BIOGRAPHICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dragonforce/Dragonstorm

The Dragons

Pernese dragons are markedly different from those of Terran Legends. Not true reptiles, not true mammals, they have a mixture of the attributes of both. They are extremely intelligent, loyal to a fault, especially to their riders, and aware of and dedicated to their role as Threadfighters. They are gentle by nature but can become belligerent if their rider or some other person is being threatened.

There are five major types of dragons, with one totally unique beast, and a transplant from another planet. That dragon, Astaroth, does not distribute the pacifistic tendencies of his Pernese fellows, and can be a very serious issue at times.

The dragons are:

Golds (Queens) Female 40 — 50 feet in length, from tail to nose, when lying extended.

Ramoth Female 63 feet The huge Ramoth is one of several legendary queens, although the only one still alive. She is larger than any other queen on Pern by about ten feet. Ramoth is generally similar in temperament to all other Pernese dragons, but don’t cross her. She has been known to become aggressive, particularly if her rider, Lessa, is involved.

Bronzes Male 35 — 45 feet

Browns Male 30 — 40 feet

Blues Male 25 — 30 feet

Greens Female 20 — 25 feet

White Asexual 25 feet The white Ruth is a unique dragon. He was rescued from his shell, which he couldn’t open from the inside, when a young Jaxom cut the shell open. The pair impressed instantly. Ruth combines many of the traits of the other colors, but is incapable of breeding. He is physically capable of mating but, as he was born sterile, he has no interest. Despite his size, he is faster and more maneuverable than the larger Pernese dragons.

Black Male 33 feet Another one-off, this is Astaroth, a Cygnan dragon who arrived on Pern via some very odd circumstances. He is by nature indolent, but he is also a law enforcement specialist and totally intolerant of criminals. His personal creed is “Get the job done and worry about the consequences later.” He doesn’t worry very often.

Dragons live in weyrs, small caves usually found in dormant or extinct volcanos. They are entirely carnivorous and not competitive, unless a mating flight is involved. Most queens rise to mate once or twice a turn. Bronzes and the occasional over-sized brown will chase, although a brown hasn’t caught a queen in more than 400 turns.

The rider of the senior queen in a Weyr is the Weyrwoman. When the senior queen rises, the rider whose dragon catches her becomes Weyrleader. Don’t let these titles mislead you; the Weyrwoman runs the Weyr from behind the scenes. Not even a Weyrleader will cross his Weyrwoman.

Greens rise every two or three months. As they are sterile, their mating instincts are never interrupted by pregnancy. Browns and blues chase greens. Bronzes generally wait for a queen to rise.

The vast majority of green riders are male, which is why boys who display homosexual tendencies early in life are often given the opportunity to become greenriders. Very few offered the chance turn it down. In the past few turns, greens have started to impress girls, which can be both an benefit and a disadvantage in a Weyr.

Early in a Pass, a Weyr will generally have about 200 fighting dragons; bronzes, browns, blues and greens. Queens participate as members of ‘Queens Wings’. They can’t process firestone, so their riders carry ‘agenothree’ sprayers, essentially small flamethrowers using nitric acid (HNO₃). When thread gets through the upper wings the queens go into action. This is difficult and dangerous work, and injuries among queens are not uncommon.

As the pass goes on, the number of available dragons slowly increases. By the end of a pass, most Weyrs have between 300 and 400 fighting dragons. Most Weyrs have only two queens, particularly at the beginning of a pass. By the end of a pass, many have four queens and a few even have five.

A Weyr with 300 dragons will generally break down as:

Queens 3 or 4

Bronzes 12 to 15

Browns 20 to 30

Blues 75 to 90

Greens 150 to 180

Actual numbers will vary, but these are ordinary. Bronzes and browns are leaders, generally wingleaders and wingseconds. There are occasional variations from this norm, but only rarely. Blues are the jacks-of-all-trades and the heart of a Weyr’s fighting strength. Greens are fast and maneuverable but lack endurance. They have to be rotated in and out of their wing in a heavy fall. A number of all dragon types are held in reserve, able to step in when fighting dragons need to recover from injury or just need rest.

Dragon wings consist of 20 to 30 dragons, depending on the desires of the Weyrleader and the available mix of dragons. A flight consists of three wings. By the middle of a pass, most Weyrs will have anywhere from six to nine wings, comprising two to three flights. Wings are led by a wingleader, usually a bronze. They can have anything from one to three wingseconds, usually browns, depending on the number of dragons in the wing and the desires of the wingleader. The norm is two wingseconds.

Dragons who are in excess of the number needed for the fighting wings are held in reserve. This isn’t vacation time. Injuries are common among dragons and the reserve beasts get plenty of work.

