Kitchen Fire!

Fort loses the kitchens due to carelessness on the part of an old Auntie.

Jenna - Wednesday, March 13, 2002, 12:06 PM
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Your location's current time: 13:05 on day 16, month 7, Turn 39, of the Tenth Pass. It is a summer afternoon.

You head into the Living Caverns.
Fort Weyr Living Cavern(#199RJa$)
Approaching half the size of the Hatching Grounds, this cavern echoes with voices during the day, and the soft patter of feet during the night. Dozens of tables are spaced throughout, each with open space around to provide small amounts of privacy for the discussions carried on at each. The night hearth, with a cluster of pots of stew and klah, is situated near the large entrance to the Bowl. Several other hearths are spaced around the huge chamber, lending light and some heat to the room.
Broad marble steps to the southwest lead up to the impressive Fort Weyr kitchen. To the east, a short flight of stairs leads to the hallway to the inner caverns. A stout door to the north has a healer's emblem on it, marking the Infirmary. To the south is a wide tunnel, leading out of the weyr, and a wide opening to the west leads to the weyr bowl.
Contents:
Carianna
Rain
phoenix(#2845PJOce$)
Solant(#6960PJce)
Meg and Peg
Fort Weyr Firelizard Perch

phoenix just listens to the banter for a while, herself, with a wink sent to the Steward for his compliment, wondering what will come out of it if she holds clear. She helps rearrange a few of the scraps on Rain's lap, a smile offered to Carianna.

Rain isn't about to let that topic go, though. "My mother does *not* have a cute walk. She broke her leg, you know."

Jenna comes out of the caverns, brow furrowed as she reads over a scrap of hide. A gangly bronze form is balancing awkwardly on her shoulder, and as soon as there is enough space, it launches into the air and flickers between. This causes a faintly annoyed expression and a rub to her shoulder before she offers, "Afternoon, all."

Solant pauses "Rain, I was talking about some time ago...I've not seen her for TURNS."

Norri comes up the steps from the Inner Caverns.
Norri has arrived.

Carianna smiles and nods lightly to the Steward. "Afternoon sir." Then turns her gaze to include the females. "Ma'ams."

Norri returns to the cavern, some hides tucked under her arm and her hair done up in a dust cloth, "Oh, good afternoon Carianna. How nice to see you again."

Rain scowls at Solant but does drop the subject. She pulls out her scissors and flippantly snips the corner off a square to make it fit. "There!" she proclaims, looking at the pattern on her lap.

Norri nods to Jenna, greeting her as well, and then goes about examining the cushions scattered throughout the living cavern, making notes on her hide. "I thought that once we're doing one cushion, we might take a look at these..."

Solant smiles at Lady phoenix "I would have thought that a family compliment would have gone down better."

Jenna peers at Rain, asking curiously, "There what? - Oh, afternoon Norri, ma'am." The latter is nodded to phoenix as she sidles away from Norri. It's her rest day and the headwoman looks like she's on a mission. Better safe than sorry. "And hey, Carianna. You down to give us some new recipes?"

Norri peacefully works her way through the crowded cavern, making notes, patting cushions and generally looking efficient.

A bright smile is directed Jenna, and Norri's return, before phoenix laughs and graciously bows her head to Solant, "It went down ever so nicely on my end of the branch, sir. Feel free to compliment my family any time you desire!"

Carianna glances up with bright eyes as she nods again to Norri. "The pleasure is as always a joy to see you again ma'am. "Actually Jenna I still have something for you. It's your certificate for the jr. groundcrew. But I'm looking forward to working in the kitchens once again."

Rain's needle is still threaded with whitish thread. "I'm making patchwork," she answers Jenna. "So are we going to Telgar now?" she asks Lady phoenix impatiently.

Solant bows and twinkles his eyes a little "I'd be delighted t' yer ladyshipness. However, I am thinkin' that perhaps there's them as wouldn't approve"

Norri pauses in her work and lifts her head, sniffing sharply. "Does anyone smell anything odd?"

phoenix rises to her feet at Rain's persistance, and a gentle hand lights to Solant's shoulder, "Well. You know what happens to those who do not approve of Ladies."

Solant turns at Norri's statement "Odd? He sniffs "Lunch perhaps?"

Jenna grins at Carianna, "Jeny was mentioning something about that the other day, I think. And like they'd ever let me around a sprayer." Her tone is amused. "I'll be happy enough to run messages. That agenothree stuff stinks." She looks back to Rain, "What's a patchwork? Like a blanket, I guess? I'm *so* glad I don't really sew." She clues into the steward and the headwoman's questions with a blank look.

Norri pushes a stray curl back under the dust cloth. "It doesn't smell very good if it is lunch," she says surprised.

Carianna raises an eyebrow as she too sniffs the air. "No that doesn't smell like any lunch I know of." Another sniff is taken as her eyes round. "Smells more like something burning."

Rain gathers up the squares and stuffs them haphazardly back into her bag. "A patchwork cushion," she explains as she scrambles to her feet to eagerly follow her grandmother.

Solant creases his brow "Well, then. We're in luck to have a baker on the premises newly arrived and fresh. WOuld you like to go save lunch, Carianna? I don't like things overdone."

phoenix ushers Rain out to the bowl before the cavern overfills with the lunch crowd, calling over her shoulder, "Good day, all!"

phoenix heads out the cavernous entrance to the bowl.
phoenix has left.

Rain heads out the cavernous entrance to the bowl.
Rain has left.

Carianna sets down her mug then stands and almost runs into the kitchen in her haste to save the lunch.

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

Norri nods absently to Rain and Phoenix and then sniffs once more, worriedly. "I don't think that's lunch...and it's getting stronger." She follows her nose and turns to the kitchen. "I'm sure Carianna will set whatever it is to rights."

