragon and rider. This sex does not necessitate a permanent attachment between individuals and riders typically copulate freely during mating flights and go their separate ways afterwards. Female dragons may choose different mates at different times, furthering the norm of detaching mating-flight sex from distinctly chosen, longterm relationships. Riders are typically serially monogamous, sometimes with other riders, sometimes with weyr staff. Sex that takes place during a mating flight and outside of that chosen relationship is not seen as cheating.
Mating dragons also do not take into account the sex or the sexuality of their rider. Traditionally green riders were bonded to men, who engaged in sex with the male riders of blue and brown dragons, regardless of the sexuality of anyone involved, although green riders were typically homosexual. Men may have sex with men, or women with women, depending on their dragons' mating preferences.
There is occasionally the practice of 'substituting' a preferred partner during the mating flight. If a rider is sequestered with their preferred partner, away from the other riders engaged in the mating flight, sex can occur with that chosen partner instead. But this is not a common practice.
Also occasionally, a pair of dragons and riders will be bonded to the point of monogamy. In canon this is seen most typically with Gold and Bronze riders, where the senior Queen's rider is Weyrwoman, and the rider of the Bronze who mates with that Queen becomes Weyrleader by virtue of mating with her. This coupling typically continues with each successive mating flight, allowing for a continuity in leadership. The Queen dragon's strong preference comes into play, as a Gold dragon is much more physically able to elude her suitors than a Green, and the strong mind of a Queen's rider can also manipulate the playing field. These individuals often remain monogamous even outside of the context of mating flights. The repeated matings contribute to a strong relationship.
Riders and their dragons who consistently mate in the same pairing are often referred to as weyrmates in general, or Weyrmates referring to specific individuals. These are the equivalent of a committed couple outside of the Weyr.
However, no rider is bound to one relationship. Dragonriders are notorious for promiscuity, which they actually encourage, both to produce many children and possible future candidates, and to prevent jealousy-driven conflict during mating flights.
Children are generally not reared by their parents, but are raised communally by the Weyr. They are usually named by some combination of their parents' names, and know who their parents are, and parents will keep tabs on and nurture their children to varying degrees, but children usually only know their parents from a distance. This is especially true if their parents are higher ranked riders (such as a Wingsecond, or a Queen's rider, etc) and live busy lives.
While women are encouraged to have as many children as they can, abortion is also a readily available option. The cold of traveling between will kill an unborn child. A woman without a dragon can request 'a quick ride between' from any rider and they will typically oblige.
HOLDS
The Holds have a decidedly different approach to all of the above.
Firstly, the Holds have generational leadership, and are patriarchal with few exceptions. The Lords are the sons of Lords that have led before. A Lord keeps an eye on his children's rearing and education with the goal of one day passing the title to them.
Children are reared by their parents and typically reach adulthood to do the same job that their parents did: raising runnerbeasts, running the kitchens, managing crops, etc. Occasionally they are taken on Search to the Weyr to Impress (where often young women will stay even if they don't Impress, to partner with a rider and live in their weyr, as life is cozier in a Weyr than in a field), or are sent away to learn a particular craft they've exhibited a talent for, but most of them have their lives set in stone from an early age.
Current events have only exaggerated the differences between Hold and Weyr. Where once Holds would willingly send those of their bloodline to stand as candidates at a hatching, they now attempt to withhold their children, and will go as far as to disguise, conceal, and send away their sons and daughters to preserve them.
Polygamy has also risen as a trend. Several Lords have taken on multiple women, often with one serving as Lady, and the rest as slightly subordinate and under her direction. This allows the Lord to have more children, and lessen the damage if a son or daughter is taken on Search and does not return.
They also have stricter roles for men and women and less tolerance for homosexual or bisexual behavior. Traditionally, Searchdragons would take homosexual and bisexual leaning individuals to the Weyr, because their sexualities lent them to success in Weyr procreative culture, but now that children are being held back from the Weyr, homosexual and bisexual individuals are facing harsher treatment in the Holds. They are expected to operate and procreate 'normally'.
Casual sex is not approved of. Previously, the problem of unplanned pregnancy would have been alleviated with 'a quick trip between', but now dragonriders are less trusted and this option is unavailable. More women risk dying in childbirth, more bastards are being born, and unwanted children are often relegated to menial servitude. Many of these 'unplanned' children ultimately become scavengers or ravagers, as there are few opportunities for them in the traditional and strictly-held-to structure of the Hold.
Marriages are also increasingly arranged. As the Weyr has fallen into chaos, many Holds are trying to forge alliances for safety and for power. Lords send their daughters either to be second (or third, or fourth) wife to another Lord, or to be wives to their sons. These marriages have always existed as a means to avoid inbreeding and keeping healthy ties between Holds, but they have never been as strictly enforced, and women have never been treated as much like chattel. Women married to Lords are expected to devote themselves wholly to child-rearing and are often tasked with hiding those children from potential Searchdragons. Some sons and many daughters have fled these arrangements to join the bands of ravagers and scavengers.
