The Harper Haven The Harper Haven is a large section of the fourth floor above, and to the North of the Lower Cavern entrance. The Haven houses an autonomous group of Harpers that reside in Arolos Weyr and work in and around the Weyr protectorate. This is part of an exculsive arrangement made with the main Harper Hall. One of the principle functions of Arolos Harper Haven is to try and strengthen the connection between the Harpercraft and Dragonriders and having a nominal Hall within the Weyr itself is a great step towards this goal. After climbing four flights of stairs off the Weyrside wall- you walk into a very large open area known as the Harper Lounge. In this area you first see a large wooden table that is oftentimes lavished with foodstuffs. Dorena, the Harper Haven Headwoman likes to greet newcomers by always having some refreshments on hand.
At the top of the lounge is an area where some of the harpers have their desks. At one point ~all~ the harpers had their desks out there, right in the open, but that was before the Redstars began to arouse the Weyr paranoia and offices with locks and keys were implemented. There are several couches, a huge fireplace, and some very comfy chairs in the lounge, all conducive to making you feel right at home. Off the lounge is the kitchen, which makes it convenient to serve those in the lounge, or those that sit down at the large table to feast. There is always a huge pot of stew on the hearth for meals anytime of the day or night. Along with the stew- Klah is kept brewing, harpers tend to pull a lot of late nights perhaps a testament to their overactive, very imaginative minds. As part of the kitchen- in a small area connected to the warm room- there is a small nursery for the harpers with babes. (Not marked on the map) The first major office you come to in the Have is the lavish quarters of the Master Harper. This huge office is in front of a series of four classrooms where the various Masters and Journeyman teach their apprentices. Walking further into the Haven you see set of stairs that leads upwards to the fifth floor where there is a huge cavernous weyr that at one time a Master thought would make an excellent Theater Hall because of its musical acoustics. Off that weyr is a large ledge where oftentimes dragons will deposit passengers that find it difficult to otherwise walk up the four flights to the Haven entrance. Much easier to walk down one flight. Next to the stairs is the Rehearsal Hall where the harpers go to practice their musical numbers and skits they will perform for various Gathers and shows. Close to the Rehearsal Hall is the Haven's privy and bathing chambers. Only a few of the quarters that house the Masters and Journeyman have bathing chambers of their own. The apprentices must all share the common bathing pool. Across from the Rehearsal Hall is the Haven Archives and Library. In here- all the records are stored as are all the books and various other items of learning the Harpers need. Attached to the Archives is the Instrument Room, you can get to it either through the Library or through the Classroom attached to it- a room that is strictly used for the teaching of instrument construction. There are three more classrooms for various courses offered and across from the classrooms are the Apprentice Barracks. The Apprentice barracks are a series of small individual rooms all attached one to the other. Privacy was needed for harpers that couldn't be afforded in an open barracks-- privacy to practice various instruments, singing and to compose. Harpers are a temperamental lot at times, given to their artistic genius. Moving further-- on a far wall there are a series of offices of varying sizes for the Master Harpers and Journeyman to use. Followed by that there is a rather large section of the Haven that has been made into a group of quarters for those Masters and Journeyman/woman. This makes up the Haven, a rather cozy place overall where you will almost always find someone singing and hear the melodious strains of music being played. A place where all are welcomed. All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright© Anne McCaffrey 1967,2005, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern® is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. |