Sylvan Weyr

[Carni]

((I'm not going to make this lesson mandatory but it would be really nice if you could at least post smth along the lines of 'xy wuz here', so I know who will be there for the hatching - hopefully making my planning a little easier ^^ Once I have a few replies, the lesson will continue with basic rules of behavior around dragons guarding their clutch (like bowing etc.).
If you want Hooxeii - L'strade could take over that part ))



A'der sighed when he sat down at the rim of the table standing outside just in front of the Candidate Barracks. He had written a note a day before, a note hanging in each of the two sides of the Barracks and he had also freed all Candidates from Chores for today. It was a hard choice to make for them... but he wanted to give them the chance to do so. Quietly he waited for their arrival, waited until a few were gathered so he could make an announcement. The Candidates would be the first to hear an offical word to the rumors that were already spreading through the Weyr.

"Thank you for coming.", A'der begun, standing up to walk up and down behind the table, having his arms free to gesture. "I am sure many of you already heard the rumors about Crimson Dafnierth. That she has not just risen but might also be heavy with eggs. A rumor that is - in fact - true.", he paused, watching their faces, wondering what they would think, if they would be happy or rather grim, exited or completely oblivious to what this meant for the Weyr.

"We do not know how many eggs she will clutch, nor will we know if any of them is even alive... But it is possible that normal, healthy dragons will emerge from these shells, seeking their bondeds. Likewise... they could be mutated as their mother is, maybe even sick and weak, dieing just after bonding to a Candidate...", again he paused for a moment, turning his face to the gathered group when he spoke up again. "It might be riskier to stand for these dragons than usual. You might even loose the Hatchling that impresses to you much too early. I do not know what will happen, all I can do as your Weyrleader is do my best to ensure your safety. Habit and the other Healers will be there, ready to assist you in every possible way... but still, something unexpected might happen... Like none of you has been forced to stay at the Weyr, I will not force you to endure this hatching. You may pass it over, even return home if you wish to do so."

A'der turned to the table, picking up a piece of hide that had been laying there, showing it to the Candidates: "If you wish to attend, please write down your name on this piece of hide so we know how many are willing to take this risk." He placed the hide back on the table when he finished, stepping aside to make room for those who were willing to try their luck at Crimson Dafnierth' clutch. Now that it had been comfirmed by the Healers that Dafnierth' was egg heavy, he wished the eggs to be healthy, the hatchlings to be strong. He did not want to see a desaster on the Sands...



Among the waiting Candidates, a few stepped forward quickly to write down their names, three boys that seemed to hang out together a lot, Weyrbred as it seemed, and a sibling pair, a young boy and a young girl, apparently from a hold by how they acted. All five placed their names on the list before returning to their places. Other Candidates, from the Weyr and the Hold alike, did not move forward, did not write down their names but silently watched those who did...


((There are around 15-20 Candidates besides those who are actively roleplayed, only 5 of those writing their names onto the list If you want, you can chatter with them, I don't mind playing NSC's for a while.))

[Voodoo]

Standing with a quiet intensity, Vudu watched as she felt the still young Beasty twine her tail around her neck. The lesson had been called and she had eagerly came to the message, and was now currently listening with a slight tilt of her head.

'Some may die early[. She thought to herself as her gaze narrowed, her feral look only furthering as she mused quietly. The words spoke spooked her, she did not like hearing of young things dying before their time, she had seen it on the ships she had grown up on, mothers loosing their squalling babes to early, some infants not even squalling, born quiet and still. They had been all given small ceremonial boats and set off on calm waters towards the sun and away from the red star, hoping that their small spirits would find solace somewhere. But Vudu doubted that there would be any small ceremony for the dragonets if any died, she really hoped there was none.

But if there was a way for her to help out by standing, she would and did not hesitate to do so. So when the man speaking to them beckoned forward to a small scrap of hide that a few were already scribbling their names on, she raised her head on her small form as high as she could, walking with a solid determination that had some of the weaker willed ones skittering out of her way.

"None will die if I can help it." She spoke sharply to the man as she took the pen and sent her scrawling name on the hide before she went to the others whom had signed as well, nodding to each one before standing silent.

