Are There Dinosaurs in Pern?

Makes me wonder, are there ancient beasts in Pern? The Fire-Lizards do look like dinosaurs flying. Or for people originating from Earth, that is. Are there ancient beasts who once roamed the world of the dragons?

The Dragons and Watch-whers are bio-engineered. Felines, runner beasts, herd beasts and canines were brought by the colonist. Were there creatures that failed to evolve and died out? Are there evidences left? Or did Thread eat all of the evidences?

It just makes me wonder...

Image from: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/sc/081403dinosfossils/im:/070719/ids_photos_ts/r3324204384.jpg;_ylt=AmEX_1KqIG7ktw47EODwXolsaMYA

6 toes plus 4 toes is to 10!

I noticed something Unusual in Alonzo. Different from the other Fire-Lizards. Alonzo has 6 claws in front and 4 only in his hind legs. Weird.

Then again, I know my Lonzo is a special lamby.

He was very sweet the other night. Curling up to me leg and begging for a head stratch. Wonder what got into him. Maybe he did something wrong. Perhaps I better see if something was amiss in the kitchen...

Harper Me

Clothing in Pern are have variety. Women are not constrained to wearing skirts and gowns all the time. Though there is a Medieval feel to the world, it actually is not. Thanks to Dragonrider culture, it is not uncommon for women to be in tunics and trousers. For me, I love dresses and skirts. Makes me all girly. Of course, on the road, I stick to trousers of hoses. It makes everything easier.

I'm glad for the AIVAS Technology. The technicians were able to supply Weavers Hall a compendium of patterns in which clothes can efficiantly be made.

Now, Collars are decorating necklines and cuts are more flattering. Even Alonzo agrees.

Benden Hold and Weyr

Contrary to popular belief, Benden Weyr was not established by Admiral Paul Benden.

The creater to be known as the 2nd Weyr was discovered by Goldrider Torene Ostrovsky. Following the death of 3 queens who fought during a mating flight, Sorka and Sean Connel realized Fort Weyr was indeed getting too crowded. With a handful of friends, Torene was given permission to go to the site and establish it. The condition for Weyrwoman and her Weyrleader was that the first queen to fly would be Weyrwoman and the dragon who flies, its rider comes Weyrleader thus tradition started.

Later, the wine growers of Iyrne Isle went to establish themselves at the North Continent and stayed at what was now Benden Weyr. Thus, the good wines cam from Benden.

During one of Lord Jaxom's visit, he and young F'lessan encountered a secret laboratory near the hatching ground. It was later found out that this room was used to create a cure for dragon plague. This room was done during M'hall's time by Emora, Wind Blossom's daughter. Two sick Fire-Lizards journeyed to 50 years after Landing and were discovered that dragons can get sick of the Plague too. Emora and her team made sure that equipments and manuals were stored in Benden Weyr so that the dragons could be saved. Emora, as head of the College (Harper's Hall) made the drum sequence like the PNA sequence of Dragons' blood. At the Third Pass, Lorana, Harper Kindan and the rest who were desperate to save the dragons were able to create the cure and save the dragons.

Trivia:

• Admiral Paul Benden is the leader of the colonists who came to Pern. he was the hero of the Nathi wars and wished to live a peaceful life after the long battles. he did have a short love encounter with Avril Bitra during the flight to Pern but he married Ju Adjai. His descendant rule Fort.
• Mihall Connel of M'hall to the dragons was the son of Sean and Sorka. He was first Weyrleader of Benden.
• Torene Ostrovsky's parents were geologists. That was why she was able to assess Benden Weyr as a good site. Her queen Alaranth is the first queen of Benden.
• By the 9th Pass, Benden Weyr leads most of the other Weyrs. F'lar, Mnementh's rider, made sure to unify the Weyrs even if they are autonomous to Holds.
• Lorana might be F'lar's ancestress.

To The Sun

The Sun is called Rukbat. It is a G Type Star in the Sagitarrian Sector.

Here is my little Alonzo flying above the cliffs. I should get myself a new assignment. Alonzo is getting restless and so am I. Pern is a big planet to discover and there are more adventures waiting.

