[Sanctuary] We Can't Be Paralyzed By Fear (Open)

by **Kavala** on February 28th, 2012, 4:47 pm

Timestamp: 84th Winter, 511 AV - Late Evening
Location: Great Hall Underground
Purpose: Emergency Planning
Status: Open

She called the meeting quickly, as soon as the flags from Riverfall went up and they rode to see what the news was. There were flagpoles along the road, at all splits, so it was easy for people navigating the roads to get news from Riverfall quickly, even if they lived outside the gates.

And the news was dire.

Kavala had parchment, ink, and a whole lot of plans sitting on one of the tables. Her expression was neutral, cool, more introverted than extroverted as she planned out in her mind what needed to be done. She'd wait until all the staff had gathered, and then she'd let anyone who didn't already know what was going on.

"Nevar has heard news from Mura. There's to be a huge djed storm on the cusp of the Valterrian anniversary. Its likely to do tremendous damage and cause massive loss of life. We have less than ten days to get ready, get the animals to shelter, and move everything that's not nailed down into the Within. We need to prioritize, plan, and then we need to make sure we have enough food and supplies to see us through this event. I've already made arrangements with the miller and a few others in town for wagonloads of supplies because if we buy stock now they don't have to move it, and we'll have to get that first. But I have to decide besides flour, salt and sugar and levener what we need." Kavala paused, took a breath, then continued on.

"We also need to go hunt out the lands around Sanctuary as much as possible. Its highly likely that whatever is living above ground won't be or won't be the same afterwards. I know there's at least one good herd of deer that we can bring down, a lot of rabbits we can snare, and I think Raiha needs to go on a massive collecting spree because some raptors have already laid eggs in the area which won't survive the storm. But above that, what else needs to be done? We have less than eight days before this event happens. We need to be ready." Kavala said, looking around the room, her face determined to remain calm and to get things done.

She knew there was more, perhaps opening the Sea Cave to Riverfall horses or even cattle the city owned, but there was limited room so they'd have to plan carefully and not run out of food before it was safe for the animals to leave the shelter.

by **Kadrath Onktaka** on February 28th, 2012, 5:44 pm

Always of a practical mindset, Kadrath chimed in,

"Food, water, room and waste are the main things to consider in an emergency like this. We can definitely do some intensive hunting and gather what's needed, but we also need to include foraging for medicinal herbs because there will be injuries if the storm is as bad as they say it will be. There are also many horses that need hay and other grasses."

Not to be outdone by his brother, Uruk commented,

"Assigned space for everything should be planned first. Where the food will be stored, enough room for water, a place for the firewood and kindling, a big enough place for the waste of animals and staff, room for the raptor eggs we'll acquire, not to mention this is prime foaling season. We might bring down two dozen stallions and gravid mares and within a few days, have a fourth dozen in foals alone."

The large Akontak looked at Raiha for a moment, assessing her health and making sure the baby was still growing well. Although a small fraction of concern crossed Rath's features, it barely showed for more than half a chime.

"Maybe we should get some seaweed. Oh, and oats should be added to the list from the miller. They're consumable by both horses and us. Material like linens, towels, and cloths will be needed for the foaling, for regular hygiene and for sleeping on. How are the towers set up? Should we offer to take in some priests and priestesses too?"

He paused for a few chimes, trying to collect his thoughts and stay calm. But it wasn't easy.

"Gathering our necessities and stressing that we should only store what we need to survive is most important. After this thing blows over, we can make new items. Prioritize what tasks will take the most time or effort, designate enough room underground, and above all, save rest for during the storm. From the sound of these Konti, we don't have much time to prepare."

He moved closer to his lover to stand near her, but made no outward lavish displays of affection. Kadrath would rather be doing these things instead of standing around talking about it. The large man didn't like idleness, but he did know that efficient management was essential in times like these.

Fidens, Rock and Chain all milled around the pair of Akontak, stepping on each others paws with nervous pacing. The dogs growled low and continuously while Chain lashed her feline tail in agitation. The three were clearly unsettled, instinctively knowing that something big was on the verge of occurring.

