Woodworking Project (SEE BELOW) [24.12.1164]

[kendrall]

((Dramatis Personae: ALL))

Sharding woodrot!

M'riel should have known the wood he was using was prone to "dry-rot", and the cold snap the Weyr was going through didn't help matters, either. He'd been spending as much time as he could lately on his latest project, the boat he had been working on, and now he had to start all over again. Fortunately for him, there had been a brief interlude in between some of the more powerful winter storms, and a fresh supply boat had dropped off some badly needed goods for Izuko. Among those goods was enough oak wood to build the sister ship to said supply boat, the proper materials to complete said boat, and enough whisky from Benden that it could easily drown a man's sorrows for several sevendays. All of those items were meant for the Weyrleader, and M'riel had never been happier in his life. Well, other than the day he'd Impressed to Oreath...or was it the day Josiath had chosen Oreath as her mate? Or...

Ah, the shell with it. All he knew was it was about time he was able to start over on that boat project of his.

Once all of the supplies had been delivered and placed into the lower cavern where he first started, he wondered idly if anyone would be willing to come and help him. Granted, he hadn't exactly been the perfect example of a Weyrleader, and he was still viewed with some uncertainty by some of the others under his leadership. Well, it was time to change all that. It was time to invoke one of his favorite rules: Always work together as a team.

He took a sip of whisky from his favorite glass tumbler, then set it down on the table in front of him. M'riel turned to the side, and with his planing tool, he began to straighten and smooth out the rough-looking piece of oak.

Oreath, do me a favor?

Yes, Mine? the Bronze asked his bonded.

Team-building time. We're going to make the largest ship this Weyr has ever seen and put to sea. Spread the word that any able-bodied person is welcome to come help.

If Oreath could smile like a Pernese, he would. He loved team exercises. Mine is down in the lower caverns, and is calling for a team project! The Bronze spread the news to the other Dragons, Whers, and firelizards within the entire Weyr.

Back within the lower cavern, M'riel smiled for a moment, then resumed his work.

((TAG: Any former Raider, any Future Rider, any WherHandler; R'bao, Mac, K'ryn))

[sorra]

K'ryn shivered a bit as he sat hunched at his desk trying to help Ardalae catch up on some things. He felt like lately he couldn't get warm with how the weather was. It was insanely cold and it seemed like the snow was never going to stop. He got up to stoke the fire more as he glanced over to where Ardalae was sitting.

Zarepheth was curled up with Fraith. The bronze refused to leave her side and acted like he had won her flight which wasn't true. The bronze's tail flicked at Oreath's words. Mine, Oreath's wishes to do a team project, he informed his rider.

K'ryn looked up in surprise at those words. Well, he was Weyrleader. He couldn't really ignore the summons. I'll be right there, he told his bronze. He then turned to his mate. "Arda, apparently M'riel is doing a team building project. Zar just let me know, so I'm going to go down. I'll help with the hides more once I get back."

He had no idea what he was getting himself into as he grabbed a heavy jacket and trudged into the colder part of the Weyr, heading down to where he assumed M'riel was. It was the most common place to find the Weyrleader anyhow.

[Katlyn]

Arda pulled a blanket close around her as she continued working on hides while K'ryn stoked the fire. Her gold burrowed up against Zarepheth against the cold, just as Copper curled up and hid under the blanket she had wrapped around her. Both Fraith and Copper caught the message, the gold passing it on to her rider just as K'ryn told her where he was going. "Wait up!" she called just as he left, leaping up from where she was to grab the thick overcoat she had gotten to wear over top of her dresses. She threw that on before she took off after him. Once she caught up, her arm wrapped up around his and she said, "I'd like to come too, you know." Besides, which was more enjoyable? Hide work, or some kind of team building project? Though she didn't know if she'd be able to help with that.

~~~

Vatanith's head shot up as Oreath sent out the message. The green grumbled softly, before passing it on to her rider, who had been getting bundled up tight to do a short run around the Weyr's normally unoccuped passage-ways. Since they'd been told to stay in as much as was physically possible, it was the only way for Zahal to burn off the steam. The greenrider rolled her eyes, Vatanith already asking what she knew Hers would want to know. ((Do we have to come?)) the green asked of the Weyrleader's bronze.

~~~

Salmalinth didn't hesitate to pass the message onto his rider. Il'ran blinked some, though in the end he wasn't exactly surprised by the message. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he headed to the lower caverns without so much of a word of response. If M'riel wanted to do some sort of team-project, then he knew they would all get pulled in at some point. Might as well go without a fuss.

[fireflash]

Tish was in her room putting away some clean clothes that she had finally persuaded to dry and was just about to sit down to darn some holes when a chorus of dragon voices echoed through her mind. Since the gold flight with all its intense emotions, sensations and dragon cries, the chatter of the dragons these days seemed less intrusive. In fact she was beginning to recognize some of the dragons voices. A small smile crossed her lips as she listen to the message get passed from one dragon to the other, it was like Chinese whispers, the message altering slightly with each retelling. She wondered who would be going along at M'riel's request; it struck her that he was a man that didn't do something without good reason. Her curiosity peaked she put down her sewing and went to find another jumper whilst searching for Oreath's consciousness in her mind, Oreath I have a favour to ask, do you think you could direct me to M'riel, I'd like to take part in this project but I think I'd get lost trying to get there! She was still learning her way around and it wouldn't be the first time she had taken a path thinking it went one way and finding it went somewhere totally different. Well she did suppose it was one way of getting to see the weyr, but she'd rather not get lost on route this time. Plus this was a great opportunity to meet some more people.

