Big Bay (Igen Sea Hold) was one of the Minor Holds in the Northern Continent. It was the starting point for the feline that carried the flu plague throughout Pern.
Description[]
- A detailed description of the Hold (copied from The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern) established the surrounding countryside, the economy and other relevant features.
Big Bay Hold was a chief trading center for beasts and goods of all kinds. It was a small sea hold that grew out of a cluster of storehouses built by traders in this sheltered cove in the curve of Igen's Claw. The dry air served to keep goods from spoiling or mildewing.
Every trader had his own warehouse or beastfold, depending upon the nature of his goods. Holder Jivan was an utterly fair man who kept track of the comings and goings of beasts and goods on lengths of hide in his own shorthand, which no one else could read. He had copies of all the brands and hallmarks that the holders and crafters used, and adjudicated all disputes between traders in the calm voice that no one had ever heard him raise.
Adjuncts from every Crafthall lived at Big Bay. Their job was quality control, to see that those products which were represented as being of a certain value and skill level were of that quality. The Beastcrafthall was the second largest on Pern, and several animal healers were in Jivan's employ.
Some disputes solved themselves when all the facts were brought out. If, for example, a trader claimed that a herd of white-faced black bovines was his, but that it had been moved in the night to another trader's fold, it was easy to check the manifests to discover the stops along both traders' routes to see which one of them was latest in northern Telgar, where that type of beast was raised. Dishonest traders got the word that they and their goods were no longer welcome to use the facilities of Big Bay Hold.
History[]
It is not known when Big Bay Hold was founded in the natural harbor edging the Igen's Claw.
Sixth Pass[]
During a bad storm, a ship called the Windtoss found a feline adrift, clinging to a floating tree in the Great Current between Igen and Ista island. Since the feline appeared to have come from the Southern Continent, they took it to the Master Herdsman in Keroon. Then, when they discovered that the animal was the picture of health, they decided to show it off. The end result was that the feline carried the flu plague throughout Pern.
Residents[]
Sixth Pass[]
- Pollan & Gale - Healer
- Varney - Master of Windtoss
- Burdion - Healer
- Dalova - born at Big Bay, became Weyrwoman of Igen Weyr
Ninth Pass[]
Appearances[]
Major Holds | |
Northern | Benden • Bitra • Crom • Fort • High Reaches • Igen • Ista • Keroon • Lemos • Nabol • Nerat • Ruatha • Southern Boll • Telgar • Tillek |
Southern | Southern • Cove • Landing • Paradise River • Rubicon River |
Minor Holds • Stakes • Weyrs • Crafts and Halls |