Post by Neeq Machine on Jan 22, 2011 17:15:00 GMT -5
Weyrling Lesson Plan
01. Introduction to Weyrlinghood. (day after Hatching) Learn the weyrling rules. Also includes how to properly trim and file talons, tooth structure and teething, first aid and injury recognition, and what body parts to feed a young dragon in certain circumstances.
02. Survivorship. (month 1) Weyrlings will be taught basic survivorship, including how to forage and hunt. Medicinal herbs will be briefly touched upon.
03. Tactics and Strategy. (month 2) Covers the purpose of Wings, particularly how they are used in Threadfall and their main flaws. Also covers some types of aerial maneuvers, and the specific capabilities of certain colors. May involve a demonstration.
04. Cartography. (month 3) Basic cartography, ranging from reading to making maps, will be taught. Weyrlings will be familiarized with maps of the Northern and Western Continents, as well as the Eastern Islands and Threadfall maps.
05. Tack and Straps. (month 4) Weyrlings will learn the proper tack for riding dragons, and will become familiar with how to tack up. They will also become introduced with proper care and mending of tack, and the different types of dragon straps. Start weight training with monthly weight increase.
06. Preparing for the Worst. (month 5) Traumatic injuries, growth defects, and particularly Threadscore will be covered. Emergency procedures will be introduced. Weyrlings will be introduced to flamethrowers and weaponry, and will become familiar with both. All will choose a weapon to master for defensive purposes.
07. Between. (month 6) Learn about between, its uses, and the dangers. Weyrlings will take a hop between with a dragonrider if they have not already done so. Between points will be assigned and must be memorized.
08. Mount up. (month 7) First time allowed to mount dragons, if they are capable of carrying you. Gold and particularly large bronze dragons may still be growing and their riders may not be able to mount until later. Ground motion is discussed, and various forms of mounting taught.
09. Taking to the air. (month 8) Up up and away! Dragons will take to the air for the first time. Riders will not be riding, nor are they allowed to until the next lesson. Mating Flights will be covered--including the possible outcomes, how to behave during a Flight, and proper manners for after the Flight. Weyrlings are now considered senior and move to Smuggler's Drop.
10. Wind and Ice. (month 9) First pair flights... and first betweening. Pairs will overfly Smuggler's Drop, which dragons are expected to be familiar with. With an assigned adult pair, weyrlings will make their first jump to their memorized between point, and then return to Smuggler's Drop unaided.
11. Drills I. (month 10) Weyrlings will learn common Wing formations and drills. They will then try them out in the air. Evasive maneuvers (emergency between, barrel roll, flip) as well as simple attack maneuvers (wingover, stall drop and dive, rake & flame) will also be covered.
12. Firestone and Flame. (month 11) Learn how to feed a dragon firestone from the ground and the air, as well as how to properly tranfer firestone in the air (tossing and overhead drop). Flaming will be integrated into drills and the dangers of flaming covered.
13. Drills II. (month 12) The ribbon chase will be competed, with prizes. Target training (attack from dragonback) will be demonstrated. The specifics of Clutching, such as gestation, will be covered, as will proper behaviors as the rider of the dam or sire of a Clutch.
14. Final Exams. (month 13) Weyrlings will demonstrate knowledge of Wing drills, aerial maneuvers, and flaming in demonstrative and written exams. Weyrlings failing these exams will be held back and made to redo failed lessons. There is a retake exam one week prior to Graduation.
Graduation. (month 14) Weyrlings are now junior riders. Further training will be done in the Wing.
