Extended Weyrlinghood: Month 1

How Weyrlinghood Works

We will be doing Weyrlinghood a little differently this cycle. Basically the idea is to stimulate more original, character-growth RP and perhaps make time a little flexible so you may all enjoy the baby dragon RP more. Here are some basic thoughts:

  • Time tweaking - Since the dragon age code is set in stone, this would be more like the idea of a multi-player elongated backscene. The idea is to 'slow time' for a week or so to 1:1 so we can all play those fist few days and the repercussions of Impression, the Hatching Feast, etc. Then to move at 4:1 like the rest of the game.

* Lessons - Some people love them, others hate them. We'd like to make them optional. The AWLMs may offer on-camera sessions, you may do vignettes or RP having had the lesson. You may get ICly marked off on the progress board at the proper week as long as you have read through the Weyrling page for that week on the wiki.

* Restrictions - we'd like to relax them a bit. For the first IC week (2 days RL) the Weyrlings would be restricted to the Weyrling Barracks and the grounds. After that, they'd be exposed to the Weyr in groups the first few times, then let to wander when on free time.

* Alcohol - For the first IC month, other than a glass of wine or a mug of ale, alcohol will be strictly limited. Let's face it. On Pern, wine with meals is common so one glass isn't going to do much other than relax you a bit. Nothing stronger will be permitted though and woe if the AWLMs catch you! (fun ICC tho). During Betweening training, however NO alcohol during the day will be permitted.

* Living in the Barracks - For the first IC turn and then for the second they'll be living in their own weyrs if they so choose - remaining in the barracks is a viable option if that would be more fun.

* Sex - Um. There's no way young guys and girls living in the same barracks aren't going to think about it and… well, I won't go there. Really ICly speaking you're all going to be so dead-dog-tired you're going to fall into bed at night and barely drag yourselves out in the morning. It will be like this for few IC months. After that… just be discreet and please, as with Candidacy, no barracks sex and no bunk-sharing. Wait for your weyrs or find a private spot. ICly it will be frowned upon and discouraged. I don't think the dragons will be alarmed by it, but they'll be curious as all get-out and might ask embarrassing questions or broadcast what they're picking up from their riders to the rest of the Weyr, so might wait until the kids are asleep.

* Weyrbound - You will only be Weyrbound until your dragons can fly distances. After that you will be taken by the AWLMs on trips to nearby holds, familiarizing yourselves with nearby landmarks and flying your own Pulsar Sweeps. As your dragons grows stronger, you will be given freedom to take short trips out of Weyr by yourselves for picnics and the like (you will still be restricted to Xanadu's coverage area until you are trained for Between.

Detailed Summary (IC)

Weyrlinghood begins in a magical moment when dragon and candidate meet, two becoming one in a single look which will change and shape their lives forever more. Coming off the sands your dragon's first meal is already prepared and you'll have your hands full simply getting meat into their mouths without losing a finger as they swallow hungrily. Lessons begin almost at once as you're directed to have them start chewing once the first edge of the hunger is sated, and when their bellies are past bulging the pair of you will waddle over to the barracks where the couches have been prepared for you and have your first rest. Those weyrlings who manage to stay awake are welcome to join the hatching feast the rest of the Weyr is celebrating, however most pairs just end up collapsing in the barracks that first night (or day, depending on when the eggs decide to rock and roll!).

That very first day will also be the last day you will be 'pampered' in such manner. In but a few short hours your dragon will be stirring, hungry again and grown visibly to your eye. You'll spend much of these first sevendays preparing meat, feeding, bathing and oiling your dragon as they grow incredibly fast. Sleep will come in small intervals as they nap, you'll find yourself adjusting to their rhythm, and the days will blur by. Slowly though, change will come and your teachers will be ready; just when you get a full night's rest, when your dragons start to stretch their legs and wings and look around their world, lessons will begin. These early lessons are more subtle, designed to support you in adjusting to this change in these first months and to help you deal with what it is like to have dragon sharing your mind and world.

As the months begin to pass your dragon will grow larger and stronger, their walking will become steady, and their jaws exercised by chewing, strong enough to begin to tear at larger pieces of meat, and then finally tear and eat meat straight from a carcass and even begin to peer over the fence at the herds themselves. This will relieve you of much burden, but if you thought you might have free time instead, you'd best think again. Now the focus turns to understanding your dragon better, getting to know their anatomy, their history, nutrition needs and of course their proper care. If ever you were lacking in any component you'll not be spared for the needs of your bond must be attended to. As your dragon grows, its personality will begin to bloom as well. Curiosity for the world is quite normal, and questions often fly about. You must remember they are still babies, soon enough bigbig babies, but babies none the less. They'll laugh, and cry and the occasional temper tantrum isn't entirely unknown as they grow up.

