< Skyla Prelude 5 | Campaign Logs | Mmmm Pancakes >
ACANONICAL MINI - Building a House!
{Skyla} sets her hands on her hips, and surveys the ruin of what was once the home of a family of 13 farmers.
Finnre`Merayen is carrying in piles of wood, as she is one of the stronger and more enduring members of not only the village but the circle.
{Skyla} "Thanks, Merayen.. just set that over here for now." She points to a pile of wood that has been slowly growing over the past hour or so. She's been extracting the usable wood from the home into one pile, and stone into another pile
Finnre`Merayen sets it down and moves to bring more, collecting her limit, then carrying it back
Jackal comes back wheeling a wheelbarrel full of rock towards the house. "How much more do we need?"
{Skyla} lets her long teal hair out of its braid, and rebraids it tightly, eliminating the stray hairs that had been escaping from the 'do. "Well, I think we have enough to *start* but we'll only be able to really do the foundation with what we have, and maybe... one room."
Jackal "Well I don't really know where to get any more stone. Maybe Merayen or I should try and scout out some more."
{Skyla} "No, I think we'll be okay with the stone. If we rebuild over the same foundation, we can use what's still there. We just have to finish clearing it off. The rest of the wood there, isn't too salvageable, it'd be better used for firewood.
{Skyla} "What I meant was, we'll need more wood." she considers
Finnre`Merayen nods and grabs the axe to go cut some more wood
Jackal "Well then we might need a saw...and a sacrifice. You never know if there's some spirit court out here."
{Skyla} "The farmers had a wood saw, it came through the fire pretty well..."
{Skyla} "I'm going to gather something to put between the stones, to keep the air from coming in."
Jackal nods and heads off to get the saw.
{Skyla} heads down to the river, gathering a careful mixture of reeds and clay, which she transports back to the site.
Finnre`Merayen keeps chopping, letting one of the farmers help Jackal with the wood saw.
{Skyla} ****a few hours later***
{Skyla} "So... does anyone know how to build a house?"
Jackal "Not me. Tents sure but not houses..."
{Skyla} eyes the piles of materials with mild trepidation
Finnre`Merayen shakes her head.
Finnre`Merayen My skills tended to be more at taking appart buildings.
{Skyla} "Well.. we know what it's supposed to look like when it's done. And I know that it's got to hold the weight of the roof, and everything..."
{Skyla} sits down with some of the scraps of wood and starts building little test models, seeing how much pressure they can take, and what angles work the best...
Jackal "Are there any carpenters in the villiage?"
Finnre`Merayen nods, but do you really know how to put together the roof and walls?
{Skyla} "Yeah, but they're busy helping the rich folks."
Finnre`Merayen "Yes, someone had to make this house in the first place."
Finnre`Merayen "What?"
Finnre`Merayen "Where are they working right now.
{Skyla} "These people... couldn't afford to pay for their house to be rebuilt... The carpenter is working for the ones who can pay first."
{Skyla} "They have only the children left, but they will help, if we give them tasks they can handle."
Finnre`Merayen stalks off into the village to seek out those with the skill at building who are free to leave to aid or willing to, offering some payment for the help.
{Skyla} sighs, and gets to work on the foundation while Merayen is off, lugging the stones around as if they weighed half as much as they do, her muscles bulging beneath her tanned skin.
Finnre`Merayen brings back workers and they begin right away to work on the house with the wood she had collected.
Jackal helps Skyla as best he can, not exactly as strong as he used to be. "If Balthasar were here we could just have him hire the housewright."
{Skyla} "What's a housewright?" she asks, shouldering another stone into place, as she begins to build a fireplace, the stones stuck firmly together with mortar she's made from teh mud and reeds
Jackal "Person who makes houses...I think. I'm not too up on house building."
Jackal "So you think that's going to hold? The mud I mean."
{Skyla} "Oh.. I don't think there's one of those around here... maybe in Nevin."
Finnre`Merayen starts to work at a strenuous pace, pushing herself to her very limits, trying and hoping to lead the villagers by example. Even as she pushes herself, her own actions seem to give the men a new feeling of energy, letting them work beside her, not quite as equals, but as valued allies the same.
{Skyla} "Yeah, I think so. I mixed it up specially so it'll harden, especially in the fireplace.
