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This is a bit of background for those of you who were not with us for Arolos' longest-running Evil Plot.
It all started ... well, that is a subject up for debate. Some say it started during one terrible Fall in the Arolos Protectorate. Others, privy to more information, say it started two Turns ago, at High Reaches. Still others, deep into philosophy or wineskins, say it started generations ago, when something started to ingrow. Not having the time or the alcohol to investigate the third option, we will start at High Reaches, two Turns ago.
The Weyrwoman of High Reaches, Jesa of golden Prentith, hated Arolos, for reasons that are and were her own. She called Arolos' Weyrleader, R'tal and his brown Talith, and Weyrhealer K'ren of brown Kaith to High Reaches for a discussion. There, she attempted to frame R'tal for rape. Through a series of actions, coincedences, and miracles, K'ren and R'tal managed to return to Arolos in a manageable number of pieces. Thus began a long-running emnity between Arolos and the High Reaches.
Arolos continued on for nearly two Turns, not quite oblivious to their enemies in the North, but telling themselves that there was little to be done. Until Jesa, far less passive, did it for them. She hired the Red Stars, the Pernese mafia under the leadership of Bane, to drug breakfast at Arolos. They would then loot the Weyr, making it seem as if they had come to plunder the wealth of metals and gems recently discovered on an island just off the coast. But it was not just any day that they chose to commit this crime; it was the morning of Threadfall. Riders and weyrfolk filled their stomachs on food and klah, and then flew to defend the Holds. Shortly after the start of the Fall, riders began falling asleep on the wing. Casualties mounted to staggering heights. At the Weyr, there were too few able bodies undrugged to tend the wounded, and more died. Still more died during the looting of the Weyr, when Weyrlings and children stood against ruthless armed men.
The results were devastating to more than the Weyr. With only a skeleton force of riders in the air, Thread devoured crops and herds, and Holders. Outcries-- some suspiciously prompt-- went North, demanding that the other Weyrs of Pern protect them where their own Weyr had failed, autonomy be flamed. At a hastily-called Conclave, Jesa conspired with Masena of Fort, who, while unaware of Jesa's part in the disaster, hated Arolos and its rebellious ways with equal passion. The two Weyrwoman convinced the Conclave to suspend the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman of Arolos, and send two Fort Wings, lead by Interim Weyrleader T'sutar of bronze Lyberith, to bring Arolos back into proper form. The styles of the two Weyrs clashed for months, with some eyes opened, some shut in denial, and some bleeding from shock. T'sutar, never a stable individual when given power, eventually cracked under the strain.
Another Conclave came just in time, this time held at Arolos Weyr. After debate, powerplays, and Masena's realization that Jesa had manipulated her, the Conclave removed T'sutar from office and reinstated Arolos' R'tal and Laranna. Fort's Wings would leave Arolos, except for those who wished to stay and live in the open, egalitarean atmosphere. The day was not entirely triumphant, however. Laranna's gold Jenith rose moments after her rider's named was cleared. The six other Weyrwomen dashed to their dragons before the queens could be driven to madness. Sytria of Ista never made it. Eldest of the Weyrwomen, the day's strain had been too much, and she died in her dragon's arms. Forgotten in the commotion, the giggling T'sutar broke free from his restraints and flew away-- without Lyberith. Back at High Reaches, Jesa died mysteriously during Fall.
The end result of this is that Fort feels threatened. There is an entirely different world just an ocean away, a world that threatens to invade the comfortable sphere of tradition. It is stricter now than ever before, seeking to exorcise any Arolosian taint from its ranks. The definition of "dissention" has been expanded to include speaking of Arolos as anything but deranged, of Fort as anything but the Way Things Should Be. It is unspoken that any planning such rebellion should move South now. Going South is a one-way trip, but it's a much gentler one than the alternative.
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.