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Let's Go Down In Flames


Date:  October 18, 2002
Places:  Smithcraft's Meadow, Skyspace, and Main Workroom; Telgar
Weyr's Skyspace
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  There's nothing like an exploding Hall to liven up an
evening!  This is a first stage of a TP run by Smithcraft, for the
replacement/rebuilding of their Chemistry Workshop; first, the old 
one had to go, and what better method could there be than blowing it
up? ;)  ICly, a peaceful night is interrupted by a sudden fire, and 
the Smiths and Telgar riders called in by watchpair K'ran and Indrath
work together to try and kill the blaze.  Thanks to everyone who had
a hand in planning this and all the other folk who participated!  It
was a good time, and it's not just the pyromaniac in me who says 
that. :)

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The Log:

TGArea=> Loren says, "Over at the smithcraft hall, the night is calm, and 
cold, the sort the Telgar region is known for. The air has that crystaline 
clearness that makes everthing seem like a miniature setting done on an 
artists canvas. The only thing moving is the continual smokes rising from 
the different building's chimneys and stacks."

TGArea=> Loren says, "The hall's residents and visitors have all taken to 
their beds and cots, snug in thick layers of sleeping furs. A peacefull scene."

TGArea=> Loren says, "You'll have to '+watch on smi-meadow' for more. :)"

Smith Meadow> A shouting voice, almost imperceptable, comes through the main 
work hall's big doors. It's too indistinct to make out any words, but there 
does seem to be a note of excitement to it. A new tendril of smoke seems to 
be rising from behind the main work hall, but strangely, not from any of the 
stacks that prickle the massive building's roof.

Smith Meadow> Frantic shouts can now be heard faintly from the main complex. 
"Fire, fire! Help, fire!" The cries get louder and louder, the voice 
apparently moving quickly towards the meadow.

Smith Meadow> "FIRE! Someone help!!" The yelling is now definitely coming 
from the meadow, and there are sounds of banging doors and anxious murmuring 
as people rush outside.

Smith Meadow> Sauscony emerges from the double doors of the work hall.

Smith Meadow> Annik comes up the hill from the lower meadow.

Smith Meadow> here=A bronze fire lizards pops into existance above the 
meadow and emits one startled chirp, then arrows for the loew meadow.

Smith Meadow> Void heads down the hill towards the lower meadow.

Smith Meadow> Annik trudges up the hill in a hurry, and it's obvious that 
her clothes have been hastily thrown on. "What's going on?"

Smith Meadow> Wen walks out of the apprentice dorms.

Smith Meadow> Sauscony sprints out of the hall, her infirmary jacket in one 
arm, her pack tossed over her shoulder. From her state of dress she simply 
threw on what was there, her tunic inside out. But she is dressed.

Smith Meadow> By the time the shouts of alarm come, K'ran's been out with 
Indrath for at least a few hours, and he's startled out of their reverie 
together and swearing fluidly as he sprints down toward the cries for help 
and the banging at the doors. The bronze hesitates just a moment longer 
before springing into a glide over the meadow to reach the doors ahead of 
his rider, and bellows a baritone note that's certain to wake anyone nearby.

Smith Meadow> Wen rushes out of the apprentices dorms, while crowds of 
apprentices gather near the doorway. "Stay inside," she commands firmly.

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Indrath's thoughts come as staccato 
lightning, silver-on-crimson adrenaline: << Fire, at Smithcraft Hall! Some 
are trapped in the buildings; we'll need help! >>

Smith Meadow> Billowing smoke is visible rising from the back of the main 
complex, while here and there, bright yellow-orange flames lick up at the 
night sky.

Smith Meadow> Loren comes up the hill from the lower meadow.

Smith Meadow> Annik turns around to see the main work hall and her jaw 
drops. "What in shards and shells...??"

Dragon> Eneryth bespoke Telgar dragons with << SHow me where. >>

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Lysseth reacts to that with a flare of 
startled blue, intensifying swiftly in focus: << We will come-- >>

You slip out of the records cavern.

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You 
grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower 
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg.

<*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust 
as she takes to the skies.

You spring into the air and catch the thermals rising from the bowl floor to 
carry you aloft.

Smith Meadow> Loren pulls his cloths in to some semblance of order and rakes 
a hand through his hair as he crests the edge of the meadow. ... "Faranth! 
.. Buckets! Get the buckets!" he calls to the apprentices and journeymen 
piling out of their halls, then heads into the main work hall.

<*> Lysseth darts up from the Bowl with fast, strong wingbeats, barely 
clearing the requisite height before disappearing *between*.

<*> Lysseth disappears into Between.

Between
You gasp as the icy black nothingness of Between surrounds you! You hear 
nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing. The trip takes five heartbeats...
Black...
Blacker...
Blackest!

You suddenly emerge...

<*> Lysseth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Smith Meadow> By now, many Smiths and residents have gathered in the meadow, 
staring up at the fire, and a few panicked voices rise above the din.

Dragon> Hroth bespoke Telgar dragons with << We come. >>

<*> Eneryth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

Smith Meadow> Sauscony finishes putting on her infirmary jacket, her eyes 
widening as she stares for a moment at the growing inferno. Her gaze sweeps 
the meadow as she selects a corner away from the hall. "Bring any injuries 
here!" She yells, a voice trained by turns of 'instructing' apprentices

Smith Meadow> The Smith craftsecond shoulders the massive doors open, 
revealing the scene inside to the meadow gatherers. He runs across the 
workshop floor, peering up at the smoke billowing above and heads for the 
chemistry workshop.

<*> Lysseth doesn't bother with trumpets to the watchpair on this particular 
occasion; she circles only once, to get a good look at the fire, then arrows 
swiftly, sharply down.

You spiral down to a landing on the meadow between the various buildings.

[Editor's Note:  Here I got disconnected for a moment.]

TGArea=> Kassima just sighs. I had hoped my 'Net would cooperate. :P Did I 
miss anything after landing?

<*> From above, Hroth emerges from between along with a small group of the 
Skyfire wing and decends down into the meadow.

<*> Eneryth spirals down and lands carefully on the meadow.

<*> Hroth spirals down and lands carefully on the meadow.

<*> Loren takes one peep through a crack in the workshop doors then turns 
and pelts back towards the meadow. "DOwn! Everyone down!" he yells as he 
dives out into the meadow.

<*> Suddenly there's a thunderous CRASH from the area of the work hall. Some 
part of the building has given way, and clouds of smoke and sparks shoot 
skyward. The main work hall doors burst open, letting out a searing blast of 
air strong enough to knock anyone nearby off their feet.

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles, 
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

F'lone removes his straps and slides down Hroth's side to land softly on the 
ground.

F'lone slides down off of Hroth at the head of the small wing and moves 
towards K'ran and Indrath, his eyes focused on the hall after the loud crash.

Indrath's coasted toward the workshop the better to lend strength to batter 
the doors down should this be necessary, but pulls up sharply with a cry of 
protest as Loren calls that warning. K'ran, who's charged down toward the 
blaze, is among those knocked to the ground as the doors fly open with the 
blast, but, soot-streaked, picks himself up and calls out to Loren, "There 
any chance anybody's left alive in there?"

Annik loses her balance as the force of the air hits her. "Faranth, no!" she 
gasps and scrambles to her feet. "We've gotta get that fire out! Everyone, 
find as many large containers as you can, and start a line down to the 
river! Now!" She hurries towards the gathering riders. "We need help getting 
that fire out!"

