Session 1 Lessons- Spera Class(open)

[dragonmenta]

D'len faced the three classes seated around three tables with his usual pride. They were coming along well indeed. He knocked his fist on the Spera table to call the Weyrlings to attention, "As you know, for 1 day every two weeks your Weyrlimgmaster gets a day of from you tiring young folks," He smiled, at the group and paused, "And i will be in charge of your lessons today. Asst. Weyrlingmaster J'ru will be working with me on this." As much as he loved his charges they could be wearisome. "I will instruct the Lubor class first and i excpect the rest of you," He eyes the elder two classes, "To be quiet."

He returned a couple minutes later to the group and laid out a heavy bundle of assorted maps and diagrams to each Weyrling. "Now, being a turn old, you are entering your much more advanced studies and that does include a fair amount of theory to begin with. Today will be doing Advanced Terrain Recognition," He held up a hand to stop the groans he knew would come, "Yes, i know, but you will be going between sometime in the next few months and you all want to come out do you know?" He eyes them severly. "If so i suggest you learn these well."

Map1
www.pernworld.net/maps/prnwmap.jpg

Map of Holds

Map of Mountai Ranges

Detailed map of Southern

Northern

Islands of Pern etc.



"I have heard," He continued in a level voice, "That at Lateo they must simply copy out maps, liek drones, but we are better than that at Sodalis, i do believe." He smiled at hte group, playing of the Weyr's rivalry was always good motivation. "You will indeed draw out a detailed map of the entire globe of pern. If you cannot compete in this session it will be due the next. After that you will label the highest point on pern, the lowest point, the largest forest, etc. The instructions are on the hide in front of you. As well i would like you to draw a map of the Weyr and its suroundign area to the smallest shrub and pebble."

He noted the rahter overwhelmed expressions of a few of the weyrlings and continued, easing their worry, "This will be a drill of cooperation. You and your draong must worktogether on this. When going between you and your dragon must send extremely detailed images to each other and this will help you practice. I also expect to see perfect map protocal on the finished product. this is a large undertaking, but i belive in you. Some of you may do this in no tiem at all, others may have more difficulty. We will do this several times so if this is difficult to you don't fret." He nodded of to the class, giving the, a look that said, i'm watching and finally left to the Fidelis Weyrlings.

((i hope you don't mind that i added a few of my own ideas to this drill:D I figure that they have done several flights so far and dragons can fly ok as long as they are monitered by Quith. ))

[dragonmenta]

Celaena listened with wrapped attnetion, taking tiny notes in one corner of her hide. The days d'len spoke were the days she listened. She had to do well when he taught, because it was her who would have to deal with him after the class. He tried her harder than any other Weyrling in the group, even Callista. He wasn't father durong lessons, he was Weyrlingmaster, Sir. Of course to everyone he was "D'len." But, not her.

Celaena's nose scrunched up a little as it always did when she bespoke Orkith. Darling, can you please do what Papa says? No fusses, just follow Quith and show me what you see.
If i must.
Celaena held her soft wiriting stick at the ready and waited patiently, Well? Well, we are flying around to the souteast side of the weyr. There's uh...uh big sort of funny boulder and a-.
Don't tell me...show me. Focus on the image. Papa said one night at supper that its like seeing into someone elses eyes. Can you do that? Fine. And the dar khaired girl almost gasped as a perfectly vivid image popped into her head of the south eastern rim. She began sketching quickly, careful not to press so hard so as she could fix it if necesary. She made sure to keep her scale even and her cardinals in perspective whic hturned out to be the most difficult part. Orkith flew slwoly, at the beginign sned snaphshots of what the Green was seeing but after a few minutes sending constant feed of the terrain to her rider, giving the Weyrling some refrence for drawing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

D'len couldnt' help but take a quick glance at Celaena's sketch. He wondered if she was always so quiet when the Weyrlingmaster taught lessons. was he being a good father...was he too tough on her. No. I didn't ask your opinion!Too bad. Was Quith's not unusually gruff reply. How are they all holding up. Fine mostly, a couple of them are going to have to work on their endurance but none of them's toppled out of the sky as yet. The bluye answered sarcastically. D'len smiled, he and his dragon had the oddes tstrange of humor. They had been around death so long that they just had to make jokes about it. They had indeed seen Weyrlings fall out of the sky and it wasn't a pretty sight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Celaena noticed her father lookign and began working with even greater intensity. If she didn't graduate int oa good wing, she didn't know what would happen. She couldn't let him down. She bit her lip so hard at one poitn that she could taste a drop of blood in her mouth. She just wished he would stop staring at her!

[britalia]

Calista listened easily to what the Assistant Weyrlingmaster had to say, her legs crossed and her chin resting on the hand she had propped on the table at her elbow. It was known by now to her class the Weyrlingmaster made himself scarce once every two sevendays, and ‘lucky’ D’len had the honor of replacing him on those days. The girl watched him stroll off to the table of the youngest weyrlings, easily remembering the lessons her class had at that adolescent age. Theories of between…some would even groan at such a commonsense lesson. Bothersome, really, but one had to learn such trivial things to be a good dragonrider, and a good rider is certainly what she wanted to be. Her amber gaze took in the rest of her wing quickly, making flaming sure that they were silent as the blue rider had ordered. She was pleased to see they were. The gold rider tried to keep an obedient wing, and even though at times some of them tried her, they at least listened when adult riders were around. For the most part.

Your lessons are so very boring. We can’t have any fun while that blue rider has you. Lyth complained, and even though the dragon was outside and the woman in, she could tell the gold was lounging in the sun. Silly creature. The weyrling said lovingly, a small smile curving her lips. You know these lessons are necessary. As D’len once more neared their table, she straightened, listening intently to what their lessons for the day would be. Sketching charts didn’t sound so very hard, especially considering they had sketched a few charts before in class of dragons and the like. However, this business of sketching the north and such labeling made her think that perhaps….it would be a bit more difficult. As he continued, the girl found that her wing had a decidedly difficult lesson ahead of them, and called to her dragon. Alright, love, you are supposed to help me with this lesson. Calista said gently, unrolling a clean hide before her and taking her writing tool in her hand. I am supposed to help you? With that? What on Pern for? The queen grumbled, rising from her comfortable ledge despite the disgruntled tone she spoke with. You are to follow Quith around the Weyr and project pictures to me of what you see. I am supposed to draw a detailed map of all Sodalis. Down to the last pebble and shrub, I’m told. Iseulyth was clearly unable to see the point of such a drill. Sounds pointless to me, but I suppose if you need me, Mine, I will help. The gold stretched her wings gracefully through the air, winging down to where the other weyrlings of her clutch were gathering about the blue.

Even at a little over a turn old and only seventy percent grown, the queen weyrling was larger than D’len’s blue, almost dwarfing him as she landed near him. We are learning advanced terrain recognition, being readied for going between. Isn’t that at least a bit interesting? The raven-haired girl asked, noting her dragon’s boredom with the entire exercise. I suppose the action itself is….I put up with this because I love you. The weyrling arose with the rest of Spera, her eyes sweeping about the outer bowl as she sent her rider pictures of what she saw. There you are, Lyth, just go nice and slow so I can roughly sketch what you see. I’ll flesh in the details later. Snorting, the gold nodded mentally, continuing the slow sweep as Hers slowly filled out what was only an outline moments before. Her wing was milling all about her, some going faster and others slower, but always doing so under the watchful eye of Quith. How she wished they would get to going between already, instead of just talking about it!

Calista noted everything Lyth showed her with rapt attention, trying to spot every little detail that might earn a disapproving scowl from D’len were she to forget it. Being a gold rider and the weyring wing’s wingleader, she was pushed harder than most, forced to be and learn better and quicker than the others. Of course, it always seemed he was the hardest on Celaena, whom the girl knew to be his daughter. Well, that was no wonder; parents always tried to push their children harder than others. Sighing, she focused fully on her chart, trying to keep a strong mental bond to her dragon.

[dragonmenta]

D'len puaused over Calista's shoulder, nodding slightly, his expression rather blank on his true feelings, "Its looking good, a little rough but i'm sure you'll smooth out the details later." He nodded at her and contiued to circle the table, critiquing the students. Exlamations could be heard puncuating the murmers of arppoval or suggestions, "Why K'dur! That looks liek a mess of Wherry scratches! This isn't art class but i do expect better. Please, it looks like you aren't even trying. Do it again..." was not an uncommon lecture from D'len.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celaena couldn't help but giggle a bit as te Blue weyrling was given a stern warning by the Asst. Weyrlingmaster. It was mean, because nobody like being yelled at-and she would know-but sometimes it was a nice change for someone else to be in trouble. Her dsketch was most of the way done, and the Weyrlings were starting a second fly over the Weyr fortheir riders to flesh out the details. Peeking over the shoulders of others, the Greenrider could tell that she was farther along than most of the others. Good. she also noticed that her soft writing stick was downed to a bare nub and she was rubbing the tips of ehr fingers raw from trying to write with it. She leaned over to the rider nearest to her, which happened to be Calista and asked in her usualy soft way, for she was a little in awe of the future Weyrwoman despite the fact that they had been in the same class for over a turn and asked, "Um...do you happen to have a spare writing stick i could use? Mine's all worn down." She showed the tiny stup to back up her claim.

[britalia]

Calista worked swiftly on outlining the visions Iseulyth sent her, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration as her writing tool danced over the hide. Even though it was merely a rough sketch so far, it was looking rather decent, and would certainly turn out nicely once she had filled in her details. The gold rider was not an artist of the eyes, but rather one of the blade, and though she could sketch well enough, it was not her favorite activity. She would rather be sparring. Upon hearing the blue rider’s voice behind her, the girl nodded, pausing in her work to meet D’len’s eyes. “Of course, Weyrlingmaster, I was planning on fleshing it out later. Thank you.” Dismissed by his nod, the gold rider turned back to her drawing, forced to bite her lower lip when she heard the berating K’dur received. Laughter bubbled inside her, but she stifled it, thinking the weyrling blue deserved that and more. He was often slack in his duties.

As the dragons began their second sweep around the Weyr, Lyth was quite vocal with the boredom she felt. Be still my fluttering heart, Mine, it’s so exciting to be circling Sodalis repeatedly. I can certainly see why we do this instead of practicing betweening. Her rider had to smile, and shook her head slightly at her queen’s antics. My love, I do hope I am the only one who can hear you. Calista said, relieved when her gold snorted. Of course. Now, as they circled for the second time, her rider took in more of the detail, pressing her writing tool harder to create more defined lines now that she was on the finishing portion of her work.

Calista paused in her studies as the girl next to her leaned near, her voice soft and low as she asked for another writing tool. The Weyrwoman’s amber eyes rose from her hide to meet with the green weyrling’s, her gaze sweeping quickly over the other’s work. She smiled lightly. “It’s no wonder, Celaena; your map looks extremely detailed. One moment.” The Wingleader turned away and reached into the wherhide bag she kept at her feet, pulling out the case she kept her writing utensils in. Pulling out another writing stick, the raven-haired girl presented it to the other, holding open her olive hand. “Here you are, no worries.” The gold rider said quietly, making sure they were not disturbing the other classes and D’len was not eyeing them.

[dragonmenta]

"Thankyou," the Gren Weyrlign whispered quietly, adding for politeness, "Yours loosk really good as well." She blushed a slight pink, for such an outspoken comment...for her...and continued on at a pace only slightly less fervent than her previous one. She didn;t want to grind the tool she had been given by her Wingleader so quickly and made her strokes lighter.

She had finished by the time the class had made their way halfway back around. She allowed herself the smallest smile and continued to work her lines into fine details and shadow the whole view so as to represent the time of the day. she rmemebered, from various patronizing lectures, that having hte porper time of day was extremely important. The Asst. Weyrlingmaster hadn't given her any details or embelished whe nshe questions simpyl stating, "Time does funny things and don't you forget that ever." She hardly ever forgot anything her father told her.

Orkith as actually enojying this drill and informed her rider so. It is nice, the sun warms my wings and it is so good to get a stretch. Thye dont' let us fly nearly enough. Everything looks so teeny tiny from up here. Her rider than did her best to try and draw the warmth into the hide and smiled at the curious weyrling. I'm glad you think so, they'll let you fly more sooner. They just don't want you getting hurt. The girl added sensibly, pausing for a moment as the far away look that comes from speaking with a dragon entered he eyes. I sure hoped so. The little green concluded before continueing to sweep around the weyr. Even the slowest studens would finish soon, and then they would move onto another part fo the lesson. It seems D'len always had something planned.

[britalia]

Calista settled back into her seat as the green weyrling whispered her thanks and went back to work, the gold rider focusing once more on her own map. Celaena was one of the more intelligent and respectful members of her wing, and despite the fact she rode the smallest color, she was one the girl knew she could count on. They were an unusually level-headed pair for greens, she and her Orkith, and at times the Wingleader would have traded one of her bronzes for a twin of her! Smirking to herself at that thought, for in imagination it was quite funny, she went about adding the last touches on her map.

The raven-haired girl busied herself with miniscule details as she tried to please herself with the final result. She knew that D’len expected perfection of her, since she was Wingleader and a gold rider to boot, and added in things she knew normal riders would not be expected to notice. Of course, naturally, the green rider beside her was also adding a ludicrous amount of detail, since it was likely her father expected just as much if not more precision from her than Calista. When she finally thought herself finished, the woman peered intently at her map, her quickal-colored eyes ranging over every inch of charcoal on the hide. No flaws she could find….hopefully it would find the same approval with their Weyrlingmaster.

Sitting back and setting her hide and writing tool on the table before her, the gold weyrling watched D’len as he strode about her table and the others, his eyes never leaving his young charges. Calista crossed her arms and waited patiently for their next instructions, enjoying her little break while the slower ones tried to catch up. Would you like to land now, Lyth? I’m done. The girl told her dragon, grinning as she received an indignant reply. Land? And have Quith on my tail because I am not participating? Thank you, but not. Was the haughty gold’s words, adding a sniff on the end for good measure. The weyrling was far from enjoying the tedious, repetitive exercise, but her desire to move forward with lessons outweighed her boredom.

[dragonmenta]

((Dammit!!! I was gonna use Catherine ZJ for Mariska! *Remembers Brit's admin and controls the universe so shuts up*))

Celaena eased herself back in ehr chair for a second, admiring her work. It was good indeed. Of course, instead of taking a break she started on the next asssignemnt, copying otu the variosu maps of northern and southern so that all their different uses were expressed in her one map. Have you finished yet? Yes, darling. Don't tell D'len...i want to keep flying. Celaena let herself smile a little. However, to the green's dismay, the drill was stopped after one last circuit and the young dragons were brought back to the Weyrling landing. "Time's up." D'len called and came around to collect their work. Celaena barely looked up from her new task as he took the hides.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

D'len looekd from his daughter's to thewyerling wingleader and realized they were deifnalty the best tw oin the class. He put Celaena's down. "Class." He called ot htme and pointed to the hide he held up, "This is the sort of detail i would like to see. Good work goldrider." He gave an apprving nodd to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celaena was crushed, she new hers as jsu tas good, if not better than Calista's. He was probably just trying to seem unbiased..but he was beign biased in another way. She desereved that praise, that repsect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

D'len noticed hsi daughter's, for once, angry face and was suddenly worried, dark brows furrowed. She certainly had done a good job. He walked by her nonchalantly and gave her a smallshoudler squeeze and shispered, "Good work."

~~~~~~~~~~

Celaena felt her heart might burst.

[britalia]

((Lol, I’ve used Cath for Cali’s sigs ever since I first made her on DR. Sorry, hope you find another actress.))

Calista watched as the green weyrling next to her promptly went to work on the next assignment, not even taking a moment to rest. The dark-haired girl had to raise a brow at such industriousness, beginning to wonder just how tough D’len was on his daughter. Lifting her brows, the Wingleader shifted in her chair and continued to lounge a bit, watching her wingriders as they all finished their first task. At the Weyrlingmaster’s call, the gold rider straightened, awaiting the instruction to continue on with their next assignment. She watched closely as he shifted through the hides, his eyes obviously lingering one two particular ones. When he presented her work for all her wing to see and voiced his approval, she smiled lightly and returned his nod, knowing full well that her work was good. She worked hard, she put her truest efforts into everything she did, and she put all of her heart into becoming a good Dragonrider.

The gold weyrling watched what passed between man and daughter from the corner of her eye, catching his whispered words since she was next to the green rider. Well, Celaena’s map was good, she wouldn’t deny, and Calista didn’t need attention just because she excelled. It was expected of her, wasn’t it? Shrugging her thoughts off, the dark-haired girl pulled a new hide towards her and arranged the Northern and Southern maps before her, ready for the next exercise.

[Memorie]

M'larain yawned, bored. He had been sitting in his office for the past three hours, thinking about what he'd have liked to do with his day off from the weyrlings. Secretly, he loved them all and thought they were great, but of course, it wouldn't behoove him to tell them that. He was also glad he had enlisted the help of D'lyn for those days every two weeks he had off. But today, he was bored. Having had no inspiration lately for a painting, and a decided lack of supplies, he wasn't able to do that.

Why don't you go run Weyrling Lessons? Ninienth suggested.

"That is a very, very good idea, Nin," M'larain said, standing up. He walked out the door and headed for the Weyrling's common room.

~~

M'larain walked into the room as D'len patted his daughter. He frowned. That was inappropriate, since D'len was now teaching. Stepping in front of the class, gruff idiosyncrasy in place. "D'len, you may leave. I will now be taking the lesson over for today," he told the younger man.

Turning to look at the pictures that were collected at the corner of the desk, M'larain spied the one on top. It belonged to a young bronze rider in the group named L'orin. "Good work, bronzerider, but you are missing several landmarks on the west side," he said critically. He looked through the stack and chose out another, belonging to the weyrling gold rider, Calista. Looking over it, he said, "Good work, goldrider," he said. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with this picture. Give your dragon my regards." Outside, Ninienth rumbled to the young gold dragon.

He faced the class. "Let's go outside and practice flying between," he told them, waving over her shoulder for them to follow him. Arriving at in the Bowl, he waited for the class to fully arrive, knowing some of them could not keep up with his long-legged pace.

[dragonmenta]

((i will, i don't think you've ever used her pic whiel i've been here so i was out of the loop ^^))

Shard it. D'len froze as he heard M'larain. He hooked his thumbs riding vest as if that could eraser his last action. He had tried so hard not too show any bias whasoeve towards Celaena, and at tiems it had nearly broken his hard. And jsut when he finally showed her the recognition she deserved, he had coem in. The brownrider must hjave thought it was special favors all aroudn the the quiet green weyrling. He proababluy even thoguht that he had helped her with her map. L'orin! He raised an eybrow. A good lad, certainly, but his work wasn't ever as thurough as it could be.

Oh well, it was best not to dwell on such things and ducked his head respectfully to the weyrlingmaster and set about cleanign up some of the supplies like a good assistant. He too ka sharp intake of breath when M'larain said between. Was he out of his sharding mind. He spoke i na low tone to the brownrider, voicing hsi opiniosn so the yoing riders couldn't hear, "But M'larain. Honestly, they are only a turn. Even the Fidelis class hasn't taken their trips yet. For safety the first trips are suppsoed to be from 13-14 months-" But he cut short. It wouldnt' do any good. He was hardly ever listened to anyways.

He lowered his eyes and cotninued collecting the spare hides and maps and such on the table. And he had worked so hard to make sure that this class would do better. Prepared them with all his experience...not as much as M'larain's but he was defiantly not as rash as the browinrdier. He hadn't ever really thoguht of M'larain that way, but what he was doing now could surely be classfied as rash. It seemd as if his goal; of a whole class graduating might be dashed.

His heart plummeted throguh his gut as he thouhgt of Celaena. He calmed hismelf weith quick breaths. She was smart, and had always payed attention. But that wasn't always enough. He took a glance at Calista wondering what she thought of this news. Well..knowing Iseulyth he guessed the Gold would be ecstatic. He wondered if he should mention that the young dragons had been flying for quite a while and havign onyl taken half a dozen flights, their endurance wasn't the greatest. Flame it!

[Memorie]

Before walking out the door, M'larain froze as he heard D'len's words and grimaced. Oh, how he hated when this happened. Turning, he said, "D'len. Do you believe Thread is returning? The dragons of the weyrlings have been flying for a good time now, at least half a turn." He cocked his head to the left. "They'll be fine, and we need to prepare for Thread. Besides, you know there are a few that have been going between on their own. We always lose one or two the first time between anyway, so we may as well get on with it. It's time we took their training seriously and stop making pictures." It had been something of a speech for the man, who was used to saying what he wanted and having his orders followed immediately. He was not like his father, nor his mother. Turning to the young men in the class, he pointed out two of them, a brownrider and a bluerider.

He hurried the class outdoors, leaving D'len before he could say anything else.

[dragonmenta]

((Mem...check out the training schedule or the Ardere class lesson. Weyrlings aren't allowed to fly until they're a turn...even wihout a rider. The dragons couldn't have been flying for half a turn. Only a few months and maybe only 4 or 5 times and only a couple of those with their rider. But if you wanna play M'larain getting old and forgetful, cheers to that. I spent way to much tiem researchig Weyrlings when i made D'len. lol))

D'len swore udner hsi breath once the brownrider had left. Was M'larain losing his mond? There is no way they had been flying for six months. And none of the...NONE of them would have gone between yet. Sharding fall! He rushed over to the Fidelis class, he might as well get them out to the bowl as well.

[dragonmenta]

((to bowl))