Dragonriders

Weyrwoman: leader

The Weyrwoman is typically the rider of the eldest fertile gold in the weyr. She is appointed by her dragon being the first gold to mate after the previous one retires and serves until her dragon stops mating or dies, which makes replacing an incompetent Weyrwoman difficult without full cooperation of the weyr. She is in ultimate authority on all matters pertaining to housing, food, the raising of native children, the training, organization and discipline of the staff, and the day-to-day living requirements of the dragons and their riders. Additionally, she is responsible for relations to other weyrs, holds, and crafthalls. Most of her duties are administrative, delegating responsibilities to her Headwoman (or Headman) and junior goldriders.

​

Junior Goldriders: hunter or scout

Junoir goldriders are assistants to the Weyrwoman and are primarily assigned to record-keeping, lower-level diplomatic duties, training gold weyrling pairs, and fostering teenaged girls who are likely to rise to a leadership position within the weyr. This provides them with important experience for future leadership positions, as each junior pair has the chance to become Weyrwoman on very short notice.

​

Weyrleader: hunter or scout

The Weyrleader is the rider of whichever dragon last mated with the Weyrwoman's dragon. If a Weyrwoman likes a particular dragonrider, he is likely to remain Weyrleader for a long time. Some Weyrleaders specialize in food management (hunting) while others specialize in diplomacy (scouting) but they are expected to manage dragonriders who do both.

​

Dragonriders: hunter or scout

Dragonriders make up the bulk of the dragonriding population. They are assigned to wings of 12-22 individuals and can hold specific positions that place them in leadership roles. The wingleader is in charge of caring for a wing and is chosen by the Weyrleader. They have 1-2 wingseconds, chosen by the wingleader. The Weyrlingmasters, chosen by the Weyrleader, are in charge of the training and discipline of weyrlings. They must have a lot of experience and thick skin because as many as 25% of all weyrlings may die before the end of their training.

​

Weyrlings: apprentice

Weyrlings are young dragon-rider pairs learning basic dragon care, how to perform airborne maneuvers, how to go between, behaviors expected of dragonriders, and other such things. Due to the amount of skills that dragonriders need to know, weyrlinghood was extended from one turn to five or more turns.

​

Candidates: apprentice-in-waiting

Candidates are individuals who are attempting to Impress a dragon. While older teenagers are preferred, adults have occasionally Impressed. Most will stand at two hatchings before giving up and changing professions, starting over as apprentices.

​

Retired Dragonriders: elder

Retired dragonriders are those whose dragons are too frail to continue with their duties or have died. They often remain as assistants or advisors to the Weyrwoman.​​​

​

Weyrhold Staff

Headwoman/Headman: gathering chief

The Head(wo)man is the Weyrwoman's primary assistant. She/He is responsible for managing the weyrhold staff, including the cook, cleaning, maintenance and fostering staff, and facilitates the apprenticeship of native children.

​

Lower Caverns Staff: gatherer

The Lower Caverns staff includes anyone who lives in the weyr and isn't a dragonrider or crafter. They include the cook staff, cleaning staff, and maintenance staff. A few are craft helpers--those knowledgeable in a craft but do not have the ambition or monetary means to pursue an apprenticeship.

​

Fostering Staff: substitute caregiver

The Fostering staff exists to take care of native children while their parents work.

​

Weyrbrats: tester or child

Weyrbrat is the term for all unapprenticed children. When children turn 8, they can begin trying out different professions to see which one they prefer. At 13, they can decide if they want to become Candidates (if there are or will soon be dragon eggs), part of the staff, or apprentice to a craft. As children are typically fostered within a year of their birth, they grow up in cohorts.

​

Crafters

Healercrafters: healer

Healercrafters are specialists engaged with human medicine through modern medicinal and surgical tools. They often work closely with non-craft staff to create medicine and salves. Weyrhealers specialize in caring for dragonkind.

​

Farmercrafters, Woodcrafters: gatherer​​​

Farmercrafters are specialists engaged in agriculture and botany, especially of crop plants.

​

Woodcrafters are specialists engaged in the cultivation, harvest, and usage of trees. They work with woodsmen, non-craft workers who work in forestry.

​

Beastcrafters, Fishercrafters, Tannercrafters: hunter or fisher

Beastcrafters are specialists engaged in animal breeding and care, including animal healing. Most care for livestock but some care for canines, draybeasts, felines, and runnerbeasts.

​

Fishercrafters are specialists engaged with seamanship, including fishing, shipbuilding, shipwriting, and overseas transport.

​

Tannercrafters are specialists engaged with crafting leather items for practical and decorative use.

​

Glasscrafters, Smithcrafters: warrior

Glasscrafters are specialists engaged with crafting glass items for practical and decorative use.

​

Smithcrafters are specialists engaged with engineering and mechanics. They work to create new technology for Pern and are the origin of several crafthalls.

​

Harpercrafters, Starcrafters: scout​​

Harpercrafters are teachers, musicians (composers, instrumentalists, and singers), archivists, and spies. They are often employed to teach children the laws, ballads, and history of Pern. Drummers are specialists who work in drum towers to communicate in morse code across holds.​​​

​

Starcrafters are specialists engaged with astronomy. They work closely with weyrs to detect and deflect threats from space, plan and build spaceworthy crafts, engage with the satellites above Pern, and study the stars.​​