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Dragonflight Pern Captain
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 Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 4:42 am
The flight of gold Banshidheth was a relief even to the most anti-dragon denizens of the wherholds. Like it or not it was impossible to deny that dragons were needed to battle the Thread and with two territories to protect they needed a lot of them to do it too. The flight brought up another question however, a matter of contention that could be argued over, a question of colour. Many wherholders were dead set against the idea of cracking open dragon eggs that could not hatch unaided, Keller himself was known to feel that the cost in resources of raising atypical dragons and keeping them healthy was too great to justify. It was also true however that many felt strongly in the opposite direction, pointing out that Keller preached equality for all colours be they wher or dragon. Of course there was also the fact that the wherholds really did need as many dragons as they could get, leading some to be in favour of hatching atypes even if they didn't like them very much. These arguments had rolled around the wherholds like distant thunder since the revolution but since Banshidheth's flight they had reached a fever pitch as a hypothetical situation headed towards becoming a reality. It seemed a forgone conclusion that Keller would rule as the traditional Weyrs had that dragons must break shell alone and many either gloated or seethed about this depending on which side they came down on. As it turned out however such reactions were very much premature. Two days after the gold flight Keller summoned the people of Benden Wherhold out into the bowl at dusk; every rider, handler, drudge, child and crafter, save those with critical duties such as watch pairs. Simultaneously and thus earlier in the day in Malvren one of Keller's most trusted council members - Savarah of green Gespeth - likewise summoned the people of the wherhold. This is what was said by each of them: MasterhandlerKeller "Comrades, thank you for joining me. I know you are all keenly aware that a choice lies ahead and that many of you have strong feelings about it. I also know that you know how I feel about it... however while I may lead the wherholds on this occasion I choose not to choose. Some things, I believe, can only rightly be decided properly by the will of the people; it was your will that took Benden and Malvren from the arrogant rule of Weyrwomen and Weyrleaders, and it shall be your will that settles the fate of dragon eggs that do not hatch unaided. I, Masterhandler Keller of gold Kellask, decree that every wherholder aged fourteen turns or older shall have a chance to vote on this matter. Over the coming sevenday each eligible person will have a chance to come to the council chamber where they will be provided with a token. If you believe that we should break the shells of dragon eggs that do not hatch unaided you will place it in the white box. If you believe we should allow nature to take its course and leave the shells unbroken you will place it in the black box. At the end of the sevenday the votes placed here and in Malvren Wherhold will be counted and that will be the end of the matter." CouncillorSavarah Friends, comrades, thank you for your attendance. I will not keep you long. We are here today because there is a matter that needs our attention, namely the flight and upcoming clutch of gold Banshidheth. While I know that all of us agree on many matters - that is why we stand here today unbound by the archaic hierarchy of Weyrs - I also know that the question of atypical dragons divides some of us deeply. It is because so many people feel so strongly about this matter that Masterhandler Keller has decided to put it to an open vote so that the will of the people be known; no one person's feelings are worth more than another, and nor shall be their vote. Over the coming sevenday every wherholder aged fourteen turns or older shall have the chance to place a token into a ballot box which will be kept in the former Weyrwoman's quarters. If you believe that potential atypical eggs should not be opened you will place your token in the black box. If you believe however that they should be hatched and given a chance at life then you shall place in the white box. At the end of the sevenday the votes placed here and at Benden will be counted and the matter will be decided once and for all." With that Keller and Savarah departed about their business and the two crowds began to disperse noisily; the vote was unprecedented but certainly not unwelcome on the whole, though some were convinced that it was all a fix and Keller would decide whatever he wanted regardless of where they put their tokens. Whether this was true or not one thing was certain; the fate of future atypical dragons in the wherholds would soon be decided.
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 4:44 am
Voting time! You get one vote for each approved or WIP wherhold character you have who is aged fourteen or older. Bonded individuals get one vote between them. Please post in this thread declaring which way your characters vote and please vote as they would IC! You can also include a snippet of why they voted as they did if you like, as though they were telling a friend.
Voting will close at 1:00pm GMT on Wednesday 17th September.
Votes will then be counted, and another announcement will be made about the outcome.
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Dragonflight Pern Captain
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 4:57 am
Harmony of bronze Harmonsk votes against hatching atypical dragons. "They're weak, sickly creatures and remain sickly and prone to injury throughout their lives. We can't afford such frailty, or the drain on resources needed to nurse them back to health every time they get a sniffle or pull a wing muscle and have to drop out of a threadfall battle."
