-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summer Threadfall Over Woodcraft Date: March 15, 1999 Places: Telgar Weyr's Southern Bowl, Living Cavern, and Skyspace; Sky over Woodcraft Hall, Woodcraft Area Grounds Game: PernMUSH Copyright Info: The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kassi's Note: This was a pretty good Fall, I thought, especially where the turnout for ground crews was concerned. :) A fairly standard log: pre-Fall LC chat and preparations are included, as is a bit of the post RP. Many thanks go to Mart for coding the @emitter used in the Fall, and also to everyone, rider, ground crewer, or other, who participated. It couldn't have happened without you! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: 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. This time, as Kassi dismounts, she's dressed in full fighting togs--and Lysseth's straps, by no coincidence, gleam with the dull luster of a fresh oiling. "G'deve," she greets those who are about, then gives her lifemate a slug on the shoulder. "Out of the way, evil beast. There'll be plenty of dragons about soon enough." Neliea looks about and nods to Aurian as she passes though, offering a salute to Kassima as well. "Evening," she replies, looking to Saskia with a smile. "Hey there," the bluerider calls over, also in fall gear, minus the goggles for now. Kassima grimaces at the salute, exaggerating the motion into a full cower. "Ack! Nay saluting!" She straightens quickly, though, pulling her riding helmet off to hang it from a clip at her belt. "I'm for a spot of dinner ere Fall preparations begin in earnest, methinks," she says, probably to explain what she's doing down here. "You? Oh, g'deve, Saskia." Saskia grins and salutes Kassima and Neliea "Afternoon Wingleader. Afternoon mentor. Just about half a turn more." Neliea chuckles as she watches another salute as she shakes her head, "I've already eaten, after trying to feed Iriana hers. I may stay out here for a bit til things pick up." Saskia nods "It looks very crowded in there. I think I'll wait until it clears out during the fall." Kassima flicks a momentary smile. "Kris took his dinner readily enough, bless him, and a bit of mashed banana with it. Now, if'n he'll just keep up the good behavior so that I don't get home t'find him screaming and Simaeva about t'kill me...." She doesn't sound unduly concerned about this, however. "See you both a bit later on, then." She spins on her heel, striding towards the Living Caverns. "So long as there's food," she calls over her shoulder, "I don't care if'n the entire population of Benden, Bitra, Ruatha, Lemos, and all nine Weyrs are in there!" You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern. Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the Wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives. Ceria grins over at Dossa. "You might want to talk to Ofira before doing something like that," she teases. "A cot might get in our way." Ilequor offers, "I could get you one outside. Not that you want to sleep there or anything." Myklan half-smiles, and devours a thick slice of roast, listening to the women fuss over Bacruise. Bacruise looks a touch horrified, "Sleeping in the /kitchens/?" The horror! He nearly starts from his chair. "I would rather stay in the guest room as I am." He also flashes Ilequor a rather wild-eyed look. "Blazes I am /not/ sleeping out of doors!" Dossa blinks at Ceria. "Oh, I'd put the cot in the little alcove where the kitchen drudges sleep!" Then, she almost recoils from Becruise. "I'm... sorry. I'm afraid I can't help much beyond that." Myklan comments, "Out-doors isn't so bad, if there's no Thread falling for a few days." He takes a deep breath, "Makes you feel...I dunno. Rugged or something." Kassima's eyes skim towards her Wing's table the moment she walks in, dressed--of course--in full fighting togs. She threads her way through the not inconsiderable throng, intent on getting a better look. "You all look ready enough," she finally tells her Wingmates. "Just be ready t'go when the signal's given for preparations' start." Business done, she calls, "G'deve, all," to the crowded Cavern at large. Ilequor grins. "It could be the stables." Ceria laughs. "I was just kidding Dossa," she says, giving Bacruise a disapproving look. Myklan smiles some, and comments around a mouthful of tuber, "I like the stables myself. They smell all...warm." Jannea shakes her head at Myklan. "I got my foot stepped on in there once. Not my favorite place now." Bacruise gasps as if he were slapped "I am no drudge lady." He tugs down the front of his vest primly missing all looks of disapproval fixed in his direction. Ilequor shrugs, grinning. "I was kidding. Honest." Dossa straightens up to her full 5'1" height. "There is nothing wrong with drudges, sir," she says respectfully, but her serious face indicates this is indeed a touchy subject. Telin glides in from the bowl. Myklan quiets down, and decides to simply finish his meal instead. Jannea mutters something about except when they chase after the Weyrlings. Bacruise returns Dossa's look after letting his eyes trail up and down her long form, "I didn't say there was anything 'wrong', I was informing you that I was not one." Ceria mutters something under her breath about Bacruise learning a few lessons from the drudges. Her voice is just loud enough to carry to Bacruise. Telin flits in, looking about at all the people and settles on a table. Bacruise sniffs slightly at the comment from Ceria and casts his eyes upward slightly, "oh please." Kassima gathers a bowl of stew from the sideboard, for once not taking much effort to get tuber-free ladellings. Bowl and greenrider are both plunked down with no ceremony, and she digs in without much of a word. "Stables," she comments, after a few bites, "tend t'be warm overall, assuming that there are animals in 'em. Never thought about 'em *smelling* warm, though." Dossa mmhmms, nodding at Bacruise. "Well, sir, your demeanor suggested otherwise. I'll pass it along that you would like better accomodations." She curtseys slightly coldly, and then returns to her dinner, looking dark and brooding after she turns her back to the man. Ceria laughs at the young man's affectation. Bacruise doesn't get that Ceria might be laughing /at/ him and now /with/ him and smiles charmingly at her. He also doesn't seem to get the fact that Dossa is rather steamed at him, "thank you very kindly Dossa, it means the world to me." About stables--he's not even going to go there. Myklan half-smiles at Kassima, "Aye...but they do smell warm and alive and ... hairy." Telgar Weyr> Myklan SMACKS a hand over his mouth. I have NEVER my LIFE said 'aye' before :P Telgar Weyr> Ilequor hasn't either. :) Kassima crinkles her nose in thought, and catches a drop of stew-broth from her spoon with a finger. "Mmph. How does something smell when it smells hairy? I usually only associate smells with 'good,' 'bad,' or, 'Sweet Faranth, clear that out of here! The fumes! My eyes, my *eyes*!'" Telgar Weyr> Kassima whispers persuasively to Myklan, "The aye is your friend... the aye is your friend...." Ceria moves closer to the assistant headwoman and glances back at Bacruise briefly. She mutters to Dossa, "... him... good... time with the drudges..." Telgar Weyr> Trila laughs. Telgar Weyr> A'lex pokes Kassima in the aye. Telin creels quietly, peering about at people. Ceria moves past Dossa and refills her klah mug. Myklan actually smirks at Kassima, as if he finds that funny. Telgar Weyr> Kassima ayes A'lex with her one good aye. "Aye, aye, Captain." Telgar Weyr> Ceria laughs at Kassi. Trila retuns, having been called away to tend to Ansuth, and sends a salute t'wards those who weren't saluted before. Ilequor cracks up. "I avoid those." T'garrick walks in from the bowl. Myklan comments around a sip of rootbrew, "I don't even want to know what you'll do with Ma's Klah, Auntie. Speaking of fumes." T'garrick's massive shadow blocks the entrance for a second as he