Life After

[PavellumPendulum]

chuachai

Interactions:

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Audrai, Ryan & Jaime

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❀ woods

---

Thinking back on it, perhaps it would've been better to not reward Ryan's quick pace with adjusting their own. The rest of the group trailed behind, more burdened by the amount of things they had. Chai had been lucky enough to not need much. Though her backpack was just about as stuffed as it could be with her belongings, it definitely didn't weigh as much as a cart filled with materials. Weaving did not take much equipment, since she did it by hand, nor did she have any large sentimental items, thus she had the luxury of running around with as much energy as she normally did. However, hindsight had a tendency for instilling regrets. If the group was falling apart, she'd definitely rather stick behind to stay with the rest of the carts than follow Ryan out of pure curiosity.

She giggled at Audrai's joking scolding, only saluting her to show that she'd try not to annoy Ryan into jumping into the river to escape her. No promises, though, of course. It was just in her nature to talk a mile a minute. With the other whirlwind, Jaime here, she had no doubt that Ryan would have fun... As long as he didn't get exhausted from being double teamed by prattling mouths.

His confusion at her greeting only made her giggle some more. Perhaps the boy was too serious for his own good. His tone regarding the carts only sent Chai's giggles into a more silent frown, "Well, they're carrying stuff that we definitely need for the sake of the colony." she piped, drawing her brows together, "Unless you think it would be better to just start completely from scratch, but that seems, mmmmm..." She paused, puffing her cheeks up in thought, trying to find the right word.

"Unwise!" she piped up after a few seconds, a smile gracing her features once more, "Yeah. Unwise. Heheh." She seemed as proud as ever to simply have remembered the correct word. "And even if we get into trouble, we're all here to help each other, right?"

 

[DayDreamer]

Artemis

Huntress / Bushcrafter​

---

Neponset River Settlement

Artemis had nodded at the silent thank you from their new Wisdom Keeper but there was a mischievous laugh in response to Nona's comment on Ryan wearing himself out before noon. "As long as you and I don't have to run back and forth, he can go as fast as he wants." She remarked as she knew Nona quite well, the two of them had been on scouting trips before and being partners in crimes in several occasions should be good enough an indication as to Artemis' impatience to anything that didn't gather her interest or felt like a chore.

Miri's wave, drew her attention towards the back. She knew Monty, but she hadn't really spend much time getting to know him as more than their future healer and that he was deaf. She would have to change that but, for now, with no ways to communicate with him, she graced him with a lopsided smile and a two-fingered salute before turning back to Nona. "You've been having some maps around before right? Any idea where the river might be easier to cross with the carts? With the way our guide took off I am not sure he accounted for that."

APPEARANCE: Click here if you can't see the image

 

[Phi Chisym]

Audrai Akintunde
Seamstress/Leathersmith/Blacksmith/Forecaster
​

"The guy hasn't been in the Settlement before. Maybe he is not used to this whole guide thing. We will just to yell at him to stop if we lose sight of him. It will be fine." Audrai grinned towards Calum, nodding with the same optimism. In seeing her friend fighting his hair - yet again, Rai sighed and began searching around her waist. For as long as she's known him, he's always had a face full of bangs blocking his view. In their professions, that was a dangerous situation.

Her ears perked up at the girl announced as Nona, and Artemis' voiced their opinions about the topic in the air, causing Audrai to snicker, "He's probably thinking the same about us and our loads - as long as we don't make things worse, right? Regardless, we should keep our eyes on him, as well as our pace."

Nonchalantly, she rounded Calum, stepping behind him as she untied a blue crochet kerchief from her belt and began to position it across her friend's forehead; tippy-toeing as high as she could to barely reach. "I can make a hundred of these for you, and you'll still forget them," she clicked her tongue before stepping before him to nod successfully at her handiwork. "There! Now, you're ready to tackle every sneaky root threatening to trip you over, thank you very much!" With a sweet grin, she recollected Usef's reigns and returned to the rhythm of the feet before them.

When Calum was near her side again, she nodded towards the trail with concern. "Wonder how far we're going... My Paapi never mentioned a word about where the new settlement was to be. It's like a mystery for everyone - except the cartographer, of course." Her eyes brightened at the prospects of such an adventure. "I'm so wired about how the land might look - if we'll be near a stream surrounded by mountains, or in a valley full of wildflowers and ruins. It's so exciting - and scary - all combined."

