Alizarin
Shaman
magic went sideways
Posts: 86
Profession: Resident Lunatic
Affinity: Dark
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Post by Alizarin on May 1, 2014 6:40:01 GMT -6
Aegis tossed the rolled up plans and Alizarin caught them in time. He tucked all but one under his arm, which he unfurled and gave a cursory glance - and saw the diagrams dance before his very eyes. Jagged lines at impossible angles and pitch black words (eldritch, revolting, profane madness madness madness, tales of lands of crystal spires and steel towers) snaking slithering dancing across the paper under his sleeves into the shadows and beyond. He paled. His hands shook. His grip tightened, nearly tearing the diagram.
Forcing the images out of his head, he blinked and ran a hand through his hair. He had to keep a clear mind.
Visibly shaken by what he saw, he rushed away from Aegis, away from as many people as possible, and proceeded to where he was assigned.
[OOC: Exit post for now. May show up every once in a while.]
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Burt
Fighter
DEAD
Posts: 82
Sacae Fame: -2
Profession: Arum Thrall
OoC Alias: Burtorega
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Post by Burt on May 1, 2014 8:54:52 GMT -6
"So you are in charge", spoke Burt as he extended his hand. "My name is Burt. I am a historian from Lycia. I wanted to speak with you before the blood started flowing. The first was to ask about your knowledge on the bandit movements and the second was to interview you on the construction. I was hoping to record down everything that was happening."
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Post by Valcrist on May 1, 2014 18:42:57 GMT -6
Well, that was a random bit of backstory. Did Valcrist miss a question or something? Well, probably since he wasn't talking to the smith in the first place. Oh well, soon enough he was. As if he was going down a list of things to address, after he was done speaking with the other person he turned to Valcrist. Then he shared his thoughts on the situation the smith posed. "Fortifications it is. I guess I forgot we're in Sacae where babies are born naked, crying, and holding a sword." Valcrist smirked. "I'm looking forward to that shipment though, more and iron and steel will make sure we don't have to make compromises in our design. As all smiths know, armor is only as strong as it's weakest point, when it comes to defense it's not something you wanna go about halfheartedly." Valcrist waxed poetic for a short moment before remember he was an artist, not a wordsmith and he probably sounded strange. Well, more so then usual. He chuckled at his self, oh well it didn't really matter.
Then, just as before, Aegis turned away from the smith to deal with another person who was asking something of him. Valcrist simply shrugged, being in charge must have been stressful. "Well I'll go tell the smiths then." He said with a small wave as he turned away to take his leave of the man, only to be stopped surprisingly enough. It seemed that he had something else to say as well, Valcrist turned as he heard the man speaking to him once more, "Hrm?" He muttered pointlessly. "Ah, right. If I see anyone lazing off, I'll give'em a kick in the rear and boot them over to you." He seemed to be short on hands, Valcrist would volunteer but his talents were better put to use elsewhere. Anyone could do manual labor. Well almost anyone, babies probably couldn't. Not the point, what he meant was not everyone can smith. Metalworking is a skill learned through time and experience, which means there were less smiths then there laborers, and that meant him helping the smiths was more important then him putting up fence posts. It was weird feeling, he didn't usually feel 'needed' especially not in two places at once. It wasn't a bad feeling.
There was another man asking questions to the man in charge, and Valcrist probably should leave and not bother. Aegis seemed kinda busy though, the guy probably could have chosen a better time for an question and answer session. Maybe instead of recording he could be helping, yeah? Still Valcrist kept his thoughts to his self. Can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all and all that. Also if Aegis really took issue he'd tell him that, it wasn't Val's place.
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Post by Aegis Hawk on May 6, 2014 8:16:48 GMT -6
Aegis was thankful for the brief poetic spout from the blacksmith. It had fell upon his ears at the same time as the man ran off with his plans and another new arrival appeared. The man pestered him on details, however, that Aegis saw critical and, for the matter of construction, quite something to reveal to very few. Standing up straight, he looked to the man with a frown, his voice picking up as the workers resumed the palisade construction around him. Aegis made no extension to shake the man's hand, the Nabatan clearly not one for such a gesture while he was grimed by the labor he had committed to.
"We have no such time, Burt. The fortification is crucial and you are only slowing it by stalling me. Grab a log and help if you would want to record anything down."
It wasn't like Aegis to treat someone as such, but the fact of it was simple. The distractions to his work were growing and wasting his time. All around the city, a palisade was being raised and they still needed to finish this section to even make it remotely complete. With luck, the smith would recruit additional hands as well as speed the work along for the gate. However, one bleak sign of luck occurred that very moment. One of the wagons that had been on the trail pulled up, a handful of workers spilling out and one running to him to quickly lower his head toward Aegis and to seemingly ignore the man he spoke with.
