I'm proud to tell you all that the product of me and a great circle of friends' work is now open to the public!

Welcome to Aerten Weyr!

We are a literate 3rd person, AU Pern-based RP-forum! Lovingly peiced together by a group of wonderful minds!

During the second interval, Telgar and High Reaches found themselves overpopulated. Coupled with a rather virulent strain of differing opinions, this led to the Aerten project. A group comprised of members from both mother Weyrs set out to form their own. They found a large ravine between the mother Weyrs and slightly south of High Reaches. After exploring it further, they decided it was ideal and set to work. They named it Aerten. Before long, a man from Ruatha discovered a nearby area to be perfect for raising runners and established Arion Hold.

Turns later, during the fifth interval, G’lion of bronze Abranth flew Aerten’s Senior Queen, Eliath. In the first few months of G’lion’s leadership, he participated in a childish argument with the Lord Holder of Crom, and refused to fly Thread over the Mine Hold. The Weyr was appalled and a few of the junior bronzes attempted to fly Thread without their Weyrleader. But to no avail. G’lion and Abranth literally forced them to stay grounded. Eliath was on the Sands at the time, forcing the Weyrwoman to become a spectator. The Queen tried to make Abranth stop, but he would not listen to her, and Eliath was too gentle a creature to force him. Telgar flew Thread over Crom that day. The Weyrs and Holds of Pern held a council and outcast Aerten Weyr for G’lion’s serious lack of sense. Only Arion stood by them, “For Gale’s sake.” The Lord Holder declared.

After his initial hiccup, G’lion repented and strove to make up for his actions; he made a complete 180 and refused to stop flying Thread even if the rest of Pern no longer expected him to. He enacted many provisions to keep the Weyr running. He found land for the Weyr to grow crops of their own, thus becoming semi-self-sufficient. He also found and organized a series of mines around the Weyr to provide firestone to the Weyr. At the same time, Gale tried to patch things with the other Weyrs and Holds, dedicating her life to the task, but to no avail. G’lion and Abranth have since died, but Gale leads the Weyr on. Aerten still flies Thread over Crom, Nabol, Ruatha, and Arion; they feel honor-bound to do so and repent for their past leader’s failings.

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We currently have 3 fertile queens that will be rising shortly to produce clutches for any hopeful candidates. Also, since we have just opened, we are in need of Green, Blue, and Brown riders.

So! If you're into dragons and RPing, please come give us a shot!

HERE'S THE LINK: http://z3.invisionfree.com/Aerten_Weyr/index.php?act=idx 

It was like being reborn, Rena decided as she proudly led the little silver queen out of the Hatching Grounds. Like being reborn in the same body but you were a completely different person. Completely and irrevocably changed; forever bonded to the other half of your soul. Never again would she feel alone or vulnerable. Airith would always be with her.

Yes I will. The little queen agreed. But for now I am hungry. Can’t we get me something to eat?

“Yes dear, that where we’re heading now.”

The sudden blaze of sunlight was startling and both she and Airith blinked to adjust to the new light. Airith’s silver hide blazed blindingly in the sun and Rena took a moment to admire her dragon before her stomach growled sympathetically along with Airith’s and she lead the awkward hatchling over to where the other weyrlings were feeding and oiling their new charges.

A tall man with a messy crop of brown curls handed her a pail a meat, beaming at her. “Welcome to the Weyr! So you’re the one who impressed the silver queen, huh? What’s her name?”

Rena smiled up at the man, and then began feeding chunks of meat to a voracious Airith. “I’m Rena, and this is Airith,” she said, her dragons’ name spilling out of her like a prayer. She liked the way it sounded. Airith glanced up at the man and then, to Rena’s surprise, bared her teeth in a snarl and snapped viciously at the man.

“Airith! Be nice!”

“RENA!”

She looked up to see Kara and Atili advancing on her with two young dragons in tow. Kara’s green Tamenth and a large unusually dark blue. Her heart soared. Atili had managed to impress!

She beamed at the pair. “Congratulations! What’s his name Atili?”

