Traditionally Weyrs would rely on Holds to provide them with Tithes, which would support the population of the Weyrs in times of Thread, that dragonriders could fight it without the burden of providing necessary essentials for living. However, in the hundreds of turns that have passed since the Red Star has been deflected away from Pern, the economy has undergone a major shift.

Spearheaded by F’lar and Lessa’s son, the Weyrs became more independent for what they needed. They started fostering their own industries under the name of the Weyr. Essentially now, Weyrs could produce enough to trade with and thereby gaining what was required to continue to live in a Weyr while keeping it autonomous of the Holds.

Fort Weyr’s economy is much of the same. They no longer receive tithes from any of the Holds traditionally beholden to them. Tithes are something lost to the stories of time, after all, becoming obsolete when Thread never came back. Instead, Fort Weyr’s economy runs largely on production, trade, and services.

Production

There are many valuable assets that Fort Weyr’s region is ripe with which, once produced, can be used for its own supplies or traded. Such things as (but not limited to) wood, livestock, minerals (ex. firestone and diamonds), ice, fish, fabrics, and produce can be found in Fort Weyr’s territories.

Crafts members are essential for ensuring the production of these items. Crafts members are ‘commissioned’ by the Weyr, instead of merely being posted like they had been in the days of Thread. Usually a Master craftsman, sometimes a Sr. Journeyman, is allotted a contract for some element of production in the Weyr. They are thereby paid out as per agreement. Usually it is up to the Master of the craft to pay subordinates. All crafts members are thereby still independent of the Weyr; however they become responsible to fulfill their contract with the Weyr upon signing one. If a Craft fails to fulfill their obligation, the Hall may be responsible for compensating the Weyr with more crafts members to finish the project or with a financial reimbursement.

Craft riders are given a cut of the commission if they are involved in a Hall contracted project, often included in the overall contract agreement. If craft riders make their own production, they are responsible for providing the Weyr with a ‘duty tax.’ This duty tax is often in the form of a portion of completed goods, hours served, or a percentage of marks.

Trade

Fort Weyr cannot run merely on goods the one region alone can supply. Therefore it is important that once production has been completed, these items are used to trade for goods outside of the region. Transport riders are sufficiently busy on a daily basis as trade never stops. Trades can be made between Hall, Hold, and Weyr. Fort’s production products are the basis of what it needs to trade with, however, Fort Weyr also bargains for more than it needs from other autonomous communities to increase its trading power when coming across highly valuable or unattainable necessities. For example, Fort Weyr needs product from Xanadu Weyr, but due to the relationships they refuse to trade with the Xanadu region directly, so Fort therefore has to produce more products to trade Western Weyr to ensure that Fort Weyr can get a portion of what Western Weyr gets from Xanadu Weyr. Trade is an ongoing never ending process. It requires many eyes, ears, and communicative representatives.

Trade can also lead into Services. If Fort Weyr does not have the product needed to gain a certain stock of supply, Fort Weyr can usually lend services to the Hold, Hall, or Weyr that undergoes the trade.

Services

The final component to how Fort Weyr’s economy runs is in the services that it can provide. Holds and Halls under its traditional beholden territory often trade goods for services. Services can include anything that they cannot do themselves. Aerial surveys, security sweeps, emergency response, transportation, and other general dragon riding affiliated duties. Fort Weyr can bid on a service trade outside of its boundaries. However, due to Weyr politics and relations, they don't often overstep the boundaries of other Weyrs. Yet if another Weyr cannot provide the Hall or Hold with the necessary services, Fort Weyr will put in a bid with the approval of that Weyr. Example, Ista Weyr incurs an earthquake; they are suddenly unable to cope with one of their Holds' request for security. Fort Weyr can make a bid to get that service trade. Depending on the relationship with Ista Weyr, the Hold will or will not be in debt to Fort Weyr. In this case, Ista Weyr would likely return the favour instead of allowing the Hold to be responsible.