|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:07 pm
Apparently Galliath's grumpiness did not extend to dealing with Ianquith. Hello, Lady. S'van could've rolled his eyes, but Galliath probably would've thrown a minor fit over it. He didn't feel like dealing with that just now. There really was no point in upsetting his dragon when he didn't have to. Who is your friend, Ianquith? There was a gentle tone to the Brown's thoughts that encouraged S'van slightly. If he was feeling well enough to fuss over Ianquith, he was doing much better than before.
"Hello," S'van said, giving Moira a little bow of his own. It was only polite, after all. He was somewhat warmed by the fact that O'asis had introduced him as his brother, and he rubbed the faint scar on his palm contemplatively. What exactly was the next move? "All right. Let's hear it, then." He sat down on a cot, leaving Moira and O'asis (and J'ri, but J'riar had had time to settled in if he wanted to) plenty of room to find a seat for themselves as well.
Greetings, Uktenath, Galliath said formally, gravely. For whatever reason, the Brown had decided that his rider's brother's dragon was to be treated with a certain dignity and respect. It was just as well, really. 'Van was glad that the two dragons had sorted out whatever hierarchy they had long since. It seemed that Gall was in no hurry to offend the growing Bronze.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:21 pm
Uktenath had come to learn, through excessive exasperation on the part of his lifemate, that it was not sufficient enough to merely answer an introduction with a shrug, or even a nod of the head. No; His was particular that he should be answering with words, even if it seemed unnecessary. And even if His wasn't likely to notice if he did not verbally greet his roommates... well, it didn't feel right not to do as O'asis insisted was proper.
Galliath, Ianquith, the bronze greeted politely, addressing the dragons in the obvious order of seniority. Taking up as much space behind O'asis as he could make his body claim, he stretched out his wings once, then dropped gracefully to his belly and crossed his forelimbs in front of him, watching the conversation intently.
"About? We're here to talk about the new scope of the ILA," O'asis revealed, using the joking name for the odd little band they'd cobbled together with a straight face. "The climate of the Weyr's changed. We've got opportuntiies now that we've never had before, but it's like juggling agoenthree. We need all the cool heads we can get to plan how we're going to be able to take advantage of recent tensions," he didn't pause, but his face tightened slightly and his gaze flickered from his audience, "in order to further the cause. Before something really bad happens."
O'asis let this sink in, then firmly delivered the revelation: "The Weyr's leaders are not in the control of the people in it anymore. There's too many Weyrfolk. We're coming to a point where we have as much danger from each other's choices as from what one of us might inadvertantly sneeze on someone. You guys talk with just about as many folk as I do - tell me. What sort of things did you hear about how people want to deal with Kyllae?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:46 pm
Moira grinned as the dragon huffed into her hair, reaching up to scratch gently at the ridge just above the green's right eye. While her exposure to dragons was thus far fairly limited – as limited as it could be when one lived in a Weyr – Moira was finding them to be far more fascinating creatures than books and stories had ever managed to convey. Her attention turned to O'asis as he spoke, though her hand remained attentive to Ianquith.
She had no idea what the ILA was, but decided against interrupting to find out. At the moment it was not her place to speak, even to answer his question, considering the possibility that her assumptions about who Kyllae was might be wrong. Right now, she need only to listen, absorb what information she could, and try to figure out the best place for her to position herself in this little revolution. Rolling onto her side, Moira propped her head up on one hand and glanced to either of the accompanying men, waiting for their answers.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:37 pm
This is Moira, Galliath. She is very kind to me, and she has very nice hands... The green sounded slightly blissful as she let her eyes close under the careful attention, quiet now. Their gathering thing was starting now, and she knew better than to interupt. An eye cracked open faintly at Uktenath's greeting, more attentive and slightly pleased that the bronze had responded to her greeting. Why wouldn't he, would be J'riar's thoughts on the matter, but he often didn't understand the necessary social protocals...
Flatter me, why don't you. The man thought wryly, leaning back on Ianquith like she was little more than a large, dragon-shaped pillow. "New scope, eh?" He mused more to himself than anything, listening to what O'asis had to say. He didn't need to mention what 'tensions' were at the Weyr--they all already knew. Even Ianquith was more quiet than usual, so he was grateful for a familiar face to perk the little green up again.
A faint frown had settled on his features when Kyllae was finally brought up, and there was a lazy sort of shrug to his shoulders. "Varies. Some want to lynch her, others are more just upset by the lost. Pretty violent, though, the ones that do blame her." Though he was nonchalant, J'ri was careful to remain neutral on this subject. He had no plans to make his thoughts personal, because truthfully, he still wasn't sure how he felt about the whole thing.
