Omfaleth and Chezroth's Clutch, June 2004

The theme for this cluch was "End of the Pass". The clutching log can be found here.

Bubbling Benden Hot Springs Egg

Bubbling to the surface of the blackened sands of the hatching grounds is this egg, looking like the warm pockets of water swirling around the surface. Deep indigos mix with deeper shades of black then forming into sudden bursts of light blue that it almost looks like bubbles bursting along the surface. Small, lighter white tendrils float almost as if steam was being let off by the egg as it nestled in its pocket of sand.

Inspiration: This beautiful egg was inspired for one of Pern's most popular hangouts: the Benden Weyr Hot springs. There were days on which you could find the Benden Weyrleaders there as well as the Craftmasters, though it was rare to find Lord and Lady Holders unless they were familiar with Weyr life. Everyone, no matter their station, came to the Hot Springs. And what's more, there is rumour that Anne herself had gone there. But more specifically, a PC had connected with the name Anne, wearing a business suit and walked into the Hot Springs. I still remember, quite clearly, someone quipping 'Anne, I think you're overdressed!'.

Made by Xaine of Ista Weyr

Fort Ramp Retreat Egg

The colors of Fort Hold, brown and yellow, are the colors of the Hold itself in autumn, and are reflected in this egg. A tired yellow pushes across the stoic brown landscape, as if struggling to warm the earth before winter. In sharp contrast is the grey line, rushing vertically up the middle of the egg, clustered with rainbow colored specks. Some specks are splotches, thrusting this waning egg into brilliance, while others are as quiet as the landscape.

Inspiration: The Fort Hold Ramp used to be THE hangout for PernMUSH. Everyone went there; even those of us who were too young to have played there swear we did too. ;)

Made by Shimshon of Master BeastHall

Weyrwoman's Curse Egg

An apex of fire crowns this egg with tongues of yellow and orange flame. Like a ribbon of firelight, the brilliant hues spiral downward, arcing across the pale ecru and saffron shell, aiming for the dark muddy chaos that coats the lower half of the egg. Here the firelight turns to shadow. Oranges deepen into browns and browns into black. Random smudges of color, a line of dark blue, a dash of forest green, just add to the turmoil. Along the edge of this darkness is a pale mixing of color, a flare of light that almost seems to take the shape of a dragon diving into the void.

Inspiration: They're murdered, they're maimed, they're blinded and they're driven insane. The Weyrwomen of Ista must impress with a curse hanging over their heads! Since the beginning of the pass nearly every one of them has met a tragedy. Becoming senior is like the kiss of death. ;)

Made by Griere of Ista Weyr

Freakishly Frightening Trousers Egg

Terribly plain, this egg is mostly a vague meld of brownish blobs. Closer inspection shows the blobs to actually have a few distinguishing colors, among them Benden shades of red and black. Two blackish streaks run from the bottom of the slightly oblong egg to the top, where they join at the pinnacle. An imaginative mind might see a pair of trousers. Little swirls and eddies of crimson surrounding these two streaks suggest a sort of movement about the trousers, while simultaneously conveying a certain degree of fearsomeness. Indeed, they're so lifelike and animated that one might expect them to jump off the egg at any moment. What the trousers would do without someone to wear them is questionable, but by the fierce look of them, it would certainly be interesting.

Inspiration: Regaled in song by various Telgar veterans, remembered and laughed at by players old and new, J'lor's Pants are undoubtedly one of the most memorable puppets in game history. Essentially, the pants would come to life and walk around Benden Weyr, *without* their owner. However, there's more to it than just that. They were extremely fearsome. In the words of Kassima, "J'lor's pants are pretty unforgettable. As a matter of fact, I'm still having nightmares."

Made by Ellery of Ista Weyr

Raucous Swirled Redstar Egg

Like a mesmerizing marble blown by a master glass-smith, this egg is an oily swirl of oranges, reds, and creams. The flickering of glowbaskets and light leaked in from the outside combine to oddly illuminate the egg, causing it to seemingly pulsate. The illusion is made even starker when seen against the backdrop of Ista Weyr's famous black sands. The play of shadows across the egg make it seem as if the colors are curling with liquid wonder, like clouds roiling across a Jovian globe. Or, more ominously, like the sight of the Red Star as viewed by the best of the Starcraft's telescopes....

