In The Wake of the Hempstead Tsunami ...

[willhoff]

*Vrebel looks over to Tod who has finally caught his attention.  He drops from his shoulder what appears to be a ship's mast back into the water which makes a huge splash*

Oh hey Tod *smiles* yer right I should pace meself.  

*He walks up and takes the food that Tod was offering and plops down with exhuastion on whats left of the dock*

I do tend ta get in a rut I guess.  Thanks fer the food and water.

*After a short breather he goes about trying to salvage what is left of the dock area*

[Carillon]

*Many things happen at the Tower as the city continues to find its feet after the tsunami. So many adventurers are seen working tirelessly there and elsewhere in the city, Jaelle only one of the dozens of adventurer volunteers who have stepped up in this time of crisis. However, she tries to make a point of speaking to each volunteer who comes through the Tower Academy doors, if only just briefly, trying to raise their spirits and thanking them for their efforts*

*When she hears Keppli donated some supplies, she smiles as she remembers the little green-clad halfling from previous meetings*

*When Lareth shows up at the Tower Academy door, she nods and expresses relief that he is alright.*

"It is good to see another familiar face made it through. Yes, I think you will indeed be best served working with Timulty."

*As Tod suggests they work in shifts, she nods in appreciation of Tod's suggestion*

"That is an excellent idea. See if you can convince him to take a break, Lareth. He works too hard sometimes and I fear he will wear himself down."

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*She looks up as Andrew comes in, taking one look at his expression and says something quietly to a young woman who is working as a messenger for her, who disappears and returns with a simple mug of weak tea, sadly the best they can offer in terms of strong, warm drinks or spirits with resources stretched so thin. She carries it over to him, speaking to him quietly.*

"It is bad out there, hmm? I know," softly spoken. "I have been making trips to the square to fire the pyres of the dead. But please, drink this, you need your strength."

*She tries to spend even just a few moments with him, lending him her own quiet strength in a crisis. She agrees with her assistant that he should spend his efforts gathering oak for now. Having heard that he was doing the same for the Arms at one point, she says that he will know what planks are usable.*

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*When Elohanna arrives, Jaelle drops what she is doing to come over and greet the woman.*

"Elohanna ... I know, I have sort of taken over and made a mess in our Tower, hmm?" Her mouth quirks in a light attempt at humor. "I knew this would be what you and the others would want though--our place has always been to help the city in what way we could, though I never quite pictured this if I am being honest."

*She spends the next five or ten minutes getting Elohanna up to date as fast as she can, then offers a suggestion on where her skills might be well put to use, if she wants it*

"I have heard that they are collecting donations in Port Hemsptead Fields, in Aerimor's house, and the Foundation and the temple of Deliar have some supplies as well. I am a bit concerned about our reserves of food and water. With no aid yet coming into the city, we need to be careful. And the Tower was never stocked for this kind of thing, so we have to bring aid in from other places in the city, to make sure we continue to have enough food and water for those currently under the Tower's roof. I would feel better, knowing someone with your competence was looking over the matter of our supplies of food and water and blankets, and coordinating with the other places in the city and rationing to make certain we can last comfortably for a while, in case aid is slow to reach us."

*She pauses, then offers the wet, bedraggled woman a quick but fiercely sincere hug* "Goodness! You are soaked to the bone, Elly ... there are some cauldrons of soup. You might find yourself a bowl, and warm yourself up. We will need you strong for the work that is to come. I am glad you are here now. There seems to be so much to do."

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*Jaelle happens to be busy when the Orc Basher representative and a few others come by looking for her, and there is a look of relief on her face when Tod intercepts and gives them some advice on how to help in her stead. She offers the volunteers a quick smile and nod from across the room.

When her path and Tod's next cross, she says sincerely, "I made exactly the right decision, keeping you around here to help manage things. Thank you. They were good thoughts. If any clerics or paladins come back, let them know to pray to their gods for spells against disease--I keep waiting for the second wave of deaths to hit."