walks in. Bacruise chuckles lightly at Kassima's comment and shakes his head, "Thankfully I've not smelled anything quite that ripe before." Dossa looks over at Ceria and nods sharply as she pops a water chestnut slice into her mouth, crunching with affirmation. Trila sends a salute t'wards T'garrick, and a greeting 'fore she tries to get the jist of the conversation before her. Telin;'s creel gets a bit louder and he peers over at Bronwynn. Myklan's head turns, at the sound of T'garrick's voice. He peers at the big man for a moment...then abruptly looks back at his soon-to-be-empty plates. Jannea gets her empty plate and put them with the other dirty dishes. She then sneaks out of the gathering to the inner caverns. Jannea walks towards the inner cavern. Kassima grins at Myklan around a spoonful of stew--one of the last, to judge by her bowl. The woman can certainly eat when she wants to. "I imagine there'll be occasions for brewing it. Turnover... Gathers... every time someone scary is proddy... when they need something t'be cleaning the claw-marks from stone...." As the shadow falls over one of the lightsources nearish the entrance way, she looks up and nods to T'garrick in greeting. "G'deve, T'gar. The stew's decent today, if'n you're looking for a quick bite a'fore flying." T'garrick rumbles a quiet, "Good Evening," before settling against a wall. "I usually eat after." He does pour himself a large flagon full of water, though. "Is the weather from the sweeps in?" Canus walks here from the Inner Cavern. Canus grins as he enters and sees a bunch of old friends, "Afternoon. "Flight," Trila mutters, eyes still slightly dazed from something else. "Threadfall, yes Kassima?" "Warm enough for a touch of turbulance, if'n naught we can't handle," Kassima reports at once. "But the Starsmiths have been predicting a haze, and it looks as though 'twere right. Everyone will have t'stay alert--the lessened visibility is the most dangerous aspect tonight, 'tis reported... aside, a'course, from Thread itself. Aye, Trila. Over Woodcraft." Ilequor frowns. "No-one get hurt, right? I hate seeing people hurt." "I knew this," Trila mutters, shaking her head slowly. "We /betweened/ today," she says, then, applying for a membership in the non sequitor club. Myklan glances up at Trila for a moment, before going back to picking at his plates. Apparently, he decides he's finished, and picks up the tray he carried over. This is placed in the tubs. T'garrick says "Haze. Condensation on the goggles at altitude too, then." He shakes his head. "We've done worse, often enough." Canus grabs a mug of klah and a seat, grinning foolishly. Dossa finishes her dinner and whisks the dishes away, still looking a mite annoyed. Ceria smiles over at Canus. "Good to see you," she calls. Kassima quirks a brow at Ilequor, and musters a faint smile. "If'n everyone's at their best performance level and we're very, very lucky, nay. 'Tis more likely there'll be at least *some* minor injuries. Possibly majors. Hopefully nay deaths." As she picks up her bowl, she nods briefly to Trila. "Lysseth keened," she answers quietly. "M'condolences t'you and your wingmates. It seems likely, T'garrick, aye--but at least there'll be nay lightning this time, nor over-strong winds, unless something blows up. The Starsmiths say 'twill nay." Canus grins at Ceria, "You too!" Bacruise nods hello to Canus and stands up. "Well, it's been a, " here he pauses, not sure just what it's been honestly, he decides on, "pleasure visiting with you all." Pushing his hair back over his shoulders he turns to leave. Ilequor shrugs. "I'd still rather not see it," she says. "Sorry, but it's true." Telgar Weyr> Kassima notes that Fall preps will start in, oh, 'bout ten minutes, in the Southern Bowl. :) *Snugs a Nel.* Telgar Weyr> Fiton says, "Oh Ya, When is fall? I forgot" Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Actual Fall will start at 9pm EST, roughly." Telgar Weyr> Ilequor says, "Need one slightly confused staff member to give a hand? ;)" Telgar Weyr> Fiton says, "Thanks" Trila gives a sharp nod, a sigh expanding her chest visibly. "I was there," she adds, pursing her lips so that they are white. Nothing else, however, is said, and her comment, p'raps, went unheard. Telgar Weyr> Kassima grins, sure. :) Could either ICly help the dragonhealers/healers with preparations in the Bowl, or catch a lift to Woodcraft to serve on groundcrews; that goes for all nonriders. :) Dossa watches Bercruise leave, and, pouring herself a klah, mutters, "Now I know why I couldn't marry mother's choices. They're all like -that-." Ceria's only response to Bacruise is a look of slight relief. She grins over at Dossa. Telgar Weyr> Erdrick will try to be available for GCrewing. :) Bacruise walks towards the inner cavern. T'garrick's eyes tighten, but his jaw doesn't twitch and he says nothing. He takes a deep draught of water and scans the room until his gaze settles on Myklan. Canus grins and winks at Dossa. Myklan chuckles, just faintly, and smiles at Dossa, "He's not so bad. Really." Myklan glances up, just in time to catch T'garrick's gaze. He holds it for half a moment...and then looks down at his boots from where he leans. Telgar Weyr> Ilequor is available to be a Crewer. :) Dossa sighs, and shakes her head. Bringing her klah to her seat, she lets it sit there while she looks thoughtfully out towards the bowl. Kassima nods, distracted-like, to the departing Bacruise. Her expression is sympathetic as her gaze wanders back towards Trila. "I'd gathered. I could hope 'twas the last time you'd see a Wingmate die, but we both know that'd be a futile wish." Telgar Weyr> Myklan is too, if anyone asks :D Bronwynn quietly excuses herself and heads out to the bowl. Bronwynn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. "Terribly," Trila agrees, voice rather faint. "Chezroth looked for her." T'garrick drains his mug of water and sets it aside. He walks up to stand near and a bit behind Myklan until the young man is freed to speak. Lyam walks in from the bowl. Lyam toddles in, still a little teary eyed, but hiding it well. He looks around, mischief warring with sadness on his face. Kassima shakes her head slowly, tugging a sisal scarf from her pocket to begin the process of tying up her hair. "I've never seen that work, I have t'be saying, but on the off chance it *could*... well. Death, like life, happens. And I have to admit that I'm thankful there's a Fall tonight--a chance t'battle one's frustrations, as well as Thread. Speaking of which, lads and ladies--" That's to the folk at her table. "Best start cleaning up your plates. Preparations are bound t'start shortly." Myklan apparently finishes inspecting his boots, because he looks back up, glancing around the Caverns. Lyra walks here from the Inner Cavern. Lyra follows behind Lyam by a few steps, tugging at one of her 'dogears'. "Lye....you're walking too fast." Telin gives up on getting some food and flits off. T'garrick says in a grave bass voice, "Myklan. I....A moment?" Lyam hmfs at his sister. "Maybe you're just slow." Myklan clears his own throat, to an embarrassing half-crack, "Ye-ES-sir?" Lyra pipes, "Am not! You're too fast." She catches up, and puts a hand on his shoulder, looking faintly pouty. Lyam scowls at his sister. "Grow longer legs." Erdrick walks in from the bowl. Lyra protests quietly, "They're as long as yours, little brother." Erdrick walks in, dusting his hands off absently. "Two minutes!" Lyam protests. "Two minutes does not make me the little brother, just the younger brother." Kassima finishes securing her braid and pulls her riding helmet over it, snapping the chin-strap with an audible *click*. "Oh, and for those of you going t'Woodcraft as ground crew--" she thinks to say, "Lysseth relays t'me that the flamethrowers and tanks are stacked by the southwest wall, nay far from the firestone sacks." Ceria finishes her dinner and carries her dishes over to the tub before heading outside. Ceria walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Lyra