[ME] [RQ] the wolves are home

DEIMOS

The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head
The thunder of the drums dictates

After his brief meeting with Safrin, the Sword immediately started administering to the first crucial requirements – deciding on where they’d want to put the springs. The Citadel was a spread-out portion of their community, with multitudes to offer, and insights from citizens would be a necessary and crucial step.

He sent word amidst couriers and messengers for a small gathering in the afternoon – intending to give everyone enough time to settle themselves, and for him and Evie to snag the acquired necessities. Luring Halovians with snacks was a time-honored tradition, and he’d prefer for them to be comfortable amidst these impending discussions. Whether there would be heated debates on proper locations or not, food was still a plentiful arrangement: eventually Deimos had found a decent sized room in the halls for everyone willing to participate, and not long thereafter the tables were laden with a wide assortment of baked goods, cheeses, crackers, fruit, and drinks aplenty.

Thereafter, once their multitudes had settled, he took a long breath, forging onward and striving to forget how much he loathed meetings; but this was for a good, solid cause once more, and didn’t bear any thresholds on treacherous plots or machinations. “We were hoping to decide today on where to place the hot springs within the Citadel, especially after LongNight. There are many areas available to us.” His mind wandered to the city walls, then inward, amidst greenhouses, barracks, around corners with lonely, absent, or empty options, towards infirmaries and domiciles, near marketplaces or more private, quiet sanctions. He’d even placed several large maps around the room, so anyone could peer around. “You are welcome to offer your input, and as a region, we can collaborate to the most suitable.” Then he glanced towards his fellow compatriots, wondering if they’d have motions towards anything in particular.

--

This is a Mini Event to decide where the springs should go within the Citadel. Feel free to pull up a chair, grab some snacks, and share some insight!

The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead
The rising of the horns, ahead

Iskra

I'm chasing starlight to find it's died away

Iskra and Goose packed in their wood work early to make it on time. Iskra still bore some of the mud on his boots and pants, and bits of wood in his hood, as he stepped into the meeting. He' brushed off what he could, but Goose never told him whenever he had things on his back that he couldn't see. With his hands in his pockets and his thoughts elsewhere, Iskra almost strolled right past the snack table. Only a low woof from Goose pulled Iskra back. He glanced over his shoulder at the dog's alert, a question in his eyes that grew to delight as he zeroed in on the cookie table. A fuzzy tail wagged expectantly as Iskra grabbed a napkin and piled an assortment onto it.

The duo found a seat near the back, positioned closest to the snack table. Iskra fed the very good boy some peanut butter cookies, the husky lying at his feet, snout tilting up whenever he'd run out. Iskra balanced his chocolate chip cookies on his lap, thoughtfully chewing as he looked around the room. Unable to pace themselves, both ran out of treats before the meeting truly got under way. Content to lick the floor free of crumbs, Goose settled in easily. Iskra meanwhile pulled his partial carving from his pocket and worked on it dutifully with a pocket knife. He was listening, but he had little to say. He didn't much mind where the hot springs went, minded even less to debate about it. He owed this city too much to be anything other than a set of hands to help rebuild, wherever and whatever it might be. He put trust in the Warden, and in Halo.

Elizabeth

Having blocked out the date and time of the meeting, Elizabeth was luckily free of appointments. She arrived early enough to help set up the table of goods, snagging a tea and some fruit for herself before grabbing a seat somewhere in the middle. Her eyes scanned as people filtered in, recognizing faces and offering warm smiles of greeting, occasionally shifting the deep maroon jacket she wore over a delicate white dress and thick black tights. 

When Deimos finally called the meeting to order, she pulled out her notebook, deciding to take notes on the suggestions, pros and cons so that they might be properly considered. She'd already written a few ideas, and when he called for the group to speak, Elizabeth didn't hesitate to make the first point, her voice rising firm but soft into the crowded space. "Close to the infirmary would probably be best. It can have a healing benefit, and those who are injured might not be able to travel far enough to use it." While healthy people could easily make their way to the springs no matter where it resided.

Every adversity,
every failure,
every heartache
carries with it
the seed of equal or greater benefit.

Ravenna

"That sounds good to me," a voice piped up from a chair somewhere in the middle of the room. Crunching away on a cookie, Ravenna wasn't sure she had much of a real opinion on the matter, to be honest. She had come for the treats and to participate since technically she was an adult now, and it seemed like a very adult thing to go to meetings.
The woman's suggestion sounded good enough to her, though, and she threw her one cent in as an afterthought. "Honestly, anywhere in the Citadel is vastly better than the Tundra already. Easier to get to for us ordinary folk." No one would need to freeze their toes off for a dip, or risk the wildlife that would prove deadly for any but the experienced hunters or otherwise superhumanly capable individuals.