Kassima's scramble down from her dragon's neck is decently-timed: in the lee 
of Lysseth's frame, she misses most of that blast, though the green's eyes 
whirl the more orange for it. "What the shards *hap*--never mind, nay 
important. The people who can't get out! Where are they?" A handful of her 
Wingmates in hastily-assembled attire appear one by one above and follow her 
down, quick to nod to Annik and run for the buckets; Kassi, herself, seems 
more intent on the aforementioned people: "Or--shells and blazes, is there 
nay anyone left *to* free?"

Loren hits the snow with a skiding belly flop, then rolls as the concussion 
hits, steam and smoke follow him. He l;ays on his back, stunned, staring at 
the watching stars above, then gets to his elbows with a wince. "I saw no 
one. I think they all ran." He levers himself up to a sitting position, then 
peers about.

Wen turns back towards the apprentice dorm as the crash reverberates through 
the meadow. "You heard the Craftmaster. Search the dorms for anything that 
can hold water and bring them out here!" The apprentices quickly rush back 
inside to fulfill their task.

Of course, Soz hit the ground as she is told, but that doesn't stop the 
healer from glaring as she peeks up. She is indeed a sight as she scrambles 
to her feet, assessing the ruins with a calculating eye. "Hopefully not." 
She mutters as the healer moves to join the bucket line, her muscles needed. 
Not her skills. For some reason, this seems to infuriate her.

F'lone wasn't that far from Hroth when the blast hit and only gets pushed 
back a bit. He rushes over towards the others

With a groan, Loren gets to his feet and scoops snow out of his jerkin. 
Turning to peer at the conflagration a moment, he steps over to Annik. "I 
think we'll need water from above to save the rest of the hall." he advises.

Annik grabs a few buckets residents run up and add them to a pile. "Use the 
snow if you have to! Just don't let those flames spread!" She shoves the 
buckets toward any rider that happens to be nearby. "I don't care how you do 
it, but we need your help getting that fire out."

K'ran dares closer to the yawning doors, half-ready to bolt into the blaze 
if there's a possibility anyone's left inside -- and he's forced to throw up 
an arm to protect his face from the heat. Indrath's swerve spared him the 
blast, and he's instead angling down toward the meadow again, finding 
landing space among Thunderbolt's worthies. "From above? Shards and shells; 
buckets'll spill before we can get 'em where they're needed. Any chance of 
filling up 'thrower tanks with water? Those'd do."

Smoke continues to rise from the rear of the main work hall, dust and ashes 
permeating the air.

That answers Kassima's question, and she turns her attention to directing 
her Wingmates: "Bucket-line, like with the Records Room, some of you 
remember--Maidil, you brought the towels? Keep 'em handy--Amelyssan, go help 
finding buckets, and the rest of us will stay to the line." A few nods and 
grunts of assent are the only response, the hastily-roused riders rather 
more focused on the task at hand. "J'an, you made it; good--grab a bucket, 
will you? And fill it with water!" Like it'd have another purpose right now.

Loren nods to the craftmaster and turns to the riders. "Hides can scoop 
water from the river.. Anyone know where there's sail cloth? That can make a 
good sized bucket for the dragons."

Sauscony moves smoothly as she shifts the bucket from behind to ahead, her 
gaze is watching for injuries, the healer squinting into the ruins before 
shaking her head.

F'lone turns back after the blast and moves towards his wingmates. Luckily, 
they had been practicing some drills at the time of the summons and have a 
few things that might be useful. "P'ter, Maril. Grab those lines. Maybe we 
can use them." he directs his wingmates. He turns towards and makes his way 
towards Annik. "You have any large tarps or covers. Something that can hold 
water? We've got some rope and can make some make-shift barrels to carry 
water over the fire." he says to the craftmaster.

K'ran shakes his head helplessly at Loren at that -- "No clue," he calls 
back, over the din, and with another look around at the efforts getting 
underway, curses beneath his breath and darts back to Indrath's side. His 
fingers fly over the fastenings that hold a couple of oilcloth sidebags to 
the dragon's straps; once they're free, he upends them, dumping an 
assortment of personal effects into the snow, and then charges down toward 
the river. The bronze's eyes spin orange, and he takes to the air again to 
follow.

Annik brushes hair away from her face. "'Throwers and sprayers... Shards, 
most of those would be in the work hall. Shards, shards, shards! We may have 
a few others elsewhere... Someone go look for the sprayers!" She turns to 
F'lone and nods. "We should. Someone go find the tarps!" A journeyman 
quickly approaches bearing a few large heavy cloths. "This is the best I 
could find," he pants.

Loren helps form the bucket line, shivying apprentices and residents into 
some order. "Try not to spill it all!" he calls as some get a little too 
enthusiastic. The journeymen and masters take position near the workhall, 
splashing the buckets into the smoking ruins.

Wen leads a group of apprentices down towards the river. "Stay together and 
follow me! Make sure to fill those buckets and pass them on to the next 
person without spilling the water."

F'lone nods and takes the tarps and runs behind K'ran towards the river, 
followed by P'ter and Maril. Hroth and the other two dragons follow behind 
Indrath.

Kassima calls to K'ran as she passes a sloshing bucket to the next person in 
line, "Nay a bad notion--aught t'keep it contained; what was *in* that 
building t'burn like that--" She doesn't really seem to expect an answer, 
nor does she cease working as she talks. "Shells, and that's nay a bad 
notion either. V'dan, take m'place here!" The greenrider automatically does 
so, leaving his Wingleader to run from dragon to dragon, reaching to remove 
strap-pouches; Lysseth's rumble stills any startled complaints at this 
sudden theft, and never mind all the random belongings left strewn about. 
"These will do as more buckets. Here, some of us can be taking those cloths, 
Craftmaster!"

F'lone tosses a tarp to both Maril and P'ter. "Tie the rope's to the 
corners. Then drag it in the river to gather water. When we get above the 
fire, drop one of the corners to release the water. And for Faranth's sake, 
don't get too close." he says, looking directly at P'ter as he runs.

Annik beckons to one of the assistant headwomen. "Go find the largest, 
sturdiest bedsheets that you can. Even if they won't hold water, they can 
hold snow or dirt if we have to dig for that!" She swivels around to face 
Kassima, probably not even hearing what the greenrider has said. "The 
dragons can dig up dirt and drop it from the air to smother the fire, can't 
they?"

The business hall door slams open and a figure emerges from the smoke, a 
desperate coughing sound arriving at the same time. The figure stumbles, but 
still manages to get clear of the worst part of the smoke. "It's ... 
allright! I was the last out!" he calls between racking coughs then 
collapses. It's Journeyman Noutil.

"In this winter ground? Well, they can be *trying*," Kassi says, eyeing the 
dragons a bit dubiously but evidently not inclined to argue against the 
possibility. "Wait, wait, though, a thought. The Glasscraft's here--d'you 
have sand, quantities of sand? We could certes be dropping *that*, 'twould 
be swifter t'get."

Wen hands a full bucket to one of the older apprentices, continuing to call 
out instructions. "Stay close the river and keep passing buckets as quickly 
as you can."

Without a pause, Sauscony hands the bucket to the person before her, the 
healer moving towards the fallen journeyman with haste. "Lets get him out of 
the way." She comments to a passing apprentice, now infirmary assistant. 
Together the pair carry Noutil to the side, where Soz's gear waits.

Indrath meets K'ran at the river, where the rider's filling first one and 
then the other of those oilcloth sacks with water. If he's even heard 
Kassima the extent of his acknowledgement is a brief eye-contact and a nod, 
and after he's fashioned precarious ties of the bags back to his lifemate's 
riding straps, climbs astride his bronze. "I'm going," he calls, with a nod 
toward the roof of the hall. "I'll be looking for those sacks of sand when I 
get back, hey?" And then, then Indrath's springing back aloft, and angling 
for the conflagration.

