Wher Colors
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Gold
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Queen
Size: 22ft - 24ft
Clutch Size: 6 - 10
Golds, the rarest of all wher colors, are, in every sense of the word, Queens. They are strong in body and strong in mind, ruling over their dens with the power and glory that their shining golden hide grants them. Golds are the mothers of the wher dens, laying large, strong clutches with very few duds. They are the most intelligent of the ranks by far, speaking with a practiced ease not found in any of the lower ranks. Golds are able to force any of the lower colors into obedience, placing them firmly underneath their mental hold until they bow down to their will. With their strong will comes rebellion, though, and a badly-trained Gold will often butt heads with her Handler. However, if she is bonded to someone who is patient, intelligent, and just as strong-willed as she is, a Gold can become the most valued wher in the den.
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Bronze
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: King
Size: 20ft - 22ft
Bronzes, whose hides are anywhere from a green-gold to a bright, shining coppery shade, are the largest of all the male whers, and the most intelligent. They are also the rarest of the males, making up a very small percentage of the wher population as a whole. They are almost as strong-willed as Golds, and certainly as arrogant. A Bronze requires a strong-willed partner that has no qualms about putting their bond-partner in their place, because they will have to do it. Likely multiple times, in fact. While a Bronze dragon is confident in his place as a Gold's favored color, a Bronze wher knows that he isn't guaranteed to catch his lovely quarry - a Brown is just as likely, not to mention those awful little Twilights. So before a Gold runs, they tend to get only more arrogant and show-offish, making certain that they are noticed by their female of choice before she takes off into the night. This can, unfortunately, result in a few fights for dominance among the Bronzes, and even among the lower male colors as well. A Bronzehandler would do well to keep track of the resident Gold's cycle... Just in case.
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Onyx
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Subqueen
Size: 19ft - 21ft
Clutch Size: 4 - 8
Onyxes are, most often, a deep, flinty black color. Their hides are, oddly enough, usually rather smooth, and instead of the golden type of metallic sheen that their higher-ups have, they have a silvery shine to them that has never been seen before on any other type of dragonkin. But, contrary to their smooth hides and cool silver sheen, Onyxes are quite... Tempestuous. They are by far the most territorial of all whers, and they will back up their claimed ownership with teeth and claws unless taught otherwise. They seem to be more animalistic than most of their brethren, tending to rely on their instincts rather than logic. It takes a calm, patient handler with a steady hand and a strong heart to fully tame one of these wild beauties. But it is most definitely an effort worth expending.
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Twilight
Gender: 75% Male, 25% Female
Rank: Subqueen/King
Size: 18.5ft - 21ft
Clutch Size: 3 - 6
Twilights have softly-colored hides, which are usually a dappled mix of purple and blue, which can be anywhere from pastel shades to the deep, dark colors of spilled ink. They tend to be calmer and steadier than any of the other rankers, the females having a distinctly motherly edge to them. The males are more suited to a second-in-command position - they are just as confident as Bronzes, yes, but they don't have the relentless ambition that their shining kin do. They're the most comforting of the lot, tending to enjoy being that strong shoulder to lean on when you need it most. Female Twilights are a softer sort - not Queens in the traditional sense. They act more like nurses, to tell the truth - warm, motherly, but not afraid to discipline the younglings if they get out of line. And if their 'younglings' are threatened in any way, well... It gets very ugly, very quickly. They're a family-oriented lot, tending to be closer to their offspring than any other whers known to Pern. Twilights are best when bonded to someone rather like them - strong, yes, but they don't feel too inclined to show that power unless it's truly necessary.
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Brown
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: Fighter
Size: 18ft - 20ft
Browns are colored anywhere from a light, near-white tan to a deep, near-black shade, reminiscent of dark chocolate. They're the powerhouses of the wher dens, with a high muscle density that lends them stamina rivaling that of Bronzes. They have a strong work ethic and a pack-oriented mindset, determined to do all they can to aid Weyr and pack. They tend to be the best contributors to the survival effort, going out and hunting when the pickings are slim, picking up the slack when another wher isn't available... All in all, these boys will go the extra mile to see that everyone continues living well and happily. They're usually warm, friendly sorts, though there are, of course, exceptions. The ideal bond for a Brown is somebody with the same sort of work ethic as they have, though they have been known to bond to the lazier Candidates, presumably to balance them out a bit.
