The Hatching Ground Subforum Info

[Masterharper]

The Hatching Grounds Subforum

Clutchings, Touchings, Hatchings, and Hatching Feasts all take place in the Hatching Grounds! Both Western Weyr and High Reaches Weyr have designated space for their clutching queens. Both Weyrs have Hatching Grounds that are large enough for multiple queens and their clutches to fit comfortably without being crowded. Dragons area able to fly in from the main entrance, deliver passengers, and then settle on high ledges and rims to watch the Hatching. They both have multiple tiered stands where guests and visitors can view the Hatching.

High Reaches Weyr

• Can fit up to three to four queens and their clutches comfortably.
  
• Is located at the northern part of the Bowl, beneath the Seven Spindles.
  
• Is located between the Weyrleader's weyrs and Junior Queen weyrs.
  
• The Weyr Lake and Feeding Grounds are on the opposite, southern side of the Bowl.
  

Western Weyr

• Can fit up to two to three queens and their clutches comfortably.
  
• Is located on the eastern side of the Bowl.
  
• Is located between the Lower Caverns and the Weyrleader's quarters.
  
• The Weyr Lake and Feeding Grounds are on the northern side of the Bowl.
  

 

[Masterharper]

Clutchings

When a queen dragon is ready to lay her eggs, she will move herself to the Hatching Sands. This can be a momentous moment for the gold, her mate, and their riders, and often times it is a very private affair. Other times the entire Weyr is notified and it can become quite a spectacle. It all depends on the queen and how she feels.

In Echoes of Pern, there will be some sort of clutching thread! Staff will write up a clutching post for an NPC, or will work with the goldrider's writer to get one crafted. These threads will introduce the theme of the clutch, the size of the clutch, and show off an image of the clutch. When a clutch is posted, it's jut a matter of time before the Hatching.

Clutchings are a cause for celebration on Pern, especially with a return of Thread!

OOC Info

• The writer of the gold in question will write the opening. Staff will work with them privately and post it on their behalf when the time is right.
  
• Should the writer of the gold fail to get us a post in a timely fashion, or goes AWOL, staff will write a generic clutching post on their behalf.
  
• We will post little descriptions for each of the eggs in the clutch.
  
• When the Clutching Thread is open, we we will also open up Hatching Sign-Ups. Players who have eligible Candidates will sign-up so staff can see who is actively interested in Impressing. If someone doesn't sign-up their Candidate than we will not consider them when matching dragonets.
  

 

[Masterharper]

Touchings

When a clutch has been laid, the queen dragon will protect it. Certain queens have different dispositions -- some are aggressive and hyper-protective, not even allowing their mate in to see their eggs. Others are very calm and don't mind viewers or visitors. Some might find the whole affair boring and dull -- but a queen would never abandon her clutch, no matter how anxious she was to have them hatched. It's all up to the individual gold!

When the eggs are of sufficient hardness, it isn't unusual for the Candidatemaster to bring the resident Candidates to view and touch the eggs. Nobody knows whether or not this influences the chances of someone to Impress, but it is a tradition most Weyrs honor. Both High Reaches Weyr and Western have touchings.

OOC Info

• A Touching Thread will open shortly after the clutch has been revealed.
  
• This is usually about three to four weeks after the eggs have hardened, but could open up within a week of the Clutching Thread, just to give folks time to write.
  
• Candidates who misbehave might very well not be allowed to stand for the Hatching. Remember that IC Action = IC Consequence!
  
• No damaging the eggs, no matter what! A Candidate would be stopped before any harm could happen, and would be kicked out of the Weyr, but this is not something you are allowed to do, period.
  
• Staff will direct when the Touching thread should wrap.
  
• When the Touching Thread closes we will end Hatching Sign-Ups for the clutch. Why? Because the Hatching is imminent!
  

 

[Masterharper]

Hatchings

A Hatching can happen at any time, day or night, and the adult dragons and weyrling will welcome the eggs by humming. Nobody knows when a Hatching will begin, and it's not unusual for the Weyr to have to scramble to pick up passengers, visitors, and to gather up the Candidates.

For a Candidate, this is the point they've been waiting for, and the excitement and anxiety is always palpable. To Impress a dragon is to suddenly find the greatest partner, friend, and soulmate. This isn't like being paired with a pet or even impressing a fire-lizard -- to Impress a dragon is an indescribable thing. Suddenly, a Candidate is no longer alone. There will always be support, there will always be uncondtional and never ending love; a missing piece will be found once you Impress, and it is entirely life-changing!

