Post by panther on Aug 19, 2009 14:56:51 GMT -5
Intro to Craft Halls
Craft halls are a specific hall devoted to a specific craft. These make the basis for all trade and skills in Pern.
Crafts, are divided into separate halls, these are places of work and of social structure. Craft halls vary as much in nature as they do appearance, eg, a Fisher’s Craft hall, might not be the same, or anywhere near as grand as a miner’s craft hall.
Each craft, has it’s own Craftmaster, who is selected from amongst the masters of the craft, he or she is elected to the position.
There is a difference between Hall-crafts and Hold-crafts.
Several crafts, while having their own halls and places of learning, are basic skills that no hold can do without, eg, Farmercraft, Cookingcraft, and Beastcraft. These crafts are found everywhere, and do not revolve around their respective halls.
In contrast, Minercraft, healercraft or Smithcraft require specific locations, specialised halls that are dedicated to years of learning. Unlike the Hold-crafts, these crafts stand somewhat above the regular day to day life of Pern’s Holds.
A Brief History of Crafting
Pern, prior to the first Pass, did not have the craft hall system, initially, the Crafthalls were centralised as a University, that was based at Fort Hold, and built around the massive computer databases that were available there. As inevitably, time took it’s toll on the computers, and electrical power became an issue, at the beginning of the second pass, there was no longer any need to centralise all of the great minds of Pern to Fort hold.
This also meant that now, other holds than Fort could benefit from the distribution of the scholars, so, the halls moved their homes to various locations over the Northern continent, which in later turns spread to the Southern Continent also.
Halls slowly created their own ranks, and their distance also, contributed to the break down of cross-crafting, or dual crafting – around the Eight Pass. Crafting became a lifelong pursuit. If you began in one craft, it was rare to change to another.
The craft system developed in such a way to pass on the knowledge of pern with a certain skill set. The Harper Hall provides general education, however, on pern, “higher” education is considered nonsensical. The Colonists aimed for a system that would pass down skills to the new generation fast, they needed this so they cold increase their population quickly. People began to marry younger and have more children also, most marrying by the age of 16. This also tended to enforce the need of pushing specific skills onto the younger adults, so they would have a suitable education, or level of work by the time they would be married.
Fortunately, Pern is very much an equal opportunities setting, at the age of 14, a child is now able to reason, and between the age of 8 and 14 is considered normal aging for a child to go to Craft.
Ranking Systems of Craft Halls
Ranks within the Craft system are equal across the board, there are no Craft specific terms for ranks. They are only:
Apprentice -> Journeyman/woman -> Master
Apprentice: Generally, they are recruited from as young as 8 to as old as 14 turns. They will be instructed by one or more masters of the Craft on a regular basis.
Journeymen/women: At this stage, they do still receive instruction, but they may go without such for long periods of time. This is where the majority of a Craft’s populous lies. Many will never advance beyond this.
Journeymen/women also tend to play and advance their learning outside of the craft hall, and apply their knowledge to practical situations.
Masters: Masters are, as their title suggests, the best, and up to completion in their learning. And even many of these are not skilled enough to acquire their own workshops.
They teach the lower ranked, as one might expect.
List of Crafts
Bakercraft
Beastcraft:
Veterinary skills, breeding for different purposes--artificial insemination is still practiced; keeping records of bloodlines; health control of animals being transported.
The Beastcraft hall mainly stay with animals brought from Earth: runners, bovines, ovines, porcines, caprines, llamas, canines, avians, the rare chickens and geese, and domestic wherries-- selecting for superior roasting size and egg production. Some study tunnelsnakes, not with an eye domestication, but to learn more efficient ways of eradicating the vermin.
The Beastcraft hall mainly stay with animals brought from Earth: runners, bovines, ovines, porcines, caprines, llamas, canines, avians, the rare chickens and geese, and domestic wherries-- selecting for superior roasting size and egg production. Some study tunnelsnakes, not with an eye domestication, but to learn more efficient ways of eradicating the vermin.
Dolphin craft
Aids and works with Dolphins. Closely affiliated with Fish/Seacraft and Healer Hall.
Aids dolphins with healthcare, explores seas, reports on weather and fishing conditions for Seacraft. Patrols shorelines, to aid drowners and guide vessels around hazards. Salvage wrecks.
Dolphins also act as the only medical imaging available on Pern. With their sonar, they act as living MRI machines, harmlessly seeing tumors, fractures, pregnancies, blood vessel occlusions and such, noninvasively.
The oldest, wisest dolphin cow is given the title of The Tillek, and is the living repository of the massive amount of knowledge the dolphins have preserved since Landing. The Tillek stays mainly in Northern waters, but is sought out by humans all over Pern, as she has information that has long since turned to illegible slime and dust in shorebound Archives.
Dolphins freely share their knowledge-- but must be prompted by the proper question to volunteer it. "Question and Answer" is another of their useful, merry games. (Information gleaned from "The Dolphins of Pern."
Aids dolphins with healthcare, explores seas, reports on weather and fishing conditions for Seacraft. Patrols shorelines, to aid drowners and guide vessels around hazards. Salvage wrecks.
Dolphins also act as the only medical imaging available on Pern. With their sonar, they act as living MRI machines, harmlessly seeing tumors, fractures, pregnancies, blood vessel occlusions and such, noninvasively.
The oldest, wisest dolphin cow is given the title of The Tillek, and is the living repository of the massive amount of knowledge the dolphins have preserved since Landing. The Tillek stays mainly in Northern waters, but is sought out by humans all over Pern, as she has information that has long since turned to illegible slime and dust in shorebound Archives.
Dolphins freely share their knowledge-- but must be prompted by the proper question to volunteer it. "Question and Answer" is another of their useful, merry games. (Information gleaned from "The Dolphins of Pern."
Dragonhealing craft
Harper craft
Music, information gathering/dissemination, Art, Archival duties, Education, Scribercraft
Harpercraft is perhaps the most important on Pern.... and for far more than music. They are the legal and civil arbitrators, the diplomats that smooth the relations between Craft, Hold and Weyr.
Both an intelligence gathering and the source for dissiminated information, Harper Hall has a sterling reputation of fairness and objectivity, always focusing on what is best for Pern society at large, and taking a "seventh generation" view of any political, social, or technological developments.
They are also in charge of education, insuring that all Pernese are literate, have a basic understanding of their history and laws, and are indoctrinated with the duties, privileges, and obligations that their pupil's station in life makes them heir to.
Harpercraft is perhaps the most important on Pern.... and for far more than music. They are the legal and civil arbitrators, the diplomats that smooth the relations between Craft, Hold and Weyr.
Both an intelligence gathering and the source for dissiminated information, Harper Hall has a sterling reputation of fairness and objectivity, always focusing on what is best for Pern society at large, and taking a "seventh generation" view of any political, social, or technological developments.
They are also in charge of education, insuring that all Pernese are literate, have a basic understanding of their history and laws, and are indoctrinated with the duties, privileges, and obligations that their pupil's station in life makes them heir to.
Healer Craft
Care and prevention of illness. Trauma care. Obstetric, gynocologic, pediatric, and geriatric care. Pharmaceutical manufacture, research, and distribution. Medical research-- vaccines are known, and surgery is making a tentative beginning. Public Health-- investigating outbreaks, inspecting food and sanitary facilities in Holds and Weyrs. Works closely with dolphincraft.
Needles (from needlethorn plants) are used to give injections, for IV's, and for suturing. Cotton, linen, or 'gut' is used as suturing material. Aseptic procedures, and the bacterial/viral disease process is still known, although the technological means of using that knowledge are limited.
There is no "penicillin" on Pern. Redwort is the antiseptic of choice. Vaccinations are beginning to be implimented. Surgery is still at the infant stages, still suffering from the handicaps of a near-religious fear of opening the body. Trauma care is good, and general health is high.
Needles (from needlethorn plants) are used to give injections, for IV's, and for suturing. Cotton, linen, or 'gut' is used as suturing material. Aseptic procedures, and the bacterial/viral disease process is still known, although the technological means of using that knowledge are limited.
There is no "penicillin" on Pern. Redwort is the antiseptic of choice. Vaccinations are beginning to be implimented. Surgery is still at the infant stages, still suffering from the handicaps of a near-religious fear of opening the body. Trauma care is good, and general health is high.
Mine Craft
Production of firestone; blackstone (aka Crom Coal); gems; stone; ores; minerals; natural gas.
Smithcraft does the refining of minerals and metals. Geology and petrography are still practiced by Minecrafters, but not called by those terms. Some also specialize in spelunking and mountain prospecting.
Lapidary is also a common speciality. Jewels have no intrinsic value on Pern beyond ornamentation and industrial use. However, Pern has much the same range of precious and semiprecious stones as does Earth: garnet, sapphire, tourmalines, agates of all kinds, moonstone, all the quartzes, and corundums, including beryl. Diamond pipes are still being discovered. Istan black diamonds are fairly common, but are used in industry as they aren't considered attractive as gems.
Smithcraft does the refining of minerals and metals. Geology and petrography are still practiced by Minecrafters, but not called by those terms. Some also specialize in spelunking and mountain prospecting.
Lapidary is also a common speciality. Jewels have no intrinsic value on Pern beyond ornamentation and industrial use. However, Pern has much the same range of precious and semiprecious stones as does Earth: garnet, sapphire, tourmalines, agates of all kinds, moonstone, all the quartzes, and corundums, including beryl. Diamond pipes are still being discovered. Istan black diamonds are fairly common, but are used in industry as they aren't considered attractive as gems.
Printer Craft (subsidiary of Harper Craft)
Runner Craft
Smith Craft
Contains the crafts of: Glasscraft/Chemistrycraft/Jewelrycraft
Smithcraft itself does stress analysis of building stones and foundations. Also: Tool and die making, cooking vessels (some with nonstick finishes!)
Glasscraft: ceramics, lead crystal, porcelain, optics, glassblowing, starcraft.
Chemistcraft: Stains, dyes, varnishes, cleaning compounds and explosives.
Jewelrycraft: Metallic jewelry is created and set with stones mined and shaped by the Mining Craft.
