Post by Zen on Jun 26, 2018 14:49:18 GMT -5
10th Pass, 6th Turn, 1st Month
Four Days After Turnover
Four Days After Turnover
A'zael :: Bronze Fath
The vast majority of Mavros's protectorate might be safe from Thread now that winter was well and truly upon them, but winter didn't mean A'zael got any break from keeping track of every harmless Fall that occurred and predicting the next. Unseasonably warm weather could mean the odd Fall that would need to be flown – which was part of what sweepriding was for - and if he didn't keep up with the predictions, when the season turned to spring he'd have a hard time figuring out just where and when Fall was going to happen next. And besides that, a couple of the more southern isles that they still protected remained relatively warm throughout the turn, which meant the occasional short Fall that would need to be flown against. Such as today.
All the newly graduated riders had been tapped into their respective Wings and this would be their first real Fall. It would be a good test for them; it would hardly be longer than an hour, enough to give them a decent experience in the fighting Wings. Five of the new riders had joined his own Wing, and he'd chosen the day's formation all the better to keep an eye on them all, so long as unexpected Fall pattern didn't warrant any last moment adjustment. They were lucky as well with the weather. It was a clear day and though there was a steady wind, with the short span of the Fall, it shouldn't cause too much issue, even for the greens. There had been some note of gusting, however, which was more concerning. He didn't have to tell his Wingleaders to remind their Wings, for the sake of the new riders as well as the rest, to be mindful below them as well as above, for stray gusts could very well fling Thread back up at a dragon while a pair was focused on the menace above them.
The short Fall meant there was no real reason for rotation groups, or rotating the Wings, and with Breeze Wing claiming the fewest new riders, A'zael had given the high position to B'rax, with his Wing flying middle and Gust flying low. B'rax had been rather pleasantly surprised, for it wasn't often A'zael ceded the starting high position to another Wing, and he'd been prepared to suggest it had the Weyrleader not come to the decision himself. Threadfall was perhaps the one area no one at Mavros could say a negative word on when it came to A'zael's leadership. He may have been hesitant at first, but he'd learned quickly, and B'rax had been impressed with how easily he took to it. He was more than comfortable commanding the Wings now.
Standing in front of his assembled Wing, his gaze flitted over the new additions. He didn't normally take the time to speak before a Fall, trusting his seconds to brief his riders on the planned formation, weather conditions, and to see that their straps were inspected and that they were preparing their dragons with firestone. There was no reason, generally, for any sort rhetoric from him until after a Fall. But with new riders among them, he felt the need to reassure what were likely some very anxious young men and women with a brief word, “Though this is the first Fall some of you are facing in the fighting Wings, remember that you don't fight alone. Trust your wingmates and remember your training.” Here he even grinned, casting a quick glance toward where B'rax spoke to his own Wing, of which K'ton was a member, “Consider also that you survived K'ton, and had he found you lacking, you most certainly would not be here, in this Wing. You are ready. If you don't trust my word, you at least should be able to trust K'ton's.”
There was some chuckling at that - for half the Wing had had K'ton as Weyrlingmaster - which helped ease some of the tension that always pervaded before a Fall. And with that he signaled for them all to mount their dragons, pulling himself up onto Fath's back and waiting for the rest of the Wings to ready themselves. After a moment Fath must have gotten confirmation from the other Wingleaders. They're ready. Already a growl edged Fath's tone, the bronze quite ready to meet the ancient enemy of dragons. He raised his arm in the signal to take off and the Wings rose and quickly sorted themselves into proper formation. Another confirmation from Fath and he gave the signal to go Between.
Appearing again over the isles, he watched B'rax lead his Wing higher into the sky and shortly followed. The leading edge of Fall could already be seen approaching over the water, strands of silver falling harmlessly into the sea to be eaten by the marine life waiting below the surface. When he'd first started flying against Thread, he'd thought the stuff rather deceptively beautiful from a distance, now he just hated it nearly as much as Fath did. The bronze growled beneath him, the deep sound rumbling in his chest, eyes whirling an angry red as he watched Thread grow ever closer. Steady. He watched the Fall carefully for a long moment and decided no adjustments were necessary, confirming the Wing formations to the other Wingleaders with a brief word through Fath. Fath was generally terrible at relaying messages, but there was no time during a Fall for anything complicated enough for Fath to mess up. He had a few moments to survey the riders in front of him, and then Fath's growl rumbled again, and flames burst forth high above them as Breeze Wing met Thread. It wasn't much longer until Thread was descending on them as well, and Fath's broad flame erupted from his great maw as Gale Wing rose to meet it.
S'fin :: Green Rusath
S'fin was just as surprised as B'rax that Gale wasn't taking the High position for this Fall. Az stubbornly claimed it every short Fall it seemed, which was not at all a surprise. His brother had always had a habit of putting himself into the most dangerous positions if it would spare others. So when Rau told him the strategy for the day's Fall, he'd expressed his surprise, and Rau told him it was because of the new riders in their ranks. Breeze Wing had the fewest. Something about that made some sort of sense to S'fin, he supposed, but he didn't take much time to dwell on it. There was more reason he wasn't a ranking member of a Wing than the color of his dragon's hide.
From his place in formation, he glanced behind him at Fath, at the back of the vee, and then toward his new wingmates at their various positions. He would keep an eye out for them. Just don't forget to keep an eye out for yourself, Rusath growled, red eyes fixed on the strands of silver falling closer and closer over the water. Don't worry Rusy. I've no desire to be scored, he assured her, patting her neck, feeling her tension and hatred. She was too focused on the Fall to correct her nickname. And then flames were loosed above as Breeze Wing began the fight, and S'fin relinquished his steady hold on his green and let her loose as Thread fell on Gale Wing, the green emitting bursts of flame as she darted for clumps and strands missed by the higher Wing. Remembering what Rau had said about gusting, S'fin made sure to check below them on occasion to note Thread that might be blown back up at his wingmates.
A'zael Color: Orange
S'fin Color: Teal
NPC Color: Black
Threadfall Specifics
Standard Fall, clear day with steady wind, stray gusts. Short Average Fall, no rotations (all dragons fly the entire time). Since there are no weyrlings old enough to deliver firestone replenishment, a few riders from each Wing have been tasked with the duty.
High Wing: Breeze, Level Forward Vee Formation.
Middle Wing: Gale, Level Backward Vee Formation.
Low Wing: Gust, Level Triple Trail Formation.
Queen's Wing: Zephyr, Level Trail Formation.
Please reference the Mavros Wings, Threadfall 101, and Roleplaying Threadfall threads as needed. Remember that there are 6 rounds and you have 48 hours to post for each round before we move on without you. And don't forget to post a color for each of your Active characters from the following list:
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