The boys face glowed with pride and he unconsciously straightened his shoulders as he replied, “Daganth! And please, if you don’t mind, it’s At’li from now on.”

“And this is Tamenth!” Kara bubbled, caressing her dragons head with an unbelieving smile on her face.

“They’re gorgeous,” Rena said, feeling an almost silly giddiness rise up inside of her. Her eyes rested fondly on her own silver beauty. The only silver dragon on all Pern. “This is Airith,” she said softly.  The silver dragon, who had plunged her head back into the pail of meat, looked up again and snorted disdainfully at the two other dragonets before resuming her feast.

Kara giggled and gave Rena a friendly hug. “I’m so happy for you Rena! To think that you impressed a silver Queen! The whole Weyr is in an uproar about her, you know.”

Airith looked up from her almost empty pail of meat when her rider hummed to herself worridly, her eyes whirling in minor distress. Have I done something to upset you?

Rena dropped to her knees and caressed her dragon’s head. “No, dear heart. You’ve done nothing wrong. You just surprised everyone with your color. There’s never been a silver dragon before, especially not a queen.”

I am me. And you are my rider. The color of my hide should not matter. Soon they will learn to respect me as their Queen.

Rena laughed and repeated her dragons’ words to her friends.

At’li grinned and stroked Daganth’s upturned head. “Dragons are honest and sensible to a fault.”

“Apparently.”

All three weyrlings turned around, startled at the new voice. A rather short man stood there, his badge and shoulder knot indicating to them that this was their Weyrleader.

“Congratulations on impressing, all of you. My name is J’mar, and from here on out you are dragonriders in my Weyr.” He smiled warmly at them and then bent to get a closer look at Airith, who growled at him.

“So this is our little rouge queen,” he mused. “She’s got quite a temper, I see. Nebeth and Jamirith have assured all the dragons in the Wyer that she is in fact, a Queen, no matter her color. And I don’t doubt them. Dragons always seem to know what’s best. But,” and he looked up and met Rena’s eyes, “If anything unusual happens during any stage of her growth, you are to inform me or R’yer right away. Is that clear?”

She nodded respectfully. “Yes sir.”

Airith finished the last piece of meat with a short burp and butted her head impatiently against her wyermate’s thigh. I itch! Rena, I’m itchy!

“Oh! She itches!”

J’mar chuckled. “Of course she does. You will have to oil her daily from now on!” He handed her a pail of oil and showed her how to use the paddle and spread it properly on Airith. She set about the pleasant task with a will. Airith was not going to have dry skin under her watch!

The little queen crooned with pleasure at the attention, her eyes whirling a happy blue. Her newly oiled skin shimmered brilliantly in the setting sun and Rena’s breath caught at her beauty. How did I get so lucky? She wondered. Of all the people on Pern….this beautiful creature chose…me?

I chose you because there was no one else in this world meant for me. Airith responded matter-of-factly. I’m sleepy now.

Luckily, R’yer had made his appearance and was leading the wyerlings to their barracks. Rena followed behind Kara, encouraging her sleepy dragon. “Just a little farther, love.”

“This will be your home until your dragons are old and big enough for their own weyrs,” The Wyerlingmaster boomed. “Girls, your barracks are to the left, boys are to the right. Now get your beasts inside and settled in so you can join the festivities.”

Needing no further encouragement, Rena and Kara waved goodbye to an exhausted-looking At’li and led their stumbling hatchlings into the barracks and onto the stone couches that would serve as their beds.

Airith crooned contently and settled herself for sleep, one eye focusing lazily on her wyermate. Rena? Will you stay with me till I fall asleep?

The young girl smiled and stroked a silver eye ridge tenderly. “Of course, my silver beauty. I won’t leave your side.”

A sweet, babyish croon came from the couch next to Airith’s and Rena turned to see Kara smiling lovingly down at her tiny emerald dragon. The girls exchanged a knowing glance before turning back to their lifemates, soothing them with soft caresses until they were soundly asleep and snoring softly.

Kara sighed contently, reluctant to tear her gaze away from her dragon. “I don’t remember ever being so happy.”

