Weyrling Guide

Weyrlinghood is, as many riders will testify, the most difficult period of many people's lives. Suddenly, you are no longer a civilian. You are a trainee, learning how to defend your planet from a deadly attack. You also have to care for a gigantic baby, who at any time may contact you through a mental bond. It is a completely alien feeling for most, and strengthening this bond is one of the major duties of a Weyrling. In effect, Weyrlinghood is like basic training on steroids - not only do you have to get up at dawn and train, you have to do it while caring for an infant. There's no chance to drop out, and the punishment for screwing up is losing your lifemate. Stressful doesn't even begin to describe it.

Impressing a dragon is the equivalent of selling your soul, or signing a life-long contract. Until your or your dragon's death, you're stuck in one career, and precious few riders want to die or live after their dragon's death. New weyrlings will have a lot to think of when they aren't busy or too tired to do anything but sleep; some may begin to doubt their chosen careers.

There are some plusses, though. Knowing that you are loved totally and unconditionally by another sentient creature is an incredible feeling; new Weyrlings will be on something of a high for a while, rather like being in love for the first time. They'll have the joys of raising their dragonet, the same joys as a parent, in that they'll see their infant learn, grow, and mature into a fully equal partner. It's a tough period in time, but there are few dragonriders who regret impression, though they may not love their lives.

IC Rules and Schedule:

The WeyrlingMaster is to be obeyed at all times, as are his assistants and the Weyrleaders. Orders from the WeyrlingMaster's dragon and those of his assistants and the Weyrleaders to your dragonet are to be obeyed at all times.
No Weyrling is to participate in a sexual relationship with another Weyrling, Rider, or Lower Caverns worker. Infractions of this rule will be met with up to 10 lashes of the whip at the Weyrlingmaster's discretion and loss of privileges.
The use of alcohol or other mind-altering substances not approved by a healer are strictly prohibited. Infractions of this rule will be met with loss of privileges.
Weyrlings are to rise at the fifth candlemark after midnight to prepare their dragonet's breakfast. Weyrlings whose dragonets are hunting are allowed to rise at 5:30; those with dragonets over a year old are allowed to sleep until 5:45 if their dragonet is not feeding on that day.
After feeding their dragonets, Weyrlings are to bathe and oil their dragonets before proceeding to their own breakfast. Weyrlings are to have finished with breakfast and be in a classroom or an assigned meeting place by 7:30, no exceptions.
Morning classes and drills will end at 11:00. Weyrlings with dragons under two months will prepare their dragonets' midday meals and baths; older Weyrlings will have chore duties.
Chore duties for Weyrlings without infant dragonets will end at noon. There will be a half-hour break for lunch, and afternoon classes will begin at 12:30 sharp, no exceptions.
Afternoon classes and drills will end at 4:30. Those with dragonets under four months will prepare their dragonets' evening meals and baths. Weyrlings with older dragonets have chore duties.
Chore duties end at 6:00. After bunking down their dragonets for the night, Weyrlings will break for evening meal and free time. Evening classes will commence at 7:00 sharp, no exceptions.
Evening classes end at 8:30. Weyrlings have freetime until 9:30 sharp, after which they must be in their barracks, no exceptions.
Those who are tardy for classes, chore duties, or curfews will be put on bread-and-water rations; repeat offenders may be given extra chores during freetime, be restricted from all gathers and feasts, or given up to 5 lashes at the Weyrlingmaster's discretion.

Monthly Class Information

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month One
The first month of Weyrlinghood is an exciting but hectic one. Weyrlings will learn how to care for their lifemate, basic dragonhealing and first aid, how to strengthen their mental bonds, how to control strong emotions, and how to reassure an infant dragonet. Save the flying and betweening lessons, this is the most dangerous period of Weyrlinghood.
1	Infant	How to feed, bathe, oil, and otherwise care for your dragonet; how to tie your new shoulder knots; strengthening the mental bond.
2	Infant	Dragonhealing first-aid; more on strengthening the mental bond; beginning of physical exercise with dragonets.
3	Infant	Basic dragonhealing lessons; lessons on dragon anatomy; more on strengthening the mental bond; more physical exercise with dragonets - stretching, lifting easy weights, exercising wing muscles.
4	Infant	First sevenday of self-defense for humans, with Weyrguards; lessons on nutrition for dragonets; first-aid for humans; more on strengthening mental bond; more physical exercises; first assesment meetings alone with Weyrlingmaster.

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Two
Month Two, known as "the end of the honeymoon" among the Weyrling Staff, is when the real work begins. Classes become more advanced, physical exercise and drill become tougher, and queen weyrlings are partially separated from the group to begin training for their duties as weyrwomen and goldriders.
1	Infant	Firestone - theory of consumption rate, quality, density, weight. Quantity needed for a green, blue, brown, bronze dragon in fall. Continuing physical exercise and self-defense classes.
2	Infant	Firestone drills begin - Learning how to bag; speed drills; Race at end of sevenday, relay style, in teams; More physical exercise; self defense; checkup with dragonhealer on growth and health of dragonet.
3	Infant	More Firestone drills; competitions on best sorted, fastest made bagging; more physical exercise; self defense classes. Gold Weyrlings - first meeting with Jr. Weyrwoman or Weyrwoman, to discuss general duties of a goldrider.
4	Infant	Firestone drills begin - tossing, in pairs, trios, quartets, and quintets; running and tossing at the same time; race at end of week; Meeting with Weyrlingmaster for monthly assesment. Gold Weyrlings - meet with assigned tutor (Jr. Weyrwoman or lower-level goldrider) for meeting with headwoman.

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Three
This month introduces Ground Drills and formation marching, along with more firestone practice. "Wings" are formed from the weyrlings, and a leader for each "wing" is chosen by the WeyrlingMaster. Complicated formations are marched in the wings. Self-Defense classes wind down towards the end of the month.
1	Junior	More firestone drills; Beginning of ground drills - learning to march, meet tempo, turn and reverse on command; continuing physical exercise; self defense. Gold Weyrlings - work with tutor in lower caverns; accompanying tutor for dealings with Headwoman, support staff.
2	Junior	Firestone continues - work on weyrling chain, bagging firestone and tossing at same time; ground drills continue, more complex - divided into "wings" of 5-6 weyrlings each, marching in patterns at a tempo; "wing" leaders selected by WeyrlingMaster and Assistants; physical exercise continues; self-defense continues. Gold Weyrlings - more work in lower caverns with tutor, work on record-keeping.
3	Junior	Firestone drills; continuing ground drills - "wings" march in formation, now along with dragonets; checkup for dragonets by healers; self-defense; physical exercise. Gold Weyrlings - more work in lower caverns, more with record-keeping.
4	Junior	Self-Defense classes graduate; firestone drills; beginning of feeding firestone to dragonets; continuing ground drills; physical exercise; meeting with WeyrlingMaster for monthly assesment. Gold Weyrlings - record-keeping, hide preservation techniques, calligraphy.

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Four
While before much of the classes were done while the dragonet was asleep or resting in the barracks, the dragonets, which should now be feeding only once or twice a day, will be part of all ground drills and some of the firestone drills. Gold Weyrlings will become increasingly separated, as they won't participate in the firestone classes or all of the marching drills.
1	Junior	First leave! Two days without lessons, still chore duty. Firestone drills - bagging, marching, throwing; Ground drills - "wings" will now march in more complex patterns with dragonets and while tossing firestone bags; physical exercise increases, with more focus on building wing muscles in the dragonets; Weyrling Staff's dragons will begin bringing un-chopped food for dragonets. Gold Weyrlings - more record-keeping and calligraphy; protocol and decorum lessons will begin.
2	Junior	Firestone drills step up - work in chains to supply senior weyrlings who fly the sacks to the wings during threadfall, or, if during interval, to supply wing drills; ground drills become more complex again - "wings" drill together, following same patterns and separate intervals; physical exercise. Gold Weyrlings - more protocol and decorum lessons; more calligraphy.
3	Junior	Firestone drills; ground drills - "wings" march with dragonets in more complicated formations; tossing firestone sacks while marching in formation; checkup with healers for dragonets. Gold Weyrlings - more protocol and decorum; meeting crafters and support staff of weyr.
4	Junior	Firestone drills; ground drills; Classes with harpers for pertinent teaching songs; Meeting with Weyrlingmaster for monthly assesment. Gold Weyrlings - formal dinner with Weyrwoman and tutor at end of week to display knowledge of decorum and protocol at meeting with dignitary.

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Five
Month Five is one of the most stressful periods for the Weyrlingmasters. The dragonets, now large and strong enough, will begin unmanned flights. At the end of the month, they will hunt their own meals with the WeyrlingMaster's dragon assisting. Lessons on flight theory for the riders will begin, along with more ground drills. Firestone drills will begin to take a lesser place.
1	Junior	Flight Theory classes begin - riders study basic meterology and how weather conditions affect flight; dragonets exercise their wingmuscles in the lake through swimming; ground drills. Gold Weyrlings - begin studying teaching songs with tutor and Weyrharper.
2	Junior	First flights! Dragonets take off, unmanned, from a slight ledge and glide a dragonlength before landing, followed by a checkup from the healers; more flight theory for weyrlings; ground drills; firestone drills. Gold Weyrlings - more teaching ballads.
3	Junior	Flight theory classes; more unmanned flights; more exercise of wing muscles in lake through swimming. Gold Weyrlings - more teaching ballads; lessons on the names of the Lord Holders, Master Craftsmen and Weyrleaders of Pern, as well as important minor holders and hallmasters.
4	Junior	Ground drills integrate dragonet flights - short, unmanned flights of dragonets during drill, while riders march and toss firestone sacks; More wing exercises; meeting with Weyrleader for monthly assesment. Gold Weyrlings - review and examinations on knowledge of teaching ballads, pernese leaders.

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Six
In Month Six, the dragonets are deemed old enough to bear a rider. Excited young Weyrling Pairs will be inspected by the Weyrlingmaster before being allowed to take a short glide. They will then repeat this exercise twice more, to instill confidence, before the next pair is allowed to try their wings. Also in this month, the Goldrider's real training begins. She will spend far less time with the rest of the Weyrlings, attending only the important classes. She will begin to study Pernese economics and logistics - that is, how much food, clothing, water, and other supplies it takes to run a Weyr.
1	Junior	Manned Flights begin! Each weyrling pair takes three short glides, followed by checkup with healers; more flight theory; classes on noting wing strain and fatigue in dragonets; lecture from WeyrlingMaster on how long and far is appropriate for a weyrling dragon to fly. Gold Weyrlings - meeting with Sr. Weyrwoman to discuss progress, along with tutor; class with tutor on supply vs. demand and rationing supplies.
2	Junior	Continuing flight classes - Weyrlings take short flight around WeyrBowl, followed by checkup with healer; further lectures on flight theory; demonstration of landings and takeoffs from the ground by WeyrlingMaster staff. Gold Weyrlings - classes with tutor on managing supplies during shortages and times of excess.
3	Junior	Drills on takeoffs/ landings - weyrling pairs take off from ground, fly up ten feet, land immediately; more flight theory classes; demonstration of proper procedure if thrown from dragon in flight - how to hold onto yourself by flight straps, how to get back onto dragon. Gold Weyrlings - classes with tutors on amount to tithe during times of shortage and plenty at holds.
4	Junior	Drills on emergancy dismounts; continuing short flights in Weyr bowl; more flight theory; meeting with Weyrleader for monthly assesment. Gold Weyrlings - meeting with Headwoman and tutor to discuss allotting supplies in lower caverns.

Skipping to months seventeen and eighteen...

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Seventeen
By month seventeen, all dragons and riders will have been betweening for at least a month. Aerial drills and field trips to recogniton points will continue, but the main focus is now on the use of firestone. Casualties will be high at this point in training, with burns and in-flight collisions happening almost every sevenday.
1	First-Turn	Firestone training begins! Dragonets learn to chew rock, swallow in second stomach, eject; produce small flames; work up to larger flames by end of sevenday; continuing aerial drills and between practice; ferrying firestone during threadfall in Weyrling Wing. Gold Weyrlings - tutor will demonstrate use of flamethrower; will work with ground crews during threadfall.
2	First-Turn	More firestone practice; flaming while in flight; tossing sacks and chewing stone while flying; leadership pullouts for bronze and brown weyrlings; ferrying firestone during threadfall in Weyrling Wing. Gold Weyrlings - how to care for flamethrower; using flamethrower while in flight; work with groundcrews.
3	First-Turn	Aerial drills in "wings"; betweening and flaming in formation; tossing sacks and chewing while flying; ferrying firestone during threadfall in Weyrling Wing. Gold Weyrlings - flying with queen's wing; learning how to use flamethrower while flying in formation.
4	First-Turn	Aerial drills with firestone; continuing practice of formations using betweening and firestone;ferrying firestone during threadfall in Weyrling Wing. Gold Weyrlings - flying with queen's wing during threadfall; training with flamethrower in queen's wing; learning rescue maneuvers while flying.

Sevenday	Level	Class Description
Month Eighteen
The last month of Weyrling Training, month eighteen is a time for both pride and anxiety for weyrlings. They have completed their "basic training," but they must now move on to complete wings. Throughout this month, Weyrlings will be drafted into their adult wings, and will begin training in their new wings. Before assignments, Weyrlings will fly with the queen's wing to gain experience.
1	First-Turn	Continiuing aerial drills using firestone and formations; practice with queen's wing; flying with queen's wing during threadfall. Gold Weyrlings - flying with queen's wing during threadfall; training with flamethrower in queen's wing; learning rescue maneuvers while flying.
2	First-Turn	Continuing aerial drills using firestone in formations; practice with queen's wing; flying with queen's wing during threadfall. Gold Weyrlings - flying with queen's wing during threadfall; training with flamethrower in queen's wing; learning rescue maneuvers while flying.
3	First-Turn	Continuing aerial drills using firestone in formations; meetings with Weyrlingmaster to discuss wing assignments; flying with queen's wing during threadfall. Gold Weyrlings - flying with queen's wing during threadfall; training with flamethrower in queen's wing; learning rescue maneuvers while flying.
4	First-turn	Continuing aerial drills using firestone in formation; practice with fighting wings to learn wing structure and functionality; assignments to new wings; Graduation! Gold Weyrlings - flying with queen's wing during threadfall; training with flamethrower in queen's wing; learning rescue maneuvers while flying.