FTW:Month 0
Month 0
Bonding, Butchering & Basic Care
Weyrlinghood begins the moment that you Impress your lifemate, and while the first month consists mostly of adjusting to the new mind inside of yours, that doesn't mean it is easy. You lifemate is not mentally incapable, but physically they are; which means that all care will fall onto you.
Feeding starts immediately, though for the first few days, the weyrlingmaster staff will provide you with the meat already portioned and cut up. Then, it will be the weyrling's responsibility to cut up their own meat when their dragons are hungry. And while the following waste will later be done between, for now, it is on the weyrling to also clean it up until your dragon can do so. They will need to be bathed daily, with oiling done at least after if not more, since they will be growing so quickly that their hide is bound to crack if you do not.
There will not be an abundance of lessons in this first month, though the weyrling staff will have a particular focus in making you learn to separate your feelings from what your dragon is feeling, and vice versa. Those of you who are out-of-shape may find the beginning exercises difficult, but for most everyone else, they will merely be normal exercise.
Besides for taking care of your dragons and listening to the weyrlingmasters, the rest of the time (what little there is) will be your own, when your dragon is sleeping. It will be likely just enough to grab food for yourselves and showers, and perhaps get away for a short break from the barracks that you share with everyone, as long as you are back by lights out.
As a player, we encourage you to now examine your dragon and get familiar with him/her. Go through controller (+help puppet) and dragon help (+help dragon) and bring any problems up with the WLM-team. Feel free to set up a couch object in the barracks. This is optional. Make sure to:
- Check out the RP Topics for ideas on what to play for this IC month.
- RP, RP, RP!
RP/Vignette Topics
- Bonding exercises, imaging things between Weyrling and dragon.
- Practice telling the difference between your feelings and your dragon's (or getting lectured for not).
- Learn how to butcher a herdbeast carcass.
- Learn how to wash, oil and feed your dragon properly.
- Having your hair cut to a manageable length.
- Getting to know the other weyrlings (including the older set) and their lifemates.
- Introducing your dragon to other dragons and people.
- First-time experiences with your dragon: bathing, trying new foods, watching the weather or the stars. Explore how your dragon interacts with this whole big new world he or she has been born into.
- Young dragon 'accidents', be it minor injuries, doody messes, regurgitated food, etc.
Milestones
Dragonet
- First feeding, first oiling, first naptime immediately after the hatching
- Your dragon's first bath
- Your dragon's first conversations with other dragons, either clutchmates or older dragons
- Learning not to overeat
- Like human babies, at first dragonets wake up every few hours to be fed and cared for. Early on this will probably happen every 1-3 hours. Towards the end of the month time between feedings and oilings will probably stretch out to every 4-5 hours.
- Dragons are roughly the size of a large dog on hatching day, depending on dragon color. Over the course of the first month, they may grow up to the size of a small pony.
Weyrling
- Learning not to overfeed your dragonet to avoid thicktail and stomach upsets.
- Dragons need to be fed chopped up meat during this stage. At first this will be provided, but you'll have to chop for them daily until they start being able to feed from carcasses themselves.
- Learning how to get by on catnaps and very little sleep.
- Learning to overcome dragon feeling/human feeling confusion: Is that me hungry? Or him/her?
- Getting used to a dragon mind inside your mind and yours inside his/hers.
Rules & Restrictions
- There is no uniform required, but weyrlings should wear sturdy work clothes. Those who don't have anything suitable will be provided with cast-offs from Stores.
- Weyrlings may go anywhere inside the Weyr, including the living cavern, hot springs, stores, inner caverns, etc.
- One glass of ale or wine at mealtimes is allowed.
- No intimate contact. No kissing, no making out, no sex.
- Weyrlings must salute all riders. Be respectful towards or salute ranking Crafters and Holders.
Daily Schedule
| 5:00 AM | Wake up, dawn feeding of dragons |
| 6:00 AM | Light physical training |
| 7:00 AM | Cleanup and breakfast for weyrlings |
| 7:30 AM | Another feeding for dragons, plus bathing and oiling |
| 9:00 AM | Free-form 'lessons' on dragoncare/weyrlife, rest period for naps |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch for weyrlings |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch for dragons, plus another oiling |
| 2:00 PM | Free time or rest while dragons nap |
| 3:00 PM | Bonding and preliminary visualization practice |
| 5:00 PM | Evening feeding of dragons |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner and then free time if your dragon naps |
| 9:00 PM | Nighttime feeding and oiling of dragons |
| 10:00 PM | Lights out |
(This is a guideline only to give you an idea of how your day might go.)
