[Open] Rebuilding the Labs

[trustycrowbar]

Date & Time: October 2nd
Location: Lower Labs, upper tunnels.
Characters: Gordon, anyone who volunteered here and anyone else who wants to join
Summary: Mastering futuristic building techniques to give the lab a floor and the catacombs a ceiling again.
Warnings: Wear your hardhat.

There's a steady buzz of activity in the echoing chambers several floors below the Hold. The cave-in left a large hole in the floor of the lowest levels of the Labs and a large pile of rubble, metal, crushed computer parts and office equipment. Up above the echoed voices of scientists can be heard barking orders like "Nono, it has to be LEVEL!" And "Be careful over there!" like labcoated terriers, and receiving just about as much heed.

Volunteers can clean rubble and scavenge check out the ruined equipment, others might set stays and metal bars to form metal framework overhead, and others are handed these odd tubes that look like ordinary caulking tubes, but instead spray a huge cloud of foam that quickly turns into something light and harder than any rock. Careful not to get any on you. Still others may be set on refreshment duty or gofers, if there are enough people.

Gordon, for the record, is down in the rubble pile, suited up and lifting slabs of old stone and concrete the size of small cars. Not on his own, but lifting them with... some kind of weird gun-thing? What the hell is that?

Comments

clearing away rubble!

[ohmygodgreywardens]

So much had happened in the tunnels, and while Cailan was more of a fan of all the fighting that had taken place, he knew that there was some good work to be done helping them fix the labs. Not that he really knew what was going on there, but anything that could let him do some work with his hands, and take his mind off of other problems?

He was on board with that. Back breaking work, but it was pleasantly monotonous, getting some rocks, moving them away from where they once were, and going back. Water breaks were needed, though, and he would take one when he needed it, not when he wanted it.

[trustycrowbar]

[Gordon is a physicist, and physicists are remarkably lazy in that they let the laws of nature do the work for them. Although god only knows which bizarre natural law that were strong-armed into making that strange gun of his. After over a half-hour of consistent work, Gordon breaks the silence.]

By the way, I don't think I ever got your name. [He says as he lifts another crag of concrete with a quiet hum.]

[ohmygodgreywardens]

[Cailan looks up with surprise, hoisting up another rock with a smile.] My apologies, good sir! I guess I was lost in the work. I'm King Cailan Theirin, it is a pleasure and an honor to make your acquaintance. You are a very good man, to get us all together to help these kind folk.

1/2

[trustycrowbar]

Well... I wouldn't call getting a bunch of bored people together and putting them to task glory-worthy, but it's a good way to keep everyone busy and focused on what's really impo--

[trustycrowbar]

[...]

Hold on. King Theirin?

[ohmygodgreywardens]

It's close enough, for now. [He laughs, stopping and smiling, giving a nod of his head.]

Yes. I am king of Ferelden.

[trustycrowbar]

[Well. He'd had a theory that the Initiative's Transporter favored subjects that weren't particularly influential in their world. There goes THAT idea.]

I wouldn't have figured a man of your position to be down here in the rock pile. Doesn't make me any less impressed, however.

[ohmygodgreywardens]

[Cailan just breaks all the rules. It's what he does.]

I've found that they don't need a ruler in this place. [He smiles.] I like contributing, however. Doing something with my hands keeps my mind off of other issues.

[trustycrowbar]

...I wouldn't be so sure.

[He picks up another chunk of metal.]

These Transports are clamoring for a leader, or at least a figurehead. You can probably tell in the way they act; there's no sense of unity.

[ohmygodgreywardens]

[This is true. He's talked to people about that, actually, and he hoists up a piece of metal onto his shoulder.]

No, there isn't. I've spoken to several people so far who have said the same thing, but haven't said it together. At this rate, we'll be tearing each other apart, before working on the enemy. [He frowns.]

A true leader is needed. A figurehead can only help you get so far.

[crymoore]

Did someone say water breaks? Suddenly there's a glass bottle being held out towards him by a woman in purple and white.

"Here, it would do you good to have a sip more frequently."

[ohmygodgreywardens]

Cailan turned in surprise, his face relaxing into a bright smile as he took the glass.

