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Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
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 Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:43 am
Where? The sands near the shore of Ghenza.
When? The time is early morning; everyone has just woken up and was starting their daily routine when the dragons began humming.
Who is allowed on the sands? High Reaches transfers are not allowed on the sands, but are permitted to gather around the people from Ghenza.
Adult dragons are not allowed on the sands.
People from other Weyrs who are not part of the HR transfers should not be in Ghenza period, thus will not be able to observe this hatching.
Gold: Sajyeth is behind the clutch, closest to the waters; Nalina is beside her.
Eggs: There are 14 eggs, mostly plain looking ones of various sizes huddled together.
Gold Speckled Egg - A golden egg with small brown spots on the shell. This is obviously a gold.
Brown Spot Egg - An ugly egg in the right corner with a light brown shell containing a dark brown spot near the top. It is leaning on both the Blue Star Egg and Shaking Egg. The size of an average bronze, brown or large blue. Bronze Bajenth - Impressed to Shen
Blue Star Egg - Next to the Shaking Egg and being practically sat on by the Brown Spot Egg. It is mostly white with blue markings that resemble stars. Likely a blue or green. Blue Rayth - Impressed to Belhec
Shaking Egg - A small egg, no doubt a green (or the first blue this small in Ghenza history), named for it's quivering. There is an uneasy feeling around it. Green Jenith - Impressed to Rinee
Guardian Egg - An egg in front of the others, turned around as if watching over them. It has a dark blue shell with lighter blue stripes. Likely bronze, brown or blue. Brown Bisoitcoth - Impressed to Rasken
Blazing Egg - An egg sitting contently off the left of the queen's egg, colored like fire. Likely a bronze, brown or blue. Bronze Tialzieth - Impressed to Hivex
Hissing Egg - A dark blue egg with no pattern just a bit out of reach of the others to the left. Probably a blue or green, it's name comes from the low hissing heard when anyone nears it. Blue Varianth - Impressed to Ramsey
Light Green Egg - No doubt a green dragon, this plain green egg seems to be butting heads with the Dark Green Egg. Green Lateth - Went between.
Dark Green Egg - No doubt a green dragon, this plain green egg seems to be butting heads with the Light Green Egg. Green Laseth - Impressed to Laelin
Hidden Egg - Most certainly a bronze, this large egg covered in brown and gold splotches is nestled behind his queen. Bronze Wilth - Impressed to Panata
Split Egg - An egg that is half-purple, half-orange, and likely contains a bronze or brown. Brown Dith - Impressed to Fealty
Panda Egg - This black and white egg has markings similar to that of a panda and probably contains a blue or green. Green ??? - Went between.
Wayward Egg - Pronounced dead, this egg has been pushed away from the clutch by Sajyeth. It is solid orange, an ugly shade of it, and probably contained a blue or green.
Candy Cane Egg- A red and white stripped egg probably containing a green. Green ??? - Went between.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:19 am
Shen was not the first of the Ghenzan's to arrive on the sands by a long shot. He'd actually been torn about standing for this particular clutch. He'd stood before of course, but it'd been awhile since the last time he'd joined the circle of Ghenzan candidates. Shards, everyone knew he wasn't going to be trusted with a dragon! Just imagine the ways he'd screw it up.
But his brother was busy. His brother was busy being blissfully handfasted and his father was too busy to even attend the hatching and frankly, Shen's arms were so sore from the stone they'd hauled the day before. What he needed was to not cut stone for awhile. It wasn't a particularly impressive quarry anyway. He had a gut feeling the stone would show itself to be weaker than first estimates indicated. It wasn't that he wanted to shirk work. Just... if he could delay being disappointing until after the eggs hatched, well, that'd be sort of nice, wouldn't it?