says "Does so." With that she leaves off the fight, and inquires, "Want a cookie?" T'garrick says "You...your family....you have my condolencses. M'kla and I impressed in the same hatching, half a pass ago, and in all that time, I swear to you, I have never met a more dedicated, more courageous greenrider. She was a beautiful woman, and I, we all, are fortunate that we have gotten to ride with her this long." Trila walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Erdrick blinkblinks over at Kassi, "Ground Crew? Flamethrowers? Wood Craft? There's Fall today?" T'garrick finishes, "I'm sorry." He then pulls on his riding helmet, as if to hide the expression in his mirror-brown eyes. Myklan swallows a little, glancing at his spatting neice and nephew for a moment, before nodding back to the brownrider. He unleans, revealing that he's going to catch T'garrick in height, and probably bulk, at least one day. "She'd like that, Sir...she...wanted to serve. She always said so." Dossa blinks, always the last to know. "M'kla? What's... happened?" She blinks again, looking around at faces. "Oh no." Her lip trembles, as the realization hits her. Lyam looks conspiratorily at his sister. "C'mon," he whispers to her. Ilequor says, "I didn't know that, either. Who goes on ground crew?" Lyam walks towards the inner cavern. Lyra paddles to the table, and peers up over the edge, then reaches around, groping for a cookie, as her stated intent. Lyra catches sight of her brother's vanishing shape, and snags a handful, then scurries after. Lyra walks towards the inner cavern. Kassima nods once, briefly. "There is, over Woodcraft and the immediate demense. Those who want t'be serving should grab a tank and a ride-- nonriders, mostly, Ilequor, with decent aim and a sound head on their shoulders." T'garrick nods, but, being a man of few words, says nothing. He pulls on his gloves to prepare for threadfall, and that says pretty much all he can say. Lyam walks here from the Inner Cavern. Lyra walks here from the Inner Cavern. Erdrick nods and strides off toward the inner cavern, "I'll be there." He mutters something about having thought this fall was tomorrow, not today. Erdrick walks towards the inner cavern. Ilequor nods. "Well, do I count? I've never done this before, but I'm sure I can manage not to get my own feet." Kassima, having said her piece, tugs on her own gloves and heads outside, followed by several of her Wingriders. Lyam and Lyra stagger in under the weight of a broken flamethrower. Both have small pots on their heads. Walking resolutely up to Kassi, Lyam almost shouts, "We're ready, Commander Kassima Ma'am! Point us at the Thread!" Myklan shakes himself visibly, then casts around. Apparently, an idea hits him, as he calls, "Wingleader? Is there room for another on groundcrew?" Hey, there's a first time for everything. Including the incredulous look he gives the pair of twins. What the...? Lyra wriggles under the back half of the weight, almost tottering from side to side. Erdrick walks here from the Inner Cavern. Kassima calls over her shoulder first, though, "I should imagine so, Ilequor--" And then she's stopped by the evil Troublemint Twins. "Commander Kassima Ma'am?" she repeats, for once amused enough not to protest that latter word. "Methinks, m'dearios, that your Grandsire would kick m'rump all the way to Ruatha if'n I took you t'serve on groundcrew! Besides, the Dragonhealers need you a lot more, I daresay. Who'll help make sure they've got plenty of numbweed and thread set out if'n you don't?" Erdrick walks back in from the inner cavern, dressed for ground crewing. T'garrick heads out to the bowl. T'garrick walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. And then, Kassi further calls to Myklan, "Always room for more, Mykkie; you'd certes be welcome if'n you wish t'be joining." Lysseth> T'garrick strips off his goggles and spits into them. Lyam scowls. "If that's what we have to do, I guess that's what we have to do. He sorta turns around to talk to Lyra. "Fine, if they're gonna be that way, back to the storeroom." Myklan nods, and then marches over, pointing back the way the twins came, "You better scat, brats..." At least there's SOME affection in his voice when he says it. Lyra eyes her young uncle...then sticks her tongue out, as she begins the retreat with Lyam. Ilequor stands up. "Well, I'll come then." Dossa hides her face with her hands, apparently moved with the bad news. She's oblivious to the leaving teams. The look that Lyam gives his uncle, if he could, he'd throw the flamethrower at Myklan. He settles for sticking his tongue out and staggers back to the storeroom. Lyam walks towards the inner cavern. Myklan nods to Kassima as he straightens his tunic, then goes back to get the dark green leather jacket he seems to have adopted. Lysseth> A'lex nods to T'garrick, "Evening, bout ready for tonight's activities?" Kassima grins after the departing two. "At least Kay and Khari haven't tried *that* yet...." Shaking her head in amusement, she ducks outside. Lyra walks towards the inner cavern. You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. T'garrick rubs the spit around and wipes the goggles clean with a scrap of shirt tail before setting the goggles back into place. He then heads over to Chiloth, and with the bulging muscles of a smith-come-dragonrider of many turns, he easily picks up a heavy sack of stone and starts feeding it to Chiloth. Ilequor comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern. Myklan comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern. "I am a dragonrider," T'garrick says gravely, as if that is all the answer he needs. Silly question. Telgar Weyr> T'garrick says, "Wheee. Haven't done a fall in ages." A'lex checks and double checks straps while Nraith makes desert out of some nice big firestone chunks. He replies to T'garrick, "And one of the best, at that." Telgar Weyr> Ilequor has never done one. :) Telgar Weyr> Erdrick has done 2 total. Telgar Weyr> Myklan plays Significant Moment in my Character's Life music. Telgar Weyr> A'lex fears you, Myk. Lorieth backwings for a landing. Telgar Weyr> Ilequor plays Symphonic Battle Scenes. So there. :) Kassima takes a deep breath of the night air before lowering her own goggles, the better to avoid firestone dust in the eyes from the two sacks of medium-small-sized stone she procures for her dragon. "Weather reports haven't changed since m'last sweepriders came in, have they, Weyrleader?" she calls to 'Lex as she opens the first sack. Telgar Weyr> Myklan grins. You should. T'garrick dismisses the compliment with, "We all do our duty." He starts tossing firestone into Chiloth's maw, who cruches away happily as if he were going to a greenflight with a guarantee on winning rather than a threadfall. Myklan goes to pool with the rest of the ground-crews to be, to get his flame thrower and instructions. Telgar Weyr> Kassima is tempted to get out her CD and play 'Quest of Culhwch.' Telgar Weyr> Ilequor says, "Never heard of it. :)" Telgar Weyr> Dossa says, "It's Welsh, Kassi?" A'lex turns as he finishes lacing up one of his boots, his tongue is pinched between his lips as if he was concentrating a bit too hard. He straightens, "Still the same, Wingleader." Telgar Weyr> T'garrick says, "No, Classics for Toy Piano." Telgar Weyr> Erdrick goes to get his Masterharper of Pern CD. Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "It's from David Arkenstone's Celtic Book of Days. Great Fall/flight music. :)" Ilequor follows Myklan, playing extra close attention to the instructions. Telgar Weyr> J'lyn grabs Dare to Dream by Yanni. Telgar Weyr> Dossa says, "Ooohs at J'lyn." Telgar Weyr> Ilequor says, "Bother. I don't have it. :P" Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Not exactly, but close enough. Based on the Mabinogion story, from what I can tell." Telgar Weyr> Myklan is actually listening to some relaxation music, with parrot calls. Amazon Interlude. Telgar Weyr> Ilequor has within easy finding ability, Symphonic Battle Scenes, the Needfire, a Rankin Family one - can't see which - Great Big Sea, a Royal Canadian Air Farce CD, and the Titanic CD. None of them worked but what I'm listening to. :) Telgar Weyr> T'garrick feels like he has to match the trend, so throws in some Vangelis. Telgar Weyr> Canus is listening to the Spawn soundtrack :) Telgar Weyr> Myklan says, "It's a New Age Fall!" Telgar Weyr> Erdrick plays 'Fighting Thread' :) Telgar Weyr> Ilequor wants that one. :P Telgar Weyr> A'lex puts in Cyndi Lauper. ;) Telgar Weyr> Dossa puts in... hm. Metallica? Sure. Telgar Weyr> Myklan puts on his Aura-Reading specs, and lights some incense. Telgar Weyr> Myklan takes a deep breath, "I love the smell of firestone and wormwood in the morning!" Telgar Weyr> Ilequor has a crystal ball somewhere... ;) Telgar Weyr> J'lyn changes his mind and goes for Disney's Hero Songs. :) Telgar Weyr> Erdrick has the perfect music for PernMUSHing since his CD /is/ Pern music. :) Telgar Weyr> Ilequor wants it. I don't get it until my birthday, unfortunately. :P Telgar Weyr> Canus has that one too Lysseth crunches into the stone given her with barely-restrained impatience, her eyes already picking up flecks of red and her tail beginning to twitch. Kassima, satisfied, nods thanks to A'lex. "Excellent." To J'lyn and her other Wingmates, she shouts, "Assemble into formation, Thunderbolt, and make sure your goggles are absolutely clear!" Telgar Weyr> Myklan changes his mind...and puts in Stargate Soundtrack in stead. Chiloth starts umbling something, sending a small shower of black powder spraying everywhere. His rider sharply reprimands him, and makes him chew some more, before he mounts up. Apparently, at least this once, T'garrick will fly with Dawnslight again. Telgar Weyr> Bronwynn is all about the Mulan soundtrack! Nraith bends down so A'lex can toss a set of sacks over his neck. A'lex says, "Kassima, once Thunderbolt is assembled I need you for a moment." A woman old and crusty enough to have been serving on ground crews since Fall began hands flamethrowers out to the crew volunteers, giving the instructions for their use in a rough voice. "If ye see anything that looks like Thread, flame it. Never, ever point the nozzle towards someone else. And if ye see a Thread burrowing, let one of us with the tanks know straight away!" Kassima nods to A'lex, and jogs over in that direction as soon as her Wingmates are settled into place. It doesn't take long; at this point, most of them are veterans of Threadfall and have no confusions as to where they belong. "At your service, Weyrleader. What d'you need?" A'lex zips his jacket and turns to the Greenrider, "You ready to lead us up tonight?" Kassima's eyes widen fractionally; her brows are probably jumping into her hairline, but it's hard to see that behind her goggles. "You won't be leading us, Weyrleader?" A'lex smirks, "M'hryn made me lead Fall plenty of times. I'm in charge now, so it's your turn. If you want to do it that is." Lysseth continues to crunch what's left of her stone, swallowing it with a rumble of satisfaction. Her reddened eyes are turned on her Wingmates, subjecting them to as intense a scrutiny as Kassi ever could. Ilequor looks at the machinery, but says nothing. T'garrick swings himself up to settle on the Brown's broad back and into the riding straps with practiced ease. Myklan siddles up to Ilequor, "Hello again. Good to see you stayed. Don't worry abou t it...it's not as hard as it looks. I've practiced before." Kassima is, momentarily, at a loss for words. Call the Harpers, folks. But she draws herself up straight, and gives A'lex as sharp a salute as you could please. "'Twould be m'honor t'serve, Weyrleader." And she sounds as though she means it. Only Fall can do that to this particular rider. Ilequor nods, still looking at it. "I hope so. It looks confusing." From up on Chiloth's broad back, T'garrick scrupulously checks his straps before he fastens them. Then he watches Kassima and Alex quietly. Myklan shakes his head, "It's not. I'll show you once they get us to the ground. You just point, and hit that lever there." A'lex grins, "Good. I know you'll do us proud." He turns back to Nraith and Shadowflame. Kassima nods sharply to the Weyrleader, still looking slightly dumbfounded for a moment before she turns to the amassing ranks. "V'dan, Jirel, Alicienne," she yells to three Thunderbolters, "you three transport the crew volunteers. Shiara, Ylysse, you help 'em if'n they need more. Get your last sacks of stone, people, and get ready to move out!" On Lorieth, J'lyn continues checking Lorieth's straps to his satisfaction then directs her to start mowing down on that pile in front of her. Ilequor eyes the lever. "All right. I'll take your word for it. If you pull back does it stop, or does it do that by itself?" Myklan says "You have to let it go...don't let it burn too long, or you'll heat up your handles." Myklan mutters to Ilequor, "Not much thread... there to... the... feel..." Myklan half-grins at Ilequor. "Or so I'm told." Kassima walks back to her green's side, pausing just long enough to procure two sacks from the Weyrling chains. These, she fastens to Lysseth's straps, checking over the bindings as quickly as she's able. "Everyone in position, Jal?" she asks her Wingsecond. Ilequor nods. She mutters to Myklan, "... but... gives us..." [Editor's Note: I got disconned here, and may have missed a pose or two.] Telgar Weyr> Kassima aughs and apologizes for her 'Net. My pose was the last thing I saw, I fear. :P Telgar Weyr> T'garrick suggests we go fly now. Telgar Weyr> T'garrick says, "Call me a traditionalist. :)" 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. Kassima swings onto her lifemate's back, buckling herself in quickly. "Mount up and get into formation, if'n you aren't already!" she bellows in her best projective Wingleaderly voice. "Everyone has the visualization for Woodcraft?" <*> Erdrick walks out, looking for K'velin and Tredit, spotting them he walks over. <*> Fiton nods to Myklan, "May I join the ground crews?" <*> Fiton moves his head as Autumn takes his familar perch on His shoulder. <*> K'velin grins down at Erdrick as he walks over, "Hop on and I'll convey you over." <*> From up on Chiloth's broad back, T'garrick gives an affirmative along with the rest of his wing. <*> A'lex gives Kassima the ready signal from Shadowflame. <*> A'lex climbs up Nraith's riding straps, with a bit of assistance from a graciously extended foreleg. He settles in between two forward neckridges and straps himself in. <*> Erdrick gets up on Tredith and straps himself in, nodding to K'velin. <*> K'velin looks to his Wingleader and waits. Kassima nods at these various signals of readiness, and raises her hand to the sky--then drops it, in the signal for take-off. <*> Lysseth spreads her wings to their full extent, bringing them down with a rush of wind as she leaps nimbly into the air. You spring into the air and catch the thermals rising from the bowl floor to carry you aloft. <*> Nraith rises up from the bowl. Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Chiloth Rumbles. <*> Lorieth rises up from the bowl. <*> Chiloth rises up from the bowl. Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Lysseth rumbles to her fellow dragons, << Be ready to go *between*. We will be flying over Woodcraft tonight. (OOC: the command will be dtu btw woodcraft.) >> <*> Lysseth rumbles her approval of her own Wing's formation, and, for that matter, the other Wings' also. Kassi seems to share that approval; after a quick look at the airborne Wings, she signals again, this time for the jump *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! <*> Nraith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! <*> Chiloth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Ansuth lets curiousity flicker forth, oranges dancing 'cross Telgar-mind with classic Ansuth-desire to learn. << You fly Thread. >> It is a statement, but a question. Telgar Weyr> Kassima ohs! And 'Ling dragons curious to hear the Fall- related dragon chat should dtu hear +fall, I should mention. :) Dragon> Chezroth bespoke Telgar Weyrlings with << one day soon, you too will be helping to protect Pern. It is a great responsibility. >> <*> Lorieth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! <*> Chiloth's position in the Dawnslight is almost annoyingly perfect. Of course, the little, chipper umbling he does as he arrives just sounds dippy. Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Ansuth is both excited and apprehensive about that, slightly golden silvers twirling, mingling coalescing to form his presence. << It is frightening? >> <*> Shadowflame wings into position with Nraith at point. <*> Lysseth emerges from *between* with the rest of her Wingmates, roaring an immediate challenge to the as-yet-unseen Thread, and the all-too- visible haze that decreases visibility and makes working conditions somewhat less than ideally pleasant. The temperature is warm, but not unbearably so, and air currents buoyed by this warmth play at the dragons' wings with a deceptively light touch. <*> Though a blue at the foremost lines of formation targets a clump of Thread with accuracy and skill, the tangle is too large for his burst of flame to eradicate. Half-charred remains drift past, very near to bronze Nraith, as the front-line blue catches his breath enough to bugle a warning. Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Lysseth's reply is brief, not from a desire to be rude, but due to preoccupation. << There is no room for fear, >> she answers simply. <*> From the Grounds, Myklan comes through the gate from the Courtyard. <*> Nraith rocks the skies with a roar of challenge to the dread menace. He dives, lighting the hazy sky with red-orange flame and incinerates the errant clump until it is just blackdust. <*> From the Grounds, Ilequor comes through the gate from the Courtyard. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick comes through the gate from the Courtyard. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel comes through the gate from the Courtyard. <*> Dragonfire cuts blazing swaths through a thick curtain of Thread that is suddenly falling from above, but a few scattered patches manage to escape nonetheless. Green Lysseth of Thunderbolt might be near enough to catch one of these, but it would be a stretch.... <*> From the Grounds, The groups begin to split up into teams of four or five, as the dragons high above begin to meet the ancient enemy. "Spread out!" bellows the leader. Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Ansuth is pleased with the answer, logical cobalt tinging tone as: << You work too hard to fear. I understand. >> <*> From the Grounds, Bazin follows, hefting flamethrower as he scatters, hurrying left to watch, to wait, to wonder. <*> From the Grounds, Ilequor spreads out, mismatched eyes peering almost straight up until her attention is brought back to the ground. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick heads toward a large patch of trees and watches, waiting. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel hefts his flamethrower and looks around for any burrows. <*> Lysseth trumpets with fierce delight at this approach of her old enemy, and gladly skims along a thermal to target that Thread with a long plume of fire. Crackdust drifts down from the cinders that remain, a gentle snowfall of black. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel sneezes. <*> Buffeted about in the backdrafts caused by dragon wings, a sizeable tangle escapes a Thunderbolt blue to come within the range of Chiloth. <*> Chiloth plunges into the fray with a gusto that is unmatched among many of the much younger browns. He bellows a gout of flame large enough to enswallow the whole clump, and, as it disappears into char, adds the tiniest belly roll to celebrate. His rider sighs, but keeps flying. <*> Lorieth twists oddly to attack a particularly nasty clump of tangled Thread. Nauseating silvery strands turn to black charred dust. The sight causes the large green to bugle triumphantly then dive after more to sear. <*> The winds carry three patches of Thread, two small and one rather large, towards a Aerie blue. The beleaguered dragon takes out one of the small patches, but the other two are coming too close, too fast--so he blinks *between* with a last warning trumpet to Lorieth and Nraith, who are now closest to the Thread that remains. <*> Lysseth pumps her wings once, twice, sending the crackdust drifting with the backdraft as she seeks out another patch to consume with fire. Though the beginning of the Fall is straggly, it's thickening fast, and there are plenty to choose from--almost too many, as it turns out. Fire lashes across first one tangle, then another, but a small fragment of Thread from the second escapes charring. Lyss and Kassi blink *between* to avoid it--with a curse, no doubt--leaving it to drift on its merry way towards the vicinity of the ground crews. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel grips his flamethrower nozzle tightly as the Thread drifts down. <*> Nraith rumbles to Lorieth, then takes the dive towards the clump, searing all but a small strand, which falls groundwards, past the Queens wing, towards Daniel. <*> From the Grounds, Myklan calls out, his attempted bellow becoming a soprano shriek as he points out the falling bit that got past the dragons. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel squeeks and raises his 'thrower. <*> From the Grounds, Bazin wiggles his free hand, pointing t'wards the Thread 'fore he cannot hold the 'thrower with one hand. So he waits, watches, hopes. <*> As a Starblaze green darts down to catch a clump missed by a blue wingmate, a patch of Thread falls through her position and down towards bronze Nraith. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick watches and watches Daniel with one eye, ready to help if needed. <*> Chiloth weaves and ducks, passing off to a nearby bronze when the angle is poor, taking the gob of thread from a blue who has to duck between. The battle in the sky is heating up, and Dawnslight is in the thick of it. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel sprays the small clump as it comes within range, reducing it to char. <*> Lysseth returns to formation, still simmering slightly to judge by her crimson eyes. Still, the performance of the Wings and Thunderbolt in particular do much to assauge both dragon and rider... and so does the arrival of a large, grotesquely entangled clump, which is swiftly treated to a display of the green's fire. My, what incindiery breath you have, Lysseth? The better to flame you with, my dear! <*> From the Grounds, From Daniel's shoulder, Cinder chitters as Threadfall continues. <*> When dragon meets Thread, only one will survive the encounter unscathed; which it will be as a large clump falls perilously near Lorieth's green shoulder remains to be seen. <*> From the Grounds, Bazin would applaud, of course -- but that 'thrower's far too heavy for him to do so. So a sharp nod's given t'wards Daniel in approval as he waits, ready. <*> Aerie wheels and attacks a sheet of Thread that falls fast and steady. The charring singes most of the thread, but sends some remnants scattering towards the groundcrews. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel glares at the approaching Thread, raising his 'thrower again. <*> Bronze Argoth, rising back to his Wing's formation from a dive which caught a small tangle, is forced to meet Thread at uncomfortably close range. He blasts it with a short spate of searing fire, then jumps *between* to avoid the rest, leaving a mostly-charred mass with, perhaps, one or two wriggling Threads left still alive... and quite happy, if Thread could be happy, to be heading towards the ground near Myklan right about now. <*> As a Thunderbolt green is forced to veer swiftly to one side to avoid having Thread slamming into her, the ragged tangle drifts towards Chiloth and J'lyn's green in a downward spiralling motion. <*> From the Grounds, Ilequor eyes the bits as well, still watching. As the Thread drifts closer to her, she aims the thrower almost straight up and at it and fires it off randomly. She actually gets the piece and manages to turn it off before it burns her hands. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick sees a clump falling towards him and the grove of trees he's near and raises his thrower, aiming carefully. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel spots a single Thread drifting towards his and sears it quickly. <*> Chiloth rolls sideways, checking the roll to keep himself a smaller target and keep those long wings out of the way of the drifting clump. He releases a puff of flame that races along much of the clump that is near him. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick blasts the clump of Thread into ash, cutting the flame just a little bit after it's reduced to ash, to be sure it's dead. <*> On Lorieth, J'lyn dives towards the clump that's falling faster than she can get. Flame erupts from her muxxle, but only sears the top part of what's left, leaving a good portion to fall to the ground crew. Kassima shouts to the Wings, "There's too bloody much getting through! Tighten formations and beware that haze!" Though her voice isn't loud enough to carry as far as it would need to, Lysseth's silent reinforcement of the order will. The green has just enough time to attend to that before veering towards a wavering strand that had escaped a brown of the upper levels, chasing it down to flame it to ash with a near-vindictive fierceness. <*> Dragonfire cuts blazing swaths through a thick curtain of Thread that is suddenly falling from above, but a few scattered patches manage to escape nonetheless. Green Lysseth of Thunderbolt might be near enough to catch one of these, but it would be a stretch.... <*> From the Grounds, Daniel wipes the sweat from his eyes and grips his 'thrower's nozel tightly. <*> From the Grounds, Myklan sets his jaw, and waits...until the nasty wriggling mass comes into range. Then he opens up the 'thrower full throttle, using about twice as much flame as he needs to make the deadly stuff turn into silvery ash. *sizzle* Telgar Weyr> Kassima giggles. Sizzle. Makes me think of Thread as sausage. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick sees two clumps falling near him and heads to the closest one, leaving the other to someone closer to it. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel follow Erdrick to catch the clump he missed. It sizzles as his 'thrower engulfs it in flame. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick blasts his clump to ashes, inspecting them before turning his eyes back to he skies. <*> From up on Chiloth's broad back, Chiloth straightens, and tries to follow the remains of J'lyn's clump down, but it passes into the Golds range before he can get to it. He returns to his position in the wing. <*> From the Grounds, Ilequor blasts another shot. Turns out it wasn't Thread thread. Just someone's shedding hair. Oops. <*> From the Grounds, Daniel pokes his scorched clump with his 'thrower nozzle, turning it over to check for any live Thread. <*> As a Thunderbolt green is forced to veer swiftly to one side to avoid having Thread slamming into her, the ragged tangle drifts towards Lorieth and A'lex's bronze in a downward spiralling motion. <*> From the Grounds, From Daniel's shoulder, Cinder chitters at the Thread still above. <*> And since when has Lysseth refused a challenge? Mindful of her own rider's instructions, she sights the patch carefully before flaming, keeping the fire going perhaps a bit over-long to make sure that nothing remains. An irritated rumble is given to yet another strand wavering out of her range; perhaps someone else could catch it, but it still seems more apt to be the target of either Queen's Wing or ground crews. <*> Shadowflame banks sharply to cut across the leading edge of fall at a slightly lower altitude to catch the errant strands missed by said Green. <*> As green Kilvath disappears *between* to avoid an incoming tangle, the Thread becomes Lysseth's problem as it approaches the dragon at a rapid rate. Kassima mutters epithets under her breath, reaching for one of her spare firestone sacks to fish out more rock for Lysseth to chew. The green's flame doesn't seem to be guttering yet, but the pair's long partnership has given Kassi an edge in knowing when resupply is needed. Lysseth twists abruptly, fixing on a tangle that was briefly illuminated by her last fireburst, nearly causing the Wingleader to lose her grip on the stone-- and then she's jostled again by a second sharp veer, this time to catch the swiftly-moving patch, before blinking *between* to avoid yet a third. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick catches a small clump that slipped through with his flame thrower, using just enough flame. Telgar Weyr> Ilequor says, "G'night telgar! Assume I did what was necesarry, I suppose. :)" <*> Suddenly, a warning is cried out from above! A half-charred tangle of Thread falls with alarming speed towards green Lorieth and wingmates, helped along its way by a freak gust of wind. <*> Lorieth powerdives upwards at an angle to attack the Thread that threatens her, her wingmates and her home world. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrickwaits, scanning the skies to watch for any thread that misses the riders above. Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Lysseth instructs in a low, half- distracted rumble, << The small dragons who tire should return to the Weyr, and reforcements, join your Wings. We fly well, but be cautious! The ash is not doing much to lessen this haze. >> <*> Above, a Thunderbolt bronze runs out of firestone at just the wrong moment. Yelled curses from the rider are carried by the wind to the ears of other fighters as he and his dragon disappear *between*, leaving green Lysseth to deal with the Thread. <*> Nraith blinks between as the wind catches a loose strand of thread and pitches it back up towards Shadowflame. <*> Suddenly, a warning is cried out from above! A half-charred tangle of Thread falls with alarming speed towards bronze Nraith and wingmates, helped along its way by a freak gust of wind. <*> Nraith returns about 30 meters higher than where he left, and dives back into position to envelop the newest tangle in a fiery hug. <*> Lysseth snarls defiance at the Thread, swallowing her latest installment of 'stone just in time to attack the errant tangle. Though that one is roasted, toasted, and made marketable as Rotisserie Gold Thread, another patch missed by the same bronze suffers only half of the death-by-fire intended for it by R'huen and Siuenth beyond. The wind tugs it beyond their reach, then lets it fall, its target the green grounds that await, so lushly inviting, below. <*> From Chiloth's neck ridges, With a natural sense born of long turns as a wingleader, T'garrick has his eye on the whole wing. He alerts a greenrider, who ducks between to avoid a tangle, even as Chiloth is corkscrew spiraling around a nasty clump of his own. <*> As a Dawnslight dragon above shifts position, a light clump of Thread plummets just past his wingtip to head ever-closer to the ground below. But Chiloth is close by, and just might catch it in time.... <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick notes the clump missed by Siuenth and walks over, aiming his thrower as he waits for it to get in range. <*> It takes an odd twist following his corkscrew, but Chiloth repositions in time to follow the thread down and burn it before the gold wing needs to. <*> From the Grounds, Myklan comes over a rise, with a smudged cheek and flushed features. The tank and flamethrower look like they've been getting a little use a bit further on. <*> A brown dragon's bellow of pain is abruptly cut off as he and his rider seek the Thread-killing cold of *between*. By the time he reappears, it has gone beyond his range and crossed into the skyspace near Shadowflame's Nraith. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick blasts the incomming clump to char before it hits the ground, watching it a moment to be sure it's dead. <*> Nraith roars challenge as Shadowflame follows him into a steep dive towards the Thread that dared to injure another Telgar Dragon. Flame erupts from his maw, billowing forward and wrapping itself around the evil, silver, bad stuff and rendering it harmless. <*> Judging by the smaller number of silver tangles littering the sky, the 'Fall is lessening -- at least for now. However, the sky is not yet Thread-free; the two ragged patches making their way towards Lorieth are ample proof of that. <*> Mirabilis, on her blue Isiekueth, shouts a warning to Lysseth and Kassi--and the rider curses as the Thread approaching them becomes abruptly visible. The green does eradicate it with a great, billowing ball of fire, but must needs dart *between* to avoid having her nose crisped off by her own flame, to her probable chagrin. C'row and his Servoth attend to a patch that falls through the briefly vacated position in the meanwhile; when he's through, the one thing you can say for the remains is that they're smokin'. <*> Lorieth swoops around to bring both clumps in order to make them one large clump, then hovers to belch forth a giant fireball to wipe the Thread from the skies. <*> When dragon meets Thread, only one will survive the encounter unscathed; which it will be as a large clump falls perilously near Lysseth's green shoulder remains to be seen. <*> Lysseth is tired, now, from the long fight against the Threads, but still retains enough dexterity for a dip and wingtip turn that brings her shoulder--and rider--out of danger. Her green head snakes about to face the Thread, and, eyes whirling with menace, she annihilates the silver ropes. Take that! [Editor's Note: Another discon. The one thing I hate about breaks from school is having to use Mom's dial-up connection, I swear.] <*> As the Threadfall finally comes to a halt, Lysseth and her Wingmates patiently wait long enough to be sure no more spores of death will be forthcoming. When this is indeed evident, the green wearily rumbles, and her rider signals for the Wings' sweepriders to begin looking for burrows. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick sees the end of the fall and starts walking around, thrower ready, looking for evidence of burrows from the ground. <*> Nraith breaks off from Shadowflame as they begin Sweeps under Meli's stern leadership. <*> Nraith backwings to a landing in the WoodCraft Area Grounds. Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Lysseth rumbles, sounding rather tired, << Given the conditions, we flew well, and there are no mortalities. This is a good thing. My rider says that those with injuries or who suffer exhaustion should return to the Weyr now. >> <*> From the Grounds, From betwixt Nraith's neckridges, A'lex says "Ho Groundcrews! How goes? Any sign of burrow?" <*> Chiloth looks fresh enough to sweep, and does so. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick calls up, "None that I can see. Think we got everything in this area." Kassima signals J'lyn to take charge of the Wing, then, as Lysseth drops in a spiral towards the grounds below, probably with the intent of offering conveyance back to the Weyr. A few dragons of her Wing detach themselves and follow, likely under silent orders. <*> From the Grounds, Myklan staggers up, and nods. He's actually carrying two flamethrowers at this point, followed by a footsore girl from the caverns. "Nossir...none found." <*> From the Grounds, Seated atop Nraith, A'lex nods, "Excellent. Take one more sweep around. The air sweeps will be done soon. If anyone needs a lift back, Nraith is willing to take a few passengers." You backwing to a landing in the WoodCraft Area Grounds. <*> Lorieth backwings to a landing in the Grounds. <*> Erdrick nods, "I can get a ride back with K'velin and Tredith." He then starts off on another sweep of the grounds. Telgar Weyr> Kassima thanks everyone who participated in the Fall. I thought it was a good one! :) I'll have a log posted after I get home from break. Telgar Weyr> Alyssa hugs Kassima. Sorry I wasn't here. :/ <*> Myklan starts helping others get the throwers that are spent packed up for transport back to the Weyr. <*> Lysseth spirals to a less than perfectly graceful, but at least neat landing, ash drifting down from her wings to join that already marring the ground. "Duties to Woodcraft and her Masters," Kassima calls by rote, unbuckling the straps that hold her in place. <*> From betwixt Nraith's neckridges, A'lex pulls cargo nets out of a bag on Nraith's straps and attaches it so he can carry spent tanks back to Telgar. 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. Erdrick arrives from his ground sweep and walks over to Nraith and A'lex, "No signs I could see from the ground." Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Anyone who wants a ride back on Nraith, c'mon aboard. :)" Kassima gives her dragon's side a fond slap, then sets stride towards A'lex and the ground crews. "The sweep riders haven't yet reported any burrows," she informs the Weyrleader, with a salute. "Our ground crews were extremely efficient tonight, it seems." High atop Nraith, A'lex nods, "Good work Erdrick." He grins. Erdrick grins, "Thanks." Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "Ooh, me me!" High atop Nraith, A'lex calls down to Kassima, "They do us proud." Myklan steps up onto Nraith's foreleg and grabs ahold of riding straps, hauling himself up the great Bronze neck. High atop Nraith, Myklan pulls himself up hesitantly onto the bronze with the help of the straps. Once up there, he actually looks a little intimidated. From betwixt Nraith's neckridges, A'lex turns back to grin at Myklan, "Need a hand with the straps? They're rigged for fighting, so may buckle a little differently." Kassima bobs her head once. "Aye, sir. As did the Wings, methinks. If'n others need a ride back, Lyss and I can offer it, and Servoth and Siuenth are hale enough yet t'be taking the equipment back to the Weyr." Seated atop Nraith, Myklan shakes his head, "Nossir...I know the straps." He's quick enough to reconfigure them for himself, "Nraith's just... bigger, sir." From betwixt Nraith's neckridges, A'lex nods, "That's true. He's a grand old lummox." Erdrick shrugs off his thrower and puts it with the others, noting the tank is not quite full. "A full fall with one tank, not bad." he says to himself. The aforementioned brownrider and bronzerider, dismounting, begin gathering up the equipment brought by the Telgarians for transport back. Kassi oversees this, leaning against her lifemate's dust-marked shoulder, and nods her permission when the two look to her before taking off. "J'lyn, were any injuries reported in the Wing?" Astride Nraith, A'lex grins down at Erdrick, "Skilled and Frugal. You should be working for Rhiallya." He looks back at Myklan, "Ready there?" High atop Nraith, Myklan tugs his second-hand riding jacket around his shoulders. The poor old green thing's not gonna fit him much longer. "All ready, sir." High atop Nraith, A'lex nods, "See you all back home." Nraith lifts up into the air. On Lorieth, J'lyn shakes his head. "Not that I'm aware of, Kassi." High above, Tredith appears from *between* with a cold rush of air! Tredith backwings to land. Kassima nods in a sort of tired satisfaction. "Good. Too much may have gotten through, but if'n there were few injuries, that's still a welcome blessing. All right, then--let's head back to Telgar." 