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Pyrite
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: Fighter
Size: 17ft - 19.5ft
Pyrites could almost be mistaken for Bronzes, if it weren't for the fact that no Bronze that was ever hatched has been that small, they all look oddly desaturated in base color, and no Bronze has ever had a black sheen when exposed to glowlight. By some odd trick of light and biology, the strangely metallic-seeming sheen of Pyrites is normal in light from the moon, stars, or sun... but when exposed to glows, it seems darker than their proper hide color, their shine becoming a tarnish when exposed to the soft glowlight that lights the wher dens. It has been argued that Pyrites are merely a strange, dwarfed mutation of Bronze, but their personalities say otherwise. Pyrites are, in fact, the most laid-back whers that can ever be encountered. They take everything in stride, no matter how shocking it is, and simply go with the flow. Oh, they'll fight if they need to, yes - but if they don't have to fight, why go looking for one? They're the least ambitious dragonkin ever hatched, to be honest. They go well with firm handlers, willing to make them do what needs to be done even when they don't see why they have to do it. Of course, Pyrites being Pyrites, they don't always pick what they'll go best with... After all, they don't have to, do they?
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Red
Gender: 50% Male, 50% Female
Rank: Fighter
Size: 17ft - 18.5ft
Clutch Size: 1 - 3, usually duds
Reds can be anywhere from a bright, neon shade to a deep, near-brown color. If it weren't for the size difference, the darker Reds and Browns would get mistaken for each other constantly. Both colors are usually quite muscular, and have quite a bit of stamina to their names. The difference is, of course, in their demeanor. While Browns are hard-working, down-to-earth individuals, Reds seem to be a bit more... sinister. Unlike their dragon counterparts, Reds are a calm lot, cool and calculating. They're very good planners, for their level of intelligence, and unlike most other whers, they seem to think about the future quite a lot. They are also quite bloodthirsty, enjoying fighting off raiding wastelanders as much as zombie hordes. They tend to get irritable when they haven't had much action - apparently, adrenaline keeps them stable. The handler of one of these wily beasties would do well to go hunting with them as regularly as possible, to make certain their bondmate doesn't take matters into their own claws...
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Blue
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: Fighter
Size: 17ft - 18ft
Blues are, like Greens, made for speed. They have a bit more muscle than their verdant sisters, giving them a bit more stamina, but they have nowhere near the staying power of Reds or Browns. Their hides can be anywhere from a clear, icy blue, to a deep, dark, near-black shade. In fact, if it weren't for their size and build, some Blues could quite easily be mistaken for Onyxes. But their demeanor is nothing like those dark ladies, not in the slightest. Well...Most of them aren't, anyway. You see, Blues are some of the most varied whers, personality-wise. Only Greens have more random personalities. These whers can be lazy, hard-working, irritable, friendly, depressing, annoyingly happy... Almost anything. The only thing that most of them share is their strong sense of right and wrong, and not even all Blues have that. Still, most Blues, however different, will answer to the rules of their conscience as readily as those of their handler. Since their personalities are so unique to a wher, there is no 'ideal' handler for a Blue. One might recommend someone with the same sense of justice as they do, but a Blue might bond to an unscrupulous person just as readily, seeking to balance out their handler's ruthless nature.
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Diamond
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Fighter
Size: 16ft - 17.5ft
Clutch Size: 1 - 3, usually duds
Diamonds, like their Onyx sisters, have oddly smooth hides. Said hides are always pale, with a distinctly blue sheen to them though they sometimes have oddly reddish spots on their hides. They tend to have high metabolisms, giving them a physique similar to old Terran greyhounds. They live and breathe to run, and can usually only be Caught by the fastest of males. A well-cared-for Diamond can outrun almost any wher, including Whites. Whites may be small, but they aren't as streamlined as these little missies! And they know it. Their breathtaking speed and unusual beauty, (well, for a wher,) unfortunately, hides a rather vain interior. Diamonds are, to be quite frank, divas. They can't stand dirtying their little paws, and risking injury? Out of the question. Yes, Diamonds, for all their speed and beauty, are rather useless in terms of battle. They are, however, wonderful scouts, which makes up for some of their flaws. In fact, their hatred of pain of any kind might be a good thing - they're quite delicate, after all... The ideal Diamondhandler is patient and good-natured, willing to humor their partner when it won't do anyone any harm, but also willing to force them to do what's necessary when they have to. Of course, Diamonds, being fickle little beasts, don't always, or even often, choose the ideal handler for their color.
