Flamethrower Lesson

Lyree walks in with a sheaf of records in hand. (Gosh, that's a surprise, isn't it?) She looks up from the records, scanning the room.

Madelynda, who is busily sweeping out the miniscule black sand grains out of Phediath's couch as her lifemate watches on, abruptly looks up and salutes Lyree. "Ma'am," she greets her with a small respectful smile, not losing a beat in her sweeping.

Lyree grins as she returns the salute. "Just the weyrling I was looking for. According to my records, you haven't been drilled in flamethrower use yet. Is that true?"

Madelynda nods firmly, pausing in her task. A flicker in her eyes that might be embarrassment appears, but the rest of her face she keeps carefully neutral. "Aye, ma'am; X'ander said I wasn't yet strong enough to use them when the Crafter came to lecture. But now, I think I'm fit enough." She smiles. "May I have the lesson?"

Lyree frowns at that a bit, apparently not convinced that strength is an issue, but nods. "And bring Phediath, she should see how it works so it doesn't startle her when you're using it from her neck."

Lyree heads outside, clearly expecting Madelynda and her gold will follow.

Lyree walks out of the huge opening and into the bowl. Lyree has left.

Madelynda nods fervently and sets aside the broom, encouraging her lifemate to follow.

You walk out of the huge opening and into the bowl. Ista Weyr Bowl -- Northwest

Madelynda hastily follows, one hand resting on Phediath's foreleg. Curious eyes watch Lyree when she and Phediath stop where the werylingmaster stands.

Lyree pauses to give Sooth a fond scritching, ignoring the world at large for just a moment. Then she turns to locate Madelynda, hefting a flamethrower.

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Phediath rumbles curiously. << Flame? I get to flame? I thought that I do not flame. >> She seems slightly confused at some thought caught from her rider.

Sooth rumbles a respectful greeting to the ever-lovelier Phediath.

Dragon> Sooth bespoke Ista Weyrling dragons with << You do not flame. The little metal thing flames. Your rider must learn to aim it well, so it does not hurt you. >>

Dragon> Habrith bespoke Ista Weyrling dragons with << You do not NEED to flame, Phediath, that's why you have the rest of us. We flame so you don't have to. >>

Phediath's muscles ripple vainly as she returns Sooth's greeting with a soft croon, twisting her neck just so, making the natural shadows of her hide glimmer in the sunlight.

Lyree says "Ah, there you are. I take it you've never handled one of these on a ground-crew, so you're completey unfamiliar with it.."

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Sooth ponders that. << But if we did not need the queens, with the little metal bits that flame, they wouldn't fly through Thread? Thread is dangerous. >>

Madelynda watches Lyree ardently with wide eyes as if eager to commit everything permanent memory. She shakes her head at Lyree's question. "During falls, I was always carrying bandages and numbweed from the lower caverns."

Lyree nods, and places the thrower on the ground between them. "You can see the basic construction: the tank, with the nozzle, and straps to hold it to you." She points to the various features.

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Phediath rumbles thoughtfully. << But I want to flame Thread. Madlyn seems frightened by it, but I want to fight Thread. Yes. >> There seems no doubt in her mind about the matter, whether she be needed or not.

Madelynda nods, giving each described part a long hard look. "Aye," she says softly, as if to affirm this action.

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Habrith seems unshaken, << The golden ones use the metal things so we don't thave to that. We flame so that the golden ones do not have to do that. It is the way things are. Each are important. Each needed. But my rider would be no good with the metal.>

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Sooth has seen far too many dragons lost to Thread, even if he doesn't remember them all, to want to fight it. << It is bad, it would be better to stay away. But then it would hurt everyone. >> He sends a picture from his rider's perhaps overactive imagination of the heaving, gray surface of Thread-covered ground, along with a intense feeling of threat. << Besides, then there would be no more beasts to eat. >>

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Phediath considers Habrith's thought. << Then Madlyn must be good with the metal. >> Again, she seems certain and almost defiant about this.

Lyree glances up at Phediath a moment, then peers back at Sooth, resting comfortably in the sun, before continuing the lecture. "Now, here are the controls, you have to adjust the straps so that you can reach them easily. This one controls how much flame spouts, and this one controls the shape."

