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Z'fer paced his weyr like an angry wher, his eyes constantly flickering back to the skin on his desk. It was a transcript, written by harpers and spread throughout Pern, of the Ancientcrafter's speech. News that had Z'fer in a simmering rage. A mug shattered against the stone walls of his weyr, it's destruction no balm to his anger. How dare that fool of an ancientcrafter propose that one machine could do what took thousands of dragons across all of Pern to do? And better even! No Z'fer couldn't and wouldn't believe it. It was idiotic. Lights that burned Thread. First this man comes out of no where and sends them all on a wild hunt for a weed to save the North's queen dragons, now he proposes to put those same dragons out of business? His words of sparing the riders from death by Thread didn't sway Z'fer. They were flowery filler, intended to catch the ear of those who didn't know better and sway them to his cause, whatever that may be.

Z'fer fumed and dwelt on the situation, finding no way or angle from which he could see a benefit to this. If what Archimonde said was true and the machine was used for boring tunnels, how did they plan on getting it into the air to sear Thread? And how was one supposed to take care of a full Fall? Would they move it from location to location, following the pattern of Thread? And what if Thread fell in multiple spots at once? The man couldn't possibly believe he'd find more of those machines. As far as Z'fer knew, only Fort and Benden had caverns carved by the Ancients, of all the weyrs that now existed, it was doubtful he'd find enough machines to blanket Pern as he suggested.

Then there was W'lin who backed this man. It was still possible that their Weyrleader's murderer was from Benden. Z'fer did not want to think of what may happen should they turn that machine into a weapon. If It could melt stone, only imagine what it would do to human skin and dragon hide. No he was completely against this all together.

Z'fer turned on his heel and faced Calanoth, the dragons' red tinted eye having watched his rider closely through the arch separating their rooms. "Tell the Storm Riders, when they show up for Training this afternoon to have plenty of Firestone and all of their riding gear. Also, see if some of the Weyrlings can be spared, They're old enough to fly and it'll be good training for them too. We'll show them exactly what Dragons can do!"


Sometime later, Z'fer's plan was ready. While he's initially just scheduled some formation practice, instead he would be leading his wing through a Mock Fall. Using dye soaked ropes as Thread with Weyrlings flying high overhead to drop it down. The weyrlings were ready, a small wing of them loaded with oiled sacks of 'Thread'. As Z'fers riders began to show up he gave the weyrlings the signal to rise. They left the bowl, soaring high over the weyr. Z'fer wanted this to be visible.

He waited till everyone was present before addressing them all. "Riders! I'm sure you've all heard the news out of Benden, Harper rumors travel faster than dragon wings. Their fellis-addled ancientcrafter believes he's found a machine that can sear Thread without the need for dragons! Every one of you knows dragons and their riders were born to fight Thread! That is was we live for. That is why we constantly train, so we'll always be prepared when our ancient enemy comes! I fear people have forgotten that. For turns we only competed against each other, our lives were spent waiting on the unlikely return of the Red Star, waiting to fufill our destiny as dragonriders!

Now our time has come and this man proposes to take that all away from us? Tell me! What will dragonriders do if we're no longer needed to serve Pern? Will your dragons sit calmly by as some rusty old machine does what he in every fiber of his being needs to do? Will you stay on the ground as Thread falls above your heads?!" His voice had risen, the echoes of his righteous fury rebounding off of Malvren's cliffs.

"Pern needs her dragons! Not only do we protect her people, we inspire them. We make them feel safe in their Holds. We remind them that even when things look bleak, there are people looking out for them. Complete strangers who care whether they live or die. A machine will not care. A machine that can melt stone and Faranth knows what else would not inspire the same feelings of security and hope a flight of dragons inspires.

I will not ground Calanoth, I will not clip his wings and take away everything that makes him the magnificent beast he is.

Today we'll fly and flame as we're meant! We'll remind people who may be caught up in this new idea why they need dragons! What is more awe inspiring than a flight of flaming dragons in the sky? I'm sure you all remember your childhoods and candidate days! Let's keep that hope and adoration alive in the minds of the people of Pern!"

It was a big speech, especially for just a simple training exercise over their own Weyr, but you had to start somewhere and Z'fer wanted his men and women behind him when he did.

"Form ranks, prepare your flames and watch for my signal!" He wasted no time getting them into the air after his speech. The weyrlings were already loosing their burdens.



OOC: This will work exactly like a normal Fall. Only you're flaming rope instead of Thread so if you're hit, you'll be marked but take no real damage.

Remember we need at least two pages and at least 5 posts by three different players for this to count!

Each character that participates with 5 posts will receive .5 exp.

Should Thread be burnt before we reach the required posts, another wave will be released.

(Wykla/Blue Kameth: Average/Average HP: 45/Agility: +1)

Wykla had scheduled her plans around the upcoming training session. She wanted to get accustomed to working with others in her wing. Formation flying was bound to be indefinately harder than flying solo. Unfortunately no dragon could fly Thread alone.

A wise dragon would call for the wings to rouse, then head in himself, her blue Kameth replied to her thoughts. The dragon watched from his wallow. He'd dully relayed the message from Calanoth earlier.

It had caused her a moment's pause when she heard the extra requirements. Obviously this was no longer going to be a simple drill. Dutifully Wykla was gathering all of her gear. She slid her arms into the wherhide jacket. It was new, and it was good to get it worn in now while she wasn't actually fighting.

