Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
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Beatrix stared at the stranger, her nose crinkling. "All of you act like my brother and I are... strangers in Halo." She muttered, her voice quiet and void of emotion, as she reached for the other end of the post. Her resting face was constantly angry, more or less, so even if the man missed her words he'd not be able to fully tell if she was angry.
"Beatrix Launceleyn," she added after a moment to fume. Her mother hadn't done a great job of raising her, but at least she knew it was polite to share her name. "You are?"
Ever high and mighty, arrogant as her mother--perhaps her father. Whoever she took after the most, it wasn't for the best.
As it turned out, Chulane and Hester did not have a good grasp on the beam together, not at all. Perhaps it was moisture in the air or a lack of strength, but they would both find themselves slipping, dropping it and generally struggling to place it correctly. Before long, Morgan and some of the builders had to step in, helping them to get it into the spot by essentially doing it for them. As she went past, Morgan clapped a hand on Hester's shoulder, hoping the young girl wouldn't take it to heart.
Beatrix and Noah would have better luck, though only just. The pair managed with their beam but would find the task difficult and draining, the wood just trying to slip away anywhere but it's intended target. Still, eventually it would be in the right place and it was time to get on with the next part of the building.
Now that the base was laid, a lot of work could be done at the same time. Roof, walls and floor could be laid, each using a different, abundant material provided by local builders and tradesmen: Morgan had promised them this building would benefit their community, their people, and she hoped she would make good on that promise soon.
There was plenty to do. Morgan went to help with the roof team, seeing it as the most dangerous task due to the height involved; a layer of thatch went down first for warmth, then a hardy slate tiling for rain and snow. Hopefully, it would last for many years to come and with some repairs, outlive the Warden that planned it. The floor would be simple interlocking planks and the walls a few layers of thick stone, meant to create a humble but strong building to house the council.
---
Help with the roof, floors and walls!
1. Roof is a layer of thatching topped with slate tiles. Help Morgan to do this by balancing across the roof beams to add in the material. Maybe come up with a way to easily manoeuvre over the space?
2. Flooring is wooden planks. Not too much technique involved with this one, but it will need to be precise and neat.
3. Walls are brick, plaster and pebble coating. This is a lengthy and intensive job; a quicker way to do it would be useful.
They got there, but it wasn't without a lot of effort, and incident. Chuy would never place blame on one or the other for who might've slipped first - ultimately it didn't matter, for none came out injured, and they recovered well enough, if a bit sore and with their pride slightly bruised. But it was all a matter of perspective - they might've tripped, but they got up, dusted themselves off, and kept going anyway.
He too clapped a gentle pat to Hester's shoulder, giving her a friendly wink in reassurance (and Chuy winking is almost always goofy, so he was admittedly trying to get a laugh out of her as well). He took some time catching his breath, surveying the work still ahead of them.
The roof. This was a task he was confident he could help with, if only because of those in attendance, he was the only one with wings at his disposal, as well as a feline shift that had impeccable balance at heights. "Noah, Hess, I might need you guys to translate some things I say from up high to Morgan and Beatrix while I'm shifted." Without waiting for confirmation (trusting both of them), he turned and ran a few steps before shifting, flapping his broad wingspan to take flight.
He landed atop the apex of the frame, feathers bristling for a moment as he surveyed the area again with his eagle-eyes, shifting to his leopard form a moment later. He had more dexterity and balance in this form, and could easily manoeuvre along the planks (having done so along all of the beams available in the attic-level training rooms of the Academy over Longnight). As bundles of thatch were passed up, he used both paws to move and push it into place, rinsing and repeating, beaming down instructions to Hess or Noah (or any convenient attuned NPCs) as necessary.
Once the thatch was placed, the roof would prove much more substantial to stand on, and he could shift back to his human form to lay the tiles, his eagle shift at the ready to take flight (or his leopard form should he find flight unavailable in the event of a disaster fall).
Hester expects to struggle, expects to stumble a little with the load they're asked to carry, but she doesn't expect her and Chulane to fail quite so badly. Her face radiates heat between the freckles, and she, quite bitterly, thinks that if the assorted tradesmen could have simply done this to start, instead of letting them struggle, her embarrassment could have been avoided.
Hands on her shoulders, Morgans, then Chuys, drive away her insecurities, the burgeoning stress, and she manages a distracted smile, before immediately settling into one of the other tasks. She pauses to think for moment, offering a distracted affirmation that she'd translate whatever her fellow attuned needed.
Normally, her good social graces would distaste that she let Beatrix keep working on the floor, but at the moment, it's the one job left that will keep her mostly isolated, so Hester descends upon it with gusto, putting all of her focus into lining up the planks and getting them hammered into place. If nothing else, it'll will ensure they're installed perfectly, even if she's all but ignoring everything else around her.
Beatrix and Noah had good luck with their post, though it was difficult still. Once that was done, Beatrix waited, watching to see who would take the roof, the walls, or the floor.
