[ AW ] Temporary Dens

Castle Stuart relief site

Around the winding tower, Rionna, crowds have formed. Evacuees from the intense heat wave wander around the largest of the areas in the Mainland. Surrounding the tower, Imperial Army soldiers are hard at work, using pelts from their storage chambers in the barracks. Many of the strangers from the North are tired, irritated, and wounded. Coughing keeps many awake as well as cries from young children. Whether it's from the loss that occurred during the heatwave or the hunger that takes root in their bellies, parents try to soothe them, but it's useless. Soldiers use logs they can hassle together in quick means of shelter for those who are hurt or mothers with children. Some find weak spots in the dry ground to make dens out of - but most of them are not so lucky. Almost all that inhabit around Castle Stuart are burnt out and the foreigners are dehydrated, unable to offer anything other than weary stares.

Those from the College are trying to help in small places such as gathering herbs for those hurt. Even the Commonwealth can pitch in with something as small as offering a paw to soldiers to help dig dens or offer what goods they have. And, of course, the Thieves' Guild offers no help and seeks the unguarded Highlands and Lowlands for nefarious purposes.


How to interact:

You may post here as a general purpose area for those who are helping or being escorted to their temporary dens within Rionna (the tower surrounding Castle Stuart.)

Vedette could not sleep. It wasn't because of the coughing or soft cries of children. If she wanted to, she could return to barracks. But, no. It wasn't any of that. It was the fact that she might be needed here. There weren't a lot of times where her expertise was needed. But in the sense of a natural disaster like a heat wave, she was on duty twenty-four-seven. She'd gotten a few winks of sleep when she had to stop with the group for a break because the children were too tired. So she'd gotten a break with the last refugee group she'd brought back to Rioanna. But since then, she'd been pacing the outskirts of the outer tower, searching for those that she could offer some sort of help to. For the most part, Vedette found herself helping move logs when she could for some of the other Imperial Army soldiers; if one reached out to her. At the very moment, she walked with a gourd in her mouth. It was full of fresh water from a reserve not far off. She would offer it to any that needed water. Most of the wolves that lined the outer tower were sleeping hunched up against each other or wearily looking endlessly out to the soldiers; as if by themselves, they could stop the forces of the heatwave. Vedette's lips did not falter from their usual pulled straight position. She never faltered in the sense of duty.


@ Anyone !

It didn't take very long for the heat to overwhelm two whole regions. And according to the whispers - if they were true, which in the Mainlands it was - the rivers had run dry. That was shocking. In fact, Ikrie was still in such disbelief that even now, after a few days of tending to those with heatstroke, dehydration, or burns... it all still didn't seem real. Wasn't it yesterday she had just completed her medical training? Where had the time gone? Her pacing increased with each worried thought, the coughs of the sick and injured echoing from just around the corner.

Snap out of it!

She couldn't think about that shit right now. There was a job to do. The medic closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose until her lungs were so full they almost hurt, and then released through her mouth after counting to three. She forced her muscles to relax as much as possible, and then continued forward around the corner, back into the frontlines of the heatwave.

...

Space continued to dwindle as soldiers brought one refugee after another - some with families of varying sizes in tow. Most, luckily, had escaped unscathed - but now they were also coming to the Mainlands without their loved ones... the grief was heavy over the heads of the soldiers and citizens alike. However, no one had the capability of dealing with it yet. Not with the current crisis not yet over. This was obvious enough as she examined what felt like the thousandth child that day. Their eyes were glazed; pawpads dry, cracked and bleeding from both dehydration and the long journey here.

Her heart panged with sorrow and frustration. They were beginning to run out of supplies and dens for these ones who needed the space and healing. But, luckily enough, an imperial... soldier? No, maybe one of the national guards - walked by with a gourd. She knew there was water in there, and it could bring a little moisture to this pups paws and his mother. Motioning to her patients, she temporarily excused herself and hurried over to her comrade.

"Hi! Hey, is that for anyone special? I have a mom and her young son over there who are absolutely parched and could use something to drink," Please don't say it's for the King or something, I'll look like such an ass.. Ikrie knew how to stitch a bleeding wound in the middle of combat while multiple bodies snarled and bled around her - not how to spot who did what for who and other such useless knowledge, when she could instead fill her head with what bodies looked like depending on how they died...


