Dragonrider Ranks & Responsibilities(in order of highest to lowest ranking, and their Hold Guard Equivolent)
Weyrwoman [Goddess Divine
]
Weyrleader [General]
Weyrsecond [Lt. General]
Weyrlingmaster [Drill master]
Flightleader [Commander]
Wingleader [Captain]
Sr. Wingsecond [1st Lt.]
Jr. Wingsecond [2nd Lt.]
Wingthird [Officer cadet]
Weyrlingmaster assistant [Drill master assistant]
Wingrider [Cadet]
Weyrling [Freshman class]
Day to Day ActivitiesDay to day activities in the Weyr are split up similarly to activities for a person employed full time on old Terra. The day is split into eating and sleeping, work and play. Most individuals residing at the Weyr will work about 6 to 12 hours a day, with the remainder of that time split between other necessary activities and free time. Weyrfolk are rarely in contact with holders or crafters outside of the Weyr, so recreation revolves around weyr games, gathers, personal hobbies and socializing with wingmates.
The most basic duty of a Dragonrider is looking after hte physical and mental well being of his dragon. Every two to three days, dragons are bathed and oiled; and if it's every three, then the oiling is very thorough. The time it takes to care for these tasks is between one to four hours, depending on the size of the dragon. Typically, dragons only feed once a week during an Interval, and once every four days during a Pass, due to excessive physical activity and stress. Most full fledged riders will take their dragons hunting outside of the Weyr feeding grounds, leaving the feeding grounds for Weyrlings.
The next most important duty of a Dragonrider is the care and maintenance of his riding gear. Riding straps themselves, must be strong enough to keep a dragonrider, gear and passengers astride while performing aerial maneuvers or trips between, but they must also be supple enough to not chafe and pinch the dragon's hide. Riding gear is custom fitted for each dragon so that it rests comfortably upon the dragon's neck and withers, while not restraining movement of the wings. Straps must not be so tight that they constrict the dragon's esophagus or gullet so that the dragon has the freedom of digesting firestone and appropriate flame control.
Wingriders: Being a part of a WingAfter being assigned to a wing, a dragonrider participates in all duties assigned by his Wingleader or Wingseconds. Activities such as sweep rides, patrols of territory, wing drills and watch duty, will take up much of a dragonrider's work day. Sending dragons on Search is also included periodically as a dragonrider's responsibility when additional candidates for upcoming clutches are needed. Usually, dragonriders selected for this task are empathetic and diplomatic. Riders may also be asked to run errands to Weyrs, Holds and Crafthalls, perhaps even ferrying delegates from place to place.
The majority of a Dragonrider's time in all aspects of his life, is spent in the company of his wingmates. His Wing becomes a secondary family and spending time with ones wing outside of work alone, encourages the group to work as a team on all levels with one another. Due to this, Wings are generally deeply bonded with one another, and petty feuds between one another are resolved quickly.Serious disagreements between riders within the same wing may be resolved by the Weyrleader.
As a part of the Weyr, all Wings must be prepared for Threadfall at any time of day, and in any condition. For that reason, periods of labor or flight training rotate for entire wings.
Wing DrillsDrills are conducted frequently as a way of honing skills and reviewing tactics that require a well-choreographed team in order to pull off tight maneuvers in dangerous situations. One of the most useful drills is the simulation of threadfall. False thread, crafted from vines or rags dipped in special dye, are dropped from high altitudes to simulate the real thing. Anything touched by the false thread will be coloured by the dye to signify a threadscore. These drills are conducted in all kinds of weather and conditions, just as real thread happens. Sometimes simulated threadfall becomes a competition, held between Weyrs or Wings, and is taken very seriously, as it is the only means of preserving vital skills.
Such Thread drills are introduced to Weyrlings during their training as well. These simulated drills are used by all to practice new formations and try new techniques or help integrate new wing members. Amoungst the Wings of full fledged riders, these drills occur regularly to keep formations sharp.