Jenna admits, "I can't smell a thing, but then again, my nose isn't the keenest in the world." She pauses and then asks, "It smells kinda like burned bread? I just got a whiff..."

Solant shakes his head a little. "That's an awful smell. You know, I think you're right Norri. Perhaps she needs help? If it smells bad here it must be awful in there. How could the kitchen staff let it get like that?

In the kitchen, Carianna stops short and gasps. "Shells and moss smells!" A look back is casted. "Fire in the kitchen!" She calls out to those in the living cavern.

Norri gasps, "Fire?" She hurries towards the kitchen to peer in and then retreats, coughing as smoke billows out. "Quick! Bring water from the lake! There are buckets in the storeroom!"

In the kitchen, Carianna drops down to all four as she hears a soft voice calling from the far side of the kitchen. A damp cloth is grabbed and placed over her nose as she tries to make her way along the wall towards the sound.

Solant rises and bellows across at fellows lounging at a table "Fire! Raise the alarm! And you!" he points "Go tell the weyrleaders, now." he yanks at his shirt and heads to the kitchen "Someone get all the doors open for Faranth's sake!"

Norri grabs the pitcher of water off the table and calls to Carianna, "Here, take this! We'll get more!"

"Should I rouse the littles? Bucket brigade?" Jenna's already headed to the storerooms, as what must be her little brother comes in, and she sets him to following Solant's orders. Good thing to have runners about, for he streaks out after the Weyrleaders.

Norri nods to Jenna, "Bucket brigade. Get everyone! Solant, send some of your assistants for the buckets!"

Solant nods and slops water all over his britches on purpose "Get them on buckets but OUTSIDE the weyr. I don't want one of them within a bronzelength of any flames." He braces himself "How many work in there this time of day, Norri?"

Activity is suddenly all around as several workmen dash through with buckets, pitchers, ewers and anything they can find, heading to the lake

Jenna nods to Norri and disappears into the caverns. She's back in a moment, followed by a flurry of activity. Nannies mostly, organizing the children into pairs. Each pair has a bucket, and they stream out towards the lake. Organized chaos. "What about the hot springs? Older kids there? It's closer and they won't get the smoke as bad." The runner is shouting questions to both headwoman and steward, anyone she can find at the moment. The alarm has evidently been raised in the caverns, for residents come scurrying out of the dorm, some waiting around for instructions.

In the kitchen, Carianna pauses and reaches for the water with a thankful nod to Norri. "There is someone in here. I'm trying to get to her. If a healer is handy she may need one." Once again she heads into the billowing smoke.

Solant waits by the door for the first bucket. On arrival, he takes a breath and marches to the door, throwing the water towards where the heat is at it's worst, not really able to see from the smoke

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

In the kitchen, Flames start to flicker out of the kitchen door along with thick black smoke that trails through the living caverns.

In the kitchen, Solant tears a strip from his shirt and discards the rest, wrapping the cloth about his mouth and getting down low to receive buckets as they come

Norri takes a bucket in each hand and follows Solant in, using her dust cloth to protect her face.

In the kitchen, Solant calls over a muffled mouth "Anyone here? Carianna? Have you found them yet?"

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

Buckets start to come steadily in from the lake now, water spilling on the floor in uneven patches. The residents milling about in confusion eventually form a bucket brigade from the hot springs as well. Jenna sets some of the faster youngsters to running the empties back to the lake, as she starts the other pile back to the springs.

In the kitchen, Norri pours water over the flames and calls, "Carianna! Where is the flour? We can put it out with that if it's a grease fire."

In the kitchen, Carianna makes her ways around the kitchen, keeping the wall to her left side as she moves. "Over here!" she calls out just as her hand touches an ankle. From the heat of the blaze she knows she close to the heart of the problem. "Follow the left wall.. we need water here."

In the kitchen, Solant fumbles that way, calling for more water. "Hurry! It's going to spread at this rate." he hacks and reaches the wall, fumbling along. He hurls the bucket with a rather vigorous gesture to get a great hiss and shower of sparks. The impact is not appreicable

Redus comes in from the bowl.
Redus has arrived.

Redus strolls into the cavern and immediately sniffs the air then looks toward the kitchen. "What th'...."

Jenna is just running down the stairs with one of the empty buckets. "Fire - Carianna's in there!" There are two bucket brigades going, one from the lake and another one just starting from the hot springs. Smoke is billowing out of the kitchens.

In the kitchen, "THe pantry ma'am. It's to the right of the work area's. I don't know if we can get to it without alot of effort." Cari replies then chokes having taken in too much smoke as she talks. She tugs at the girls leg trying to move her ways from the flames.

In the kitchen, Norri doesn't waste breath on answering, she takes whatever buckets of water come her way and pours them onto the flames, making her way as best she can to the pantry, coughing through the cloth over her face.

"Shells!" Redus says shortly then looking around as he takes a bucket from a drudge, and a blanket from an auntie. "Anyone else in there?" he asks. The blanket gets dunked in the bucket.

In the kitchen, Solant reaches the pantry and grabs the girl "Let me" he chokes "I'm stronger."

Buckets are now coming steadily from the lake, though the line from the srpings doesn't seem to be going as fast. "Norri. Solant. Not sure who else. I think Carianna yelled something about a girl in there." Jenna takes a bucket from the front of the springs brigade and staggers up the steps with it, taking the couple of steps to douse anything within reach and at least keep the fire from spreading, even if she doesn't get it on the heart of the blaze.

In the kitchen, Norri waves her arms ineffectually against the smoke, grabbing for a flour canister. She's too short to do more than knock it off the shelf, but she quickly retrieves it and blindly dumps it onto the flames surrounding them.