So he shuffled onto the sands joining the other Ghenzans looking a little uncomfortable at the knots of outsiders who were gathering outside their circle. He smiled at the others, though none were close friends of his, he of course knew most their names. Quickly giving his respects to the queen, he turned his eyes to the eggs, ready to watch the little ones hatch and jump out of the way as necessary. It was fun, seeing them impress. It always made him smile.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:28 am
Belhec yawned and stretched. His back hurt. His hands hurt. His head sort of hurt, but that was probably on account of entirely too much thinking last night. All these aches and hurts, however, paled in comparison to the notion that today was another day and as much as he dreaded the kitchen (and the awful place probably dreaded him just as much), it was another day, and maybe today would be the day he finally baked a loaf of edible bread. (And what a day that would be!) What was more likely, however, would be for Belhec to spend another forever or so at the dishwashing station, up to his elbows in murky water and filthy dishes as he supervised the youngest of the dishwashers.
It took the baker perhaps a moment too long to notice the humming dragons. Monotony was so very easy to get used to. He was already dressed and in the kitchens, working on the dishes produced from breakfast production when he heard the hum. Belhec stopped and glanced around, wondering briefly if he was going crazy before his common sense finally kicked in and he realized the eggs were hatching. Shardit, the eggs were hatching!
Sent into a frenzy of motion, the blond ushered any of his dishwashers of age (his sister included!) off to the eggs with cries of good luck and pats on the head. Only once he was certain he’d managed to shoo them all out of the kitchen did Belhec head to the shores himself. He’d been standing the last five Turns, but the excitement never really wore off. It was a bit strange to see Outsiders here this time, the baker though as he paid his respects to the gold dragon, but hopefully it wouldn’t put a damper on the mood.
Taking his place with the other candidates, Belhec found himself next to Shen, and mason about his age (and about as good at his craft as Bel was his). Offering a small smile as he brushed his bangs back behind his bandanna, he greeted his fellow Ghenzan with a whisper. “Good morning. Nice day for a hatching, huh?”
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:53 am
Isandra had been in the middle of getting dressed when the dragons began to hum. Early mornings rarely required anything of her. She’d spend time with her father, if he had a task for her day, she’d be assigned and if not, she’d be let off to work on her songs and her information gathering. Not being a morning person was never really a problem for the young woman; her parents both knew by now than to trifle with the daughter before the sleep had worn away from his mind and her eyes.
Of course, dragons made no consideration for anyone, fabulous Harper or otherwise.
Muttering about the nerve and audacity of such early morning events, Isandra yawned mightily and pulled her wavy black hair back into a bun, leaving her trademark strand down by her cheek. She took the time to make sure she was still looking fine; early morning hatching or not, the Harper would not be caught not looking her finest. She’d been standing for quite some time now, and there was just a good a chance she had no dragon in this clutch as there was a dragon for her in this clutch. If there was not, she would be expected to help provide some sort of entertainment later. That was her job, after all, and she wasn’t going to be about with the good Ghenzan folk looking like she just rolled out of bed. Honestly, she was raised better than that!
It seemed quite a few of the locals had gathered by the time Isandra made it to the eggs. Honoring the Queen with a lavish bow, Isandra took her customary place, nodding a greeting to those she recognized. And then, of course, there were those outsiders watching, but she had best not think about those, lest her distemper upset the baby dragons. She could just write a nasty little song about them later, or something. Ah, yes, the power of written word.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:20 am
Jericho had just been gathering his nets and other various fishing gear when he heard the humming begin. He exited the storage room where he and his host family kept their craft gear in time to see them all leaving the house. He wasn't the least bit surprised that neither of the parents had stopped to tell him, but he did smile slightly when their young son paused in the doorway and waved for him to follow, smiling shyly. He was a good boy, Jericho had found, and being so young, he was not a closed minded as his parents.
Jericho set aside his things and followed the sound of humming to the sands where Sajyeth had laid her clutch, meeting more and more people as he got closer. He saw a few candidates rush by him and smiled wistfully. He had been rather pointedly told that as a mere transfer, he would not be allowed on the sands. Still, even if he stood no chance of impressing, Jericho had never been to a hatching before, so he wasn't about to miss out on one now that the opportunity presented itself.
