A most unusual group has landed at Nerat Hold. The Elemere, which was thought lost with all hands six months ago after a particularly fierce winter storm, has limped into harbour with some alterations - and some very unusual passengers. The small ship has been out-rigged with two logs in order to help it make the passage back from what have been described as ‘southern islands’ by the crew, who claim that they were blown astray.
Returning with it come a small group described as ‘ambassadors’, consisting of two women and three very tall men. They speak a strange language, and their clothes have been described as colourful and wondrous strange - though the group has apparently quickly lost these odd fashions when visiting the colder northern holds! The boat is (ahem) out on whether this is real, or a fiction put together by the crew of the Elemere, but the group is reported to be attending the wedding at High Reaches Hold next month.
The lambing continues in High Reaches Hold, and the new sheep will soon be put out to pasture. There is still snow on the ground, but it is getting a little lighter… or so the farmers hope. Tilling the earth will begin soon, and the cycle will begin anew.
Lady Ithere of Nabol has given birth to a baby boy: both mother and child are reported to be doing well, and Hedrein the Learned is said to be beside himself with delight. The new baby has been named Itherehed.
O'ail and Igen's Weyrleader Eo'rah are rumoured to have kept in close touch - though the two Weyrs have been close since the plague, it seems as though their their ideologies are coming closer into line. What this portends for High Reaches' future is hard to say, but it can only be good for women and chromatic riders, right?
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:15 pm
New Wingleadership Announcement
The second sevenday of second month of the fifth turn of the sixth Pass.
It is the day after an especially taxing Threadfall; O'ail has completed discussions with her wingleaders and is satisfied with their newly chosen wingseconds. In celebration of the new start she feels this represents she has invited all wingleaders and wingseconds to a private feast in her quarters the same evening. Next morning all of the wingseconds (even those who were wingseconds before) will receive new knots from O'ail in a brief public ceremony during which they will be expected to recite the Rider's Oath and sacrifice a lock of hair on a scented brazier dedicated to the five riders killed during the devastating most recent Threadfall.
The new leadership of High Reaches Weyr's wings is as follows:
1st wing Wingleader - I'ne of bronze Aphlektoth Wingsecond #1: Male brownrider. I'ne's former peer from 3rd1, she wouldn't be without his cool composure. He's like an interchangeably older/younger brother to her. Old hand. Wingsecond #2: Female brownrider. Young and daring; she has a charisma that draws people after her and is good at getting people to talk to her too, a woman of the people. Newly appointed.
2nd wing Wingleader - Ko'ren of bronze Morth Wingsecond #1: Z'fer of brown Calanoth [x]Newly appointed. Wingsecond #2: C'tis of blue Malcarreth. [x] Newly appointed.
Wing 3rd1 Wingleader: L'ssa of bronze Caldweth Wingsecond #1: Til`lene of Brown Pelgalath [x] Newly appointed. Wingsecond #2: [Decided IC, to be decided OOC by a separate contest! The time and nature of this contest will be at the discretion of AMItotic. More info to follow in due course.] Newly appointed.
Wing 3rd2 Wingleader: El'zor of brown Auditath Wingsecond #1: Male brownrider. Slightly older than El'zor, twitchy and sharper than a knife. Bad cop. Has been El'zor's wingsecond since El'zor's promotion. Old hand. Wingsecond #2: Genderfluid bluerider. Slightly younger than El'zor, chill and sharper than a knife. Good cop. Newly appointed.
Wing 4th1 Wingleader: V'on of bronze Relecorth Wingsecond #1: Male bronzerider. Stubborn and dour but diligent. Newly appointed. Wingsecond #2: Male bluerider. Whimsical and chatty, he's the sort of fellow people tend to feel able to trust, balances his strict fellow wingsecond and wingleader well. Old hand.
Wing 4th2 Wingleader: J'ian of blue Verath Wingsecond #1: A'ri of bronze Raynoth [x] Newly appointed. Wingsecond #2: Male greenrider. An older rider. Tired, seen it all, careful and considered. Newly appointed.
