Fort Weyr

It might take a few days before the news makes it all the way around the entire Weyr, but it does eventually make it. Apparently on day 12 of month 11, Jaeyi’s firelizard Sugar turned up at the Weyr squawking like crazy and trying to get anyone’s attention that he could. Efforts to communicate with the lizard were frustrating, but eventually yielded the idea that the Baker was in some kind of trouble. Reaching out to contacts at the Hold would quickly reveal that the Baker was caught lifting important Hold papers out of Esraval’s desk, a crime of treason which has seen her sent to the Fort Hold lockup with a strictly controlled visitor list.

The Weyrleader has been beyond grim-faced since and his usual cheer is utterly lacking though he continues to carry out his duties without fail.

It could be seen as rather convenient that just a few days before Fort’s major mid-summer gather, a group of minor holders from around Fort came to the Hold, not just for the gather, but to petition Lord-incumbent Astivan to re-negotiate their tithing percentages to the Weyr, citing the decreasing size of the dragonrider population in the interval and other reasons. Astivan, however, refused their proposals and rumors are running wild that he was either drunk, or seemingly high on something during the meeting, per the injudicious words of some of the staff.

That could be why in the days that followed, a formal request from a large number of Fort’s small holders was put to Conclave to replace Astivan with the much more rational and capable-seeming Lord Warder. After all, didn’t he handle the raiders once and for all? He’s a hero!

The upshot all comes to a head just after mid-summer with the request endorsed by Giarnon of Ruatha, Rivellan of Fort Sea, Trevor of Gar and Leoren of Four sons. The verdict from the emergency Conclave session? A clear majority in favor of Esraval, though several notable Holders were against – not unanimous by any stretch of the means, but enough for the motion to pass.

Day 8, month 13, turn 21 of the 10th Interval
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Just when things were starting to look up with more and more raiders getting rounded up, raids on the decline due to both Fortian efforts and the increasingly cold and snowy winter conditions in the northern part of Fort’s coverage area, tragedy strikes again. After a brief bout of stomach flu, Lord Savilan seems to have developed appendicitis and the surgery to remove his appendix in time failed. All of Fort Hold is in mourning for the reserved, but capable Lord. Amidst such sorrow however, questions swirl: who will take up the mantle of leadership at Fort Hold? Her Lady? Her Steward? Or will Astivan step up with a Warder to help and guide him?

While the Weyrleaders haven’t been saying much about actual plans to deal with Vanissa’s abduction, reassurances have been tendered that the matter is being handled, including the demands from the ransom letter received at the Weyr just a few days after the weyrling went missing.

Search parties continue to go out on a regular basis every day, combing the areas on the maps highlighted by Dashaya and other Peyton allies. Recently, all searchers have been instructed to focus on one area in particular and to look for movement in any clearings within those hills.

One thing that the Weyrleaders have made clear is that there will be no negotiating with raiders and with the deadline for meeting the demands in the note passing, many might be wondering what will happen to the missing weyrling or even how the Weyrleader, her own brother, could let her hang out to dry like that.

* * * NOT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE * * *
On day 13 of month 11, B’kaiv, undercover, finally managed to actually locate where Vanissa is being kept by the raiders.

The catch? Chielyth can’t give anyone a clear reference to where she is to jump dragons in and it’s tough for Kai to pass out a map.

It does help to narrow the radius down though and rumor has it that plans are underway to try to extract the weyrling before the raiders’ ransom deadline is up.

Logs:
Kai finds Niss: http://thumpykai.livejournal.com/57971.html
Hattie and T’rev discuss ransom: http://mecaith.livejournal.com/271527.html

This post was submitted by Fort.

The evening of day 4 of month 11, turn 21 of the 10th interval seemed fairly normal, the weather pleasant, the conversation in the living cavern merry enough, in spite of ongoing undercurrents of tension. All of that changed when dragons started trumpeting out in the Bowl in response to the alarm raised by Liath, Orisoth and Jheilinth.

Much confusion reigned until one thing came clear from all the hubbub: Vanissa was kidnapped, presumably by raiders near a waystation in the Peyton area.

Once the immediate furor died down, the following facts were determined: 1) Several of the weyrlings were involved, including Dashaya and Jiella, 2) The group of weyrlings had taken it upon themselves, under the guise of Between training, to try to spy out information about the raiders, 3) Vanissa seems to have vanished without a trace and Liath cannot get a fix on her position, though she reports that her rider is alive and is not hurt.

Search parties have been organized of course and the Weyrleader is understandably, very motivated to find his sister. In the meantime, Jiella and Dashaya have both been assigned watchrider duty as a temporary disciplinary measure until Jantha makes a final determination about their status. Given her knowledge of the Peyton area, however, Dashaya has also been asked to coordinate with Peyton Hold and assist with rescue efforts.

