22.13-Ill-Met Aid at Keroon ((OPEN))

[Mik]

Having been on a supply raid, the small party of Izuko’s Riders that had been out had also heard of Thread falling from the more hospitable Caravan than usual. It was while conversing about this news with the Caravan’s Leader that a firelizard brought a disastrous message of Keroon’s fate and so it was, that the supply raid turned hospitable tithe had been cut short and the Riders returned to their Island haven quickly to inform the Leadership.

Since Keroon had been on the borderline of friend or foe of the remaining dragonriders, the disaster was met quickly, but unfortunately, not quickly enough. By the time that Fire Dancer’s Wing appeared above the BeastHold (the other two Wings waiting for firelizard message to come or not back at Izuko Island Weyr), there were patches of barren land and a foul odor trailing from dead beasts or folk strewn about the area. Patches of barren land were growing as Thread burrowed beneath them, leaving trees to wilt and fall from a lack of rooting.

As the deadly silver strands had already finished falling, the dragons were on the ground, helping to flame out burrows to kill off the Thread that ate away at the lush plains. A few Riders provided aid when they could to folk that had been touched by the writhing slime, but by the time all was settled, barely a third of the Hold’s beasts remained alive. The Holdfolk fared a little better as almost three-quarters of their population had survived, but feelings were mixed about whether to harm their aids or to thank them as old lore spoke of promptness of Riders flaming Thread from Pern’s skies…

((ooc: Any member of Fire Dancers may respond to this one as well as any associated NPCs of Keroon Hold. I believe M’riel might be on light duty by this time, so Kendrall, you’re free to have him there. I’ll adjust the Wings by day’s end to reflect such…

Fire Dancers Wing:
Wingleader - Weyrleader M'riel on Bronze Oreath (light duty)
Wingsecond - L'ret on Bronze Rislockith (Part-time Wingleader)
Wingthird - L'ar on Bronze Allopath
Riders:
D'ar on Bronze Zeranth
B'gran on Brown Shocoth
V'dan on Brown Antormth
T'res on Brown Volcanth
F'gan on Brown (future)
H'ro on Blue Firacketh
D'nen on Blue Tonneth
I'yes on Blue Seeth (1st FlightLeader)
N'ean on Blue Canorth (f)
S'ov on Blue Oibnith
Tr'vin on Blue Oodath
Diranon on Blue Storth (m)
*Rider* on Unnamed Blue (Future)
*Rider* on Unnamed Blue (Future)
Hotaru on Green Astirth
Kliri on Green Dewlith
Katleya on Green Centreth
Laliy on Green Hebertinth
Kikikaa on Green Peronith (2nd FlightLeader)
P'ord on Green Zinauth
Luna on Green Clioth
Rizzie on Green Rmaith
R'en on Green Arieth
*Rider* on Unnamed Green (Idoreth's)

Temporarily moved to Golden Falls - Tia’ar on Brown Nadoth))

[goldenauthanth]

Nothing could have prepared L'ar for the sight that greeted him as he blinked out of between with the rest of his wing mates from Fire Dancers. Depite the verbal warning they had all been given, L'ar's mind hadn't even been closed to imagining the scene that lay below him, a sight that he felt would stay burned in his retina's for eternity. His point from bronze Allodath's back gave him more than a good enough vantage point to see the full scale of the distruction, and even from the height he was, he could still hear the wailing, screaming and crying of the injured below.. and smell the stench of the dead.

It was a sight that he did not wish to continue to stare at, but at the same time could not tare his eyes away from it.. no matter how much training, briefing, ballads he had listened too, nothing really could describe just how distructive this acient menance really was.. in truth, L'ar was a little shell shocked.

Its terrible he spoke to the bronze beneath him, whilst they awaited signal from their wingleader to descend. Looking over the once thriving hold beneath him with sad sad eyes..

[sorra]

Centreth popped out of between with her wing. No one knew what to expect and it seemed like no one was prepared for the sight that was waiting for them. Katleya gasped and covered her mouth as tears slid down her cheeks. The wails and screams were too much. She closed her eyes tightly, not able to handle it. The screams brought back too many memories and she started to shake.

The green carefully landed with her wing and turned her head to croon at her rider. She could sense her rider's distress but didn't know how to help. Katleya tried to get herself under control. She didn't know what she was going to need to do, but falling apart was not going to help these people.

