mon & wed 2pm - 5pm eastern
fridays 12pm to 5pm eastern
aether • jenova • mist w7 p4

Welcome to Otter by the Water, a daytime café on Aether. Visit us on Jenova at Mist W7 P4. Look for the Odder Otters decorating the exterior — you can’t miss it!The Otter opened in March 2022 as an AFK café where visitors paid a suggested donation for tea and sandwiches. In a few short weeks, it's grown into a small but lively hub where dedicated regulars come to socialize. Whether you’re looking to pass time in queues, socialize or roleplay in a SFW setting, or need a place to chill, we’ve got you covered.Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the Otter, from our house rules to our most up-to-date menu. You can also join our Discord, where you’ll get announcements and stay in touch with our staff and patrons.Thank you for visiting. We’ll see you by the water!

house rules & code of conduct

open hours & schedule changes

The Otter is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 2PM to 5PM, and on Fridays from noon to 5PM Eastern Time. (Convert our hours to your time zone here!) Schedule changes are announced on Discord.

about our pricing...

You may have noticed that there are no prices on our menu. We know! Everything is “pay-what-you-can,” meaning you set the price. Anything you pay, our servers keep — 100%!

be excellent to each other

Be kind and respectful to everyone under our (digital) roof! This rule applies to both our venue and our Discord. We don't tolerate harassment, -phobias, -isms, none of it. It's a vague rule, but also not that hard to understand: just don't be a jerk.

rp-friendly establishment

Please use the RP tag in order to distinguish yourself from folks who are out of character. (Type /roleplay to toggle the RP tag in-game.) We ask this because not everyone at the Otter is roleplaying, and some folks use the space to chill out while they're at work.

work-safe environment

Some of our guests like to drop in while they’re at work, so it’s important to keep public chat work-safe! This applies to mature roleplay, as well as any discussion that is graphic or profane. If you’re talking or roleplaying and it turns NSFW, send it in a /tell. If you can’t, please try a different venue.

open stage use & performance rules

Our performance stage is located in the basement (you can't miss it!) and is open to all. Performers who use our stage must agree to the following rules:

  • Keep performances on the stage only (ex. no barding on the counter/tables). If the stage is in use, please wait for the performer before you to finish their set before starting your own.

  • As with RP and chat, please make sure that the content of your performance is work-safe.

  • Bards are asked to limit their sets to five songs at a time. Other performers should stick to 20-30 minute blocks. If you’ve finished a set and no one else is waiting to use the stage, you’re free to continue. We just ask that you share the stage if other performers arrive.

  • Finally, if you’re performing on our stage, you’re welcome to put up an ad in Party Finder! That way, anyone who wants to come see your set knows where to find you.

questions & comments

We'd love to hear from you! Please leave comments in the guest book placed on our café counter. (There's also one at the front gate.) If you prefer, you can also join our Discord and leave requests in our suggestion box.

workin' by the water

safir atkascha, proprietor & manager

(he/him) Safir was an aspiring wood-warder until a change-of-heart ended up changing his life. His desire to experience the world just once led him to leave his village on a whim, and he was never permitted to return. He soon settled in Dalmasca, where he adopted the last name "Atkascha" after falling in love with legends of the heroes of Ivalice. Though he fled during the Garlean invasion, he has always thought of Dalmasca as home.Opening a restaurant might seem unusual for a Viera like Safir, but he's come to enjoy it after years of being an Adventurer. Often called "boss," Safir is a skilled (but extremely messy) chef who prides himself on hospitality. Safir is aloof but amicable, and he gets flustered quite easily. While he often complains of being "too old for this," he has yet to reveal his actual age.

enninisotera papylon, assistant manager

(she/her) This punny 19-year-old Lalafell has become the face of the Otter since being promoted to Assistant Manager. She was dropped off at the venue by her former nanny, Ayu Futoshiki, and has been coming back ever since.Enninisotera (or Enni for short) lost her adventuring father on a trip to the Lost City of Amdapor, where she also suffered a brain injury from overexposure to neuro squama. Ever since, she has firmly believed herself to be some sort of bug overlord.Enni would like patrons to know that, despite having been nicknamed "Ennini Panini," she is not a sandwich.

mashlae urabe, server

(they/them) At 28 years old, this mild-mannered server has little memory of their early life. As far as they know, life began on a wagon bound for Ul'dah, with only a rusty sword and a flimsy wooden shield. While little flashes of memory come to Mashlae every now and then, they've reasoned with themself that their past isn't worth rediscovering.Mashlae earns a living by adventuring and gambling, although recently they've had a string of bad luck. One day, Mashlae wandered past the Otter, saw that Safir was hiring, and thought: "What the heck. What can it hurt to help out another venue?" Occasionally they'll remember that they can cook, meld metals, and other odd jobs.As shy as Mashlae is, they occasionally get themselves in trouble by butting into a conversation with their own opinion. Around people they know well, Mashlae can talk endlessly about their favorite subjects. They're still nervous around the customers at the Otter and tend to freeze up when taking orders.

ausrya daenala, server

(she/her) To our newest team member, a smile is never the wrong answer! Ausrya, or Rya for short, moved from Doma to Gridania to study at the Conjurer's Guild. At 26 years old, she is highly regarded as a healer. She earns a living through her magic, her skills in carpentry, her barding—and most recently, her work at the Otter!Rya found her way to Otter by the Water purely by chance: one morning she came in looking for her coffee fix, and she hasn't left since! Rya is shy, but kind and polite nonetheless. She loves to chat with people once she gets to know them and is always open to making new friends!

markle dreslin, server

(???) Coming soon.

ahldfohc sylbrymmsyn, provisioner

(he/him) This seafaring Roegadyn has known Safir for decades, having been aboard the merchant ship that first carried him to Eorzea. With his imposing stature and booming voice, he's been known to intimidate guests at the Otter. Don't let his size fool you, though; he's the very definition of a gentle giant. In fact, he's so friendly and welcoming that he often fills in for Safir when the latter needs a break from his managerial duties.Roegadyn age far more rapidly than Viera, who've been known to live centuries. That's why, even though Ahldfohc looks much older than Safir, the latter is nearly twice the former's age. And unlike his dear friend, Ahldfohc has never been known to complain that he's "too old for this."

otter by the water is hiring!

Business has picked up considerably since we first opened, and we're looking to hire additional staff members!Servers should be welcoming and friendly to all. The position may involve some roleplaying, but it'll always be strictly work-safe. Servers are paid 25k gil an hour and keep any tips they make from customers.Responsibility is key to keeping this thing going, but it'll never be more important than your offline life; so long as you help out when you can, we'll work around your schedule. If you're looking for a flexible daytime venue to work at, please apply!

rent the otter

let us host your event!

Otter by the Water will be available to reserve for special events. We're still finalizing the details — rules, availability, pricing, etc. — but once we've got them all figured out, they'll be posted here. Please check back later for updates. If you have any questions in the meantime, stop by the Otter during normal hours, or join our Discord to speak with a staff member.