Water, wood, and fish! -- what more could you ask for? [backdated to 11/22]

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin stands on the frozen surface of the lake in front of a small wooden shed the size of your average ice-fishing shack. The door is open, and through it you can see a three-foot-wide hole in the ice with water and slush oozing out. It is easily large enough to dip a bucket in, maybe a washtub, too. There is a shelf built into the back wall which holds pails, plastic bottles, and other useful containers that he and helpers found in the shops. ]

I've got a couple of announcements. The Fire Brigade and the Elfhouse have collaborated along with some of our other friends on three projects to provide some useful supplies:

1) I've chopped a hole in the ice here, near the north bank of the lake. There's WATER available for anybody who wants to come down here and get it. If you come down through the city center past the Sewing Shop and head straight for the lakeshore, you can't miss the kiosk. You'll see it sitting on the ice, not too far from shore. We're going to come down every day and make sure the hole doesn't freeze over, so water will always be available. If you're having a hard time with the weather or are not physically able to tote heavy buckets or containers, let one of us know, and we'll fetch the water to you wherever you live.

2) WOOD for fuel purposes. Heat your house or cook with it. My brother Maglor and I and the Firefighters ripped up the planking of the piers before the gods moved us here. We dried it out and stacked it in several places for distribution: the currently empty units in Delight's Housing; the Firehouse; and in my forge shack. Let us know if you want some of this lumber for fuel or building, and somebody will meet you and help you carry it home. We also burned some of it to make charcoal, which is easy to use for cooking purposes, and that we put into sacks to hand out. My boat is drawn up on the shore of what was South Island a few days ago, and I'll offer it as fuel, as a last resort. Otherwise, I'm saving it for building purposes.

3) FISH for tasty, nourishing food! The Elves and Sansa Stark worked hard for a week preparing my last few boatloads of fish from before the move. Two fish products are therefore available. We salted and dried some of it, which you can pop in a pot of boiling water and make soup of. The rest we smoked, so it's cooked and you can therefore eat it as is. Come and get it at Delight's Housing #06. We'd also be happy to offer some of this cache to anybody who wants to help distribute it -- the Bakery? The Speakeasy? Anybody who'd be interested.

[OOC: And anybody who wants to say their character helped with any of these projects can let me know at tangyminx and I'll edit your character into this post. Also, any character in the aforementioned list of collaborators can respond to those who comment here, if they feel like it.]

Comments

audio

[completelycrazy]

So we have to go through you if we want to use wood you took from the orchard? Or, sorry, was the pier made out of the park?

video

[so_dark_a_road]

I only cut wood from the park. And no, I'm not presenting myself as the owner of the lumber. Just the distributer. I don't think too many other people were going to wade out into the water or clamber out on the piers and work on disassembling the structures, so I and my associates took care of that. And where else were we going to store it? -- in your house? Are you volunteering?

[completelycrazy]

I'm not gonna thank you for dragging the wood out of the water when you're the one that put it there in the first place.

[so_dark_a_road]

Of course I put it there. That's where a pier goes. . . IN THE WATER. I never asked you to thank me for hauling it out, though. You're very clever at putting words in other people's mouths.

I said that if anybody needs it for fuel or for building, it's available. Scroll upwards and check the actual content of my post.

video

[bythewaves]

We left the wood in unlocked locations, saving only the forge, and that for safety. It is free to take for all, although obviously wisdom would suggest not taking more than is utterly necessary. And my brother speaks true. We touched no tree from the orchard. The others - yes. But not the orchard. If you would rather no fires, that is your own affair, not ours.

text

[evocation]

everyone involved in that whole stupid boat thing keeps saying they never touched the orchard
so where did all the fucking trees go?
did they just poof into thin air?

video because what is text

[bythewaves]

That I cannot answer - although I will remind folk again that our hosts here require emotion to survive, and anger is plenty of sustenence for Rage. All I can tell you is that neither Curufin nor I laid any hand to the orchard. You are all asking the same question, and I have only the same answer to give - repeating the accusation will change not what I answer. I know what I did. I watched my brother. We were not the only boat builders.

audio

[completelycrazy]

If I had my pick of the litter, I'd pick a renewable resource over fire... Like, say, fruit! But, hey, you made it your affair when you chose to wipe out the city's entire tree population so you could play pirate. I don't care who touched which trees—the fact of the matter is, it was a waste of resources, and now you're oh so generously gracing us with wood for fuel, which continues to be a waste of resources. You seriously couldn't think of anything better to do with piles of lumber than to burn it?

Re: audio

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor doesn't quite roll his eyes]

Then do not use the wood! You mortals, honestly. You are clearly not listening - we have said time and again we did not touch the orchard. But you are clearly too obssessed with your own thoughts to hear, and it is not worth my time to reason with one who only wishes to be unreasonable.

[ CLICK U GOT HUNG UP ON ]

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Nobody wiped out the city's entire tree population. We used a big swath of the North Island trees, which I will take my share of the responsibility for. But I never touched a tree on any of the other three islands, and as I said, I'd be damned surprised if anybody else did.