...The thought that the Weyrleaders might be out of control, however, that was a frightening thought.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:19 pm
S'van bit his lip, worrying it a little as he thought over his friend's request. "Some of them want to kill her, like J'ri said. One of the fellows at the Hatching said he'd kill 'er with his bare hands. Some of them want her out of the Weyr. Figure she's better off, safer outside these walls." Contemplatively, he ran a hand through his hair, frowning slightly. "Others think that she didn't know any better, and that watching the Blue between was enough of a lesson for her. Mostly, though, it's death, or the usual sorts of threats you get with an angry mob. You know the type, Kas."
O'asis did indeed know the type. He knew the type better than most. "She's stirred them up, that's for sure. It's like... the entire Weyr's been united by loss. Plenty of folks forget that dragons don't always Impress, even when there's been a Touching." Granted, S'van share the opinion that it would've upped that little lad's chances of surviving if he'd been Touched at the right time. "Some are scared. That little Blue was mad, Kas. Just... plain out of his head." And that was the true tragedy. One egg that didn't hatch, that was sad.
Sad, but not unheard of. Hearing the little beastie's pitiful wails and shrieks of agony and terror had almost been too much for S'van, and certainly for Galliath. I am glad to meet your friend, Lady, Galliath said with aplomb, courteous and gallant to a fault. Of course he would be, his rider mused, the humor of the situation tugging at his lips slightly. "What exactly do you intend for us to do to further the cause?" Yes, O'asis was here with them to plan, but plans needed to start somewhere.
"You think this is really comparable to a sneeze, Kas?" That... that was almost laughable. The Brownrider gave his blood brother a sharp look, not forgetting for a moment who Kas had chosen over him, in the end. Not for a moment. "I'll give you that the Weyrleaders aren't doing much in the way of crowd control, and the Candidatemaster is about as useful as nothing just now... but nothing has happened, except Kyllae touching those eggs too early. It could happen, and maybe we should make it happen." Incite a riot? No. Get people talking, moving? Well... that they could work with.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:34 pm
"We're thinking the same way, then," O'asis determined, nodding. "The tensions are something that might bleed out over time, but given the state of the Weyr, they'll build up into something worse. Our goal should be to design an outlet that will, one," he lifted a single finger, "stem off the hostility around the Weyr in a manner that will not end in uncontrollable violence, two," up went the second, "demonstrate the need for a smaller Weyr, and third," he counted off the final finger, "re-establish the authority that the Weyrleader should have over the Weyr."
Taking a breath, O'asis crossed the room to the foot of his cot, saying as he walked, "One way or another, though, this will likely be the last undertaking of the ILA." He dropped down to sit. "Either we'll have accomplished our goals, or we'll have compromised its uses. Whichever occurs, the steps we take will lead to the changes for a better Weyr. Assuming," he smiled sardonically, "we don't mess it up."
"Now, Moira has some ideas for timing, and things that we can do to set the atmosphere. We need to decide, however, where we're going to direct the attention for this." Now came the part that he knew S'van wasn't going to like - the bronzerider's eyes flickered to his blood brother, then set into a firmer gaze. "I think we should direct it at us, if possible. So that if it does get out of control, we have the best chance of managing it."
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:21 pm
While the others spoke, Moira listened. Doing so answered her questions as to who Kyllae was and gave her a decent idea of the intentions and purpose of the ILA. While she didn't understand the meaning of the acronym, it was easy to discern that the seemingly small group held splitting the Weyr as a primary directive, and overcrowding as the primary problem. It was something she could get behind without having to question whether or not their objectives were morally sound. Besides, the Weyr seemed to be a boiling pot into which Kyllae would be thrown if something wasn't done. Soon.
“Even if she is thrown out,” which Moira imagined would be the least of her possible punishments, “I wouldn't guarantee she'll make it back to her hold in one piece with the way people have been talking. Some people understand that it was just ignorance, but others assume that because she's a candidate she should know better. We need to first and foremost spread the notion that the overcrowding, the lack of room in classes, the lack of attention to the overabundance of candidates,” Moira ticked off these points on her fingers as she spoke, “These were the things that prompted the loss, not malice on Kyllae's part. We need to use their anger over the loss, but direct it away from Kyllae.”