"M-Mr. Aegis, the next shipment of iron, a-as you requested! The stone and more lumber is on the way as well!"
Looking to the man, he gave a small nod before doing something that was clearly rude. He turned his back to Burt and made his way over to the wall toward Edrick, the man who had otherwise not be one for physical labor.
"Friend, your skills would be best managing the wagons as they offload. The workers from this wagon are to report back immediately once you get the iron to the smiths. I'd want you to oversee the city's preparations once you arrive, though. Food stores are already in the works and being stocked, but we need them dispersed around the city to ensure they aren't all destroyed if a fire were to wreak havoc. I can handle the work here."
Looking to the palisade, he was thankful for the work they had done earlier before he arranged the tunnels being constructed. The last few logs were falling into place to round off the wooden wall, but it was only the beginning of an even more complex wall. Back on the other-side, he was certain the workers were already preceding to the next stage and making stairs and gateways to hold the gates in the works. The fortification had to succeed and, with the best of luck, they'd have the wall defensible in no time. The next wagon would bring the stone to pile before the wall. It wouldn't be the most defensive structure, but it'd protect the walls from the heat and stone of a normal siege, as well as give them a far more sturdy position...
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Burt
Fighter
DEAD
Posts: 82
Sacae Fame: -2
Profession: Arum Thrall
OoC Alias: Burtorega
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Post by Burt on May 6, 2014 10:42:38 GMT -6
It was as Burt had expected things here were tense. It seemed time was of the essence. He had hoped he could get a few words from Aegis, but it seemed that he had none to spare. If anything though Burt was persistence. History needed him and Burt was not going to turn his back on it. If he had to pick up a few logs and dig a few holes Burt was going to do it.
"Very well", spoke Burt. "i will ask my questions when there is more time to spare", spoke the Historian as he walked off. Burt immediately began to untie his cloak and take off his traveling bag. The fighter removed his breast plate and placed his things into his bag. Shirtless Burt began to pick up some of the logs that had been left lying around and started placing them in their holes.
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Claire Labelle
Mercenary
It's my moral obligation to help those in need
Posts: 42
Affinity: Light
Profile: Claire
OoC Alias: Hal
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Post by Claire Labelle on May 7, 2014 7:21:01 GMT -6
Claire had trotted off on Ciel as soon as she had received her orders, she was to look for what could be vantage points that the bandits could use to lay siege upon this town. She didn't know anything about war, heck she barely knew of anything outside of the simple life before the incident at Ostia, the events after that had dictated her life, to help those in need in honor of her brother. Times like this when she didn't know what to do, something deep inside had guided her. Claire liked to think it was Christophe showing her the way. She needed to find something to plant into the ground with a clothe on it to show the workers where they needed to go. She was able to find some scraps that wouldn't be able to be used for walls or barriers, she couldn't use something to make it into a flag so she began to dig in her bags and pulled out an old shirt. She began to tear it in strips and attached it to the sticks.
Now was the hard part, finding spots for pitfalls. She wasn't exactly sure what they were, they had to be some kind of hole? They did have 'pit' in it after all. She rode Ciel to a few hills around the city but they didn't seem like they would be a good vantage spot from on top of her horse so she moved on, once she found one where she felt confident it would aid in the bandit's attack she dismounted and placed one of her makeshift flags and moved on. She had done so a few more times, each time she felt more guilty for aiding in murdering other people, even if they were evil. She had detested war, it wasn't their place to decide who got to live and who got to die but the situation was in dire need of that logic. People's homes were at stake, and what for? Two, what one could call, armies to show who's stronger? She didn't know everything about the upcoming battle, but she knew it was unjust for these Sacaens to have their home threatened. Could she bring herself to join those murders in bloodying her hands for her ideals?
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Post by Plot Device on May 7, 2014 7:29:11 GMT -6
PROGRESS UPDATE:
The Palisade has been complete. The first two waves of supplies of stone has arrived, the third half way there. The first wave of iron and steel has arrived, second wave pending. 84% of the tunnel dug inside of the city only. Work on adding a walkway to the Palisade just beginning. Part of the digging crew starting to break off to begin work on pitfalls beginning. Another small group preparing to fetch extra water for the Palisade starting to form.
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Burgid
Thief
"Be anywhere, At any time, As anyone."
Posts: 42
Profession: Actress/Impersonator
Guild: S.S.
Affinity: Ice
OoC Alias: Sam
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Post by Burgid on May 7, 2014 15:09:05 GMT -6
Burgid had finished her task and returned to Aegis. "I finished my task-" Wait, that was her normal voice! She quickly went on with the lad's voice. "I have some expertise in building walkways, so if you could tell me where to start i will get working on it." She was referring to her days of set building of course, and while it was for a different means it still served the same purpose; to give a place to walk. It couldn't be that different. In fact, she was almost looking forward to it.
