Fort Weyr's past news and events updates.
- A Pre-Winter's Tale - 31 May 2023 00:40
- Small Matters - 19 Jun 2023 16:41
- Summertime Adventures - 26 Aug 2023 00:53
- New Arrivals - 19 Feb 2022 14:41
- Changes on the Horizon - 23 Jul 2022 00:24
- Going Up, She Goes - 21 Oct 2022 23:16
- An Eggscellent Venture - 06 Nov 2022 23:51
- Autumnal Affairs - 05 Dec 2022 02:54
- A Winter's Wait - 16 Dec 2022 04:31
- Overcooked and Underwhelmed - 26 Dec 2022 17:35
- Hatching at Turnover - 30 Dec 2022 12:35
- Kitchen Improvisation - May 11
- Completely Predictable - April 11
- Methodically Clutched - April 26
- Stalemate - March 16
- New Faces - March 20
- New Decor, Who Dis? - March 29
- Shorted Tithes - January 20
- Bad Winter - January 4
- An End on the Horizon? - January 27
- Some Dust Settles ... - February 3
- Morning Hatching Redux - March 19
- Rainstorm Evening Rising - May 4
- Morning Surprise - May 19
- Hatching at Bedtime - June 23
- By the Way, It's a Boy - August 7
- Rumors: Xerosaeth - January 2, 2018
- More Happenings Around Fort - January 4, 2018
- Xerosaeth's Flight Winner - January 13, 2018
- Morning Brings Eggs - January 28, 2018
- An Influx of ... Colds - February 11, 2018
- More Snow Days - October 21, 2018
- Tentative Peace - December 6, 2018
- It's Always in Threes (or is it Fours?) - December 8, 2018
- For Want of a Headwoman - December 19, 2018
- Rainy Rising - July 18, 2017
- Dynamic Duo Storm the Fort - September 6, 2017
- Fort on Search - September 9, 2017
- Stick It to the Weyr - September 10, 2017
- An Inconvenient Clutching - September 24, 2017
- Snow, Snow and More Snow - October 8, 2017
- A Hatching - October 22, 2017
- Xerosaeth's New Weyr - October 29, 2017
- Storms Brewing — January 4, 2016
- Disruptions — January 12, 2016
- New Faces! — January 17, 2016
- The Skies Lift... — January 17, 2016
- A New Weyrsecond? — January 19, 2016
- As They Come Marching In... — January 19, 2016
- Those Sands are rarely empty ... — June 28, 2016
- Nothing But Trouble — July 3, 2016
- Yet Another Glowing Gold — July 15, 2016
- Collapses and Other Stories — August 12, 2016
- The Minecrafters Conclude ... — August 20, 2016
- New Arrivals, Temporary Departures — October 5, 2016
- The Time Approaches — November 2, 2016
- A Clutching at Fort — November 5, 2016
- Party Time! — November 13, 2016
- Lights Out — November 19, 2016
- Something's brewing — November 28, 2016
- As the hen flies ... — November 29, 2016
- Brought to you by the number 4 (mildly NSFWish) — December 2, 2016
- Hatching Results — December 2, 2016
- Up she went, down she fell ... — December 3, 2016
- Walk of Shame? — December 3, 2016
- Walk Tall and Carry a Crowbar — December 3, 2016
- Oink Oink... — December 14, 2016
- At the crack of dawn... — December 19, 2016
- Collapsing barracks — December 20, 2016
- Flight! — January 8, 2015
- A Fish Tale? — January 24, 2015
- Goodbye Winter! — February 5, 2015
- Never Say Never — February 14, 2015
- Gold Storm Breaking — February 15, 2015
- A Flight at Fort — February 21, 2015
- Explosions in the Smithy — February 28, 2015
- Upcoming Eggs — March 4, 2015
- Those Wacky Fortian Nights — March 4, 2015
- A Clutching — March 7, 2015
- Guard Turned Candidate — March 7, 2015
- Bad Ideas and Shadowing — March 24, 2015
- A Dinnertime Hatching! — April 1, 2015
- Breaking Point — April 9, 2015
- A Morning Surprise — June 17, 2015
- A-crackin'! — July 8, 2015
- Winter is Coming — July 11, 2015
- Wrong Place, Wrong Time! — July 28, 2015