{Skyla} smiles as she watches Merayen work, "She's sure inspiring to see, isn't she?"
Finnre`Merayen works on tying some boards together, creating the first wall of the building.
{Skyla} feels herself inspired as well, and sets to work with a will, soon placing the last of the stones in place for the fireplace itself, and setting a large, flat stone on top, as a cooking surface. Once that is dry, the chimney is next.
Finnre`Merayen quickly does a stretch, asking Jackal if he'll grab some water for the workers before returning back to her duties here.
{Skyla} paces out the foundation, pointing out where the various rooms will be; there will be two bedrooms with five beds built into the wall that fold away, each, then one master bedroom, with a single, large bed. The kitchen and 'living room' are open to eachother, and there will even be a covered route to the outhouse.
Finnre`Merayen nods and speaks with those villagers most skilled at this sort of work, making sure they're satisfied, and then going to work as they suggest.
Crazy-Cabal1 nods. "That she is. She certainly has a way with people." Feels a bit out of his element and getting water is atleast something he did back on the farm so he takes the opportunity to get some drinks for the workers.
{Skyla} wipes the sweat from her brow, while still managing to look pretty!
Finnre`Merayen keeps her body covered, sweltering in the heat, but not wanting to disturb these villagers. She knows that her form is horrible to gaze upon, and so tries to hide it even when it'd be more comfortable to just show.
Jackal comes back with two buckets full of water. "You two need anything else?"
{Skyla} asks the workers their advice as well, listening attentively and trying out the new techniques they give her. Slowly but surely, a house begins to take shape.
{Skyla} "Can you help me with the chimney? I can't do it myself, it's too hard to balance."
{Skyla} pauses for a refreshing drink of water!
Finnre`Merayen takes a drink, uncovering her face for a time, before putting her mask back down.
Jackal "Sure what do you need me to do?"
{Skyla} "Hold the stones while I get the mortar stuff in there right.. we have to let them set a little before we move on to the next layer."
Finnre`Merayen goes to cutting some more wood, always moving between the different jobs, trying to keep inspiring the men with her example to work hard and that this is a rewarding job just in helping others, seeing her work so hard.
Jackal nods and goes to help with the stones. "It's been a long while since I did this sort of thing. Used to be mostly digging." he comments idly to pass the time.
{Skyla} "What've you been doing lately?"
{Skyla} "Before we met, I mean."
Finnre`Merayen passes by the chimney carrying wood, "When there were no battles..." She comes back to say more, "Yeah, gotta keep the troops from getting too bored right?"
{Skyla} "What do you mean?"
Jackal "Trenches. Good defensive structure and it keeps the men busy. They're too busy complaining about the digging to worry about things."
{Skyla} "Oh... I get it." she smiles. "I suppose it's better than doing nothing..."
Finnre`Merayen nods to Jackal, deciding to help with the chimney here for a time. "When you have no battle, they make you dig trenches to keep from getting the battle itch: the desire to fight. That leads to often drunkeness, drug use, and infighting."
Jackal "Me? Mostly working from farm to farm. Just doing whatever they need me on hand for. It's not exactly exciting but it beats being shot at for a living...of course that seems to have changed." Grins at Skyla while waiting for her to complete this layer.
{Skyla} "I've never really fought much, before I met you guys. I got my strength from the Forge."
Finnre`Merayen shakes her head. "War is never something we should desire. It leads to this. Just ask these men."
Finnre`Merayen stretches her arm out to wave at the villagers helping rebuild this building.
{Skyla} "but doesn't it make you angry? Don't you want to get back at the people who did this?"
{Skyla} finishes up the layer, and starts laying stones on top of a layer of mortar for the next, just enough that her friends can hold them
Finnre`Merayen "That is not war... we must allow all the chance to change, or we are no better than those who caused this. Even the wicked can be brought to see the light of truth and justice. They shall do penance in the world, while the others." She just shakes her head at that thought
{Skyla} looks doubtful. "If you say so. But some people are just plain evil if you ask me."
Finnre`Merayen "Yes, and they shall recieve a harsher form of Justice. For them, we must bring the light of our Patron so that he might burn their evil from the world... but never do I desire such an end."
{Skyla} tamps a stone into place securely. "Then how come you were a soldier?"
Jackal continues to hold stones quietly, listening to Mer's words.
