Post by Spiffy on Jun 9, 2010 11:40:19 GMT
6.1.7, 7th Pass
Tillek ship blown off course during storm. Bring reports of Far Western Continent containing vegetation, claims it saved their lives. Acknowledged.
23.11.51, End of 8th Pass
Weyrling lost, claims he emerged from between in mountains he's never been to before. Also claims to have seen a flying wher. Diagnosed as drunk from Pass End celebrations, given extra duties as punishment. Ignored.
15.13.358, 8th Interval
Long Term fishing convoy stranded off of Far Western coast by pack ice. The (somewhat drunk) sailors bring back reports of a vast desert, with mountains in the far distance. Three thought they saw creatures in the desert, unconfirmed. Acknowledged.
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When AIVAS told Pern that Thread would be ended forever, they had believed him. When they were told that the mission was successful, they believed it. If only they knew how it had all goner wrong. But everything would be fine, because AIVAS said so.
But that didn't stop the Hurricanes.
Nor did it stop the Meteorite that crashed into the Eastern Ring Sea.
Neither could it stop those that happened After the end of the 9th Pass of Pern, wearing down on the beleaguered planet, bearing disasters equal to that which they had been assured an end to.
Aivas, now nothing more than a computer network, couldn't even hold back a Plague.
A strange type of plague, mutated from a rare and lethal virus of the Southern Continent into something even more destructive and, more importantly, unknown to man or machine.
Of course, the meteorite that crashed into Landing that Turn didn't exactly help, either.
With disease running rife across Southern and their major source of information destroyed once and for all, Pern panicked. Those already affected soon died, those who miraculously avoided the illness fled North. Unrest rose in the Holds, as many of the Northerners blamed the Southerners for bringing the Plague to their shores, and there was wide call for action, some even going as far to say that the Southeners should be gotten rid of.
But despite all those who had died, within a few generations it again became clear that the Northern Continent could no longer hold the entire population of Pern. It was suggested that they should move South again, that the disease would have gone away by now. But as always, there were many skeptics who believed that to return was certain death. In the end it was an offhand suggestion by one of the StarSmiths that got the Lords Holder thinking...
What about the West?
The Dragon Riders, what few were left, retreated back to their ancient calderas at Fort, Telgar, Benden and High Reaches. They had not been ignored by the Plague, and many riders had ben lost, their dragons betweening upon their deaths. Here, their population began to recover, the queens laying large clutches in compensation. Conditions were not ideal, but bearable, as the Holds could no more support the Weyrs than they could their own expanding populaces. So when the West was suggested, the Riders joined in. Though many were volunteers, eager to again have a use in the world even if it were just rapid haulage, there were more than a few who were given little choice in the matter; if they were to reestablish their lives in the Weyrs, they didn't need certain likes causing trouble for them.
The expedition consisted of around 800 holders, with around 120 Dragonriders and a handful of whers and other animals. Most traveled by ship, but many also came a dragonback to prepare for the arrival of the rest. After further sweep rides and much deliberation they chose a site at the east coast of the western half of the Continent. The dragonriders also found a cliff overlooking the hold site suitable for a themselves, for the time being at least.
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12.9.204, After. Aivas adjusted Turn: 2579.
Horizon Hold established on southern coast, Western Continent
1.1.205, After. Aivas adjusted Turn: 2580.
Skyline Weyr established north of Horizon Hold, Western Continent
11.1.205, After. Aivas adjusted Turn: 2580
Bronze Jareth flew Gold Izith. Named as Sr. Weyrleaders
23.6.205, After. Aivas adjusted Turn: 2580
Izith's Clutch laid. 34 Eggs, no Queen Egg. 30 hatched.
7.11.205, After. Aivas adjusted Turn: 2580
Bronze Lumeth flew Gold Ariseth. Named as Jr. Weyrleaders
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The majority of the heavy haulage work completed in the now established Hold, the dragonriders took up permanent residence in a valley not too far north of the Hold, discovering that it had underground geothermal caverns suitable for a hatching ground. The new Weyr was named Skyline Weyr, as it was just about visible from the Hold, making up a small chunk of the skyline.
It was in a valley veiled in fog that things all went wrong.
Called in to investigate a strange valley shrouded in heavy fog, almost the entire Weyr had gone out for what they thought would be an interesting jaunt. Led by the Weyrleaders, the group entered the fog on full alert, but even they could not anticipate the slaughter they were about to undergo. Suddenly the rumors of strange draconic creatures roaming the mountains and forests became startlingly and horrifically true, and they were attacked without warning. The peaceful dragons were not prepared for battling a species that they knew nothing about and that were far more practiced in combat than they. Those that could between did so, mostly greens and blues, the bemused bronzes and browns trying desperately to protect their injured Queens. But still, many died, including the senior queen and her rider. Many of those that hadn't had their throats ripped out by the creatures made it back to the Weyr in shreds, some had been lost between and many started to suffer from what was presumed to be some kind of poisoning.
The Weyrleaders hadn't survived the initial attack, but Ariseth had managed to between back to the Weyr with the assistance of the sole surviving bronze, but not before suffering substantial injuries. It soon became apparent that she wold never fly again, despite the best efforts of the dragonhealer, and was extremely weak from loss of ichor. The Weyr waited with bated breath, all to aware that if she died then so would her clutch, but miraculously she hung on.
A sevenday later one of the riders, presumed lost in the battle, returned to the Weyr. But he was not followed by his blue dragon. What hhe was followed by was what at first glances seemed to be a small dragonet, deep blue in colour. But this was no dragon. Its hide was not blue, but dark purple. It's wings were too small, even for a hatchling, and it’s legs too long. Its headknobs were long and pointy, more like horns, and its back ridges were too pronounced, also sharper. And she said her name was Dusk.
Many of the Dragonriders recoiled from this... this creature, convinced that it was bad luck, that it would kill them all as it's race had killed their dragons and fellow Riders, even though to all appearances the creature caused no harm. Maybe it was just that she had Impressed to a dragonless that had everybody so disturbed, but when, not a day later, another pair appeared out of the mountains, some began to grow suspicious, some curious. These creatures, Basilisks they were calling them, had killed their dragons, slain their Weyrleaders and Weyrwoman and to all intents and purposes their Junior Queen too, and now they were weaving their way into the Weyr itself. Their fears were allayed by he fact that the Basilisks seemed to be mentally superior to even the dragons; quicker of thought and possessing the uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere, as well as numerous other little tricks. The dragons themselves regarded them with suspicion and in some cases fear, and the whers... well, the whers seemed terrified of them.
The Weyr now stands at odds. With over half its population slain, including the Weyrleaders and Senior Queen, the Weyr now has no clear leader. The weight has unofficially fallen on the shoulders of the last two Bronzeriders, but with their opposing aims and ideas, the two can rarely come to an agreement. It is unclear if the Junior Queen will even live past the hatching, leaving the Weyr in desperate need of a Queen Egg in her last clutch. Black dust has been reported by the Hold, but few can remember its significance. Communication with the Northern Weyrs has gradually broken down, a futile plea for transfer riders left unanswered. Many riders don't know where to turn. The fate of the Weyr could well be in the hands of either bronzerider. Will you stand out, make your opinions known, or go with the flow, no longer caring? The fate of the West could very well be in your hands, so place them wisely, my friend.
Place them wisely.
