Question about Candidates/Crafters

[Dawn]

Hello. I've questions regarding my Senior Apprentice Healer/Candidate. Instead of sending a private email to my mentor *Waves at Eimi* I've chosen to ask here, just incase it will be helpful to others in the future.

Now, my Shawnyta is a Senior Apprentice Healer and is listed as a Candidate, but is only a candidate in regards to the fact (unless I misunderstood) that the Weyrleaders ask that all Weyr residents of age, etc... need to present themselves at Hatchings. I've read the FAQ on how crafters, particuarly apprentices, handle living arrangements, craft duties, candidate classes, and such. It seems to be more focused on those crafters who have been Searched and brought in to the Weyr, rather than the Weyrbred. It does mention familial obligations and such, but it does not really address my persona's particular situation, at least as far as I can tell. So, to get a better grasp on what her life is like, I'm asking ya'll that have that knowledge. I have also read the DCW FAQ on the subject http://www.triadweyrs.org/location.php?place=DCW and while it does explain things in more detail, I'm under the impression that things have changed a bit since that was written since it states that "Weyr residents of candidate age are encouraged, but not required, to Stand with the permission of the Weyrwoman..." and I believe I was told that not too long ago, as I stated above, that now all of age are required to Stand.

Shawnyta is from Dolphin Cove Weyr. Bred, born, and fostered there. She is a Senior Apprentice Healer and will probably become a Dragonhealer if she Impresses and her dragon is able and willing. So, now to my questions. Would the living arragements be as listed on the page linked to above? Meaning, will she continue to live with the other apprentices? And will she now have to split her time between her craft and candidate classes? Or does that depend on whether there are eggs on the sands and Hatching emminent? I know that her craft will still be her main priority, so I guess I'd like to basically figure out how exactly, will being required to Stand at Hatchings affect her life?

Thanks much.

Dawn

[Eimi]

Well, first of all, whether or not you required to Stand depends on the Weyr.  DCW, I believe, had the tradition that all stood (but you should ask Becki to see if that's still the case and we can update the FAQ and history if need be).  At River Bluff, they didn't HAVE to Stand up until this last Hatching when the policy was changed by a very strong Weyrwoman.  At Dragonsfall, it's still voluntary.

Since she was not Searched and has lived at the Weyr her whole life, she could have petitioned the Weyrlingmaster to stay at her own home until she Impressed.  Unless of course she WANTED to live with other candidates.  She may have been asked to be in the candidate barracks a short time, just to give her a taste of what was to come and to help her get to know the other candidates.  Or if there had been limited space she could have been allowed to jut live with her fostermother.  Since all this happened in the past, you have some leeway to chose for yourself how it all went down.

Her main focus would still be her craft, but she would probably be asked to take some Candidate classes now and then.  That would help her get to know her potential Clutchmates and it would keep everything she would need to know should she Impress fresh in her mind.  She wouldn't, though, need to keep learning about Weyrlife, Weyr cluture, the names of the ranks.. things someone new to the Weyr would need to learn.  

She would have some chores to do that were assigned by the Headwoman, but the bulk of them would be dictated by her Weyrcrafter (in her case, the Weyrhealer).  She might be asked to help injured or overwhelmed riders to wash and oil their dragons, help make firestone bags, and other chores that would teach her about dragonrider life and/or help her should she Impress.

Did I miss anything?  Just let me know.

[Eimi]

Looking back on old posts and the site, it seems that the Dolphin Cove rule has changed.  Candidates are no longer required to Stand, and it is the choice of the candidate.

Weyr residents of candidate age are encouraged, but not required, to Stand with the permission of the Weyrwoman, so often the candidates don't live in the barracks.

That's from the Dolphin Cove Weyr page.

[Devin]

I'm glad the DCW page points that out. Otherwise I'd have to change it! N'vanik does not require anyone to stand. Dana and I even wrote a post where he and the Weyrwoman discuss that, as a reaction to the RBW Weyrwoman forcing everyone of age to stand.

So, Dawn, your apprentice doesn't have to be a Candidate. It's her choice, although she would be encouraged to Stand. The Weyr needs all the riders they can get!

[Dawn]

Thanks guys. I'd gotten confused somewhere along the way! I think I can definitely use the info. Much, much appreciated.

Dawn

[Chelle]

heres my question... how does that work with the candidate schedule that states only about 3 candlemarks a day would be devoted to their craft?

*has been reading FAQ and is confused*

Beckie I sent you an email! o.O

[Eimi]

Sorry, I'm not quite sure what you mean by "that"...  How does what work?

[Noola]

I think she probably means this section:

Her main focus would still be her craft, but she would probably be asked to take some Candidate classes now and then. That would help her get to know her potential Clutchmates and it would keep everything she would need to know should she Impress fresh in her mind.

Where as the FAQ on the average Candidate's day says:

No eggs on sands
7 c/m Wake up,Bathe, then breakfast
8 c/m Class:
10 c/m Craft duties/Chores assigned my Headwoman if a candidate has no craft
13 c/m Lunch
14 c/m as 10c/m
16 c/m Exercises to build strength and stamina.
17 c/m Dinner
18 c/m Free time
19 c/m Clean barracks, followed by barracks inspection.
20 c/m Evening Chores
21 c/m Limited free time. Candidate preferred to stay near barracks
23 c/m Lights Out.

Eggs on sands
7 c/m Wake up,Bathe, then breakfast
8 c/m Class:
10 c/m Craft duties/Chores assigned my Headwoman if a candidate has no craft
11 c/m Class
13 c/m Lunch
14 c/m Class
16 c/m Exercises to build strength and stamina.
17 c/m Dinner
18 c/m Free time
19 c/m Clean barracks, followed by barracks inspection.
20 c/m Evening Chores
21 c/m Limited free time. Candidate must stay near barracks
23 c/m Lights Out.

But I think that schedule (which is, if I read the description of it right, more of a 'general guideline' than a written in stone thing), as far as class time vs work time, would be more for candidates who're Searched and/or ones who're just starting to Stand. I mean, I doubt anyone who grew up in a Weyr needs a whole lot of class time to teach them about living in a Weyr and the duties of the people in it, but some apprentice Searched from a Hall or Hold would totally need those classes. But then, if he's been a candidate for a few turns now, he probably doesn't need to attend them as often cause, well, he's probably heard it all several times over by now. And, of course, if you don't live in the barracks, you don't have to clean them, I would think.  :thumbup:

But yeah, without having to go to class (or only having to go once or twice a week), then that's 8am-2pm for craft time, 4pm if you don't have to do the exercising. Where as, if you do have to go to class everyday, yeah, that's only 3 hours for crafting. Dawn's candidate though, if I'm understanding it right, would fall in the first category, hence the majority of her 'work day' would be focused on her craft.

Am I right or am I misinterpreting everything? (Which is totally possible cause my brain works things out in funny ways sometimes! LOL)

[Eimi]

Well, also, if you notice the 14cm, that's also craft/chore time until the 16cm.  So basically, it's from the 10th to 16th candlemark with an hour break for lunch that is devoted to craft/chores.  So I think it would be up to the Weyrling Master just how much a candidate is required to attend classes in a week.  But as someone who had been raised in the Weyr (so probably doesn't live in the barracks) and is a crafter, I'd say the majority of her time would be devoted to the craft.