F'lone, P'ter and Maril all finish tying the ropes to the tarps and swing up 
onto the backs of their dragons. They gather up as much water as can be held 
in the tarps and glide over towards the hall. Hroth moves directly to the 
edge of the fire, where it hasn't gotten to the other part of the hall yet 
and releases his load onto the edge, drenching the part that hasn't been 
engulfed in fire yet. Meanwhile, P'ter and Maril dump their loads over the 
center of the fire before going back to the river to get more.

Loren looks away from the main workhall and sees Noutil's emergence. A few 
lines of concern leave his forehead when he hears the pronouncment then more 
leave when he see's the healer take charge of the injured man's care. Turing 
back to the flames, he tosses bucket after bucket to the nearest flames then 
advances to the edge of the workshop. "Allright.. this is just a few burning 
boards blown into the main work hall. The rafters and beams are still sound 
in here." he calls back to the line. "The chemistry workshop is where the 
worst of it is."

Dragon> Hroth bespoke Lysseth with << My rider asks you to inform those 
tossing the buckets to have them soak the edge of the fire, to keep it from 
spreading any further. >>

Loren shouts to K'ran and Indrath. "The chem workshop is the area next to 
the river! I don't think there's mcuh roof left, so if you can douse that, 
it'll save a lot of time!" He thinks abit. "Mind the smoke and vapors, 
though. No telling what's in them!"

Kassima lifts her hand in hasty acknowledgment back to K'ran; "Be careful of 
breathing in that smoke! Indrath might want t'hold his breath!" she yells 
after him, though at this distance and over the flames he may not be able to 
hear. "Here, Alicienne, S'cot, you heard the Craftsecond; get some of 
Maidil's towels wet and see if'n you can beat out some of those flames. And 
tie more wet towels around your mouths, for Faranth's sake; I don't want 
t'have you having t'be carted out of there next."

Sauscony nods to the apprentice before she pulls out her listening tube, 
moving the endpiece against the unconscious man's chest. Her movements are 
swift, but without haste. She left out a deep breath as she nods to the 
apprentice, "He is breathing." She says quietly, "But not well."

Annik hears Loren and brings both hands to her face in shock. "The chem 
workshop? Oh Faranth, the water wheels! Circle around to the back and try to 
get at it from there!"

Lysseth> Hroth senses that Lysseth replies tersely, << I believe the 
Crafters have the direction of the buckets well under control. They have 
been working at the edges of the fire. >>

F'lone and his wingmates return to the river for another load. Hroth and 
F'lone once again dump their load on the part of the roof that isn't burning 
while P'ter and Maril dump theirs directly over the chem lab where the fire 
is thickest.

Indrath's effort's similar to Hroth's -- and Loren's exhortation must have 
somehow reached his rider, for he fights the thermals rising from the blaze 
to that corner of the hall where the flames are at their worst. K'ran upends 
first one of the bags and then the other, dropping water upon the wreck of 
the chemistry lab -- and when that work's done, the bronze winks into the 
void, only to reappear airborne and soot-streaked on the other side of the 
river, and angling for a landing.

Annik grabs two buckets and sprints around to the side of the workhall. "The 
worst of it is back here! We need to stop it from spreading to the wheels!"

Kassima whistles sharply to her Wingmates to make sure they heard Annik's 
order; they did, and comply, while the greenrider turns to her Wing's 
dragons. "Lysseth, relay to those of ours, they should try t'be digging dirt 
in case that sand can't be found; make piles of it, and we'll load it onto 
those blankets for dumping. C'row, Servoth's strongest, and then Gromnith, 
so you'll be taking dirt-loads when they're ready; got that?" Evidently they 
do, since there are some terse grunts of acknowledgment.

Loren nods to Annik and gather's up a dozen smiths, then heads for the 
backside of the workhall complex. "Yes'm. We'll save them!" He turns to the 
others. "We'll approach them from the races, they'll supply the water if we 
can splash it far enough." he's heard to explain as the group angles for the 
east side of the complex.

Loren enters the dining hall.

Annik directs most of the bucket brigaders towards the back, though a few 
are left at the front. "Stay there and make sure the fire doesn't start 
coming back this way. Keep it soaked!"

Mahalia emerges from the dining hall.

Mahalia looks for the bucket line?

Mahalia heads down the hill towards the lower meadow.

Hroth hovers over the river as F'lone lowers the tarp to gather more water. 
As he drops a bit, F'lone tosses the last tarp towards the shore where K'ran 
is. "There's an extra tarp, K'ran." he shouts down as he pulls up the ropes, 
the tarp full of water. Hroth then glides back over the hall and dumps his 
load over the lab, followed shortly by P'ter and Maril.

Mahalia comes up the hill from the lower meadow.

Wen encourages the apprentices to keep going. "We'll keep concentrating on 
the front. Watch for any flames, but be careful!"

Mahalia tucks her scarf tighter around her nose and mouth and runs to join 
the line of apprentices at the river.

K'ran's bouncing down from Indrath's neck and into the river to refill those 
sidebags as more Starblaze riders appear: J'hale and U'sef, who've arrived 
late because they've taken the time to dig blankets out of Telgar's stores. 
They're spreading this out and piling mud upon it, and at an incongruously 
exhilharated flash of a grin from their wingsecond, remounting their dragons 
to carry it aloft and dump it over the blaze. K'ran nods, then, to F'lone, 
and after hoisting those makeshift waterskins back onto Indrath's straps and 
climbing to the dragon's neck, has the his lifemate catch the extra tarp in 
his claws as he takes flight.

Annik moves back towards the riders. "What can you see from up there? How's 
it look? Is it dying at all?"

Kassima has left the bucket brigade for the moment in favor of spreading out 
some of the found sheets for dragons to pile dirt on, as well as assisting 
in the piling. With the ground not at its softest, it's not rapid going and 
plenty of muttered curses can be heard from her direction. "Faster, 
faster--" It's more to herself than the digging dragons, a group that 
includes her Lysseth. "Here's one. C'row, Amelyssan, go!" The bronzerider 
and brownrider extract themselves from the bucket line to set about getting 
that load of dirt airborne and taken over the burning workshop; it scatters, 
upon Servoth dropping his side, upon the flames below, and the heavyweight 
pair return for a second helping. "I don't think it's spreading any," C'row 
yells over his shoulder as he shovels dirt beside his Wingleader. "But I 
didn't see much through that smoke."

Kassima meanwhile calls to K'ran, "Did you have any luck with that sand?"

The smoke is thick and dark as it billows up into the sky, but the flames do 
seem to be decreasing little by little.

Once Indrath's released the corner of the tarp and his lifemate's once again 
upended the oilcloth sidebags, he angles back toward the river with J'hale's 
and U'sef's dragons. Down to Kassima K'ran calls, "Couldn't find any -- just 
using the river-muck, which's heavier, but seems to work just as well, and 
dismounts to assist in the piling-of-the-tarps. "Come on, J'hale; worry

Wen passes a full bucket to Mahalia. "Keep it going," she calls down the 
line. "We don't want those flames to start up again."

Once Indrath's released the corner of the tarp and his lifemate's once again 
upended the oilcloth sidebags, he angles back toward the river with J'hale's 
and U'sef's dragons. Down to Kassima K'ran calls, "Couldn't find any -- just 
using the river-muck, which's heavier, but seems to work just as well, and 
dismounts to assist in the piling-of-the-tarps. "Come on, J'hale; worry 
'bout your nails in the morning, hey?"

Mahalia takes the bucket, holding it out from her to prevent spillage as 
much as possible, and quickly passes it to the next apprentice in line.