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*She doesn't have time to exchange many words with Amgine when he returns with his salvaged iron, but her quiet look of gratitude says it all. A nod from across the way as she spots him unloading it says his aid is greatly appreciated and will not be forgotten.*

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*As Tralek comes by, checking in on the supplies needed, she tells him that it is oak planking that the Tower needs most at the moment, but that if he happens to find salvageable metal that she is certain that too will be needed at some point in the rebuilding efforts, and lets him know that supplies are being stored out in the fields. Apparently Aerimor Lightbringer has turned his farmhouse into a warehouse of sorts.*

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*When the Trade Council representative arrives at the Tower, Jaelle hurries over to speak with him once someone tells her that he is there. If Elohanna happens to be around, Jaelle tells the Tower volunteer to find her if she can, so that Elohanna can hear this too.*

[akata]

*In the days following the flood the light of the Raven Trading Company burns never ending, the workers tireless make a wall of sand bags and drains the water. Critical repairs to the foundation and supporting structures are being made as well and the debris cleared out, making room for the people working to clear the docks.*

//more to come

[Pankoki]

At the tower, Elohanna and Jaelle are ushered to a private room where the messenger delivers his missive. Not long after, he is seeing exiting the room in a hurry.

((PM sent to Elohanna and Jaelle))

[Link092]

Two men hold a discussion at the front of a small caravan making it's way across Mistone. A younger man in his early twenties, another in his late forties. The younger man is marked by a sabre with the word "Lionheart" engraved on it's blade, and an unusual combination of symbols hanging at his neck on a small silver chain. Though his arm hangs in a sling, he walks with a confident gait. The older man is more humble in his stride, and often gives the younger man an appraising look. The bright scales of his armor and a green cloak of Deliar draped on his shoulders, each kept pristine condition, might mark him as a rich and pious man; however, the great sword hidden (not so well) under his cloak, the chipped war hammer in his hand, the battered shield strapped to his arm, and the hardened look on his face are telling signs that this man is not unfamiliar with harsh conditions (and why on earth would any man need a sword that big?).

Both the men eye the horizon as they walk ahead of the caravan, awaiting the sight of Hempstead. The older man speaks first,

"Gabriel, Imma need ya to do somethin' fer me when we reach the gates. See tha' tower there?" *He points to the lone tower standing watch over the devastated port city* "I wan' ya to head there as fas' as ya can. Look fer one Miss Elohanna, Steel, or Miss Jaelle Thornwood... Let 'em know they 'ave three more helpin' han's.

A small figure sticks it's head out from the small pack hanging on the older man's side. A tiny voice pipe up.

"Whadda you mean 'we', Idoran?" *He peeks around Idoran's shield at Gabriel.*

"I mean tha' we're all gonna get down there an' help with the wreckage, Richie." *Idoran gives Richie a small smile* "Think o' it as payment fer all those rations you an' Oeri ate the other night.

"erm.. right.. heh..." *Richie reddens a bit*

*Gabriel chuckles at Richie's remark. He glances up to Idoran* "Right. As soon as we get there... How bad do ya think it is?"

"I dunno... well see soon enough, frien'. soon enough."

The trio wander ahead of the caravan for the last stretch of the trip, steadily approaching the gates.


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Meanwhile, A young elf, covered head to toe in a drab robe eyes the city walls. The tsunami's, what would seem to be the wrath of Mist to one such as he, have piqued his interest. A bluish hand reaches up to pull the cowl closer around his face, and he makes his bold move to enter the cities walls, out of curiosity, and out of hope to find familiar faces drawn by the incident.

[Lord Dark]

*When Gabriel approaches the tower looking for Elohanna, Steel, and Jaelle, he grins and waves before trying to get him to pause for a moment*

Hiya! Three more people would be great! We're sorta needin' someone to take part in a militia an' just makin' sure that bandits an' bad people don't go around on a lootin' spree. I'm not sure what lil' Richie could do, maybe he could help around in the kitchens! Idoran can help with the mini army an' you can too if you want. Besides that, if ya know any spells that helps prevent disease, that'd be much appreciated! If ya have any more questions or run outta stuff to do, just come talk to me or if Missus Elohanna or Miss Jaelle is around, they can also give ya somethin' to do. Just make sure you eat, sleep an' your other business, it's gonna be tough with out workin' so hard you break your back an' then bein' weak from not eatin'.

