Who

Th'bek, Xanthee, Khaylia, Jaune

What

Th'bek teaches a group of Candidates about Igen Weyr's coverage area and a bunch of other stuff they will need should they impress.

When

It is midmorning of the twenty-fifth day of the first month of the fifteenth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Map Room, Igen Weyr

OOC Date 23 Sep 2018 04:00

 

th-bek_default.jpgxanthee_default.jpgkhaylia_default.jpgjaune_default.jpg

"And so you know, my eyes are more symmetrical, candidate."



Map Room

The Starcrafters' den is conveniently close to the Archives; it's bright with glows and fragrant with old hide. Here can be found the records that don't get into the Records: detailed observations of day and night sky, weather and Threadfall going back more than a century. Shelves line most of the walls, laden with books and files, map trays and document tubes, though gaps up to head height leave room for three evenly-spaced desks, each facing a spongewood pinboard that's just right for fixing odd notes and diagrams. A huge slate chalkboard is invariably covered with calculations. There are two large freestanding globes, one of the planet and one showing orbits and constellations, and a delicate orrery sits on a low shelf along with various pieces of equipment. In the centre of the room is a huge table, almost as broad as long, and usually covered with the maps and charts of land and sky that give this room its name.


Some impressionable minds have been assigned time to learn about Igen's basic geography, history, and dynamic of its dragons and wings. Coordinating it is Th'bek, who rather is a glorified babysitter giving ten candidates free reign in the map room to read and learn. In well-used but oiled looking riding leathers, the Weyrsecond has been harping on the importance of good relations with all holdings large and small. "I can bet there are some small communities clustered around water access points and other nomads we don't even know about. Which is why sweep riding is another benefit. Does that make sense?" Scanning the room, Th'bek pushes some of his hair back.

Khaylia is a middling student at best, and she has a slate that she is doodling on. Totally half listening enough that she nods vaguely when Th'bek asks if it makes sense. Yup. All of that totally (didn't) soak in.

Even though she's learned plenty of the surrounding communites and holds in her time as Nasrin's assistant, even visiting a few Holds with her, Xanthee is a Candidate and expected to do all the necessary lessons. So here she is, and the dark-haired girl is still giving her rapt attention to the Weyrsecond, bobbing along thoughtfully with his comments, nodding affirmatively when he asks for their understanding. She's looking over a large map, trying to spot the places she's visited the previous turns. "How do nomads survive out there in the desert, from Threadfall and all?" one shy boy pipes up with a question.

Th'bek, in his nature of wandering the room as Xanthee stages her question, comes to a stop about a pace from Khaylia, the Artiste. "A fair question," a thumb plants itself on the lip of the table. He's inching closer, Khaylia, quick, start doodling Keroon Hold's crest or something! "Thread's going to consume anything organic, can you remind us what those types of materials are?" HELLO KHAYLIA.

Uh… Khaylia is doodling a flower which is actually a good thing. She is totally caught out but rather than let it phase her she just lifts up her drawing of a rose with a charming smile. "You mean plants and all, right? Igen is super lucky they don't have much then!" Random vague answer, but it kinda diverts maybe the attention away from her?

Blinking as Th'bek doesn't quite answer the question, she follows his circuit around the room with interest even as her gaze falls on the girl who seems to be not paying attention. The raven-haired girl peeks over at Khaylia and her doodling and she was just about to nudge the other girl as Th'bek comes up behind them. But then the red-haired girl surprises her by answering rather well. There's a sly smile turned in Khaylia's direction before looking back at th'bek for his reaction.

Th'bek forms and taps a fist heartily on the table. "Igen's 'super lucky' to not have much vegetation considering we have one of, if not the largest tracts of land to protect and patrol. Other organic material are things like animals, people, wood, leather, and so on." More meandering continues around the western side of the room. "So these people who would be out in the middle of the desert would be extremely at risk, even in wagons. Some trader caravans if they're lucky have Threadfall charts or metal sheeting on their roofs. Firelizards are also useful as their senses let them pick up impeding Falls. That's when caves and overhangs come into place, many nomads don't stray too far from such shelters."

Khaylia catches Xanthee's look and winks at her. See, half assing it works sometimes. When Th'bek moves away the pretty little candidate turns her attention back to her drawing. She is kinda listening. Next to the flower she starts a new picture, this time one of Th'bek with a speech bubble that reads, 'Igen big. Thread bad.' She angles it so Xanthee can see it.

Holds back a smirk after that wink from Khaylia, Xanthee is not sure she would share that philosophy on half-assing, but hey if it workd for the other candidate, all power to her. When Th'bek finally gets to the answer, she listens intently, resting her elbow on the table in front of her to prop up her chin. She's just about to open her mouth with a question, when her emerald eyes spy movement out of the corner of her eye, and instinctively looks down at Khaylia's slate. Not expecting what she sees, Xan snorts rather loudly before she clamps her lips down and ducks her head away, coughing slightly as if she had something stuck in her throat.

"If you Impress, it's going to be to fighting dragons tasks with protecting all'a this," having paused beside one of the cartography maps of Igen's land mass, he spreads the fingers of one hand to wave it across its entirety. "You'll get to know the location of each Hold, rock formation, and pretty soon you'll start to think each individual sharding piece of sand." Footnote: swearing is okay if the instructor is doing it. "And so you know, my eyes are more symmetrical, candidate." He pins Khaylia with a hazel-eyed peek. "C'mon, I can take more questions on Thread, dragons, Hold-Weyr relationships, who I think might Impress…" if anyone's paying attention to that last part.

