Sable Weyr's Territory has many Holds. Given that most of the Southern Continent Weyrs overfly a much more vast area than any Northern Continent Weyr, it's not surprising that each of those Weyrs has a larger number of Holds looking to them for protection. Sable Weyr has seven Major Holds within their territory. Each Major Hold has a number of large, minor holds and smaller minor holds, as well as almost countless cotholds. Each Weyr manages to see to it's duties and obligations to such a vast area simply because Thread falls significantly less often on the Southern Continent than it does the Northern.
The Lord or Lady Holder is fully autonomous within their Hold's borders. Their word is law, and cannot by questioned by any other than a Full Conclave of all the Lord Holders of the planet. Such a Conclave would convene for this reason only if their is proof that the Lord or Lady Holder has violated the ancient, basic human rights and responsibilities contract that has been a part of Pernese life since the settling of the planet. Short of that, no Lord Holder, Weyrleader, or MasterCrafter has the right to interfere with how a Lord or Lady runs their Hold.
A Lord or Lady Holder is Confirmed to their position by a Full Conclave upon the death, abdication, or impeachment of their predecessor. The former Lord or Lady is encouraged to choose an heir and to make this heir known to them, but the final decision must be made by gathered Lord/Lady Holders of Pern. The Halls and Weyrs are not allowed to participate in this process and the Conclave is a closed one, with no one being allowed in the Council Room until the decision has been made.
A Lord or Lady Holder's successor must be of the Hold's bloodline, but they do not have to be of direct descent. A cousin, son, daughter, niece, nephew, sister, brother or even aunt or uncle can be chosen as the new Lord or Lady. This law was established in an effort to ensure that each Hold would be led by the person most suitable, and not simply be stuck with the randomness of birth order. Likewise, a Lord or Lady Holder can never be Confirmed to a Hold in which they have no blood connection to the ruling family.
Minor Holds are traditionally headed by the same family, who more often than not can trace their lineage back to the Lord or Lady's bloodline. Lord Holders have many children, each is raised with the thought of preparing them to be a Lord or Lady Holder themselves. Such training and ambitions could not be wasted, so many of the sons who do not become Lord Holders establish minor holds of their own, further developing the Lord/Lady Holder's territory. The position is not hereditary, however, and the Lord or Lady Holder can for any reason or no reason at all replace the Holder at any time.
A wise Lord or Lady Holder does not do so unless there is more than adequate cause.
Cotholds are generally small groups of families or an extended family living together. The Cotholder is simply the head of the family. Like Holders, they answer only to the Lord Holder and no other.
Major Holds house around 10,000 people. These people live in the main Hold and in the cots (not cotholds) immediately surrounding the Hold. The population is compromised of holders and crafters alike.
Minor Holds are smaller, tending to have populations ranging from 500 to a couple of thousand, again compromising of holders and crafters. There are far too few crafters, however, to fill the needs.
Cotholds are extended families, generally ranging in population from a couple dozen to a few score, depending on how long the cothold has been established. They have no crafters assigned there.
Below is a list of Holds. Those Holds that are indented are minor, beholden to the Major Hold above them that is not indented. There are two distinct sections, one for Sable Weyr's original territory and one for Crystal Weyr's territory. Sable Weyr holds Crystal's territory in guardianship until a new Weyr location can be found and established for that territory.
HOLD
INFORMATION:
UPDATES IN PROGRESS
03-19-05
KEY:
MAJOR HOLDS
MINOR HOLDS
CotHolds
Sable Weyr Territory
BLACK ROCK RIVER *
CRESCENT MOON HOLD*
MORGAN’S PLAIN HOLD*
EMERALD COAST HOLD*
ELAEIS HOLD*
FONSTAD HOLD*
NASHAN HOLD*
ARACELI HOLD*
Saffron Cothold*
AMBER HOLD
GREY CRAG HOLD
RIDGERUNNER HOLDING
Longhorn Cothold
UFIER HOLD
HORNED COVE HOLD
RED FIELD HOLDING
SILVER HILL HOLDING
THREE STONES HOLDING
WIND SPIRES HOLD*
Crystal Weyr Territory
{Under Sable Weyr
Guardianship}
CALOMEL HOLD*
CRYSTAL HOLD {RUINS}**
DRAGON ROCK HOLD
SHATTERED ROCK HOLD*
STONE FALLS HOLD*
SUN CLIFF HOLD*
THUNDER BAY HOLD
CEDRIAN HOLD
DARKWOOD HOLD
FAIRVIEW
HOLD
WINDHAVEN SEAHOLD
WINDWARD SEAHOLD
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