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Edrick
Shaman
Even in darkness one can devote themself to the light.
Posts: 114
Sacae Fame: 1
Profession: Jack of all Trades
Affinity: Light
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Post by Edrick on May 7, 2014 17:00:47 GMT -6
Nabata? That wasn't a common place to come from, maybe if they had time to talk later he'd ask him about it. If only his parent's let him work, all the time whenever he wanted to do something his parents always assigned others to do it. They meant well but it just wasn't fair to him. If he had ever hoped to take over their positions he had to have experiences doing things which is one of the reasons he had to get away, but right now as the youngest the chances were that he wouldn't be inheriting it without proving himself. That would be a problem as his siblings were also skilled in magic. More people came up to converse with Aegis, but Edrick wasn't really paying too much as he was to focused on making sure that his posts would fall over, but he noticed one face in particular. Valcrist. So he did make it here! and he did appear to be a blacksmith, well he didn't seem to be a liar so far hopefully he would be good in the fight also.
It was the second post Edrick had put in and the walls looked as though they were coming along nicely when a shipment of iron came in. Just as he got the second post to his liking Aegis asked him to take control of the iron shipment and the storage of the food supplies. the iron to get to where it needed to go, and the food supplies to make sure it didn't all get destroyed in the battle. 'Got it, I'll get right on it." Edrick said leading them in the direction that Valcrist had gone. Upon finding him with the other smiths Edrick spoke up to him. "Hey Valcrist! Glad to see you here. This load of iron just came in and I'm charged with unloading it, so where did you guys want it?" Edrick was already formulating plans for the food storage though. It would be best to split the city up into 8 quadrants and split the food evenly up between them, giving an equal share of each type of necessary food. There should also be at least one barrel of water inside ad at least 4 around each storage area. Yeah, that should work nicely as long as the whole town didn't burn down. peaking of defending the city, where was Kenshin? Wasn't this his city? Shouldn't he be actively helping? Maybe he was off helping in some other way.
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Post by Aegis Hawk on May 7, 2014 22:20:04 GMT -6
Aegis had given a small nod toward the new arrival who had quickly got to work. He understood the importance of the defense firstly. That was good. When the strange-voice man spoke, however, it was clear something was wrong before the voice returned to normal, drawing Aegis' gaze with a raised brow as she spoke of experience with building walkways.
"You have experience? Well, go ahead and lead the effort, then. I'll take one of the men, but the rest will help you with that."
If one was going to ask what he needed that man for, it was quickly answered as he yelled over to the recently-arrived stranger.
"You come on and help me. We're going to start packing and placing the stone in front of the palisade. It's not much compared to a well-built, well-bonded wall, but the wood will be able to support it and the stone to block any projectiles and heat thrown at it."
The young Hero moved over toward the wagon that had brought stone, two men nearby quickly moving to start unbinding the many blocks. As the ropes fell free, Aegis climbed up the side-bar of the wagon to pull one of them free, cursing under his breath as it threatened to bring him toppling briefly. They were heavy to a degree, but they would be strong. Lowering to the ground with one arm, the other tightly held the stone with a bit of strain. Once on the ground, however, he removed much of that strain as he added the other arm to his strength and moved toward the wall. The gateways were barren without their iron gates, the wooden ones ready in-case of an emergency by now, but with all luck the iron gates would be finished and put in place. With a grunt, he lowered to place the stone, looking to the wall. Soon enough, the digging crews would finish and rush to the surface to aid them, but for now they'd just have to work as quick and as thoroughly as possible.
The other two recently-active workers placed their stones against the wall down from him. There was plenty of wall to see to before it was formidable...
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Post by Valcrist on May 8, 2014 0:25:02 GMT -6
There was a steady rhythm to the pounding of metal on metal, hammer pounding and smashing into iron to work the heated metal into a new shape. All the smiths moved at their own pace, causing the sound to be more akin to a cacophony of noise rather than some sort of synchronized ballet, but it was still a soothing sound to those who have grown to love it. It was the sound of work, progress, like a sort of chaotic dance that was frenetic and full of energy but still somehow restrained and composed. Valcrist was by no means excluded from this as he worked his own special brand of magic. The steel and iron being willed into shape with the power of human spirit, blacksmiths were fascinating in that way. Of course he was raised into it, but the fact he found it so interesting was a plus, though maybe he was raised into that as well.