Rena continued to stroke Airith, but she nodded and smiled. “I know how you feel. I felt like my life started the moment her eyes met mine…”

Kara beamed at her new friend. “Well, they’re settled in. I guess we have to make our appearance at the Hatching Feast.”

Groaning, Rena stood and brushed herself off. “Do I have to?”

“Well you do. You impressed the Queen!”

True, Rena thought. And a silver queen at that. People will be clamoring to meet me. My, what a change from being ignored!

Airith grew rapidly over the next few days. It seemed to Rena that she grew at twice the pace of the other dragonets. The difference in size between her and Tamenth was pathetically obvious after only a week. Between oiling, feeding, and washing their dragons, the wyerlings barely had time to do anything else and their lives settled into a comfortably busy routine.

It was in the second week of their lives as wyerlings, that things changed.

Rena was lounging on the banks of the bathing lake with Kara, as their dragons relished in the freezing water. The silver dragon was clearing visible under the water, the sunlight reflecting off her hide, making her seem to glow oddly. Her eyes, whirling their usual restless orange, regarded her rider from under the water.

Rena, when will I rise to mate?

Startled, her rider choked on the juice she had been sipping at. Kara gave her a concerned look but relaxed when she explained that it was just something Airith had said.

You know better than I, my silver beauty. But it shouldn’t be for at least another year and a half. Why would you ask such a thing?

The dragon rolled over under the water and snorted, sending a cloud of bubbles to the surface. I am the only junior Queen in this Weyr, she said, her voice oddly thoughtful. If Jamirith were to disappear….that would make me the Senior Queen….am I right?

Airith! Don’t say such a thing! Jamirith is your mother! And Felicia is a great Weyrwoman!

I would make a better leader than Jamirith.

Airith surfaced and spread her brilliant wings, basking them in the sunlight. Rena was both shocked and horrified at her young dragons words. Was it normal for young Queens to be so…rebellious?

“Rena?” It was Kara, looking with concern at her friend, whose face was pale. “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Airith is just being unreasonable.” She answered softly, eyeing her now dozing Queen. “Hey, Kara? Do you think….that a dragon would ever attack another dragon?”

The greenrider shook her head violently, as if clearing the image from her mind. “Never,” was her response. “They say that that if two Queens rise at the same time, they’ll turn primitive and attack each other. But other than that, dragons would never intentionally harm each other.” She shuddered violently. “What a horrible thought that was.”

Rena smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.” But she couldn’t help frowning inwardly. Her dragons’ words had seriously disturbed her. Airith, my dear, I’m going to talk to the weyrlingmaster, do you think you can finish your bath without me?

The young dragon rolled over on her side in the water and regarded her rider with disinterest. If you wish. I’m going to lie in the sun soon.

She left the bathing lake after promising Kara that they’d eat lunch together later and headed straight for the weyrling barracks, where she knew she’d find R’yer this time of day. She was halfway there when she heard Airith’s scream of anger. And before she could ask her dragon what the matter was, the keening began.

Rena had never thought of herself as anything more than a drudge; a filthy, good-for-nothing drudge. Everest Hold was so secluded in its mountains that she could name everyone in the Hold off the top of her head. Nothing exciting ever happened. Until the day Mistfall Weyr rode in Search.

She had just finished her morning chores when she heard the strident bungle that could only come from a dragon. Excitement surged through her. Everest was such a small, insignificant Hold, she could count the number of times Dragons had visited it in her lifetime on one hand.

Rushing from the kitchens and outside into the courtyard, she was just in time to be knocked flat on her backside by the draft created as the mighty Blue landed.

She could only stare in awe. The only glimpses of dragons she had ever caught had been from far away. Now she was close enough to hear the beast snort as his rider gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder as she struggled to her feet.

“My thanks for the smooth landing, Uiseth.”

Of course. It would be inappropriate for us to appear sloppy while on Search.

“OH!” Rena exclaimed, falling back down as the startling voice reverberated in her head. What was that? Had she really just heard a dragon’s voice?

Uiseth’s wedge-shaped head swerved abruptly in her direction and she found herself frozen in place, mesmerized by his gently whirling green eyes.

“What’s wrong Uiseth?” The bluerider slid down the neck of his dragon and looked at the startled girl who stared, transfixed by the blue.

 Shortest search I’ve ever done. The dragon snorted and leaned in to sniff at the girl. She’s the one.

“E-excuse me?” Rena stammered. “I think I’m going crazy. Are you talking to me?”

I am.

The dragonrider laughed and gave his beast an affectionate slap on the side. “You’re the best Searchdragon on Pern, Uiseth!” His eyes focused on Rena. “What’s your name, girl?”

“R-Rena, sir.”

“Rena, huh? My name is N’gar. This here, is Uiseth. Do you know why we’re here?”

Shaking visibly, the girl stood again and dusted herself off. “Are….are you here to see the Lord Holder?”

“There’s no need for that anymore. We’re here on Search. Jamirith’s clutch is days away from hatching, and there’s a gold egg on the sands. Uiseth tells me that you can hear him, and I can see that you have the makings of a fine dragonrider.”

A dragonrider! Her heart leapt at his words. Her, a drudge….a dragonrider? This was a dream, it had to be! I am the lowest of the low and he says I could one day ride a Queen? She felt faint with the surge of excitement that rushed through her at the thought of riding a dragon of her very own.

N’gar extended a hand towards her, a welcoming smile on his plain face. “What do you say? Will you return with us to Mistfall Weyr?”

“You….do you really think I’m worthy?” She reached out a shaking hand and placed it on the dragons’ soft muzzle.

Uiseth crooned softly and nudged her. I think so.

“D-dragonrider?”

“Call me N’gar. What is it?”

“What if I don’t impress?”

 “If Uiseth thinks you will impress, than you will. He’s the best Searchdragon on Pern, you know. And even if you don’t, you’re welcome to stay in the Weyr for as long as you wish.”

Rena felt like fainting. “You mean I don’t have to be a drudge?”

“You’re a drudge?” He sounded slightly surprised. “How old are you, Rena?”

“I’m 15, sir.”

N’gar smiled warmly at her. “You’ll find Weyrlife to be quite different from life at a Hold. You’re young enough to stand for another few impressions if you aren’t chosen this time. Now come, let us leave this backwater Hold and get you to your new home.”

She felt as if she was in dream as she took the bluerider’s hand and allowed him to lift her onto Uiseth’s great neck. She felt him climb on behind her and heard the blue smugly tell him that if she didn’t impress the queen, he would eat his own tail.

“Are you ready?” His voice was deep and she felt it against her back. Inadvertently, she shivered. Her first dragonflight!

“Yes!” Her voice was exultant.

Her heart hammered wildly in her chest as she felt the bunching of muscle as Uiseth crouched, then with a mighty roar, launched himself into the air and swept his wings downward then up, climbing high above the Hold in mere seconds.

“Now, Rena,” N’gar’s voice was deep and comforting, “We’re going to go between now. It’s always scary the first time, so just hold your breath and count to three and it’ll all be over before you know it, ok?”

She nodded shakily, and leaned forward, pressing her face against the smooth, soft, hide of the blue dragon. Abruptly, the world went black. Everything was cold. Unbelievably cold. She couldn’t feel the dragon underneath her, or the rider sitting behind her. She couldn’t move or breathe.

I am here. Uiseth’s deep voice assured her. Just relax.

She choked down her panic and put her trust in the great beast. He knew what he was doing.

Uiseth burst out of between, startling Rena, and bugled a welcome to the brown watchdragon. She felt her mouth fall open in a gape as she saw Mistfall Weyr for the first time.

There were dragons everywhere! Blue, green, brown, and bronze hides gleamed in the noon sun. To their left, two greens splashed in the lake as their riders conversed on the grass. A great bronze beast swooped in over a herd of fat wherries, dispatching one with a deft bite to the back of the neck and landing to devour his prize.

A triumphant smile lit up her normally plain face, making her radiant in her happiness. She was a drudge no longer!

N’gar dropped her off in front of a large cavern apologizing profusely for leaving her, but explaining that Uiseth was ravenous. The blue rumbled impatiently as his rider mounted him, waving at Rena, before taking off for the hunting grounds.

“So he’s brought another one!”

With a startled yelp, Rena jumped and turned around to see a tall man with short-cropped red hair.

“What’s your name, girl?”

“Rena…” she almost whispered. The man looked very intimidating with his red hair and thick beard. He did not strike her as a person she wanted to anger. Still, she raised her eyes to meet his. “N’gar said I was to be a candidate.”

The man smiled, and his eyes took on a warm quality that had her reassessing her view of him as a strict, harsh man. “Of course he did. N’gar’s the best Searchrider we have, you know. Now come, I’m to take you to the candidate barracks.”

“Sir?” she asked as she trailed behind him, struggling to soak in her new surroundings. “What may I call you?”

The man laughed. “I’m R’yer, rider of brown Chauth. You can call me Weyrlingmaster if you impress tomorrow.”

She choked and stumbled. “Tomorrow?!”

“The Weyrwoman seems to think so.”

It was all too much. Why, just a little while ago, she had been nothing more than a drudge. Now she was expected to stand on the sands as a candidate for a Queen egg…in less than a day?

“Here we go,” R’yer began, opening a large wooden door for her and gesturing for her to enter. “These are the candidate barracks. You’ll be sharing them with the other 65 hopefuls. Make sure you get some rest, tomorrow will be a big day for you.”

He closed the door behind him as he left, leaving her to stare wide-eyed at the other candidates. Most looked at her briefly then, apparently uninterested, turned back to their own conversations.

“You’re new?” A voice asked and she turned to see a petite girl with short, curly blonde hair sitting on a bunk bed. A tall black-haired young man sat on the bed across from her and gave her a warm welcoming smile.

“Y-yes….I’m Rena.” She said softly, walking over to them.

“Nice to meet you Rena.” The girl piped. She seemed to bubble over with unspent energy. “I’m Kara! And this here,” she pointed to the bed across from her at the boy,” is Atili. You’re welcome to take the bunk above me! C’mon over and sit with us, I don’t bite you know!”

Shaking her head and wondering where the girl got her energy, Rena walked over and sat next to her on the bed, surprised at how comfortable it was. Even if I don’t impress tomorrow, there are already perks to being in the Wyer, she thought happily.

“Nice to meet you Rena,” Atili greeted with a smirk. “Don’t mind Kara here. The girl never sleeps, and still she manages to never run out of energy.”

“I do too sleep!” Kara exclaimed, giving him a playful smack. “So…Rena…right? Where are you from?”

“Everest Hold….I was a drudge until a little while ago.”

Kara grinned widely, “Me and Atili are both weyrbred.”

Atili raised a dark eyebrow at her. “Wow, there hasn’t been a candidate from Everest in 20 turns. You must be something special.”

Rena flushed. “I’m not, really. I’m just a drudge.”

“Nonsense!” Kara wrapped an enthusiastic arm around the slim girl’s shoulders and beamed at Atili. “Doesn’t she just look like a wyerwoman already?”

Atili nodded, a twinkle in his eye. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say she already had a dragon.”

Snorting, Rena pushed the arm off her shoulder. “You say that so easily,” she said, looking at Kara, “Don’t you want to impress the Queen?”

Kara shrugged and lay back against a pillow. “Not really. I was kind of hoping for a green myself. It is my favorite color after all.”

Rena smiled. I like Weyrlife already, she thought to herself. I’ve been here less than an hour and I’ve already made two friends. That’s more than I had at Everest!

“What about you, Atili?” Kara asked, twirling her curls between fingers that never stayed still. “What color are you aiming for?”

The boy sighed heavily and leaned back, staring at his knees. “To be honest,” he said slowly, “It wouldn’t matter to me…”

Kara chuckled and grinned at him. “That’s easy for you to say. You boys have it easy. We’ve only got the greens and the golds for ourselves.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing a girl impress a bronze or two,” the boy responded with a yawn. “Who knows? Maybe it’ll happen tomorrow. I don’t know. None of us know who’s gonna impress what or not impress at all. It’s all up to the dragons.”

