Pern A New Beginning

"Seas boil and mountains move Sands heat, dragons prove Red Star passes." h -Anne McCaffrey- Dragonflight

The Red Star winks maliciously down on the planet Pern once more. It has been a long interval, what was thought to be gone has returned. The people of Pern believed their nemesis defeated; they had thrown it into a distant orbit where it could not drop it's deadly Thread. But some cosmic event put it back, bringing the malignant sphere back to a position where it could once again torment Pern. A great quake had rocked Pern during this time, and Benden, the greatest weyr on Pern, was destroyed, and all of it's information, technology, and knowledge went with it. Gone are the records of going Between times, no longer are there records of grubs and flamethrowers. Queens don't fight thread. Only the knowledge of fire lizards is left. Now Benden has been rebuilt, the last strong weyr standing, must take it's place as a Pass begins and no one is prepared. Once again the Weyrs have lost respect, and riders are veiwed as parasites. Lanara, Weyrwoman at Benden and bondmate to Rurith, must prepare the weyr and all of Pern before the Thread begins to fall. It is up to her and the riders to convince Holders that Threads are a danger once more. What is left of the Riders must stand forth. The question is will they be able to save themselves when everyone doubts them? With no records of any advanced technology, the Dragonriders of Pern must use the only resources they have. Instinct, firestone, and the dragons, to destroy the thread before it destroys them.

"Stones pile and fires burn Green withers, arm Pern Guard all Passes." -Anne McCaffrey- Dragonflight

Clutches are unusually small, and there have been no queens hatched for several turns save Rurith, who is now the only Golden dragon. The weyr is dragon and rider poor, with just a few wings, and the exceedingly long Interval has left them out of practice. And yet the Red Star shows no mercy. Will there be time to repopulate the weyrs before the next Pass? Will Pern's Dragonriders be able to rebound from this long Interval before the Threads destroy the people? It is time for a new beginning.

"Star Stone watch, scan sky Ready the Weyrs, all riders fly Red Star passes." -Anne McCaffrey- Dragonflight

Rules

1. Literacy is a must. This means use proper grammar and no ** actions.
2. One liners are forbidden and paragraph story style posts are mandatory. Five to seven sentences minimum in a paragraph.
3. No god-moding or powerplaying.
4. As of now there are no mutations of dragons. Also there are no white dragons, and haven't been since the hatching of Ruth.
5. This is long term. Only join if you will stick around.
6. If you don't know the books very well you'll have trouble understanding. But I will do my best to help you out. If all else fails you can play a character from Earth who knows nothing about Pern.
7. In roleplay actions will have in roleplay consequences, be aware of that.
8. Only bronzes will fly the Queen.
9. PM me any about Flights, pregnancies, weddings, or hatchings ahead of time and don't post them until I've approved them.
10. It is not required for you to play a dragon rider. We also need a Harper, and other non riders.
11. Minimum two fire lizards (flitts) per character. Not every one can have a bronze or gold remember.
12. Post your profiles for characters and don't post until I give you the O.K. And please stick to the skeleton, it makes it easier to find information.
13. Please don't play more than three characters, it gets confusing. If you are playing three characters be sure to post them in different colors. If you neglect a character, then we will eliminate it.
14. Candidates are welcome, but I'd like to have riders first so that we have a start before I do a hatching, which will come soon.
15. Romance is ok and encouraged just keep it PG.
16. Fighting is ok but keep the dueling to a minimum.
17. All male riders will have contracted names, and all dragons must have th ending names. On the subject of names, no modern names. Last names are unneeded.
18. Lana is the only person who can hear and speak to all dragons at the moment.
19. This is strictly canon for now. However I do allow females to impress greens and maybe blues.

Here are the marks for the different speech. {Dragon telepathy} [Human telepathy] "quot;Human speech" Human thought.

