The following is a log of roleplay from PernMUSH . The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on pernMUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.

10/9/02

Candidate Barracks(#258RADHJ$)

This cavern has a rather low ceiling, with many openings for air, since this becomes an abode for a large number of people before every hatching. Every inch of the floor is kept clean, although little of it can be seen due to the many rows of cots that fill most of the space. The central part of the cavern is rather dim, as most of the glows are on the walls. Little decoration is evidenced except for a few personal effects. You wouldn't call it uncomfortable unless the unusually low ceiling for a weyr makes you claustrophobic. On the wall, scrupulously maintained, is a list of Candidates and their assigned chores for the day. Tampering with it is rumored to be an offense punishable by death or latrine duty for the rest of one's life.

The normal ruckus of the barracks is almost constant.

Shawnah wanders into the barracks, smelling pleasantly of beasthold. Nummy. A few flakes of snow also still dot her hair and clothes, water droplets beading down where some has malted. "Have I ever mentioned how much I /love/ winter?" she asks no one in particular as she heads for her cot area. And she doesn't sound sarcastic, either.

Cheni doesn't even look up but with an aim borne from months of practice, she launches her pillow directly towards Shawnah. "Winter. Bah! Give me a nice unfrozen beach."

Bianca emerges from behind the curtain across the entrance.

Corwin turns over on his side and props his head up on his pillow. "Does that mean you're ready to enjoy several more sevendays of our lovely weather, Shawnah?"

Bianca comes in from the caverns, hair damp, and heads to her cot. Once there she sits, hard, and stares with some disdain at her hands.

Shawnah eeps and jumps aside, the pillow still managing to hit her. "Bah!" she retorts back to Cheni, grinning. She bends to pick up said pillow, glances at it, back at Cheni. Hmm.. "Of course! I spend most of the other seasons wishing for winter." she assures Corwin then. "Y'know.. a time to get to know your Weyr fellows a little better, play in the snow, swim in the hot springs and then run like mad across the frozen cavern floor for your--" she cuts off, and gives Bianca a sideways, curious glance.

Cheni rolls in her blanket and sits up, with it wrapped around her. Sitting cross-legged on her cot, she looks about the room. "For your what?" She looks Bianca's way then back to Shawnah.

Nimiriel emerges from behind the curtain across the entrance.

Corwin ahs, giving a small as best that he can with his head laying on his pillow. "So you just want whichever season we're not currently in." He lets out a little laugh.

Tarien emerges from behind the curtain across the entrance.

Cheni chuckles at Corwin as she huddles under her blanket and shifts to make herself more comfortable in her cross-legged position. Leaning against her coveted wall as a backrest, she peers across to the former steward. "Me? I just want to be warm, that's all I ask. It can snow all it wants to as long as I'm warm."

"Oh. Clothes." Shawnah finishes, glancing back to Cheni. And then the pillow, which she had raised, for throwing maybe, is quickly lowered and she moves the rest of the way to her cot. Once there, she sends a polite nod to those entering the barracks, before a slight smirk is sent to Cheni. "Now, /that/ would be a sight.."

Bianca leans back on her cot a bit to wipe her hands, one on either side, smearing them back and forth against the topmost blanket. Then she looks at them again, and frowns even more intensely. "Warm and -dry,-" she interjects.

Nimiriel makes her way into the candidate barracks, steps to one side to get out of the doorway, and leans up against the wall, waiting quietly, observing.

Corwin is still stretched out on his cot and using his pillow to prop his head up on. "Dry? Have you been playing out in the snow again," he asks to Bianca.

Rivaar could sleep through a Fall. It is one of his talents. Life at Igen has given him a strange sleep schedule, for the boy often nods off around midday, much to the annoyance of those for whom he was supposed to be performing chores. Now, roused at last by the conversation, he slowly swings his legs over the edge of his cot. He yawns into the back of his hand, his eyes slowly blinking.

Cheni watches as the different people file into the room and quietly folds her blanket back to the bottom of her bed, then look to the Weyrwomen, nodding a polite greeting. She sits back on the end of her cot, curious, but quiet, her casual manner swallowed up in slight nervousness as so many troop in.

Yashira steps into the barracks quietly, crossing her arms and assuming a post by the wall.

Tarien, damp-haired and looking fresh from a bath, follows Nimiriel into the barracks. She's not as quiet, humming to herself softly upon her entry, and clearing her throat softly once she -does- get there, perhaps to draw the attention of some of the Candidates.

Bianca gives Corwin a Look and then a despondent sigh, holding up one rather shriveled hand. "Dragon washing," she explains, though anything else she might have added about the task trails off as her attention wanders toward the entry and those coming through it.

Alonna slips into the barracks looking a bit sleepy and sits on her cot.

After an almost bovine stare, Rivaar blinks, his drowsy mind at last registering the collection of wherhide and shoulder knots that have strode in. He scrambles to attention.

