Jenna Comes to Fort Weyr

The very first Jennalog.

NCpern - Thursday, November 30, 2000, 8:31 AM
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Your location's current time: 10:02 on day 21, month 12, Turn 33, of the Tenth Pass. It is a winter morning.

Fort Weyr Living Cavern(#199RJa$)
Approaching half the size of the Hatching Grounds, this cavern echoes with voices during the day, and the soft patter of feet during the night. Dozens of tables are spaced throughout, each with open space around to provide small amounts of privacy for the discussions carried on at each. The night hearth, with a cluster of pots of stew and klah, is situated near the large entrance to the Bowl. Several other hearths are spaced around the huge chamber, lending light and some heat to the room.
Broad marble steps to the southwest lead up to the impressive Fort Weyr kitchen. To the east, a short flight of stairs leads to the hallway to the inner caverns. A stout door to the north has a healer's emblem on it, marking the Infirmary. To the south is a wide tunnel, leading out of the weyr, and a wide opening to the west leads to the weyr bowl.
Contents:
Pryde
Meg and Peg
Serving Table
Fort Weyr Firelizard Perch

Norri comes down the marble steps from the kitchen.
Norri has arrived.

Norri comes out of the kitchen at double her usual speed, her hands full of hides, tumbling this way and that. Not even seeing anyone else in the cavern, she continues to hurry towards a place to set down what she carries.

Fort Weyr Weather:
It's winter at Fort Weyr. Early mornings are dark and cold, the light of the sun bringing only the barest hint of warmth to the stony Weyr. Snow is a frequent visitor, causing a blinding glare when the sun is out. Nights are bitterly cold and very long, making this an excellent time for storytelling and crafting by the warmth of the hearths in the Living Cavern.
Currently, the weather at Fort Weyr is normal for this time of year.

Jenna has just come in, only slightly out of breath, though her hair is damp and cheeks rosy from the cold. "Woah! Need some help there?" Without regard for knot or rank, lanky legs are in quick motion, ready to catch any falling hides if need be.

Jenna
At first glance, this slight figure might be taken for a lad. Platinum blonde hair is cropped close to a smooth cheeked face in a servicable bob which spends most of its time tucked back behind ears. Startlingly blue eyes peer out from a face that is all plains and angles - a sharp nose, pointed chin, and cheekbones jut in bas-relief across this rocky landscape. Her frame is tall and lanky, no hint of roundness at all to soften it. Whipcord thin, she at least seems comfortable with her austere form, for she moves without the gangliness one would assume of youth.
Jenna is dressed in comfortable tan trous, with a reinforced seat and knees in dark brown wherhide. A long sleeved tunic of dark blue is pulled over it, the sleeves perhaps an inch too short. The neckline has been edged in red ribbon in an attempt to put *some* feminine touches on this walking beanpole. Unfortunately, it does very little for her coloring. A knit sweater with the heavy cable design characteristic of Fort Sea Hold can usually be found slung over bony shoulders or tied about her waist. On her feet are sturdy but well worn shoes of dark wherhide. They seem to have a reinforced toe and heel, and are slightly different to those seen daily on other folk.
Jenna wears the knot of a resident of minor cothold, differenced with Fortian colors.

Norri looks up in startlement, the hides flying up from her arms, raining down over the cavern, "Oh dear!" cries the headwoman, in distress, oblivous even of the offer of help. "Oh dear! It's nearly time!"

Jenna darts and picks up a few wayward hides, rapidly settling them into arms. "Time? well, it can't be noon yet." Her tone is meant to be comforting, even if she is more preoccupied with gathering hides. "I think you'll want these..." A glance is darted to the woman, and she tacks on, "Headwoman."

Norri takes the hides and clutches them as if they were her precious littles, "Oh, thank you! I did just want to run through my list one more time to be sure everything is ready. I'm sorry - please, come in and make yourself comfortable! Can I get you something to eat or drink - you've come from one of the cotholds?" she says, checking the young woman's knot.

Jenna looks a trifle flustered as she hands over the precious cargo. "Uh, yes ma'am. I've some messages for you, actually. One down from t'sea hold, and another couple from the smaller cotholds in the valley." A pause and she asks a trifle hesitantly, "You *are* the headwoman, right ma'am?"

