Compared to Ista, Igen has a very traditional power structure, and plenty of bronzeriders to take the lead. They wouldn't be caught dead with a brown Wingleader. Compared to Ista they do have a larger bronzerider population, but not a disproportionately larger one. The typical colour ratio still applies.
What you do have is a more bronze-dominated society, and a more male-dominated one. The majority of the candidates will be male, with the intention of Impressing everything save the gold. Much like in the books, female candidates are Searched or stand with the intention of becoming queenriders. Unlike Ista where female candidates may be Searched and stand to Impress virtually any colour, at Igen, female candidates expect to Impress the gold or go home empty handed. If they Impress a green, it is considered almost like a second choice. It happens, as the dragons make the choice, but it is not something considered common place. Female blueriders are even rarer, and they may not be viewed with the same forgiving eye as female greenriders, because a female bluerider has theoretically "stolen" a male dragon away from a male rider.
At Igen, the colour of your dragon is essential. It decides your place in the Weyr and what kinds of opportunities you will have open to you. Bronzeriders are the only riders allowed to hold high-ranking positions. These positions include: Weyrleader, Weyrsecond, Wingleader, Candidatemaster, and Weyrlingmaster. They may also be Wingseconds. Brownriders have a little bit more opportunity, and may advance as far as Wingsecond or Assistant Weyrlingmaster. Blues and greens rarely are able to attain a rank higher than Wingrider. Some blues may be chosen as Searchriders, as well as some greens, but the preference will typically be towards male riders of both colours.
There is a fine line between preferences and prejudices. Some riders may not mind having female riders in their wing, while others may consider them to be the queenriders who just weren't good enough. It is up to you to decide how your character feels about having female riders around. It can be anything from ignoring them to open dislike. The system, however, is designed to favour male riders.
THE BRONZERIDER FAMILY SYSTEM
- How long as this system existed?
The system was born hundreds of Turns ago, and because it has worked so efficiently, it has stuck. Essentially, nobody should have a character that remembers "the good old days" when everyone could do as they pleased. This system has been around for a long, long time.
NOTE: There are riders who are not part of a family! This may be by choice or simply because they never got a chance to get in with one. They may side with a family but they are not related to a family at all, by blood or marriage. They are the proverbial pawns. Bronzerider families will typically try to win members of this group over to their side and convince them to ally with the family.
- What constitutes a bronzerider family?
An immediate bronzerider family consists of one single bronzerider, his chosen consort/weyrmate and their children of both genders. If the bronzerider has siblings or cousins and they support the bronzerider in his rise to power and agree to ally with him, then they too become part of the family, along with their children. So, essentially, an entire bronzerider family can consist of a father, mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and siblings.
New bronzerider families are formed when a candidate (generally from outside the Weyr or not already part of a family) Impresses a bronze and starts his own lines. Then his family, children, wife, etc will be considered part of his family.
A bronzerider family may also include sons and daughters produced out of wedlock by a bronzerider, provided that he accepts them as his own. Their mother is considered a supporter of the bronzerider.
Sons of a bronzerider that Impress a bronze themselves may choose to begin their own family if they wish, a sort of subset of a bigger family. They will typically remain allied to their father's family, but they do not have to be. They may make or break their own alliances once their bronze is mature.
- How is power passed down?
Let's say that bronzerider A'bc is a Wingleader. In his wing is his son, D'ef (also a bronzerider). If A'bc was to retire, the Wingleader position would go to his son, D'ef. However, if he does not have a son, then it would go to his closest bronze-riding relative. A'bc's brother would take his position, and if he didn't have a brother than A'bc's nephew would take the position, and after that his male cousins, and after that the bronzeriders that have married his daughters, and their sons, and if nobody blood-related to A'bc can take over then there's an open space.
This is when other bronzerider families not related to A'bc will move in for the kill. They will attempt to take this position over and claim it as their own, inserting one of their family members into that position, and start the whole process over again.
- What happens if a son of a bronzerider doesn't Impress a bronze?
