Dossier No. 1 - Illana
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather, Noli
Date Posted: 2nd July 2025
Characters: Saibra, Illana
Description: Saibra interviews Goldrider Illana for the DFW Weyrwoman's Second position. It doesn't go well.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 15 of Turn 12
Notes: Anyone else want to write an NPC Goldrider to be interviewed? :)
It was a bitterly cold day, but the skies were radiant blue and the brilliant sun made the triple waterfall of Dragonsfall Weyr glitter as it rushed over its edges and flowed out of the Weyrbowl in a winding river.
**Perfect day for an interview,** Saibra thought from where she stood on her ledge, surveying the activity of the Weyr. A snowy, cold Weyr wasn't always the easiest place to sell others on when they had the option of multiple tropical island Weyrs scattered throughout the Southern Continent.
Today's sunshine, however, at least made the place look cheerful.
}:Welcome, Vixarath,:{ Chioneth said as a gold dragon appeared in the air above Dragonsfall.
}:Good day, Chioneth. You have a beautiful Weyr, full of many strong males.:{ The response was polite, though privately Vixarath wondered how strong the lesser colors could be, with no warm ledges to sun on in sight. Would they even be able to catch her when it came time to fly?
**Be kind. Perhaps the cold makes them stronger. It certainly must keep them from growing fat and lazy from sleeping too much.** Illana teased her dragon good-naturedly, having heard the golds musings.
After a cursory circle, the pair landed on the ample ledge near what she assumed to be the Weyrwoman's office. Leaping nimbly from Vixarath's neck to her outstretched forearm, Illana strode forward to meet Dragonsfall's senior goldrider. "Greetings, Saibra! Thank you for meeting with me today."
"No, _thank you_. A cold mountain Weyr isn't an easy sell when there's ample beach Weyrs out there," Saibra said with a smile, stretching out her arm to grasp Illana's. "My office is warm, though, and I have klah or spiced ale, whichever you prefer."
"Ale, please," Illana gave Saibra a wide grin. "The air is certainly bracing here, but the views are incredible. I'm excited to see more of your hidden mountain gem of a Weyr." She followed the Weyrwoman inside.
Saibra poured Illana a mug of the still steaming ale and brought it over to the couch where they could sit comfortably near the fire. "So, tell me again about the Weyr you're coming from and what your previous experience has been. I've read so many resumes lately that everything has bled together." And there was nothing quite like hearing a person's qualifications from their own lips.
Illana gratefully accepted the mug and took a delicate sip. She nodded appreciatively at Saibra. "Thank you, that's delightful.
"I've been at Vista Point for the past five Turns, though I Impressed at Telgar during the first Turn of the Pass. I haven't had much in way of leadership experience thus far. But I have a penchant for learning, and Vixarath laid 41 her last clutch, including 3 bronzes and 12 browns." Illana was proud of her dragon, and of herself for her strong control during the queen's mating flight, which had resulted in a slightly higher-than average distribution of the larger colors.
"That is impressive," Saibra agreed. "Chioneth rarely clutches such large numbers." Although the sire often played a role in that as well. Chioneth's dragonets from Aluneth had certainly been different than those of the past. Larger, more hardy, and more rugged than clutches before. "Are you just a wingrider in the Queen's Wing, then?"
"Yes, that's right." Illana smiled.
}: You are not _just_ anything. You are my rider.{ Vixarath was irate at hearing the other goldrider describe _hers_ in what she deemed an unacceptable manner. Through their link, Illana felt her queen's fury, sensed the tensing muscles and the roar growing in the dragon's gullet.
Vixarath's next words were to Chioneth. }: Yours is not to speak to mine like this. Your icicle of a Weyr would be lucky to have us here.:{ And she released the roar in her throat, deafeningly loud as it echoed through the cliff faces.
Illana tried desperately to calm her dragon, dread and defeat lodging itself firmly like a heavy stone in her gut.
Chioneth did not stir from where she was draped on the cliff by the Star Stones. }:Calm yourself, Vixarath, or leave. You forget your place.:{
Saibra winced inwardly at the exchange. Illana's lack of control over Vixarath was not a good look.
"What experience do you have mentoring junior goldriders? We just had one impress not long ago," the Dragonsfall Weyrwoman asked, trying to forge ahead.
"What? Oh. Ah..." and Illana struggled to formulate an answer to Saibra's query as Vixarath vyed for her attention, insisting that the pair _just leave_ as Chioneth had so helpfully suggested. Despairing, Illana wondered if her estimate regarding Vixarath's next rising was
off. Her gold was always proud, but she normally wasn't quite this combative.
"I'm sorry. I love mentoring." Shells, it was hard to think. She took a long swig of her ale, hoping to buy a few seconds with which to bargain with her queen, who was now threatening to leave without her.
The tip of Chioneth's tail flicked with annoyance as she was forced to raise her head and look fully at the visiting gold dragon. The senior queen's possessive instincts began to rise, sending tendrils of vibrant orange swirling through her eyes.
"Did you bring a gold near rising into the Weyr?" Saibra asked in disbelief, the interview now completely forgotten.
"No!! I mean... she's not _supposed_ to be... shards, I'm so sorry!"
}: Stop apologizing to her!:{ Vixarath roared in her mind, her wings unfurled and glistening, the thousands of pinpoints of light reflected from the snow making her hide even more vibrant than usual. Illana felt paralyzing fear. She was _definitely_ proddy. Illana rushed out to the ledge. The icy cold hit her like a brick wall, her riding jacket forgotten inside and the thick material of her tunic, which to the eye appeared well-insulated, woefully inadequate against the freezing mountain air. Illana shivered violently as she studied Vixarath's hide. Was that a glow, or just a trick of the light?
}: I wonder which of your males would like to fly with me?:{ The falsely sweet purr was directed at Chioneth. }: I bet I could get all of your bronzes to follow me home. I bet they would enjoy trading this frozen wasteland for the beaches at Vista Point.:{
Now Chioneth stood, unfurling her wings and growling low in her throat. Her eyes had turned blood red at the perceived _threat_ known as Vixarath. }:Get out. _Now_.:{ A few bronzes left their ledges to flank the senior queen. None of them wanted two queens fighting and would do their best to ensure it didn't happen.
"Oh, dear," Saibra whispered under her breath. "Well, Illana, I think that will have to conclude our interview today." The Dragonsfalls Weyrwoman said, having followed the other goldrider out to her ledge. "Don't forget your coat," she said, tossing it at the other woman. She quickly retreated into her office, knowing that her physical proximity to Vixarath would only serve to heighten Chioneth's protective instincts.
**Calm down,** she commanded her lifemate, imposing her will on her the same way she did in mating flights. **Vixarath and her rider are leaving. Your Weyr is safe. Your bronzes are yours.**
Illana hurriedly mounted Vixarath, pulling the coat on hastily even as she climbed. Vixarath's eyes were whirling red. **Vixarath, _let's go_.**
The gold leapt powerfully into the air. Illana could feel the tension in the great muscles between her thighs. She desperately attached as many of the riding straps as she could while the queen climbed. Embarrassment and shame were hers, as well as fear. She desperately hoped that the dragon would be able to travel /between/ and reemerge safely.
**Vixarath, _home__, now!**
And with a final defining roar, the pair winked out of sight, the echoes of Vixarath's final challenge through the cliffs the only remaining evidence of the narrowly avoided disaster.
Last updated on the July 15th 2025