"Aye, ye have a point lass... Although I be a sailor and not much of a craftsman, I can get yonder boats seaworthy at least for that. Dependin' on the damage, er'course. Salvaging all but one or two may work to our benefit should we be needin' supplies fer buildin'."
He says, turning his attention towards the lake. He works there during the day until the sun sets, getting as many salvageable boats and materials out of the water and onto the shore as he can.
At the end of day 1
Raito gathers up Zayne and Jian, "Zanye and Jian, let’s go with Ysanne's suggestion of a "sleeper village". Personally, I think walls paints a big bull’s eye on this village and we do not have the time for making walls or the personnel to really man walls like we should. In addition, it would surprise our aggressors once they learn the hard way that we are not villagers and it will throw them off balance. From afar, our village looks abandoned or mostly abandoned and in disrepair. Perhaps we can do something to make it look like something supernatural happened here? But on the inside, it is serene and nice place to live. If Braeth determines something indeed attacked this village, perhaps instead of walls, we surround the outside with a punji stick moat, cover it, and place a broken down fence around it as a warning to where it is located. On the interior, we can make nightingale floors in key areas to help mitigate stealthy aggressors."
Day 1 Night
Raito finds some discarded bamboo and other materials and attempts to make a daikyu from memory and untrained.
Raito almost gets it but keeps his work since he almost has it before retiring for the evening.
Zayne sighs audibly after he hears Rai's suggestions for defense. I left home to avoid a war.
I think you and the others are over thinking things. I agree we should have some defenses but I don't think we need to make this a war camp. I would rather it be what it once was, a normal fishing village, albeit with some very abnormal villagers.
Ratio nods, "Unfortunately, war has followed you, us, unless you can talk to the Western leaders to give up their holdings and return from whence they came? And it is not really a war camp, it is the village you desire in disguise. If we make it something no one wants, they will stay away or not think we live here but in some fortified bastion. The disguised defenses will throw off our aggressors balance if they should indeed attack. I can not do this without you or Jian's help but I will make sure to remind you of what could have been if we are attacked regularly."
Ok, better if we cool down, right now. Let's watch it from a better view with the help of an example: we were all dead, and now we are breathing and speaking to each other. Nobody expected to be brought back to life. Similarly, we are supposed to live here peacefully, but it seems quite unlikely, especially for us. So yes, I think it's better to build defenses and camouflages. Enemies will have great difficulties in handling us. But this is not our first priority. Raito, you are talking about defending our home, but in fact, we still don't have one. Let's start by building one, making it comfortable, and then, defend it with all our strengths and skills. Don't misunderstand me, I'm offering you my hands and my capacities for this plan. But before a tactic, I want a home.
What aggressors do you speak off? What war do you speak of? None of that is certain. And this village is already something no one wants. Who would want a fishing village? Now a war camp in disguise, that is something people would want or attack. Make yourself look threatening and people will think you are a threat. That's what the westerners are doing. By pushing boundaries and imposing their will on others they are threatening to change this land. And if that tension gets too high things might explode into war. I won't let that happen. I won't let them destroy Minkai.
Zayne stops abruptly, surprised how easily he lost his calm, and by what he said. It revealed more turmoil in him than he thought. He turns away quickly and begins to walk away.
I'm sorry.
Ysanne walks calmly out of the darkness. "War is certain, the peace and quiet we have had since our reawakening is merely an illusion. The monks intend to send us to war, they refuse to submit even when their emperor has given up hope." Ysanne continues walking through the camp and back out following Zayne keeping a respectful distance.
Raito responds to Jian,
"Oh I agree but building defenses into the structures as we build or repair them is better than an afterthought."
Raito nods to Ysanne comments and continues in a louder but non-confrontational tone as Zayne walks away,
"Very well Zayne, if Braeth finds recent evidence of war here on this soil, then you have your answer. Troops need weapons, food, and medical supplies and what is fish? Food. There are also women here for what they may perceive as their source of pleasure. Although I am quite certain, without a doubt, they will make them "earn" that pleasure as will we. Besides, the only reason why you are walking away in frustration is because you know it in your heart there is conflict in our future."
Something destroyed this village. we should be prepared for it, some defenses make sense.