Candidates will hastily wash -- if there's time -- and they all must appear in white Candidate robes and shoeless. There are general robes that the Weyr provides if a Candidate has none, but others might have their own. The Candidatemaster will usher the Candidates to the Hatching Ground, and from there, it is up to the hatchlings to find their perfect match.

Hatchings can be dangerous. Until a newly hatched dragonet has Impressed, they can be prone to outbursts of aggression, confusion, and defensiveness. They are babies, and in their search for their perfect match, accidents do happen. It isn't unusual for them to attack a Candidate, out of fear, surprise, or anger; it also isn't unusual for a Candidate to be killed. Candidates are trained to attempt to stay out of dragonets ways, but it isn't always easy in the excitement of the moment.

Some eggs wibble and wobble but never break. In High Reaches Weyr, these eggs are supposed to be left alone. In Western Weyr, they have looser rules. If a dragon, rider, or Candidate intervenes on the eggs behalf, sometimes white dragons have hatched. Intervening tends to be rare, but it isn't necessarily unknown -- especially if the dragonet inside is genuinely struggling and obviously alive.

After all the eggs have hatched, the Candidates that Impressed are moved into the Weyrling Barracks with their new lifemates, and a Haching Feast is organized. Candidates who did not Impress can drown their sorrows and rejection in fine food, drink, and dancing. The Queen usually disposes of the dud eggs before gorging on food, bathing, and stretching her wings.

Hatchings are a time for great celebration among all the Pernese!

OOC Info

• We will post a Hatching Thread to announce the arrival of the newest dragons!
  
• Individuals who wish to RP can place their Candidate on the Sands, and have their non-riders arrive to take a seat. Anyone who isn't around to RP or doesn't wish to will have their character assumed to be there.
  
• Some Hatchings take longer than others -- sometimes the eggs explode all at once, while other times the Candidates are stuck on the blistering hot Sands for hours. Each clutch is different!
  
• While dragonets who do not find their match are known to suicide, we will NOT kill Hatchlings in Echoes of Pern. Every Hatchling we make will find a partner.
  
• Should we not have enough Candidates for the Clutch, we will either turn them into Adoptables, contest them away, or make them NPCs.
  
• Staff will let folks know OOCly if an egg needs help, and make it very clear in the Hatching Thread! Think of it as an OOC Hint that someone or multiple someones should help a particular egg! Otherwise, don't have your Candidate, dragon, riders, or Holders try to break into eggs.
  
• Candidates can very well get mauled -- or killed if the player wishes -- during Hatchings. If your Candidate gets in the way or does something stupid, that's on them, and we are not responsible.
  
• Staff will play/write the Hatchlings until they find their chosen. Once they Impress, we will PM the new owner all the relevant information, as well as post it in the Clutching Thread for our records/viewing, and the new player will be in control of that dragon.
  
• Absolutely do NOT b***h, cry, complain, or whine if you don't Impress, don't get the color/gender of dragon you desired, or don't like the dragonet we designed for you.
  
• We have 0-Tolerance for individuals who take their disappointment out on the player base. If we so much as hear a whisper that you made someone feel bad for Impressing, we will ban you from future Hatchings. There won't be a warning, there won't be a talking to. Just don't. While we understand folks might be disappointed, take it offline, and keep it private or to individuals who have nothing to do with Echoes of Pern.
  
• Remember, just because someone doesn't Impress, doesn't mean they never will. We plan on offering multiple Hatchings with good-sized clutches. There will always be more chances!
  

 

[Masterharper]

Hatching Feasts

Pern loves a good party, and Haching's will always have a Hatching Feast immediately following the Hatching. The kitchen staff and lower cavern's workers have been preparing for this day for awhile; the food will be plentiful, the harpers will be in tune, and they will celebrate that life has continued!

Echoes of Pern will open a Thread immediately following the Hatching so individuals can respond to the days delights, drama, and disappointment. Candidates who were rejected can work out their woes; riders can party and get drunk; holders can get a little crazy, and the Weyr's newest weyrlings can get to know one another.

OOC Info

• We'll open a thread so riders, holders, and candidates can dance, drink, and live it up! These will be ORPs for everyone who is in the area -- or had an invitation -- can join!
  
• Junior weyrlings have drinking restrictions and bans on physical intimacy -- you'd do best to remember that! There will be IC consequences for any who break these rules.
  
• These threads are purely a time for the Weyr and its local Hold folk to come together and mingle -- for better or worse.