OOC note: If you’d like to be involved in the attempts to recover Vanissa, please feel to RP about searching for her in the general area of Peyton. Also, drop a +mail to ftwadmin if you’d like some hooks towards actually finding her.

Log: http://mecaith.livejournal.com/270083.html

On the first day of the 10th month, turn 21, after a morning of light rainfall that cleared up for a breezy, pleasant afternoon, Esraval, Fort’s Steward and younger brother of Lord Savilan married Isobel, daughter of Holder Trevor of Gar.

The wedding was short and sweet with family and several high ranking guests in attendance including Fort’s Weyrleaders and the Lords and Ladies of the region’s major Holds. After the ceremony, a formal reception was held in the Hold’s Great Hall with additional dignitaries from the area including crafters and minor holders took place. By all accounts it was a glittering affair: the bride was stunngingly lovely, the groom handsome, the food and wine excellent. The observant my have noticed that certain of the minor holders tended to knot up together: Rivellan of Fort Sea, Rhuvawn of Ruatha River, Trevor of Gar and that Fort Sea presented the happy couple with a discreet gift during the receiving line. This isn’t an uncommon practice, but it’s likely to keep the gossips busy speculating about what was in that envelope.

A few may have noticed the Hold’s newest Baker dancing attendance on quite the beautiful cake, though why the girl was wearing a color so close to red at a wedding might make a few tsk about etiquette and a few knowing staff at the Hold might murmur rumors about where exactly that burgundy gown came from.

Also raising eyebrows were the contingent from Four Sons Hold, given that Wilone, the wife of the former holder had just passed away only the day before. However, Leoren, his wife and several of his family including his younger sister Fiorella, an apprentice at Healer Hall and the Weyrleader’s former fosterling were in attendance and dressed for the occasion rather than in funerary tones.

The Weyrleader also skirted the edges of etiquette, spending some time greeting ‘the help’ though he didn’t linger over long with one of the weavers responsible for the lovely wedding outfits and the cake-making Baker. Wait, weren’t there rumors last turn and the turn before that /they/ were an item at the Weyr?

By the end of the night, there was a very happy and somewhat soused group of people heading home and the happy couple were observed to leave about an hour before the drinks stopped flowing to retreat to their quarters, presumably to enjoy some private time alone for their wedding night.

On the afternoon of day 25 of the 8th month, turn 21 of the 10th interval, just three days before her anticipated departure from Fort Weyr, apprentice baker Jaeyi was summoned to the Council Room by junior weyrwoman Hattie. After about a half hour in tete a tete with the Weyrleader and the goldrider, the baker returned to the kitchen to pick up her duties, looking a little rattled, but mostly herself. What happened in the Council Room during that half hour then, that made Hattie stalk out looking like a thundercloud afterward? T’rev, since resurfacing from a longer interview with Cirse, looked very grave and serious, but has had a bit more bounce in his step than he has for a few weeks now. What is up with all that? No one is really talking about it. A few days later however, a select group of riders, sworn to confidence, are sent out on missions up the coast where several new raider supply depots are discovered and large quantities of goods recovered for re-distribution to rightful owners as much as possible. A few low-level raiders are also captured and this time, held at the Weyr in high up abandoned weyrs for initial questioning. Weyrlings may actually find themselves assigned, in pairs to meal-ferrying duty for the prisoners. Does this mean that the Weyr has finally found out something worth knowing? And does it have anything to do with the events of that late summer afternoon?

On day 13 of month 8 at the conclusion of Peyton’s gather, several wagons were attacked by raiders a day out from the hold. With the Weyr vigilant for such things, some of the raiders were run off by the combined forces of riders and Peyton guards, though there were still goods stolen and some minor injuries incurred by traders and holders leaving the gather alike.

In spite of the faltering Fortian economy with rampant uncertainty about the delivery of supplies, prices fluctuating wildly and trade disruptions up and down the eastern seaboard due to the ongoing sea and land-based raiding, Fort’s holders are continuing to put a brave face on things and holding the usual round of summer gathers, though many of them are focusing strongly on trying to boost trade and using the gathers to make sure that traders, crafters and holders get hooked up with the items they need to continue to conduct their usual business. Fort Hold is posting guards extensively along its roads in knots of 5 to 20 through the gather season to afford some protection to travelers and traders, while the Weyr is fielding constant near-constant sweeps over the region and escorting many ships and trader caravans in an effort to prevent further attacks.

Fort Hold: 7/4 – 7/11 (Event on Dec 19)
Gar Hold: 7/18 – 7/20 (~Dec 21)
Boll Hold: 7/21 – 7/28 (~Dec 22 – 23)
Ruatha River Hold (~Dec 25): 8/1-8/2
Ruatha Hold: 8/3 – 8/8(~Dec 26 – 27)
Peyton Hold: 8/9 – 8/12(~Dec 27 – 29)