Post by Kaya on Jul 3, 2012 19:08:45 GMT -8
One of the most beautiful and prosperous Holds on the Southern Continent, Melisong Hold is rather overlooked by many who have not been there to experience its beauty. Nestled as far south as any Hold would dare to set itself, it is found just west of Dragon Ridge Mountains. Amongst rolling hills with extremely fertile soil, it is no wonder that this Hold is home to the Vintner Hall. Melisong also prides itself in its Weaver Hall which has close access to the cotton and other materials grown at the Hold. This Hold also has an extension of the Beastcraft Hall from Stormy Plains Beast Hold. The weather is very mild, with only a thirty degree difference between their hottest months in summer and the coldest months of winter. The most notable changes of weather are the rainy months, spring and early winter bring mildly temperamental downpours, while only small splurges of rainfall come about during the autumn, and only a mild haze of mist in the early mornings of summer.
The Hold is a few turns older than Rainbow Mists Weyr, built in 3009 during the Weyr’s construction Turns. It was founded by Leron, a Master Vintner, who had demanded the Hold be brought up for knowing the soil was so fertile and the climate perfect for his craft, and his wife Meli, a Master Harper. It is said that during the Hold and Hall's construction, Meli would sing to the men at night, to keep their spirits up and provide entertainment for them all, while they traditionally had an end of the sevenday feast, to imbibe some of the finer wines they had brought with them. The men, and spare Riders that were not working away at the Weyr, built a rough structure of the Hold in only a few months’ time. To reach its full grandeur, the Hold and Hall combined, took three full Turns. A few months before the construction finished, Meli died in childbirth. It is said that the mountains still carry her voice, and you can hear her singing, keeping morale even after her own death. When the Hold was finished, it was named Melisong in her honor.
To this day, the people of Melisong are a happy and friendly bunch. They work hard during the day, but they know how to have a good celebration also. They have at least four formal dances every month, as well as festivities during each sevenday. They are a very social people, and gossip is frantic, though it seems that all of the Holdfolk understand that gossip is exactly what it is, and do not expect to hear truths. In fact, one of the festivities is to try to conjure up the most scandalous tale, no matter how true or false, in order to win a title, often created by the previous holder of the name. For the fact that the title changes so often, it is impossible to say what it is at any given time, and most forget the rank by the next day.
Vintner Hall thrives within Melisong Hold, the lines of masters tied deep within the roles of the Lords and Ladies of the Hold. Not everyone works in the fields, however, and there are plenty of beastcrafters, farmers, weavers, tanners, and certainly harpers, that call Melisong home. Everyone gets along, for the most part, though there have been known to be several quarrels. Fights are fairly common in Melisong, but once the fight is over, everyone is generally friends once again. However the Hold and Hall come together to protect their own, and while outsiders are welcome, should a foreigner try to quarrel or steal, that individual will have all of the Holdsfolk on him before very long at all!
The Master Vinter, presently, is Alveron Joyver, a stocky friendly man with a bit of a belly to him. He is jovial in general, even when he is hard at work, and everyone tends to like being with him. He is a good friend to all the other Masters, as they have had reason to convene a time or two. Still, he isn't necessarily a man of great wit, and instead holds within him a great character, and a man of logical reasoning sound enough to provide support and leadership for his craft.
The current Lord Holder is Krispen Ubrocker, a kindly man, but thin and sometimes a bit frail. He was the only child of his mother and father, and while he is not capable of heavy duty work as most other men are, he is a man of great intelligence and trust. He is respected by all of his holders, and he is entrusted with nearly all of the affairs of his people. He respects Dragon Riders and the Weyr that protects them and their fertile lands, and tithes more than his fair share. He is certain to send a wide variety of quality of wines to the Weyr, so that they can supply every one of their needs. He does send in tithes of other sorts, but wines are easily the highest quality item produced in his Hold, and make up the majority of his offerings.
Lord Krispen's wife, and Lady Holder of Melisong, is Verena, Alveron's younger and much prettier sister. She shares her brother's easy going nature, and tends to befriend everyone. Verena has no fear of working with her hands, and often goes out into the Hold to help her people in their tasks, while still maintaining all Hold affairs. She, like her husband, is fully supportive of their protecting Weyr, and she makes sure that all tithes are sent out in a timely manner, usually including special gifts for Weyr leadership.
The current watchdragon is U'mol of Blue Hefrith.
[written by Eirena]