Speech


@Vedette @anyone!

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth neared the tower with a haggard gait, having returned from Sussex only an hour ago. Incredible, how the heat could grow so thick and stagnant only a few miles from the coast. In his effort to help cure the sick, heal the injured and treat dozens of cases of dehydration, the Professor failed to take care of himself. Panting, the earthen male found a dark, nearly cool spot of relief in Rionna’s shadow. Nearby, a score of families with young children struggled to find sleep, coughing and whimpering in the early morning. The sun had not yet risen, but it didn’t matter: the heat was devastating regardless. This would probably be Aryth’s only time of relative peace for the rest of the day. Slowly, he lay himself to the cracked earth, doing everything he could to lower his core body temperature. Idly, he wondered if his friends were still in Castle Town, or if any of his students were nearby. But everyone was so spread out…so overwhelmed. Suddenly, an approaching figure caught the male’s emerald gaze. He half-sat upright, still panting with an open maw as he noted a woman’s sandstone figure. The scholar could tell just from her confidence and scent that she was a soldier. “Lo, excuse me!” The scholar hailed for her attention, rising with effort to his feet once more. Regardless of his personal feelings about soldiers and politics, the Professor approached her with respect and a deep nod. “Are you a guard, by chance? I’m a member of the College, just returned from the Sussex relief site. Would you be able to tell me the current status of the area?”


Only as he approached did Aryth realize another female was nearby. He paused briefly, offering her a nod as well. If the soldier needed to help her first, he’d be more than happy to wait. In fact, Aryth started to assess her condition, unaware that she was a medic and probably knew exactly what she needed. They were all worn out, even the wolves who should have known better than the push themselves.

code by claerie

@Vedette @Ikrie

She takes her usual bulky stance, which probably scares off more of the tired refugees, but she does not notice it. She'd grown up around brief interaction with others. With no siblings, she never really learned how to socialize, spending almost all of her time with her grandmother. And she had a few screws loose. Vedette had also learned to be silent most of her childhood. Questions and stray fractures of curiosity got her in trouble. Instead of eccentric or adventurous behavior, she equipped stoicism and steadfast loyalty. Not traits that others pick up so easily. So, she'd always been the odd one out. Nervous glances sought her way as her orange gaze stays straight ahead, waiting for someone to reach out to her than the other way around. Maybe if she wasn't tired from the trek, she'd be somewhat more outgoing to those in need.

A voice broke her from her thoughts. A large smoky colored wolf came bounding up towards her. Vedette straightened her posture and made sure to make herself not look so... intimidating? Or maybe it looked more so, as if she were sulking. Instead of resting bitch face, she always had the look of sullen. She looked down at her through her muzzle, studying her with the glow of orange from her eyes. The gourd in her mouth was in need of use. Vedette gave a curt nod, setting it down in front of her. "Of course," She slid her outer paw pad against the gourd, passing it to the medic. She ponders if maybe she'd seen her in passing in her very little time in the barracks - or if she would have known her if she became a regular soldier. Though it's clear that whomever this is, is a medic for the Army. She smelt of strong herbs and cobwebs sewn together to make bandages for badly wounded soldiers, "Go ahead. I can get you more, if you need." She offers her help in this time of travesty, for who knows how long it may last and how many favors might have to go around. Or how many lives they might lose. She glances almost through Ikrie and to the wounded and tired. Before she can dwell much longer or attempt at following the medic to where she might be needed, another grasps for her attention.

Vedette's ear twitched, cocking to the side with her maw in tow, finding an orange-tinted man trotting along in the distance. He hails for her attention and she is turned from the medic and to whomever nears. His question makes her give a curt nod. "National guardsmen." She introduces her rank to him firsthand. There is a relief in her that there's another one that's come to help. Fresh from Sussex. Her brow furrows briefly; another that cannot sleep with the guilt of rest when others suffer? Or maybe he is just restless in the face of disaster. "We're still flowing refugees in. There's many that are wounded and in need of water." Though as far as she knew, with the drought, they wouldn't have much left for long. Not unless a miracle happened. "And very little housing to keep them all sheltered." The same could probably be said for Sussex, verging the same overpopulation that much of the Mainland was recieving. Her eyes turn to the medic, then back to Aryth, "What about on your end?" She addresses the other, someone she should know, but had been too deeply entranced with her assignment in the Highlands.


