Joining

Adoptables

Weyrling Training

Candidate Training

Clutch Charts

Timeline

Requirements

Ninth Pass

Weyrling Training

The purpose and goals of Weyrling training are:

1. Acquaint the Weyrling with the demands and rewards of Impression
2. Accustom the Weyrling to working as part of a team with other dragonriders as assignments demand, and to prepare the Weyrling for further training upon assignment to a regular Wing.
3. Train the Weyrling in the tactics and strategies of fighting Thread.

Pre-Impression Training: The Weyrling training staff realizes that all Candidates come to Cibryen with a wide range of skills and various levels of maturity (Candidates who have skills are expected to assist those who do not). The Pre-Impression program is designed to redress deficiencies in all Candidates, and prepare them for Hatching Day and a possible life as a Cibryen dragonrider. The primary thrust behind Pre-Impression is to get the Candidates used to Weyrlife and to the concept of the Hatching. The calmer a Candidate is on Hatching Day, the better his chances of surviving unharmed. Those who do not Impress are examined by the Weyrhealers for injury, and are then returned home or to the Weyrling Barracks if they wish to stand for the next Hatching. Candidates receive instruction in the following:

• What to expect on the Hatching Grounds. This includes discussions and numerous visits.
• The care and feeding of young dragonets
• Weyr life and etiquette, primarily concerning Weyr rank structure
• Literacy training when and if required

Weyrling training begins almost immediately. It continues for at least eighteen months, and may be longer if the WLM feels that a Weyrling is not ready to graduate. That's right: there is no big graduation ceremony for all Weyrlings. After a Weyrling has been fully trained, the WLM decides when each Weyrling is ready to graduate and informs the Weyrleader, who then talks with his Wingleaders and finds a place for the new rider in a Fighting Wing.

The training schedule is on an eighteen-month (with 28 days each), 72-sevenday program, as listed below. For the first six months, all Weyrlings have the same schedule and complete the same activities, not matter what color dragon they ride. Later on, browns, bronzes and golds receive extra instruction to prepare them for leadership roles, while greens and blues get some extra flying instruction dealing with aerobatical maneuvering.

After the first six months, you will see fewer review sessions - this is because Weyrlings are expected to review past information on their own - there WILL be quizzes and drills on information!

Generic Daily Schedule:

Morning Work Duties
Breakfast
Morning Lecture and Q&A
Morning Training Sessions
Care/Feeding of Dragon - dragons MUST be oiled daily * OR Afternoon Work Duties †
Noon Meal (not at the same time every day)
Care/Feeding of Dragon - dragons MUST be oiled daily * OR Afternoon Work Duties †
Afternoon Lecture and Q&A
Afternoon Training Sessions
Evening Meal
Evening Work Duties
Curfew - this is strictly enforced. All Weyrlings must be in the Barracks, and the WLM or Assistant WLMs will be checking!

Each class gets one day off per sevenday, but different Weyrling classes never have the same day off. This ensures that there are always Weyrlings to handle the work duties and other tasks. Note that, in the case of this guide, a "sevenday" does not necessarily refer to the "typical calendar" Pern sevenday. For example, if your Impression was on the third day of the sevenday, then each sevenday actually begins on the fourth day of the typical sevenday. This means that your rest day will then fall on every third day of each sevenday thereafter.

* This rotates - on some days, you will go in the first group and on other days, in the second
†Again, this rotates as with dragon care.

Now, this daily schedule is tweaked on days when Thread is due to fall - for the day or two prior to Threadfall, all Weyrlings work to fill firestone sacks (if necessary) and help with any other necessary Fall preparations (could include helping the Healers roll bandages, etc). If the class has yet to be trained in sorting, then they will tie off the sacks, help shovel already-sorted firestone, etc.

To continue, you need to select the appropriate Guide. Be aware that, when reading these more detailed schedules, the actual lessons on days may change. These are SAMPLE schedules that show you what you will learn and when - but if you see a quiz in Month Seven on Day 23, it may actually be anywhere around there within a few days.

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