N'var drifts in behind Tarien. He offers her and Yashira a brief smile before spotting Nimiriel. Making his way over, he settles against the wall at her side and looks about the cavern.

Corwin gives Bianca a grin. "Well, at least the pools in the water caverns are heated all turn, so it really wasn't that bad, was it?" As he's looking in Bianca's direction, he notices her attention move towards the entry, so Corwin turns on his cot and looks in that direction as well. Once he spies the riders, he sits up.

Nimiriel stays quiet for awhile, but finally clears her throat and addresses the Candidates assembled. "As I'm sure you're all aware, the eggs on the sands are rather quickly approaching the ready-to-hatch point. We thought, then, that now would be a good time to talk about what to expect while you're out there on the sands."

Shawnah looks around, tosses the pillow back toward Cheni's cot, and takes a seat on the edge of her own, nodding slightly at Nimiriel's words.

Yashira inclines her head to N'var and remains quiet.

K'ran trails in behind the Weyrleaders and Tarien, absently wringing moisture out of his riding gloves. Without a word, he makes to stand just behind one of the junior queenrider's shoulders, though he does throw a quick smile toward the candidates he knows best.

N'laren emerges from behind the curtain across the entrance.

Cheni definitely sits upright now, her fingers rubbing along the ribbon of her dress. She nods once as she rolls the material around her finger. She barely catches the pillow in time, looking Shawnah's way, wide-eyed, and softly places it back at the top of her cot.

Alonna nods, listening as she fingers one of her blue hair ribbons nervously.

"Before you think you can not pay attention," the Weyrwoman remarks, with a significant *look* to one of the Candidates near the back of the room, "everything we'll tell you tonight is of utmost importance. Even if you forget everything else you've learned and discovered while you're here, you *must not* forget this."

Shawnah sends a little grin back Cheni's way, before she's snapped back to attention at the Weyrwoman's next words. Listening, yep!

Bianca wipes her hands off again on the edge of her cot, then makes herself comfortable where she sits, folding those hands in her lap. Her expression goes rather bland, though she does *appear* to be listening.

Cheni blinks, wide-eyed from her spot at the very back of the cavern, not at all sure Nimiriel was looking at her. She quits fussing with her ribbon and gives Shawnah -it's all your fault- looks then places her hands in her lap, and looks once again towards the Weyrwoman.

Nimiriel clears her throat once more and continues. "I gather that you've all been on the sands at least once, which is a good thing. You've been doing this for two reasons: first, to allow Indrath and Mirrath to get used to you, and second, to get *you* used to being out there. Once those eggs start to hatch, the hatching cavern won't resemble the quiet place you're used to, but even a little bit of familiarity helps."

Corwin crosses his legs as he remains seated and looking in the direction of the entrance. He, too, appears to be listening.

Alonna continues to listen, her form almost vibrating with excitement.

Rivaar looks here and there, before he sits back down on the edge of his cot, a leg folding underneath him. He watches, and tries to smooth down a bovine-lick in his hair.

"Now," Nimiriel continues, after only pausing long enough to let that sink in, "when they hatch, those dragons are going to be thinking about finding their lifemate, and finding food. That is *all* they care about. When they're newly hatched, they're clumsy, and they'll just as soon go *through* you as around you. Considering that they've got rather sharp claws, you can imagine what that might do. You *must* be mindful at all times when you're out on the sands."

Nimiriel meets the eyes of a few of the Candidates. "Just remember that it gets hectic out there once they start hatching. They *won't* attack you on purpose, contrary to what you might've heard. Be extremely careful, and if you see a dragonet coming your way, be ready to get *out* of his or her way if it looks like they're not after you."

Cheni blanches and can't help but finger that ribbon again while chewing her lower lip. She doesn't dare look anywhere else but Nimiriel. She swallows hard, a question on her lips but she stifles it.

Alonna raises a hand

Tarien, unusually solemn-faced, still casts a quick glance and smile over her shoulder for K'ran, before she turns her attention back to Nimiriel, and the Candidates.

Shawnah nods in agreement, glancing around the barracks. "Very sharp claws." she paraphrases to herself.

"The next thing to remember," Nimiriel continues on, "is that you *MUST NOT* touch a dragonet on the sands, unless you have Impressed him or her. Never, never, *never*. Do not do it. It's an invitation to get yourself shoved out of the way at best, and mauled at worst. And believe me, if you Impress, you'll know." She nods to Alonna. "Yes?"

Alonna puts her hand in her lap "How do you know if they are after you? You said to move if they don't look like they are after you, but what do they look like if they are?"

Nimiriel coughs once, quietly, and nods. "As I just mentioned, if you have Impressed him or her, you'll know, there's no mistaking it. It's never a bad thing to take a step backwards or to one side if you're unsure. If that dragon is after you, they'll follow. May I continue?"

Alonna nods sheepishly

Cheni nods, her questioned answered and she smiles to Alonna, grateful the girl asked it for her.

Alonna returns Cheni's smile, her momentary embarrassment forgotten and replaced with enthusiasm again.