Norri blinks and then nods quickly, her curls tumbling down from the band that holds them as she does so, "Yes, I'm Norri! I'm so sorry - I can't even seem to remember to introduce myself. Thank you for bringing the messages. I suppose they're late answers from some of the guests for today..."

A flicker of relief passes over Jenna's face as she nods, reaching into her belt to pull out three seperate message tubes. "I don't know what they're about ma'am, but the Headwoman at Fort Sea said that if I didn't get 'em to you in time, she'd have my ears. Ran into a bit of snow on the last leg, coming through the pass, but wasn't too bad. T'others are from my cothold, and one a bit further up river. I'm Jenna, by the way. message runner stationed at Fallon's cothold." She adds helpfully, "'bout halfway 'tween Fort and Fort Sea."

Norri smiles, "Well met Jenna! You do seem to be a resourceful young lady, making it through the weather and getting all of these to me! I'm always so amazed by how some people don't mind traipsing about all over Pern..." she trails off, removing the messages from the tubes and reading, "Oh, dear, oh dear, oh dear..." she murmurs. "Please pardon me for being so rude, but these are important..."

Jenna shrugs slightly. "My job. Running in snow's not so bad. It's the ice that's the worst. Few more passes though, is all that'll be able to be made, before the weather ices it up but good."

R'till comes in from the bowl.
R'till has arrived.

phoenix comes in from the bowl.
phoenix has arrived.

phoenix shoots one more look at her wayward Weyrmate before realizing there's people about. She smiles and waves.

Norri tsks. "Ice. Ice is -terribly- dangerous. I remember back at Bitra Hold, the problems we had..." She continues to scan the messages, biting her lip, "If you'll excuse me...I'll be back momentarily. I'm sure some of the others here can keep you company while you rest for a bit." She manages another smile and flees back into the kitchen.

Norri mounts the steps that lead to the kitchen.
Norri has left.

R'till bows a greeting to all, and turns to phoe, "Want anything?"

Roan comes into the area with a tired look on his face but he is dressed nice for once.

Jenna shakes her head slightly, seemingly bemused at Norri's exit. Perhaps it's all that bustling. She gives a nod to those that have entered, and starts to pace lightly, cheeks still a trifle rosy despite the warmth of the caverns.

phoenix shakes her head gently to R'till, "No, dear. Thank you, tho. Does Norri seem even more..." Shards if she can think of the word.

R'till guides phoe to a bench, "Does she seem what?"

Roan observes everything with out trying to be snoopy. Pryde is in his customary spot on Roan's shoulder with his small bronze tail twitching every so often.

phoenix settles onto the seat with the slightest wince, keeping a tight hand on R'till's. "I guess she seems, perhaps, flustered..which I'm quite sure I've never seen before.."

Jenna pulls off the sweater about her shoulders and rubs down her trous with it. Only a trifle damp around the cuffs, she wanders over towards the hearth to help them dry. And perhaps snag a mug of something hot to drink while she's at it. Finally wheedling a mug of cider out of one of the aunties tending the pots, she turns to look at the rest of the room, resuming her pacing quietly.

Roan raises an eyebrow at Jenna and whispers to her after walking a bit closer, "Nervous about something? Its just a gather....."

R'till raises an eyebrow, "Well, I don't know her that well, but she has a lot of responsibnilty with this conference. I know I was frazzled when I did the WLM conference Turns and Turns ago.."

Jenna blinks at Roan and asks, "Me? Or the headwoman?" Then the rest of the statement registers. "A gather? Oh, Faranth's knees - I'd no idea. I was just running messages up from the valley. I figured she'd have an answer for Fort Sea to run back, but I guess that could be a while." She brushes a bit in vain at the stains on her trous.

phoenix pats R'till's hand, "Yes, love, but you aren't Norri."

Roan gives Jenna an odd look, "you didn't know? Oh wow... um.... Do you have a change? I might be able to scrounge up something but I dont know...."

R'till smiles, "Ahhh, you noticed."