Redus is fed another bucket from the lake-line brigade as he nears the kitchen, keeping low as he closes on the door. He yells inward as he tosses the bucketful through the opening. "Need help in there?" Having emptied that bucket he wraps himself in the soaked blanket and awaits an answer, close to the floor. Another bucket comes and goes...

In the kitchen, More flames lick out from the wooden table counters as they become fuel for the growing heat. Orange red embers begin to hiss a water is dumped on them while at the other end of the kitchen the flour blankets on of the ovens.

In the kitchen, Solant manages to heft the girl into his arms and starts to struggle out to the exit, hacking as he goes as smoke filter under his mask

In the kitchen, Carianna starts to follow Solant then hears a familiar voice. "Redus, we need more water buckets. The tables are catching now."

In the kitchen, Norri calls shrilly, "I can't lift this flour sack. It's enough to -" she stops, in a coughing fit, and then simply grabs into the sack to strew flour as far as she can reach with the heat all about them.'

Leah comes in from the bowl.
Leah has arrived.

In the kitchen, Solant manages to get out with the now comatose kitchen girl

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

Solant struggles the girl out and heaves a racking smokers cough of his own, leaning on the table as he cradles the girl

More buckets are being emptied onto the wood in the kitchens, and the empties are being run back to the lake and hot springs as fast as they can. Jenna dashes into the kitchen, eyes squinted against the smoke, empties a bucket on a bit of flame that had spread to a table, and then dashes back out again. Smoke is billowing out of the kitchen, and licks of flame can be seen. As Jenna passes the weyrwoman she says, "I'm gonna skin that brother of mine!" And then she's gone, scooping up empty buckets to run back to the springs.

In the kitchen, Carianna carefully crawls her way towards Norri's voicetying to offer aid with the flour sack but as she arrives the tail of her braid quickly erupts into flame and fills the room with the smell of singed and burning hair.

In the kitchen, Norri gasps and grabs a handful of flour rubbing it into Carianna's braid, her own curls singed at the edges.

Leah runs in with a few Weyrfolk in tow, skidding to a stop. She watches the smoke billowing out of the kitchens and yells, pointing to the tables nearest the fire, "Get those out of the way or we're going to lose everything in the Living Cavern!" She charges right in and takes place in the middle of the bucket brigade, passing buckets before she realizes Norri and Carianna are in the Kitchens, "Get out of there! What are you doing?!"

Solant lets a workman take the girl off to the infirmary. he salutes sootily "Beg to report a conflagration, Weyrwoman. Excuse me? Rtaher busy." he takes another bucket then hollers "Shards you wherries, are you all asleep! work FASTER!" he heads back inside after taking a deep breath

"They're comin', Cari!" Redus calls back, into the kitchen, to the baking baker. "I'm comin'!" he adds not quite as loudly before he grabs another bucket, moving aside for the Steward, he steps past the man and girl, his eyes scan the girl to see that it's not *his* baker. "Keep 'em comin'!" He disappears under the smoke, wet blanket over his head.

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

In the kitchen, Norri calls over the noise, "We've got the flour. It's putting out some of this." She dumps out more of the sack and then gives Carianna a push. "You heard the Weyrwoman. Out!"

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

In the kitchen, Solant says "Was anyone...*hack* else working here?"

Residents who had been running buckets back scurry to pick up the tables, and Jenna lends a hand, letting the buckets pile up for a moment. They're still coming rapidly from the lake. The tables are run outside, causing a momentary confusion in the brigade from the lake. The springs one picks up the slack however, quite a few coughing and hacking from the smoke.

In the kitchen, Redus throws a bucket of water at where he remembered tables to be then calls, "Petite, where are you?" He looks back as he hears Solant, "Couldn't tell ya, sir." he replies. He starts toward the only other voice he heard--Norri's.

Leah bellows at a group of nannies who are standing to watch, "Get the children /outside/! Outside in case it spreads!" She catches a bucket from the man next to her, throwing it to the next person and so on. Soon a group of nannies is herding a good fifty Weyrchildren out into the bowl, most of them wide eyed and scared, some crying, all holding hands.

In the kitchen, Carianna grabs the flour sack on one side and dumps the contents then with he aid of a bowl starts to shovel the flour onto the next oven. At Solant's question she calls out. "I only heard one and you got her already." A glance is given to Norri before she ohs and says over the cracking flames. "Please forgive me Ma'am." With that she douses the other woman's head with water from the wash basin to stop the singing of her curls.

In the kitchen, Norri shouts to Solant from her spot by the pantry, "No. I looked at my roster this morning...this was the hour for the cooks break and Master Keara is away. I don't know what that cook was doing in here. And all the drudges got out."

In the kitchen, Solant hacks out another cough "Right. Get out of here everyone! It's too hot!" He heads for the women, hurling water in the directoion of the fire, before he suddenly thinks "Shells...Norri, do you keep any spirits in here?"

In the kitchen, Norri coughs as the water streams over her, "Of course not! Unless...J'cob!"

Jenna comes back, now that the tables are being carried out, and starts hauling down tapestries as well. Her brother appears in the chaos, and she gives him a shove towards empty buckets piling up. "Run 'em back! Move, Runner!" And she's out once again to the bowl, staggering under the load of heavy fabric.

Leah watches Solant and Redus go /into/ the Kitchens and yells again, "Get your butts out of the kitchens!! Out out out! Don't make me send my dragon in there after you!" She's still on the bucket brigade, but notices one of the children accidentally get separated from the group as they move outside. Leaving her post, she runs over to pick up the little girl and turn, looking at the kitchen, "Get out of there now!"