 

[Jess Incognito]

NONA

Nona flushed with brief embarrassment at the mention of her mapping. She of course relied on them heavily for scavenging and foraging personally, but had never offered them up to the Settlement as useful tools. Artemis had seen them on a number of occasions, however, but she couldn't imagine how pathetic they likely were next to someone who knew what they were doing.

Nevertheless, she screwed up her lips in thought, chewing on the inside corner of her mouth. Artemis asked a simple question, but only if they knew where they were going. Nona had been across the river of course, but never with even as much gear as she carried now, let alone a loaded cart. It was much easier to sneak into the city to the north when you weren't really encouraged to be wandering about outside the Settlement in the first place, which was the basis for most of her exploration.

"Er, maybe?" she squinted, her face somewhere between a grimace and a smile, "I just don't know where we're headed."

She made up her mind to go ask and without waiting for a response, she tightened grip on the straps of her pack and quickened her pace to pass the group. She didn't have a complete plan of what she wanted to say, but they could at least get more information. They were a team, right? When she caught up to the front, she hesitated behind Jaime, Chai, and Ryan for a few beats.

After a moment, she cleared her throat and took care not to sound like an idiot, "Hey guys." She smiled at Chai and Jaime. "Some of us were wondering, Ryan, what the plan is? I mean, the Elders just said we were going, not where...But I'm sure they had someplace specific in mind and you seem to know."

She looked down the path, encroached upon by years of unchecked honeysuckle bushes, tiny yellow blooms opening up to the morning light. Nona watched the back of Ryan's head for a hint of his thoughts.

"Some of us are just concerned that the wagons won't be able to cross where this trail lets out. Or that it'll be too muddy to run next to the river until we cross, with spring flooding and all," her voice trailed off again, somewhat uncertain in the face of this stranger, wondering if she'd already rambled too long.
​

 

[DayDreamer]

Calum

Craftsman​

---

Neponset River Settlement

Calum had paused confused for a moment, which gave Audrai all the time she needed to take care of his hair issue for him. He grinned sheepishly at her playfull chide and rubbed his neck. "I keep misplacing them, tho I do recall one of them being too charred to keep living on." He commented as they fell back in line again.

He had to agree with his friend, the mystery of their new settlment was exciting, but his more logical and serious part, the one that rarely ever bothered to come out was whispering to him now. This wasn't a good plan. None of them had sat down to talk and plan their route together, to get to know eachother's strenghts and weaknesses. This could be a recipy for disaster. However, that part of Calum, the serious and dependent one had never been the one in control and Calum had decided to adopt the go with the flow attitude. They were many of them. There was no way they wouldn't be able to come up with a solution to anything life would throw at them.

"I hope it has a stream or is near the river. That way we can have extra power and clean water right at our doorstep. Though I wouldn't mind tackling a well or water transport system." He voiced his thoughts on what the ideal setting would be for him. In all honesty he had never been outside of the settlement and it's surrounding safe area before, so this was completely new to him. He was both excited and terrified.

APPEARANCE: Click here if you can't see the image

 

[Red Thunder]

life after

the Neponset River
early Spring, mid morning, clear skies, no rain


"We live by growth; we die by stagnation."
​

Murmurs of agreement filled the air as first Chai and then Nona made their observations about the carts. Already, people complained about how he was guiding them. The point of a guide was to trust him, right? To follow the path he pointed out? To believe he knew the safest way? Ryan's has tensed in obvious frustration, and he nearly ignored them. They were the idiots who brought all this extemporaneous gear. Why should he-

"The wagons should be fine, where we're crossing." He paused long enough to direct his words to Nona and Chai. "It's a wider part of the Neponset, but that means it's shallower. This time of year, not more than six inches or so. And the bed is pretty stoney."

With a final glance, Ryan turned back to his march, apparently satisfied with his answer.

Chai was right, he admitted to himself begrudgingly. The entire point was to establish a colony; this was not the exploratory expeditions he was used to. The wagons were a necessity, and their pace would have to be adjusted for it.

It was, and his earlier estimation of an hour to the river was a woeful thirty minutes short. With slow, determined progress, however, and a few pauses to shift the wagons over stubborn stones in the path, they reached the Neponset with little enough trouble.