*Tod grins and nods once up to Gabriel to see what he thinks of it.*

[Carillon]

*Perhaps it is fortuitous timing, and the trio arrive just as Jaelle and Elohanna follow the messenger out of the room. Jaelle looks grim and quietly rubs her temples for a moment. She speaks quietly to some people running messages, asking them to gather as many of the volunteers as can leave their stations for the moment, and that there is news. She then has another quiet word with a carpenter or two, checking on the reinforcements for the base of the Tower.*

*As she waits for people to gather in the lobby so they only have to give the message once she twists a ring on her finger--an old nervous habit. The long days are showing their strain on her and she looks tired, and like she could use a rest as badly as most of the others here, but she sets her mouth in a line of grim determination. When people are assembled she addresses the crowd (and perhaps Elohanna does too--will leave that to her)*


"Alright. I am sorry to take you away from your posts. I know how hard you are all working. But there is news. And I am afraid though it is important, it is far from good.

"The man who just left was from the trade council, and brought two important pieces of information. The first is that the sewers are about to violently overflow. As some of you know, the sewers are a series of canals beneath the city streets. They connect to gratings at many places in the city, which is where citizens are supposed to dump refuse, sewage and waste. There are many such gratings, though most are usually covered, and they all drain into these canals, and finally to a grating into the sea some short distance from the city.

"The storm waters have backed up the sewers and completely flooded them. It has been a small problem in recent days but is about to become a much bigger one because tide waters are rising again and going to wash everything up out of the grates into the city. I do not need to explain that this is more than a matter of aesthetics and pleasant smelling air--with the rotting rats and sewage down there spread throughout already flooded streets, disease will rip through the city. Priests, priestesses, paladins or any else who can stave off disease, start praying. And anyone with an idea for preventing this or mitigating the effects, let's hear it after this meeting.

"We are going to evacuate as many of our injured as possible as they are the most susceptible to diseases, starting with the most injured and working down to those with only moderate wounds. They will be evacuated to the Port Hempstead fields for now, where refugee camps have been set up. A team is coming in to evacuate as many as possible later today, and any aid that can be spared is appreciated."


*She pauses and seems to gather her breath and collect herself, readying herself to drop the next piece of awful news.*


"I wish that were the worst of it, but it is not. The sea elves some have reported seeing in the harbor have delivered a message. Another storm front is coming, and with it, another series of these tsunami waves, and they are expected to be worse than the first."


*A slight pause as she lets the wave of shock and reaction die down, giving them a moment before raising a hand again for their silence so she can continue.*


"I know, I know--we are not even on our feet from the last surge yet. But it is coming and it will be here in a few days, and we will rise to meet it as a city. We have warning this time, and can make preparations. The builders assure me the reinforcements are almost done for the tower, and all they need to complete them is the oak planking. We will reinforce further, with sand bags--first here and then at the other hubs of relief in the city. Our mages will shield the tower with magic as best they can, and we will endure through this again if we have to.

"We have at least a couple of days to prepare, but everyone should be aware that these waves ARE coming again. We will continue to evacuate as many as possible and brace the city against the onslaught. People need to be told so they can prepare as well, but have a care--we do not want to create a panic. We will spread word of the waves, but we will also spread this message: Hempstead endured the first tsunami, and it will endure this one too. And when the second half of this storm has come, we WILL restore the City of Gold to its shining glory."


*Her voice is decisive, full of conviction. As she finishes speaking, she turns to the volunteers and adventurers, ready to field any questions as best she can, already preparing for the next hurdle.*

[silverdraco]

*After the meeting and hearing the news Huntemara thinks to herself about what was said. Then she moves towards Jaelle and tries to get her attention and when she does she speaks*

About the sewers problem. isn't it possible to plug the gratings with something so that the sewer waters won't go into the city? We could use something like...wooden planks to cover it and then Sand bags to keep the wooden planks from leaving there place?