@Ikrie & @Arythmetik

The Guardsman reacted quickly, not questioning Ikrie's capabilities or her standing. Was it that obvious to her that she was a Medic of the Army? If she had time to react, maybe the girl would blush. But instead, there were those suffering that needed her attention. She was swift to pick the gourd up, and her movements hesitated as the Guardsman offered her help when needed.

Her dark purple eyes locked with the other woman in gratitude for a moment longer before the medic floated back towards her patients with the much needed hydration. Thankfully, here in the towers shadow, all of the afflicted were pretty much completely removed from the suns rays. The woman didn't spend long with them, instead administering the water and allowing them to rest. Once they were all as comfortable as reasonably possible, she returned to join the Guardsman, her curious eyes landing on another wolf at her side. Had she seen him somewhere before? "And very little housing to keep them all sheltered." She was only able to pick up on the last few words of their conversation, but she was intrigued regardless.

However the threat of depleting space for them all was still pressing around their throats, and it was getting more difficult to breathe. Having no time to even think of asking their names or status, instead their collective minds remained at the issues at hand. It seemed that the sandy soldier had been speaking of the Army's state, and was now inquiring about this mans... Ikrie remained respectfully quiet, instead taking the moments to gather her wits again while waiting for his answer.


Speech


@Vedette @

A R Y T H M E T I K

Conversation passed efficiently between the two soldiers. Aryth swallowed heavily, but what little spit existed was caught in his throat like sand. He coughed softly, feeling out of place in their presence. Not because he wasn’t used to helping others; on the contrary, he’d done nothing but offer his aid since the sun dawned on his first year. His hesitation stemmed from the fact that they were Imperials. The life of a soldier was as foreign to Aryth as rabbits on the moon. Still, he did well to keep his fears hidden. The awkward stance passed as minor dehydration, and he quickly gathered his composure as he watched the violet-eyed female immediately tend to the refugees.


The National Guardsman addressed him, and the scholar nodded gratefully in recognition. ‘She’s a guard. Perhaps she’s never drawn blood.’ Regardless, it was obvious that her first priority was caring for the wolves of Rhionach. Both members of the army seemed intent on helping in any way they could. It was…heartening. A stark contrast to the crushed rebellion that still haunted Aryth like a fresh nightmare. Steadying his jaw and closing his mouth, the russet male nodded again and thought. “I see. Sussex is in a similar situation, but the ocean breeze brings some relief at night. Patients heal quicker.” Aryth glanced at the violet-eyed woman, including her in the conversation implicitly. “The same cannot be said up here. The members of the College are spread thin between the camps, but I will do everything I can.”


Frankly, there were plenty of wolves who were collecting herbs. Mint, chamomile, fennel—they weren’t rare, and a considerable supply was collected before the plants started to wither. There were also healers who didn’t belong to the College arriving with medicine and creating poultices. It was a different matter to diagnose the myriad of illnesses popping up in the festering city. That’s what the learned wolves could do; wolves like Aryth, who discovered reading and never stopped, were finally of use. Aryth sighed softly and shifted on his paws. “I’ve studied many illnesses in the tomes of Èolas,” the Professor said to both women. “Do you know of any…particularly troubled patients?”

code by claerie

@Vedette & @Ikrie

There should be a sea of emotions that steer her. Vedette can see the brittle and anxious behavior in those around her, even in the other Imperial Army soldier. Deep down, somewhere that beyond even she can see, there is a pang of hurt. A wound cut cavernous in her 'You are broken.' A familiar voice echoes throughout the back of her mind along with the internal pain that she carries. It is nothing but another comment to add to the bottle she'd been keeping her emotions in since she was a child. There was never a good time to unpack them. As soon as she had started understanding the world, Bianca died and her father had finally realized that everything good comes to an end. In order to contain that fact; he drank himself silly, and she was left to pick up the endless broken glass shards that came along with his addiction. There was never a good time to free her emotions from the bottle; when there was already so much glass. So here she was, left with the emotionless look on her face; when disaster was all around them.