- Bad Things Come in Threes — August 28, 2015
- Crossed Lines — October 23, 2015
- Cracks — November 20, 2015
- Tipping Point — November 22, 2015
- All Hail the (acting-)Weyrleader? — November 25, 2015
- Quiet — December 10, 2015
- Something's Burning — December 21, 2015
- One Less on the Sands — December 31, 2015
- Turnover! — January 22, 2014
- Trouble in the Mountains — February 26, 2014
- Rumored Games — February 28, 2014
- Let the Games Begin! — March 4, 2014
- News — April 9, 2014
- The Weyr Responds — April 14, 2014
- Apprehended! — April 21, 2014
- The Flight — May 1, 2014
- Upcoming Events! — May 4, 2014
- A sparkling evening ahead — May 4, 2014
- Stonehaven Opens — May 7, 2014
- Chill in the Air... — August 6, 2014
- Clear as Mud — August 6, 2014
- Bringing Home the Bacon? — August 7, 2014
- Idiots. — August 9, 2014
- A Return Home — August 10, 2014
- Ill Tidings — August 12, 2014
- Watership Fort — August 14, 2014
- The Beast Illness — August 18, 2014
- A Musical Evening — August 19, 2014
- Shattered Fences — August 22, 2014
- And Then ... — August 24, 2014
- Kouzevelth Risen — August 24, 2014
- A Goldrider Banished — September 1, 2014
- Flame and Eggs — September 8, 2014
- New Weyrlings, Disgruntled Weyrfolk — October 12, 2014
- Rising High — November 1, 2014
- Spring Festival — November 6, 2014
- Another Upset! — November 12, 2014
- Festive Vistors — November 13, 2014
- A Salt (and Battery) - December 9, 2014
- What's That Smell? - December 11, 2014
- Thief?! - December 12, 2014
- The Inquisition Has Arrived - December 13, 2014
- A Death with Breakfast - December 13, 2014
- January 2, 2013 - Guest or Prisoner?
- January 2, 2013 - Quiet Preparations
- January 7, 2013 - (Some) Truths Revealed!
- January 7, 2013 - And Somethings Left Unchanged...
- January 13, 2013 - Freedom at Hand?
- January 13, 2013 - Where's the Klah!?
- January 16, 2013 - Klah Fury
- January 22, 2013 - How to Catch a Heir
- January 22, 2013 - Out with the Old and In with the New
- February 7, 2013 - An End at Last
- February 7, 2013 - Humming in the Night
- March 1, 2013 - In the Heat of Summer
- March 7, 2013 - Unsettling Discoveries
- March 19, 2013 - An End at Last
- March 19, 2013 - As the Dust Settles...
- March 23, 2013 - Change of Ranks
- March 27, 2013 - Not All News is Bad!
- April 17, 2013 - All is Well (or so it seems)...
- April 25, 2013 - Winter Trials
- April 30, 2013 - A Knot and a Glow
- May 6, 2013 - Rising Disaster
- May 22, 2013 - Someone's Gone Camping?
- June 7, 2013 - Not So Quiet Anymore
- June 7, 2013 - Bathing Cavern Invasion
- June 11, 2013 - Mystery Solved?
- June 20, 2013 - Flights and Freedoms
- June 20, 2013 - Hushed Meetings
- June 22, 2013 - A Knot Switch
- July 2, 2013 - Swim For It!
- July 2, 2013 - Jokes on You!
- July 3, 2013 - Brave the Jungles
- July 5, 2013 - Needle in a Snowbank
- July 22, 2013 - Winter Festival Begins!
- July 27, 2013 - Dawn Arrival (Hatching)
- August 21, 2013 - Breakaway Bronze!
- August 21, 2013 - Quiet Whisperings
- August 31, 2013 - Unconventional?
- September 3, 2013 - An Unexpected Trip?
- September 15, 2013 - Angry Holders
- September 16, 2013 - Drama Haiku
- September 20, 2013 - Ripple Effect
- September 20, 2013 - Let the Games Begin!
- September 27, 2013 - Who Watches the Watchers?
- October 1, 2013 - New Arrival?
- October 8, 2013 - Not According to Plan
- October 10, 2013 - Winter Shortages
- October 13, 2013 - A Departure
- October 14, 2013 - The Flight
- October 20, 2013 - The Flight Aftermath
- October 21, 2013 - A Tithe?