Jenna shakes her head at Roan, the rose in her cheeks beginning to creep towards her ears. "I'd appreciate the lending, even if it's just something clean - that last leg had a bit of snow, and it got me wet and a little grubby." She pauses and adds, "I'm Jenna, by the way. Stationed down at Fallon's cothold." She adds, with the air of one that is used to the explaining, "Halfway 'tween Fort and Fort Sea."

phoenix turns her eyes from the young people to sparkle at Ret, "It did take me a while..but I got the hang of it.."

Roan gets Jenna's mesurments and says, "OK I should have something from the surplus clothing in storadge.." He thinks and says, "Its packed away nicely so no dust or such can get on it no need to worry bout that..." He races off to the storadge.

Jenna offers, as the young man dashes away, "Oh, don't go to any fuss or anything - long as it's clean..."

phoenix chuckles softly at Roan's eagerness, leaning a tired head against the Bluerider.

R'till hugs phoe about tthe shoulders, watching the rest if the room, "Well, I'm glad you did."

phoenix sighs softly, "I never did hear if Marian will be able to make it. I'm sure Dare has her fingers worked to the bones."

Jenna downs her mug, nearly burning her tongue in the process, and then goes back to brushing vainly at the stains on her trousers. She gives the rider and his companion a faintly apologetic look, presumably for her appearance.

Roan comes running back in a few moments later with shouts following after him to quit running in the halls and the like. He shouts back "I'll clean it up later its an emergancy!!" he stops at Jenna a little out of breath and holding up a dark blue dress, "Here it was the best I could come up with... it was near the top of the box and should be thick enough to keep ya warm despite the weather... Oh ahh names Roan I er... live here."

R'till nods, "I've heard his style is very different from yours."

Jenna blinks. It's a dress. From the girl's expression, she's likely never had one before. "Uh, um, well met, Roan. And, ah, thank you." Well, it's clean at least. And the color evidently isn't too bad. She reaches for it and then hastens to say, "It's very pretty. I like the blue." A pause and she asks, "Is there somewhere I can change?"

phoenix twists her hair back at the nape of her neck only to let it fall free again, tugging at her sleeves as she speaks, "Everyone's style is different from mine, dear. I can hardly fault him only for that."

Roan hmms and tries to think of a good suggestion he looks around the room, "Ummmmm well.... I know you can use my room... I'll wait outside while ya change of course" he blushs a bit but keeps talking like he doesn't notice, "If you dont trust me I could send Pryde to show you the way, he's young but he is real smart...."

phoenix makes an odd little face, "We walked into the situation with open eyes. He's been doing fine."

Jenna nods. "So long's there's a curtain or something." Not hard to understand why she isn't that terribly modest - there's nothing to see. "Lead the way. I'll only be a minute anyway."

Roan nods and shows the way...

R'till shrugs, "Not faulting him. J:ust saying it's different. It works, yes?..."

phoenix gives a little dismissing wave of her hand, "Hold is still standing. Long as it continues to do so until he gives it to Ember, I'm content."

Roan walks down the eastern stairs to the Inner Caverns.
Roan has left.

You walk down the stairs, into the Inner Caverns.
Inner Caverns

Lower than the Living Cavern above, this room is still a large, bustling place. Hearths heat some of the areas here, allowing elderly and ill residents to rest here rather than mount the steps to the Living Cavern above. Rooms open out to the storerooms, the children's areas, the private rooms of staff members and some of the residents. Laundry rooms and bathing areas down one set of stairs draw near-constant traffic throughout the day.
Two long corridors lead off of here, one to the east and one to the south, going to the crafters' and staff quarters respectively. Noise drifts out from the curtain to the northeast that leads to the residents dorms, and a small door to the north leads to the guest room. A short flight of stairs to the west leads back to the Living Caverns.
Contents:
Roan
Cartman
Froth
Reckless
Elisel

Jenna grimaces and says as she follows the lad, "Wouldn't you know it - my frist run to a weyr, and they're having a *gather*." She shakes her head. "I'd've brought my pack if I knew."

Roan motions to his room (its way further in but we get the idea.) And announces, "ok here it is... I'll just pull back the curtain here and face that wall over there....." he grins at Jenna and says, "You really didn't know? Oh and call if you need anything."

Jenna looks a trifle bemused at the nod to her modesty, but doesn't comment on it. "I'd no idea. Set out from Fort Sea yesterday before dawn - would have made it here late last night, if I'd not run into the snow in the last pass. I won't be but a minute." Her voice is muffled by the curtain as she asks, "So what do you do here at the weyr?"