Young dragons, from hatching to anywhere from one to three turns in age, are called ‘weyrlings’. This portion of a dragon’s life is essentially basic training, involving everything from learning to fly to basic formation flying and basic combat training. The first combat duties of dragons, assigned to senior weyrlings, is to provide extra firestone sacks to fighting dragons during heavy threadfalls. This is strenuous and dangerous work. Injuries among weyrlings are common although serious injuries to weyrlings are rare.

Weyrlings are supervised by a ‘weyrlingleader’ or ‘weyrlingmaster’, the title being dependent on the traditions of the individual Weyr. He is usually a very senior rider. The weyrlingleader is responsible for all facets of weyrling training, both dragon and rider. The weyrlingleader will advise the Weyrleader when he determines a weyrling worthy to graduate to the fighting wings. 

The Weyrs

Weyr Weyrleader Dragon Weyrwoman Dragon

Benden F’lar Bronze Mnementh Lessa Queen Ramoth

Eastern T’gellan Bronze Monarth Trelka Queen Regalth

M’kel Bronze Zarth

Fort N’ton Bronze Lioth Deena Queen Kanadrylth

High Reaches T’kul* Bronze Salth Merika* Queen Tirlith

T’bor Bronze Orth Kylara* Queen Prideth(D)

M’rand Bronze Tileth Pilgra Queen Selgrith

Igen G’narish Bronze Gyarmath Nadira Queen Nenneth

Ista D’ram* Bronze Tiroth Fanna* Queen Mirath

G’dened Bronze Barnath Cosira Queen Caylith

Southern K’van Bronze Heth Adria Queen Beljeth

Telgar R’mart* Bronze Branth Bedella* Queen Solth

M’tarl Bronze Dugarth Lyrissa Queen Safrith

*Retired (D)Deceased

The Holds

Hold Lord Holder Lady Holder

Fort Groghe

Ista Warbret

Lemos Asgenar Famira

Nerat Ciparis

Paradise River Jayge Aramina

Ruatha Jaxom Sharra**

Southern Toric Ramala

Telgar Larad Dulsay

The Crafthalls

Craft Craftmaster Location

Farmer Andemon Nerat

Fisher Idarolan Tillek

Harper Robinton(D) Fort

Sebell

Healer Oldive Fort

Herder Briaret Keroon

Miner Nicat Crom

Smith Fandarel Telgar

**Sharra is also a journeyman healer

BIOGRAPHICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dragonforce/Dragonstorm