Rena surprised herself by yawning hugely. “I think,” She said, “that you’re right, Atili. And I also think that I’m going to get some sleep.” She climbed up to the top bunk and lay down, relishing the feel of blankets and pillows. This is sooo much nicer than a hard stone floor. “Tomorrow’s….gonna be a long day” she murmured, already half asleep. “I can’t wait.”

A loud thrumming woke Rena up from the most comfortable bed she could ever recall sleeping in. She had just sat up in bed when a white garment was thrown in her face. “Rena!” Kara was shouting, “It’s time! Put on that robe! The Hatching’s starting!”

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she threw herself out of bed and into the white candidates robe. It was slightly too big for her and she stumbled uncomfortably on it as she raced after the other candidates. The humming only grew in volume as they raced down the corridor and finally burst out into an enormous cavern.

The sand was burning hot under her feet, and the air was thick and heavy, but she was too transfixed by the sight in front of her to care. Dragons of all colors perched on the ledges above them, their throats swollen with their welcoming humming.

Before them lay dozens of gigantic, ovoid eggs. But dominating the whole scene was the great golden Queen, Jamirith.  She hovered over her golden egg which was rocking slightly, and hissed at the candidates, her eyes whirling in agitated shades of red and orange. All around them, people were gathering, but the spectators voices were drowned out by the increasing volume of the dragons.

R’yer approached the group of candidates and directed the boys to form a circle around the eggs and then gestured for the girls to follow him to the queen egg. Rena looked around wildly, before finally catching a glimpse of N’gar. The bluerider grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

Before her loomed the greatest moment of her life. The queen egg was enormous. Almost half again as big as the rest of the eggs.

The humming was building in power, steadily, as the dragons voiced their welcome to a new generation.

With a loud CRACK! A mottled egg burst open and the first hatchling of the clutch tumbled out of her shell with an indignant yowl. The little green clumsily righted herself and looked around at the white-robed candidates. She swept her gaze over the boys and then creeled in misery, obviously finding none of them acceptable. She tried to turn towards the girls and abruptly fell on her nose and lay in the sand bawling in protest.

“Oh…” She heard Kara say softly from next to her. The blonde stepped away from the rocking gold egg and rushed to the little dragons’ side, helping her to her feet. The dragonet raised her gaze to Kara’s and her eyes changed from red to blue at the same time that Kara fell to her knees, a exultant expression on her face and cried, “She says her name is Tamenth!”

That seemed to be the signal for things to start as after that, several eggs burst open at once and the little dragonets tottered about searching for their lifemates. A little brown fell at Atili’s feet, then waddled away after he helped it stand. Rena saw his face fall in disappointment but she had no time to comfort him as the gold egg was now rocking violently, and cracks were appearing in its glimmering surface.

All her attention was focused on the giant egg and the cracks spread and then finally, with a loud protest, the little queen tumbled out.

A hush swept the audience and even newly impressed pairs turned to gape at the newly hatched Queen, for her hide was not gold, but silver. The dragons seemed not to take heed of the color of their unusual little queen. In fact, the bronzes gave a welcoming bugle in tribute to their new mate, before resuming their encouraging hum.

The other girls gasped and took involuntary steps back as the silver queen took two tottering steps forward and hissed at them, her eyes alight with a red light. Rena took a step forward, mesmerized by the way the little dragon shimmered silver in the light of the hatching ground. She’d never seen a more perfect creature in her life.

The queen gave one last look at the girls in front of her and then screamed a protest, whirling around to face Rena.

And at that moment her world was changed forever. An indefinable sensation coursed through her body as a consciousness centered itself both in her head and in the body of the silver queen who had pushed her down to the sand, crooning as hard as she could. She felt complete. Whole. Never in her life had she ever been so happy, or ever felt so alive!

I am Airith. The queen said, crooning lovingly as her eyes blazed in a rainbow of colors. And you are MINE.