Broken Beams

Shepherding Village
This is the home of a small, proud, and independent people who live primarily by herding sheep in the open lands south of the Great East Road. Once driven from this region by troll depredations, they have returned and appear to be prospering, perhaps because they can also profit by trade on the Great East Road.

Or rather.... we should say it /was/ the home of these people. The many sturdy houses and smaller huts clustered on a hill here have mostly been burned. Some are yet standing, more are nothing more than charred timbers. Once, they were safely ensconced behind a deep ditch and wall. The ditch is filled with the ashy ghosts of thorn bushes ... and the gate hangs crookedly, black as charcoal.

But a stone wall is being built by a group of industrious dwarves, and many of the buildings that were still standing have been repaired. The village is now a mixture of the charred, skeletons of houses, and shiny new ones.

A long, low, smoke-stained building, sprawling along the hillside below the caravanserai, appears to the south. Its thatched roof has miraculously escaped burning - though there are black patches across it. Thick lead-paned windows are dark. A group of industrious men and dwarves and a few elves are camped in the open area.
Contents:
Nurenhir
Brev
Hraefengar
Ered-Luin Encampment
Large Ballista
Finest Herd
Obvious exits:
Gathering House, Caravanserai, and Great East Road

============== Lord of the Rings Calendar ==============
IC time is:    Early Evening < About 7:25 PM >
IC day is:     Thursday
IC date is:    October 20
Moon phase:    First Quarter
Earendil:      Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is:    Third Age 3049
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RL time:        Thu Apr 29 14:48:32 2010
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[Sulgirion(#16643)]
Early evening sets in, and the work within the village has quieted down smells of dinner are upon the air, but there is something more: an odd harsh creaking noise coming from further on in the under-construction town.

Sulgirion is once again perched upon that large outerwall, head tucked under one wing, resting. At the curious sounds, the giant eagle straightens.

[Brev(#30997)] For once, Brev has not been working on the village houses. Rather he is returning from the woods outside, spear in hand and a wicker basket slung at one hip. The fact that it is undamaged and full of greenery suggests he has met with no trouble this day.

At the sight of the bird he lifts the spear briefly in a half-salute before trudging on. The noise is heard, for he glances that way and dark brows dip down in a frown, but he is weary enough not to react further although his steps are taking him that way.

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
If the avian was sleeping, he is sleeping no longer. The spear-salute is met with a bob of his gold-crowned head, but there are the hintings of an annoyed expression on the feathery contenance. Turning his neck, the eagle places one eye in the direction from where the creaking disturbance is coming from -- one of the rebuilt houses not too far off. A few of the dinning workers have begun to glance curiously over as well.

And then, there is a resounding crack a section of the structure seems to have fallen in on itself, sundered timber and broken beams hitting the ground with a heavy groaning thud.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev, blinking sweat away from tired eyes, stares toward the collapsed structure and utters a single guttural word in his own tongue. Swift strides take him toward the debris, which he takes in with an assessing eye. "Kiern, what a mess!" Then, moments later, "Anyone in there?"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
From the destruction, there seems to come an answer, a shout muffled from under the wood and other pieces that once served to uphold the hut. Was it indeed a voice, or merely the whispering of the wind?

Behind, the outerwall is bare: a shadow falls, heralding the arrival of the eagle. Sulgirion lingers above in the air for a moment, making a slow ring around the scene as he scans the damage with keen amber eyes.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev, near enough now that the cloud of dust catches in his throat and raises a cough, sets his spear down and unfastens the strap holding the basket to his side. His hands may be working, but it doesn't stop him using his tongue. "Someone's been skimping on the beams. Too much thatch, not enough strength. Or else-" He surveys the debris critically, a scowl fixed on his features.

Whatever else he might have said is cut short by the sound. "Oi!" he calls in that direction. "Can you hear me?" Without waiting for an answer or its lack, he looks to that circling form and demands bluntly, "Think you can lift some of the beams?"

Others, of course, are hastening to the scene, their expressions ranging from suspicion to fear.

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
But this time there is no reply to Brev's call from the debris. Dust settles, and all is still, quiet.

From overhead, however, a response does come in the form of a loud avian screech, and after a blast of wind and the flapping of massive wings, the eagle is upon the ground beside the collapse. "I can see naught of anything inside, from the sky," says Sulgirion, and then his great neck is stooping, beak opening to close around the bigger, heavier sections of timber and wattle. They are yanked up without much struggle, and placed to the side. The first layer of breakage is clearing, and underneath there are the smaller pieces of wood -- some crushed, but more easily lifted by those of less-than Great Eagle size.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev, watching the great Eagle at work, nods his thanks. "Aye, that's the way. Set them aside so they can be looked at." He peers dubiously at the wreckage thus revealed. "Reckon there /is/ anyone in there?" A shrug, then a sigh. "Suppose we'd best clear the place, just in case. Let's hope it's not another of yon foul-martens, eh?" For a brief moment the corners of his mouth twitch.

Then he's all business, turning briskly to the nearest villager, a heavy-set red-bearded fellow. "Give a hand over here, will you?" He starts to pick his way through the mess of splintered wood and strewn thatch. The other man scowls back at him. "What, so you can make things worse? Had enough of your sort of 'help', stranger."

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
For a brief instant, Sulgirion's curved mouth pauses its work, and he straightens to his normal towering height, canting his head to fix the red-bearded villager with a piercing stare from one of his eyes. Then, in case the fellow needs more encouragement to do as the Dunlending instructs, the eagle gives him a wild-edged caw.

Then, Sulgirion shifts himself aside a bit, now that the largest most difficult pieces have been disposed of. But he hesitates. "I think it best if land-dwellers continued, now that the lower rubble is exposed. The timber is smaller, and if there is indeed someone trapped beneath, I would fear of harming them with my beak."

