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.

9/30/02 Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RDJM$)

This huge cavern is sufficiently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. Branches of evergreens and glistening winter berries are ornaments of the season.

A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders.

Teryla squirms past two decidedly large traders taking up most of the entrance to the living caverns and ducks under a swooping 'lizard. All this for a mug of klah? Sure enough, she nabs her mug and a fingerroot and plops into the nearest empty chair warily.

Cheni sits at the candidates table, a mug of klah that has been long forgotten sits by her elbow. She is busily sewing a seam on white fabric. She cusses softly under her breath and sucks on her finger as she pokes it with the needle and as she does, her concentration is broken long enough to notice Teryla coming into the cavern. With a vague, I've seen you around but don't know you smile, she returns to her work.

Teryla is crunching on her 'root when she meets Cheni's glance. And whether or not the Candidate catches it, a sympathetic look crosses her features for a moment before she smiles back. Since they're not too far apart and there are no large obstacles in the way, Teryla scoots her chair towards Cheni's. "Evening," she offers with a wry grin. "Care for an excuse to stop sewing for a bit?"

Cheni sighs and sets the robe aside, putting a cheerful and dutiful smile on her face. "Yes'm, what did you want me to do?" She looks around for a fellow candidate who might be on server duty but none seem to be about.

Teryla blinks, momentarily confused. "Do?" she echoes faintly. "Oooh. Oh, /do/, right." She catches herself, winks at Cheni, and straightens in her seat. Formally, she explains, "I wanted you to provide interesting conversation and amusing stories in order to make my dinner snack more palatable." She breaks into a grin. "There... how's that?"

Teryla is green Dariyath's rider, at Telgar Weyr.

Cheni is just about as confused as she listens to Teryla. Once again she picks up the sewing. "I can stab myself and talk at the same time. I'm becoming apt at sewing material to myself quite nicely and hardly need to concentrate." She chuckles as she listens. "I can't guaranetee how interesting I can possibly be, not given my day."

Teryla keeps her facial expression carefully polite, though she does cough lightly. "Well, whatever you'd prefer. I was just kidding, anyway... and I'm sure you're very interesting. I'm Teryla," she adds. "Green Dariyath's rider."

Cheni doesn't catch the expression as she does concentrate at a sneaky curve in the seam. "Like I said, I'd have to make up a story about how thrilling my life has been the last couple of days, seems I've amazed a smithcraft journeyman with my dazzling skills as a metal disk polisher and he nabbed me again for six candlemarks." She does look up with a warm smile. "Cheni and well met, Teryla. I've seen you about, nice to put a name with the face."

Teryla tilts her head as she listens. "Cheni, is it? Well met to you too. So you're good at metal disk polishing... you must have been at the Smithcraft before you were Searched?"

Cheni shakes her head, an amused smile growing. "I would hate for that to be how people remember me some day. Cheni, oh right, that girl from Braddle Hold. Boy could she polish disks." Laughing, she explains. "Braddle Hold, near Southern Boll Hold, I'm definitely no smithcraft, just duties for the candidates."

Teryla aaahs. "I see. Braddle Hold... can't say as I've been there, or even heard much of it," she admits. "Tell me of your Searching out? Certainly that must be fairly interesting to you, mmm?"

Cheni chuckles dryly. "No, not many have heard of the Hold, no. Although the Holder would like that to change. He is certain that Pern revolves around his domain. It's north, an candlemark or so runner ride from Southern Boll. and search?" She shakes out the robe, frowning in concentration. "Searching? Umm, a bunch of riders from Telgar came swooping down on the beach, where I was waiting for my brother to finish some business.." Her eyes dance with mischief on the word business. "And while I waited, they arrived, and basically asked me to go with them."

Teryla looks slightly disconcerted by the dry account, though she does raise an eyebrow at the 'business' portion of it. "One hopes he finished before the dragons swooped down on you," she murmurs, amused. "Have you been to Telgar before now, then? And how much family did you leave at Braddle?"

Cheni chuckles. "Umm, I am not sure, to be honest, as his 'business' was taking place a bit away from the beach and it was rather intense in nature." Again, her eyes dance with mischief. "I heard tell though that there were profitable results, as far as an end product and a merger." Good naturedly, she returns to hemming the robe. "No, never seen snow, never lived in a weyr and my family? Mother, father, two brothers and a sister, and since I arrived here, a sister in law and a baby well on the way."