As Noutil begins to regain consciousness, the journeyman begins to flail 
about, requiring the combines strength of Soz and the apprentice/infirmary 
assistant to hold him down. Finally the healer is able to get him to stop, 
perhaps the sudden look of fear that dances across his face may be some clue 
as to the tactics she used.

Annik paces, not able to stay still as the hall continues to burn. "How's it 
look back there?" she calls to the end of the bucket brigade that's closest 
to the fire. "Still going, but it's dying down a bit," one of the other 
masters calls back.

Wen passes another bucket to Mahalia, pausing to glance at the girl. "How 
are you doing?"

"And 'tisn't much like making a mess of the place is going to matter," Kassi 
wryly mutters, eyeing the smoldering building. "I wonder if'n the flames are 
down enough t'be getting inside... mayhaps soon." The dragons keep up with 
the ground-digging, now that it's begun, and continue to form loads for the 
two large dragons to carry up, while Alicienne and S'cot return to report. 
"S'cot thinks the wee fires are mostly out in the Main Hall," Kassi calls to 
Annik after listening. "Except in the back, near the worst of it." With the 
digging now well underway, she abandons that to return to the buckets, 
eyeing one rather muddy strap-pouch belonging to a Wingmate wryly as she 
passes it along.

Telgar Weyr> N'laren peers... what are K'ran, Kassima F'lone and J'an doing 
at the smith hall?

Mahalia pauses to adjust her scarf again. "I'm okay, Ma'am," she replies. 
She straightens her back while she has the chance, then reaches out for the 
next bucket.

Telgar Weyr> N'laren says, "ooh, a new board"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "There are +bbposts about it on TGW and TGA. :)"

Annik nods at Kassima, then turns to the group in general. "Okay, some of 
you with buckets, wrap wet cloths around your mouth and nose, and try to get 
to the fire from inside. Advance on it, but be careful!"

Telgar Weyr> Riane says, "Nah, not new, just not often used."

Telgar Weyr> N'laren says, "Why didn't someone think of the Superman 
technique?"

Wen nods at Mahalia. "Let me know if you need a break." She takes a full 
bucket and passes it on, while at the same time sending an empty bucket down 
the line.

From above, Susurrath slowly wings downwards from the sky high above.

Telgar Weyr> Odytte procures the heroes red underwear for the uniforms. 
"Wonderwoman Kassima, Super K'ran, Speedy F'lone, and J'an the Man to the 
rescue?" :)

Kassima nods back to this, and turns to call, "Maidil! Now's the time for 
the rest of those towels!" The young bluerider scrambles to gather the very 
large amount of towels she seems to have appropriated from Telgar's supplies 
on her way in, and Kassi borrows one of the buckets being passed along long 
enough for the towels to be dipped in them. One she ties around her own 
face, and she brings her flight goggles down to cover her eyes; a pair of 
blueriders follow her lead. "Take a towel each, y'might be able to beat out 
some of the flames, but if'n they're high then wait for a sharding 
bucket--Lyss, tell Servoth and Gromnith t'stop with the dirt, that won't do 
with people in there. C'mon, you two."

Susurrath spirals down and lands carefully on the meadow.

Telgar Weyr> Nimiriel is Wonderwoman, though, and has the pic to prove it. ;)

An older journeyman runs up to Annik excitedly. "We found some sprayers down 
in the store room!" Annik waves the journeyman towards the river. "Go fill 
them up with water and try to use them from inside the work hall."

Telgar Weyr> P'tod says, "Hey folks."

Telgar Weyr> Odytte says, "Oooh, a resident superhero. Can I have an 
autography?" :P "Hi P'tod!""

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Just as well. I'd be embarrassed to go around in 
a bustier and pair of underpants. ;) I'll be Kasshe-Ra instead! (She at 
least gets a skirt. Albeit a short skirt. ;)"

From atop Susurrath, N'laren notes the situation and then slides down 
quickly. He takes one of the towels, douses it and ties around his nose, 
just under the goggles that he still wears, and approprates one of the 
sprayers for himself.

Mahalia pairs with Kanoa, one of the few apprentices to be of height to her, 
and they grab a towel each and a tub of water between them to follow the 
riders towards the building.

Starblaze's riders dump more loads of river-muck on the flames, K'ran and 
Indrath followed by J'hale and his brown, and then U'sef and his blue. By 
the time they return the blankets are being passed 'round, and the 
Weyrsecond shouts, "'Nother load might bring down the roof on people 
fighting their way inside; let's try fashioning these into big bags of 
water, and help that way, hey?" And the group of them sets to work doing 
just that.

Telgar Weyr> Kindre snugsa P'tod! If I were a super-hero, I think I'd be one 
of those dorky twins that joined the Justice League in order to get better 
ratings ;)

Annik grabs a towel and soaks it with water, holding it up to her face. She 
takes a sprayer as they are brought back up from the meadow and heads 
towards the work hall. "Let's go, but leave some sprayers for the riders up 
in the air. They may be able to get the flames in the back better."

Telgar Weyr> Cheni says, "Hopes you're logging Kassi? (Dumb question 3138.32"

Wen shakes her head at Mahalia and Kanoa. "Apprentices stay out here! You're 
to stay away from the fire and help fill buckets."

Telgar Weyr> Odytte wants to be Yogi bear. Is he a super hero? Eh, close 
enough. Yogi Odytte ambles off and away.

Kassima gestures Ylysse and Maidil to come with her, and the trio of riders 
makes their way, gingerly, into the burning building. The sound of a cough's 
followed by a sharp, if muffled injunction: "Breathe shallow and through the 
towel, that's what it's *for*! Here, over here--" The voice fades as its 
owner and her Wingmates venture further in, and likely they're too focused 
on attacking the flames to talk much in short order anyway.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima grins. Naturallismo. :)

Telgar Weyr> Merla thinks Kindre would make a good Wonder Woman :).

Mahalia and her partner look back, puzzled, and looks towards Annik, then 
they shrug and put their tub down and fo back towards the bucket brigade.

Telgar Weyr> Merla says, "Kassi would have to be Jane Grey, of course :)."

Telgar Weyr> Kindre aws and snugsa Merla :) Though I'd probably make a 
better Wonderless Woman ;)

Telgar Weyr> Merla says, "As long as you have the lasso ;)."

Telgar Weyr> Kindre woo's!

Telgar Weyr> Kassima oohs, Jane Grey. Does that mean I get to turn into a 
flaming psychotic pyromaniac phoenix-woman at some point? :) (This is about 
all I remember of JG from my brief span watching X-Men. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kindre wants to be Jem!

Telgar Weyr> Merla hmmms. Sounds like fun ;).

Annik turns her face away as she approaches the work hall entrance. "Keep 
going out there!" she calls out as she enters.

Annik heads through the giant entrance into the Main Work Hall.

Telgar Weyr> Merla woos! Jem!

Telgar Weyr> L'han takes offense at that description! :)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Truly, truly, truly outrageous!"

Telgar Weyr> Merla says, "How about She-Ra?"

Telgar Weyr> Kindre says, "Y'know...truly truly outrageous and all that :D"

Telgar Weyr> Kindre hee's and runs off with Kassi's braincell :)

You head through the giant entrance into the Hall.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Hey! Thief! ;)"

Lysseth> N'laren joins another group slowly making it's way into the hall, 
the wand of his sprayer twitching to and fro as he scans for flames and people.

Telgar Weyr> Merla pays Kindre off ;).

Telgar Weyr> Merla says, "We got Jane Grey's braincell!"

Lysseth> The bucket brigade seems tireless as crafters and residents 
continually send full buckets towards the flames.

Telgar Weyr> Kindre says, "Rock!"

