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Weyrlinghood: Month 2
Weyr Hierarchy
Senior Weyrwoman
The senior weyrwoman oversees all aspects of the Weyr's internal business other than those regarding fighting Thread, which is the responsibility of the Weyrleader. The Headwoman and/or Steward report directly to the Weyrwoman, and she generally maintains a sizable assistant staff. She is responsible for ensuring that the Weyr is stocked with medicinal supplies, food, clothing and other necessities. When the Weyrwoman's dragon rises, the rider of the male dragon who mates with the queen generally becomes Weyrleader.
Together, the Weyrwoman and her Weyrleader handle the Weyr's external politics, including relations with beholden areas and other Weyrs. Successful Weyrwomen generally become leaders at a regional level, often holding audience with or visiting their Weyr's Lord Holders and regional halls, and many become significant powers in world politics.
OOCly, the Weyrwoman is 'where the buck stops.' While any number of other people in the Weyr may complete necessary tasks, if they're not done, the WW steps in to do them. Together she and the Weyrleader assume responsibility for administration of the area.
Weyrleader
The Weyrleader leads the fighting wings of the Weyr, and must ensure that the wings are prepared to face Thread at all times - even in Interval. He is responsible for posting the position of the weyrlingmaster, ensuring the appropriate training for the future generations of the Weyr's riders. He posts wingleaders and makes certain each wing is properly staffed. He is also ultimately responsible for the placement of newly graduated riders into their initial riding wings. Responsibility for the Weyr's supply of firestone and Threadfighting supplies lies with the Weyrleader, and he assigns regular sweeps and general riders' duties.
Together, the Weyrwoman and her Weyrleader handle the Weyr's external politics, including relations with beholden areas and other Weyrs. Successful Weyrleaders generally become leaders at a regional level, often holding audience with or visiting their Weyr's Lord Holders and regional halls, and many become significant powers in world politics.
OOCly, the Weyrleader works together with the Weyrwoman to assume responsibility for administration of the area.
Junior Weyrwomen
The junior weyrwomen assist the Weyrwoman in any way necessary. They may be assigned specific duties to help keep the Weyr organized and in top working order. They report directly to the senior.
OOCly, Ista has both 'Junior weyrwomen' and 'goldriders.' Junior weyrwomen are active members of OOC administration and are included in the clutch cycle rotation. Goldriders include idle juniors and some transfers. The Weyr also has retired weyrwomen, who may be retired due to personal needs or an aging queen.
Weyrsecond
The weyrsecond is the Weyrleader's right hand. He or she is posted by the Weyrleader and assists him much as the junior weyrwomen do their senior. The weyrsecond's rank is above that of the wingleaders, though the weyrsecond is outranked by his or her own Wingleader in drills and while fighting Thread. To avoid conflict the weyrsecond is generally assigned to the Weyrleader's wing and often serves as wingsecond there. When a wing is temporarily without leadership, the Weyrsecond is often assigned as its interim wingleader.
Weyrseconds may have additional duties, leading or maintaining rider-related activities at the Weyr such as dragonhealing, search and rescue, political outreach, and others programs. Such duties may be IC, OOC, or both. The W2 position may or may not come with OOC responsibilities such as assisting with area administration.
Wingleaders
Wingleaders lead their wings not just in drills and Threadfall, but in day-to-day situations requiring the influence of authority. In addition to maintaining the capability and strength of their wings, they mediate disputes, make minor visitations and travel on behalf of the Weyrleader, and otherwise represent the Weyr internally and externally.
Wingseconds
The wingsecond is the wingleader's right hand, providing quality control for wing duties (including drills and Threadfall) by double-checking supplies and equipment. The wingsecond conveys orders on behalf of the wingleader when necessary, and should the wingleader be unable to lead during a fall, temporarily assumes the position and leads the wing. Wingseconds also mediate disputes and may represent the Weyr internally and externally as instructed.
Weyrlingmaster
The weyrlingmaster ranks comparably to a junior weyrwoman or a wingleader, though for the purposes of training the weyrlingmaster is the person with whom the buck stops. Rarely will a Weyrleader interfere with a weyrlingmaster who is fulfilling his or her duties, so one can safely assume that the weyrlingmaster has ultimate influence within the sphere of weyrling instruction. The weyrlingmaster also serves as wingleader of Undertow , the weyrling wing, most of the time. He or she also selects and posts assistant weyrlingmasters.
Assistant Weyrlingmasters
Assistant Weyrlingmasters report directly to the Weyrlingmaster. Most AWLMs (as they are commonly OOCly abbreviated) are posted for a single weyrling class, though it is not uncommon for an individual to be posted repeatedly for many weyrling classes. They return to their usual duties and wing assignments after the class for which they were posted graduates.
Wingriders
Wingriders are the fighters of the Weyr; with them lies the primary duties of fighting Thread, maintaining their equipment, caring for their dragons and serving the safety of Pern. They perform sweeps to maintain the Threadlessness of areas within the Weyr's coverage; during Interval such sweeps also serve to limit criminal activity. Consider sweeps duty to be comparable to a deputy's 'rounds,' making certain all is well in the neighborhood. They also allow the Weyr to keep an eye on its beholden areas. Suspicious activity should be reported to the wingleader, Weyrsecond, Weyrleader or Weyrwoman. Wingriders also run errands: messenger duty, supply runs, transportation services and to provide political representation of the Weyr at regional events.
Watchriders
Watchriders are riders who are, for whatever reason, excused from normal wingriding duty. Many watchriders are retired from wingrider status due to age or injury, though the latter is less common in Interval. Watchriders spend a few hours daily posted at a watch location high on the Weyr's rocks, watching over the Weyr for safety and to announce the arrival of visitors on dragonback. During Pass, watchriders are responsible for sounding first alarm should an unexpected Threadfall begin nearby. Watchriders, when not on watch, may also be assigned duty as transport pair (to take Weyr residents to other locations and back) or to elevator duty.
Weyrlings
Early on, weyrlings are more focused on learning to coexist with and care for their dragons, and generally are assigned other duties only as the weyrling training staff see fit.
In the later half of weyrling training, weyrlings assume light duties such as messenger service, carrying passengers, cargo duty, watchriding, and hunting. During Pass, weyrlings who are cleared to fly and between deliver full firestone sacks to the fighting wings during Threadfall.
View the chain of command as a chart.
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