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Featuring information on Anne McCaffrey's Pern, including Dragonhealing, Herbalry, and Dracogenetics. |
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As Decided by the Masters of the Craft
Dragonhealer training has changed a great deal with time. During previous Passes, Dragonhealers trained informally on an catch-as-catch-can basis, and were promoted at the whim of the local ranking Dragonhealer. While most Apprentices and Journeymen received adequate training, the lack of standards led to varying levels of competence among the Weyrs. Consequently, when craft structure changed, craft standards were the foremost concern of the Craftmasters. Because Dragonhealers wished to retain their natural autonomy (since they work independent of each other, not to mention across vast spans of the world), there is no single Craft Hall. The older, more experienced of the Masters (generally in charge of a Weyr Infirmary) formed a Council to oversee the Craft as a whole and to test and promote the deserving Dragonhealers who are nominated for new rank. They assemble once per Turn, or more frequently if needed. They also make any necessary revisions to the Standards. The Craft Masters decided that while it wasn't plausible to have a Main Crafthall, they needed someone to represent the Craft and its interests Pern-wide. The Craft required a Master, both to supervise the Dragonhealing Craft internally, and to secure the Craft's place and reputation among the Holds, Halls, and Weyrs, safeguarding the interests of all the Dragonhealers. Experience and diplomacy were found in Master Soran, as the oldest Master. He is located at Igen Weyr, and all the main copies of records are stored there for the dry climate. Journeymen from around Pern are welcomed to study at Igen Weyr, especially if studying for their Mastery. They usually return to their former Weyr, or another Weyr. Unlike other crafts, Journeymen and Masters are not posted, per se. Dragonhealers, for the most part, are primarily healers, and as such, they are willing to fill in where there is a need. Also, most live in a Weyr, and so are used to varying and shifting populations. Therefore, when one Weyr requests additional (or replacement) Dragonhealers, that request is generally accommodated. After all, because dragons are frequently in close contact with one another, the health and well-being of one Weyr is critical for the health of all. Because firelizards, who also fall under the management of Dragonhealers, are more common among the Holds than they used to be, many Dragonhealers (either deciding Weyrlife doesn't suit them or retiring) choose to practice at a major Hold or other large holding, often seeing to the needs of the local firelizards. They can take Apprentices to the Craft (indeed, it is encouraged to foster the Dragonhealing Craft in Holdbred persons), but it's recommended that if the Apprentice is going to make Journeyman, to send him or her to a Weyr for further training with dragons, who are an entirely different kettle of fish (or, rather, draconic kind) from firelizards. In addition to achieving competence in dragonhealing, Dragonhealers are required to become proficient in first aid for both beasts and humans. A thorough knowledge of medicinal and harmful plants is also required, as is the ability to harvest them and prepare tinctures, cordials, salves, etc. Surgical abilities will be developed, especially in the areas of trauma repair and wing reconstruction. Treatment of Thread injuries is stressed. The main function remains, however: To heal dragons. Thread causes the majority of serious and minor injuries to dragons on a continual basis, and so Dragonhealers are of critical importance to the Weyr. Dragonhealing is an important and demanding vocation; the demand for Dragonhealers can vary widely, since there is less need during an Interval than during a Pass. In the past, the Craft, neglected during the Intervals, declined and many necessary skills were lost. Those who were Dragonhealers at the end of the Pass often became Healers, since they perceived little call for them to practice their skill. What they failed to consider was the lost art of Dragonhealing: When a Pass came, and there were few or none that understood healing techniques for Thread injuries, it was the dragons who suffered and perished. Thus, the deficiencies led to the Craft being firmly established with Standards to uphold in Training. This was partly to level out the skill among the Weyrs and also to attract more Healing inclined persons to the Craft. Ordinarily, Dragonhealers will press anyone capable of spreading numbweed into service, to allow them more time and energy for surgery and examinations. This doesn't make them Apprentices, since they are often under supervision and direction of the Apprentices, but they are certainly an important part of a Dragonhealing team. And what exactly is a Dragonhealer team, you ask. Well, there is first the large team, all the Dragonhealers in the Weyr are essentially a team, working together to nurse both dragons and firelizards. But there is another level: a small group of Dragonhealers generally works together in surgery and treatment, especially with dragons (who are considerably larger than their firelizard cousins). This can be composed of a Master, two Journeymen, a few Apprentices, and possibly a few Laymen. Or, alternatively, a few Journeymen instead of the Master. It depends on the severity of the injury or wound. And then there is, as always, rank. Apprentice is the first rank. Apprentices to the Craft are accepted after they reach 12 Turns of age. The usual period of Apprenticeship varies from three to six Turns. During the Apprentice Turns, the focus is on dragon and firelizard anatomy and basic skills. Apprentices may be promoted to Journeyman 1st at any time at the discretion of the Weyr Dragonhealer. The Apprentice who is closest to making Journeyman is in charge of directing the Laymen, unless superceded by a Journeyman. When the Council was set up to mediate and adjust the Standards, they realized that in order to achieve Mastery, many Turns would need to be spent as Journeymen. Instead of allowing Journeymen to wallow for Turns without any rank change, they set up a ranking system where the Journeyman rank was tiered for purposes for education and duties. Journeymen can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, each with it's own duties and learning. Journeyman 1st Turns are spent studying draconic first aid and nursing; Journeymen 2nds study surgery and diagnosis; and the Journeymen 3rd Turns are focused on specialization and administration. Promotions to Journeyman 2nd and 3rd are made at the Council at Turn's End. After achieving Journeyman 3rd rank, Dragonhealers may practice without a more senior Dragonhealer in residence. Masters, as in all crafts, are the most skilled of the Dragonhealers. Their primary duty is to treat, and direct Journeymen and Apprentices in the treatment of, dragons. Within the Weyr, the Senior Dragonhealer is virtually autonomous of his fellow Dragonhealers; this allows each Weyr to have Dragonhealers who are not beholden to their Craft above the well-being of the dragon kind. This may seem to go against the grain of other crafts, but if the dragons can not fly Thread, then the welfare of Pern is at stake. However, the Weyr would risk a high price should the Dragonhealers leave. This tends to keep all on good terms, as mutual alliance usually does.
Apprentice Training
Journeyman 1st Training
Journeyman 2nd Training
Journeyman 3rd Training
The Dragonriders of Pern® is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited.
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