[Hopetoun] The Point of Hope

[Vega]

28th Ashan, 721

following: this

Vega had given them the first beginnings of a lesson in what she had promised - to help them survive, to teach them survival and hunting. Now, she had led them up, the group of five specialists from Saoire's school, up to Hope Point. It was here that the Beacon would be and here that their work was happening.

"We should build a pathway here," Rover said. "It will help with the transportation of good and people between the Beacon and the settlement." Vega looked at him and nodded. "What resources do we have?" Rover asked. Vega looked at him and thought about it. "I sent my cousins out to gather a load of them, a while ago. Wood, Phoenix, Char an' Gemini wood as well as normal wood. Sands, magic sands of all types. An' glass. " He nodded. "People? Stones? Transportation?" Vega thought about it. "Well, all the settlers are happy to help. Then there's me, Arlo, my Papa an' Arlo's Papa. My three cousins an' their wives, my friend Escher. Our friend Kisaik, an' our friend Doran." He nodded.

"What skills do they have?"

Vega's eyebrow rose. "I mean - lots." Rover nodded. "I understand. I need to be clear though. Tell me?"

In order to make sure that she was clear, Vega stopped and thought about it. "So, the settlers, I've taught a lot of them woodworkin'. Fletchin'. There's hunters who are overseen by Lars, an' there's Jarad who's a builder. My Papa is a seafarer who works wood, too, Arlo is a chef, an' a storyteller an' he's marked by Cassion an' U'frek, an' he's good with weapons. My cousins are gardeners, an' carpenters, an' builders - their wives are like gardenin' an' needlework an' basketweavin' an' stuff." Thinking about it, she considered it. "Kisaik is a priest of Ashan, an' he grew that, an' Doran is an alchemist." Rover nodded.

"So we have strong backs and strong arms. Willing hands and many skilled people?"

Vega nodded, confirming. "What about you?" Rover asked and she grinned at him. "I'm doin' this because Xiur asked me an' Doran to. I'm marked by him. By Daia, an' Qylios an' Ilaren. I'm cursed by Faldrun, an' I'm his mortalborn child. I'm better with a sword than anyone, an' I'm a musical prodigy, so they tell me." Vega shrugged slightly. "I'm a woodcrafter an' I can hunt anythin' an' survive pretty much anywhere." He nodded. "You've arranged it thus far?"

That prompted another nod from Vega. "Yeah. I spent the last arc in Rharne, in Storm's Edge. Oh, I'm a Warden of the Lake Lovalus, an' I learned in Storm's Edge how important leadership is. I've honed my bossiness to a fine art." He smiled at her. "You've done well. But we can be a lot more efficient. I want five people to build a road. It doesn't have to be marvellous, but it should be as good as it can be. Vega nodded. "We can do that." Rover glanced at Herman. "I want it organised as a matter of urgency. It will speed everything up. We need to be able to get resources up here, much more efficiently."

Herman nodded. Vega explained then, the best she could, something which she found hard to put into words. "I don't rightly know how else to say this, but the people here work together in a way I can't rightly explain." Her eyes were as serious as they could be - she genuinely had no idea of how much of a difference she made to the place. "The people here, they work together. They work hard an' smart an' they amaze me every trial." Herman looked at her and his small eyes narrowed.

"So, how many people do you need?" Once they'd determined that, Jarad was assigned to Herman to make the road to Hope Point. Vega glanced at Rover.

"I got to give it to you," she said. "You know what you're doin'."

[Vega]

28th Ashan, 721

following: this

Even before they'd properly got there, Vega considered, Rover had made a difference. An easy system of moving items, goods, people and resources to and from the Beacon would be incredibly helpful. Now that they were up here, though, he hadn't finished. "How much actual planning have you done?" Rover asked. Vega got the information out, ready to show him.

"So, the tree there?" she said. "That's goin' to be the beacon. My cousin's wife, she drew this for me, to show what I'm tryin' to achieve" And she showed him the drawing which Lily had drawn for her. Rover nodded. "An' what we've done is quite a bit. I'm goin' to use that top bit there, as a place for makin' jams an' pickles, an' chutneys. It's goin' to be called Nella's kitchen." Rover considered that. "It's an unusual choice, it looks like an observatory. Wouldn't it be better for stargazing?" He sounded surprised that XIur's devout had not thought of such and Vega grinned. "Right, so this is where practical comes into account, Rover. Stargazin' is great, an' I'd like to do that, but that would be the worst place, because it'll be light." Rover considered it just for a moment and then smiled. "Fair," he said.

"Still, a kitchen seems strange. I like it, though." Vega nodded. "Nella were my mother by law, my husband's Mama. An' she used to make the best jams an' things. It's important to me that she's remembered." Rover put a small hand on her arm and Vega grinned. "Gerroff, or I'll have an emotion, an' you won't like it. I'm in the family way, an' I tell you now that when I start weepin' it can go on for breaks. You don't want to start it, believe me." He looked rather surprised but he said no more.

"So, me an' Doran have started this. He's got glass an' he's goin' to alchemificate it with glowin' sand," Rover raised an eyebrow and Mavis let out a small squeak. "Alchemificate?" The small mouse was, after all, an alchemist and Vega grinned. "Yeah. It's like you ponitificate, if you're a pontif." This confused everyone - including Vega, but it was the only example she could think of. "Isn't that a pope?" Mavis asked and Vega nodded. "Exactly. You ever spoken to Stan? He pontificates like you wouldn't believe. Anyhow, yeah. Doran's alchemificatin' the glass, an' that there tree is fire proof, which is well handy. He's also makin' alchemical mirrors what have got a few of my mark abilities in them, so it will be a beacon of hope." Mavis looked at Rover and then Mad-Eye spoke. "We can help him. Where is he?" Vega pointed over, giving them directions to him.

"An' I've started on the stairs, an' stuff." Vega said, as the two - the cat and the mouse, she thought with a smile, left. That left her, Rover and Reggie. "I'm makin' them out of Gemini Wood, which is resistent to the elements an' looks like metal, here," Again, that was part of what the cousins had brought back. Rover nodded and turned to Reggie. "I suggest for now, you go with your wife and Mad-Eye. Any metalwork to be done on the beacon itself, do so. We'll reconvene?"

Rover then turned his attention to the stairs. "Alright, so tell me how you're doing this?" Vega nodded. "Me an' my cousin have made example pieces of every bit. Then, the jobs go out to the workforce, really. The less skilled people get the easier jobs, an' at the end of it, I do the fine - tunin' an' stuff. It means that I see everythin' an' I can check it, but I don't need to do it all." Rover nodded. "And how will you actually construct it?"

Vega sighed slightly. "The only way I can see is if I do it all, because I can't get others doin' it. I don't know."

Rover looked at the tree, and back at the drawing. "We make mobile platforms. Ladders with planks between them and feet. That way, you can minimise the amount of climbing and have people working simultaneously around the place?" Vega thought about it and grinned. "That's a stormin'ly good idea, Rover, yeah. If we do that, we'll be able to work together an' much faster." He nodded.

"I'll take three - four if you have them - people of decent skill. I can design that and make it functional." Vega grinned. "You've already, jus' in this time, made a brilliant difference, thanks." He smiled. "It's my pleasure. I'd suggest that the thing we need to get, the resource you need to have more of is metal. You're going to feel the lack of it, I fear."

Vega nodded. "I'll send the boys up to the smith in Faldrass. It's easy done. I can pay for that." He nodded. "That makes sense," he said. Thinking about it he said. "Talk to him. See if he wants to be involved. To offer resources for a reduced price, and you advertise his wares here, or sell them. That sort of mutual deal can be very handy." Vega raised an eyebrow. "I'm not good at that sort of thing," she said. Rover nodded. "I am. Leave it to me. I'll write a letter."

Vega grinned. "Thanks, Rover. You're well handy to know." He nodded his head. "Despite the fact that Rover's a dog's name," she added, seriously. He looked at her in shock and Vega grinned. "Thanks."

She waited and, once Rover had written the letter she took it and went to speak to her father. She asked him to go up to the smith's in Faldrass, and to buy some metal. She then sent her cousins to take the ship and do the same.

ooc 10 WP deducted

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Vega

Points awarded: 10
Magic xp: None

Knowledge:

Engineering: x 3
Etiquette: Naming conventions: Rover is a dog's name.
Logistics: x 2

Renown: 5 Vega is seen to be large and in charge around the beacon.
Loot: Rover's part in the building of the beacon is satisfied.
Injuries/Overstepping: None
Wealth Points: N/A
Consequences: A big wayward hound has arrived at camp, which takes to chasing Rover around, harassing him relentlessly when he shows his face around the Beacon in the following summer. The dog doesn't appear to have an owner when asked around. But if Vega catches him, she'll find he has a collar with a tag that reads : Felix. The dog is a bloodhound, with a droopy and wrinkled, sad old face. But it wags its tail a lot when Rover is around. Yet, Rover seems terrified of the animal and swears it's going to bite him when it gives chase.

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: Rover is a dog's name.

That said, this was a fun and productive addition to the whole process of building the beacon. I'm very impressed with all the progress and strides you've made. It's hard work, but it looks like it's going to get done!

Vega is a very useful person to have around the settlement, and she brings even more useful people along with her in the form of her clan.

There's a lot of planning and cooperation going on, and it's all well illustrated through dialogue, directives given, and just plain old narrative. Well done!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!