Weyrling Information

NOTE: An updated 18 month Weyrling schedule is forthcoming.
On sex and drinking for Senior Weyrlings: The general rules are as follows. Sex is allowed after a dragons first flight/chase as long as the rider is responsible, and has permission from the Weyrling Master. On alcohol, this will be allowed after first mating flight OR in your 15th month of Weyrlinghood, *WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.* This also requires permission from the Weyrling Master, assumptions should not be made. The Weyrling Master is the final authority and final say on everything a Weyrling may or may not do.

Weyrling Daily Schedule

5-7am - Feed/Bathe dragonets, Morning Runs
7-8am - Breakfast
8-10am- Classes    
10-11am Exercise
11-12pm Chores
12-1pm- Lunch 
1-3pm - Classes
3-5pm - Practice/Study
5-7pm - Dinner/free time
7-10pm- Return to Weyrling barracks - study/free time *in* the barracks
10pm - Lights Out 


Chores include - crafter duties, helping out the lower caverns/kitchens, assisting full riders/Weyrleader/Weyrwoman/Weyrling 
Master/Weyrharper. Weyrlings may not apprentice, but crafters that impress may continue training. Chores for new weyrlings will initially be taking care of their dragonet, but will also be expected to spend at least 1-2 candlemarks helping out when not with their dragonets or in class.

Weyrling Schedule - Monthly

This is for the purposes of facilitating role-playing. All of these things are going on, initiated by Weyrling Masters or not, so references 
may be made to classes listed in month. Major classes (such as firestone, first flights, etc.) will be held for RP. There will also be special classes held for Jr. Weyrwomen by the Weyrwoman herself in addition to the regular course-work. 

First Month - During the first month of weyrling training, the dragonets are either sleeping, eating or deficating. They will eat five or six small meals a day and spend much of the rest of their time deeply asleep, being woken only for their daily bath and oiling. The new riders are a lot busier as they are taught how to care for their dragonet. This will have been covered in theory during the candidates' classes but the practice is always different to the theory as each weyrling worries about their dragon's own particular quirks. This training includes guides to feeding, oiling, basic health problems and, most importantly, how to come to terms with the sudden creation of an incredibly strong, telepathic bond to another creature. For some weyrlings, this is also a time to confront their sexuality if the colour of their dragon has caused them surprise. A lot of weyrlings accidentally allow their dragon to over-eat during the first month, which can cause violent indigestion and problems such as diahhrea. The first month refreshes the knowledge gained from candidates classes in other areas, including Weyr etiquette and politics. It also sees the first of a number of talks from guest speakers - the Weyrleader, Weyrwoman, Headwoman, Weyrharper, Weyr Dragonhealer, etc. The Weyrleader will have an individual interview with each new weyrling at some point during the first month. This allows him to assess the characters of these future members of his fighting force.

Gold Riders: Introduction to the responsibilities of a Weyrwoman and Jr. Weyrwomen. 

Second Month - The dragons are becoming more wakeful and begin to exercise to build up muscles, especially those used during flight. The five or six meals a day continue, to fuel the rapid growth rate. Their riders are also exercising . Any rider who cannot meet the basic physical fitness requirements by the end of this month is in for extra training. The riders continue to learn to care for their dragons, with the topics of study now touching on dragon and human first aid. Other classroom subjects include the basics of Thread and how to fight it. The dragons are encouraged to pay attention to these lessons, through their mental link with their riders. It is a useful way of teaching riders how to communicate and share information with their dragons while still paying attention elsewhere. The weyrlings are also assigned Threadfall duties. These range from ensuring there is a good stack of filled firestone sacks for the Weyrling Wing to deliver to assisting the dragonhealers and healers.

Gold Riders: Begin to actually handle some of the basic Goldrider duties: paperwork, knowing what should be in all the reports.

Third Month - The dragons are now down to three or four meals a day and continue to exercise. They and their riders begin to take part in formation drills on the ground to get them used to moving in close proximity to others without fouling them and to instill discipline. By now, the dragons are supposed to be following something very close to a human schedule, with naps limited to brief dozing after meals.
Like their riders, they have a lot to learn and they are expected to be paying attention. It is up to their rider to persuade them to! Classroom studies move on to more advanced first aid, both dragon and human, taught by the dragonhealers and the healers. The weyrlings are also taught about geography and meteorology and their likely effect on Thread patterns. In addition, the human half of the weyrling partnerships are regularly taken flying and *between* by the Weyrlingmasters. This is to get them used to the feelings of both, so they aren't distracted by the newness of the experience when teaching their own dragon.

Gold Riders: Tagging along with various Weyr denizens: Weyrwoman, Weyrleader, Headwoman, Candidate Master, Master crafters etc, to learn the needs and duties of each member of the Weyr in detail, applicable to understanding the paperwork, and working well with members of the Weyr: respecting all areas of Weyr life.

