General Population:
The people of Cibola Hold have a reputation as sober, thrifty, and hard-working; the uncharitable label them as sour money-grubbers who keep their noses to the grindstone because they never know when an informer might be watching behind their backs. However, anyone who thinks that Cibolans don't know how to have fun will forget that notion after seeing a Cibolan Gather. During any festive occasion, most especially at the Spring Moon Gather with its tradition of masked anonymity, the normally reserved Cibolans throw off their inhibitions and have as much fun as anyone. The usual social restrictions are lifted and beer, wine, and money flow freely. They bet heavily on bullfights and horse races, and cheer on the teams of minor holds on the shinty field.
It is true, however, that once the gather is done, Cibolans return to the normal business of staying alive and making a profit. Lord Morgav and his predecessors have created a culture in which simply breaking even and getting along is seen as laziness. This is most true at the main hold and the larger minor holds, though the outlying cotholders are kept in line by frequent inspections by the local minor holder, and sometimes, completely unannounced, by Lord Morgav himself. Anyone not showing a profit runs the risk of being tossed out in favor of someone younger and hungrier. Those who are removed from their positions may end up as workers at the main hold, or put over the nearest border with nothing more than they can carry. Those guilty of more than just laziness can be publicly flogged and branded, often followed by a long stint of convict labor. The worst punishment is to be sent to the salt mines, where the rate of attrition creates a steady need for new workers.
Lord Morgav, more than his father, makes use of rewards as well as punishments. Those showing unusual loyalty, creativity, and profitability are promoted into positions of responsibility, or else honored publicly, often just before or after criminals are publicly punished. Morgav believes that the carrot and the stick are most effective when demonstrated together. He also sometimes grants mercy or a second chance to someone who can convince him they have been 'scared straight'; such small kindnesses come unpredictably, but help the people of Cibola believe that Morgav is not a totally harsh Lord. Of course, anyone granted such a second chance is watched very closely, and the penalties for another slip are severe and no longer open to mercy.
The people of the main hold complex are distinct in some ways from those living in the rest of Cibola's territory; they have grown up in the midst of one of the densest masses of humanity on Pern. The quarters are tight, as the Lords of Cibola have never permitted the main hold to expand beyond its protective wall, and there are too many people to permit everyone to know everyone else as is generally the case at smaller holds. As in any situation with too many people in too small a space, there are problems. Though the majority of the people are law-abiding, brawls still break out every so often, and are ruthlessly suppressed by the Guards. Petty thievery is a fairly common problem, and since so many traders come through the hold, goods can be quickly fenced for money so thieves cannot be easily caught simply by searching out the stolen items. Lord Morgav turns a blind eye to a certain amount of this, though any thief or fence stupid enough to be caught will be publicly flogged and branded, if not worse. Truly serious crimes, on the other hand, are not tolerated at all; Morgav's father once lined up the entire male population of the main hold in the bullring so a rape victim could walk among them and identify her attackers, who were immediately tied on long ropes behind bulls and dragged to death. There has not been a rape in Cibola since, though one woman made a false accusation during Morgav's first year in power, and got her tongue cut out for her pains once her lie was discovered.
Important Persons:
Lord Morgav, Lady Saliba.
Sons Morthen, Esthevan, Gavion, Nessar, Varen, and others.
Daughters Salidomara, Tarathana, Jevande, and many others.
Head Steward Garald, Morgav's aide Cerelan, Bailiff Markas, Headwoman Cathren, Watchrider D'vrast
Harper Tolavar, Smithmaster Engler
note: all ages are as of the beginning of 2858
Lord Morgav('MORE-gov') -- M, A=57, H=balding, E=grey, HT=5'10". Morgav is a powerful man who is dedicated to the social and economic prosperity of his Hold, and the expansion of his own personal influence in Conclave. He is an economic leader on the Southern Continent, and has a finger in nearly every pie. Commanding; as brilliant as he is ruthless and a dedicated enemy of the Weyrs. Imagine Patrick Stewart gone wholly over to the dark side, and you've basically got Lord Morgav. (Persona of Ron Swartzendruber)
Lady Saliba ('sah-LEE-bah') -- F, A=37, H=black, E=dark brown, HT=5'2". Saliba is the unloved third wife of Lord Morgav. He keeps her constantly pregnant and will discard her without pity when she wears out. She produced only one son, Sallorv, who was always frail and died at the age of seven. Since then she has been resigned to her fate and takes pleasure only in cultivating her flower garden and her brood of young daughters. In the last Turn, though, she has been nearly constantly bedridden with a chronic illness. (Adoptable NPC)
Morthen ('MORE-then') -- M, A=35, H=black, E=grey, HT=6'0". Morthen is the eldest surviving son of Lord Morgav of Cibola, and serves as the Captain of Morgav's Rangers. He is an experienced commander and enjoys combat; he also takes cruel pleasure in carrying out interrogations and punishments. His goal in life is to become the next Lord of Cibola, though no heir has yet been announced. Brother to Esthevan and Salidomara, half-brother to Gavion, W'ldo, and Kuroi. (Persona of Ron Swartzendruber)
Esthevan ('ESS-theh-vahn') -- M, A=33, H=black, E=grey, HT=6'1". Esthevan is the second surviving son of Lord Morgav of Cibola, and his goal in life is to inherit the lordship by any means necessary. He serves as the assistant organizer of gathers at Cibola. He purposely plays up his hedonistic, dandyish tendencies so his rivals will underestimate him, but behind the scenes he is a skilled manipulator. (Persona of Ron Swartzendruber)
