"Ista's climate is strikingly different than that of Igen. Like Nerat, Ista has rainforest, not desert. A narrow transition zone in northern Ista and southwestern Igen grades between two vegetative extremes. Ista has more precipitation, due to its marine location, and is further south than much of Igen. Again, the contrast is an example of the richly striking variations in Pern."
~ Atlas of Pern, p. 11.
"Ista supplements the lack of dragonrider weyrs with "forest weyrs," cliffside dwellings on the outer face of the Bowl. It attained its full population in the year 258. Fresh water flows into the caverns from the northeast through underground streams. The corral where the herdbeasts graze has an artificial pool filled with pipes coming through the Weyr. With the sea so near at hand, there is no need for a bathing pool for dragons, though the dragons who have not yet learned to fly like to bathe under the cataract of the artificial waterfall created by the Weyr's architects in the north wall of the Bowl." Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, p. 147-148.
"Offshore from Igen is a land of very different character--Ista. It lies in the vast bay, aptly called Big Bay, framed by Southern Boll on the west and Nerat on the east. Piemur loosely uses the same term of "Big Bay" for the Great Bay of the Southern Continent, but the two should not be confused. Ista Weyr alone has active volcanism nearby, in the form its 'smoking mountain that does appear, and then...phffst...disappears'. The Weyr volcano itself is not extensive, for Ista is the smallest of the Weyrs and many of its riders are housed in caves nearby. Ista is one of the Major Holds that primarily bases its living on the sea rather than agriculture, with its Sea Hold in close proximity to the Major Hold. As with the other holdings, Ista has more cotholds than the maps indicate, with some hidden in the rainforest. Two of the holds which are mapped take their names from the ruggedness of the island: Sea Cliff and Rocky Hold. One hold is called after the beach: Red Sands, where one of the aunties at Half-Circle thinks she was born. The fourth mapped hold is Gar, where a Harper journeyman is posted." --Atlas of Pern, pg 11.
Fishing
Mining
Harpers
Tailors
Healers
Tanners
Fish *all sorts*
Sugarcane *sweeting*
Orange and Yellow fruit
This is a chart for pregnancy as done per Ocean Ista. We're doing accelerated gestation, so pregnancy lasts only 20 sevendays (about half of what real life pregnancy takes)! It's really hard to break down the trimesters, but they would be about 6 sevendays long. Please remember, as in real life, no two pregnancies are the same. This is simply a guide and things do not happen like clockwork.
Sevenday 1:
No real signs or symptoms.
Sevenday 2:
May have no signs or symptoms. Breasts may be more tender, may feel a bit premenstrual.
Sevenday 3:
Breasts may continue to be tender, sense of smell may become very sensitive, and frequent urination. 'Morning' sickness may begin. Also, mucus plug forms over cervix, first visible sign of pregnancy.
Sevenday 4:
'Morning' sickness is quite common at this point in time. One may also notice a sharp increase in appetite as the body begins to need more calories. Continued frequent urination. Exhaustion is also normal.
Sevenday 5:
Morning sickness will peak. Tiredness may become intense. One may start to see a thickening of the waistline. Risk of miscarriage diminishes greatly. The time for an abortion (i.e. the dragonride) is almost over as well.
Sevenday 6:
Nausea and exhaustion should start to diminish. Mood swings and irritability is common. Also, dizziness may occur from abrupt changes in insulin levels. Risk of miscarriage diminishes to almost nothing. The baby bump starts to appear. There is a shift in ones blood pressure, causing hands and feet to feel hot.
Sevenday 7:
Hormones are beginning to settle, so less irritability and mood swings. It is common to need several small meals during the day, or else one may start to feel faint. Heart burn becomes common. Maternity clothes may become necessary.
Sevenday 8:
The feeling of 'blooming' begins to happen. Skin feels firm and hair and nails grow rapidly. First feeling of the baby moving may happen, a small 'butterfly' feeling.
Sevenday 9:
Breasts may enlarge more. Feeling the small movements of the baby is more common in this sevenday. A dark line may appear from the navel to the pubic area. Very common to be showing at this point in time.
Sevenday 10:
Stretch marks start to form. This is the halfway point of pregnancy. The mother's navel may flatten or pop out. Extra hormones may cause mucus membranes to secrete more fluids.
Sevenday 11:
Waistline will be truly disappearing at this stage There may be some noticeable slight swelling in the lower legs in the evening. One will probably notice the baby moving more, with him or her more active when one is resting and still when one is on the move.
Sevenday 12:
Continued swelling and achy feet. Uterus begins to press against digestive organs and the diaphragm, causing heartburn and some slight shortness of breath. It may be impossible to sleep on ones back.
Sevenday 13:
Others may start to feel the baby kick now. Bending over will be very hard and make it difficult to put on shoes.
Sevenday 14:
Moodiness may return. 'Practice' contractions may be normal at this point. Also, back pain becomes a normal issue. Breasts may start to lactate. Mobility becomes hard and pains in the sides are normal.
Sevenday 15:
One continues to be uncomfortable as the baby pressing on the bladder, spine, digestive organs, and diaphragm. Muscle cramping in the legs is almost common.
Sevenday 16:
Nipples start to enlarge. The swell of the abdomen shifts up, just below the breasts. Resting often may be needed.
Sevenday 17:
One may start to feel the baby's fist or foot pressing against the abdomen. Continued shortness of breath is common.
Sevenday 18:
The baby should be near it's birth weight now, so there is minimal weight gain now. It is common to feel tired and uncomfortable.
Sevenday 19:
Baby may turn and shift down (drop). This relieves the pressure on the diaphragm but increases the pressure on the bladder. Watch for signs of labor.
Sevenday 20:
It's time for baby (although gestation may take another week. Every pregnancy is different). Signs of labor include loosing the mucus plug, water breaking, and strong contractions. Also, some woman may not start to feel contractions on the abdomen but may have 'back' labor where the pain is in the back.
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