Rounding Out the Ranks
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Noli, Sia
Date Posted: 5th July 2025
Characters: H'rell, Q'vettan
Description: Q'vettan checks in on the newest member of the Weyrlingstaff
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 17 of Turn 12
H'rell steeled himself mentally as he stopped outside the new Weyrleader's office door, preparing himself for the upcoming meeting. He had gotten lost on the way over and was nearly late, which made him anxious. Shards, he missed Far Island. Everything there was laid out so neatly, so intuitively. Not like here. Here, they didn't even have a proper Weyrbowl. He snorted to himself with the indignation of one who knew that his home Weyr was the best one and all others were but poor imitations.
Still, he didn't want to be late, nor did he want to get off on the wrong foot with the big bronzerider on deck. Not when he had such important work to do. There was soon to be a clutch, his first here at Barrier Lake, and he needed to get started preparing the young candidates for the realities of dragonriding in a Pass. And to do that most effectively, he needed to have a good rapport with the decision makers in the Weyr.
Squaring his shoulders, H'rell gave a firm knock on the door.
}: Incoming. :{ Tzenketh warned the moment before the knock on the door.
"Come in." Q'vettan called as he rose from his desk, carefully rerolling the threadfall chart back up and tucking it away. "How are you finding your weyr, H'rell? And how is Coranth settling in?"
H'rell gave the bronzerider a grave, formal nod as he approached. “Thank you, sir. I'm finding everything to be satisfactory thus far. My quarters are fine. I'm still getting used to some of the amenities, of course.” His lips curved up ever so slightly into a rare, rueful smile. “Coranth is extremely pleased to be here. He's already making friends.”
"Good. It does take some getting used to, especially for those of us coming from the northern Weyrs." Q'vettan said dryly, "The caldera of Igen is a stark difference from the massive harbour. It is nice, in its own way. And J'nic is making you feel at home?"
H'rell nodded curly. “Yes, I met with him earlier this sevenday. It's going well thus far.” In reality, it was a bit of an internal adjustment for H'rell, who could never have imagined reporting to a greenrider Weyrlingmaster. But he was already starting to hear rumors about the new Weyrleader's penchant for doing what was previously unimaginable, so H'rell kept that to himself.
"Good. And Viseya? She's new to the role on the Weyrlingstaff, but she comes with strong recommendations. Though with Aydhan, that could mean just about anything." Q'vettan continued, "But it didn't feel right to upset the chain with J'nic's promotion. They both started as 'Thirds here, though more recently than I'd like. Having your experience will help round them all out. This first clutch can be a trial run, at least. It's not often that the weyrlingstaff aren't juggling multiple classes."
“Haven't had the opportunity to speak with Viseya much yet,” H'rell responded. “I'm excited to get started. I'd like to meet with some of the candidates and get a feel for which ones may need some extra support. In my experience, the key to a successful Weyrling class is a properly prepared Candidate class."
"Quite right. Take care with the holder kids in particular. We have a lot coming from the nearby Barrier Lake Hold, and a lot of labourers from when the mine was being refinished. There's been a good rate of impression among them, but I get the sense we've been lackadaisical in our Search." Q'vettan said, "Not that the team hasn't been doing well to make sure everyone understands what it is to be at the Weyr, of course. But the other Weyrs are instituting stronger rules on their Searchriders and I wonder if we should follow suit."
H'rell grunted in agreement. “May be a good idea. Some of the kids that I've seen come in over the Turns, I wouldn't let close to a watchwher, much less a dragon. Sometimes,” and his voice clearly expressed his deep disdain at the notion, “I wonder if there are riders giving out tokens in exchange for favors.”
"Oh, probably." Q'vettan said, "There's rumors going around. Dolphin Cove and Dragonsfall are already keeping to a buddy system now. Dolphin Cove because of the murders and Dragonsfall because they suspect someone is taking bribes. We don't have that kind of outward unrest here nor any hints that searchriders are behaving inappropriately, but it might be something we want to start as well. What do you think?"
“I'd support any initiative that helped make sure that the candidates who walk out on those Sands are actually suited for being dragonriders,” H'rell answered carefully.
He hadn't been expecting Q'vettan to ask his opinion on any matters of import during this meeting. H'rell kept to himself most days, and he wasn't a purveyor of gossip even on the infrequent occasions that he did speak to people outside of strictly business… but even still, he knew that there was a rather vocal dissenting faction regarding this new Weyrleader.
Any leadership that prioritized policies which would help weyrlings was ok in H'rell's book, though.
“I will do my best to prepare this lot we have now for Impression. I'm still getting acquainted with their files, but I've had good success in the past with establishing personalized lesson plans for extra tutoring where candidates and new weyrlings are lacking necessary skills. I'd like to continue that work here.”
"Good," Q'vettan said, "That's exactly what I hoped to hear. I've read your record-- the staff at Far Island spoke well of you. We don't have many problems here at Barrier Lake. Which is good; many are still reeling from Riyanth's death. I'd prefer that we stick to minimal deaths for a while, both in Threadfall and in the weyrling class. The first clutch for our new Weyrwoman will be important to the Weyr as a whole."
H'rell nodded. “We share that preference, Weyrleader. From what I was told, we'll have eggs on the Sands any day now. I'll get to work immediately.” He shifted his weight subtly, impatient to do just that.
“Then I won’t keep you,” Q'vettan said with a nod, stepping around the desk to offer his hand. “I know the formal chain puts J’nic above you, but don't let yourself get boxed in by what a Weyr has been. Barrier Lake is different. If you've got ideas that might help us do better, we all want to hear them."
“I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, sir.” H'rell gave the bronzerider's hand a firm shake and took his leave, feeling encouraged. Maybe Barrier Lake Weyr wouldn't be so bad, after all.
Last updated on the July 21st 2025