Candidate Guide

Many people wish to play candidates in Pern Fandom; almost everyone, in fact. The allure is obvious; playing hatchings is exciting and enjoyable, and everyone wants to start at the beginning with their dragons, I suppose. This means that even when there are no eggs on the sands, many weyrs have an influx of the pimply-faced pipsqueaks (dragonrider hopefuls, that is), and a lot of the time don't really know what to do with them.

Firstly, what is a candidate? A candidate is a person of appropriate age - 12-22 for males, 15-25 for females - who has some latent empathic ability that makes them compatible with dragons and dragonets. They are usually fairly intelligent (that is, no severely mentally handicapped people), fairly strong-willed, and must always be in good physical health (this includes not being pregnant), to stand. That being said, I do not want a lot of Lessa clones - being strong-willed does not necessarily mean being a noble heroine or (as some people prefer to interpret Lessa) a manipulative shrew. People can be strong in more quiet ways, such as being morally steadfast or stubborn, or in loud and disruptive ways, such as having a disregard for rules. Just because a person isn't weak-willed doesn't mean that they are necessarily restrained to a cookie-cutter personality.

That being said, a candidate is unlikely to be a very shy, timid person who cannot think well for themselves, or panics in a crisis. Even greenriders have to have some inner strength; they, too, are subjected to the rigors of thread and the stress of flights, in which a weak person might end up losing their dragon. Brown, Bronze, and Goldriders are highly unlikely to be very timid sorts, though, again, there are many forms in which a lack of timidity may show.

Candidates are usually not crafters of any level higher than apprentice, and apprentices are not often taken on as candidates, for fear of alienating and offending masters who don't want their young talent appropriated by the Weyr. Youths in the Hold and Weyr are usually prefered. Many of these youths may have no skill that is useful in the Weyr. Therefore, during time periods in which no clutch is on the sands, Candidates have roughly the same status as drudges. Weyrbrats with ranking status may get preferential status, but the candidates who chose to stay at the Weyr (some do return to their Holds or Halls) are expected to work, often in menial positions.

During a clutching-hatching season, however, candidates suddenly become the focus of the Weyr's attention. These are the people who will be impressing, who will be riding the future dragons. Some candidates will become subjects of bets, as to what color they will impress; when a queen egg comes up, wagers on the lucky impresee are common. Candidates are also exempt from many usual duties; while they still have chores, much time is devoted to lessons, and not just candidate classes - illiterate candidates will be taught to read. Candidate classes themselves will usually concern protocol for egg touchings, behavior during the hatching, how to care for an infant dragonet, how to feed them, how to soothe a frighened hatchling, how to attract the hatchlings, sewing of the candidate robes, and even some lectures on anatomy and dragonhealing from the Weyr's Master Healer.

There are usually two to three sessions of egg touchings for the candidates; each candidate is instructed to handle the eggs very carefully and always show the greatest deference to the queen. Misbehavior on the sands will result in immideate and permanent expulsion from candidacy. When there is a queen egg, the girls are all to file past it and touch it, and then move on; it is generally dissapproved of when females devote their attention to 'male' eggs, and even more so if there is no queen egg on the sands.

On hatching day, all candidates assemble on the sands, in a wide arc around the eggs. If there is a queen egg, the girls will circle around it; otherwise, all females standing join the boys. Candidates will usually have been instructed to get out of the way if a dragonet heading for them is obviously looking for another; usually injuries are low at Atora. The Weyrlingmaster takes over after all dragonets are paired off, and the CandidateMaster does his best to console those left behind.

IC Candidate Rules

All candidates must be in good physical health, missing no limbs, having no serious handicaps, and not being grossly overweight or pregnant.
All candidates must have no criminal record, and must not have been pronounced mentally unsound by a qualified healer or mindhealer.
All candidates must be unmarried, and should have no dependants (children without foster parents, younger siblings, etc).
All candidates are to obey the CandidateMaster, his assistants, the WeyrlingMaster, his assistants, and the Weyrleaders and Headwoman at all times. Disobedience or disrespect may result in expulsion from candidacy.
All candidates are to obey a strict curfew and return to their quarters either in the Candidate Barracks (males) or lower caverns (females) by the ninth candlemark every evening.
Use of alcohol or any mind-altering drug, including fellis when not prescribed by a healer, is prohibited, and may result in expulsion from candidacy.
Sexual relationships with other candidates, riders, or weyrfolk when a clutch is on the sands is prohibited.
Candidates are prohibited from entering the hatching grounds when not escorted by the CandidateMaster, his assistants, the Weyrlingmaster, his assistants, or with direct permission from the clutching gold's rider.
All Candidates are to have a respectful and cheerful demeanor as befits future riders of Atora Weyr. They should always be courteous, respectful, and willing to help, and their attitude should always be that of one eager to learn and obey.