Profiles for Pernese should look like this- Name: Age: Dragon: (if any, right now no golds.) Flitts: (maximum two) Weyr affiliation: Position: (rider, candidate, Holder,etc) If you are a holder tell which hold Appearance: Must be at least one to two decent detailed paragraph Personality: Must be at least one to two decent detailed paragraph Bio: Must be at least two to three decent detailed paragraphs Other: (if anything)

Profiles for those from Earth should look like this- Name: Age: Position on the ship: Why they were chosen to go to Pern: Special Skills/Training: Appearance: Must be at least one to two decent detailed paragraph Personality: Must be at least one to two decent detailed paragraph Bio: Must be at least two to three decent detailed paragraphs Other: (if anything)

The People of Pern: Benden Weyrwoman: Lanara- Gold Queen Rurith Weyrleader: T'san- Bronze Sith(NPC until Rurith rises and he is replaced) Weyr Harper: Journeyman: Headwoman: Riders: M'rik- Bronze Imminth[Junior Wing Second] Weyrlings: Candidates: Weyrfolk: Holders:

The People of Earth: To be added.

Ok so I know this was long, so just let me know if you have questions let me know. There are many roles to play so even if it isn't listed ask about it. I will post my profile once there are people interested. The plot may be altered to remove the people of Earth if there is not enough interest.

ooc; Oooh, I haven't done a Pern roleplay in ages. I'd like to play a rider, if that's all right. It might be a little while before I'm able to get a sheet up, so I just wanted to secure a spot. ^^

OOC{I'd love to have a rider. What color, if you don't mind my asking?}}

ooc; I think I might play two riders. Maybe a male with a brown, and a female with a green.

Just a heads-up: I haven't read any Pern books in lord knows how long. So I apologize if I'm a little off with some things. ^.^

OOC{{Awesome, two riders. It's ok, I will probably be sort of off myself. I think I will post my profile now. I also created a planning thread in the Thread Planning Board.}}

Name: Lanara Age: 21 turns Dragon: Rurith- Gold Queen Flitts: Gold Kiri {Deceased}, Bronze Briel, Green Fara Position: Weyrwoman, Benden Weyr Affiliation: Benden Appearance: Lana is small and slender, and her slight appearance hides her true strength. She has long very dark brown hair and golden hazel eyes the color of Rurith. Lanara is considered to be a lovely woman though there are women on Pern who a far more beautiful than she. Her dark brown hair hangs in soft waves down her back, framing her tawny face. It is typically brushed smooth and worn down, unless it begins to get in her way and then it goes up rather quickly. Her features are soft, and well defined, though not perfect. The young woman appears very lady-like and delicate at times, though her behavior can be far from it. The eyes the color of the dragon she rides seem to fascinate many, though she doesn't understand why. They are actually a golden hazel rimmed in green and much to her disliking her emotions are known to display through them. She has scar on her right shoulder that is barely visible from a fall from Rurith her first flying lesson. The dragon was not far off the ground, and the injuries was well treated. Her skin is a soft tawny, though in the warm months it grows darker as she refuses to spend her entire life locked away as T'san wishes. There are light freckles across her shoulders and the bridge of her nose, barely visible unless you are extremely close to her, something that never occurs. She dresses in traditional clothes, long skirts and tunic shirts, and can be quite attractive in her own way, though she is too busy to deal with things she considers "petty" or "insignificant" such as appearance. She is an impressive figure when she decides to take command and despite her slight appearance, people are drawn to her. Personality: Headstong, strong willed, stubborn, passionate, and hot headed, Lanara is not one to be crossed. She can be sarcastic and ill-tempered, but is usually buoyant and happy. She has an endearing quality about her when she chooses to let it show, but with the current state the Weyr is in she is guarding that side of herself almost completely. She also sees it as a weakness that T'san can exploit, and she would never let that happen. When working on Weyr matters she is serious, and she can be calculating and quick witted when need be. T'san has yet to ruin the woman, and she insists that he will never break her. The people of her weyr worry that the over bearing and foul leader will turn her cold and if his bronze flies Rurith that she will be ruined completely. Already her words can be biting and cold, and she is not one to think twice about telling the truth no matter how painful. When she takes command of a situation she demands respect and typically receives it, and Lanara is unafraid to say what is on her mind and tell people exactly what she thinks. This has lead her into trouble, especially with T'san who does not appreciate the fact that she will not allow him to control her and will bluntly speak ill of him. Her personality is a stark contrast at times from her appearance. But perhaps it will be her strong personality that assists her in saving her home. Bio: Lanara's mother was Weyrwoman at Benden before her and her father K'det was weyrleader. K'det was a well-liked man who would have lead the Weyr well in the coming times of hardship, but he was scorched badly during the during the Spring Games and died within weeks. T'san, the Weyrleader incumbent, was also participating and took over after her father died. And he has lead to the disintegration of the newly rebuilt weyr. Some suspect T'san had something to do with the K'det's death, but none will step forth to say anything. Talara sent to her daughter away from the weyr at age ten because she feared that T'san would ruin her, and because she was very ill. This hurt her a great deal and for part of her life she bore resentment for her mother and still holds it over T'san. Lanara lived a partly pleasant life at Benden Hold until the news came that her mother's dragon had laid a clutch and that they were dying. Though her foster family the Harper and his wife, were kind to her, Lanara suffered immensely at the hands of children she grew up with. She was constantly taunted, exclamations that her parents were Weyrleader and Weyrwoman of Benden but didn't love her, followed the girl everywhere. At sixteen she was almost attacked by the journeyman harper studying beneath her foster father, and was only saved by a Green rider who had come to pick up a tapestry from the weaver. She returned to the Weyr , searched by a bronze rider who knew where she was, as her mother Talara was dying and Rurith was the only queen in Fireth's clutch. She was only eighteen when she Impressed Rurith. Now she is left to prepare the weyr, and all of Pern, before the Thread begins to fall. It is up to her and the riders to convince Holders that Threads are a danger once more. She sees the Red Star winking down on her home, and it disturbs her deeply. As does the fact that everyone around her seems to ignore it. It has been another long interval, and the weyrs have been forgotten. Now she is determined to remind the Pernese people that the weyrs are all that stands between them and the deadly rain of threads that is fast approaching. Other: Lanara can hear and speak to all dragons. She hasn't told anyone about it.