His opportunities would be the same as every other dragonrider who Impressed the colour he did. For example, let's say A'bc's other son, G'hi Impresses a blue. He doesn't get much of a choice where he goes, but he will typically be placed in a wing that has other members of his family in it. Not every son of a bronzerider Impresses a bronze. There just aren't enough bronze dragons to go around. So, instead, those riders from a bronzerider family remain a part of their family, and are consequently looked out for. If A'bc is Wingleader, than any of the candidates from his family will typically go to his wing, or to a wing of one of his family's allies. Most families will not just shun a boy because he doesn't have a bronze. They may, however, fawn over sons who do Impress a bronze, and in extreme cases, shun a boy who does not Impress at all. No Impression is worse than Impressing a chromatic dragon.
- What happens to females in a bronzerider family?
Females in a bronzerider family may choose to stand for Impression, but it is not required of them. They generally marry or have the children of other riders, and hopefully pass on their blood to produce sons who will become bronzeriders. For those who Impress Queens they become a category of their own, and typically spend time with all the other queenriders while the bronze families fight for control.
If a female from a bronzerider family Impresses a green, how she is treated will depend on her family. Some families will ostracize her, some may accept her, some may refuse to allow her in their wings, some may consider it an accomplishment and help her into a position of power (i.e. Searchrider).
- Well, what about those kids who aren't from bronzerider families?
This is where the gang system comes in.
Let us say there are three kinds of people: those Weyrbrats who can claim they're from a bronzerider family (Group A), those Weyrbrats who can't (Group B), and the candidates who were Searched from outside the Weyr (Group C).
Group A – You are the ideal candidates for factions like Rising Sun and Sandstorm. Your family is already in power, and if it isn't now, it will be shortly. You join factions like RS and SS because you know that your family is allied with their family. Even if you don't Impress a bronze, you know that being with this in-crowd will guarantee you a spot in a good wing and somebody that has got your interests at heart. Your family is watching out for you, so you've got everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Group B – Your parents were riders... probably. Who really knows? For whatever reason, you've got no family even though you were born in the Weyr. Maybe your bronzerider father didn't claim you, or maybe your bluerider father originated in Group C and so wasn't part of a family. Regardless, you have three choices: One, you can try to get in with the bronzerider families by joining factions like RS and SS. Just because your parents weren't in the elite circle doesn't mean you can't be. Two, you can join factions like Flying Wherries. You don't want anything to do with the existing bronzerider families. You want to start your own! You'll be the first to prove that anyone's got a shot at the top, and you'll be quite happy to wipe the smirk off their faces when you become Weyrleader. And if it's not you, it's someone from your gang, and when they do it, you know they'll make sure you get in on the power. Or, three, you stay neutral or become Shunned.
Group C – You poor, poor candidates. You were Searched from Crafthall or Hold and now you live in the middle of a desert Weyr filled with politics. You are now forced to either join a gang or become one of the Shunned. You have a chance to get in with the current power by joining RS. You also have a chance at the upcoming powers by joining SS or FW. Or could just hang out in neutral zone until opportunity strikes. Perhaps you will be the next head of a bronzerider family.
SOCIAL RANKING
In order of importance
Weyrwoman
Jr. Weyrwomen
Weyrling Golds
Ranking Bronzeriders:
Weyrleader
Weyrsecond
Candidatemaster
Weyrlingmaster
Wingleaders
(Wingseconds)
Unranked Bronzeriders
Brownrider Wingseconds
Brownriders
Bluerider Searchriders
Blueriders
Greenrider Searchriders
Greenriders
Female Greenriders (traditionally)
Female Blueriders
Weyrlings
Rising Sun Leaders
Rising Sun Gang Members
Sandstorm Leaders
Sandstorm Gang Members
Flying Wherries Leaders
Flying Wherries Gang Members
Minor Gang Leaders
Minor Gang Members
Neutral Candidates
The Shunned
SEXUALITY RELATING TO IGEN
A touchy subject on Igen, the view is that everyone is straight until proven otherwise. Being gay is a huge disadvantage for a candidate, as it stands between them and Impressing a metallic. No metallic, no power. With boys, being bisexual is not as big as deal (they could still Impress a brown) but for girls even looking at other girls the wrong way would be a horrible scandal. Typically, those who are gay do not admit to the fact, whether to protect their own safety or to convince themselves that they're not.
Have more questions? Feel free to ask in thread or contact the RP staff!