5th1 Wingleader: Y'in of brown Justicath Wingsecond #1: Female brownrider. Nerd, nerd, nerd, knives are fun and pretty, nerd. Newly appointed. Wingsecond #2: Female brownrider. Bookish and gregarious with a self-contained easy-going confidence. Newly appointed.
5th2 Wingleader: No'ko of brown Correlicath Wingsecond #1: Female bluerider. Maternal but tough, don't give her any s**t or you will live to regret it as you carry out inventive punishment duties. Old hand. Wingsecond #2: Male greenrider. Your buddy with the boss' ear. A peacemaker. Newly appointed.
5th3 Wingleader: Be'man of bronze Floreth Wingsecond #1: Male bronzerider. Very dry. Has a Mastery in raising his eyebrows. Old hand. Wingsecond #2: Female brownrider. Welcome to the scowl parade. Be'man no. Be'man stop it. No. Old hand.
Veterans Wingleader: Le'bon of brown Inuth Wingsecond #1: Male brownrider. In my day everything sucked more and we had to walk both ways up the hill to the Hold. Has a wealth of experience. Old hand. Wingsecond #2: Female bronzerider. She knows he only promoted her to placate O'ail. She is pissed but she'll keep the rank thanks. Young and full of fire but too badly injured to serve in the other wings. Newly appointed.
The same day as the new Wingseconds were announced Weyrleader O'ail and Headwoman On'ya received a letter addressed to both of them from Lord Holder Tharandir of High Reaches Hold, in which he extends (very) formal invitation to the wedding of his first daughter Sydi and Lord Holder Soterenen of Igen Hold. The letter states that all people of the Weyr are welcomed at the public celebration after the marriage, on the assumption that the Weyr will - as it has in the past - provide transport for other guests to the event.
The letter also includes personal invitations to guests of honour. These guests are welcomed to a more private (though still huge) event which will be held prior to the ceremony where there shall be dancing, fine food and fine wine. Those invited are: The Weyrleader, the Headwoman, all Wingleaders, and all gold riders of High Reaches Weyr. These individuals are also invited to witness the joyous event itself. Wingseconds and Mastercrafters of the Weyr (along with the aforementioned guests of honour) are welcomed to dine at a place of honour at the feast following the ceremony, alongside prominent Holders. On'ya has let it be known that she expects everyone who has received an invitation to attend aforementioned events on pain of her displeasure. They will all also be required to dress appropriately, also on pain of her displeasure which is well known to be considerable and unpleasant.
Gossip soon gets about that Lord Soterenen has invited all Igen Weyr's Wingseconds and Mastercrafters, as well as a few others, to the private event to which Tharandir has asked only the highest ranking of HR Weyr's riders. A difference in how the two holds view riders and Weyrs is quite clear.
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Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 12:50 pm
High Reaches Report #10
The second sevenday of fourth month of the fifth turn of the sixth Pass.
The eight weyrlings from Hiraeth's final clutch are now eighteen months old and are beginning to graduate. Yevalee and Vanavia were approached at table by Wingleader Y'in and (uncharacteristically) cordially offered a places in 5th1. Having spoken with the youngsters Y'in moved on to another pair of clutchmates; two of the time Weyrlings, Pagerell and Lamira. It was perhaps no great surprise that 5th1 took four weyrlings when so few were on offer to begin with, the wing suffered heavy losses a few Falls ago and if anything are still flying a little short.
That same evening El'zor approached Dianno, another of the time Weyrlings, and offered him a place amongst his riders. The rest of the Weyrlings have yet to be chosen by a wingleader though for most the offer probably won't be long coming, the wings are by and large sorely in need of bolstering though none are in as bad a state as 5th1 was. The fate of Peth and Zarike has not yet been decided, or at least if it has it hasn't been announced.
Within the next few days the weyrlings of Evmeth's most recent clutch will be taking their first solo flights, Weyrlingmaster B'tes is simply waiting for a day without the abominable wet and wild weather that has plagued High Reaches for the past sevenday.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:05 pm
High Reaches Report #11: Setting Sail
The second sevenday of sixth month of the fifth turn of the sixth Pass.
