HRW:Hooks

Hooks

Interested in creating a character for High Reaches? Here's the low-down on some concepts and ongoing threads that might help you get started fast - and if you have your own ideas, go to town.

Overview

HRW welcomes a broad range of characters, from weyrbred to those who see HRW through the lens of their old homes; from older and experienced characters who might relate to the IC powers that be, to ingenues ripe for Search or finding different ways to make their lives anew. Some have a strong sense of self shaped by their pre-on-camera lives; others want to reinvent themselves upon coming to the Weyr; still more may be malleable enough to be too-easily molded by others. Characters here may have strong beliefs about what's Right and Wrong (whether about morality or types of beer) or be free-spirited live-and-let-live within the regimented Weyr structure; they may have vices that can harm them and those around them, from drinking to gossip to more individual compulsions; they may act from emotion or logic or alternate worldviews. They may be traditionalists, or plan to make the most of Interval freedoms. They may, when push comes to shove, shape their corner of the world.

Note: we also welcome characters with specific plot arcs that may limit the on-camera life of the character, as well as those whose concepts are more open-ended!

Below, hooks and summaries are available for each of the holds under High Reaches' jurisdiction, as well as crafters and the Weyr itself. For more information, or if you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact the HRW Admin team!

Areas

Crom Hold

Aughan's known as a good Lord to his people; he'll advocate for them above and beyond any other concern. Much of the area is pleased to see him married and with an heir of his own, at last; it's a sign of stability, and that's a good thing. There's less firestone required, these days, which is one of the hold's bigger exports traditionally, but new farmholds are also being carved out of the sometimes-rocky terrain. Meanwhile, criminal activity out in the holds continues, most especially with the quiet-but-effective Greenfields crew.

Some potential concepts:

• Mined out: If mining firestone is all you've ever known, what now, with demand dropping? Perhaps it's time to try for a new life... and at least Weyrs still have some use for the stuff.

High Reaches Hold

It's been more than a turn since the shock assassination of Lady Issedi; in many ways, life at High Reaches Hold is returning to normal, though there are still those uncomfortable with the fact that Devaki - the interloper exile - now rules alone.

Some potential concepts:

• Exiled: Are you uncomfortable with living under the rule of an exile ruling without a direct member of recent High Reaches Hold Blood? At least the Weyr isn't ruled by exiles!

High Reaches Weyr

The Interval is always interesting for the weyrbred.... where 'interesting' does not actually necessarily mean interesting. There's no thread to fight, and far fewer dragons to Impress or clutches to stand for; for some, the opportunity may never come, especially if young people from the holds keep being brought in to stand, too. The past two decades at the Weyr have been interesting ones, with goldriders murdered and banished, renegades hanged, star stones destroyed, and exiles rescued. Even now, High Reaches' Weyrwoman and one of her juniors are foreigners, and even though K'del is Weyrleader (yet again), change is inevitable: it's simply difficult to know what the future will bring.

Some potential concepts:

• Not Impressed: Impression may have always been on the radar for you, weyrbred as you are. But what happens if there's no dragon for you? What else is there? And why bring in so many holdbred candidates, when you're still waiting?
• Anti-Igen: The Igenites are infiltrating; they must be! High Reaches should be for the High Reachians!
• Pro-Igen: It's not as though High Reachian leaders have done all that well. Perhaps it's just time for a change. Anyway, what's wrong with Igen?
• Rule the World: With recent leadership changes, are you a resident or rider who's looking for a step up? Is it for the stipend, the bragging rights, or what you can do with it? Is it time for more women, more green/blueriders, more craftriders, more different types of leaders? Or do you just want a bigger weyr?
• But I've always flown with <wing>!: With fewer and fewer riders to fill the wings, how long until K'del starts streamlining? Does this mean someone else will be in line for the spot you wanted? And love 'em or hate 'em, what if you won't be flying with the people you're used to?

Nabol Hold

It's been a few turns, now, since the death of Lord Ustelan, and the machinations of his children and grandchildren that followed. Lady Tevrane has proved to be a smart, no-nonsense kind of Lady; with Tevrane, what you see is what you get. The turns have been lean thanks to the rebuilding required, but things are beginning to get better in the Nabol area.

Some potential concepts:

• Seeking relatives: Were some of your relatives made refugees during Rone's purges, and sent to the Weyr? Perhaps it's time to try and hunt them down, bring them home... even lean turns at Nabol have to be better than the Weyr, right?
• Enough is enough: Things may be improving, but is it enough? No one at the Weyr is suffering, surely, and everyone knows they need young people...

Tillek Hold

For some, Tillek feels like a boring place these days; Edeline has become increasingly traditional as she gets older, and more and more comfortable in an Interval landscape where Weyrs simply aren't as important. Why, she's even discouraging learning ground-crew skills! How's a teenager supposed to get her hands on a flamethrower these days?

Some potential concepts:

• Fish out of water: Do you like the predictable life? Are you still yearning for something more exciting? Will you miss it, if you spread your wings and leave?
• Denied: Word is that High Reaches Weyr won't Search at Tillek, no exceptions. So much for dreaming about dragons... (or is it?)

Crafters

Although High Reaches' Craft Complex is no longer the brand new, top-of-the-line facility it once was, it still has more space - and better facilities - than those held at many Weyrs. As such, High Reaches isn't the worst place to end up as a crafter.

Some potential concepts:

• Beastcrafter: The Beastcraft has said no Searching (and worse!). Are you sad? Mad? Glad? Even if you aren't a beastcrafter, how would you feel if your craft followed suit?
• Craftrider: With the Interval in full swing, surely there's no reason why a person can't be a dragonrider and a crafter; do you have ambitions to combine the two?
• Dress to Impress: Irianke's known to be a clotheshorse and Farideh's not much better (worse?); for a weaver with ambition, it could be an ideal posting to try and build a clientele with name recognition.
• Spread Your Wings: Are you in the last few turns of your apprenticeship? Whether or not you were posted willingly, perhaps it's time you saw something of the world outside your Crafthall; what better way to get just a little more freedom?
• Back of Beyond: A Weyr isn't really the middle of nowhere, but it can feel like it for some crafters with ambition. Are you attempting to stay out of the way? Have you been pushed out of the way? Or does access to travel make all the difference?