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Smith

Fandarel was Mastersmith of the Smithcraft during the late Eighth Interval and the Ninth Pass.

Biography[]

Fandarel was introduced as the MasterSmith during a meeting at Benden Weyr to discuss the immediate threat of thread. He offered to research the possibility of redeveloping flamethrowers to help combat the threat. Though he struggled with the concept, he developed a pump that sprayed Agenothree to help destroy burrows. After the five lost weyrs were brought forward, Fandarel had his craftsmen work to reproduce the flamethrowers brought from the early Eighth Interval.

In the following years, Fandarel remained busy, often dealing with broken flamethrowers. On occasion, however, he took time to develop his own inventions. One such device was a long-distance communication device, which carried messages over wires. Fandarel revealed his invention at a meeting at Benden Weyr, but noted that laying wire took time. He also discovered an ancient device that enlarged small objects (a microscope), and theorized that an object could be made to make distant objects seem nearer (a telescope). The next morning, Fandarel demonstrated his distance-writer at the Smithcraft Hall, and promised to try to have an example for an upcoming wedding at Telgar Hall. At Telgar, Fandarel's invention proved its worth as it relayed a message of an unexpected Thread Fall. After F'lar beat T'ron in a duel, then issued an ultimatum - all who did not wish to recognize his authority were to be banished to the Southern Continent - Fandarel announced his support for Benden Weyr's leadership on behalf of his craft.

Fandarel later took part in the exploration of the Southern Continent, first coming to help build Cove Hold for the retired MasterHarper Robinton. He was among a group that discovered that the Dawn Sisters were spaceships, and later helped explore Landing. The discovery of AIVAS some time later brought forth much work for Fandarel, who led his craft in redeveloping lost technologies to assist in the elimination of Thread. When Robinton was kidnapped by Abominators, Fandarel attended a trial where he voted for involved craftsmen to be stripped of their rank and exiled.

During a council meeting at Telgar Hold some years after AIVAS's self-termination, Fandarel attended a Council Meeting at Telgar Hold. He was somewhat shocked at the dragonriders' announcement that four observatories should be built, noting that his craft lacked the technology to provide telescopes of that nature. He was very supportive upon learning that the requisite equipment was to be taken from the Catherine Caves.

Personality and traits[]

Fandarel was described as a «giant of a man;» he was taller even than Masterharper Robinton. Fandarel was also seemingly obsessed with efficiency, and continuously worked to improve on anything he could. When working on a project, he would be single-minded and forgo sleep and food. Unlike some Mastercraftsmen, he did not believe in craft secrets, and believed that information should be made accessible to those who needed it. By the time of The Dolphins of Pern of Pern, he moved very carefully, but was still active.

Early in the series, Fandarel stated that he had no wife or sons; however, in The Renegades of Pern it was revealed that he had a granddaughter, Jancis. (This suggests that either Fandarel had a wife at some point who later died in some unknown circumstance or that he and an unknown woman had a child together but didn't marry.)

Appearances[]

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