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Junior Weyrleader Application
Name: N’ash
Dragon/Colour: Netunnuth Crimson
Age: 31/10

What is your motto or tagline?

“The growth of hearth and home.” Really, I have never actually thought about needing a motto or tagline. But, family is important to me and my family has made Trine their home, so the growth of the Weyr and the relationships between not only the holds but others Weyrs is important.

What are your political priorities?

At the moment? Smoothing over the transition of color equality, the stragglers from Keller’s war, the merging of Euclid, the rogues, there are a lot of priorities that need to be addressed before plotting things like reforming Education and getting Trine on the map for trade.

Under whom would you prefer to serve?

I really don’t have a preference. I serve who ever needs me.

Why are you pursuing this position?

I impressed crimson Netunnuth and had my life options narrowed down into rather narrow fields and why should I not take a chance of the full color equality and attempt to achieve a position once only obtainable to Metallic riders?

What makes you qualified?

Caravans, I spent 19 years wandering the known world and corralling my younger siblings and learning medicine.

I am determined to do what is best for Trine and all its residents, I am skilled at multitasking and organization, have focus and drive to prove that any color and rider can obtain any rank if they are skilled.

Given the tumultuous history of Pern over the last few decades, what do you think the greatest lesson learned is?

How can I choose just one? Perhaps it truly has to be that unrest will be exploited if it is not handled. Certainly Keller managed to twist things to his benefit for turns. We are not finished with the tumultuous history yet. Hopefully in the next five turn we will have smoothed out the trouble with the rogue queens and truly stand at full equality for all. I’m probably too optimistic on the time line for this, but we will see.

How will you support and grow the current initiatives the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman are championing (colour equality & Rogue Hunters)?

As for color equality, I ride crimson, merely achieving this position would be a great support to the initiative and proving that I’m worthy of it by skill alone instead of the color of my dragon’s hide. I am planning to do my very best to show that I am worthy and prove that all colors are equal.

For the Rogue Hunters? We need to start involving everyone, certainly a reward program for holders that bring information to us wouldn’t go amiss if it pans out and leads to a camp or capture of a Rogue or even holds helping the Rogue queens. Another way might be an initiative to separate us from the Rogues, perhaps uniforms in Trine’s colors might allow visual cues of friendly verse non friendly dragon.

What suggestions/ides do you have to make Trine better?
A mentoring program for the candidates might not go amiss, in allowing them to spend a few hours a week with a volunteered rider, they could learn hands on important things before they impress. Perhaps rotate them through the ranks? Have a warden talk to them about their duties, perhaps let them accompany a courier on a letter drop. Get them out there and thinking about what they want to do and how they want to get there.

Also excluding medical personal from thread falls no matter what color they ride could be rather beneficial in the long run. Thread is deadly, and we need any and all train medical staff focusing on patching dragons and riders that come in from the fall. Involving the candidates in fetching material for the medics could truly educate them into the dangers of thread fall and why no matter the color you ride that all are injured the same.

Bronze, Queen, Green, Crimson, they all get injured the same.


Provide your answer to these situations:

1) You are at a summit meeting of all the Weyrs of Pern as a representative of Trine. The topic currently being debated is what to do about the Rogue queens and the gathering of criminals they seem to be collecting. Reports of increasing crime along the roads and at sea makes this an urgent focus of the Weyrs. The debate gets heated quickly, some suggesting the Rogue Queens be killed on sight while others demand their riders be brought to justice before the Weyrs. Do you remain silent throughout the debate or do you lend your voice to one of the popular opinions? Or, do you have an alternative in mind? Do you demand to be heard or do you confirm your thoughts with your superior first?

Well, my opinion of this is not to kill them, I think we had enough death and when have we got desperate enough to talk about slaughtering any dragon?
Netunnuth has thoughts about these people but she is much too polite to voice them.

Do you know how hard it is not to snark at this?

But, hmmm. I certainly would have Netunnuth relay my thoughts to the weyrleader or weyrmistress or both if they are there or at least get permission before speaking.

Killing the queens are wasteful not to mention an abuse of power, should we follow Keller’s lead and poison them when they are gravid and steal their clutches? Dragons are large and powerful and have needs that need to be addressed. Food for one, and queens are going to need places to lay their eggs that are dry and hot.