In the kitchen, The black smoke dims to a thick white as the flames are contained and doused leaving just the glowing embers to tell tale of where the kitchen tables once stood. Carianna's voice is heard again from somewhere in the smoke. "Wineskins in the pantry along with cooking oils. Where's the door I've lost my sense of direction."

In the kitchen, Solant bellows despite the smoke "OUT!" He hurls his bucket out of the doorway mightily "Or I'll carry you as well! That stuff could ignite any time.

In the kitchen, Redus isn't long getting around on his hands and knees (though the blanket over him gets caught a couple times) to the pasted floor near the two women. "Here!" he says as he removes his blanket, "Cover up with this..and get toward the door! I'll be right behind you.""

In the kitchen, Norri grabs for Carianna and starts making her way out, tossing flour as she goes, though if spirits caused the fire, it's not going to help much.

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

Norri staggers out coughing, hair streaming wet. She immediately adds herself to the bucket brigade.

In the kitchen, Carianna pulls free of Norri's grasp and shakes her head. "I'll try to get some of it out. There is no need to leave it to add to the damage." Once again she heads towards the pantry then groans as she realizes her error. "It's in flames!"

Jenna comes back in, risking a quick glance around. All the flammables are moved back away from the kitchen or out of the living cavern altogether. Those that aren't moved out are being ferried out as quickly as they can eb in the chaos. She yanks down another two tapestries, muttering about smoke damage. A quick run out, and she's back again, her brother on her heels after making a run to the lake with the empty buckets. Fast little thing that he is.

Norri stops, seeing Carianna isn't with her, and yells the Baker's name hoarsely, heading back towards the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Solant reaches Carianna and grabs her arm "No!" he croaks, throat succumbing "Just go." He starts for the door

In the kitchen, Redus actually growls at the baker, stands takes a couple quick steps toward her, wraps her in his arms and lifts her as he turns toward the doors.

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

Solant staggers out, and leans on a table, lungs heaving "I'm getting too old for this stuff."

Leah makes a grab for the Headwoman, stopping her before she can run back in. She's still got the little girl balanced on one hip, but a moment later a panicked Nanny comes in. Seeing the girl in the Weyrwoman's arms, she quickly comes to take her and disappear out into the bowl. Leah's grip is still on Norri as she yells, "Get out of there! I hear you, now get out!" She coughs a bit, looking at the Headwoman and asking, "Who is that in there??"

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

Redus stumbles out of the kitchen and drops to the floor with Carianna.

Solant grabs another bucket "Agenothree." he comments cryptically. "Throwers." He adds, then hurls another bucketload of water into the kitchen

Jenna heads for Solant, as her brother pitches in at the top of the brigade, to easily drop out and return buckets as a full armful comes available. She's snagged a bucket of water and somehow found a dipper - perhaps from one of the harried healers. "Who needs water for their throat? You'll do no good if you lot collapse!"

Solant nods "yes." he croaks and reaches for the dipper

Once the tables have been all but cleared from the living cavern - the few remaining pushed back towards the infirmary out of the risk of damage and for the healer's use, the residents that had been clearing the cavern disperse to helping the healers, the brigade, and running the empties back. They're beginning to look a trifle ragged around the edges, and more than a few coughs can be heard from the smoke.

A crowd of Weyrfolk is now fighting the fire, bucketing and working on it with soaked blankets. They're getting it under control, but now and again someone stumbles out and has a coughing fit or is bellowing in pain from burns. Healers are swarming over the injured and checking on those who look like they've been in the fire. Everything is covered in soot.

Norri shakes her head, "Everyone's out now. Solant. Carianna. Redus. There shouldn't be anyone else."

Carianna lays on the ground for a moment as if unconscious then finally opens her eyes. "I don't think the kitchens will have much left to selvage."

Solant swigs the wate down and grabs another bucket. Inside a detonation announces that the first wineskin probably won't be drinkable any time soon. "Shards...that better not be benden." He hurls the water inside with a little more vigour

Leah releases her deathgrip on Norri to go kneel by Carianna, "Don't move. Are you alright?" She calls over her shoulder, "We need a Healer here!" She looks up at Redus, "What about you? Are you okay?" Her eyes are darting around as she checks on the fire, the injured, and everything else.

Norri,released by the Weyrwoman, grabs another bucket and as forcefully as she can tosses the contents against the fire.

Jenna takes the dipper from Solant, keeping a wary eye on her brother. The lad is beginning to cough, and she gives him a slashing signal across her throat. He turns, scoops up some empty buckets, and is gone back to the springs this time. "Is the fire out?" She pulls off her headband, wetting it in the water and crouching next to Leah, Carianna and Redus, offering over the wet cloth until the healers arrive. "You two need water?"

Solant hacks again, and reaches for more buckets, croaking out "Not fast enough"

Redus looks over at Carianna, shaking his head for a moment then he picks himself up and peers toward the kitchen. "I'm fine, Ma'am." he replies to the Weyrwoman. "She just had me scared. The fire's gone down." Jenna gets another shake of his head as he reaches for a bucket to follow the bucketteers back inside to douse the remaining flames.

Carianna looks at the others around her then coughs lightly. "Yes water please. I think I'm..." She gives herself a quick once over then groans at the sight of her braid ends. "My hair.. where is it?"

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

Norri stares at the ash, the wet sodden mess that used to be a kitchen, at the small, persistent licks of flame that aren't quite out yet. "What are we going to do?" she cries despairingly. "We're lucky everyone got out...but what are we going to do?'

A burly young Handyman appears at the top of the stairs to the Kitchen, "We gots it! It's under control!" He hears something behind him and another lad comes out carrying an old woman who has a badly burned arm and is covered in black ash and soot. A pair of Healers rush over to him to help.

