[EVENT] Cold Winds Blowin'...

[ironwood]

Characters: All
Date: January 10-31, 2018
Location: Keeliai, all sectors
Situation: Hurricane and ensuing cleanup
Warnings/Rating: add warnings to headers as necessary, please.


Come late night on the 10th, carrying over into the wee hours of the 11th, the winds that have been on and off all month pick up, howling between buildings and rattling anything not nailed down. The worst of it comes over the next day, when the winds don't actually stop, sweeping through the city at high speeds and bringing rain and all kinds of debris with them.

The canals in Water are nearly impassable, making travel even more inadvisable than it would have been. In some places the wind takes out the power, too, leaving several people temporarily without much in the way of heat -- not good when the average temperature is hovering around 5°C (about 40°F). The rain comes heavier over the course of the day, and flooding both minor and major abounds; during the worst of the storm the canals are near to overflowing and there's a sincere -- and realized -- risk of drowning. As the flooding rises fast, some unprepared citizens may be caught by these rushing torrents and need rescue.

The storm settles down toward the end of the twelfth, leaving only brisk winds and a sullen drizzle as it finally passes the city by. In its wake, however, is a vast array of damage, and significant repairs to be made.

The high winds have knocked many trees down, some of which landed on homes and businesses -- in some cases, punching right through the roofs, rendering the buildings temporarily unlivable, and sending their occupants out into the storm to seek their nearest secondary shelter. Flooding is wide-scale, doing immeasurable amounts of property damage and putting many lives at risk. Many are left injured, homeless, or their businesses and livelihoods in ruins. Even more have lost personal possessions that are irreplaceable.

All told, the Merchant's Guild estimates that nearly 10% of the city's residential districts have suffered severe damage, meaning that the homes in those areas are not structurally safe to live in until repairs are made. This translates to about 6000 kedan across all Sectors in need of temporary housing. A further 20% (roughly 10,000) of the city has experienced moderate damage, so their homes are livable, but they may be without power, heat, or necessities like running water or adequate food stores.

The rest of the city takes light damage, mostly in the way of flooding and damaged goods. Volunteers are needed all over the place to remove storm debris to a growing mountain of wreckage outside the city walls. Everything from broken windows and furniture, to entire trees and large sections of rooftops need to be hauled away, and in some cases, the Foreigners' abilities will be much appreciated, since whatever left is going to be done with kirin-hauled carts and sledges.

Through the rest of the month, repairs are in progress, most of it taking place beneath a sapping cold rain, which impedes both repairs and volunteers' health, and many come down with walking pneumonia and flu-like afflictions. Usayi is among those organizing work crews for the clearing of large debris and urgent patches; he'll be spearheading those efforts as the month wears on as well. The Woodsmen also call for help from as many volunteers as possible, citing the loss of a great deal of growing and stored seeds, as well as the damage to their agricultural land plots, which are now littered with more debris.

Comments

Bakura | OTA

[denyamenti]

jade dojo - wood sector;
The Dojo sustains a fair bit of damage in the storm, being located in the Wood Sector where a great many trees were uprooted and tossed about. It's not structurally compromised to the point where it's going to fall down or anything, but it's not usable on either the Dojo area nor comfortably in the apartment area in the back. Still, it wasn't as though he was going to be sitting at home or sleeping anyway, he's starting his own pile of damaged goods in the front lawn, pitching things in fairly bad humour onto the heap each time he emerges from inside.

water sector;
Both during and after the storm passes there are plenty of dangers to contend with, not the least of which are the surging canals in the Water Sector. Looking at the rushing of water, he knows there's no way anyone can swim against it, but thankfully his summons don't rely on such mundane methods. In short order, a childlike, blue-skinned girl is moving swiftly along the canals, helping people and fishing out possessions that look important, loading all of them onto a wooden longship which seems to be intelligently holding itself in place against the current.

excavation;
There were some buildings in the city, however, which fared even less well than his place. Especially in the poorer sections of Keeliai, where less sturdy houses fell in one each other, in some cases trapping their occupants inside. And while they were hoping for rescue, they were undoubtably alarmed to see a huge, slavering bear dragging chains to be the one muscling through the fallen walls to get to them. There was more than a little screaming, despite the thief's exasperated shouting that it wasn't going to eat them.

aftermath;
When the worst of the storm and the most immediately pressing rescue efforts seems to be well in hand, Bakura finds somewhere to sit that's a little out of the way and sinks into it. He's tired, hungry, and thoroughly chilled from being soaked through for hours on end. Logically he knows he should find some place warmer to rest and probably something hot to eat or drink, but holding summons in tangible form outside the confines of a Duel, even with the Ring, has taxed his energy reserves to their max. Eyes closed, his guard never quite goes down, but it's certainly the least alert that most people have the chance to see him.

aftermath;

[lasergrenades]

Pepper has been helping out with a lot of rescue and excavation efforts, making use of her armor yet again so she can lift many times her weight and locate people with relative ease. She's used to going pretty nonstop, and the armor takes off a lot of the stress on her body. Still, at some point she does need to sleep, and she decides to walk rather than fly.

