Whers at Western

[Zen]

Whers are the ungainly cousins of dragons and firelizards. They have only two toes and a single paw pad for balance but can move surprisingly fast. Unlike dragons who have strong back legs and shorter front legs, making them awkward when walking, whers have equally proportional legs and are actually capable of moving with a certain grace (though very few people would ever call a wher graceful as most think them rather ugly). They have short wings that are incapable of true flight, though they can glide for very short distances, and their wings are sometimes clipped when young to keep them from doing even that.

Unlike dragons and firelizards, their skin is tough and does not crack, and therefore does not need to be oiled. Their senses of hearing and smelling are very keen and there’s no match for a wher’s dark vision. Any light brighter than a few glows causes a wher discomfort and the light of the sun can blind them, so whers are wholly nocturnal. Whers have an excellent memory and are able to remember every face they see (and how that face treated them!). They communicate mostly with images and feelings, like firelizards, but are capable of broken speech through telepathy. EX: “Hersk want food. Hersk hungry! Food now now!”

Any color wher can bond to either gender and whers are also capable of re-bonding, though it is rare unless a bond is simply being passed from an elder family member that has died to a child/descendent. To bond a wher, the wher must drink the blood of the one that wishes to bond it. When a clutch is laid, those who wish to bond a wher (the wher candidates, though they are not searched like dragon candidates, they simply state that they want a wher and its first come first served) may approach the mother and bow, perhaps say a few words to her. Then, if she allows it, the candidate may come forth and choose the egg they want. They will then need to care for the egg, keep it warm, until it hatches, at which point it can be fed meat with a little of the candidate’s blood on it and become bonded. A bond between a wher and its handler is stronger than a bond between a firelizard and owner, but weaker than that of dragons and their riders.

The jobs of whers at Western are to protect herdbeasts from wild felines, work in the firestone mine, guard the holds at night, hunt tunnelsnakes, and help to excavate caverns and make them more livable. Greys and Golds are kept solely as breeders and do not participate in any of these jobs.

Here at Western, whers cannot go between and do not eat Thread at night. Except for those that guard the holds, they are also less vicious than canon whers, though most are still likely to give them a wide berth as they certainly aren’t known as particularly friendly.

Gold/Queen
Size Range: 22-25 feet
Runs: For the first time at 18 months/1 ½ Turns and once a Turn after that. Can be caught by Bronzes, Blacks, and Browns (rarely).
Clutches
Gold x Bronze – up to 15 eggs, max of 1 Gold(rare), 1 Bronze, 1 Grey(rare), 1 or 2 Blacks, 2 Browns, 2 Burgundies, and the rest Blues and Greens.
Gold x Black – up to 12 eggs, max of 1 Gold(VERY rare), 1 Bronze(rare), 1 Grey(VERY rare), 1 Black, 2 Browns, 2 Burgundies, and the rest Blues and Greens.
Gold x Brown – up to 10 eggs, max of 1 Bronze(VERY rare), 1 Black(rare), 1 Brown, 2 Burgundies, and the rest Blues and Greens.

Bronze
Size Range: 20-22 feet
Chases: For the first time at 18 months/1 ½ Turns, can catch any female.

Grey
Size Range: 18-20 feet
Rises: For the first time at 15 months and twice a Turn after that. Can be caught by any male, but Burgundies uncommonly and Blues rarely.
Clutches
Grey x Bronze – up to 12 eggs, max of 1 Bronze(rare) or 1 Grey(rare), 2 Blacks (1 more commonly), 2 Browns, 2 Burgundies, and the rest Blues and Greens.
Grey x Black – up to 10 eggs, max of 1 Bronze(VERY rare) or 1 Grey(VERY rare), 1 Black, 1 Brown, 2 Burgundies, and the rest Blues and Greens.
Grey x Brown – up to 8 eggs, max of 1 Black(rare), 1 Brown, 1 Burgundy, and the rest Blues and Greens.
Grey x Burgundy – up to 7 eggs, max of 1 Black(VERY rare), 1 Brown(rare), 1 Burgundy, and the rest Blues and Greens.
Grey x Blue – up to 5 eggs, max of 1 Brown(VERY rare) or 1 Burgundy(rare), and the rest Blues and Greens.

Black
Size Range: 16-18 feet
Chases: For the first time at 15 months, can catch any female.

Brown
Size Range: 14-16 feet
Chases: For the first time at 13 months, can catch any female.

Burgundy
Size Range: 12-14 feet
Chases: For the first time at 12 months, can catch Greens and uncommonly Greys.

Blue
Size Range: 10-12 feet
Chases: For the first time at 10 months, can catch any Greens and rarely Greys.

Green
Size Range: 8-10 feet
Runs: For the first time at 10 months and three to four times a Turn after that. Can be caught by any male.
Clutches: Does not clutch.

[Zen]

Here you can find a record of all the Whers at Western, along with their Handlers.


Gold/Queen

• Rillsk - Sherrill

Bronze

• None

Grey

• None

Black

• None

Brown

• None

Burgundy

• None

Blue

• None

Green

• None