thebastion | Event: Day 265 [OPEN]

Entry tags:

Event: Day 265 [OPEN]

Who: Several NPCs and you
Open: Open
When: Day 265
Where: The Bastion in general
What: Everyone adjusting to the new land, plus some bad news from Nathaniel.
Format: action
Warnings: Lnone

[First, the good news: everyone came back more or less alive and well, and they had a core! After some deliberation, eventually it was decided upon that adding more land to the Bastion (as well as improving the efficiency of power use in the Bastion, so that the extra land is not a strain on the already limited power) is the best use of this Core.

Once the core has been integrated into the Bastion, the land expanse is almost immediate. Several chunks of the nearby Skyway (monster-free, thankfully) attach themselves to the Bastion, nearly doubling the available land. In addition to the flat plains, lake, river, and hills, there is much more flat land, and a few sharp peaks (nowhere near tall enough to be actual mountains, but they are made of rock and have the same jagged edges and steep inclines that a mountain would have) have attached themselves to the north-eastern side of the Bastion.

In addition, several empty buildings have sprung up in the south and western parts of the Bastion, along with a large empty area clearly left open for tents or more structures. With all of the new land and buildings, the Bastion should be able to hold several hundred residents comfortably. Provided the people could be found to fill those spaces, the Bastion could be a small town now!

But today is not entirely a day of good news. Around midday, Nathaniel calls a meeting by the monument to discuss some things, and he doesn't look happy at all.]

Okay guys, I'm just going to be honest here. We've got some trouble brewing.

For starters, I haven't been able to pick up the energy signal from that other core. Either it's been buried, or it fell off the Skyway, or something else got to it. It may come up later, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Along with that, we've got another mess on our hands now. Remember that group of Ura that you guys have been talking to? Well, they left this letter in the place where we leave written communication with them. Zahi translated it for me, and long story short, their crops failed and they're asking us for help.

We can give them supplies, but the farm doesn't grow enough to feed both us and them. If we found another core we could expand the farms to make it feasible, but there's no telling when we'll find another core. Our other option is to start growing our own farms on top of what the automated farm grows for us, but that won't actually help for several weeks, even months. They could possibly starve by the time that pays off. There's also the problem of how to get the sheer volume of food they need out to where they are. Their numbers are about equal to ours, and it's not a trip we could make every day, and most foods would spoil by the time we got it to where they are, so that's something to keep in mind too.

As near as I can tell, we can either help them out until they can grow more food, or we can ignore the request and let them fend for themselves. If any of you guys have another idea of what to do, we can discuss it.

I'll leave the decision up to you guys, but whatever you choose, make the decision quick, so that whatever you decide to do can be put into motion as soon as possible.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My immediate response is that we should invite them to the Bastion. More people here may mean more mouths to feed, but it also means more hands to help. Even with just the soldiers, that means people who can hunt. If there are any who belonged to any of the religious sects, we would have their talents as well- those who dedicated themselves to Roathus could help us grow more food and any of Yudrig's messengers would make find scouts.

[There's a pause, and he gives a dry grin.]

Of course, I would say that. [He is Ura himself, after all.] However, I'm well aware that they might not accept such an offer because of the history between the Ura and Caelondia.

I agree with the solutions that so many of you are offering, the food train. I even offer myself to go with it, if that's the decision we make. I'm no fighter, but I'm a much better scout and I could make sure the paths ahead would be clear.

Also, we all seem to be assuming that only our people should have to be the ones protecting it. I see no reason why we can't reach back out to the survivors and ask for any assistance they could offer. They could meet us halfway with some of their own forces and help protect the supplies. After all, it is what they need.

I like that thought, but there's another issue.

Depending on their numbers, we don't have the means to TRANSPORT that much food.

We'd need to build several more carts, and teach the Ostrich Horses to pull them.

We could use the barge, but... it's slow, and it's Caelondian. And since I installed a turret on it, I don't think the Ura would be very happy to see it...

[...There's a lot he could say here, but-]

Why did you install a turret on the barge?

Because Zahi recommended it, and frankly, it's a sitting duck for everything from Gasfella to Pecker without some sort of defense.

A boat that can't defend itself is bait, whether in the air, on the ocean, or in space.

[Zahi's name seems to soothe his concerns, although he still gives a sigh.]

A valid point I suppose... Anyway, back to our main discussion. Do we necessarily have to do a huge load to send them?

At first, no.

But if their crops were a bust, that means their whole society is going to be without food soon.

And THAT means we're going to need to bring enough food, daily, for at least two meals for every person.

The math behind that is unpleasant, to say the least.

However, for just an immediate short term solution until we can all come up with something better, would it be suitable?

... That depends, I think, on how much food they have left.

If they're smart and reaching out to us before their stores are depleted, we have time to start forming longer term plans.

If they're reaching out to us while their people are hungry, then we need to send as much as we can carry to them.

So, whichever it is and whatever we decide to do, more communication is needed.

Quite. We should probably start preparing an away team with some of our stores immediately...

I agree, but it seems like we may just have to wait for a vote first.

I'd like to go with them. The group is already familiar with my face, after all, so I like to think it could be helpful.

You wanna help 'em. right?

