What's on Pern
A B C D E F G H I K M N P R S T W
One of the things that you'll find you want to know when RPing is what they do and do not have on the world you're in. This comes up all the time in discussions, and, for Pern, there are two ways of figuring out the issue.
The first and most obvious is if Anne mentioned it in a book (generally discounting Dragonsdawn and The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall since they featured items that the colonists brought with them which would not survive to later passes). Anne is often inconsistent of course, and her science isn't always accurate, but if she used or referred to an item in a book, we can generally assume that that exists on Pern. As a note, while The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern is often a godsend when it comes to settling these matters, where Anne's books contradict it, people tend to go with Anne's stories rather than the DLG.
The other way is to decide whether or not the item is feasible based on Pern's resources and technology (making due adjustments for the individual game's theme; ask there). Remember, Pern is not a mediaeval society, but one that's regressed from advanced technology. Although mediaeval is a good rule of thumb, don't follow it to the exclusion of all else.
Now as far as what they could make from their own resources goes, I have little clue, and following what the books say largely depends on my memory of the books—which I don't always have to hand. So most of the information below is just my summary of points I've seen raised and debated on various places, and for some I've even ventured my own opinion. It's far from a complete list, although you're welcome to email me if there's anything not there that you want to know about, or if you wish to disagree with something. I'd also recommend asking on Anne's own message board, The Kitchen Table (link takes you straight to the Pern section). Further input on any of the below would be highly appreciated. This page is in continuous update (hopefully).
Finally, this is only a guide and most of the points covered are minor details. If your game does permit people to keep fluffy bunnies as pets, it is not a cardinal offence. Generally, play things how you see them, but don't necessarily expect that everybody else will see it that way.
NB: Anne has stated a few things about Pern in interviews and such rather than a book. I've made note of the ones I know of below. Links to Anne interviews online can be found on Sariel's Guide to Pern. See also the Pernese Perspective for further thoughts on differences between us and the Pernese.
NB 2: A lot of the stuff that people wonder about tends to be the, ah, less romantic side of life. The squeamish may want to be careful about browsing through here.
A B C D E F G H I K M N P R S T W
Abortion: Yes in the weyrs. In the holds it was considered evil, according to Lessa's thoughts in Dragonquest—of course this will largely depend on the person since holdbred Kylara never seemed to be bothered. Abortions were done by going between, which frequently induced a miscarriage. I don't recall any mention of one done by operation. See also Contraception.
Animals: Not really. Other than wherries, fire lizards and tunnelsnakes, there seem to be no other large (i.e. above bug size) animals native to Pern (discounting the sea creatures). Why? Because of Thread. No doubt there was a full eco-system of animals at one point but once the Red Star came and Thread started falling, it’s a wonder that there’s any life left. I’m not a biologist, but I know enough of evolution to surmise that most of Pern’s fauna was totally unequipped to deal with Thread. The first few weeks would have wiped many species out as well as destroying nearly all the plant life—only things like pondweed and a few plants in sheltered areas would have survived. Of those animals who escaped Thread, herbivores would have starved to death and that in turn would cut off the food for the carnivores. Since only the sea was unaffected by Thread, fish-eaters (like wherries and fire lizards) would not have suffered unduly, although they would have needed to have a cave as shelter from Thread and be able to get to it quickly—wings come in handy here, as does the fire lizards’ teleporting ability. As for the tunnel-snakes, they live deep underground and feed on wherry or lizard eggs and young—and anything else they can scavenge. They have the protection from Thread and source of food needed to survive in ‘modern’ Pern.
