Although some of F'lar's hopes for the future did not come about,
the Weyrleaders made sure they did not forget their original purpose
nor allowed the holders and crafters to forget either. When the Red
Star drew close again (as the starsmiths predicted it would), the queens
started rising more frequently and producing larger clutches. The Southerners
grew concerned that they would be unprotected during the upcoming Pass.
While the land was thoroughly grubbed, it takes time for the fields
to be fully protected and there was so much room on Southern that grubs
couldn't reproduce fast enough to cover the newly cultivated fields.
Also, as the holders more than once stated (rather loudly), no one wanted
to be grateful to a grub! Plans were made to expand the already existing
areas of dragon concentration and to build new Weyrs to ensure Southern
would not turn into the barren land of the Ballads. There are now several
Weyrs on the Southern Continent: Theran, directly to the south of the
Eastern Ring, Sable, Southern, Kieres, Crescent, Crystal, and Haven. The islands
along the Eastern Ring also got a new Weyr: StarRise.
The Tenth Pass, however, has been harsh on the Weyrs. Early in the Pass, Kieres Weyr was destroyed when the dormant volcano that housed it erupted. Finally, in turn 18, Crescent Weyr was founded and opened to replace the lost Kieres. In turn 21, a virulent plague became a pandemic. On 22.09.05, a meteor struck Crystal Weyr, immediately destroying it and all inhabitants that were inside. Only those who were not at the Weyr at that time survived, including Goldrider Lalytha. A few turns later, on 25.09.27, an earthquake epicentered on the Far Western Continent causes the collapse of the Windwall, resulting in massive, world-wide destruction and chaos.
Pern was not done with her destruction, however. No sooner had the people recovered from the Windwall Tragedy when another earthquake on 28.06.27, centered in the Eastern Ring Islands, caused another tragedy. Tsunamis lashed the islands again, and StarRise Weyr became toxic when a cave in in a distant tunnel released a poisonous gas into the warren of tunnels and caverns that housed the weyrfolk. Most of the dragonriders were out of the Weyr participating in their Spring Games. The folk of the lower caverns, however, the children in the nursery who weren't watching the games, and Weyrwoman Vinalli, on the hatching sands with her gold, were lost. StarRise Weyr was evacuated, the survivors spread among the other Weyrs of Pern until the gas dissipated, repairs were made, and the skilled miners and smiths could assure everything that the freak accident would not, could not, be repeated.
Sable Weyr is searching for a site to refound Crystal Weyr. The Far Western Continent now has one Weyr to replace the lost four: Northwind Weyr. StarRise Weyr reopened on 33.03.01 and is flying strong and healthy. The Pernese hope that the rest of the Pass will finish in calm and quiet...
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