715 The Draconic Plague hit; Firelizards started vanishing, before dragons started dying in Month 5. Whers were immune. Weyrs went into quarantine, but it didn’t work; the dragonrider population was considerably smaller by Month 10, and Firelizards had vanished entirely.

716 Weyrwoman Katila of gold Mutusoth of High Reaches told her Weyr to fly to the South and live in isolation in the hopes of survival. As no one had gone South before, they had to fly straight (no between) and many died on the trip. Other Weyrs also sent their dragonriders South, too. It took two days to cross the ocean. By the 20th of Month 1, all the Weyrs were empty husks, and those left behind moved to nearby Holds.

717 Dragonriders lived in isolation; groups composed of a single dragon – very rarely a pair of mated dragonriders (but most prioritised their dragons over their lovers, and went solo) – and a companion or two that were not dragonriders. Some Riders took their child or children, a lover, etc.

718 As above.

719 As above.

720 Goldrider Tsuen of Nirinath decided it was time for the dragonriders to come together; they flew around, calling together the other dragonriders. They came in dribs and drabs, some excited, some wary and afraid. Nirinath was the last gold dragon, and only 458 dragons had survived in total. Tsuen decided they would remain together in the South until such a time it was deemed if the dragon population would survive.

721 The turn is spent building a village, which is named Katila in respect for the woman who’s order helped save them. Huts are built primarily of wood, but also large stones brought in by dragons. They created hollows beside the huts for the dragons to sleep in; it is in no way a traditional Weyr, though after so many turns in the South, it isn’t too alien to the survivors.

722 Some dragonriders become irritated with remaining in the South, and cause no small amount of trouble for Tsuen, though she refuses to budge on the matter, and goes to extreme lengths to keep everyone securely located in the South.

723 Nothing of note.

724 A Northern fleet arrives in the South. Dragonriders are forbidden from interacting or revealing themselves to the visitors. The Northerner’s leave when they find nothing, leaving a young man behind. The dragonriders find him, and bring him to their population rather than leave him to die in the wilderness, or return him home to the North and reveal themselves.

725 A summer storm destroyed the majority of the weyr-village, forcing the dragonriders and their companions to rebuild. There was more unrest about the inability to return North, but nothing substantial came of it.

726 A brown dragon catching a cold terrorises Katila Weyrhold, and he is banished from the Weyr for a period of time. Nothing comes of the cold, but it freaks everyone out and justifies Tsuen’s determination to stay in the South.

727 Nirinath Flies! She is caught by bronze Ronarth, securing D’ren as Weyrleader. Seventeen eggs, with no gold, cements Tsuen’s refusal to return North – the dragonrider’s future wasn’t secured. When the lack of Candidates is pointed out, Tsuen sets about demanding that Searchriders go and kidnap potential candidates, spiriting them to Katila in secret. There is a lot of disquiet, but her orders are followed. Only 15 of the 17 eggs Impress, and the blue that chose a female goes between just a month later.

728 Nothing of note.

729 Nothing of note.

730 Seventy-nine Journeymen were Stolen from the North, including a handful of non-crafter women taken from outlying country communities. All were kidnapped in secret, over the course of the turn.

731 A further ninety-four Journeymen are kidnapped in the first three months of the turn, before the stealing stops. Nirinath flies, and is again won by Ronarth. She clutches 17 eggs, including a gold. Female candidates are callously told they must reproduce before they can Stand for Impression. Sixteen dragonets Impress, including the gold.

732 Gold Krypth flies unnaturally young, and is caught by brown Tyrrisath. While the clutch includes a gold, there are only six eggs total. She again flies before the turn ends, shocking everyone. Again, Tyrrisath wins, and this clutch has eleven eggs, all of whom Impress, though none are gold. 19.09, while the Weyrlings were visiting the beach for the first time, several Firelizard clutches were discovered, with a handful Impressing during the visit while others took the eggs back to the Weyrhold. There was a lot of opinions running rampart about what the reappearance meant... On the 15.11, Weyrleader D’ren is poisoned; while it does not kill him, it does leave him too weak to continue leading. Weyrsecond S’kef, rider of brown Tyrrisath, becomes Acting Weyrleader.

733 On the 06.04, The ‘World Above’ clutch Graduates, during which Acting Weyrleader S’kef announces that female riders will no longer get Honorifics, and that males will take their honorific at Impression. Later, on the 16.07 Bronzerider T’shiro of Cucluith is executed, after being accused of – and with S’kef providing evidence – that the bronzerider was responsible for attempting to assassinate the previous Weyrleader, D’ren.

734 Both clutches Hatch at the same time, which included both gold dragonets Impressing. During this turn, golds Krypth, Okalinath and Aradissicath all fly, and are caught by the bronzes Gugaroth, Torath and Xyreith respectively.

735 the last of the golds moved to Telgar Weyr, along with the majority of the dragonrider population. Those who were (primarily) older or maimed opted to remain in Katila, turning their once home into a retirement village of sorts. Meanwhile, S’kef of brown Tyrrisath is still Weyrleader, and while he is doing a considerable job of running the show, tongues are beginning to wag, especially among the Holders, whom dragonrider greeting parties are still trying to win over. Older dragonriders (and some few non-riders) take part in showing the Katilan born what the wider world is like.

736 Discussion is had, and the decision to open up two more Weyrs is made. After further talks, the Weyrs of Ista and Fort are chosen. At this point in time, they also discuss how Weyrleadership is determined, and opt to take away the power of the Weyrwoman deciding the Weyrleader – especially with past experiences of some golds flying regularly and with irregular partners. A decision is made to put in a system of voting for the chosen Weyrleader. As such, new Weyrleaders are chosen with bronzerider M’ris taking on Ista Weyr, R’nya taking on Fort Weyr and S’kef being dethrowned while young A’dris is given the Weyrleadership of Telgar. Each new Weyrleader selects his Weyrwoman (Ameris, Rhaedalyn and Kahleena respectively) and preparations are made to move into the two new Weyrs.

Month 7 - After a solid six months of work cleaning, tidying, organising and exploring the new Weyrs, the dragonriders are split up and relocated as per their submitted requests; each Rider was asked to give their preference for location of each of the three Weyrs, and while some may not have gotten their first choice, no one ended up in their third choice.

737 With the Weyrs much more functional, and eggs on the Sands in Fort, focus is moved to the Holds and Halls in each of the newly populated regions, with emphasis on building good relations.

738 Nothing fancy happens this Turn.

739 In month 4, at his youngest son’s wedding, the Lord of High Reaches dies of an apparent heart attack, though the family is filled with private suspicions, nothing is proven or spread to outer circles.

In month 4 Ista Isle catches fire during a thunderstorm [Link]. The fires themselves burn for a full week, before being completely contained and finally extinguished. As a result, Ista – who had previously been heavily affected by a prolonged heatwave and drought – has very little in the way of food or water, and relies upon imports from outside sources and dragonriders.

In month 10, Weyrleader R'nya of Fort negotiates with Master Verec of the Healer Hall to enter his female candidates and riders into the Hall for basic Healer training – this is partly a push back for Ista Weyr’s reputation of allowing women to stand for chromatic dragons, which Fort and Telgar don’t allow. An agreement is made, with the girls of Fort each going in for an interview for approval into the Hall. Those that are approved, begin their Training at the start of 740.

740 In month 4, gold Thallyath of Casa finally takes her Maiden Flight, and is won by Blue Faxxonth, though until he won the Flight, everyone was under the belief that Faxxonth was a green. Pern now has two women bonded to blue dragons.

741 Begins 2020

742 Begins 2021

743 Begins 2022

744 Begins 2023