Here is a rough overview of the events of Chapter 1, which take place from Turn 1,250 to 1,255. The player characters range in age from 11 to 13. Events are organized by year (“Turn” on Pern) and season. Minor encounters are not included. Click here for the soundtrack.
Turn 1,250
SPRING
- Tanivel and miner’s assistant Levon lose a borrowed anemometer while exploring volcanic caverns.
- Toria finds a missing canine, an old shepherd named Shaggie, for Headwoman Ranella. She encounters a wild female wherry protecting its eggs and is forced to fight. She and her companion discover Shaggie’s puppies.
- Kebrin’s mentor, Senior Journeyman Harper Garoway, laments about the gradual shutdown of Ista Weyr.
SUMMER
- Kebrin is sent to Harper Hall as Garoway’s apprentice.
- Toria overhears Healer Master Valora arguing with a holder over who gets sent to Healer Hall. A letter arrives for Toria, announcing her formal apprenticeship.
- K’len and blue Pentiath of Fort Weyr fetch Kebrin and Toria to Fort Hold. It is Toria’s first flight and travel between.
- Tanivel is forced to defend his new friend Colbar from their rival Radek in front of a group of rebellious boys.
- Tanivel overhears his father Maletin arguing with Miner Master Gronaden.
- Tanivel gets sent to Keroon Hold to study masonry under Minesmith Master Borgen. He takes the two-masted schooner Hephaestus and meets Captain Trevion.
- The summer semester begins at the Halls. Toria and Kebrin begin their first Turn of study.
AUTUMN
- The PCs enjoy their first Gather as apprentices at Fort Hold. Firelizards beg Toria for food.
WINTER
- The PCs spend their first Turnover in their new homes. Garoway visits and Master Valora sends a letter.
- Toria’s study partner, senior apprentice Sylvie, contemplates dropping out of Healer Hall.
Turn 1,251
SPRING
- The PCs first Turn of study ends. They enjoy spring break at the Hall and nearby Hold.
SUMMER
- The summer semester begins. Toria and Kebrin begin their second Turn of study.
AUTUMN
- Toria is sent to harvest needlethorn and discovers a renegade cache of smuggled pharmaceuticals in a cave. She is discovered, kidnapped, and taken to Spearstone.
- Drudge Ned of Harper Hall asks Kebrin to teach him to read in secret.
Turn 1,252
SPRING
- The PCs second Turn of study ends. Spring break is full of minor soecial adventures.
- Kebrin and Toria walk the tables for the first time, accepting promotions to Senior Apprentice.
SUMMER
- The summer semester begins, along with the PCs third Turn of study.
- Kebrin discovers a pair of Apprentices cheating. The boy, senior apprentice Kailas, is helping the girl, junior apprentice Nissa, because he’s interested in her.
AUTUMN
- Benden Weyr’s junior gold Malasanth of Farwyn rises to mate, flown by S’bral’s brown Kelesoth.
- Kebrin affects a crowd while performing at Autumn Gather, projecting his emotions through music and talent.
- Toria is attacked by a Fire-banded Krite while visiting the secret cache and leaving supplies for Spearstone. She is helped by firelizards.
WINTER
- Search begins for Malasanth’s clutch of 18 eggs in Benden’s holdings.
Turn 1,253
SPRING
- The PCs third Turn of study ends. They are promoted to junior journeymen before spring break. Toria has a spring fling with holder boy.
- Fort Weyr’s gold Feyneth of Jonara rises to mate and is flown by S’gar’s bronze Relianath.
SUMMER
- The summer semester and a fourth Turn of study begins. Toria and Kebrin enjoy a final Turn together with some of their dorm mates.
- The Search for Feyneth’s clutch of 25 takes place in Fort holdings, including Harper and Healer halls. At Harper Hall, library assistant Tumar is selected, along with Kebrin. There is strife when the Masterharper prevents the Search Rider from taking Kebrin.
- Igen Weyr’s gold Kyloth of Bellora rises to mate.
AUTUMN
- Feyneth’s clutch hatches at Fort Weyr. Tumar returns to the Hall when he does not Impress.
- Search begins for Kyloth’s clutch of 20 in Igen’s holdings.
WINTER
- Kebrin begins training his mental gift with Master Karthen.
- Earthquakes off the coast make “seismic sea waves” on 11/8 during Autumn Break. The PC’s are flown to Ruatha River Hold to help rescue flooded coastal cotholds.
- The PCs participate in massive rescue efforts. Along the way, they discover an abandoned hold with an ancient cache of artifacts, and rescue a clutch of firelizard eggs hidden within.
- The Masterharper and Masterhealer give speeches of praise and thanks to their Halls, along with Lady Holder Thenora.
- Kebrin impresses a bronze firelizard, named Chance. Toria impresses a blue firelizard, which she names River.
- Toria almost loses sponsorship by Master Zemel when her firelizard causes mischief in his laboratory.
Turn 1,254
SPRING
- The PCs fourth Turn of study ends. They walk the tables and become senior journeymen. Not all of their friends are promoted.
- Toria and Kebrin receive invitations to the Master’s Breakfast the next day to talk about their futures and get recommendations.
- Master Velora and Garoway arrive to celebrate over dinner feasts.
- Spring break is filled with fond farewells as many friends return home to their holds.
SUMMER
- Summer semester begins. Kebrin, Toria, and their classmates begin working towards Master rank. Some of their friends accept postings at far-away holds.
AUTUMN
- The PCs firelizards reach full growth and adulthood.
Turn 1,255
SPRING
- The PCs fifth Turn of study ends. Spring break is a welcome rest.
- Benden Weyr’s gold Tamarath of Shanira rises to mate. G’faen’s bronze Jerosith loses to R’mar’s bronze Kaideth, changing the leadership of the second largest Weyr.
SUMMER
- Summer semester begin a sixth Turn of study for would-be Masters.
- The Search for Tamarath’s clutch of 22 begins in Benden’s holdings. The Weyr takes a more liberal stance in its relations with the holdings it protects.
WINTER
- K’len bids the PCs farewell and returns to Fort Weyr. A few weeks later, he and blue Pentiath pass away due to K’len’s heart condition. J’din and stormy blue Senith are assigned to replace them.