RP:Rebuilding the Mansion

Part of the Rynvale New Dawn Arc

LOCATION: Rynvale, The construction site of the new Governor’s Mansion (rp’d location)

Arien rounded the corner that led her through the heart of Resident’s Square and along the street that would bring her eventually to the expanse of property where once the former governor’s mansion had stood. Had it really been weeks since that bloody night when she had turned this same corner with a battalion on her heels? A shadow flickered across the pale face. They were still paying the price of that night’s events, most directly in the seeming never ending sleep of the draconian member of the Round. Still, Valiana yet lived, and it was something to thank the gods for. Emerald gaze lifted and searched into the near distance, seeking signs of the progress that reports had determined were underway. It was not hard to miss. Though a far cry from the towering four stories that had previously occupied the spot, the limestone walls that rose a single storey into the air on the once vacant lot, served as notice that reconstruction had finally begun. As she drew nearer to the construction zone, the sounds of laborers at work filtered into the air; picks biting into stone, the grinding of rough edges to smooth finishes, and the belabored grunts that accompanied heavy lifting were all audible, even over the steady hum of chatter-directions given and acknowledged. Her gaze swept the zone for the by now familiar form of the High Elf contractor who brought her daily reports. It would be nice to get a first hand look at what he had only been able to show her in sketches and designs. Standing in the middle of laid foundation slab, Garion was visible through the still door less archway that was cut into the base of the newly erected front wall. Head tilted upwards, he seemed to be examining the ceiling-or what would in effect become flooring of the second story. “Very good.. now the north west corner..” his voice rang clearly through the afternoon air, the elf apparently speaking to one or more workers who were walking on the wooden floor above, still exposed to the elements in the absence of the walls and ceiling at that level. Ladders were leaning carefully against the solid structure, a steady stream of elven workers moving up and down the same with buckets of mortar even as makeshift cranes of sorts were engaged in the hoisting of pre chiseled limestone bricks into position on the second floor to begin work on the walls there. Arien crossed the street and the restored cobblestone pavement of the courtyard which was also undergoing reconstruction, and entered finally through the building’s doorway to take in the spacious and open floor plan of the first level. She had to this point, only seen it in ink. “I hope you can forgive the intrusion Garion, but my nature demands that I come see in person the progress of which you spoke. I fear I am a terrible one for delegating completely,” she said ruefully. Slowly the elf made a three hundred and sixty degree turn, making note of spaces both open and enclosed, though likewise accessible by grand archways that would eventually become doors or some other form of formal entrance. “You have even made progress on the rooms I see. I am most impressed,” she murmured. Garion turned to look at the governor almost blankly for a moment. It was most unusual for the privileged to actually come out onto a site-most couldn’t bear the filth, he could hardly endure it himself. Were it not for the compulsive desire to make sure that everything was done precisely to his specifications, the rather delicate elf would almost certainly choose to work from the comforts of some other locale. “ Yes, yes, we are making progress..” he muttered distractedly. Head turned to the entrance of a rather robust looking High Elf, who was headed towards the pair with purposeful stride. “ Ahh, Rawlin, just the elf I want to see. The Governor here wishes a tour of the work completed, and I must yet attend to the testing of the flooring of the second level. Do show her around-she fears she is intruding..” The elf almost chuckled at the thought. “ By your leave, Governor..” And he was gone in an instant.

Keturah || Rawlin grinned a prideful, toothy smile, offering a poor excuse for bow in the governor's direction. "Hail," came his greeting, sweat covered head bobbing in the direction of the mansion. "Lady Arien." Calloused hand raised first to wipe at his forehead with his palm, then to scratch at his chest. "Oh aye. Never an intrusion, M'lady Governor." A sweeping motion was made then, to indicate the area he occupied. "The first floor is nearly done, I'd say. A'least the frame work. Ye have the foyer and the stairway." He paused again, that same enthusiastic gleam making its way to his eyes. "Big ol' dual stairway." Steps were taken toward the left wing, and still motioning wildly with his large hands, the elf indicated the various rooms-to- be, whether the highborn chose to follow or not. A formal dining area was to occupy the west wing, grand kitchens housed in the back in preparation for meals to come. And of course, this was spoken with a wink, an entertainment area, lest the guests be bored during their stay. The right wing was offered only a short tour; a ballroom being its only occupant upon the first floor. Again the hand rose to scratch upon his chest, lengthy ears twitching just slightly. "Everything's goin' smooth as silk, Lady Governor." It seemed the elf had yet to choose a title to stick with when addressing the redhead. It was amidst the hustle of the crew working to reconstruct the place that Keturah arrived, garbed in loose fitting silks. The scarf was pulled slowly from atop her head to rest, a low whistle of appreciation quick to follow to revealing of her face. She carried an urn of water in her hands- a gift, perhaps, for the workers-, large enough that it was deposited out of the way before she made to speak or enter. Her words were not spoken in common tongue, not at first- the lilting musical language of her desert homeland was quick to pour from her lips before plain language followed. "I thought the temples at home were big." A curious tilt of her head and the desert born turned a smile toward the elf. "Is there really so much need for this much space?" These words were met with a scowl from Rawlin, and ignored quite well by the diminutive brunette. "Lady Arien, I have not seen you in some time, no?" She paused, fingers pressed against her lips as she moved to keep out of the way of passing elves. "Is it okay that I'm here? I brought water.. and some medical supplies. In case.."

Arien offered the slender elf at her side a brief amused look, her lips falling open to utter her thanks and farewells, but Garion was already gone. Rawlin’s greeting and generally coarser manner brought an entirely different smile to the female’s lips. She had heard of Rawlin, the architect’s foreman. He evidently took point on the actual construction of the designs that Garion generated. How two such different males could work so closely together to produce such beautiful things was beyond her- but they did, and the rooms coming to life around her were the evidence. “ I love the layout already..and it is most practical to have the areas for formal entertaining all easily accessible on the ground floor,” she said. “No one likes the thought of hundreds of guests traipsing through private quarters or work areas as they attend social functions.” Emerald gaze swept up the skeletal structure of the dual staircase to the level above. It would be truly magnificent. “Has Garion indicated to you yet, what the floor plan for the second and third levels will be? He has thus far only reported to me on the first, as I have been unavailable for our report this week.” Her question was overridden by the soft whistle and comment of the druid, and Arien turned delighted gaze towards her kinswoman, it had been almost a week since they had seen each other last. “ Dear Keturah, you know you would be welcome to me in the very pits of Hades should you find me there,” she murmured quietly, slender arm extended in invitation. “ And yes, you would be surprised at just how much room is needed to entertain in a royal manner, for we must remember, the palace is destroyed, all of the Royal entertainments will likely be held in this place.” A guilty expression lurked in her gaze. “The work of the city has demanded much time and attention of me this last week, I fear I have been neglecting the clan. How fare you all?”

Keturah was more than happy to make further entrance into the skeletal structure of the governor's mansion, offering a cheerful bow as she approached the highborn and the less than happy elf that stood alongside her. When questioned on the clan, however, the brunette could only offer a weak shrug of her shoulder. "Well.. Ah. I'm cheerful enough, yes? The patients in the clinic at home have been discharged to their duties, and everything is so calm now. Then.. Ah. Everyone seems to scowl so. Not without reason, of course, but there is unhappiness. Save for Liri-ji, Drael, or Rho.. I have not heard much from the clan~. Perhaps I will go hunting them out, no?" This was spoken with a soft laugh, and the lycaness idly lifted a hand to scratch at the back of her head. Moss green eyes, however, were quick to return to the foreman; especially once he had coughed to regain the women's attention. Rawlin tilted his head, grin returning anew, post interruption from the druidess. "Second floor fer work-" here he broke off, counting against his fingers. "Offices, a library, what have you. Third floor-" A thumb hitched upward so as to refer to the floor yet to be built. "Place fer bed. Ye'll all be cozy, Ah think. Plenty a'room fer Royal entertainments 'n all the thing the royal fancypants might need, aye? If there's nothin' else ye'd be needin' o' me, Ah think Ah'll be headin' back to work." Keturah regarded him with a warm smile before turning her attention back to Arien. "It is looking beautiful, isn't it?"

Arien struggled with dueling emotions as she absorbed the druid’s report of the state of her kin. Surely it was good news that the wounded had been released to their duties, but there was no doubting that the campaign and the battles that had followed with Helich thereafter, had been severely draining on lives, resources and morale. “Perhaps, they are just taking a well earned vacation from the constant stress-it is the first time in a while that they have not had to remain in a state of readiness for combat. Rho and I made the trip to his home island to visit with his family a few days ourselves, it was a nice break.” She eyed the lycan assessingly. “Perhaps you are in need of one yourself Keturah?” Rawlin’s cough shattered the pensiveness of the moment, and the elf’s gaze swung the foreman’s way to nod her understanding of his description. “ Thank you Rawlin, I am sure Garion will go over the plans with me in more detail once he and I both find the time to sit down and chat. There’ll be nothing else, for now..Thank you.” With a gentle smile, the Governor dismissed the workman from their presence, before turning her attention to the lycan once again. “ But come Keturah, I am sure you have been up to -something- these last few days, you must share the tales of your days with me, and I will do likewise..” The elf was moving as she spoke, picking her way to exit under construction as the druid trailed alongside her. “ It is times like these that I wish there was somewhere a little nicer than the Barrel to eat on the isle. Yet another thing to be worked upon, yes? Services to the public. The work never ends it seems..” The sounds of quiet conversation would fade away on the wind as the two females meandered away from the construction zone, their intention to find some quiet place to get caught up on each other’s busy lives.