The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) 1967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright. This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti (piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH. This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Log Date: 9/5/96 Log Cast: Humans: Mehlani, P'tran, Lal, T'fian, Elyandra, S'riv, Liena, Maarie, Devlin, Cetilla Dragons: Cioth, Liath Log Intro: Not having seen her friend Devlin in a sevenday or so, young Mehlani has gotten worried, and has gone on a quest to find the boy -- not knowing that his voice has started to change, and that this has had him get in a tiff with another of her siblings already.... ---------- You head down the low steps into the... South Bowl The southern half of the bowl is the largest. Its expanse stretches out, partitioned into sections by the color of the ground. The shore of the lake stretches out to the southwest. The bowl's patch of wildflowers, gardens and a few small small trees stretching out in that direction also, grading into the Runner Pasture. The rest of the southern bowl is pressed earth as hard as rock, raked with dragon talons from turns of launchings and landings. Towards the weyrling barracks, the ground is scarred in regular patterns from the performance of age-old drills. The rest of the ground is scarred more irregularly, and a large pile of firestone is stacked neatly by the wall. The ground also has black stains from the firestone. The ground by the barracks is cracked into hexagonal chips, and only the heaviest rains fill them in. The meadow is lush, and the trees are in thick leaf. Rain falls lightly around you, alternating between rainfall and a heavy mist. Contents: P'tran Lal Kayne's Trader Wagon Obvious exits: Feeding Grounds Runner Pasture Lake Shore Weyrling Barracks North Bowl Weyr Entrance P'tran returns the salute, glancing up at the skies for a moment. "Second day in a row with rain," he comments. "How have you and the other ..." He trails off suddenly and blinks rapidly, then looks back up at the skies again Lal blinkblinks. "Oh JAYS!" Mehlani comes padding out of her father's weyr, nose wrinkled in thought. For once not keeping tabs on her surroundings past the immediate need of determining where to put her feet, the girl heads off towards the living caverns. Cioth lumbers into the South Bowl area from the lake shore to the southwest. Cioth has arrived. You walk north. North Bowl(#396RJ$) The light spills over the over-arching mountains and into the bowl. It illuminates the patched ground, covered with gravel and fine sand. Here and there, the odd piece of greenery struggles up from the ash-based soil. The odor of pickling and preserves emerging from the Living Cavern is strong, a sure sign that the summer fruits and vegetables are being stored for the winter. The northern half of the crater is smaller than the southern one, but still immense. To the west is an opening into the Living Cavern of the weyr. Other openings in the northern cavern lead into the weyrs of the junior queens, weyrleaders, and the massive Hatching Grounds. Storage bunkers of various sorts are stacked against the rough rock walls. The murmur of voices and the clatter of pots and chairs drifts from the Living Cavern, where the evening meal is being served. Several entrances lead to the junior queenriders' weyrs. Use '+view queenriders' to see them. Rain falls lightly around you, alternating between rainfall and a heavy mist. Contents: Liath T'fian Zuseth(#8688JOVepq$) Meroth Zibrith Obvious exits: Weyrleaders' Complex South Bowl Hatching Cavern Outer Infirmary Guest Weyr Living Cavern Records Room Cioth lumbers here from the south. Cioth has arrived. P'tran walks here from the south. P'tran has arrived. T'fian looks up as Liath lands, looking at the blue with concern. Lal walks here from the south. Lal has arrived. Elyandra comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern. Elyandra has arrived. Mehlani comes padding up from the south of the bowl, small brow furrowed in pensive thought, and heads on to the lower caverns, purposefully. You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern. Benden Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$) This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Salless' watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. Dark summer blooms of vivid hue decorate the tables. A short tunnel jaunts eastward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southwest end of the cavern near the westerly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. To the southeast is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders. Contents: S'riv Daeryn Maarie Liena Veyon Salless Obvious exits: Lower Caverns Kitchen Bowl Veyon looks at you for a moment. S'riv nod and leaves quickly S'riv walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. S'riv has left. Mehlani looks up as she pads in, scanning the cavern with eyes that glimmer somewhat anxiously. Steps unobtrusive, she lingers near the entrance for a moment, then heads towards the hearth. Liena looks at you for a moment. Liena walks towards the inner cavern. Liena has left. Maarie glances over at Mehlani and smiles encouragingly. Liena walks here from the Inner Cavern. Liena has arrived. Mehlani catches Maarie's eye, and chews on her lower lip for a moment. She finally approaches her, shyly, clearly with some purpose in mind. But she doesn't yet voice it. Maarie You can't decide whether her eyes are blue or grey as