Telgar Weyr> Kindre says, "Actually, if I could be any fictional character 
of the cartoon variety, I'd like to be Melody from Josie and the Pussycats :)"

Lysseth> Eventually K'ran and his wingmates rig up rudimentary bags out of 
the oilcloth tarps, and fill those bags with more riverwater. They mount; 
the dragons take up the oilcloth and soar out over the flames -- and release 
all at once to suffocate the blaze still further.

Annik moves through the room uncertainly as the smoke blurs her vision. 
There's no mistaking the searing flames, however, and she points the sprayer 
nozzle towards the fire and flips it on. Water bursts from the hose's end, 
thankfully reaching the blaze.

Kassima, Ylysse, and Maidil are at work near the entrance to the Workshop, 
each running full buckets to the fire to throw and the empties back for the 
brigade. "That smoke's something awful, Master," Kassima muffles through her 
towel, "but it looks like the river muck's helped some--" When the sprayer 
cuts into action, she's quick to get out of its way, gesturing for her 
Wingmates to likewise leave room.

Lysseth> Mahalia pulls the towel away from her face and drops it on ground 
as she returns to the bucket brigade. She spares a glance for her hands, 
then takes the next bucket handed to her and passes it on.

Lysseth> Wen motions for the apprentices to follow as she moves a little 
closer to the hall. "It looks like they're advancing, so lets stay as close 
as we can."

Annik just nods at Kassima's comment about the smoke as she attempts to keep 
her face away from the fire. "It seems to be working. A few more loads of 
water from above, some more sprayers down here, and we should have it under 
control."

Lysseth> Finally Sauscony has her patient stabilized and quiet, his 
breathing does sound a bit ragged, which could account for the worried line 
on the healer's forehead. "Is there someplace I can take him? I need to get 
him out of the cold and the wet." Her question seems addressed to noone in 
particular, just anyone that may know.

Lysseth> A journeyman pauses as he passes by Sauscony and her patient. "I 
bet you can find a place for him to lie down in the Journeymen's hall. It's 
furthest away from all the commotion anyway."

N'laren walks through the giant entrance from the main meadow.

"K'ran and his are keeping up with the water from above, I'm told," Kassima 
reports distractedly, aiming a bucket's worth of water at the smoldering 
wall. "Ylysse, will you get me--" The elder bluerider's already anticipated 
the request, though, and her next run back isn't with a bucket, but with one 
of the loaded sprayers. "Thankee," she says, and turns it onto the fires. 
"'Tis burning badly, whatever was in here."

Lysseth> Mahalia finds herself closer to the hall, still passing buckets, 
and closer to the front of the line.

Lysseth> Sauscony nods her thanks as she carefully slips Noutil onto the 
carrier, grabbing one end while the apprentice grabs the other. "Careful 
now, no jostling." It might wake him.

Lysseth> Sauscony heads into the journeyman hall.

N'laren carefully ducks under a soaked and blackened beam and moves on into 
the hall, spraying in shorts bursts at the base of more smoldering wood.

Annik steps closer as some of the closest flames begin to die down. "It was 
our chemistry workshop. Full of chemicals and explosives," she replies wryly.

Lysseth> Indrath leads Starblaze's dragons back to the river, where they 
gather up another load of water in preparation for another run over the 
blaze. K'ran lays a hand on his lifemate's neck, though, a moment's pause --

Lysseth> Wen stays at the head of the apprentice's line. "It looks to be 
dying down somewhat, but keep those buckets coming. We can't stop until 
we're sure it's all gone."

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Indrath's thoughts continue to race with 
silver and crimson; tinged through with the smell of charring and the rush 
of adrenaline. << Do the flames die within? We have more water ready to drop 
from above. >>

Kassima makes room for Ylysse and Maidil to empty their buckets before 
aiming at a higher tongue of flame threatening a wall; "That," Kassi agrees, 
as wry, "would likely explain it. I wonder what started in the first place. 
Did I hear right, that everyone got out alive who was in here?" She keeps 
her out of the way of N'laren's work, though absently, with more of her 
attention on her own.

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Lysseth's own mind roils the same red-gold 
and sooty black as the flames themselves, and what those flames burn. << 
They are less, my Kassima says, and the water from above has been helping. 
The Craftmaster has said that combined with more sprayers below should 
contain the fires. >>

Annik aims her sprayer at one corner, attempting to spread out the water 
flow. "I can only hope. There shouldn't have been many people in this part 
of the hall at this time of night."

Lysseth> -- and they're aloft again, battling thermals thrown up by the fire 
and circling in toward the worst of the heat to dump this latest load of 
water there.

Lysseth> Mahalia nods from her place directly behind Wen and passes another 
bucket forward.

Lysseth> The time wears on, but thankfully the inferno does not. The flames 
being to diminish slightly. Fire still licks at the building in places, but 
now in isolated areas.

"I glimpsed the Healers fussing over someone," Kassi notes as she edges 
further into the room, the better to angle her spray away from Annik's 
towards areas less attended. "I don't know who or how badly they were off--" 
She pauses to cough, and curse under her breath. "But hopefully 'twill be 
all right. Can't say as much for the building."

N'laren walks slowly towards the wall with his group, spraying lingering 
flames as they go.

Annik hears a clatter as a smoldering board collapses from within the 
chemistry workshop and winces. "I don't think he was burned, but then I'm no 
Healer. My main concern is that everyone is okay, since buildings can at 
least be rebuilt." She grimly steps forward until she's at what used to be 
the entrance to the chem shop.

Lysseth> Wen halts as she gets close the rear of the hall. "This is close 
enough. We don't want to get near the damaged areas. I am sure they are 
quite unsafe."

Kassima agrees emphatically, "They can--and I'll wait 'til some other time 
t'be asking what this will be meaning for tithes and Craft supplies," with a 
grim sort of levity. Behind her, Ylysse has returned to the bucket brigade 
outside, but Maidil works at smothering lingering, smoldering places that 
the waters haven't quite put out.

Lysseth> When the Starblaze Wing dragons return to the river they're 
soot-streaked and weary from the exertion, but set about refilling the 
makeshift bladders at their riders' urgings. This time, when they take to 
the skies again, they're more sparing with the water, showering the areas 
still aflame rather than attempting to deluge one specific spot.

Annik steps away momentarily to get her face out of the smoke. "I think we 
can call the rest of the riders in here to finish it off, unless there's 
still something in the back that we can't get to?"

Kassima lifts her goggles long enough to let her squint through the smoke, 
or at least attempt it. "It sounds worth a try," she says. "If'n we're 
careful of the smoke and fumes methinks we can manage. I'll have Lyss send 
word?"

Annik nods and readjusts her towel. "Please do. I'd like a report on what's 
happening out there."

N'laren kicks as a pile of black sooty debris looking for any red coals that 
my flare back to life.

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Lysseth sends in a flash of orange-gold 
whose edges, at least, have calmed to a sullen cherry red, << Mine says that 
the riders still here should come within. The Craftmaster believes ours can 
finish the flames off with the devices that spray water now, and also wishes 
a report. >>

Kassima unfocuses; when she refocuses, she reports--after a quick glance for 
that debris--"Lysseth's told them. I'd guess they'll be in shortly."

Lysseth> Again Starblaze's dragons land, and this time their riders 
dismount; while Indrath inspects the accumulated grime that's attached 
itself to his flanks and muzzle, his rider darts toward the smouldering work 
hall, J'hale and U'sef in tow.

K'ran walks through the giant entrance from the main meadow.

Lysseth> The Thunderbolt riders who'd remained outside take on that 
unfocused look that signals communication with their lifemates, then head in 
search of the nearest bucket or sprayer before starting towards the Work Hall.