Back in Fort

This is Fort Hold. Although this picture was drawn during the 6th Pass.

(Picture from Nerilka Book)

Fort is the Largest and Oldest Hold made in the North. It was established by Admiral Paul Benden and Governor Boll. After fleeing the South, they established a unified stronghold in the North beside a crater to be known as Fort Weyr.

Harpers Hall was beside it and it was known at the College. Soon, it separated into Harpers Hall and the Healers Hall.

At present, Lord Groghe and his numerous sons hold Fort. N'ton is the Weyrleader of Fort Weyr. MasterHarper Sebell is Master Harper of Harpers Hall and Master Oldive is Master Healer of Healers Hall.

Facts and Trivia: Admiral Benden did not establish Benden Weyr or Hold. He was fond of wine and had a vineyard in the South but the wine growers of Irne Island were the ones who moved to establish Benden Hold. Benden Weyr was established by Weyrwoman Torene as the second Weyr. Sorka and Sean Connel's Son M'hall became Weyrleader. It was here that the tradition of queen being flown started.

Mating Season

Blindy seems to be clutching. Alonzo is chasing every gold and green he can find. Even Blindy! He went back to Tillek after her. Oh, Alonzo!

My sis is running around after the pair. She wants to protect her precious Blindy (She's her Fire-Lizard) while making sure Alonzo is Ok.


Alonzo and I are distant ever time its mating season. H's after the next flying thing his way. He is also a bit distracted. He'll come around. I hope.

I love you, Alonzo.

Dragon Fighting Thread with His Rider

The Smallest Dragonboy

Before he became Weyrleader K'van of Southern Weyr, he was Keevan of Benden Weyr. A Weyrbred lad minded by his foster mother Mende. His father is Brownrider K'last. Keevan wanted to become like his father. K'last was a well respected brownrider and he was tall too. Something Keevan was not. He was small for a 12 year old and barely made it to become a weyrling.

Beterli, a bully who's been to 8 hatching and never impressed put too much pressure on the boy. Bullied him to the point of breaking his legs and head. Poor Keevan. Hatching time and he was bedridden. This was the most devastating day of his life. Beterli was sent away of course because that was not an attitude for the Weyr.

Keevan knew in his guts he had to impress this hatching. he had to prove himself. He needed a friend who would love him unconditionally and be his companion for life. He hobbled to the hatching ground with bandaged head and hurting splint leg but he made it. When he got to the hatching ground, all dragons were out of thier shell and he felt too late.

Lessa and F'lar shook their heads. 40 eggs but 39 impressed. The last bronze didn't want any of the 70 candidates present. He was looking for someone, someone in the shadows. It Keevan or now K'van. He was found by Heth.

Later, we find the pair rescuing Aramina in The Girl Who Heard Dragons and Renegades of Pern. K'van became Weyrleader of Southern at 19 years old, the youngest in record.

How dragons choose, nobody knows. It certainly not the way Kitti Ping and Wind Blossom tried to make them. It was something innate and developed within the species. Anyone could impress a Fire-Lizard. Watch-Whers can be tricky to impress but they can change people to look to. Dragons are meant for their riders and the riders and the dragon become one. They develop certain similarities and take on a human voice.

Ruth

no, not a bible character

no, not a she either. Ruth is a male, a male dragon to be precise.

Ruth is the only white dragon ever in Anne's World. Apart from Ramoth, Ruth is the most important dragon in all of Pern. Ramoth is the largest and Ruth, the smallest but he has his role.

Ruth is from Ramoth's clutch. He was the last to be hatched. If fact, he was not supposed to be hatched. It seems Ruth's egg condition was not uncommon. What was uncommon is for a Lord holder to smash the egg and release Ruth. Small dragons died when they don't come out of the shell. It seems that Ruth was suffocated thus turned him small and white.

But according to N'ton, he is the combination of all colors.

The Boy and his Dragon

It was that eventful day in the Hatching ground when young Lord Jaxom smashed the last remaining egg when it stopped rocking. Ingrained in his head a respect for dragon riders, Jaxom wanted to save the dragon. He got impressed instead.