Jenna fills the dipper and passes it over quickly to the baker. Her brother reappears and again joins the brigade as others race buckets back to the lake. "Here. Can you breathe all right?"

Solant is unaware of any damage to his own hair, he's more bothered about the kitchen "Norri." he rises and lays a hand on her arm "You are going to sit down and have...some..brandy!" He wheezes and leans on the table "Medicinal purposes is allowable."

Norri shakes her head and the uneven fringe of curl that remains from the singeing. "I'm going to send a message to the Bakercraft immediately. We're going to need a lot of help."

Solant grabs the brandy skin and a couple of sooty mugs, he pours out "You can drink and write at the same time. I'll brook no argument, headwoman. Brandy is good for shocks." he shoves a mug her way. "Send to the smiths too."

Leah watches the Healers go to help the elderly kitchen worker with a frown of concern, staying with Carianna. She blinks at the girls words and looks at her hair, sighing, "Well, don't you worry. I'm sure we can fix it so it looks fine." She looks over at Norri and Solant, then points to the Steward, "Solant, sit. You need it." A nod is given to the Headwoman, "Excellent idea. Why don't you do that and send a message to Fort Hold, Boll, Healer, Harper, and Weaver Halls telling them we may be sending a few people their way to be tended to." She glances over at Meg and Peg with emphasis for the Headwoman, indicating they may need some help tending the elderly and injured.

Carianna takes a few deep breaths then nods to Jenna. "I think so." The water is taken and as she drinks another coughing fit occurs. "I'll be fine. Is everyone else ok?"

Solant sits, as instructed, and hacks out another racking cough. He slakes the cough ith brandy

Norri sits down numbly, finding hides and pen from somewhere and begins to pen messages. "We should have the Weyrharper send these from the drum heights as well."

In the kitchen, Redus pauses inside the kitchen, drawing a rag from his hind pocket to tie over his mouth and nose after soaking it in a bucket. "Oooo..." he comments to himself. "This is quite a mess." He looks about for hot spots..well, ones that are hotter than usual.

Some of those still on the bucket brigade start to move among the workers with the water instead, slackening the stream to a trickle instead. A muffled cheer can be heard from outside as the word filters out that the fire is out. Jenna says faintly to Carianna, "I'm not really sure, actually. Looks like one of the aunties got burned." She looks to Leah and offers her the dipper as well, "We might also see if there's any smoke damage in the caverns further back?"

Leah looks up into the Kitchen and sighs, giving Carianna a pat on her hand and moving over to the others, "Right, Norri. Good idea. Pen a single message and we'll have Kate copy it to send out while the Harper drums out the message. Solant? Can you get a few people to start taking stock of what we've lost? We'll need the Smiths and Keara... where is Master Keara anyway?" She looks about the folks in the Living Cavern.

Solant examines his own hair, then rises "Shards." He then heads into the Kitchen again croaking out to some of the bucket carriers "You..you and yes, you. Fard. Get some parchment and writing sticks." he steps into the kitchen and winces even more

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

Norri finishes the message and sends a youngster to find Kate. Getting up slowly, she walks to the kitchen and looks at it somberly. "Terrible destruction...we'll have to clean it all out before anything else can be done. I'll organize the assistant headwomen." She squares her shoulders, "I've been training for this all my life," she assures Leah, as much as herself. "It will be fine." She blinks back tears as she looks over the mess of the fine, shiny kitchen they once had.

Carianna realizes REdus is missing and crys out "Redus? Where are you?" She quickly jumps to her feet ready to run in any direction his voice comes from.

In the kitchen, Solant prods the ash and muses "My shirt's in here too." he looks at Redus "Anything left burning?"

In the kitchen, Redus is poking around at things, shaking his head and dumping water on the warm spots. He looks over at the Steward and smiles behind his 'mask'. "Some warm spots, sir." he says. "Nothing really burning."

Leah grabs Carianna by the shirt before she can run off, pointing up the stairs, "He's in there with Solant taking stock of the damage. He's fine." She tries to give the girl a reassuring smile. The picture of calmness, she looks around at everyone and raises her voice a bit, "The fire is out and we'll be just fine! Remember, people were cooking around here long before there was a kitchen. We'll use the hearths and get in touch with the Baker Craft immediately. We'll be just fine!"

In the kitchen, Solant grunts and steps out to fetch a long pole. He returns and starts to prod the ashes. A few more workmen filter inside with trowels and buckets "Have a care!" he wheezes. "The ash will stay hot for a long time after the flames stop burning. Don't kneel, and if your feet start to burn, get out and douse your boots"

Jenna is kept busy for a few moments, handing out water, and not realizing her baby brother is one of the ones that headed into the kitchens after Solant. The lad bears a hide and stylus and Merrin pipes up, "Did you need someone to write stuff down, sir?"

Carianna blinks a few times then nods. "Kabobs are in the smokehouse and can be done over the cooking pit outside. Chilled salads in the cold storage is also available ma'am." She reverts into baker mode once knowing Redus is safe as well. "I'll have no trouble instructing the cooking staff on outside baking."

In the kitchen, Solant looks down "Merrin? Shells lad, you shouldn't be risking yourself. You stand to one side and write down what I say...and don't tuch anything, you haer me?"

In the kitchen, Redus picks up a shirt --or whats left of one-- and holds it up. "You said you left a shirt in here, sir?" Okay, so he's grinning, but that rag over his mouth conceals that nicely. "Want it?" he asks.

In the kitchen, Solant takes the shirt "OK, first casualty. Solant's work shirt."

