The Storm (2) - Asking for Help

Writers: Devin, Cali, Jane
Date Posted: 30th April 2009

Characters: Trellyn, Leisenn, N'vanik
Description: Trellyn and Leisenn go to N'vanik and ask for help.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 18 of Turn 5

N'vanik

Trellyn didn't remember it taking so long to get to the Weyr from the Hall before; but she had never crossed over land in a hurricane before either. She just hoped her ears would quit ringing or she'd never be able to hear the Weyrleader... if they ever found him. As she and Leisenn entered the quiet interior of the Weyr, she grabbed the first person she saw and asked for the Weyrleader.

"Makes you glad for the simple layout at the Hall, doesn't it," Leisenn commented to the journeywoman as they followed the directions down the glow-lit corridors.

"Hmm, yes." she agreed as they finally found what they hoped was the Weyrleader's weyr. She gave it a quick but loud rap and wondered if he was even there.

The knock made him stir, but it took Loseth's prodding to fully wake him. }:Someone is at the door.:{

Groaning and rolling out of bed, N'vanik searched for his pants. This better be good. He found them and pulled them on. He answered the door with a grumpy, "Yeah?" Then straightened when he saw who it was. "Oh, Hallmaster. Sorry, I was napping." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Sorry to disturb you, Weyrleader. Do you know journeywoman Trellyn?"

"No. We haven't met."

"Weyrleader N'vanik, Journeywoman Trellyn. Trellyn, N'vanik." Not waiting for the pair to acknowledge the introduction Leisenn continued. "The hurricane is still not directed here," she said, giving the most important reassurance, "But there is a ship run aground on some of the outer islands - too far for us to get to in a hurry. We're wondering if you and your riders could help."

"Shards ... it's pretty bad out there." Wind and rain was battering the Weyr. Even the edge of a hurricane was a fierce storm.

The Hallmaster glanced at the journeywoman at her side, trying not to show her disappointment. It was a novelty to her to have the Weyr so close, so much so that she hadn't even thought of asking them for help, but once the idea had been suggested she had started to hope that there was an answer close at hand. And unusual one, certainly, but she could adapt to a new situation, even at her age.

"You won't be able to help, then?"

"Please," Trellyn begged before he could refuse them, "Even if we left right now, it'd be after dark before we could get to them, but we'd probably drown trying. The seas are just too rough right now."

He couldn't say no. He _wanted_ to help. "We'd have to wait for the storm to die down. You think the ship could hold on for a while?"

"The crew will hold on as long as they can since it's their lives they stand to lose," Leisenn said bluntly. "But if your dragons could take out salvage experts ... We'd appreciate it - and so would the crew. It's all very well to escape being dead, but better yet to not be dead or destitute."

"We'll take anyone you need us to, as soon as it's a little safer to fly," N'vanik said. "I'd love to go right now, but we'd be blown all over the place."

"We wouldn't ask you to endanger your riders or their partners," Leisenn said with a brief smile and a nod of thanks. "We'll get back to the Hall now and arrange the team and the gear to come here and wait on your word."

"Any chance you can get us a good visual for where we need to jump to?" The Weyrleader asked.

Trellyn quickly reached into her waistband where she'd tried to protect the drawing the dolphin had identified earlier. As she pulled it out and showed it to the Weyrleader, she wondered if it would be detailed enough for the dragonriders. "We think it's near these islands, to the northwest. Is this good enough?"

N'vanik studied it. "I'll ask around, see if someone has a visual of this. If not, we'll make this work." He passed the image on to Loseth and told him to ask the dragons if they or their riders had seen this.

"They're quite well known islands for shipping, Leisenn said, "But they're really just rocks that lack any other use other than as markers so ..." She shrugged. She really needed to learn more about the dragonriders and their work and their lives so that she could guess at whether they would have an interest in the islands. She understood what a visualisation was, in theory, but whether the weyrfolk would ever need one that would simply take them out to sea, that she didn't know.

"A marker is all we need," N'vanik said. If they were well known someone should have a visual. "How many dragons do you think you'll need?"

"Twenty," Leisenn said firmly. "Twenty-five if you can muster them. That's with a dolphineer each. Perhaps some dragons can take more passengers and gear?"

He nodded. "I'll send bronzes and browns. They'll be able to handle the weather better, and they should be able to carry two passengers plus gear without much risk." A dozen dragons then, at least.

"We'll be back with the dolphineers and their gear as soon as possible," the Hallmaster promised.

"Thank you so much." Trellyn hadn't been sure when they set off if the new Weyrleader would help them.

"Sure. Glad to help," N'vanik said. "I'll start gathering riders."

Last updated on the May 3rd 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Storm (2) - Asking for Help