Zayne walks some ways out of the village to a small cliff Jin had pointed out. Taking his time, he climbs to the top and looks out over the forest below. Its calming, and reminds him of his days sitting on the roof of a tavern and watching the students of the Academy of the Five. After a minute he finally notices he has been followed.
I refuse to believe that. That war is certain.
I refuse to believe that. That war is certain.
When Zayne notices Ysanne, she moves to share the view at his side."You may be right Zayne Iwantani... but are you prepared to be wrong?" Ysanne sits on the cliffs edge and let's her scorpion pet free to roam the the rocks by her.
"Come, sit with me Zayne. They say strangers see each other for who they are and nothing else and this is why talking with them can put us at ease."
Dusting himself off, he would rise, and turn toward the screams of frustration.
He'd walk slowly and cautiously toward the sounds of hacking.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but... won't you harm his weapon?"
He sits down a slight distance away, and offers a seat in the moonlight.
"Come, Serpent," he says, mildly, kindly, "recite your poetry and explain your feelings; the tortoise (or turtle - I don't know what you all ended up choosing) will listen. Perhaps we can empathize together."
He smiles kindly and with empathy at Vem.
Vem looks at the weapon, its a bit duller than when she started out.
"Odd One cares not of his weapon anyways, but she will she that the Raven or another returns it to its prior condition, Vem is not one to owe a debt."
Vem turns away from the tree, you can see water running down the tree and ice in some of the slash marks that adorn it.
Vem comes and sits nearby and addresses Mhar.
"Broken Thing is Broken Thing, people do not change, and thusly neither do their names. Your own actions prove this Broken Thing. Vem does not condemn, neither does she condone. Broken Thing will always remain, the question; is whether such a name is a source of despair, or of pride. If the Broken Thing thinks he can do great things, then is it not an achievement? If a Broken Thing can accomplish much, then how much more could a regular thing do, when they do not?"
Vem then looks back to the tree,
"She does not care for singing, Vem."
You know, I always wanted to be a warrior. It was the only thing I ever worked at. But I never thought about what it meant. I never thought I might actually have to take life one day. And as civil war threatened my home that realization got closer and closer. So I ran. I fooled myself into believing I was going on an adventure. I fooled myself into thinking I could get away and not have to ever worry about that question. 300 hundred years later and I am no further.
There is a long break where Zayne mulls over the words just as much as you do.
I know its naive of me to think their won't be bloodshed. But I would prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt first.
There is another long pause.
Its strange. After a month together and I still know so little about any of you. Its as if we are still strangers. So tell me "Raven" was it? how is it you can look so young and yet sound like someone with years of experince?
"I dream of being an older woman." Ysanne says frankly as she lowers her open hand near the scorpion as it eerily turns to face her before crawling back into her grasp. "Or perhaps I dream of being right here and now, and only when I am asleep am I truly awake. We are all so old, but I feel I've lived a hundred times longer, seen and felt things beyond my years." Ysanne sweeps the scorpion back into her simple monk robes.
"We are strangers because I am strange and alone in my beliefs of what the Seiki plan for us. You are a romantic as are many of the others here, but I do not see the righteousness of the Seiki. The only thing I dwell on, is that one question; are we all prepared to be wrong?"
Ysanne smiles softly looking to Zayne.
You are just as confusing to talk to as Vem. But significantly more pleasant, he adds to take the sting from his words. No one is prepared to be wrong. But you learn more from being wrong than right.
Zayne is willing to talk further about the life he used to live. Finally moving from strangers to friends perhaps.
Hello, Shadow let me know you all were up here, as I was bedding down...I thought I would come and say hello, and see if we could get to know each other some...if you would rather I left you alone, thats fine as well.
Ysanne looks over at Thorrpe as he approaches.
"If it amuses you in Shadow's absence and Zayne permits, I am not opposed. We were just discussing home and what we left behind."
"Broken Thing is Broken Thing, people do not change, and thusly neither do their names. Your own actions prove this Broken Thing. Vem does not condemn, neither does she condone. Broken Thing will always remain, the question; is whether such a name is a source of despair, or of pride. If the Broken Thing thinks he can do great things, then is it not an achievement? If a Broken Thing can accomplish much, then how much more could a regular thing do, when they do not?"
