Weyrling Training Guide

Impression
Free Day to get used to dragon, feast, sleep. Visit. Have fun.

Month One/Sevenday One
M 1 D 01
Feeding: How, what, and when to feed Dragonets. Dealing with a dragon who has overeaten. Explain Daily Exercises: Both Dragon and Rider to build up and maintain good conditioning and health. ((5 am))

M 1 D 02
Hide Care: Spotting imperfect hide and how to fix it. Oiling and preventing skin imperfections.

M1 D 3
Bonding: How to bond better with the dragon. Exercising control through your bond.

M 1 D 04
((Weyr Healer))
Rider Health: Rider First Aid and building personal first aid kit.
((Goldrider))
Goldriders Additional: Communicating and working with other dragons and their riders. Dragon and rider welfare.

M 1 D 05
((Weyr Dragon Healer))
First Aid: Caring for a sick or injured dragonet.
((Goldrider))
Goldriders Additional: Communicating and working with other dragons and their riders. Dragon and rider welfare.

M1 D 06
((Weyr Healer and Weyr Dragon Healer))
Review First Aid classes.
Everyone: These skills will be used for the rest of the Dragon/ Rider partnership.

M 1 D 07
Rest Day (one of few) Weyrling Picnic for youngest class. Month One/ Sevenday Two
M 1 D 08 - 14
Sexuality classes. These classes are to impress how important it is to abstain from sexual experiences before your dragon has matured. That means until you have graduated or later.

Month One/ Sevenday Three through Four
M 1 D 15 - 28
Cleaning Latrines, Ash Pits, Middens/General Record Keeping, Care, Maintenance, Filing, Updating Lower Caverns Work/Supply Records Kitchen and dining Room Duties/Tithing Records Casting Cookware, Making & Washing Clothes, Cleaning Barracks/ General Weyr Inventories Helping in Nurseries, Tending Flocks and Herds/Beastmaster Inventories Help in Dragon Infirmary & Infirmary/ Healer craft Inventories Helping Elderlies, Help Crafters/Crafter General Inventories Weyrling Messenger (or other duties)/Historical Records (Messenger Duty is a privilege)
All Riders: These are the common, everyday jobs a rider performs during his/ her life at the Weyr.

Month Two/ Sevenday One
M 2 D 01 (Morning)
Firestone: Proper appearance and size.
Bagging Firestone.

M 2 D 01 (Afternoon)
Standard issues for the Fighting Dragon and consumption rates for different tasks or altitudes.

M 2 D 02 - 07 (Morning)
Sorting and Bagging firestone

M 2 D 02 - 07 (Morning- Gold Riders)
Goldriders Additional: Learning to help control dragon pain.

M 2 D 02 (afternoon)
Flame Throwers: Proper use and practice

M 2 D 03 (Afternoon)
Cleaning, filling, and repairing the flame-throwers.

M 2 D 04 (Afternoon)
HNO3 Sprayers: Proper use and practice

M 2 D 05 (Afternoon)
Cleaning, filling, and repairing the HNO3 Sprayers.

M 2 D 06 - 07 (Afternoon)
Relief Work: providing food, drink, blankets, medicines, etc to those who've returned from Threadfall.
All Riders: Relief Work will be a task every Threadfall, unless you are in a Wing or Injured. This will last until Threadfall ceases.
Riders of Fighting Dragons: Firestone bagging will be an everyday task until graduation.
Goldriders: Flame Thrower/HNO3 Sprayer upkeep will be an everyday task for entire partnership.

Month Two/ Sevenday Two thru Four: Mornings
M 2 D 08 - 28
Firestone Drills: Proper distancing and formation of the “Weyrling Chain”. “Dragon Toss”: Passing Firestone sacks from on to another by tossing and catching sacks along the chain, a full dragon-length apart. Should be able to “Dragon Toss” full Firestone bags the entire dragon-length, repeatedly, by end of Month Two.
All Riders will perform these tasks, as it promotes good coordination and upper body strength. Riders of Fighting Dragons: Firestone Drills will continue every day, even Fighting Wings practice it from time to time.

