Xanadu Weyr - Caverns
A massive cavern in it's own right, this one has been skillfully adapted for human habitation. The high ceilings have been painted a light, soft ivory, as are the walls where numerous tapestries hang to provide brilliant color and insulation from the stone. The floor has been left in its natural state, pale pink granite speckled through with glittering mica and dark flecks of basalt, leveled carefully but kept sufficiently rough to avoid slips.
The cavern itself is loosely divided into areas, each one set up to be suitable for some segment of the Weyr's population. The most frequently occupied area, however, is the one near the Kitchens where tables of varying sizes provide a place to sit down and eat or chat and a buffet of consumables is almost always kept stocked. Its plain that on most days, this area wouldn't accommodate anywhere near the full population of the Weyr and equally plain that on such occasions when a formal meal is laid out, tables are appropriated from all the other areas.
A big fireplace is set into the wall near the Kitchens as well, several comfortable chairs nearby providing haunts for elderly residents or riders who like a good view of all that happens. Rugs cover the floor in strategic spots, all of them abstract or geometric in design and most in the softly neutral colors of undyed wool.
Exits lead off in all directions, a big archway the largest and that leading outside. Shallow stairs to the west lead to the offices and administration area while tunnels to the east lead to the infirmary, kitchen and resident's quarters. Southwards, a sloping tunnel leads down to the hot springs and southwest is a wide tunnel, carefully roped off to avoid accidents.
It's been surprisingly quiet, given that Xe'ter had a wingleader's knot left on his desk rather unceremoniously. Maybe too quiet. While Pern's youngest Weyrleader's generally a quiet sort, this is the sort of silence that can deafen the dead and scare young flits *between*. So it's probably NOT a surprise when there's a commotion coming from the administration hallway…or when the tall, dark haired bronzerider comes OUT of that hallway. He's not yelling, but he's being surprisingly emotive as he does so, "I swear to FARANTH, I'm going to promote a wherhandler to the position! This is sharding stupid…this is beyond stupid…." There's an answering bugle from outside, the tone and timbre of it betraying Romth's shared agitation with his lifemate. And then a few moments later, those dragons who ARE listening catch the cold, roiling swell of Romth's surprisingly confident mindvoice…and his sharp, rebuke laden tone…the usual star-sparkles of his mindvoice whipped up into the fury of the embers of a raging hot fire vortex in the middle of a smoke-blackened sky. « ALOSYNTH! » Yeah. There's some who aren't usually dragon-sensitive who will be hearing that echo along the rock walls and open places of Xanadu. « Where is your rider? »
[Dragon/Xanadu] Romth those dragons who ARE listening catch the cold, roiling swell of Romth's surprisingly confident mindvoice…and his sharp, rebuke laden tone…the usual star-sparkles of his mindvoice whipped up into the fury of the embers of a raging hot fire vortex in the middle of a smoke-blackened sky. « ALOSYNTH! » Yeah. There's some who aren't usually dragon-sensitive who will be hearing that echo along the rock walls and open places of Xanadu. « Where is your rider? »
Ers'lan is walking in from the outside, geared up and looking ready to go back on sweeps - curiously with a long machete strapped to his back. A couple of his wingriders have come along with him, with satchels prepared to carry food in. As his wingmembers go to gather the necessary supplies for their trip into the wild, Ers'lan takes a moment to consider the administration hallway, since there was commotion from that direction and all. He notes the Weyrleader's stride most of all, though the rest of the body language gives it away before the man is talking to himself… or the dragons outside. Ers'lan and his two wingrider cohorts turn their heads up as the dragons bellow and repeat the message to their riders, the two galaxy wingriders turn to stare at Ers'lan immediately. Lan puts his hand up as if to calm them, muttering curses to himself as he takes in a deep breath to steady himself, hands sliding down his flight jacket to make sure he's presentable. The walk toward Xe'ter is not a walk of shame, though it could be. It could be regarded as a canine in trouble crawling on his belly with his tail between his legs. Instead, Lan tries to hold his own, clearly the echos of Romth providing a hint at the roiling anger of the Weyrleader. "Sir…" a crisp and distinct 'I'm here to take orders or explain' tone, falling behind Xe'ter until he's otherwise granted further clearance to speak. It's not like Ers'lan -enjoyed- talking to the Weyrleader. He actually avoided it as much as he could, leaving the reporting to Keziah or when he had to do it, he got to the point so he didn't have to extend his stay.
