Admiral Paul Benden, along with Emily Boll, was the overall leaders of the colony during the fifteen year voyage to Pern, as well as the first years at Landing. He was very respected and loved among all the colonists.
Biography[]
Paul Benden was both a hero of the Nathi War and an experienced battle commander and leader of men. He was the driving force behind the original expedition, known as the First Crossing, and was one of the signing members of the Pern Charter.
After the initial landing, his role as leader diminished, at his request, and was effectively abolished as the colonists spread out to found their own individual holdings and stakes. With his wife Ju Adjai, he set up Boca River Stake, which they later abandoned when they moved to Landing after the First Fall of Thread. In the subsequent panic, he and Emily Boll were re-elected leaders for the duration of the crisis.
During the Second Crossing, the colonists relocated to the Northern Continent to a settlement that came to be known as Fort Hold, with Paul Benden and Emily Boll as Lord Holder and Lady Holder — though the terms as such did not exist at the time. Paul died in the twenty-sixth turn and was greatly mourned by all. Torene Ostrovsky's impression of her queen Alaranth was the last hatching he attended, and he was there to wish her good luck with her queen.
Benden Hold and Benden Weyr, which were named after him, were founded a year after his death.
Paul had two sons. He also had a nephew named Ross Benden who did not come to Pern with the original colonists. Instead, he was part of the Rescue Run which found and responded to the distress signal that had been sent by Ted Tubberman fifty years previously, and for which Tubberman was shunned.
Personality and traits[]
Paul was older than many colonists but was described as being «still vigorous». He was used to being in command of any situation. He was in his seventh decade when he traveled to Pern.
Appearances[]
- Dragonsdawn
- The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall - "The Dolphins' Bell"
- Red Star Rising / Dragonseye (mention)
- Dragonsblood (mention)