Post by HG on Sept 20, 2010 5:16:11 GMT -5
Watch-whers were originally an attempt to create more dragons after the first batch (engineered by the late Kitti Ping) hatched. Wind Blossom Ping unfortunately did not have the same grasp of genetics as her mother. The hatchlings that came from Wind Blossom's attempts were referred to as 'ugly' and 'malformed dragons'. However the creatures were healthy, so the colonists decided to utilize them; they named them "whers."
The whers were found to be Impressible (Or rather, 'bondable') by humans. The bond between a wher and a human is stronger than a bond with a firelizard, but not as strong as the bond between a dragon and rider. However, whers generally adore their human companions, and are willing to defend them if need requires. Whers also tend to be selective about the people they enjoy for company; many whers are only friendly to a handful of humans while being vicious towards all others. This tendency varies from wher to wher.
It soon became apparent that the whers could serve several different purposes. The three most common jobs that whers are used for are: night guards for holds, aids to miners, and breeders. Because of the nature of the first two jobs, domesticated whers became known as watch-whers.
Watch-whers that serve as night guardians for Holds (both major and minor, though major holds tend to be more able to afford watch-whers) are generally treated like watch dogs. Trained from their hatching, watch-whers are taught to attack any humans except for a certain few. Depending on the trainers, this training could consist of prodding and teasing to make the watch-wher hate most people. Generally watch-whers that serve this purpose are kept on a chain leash at night, and inside a 'lair' during the day. Watch-whers that serve as hold guardians are the most aggressive types of watch-whers.
Another common job for watch-whers is serving as aids to miners. Because of their ability to see so well in the dark mine shafts, their heightened sense of hearing and smell, and their intelligence, watch-whers are ideal companions for miners. Watch-whers are able to spot small changes in the air and can warn miners of gases that could possibly be flammable or toxic. Also, because of their great strength, watch-whers are excellent diggers and can rescue miners from cave-ins. Watch-whers that aid miners are often the most docile because they are trained to care for and watch over the humans they work with.
The last (but definitely not least *g*) most common job for watch-whers is breeder. Gold watch-whers tend not to be used as night guards for holds, nor as aids to the minercraft. Golds are bonded to trained humans who have considerable knowledge of watch-whers and they are used to lay clutches. Humans who are bonded to gold, breeding watch-whers are called WherMasters and are highly respected. Breeding watch-whers is most likely the most profitable area of wher-handling, because watch-wher eggs are not given away lightly, and often go for a high price.
And a special thanks to Laura H. from www.islandsofpern.org who was kind enough to compile this information from The Dragonrider’s Guide to Pern by Jody Lynn Nye and Anne McCaffrey as well as from Dragon’s Kin by Anne McCaffery and her son Todd McCaffery.
The whers were found to be Impressible (Or rather, 'bondable') by humans. The bond between a wher and a human is stronger than a bond with a firelizard, but not as strong as the bond between a dragon and rider. However, whers generally adore their human companions, and are willing to defend them if need requires. Whers also tend to be selective about the people they enjoy for company; many whers are only friendly to a handful of humans while being vicious towards all others. This tendency varies from wher to wher.
It soon became apparent that the whers could serve several different purposes. The three most common jobs that whers are used for are: night guards for holds, aids to miners, and breeders. Because of the nature of the first two jobs, domesticated whers became known as watch-whers.
Watch-whers that serve as night guardians for Holds (both major and minor, though major holds tend to be more able to afford watch-whers) are generally treated like watch dogs. Trained from their hatching, watch-whers are taught to attack any humans except for a certain few. Depending on the trainers, this training could consist of prodding and teasing to make the watch-wher hate most people. Generally watch-whers that serve this purpose are kept on a chain leash at night, and inside a 'lair' during the day. Watch-whers that serve as hold guardians are the most aggressive types of watch-whers.
Another common job for watch-whers is serving as aids to miners. Because of their ability to see so well in the dark mine shafts, their heightened sense of hearing and smell, and their intelligence, watch-whers are ideal companions for miners. Watch-whers are able to spot small changes in the air and can warn miners of gases that could possibly be flammable or toxic. Also, because of their great strength, watch-whers are excellent diggers and can rescue miners from cave-ins. Watch-whers that aid miners are often the most docile because they are trained to care for and watch over the humans they work with.
The last (but definitely not least *g*) most common job for watch-whers is breeder. Gold watch-whers tend not to be used as night guards for holds, nor as aids to the minercraft. Golds are bonded to trained humans who have considerable knowledge of watch-whers and they are used to lay clutches. Humans who are bonded to gold, breeding watch-whers are called WherMasters and are highly respected. Breeding watch-whers is most likely the most profitable area of wher-handling, because watch-wher eggs are not given away lightly, and often go for a high price.
And a special thanks to Laura H. from www.islandsofpern.org who was kind enough to compile this information from The Dragonrider’s Guide to Pern by Jody Lynn Nye and Anne McCaffrey as well as from Dragon’s Kin by Anne McCaffery and her son Todd McCaffery.
