Welcome to Gaia! ::

For as long as humans had learned to track the movements of the planets, they've had quite the obsession over it. The time it takes for a moon to circle its mother planet… the rotation on the world they live. Humans label things. They have meaning. Lunar cycles, days… it was only natural that they would count find some special significance in the amount of time for their planet to complete an entire rotation around their sun.

And so, Turnover was an event that would be celebrated whenever possible. In this particular situation, the coming new turn would be invited by what everyone hoped would be the grandest Gather yet to be had. They took advantage of the expanse of Ista's wide bowl, small in comparison to some Weyrs, but far larger than any Hold's courtyard could ever compare to. There was so much space to use, and everyone was keen on doing just that.

The tradesmen came in droves in the earliest of mornings, the watch dragon giving forth a quiet rumble of acknowledgement once the travelers showed documentation of their tradesmen status. Many stalls would be by dragon riders themselves… but it never hurt to have a few more, especially with the space given.

By morning, it was as if the stalls sprang up by magic. These tradesmen had danced to the tune of the Gather for long enough; their ability to put up a sturdy market stall quickly and with little fuss made good to rouse only the smallest handful of dragons. As the sun peaked over Ista's great, arching sides, Rukbat's rays shined off of colorful canopies sporting the hues of their craft. Harpers, weavers, wine crafters… The turnout was extraordinary and entrepreneurial competition would be fierce; there were duplicate stalls of many a rival crafter.

The sky was clear of any thread, only the faintest wisps of a cloud or two above. As the dinner bell rang out into the quiet, crisp morning air the gather flag would officially be hoisted upon the flagpole.

Gather Day is here!

Note: There will be dice rolling events every page. Everyone who posts on each page will be rewarded ICly!

A green was awake and eagerly watching the stalls appear like magic from her weyr. As soon as she felt enough were up her head withdrew to turn toward her rider's lair. Mine mine mine! Gather stalls are up! Are you ready yet? Tribleth shifted and tried to stick her muzzle into the smaller room. Instead she turned her head and put her eye to the opening. She blew a large breath out as she saw her rider. Miiiiiiiiine! Why are you wearing that grungy shirt and pants? The browns and bronzes will never notice us with you dressed like that. The green complained. Put on a dress.

The girl in question cast a glance over her shoulder at the dragon. "No. I will not put on a dress you silly green. Be happy I'm up and we're going so early. You'll have plenty of time to flirt with the boys." Lorend whistled to the blue flit and he came to land on her shoulder. She headed into her dragon's weyr to mount up for the short ride down.

Not the blues, the green said sulkily. Anything but blues. Tribleth lowered herself for her rider then rose up. Posed on the edge of her weyr she sounded a shrill call. Anyone not up yet, would soon probably be. She arched her neck and dropped gracefully out her weyr, her wings coming open with grace and style. Her green hide gleamed in the morning light. Tribleth gave another happy call into the morning air as she took a long time gliding over the gather.

The green landed daintily in one of the clearings. She folded her wings and arched her neck for a coy look at any who were standing nearby.

Lorend slapped Tribleth's shoulder as she slid down. "Stop showing off, those are just humans. The bronzes and browns are still asleep you silly creature. Go find a sunny spot to nap." Why her dragon insisted on being here so darn early.....

Ah but they might tell the riders of those dragons how beautiful I am. She turned her head to gaze at her rider. If only you had matched the care you lavished on me yesterday on yourself today.... She tried a hint of reproach. Tribleth wanted her rider to look as feminine as she did.

Dressed in his gather best, T'rel was on stage. He had his guitar resting on his hip, grinning at the crowd. "Is everyone ready to get this gather started?" He asked. He normally didn't take a turn on stage unless it was a duet, but the harper bred dragonrider was in a particularly good mood that day. It was sunny, it was a rest day: no warning of Thread to dampen his thoughts. He waited for a response before taking a seat on a provided stool. He took his guitar in his hands and started to strum. A familar, playful tune: T'rel was playing the traditional song that indicated a gather was taking place. He wondered if Lute was out there in the crowd. Would she join him? He always played better when she was in the vicenity. She seemed to draw the music out of him, like a masterharper played an instrument.