Madelynda nods soberly, looking at each control. "I use both shape and amount to flame?" she asks, trying to familiarize herself with the process. "It's not just on and off?"

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Sooth adds, << And my rider says that only golds can make more dragons, and they can't if they flame, and if golds flamed we would have no more dragons. >> At this he sends a slightly alarmed look Phediath's way, trying to imagine no more dragons.

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Habrith sends soothing thoughts in Phediath's direction, << You would not select a rider who would be bad with the metal thing, pretty one, she will be good. It just takes time. >>

Dragon> Areseth bespoke Ista Weyrling dragons with << I hope it doesn't take as lonng for her as it does Talibenth's rider to stopping holding his straps so tight. >>

Lyree nods. "If you've been watching the dragons, you'll see that they have some control over amount and shape. It's most efficient that way, which means less rock to carry up, and fewer refills needed. The same applies to the throwers, you can see how the tanks are replaceable."

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Phediath stretches idly, apparently unconcerned at Sooth's comment. << There shall always be dragons, for Neith does not flame but her rider uses the metal. And yes, Madlyn will be good with the metal. The best, perhaps, like my straps. I have no doubt. >>

Dragon> Areseth bespoke Ista Weyrling dragons with << I hope your rider doesn't grip her nice straps. That can hurt. Not that I know about it hurting... >>

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Phediath seems mildly alarmed at Areseth's thought. << She shall hurt my perfectly lovely straps? >> she says almost mournfully, picturing with reverence the light blue beauties that her rider made. << It took her eight times to make these. >>

Lyree gestures to Sooth, who has apparently been munching firestone, for he sits up and gives forth quite a virtuoso display of flaming, from a thin, long, stream, through the range to a full-bodied fireball, all on one belch. A thin trickle of smoke tickles his nose when he's done. "You see, they have quite a range. The thrower isn't quite so versatile, but it's not bad."

Dragon> Ista Weyrling dragons sense that Sooth reassures Phediath, previous topic utterly forgotten, << It will not take her so long to make new ones now, she knows what to do. >>

Madelynda nods again, watching Sooth with an admiring smile, as if beginning to understand it. "I see," she mutters, looking up lovingly at Phediath. "She likes to watch flame. She's very excited that she gets to have 'the metal.'" A small giggle, and then she contains it, assuming her former mood of learning-seriousness.

Phediath rumbles happily as Sooth flames, bucking her head with apparent pleasure and aproof.

Dragon> Areseth bespoke Ista Weyrling dragons with << No no, if she doesn't hold them too tight, she won't hurt them. >>

Lyree nods, sighing at the thought of having to clean smoke-stench out of Sooth's hide. Oh well. She picks up the flamethrower, and quickly runs it through its paces, from a quick flicker to solid jet to widespread. "See how it works?"

Madelynda's eyes widen, her gaze flickering from the controls and how Lyree manipulates them, to the flame as it varies in size and strength. Then, she winces a little. "That will take some practice," she mutters.

Sooth still has gas in his belly, and idly targets passing VTOLs, grassoid patches, nothing in particular.. always extremely careful there are no dragons or riders near.

Lyree nods, somewhat grimly. "It will indeed, which is why I was a bit distressed that you hadn't started sevendays ago. Here, start with the volume control." She hands the apparatus to Madelynda, helping her adjust the straps."

Phediath croons mournfully as she sees [Sooth] flame a VTOL, as if upset about the desecration of the creatures; she's careful not to protest, however, respecting the flaming figure of him.

Sooth focuses an eye on the queen, wondering what she's upset about. He hasn't actually hit a VTOL yet, they're too fast and light, the flame just seems to 'push' them out of the way. It's weird.

Madelynda carefully places the thrower on herself, smiling thankfully at Lyree as she helps with the straps. A timid hand goes to the controls, and she looks at Lyree as if for approval. "Shall I...try?" she asks, the verb coming after a nervous swallow.

Lyree shakes her head, surprisingly. "Always, every time you reach for that knob, /every/ time, check where your nozzle is pointing." She gestures at the nozzle pointing more or less at Madelynda's feet at the moment.

Lusani walks out of the Weyrling Barracks to the north. Lusani has arrived.

Myndirth emerges through cavernous opening of the Weyrling Barracks. Myndirth has arrived.

Sooth rumbles a greeting to Myndirth and his rider.