The happy gurgling was a staple of living in the Settlement, and everyone was familiar with the sound. But being on its bank was another matter. The river exuded quiet joy, at times racing along to see which leaf might finish first, and at others, drifting by in listless leisure, the azure hills of the small rapids resting as they passed over gentle, wide stones. The mists of early morning had nigh on cleared, and above them, the sun smiled. It was yet still cool, and the birds had finally awoken enough to begin their songs.

The bank of the Neponset River may have once been neatly trimmed and meticulously cared for, but now trees bent down to dip their hands in the water, and reeds tread in the shallows. The path, fortunately, sloped to the river's edge; bringing the wagons down should be little too no trouble. Nor should crossing it; as Ryan had indicated, there was a shallow ford across the river, secured by what appeared to be a fallen and worn low water crossing Before.

Just before entering the water, Ryan stopped and looked back, as if ensuring all the party was still yet present.

"It's shallow, but water's powerful." He kicked some stones into the river for emphasis. "Those of you with wheels, make sure your gear is secure. If your cart gets swept, we don't wanna chase stuff down to the ocean."

CS thread
@rissa -Jaime & Melby
@PavellumPendulum -Monty & Chai
@DayDreamer -Calum & Artemis
@Jess Incognito -Nona
@Zarko Straadi -Mirielis
@Phi Chisym -Audrai​

 

[Phi Chisym]

Audrai Akintunde
Seamstress/Leathersmith/Blacksmith/Forecaster
​

The travel was basic, nothing too adventurous or dangerous since they were following trails known to their steps. But soon they will be crossing the Neponset River and stepping towards the unknown. Well, for some who were only trained for the simpler tasks within the settlement barely knew anything about traveling beyond their sketched borders. Scavengers, hunters, excavators, and mapmakers knew what was beyond here; and even a few adventurers knew just as much as them. Audrai only knew of the ruins she'd visited within a few scavenger hunts in the past – nothing more past the river's edge.

As they stood there now, listening to the song that sung them to sleep since their births, Audrai could do nothing but shield her heart from the inevitable – this might be the last time she hears this song sung. Taking an agonizing breath, she just stood there and listened with her eyes and heart, the scent of the air, and its touch. Her eyes held onto the dancing waters, "Make a memory, to never forget. Just in case… just in case…" Tears threaten but never fell. They rarely do for her. Audrai exhaled and refocused towards their guide as he stepped towards Neponset's edge.

"It's shallow, but water's powerful." Ryan kicked some stones into the river. "Those of you with wheels, make sure your gear is secure. If your cart gets swept, we don't wanna chase stuff down to the ocean."

Usef grunted beside her, and she gave his maul a comforting pat. "Nothing for you to worry about; you remember your steps, don't you?" She's allowed her ox to swim within the currents a few times when they visited the river – only when it was safe. Watching the water passing and seeing her old friend portraying a sense of calm beside it, granted her peace that he would cross without warning.

Audrai took a moment to recheck her cart while removing her pack off her back and securing it in the cart. Stepping towards the bank with the others, she allowed Usef to take his time stepping into the soft bottom of the river before encouraging him to continue forward when he felt comfortable. By the time they reached the center of the river, the water was barely up to his lower belly. She hoisted her short frame up over his neck keep herself dry. The cart was built with thick, tall wheels for this reason alone, but the belly of the cart remained dry when they ascend from the deeper middle of the river.

Audrai was able to hop off her the ox's neck when the water level was at her shins, cooing and guiding Usef happily to the rocky bank on the other side. She congratulated him and hugged his neck before checking over her cart. Then, standing in wait, she looked over at her companions as they all worked their way across. Preparing for any issues, she retrieved a tow rope secured on Usef's side harness and waited closer to the river's edge. The other end of the rope is set with a floating weight for an easy pitch; just in case someone needed an extra hand.

 

[Jess Incognito]

NONA

Nona cringed internally, sensing the heat of irritation radiating from their guide, but his response surprised her - calm and even-toned. It seemed she'd already made some unfair assumptions.

She nodded quietly. Six inches of water indeed seemed agreeable. For the rest of the walk to the river, chatter was minimal. They stopped on the banks, gazing across the clear water. The short distance between the Settlement and Neponset was known territory. She guessed trips beyond were few and far between for most of them.

