RP:Supplying the Garrison Outpost

From HollowWiki

Part of the Rynvale New Dawn Arc



LOCATION: Rynvale, Dragonlands: Barren Plateau.

This elevated plateau provides beautiful views of Rynvale to the south, mostly the white walls of the governor's mansion and the tall spire of the temple but the thin sea green line of the ocean can also be seen near the horizon. The beautiful view can only distract you from the harsh beauty of the barren plateau. Though the area is arid and rocky it maintains a kind of untouched beauty, the rich tan of the earth and the smooth baked rock are a change of scenery from the lush forests of sage or the yellow nameless desert this is something unique and it appears to have been left mostly untouched. A rocky outcropping blocks movement to the east but a break in this allows passage north and the western pathway appears to blocked by a large brick wall that appears to have been built recently.


Rhocielle : With dusk already looming over the island, the work crews had retreated once more towards their camps in eastern ancient pine forest. Darkening orange hues marred the fractured stone structures that outlined the plateau of Rynvale as if an amber broken crown, defensive towers that would protect the island. Pairs of Fold soldiers patrolled the extensive construction site, crossbows and swords at the ready against any threat: be it from wandering wild dragons from the western dragonlands, or ambitious thieving fools from the southern port. These were times of recovery for the island, and even a looted set of tools and supplies fetched enough silver and copper for a few meals or mugs of ale. However, the restored government had foreseen such economic hardship remaining even after the expulsion of the Imperial forces. The clinic and the arena, soon to be theatre, remained as aid stations. Free food and medical attention were still being offered. "Hrmm..., soon the citizens will not have to wait in line for what should be their right to not starve...," said a husky voice, the source being a perched wolfen warder atop one of the incomplete towers. No others were present to keep him company, save the twin moons as they slowly made their announcements in the darkening sky. Grey eyes narrowed slightly to make out the furthest lights of Port Rynvale, those that belonged to the restored harbor. The cogs were already repaired and they would shortly disembark on their voyages to scour the seas for much needed harvests of fish, one of the principle resources of the island. The black furred male sighed, his warm breath almost dancing with a passing breeze. So much work, but it was progressing well. That was the important thing.

Arien gathered her cloak around her against the chill of the night wind as she picked her way along the barren wilderness trail. It had been a trek of some distance up to the plateaus from the low lying coastal regions, and thankfully, she was not alone. The soft clop of hooves in the gravel behind her was almost hidden by the repetitious creak of wagon wheels that turned over on the earth beneath. The supplies it carried for the workers up at the outpost construction site were eagerly awaited. While much of the hired labor were locals who returned to their homes at night, quite a few had travelled from the mainland and had had to be temporarily housed and fed at the work site. The elderly man who sat atop the Wagoner’s seat, reins in hand, cast anxious look the elf’s way again. She had insisted on getting down to walk on the steeper areas of the trail, not wanting to add extra burden to the already weary horse. “ Ehh then M’lady Gov’nor, ye shouldnae be walkin’, it’s not needed that. Ole Betty ere’s carried much mor’n yur little weight in ‘er time..” bleary eyes rested on the elf in the thickenening darkness. Arien spared a quick look over her shoulder at the elderly pair. “ I know it William, but I am in need of the exercise anyway, and the night air is good for me.” Turning ahead, emerald gaze would find the glimmering of lanterns within the massive structure as it reached up into the air, and down into the earth. It would become a landmark on the island, the towering fortress that would stand guard over the people in the city below. Already, by the light of the setting sun that had guided her earliest travels up into the plateaus, she had been able to see the profile of the guard towers, and the scaffolding around the observation deck that had been carved into the face of the cliff. If reports had proven to be accurate, three weeks of non stop labor had produced significant progress. The tunnel system and the underground storage and weapons facilities that they would serve had already been gouged out of the earth, and support beams put in. So too had the lower levels of the barrack bunkers been constructed-it was where many of the overnight workers were currently being housed. All that remained, was for the towers above ground to be completed, and armed, so that they might effectively guard the entrances to the assets that would lay below, and they could begin the process of manning the outpost. Unconsciously, emerald gaze swept the perimeter of the outpost, looking for signs of the wolf. She knew he had intended to spend the day at the site overseeing the work, and warning of the pending arrival of the ogre and orc who would provide labor for the work of the Merchants in building their road. It had been too long since they had last been in each other’s company. Sometimes, she regretted the burden she had come to bear. A quiet nod would be offered the pair on patrol as the supply wagon rolled up to the entrance of the quiet, but dust laden barracks still under construction. “ You may tell the Chief I am here,” she would direct softly, turning at once to begin unloading the supplies.