Lysseth> The call comes down the line that there's nothing left to be done 
from outside. Wen turns to the apprentices with a heavy sigh. "I know you're 
all tired, but we still have to wait and watch to make sure that the fire 
does not flare up again."

K'ran's appropriated a bucket from someplace on his way inside, and trailed 
by J'hale and U'sef makes his way toward the knot of firefighters within. 
"Coming up behind!" he calls ahead, so there'll be no surprise.

Annik slowly advances again with her sprayer. "Try to make sure it does get 
up to the ceiling again. We don't want things falling on us."

Lysseth> Mahalia nods and looks at her hands once more, flapping them from 
the wrists. She looks at the building smoking in front of her.

Kassima, standing just inside the entrance to the ruined workshop, continues 
to aim water at the flames, but her goggled eyes dart continually over her 
shoulder until the first of her riders trail the Starblaze contingent in. 
"One of you trade sprayers with me," she calls through her towel-mask to 
them. "This one's nigh empty--" And no fool she, she steps aside to leave 
room for those incoming to reach the flames. "Right, Craftmaster. I'm in 
*full* agreement there."

N'laren turns as K'ran enters, then moves on to the next pile of debris 
which he and cohorts careflly pull apart and douse the red that glows within.

Lysseth> Desh walks out of the apprentice dorms.

Annik nods at Kassima and switches off her sprayer. "This needs to be 
refilled." She hands it to a journeyman who runs off on the errand. "Does 
someone have an extra towel I can use in the meantime?"

Lysseth> Wen keeps a steady eye on the apprentices as usual, even in this 
crisis. "Keep those buckets full, just in case."

With that bucket still in hand -- J'hale and U'sef are quick to get to work 
helping douse flames -- K'ran reports, briskly, "Most of the flames are dead 
along the outside. We've done as much as we can from the sky; looks like 
there might be some embers still, given how much smoke's still coming up, 
but the good news is that it's unlikely to spread given how much snow's on 
the ground."

Lysseth> Desh checks his bucket, then turns his attention back to the hall 
with a wrinkled brow.

"Maidil?" Kassi calls to the bluerider evidently in charge of towels, at 
least among her riders, and the younger woman offers the towel she's been 
using to the Craftmaster. "I can go get another from where I left them with 
Masth," she explains, getting an approving nod from Kassi. Meanwhile, V'dan 
passes the sprayer he brought in to his Wingleader and takes her emptied one 
outside. "A good thing, too," she volunteers. "Would have been worse mayhaps 
if'n this had happened in high summer. If'n those meadows had caught flame--"

N'laren pauses, eyes scrutinizing the area around him carefully, especially 
the walls. He trails after his group, pitching in where needed.

Loren steps into the noisy work hall.

Annik does her best with the towel while she waits for her sprayer to be 
refilled. "Loren, there you are," she calls as she sees the craftsecond. 
"How are things outside? They say it's mostly died down out there."

Lysseth> Mahalia looks down to the ground around her, where she is almost 
completely surrounded with full buckets that have made it this far and stand 
waiting to be used.

Loren returns, looking worn and tired. He looks about the once efficient and 
tidy workhall and sighs. Approaching the craftmaster, he forces a smile. "I 
think we saved all the exterior works, but, if this penetrated the floors, I 
think the main shafts will need replacing, or at least splinting. I left six 
out on the sluce to watch for any outbreaks." he reports.

Lysseth> All of a sudden there is a commotion from the back of the work hall 
complex. It seems that there's been some flare up. "Pass the buckets!" Wen 
calls as the request is relayed down the line.

Lysseth> Mahalia sighs and starts picking up the buckets around her feet and 
passing them on, although the creases in her forehead clearly show her concern.

Lysseth> Desh grunts and passes on his bucket to the next in line, grabbing 
one from the person behind him. "Shells," he mutters, horrified. "When will 
we ever get this fixed?"

One of the journeymen enters hastily with a full sprayer. He hands it to 
Annik, who hefts it back on and heads towards the remaining flames again. "I 
think once we can get in there we can finish it off," she says as he reaches 
the scorched entrance of the chemistry workshop.

Lysseth> Journeymen and riders que at the main workhall doors, each thaking 
two buckets full of water before disappearing into the steaming depths of 
the building.

Kassima glances briefly towards the Craft leaders, but her eavesdropping is, 
if nothing else, inefficient--spraying any flame that seems inclined to 
reach, however halfheartedly, for a wall is keeping her plenty busy. 
"Methinks the river muck helped considerable," she mentions to the Starblaze 
team in an aside. "And the water, too."

N'laren finally comes to a pause where his work group meets with another, 
and he pauses to survey the sooty faces around him. He hefts his sprayer in 
his hands, noting how empty it is and finds a nearby journeyman to exchange 
for a full one.

Lysseth> Wen sets her mouth in a firm line. "The faster we work, the less 
chance it has to spread again."

From behind Kassima, somewhere, K'ran mentions, "Hope we didn't get much on 
you," in a tone that's stained with wry humor. "Everyone's alright, mostly? 
No serious injuries, aside from that one that Sauscony's seeing to?"

Lysseth> Mahalia silently passes on buckets as they come to her. Her weary 
expression shows that she has no energy left to spare on talking.

Lysseth> Desh passes along buckets, lips pressed together. "Can we get this 
fixed? We have the resources, yes?"

Loren blinks in the reeking smoke and fog filled room, peering towards the 
chemistry workshop's blasted doorway. "I think... it may be safe to get to 
the opening. All the reactives should be nuetralized or diluted by now.. but 
the flooring may be weak." he advises the craftmaster.

TGArea=> Loren sings. "Merrily we burn it down, burn it down, burn it down!" :)

Annik carefully crosses the threshold into what was the chemistry workshop, 
though most of the front wall has been incinerated. She aims her sprayer at 
one of the burning timbers, making her way along slowly. "Use extreme 
caution in here," she warns. "I can see that the integrity of these walls 
has been compromised to the point where something could easily give way again."

Those warnings give K'ran that much more reason to be careful where he puts 
his feet, and so he'll follow along more cautiously, while bellowing back 
outside, "More of those full sprayers in here, will you?"

"Only a *tad*," Kassi drawls back over her shoulder, with as much lightness 
as the situation will allow--almost as much as normal, with the fires 
showing promise of being defeated in due course. "But I doubt 'twill make 
any difference; we're all a mess anyway. I don't *think* 'twere serious 
injuries beside that one; d'you know what happened t'him--?" At the phrase 
'the flooring may be weak,' she instinctively steps back, having taken a 
post slightly inside the doorway to have a better angle for the flames. 
"*Now* they tell me... agreed, Craftmaster. Falling through the floor sounds 
nay more appealing than having the ceiling fall on you."

Lysseth> Wen nods at Desh as she helps to pass buckets along. "Of course. It 
will be a long process, but there is no doubt that we can make repairs."

TGArea=> Kassima is thinking of 'Let's Go Down In Flames' as a log-title. ;)

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Indrath shares thoughts stilled somewhat 
to cooler blue twined 'round that crimson-and-silver agitation, the sense of 
river current soothing tired muscles. << All are well, >> he directs toward 
home. << Dirty and tired, but safe, for now. >>

The craftsecond preempts a sprayer from a hargard and begrimed journeyman, 
Neilson. "Go check with the healers on the injuries for me, will you? And 
take a moment for yourself while you're outside." he murmers apologetically. 
"I can do this." he explains to the blank faced metalsmith. Then Loren turns 
to cross into the chemistry.. former chemistry workshop. He carefully steps 
over glass shards and roofing slates, spraying flaming beam and rafter 
remnants as he goes.