Roan grins and says, "I tend the runners in the stable. It one of the things I am good at...." Hmms "I think its starting soon..."

The sounds coming from behind the curtain speed up. "I appreciate you finding something for me to wear. Fallon'd die if I showed up in my distance rags." The curtain is pushed back, and Jenna reappears. "Can I just leave my stuff in here? Or where should I put it?"

Roan nods and says, "Uhh yhea just put em on the cot if you dont mind...." he grins ands says, "if you dont mind we can run to the bowl so we dont miss much..."

Jenna grins. "Don't mind at all." She scoops up skirts in one hand, and sets off. "It was this way, right?"

Roan nods and races off leading the way.

You head outside to the bowl.
Center of the Fort Weyr Bowl
The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out around you. It is approximately oval in shape, about 2700 meters along the long axis running southwest to northeast, and about half that distance across the short axis. You stand in its approximate center. The soil of the bowl is somewhat sandy.
To the northwest is the large cavern used for the Weyrling barracks. To the west is the fenced off area where the Weyr's herds are kept, and the lake shore is to the southwest. To the northeast can be seen the ledges for the junior queens and the weyrleaders. The large entrance to the Hatching Grounds can also be seen to the northeast and to the east are the Lower Caverns.
Contents:
Roan
F'ren
phoenix
R'till
P'tod
Grissa
Miritha
Semeth
Farlioth
Headwomen's Olympics Area
Headwomen's Olympics Rules Sign
T'shar
Toniath
Gather Schedule Sign
Norri
Ice Skating Rink
Delari's Wagon

Norri blushes, "Not at all Weyrleader, not at all." She steps back, allowing the riders to address the crowd of headwomen and their delegations.

Welcome to Fort Weyr's Headwomen's Conference and Gather!

Schedule of Events:

12:00 Opening Ceremony - Courtyard

1:00 - Headwomen's Olympics - Bowl. A course of challenging headwoman-type events, such as getting a stain out of a white cloth, cleaning up a mud puddle, etiquette challenge etc. Everyone is welcome to participate!

3:00 - Headwomen's Business Meeting- Council Room/Story Telling - Living Cavern

5:00 - Headwomen's Challenge - See if you can face the messes created by Fort Weyr's riders and residents! This event will take place in the bowl.

9:00 - Formal Dinner/ Dance/ Awards/ Closing Ceremony- Living Cavern

Also, please stop in to visit our - Headwomen's Craft Fair in the Living Cavern throughout the gather day.

R'till just smiles at phoe, deciding not to answer as he gazes at the crowd.

Roan comes running in from the Living cavren with an apologetic look on his face and pryde flapping in behind him.

phoenix's lip twitches at the corner of her mouth at F'ren's comment and she gives Ret's arm a squeeze.

Miritha waves at F'ren, then turns towards the gathered people, spreading her arms out a little. With Farlioth behind her, she's still a good contrast: snow-white against deep rich brown. "Hello, everyone," she calls out. "We welcome you to Fort. Especially, we welcome the headwomen - assistants, too - of Pern. We've gathered today to express our appreciation for the headwomen who serve their Holds, Halls, and Weyrs so well. All of us here know how much we owe to them - without them, we'd be, at best, less comfortable, and more likely would be drowning in the chaos of our lives. And so, to make _sure_ they know _we_ know how much we need them, and to make sure they know how much we appreciate them, we've decided to honor them in this way. We hope you enjoy the day; especially, we hope _they_ enjoy the day!" She steps back and gives Norri a hopeful look.

Norri continues to smile and to blush as Miritha speaks, giving the rider a small nod of appreciation as she finishes.

Jenna keeps pace with Roan easily, though she's holding up the hems of a borrowed dress as she trots. Eyes dart around the crowd assembled, and she sticks close to the stablehand. As Miritha makes her speech, comprehension dawns on the girl's face. She remains quiet, though very nearly leans in to murmur to Roan.

phoenix releases R'till to applaud and nod, "Very well said."

Miritha beams with pleasure at Norri's nod, then looks towards F'ren, beckoning him forward.

Roan would clap politly but thats just not his style, he claps loudly and cheers for the headwomen.

P'tod can't really clap without full control of his elbow, so he settles for a grin and a wink at Grissa.

In one end of the bowl, the Benden Weyr contingent sets up a loud cheering, waving their banner and chanting their headwoman's name over and over. That sets off Crom Hold's group, which begins an even louder cheer for -their- headwoman, which echoes through the bowl.

F'ren smiles and applauds Miritha before stepping up to the podium. "As Miri said, we'd all, Holder, Crafter and especially Rider, find our lives far more complicated than they are today withour our Headwomen. They see to the day to day things that keeps us free to perform our duties without needing to worry about many of lifes necessary tasks." With a nod towards Norri he continues, "I'd also like to thank Norri for her work in putting this event together. She and her assistants have worked hard to put this together, and I hope this becomes an annual event, were we all can honor our Headwomen. And now I'd like to introduce Fort's Headwoman, Norri."

Miritha fades back a bit more, tucking her cloak's hood up over her heada again and scowling once more towards the healer keeping an eye on her.

Roan cheers even louder when Norri is announced, he tries his hardest to show up the bendens and such.

Grissa grins at P'tod wink, her cheek slightly rosey at all this Headwoman praise. She slips her arms about his elbow, so she may have both hands to clap for Norri.

Norri blushes furiously, ducking her head in embarrasment at the thanks and then the cheers, but does at last step forward, murmuring a "thank you" to F'ren before she looks up to address the crowd, pitching her thin voice as high as it can go. "Thank you everyone for being here today! We hope that you will enjoy the games and refreshments we have prepared for you. I'd also like to thank F'ren and Miritha for their wonderful words of welcome, and of course Weyrwoman Vivian who has always been so kind and helpful to me in my work. We headwomen thrive on being needed, and I am happy to say, that Fort Weyr has always made me feel that way."

phoenix chuckles at all the goings on, whispering to R'till with animated gestures.

Jenna had joined in with polite applause, though fell silent as Norri said her peace. Curious eyes still roam the crowd, marking things here and there in the bowl.

Norri clears her throat, pushes away a stray curl and then continues, "Our first event, the Headwomen's Olympics will begin shortly. Until then, we hope that you will enjoy the refreshments and the company." She takes a large pair of scissors from her pocket then and steps forward, cutting the large, brightly colored ribbon stretched across the podium. "I declare this gather open!" As she snips the ribbon, more loud cheers and whistles fill the bowl.

"I'll bet they'll have food," P'tod murmers speculatively to Grissa. "Maybe even something that's not fish! You see any booths set up?" He scans the area briefly.

F'ren grins and claps, ducking his head and saying to Miri, "I'm waiting for that chance to make a mess for her to clean up!"

Miritha bounces on her heels as Norri cuts the ribbon, obviously cheerful despite the occasional coughing. The healer moves in at last, armed with a steaming mug, which he hands up to her with a stern expression the subdues the excited bouncing for a few minutes. "_I'm_ going to try not to make too much of a mess today," she asserts to the Weyrleader, with another smile for Norri.

Norri blinks at F'ren's words, overhearing him as she steps away, "But..." she begins, and then shakes her head, "I thought we did that everyday," she whispers to herself as she heads into the crowd, and the table of snacks set up by the Baker craft.

Grissa scans the area, peering over heads, "Well, I think there's something over there," she mentions, motioning with her head to the snack table. And something without peppers. I'd like somethign without peppers."

even thou she is done Roan continues to cheer for norri trying to rally the other Ftw residents behind him to show up the bendens and such.

Norri nods to Grissa, as she passes her, "Just light refreshments right now, but we'll be having a full dinner later on." She pauses and nods to the girl with the Telgar and Healer's knots, "Welcome!"

phoenix isn't terribly helpful in Roan's persuit as she insists on cheering with the High Reaches crowd.

Jenna evidently catches sight of someone she knows, for she slips off to talk to him in the crowd. The two are soon comparing notes, and the words 'ice' and 'snow' and 'freeze' can be heard as they pull off slightly from the main crowds. It seems to be quite the animated discussion.

"Definitely without peppers," P'tod agrees emphatically. "I love Ista's weather, but it's nice to get away from the spicy food now and again."