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Green
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Fighter
Size: 15ft - 17ft
Clutch Size: 1 - 3, usually duds
Greens are the most common of wher colors and, unfortunately, largely considered the least intelligent. For some, this is an accurate statement - there are quite a few Greens who make rocks look like award-winning scientists. However, there are a few out there that are at least as intelligent as Reds, even if they can be ordered around by said Reds as easily as they're ordered around by Golds. They make up for this sad lack of intelligence and rank by being, by far, the most individual of all the colors. Greens can be anything - unscrupulous or honorable, kind or cruel, hateful or loving, motherly or indifferent, brave or cowardly, vain or modest... The list goes on and on. If you can think of a personality trait, there's a Green out there that has it. And their handlers are, of course, just as varied. Some think that the random personalities of Greens are quite a good thing for the color - after all, there are only so many handlers that fit a certain personality type! There is literally no ideal handler type for a Green - they can bond to almost anyone. Whether the bond fits, well... That's up to how those two particular individuals fit, now, isn't it?
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White
Gender: None (Identifies 35% Male, 35% Female,
10% Neutral or agender, 20% Genderfluid)
Rank: Fighter
Size: 14ft - 16ft
The rarest of all the colors. They're even scarcer than Golds, only showing up in a clutch once in a blue moon. Whites are completely infertile, and, indeed, seem to have no definite outward gender indications. They do, however, tend to have their own gender identity, which their voice usually echoes. A White can be male or female, yes, but it will never Chase or Run like its brethren. They are also amazingly intelligent, just as smart as a Gold or, on some notable occasions, even more so. Most Whites speak with perfect grammar and diction, and those that don't usually only make the occasional lapse. They understand abstract concepts, such as past, future, and present, and quite often are found pondering the possibilities that might lie in the future. They are less pack-oriented than most other whers, and don't seem to have as much of an instinctive understanding of things. They might even have to be taught just how to hunt properly, and it's quite possible that they might refuse to fight against the hordes of zombies lying outside the Hold and Weyr walls. Since Whites are so rare, there simply isn't enough known about them to tell if a specific personality type has more of a chance of Impressing to one. People do tentatively think that the scholarly or the socially awkward might be more likely to Impress them, but they're so rare that it's really not likely that one will show up in their entire lifetime, let alone a clutch they're Standing for...
(Please note that none of these personality or appearance guidelines are set in stone. They are simply here to show you what the norm is. Mind you, there won't be any bright orange Twilights that love to eat babies. You can still have a unique wher while keeping [mostly!] to the norm of the color! Also, markings are very well-loved around here. Please feel free to give your wher some!)
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Gold
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Queen
Size: 22ft - 24ft
Clutch Size: 6 - 10
Golds, the rarest of all wher colors, are, in every sense of the word, Queens. They are strong in body and strong in mind, ruling over their dens with the power and glory that their shining golden hide grants them. Golds are the mothers of the wher dens, laying large, strong clutches with very few duds. They are the most intelligent of the ranks by far, speaking with a practiced ease not found in any of the lower ranks. Golds are able to force any of the lower colors into obedience, placing them firmly underneath their mental hold until they bow down to their will. With their strong will comes rebellion, though, and a badly-trained Gold will often butt heads with her Handler. However, if she is bonded to someone who is patient, intelligent, and just as strong-willed as she is, a Gold can become the most valued wher in the den.
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Bronze
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: King
Size: 20ft - 22ft
Bronzes, whose hides are anywhere from a green-gold to a bright, shining coppery shade, are the largest of all the male whers, and the most intelligent. They are also the rarest of the males, making up a very small percentage of the wher population as a whole. They are almost as strong-willed as Golds, and certainly as arrogant. A Bronze requires a strong-willed partner that has no qualms about putting their bond-partner in their place, because they will have to do it. Likely multiple times, in fact. While a Bronze dragon is confident in his place as a Gold's favored color, a Bronze wher knows that he isn't guaranteed to catch his lovely quarry - a Brown is just as likely, not to mention those awful little Twilights. So before a Gold runs, they tend to get only more arrogant and show-offish, making certain that they are noticed by their female of choice before she takes off into the night. This can, unfortunately, result in a few fights for dominance among the Bronzes, and even among the lower male colors as well. A Bronzehandler would do well to keep track of the resident Gold's cycle... Just in case.
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Onyx
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Subqueen
Size: 19ft - 21ft
Clutch Size: 4 - 8
Onyxes are, most often, a deep, flinty black color. Their hides are, oddly enough, usually rather smooth, and instead of the golden type of metallic sheen that their higher-ups have, they have a silvery shine to them that has never been seen before on any other type of dragonkin. But, contrary to their smooth hides and cool silver sheen, Onyxes are quite... Tempestuous. They are by far the most territorial of all whers, and they will back up their claimed ownership with teeth and claws unless taught otherwise. They seem to be more animalistic than most of their brethren, tending to rely on their instincts rather than logic. It takes a calm, patient handler with a steady hand and a strong heart to fully tame one of these wild beauties. But it is most definitely an effort worth expending.