Nona squatted a bit and carefully set the weight of her pack down on a boulder before sliding it off her shoulders. She didn't want to take it off after finally getting the adjustments on her hip straps right only in the last quarter mile or so, but her well-worn boots were a far cry from watertight. They did well enough in the rain, but trudging across the river would soak them without question and too few stones poked out of the water to guarantee dry crossing. She tucked her socks into her boots and tied each to her pack tightly so that they didn't swing around.

It was silly, less than five miles from home and the other side of the river felt like some great beyond. She hoisted her pack back up and jostled it around until it settled on her shoulders. It was less the distance, she supposed, than finally settling into the idea that this adventure wouldn't end with nightfall.

She watched Audrai step into the water with her animal and forge ahead without issue. Nona stepped barefoot into the quick-moving water, its icy touch enveloping her senses for one paralyzing moment. Before going further, she turned to Mirielis, who she didn't know well, but who had the only other cart and might need another hand.

"I can push your cart from behind, if it'll help," she offered kindly. Audrai had her ox to steady a cart in the water, but Mirielis by herself might just as easily be swept away with hers if its wide wheels started dragging in the current.
​

 

[Zarko Straadi]

Mirielis
Interactions: Nona @Jess Incognito Audrai @Phi Chisym
Mentions: Ryan @Red Thunder Monty @PavellumPendulum

Reaching the river's edge, Mirielis bit her lip as she contemplated the challenge ahead of her. Audrai crossed easily enough, but with her mighty ox and her taller wagon, she was able to cross at a deeper, slower-flowing part of the ford than Miri could follow, not if she wanted to avoid getting her precious books from getting soaked.

"It's shallow, but water's powerful," their new guide said. He kicked some stones into the river for emphasis. "Those of you with wheels, make sure your gear is secure. If your cart gets swept, we don't wanna chase stuff down to the ocean." Is he irritated with us? She lowered her eyes and made sure to keep her face neutral. What if I'm the only one that has trouble? The other carts were considerably larger and heavier than hers, and had animals to pull them. Miri willed her thoughts away from the gut-clenching fear of being the one person to be a burden on the others, the one that maybe they'd be better off without, and focused on the river itself.

Floating leaves dipped and whirled over the ripples, accelerating with the faster flow as they crossed into the shallows. Miri started to visualize the flow patterns their movements implied. There was a way of water that Venera had learned from those who came before her, and taught to her Apprentice. Miri's Grimoire included water flow diagrams that originated from the work of a sage from Before named Viktor Schauberger, knowledge that would be incorporated into any biolembics or other water-related devices she might help build. The leaves, and flashes of sunlight from the water's surface told the story of--

"I can push your cart from behind, if it'll help." Miri startled as Nona's voice snapped her concentration.

"Oh! ...Thank you," she said, giving the young woman a brief smile. She turned to look over Melby and Monty's carts, making note of their characteristics. "Please...let me go first," she said to Melby. "Where I can go...you can too. And Monty." Thankfully, Melby could sign, so Miri turned her attention back to the river. There, an eddy told of a hole that could swallow a wheel, and in several places a hump-and-whorl signaled the presence of protruding stones just beneath the surface. Some ripples announced straight laminar flow, others turbulence. Mirielis dismounted her bike on the down-river side, tracing out a course with a hand, careful to take the wider axles of the other carts into account. "...Watch...out for moss. Slippery."

She took off her moccasins and secured them on her cart so she could use her toes to help grip rounded river rocks, and better feel the temperature and flow rate of the water. Cold water was more dense than warm, and would carry more force. She walked her bike into the water, and with Nona's help she made her way into the river with only a couple scares where the speed of the current plus slick surface threatened to send her cart and bike toppling downriver. Almost there--but then a wide slab of stone crossed by swift-flowing water barred her path. The terrain to either side was dominated by rapids; large, round rocks beneath the surface that neither her cart nor the others could cross. Tendrils of stringy moss waved like comet-tails from places where the stone was rough enough for them to attach.

Mirielis glanced over her shoulder at the other wagons. They have four wheels; more weight, more rolling resistance. They should be alright, she thought. Carefully, she started to pick her way cross the slab of stone. But then her bike and cart started to slide. She hissed a sharp intake of breath, putting her weight behind her bike to hold it in place, while Nona helped with the cart. She found bare stone with her feet and gripped with her toes as well as she could, but it was all she could do to keep her vehicle in place.