Salidomara ('SAL-ih-doe-MAHR-ah') -- F, A=27, H=black, E=grey, HT 5'8". Morgav's eldest unmarried daughter is known as "Sali" and has inherited the worst looks from both sides of the family. She does not mind in the slightest, however, for her homely face has kept her from being married so she can remain at the hold where the action is. She has inherited her father's guile and deviousness in full measure, though she hides this under a pretense of being a bitter old maid. She serves as headsecond and bookkeeper for the Fortress and has recently begun to take on some of the duties of Lady of the Hold as well.(Persona of Ron Swartzendruber)
Tarathana ('TARE-uh-THA-nah') -- F, A=26, H=red, E=blue, HT 5'1". "Tara", as she is known, remained unmarried for a long time because her father did not trust her yet wanted to find a way to control her and use her widely famed beauty to ensnare someone important. Finally her father decided she could never be trusted out of his sight and married her off to his head steward.(Adoptable NPC)
Nessar ('NESS-ar') -- M, A=25, H=brown, E=blue, HT 5'10". Nessar is a man of some ability, but is overshadowed by the formidable Morthen and the brilliant Esthevan. He seems older than his years and is often sour and sarcastic. He is in charge of the Coast Watch detachment at the main hold complex; his duties include overseeing customs inspections and acting as assistant to the portmaster. (Adoptable NPC)
Varen ('VAIR-en') -- M, A=19, H=black, E=blue, HT 5'9". Varen is also overshadowed by his older siblings, but he does not take it as seriously as Nessar. For most of his short life he has been unconcerned with the succession, just trying to do well in the various jobs his father assigned him, but seemingly unable to buckle down and really get serious about anything. Recently however he has begun to mature. (Adoptable NPC)
Jevande ('Juh-VAHN-deh') -- F, A=18, H=black, E=blue, HT 5'6". Jevande has just been betrothed to Lord Baylis of Izmir, and accepts this with some resignation. A bit too sharp-featured to be pretty, Jevande has a trim figure and dresses with a flair for fashion. She loves dancing and riding, but is only adequate when it comes to hold management. (Adoptable NPC)
Head Steward Garald ('GARE-uld') -- M, A=62, H=grey, E=brown, HT=5'11". Assistant Steward Garald was a close ally of Morgav during the latter's rise to power. Shortly before Morgav's confirmation, the former head steward was found guilty of fixing bullfights and secretly dealing with raiders; he was executed and Garald stepped into the position. He is over sixty Turns old but still vigorous, and very little escapes his keen eye. In 2856 ,after his wife died, Morgav rewarded him with the hand in marriage of his mistrusted daughter Tarathana. (Adoptable NPC)
Cerelan ('SEHR-uh-lahn') -- M, A=53, H=brown, E=blue, HT=5'5". Morgav's aide is a short, plump, red-cheeked fellow who has a perfect eidetic memory. He is Morgav's closest confidant, and despite not being quite right in the head, does his duty with such perfect discretion that there have not even been rumors of him ever betraying his lord. He seldom leaves Cibola hold, except to accompany Morgav to Conclave meetings and other important functions. He is aesthetically sensitive and has been known to get lost in the contemplation of a flower or a sunset.
Bailiff Markas ('MAR-kas') -- M, A=49, H=greying black, E=blue, HT=6'1". Markas started out in the Lord's Rangers at a young age, and rose steadily through the ranks over the Turns. Along the way he proved himself a reliable ally of Morgav, who rewarded him with the post of Bailiff of Cibola Fortress some turns after he became Lord. Markas is a bluff, no-nonsense sort who does not suffer fools gladly. He commands the Hold Guards, in charge of keeping the peace in the entire main hold complex of Cibola, as well as of the security of the Fortress itself. (Adoptable NPC)
Headwoman Cathren ('KATH-ren') -- F, A=35, H=brown, E=brown, HT=5'8". Cathren came to her position rather young, at about 30 Turns of age, but has performed her duties ably ever since. Her position carries quite a lot of responsibility; she must oversee the support staffs of most of the crafthalls and cotholds as well as that of the Fortress itself. She is generally calm and level-headed, except that she worries more than she should about her underlings who might ber trying to take over her position. After all, she herself used devious means to unseat her predecessor. (Adoptable NPC)
Watchrider D'vrast -- M, A=61, H=grey, E=brown, HT=5'9". Rider of brown Renyoth, D'vrast has been the watchrider at Cibola since before the return of Thread. He has married a Cibolan woman, and is addicted to gambling, especially on the races. He has made a deal with Morgav so that he gets paid for running errands or carrying passengers at the Lord's request. Over time he has come to be as loyal to Morgav as he is t the Weyr; he blinds himself to the inherent conflict of this, and Morgav is careful not to rub his nose in it, knowing that he would choose loyalty to the Weyr if the question were ever forced.(Adoptable NPC)
Harper-Craftmaster Tolavar ('TALL-uh-vahr')-- M, A=43, H=black, E=blue, HT=5'3". The senior of Cibola's complement of Harpers, Tolavar is a rather vain man who is nevertheless quite talented with the gitar and pipes, and as a composer. He likes to wear boots with built-up heels and a very tall hat thinking that they make up for his shortness; he actually looks rather ridiculous, but flies into a spluttering rage if anyone points this out. He is about forty-five turns old. Owner of green firelizard Twitter.(Adoptable NPC)
Smith-Craftmaster Engler ('ENG-lur')-- M, A=58, H=greying, E=blue, HT=6'1". As a Craftmaster Smith, Engler heads Cibola's local smithhall, which is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated in Kadanzer territory, exporting products to many holds in the region. He oversees his domain with a gimlet eye, and is not above taking credit for accomplishments of his underlings. (Adoptable NPC)