[audio] @kingofwei HERE WE GO

[pure_havoc]

[he sounds tired. They probably all do, after all of that.]

My friends...

I'm sure I don't need to state the obvious, but we are just now seeing the full extent of this disaster. If you have not yet looked to see the bluff where the lighthouse used to be, take a moment and behold. This is hardly the first time the ferry hasn't come, but everything else....well. It is a tragedy on all sides.

First, I would like those who can to check in. Who is still here, and are you all alright? Now that we have a moment to breathe, report in if you can. We must take stock of who is genuinely missing, versus those who are just too busy to use the Grandmaster's alert system.

Second, can we have reports on what is destroyed and what still stands? I have spent my energy moving torches and redirecting water around the Bonfire. It is mostly safe, as far as I can tell, but Master Rastus is missing entirely. What of the village and the downtown on the other sides of the river? How do they fare? Has anyone been able to reach the Keeper, Dr. Solis, or anyone else with the network?

[a pause, a deep breath. Rosinante, buddy, this is on you]

Now is the time we need leadership, more than any other. We can discuss and debate the options later but for the moment, I would like for all of you to trust me and allow me to take charge. Temporarily, if nothing else. I have led my kingdom through war and disaster on a similar level before, I will do everything in my power to lead us out of this and to recovery and reorder, swiftly and carefully. I have been asked by some to step up, and so I shall. If you will let me. If there are no objections, simply ask me for a direction and I will point you toward a need that your skills can meet. What we need first is to take stock of what we have and what is missing: people, supplies, and shelter. From there, we will move forward one step at a time.

If you will not have me, then feel free to say so and I will not waste my time. Meanwhile, I will be moving torches back to the Bonfire Square until I drop from fatigue.

Comments

@silent | voice

[callada]

[He did say he'd support him and a leader doesn't look legitimate without at least a few people visibly backing him up. Rather than keeping quiet as is his preference on the network, he'll just have to pitch in his two cents. Or two beris. It's not like there's money here anyway.]

I've been focusing for the time being on search and rescue on the north end of town. Unfortunately it's pretty quiet outside The Invincible and the Landmark. If people never made it to those locations before the flood, it seems like they might have had more trouble than those who did.

From what I've seen so far, the museum looks to have been hit badly. Like the lighthouse, it looks like some of the cliff under it collapsed. I know Riku used to spend a lot of time there and I haven't seen him since the rain started.

I'd like to keep searching, but I'd also like to get some bridges rebuilt so we can get help back and forth. Let me know which you think is the higher priority.

[pure_havoc]

[thanks man, just what he needs]

Both are, generally speaking. If people cannot use the tablet to send an emergency signal, I doubt they can respond to this message either, and those must be found. If they are hurt or in danger, the sooner the better.

Bridges are important but not time-sensitive. If others are currently stranded on the other side of the river, we will all be able to work together to span it in time.

[callada]

Right. I'll focus the first few days on immediate search and rescue efforts, and switch to helping with bridges as time allows.

Easier than asking for who is present might be asking people who they notice is missing. I've got a list going in my head. Might be more helpful if it's written down, available to everyone. Also helps me and others out here know who we should look for. Would you be able to maintain something like that for us?

@ephrim; voice; private;

[sunsbreath]

You would vouch for him?

[ His voice is as even as always. Is he upset? Maybe, but Ephrim's doing his level best to take this in rationally, and he'd like to think his level best is quite good. ]

[callada]

I do. I've known Cao Pi since we both arrived last July. He and I have had our disagreements and in that time I've come to see that he's competent and level-headed. We have disasters so frequently, and every time we do, we lose people due to a lack of organization and communication. Having one person we can look to, who can help keep track of who is where and delegate responsibility, will unify us. The flood proves that we're not able to just make our own haphazard independent decisions and survive them.

What's more is we need someone who can help direct research and organization toward fighting the world eaters who is here with us in Beacon. The Wild Hunt and Pluto of the Night Market have put themselves forward as having solutions and while I don't think anyone agreed with Kimiko's ideas, the risk in following Pluto is clear - she's down there, she doesn't know us well, and it's too easy to lose contact with her and the others. Beacon needs its own leadership.