Corwin looks like he's about to say something to Alonna, but thinks better of it. He settles back down to listen.

"On a lighter note," Nimiriel carries on, "if you *do* Impress, please be sure to call out your lifemate's name so that we can all hear it, as you're the only one to hear it the first time. That lets everyone know you've Impressed, and also lets us know his or her name. Then, look for the Weyrlingmaster or one of her staff, and they'll guide you from there--off the sands and into the weyrling barracks, where there will be food and oil waiting."

Nimiriel pauses once again, this time glancing toward N'var, Tarien, and K'ran. "If you don't Impress, I know it's hard, but please stay put for a little bit. N'var and I will have a few things to say to you."

Shawnah kinda of grins at this next part, and opens her mouth, as if starting to make a comment. Instead, she coughs softly, and again looks around the barracks.

N'var nods to this, his gaze moving across the room in an attempt to make eye contact with as many of the candidates as possible. He offers them, as well, another smile small of encouragement.

Rivaar swallows a little, and, though he listens intently to the Weyrwoman, he glances at N'var from the corners of his eyes.

Nimiriel says, "So. Remember. Be mindful. You must move out of the way of the dragonets, because they won't do the same for you. And if, Faranth forbid, you see someone injured, *do not* try to help, let us take care of it. No touching a dragonet that you have not Impressed. If you *do* Impress, call out his or her name. If you don't, stay put until N'var and I speak. Understood?"

Yashira's expression remains fairly impassive; she's eyeing a pair of Candidates near the back who are whispering.

Cheni keeps her thoughts close to herself, only the now curly ribbon on her bodice gives any indication to her mental state.

Bianca frowns at the Weyrwoman’s last comments, then bites her lip and smoothes her hair out, recovering whatever dignity she assumes to have lost.

Alonna smiles at the weyrwoman.

Shawnah's gaze stops a moment on Bianca, and then again on Corwin, giving them both knowing grins. She then turns back to the Weyrwoman, and nods.

Nimiriel turns a frosty-eyed glare at those whispering Candidates near the back. "Does anyone have any questions, or shall I move on?"

Cheni raises a hand.

Corwin returns Shawnah's grin with a little smile of his own. He doesn't appear to have any questions.

Nimiriel nods to Cheni. "Yes?"

Cheni nervously tucks hair behind one ear. "When we don't impress, do we need to contact someone for a ride home or do we need to find our own transport?"

Bianca is either too intent on Nimiriel's speech or too caught up in her own little bubble of reality to notice that grin of Shawnah's. Either way, she doesn't react, save to frown again distantly.

"*If* you don't Impress," Nimiriel replies to Cheni, "we'll arrange transportation home for you, if you decide you want to return home. You will, of course, be more than welcome to stay here and make your home with us, if you'd rather. Don't worry about getting home, we'll help you take care of that. Anyone else?"

Cheni nods satisfied, muttering. "Easier to cope by saying 'when' rather than 'if'."

Alonna blinks at Cheni, then gives her friend an exaggerated smile.

Shawnah blinks at Cheni's words, looking first surprised and then.. disappointed? She sends a look to those she's gotten to know, and those cots of those she's gotten to know. A thoughtful frown appears on her face, and then she turns back to watching Nimiriel and waiting to see if anyone else has questions.

Corwin turns in Cheni's direction and gives her a look. "In such a hurry to get back to Boll," he murmurs.

N'var, like a few others, narrows his gaze on Cheni. He says nothing, however, and simply waits for Nimiriel to continue.

Nimiriel waits for a long moment, and though a vague flash of irritation might enter her expression, she moves on. "Attire. Hopefully, your robes are finished, as you may well need them tonight--we have no way of knowing exactly when it will be. If not...well, I'd suggest that you get a move on. When the time *does* come, there will not be a lot of warning. You'll have your robes and nothing else, no boots, no sandals. Absolutely no jewelry, *no* exceptions. Firelizards are not allowed on the sands, or they may well end up a snack for the clutch parents. Those of you with long hair should pull it back off your face and tie it back. Use a strip of wherhide if you're able, since that should blend in with hair color a bit better. Belts should be used only when necessary, and should be the same fabric as the robe."

Shawnah goes back to nodding.. and then does a double-take at the 'tonight'. She give the trunk at the edge of her cot a nervous look before she squirms a bit, still listening.

"So," Nimiriel continues, with a nod. "Be sure your robes are ready, and be sure you can get into them quickly. The Weyrlingmaster will then pair you off and you'll walk onto the sands. Be sure to bow to both sire and dam to show your respects, then form a semi-circle around the eggs, and...that's it. The rest, we've already told you about. Anyone have any questions?"

Corwin reaches up to run a hand through his hair before he gives a nod.

Bianca considers for a long moment, sending a glance toward her press, then shakes her head.

Alonna shakes her head, still almost vibrating in place.

Cheni shakes her head. "No ma'am."

Corwin shakes his head and looks around to some of the candidates near him.





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