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Graduation

Month 13 – Sevendays 49-52
Topics/Accomplishments for this month:

• Between Coordinates: Igen, Ista and Telgar Weyrs; Igen, Keroon, Nerat, Ista, and Telgar Holds. Please note that riders are expected to know many more varied coordinates in the territory they protect. In other areas of Pern, fewer coordinates are the norm and hence it takes less time to learn.

• Intermediate Aerial Drills begin: including first rope drills
• Night flying – including learning about star charts

Sevenday One

Day 1
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: intro to the use of star charts and Spring Star Charts
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Spring Star Charts
Afternoon Training – First Intermediate Aerial Drill
Day 2
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Spring Star Charts
Morning Training – Between Practice
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Spring Star Charts
Afternoon Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Cibryen Hold
Day 3
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Igen Weyr and Igen Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 4
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Igen Weyr and Igen Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 5
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Keroon and Nerat Holds
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Lemos and Bitra Holds
Day 6
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Keroon and Nerat Holds
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 7 – Rest Day

Sevenday Two

Day 8
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Summer Star Charts
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Summer Star Charts
Afternoon Training – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Day 9
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Summer Star Charts
Morning Training – Between Practice
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Summer Star Charts
Afternoon Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Igen Weyr and Igen Hold
Day 10
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Ista Weyr and Ista Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 11
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Ista Weyr and Ista Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 12
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Telgar Weyr and Telgar Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Keroon and Nerat Holds
Day 13
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Telgar Weyr and Telgar Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 14 – Rest Day

Sevenday Three

Day 15
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Autumn Star Charts
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Autumn Star Charts
Afternoon Training – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Day 16
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Autumn Star Charts
Morning Training – Between Practice
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Autumn Star Charts
Afternoon Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Ista Weyr and Ista Hold
Day 17
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Nabol and Crom Holds
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 18
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Nabol and Crom Holds
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 19
Morning Lecture – Introduction to Thread
Morning Training – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Telgar Weyr and Telgar Hold
Day 20
Morning Lecture – Introduction to Thread, continued
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 21 – Rest Day

Sevenday Four

Day 22
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Winter Star Charts
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Winter Star Charts
Afternoon Training – First Intermediate Aerial Rope Drill
Day 23
Morning Lecture – Night Flying: Winter Star Charts
Morning Training – Between Practice
Afternoon Lecture – Night Flying: Winter Star Charts
Afternoon Training – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to Nabol and Crom Holds
Day 24
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates Review
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 25
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates Review
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 26
Morning Lecture – Introduction to Threadfighting
Morning Training – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Night Training – going between to all places learned
Day 27
Morning Lecture - Introduction to Threadfighting, continued
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss (bags ¾ full)
Day 28 – Rest Day

Month 14 – Sevendays 53-56
Topics/Accomplishments for this month:

• Between Coordinates: High Reaches and Fort Weyrs; High Reaches, Tillek, Ruatha, Fort and Southern Boll Holds
• Going between in small group formations
  Advanced Aerial Drills begin
• Threadfighting lectures and discussions continue
• Threadfall charts
• Basic Defense and Dueling

Sevenday One

Day 1
Morning Lecture – Threadfighting
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags full from now on)
Afternoon Lecture – Threadfighting
Afternoon Training – First Advanced Aerial Drill
Day 2
Morning Lecture – Threadfighting
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags full from now on)
Afternoon Lecture – Threadfighting
Afternoon Training – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 3
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: High Reaches Weyr and High Reaches Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 4
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: High Reaches Weyr and High Reaches Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 5
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Tillek and Ruatha Holds
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 6
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Tillek and Ruatha Holds
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 7 – Rest Day

Sevenday Two

Day 8
Morning Lecture – Threadfall Charts: introduction
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags full from now on)
Afternoon Lecture – Threadfall Charts: how to read
Afternoon Training – First Advanced Aerial Drill
Day 9
Morning Lecture – Threadfall Charts: how to read
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags full from now on)
Afternoon Lecture – Threadfall Charts: how to read
Afternoon Training – Advanced Aerial Drills
Night Training: going between to High Reaches Weyr and High Reaches Hold
Day 10
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Fort Weyr and Fort Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 11
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Fort Weyr and Fort Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 12
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Southern Boll Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Night Training – going between to Tillek and Ruatha Holds
Day 13
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Southern Boll Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 14 – Rest Day