Inspiration: This egg is coded in honor of the firelizards that used to go /between (and home) whenever the term "redstar" was uttered aloud. Wonderful way to clear a room full of dozens of firelizards... watch the /between spam fly! Pern didn't have +watch then, so the only way to watch rooms was with firelizards -- and you'd often have between 20 and 50 firelizards in one room, all sitting happily on pre-coded perches... -until- someone said the R_S word. Spam, anyone?

Made by Melata of High Reaches Weyr

Bug-Infested Weyr Egg

Wriggle, squiggle, squirm and squelch; green and gold wyrm the slate-grey shell of this small egg with grub-sized bits of color against the stone beneath. The occasional flash of iridescence - silvery rainbows, prisms of pastels -- hint at the shimmer of wings, while flickering antennae in bronze and black perk up with dubious, devious intention. Bright fangs of blue claim some of the bugs, sharp teeth that rend the hues beside it in honest glee, and set every bit of green on egg to itching.

Inspiration: So, I've played through a few of these infestations. Once at Ista, long long ago, and one at High Reaches more recently, but still many a turn past, now. Instead of the regular flood and famine, the Weyrs claimed an infestation of bugs. I think Ista's might have been a locust-type plague, while High Reaches was all biting gnats and bed bugs and anything to drive us nuts with itchiness, but both were fun.

Made by Nettle of Ista Weyr

Prolific Purple Plots Egg

Leaning slightly on its side on the sands, this long, lean ovoid is bathed in garish hues and some strikingly familiar patterns. Deep, shadowed plum covers the entirety of the background, like the falling of a rich, velvety curtain. Sharp crevices and peaks are delineated in harsh charcoal grays and dark ebonies, stretching toward the apex of the egg in a way that very much resembles the Seven Spindles of High Reaches Weyr, and melds into a pattern more resembling Ista on the other side. Purple bathes this egg in garish tones, washing across the tapestry like a dye gone wrong; and at the top, several figures; one has the stiffness and posture not unlike Bitra's own Lord Vorlin; and the others, marching toward black smudges, seem hunched, corrupt.

Inspiration: This egg is based off the memorable plots that have spurred story through the long years PernMUSH has been running. The egg specifically marks the Vorlin incident at HRW, and ensuing plots that are running at Ista and surrounding areas. That was a truly memorable TP, and the mystery and suspense that pervaded through the Weyr during that time is difficult to forget. ;)

Made by Phy of Ista Weyr

Fanciful Families Egg

A complete contrast of colour and design this egg seem like it is split in half down the centre but with a melding of colours in the middle that spill over to each other's side. The larger half of the egg is primary a soft pastel yellow but gold and peridot green mix into the lot but still somehow remain looking like a nice mix of soft curves and complex patterns. On the other side, a deep forest green mixes with the pastel yellow and then mixes with a not as pretty mixture of bright orange and black thrown in. Unlike the other delicate designs this side is sharp and choppy like it is only half done. However the two halves make a wholly interesting egg.

Inspiration: This egg is just about RP with Nadia, a greenrider here at Ista, and her sister Naomi, the Ladyholder of Keroon. It's a great memory for me cause it demonstrated so well the difference between the two sisters and was also my first Roleplaying after a long absence from Pernmush. So this egg signifies new beginnings, and the roleplaying of all the families everywhere on Pern -- that not only richly affect our characters, but also give their players valuable friendships.

Made by Nadia of Ista Weyr

Capering Condiment Candidate Egg

Drifts of white drape this shell in something like brilliance, something like solidity--yet not quite either. Though the color is certainly bright under any lighting at all and particularly so when contrasted with the Istan sands, thin grey lines interrupt the snowy swaths for those with eyes keen enough to see. And for those without, the purity of color is nevertheless incomplete: here and there, where white parts from white as dancers might upon the floor, a startling vivid red peeks through... a shade one might even consider radiant, but at the same time undeniably similar to the hue of ketchup.

Inspiration: Based on a certain young woman who Stood for Jeniath and Duzorth's clutch at Benden, and made a name for herself as the only Candidate to ever dance, defy gravity, *and* radiate ketchup.

Made by Kassima of Telgar Weyr

Hiccup in Hospitality Egg

It's a lovely scene. The sky is blue with hints of lavender suggesting the approach of evening. Pastures wrap around the swollen middle of the egg in a belt of green and straw yellow. But the picturesque scene is slightly different on the far side. A stampede of brown mars the green field and the shapes of dragons interrupt the sky, browns and bronzes and a single sunny queen hound and threaten the terrified herd. Below the verdant belt is a pool of blood, a gleaming puddle of crimson and scarlet seeping into darkness.