[obeah]

Berlioz looked at the assembled candidates, wrinkling her nose as only six people stepped forward to sign the list. She was tempted to sign people up who were lagging behind, as if somehow the clutch just wouldn't be laid without a suitable number of candidates. A quick glance over at A'der stopped her from trying it, though. Maybe later, if L'strade left his office unguarded sometime.

She put her hands on her hips, waiting for anyone else to follow the dreadlocked girl, then strode forward. Leaning onto the table with her elbows, she tapped the writing implement against her lips for a moment. How had she signed the incoming papers? Oh, right. With a healthy flourish, she scribbled Finger underneath the name Vudu.

Though the older girl seemed rather uncouth and scary, given what she'd said to the Weyrleader himself, it was in a rough-cut, unusual, interesting way. Berlioz peered up at her. "Hi," she said tentatively, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. "I'm Ava."

[Voodoo]

Vudu looked down with a curious blink the moment a small voice came to her ears. The impossibly small girl that was looking at her surprised Vudu, they really allowed ones THAT young to come to the weyr? But at a quick glance she saw that the girl had signed the sheet, even if 'finger' was not a name, or at least one she had ever heard (maybe she just had unimaginative parents or something), that told Vudu that either the girl was hopelessly naive, or strong enough to stay with the harsh reality of life. So with her mind made up, Vudu turned her head down and addressed the small girl, she would not kneel like some would, if she was strong enough to sign, she deserved the same respect to not be treated like a child.

"Greetin's Ava," by now Vudu doubted that was her real name, having signed with finger after all. "Yo'sa a candidate too?" Vudu asked, gesturing to the sheet, "brave t'ing dat." Now that she had finished speaking with the man running this organization, Vudu did not hold back the thick accent that was her normal voice, nodding faintly as she spoke, as if to agree with her own words. Even if the movement of her head had Beastie squalling in displeasure before fluttering down to inspect the much smaller girl.

"Heh, manerless me." She soon stated though as she gave a chuckle to herself, gently moving her hand forward for Berlioz to take. "Ah'm Vudu, come from de sea I did, hopin' to impress now."

[akusma]

Karla wasn't exactly unhappy to be missing chores - she had the kitchen satff really did seem to be getting on each others nerves for some reason. Why she did not know, she had always been perfectly reasonable to them, and they scowled at her like she'd done something wrong! It was terribly unfair as far as she was concerned. What she didn't know was that they just found her incredibly annoying, that and the fact she didn't exactly do her work very well. If you could grade washing dishes. She wasn't made to do much else, since they had a fear that she could destroy the place. The only other job she could do was turning the spit, and she might even do that wrong. All in all, chores were not Karla's strong point as a candidate. But she did make things a little more lively and happy in the kitchens, they had to give her at least one point for that.

So, she was standing here with her arms tucked behind her back as she waited for A'der to begin his speach, or whatever he was going to do. She had the suspision that it was some sort of lesson about life as a dragonrider, but why that needed the Weyrleader she didn't know. Surely any rider would do that? Even Theresa! But Theresa was no different from any other rider, she just had a different coloured dragon, which wasn't that odd really. Karla didn't quite get why everyone was so put out about her arrival. Any help during Threadfall was good, and a clutching dragon was even better! It meant ranks could be filled quicker, and more dragons meant better protection from Thread and so on and so forth. Really, it was all quite simple.

The blond was suprised when it turned out this was actually to see if anyone wanted to stand for the clutch. Karla blinked, leaning backwards slightly for a moment as she stared over at the leader the Weyr depended on so much. Well she never...Did he really think that? It was almost like whatever the Crimson laid would never be good enough for the Weyr! That wasn't nice, or senseible! Every dragon was an assest to the Weyr. If Theresa had thought her dragons eggs would not be healthy, then she wouldn't let her dragon rise? Karla didn't know, but she really did coubt that everything would be as bad as it seemed.

She was seventh in line to write her name down for the clutch that was soon to be on the sands. Most of them just stood there. Did they really want to let innocent dragons die, just because of the mother's colour? That was terrible. With a defiant nod to herself she stepped forwards to quickly scribble her name under the word 'Finger' (did someone really have a name like that?) and stepped back. She sniffed and stuck her tongue out at the majority that hadn't signed their names, and scowled. "Well, hope you go between for leaving the poor things to die. Hope you al have nightmares because of it!"