A grin tugged at her lips with Kameth's wisdom. "So we would." Hoping up the dragon's side to his back, Wykla settled herself for the short drop to the firestone pit. She made sure Kameth had as much as he could carry. Z'fer couldnt' say they were un prepaired. Speaking of the Wingleader, she thought listening to his speech, he is wound up about that machine. Wykla watched closely and listened.

She felt the machine was a bad idea, and testing it was even worse. Still she wasn't very vocal about it. Wykla watched and listend a great deal at meal times. What concerned her the most was how they were going to demonstrate it. The teen hoped they had the sense given little green whers to have a plan B. Preferably at least a wing of dragons waiting a safe distance away should it fail.

Wykla nodded to Mazamath and His. With the wingleader's speech finished, she saluted. A quick check of her fighting straps and the blue pair leaped into the bright blue sky. A full grin was hers as Kameth trumpeted to the sky. They were ready!

(Wykla/Blue Kameth: Average/Average HP: 45/Agility: +1)
Damage Post: 45-6=39

What kind of flying was that? Wykla asked the blue. Distracked by his call, Kameth had missed some of the fake Thread. It had left a vibrant splash of dye on the right side of his jaw. She was grateful that it had only been dyed cloth.

Sorry Mine, Kameth ducked his head in apology. He felt silly now. Hopefully his enthusiasm made up for it.

(47-10=37 HP.)

He was not, however, bothering to pay much attention to the simulated Thread, and it wasn't long before the damp rope splotted across the back of his wing. The blue would have been perfectly happy to pretend it hadn't happened at all, but at Adi's urging, he popped between and back again as if it had been real.

Z’fer of Bronze Calanoth // Damage Post

HP: 70
Agi: -3
Burn: +5

Calanoth grunted in surprise at the wet splat right on his rump. He blinked between, returning to the head of the wing with eyes glowing orange. He snarled, mentally snapping at the weyrling who'd aimed a little too well.

~ Cal, Tell them to break pattern if they want but no direct targeting, Thread doesn't think about where it's going to Fall and fighting weyrlings is not going to prepare us for Fighting thread. ~ Z'fer didn't mind a little variation but he would be having a talk with that young rider after they were through.

~ Look what they did to my hide! ~ Calanoth lamented, eyeing the dark blue blotch right above the base of his tail.

That brought a snort of laughter from Z'fer ~Be glad it's just dye Calanoth. That would have hurt in a real Fall. ~

~That wouldn't have Happened in a real Fall. ~ The Bronze grumped.

(Wykla/Blue Kameth: Average/Average HP: 39/Agility: +1)

Do you have enough flame Kameth? She started to reach for the sack, but a reassurance stopped it. Wykla tightened her grip on the straps. It might not be real Thread, but she still enjoyed seeing and feeling the blue flaming.

She fumed a bit as she heard laughter drifting down. Those puppies! Laugh while you can, we've faced real Thread. Wykla spotted a good clump and urged Kameth into a good flame.

It is good to see you Mazamath. Kameth trilled to his clutchmate. He rolled in the air to avoid an odd clump of thread. The blue pumped his wings and unleashed a long flame at the clump His spotted. He rumbled soothingly as it burned.

They have good aim, don't they? Mazamath observed with good-natured amusement when they got a hit in on Kameth. At least something about this exercise was proving to be entertaining. I want to drop thread, he shared with his wingmates. It looks like much more fun!

He flamed some more of the dyed rope, but as he wasn't very concerned about being hit by it, it wasn't long before more of the faux thread landed on them.

~ Next time I'm asking Kleos and Moriarth... ~ Z'fer glowered at the wing of weyrling above them. His display of dragons power was turning into a mockery as the kids managed to hit dragon after dragon.

Calanoth craned his neck around, both to recieve more firestone and to check on the others behind them. ~ They do have good aim. ~ Calanoth echoed Mazamath's comment with amusement.

~ You were just complaining about your hide. ~

~ Now I am not the only one hit. Kameth took a full wing score, do you want them to drop out? ~ His eyes tinged with concern, though the injuries were false, a score like that would have been deadly serious.

Z'fer pinched the bridge of his nose beneath his goggles. ~ Shard it! They should. If this were real they would have to. ~ But it wasn't real and with the kids screwing around as they were he couldn't even fault the pair for getting hit. There was no way he'd be able to judge which injuries were from lack of attention or which were from deliberate sabotage. An idea came to Z'fer. ~ Fine, they want to play? We'll play. But the Weyrlingmaster is hearing about this later. ~ He relayed his idea to Calanoth who after giving the weyrlings their new orders to aim their best, broadcast it to the wingriders.

~ Change of plans! These little hatchlings think they can get the better of us! Lets show them how full grown dragons fly! Stay in formation but no longer treat this as a real Fall. Focus on your agility, burn as you will but your main goal is to avoid getting hit! They will all be trying to hit you directly now. ~




If you have your posts and don't want to continue then feel free to be done. Unless you wish otherwise we'll assume your Rider flew the entire training session.

If you haven't joined in yet but want to then feel free! Just act as if your character has already been around. Unless of course you want them to be very late.

Mechanics still work the same, you don't have to drop if you run out of health or take a major score, this is just a new RP option. Things don't always go as planned!