[goldenauthanth]

Even Rizzie, usually known for her lack of tact and friendly words kept her mouth quiet as her green landed beside Centreth. She herself couldn't even come to believe the sight that had greeted them frlm between.. her desire had been to turn and flee, but she knew better then that.. they were dragonrider, and even if she felt holderd deserved all they got after that terrible treatment of dragonriders, she knew that this.. this devouring thread was their duty.. pern needed to unite in order to survive.

{Mine asks if she should go get more healers?} Rmaith asked Oreath. Rizzie had never been good with healing, or bedside manners.. plus there were so many injured and dead that perhaps extra healers maybe a good shout..

-----

people reacted in different ways, L'ar thought as he surveyed those Keroonians around them. The dead looked like something from a scary story.. like they had died painful horrible deaths and those left behind either sat or stood screaming at their injuries or simply curled up with their knees against their chests in some type of trance like state.. somethjng the bronzerider thought was down to shock.

Parents cradled remains of what he could only assume was their children - belt buckles, remains of dead.. or those lucky enough to have survived tried helping with injries..

...but the kne thing L'ar noticed most. No one paid any heed to the dragonriders..

Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards

[kendrall]

R'en was one of the first Riders to dismount, the field medic rushing towards the injured as soon as Arieth landed and crooned worriedly. He didn't wait for M'riel to start issuing his orders as the others started to flame the burrows. The Weyrleader was temporarily in charge of the Fire Dancers Wing, but then again the decision had been made not to send out everyone as there was no way of knowing the full extent of the damage caused by the Thread. His mind went back to the discussion he had with Il'ran some time back, and then that night where every single Dragon, Wher, and firelizard had displayed unusual behavior. M'riel knew deep down in his gut that the only plausible explanation was an early return of Threadfall, but nearly everyone had dismissed his "intution" simply because he had no way of backing up his argument. Some of the Riders, he knew, would call this a coincidence, but M'riel never believed in coincidence. Regardless, everyone now had a job to do. It was time to ramp up the training, time to increase the frequency of Searches, and it was high time to get with Aquila to see if she could invent a new type of mechanical device to make it easier to deal with the burrows. Burning them was one thing with dragons, but it used up precious firestone. Surely there had to be a more effective means, and the Weyrleader vowed to get Aquila and Il'ran started on a massive research project to discover how those means could be achieved.