Madelynda blinks, her hand shooting awaw from the control as if it were a hearth, and looks at the nozzle, which is indeed pointing at her feet. "Oh, yes, of course." She moves it carefully away from Phediath, Sooth, and Lyree, the distance greater than it needs to be but it seems she's more comfortable that way. Holding tightly to the nozzle, she walks away to a clear spot.

Lyree nods approval. "It's much better to be extra safe than not quite safe enough. Now, practice with that until you're comfortable, then you can start playing with the shape knob."

Lusani is pulling her hair behind her as she comes out, tying it securely back with a black string. Letting the runnertail fall, she salutes and smiles. "What're we gonna do today, Lyreema'am?" Myndirth, following at a comfortable bounce-lope, bugles exuberant greetings to the other dragons.

Madelynda nods, and just as Lyree had--it seems she watched very carefully--she moves the control very slightly. A tiny bit of flame barely makes it out of the nozzle; and after a moment, Madelynda moves the control a little more, increasing its intensity. "Like that?" she calls to Lyree.

Phediath croons happily at Myndirth and flicks her tail from where she basks in the sun near Sooth.

Lyree glances towards Lusani, but quickly turns back to keep an eye on Madelynda's first flamethrowing attempt. "It's high time you were learning to feed him firestone, and him to flame." She waves towards a pile of firestone bags, still watching Madelynda. "Go fetch a pair of bags."

Lyree nods to Madelynda, wondering breifly if there is indeed such a thing as /too/ safe. "Yes, now increase the volume slowly until it's at full."

Dragon> Myndirth bespoke Ista Weyrling dragons with << It is nice out. I like it out here. Inside it smells of meat, athat is good, but out here it smells better. >>

Lusani's expression turns excited as she sprints over to the bags of firestone. Hefting two onto her shoulders with a small grunt of effort, she makes her way back to Lyree.

Madelynda nods very slowly, eyes not moving from the tongue of flame coming out of the nozzle. At a pace so slow it's almost painful, she increases the volume until it's at full strenght.

Lyree, satisfied Madelynda is unlikely to fry herself, turns to Lusani, though she still keeps a careful eye on the goldrider. "Good. Open up the bag, it should have pieces about double-fist size."

Phediath whirls her eyes toward the flame coming from her rider, and croons loudly, bucking her head in excitement.

Lyree turns back at Phediath's croon, to see a good blast coming from the nozzle. Good. "Good, now decrease and increase the volume, getting a feel for the range, and how much a half-turn of the knob affects the flame."

Myndirth whuffles curiously at the bags his rider's carrying, then warbles as Lu puts the bags down and opens one up, her eyes going unfocused as she tells her lifemate, "You're gonna learn how to flame.

Sooth perks up a bit, sensing the chance to show off again.

Lyree nods, attention back on Lusani. "Yes, but first he needs to learn to chew, and swallow to his second stomach. When there's enough gas in his belly, he'll want to belch. Make sure he's not aiming at anything but ground when he does."

Madelynda obediently--if slowly--adjusts the knob, causing the flame to lessen and increase. Gaining a bit of confidence, she tests how the speed of turning the knob affects the flame, allowing the flame to go in drastic yet small bursts.

Lusani nods attentively, an excited grin turning up the corners of her mouth. "Mmkay..." she says, concentrating on the information.

Dragon> Sooth bespoke Phediath with << My rider says you are doing well. You should parctice until you can make it throw full flame from nothing in one motion. >>

Lyree says "You also have to be careful, when he's chewing, that he doesn't bite his tongue. You'll always have to watch him carefully, for if he bites his tongue, he won't be able to fly that Fall. That counts for when you're feeding in-flight, too. Now, hand him a piece, watch him carefully, and remind him to think of his /other/ stomach."

Phediath> I bespoke Sooth with << I see. I shall remind her. >> She seems to assume she won't forget, as if she's forgotten that she has a shorter memory than her rider. << I like her to make the flame; it is perfectly lovely. >>

Madelynda smiles, turning the knob down and off and making the flame disappear. "Thank you, ma'am...I understand it, now, I think." She pauses, looking at her lifemate, and giggles. "Phediath says I must practice, but that she wants oiling now." She looks at Lyree with a questionning expression.

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