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. <*> On Lorieth, J'lyn nods and follows his wingleader and her dragon back up into Pern's skies and home to Telgar. <*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as she takes to the skies. You lift up into the air above the WoodCraft Hall. <*> From the Grounds, Erdrick grins seeing Tredith and K'velin, "I see you two made it through the fall without getting scored, for once." <*> Lorieth wings up the grounds of the WoodCraft hall. <*> From the Grounds, From Tredith's back, K'velin chuckles and grins down at Erdrick, "Yes we did. Come on up and we'll pop back to the Weyr." Dragon> Threadfall Comm sense that Lysseth instructs, << All but those who haven't finished their sweeps should head back now. The ground crew has not reported any barrows--good work on both our part and theirs. >> <*> 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! <*> From the South, From the Telgar Star Stones, Kl'loh's brick-brown Yoxath rears on hind legs and bugles a greeting to green Lysseth and her rider, Kassima, welcoming them home. <*> Lorieth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! <*> From the South, From the Telgar Star Stones, Kl'loh's brick-brown Yoxath rears on hind legs and bugles a greeting to green Lorieth and her rider, J'lyn, welcoming them home. You fly downwards towards the southern end of the bowl. You fly downwards towards the ground. You backwing for a landing on sands of the bowl. 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. Myklan turns, and heads into the caverns, trying to ignore the cranky, rumbling sound of his belly. Myklan walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern. 15 Kassima Mon Mar 15 21:37 1999 Fall Results Though the amount of Thread to get through the Wings during the Fall over Woodcraft was more than most might have liked, there was good news to balance the bad: all injuries were of the minor variety, none requiring a grounding longer than three sevendays, and no burrows were reported--due in part to the very efficient work of the groundcrews. Many thanks go to everyone who participated. :) ...................................TGW................................... A'lex comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern. A'lex slautes around, congratulates around and does the general 'yea' thing. Kassima is leaning heavily against her dragon's shoulder, apparently listening to a report of injuries from one of the novice Dragonhealers; at the Acting Weyrleader's arrival, she straightens and salutes, mostly by reflex. "There don't appear to have been any serious injuries, sir," she reports. Telgar Weyr> Kassima posts a notice on the +bboard about the Fall results. :) A'lex grins, "Good work. You lead well." His chin quivers, "I'm so proud." He winks. Kassima snorts with amusement, eyes actually twinkling a bit in their mask of ash-streaks. "Gi' on wi' ye, now," she drawls in an exaggerated version of her own brogue. She sobers swiftly enough. "The amount of Thread t'be getting through was considerably less than ideal, though. Mostly because of the haze, a'course, but still... 'tis fortunate that we'd such good groundcrews this time." A'lex nods, "I agree, everyone should be commended this night." Kassima nods in weary but total agreement. "Indeed, including Faranth for sending us the luck t'have nay mortalities. There's been *enough* death-- especially including the loss of that Weyrling earlier today." Above, From the Telgar Star Stones, Kl'loh's brick-brown Yoxath rears on hind legs and bugles a greeting to gold Chaluth and her rider, Anlin of Fort Weyr. Above, Chaluth bugles her arrival Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Just and FYI, Anlin and Chaluth had offered to fly with the Queen's wing tonight. However Anlin couldn't get on so she's coming for the post fall as if she'd been there." Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Coolness. :)" Chaluth backwings for a landing. Bronwynn walks here from the north. Upon Chaluth, Anlin shrugs out of her jacket Anlin dismounts from Chaluth's back easily, barely taking advantage of the kindly offered foreleg. A'lex salutes the Queen and Queenrider as they land, "Nice work this evening. Fort trains well." Bronwynn gives a crisp salute as she passes through. Bronwynn walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern. Anlin smiles, shaking out her hair, and gives a bow to those gathered. "Thank you, though with Telgar's well trained Wings, I dare say we hadn't much to do" A'lex grins, "Well a little more got through than normall would, but the haze was a bit harsh. Thank Faranth for our crack groundcrews." Chaluth warbles greetings, looking around for Nraith Kassima levers herself up from her slump against Lysseth, checking over the dragon's straps for what's probably the second time. "Another set we'll have t'replace," she chides her dragon lightly. "I swear, I don't know how you're so hard on 'em, Sky-Lady." Craning her head about, she nods an agreement with A'lex. "More t'do than I'd have wished, but the Queen's Wing performed as marvelously as ever--perhaps moreso with you with us, queenrider." A'lex grins up at Chaluth, "He's in the hotsprings washing off. If you're looking for who I think you're looking for." Anlin rolls her eyes at Chaluth. "What's up with you? Proddy or just being a pest?" Chaluth snorts at Anlin, dips a regal nod to A'lex, and heads off to the springs Anlin says "Hey hey hey.. wait up there you..!" Erdrick walks here from the north. Chaluth stops mid crouch, turning for instructions? Erdrick walks in, heading toward the living cavern. A'lex laughs, "She's more than welcome to take a dip." "Washing," Kassi comments, "is a very good idea." Tugging off Lysseth's straps, she urges the green, "Go soak in the Lake, nefarious beast, and play with the lilies to your heart's content." Lysseth warblerumbles a contented agreement, and lumbers off to do just that. Lysseth lumbers north. Anlin sighs, working on the straps quickly. "You have a single track mind.. going off and ruining another pair of straps, and my jacket no less!" With skilled hands, and Turns of practice, she sheds the equipment from her mount swiftly A'lex says "Play with the lillies? That's how my father used to refer to getting rid of unwanted pets." He says in a gruff voice, "You take care of it, Alexi, or we'll be sending it to play with the lillies." He shivers, "Thank Faranth he never really did." He grins at Anlin and Chaluth." Erdrick walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern. Kassima chuckles at the queen's foibles, then summons a grin for the Weyrleader. "Lysseth loves water-lilies," she explains. "Loves t'cover herself in 'em--loves most t'go flying over places *while* covered in 'em, lunatic creature, but I rarely let her do that. Nay certain how Holds would take a rain of flowers from the sky. She hasn't killed anyone with 'em yet, though." A'lex laughs, "Great, maybe I should send her to shower my folks on their handfasting anniversary." Anlin grins back at A'lex, and blushes at Kassima, "Just doing the best we know how.. can't let Fort's reputation be tarnished you know." Looking back at A'lex she adds, "I appreciate the offer to let her go frolick in the waters, but I don't appreciate a ruined jacket.. nor the firehead that would surely ensue after wearing it wet between." A'lex nods, "An impatient one she is then? I keep hoping the weavers will come up with a way to waterproof strap leather. It'd make life so much easier." Chaluth looks around to make sure she's not loaded with any more of Anlin's precious cargo, then heads off Chaluth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft. "Don't give her any ideas! She'd adore that, and 'twould probably convince her everyone secretly wants t'be covered in soggy lilies." Sighing, Kassi runs an ungloved hand through her bangs, grimacing at the ash that streaks her hand when she's through. "If'n there's naught else you need from me, sir, 'twill be heading to the Cavern for a bite of food ere I clean m'self off and collapse into bed." A'lex shakes his head, "Reports by morning will be fine, there were no casualties." Kassima nods and, with yet another salute, trudges to the Living Cavern. You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.