DAY 010

[allthekeys]

|| THREAT DOWN

|| DAY 010: GENERAL Outside, the thunderstorm seems to have only gained in strength. Those venturing out of doors will find themselves soaked quickly when not under some kind of cover or shelter. While the rain has taken the edge off the sweltering heat, it has, at least, remained hot enough to make it difficult to catch a chill from the rain, although continual rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning provide incentive to not stay out in it for too long. The rain is heavy enough for some rivulets to be finding their way inside, small streams running along corners on the first floor; the ground in the Basement is slick and damp, although the water is not reaching more than an inch at most where it can gather. The pit and other drainage seems to be enough to mitigate it. As the stormclouds lighten with dawn, the wraiths recoil away. They drift to vanish into the fog, leaving the outdoor areas free of their presence, and are gone completely by morning, leaving behind only a dark dew upon the roads that the towns folk and guards all avoid. || THE TOWN The building in the town that the folk have been spending all of their time on seems to be nearing completion, though they seem hardly willing to rest on what they have built. As they need less and less for heavy lifting, those freed from the work will begin to pick at the other ruins, talking among themselves and seeming intent on some other working. The building is a rather grand one, with a single large door that will allow those who wish to to enter when the townsfolk have finished their work. Near daybreak the Blacksmith's apprentice makes her way down to the building, hauling with her a large bell pulled upon a cart. She struggles some with its weight, but insists on managing alone, and she does. This procession repeats itself throughout the way, and those within the town can often hear the whispers of bells before they are silenced as work is done on the upper floors. As all things have been that involved this lovely place, the efforts in finishing it are largely communal, with those who are unneeded often bringing drinks or food to the workers. They are beginning to remember their laughter again, and cheerfully exchange words with those who pause to speak with them. Elsewhere in the Town, the girl who tends the Cheese Shop is not nearly as happy. She is now visibly pregnant, though she is making every effort to tend her shop despite her condition. The two shades that once tended shop with her are gone, and no sign of them remains here. It is left to her to do all of the heavy lifting as she looks after her shop and wares, and though she does not complain or demand assistance, she appears visibly unhappy as the day wears on. Some rather enterprising human has hung up a large tent in the square, and though the waxed canvas does leak occasionally it has provided a largely comfortable place to gather and trade wears. Things like baskets, young, live birds, eggs of a number of sizes, fresh, smoked and salted wild game, baskets full of mushrooms, damp roots, herbs, and waxed and oiled cloaks. The air within the tent is largely good natured, despite the damp rain. The Apothecary is buying from this tent, taking great interest in the roots and herbs that are stocked. He looks tired, but in a better mood than he was during the night. A pair of women are sitting near the entrances, weaving wool into rather pretty shawls, their gaze on the doorway. They are often attended by a man who brings them tea or something to eat, and can not be enticed away from their stools. For all their alertness, they are rather plain, unassuming young people. The younger woman appears to have recently given birth, and the older woman has a face mostly lost to wrinkles. Rose, with young Rowen in tow, can be found keeping them company midway through the day, and the baby is traded back and forth between them with a great deal of admiration and fondness. She has hacked off her thin, brittle hair in favor of a short pale halo around her face, and has dressed herself in a set of men's clothing, obscuring her identity. Rowen laughs as he is traded, well dressed against the damp rain and the chill it might bring. || GARDENS AND YARD The Gargoyles seem to have failed in pushing back the overgrowth of the Garden; heavy flowering vines hang over the walls around it, some of them creeping up to onto the battlements on that side, a state of affairs that seems to have the guards nervous. The overgrowth provides some shelter from the rain within the gardens, although the foliage is not a perfect umbrella; curiously, it seems as though the plants themselves are beginning to mind growing around paths and certain clearings, defining their own routes for those entering. It is still oddly easy for more human-like adults to get turned around, but those investigating the area will find a number of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible or useful plants among the paths. The Chickens have escaped their coop and have taken up residence on the garden wall, the younger birds leading the charge towards freedom. A few of the roosters