Before the Fall - An AU 9th Pass

[BTF STAFF]

Almost 200 turns ago, Thread failed to fall from the skies, raining down its deadly enemy. Some say that Thread would never fall again, while the dragonriders never stood down its vigilante watch over the skies.

However, it was a mixed blessing that Thread never came. Towards the end of the Lost Pass (as it was come to be known), a terrible airborne flu stuck at the lands of Pern with devastating effects. Dragonriders and Holders fell victim to the disease, which killed off almost a quarter of the population. For Dragonriders, the loss was even more devastating. Only four Queens survived the epidemic; only two of those Queens were still in the prime of their fertile time. The Weyrs struggled with what to do, but soon it became clear that they would have to consolidate their numbers. Closing down first Ista and High Reaches, and then Igen and Telgar when their Queens failed to rise or produce a Queen to replace them. They watched as their numbers dwindle, as more riders died than eggs being laid.

Fast forwards almost 150 turns, Fort and Benden are beginning to once again fill those long empty weyrs, forcing the opening of not only one new weyr but two, High Reaches and Igen. Almost all the Holds had either stopped tithing or cut back their Holds tithes to the bare minimums, giving only their leftovers to the two remaining Weyrs, still there are a few loyal Holds that help keep the Weyrs cupboard from going completely bare. But even with their help, the two Weyrs find that it becomes necessary for them the Dragonriders to enhancement their own incomes by finding jobs.

Fort Weyr
The Weyr of Unbelievers - that is what the 1st Weyr has become known as by those at the 2nd. A Weyr of strict hierarchy and traditionalist, Fort is far from an idyllic place filled with fear and Gold and Bronzeriders are the nobles of the Weyr, getting all the best and don't do any of the work. Brownriders are the true leaders of the Weyr, but don't let those with the ranking dragons know, as some that have voice their concern have disappeared. Women at Fort have almost no rights, instead they are thought of as breeders and drudges. They are only searched for anything but gold, and those that do impress greens are thought of as freaks and are quickly either shipped to Benden or delegated to the lowest rung at Fort.

Telgar Hold
To the Holds, the idea that Thread is coming back is blasphemy to speak of. The tithes have been sending to the weyrs have been getting smaller and smaller with some Holds cutting the Weyrs off completely. Those Holds that are traditionally beholden to Telgar have fought the hardest against the expansion of Fort Weyr and possibly being forced to now tithe to a new weyr. Some say that the Lord Holder just might cause a coop of power. Some Holds have resisted the Telgar philosophy and some have embraced it whole heartily. Strife is inevitable; the question is only when it will happen.

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[BTF STAFF]

Characters needed

K'nan
Requested for Character(s): Board Plot
Age:
Rank: Bronzrider to Philath
Occupation: Weyrleader
Resides: Fort Weyr
General Overview: K’nan has been Weyrleader since the old Weyrwomen died. He isn’t the best leader, but he is a natural leader, nevertheless. He is holder bred, so has the very conservative views about women. He feels that women are second class members of the weyr, and it kills him that Queenriders, technically have more official power over the weyr. Female greenriders are viewed as nothing but sluts and are the lowest person on the totem pole (even lower than the female works in the lower cavern). Because of his ideas about women and his famous temper, he has turned into a “wife beater”. His various lovers also get harsh treatment when he is anger, but he saves most of the beatings for the Senior Weyrwomen, due to his anger that she holds his position in her hands when her Gold flights. His greatest frear is that Thread isn’t truly gone, and that he will lose his position as Weyrleader.
Needed for: This character is a pivotal character for the success of the weyr. He will be the main villain of the weyr.

B’mal
Requested for Character(s): Sarich
Age: 25-35
Rank: Bronzerider or wingsecond, dragon’s name up to the player
Occupation: Up to the player
Resides: Fort Weyr
General Overview: The holdbred father of Sarich’s son Saribromal. They had a casual relationship but it meant a lot to him that she named the son after him and he is much more fond of and affectionate with the boy than Sarich. Expects his bronze to win Haduth’s first flight and thinks he should be made a wingleader.
Needed for: Romance and general plottyness.
Additional: He’s mentioned in the RP sample in Sarich’s character sheet. Was mentioned as having a secret affair with M’fane, but that's negotiable too.

Also needed

Candidates
Weyrlings (the current class is 10 months old)
Brown, blue and greenriders
Crafters of all kinds

[BTF Staff]

Currently Happening at Before the Fall
Senior queen Orlaith has laid a record setting 28 egg-clutch on the sands of Fort Weyr. Unfortunately, the Weyr does not have nearly enough boys to present to her eggs. The acceptable age range of candidates has been widened in special cases (more like most cases) but boys are hard to come by. The queens of Fort have been producing larger and larger clutches over the Turns, and holders are getting tired of losing their sons to the Weyr. The Lower Caverns boys are being pressed into Standing, whether they want to or not and whether they’re really candidate material or not.

To combat this problem Weyrwoman Julianya has decided to allow girls to Stand at the Hatching, despite there being no gold egg present.

Calling her decision a bit of a controversy would be a vast understatement. The Weyr is divided between those who think it’s a terrible idea (a camp that includes the Weyrleader and some of the goldriders) and those that think it’s the best solution to the problem. A smaller, much less vocal minority thinks it’s about sharding time.

The always volatile Weyrleader is raging, claiming this will be the ruination of the wings, the Weyr and possibly all of Pern. Girls in the Lower Caverns are being harassed, warned off from the clutch. Searchriders have been dispatched to the holds, ordered to ignore their feelings on the matter and bring back both boys and girls. Female greenriders have always face a hard time at Fort Weyr, but the soon-to-be weyrlings are going to need a lot of moxie to make it through.

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Before the Fall is looking for those willing for a few good players to play candidates for the next hatching coming up the beginning of December.

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