Nov. 2011: 255.13.11 – 256.1.27

Another year draws towards a close, and the advent of year 256 will mean that Thread is only two years away – if the predictions are correct. In Xanadu Town, students are looking forward to a break from College, and everyone is looking forward to the Year’s End holiday and the celebrations that go with it, which include the inevitable Xanadu Beach Party. After last year’s sinking boats and daring rescue, it’s to be hoped that the evening goes off without any drama…

Shocking news from the Xanadu Town Magistrate, who has implicated Xanadu Stakeholder Murray Sopers in the conspiracy to smuggle Threadproof plastic. A new informant has indicated that Asha, rider of Meloth, was not murdered for her land but because she had been smuggling plastic for him and wanted to come clean. The traditional punishment for such crimes has been island exile – though this close to the Pass, some have been heard to mention bringing back execution by Threadfall. It seems likely that Murray Sopers will be expected to step down in favor of an heir regardless of the outcome of the trial, though just whom this will be is an open question. Son-in-law? Cousin or nephew? His wife, Renay, is said to be outraged and moved from the stakehold to her daughter’s Boca residence in the middle of the night. The crisis at Xanadu Stakehold has deep roots: Arbitrator Padma’s father, Paidrag, was picked up smuggling plastic in the sting that broke the case. As Padma’s mother is also the stakehold’s steward, most expect that the Colonial Council Board will have to look far afield from Xanadu Stakehold for fitting caretakers. The end of the third wave of evacuations passed by mostly unremarked and uncelebrated by the people of Xanadu Town. The first two waves were trouble enough, and post-Eleventh Amendment, no one felt like making waves by organizing a public gathering. What is being talked about are the population numbers released by the Dome: Xanadu Town is missing a few hundred people. They can’t all be folk who decided to move elsewhere, so suspicion is that several groups chose not to evacuate or have even slipped further into the Pernese wilderness. Finally, as both Colleges prepare for summer break, the Karachi College has announced that they’re graduating their first class of smiths. Although some of the students have complained about the amount of practical work, most stayed on to see out their degrees. Even the proposed train line is becoming more of a reality with the first test of concrete ties in place of wooden ties under construction.

The Xanadu Year’s End Beach Party went off without a hitch this year – unless you happened to be a dragonrider. For everyone else, the most significant thing that happened was a lot of gossip about the Xanadu Stakeholder – or should that be ‘former Stakeholder’ and his plastic dealings. The riders, though, were summoned back to Connell Square when the night was still young, and soon seen taking off in formation and going Between. News soon reached the town to explain this sudden departure, and serious news it is. A groundquake has hit Sadrid, causing some loss of life and injury, as well as extensive damage to the shantytown areas, less serious damage to the main stakehold buildings, and the partial collapse of one of the newly-built Thread shelters. Dragonriders from Maori and Azov laboured through the night alongside residents, to rescue the trapped and make the area safe. Those who were present tell tales of daring deeds, which may explain the injuries to J’li’s blue Rauth and bruising to Z’chari’s blue Chiranth.

In the wee hours of Ierne, and the early morning at Xanadu, the dragons of Pern keened for former Maori Weyrwoman Nashita and her golden Koebeleth. The former Weyrwoman passed away in her sleep with Koebeleth betweening moments after. The loss comes as a blow to Ierne, who had hoped for one more clutch from them before the Pass. Weyrlings at Xanadu and Azov were given light duties instead of lectures. No response yet from former Weyrleader G’bel – although he still lives in Xanadu, he’s said to be spending much of his time in Sadrid helping with the rebuilding efforts.