< 04Molly > *Another pretty dawn graces the Sudlache with a brilliant gold light, washing through the tall windows of die Dauerhafigkeit. The breakfast table is laid in the informal dining room, welcoming everyone, regardless of the hour they take their meal. Martha and David are already there when Morgan arrives < 04Molly > D: I said I'd given it thought, leave it at that for the moment, please. < 04Molly > M: *she nods* yes, dear * @Morgan enters the room < 08@Morgan > good morning < 04Molly > D: Good morning, Morgan. How fare you? < 08@Morgan > well enough David... and you? < 04Molly > D: well, thank you *he eats some toast* I strongly suspect Aurora is with foal < 08@Morgan > really? < 04Molly > D: she's out of sorts, has been a few days. She is also short-tempered with Xantha, which is often the way with females *he casts a sly glance at his wife, who rolls her eyes* * @Morgan chuckles < 04Molly > *Verity arrives next with Molly. Molly wears her pale yellow dress, her hair half up with yellow ribbons. She looks so happy, her skin glowing in the slants of daylight through the glass. < 04Molly > V: Good morning everyone < 04Molly > M&D: *they both echo the greeting* * @Morgan lowers his head < 08@Morgan > Mother, Molly * Molly looks at the table, trying to pick a seat < 04Molly > *Adalbrecht arrives next, a stack of paper balanced on one hand, and a clutch of pencils and other bits in the other. He takes his seat, preparing to spread them out on the table* Good morning < 04Molly > *the others return the greeting, and Molly finds a seat beside Morgan. She speaks softly as the others strike up a conversation about the weather* Good morning liebes herz < 08@Morgan > good morning blossom < 04Molly > *Adalbrecht lays out the papers, and then looks up, meeting his wife's gentle smile. He shuffles them back together, placing them to one side* There will be much time after breakfast, of course < 04Molly > V: *she smiles a little more* of course < 04Molly > A: *he looks to Morgan a moment, about to speak, when Alarice enters. She looks tired, the black dress leeching the colour further from her cheeks* Good morning Alarice *she nods in return. the servants provide breakfast for them all before Adalbrecht speaks again* Morgan, I trust you have no plans between now and your meting with the minister tomorrow afternoon? * @Morgan leans forward slightly < 08@Morgan > one or two < 04Molly > Ad: *he frowns slightly* when? < 08@Morgan > when I get chance < 04Molly > Ad: *he nods* Tomorrow, or later this afternoon. < 08@Morgan > and this morning? < 04Molly > Ad: This morning, I want your input *he looks to David* Yours also, if you will oblige? < 04Molly > D: *he nods* * Molly looks at Morgan a moment, then her mother < 04Molly > Ad: *he looks at Morgan* * @Morgan sighs slightly before nodding < 04Molly > Ad: *he looks to the women* We are designing the new settlement for the villagers * Molly looks fascinated, and the others smile < 04Molly > V: Well Martha, I rather thought we might find ourselves outfits for the wedding < 04Molly > Ma:*she nods* That sounds good * Molly looks to Morgan a moment, and then to Alarice < 04Molly > I have some embroidery to do, I need to find somewhere quiet... would you like to join me? * @Morgan watches Alarice carefully < 04Molly > *there is a little pause before she nods. with the days plans settled, breakfast continues peacfully. After a little while, the women leave to their tasks. Adalbrecht spreads the papers out, handing each man a pencil* < 04Molly > AD: *the paper consists of one large circle with a channel running to it, a small circle in middle marked 'stump'. on the top right is the bank of the sudlache and a smaller circle, another channel which joins the other in a fork, as it did in person. Adalbrecht writes outside the large circle* We have fifty people to accomodate, needing fifteen homes. I want to have your ideas on how they should be designed, the layout of the area, the facilities we need, and then how much it will cost. *he looks to Morgan* < 04Molly > and then how much it will cost. *he looks to Morgan < 08@Morgan > you're expecting four or less to a house? * Molly is now known as Adalbrecht < 14Adalbrecht > yes, we've established that most of the families have only one or two children, and a large ammount of the poplaution are past child-bearing age * @Morgan nods < 14Adalbrecht > I am a little unsure as to how many rooms there ought to be. Living in such a house as this makes it difficult *he looks a little apologetic at this* < 08@Morgan > two or three bedrooms, one main room