- October 31, 2013 - After-Breakfast Surprise!
- October 31, 2013 - Fireside Rumors
- November 8, 2013 - Recipe for Disaster
- November 19, 2013 - Fourteen Lives Forever Changed
- November 19, 2013 - Progress
- November 24, 2013 - Promotions!
- November 25, 2013 - Heart of the Lake
- November 26, 2013 - Going to the Races?
- July 06, 2012 - Word on the Winds...
- July 17, 2012 - No News is Good News?
- July 21, 2012 - What'd He do Now...?
- July 21, 2012 - A Familiar Face Returns!
- July 21, 2012 - Rogues and Shadowbeasts...
- July 24, 2012 - Lines Best Not Crossed
- July 26, 2012 - Demotion and... Jail Time?!
- August 11, 2012 - Matters Settled and Rank Restored
- August 15, 2012 - Is it Contagious?
- August 16, 2012 - Wet Weather Equations?
- August 21, 2012 - Spring brings... subtle paranoia?
- August 27, 2012 - Pre-Dawn Arrival
- August 27, 2012 - Canines, Eggs and Sitting Ducks
- August 27, 2012 - By Hoof or by Wing
- August 28, 2012 - Play Fighting on a Ledge
- August 28, 2012 - Better Than Windchimes
- August 28, 2012 - A Knot for some Klah?
- August 29, 2012 - Rabbits and Rain
- August 30, 2012 - Mister Sketcher Man!
- August 31, 2012 - Artistic References
- August 31, 2012 - Craft, Duty and Honor
- August 31, 2012 - New Goals Ahead
- September 2, 2012 - Where's Your Sense of Adventure?
- September 2, 2012 - All is Calm...?
- September 3, 2012 - A Search Most Obscure
- September 3, 2012 - Love Will Find a Way
- September 3, 2012 - A Trade of Sorts
- September 3, 2012 - Change in Routine
- September 16, 2012 - A Hatching We Will Go
- September 20, 2012 - Candidate Down and Out!
- September 20, 2012 - Excursions Resume!
- September 22, 2012 - As the Night Falls...
- October 3, 2012 - Vacation for Weyrwoman
- October 8, 2012 - Storm Brewing?
- October 26, 2012 - Dark Clouds on the Horizon
- November 16, 2012 - Where is Dei?
- November 16, 2012 - More Calm and Quiet?
- November 27, 2012 - Gather on the Coast
- November 29, 2012 - Festivities by the Sea
- December 6, 2012 - Unexpected Arrival
- December 8, 2012 - Another Visit
- December 10, 2012 - Trouble Stirring?
- December 16, 2012 - Gold Hill's Fall
- December 31, 2012 - Where's the Lord and Heir?
Pre-2012 Plot Writeups
The Stonehaven Cothold Massacre
Early one day, mid-winter, Elara, Dtirae and Th’ero had set out early for routine diplomatic visits to the more remote cotholds under Fort Weyr’s boundaries. Their purpose was not only to introduce the newest goldrider, Dtirae, to the holders, but also have a more hands on lesson for her in the matter of diplomacy and politics. They also helped bring in some needed supplies for the smaller cotholds that were too snowbound for regular trade. As the day progressed, Elara’s Wiyaneth’s wing became too sore for the gold to continue, leaving Th’ero and Dtirae to continue on to the last and most remote and secluded cothold.
After emerging from between, it was immediately apparent that something was very wrong. Upon further inspection, both the Weyrleader and the youngest goldrider discovered that all the cotholders were dead, by what appeared to be an attack on the cothold. Only one survivor was found, a young boy by the name of Ezra. Lured out of hiding by food brought in by Kimmila (under Th’ero’s request, despite the breech in protocol), they managed to convince the boy to come with them back to Fort.
Once back at Fort, Ezra was left in the care of Elara, while Th’ero, Dtirae and Kimmila met with the rest of the Weyr’s staff to report. It lasted well into the pre-dawn hours before the meeting was dismissed and the details quietly hushed and known only by those attending.
The incident was supposed to be kept secret, which of course meant the gossip is spreading through the Weyr like wildfire. Some whisper that Stonehaven cothold has been wiped out by a sickness, with the lone survivor hiding in Weyrwoman Elara's weyr. Others say the cothold was burned to the ground by angry renegades. Another version says that everyone was murdered in their beds for a secret stash of precious gems the cotholders had been hoarding for centuries.
