The morning meeting goes however you all wish it to go. If it needs to be a blow-by-blow, we can play it out in parallel with the main thread. Martin and Cambina are amenable to reasonable assignments. You folks will need to work out the breakdown of assignments yourselves.
Unless anyone else wants it, Jerod's will to do the dirty work of the harbor, navy, trade and Ambassadors...there's still plenty left over with the city, castle, repairs, foodstores, nobility, army and assorted other bits.
You have representatives from the guilds, the major houses of the nobility, the merchant companies, etc. in to meet with you. What do you tell them?
Vere doesn't say anything during the first meeting. He just sits quietly in a corner and watches everyone, taking mental notes.
Paige will toe the party line, whatever is decided as a whole, but in deciding that, her suggestion is being forthright about Gerry's injuries, perhaps down playing the extent a bit, but there are more than enough engineers and other laborers that tomorrow will be out working about the city and talking about the injuries. It's probably better to speak about them, rather than to give anyone ammunition to use against us.
Speaking of ammunition, any of Corwin's lying around, if so, we need to be on top of that...
Unless anyone has an objection, Jerod would say that we inform them that the group has been selected as advisors to the Regent, to act on his behalf and under his orders for as long as Gerard feels it is appropriate, especially given the current crisis. While a moderate bit of "discussion" would be tolerated, it would be clear that this is not a venue for argument or negotiation - especially given the current problems facing the city and its inhabitants.
In addition to yourselves, you have the castle staff to work with, including some very competent people like Venesch. What do you assign them to do?
Late in the afternoon of the day after the quake, Ravidaas returns from his errand and reports that he could not find the stairway marker to Rebma.
At this Ossian offers to check out how the quake has affected Tir, if it's still there, and so on.
Checking out Tir is rather high on Ossian's list. As soon as possible, on a moonlit night he will walk up to the steps, to check if they are there. If they are he will not be able to resist walkiing up there, checking around a bit.
Anyone who is around Jerod at this point sees a shadow of worry cross his face but it gets suppressed quickly.
Having been in Amber and assisting with the attempted capture of Brand during the incident at Tir, Jerod's a bit leary (shall we say) of Ossian checking out Tir (especially since its still fairly recent in his mind).
Therefore, he will suggest that any Tir evaluation be put on hold for a short while...and that when he finally does go, that Cambina accompany him.
[Ossian]
"Sure, I can take her with me, no problem. But I guess we should not
wait more than a week, or so. We have to learn what has happened to
the universe."
"I suspect that my sister will be guiding you through Tir, not the other way around." Jerod replies, but without explaining further.
"As for the universe, assuming you find that it's not there, what do you intend to do? Rebuild it?" he asks, continuing. "If what Martin has related from Grandfather is true, then it could be a little while before things stabilize after his repairs. I suspect we'll have lots to keep us occupied without looking for other stuff. Unless it comes looking for us." and his last comment is made with just a touch of a grin.
Assuming that Vere hears this (and why not assume away, eh?) his response will be that something will almost certainly eventually come looking for us, and the more knowledge we have about what's in our immediate vicinity the better.
Ossian keeps his mouth shut.
"So long as that knowledge is of use." Jerod will reply. "In any event, the people of the city and castle require attention first. Tir can wait."
Now Ossian gets a bit agitated: "Well, if we don't want _more_ trouble in the city, I think it would be safest to check out our neighbours also. Especially as weird neighbours as the Tir. It only takes a few hours."
What you all discover when the moon is again full is that Tir is hanging in the sky over the water. However, the stairway one normally takes to get there is no longer present. There are just the three steps in the usual place and no more rising from them.
Cambina mislikes this situation a lot.
Ossian probably doesn't feel very good about it either.
Nope. Not really. "Is this Brand's doing? If only the trumps would work. You know, then we could get up there and check what's happpening."
Hmmm...tis time for the speculation to arise unbounded...:)
The engineers report that, other than the partially collapsed tower, the castle is generally sound. People move back into the castle, seal off the damaged area, and open up rooms that have not been inhabited for a while. Each of you gets a small suite, basically a bedroom and an office, in the former guest wing.