and a kitchen * Adalbrecht nods, as does David < 14Adalbrecht > They will be quite big then < 08@Morgan > put them in smaller and their morale will suffer * Adalbrecht nods < 14Adalbrecht > Yes, I see. How do you suggest arranging the houses? *he pushes the plan over* * @Morgan places te pencil in his mouth, momentarily chewing on it before speaking < 08@Morgan > you want to avoid anything even remotely circular < 14Adalbrecht > yes, that would be very unlucky... lets bad luck in, stops it getting out * Adalbrecht looks utterly serious in this superstition, whereas David looks a little puzzled < 08@Morgan > further, it would create a barrier for the villagers already here... we want to integrate them, not set them up with their own village inside Sudlachenberg < 14Adalbrecht > Yes, that is a worry < 08@Morgan > for the same reason they should not have anything remotely resembling a tavern * Adalbrecht draws 15 small rectangles on to the empty space, in rows, facing the village. He looks questioningly at Morgan* better? * @Morgan nods < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he looks over* Umm... If I may? *he takes the plan as adalbrecht pushes i to him, and changes the rectangles to two lines, facing each other* If you have them all facing the village, it sets almost battle lines, it's confrontational * Adalbrecht nods, clapping him on the back * @Morgan scratches his nose < 14Adalbrecht > Well well, that's a very eisen way of thinking! I am ashamed neither Morgan nor I thought of that < 08@Morgan > which explains why we thought of it I suppose * Adalbrecht laughs < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he pushes the plan back at little, now looking engrossed* * Adalbrecht looks to Morgan < 14Adalbrecht > what else? < 08@Morgan > water < 14Adalbrecht > Wells? * @Morgan nods < 14Adalbrecht > three? The ground is good for digging there, as you probably found? * @Morgan 's face darkens < 14Adalbrecht > D: *sensing the atmosphere change, he looks at the plan* small gardens, for growing what they can * Adalbrecht looks at Morgan before being distracted < 14Adalbrecht > Yes, that's a very good idea. You are good at this, a welcome skill. * Adalbrecht looks at David, their eyes meeting. Its part challenge, part conflict < 14Adalbrecht > D: Of course *he looks back to the plan* The other choice would be to cut a channel up and through this area to join the lake to the settlement by a small stream *he runs a finger directly over the smaller clearing where the cottage once stood* < 08@Morgan > no < 14Adalbrecht > D: It is too complex? * @Morgan looks at his father briefly < 08@Morgan > David, are you at all superstitious? * Adalbrecht looks back < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he grins* no, I'm Avalon. < 08@Morgan > you have no superstitions at all? < 14Adalbrecht > D: well, I suppose I anticipate rain if the sky's red in the morning * @Morgan chews the edge of his thumb for a moment < 08@Morgan > you have heard of a kracken? < 14Adalbrecht > D *he shakes his head* < 08@Morgan > think octupus but many many times larger < 08@Morgan > sailors avoid doing certain things in case it attracts a kracken... sailors almost the globe over adhere to that < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he nods* yes... < 08@Morgan > most sailors do it out of habit, because it is what is done at sea... that is not the case amongst Eiseners < 14Adalbrecht > D: go on... < 08@Morgan > if I were to tell you of a many legged creature, thirty feet in height with multijointed legs, similar to a spider... and that every year there is a festival to honour it and ask it to stay away... what would you say? < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he frowns a little* I'd trust you * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > let me rephrase that... what if you heard of such a creature and the festival < 14Adalbrecht > D: I'd be skeptical < 08@Morgan > and rightly so... its rediculous, a thirty foot spider * @Morgan looks at the table < 08@Morgan > except... < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he sighs* This thing lives here? < 08@Morgan > its seen here... my point is that superstitions here are founded a lot more in fact than other places... < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he nods* I see < 08@Morgan > as such... we leave the lake alone < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he nods* Wells. < 08@Morgan > quite < 14Adalbrecht > I wonder that we add nothing else, make it domestic only. Do not take trade from the village, integrate