Your own needs must not be neglected during this period as well, and you'll find your teachers as interested in your own well being as much as your dragon's. There are two parts to this whole and neither will be neglected. There will be exercises, both physical and mental. You'll be working up your knot that first day after hatching, and from then on you'll find ever more knowledge slipped in whenever possible. There are formal lessons, some evenings after the dragons have grown a bit, lessons in proper protocol and the history of the Weyr, drills in recognizing various rank knots and rote memorization of the names of all holds within Xanadu's territory. There are exercises as well, not just for your dragon in building their own strength and dexterity but the classic game of firestone toss is played around with a variety of fillers for the bag. Will you be lucky to get one full of feathers or will your teachers feel a tougher lesson is necessary and give you a bag full of rocks?

Towards the end of this month your character should now have energy to do more than just fall into bed at night and barely drag yourselves out in the morning. One side effect of this is an increase in romantic interest. The restrictions will not be strictly enforced starting now, but do be discreet. Nothing should happen in the barracks and there will be no bunk sharing. ICly it will be frowned upon and discouraged. Most dragons will not be alarmed by it, but they'll be very curious and might ask embarrassing questions or broadcast what they're picking up from their lifemates to the rest of the Weyr, so you might wait until the kids are asleep.

Your Life This Month

This month, all your dragon is going to want to do is eat, sleep and poop. Romantic, isn't it? What does this mean for your characters? It means that they'll spend most of the time doing the following:
- cutting up dead animals for Dragonath to slurp up
- cleaning up dragon poop
- rushing to the living caverns or baths while Dragonath is asleep
- wandering around slightly dazed, adjusting to the fact that their entire life has just changed
- Sore muscles from all that shoveling, oiling and execise

In the first few months, the basic anatomy of a dragon will also be covered - from skeletal and muscular structures to the concepts behind flight.

For your own purposes, you can examine these drawings, done by Bronze Dragonrider, and linked with permission.

Anatomy_of_the_Pernese_Dragon_by_bronze_dragonrider.jpg
Pern_Dragon_Skeleton_by_bronze_dragonrider.jpg

RP Ideas

Some various ideas that you can RP around for this week:
- overfed dragons get all blocked up, which means that it's the weyrling's job to administer the purge. Not nice, but certainly interesting RP
- shoveling dragon dung
- butchering meat – it'll be dead, but whole when you get it. This might be a new experience for some
- rushed trips to the baths or living caverns for a wash or a feed – Dragonth won't like you leaving him or her just yet, so this has to happen at top speed while your life mate is asleep
- making your new knot, which can involve getting wrapped up in a whole lot of string!
- get a haircut, get a real job! Haircuts are not compulsory for weyrlings, but in between covering your dragon with oil, feeding it meat, shoveling up after it and snatching the odd moment to eat, there's not a lot of time left to wash and condition your long, flowing locks. Most people will end up with a short haircut, feel free to RP about it.
-bond building exercises (i.e. being blindfolded and following your dragon's presence to him/her)
- discussing / interpreting your and your dragon's shared dreams; getting used to having that mental bond

Setting Up Your Dragon

As always with a new object, there are a number of things that you should set up on your dragon to help you control him or her. As well as, of course, the numerous helpfiles to look through if this is your first rider on PernWorld to help with code.

You should all take the time to look over:
‘help puppet’
‘+help dtu rider’

In addition, you may create your own couch for 'privacy' once you’re in the barracks:
@chown your new couch
@link yourself to your couch
@link your lifemate to the couch

Run Dragon ‘Setup ’ – you need to make sure you’re in the actual barracks
@set Dragonth=puppet
@set Dragonth=commands

On you, replacing the bold portions:

&dragonname me=$code *:@fo dbref#=[trim([switch(1,strmatch(%0,@emit*;*),@emit [escape(rest(%0))],strmatch(%0,*;*),escape(%0),%0)],l,\\)]

The code is the 2 or 3 letters you wish to use to control your lifemate, while the dbref# is the number of your dragon.

Then, to pose your dragon, it will be code :croons.

Those should be all the commands you need to begin to control your dragon, and RP. Please reach out to Weyrlingstaff or Xanadu Staff with questions!

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