world :: guides :: timeline :: maps :: dragon*con notes :: riding straps :: renewable airforce :: firelizards
Notice: These are simply discussions, and not intended to be absolute canon. This is the product of many weyrs and people working together, and I didn't get ALL the information. These pages are subject to change as I compile the notes of all the BoD. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. These are not necessarily canon, and Cibryen doesn't necessarily adhere to all of these. This is simply here for those who couldn't come to Dragon*Con.
All that Glitters :: Crafters :: Dragonhealing - Their blood is green :: Dragon Sex :: Healer Hall :: Renewable Airforce :: Weyrling Training
One person cannot possibly train all the weyrlings. The Weyrlingmaster is more of an administrator. Assistants are sometimes promoted weyrlings, and can be any color at all.
Its handled like a military organization. Weyrling no rank, and are a little higher than drudges, but are the absolute lowest on the dragonrider totem pole. The training is very physical...you can't be a weakling. Chores serve dual purposes...to keep weyrlings busy, and to build strength and stamina.
There are two levels of weyrlings...junior and senior. Senior weyrlings are old enough to fly and go between on their own, while juniors cannot. Senior riders are sometimes posted to holds as go-betweens. Juniors sort and bag firestone, and also help the healers and other crafters.
Firestone must be understood at an instinctual level..a weyrling muse be able to grade a piece of firestone by simply looking at it. They will learn to sort, weigh, and bag it, and prepare it for Fall. The "firestone toss" is an exercise they will practice until they can do it in their sleep. During Fall, stone refills must be tossed between dragons, which is a great distance, and requires much strength to accomplish.
Dragons are still animals. Must be cared for. Dragons get to hunt, and the messier the first hunt, the more fun they have. Weyrlings are inexperiences, and naturally can't kill cleanly. Finesse comes with age.
All colors receive basic diplomacy training. All riders are ambassadors for their weyr when they leave it, and all eyes are upon them. All riders need to understand basic diplomacy, tact, and politics, but metallic riders tend to get more training in it. Basic ettiquette is an absolute must. Dragonriders aren't pigs, even if their dragons are. :oD
Young dragons don't just lie around waiting for their weyrlings to get out of class. They need to play and exercise, and build up strength themselves. They are predators. Think of a pride of lions. They will wrestle, play, flap their wings, and run about, strengthening wings, shoulders, and their entire bodies. They could injure each other accidentally, but never on purpose. They are large, and do have teeth and claws. Bonds between dragons will form, just like with human friends. They are young, though, and will do stupid things in the way of all young things. They most certainly could hurt themselves.
Weyrling training is very repetitive..dragons don't have any memory, and must be conditioned to do their tasks..a dragon doesn't remember how to flame, but is conditioned from an early age. A lot of the training is simply reinforcing instincts. Some, the dragons will pull from their riders' minds, so the better their riders know, the better they will know.
People don't really use dragons for transportation around the weyr. While some of the weyrlings' duties are ferrying about the weyr, but they aren't going to be available all the time. They just don't have time.
Most candidates have never been between, and the only time they have ever gone was when they came to the weyr. It is very rare not to lose at least one weyrling the first time they go between. 1/4 to 1/3 of a given class won't ever make it to graduation.
Weyrlings must be taught how to handle a mating flight. Undoubtedly they have heard a lot of myths and rumors which must be disspelled. Absolutely NO sexual contact is permitted before a dragon rises for the first time, and they aren't permitted to have any alchohol either. In the event a weyrling DOES have sexual contact, the dragon may rise early. Dragons will broadcast loudly, and can't handle confusing and overwhelming emotions. The same principle as not having sex in the room with a five year old. They just don't understand.
Until they are old enough to fly thread, weyrlings serve as ground crews. They can use agenothree tanks to help the ground crews. When they are old enough to fly, they can ferry firestone to riders fighting Thread. Many weyrlings are blooded during this phase, and it is not uncommon to lose them to Thread. It is their first real exposure to this age-old menace.
Exceptional browns are often singled out for the same training that bronzes receive.
Timing it
is very dangerous, and absolutely NOT taught. Most riders probably figure
it out, but any rider caught doing so will expect severe punishment for their
efforts.