A splash: Audrai had tossed a float with a tow rope attached. Mirielis grabbed it and looped the rope around the neck of her bike. With it to help secure the vehicle, she was able to reach up and pull along the rope and make more loops while sliding her feet from foothold to foothold until the precarious zone was behind her. Relieved to be on the other side, Miri gave Nona a smile of gratitude, and another for Audrai, then got out of the way so the others would have room to exit. She unwound the rope from around her bike's neck so it could be ready if needed again.

 

[PavellumPendulum]

chuachai

Interactions:

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Everyone

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❀ river

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Soon enough, they'd made it to the river. Chai's shoulders were beginning to ache from her pack, but she supposed that she'd endured worse in the past. Really, the sights she was seeing; the warm sun, the rustling trees, the fresh scent that accompanied the morning... All of it was enough to keep her spirits up. Even if there was a bit of discord settling into the group from the immediate clash between their guide and the other's trying to keep up, it wasn't anything unmanageable. Chai was determined to keep the peace if she needed to: she wasn't about to let a little disagreement ruin the fact that they were going off on their own today to start anew, something that most definitely deserved to be celebrated and respected.

Chai was one of the lucky ones who hadn't needed a cart, so her journey across the river most definitely wouldn't be the most difficult. Admittedly, she was a bit scared. She was small and a cart certainly could've given her an extra weight to hold onto if she happened to slip... But she wouldn't complain. Even as the water rushed past her, creeping up her legs and soaking her skin (she'd rolled up her pants, thankfully), she cheered herself on in the absence of having her siblings to do so for her.

Eventually, she made it across with no issues, smiling brightly at her other group mates and kicking her feet out slightly to wick away some of the water. For once, she was quiet, letting everyone sort out what they needed to do to get across.

 

[DayDreamer]

Callum, Artemis and Monty were the last ones that would have to cross. Seeing the difficulties that Mirielis' lighter cart was having, Artemis decided that it would be better if she helped out keep the last cart stable. It was their healer's cart and she would be damned if she didn't know the importance of keeping medicine safe. "Hey Monty! I will tie a rope to the back of your cart. Help keep it stable." Artemis said as she faced him. She remembered something about him being able to read lips and since she didn't know how to sign, she faced him and made sure to pronounce clearly.

Callum was removing his boots and raising up his pants a little at the time, but once he was ready, he too made his way to Monty, signing to him "I. Push. Back."

And so, as soon as Monty was ready they would attempt to cross too.

 

[PavellumPendulum]

montgomery

interactions:

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Mirielis, Callum, Artemis

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❀ river

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The river licked up the sides of the riverbank eagerly. The group was making progress, slowly. Getting through the river seemed like an easy enough task, since they had each other as support, but that didn't help Monty's anxious little heart. He'd nodded at Mirielis' request to be taught sign language previously, but the conversation had died out and by the time they'd reached the river, he hadn't added much more. The thought flashed through his mind that perhaps he was being annoying by not replying, but he didn't have much time to cling to the idea since everyone was beginning their trek through the rushing waters.

Mirielis had gone before him, as did everyone else. He'd felt his chest tighten when she'd found trouble, but thankfully Audrai and the rest of them had come to her rescue. Unfortunately, this had left him with the task of having the last cart to cross. Gently, he rest his hand atop his mule's neck, before guiding her closer to the riverbank, clicking his tongue as a signal to move.

Thankfully, Artemis and Callum seemed intent on helping him.

He'd smiled awkwardly in an attempt to make a friendly expression towards the two of them, seeing Artemis' lips moving. Of course, he couldn't always catch every word said to him, but thankfully she wasn't talking too quickly, so he got the gist of the message. He nodded, assuming that she didn't know how to sign, and gave her a thumbs up to try and hammer in his gratitude.

Callum's signing made him smile, perhaps a bit more genuinely this time, and he nodded, lightly pressing his fingers to his chin then lowering his flat palm to sign, "Thank you."

Slowly, they began the short trip through the river. He'd rolled up his pants, so the cold water on his bare skin was both refreshing and uncomfortable. The cart was filled with medicine and medical supplies, so not jostling it around too much was probably a good idea, even if most of his things had been secured as tightly as possible. They made it over without many issues and Monty was quick to turn to both Callum and Artemis to bow his head slightly to convey more of his thanks.

