Main Tasks Of The Week:
Event of the Week - First flight and hunting attempts
Privileges/Restrictions - Romance is not a complete no-go! Please don't get drunk!
Unmanned Flight
Take Offs and Touch Downs - Riders of weyrling dragons must enforce repetitions of takes offs and touch downs. It is required that a dragon graduate from this step before moving into further unmanned flight. The simple way for a dragon to take off is to lope as they flap and after they get into the air, they are expected to immediately descend and land. To graduate a dragon must do these repetitions at least five times each without sustaining injury or strain before they can move on. If a dragon gets a wing strain, joint strain, or injury, they will be called down and held back for a day or two until the injury heals. Safety is first and is key. If a dragon is reckless, it is likely that they will continue to be held back until the rider gains control. See authority challenges for more information.
Two Minute Flights- Once a dragon has successfully completed take-offs and touch-downs, they will be moving onto what is called a two-minute flight. In this stage, the dragon will take off and flight for approximately two minutes and climb to an altitude just below the rim of the bowl. Gliding and wing beats are encouraged. Then the dragon must be called down to land and rest. This step is repeated as much as ten times a day, or until the dragon comes under strain.
Extended Air Time- After a dragon has shown that they are capable of flying without strain during the above two minute flights, they are allowed to extend the time that they are in the air. Usually this means that they can climb to an altitude above the Weyr bowl. Riders have to ensure their dragons /remain/ within Half Moon Bay’s immediate air space. How long a dragon stays within flight depends on the weyrling rider and dragon. It is up to the rider to make sure their dragon doesn’t get strained. If a dragon encounters strain during an extended flight, the rider and dragon will be grounded. No ifs ands and butts. It is up to the rider to be responsible for their life mate.
Dragon's Hunt
Ground Hunting - Now that a weyrling rider's dragon can fly, it means that the dragons are capable of feeding themselves. Luckily for the riders, it means they no longer have to cut up meat for their dragon. However, the first hunt is advisable from the ground. Until a dragon gets used to killing a beast from the ground, it is suggested they do not fly. Ground hunting is necessary for the dragons to learn angles of approach, stealth, and to learn which areas of the beast are vital to make a kill and take them down safely.
Blooding - As the dragons learn to hunt, weyrling riders will be coached on the difference between a dragon blooding vs consuming the meat. Blooding is an experience where the dragon kills but consumes only the blood of the animal. It takes a lot of patience and practice to get a dragon to figure out how to blood, but once they do, they'll be ready for the future when Flights are a topic. At this stage of the game, riders will practice encouraging their dragons to blood a kill. It will likely be a battle of wills, since the weyrlingmaster staff will encourage their riders to do this at a time when their lifemates are hungry.
Formation Study
Traditional Formations - Weyrling riders are required to learn and study formations, regardless that they are considered traditional due to the lack of Thread. The majority of the study consists of book work. There will not be practical study of all the formations. Only the basic formations such as the V-wing, the left/right align, and the horizontal wing will be covered in an applied drill later on in weyrlinghood. This is due to the impractical use of fight formations in modern day Pern. Transportation, search and rescue, escort, and patrol wings may use formations of their own design to specifically target their job outline.
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