Harpercraft Exams: History Exam

The questions:

• Question 1: Who was Masterharper of Pern at the beginning of the Ninth Pass?
• Question 2: Who became Weyrwoman at Ista when Aladra died in the hurricane?
• Question 3: Name the dragon/rider pair in the ballad "Moreta's Ride."
• Question 4: Outline the major details of Jaxom's life (OOC: Explain your choices of what to include.)
• Questions 5: Of what Hold(s) was Fax Lord?

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Question 1: Who was Masterharper of Pern at the beginning of the Ninth Pass? [4 points possible]

Answer: Robinton

Ellena: Masterharper Robinton [4 points]
Azalea: Robinton [4 points]
Zanadia: Masterharper Robinton. [4 points]
Reeba: Robinton [4 points]
Arialla: Robinton [4 points]
Sapphira: If the beginning of the Ninth Pass is the book DragonFlight, then it should be Master Robinton. I think I spelled his name right. [4 points]
Kandar: Masterharper Robinton [4 points]
Torlan: Robinton [4 points]
Ayanna: Master Robinton [4 points]
Kellira: Master Tirone [0 points]
Saundethen: Robinton [4 points]
Loeree: Robinton [4 points]
Oriana: Robinton [4 points]
Taliana: Robinton [4 points]
Kestria: Robinton was the Masterharper of Pern at the beginning of the Ninth Pass. [4 points]
Rain: I'll say Robinton, but it's probably wrong. [4 points]
Ambar: I'm guessing Robinton, but that's the only masterharper I know of. [4 points]
Khayet: Robington [4 points]
Laurenlee: Robinton [4 points]

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Question 2: Who became Weyrwoman at Ista when Aladra died in the hurricane? [4 points possible]

Answer: Milsa. This is from real HT-history, not the Pern books.

Ellena: Milsa. [4 points]
Maori: Saria [0 points]
Arialla: Milsa [4 points]
Sapphira: It was either Saria or Kira, I don't remember which. [0 points]
Kandar: Kira [0 points]
Torlan: Milsa [4 points]
Saundethen: That would be... Aladra's successor. [1 points]
Oriana: Milsa [4 points]
Kestria: Milsa, according to the play. Now how long that lasted, I'm unsure. I know in a later lesson, it was said that a clutch was going to be donated from Southern. I'm unsure of whether Milsa retained senior Weyrwoman of Ista after that clutch hatched and impressed or not, since I can't even remember if there was a queen egg or not. But Milsa took over immediately after Aladra died. [4 points]
Rain: The person who became Weyrwoman at Ista when Aladra died in the hurricane of course! [1 points]
Ambar: ouch, I guess I need to read more of the books. [0 points]
Khayet: Fia [0 points]
Laurenlee: I'll guess Fia since she's the weyrwoman. :) [0 points]

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Question 3: Name the dragon/rider pair in the ballad "Moreta's Ride." [4 points possible]

Answer: Moreta/Orlith. This was something of a trick question. Orlith was Moreta's gold. Those of you who read Moreta's Ride know that the fateful part of it /actually/ took place on Leri's Holth, as Orlith was on the sands. However, in Nerilka's Story (and in a recent *Harper discussion), it was mentioned that in the ballad they decided to leave Moreta on her own dragon, for the sake of posterity. They didn't want to damage the Weyrs the way the truth might.

