Veridia Weyr was founded without...shall we say, all the Weyrleaders of Pern's blessings, three turns before the 10th Pass.
There were three main reasons the new Weyr was created, one bigger than the others: Weyrleaders were becoming increasingly hide-bound and many disliked their younger, free-spirited riders.
Queenriders Chami and Damini met at the Spring Games in Fort Weyr, and quickly became good friends; they kept in contact after the Games ended. After awhile they realized they weren't the only ones dissatisfied with overly stiff Weyrleadership. Also, overcrowding was becoming worse. It was very near the end of the Interval (not that Halls and Holds will admit it) and queens and bronzes were getting into the spirit of things. Weyrs were filling to incredibly high numbers, making Weyrleaders even more strict in a struggle to keep control.
Perhaps affected by these frequent mating flights, Hall/Hold populations had exploded as much as Weyr. Three Lords Holder's sons had chosen adjoining areas to Hold on the Southern Continent. Damini and Chami came up with a daring idea: Why not petition the Weyrleaders to start a new Weyr?
Unable to deny the pressing need for relief from overcrowding, and with the new Lords Holder as an excuse, the Leaders granted permission. A few weren't happy about dividing their 'power,' especially not to a group of young and "undisciplined" riders. Many people have no faith in the success of a Weyr run by the younger generation.
A general decision was made that whomever's queen rose first (either Chrysalith or Xaythath) would be senior. Damini's Xaythath rose first, and was caught by Piroth, a bronze from Southern Weyr. A'lan, Piroth's rider, had few problems with control-hungry Weyrleaders, as Southern's T'jar and Muliy were much more relaxed (must be that Southern atmosphere). He had, however, more than enough experience with disrespectful Halls and Holds...not to mention overcrowding (Southern Weyr had *busy* queens...that atmosphere again).
Veridia was soon established on the Paradise River, in the mountains of the Eastern Range. There are weyrs in the mountain, though many riders prefer to sleep outside and in "wallows" because of the hot weather. Wallows are really just wherever a dragon happens to flop, though most dragons have one spot they prefer. The riders who sleep outside have thatched hut-like buildings, size and shape depending on the personality and ambition of the person.
There are 6 slightly larger buildings of stone for the Weyr's goldriders, three are claimed at this time, another two being reserved. They are sturdily built off the ground on pilings, open and airy, with many windows and three rooms each. Plenty of room has been left for the queen's couches. A'lan is currently speaking with stonemasons about building several more stone homes for riders that have asked for/earned them. The huts themselves are perfectly suited for the weather, and quite a few riders (it was an Interval still, after all), having time on their hands, added to their "weyrs" to make them bigger and more comfortable. People with skill in weaving the grasses are much in demand; and several found time to dye grasses, making their 'weyrs' colorful.
These are all nestled in an isolated valley, nearly impossible to reach on foot or runner (though there is a road for the tithe trains to come on), and the extinct volcano above is well carved by old flows, giving it a dramatic, uneven look. An intricate cave system lies within, and there are several shallower caves that remain cool enough for riders to bear.
The "Lower Caverns" is actually a cluster of large stone buildings, also built off the ground; someone dubbed it the Cluster, as Lower Caverns doesn't really apply, and it has since stuck. The kitchen is a relatively small octagonal building, surrounded by many open hearths, as very little cooking is actually done inside. Each of its sides (except the front one) leads into a group of storerooms, almost like the points of a star. The Headwoman's quarters are off of the kitchen by a long hallway. A wide rectangular building with plenty of space both inside and out for dancing and eating is considered the dining hall, though it's really only used for big feasts, parties, and other such celebrations.
The Healer's Complex is the biggest of the buildings, with its own set of storerooms; The Weyrhealer's quarters are very close to the infirmary. A giant old fellis tree grows by the door to it. Groves of fruit trees flower by the kitchen building, and similar groups of trees grow around the valley, providing shade and snacks. It's not jungle-like, as the undergrowth is periodically cut down, but the tall, thick trees keep things relatively cool.
The Weyr's Harpers can often be found sitting outside the Cluster teaching the Weyr's children ballads and the Sagas and everything they need to know. Laughter and music will lead you right to them. The Weyrharper also has her own building in the Lower Caverns cluster, and during heavy rains, the classes often retreat in there.
The Sr. Queen's Hatching Ground (the only one being used, currently), is the huge hole in the mountain facing the volcano. The entrance is an almost perfect vaulted semi-circle (taller than two queens standing on top of each other. whoa!), and leads to a gigantic cavern filled with _very_ hot sands (this too, appears to have been a volcano). There have been stands built into the walls, and the natural irregularities high up serve as perches for dragons during a Hatching. Completely lighting it takes hundreds of glows, but there is a natural fungus on the upper walls that sheds soft light--usually enough for the clutching dragon and her rider, when combined with glows in the rider's living area.
