The Wings of Ista Weyr

The full fighting strength of a Weyr varies, and as one of the smallest Weyrs, Ista's is around 250 fighting pairs not including queens, invalids or weyrlings in training. Ideally each wing contains about 20-30 fit and able fighting pairs, while 12 pairs is usually the minimum allowed to fly Fall. With the onset of the Interval, Ista's down from full strength a bit but still boasts 9 fighting wings and just over 200 healthy fighting pairs at any time. Of course there is also the Queens' wing and the Weyrling wing, giving us a total of 11 wings.

OOC, most wings contain only NPCs (non-player characters). The Weyrleader leads his own wing, Riptide. Queens fly in Twilight and Undertow is the home of the Weyrlings and the Weyrlingmaster team.

Wings:

Riptide

As the WL's wing, Riptide flies most frequently to provide leadership and always flies during difficult falls, such as those with inclement weather.

Wingleader - Ch'son and Bronze Taineth
Wingsecond - I'lanto and Brown Juzimeth (NPC)

Belior

Along with Timor, Maelstrom and Spinnaker, Belior is one of Ista's "balanced" wings. Designed to adequately face 'fall from any of the primary flight positions - combinations of top, middle, low and point, center, back or flank - the balanced wings vary somewhat in composition and skill sets, but all of them contain a pyramid-shaped distribution of pairs closely reflecting the color distribution of the overall dragon population.

Wingleader - NPC
Wingsecond - NPC

Timor

One of Ista's four "balanced" wings, Timor is known for its dependable performance in the sky and on the ground. Team-building activities accompany drills as part of ongoing training for Timor pairs, ensuring synergy and teamwork throughout the wing. Solidarity and determination characterize this wing's action in Threadfighting.

Wingleader - NPC
Wingsecond - O'bren and Blue Kirsvath (NPC)

Twilight (Queens)

The queen's wing is the least employed so as not to put Ista's golds needlessly in harm's way. An odd wing, it is comprised of the two or three queens plus pregnant riders in their second trimester and injured pairs just returning to duty. Given its unusual and ever-changing configuration, Twilight's formations are usually simple. The wing generally flies during difficult Falls, taking up the lowest and farthest back position in the sky to catch the thread missed by the wings above. To stay in form it is sometimes added to the flight for easier Falls.

Wingleader - Nenita and Gold Safriath
Wingsecond - Griere and Gold Aerianth

Undertow (Weyrlings)

Wingleader - TBA
Wingsecond - TBA

Spinnaker

One of Ista's four "balanced" wings, Spinnaker's distribution of skills and colors is designed for general purpose, reliable performance in Threadfall. It tends to be assigned rearward positions in the flight, though perhaps due to Lamontelth's rider's experience and authority, it often leads the other wings when Riptide doesn't fly.

Wingleader - A'mon and Bronze Lamontelth (NPC)

• A'mon is a tall, very dark man with a thick, accented voice. In the air, he's more likely to speak via his bronze Lamontelth than to verbalize himself. On the ground, this former minecrafter is fairly serious, so his bursts of creativity and outlandish behavior, such as dancing at gathers or after he's tipped back a few at the Sandbar, take everyone by surprise.

Wingsecond - J'hon and Green Horvasaath (NPC)

• J'hon is the jester of the Starstrike wing, his Horvasaath the acrobat in the air whose flights and follies are legendary. An average guy with a shock of beach blonde hair, J'hon is easy with his smiles and quick to comfort his wingmates and strangers alike. Either from a wealthy family or lucky enough to have a benefactor, J'hon is often the one seen buying rounds at the Sandbar or loaning a mark or three to a friend for some gather finery.

Other Riders
Pl'sen and Brown Trenth (NPC)

• Young rider Pl'sen, with brown Trenth, only a rider for less than a decade, still gets a little nauseated in the saddle.

N'tcha and Blue Atchisath (NPC)

• N'tcha, bluerider with Atchisath, known for silly statements like, "I swear on my grandmother's knitted underpants!"

Maelstrom

One of Ista's four "balanced" wings, Maelstrom nevertheless insists on proving itself as a wing with a specialty. Thanks to Varena's pressure on her riders to perform in storm winds and heavy rains, Maelstrom is often called up to fight Thread when the weather is expected to be exceptionally bad.

Wingleader - Varena and Green Camazanth (NPC)

• Varena is an incredibly unattractive woman known for giving the 'evil eye.' She doesn't like being touched or having her personal space interrupted, and that style extends to her drills, which tend to be more open in pattern execution than most traditional Wingleaders, and she actively seeks out bad weather for her drill call times. As such, her crews tend to perform better in difficult weather such as high winds or driving rains.

Wingsecond - L'raq and Brown Govorganath (NPC)

• L'raq is polite, yet eager to please Varena. He's rather unsure of himself, and his hesitation prevents him from ever hoping to advance to a wingleadership of his own.