"Thank you, my lady. Hydration is important, so they say, but I frequently forget it until it's too late!" He laughed, taking a hearty swig.

[crymoore]

"I suppose I have found my calling for the day then, haven't I?"

What better way to distract him than to carry on a conversation? While she does understand the importance of keeping up the work, it'd be easier to renew their strength if he took a small break in between.

"You can just call me Jaina. I hope you do not find it forward of me, but may I have your name in return?"

[ohmygodgreywardens]

"I think you may have," He chuckled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He usually had manners, and it wasn't like he'd lost them. But there was no napkin available, all those kinds of excuses.

"Jaina. It's a lovely name, for such a lovely lady. I am King Cailan Theirin, it is very nice to meet you!"

[crymoore]

A shame she can't conjure paper as she could water and bread, else she might have been able to aid him with that. It took a moment for the weight of his words to sink in before the thought of royalty standing before her causes an instinctive pause.

"King Cailan Theirin, it is a pleasure." If only she had known enough to make a more formal introduction. "What land is it that you govern over?"

[ohmygodgreywardens]

He was fine with no formal introduction. In this place, he wasn't even sure if he could truly be called a king anymore, but it felt wrong to call himself by any other title.

"My country is called Ferelden. Not many people know of it here; in fact, some of them have never heard of it!"

[crymoore]

"I am afraid I must join the ranks of those who are ignorant of your country. My apologies." With a slight bow of her head. "Although, if you wish to speak of it, you have my ears and full attention. Nothing pleases me more than to learn about anything, other places included."

[ohmygodgreywardens]

"It's quite alright, my lady! We think of Ferelden has the only thing in the world, besides Orlais, but not many people wish to speak about them, or their strange customs," Though this is said with some fondness. The women of Orlais are beautiful, after all.

"It's beautiful. Torn apart by war, in the past, but we've been rebuilding it for longer then I've been alive. The climate is so diverse throughout the kingdom; rain and snow in one part, to hot, dry deserts in another," He smiles. "I miss it."

[crymoore]

"Naturally. To live in a place of that nature and to come here. Who would not miss it?" With a soft laugh, she tries to encourage him to continue. "Has it been a strange experience? Growing up in a land that's being rebuilt, that is."

Jaina's lived that kind of life; most of the Alliance has really.

[ohmygodgreywardens]

"A little, but then, being here... this reminds me of home. I was born as Ferelden was being rebuilt, from the rebellion my father had run. By the time I became king, it had all been rebuilt, with everything in it;s place. Until the Blight, and then... then I had my chance," He smiled.

"Then I had a chance for glory on my own. I was going to be someone who was not just 'Maric's Son'. And I was excited for that."

[crymoore]

The Blight? That term caught her interest and it showed when he spoke it. Not to play down the rest of his tale (for she'll always listen to any story she can get her hands and ears on), but 'Blight' meant something significant with her own adventure back home.

"I do not mean to be rude, but could you expand on the Blight?"

[ohmygodgreywardens]

Something he doesn't mind explaining. He says cheerfully, after taking a sip of water.

"Ah, the Blight! When the darkspawn begin amassing and try to leave the Deep Roads. There's usually a demon at play, several, as well, and they are... like a cancer. Destroying everything in their wake, and we need to stop them."

[crymoore]

"A demon." She repeats only to emphasize it within her mind. "Please forgive my rudeness in prying about it. Recently I departed from my own world in the middle of an attack against the Scourge and thought it strange to hear of other worlds that suffer from the very same."

[ohmygodgreywardens]

"No, no, it's no trouble at all. Everyone in Ferelden, even Orlais, they all know of the Blight. It's not much of a secret, not when everyone needs to be watchful of it!" He nods. He wouldn't lie to his people, not when the Blight has been there before. It's killed too many people, with this being the fifth time it's happened.

"What is the Scourge? Is it like my Blight?"

[crymoore]

The fifth time? Jaina can't imagine an outbreak any greater than the one that ruined Azeroth taking place again, but there have been reports. With his question, she gives a nod.

"I believe it to be identical in nature, yes. Although such things should be discussed when we could sit down and have a drink to soothe our minds."