Paric

Paric is a handsome man, a couple of inches short of 6'. His hair, brown in color, is cut short, as he does not wish to bother with the hassles involved in having long hair. Looking at his face you notice that his eyes at first appear to be hazel in color, however, their color seems to constantly shift from brown to black to green. His forehead is wrinkled in apparent concentration of some matter of importance. He begins talking to himself, scratches his left brow and then while sketching something in a notebook he is holding in his right hand, grins and exclaims 'Yes...yes that'll work! Hmmm! But maybe there is a better way.' At which point he rubs his chin with his left hand and stares intensely at what he had just drawn.

He is wearing a very comfortable pair of forest green pants and a light cotton shirt with short sleeves, perfect for the hot climate of Ista. Perched on Paric's shoulder is Tirpitz.

Paric is wearing a heavy band of gold made lovingly by Cera. Recessed within the center of the band is a beautiful antique star sapphire. An exquisite display of blue fire resembling the sky at midnight erupts from the stone when the light hits the inner matrix of the large sapphire. Tiny crystal chips, like drops of rain, cascade down the sides of the ring interspersed with miniature marquise sapphires.

Paric wears the knot of a Smith Craftsecond.

Paric is 34 Turns, 1 month, and 13 days old.

Balcony Landing

A wide staircase leads downward to the hall below. A stone railing runs along the landing from where it is possible to view the large Gathering Hall below. Glow baskets illuminate the landing and an very old tapestry woven many years ago depicting the role of the Smithcraft, from the Master to the Apprentice.

Baskets set into the wall are filled with sweet-smelling herbals.

Below, you see two people.

Obvious exits:
West Wing Craftmaster's Office Crafter's Lounge East Wing Grand Staircase

You peer through to Gathering Hall and see...

The room seems to loom as you enter, though the warmth within easily overcomes that feeling. It's huge, easily taking up a good third of the hall, and offering room for most people to sit and chat. The heat of the great hearth on the far wall spreads throughout, the merry crackling adding a peaceful undertone to the usually occupied room, heard even above the murmer of voices. Tables are all but littered about, pulled into and out of place by friends at a regular basis. Several more permanent tables and benches are settled along the far edge, an ever-full klah pot and several trays of various and sundry snacks almost always set out for the hungry and bored. The walls are decorated, tapestries denoting every part of Pern society strung about. Along the wall above the kitchen, in particular, is the pride and joy of the weavers: a string of dragons flying Threadfall. The vibrant flames and metallic hues of the dragons seem to glow as the flickering firelight strikes them. Above everything runs a long overhang, people passing to and fro, passing overhead of the figures and gatherings below. A handful of glowbaskets light the upper ends, the rest of the mainroom light brightly with candles and decorative lighting.

Various scents assult your nose as you walk in here. The rich smell of foods from the kitchen. The fire's smoke and heat. The sweet odors of various pipeweeds from the gossipers surrounding the hearthside table. The aromatic baskets do little here, except add their own faint undertones.

You see Fireworks Tapestry and Smith Booth here.

Bryon and Teric are here.

You go to the Gathering Hall.

You notice Teric looking at you.

Teric

Teric appears at first glance to be a bit unkempt. His sandy blond hair, which even though is kept quite clean, and short except for the top where it's only slightly longer, still manages to look tousled. The calmness of his eyes, however, makes up for that, clear and blue as the summer sky over Ista. Teric is of a somewhat rugged build, standing at 5' 11''. He seems to be built for hard work, his muscles, while not quite spectacular, certainly are far from scrawny and show they've seen plenty of use.

Teric wears a light gray, short-sleeved shirt. A light, somewhat faded, dark brown wherhide jacket covers that. He is also wearing rather heavy black pants which are tucked into black, mid-calf, wherhide boots. He wears a thick, black, wherhide belt around his waist. A small, dark and rather bulky wherhide bag hangs from his left hip.

Teric is 19 Turns, 7 months, and 22 days old.

Bryon

Bryon is five foot eleven inches tall with broad, muscular shoulders. His brown eyes seem to look from thing to thing with quick little glances from under thin brown eyebrows. His hair is a deep brown and slightly more under control now than it was turns ago. His arms are lean and tone from working at the forges. His chest makes it look that the area just under his shoulders has a barrel hidden under his tunic as his broad muscled chest leads down from this shoulders, thinning a bit at his waist leading down to a trim and muscled stomach. His arms are large and solid, his left arm having a long scar that goes from just on top of his wrist to just above his elbow.