Merrin nods to Solant. "Yessir." He's taking this all rather seriously for a fourteen turn old, and stylus is poised and at the ready. And his big sister would likely have a wherry if she knew he was in there when it was still hot. Out in the cavern, she's been pressed into duty by one of the healers, and from the grimace on her face, it's clear she doesn't like it.

In the kitchen, Solant prods the ashes "SECOND item..the whole kitchen."

Carianna quietly stands then glances to Leah. "Would you like a list of what is available still Ma'am. I could accompany it with menu preparations until fresh supplies come in."

Leah gestures to Jenna and Carianna to join her at a table that's now against a wall. She says to the two of them, "Let's see what we have to do. Come over here for a moment." As she takes a seat, she pushes her own ash-covered blonde hair out of her eyes, leaving a black streak across her forehead.

In the kitchen, Redus laughs outloud and immediately apologizes. "Sorry." he mumbles while he insures everything is cool. "Least it's just the contents and not the room that has to be replaced, sir. One good thing about being in a mountain I suppose."

In the kitchen, Solant says "Perhaps." he frowns "Any sign of how it started yet?"

Jenna is more than willing to abandon the healer to another assistant, and scoots over to Leah to settle down. "I saw the smoke got kinda thick in the back caverns while I was running buckets to the springs, ma'am. I don't think it got to the auntie and uncle's rooms, but..." In the kitchen, Merrin is dutifully taking notes. "Whole kitchen. Yessir." A pause and he asks hesitantly, "What all was in here though?"

In the kitchen, Redus shrugs and points toward the cooktops. "Looks like over there. Maybe something...grease..spilled into the fires below and down the front. See the really black part up the wall there? It's worse than normal..Least I think so."

Carianna steps over to the table then quietly takes a seat and reaches for her half braid the is unravelings. A half smile is passed to the others as she comments. "Well I always threatened I'd cut it one day." Then she waits with the others.

Leah's eyes widen a bit, "That far, hm? We'll have to look at that once we get ourselves organized, won't we?" She sighs, thinking, "Alright, first things first. Solant and his team are taking stock of what we've lost. We've got messages out to the Bakercraft... though where Master Keara's gotten to, I just don't know." She looks about the cavern worriedly, "Carianna, I think you should help out until we get word from MasterBaker Hall, but remember your posting at Reaches. You can't abandon that to help us out." Pushing her hair out of her face again, she says, "We need the fire pit put in order and the hearths should be cleaned and prepared to feed the Weyr."

In the kitchen, Solant eyes the pantries "General food stores are done for. Redus, go poke that gease patch a little. See what you can find." he looks over towards the dry stores "This won't be pretty."He licks his lips "Oh shards." He calls out hoarsely "Leah? Weyrwoman? I think you'd better see this.

Leah hmms at that and frowns, rising to her feet and jogging up the stairs into the kitchen.

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

In the kitchen, Solant crunches over ash and debris, nudging broken glass out of the way "I think this was once the door to the winter stores." he taps a hole with some charred marks around it. "No sign of the door proper"

Carianna nods lightly at Leah speaks. "Yes Ma'am. I'll send word to Shoshana that I'll be extending my visit for a sevenday then see where that leaves ..." Her words trail off as the Weyrwoman is called away. A glance is cast to Jenna. "Anyone else hurt?"

In the kitchen, Redus steps over and pokes at a flour covered greasy spot, hmms, and looks at another spot where there'd probably be grease nearby. "It was speading from here, flour smothered some it looks like..."

Jenna pats pockets and comes up with a scrap of hide and jots a couple of notes down. "One of the aunties had a nasty burn. I'm not sure about anyone else." She stops then, head coming up, and looking around. "Where's Merrin?"

In the kitchen, Leah narrows her eyes as she looks at the remnants, then steps gingerly around a pile of smoldering debris to peer into the place where the door once stood. Looking around briefly, she reappears and shakes her head, "Total loss. We'll need to talk to Lady Boll about replacing some of that and then we'll head down south to gather. This season is going to be rough, I can see that already." Setting her feet carefully around anything that looks hot, she reaches for Solant for assistance.

In the kitchen, Solant takes the weyrwoman's arm and holds her steady, jaw set firm "Careful, ma'am. IT's still hot. We need to sluice the whole room out before we can do much more." he looks over at Redus "Started there you say? Grease spill?"

Carianna hmms as she glances around too looking for the unfamiliar named body. "I'm not sure, but I'm sure no one has gone far today." She tries to comfort.

In the kitchen, Leah hmms at that, gripping Solant's arm as she steps over hot things and looking to where Redus is indicating. She frowns thoughtfully, "Where was that auntie? The one with the bad burns on her arm?"

In the kitchen, Redus mmhmms as he nods in reply to the Steward. "Yup. The hottest spot was here. There isn't even any ash on the wall because it burned off."

In the kitchen, Solant says "Infirmary, I expect. The cook was passed out with the fumes but she was by the pantry. I expect she turned her back for a moment and by the time she'd turned back, it had got out of control."

The lad in question is in the kitchen, still taking notes and trying to get down most of Solant's words in short hand. Merrin mutters something under his breath. Sounds like 'grease'. Jenna spots him and scowls faintly. It doesn't look good for the lad when she catches up with him. "No, I guess not. What a mess." She shakes her head at Carianna. "Good thing you and Norri smelled it. WOuld have been in the living cavern afore I did."

In the kitchen, Leah shakes her head, "I mean, where was she found, Solant? Did that boy say?" She looks about the area, but it's still to hot to really investigate, "Someone should go see if she's got grease on her clothes, maybe?"

In the kitchen, Solant shakes his head "I didn't see, ma'am. I was preoccupied at the time." he surveys the room "I'm sorry. I was in the cavern all morning. I should have been more alert.