In the city, most of the well-built buildings (homes and businesses of the wealthy) similarly survive with minimal damage -- earthquake and fire damage seem to be concentrated in particular areas, while leaving others untouched.
The warehouse district is a mess. There are all kinds of questions of ownership, insurance, etc. There are reports of looting. There are also complaints about hoarding of and price gouging for food and building materials throughout the city.
Hmmm. This being the case, if none of his cousins have any objections Vere will offer to oversee the judiciary and legal systems of Amber. It sounds like they're going to be getting a major workout, and it's important that justice be seen to still be working and that business can continue to operate in a stable environment. Before that he'll need a full briefing on the history of the legal system in Amber, the historical role of Oberon and the Family in the city's affairs, how much interference is expected and how much independence is traditional. Then he'll request full reports from the officials in charge of the judicial system (some sort of High Court?) and the various district marshals and whoever they report to.
Paige likes the idea. While she feels she'd be good dealing on the personal level in these disputes, she's not the legal mind, nor has the inclination to become one.
After the discussion with Jerod concerning the navy Vere feels that he would be of more use there if Paige is willing to go ahead and take charge of the legal matters. He is of course willing to offer any assistance he can to her, but he's going to withdraw from this position if she doesn't mind.
Paige is fine with this, but will suggest, that if he has time, and if Nestor will allow it, maybe bone up a little shipboard and be a reference for her. Paige will toss herself into the legal books, whole heartedly then...
Vere will be spending a lot of time in the Library in any case, and studying legal books is his idea of relaxation from the rigors of dealing with naval logistics.
Solange mentions that she just spent the past few years studying business techniques in school in Shadow, and is willing to help Paige, whether it be more on the practical or more on the legalistic side.
Solange's offer of help will be greatly appreciated. She seems to have
a wonderful grasp on the disaster recovery aspects, so Paige nominates
her as chairman of that committee... Which will allow them to work
closely, and brings Folly into the circle, too. "The Ladies of the
City"...
Folly wants to try to foment a grassroots movement to help rebuild the warehouse district and promote a sense of community -- sort of a "Habitat for Humanity" in Amber. (She pretty much wants to charm people into being nice to each other.) She will run this idea by her cousins, and if she doesn't get any strong objections or better suggestions, she will start making contact with various charities that might be interested in helping out, as well as with people in the community who show enthusiasm and leadership potential. Then they can start having rallies (with lots of music, of course) to get people excited about sharing their skills and belongings with the community.
Vere thinks this is an excellent idea. He tells Folly to feel free to call upon him if there is anything he can do to assist.
Paige likes this idea and will support it any way she can, including leniency on other counts for support of this or any other Royal sponsored projects.
Solange likes this plan too, and will make a point of calling on her "Aunt" Felicity early on, to enlist her support and make it a fashionable cause for the city nobility who survived fairly unscathed.
[GMs, your discretion as to whether Lady Felicity knew Solange's true parentage when she was having her Season, or whether it comes as a surprise. Of course, I'm sure that Lady Felicity will be telling her friends that she knew all along, and kept the secret because Prince Gerard wished it that way...
I see you know your Auntie, Solange. It comes as a surprise but not so much of a shock to her.]
Worth is actually in the city, staying with Felicity for the time being. He volunteers to assist Vere when the situation is explained to him. His naval experience will be useful, and, given the shortage of officers, he may even have to come out of retirement.
Vere will be honoured to have his assistance, and makes it clear that he has nothing but the outmost respect and regard for a man whom Gerard obviously thinks of so highly.
"I might be able to clear some of the warehouses of rats" Ossian says, fingering a small flute.
Ossian will also offer to work as an assistant to Vere or Solange, in whatever they are doing.
Vere will be glad to accept the help, unless Solange needs you more.