Name Dragon Color Position Location

Akira Grey Cygnan Snake Eastern/Ista

Annipur Journeyman Healer Healer Hall

Aramina Lady Holder Paradise River

Asgenar Lord Holder Lemos Hold

Astaroth Black Cygnan Dragon Eastern/Ista

Benelek Equipmentmaster Smith Hall

Beterik Journeyman Healer Nerat Hold

Betrella Headwoman Eastern

B’dor Binath Bronze Wingleader Ista

Bilko Journeyman Healer Ista Hold

B’kler Aragorth Bronze Wingleader Ista

B’lin Dorelth Green Rider Eastern

Brekke## Wirenth(D) Gold Weyrhealer Benden

Brad Holder Gernan Hold

Briaret Masterherder* Herder Hall

Brudegan Masterharper Harper Hall

B’sil Lograth Brown Wingsecond Fort

B’trel Moth Blue Rider Eastern

B’tron Temath Bronze Wingleader Eastern

Ciparis Lord Holder Nerat Hold

C’nol Gireth Bronze Wingleader Eastern

Cosira Caylith Gold Weyrwoman Ista

C’pan Nagorth Brown Wingsecond Benden

C’ter Naroth Green Rider Eastern

Darian Astaroth Black Masterhealer Eastern/Ista

Darielyn Son (Darian/Elysina) Ista

D’bril Gnath Brown Rider Eastern

Deena Kanadrylth Gold Weyrwoman Fort

D’phel Demelth Brown Weyrlingleader Ista

D’pol Suleth Blue Rider Benden

D’ram Tiroth Bronze Weyrleader Ista

D’rian Tyranth Bronze Wingleader Ista

Elysina Valkryth Gold Junior Weyrwoman Ista

Fandarel Mastersmith* Smith Hall

Fax Lord Holder Ruatha

F’lar Mnementh Bronze Weyrleader Benden

F’lessan Golanth Bronze Rider Benden

F’nor Canth Brown Wingsecond Benden

F’norek Dragoth Bronze Rider Benden

G’dened Barnath Bronze Weyrleader Ista

Gernan Holder Gernan Hold

G’narish Gyarmath Bronze Weyrleader Igen

G’nul Penoth Blue Rider Eastern

Groghe Lord Holder Fort Hold

G’sen Peleth Blue Weyrling Ista

G’tron Hrenth Bronze Wingleader Eastern

Hamian Masterminer Minecraft Hall

H’mot Forenth Brown Weyrling Eastern

Imala Headwoman Ista

Jaxom Ruth White Lord Holder Ruatha

Jayge Lord Holder Paradise River

Kimmel Masterhealer Healer Hall

K’lan Nilth Brown Weyrling Ista

K’net Piyanth Bronze Wingleader Benden

K’trin Trenth Brown Wingsecond Fort

K’van Heth Bronze Weyrleader Southern

Kylara(R) Prideth(D) Gold Weyrwoman High Reaches

K’zel Torrenth Bronze Wingleader High Reaches

Larad Lord Holder Telgar Hold

Lessa Ramoth Gold Weyrwoman Benden

L’kon Volth Brown Wingsecond Fort

Loki Tawny Cygnan Stalker Eastern/Ista

Lorina Turquith Blue Rider Ista

L’serin Toth Blue Weyrling Ista

L’sun Tarth Bronze Wingleader Eastern

Lyrissa Safrith Gold Weyrwoman Telgar

Manora Headwoman Benden

Mareka Daughter (Darian/Selana) Eastern/Ista

Markil Son (T’marek/Tryliri) Ista

Menolly Masterharper Harper Hall

Mierla Holder High Reaches

Mirrim Path Green Rider Eastern

M’kel Zarth Bronze Wingleader Eastern

M’rand Tileth Bronze Weyrleader High Reaches

M’tarl Dugarth Bronze Weyrleader Telgar

Natrel Son (N’rad/Trelka) Eastern

N’bril Cregeth Green Rider Eastern

N’del Tobith Green Rider Ista

Nerodian Masterhealer Lemos Hold

N’hol Janoth Brown Wingsecond Benden

Nitali Rulith Gold Junior Weyrwoman Fort

N’rad# Ledeth(D)Brown Wingsecond Eastern

N’sal Rilth Brown Wingsecond Benden

N’Pol Sanadanth Bronze Wingleader Ista

N’ton Lioth Bronze Weyrleader Fort

Oldive Masterhealer* Healer Hall

Orrinda Lorith Gold Junior Weyrwoman Eastern

Pr’sin Talonth Bronze Wingleader Ista

Remara Pireth Gold Junior Weyrwoman Ista

R’bel Teldrith Brown Wingsecond Eastern

R’kar Pyroth Bronze Wingleader Eastern

R’mart Branth Bronze Weyrleader Telgar

Robinton Masterharper(R) Cove Hold

R’travil Quarelth Bronze Wingleader Ista

Rubia Kitchen Staff Ista

Sangel Lord Holder Southern Boll

S’don Minoth Blue Rider Ista

Sebell Masterharper* Harper Hall

Seiten Holder Ista Hold

Selana## Scylenth Gold Weyrhealer/Junior Weyrwoman

Eastern/Ista

Seradan Son (Darian/Selana) Ista

Sharra Lady Holder Ruatha

S’radan Menanth Bronze Rider Ista

S’rel Gorgoth Bronze Wingleader Ista

S’sil Bareth Brown Wingsecond Eastern

Tamira Adiranth Gold Junior Weyrwoman High Reaches

Talmir Son (T’marek/Tryliri) Ista

T’bor Orth Bronze Weyrleader High Reaches

T’gellan Monarth Bronze Weyrleader Eastern

T’kul Salth Bronze Weyrleader High Reaches

T’marek Kelth Brown Wingsecond Eastern/Ista

Terry Mastersmith Smith Hall

Toric Lord Holder Southern

Traparten Masterhealer Nerat Hold

Trelka Regalth Gold Weyrwoman Eastern

Tr’lon Serpenth Brown Rider Benden

Tr’san Kirth Bronze Wingleader Ista

Tryliri Holder Gernan Hold

T’sarl Nibelth Bronze Wingleader Eastern

Turlon Holder Ruatha River

V’line Clarinath Bronze Wingleader High Reaches

V’nil Serath Bronze Wingleader Eastern

V’sine Tremalth Bronze Weyrling Ista

Wansor Starmaster Smith Hall

Warbret Lord Holder Ista Hold

Wendrya Belroeth Gold Junior Weyrwoman Eastern

Zurbin Weyrhealer High Reaches

##Brekke and Selana are third cousins. They distribute a common great-great-grandmother. Although their subsequent forbears diverged, they are still occasionally mistaken for sisters. Brekke’s ancestry is Oriental while Selana’s recent ancestors are Scotch / Irish. Subsequently, Brekke has the sallow skin and finely chiseled facial features of her heritage, while Selana has those odd blue/green hazel eyes which change color from nearly translucent green when happy to a dark blue as her mood deepens. They flash a frightening green/gold when she is angry. She also has the light brown hair with red highlights of her Irish forbears.

*CraftMaster (R) Retired