M'riel took a long wooden stick and poked a large hole in the top of one particular burrow, then tossed a firestone at Oreath whom caught it expertly. The giant Bronze drew in a deep breath through his nostrils before opening his mouth, and a narrow stream of flame shot forth into the hole his Rider had made. Within moments smoke bellowed from the opening, followed by a nasty stench. M'riel wrinkled his nose and tried to bury it under the collar of his tunic, then looked over at Oreath when the Bronze passed on the message about getting more Healers. The Weyrleader glanced over at Rizzie, then turned his head in a different direction and brought a free hand up to the corner of his mouth to help amplify his voice. "I'yes! Take Rizzie with you and get back to the Weyr. Tell 'em we need more Healers, but make it fast."

~~~~

R'en was busy tending to one particular young child, probably no more than three or four Turns of age. The little girl had suffered some pretty severe injuries after coming in contact with Thread, and her mother was hysterical. She wasn't sure about what to make of the brown-haired, tanned, athletic-looking man with a satchel slung across his chest; nor did the woman know what to think about the sudden appearance of the large reptilian beasts that shot flames from their mouths, but once R'en explained he was a trained field medic and was only there to help did the woman reluctantly agree to let him touch her child.

[goldenauthanth]

"Get away from her!" Came the angry shout of a man, a large burley man with bright red hair, freckles speckled across his cheeks. He looked no more than his mid 20's and had somehow managed to miss the worse of the injuries from the threadfall. The man was shouting at R'en. "This is your fault.. " He hissed advancing on the green rider. "Where were you all!?" His crazed shouting continued, many other holders milling around starting to share the same ideas... it could seen on their faces, they were looking for someone to blame.. and that someone.. they were dragonriders.

[sorra]

Katleya heard the crazed cry and spun around. She had heard that type of cry before. Although it had been coming from her own lips before. She rushed over to where R'en was helping a little girl her green watching her in confusion. "No, he's only trying to help!" Katleya cried, getting between R'en and the angry man. She could only imagine how upset these people were. And they had every right to be. They had lost so much and so many lives.

[kendrall]

R'en looked up at the man whom was advancing on him, shouting accusations in his direction, and the field medic rose to his feet. He was ready to defend himself if need be, and his patient was in need of medical attention. Katleya, Faranth bless her, was trying to interpose herself between her fellow Rider and the commoner coming at him. R'en tapped his knots. "Field medic," he said, trying to maintain some semblance of calm. "Is this your daughter? If so, she needs medical attention. And right now there are so few of us here to tend to the wounded." He then turned in the direction of M'riel. "Boss! We have one that we'll have to take back with us. I can stabilize her, but unless we get her to our Master Healer it'll only prolong her suffering."

M'riel turned around to see who was shouting at him, and he grimaced at the scene unfolding. Many of the holdfolk were now starting to question why these individuals - these *dragonmen* - took so long in getting to them. One individual, probably the same age as M'riel's father if he were still around, walked up to the Weyrleader. He gave M'riel a shove, and the Weyrleader stumbled back a few steps until he could regain his balance. Oreath started to growl menacingly, but a quick rebuke silenced the Bronze. "Tidrick's right," the older man said. "Had you arrived sooner, you could have saved us from this threat. And now look at us. LOOK!" He tried to forcefully grab M'riel's chin, but the former Guardsman stood his ground and pushed the hand aside. "I'm aware of your loss, sir," M'riel brushed off the imaginary dust and straightened his tunic before looking the man in the eye. The familiar unflinching gaze and stone features on his face immediately took hold, and again M'riel could easily picture himself in his old sergeant major's uniform. The sudden shift in appearance and the edge in the Weyrleader's voice caught the old man off guard slightly, and he took one step back. M'riel continued. "We suspected Thread would return to Pern, but had no knowledge of where or when. The least we can do for you is to burn these burrows and tend to your wounded. Once these burrows are gone," he pointed to the ground. "It will take some time for the ground to recover before you can plant seeds again, and before any Trading caravan can pass through here. Once your wounded is taken care of and can be nursed back to health," he shoved his finger at the casualties, "they can help in the replanting efforts."

The old man took a moment, then his coldness returned. "I wouldn't be here when His Lordship arrives, dragonman," he warned M'riel, then spun on his heel and started to walk away. He paused for a moment and spoke to the flame-haired large man, pointing at the little girl and at R'en, then strode off. M'riel shook his head, then proceeded to walk to another burrow and poked a hole in it. "Flame this one, Oreath," he said, wondering if there was an easier means to get through this ordeal. But he didn't quite realize his wish would be granted. He heard a tinkering sound, as if metal was clattering, and the Weyrhealer turned to look for the source of the sound. There. A portable canister with a pump at one end, connected to a hose and some type of spray nozzle. A couple of the holdfolk were struggling to carry it, and trying to figure out how to use it. Clearly, it was a two-man operation.

M'riel half-wondered if it was an agenothree sprayer, and if it was still in working condition. If so, just how many did this Hold have available to them?

[kendrall]

((OOC - Posting again to keep this sub-plot going. Apologies in advance if I posted ahead of anyone.))

Oreath did as he was told, chewing on the firestone before taking in a deep breath and exhaled through his mouth. Again, a narrow flame shot forth and through the hole, burning the burrow and leaving behind the familiar stench. While the Bronze was busy flaming the burrow, his Rider again took stock of the canister. There were at least a half-dozen or more of them out now, but it was clear that none of the handlers knew how to properly operate them. They just had to be agenothree sprayers; or, at least that's what M'riel was thinking. "You there!" he shouted to one pair of holdfolk in particular, and they both looked at him. "Is that what I think it is?" M'riel called, pointing at the sprayer. "We were told that we could use these, but we don't know what they are or how to use them," the brown-haired one called back. M'riel jogged over to take a closer look. The canister itself was roughly half his height, and about a third of his weight. On top was a pump-type handle, and there was a valve to which a hose was connected. On the opposite end of the hose was the spray nozzle.

It just had to be an agenothree sprayer.

"How many of these do you have?" M'riel asked the brown-haired man and his partner, and the two holdfolk looked at each other before answering his question. "We have at least six of them, sir," the brown-haired man replied, unsure if he should even be talking to the dragonman. M'riel nodded. "If I showed you how to use these, could I take one back with me after we're finished here?" It was worth asking, anyway. Both holdfolk looked at each other, then the brown-haired man looked at M'riel again. "Well...His Lordship probably wouldn't..."

"...I'll be sure to apologize very sweetly to His Lordship," M'riel said, waving two of his fingers in a "follow-me" gesture at the pair. The three of them walked over to a burrow, and the Weyrleader poked a hole in the ground with his stick before nodding at them. "You," he said to the flaxen-haired fellow, "Start priming the pump. About ten or twelve times should do the trick." Once the flaxen-hair man started with the pump action, M'riel pointed to the brown-haired man who answered him originally. "After he primes the pump, aim the spray nozzle directly at the hole, then squeeze the trigger. Hold it down for about a minute or two. That should be enough to kill the Thread that's in this burrow."

[sorra]

Katleya stayed beside R'en, not about to let anyone hurt the Healer or the young child. This was insane! They were only trying to help. She still couldn't believe how much had changed and how the Holders didn't appreciate the riders at all. Her father had always trusted the riders, hence why she was a rider now, but it was obvious that not everyone felt the same as her father.

The green rider looked around at the land. Shards, was there anything left? She wasn't so sure. As soon as she was sure that R'en didn't need her help for anything she would have Centreth searching for burrows as well. "How can I help, R'en?" she asked, keeping a close eye on the very angry man.

[goldenauthanth]

"Get away!" The crazed man continued to shout advancing towards R'en and now Katleya. Anger dancing in his eyes as he walked forward. His jaw tense from his emotions, just what would the guy do when he came within touching distance? His anger only seemed to worsen when the field medic mentioned that they were taking his daughter somewhere. "No!" He cried, "No, you cannot take her.. i forbid it." She was all he had left, and he would be dammed if he was going to let some dragonriding-wherry headed- scumbag take her from him..

[Mik]

Mik:

L’ret caught his breath when he surveyed what lie below them when he emerged from Between over the ravaged Hold. The young GlassSmith had never seen anything like it and wished that he would never see it again. Was this what Thread did? He recalled old lores and ballads of it and even Pip referenced some ancient memory that firelizards could manage of a sight very similar to what they were currently looking at. This was an unfought Fall according to those old images from the little blue. Something that L’ret wished that he could Time back and prevent somehow.
~~~
I’yes looked on in horror when he saw what lie below them. Seeth’s emotions were different though. His eyes whirled red and orange as instinct said that he should have been able to help with this mess. {{I want some stone, Mine,}} the blue stated matterof-factly. He knew that he could help stop these stretches of land that were still becoming barren and tainted by his ancient foe beneath.