[DTU/Project] Romth senses that Alosynth's voice comes across like soft golden golden fur and that undulates gently like the seawed caught in a gentle currant, or as if gentle wind blown by a sun-kissed breeze. The image of trees, lots of trees comes through the goldebn airways. A tiny path of sunlight and the scents of raosting herdbeast. It's a complex overlay of sight and smell, though it wavers a little, almost dreamlike.
[DTU/Project] Alosynth senses that Romth is still…tight, if not enraged. Perhaps he wasn't even enraged before…the Istan-hatched bronze is always a bit…different that way. « Beautiful, he says. Where is there? »
Derin is just coming in for a bite to eat, he can do that now because, well, because he's been watching and hasn't seen any skeery womenz coming into the caverns yet. Wherhandler spots his drinking buddy and the weyrleader and arches his brow briefly, but they look like theyre doing some serious talking stuff, so the miner just heads towards the serving tables to fill a plate with food.
Ers'lan checks over his shoulder to see if his wingriders are continuing with the preparations, giving a quick hand signal to get them back to task, considering they were curious about the situation going on. Even with the hand signal, they seem distracted as they gather the supplies, always looking over their shoulders or casting their eyes in fleeting glances toward the Weyrleader and Wingsecond. Ers'lan returns his attention to Xe'ter, his face stoic, even as his gaze sweeps down to notice exactly whose knot is in the other's hand. He shows no sign of reaction, not in the face of the Weyrleader at least. "She failed to give me notice of her absence. She's fairly consistent in that regard." He doesn't really give more than he has to, since anything further might put him in hot water as it is. His eyes dart down to the knot again, eyes squinting to the side as he communicates with his lifemate.
[DTU/Project] Alosynth senses that Zhaoth rumbles with a distinct crackling, « You left without word to us. This is not like you. »
Xe'ter nods a little, and then wags the knot, "She left this on my desk…I have to say, I'm not entirely…pleased. All things given. Galaxy's been a trial these last few months." He shakes his head again, and then sighs. "For now, then…you're acting Wingleader…until I get a better explination…from Keziah, if possible. Which means I have something for you. Came in from Eastern overnight." He wags a piece of parchment, with a scrawled note. "They've got a missing techcrafter…and they asked we keep an eye out. Apparently he's some sort of photograph-maker."
[DTU/Project] Alosynth is silent for several minutes before a reply comes back. The golden fur is subdued. « She left a… » The green stumples over her a word choice and instead pictures a stack of paper. She really doesn't understand notes. « She was crying and we flew, we flew for a long time before she stopped. The light was low. We landed and she has not hardly moved. She finally eats. Not eating is not good, not with her getting heavy. »
"Nor am I," he notes dryly when the knot is wagged in front of him, considering what a pickle that leaves him in! The comment of Galaxy being a trial has the brownrider frown. He knows why it has been. All his fault. And it apparently continues to be that way with Keziah gone. "Aye, reckon I understand," he notes with an unwavering tone when he's landed with the acting wingleader title, eyes taking in the piece of parchment. He moves to take a look at it, once it is relinquished by the Weyrleader, "Techcrafter… Be thar a description? Reckon iffin we know when he went missing? Any clues as to the reason he's disappeared? Are we dealing with a run away? Or perhaps he be getting lost out thar in those jungles…" He mulls over the parchment, eyes drawn up toward Xe'ter to see if the Weyrleader can shed more light on the situation.
[DTU/Project] Romth projects to Alosynth, « Mine is worried about the one yours carries, and thinks it would be safer if you returned to the Weyr. Also, he is not pleased with the way your wing has gone. He speaks to Zhaoth's rider now. You were needed. »
Missing Wingleaders, missing Eastern Techcrafters, Derin furrows his brow a little, what is happening to Pern anyway? Th wherhandler settles into a table, somewhere nearby, but not to close, to the pair of riders. He's not eavesdropping or anything, nope, just innocently sitting there eating his meal.