Inspiration: Ista was putting on a 'fake threadfall' for Keroon to watch and before anyone had a chance to realize what had happened, it turned into a very real goldflight. Nya's Genneth was about to rise. The bronzes blooded some of the Hold's best beasts before the flight began and put a serious strain on Weyr-Hold relations. There is a log located at http://www.filidh.org/~kassima/flights/evrin151.html

Made by Griere of Ista Weyr

Leisurely Lighthouse Locale Egg

This egg is an unusually long egg with blue and white swirls covering most of its shell. In its exact center where it pokes up from the sand, a single grey slash seems to drive down its center to come to rest in a muddle of dark greys and sepias. The faint yellow glow from atop the grey slash gives it the appearance of a gaunt lighthouse, solitary amidst tumultuous swirls of cream and deep blue.

Inspiration: The Lighthouse Egg honors the Lighthouse at High Reaches, a popular hangout before the beginning of the Pass. Many great times were shared atop that deck surrounded by sounds of the sea crashing against the rocks below. For those who are interested, it is one of the few places still on the game with OOC messages attached:
When you enter the lighthouse you see: Welcome to the Deck! Remember, when on Pern, drink VR beer... when PLAYING Pern, drink RL beer!
And when leaving the lighthouse: You leave the deck. All of a sudden, a whole bunch of cheerleaders hop over the railing and start drinking beer with lucky ones who stayed!
Yeeah. It was an interesting time.

Made by S'dar of Ista Weyr

Fateful Ferrous Fry-Pan Egg

Dull and timeworn at first glance, this egg with its pitted-seeming cast iron color nevertheless has a certain *presence*. Its unusually large size may have something to do with that; it's capable of looming somewhat forbodingly, a harbinger of doom in ovoid shape. Let not those lighter grey marks against its black coat that so resemble dings fool you! It may have been dented, but it has never been defeated; battered, yes, but not once broken. Look upon its powers, ye mighty, and despair.

Inspiration: Based upon Ofira's Frying Pan of Doom, the bane of many a misbehaving Apprentice and lecherous flight-lost rider.

Made by Kassima of Telgar Weyr

Ancient Accomplished Gold Egg

Perhaps it's a trick of the light, or perhaps it's the way the shadows play over the dark sands and the rounded eggs within; but it looks as though Omfaleth has left a piece of herself behind in the dark Istan sands. But no- for the gold of this perfectly ovoid form has striations of silver lanced through it, grey edging it with an almost otherworldly light that echoes that of ancient queens and leaders long since made memory. The darker bands that coruscate about the egg - for surely that is what it is - harken the thoughts to movements and wrinkles of dragonhide, shifting with the light like an old dragon finding comfort in the sun; and those tawny tones fade as they circle, seemingly soothed by ambient moisture. There is a sense of quiet, of honour, of recognition about this egg; as though something about it embodies those that came before. Toward the bottom, small diamond patterns barely mar the texture of the shell, nearly hidden by the sand; six in total, though one seems more faded than the rest.

Inspiration: It's hard to imagine that the game has been up and running for fourteen years; and in that time a lot of people have dedicated a lot of time to making this game special for its players. Communities have formed, lasting friendships have developed, and I think all of us can call this place 'home' in some small part or some small way. This egg is dedicated to all those leaders, past and present, who put in hard work, time and effort to make it enjoyable for the rest of us. Thank you.

Concept by Kyrola, desc by Reye and Kyrola

Nevermind the Nothing Egg

Nothing. Greyness, bleakness, a quality that seems to absorb light. Grey and silver swirl over the shell of this egg in patterns that can only be called uncomfortable, as you take your eye off one part of the shell to inspect another, it appears that the egg is *changing* - when you look back at it yet another piece of silver shell appears to have been overtaken by clouded grey. But that's silly, this egg can't be changing, can it? Whoops, there's another bit you thought was silver, and that's now grey too. Better perhaps not to keep looking, after all, it's just an eggshell, it can't change colour. Can it?

Inspiration: This egg was inspired by the Nothing bug that took over PernMush in the early days. It was some odd code bug that ate descs, rooms, attributes... D'vin was eventually wizzed for his valiant work in defeating the Nothing, after a forced migration of most of Pern's population over to SouCon for a while. The name was given to it because it reminded people of the Nothing out of the Never-Ending-Story.

