Weyr Structure

Atora Weyr was constructed in the caldera of an inactive volcano. The old volcano had blown its lid off in an explosive pyroclastic eruption many millenia ago, and since then the magma that fueled the volcano has moved on. While various springs still bubble in the area, there is no danger of an explosion. The tragedy of Benden Weyr's explosion will not repeat on Atora Island. The weyrlake is one of these springs, and while the water is fit to drink, it smells like rotten eggs. Visitors have to adjust to the odor, which is extremely unpleasant; many whose dragons have leave to fly outside the Weyr will bathe on the beaches of the island, or on the mainland itself.

The southern face of the volcano was the one which exploded outward during the volcano's final eruption; most of the southern face was destroyed, and there is no wall between the Weyr's interior and the stretch of water separating the island from the mainland. A steep cliff descends from the Weyrbowl down to the water, and a large stone wall has been erected to keep children and young dragonets from falling to their deaths. Mothers caution their young ones to stay away from the wall, and various signs, all eventually blown away by a tropical storm, have been erected to caution pedestrians.

The other three walls of the volcano are tall and thick, riddled with caverns both natural and hand-chiseled. Atora Island was promising not only for the huge caldera and source of freshwater in the springs, but for the numerous caverns within the walls; a large cavern formed from air pockets in the volcanic rock on the eastern corner of the Weyrbowl was used as the basis of the Hatching Grounds. Many of the rooms used to house drudges and support staff are merely smoothed-out air pockets, and some show signs of rushed work. Atora Weyr is nowhere near so beautiful in architecture as Fort Weyr, or, for that matter, any of the northern Weyrs; it was constructed hurriedly, and it shows in the rooms. The actual weyrs for the dragonriders are quite spacious compared to some of the older Weyrs, as the full size of the dragons is now known; they are not, however, always well-finished. Tapestries cover rough-hewn walls, and rushes pad bumpy floors, but only the weyrs for ranking riders are completely finished. Those with training as smithcrafters or stonemasons are always on call to help finish a weyr or a sleeping cavern.

The Weyrling Barracks are located near the Weyrlake, in the Western end of the Weyr, and conveniently near the pens of livestock for the young dragonets. Most adult riders hunt down in the cull pens at Atora Island Minor Hold, but the Weyrlings need the beasts to be closer, as do older dragons and invalids. The barracks is a large complex, with separate quarters for the infant weyrlings, in the right wing, and the junior weyrlings, in the left wing. Senior and First Turn weyrlings live in their own weyrs, generally using the smaller, less well-made weyrs in the upper tiers of the Weyr. The Weyrlingmaster has his office in the barracks.

The main Lower Caverns access is near the Weyrling Barracks on the Western edge of the Weyr. A huge cavern near the entrance serves as the kitchens and dining hall complex, and small tunnels branching off lead to storage areas to the south and sleeping quarters to the north. Most of the support staff sleep in the northwestern portient of the Weyr. The candidate barracks and the Candidate Master's offices are in the northern face of the Weyr, near the hatching grounds; the boys sleep in a communal barracks, with relatively little privacy, and the girls sleep in separate quarters with five to a room in the main sleeping chambers of the lower caverns.

The infirmary and dragon infirmary are both located in the southeastern half of the Weyr, with a large cavern serving as the dragon infirmary and a smaller, attached chamber accessible from the internal tunnels serving as the human infirmary. A staff of nearly fifteen healers and dragonhealers are usually on hand, and the Weyrwoman is the chief dragonhealer of the Weyr, always on hand to manage the healers after a thread attack.

The weyrleaders have their weyrs in the lower portient of the Weyr, with ground access by stair from the Weyr bowl, and with service shafts leading down to the main lower caverns tunnels. The Weyrs, located near the hatching grounds, are spacious and well-furnished; the walls, ceilings, and floors were all properly finished. There is a chamber attaching the Weyrleader's weyr to the Weyrwoman's, and the Weyrledges for the dragons are not actually separated, for the convenience of affectionate dragons. From the Weyrledge is a large chamber which holds a stone couch for the dragon, as well as a chair and small bed for the rider should they want to sleep in the same room as their dragon. Leading off from the dragon's sleeping chamber is a smaller room for the rider, with a well-appointed bed, bureau, and desk. Also attached is a private bathroom for both weyrs, and an office/sitting room in which the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader can meet with guests and conduct Weyr affairs. Only the office is accessible from the main tunnels; the outer stair leads to the dragon's ledge. Both human sleeping chambers contain dumwaiters, should the Weyrwoman or Weyrleader desire to eat in their own weyrs.

There are twelve other similarly constructed Weyrs for goldriders and wingleaders; while none are as grand in size or furnishings, they are infinitely more comfortable than the rank-and-file weyrs. Weyrs for mere wingriders have a ledge, a dragon sleeping chamber, and a tiny sleeping room for the riders; non-ranking riders must bathe in communal bathrooms, and take their meals in the main dining chambers.

Schematics and maps are coming soon - till then, use your imagination!