When it rains, it pours... Whether that fact in itself is a good thing or not, really depends on what's falling out of the sky, and in the case of Caufar Weyr and its protectorate, it's been nothing but ill luck!

It began with an avalanche at one of the minor settlements in the territory of Western Barrier Hold, a natural disaster which none saw coming, but all felt. Riders from Caufar were called in to assist with the rescue efforts, and then themselves felt the chilling ache of loss when a second avalanche followed the first a day later, trapping two of the Weyr's queens, and killing dozens of countless others, dragons, riders, Holders and Crafters alike... While Alorioth and her granddaughter Cevineth were quickly rescued by the actions of numerous Caufar dragons, they did not escape unscathed. Cevineth, still just a Weyrling, is barely able to fly due to the severe wing damage she sustained, to say nothing of her young rider, and Alorioth... Well...

No one saw the damage done to Caufar's egg-heavy senior gold until she tried to oust Sylfaeth, on the sands with twenty-one hardening eggs, from the Hatching Grounds, a full month before her own clutching date. The pair almost came to blows when Sylfaeth refused to give ground to her superior, and Alorioth, finally called off her heinous quest by Araceli, promptly made for the Weyr's lake shore, where she passed an aborted clutch of twenty fetal dragonets. The shocking, gruesome mess has thrown Araceli's position as Weyrwoman into question. What if Alorioth is now sterile? There are many questions to be answered, though it may be another full Turn before Alorioth rises again (if she even rises) and bears a clutch (if she even clutches), before anyone can say for certain what those answers will be... All the Weyr can do for now is grieve for their losses, and wait.

But not all hope has been lost, and Weyrwoman's Second Anodelle and her queen, Sylfaeth, would thank everyone to remember that! Sylfaeth's clutch has recently hatched, giving to the Weyr twenty new riders, the Junior Weyrlings of Thunderblaze Group. Amongst their numbers, the records of Caufar now count two more women riding brown dragons, Eliora of Sobreleth and Averyn of Dharseth, as well as a rather unexpected Impression made from the Stands, bronze Iphaeleth to Z'mir. Though the man, a good friend of Anodelle herself, has now had his life turned upside down by the momentous event, it doesn't seem to be the sudden change which has him so out of sorts, but rather, what that change means... Perhaps the solo trader is more than he says he is?

Reports from Darksea Hold tell of trade ships lost in winter storms, but many of these ships had experienced Captains and seasoned crews... Weather ought not to have been an issue for them, so where are the ships and their goods going? Are the rumors of organized Raiders, perhaps, more than just old wives' tales?

Disaster or not, rumors or not, time marches on, bringing life right along with it... Weyrleader J'sin is settling comfortably into his new station, one he previously held at Telgar Weyr, and though he too feels the loss of his bronze Arroth's eggs through Alorioth, the man also has a new son, Heylsin, mothered by blue rider Heylora, to occupy his time. As if J'sin's minx of weyrmate wasn't enough of a distraction! Life, too, will go on for gold rider Ahnia, who is gradually moving past the death of her infant daughter, Aithne. A good thing, too, for her Rhaeath is due to be the next gold to rise, and the saffron beauty likely won't appreciate any distractions!

Fancy yourself a rider, a Raider, or perhaps something more? If you're looking for a semi-strict canon Pern RP, Caufar Weyr might just be the place for you. We are a forum-based club with a comprehensive history, a variety of plots for all genres from romantic to comedic to dramatic, and a (presently) small but active membership. We're always looking for enthusiastic, creative writers who will bring something new to the game, and carve out their own corner in the sandbox. If we sound like we might be your cup of tea, come on out and have a look!

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