[Bookworm]

Sorlin was slumped in a chair near the back of the room. He didn't care much about missing chores, since he usually skipped them anyway. So far no one had caught on, but that might change now that there was a clutch on the way. Hershey perched on his shoulder, dozing, and Sorlin idly ran a finger over the young brown's velvety soft hide as the Weyrleader began to lecture.

His hand stilled as A'der continued. The situation was more dire than he had imagined. The faintest hint of a smile showed on his expression as a petite, dark-skinned girl jumped up immediately and walked proudly to sign up. She was followed by a girl who seemed like she was at least ten turns his junior. Then another young woman. Was the Weyr purposely Searching petite, pretty young things or something?

He raised an eyebrow at the blonde woman's vehement scolding of the rest of the candidates. "No need to get all hellfire and damnation on us," he muttered as he rose out of his chair and shuffled up to the front. Hershey stirred, woken by his owner's movements, and gave a big yawn. It all made for a rather undramatic display. "There's no shame in not wanting to risk losing a newborn dragon. I imagine it would be rather painful," he said, speaking to Karla although his eyes were on the parchment as he signed his name.

"Then again, I don't have anything to lose." Finishing his signature, he moved away, wondering if any others would be signing up for candidacy.

[Carni]

A'der had only raisen one eyebrown when Vudu spoke into his general direction, not bothering to think of an answer to her words. He wasn't really fond of any of the Candidates he had seen among the lot of them, never truely understanding why a dragon would choose any of them to stand on the Sands - but that was just his internal view on them. Annoying. Childish. A nuisance. Needed. Maybe he had simply seen too many hold-bred Candidates, leaving their families for the first time, nose in the air until they failed to impress the first time. He sighed while watching another girl sign up. 'Finger'. What a strange name.

As to be expected, a good number of Candidates made no sign of wishing to take part in this Hatching, casting a slight frown on A'ders face. He wasn't sure if he had chosen to stand in their position. He had seen dragons die, their riders slowly fading away over sevendays until they could finally join their partners. Some surviving, being mere shadows of their selves for the rest of their lifes, empty shells without a soul... No, maybe he himself wouldn't have taken the risk. But many of them did not know how it felt to see a dragon die. What it meant to a human to loose his partner.

Another sigh dripped from his lips when another girl signed up, wishing those who didn't to go between while she stepped back. So many headstrong girls... Hopefully the Crimson could not clutch another of her color, A'der wasn't sure if he could endure a second Theresa. All of these young girls seemed capable of being a pain in the arse. Maybe it was just him getting old...

At least that boy showed some sense, he thought, gazing at the piece of hide when he wrote down his name. Nine. A good number so far. It could've been worse. Considering that it would be the Crimsons first clutch and sired by a brown, these nine might already do it. More was better, of course, but nine was a good number to get the healthiest dragons from the clutch to impress. He wouldn't tell them but it wasn't unheard of that dragons chose from the stands too if there was no suitable Candidate on the Sands. It was just much-much less likely to happen.

A'der would certainly keep that boys name in mind, it was one of those impressing a strange flitter, he remembered while watching Hershey on his shoulders. If someone were to ask A'der now, he'd probably say that during a normal clutch all of the girls would impress greens, being an even worse pain in the arse while the boy probably impressed brown, maybe even bronze. But A'der wasn't a dragon, neither was this a normal clutch... ...and A'der simply did not like headstrong girls. They were only giving him a headache.

Nine names on his list... Frowning a little his gaze begun to wander among the Candidates, searching their faces, wondering if anyone else would sign up before continuing towards a lesson of general behavior around clutching dragons... or clutching queens rather - a clutching Crimson could be something entirely different.

[akusma]

Karla made a face at the boy who'd decided to scold her for scolding the others. Well she never. At least he was signing up. She pursed her lips slightly, debating on sticking her tongue out at him, but decided not to. He had a right o his own opinion on what she'd said, but she was just deciding it was irrelavant. Everyone was determined to put this clutch down, just because of the mother. If it was a Green, per say, who had miraculously clutched or something, there wouldn't be all this fuss! There'd be a little, of course, but she doubted there'd be all this fuss over if they'd die and everything. People'd most liekly say they'd be small, sickly and that would be it.