Of course, since the grubs were spread on the Southern continent and the
dragons started covering designated areas in the north, things
have evened out a little. Plants are now protected from the Thread, which means
herbivores aren’t going to starve, and that means they’ll be around to feed the
carnivores. As long as they can take refuge in a cave or river, animals are now
less drastically affected by the passes of the Red Star. Note the wild runners
and herdbeasts among whom Piemur found Stupid, not to mention the felines that
spread the plague of Moreta’s time. They had survived as a species from the
time of the original colonists
Artists: Yes, they come under a branch of the harpercraft: Perschar in Renegades of Pern was a Harper for all he never seemed to make music, and in Dolphins of Pern (chapter 11) Idarolan got a 'harper drawer' to make up a brightly coloured map to use as a reference for the dolphins. They were used for more than cartography or to circulate 'Wanted' pictures though. Iantine in Red Star Rising / Dragonseye was commissioned to paint portraits of the Bitran holding family and prior to ninth pass Pern, Lord Vincet had Perschar touch up murals in the hold and produce portraits of his family and still wished to keep him there (Renegades of Pern: prologue).
Baskets: Yes, in abundance. This is obvious enough, and the reason I've included them on the list is because they'd probably be the most common container (remember, they always speak of glow baskets). Handmade baskets are simple enough to weave that a child could do it or an old Auntie or anybody else not fit for strenuous work but reasonably deft with their hands.
Bees: No. It states in the DLG in the Native Flora and Fauna section, that bees did not survive on Pern. You could probably argue that Pern could have something similar that made honey and/or wax but there's no mention of it, nor any need. For more information on wax, see Candles.
Birds: No. Except for wherries in the wild and chickens, ducks and geese in captivity—and I’m not positive of the latter. Anne doesn't seem to mention many birds at all. See Animals.
Bottles: Yes
but for drinks, skins are more common and safer canon-wise. The Pernese have glass and the
ability to make glass bottles, but they aren't mass-produced. In chapter 7 of Nerilka's
Story, M'barak has to tour around several minor holds trying to find
sufficient glass bottles for the vaccine. Hide is common enough (to be more
accurate, stomach-lining would be used for the wineskins, but that's equally
prevalent), and
it's probably a good deal easier for your average holder to make a wineskin than
it is for him to blow a bottle.
Bugs: Yes. Trundlebugs
and vtols at least are referred to, and I think there are some references to mosquitoes as
well and an equivalent to spiders. Not to mention the grubs and sandworms. Creatures as small as these would
have little problem finding some crevice in which to shelter from Thread.
Butter: Yes. See Milk.
Candles: Yes. Although there's no beeswax (see Bees), tallow can be obtained from cattle and sheep suet or a wax can be made from certain berries here on Earth... there's likely a Pernese equivalent. Furthermore candles are specifically mentioned in Dragondrums (near the end of chapter 4), when Piemur has to get one to clear out the smell in the apprentice dorm. Glows (phosphorescent spores) are less of a fire hazard though and were the more commonly prevalent source of light throughout the books.
Cemetery: Probably not and certainly not as we know them. Anne pointed out that the Pernese weren't going to bury their loved ones in ground that could become Thread-infested. Coastal holds would dispose of them at sea, as with Petiron in Dragonsong (chapter 1). Inland they'd be interred with some protection from the sky according to the DLG, under stone tablets for example, or entombed in a cave, as with Sallah in All The Weyrs of Pern (chapter 7). Cremation is also possible. But there being a lack of superstition or Religion (which see), I think it unlikely that any Pernese would place particular sentiment in a loved one's grave.
Cheese: Yes. See Milk.
Chimneys: Yes. Pernese have hearthfires, so they must have chimneys to let the smoke out safely. Obviously they wouldn't be completely open to the sky for Thread to fall down, but it would be easy to have a metal shield across the top to deflect any stray Threads that get through the dragon wings, or maybe even some form of Thread shutters that can be closed during Threadfall.
Circus: No. See Entertainment.
Clockwork: Yes, to an
extent. Metal isn’t widely available on Pern, but you can make clockwork gears
out of other things such as wood (even more precious) or bone. But I doubt
they’d go to much trouble to make these things—I don’t remember Anne
referring to any, so we’ll assume they’re not common.
Clothing: Well, duh. See Fashion for details.
