Out Of Character
On the first day after the Restday after the first Candidate arrived, the Headwoman arranged with the three Candidates' chore supervisors for them to be released from chores an hour early to attend their next Candidate lesson. Most of the material for this lesson was included in the pamphlet that she'd given them at the end of their initial interview, so she started the lesson with a pop quiz:
After the quiz, the Headwoman described the difference between Weyr shoulder knots, Hold shoulder knots, and Hall shoulder knots. Shoulder knots are braided or twisted loops that wrap around the arm and shoulder, under the armpit and are held in place by an epaulet strap on the shoulder. They are described as single-, double-, or triple-looped, which indicate how many loops go around the shoulder and armpit. Most knots also have a tail which is pinned or buttoned to the shirt breast. All of the shoulder knots are made with the two dominant colors of the individuals Weyr, Hold, or Hall. Rank and advancement is shown by the complexity of the knot and/or additional colors.
In the Halls, the primary indications of advancement are color and the knot complexity. The base knots are twists produced with the two dominant colors of the Hall. Apprentices wear a single-loop knot with a tail with a single knot at the end of the tail. Journeymen knots are single-looped with a copper thread braided in and two tails, with a short tassel at the end of the tails. Masters have a double-looped knot with two silver threads woven in and no tail, while Craftmasters have a triple-looped knot with two gold threads and no tail. If they are stationed at a Hold or Weyr, Journeymen and Masters may also add one or two threads of the Hold's or Weyr's dominant colors to their knots.
In the Holds, mostly knot complexity is used to indicate advancement. The base knots for staff are twists produced of the two dominant colors of the Hold. Low-level staff wear a single-loop knot with a single tail, mid-level staff wear a double-loop knot with a single tail, and upper-level staff wear a triple-loop knot with a single tail. The base knots for administrative staff (Substewards, Stewards, and Head Stewards) are a square braid produced of two threads of each of the two dominant colors. Substewards have a single-loop, Stewards have a double-loop, and Head Stewards have a triple-loop knot, each with two tails. The Lord and Lady Holders have a similar triple-looped square braid, but silver thread is woven in, there is a silver tassel for the epaulet, and the three tails each end in a silver tassel; their heirs have double-looped square braids with copper thread and copper tassels on the two tails, with no epaulet tassel.
In the case of the Weyrs, Staff wear a simple single-colored knot made of the dominant Weyr color; 3rd-level Staff have a single loop, 2nd-level staff have a double loop, and 1st-level staff have a triple loop, each with a single tail. Candidates' and most other non-Riders (Substewards, Stewards, and Head Stewards) shoulder knots are bicolor, made of the two dominant Weyr colors, but still single-looped, while the Headwoman and Candidatemaster have double-looped versions; non-Candidates have a tassel at the end of the tail. After Impression, a weyrling is allowed to add a single thread of their dragon's color to their Candidate knot. After graduation (when they become full riders), they add a second thread of their dragon's color and a second knot in the tail. If they hold the rank of Wingthird, a third knot is added to the tail; advancing to Wingsecond earns them a fourth knot in the tail. Wingleaders and Junior Weyrwomen get a double-looped braid with a tail, with two threads of their dragon's color; they also receive a epaulet pin with a silver tassel that hangs over the point of the shoulder. The Weyrwoman and Weyrleader receive loops similar to the Wingleaders, but without the tail, and the epaulet tassel is gold.
All three groups may also wear badges of their Hold, Hall, or Weyr. Full riders may have their badges enhanced with a dragon of their color placed over a field of the Weyr's primary color.
Now the Headwoman asks some questions on the material she just covered.
- When approaching the Weyrsecond and his bronze dragon, what do you do?
- You accidentally bump into a Mastercrafter and a couple of fellow Masters chatting together at a Gather. How do you address them and apologize?
- A Substeward approaches you and asks you to run an errand for him. How do you respond?
- A weyrling demands that you take her laundry down to the laundry rooms and wash it yourself. The Headwoman warned you that this weyrling would expect the Candidates to do this and instructed you not to do so and let her know if you were approached. What do you say and do?