When all was said and done, it appeared she'd be taking the walls, so she started with the plaster, spreading enough to securely rest four bricks at a time, then she'd hold the bricks in place after setting them up, with her arms. The peble coating would come last.
Plaster, lay bricks, repeat. Then finally she turned her attention to the pebble coating, running her fingers through it before claiming a smaller amount of plaster, to spread the pebbles over and press into.
the devil you know is better than the ghost you don't
Noah had expected moving the pillars to be much harder than it was. It was difficult, that was for sure, but the difficulty did not rise to his initial expectation. With the unknown woman's help, the pair was able to get the beam set in exactly where it needed to be. As the hunter stepped away, he could feel the stretch in his shoulder muscles and a small ache in his core. After all of the construction he had been a part of, he would sleep hard. He doubted even Delphine would be able to wake him once he laid his head down for the night. Before he moved on to his next task, on the heels of some other Halovian townsfolk, he nodded towards the woman who had helped him move the pillar. "Noah Olson." If Beatrix were to give her own name, Noah would be sure to commit it to memory.
With his name given, Noah turned to follow the others. He nodded in response to Chulane and watched the man fly up. Wait, fly? Noah smiled and chuckled some. So, he was not the only one who had been given a new shift these last few weeks. He would ask the man about that later, surely. The others set to work on the floor and the walls. Noah set himself to help with the flooring. Like Hester, he knew it was a job he could do well with his attention to detail, but also with his little need to interact with others.
so I sit and the scan the frequencies, watch the falling snow
They all set to work on the greater structure of the building, the bones that would hold it up; Morgan watched, proud of their work and initiative, especially as Chulane transformed to better reach the roof. Hester and Noah hit in the floorboards with an expert precision and Beatrix helped with the walls: with all of them working together, a building swiftly began to take shape.
By the time this was done, the sun was at it's peak in the sky and they took a break to eat, Morgan and her guards handing out packed lunches made in the kitchens; hardy and simple meals of bread and meats, with a pint of their preferred beverage to drink. Morgan knew that a good way to motivate workers was to feed them well, and found she herself indeed felt better about the coming afternoon's work with a full stomach.
The second half of the tasks would be less intensive, anyway: more oriented around the finesse of the place, the details and little additions that made it more than a simple box. There had been space left in the walls for windows and a great wooden door, which Morgan began to lift, though she would need help to leverage it fully into the provided hole. Beyond that, there were wrapped pieces of furniture to go within: chests, couches, desks, tables, chairs...everything one might need to make a council building more homely.
The fourth thing Morgan had considered over a few days now, not wanting it to seem vain, but she had decided that it was permissible this once, given what they had accomplished: a banner depicting a frosted shield, crossed by two swords. Meant to represent the strength of Halo and her people, though also a clear reference to Morgan and her Shields: it would hang over the door, welcoming any that wished to enter.
---
The structure of the building is done! Now for details!
1. Someone needs to help put in windows.
2. Someone needs to help Morgan place the door.
3. Someone needs to begin to arrange furniture inside.
4. Someone needs to hang the banner.
the devil you know is better than the ghost you don't
The flooring went in with precision, and it was a good task to do while he rested his muscles after hauling and placing the huge pillars. Construction work was something that Noah could do, but did not love. Repairing his home or doing other small odd jobs to help others in Snowcloak was not uncommon for the Olson, but recently the construction he had been doing was well beyond what he had ever done before. Truth be told, Noah was only stepping up in these projects because of his position on the council. It was good for him to do them, but without his title, he would be off on the tundra somewhere doing what he truly loved.
Soon, he would be back. He had more duties now, more responsibility, and it suited him. It was just still an adjustment from what he's always known.
After their meal break, Noah gravitated towards helping Morgan. He grabbed opposite of her on the door, working to help her set it into place and secure it. "Good work on the design of this place, Morgan." he complimented her as they worked.
--
Noah helps Morgan with the door!
so I sit and the scan the frequencies, watch the falling snow
A meal was welcomed, after all they'd done a lot of work. It was simple, but hearty, and neither disliked or preferred in her opinion. She sipped her beverage, before it was time to get back to work.
She was much more motivated after being fed, as she was sure the others were.
Beatrix echoed Noah's sentiment. "This is going to be a nice space,"{/b} she called, as she moved to start arranging the furniture in the correct places. Beatrix was a perfectionist, so arranging furniture was right up her alley.
It was a fact, she had helped with it so obviously the space would be worthwhile.
Food was more than welcome; he hadn't realised how hungry the work had made him. He was well pleased with his efforts, working up a good sweat, which was visible when he took his human form again, shifting between human and leopard occasionally to keep his balance. It worked, and he made great progress, hammering away at the final slate tile and looking over what he had achieved with a deep breath.