Ellena: Orlith/Moreta [4 points]
Maori: Moreta and Leri's gold Holth were the ones who made the fateful ride. [3 points]
Azalea: Moreta Impressed gold Orlith; however, it was Leri's Holth she went ::between:: on. Traditional tales and ballads place her on her own lifemate. [4 points]
Zanadia: The pair is Moreta and Orlith, though Moreta rode on Holth. [4 points]
Reeba: Moreta & Orlith [4 points]
Arialla: Moreta/Orlith although the 'fatefull' part of the ride was Moreta/Holth, Holth being Leri's gold. [3 points]
Sapphira: The ballad itself puts Moreta on her Orlith(sp?) even though she was riding the older gold Hoth I believe her name was. [4 points]
Kandar: Moreta/Orlith [4 points]
Kellira: Moreta/Orlith [4 points]
Saundethen: Moreta and Orlith [4 points]
Loeree: Moreta and Orlith (Historically Moreta and Hoth, but that wasn't put in the ballads for political reasons.) [4 points]
Oriana: Moreta and Holth, although Holth was not Moreta's queen. Moreta's dragon was Orlith, who went ::between:: after her clutch hatched. Leri, retired Weyrwoman, was Holth's rider. [3 points]
Kestria: A difficult question, but I believe I have the answer finally. The original story in the /book/ has Moreta on Holth when they both die. The reason for this is because Orlith (Moreta's gold) is on the sands guarding her eggs when the vaccine must be distributed, so Moreta rides Leri's Holth. Both exhausted, they miscalculate the last jump and never come out of ::between::. In the very last chapter of _Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern_, Master Tirone mentions that he will perform his composition, _The Ballad of Moreta's Ride_ but it is never sung or described. _Moreta_ was copyrighted in 1982. However, in _Dragonsinger_, Menolly conducts the _Ballad_ and it is described thusly: 'The final verse, a dirge with keening descant, this time so appropriately rendered by the fire lizards that Menolly waved the humans silent, ended in the sorrowful farewell of a world to its heroines as *Orlith, the dying Moreta on her back,* seeks the oblivion of ::between::.' _Dragonsinger_ was first published in 1977. The reason I bring to mind the publication dates, is to suggest that Ms. McCaffrey could well have 'forgotten' which dragon she had Moreta on in the small passage written in _Dragonsinger_. It was, after all, four years between the time she wrote _Dragonsinger_ and _Moreta_ and avid McCaffrey readers well know her predisposition for making contradictions. Perhaps it was just the author's error and the actual ballad has Moreta on Holth when they go ::between::. One would like to /think/ that a Master Harper wouldn't take such liberties with history, although I suppose there's such a thing as poetic license even on Pern. And a ballad is not an official record for the Archives. Gosh, do you suppose Anne might have /intended/ the contradiction? Makes for great Harper RP, doesn't it? ;) [4 points]
Rain: Moreta and.... wasn't it actually someone else's dragon she rode? [1 points]
Ambar: I /Really/ need to do some more studying [0 points]
Khayet: Moreta and her gold Orilth [4 points]
Laurenlee: Moreta and the elderly queen dragon-not hers I believe. [1 points]

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Question 4: Outline the major details of Jaxom's life (OOC: Explain your choices of what to include.) [4 points possible]

Answer: Another trick question: we were looking not for what was included, but for what was not. On HT, all AIVAS-related stuff is out of theme, so nothing related to that should have been mentioned.