So, since we have heard no such word from Solange, Vere will get the help from Ossian (when he is not busy with something else)
Paige will offer to toss her hand in here, if nothing else is pressing. She'll keep Liam on as her attendant, running errands, and generally ensuring he's OK. Her choice of clothing will change for the public fascade. Much more, I don't know, regal I suppose, but with split skirts for riding. She'll spend a night or two finding the appropriate laws, with Nestor's help, and use her ability to read people well in the negotiating of terms and such. She's been importing items into Amber for years, so she's already familiar with most of the laws she was breaking. She'll find what would have to be done to make her suggestions in resolving these disputes more binding. Does she need to be appointed some sort of civic authority? Such greivances can be brought before Lady Sommers at The Prince's Retreat daily from noon until dinner. In the mornings, she's out and about meeting with guild leaders, getting As to the price gouging and hoarding, well, she'll ferret out most of them and deal with them on a case to case basis. Looting? She'll ride at the side of local constabulary to disperse such incidents.
It is several days before the mass burnings are done. Best estimate of deaths is about 10-12 thousand dead -- not a lot out of a city close to a million strong.
The night after the last of the mass burnings are completed Vere will rise well before dawn, and visit the sites. He will spend several hours walking around them, talking quietly to himself.
Winter is looming and people are hungry.
Paige suggests that perhaps some of the conjurers work wholesale on the food situation. Perhaps leading parties of foragers and hunters into Arden. It'll keep out of work men's hands from being idle. Of course, I'm sure many are employed in the rebuiling efforts.
Martin thinks conjuring food on a wholesale basis is a terrible idea. It was one of the circumstances he had in mind when he commented about being careful about what you conjured.
Solange, however, thinks that hunting parties in Arden would be a very good idea even if no magical assistance is used on the hunt. She is willing to help lead them, and to organize the distribution afterwards -- soup kitchen style, kind of, but preferably in a way where the hungry unemployed either ride out with the hunting parties or participate in the food preparation so they're not just lining up for a handout, which is demoralizing. Possibly if the distribution is also associated with Folly's rebuilding efforts -- each worksite also has a kitchen, to feed the workers, and the kitchen is supplied by the hunting parties, and staffed with whoever feels more talented at cooking than at hunting or building and also wants to share in the food. Perhaps some of the noble households could spare their cooks to supervise, or there must be some innkeepers whose inns were destroyed.
The hunting parties could then also report on whether there are further incursions of weird beasties in Arden. The Black Road may be gone, but who knows how permeable Shadow is now.
Paige will support a beuatification project, too. "Hell, if we're rebuilding it anyway, why not make it better?"
"If you need an architect, just tell me." Ossian says.
Reminder of the state of the harbor:
There are about 200 commercial ships in the harbor of varying sizes. Perhaps half a dozen of these ships burned to the water after catching fire from ashore. Most of the rest are damaged, some from fire and others from jostling into docks or each other.
[Reference information: average port call in Amber is about 3 weeks, which is about 10 arrivals and 10 departures daily.]
In addition there are about 100 ships of the Amber Navy in port (the bulk of the Navy). There's extensive damage to some of the smaller vessels but the ships of the line seem to have come through all right based on a cursory inspection. With the crews gone with Prince Benedict, though, and the quake, there's been no chance for a real assessment of damage.
The Harbormaster reports that no ships continue to enter the harbor. The Ambassadors from the Golden Circle shadows want to return and/or send messages home to report the news of the disaster in Amber. The Harbormaster wants to know: do we let them go or force them to stay?
As an aside, having gone over the previous report, Jerod will ask Vere. "Got any naval experience?"
"Indeed. I have spent nearly half of my life aboard ships, both merchant marine and ships of war. My homeland is a major maritime power. Tell me how I can be of most use."
"Paige has indicated an interest about the city and warehouses." Jerod says. "That by itself is a major endeavour - it will occupy one person's attention totally. We still need someone to take care of the fleet, and since you have experience with both, that makes you the logical person for the job. You'd need to work with Paige for support and control on the warehouse situation, so you can help each other, but it puts a pair of people where they can do some good. If you have no objections, I'd say it would be preferable that you concentrate on the fleet first. We're going to need them badly...and if we lose them early it will take too long to rebuild them."
[Vere]
"Very good, I will take over that task. Do I have full authority over
anything that seems reasonable to me regarding the fleet? I'd like to do a
few things such as sending a couple of smaller sea-worthy ships out to
explore - I have a strong suspicion that they will find changes in the
routes they normally travel and I'd like us to have that information as
soon as possible."