It had nothing to do with playing pirate, by the way. In case you weren't paying attention, it was to provide reliable transportation between the islands, and it was to provide safe passage across the ocean in order to get hold of those Door fragments. There are a great many people here who can't go home safely, should the Door under the Colosseum decide to sweep them away. This is because they have nothing to return to but death, and most likely a very unpleasant death. Or if the problem with the Null is ever solved and it becomes possible for the gods to revive their former hosts and therefore to do without us and (hopefully) to send us home, then giving the Door expanded powers might very well make it possible for those endangered ones to go somewhere else than where they were taken from, or, best possibility, to return to their own world but in time to prevent their own demise. Know anybody who might benefit from that, Dr. Geiszler?

If you had your pick of the litter? Okay, then put your money where your mouth is. You're a resourceful man -- so pick a renewable resource, think up a way to make it available, and provide the city with it. I'll certainly volunteer my time and skills, if you have an idea.

[hot_mes]

I've also moved the Corazon onto land so it can be salvaged.

I'm not disassembling it any further, though. People are free to take whatever they can strip off it, I'm sure the hard work will keep them warm.

[so_dark_a_road]

That's good of you, Law. I'm sure it will be useful.

If anybody needs the wood and can't do the work themselves, I'll volunteer to do the disassembling.

[hot_mes]

It's simply what needs to be done. I didn't anticipate that we'd have to fend entirely for ourselves, but I had the sense that dry firewood would come in handy.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

Thanks for doing all that. Are you doing okay in the cold?

video

[so_dark_a_road]

You're welcome, Abigail. I was glad to be able to offer something.

Yes, I'm doing all right in the cold. Maybe we Elves aren't affected by it as much as some would be. Maglor and Fingon and I lived in East Beleriand, which is cold as hell in the winter. We used to have to dig ourselves out of six-foot snowbanks when there was a blizzard.

But what about you? Are you all right? If you need anything, I'll bring it to you. And if it's not something on my list, I'll still find a way to get it for you.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

I'm all right. We had bad winters back home too. Usually not six-foot snowbanks unless there was a really snowy winter. Shoveling out the driveway could be a really big job.

Atem used magic on my clothes to make them keep me really warm. That helps too.

I'll definitely need water. I could also use fish and charcoal. I can take any part of the fish, even the head or the bones. I'll make a really great soup. Maybe you can stay and have dinner?

[Audio]

[such_a_teez]

This is the best news the city has had in a while. [He really does like Curufin, he's an interesting man. And from what he's seen, a good one.] I have some furs to add to the efforts if you think they'll be needed. And if you need any volunteers I can reluctantly put a little work in. [His tone is light, it's obvious from the sound that he doesn't mind for a friend. Or at least someone close to it.]

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Thank you! [ Curufin feels the same way about Tyki! ]

Furs? That would be a wonderful contribution! Where did you get them, did you hunt the ice-bears?

[ Chuckle ] If you're all afire to hand out dried fish or bash the surface of the ice-hole once in a while to keep it from freezing over again, I certainly won't object! [ He gets it that Tyki really is offering his energy, and he is pleased. ] And if you want to hunt for some more furs, I'll gladly accompany you.

Re: video

[such_a_teez]

I've got a few in different varieties. I haven't gone after any of the bears yet, but I've hunted monsters and game as long as I've been here. I figure at this point I may as well hand them over. The cold isn't particularly fun for me, but it's not dangerous for me either. So other people will make better use of them than I will. [There's a pause.] Some of the monster furs don't smell particularly pleasant. I even took Kettara's advice and buried them, but it only helped a bit. They're warm and clean, though. So I suppose the scent can't be helped.

I'll do what I can. Can't you see my enthusiasm? [His tone is very dry, but suddenly Tyki seems to perk up a bit.] Do you think there's any fish under the ice? Have you seen any sign of it?

Audio

[stealyoursoul]

Sounds like someone's been busy and productive. I don't need any of what's being offered, but I'm sure everyone else here will.

[For once, not having to eat and running hotter than a human temperature comes as an advantage.]

video

[so_dark_a_road]

We try, Leo. And thank you for your positive feedback!

[stealyoursoul]

I appear to be one of the few. Is the cold all getting to everyone or something?

[Not that he's worrying much about that. Being a fire elemental monster has its perks upon occasion.]

(Video)

[stonebird]

I fear I shall smell of nothing but fish. (She is trying to bring some levity to the situation.) Are you well? I can bring you tea if you are feeling chilled.

(Video)

[so_dark_a_road]

Sansa! [ A welcoming smile. ] We all worked hard at processing those fish, but I think you worked harder than any of us.

You have tea in a thermos? I would be most grateful. If you are willing to come out into the cold, that is.

(Video)

[stonebird]

You can do other tasks; I am limited. (So it made sense to her that she should work harder.)

Of course. The cold doesn't frighten me. (She is Northern born and she knows how to dress to combat the wind chill.)