Hold Information

Azvon Hold

Lady Raiya
Lord Merrin

Azvon is the largest of the three major Holds in the South. Set East of Dark Moon, it is largely responsible for all the healing and luxury supplies the Weyr gets. It has a few small Halls of its own due to the prosperity and population who live there, many of these who have traveled from the North to make new lives down South. The Halls it has currently are a Healer Hall, Harper Hall and a Mine Hall. The Harper Hall is actually the least prominent, with the Mine Hall having endless usage since those in Azvon take up random crafts such as making jewelry and working with fine precious stones.

They send many healer's supplies to Dark Moon, but also luxury items such as soap, scented sweetsands, perfumes, jewelry and other random items of great value.

Kalanre Hold

Lady Arianna
Lord Waryn

Kalanre Hold is the second largest major Hold in the South. This Hold is a Farmercraft Hold, and the closest to Dark Moon. It is a one or two hour ride to the North of the Weyr. It is on the side of a large hill with a large grassland with the finest soil out in front. About half a click East of the Hold is a medium sized river that flows to Caspian Lake. Like all holds, it faces the East.

Kalanre Hold is a great place to live if you like strong winds and wide open spaces. They are primarily responsible for most of the food products that are given to the Weyr, like corn, wheat, finger roots, tubers, and other vegetables, as well as meat from herdbeasts and captive bred wherries. They have many Farmer Craftsmen, and a fair sized Farmercraft Hall since the Hold has great soil and a great climate for growing crops and lots of land to graze animals.

Caspian Hold

Lady Caira
Lord Bynor

Caspian Hold is the third major Hold tithing to Dark Moon. Here people make a living by fishing and gaining bounty from the lake, as well as a small amount of farming. All the people there are a hearty bunch who love the water. Most learn to swim before they can walk and many have small sailboats. Caspian Hold is located just West of Dark Moon, on the other side of Caspian Lake.

The Hold supplies the Weyr with fresh fish, and a bit of cloth. They also are renowned here for making boats and boat supplies. They are the ones who farm cotton, in many fields where they plant just for this. They have a small Weaverhall for working with their cotton and producing cotton-based materials. Here there is a small Weaver Hall. Many Gathers take place here. There is always a soft to medium wind because they are right off of the Lake. Caspian is known as a pleasant place to live, if you don't mind the bustling activity.

Part of the Hold is bordered by a plateau. Carved within the sheer cliff of the plateau is a series of caves that have been turned into a Wher Hold. Caspian Wher Hold is small but growing larger.

Nareka Hold

Lady Mairi
Lord Talien

Nareka Hold is a minor Hold which tithes to Caspian. It is a Weaving hold to the North of Caspian, with a large Weaver Hall. Here everyone is known to have great skills at weaving, even the youngest of children. They have a medium sized Tanner Hall, as well, to deal with the furs they are sent to work with.

They are primarily responsible for the clothes, blankets, wall hangings and bandages at the Weyr. The people take a lot of pride in their Craft, and love to generate new clothing and patterns. They are the wealthiest of the minor Holds, selling many of their products at Gathers and making a lot of marks. They work with every material, including cotton, silk, fur, wool and anything else.

Hatra Hold

Lady Siline
Lord Arien

Hatra Hold is a medium sized minor Hold under Caspian. Here it is right on the lake, and also has many who enjoy the Fishercraft. Hatra Hold has a Glasscraft Hall, that is are responsible for making anything and everything out of glass. Hard to transport and prized by many, they do everything from blown glass to glass statues, wine glasses and anything else imaginable. Hatra's boats, glassware and sea foods are greatly appreciated by the Hold they tithe to, and in turn by Dark Moon.

Araby Hold

Lady Joclyna
Lord Rocien

Araby Hold is the largest minor hold that lies in the dense jungle. Here the people don't really work for there is fruit in the trees, a small freash water pond nearby, and a great climate. There aren't many Craftsfolk here but this is where a nice sized Harperhall can be found. The lovely climate is prosperous and relaxing, perfect for a craft which itself is done for the joy of music. They make pottery and clay wares, and many artists who can do paintings and portraits as well as carvings make a home here. When Thread is not imminent, the people love to sleep under makeshift temporary roofs in hammocks, enjoying the fine weather and talking around campfires. The atmosphere is so laid back and relaxed you feel as though you are in another world altogether.

This is a very popular place to come relax and take a break from life. The Healer Hall often sends invalids to convalesce here. Many merchants live here, and traders pass through all the time. Araby gives the most fresh fruit and furs to Azvon, which it is tithed to, as well as clay wares and artistic gifts. It rains a fair bit here, but the Holdfolk don't seem to mind one bit.

Lanka

Lady Ildessra
Lord Biron

Lanka Hold is a large sized Woodcraft Hold which tithes to Azvon. Here, many people are Woodsmiths and they supply the Hold and in turn the Weyr with its tables, wardrobes, wood for burning, desks, and other furniture including beds and cabinets. The Hold values trees and is very careful to use all wood conservatively. They always replant a tree when one is cut down, and send people out on tree-planting trips, as well as having them go all over the South to bring back wood. This way has ensured that the tree population doesn't waver.