Ellena: His birth which, occurring at the time it did, made him Lord of Ruatha; his Impression of Ruth, the highlight of any man's life, but which in his case would prove to cause him both difficulty and great joy; his & Ruth's retrieval of Ramoth's queen egg, which averted a major catastrophe, and eventually earned the respect of the Benden Weyrleaders; the discovery of Landing, which proved once again how valuable Ruth's abilities were, and gave Lytol a new purpose in life, paving the way for Jaxom to come into his own as Lord Holder; falling in love with Sharra, and the resulting confrontation with Toric, which made him eager to be confirmed Lord Holder, and proved that he could stand on his own with anyone. (The last highlight occurs in "All the Weyrs of Pern," which is out-of-theme for HT. Ruth's ability to know 'when' he is makes the changing of the Red Star's orbit, and the resulting elimination of the threat of Thread, possible.) [4 points]
Azalea: Perhaps one of the first major things that happened in his life was his birth: important for everyone, but several things happened when he did. His mother, Gemma of Crom and married to the infamous Fax, had been brought along when Fax accompanied F'lar's wing on Search. She went into labor when a fight was almost ready to break out between the bronzerider and Lord Holder, crying out in time to divert them. As she was carried away, Fax promised that if the child was male and lived, it should be Lord of Ruatha in place of him. Gemma died before he was born, but the midwives were able to forcibly take him from his mother's womb and he survived, named Lord of Ruatha, and placed under the care of Lytol, a dragonless man who would oversee the Hold until he came of age. Second, he attended a Hatching at Benden Weyr, and when most of the clutch had hatched and impressed, one small egg was left in one corner. Despite attempts to restrain him, Jaxom raced onto the Sands and began to kick the shell, breaking it and freeing the hatchling inside, who was supposed dead. However, the white (never before seen among Pernese dragons) rolled out, and became Jaxom's Ruth. Though he received training and occasionally flew Threadfall when his dragon grew, he lived in Ruatha and stayed Lord Holder, becoming the first person to be both Holder and rider. It was later discovered that Ruth was special for more than his diminutive size and odd coloring: he always knew when and where he was at any time. Later he was able to use that when the queen egg from Benden was stolen by the Oldtimers at Southern Weyr, and then again when Aivas instructed the weyrs how they could use the empty ships to divert the Red Star's course and end Thread. [3 points]
Zanadia: Jaxom's was pulled out of his dead mother's stomach, he was teased by his brother, he Impressed Ruth & became Lord Holder of Ruatha. He met Sharra. [1 points]
Arialla: Jaxom, son of Fax and Lady Gemma (being born having a major impact on the course of events). Lytol became his warder after the death of Fax. Duty and responsibility were trained into the lad, as he was to be Lord Holder when old enough, (being he was an infant when Lytol became his warder). He met and became friends with Felessan, which led to an excursion onto the hatching grounds while Ramoth's eggs were there. Jaxom patted the runt egg, which may or may not have influenced the later hatching of Ruth. Jaxom, upset that no one would help the little egg had gone over the wall and kicked at the shell, helping to release the dragonet inside. Impression occured, the dragon being Ruth. Jaxom was allowed to stay Lord Holder of Ruatha, but was given weryling training. This eventually led to his unique position as both rider and Lord Holder, which was instrumental in helping with the transition that came at the end of thread fall. [3 points]
Sapphira: First there is his birth, then his impression to white Ruth. From there, you have him getting sick and meeting his wife, I forgot her name, then Ruth and him finding Landing. The finding of Avias, and his work to stop Thread, him going forward in time 50 years to make sure that the Red Star was moved correctly. After that, there are many possible things for him but it is sketchy as Anne hasn't written it yet I don't think. I may have missed something like children being born, but I got the basics. [1 points]
Kellira: Birth-death of parents, proclaimed new Lord of Ruatha, Impression of Ruth--obvious!, Retrieving the stolen queen egg--sets future in motion, Discovery (with help) of AIVAS--beginning of the journey to destroy thread! [3 points]
Saundethen: He spent time at Ruatha until becoming Lord Holder, Impressed Ruth, and, um... OOC-That's about all I know from the books I've read. [1 points]