them * @Morgan nods * Adalbrecht draws some crosses for the wells < 14Adalbrecht > How much will this cost, how many men will it take, and how long til completion? * @Morgan scratches his head for a moment < 08@Morgan > wood... no point building in stone yet, and we can clad them in the future if needs be * Adalbrecht nods < 08@Morgan > one thousand four hundred marks * Adalbrecht nods < 14Adalbrecht > D: whats that in guilders? < 08@Morgan > three hundred and fifty < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he nods, looking pale* That is a fortune. * Adalbrecht laughs < 14Adalbrecht > That is roughly what I'd be paying the next estate manager. < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he watches, open mouthed* * Adalbrecht smiles a little < 14Adalbrecht > I need to build a new cottage also... somewhere quiet, private... *he looks at the plan* * @Morgan looks confused * Adalbrecht looks up < 14Adalbrecht > what puzzles you? < 08@Morgan > the need for a cottage < 14Adalbrecht > I think an estate manager should have a home outside this house, unlike before * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > definitely stone, however < 08@Morgan > there's a stonemason I'm acquainted with who would do the work for a competitive price < 14Adalbrecht > more expensive, but yes, I agree. However, I do not want it in the new development * @Morgan shakes his head < 08@Morgan > that would make them feel they are being watched < 14Adalbrecht > Yes. But that leaves little option, unless we clear yet another area < 08@Morgan > this meandering conversation is beneath you my lord... say what you mean < 14Adalbrecht > The only area that would be easy to build on is here * Adalbrecht puts his finger on the site of the cottag < 14Adalbrecht > D: *he watches quietly* * @Morgan looks at the sketch intently < 08@Morgan > indeed * Adalbrecht stretches < 14Adalbrecht > Let's deal with the project at hand first * @Morgan nods < 14Adalbrecht > D; *he looks slightly relieved* < 14Adalbrecht > How many men will this take, and how long? < 08@Morgan > I dont know < 08@Morgan > it will be quicker as its wood... * Adalbrecht looks to David, who shrugs < 14Adalbrecht > D: I would guess one cottage a week for every twenty men you can spare * Adalbrecht looks to Morgan < 14Adalbrecht > How many can be pulled from the fields without reducing production? < 08@Morgan > that depends on whetheror not you plan to put fighting men to work < 14Adalbrecht > I would have it completed as soon as possible, before the harvest takes priority * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > maybe eighty < 14Adalbrecht > so four weeks for buildings and wells? < 08@Morgan > something like, yes < 14Adalbrecht > Have you included the three of us in that? Or the work that can be done by women? < 08@Morgan > no < 14Adalbrecht > today is the 11th of june. You leave in 16 days. I want the majority, and the wells, complete by then. < 08@Morgan > I suspect David's assertion of one cottage per week per score of men was at the limit.... you can either have them built properly, or quickly < 14Adalbrecht > Neither of you included the three of us, or the women. * @Morgan shakes his head < 08@Morgan > none of us are experienced at building houses * Adalbrecht looks resolved < 08@Morgan > and if we were, we would still not make such a massive difference in the time < 14Adalbrecht > There are some in the village who are, and I shall write to those crafsmen in fischler to come and lead each team < 14Adalbrecht > D: It would have to be started immediately, the first site cleared this afternoon, and teams be set to chopping trees now. *he looks uite excited about it* * Adalbrecht nods, also excited, determined * @Morgan sighs, shaking his head < 14Adalbrecht > Morgan, you have leave to complete your tasks today and tomorrow, but saturday, I expect you at the tennants meeting, and each day after until the day of the wedding * @Morgan looks at his father < 08@Morgan > you are dismissing me? < 14Adalbrecht > yes. David and I have things to discuss * @Morgan 's eyes harden * Adalbrecht returns the look < 14Adalbrecht > You have a problem, I assume? < 08@Morgan > Very well, but know this... I have been overridden in the past, and fought demons endlessly for months as a result. That time I berated myself for not being more steadfast, but I shall not berate myself if the cause this time is sheer idiocy * @Morgan turns on his heel and walks out * Adalbrecht speaks quietly to David. Morgan is out in the cool corridor quickly * Adalbrecht is now known as Molly