The Hold lies to the North of Azvon, about three or four hours ride away. They are facing East, but North of the Hold are massive forests which span on for miles on end. This is where they get most of their wood from, and many types of trees can be found here.



Lokan Hold

Lady Nymera
Lord Nikolan

Lokan Hold is the smallest minor Hold and tithes to Kalanre. This Hold has a wonderful Beastcraft Hall, and its primary focus is on raising a highly prized stock of runners, fat herdbeast for dragon and human food, and the largest captive wherries for dragon and human food. They are the ones who have the skills to raise the old Terran transported animals. They raise chickens, ducks, sheep, bovines, pigs and goats, which bring finer and rarer meats, and they are the ones who produce the rare commodities of milk and cheese, as well as the finest wool. A few Tanners live here because of the ready availability of hides.

Lokan has fine grazing lands which it cares for tediously. The Hold may be small, but there is great work and pride in that work. They take the greatest pride in knowing they have always tithed, and tithed well, to Kalanre. They very much like the fact that those in the Weyr are the ones who end up tasting of their fine meat and cheeses, and drinking their milk. They receive many compliments and though small are quite prosperous, with a fairly good sized population.

Dantra Hold

Lady Kyrsia
Lord Cadan

Dantra is a smaller miner hold, north east of Kalanre Hold, which it in turn tithes to. This Hold is home to many miners and has a Blacksmith Hall. This is where Dark Moon gets its firestone and metalwork supplies, such as pots and pans and silverware. The people here are a friendly lot, and are always happy to give a hand to any in need. They always have, no matter what, stopped giving firestone to the Weyr for the protection Dark Moon gave to the miners when they first started making the hold.

The stone here is mostly iron, firestone, silver and gold. Still, the silver and gold are keeping this smaller Hold quite well off. They are known for the place to go if you want a Watchwher, as they use quite a few of them in the darkness of the mines, both to detect dangerous gasses and make sure no collapses trap the miners and that they don't get lost in the many tunnels and passageways that make up the mines.




Major Holds of Pern

Fort Hold

Lady Ilaya
Lord Holder Jetaran

The Hold is located to the West of the Northern Continent, is Pern's oldest Hold. It is the location to which the Pern colonists evacuated upon abandoning the Southern Continent ten Turns (years) after arriving on Pern. Colonists Sallah Telgar and Tarvi Andiyar discovered the cave network. In Pern's early history, the colonists established a College at Fort Hold which evolved into the Harper Hall during the Second Pass. The Masterhealer is located at Fort Hold as well. During Threadfall, Fort Hold is protected by dragons from Fort Weyr.


Ruatha Hold

Lady Selka
Lord Holder Asriel

Ruatha is believed to be Pern's second Hold, although in fact it was the third established. It is located east of Fort Hold. Colonists Peter "Red" Hanranhan and his wife Marvi established the Hold nineteen Turns after the Landing on Pern. Hanrahan's group needed to cross a difficult ford to reach their site from Fort Hold, which led to the new settlement's name: "Rua Atha" means "Red's Ford" in Gaelic. Hanrahan bred horses (runnerbeasts in Pern's idiom), and throughout Pern's history Ruatha has been known for its runnerbeasts. Ruatha also has a reputation for providing the Weyrs many famous dragonriders, particularly including queenriders. Ruatha was one of the Holds conquered by Fax in the Turns before the Ninth Pass. It is protected by Fort Weyr during Threadfall.


Southern Boll

Lady Zuari
Lord Holder Caspen

This was the second Northern Hold founded, although this fact is not known to modern Pernese. It occupies the southern end of the Boll peninsula in the West of Pern, south of Fort Hold, with the Hold itself located near the peninsula's tip. Colonist Peter de Courcis established Boll Hold in the seventeenth Turn after Landing. He named it after his wife, the recently-deceased Governor Emily Boll. Boll, a hero of the Nathi War as a planetary governor, led the initial Pern colony with Admiral Paul Benden. It is not clear whether the current Hold is in the same location as de Coucis' original settlement. Southern Boll is also under the protection of Fort Weyr.


Benden Hold

Lady Tanyia
Lord Holder Kerin

Benden is located in the East Coast of Pern's Northern Continent, with its southern reaches extending to the edge of the Nerat peninsula. The last settlers to leave the Pern's Southern Continent established the Hold Turns after the rest of Pern had moved North. They named their Hold after Admiral Paul Benden, a hero of the Nathi War, co-leader of the early colonists with Emily Boll, and original captain of the expedition that brought the colonists from Earth. Benden is best known for its wines. It is protected from Thread by Benden Weyr.


Bitra Hold

Lady Sylvia
Lord Holder Orrin

Bitra is located to Benden's northwest. The circumstances of its founding have not been revealed. Avril Bitra was one of the original colonists; she died in disgrace. It seems unlikely that someone would name a settlement after her, but she did have stakeholders rights, so Bitra may have been established by her heirs. Bitra Hold is under the jurisdiction of Benden Weyr.


Lemos Hold

Lady Amary
Lord Holder Falonir

Lemos occupies the mountainous territory to Bitra Hold's west, approaching the center of the Northern Continent. The circumstances of its founding have not been revealed, but presumably the heirs of colonist Bart Lemos established the Hold. Benden Weyr protects Lemos Hold from Thread.


High Reaches

Lady Misha
Lord Holder Ianri

High Reaches Hold lies on Pern's Northwest Coast, in the wintry High Reaches Mountains. The circumstances of its founding have not been revealed. It is under the protection of High Reaches Weyr.


Nabol Hold

Lady Kayrn
Lord Holder Caisrel

Nabol is located in the center of Pern's Northern Continent. The circumstances of its founding have not been revealed, but presumably the heirs of colonist Nabhi Nabol established the Hold. Nabol Hold's primary industry is mining, and it is often regarded as an unpleasant place by other of Pern's inhabitants. Fax, self-styled Lord of Seven Holds, was Nabolese. Nabol is also under the protection of High Reaches Weyr.


Tillek Hold

Lady Jayda
Lord Holder Roryan

Tillek occupies the Tillek peninsula on the Northern Continent's West Coast, south of High Reaches Hold and west of Fort. Colonist Zi Ongola founded Tillek Hold in the twenty-second Turn after Landing, but the Hold went nameless for at least three Turns until the death of Jim Tillek. Tillek has been one of the colony leaders and captain of one of the ships that brought the colonists to Pern. Tillek also established Pern's first fishing fleet and maintained contact with the genetically enhances dolphins the colonists brought with them. Modern Tillek produces wines, but they are not as well regarded as Benden Hold's; they have been described as acidic and very unpleasant. High Reaches Weyr fights Threadfall over Tillek Hold.


Keroon Hold

Lady Trinah
Lord Holder Falayan

Keroon sits in the prairie east of the center of Pern's Northern Continent, south of Bitra and Lemos Holds, west of the Nerat Perninsula.The circumstances of its founding have not been revealed, but presumably the Hold was established by or named in honor of Ezra Keroon. Keroon captained one of the colony ships from Earth and served the colony as a scientific advisor. Keroon Hold is known for its livestock, particularly its runnerbeasts. Keroon is under the protection of Igen Weyr.


Ista Hold

Lady Khylei
Lord Holder Pyrin

Ista Hold occupies the whole of Ista Island, a large, partly desert island to the Southwest of the Igen Hold coast. The name Ista comes from the initials of the four families that settled there. Due to its temperate climate and low humidity, Ista, like the American Southwest, has served as retirement destination for those suffering from the symptoms of old age. Ista Weyr, on the island, has traditionally been a place for the recuperation of injured dragons and riders. Ista Hold is protected from Threadfall by Ista Weyr.


Igen Hold

Lady Taylo
Lord Holder Owaine

Igen is a largely desert region in the South of Pern's Northern Continent. Although on the eastern half of the continent, Igen Hold has a long western coastline. During the Ninth Pass, sandworms infesting Igen's plains were discovered to offer some protection from Thread. Most of Igen Hold is protected from Threadfall by Ista Weyr, with parts of the Hold's rural north flown by the nearby Igen Weyr.


Nerat Hold

Lady Kimial
Lord Holder Endein

Nerat occupies the Nerat Peninsula on Pern's East Coast, south of Benden Hold. It is separated from Keroon Hold to the west by Nerat Bay. With its extensive coastlines on both the ocean and the bay, fish are Nerat Hold's main product. It is under the protection of Ista Weyr.


Telgar Hold

Lady Euraya
Lord Holder Asiran

Telgar is situated at the northern end of the longitudinal center of Pern's Northern Continent. The circumstances of its founding have not been revealed, but presumably it was founded by Pern colonist Telgar (née Tarvi Andiyar) and named in honor of his wife Sallah Telgar. Most of Telgar Hold is protected by Telgar Weyr, although Igen Weyr flies Thread over the southern portion of the Hold.


Crom Hold

Lady Tyiami
Lord Hold Rotean

Crom is located in the low mountains west of Telgar Hold, north of Nabol and Ruatha Holds. The primary industry of Crom Hold is mining, and in the Ninth Pass the Masterminer is located there. A group of miners established Crom Hold near the end of the Second Interval. It is protected by the dragons of Telgar Weyr.


Later Established Holds include

Southern Hold

Lady Zelarrah
Lord Holder Teiryn

The largest hold in the South. Settled by Lord Toric it has several smaller holdings attached to it. It is located along the coast. Southern Weyr is nearby.


Cove Hold

Lady Gyiana
Lord Holder Zaran

Famous as the Home of Master Harper Robinton became home to the famous Master Robinton when he grew older in age, after his heart began to act up.


Paradise River Hold

Lady Vyerras
Lord Holder Brylon

Settled by a shipwrecked crew.

In addition to the various products mentioned above, every Major Hold save Lemos, Crom, Telgar, and Nabol have substantial seacoasts, so fishing and other maritime industries are important throughout Pern.