With the mortaring in Amalia and Melita ‘s capable hands, Jigano had gone to join the crew shifting the stone into place. Andira, the mason who had prepared the first batch of mortar, showed the ‘demon queens’ the trick of applying it with trowel and mortarboard – no easy task, given the width of the wall and the size of the stone blocks! But the very size and weight of them meant that the mortar was more for filling cracks than stability, and they were able to lay the mortar quickly. Amalia took to the task with an ease that earned Andira’s nod and grudging respect, managing to lay clean lines of mortar while keeping herself clean as well. Melita applied the mortar with more enthusiasm than skill, though, and soon found herself wearing more than a bit of the gritty goop as she spread it into place just ahead of the next stone being shifted into position.
Sascha and Rory were joined by several other townsfolk to construct the scaffolding, a simple but sturdy structure with a narrow ramp for wheelbarrows to be brought up with heavy blocks of stone as the wall began to rise.Sascha suffered a few bumps and scrapes from the planks and poles as they maneuvered them into position, and would feel the Longheat warmth affecting him even in the shade of the building. Rory was more prepared for the heat, and was able to work steadily under Sascha’s direction as those with carpentry and wordworking skills pitched in beside them. It took several hours of fast-paced work, but they managed to keep pace with the masons and mortarers who were laying the stone.
Though many of the stones could be loaded into carts or wheelbarrows and trundled up the rising scaffolding as the wall rose to head height - and then double that again – it soon became clear that the larger blocks were too big to go up that route. Jigano paused to wipe sweat from his brow and study the problem, going to consult Andira as she mixed more mortar. They parted with a nod and he called a break for lunch, waiting until water and sandwiches had been handed out before he spoke to them.
”We’re going to need to create a pulley system to get the larger blocks raised,” he explained. ”And for that, I’m going to need everyone’s help. Sascha, can you make a small platform with railings, please?” he asked the cheerful young carpenter. ”Light, but sturdy. Then Amalia, we’ll need to fly a pair of ropes up to the ceiling supports. We’ll be able to hoist the platform up to the unbroken side of the ceiling with those.” He turned to Melita with a grin. ”Then it’s your turn. Someone strong will need to bore three anchors into the stonework up there for the pulleys to attach to, but be careful not to weaken the stones in the process.” He handed her a hammer and star drill for when the time came. ”And Rory…” If his smile was a little warmer, and his eyes a little brighter when he turned his attention on the blond man, could anyone blame him? ”Once the pulleys are set up, could you harness your animals to it, to provide the lifting power? You’ll be in charge of getting it running, once it’s in place.”
The wall is going up at record speed thanks to you!
Sascha struggles with the heat!
Rory shrugs off the heat!
Amalia avoids making a mess with the mortar, and proves to be adept at it!
Melita makes a small mess with the mortar!
In order to get the bigger stone blocks higher up, you need to work together to assemble and install a pulley system! How will you handle your new tasks?
Posting order:
1. Sascha
2. Amalia
3. Jigano
4. Melita
5. Rory
Sascha and Rory were joined by several other townsfolk to construct the scaffolding, a simple but sturdy structure with a narrow ramp for wheelbarrows to be brought up with heavy blocks of stone as the wall began to rise.
Though many of the stones could be loaded into carts or wheelbarrows and trundled up the rising scaffolding as the wall rose to head height - and then double that again – it soon became clear that the larger blocks were too big to go up that route. Jigano paused to wipe sweat from his brow and study the problem, going to consult Andira as she mixed more mortar. They parted with a nod and he called a break for lunch, waiting until water and sandwiches had been handed out before he spoke to them.
”We’re going to need to create a pulley system to get the larger blocks raised,” he explained. ”And for that, I’m going to need everyone’s help. Sascha, can you make a small platform with railings, please?” he asked the cheerful young carpenter. ”Light, but sturdy. Then Amalia, we’ll need to fly a pair of ropes up to the ceiling supports. We’ll be able to hoist the platform up to the unbroken side of the ceiling with those.” He turned to Melita with a grin. ”Then it’s your turn. Someone strong will need to bore three anchors into the stonework up there for the pulleys to attach to, but be careful not to weaken the stones in the process.” He handed her a hammer and star drill for when the time came. ”And Rory…” If his smile was a little warmer, and his eyes a little brighter when he turned his attention on the blond man, could anyone blame him? ”Once the pulleys are set up, could you harness your animals to it, to provide the lifting power? You’ll be in charge of getting it running, once it’s in place.”
The wall is going up at record speed thanks to you!
Sascha struggles with the heat!
Rory shrugs off the heat!
Amalia avoids making a mess with the mortar, and proves to be adept at it!
Melita makes a small mess with the mortar!
In order to get the bigger stone blocks higher up, you need to work together to assemble and install a pulley system! How will you handle your new tasks?
1. Sascha
2. Amalia
3. Jigano
4. Melita
5. Rory