When it became clear that there was a long line of riders keen to make the historic journey south Weyrleader O'ail rather changed her stance, shifting from wary acquiescence to taking control of the mission. Headwoman On'ya is rumored to be somewhat displeased about this but as it is an external matter all she can really do is purse her lips.
If O'ail noticed her colleague's displeasure she didn't show it as she called the Weyr's riders together to announce who had been chosen to travel with the merchants, to be the first riders in a thousand turns to see the south. First named was Wingleader L'ssa of bronze Caldweth, who will be in command of and responsible for the riders on the trip over. Under L'ssa's command shall be:
Vanavia (sorry, I forgot your new honorific!) of blue Horteth. V'den of blue Suuyeth. Vosin of bronze Tiaeth. Ra'fe of bronze Banneth. Di'no of green Aioth. M'ere of green Tarazeth. Re'ka of brown Pycath.
It was no coincidence that so many of the riders chosen were timeriders; at a push two of their tiny dragons could rest on the deck of one of the three ships at a time, putting less pressure on the shifts they will have to fly during the journey. Some (unkind, possibly bitter) people have also muttered that the timeriders were chosen en mass because they can more easily be spared from their duties than proper 6th Pass riders. It was also of note to some that the 'one or two' riders had become eight, and there has been some speculation that - now O'ail has decided she likes the idea of High Reaches riders making some more history - she is determined to go the whole hog and possibly the whole herdbeast besides.
With announcements made O'ail met in private with the expedition team to make it extremely clear that they are expected to act as exemplars of the Weyr, and that if they cause any diplomatic incidents it will go very hard for them indeed. Ominous threats dispensed with she moved on to wish them luck and encourage them all to explore and discover what they can of the Islands. When they make landfall she expects one rider to report back to her with the coordinates but - ominous threats again - she added that if they shared them with anyone else there would be Big Trouble. Somehow, she said, she didn't think that it would go too well if the southern people suddenly found themselves inundated by curious riders and dragons.
A day after the announcement was made it was time for the expedition to leave.
The chosen riders met the trio of traders' ships at Tillek's docks and took wing as the ships set sail. It was to be an arduous journey, and one that would not soon be forgotten.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:21 am
High Reaches Report #12: We've struck gold!
Second sevenday of the seventh month of the fifth turn of the sixth Pass.
The Weyr is still in turmoil, the mysterious sickness has not abated and as yet nobody is sure how it came about though more or less everyone has their own pet theory by now. Headwoman On'ya has decreed that all drudges shall submit to a head inspection and have their heads shaved if they are found to harbor vermin, apparently she favours the theory that lice are spreading the sickness.
In the midst of all of this however there is a bright light, Sereth has clutched on time and produced a respectable twenty nine eggs. Amongst them is one larger than the rest with an unmistakably golden shell. Sereth is reported to be absolutely ecstatic and the clutch's young sire Regulith could not be prouder of his Queen and their offspring. As for the dragons' riders, goldrider Nersha appears to be enjoying the respite now her bondmate has settled down somewhat and L'mira has yet to stop beaming from ear to ear.
As was expected from the fourth pass pair the eggs are tiny by modern standards, a fact that some candidates are viewing with disappointment or disdain while others are positively thrilled at the idea of potentially bonding to a miniature dragon. As ever there are a few candidates with a hopeful eye on the golden egg regardless of its size but equally plenty of candidates view its presence with trepidation, Impressing a gold spells the end of a military career before it can even begin. The are two months or so yet to wait for the day of the Hatching but in the meantime perhaps the excitement of trying to sneak peaks at the clutch and the usual flurry of betting and speculation can distract folk a little from the oppressive air of worry pervading the Weyr.
Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 2:50 pm
High Reaches Report #13: Unrest in the Weyr
First sevenday of the ninth month of the fifth turn of the sixth Pass.
The Weyr is restless. The disaster with the candidates' camping trip and the uncertainty over what O'ail will ultimately do about equalizing pay between genders has some riders and handlers muttering that maybe she wasn't such a good choice for Weyrleader after all. Information leaked from O'ail's office - which may or may not be accurate - indicates that she had hoped to negotiate higher tithes from the Holds to cover the extra pay for women and as proof against the population growth everyone is still hoping for, but clearly this has not come to pass.
