From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Deimos and Sah make a good team, and with their impressive talents as well as the help of various citizens, they're able to clear away much of the lingering riff-raff, stones, and debris which would otherwise clutter the base of their project.
Meanwhile, Talyson and Cordelia make out well in their own right. Having couriered (see what I did there) many a favour, Tal is well-liked in town, and given Cordelia is the newest Warden, her presence goes far in acquiring the things they need. Now it's back to Deimos and Sah.
Okay. We have our supplies. Someone should probably get to work mixing that cement, and...then what? Are we just pouring it onto the ground, are we making moulds, are we using thoughts and prayers...?
Stones, dirt, rock, loam, and snow maneuvered out of the way under all their labor and power, and before long, with Talyson and Cordelia’s return, they could move onward into crucial segments.
“I can make a mold to pour into,” and his jaw jutted toward the massive hole in the earth – waiting for the eventuality. And he certainly didn’t want to shove a mixture into the ground without some boundaries and order instilled. “While the rest mix the cement?” He lifted his gaze to each in turn, figuring they could work out the details amongst themselves.
From there, his Mastered Creation magic adhered and conformed, laying out a mold fit for the foundations of a watchtower down in the depths of their dug-out proportions.
--
Deimos makes more suggestions, then tries to create a mold using his Mastered Creation for the watchtower.
Creation: When combined with Mastered Air, Mastered Earth, Mastered Water, and Mastered fire, can create 2 magical items per season (with admin approval). Without mastering the four elements, can create well-made complex machines, and an unlimited number of regular items per thread limited by endurance stat. Small items last their natural lifespan. Medium and large items degrade after a season. Complex machines (a telescope, music box, etc) must be created with the knowledge of the character (i.e., cannot create a machine you don't understand/wouldn't be able to build with relevant tools)
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Tal didn't pry, but he kept an eye on Cordelia as they shopped, brow furrowed in uncertainty and concern for his friend. Between the Bag of Holding and the sled they were able to get their gathered materials back to the worksite in short order.
He nodded to Deimos instead of flashing a grin; Sah and Delia's subdued manners were rubbing off on him and he simply began to gather some of the broken pieces and knotted planks from the construction wood to build a fire. Boreal happily provided the initial flame with a prodigious belch of searing heat and then Tal arranged a makeshift tripod for hanging the cauldron over the quickly-roaring flames. "It's ready for the cement mix an' water t'go in," he called to whoever was closest to the pile of ingredients. Tal lays the fire and prepares a tripod for the cauldron so others can make and mix the cement!
It's a relief when the supplies comes together and Sah can turn his full focus on manual labor. He nods at Deimos' words and moves towards the cauldron when Tal gives the go ahead. Grabbing a rod to stir, the Abandoned sets himself up.
Taking the stirring rod in both hands, he begins the laborious task of churning and mixing the cement. As each ingredient becomes necessary, Sah uses his telekinesis to pour it in. This way he doesn't have to stop stirring and can increase his efficiency. At least, that's the plan. The Abandoned tries to be as precise as possible as he adds ingredients and mixes. He really doesn't want to have to repeat this step.
~
Sah uses manual labor and his mastered telekinesis to make and mix the cement.
Telekinesis: Can move large objects.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Again, Cordelia doesn't talk more than she has to. Only a few words exchanged with the shopkeepers, but nothing else beyond that. Once they're back with the others, she shifts her focus to mixing the cement once Tal gets the cauldron set up over the fire. Then she takes the proper steps to prepare it. The dry mix and then the water, mixing thoroughly and slowly, ensuring that every bit is properly absorbed.
With the mold made, Cordelia works with the others to pour it in, spreading the mixture out slowly. It's made easier with the perfectly made mold from Deimos.
Cordelia mixes the cement and pours.
Cordelia Limore
'Cause they got the cages, they got the boxes and guns They are the hunters, we are the foxes and we run
Awww, well done the lot of you. Some of you will be sore from all that mixing tomorrow, but nevermind.
Now here's the thing: concrete takes about 24-48 hours to set. That means building a tower like this from scratch is going to take...well, a long time. Are we going the slow and steady route, or does anyone have any clever ideas to speed up the process?
Tal stood and stretched as the concrete was poured and then looked around at the others with a shrug.
"So, uh... it'll go faster if we keep it warm." Wisdom gained from being part of a family that ran a general store, and at least a general familiarity with the goods they sold. "But not too warm," he added with an admonishing glare at Boreal - who swallowed the deep breath she'd taken and then burped a small flame innocently. "Somethin' like this, I think they usually build a tent over to keep the snow off the settin' concrete and build a fire inside to keep the temp up. It'll still take a day, I'm guessin'? But if we keep an eye on things so nothin' ruins the mix we can start buildin' on top of it the mornin' after tomorrow."
That was the two cents he had to add, and he reached up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly and shoot a surreptitious glance at Deimos to see what the General thought of his idea.
Tal suggests putting a tent over the foundations to protect the concrete and building a fire inside to keep it warm so it will dry faster.