He continued to play, subtly speeding the tempo up. He wondered if there would be any dancers this early in the day. It certainly wasn't too hot to partake in dancing; considering how the weather had been the last sevenday. He began to sing. A gather day, a rest day, a good day: gathers were for dancing, haggling and catching up. He couldn't think of a better song.

Gather, gather! It's a gather day!
No work for us, and Thread's away
Stalls are building, squares swept clear
Gather all from far and near.

He wondered again, where his Weyrmate was. He was looking forward to celebrating their second turnover together. Maybe G'non was nearby. Or Neri! There were so many friends he wanted to meet up with. And what a day to do it!

Kaila held the wrapped parcel, holding the pendent intended for Lein. She glanced towards the sound of someone singing and moved closer, smiling as she saw T'rel singing. It had been a while since she heard the weyrling master sing. Maith walked beside her and Kaila could hear a smirk in her dragon's voice.

Go dance, mine. Maith asked, or in Kaila's opinion, calmly ordered her.

"I can't-t dance," Kaila replied, but turned her attention to the sound of another's voice. She glanced at a girl and remembered seeing her about while working as a healer. Wasn't she an apprentice healer? Kaila wondered. With a deep breath, she walked closer to the girl, "um-m, Ashlyn, right-t?" Maith glanced at Gyafirth for a moment before considering nudging Kaila. She was socializing at least.

Kaila smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I'm Kaila and the green dragon beside me is Maith." The green dragon glanced at Kaila, I am not pushy, mine. I am helpful.
The green rider wanted to disagree, but chose not to. "I have seen you around the other healers and riders before," she mentally winced, remembering her bad social skills.

"You're a very good healer." Kaila felt Maith nudge her in the side.

Mine, why not try dancing. She could dance too.

Maith roared back in greeting, remembering her manners. The green looked towards Ashlyn and then her rider, considering nudging Kaila again. "Well, the work I've seen you do as a healer shows your hard work. Did you impress from the stands or a candidate on the sands? I was kinda rattled when I became a rider as well." Kaila had tried hard not to stutter though the crowds were starting to bother her. She still couldn't understand why her brother had refused to accept her being a rider.

Mine, focus on making friends. Kaila was partially thankful for Maith, but the green dragon could be very pushy if she wished to be.

When T'rel spotted Ashlynn he flashed a smile in her direction. He didn't pause in his song, though it seemed he would be headed towards the Weyrling when he finished his turn on stage. It had been a while since he had been on a gather stage. He had quite forgotten what it felt like. He ended the song and glanced around, hoping for a familar face. He noticed Kaila and waved.

"Any requests?" He called, hoping that this turn, there wouldn't be someone asking for the dreaded Four Hundred Turns. It had been requested last time he'd stood up here with Lute. It was quite possibly the longest song in all Pern's history. He paused again, then started to strum the first refrains of Sunset's Gold. It was a friend's favorite, and if she was in the crowd--maybe she'd know he was thinking of her. He doubted she was within hearing range; he hadn't spotted her.

"Ashlyn, do you sing?" He called to the weyrling. "My partner hasn't shown up yet!"

Kaila listened and nodded, "It's wonderful that you did impress though. You are a very good rider." The green rider looked up when she heard T'rel address Ashlyn, her ears picking the chords of the song he was playing. "T'rel, how about Sunset's Gold?" Kaila had always ever heard her father play the song and it had been rare before he disappeared to hear him play it.

She turned her attention to Ashlyn, "I'm very sure you are a great singer. How about if you go up there, you imagine you're by yourself. It might help if you might be nervous." Kaila was trying to cheer her on and encourage her a bit. She hoped the advice was helpful at least.