Khaylia is called out again but rather than look reprimanded she tosses out another charming smile and then bends studiously over her slate… to fix the picture. When done she holds it up with it turned so Th'bek can see it also. Inside of the bubble she has added the words, "Sharding Sand! Ugh!" Cheekily, "Did I capture it better this time sir?" Hey, if she is already caught she might as well go all in.

Trying to be the model veteran candidate is hard, but Xanthee is doing her darndest. She can't believe Khaylia's cheeks as she hold up her next doodle for inspection. She wasn't always the model student, but those were silly kid's stuff harper classes, this was stuff they would need to know if they impressed. With a sigh to ease the frustration at her fellow Candidate, she spies Jaune and decides to follow his example and goes over to find a book that she may bury her face in and look occupied.

Th'bek extends his head forward when prompted to look at the new and improved caricature of himself. "You have," eye brows flexed higher for a second. "Now put your skill to either drawing the shape of Igen using the guide on the map, bodies of water included, or," he gives options, "your rendition of what a Flight of dragons looks like." And because the word flight can be ambiguous, "the three tiers of fighting wings that meet a Fall." Annnd, go! "In the back there," meaning Jaune, Th'bek doesn't know candidate names if they bit him. "What did you do before being Searched?" While awaiting the reply he's looking vigorously for a special book for Xanthee.

"You sure you don't want me to put it in more detail on this?" Khaylia says brightly, but she's already erasing it so she is PROBABLY going to try to do what he's asked. Nevermind that there is NO WAY she was listening closely enough to know what the three tiers are. Instead there are lots of ovals with wings and tails getting drawn. And a speech bubble or two going "Grrr, thread!"

Ohno. Even with only 10 candidates in total, he thought might be able to go unnoticed. Today is not that day. Jaune's glance sideways each way serves to take note that /nobody else/ might have been that person. "I am a senior apprentice Vinter, sir." Jaune had written notes, some, but he is looking down again, and fuzzily starting to recreate a three different levels of flying dragons. Poorly. Because that might be easier than a map.

Xanthee really tries hard not to look smug when Khaylia is finally set a task to complete, and she mostly manages. She continues her search of shelves but she can't quite seem to find something that grabs her attention. When she sees Jaune get the Weyrsecond's attention, she's briefly distracted to see how the candidate responds. Her lips curl softly, the young man has become a friend in their months in candidacy together, and she thinks he managed Th'bek question admirably. Remembering her own search, she quickly gets back to it.

"Where's my slate? Don't I get a slate…" Apparently either he didn't pre-locate one sooner or the impromptu space didn't have enough immediately in storage to meet the needs of everyone on the fly. To Xanthee, "here, this one's good. See this dark spot on the edges there? I've flipped through it so many times. It's on dragon capabilities, very good for beginners." He comes up behind Khaylia to inquire, "you'd lend me yours right? Oh, and chalk." Because he's got zilch. "Hmm, vintner. I can work with that, You ever been on ground crew before?"

Hey, if handing over the slate means she doesn't NEED to work, yup. Khaylia is giving up her slate POST HASTE with all of her oval-dragons upon it. If she waits he might make her do something else. "Glad to help sir!" She chirps and then goes to pick up a book and flip though it. Idle hands man.

Xanthee looks up, blinking owlishly as Th'bek points out a book for her, "Hmmm?" she squints at the title and bobs her head, "Thanks Sir, that sounds interesting." Most studiously, she'll take it over to a nearby stool upon which she perches. With the book craddled in her lap, Xan starts at the begining and the studious girl quickly gets absorbed in this most interesting read. Yeah, don't expect her to pay attention to anything for a bit.

Chalk and a slate. Jaune isn't doing well on his bit of dragon sketching, so wipes it clear and starts over on a map of Igen Weyr's territory. Squiggly lines here. Squiggly lines there. "I served on the grounds crew more when I was a smith apprentice than a vintner. More expectations on how to lay fire…" Yes. Water is darker shading. "There aren't many ground crews in Igen's holds, are there?"

Th'bek is no da Vinci when it comes to masterful renditions as he flips the slate over to a blank back. Your drawings are so far preserved, Khaylia. His Flight is just three lines and some clouds and mountains for an adequate backdrop. "This wing here at the top faces Thread first, and as the clumps and strands filter through the wings, each has to make sure Thread doesn't reach bottom. Technically," a fourth line is drawn below the lowest line. "The queens' wing holds this position with their flamethrowers." Which segues to Jaune's topic. "Music to my ears, man. Each Hold should put up its own trained crew though sometimes the Weyr will transport some of its own personnel. For our next Fall over Igen Hold," an index finger taps a wall map for its location, "you'll be helping ensure there are no burrows. Here you go," giving the slate back to Khaylia. "Xanthee," knowing her name better than the others for her prior positions, "you can ask Cremla to coordinate with Ruprel on getting prepped." Igen's groundcrew lead lost an ear to Thread. He's the perfect instructor. "Dismissed! I'm stick'a looking at ya." The relaxed facial expression might mean it, but no hard feelings.

Alllll of that goes right over Khyalia's head. So far over her head. Midway though Th'bek's speech she zones straight out and is daydreaming as she flips through the poor. The sudden dismissal makes her jump though and she blinks. Huh?

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