Gold- Golds are the largest dragons on Pern, ranging from forty to forty-five meters long in length. They are always female and always Impress females-no exceptions. Golds are called Queens, because their riders rule the Weyr. The Goldrider with the oldest dragon is known as the Senior Weyrwoman, and the second oldest, the Junior Weyrwoman, the third the Junior Junior Weyrwoman, so on and so forth. Because of a Golds nature, she usually never tolerates more than two other Queens in her Weyr, hoarding the Bronzes to herself. Depending on the mate she chooses, a Gold can clutch 15-60 eggs, usually spawning a vast array of colors. Queens are the only dragons that can birth any color, since she is the highest of them. Frequently, a Gold will produce a Golden egg for Candidates to Impress. However, she cannot chew firestone or she will be infertile. Queens tend to choose strong-willed people who are set in their ways, reflecting stubbornness that their chosen weyrwoman possess. Their coloring can range from a more pale hue of almost yellow, to a radiant brazen gold that gives them their namesake. The colors of their hides can be consistent or wax and wane over their bodies, depending on the mother. Because they are Queens, no dragon will disobey an order, unless it is another Queen.
Diamond- Diamonds were produced in the recent flood of mutations and have become the second largest dragons on Pern. They can range from 32-41 meters in length, but seldom do they surpass 40 meters. Because of their level-headed attitudes and patient serenity, they are often made Wingleaders in the constant fight against Threadfall. Diamonds are very rare and seldom clutched by a Queen. In that rare event, the Diamond is more likely to produce one of her color when she clutches. Diamonds are also one of the few female dragon colors that can chew firestone and remain fertile. However, clutches are affected by firestone and are reduced. When normally, they can produce up to 35 eggs, if seldom that, they might only be able to reach a maximum of 20 afterwards. Diamonds, like Queens, never select males to be their riders, always choosing females instead. The riders they choose are usually laid-back people with good judgment. Diamonds have beautiful hides that seem to refract light, throwing light everywhere. There are no differences in the hue of their color, as they usually are glassy in color.
Bronze- Bronzes usually rival in size with Diamonds, making it a common dispute if they are below or above in rank to them. However, though they possess an impressive wingspan, they usually are slightly smaller than Queens. Being so large, they prefer usually Queens or Diamonds as mates, though occasionally will see fit to fly a Green or a Reef that they find appealing. Bronzes are strong in endurance and usually very fit, making them great Wingleaders and Wingseconds. They are always male and always Impress males, generally the male candidates who are athletic and hardworking, but sometimes will opt for polar opposites of this standard. Their coloring glitters in metallically in the sun, a deep rich hue that is more robust than that of the Gold. They always use firestone in Threadfall.
Mist- Mists do not rival Bronzes for size, the dramatic differences in that area shocking. Mists can Impress females or males, favoring neither, but preferring to choose riders who are complex and deep. They generally possess a great deal of wit for dragonkind and seemingly have an inborn sense of sarcasm that earns them trouble now and then. When female, they use the flamethrower, like the Queen, so their clutches will range from as few as five to as many as twenty-five. This depends on the rank of the sire. When male, they normally fly colors beneath them, Mist and Black or Illusion couplings extremely common, while Mists dont usually fly Reefs or Evergreens. A Mists coloring is a dusky blue that gleams with undertones of deep purple. Mists are characterized by stocky bodies that speak of immense strength in lifting. However strong they may be, they lack speed.
Black- Blacks can reach the size of a medium-length Mist at maximum but generally are noticeably smaller. Blacks can be male or female, but generally male. It isnt rare to see a female Black, just not as common to see her as her male counterpart. When male, Blacks can fly up to a Queen, but a Queen tolerating a Black mate is rare indeed. With lithe muscle and generally naturally lean frames, Blacks possess a speed unrivaled. They do not make good Wingleaders because they are too temperamental and moody, or lax in their ways to care much for leading others. A Black's temper could prove fatal if not staunched quickly and are vengeful when a wrong is committed against them. When female, they are made to use flamethrowers so as to have a nice clutch to aid in populating the Weyr. Their clutches are so sporadic in number that it is hard to record even an estimate. The smallest ever seen was a mere three, while the largest was recorded as forty. Their coloring can be any hue from ash gray to deep ebony, sometimes with a night blue gleam.
Illusion- Illusions are in a size bracket of their own, incomparable with any of the rest. Usually female, they are flown mostly by Blacks and Browns, producing nice little clutches of a usually small quantity that do not even reach the double digits. While this may seem odd, a clutch of an Illusion can contain any color up to a Diamond. Seldom does this happen, but every once in a while, one will appear in an Illusions clutch for a nice surprise. Illusions rarely spawn their own color, but usually come from a Diamonds clutch or a Mists. When rarely male, they usually only fly up to Blacks. Illusions are generally mystical and seem forever far away, usually nave to matters right in front of their snouts. So when it comes to Threadfighting, they usually are placed in lower ranks, not to be trusted with responsibility, which is easily forgotten. To be contrary, they never Impress candidates with similar personalities to themselves. The riders they have been known to select have been many and varied. Their coloring is subject for many a debate, because it depends on the person looking at the Illusion. No one is sure what color she truly is, but the person looking at the dragon usually sees the color that most represents themselves in livid hues.