Fourth Month - Formation drill and exercise for both dragons and riders continue. With the dragons now down to two meals a day and following a human schedule almost exactly, the drilling can last longer and be more complex. For the first time, the weyrlings are split into small groups of four or five, with each one assigned a leader. This is often a bronze- or brownrider who has been picked out as having potential for leadership but Weyrlingmasters frequently pick unusual leaders - eg a greenrider or a very nervous weyrling - to get the rest of the class used to the idea of obeying whoever is in charge, no matter what they are like as a person or what colour dragon they ride. These groups are reassigned every two sevendays so the weyrlings remain flexible in their ability to work as a team. Most members of the class will have a chance to act as a Groupleader but, by the end of the seventh month, the Weyrlingmaster has a good idea of which riders will make good leaders and they are made Groupleaders more often.

In the classroom, the weyrlings begin to study the theory of firestone. Although they've already encountered a lot of firestone, from the candlemarks spent filling firestone sacks for the fighting wings, this is the first time they have been taught about how the dragons process the firestone and then use the resulting gases.

Gold Riders: Continuing to shadow Weyr-members and work at basic Goldrider duties. Special classes begin in the proper handling of the politics of Weyrs and Holds.

Fifth Month - For the first time, the theories of firestone consumption are put into practice. At this stage, many dragons end up biting their tongues and having to keep away from firestone for a sevenday or so. Nonetheless, by the end of the month, most dragons have got the knack of controlling and directing their flame accurately.

The riders now have to get used to scrubbing the stench of firestone out of their dragon's hides - and their own! They also learn what size of firestone chunk their dragon finds easiest to digest and to gauge how much their particular dragon needs to flame efficiently. Theory training now moves on to the mechanics of flight, to prepare the weyrlings for their first flight. Formation drill continues, as does other exercise for both humans and dragons.

Gold Riders: Practice in Agenothree flame-thrower use on the ground, moving to seated on the grounded dragon. Political lessons and duties continue.

Sixth Month - Almost all classroom time is now spent on the mechanics of flight. The weyrlings are watched closely to ensure they don't try to fly before the Weyrlingmaster decides they are ready. As the dragons are just as eager to fly as their riders, this is a very real risk. The Weyrlingmaster does his best to cut down the possibility by emphasising the fact that it's very easy for a dragon to strain its wings if it flies too early. The dragonhealers come into the classroom again at this point to teach how to spot and treat muscle strain.

The weyrlings work with the Weyrtanners to learn the theory of making strong, reliable fighting straps. As their dragons are still growing rapidly, they don't yet make a proper set but, by the end of the month, they should be well aware of how to. They are also fitted for their wherhide gear.
By the end of the month, the dragons are almost all ready to make their first flight (although the larger, heavier queens, bronzes and browns may have to wait longer).

Gold Riders: Political lessons and duties continue.

Seventh Month - For the weyrlings, this month signals the most exciting time - their dragon makes its first flight. These first flights - little more than hops and glides - are made without the rider and continue for a sevenday, gradually lengthening in duration and height. Dragons are born knowing how to fly so this is largely a time for the weyrlings to get used to the sight of their dragon flying and for the Weyrlingmaster and dragonhealers to ensure that the young dragons aren't flying too early and straining themselves. During this sevenday, the weyrlings produce their first set of proper fighting straps, which are checked exhaustively by both the Weyrtanner and the Weyrlingmaster before they are put into use.

The second sevenday sees the weyrlings make their first flight aboard their dragon. This generally follows the pattern of taking off, flying once around the Bowl and then landing. Each weyrling makes their first flight individually, with their Weyrlingmaster watching closely and ready to help should it be necessary.

Once each weyrling has made the first flight, it is repeated twice. After this, the weyrlings are forbidden from flying for the rest of the day. The flights increase in length and complexity until, by the end of the month, the dragons have sufficient control and stamina to fly well away from the Weyr.

Gold Riders: Political lessons and duties continue. Basic practices in-flight with Agenothree flame-throwers.

Eighth Month - Flights continue. Weyrlings are allowed short trips outside the weyr, escorted. Dragonets can now hunt for themselves from the feeding pen. Dragons and riders move to their own weyrs. Classes include mating flights. Simple transport duties within the weyr are assigned. They may be asked to help transport outside the Weyr if accompanied by a full rider pair. Training also begins in how to flame while flying. This is a difficult thing to do and most dragons finish this part of training with one or two small burns. Serious damage, fortunately, is very rare.

Gold Riders: Special preparation for mating flights. What happens, procedures, the Flight Weyr, and what needs to be done to keep control of a flying queen. Mental exercises geared towards this pratice.  Duties continue.