Finnre`Merayen "I do not regret my past, for it is only through the past that the present self is born. Had I never been a soldier, I would likely not be here, nor would I believe as I do. I was a soldier for the same reason I am here... I believed in something, and was called to fight for it."
{Skyla} begins another layer of the chimney, "So it was worth it? All the people you killed in war?"
Finnre`Merayen "Oh, they were not always people... but the reason I fought then wasn't much different from now. I fought to stop those who would bring war. I fought warlords seeking to expand their lands. I fought to protect my fellows in my unit. I fought to protect those at home. I even put on hellish armor for those things."
{Skyla} "What was it like...? The armor? I heard it makes people powerful."
Finnre`Merayen "So yes, it was worth it. I can no more regret the past seeking peace, than I can regret seeking peace for these people. I will fight for all who can not stand alone. I will rebuild each village, until they are grander than before, and peace reigns there. That is why I live."
Finnre`Merayen "It was... imagine drinking foul potions and having your body implanted with amulets of great but terrible power, all so that you might be stronger.
Finnre`Merayen pulls off her glove to show her scarred arm. "Would you pay this price: pain, suffering, youth, and beauty... all for power? A power that must be used as some others decide?"
Finnre`Merayen "For that is the greatest cost of all, freedom. You sacrifice your own freedom for the service to others. And afterwards, you are released, knowing that your days are few. I knew the costs, and I would take them again. But never think that you gain... you only pay for such power."
Finnre`Merayen looks at Skyla, pulling her mask up to let her look at her fully.
{Skyla} tries not to flinch visibly, "I...don't know. But maybe. I don't think I could give up my freedom like that... it's too important to me."
Finnre`Merayen smiles softly, and pats Skyla's cheek with the battle and amulet scarred hand. "I know, and you shouldn't have to. No one is ever required to wear the armor. It's only offered. It's an honor, but one that is a death sentance."
Finnre`Merayen pulls her mask down, then pulls the glove on again
{Skyla} "But you lived... and now we have power. What is the sacrifice we gave for it?"
Finnre`Merayen "My price? A peaceful end to my life. Again, I was given power, and called to do battle for these people. I do it because if I did not, who would?"
{Skyla} thoughtfully tamps down some more stones. "You wanted to die?"
Finnre`Merayen "No, I wanted peace... but death was at my door. I knew that I was not much longer for thise world after I wore the armor.
{Skyla} "I had peace, kind of. I was mostly happy growing up here."
Finnre`Merayen nods and keeps working
{Skyla} "I always wonder what it would have been like, though... if I still had my first family."
Finnre`Merayen "I think most of us wonder how life would be different if the past were different sometimes
{Skyla} "What about you, Jackal? Do you ever wonder what would have happened if your past had been different?"
Jackal "All the time. I certainly wouldn't be out here and I doubt I would have gone past the farm."
{Skyla} "Why'd you leave your farm?"
Jackal "Didn't have much choice, an army was bearing down on us and it was either move on or stay...we didn't have much hope of surviving if we did."
{Skyla} sighs, "It's always about armies, isn't it? Why do they have to do that? They don't need our land."
Finnre`Merayen "Warlords often don't care about the land... it's about power. And being able to force people to leave their lives behind is a power, but a tyrant's power.
Jackal "Well he wasn't after land. He was just on a rampage...he wasn't entirely human exactly. I think he was kin with the fair folk."
{Skyla} "But don't they understand that there are PEOPLE on that land? How cruel!"
Finnre`Merayen "Of course they know, and care naught. You said yourself, there is evil in the world... and such evil is just as likely to be mortal as not."
{Skyla} throws a stone to the ground, "It's just not right!"
Jackal "You don't think about the small picture when you have an army at your disposal. I doubt it'll stop. Men will always want more."
{Skyla} frowns, and gets a determined look on her face, "Well i'll stop them."
Finnre`Merayen "Agreed. For these people and those like them!""
Finnre`Merayen raises her fist to the air, defiant against the darkness of the world.
{Skyla} joins her in the gesture, raising her own fist. "For these people and those like them!"
Jackal nods and raises his fist. "For these people and those like them!" Smirking and wondering if he was ever this idealistic.
< Skyla Prelude 5 | Campaign Logs | Mmmm Pancakes >
Stryck Wiki