Vem then looks back to the tree,
"She does not care for singing, Vem."
Mhar smiles. "In fact, Vem, you are wrong - at least partially. You're partially right, too. My actions prove the opposite. I am, have, and will change. Change, I was once told, is the only constant. That may or may not be true, but it's true enough in people... after a fashion."
He sits back. "I've changed. I am not exactly "wise" by anyone's standards, but I'm wise enough to realize how foolish I used to be. I've lost my skill in battle, but found other strengths. Am I still Mhar? Yes and no. I am that Mhar, but I am also a different Mhar. I don't understand that - it's an odd thing, but it's a thing that is. Even the language I learned to be here is changed! The language changed, Vem! Time... alters things, as do people."
He looks at her, and says, "Do people change? Yes and no. It's both. My parents always said, 'You never change!' to each other, and meant it. They always warned me that I wouldn't change who I married. But they did change, and so did I. My father changed when my younger sister was born. My mother changed when she became sick, and changed again when she got better. I'm changing in response to being, well, "broken". I think there may be a core, some inner part of people, that doesn't change, or, if it does, it changes on its own over time, not by way of others' attempts. I think that people otherwise alter. They alter to fit their environment, to fit their lifestyle, to fit their beliefs, and to fit anything else that's happening. They do this consciously or unconsciously, purposefully and accidentally. They find new strengths, new friends, and new life."
He pauses, looking ruefully amused, then, "... at least, that's what the monk told me when I asked to know 'why' - before we accepted. It was infuriatingly vague at the time. It still is... but I think there's truth to it. I'm still interested in this land, but not as much as I once was. I still have dreams, but am in the process of giving up my old ones. As the monks said, though, it's a process. 'Over the night, the day is born... but the cycle did not come about 'overnight'.' as they told me." he purses his lips, "(I still think that's a cheap cop-out, though, just to sound deep. Just tell me 'it takes time' or something.) "
He smiles. "You may not like music, and I'll be glad to hear why, but I also want you to hear them: to really hear them. They enjoy... and that alone is worth it. I am glad they dance, even though I cannot - it hurts, but it's okay, and it's a good thing; they are happy. I am glad they sing. Life... is good. Not easy, but few things actually are, and most of those aren't lasting or aren't worth it or aren't either. Maybe you should try to find a way to be happy for them, even if something hurts. I think you'll be happy for yourself more, too. I am." he breathes the night air, enjoying the distant music.
Deepest condolences for your loss Zayne, honor her spirit by carrying your best memories of her.
Ysanne gives a long pause before continuing.
Did I leave anyone important behind? No. I left behind a despicable drunken father once or twice, but that was long before I boarded Salvation. Knowing my father is dead brings me more pleasure than I should admit, but then if you were witness to his sins, trust me, you would find yourself feeling the same.
For a time I had a sister or two, not by blood only in bond. Our time together waxed and waned as the moons. I don't know how long a time it had been since I saw them before my last breath, although I do dream of them often. Vem reminds me of one of them. She smiles at the thought
What of you Thorppe? What have you lost in death and come to realize in your waking breaths? What happened to the ones you loved, or the ones that loved you.
What do you both live in hope of?
I lived a nomadic life, once I was a solider, but after leaving that behind it was just me and my Shadow for years. I never met anyone who was not greatly disturbed by him, so I pretty much had kept to myself for almost 3 years prior to getting on that ship. I got on it in search of others like me. I am slightly curious to know if anyone ever won that war
He ponders Nothing in particular to hope for really...just life. And for the moment I have it.
Day 2
Your actions have largely rendered the village surroundings safe and secure. From removing dead animals to repairing parts of the buildings, you are well on your way to restoring this area.
Investigations have proved that the settlement was razed to the ground. Significant fire damage to buildings, scuttling of the ships and frightened domestic animals hiding in the forest.
The surrounding forest is deemed safe as well aside from wandering wildlife. You easily can find plants: both wild and crops.
However, no footprints can be found or signs of humans having been the source of the attack.
The night goes by equally well.