Contraception: Yes and no. In Masterharper, Merelan uses something given to her by an aunt in order to prevent herself conceiving again, yet the Masterhealer of Pern could only advise her not to sleep with her husband. Presumably this was just an old family recipe, which may or may not have worked (it's possible that the ordeal of Robinton's birth rendered Merelan infertile without anybody realising it). This however leaves it open for games. Certainly there seems to be no prevalent method in ninth pass Pern (or Kylara would have most certainly used it!) beyond abortion. But who's to say that in the tenth pass the healers hadn't produced a miracle concoction? Or equally, there could be no reliable method. Or perhaps everybody has their own personal way of keeping themselves childless if needed. Check with your healers/game admin to see what they say.
Cutlery: Yes. Spoons would obviously be needed in preparation and eating, while it's standard for most Pernese to have a belt knife, which seems to have doubled as an eating utensil if required. Forks have been debated, since they weren't around in medieval times, being a relatively new innovation, but there is absolutely no reason why their use would have been discontinued on Pern, nor would the colonists have failed to bring them. Furthermore, Mavi uses one in Dragonsong (chapter 3). As for chopsticks, I haven't a clue. It's feasible that some of the colonists brought them, but I doubt that their use would have survived long.
Dairy Products: Yes. See Milk.
Dental Hygiene: Yes. See Toothbrushes.
Deodorant: Possibly. In a labour intensive community, it's arguable that people might not notice (or care about!) body odour so much, but the books show enough vanity for us to assume that for gathers at least, they might want to take precautions. Modern deodorants are based on aluminium salts and the Pernese would be able to use sea salt crystals. Baking soda is also possible. Crushed herbs could be added for flavour, and in absence of an actual deodorant, strong perfumes could be used to mask natural smells. Also, herbs such as hyssop reduce perspiration, so adding that to your daily meals could help.
Depilation: Yes. See Shaving.
Disability / Disease: Yes, but be careful. Anne said that many of the more common Terran illnesses had been wiped out by the time Pern was settled and that the colonists had been carefully screened so as not to bring any psychological and mental disorders as well as being genetically healthy. It's been hotly disputed though, with people pointing out that a lot of these things aren't hereditary. We can be sure that Pern has its share of native diseases: various plagues have struck the planet, plus the bout of firehead illness that Jaxom suffers in The White Dragon. Also Dolphins of Pern features people with growths of various kinds (chapters 7 and 8) and, in Dragondrums, Meron dies of a particularly painful wasting disease (reportedly cancer). So general disease does exist. Obviously.
The problems come up with the long term disorders though. Camo is often cited as an example of mental disability on Pern, and I've frequently seen people ask if such and such a disease is permissible on Pern. Now, I'm not going to go into all the various arguments for and against each, since I just don't have the knowledge. What I am going to say is that these things are a sensitive issue. See Further thoughts on RP and netiquette for details.
Earrings: Yes. In chapter 9 of Red Star Rising/Dragonseye, Iantine sketches guards who are wearing various items of purloined jewellery including earrings. Also, People of Pern features earrings on many women in the illustrations which Anne approved. See also Piercings.
Entertainment: Yes. Harpers are the main providers of entertainment, and in day-to-day life, there are card games and such like. But entertainment is something simple. Anne has stated that trained animals are limited to spit-dogs and yoke-beasts; a troupe of performing cats wouldn't exist, and it's likely that fire-lizards wouldn't be taught tricks as such either. Sleight of hand might exist, although it's doubtful there'd be magicians of David Copperfield proportions. Remember the Pernese weren't greatly superstitious, so fortune-tellers wouldn't be likely to be in demand. As for stunts and the sort of acts you might see in a circus, probably not. Anne says that no trained entertainers were among the colonists. Sean Connell and the other tinkers were nomads not gypsies (or at least not the fortune-telling, luck-charm selling gypsies as often depicted in other fantasy series), and the ninth pass traders weren't necessarily their descendants, especially since the first Threadfalls killed most of them. The Lilcamp train was descended from Joel Lilienkamp, who was the commissary chief, not a tinker.
Dancing and playing instruments, the occasional play and staged concert, would be sufficient entertainment. Stand-up comedians, sleight of hand and perhaps a spot of juggling could also be seen, but more as part of a larger act, or perhaps an informal party-trick, than as a line of work. The toss-dancing at gathers would be acrobatic enough for the most part, racing runners would be the closest most people got to performing animals, and any aerial manoeuvres the dragonriders might choose to display would be strictly the ones used during Threadfall... and a mid-air rescue should be impressive enough. Gambling and card playing were more personal recreations, along with some other games. See Sports.