Name: Kassi Age: 22 turns Dragon: Tath - Green Flitts: None Weyr affiliation: Benden Position: Rider Appearance: Kassi is a small, scrawny girl. She has short cut red hair which hangs just below her small ears. Her hair is usually messy, since she doesn't care enough to keep it well-groomed. She prefers to keep it so short so it stays out of her way. Her eyes are a pretty emerald green, and they're almost always bright and curious, full of laughter. Kassi rarely ever looks sad about anything. Her skin is tan from spending most of her time outdoors, hating to be cooped up inside, and her cheek and nose are covered in noticeable freckles. She is slightly baby-faced, and would be described usually as more adorable than pretty. She has a somewhat boyish figure. Kassi usually wears comfortable flying clothes since she and Tath like to fly often. She avoids wearing traditional woman's clothing. Personality: Kassi is probably one of the most stubborn people you'll ever meet. She is an all-around tomboy, and it definitely shows by her appearance. She's tough and strong willed, and won't let anyone get her down easily. She'll simply shrug off anything anyone says about her. She tends to focus all her concentration on whatever she's doing at the moment, not moving on until she's finished with it. Kassi has a brilliant mind, when she decides to use it. Usually she can't figure out the things right in front of her nose, but she can't solve some of the most complicated issues. She can come off as a little rude and childish at first, but she's quick to show off her attitude. Bio:

It's getting late, gah. D= I'll finish this and add my other character tomorrow. ^^

OOC{{Cool. I hope we get more interest.}}

Name: M'rik Age: 29 Turns

Dragon: Bronze Imminth- Strong winded with plenty of stamina. Perhaps not the most nimble of bronzes, but he stays up until he's nearly gray if he doesn't want to come down.

Flitts: Blue Mimer, less than a turn old

Weyr affiliation: Benden

Position: Junior Wingsecond (not sure how many active wings there are currently)

Appearance: M'rik is a lean, wiry rider, narrow hipped and not very broad across the shoulders. His black hair is kept short on the sides, only slightly longer on the top so it fits well under his leather riding helmet, with a tendency for the hair to curl slightly when damp. His honeyed hazel eyes are slightly slanted, with lines of concentration tight around the corners, not much in the way of laugh lines to lighten his features. Face and hands show the windburned tan of a dragonrider, darkening the natural golden-brown tone of his skin. From his left elbow to the top of his shoulder is an old tattoo depicting a wing of dragons in silhouette rising from a cavern bowl. He has a pleasant, if untrained, tenor voice.

