networkinthenight | [audio] @kingofwei HERE WE GO

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[audio] @kingofwei HERE WE GO

[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.

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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?

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.]

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?

Where it narrows yes. The current of the river is swift enough that I cannot lay ice down directly on it but I can safely get myself to the other side. I'll take a look and see if the structures of any remain, the closest one that I thought to check had been carried away completely, but certainly some might have persisted. We'll need the remnants, even if they're debris, to rebuild anyway.

As for everyone else... While the thought that they might be incapacitated and not dead is promising, that leaves the possibility they're in the woods unable to find their way back.

[This search and rescue just got a whole lot more complicated.]

Precisely. Do what you can, then. I would concentrate efforts on finding people without having to send great numbers of us over the rivers, first, but if we exhaust the square and downtown, then crossing to the village and the woodland beyond will become necessary.

Certainly. And I hope those in the village are trying to cross over to us as well. Presuming there are any left.

No one has heard from Robin correct? She might be able to see who's alive and dead at a glance, she was the one publishing the obituaries so that information filtered to her somehow.

[ A bit of a short pause before... there's a short snort, and a huff that might sound like a laugh. Of course Rosinante wouldn't know. They've only just met. And on top of treating Rosinante like some go between, here Ephrim's gone and expected him to read his mind. No. He doesn't know anyone here like that.

What appalling behavior. No wonder Fero never took him seriously. ]

If he truly works for better conditions amongst us, then I see no reason to work in opposition to that. Our paths will cross if need be. [ Ephrim will keep an eye on progress on that front. He... will try not to insert himself into a position of power, as tempting as it is. ]

No, not at all as far as I've heard. Given the state of the lighthouse it looks dire on that front, but she may be made of tougher stuff than many. Who is to say?

I am more concerned that Dr. Solis isn't responding to messages either.

Right, er...puzzle solving, sticking my nose in places it doesn't belong, morale-boosting if people are keen on hearing a song. [ it's all a bit pitiful by his estimation, honestly. ] I don't have any superpowers or preternatural skills, I've just got a few years of being an assistant to a bloke who went around trying to help when things've gone wrong. I ask useful stupid questions, and I'm fond of well-preserved records.

And I'm a bit tall and can reach things on high shelves, but I think Rosinante has that covered.

Ta. [ quietly he's pleased by the praise but isn't sure what to do with it yet. ]

I've got no idea on a permanent home yet, but I feel like this stuff does need its own space, yeah? Like a TI- uh, tourist information centre. Only fancier.

[that totally isn't a chuckle at Rosinante's expense, shh]

Ah, that puts me very much in mind of every talented tactician I've had the pleasure of working alongside. Or a scribe, but those are not exactly in high demand, here.

At the moment, I think you cannot overlook the need for morale. If there is anything you can do to keep our community from sinking into despair, by all means. There will come a time for solving puzzles, but for now, if I were you I would keep a close watch on the heart of our little town.

Sure. Somewhere they'll stay dry and safe, and anyone can get to them easily. We can't lose everything we've worked toward, even if sometimes it feels like we've got more questions than we've ever had answers.

I doubt it's irreparable, but I'm not sure it's the best priority with things as they are.

( so... probably... Landmark or Invincible it is. he'll be looking into that, sooner or later. )

It probably won't be quick, but I think you'd be surprised how much we might already have going. It's just a matter of making it more official, more organized. I'd just rather put the idea out there, even help get it going if necessary, as opposed to putting it off because it might not be convenient right now.

But, you're right we need to take stock and inventory first -- get an idea for what and who we have to work with more firmly -- but I don't think we should just table it completely for when that is done. Projects are popping up constantly and if we don't make changes at the forefront we run the risk of falling back into old habits and repeating the process all over again.

How responsive was she before? I never tried to contact her other than when she directly communicated with us.

It would not take her two days, I will say that much. There is still a chance she is simply unable to for some logical and not terrible reason, but...

Yes, at this early point we must look to our people and then our most valuable resources, supplies and access before we begin thinking about repairing the most heavily damaged buildings.

Do keep me advised if you notice anything amiss in that direction.

A fair point. But first we must figure out which of those most adept to leadership or who had expressed interest in it are...well, still here. The idea may be floated but if no one else wants the responsibility, it becomes moot.

Still. I will make note of it so that at the very least, it gets mentioned publicly to more than one person. Let the idea spread.

There's still hope, though it fades as the days progress. Maybe what powers the tablets has been disrupted. If they function off of any sort of power grid it may have been taken offline in certain areas. Or the range impacted.

That is beyond my understanding, so I will take your word for it. But yes, as days pass, our easy fallbacks will vanish one by one. I would prefer to prepare for the worst now and have to discard contingency plans than to not be prepared at all.

A wise plan. I'm at your call should you need me.

Thank you, Grandmaster.

That's true. It also wouldn't be right to suggest this and not put myself forward. If I can lead a legion of demigods and legacies, I'm pretty sure I could manage a spot on a council for Beacon or at the very least I would be willing to step up and do so.

I will.

And in the meantime, I'll help with the torches. It'd be better to get them back in the Bonfire now that the storm is over.

[ there's a brief, bewildered moment where Fitz considers himself compared to any sort of tactician, let alone a talented one, and manages to not burst out laughing. but then... maybe it might apply. maybe. ]

I- right, I'm good at either ingratiating myself or offending everyone around me, but either way I'll do my best. I've not been here too long but...that could be an advantage.

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