FTW:Wings

Wings

Please note: this page is under construction and does not reflect the most up-to-date information.

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 (Queens')

Wingleader:

Mirinda

Wingsecond:

Dahlia

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.

Onyx Wing (Weyrleader's Wing)

Wingleader:

N'rov

Wingsecond:

Onyx, established when N'rov took the Weyrleadership and hard-hit Obsidian was extinguished, is as yet a wing in miniature; its numbers range from nine to eleven for the most part, and it has no formal wingsecond, riders trading off that duty instead. Onyx frequently flies with other wings, whether sweeps or drills, but its members also engage in various other activities, some as outwardly simple as chauffeuring Lords and the odd Craftmaster. Though the core group tends to remain the same, other riders cycle in and out as the weyrleader and other wingleaders require: for experience, for sharing expertise, for shaking up. For some, taking a turn in the weyrleader's wing can deepen bonds and respect; for others, it's the last chance before getting posted to the back end of nowhere. Onyx is known for its intense energy, flexibility, and growing competence. (Est. D 11, M 10, Turn 39)

Hematite Wing

Wingleader:

E'dre

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. Wingleader E'dre is generally known as hardworking and somewhat emotionally unpredictable. 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.

Slate Wing

Wingleader:

D'vro

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 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:

X'vin

Wingsecond:

Flint's been quietly tumultuous since the T37 M2, when the old wingleader (and once-Weyrleader) was replaced by a Benden transfer and sudden shuffling of riders both in and out of the ranks ensued. Nearly six months later, easily half the wing has bought into whatever it is their wingleader is selling, thanks in some part to the vouching of their erstwhile wingsecond. With these changes come others, including an abundance of free time. Flint practices Thread-fighting drills with less frequency, and are many days assigned as extensions of the Lord Holders from Gar all the way up to Ruatha, where they have been asked to focus their attention and time on placating the Holders in any way they are able. A keen eye will notice that riders switched in are of sympathetic mind to the Holds, and often with political histories in weyr's coverage area, a standard that was set long before their upstart wingleader appeared but has yet persisted. There is another constant too: Flint's established poker night has withstood the changes admirably, if anything increasing in frequency, and the consensus is that X'vin is hands-off as much as he can be, so long as duties are met and riders are present for drills.

Jasper Wing

Wingleader:

Wingsecond:

Jasper is a mixed wing with a phalanx of bronzes and browns 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:

W'leri

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. 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.

Sandstone Wing

Wingleader:

Estanei

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. 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:

Olivya (or assigned weyrling)

Wingsecond:

D'mar, Kh'tyr (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.

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Former Wings:

Agate Wing

Agate was renamed to Slate by its new wingleader, D'vro (D 11, M 10, Turn 39), reportedly on the suggestion of one of its members.

Obsidian Wing

Particularly hard-hit by the plague, Obsidian was dissolved by Weyrleader N'rov (D 11, M 10, Turn 39). The wing had undergone quite a few changes in leadership over the preceding turns, and as a result developed a somewhat informal and experimental atmosphere, working more as a team than to wingleader-given must-nots and cannots; riders were encouraged to put forward their own ideas, both for wing exercises and team-building events. The green-heavy wing had also been known for its acrobatics and assistance with more intricate work, such as assisting with herding or accessing difficult locations. Upon dissolution, Obsidian's riders were individually distributed among the other wings rather than being incorporated wholesale.