"Since you're relatively new here, I suggest that you obtain the required documents from your father to grant authority over the fleet in the long term. I'm not sure how long that will take however, so I will vouch for you with the Harbormaster and the naval authorities. They know me and I've served with them on several occasions. That, and being Gerard's son, should get you in the door." Jerod says.
Vere will immediately go to the Harbormaster to discuss the situation in depth with him. He will ask for a full list of all the ships, both merchant and military, and as complete a list of available seaman as possible. He also wants full details on the situation with shipwrights and carpenters, especially since many of them have no doubt been pulled into service doing repairs and construction on shore.
"As for the rest of the ideas, they're good. But don't let yourselves get distracted with officialdom and reports." Jerod says, making sure that everyone hears him. "This is not a democratic culture that we're dealing with. People will expect authoritative rule from those in charge. And since we've put ourselves on the firing line as Gerard's council, that means that we're going to be expected to use that rule. We may not have time to wait a week while someone prepares a report for your perusal. Be prepared to make decisions immediately - be prepared to promote talented individual on the spot, and can those who are not able to do their job, even if it means you have to step on people's toes and hurt their feelings. That doesn't mean we hurt people deliberately, but we also don't delay when hard decisions have to be made." and he looks around at people to see if they're hearing him.
"Some of your most cherished ideals are likely to get blown to pieces in the next few weeks. Be prepared for that." and he looks at Folly in particular. "Your idea is an admirable. If it's successful, I will be the first to congratulate you. But don't be surprised if someone tries to co-opt it or exploit it."
In reply, Folly gives Jerod a tight-lipped smile. "'Hope for the best. Expect the worst.' You sound like my drummer."
"Sounds a bit cynical huh?" Jerod says, though his smile is anything but that. "Let's just say that when things do go right, it feels real good. And you tend to get burned a lot less."
"As for rebuilding stuff..." and he looks at Paige. "We have an opportunity to put some good long term planning in. Something that wasn't done when the city was first built, if anyone's taken a look at the damage. Consider your modifications and ideas carefully."
Gerard is brought up to the surface and ensconced in one of the former guest rooms as well. He sleeps a lot and is fed chicken soup by Vialle. The doctors say he's in no danger of death but they can't guarantee his full recovery.
Folly will ask Vialle if she thinks Gerard would benefit from occasional music. If so, Folly will offer her services.
Vere visits him at least once a day, being careful not to tire him out.
Solange will also do that, sometimes along with Vere, more often at separate times as their duties will not always leave them free together.
Gerard wants to know what the state of the city is and what you all are doing about it.
Again, unless anyone objects, Jerod will let Gerard know what he's up to, and then head off to do it...nothing has been specifically mentioned yet as to "how" Jerod will deal with this stuff until such time as everyone gets a chance to grab for assignments...don't want to get too greedy...:)
Vere prepares a full written report of everything that has happened, in exhaustive detail, including a verbatim transcript of the family meeting where planning was discussed, and personal opinions and observations of the individuals involved (the latter clearly marked as subjective opinions). He delivers it to Gerard during one of his visits, making sure to give it to him during an interval when Gerard is fully conscious and at his most aware.
Solange doesn't do anything nearly that detailed, but she tries to be frank and fothcoming when answering any questions Gerard might ask her.
She also will ask Gerard if he knows where her foster-father went after Garnath, so she can get in touch.
Lucas will take jobs that involve social activity, and maybe travel. He'll also be checking to make sure he can still walk through shadow when he has a bit of spare time.
- Lucas will, as earlier mentioned, be testing his ability to walk
through shadow.
- He will head through the outlying areas to survey damage and determine
how much support they can provide the city.
- Lucas will then see about building up a trade through shadow. He'll
probably recruit some of the old merchants and such who had experience
with the trade routes, and rustling up some money to pay for it if need
be. Set about reestablishing contact. If they've been formatted out of
existance, like in AW2, then Lucas will set about finding new places to
trade with. He'll booze, he'll shmooze, he'll get trade contracts.
