 Weyrling Guide |
| Month 0-1 | Month 1-2 | Month 2-3 | Month 3-4 | Month 4-5 | Month 5-6 |
| Month 6-7 | Month 7-8 | Month 8-9 | Month 9-10 | Month 10-11 | Month 11-12 |
| Month 12-13 | Month 13-14 | Month 14-15 | Month 15-16 | Month 16-17 | Month 17-18 |
Age 0 to One Month:
Day 1 - Impression Day
A free day with no lessons. Weyrlings will take their dragonets off the Hatching Grounds and into the weyrbowl, where they will oil, then feed their dragonets, then assist them to the Weyrling Barracks where they will fall asleep. Once the dragonet is asleep, Weyrlings are allowed to attend the feast held in their honor, although it is suggested that they get to sleep early as their morning will begin early. Weyrlings whose dragonets are below one turn of age are not allowed to drink alcohol or have sex.
Day 2-7 -
Dragonets will wake before the sun rises and roust their weyrlings out of bed. Process is bathe, oil, and then feed, in that order. Otherwise dragonets will fall asleep as soon as they are fed and it's very hard to bathe and oil something that refuses to move and out-masses you. Lessons on hide care and its importance begin as well as lessons on draconic anatomy and the draconic digestive system, given by the Dragonhealer. The reasons for the rules on no sex or alcohol are also discussed, as well as what weyrlings who have mature flitters should do when they rise to mate.
Goldriders Additional: Communicating and working with other dragons and their riders and dragon and rider welfare is taught as well as learning to help control dragon pain.
Sevenday 2 -
Lessons in both human and dragon first aid begin. Weyrlings are drilled in the proper names for their dragons' anatomy. Learning to use the dragon chain of communication begins, as well as how to shield negative emotions or thoughts from your new lifemate.
Sevenday 3 -
Rank recognition training is given, and any weyrlings who are in need of further education in the areas of reading, writing, and math, are singled out and given extra lessons from now until they are deemed proficient. The history of Pern and the dragonrider's significance in it are also discussed.
Sevenday 4 -
Dragonriders' roles within the Weyr are discussed, as well as mating flights and their effect on their riders. Each type of pairing that can result in a mating flight is gone over, as well how to deal with the results of each type of pairing. Common courtesy and how to deal with holders and crafters of the varying ranks is discussed at the end of the sevenday.
Green and Goldriders Additional: How to respond when she rises. Controlling her before she rises. Coping with a moody dragon.
Goldriders 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.
Age One Month to Two Months:
Sevenday 1 -
Beginning of ground drills and formations. What formations the Weyr uses when and why. Drills will be conducted on foot, increasing in length daily, and with every dragonrider pair in the Wingleader and Wingsecond positions until they are comfortable in them. This switching will occur throughout training in both ground drills and flight drills.
Sevenday 2 -
Continuing on ground drills and formations. Getting more complicated, weyrlings will be asked to stay in formation and switch formations using nothing but the dragon chain of communication.
Sevenday 3 -
Weyrlingmasters might begin throwing false "thread" at the students for them to dodge while doing ground drills. Discussions will be held on the most effective ways to dodge and when it is better to simply move aside or go *between* to avoid a scoring.
Sevenday 4 -
Weyrlings receive their first training on firestone. How to tell high grade ore from low grade ore, how full a bag should be, and approximations on how long a bag of firestone will last a dragonrider in a fall. The proper use and practice with flame throwers are also taught to all students.
Age Two Months to Three Months:
Sevenday 1 -
Discussions on weather patterns and how they will affect a dragonrider pair in the air are held in the morning, with lessons on the firestone toss being held in the afternoon. This lessoning includes queenriders, as it builds muscle.
Goldriders additional: Lessons on politics and internal Weyr politics begin with the Weyrwomen.
Sevenday 2 -
Lessons on the different types of reports a dragonrider must be able to fill out, from a simple sweep report to a Wingleader's report are held, with practice on the firestone toss continuing in the evenings. Distances between the weyrlings should be increasing.
Goldriders additional: Learning the how to file reports and what information to look for when keeping records. These lessons will be held with both the Weyrwomen and Master Archivist Rolf.
Bronze and Brownrider additional: Detailed lessons on Wingleader and Wingsecond reports are given, as well as lessons on what information to look for in a Sweeprider's report.