Some Wings make it a daily practice to set time aside to help craft the 'thread' used in these drills. It is not a difficult task, and often used to pass time and keep hands busy during conversation. It's common that children, the elderly, and the injured are given the task of weaving vines or rope into 'thread' used for the simulations. Old clothes are never thrown away, but torn and crafted into such ropes. The 'thread' they create are between three to twelve feet long. They are coated with a dye that marks whatever it touches, yet washes away with a fair amount of ease. The marks made by the dye become an indication of a Rider or Dragon's injuries during threadfall.
WingsecondsWingseconds act as lieutenants to the Wingleader. These duties include ongoing evaluation of a Wing's riders and overall wingstrength, the group's discipline, overseeing assignments given to wingriders, and the organization/ management of riders during drills. The Wingsecond is the arms, eyes and ears of the Winglead. They must also be ready to step in as the Wingleader in case of a Wingleader being injured or killed. For this reason, there are always two Wingseconds, a Junior and a Senior.
WingleadersThis position is held by a Bronzerider who leads a Wing of riders. Selected by the Weyrleader, a Wingleader's responsibilities include overseeing the health of the riders and dragons in his wing, ongoing evaluation of each riding pair, discipline of the Wing, the course of drills and prctices, and reporting on his wings findings during patrols and sweeps to the Weyrleader. It is his responsibility to ensure that his Wing is fully stocked on firestone, reports readiness to Flightleader, and coordinates strategy and tactics used for simulation drills with other wingleaders under the final authority of the Flightleader. A Wingleader also is responsible for recruiting new weyrlings to his wing in coordination with other wingleaders and the Weyrleader. A Wingleader is held directly responsible for the performance of his Wing, and is promoted and demoted by the Weyrleader. A Wingleader may also act as a diplomatic liaison for the Weyr if and when the Weyrleader or Weyrwoman are unable to do so themselves. A Wingleader is the vertiable equivalent of a Captain in the Hold Guard.
FlightleadersSelected by the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman, a Flightleader is a wingleader who, in addition to his wingleader duties, also oversees all three wings in his particular Flight. Every Flight has its own Flightleader in charge of flight tactics aside from the Weyrleader unless the Weyrleader himself decides to take charge. The Flightlead takes charge of his particular flight's drills, and is responsible for reporting on the performance of his flight as a whole to the Weyrleader. In the event of a Flightlead being killed or injured, a senior Wingleader is delegated to take up his role.
WeyrsecondsThis role becomes the Weyrleader's lieutenant, being assigned tasks to ease the workload of the Weyrleader. He may be a senior Wingsecond of the Weyrleader's Wing, but this does not always have to be the case. Appointed by the Weyrleader, he has authority over all the wingleaders and flightleaders, subject only to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman themselves. If a Weyrleader is injured or killed, the Weyrsecond becomes Weyrleader until the next mating flight of the Sr. Queen. It is due to this, that the Weyrsecond is typically a Bronzerider. If a Weyrsecond is injured or killed, it is customary for the Weyrwoman to select from one of the flightleaders, who will take up his role until the next mating flight.
WeyrleadersLike the General of the Guard, the Weyrleader is the Weyr's final authority on all matters related to fighting thread. Chosen by physical contest amoung the Bronzes of a Weyr in pursuit of their queen, the Bronze who wins has made his rider the Weyrleader. In addition to providing a Weyr with leadership, Weyrleaders are expected to protect a Weyr's people from outside threats. Generally, a Weyrleader does not hold the position of his own Wingleader or Flightleader, due to time constraints with other responsibilities required of him. The Weyrleader may not even rise with his flight during thread. His duties to the Weyr include:
- looking after the welfare of all individuals and dragons in the Weyr.
- Computation of threadfall charts
- Assignment of wingstrength /number of riders amoung wings
- directing and training groundcrews
- overall performance of each wing and flight
- Making watch and patrol assignments
- Promotions and demotions of wingleaders, ensuring they are competent
- Protecting the Weyr from outside threats
- Oversee transfer of dragonriders between wings
- Provide proper training to weyrlings by working with Weyrling master and Weyrwoman.