Population is of course is another problem; thanks to the plague (now near thirteen turns ago) High Reaches Weyr doesn't have as many riders as it ought to for a Pass and though numbers are slowly growing it isn't an easy task to recover from the loss of half the population. It is rumored that Wingleader Ko'ren wants to accept Ista Weyr's offer of a score and a half of dragons to form a new wing, but that O'ail believes this would give Ista an unhealthy influence within High Reaches.
Speaking of Ista, there are rumors flying that if O'ail cannot appease High Reaches Hold they will look to the overpopulated island Weyr to defend them from the Thread instead; the Weyr's many dragons aren't quite going hungry but there are really too many of them for Ista's current territories to support comfortably. This change of tithing would be an unprecedented move but apparently not illegal, all the law states is that a Weyr that receives satisfactory tithes from a Hold is sworn to protect it from the Thread. Should Lord Tharandir follow through on his (rumored) threat it could throw the whole of Pern into chaos.
With one thing piling on top of another there is an atmosphere about the halls of the Weyr and tensions are mounting between those who are dissatisfied with O'ail and those who continue to support her. There has already been a brawl in the dininghall which resulted in six riders - two of them from First Wing, the rest from Fourth Two - being detained in the holding cells overnight by the Special Investigators. Tensions are also running high between First Wing and Second Wing over what happened during the rescue of the candidates. It is highly embarrassing for I'ne that her wing was second on the scene and she makes no secret of the fact that she is unhappy about Ko'ren's order to kill all of the Holdless rather than taking prisoners for questioning, whilst Ko'ren counters that he was more concerned about the immediate safety of the candidates than hauling in prisoners to parade about. So far the bandits who were taken alive have revealed nothing at all, let alone anything of use.
One thing there is to look forward to is the upcoming clutch, due to hatch any day now. Its respectable size is a relief as is the presence of a golden egg, the promise of more clutches in turns to come. Venk - still looking strained and tired - is making final preparations with his senior candidates for the happy event. With all that has happened recently the Weyr hopes more than ever for a peaceful hatching, and all dragons to Impress safely.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 12:50 pm
High Reaches Report #14: Foreign Exchange?
Second sevenday of the ninth month of the fifth turn of the sixth Pass.
The hatching was over, nobody died, and High Reaches Weyr had a healthy new gold dragon among its ranks. The size of the new dragons has become a matter of some debate but overall the mood towards them seems to be positive; the riders of HR have had time to observe the advantages of having a few miniature dragons among them thanks to the time riders, a few more is certainly no bad thing.
Preparations for the hatching feast are now well underway; tables are being moved out into the Weyrbowl, beasts are roasting over freshly dug firepits, and the kitchens are a scene of even greater organized chaos than usual. O'ail sent word to the attaché party in the Southern Islands and extended an invitation to the hatching feast to the islands' dignitaries. It is expected that most of the riders who are currently out there will attend the feast too and, in addition to ferrying the important islanders, they have been given permission to bring a couple of guests of their own if they wish.
On the subject of the Islands, there is now an established between point near where the riders have been staying. At present only ranking riders are permitted to travel there - and the between point hasn't been shared with anyone else - but O'ail has let it be known that at the hatching feast she will seek the island leaders' blessing to allow any rider to come and visit their lands in their free time. Perhaps in return High Reaches may find itself hosting some island visitors? Only time will tell!
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[[ And with that Islander characters are open for creation! Please be sure to read up on them before you make one and remember that if they come to the Weyr there will be a language barrier to overcome! They may already have been picking up some of the northern tongue from the visiting riders but they should not arrive fluent.
As firelizards are much more common on the southern islands we are also allowing every player to create one islander character complete with a pet flitt. You can either give them a chromatic colour of your choice or ask us to roll a dice in your character creation thread to see what you get: 1-50 = green. 50-79 = blue. 80-94 = brown. 95-99 = bronze. 100 = gold. You can pay to 'tweak the flitt dice' in the marks shop for this flitt if you want, but this cannot be used to get the 1% chance of a gold.]]