Shortly after landing and Seeth already growling about at the burrows flaming, I’yes heard M’riel call his name and looked up at the bronzerider as his blue took care of a writhing mass that had consumed a beast nearly to it’s bones. “Yes, sir!” he called in return, looking for Rizzie as he went to Seeth and mounted up quickly. “Let’s get some Healers, Seeth,” the Rider said to his dragon as Seeth belched one more irritated bout of flame at the mass to make sure it was turned to ash.

{{Yes, Mine,}} the blue said, soon after taking wing and following Rizzie and Rmaith high enough to Between safely back to the Weyr.

Back at the Weyr

Seeth emerged from Between with another snort of anger. He wanted to be demolishing those burrows, not coming back for Healers to go to Keroon. After landing, I’yes headed for the Infirmary at the chasm floor while Rizzie headed for the Plateau Infirmary. Bursting within, I’yes grabbed the nearest Healer he could and told of the fate of Keroon. “We need Healers at Keroon. Thread’s returned.”

Soon, both Infirmaries would be a rush of movement as available Healers headed out for dragons to transport them to Keroon, Macira among them since her mother was helping with a child birth that was not going very well. Word spread quickly throughout the Weyr and Riders with Healing experience also answered the call, grabbing supplies from the Infirmaries to take with them.
~~~
Kikikaa took in a breath at the sight before her, Trouble and Treasure hissing while Peronith showed a defensive side that she had only shown that dreaded day that her colliding with Seeth had caused Authanth to Time Between on them in trying to save them that day.

Seeing a scene unfold around a young girl, the greenrider tried to help her fellow Riders against the man should he attack them. After all, she had learned the basics of defense and offense at a young enough age from her brothers and a life revolving around beasts had toned her muscles before she Impressed to Peronith. “Sir, we’re only trying to help. Do you have a MasterHealer here?” she inquired of the angered man over the wailing girl, voice steady and firm. She knew the answer already as things could not have changed much since they had left Igen on who was stationed where.
~~~
---

Taenia:

