Because we have discovered a number of contradictions in the nature and ability of watchwhers, even in say, a single book, we've been forced to come up with our own field guide to whers, if only to provide a rough cannon for them for the shop.

Watchwhers are a cousin species to dragons, and do come in the same colors as flits. They’re something of a middle ground between the two; less intelligent, and far less attractive than a dragon, they are also not designed to take wing, and cannot take a passenger.

Watchwhers are NOT telepathic. At all. They are empathic like flits, but can develop a ‘library’ of sounds between them and their handler, to warn people of what they are aware of but others are not. This is usually used in conjunction with their use in the mines, since they are sensitive to bad air, and see heat.

Watchwher’s vision, and part of the reason they are nocturnal is that they see in infrared. This is another reason watchwhers are incapable of taking a human passenger between, especially so to someplace they have never been, because there IS. NO. VISUAL TRANSLATION between the way a human sees and the way the Watchwher sees.

Watchwhers can Impress, but they do not need to, although for the safety of all involved, hatchling whers that do not Impress are usually killed. They grow at a fast rate and are exceedingly strong, not exceedingly bright, and very dangerous. This dangerous reputation is perhaps underscored by the fact that they prefer to Impress by tasting blood. They can choose to re-Impress if their handler dies, though they may also choose to go without, and do not suiside as an dragon would if it lost it’s rider.

Watchwhers also always take a name based on their handler, or handlers, the length of which is partially related to the bond.
If it’s a normal bond: The name would be “Seryes and Sesk.” A slightly closer bond would be “Seryes and Sersk.”, with the highest level, and the one seen the absolute least, would be Seryes and Seryessk.
Because they can also Impress groups, they may also take a hold name instead of a persons name. Say, Benden Weyr and “Bendensk”.

Habitat: Weyrs have no need for watchwhers, though some Holds use them for watch dog duty at night, and mines use them also. They are looked down on, however, as a sort of low intelligence, ugly watch-dog breed, and it would be exceedingly unusual to celebrate their existence in anything like the fashion in which dragons are celebrated.

Physiology: Aside from their ugly, over muscled build and small wings, WatchWhers have two toes instead of a dragon’s five, and much thicker skin. They are well suited to the cold, and their skin does not crack like a dragon’s, a trait useful in a workhorse breed.

Bonding and you:
Because these creatures are uncommon and not well liked, the number of Wher handler characters will be monitored, and you may be asked to change your connection with them. They are not intended to be a free, sans art replacement to the dragon, and will play a very small role at best in the shop.