Sevenday 3 -
Recognition of the different types of cloud formations and the weather patterns that they form. Weyrlings are taught to recognize the formation of major weather patterns and how to report them. They are also briefed on what type of weather patterns are normally seen in the local area. The firestone toss continues in the evenings, all weyrlings should now be able to toss a full bag of firestone a full length.
Sevenday 4 -
Excersizes begin. Dragonets and their riders are taught the correct way to stretch out the wings and muscles, then work out those muscles to strengthen dragonets for flight training. These lessons will be continued in the mornings before every lesson until flight training begins. Firestone toss continues in the evening for students, mainly for those students who are still behind to be allowed to gain the muscle needed and catch up with the rest of the class. Those who are not having problems may or may not be dismissed at the discretion of the Weyrlingmaster.
Age Three Months to Four Months:
Sevenday 1-3 -
Ground Drills begin again, with the dragon chain of communication being used in cooperation with hand signals. NO TALKING ALLOWED. Each pair will have a turn at being in both the Wingleader and Wingsecond positions of each formation. Once the Weyrlingmaster is satisfied that the Weyrlings are doing well in a formation, the firestone toss will be incorporated into the drills so that weyrlings can learn to catch the bags while they are moving and how to remain in formation while doing so. Fake "thread" will also remain a part of these drills.
Sevenday 4 -
Lessons with the tanner begin on leather. How to recognize good and bad leather, when the leather is stretched too thin, the different types of leather, how to soften leather, and what leather is best for what purposes. Dragonets are under the supervision of the Weyrlingmaster and their second during this time while they make their first solo flights and learn to fly and hunt. Ground drills continue in the evening.
Age Four Months to Five Months:
Sevenday 1 -
Lessons begin on the proper construction of dragon harnesses and how to sew leather. Proper padding, the proper give of the leather, and buckle types are discussed, as well as fit and softness. Dragonets continue learning how to fly on their own while their riders are in class. Ground drills continue in the evening, but now they are held with the dragonets walking along beside their riders. Firestone toss is continued carefully during the drills, as well as the thread throwing so that the dragonets can begin to learn how to dodge it as well.
Sevenday 2-3 -
Weyrlings begin construction of their first harness under the watchful eyes of the Weyrlingmasters. Mistakes are allowed to be made, and it is demonstrated to the weyrlings why each mistake is a mistake and how it will fail in flight. Then weyrlings are sent back to correct their mistakes. This is a very slow process as weyrlings deal with their first experiences in sewing with leather and the proper conformation and fitting of those straps to their dragons. Dragonets continue learning and practicing how to fly on their own while their riders are in class. Ground drills continue in the evenings.
Sevenday 4 -
Review of riding harnesses, with Weyrlingmasters personally checking the fit of each set on each dragonet. Once a weyrling's harness has passed inspection, they are allowed to mount their dragon for the first time and the dragonet will walk around with them for a candlemark. Riding the dragonet will continue throughout the sevenday, with the time a rider is allowed on the dragonet's back gradually increasing to three candlemarks. Ground drills continue with dragonets in the evenings, dragonets may continue their solo flight training at their own pace.
Age Five Months to Six Months:
Sevenday 1 -
Riding dragons in the morning continues with the time gradually increasing until dragonets may be ridden up to five candlemarks, one of which is done while doing ground drills. Ground drills continue in the evening after the weyrlings are off their dragonets.
Sevenday 2 -
Riding dragons in the morning continues with the time gradually increasing until dragonets may be ridden up to seven candlemarks, three of which are done while doing ground drills.
Sevenday 3 -
Riding dragons in the morning continues with the time gradually increasing until dragonets may be ridden up to nine candlemarks, six of which are done while doing ground drills.
Sevenday 4 -
Weyrlings begin learning the art of leather working on their own riding gear from the tanner. Riders will learn how to fashion their own jackets, riding pants, gloves, and goggles. The only thing not taught will be boot-making, which will continue to be done by the tanner. Ground drills in the evening continue for four candlemarks with the dragons being ridden the entire time.
Age Six Months to Seven Months:
Sevenday 1 -
FIRST FLIGHTS WITH RIDERS!! Dragonets will be taken one by one to the flight mound where the Weyrlingmaster will give them the signal to take off. Dragonets will leap into the air and perform no more than two flaps of their wings, then glide down to a landing. Rough landings are not a bad thing, the dragonets will get better with practice. Dragonets who perform flawlessly will likely be suspected of having broken the rules and made their virgin flights on the sly, which means the weyrling in question is likely to be watched very closely. Flights are done three times the first day, and then the time in the air is gradually lengthened so that dragonets can learn how to do some very basic maneuvers with their riders.