Moira pushed herself up to a sitting position and leaned forward, elbows on her knees. She laced her fingers loosely together, focusing her gaze on each of them in turn. In the back of her mind was the notion that she might be getting in entirely over her head. It was an idea reinforced by O'asis' comment as to where they might attempt to direct the attention. If this went poorly she would by lucky if she wasn't thrown out of the Weyr, much less allowed to stand for Impression. Again, Moira question whether or not she was willing to pay that price if it came to it. The answer was the same, and so she continued.
“If we wait long enough for them to cool off a bit we can start hitting the food supply. If the Weyr can't even feed it's own, it will get people talking. The Weyr can't force an increased tithe just to support the needs of a single Weyr,. If they won't listen to the riders and the candidates, they will most certainly have to listen to the people. If we turn their focus on what the Weyr is doing wrong rather than what Kyllae did, then we're pointing a loaded weapon at the leadership.”
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:22 pm
The little green seemed to swell silently with pleasure at Galliath's words, shifting somewhat in place. I will have to introduce her to you, she gives very nice scritches... and I hope to see you soon. It had been far too long since she had last seen her brown friend, and she was almost big enough to come sun with him on the ledges! Of course, she would have to ask first; showing up unannounced would be rude, and Ianquith would rather starve herself than intentionally be impolite.
"I've heard most dragons can't find Theirs when they go Between... but that one didn't even act like he was looking." J'riar spoke quietly, a hand propped under his chin as he noted the unusually harsh stare S'van offered to his best friend. Had he missed something? Hm, hm. Well, there'd be time to figure that out later, for O'asis was bringing up points that made him tilt his head. "Direct the attention of the Weyr's inhabitants?" He clarified thoughtfully. "Hm..." Risky, surely, but it could go well if planned correctly.
Moira, too, had her own points to make, and the greenrider silently absorbed what he was being told. Yes, they could spread rumors; they'd undoubtedly catch like fire on dry grasses. "And then that means you have to be extra careful about all this." He spoke wryly to the girl, his mind on the same track of hers. "They can't throw us out, but they could prevent you from Impressing." And no one wanted another dragonet to die, especially if Moira wasn't there for it.
His brows creased sharply at the mention of attacking the food supply, and he shook his head before she'd even finished. "I'm not so sure about starving anyone--that's an offense that not even we could get away with. People can go without a bit of food, surely, but the dragons? You have to realize I'm biased on that point." A pointed glance at Ianquith, whom had stirred with eyes whirling with faint concern.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:23 pm
Wait a minute. Wait just a minute! S’van had caught something in O’asis’ tone and words that made him exceptionally suspicious. “Direct the attention for this at us?” He gave his brother a very, very suspicious look. “Look, Kas… just because you were in close with that girl doesn’t mean you’ve got to go and make a martyr of yourself,” he said with a frown. Shardit, O’asis ought to know better than that! “What, that’s your clever scheme? Making a target of yourself?” Well, he was not having any of that. Not for a moment.
S’van didn’t care how firm O’asis wanted to be. It was a fardling idiotic idea, and he wasn’t going to let his brother get away with it. “You think… that you can turn this on you because of her? Or because of the ILA?” His lips firmed into a thin, grim line, and he stared his friend down. Maybe the Brownrider didn’t tend to get pushy in general, and maybe it really could be said that he was gullible and easily led, but from this point he would not budge. He was not going to put up with this.
“Right, you tell me how directing that anger at ourselves and particularly at you will help to keep it from being uncontrollably violent. Are you counting on the fact that we’re” – and here he indicated himself, J’riar, and Kas—“ dragonriders to keep it in control? You think they won’t get teed off because of that? What exactly are you willing to risk here?” And what of Moira? She wasn’t Impressed. She was risking losing her chance to Impress. “I don’t like this, Kas. You’d better explain it in greater detail.”
Hmmn. The first part of Moira’s statement made sense to him. “That I agree with. I think we should get them focused on the whys behind the loss, rather than on Kyllae,” For all that he personally had no love of the girl in question, and no desire to see her continue to remain at the Weyr, he had no desire to see her harmed either. “Get them worked up over what we’re lacking. It’s… telling. It really is. The education that the Candidates ought to have to keep such incidents from being reoccurring… which cannot be provided as things stand now.”
“I think we ought to get them focused in part on the way things used to be, before the Weyr was overcrowded. Time was that Candidates were mentored by the riders who brought them in, along with whatever Candidatemaster they had. There are too many Candidates for that sort of system to be effective. Not for everyone, anyway.” He knew of at least one Candidate who had a mentor of that nature, but one or two was not enough to make up for the diminishing quality in the teachings the Candidates received overall.