[More words than he's said in one breath since coming here, probably.]

@HK

[catholicisms]

What happened to the Lighthouse?

( there's a clear note of unease in his tone. which, from Matt, means HIGH KEY PANIC. he might be the last remaining member of the Robin Stan club, but he's basically president, so he has a Concern. )

[pure_havoc]

[okay Matt can be forgiven for not uh. looking up at the lake. Cao Pi's tone is dead serious]

It's gone. Entirely. The entire bluff appears to have been washed away.

There is only so much we can discern from a distance in the darkness but the light is gone and the black shapes of the bluff have changed. Now that we have some starlight to see by, we can see that much. But without having someone who can go there to see it up close, there is no way to know if the Keeper survived, or if any of it is salvageable.

[catholicisms]

I'll... I'll see if I can contact her. I haven't heard from her since all this started, not once since before the storm. I figured that with the rain, the connection was too muddled.

( now he feels guilty and terrible that he didn't try sooner or even think sooner that a flimsy metal lighthouse that seemed to seem creaky just in the wind could be utterly destroyed by a storm of that magnitude. )

The spirits always kept us from getting too close. It might be dangerous to go search, but if there's anything left behind, we should find it if we can.

( Robin was in charge of some important technology, after all. Matt is distinctly worried about the implications of what that might mean, if all of it is suddenly gone. )

Robin, Solis, Rastus... they're not the only ones that seem to be gone. It seems we lost quite a few in the storm. I can't even guess how many, but we need to find out.

@D.Va | Voice

[bunny_suit]

I'm still here. [Although she hasn't spoken to him just yet.] My name is Hana.

I'm not sure all that I'd be able to do in my state, but I'll assist in helping any way possible. I think the village took some hefty damage.

[pure_havoc]

Hana. [repeating to make sure he marks her down as safe]

Are you injured, my lady? What is your present location?

@justfitz | voice

[rereremembered]

[ he's got no outright objections, in fact feels relief at someone stepping up to organize things after this mess. ]

Fitz here, er... I've been at the Invincible, doing all right now that water's dropped. [ there was a bit there when he'd thought he's only hear rain and waves forever. ] Before things got too soggy I nicked a bunch of stuff from Town Hall, records and whatnot. Didn't get everything but it's something. I think.

[pure_havoc]

So, you are the one I saw going back and forth. You have done us all an immense service. Losing that information would have put us back at square one, at the mercy of our faulty memories. Thank you.

@silent | voice

[callada]

You're the one who's got those? Good. Good thinking.

It might be a while before we're able to fix the Town Hall. Wish we had more people and more supplies. Have you thought about setting up somewhere else as a records hall?

@lucky | voice

[mindofathief]

[Duster turns on the tablet with his not-broken hand.]

Greenhouse has some broken glass, but it's safe.

[And lies down to rest.]

[pure_havoc]

Is it? That is some relief.

I will add your tablet name to the count of those present.

@lonk; voice

[sublimebeast]

[In an obviously exhausted tone.]

I'm okay.

There's lots of people I haven't seen since the flood, though.

[pure_havoc]

[it takes him a second to connect the voice and he username but aha, there you are Link. Marking you as present]

Where are you presently?

Voice@SuprNerd

[moderatelymaladjusted]

[There's a noticeable edge of strain in his voice, the words are rushed and nervous-sounding as Quentin hurries through the message.]

I'm still here. I-- uh, I can't seem to reach a lot of people, but that might just be because the tablets are maybe not working? That could be a thing that is happening. I tried to go back to the cabins, but the bridge is washed out. All the ones I tried were gone, but I'll keep trying. Maybe I missed one. I don't know.

Do you need a hand? Not with the, you know, leadership, but the torches? Before I head back out?

[pure_havoc]

Master Quentin. Good, I am glad to hear from you. [and it's not just politeness]

I am unsure at this point if all the torches are accounted for, but since Master Rastus is missing himself, it is harder to tell. That said, if you need one to assist in searching, you may as well take one. Who will stop you?

un: jupitersgrace [voice]

[notthatjason]

This is Jason...[He hasn't seen the other Jason in some time, but still out of habit he quickly adds.] Grace. I'm still in the Invincible and conducted a head count there just this morning -- it's why I knocked on your door earlier. Of the 20 rooms, 14 are still occupied and I believe only two of those rooms have more than one person in them.