Other Riders (NPCs)
N'thal and Brown Dryonth
T'rul and Green Aureliacoth
D'vyn and Blue Vercerth

• D'vyn is a good humored man of about 35 turns. He's one of those men that never grew up at heart, endulging in many practical jokes and always taking things a touch lightly. He's got blonde hair and green eyes, has been weyrmated more times than one can count on one hand, and has several littles running about causing all sorts of mischeif.

Tempest

A small wing that relies heavily on blue and green pairs with a small number of browns, Tempest is frequently paired with Tsunami, switching off mid-Fall. Tempest is made of predominantly female riders and is both close-knit and volatile within its ranks.

Wingleader - Norza and Brown Oreilleth (NPC)

• Norza is all about business, and Threadfall is no exception. Broad of shoulder, slim of hips, Norza has been a rider for more than two dozen turns and is a force to be reckoned with. Calculating barely begins to describe this former healer, and her brusque demeanor can be mistaken for coldness or uncaring, so she's not usually the first one selected to pay visits to neighboring holds.

Wingsecond - Quellika and Blue Tammanorth (NPC)

• Quellika is competitive, and quick to rise to the jibes of the other wingleaders or her wingmates, be it drinking them under the table, racing them home in a straight flight, or tossing the sacks of Firestone with the most precision and accuracy.

Other Riders (NPCs)
Kalerin and Blue Rerrarth
H'sava and Brown Melartarth
Spalla and Green Fulkorzath
Abrina and Brown Toleheth

• Abrina is the epitome of organization and serious thought. She has never been weyrmated and has no children. She's a bit short, and rather thin - having a 'delicate' look to her, though her force of personality is enough to make up for the appearance. She has mousey brown hair and brown eyes, having a slightly darker complexion than most.

Tsunami

A small wing containing only blue and green dragons, Tsunami is dedicated to the tight swift manuevers of its smaller fighting pairs. It is frequently employed during the latter half of difficult falls when high winds and tired wings make for more frequent rogue strands. It is usually paired with Tempest.

Wingleader - J'shua and Blue Hyiercath (NPC)

• Wingleader J'shua is something of a traditionalist, gifted in the subtleties of politics and a favorite with neighboring holders for visits and business alike. He trains hard, plays hard, and works hard, and expects the same from his team.

Wingsecond - Besthia and Blue Semioncath (NPC)

• Besthia was a young impressee from a small cothold on northern Ista Island. She had a tough time settling into the ways of the weyr, and her shyness and conservative ways still shine through her decisions.

Other Riders (NPCs)
Daine and Green Salcheth
K'ol and Blue Yolindarth

Big Bay

Relying predominantly on the larger bronzes and browns, Big Bay usually flies at the top level using a unique strategy in which a small number of greens and blues fly cover for their heavier wingmates focusing soley on protecting their own wing. This team of greens and blues switch out halfway through the Fall. With this configuration, the larger dragons spend more time fighting and less time dodging and the second wave of smaller dragons brings in a much needed refresh of firestone.

Wingleader - V'drin and Brown Sonnenteth (NPC)

• Wingleader V'drin with brown Sonnenteth is a positive, encouraging Wingleader. He's all about teamwork, and will sing, chant, and cheer to pump up the crowd. A former harper, his bass voice has a pleasant echo and reverberation, and he's oft been known to join the harpers in evening rounds. A capable Wingleader, he relies on his connection to P'sand, his clutchmate, and takes suggestions from his wingmates before implementing new ideas.

Wingsecond - P'sand and Bronze Quaraloth (NPC)

• P'sand is the schemer, the wily one who is thin-lipped and gaunt, and who is the mastermind behind Big Bay's newest drills and Theadfall fighting techniques. When he speaks, his words are well-considered, though sometimes ascerbic, but his experience is impressive, and Quaraloth's prowess is unquestionable.

Other Riders (NPCs)
F'kej and Bronze Uzenth
J'makel and Green Mequith

Windward

Windward's balance changes based on the population of the Weyr's oldest pairs. Dedicated mostly to sweeps, watch duties and resupply, Windward fights Thread only rarely, when extra support is needed.

Wingleader - N'broden and Bronze Gaijenth (NPC)

• It's widely known that Gaijenth's somewhere past his fiftieth turn, though N'broden's age isn't open for conversation. The pair embodies the concept of 'seasoned,' having fought Thread through much of the recent Pass. Though Gaijenth's age means his agility and energy suffer, he's still capable of persisting through a full 'fall if the duty is light. N'broden's goal as Windward's first leader is to be sure his wing of aging riders knows exactly how indispensable they are, and the group meets twice weekly for drills and duty assignments to keep everyone busy and on their toes.

Wingsecond - Gelsa and Green Gikkith (NPC)

Other Riders (NPCs)
Praga and Blue Jurfanth