All the wherlets will be part of the same class regardless of their intended purpose. The clutch will be raised with assistance from the pack, staying with them for at least a turn. The class will live within the wher barracks with the pack. The Weyr intends for all female whers of the clutch to remain within the Weyr, but males will have to leave the Weyr once they come of age and they can no longer live with the females. This is generally between 12 and 18 months depending on their personality.
The Whermaster is allowing two methods of impression to potential candidates, candidates may only attempt one method. They may either approach the clutchmother and try to get an egg from her, or they may impress within the wherden after the eggs have hatched. Bonding to a wher is not instantaneous and can take a month or two. For this period candidates may spend as much or as little time within the den as they desire, interacting with any of the pups. ICly a wher has bonded when their name is clearly that of a present candidate. OOCly a candidate has impressed when they receive a wher profile.
Method 1 – Egg Request - Available until 09th May
Considered to be the traditional way of bonding a wher, but rarely the preferred method. Candidates seeking this method will approach the clutchmother and attempt to gain her approval approximately two sevendays after the clutch is laid. If the clutchmother does approve the candidate will be allowed to interact with the clutch. The clutchmother can rescind her approval at any time. This is usually if a candidate has upset any of her eggs, or she does not believe they are compatible with any of them.
Should a candidate successfully select an egg and be allowed to leave this is the only egg they will be eligible to impress. Impression is not guaranteed, and the bond will still have to be made. This will need to be done through a series of solo posts and private roleplays with the wherlet. If there is not attempt, or a poor attempt, at bonding with the wher it risks going feral. If this is noticed soon enough the Whermaster may remove the wherlet and place it back with the pack in hopes it bonds to another candidate. If too long has passed at the window for bonding has been missed, then the pup will have to be euthanised before it becomes large enough to be a threat. It is likely that another that causes this to happen will have a very hard time finding a wher egg in the future.
Choosing an egg means that the candidate will only have the chance to bond to the wher from that egg. That means that regardless of their plans for the egg, the colour and personality is already determined. The wherlet will rejoin their clutch class at around one month old once the bond is secure. Then they will continue through wherlinghood as any other pup would.
Method 2 – Clutch Bonding - Available until 07th June
This method is generally considered the more favourable among those that consider wherhandling to be a profession. These candidates become temporary members of the pack. They begin to spend time in the wherden after any eggs that are going to be have been removed from the clutch. Usually this is around two sevendays after clutching, when the eggs are thought to have a sevenday left before they hatch. Although all candidates will be introduced and familiar to the pack before entering the wherden, they are encouraged to try and gain the packs favour by being polite and assisting the clutchmother when desired. This doesn’t increase their chances of bonding, but it makes things run smoother for all involved, and reduces the risk of the pack chasing out candidates.
Candidates are free to come and go as they please from the wherden once they are allowed entrance. There are however two limitations to this. Firstly, entering and exiting during daylight hours is not advised as this risks letting light into the den and harming the eyes of the whers. Secondly if a candidate spends too little time in the wherden then the pack may become more wary of them, potentially leading the clutchmother to not want them to return.
All candidates are expected to be present at the clutch hatching. Once the eggs become active a supply of minced meat will be available for when the time comes. When the clutch hatches wherlets may be fed by any candidate or by a member of the pack. Unlike firelizards this doesn’t form a bond instantly, and many whers have gone on to make strong bonds with those that weren’t the first to feed them.
Over the next month the candidates will be allowed to interact freely with the pups within the den. Wherlets are born without teeth and not very mobile. They will need to be fed and cleaned regularly. In the wild this job would be carried out by the pack, but candidates are encouraged to carry out these tasks to form a bond. Personalities will emerge shortly after hatching and candidates should make note of the temperament of wherlets and what they intend to use their bonded wher for. As wherlets have extremely sensitive eyes the den is kept in total darkness for the first two months. Candidates adjust to this to some degree, but for the majority they will have to find their way within the den relying on other senses and familiarity. This also means that the subject of wher colour is purely conjecture until the wherlets can leave the den after their bonds have been made.
Candidate Sign-Up Form
Forms can be submitted up to the clutch hatching. They can be edited up until a bond is made.
The Whermaster has the right to reject any candidate they feel does not take bonding to a wher seriously or is not ready for the responsibility. All candidates will need to know what they plan to train the wher to do and have some awareness of how to do it.
[u][b]Candidate Information[/b][/u]
[b]Candidate Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b] Minimum 18
[b]Which method of bonding will your character be attempting?[/b] Egg Request OR Clutch Bonding, they may only attempt one.
[b]Mauling?[/b] Please detail the level to which you are comfortable with your candidate being injured, ranging from not at all through to death. Candidates will only be mauled by adult whers and this would require them to do something very wrong. This something would also result in them being dragged from the den and not being allowed back. If your character does something to warrant being thrown out they will be, this only determines whether the whers will hurt them while doing it.
[b]Sum up your character's personality as you see them.[/b]
[b]What is your character’s occupation?[/b]
[b]What role will a wher have in this occupation?[/b]
[b]Why does your character want to bond to a wher?[/b]
[b]Why do you want the character to bond to a wher?[/b]
[b]What plans do you have for your character's development and future?[/b]
[b]How will bonding to a wher affect this?[/b]
[u]Wher Preferences[/u]
[b]Colour preferences?[/b] Is there a colour you prefer for this character? Is there a particular reason?
[b]Make this character exclusive?[/b] They will only be eligible to impress whers of the above stated colour(s). Please note that you will still have to wait for a compatible personality in a clutch, and that this may require your candidate to stand for multiple clutches.
[b]Personality preferences?[/b] Is there a personality you feel would especially suit your character or their development? Similarly, are there any traits that you think do not fit your character or that you do not want to play?
[b]Other: [/b]Anything else you feel needs mentioning?
[b]Are there any eggs you feel your character especially resonates with?[/b]
[b]Are there any eggs you feel your character is especially poorly suited for?[/b] If so, why?
[b]Do you accept that if your character impresses a male wher they will have to leave the Weyr once that wher comes of age?[/b] Yes/No