Fick of green Ficksk abstains. "I dunno what's right. Seems cruel to just let them die in the egg but we're stretched thin enough on resources without having to look after sickly dragons and... Yeah. I don't know. I just hope this gets sorted out without anyone feeling the need to shank anyone else over it."
A'nos of bronze Acriculeth votes for hatching atypical dragons. "If you'd asked me a few turns ago I would probably have voted the other way but having got to know a few atypical dragons and seen their unique gifts I have come to appreciate them, I believe that they deserve to live as much as any of our bondmates."
Vee votes for the hatching of atypical dragons. "Are you thick or what? We've got less dragons than an average Weyr between us and two territories to protect, we need all the dragons we can get!"
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 5:02 am
Erie had known this was coming, She'd been i Benden long before the takeovers by the Wherholders ... she sighed, in essence nothing had changed, sure she got a little more respect towards her and Erisk but was it worth it? The choices were being made on dragon eggs again, Beden's policy of not cracking eggs was being brought up again.
She walked up to the boxes, glancing between them before casting her vote to the white box
"nothing will change unless we change it, Keller or not .... she thought to herself with a sigh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
G'nar didn't need to think about it for very long "even if they take longer to raise.. every creature deserves a life ... Dragons more than any as we risk and lose so many to Thread, every dragon is needed" He said, probably more to himself than anyone else but loud enough to be heard, he walked up and cast his vote to the white box "Otherwise we're not better than them that were before us" he muttered, stalking off, angry that this was even being taken to a vote ...
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 5:50 am
Malta and Green Poecileth voted For the hatching of atypical dragons, though Malta was wary of doing so - the Masterhandler made her exceedingly nervous and she did not like him. She slipped in at the end of her healer shift, when nobody else could see her, and put her token in the White Box
They agreed for different reasons: Malta, because she couldn't bear to think of those poor dragons trapped in their eggs. Poecileth, because she felt that, though it was not exactly cruel to leave them in their egg (she doubted the death was a painful one) their unique strengths were needed in the wherhold.
But in the end, of course, they agreed, and it was with a sense of warm, satisfied pride that Malta left the council chamber, and she slept very easy that night...
~~~
Z'radi and Green Rotatonth were not, initially, sure where they stood. Neither of them cared either way, honestly.
Both felt that resources were tight and that to spare the time and supplies that the atypicals would need would be a drain on the wherholds. However, Z'radi liked the idea of giving the little buggers a fighting chance, and Rotatonth appreciated the unique strengths of the Atypicals in the course of fighting thread.
The pair discussed it, and in the end put their vote in the Black Box, not without some reluctance.
They could not afford the resource drain just now, and the dragons would not be able-bodied enough to work. Perhaps later the pair thought, When the wherholds are more established and we can support them...
Hopefully by then the pair would be ranking enough to be able to suggest a reopening of the issue. That would be nice.
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:00 am
C'per and brown Rugarth discussed the matter of dragon eggs very carefully. It would, after all, be Rugarth's offspring that would be directly affected by the decision this time. On one hand, weak and sickly offspring could reflect poorly on him, and he would not want to see the little ones suffer. On the other, a larger clutch, and being able to provide the Weyrhold with as many fighting dragons as possible, would be a thing to be proud of. And he found he did want to give them their chance. C'per let his bondmate made the ultimate decision, and so he cast his vote in the White Box.
----
For Lia and Crimson Mirath, there was no choice at all. Mirath was strong, healthy, and useful, though she had started as small and weak as any atypical. Besides, someday she would surely clutch (someday soon, Lia hoped, since she noticed Mirath starting to get proddy again), and she couldn't bear the thought of any of her children left to die in their eggs. So without delay or hesitation, Lia put her vote in the White Box.
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J'ri of green Corbeth was probably not a very good wherholder. She mourned the loss of life and traditions in the Revolution, and disliked the overly-violent system that had been forced into place. And she missed having so many dragons around. They seemed like selfish reasons, but since the choice was available to all, she decided to go with her heart and cast her vote in the White Box.
----
Mokah of gold Mokask wondered why this was even being brought to a vote. She hadn't though Keller had a high enough opinion of dragons to even consider helping the runts. Dragons needed too much time, space and resources as it is, and the ones that took too long to be useful were a hindrance. If weak and unfit whers were not tolerated, why should dragons be? Instead of worrying about this, they should work on those Dragonlights Keller had so famously displayed at the start of the Revolution. If Pern had a better way to stop Thread, then they wouldn't need dragons at all. She decisively cast her vote in the Black Box.