Sevenday Three

Day 15
Morning Lecture – Threadfall Charts: how to read
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags full from now on)
Afternoon Lecture – Threadfighting
Afternoon Training – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 16
Morning Lecture – Threadfall Charts: how to read
Morning Training – Dragon Toss (bags full from now on)
Afternoon Lecture – Threadfighting
Afternoon Training – Advanced Aerial Drills
Night Training: going between to Fort Weyr and Fort Hold
Day 17
Morning Training I – Between Coordinates: Fort Weyr and Fort Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 18
Morning Training I – Betweening in small groups of 3-5 to Cibryen Hold
Morning Training II – Between Practice (coordinates)
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 19
Morning Training I – Betweening in small groups of 3-5 to various locations
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 20
Morning Training I – Betweening in small groups of 3-5 to various locations
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 21 – Rest Day

Sevenday Four

Day 22
Morning Lecture – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed Techniques
Morning Training – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Afternoon Lecture – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed Techniques
Afternoon Training – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Day 23
Morning Training I – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 24
Morning Training I – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 25
Morning Training I – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 26
Morning Training I – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 27
Morning Training I – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Morning Training II – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training I – Dragon Toss
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 28 – Rest Day

Month 15 – Sevendays 57-60
Topics/Accomplishments for this month:

• Going Between in wings and larger formations
• Advanced Aerial Drills continue, including flaming during rope drills
• Chewing Firestone and Flaming
• Basic Defense and Dueling continues
• First Threadfall!

Sevenday One

Day 1
Morning Lecture: Fear of Flaming
Morning Training: Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Afternoon Lecture: The process of chewing firestone and flaming
Afternoon Training: Dragon Toss
Day 2
Morning Lecture: Fear of Flaming and Safety while flaming
Morning Training: Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Lecture: The process of chewing firestone and flaming
Afternoon Training: First time at chewing firestone and flaming
Day 3
Morning Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Morning Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Afternoon Training I – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 4
Morning Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Morning Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training I – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 5
Morning Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Morning Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Unarmed
Afternoon Training I – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 6
Morning Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Morning Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training – Between Practice singles and small groups
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 7 – Rest Day

Sevenday Two

Day 8
Morning Lecture – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed Techniques
Morning Training – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed (wooden knives only)
Afternoon Lecture – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed Techniques
Afternoon Training – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed (wooden knives only)
Day 9
Morning Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Morning Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training I – Between Practice in wing formations
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 10
Morning Training I – Between Practice in wing formations
Morning Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed (wooden knives only)
Afternoon Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 11
Morning Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Morning Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training – Between Practice in wing formations
Afternoon Training II – Dragon Toss
Day 12
Morning Training I – Between Practice in wing formations
Morning Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed (wooden knives only)
Afternoon Training I – Chewing Firestone and Flaming
Afternoon Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 13
Morning Training I – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed (wooden knives only)
Morning Training II – Between Practice in wing formations
Afternoon Lecture – Basic Aerial Drills and Flaming
Afternoon Training – First Basic Aerial Drill while flaming
Day 14 – Rest Day

Sevenday Three – all aerial drills from this point on will include flaming at least part of the time

Day 15
Morning Training I – Between Practice in wing formations
Morning Training – Dragon health check and bath (WLM checks every dragon/talks with rider)
Afternoon Training I – Basic Aerial Drills while flaming
Afternoon Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed/Unarmed
Day 16
Morning Lecture – preparing for Threadfall
Morning Training – Between Practice in wing formations
Afternoon Training I – Basic Aerial Drill while flaming
Afternoon Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed/Unarmed
Day 17
Morning Lecture – preparing for Threadfall, review
Morning Training – Between Practice in wing formations
Afternoon Training I – First Intermediate Aerial Drill while flaming
Afternoon Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed/Unarmed
Day 18
Morning Training I – preparing for Threadfall, practicum
Morning Training II – Between Practice in wing formations
Afternoon Training I – Intermediate Aerial Drills while flaming
Afternoon Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed/Unarmed
Day 19
Morning Training I and II – Threadfall Drill, start to finish, no flaming during rope drill
Afternoon Lecture – Weyrling Q&A regarding Threadfall (and any other issues)
Afternoon Training – First Aid Review
Day 20
Morning Training – Individual conferences with the WLM (free time until your conference)
Afternoon Training I and II – Threadfall Drill, start to finish, no flaming during rope drill
Day 21 – Rest Day

Sevenday Four – Weyrlings' first Threadfall will be the first Threadfall during this or the next sevenday. It does not appear on the schedule itself since it is impossible to say when exactly it would occur. Weyrlings follow the regular schedule until that day, and then they prepare to fly Thread just like a regular Fighting Wing.