Thanks to his long stride, the tall man was one of the first to the sands, and secured himself a good place to watch the hatching, bright blue eyes taking in the eggs, making his personal guesses as to what egg would produce what color of dragon.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:39 am
Hivex had already been up for a few candlemarks when the dragons began humming and had been rather curious about the sudden interruption. In his stay at the strange, but not unpleasant Weyr, the young farmer had taken to rising earlier than normal so as to maintain that quiet morning buffer that was so important to him. He didn’t mind the work, not at all, but the hustle and bustle and closeness that contrasted with the ‘outsider’ attitude towards he and his peers was offputting. Granted, he’d not had as much trouble as some of the others – work, and hard work at that, was no new thing to him and he’s taken to the chores like a duck to water.
He’d even managed to make a few friends so when the dragons began humming, he decided to go watch and root for the few Ghenza people he knew (and cared) about. He’d transferred with the Weyrlings both to escape the plague and to learn of the new weyr – something he’d never even heard of before. How could such a place not have rumours whispered? It was an opportunity to document this adventure that he had been loath to miss.
It was quite the surprised, however, when he followed the others and found himself on the beach near the river. That the queen would lay her clutch so close to the body of water concerned the young man but he shrugged, marking it off as another peculiarity native to Ghenza. At least she was standing between the eggs and the water, probably to prevent any wayward hatchlings from inadvertently drowning.
Spotting Jericho, Hivex came alongside the other transfer and brushed off the pointed remarks that he was not allowed on the Sands. He knew that, thanks, don’t worry. Offering a nod of greeting, he settled in to watch with arms crossed and back straight. Hatchings were nothing new to him but Hatchings at Ghenza were, so along with his few colleagues among the ‘Candidates’ he was interested in the process. Did the dragons Impress any differently here?
It was bound to be an intriguing experience at the very least.
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Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:08 am
The dragon within the Panda Egg was the first to free herself. The green toppled out recklessly onto the sands, spiraling out of control from the very second she made her way into the world. In a complete frenzy she fled from one spot to the next.
Most of the candidates on the sands did as they'd been taught, as was in their blood, and either stood steady or calmly moved out of the way. They had the heart of Ghenza, and that heart could be solid rock if it needed to. But there were those that did not handle the chaos so well and instead gave into fear, screaming and scrambling to get away.
Three girls toppled into each other in a mess of flying limbs trying to escape, and simply being in the wrong spot at the wrong time--the time when the green chose to assume Hers may be on the other side of them--cost one their life and the others a number of painful wounds.
The green screeched loudly and hopped, hopped, hopped, then was gone between forever.
From the sidelines Sajyeth roared loud enough to shake what felt like Pern itself. The High Reaches transfers could have assumed this was due to mourning the loss of her kin. After all, Dorath surely would have spared some emotion to such a thing.
Sajyeth, on the other hand, cried out only to quiet those who were bothering her. SILENCE!
"Move away from the body," Nalina instructed the living tonelessly. The candidates were then shuffled to the side, leaving the injured to pick themselves back up and find aid on their own, and the corpse to lay still for now as a reminder of what happens to the weak-willed. At least, that's what she was thinking.
When things had settled, the Blue Star Egg cracked. Slowly, but surely, the shell fell to the ground, revealing the much calmer blue. Hopefully, this one would find His somewhere.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:38 am
Without warning, the Blazing Egg shattered, and the bronze inside shook himself free of any remaining pieces. Stretched out on the ground, he looked over the crowd. His eyes ceased all movement, and if dragons could look surprised, Tialzieth certainly did! Hivex! Your Tialzieth can not see you! What are you doing so far away? Come get yours and let us eat!
The elder riders waiting in the wings ready to feed the new dragonets the traditional herbal mix were not pleased with this match up, but fed the bronze as if he were their own.