Made by Rhiallya of Ista Weyr

Forgotten Royalty Egg

Swirls of toasted red cinnamon, pale cream and the occasional finer strand of muted silver cloud the shell of this smallish ovoid, sweeping the shell from base to apex in a tricolor firestorm of intricate curls. Each individual coil of warmer color stands out in eye-catching prominence from the burnished brass of the egg's base hue, shining nobility layered over with the imagery of youth, eventually blurring lines of distinction.

Inspiration: Erydenth, hatched as the last dragon from Wirenith and Iliana's only clutch as Weyrwoman of Ista Weyr, was the only known copper dragon in living memory and as far back as records show. Eventually ruled to be a sickly bronze, Erydenth broke his shell after a worryingly lengthy struggle, eventually to Impress to Segev, who then became S'gev. Ironically, the young candidate was Iliana's son.

Made by Lorany of Ista Weyr

Ode to Klah Egg

This medium sized egg starts off with a dollop of cream at the top. A wide band of light beige comes next. Sprinkles of nutmeg colored spots are the only things that mar the beige band's smoothness. Another wide band in tan follows and is sparingly blemished with amber wisps. Subtle striations in rotating hues of chestnut and hazelnut wrap themselves around the middle of the egg. The next to last layer of color is the swirling mix of rich cocoa with cinnamon in glorious harmony. The final tint is a splotch of the deepest, darkest chocolate one can imagine.

Inspiration: Scenes good, bad, and ugly have been dispensed with over this simple beverage. From Flirk's Klah to Runner's Klah to the beverages made aboard the cabin of every sailing vessel made by the Seacraft, Klah has been an underlying presence in the roleplay on Pern. This egg is meant to honor those "simple" moments that pop up with rp'ing. No threadfall, no convuluted plotlines or soap opera-ish twists, just folks getting together to talk. Sometimes these moments are the best... and most fun!

Made by Claia of Ista Weyr

Hallowed Silences Egg

Flames leap, storms break and clouds descend, molten shadows coursing across the surface of this egg. Patterns of rich buttery yellow and warm caramel trickle down the shell's sides, interspersed with dueling rivulets of brighter flame and wispy ash, Cromcoal motes dusting randomly in a hail of fading embers. Cinders crowd the shell's base, fragmented amber strewn as testimony to ancient ruin.

Inspiration: Phediath and Solarith's clutch hatched amid earthquakes which rattled Ista island, presumably from volcanic activity offshore. In the end, all but one egg hatched, pairing over thirty new hatchlings with hopeful candidates. The remaining egg, unfortunately, was Phediath's prized queen egg. 'Phediath says << It is quiet. >>'

Made by Lorany of Ista Weyr

Honourable Mentions

Unfortunately we weren't able to use every egg we were given; here are the ones that didn't make it to the Hatching Sands:

Pocket Veins of Molten Metal Egg:

A startling contract of black and browns, looking so rough to give the illusion that the egg is anything but smooth. Small striations form along the bottom, building toward what looks to be the top then branches off in what looks like silvery veins all over the surface. Touches of gold follow along the edges of the silver. The veins almost seem to pulse with the hidden life just within.

Inspiration: This is in tribute to the MineCraft, which use to be a rather active Craft, but for some reason has died to almost nothing. There's a special love for the land in which you work with your hands and though it is true others have their importance, there's a special love for the land that inspired to this egg.

Made by Xaine

(no egg name?)

A blackened shell, almost looking like it was stuffed into a Bakers oven and left there too long. Several strange looking marks criss-cross the surface, which looks far from smooth except when touched. Upon closer inspection shows that the marks aren't cracks, but instead the outlines of what appears to be footprints. Several smallish looking prints marr the blackened surface in uneven areas with darker areas around the edges to give the illusion of those poor feet being burnt on the scorching sands it is stepping on.

Inspiration: In tribute to all those feet that have touched multiple sands during all the Hatchings during this Pass.

Made by Xaine

Ista Waterfall Egg

The soft cool breeze plays along the surface of this egg with bright, green fronds dancing to give indication of the proposed movement. A sheer, rock face wraps around the main body of this large-ish egg, coiling to show a rocking ledge then a crystal clear waterfall cascading over the side to fall into a pool of clear blue water. There's a sense of tranquility when staring at this egg and it's wonder such a beauty was made. The light dances on the surface, almost as if heightening the illusion of sunlight touching the golden fronds that cap the egg with the deep, black sands of the ground inhancing the illusion of the pool right there, within reach and only you needed to step in and enjoy the crisp, clean feeling.