The morning comes around and with it comes torrential rain and heavy fog. Depending on where you slept you may be in various states of sodden.
The weather will make things quite difficult today but there is a lot that can still be done.
First thing in the morning Thorrpe summons Shadow
Good morning! Where shall we go? Shadow says as he wraps around Thorrpe
Thorrpe finds Mhar. Well what shall we do today?
Braeth relay his findings on what occurred here to the others, confused by the lack of human tracks
"It ain't natural I tell you, I don't like the fact that some strange people or beasts could cause such wanton destruction...
Braeth would agree with Rai, if the previous townspeople were so easily eliminated by whatever attacked them it was only sensible to do their best to protect themselves
Raito nods, "If there are no footprints, then either time erased them ... " Raito looks up to the sky, "Or it attacked from the sky?"
Vem interjects,
"Or the lake, and those who are attuned with nature surely could cover their tracks if they wanted."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Raito nods, "Hai! Very true and it is either still in the lake or departed from here in one of many possibilities. This certainly means we either want to make this village appear to still be abandoned but fortify it or build a traditional fortress which I still think we do not have the numbers to defend unless we hire hirelings."
"We do not have the time or resources for subordinates, I vote we move forward with fixing the buildings while camouflaging them to appear abandoned."
I am sorry I doubted you Rai. Something did attack this place. However we don't even have the numbers to fortify this place. We do, however, have excellent scouting. Shadow can fly and Thorrpe can summon water creatures. We can cover those places we haven't checked yet.
I propose myself as a scout of this land. Maybe we'll found clues of who, or what, did this. This can help me in the map I'm preparing. I need something waterproof or that map will be ruined. Has anyone a solution?
Presuming the use of her umbrella, poncho, and two waterproof sacks was enough to temporarily patch up any holes in the roof of the main room of the best-condition house, then Jezelyn and others who slept there probably wake up reasonably dry. She would thank Rai for the heads-up that the late-Spring season would likely mean rain.
Jezelyn would ask Zayne what they can do to at least semi-permanently cover the roof with wood and seal it against the rain. She would work on that, with help if anyone offers, using her magic to keep roof materials or sealants dry as she works. She would take her time, taking 10 or even 20 if possible, to get the job done well. She's not trained in construction, but she can use all skills untrained and has a +2 intelligence modifier. Plus, she's hoping to get help, or at least get advice from Zayne, who does have training in structural knowledge. Then, she would use her unlimited prestidigitation to dry everything inside the house under the newly repaired roof.
Re-acquiring her umbrella, poncho, and waterproof sacks, if they are no longer needed in the roof, she would dry them, use one of the sacks to protect her precious journal, and see if her other rain items would be useful to allies working around the village.
Jezelyn herself would hum happily in the rain, drying herself (and anyone nearby) whenever they happen to stop under cover for any length of time, and frequently using her magic to make sure her items are dry in their sack.
After roof repairs, Jezelyn would ask Mhar or Braeth what else most needs to be done, and set to work helping. Her dancing lights could help provide extra visibility.
Random roll to aid another with whatever:
Huzzah! Jez can use any skill untrained, so she can successfully aid another with anything.
When conversation turns to what destroyed the village, Jezelyn considers the fire damage and the lack of enemy tracks and suggests,
"Perhaps it was a dragon."
EDIT: Jian Min can use Jezelyn's other waterproof sack, or poncho, or umbrella, if he wants. :)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
My first priority would be to make the appropriate repairs to make the building waterproof or at least resistant. Hopefully, the quick fixes Jezelyn applied would be enough to make the place dry through the night.
The next thing would be to build a shelter for the fire and get it going again. Prestidigitation would be a big help in drying the fuel. I imagine this would take up most of the day.
I also wouldn't direct people unless I really needed them or if they came to me asking what to do.
Let's say Jezelyn and Zayne work together, then, on roof repairs and structural safety stuff for the best-condition house, plus making a cover for the fire-pit and fuel. Jez uses prestidigitation to dry everything as they go. :)
Once they have the fire pit covered and dry, Jez would ask Simeon to use his Spark to get the fire going, or, if he's not around, she'd use her flint and steel.
Mhar greets Thorrpe warmly, and pulls out the charts, lists, and plans made with everyone.