Smithcraft itself does stress analysis of building stones and foundations. Also: Tool and die making, cooking vessels (some with nonstick finishes!)
Glasscraft: ceramics, lead crystal, porcelain, optics, glassblowing, starcraft.
Chemistcraft: Stains, dyes, varnishes, cleaning compounds and explosives.
Jewelrycraft: Metallic jewelry is created and set with stones mined and shaped by the Mining Craft.
Tanner Craft
Provides leathers of all kinds, and vellum for writing. Includes the Cobblercraft, Harnesscraft, and the production of furs of all kinds, from the plainest ovine pelts for sleeping, to fine furs for garment use.
As leather is more obtainable than cloth, fashion-minded folk have many pairs of shoes, boots, hats, vests, gloves etc. The floors are all stone or earthen, so people need heavy shoes or boots to protect from the cold, and they tend to be very gaudy in their footwear. There is a friendly rivalry between the Master Tanner and the Masterweaver, always trying to out do one another in fashion innovation and popularity.
As leather is more obtainable than cloth, fashion-minded folk have many pairs of shoes, boots, hats, vests, gloves etc. The floors are all stone or earthen, so people need heavy shoes or boots to protect from the cold, and they tend to be very gaudy in their footwear. There is a friendly rivalry between the Master Tanner and the Masterweaver, always trying to out do one another in fashion innovation and popularity.
Tradercraft:
The "stores" of Pern, these folk travel by any means available, to supply every cothold eventually with the necessities and more. Some ply more exotic wares, such as perfumes, art and embroidery supplies, and then, there are the whispered of "Dark Caravans...." More fabled than seen, on investigation. Any gather of any size will attract at least one wagon of traders.
Most traders are seen as honest, but there are those from holds such as Nabol and Bitra that cater to those with a taste for gambling and other less savory pursuits. "Caveat emptor" is an admonition that has survived through the millenia unto the present Pass.
Most traders are seen as honest, but there are those from holds such as Nabol and Bitra that cater to those with a taste for gambling and other less savory pursuits. "Caveat emptor" is an admonition that has survived through the millenia unto the present Pass.
Vinter Craft
Brewing of wine, beer and liquors, including the infamous quikal (rather like vodka). Yeast production for cooking and brewing. Growing of the hops, grapes and other ingredients of their liquid craft.
Wine is stored in one and two-liter glass bottles and ceramic gallon crocks sealed with wooden stoppers covered over with lead foil, or solid seals made of vegetable lipids. Pern has no beeswax or cork.Barrels and jugs of beer and quikal share space with the wine.
Psst: the secret of Benden wine is the glass-lined, pressurized air seal tanks taken from the 3 gutted colony ships. They were reinstalled in their second incarnation by Rene Mallibeau, revered as Pern's first and finest Winecraftmaster.
The perfect hermetic seals of the tanks ensures that the maturing wine never loses the "angel hair" of a quality vintage. These tanks are considered an almost sacred Benden secret, and many a Master Vinter's last words have been "Never let them have the vats!"
Wine is stored in one and two-liter glass bottles and ceramic gallon crocks sealed with wooden stoppers covered over with lead foil, or solid seals made of vegetable lipids. Pern has no beeswax or cork.Barrels and jugs of beer and quikal share space with the wine.
Psst: the secret of Benden wine is the glass-lined, pressurized air seal tanks taken from the 3 gutted colony ships. They were reinstalled in their second incarnation by Rene Mallibeau, revered as Pern's first and finest Winecraftmaster.
The perfect hermetic seals of the tanks ensures that the maturing wine never loses the "angel hair" of a quality vintage. These tanks are considered an almost sacred Benden secret, and many a Master Vinter's last words have been "Never let them have the vats!"
Weaver Craft
Thread, yarns, yardgoods, finished goods of flax, cotton, linen, sisal, and wool. Tailorcraft and fashion industry.
Silk did not survive, but cotton, velvet, and finely woven, very smooth polished cottons or linens are substitutes.
Silk did not survive, but cotton, velvet, and finely woven, very smooth polished cottons or linens are substitutes.
Wher Guard
Wood Craft
Forestry, lumber, construction carpentry and joinery, cooperage, wood finishing products, blanks for currency marks, the shaping and manufacture of wooden objects, practical and decorative papermaking.
Woodcraft is a relatively young profession, as before the opening of the well-grubbed Southern continent, it was very difficult to protect large stands of trees from Fall. Thus rare, hardwoods were used as semi-precious materials.
Now, quick-growing softwoods are grown in the South for paper, and the primeval hardwood stands in the South are being thoughtfully and carefully harvested for shipbuilding, fine furniture, musical instruments, and technical devices, among other uses.
Woodcraft is a relatively young profession, as before the opening of the well-grubbed Southern continent, it was very difficult to protect large stands of trees from Fall. Thus rare, hardwoods were used as semi-precious materials.
Now, quick-growing softwoods are grown in the South for paper, and the primeval hardwood stands in the South are being thoughtfully and carefully harvested for shipbuilding, fine furniture, musical instruments, and technical devices, among other uses.
Info may be found on www.arolosweyr.co.uk/arolos.php?p=craft/worldcrafts.html