What do you think miss?

[RollinsCat]

*Andrew drops his latest load of planks outside the tower, then speaks briefly to Jaelle*

I would volunteer to knock on doors and help evacuate.  Stars and song, I'd give anything to be part of helping them live rather than...*he waves a hand vaguely toward the corpse piles out of sight but easy to smell even at the Tower.*

[A-Wizzle]

*Larissa finally collapses after days of reading children's stories and directing cooking on the fourth  and fifth floors. After cooking everyone a good hardy breakfast, she heads for Spellgard to get some well earned sleep. Before heading back down the coast, she collects more books in Lucinda's library and fills her bags with more cooking supplies.*

[willhoff]

*After hearing the call to go to the tower, Vrebel tosses some wood planks he salvaged onto the wood pile as he enters the tower.  He listens to Jaelle's words and as she gives the dreaded news his flushed and sweaty face begins to turn pale*

Were gonna need more wood looks like *he says with a slight smirk*.  

Seems like with the sewers overflowin' and bigger and badder waves comin' only one thing ta do.  Fortify the remaining structures, temporarily evacuate and quaruntine the entire city, and baracade the city from outside the main entrance walls so no one comes in or out until the storm has passed.  Once passed, we can send in a team of priests to cleanse the area before anyone enters.

*he sits back down and licks a open wound on his wrist*

[davidhoff]

*Tralek reports back that he and Vrebel have delivered 30 oak planks for the rebuilding effort.  He soon hears the bad news about the sewers overflowing and the incoming second tsunami.  His face is one of total shock and bewilderment.  He sits down on the rock floor and begins to think with his hands grabbing his locks of green hair.  Then he speaks:*

The force of the water coming up from the sea...and with the tide water so high...there is no place for the sewage water to escape....it will come up and up and up.  Two rough ideas pop into my head...and yes they are rough..but here goes: (1) get a team to dive down into the sea and close off the exits of the sewage system so the water won't come in from there and like Huntemara said..also seal the grates in the city.  We could fabricate iron plates for this and weld them in place with magical fire; (2) find a way to pump the sewage from Hemstead to somewhere...maybe the swamps in Battlehelm Moores.

If there is anything else I can do to help let me know.

[Link092]

*When Gabriel approaches the tower looking for Elohanna, Steel, and Jaelle, he grins and waves before trying to get him to pause for a moment*

Hiya! Three more people would be great! We're sorta needin' someone to take part in a militia an' just makin' sure that bandits an' bad people don't go around on a lootin' spree. I'm not sure what lil' Richie could do, maybe he could help around in the kitchens! Idoran can help with the mini army an' you can too if you want. Besides that, if ya know any spells that helps prevent disease, that'd be much appreciated! If ya have any more questions or run outta stuff to do, just come talk to me or if Missus Elohanna or Miss Jaelle is around, they can also give ya somethin' to do. Just make sure you eat, sleep an' your other business, it's gonna be tough with out workin' so hard you break your back an' then bein' weak from not eatin'.

*Tod grins and nods once up to Gabriel to see what he thinks of it.*

*Gabriel glances down, grimacing as he shifts his arm*

"I ain't gonna be of much use in a fight..." *he makes a point of adjusting his left arm in it's sling* "But I can hold my own... I'm sure Richie would be more useful out on the field than in a kitchen. There might very well be some places you and other folk can't get to that he can... seein' as he's so tiny. I'll let Idoran know about the Militia, just gimme some details on where he and I can set up to get to work."