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark

yet my blood renders me a King

Completing the quest to protect the Citadel from the Void had lifted a weight off of Sah's chest. The Family could still enter but the added safety was a relief. Simultaneously, the fact that a void crystal was used, surprisingly ached. It almost felt like Luka's suffering had been for nothing and Wild Thunder felt nauseous every time the thought occurred. It was always shoved down with further reminders that at least the quest was done.

Joining the meeting, Sah grabbed a muffin and a cup of hot chocolate, quietly waiting for things to begin.  Elizabeth spoke first, and Sah nodded, expanding on her idea. "I agree with being close to the infirmary. The one within the palace grounds specifically. That way, the springs are close to our skyport for those coming home injured, and they'll be near the barracks, making them easier to defend." There was the argument Snowcloak would be less likely to be targeted, but Sah didn't want to take the risk that if someone did end up targeting the springs, they'd end up attacking where the majority of the citizens lived.

Sah

are there no fighters left here anymore?
are we the generation we've been waiting for?

Noah came with Marcus and Margot at his side, and the trio slid in next to Ravenna after attaining the necessary snacks. The demigod listened as other citizens gave their voice and opinion, glacier eyes wandering over friend and acquaintance and even stranger. Halo was bigger now than it had ever been, more robust and powerful. They were doing more than just surviving — the frozen hellscape that he grew up in was no longer what he would call this place. They were thriving, with advances far beyond anything he could have imagined while the heralds were trapped beneath the barrier with the Voice.

He was proud.

He took in a breath before lifting his voice in agreement, ”Having the healing waters near the infirmary would be wise. The fact that Torchline’s fountain is where it is — at its political hub— saved me.” his skin crawled remembering dragging himself into the fountain after cleansing the void. Had it not been for that fountain, and his compass to take him there, he would have been worse for wear — and had he been any other man, dead.

the forsaken

or are we patiently burning
waiting to be saved?

the harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun

Amhran, naturally, has been perusing the snacks while the first conversational volleys take place, and it's with a plate of crackers, a hunk of cheese and a dollop of chilli jam that he ambles up to take a seat with the rest of the gathered crowd. At a glance it seems as though he isn't really listening, though of course any who really know him will understand that isn't the case, and once a lull falls, he glances up towards Deimos with a smile.

"I agree," he says, nodding. "Within the Palace would mean it is a centralised location, and close enough for any who may need it. It also means no one will get lost trying to find it." Not given how big a landmark said palace is. And certainly it's better than out in the Tundra, where the void has already proven to be a menace without end.

Evie

Evie idles along behind Amhran until it is time for everyone to gather. Her quiet step down from warden to advisor has been a simple process, so she takes up a seat in the first row to still be close to her husband. As a healer - and someone who had once held title in the Infirmary when Halo was first revealed to the greater world - her thoughts on the springs are abundant, but it’s a relief to see that she need not defend them to the group at large as many seem to recognize the benefits themselves.

“I agree, as it also allows an overflow area for the infirmary workers and a way to direct care of more minorly injured people toward the springs without losing sight of them.” The Palace is massive, but largely unused. The infirmary has plentiful room to sprawl on the main floor, but the rooms were not easily converted to suit hospital needs, and upper floors weren’t feasible to place the wounded. Extra space in the open area outside beyond their doors would provide greater area for maneuvering and treatment.

reckless at heart but never unkind
in a perfect world we could've been fine

_{Table Code by Sky!}

DEIMOS

The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head
The thunder of the drums dictates

He waited; quiet and diligent all over again, as they filtered in, took their fill, and settled into the midst. Some remained dutiful and silent, taking everything in, while others immediately offered input. He wasn’t surprised to hear Elizabeth speak first on the matter, nor for Sah, Noah, and Amhran to follow. He did indulge in a cheeky grin towards Evie the moment the infirmary’s location was named – believing she’d be quite content in the arrangement.

Amused, and perhaps more than mildly relieved that everything had come together in an agreement, and rapidly, the Warden smiled. “I think that is the fastest we have ever come to a decision.” Proud of the accomplishment, and complete lack of fanfare and drama, he stood up, solidifying everything with a justified nod. “By the Infirmary it is. We will need some of you to collect things, and whoever is willing to join me in quite a lot of digging, can come by in the morning.”

For now though, they’d be able to enjoy their food and beverages, and mingle a little while longer; on those rare occasions where many of them were together.

--

The location of the hot springs has been agreed upon to be by the infirmary! Well done!

[FIN]

The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead
The rising of the horns, ahead