Western Bay Weyr - AU 9th Pass DRoP

9th Pass – record by Master Storyteller Xylas, accounts taken from eye witnesses
There is little time, they’ve begun to realise that Western has allies, allies they had thought were confined to the Island itself, I must be quick in what I write.

We were so glad to have them; so glad that these ‘Oldtimers’ had arrived to save us from Thread… Lessa and Ramoth lost their lives to bring them to us and for what? For them to turn into thieves and brigands, who take what they like. Yes we have grown complacent and tithes to Benden were small – but Thread is not a threat we have had to face until now, we are only now learning to fear it once more… we only needed time to bring around the stubborn few but they were not patient. D’mas killed F’lar, our last champion, the last true voice of us ‘Newtimers’ if you will. Fort has taken Benden for its own and forced Ellisha and Isith from their home; the daughter of Ramoth has been turned into an exile along with her supporters, they cannot stand up against the force of the Oldtimers… they’ve had no choice.

Western Bay Weyr; a haven for those who could not agree with the Oldtimers. They have travelled from across Pern and even from amongst the Oldtimers themselves. Riders could Between to the Black Mountains and fly from there, the rest headed to Tillek Hold for a transfer on a boat – but the storms of winter held them there.

A wild Gold Wher came to Tillek, egg heavy and frightened. She laid her clutch at the Hold and spoke of her mate being killed by Riders from High Reaches; it seems he was a brown with silver flecks – the Riders did not like his colouration. She was right to seek refuge for her children; amongst her own eggs was a red female with golden flecks, a Ruby they call her now. Her mother left but with a warning – watch for High Reaches, they are not friends.

Months after Western Bay’s founding twelve eggs found their way onto the Sands; the only explanation of their arrival the footprints of Dragon and Rider alike. Amongst the twelve lay a Queen egg – Western had allies, but who? Unknown to the Weyr two of these allies lay unconscious with four other eggs – these poor souls fell victim to the exiles who lived within the mountains, exiles who belonged to a ‘Hold’ known as Nuradus after its leader. They took the eggs and added them to their Wher eggs – now they had their own protection.

During Western’s Touching the eggs hatched, while the eggs at Nuradus began to hatch also – they had been more developed than first anticipated. Both Hatchings revealed new colours just as Tillek’s Whers had. For Western; two females the size of Blue’s but with grey hides and another female the size of a Brown with a pink hide that shimmered with gold – Gray and Copper. For Nuradus a male the size of a Brown but with a golden sheen – he was Amber. As if this was not enough a fight broke out at Nuradus and one Wher egg was stabbed – the occupant broke free to reveal TWIN males, brown with silver flecks who would be named Agate’s. The pair Bonded to one man… whose mind is less than stable. Western too had twins – the Queen egg hatched to reveal two Gold’s within, these sisters chose separate Riders.

Tillek and Western shared similar fears – that their new colours would be discovered and that the Oldtimers would take action… it was Tillek that faced this reality first. High Reaches sent a convoy to cull the Clutch; they did not wish the ‘infection’ to spread. The Whers and Handlers fled for their boats, several were injured and one Rider was killed accidentally as a Wherling defended themselves. Faranth gave them safe passage to Western, and Western has welcomed them with open arms.

Unrest then came to the mountains. The exiles, murderers and thieves, no longer happy with feeding Whers and Dragons before themselves rebelled – luck had one of the Weyrling Bronze’s call for the Weyr’s help. And the Weyr answered. Supporters of the Dragons and Whers were rescued from their mountain Hold… luck kept them all alive. The Weyr remains wary of the exiles they have retrieved as well as those they have left behind – revenge is always likely.

When Isith Rose for her maiden Flight it was K’van’s Bronze Rikath who won, the Bronze was the biggest in the Weyr if not in Pern. It was the most settled time for the Weyr and the Hatchlings entered the world with very little drama. Amongst them another Grey and another Amber… but also a male as bright as the sun, a Yellow, and a female who was unfortunate enough to follow a mauling, her hide the colour of blood, a Red.

They are safe… for now… but High Reaches has sent an agent to spy upon the Weyr; their aim to report back on the spread of the mutation ‘infection’. The mountains remain a threat and there are rumours that trouble stirs even at Fort. All eyes are turning toward Western Bay Weyr and supporters are scarce; even Ellisha, once strong and outspoken has buckled under the pressure of keeping twelve Weyrlings and several new colours a secret, she has sought and been granted sanctuary at Telgar… but the information she carries could spell the end of her former Weyr. K’van remains as Weyrleader, left to deal with issues beyond his knowledge and without the support of his Weyrwoman.

How long can the Weyr remain safe? How long before the other Weyrs find out about the new colours? A shadow looms over Western Bay Weyr… and the storm is coming…

This is what we're all about:

• F’lar and Lessa are dead and anyone who supports Western are exiled to the Weyr.
• Females can Impress anything but bronze dragons.
• Males can Impress anything but gold dragons.
• Sexuality does not affect Impression.
• Personality does not affect Impression (no personality stereotypes!)
• Creativity and activity does affect Impression.
• Whers with active and exciting plots!
• Non-canon colours for dragons, whers and firelizards! (Logic of new colours may not be evident until all colours are revealed, but there is a system.)
• Plots aplenty!
• The last clutch has hatched but there are several hatchlings available to adopt and Hatchings planned for the future.
• Plenty of ranks still available – full riders, wher handlers, adoptables, weyrfolk, candidates (Dragon and Whers), Weyrfolk and exiles!
• Running since June 2013!
• Recent relocation to brand new shiny JCink forums