This Impress meant, to most of them, he was no longer 'their own'.
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Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:41 am
Well... that was depressing. He did not say anything bu the quirk of his lips spoke volumes of disapproval. There was a dud egg, apparently, and the first dragon to hatch and screamed into oblivion. Was this all Ghenza could offer its dragons?
Sojayeth's response didn't help to dispell that notion, either. Howling at the crowd so that it would lapse into silence. Wonderful, doting mother. He knew golds did not remain attached to their broods for very long but... the tone of her mental blast seemed to indicate more annoyance then mourning.
He sighed, and again more heavily when the body was left. That was disrespectful... It shook his head, casting his gaze back to the egg that was currently hatching. Ghenza, o Ghenza, how eccentric art thou.
Maybe the selection of Candidates would be more favourable for the new blue.
And then the Blazing egg shattered, drawing attention to it. Hivex, like the others in the group, turned to watch and blinked when the connection was made, stumbling back as the bronze's voice burst into his head.
Lifting a hand, he waved it, surprise and astonishment plain upon his face as he strode forward to present himself to the hatchling. "I am here, Tialzieth." He spoke softly, more to himself and more in amazed affirmation then anything else.
The bronze spotted the hand immediately and rose, making his way over to His then, rearing up to look the young man in the eye. There was a nod and a broad grin, Hivexmine, you were hiding. Why were you hiding? Yours is here... Oh! Were you playing a game?He looked around, then frowned, But there are not many others and I am hungry. Let us eat!
His assertion was reinforced and his mental tone was exuberant, broadcast to all those around. His was playing a silly game when they should be eating. Nudging the uncertain new rider forward, they headed towards the elders and the food - a place the dragon knew if not his lifemate.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:43 am
Helios this early in the morning was grinding herbs for his father and measuring them into bowls to make various salves later. Hopefully he would get to mix the salves this time and carefully double checked each batch to make sure that what he had done was perfect.
His brother, Jetta had been sent out for supplies to finish the batch so once he got done with this portion he would have to wait for his return. His anger at his brother from several days ago had vanished. How could he not laugh when that mischievous smile poked fun at him. Not that Helios could ignore him long anyway considering they shared one room in their house. Jetta was impossible to ignore!
His eager mind could have mused over his twin for longer but a humming niggled at his senses until finally he had to focus upon the noise. Dragons! He looked up and realized that the hatching had begun! Oh crap! He wondered if Jetta was already there! He had been so focused on other things he almost missed it!
Running out of the workshop, he ran across the town to the hatching grounds and scurried on to the sands. His hands were almost dye green from all the grinding and herb dust covered his clothes. At least he smelled really good!
He hadn't expected to be a little late but his father would be furious with him and Jetta if they didn't attend. Even if they didn't impress, every hatching was a valuable experience for a future dragonhealer!
Helios barely caught sight of the green going between, he was shocked by the idiots that hadn't been smart enough to get out of the way. It was disturbing to see any hatchling just jump between like that but...it did happen and there was nothing he could do about it.
Glancing around he searched for Jetta but in the mass of people it was hard to spot just anyone in particular so he moved to a more open area on the sands in hopes that Jetta would soon find him. Even so, his eyes drifted along to the next dragonet that dragged himself out of the shell - a blue. Well, hopefully this one would find a proper partner.
His eyes then moved across the other eggs noting the one that was pushed further away. Dead? He sighed and wondered if his father would be reviewing that egg to see if there was a reason for its departure. He wondered what made eggs fail like that...and it added a new question to ponder over while he stood there eying the clutch.
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Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:54 am
The first Impression had been considered a failure by both the gold and her bonded handler. Indeed, Nalina did seem more like a handler than a friend to her dragon sometimes. Now was one of them.
Let no one say they didn't understand each other, if nothing else, because the exchanged looks with the next Impression couldn't have been more alike, saying the same thing while saying nothing: This clutch may be a failure entirely.