 

[Red Thunder]

life after
the Neponset River
early Spring, mid morning, clear skies, no rain

"We live by growth; we die by stagnation."
​

Shallow and swift, wide and wet, the fording was not a quick endeavor. Though much of the path benefited from a sunken concrete bridge, the low water crossing was broken. Many pieces were missing entirely, battered away by long years of uninterrupted erosion. In these places, debris commonly came to rest. They snagged on the sharp corners, softening them, catching more and more flotsam until a natural repair had been made. On either side of the concrete, river silt had built up, allowing rocks and the heavier tree limbs to journey pensively along, urged by the river but in nothing of a hurry. On these, moss grew, providing nourishment to the river's inhabitants, as well as a slick foundation on which to stand.

Ryan stood on the bank, having yet to cross. He carefully watched each of their party enter the water, assisting as absolutely needed. While not overly large, the group was sizeable. The narrowness of the path, and the muddy unreliability of the riverbed otherwise, necessitated no more than two people beside one another, or a cart by itself, and even that at a snail's pace. Yet, progress was made, and slowly the group could climb back out onto dry land.

A shout from mid-river cut through the patient endurance they were managing, just as Monty was thanking his companions. Without thinking, Ryan dropped his pack and leapt for the water, jumping in downstream of the crossing. One of their carts, this one loaded down with dried and canned foodstuffs, had lodged in a break in the concrete. When its owner, Samuel, had tried to shove it loose, it had tipped. Now, sun dried vegetables, smoked meats, and canned mixtures of both were bobbing in the water or tumbling across its bed. Deeper here than at the crossing, perhaps three feet deep, the Neponset tugged and pushed a bit harder than upstream. Ryan began grabbing at the cloth sacks and glass jars, trying to salvage what he could.

"Gimme a hand!" The shout was somewhat distorted by the sputters of resurfacing. He was soaked now, head to toe. And food was still escaping.