Annik moves very slowly as she trains her sprayer on the last flames in her 
path. "Can we get some buckets in here, too? The flames may be out, but 
embers are still hot enough to start another fire. Or people with towels? 
Just be careful where you step."

Lysseth> Desh's head bobs as he passes more buckets. "I - shards. At least 
it'll give something the Architecture apprentices to work on, I suppose. 
With supervision and all." He still sounds subdued and upset.

Lysseth> The buckets halt again as the outbreak is put out. Again those 
outside are told to wait and watch.

"Right," says K'ran, with a terse nod, and heads back outside to try and 
organize that effort.

Kassima blows a breath through the damp and rather grimy at this point cover 
of her towel, murmuring something about how it's been a long time since 
she's had to use a sprayer like this. Still, she keeps at it, creeping 
warily and training the spray against those fires nearest her. Considerably 
weakened by earlier efforts, they die without much water being needed, but 
the surface continues to smolder. "You heard the Craftmaster," she directs 
to her own riders, and three of them edge warily into the room with towels 
and buckets to attend to the places that still glow red.

Annik's shoulders sag as she continues to douse the room. "I think we're 
past the worst of it anyway," she says wearily.

N'laren nods to one of the people working with him and heads out the door 
for a new sprayer.

Loren looks about the room, "I agree." he calls. "If the floor held up to 
the roof coming down, I'm betting it's still sound. Let's get more crew in 
here to help."

N'laren pushes open the large metal doors to the meadow, disappearing as 
they close behind him with a heavy thud.

Lysseth> Susurrath takes flight into the air above the Hall.

Kassima doesn't comment immediately on that; she aims and watches the water 
from her sprayer in silence, pausing only to wipe the back of her wrist over 
the surface of her goggles to clean them. "It doesn't seem inclined t'flare 
back up t'what it was," she finally agrees, cautiously. "All things 
considered, I'd hazard it's nay lasted as long or been as bad as it could 
have been... though I'm nay expert in such things."

Lysseth> A figure emerges from the workhall, but so besmudged and blackened 
he's not easily recognized. He stumbles to Wen and murmers somethign to her 
then looks about for the healers. He makes his way off to where they are 
working without a wave, or anything.

Lysseth> Wen finds a full bucket and moves towards the work hall. "They're 
asking us to come inside now and help pass buckets so that they can finish 
it off. Follow me," she tells the apprentices.

Lysseth> Desh nods tiredly, turning about to trail after Wen. "Understood. 
It's finished out here?"

Lysseth> Mahalia trudges doggedly after Wen, full buckets handing from the 
end of each of her arms.

Loren gives the green rider an acknowledging nod. "I agree... your dragons 
got the worst of it knocked down before it could get totally involved, it 
seems. Our thanks to Telgar's helpers!" he smiles as he progresses towards 
the back of the ruined area.

Lysseth> Wen nods and leads the apprentices up the work hall entrance. "Yes, 
there will still be a few people out here to watch."

Wen walks through the giant entrance from the main meadow.

Desh walks through the giant entrance from the main meadow.

Loren toes a charred timber with a boot toe, scraping the charcoaled surface 
down to sound wood. "Huh! That's not as deep as I thought it'd be." he muses 
then goes off to spritz a licking flame nearby.

Mahalia walks through the giant entrance from the main meadow.

Annik nods and manages a small smile toward Kassima. "Yes, thank Faranth you 
all came to help. I don't think we could've beat this ourselves." She 
glances out to catch sight of Wen and the apprentices. "Send the buckets in 
here, but be careful!"

Kassima laughs quietly, the sound barely audible through her towel. "The 
thanks there belong t'K'ran and Starblaze primarily, t'F'lone and a couple 
of the Skyfireans, and I suppose in some measure t'mine--I'll pass on those 
thanks t'them, at least. For my part, you're welcome. 'Tis nay more than our 
duty t'you." She nods Maidil towards a patch she's just finished spraying; 
the young bluerider advances to examine the wood, and give it a good thump 
with her much-begrimed towel.

Mahalia pauses in shock in the doorway until the apprentice behind her prods 
her forward. Her widened eyes take in the sooty wreckage as she stumbles 
forward with her two buckets.

Lysseth> An elderly brown, bearing Fort markings on his riding gear, hurries 
to a landing amongst the dragons in the meadow. Quickly, a few people 
descend, followed by another who moves more slowly. They all scurry towards 
the Hall, bags and such in hand.

Ayanne walks through the giant entrance from the main meadow.

Desh trudges in slowly, peering about. "Oh, shells..." he mutters, though he 
gets himself into line to pass buckets.

Ayanne arrives, preceeded by a small handful of apprentices and journeymen. 
Not able to move quickly, nor to pass buckets really, the Healer Craftmaster 
for now just acts as shepherd.

Annik extinquishes a few small flames and begins to concentrate on the 
glowing red embers. "A few dousing in each spot should do it, I hope. Pass 
the buckets in, but don't come too far in - it could still be very dangerous."

Wen remains at the head of her apprentices, taking the buckets that they 
pass forward and handing them to those inside the chemistry area.

Picking up a reasonably sound table leg, Loren levers up a mangled heap of 
lead sheeting, then spritzes the smouldering embers underneath with the 
sprayer on his back. "I think the ageenothree condensation boxes are a total 
loss, Annik." he calls. "I suppose the lead can be remelted and formed." he 
adds then looks up to the starry sky above.

Kassima has by now gotten a little distance into the room, and is wielding 
one of the water-sprayers against weak licks of flame and dying embers 
alike; accompanying is one of her riders, beating at embers with a damp rag 
that used to be a towel. Some other of the riders have returned outside to 
see to trying to clean up some of the mess that the firefighting has left, 
both of their own belongings and of the meadow in general. "Is all the 
agenothree gone?" she asks, with some dismay.

Desh bows his head, passing along buckets, murmuring encouragement to a 
newer apprentice who hasn't quite become as strong as he has in nearly two 
turns at Smithcraft. He raises his head, eyes widening, at the mention of 
agenothree.

Annik keeps a steady stream of water pouring onto the smoldering walls and 
wreckage. "All chemical production will have to cease until we can figure 
something out," she acknowledges. "Thankfully, we do have some reserves, but 
we can't make more."

As Healer journeymen hurry to whosoever is injured, Ayanne directs the 
apprentices in setting up a triage just outside. The woman uses her cane 
liberally in gestures, occasionally grabbing one apprentice by the arm, and 
redirecting him. "You, help out in there - yes, in there, they need you. No, 
Trenlin, not you, you're setting up redwort and numbweed. What?" She's close 
enough to Kassi and Annik to overhear. "No more agenothree?"

Loren returns his gaze back to the smoking wreckage. "Maybe the roof 
collapsing was a good thing. The fumes are dissipating well." he observes 
while prying timbers over to spray their undersides.

Wen also pauses briefly at the talk of agenothree, but she quickly motions 
for the apprentices to continue passing buckets.

Kassima rattles her tongue in dismay, freeing a hand to clear her goggle 
lenses again. "That won't be good news for any of the Weyrs. I'm sure each 
one has some in supply, but if'n there's none new available for very 
long...." She allows that to trail off, focusing on directing the water. "I 
a'course wouldn't presume t'speak for our Weyrleader--evening, Craftmaster," 
and she nods quickly to Ayanne as well as to the crew behind her, "--but I'd 
*presume* that Telgar will want t'assist with the agenothree problem if'n we 
can."

Desh mutters, "Didn't even think of that," pretty much to himself. The 
smaller apprentice he was helping nods anyway, though.