[Brev(#30997)] Brev makes an irritable noise in his throat. "/My/ work is sound. Can't speak for others, though. So don't even think about docking that pay I'm due." For a moment his teeth flash in a grimace that has nothing of warmth or kindness to it.

Perhaps it is fortunate that Sulgirion distracts him at that point. "You think we'll do any better? Beams shift." While he speaks, he is surveying the remains of the house, though, and now he stoops to set hand to one of the broken beams. "That one."

The red-bearded fellow, faced with that glaring eye, walks off still muttering about strangers luckily someone else steps forward to take his place. Cautiously, the two men lever up the chosen beam.

[Brev(#30997)] It is evening, and work has stopped for the day by now the dust and debris raised by the sudden - unexplained? - collapse of one of the newbuilt houses has gathered quite a crowd.

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
Sulgirion's certain peering remains even after Brev's comment, but nonetheless, he dips his neck again, to start grabbing with his hooked mouth around a warped chunk of building. But the piece of rubble in question moved suddenly, and the eagle startles slighlty, head feathers ruffling. "Over here," the avian calls to the pair of Men. "There is a foot."

And indeed there is -- a thick boot is poking up from under the chunk of wood in question.

[Brev(#30997)] The beam held by the two men jerks at that comment neither drops it, however. "Kiern! Some poor wretch," Brev mutters sourly even as he and his companion lay the beam aside. He might seem unmoved, but his gaze flicks over the crowd of bystanders and back, clearly seeking something - someone? - and not finding. A scowl settles on his swarthy features.

"Wait!" he mutters urgently to those others who have surged forward. "Don't crowd us! Else the whole lot'll go again and he'll be dead for sure." Unpleasant thought his jaw clenches at it. He picks his way slowly and carefully to the place Sulgirion has indicated.

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
The foot gives a twitch, and there is another faintly muffled voice. Manuevering carefully, so as to not cause more harm, Sulgirion angles his beak, slowly heaving the dense block of broken wood to remove it. The piece of debris is dropped away and to the side, and the avian steps back a pace to let Brev in closer.

There lies the short bearded form of a dwarf, battered and bruised but still alive and fairly conscious. He gives a grunt, squinting up as the wood is freed. "Knew...stone would..be better for building...blasted wood..good for nothing.."

[Brev(#30997)] A sudden ill-concealed relief lightens Brev's features as the owner of that booted foot becomes visible clearly it is not Gidon. "Stay still, will you?" he demands roughly to the Dwarf as he joins Sulgirion in clearing away debris, his more dextrous hands reaching for the smaller pieces. "Once this lot's clear we can check you over, see how things are ..." His sharp gaze settles on that booted foot, noting the angle it's at. "Quite sure wood's good for nothing, are you?" he queries casually, a brief smirk pulling at his mouth despite the gravity of the situation.

When he next looks round to Sulgirion, he gives the Eagle an abrupt nod, and mutters quietly words he is unused to: "Appreciate the help."

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
The dwarf still grumbles, though he does listens and holds still. "Wood's...good for somethin'," he says irritably. "Wonderfully good for...breaking my..foot."

From nearby, the eagle nods to the rare thanks. "Should I try and lift him out of there? Take him to the healers?"

[Brev(#30997)] Brev, still lifting jagged-edged planking and brushing away fragments of wattle, shakes his head urgently in response to Sulgirion's question. "No! Not till we know where he's hurt. If he's fit, he can walk out if not-" He glances to the prone bearded form, going tactfully silent. "Well, lets not worry about that, eh?"

To the Dwarf himself he offers, "Only good for that? If that's how you feel ..." the words pause as the twitching at the corners of his mouth becomes a full-blown grin, "... then I'll make sure to splint the foot with stone. Now," he squats gingerly down where the debris has been cleared, "can you move your arms? Your legs? What bits hurt?"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
Sulgirion bobs his neck again, and he observes for now, canting his gold-tipped head to peer downward on the scene with a bright amber gaze.

"Eeh," the dwarf mumbles in admitance, "wood's fine for the splint.." Then, he pauses, testing different limbs to see their motions and capabilities. "Foot's worst," he says after a length. "Splinters and bruises elsewhere, but shouldn't be too bad." He holds one thick hand to his side, however.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev shakes his head at the Dwarf's initial comment. "No no, I wouldn't want to disappoint." His eyes narrow slightly, assessing, as he watches all the limbs moved in turn. "That's not so bad then," is his response. "Just the foot ... and the side. Ribs, eh? Those are a real pain. Been there, done that."

He glances to the waiting Eagle, then back to the Dwarf. "So then. Want to be dangled like a rabbit by our friend here, or want a pair of us to carry you?"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]
"Fine," frowns the dwarf at Brev's insistance, "a stone splint." He does not look all too thrilled at the thought, though. "Least I won't have ter worry 'bout splinters..."

"Ribs, hurt aye," he adds, then cranes his neck back to see the looming shape of the Great Eagle. "I'd rather be carried a little closer to the ground..no bird-ferrying for me."

Sulgirion shuffles away a little more to give the others room, turning his attention back toward the fallen wood and wattle. "Then I shall move aside some more of the material."

[Brev(#30997)] Brev lets out a guttural chuckle. "True. Only need to worry about one leg growing twice as strong as the other," he answers the Dwarf. "Fine then, lets get you out." He jerks his head to one of the other men to come and help him.

Whilst he waits, he glances round to where Sulgirion's terrible beak reaches toward the rubble. "Dangling like a rabbit has its place, even if it does nothing for the stomach. When the alternative's drowning ... it comes highly recommended." Then another villager is here and the pair of them fall silent to concentrate on the business of moving the Shepherding Village's latest prospective patient.