Personality: M'rik's bluntly direct, not given to easy conversation or pleasant socialization. There's a core of resentment in him at the treatment given to the Weyr and he has been known to occasionally take it out on the holders, although time and age seem to be blunting the edge of his bitterness. Lately he's been prone to turn to the wineskin rather than lashing out. At least that seems to mellow him slightly, enough so that he will share stories of riders past and sometimes be persuaded to sing. Because of his usual moodiness, he's never seems able to keep a weyrmate for long. He does TRY to behave well, but relationships just don't seem to work out for him. He generally sticks to mating flights or the occasional night with one of the weyrfolk rather than seeking out anything like a permanent weyrmate. He claims that Imminth is all the love he really needs.

Bio: Born and raised in the Weyr, the son of generations of riders and weyrfolk. Marik was weaned on stories of past glory and legends. His brothers K'rrik, blue Izarth and M'len, brown Depurth, told him all sorts of tales about how wonderful it would be for him once he'd Impressed. He couldn't wait until he was old enough to go out onto the hatching grounds and it wasn't long before he was paired with Imminth. It also wasn't long before he found out the reality behind the stories. With the Weyr having fallen from the glory of the past into the disregard of the present, M'rik realized he and Imminth were destined to a life of little more than courier and carrier duty, of training endlessly for games and eventually to decrepit old age, to be forgotten like so many others during the endless Interval.

He could have given up entirely on any dream of usefulness to the Weyr, but felt he owed more to Imminth than for them to just roll over and die. They began training all the harder, building up the big bronze's stamina and endurance. A Turn and a half ago, they were assigned a spot as Junior Wingsecond and fully intend to eventually be a Wingleader, if not even higher still.

Other: He is allergic to numbweed and most other forms of pain medication seem to have little effect for him. NOT a good patient for the healers.

OOC{{Awesome, a bronze rider. Brilliant! I will add M'rik to the list. I love Pernese riders' names.}}

(glad you like him. I've also been thinking of a greenrider, L'rid and green Abathoth. I used to play back in a Weyr years ago, back in the day of mailed newsletters rather than across the internets. )

OOC{{Oh, greenriders are also fun, since greens are such amorous creatures. I used to play a female greenrider who had impressed accidentally. Kalena, my rider was a terrible flirt.}}

((I'm really interested in this because of the level of literacy you have going on here, but I know close to nothing about Pern. I know about the riders, but that's pretty much it. Would you rather me not even make an attempt?))

OOC{You can still join. We can fill you in on missing details, if you want. Also I think I'm going to dump the Earth aspect of the game; I don't think it will draw any more players.}}

(I'm going to hold off in introducing the greenrider, hopefully that will leave room for others to bring somebody in and if need be I can bring him to light later)

OOC{{OK, cool. I'm going to drop the Earth aspect because it's probably not going to be used.}}

The rustle of leathery wings from the front room of the weyr roused M'rik from restless slumber. Throwing aside the sleeping fur, he padded barefoot to the wallow where Imminth twitched and grumbled in his sleep, tail flicking like an anxious feline and wings flexing as though he were flying. The bronze rider looked past his dragon to the sky outside, eyes narrowing as he noticed the steady, chill drizzle pattering on the stone ledge. Clad only in a pair of sleeping pants, the wind dashed cold wetness across his chest as he stood just at the mouth of the cave. Images from his dreams tumbled across the mind's eye as he stared distantly across the bowl of the Weyr. Flame and ash, screams and heat, and above it all a baleful glow like a burning ember, the wind causing it to glow brighter and brighter overhead.

M'rik turned away from the cave opening with a shiver to meet the orangey-gold anxious whirl of Imminth's faceted eyes staring back at him. The bronze's great head rose up, stretching towards him with a croon and he leaned into the dragon's warmth, both of them taking comfort in the contact.

