[Hopetoun] First, aid.

[Vega]

31st Trial of Ashan during Arc 721

It was not supposed to be snowing.

Of this, Vega was sure. She was also sure that it was, somehow, inextricably and unequivocally, Arlo Creede's fault.

She missed her husband, dreadfully. Vega was quick to reassure people that he and Darius and Doran were fine, that this had happened before and that they'd be back soon. She was quick to reassure people of that because she absolutely believed it. But still, she missed him.

Bert - her small stuffed bear and bed companion when Arlo wasn't there - was a very poor substitute for his companionship, Vega thought. In fairness, Bert was a better listener and he never interrupted her. But, equally, Bert was shocking at giving advice, had an abysmal sense of humour, didn't cook and - although he didn't hog the bed - he suffered from a very basic flaw. He wasn't Arlo.

Still. Pregnancy emotions running through her or not, Vega was who she was and she knew that she had to just shake this out. So, to-trial she determined, she was going to collect more wood so that she and her cousins could make beds for the people who, according to Xiur, would be arriving. Before she did that, though, she needed to speak to the Order of the Adunih people who had been stranded here on the 30th Ashan, during the first trial of the freeze. They'd been here a full trial now, and they needed to get settled in, as well as they could be. Vega made her way over to where they were, and she smiled in greeting to them. "Wotcha," she said, nodding her head. "I'm Vega Creede, an' I'm here to help you. It looks like this weather's goin' to last a while, so we're doin' what we can to keep people as safe an' warm as possible." Vega nodded, looking at them. "That very much includes you. So, what I'm goin' to do is this. I'm goin' to set you up a camp here. We haven't got buildin's enough to house you all, but I can make this place a warm an' safe place for you." There were a few skeptical looks, but Vega was confident and - as it happened - she was telling the truth.

"If you don't believe that, you haven't visited my camp an' that's a shame, because you should. It's well comfy. Now, I'm a little bit pregnant, so I'm not goin' to be liftin' or carryin' things," she said, firmly. "But what I am goin' to be is bossy. I'm more than happy to answer any questions as to why I said to do that thing that way, after you're all safe. But while I'm tellin' you, I'd like you to just get on an' do, ok?" The good thing, Vega decided, about being her was that she was so bossy that most people just got on and did.

"Excellent. Come on then. No lollygaggin'" And so, they got to work.

[Vega]

31st Trial of Ashan during Arc 721

They were cold and each of them were concerned that they might be stuck here for a length of time. They'd been well catered for and cared for by the Hopetounians, but equally, this freeze had taken them all by surprise and the addition of a group of people from the boat were an additional strain on the resources of Hopetoun. Add in to that the fact that the freeze was significant, that Darius - the leader of the settlement - was not here, and Vega knew that this was a situation which really needed to be dealt with. She'd thought about it tactically, and had come to the conclusion that it would be better if she sorted them out a camp.

"Right, we need to get a windbreak, here," Vega said and she started showing them what she wanted to be put, where. One of the Order healers spoke up. "How will this protect against the wind?" He asked and he seemed genuinely irritated. Vega looked at him, although she didn't answer because he was still talking. "I don't think it's going to help."

"I don't care what you think," Vega said and she sounded - because she felt - irritated. "How about I don't tell you when an' how to stitch up wounds, an' you butt out of livin' in the wilderness, a'right?" The man was afraid, she recognised that. Unfortunately, Vega was who she was and she didn't care that he was afraid. "I've been camping a lot of times and ..." She wasn't in the mood to listen. "You've been campin'? Are you havin' a giraffe?" He blinked in some surprise at that. "I've lived on a boat or in the wilderness my whole life. So, here's the deal. I've had cuts an' bled a few times an' I don't think I'm a surgeon. So, do me a favour an' don't think that you have the first idea about livin' in the wilds because you've slept in a tent twice. Now, shut up, an' argue with me later, alright?"

He would have argued more - she could see it - but one of the other Order members put a hand on his arm and shushed him. "Right, next thing, we need to get your tents moved. This way. We need to put the first one here," Vega then started at the beginning, putting the tents where they needed to be, one by one. She understood the way that the wind and the cold worked and she understood - more than that - the ways around it. So, she was clear, she was directive - and frankly, she was bossy. The man who had challenged her worked, albeit with bad grace, but he did and so she said no more to him right now.

