Welcome to 8th Pass Fort Weyr, a.k.a. Dark Fort. We are an approved Pern play-by-email, an offshoot of Arolos Weyr, intended to serve a slightly smaller, more "adult" audience than Arolos proper. Because of the darker atmosphere of our Fort, no members under the age of 15 will be accepted. If you're younger than this, you're welcome to join Arolos itself.

Fort Weyr of our time is not an idyllic place. Yes, there is laughter and love and joy. Opposing them stands centuries of tradition, of oppression, of short-sightedness and arrogance. Homophobia is present, though mutated into a flavor that will function in a Weyr, where homosexual relationships are unavoidable. Colour-ranking is strict. Bronze and goldriders are above all others, with browns as their favored deputies. Blue and greenriders learn very quickly that "Yes sir, right away, sir!" is the way to get through life. Women learn that they are breeders and drudges. Only a lucky few become goldriders, and only freaks Impress green, or, even worse, blue. Girls are never Searched for anything but gold-- though in truth that "Search" is often because the Searchrider saw a pretty face rather than a good Candidate.

Open rebellion ends in failure. Others have tried, and others have "disappeared" in the night, or taken point on a day of particularly dangerous Threadfall. Quiet, whispered dissidence is the way to change things and live to tell the tale. Are you up to the challenge? Can you stand saving the world in years, rather than days? Can you imagine someone completely uninterested in being a hero, or does your head have room for those who oppose the worldchangers? If so, welcome to Fort. Keep your straps buckled and your arms and legs on the dragon, and enjoy the ride.

Here by popular demand, Dark Fort's very own Permanently Broken Link.