Society
The following are the views that Trine Weyr has on some important topics.
Death: Death is a normal part of life in the Weyr and is treated as a personal choice - especially for riders. Death is to be mourned but it is not a shattering event and people are expected to honour the memory of the dead.
Suicide: For riders, it is an accepted (and indeed normal) reaction to the death of their dragon. Most are broken souls after the loss of a dragon and choose to die rather the live without their lifemate. Usually, they will ask to be taken Between (and left there) or go Between if their dragon is capable of it. Suicide among the non-rider community is frowned upon, however, and neither encouraged nor condoned. Healthy individuals, whether they be riders or not, have no reason to want to suicide.
Homosexuality: Homosexuality is an accepted thing among the Weyrs. Homosexual relations can and do happen as a result of Flights, and are not discouraged outsife a Flight situation. As a result, Weyrs are often sanctuaries for homosexual individuals who wish to leave the prejudice of the Holds behind.
Sex: In general, sex is a non-issue in the Weyr. What one does with one's body is entirely up to the individual. It is also accepted that while some riders may choose to become weyrmates, sex resulting from Flights is not cheating. In the Hold's however, promiscuity is frowned upon and is usually seen as a mark against a person's character.
Marriage: There is no marriage among the riders in the Weyr. Riders can choose to become weyrmates, aka long term boy/girlfriends, but they are comfortable with their weyrmate having multiple partners. Marriage among non riders is rare and usually ocurrs because an individual is Hold born. Marriage in Holds is common and encouraged, though children outside marriage is not frowned upon.
Children: Children are cared for by the community and cohesive family units are exceptionally rare among dragonriders. As Flights can sometimes result in children, the concept of family is a loose one at best and many chidlren grow up not really knowing their parents. Female dragon riders are not encouraged to take a child to term. Children of non-rider couples are normally raised in a more normal family unit. And in Holds, it is a terrible thing to disown a child or leave one unclaimed - family units are strongest there, there the children grow up in a defined family.
Abortion: Abortion among riders is common, and expected. Female riders rarely carry a child to term as most choose to go Between in the early stages so as to prevent a pregnancy or an inadvertent miscarriage. Non-riders in weyrs can ask to be taken between at any time, and is not frowned upon. Abortions in Hols are a highly taboo action. A woman is held responsible for her actions and the resulting child if one is conceived.
Female Dragonriders: Trine Weyr has had difficulty accepting the gender roles of women and men among the riders. Crimsons Impress to males and females and that, in a world where the Gold Impress only women, had caused many to rethink their beliefs. As such, women at Trine Weyr are viewed as nothing special - they're expected to work just as hard as the other riders and get no slack for being women. Some might say this attitude has resulted in a harsher, more formal environment for all riders at Trine.
Atypical Dragons: Enough Turns have passed since the incorporation of oddly coloured dragons into Weyr society that they're no longer a remarkable surprise. However, they are rare and are special - each possessing a trait that makes it unique. In general they enjoy prestige equal to, or slightly greater then, the dragons of their equivalent size (ex. black => green/blue). The exception are the Crimsons who dance a double edged sword - they're respected as bronze dragons are but those who choose to breed instead of fight are under pressure to successful clutch. In general, atypical dragons are welcomed curiosities.