[Colin glances around, then leans in closer to Zulf and whispers with a lowered voice.]

Even if we vote against it... go get Rob's cart and one of Zuko's ostrich horses. Ask her to show you the most docile one.

Me and Rin are pretty much in charge of the cannery, I can guarantee that I'll be looking the other way if you wanted to take as much food as you can load up.

I'm going to be needed here for a while yet, sadly, so I won't be able to join you on this trip. But... I do need to see Zed soon. There's things we need to discuss. He was inprisoned at the jail, we found his cell-mate's journal.

Unless you can think of another Zed that survived the calamity...

[The suggestion earns a startled look... followed by a rather awkward one as he quietly coughs into one hand.]

I... actually was already planning to do something similar, if that's what it came down to. I thank you for your consideration.

[Seriously, just ask Raile, he knows that Zulf has this bad habit of hauling ass for his people.]

[The revelation about what was found at the jail makes him look up sharply, however, shoulders straightening out.]

What did it say? May I see it?

[Zulf's admission just earns a knowing smirk from Colin, and he says nothing more on the subject.]

Yeah, you can see it. I left my satchel back at my workshop, though, and everything's in there.

...

I'll warn you now, a lot of it is unreadable. The scene at the prison was unpleasant. A lot of people died AFTER the calamity. ... The journal's heavily bloodstained.

I can imagine. Still, I'd like to see it regardless.

Of course, let's go get it while I'm still thinking of what we can do here...

[Colin turns, and starts off towards his workshop.]

I'm going to guess they were probably political prisoners, but we couldn't find much very much of use in the Warden's office...

[Hiking up his skirts a bit to keep them out of the way, Zulf trots after.]

A shame, although your guess probably isn't too far off. For some of them, they also might just have been regular Ura trapped inside the city and got into trouble with the Marshals just for being Ura. It's- it was unfortunately very easy to do sometimes. Zia probably knows that best. Before her and I ever got to know one another, most Caels turned on her because of her heritage.

And the story goes the same way in that journal.

The prisoners that were stuck in the cells had a chance at being liberated... IF they were Ura. A Ura group found the prison and liberated any Ura inside, but they left the Caels to rot. Including Zed and his cellmate, Zed wasn't willing to leave without him.

I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised. Racial hatred like that, especially after a war, is tough to let go of.

[There's the workshop.]

Lemme get the journal from upstairs. After our thief's visit to Nathan's, I've been putting sensitive stuff behind my room's VERY locked door.

[The revelation of what's happened... isn't pleasant, and it shows on Zulf's face what he thinks of it.]

I'm more than familiar with that kind of hatred inside my own self... so I can't judge them too harshly myself. I just wish something different could have been done.

[But too late for that. He pauses and gives a nod.]

I'll wait out here then. Do you think that thief is still in the Bastion and isn't one of those who've gotten lost out on the Skyway?

I think the only people who couldn't be the thieves are the ones who were out of the Bastion when it happened.

That said... There's no sense getting worried about it. Rooting out one thief in whole group is pointless unless there's hard evidence to pin it on someone.

A little caution is all we need, that's all. I'll be right back.

[Colin jogs up the stairs to his living space, and comes down a minute later with the stained journal in his hands.]

We need to discuss this with the others a little later, but we both know that I'm no good at that. Zuko and Ippo are the only other ones who know the contents of that journal right now, so don't lose it.

[He holds it out to Zulf with a smile. He's already scanned the contents into his computer, so he's not afraid of losing it... but no sense in letting other people know that.]

[Zulf waits patiently and takes the journal with a grateful look on his face. Even if what's readable in the book is going to be a dark time considering its contents, he's used to that.]

Thank you. I'll be sure to care for it with all that I'm able. Zia and I are skilled at managing such delicate information.

You wanted to bring it up with Zed as well, correct?

[Colin nods.]

I wanted to find more information. The lizard there was huge, but I don't know if it was big enough to have done the damage we were looking at.

And the Ura WERE shooting at something before we found them. If there's a giant man-eater out there, I want to know about it.

I also want to ask a few questions about the prison, but... I should probably leave that to people with a more skilled tongue than mine.

Well... I am already here and listening. If you tell me all the questions you have about the prison and that beast, I'll ask about them. It's the least I can do, since I can't provide the kind of inventions you make or the combat skills of the others.

[Colin nods slightly]

The beast is easy enough... I want to know what it was they were shooting at. And whatever was at the prison was large enough to rip metal doors off the hinges and leave gouges in stone. That's not something I want to be surprised by...

As for the prison...

[Colin makes a face of discomfort as he tries to find the words.]

I want to know if any of the prisoners that were let loose are prisoners we need to worry about. I have no doubt that there were more political prisoners than anything... but if there were compulsive thieves, or gods forbid, murderers there...

Well, I want to know if we should expect any trouble before we possibly invite these people into our settlement.

I am also curious about Zed's situation, and whatever happened to his cellmate. But I'm aware that might be a little more personal...

I'll do my best and hopefully receive answers that will satisfy you.

[Tucking the journal carefully away, he nods back to the group.]

Now, we should probably return to the group and see if any new ideas have come forth.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event: Day 265 [OPEN]

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