He wiped his brow that beaded with sweat, the heat of the forge was something he's long grown used to but was still quite tiring. They used to do their smithing in the evening and night back home, the heat of the day made it hard to stand that the blazing kiln only made things worse. The cool evening air and the frigid night made for much better times to be standing in front of the blazing flame, he always felt like he did his best smithing at night as a result. Of course he was confident in his work during the day as well, but there was just something inside his mind that reached back from when he was a child that just told him that smithing at the night was simply better. He realized it was silly, but there were just some childish things so deeply ingrained that even when you know better you simply cannot stop. A lie that you know is false, but you believe in all the same. Clearly everyone felt this way about something in their life.
He had told the smiths that their were to prioritize the fortifications, until the iron and steel arrive of course. Bindings in particular, as so handed down to them from the oh so benevolent gods above who lead this project. He was kidding of course, he didn't envy those who were tasked with being in charge, but he couldn't resist poking a little fun. Everyone was so deathly serious, and it made sense since this was a serious situation, and if he had been a part of this a year ago he'd probably feel the same. Since then he's realized that you can be as serious and brooding and tense as you want, it doesn't change what's to come or what has happened, and you only make yourself miserable for the time being. As long as they got the same amount of work done, it should be something they do with a smile then a frown. So he did, he had an easygoing grin on his face as he struck at the iron. Many of these people may die... they should at least be happy in the time they have left.
He heard someone say his name and he turned his head while still working on his smithing. It was some guy that was kinda familiar, but he couldn't place where. The face was familiar, and it struck the swordsman as 'important' for whatever reason, but he couldn't quite remember why it was as such. Something something something. Damnit, now this was gonna bother him all day. "Oh hey.... you." Valcrist vaguely danced around the topic. "The iron's in? That's great. I was on my last bit." He wasn't, but he could see the bottom of that barrel and he prefered not to have to scrape it. It would suck having to meltdown things just to have enough metal. Something proposed but thankfully unnecessary. The man asked where it should go and Valcrist's first thought was 'Why you asking me?' then he realized that with his recent appearance at the behest of the smiths that he was now designated 'head' of them and he groaned. Of course, that's why the other 'head' decided to not do it. Shirking it onto Val. Oh well, he wouldn't crumple with a little responsibility, right?
"Split it up evenly and distribute it among the smiths. Get some of the other workers and assistants to help you carry it, metal's kind of heavy. It's best if we don't disrupt the others smiths. Any time wasted could be the difference between finishing that gate or just barely missing out on it. There's plenty of people who are unable or unwilling to help the construction of the wall that could still lend their a hand." Valcrist offered his insight on things. Most people still worked on the pallisade, but there a few people skulking about that Aegis had told him to kick in the rear. The smithing team had a few extra hands who helped the smiths with their work to begin with. Valcrist knew smithing and being in the 'zone' and it was best if they tried their best to keep from disrupting them as much as possible. An interruption can break the focus and cause a delay in continuing their project. Case in point, Valcrist was distracted from what he was doing to begin with as some point along the line he sat his hammer down and turned to the cloaked man with crossed arms. Darn it.
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Edrick
Shaman
Even in darkness one can devote themself to the light.
Posts: 114
Sacae Fame: 1
Profession: Jack of all Trades
Affinity: Light
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Post by Edrick on May 9, 2014 18:38:34 GMT -6
"Ok, thanks, I'll let you get back to work now."Edrick counted out the number of smiths and made a rough estimation of the exact amount of iron to be had. He told the workers about how much should be given to each smith and to do it WITHOUT distracting them. Everything was important to get done, especially when they were pressed for time like so. Edrick himself began distributing the iron making sure that every one's barrels were filled perfectly even. As they distributed the iron there was some left over. So Edrick and the other workers went on another round filling the Blacksmiths' capacities the rest of they ways and that emptied the wagon. Once they finished he sent the workers back to Aegis and finished the details on his food storage plan.
Once he was done with his plans, he went to go fill them out. But he realized that it might take a while alone, so he grabbed people that were meandering about the area doing nothing. "Okay, you guys start loading the food into other sections marked here. You guys go out and get water to put into barrels to set around the food supply, food is a necessary part of any siege so we can't let these supplies fall." After giving the ragtag group of workers their orders he went out to help gather water as it was pretty hard to mess up the simple orders of splitting up the food. The water division hauled barrel after barrel of water into the town, filling the places around the food stores until they each had an ample supply of water to rely upon. But they didn't stop there they also got enough water for the buildings around the food storage just in case one of them caught fire. After getting the extra water and leaving the water team to get more, he went and checked on the food storage, it was exactly the way he told them to do it. They may have been layabouts, but they took pride in their work. With the food storage done, he iron delivered and more water coming in he might as well go see what else there was for him to do.
He walked all the way back to Aegis and asked. "The food storage is done, the iron is delivered and there is even more water coming in. What else do you need me to do?"
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