(When Rath speaks and when Uruk speaks.)

by **Raiha** on February 28th, 2012, 7:52 pm

“When you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself,” Raiha said quietly, placing her hand on Kadrath’s back, trying to push some calmness at him. “It is from your estimate of it. This, you have the power to revoke at any moment you choose. The important thing is to remain calm. Seven days is plenty.” Even if it really wasn’t, they had to look at it that way. Was there a lot to be done? Yes. And they had plenty of bodies capable of doing the work. Diallo and Dara watched the agitation of Rath’s three from where they sat beside Raiha. Their alpha wasn’t concerned, and despite the fact that the hunting trio that worked with Rath was, they trusted Raiha to know what was going on and to look after them. That was what Alphas did.

There’s nothing to fear but fear itself. It’s not -that- big of a deal, Kanikra scoffed. Just keep your head on. If you can keep your head...

When all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you... She remembered well the advice she had given to Vanator. She nodded as Kavala mentioned going for the raptor eggs. She knew where to find those within half a day’s ride. “The only problem with gathering additional herbs is how long it’s going to take to do so. We have to leave the immediate area, same with hunting for eggs, and go for a long ride to get around the snow, and then come back. We’ve built up a good store this past autumn. Let’s get everything moved first and do an inventory of what we have and what we need. We won’t be able to move the larger animals until nearer to the end of the season.” That was just logic, after all. That would just be more work. “But we should, perhaps, diagram and see how much space we have,” she nodded at Kavala’s pages. “It’s one thing to see it in your mind, but quite another to see it on paper.” So far, Kavala and Rath had everything she could think of covered. The essentials.

“In order of importance, clinic, medical supplies, herbal stores, food stores, drinking water, laboratory. All of it will need to be labeled, else we’ll have everything down here and no idea where any of it is,” she smiled faintly. “Water is easy enough. We can pack snow in barrels, add a bit of boiling water to help it melt. That will solve that. Personal essentials. Extras depending on what room is left. As Rath said... there’s going to be a lot of foals, but that depends on how long we are going to be down here... we may be able to go topside again before we get too many of them. Did they say how long they predicted the storm would last?” Knowing an estimated time was going to be crucial to estimating how much they should allow for in terms of supplies. She was remarkably calm about all of this. If anything, Raiha had faith. Faith that they would get through this. Faith that it would be managed and taken care of, that they would all be settled down here before the storm would hit.

Faith was believing when it was beyond the power of reason to believe... and Raiha had faith.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on February 28th, 2012, 11:35 pm

He didn’t know what the flag system meant; he almost mistook them for decorations at first. But he didn’t think the Akalaks were one to decorate needlessly. No these flags had to serve a purpose. Kavala had ridden out to gather the news from the city proper while Serrif on the other hand took the opportunity to do other things. Maybe organize some of his thrown about things in the room he was leant. It wasn’t much but it felt like home…and feeling was enough for him right now. Even if staying wasn’t likely. But he had until the end of the season. Then it was off to Windreach to see what improvements they had made for medicine…if he wasn’t given a reason to stay.

But when Kavala returned, she seemed…quiet. As if she was planning thinking and measuring something that was unseen. Something far larger than herself. There was something afoot now; even if he didn’t know what. All this re-enforced by the fact that she was now laying out what seemed to be plans of some kind. He felt the need to be here so he waited for Kavala to say something…anything really that would clue him into what was going to happen next. She had news.

So she laid it all out, dire storms, death, and general chaos were heading right for them. And by the sounds of it nothing could stop them. There wasn’t a single thing in the entire world that could even postpone these storms. They would come. And now he would make himself an extra set of hands to help the Sanctuary. With a nod that he understood he wouldn’t voice an opinion unless directly spoken to. There wasn’t a reason to really. He wouldn’t take up time when they needed to make movements to prepare. He didn’t feel like he had been here long enough to be part of the staff officially. As far as he was concerned he was a hand to help. He would give them all he had and more to help them prepare because right now his future was tied in with theirs.

“Understood.” Were the only words that came from his mouth as he waited for Kavala to lay out what would happen when. He knew he would be participating in everything though. Because this Sanctuary felt like…well home. Close enough to a home as he had ever known. He didn’t want to feel like a laboring hand anymore.