Inspiration: When I closed my eyes, I saw Ista as the lush paradise with the feel of the wind upon my face and the sound of the rushing water of the waterfall before it fell into the pool below and into the sea. It was almost as if I was there, enjoying the clear air and the sweetness of flowers that permeated all around me and yet just out of sight. You might say it is not just for Ista, but for all those beautiful places that touch the heart, the mind, and the soul in ways that only nature can.

Made by Xaine

Nameless Egg

Rich ebony swirls over this egg like a shadow and were it not for the two flares of fire, side by side on its surface, it would probably blend right in with the black Istan sands. These two balls of fire burn so brightly that the centers are a pale creamy shade, but tongues of orange, auburn and impossible red stray from them like massive crowns. The two fires are identical down to the last nuance of color, the last flicker of light. On the right side the deep darkness of the egg seems less endless, like some growing light under the black, the first tendril of orange is barely discernable, but it looks like it might grow stronger.

Inspiration: This egg is based not only on the ever popular fiery red-head, but the twin red-heads, with a dash of triplet.

Made by Griere

Mysterious Missing Marks Egg

A thief of shadows marks this egg, rippling dark and deadly against the struggling skein of dusky gold half-buried along one side. A brigand, a rogue, a swindler of marks and merriment shift as a dark cloak of soot and sable whose dirty hues bury the light and hide a Weyr's fortune of marks in murder and mystery. There are clues, yes, scattered in foot-prints of leathery brown and ink-scrawled rose that twines the shell and spins out a tail of love, loss, laughter and loot. Catch me, if you can, but beware the danger of treading to close to the fire.

Inspiration: So a few turns ago - years ago now, perhaps? High Reaches had this long-running murder mystery going on. It was almost too detailed to keep track of, but it featured among other things, a diary or two of ancient Weyr romances, some stolen marks, and a charred dead body. Perhaps not the most inspiring of things, for an egg, but it was a great TP that ran for months and months and was fun to hang RP around, not to mention actually trying to figure out the clues, find all the hidden treasures, and work out who did it.

Made by Nettle

Foo Egg

Almost too bizarre looking to be an egg, this one seems to defy the mind. It's black - near jet black in fact, with flesh tones capping its bulbous top that juts out of the sand. Stripes of pale silver worm their way down the body of the egg to come to a sharp point that digs deeply into the sand. As you regard the egg you seem to want to scratch your chin in confusion. What is the story behind this egg, and why does gazing upon it seem to fill the viewer with fear?

Inspiration: This egg is based upon the foo, a variety of beard that Bendenites old and new might recognize.

Made by S'dar

Snowball fight Egg

Is this an egg? It looks much more like a near-perfect sphere - a gleaming white crystalline sphere, pocked with pits of grey and muddy brown. The sun seems to glisten wetly upon the ivory shell, as though the egg itself might soon start to melt its way into nothingness. The way it nestles in the sand, it looks instantly approachable and in fact almost longs to be picked up - and chucked at a good friend. Granted, the dragonet inside likely wouldn't appreciate such a gesture.

Inspiration: This egg is dedicated to the many snowball fights at High Reaches Weyr, and to the brave combatants that participated in them!

Made by S'dar

The Small Furry Rodent Egg

Odd texture to the shell of this tiny egg - it could almost appear furry. The colour is a speckled, mottled black and brown, with the mottles falling as tiny striated lines that further the illusion of fur, with the grain of the fur running from pointed end to blunt end. Not the soft plush of mink or sable - this is the fur of some small rodent, dense, silky and camouflaging beautifully with its surroundings. The shell has a very high gloss to it, in the half light of the hatching caverns it could seem oily.

Inspiration: This really should have been called the Amberyl's Gerbils egg. It commemorates a notorious incident where after a prolonged row between two of PernMush's early wizards, Sh'dow (one of the wizards) coded up a little trap on Amberyl's (the other wizard) character. Next time she logged on, the code was triggered so she shouted three very embarassing paragraphs to the whole Mush. Not going to quote them in their entirity here, but when the shout begins with "Guys, I'm looking for some stuff I haven't seen since the last mating flight - has anyone seen that gerbil? He was all -" you can guess what the rest was like. Wiz revenge was formally banned after this one. Very, very funny though.

Made by Rhiallya