Fort's thoughts on Whers (all types), Age Restrictions, and Training
Now we also have to consider that this is *FORT* and despite all the information that’s been said previously both Fort and really the North in general know little to nothing about whers beyond watchwhers and the occasional mining wher. In fact the only real mentioned or played whers back at Dark Fort were one wher mentioned as belonging to a person and it was a wild wher that belonged to a guard who worked nights only, don't remember color or the Wher chained up on the sands after the egg stabby incident which was also a wild wher, a brown. So they have had bad encounters with only the most dangerous of whers and would not allow any wher to stay around without heavy watch and training.
These ages and training rules are set because no matter how mature a kid is whers have no 'programmed' impulse control against hurting anything which is quite unlike dragons (who wouldn't hurt a dragon or human on purpose) or flits (who unless they are a fair can't do much damage). This also reflects how Fort (compared to Southern/Arolos) has knowledge mainly of the more aggressive sides of a wher's personality. Although as more Lilacape, 50/50, and wild whers are introduced and the differences are noticed the knowledge of 'whers are just violent creatures' could potentially be adjusted, it would just be a slow process.
These ages and training rules are set because no matter how mature a kid is whers have no 'programmed' impulse control against hurting anything which is quite unlike dragons (who wouldn't hurt a dragon or human on purpose) or flits (who unless they are a fair can't do much damage). This also reflects how Fort (compared to Southern/Arolos) has knowledge mainly of the more aggressive sides of a wher's personality. Although as more Lilacape, 50/50, and wild whers are introduced and the differences are noticed the knowledge of 'whers are just violent creatures' could potentially be adjusted, it would just be a slow process.
Age Restrictions:
So, to reflect this strict and almost intolerant attitude that Fort has about whers, it will not be ICly allowed for any male under the age of 16 or any females under the age of 18 to either impress or bond to a wher. Of course, with BoD approval there can be the occasional OOCly approved impression/bonding to kids as young as 12 years old for chromatics and 13 years old for metallics (as long as the 12 or 13 year old actually show that they seem like they could handle a wher). But keep in mind that they will be responsible and there would be IC consequences for impressing so young when it is against IC rules. These ages are for any type of wher, although there are certain things that will be specific for each type of wher (wild, 50/50, or full Lilacape).
Training:
Those who are under 16 who have impressed or bonded to whers will be required to live with the guards through their wher growing up and being trained and then until they turn 16. Anyone else over 16 who has impressed or bonded to a wher will also be required to live with the guards while their wher is growing up and being trained. However, for those who are over 16 once their wher is fully grown and has been trained and tested to be considered 'safe', they they are not required to continue living with the guards, although they still can. People of any age with growing whers will still be required to work with an older approved metallic wher in making sure the new wher is trained properly for the safety of everyone at the Weyr.
While training whers who’ve impressed/bonded to people of any age would be strict, training would have to be even more harsh and strict with anyone under 16 as it quickly would become clear the wher was going to end up larger than their person and they would need to have trained it very well before it outstripped them so it wouldn't be a risk to anyone when it became too much to handle physically. Not that training a wher wouldn’t be harsh either way, but with a younger wher-handler who has a larger wher it would have to be even harsher as he would be able to physically control it even less time.
The move to the guard barracks for any untrained or newborn wher-pair is a necessary move because having the new whelp contained with a barracks full of people trained to kill and fight dangerous people would be another layer of protection for the Weyr on the chance that the wher goes insane/attacks so that there will be guards nearby who can 'eliminate' the threat.
With Fort’s skeptical view of whers, even any newly arrived wher-pairs (no matter their age) will be put under probation. If they are not a rider they will live in the guard’s barracks for 3 months while the WW/WL and guards determine if the wher is properly trained and safe to be around people. If the wher is Impressed/Bonded to a rider the wher should be kept in the weyr as much as possible (preferably chained or caged) for those 3 months until the wher’s training and safety level can be determined. If the wher is decided to be too untrained for the relative safety of the people of the weyr, the wher and his handler will be required to spend time training the wher. If the behavior is still unchanged after extra training, the WW and WL will decide if/what extra measures need to be taken to ensure everyone’s safety....this includes if needed up to and including putting the wher down.
While training whers who’ve impressed/bonded to people of any age would be strict, training would have to be even more harsh and strict with anyone under 16 as it quickly would become clear the wher was going to end up larger than their person and they would need to have trained it very well before it outstripped them so it wouldn't be a risk to anyone when it became too much to handle physically. Not that training a wher wouldn’t be harsh either way, but with a younger wher-handler who has a larger wher it would have to be even harsher as he would be able to physically control it even less time.
The move to the guard barracks for any untrained or newborn wher-pair is a necessary move because having the new whelp contained with a barracks full of people trained to kill and fight dangerous people would be another layer of protection for the Weyr on the chance that the wher goes insane/attacks so that there will be guards nearby who can 'eliminate' the threat.
With Fort’s skeptical view of whers, even any newly arrived wher-pairs (no matter their age) will be put under probation. If they are not a rider they will live in the guard’s barracks for 3 months while the WW/WL and guards determine if the wher is properly trained and safe to be around people. If the wher is Impressed/Bonded to a rider the wher should be kept in the weyr as much as possible (preferably chained or caged) for those 3 months until the wher’s training and safety level can be determined. If the wher is decided to be too untrained for the relative safety of the people of the weyr, the wher and his handler will be required to spend time training the wher. If the behavior is still unchanged after extra training, the WW and WL will decide if/what extra measures need to be taken to ensure everyone’s safety....this includes if needed up to and including putting the wher down.