- A fellow 1st-level Staff member asks you to help setting up tables, but you're in the middle of running an errand for the Steward overseeing you both. How do you respond?
- A Steward puts you in charge of a 1st-level Staff and two 2nd-level Staff in the kitchens. How do you give them instructions?
After the quiz, the Headwoman described the difference between Weyr shoulder knots, Hold shoulder knots, and Hall shoulder knots. Shoulder knots are braided or twisted loops that wrap around the arm and shoulder, under the armpit and are held in place by an epaulet strap on the shoulder. They are described as single-, double-, or triple-looped, which indicate how many loops go around the shoulder and armpit. Most knots also have a tail which is pinned or buttoned to the shirt breast. All of the shoulder knots are made with the two dominant colors of the individuals Weyr, Hold, or Hall. Rank and advancement is shown by the complexity of the knot and/or additional colors.
In the Halls, the primary indications of advancement are color and the knot complexity. The base knots are twists produced with the two dominant colors of the Hall. Apprentices wear a single-loop knot with a tail with a single knot at the end of the tail. Journeymen knots are single-looped with a copper thread braided in and two tails, with a short tassel at the end of the tails. Masters have a double-looped knot with two silver threads woven in and no tail, while Craftmasters have a triple-looped knot with two gold threads and no tail. If they are stationed at a Hold or Weyr, Journeymen and Masters may also add one or two threads of the Hold's or Weyr's dominant colors to their knots.
In the Holds, mostly knot complexity is used to indicate advancement. The base knots for staff are twists produced of the two dominant colors of the Hold. Low-level staff wear a single-loop knot with a single tail, mid-level staff wear a double-loop knot with a single tail, and upper-level staff wear a triple-loop knot with a single tail. The base knots for administrative staff (Substewards, Stewards, and Head Stewards) are a square braid produced of two threads of each of the two dominant colors. Substewards have a single-loop, Stewards have a double-loop, and Head Stewards have a triple-loop knot, each with two tails. The Lord and Lady Holders have a similar triple-looped square braid, but silver thread is woven in, there is a silver tassel for the epaulet, and the three tails each end in a silver tassel; their heirs have double-looped square braids with copper thread and copper tassels on the two tails, with no epaulet tassel.
In the case of the Weyrs, Staff wear a simple single-colored knot made of the dominant Weyr color; 3rd-level Staff have a single loop, 2nd-level staff have a double loop, and 1st-level staff have a triple loop, each with a single tail. Candidates' and most other non-Riders (Substewards, Stewards, and Head Stewards) shoulder knots are bicolor, made of the two dominant Weyr colors, but still single-looped, while the Headwoman and Candidatemaster have double-looped versions; non-Candidates have a tassel at the end of the tail. After Impression, a weyrling is allowed to add a single thread of their dragon's color to their Candidate knot. After graduation (when they become full riders), they add a second thread of their dragon's color and a second knot in the tail. If they hold the rank of Wingthird, a third knot is added to the tail; advancing to Wingsecond earns them a fourth knot in the tail. Wingleaders and Junior Weyrwomen get a double-looped braid with a tail, with two threads of their dragon's color; they also receive a epaulet pin with a silver tassel that hangs over the point of the shoulder. The Weyrwoman and Weyrleader receive loops similar to the Wingleaders, but without the tail, and the epaulet tassel is gold.
All three groups may also wear badges of their Hold, Hall, or Weyr. Full riders may have their badges enhanced with a dragon of their color placed over a field of the Weyr's primary color.
Now the Headwoman asks some questions on the material she just covered.
- You're in charge of meet-and-greet in the hours leading up to Hatching. How do you tell who is an Apprentice and how do you address them?
- A Journeyman and a Wingsecond from another Weyr arrive on foot. How do you tell them apart?
- A distinguished-looking couple come up in their Gather finery. On her shoulder, the woman wears a silver-braided double-looped shoulder knot with no tail, and the two dominant colors are white and lavender. What is her rank?
- A man approaches with a single-looped shoulder knot with a tail; a brown thread is woven within the two dominant colors. What rank does he hold?