The blue had chosen His, and did not stop until he was at his feet. The people of his homeland took some relief in knowing although his choice was not ideal, it was better than another outsider. Belhec, Rayth is here.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:06 am
It was not as if this was the first Hatching Laelin had ever attended. Not even the second. But it seemed that all Hatchings came with the same set of stressful circumstances -- did Laelin want to stand near the front, and be close to the hatching dragonets, and be watched by everyone behind him, or did he want to lurk near the back, and risk losing the chance to see everything, and miss possibly interesting gossip? He was waffling about it as he adjusted his tunic, which was, as everything else he owned, stained with clay. He'd worn his best one, though...
Though he was absorbed in his own dilemma, he hardly missed the events that were happening -- the maulings and the death, the loss of the green (he felt it like a pang; what if she had just missed Hers, or if her urgency had been panic and...?), and the Impression of the handsome bronze. He didn't know that boy... he'd have to make it a point to go and meet the new rider later. He hoped, though, that he would have the talking point of a new companion, because --
Oh! A pretty blue, and just as soon it was bonded to someone Laelin knew of, even if he was not acquainted with him. He bit his lips hard, drawing a deep breath. Patience. He'd have to wait to talk to them, wouldn't he, seeing that they were going to be so absorbed in Theirs for awhile....? He turned his gaze, shy and unsure, back toward the eggs, and edged away from the person next to him, who was uncomfortably close for Laelin's taste.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:15 am
He supposed standing with the Ghenzan youths had been a bit much to hope for. Still, he had wriggled his way as far forward as he was allowed, and studied the proceedings with interest, trying for now to push his own hopes down. So little compassion for the dead girl... Well, frankly he felt little himself; he hadn't known her, and she had behaved foolishly. The fact that so few even flinched at the death of the panicked green troubled him somewhat more... this place was alien.
The first impression made him raise his eyebrows a little; a candidate from High Reaches was pushing through the throng towards a fine young bronze... Hivex, he believed? He wished he could see what was going on a bit better, but everyone was so blessed tall! Still, a successful Impression, something to be glad of. Another success came not long after; the blue from the star egg moved over to a Ghenzan boy.
One gone between, one Impressed to an outsider, one to one of their own. What must the native folk make of it? Most of the faces were so impassive; people had turned out to watch but it felt so different to a hatching at High Reaches. If it was obvious even to him, then to his peers it must be really quite shocking. Still, it was early in the whole affair yet, many dragons still to Impress... Shards. Please let one of them Impress to him.
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:16 am
Rinee had been getting ready that early morning to go about her work on the farm. She was pulling on her boots when a hum filled her head. Wide brown eyes got wider and a grin spread across her face - hatching time!
Her father reluctantly let his daughter go, but not without some comment as to catching up on work later.
And so the little girl ran to the sands. She was there a little late, but better late than never. She had missed the catastrophe on the Panda egg, but that was probably for the best - Rinee wasn't sure how she'd take witnessing a young life end so abruptly...never mind that the body was there. Rinee's young mind thought that maybe it was just sleeping? Yeah.
She arrived when the next egg hatched, and the bronze within impressed. Wow - so this was really happening!
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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:29 am
Jarvi, young and beautiful, had been having an interesting time in Ghenza. Most of the transfers were put hard to work, and well, there wasn't much trading going on here, what with the lack of outsiders. Jarvi's wares, entrusted by his family, were viewed with both suspicion and intrigue and he found himself among the harpers, as his silver tongue and skill with reading and writing found a home there.
He did not have the best view, so short and slight, behind the crowd of Ghenzans, but he didn't mind. There had already been blood spilled on the sands and he'd rather it not be his own. Dark eyes narrowed briefly at the murmurs as one of the transfers impressed the first bronze, his teeth flashing white in a pretty, slight smile.
It would be interesting, afterward, to see what sort of post-Hatching customs these Ghenzans held and if he could work them free of some of their assets, whether that be marks or trade.
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