Anyone have a problem with this?
Jerod can think of no one better equipped to schmooze and booze...:)...you've got his vote for the job.
Some hours into the day after the first family dinner, Ossian approaches Folly, with a sheepish look on his face, and a lute in his hand. "The people might need a song to unite them. So I have written one. It is rather pompous and a bit silly, I think, but it should work..."
"This is what it sounds like:"
With sorrow,
we watch our fallen city
in ashes and rubble it's turning
remember the dead
of our fallen city
the sorrow for ever is burning.
With new hope
we watch our rising city
we build it together anew
our blood, work and sweat
build our rising city
united we will make it through
Rise! Fairest of cities!
Your houses and towers might fall
Rise! Strongest of cities!
Still your people stands tall
With glory
we watch our standing city
risen again from the dust
rejoice in the beauty
of our standing city
In Amber, in Amber we trust.
"So what do you think? Of course there should be trumpets in there somewhere, instead of the lute."
Folly listens closely to Ossian's song, smiling, humming a harmony part once she has figured out the melody. When the song ends, she thinks for a moment, and then starts singing her own song. She uses Ossian's chord progression, but her rhythms and tone suggest a work song rather than the grand anthem that Ossian's song seems to be:
Towers of brick may crumble to the earth,
The keening cry of mourners has replaced our songs of mirth.
Still, brotherhood remains, the only thing of any worth,
The strongest cornerstone, the foundation of rebirth.
Upon this rock we will build our revolution,
A community is striving toward a peaceful resolution.
We work for change, for a social evolution.
Love is the only enduring solution.
Ossian gives his applause, apparently moved by Folly's song.
Her eyes sparkle as she smiles at Ossian. "Different songs for different moods, so we can appeal to as many people as possible. I like it. Let me know if you come up with any more. Thank you, cousin...." She pauses a moment before adding, "When things settle down around here, we should jam!" She is obviously impressed with Ossian's playing and writing.
"I'd like that, yes." Ossian smiles back, als. "It would be a pleasure to play with someone with your perfect voice.
"It could be in place with a public performance, or two, with our songs. I will gladly assist in that of course."
With a good part of the immediate stuff in good hands, Jerod will now wander off to take care of the long term (but no less important) tasks of handling the upper nobility and the Ambassadors of the various allied shadows. In this regard, he will be drawing heavily on knowledge of existing treaties, as well as picking the brain of selected individuals who are well known for their loyal service to Amber's royal family and the kingdom in general.
His biggest objective will be to maintain contact with allied shadows (subject to the ability to actually send messages or messengers) through the Ambassadors, to coordinate support from the various noble families (and to direct that to those of his cousins who may have need of their support), as well as resolving (or preferably heading off disputes before they start) between the nobles, the Ambassadors and anyone else of significant importance. He will not seek to forcibly alter anyone's opinion, but he is definitely putting the spin doctors to work on keeping things stable, ensuring the any messages that might be sent out are of a positive nature, and in retaining and building rapport with others.
The group will be kept up to date concerning the various agreements that are made while he is undertaking this assignment, and anything major is discussed with Gerard when time (and Gerard's condition) permits. Given the situation, it is likely that Jerod will make some decisions on the spur of the moment (when a decision needs to be made immediately to prevent some kind of crisis, for example), though he will always explain his actions afterwards. It will be pretty clear after just a week or so that Jerod knows a great deal about the "ins & outs" of political and Court life.
At various points in the process (which is certain to take quite some time), almost everyone in the Council will be called on by Jerod to help deal with something in Court. For those who have had considerable exposure to the Court, its likely that he wants some kind of specialized knowledge or skill on that person's part, to help with dealing with some kind of problem. For those who are new to Amber, it is more likely to be an introduction to Court and its intricacies. He's aware that some people may not like the environment of Court, but he also knows that being a member of the royal family means they'll have to deal with it sooner or later...so better to get exposure to it under friendly circumstances...:)
In his off-time (and there will be offtime - this job is too easy to get burned out in), Jerod will be doing his own exploring for the stairway to Rebma...
Last modified: 30 Dec 2001