Post by Phly on Mar 31, 2009 18:24:29 GMT -6
Ah, the newest recruits in to the military of Pern. Candidates are at the bottom of the food chain when they are either Searched out of Hall or Hold or are old enough at their prospective Weyr to Stand for Impression. It is customary that teenage boys between the ages of 12 all the way up into their early twenties to be Searched out of the Holds that are beHolden to a particular Weyr. Benden Weyr would choose to Search out of Benden Hold, for instance. In some cases, Weyrs will opt to instead build their entire Candidate base strictly out of 'Weyrbred' youngsters . In others, Holds refuse to relinquish up their youth base up to the dragonriders, although normally this only happens during intervals when the relationships between Weyr and Hold become rather cool.
For most families, being Searched as a Candidate is something of an honor and a privilege. Many Candidates from the Holds have few to no relatives who have ever been selected to leave their home with the hopes of Impressing a dragon. Rarely will a newly Searched young person give up their Candidacy, although it does happen from time to time, especially if the Candidate in question is expecting a big dowry or comes from an extremely wealthy family. However, some Lord Holders have made an example of what a good thing being Searched is by allowing their own heirs to have the opportunity to Impress...particularly if they have one to many male children.
Young women are often the ones who encounter problems when the Searchriders come to call. Fathers of eligible female Candidates often refuse to allow their daughters to leave Hold, especially if they are expecting to marry the girl in question off to obtain more land or marks by her marriage. Females are generally not considered for fighting rider positions in most Weyrs anyways and it is generally only when a gold Egg is laying upon the Hatching Grounds Sands when they are pushed to move to the Weyr. With that in mind, female Candidates are preferred to be much older than their male counterparts. Often, females aren't taken to the Weyr unless they're got at least fifteen Turns to them. Of course, many younger girls who desperately wish to live a life away from their situation in the Hold can be taken at a younger age.
Candidates of either gender that come out of the Halls are far rarer than those chosen out of the Holds. Craftmasters who have committed their lives to imparting their wisdom and knowledge on a new group of upcoming journeymen and Masters do not take kindly to dragonriders who put ideas of flying freedom in the minds of their charges. It is extremely uncommon to see a Candidate who also wears the knots of a journeyman in any craft. Apprentices are more easily given up on Search, particularly if his or her masters feel that he or she isn't progressing at all in the Craft. Of course, Crafters do not appreciate losing more than three or four apprentices at any one time to the Weyrs.
There are several ways a potential Candidate can be disqualified from Candidacy. Those young men and women who are known to have a criminal record are generally refused on Search no matter how emphatic they might be. Candidates who have disabling physical defects, deformities, or injuries (youngsters who are deaf and/or blind are turned down as well) are also not allowed to become Candidates; the life of a dragonrider is an extremely manual one, after all. Young people who exhibit signs of mental conditions such as schizophrenia or dementia are also rejected.
Blueriders, being the best Searchers, make up almost eighty-five percent of the dragons who select prospective riders from Holds and Halls. Green dragons do have the ability to feel out those emphatic enough to Impress, although it is rare to find an exceedingly good one. Bronzeriders will ride Search only if they are hunting for a gold Candidate. The bluerider will round up the girls, but it is up to the bronzerider (who is most likely the Weyrleader himself or an experienced Wingleader) to choose the best girl - or girls - out of a group for the queen.
Once newly Searched Candidates arrive at their new Weyr, they are given Weyr orientation by a Candidate Master, his assistants, or by the Headwoman. For the first week, a new Candidate is allowed some time to dally about and learn the ins-and-outs of their new home. Those Candidates brought just in time for a Hatching are given a three or four day crash course on what to expect at the Hatching and how to respond to their new dragonet. Rarely will a Candidate be brought to the Weyr the day of the Hatching, as they will probably not be able to cope with the double shock of being Searched and being bonded to a lifemate all in the same day.
