Weyrling Training

[Zen]

Weyrling Training and Growth

Written with heavy reference to the weyrling schedules of Cibryen, Arolos, and High Reaches at Norcon.

Dragons hatch at 10% of their full growth. The first few weeks of Weyrlinghood are spent doing the following:

• Basic dragon care (butchering, feeding, bathing, oiling)
  
• Crafting weyrling knots
  
• Learning the rules and conventions of the Weyr

Month 1 (15% of full growth)

• Firestone sorting and bagging
  
• Basic exercises in the dragon-rider bond
  
• Basic draconic and human first aid
  
• First swim in the lake for physical conditioning

Month 2 (20% of full growth)

• Simple ground drills
  
• Schooling in history begins
  
• Schooling in geography begins
  
• Advanced draconic first aid and daily care
• Introduction to basic flight formations

Month 3 (25% of full growth)

• Advanced exercises in the dragon-rider bond
  
• Continue basic ground drills
  
• Advanced human first aid
  
• Flight conditioning exercises begin in earnest
  
• Methods of Fall communication (telepathic protocol, hand signals)
  
• Introduction to more advanced flight formations

Month 4 (30% of full growth)

• Intermediate ground drills
  
• More complicated bond exercises
  
• Water exercises introduced to flight conditioning regime
• All formal flight formations tested for memorization

Month 5 (35% of full growth)

• Continue intermediate ground drills
  
• Advanced bond exercises continue
  
• Short leaps and glides integrated into flight conditioning exercises
  
• Reading Threadfall charts

Month 6 (40% of full growth)

• Advanced ground drills
  
• Study of safe flying heights and practices begins: types of winds, air currents, weather concerns
  
• First full unmanned flights for the dragonets
  
• Introduction to riding straps and gear

Month 7 (45% of full growth)

• Advanced ground drills intensify
  
• Study of safe flight practices continues
  
• Dragonets take the basic drills to the air, with weyrlings directing from the ground
  
• Introduction to and fitting for flight gear
  
• Final harness crafted in preparation for manned flight

Month 8 (50% of full growth)

• First manned flights over the water
  
• First weyr assignments made
  
• Basic manned aerial drills begin
  
• Weyrlings begin flying errands around the Weyr

Month 9 (55% of full growth)

• Intermediate manned aerial drills
  
• Rider protocol and proper comportment outside the Weyr, basic politics
  
• One sevenday given to review in preparation for exams. Review sessions are held by the Weyrlingmasters: it’s up to the weyrlings to structure their studying the rest of the time.
  
• Comprehensive written, oral and practiced exams on first aid, history, geography, protocol, weyr regulations – everything you’ve ever studied as a weyrling. Pass or fail. Failure means being held back until you pass.

Month 10 (60% of full growth)

• Intermediate aerial drills intensify
  
• Introduction to firestone delivery and the aerial toss
  
• Lecture on Mating Flights
  
• Visualization practice begins: visual memory exercises introduced
  
• Flying at night and star navigation
  
• Prohibition on Sex and Alcohol lifted

Month 11 (65% of full growth)

• Advanced aerial drills introduced
  
• Visualization practice continues in preparation for betweening
  
• Introduction to betweening, dangers and safety practices
  
• First trip between for each student with a Weyrlingmaster
  
• First trip between as a class with a Weyrlingmaster

Month 12 (70% of full growth)

• Greens begin to Rise
  
• Advanced aerial drills intensify
  
• Going between in small groups in formation
  
• Study of betweening coordinates
  
• Accompany adult riders and learn sweepriding
  
• Introduction to basic self defense and dueling

Month 13 (75% of full growth)

• Aerial drills continue, increasing in complexity
  
• Going between as a class wing in formation
  
• Threadfall lectures begin
  
• Chewing firestone and flaming
  
• Fake Threadfall drills begin
  
• Study of betweening coordinates
  
• Self defense and dueling practice continues

Month 14 (80% of full growth)

• Aerial drills continue
  
• Particular emphasis on skills needed for first fall (aerial firestone drop/toss for refueling riders, flaming safely)
  
• Threadfall lectures continue
  
• Fake Threadfall drills continue
  
• Study of betweening coordinates
  
• Self defense and dueling practice continues

Month 15 (85% of full growth)

• Blues can chase
  
• Threadfall lectures conclude
  
• Fly in first Threadfall! (Lower altitude in the Queen's Wing, refueling riders and catching stray Thread)
  
• Aerial drills continue intensively (adult riders may join during select drills)
  
• Fake Threadfall drills continue
  
• Self defense and dueling practice continues
• Leadership Training Begins - Bronzeriders and Brownriders have lessons twice a sevenday with the Weyrleader or a Wingleader, learning the basics of what it means to be a Wingsecond and Wingleader, with a focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills. *Interested Blueriders and Greenriders may choose to attend as well.
  