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Twilight
Gender: 75% Male, 25% Female
Rank: Subqueen/King
Size: 18.5ft - 21ft
Clutch Size: 3 - 6
Twilights have softly-colored hides, which are usually a dappled mix of purple and blue, which can be anywhere from pastel shades to the deep, dark colors of spilled ink. They tend to be calmer and steadier than any of the other rankers, the females having a distinctly motherly edge to them. The males are more suited to a second-in-command position - they are just as confident as Bronzes, yes, but they don't have the relentless ambition that their shining kin do. They're the most comforting of the lot, tending to enjoy being that strong shoulder to lean on when you need it most. Female Twilights are a softer sort - not Queens in the traditional sense. They act more like nurses, to tell the truth - warm, motherly, but not afraid to discipline the younglings if they get out of line. And if their 'younglings' are threatened in any way, well... It gets very ugly, very quickly. They're a family-oriented lot, tending to be closer to their offspring than any other whers known to Pern. Twilights are best when bonded to someone rather like them - strong, yes, but they don't feel too inclined to show that power unless it's truly necessary.
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Brown
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: Fighter
Size: 18ft - 20ft
Browns are colored anywhere from a light, near-white tan to a deep, near-black shade, reminiscent of dark chocolate. They're the powerhouses of the wher dens, with a high muscle density that lends them stamina rivaling that of Bronzes. They have a strong work ethic and a pack-oriented mindset, determined to do all they can to aid Weyr and pack. They tend to be the best contributors to the survival effort, going out and hunting when the pickings are slim, picking up the slack when another wher isn't available... All in all, these boys will go the extra mile to see that everyone continues living well and happily. They're usually warm, friendly sorts, though there are, of course, exceptions. The ideal bond for a Brown is somebody with the same sort of work ethic as they have, though they have been known to bond to the lazier Candidates, presumably to balance them out a bit.
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Pyrite
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: Fighter
Size: 17ft - 19.5ft
Pyrites could almost be mistaken for Bronzes, if it weren't for the fact that no Bronze that was ever hatched has been that small, they all look oddly desaturated in base color, and no Bronze has ever had a black sheen when exposed to glowlight. By some odd trick of light and biology, the strangely metallic-seeming sheen of Pyrites is normal in light from the moon, stars, or sun... but when exposed to glows, it seems darker than their proper hide color, their shine becoming a tarnish when exposed to the soft glowlight that lights the wher dens. It has been argued that Pyrites are merely a strange, dwarfed mutation of Bronze, but their personalities say otherwise. Pyrites are, in fact, the most laid-back whers that can ever be encountered. They take everything in stride, no matter how shocking it is, and simply go with the flow. Oh, they'll fight if they need to, yes - but if they don't have to fight, why go looking for one? They're the least ambitious dragonkin ever hatched, to be honest. They go well with firm handlers, willing to make them do what needs to be done even when they don't see why they have to do it. Of course, Pyrites being Pyrites, they don't always pick what they'll go best with... After all, they don't have to, do they?
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Red
Gender: 50% Male, 50% Female
Rank: Fighter
Size: 17ft - 18.5ft
Clutch Size: 1 - 3, usually duds
Reds can be anywhere from a bright, neon shade to a deep, near-brown color. If it weren't for the size difference, the darker Reds and Browns would get mistaken for each other constantly. Both colors are usually quite muscular, and have quite a bit of stamina to their names. The difference is, of course, in their demeanor. While Browns are hard-working, down-to-earth individuals, Reds seem to be a bit more... sinister. Unlike their dragon counterparts, Reds are a calm lot, cool and calculating. They're very good planners, for their level of intelligence, and unlike most other whers, they seem to think about the future quite a lot. They are also quite bloodthirsty, enjoying fighting off raiding wastelanders as much as zombie hordes. They tend to get irritable when they haven't had much action - apparently, adrenaline keeps them stable. The handler of one of these wily beasties would do well to go hunting with them as regularly as possible, to make certain their bondmate doesn't take matters into their own claws...