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:19 am
Canoake was always looking for more allies and people to use for her own gains. She had seen the worth in keeping the odd dragons around though she hadn't been so sure in the beginning. But allies were allies and strength was strength. She had spent the last turn making herself available and useful to those who would help keep her comfortable.
She watched carefully as others voted, trying to see which way the issue would lean. Tatath was already speaking and listening to several dragons whose voices held some sway. After Bandshidheth's flight by Rugath (which both rider and Dragon had secretly enjoyed), the buzz about the clutch had taken over any conversation. Don't count the flirts before they hatch, but everyone wanted to do that with these eggs.
"Tatath and I are in agreement on this one. We vote for opening the eggs. It's not so much about granting potential life as losing potential assets. Those skills that makes them special may be useful later on."
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:12 am
((May or may not get around to editing posts in. Too many.))
Anali: Abstain
Allia: For
Maldryk: For
Ralla: For
Cataran: For
Lilah: Against
Fi'o: Against
Dinah: Against
Kesin: Against
Celandine: Against
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:24 am
((Taking Meeps lead here. Will edit rp in as time allows))
Ja'kki: Against
Rilli: Against
Sasar: Against
Luka: For
Zen: For
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 12:02 pm
Arlii of Crimson Erinaeth is, without a doubt, for cracking the shells. If you're daft enough to even question why, you'll probably get a very long-winded explanation from Erinaeth herself!
Finulria and Brown Finulsk turn up their noses and vote against it. "Why give those snobby rider's even more dragons to preen over?"
Varik and blue Raith abstain.
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 2:15 pm
There was never any question of what E'lov and Blue Magith would vote for. They were both of the same mind, that the atypicals were useful, and that even if supplies were low, that was a workable problem. Perhaps that would mean more work for the dragons, going out to hunt more, but he was sure that a group would volunteer if needed.
He took his token, and placed it in the white box, voting for the eggshells to be broken.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 1:35 pm
Jameson stood with the others from his home. listening to the speech. He looked around at everyone else. What would they be choosing? He knew he was eager to get a dragon himself... Or a Wher now that they were in charge. But this choice... Wasn't it what Malvren had used to support? Breaking the eggs?
He took the token, running his fingers over it. It was a split second decision, but he placed it in the white box. They needed the dragons, the more that could flame out Thread, the better. He didn't know who else had chosen the white box, and he didn't know what the final decision would be.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 2:20 pm
There hadn't been many atypicals at Benden due to the dragonrider's previous beliefs. Vosin had taken the time to have a long talk with her twin about the matter before deciding to cast her vote. As candidates, it could very well affect them. Now she was going to have her say.
"You were all about equality for everyone, from riders to handlers, when you took over the Weyr and made it into your Wherhold. Now you bring this up this color issue which really shouldn't be an issue. Shouldn't all dragons be given a chance? If you're all about equality, prove it! Seems rather a two-faced wherry to me, if you b***h about how you're treated unfairly then as soon as the circumstances change you enforce it.
You say you need dragons. There are your dragons! Just waiting for you to care a little bit about them to crack their shells. Sure they'll need a little extra care in the beginning, but I believe it will be richly rewarding to have them." Vosin fingered her token before predictably dropping it into the white box.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:02 pm
Vesin watched her sister go and cast her vote. They had spent quite some time talking with this as their topic. To the two twins, it was an obvious decision. How could you advocate for equality but fail to give unhatched dragons that same chance? What if the dragon that was meant for her or Vos was one of those atypicals? With Vos being the more loquacious one of them, she followed closely behind her, nodding along as she spoke. A moments pause after Vos voted in the white box, her eyes scanned the crowd before she dropped her own token into the white box advocating for atypical dragons.
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Dragonflight Pern Captain
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:21 pm
The votes were counted in both Wherholds. To dispel some of the muttering about Keller rigging the matter the boxes had been watched from the start in shifts by some of the most passionate supporters of each side of the debate and anyone was free to wander in to see the tokens being counted. Once again Keller and Savarah summoned the people of the wherholds to hear the results. 62% for | 38% against Keller remained composed, inscrutable, as he read aloud the outcome but in Malvren Savarah could not quite repress her grin. It was decided - the Wherholds would break open dragon eggs that did not hatch unaided and give atypical hatchlings a chance to prove their worth.
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