Xe'ter nods a bit, as he points to the scribbled notes. Whoever wrote that needs remedial lessons with a Harper; it's certainly not Xe'ter's carefully measured hand! "'Sa redhead, that one…a bit shy of tall, comes from Eastern natively, at least his sire does. And there's potentially some foul play involved. They found his wagon and signs of trouble. Could be he was taken by renegades, could be he got himself et by a feline or a wild wher. But they've not seen him. This is a request from his wingleader…seems he's been gone quite a bit by now."
[DTU/Project] Again there is silence. A little longer this time and then green comes back even more subued now. « She will come. She says she is not fit. That she is worse.» Again a long pause, and now a worried tint of purple darks the golden voice « She worries. She is… scared. » The golden hairs move quicker, almost sharply and then is abruptly gone. )
Xe'ter nods, "Their Search and Rescue wingleader's named S'dan, rides a bit brown…Cyrilth, I think… check with him if you go into the territory. I hear he can be a bit possessive over the role. And I've contact with Alosynth…I think they'll be heading back. I'm more worried 'bout the little one she's carrying at the moment."
"S'dan," a nod, "Reckon I be hearin that name in the lists…" the lists of whose authority where, something he's taken a study to so that he can coordinate without trouble, if necessary. As for the mention of being possessive, Ers'lan nods and calmly adds, "Be sure narh ta step on anyone's boot tips." As for Alosyth, Ers'lan averts his attention elsewhere to avoid the guilty as charged look from being noticed, coughing with his hand curled to cover his mouth. As he comes back around, he notes, "Be that the reason she fancy footed out of 'ere without no word ta anyone?"
Xe'ter shrugs a bit, "I dinno, Ers'lan, as she dinnae leave word with /me/, either…" But it seems perhaps, he thinks that it is…or that perhaps she left word with someone ELSE, who may have slipped the info into his ear. "If I have't, I'll ask Thea to bring her in…or take us to her."
[DTU/Project] Alosynth senses that Romth is patient for a bit…in as much as dragons know what patience is. Before he begins to probe…
Derin shoves a spoonful of food into his mouth at the mention of Alosynth and Keziah returning, he'll have to make a note to go back into hiding when she comes back, or something. His mind is back on the whole missing Easterner thing with a frown, "They been havin lotsa feline activity goin on there at Eastern, wouldna be surprised iff'n th'search merely turned up a skeleton…or nothin 'tall." Yep, he's so much help, isn't he? Oh yeah, but he wasn't eavesdropping, so he looks sheepish as his words wind up out loud rather than to himself as he had planned, and he pushes attention back into that whole eating thing.
There's a bob of his head, and a quick glance to Derin, "Aye, let's hope that he ain't be chewed ta pieces," he notes, "Reckon I be spending a fair time with ya Derin, once I be returnin. We may be needin yer help" This spoken before his attention swings back around to the Weyrleader. "Iffin ya excuse me sir, I be needin to ship out fer sweeps." The wingriders with him have the food all packed and ready to go. Apparently it looks as if they're going to be making an all day sweep. "I reckon I be havin' some extra sweeps posted fer coverage taday, in light of the missing person." He makes a crisp salute and swings his arm for the wingriders to form up on him. If he's allowed to keep the parchment, the parchment is passed between the wingriders, muttering orders about getting it circulated to the rest of the wing.
[DTU/Project] Romth senses that Alosynth's voice returns. It's quiet and almost as if whispered on a tight line. « We come. »
Derin nods to the retreting Ers'lan, "Ya know where to find me." He calls, returning then to his meal, now that all the talk is done and there's not much to eavesdrop on, Derin concentrates on enjoying his food and beverages.
Well dang! I'd forgotten I was quieted on the DTU or I'd have had Seryth join in. Though I was terribly distracted last night with dinner prep and stove-cleaning. But great scene guys! :D
Protects her poor Alosynth. It wasn' t her fault. She gives in when I'm determined.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.