Points of Interest

With the Interval leaving all Weyrs in a slightly precarious circumstances, no longer able to point to the protection they provide as an immediate reason for their beholden areas to support them, Ista begun to explore other avenues for economic security with new ventures aiming to make the Weyr a holiday destination, hoping to lure visitors, tourists and traders to spend their marks. The following are a few of the locations meant to draw this new crowd as well as provide varied backdrops for roleplay.

The Sandbar

A fixture of Ista Weyr, The Sandbar is, as the name implies, a bar, located on the beach at the edge of the docks. Its open construction allows for patrons to enjoy a view of Ista's shore and the salty sea breezes while enjoying any of the varied mixed drinks on the menu. The fare offered tends to be similar to that of a bistro cafe, finger foods, salads and grilled sandwiches make up a good deal of their offerings. Due to its proximity to the docks, sailors and fisherman often frequent the bar, keeping its general ambience from being either too-upscale nor too seedy. Instead, it is a slice of island relaxation and in comfortable walking distance from the market, the rentable vacation cottages and the Weyr itself.

The Sandbar is run largely by Kip (NPC), who has been managing the place since it first opened, through various weather-related disasters and the building of new kitchens. There are always jobs available for bartenders, bus boys and short-order cooks.

The Market

Founded by Skinner, a young trader with some ambition, a section of Ista's wide plateau holds an open air market, a collection of simple stalls made from timbers and old sail cloth. The market attracts traders and vendors from all over the island and sometimes beyond due to its varied traffic of weyrfolks, dragonriders, visitors and sailors. For a payment of rent, traders and vendors are given the use of the market stall and also a place to set up camp in the clearing behind the market. Shoppers can find endlessly varied items for sale among the stalls, from furniture to fabric to paper fans. The sale of liquor or the offering of games of chance are prohibited in the market in an effort to funnel those profits toward the Weyr's other venues.

The headwoman handles the rent transactions for those interested in setting up shop at the market. While most traders are always on the move, many have come to consider the market their homebase. There is always room for one more trader among the stalls and they may find themselves brokering some unexpected deals during their visits to the Weyr.

The Lucky Seven

Set back in the jungle, virtually hidden from the Weyr, is The Lucky Seven, founded by June and her six supposed 'sister's. While most of Ista is pretty aware of what goes on there (prostitution), as far as the official word goes, the Seven is an inn and a card house. Unlike the Sandbar, which deals in mixed drinks and edible fare, the Seven is a seedier location, given more toward straight-up liquor and kegs of ale, rowdier behavior and people losing their marks on various games of chance. While the Seven does have a kitchen, its use is solely for the girls, who live there without support of the Weyr and handle all of their supplies with their own money.

Raveki now runs The Lucky Seven, she and her 'sisters' manning the bar and the gambling tables and the use of the rooms upstairs. Due to the sensitive nature of their jobs, it's unusual that a new sister would be added to their number, but there's always a seat at the tables for someone who wants to lose their marks.

The Beach House

Founded and run by brownrider and former Weyrlingmaster P'draig, The Beach House is one of Ista's most upscale locations, offering a fine dining experience on Ista's lush shore. With P'draig using his bakercraft training to provide carefully chosen and prepared meals, the restaurant is open on select days. Wines and other beverages are carefully picked to compliment meals of fresh, locally grown foods, the Beach House offers all the personal touches a discerning diner could ask for.

While the Beach House operates on its own funding and therefore limited staff, P'draig has been known to pay weyrfolk for their help on their days off.