The smell of food was an easy lure to him, as he shifted to his eagle and swooped down, landing and transforming in one smooth motion, running his hand through his sweat-damp hair. Grabbing a towel, he dried himself off, knowing well the dangers of being damp in freezing temperatures, washing his hands as well before sitting down to a meal.
Work like this was so satisfying; to be able to look up and see what had been built, to get to the stage of adding those final touches - it was easy to smile despite the fatigue, to laugh and banter with those gathered. And once food was eaten, those final tasks were laid out before them.
Chuy would never claim to be an expert in decorations. He was too practical, too logical, his designs always prioritising functionality and practicality over 'prettiness'. But that wasn't to say he had no appreciation for pretty designs - only that he was utterly useless at them. So he went for installing the windows, finding it well suited to his inclinations, finding comfort in the motion of carefully placing the glass and affixing it to the frames with the workers.
--
Chuy helps with the windows~
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing
The meal was a welcome reprieve from work, Hester accepting her portions with a quiet thanks, embarrassment still warming her cheeks. Lunch provided a chance to actually look up though, to really take in everything they'd accomplished. It wasn't a palace, not even close, but it was something that felt far more suited to Halo, to the people who eked out an existence among the ice and snow. Meat and bread disappears quickly, and before long, work resumes, though the tasks seem a touch simpler.
Hester finds herself moving a little slower after being fed, comfortable with how full she is. The unfortunate side effect is that the tasks are claimed before she really has a chance to pick one out for herself. Not that she's upset. The task that's left is the best one.
The banner is lifted reverently in her hands, Hester taking a moment to look over the insignia, just so she can describe it to her mother later, perhaps have it recreated. Once she's had her moment, she scurries towards the door, trying to keep out of the way of more important work. She waits until a ladder is free, then manoeuvres it so she can reach above the door, pinning the banner in place and letting it unfurl, a giddy smile on her face.
Hester hangs the banner and is very excited about it
08-14-2020, 10:45 PM (This post was last modified: 08-14-2020, 10:45 PM by Morgan.)
MORGAN
Noah came to help her with the door, her strong councilman easily assisting her in it's lifting; as he spoke she looked over the door and smiled at him, nodded her head. "Thank you, and thank you for helping to build it. I can only hope our council thrives within it." After all, the building could be as fancy as they wanted; if the decisions made within were not good, it would hardly matter in the end.
Beatrix complimented it too and Morgan voiced similar thanks, glad that the people living in the Citadel seemed to like their new hall. With Chulane working away on the windows, she walked to the front to watch Hester put up the banner: since Morgan had met the girl, she'd felt an odd hum of protection and affection towards her. Watching her so obviously proud warmed her heart and she came up behind to clasp a hand on her shoulder once the job was done. "Thank you and well done. It looks good."
Everything was coming together. Only a few more things to do, mostly moving about supplies and neatening the whole thing up ,then they could all go home for a well earned rest. Morgan drew everyone to her at the door to give out the last tasks, intending to oversee and go to work on her personal office space within the hall.
--
Final Round!
Tasks:
1. Sweep up/clean dust and debris left in the hall
2. Move food/drink into the pantry area
3. Paint the walls or put up nice tapestries - something to decorate the space!
4. Set out chairs and tables for the meetings and assign them to important people within the town
Windows were in, with no more trouble than one would expect - as Chuy finished up he looked around the now fully-enclosed space of the building. With a smile he commented to Beatrix : "It's all coming together nicely, huh?"
He gathered back at the doorway with the others, nodding at the tasks that were left to do. He immediately grabbed a broom to begin sweeping the area, the work repetitive and dull, but easy to let his thoughts wander nonetheless. Easily, he moved onto dusting when the sweeping was done, moving the woodshavings and dirt from construction into a dustpan and shifting it.
There was so much to do, so much work, so many things weighing on his mind. The ningo farm, getting it up and running. Conversations that needed to be had. His heart was split between duty and love, between wanting to see his plans through, to help the region he had been delivered to, and following his heart, taking the easy route.
But he was here for now, happy to put his body to work, happy to improve the region, to see it thrive and weather the changes that were coming (mostly in the form of more Outlanders appearing, which he knew not everyone was happy about.
--
Chuy sweeps and dusts the space
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing
"It is." She responded, to Chuy, before they were gathered in the doorway. Beatrix listened as the last tasks were given out, and chose to decorate, it was easy, fun. Not really her favorite thing in the world, but at least she could go home and tell Jace of her deeds.
She found some tapestries, and claimed a chair to stand on. Once she had decided where she wanted to hang the first tapestry, she set the chair under the area, and stepped up into it, pulling the fabric with her. One corner first.
Beatrix dragged the chair to the next corner, and repeated. She studied the room, moving her chair to hang a tapestry at the front of the room, placing the chair where she needed it, and then retrieving the second tapestry.
She wasted no time in hanging this tapestry either; she was ready to go home to the Academy and take a hot bath.