Euthanasia: Yes. Mercy draughts exist within the healer craft and are used for the terminally ill. A healer would be very unlikely to administer one to somebody wishing to suicide who wasn't going to die anyway, and it's doubtful that a non-healer would have access to the drink or the knowledge of how to make it.
Fashion: Yes. Or to be more specific, there's probably no single fashion that would be deemed totally un-IC on Pern. You don't need to research the clothes from one particular period of history and confine yourselves to those, since fashion does not depend on available resources to a significant extent. Anne mentions tunic and trous for both sexes and women also wore dresses (long not short) for both practical and formal occasions. See also the pictures of Menolly, Sharra and Kylara in People of Pern if you have access to a copy. So no togas or druidic robes but that seems to be the only limit. Just be sensible with it and make sure your character is dressed to suit the climate they live in and the station they hold. I.e. a drudge in Ista wouldn't be wearing a slinky velvet gown with sleeves that hung to the floor. Velvet would be far too hot most of the time in Ista's tropical climate and too expensive for a drudge, while a long slinky skirt and trailing sleeves would be terribly impractical for day to day wear and certainly not something to be scrubbing floors in.
People of Pern with its Anne-approved pictures would be the obvious resource for this, but it's so hard to find that most people are best off talking to their weavercraft if there is one for fashion advice. Besides, with fashions changing so often, who's to say that what you're wearing is wrong?
Feminine Hygiene: Yes. It's pretty damn likely that Pernese women menstruate, and if they menstruate, they're going to need something to absorb the blood. Pads of rags, moss or some kind of sponge are all possible. Yes, they'd need cleaning and would stain over time, but nobody's going to think that unusual, and it's likely that whoever does the laundry would be perfectly accustomed to it as part of their duties. Without meaning to offend the squeamish, tampons have also been around longer than you might think, with some of the earliest examples being made from papyrus, lint wrapped around lightweight wood, wool, vegetable fibres and rolls of grass. Check out www.tampax.com for more information than I care to put here.
Forks: Yes. See Cutlery.
Graveyard: No. See Cemetery.
Gypsies: Not that we know of. See Entertainment.
Hair removal: Yes. See Shaving.
Honey: No. See Bees.
Hot Water Bottles: Yes. If they can make wineskins, they can make hot water bottles. Besides, every time you kill a herdbeast, there's a bladder and various intestinal pieces to use up; anything that you can make out of them would only be logical to have. Maybe they'd be less common in the warmer climates, but it's fairly likely that even if the colonists didn't bring the idea with them, some resourceful Pernese in the north would have re-invented it. If you don't believe that hot water bottles are IC, then heated bricks wrapped in cloth and placed at the foot of the bed would do a similar job. Of course, the softness and pliancy of hot water bottles would also mean that they could be used to soothe sore muscles etc.
Ice skates: Yes. See Skates.
Instruments: Of course! But naturally not all the ones we're familiar with would exist on Pern. Things like electric guitars are rather obvious impossibles, but I've heard that Anne has also stated that there aren't double-reed instruments on Pern such as the oboe or bassoon. A suggested reason for this is that very few people would have known how to play them and they're very complex to make. Pianos are also extinct since they were unable to make the right type of felt for the hammers. Also, with the distances harpers had to travel, easily portable items are the order of the day. Drum, harp and gitar are the most common: also tambourines, brass instruments (in Dragonsinger Menolly says she's learned them), pipes, flutes and violins are all mentioned.
Talk to the harpercraft on your game if there is one, and also read Dragonsinger and others in the Harper Hall Trilogy to see what instruments are prevalent on Pern (and how they're made and used). And keep in mind that there would be little training outside the harpercraft for any but the simplest instruments.
Knives: Yes. See Cutlery or Weapons.
Magicians: Not really. See Entertainment.
Make-up:
Yes. Make-up is used in the short story Runner of Pern by the girls about
to attend a gather.