And so it continued. Often, to those who she was directing, what she said made no sense, but Vega was more than able to create a camp which would do more than keep them safe. In fact, it protected them from the elements in a way which seemed nonsensical. It wasn't, of course, it was just an understanding of the weather taken to its extreme and Vega knew that she had no time to explain it.

That - the explanation - she would do once they were finished.

[Vega]

31st Trial of Ashan during Arc 721

Step by step, piece by piece, they did as she told them. And Vega made sure that they did it quickly and efficiently. There were twelve of them, and that was a lot. But equally, Vega was used to making a camp for that number. Her, Arlo, both their fathers, Escher, three cousins and their wives made eleven. So, thankfully, she was able to get this done and get it done quickly. She got the fire going, put stones for warming in there, and placed orange sand bags in the appropriate places. Everything, no matter how strange or random it seemed to the people she was directing, had a reason. And so, after a much shorter time than might be expected, Vega sat down at the campfire and accepted a cup of tea from the irritated - and irritating - man. "Thanks," she said.

Sitting down opposite her, he looked at Vega with anger in his eyes. Vega returned his gaze. "I left my daughter at home, she'll be scared. I don't want to be stuck here." Vega nodded. "You're frustrated, an' you're afraid for her. I get that." He sighed and glared, irritated that she was being reasonable. "I owe you an apology, though." Vega shook her head. "You don't need to apologise to me." He frowned. "But I was rude," he said. Vega nodded. "You were. But you're not sorry an' you'd be rude again in a bit if somethin' got up your nose," she smiled as she said it, because she genuinely did not care what he thought. "So, you're not sorry an' you'd repeat it. That makes an apology a waste of my time an' your effort, don't it?"

He frowned and seemed about to say something. But then, he sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. I am." Vega smiled. "No worries. Jus' try not to be such an unmitigated ball of phlegm in the future. On the plus side, you make lovely tea." She looked around, then, and considered something. "You're all healers an' stuff, right?" He nodded. "Mostly, yes. Some administrators, like me." Vega nodded.

"Right. Well, I need some help, please. You've seen that we're buildin' this beacon, yeah?" She gestured and he nodded. "We're buildin' that because Xiur said we're goin' to get a whole bunch of people arrivin' here who are former slaves. We need to house them an' care for them. Can the Order of the Adunih help us, do you think?" Vega knew of at least one Order member, Isra, who planned on staying - but that was an individual who wanted to live here. This was for helping with the people who were to come. He nodded. "What do you need?"

"Anythin' an' everythin' you can spare. Medical supplies, certainly." She looked at him and nodded. "I'm thinkin' that you've all got experience of that, after freein' the slaves here, so as much as you can." He nodded. "I'll get it sorted." He said. "The medical supplies are what worry me the most," Vega admitted. He agreed.

"I'll wait to hear from you, once this thaws an' you're able to travel back?" Vega asked. He nodded. "Good. Do it as quick as you can, but after you've hugged your daughter." Handing him her empty cup, she smiled. "Work to do. Start pullin' together what you can from what you've got, would you? Jus' in case they arrive tonight, or you're still here in Saun." With a half-amused, half-alarmed glance, he nodded and Vega got up and, indeed, got on with her day.

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Bert's bed fellow

Points awarded: 10
Magic xp: none

Knowledge:

Intimidation: x 2
Logistics: x 1
Socialization: x 2
Psychology: x 1


Renown: 5
Loot: Medical supplies shared by the Order of the Adunih. Average supplies enough for a family's supply for a season. Enough to ration.
Injuries/Overstepping: None
Wealth Points: None

Skill Review: Your intimidation and socialization skill are competent. While you could argue that she put that administrator off guard with that psychology capstone, I'd still prefer to see her to perhaps stumble a bit when it comes to the intimidation and persuasive tactics to bend them toward your own goals. Still, it's not serious overplay.

Notes: Bert sounds like a nice companion, even though he isn't Arlo.

The Administrator really didn't know when to shut his mouth, did he? You'd think a person with a group of healers would be better at listening. But he's an administrator, not necessarily a nurse or some such.

Still, Vega did well wrangling the efforts of the people who are now stranded on Faldrass. Well done!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!