Post by DMITRI on Jul 9, 2017 3:51:49 GMT
--These norms are lifted mostly from the canon of the books, with alterations made as results of the storyline.
ORIGIN
Upon colonization of Pern, dragons were genetically engineered from native fauna (fire lizards, small dragon-like creatures that breathed fire) in order to fight the threat of Thread--spores falling from the deadly Red Star as it passed near Pern, spores which took the form of thread-like filaments that devoured all organic matter. The dragons were engineered to have exceptional size, telepathic and telekinetic ability, and to be psychologically dependent upon human individuals to ensure their control. They maintained the ability of the fire lizards to go between, leaping into a kind of void dimension, empty of sound and sight and sensation except for frozen gold, which they temporarily blip through in order to teleport to other destinations. Going between allows them to freeze off burning Thread and also to travel long distances in a split second.
These origins were gradually forgotten over centuries, as Pern drifted into a preindustrial state largely reliant on the songs of Harpers to remember their history.
DUTIES
The primary duty of the Weyr is to protect the Holds, and the generic all of humanity, from the threat of Thread. They do this by organizing fighting wings by color (Bronze and Brown dragons typically leading the way, with Blues and Greens doing the majority of the flaming), rigorously practicing and enforcing the chain of control, and rising against it when it falls. In return, the Holds send a tithe of food and supplies to the Weyrs. This relationship has traditionally been positive, except in the incidence of Long Intervals, when the Red Star's unusual orbit takes it farther away from Pern, and Thread may not fall for four hundred years.
IMPRESSION
Impression is the turning point in the life of a dragonrider. Young men and women are presented at the Hatching of a clutch of eggs as candidates--traditionally, the females for the hatching Queen, the males for the Bronze, Brown, Blue, and Green dragons. These men and women may come from within the Weyr, or they may have been collected on Search and taken from various Holds after being identified by Searchdragons as having the right traits. Potential dragonriders often already have tendencies towards telepathy, strong minds, or the type of promiscuity that tends to be supported in the Weyr environment. Gold and Bronze dragons in particular Impress upon individuals with powerful wills.
Impression occurs when a dragon hatches, recognizes its chosen candidate (exactly how or when the 'choice' is made is ambiguous), and they form an instantaneous and seamless telepathic connection that will last for their entire lives. This is an extremely emotional moment, for the new dragonriders and for onlookers. The dragonet will announce their name (always ending in a -th) telepathically, and from that moment on, dragon and rider are inseparable. If a rider dies, the dragon automatically teleports between to suicide, and if a dragon dies, the rider will often commit suicide as well.
Hatchings can also be places of danger. Newly hatched dragonets are still immense creatures, are clumsy, and are born ravenously hungry. In their hurry to reach their chosen candidate, they can end up maiming other candidates, or even injuring themselves or their hatchmates.
CURRENT EVENTS
During Long Intervals of four hundred years without Thread, the dragons' numbers dip naturally, as they aren't needed to protect the world from Threadfall. So their numbers were low even before the disease struck. Since it has, swiftly emptying Weyr by Weyr, and then interfering with the viability of laid eggs, the number of dragons has dropped to its lowest since the earliest days of Pern. Weyrleader S'ris has instituted a number of drastic changes to culture and protocol.
Violent hatchings have become a norm. The general emotional distress surrounding the hatchings (the dragonet's hunger and confusion, the fear of the candidates, the anticipation and bitterness of the watching dragons and their riders) contributes to more volatile behavior from the hatching dragons. The candidates have typically been seized against their will from Holds or by scavenger or ravager groups, and many are presented younger and older than was once acceptable, with less consideration to gender than traditionally so. This is all done in an attempt to present the hatchlings with as many choices as possible. Even one failed Impression would be a disaster, in a time when a thirty egg clutch may produce only ten viable hatchlings.
The congenial relationship between Weyr and Hold has dissolved entirely. The Weyrs are at their most desperate to survive, while the Holds don't currently require their protection from Thread. The dragonriders are forced to resort to intimidation and occasionally outright violence to receive the traditional tithes of food and supplies to the Weyr.
ORIGIN
Upon colonization of Pern, dragons were genetically engineered from native fauna (fire lizards, small dragon-like creatures that breathed fire) in order to fight the threat of Thread--spores falling from the deadly Red Star as it passed near Pern, spores which took the form of thread-like filaments that devoured all organic matter. The dragons were engineered to have exceptional size, telepathic and telekinetic ability, and to be psychologically dependent upon human individuals to ensure their control. They maintained the ability of the fire lizards to go between, leaping into a kind of void dimension, empty of sound and sight and sensation except for frozen gold, which they temporarily blip through in order to teleport to other destinations. Going between allows them to freeze off burning Thread and also to travel long distances in a split second.
These origins were gradually forgotten over centuries, as Pern drifted into a preindustrial state largely reliant on the songs of Harpers to remember their history.
DUTIES
The primary duty of the Weyr is to protect the Holds, and the generic all of humanity, from the threat of Thread. They do this by organizing fighting wings by color (Bronze and Brown dragons typically leading the way, with Blues and Greens doing the majority of the flaming), rigorously practicing and enforcing the chain of control, and rising against it when it falls. In return, the Holds send a tithe of food and supplies to the Weyrs. This relationship has traditionally been positive, except in the incidence of Long Intervals, when the Red Star's unusual orbit takes it farther away from Pern, and Thread may not fall for four hundred years.
IMPRESSION
Impression is the turning point in the life of a dragonrider. Young men and women are presented at the Hatching of a clutch of eggs as candidates--traditionally, the females for the hatching Queen, the males for the Bronze, Brown, Blue, and Green dragons. These men and women may come from within the Weyr, or they may have been collected on Search and taken from various Holds after being identified by Searchdragons as having the right traits. Potential dragonriders often already have tendencies towards telepathy, strong minds, or the type of promiscuity that tends to be supported in the Weyr environment. Gold and Bronze dragons in particular Impress upon individuals with powerful wills.
Impression occurs when a dragon hatches, recognizes its chosen candidate (exactly how or when the 'choice' is made is ambiguous), and they form an instantaneous and seamless telepathic connection that will last for their entire lives. This is an extremely emotional moment, for the new dragonriders and for onlookers. The dragonet will announce their name (always ending in a -th) telepathically, and from that moment on, dragon and rider are inseparable. If a rider dies, the dragon automatically teleports between to suicide, and if a dragon dies, the rider will often commit suicide as well.
Hatchings can also be places of danger. Newly hatched dragonets are still immense creatures, are clumsy, and are born ravenously hungry. In their hurry to reach their chosen candidate, they can end up maiming other candidates, or even injuring themselves or their hatchmates.
CURRENT EVENTS
During Long Intervals of four hundred years without Thread, the dragons' numbers dip naturally, as they aren't needed to protect the world from Threadfall. So their numbers were low even before the disease struck. Since it has, swiftly emptying Weyr by Weyr, and then interfering with the viability of laid eggs, the number of dragons has dropped to its lowest since the earliest days of Pern. Weyrleader S'ris has instituted a number of drastic changes to culture and protocol.
Violent hatchings have become a norm. The general emotional distress surrounding the hatchings (the dragonet's hunger and confusion, the fear of the candidates, the anticipation and bitterness of the watching dragons and their riders) contributes to more volatile behavior from the hatching dragons. The candidates have typically been seized against their will from Holds or by scavenger or ravager groups, and many are presented younger and older than was once acceptable, with less consideration to gender than traditionally so. This is all done in an attempt to present the hatchlings with as many choices as possible. Even one failed Impression would be a disaster, in a time when a thirty egg clutch may produce only ten viable hatchlings.
The congenial relationship between Weyr and Hold has dissolved entirely. The Weyrs are at their most desperate to survive, while the Holds don't currently require their protection from Thread. The dragonriders are forced to resort to intimidation and occasionally outright violence to receive the traditional tithes of food and supplies to the Weyr.