Islands of Pern

Turnover at Ithaca Weyr

Turn's End and Turn's Beginning

Heyla all!

Turnover is something that some of us may want to write about, and since I write for the Headwoman of Ithaca Weyr, I thought I'd give all of you a little info packet to go with.

There is a Threadfall on Turn's End, but it's some time before noon, so the celebrations which start around 3pm won't much be affected by it. The weather is cool, but not too cold - around freezing point, I'd say, so remember to give your characters something warm to walk around in, if they're going outside.

The Dining Cavern will be decorated for the festivities. There are several stone pillars that support the roof (the cavern was carved around them from smaller, natural caves), and around and between these pillars, streamers of coloured cloth have been tied, to give a little colour to the surroundings. Also, genuine candle lamps have been hung around the cavern to give the feast a warm lighting, instead of the cold light of the glows.

The tables have been dragged to the sides of the cavern, leaving a dance floor in the middle. A platform has been constructed near the dais where the Weyrleaders usually eat, and harpers - refer to Keith for more info - will be playing and singing from the platform.

Near the walls, several movable partitions (think changing screens) have been added to make little alcoves for lovers to snuggle in or for people to have conversations slightly removed from the general hubbub.

Near the kitchen entrance, several tables are laden with food; hot foods, cold foods, salads, cakes, bread, cheese, cookies and dried fruits. There are no bubbly pies because the berries that the new Weyr had in the autumn, have already been used and the population has grown far beyond the original amount. There are wines - Tillek and Southern, although some enterprising riders may have their own stash of Benden - red and white, and some watered down for children and people not wanting to get drunk too easily. Also beer - ale and stout - is available, as is cider (Southern), for those who don't care for wine. Sour milk (a bit like yoghurt but more liquid and no added flavor) is available for kids, as well as different kinds of fruit juices, and water. The actual hot foods are mainly fish-based, but there are some boiled wherry eggs (think ostritch eggs) sliced for those who like some variety, as well as some pastries with genuine herdbeast mince meat.

Kitchen staff will be working in shifts, so that everyone has a chance to participate the feast themselves, and Marjaanah will be busting about all evening to see that everything goes well.

On Turn's Beginning, sandwiches and porridge will be available from near-dawn to noon, after which the feast will continue similar to Turn's End. Near midnight on Turn's Beginning, there will be a kind of firework display out in the Bowl, organized by S'jas (Keith) and Je'dec (me). There will be no rockets, but on the side of the Bowl that is still under construction, several colourful blasting powder explosions will be seen. The colours will be restricted to red and green due to the material available, but it will certainly be a marvel to behold!

The kitchen will stay open in shifts on to the early morning (3am or so), but after that the last revelers will be ushered away from the Dining Cavern so that it can be cleaned up for the first day of the new Turn, since work awaits in the morning. Hangover cures will be available for Turn's Beginning and m1/d1 in the kitchen, just ask Marjaanah.

Happy Turnover!
Marjaanah, Headwoman of Ithaca Weyr
a.k.a. Hanna K.

Last Updated: 04/04/2005