This tunic is woven of a light linen and dyed turquoise, conforming nicely to %n's torso. It is secured around the waist with a matching wherhide belt. The collar is slightly higher than normal, reaching about half way up the neck to show off the SmithCraft emblem embroidered in red and white thread on either side of the collar. Long, loose sleeves travel down to his wrists, but are usually rolled half way up his lower arms. Metal buttons, each with an emblem of the SmithCraft etched into them, are used to fasten the tunic shut. Fitted cotton trous dyed a medium brown color add a nice contrast to the outfit. They are rolled up a few inches at the ends and are loose enough to hang over the top of boots. The clothes are obviously not meant for regular work, but rather for casual occasions.

Bryon is 21 Turns, 3 months, and 2 days old.

Paric smiles and nods as he arrives in the Gathering Hall. "Good evening Bryon." and then nods greeting to Teric.

Teric lifts a hand to wave at the man who just arrived.

Bryon looks up and nods to Paric, "sir.."

You notice Teric looking at you.

Paric chuckles and nods, "Well...I'm back off to woodcraft...if anyone is looking for me...tell them I went the other way!" he says with a mischevious grin.

Bryon smiles, "Teric here would like an interview, sir.."

Teric nods to Paric quickly. "Yes, sir, if that's alright."

Paric frowns, "Hmmm...well." Then winking at Bryon, "Well if you think he'll be able to do a little work at the same time."

Teric's eyes light up a bit. He nods quickly before waiting for Bryon to respond.

Paric chuckles, "Well...then lets go do some work." he says with a grin, indicating for the young man to follow him down to the woodcraft hall.

Teric quickly follows after Paric, pausing only to wave back to Bryon. "Thank you for you help!" he calls out with a grin.

You go to the Courtyard.

Courtyard

Light, whether sun or moons-light, shines through the branches of the surrounding forest area. The trees standing above the buildings create a peaceful image, the wind whispering through them calming and pleasent. Below your feet, the courtyard is paved with stone, patterns winding their way in in-set paths towards each of the buildings. A particularly bright one, lined in glimmers of metallic bronze tones, runs straight towards the main Crafthall. A few smaller trees, planted so overhanging branches shade the yard, are surrounded with decorative patterns of darker stones as well. Benches are set beneath them, and along the outside of the buildings, to give travellers and crafters, both, a place to sit when the days are particularly good.

It is an autumn evening.

To the north, you see two people.

You see Flamer Chargin Unit, flamer rack, and Periwinkle-purple-polka-dotted Flag here.

Obvious exits:
Craft Hall Stables Smithcraft Hall Path Woodcraft Building Large Clearing

Teric walks in from the Gathering Hall.

You go to the WoodCraft.

WoodCraft

The Woodcraft Building bustles with activity as apprentices, journeymen, and master woodcrafters move about and ply their trade. The floor, freshly swept by one of the many apprentices working here, is a smooth gray stone. Along one wall, a variety of stacks of lumber lie on shelves lining the wall. One the other side of the room, are several tall cabinets containing the tools of the woodcrafters, as well as various dyes, stains and other finishes. The other two walls have pegs driven into the wall where hang a multitude of saws, chisels, and planes. Underneath these tools, are benchtops where the crafters sit and work on their various projects. In the center of this large room are two large tables with many drawers and vises attached.

The scent of fresh cut lumber permeates the room.

The window looks out over Courtyard.

Through the open window, you notice that It is an autumn evening.

To the west, you see one person.

You see a small bookshelf here.

Obvious exits:
Courtyard Millworks Stairs

Teric walks in from the Courtyard.

Paric walks over to one wall and removes an apron which he immediately dons. "Well...lets see. Teric, wasn't it? Why don't you go over and grab one of those planks of wood and bring it over to the bench."

Teric looks around the building slowly, then nods at Paric's instructions. He quickly strides over and takes a plank of wood, carrying it over to the bench. "There you go," he adds quietly.

Paric walks over to his workbench and opens one of the drawers. "Hmmm...where is it. Ah...." he says pulling out a large plane."

Paric nods, "Thank you. So... how is it that you have come to the Smithcraft Hall?

Paric places the bench plane on the surface of the plank and begins to move it along a diagonal, small wisps of wood begin to curl out from it. "Hmmm...why don't you hold on to the other end of this plank." he suggests to Teric.