So, is the dragon the man and the man the dragon? Ruth was smashed out of his shell and Jaxom ripped from his dead mother's womb. They have an incredible bond and they can relate to each other.

Politics and Ruth

Lessa abdicated her right to Jaxom and she made sure Felessan was Weyrbred. She ensured Jaxom will continue the Ruathan Blood Line. When he impressed, there was trouble. Was he to remain in Benden? Was he to go to Fort since Ruatha is beholden to Fort Weyr? How was he to remain Lord Holder?

It was Lord Warder Lytol who made sure Jaxom stay to become Lord of Ruatha. It seems Ruth was just a sport dragon and would probably die and who better to help Jaxom through it that Lord Lytol himself who lost is beloved Brown Larth. So Ruth was allowed to be raised and Jaxom continue to be Lord Holder.

Years later, Ruth won't die and he proved to be the most valuable dragon.

Ruth's Skills

• 
  
  He always knows When he is.


• 
  
  Being small, he is agile. (A head bigger than a runner beat but good proportions)


• 
  
  All Fire-Lizards seems to be attracted to him and they tell him anything and everything.


• 
  
  He has no trouble talking to people and is not very possessive. (Jaxom is not too possessive of him either)

Ruth and his Conquests

Ruth has significant roles and a lot of small ones too of course. His significant roles changed Pern forever. Because of his abilities, he was able to silence his critiques.

• 
  
  In White Dragon, he saved Ramoth's egg and prevented a dragon against dragon fight.


• 
  
  He was able to locate D'ram 25 years back in Southern.


• 
  
  Although Jancis and Piemur discovered the Admin building where AIVAS was, it was Ruth and Jaxom who found the Landing site.


• 
  
  In All the Wyer's of Pern, he led two groups back in time and into the Red Star to blow it out of orbit.

Fire-Lizard Biscuits

My little recipe for Fire-lizard Biscuits required the tastiest fish from Tillek. A bit of storm has rocked too much boat. Mom sent a couple of Packtail for Alonzo but he refuses. He wants RedFin.

Man, this is a tough, dragonette.

Fish is fish, Alonzo.

Hmmmmmm...

Ruatha Hold

As long as I'm here, I went on to document as much as I could. Master Sebell thinks we could do with a bit of modernization in our records. So I must record the records. Redundant? Yes. Record them and feed it into the computers to immortalize them. MasterPrinter Tagetarl can make a bound copy called books. This can be widely available and people anywhere can read about anything around Pern.

So, let us begin with Ruatha.

(picture from Nerilka Book)
Ruatha is the second Hold to be established. During the first Pass, Fort Hold can no longer accommodate the growing population of people and runner beast. Red Haranhan, Sorka Haranhan's father, was a vet and he bred good runner beasts. He established Ruatha and named it such. Now we know why the greatest runner beasts can be found in Ruatha. Rua is the old terran Irish language meant Red and Atha mean ford. Red's ford.

For those you don't know, Sorka Haranhan was the girl who discovered the fire-lizard together with future husband and weyleader Sean Connell. Sorka's Faranth is the first senior queen. Sorka and Sean's son, M'hall, became Benden Weyrleader.

Notable ancestor were Lord Alessan and Lady Nerilka. Lord Alessan was the lover of the great Moreta, Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr in the 6th Pass. It was during the plague years when Nerilka journeyed to Ruatha to help with the plague. She disguised herself as a drudge and worked as a nurse in Ruatha. her origin was Fort Hold but her father, Lord Tolocamp, refused to help and shut Fort to prevent the Plague.

When Moreta died, Alessan wanted to die too. Nerilka urged him to live if only to give Ruatha sons and duaghters to be heir. He bargained that he would live to such point if only Nerilka would mother his children. Shocked, it was then that Alessan revealed that he knew who the strong willed drudge was. She was no other that Lady Nerilkaof Fort who Alessa's 1st wife knew. Alessan's 1st wife was Nerilka's best friend. She had a talent in sketching. Alessan saw a lot of sketched about Nerilka so it was impossible to fool him. He knew.

