TW: violence
With the fall of Golre and Vizeth's reign of terror, High Reaches must start to put itself back together as a proper Weyr and not one of fear and colorism.
Before the Mad Gold came to power (in 2731), High Reaches was still rather traditional, if a bit disgruntled that women were starting to take more positions of power. The color hierarchy was more of a guide, and while many of their leaders rode brown and bronze, several green and blueriders had managed to rise to minor positions of power. It was not barbaric, and many had agreed it was a rather militaristic sort of Weyr. Everyone had their place.
When Golre and Vizeth took power, the Weyr grew harsh. Where browns and blues were allowed power, bronzes soon were replacing them, given all the power in the weyr and none of the rules, save for bowing to Golre and Vizeth. They were the mad gods, and they were going to rule with an iron fist, and they did. Pella of Gold Mneth was kept as a subordinate, and even when Mneth laid gold, Tysam of Gold Rhunith were kept shut away from many of the weyr, to be a 'secret breeder'.
Candidates were stolen and kidnapped, treated as lower than dirt, with the fear that if they did impress, it had better be to something shiny, for otherwise they were useless. Weyrlings were quite prone to fighting, to a mob mentality to bully and attack others, especially those who rode green or blue. Many fled to other weyrs as soon as they could Between. Weyrfolk and Crafters, however, were still treated with a fair degree of respect, if having to live with the constant reminder that they were 'not good enough' for dragons.
Whers, on the other hand, were treated finely no matter the color, though their brutality was encouraged. While men were frequently encouraged to take two whers, women were "quietly encouraged" to abandon their whers and rebond them. This usually ended poorly, as the women of the Reaches knew better than to allow something so stupid. For turns, a common saying among handlers was "Beware a woman with a wher." Many dragonriders opted to steer clear of whers, and many remain at High Reaches in the hopes they can help rebuild.
When Golre declared war on Fort Weyr, many chromatic riders outright fled, either in Threadfall or as soon as they could otherwise, leaving High Reaches vulnerable. After the death of Golre, High Reaches was left in shambles, to be rebuild by Fortian representatives.
The High Reaches of today is the most egalitarian and democratic of the weyrs. Its leaders are chosen through yearly elections and riders and handlers of any color are eligible. Goldriders and bronzeriders are still widely distrusted by many and the weyr holds fiercely to its new ways. It is the only weyr on Pern where greens are permitted to abstain from chewing firestone in favor of clutching. Garnets and mutations of all kinds are largely welcome and riders, handlers and weyrfolk alike live with little fear of persecution. These days, all candidates are there willingly and permitted to stand until their 30th turnday.
High Reaches does still have factions like every other weyr and there are some traditionalists remaining in their ranks, but they are a minority. Both official policy and popular opinion run towards populism and many in the weyr would be happiest if allowed to continue with no queen at all.
HR is led by a council. Each position has a senior and a junior representative. The Weyrleader is in charge of civil policy and diplomacy and the overall head of the weyr. The Flightleader is the military leader who coordinates the wings and thread-fighting strategy. The Wherleader is in charge of everything relating to the whers and their specific concerns.