Rhocielle narrowed his gaze at hearing a rather pecuiliar sound. His muzzle shifted towards the source, gravel crackling under the weight of a wagon approaching the site. Finally, he thought to himself. He was minutes away from calling upon some of the guards to accompany him into the dragonlands in search of their missing comrades. One comrade's safety worried him in particular. Without need to be called upon, the black Lycan made his way down a soon to be completed spiraling staircase that would lead to the various levels upon which ballistae would be installed. He made it down to the ground floor sooner than he expected, only a moment spared for what seemed to be a sudden lapse in time. "Heh," he wrly chuckled to himself. He missed her more than he first thought, now realizing he had taken to almost leaping over steps in threes, if not more. Securing his cape around him, the dusty winds whipped at him as the wolf passed through the threshold of heavy reinforced door into the clearing of the plateau. "...I am already here," he retorted with some amusement to the General's request to the soldiers that guard the entrance. Soon at her side, his paws took hold of the heavier equipment and crates to remove them from the wagon. They were a strange pair. Most leaders would not lower themselves from their station in hierarchy to do such remedial work as unloading supplies. "You are late, elf," he chided, stealing what contact he could. A clawed fingers would gingerly graze her wrist or hand, a mock apologetic glance cast when both would presumeably reach for the same item.

Arien’s pale hand stilled upon the crate she was about to hoist from the wagon as the husky drawl of the wolf penetrated the darkness behind her. Fingers tightened reflexively upon the materials in hand, all the more to resist the impulse to simply drop everything and turn into his embrace. They were not alone, and in public they yet wore the faces of their offices. She dammed the patrolling officers to the nearest fiery realm. The light in gem like gaze was soft upon the male as she turned to greet him, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “ I know..and you have my apologies for any worry caused, wolf. We had to circumvent a rogue Blue who seemed not in the best of moods. It meant taking a less direct route through the flatlands.” She worked as she talked, her warder falling in at her side. Emerald gaze would fly to meet slate grey eyes with each ‘innocent’ brush of contact, and promised that he would be made to pay for his subtle teasing at some later date. Hoisting a crate of perishable goods, the elf pivoted to head back towards the tower door from which the wolf had emerged, tossing a question over her shoulder. “ Have we yet resolved the best means for ventilating the rooms below ground, and for lighting them?” she queried. While creating a garrison protected from the surrounding dragons in part by being below ground made sound tactical sense, the general still worried that the lack of sunlight and fresh air might be more harmful than helpful to the officers who would man the clan outpost. Granted, there would be constant rotations of shifts, with equal allowance for time spent above ground in the guard towers and surface barracks, it was better to deal with potential problems while the outpost was still under construction.

Rhocielle said while gaze was set upon the task at hand, "Oh? Hrm, as I have told the merchants, much safer building the road atop the plateau... The sooner they tear down the wall blocking the south western entrance, the better." The last of the supplies unloaded from the wagon, he fell in alongside Arien once more. A short stack of boxes with foodstuffs were held in his arms, his muzzle sticking out over the top to speak without hindrance, "Aye, and I am thinking of adopting similar techniques to the ones that we use at the Keep in Kelay... We could also be inclined to a more magical means for the lighting. Glowing runes could be drawn into the tunnel walls, and it would also cut down on some of the air needs for having torches burning underground..." With his paws occupied, the black Lycan needed the aid of the elf to open the door for him before proceeding inside with her, "How is the governor's new building coming along?" It had been some time since he had bothered to walk towards the eastern portions of the city, and therefore had not been witness to the construction since he had seen dragons destroying the remains of the devasted mansion. Down another spiraling staircase they descended, reaching yet another reinforced door that would lead into the tunnel network that housed storage rooms, armories and sleeping quarters. Each tower had similar underground arrangements, self sufficient for its garrisoned troops. However, each tower was also interlinked with the others, preventing a siege force from successfully cutting off a single tower.

Arien: “Mhmm.. the mansion progresses well, Garion’s last report indicated that it was nearing completion..at least with regards to the frame and roofing. The walls on all three floors have been erected now. Soon it will be but a matter of cosmetics and finishing touches before we can begin to supply it.” She said quietly. The pair moved slowly along a for now, still dark corridor, the only light coming from a single torch that burned steadily on the wall near the earthen roof. “I like the idea of the runes..some of them can produce light of a tone and quality almost reflective of day light. We should make contact with a mage who might be willing to do the work for us. I wonder, if it is a task that Reece might be able to effectively undertake? He has done some work with runes before..this I know.” The elf reached the entryway to a space that was obviously intended for food stores. Shelves lined the walls, and boxes and crates, some stocked with ice, were likewise lined along the same. Moving into the room ahead of the lycan, she began the process of unpacking the fruits and vegetables into one nearby ice box, quietly chattering as she worked. “ It is a good thing the fresh produce is resupplied daily.I do not think it would otherwise survive more than a day, two at the maximum down here otherwise-granted it is largely protected from the heat and air.” Sealing the lid tight, the elf would rise from her crouch, brushing food residue off of her palms and onto her leather clad thighs. “I saw the scaffolding on the observatory on my climb up. Is it safe to go out onto the viewing platform as yet? Is it even complete?” Arien would lean against the doorway, watching him complete his own unloading while waiting upon his eventual response.