Loeree: The first important event in his life was being born. He was taken (c-section I beleive) from his mother, Gema's, womb after she had died. (Meanwhile Fax was dueling F'lar). The next important event of his life was a trip to visit Felessan (later F'lessan, and son of F'lar and Lessa). In the midst of sneaking off (and incidentaly getting lost), they discover a room which helped Fandarel and the weyrleaders figure out much about the red star. Impressing Ruth was the next important event in his life (only lord holder ever to impress a dragon and retain his hold!). Then (in The White Dragon) He rescues the queen egg, finds D'ram, finds Landing, finds Avis (that did happen in the White Dragon!), and marries Sharra. (The importance of the first set of events are relatively obvious, however the last set is more of litterary importance (hey! Nice Guys /can/ win) than story importance (Closure, yes, and it means Ruatha shall not come up for contention whe Jaxom dies.) [3 points]
Oriana: Birth by caesarian section out of Gemma as she was dying, by Fax as he was killed in a duel with the Weyrleader F'lar, designated as heir to Ruatha. This pretty much sets him up for his training and early life. Lytol, formerly L'tol, appointed Lord Warder to raise Jaxom and run the Hold until the boy's maturity. Impressed white Ruth at Benden Weyr, retaining the title of Lord Holder due to the dragon's unsuitability for regular Weyr duties. Educated at Smithcraft Hall in an experimental program for crosscrafting. Affair with a holder girl, Korana, siring a child and discovering Ruth's sexual immaturity. Secretly recovered Benden's missing queen egg from the Oldtimers with the help of Ruth's throng of firelizard groupies. Met Sharra during a bout with Firehead, discovered Landing shortly thereafter, saved Pern from Threadfall with Ruth's ability to navigate between times, and rescued Sharra from her brother, Holder Toric of Southern, taking her as his Lady Holder. Confirmed as Lord Holder of Ruatha by the Conclave, had kids. I attempted to include those points at which he either met important people or gained insight into his and his dragon's abilities as well as those actions which earned him notoriety or respect. [3 points]
Taliana: 1) His birth -- mainly for the effect it had on Ruatha Hold, in taking it out from under Fax's dominion. 2) His Impression of Ruth -- Ruth was the first and only white dragon, and Jax the first and only dragonriding Lord Holder. 3) His involvement in the discovery and settlement of the Southern Continent (do I really have to give a reason for this being important??) 4) His involvement in the recovery of Aivas and all the information it contained. [3 points]
Kestria: Jaxom's life is one that is well documented in the books and thus, it would be a very simple matter to construct an answer that was quite long. I will restrict myself to pointing out what I consider to be the most important moments in Jaxom's life, with an explanation as to why I have chosen those moments. To begin, I think it is important to note Jaxom's birth, for without it, there could be no life to summarise. Jaxom was born at Ruatha near the end of the 8th Interval, specifically, on the 19th day of the 3rd month of the 448th Turn of the 8th Interval and was the son of Fax and Gemma. Within minutes of his birth, Fax is killed by F'lar which is important to note, since Fax had been heard and witnessed as saying he renounced hold of Ruatha in favour of Gemma's issue if it were male, so almost the moment Jaxom was born, he became the Lord Holder of Ruatha. This inheritance of course meant he required a Lord Warder until such time as he could Hold Ruatha himself, and Lytol is appointed as such. One important event before Jaxom impresses Ruth occurs when he and Felessan get lost on their way back from looking at the eggs through a crack in the wall. In one of the old, abandoned rooms, they discover some ancient tools, one of which is later revealed to be the distance viewer. Without the discovery of the distance viewer much of the plots of Dragonquest and White Dragon would be lost and it's one heck of an important tool to discover. And then of course there's the moment he impresses Ruth. Ignoring all the protests, he leaps onto the sands to run to the littlest egg's assistance, helping it to hatch and impressing the only white dragon on Pern; Ruth. The impression is significant for a couple reasons; he helped an egg that probably wouldn't have hatched on its own and so Ruth probably shouldn't technically exist naturally and Jaxom went against convention in providing the aid, something he continues to do throughout his life -- being unconventional; and being a dragonriding Lord Holder is probably the greatest of these unconventional 'acts'. One could now cite Jaxom and Ruth's private training sessions and remark on how they learned much on their own and disobeyed commands, but none of these seem as important as that of his rescuing the gold egg that was stolen by the Oldtimers of Southern Weyr and taken back into the past. Jaxom and Ruth 'time' it to rescue the egg and bring it back so that no one knows it was ever stolen, revealing that Ruth is the only dragon that always knows 'when' he is. Being in the group that discovered Ship Meadow and the first settlement is also pretty darn significant as this leads to the discovery of AIVAS. And finally, being confirmed as Lord Holder of Ruatha after his rescue of and marriage to Sharra is what I'd call a pretty important event as it shows the Conclave accepts him as a Lord Holder even though he rides a dragon, making Jaxom a darn good liason between Holds and Weyrs. (Phew... busy boy!) [3 points]