Annik sadly looks around at the charred remains of the workshop. "All of our 
tools and equipment have been destroyed. We can rebuild, of course, but 
it'll take time. It's a good thing it's winter, and I hope High Reaches'll 
be able to spare some for awhile, since they won't need it immediately. Igen 
and Ista, however, are a different story. We'll get production back as 
quickly as possible, but I have a feeling that the other workshops have some 
damage as well."

Loren can be seen to be allready mentally inventorying the salvageable bits 
and pieces of wreckage. He stomps his foot on the flooring slates every now 
and then, perhaps testing for soundness. The stonework walls don't seem too 
badly damaged either. "Well, We might get the ageenothree production back if 
we canibalize what's left in here. But I think we'll have to set up 
someplace else. No way this, " he waves his left hand at the room's 
desolation, "can be put right anytime soon."

Ayanne's apprentices actually aren't setting up, they're taking over the 
field triage from those who set up earlier, giving the smithcraft 
apprentices roped into duty there a much needed break. They, and the 
journeymen, begin treating the various bumps and scrapes acquired, as well 
as other apparently more serious breathing problems. Ayanne herself doesn't 
waste much time on greetings - no duties offered, though it's not exactly 
the right time. "Wingleader, Craftmaster," is the extent of her greetings, 
as she peers about the wreakage.

"We'll nay need it either, most likely," Kassima volunteers, "at least nay 
in quantity; Benden, too, may have some t'spare. 'Twill be up to the 
Weyrleaders, but hopefully something can be arranged; and in any event 'tis 
a concern that might better wait for another night. Tonight's had worries 
enough." With the flames around her fairly well kaput, she finally turns off 
the sprayer, turning about towards the entrance. "Trade you this for a 
bucket?" she asks the nearest brigade member with tired whimsy, who happens 
to be Desh. Then, "Methinks I can't disagree with you, Craftsecond. Even 
if'n the floor's all right, even if'n the walls *were* all right, that 
roof...." Or lack thereof.

"Certainly, Wingleader. If you wish," Desh says immediately, passing along 
another bucket and stepping out of line quickly to reach for the sprayer.

Annik sprays until the water runs out again, then she flips off the sprayer 
and steps out of former chemistry workshop. She blinks as she see the Healer 
Craftmaster. "Oh, Craftmaster, forgive me, I didn't see you before. Thank 
you for coming."

Wen eyes some of the younger apprentices that look like they're about to 
fall over. "Master Annik, do you think you have things taken care of in 
here? If so, I will let the apprentices get some sleep."

Ayanne surveys the damage briefly, but is more concerned with the damage to 
people than structures. "Had to see for myself, Master Annik," she explains, 
before stating, "We'll be ensuring you've got sufficient healers over the 
comming days to ensure that everyone gets the care they need. I hope you 
don't mind us occupying some space?" A shout from the healers outdoors 
catches her attention, and with a quick, "Excuse me," the Craftmaster heads 
out as quickly as she can.

It's hard to tell if Kassi's smiling, with the towel over her mouth and the 
goggles over her eyes, but there's a smile in her voice as she passes the 
sprayer over: "Thankee, Apprentice." With the bucket she's granted in turn, 
she pours water over a few final areas that were concerning her, then 
follows the Craftmaster's suit in exiting the structure.

Loren helps some other smiths move a beam, then wet the underlying area, 
before turning off his sprayer. "I think that's the worst of it. I want a 
watch in here, all night." he informs newly arrived journeyman Emdrien. He 
manages a strained laugh at the clean faced glasssmith. "Well, you missed 
the worst of it." he tries to put a bright side to it.

Annik nods at Ayanne as she goes, then nods to Wen as well. "Yes, please do 
take some of the apprentices back to the dorms if they need to sleep. They 
may stay if they're still wakeful enough to help."

"I'll volunteer, Craftsecond," Desh immediately says. "I got here late, 
after all." He was away on an errand.

Loren turns wearily then beams. "Ah, Apprentice Desh. Excellent. All you 
need to do is watch for more smoke. We'll do an inspection under the 
flooring at daylight." he points to some rising wisps of steam and fumes. 
"No need to waste time or water on those, just smoke." he informs the 
journeyman and apprentice.

Wen nods and gathers up all the apprentices that no longer have enough 
energy to stay. "Classes will be stopped for the time being, of course, 
until we have a better idea of what needs to be done. I will speak to you 
about it in the morning."

Desh nods to Loren, holding Kassima's sprayer. "Yes, Craftsecond. Yes, 
Apprentice Master."

Kassima pulls the accessories off of her face, leaving her looking rather 
odd--where the goggles and towel were, her face is mostly clean, but between 
that are near-symmetrical swaths of grime and pinkened skin. "If'n the 
fire's well-out, methinks I'd best get t'my lifemate and gather our 
things--methinks K'ran will probably be handling the report t'N'var about 
the situation... if'n you need aught in the way of assistance from Telgar, 
though, I'd nay hesitate t'be sending word."

Annik smiles weakly at Kassima. "Please convey our utmost thanks to all who 
helped out. I'm sure you'll be hearing more from us tomorrow."

Loren wipes a grimey paw on a pant leg then offers a handclasp to the Telgar 
rider. "Our utmost thanks to all of your people too. With out you, well..." 
he just shakes his head.

Desh clutches the sprayer and bows. "Thank you very much, Wingleader."

Wen quickly and quietly ushers most of the apprentices outside.

Wen pushes open the large metal doors to the meadow, disappearing as they 
close behind her with a heavy thud.

"Rest assured 'twill do so. I don't doubt they'll be glad of 'em," Kassi 
tells Annik earnestly. "Though a'course 'twas only our duty t'you 'twere 
doing." She accepts that handclasp without reservation, her own hand 
none-too-clean but firm of grip. "Our duty; our pleasure, insofar as a 
crisis like this can ever be called aught like a pleasure. Pleasure t'help 
it nay be worse, inasmuch as we could; I'll say that. You're quite welcome," 
she adds to Desh, then steps back and gives the Smiths all a sharp salute 
before heading for yon exit.

You push open the large metal doors to the meadow, grateful to escape the 
heat and racket of the work hall.

Kassima spends some time speaking with what few of her Wingriders linger in 
clean-up, and in gathering her belongings back together in some makeshift 
contrivance given that her strap pouch is still likely soaked; then she 
mounts her dragon, and they're away.

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You 
grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower 
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg.

<*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust 
as she takes to the skies.

You gain altitude, winging your way up above the massive buildings of the 
Smith Hall complex to the quieter skies above it.


32   Annik             Sat Oct 19 02:04 2002 Fire!!

It started out like any other peaceful winter night at Smithcraft Hall. 
However, sometime after most people at the hall had gone to bed, catastrophe 
struck. Crafters and residents awoke to the frantic sounds of someone 
yelling about a fire. By the time Craftmaster Annik reached the main meadow, 
the entire back of the work hall was ablaze. Thankfully, K'ran, who was on 
watchrider duty, called for assistance from Telgar Weyr. With the help of 
the Telgar riders, the Smithcrafters were able to put out the fire.

The bad news is that the chemistry workshop was completely destroyed, and 
there has been damage to the main work hall, the metal/glass workshop, the 
bathing room, and the water wheels. (See 
http://www.geocities.com/sm1thcraft/damagemap.jpg for a map of the damage.) 
Since the chemistry workshop is unusable, there is no immediate way to 
produce agenothree, which creates quite a problem, among others.

The normal daily life at Smithcraft will be put on pause while everyone 
pitches in to help clean up and put things back into some semblance of 
order. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but it is certain that an 
investigation will begin soon.
......................................SMI.....................................