crow, though none of the sunlight can be seen. Recapturing the birds may prove to be a difficult task. At least one of the hens has laid eggs in a nest near one of the small ponds and guards it rather furiously from any attempts to disturb her. The Gryphon Rider leaves with her bird near daybreak, vanishing into the fog from wherever she might have come from. The building she spent so much time inspecting is nearly completion, and the little man who watches over it seems weary of it. The soot-covered workers pause on occasion as the light returns, peering up towards the sky with wistful, hungry gazes. || CASTLE The Grey Maids are working on hanging clothes, and those who enter their dorms will discover that their beds have been stripped of linens and any spare clothing that was not currently on their persons is gone as well. Though if they wish to go looking for it, it can easily be found either hung to dry or waiting in a basket as the women work on hanging the rest. It has all been mended of any damage taken, even if this requires whole panels being replaced, and has been altered to better fit any changes in height or weight. They will not bother anything except for clothing, and any items that were hidden within it will be left in the middle of their beds. Joining the line is the Heart Eater her pale, lifeless skin seeming to gleam in the dim light of the day. She is hanging a red robe on the line, singing a soft, almost childish song under her breath to an audience of several crows. Tanny arrives in the kitchen near daybreak, seeming at a loss for what to do with herself. The Cook directs her to hauling water for tea with barely a pause for breath, and she does so without complaint. She does seem a bit confused to find herself thus ordered, but can be found filling the pots and setting them on the fire throughout the day, her hair pulled back into a basic knot at the base of her neck. Ilanna is gone from the kitchen, but the table she was crying at appears stained golden, the wood grain looking infused with the metal in that particular spot. The zoo seems to be settling somewhat with the dawn, although the inhabitants are unusually attentive to their surroundings; the calm is, at times, almost unnatural, as if the creatures are waiting for something. The Guards seem a bit uneasy about the male Centaur having his hands free. The male remains on the ground next to the female, her head resting on his chest. He speaks to her constantly, his voice soft and soothing, and brings her water and food throughout the day, coaxing her to eat and drink. He does not seem to bother with eating himself, his entire focus on the young female he cradles so close. The Unicorns stand in a tight knot around the foal, their heads together and their hindquarters facing outwards. They seem to be sleeping, but their ears flick in such a way when anyone approaches that it suggests that they are aware enough to put up quite the fight if they do not wish to be approached. The Goose proudly sits atop a nest of scaled and feathered children. The small creatures wander away from their parent from time to time, breathing small puffs of flame as they do so. The guards seem to be somewhat at a loss over these small creatures. In the Jungle Bedroom, the two stuffed black leopards are on guard, this time joined by a red lemur. They stand directly behind the door, and although they do not move, their gaze seems to follow anyone who enters the room. The tapestry in the Magpie Bedroom appears to be breathing. Terra will find a folded scrap of paper wrapped around a golden chain with a large, blood colored ruby hanging from it on his bed. The chores for the day have been assigned: Dorm 18: Basement Dorm 19: Kitchen Dorm 20: Second Floor Dorm 21: Second Floor Dorm 22: Groundskeeping - Roads, Yard, Stables/Outbuildings Dorm 23: Basement Dorm 24: Groundskeeping - Roads, Yard, Stables/Outbuildings Dorm 25: Groundskeeping - Garden Dorm 26: First Floor Dorm 27: Kitchen || THREAT DOWN GENERAL: • The previous night's thunderstorm has intensified. The rain is now heavy enough that the basement is beginning to flood • Outside, the Wraiths have faded away THE TOWN: • The new building is almost complete • The Blacksmith's apprentice is visiting this new building • The Cheese House's shopkeeper is visibly pregnant, and the shades usually accompanying her are gone • In the square, there is a tent where people are trading goods. The Apothecary, Rose, and Rowen are there. A party of women sits near the entrance GARDENS AND YARD: • The Chickens have escaped from their coop • The Gryphon Rider has vanished • The addition to the stables is nearing completion CASTLE: • The Grey Maids are hanging clothes and have stripped the beds in the dorms. The Heart Eater joins them • The Basement has started to flood • Tanny is in the kitchen hauling water for tea • The zoo animals are beginning to calm. The male Centaur's hands are still untied, and the Goose's eggs have hatched into fire-breathing chicks • Ilanna has left the kitchen • The stuffed leopards and a red lemur guard the entrance to the Jungle Bedroom • The Magpie tapestry is breathing • Terra has received a gift