Knots

Pernese wear shoulders knots, made of cords in different colours, knots and loops, to indicate rank, due to the very rank-orientated society in which it is. All Pernese are taught to differentiate between different knots, thus becoming able to recognise people of different ranks without knowing them, which ensures that they are able to address unknowns in a polite, rank-appropriate, manner.

Crafters posted to a Weyr wear the knot of their craft rank, with an extra cord to signify their posting. In the case of Ista, this would be an orange cord. All other Istans would wear a knot made of black and orange cords, the black and orange being Istan colours, with the following designs according to rank:

• Candidate : One loop under the arm, string, white thread.
• Resident : One loop under the arm, string with two knots.
• Headwoman : One and a half loop over the arm, string tied to smaller loop.
• Steward : One and a half loop over the arm, string tied to smaller loop.
• Weyrling : One loop under the arm, string, dragon colour.
• Rider : One loop under the arm, string with two knots, dragon colour.
• Wingsecond: One loop under the arm, string with four knots, dragon colour.
• AWLM : One loop under the arm, string with four knots, dragon colour.
• Wingleader: One loop under the arm, half loop over the arm, dragon colour.
• WLM : One and 1/2 loop over arm, string on smaller loop, dragon colour
• Weyrsecond: One and 1/2 loop over arm, string on smaller loop, dragon colour
• Junior WW : One and a half loop over the arm, string on smaller loop, gold
• Weyrleader: Two loops over the arm, thread in bronze, tassel in bronze
• Senior WW : Two loops over the arm, thread in gold, tassel in gold.