Several of those on the bank rushed to help, while others ran to aid Samuel in righting his cart.

~~~​

Across the Neponset! Your character has three options, as I see it: remain in place, aid Sam with his cart to prevent more spillage, or help Ryan with getting supplies under control. Feel free to have them jump in wherever!

CS thread
@PavellumPendulum -Monty & Chai
@DayDreamer -Calum & Artemis
@Jess Incognito -Nona
@Zarko Straadi -Mirielis
@Phi Chisym -Audrai​

 

[Zarko Straadi]

Mirielis
Interactions: Ryan @Red Thunder

Mirielis gasped. Seeing the direction Samuel was going, it hit her that she hadn't spoken out loud enough for the ones further back to hear. She opened her mouth, but words caught in he throat. She tried a few emphatic gestures, but it was already too late. The edge of the hole beneath the eddy caught one of his wheels, causing his cart to teeter.

"Eh....Aaaaaah!" she cried, shaking her head frantically. Whether he had noticed her or not didn't matter, as he slapped the reins of his horse, trying to power through. The wheel was caught in the slanting edge of an underwater V. Instead of coming back to the surface of the slab, the wheel was guided deeper into the hole. As the V widened, the wheel sank deeper, and the cart tipped further, spilling precious cargo into the river. Their new guide was quick to take action, rushing into the deeper water to start grabbing foodstuffs.

Mirielis made a quick calculation: she was smaller than all of the others, thus not well suited to the task of righting Samuel's wagon. So she waded into the water until she could plunge under and swim, using handholds and strokes to glide through the water. Noting the lazy roll of the jars along the bottom, she prioritized a couple floating bags as she surfaced.

"Fishing...net?" she managed to call out. Someone in the party was likely to have one, though she hadn't taken inventory of anyone else's belongings. Fumbling with the bags she'd caught to free up a hand, she strained to make her voice work. "Floating...first...please. Jars...slow," she said pointing down into the water, then twirling her index finger in a rolling gesture. No time to wait for his reaction, she hurried back toward the far shore until she was close enough to heave the bags to land, then turned back in pursuit of more. Catching up with a couple more bags, she grabbed them and then turned to Ryan to assess his response, and double-check on the rest of the group.

 

[Phi Chisym]

Audrai Akintunde
Seamstress/Leathersmith/Blacksmith/Forecaster


​

"You're good, Mirielis?" Audrai nodded her welcomes towards the girl as she regained her rolled-up rope. Good thing she had certain items readily available. Just one of the tips of wisdom her father instilled within to keep his daughter safe from the hard world she's in. There's no telling what else could happen during this caravan, so preparation is necessary.

Stepping to the bank again, watching Usef drink his fill, a shout from the depth of the river caught her attention. One of the other travelers, Samuel, if she recalled properly, found troubles crossing with his cart. Packages and containers of foodstuff were being tossed here and there, blessing the river with their rations. Ryan and Mirielis immediately jumped in to save what items they could. "Fishing…net!" was all Audrai could hear before she jumped into action herself.

"SAM, CATCH," quick and with precision, Audrai tossed her rope towards Samuel, so he could attach it to his cart. With Usef's help, they should be able to work the cart out of its debacle without losing it entirely. Before she began to guide her ox to pull, giving Sam time to prepare, Audrai climbed up Usef's back to search for…something.

"I know it's in here," she mumbled to herself. "Moma gave it to me… but she wouldn't mind if I use it for this." Yanking from the burrow she created within her packings, she found her grandmother's old macramé cape shawl. It was large enough to make a full circle if she tied it together, with bells and shells down the edges, and spaces small enough to allow water to flow but nothing else. She grabbed her knife and began to cut a long line of rope from a spool on her cart to tie one end to the center of the shawl after tying the edges together. Lifting it, it seemed like the weight of it would work well enough to drop in the water.

"Hey guys, I've got this! It might work well enough as a net to help a little." Handing her DIY net off, she grabbed onto her ox's reigns and waiting for Samuel to give the go. "Usef, Tulat! Tulat!" With Sam ready to move, she commanded her ox to play their little game - to pull as hard as he can, like mamma asked, so he can gain a treat. Eyes wide with excitement, the burly beast began to pull his weight and the locked cart being tackled by the water's rush. It was a fight to gain the upper hand, but knowing the wonderful treats Audrai had in store for him, he didn't stop and fought harder to win.

 

[Jess Incognito]

NONA

Nona positioned herself behind Mirielis' cart, being careful to push on her lead so as not to jostle it forward too quickly. Crossing the river was not so bad after all. When they made it with the help of Audrai's tow, Nona dropped her pack on an outcrop of ancient, crumbling concrete.

Soon, many of their small band had crossed or were almost there. Nona jerked to alertness at the shout, unable to pinpoint the source of commotion until Ryan supplemented it.

"I'll take it!" she said, being near Audrai when she retrieved a net from her cart. With the shawl over her shoulder, she sprinted downstream before wading back into the icy waters. She pushed hard against the increasing depth to move faster until it was deep enough to plunge full in and faster to swim.

"Here-here-here!" she called to the nearest person* mid-stream, "Take the net!" When the gap lessened, she threw half of the net in their direction, hoping to string it between them soon enough to catch an incoming pile of floating supplies.



*leaving it open to be anyone​

 

[PavellumPendulum]

Though things had been going fairly smoothly up until that point, calamity had come upon the group despite their caution. Chai immediately burst into action at Ryan's call for aid, rushing straight back into the disturbed waters to grab at jars and packs of dried food. Without thinking, she was quickly becoming soaked from the chest down from reaching to grab everything as it threatened to disappear downstream. Thankfully, she wasn't having too much trouble staying upright, quickly making a small pile off on the riverbank. She felt herself shivering in the cold of the water, her teeth chattering, but her determination to be useful outweighed her need to escape the water.

Monty, however, had taken a bit longer to spring into action. The calls hadn't alerted him of anything, of course, since he couldn't hear them, but seeing everyone immediately begin to panic and run towards the river had definitely made him turn around. He'd been frozen for a good few moments, the initial shock taking over his whole body, but he eventually jogged over to help out. Upon seeing Nona holding out the shawl, he waded through the water, attempting to catch it. Initially, he'd just missed it, but he soon made up for it, grabbing and pulling the other end taut so that the supplies would get caught while the water pushed it all through.

 

[DayDreamer]

"Oh shit!" Callum exclaimed as he saw the food being carried away, but there were already a lot of people jumping to help with catching their river whisked provisions off to the sea. Few, except Audrai, had jumped to Sam's aid in correcting the wagon's tilt so that no more food would be lost. Discarding his pack next to those of his peers, he rushed over to help with lifting the wagon upright once more.

It wasn't easy, but Usef's strenght was taking a lot of the load off Callum and "all" he had to do was to 'microhandle' the wheel so that the wagon could move safely to shore.

At the same time, Artemis too had cursed, the greek words flowing effortlessly from her mouth as she watched the food run away. The small DIY net was perfect for gathering the smaller jars and sacks, but there were a couple of larger crates that had been sneakily making a run for it on the river's currents, seemingly forgotten for a moment as they were too heavy to be carried away faster than their smaller counterparts. "Guys the crates!" She called out as she was quick to turn her piece of rope into a lasso and already catching one of them.

 

[Red Thunder]

life after
the Neponset River
early Spring, mid morning, clear skies, no rain

"We live by growth; we die by stagnation."
​

It was a valiant effort, and the quick response to a cry for help was good indication that the group's venture would not end disastrously, and could very well end in success. Throughout the course of attending to the major need, smaller solutions were quickly devised, and without a word of debate, complaint, or contradiction, members of the little troupe leapt into action to execute the ideas. Samuel retrieved the rope with little trouble, securing it to his cart just in time for Audrai and Usef to right it again with their combined efforts. Callum, too, stabilized the vehicle before it toppled again, and with a few solid yanks, the travelers managed to drive the cart onto dry ground. In the water, others continued to show their charitable spirits, jumping into the water without argument. Thanks to Audrai's quick work on the shawl, and Nona and Monty's precise use of it, much of the wayward supplies were halted of their continued journey, and those that slipped past thanks to unfeasible distance or rapid pace were similarly rescued by the sharp eyes and quick hands of Chai, Mirielis, and Ryan, and by the creative rope handling of Artemis.

Nevertheless, their efforts were not entirely successful. The river was wide, and the water swift, and perhaps a tenth of the stores that had taken the impromptu bath were lost to the Neponset. On either shore, those who had not managed to get involved in time looked on in dark disappointment. It was their first real setback, and only on their first day. While not expedition-ending, they would by necessity have to begin scavenging at least a week before they'd intended. And that was assuming the supplies they had rescued weren't ruined by the water.

With effort, the group got to the far bank at last. Sam, a short kid not more than 20 years old and lean as a rail, braced himself against his cart as he examined its load. His brow was furrowed, and his shoulders slumped. Ryan gave him a moment extra as he examined each of their party for general status.

"Everyone okay?" he asked, wringing out his shirt tail. It was graciously beginning to warm up, and no one should catch a chill. "Any injuries from that little bath?"