Truth be told he couldn’t think of anything else to do. He had no idea how to prepare for an event like this because there was nothing he knew that could even put this in perspective for him. Djed storm? He had never heard rumors or even thoughts on this kind of an event. So he was blind. Completely blind to what could happen. All he knew was they had to prepare, or die unprepared. He wouldn’t be caught unprepared, and he knew neither would the staff. They would survive, they might not thrive but they would make it through. But only if they all chipped in completely over the next few days…Because ten days…that wasn’t much time; and they didn't even have that.

by **Nhara K'tari** on February 29th, 2012, 9:06 pm

Placeholder

by **D'Lena** on March 1st, 2012, 1:38 am

Placeholder.

by **Kavala** on March 13th, 2012, 4:52 pm

OOC: I guess I'm moving on!

Kavala nodded, quickly taking notes. She thumbed through what was written and shook her head. "Fresh water is not an issue. The sea cave has a stream that runs pure that comes from underground not above ground, so we can skip that item though we might want to pack a few empty barrels and fill them as the rest of the stuff on the list gets done. Sanitation should be okay because we have lots of space in the sea caves and latrines already built off the kitchen common and the two bedrooms and my suite. So what we need to do is move down the clinic first. There's hay stored in the sea cave for just such an emergency, so I'll split up the animals between all of us. Kadrath, your in charge of moving the kennels down here, wherever you decide to put the dogs. Raiha, you're in charge of the mews. Serrif, I'll give you the milk cows, all the chickens, and the goats. You might need the cart and one of the seme's for that so You can have them after the clinic is moved. We'll do the clinic first." Kavala decided.

"That needs all of us to help, and perhaps a full day. One day of hunting and gathering... we have lots of stores in the clinic though so we shouldn't be that hurt. Seaweed is a good idea but a last minute one. So this first day to the clinic, second to each personal project - I can float and help between you guys after a supply run to town - and third day to hunt/gather. Fourth day we'll move all the tack and personal belongings down. Fifth day we'll start moving horses, and one last day to finish up anything we have left. Seventh day we should be done... because the storm will strike then. How does that sound?" Kavala asked, concerned yet at the same time anxious to get everything done.

by **Kadrath Onktaka** on April 4th, 2012, 9:24 pm

"Sounds good." He nodded in agreement. "Now let's work on the containers to move things back and forth and where each will be set up. We don't want to put our daily needed items in first because that will set them in the back of supplies."

Rath and Uruk thought deeply, their eyes a perfect and equal shade of turquoise denoting absolute balance between them.

"Travois, barrels, saddlebags, packs for human and animal, kegs, kerfs, bags, wagons, and carts should be gathered and utilized first and foremost. I'll use some of the dogs to bring down supplies like their own food and kennels to double use what resources we have."

The dogs and cat stopped pacing, hearing the firm even tone of their owners. Perversely, the cat Chain, decided she'd rather stand by Raiha instead. Of course for reasons known only to her. She sat near the woman's leg and wrapped a tail around the Akontak's ankle.

"Your order of assignment is sound so we should get to work as quickly as possible. Oh, and we should probably post our flag on the large triple rock pile by the gates to notify that we'll be taking cover."

He looked over briefly at Chain, 'Traitor.' and turned his attention to the lovely blue woman beside him.

"Raiha, how do you think the birds will take this moving? Did you want some help with the larger perches?"

(When Rath speaks and when Uruk speaks.)

by **Kavala** on May 27th, 2012, 10:40 pm

Kavala nodded, agreeing with Kadrath. "One more thing. We need to bundle medical supplies. We'll need bandages by the tons. Get cloth in the city and let them know we will triage any and all animals that need medical attention free of charge since its an emergency." She said, nodding, knowing she'd send Aweston to town to do that later today, making sure the Council knew Sanctuary would open its doors for Riverfall if needed.

"If no one has anything else to add, lets call it good. I'll go ahead and get things going and post a schedule so we can get some of these things done while we can." She said, nodding and dismissing the staff. Planning couldn't think of everything, but at least Riverfall got some advanced warning and they were going to take advantage of that.

"Good luck everyone. Lets get this all done quickly and effectively." She said, pulling out a stack of parchment and already writing out the schedules getting them ready to hang for everyone's necessity. And with that the meeting was dismissed and everyone was sent to do their assigned tasks.

by **Sojourn** on June 8th, 2012, 1:26 pm

I'm only assigning rewards to those who actually participated and/or are active. I'm venturing a guess that this won't offend anyone.

Kavala's Package :

Raiha's Package :

Serrif's Package :