Month Two/ Sevendays Two thru Four: Afternoons
M 2 D 08 - 28
Ground Drill: Marching precisely in tight formation along patterns, requiring intricate maneuvers and team formations. This is very fatiguing.
Extra Training: Those who need extra help during Ground Drill are noted. They are given private lessons by the Weyrlingmaster Second in close drill.
Additional Training: Those showing great potential are given private lessons by Weyrlingmaster in leadership and Weyr specialities (ie: Flame Thrower Maintenance, Leadership Positions, Search Dragons, etc.)

Some Patterns Are:
Group Drill (Divide Wing into separate Groups of five to six each)
Line Drill (Divide Wing into three lines, two outer lines facing one direction, middle line facing other direction.
Big V (Everyone forms into a large V formation, marching towards the point) Reverse Big V (Everyone marches facing base of triangle)
Triple V (Everyone forms into three V's, facing points, one in front and two behind)
Reverse Triple V (Form three V's, facing wide base, one in back and two in front)
Pyramid (Three line, in triangle shape, facing point.)
Reverse Pyramid (Triangle shape, facing base line)
Mixed Triple V (Three V's side by side, end ones going one direction, middle going other direction)
All Riders: Ground Drills will continue every day until performing Aerial Drills adequately.
All Dragons: Exercises to prepare for carrying riders. Jumping exercises to strengthen hindquarters for take offs. Wing exercises to prepare for flight.
Everyone: By end of Month Two: Throughout rest of Weyrling training, those who show great precision and skill in certain areas will be given Evening Classes in preparation for the Weyrling Games, held at the Turn's End Gather.

Month Three/Sevendays One thru Four
M 3 D 01 - 28
Dragon Toss is incorporated into the ground drills. Go through different patterns separately. Several days (or more) no talking out loud.
Mornings: Dragons are encouraged to perform exercise drills and bonding exercises while their human partners are performing firestone drills. Afternoons: Dragons are encouraged to march next to their human partners in Ground Drills, enabling them to learn formations that they will be using later in Aerial Drills.
Everyone: Exercises and Drills are continually monitored to make sure the pairs are developing well. If they are over-extending themselves, or not working enough, they may be held back from the next lesson.

Month Four/ Sevenday One
M 4 D 01
Fighting Straps: Making, Checking, Caring For, and Repairing fighting straps and other equipment used for flying and fighting Thread.

M 4 D 02
Harnessing: Proper stance for dragons, as well as helpful tricks a dragon can perform to help harnessing and check straps.

M 4 D 03
Inspect Dragons
Multiple Harness, checking, and unharnessing Dragons.
Mounting and Riding Dragons for 10 minutes on the ground.

M4 D 04
Riding Dragons for 20 - 30 minutes on the ground

M 4 D 05
Riding Dragons for 30 minutes on the ground

M 4 D 06
Riding Dragons for 40 - 50 minutes on the ground

M 4 D 07
Riding Dragons up to an hour on the ground
Everyone: Straps and Harness checks, and care, will be kept up for the rest of the partnership.

Month Four/ Sevenday Two
M 4 D 08 - 09
Riding Dragons an hour to 1 1/2 Hours
Thermals, air currents, weather conditions, and other useful knowledge in preparation for flight.

M 4 D 10 - 11
Riding Dragons 1 1/2 hours
Reading Threadfall Charts.

M 4 D 12 - 13
Riding Dragons 2 hours
Weyr Sign Language used during Threadfall.

M 4 D 14
Riding Dragons 2 1/2 hours
Chores
All Riders: These skills will be used for the rest of your partnership.

Month Four/ Sevenday Three
M 4 D 15 - 21
Conveying Passengers: inside the Weyr for 2 hours, or less
Chores!!
Fighting Dragons and Riders: Conveyance duties will continue until graduation.
Golds: Conveyance Duties will continue until Month 13.

Month Four/ Sevenday Four
M 4 D 22
Riding Dragons all morning
Mating: The first Mating Flight and maintaining mental contact during Mating Flights.

M 4 D 23
Riding Dragons all morning
Search: Search Dragons and their special place in the Weyr. The importance of Searching versus just putting anyone to the Egg.

M 4 D 24
No riding Dragons
Chores!!
Greens and Golds Additional: How to respond when she rises. Controlling her before she rises. Coping with a moody dragon.

