The Seventh Wing - Prologue. My Notes

These are notes for myself for my fan-fiction "The Seventh Wing."

"The Seventh Wing" is a fan-fiction based on Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. This is kind of an Alternate Universe, because this takes place shortly before the 4th Pass and there is no canon to base this on -- which is precisely why I chose it!

I post these notes now in case what's written here might help understand the story as I start getting it posted. I shall reference this document in my comments for each section.

Chars (most of the names were achieved through use of a random generator. Any similiarities to canon chars or other fics are unintentional. If you catch one, please let me know):

Weyrleader -- T'rar of bronze Rothangalth, middle-aged, gruff, but dependable. He came to the Weyr as the interim Weyrleader and has successfully won all three flights so far, keeping the Weyr on an even keel throughout its re-opening.

Wingseconds -- R'yak of bronze Dyndeleth & S'bil of bronze Arburath

Senior Weyrwoman -- Shalaya of gold Loranth
Junior Weyrwoman (retired) -- Malira of gold Oimorith

Wings:

Wings 2-4 consist one Flight; Wings 5-6 make up the other (and will include J'day's wing, Wing 7, when it is formed). wings listed numerically, for simplicity, with the Weyrleader's wing being the wing 1. In the story, all wings are 'named' by the name of their leader (H'jes' wing, R'dan's wing, etc.).

Wing 2: Wingleader & Flightleader H'jes of bronze Kimulth
wingseconds: S'rur of bronze Perkinoth & V'tos of brown Toryth

Wing 3: Wingleader R'dan of bronze Tiageonth
Wingseconds: H'ryc of brown Imalth & K'len of brown Henth

Wing 4: Wingleader B'len of bronze Ocaraloth
Wingseconds: L'cal of brown Leath & F'tash of brown Chiath

Wing 5: Wingleader & Flightleader D'cor of bronze Howarath
Wingseconds: N'ach of bronze Rakrodath & T'skel of brown Kimetenth (plus J'day while in training)

Wing 6: Wingleader P'ir of bronze Adverith
Wingseconds: N'set of brown Esoth & R'lis of brown Hinoth

Wing 7: Wingleader J'day of bronze Gibbrenth
Wingseconds: R'dan of brown Motreth & G'roth of brown Nelth

Weyrlingmaster: N'tom of brown Zhomath
Headwoman: Shurral
Weyr Healers: Okato (humans only, overall in charge) & Everin (specialty, dragons)
Weyr Harper: Hidai

Other Chars:

Joreena, 'Reena,' Fort, Green Kelyrth's rider, J'day's birth mother, apprentice healer/counselor
D'toras, 'Tor,' Fort, Brown Eacheth's rider, J'day's best friend, approximately 29 turns old, same weyrling class as J'day, also a weyrbrat, former lovers & weyrmates
Roniel, 'Roni,' Fort, Green Arlith's rider, friend of J'day, D'toras
V'kal, Fort, Blue Saminth's rider, special friend of Roni, friend of J'day

N'valen, High Reaches Weyrleader, bronze Mildath's rider
L'mora, Fort Weyrleader, bronze Tashonith's rider

Misc Notes:

Igen Weyr was abandoned some time before the Third Pass, during a bad drought. Their last queen died, and the remaining riders were integrated into Telgar Weyr (ref. Pern Wiki & Dragonsblood)

The Weyr was re-constituted sometime between the Third and Sixth Pass. (ref. Pern Wiki) --> I decided, for the fan-fic, that the Dragonriders re-settled Igen Weyr in turn 721 (~ 37 turns before the 4th Pass), as the dragon population had expanded enough to warrant expansion (in anticipation of the coming pass).

The first Hatching at the re-settled Igen Weyr took place in the turn 723, yielding 23 dragonets (no queen). The second Hatching took place 5 turns later in 728, yielding 35 dragonets, including a queen whose rider took over as Senior Weyrwoman after her queen's first mating flight in turn 731. The other Weyrwoman has effectively retired; however is still an advisor. Her queen no longer rises to mate. The third Hatching took place at the end of turn 731, yielding only 19 dragonets.

Main events of story to begin in late winter of 733 (~ 25 turns before the beginning of the 4th Pass). --> hmm, I've somehow messed up my timing here. The story is supposed to start 5 years after Lioleth's hatching, so that would be the winter of turn 736. I don't think that changes anything .... Aah! I'm such a dork, never mind.

J'day (Jorday) was born in turn 706 at Fort Weyr (son of Greenrider Joreena, father assumed to be her long-time weyrmate, Healer Journeyman Linday). He was fostered by one of the Weyr staff, Ada. He Impressed at the age of 12 to bronze Gibbrenth.

F'rian (Florian) was born in turn 709 at Igen Hold. He Impressed, during the second Hatching at Igen, green Lioleth at the age of 19. Prior to that, he was a foot messenger, a long-distance runner based out of Igen Hold's Runner Station. He lived in Igen's caverns for the holdless until being accepted as a runner.

A Wing is made up of thirty-three dragons (max during a pass). This includes two Wingseconds and a Wingleader. (ref. Pern Wiki) Full fighting strength for a Weyr is considered to be 10 Wings (ref. Pern Wiki & The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern).

At this time in my fan-fic, Igen has 6 wings of 25 dragons each (J'day's wing makes 7), a total of ~ 150 fighting dragons (this is approximately half-strength for Igen). We'll say 10% are off the active-duty roster at any one time, due to pregnancies, injury, illness, etc. Currently, the wings are split into 2 flights (of 3 wings each) plus the Weyrleader's wing.

References:

works by Anne McCaffrey (books & short stories) in the Dragonriders of Pern series
Pern Wiki
Sariel's Guide
PernMUSH