Carianna lowers her gaze then nods slowly. "I wish I had stopped in the kitchen rather than taking a bath to clean up from traveling. Maybe then it could have been prevented." She heaves a sigh then glances up again. "I'll have to make sure not to be so laxed next time."

Jenna wrinkles her nose at Carianna. "Don't be silly," she says a trifle forcefully. "Accidents happen. And hindsight always has perfect vision. Thank goodness no one seems to be seriously injured. Burns heal. Besides, you don't know what started it, and if you *had* been in there at the wrong time, you might've been injured or killed. You helped get that girl out, and that's the important thing. Tables can be replaced. People can't be."

In the kitchen, Leah considers, calling down the stairs, "Jenna? Carianna? Can one of you find the lad who pulled that auntie out of the fire and ask him where he found her?"

Carianna flashes Jenna a smile as she nods yet again. "Thanks, your pretty smart." Her head turns as she name is called and she quickly raises to her feet. "Yes ma'am?" She glances to Jenna. "Auntie? Is that the female I found by the ovens?"

In the kitchen, Solant pauses "Auntie? Well, I didn't even see who I dragged out. Is that the one." he looks about and gestures "She was about there?" he indicates the spot. "It was too smoky to even see. Carianna found her and we managed to get her out, but I was back in before I saw who it was

Jenna rises as well, and looks at Carianna, "I don't think so? She said a lad pulled her out." She shoots a glance past the adults gathered in the kitchen to give her little brother one of those warning looks. I he so much as steps a toe out of line. "I think he was over here. The healer had me helping with him. Took in a bunch of smoke." She goes trooping through the cavern, asking back over her shoulder to Carianna, "Ask the Weyrwoman where she wants him? Back in there? The healers might have a fit."

In the kitchen, Solant muses "Sure it was the cook..." He shrugs "Not an Auntie."

In the kitchen, Leah shakes her head, "No, the last one. The one they found after the fire was doused."

Carianna begins to giggle at being mistaken for a lad then touches her hair again. "With the smoke and everything I can see were the error came across."

In the kitchen, Redus squats, having moved away from the cooktops, and pokes at some crockery with a fingertip. "Still warm." he mutters before looking over at the Weyrwoman and Steward. "Some of these things can be saved." he says, looking for something to use to protect his hands from the heat. Finally he undoes the rag on his face and uses it, picking out a pot....

In the kitchen, Solant spots Redus and lifts the hand he isn't using to steady the weyrwoman "Watch it lad, that could be very hot still. Don't touch anything like that until it's been sluiced."

In the kitchen, Leah releases Solant's arm finally and looks at the area, "Look, see here? This pot. The bottom's burned out of it." She's gesturing to the hot spot where the grease is, "And that looks like it spilled from the pot. Is that a carcass from a wherry?" She sighs, "We really need to wait for this to cool down. C'mon, let's go recover for a bit before we look further."

Carianna shakes her head slowly. "I'm sorry Ma'am. I'm afraid in all the rushing about I didn't see anyone leave the kitchen." Then she smiles. "Of course it's hard to see anything when your carried out yourself."

Jenna comes back with the lad in question in tow. The boy is covered in soot, and has an exasperated healer tagging after him. "Is this him, Weyrwoman," she calls up to those still in the lazily smoking kitchen.

In the kitchen, Solant coughs some more "Actually...I hate to admit it...I think I'd better head to the infirmary myself. I want nothing to be moved until the sluicing is done, though. Enough people are hurt alrady without someone plunging a hand into baking ash." He coughs again "I'm going to get to the healer. I'll be back as soon as I can."

N'sales comes in from the bowl.
N'sales has arrived.

N'sales mounts the steps that lead to the kitchen.
N'sales has left.

Solant comes down the marble steps from the kitchen.

Solant has arrived.
Solant heads to the healer, coughing as he goes

In the kitchen, Redus replaces the pot he'd recovered and stands. "Yes, sir." He wipes his hands on hs trous then starts around things, watching where he walks. Part way to the exit he stops and shakes his head. "Oh...look. A klah pot." he sounds almost sad. He looks at N'sales with an 'it's-not-pretty' look as he passes. "Sir." he says before he heads into the living cavern.

In the kitchen, Leah nods to Solant, following him out. She says to a few of the young men milling about, "Stay near the stairs and don't let anyone in until I say so, hm?" She nearly runs into N'sales as she's exiting, looking up at him, "Looks like we're rebuilding the kitchens."

Carianna gives the kitchen area one last glance before sighing softly. "I best go see about getting cleaned up some." Her clothes are soiled and ashed not to mention the flour that still clings to them.

Solant goes into the Infirmary, closing the door behind him.
Solant has left.

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

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

In the kitchen, N'sales rushes up the steps and on his way up runs into Leah, "What? What happened. Orenth said he was recalled by Jinieth. What hppened?" He rubs his eyes from the acrid smell and lingering smoke filling the stairway.

In the kitchen, Leah shakes her head and sighs, "Fire. The kitchens are destroyed and the winter dry stores. C'mon, it's too hot in here." The lads that she's instructed to keep watch on the room until she says so are steadily in place as she head down the stairs.

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

Redus comes from the kitchen and catches sight of Carianna's disappearing form heading into the inner caverns. He pauses and looks around at the others then asks Jenna, "Anyone hurt really bad? Cari alright?"

Merrin slips down the stairs, note hide still in his hands. He takes a look at Jenna's face and hides behind the Weyrwoman and Weyrsecond as they come down the steps. "Cari went off to clean up a bit. She seemed fine. A bit shaken, but I'd say that goes for everyone." She still has the lad that pulled the auntie out by a soot smeared sleeve. "Was this the boy you wanted to see, ma'am?"