M 4 D 25
Riding dragons all morning
Chores!! ((except golds))
Golds Additional: Restrictions for the expectant dragon. Clutching and what to do to help. Care for the egg-tending queen. Reading and Maintaining Mating Flight Records and Clutch Charts.
Everyone: It is important to maintain absolute control during a Mating Flight. Losing control may mean losing your dragon between.

Month Five/ Sevendays One: Day One
M 5 D 01
Dragonets take initial flight without rider.
Chores!!
Bagging Firestone blindfolded.

Month Five/ Sevendays One thru Three
M 5 D 02 - 21
Dragonet Solo flights are increased by 10 minutes every day until they are flying on own for several hours.
Ground Drills have now been transferred to performing while on the Dragon.
Everyone: These Drills take place of Ground Drills, but are daily until replaced by Aerial Drills.

Month Five/ Sevenday Four
M 5 D 22 - 28
Lectures: Wingleaders talk about the rudiments of flying, with one's dragon. ((Use volunteers from other weyrlings, and other full riders))
Everyone: Dragon and Rider: If anyone misses more than two of these lectures, they'll be held back for a repeat week of lectures.

Month Six/ Sevenday One: Day One
P'tralin--- Flight Dates Announced.
Everyone: These will be in name order, not color or personal preference.

Month Six/Sevenday One
Flying: Weyrling Master and his Second will take each individual pair to Weyrling Training Mound. With the Weyrling Master on the ground and the Second in the air, the pair will be instructed to take off. FLYING! A few beats of the wings, and pair will glide shallowly in to a bumpy landing. After initial excitement (shout, faint, whatever) dies down, pair will repeat three more times, to prove to rider that it's no fluke.
Everyone: No one is to try initial flight without the Weyrling Master present.
Everyone: No one is to fly the first week without the Weyrling Master or an Assistant present.

Month Six/Sevendays Two thru Four
A light pace is maintained in flying, slowly building from glides to short flight from ledges by end of Fourth week.
Everyone: Tight control must be maintained of each other in pairs. Over-compliant Dragons following partner's overzealous whims prove very dangerous and OFTEN FATAL.
Everyone: On last day of Sixth Month: Finally move out of Weyrling Barracks into free Weyrs. Everyone will have their own Weyr.

Month Seven/ Sevendays One thru Three
Pace of flight intensifies. Stamina and endurance in air are built up.

M 7 D 01 - 03 Golds- Only
Golds Additional: Reading and maintaining personnel records. Dealing with Weyr Personnel.
Everyone: By end of Third Week, should be able to stay in air for two to three hours.

Month Seven/ Sevenday Four
Flight Drills: Learning to climb left and right, turn left and right, dive, glide, etc.
Mock Wings: Weyrlings will be divided up as evenly as possible into “Wings” of three pairs each. These Wings are strictly for Weyrling training, and are not considered Wings by graduated riders or dragons.
Everyone: These are basic maneuvers needed for fighting Thread on any altitude in any Wing.

Month Eight/ Sevenday One
Firestone Drills: Now Weyrling Chain and Dragon Toss are being performed in the air.
Everyone: No one should be dropping bags by end of sevenday four.

Month Eight/ Sevenday Two
Formation Flying replaces Weyrling Chain.
Everyone: Formation Aerial Dragon Toss will be performed on regular basis until graduation.

Month Eight/ Sevendays Three thru Four
Firestone drills and Flight drills are combined. Additional wings are added from other weyrling groups. The groups will be mixed up to include some from each class.
Everyone: By end of Week Four everyone should be able to fly four to six hours.

Month Nine/ Sevenday One
Combine Mock Wings into six pairs per wing. Repeat Drills.
Everyone: Positions from Wingleader to Wingrider will be switched often, to give everyone experience: green, blue, brown, bronze, and gold alike!

Month Nine/ Sevenday Two
Combine Mock Wings into groups of nine. Repeat drills.
Everyone: Weyrlings will be changed around into different combinations in Mock Wings, to give experience of flying with different riders.

Month Nine/ Sevenday Three
Combine Mock Wings into groups of twelve. Repeat drills.
((Weyrling Master)) Conveyance Duties extended to surrounding area of Weyr.
Everyone: Anyone caught going further than assigned area will be severely punished.

Month Nine/ Sevenday Four
(Morning)
Remain in Mock Wings of twelve, or as close as possible. Repeat Drills.
(Afternoon)
Studying of thermal and threadfall charts, Checking harnesses and doing general repair.
((Goldrider))
M 9 D 22 - 28 (Afternoon)
Flying on different altitudes started.
Everyone: Weyrlings will be changed around into different combinations in Mock Wings, to give experience of flying with different riders.

Month Ten/ Sevendays One thru Four
((Weyrling Master))
Visualization Training Starts: Terrain recognition. Destination visualization. Visual description of the area should be written in the Journal along with a drawing, done to the best of your ability.
Everyone: Weyrling Master and his dragon will be checking visualization and quizzing on Terrain Recognition.

Month Eleven/ Sevenday One
((Weyrling Master and Second.))
M 11 D 01 - 07
Between: Weyrling Master himself trains each pair. He rides in front of rider and visualizes for the pair. The dragon will take them between to destination. Weyrling Master repeats this ten times or more depending on skill of pair.
Chores!!!
Everyone: Weyrling Master will not repeat this exercise less than ten times no matter how skilled the pair!

Month Eleven/ Sevenday Two
((Weyrling Master and Second))
M 11 D 08 - 14
Weyrling Master will fly on own Dragon with pair next to them. Will take pair between, letting rider visualize for his/her own dragon. Will repeat this three more times.
Chores!!!
Everyone: Those not Betweening will be kept busy with Aerial Drills and Visualization Recognition.

Month Eleven/ Sevenday Three
((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 11 D 15 – 21
Weyrling Master now on ground and watching pairs transfer.
Everyone: no one is to Between without express instruction from the Weyrling Master or one of his Assistants.

Month Eleven/ Sevenday Four
((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 11 D 22 - 28
Mock Wings start Betweening together, NOT in formation. They will be spread out across the sky to between. Each will have a certain point to between to that does not cross another pair's path.
Everyone: Almost every Hatching Group loses at least one pair at this point. This usually happens in groups, with all of one Mock Wing coming in fine, then as many as half a dozen pairs from another Mock Wing never returning.

Month Twelve/ Sevenday One
((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 12 D 01 - 07
Precision Jumping begins: Weyrlings will be split into groups of three pairs. These groups will be taught how to jump between in formation. They will be checked on coming out of between in formation.
Everyone: Anyone with difficulties will be given extra lessons by the Weyrling Master.

Month Twelve/ Sevenday Two
((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 12 D 08 - 11
Timing: How to jump between times is instructed. The reasoning behind why you DON'T time it will also be taught.
Golds additional: Inhibiting timing in others is taught.

M 12 D 12 - 14
((Weyrling Master or Second))
Groups will be expanded to six pairs for Precision Jumping
Everyone: Anyone caught timing it outside of Weyrling Master instructions will be called into a meeting with the WeyrLeaders and Weyrling Master. If the excuse is not acceptable to them, the pair will be severely punished.

Month Twelve/ Sevenday Three
((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 12 D 15 - 21
Groups will form into nine pairs and repeat Precision Jumping. Timing It is no longer a part of lessons. Conveyance Duties now include Betweening. Everyone: Only those who have Precision Jumping in groups of six will be permitted to Convey Between. Others will have extra instruction before assuming the extra duty.

Month Twelve/ Sevenday Four ((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 12 D 22 - 28
Groups will be formed with twelve pairs. Precision Jumping continues. Everyone: Anyone still having difficulty with Precision Jumping will be held back from Firestone Chewing.