As the celebrations from Turnover wind down over Fort Weyr and the surrounding regions, gossip returns with a flourish. Some had noticed a subtle undercurrent of tension even as the festivities were well under way, as many ranking riders, weyrfolk, Fort’s administration and a few others seemed to carry heavy looks and grim expressions when caught of guard. Perhaps it was worry over the amount of food to be had for the celebrations, after the incident with the mold? Or did he hushed whispers of Stonehaven ring some truth? It was odd, after all, that in the very early pre-dawn hours of the eve of Turnover, several dragons were packed and loaded with various supplies and passengers, the Weyrleader among them, along with Thunderbirds’s Wingleader and Wingsecond, two Harpers and two Healers. They all vanished Between and did not return to the Weyr until later in the day, sans supplies and short a few passengers.
And perhaps the news would have remained hushed, where it not for a rather drunk guard who spilled the tale. Word spread like wildfire the next day, leading to an impromptu address from the Weyrleader. But it also confirmed the worst of the news. The holders from Stonehaven were all found dead, save for one lone survivor and that currently evidence pointed to a deadly confrontation, but with whom or what is the mystery.
News spread like wildfire the moment word was passed from Wingsecond L'da's blue Enoth one late spring afternoon: a clue had been found and one that could solve the mystery behind Stonehaven! Only this clue is… a holdless man? Wingriders on sweeps and a small patrol of guards were approached by a thin, haggard looking man who named himself Hatskel and claimed to know what happened in Stonehaven and in exchange for this information, he asked only for safety and food… for both him and his daughter. As Hatskel was brought to a guard outpost for questioning, L'da sent A'lin (who had joined the search by volunteering) off to find the girl, while the Wingsecond returned to Fort to report.
The Holds were informed then, with many Roc and Thunderbird Wingriders being sent out for security and transport. It wasn't long before Th'ero was spotted leaving on Velokraeth and word has it he was the first to question Hatskel… and that the interrogation went poorly. But if the whispers are true, the Weyrleader was able to garner enough information from the man. Enough that he's been holed up with the Holders, other members of the Weyr and the guards for many hours a day.
The end to this grim tale came to a clash and confrontation between a man Hatskel named Laris and his men. Trapped on all sides in their camp by Guards (Hold and Weyr alike) and Weyrleader Th'ero with Fort's Thunderbird Wing in the back for added support, Laris was forced into tense talks with a diplomat chosen to represent all of Fort's Holds. But an arrow was loosed, from which side it's still unknown and chaos erupted. With the holdless now-turned-renegades quickly overwhelmed by the number of Guards, only a few managed to escape. Most were captured, some were killed. Th'ero was seriously injured while confronting Laris, and rumor has it that a bluerider from Western was also grieviously injured by an arrow. Laris escaped, despite brownrider A'lin's attempt to chase him down. But Stonehaven's mystery was solved and the holdless men captured faced a jury and trial at Fort Hold. All were sentenced to exile but the exact location remains a secret. As to their families fate, it's rumored most followed them or chose to stay behind as they were judged to be innocent (especially concerning the children).
Political Hold Trade Agreements
There's been an uprising from the Holders of Fort's beholden range. They've stopped some major trade with the Weyr which has since been felt like a ripple affect. More will have to be spent and bartered to gain what the Weyr is losing daily from this sudden trade fiasco. While Fort is trying to enter into discussions with the beholden areas, the Weyr struggles to get what is needed from outside sources. And while the Holders will not choke Fort Weyr completely, they've made it clear that with new leadership in place, the old trade contacts are null and void, now requesting a lot more for what is traded or produced, such as demanding twice as many services in return for what a Turn ago would've been outrageous to request. The Weyrleader is organizing a meeting with them.
Update June 16th 2010:
Trade negotiations at Fort Weyr seem to have broken down, at least as far as Plateau Hold and South Boll Hold are concerned — both have withdrawn their contracts with the Weyr and will be seeking trade elsewhere. Fort Sea Hold has managed to negotiate a 50% increase in their compensation and have also allegedly stated terms for Search within their Hold. Although Gar Hold was represented, their standing is unconfirmed.
The arguments around the table at Fort were quite heated, with the Holders being quite vocal about their disapproval of both the selection of the Weyrleader's advisors, as well as stabs made at the Senior's queen and her latest clutch — a scant handful of eggs, with one failing to hatch. A banana was purportedly thrown at some point. The Weyrleader's pride might have been the final straw to break the camellid's back, for it was after an outburst by him that the Lord Holders walked out.
It was, in short, a debacle that may starve Fort Weyr.
With the dissolution of two key contracts — contracts that comprised at least half of the Weyr's common food items, if not more — Fort Weyr finds itself with a shortage of fresh fruits, vegetables, and tubers. When coupled with the miserable growing season and the marked reduction in harvested goods, things are downright dire in the kitchens.
At least the weather seems to have improved considerably. Summer has flown past, leaving Fort Weyr with seemingly normal weather for autumn — not too hot, not too cold, with a bit of bite in the air and the occasional rain shower. The turning of the leaves is a sign that fortunes might be changing … but will such change be for the better?
Fort Weyr Formal Masquerade
The masquerade ball was a stunning success. It seemed as if the whole Weyr came out to support the festivities. Although, in the end there was some hard feelings between a few people. Evidently the Weyrleader, once revealed, stormed out leaving the Weyrwoman, once revealed, to stand all by her lonesome. Needless to say she ran out after the chap to try to cool tempers, but to no avail. The Senior Weyrwoman was seen leaving the Weyr the next morning, packed bags and all, with a notice to the Weyr that Neyuni was in charge while she is on hiatus.
Could this have something to do will all those foul rumors running amok? With the dud egg laid on the sands? With the tension of trade between Holders? With the Winter weather that is holding onto Fort? With all the injuries to the Roc wing? Was the Weyr crumbling apart and the goldrider running away from her responsibilities? What will happen is anyone's guess.
Connell Festival
Fort Weyr is globally known to be the first founded Weyr on Pern, it just wasn't specifically known when - until now. With the discovery of the lost library deep in the bowels of the Weyr, history has been uncovered to prove the date when Sean and Sorka Connell became Pern's first respective Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. Thus, it wasn't a surprise then that with this information tightly in hand, that the young Senior Weyrwoman has collaborated with all necessary delegations to ensure that a celebration could be hosted for the Weyr and for Pern. Others say that with all the conflict and turmoil that's been occurring in the walls of Fort Weyr since she took on Senior, she's trying to make up for it, as if it would be a fresh start. Others merely say that the invitation to Pernese world-wide is definitely a Fort Weyr tradition, and that she's merely following the advice of more experienced riders. No matter the why, the planning was soon underway and an official invitation for the Connell Festival had been sent to Leaders of Hall, Hold, and Weyr. On the invitation it speculated that events during the Festival were geared toward the celebration of the Dragonrider. The gather itself was held on the shore of Fort's lake, with an impressive aerial display featuring nearly the entire dragon population of the weyr arranged in traditional threadfighting formation. There was also a floating stage/dancefloor barge, as well as booths representing every hall and all of Fort's beholden areas. (Click to see log.)
Numbweed for Healer Hall
Healer Hall was short on numbweed, and it fell to the transport riders of Fort Weyr, to which Healer Hall is beholden, to deliver. The call went out, to weyrs and holds, and Fort riders were popping up in the most unlikely places to pick up the much-needed cargo. (logs to be added)
Dance Lessons On The Lake
With the floating platform on the lake apparently here to stay, the inevitable happened.
Dancing. Word spread that there would be music, and food, and of course, dancing. For those who knew how, and those who wished to learn, lessons were scheduled. With summer coming to an end, and the year's harvest ripening on vine and tree, there had been an air of celebration about Fort Weyr. And what better way to prepare for all those Autumn gathers than a lovely get-together on the lake, with dancing and good food and drink? (logs to be added)
Return of a Lost Tradition
Training sessions saw the revival of lost traditions as Fort and Istan riders begin regular practices for flaming and flying in threadfighting formation. The Weyr Games prompted rallies, teamwork, and a renewed sense of pride in the weyrs, with the Summer Games being held at Ista and the Winter Games at Fort. Ironically, Fort Weyr was the winner of the Summer Games and, with the Istans leading the Winter Games, there was a final weyrleader showdown. In the end, the Istans took the Winter prize, leaving the weyrs even, for now. Rumors spread about a planned rematch..