Post by Phly on Mar 31, 2009 19:25:49 GMT -6
After successfully Impressing at a Hatching, the life of a young man or woman is changed thoroughly and completely for the rest of their life. New Weyrlings often don't get one real moments' rest between the time they Impress to the time the graduate from Weyrlinghood once their dragon reaches maturity. From day one, Weyrlings are taught everything they need to know about everything concerning their relationship with their dragon partner to coping with death and injury should they see Threadfall. All of the knowledge and skills passed on to a current class of Weyrlings is expected to be passed on someday to a class of new Weyrlings. In all, it is never to be forgotten that the one purpose of dragonriding is to flame the threads in the sky. It is the responsibility of the Weyrling Master(s) to ensure that every single Weyrling class understands their duties and responsibilities as a dragonrider.
Lessons begin for new Weyrlings the moment the Impress, regardless of the hour. They are taught how to properly feed their dragonets so that they don't under or over feed their new charges. Also, it is demonstrated to the new Weyrling pair the dangers of choking that speed-eating can create. It is impressed on all the new lifemates that choking is a very real threat to the life of the Hatchling. A day to a sevenday after the Hatching occurs, the Weyrlings are separated into different Weyrling classes, particularly if the Clutch was rather large. During the ensuing sevenday, the Weyrlings are taught how to properly bathe and oil their charges as well as how to butcher the meat for their meals; Weyrlings are not expected to kill their Hatchlings meat, but simply carve up a bucket full - or two - or three for them. By the end of their first three four-sevendays, dragonets may be eating up to six buckets of meat, depending on their size and color. Constipation and belly aches from over eating are the most common ailments a Weyrling pair experiences.
Weyrlings will find that their Hatchlings will grow extremely quickly the first several four-sevendays of their partner's life. The first four four-sevendays is considered a critical period for the relationship between rider and dragonet. As both partners are new to the intrusiveness and completeness their bonding has created, it is inadvisable for a dragonet to be out of line of sight of their rider as the separation may negatively affect their bond. For the entire time a rider is considered a "Weyrling" they are forbidden from partaking in romantic or physical relationships. The dragonet will not understand feelings of love and attraction between humans at this stage in their life. This confusion can panic a dragonet enough to actually send them between. For the same reason, Weyrlings are advised not to imbibe alcohol.
At around six four-sevendays, dragonets will have given up being fed by their lifemate and instead choose to hunt for themselves. During this time, they will undoubtedly experiment with flight and this should be encouraged rather than frowned upon. Dragons are capable of flight from the moment of birth, though allowing them to actually fly isn't necessarily a good idea, particularly if the Weyrling Masters aren't aware of an over-confident Weyrling pair ready to try out their lifemate's wings for the first time. However, a dragonet must get as much experience in the air by his or herself before being introduced to flying with a partner for the added weight can throw off even the most flight-steady dragon. As they hunt for themselves, Weyrlings can expect for their dragonets to injure or lose talons while taking down their kills.
During their flying lessons, fighting Weyrling pairs are expected to identify firestone and drill on the ground with firestone sack passing. As pairs become more proficient, they are slowly introduced to flaming based on rider and dragon maturity; a dragon might be perfectly ready to take the plunge flaming midair, but their rider just might not be. Riders are also taught how to make and upkeep their own riding straps and riding gear.
Weyrlinghood in and of itself isn't a considerably safe place. The life expecantcy for a Weyrling pair drops dramatically once flying and flaming lessons begin. From their, the morality rate spikes during the time that a Weyrling pair is learning about /betweening/ with the rider in control. While dragonets can and will go /between/ to various places on their own long before they are introduced to /between/ formally, using this innate ability becomes hazardous once it is the rider dictating where the dragon must go.
Reaching full maturity is different for every dragon, although dragons are considered adults at one and a half turns. A male dragon is considered fully mature once he rises to Chase a female in Flight. Likewise, a female is considered mature once she Rises to mate for the first time. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that a Weyrling is automatically a rider once their dragon matures. If a Weyrling pair is younger than fifteen Turns once their dragon matures, they are kept as Weyrlings and are not allowed any duties and responsibilities a full rider has until they Turn seventeen.
Lessons begin for new Weyrlings the moment the Impress, regardless of the hour. They are taught how to properly feed their dragonets so that they don't under or over feed their new charges. Also, it is demonstrated to the new Weyrling pair the dangers of choking that speed-eating can create. It is impressed on all the new lifemates that choking is a very real threat to the life of the Hatchling. A day to a sevenday after the Hatching occurs, the Weyrlings are separated into different Weyrling classes, particularly if the Clutch was rather large. During the ensuing sevenday, the Weyrlings are taught how to properly bathe and oil their charges as well as how to butcher the meat for their meals; Weyrlings are not expected to kill their Hatchlings meat, but simply carve up a bucket full - or two - or three for them. By the end of their first three four-sevendays, dragonets may be eating up to six buckets of meat, depending on their size and color. Constipation and belly aches from over eating are the most common ailments a Weyrling pair experiences.
Weyrlings will find that their Hatchlings will grow extremely quickly the first several four-sevendays of their partner's life. The first four four-sevendays is considered a critical period for the relationship between rider and dragonet. As both partners are new to the intrusiveness and completeness their bonding has created, it is inadvisable for a dragonet to be out of line of sight of their rider as the separation may negatively affect their bond. For the entire time a rider is considered a "Weyrling" they are forbidden from partaking in romantic or physical relationships. The dragonet will not understand feelings of love and attraction between humans at this stage in their life. This confusion can panic a dragonet enough to actually send them between. For the same reason, Weyrlings are advised not to imbibe alcohol.
At around six four-sevendays, dragonets will have given up being fed by their lifemate and instead choose to hunt for themselves. During this time, they will undoubtedly experiment with flight and this should be encouraged rather than frowned upon. Dragons are capable of flight from the moment of birth, though allowing them to actually fly isn't necessarily a good idea, particularly if the Weyrling Masters aren't aware of an over-confident Weyrling pair ready to try out their lifemate's wings for the first time. However, a dragonet must get as much experience in the air by his or herself before being introduced to flying with a partner for the added weight can throw off even the most flight-steady dragon. As they hunt for themselves, Weyrlings can expect for their dragonets to injure or lose talons while taking down their kills.
During their flying lessons, fighting Weyrling pairs are expected to identify firestone and drill on the ground with firestone sack passing. As pairs become more proficient, they are slowly introduced to flaming based on rider and dragon maturity; a dragon might be perfectly ready to take the plunge flaming midair, but their rider just might not be. Riders are also taught how to make and upkeep their own riding straps and riding gear.
Weyrlinghood in and of itself isn't a considerably safe place. The life expecantcy for a Weyrling pair drops dramatically once flying and flaming lessons begin. From their, the morality rate spikes during the time that a Weyrling pair is learning about /betweening/ with the rider in control. While dragonets can and will go /between/ to various places on their own long before they are introduced to /between/ formally, using this innate ability becomes hazardous once it is the rider dictating where the dragon must go.
Reaching full maturity is different for every dragon, although dragons are considered adults at one and a half turns. A male dragon is considered fully mature once he rises to Chase a female in Flight. Likewise, a female is considered mature once she Rises to mate for the first time. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that a Weyrling is automatically a rider once their dragon matures. If a Weyrling pair is younger than fifteen Turns once their dragon matures, they are kept as Weyrlings and are not allowed any duties and responsibilities a full rider has until they Turn seventeen.