bakerstreet | The Dragonriders of Pern AU Meme

The Dragonriders of Pern AU Meme

THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN AU MEME

WARNING: Contains situations of dubious consent, violence, and triggers. Click with caution.

Pern is a planet with an unusual problem. Every 250 years or so, orbits in the system bring the planet into a fifty-year shower of a substance they call Thread. Thread consumes every organic substance it comes into contact with, dissolving plastics, plants and people alike. It is stopped only by metal and stone. In order to combat this menace, the early colonists on Pern created dragons.

Now, thousands of years later, dragons are an ordinary institution. They carry passengers and transport messages, since they are able to go Between, a teleporting ability that produces several seconds of cold sensory deprivation every time it is done. They live in weyrs, places reserved solely for dragons, riders and support staff, usually in caves, often in volcanic areas in order to create warm grounds for egg-laying and hatching.

The dragons themselves bond with, or Impress, humans immediately upon hatching, creating a deep, psychic and very intimate connection. Dragons and humans are a pair, and they tend to bond based on personality, gender and sexual orientation. This comes into play during mating flights, when female dragons go into heat and fly away, requiring a male to catch her and mate mid-air. Often, sex between the riders of the mated dragons is not optional, no matter who the riders are or what they feel about one another. This creates a general atmosphere of sexual openness in the weyr.

That's a dragonrider's life. Skipping out to fight the latest shower of Thread, taking care of their dragon, hopping Between, and dealing with the occasional unwanted desires from a mating flight.

For more info, feel free to check out Wikipedia!

HOW IT WORKS:
1) Post with your character and canon. Feel free to take this opportunity to make a note about which sort of dragon your character would have, and any roleplaying preferences.
2) Tag around, and dragon this shit up.
3) Stick to canon, if you like; disregard it, if you like.
4) Have some goddamn fun with some goddamn dragons.

TYPE OF DRAGON
CANON:
Gold - the largest of the dragons and most rare, queens and egg-layers. Those who Impress a dragon like this generally end up in a weyr's leadership. These dragons canonically always have women as their riders.
Bronze - second largest, male; the gold's mating pool tends to draw from these. These dragons canonically always have men as their riders.
Brown - slightly smaller than bronze, male, steady and strong with a lot of endurance. These dragons canonically always have men as their riders.
Blue - the smallest male, and a somewhat awkward compromise between strength and small size/agility. These dragons canonically nearly always have men as their riders.
Green - quick, agile and flighty, without much endurance, making up about 50% of all canon dragon population. Female. Greens almost never lay any eggs, and lack much of a maternal instinct. These dragons may take riders of either gender.

NON-CANON/SLIGHTLY MODIFIED CANON:
(In case you'd like a few more options to play with.)
White - A mutation, but a surprisingly common one. White dragons have little to no sex drive, and are very small, but unusually intelligent and sometimes have strange and unique abilities.
Black/Dark Blue - Another rare mutation. These dragons can be of either gender, but are incapable of chewing firestone and producing flame. They tend to take dragonriders who are deceptive, sneaky, clever. They are often used as messengers or as night-riding spies.
Red - Female and medium-size, this dragon is a fighting dragon that does clutch, if not as numerously or as productively as the golds. They tend towards passion and strength, deep emotions that make them fervent fighters.
Yellow - Male, on the small side, jumpy and often somewhat thick-headed, yellows take longer to mature and are more difficult to train to work in groups, but once you do, the result is worth it. They are impulsive and brave and vicious.
Purple - Another dragon type that can be male or female. Small-bodied and huge-winged, this type is somewhat rare but ideal for long patrols. Their eyesight is famous and keen, so they're good spotters as well.
Other - If you have a particular idea, feel free to make up your own!

HIJINKS
1 - Threadfall. Time to get out there and burn this stuff before it manages to hit the ground. Hopefully you won't find yourself or your dragon in the path of this stuff. Otherwise, you might be out of commission for a while, and the scars never heal.
2 - Gather Day. It's a festival today! Get out there and spend some money, hear some music, and have some lovely food.
3 - Hatching. The candidates are ready, and those eggs look hard enough to break. Hatching could happen at any time. Are you ready for Impression?
4 - Feeding/Bathing. Dragons need a lot of taking care of. Whether it's feeding a hatchling an enormous basket of meat, taking a full-grown dragon out to hunt, or having a bath in the lake outside the weyr, keeping your dragon happy is a full-time job.
5 - Mating Flights. It's time. Your dragon is feeding on the blood of their kill, and they're about to take off. Who's going to catch them this time?
6 - Other. Wild card, if there's any other situation you'd like to explore!

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'Sensible'. She called only one of us 'sensible'... The dragon remained as still as he could, relieved at the cooling sensation.

Hmmph, it's hardly worth gloating over- Kain's thought was interrupted by a sharp burst of pain where the thread had burned him the worst. As tempted as he was to remain stubborn, he really couldn't for much longer. Wincing, he started to remove that jerkin, finally exposing the wound on his chest.

Dragons were often less stubborn and prideful than their riders; she got along better with them on most occasions. "There Lord Bronze, stretch it if you are able? Let us see if there is more damage?" She was generous with the numbweed at least?

And the gold in her hair hissed at the extent of the damage on Kain. That was...not good, and she was a healer's pet. "Would you have told me," she noted, over her shoulder while tending the dragon, "or would you have fought on and when you fell form your mount after thread left me to care for a greater wound?"

He caught the gold's reaction and tried to shrug it off. "I've felt worse..."

Yet I doubt you can name any time in particular when that was so. His bronze took care when stretching that wing out, not wanting to aggravate the wound after it had been so well cared for.

"...I surely would have told you if I had no choice." But it probably was best not to consider what would be Kain's idea of "having no other choice."

"Oh, of a certainty," she snorted, stepping back to allow room for wing stretching. Hnnnn, a touch of that wound might need stitching but stitches when in flight would be bad. "The webbing caught damage Lord Bronze, you will need stitching when you return." She'd have to wait for his return then.

"And you Lord Rider..." she finally turned to look him over..."Stitching as well. Your choice is now or upon your return, either way there is numbweed and bandaging."

He had a feeling it might come to that. Kain winced. "It's... that bad, is it?" He had a feeling he'd be in need of such a thing, and his bronze was concerned enough for him at the moment that there wasn't even any teasing that time. "But you think we'll be able to last a little bit longer? At least to finish what we'd started..."

"I know proud men achieve many things a healer would not think them capable of," she noted, not hesitating to draw salved fingers along his chest. "Prith and Allis will go with you; the bandaging will prevent you ducking and moving quite as well as a rider must and they may catch stray thread you would otherwise duck." The browns cheeped cheerfully and wheeled off to go salvage firestone pebbles.

"That is a condition for your leave taking," just in case he wished to object.

It sounded fair enough to Kain. He stretched carefully, testing his range of motion, knowing that he likely would push himself more than that once up there. But it was all worth it, to him. Always worth it, in defense of his homeland. They needed every rider they could spare up there, and he was very strongly bound to his duties.

"Very well, I accept your terms."

His bronze eyed him for a moment, but then made a sound of agreement. He wanted to get back out there as much as Kain, even if it meant they'd likely have to spend quite some time recovering afterward.

"As well you should," she noted easily. "Draw a breath and hold it," she she might tighten the bandaging just enough to allow for proper breath.

"I will meet you at your own weyr come end of threadfall." With her browns accompanying the team she could easily trace which mountain dwelling was theirs. "I will bring food enough for a rider so you needs not go to the halls for it."

Kain did as she said, drawing in a breath and waiting as patiently as he could manage under the circumstances.

Then he nodded. He figured the browns would aid her in finding the way, so there was no need to give directions. "I thank you for that... and for understanding." He must see this finished, no matter what it took.

When the bandage was set properly she helped lace his jerkin back on, a grim look on her face; "You are much alike, bronze riders. Always pushing, always driven. To expect otherwise is to break ourselves." So less understanding and more acceptance of the inevitable.

Still.

"Do take care, lords, I will be quit wroth if you fail to meet me this eve."

Kain and his bronze shared another quick exchange.

You'd better heed her words.

Just as long as you do the same, yourself.

I'm not the reckless one here... Zephith gave Kain a pointed look at that, and Kain sighed, understanding. At least they could look out for one another out there. It gave them a chance of making it through. But even so...

"I'd sooner not invoke your wrath, so we'll do our best out there. I give you my word."

"Finally, sense!" she snorted and threw her hands up, stepping back. "Then for now you are fit, lords. If that wing troubles come back immediately. If you, lord rider, grow dizzy, come back immediately. So forth, so on..." The gold in her hair added a few hissing chirps to the browns.

"And you two stay on task. That's it, go, be gone!" Shoo!

Kain had a feeling those browns were going to keep a very close eye on things, indeed. By this point both of them were all too eager to get up in the air. They might have their moments of bantering but once they were in the sky everything changed...

They would see Threads singed up there, they wouldn't let a single one escape them.

"We'll return soon! I promise!"

He settled upon the bronze's back and away they flew.

"I'll believe that when you prove it true!" She snorted, stepping back and away to aid others.

And yes, those Browns were going keep a very close eye on things! He desperately wanted to have a living, wheeling crown of flame just above his head, right? RIGHT!

Such pesky little ones they were... but in a well-meaning way. Kain didn't mind. He knew that her concern was valid even though he couldn't bring himself to admit to it. There was no room in his mind for fear, for hesitation could prove fatal up here. He had to only concentrate on the task at hand and see it through.

Except that task was already proving to be a challenge. Zephith met it with flames that charred the Thread they encountered, as he and Kain continued through the maddening chaos. Already Kain was straining himself, but he assured his dragon that he was fine to carry on. For now.

They would be horribly offended if they heard the word 'pesky'! They were VERY GOOD at TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE because their owner said so. Perhaps Khemrys spoiled them a little but it was certainly understandably since she had no dragon of her own.

Granted, the healer probably didn't a need a Queen to help her push people around anmy more than she already did.

Then? Then there was an alarmed squawk and a cry through the dragons Pattern shift!

Well... ok, not truly pesky, not when they could be of such use. Kain didn't mind having them at all, and after a while he was simply accustomed to their presence...

The the alarm went around the dragons- quickly, now, they had to alter their course to meet the new pattern of threadfall... and avoid getting burned in the process.

Avoid getting burned, avoid fouling each other and fellow riders as the fighting wings responded in their own manners...

...it was always the humans that complicated Threadfall. Left to it's own devices it was just gentle, deadly spores drifting in the atmosphere!

And one of the browns got clipped by a lick of flame that gouted to close from another rider, making his squawk in shock, blink between a moment, then pop back to huddle on Kain's shoulder.

Kain tried to be as reassuring to the little one as he could in the circumstances, hard to do in the midst of such chaos. But still. The brown was welcome to remain there for as long as he needed.

Meanwhile, he was also conversing with Zephith, the two of them working together to avoid some terrible near-misses, either by simply flying away or going between. So far, so good, even as it had become more intense up there.

Then another strand, unnoticed, got to Kain. He cried out as it singed his back, the dragon whirling around to burn the offending Thread.

The little brown huddled on Kain's shoulder a moment, but once he got his head on straight again he was the air...and yes, thread got through, but it could have been worse? The ends of the clump were already being charred when they struck the rider, and the rest was taken care of by the bronze...

Still, not good. Flying vests were just as tasty to voracious spores as flesh and they weren't much of a barrier against further scoring.

The man's scream did send the browns into a frenzy of flame though! NOTHING ELSE WOULD GET THROUGH!

Are you certain you're able to continue?

I'm FINE! Kain gritted his teeth, clenched fists, keeping his mind on the task at hand, not on the pain. I promise. I'm fine. Those browns are aiding us well.

If you insist...

The bronze could tell that Kain wasn't at his best right now, and they probably couldn't last much longer. But for as long as they could they must push on... just a little longer...

The Firelizards weren't able to communicate in words, they were bright, but not nearly as smart as their larger kin...but they could send a haze of worry to brush against Kain's mind. No where near clear, he wasn't their mistress after all...but there.

Perhaps it echoed through his mount.

Or maybe that was just the building, rolling, controlled panic as the cry went out once more PATTERN SHIFT!. Twice in one fall was not unheard of if the winds high above were strong and wild...

...but it was never a kindness when dragons were already five hours into an eight hour fall and growing weary between blinks Between.

Very weary indeed. But they had to move along with the changing pattern. Kain tried to ignore the fact that the cold seemed that much harsher this time as they went between and then into a better position. He was definitely starting to feel the effects of exhaustion, but would force himself to keep going.

Though he definitely felt the worry coming from the firelizards, and his bronze had joined in on it too.

Sure, you take their side...

I see no better choice.

Those winds were terrible, but with any luck they'd be able to see this through until the end...

The browns had little of the finesse their Lady did, worry could push them to extremes...especially when an injured rider they had been set to guard started to list to the side. It was a terrible place to fall from, cold and bitter with ash in the wind and thread hungrily behind...

...was it any wonder when one of them flew in to give him a harsh peck to the shoulder? Better a peck now than testing the straps by falling!

Yes, that was much needed, and Kain sat up sharply at the pecking.

Are you certain?

Just a little farther... over there, if we can destroy that...

Zephith's reply still was quite skeptical, but he was willing to try, to make it just a little longer. Fire blazed out at the writhing Threads.

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