Rain: Birth, first off. I'd say that's pretty major. Impressing Ruth, the /only/ white dragon ever. That's enough to change /anyone's/ life, even if it hadn't been white. His first chance to fly Thread with the rest of the Dragonriders. It's an experience to remember. When he stole back the Queen egg from Southern Weyr after they'd stolen it from Benden Weyr. It prevented dragon from fighting dragon. I suppose I could include his love life, but that's a little overshadowed by the rest... [2 points]
Ambar: Jaxom is born at Ruatha hold following Fax's death (I still get worried about naming my flit shadowfax sometimes). Jaxom is trained by Lytol to someday be the lord holder of Ruatha. Jaxom impresses Ruth, the white dragon. Jaxom betweens back in time to rescue Ramoth's queen egg. Jaxom gets sick and has to be tended at the cove. Jaxom is a major part of the team that went to uncover the old colony ships. I chose these because I searched my memory for major events from the history text and put down all the ones that stood out in my mind. [3 points]
Khayet: His birth was rather eventful, Lady Gemma had been brought to Ruatha by Fax when she was heavy with Jaxom durring a Search-visit by Benden Weyr. The Weyr's search was lead by F'lar, with several other riders present including his half brother F'nor. Lessa, then a drudge exterted her 'power' over Fax and F'lar, causing them to set up the 'bet', the telling factor being Gemma's delivery. If the babe was a boy, born alive and well Fax would give up Ruatha to him, and a Lord Warder would be instuted immeadetly. Lessa thought she lied when she said the boy was alive. The duel broke out, and Fax lost to F'lar. Then it was learned the Lessa was Ruatha's rightful heir, but should be searched. Jaxom was put into place as was agreed, Lessa was searched and Lytol was named Lord Warder. This being a rather unusual way to gain a hold, I thought it important since it would set the tone of his whole life. When Jaxom was an adolecent, he was in Benden Weyr in part on business when he 'touched' the egg that would months later hatch his Ruth. Ruth, being shelled an albino and weak had a hard time hatching and called out to Jaxom in the stands. The lad broke protocol and entered the sands and helped Ruth from the shell and impressed. Their training was sponsored by Fort Weyr, since Ruatha looks to Fort. This is important because Jaxom's relationship with Ruth is the deepest, most pure in Jaxom's life. As Jaxom grew, he started learning more and more what to do and how to manage his hold, his responsibility grew, but there was the want to fight thread, as he thought he should being technically a dragonrider. He and Ruth decided to try it with out training at first which promoted a more extensive training in the subject. This is important because it shows that Jaxom was thinking for himself, and though trying something extreemly dangerous because he thought it was the right thing to do. After this, when he was going between Landing and Ruatha nearly every day, he and the Harper Menolly contracted Firehead disease while on the Southern Continant. After going back and forth a few times, Jaxom excellerated and worsened his condition before he knew he was ill. It was then that he met and fell in love with Sharra, the sister of the Lord of Southern and a healer in her right. She nursed Jaxom through his illness and fell in love with him and Ruth. This is improtant because this is Jaxom's true romance, his pasion and his Lady, and he has to fight to gain her. After this, Jaxom was confirmed as the Lord of Ruatha in full, Lytol retired after a time to Cove Hold. This shows Jaxom's full maturity into Manhood. Eventually, AVIAS discovered the soloution to the problem of Thread and both Jaxom and Sharra were a part of the process that took turns to accomplish. The abilities of Ruth to 'know' times and desitnations was of the greatest help, and actually caused the long intervals. This is important because it shows not only Ruth, but Jaxom's uniqueness and their contributions to Pern. Master Robington's death was hard on Jaxom, he offered to do anything nessescary to change that enevitible end, but in the end he accepted that all that lives dies. This is important because it's true. After this, Jaxom went back to ruling Ruatha, which to the best of our knowledge, it basicly the end of things. [3 points]
Laurenlee: born, lord under lytol, ruth, lord, returned egg, sick. They just stick out in my mind. [4 points]

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Question 5: Of what Hold(s) was Fax Lord?r [4 points possible]

Answer: None. This was yet another trick question (lot of those in this section; it may explain why no one managed a perfect score). In Masterharper of Pern, it mentions that Fax never came before Conclave, and thus was never confirmed Lord. No one got this, so it was deemed to be unfair... Anyone who listed all seven of the Holds (whose names you can find in Renegades) got full credit.

Ellena: High Reaches, Crom, Nabol, Ruatha, and 3 other smaller holds. [3 points]
Azalea: Fax conquered six Holds: Ruatha, Nabol, High Reaches and three lesser holds (unnamed), as well as gaining Crom by marrying its Lady Gemma, making a total of seven. [2 points]
Zanadia: Fax was Lord of Ruatha, High Reaches, Nabol, and Crom. [2 points]
Reeba: High Reaches [1 points]
Arialla: He controlled seven holds, Ruatha Hold, High Reaches Hold, Crom Hold. *grins* I can't remember the others, but they are all in the northwestern area of Pern. [1 points]
Sapphira: I know that he was Lord of High Reaches Hold and Ruatha Hold, but I don't know the names of the 5 others that he was Lord of. I went through DragonFlight and couldn't find it. [1 points]
Torlan: Fax first became (IE usurped) the Lord Holder of High Reaches. He soon took the other major holds of Nabol, Crom, and Ruatha, and the smaller cotholds of Keogh, Balen, and Riverbend. [4 points]
Kellira: High Reaches, Ruatha, Keogh Hold, one unnamed in Tillek, Crom, ??? [3 points]
Saundethen: High Reaches, Crom, Nabol, Ruatha, and three other minor holds [3 points]
Oriana: High Reaches, Crom, Nabol, "three lesser holds", and Ruatha. [3 points]
Kestria: Fax first took over High Reaches Hold by murdering the Lord Holder and his family. He accomplished this task through the use of a group of brigands he'd managed to build up as followers. Through sequestering the Hold harpers and refusing entrance to other itinerant harpers, he kept his actions secret. Once he had gained complete control, he released the terrified harpers, certain they would tell no one and even if they did, that no one would believe them since what he'd done had never before been accomplished or even attempted in all of Pern's history. By marrying Gemma of Crom Hold he added that Hold to his territory of rule. Fax murdered the holder of a smaller holding in Tillek, thus taking control of his third Hold. Through murder, he took over Keogh Hold and the count rose to four. He then conquered Nabol in much the same way that he had High Reaches. One more smaller hold was added to his tyrannical rule before he finally managed to take over his seventh Hold, Ruatha (which was Lessa's fault, actually since her future self was present at the time Fax was invading and thus the watch whers didn't raise the alarm.) So to summarise, Fax was Lord Holder of High Reaches, Crom, Keogh, two other small holds, Nabol and Ruatha. [3 points]
Rain: High Reaches, Ruatha, and more, but I'd have to look them up again. [1 points]
Ambar: dangit. Naturally this has to be a question that comes up right /after/ I lose my copy of the book. I think he was lord over Tillek, I know he had Ruatha, and as for the rest, I know he had generally more than anybody thought anybody should ever have (Think it was 4 or 5) [0 points]
Khayet: High Reaches, Crom, Nabol, Ruatha, Radharc, Keogh, The seventh, to the best of my knowledge was never mentioned, it being a minor hold, likely Ogren or Plateau. [3 points]
Laurenlee: high reaches, nabol, ruatha, crom, and 3 others that I can't name. [3 points]

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Subtotals:

Azalea: 13
Saundethen:13
Zanadia: 11
Ayanna: 4
Ellena: 19
Torlan: 12
Reeba: 9
Sapphira: 10
Kandar: 8
Arialla: 15
Kellira: 10
Loeree: 11
Oriana: 17
Maori: 3
Taliana: 7
Kestria: 18
Rain: 9
Ambar: 7
Khayet: 14
Laurenlee: 12

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