Why can’t my candidate Impress a Dragon after Impressing or bonding to a Wher?
ICly, people with whers are not allowed to become candidates because of how Fort views whers and the idea that those violent beasts will potentially harm a dragon, and as a dragon is seen as much more useful than a wher those higher up don't want to risk a dragon being hurt. This IC rule is actually pretty solid reasoning, because while whers don't have the stronger bonds that dragons do whers are still very territorial and loyal. This territorial and loyal attitude could easily result in an Impressed wher trying to attack any dragonet that tries to impress to *their* person. A bonded wher wouldn't be as likely to attack, but because whers are still a relative unknown quality this potential for whers attacking dragonets is still a worry for the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader.
However, despite IC rules, there is nothing that OOCly (aside from possible possessive wher attacking a dragonet) standing in the way of a dragon finding their lifemate off the sands if they have a wher. This is the same principle as a pregnant female not being allowed to stand but the dragonet not making that distinction if the pregnant female is the dragon's lifemate.
**Note**: While we know that at Arolos/Southern they ICly makes a distinction between those Impressed or bonded to whers and actually allows those who have only bonded to whers to Impress to dragons. The reason that people both Impressed and bonded to whers are ICly denied a possibility to Impress a dragon at Fort is that Fort (with their lack of knowledge of whers) would treat both Impression and bonding the same unless they get a good reason to investigate more heavily.
However, despite IC rules, there is nothing that OOCly (aside from possible possessive wher attacking a dragonet) standing in the way of a dragon finding their lifemate off the sands if they have a wher. This is the same principle as a pregnant female not being allowed to stand but the dragonet not making that distinction if the pregnant female is the dragon's lifemate.
**Note**: While we know that at Arolos/Southern they ICly makes a distinction between those Impressed or bonded to whers and actually allows those who have only bonded to whers to Impress to dragons. The reason that people both Impressed and bonded to whers are ICly denied a possibility to Impress a dragon at Fort is that Fort (with their lack of knowledge of whers) would treat both Impression and bonding the same unless they get a good reason to investigate more heavily.