you are pulled in by her intent gaze. Her heart shaped face is tanned golden brown from hours spent following her father's trader wagon and riding runnerback. Her eyes are framed by long, thick lashes. She has a long nose that is slightly upturned, sprinkled with freckles. High cheekbones give her face a delicate look and her cheeks are always flushed. Maarie's mass of strawberry blonde curls fall past her shoulders in a slightly mussed aray. Shorter curls softly frame her face. Maarie stands at 5'8" and appears to be approximately 20 Turns of age. Maarie is wearing a pair of drawstring breeches and an oversize tunic for comfort as well as a cute pair of soft wherhide shoes. On Maarie's shoulder is the violet and red knot of Benden Hold. She also wears the black and red knot with an interwoven thread of green, indicating her rider of green Zuseth at Benden Weyr. Carrying: Tarie Merus Maarie nods her head to indicate the seat next to her which Ely vacated. "You can sit down there, if you like, Mehlani." Mehlani shakes her head, anxiously. "I have to find Devlin," she says, voice a higher-pitched and softer version of her father's best stubbornly dutiful tone. Mehlani adds, eyes liquid, "Have you seen him?" Liena walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Liena has left. Maarie hrms, "Zuseth thinks she saw him enter the records room. You might try there." Mehlani bobs her head and pipes, gravely, "Thank you!" The girl then turns, and, with more speed than she's usually wont to show, darts back out into the Bowl. You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. North Bowl(#396RJ$) [Desc deleted.] Contents: Cyrolin T'fian R'till Brandalth Tinya S'riv Elyandra Lal P'tran Cioth Liath Zuseth(#8688JOVepq$) Meroth Zibrith Obvious exits: Weyrleaders' Complex South Bowl Hatching Cavern Outer Infirmary Guest Weyr Living Cavern Records Room S'riv grins slightly, "I'll bring 'em back...I swear..though they may wish I didna." Lal folds her arms, thinking. "...wonder if they had knots..." Elyandra stands next to S'riv and T'fian, glancing over her shoulder to watch the Healer who is helping Tinya. She turns her attention back to S'riv, "Of course we'll find them, Saer. " Mehlani comes running out of the lower caverns. Her eyes widen a little at the gathering of dragons and riders present, but it only slows her a little, as she swings towards the records room. You walk into the records cavern, leaving the bowl behind. Records Room(#403RJ$) Sounds echo off the cool stone walls of the records room, and bounce hollowly off the uncarpeted floor. Though perfectly neat and dust free, this room seems to maintain an aura of unease, though that may be the weight of the ancient records that are contained within, and the heavy decisions that have been formed here. A large, stained wood table with seats stretched along one side stands on a raised area to the north, up a single step from the rest of the room. The east and west walls are covered, ceiling to floor, with book shelves and scroll shelves containing records dating back nearly to the First Interval. The most stunning feature is the broad sheet of clear muscovite that stretches across the ceiling like a giant skylight. Through the skylight, rain falls lightly around you, alternating between rainfall and a heavy mist. An exit leads out into the bowl. Contents: Liena Devlin Council Table Obvious exits: Bowl Liena giggles... "I was only asking because Mehlani was looking for you..." Liena smiles. Mehlani herself arrives, dampened by the rain, at the door into the room from the Bowl. She blinks, twice, first at Liena, and then at the black-haired boy she finds here as well. Liena smiles. "Hello. You're Mehlani, aren't you? My name's Liena." Liena A blue-eyed redhead, 5'6" tall, Liena has a twinkle in her eyes and a happy smile on her face. She is clad in unassuming brown and seems about 16 Turns, 8 months, and 16 days old. She wears the simplest of red and black knots on her shoulder, of Benden. Liena waves as she leaves. Liena slips out of the records cavern. Liena has left. Devlin shifts a somewhat wary gaze from Liena to the newcomer. His expression relaxes a tiny bit as he sees that it's Mehlani. "Hi Mehlani," he says, voice cracking on the last syllable of her name, sending a flood of color to his face. He hunches down a bit further in his chair, look like he might actually fall off if he goes any further. Mehlani blinks rainwater out of her lashes, and timidly nods up at the older girl, but the little girl's gaze immediately flicks to Devlin once they are alone. Devlin A young lad of approximately 12 turns, Devlin's appearance is topped with an unruly shock of black hair. Rumpled clothing, the mark of an overactive young boy, covers his lanky form. Mischief sparkles in his grey-blue gaze, as he looks about himself constantly, never still unless forced. A wherhide jacket, much worn and overlarge, hangs from his shoulders. The badges on the arm imply that the jacket belonged to a bronzerider from Fort and Benden. Beneath the jacket is the remainder of an unremarkable wardrobe. His features are uneven, still filling out and maturing, but hold some promise of at least a noble brow. Devlin's face is set in a faint grimace as he studiously and very carefully arranges the scrolls in front of him, face stillr ed. Mehlani studies you, brow furrowed. You're obviously up and about, she thinks, so you can't be sick... but that expression...? She comes up beside you on timid feet, and her brow furrows more noticeably as she