Post by Mentoe on Jun 29, 2007 13:05:45 GMT -5
DISCLAIMER: These terms and their definitions were taken from Anne McCaffrey's three-book-volume The Dragonriders of Pern®, pages 812-815. Some terms were omitted. Pern and these definitions are (c) to Anne McCaffrey
agenothree-a common chemical on Pern, HNO3. Agenothree fuels the flamethrowers used by groundcrews to burn Thread, and traditionally carried by riders of the queens' wing.
Belior-Pern's larger moon
between-an area of nothingness and sensory deprivation between here and there
Dragon-the winged, fire-breathing creature that protects Pern from Thread. Dragons were originally developed by the early colonists of Pern, before they lost the ability to manipulate DNA. A dragon is hatched from an egg, and becomes empathically and telepathically bound to its rider for the duration of its life
---Green dragon-Female (20-24 meters). The smallest and most numerous of the dragons. Light, highly maneuverable and agile, the greens are the sprinters of dragonkind. They breathe short bursts of flame. Greens are rendered sterile through a sex-linked disabliity triggered by chronic use of firestone. Ridden by both males and females
---Blue dragon-Male (24-30 meters). The workhorse of the dragons. Medium-sized, the blues are as tough as the greens but not as maneuverable. They have more stamina under pressure and are capbable of sustaining flame longer. Ridden by males only
---Brown dragon-Male (30-40 meters). Larger than greens and blues, some well-grown brown are as big as small bronzes and could actually mate with the queens if they so dared. The browns are the real wheell-horses of the dragons, reasonably agile and strong enough to go a whole Fall without faltering. They are more intelligent that blues or greens, with greater powers of concentration. Brown and their riders sometimes act as Weyrlingmasters, training the young dragons and their riders. Ridden by males only
---Bronze dragon-Male (35-45 meters). The leaders of the dragons. All bronzes compete to mate witht eh gold queens; the rider whose dragon succeeds beccomes Weyrleader. Bronzes are generally trained for leadership and assume Wingleader and Wingsecond positions along with browns. Bronzes and their rider often act as Weyrlingmasters, training the young dragons and their riders. Ridden by males only
---Gold dragon-Queen, full female (40-45 meters) The bearer of the young, the queen is traditionally mated by whichever bronze can catch her. Although browns can mate with queens--and sometimes do, in the case of junior queens--this is unusual and not encouraged. The queen is fertile and bears eggs which she oversees until they hatch. Clutch sizes range from ten to forty; generally, the larger clutches occur durning a Pass. The senior queen, usually the dragon of the oldest queen rider, is the most prestigious dragon and is responsible for all the dragons in the Weyr and for the propagation of her species. Ridden by females only
fellis juice-a juice made from the fruit of the fellis tree; a soporific
firestone-a rock bearing phosphorous that, when eaten by a dragon, is digested to produce phosphine gas, which ignites on contact with air
glow-a light source that can be carried in a hand-basket
harper-Harpers are the teachers and entertainers of Pern. They educate the young in hall, hold, Weyr, and cot; they guide the elders in the practice of their traditional duties. The Masterharper of Pern is responsible for the training of harpers, the appointment of trained harpers to Weyr, hold, hall and cot, and the discipline of harpers. The Masterharper acts as judge, arbitrator and mediator in disputes between Lord Holders and between Weyr and hold or hall, but any harper can be called in to mediate if necessary
Headwoman-Selected by the Weyrwoman to run the Lower Cavers, the Headwoman supervises the general domestic machinery of the Weyr and the individual weyrs of the riders. Among her duties are the care of the young, the supervision of food collection, storage, and preparation; weyr maintenance, and nursing, under the aegis of the Weyr healer(s).
hold-A hold is where the "normal" folk of Pern live. Holds were initially caverns in rocky cliffs where Thread could gain no foothold; they began as places of refuge. They grew to become centers of government, and the Lord Holder became the man to whom everyone looked for guidance, both during and after the Pass of the Red Star
Impression-the joining of minds of a dragon and his or her rider-to-be. At the moment of hatching, the dragon, not the rider, chooses his partner and telepathically communicates this choice to the chosen rider
Interval-the period of time betwen Passes, generally two hundred Turns
klah-a hot, stimulating drink made from tree bark and tasting faintly of cinnamon
numbweed-a medicinal cream that, when smeared on a wound, kills all sensation; used as an anesthetic
Pass-a period of time during which the Red Star is close enough to drop Thread on Pern. A Pass generally lasts fifty Turns and occurs approximately every two hundred Turns. A Pass commences when the Red Star can be seen at dawn through the eye rock of the Star Stones
Red Star-Pern's stepsister planet. The Red Star has an erratic orbit
runnerbeast-also called "runner." An equine adapted to Pernese conditions from fetuses brought with the colonists. Quite a few distinct variations were bred: heavy-duty cart and plow animals; comfortable, placid riding types; lean racing types
Star Stones-Stonehenge-type stones set on the rim of every Weyr. When the Red Star can be seen at Dawn through the eye rock, a Pass is imminent.
Thread-mycorrhizoid spores from the Red Star, which descend on Pern and burrow into it, devouring all organic material they encounter
Timor-Pern's smaller moon
Tunnel-snakes-Tunnel-snakes are a minor danger and an annoyance on Pern. Of the myriad types of Tunnel-snakes, two are the most insidious: the type that lives in tunnels, and they type that makes tunnels by burrowing in the sand on beaches. The latter has a great appetite for fire-lizard eggs
Turn-a Pernese year
watchdragon-the dragon whose rider has pulled watch duty on the Weyr roster. A watch is generally four hours long. Essentially Weyrs are military camps. Sentries are part of that ethos. During a Pass, they watch for any chance erratic Fall of Thread, for anyone entering or leaving the Weyr
Weyr-a home of dragons and their riders
weyr-a dragons den
Weyrleader-generally teh rider of teh bronze dragon who has mated with the senior queen dragon of the Weyr during her mating flight. The Weyrleader is in charge of the fighting wings of the Weyr, responsible for their conduct during Falls and for the training and discipline of all riders. During an Interval, he is responsible for the continuance of all Thread-fighting tactics, for keeping alive the fighting abilites of dragons and their riders. His rank symbol is a dragon.
weyrling-an inexperienced dragonrider under the tutelage of the Weyrlingmaster. His rank symbol is an inverted stripe.
Weyrlingmaster-usually an aging rider with good skills and the ability to discipline and inspire the young. Responsible for the training of young riders and their dragons
Weyrsinger-the harper for the dragonriders, usually himself a dragonrider
Weyrwoman-the rider of the dragon queen and coleader, with the Weyrleader, of the Weyr. She is responsible for the conduct of the queens' wing during Fall, under the Weyrleader's orders; for the care of dragons, riders and all Weyrfolk; and for the peace and tranquility of the Weyr during a Pass and during Intervals. She appoints all subordinates, insures that all tithes are delivered or collected, and mediates all disputes except honor contests among riders. She is responsible for the training, fostering, and disposition of the Weyr's children and nonrider personnel, overseeing with the Weyrleader the training of weyrlings under the Weyrlingmaster. As any dragon will obey a queen, even against the wishes of his or her rider, the Weyrwomen are in fact the most powerful people on Pern. Weyrwomen have autonomy in their own Weyr, bu will act in concert with other Weyrwomen when necessary for teh good of the Weyrs. Her rank symbol is a dragon.
Each Weyr has from two to five queens, the larger number occurring during a Pass. In the event of death or voluntary retirement of a Weyrwoman, the position will be assumed by the oldest of the other queenriders in the Weyr. Although candidates for Impression generally come from nearby holds and halls, the Search for a queen candidate may extend throughout the continent.
weyrwoman-a female dragonrider. Her rank symbol is a gold star
wherries-a type of fowl roughly resembling the domestic turkey of Earth, but about the size of an ostrich
Wingleader-the dragonrider in command of a Weyr's fighting wing, subordinate to the Weyrleader. His rank symbol is double bars.
Wingsecond-the dragonrider second-in-command to the Wingleader. His rank symbol is a single bar.
agenothree-a common chemical on Pern, HNO3. Agenothree fuels the flamethrowers used by groundcrews to burn Thread, and traditionally carried by riders of the queens' wing.
Belior-Pern's larger moon
between-an area of nothingness and sensory deprivation between here and there
Dragon-the winged, fire-breathing creature that protects Pern from Thread. Dragons were originally developed by the early colonists of Pern, before they lost the ability to manipulate DNA. A dragon is hatched from an egg, and becomes empathically and telepathically bound to its rider for the duration of its life
---Green dragon-Female (20-24 meters). The smallest and most numerous of the dragons. Light, highly maneuverable and agile, the greens are the sprinters of dragonkind. They breathe short bursts of flame. Greens are rendered sterile through a sex-linked disabliity triggered by chronic use of firestone. Ridden by both males and females
---Blue dragon-Male (24-30 meters). The workhorse of the dragons. Medium-sized, the blues are as tough as the greens but not as maneuverable. They have more stamina under pressure and are capbable of sustaining flame longer. Ridden by males only
---Brown dragon-Male (30-40 meters). Larger than greens and blues, some well-grown brown are as big as small bronzes and could actually mate with the queens if they so dared. The browns are the real wheell-horses of the dragons, reasonably agile and strong enough to go a whole Fall without faltering. They are more intelligent that blues or greens, with greater powers of concentration. Brown and their riders sometimes act as Weyrlingmasters, training the young dragons and their riders. Ridden by males only
---Bronze dragon-Male (35-45 meters). The leaders of the dragons. All bronzes compete to mate witht eh gold queens; the rider whose dragon succeeds beccomes Weyrleader. Bronzes are generally trained for leadership and assume Wingleader and Wingsecond positions along with browns. Bronzes and their rider often act as Weyrlingmasters, training the young dragons and their riders. Ridden by males only
---Gold dragon-Queen, full female (40-45 meters) The bearer of the young, the queen is traditionally mated by whichever bronze can catch her. Although browns can mate with queens--and sometimes do, in the case of junior queens--this is unusual and not encouraged. The queen is fertile and bears eggs which she oversees until they hatch. Clutch sizes range from ten to forty; generally, the larger clutches occur durning a Pass. The senior queen, usually the dragon of the oldest queen rider, is the most prestigious dragon and is responsible for all the dragons in the Weyr and for the propagation of her species. Ridden by females only
fellis juice-a juice made from the fruit of the fellis tree; a soporific
firestone-a rock bearing phosphorous that, when eaten by a dragon, is digested to produce phosphine gas, which ignites on contact with air
glow-a light source that can be carried in a hand-basket
harper-Harpers are the teachers and entertainers of Pern. They educate the young in hall, hold, Weyr, and cot; they guide the elders in the practice of their traditional duties. The Masterharper of Pern is responsible for the training of harpers, the appointment of trained harpers to Weyr, hold, hall and cot, and the discipline of harpers. The Masterharper acts as judge, arbitrator and mediator in disputes between Lord Holders and between Weyr and hold or hall, but any harper can be called in to mediate if necessary
Headwoman-Selected by the Weyrwoman to run the Lower Cavers, the Headwoman supervises the general domestic machinery of the Weyr and the individual weyrs of the riders. Among her duties are the care of the young, the supervision of food collection, storage, and preparation; weyr maintenance, and nursing, under the aegis of the Weyr healer(s).
hold-A hold is where the "normal" folk of Pern live. Holds were initially caverns in rocky cliffs where Thread could gain no foothold; they began as places of refuge. They grew to become centers of government, and the Lord Holder became the man to whom everyone looked for guidance, both during and after the Pass of the Red Star
Impression-the joining of minds of a dragon and his or her rider-to-be. At the moment of hatching, the dragon, not the rider, chooses his partner and telepathically communicates this choice to the chosen rider
Interval-the period of time betwen Passes, generally two hundred Turns
klah-a hot, stimulating drink made from tree bark and tasting faintly of cinnamon
numbweed-a medicinal cream that, when smeared on a wound, kills all sensation; used as an anesthetic
Pass-a period of time during which the Red Star is close enough to drop Thread on Pern. A Pass generally lasts fifty Turns and occurs approximately every two hundred Turns. A Pass commences when the Red Star can be seen at dawn through the eye rock of the Star Stones
Red Star-Pern's stepsister planet. The Red Star has an erratic orbit
runnerbeast-also called "runner." An equine adapted to Pernese conditions from fetuses brought with the colonists. Quite a few distinct variations were bred: heavy-duty cart and plow animals; comfortable, placid riding types; lean racing types
Star Stones-Stonehenge-type stones set on the rim of every Weyr. When the Red Star can be seen at Dawn through the eye rock, a Pass is imminent.
Thread-mycorrhizoid spores from the Red Star, which descend on Pern and burrow into it, devouring all organic material they encounter
Timor-Pern's smaller moon
Tunnel-snakes-Tunnel-snakes are a minor danger and an annoyance on Pern. Of the myriad types of Tunnel-snakes, two are the most insidious: the type that lives in tunnels, and they type that makes tunnels by burrowing in the sand on beaches. The latter has a great appetite for fire-lizard eggs
Turn-a Pernese year
watchdragon-the dragon whose rider has pulled watch duty on the Weyr roster. A watch is generally four hours long. Essentially Weyrs are military camps. Sentries are part of that ethos. During a Pass, they watch for any chance erratic Fall of Thread, for anyone entering or leaving the Weyr
Weyr-a home of dragons and their riders
weyr-a dragons den
Weyrleader-generally teh rider of teh bronze dragon who has mated with the senior queen dragon of the Weyr during her mating flight. The Weyrleader is in charge of the fighting wings of the Weyr, responsible for their conduct during Falls and for the training and discipline of all riders. During an Interval, he is responsible for the continuance of all Thread-fighting tactics, for keeping alive the fighting abilites of dragons and their riders. His rank symbol is a dragon.
weyrling-an inexperienced dragonrider under the tutelage of the Weyrlingmaster. His rank symbol is an inverted stripe.
Weyrlingmaster-usually an aging rider with good skills and the ability to discipline and inspire the young. Responsible for the training of young riders and their dragons
Weyrsinger-the harper for the dragonriders, usually himself a dragonrider
Weyrwoman-the rider of the dragon queen and coleader, with the Weyrleader, of the Weyr. She is responsible for the conduct of the queens' wing during Fall, under the Weyrleader's orders; for the care of dragons, riders and all Weyrfolk; and for the peace and tranquility of the Weyr during a Pass and during Intervals. She appoints all subordinates, insures that all tithes are delivered or collected, and mediates all disputes except honor contests among riders. She is responsible for the training, fostering, and disposition of the Weyr's children and nonrider personnel, overseeing with the Weyrleader the training of weyrlings under the Weyrlingmaster. As any dragon will obey a queen, even against the wishes of his or her rider, the Weyrwomen are in fact the most powerful people on Pern. Weyrwomen have autonomy in their own Weyr, bu will act in concert with other Weyrwomen when necessary for teh good of the Weyrs. Her rank symbol is a dragon.
Each Weyr has from two to five queens, the larger number occurring during a Pass. In the event of death or voluntary retirement of a Weyrwoman, the position will be assumed by the oldest of the other queenriders in the Weyr. Although candidates for Impression generally come from nearby holds and halls, the Search for a queen candidate may extend throughout the continent.
weyrwoman-a female dragonrider. Her rank symbol is a gold star
wherries-a type of fowl roughly resembling the domestic turkey of Earth, but about the size of an ostrich
Wingleader-the dragonrider in command of a Weyr's fighting wing, subordinate to the Weyrleader. His rank symbol is double bars.
Wingsecond-the dragonrider second-in-command to the Wingleader. His rank symbol is a single bar.