Month 16 (90% of full growth)

• Fake Threadfall drills continue
  
• Intensive aerial drilling continues (betweening, flaming, etc.: everything the fighting Wings do)
  
• Continue to fly in Fall, as progress allows
  
• Self defense and dueling practice continues
• Leadership Training Continues - Bronzeriders and Brownriders have lessons twice a sevenday with the Weyrleader or a Wingleader, learning more indepth about what it means to be a Wingleader and a focus on delegation and mediation. *Interested Blueriders and Greenriders may choose to attend as well.
  

Month 17 (95% of full growth)

• Intensive Aerial drilling continues
  
• Join the fighting wings during select drills
  
• Continue to fly in Fall, as progress allows
  
• Fake Threadfall drills continue
  
• Self defense and dueling practice continues
  
• Study of betweening coordinates
• Leadership Training Continues - Bronzeriders and Brownriders have lessons twice a sevenday with the Weyrleader, learning what the position entails, with a focus on diplomacy and politics; included is an indepth discussion about Goldflights and the potential relationship with the Weyrwoman.
  

Month 18 (100% of full growth)

• Browns can chase
  
• Intensive Aerial drilling continues (emergency procedures taught – aerial rescues, etc.)
  
• Join the fighting wings during select drills
  
• Continue to fly in Fall
  
• Fake Threadfall drills continue
  
• Self defense and dueling practice concludes
  
• Search protocol, what to look for in potential candidates - Greenriders and Blueriders go on Search under the supervision of a Searchrider.
  
• Study of betweening coordinates
• Leadership Training Concludes - Bronzeriders and Brownriders have lessons twice a sevenday with the Weyrleader, learning specific skills required for the position, with a focus on Threadfighting strategy and predicting Falls.
  
• Comprehensive final exams. Written, oral, demonstrative. Pass/fail. The recommendation of the WM’s must be obtained before you can pass into the fighting wings.
  
• Graduation and dispersal into fighting wings!

Bronzes will start chasing around 21 months of age, and Golds usually rise for the first time around 2 turns.

[Zen]

Gold Weyrling Training

For the first 6 months of Weyrlinghood, Goldriders learn alongside their peers and have no further lessons to attend so that they may better get used to their new role as a rider and the very new experience of being bonded to a dragon. As the Gold begins her 7th month out of the shell, after her first unmanned flight, the new Queenpair will have additional lessons on top of their normal Weyrling lessons with their class. These are listed below.

Month 7

• Lecture on expected behavior for Goldriders within and without the Weyr, generally by the Weyrwoman.
  
• Discussion on interacting with other colors, both dragons and their riders. Etiquette and restraining Golds from abusing their power, also knowing when to use their power over other colors, generally by the Weyrwoman.
  
• Introduction to Dragonhealing: using ‘Gold Force’ to ease pain and induce calm and assisting dragonhealers. Begin learning to identify supplies and tools of the craft. Practice subduing injured dragons when possible.

Month 8

• Lecture on what it means to be a Goldrider, outlining duties a Goldrider will be expected to perform after graduation, both as Junior Weyrwomen and as Senior Weyrwomen. Generally given by the Weyrwoman.
  
• Arbitration lessons start. Begin cultivating skills as disciplinarians and judges, practice being fair-minded and unbiased. Hypothetical situations given, often played out by other riders or weyrfolk pretending to come to the young Goldrider with a problem or dispute that needs settling.
  
• Basic Dragonhealing lessons continue. Learning more about supplies and tools of the craft and begin learning about common illnesses and injuries. Practice subduing injured dragons when possible.