Those Candidates who have been living at the Weyr during the periods with no Clutch on the Sands will be properly schooled and kept busy by the Candidate Master (if the Weyr has one) or by the Headwoman. Some Candidates do some to their new Weyr homes without the skills to read or write and are given lessons with the Weyr Harper. Others who are farther along in their studies will be lectured about dragons, the responsibilities of dragonriders, and are given a Craft to practice. Candidates are allowed to choose a Craft of their choice to learn at the Weyr so that if they never Impress, they at least won't be jobless in the future. Candidates who have been Searched straight out of the Halls simply continue their training in their prospective Crafts. However, no Candidate is officially promoted to any rank during their stay in the Weyr as a Candidate. If the Candidate fails to Impress, they may choose to leave the way and take their proper rank as a Craftsman in the Halls.
Sexuality and romance is welcomed and encouraged amongst Candidates, particularly if a particular Candidate has been sheltered for most of his or her life. Weyr leaders prefer that Candidates understand sex, particularly female Candidates; flightsex for the first time is often rough and not necessarily an enjoyable experience, especially for the virgin partner. Of course, being promiscuous is not - all female Candidates are told repeatedly that becoming pregnant will disqualify them from Standing at an upcoming Hatching. Female Candidates that are pregnant a four-sevenday before a Hatching will be barred from Standing. Homosexuality (i.e. experimenting) amongst Candidates is also encouraged, especially since at the Holds Candidates are generally not exposed to same-sex relationships.
Hatchings for Candidates are, obviously, extremely emotional experiences whether a Candidate Impresses or not. Candidates who do Impress are immediately taken out of the Hatching Grounds where they feed their dragon for the first time and are given their first lessons by the Weyrling Master. The Sands have proven to be a very dangerous place; Candidates are taught to expect being mauled by a clumsy, newly-Hatched dragonet. They are also given lessons on how to cope with the severe disappointment they may experience if they fail to Impress. Because suicides and alcohol induced deaths and accidents have occurred after Hatchings, Candidates who do not Impress are usually closely monitored by peers who are not Candidates at the Weyr or by the Candidate Master or Headwoman themselves.
Candidates are allowed to Stand and continued to Stand until they Impress or until they reach the twenty-five Turn mark. After that, many of those unImpressed often stay at the place they've called home for so long rather than leaving for the Hold that they left.
For most families, being Searched as a Candidate is something of an honor and a privilege. Many Candidates from the Holds have few to no relatives who have ever been selected to leave their home with the hopes of Impressing a dragon. Rarely will a newly Searched young person give up their Candidacy, although it does happen from time to time, especially if the Candidate in question is expecting a big dowry or comes from an extremely wealthy family. However, some Lord Holders have made an example of what a good thing being Searched is by allowing their own heirs to have the opportunity to Impress...particularly if they have one to many male children.
Young women are often the ones who encounter problems when the Searchriders come to call. Fathers of eligible female Candidates often refuse to allow their daughters to leave Hold, especially if they are expecting to marry the girl in question off to obtain more land or marks by her marriage. Females are generally not considered for fighting rider positions in most Weyrs anyways and it is generally only when a gold Egg is laying upon the Hatching Grounds Sands when they are pushed to move to the Weyr. With that in mind, female Candidates are preferred to be much older than their male counterparts. Often, females aren't taken to the Weyr unless they're got at least fifteen Turns to them. Of course, many younger girls who desperately wish to live a life away from their situation in the Hold can be taken at a younger age.
Candidates of either gender that come out of the Halls are far rarer than those chosen out of the Holds. Craftmasters who have committed their lives to imparting their wisdom and knowledge on a new group of upcoming journeymen and Masters do not take kindly to dragonriders who put ideas of flying freedom in the minds of their charges. It is extremely uncommon to see a Candidate who also wears the knots of a journeyman in any craft. Apprentices are more easily given up on Search, particularly if his or her masters feel that he or she isn't progressing at all in the Craft. Of course, Crafters do not appreciate losing more than three or four apprentices at any one time to the Weyrs.