ponders what to say. Her hand steals up briefly, under her light jacket, to touch the little gold dragon pinned to her frock; at last, she offers, "Can... I help?" Devlin's gaze flickers to Mehlani again, "Make my voice stop changing?" Another crack sends his voice to a deeper tone, and illicites a wry... not quite grin, but not a grimace either. Mehlani's eyes go round, and for a moment, she catches her breath, startled. She opens her mouth, closes it, then finally says timidly, "I don't know how." Devlin sighs a bit, "I know. I wasn't serious. I just have to wait it out, but I still hate it." Still looking rather thunderstruck, Mehlani slowly nods, gaze wavering a little and making her look torn between timidly eyeing her feet and looking up at her friend. Another furtive touch to the dragon under her jacket, a swallow and then, softly, "Does it hurt?" Devlin shakes his head, "Only my pride." This time the grin is genuine. "I'll be happier when it's done and gone." Mehlani perks up a bit, perhaps comforted by the grin. "You're going to be grown up," she begins. Devlin laughs, "I wouldn't go that far." A timid smile curls the young girl's mouth, and she peers around you to note what scrolls you've been sorting, as she ventures, "It scared my brother. Father and Mother talked to him about it." The scrolls all seem to be stuff from the time when Krystlin and D'vin were Weyrleaders. "He called me squeaky and said that I'd called him that too." Mehlani blinks. Mehlani's smile vanishes. Mehlani finally says, aghast, "You had a fight?" Her own voice almost cracks a little, then. Devlin shakes his head, "Not precisely. I didn't say anything, R'till got mad at him, then he got mad and stomped out." "My... my brother was mean to you?" Mehlani's eyes start going limpid, and her lower lip trembles. Devlin looks alarmed, "It's just... it's just the way boys are to each other. Please don't worry about it, Mehlani!" His voice breaks during the second sentance, a high squeak returning his voice to its previous state. Mehlani asks, just as horrifiedly, "_Did_ you call him Squeaky?" Devlin blinks, "No." Mehlani blinkblinks up at you, considering this, then her face falls even further. Devlin looks alarmed, "Please don't be upset, Mehlani. None of it means anything. Nothing real anyway... Please?" Mehlani blinks once, then again, as her eyes get progressively damper. Her breathing quickens, speaking suspiciously of impending tears, as she abruptly wails, "But if you didn't call him anything then he LIED!" Devlin reaches out, awkwardly patting Mehlani's shoulder. "He was just upset... and... and someone called him squeaky I'll bet. He might just have been confused about who it was...oh shards, don't cry, Mehlani..." Cetilla strides in from the bowl. Cetilla has arrived. Cetilla looks around, 'Mehlani, there you are..." Mehlani's face crumples, as Devlin unsurely pats her. "He's not SUPPOSED to be a liar!" she blurts at the boy. And the moment Cetilla comes into view, the younger girl goes wider of eye, and promptly bursts into sobs. Devlin jerks his hand away from Mehlani's shoulder at the sound of Cetilla's voice. His expression hovers between the concerned one for Mehlani and the hunted one he usually gets when Cetilla is around. Cetilla goes over to Mehlani, "What dear?" She gives a nod to Devlin, "Hello there." Devlin's alarm wins over, gaze going down to Mehlani again. "He was just confused, I bet. Please, Mehlani..." His voice cracks, this time unnoticed by Devlin. Cetilla A fairly tall and lanky, Cetilla looks like she'll grow to be a heartbreaker. She has rich dark skin. Her face is round, and her bright blue eyes leave no doubt, for those who don't know, that R'till is her father. Her hair is a light brown, and hangs down to her shoulders. She is full of energy, and quite willing to speak her mind. She wears a simple white blouse and skirt. Cetilla looks to be 12 or 13. "I-I don't WANT him to be m-mean!" mumbles little 'Lani, her eyes clamping shut, the rest of her features screwing up in apparent heartbreak. Cetilla sits down close to Mehlani, "Who? What?" Devlin reaches out abruptly and hugs Mehlani. "I know. It just happens, I'm sure he didn't mean it." Mehlani cries hoarsely, "He got MEAN when his voice started changing, he f-fought with Lal, too, a-an-and he yelled at Father, and now YOUR voice is changing too a-and I, I..." The child trails off into sobs as she is hugged, a wee slip of a thing against the taller boy. Devlin shhhs quietly. "I won't get mean, I promise, 'Lani." He rubs her back, trying to be soothing. Cetilla pats Mehlani's shoulder, all confused.... Mehlani looks up tearfully, pleadingly. "Promise?" Devlin says "I promise, 'Lani." Mehlani sniffles again, gazing liquidly at Devlin; at his reaffirmed promise, she quiets down a little, though her breath still comes in uneven gasps. Liena strides in from the bowl. Liena has arrived. Cetilla smiles at Mehlani, "Sure he will. He's nice, Devlin is." Liena smiles. "Sorry, I just had to come and meet the lass who's scaring Devlin so much." Devlin patpats Mehlani's shoulder comfortingly. "I promise, 'Lani. And if you think I'm not keeping it, you can poke me with the pin." Cetilla looks up at Liena, "Huh?" Liena thinks Devlin looks a bit uneasy when cornered by THREE girls... Mehlani blurts, aghast, at Liena, "I'm scary?!" Liena smiles and leaves. Devlin blinks at Liena. "'Lani's not scary." Cetilla shakes her head, "No, I think she means me." Mehlani stumbles back from Devlin, and abruptly, bolts from the room.