Knots on a MUSH refer to two things: the OOC coded knot (XAW), membership of which confers membership of Xanadu Weyr. Please see +help borgcomm for information on the coded knot system.
The second thing refered to as a 'knot' is the IC knot of cords and ribbon which people on Pern wear on their shoulder to indicate their rank and allegiance. Xanadu's colours are medium blue and orange and member sof the Weyr wear knots in these colours to indicate they are part of Xanadu.
For a listing of just what the knot for each rank looks like, please check below.
1) No knot:
- Hold: Holdless
- Hall: Holdless
- Weyr: Holdless
2) Single Cord (in dominant color), Single Loop
- Hold: Jobless New Residents, Children, Drudges
- Hall: New Residents, probationaries, drudges, hallbrats
- Weyr: New Residents, candidates for impression (white cord only), drudges, weyrbrats.
3) Double Cord (one dominent one subdominant color), Single Loop
- Hold: Guard recruit, head drudge, day care helper, stable hand, stock boy,dishwasher, misc non-crafted apprentice recruit level jobs.
- Hall: Jr. Apprentice, non-crafted positions listed above.
- Weyr: Jr. Weyrling (one not yet assigned to the weyrling wing), non-crafted positions listed above.
4) Double Cord, Single Loop, Small tail
- Hold: Guard trainee 1st class, store clerks, nanny trainee, hostess, food preparatory worker.
- Hall: Sr. Apprentice (unposted to Hold, Hall other than apprenticed or Weyr.)
- Weyr: Sr. Weyrling Wingrider
5) Double Cord, Single Loop, Small Tail, Tassle
- Hold: Guard trainee cadet captain, nannies, asst. baliff, asst. shopkeeper, asst. cook, messenger.
- Hall: Sr. Apprentice (posted)
- Weyr: Sr. Weyrling Wingleader (2 tassles), Sr. Weyrling Wingsecond (1 tassel)
6) Double Cord, Single Loop, Long Tail
- Hold: Guardsman, Baliff, Shopkeeper, Head Cook, Head Nanny, Admin Asst.
- Hall: Jr. Journeyman (no office held) (silver thread)
- Weyr: Wingrider (silver thread), Watchrider (gold thread)
7) Double Cord, Single Loop, Long Tail, One Tassle
- Hold: Asst. Steward, Asst. Headwoman, Sgt. of the Guard, Lord or Lady of Cothold
- Hall: Sr. Journeyman (gold thread), Jr. Journeyman Craftheadsecond (silver)
- Weyr: Second Wingsecond
8) Double Cord, Single Loop, Long Tail, Two Tassles
- Hold: Steward, Headwoman, Capt. of the Guard, Cotholder
- Hall: Sr. Journeyman Craftheadsecond (gold thread)
- Weyr: First Wingecond
9) Double Cord, Double Loops
- Hold: Lady or Lord of Minor Hold
- Hall: Sr. Journeyman Crafthead (gold thread)
- Weyr: Jr. Weyrwoman
10) Double Cord, Double Loops, OneTassle
- Hold: Minor Lord Holder, Minor Lady Holder
- Hall: Master (Gold thread)
- Weyr: Wingleader (Gold Thread), Asst. Weyrlingmaster (silver thread)
11) Double Cord, Triple Loop, One Tassle
- Hold: Lady or Lord of Major Hold
- Hall: Craftsecond (gold thread)
- Weyr: Weyrlingmaster (gold thread), Weyrsecond (silver thread)
12) Double Cord, Triple Loop, Two Tassles
- Hold: Major Lord Holder, Major Lady Holder
- Hall: MasterCrastsman of Pern (gold thread)
- Weyr: Weyrwoman (gold thread), Weyrleader (silver thread)
Exceptions and Additions:
- Crafthall specialties can be read by the rank cords
- Dragonriders twist in the knot a ribbon of the same color as their mounts.
- Posted Crafters wear two ribbons in their knots indicating the two colors of their posted hall, hold, or weyr.
- A tassle indicates a position of authority administratively assisting, while two tassles indicate a head admin position.
- Knots on hold personel from a major hold are indicated by the gold thread that binds them, and those of a minor hold by the silver thread binding.
- All crafters of Sr. Journeyman level and above wear knots bound in gold thread.
- All Hold positions indicated represent non-crafted appointees. Craft-specific positions (ie: foreman, livery maid, cook, scribehead, weyrtanner) are denoted in the usual manner as indicated.
The Weyr would like to thank Analie on Star Stones for allowing this to be published here and for her hard work on researching this.