Teric stands a bit off to the side, keeping out of the way. "Well, the last six months or so I've been helping one of the Smiths from back home, and I just really like it. It can be quite challenging," he explains, taking a firm grip on the end of the plank of wood.

Paric nods, "Home? Where is that?"

"Telgar," Teric responds, nodding with his head in a rather general direction of north.

Paric smiles and nods while apparently concentrating on moving the plane across the surface of the wood. "Ah...well, you do seem to be rather old to start an apprenticeship. What have you been doing before you were helping ... hmmmm...you didn't mention the smith's name?"

Teric nods slowly. "Kurt, and eye, I know. My parents are both Herders and Telgar Weyr, and it was always assumed I'd follow in their footsteps."

Paric stops moving the plane for a moment to brush away the small bits of shaved wood to one side, then begins to move the plane along the other diagonal.

Paric smiles and nods, "Yes...my parents wished that I would follow in there 'footsteps' too. Though I must admit, I did eventually, " he says with a grin.

Paric looks up at the young man and winks.

Teric smiles, nodding again. "Well, I was doing my best, but the Herder life just isn't for me. Then Kurt, who's an old friend of my father, asked if I'd like to start helping him out, and I just really liked it." He shrugs for a moment. "Mostly I just ran erands and did simple projects, but I'd like to learn how to do it all now."

Paric chuckles, "Ah...well, so what sort of projects did you help good ol' Smith Kurt do?"

Teric says, "He mostly did repairs around the Weyr, though he made quite a few contraptions of his own." Teric pauses, trying to remember everything. "He made quite a few custom-made tools for people, pulleys, locks. He'd fix the wagons that came in from time to time.""

Lionel strides in from the Courtyard.

Mamo walks in from the Courtyard.

Lionel strides to the Courtyard.

Mamo walks to the Courtyard.

Paric nods, "Ah...and what type of projects did you help him with?" he says with a chuckle as he looks back down at the plank and concentrates on his planing while awaiting the young man's answer. The bench planes appears to glide over the surface of the plank as less and less wisps of wood appear.

Teric shuffles his feet a bit, still holding onto the plank of wood. "Well... mostly I just brought him whatever tools or metals he needed, or water, oil... things like that."

Paric looks up and smiles. He reaches into the drawer under the bench top and pulls out an angled piece of metal. He nods at Teric's answer. "Ah...well it is a start, isn't it?" He places the piece of metal on the surface of the wood and runs it along its entire length. "Hmmm...looks okay. Why don't you take this plank over to that other wall, and then bring me another one."

Teric nods, hefting up the wood, careful not to hit anything. He slowly lays it down near the other wall and trots over to get a new one, laying that one down on the bench.

Paric nods thanks, "Hmmmm...do you know what I am doing?" he asks looking at Teric.

Teric looks down at the wood, then back to Paric. "Well... I think you're leveling out the wood... making the sides smoother, I mean," Teric adds, eventually just trailing off. "No, I don't know, actually."

Paric chuckles and nods, "Yes...that I am."

Paric chuckles, "So....what do you bring with you that one of my apprentice doesn't already have?"

Teric grins a bit, relieved he didn't make a total fool of himself yet, but the grin falls at Paric's question. "Bring, sir? I'm afraid not much. I didn't have much to begin with except what I'm wearing and the will to work hard, to not give up."

Paric chuckles and shakes his head. He scratches the side of his face with his left hand and grins. "Well... not exactly the answer I was looking for.... What sort of skills do you have. That was what I was getting at."

Paric chuckles, "But you have answered...nonetheless."

Teric nods slowly. "I'm terribly sorry... I'm afraid I don't have much in that area. I grew up as a Herder, so other than fixing harnesses and fences and bits..." Teric sighs and shrugs slightly. "That's it, I'm afraid."

Paric grins, "Well...Smiths work very hard, day in and day out. Are you capable of doing that in addition to the studies and projects that you will be assigned?"

Teric nods quickly. "Of course!" he adds.

Paric nods and smiles, "Okay...then Smith Apprentice Teric. I suggest you get yourself up to the Apprentice Dorms and get yourself settled in. One of the masters will be by and give you your assignment."

Teric has been promoted to Apprentice.

A small smile turns into a huge grin as Teric nods slowly. "Yes sir!" he replies. "You won't be disappointed, I promise."

Paric grins, "I'd better not be...."

Teric pauses for a moment, then turns toward the courtyard, pausing at the entrance to the building to wave once more to Paric before heading out into the night.