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Dragonriders and Thread
Topic Started: Jan 6 2010, 12:35 AM (1,084 Views)
cheddarness8
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Weyrsinger
It is common knowledge of most well-read Pernese-philes that the series was written with the backstory in mind that Pern's discovery and eventual colonization occurred very far in Earth's future. One reason why so many colonists willingly slept through a 15-year-journey to an isolated planet and agricultural, technologically-limited society was because the known universe's sentient life at the time had been engaged in war; another reason is that the heavily-industrialized worldwide society of Earth had filled the planet with irreversible pollution. Pern was a new start for these people.

The huge Oort cloud at the edge of the system contains debris, including a foreign mycorrhiza along with the asteroids and other naturally-occurring space junk. The mechanism that brings Thread to Pern is that the Red Star-- the erratic planet mentioned above-- travels through the Oort cloud as a regular part of its orbit (if only on the outer part of it). The debris it drags back into the inner solar system with it, crosses the path of Pern's orbit. And when Pern passes through this trail of debris, the mycorrhiza enter the atmosphere of Pern and begin their life cycle. They start as hard-cased ovoids which break open in the heat and pressure of the atmosphere. Their inner form is fibrous and stringy, thus the name "Thread." Falling from the sky, a bystander might see Threadfall simply as silver rain. However, the primary difference between Thread and rain is that while rain nourishes the soil, Thread destroys it. Thread devours any organic material it touches. It needs only oxygen and a food source to live. It can drown, and it can be burned to ashes. When Thread falls over water and drowns, it is consumed by the marine life; and when it is burned to ashes, it can safely land on the ground. That's where the name Pass comes from; a period of 50 years while the planet Pern is passing through this debris trails. And the 200 years while the planet is not close enough to a debris trail to be invaded by Thread is called an Interval.

That's where the Dragonriders come in. They Fly during Threadfall, charring the Thread and killing it to keep the rest of Pern safe. The riders do wear protective gear, but it is insufficient to protect against Thread should they be touched with it (but nothing save fire and the cold of between can kill it, save drowning). Dragons wear no protective gear. The main safety mechanism utilized by both dragon and rider is the dragons' ability to travel between spaces, or their ability to between. In this freezing, pitch-black void, the Thread freezes and can be brushed off when dragon and rider re-emerge from between. As for individuals who do not have the ability to travel between-- like Holders (the average non-riders, something like a Pernese city-dweller), or Crafters (Holders who excel at a particular skill, like music or healing, for example), the best bet is to submerge the limb (though the lack of oxygen will slow it, the source of food means that the Thread will not die as quickly), and amputate the limb.

The method that the dragons use to breathe fire is actually a process of digestion. A special mineral, came to be known as firestone, is fed to the dragons (by their riders). This is the purpose of the dragons' second stomach: to digest this special stone. (Digestion in the first stomach would not lead to the same result and, indeed, would probably be unpleasant for the dragon.) The breakdown of firestone in the dragon's second stomach results in the production of a highly flammable gas. The dragons belch out this gas, and when it comes in contact with the oxygen in the air, it ignites. This is the main mechanism that Thread is fought with. Dragons who cannot chew firestone for whatever reason simply fly while their riders weild "flamethrowers," or wearable canisters of agenothree (HNO3, or nitric acid), which has a similar effect on the Thread.

Finally, Pern was created as a planet without religion, so there is no deity or worship. In Pernese life, the people do not remember their origins, as the records telling of it were destroyed in the disastrous First Pass, and the canon fiction has always stuck to this implemented belief, that the Pernese have no religion, and don't question their origins. (However unrealistic it is, Anne has spoken a number of times on the issue, so it is in the interest of respect that we keep it this way.) That's not to say that there isn't a difference of opinions, however. Harpers, a special type of Crafters given the task of educating Pern (as well as usually having musical talent), travel all over the continent to educate the people. Some areas are stuck in their beliefs and do not want the Harpers to come introduce new "abominations" to them and their families. (The Hills people of the Keroon Plain would be one example of these people.) So, just because there is no religion, doesn't mean that there is no conflict on Pern! (However, it is just about unheard of for holds or people to join in combat or war with one another. While dueling between individuals, or combat between two people, is not particularly uncommon, these efforts on a large scale simply don't happen. The reason for this is that the whole planet of Pern is united against a common enemy, Thread. There are individuals who seek to gain something and will kill to get it, but they are also uncommon.)
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