Goldriders Additional: Reading and Maintaining personnel records. Dealing with Weyr Personnel.
Weyrlings will be moving into their own Weyrs at this time. Dragonets are allowed to fly up and down from the ledges by themselves, but not with their riders until sevenday four of the month.
Sevenday 2-4 -
Flight training continues, with the time spent in the air gradually increasing. By the end of sevenday four, the dragonets should be able to remain in the air anywhere from a candlemark to a candlemark and a half. During this time, it is expected that the weyrlings will be making their own flying gear and maintaining their dragonet's harness, both of which will be checked frequently by the Weyrlingmasters.
Age Seven Months to Eight Months:
Sevenday 1 -
Flight training intensifies until dragonets can remain in the air with their rider for two candlemarks, with dragonets learning how to climb, descend, and turn in the air. Lectures are given on the dangers of over-flying an eager dragonet. Dragonets are very eager to please their riders at this stage, and if a weyrling pushes their dragonet too hard, the results are OFTEN FATAL.
Sevenday 2 -
Flight training intensifies until dragonets can remain in the air with their rider for four candlemarks, with dragonets continuing to practice the aerial maneuvers they have already learned and learning how to bank to the left or right as well as dive and pull out of a dive. Elevator duty and messenger duty to the closer Holds and Halls begins and continues until month 16.
Sevenday 3 -
Flight training intensifies until dragonets can remain in the air with their rider for six candlemarks. Dragonets will be run through a series of maneuvers both by themselves and as a group to promote group cohesiveness and to make sure that dragonets learn the proper distances to keep between themselves at all times.
Sevenday 4 -
Flight training intensifies until dragonets can remain in the air with their rider for eight candlemarks. Dragonets will continue to be run through a series of maneuvers both by themselves and as a group.
Age Eight Months to Nine Months:
Sevenday 1 -
Flight training continues, with the group beginning to do their drills in the air. At this point no thread is used and the dragon toss is not incorporated. This is just to get the dragonets and their riders used to doing their formations in three dimensions instead of two.
Sevenday 2 -
Flight training continues, this time focusing on the dragon toss as done in the air. One weyrling will be tossing and one catching. This will be done from all angles so that the each pair can get used to the maneuvering required for both actions.
Sevenday 3 -
Flight drills continue, with the firestone toss incorporated. The Weyrlingmaster will have their dragon inform the weyrlings when they will be needing the firestone and the appropriate dragon pair will toss it to them once they have received the signal.
Sevenday 4 -
Flight drills continue, with both the firestone toss and fake thread incorporated. Dragonet pairs will most likely be "scored" often as they are new and adjusting to many new elements.
Age Nine Months to Ten Months:
Sevenday 1-2 -
Flight drills continue, with dragon pairs getting steadily better.
Sevenday 3-4 -
Flight drills continue, but only for two candlemarks each day. The rest of the day is taken up with lectures on dragonrider behavior and the rules of etiquette. It is emphasized that dragonriders DO NOT FIGHT and the reasons why. Self-defense lessons begin, and will continue until graduation as they are both good exercise and useful knowledge. First aid for humans is taught with the Healer and first aid for dragons is reviewed with the Dragonhealer.
Age Ten Months to Eleven Months:
Sevenday 1-4 -
Flight drills continue for a candlemark each day, and coordinate training for *between* begins, with the Weyrlingmaster taking the class out for trips to the surrounding Holds and Halls to help them gather coordinates and pass them along to the Weyrlingmaster for review. The theory of *between* visualization, as well as the horror stories, are discussed with the class and the importance of proper visuals repeatedly discussed.
Age Eleven Months to Twelve Months:
The day that all Weyrlingmasters dread has finally arrived. Many a Weyrlingmaster has gotten gray hairs during this phase of training, and many a weyrling has disappeared *between* never to come out again. It should be mentioned now that THERE IS NO GOING *BETWEEN* WITHOUT THE WEYRLINGMASTER'S PERMISSION UNTIL GRADUATION.
Sevenday 1 -
*Between* training starts. The Weyrlingmasters will take each pair up singularly and ride behind the rider. THEY will provide the visuals to the dragon and once they have received that visual back, they will direct the pair to go *between*. This will continue for the first sevenday, with the weyrling pairs on the ground continuing their practice in visualization and their work in self-defense and first aid. This will be done ten times no matter how skilled the pair.