"Jezelyn? Do you mind drying us all? Thank you." he'd bow briefly.
Then, after gathering a few people together and listening to their thoughts and discussions, "Well, our findings are disturbing. There seem to be nothing that indicates humans came through here - not even exclusively on heavy mounts. Some have suggested that those with ties to nature may be able to cover themselves... which would be preferable to my initial conclusion of the spirits of the land itself... or worse, those who lived here." He looks at Jezelyn when she suggests a dragon. "That... is a possibility I hadn't considered." he says.
He frowns at the lists.
"In general, finding anything - any clue - to what happened here, to prevent it, would be ideal."
He looks at Zayne and responds, "And, unfortunately, Zayne, Shadow can't fly. He can climb quite extraordinarily well, but not fly."
Mhar looks over the others, and breathes a heavy breath, "Okay, scouting is important, yes, but so is preparation. Those good at reconnaissance, please study everything - thoroughly. Those with a keen mind and steady hands, help us craft something that looks worse than it is from above... just in case. It would be ideal if we could hide the buildings with apparent over-growth that wouldn't, itself, be flammable, or, if it is, that would be able to be quickly and easily removed. I... don't have any idea how viable that is." "
He frowns. "But... hm. I suppose... that might not be the most important. We need to keep our stuff free and clear. Okay, camo is second priority, then."
He pulls together some of the spellcasters. "Anyone here have divinatory abilities? Any method of communication with the animals or spirits? It seems clear that the preponderance of destruction was against the village at large... if we could discover who and how we may be able to defend against it, or, if not, at least prepare ourselves for the eventuality."
He hesitates.
"Actually... upon review, I can't recall any dead human bodies. That's... curious. I'm starting to wonder if it wasn't those who lived at the village themselves - or the monks. If there are no corpses, perhaps it's because there were none. Another possibility is that the monks took them before,... and either buried them, or are restoring them to life in the same manner as ourselves."
"I think... I think we need to talk to the monks. Is that a viable idea? Anyone with traveling skill know?"
"The ruins consist of four buildings. Two I seem to recall were homes, one was a former communal building and the other served as a smokehouse for the small fishing boats which you can see wrecked near the docks. I will leave and return three days later. By that time, I want to see what you have accomplished here."
"Okay, the first building to be our priority for full restoration should be something that works for the lot of us, before we spread out. Hence, I recommend the smokehouse as our current major project. If those of us with engineering skill - apologies, Zayne, for the invalid rock suggestion; I'd just thought of burning, not logistics - think the larger communal building would be better, or the two smaller housing buildings, or if you think we should just make our own construction from scratch, feel free to say that; we'll go with that suggestion instead."
He looks around. "Presuming we've got plenty of food - I can create more than enough water for us all - and given that we've got basic defenses, we need to take care of basic survival now. Anything else that comes, we'll deal with it through guards, our current traps, and our normal capabilities. If you can, use divination or scouting to tell us things; if you can't (or find nothing from those two elements), help us fix houses. If you can't fix houses, fix boats with Kite. If you can't fix boats either, fix camouflage, add a few more traps, or keep guard."
He gestures to some time-charts, saying, "We'll break for food here, here, and here." he gestures to three different points. "Night guard shifts go from sunset to midnight, and from midnight to sunrise. That means that you second-shifters will need to get to sleep at or just before sunset ."
He looks around for final approval. "Sound good?"
Mhar would then roll his stuff up, and works as best he can.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I am sure your skills and training will be put to good use here in Kotei."
Unless he continues the conversation, she would let him concentrate on the task at hand, and she would as well.
Thorrpe nods at being able to create water creatures
I can summon dolphins but they don't speak to me, and no shadow cannot fly...yet.
Cookie makes breakfast ~ it is rather tasty.
"Well I think we should probably get some of the roofs fixed. I don't know about you all, but I would rather sleep in a dry bed at night."
Ysanne watches the weather, feeling the wind and smelling the air. Today is a day for rest away from the hazards of the rain, Ysanne spends the day drawing more venom.
failure
"Um, Ysanne, I don't think you are supposed to add whatever your concoction is to your food... it probably isn't healthy for you..."