The trip back to the weyr to collect healers gave Rizzie a chance to think clearing on what had happened, it had been hard to concentrate on anything there, what with the constant noise of the hurt, the smell of death, and the chard burrows that the dragons had slowly been getting around to. Anyone able to help were out to her an Rmaith within a heartbeat and Rizzie soon found herself and I'yes back at the disaster site, as if they had never been away. "Touch down there, Rmaith" Rizzie said, picturing a field with a lot of what looked like injured people, with a big enough space for the green to land without actively hurting anyone with the backdraft of her landing procedure. A couple of other dragons followed suit each bringing with them as much help as they could. Ok, so perhaps M'riel hadn't wanted that many people to attend Keroon, but once word had gotton out there were very few riders who would happily stay behind. The general feeling of guilty was shared among riders.
------
Anger turned to tears as the guy continued to beg for R'en not to take his daughter with him. "please.. " He moaned. "She is all I have left, you can't take her... I..." His words were becoming quieter as he was starting to feel defeated. They would take his daughter.. and he'd never see her again, that's what people always said.. wasn't it? The riders were thieves that stole your children?
-----
"Flame here Allodath" L'ar said to his bronze following M'riel's lead in trying to trying to kill of the growing thread burrows. Opening one of the holes carefully towards the live burrow, L'ar tried to make room for the bronze's flame to get a purchase on the thread, feeling slightly sick when he saw it writhing around in the grounds below him. "Flame it now!" He urged feeling discusted and a little fearful of the nasty stuff. The bronze didn't need telling twice a he opened his mouth and flamed a direct hit onto the menace. L'ar could feel the satisfaction from his bronze as the dragon killed the thread. This is much better than drills the dragon replied almost in a happy tone, and whilst L'ar disagreed he could understand his dragons point, but decided not to answer.
---

Sorra:

Katleya's heart broke at the man's sobs over his daughter. "Sir, we do not want to take her from you. We just want to help her. She is injured. You may come with us if it will make you feel better." How had people gotten the idea that riders were so bad? They would never just steal people. Besides, the dragons chose who they wanted to. People had no say in that.

[Mik]

Mik:

Seeth touched down nearby Rmaith to let off his Rider and their two passengers. The two Healers were quick to head off toward some of the injured folk that had survived Thread’s attacks. I’yes, unable to help others, moved off with stone and Seeth to try to find burrows to exstinguish. This was going to be a rough day for sure.
~~~
Kikikaa watched as Healers began to move out to injured cases, some stopping and shaking their heads at lost lives.
~~~
L’ret was already sick to his stomach after Rislockith flamed two burrows, having witnessed the remains of a person that had been struck by the silvery rain and not survived. Pip was busy with his nose to the ground, scratching at burrow holes and stealing stone from his Pet to flame the ugly stuff himself. The young bronzerider turned a sickly shade of green and turned away from a particularly mutilated corpse and upchucked the contents of his last meal before straightening up. Thread was some nasty stuff. Turning to walk passed the corpse, the former GlassSmith could not help but look at it again, realizing completely that it had been a child and turning away quickly to avoid another heave of his upset stomach only to face something he was not likely to forget anytime soon.

The Wingsecond saw what looked to be a fist before his world went dark briefly as he fell to the ground. Rislockith hissed and snaked his head over to his Rider in protection, Pip likewise darting for his Pet who found himself on his knees and staring at the corpse again with the aid of a grip on the hair on the top of his head as his helmet had been attached to his bronze’s straps. An angry voice cut through the haze as the young man’s vision began to clear.

“Look what you’ve done! She was nine! You are such a sorry excuse of the dragons of old!” a man shouted at L’ret before he was knocked to the ground by Rislockith’s head.

Suddenly released, L’ret landed on top of the young corpse and hurried to remove himself from some mushy body part that the Thread had left behind, his dragon’s furious snorting nearby with whirling red eyes. “I, I, I’m sorry, sir!” the young Rider managed to spit out as he skittered backwards until he was against the big bronze head of his dragon.

{{Are you alright, Mine?}} Rislockith asked as he glared at the man he had knocked over.

L’ret tried to brush off himself as he answered his bronze. “Yeah, I think so.” He was quite shaken up over what had just transpired, his offender getting to his feet and advancing toward him again with even more angered shouts at Rislockith, using every accusation on Pern at the dragon and his Rider.
~~~

((ooc: I figured we needed a very irate person at least))