It was a scant hour later and M'rik sat hunched over a cooling mug of klah in the dining hall, alone as usual but for the company of his small blue firelizard. Imminth had dropped him off outside the kitchens before flying back up to his weyr, unwilling to hunt in the miserable weather and still sleepy.

As poor as Benden Weyr was these days there weren't many riders taking their morning meal at this hour. Legend said that once this room would have been humming with busy activity at nearly all hours, now it was a wonder if there were more than a wing's worth at the busiest of mealtimes.

Grumbling silently to himself, M'rik mulled over what plans there were for the day. Check on the herdbeasts that were to be delivered to the Weyr, talk to the other riders in the wing and make sure their leathers and harness were still in good repair, plan for training exercises...all of it so much makework. He'd like to get the riders out in this rain, do some maneuvers to keep them accustomed to riding in all conditions, but it wasn't likely to happen these days.

"Shards." A soft lyrical voice whispered as a delicate and small hand touched a bruise that was finally fading.

The young woman ran a brush through her long dark brown hair. Dressed in her typical clothing she wore a long light green skirt and a soft cream tunic shirt that was slightly snug. Light sandals adorned her feet. She finished brushing her hair and took a closer look at the bruise on her face. Her golden eyes flashed angrily. T'san had no business striking her. She was Weyrwoman and rider of Rurith. This was the second time he had hit her, and she swore it would be the last.

T'san had a habit of trying to keep Lana and the Weyr completely under his thumb. He wasn't ready to admit that the Red Star was coming back and a Pass was beginning. He was also not willing to confront the Holders and demand their respect. Lanara, on the other hand, was ready and willing to deal with the problems now before it was too late. She had slowly begun the clean up of the Weyr, but T'san was unwilling to cooperate. She had confronted him one sevenday before and he had gotten angry. He had given her the bruise on her cheek. It was finally fading into her tawny skin tone again. T'san had struck her hard enough to cause Rurith to protest loudly, soon all the dragons were bugling their protests as well. She had quieted them herself because she could speak and hear all the dragons, a fact she kept hidden. But she made no secret of the fact that T'san had given her the bruise and that that was what Rurith had been bothered by. All of the Weyr disapproved.

A soft sigh caped her lips as she finished brushing her hair. Lana was tired, and she did her best to keep it from showing. She gazed out at the weyr and up into the sky silently. The Red Star winked maliciously at her from its position in the sky. Frowning she walked towards Rurith's weyr. {I am awake, Lanara mine.} The dragon's voice was bright and sharp in her mind. {And I am hungry.}

Lana laughed quietly. Rurith was always hungry. She walked into the Queen's weyr and greeted her dragon. Scratching an eyeridge, Rurith let out a croon. {This is nice, but I'm starved} The dragon's whine finally forced Lana to give in. [Alright off to the feeding grounds] She patted the golden queen's head. It a shining blur two flitts came fluttering in, twirling around Rurith's head, to land on Lana's shoulders. Fara and Briel twittered madly at each other for a moment. A sad smile crossed the Weyrwoman's lips as she looked at Briel, who reminded her of Kiri, the flitt who had failed to recover from whatever had injured her. She had accidentally adopted the gold flitt while she was in T'san's room, bonding with the injured and starved creature. Repeatedly she had tried to discover the cause of her injuries and distress but only the image of a hand appeared and the emotion of pain.

When the flitts stopped twittering and chattering so loud in her ear, Lana strolled out of her chambers and toward the outside. Glancing up she saw Rurith had taken off to the Feeding Grounds. Gracefully scooping up her skirt, she ran after the dragon. She knew that soon Rurith would rise, and she was being careful to watch her.

[Is anyone else awake?]

{I am eating.}

[I was just wondering...]

{Eating}

Lanara shook her head, recalling the day she had Impressed the stubborn gold creature who now feasted on the field before her. Rurith had been stubborn then too, nearly killed a girl and almost raked Lanara with her talons had she not stepped out of the way, causing the fledgling to lose her balance and fall. Feeling a bit guilty, Lanara had leaned down to help the small dragon up and immediately the bond was formed. Rurith remarking quite frankly that she should be fed because she was hungry, and Lanara only smiling and leading her off.

