Printer Hall
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
EFH-PH Profile
EFH-PH Residents
EFH-PH Calendar
EFH-PH Posts
EFH-PH Reports
L1 Hallmaster: Aleriand
Hallsecond: Shassene
Master of Apprentices: OPEN
Headwoman: Cithara
Articles
No articles yet
Maps and Floorplans
No maps yet
Latest News
Welcome back to the Printer Hall. It's been a long time. We've weathered storms and fires, but we're back and stronger than ever.
The Printer Hall is accepting apprentices of all ages and genders. Journeymen are encouraged to return to the Hall if able, but may remain in their posting if content. Master Aleriand has appointed Shassene his Hallsecond. Her work with print images and illustrations are shocking, scandalous, and works of art. Journeyman Wyndall has returned from Vista Point Weyr to focus on combining print and textiles. Journeyman Aikley has recently walked the tables and spends the majority of their time editing both books and Master Aleriand's schedule.
The dragonriders have already taken advantage of the Hall. Weyrleader N'vanik has come looking for presents for Turn's End (and a little something for him). Weyrlingmaster Second Sh'del claims that he's reading to his dragon, but perhaps that's just an excuse for the scandalous titles he's got tucked under his arm. Similarly, Wingleader J'nus claims that his novels are for his weyrmate, the Weyrwoman Kapera, but we know better. As always, purchasing and borrowing histories are confidential. Speculation, however, is free.
And it's not just books: Wingsecond B'nell has requested copies and restorations of Dolphin Cove records. He's looking for trends in Impressions over the turns, hoping to understand why blue dragons are starting to Impress women.
Amongst that speculation is the casual frequency of bronzerider J'ine appearing in the evenings, despite his recent and sudden transfer to Barrier Lake Weyrhold.
Master Aleriand has been working too hard to get the Printer Hall ready for the Grand Reopening as part of Emerald Falls Hold's Turn's End celebrations, which includes causing extra stress for Journeyman Aikley.
The Printer Hall Library has begun taking subscriptions. For a small fee, you can get books hand-delivered to you each month by your protectorate's dragonriders, like greenrider Zariah from Dragonsfall Weyr.
The Turn's End Celebrations appear to be going well (though are still in full swing), though the young bachelor Corofel doesn't seem to be taking any attention away from the still-single Aleriand. No ambitious lady or dowager is appearing to catch his eye, however.
Written by Sia as L1 on August 5th 2024
History
The Printer Craft began after the discovery of AIVAS at Landing in the middle of the Ninth Pass. The need for printed instructions to support the Plan, plus the wealth of information on all Crafts received from AIVAS, caused many Harpers to try their hands at the Printing Craft.
Printing began using the peripherals supplied by AIVAS plus machines constructed from spare parts found in the Catherine Caves. These resources were limited, and Pernese technology was not able to reproduce them. The printers then turned to simpler methods of printing using handset type composition and simple letterpress presses (printing one page at a time directly from the type) as Printer Halls began to be established throughout Pern.
As demand for printed material increased over the years, many attempts were made to increase the speed and efficiency of presses and composition. The first break came about Turn 400 of the Ninth Interval when Master Compositor Picason developed a working model of a typesetting machine that a good operator could use to set as much body type in a candlemark as any five or six handset compositors working at top speed.
Just a few years later, Master Pressman Tangolst finished the construction of a flatbed-cylinder press that would print eight pages at a time in two colors on one side of a sheet of paper at a speed of over 2,000 impressions per candlemark. About the same time, Hallmaster Perfektin demonstrated his press which would print in one color on both sides of a sheet in one pass through the press.These machines, plus the bindery equipment needed to support their production capacity, are the workhorses of every Printer Hall on Pern.
The Printer Hall was originally located at Topaz Seahold, in Dolphin Cove's protectorate. In the third turn of the present Pass, Topaz Seahold was destroyed by a devastating hurricane and the Printer Hall became a subsidiary of the Harper Hall at Emerald Falls Hold. Shortly after, the Harper Hall was set on fire, destroying much of their buildings, instruments, and records.
