Category:Crafts

The Crafts system of Pern based loosely on the medieval system of guilds. Crafthalls are establishments that maintain Pernese knowledge and skills. In the absence of efficient means of mass communication, crafthalls serve as colleges where the senior members of the craft conduct research as well as provide instruction in the craft.

Craft ranking system

There are three degrees of rank: apprentice, journeyman (or journeywoman), and master.

• Apprentice — beginners in learning the craft. The apprentices may be as young as 12 but there are examples of bringing in apprentices from many older age groups as well. Apprentices are taught in a structured manner by the senior Journeymen or Journeywomen and Masters.
• Journeyman (Journeywoman) — the large majority of all crafters are Journeymen or Journeywomen who have reached that certain level of expertise where they may be posted at Holds or Weyrs to provide training or serve as practitioners of the craft within the establishment.
• Master — has the ability and responsibility to pass on his or her expertise within the craft to the Apprentices, Journeymen and Journeywomen.

There are two types of Master in a crafthall: a Master Craftsman, who is higher ranking than apprentices and journeymen/journeywomen, and a Craftmaster, who is in charge of all things relating to that particular craft. For example, a Harper Master Craftsman would be referred to as a «Master Harper», but the Harper Craftmaster would be referred to as «Masterharper».

The difference between Hall-Crafts and Hold-crafts

A distinction should be drawn between the Hold-crafts and the Hall-crafts. Several Crafts, while having their own Halls and places of learning, are basic skills that no Hold can do without. Examples include the Farm Craft, Cookingcraft, and Beastcraft (or Herdcraft). These Hold-crafts are therefore found everywhere, and their life does not primarily revolve around their home Halls. In contrast, crafts such as the Miner Craft, Smith Craft, or Healer Craft require specific locations, specialized halls, and years of learning to master. Unlike the Hold-crafts, these Crafts stand somewhat aloof from the regular day-to-day life of the Holds of Pern. As their technology began to fail at the beginning of the Second Pass, the colonists of Pern had to shift the methods they used to pass along information. The College decided that teaching by rote, using catchy tunes, and apprentice-master training would work best for Pern. The College later became the Harper Craft To make sure that conflicts wouldn't arise, Craft Halls are considered autonomous of the Holds and Weyrs.

As the Turns passed several major crafts emerged, as well as several smaller ones. Each craft is over seen by a Craftmaster. Under the Craftmaster there are Masters who teach the Apprentices. Journeymen, ranked between Master and Aprentice, were considered skilled in their craft and could either stay at the Hall to learn more or go out and earn a living at a Hold or Weyr.

With the discovery of AIVAS, old skills were rediscovered and several of the Old Crafts were renewed.