Day 22
Morning Lecture: Threadfall Q&A with dragonriders
Morning Training: First Advanced Aerial Drill while flaming (includes betweening)
Afternoon Lecture: continuation of morning lecture, with Wingleaders
Afternoon Training: Advanced Aerial Drills
Day 23
Morning Lecture: Fear of Threadfall
Morning Training: Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Lecture: Fear of Threadfall and Q&A with Weyrleader
Afternoon Training: Between Practice in wing formations
Day 24
Morning Training I and II – Threadfall Drill, start to finish with flaming during rope drill
Afternoon Training I – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed/Unarmed
Day 25
Morning Training I – Between Coordinate practicum review (scavenger hunt)
Morning Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training I and II – Threadfall Drill, start to finish, no flaming during rope drill
Day 26
Morning Training I and II – Threadfall Drill, start to finish with flaming during rope drill
Afternoon Training I – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training II – Basic Defense/Fighting: Armed/Unarmed
Day 27
Morning Training I – Between Coordinate practicum review: Cibryen Weyr Territory
Morning Training II – Advanced Aerial Drills
Afternoon Training I and II – Threadfall Drill, start to finish, no flaming during rope drill
Day 28 – Rest Day

Month 16 – Sevendays 61-64
Topics/Accomplishments for this month:

• 
  Between Coordinates: Southern Continent
• Advanced Aerial Drills continue
• Threadfall lectures: Fighting Wings at different altitudes
• Threadfighting continues and grows in complexity
• Defense and Dueling: advanced techniques

Month 17 – Sevendays 65-68
Topics/Accomplishments for this month:

• Advanced Aerial Drills continue
• Threadfighting continues – small Weyrling groups are placed into existing Fighting Wings to gain experience at other altitudes and in Wing integration
• Defense and Dueling: advanced techniques

Month 18 – Sevendays 69-72
Topics/Accomplishments for this month:

• Advanced Aerial Drills continue (and will continue until graduation)
• Threadfighting continues
• Mating Flights
• Search Dragons and Search procedures
• Defense and Dueling: Advanced Techniques
• Mid-Air Rescues are taught to the bronzes and golds, but everyone (including every bronze and gold) must take a turn at being rescued. This involves letting yourself "fall" off of your dragon and being caught. This also involves your dragon pretending to fall and being caught.

Weyrling Graduation

As stated before, there is no "graduation ceremony" per se – once a Weyrling has completed his/her eighteen months of training, graduation is imminent. This is a personal and single event: it is exactly the same as the "walking the tables" you find in the Crafts.

The WLM and his assistants get together and discuss the Weyrlings – which ones are ready for graduation, which ones are not and what extra training they need to get them ready. Then, the WLM takes the list of those who are ready to the Weyrleader and talks it over with him. The WLM gives the Weyrleader his impression of each Weyrling, as well as his ideas on where the Weyrling might best fit in. Then, his job is done. The Weyrleader takes the list and meets with his Wingleaders and they decide what Weyrling will go to which wing. Due to injury and death, there are always openings in Fighting Wings. These are the openings that are filled by the new graduates. This first posting to a Wing is not always final – if the "fit" is not right, the Weyrling can be moved to another Wing until he/she finds his/her best place.

The graduation ceremony consists of the Wingleader of the Fighting Wing to which the Weyrling has been assigned coming up to the Weyrling at the Weyrling Table during the evening meal, placing his hand on the Weyrling's shoulder, and saying the traditional, "The Weyrleader has allowed me to ride with you." Then, the Weyrling gets up and walks with the Wingleader to his new seat at the table of his Fighting Wing. Only the very rare Weyrling is ever chosen by the Weyrleader himself – vacancies in his Wing are almost always filled by experienced riders from other Wings.

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