| Class | Date/Time | Topic | Class Log | |||
| Hatching! | ||||||
| 1 | Mind Exercises | |||||
| 2 | Straps and Unmanned Flight | |||||
| 3 | Hunting and Manned Flight | |||||
| 4 | Flaming | |||||
| 5 | Betweening | |||||
| 6 | Mating Flights | |||||
| Graduation! | ||||||
Where You Can Go:
Initially, all new dragonpairs will be confined to the barracks and the training field. Young dragons have a tendency to curl up and snooze wherever, if tired, so venturing too far from the couches during the first few weeks isn't recommended. As the dragons age and mature, they will be able to spend longer and longer intervals apart from their bonds. The bowl and the beach are often good places to stretch one's legs after the first few months, and the human half of the pair are allowed anywhere within the weyr after this time, although leaving the weyr is prohibited until the between lesson, and then only under supervision.
First few Weeks
There are a lot of things to do during the first week/first few months of your dragon's life. ICly, you will be learning how to take care of your dragon and the bond between dragon and human will strengthen as you learn about each other. It is during the first few weeks that your dragon's personality starts to form. Dragons have a pre-designed personality that comes with them, designed by others at the Weyr. This personality is only a guide, not a rule. Feel free to alter the personality or discard it completely. You can also add depth to it as time progresses.
Feeding
The dragon will need to be fed quite often during the first few months/weeks. Just about any time the dragon feels hungry, s/he should be fed. Weyrlings will be instructed to make sure they feed the dragon responsibly. A dragon shouldn't be allowed to choke down food or overeat. If a dragon overeats, s/he can have serious medical problems. If you wish to have this happen, consult your Weyrlingmaster Staff. Bowel obstruction or bloated stomach would occur, or something of that nature.
Cleaning
A dragon will need to be cleaned once in a while. Typically, the weyr has a bathing pool in the Weyrling barracks where you will clean your dragon until they're big enough that they can be taken to the Lake in the training grounds.
Oiling
A dragon also needs to be oiled regularly and frequently, especially when they are growing. Dragons grow quickly the first few months, and their hide will constantly stretch with them, causing itching. If they are not oiled, it can crack or grow patchy. This can cause problems, especially later for going *between*. The intense cold could get into those cracks or patches and hurt terribly, or even kill the dragon.
Dragon Bonding
This first week or so, most importantly, will be a very confusing time for any new rider. There is a new being searching through the mind of his/her lifemate, broadcasting emotions and perhaps putting his/her rider into a position where the emotions of one cannot be distinguished from the other. A weyrling might find that their emotions are stronger, more uncontrollable, accented by empathy shared with the dragon. Role-playing the confusion of this situation might lead to trying to control the surges and feelings, and how to live with them. A newly hatched dragon will have a tendency to sleep a lot, which will give a weyrling time to make sure food is cut and ready, and time to tend to other chores. You will not be without things to do, nor will a weyrling be allowed to be a slacker.
Food Provision
A weyrling will need to help replace all the meat that the dragons consume. Small dragons cannot hunt for themselves until they begin to fly. Weyrlings will help the Weyrlingmaster Staff butcher the meat and chop it up into bite-size pieces for the vats every day, until the dragons are able to hunt for their own food.
Mucking
Until the dragons are old enough and strong enough to fly and can *between*, they cannot dispose of their wastes like older dragons. It will be possible, after a while, to persuade the dragon to deposit these wastes in a more appropriate place, such as the infamous dump bucket, but until then, weyrlings get to shovel the muck. This includes cleaning the couches where the dragons rest.
Replenishing the Oil Vats
The Weyr has a large supply of oil, barreled for use by dragonriders and Holds to keep the dragons' hide supple and free from blemish. When the oil set out in the barracks vats is used up, which it will be, due to the numbers of weyrlings and the growth of dragons, these vats will need to be refilled.
Helping Around The Weyr
After the first few months, during which the weyrlings will be doing mostly chores associated with their dragon's care and comfort, the weyrlings will start helping with other things. There are numerous duties that can be assigned to weyrlings, some of which will come during the course of the training period. These jobs include running errands around the Weyr or to other places after they can fly, and bagging firestone.
Respect
Please remember to be respectful to those higher in rank. Weyrlings' immediate supervisors are the Weyrlingmaster and Assistants. The Weyrlingmaster is like a Wingleader. Assistant Weyrlingmasters are like Wingseconds. The only leadership above the Weyrlingmaster are the Weyrleaders and the Weyrsecond. Weyrlings are not required to salute every time they see a rider, but it is appropriate to do so when you are called to attention, or summoned to meet formally. Just seeing a rider around the Weyr, such as in the living caverns, or if a rider walks by, does not mean a weyrling must salute.
Etiquette
Depending on where you came from, and what you have done with your life so far, you are all likely to have different views on what are good manners, etiquette, and protocol. Now that you are Ista riders, you need to be very aware that whatever you do is going to reflect on the weyr. Therefore, we are going to cover the basics of etiquette and what we expect of you:
1 - At all times, you must be polite and courteous, especially to those of higher rank than yourself.
2 - If at all possible, address people by their correct titles where known, and check their knot. If you don't know what it is, play it safe.
3 - As a rider, you represent Ista. While the weyr itself may seem laid-back and casual, actions which reflect badly on it will have consequences, some more severe than others. Remember, if you act disrespectfully, the weyr is acting disrespectful, and complaints will likely be lodged with the weyrleadership. They will have absolutely no qualms about tracking you down and chewing you out (and other unpleasant disciplinary measures). It will likely result in groundings and extended lessons on proper behavior/diplomacy, and will not be a pleasant experience.
4 - One of the important lessons you'll be working on is to learn the hierarchy of the Weyr. You'll be learning what position handles what task and where they place in the hierarchy of responsibility. Rank hierarchy, diplomacy, tact, and etiquette are important to riders. Weyrlings come from many places, and from many backgrounds. Time will be spent learning weyr positions, what each do, and how to correctly address each person in the proper way, depending on specific circumstances. As well as how to act as representatives of Ista Weyr when dealing with holds, crafthalls, and other weyrs.