Let’s get the holders and everyone else involved and start witling opportunities for them to raid the roads and can we not forgive the wher handlers and start giving them jobs to protect the roadways? Really, we are heading towards another Keller by casting all of them in a bad light because one rose from the masses angry at how the world was run.

Though I would wait for permission to speak, for I'm certain that last part would not be the most well accepted answer. If the Weyrleader or Mistress chose to speak for me, well at least it is getting heard.

2) Another Weyr has come to Trine claiming that it is harbouring known criminals and vestiges of Keller's Revolutionaries, and they want them turned over. However, they provide no proof as to the guilt of these individuals but simply turning them away will sour a political relationship required to improve trade supplies to Trine's growing population. How do you handle the delegate's claims?

Do I have the right to demand criminals from their Weyrs to be tried at Trine? I certainly can point fingers and claim that someone has done some terrible act without proof. If I was a toddler having a tantrum… sorry, sorry, just ugh. I hate dimglows, I really do and this has to be the most insane claim of date.

But, truly, I would offer them to have a talk in private and serve some tea or klah to sooth nerves and have a discussion that ‘If they do not have names or eyewitnesses to these crimes then I cannot merely hand them over. Certainly they would not appreciate Trine demanding criminals from their Weyr to be handed over for trial without any sort of proof of the suppose wrongdoings in question. Also since Trine was the worst hit by Keller’s Revolutionaries doesn’t that put Trine’s leaders in the most unique position to hand out justice?’

I think I would leave out that I don’t recall their Weyr offering to help with the Revolutionaries until Sharath’s death.

Junior Weyrleader/Weyrwoman Application
Name: Nawa
Dragon/Colour: Black Rioth
Age: 34/15

What is your motto or tagline?
If you can't say something nice, find a better way to say it and no one will ever know the difference.

What are your political priorities?
We have a chance to learn from our mistakes and make the Weyrs - and Pern as a whole - better than before, but to do that, we need to differentiate between learning from the past and living in it. We existed in chaos for too long, where shades of gray and crossing fine lines became acceptable, and if we are to survive without falling back into anarchy, we need to re-civilize ourselves. Old hatreds must be set aside, rogue elements brought to heel, and unity sought and achieved, or we will tear ourselves apart all over again.

Under whom would you prefer to serve?
I respect both Weyrwoman L'anen and Weyrleader D'dita, but I feel that I could learn more from the Weyrwoman and better serve her needs.

Why are you pursuing this position?
There has been too much focus on revenge and punishment, and to some extent, on not allowing the past to be repeated. While preventing the rise of another tyrant is certainly of great importance, we should be focusing to what we do want the future to look like, not what we don't. I want to bring that viewpoint forward.

What makes you qualified?
I have served Trine faithfully for fifteen turns, during which time Rioth and I have flown in one wing only, the one that we pledged ourselves to when we graduated, the Gale Stalkers. We are loyal, dedicated, and honorable, and have never shirked our duty or involved ourselves in drama or petty altercations. We are tactful and discreet, and treat everyone equally and with respect regardless of their rank or origin.

Given the tumultuous history of Pern over the last few decades, what do you think the greatest lesson learned is?
There is more to Pern than dragons and their riders. It is our duty to defend it from Thread, and many die performing that duty, but ours are not the only lives and voices that matter. Perhaps, if we had been more willing to listen, more open to change, a Revolution would not have been necessary. Keller was a tyrant, true, but he could never have succeeded if his cause hadn't resonated with all those who felt forgotten and taken for granted. All Weyrfolk are vital to the Weyr, regardless of what their bonded looks like or if they have a bonded at all, and together we serve Pern and its people, not our own ends.

How will you support and grow the current initiatives the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman are championing (colour equality & Rogue Hunters)?
The cause of color equality is well underway, with all positions open to and filled by dragons of all colors, but as with all new things, there is a period of adjustment while 'new' becomes 'normal,' and the situation should be carefully monitored to ensure that the process is as smooth as possible. There are sure to be difficulties ahead, and they need to be watched for- and planned for, as much as is possible. If the system seems weak or flawed - or if those at the heart of it do - detractors will try to exploit that perceived weakness to tear it down. We are in a tenuous position, and we would do well to remember that.

As for the Rogue Hunters, their necessity is unfortunate but undeniable. We must handle the matter of the Rogue Queens firmly, but avoid falling into or causing yet another war if at all possible. They cannot be allowed to exist unchecked, of course, and we should look to weaken them by dismantling their pirate rings and cutting off their supplies. We should work to form stronger alliances with Traders, protect those who are being victimized and try to bring those who are working willingly with the Rogues to our side. They are likely more loyal to profit than they are to the cause of the Rogues, and perhaps with the right incentive they could be persuaded to work with us instead.

What suggestions/ideas do you have to make Trine better?
We must promote unity where ever possible, both with other Weyrs through events such as Dragon Games and elsewhere. We need to strengthen our relationships with the Holds who tithe to us, to extend not just protection in exchange for goods, but friendship. Within the Weyr, we must be careful to be inclusive of all groups, rather than marginalize them. We can all benefit from and strengthen one another, but to accomplish that, we need to work as one, whether we are dragonriders, wherhandlers, crafters, anyone! It worries me to see our wherhandlers so doubted because of the actions of one madman and his cult; not all wherhandlers followed Keller, and we should not those who didn't because of those who did. No few of the dragonriders who call Trine home came from the Wherholds, and over time they have been accepted well enough, while handlers are viewed with suspicion regardless of which side they were on. Anyone we treat poorly, we give reason to turn against us.

Any activities that bring us together as a community would help, whether they be purely recreational like a Gather, building new weyrs or other structures, or gathering supplies. Cooperation and shared exertion go a long way toward fostering understanding and new bonds. We're not so different at the end of a long day and in sore need of a bath!

Provide your answer to these situations:
1) You are at a summit meeting of all the Weyrs of Pern as a representative of Trine. The topic currently being debated is what to do about the Rogue queens and the gathering of criminals they seem to be collecting. Reports of increasing crime along the roads and at sea makes this an urgent focus of the Weyrs. The debate gets heated quickly, some suggesting the Rogue Queens be killed on sight while others demand their riders be brought to justice before the Weyrs. Do you remain silent throughout the debate or do you lend your voice to one of the popular opinions? Or, do you have an alternative in mind? Do you demand to be heard or do you confirm your thoughts with your superior first?
I would discuss my thoughts with my superior first, of course! She is my superior for a reason, and I would not want to speak over her or cause a scene. Presuming she gave me leave to offer my opinion, it would be this: extreme measures are unwise. If we kill the Rogue Queens, are we any better than the tyrant we have only just freed ourselves from? Such force is not the answer, but a dangerous crutch, and one that we must avoid. "Bringing them to justice" is a slippery slope, as well. Are we bringing them to justice simply for daring to disagree, or for specific crimes? If they are individuals who have done harm, by all means, find them and try them, but do so fairly. It would be better, if the offenses are not grievous, to reform them and integrate them back into the Weyrs. This is a Pass, and we need every able dragon fighting Thread as they were born to do, or if they are a breeder, producing more dragons.

2) Another Weyr has come to Trine claiming that it is harbouring known criminals and vestiges of Keller's Revolutionaries, and they want them turned over. However, they provide no proof as to the guilt of these individuals but simply turning them away will sour a political relationship required to improve trade supplies to Trine's growing population. How do you handle the delegate's claims?
Yes, it is entirely possible that former Revolutionaries have settled at Trine, but one might argue everyone at Trine is revolutionary. We - along with the other Weyrs - have chosen to relegate old traditions to the past and embrace a new system of equality: the very ideal on which Keller's Revolution was built. He was cruel and corrupt, and it tainted his cause from the start, but the ideal was there. That ideal is ours now, that each will be judged by their own ability and actions and nothing else, and rise to whatever height they earn through their own merit. The past is the past, and it should stay that way. This is our new beginning, our new second chance, and we are all revolutionary now.

I understand your desire for closure, a desire I can assure you we all share, but no one, regardless of what they may have done, deserves to be judged without trial. If you have proof of wrongdoing, by all means, present it to me, and I will personally deliver it into the hands of my superior, but the accused will not leave Trine. They will be judged here, and fairly. It will not be allowed to turn into a hunt for blood - we've all seen more than enough to fill five lifetimes. Keller is dead. The time for revenge has passed. It is long past time we stopped reopening the wound and let ourselves heal.

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