[kitllwynog]

Realtath rolled over on his ledge and looked at N'reus with slow whirling eyes. He had recovered quickly from the loss in the Flight, he didn't really want to be Weyrleader after all, and was now reading a book while his dragon napped. Sensing the bronze's gaze upon him, he looked up from the book.

Oreath's has a project he wants everyone's help on. You should go. I think it involves a ship.

N'reus raised his eyebrows. A ship? In the middle of winter? Well, where are they? Sailing was not a good idea in this weather, but N'reus had to admit he was curious. Although he loved his dragon dearly, he missed the sea.

In the lower caverns it seems.

With a slight sigh for the interruption of his peaceful day, N'reus made his way there. It took him a few minutes to find M'riel and the others but finally he popped his head into the room.

"Weyrleader, I heard you were looking for some help?"

[Mik]

<Tag Taenia>

Duncanth relayed Oreath’s words to his Rider who was currently mulling over the previous day’s events. The lower caverns? M’riel sure did spend a lot of time there as of late. With a sigh, the brownrider looked at his dragon before looking at his weyrmate. “Tae, ya’ wanna see what M’riel’s up to in the lower caverns? If not, I’ll go alone an’ tell ya’ later ‘bout it,” he said softly to the Dragonless woman.
~~~

<Tag Oreath>

R’bao heard the relay from his blue about M’riel’s plans. Didn’t that man ever rest? Besides, he had the day off from Duties. Well, he supposed he could at least see what was going on. [[Ask Oreath if I have to be there. I’m spending time with my kids today,]] the Searchrider asked of his blue.

Serguth rumbled his compliance for his Rider and relayed to Oreath what had been asked of him. {{Oreath, Mine asks if he has to be there. Mine is with his Littles right now.}}
~~~

<Tag M’riel>

Sanresk yawned after Oreath’s words. It was not time yet to wake his Handler up, but when the Weyrleader asked of things, he usually relayed the message. Moving over to his Handler’s bed, the brown nudged the man’s side hard. {{Wake up, Sanresk’s. Oreath’s calls all to lower cavern for team project,}} the brown told his Handler.

Sanrev rolled over, displacing Neek from his stomach onto the cot that was his bed. While Neek yawned and began to stretch to stir his sleep-adled body, his Pet was in a far less than amused state of mind when he saw the candle saying that he still had a few marks of rest to go. “Oreath?” he questioned his wher, getting quick confirmation of his less-than-pleasantly stated inquiry. The Guard rubbed his face to wake himself before moving through the paces of getting ready for the night. M’riel was going to get a piece of his mind for waking him for a team project. Why did he need to be present for this?

Moments later, man, wher, and firelizard worked their way through the lower caverns to find their Weyrleader, the Guard giving the few already present curt nods of greeting, his feline green eyes singling out M’riel. “Just why do I need to be up early for this, Weyrleader,” he grumbled at M’riel, looking at the man’s current task. Wasn’t he supposed to be on light duty or something?
~~~

Tsunath annoyingly relayed Oreath’s words to her Rider. Kolteya sighed and put down her quill on the current task she was on about checking supply reports from the various areas about the Weyr. Well, perhaps this was a break she needed. Looking at her golden grouch, she gave the huge dragon a smile. “Don’t bite Cantath’s head off while I’m gone, okay?” she asked of her lifemate, knowing that the poor bronze was trying to spend time with his mate quite often in this chilly weather. Her words were met with a rumble of displeasure, but a stiff, {{Fine,}} of compliance.

Kolteya made her way down to the lower caverns and searched around for M’riel’s location, finally finding him shortly after bumping into her sister. Apparently the man had called everyone to be here. How that might work, she was quite uncertain.

“I think he’s in here,” Telybug said with a smile, glad to be in the company of her sister without her stroppy golden counterpart.
~~~

[Mik]

Kendrall:

M'riel waited as several people started to file in. A few people complained, but once the din started to die down he finally spoke. "I know that we haven't exactly gotten off on the right foot," he said to the assembled group. "And tensions have been rather high as of late, thanks to the unseasonably cold weather we've been experiencing lately. Which is why I've decided to call each of you down here." He pointed to the pieces of wood behind him. "The group of Traders that came with that last supply boat dropped off a sizable pile of oak wood. One thing that I've learned over the Turns is that when working with wood, it forces you to slow down and focus lest you pick up a few slivers. But I can't build this boat on my own, otherwise I'll be here for the next two to three Turns. I'd like some help in building this thing, so by the time she's ready to be put to sea all of us can take pride in watching her challenge the waves."
---

Sorra:

K'ryn heard his mate's voice and quickly slowed up to wait for her. He hadn't thought about her wanting to go with him. "I apologize, love," he smiled, kissing her brow while wrapping an arm around her waist. "I hadn't even thought to ask. You know I enjoy your company though." He walked with her down to where M'riel was waiting. The bronze rider made a slight face as M'riel explained the exercise. "Hmm, this could be a real challenge," he whispered to Arda. Building a boat certainly wasn't everyone's cup of klah.