Nerilka agreed if only to help Ruatha but she was such a devoted wife and lady holder. Alessan couldn't ignore that. Alessan's sister Oklina was searched and she impressed a queen. From that moment on, Alessan's eyes opened and he was no longer sad. He and Nerilka lived happily and they had lots of children.
On the 8th interval, Fax, the self-proclaimed Lord of Seven Holds, invaded Ruatha and killed all of the Blood except Lessa who hid in the Watch-wher's lair and Aramina's mother (Lessa's cousin) who ran away and became a holdless.

Near the 9th Pass, Lord F'lar came on search. Canth and Mnementh could feel a strong power within the Hold and F'lar was sure there was still a person of the Blood. With Lesa's strong Telepathic powers, she made such the tension in the room led to a fight and F'lar would triumph. But this also causes Lady Gemma's water bag to break. She dies but Young Lord Jaxom was ripped from her stomach and saved. Lord F'lar gave Lessa a better option than be Lady Holder of a crumbling Hold. She was to be a weyrwoman and save Pern from Thread. So Lord F'lar took Lessa to Benden where she impressed Ramoth and the rest is Pernese History.

My Little Baby

Poor Alonzo, just a jealous bug. Ruth can't reason with him. Alonzo is just too possessive and quite Territorial too. I told Lord Jaxom to tell Ruth that he could be Fire-Lizard psychologist.

Nights in Ruatha are fun. Food is good and the fires are warm. Lonzo has no trouble picking a good comfy mat to lie in. Sometimes, he even snuggles on the cot with me. My sleeping furs would stink of Alonzo. But that's alright. I like the smell of Alonzo. That's how you'd know if you like Fire-lizards and fire-lizards like you. You get on with their smell. It's spicy and musky but smells like a baby too. hehe.

After a nice long diner and some songs, I was glad to entertain my host's children. They are quite excited about the tales I tell of my travel and the old Earth that I learned from the AIVAS machine.

I told them my sis, Aki wanted to recreate a sort of AIVAS. It's a far shot but humans just really want to make things possible because they can.

Take the dragons. Because it can be done, so it was done. Of course, it was also an essential.

End of Friendship?

Earl and Alonzo are fighting. Earl comes by a lot but they pick a fight all the time. I don't know why. I don't see who started it first.

So, I asked MasterHarper Sebell if he could assign me some temporary work at Ruatha. Maybe I can ask Lord Jaxom to ask Ruth to bespeak my Fire-Lizards. That may give me answers and maybe mediate between. Them. Menolly seems fine with that. Her Beauty and other bronzes are keeping away.

Photo Scanned from Nerilka Book

Ah... a new frontier!

Ruatha

The Ford of Red Haranhan

So, off I go for a good two Sevenday assignment to bring new songs and document a census. Harpers can do that for records' sake. Lord Jaxom doesn't mind.

Alonzo seems to respect Ruth. Yup. He did confide to Ruth who told Jaxom who told me. But honestly, I think I can somehow catch Ruth's thoughts just a tad bit. He is quite candid on who to speak. Also his emotions can be seem. That is, if you can call dragons emotions as such. He is quite a fine dragon. The very, very best!

Ok, Alonzo and Earl's problem: Jealousy.

Alonzo is jealous because Earl always visits me and gets a share f his food. No, silly! I always give you a big chunk and give extra to Earl! Jelly Lonzo!

Alonzo's reason is this: Earl is just a stray. He doesn't deserve food. Alonzo is my impressed lizard and is badly needing my attention. Especially because he has a threadscored ass.

Your fault, Lonzo-kins. I called you inside to hide but you wanted to sleep in the roof. Now, what do we do to Oliver? Alonzo doesn't seem to mind Oliver nicking his food now and then. Alonzo says Oliver is not his hatchling. He just gave him to me to give to Aki.

Speaking of Aki, I have to send Aki a letter. Oliver seems to have Prader-Willi Syndrome. According to Aki, Oliver eats at the usual hour with occasional snacks. Then he goes between to find me when it's my feeding time here in the North. He eats two time periods plus the occasional nicking at HarpersHall kitchen that gets me and Alonzo in trouble!

I hope he doesn't follow here at Ruatha!