FTW:Wings

Wings

Fort Weyr has eight fighting wings (plus Queens' and weyrling). The following are descriptions of the temperament and habits of each wing, though they may change somewhat as their leadership does.

Citrine Wing (Queen's)

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

The queen's wing is made up of the Weyr's golds and an ever-changing collection of other riders. Usually employing simpler formations, fewer drills and no sweeps, it often includes pairs returning to duty after illness or injury, giving them time to regain their strength before rejoining their usual wing. Because the queens' wing goes between far less frequently than the other wings, pregnant riders often join during their second trimester. Due to the transitory nature of so many of its riders and the fact that goldriders have many other duties, riders of Citrine wing often form looser bonds than those of others. Since Hattie became Weyrwoman, Citrine has drilled more often and been made to meet a higher standard than in the past, though some claim that this is hard work for nothing.

Hematite Wing (Weyrleader's Wing)

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

,

Hematite tends to be made up of an above average number of older, experienced riders. Hematite still has a lot of veteran riders and is still on the 'heavy' side with a fair few browns and bronzes, with even its blues on the larger side. Weyrsecond E'dre is generally known as hardworking and somewhat emotionally unpredictable, while Wingsecond E'ten, though the younger of the two, is acknowledged as steady and dedicated. The atmosphere in the wing has settled out with veterans taking mentoring roles to their younger counterparts. Drills are held consistently, four days a week with the fourth drill day devoted to team-building exercises.

Agate Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Agate has perhaps more than its fair share of older riders and while drills themselves are regularly scheduled and kept up, a high percentage of the wing is used on other duties such as watchriding and message delivery. Many of the weyrlings currently finishing up training wind up in Agate due to the large number of vacancies, which creates some tension between older 'traditionalists' and younger 'experimental' riders who are looking at Interval duties from a different perspective than their veteran counterparts.

Carnelian Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Carnelian is an evenly composed wing, with a good number of bronzes and browns to balance out the usual complement of blues and greens. The 'Seconds reflect this spread, with A'than on brown Iogath and Ysmila on green Saverenth. The age spread of the wing is also pretty even with a few older riders who mostly do watch duty either at the Weyr or out in the coverage area, many veterans and a good number of up-and-coming 'youngsters' be they a few turns out of Weyrlinghood or true greenhorns. Carnelian's wingleader prides himself on his blend of hard work and fun, with no-nonsense drills, that are regular but spread out across the week every other day. Carnelian only drills three days a week. There's a good amount downtime in the wing and plenty of group activities, trips out of the Weyr, gaming and other fun pursuits.

Flint Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

The wing has an opening for a 'junior' wingsecond. The wing's tactics are divided evenly between Thread-fighting practice and Interval-oriented duties. Flint has an established poker night in Fort's bar, usually the fourth day of the week and frequent intra-wing competitions, with the focus being on agile maneuvers and running obstacle courses in the fastest time possible. As the Interval really gets going, the Weyr seems to be orienting some of its riders more on hold outreach and seems to be picking more riders who have a footing in Hold politics.

Jasper Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Jasper is a mixed wing with a phalanx of bronzes and browns led by the Wingleader and a tight-knit alternating formation group of blues and greens. The 'seconds each lead a 'mini-wing' of mixed blues and greens within the overall wing, effectively making them wingleaders in their own right. Jasper's wing-within-a-wing approach is considered by some to be a little bit nuts, by others a prime example of team-based leadership. Discipline is firm but fair and with most of the riders knowing each other for turns, with only a few younger ones rotating in after every hatching. Loyalty and respect keep the wing running well. Watching Jasper perform traditional wing formation maneuvers is usually a breathtaking sight due to the wing's attention to detail and precision timing. As a wing, Jasper is probably the toughest on new riders, with the least welcoming attitude, until the 'rooks' have proved up. Once the bar has been passed though, Jasper makes every rider 'one of its own'.

Malachite Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Malachite used to be a 'light wing' with a high proportion of greens, but since the wing-reworking of late Turn 20, the wing has been balanced better, though the number of greens remains a little higher than blues and browns. Taria is in her 40s and very steady, but steers the wing with what some might see as a slightly 'softer' hand that's more oriented on teamwork and teambuilding. Some of the older riders in the wing may at times refer to former retired wingleader, bronzerider J'bar 'fondly' hearkening back to days of strict discipline. Speed and agility remain the hallmarks of this wing. Two days a week they drill 'traditional' methods and one day a week, they've taken to drilling search and rescue techniques as being the best fit for their particular abilities.

Obsidian Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Given the number of changes in leadership the wing has been through, Obsidian has developed a somewhat informal and experimental atmosphere, working more as a team than to Wingleader given must-nots and cannots. Riders are encouraged to put forward their own ideas both for wing exercises and team-building events. Green-heavy, Obsidian is given more to acrobatics and assistance with more intricate work, such assisting with herding or accessing difficult locations.

Sandstone Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Sandstone has developed a reputation for being a somewhat innovative wing. Non-traditional, challenging, ready to bend the rules a bit to improve itself overall - these are the qualities that define Sandstone. N'sel is new to the wing, coming from being Wingsecond of Carnelian, but the wing's contemporary style has made it an easy transition. While the attitude of Sandstone may appeal to mostly younger riders, the wing is a surprisingly even mix of differing ages and dragon colors.

Quartz Wing (Weyrlings')

Wingleader:

(or assigned weyrling)

Wingsecond:

"Asst. WLM" is not in the list of possible values (Weyrleader, Weyrwoman, Retired Weyrwoman, Weyrsecond, Wingleader, Wingsecond, Resident, Weyrlingmaster, Asst. Weyrlingmaster, Dragonrider, Headwoman, Asst. Headwoman, Steward, Lady Holder, Lord Holder, Retired, Former Lord, Former Lady, Deceased, Heir, Holder, Holder's wife, Craftmaster, Craftsecond, Master, Journeyman, Senior Journeyman, Apprentice, Consort, Trader, Candidate, Weyrling, Jr. Weyrwoman, Blooded, Senior Apprentice, Senior Dragonhealer, Dragonless, Act. Weyrwoman, Act. Weyrleader) for this property. (or assigned weyrling)

The weyrling wing is made of the of the weyrlingmaster staff and the weyrlings in their charge. During the early months of weyrlinghood is it largely non-existent as the young riders and their lifemates learn the ropes. After the weyrling dragons are flight ready, the wing begins to operate as any other wing, with regular drills and sweeps preparing its riders for the rest of their lives. During threadfall, they regularly serve as the resupply wing; in the interval, they take that role in training exercises for the rest of the Weyr, and sometimes practise the types of sweep, rescue, and transport mission that the other wings undertake as their regular work.