Ninth Month - Formation flights and drills begin. Formations and drills learned on the ground are now applied to the air, with the weyrling pairs being taught how to avoid collisions and fouling with other dragons.. Weyrlings are divided into mini wings with rotating wingleaders, mostly bronze or browns, but any color can be made one. Catching and carrying firestone bags is added at the end of the month.

Gold Riders: Caring for the egg-heavy Gold. Clutching. Egg Care. Gold Wing practice flights. Duties continue.

Tenth Month - Betweening classes begin. Every Weyrlingmaster dreads this part of training most as there is almost always at least one weyrling who doesn't return from their first trip *between.* The first flight *between* is always short. First, the weyrlings practice *betweening* to their own Star Stones. Weyrlings learn co-ordinates around the Weyr first, moving out to major holds by the end of the month. There is only one *between* flight on the first day and the weyrlings are then sent about their chores. This is repeated the following day and for the rest of the month, with the distances covered gradually becoming further. It is in this month that Weyrlings who are old enough (16 turns or older), and have proven themselves responsible, are allowed to move out into their own weyrs. Those who aren't yet 16 will move out once they turn so.

Gold Riders: Hatchings. More Gold Wing practice flights. Duties continue. Gold Weyrlings begin to accompany Weyrwoman on political matters and inter-Weyr and Hold visits.

Eleventh Month - Betweening classes continue. Weyrlings learn co-ordinates for minor holds in Southern and Weyrs in the North. Passing and receiving co-ordinates from dragon to dragon is also practiced. By the end month, the weyrlings know the co-ordinates for the Weyrs and major Holds throughout Pern, as well as the minor holds in Mountain Song territory. They are also able to get co-ordinates from another dragon and use them accurately. Once they are proven capable and reliable, Weyrlings may be given transport duties within and outside of the Weyr without supervision.

Gold Riders: Duties and Political practice continue. Gold Wing practice flights.

Twelfth Month - Classes are devoted in this month to review, and honing the skills learned so far. Any remaining weaknesses are evaluated and focused on individually so that each Weyrling brings up their skills to the necessary level.

Gold Riders: Same as usual.

Thirteenth Month - By now, the weyrling pairs are practiced in *betweening,* close formation flying and flaming. The first stage is to teach the knack of skipping *between* to avoid Thread. Once this is learned, it is combined with close formation flying. There are usually collisions during this part of training, as dragons learn to anticipate the positions of their wingmates. Fortunately, few of these are serious.

Gold Riders: Same as usual.

Fourteenth Month - Firestone is now added into the equation. This often has disastrous results, with dragons having to retire to the dragonhealers for a sevenday or so as the result of a mis-aimed flame, either from themselves or from their wingmates. However, by the end of the month, the dragons are able to anticipate the positions of themselves, their wingmates, their own flame and their wingmates' flame.

Gold riders: Same as usual.

Fifteenth Month - The weyrling class now begins to have fake Thread dropped on it. The fake Thread is lengths of rope, dipped in paint and dropped while wet. The wet paint marks any dragon it hits and makes it clear where a Threadscore would have happened. Any dragonpair that gets 'Scored' is guaranteed a severe telling off - the Weyrlingmaster is all too aware what would have happened had it been real Thread. Note: at the end of the 15th month, Weyrlings will be evaluated. Those evaluations will dictate how the Weyrling Master informs interested Wingleaders of which Weyrlings may be ready for early entry into the full wings, though they will remain Weyrlings in status while in those wings until Graduation. Those Weyrlings will be tapped by Wingleaders during the sixteenth month during an evening meal. Picked Weyrlings will still do Weyrling drills on a semi-regular basis aside from wing drills, to help their fellow Weyrlings improve.

Gold riders: Same as usual. From this point on can join Gold Wing in threadfall at the discretion of the Gold Wing Leader.

Sixteenth- Eighteenth Months - The final three months are spent relentlessly drilling through what has been learned. The riders and their dragons are constantly exhausted, with hard physical and mental activity. Some complain about this but others realise that, as they are due to encounter Thread soon, the Weyrlingmasters are simply trying to get them as well prepared as possible. It's during this section of training that gold and bronzeriders are taught about timing and why it's so dangerous. Occasionally, a weyrling will be tempted to try it. The queens *always* find out and that weyrling will promptly be sent back to Part Two of training.

Gold Riders: Duties and Political practice continue. Occasional solo-assignments. Gold Wing practice flights and fighting in active threadfall.

Graduation - A weyrling graduates to a full rider when he/she is able to do all of the above with a 90% accuracy. Weyrlings can be held back at the discretion of the Weyrling Masters, for not learning all they need, or as a disciplinary action. Weyrlings cannot graduate if they are under 16 years of age.