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This is a list, by no means comprehensive, of some of the factions which make up the complex political landscape of Fort Weyr. It exists to give you a general idea of what the population thinks, and to provide a springboard for your own characters. Feel free to place your character in one or more of these factions, or use your own ideas.
The Resistance. A radical group by Fort standards --and, incidentally, an outlawed one-- the Resistance does not like the status quo. They have the strange notion that women and riders of the 'lower' colours are not inferior to heterosexual men and metallic riders. Whisper campaigns and secret meetings are their prefered tools, quietly sowing doubt in the current structure and winning over like-minded individuals one step at a time. A good many members of the Resistance would panic if it seemed they might succeed right now. Change is something that will be accomplished tomorrow. Recently, many members of the Resistance relocated to Arolos Weyr because they feared exposure.
Radicals. Otherwise known as "Us," making everyone else "Them." These are the suicide bombers of Pern, they who believe that any of their means are just because their goal is Right. They give the Resistance a bad name, because they get innocents hurt with their actions.
The Establishment. The privileged. Those firmly opposed to the Resistance, often in whole or in part because they owe their status to it. The rankers are the core of this group-- they wouldn't HAVE rank if they didn't at least pay it lip service. Also included are the lovers of rankers, their toadies, and those who believe firmly in Tradition.
The Status Quo. Those who don't want change, because change is inately frightening. There are no problems; there are just some troublemakers trying to raise a fuss. If you insist on making trouble, you deserve what happens to you.
Politics? What Politics? (PWP). Those who don't know, don't care, and are quite happy that way.
In the Lower Caverns, the girls' residence halls are their own fascinating microcosm of ideas and cliques. For the most part, those who live here are those too old for the creche, but either too young for or simply without a mate. Here's a glimpse into the minds of the Weyr girls.
The Groupies. Bronzeriders are the movie stars of Pern, and like any stars, they have their fans. These girls avidly watch the lives of the Weyr's bronzeriders (and the occassional tasty brownrider), dreaming of the day they'll capture a bronze weyrmate of their own.
I Wish I Were a Dragonrider. This group is very diverse in its opinions and dreams. Some are content to merely think about how nice it would be to be a man so that they could have a dragon. Some set their sights on gold, trying to impress whatever bronzerider or Searchrider looks their way in hopes that they will be deemed suitable to stand. Some fantasize about a world where it would be alright for them to Impress green or blue ... and some tell themselves that they don't CARE if it's not alright, they want to Impress. A precious few see no reason why it SHOULDN'T be alright, and determine to prove themselves equal to their Candidate brothers and rider fathers.
What If He Were Gay? These girls live in a male-dominated, sexually open yet biased society. They also get bored. When that happens, interesting things occur, often starting with the words, "But wouldn't they be adorable as a couple?". Any male is up for grabs, be it the stern bronzerider, the mellow brownrider, the courteous herdsman, and the better looking the man, the bigger the target. Even green and blueriders are fair game, though most of the girls consider those to be too easy. Some even make up their own men to play with. All Weyr children learn to read and write, and hidden away in the rooms of these girls are stories innocent in their sedition, though in nothing else.
All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright© Anne McCaffrey 1967,2005, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author.
The Dragonriders of Pern® is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited.