[Big Cat Lesson] Black, Blacker, Blackest: Open

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 3 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

8-12: Success! You manage to make the leap without any trouble! Good job! Breathe easy!

It actually looks a little more like Paradise and a little less like a nightmare this time.

Well the situation is a bit different this time around, we didn't nearly die getting here. X'ael laughed a little nervously once more, but there was an ease that was coming to it.

Shaking off the cold sensation, the blue took a deep breath and spared a glance around for once. Curious this time at their surroundings, he sent a slightly mischievous thought to his rider and for just a few moments the two took the time to relax and breathe.

Two more jumps.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 3 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

If this is your fourth or fifth roll, and you happen to have a Distraction/Intensity level of 5, your certainty of the coordinates winds up being your downfall. You didn't account for the placement of the sun and you wind up lost Between. If you have an exhaustion level of 1 or 2, you botch your coordinates due to the drain. If your Memorization/Visualization skills are 3 or less, you botch remembering the exact placement and wind up lost--unless you check your coordinates.

That breather had nearly done them in given how tiny the next Hold was, but knowing full well he couldn't remember the coordinates exactly anymore, not after his nerves and edginess, X'ael checked again.

Once again the shadow nipped at their tails as they appeared from Between, having taken just a breath longer in the trip. Cucuaranath commended him silently, but they both felt the fear. The drain.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 3 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

If you have a Studiousness level of 4 or 5, or a Exhaustion/Alertness level of 4 or 5, all your hardwork.. fails. Maybe you memorized the wrong pages, or maybe you had too much detail and wind up lost in the wrong time. Either way, where you showed up is right, but the WHEN is all wrong! In fact, your dragon starts to panic when they realize that the time and place is... not right!

Too quickly, before you are able to see much of anything worth noting, your dragon begs to return to Western Weyr. You visualize the coordinates, and pop successfully back to the right time and place--thoroughly shaken. Your Anxiety level automatically plummets to a 1 from here on out. Alternatively, you can fail your return and die on the way back to the right time. Your choice!

This. Wasn't. Right.

In fact it was so wrong that Cucuaranath's brain immediately seemed to malfunction and he let out a shrieking roar as he tried to place himself. Back! We're at Western Weyr but we're at the wrong Western Weyr! White eyes met X'ael's nearly black ones and while his eyes certainly didn't change color all of it had left his skin instead. No one they knew was at Western currently, this was the wrong time entirely. Something maybe out of one of the books he'd seen while studying? Or maybe from the first time he'd come?

How far in the past exactly were they, that he didn't know. But they weren't staying certainly. Between seemed to cool them both off, but as the heartbeats extended and they didn't arrive at where they belonged it felt as though the crushing nothing would take them forever. He wanted to scream but just as either of them got that idea they were above Western Weyr once again. Their Weyr, in their time.

Normally so laid back and relaxed, Cucuaranath fell out of the sky.  

[houllow]

Fisher and Green Euxanth

Intensity: 4
Exhaustion: 3
Memory: 3
Anxiety: 3
Slacker: 3


Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Really, Fisher considered this what they'd been training for and for once it all depended on her. Were it to be up to her lifemate there may have been more issues, but since it was on the rider to get things done there would be a bit more focus to be had. Tightening up her leathers and doing a final check, Fisher mounted Euxanth and the pair rose up.

Where to first? The large green practically vibrated with excitement, and Fisher replied in kind with energy of her own. This was their chance to really show what they were capable of, apart from boundless energy.

Western Hold. Here we go.

Quote:

20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

And they went, popping out over their destination as though this wasn't something amazing.  

[houllow]

Fisher and Green Euxanth

Intensity: 4
Exhaustion: 3
Memory: 3
Anxiety: 3
Slacker: 3


Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

It was time for their second jump, and Fisher patted Euxanth beneath her. We're heading to Solace Hold now. They were a bit behind their siblings, but they could do it.

Quote:

2: Success! Everyone else succeeds!

That's two down! Euxanth's voice was clear as they popped out though for a moment or two Fisher had thought there might have been an issue. She admittedly wasn't too familiar with Solace Hold but it looked as though they got there just fine. Halfway done!

They weren't, as there were three more to do, but Fisher was busy trying to recall the next hold.  

[houllow]

Fisher and Green Euxanth

Intensity: 4
Exhaustion: 3
Memory: 3
Anxiety: 3
Slacker: 3


Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

I wonder why it's called Black Sand Hold. Euxanth popped the question before they jumped, prompting Fisher to shrug.

Quote:

3: Mostly success!

The jump was a lot rougher than it needed to be and Fisher found herself exhaling a bit more forceful than intended. Euxanth's question had clearly distracted her and she chewed herself out for being so careless. Thankfully they were halfway done now and she needed to clear the webs.

No more questions until we're done.  

[Princess_Feylin]

Taibbi and green Neuwith

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4

Sevenday 1, Grid 1
1. Western Hold
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Are you excited? Neuwith asked for the third or fourth time as the pair prepared for their first-ever jump between.

So excited, Taibbi replied just a little sarcastically. After all, Neuwith was the one doing the impressive moving about, but Taibbi was the one who would get them killed if she messed up the coordinates.

We'll be great! Neuwith assured her rider.The straps are tight enough, yes?

Since Impressing Neuwith, Taibbi had lost several stubborn pounds that hadn't come off in more than a turn as a candidate. Weyrling training was no joke, even at Western, where she'd been led to believe they were all inclined to go easy. There was no going easy with Neuwith.

Taibbi checked the straps again and answered in the affirmative.

Then, Western Hold, here we come!

Heartbeats later, the pair burst into the air above Western Hold with a triumphant, if undignified, whoop of joy.
 

[houllow]

Fisher and Green Euxanth

Intensity: 4
Exhaustion: 3
Memory: 3
Anxiety: 3
Slacker: 3


Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

And now it was time to visit the Weyrhold.

Quote:

18: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

Maybe it was because she told Euxanth no more questions, or because she had a good idea of the Weyrhold, but they made it just fine. There was only one jump left - the jump home - and they'd be done for lesson.  

[houllow]

Fisher and Green Euxanth

Intensity: 4
Exhaustion: 3
Memory: 3
Anxiety: 3
Slacker: 3


Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

It was time to head back home now, and Fisher turned her thoughts towards Western Weyr.

Quote:

11: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

They popped out over the sands and the sea, lesson done and still quite alive. It was a good thing, at least this time.  

[Princess_Feylin]

Taibbi and green Neuwith

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4

Sevenday 1, Grid 1
1. Western Hold: 7
2. Solace Hold
2: Success or Failure! If you have one of the following: 1 or 2 as a Distraction Grid, 1 in the Exhaustion Grid, or a 5 in the confidence level, you have suddenly found yourself with a case of the dead.

If this is your third of fourth time rolling, and you have a 3 in any of the grids, your mediocrity has somehow failed you. Whoops! You wind up lapsing on the coordinates, unless instinct goads you to double check those coordinates. Better luck next time, mate.

Better double check those coordinates or you will find yourself hella-stuck Between.

Everyone else succeeds!
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Do you know, I think we're probably going to be pretty great at this, Neuwith remarked as Taibbi concentrated on remembering the correct coordinates for Solace Hold.

Until they'd begun training to go between, Taibbi had never heard of the place. To be honest, she'd never heard of most of the places they would be visiting until then. Some of that was because Pernese geography had never featured very heavily in her upbringing prior to being Searched, but it was compounded by the fact that she'd been Searched to High Reaches Weyr, and the candidates' education there had, understandably, been primarily directed at things specifically within High Reaches' constituency, though of course all of Pern was technically a dragonrider's responsibility.

You're worrying too much, Neuwith informed Taibbi as she prepared to make the next jump. These coordinates are perfectly clear and we're going to Solace Hold!

Before Taibbi had a chance to second-guess herself, the green flung herself into the cold nothing of between with an energetic pump of her wings.

Again, they emerged unscathed and celebrated with a delighted yell.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Taibbi and green Neuwith

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4

Sevenday 1, Grid 1
1. Western Hold: 7
2. Solace Hold: 2
3. Black Sand Hold
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Neuwith's confidence was proving contagious. After two uneventful jumps, Taibbi was beginning to agree with the green that they were, perhaps, pretty good at this.

Of course we are, Neuwith opined. We make a great team. Not to mention, you're very good with details. Like when you draw pictures of me for your mum, you never get a single one of my spots out of place.

That wasn't quite true, but it was pretty nearly so. It turned out that the bond between Neuwith and Taibbi was strong enough that even a drawing of the dragon with misplaced spots looked glaringly wrong and Taibbi felt an overweening urge to fix the erroneously placed spots.

Shall we make our next jump? Taibbi asked, recalling the details of Black Sand Hold.

Ready when you are! Neuwith answered.

In a few heartbeats they knew they had made a third successful jump, and there was much rejoicing.
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Taibbi and green Neuwith

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4

Sevenday 1, Grid 1
1. Western Hold: 7
2. Solace Hold: 2
3. Black Sand Hold: 15
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
5. Western Weyr

Visualizing White cliff Weyrhold was actually one of the easier ones for Taibbi. It helped that the place's name gave her a lot of clues as to how it ought to look, and so she didn't have to strain nearly as hard to place all the details where they ought to be. In fact, so great was her confidence in the coordinates, she was the on urging Neuwith to make the jump, rather than the other way around, and was already letting out an exhilarated woop! as the young green hopped into black between.

Isn't this great? Neuwith asked as she turned acrobatic flips in the air to celebrate a fourth completed jump.

"Urf!" Taibbi replied. She did not enjoy when Neuwith got fancy with her flying. It made too much of Taibbi's person jiggle, especially her stomach, and not in an eye-pleasing sort of way.

Sorry! Neuwith exclaimed without even bothering to put the effort into sounding sincere. But we're doing so well!
 

[Princess_Feylin]

Taibbi and green Neuwith

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4

Sevenday 1, Grid 1
1. Western Hold: 7
2. Solace Hold: 2
3. Black Sand Hold: 15
4. White Cliff Weyrhold: 7
5. Western Weyr
3-6: Mostly success! Some potential failure!

If this is your first roll for this circuit, and you have an anxiety level of 1 or 2, you find yourself in dire straits and panicking during your first jump. If you have a 2, you make it out, though it certainly took a lot longer and you're now feeling extra-stressed about this entire affair. If you had a 1, you get lost forever... unless you get your coordinates double-checked.

If this is your fourth or fifth roll for this circuit, and you have a confidence level of 4 or 5, a distraction level of 1 or 2, a Visualization of 1 you find yourself struggling and in need of assistance! If you don't take it or get it, you'll fail your trip Between and wind up lost forever. Whoops!

Alternatively, any of those deaths can be avoided by getting coordinates checked =or= taking a Scare. While it takes way longer to get to your destination, you manage, albeit are shaken. Your Visualization Levels drop one point though, because clearly, you're not doing so hot at this and now are beginning to doubt yourself.


Last one! It wasn't clear which of the dragonrider pair had the thought first. It had probably occurred to both of them simultaneously. Either way, Taibbi did her job, Neuwith did hers, and together the pair leapt between and emerged in the skies above Western Weyr in the span of several heartbeats.

We did it! Neuwith crowed, bugling with pride as they came in for a landing.

We did, Taibbi agreed, wearing a smile so wide her cheeks felt strained. This was probably the first time she'd ever felt like she was naturally good at anything expected of dragonriders, and she was reveling in the feeling.

Neuwith brought them to the ground and Taibbi had to wait for a few minutes while the green preened at her own cleverness, strutting around in circles and enthusiastically informing folks that she and Taibbi did it.

You're bragging. It's embarrassing, Taibbi mumbled as she slid off Neuwith's back.

Oh, fine. I'll stop. For now. I wonder how everyone else is doing?