Metal: Yes, to an extent. It's generally accepted that there's a shortage of metal on Pern, although it has been pointed out that Pern was only said not to have enough metal to make it of particular value to mining companies. There was quite possibly sufficient for Pernese needs.
Milk:
Yes. Herdbeasts are basically cows. I believe I’m right in saying that
there are also goats on Pern although I can’t remember what the Pernese name
is for them. Cows (like all mammals!) produce milk, so therefore all dairy products (butter, cheese,
cream, etc.) should be available to the Pernese. There’s also a reference
somewhere about young children having milk in their klah.
Mouthwash: Yes. See Toothbrushes.
Nuts: Yes. Apparently
Benden was famous for its nuts.
Paint: Yes. Red Star
Rising/Dragonseye features Iantine, a painter, who in chapter 5 has to make his
own paints from materials at hand.
Piercings: Yes. Earrings are mentioned in Red Star Rising/Dragonseye (chapter 9) and Anne has said that body-piercing was brought to Pern, although it may be noted that nobody in the books was stated to have a pierced nose, navel or anything other than ears. It has also been pointed out that a rider might find between's cold uncomfortable wearing excessive amounts of jewellery, while a piercing for an active rider would be impossible, since between's cold would not be good for a fresh wound with a piece of metal thrust through it.
Plants: Well, yes. Obviously. But if you're wondering about a particular plant, visit the All The Plants of Pern page, which has a comprehensive listing of Pern plants, including which Terran ones were successfully introduced.
Razors: See Shaving.
Religion: No. Not at all. Several people have disputed this, saying that it’s human nature to have some sort of faith. But Anne has decreed that there is not and never will be religion on Pern. Why? Because religion has caused enough problems down here on Earth and she wanted to keep it out of her fantasy world. Also the Pernese are not superstitious in general. There’s no indication that they believe in an afterlife: people die and go between. Certainly, they have no creation myth as is found in most religions, being regressed from a society which had scientific explanations for everything. As for the need for something to believe in? Well, it’s been pointed out that the dragons fill that role, and Anne herself said: "Perhaps the dragons themselves are the 'religion' of Pern". They may not be omnipotent or immortal, but they’re the saviours of Pern as far as your average Pernese is concerned—if you want something to put your faith in, there’s nothing like a large, winged, fire-breathing creature protecting you from a gruesome end. Most tellingly perhaps, the dragons and particularly their eggs provide the greater source of inspiration for Pernese swear-words.
Another function of religion is as a support system for moral beliefs: it's easier to behave well if you're fearing eternal punishment for your wrongdoings. But Anne's villains rarely seem to be bothered by what will happen to them in the afterlife (seeing as they don't believe in one). The only punishment system in Pern is the one they administer themselves and this seems to be effective enough—plus it's rather nice to think that the Pernese do things because they believe they're right, rather than in hope of getting some reward after they die. See also The Pernese Perspective.
Roller skates: No. See Skates.
Shaving: Yes. Most men on Pern prefer to be clean shaven, although actual details are rather thin on the ground, and it's been suggested that facial hair has disappeared through natural evolution. Pern would certainly have the technology to make a razor, but the ubiquitous beltknife would probably also do an adequate job and may be more common in smaller holds and among the general populace.
Whether or not women also shave is debatable (and unlikely ever to be a need-to-know subject!), but cultures throughout history have had women interested in hair removal from their legs. Some kind of waxing or plucking could be used as well as shaving, or the hairs could be bleached. Or possibly just left alone. Judge for yourself. For more detail, here's a timeline of shaving on Earth (no, really).
Skates: Probably not for roller-skates, although ice skates would be a possibility since they have practical uses too, and can be made with wooden blades as well as the more efficient metal ones we're used to (so not only smiths could make them). The wheels on roller skates would be too time-consuming and difficult to make for anyone other than a smith, who would likely be busy enough with his own work. Besides there aren't many places to use them since most ground surfaces on Pern would be uneven or too easily damaged by such things.
