Where oh where is the watchwher's weyr?

[PastMember]

How big are watcwhers?

How big are their eggs?

Can I have a watchwher?  



(the last question was a joke)

[Paula]

Well, I think any dark cave or other hole will do as watch wher's weyr.

As for the size, smaller than dragons? I personally think they are the size of very big dogs...

[PastMember]

from a response I sent to our old chatlist (pre-forums):

Whers were developed by Wind Blossom Ping, after Kitti Ping (her
grandmother) died.  Kitti designed the dragons, and had trained with
the Eridani, the only human to ever do so.  While Wind Blossom did
produce one viable clutch of about six dragons on her own using her
grandmother's formulas, when she decided to "improve" the dragons, she
ended up with whers instead.

Considered an even worse drain on the colonists limited resources than
the dragons ("flying donks"), they were allowed to be kept after it was
discovered that while photophobic, they could navigate cave systems far
more safely and easily than humans (useful in expanding Fort when it
was established).  Additionally, they could haul quite a bit (I recall
it being more than their own bodyweight but could be wrong), so were
used in the mines to bring loads up from the depths.  In D'dawn, they
have comments regarding a wher acting as protector to Sallah Telgar's
youngest child.  Paul Benden objects they can't afford pets of that
size, which prompts the explanation of their other abilities.  (for
quick wher info, see the latter part of D'dawn, as they show up very
late in that novel)

So I feel it likely the Beastcraft Hall could raise whers, not only for the Hold
use (limited market there - they only need one at a time), but for
Minercraft use.  Major crafthalls might have one as well, particularly
if they are set apart from the main Hold (like TSH's Tech Hall).  
There's fandom debate on how they mate and how many eggs they produce,
but my personal leaning is that it would be similar to any landbound
animal and a very small clutch.  Whers are also cannibalistic according
to the DLG, if I remember correctly, and most hatchlings don't survive
beyond the first moments of life due to their siblings.  Survival of
the fittest.

Whers are photophobic.  Unlike dragons and flits, who Impress
irreversibly to one person, whers at a Hold are "blooded" to recognize
the Hold family.  Whers do not have to Impress to survive.  I
personally doubt they Impress at all.  The books give no indication of
it, only the DLG (notorious for its errata that contradict the books).  
Wher Impression is a fandom invention, from my research, and not one
we're likely to implement here.

They have limited intelligence and understand basic commands (Lessa's
interaction is a good example).  Their conversation would be more like
a firelizard, but with more intensity, no actual speech.  Sensitive to
shifts in rock formations, they'd be a valuable resource in the mines
as more than a burdenbeast.

The general opinion I have is that wherhide is wherry hide or
other "leather" on Pern, not necessarily "wher hide" as most directly
translate it.

====

On size, I believe they are the size of a small horse, but will verify and reply back on that one.

[PastMember]

I guess this means no wher as a pet for me.  Aw, rats!










That was a joke.