Rurith meanwhile was taking down another animal and carrying it to her usual ledge, complaining that the beasts were not fit for a queen. A soft smile inched across the Weyrwoman's lips, indulging the dragon with a remark about how soon it would be better and she would have better. Inwardly she cursed the times and T'san for what he had done to the Weyr. Benden should not have been in this condition. Shivering slightly, Lanara stared out at the grim view. The weather was terrible.

{Rurith is feeding, again.} Imminth's thoughts rumbled into M'rik's half aware thoughts, startling him enough he nearly spilled his klah. Setting the cup down carefully he looked across the room to see if anybody else was paying attention.

[Feeding, or blooding?] He rose from his seat, heading towards the doors of the hall. The bronze's thoughts were colored with amusement as he answered.

{Feeding. If she were blooding her kill, I would have said that.}

Mimer squeakily protested, curling deeper into the warmth of M'rik's collar as the bronze rider stepped outside, looking off towards the Queen's ledge. Her color was brighter today, but not with the incandescent glow a gold dragon would take on just before rising. As he cast his gaze along the rows of cave entrances, he spotted Sith watching Rurith feed with predatory intent. Where the Weyrleader's bronze was, T'san wouldn't be far away.

M'rik scowled darkly, watching the other bronze. It would be nothing short of a disaster if Sith were to rise to Rurith.

{M'rik is awake.}

The gold dragon's bright voice filled Lanara's mind, and she turned to see where he was. A chilled wind blew hard against her, plastering her skirt against her legs and sinking cold air through the sleeves of her tunic. It was going to be a cold season, that was for sure, and Benden was not adequately prepared for it at all. The drizzling rain was beginning to dampen her clothes and cause her hair to curl, and Lanara looked out at the dragon feeding before her. Rurith informed her that Sith was watching, and the small Weyrwoman turned her golden eyes to the bronze, not liking the way he watched her bondmate. T'san was close, and she knew it.

Her eyes flicked to the sky at the Red Star, winking at her maliciously. They had thought it was gone; they believed their nemesis was defeated. And now it threatened them again. That was before the quakes destroyed everything many turns ago, before the terrible shaking of Pern that leveled Weyrs, holds, and destroyed AIVAS. In the mad rush to rebuild the places that had been home, the people had forgotten their technology, they had forgotten their new discoveries. All that was left was the Pern of old, with seven Weyrs and nearly twenty holds falling to rubble and growing green. Her eyes turned back to Pern and the dragons. She would take Rurith between before Sith would be allowed to fly her, and she had made that perfectly clear to T'san a sevenday ago when he had made a remark about what would happen when he was officially Weyrleader. The fool was so confident that Sith could catch Rurith that Lana became infuriated, and her reward was the now fading bruise.

{Your seething is disturbing my meal.} The now much smoother voice of Rurith invaded her thoughts.

[Haven't you had eneough?]

{No}

A bright blur crossed her vision as Briel zoomed past her and toward the Feeding Grounds. The grumble of a disgruntled dragon filtered into her mind, informing her that the "tiny ones" were hungry and should be fed. Briel and Fara were swooping around Rurith's ledge, searching for the Gold's scraps. Rurith knocked the carcass of her latest kill to the ground and took flight. Lanara crossed her arms over her chest, keeping out the cold.

Taking a deep breath, M'rik started off across the grounds, heading over towards the Weyrwoman's quarters, head bowed down against the windy drizzle. As he reached within speaking distance he called up to her ledge.

"Miserable day for a hunt, Milady. If Rurith's willing to wait, there will be a delivery up from the Hold late this afternoon and she'll have better pickings, easier too, since the beasts will be tired from the drive."

He didn't approach any closer. It not only wasn't polite to intrude on another's personal weyr, but it wasn't good politics with T'san's bronze watching on. Arms crossed before him and hunched down into the warmth of his jacket, M'rik simply leaned against the stone wall, taking what shelter he could from the wind as he watched the Queen in flight.