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Blue
Gender: 100% Male
Rank: Fighter
Size: 17ft - 18ft
Blues are, like Greens, made for speed. They have a bit more muscle than their verdant sisters, giving them a bit more stamina, but they have nowhere near the staying power of Reds or Browns. Their hides can be anywhere from a clear, icy blue, to a deep, dark, near-black shade. In fact, if it weren't for their size and build, some Blues could quite easily be mistaken for Onyxes. But their demeanor is nothing like those dark ladies, not in the slightest. Well...Most of them aren't, anyway. You see, Blues are some of the most varied whers, personality-wise. Only Greens have more random personalities. These whers can be lazy, hard-working, irritable, friendly, depressing, annoyingly happy... Almost anything. The only thing that most of them share is their strong sense of right and wrong, and not even all Blues have that. Still, most Blues, however different, will answer to the rules of their conscience as readily as those of their handler. Since their personalities are so unique to a wher, there is no 'ideal' handler for a Blue. One might recommend someone with the same sense of justice as they do, but a Blue might bond to an unscrupulous person just as readily, seeking to balance out their handler's ruthless nature.
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Diamond
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Fighter
Size: 16ft - 17.5ft
Clutch Size: 1 - 3, usually duds
Diamonds, like their Onyx sisters, have oddly smooth hides. Said hides are always pale, with a distinctly blue sheen to them though they sometimes have oddly reddish spots on their hides. They tend to have high metabolisms, giving them a physique similar to old Terran greyhounds. They live and breathe to run, and can usually only be Caught by the fastest of males. A well-cared-for Diamond can outrun almost any wher, including Whites. Whites may be small, but they aren't as streamlined as these little missies! And they know it. Their breathtaking speed and unusual beauty, (well, for a wher,) unfortunately, hides a rather vain interior. Diamonds are, to be quite frank, divas. They can't stand dirtying their little paws, and risking injury? Out of the question. Yes, Diamonds, for all their speed and beauty, are rather useless in terms of battle. They are, however, wonderful scouts, which makes up for some of their flaws. In fact, their hatred of pain of any kind might be a good thing - they're quite delicate, after all... The ideal Diamondhandler is patient and good-natured, willing to humor their partner when it won't do anyone any harm, but also willing to force them to do what's necessary when they have to. Of course, Diamonds, being fickle little beasts, don't always, or even often, choose the ideal handler for their color.
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Green
Gender: 100% Female
Rank: Fighter
Size: 15ft - 17ft
Clutch Size: 1 - 3, usually duds
Greens are the most common of wher colors and, unfortunately, largely considered the least intelligent. For some, this is an accurate statement - there are quite a few Greens who make rocks look like award-winning scientists. However, there are a few out there that are at least as intelligent as Reds, even if they can be ordered around by said Reds as easily as they're ordered around by Golds. They make up for this sad lack of intelligence and rank by being, by far, the most individual of all the colors. Greens can be anything - unscrupulous or honorable, kind or cruel, hateful or loving, motherly or indifferent, brave or cowardly, vain or modest... The list goes on and on. If you can think of a personality trait, there's a Green out there that has it. And their handlers are, of course, just as varied. Some think that the random personalities of Greens are quite a good thing for the color - after all, there are only so many handlers that fit a certain personality type! There is literally no ideal handler type for a Green - they can bond to almost anyone. Whether the bond fits, well... That's up to how those two particular individuals fit, now, isn't it?
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White
Gender: None (Identifies 35% Male, 35% Female,
10% Neutral or agender, 20% Genderfluid)
Rank: Fighter
Size: 14ft - 16ft
The rarest of all the colors. They're even scarcer than Golds, only showing up in a clutch once in a blue moon. Whites are completely infertile, and, indeed, seem to have no definite outward gender indications. They do, however, tend to have their own gender identity, which their voice usually echoes. A White can be male or female, yes, but it will never Chase or Run like its brethren. They are also amazingly intelligent, just as smart as a Gold or, on some notable occasions, even more so. Most Whites speak with perfect grammar and diction, and those that don't usually only make the occasional lapse. They understand abstract concepts, such as past, future, and present, and quite often are found pondering the possibilities that might lie in the future. They are less pack-oriented than most other whers, and don't seem to have as much of an instinctive understanding of things. They might even have to be taught just how to hunt properly, and it's quite possible that they might refuse to fight against the hordes of zombies lying outside the Hold and Weyr walls. Since Whites are so rare, there simply isn't enough known about them to tell if a specific personality type has more of a chance of Impressing to one. People do tentatively think that the scholarly or the socially awkward might be more likely to Impress them, but they're so rare that it's really not likely that one will show up in their entire lifetime, let alone a clutch they're Standing for...
(Please note that none of these personality or appearance guidelines are set in stone. They are simply here to show you what the norm is. Mind you, there won't be any bright orange Twilights that love to eat babies. You can still have a unique wher while keeping [mostly!] to the norm of the color! Also, markings are very well-loved around here. Please feel free to give your wher some!)