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*Idoran carries Richie along through the gates after exchanging hushed words with the caravan driver. He makes haste for the Tower, looking for Gabriel.*


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*Copper eyes watch the seas from the devastated docks of Hempstead. He shudders for a moment, and slips into the waters. Better to be out of the way, and draw less attention. Better to be far from such a place...*


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*A wicked grin is played across the face of a hood figure in blue. He watches the havoc from the fields of Hempstead, avoiding patrols and the like.* "Seems that this city can't go very long with out something or another happening... Perhaps I should bother Solena or Duchess again... could make us of the chaos." *With a bit of spoken arcane word, and a gesture, he fades from sight...*

[Link092]

"The storm waters have backed up the sewers and completely flooded them. It has been a small problem in recent days but is about to become a much bigger one because tide waters are rising again and going to wash everything up out of the grates into the city. I do not need to explain that this is more than a matter of aesthetics and pleasant smelling air--with the rotting rats and sewage down there spread throughout already flooded streets, disease will rip through the city. Priests, priestesses, paladins or any else who can stave off disease, start praying. And anyone with an idea for preventing this or mitigating the effects, let's hear it after this meeting."
[/B]

*Gabriel quirks a brow*

"What about water supply and food? Can we keep it from getting contaminated (anymore than it is)? Perhaps we could ask the druids for help with the issue? surely they could help eradicate the disease and get the rats outwith much more ease than us?"

[cbnicholson]

all they need to complete them is the oak planking.

Benjamin ties fodder with a pack full of oak planks outside the Tower.

//I will give them to Jaelle first chance I get. - Change of plan, Left them in a quest chest outside the Tower.

[Lord Dark]

*Tod nods a little up to Gabriel*

If Richie wants to climb through rubble, find bodies just sittin' in water, let him do it. But I think it'd be hard for him since he's scared of everything. But if you think he is capable, then don't let my suggestion stop him.

As for the militia, nothin' is really set up. But if he could get maybe a couple buddies an' just make sure no one's goin' out an' tryin' to threaten the weaker people, that'd be neat. But I think, as of now, the militia isn't as important as it was since disease could spread like wild fire now. So those who are exposed will get infected an' it won't matter if they loot. But if you can do like Miss Jaelle suggested to do, get the injured away from the nasty water and bodies, an' then you can guard them from kobolds an' other bad things that live near the fields.

If you don't think any of this fits you all, you can go check with Miss Jaelle or Missus Elly.

*Tod gives Gabriel a thumbs up*

[minerva]

**Katrien hobbles in on her crutches, bruises on her face and arms have turned a lovely shade of greenish yellow  She hears the news of the impending sewage disaster and another wave.**
 
 It would seem to me that those creatures the city keeps hiring people to eliminate to clean clogs out of the sewage system might be the ones that know those pipes the best. Perhaps the sea elves might be able to garner some information from them.  They would in all likelyhood prove hostile to one of us.
 
 There is little time to reinforce the Foundation guild hall for another wave.  Supplies have been moved to higher ground within the building.  William and those men have depended on the Foundation for work that are building walls of sandbags.
 
 We have supplies for about 50 or 60 tents. People will need shelter.  We also have some basic clothes on hand and a small store of bread, flours and dried fruits and nuts.  *she hands Jaelle or whom ever seems to be handling such things a list*.  I will be in the Foundation kitchens if you need me.  Jharl and some other men are digging sand for more sandbags.
 
 *she turns to hobble carefully thru the refugees, humming softly as she goes*

[Link092]

An robed elf might have been seen near the sewer entrance, and any who watched him strip down to a simple loin cloth and harness would note the blueish skin and silvery hair. Many might think he was crazy to enter...




// who do I PM regarding this? (pretty much dealing with something along the lines of what Minerva said... she beat me to it, though.)

[Carillon]

*Jaelle listens to each of the comments and suggestions offered about the sewer problem. She nods, listening carefully to each one before speaking*

"I do indeed think there is some kind of blockage. They have always been prone to clogging, and the tsunami has not been kind to them. I believe from the reports I heard that there were many dead sahuagin and rats down there--and perhaps other things as well. The sewer creatures seem to have suffered along with the rest of the city.