Month 9
Goldrider specific lessons put on hold during this month for focus on study and review of all basic weyrling training for upcoming assessments.

Month 10

• Arbitration lessons continue. Harder situations presented as time goes on.
  
• Dragonhealing lessons continue. Learn more about common illnesses and injuries, continue learning about supplies and tools of the craft. Goldriders begin to act as assistants whenever a dragonhealer has need of them.
  
• The day after the mating flight lecture with the rest of their class, Goldriders will attend a gold-specific mating flight lecture given by an older Goldrider, usually the Weyrwoman. This includes how to control a mating flight, what to do during a mating flight of another Gold, care of egg-heavy queens, clutching, hatching, and relationships outside of mating flights: most emphasized is the relationship with a possible Weyrleader.

Month 11
Goldrider specific lessons again put on hold so the pair can focus on Betweening training and better prepare for their first trips Between.

Month 12

• Diplomacy lessons begin. Learning how to deal with other Weyrleaders and Weyrwomen, Lord and Lady Holders, and Craftmasters.
  
• Arbitration lessons continue. Harder situations presented as time goes on.
  
• Dragonhealing lessons continue. Begin learning to diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries. Continue to assist dragonhealers whenever called to do so.

Month 13

• Arbitration lessons conclude.
  
• Dragonhealing lessons conclude. Continue learning to diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries and assist dragonhealers whenever called to do so. Unless specified by the Goldrider, lessons with a dragonhealer will end this month with a final review and assessment, with her only further duty being to assist dragonhealers when called to do so. Should the Goldrider wish to become a fully fledged dragonhealer in her own right, dragonhealing lessons will continue throughout and well after her graduation from weyrlinghood.
  
• Diplomacy lessons continue. Learning about the Weyr’s relationship with other Weyrs, Holds, and Crafthalls.
  
• Introduction to Flamethrowers: basic use, care, and maintenance. Lessons start WITHOUT flame. Goldriders learn how wind and weather can affect the flame and begin using flamethrowers from dragonback toward the end of the month, learning to use them safely and effectively in the air. Goldriders attend these lessons whilst the rest of their class is learning to use firestone and their dragons learning to flame. Usually taught by another Goldrider.
  
• Introduction to record keeping. Begin learning the filing systems of the Weyr and about all the different records that need upkeep.

Month 14

• Flamethrower lessons continue WITH flame. Goldriders participate in Threadfall drills with their class, flying below their classmates and using a flamethrower to catch stray rope the higher flying dragons miss.
  
• Diplomacy lessons continue. Learning to negotiate and compromise on behalf of the Weyr.
  
• Gold weyrlings begin to help the Weyrwoman and any other Goldriders with recordkeeping once a sevenday, learning through experience.
  
• Weyr Management lessons begin. Learning about all those duties touched upon during the Month 8 lecture on what it means to be a Goldrider.

Month 15

• Fly in first Threadfall using Flamethrowers.
  
• Diplomacy lessons conclude. Learning to be a representative of the Weyr.
  
• Gold weyrlings continue to help with recordkeeping once a sevenday.
  
• Weyr Management lessons continue. A more in depth study of the Weyr’s supplies and the upkeep needed in various aspects of the Weyr.

Month 16

• Continue to fly in Threadfall using Flamethrowers.
  
• Gold weyrlings continue to help with recordkeeping once a sevenday.
  
• Weyr Management lessons continue. A more in depth study of the crèche and fostering system of the Weyr and how best to go about sending weyrbrats off to crafthalls should they show aptitude.

Month 17

• Continue to fly in Threadfall using Flamethrowers.
  
• Gold weyrlings continue to help with recordkeeping once a sevenday.
  
• Weyr Management lessons continue. A more in depth study of the personnel required to run a Weyr, all their duties, and what to look for in appointing replacements.

Month 18

• Continue to fly in Threadfall using Flamethrowers.
  
• Gold weyrlings continue to help with recordkeeping once a sevenday.
  
• Weyr Management lessons conclude. Improving morale, planning for special occasions, celebrations, and feasts.
  
• A final review of Gold specific mating information in preparation for her first mating flight within the next 6 months. An in depth discussion of everything covered in the 10th month mating flight lecture to be sure the weyrling is as ready as she can expect to be before it occurs.