I've started cleaning up and sorting debris both downstairs and along the river. There's...a lot. Some of it is salvageable, but most of it we can probably get rid of. I'll leave the piles out for others to sort through though, just in case. It's going to be difficult to check out the rest of Beacon without the bridges. I think our focus should remain on clean up and repair first -- but if you want someone who can fly to check out any other areas I can do that.

[There's a pause, like maybe Jason is about to cut the feed, and in a way he does because he switches the next part to a more PRIVATE response. This next part is meant for Cao Pi alone.]

Thank you, Cao Pi, for stepping up like this. I can tell you are reluctant to do so, maybe because I was in a similar position once myself after a tragedy...but that just makes it more important that we have someone at the forefront since there seems to be so much uncertainty right now. Even if your current position as leader is temporary, I understand you taking the reins as you have. We've cooperated well in the past and I think that is going to be in our best interest to continue as such in the future. That being said, it might not be a bad idea to discuss a form of leadership that is less one person in charge and more of a senate or council.

I know, I know we aren't trying to form a government right now, but if we're going to be dividing up tasks and talking of leadership, now seemed like the time to express my concerns.

You did ask, after all.

[pure_havoc]

Excellent work. I will be down to have a look around for myself soon, but for now I will make note of that.

[is it wrong that there's still some small part of him that gets excited when people switch to private? All that clandestine courtly mucking about...]

[private]

Yes, I certainly did. I still like the idea of a council, especially after this disaster. If I am still here - or anyone is - it is by sheer luck. I should hate to take up the reins only to be killed later and leave everyone back at the beginning. Yet, it may not be something we can implement quickly. In a month or two, maybe. After we see whether the portal still works and whether we will ever receive fresh supplies, new people, and so on.

@Grandmaster | Audio

[paletteswap]

I would vouch for your leadership, though I fear my word holds little weight.

[Someone is spiraling into self-loathing about not being able to save everyone single handedly.]

I had hoped that the church would be overflowing with those who are returning to us, but that was too hopeful even for me. I've not seen many of the residents, nor any sign of Robin or Rastus. Have many checked in with you? Do you know which bridges have been rebuilt? I can start working on any of them.

[He has a feather to follow afterall.]

[pure_havoc]

Yet your presence fills me with pride and relief, Grandmaster. Thank you.

My ongoing tally is far short of what I was hoping. Commander Rosinante found someone unconscious, so it may be that others are incapacitated rather than dead. Like everything else, this seems to be a task that will take more than a couple of days to complete.

The bridges are not yet seen to. If you can lend an effort, I would focus on where the river is most narrow. Your powers can span it, even if only briefly, no?

@purin | voice | backdated to let's say the 4th

[flangirl]

Lord Cao Pi! This is Pudding, we met briefly not long after April's ferry. I'm glad to hear that you're alright.

I don't know you well, but I'm glad to look to you in the immediate. Being willing to stand up in crisis shows you in a good light!

[ She sounds incredibly earnest. She also does believe her own words, even if she doesn't trust just about anyone. Still, a strong voice stepping forward after disaster is familiar, and that is its own kind of comforting. ]

I've been keeping close tabs on the entire supply contents of The Invincible. I did a thorough food and medical supply inventory as things were packed and moved upstairs. At the moment, there are also 35 unclaimed torches in the upper floors.

I have a good mind for lists and for maps. I might not be much for physical labor, but I'll happily keep on top of inventory to the absolute best of my ability. I've been making use of the notes - app, they call it? - in the tablet and transcribing copies to paper as I have time.

slides onto

[pure_havoc]

Lady Pudding. What a wonderful thing to hear, that solves a number of problems - not limited to, what do we have and who do we appoint to keep track of it? You are already on top of it, I'm impressed.

I will see to it someone moves those torches to the Bonfire, if they are of no use in the rooms at the moment. In the meantime, I welcome any and all assistance you can provide. Such bookkeeping is actually quite valuable.