WeyrwomenThe overall leader of the Weyr, the Weyrwoman holds more authority than any other member of the Weyr. Like the Weyrleader, she is also responsible for the welfare of all the Weyr's inhabitants and dragons, but in addition, is responsible for the overall condition of the Weyr grounds, facilities, and properties. The Weyrwoman's responsibilities include:
- Welfare and safety of individuals and dragons in the Weyr
- Maintain overall condition of the Weyr grounds, facilities and properties
- Maintain historical records and documenting events and supply tallies into them
- Oversee arrival of tithes from Holds and Crafthalls, including negotiations for changes in tithed amounts, and sending out riders to collect them as needed.
- Oversee ongoing collection and proper storage of needed supplies, including food and livestock, by working with the Headwoman and her staff.
- Educate and provide proper training for new weyrlings, by working with the Weyrlingmaster and Weyrharper.
- Provide education and training to all children and staff living within the Weyr, by working with the Weyrharper
- Ensure that there are enough candidates prepared to stand at each hatching
- Assignment of individuals or wings for Search duty, working with the Weyrleader to see about available riders.
- Personnel assignments, working with craft and support staff heads.
- Oversee fostering of children
- Dispute arbitration between riders, staff and dealings with Holds and Halls. This includes punishment of offenders
- Ensure dragonriders do not risk themselves or their dragons through dangerous activities
- Hiring and firing of personnel, including Headwoman and Weyrlingmaster.
- Maintaining relationships between Halls and Holds and other Weyrs with her Weyr.
- Regulate contact between dragonriders and Hold or Craft personnel outside of Weyr territory, such as visits home, etc.
Both the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader share in some tasks, such as:
- Authorize incoming/ outgoing transfers of dragonpairs to/from other weyrs.
- Assignment of daily, weekly, and monthly duty rosters for wings.
- Assignment of riders for special duties, such as collecting dignitaries or other tasks of political nature.
- Placement of weyrlings after graduation
- Attend Holder /Weryleader Conclaves
- Assignment of special chores or duties of individuals or wings, such as disaster help.
- Punitive action done by the weyr.
HeadwomenThe Headwoman is the Weyrwoman's direct steward over management and upkeep in the Weyr and its inhabitants. She manages the Lower Caverns, inventorying supplies, the diet of the Weyrfolk from season to season to ensure overall health, ensuring furnishings and weyrcots are maintains, clothing linen and quality hide are available for use, fostering of children and daycare needs, etc. The Headwoman often has a direct assistance to help her run specific areas of the Weyr, such as kitchen, infirmary, or quartermaster.
Her Support staff are the men and women who do laundry, clean, cook, do maintenence jobs, ensure the comfort of riders and their dragons, etc. Support staff in the weyr are aka 'drudges' of the hold and hall, often overlooked and taken for granted, but still treated with more respect than a Hold/ Hall drudge.
Weyrling MasterThe Weyrlingmaster is the drill sergeant of the Weyr. Responsible for training and education of all the young dragonpairs, his direct superior is the Weyrwoman. Only the Weyrwoman can promote and Weyrlingmaster to his position, and she has the power to demote him as well. A Weyrlingmaster requires from one to five assistants to ensure the discipline and education of weyrling classes. He chooses assistants from wingriders who show both interest and ability at training weyrlings. Frequently, he will bring in Wingseconds, Wingleaders and even the Weyrleader or Weyrwoman, as well as craft representatives to lecture weyrlings on diverse subjects such as flight mechanics, diplomacy, groundcrew direction and organization, and threadfall tactics.
WeyrlingsThe freshmen dragonriders of the Weyr, Weyrlings are commonly assigned duties such as cleaning, hunting, harvesting, flying on errands to holds and halls, or other such menial work. If it's tedious, assume the Weyrlings get it.
[Credits go to Whitney Ware and Lynne Brigant from "What's it like to be a Dragonrider?" handbook.]
Daily Flight Schedule
- Wing Drills
- Physical Training
Rotating Drills
- Threadfall Simulation drills
- Territory Patrols
- Sweep Rides
- Watch Duty
Searchriders Only(To become a Searchrider, dragons must have innate empathetic abilities and must train throughout Weyrlinghood and as Wingriders)
- Search Drills (at the Weyr)
- Team-building scenarios (Pairs)
Subject: :: TRAINING & RESPONSIBILITIES GUIDEBOOK :: 
Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:02 pm
Calendar