Month Thirteen/ Sevendays One thru Four
((Weyrling Master or Second))
M 13 D 01 – 19
Fighting Dragons: Weyrling Master takes each pair, individually, to Weyrling Training Mound for Firestone Chewing and flaming Practice. Starting with soft stone (not Firestone), the dragonets will get used to chewing and thinking of their second stomach. As the day progresses, the pair will progress to low grade stone, producing small flames... until they are finally at real stone with full flaming.
If there are more than 28 dragons, then the Weyrling Master Second assists with this training.
Weyrling Master Third keeps the others busy with drills. After they chew, WLM 3rd keeps those busy with chewing and flaming practice, too.
Alternative for Golds: Training from WeyrWoman on Junior Queen Rider Duties: Assisting the Weyrling Master; Proper etiquette at social functions; Diplomatic Relations inside and outside the Weyr; Weyr Census Reports; Leadership Changes: cause and effect; Weyr Life: Births, deaths, Fostering, Nursery Assignments; Duty Rosters; Arbitration.
Golds: Still maintain Drills and duties in mornings, and will continue until graduated.
Fighting Dragons and Riders: Those not busy with Firestone and Flaming class will be kept busy with Aerial Drills and Betweening Drills.
Fighting Dragons and Riders: Flaming Class is an all day procedure for each pair, thus it can take up to the whole month to train the entire class.

Month Fourteen/ Sevenday One
Flaming: Sustaining and Holding Flame. Judging own consumption rates. Alternative for Golds: WeyrWoman takes over training: Flying in the Queen's Wing.
Fighting Dragons: Anyone having difficulties in sustaining flame will receive extra training.

Month Fourteen/ Sevenday Two
Flaming while flying.
Extensive training in long distance recognition points.
Everyone: Anyone caught threatening someone else with flaming will be severely punished.

Month Fourteen/ Sevenday Three
Flaming while doing Aerial Drills
Everyone: Injuries from Flaming are at their high point. Many are FATAL.

Month Fourteen/ Sevenday Four Flaming in Formations, as well as during Aerial Drills.
Weyrlings are encouraged to mingle with Full Riders, though they still eat at the Weyrling Tables.
Everyone: Aerial Drills, Formation flying, and Betweening should be fully developed by the end of the fourth week.

Month Fifteen/ Sevenday One
Weyrlings are spending more time with Full Riders. Except for Drills and Meals, they're encouraged to get to know the Weyrfolk, Rider and Non-rider alike.
Everyone: Weyrlings are not to consider themselves actual Full Riders.

Month Fifteen/ Sevenday Two
((Weyrling Master and Second))
M 15 D 08 - 14
Weyrlings accompany Full Riders on recreational visits outside the Weyr. Dueling Classes are held, mostly on how to avoid duels or getting killed in one, but only for this Sevenday.
Everyone: Weyrlings are to act on their best behavior. Any Weyrling acting in a crude or unruly manner will be severely punished. Any Weyrling caught using his/her dueling lessons on others will be severely reprimanded.

Month Fifteen/ Sevenday Three
Mornings are full with Drills.
Afternoons: Crafters and other Weyr Personnel give lectures on their duties Everyone: The Weyr Personnel are to be given full attention during the lectures. This is to enable smoother transition into the Full Rider status later on.

Month Fifteen/ Sevenday Four
Weyrlings start training with Weyr Personnel to better assist Personnel: Harper, Healer, Cook, Guards, Herder, etc.
Everyone: These lessons aren't intended to give anyone any ranking in the skills taught. They are simply to make it easier to assist if needed.

Month Sixteen/ Sevenday One thru Month Eighteen/ Sevenday Three
M 16 - M 18
Over next three months: Special classes continue, as well as all Drills and regular Duties. Weyrlings are now practicing all Drills using colored ropes as Thread.
((Weyrling Master))
Mid-Air rescues are taught: spotting those in trouble, catching, easing the fear.
Everyone: Weyrling days are now very similar to the days spent by Full Riders.

Month Eighteen/ Sevenday Four
M 18 D 22 - 29
Weyrlings are assigned to Weyrling Wing: Threadfall Games will be held with written tests in the morning and flight exercises in the afternoon. The written portion of the test will take all morning while the flight exercises will consist of a minimum of three different patterns.

Weyrling Graduation
A Weyr-wide gather is held for the graduating Weyrlings. This lasts all afternoon and evening, rain or shine.
Graduates still fly in the Weyrling Wing and eat at the Weyrling Tables until the WeyrLeader assigns them a Fighting Wing, which is the transition to Full Rider.
Transition to Full Rider is traditionally marked by a Wingleader telling a Weyrling Graduate: “The WeyrLeader has allowed me to ride with you.”