As promised:
As is common knowledge, Ista Island is tropical, with plenty of jungle and black sand beaches to entice and entertain. The Earth equivalent would be the islands of Hawaii, which also in some cases have black sand beaches. The forests are rich with a wide variety of moisture loving flora, as well as an intense amount of fauna. Tunnelsnakes and bugs come in an impressive variety, both poisonous and not. Firehead is an issue on the Island, much like it is in the tropical southern hemisphere.
The weather also follows much the same path as Hawaii, with a tropical climate that remains with little seasonal changes. There /are/ changes, but the cycle of the seasons aren’t noticed as much, and lend more to a three season wheel of the Turn, which would entail: Summer, Winter, and Spring. Autumn is barely noticed other than it being a rich harvest season.
Ista Hold is the home of the annual Harvest Gather, taking full advantage of the warmth that lingers well beyond the norm for the northern continents. Trader caverns often winter on the Island, and frequently more directly at Ista Hold, which is highly encouraged by the Lord Holder. So much so that the gather fields and various other areas are annually opened up to them after the Harvest Gather.
Ista Hold also embraces the Smiths and the Seacrafters, catering to each in different manners. The Broken Staircase Tavern, which was named after one such Smith brought down the first set of stairs, was created to get these two hard working groups together for some much needed R&R. It doesn’t hurt that a fair amount of coin can be made in this not-completely philanthropic endeavor. So it works for everyone, plus it opened up a whole new group of jobs.
This all makes winters at Ista Hold really quite eventful and interesting. The different sort of folk, from different areas, different occupations, different traditions, just all out different, all mingling together to create one beautifully colorful inspiring tapestry that is ever changing.
Lord Sterling vehement adoration for the hold and its quirky people is often lost behind a stoic demeanor and an unending devotion to decorum. Ista Hold comes first in all things, including his personal life, which is very quietly kept behind the scenes. Past history has told a much more interesting story of the virile man’s ‘pursuits’ that are now cleverly hidden and tended to by the ever present and always loyal Steward Jacob.
Jacob’s smiling face, and gentle character manages where Sterling’s brusqueness fails, so they make a stunning team. It’s Jacob’s job to quietly escort the women out and make sure they are well tended to, including a hefty glass of the famous “green stuff” that is used for contraception. Two such deviations in the past have resulted in children with other men’s mates. The first with Weyrwoman Shylora of Igen, who gave birth to the twins Quorra and Q’luin. The second with his brother’s wife, issuing lovely Lisyana.
The Lord Holder’s other passion would be wine, which has led to a winery being crafted below the Hold in caverns formerly used for storage. Always looking for an edge on the long established Vintner Halls, he’s been known to bribe Master Vintners for everything from sharing seeds, knowledge, and even relocating to Ista for a period to help oversee the vineyards. Passion has slowly grown into obsession and every fruit found on the Island has been utilized in some fashion or another.
Recent events have resulted in the need for Lord Sterling to appoint an heir, and this weight has been foisted upon the shoulders of his youngest daughter Lisyana. If nothing else, this will assure Ista Hold a future rich with color as she carpets every square inch in her beloved blooms.
Relations with Ista Weyr’s leaders are publicly professional, while privately their histories have been less than perfect. Lord Sterling adheres to protocol and tradition, therefore a respectful face is always shown with regards to the Weyr’s leadership. When his tongue is lubricated with wine, sometimes it will loosen and slip with pinning for the good ole days of N’lon’s reign.