Mouldy Menace - RPLOG
Participants
Date
7/9/476
Log
A foggy noon in the countryside near Firmament. This part of the countryside lies low but hilly, and the fog rolling across the hilly grasslands despite the noonday sun signals the coming of fall. Nestled comfortably here is a good-sized granary in which much of the Crown's emergency stockpile of wheat, barley and other grains is held, an enormous, well-ventilated building consisting of two circular towers, side by side, and a building for the workers to live in.
Today, there's a long line of carts and wagons stretching in from the road from Firmament. The better off have their vehicles powered by mathemagic, those less fortunate have theirs drawn by beasts of burden. The mood is somewhat tense despite the Crown's reassurance that there's enough for all, and the weather's not helping any.
At the head of the line is a small counter at which a vulture sits, one of the Crown's bean-counters overseeing the rationing as workers load and unload hand carts of precious grain. Guards have been posted around the entire building and alongside some stretches of road, hoping that today's a trouble-free day.
Selena has a faint smile playing across her face this afternoon; apparently fond of the atmosphere that some might call gloomy. After landing -- Divine math being far cheaper to use than public transport -- she approaches the vulture from an angle that makes it quite clear she's not in the buying crowd. "You left a note with the Freeswords? If there's anything you want to clarify about the job posting... Other beings will probably be arriving soon." She greets, taking a glance around the area.
Zevran approaches from the direction of Firmament, using the cheapest form of transportation possible. He seems a bit distracted, lost in his thoughts as he walks at his own pace past the line of waiting folk, staying far enough to the side so that nobody could accuse him of trying to cut in line. Once he makes his way to the head of the line, he approaches the vulture and Selena, offering a wave to Selena. "So, I suppose you left the job posting with the Freeswords. Guard duty doesn't seem too difficult." He remarks to the vulture, taking a chance to look down the line of waiting folk.
A gloomy day, but at least it isnt' raining. A bit of water always weighs down upon a poor lion's already heavy mane. With blade at his side and iron buckler at the ready for wonderful guard duty, Dio arrives from the city by hitching a ride with a friendly individual. It would seem they were having a nice conversation! With a chuckle, the lion hops off and joins the growing group, heading up to the desk and giving Selena and Zevran a solid nod. "Right! I'm 'ere for guard duty as well! I hope you aren't expectin' anything."
One of those arriving in response to the message left at the Inn does not come along a ground route. Instead a shadow crosses the ground repeatedly and anyone looking up would be able to see a Griffon. The hybrid is a Raven and Panther mix, circling the structure twice before finally descending for a landing close to the group. The thrusting of the wings to finally land sends up a cloud of dust and other loose debris, and thankfully none of it is within range of all the food. Nothing is said by this one yet as he pads up to the assembling Soulless.
Arimia has made her way out of the city as well, choosing the ground route. Upon reaching the line she starts to walk along beside it, taking the time to examine each merchant, each guard, pretty much every being that has come thus far. Though if she sees anything that seems out of place to her, she doesn't comment on it. Instead she arrives at the counter with the vulture and takes a few minutes looking him over as well. Then she takes a few steps away, toward Selena, and leans against the wolf.
Angus appears as well, the chill of the fog causing him to throw on a leather jacket over his usual set of armor which he tighened around him as he walked up to the slowly forming crowd. "Guess this is were the freeswords are gathering to help?" He asks, turning his gaze over the merchants waiting patiently in line as he trys to make a mental list of how many guards were already here.
The vulture looks up from his paperwork, motioning for a granary worker to load a merchant's wagon with a full handcart. "That's as much as you're allowed to buy at the reduced prices. If you don't like the rationing, take it up with the Good King himself."
Dismissing the poor fellow with a wave, he then turns to everyone gathered. "Good afternoon - although it certainly doesn't look like it with this fog around. I'm Anson, and I oversee the running of this granary in the name of the Good King. I usually run a decent staff, so this has never really been necessary before, but the last time I opened the stores to the public three days ago there was a scuffle between two merchants that grew into an outright fistfight. I'd like to prevent that from happening today. No one likes rationing, but everyone needs to be fed. I don't see why the panic - this is one of Sweetwater's biggest granaries. There's always been enough for everyone. If you have any questions, please ask now - it's going to get busy really soon."
Selena greets Zevran, Arimia and Angus with friendly waves, her arm settling back down just over the raccoon's shoulder, glancing down at the currently quiet woman for a moment before the Vulture says his piece. "A pleasure, Anson, I'm Selena; The panic's likely because there's rationing here. I doubt that much of an impact would've come from the recent weather alone..." She replies, then glances back to the others for more useful input. "That said, if there's trouble here it might be a good idea to ask about later on and see how some of the smaller granaries have been coping."
Zevran waves to Dio, Angus, and Arimia as they approach. He also gives the unidentiied Griffon a nod of acknowledgement before turning back to listen to the vulture. "Panic doesn't always make sense, and it spreads quickly. Still, there shouldn't be too much trouble here if the merchants and others stay calm." He remarks to the vulture, taking another opportunity to look up and down the line of merchants and waiting folk, checking for anything out-of-place.
Dio gives the new arrivals a good nod and turns back around to witness the exchange. "Don't worry lad," he returns, holding up his hand slightly. "I know all 'bout rationing an' havin' to tighten yer belt. When ya gotta save food, it's fer the good o' everyone." The lion looks back at the line of wagons and crosses his arms, getting a good observatory glance at their guarding environment. "Army folks 're certainly more used to rationin', but merchants... Probably not so much. Guess we'll try an' stop chaos at the root before it spreads."
The griffon listens intently to the vulture, eying the merchants and the other common folk in the meantime. When the others have said their pieces he finally pipes up, revealing who he is to those who know him, "If it comes down to it and it is only two who are quarreling, I will take them in my talons and fly with them. The threat of being dropped several hundred feet is more than likely to force them to simmer down."
Arimia looks over the vulture then says, "We'll do our best to keep things movin' as smoothly as we can." She looks to the others gathered and says, "I'd suggest a couple folk wander the line. It's a long one. So havin' a patrol, of sorts, a visible presence watchin' everyone an' not jus' those at the counter, will help keep 'em calm." She then excuses herself, slips out from under Selena's arm, and makes her way over to talk in hushed tones with a feline guard, then moves along to another guard. Possibly just making sure there's no hard feelings about Freeswords being called in.
