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The seventh Weyr,
or the oldest on the Southern Continent, Southern was founded in the
Ninth Pass. Situated on the peninsula, close to Southern Hold, the Weyr
is famed for it's tropical weather. Southern protects and is beholden
to the Holds of Southern, Thessaly, Sadrid and Island River; as well
as the WeaverTanner, Healer and Smith Crafthalls.
A minimum of records survive from the early turns of the Tenth Interval, at least as regards Southern Weyr. What is known, however, is that the primary leadership of the Weyr did not change. Telinda and V'tali remained Senior Weyrwoman and Weyrleader respectively, dealing with what appears to have been some confusion and chaos, much as they had the chaos that came before. Eventually, having lived out their lives, Telinda and Tiarnath retired in favor of Jyrisa and Mayanth, who impressed in the second Turn of the Interval, but not before managing to settle the Weyr into the patterns of Interval life. But while it may have held a pattern, life in the Interval was anything but calm. Southern Weyr slowly became a better-trafficked location. Without the issue of Thread to be ever vigilant over, the Weyr could afford a more relaxed attitude. Traders and Crafters who had previously met and exchanged information and goods elsewhere slowly began to trickle into the Weyr, tempted by its port location and easy access to dragonriders. These new people brought with them new ideas and different ways of thinking, but they also brought their own political pressures. Soon, Southern Weyr was one of the best places to hear what people were thinking. Debates, discussions, and outright arguments became relatively commonplace occurrences, and anybody with an agenda to push tended to at least send a representative to the Weyr to try and seed the field for support. This political atmosphere was fueled by an influential Weyrleader, X'nton, who believed very strongly in the exchange of new ideas as a motivating force. Powerfully driven himself, he devised policies designed to make it easier for Traders and Crafters to move in andout of the area. The weather also tried to keep things lively. The thirteenth Turn saw an especially nasty season of storms, and it was all the Weyr could do to keep up with repairs caused by high winds. Just when they thought they'd gotten ahead, a monstrous hurricane glanced off the headland, damaging nearly every structure at the Weyr, and sinking better than half the shipping fleet at the Hold's port. Several of those ships contained tithes -- tithes the Holds in question were disinclined to replace. It was a very lean season after that, and many in the Weyr began looking for alternative ways to feed themselves, wary now of relying on the tithing system. Southern began looking into avenues of trade, and after several failed plans, they eventually developed several exports, mangoes, mangowood, and mango products, as well as fine furs. This brought more people still to the Weyr, a transient population, bringing with them traditions and concepts from other parts of Pern. Southern became well known as a place to watch Pern go past, and increasing numbers of Crafters settled down. But now the Weyr was something of a target, for those attempting to create political unrest, or simply trying to help themselves to some of the export-created wealth. In Turn 90, then Senior Weyrwoman Zilphia, gold Palinath's rider, was assassinated by her political enemies. The assassin was never found, and the Weyr was for a time thrown into chaos without her calming influence on E'gren, the rather volatile Weyrleader. When the new senior rose to mate, he was replaced by the much steadier R'egor, who turned his hand to trying to secure the Weyr. In Turn 115 a series of watch-posts was established in the trees around Southern, to supplement the watchriders. An weatherward eye could be maintained, and the made it easier to keep a careful eye on those who might wish the Weyr harm. Southern flourished. They were well suited to life in the Interval, choosing to balance progress and tradition. Threadfall tactics were assiduously studied, but commerce and exploration also had their parts to play. Even the occasional outbreaks of chaos seemed to strengthen the Weyr. When the water supply was contaminated by insurgents in 116, Southern's population worked tirelessly to haul in water from fresh sources, until the original supply could be cleaned. They were proud of the many different voices that made up the Weyr, and of the sheer variety to be found there. In Turn 140 construction began on the nearby Unified Crafthall, at Southern Hold. This was a popular move at the Weyr, and many people aided where they could in its construction. After all, this was seen as another way to broaden Southern's cultural horizons, as well as its access to top-class crafters and their goods. By now, Halee was Senior Weyrwoman. Perhaps history does not know her as one of Southern's finest leaders, but she made her mark nevertheless. The Weyr was often left in the hands of her Juniors, as she aided in the Unified Crafthall effort, drumming up support and materials. She also sought greater rider participation in the crafts, and the craft system. Her affinity for the project approached obsession. In Turn 188 the new Crafthall opened, and there was a great deal of celebration and enthusiasm. It can be argued that Southern's developing melting pot culture was one of its greatest achievements during the Interval. But it was also its downfall. Nemar's didn't so much come to the Weyr as it exploded. There were too many people coming and going, and all too quickly it tore through the ranks of dragonriders and Weyrfolk alike. Most of the Weyr's goldriders were among the earliest causalities, as they had been involved in tending the sick. Only Itavi and her gold Callynth managed to survive, but both were old, and Callynth long past her prime bearing Turns, with few clutches left remaining to her. Wings were ravaged, the Weyrling program ground to a halt at the death of the Weyrlingmaster...but then there were few Weyrlings that survived to need instruction. Those sick from outlying areas sought out the Weyr in desperation, only to find it already devastated. There were those that tried to organize things, but even their Herculean efforts only resulted in more organized burnings for the bodies, and what care for the sick could be managed. But the spirit that had been born in those earlier years was not gone. Slowly, Southern began to recover in the wake of the disease's passing. Perhaps there was a more intense edge than before, but Southern remained a trading hub -- for such trade as remained. And there was clear intent to regain the intellectual tangle of voices that had once clattered the air before. |
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Emblems are copyright of Anne McCaffrey and drawn by Kylea.
Senior Weyrwoman Tarianel