Bakura is easy to spot, that shock of white hair standing out against the backdrop of the city. She diverts quickly, noting that his eyes are closed and if she didn't know better she would think he's sleeping. The faceplate is open and Pepper looks concerned as she approaches, her voice soft. "Hey. You okay?"

Re: aftermath;

[denyamenti]

If it had been another voice, he'd have straightened and opened his eyes; for her, it's more of a lazy shrug, eyes staying closed. "Just taking a break," he said. "Earned myself quite a headache, pulling summons all over like that."

It was different with kaa, which drew and replenished ba when 'in use'. With external summons, it drew on ba and heka both, but it was almost entirely an outflow of energy and thus drained the person more quickly. It was why most people never learned to summon other creatures, and why Priests spent so long training to split their energy without overexerting (and accidentally killing) themselves.

[lasergrenades]

The fact that he stayed something approaching relaxed was good to see, oddly. She sat down next to him and pulled her helmet off.

"Maybe you should stop for the night then, get some sleep," she suggested, smiling softly now. "You've been helping a lot today." Pepper sounded fond, perhaps even proud. "Want a head massage? Maybe somewhere warmer, though. It's kinda chilly, and last time I checked you didn't like the cold," she teased.

[denyamenti]

Pepper got an indolent sidelong glance at that, eyes slitting open and the hint of a frown appearing. "The Dojo was forcibly invaded by more than one tree," he answered. "It's not like I'd be asleep in bed right now if I wasn't here."

[lasergrenades]

"Please excuse me while I become less subtle," Pepper replied, laughing quietly. "I have a house. And a bed with no trees invading, that's very warm and totally dry. And a couch, in case my roommates would have aneurysms if you slept anywhere else," she offered. "At least come get something to eat and maybe a few hours of rest. You've been out here all day, and Marie and I spent the whole storm baking so we need help with eating all the scones and muffins and cookies."

[denyamenti]

Bakura finally opens his eyes all the way, straightening against the wall. "You do indeed have a house," he agreed. He hadn't given much thought to where he was going to stay while the dojo was being repaired, considering the usual public locations like the Hotel and the shelter would already be full up.

The offered house was a welcome alternative, the promise of free food, even better. And while he could continue on for a while yet, if he had to... there wasn't an immediate need, and a more proper rest than a bench would be gladly received.

"All right, biahbenat. The jury remains out on whether your roommates deserve aneurysms or not."

[lasergrenades]

Pepper grinned when the offer went over well. Tony and Gene might not be thrilled by the idea (although Marie probably wouldn't care too much) but it wasn't their call. Besides, it wouldn't be permanent by any stretch.

"Cool. C'mon, then." She stood, tucking her helmet under her arm and held her hand out. The armor was less than personal, but the gauntlets were relatively warm in comparison to the chilly air. "Wanna get anything from the dojo or head straight to the house? I think we have a few spare toothbrushes lying around."

[denyamenti]

He shook his head, and then gave it another consideration. If he wasn't trying to recoup some energy, he'd have just tossed up a Field Barrier spell and left it at that, but he didn't want to use that as the first option.

"Actually, the dojo first is fine. If this damned rain keeps up, I want to move some things before they get flooded."

[lasergrenades]

"Smart plan," Pepper agreed. "As much as I'm happy to have you stay over for as long as you need, it'd probably be better if not all of your things are water-logged forever," she added, teasing.

The fact that the dojo sustained as much damage as it did was more upsetting than Pepper had been expecting. It had become a home away from home, and not just because Bakura and his apartment were there. Training was such a central part of her life now.

"I can help you work on some repairs tomorrow, too," she offered.

[denyamenti]

He nodded in response to her offer, and together they were able to push things out of the damaged areas and into parts that were still sheltered by the roof. Thankfully he didn't have an abundance of possessions, and the larger ones he did have like the diorama, had escaped serious damage.

"That should do it... for now, at least."

dojo;

[wrathfulkhan]

After pitching in to help the community, it only makes sense that Gene checks out his workplace, too. And it's not in great shape.

He alights onto the ground, delicately for someone wearing such bulky armor. "Need a hand?" he asks, the helmet off; the armor may not be the most welcome sight to Bakura, but the helmet being off means he's Gene, not that angry child who murdered him.

[denyamenti]

It's testament to both their developments that the armor gets only a few seconds of cursory study before Bakura nods, gesturing at a collapsed section of wooden wall and welcoming the aid. "Aa, what a mess this is. If the Lance woman ever comes back, I'll ask what she was thinking about putting a panel-walled building so close to trees."

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene nods and goes to the section Bakura indicates. Two years ago, he would have bristled at the implicit command. Now? He's just...well, he's offering help, so that's a big step in and of itself.

"It doesn't seem to be the smartest decision, no," he says dryly. "Maybe we should reinforce it in case there's another disaster like this."

[denyamenti]

The extra help is appreciated, even as Bakura flings another ruined section of matting out the broken window in the general pile of the other rubbish. "I'm open to suggestions for it," he answered, although his general demeanor at the moment didn't exactly scream the same. "Building architecture is outside my scope, unless it's for breaking into them."

Aftermath

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis was physically tired, not something that happened very often. Luckily for her, a few hours of rest would do wonders for her energy levels. She followed the raised, normally fluffy, white tail of her cat as he trotted down the street, now thankfully fairly clear of debris. Anani didn't seem disturbed by the now-light rain at all, but Valdis guessed that she probably looked as bad as he did, bedraggled and soaking wet. Though he was probably in higher spirits.

He turned sharply to head toward someone sitting out of the way. Bakura. Valdis hadn't really spoken to him since hallucinating about Dante in the Dojo, which had been a very awkward experience to say the least. She would rather continue on, back to the Hotel, but Anani had different plans. With a loud mew, he jumped up next to Bakura and began to rub his face against the man's elbow, purring madly.

[denyamenti]

The mew alerted him a split second before the cat jumped up, which was fortunate so that he didn't react badly and swat the creature away. Being rubbed upon by wet fur, on the other hand, was not exceptionally more pleasant. Anani got an exasperated, although mild, attempted push away. "I've no food for you, cat. Go."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis stopped a short distance away as her cat proceeded to bother Bakura. Anani meowed again, sidestepping away from Bakura's push and then stepping right back over and continuing to purr.

"I don't know what he wants," Valdis said, "But it probably isn't food."

The cat looked at her with deep green eyes, blinked slowly and then rubbed against Bakura again.

"You look tired."

He'd been all over the place, helping during the storm and after, so she wasn't really surprised.

[denyamenti]

"Sha-sedjaw!" Bakura tried again to shoo the cat away, and then at Valdis' statement, just rolled his eyes and let the animal do what it wanted for the moment while he answered her.

"I am." There was no point in attempting subterfuge of something so obvious. "One of many who are, I'd imagine."

[redlightgreenlight]

The cat did not care what Bakura wanted and Valdis made no move to stop her pet from bothering him.

"How did the Dojo fare?"

Anani took Bakura's momentary distraction as invitation to hop into the thief's lap, still purring.

(totally the ancient egypt version of cursing someone to step on legos)

[denyamenti]

"Badly," the thief answered shortly. "Roof areas over both the main part and the apartment are damaged, and one of the dojo walls folded inward. Whoever built it should be introduced to a copper foot plate on a hot day."

Apparently that was a bit much animal affection for Bakura, who picked up Anani by the scruff of the neck and dropped it back off his lap onto the wet ground.

[redlightgreenlight]

"That doesn't sound like an easy fix, no."

Valdis didn't move to help her cat when Bakura removed the annoying creature from his lap. Served the little bastard right, though Valdis was a bit surprised that Bakura had put up with the creature for as long as he had. The cat gave the thief a look of pure disdain and then trotted over to her, rubbing against her leg and beginning to purr again.

"Do you have an alternative place to stay?"

[denyamenti]

He nodded in the general direction of the Sky Sector. "Pepper said that her couch is free," he replied. "It seems they didn't take the same damages there. But the buildings in Sky are mostly reused stone from the old Palace, so they stand up better than wood."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis nodded. Pepper offering her couch wasn't exactly unexpected, though she did wonder what Pepper's other housemates thought of that.

"Stone usually does...at least something good came from that place."

She didn't have fond memories of the palace.

[denyamenti]

(They would be finding out soon enough...)

"Still enough to give you a shiver, I see," he remarked, noting her tone. "Don't let it drag at you, khapshemet. As for the dojo, you will be having some unexpected vacation, it seems."