N'sales comes down the marble steps from the kitchen.
N'sales has arrived.

Leah ohs and nods, "Yes, thank you." She smiles, recognizing the lad, "Borris, excellent. That was Auntie Emmaline that you pulled out, wasn't it? Was she beside the first hearth that's burned more than the others?"

N'sales follows Leah down the steps his mouth hanging open and his eyes dumb founded. "Did we lose anyone?" his mind goes into overdrive as he starts thinking and worrying. "What do you need?"

Redus nods to Jenna's assessment of Carianna then finds himself a mug, filling it with water. He settles on a bench for a few moments to drink.

Borris hems and haws a bit. "Well, it was hard t'see, ma'am. And Yas'm, it was her. Her arm got burt awful bad. I think she was though. She seemed kinda dazed."

Jenna shakes her head to Norse. "One of the aunties got burned pretty bad, and," she cranes her neck, trying to see around the riders to her errant little brother, "lots of folk breathed in more smoke than was good for 'em, but. -- You okay, Redus?"

Leah nods, putting a hand on N'sales' arm in an effort to calm him a bit, "That's it then. Emmaline fell asleep while watching that hearth. I'd wager the pot tipped with the weight of her arm on the spoon and spilled into the grease pit under the hearth, splashing up and catching things on fire..." She sighs, "Poor dear. I do hope she'll recover from that nasty burn."

Redus looks up and smiles in Jenna's direction. "Me? Sure. I'm alright." he says. He finishes off the water and stands. "I better go see how Cari is. Her hair looked shorter. Maybe it was my imagination." He turns to Leah and add, "If that's alright with you, ma'am. Do you need me for anything?"

Borris seems rather relieved that the Weyrwoman's not demanding Auntie Emmaline's head, and asks after a cough, "Was that all, ma'am? The healers wanted me back soon's I could."

N'sales looks down at the floor, shaking a little, then shakes his head. "Then it could have been worse, at least no one got killed. Hopefully, yes she does recover. We have excellent healers." he sighs. "I just wish I was here to help, maybe we could have saved the kitchens."

Jenna nods to Redus, and then wrinkles her nose at Norse. She doesn't, however, give him the same slightly tart advice she gave Carianna a few moments before.

Leah nods to Redus, "Thank you for your help. Please get checked out by the Healers before you retire, alright?" She smiles to Borris, "Yes, thank you. You go on." Looking up at her weyrmate, she squeezes his hand, "You were on duty. As were more than half of the riders at this Weyr. The only reason I wasn't at Boll today is because Jinieth is testy and refused to leave."

Borris heads back into the infirmary, nearly tripping over the doorjam as he does.

Redus frowns momentarily at the 'healer' part of Leah's answer but smiles non-the-less. "Yes, ma'am." is all he says as he heads for the inner caverns.

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

N'sales nods to Leah, then sighs. No arguing with her on that point. (He's tried before>. "Yes, you're right of course but..." He notices Jenna's wrinkled nose then looks to her and then back to Leah, "You both are ok, aren't you? Both of you should probably go see the healers to make sure you didn't inhale to much smoke."

Leah steps up onto a bench and nods to N'sales, gripping the front of his jacket and smiling at him now that she's at his eye level, "Of course, Weyrsecond. I'll see the Healers right away." She pulls herself closer to him and says, "I'm fine. Jenna's fine. We're filthy and thank you for worrying so much."

Jenna's tone is a trifle tart, "I had more sense than to go groping around in the smoke and turn myself into a grilled wherry. Someone had to run the buckets back to the lake." Indeed, she looks only rough around the edges, not soot-stained. "Speaking of, Merrin? Did you finish whatever-it-was you were doing up there?" The lad peeps around the bronzer's large form and nods sheepishly. "I was takin' notes. The Steward said to!" Jenna frowns. "Well, mind you get them to him - rewritten - first then when he's done with the healers." She looks then to the weyrwoman. "And the steward told him to keep you outta here ma'am. Useless, but I hope he did at least relay the message?"

A relieved look crosses N'sales's face as his weyrmate climbs onto the bench to look him in the eye. He gives her a hug around the waist then turns to smile at Jenna. "I am glad you are both ok. Now I bet there is a lot of work that needs to be done.." he looks about trying to spot the Steward and not seeing Solant immediately. "Was Solant injured? I suppose I should avail myself to help in any capacity I can."

Leah shakes her head, "Solant is with the Healers getting checked out. He was coughing a good bit. Hm?" She looks at Jenna, "Keep me out of... where?"

Jenna mms. "We should move the tables and benches back in from outside too, ma'am. But I'd wager that the tapestries need a good airing out from the smoke." She nods to Leah. "Out of here. Sounded like he wanted you and the Weyrleader both out on buckets just in case." She grins a bit, "Sounded like a decent idea at the time, cause no one knew how bad it was."

Leah grin lopsidedly, "As if anyone could keep me away." She nods to Jenna, "Could you see to that? I've got to go calm Jinieth down and make sure all the messages were sent where they were supposed to go. And take stock of my daughter really quickly. I'm sure she's fine, but still."

Jenna nods. "Yes ma'am." She grins a bit. "Want them arranged any particular way this time? Like maybe a bunch of circles?" At least someone's kept their sense of humor in all this mess.

Leah puts a hand on her head and groans, grinning at Jenna, "Funny. The normal way is just fine. And I'll get you for that one." She hops off the bench and hurries out after N'sales, calling back, "Thank you for all of your help!"

Jenna chuckles and starts organizing folks to take care of the moving back in.

Leah heads out the cavernous entrance to the bowl.
Leah has left.