The assumed medic commented on the state of those in Sussex. Vedette's eyebrows quirked upwards; she hadn't thought of the ocean breeze to keep those somewhat cool. Then again, Vedette didn't really like crossing the tide into the blackened beaches where she knew thieves may lay. But the medic seemed unharmed, even though he'd just come from there. Maybe she'd have to make her way down there and see if she could offer some relief; help some families make the trip down, assuring that thieves were scarce, before she helped more into the relieving breeze of the ocean. The man confirmed that he was of the College, but not if he was a regular medic or not. Either way, they could use what they could get. Vedette's gaze traveled back to the other Army member that had reunited with the conversation. "I see. Thank you for making your way out to us." She has seen some children with burns and aching tummies from the long trip. Maybe he could offer some sort of balm to soothe their skin and hunger suppressants. It was good he was here; with someone else to help, she could return to the rescue of others within the heat wave.

The man spoke of his knowledge of illnesses. Could this be considered one of the many illnesses there were? Vedette knew very little about medicine. It was a feat she had not dared attempt, as she was already busy with her own assigned missions. He then asked if there were any particular patients that needed help. The National Guardsman had seen many, but she was unaware of those who needed the most help out of them all. If anything, they all looked bad, but maybe the other soldier would know. "You would know the right ones to treat first, right?" Vedette asked, her voice lower than most women, with her question directed at Ikrie.


@Ikrie & @Arythmetik

Surprised and shocked voices begin to fill the camp as a procession of knights begins to cut through the heat camp. In their mouths are soaked bundles of moss which they distribute to those they pass. Between two knights is an artifact of old, a pail of sorts, and within sloshes water from the river. They carry it between themselves, occasionally knocking out a drop and grimacing. As those two peel off to deliver the water to the presiding physicians, King Adamh is revealed within the center.

He also carries moss... and so does the little girl trotting by his side.

Only, she doesn't look normal. One side of her seems to be the spitting image of her father... but the other half is distorted by streaks of white and tan.

Shocked gasps and wide eyes stare at the royal procession.

The king stops within the center and looks around the weary.

"We pledge ourselves to you, as we are in your service." King Adamh announces, searching for the faces of any physicians or healers. "Let us know what you need, and we will try to provide it."

His paw brushes against the pup. "It's time that my daughter, and your princess, learn how to help those most in need."

The knights glance more warily at the group of heat-afflicted wolves and press close.

---

HEATCAMPS

no post order . King Adamh cannot be approached directly because of his guards but you may try to talk to him

N

imue had taken to the community of Rionnach along with others of the College to assist with this heat wave crisis from (literal) hell. As she approached the Temporary Dens in Castle Stuart, traveling in from Redwood, she had spotted Aryth from a far. So she had finally caught up to him! He seemed to be the busy of them all and she took pride in her friend and colleague for his dedication.

Nimue was moving gracefully across the grounds to meet him when there was a raising of voices, a disturbance from nearby. She paused mid-step, raising her head higher, ears perked at attention and all senses alert to see what the commotion was. Her eyes widened and she slowly set her lifted paw down as she witnessed knights of the Castle delivering a massive amount of water to the citizens in need here. More shocking still was who was at the center of this congregation. She was lucky to have kept her decorum, now allowing her mouth to drop open upon seeing King Adamh once again and then...

The Princess! Deep blue orbs studied the child, taking in every feature to memorize each detail so that she might be able to retell this event to others. The girl was absolutely darling, carrying her own little bit of moss as she trotted along. Nimue betrayed a smile, hoping to catch her eye if only to mentally project a thought of accolade to the makings of a future Queen. Well done, little one.

As they moved along, she did her best to slink past and pull up beside Aryth, a broad smile of genuine surprise still settled along her lips. "Hello, love." She whispered, bumping her hip into his, playfully. "What a magnificent sight, don't you think?" Nimue's attention was then back on the King and his daughter as he announced their aid.

Well, she surely wasn't going to sit there quietly and began to cheer, "Hail to the Princess Mhairi!" If anything, she wished to instill a positive memory in the little girl's life...her hope was that in doing so, it could only lead to more acts of goodness by the crown.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck