Weyrling Training

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In Character Weyrlinghood

Weyrlinghood is a way for the newly Impressed to go from potentially dazed new riders to fully trained members of a fighting Weyr.  The overall goal of weyrlinghood is to make sure that weyrlings and riders survive in Threadfall as long as possible, giving them the training and discipline needed.  The Weyrlingmaster is ultimately responsible for the training of all weyrlings, and reports directly to the Weyrleader, usually with some measure of autonomy in selecting assistants, disciplining weyrlings, and determining when they're ready to be part of full-fledged fighting Wings.

Weyrlinghood lasts approximately one Turn, from the time of Impression until weyrlings are deemed ready to join a fighting Wing.  For some weyrlings, it may take a little longer, but it rarely takes much less than a Turn.

The milestones below are designed to give an idea what's going on during weyrlinghood, not exclusively.  Milestones include:

• Months 1-3 - Care and feeding of dragons
  Because young dragonets are incapable of hunting, they require their new weyrlings to cut meat for them on a daily basis.  Dragonets eat two to three times daily, require a bath once a day, and need to be oiled two to three times daily.  Most of a new weyrling's time is devoted to caring for their dragonet, and the leftover time is spent mostly on understanding the basics of dragon care, the rank structure of the Weyr, and physical fitness - calisthenics and strength training - that there's little time for anything else.
• Month 4 - Unmanned flying
  About four months old, most dragons are capable of sustaining their own weight.  This begins with short glides and flights, and culminates in full, unmanned flying.  Because dragonets can now fly, if only for short distances, they are also now capable of hunting for their own food.  Time previously spent on chopping meat can now be devoted to creating a set of flying straps and studying wing formations and Threadfall charts.
• Month 5 - Manned flying
  After about a month of practice without their riders, with about a month spent perfecting their first set of straps, dragonets and weyrlings are ready to fly together.  Short flights within the confines of the bowl help new weyrlings acclimate to the thrill of flying.
• Month 6 - Weyr assignment and formation drills
  Capable of flying on their own, weyrlings move out of the barracks and into their own weyrs.  The transition phase marks the end of "junior" weyrlinghood, and weyrlings are now considered senior weyrlings.  They begin intensive study and practice of formations with the rest of the weyrling Wing in preparation for joining Threadfall as a resupply Wing.
• Month 7 - Firestone
  Dragonets begin practicing with firestone, first on the ground then in the air.  Lessons include how to select quality firestone, how much to give a dragon, and how to help them purge after they have finished flaming, as well as target practice.
• Month 8 - Local sweeps
  Assignment of sweeps to a local region surrounding Fort Weyr and Hold begin during this month.  Weyrlings are not capable of going between, so their sweeps are limited to the distance they can fly within a few hours, but they will fly sweeps daily.
• Month 9 - Between
  Taught how to visualize and then make the jump into between, weyrlings receive rigorous training.  Their dragonets are also taught how to implement visualizations from other dragons.
• Months 10-12 - Resupply in Threadfal
  After the 10th month, the Weyrling Wing officially begins flying resupply in Threadfall.  They will bring fresh supplies of firestone into Threadfall, bringing bags to dragons so that they don't have to return to the Weyr.  This is extremely dangerous, since it involves actually joining a live Fall.
• Month 13 - Tapped
  Usually, around the end of the 13th month, weyrlings are considered ready (or as ready as they're going to get) to join a fighting Wing.  The Weyrleader, Weyrlingmaster, and Wingleaders usually make the decision where to place the newly graduated riders.

For some weyrlings, additional lessons may be added.  Those with an aptitude toward healing, for example, may be asked to assist with dragonhealing.  Bronzeriders will usually be expected to take extra training with other Wingleaders, and goldriders will receive training by the other weyrwomen.  Some weyrlings may receive additional coaching from a weyrharper to help with literacy, or with other riders or residents for physical fitness or self-defense.

Essentially, weyrlinghood will make sure that, by its end, each weyrling is ready to be a full-fledged member of the Weyr.

[Oracle]

Out of Character Weyrlinghood

There aren't (m)any OOC requirements for weyrlings.  The goal isn't to isolate weyrlings or separate them from the main flow of the game.  The idea is just to provide the chance for those who want to play weyrlinghood the opportunity to do so.

There won't be any required posts or mandatory lessons to join.  We will do our best (in conjunction with any PC weyrlingmasters) to provide at least one open weyrling RP per OOC month of weyrlinghood, which people are welcome to join or not at their leisure.

Whether or not you're active, weyrlinghood will proceed apace with the rest of the game.  It's up to you how much of it you play.  We encourage weyrlings and non-weyrlings to create additional threads - Wingleaders coaching weyrlings, riders giving advice or joining in lessons, weyrlings seeking out crafters for leathers or help with lessons - basically anything to help encourage participation and keep weyrlings from feeling cut off from the rest of the game. :)

[Oracle]

Click to visit the page to estimate your dragon's size based on their current age: http://www.thepernese.com/index.php?page=dragonsize