Brown- Smaller than Illusions, but only a bit larger than Fossils, Browns can seem larger than they are at times. With a large deal of respect for life and a deep-rooted loyalty to their Weyr, Browns are as reliable and hardworking as they come. They generally choose riders much the same as themselves. Browns are almost always male, though whispers of female Browns have frequented lately. With spectacular endurance, Browns have been known to try to chase Queens, but have never been chosen, usually preferring mates that are Illusions or less. They are seen frequently with Evergreens, Reefs and Reds, being patient enough to tolerate such personality types. If a female existed, one could estimate that she would hatch only canon colors and have a rather small clutch, if not made to chew firestone. Their coloring lies between a pale brown and a deep, nearly black brown. They frequently can be seen with splotches of color, unlike any other.
Fossil- Fossils compete in size with Browns, sometimes surpassing them, but most of the time, remaining smaller in size. They are not gender-prejudiced and are either male or female. When male, they may fly any color below them or sometimes even try for an Illusion, if she permits it. When female, they clutch rather large for their size, usually averaging around twenty eggs, though most of the colors are either more Fossils or other mutation colors. Whether flown by a rare Bronze or Mist or a Reef, Blue or Brown, their clutches remain consistent in colors produced and number. Fossils are usually antisocial creatures that do not make friends easily and prefer to be alone. Their riders either tend to be the exact same way, or completely opposite. Fossils are often called evil, though this is a meaningless stereotype put into effect because of their unusual and rather eerie appearances. Fossils are skeletal in appearance, grayish hides pulled taut over their bones, making it look like they are without hide at all. Their eyes do not whirr like other dragons eyes, but remain a constant red, so that their emotions are indistinguishable. Because of their spectral, decaying appearances, they inspire dragonfear even in the most experienced dragonriders. They are rather frail, so do not advance well in Thread-fighting ranks, but provide a flame when chewing firestone that is more brilliant and large than any other dragons.
Blue- Blues are smaller than Fossils, usually not reaching the size they do, but having strength to make up for it. Blues only Impress males that think more with their hearts than with their heads. Loyal to the end to a Weyrmate, a Blue will fly after the same dragoness again and again if he is convinced that he is in love with her. This perseverance crosses over into their work, as well. They are very good Threadfighters, with good endurance and a swiftness to respond to command. Blues are less common than the rest of the lower colors, though not rare. They can fly after any color that their hearts desire, but usually fly colors lower than them, attracted by the vivid personalities of them. In shade, they are usually light blue at Iawar, ranging from a pastel blue to a azure blue.
Reef- Reefs are small, about equal in size and rank with Evergreens. Reefs come in all varieties, colors mostly bright in shade. Some of the known variations of Reefs are: coral pink, neon orange and yellow, startling filmy greens and colors unaccounted for. One thing that can be used to distinguish Reefs from any other color are the exotic aqua blue markings either around the eyes or tail. Reefs, much like their different colors, have personalities of all flavors. Likewise, their riders are much the same. A trend that one could see in the Reefs choices of their riders, is that most of Reefriders will be extreme people. Whether it is extremely outgoing, extremely bashful or extremely snobby, it doesnt seem to matter. Reefs can Impress male or female. Males usually fly Reds and Evergreens and females usually clutch from 2-6, usually ending up with a lot of Reef offspring. This color could become very common if females are not given firestone to chew.
Evergreen- Evergreens are small in size, but not in personality. These female-Impressing Evergreens are very emotional, usually wearing everything on their sleeve. The whole Weyr suffers when an Evergreen is in a foul temper. It is hard to keep up with the exciting dramas that seem to constantly spin around them. They like to select those who exhibit the same traits or sometimes, just to be perverse, will choose a shy rider only to make her come out of her shell. Evergreens, currently, are made to use the flamethrower, so that they may clutch and produce more of their number. Perhaps most common, battling closely with Reefs, they tend to spread like the plague once flown. They are very enticing creatures, usually drawing others into their fascinating lives and therefore, might attract a male of any color to fly her. In Thread-fighting, they are quick and rarely thread-scored because of it. They would perhaps be hailed as the best Thread-fighters if they had more endurance. They tend to tire quickly, also meaning that their flights, however dramatic, dont last long. They can range from a deep green to a light, almost yellow-green.
Albino- Albinos are the smallest dragons on Pern, but also the most intelligent. They are nearly a myth for their rarity, but Iawar's ranks may see one. They usually only tolerate geniuses like themselves as riders, not caring if they are male or female. They could be either themselves. As we all know, they came about through Kitty Ping's experimentation and now, are the prodigies of Pern. They do not possess a lot of strength or endurance, so they may not be strained in Thread-fighting, however they might persevere. They often draw conclusions that no other dragon, but possibly a Queen, could conceive. They are the most rational of the dragons. As females, they are flown by any color male that rises after them, their flights short because they are easy to catch. Albinos only lay clutches of two to four eggs, producing any color up to Bronze in rank. As males, they may try to take part in flights, but will not succeed in catching a female unless she chooses him. Otherwise, he will burn out quickly. Their color is a slightly translucent absence of color.