"The blockage is preventing the mess from draining easily into the sea, and the constant rains from the storm have filled them to overflowing. With the bloating of the bodies and I believe they said something about gases expanding and now what little draining they were doing being reversed by the rising waters again, there is a lot of pressure building in them. I fear if we simply stopped up the grates in the city, what we would get would be a violent and messy explosion. Similarly, at this point, even if we could unblock the drain into the sea, at this point the storm surges would drive the waters back up into the city, like a drain flowing the wrong way from too much pressure.

"The idea of blocking up the grates does have merit--but we cannot block them all up. The planks and sandbags seem a solid idea, though. I propose we strategically block off as many as possible, so that it will all flow out of one or two openings when it is forced out. And to that end ... I believe we should attempt to dig a channel, reinforcing it with sandbags. We cannot simply evacuate the city altogether, and if we let the sewage simply flow through it the clerics will be many weeks after the stormwaters have receded, trying to make the city habitable again. I would rather do something about it now, so that people may return to begin rebuilding as soon as possible.

"I believe if we blast out a channel into the city streets, we could channel the sewage in a more controlled manner. Like .. a sort of canal, I suppose. Divert it, and get it to flow out of the city. And if we can also find a way to unstop the seaside drain, the sea water may wash them clean for us, forcing it all out before the next tsunami hits. If we can find some way to channel it and force it out of the city and away into the sea before the waves spread it all over the city, perhaps the next series of waves may actually sweep clean this place of any remaining rotting flesh and filth, and ease our road to rebuilding."

*After she finishes speaking, she notes the entrance of a familiar figure. She turns to Katrien as she approaches, accepting the list and nodding.*

"We can store some of your supplies for you until the next wave passes, or help you move your supplies out into the fields through the portal if you wish. Ours survived the waves and is still functional. Things are being stored at the house of Aerimor Lightbringer there, I hear. I am sure they could use the extra tents. I have heard things are very crowded at the moment. Let me know if you want any help moving things.

"As for sandbags, we have reinforced the Tower enough to withstand the next waves, hopefully. Perhaps we can help reinforce the Foundation as well."


//Link, you should PM Pankoki. He is the one handling these events.

[LordCove]

Some time after the initial event, Trouble wades through the water and muck of the once Golden city of Hempstead. He stops on occassion to help people here and there, carrying goods or planks or sandbags, helping injured people through the water... but continually making his way through the town.

Making note of where the most contruction is taking place, he wades his way through to the Ravens guild first, standing knee deep in the water and overlooking their reconstruction on the foundations.
With a sad sigh, he waves some of the workers out the way and moves around the foundation, his hand gently brushing the wood as he circles the entire site, whispering soft words with his eyes half closed.
The wood seems to darken slightly and harden at his touch, becoming stronger and sturdier, with an almost glistening sheen to it.

Stepping back and nodding at it satisfied, he nods to the workers to continue what they were doing and wades back through the city, eventually coming to the site of the Orc Bashers.
Much the same, whatever repairs they are attempting, he moves around the construction, strengthening wood and stone supports and foundations with soft whispered words and gentle brushings of his hand.... then helping carry goods and supplies to and fro for them.

Eventually, irritable and done with the work, he wades angrily out of the swamped city and to the outlying forests where much of the timber required for construction appears to be coming from.
Overlooking the mass lumbering crew, he shakes his head and begins to move amongst them.
" No.. not that tree... leave that one! I said NO! You chop that down an I'll bloody chop you down! That one there... yeah... if ya have to... that one, leave the trunk... top branches.. thick ones... yeah those! I said not that one! Mate... Im gonna chop your bloody head off if you go near that one!!"

After sometime of trying to direct the workers to take only whats necessary from specific and certain trees, and coming very close to bobbing some of them over the head, Trouble moves amidst the sites that have already been cleared of trees.
Reaching into a pocket, he digs small holes in the ground, placing tree seeds and acorns into the little holes, pouring water from his canteen into them, and gently covering them with soil, all the while whispering softly, coaxing the little seedlings to grow and flourish.

Finnaly, having replanted a large amount of what was taken, and now more calm, he wades his way back into town, soaked through and through, and just stands before Jaelle or whoever may be trying to bring control to the chaos, arms folded.
" Well... where ya want me?"