Post by ShadowReine on Sept 27, 2008 23:12:39 GMT -5
Crafters are specialists. They are highly trained professionals in their area of expertise.
Traditionally, most Crafters are male. Over the past few generations, women have been taking up more and more positions within the Crafts. The Healer craft, which has always welcomed women, has an essential equality between the genders rare elsewhere on Pern.
Children are 'tapped' for a Craft between eleven and thirteen Turns old. Journeyman keep their eyes open for likely boys or girls when performing their regular duties, and sometimes more formal aptitude tests are performed, usually at Gathers.
If the parents consent, the child is bound over as an Apprentice. In some cases, this may mean leaving home for a Crafthall. In others, Apprentices may be trained by a journeyman or master at their home Hold or Weyr. Seacraft apprentices go to sea very quickly after being tapped.
The best and most promising apprentices tend to be taken to the main Hall for that particular craft.
One unusual exception is the Harper Hall, which takes male apprentices as young as eight. These fosterling-apprentices are selected for their voices and provide child sopranos for Gathers and concerts. Most elect to stay with the Hall, but some leave when puberty hits and their voices break.
Apprentices normally become Journeymen at about sixteen or seventeen, a process called 'Walking the tables'. (The word 'Journeywoman' is sometimes used of female Crafters, sometimes not). Smaller holds often have a Journeyman permanently assigned, otherwise, Journeymen assist Masters.
Not all Journeymen ever become Masters, and becoming one at an age of less than thirty is extremely rare. To become a Master, a Journeyman has to satisfy the existing Masters of his or her readiness for the role and produce a 'masterpiece'...a project within his or her specialty that demonstrates such.
Female Masters are extremely rare in crafts other than Harper or Healer, and the glass ceiling is very much in evidence.
Crafters are treated with great respect. Their possession of the nearest thing Pern has to a college education makes them the experts and gurus everyone turns to.
Dragonhealers are a subcraft of the Healer craft. Generally, goldriders are trained in dragonhealing, often to a journeyman level. Most dragonhealers, however, are in fact blue or green riders, as dragonhealing requires an ability to communicate with the injured beast that very few non-riders possess. There has been a recent tendency for female greenriders to seek training as dragonhealers. Advancement as a dragonhealer falls under the auspices of the Healer Craftmaster, often advised by the Weyr leadership.
Traditionally, most Crafters are male. Over the past few generations, women have been taking up more and more positions within the Crafts. The Healer craft, which has always welcomed women, has an essential equality between the genders rare elsewhere on Pern.
Children are 'tapped' for a Craft between eleven and thirteen Turns old. Journeyman keep their eyes open for likely boys or girls when performing their regular duties, and sometimes more formal aptitude tests are performed, usually at Gathers.
If the parents consent, the child is bound over as an Apprentice. In some cases, this may mean leaving home for a Crafthall. In others, Apprentices may be trained by a journeyman or master at their home Hold or Weyr. Seacraft apprentices go to sea very quickly after being tapped.
The best and most promising apprentices tend to be taken to the main Hall for that particular craft.
One unusual exception is the Harper Hall, which takes male apprentices as young as eight. These fosterling-apprentices are selected for their voices and provide child sopranos for Gathers and concerts. Most elect to stay with the Hall, but some leave when puberty hits and their voices break.
Apprentices normally become Journeymen at about sixteen or seventeen, a process called 'Walking the tables'. (The word 'Journeywoman' is sometimes used of female Crafters, sometimes not). Smaller holds often have a Journeyman permanently assigned, otherwise, Journeymen assist Masters.
Not all Journeymen ever become Masters, and becoming one at an age of less than thirty is extremely rare. To become a Master, a Journeyman has to satisfy the existing Masters of his or her readiness for the role and produce a 'masterpiece'...a project within his or her specialty that demonstrates such.
Female Masters are extremely rare in crafts other than Harper or Healer, and the glass ceiling is very much in evidence.
Crafters are treated with great respect. Their possession of the nearest thing Pern has to a college education makes them the experts and gurus everyone turns to.
Dragonhealers are a subcraft of the Healer craft. Generally, goldriders are trained in dragonhealing, often to a journeyman level. Most dragonhealers, however, are in fact blue or green riders, as dragonhealing requires an ability to communicate with the injured beast that very few non-riders possess. There has been a recent tendency for female greenriders to seek training as dragonhealers. Advancement as a dragonhealer falls under the auspices of the Healer Craftmaster, often advised by the Weyr leadership.