Spies: Yes, all harpers are ICly spies to some extent, keeping the Masterharper informed of attitudes on Pern. The most obvious ones are Nip and Tuck from Masterharper and Pinch from Skies who seemed to do undercover work to the exclusion of music. You'd need to talk to the harpercraft on your game (or failing that, the wizards) to see if there are any policies on a purely spying role. Other book spies included Perschar from Renegades who also sketched, while Sebell and Piemur both did their share of undercover work in Dragondrums. Also remember the wedding in Dragonquest (chapter 10) where Robinton's two journeymen reported back to him on the various comments of the crowd regarding dragonriders.
Sports: Yes. Although Pern doesn't have the same sports as we do, there are several physical games, although the outdoor games would not have been very convenient during a pass (and it can't be easy to revive a sport after a fifty year break). In Moreta, the most obvious sport is horse-racing; there are references to aerial displays performed by the weyrs in Red Star Rising / Dragonseye (chapter 1) and Dragonflight; Runner of Pern mentions footraces; Masterharper mentions games such as goal-ball, hop-it—like hopscotch (chapter 4), swimming and sailing races (chapter 1) and wrestling (chapter 9); hall-racing would be another indoor sport; Dragonquest features a children's game called miggsy involving marbles (chapter 5) and another called string-ball; in chapter 10 of Dolphins of Pern, Samvel, one of the new teachers at Landing, revives some of the Terran sports: water and horse polo, soccer and baseball. Anne reportedly said that most children's games would be played, but any game without complex rules was viable (so cricket would be right out!). See also Entertainment.
Spoons: Yes. See Cutlery.
Swimwear: A tentative yes, but it's hotly disputed. The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern features a picture of a woman in a bikini (Southern Boll Hold section) and sundry Dolphins of Pern covers also feature characters swimming in loincloths, but this could simply be to avoid nudity in the picture. In The White Dragon, it's implied that Jaxom and Menolly swim in the nude in each other's presence (chapter 10) , yet in Dragonsong chapter 3 and Dragonsinger chapter 5, there are cases where it seems that nudity is not acceptable: one when Menolly doesn't bother getting dressed after her bath, taking the chance that there would be nobody between the bathing rooms and her own chamber and the second is when Dunca comes into Menolly's room and shrieks at the girl's lack of clothing. Certainly in Dolphins, Readis and T'lion had a habit of stripping down to their 'clouts' (presumably the equivalent to underpants) to swim. Mostly, this comes down to the player's personal preference: if you don't feel comfortable swimming naked, say you have a swimsuit; if you feel that the Pernese would only swim in the nude, then do so.
Tampons:
Tattoos: Apparently not. I've heard that when asked this question, Anne replied that tattoos were not brought to Pern. Certainly no character in the books is mentioned as having one.
Toothbrushes: In some form or another. Although the colonists no doubt brought dental hygiene with them, who can say whether it would have been like the toothbrushes we use today? For the later Pernese to make a toothbrush from wood and runner-hair would be a complex business although certainly not impossible—it's just unlikely that your average backwoods holder would have one. Green twigs could be gnawed on or the teeth could be rubbed with a cloth instead. A mouthwash would almost certainly be prevalent as these have been about for millennia: the Ancient Spaniards reportedly kept their teeth bright with their own urine! Most likely the Pernese would use some form of wine. As for more general dentistry, hyssop boiled with vinegar could treat tooth pain and cavities. Metal fillings made from wax casts of the teeth have been around since the 1400s. Healers would likely handle this basic dentistry.
War: No. Anne has said that it doesn't even feature in the Pernese vocabulary. See weapons.
Wax: Potentially. See Candles or Shaving.
Weapons: Yes, only there are a few reservations. Obviously no guns or bombs, and I doubt anybody would run rampant with a flame-thrower. Knives were the prevalent weapon in the book and crossbows were mentioned for hunting. Swords were mentioned a few times (Renegades of Pern) but seem to be rare. Certainly there is no real war on Pern, by Anne decree. Even Fax's usurpation of seven holds seemed to be a largely one-sided affair judging by Masterharper of Pern. There are better uses for wood and metal than to make a more elaborate weapon than a knife.
A B C D E F G H I K M N P R S T W