Rhocielle took a careful look around as they made their way through the underground passages, ever inspecting their design and structural integrity. The dwarves that aided Drael in the reconstruction of the harbor were all too excited to give their assistance to an area they were familiar with. Reinforced ceilings were supported by sturdy beams whose design and simplicity rivaled that of their subterranean homeland of Craughmoyle. Such were the dwarves. Every task set before them demonstrated their pride in their work. "Aye, and something Reece would enjoy doing... as it is in his element..." Much like tunnel construction was for the dwarven race. His own crates were filled with more preserved foods, jars of pickled vegetables and slurries of fruits. They needn't be unpacked, and therefore were simply set aside in a corner. "And that is good to hear, about the mansion. As for the observatory...," muzzle turned in the direction of the tunnel that led to one of the sources of fresh air, "The scaffolding is to be taken down tomorrow, when the crews return. The construction of the observatory is complete, save for installing the telescopes. Those are still taking some time to build..." Intricate pieces of engineering in their own right, they were to be built according to the blueprints of the telescopes in Cenril's library and Rynvale's own observatory. "Would you care to see it?" he asked, though the low pitch of his husky drawl already betrayed the truth of his intention. Paw like hand extended to offer escort to the High Elf, both leaving the cramped spacing of the storage room in favor of the inspiring view from the balcony of the observatory. Gusts of breeze whipped at both cloak and cape, hints of salt still present from the winds' origin from the southern coast. His paw soon disengaged from her hand, a moment later felt over her stomach along with its twin. His chest pressed against her back and muzzle against her fiery tresses. The unnatural heat from his Lycan body warmed them, the sight of the city before their eyes inspired her. The island would soon experience its new dawn.

Arien found herself in those moments, watching and listening to the lycan, more for the comfort that came from the sound of his husky tones, than for comprehension of anything which he might be reporting. Words did however, filter through distracted thoughts and she nodded her comprehension of his report on the state of the viewing deck. It must be breathtaking to see the city below..and the lights of the Port from this eagle’s perch upon the mountain top. As if reading her mind, the wolf made his offer, limbs extended to guide the elf onto the expanse of the viewing platform that was carved into the very cliff face. Oceanic breeze, chilled with the nip of altitude in the spring time bit into what flesh lay bare, and the elf shivered lightly, only to be warmed immediately by the furred arms that risked stolen embrace here in the privacy of caverns carved into the earth. Pale hands came to rest over the jet furred digits that cradled her womb, thoughts inevitably turning to the future family she had given up in choosing to let herself love him. The bond of hearts and souls..would have to be enough-was enough. Never had she been so loved, or loved so completely in return. Always had there been some ingredient that left bitter aftertaste in her samplings of the heart. Until Rho. Children would be a sacrifice she would willingly make. Emerald gaze was fixed upon the city as it sprawled out before her. From the view high above all seemed at rest, though she knew the world at ground level would still be abuzz with the illegal work done under the cover of darkness along the southern shores. “It is beautiful..is it not? In its rawest form? I remember as a child, traversing the hills and forests on the hunts with my parents and looking down on the city, much as we are now. So much has changed.. We will make it shine again..won’t we?” she whispered.

Rhocielle drew his arms closer around her, the leathern padding of his palms pressing slightly more into her slender figure. He was her warder, of both her body, and her heart. The chill of night would not be allowed to discomfort her. His muzzle, marred by runic tattoos, rubbed gently against her head. Black fur mingled with red hair, even as those crimson strands were made to dance in the wind. His clawed fingers splayed slightly, allowing her lithe hands to lace their own digits in the spacing between his. Grey eyes glistened faintly from the light of twin moons above, as if sparkling silver. Each eye reflected the sight before him, and he answered the High Elf, "Aye..., it is." Despite the late hour, most of the city seemed far from asleep. The lights at the harbor spoke of ever working hands at the harbor, drinkers and gamblers at the Broken Barrel, and the unseen hands of pickpockets that still haunted the alleys. It was far from being a paradise, but so much had changed. "We will make it shine again, Arien...," he answered truthfully.

She believed him. It would not be easy, but her home could be drawn back from the brink of absolute anarchy. The elf did not doubt there was a place for light and dark..for balance, but any pretension to balance had long been driven from these shores. In time, perhaps, and with careful management and governance it could be restored; a time and place for the exercise of all the elements that hummed in unison to make the island what it was, established. The pair would linger there a while, on perch high above the city, before moving on once more to complete, eventually, all of the tasks that would need to be done to see the outpost supplied for the laborers who would arrive in the morning. Tomorrow would be another day.