The hunting grounds are close to the Sands (for obvious reasons), and across from those (next to the road that leads into Veridia), are the stables and beastmaster/healers quarters.
The weyrling barracks are in a lower corner of the Cluster, much nearer to the hatching grounds than the weyrs and huts of adult riders (also closer to the dining hall and kitchens). The barracks are just what they sound like: barracks. It's a long building, built off the ground with ramps instead of steps to accommodate awkward hatchlings. One long hallway runs all the way through it, with small rooms lining it on each side. The rooms have a giant window on the outward facing wall (the other two walls have other rooms on their other sides), a bed in the corner, a small spot left for clothes (most personal artifacts and whatnot have to be stored in the Cluster storerooms), and the rest is for the dragon. Before the hatchling gets big enough to be cramped (in nearly every case), it's time for the weyrlings to move into their own weyrs/huts. There are three of these buildings built quite close to each other, and Veridia's queens are keeping them inhabited - to say the least!
There is no weyrlake. The old volcano (the one with the weyrs) has a lake filling what used to be its cone, and so adult dragons and riders can go there, or to the nearby Caspian lake, or the equally nearby ocean.
For dragons too young to fly, however, one of the branches of the Paradise River begins in the weyrvalley. It forms a large pond/small lake off to the side of the weyrling barracks and the hatching grounds that is quite enough for young dragons, their riders, and various weyrfolk who aren't in the mood to travel. A stream wanders around the Cluster vaguely, and is used for cooking and laundry.
The Weyrleader's Complex is between the goldriders's buildings and the road; another well-windowed building draped with shady trees and already growing flowering vines. A hallway off the door leads directly to the main room, which has A'lan's desk and is usually filled with charts.
Ileia has a room attached to A'lan's for her work, very large, with a window. There are two desks, one with charts, atlases, and such, and the other with records, files, and various sundry. One
wall has the huge map of Pern covering it, the other a large map of Veridia.
The wide double doors to A'lan's office are on the side with the Veridia map... and they are usually open, making it rather like one sprawling office. The (cleaner) desk is set up so Ileia can peek through the doorway... or yell through, if need be. "A'lan, where's my threadfall chart???"
WW2 Syrenia and WL2 Z'lek each have smaller rooms in the complex, and there is a hallway that leads from the center (Ileia and A'lan's office) to several rooms that will be used for the Weyr's Archives.
Many people came to the Weyr, identifying with the need for open space, less rigid Weyrleadership, and an escape from the worst of nasty Halls and Holds. Even more are still trickling their way down.
While Damini and A'lan seemed the perfect couple, before long, and due to certain circumstances very few outside of Veridia know about, Damini transferred out to Southern. WW2 Chami, for a number of reasons, refused to step up to the Senior position, and so A'lan sent out an invitation to the queenriders of Pern.
At Veridia's Turn's End Gather, a number of queenriders took the invitation and visited. Without exception, they all fell in love with the beauty and atmosphere of the Weyr. The choosing was hard, but at the Weyrleaders' Conclave two days later, A'lan announced he'd chosen Iliea and Penyith from High Reaches to be the senior pair. Also, because of a sensible suggestion from Lord Etdain of Sunchaser Hold, he asked that Ilyne and Laureth of Ista come as WW3.
After a small confrontation, it was agreed. Penyith rose not long later, but due to vengeful plotting by High Reaches' Weyrwoman Carell, she was still in High Reaches, surrounded by bronzes with hidebound riders. Against the odds (though not to the surprise of Veridians), Piroth and A'lan arrived on time. Needless to say, A'lan is still Weyrleader of Veridia, and he and Ileia are happily complete in their partnership. Their dragons' first flight produced a fine clutch with a queen egg.
Not too long after, due to reasons also left unspoken, WW2 Chami transferred out of Veridia, and WW3 Ilyne took her position. However, Ilyne fell sick with firehead, just as Syrenia, the new WW3, transferred in. When Ilyne died, the Weyr mourned the death of one of its queens. That same day, Penyith clutched...a clutch containing another queen egg. Syrenia became WW2, and assumed her duties quite well.
As Penyith and Mereniath kept busy (what with the Pass approaching), there always seemed to be a clutch on the Sands or a queen rising. Veridia's population exploded. And then, the Pass hit.
A'lan and Ileia lead their Weyr into Fall with the smallest number of casualties of all the Weyrs. And no wonder, with the well-trained and hard-working riders and weyrfolk they have to work with!
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