There are several ways a potential Candidate can be disqualified from Candidacy. Those young men and women who are known to have a criminal record are generally refused on Search no matter how emphatic they might be. Candidates who have disabling physical defects, deformities, or injuries (youngsters who are deaf and/or blind are turned down as well) are also not allowed to become Candidates; the life of a dragonrider is an extremely manual one, after all. Young people who exhibit signs of mental conditions such as schizophrenia or dementia are also rejected.
Blueriders, being the best Searchers, make up almost eighty-five percent of the dragons who select prospective riders from Holds and Halls. Green dragons do have the ability to feel out those emphatic enough to Impress, although it is rare to find an exceedingly good one. Bronzeriders will ride Search only if they are hunting for a gold Candidate. The bluerider will round up the girls, but it is up to the bronzerider (who is most likely the Weyrleader himself or an experienced Wingleader) to choose the best girl - or girls - out of a group for the queen.
Once newly Searched Candidates arrive at their new Weyr, they are given Weyr orientation by a Candidate Master, his assistants, or by the Headwoman. For the first week, a new Candidate is allowed some time to dally about and learn the ins-and-outs of their new home. Those Candidates brought just in time for a Hatching are given a three or four day crash course on what to expect at the Hatching and how to respond to their new dragonet. Rarely will a Candidate be brought to the Weyr the day of the Hatching, as they will probably not be able to cope with the double shock of being Searched and being bonded to a lifemate all in the same day.
Those Candidates who have been living at the Weyr during the periods with no Clutch on the Sands will be properly schooled and kept busy by the Candidate Master (if the Weyr has one) or by the Headwoman. Some Candidates do some to their new Weyr homes without the skills to read or write and are given lessons with the Weyr Harper. Others who are farther along in their studies will be lectured about dragons, the responsibilities of dragonriders, and are given a Craft to practice. Candidates are allowed to choose a Craft of their choice to learn at the Weyr so that if they never Impress, they at least won't be jobless in the future. Candidates who have been Searched straight out of the Halls simply continue their training in their prospective Crafts. However, no Candidate is officially promoted to any rank during their stay in the Weyr as a Candidate. If the Candidate fails to Impress, they may choose to leave the way and take their proper rank as a Craftsman in the Halls.
Sexuality and romance is welcomed and encouraged amongst Candidates, particularly if a particular Candidate has been sheltered for most of his or her life. Weyr leaders prefer that Candidates understand sex, particularly female Candidates; flightsex for the first time is often rough and not necessarily an enjoyable experience, especially for the virgin partner. Of course, being promiscuous is not - all female Candidates are told repeatedly that becoming pregnant will disqualify them from Standing at an upcoming Hatching. Female Candidates that are pregnant a four-sevenday before a Hatching will be barred from Standing. Homosexuality (i.e. experimenting) amongst Candidates is also encouraged, especially since at the Holds Candidates are generally not exposed to same-sex relationships.
Hatchings for Candidates are, obviously, extremely emotional experiences whether a Candidate Impresses or not. Candidates who do Impress are immediately taken out of the Hatching Grounds where they feed their dragon for the first time and are given their first lessons by the Weyrling Master. The Sands have proven to be a very dangerous place; Candidates are taught to expect being mauled by a clumsy, newly-Hatched dragonet. They are also given lessons on how to cope with the severe disappointment they may experience if they fail to Impress. Because suicides and alcohol induced deaths and accidents have occurred after Hatchings, Candidates who do not Impress are usually closely monitored by peers who are not Candidates at the Weyr or by the Candidate Master or Headwoman themselves.
Candidates are allowed to Stand and continued to Stand until they Impress or until they reach the twenty-five Turn mark. After that, many of those unImpressed often stay at the place they've called home for so long rather than leaving for the Hold that they left.