Teryla starts to giggle at the descriptions of Cheni's brother's 'business'. "I... uh, I see," she manages. "Must be difficult to leave such.. such business behind," she snickers, shaking her head. "Sounds like a big family. Do you think they'll be coming here for the Hatching, or for visits of a sort? And how are you finding weyrlife thus far?"

Cheni shrugs. "Not that overly big, I don't think?" She looks across the table. "I mean, I've heard tell of much larger, isn't there a rider here who has sired nine?" Taking her klah mug in hand, she almost takes a sip until she takes a good look at it and sets it down again, disgruntled. "Stone cold. And I really understand where that term comes from now. Stone -is- cold. And being a candidate is not so far removed from my life back at the Hold, to be honest but they weyr certainly is. What about you? How did you find yourself at Telgar?"

Teryla shrugs a shoulder off-handedly. "I didn't really grow up knowing a family all that much," she explains. "The hold was my family, really. Anyway," she waves that off. "Stone /does/ get cold, you're right. I was at Igen Weyr as a stablehand when I was Searched. It was right out in the stables, talking about mating habits, when it happened," she adds, making a face. "I'd never been here either, but it grows on you. Not the cold so much, though..."

Cheni giggles. "Well, mating habits seem to be the theme for search stories tonight, I guess." She quirks a brow. "Igen Weyr? I was there a while back but only for an evening, then a very short trip a sevenday later to pick up something my holder left behind. Lots of ..err, sand? And where you from Igen Hold? I can understand a little what you mean about the Hold being a family, every note from home always includes admonishments from cooks and launderers to do Braddle proud."

Teryla wrinkles her nose. "That subject is rather popular around here, yes... ah, you've been to Igen? I do miss the hot, and the swimming in the cold waters when it was /too/ hot." A fond smile, then, "Yes, I'm from Igen Hold originally. And your notes remind me of the ones I get now and again, too. In fact the latest had some advice from a young woman I used to nanny for, telling me how to find a weyrmate that would treat me well." She rolls her eyes.

Cheni blinks at Teryla. "Oh dear? How does one find a weyrmate? Put up a notice on hide in the Living Cavern and ask for applicants?" She shrugs. "Only thing I saw of Igen's grounds was at night and that was the beach area. There was an aerial display by some of the weyrlings. My gaze was on the skies so I didn't really notice much else."

Teryla stares at Cheni. "How'd you guess?" she says, with little humor in her voice. "Only, she suggested I announce it at the evening meal, too. You know, get the word out." She snorts. "Well, the aerial display must have been impressive, then. And if you got to see the beach area, that's the best part, in my opinion."

Cheni laughs. "Oh shards, she didn't suggest that? Probably a good thing she's half a world away or she's be lining up suitable candidates for the position and interviewing them for you. I can see it now." As a wizened old rider toddles in from the inner caverns, she whispers across the table. "And here is the first one for you to check out. Wonder if he'd smile so we can see if he has all his teeth."

Teryla snickers, following the Candidate's gaze. "Oh, Cheni... too old!" A nanny comes in, fussing over a rather young Candidate boy. "And before you even point him out, too young," she whispers, giggling. "If you see any not-too-old, not-too-young dashing smart men, do let me know, mmm?"

Cheni quirks a brow, sewing forgotten. "Not too old, not too young, anything else? And dashing, meaning they can run fast? Let me write that down."

Teryla makes a face. "No, dashing as in handsome. Though if you were going for /him/," she glances again at the old rider. "Maybe I should find my own..." She's smiling and about to say something more when she tilts her head slightly. "Mmm. Dari's in need of her nightly soak'n scritch," she sighs. "It was good to meet you, Cheni. I hope we'll talk more often." She stands, grimacing as she glances towards the inner caverns.

Cheni grins. "I don't think the word dashing fits in any sense of the word for him anyhow. I'll keep an eye open for you, though. And it's been nice chatting with you as well, my best to your lifemate."

Teryla smiles. "I'll tell her," she promises as she walks off baths-wards. "Have a good night!"





*** Disconnected from PernMUSH ***

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