With the concrete set, there wasn’t much else to do but wait - but already the wheels were turning. While he was considering the nature of Air incantations and if there was a possibility of drying out the concrete quicker, lending to more of an efficiency, Talyson’s suggestions lingered.
Which, perhaps, might’ve been more feasible, considering how much they didn’t want to mess with what they’d already built. Tilting his head, he pondered over the layout of the cement, gaze perusing the quarters and tent necessities. “I can create the tent,” and he glanced over to the others, knowing all of them would be capable of making a fire, and wouldn’t require him to unfurl any magic in that accord. “Do we want someone to be watching it at all times?”
He had some recruits that could likely fit the bill - knowing how most of them standing here now had other lines of work and duties to fulfill.
Setting those parameters in motion, the General aimed to start constructing the tent using his creation magic.
--
Deimos offers further suggestions and makes a tent to go over the cement.
Creation: When combined with Mastered Air, Mastered Earth, Mastered Water, and Mastered fire, can create 2 magical items per season (with admin approval). Without mastering the four elements, can create well-made complex machines, and an unlimited number of regular items per thread limited by endurance stat. Small items last their natural lifespan. Medium and large items degrade after a season. Complex machines (a telescope, music box, etc) must be created with the knowledge of the character (i.e., cannot create a machine you don't understand/wouldn't be able to build with relevant tools)
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
"I can stay and tend the fire." Cordelia quickly offers, knowing that there was nothing else she needed to tend to. Noah would be busy with his work and their house would sit empty without him. She would rather be alone here than there. The Shrike lifts her shoulders in a shrug, knowing that they could have any of the soldiers do it, but she could do it just fine herself. With a soft smile towards Deimos, Cordelia straightens, "I can collect firewood for the time being."
Giving Tal a final look and glancing over at Sah, the Attuned ducks her head and wanders off in search of firewood for the fire she would be stoking all night.
Cordelia offers to watch the fire and goes to get firewood.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
Sah nods in agreement, "Having someone watch in around the clock sounds good. That way we can add the next layer as soon as the previous layer dries." They need to be efficient but not rush it. The Abandoned really didn't want to have to rebuild the tower due to shoddy craftsmanship on their part.
As the others volunteer their efforts, Sah contemplates what he can contribute. "I can keep mix more cement as needed and stand by to add layers whenever it's time." That still wouldn't speed things up that much. "Maybe we can use air magic to try and dry it as well? Between that and the fire we can cover it in dry heat to bake the cement." It was a shot in the dark given his lack of knowledge in the matter.
~
Sah suggests a few additions to the plan and offers to stand by to create more cement and stack layers throughout the night/day.
Well, what say you team? Sah's idea seems pretty good, but then again, what do any of you I know about concrete. If it cools too quickly is that a problem? What temperature does it actually need to stay at, and, even if you knew that, it isn't like thermometers are a thing.
Well if you're going to wait...why doesn't someone start to figure out a Watchperson's schedule, maybe they could create an announcement for the announcement board, maybe some signage...idk, decorations?
Deimos had experienced a multitude of things, usually on the brink of sovereignty, battles, wars, crusades…and lacked in others. Like farming, gardening, and apparently, cement. They’d done numerous parts in the construction of the pillar, and it’d been smaller, not as looming as the watchtower would turn out to be.
His nose wrinkled, not towards any of his constituents, but upon his ignorance in the matter, and would have to defer to others for some guidance on the proportions. “I can write out a schedule,” at the very least, so they’d know who was taking turns and when. Considering how often he conducted them for the Shields and barracks as a whole, it wouldn’t be very difficult. “Do we want to recruit any others,” considering the notice board, and any of those who’d been masons. “Or place signs?” Dictating ample warnings?
Snagging at a piece of parchment and charcoal in his pockets, the Sword began to hasten down times – calculations conforming in his head, before placing them down on the paper.
Cordelia's offer for making the fire was accompanied by a nod of solidarity from Tal, though Sah's suggestions earned a wrinkling of the courier's nose. "Don't want to dry it too fast," he protested. "Rushin' it will only bite us in the ass later. Just keepin' the air in the tent above freezing should work." Though he couldn't find fault with the Advisor offering to stay and watch it, and he gave a reluctant nod of appreciation for it.
"I can... uh. Run an announcement over to the board for some recruits?" Depending on how many layers of concrete would be required, it might take more than a day or two. Rotations of fire-tenders and wet-concrete-protectors might be needed. Tal grimaced and went to find a pencil and scrap of parchment and got to work. Tal makes a recruiting announcement
While they boys do what boys do, Cordelia focuses on the fire, taking Talyson's suggestion of keeping it just above freezing as a good place to start. She could always watch for signs of cracking. Carefully stacking the wood close enough that she'd be able to reach it, the Shrike creates the start of a fire. The wood and dried tinder is placed before she uses her flint and steel to ignite it. Blowing gently on the embers, Cordelia eventually gets it to catch, sighing as warmth begins to sink into her numb fingertips again.
"We'll need to feed it every hour or so to keep the blaze going, but that should work."
Cordelia starts the fire!
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