Along with the Harpers, the Printer Hall found themselves homeless. With little other choice, save disbanding the Hall, it was decided that the Printers would merge with the Harpers, creating one Hall under Hallmaster Almonteo's Leadership. Hallmaster Almonteo promoted a female Master Printer, Thanja, to serve as his Hallsecond. It was also decided that the Hall residents would leave Emerald Falls for their own safety and establish a new, temporary Hall at Dolphin Cove Weyr.
The Harpers and Printers remained at Dolphin Cove Weyr until Turn 5, when Lord Corowal took leadership of Emerald Halls Hold and invited them to return and rebuild. Almonteo accepted the offer and soon construction of the new Hall began. In Turn 7, Almonteo had to stand down from his role as Hallmaster for health reasons. Master Vestian was chosen to lead the Hall.
At the start of Turn 12, the Printer Hall had rebuilt itself enough to separate from the Harper Hall and become its own Hall again. Master Printer Aleriand was chosen as the first Printer Hallmaster in almost a decade.
Location
The Hall stands a good quarter candlemark walk from the Hold, making it easily accessible to the residents. It is a stone's throw away from the Harper Hall, close enough that their apprentices and journeymen can sit in on each others' classes.
Building Information
The original Hall began as a single building, well off from the Harper Hall but has greatly expanded to almost merge into the Harper Hall itself. The shift between campuses is stark and immediate: the Printer Hall is made of stone and brick, from the utilitarian grey buildings and cobblestone streets. The stone and brick allow for better cooling in the summers, though hardly helps when the machines are running. The machinery is on the other side of the campus from the living quarters and the Harper Hall, in order to minimize noise disruption.
Technology Level
The building of the new Hall took advantage of the latest technology. Electricity from the generator at the falls is available in the communal areas, classrooms, and publishing house. Open flames are frowned upon except in the kitchens, and glows are used in the sleeping quarters and archives.
Female Policy
Women and girls have always been welcome at the Printer Hall, now more than ever. Unbeknownst to most folks, many authors listed as "Anonymous" are women authors that fear for their reputations in their home holds. The Hallmaster, Aleriand, defends Journeywomen and Apprentices. The growth of the Printer Hall has been slow and riddled with complications, and Aleriand very rarely turns away applicants.
Population and Plague Effects
Despite its long history, the Printer Hall is a fledgling crafthall. It was hit hard by the Plagues due to its proximity near Topaz Seahold, though it began to accept female apprentices before many other crafthalls did in the aftermath. The hurricane at Topaz Seahold destroyed much of the machinery, and the rest were destroyed in the Harper Hall Fire.
Many printers moved into archival or similar roles in the Harper Hall after the fire, and many of them chose to disperse to the holds instead of moving to the Weyr. The Printer Hall has spent the last eight turns rebuilding machinery and infrastructure from these disasters. Recruitment of apprentices has remained low during this period; the Printer Hall rarely turns away apprentices.
Economy
The Printer Hall supports itself primarily by commissions: the printers are almost entirely their own publishing house. They print manuals, guides, and other educational materials on demand, and does basic restoration and copying of old records. Printers at major locations run their own broadsheet newspaper, with the Hall publishing 'The Emerald Journal' as the official Emerald Falls Hold & Halls newspaper.
The Printer Hall also publishes fiction for the public, including pulp fiction and serialized fiction. A small but popular subset of novels include "Weyr Fiction" and "Weyr Romance". Typically based in the Weyr and written by Weyrfolk, it focuses on storylines considered too scandalous for polite Hold conversation.
Transportation Information
Visitors usually arrive at the Hall by traveling on the trade roads or by riverboat to Emerald Falls, then walking the remaining distance or hiring transport from the Hold. Those of higher rank, such as Masters and Journeymen heading for or returning from far-flung postings, can take advantage of dragon transport thanks to the close ties with the Weyr.