~~~

Y'all are super patient. Here we are! Next GM post in 2 weeks!

CS thread
@PavellumPendulum -Monty & Chai
@DayDreamer -Calum & Artemis
@Jess Incognito -Nona
@Zarko Straadi -Mirielis
@Phi Chisym -Audrai​

 

[Zarko Straadi]

Mirielis:
Interaction: Audrai

Once all the floating containers that could be saved were corralled, Mirielis borrowed Audrai's shawl and set to hunting the jars under the water. Though the foodstuffs they contained were precious, some of them--the glass Mason jars that could be used to can vegetables were worth quite a bit more than their contents, as they could no longer be produced. Well before the end of the World That Was, the people had switched to using metal "cans" to preserve food, and those could not be re-used once opened. Mason jars were still made for boutique buyers and there was a market for the antique ones, but generations after the Calamity, intact jars were a treasure worth more than their weight in gold. In this age, gold was pretty, but not terribly useful.

And so, Miri's heart sank every time she found shards from one that had hit a stone on splashdown hard enough to break. Finally though, she returned with Audrai's shawl improvised into a sack full of jars. Only when she was handing over the loot to Audrai did she notice the vibrant colors and artful weaving work. "It's...beautiful," she said, worriedly looking at its meshes, hoping that it would not be stretched out of shape by its burden or ruined by the water. She opened her mouth to apologize, but words would no longer come.

Once Audrai took control of the parcel so she could give Sam back the jars and keep her shawl, Miri headed back out into the water to conduct the rest of the travelers through the river with hand gestures so they would not share Sam's fate. Which--it hit her like a dagger to the chest--is what she should have done to begin with. Thankfully, the fact that she was dripping from head to toe and shivering in the cool breeze hid her tears and the occasional stifled sob.