Sevenday 2 -
*Between* training continues. The Weyrlingmasters will take each pair up singularly and have their dragons pass along a visual to the weyrling pair. Once they have received that visual back, they will direct the pair to go *between*. This will be done ten times no matter how skilled the pair.
Sevenday 3-4 -
*Between* training continues. The Weyrlingmasters will take each pair up singularly and the weyrling will provide the visuals to their dragonets. Once the visuals have been passed through the Weyrlingmaster's dragon and checked, they will give the signal to go *between*. This will be done ten times no matter how skilled the pair.
Age Twelve Months to Thirteen Months:
Congratulations!! The restriction on sex and alcohol is lifted. Male dragons begin producing sperm at this time and are allowed to participate in mating flights. For the Senior Queen's flights, all weyrlings are directed to leave.
Sevenday 1-4 -
*Between* training continues. The clutch will be broken up into groups of two or three and will now go *between* together, concentrating on keeping their distance from their fellow dragons in the air. The groups will gradually get larger until the entire clutch is included in going *between* as a group.
Age Thirteen Months to Fourteen Months:
Sevenday 1 -
*Between* training continues, with the Weyrlingmaster teaching the weyrling pairs how to skip in order to get away from thread and to crack off thread that has gotten onto them.
Sevenday 2 -
Emergency rescue training begins. Each dragonrider pair will learn how to fall off their dragon correctly with their safety ropes and also how to catch someone who has so fallen and get them safely aboard their dragon. Skip training continues in the evenings.
Sevenday 3-4 -
Dragon emergency training begins. This is where a dragon will pretend to be wounded and the queens will learn how to catch them, with help from the bronzes and browns if need be. Every dragon pair will need to be 'wounded' and caught, including the queens, who will have either a senior queen or a bronze (or even a pair if necessary) catch them. This will show the larger dragons how to properly catch a dragon in almost any situation and teach all of the dragons how to behave when they are in such a situation themselves. Skip training continues in the evenings, as well as *between* to other points, including places that are farther away, such as other Weyrs or Holds on the Northern continent.
During times of threadfall, weyrlings will now be doing the firestone toss to the fighting wings. This is very dangerous and often called the "blooding" period. Many a weyrling pair are injured or lost during this phase of training while many others are left emotionally scarred from it.
Age Fourteen Months to Fifteen Months:
Sevenday 1-2 -
Dragons learn to chew firestone. This is done on an individual basis with the Weyrlingmasters. This stage can take some time, but must be done carefully.
Alternative for Goldriders: Going over proper care and maintenance of flamethrowers with the Weyrwomen once again, and training from Weyrwomen on Junior Queen Rider Duties: Assisting the Weyrlingmaster; 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.
Sevenday 3-4 -
Flame control and flame variation are taught. By now all weyrling pairs know how to properly chew firestone and produce flame, and now they learn how to direct it to go where they want it and how to vary the length of the flame.
Age Fifteen Months to Sixteen Months:
Sevenday 1-4 -
Weyrling pairs now begin to learn the intricacies of flying and flaming at the same time as well as how wind and weather can affect it. Due to their need to concentrate on flaming, there is no *betweening* or formations done at this time. Flight drills will begin once again without the flame in the afternoon, as well as continuing *between* training.
Weyrlings are now assigned to follow Sweepriders out on their rounds in place of elevator duty. This will continue until graduation. Sometimes the weyrling pair will start out with the Sweeprider, but often times the weyrling pair will meet them in the middle or towards the end of their sweep by going *between* to meet them after checking with the Weyrlingmaster.
Age Sixteen Months to Seventeen Months:
Sevenday 1-4 -
Flight drills continue, with the pairs now flaming in formation. Due to their need to concentrate on flaming, there is no *betweening* in these drills. *Between* training continues as always in the afternoons.
Age Seventeen Months to Eighteen Months:
Sevenday 1-2 -
Full drills start, including skipping *between* and flaming. In times of threadfall, weyrlings at this stage will begin flying the trailing edge of threadfall, catching the few clumps of thread that the wings have missed. There won't be many, but it will still be practice in the real thing. This will continue until graduation.
Sevenday 3-4 -
Full drills continue, with random rescue maneuvers thrown in from time to time by the Weyrlingmasters.
Congratulations, you've made it through weyrlinghood and are now a full dragonrider! On graduation day there will be a written test in the morning with a short display of skill in the afternoon for the benefit of the Weyr. Graduation into the ranks of full dragonriders comes right after dinner when a Wingleader will come up to their new wingriders and say "The Weyrleader has allowed me to fly with you."
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