I cannot come to you there, Galliath said mournfully. He missed his little Green friend, and Uktenath as well. Now fully grown, he had no way of visiting them in their dorm room. Will you come to see me soon, Lady? he inquired wistfully, eavesdropping on the conversation that his rider was wrapped up on. He noticed S’van’s anger before S’van did, and tried to reassure his that it would be all right. Moira, after all, meant no harm with her suggestions, and had no way of knowing how the last applied to him.
That was unacceptable, simply unacceptable. S’van was not willing to back a plan that meant damaging his precious food, or implicating Mirelle as unfit in her position as cook. “What, you want the Weyr to starve? How exactly do you think that we will be able to feed the mass of Candidates and Weyrfolk if we start hitting the food supply harder than it’s already being hit? I can’t back that. More, you’re crossing the line from trying to more or less peaceably bring about a change to actually harming people.”
He frowned slightly, looking between O’asis and Moira at that point, and shook his head. “We cannot easily replace the food if it’s diminished beyond what it already is, and what’s more… I work in the Kitchen.” That was a real conflict of interest, there. Taking in a deep breath, he turned to Kas and said,” I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but… I’ve been promoted, too. I’m a Wingsecond now. What that means is a whole lot of nothing, except that I really cannot condone taking drastic measures which will ultimately be harmful to the Weyr that I serve.”
It was an exceptionally difficult position to be in. He wanted to support his brother, and his friend, but… he also couldn’t simply ignore his own responsibilities. “Find something else, or count me out,” he said after a long pause. It was almost painful to say the words. He truly could not imagine leaving O’asis’ side like that, but if Kas was going to bring in new ideas of that nature… well, there was no help for it. There really wasn’t. “We’ve got to keep in mind that someday, perhaps soon, Thread will fall, and we’ve got to be at our strongest for it. Acting like that is stabbing ourselves in the back. It’ll do us no good in the long term, and very little in the short term.” And if they were going to pursue that course of action, he was out. “I agree with J’riar.”
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:48 pm
... Oh, crackdust. The next time O'asis had some grand plot that involved delicate manipulations, he needed to remember that it wasn't the kind of bullshit he could pull around his brother. Although the bronzerider remained nearly stony-faced through it all, there was enough a wince to affirm S'van's suspicions of O'asis's intentions. It would have been so easy, damn it, to tug the right strings, search out the right disgruntled group, and set up a situation where they acted out of line. And if anybody could walk in the middle of something like that and emerge unscathed, it would have to be him!
But how the shells could he convince S'van that he knew what he was doing? "... It's a powderkeg, sure," O'asis began slowly, "but that's how we know that it'll go off. The more we have to manipulate the feelings around here, the more chances we have of turning it into a dud, not enough investment behind it, no smoke, no fire."
"If we try to change the focus," the ex-trader continued, "get on the soap boxes, preach that people think about why things happened instead of what happened - we're really putting ourselves out there. We're taking a step beyond exacerbation, and we're creating issues. And it won't stay quiet- our names will get out. And so if we're just the dragonriders," and like S'van, he excluded Moira from a round-room indication, "that speak out... well, maybe we'll get noticed. Maybe we'll keep it from trickling down to the Candidates. But maybe we'll undermine ourselves, make ourselves out to be a bunch of glory-grabbing troublemakers that are taking advantage of a bad situation, cause a lot of grief in the Weyr and make the leaders more stubborn than they already are."
"So if we want to do that route...." O'asis drummed his fingers on his bedcover, trying to think through the matter. "We need to be crafty. We need to go underground, even more than we are already, and spread rumors. See what paths we can take to get ideas through the gossip girls, sculpt situations that are more subtle than we have, so that people spring to ideas all their own. Shards - get the dragons talking, then how's the Weyrleader going to ignore the obvious?"
It wasn't the most direct plan. It was winding and difficult - even more so than what had been going on already, and O'asis thought he'd been pretty damn subtle with the ILA thus far! But if they were going to launch a campaign to change the minds of the Weyr to change the mind of the Weyrleader, it was going to take every supporter they had, every bit of combined cunning amongst them all. It was... ah, damn, what's the word....
Ambitious, Uktenath put in, his tone just a bit smug.
And suddenly, O'asis was grinning again.
"... You know, I think that between us, we might just be smart enough to get something to work," he decided suddenly, incredibly self-satisfied. All the other bits and pieces and plans and plots were banished from his head. Get the dragons talking, and there wouldn't be any way to stop change from hitting the Weyr. "So," O'asis asked, nearly cackling in his excitement, "how do you figure we create ideas so strong that the dragons start talking about them?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|