"But I bet you anything they're not worried about loosing a dragonet," she tuttered adimant in her decision on what those people thought, "I bet it's because of the mother, I bet it's because of Dafnierth. No one seems to have any confidence in the poor thing what so ever, and she's been put down since she got here. No one will let her have any pride in anything! Everything she does has to be wrong in some way, even this." Karla nodded to herself and folded her arms, sticking her chin up slightly with a small and rather unimpressive glare. She didn't have the face for glaring, not at all.

It was completely unfair, but at the sudden realisation that the Weyrleader seemed to be looking at them all very hard, and that there was ten or more people who hadn't signed up, she suddenly doubted her decision. A small frown appeared on her face, and glanced towards the two girls near her. Well, she hoped she was right. It wasn't like she could take what she'd said back.

[obeah]

"Yes," Berlioz replied simply. She wasn't entirely sure what to do with a compliment that was shared between them. She did want to comment on Vudu's own bravery, but didn't want to sound as if she merited the compliment as well. Berlioz met Vudu's gaze with an amber one full of mirth but an underlying stony edge to it. Perhaps she was both things Vudu thought about her--naive, but strong nonetheless. She would probably have punched the older girl had she known Vudu wanted to kneel down to meet her gaze. She stepped back and took Vudu's hand with a surprisingly masculine handshake.

"I get the feeling she can take care of herself," she told Karla, wide-eyed in an attempt to look innocent. She was rather practiced at it, but at the moment she was mostly distracted. A'der was talking about a real live dragon hatching, after all. "She's kind of... big," Berlioz indicated, grinning. That at least was genuine. She really did feel affection for Dafnierth, and she showed it by not patronizing the poor crimson. She turned back to Vudu. "What was the sea like?" she asked. She was a Seacrafter's daughter, but had never been allowed to follow her father onto his boat, even for a few minutes.

[Kestrez]

Even though he had only been at the Weyr a short while, Firyn was fairly certain that it was odd for the Candidates to be excused from chores for a day. The redhead had actually stood in front of the posted message for several minutes and pondered the possible reasons for such a thing to occur. A considerably long list of said reasons had been floating around in the Candidate’s head ever since, some much more believable than others. Of course, most of them revolved around certain rumors Firyn had heard over the last few days. Not that he really gave much credit to those same rumors.

Upon seeing whom he recognized as the Weyrleader standing in front of a small group of fellow Candidates Firyn had promptly walked the other direction for a few minutes before returning. Curiosity pulled him back just in time, too, because a majority of the Candidates were present by then, and moments after Firyn situated himself at the back of the group A’der began talking. Firyn was not surprised that one of his many guesses regarding the reason behind the day off from chores had been correct. Make that partially correct. He looked around expectantly as the Weyrleader stated his purpose for being there. The various emotions he saw were to be expected, as was the instant decision of some to write their names on the offered hide. A short pause and a couple more added their names to the list as well.

Firyn made the decision to add his name to the list with a little less thought than he normally required for such an important choice. His mother had tried so hard to see him Searched, and he was not going to pass a chance up just because the mother of the clutch was a different color. Yes, some of the eggs might not Hatch, and one of them might even contain another of the strange Crimson coloring, but what were the chances that the entire clutch would be a disaster? And Shards, if Crimsons could fight Thread and clutch then the Weyr seemed to be gaining something. Not losing.

The words of a blond female Candidate broke Firyn’s thoughts, and he shifted his feet slightly and watched as another boy signed his name as well. Suddenly regretting standing at the back, Firyn started forward as A’der started giving the group what looked to be a very calculating look-over. Without a glance to anyone in the process, he silently signed his name before stepping back once more. He stayed near the front of the group despite himself, not wanting to cause commotion by pushing to the back again. Several of the Candidates seemed to already be on edge as it was.

Hand flexing as if he was signing his name again, Firyn looked around once more before returning his attention to A'der. He knew his eyes were probably lighting up at that very moment, betraying his thought that, if anything, he had just signed up for a very interesting front-row view of the Hatching.

[Eyota]

(-inserts Rohit for a quick OCC post to be filled in later saying he signed up-)

[Morgan]

((Magorian was here. No time to write atm though...))