D'ram was Oldtimer Weyrleader of Ista Weyr late in the Eighth Pass and early in the Ninth Pass. He was briefly Weyrleader of Southern Weyr before retiring to Cove Hold. His dragon was bronze Tiroth and his weyrmate was Weyrwoman Fanna, rider of gold Mirath.
Biography[]
Eighth Pass[]
D'ram was Weyrleader of Ista Weyr during the Eighth Pass. Though he was familiar with the other Weyrleaders, they did not interact often, due to each Weyr's autonomy and the tendency to rest between falls. At some point, he sired a son, G'dened. After Lessa of Benden Weyr came back in time to ask for help in fighting Thread, D'ram took his entire Weyr four hundred Turns forward in time.
Ninth Pass[]
D'ram was one of the earliest supporters of F'lar and, although he didn't always directly stand up for the Benden Weyrleader during Councils, he tried his best to call his peers, the other Oldtimers, to order. In contrast to T'kul and T'ron, amongst others, D'ram continued his support of the Benden Weyrleaders. When T'ron eventually tried to kill F'lar, D'ram watched the duel then chose to openly proclaim his support for Benden's leadership.
After several years, D'ram's weyrmate Fanna began to die of a wasting illness. Lacking the heart to continue on as Ista's Weyrleader, D'ram made plans to retire and invoked an Oldtimer custom of an open mating flight of Ista's next senior queen. After Fanna's death, D'ram chose to go twenty-five turns into the past with Tiroth, with the intention of living out the remainder of his life in a threadfree land. He returned after realizing that he was still needed, when Jaxom and his white dragon Ruth traveled back in time to find him.
When Cosira's Caylith rose to mate, several Oldtimers, including T'kul, joined the flight. However, since Caylith was flown by Barnath, D'ram was succeeded as Weyrleader by his son G'dened. T'kul, in a mad rage due to this dragon's death during the flight, attempted to kill F'lar, but was killed. In response, D'ram chose to take over Southern Weyr, under the belief that the remaining Oldtimers would accept him better than anyone else. F'lar and the other Weyrs offered him a great deal of aid, and he was successful in rehabilitating the Weyr. He later admitted to having considered going south earlier, but he thought the action might be seen as disloyal to F'lar.
Eventually, D'ram chose to step down as Southern's Weyrleader. With K'van and Adrea as the Weyrleaders of Southern Weyr, D'ram retired to Cove Hold. Here, he befriended Lytol and Robinton, forming friendships that transcended the previously strict borders between Hold, Hall and Weyr. He was joint administrator of Landing after AIVAS was re-discovered, due to his reputation for fairness and honesty. The project was noted to have revitalized him. In later years, D'ram brought students to Wansor at Cove Hold for the Starcraft projects.
Personality[]
D'ram was a capable and experienced Weyrleader, with his advice and perceptions being highly valued by F'lar in dealing with issues facing the planet, particularly those involving the Oldtimers. D'ram enjoyed a planet-wide reputation as a fair and honest man. Among the Oldtimer Weyrleaders, D'ram was among those who were more receptive to modern traditions. He was also among those who supported Benden Weyr's leadership. He cared so deeply for Fanna, his weyrmate, that her death led to his initial retirement. Despite his age, he was a firm supporter of the progress initiated by AIVAS. Following AIVAS's self-shutdown, he remained a respected consultant for Pern due to his vast experience.
Appearances[]
- Dragonflight (first appearance)
- Dragonquest
- The White Dragon
- Dragon's Code (mention)
- The Renegades of Pern
- All the Weyrs of Pern
- The Dolphins of Pern
- The Skies of Pern
- The Atlas of Pern (mention)