Arc 722, 37 Ashan
Chapel Series
#1 - Step By Step
#2 - Here We Go Again....
The group stood before the chapel, which was beginning to take shape. They had spent a few trials using chalk to measure out and outline where the inner walls of the building would go, then preparing the wood panels that would comprise said walls. Like the farm, people spent a lot of time cutting boards to the specifications needed, but many hands did make light work.
Herman, Miles, and Melinda had confirmed the measurements for the inner walls and gathered everyone together to go over the plan. "Alright, those of you that worked on the farmhouse probably remember that we put up the outer walls first," the professor began, grabbing his blueprints and addressing the assembled people, "and then erected the interior ones later. Due to the larger size of the chapel, we are going to use a different process because, essentially, we have more room to work with."
Rolling out the blueprints on the ground for all to see, he pointed to the inner walls. "We will get the boards that connect the walls and floors down first, over the chalk marks. Then, the outer wall frame goes up, followed by the inner frame. It will take us a few trials to get those done. Luckily, the chapel design is simple, with no odd angles or features that would cause trouble. We will need people to continue sawing boards and others delivering them to the people building. I hate that I keep saying it, but it's true – this is just like before. A little different build process, but the mechanics are the same."
Elisabeth decided to forgo the hammering part that she attempted during the farm build and acted as a go-between, carrying boards from those sawing to the people in the structure. While she didn't mind using a hammer, it wasn't one of her best skills, and others were much, much better at it.
Down went the floor braces first, nailed over the chalk outlines, and once all the framing finished, would be used to connect the walls to the floor. Everything connected to something else – a fact that Elisabeth found somewhat symbolic for the task they were doing.
As she waited for boards to be measured and cut to length, the young settlement leader struck up a conversation with Balder, who was nearby. "Do you know when Balthazar is coming home next, Elisabeth?" She often fielded that particular question but knew better than answering it as the guard probably wished. Chuckling softly, she glanced his way. "You know I can't answer that, Balder. Sometimes Balthazar's work depends on people not knowing where he is. Even if I know, I won't say."
The man took the answer in stride, prompting Elisabeth to continue. "I would tell you if I could. What I can say is that he will be here when he can. He knows how important this project is." She believed that with everything she was because despite Balthazar's strong work ethic, and devotion to solving crime, he had always promised her that if she needed him, he would get to her as soon as he could. While building a chapel wasn't necessarily a desperate situation, Elisabeth couldn't shake the feeling that Vri wanted her and Balthazar to be involved in it – together.
He would be there. This she knew.
Balder kept up the conversation by asking a question. "You know, we've never heard the story about how you two met." Arching an eyebrow, Elisabeth thought back, sure that she had told them at some point but realizing quickly that, in fact, she hadn't. "Apparently, I've been remiss in my storytelling obligations. Apologies, good sir." A smile lit up her face, thinking about that time not so long ago. In reality, it hadn't been, but so much happened in the last arc that it also felt like a lifetime ago.
The other settlers chimed in their desire to hear, and even Herman moved closer so he could listen to the story. Grabbing some boards from the cadouri sawing them, Elisabeth gracefully moved to deliver them to Bryn, trying to figure out where to start. "Well, it was in Rharne. I had just moved to Rharne and was working at the Institute there. Balthazar was passing through." There was more to that part of the story, but it wasn't her's to tell.
"He was doing some sport brawling in a tavern that I accidentally wandered into, not knowing what was going on. I wanted to ask him some questions about unarmed combat, so I waited until he was done and asked a million of them. He was patient and kind." Bran, having been quiet until that point, laughed a bit. "Our Balthazar? You must have made quite the impression on him."
Her laughter mirrored the amusement Elisabeth felt inside. It was nice remembering those simpler times. "He answered my questions and invited me for a drink. There was more brawling and another night of more drinking. That's how things began, and we got to know each other. There was this formal event we went to that went all sorts of sideways. Animated fighting silverware and the like. Immortals everywhere. Syroa, Qylios, Ziell, Xiur, Daia - I think that's all of them that were there. It was crazy." Pausing her story, Elisabeth noted the settlers giving her that look again; the one they used when she started revealing all her various experiences with extraordinary situations.
Gilbert chimed in, shaking his head a bit. "So this crazy life you lead, that started before Scalvoris? Good to know." Laughing at his observation, the settlement leader lightly shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it started with Balthazar. A lot of things started with Balthazar, although I can't say I wouldn't get into similar trouble on my own."
Continuing from there, she explained how the pair had gotten from Rharne to Scalvoris. "We spent more time together in Rharne, and he asked me if I would accompany him back to Scalvoris. We stopped in Viden for a few trials and then continued from there."
When they had arrived, Elisabeth thought they would stay for a bit and go back to Rharne or that she would return to Rharne alone, but Balthazar had other plans. "It was Cylus Dusk last arc when he asked me to stay with him here, and I've been here ever since."
Love and Remembrance. Keeping that in mind, Elisabeth decided to encourage the others to tell similar stories as they worked. In a way, remembering their story - the manner of their meeting - and retelling of such for others felt appropriate for their task, but she wasn't the only one with a story to tell.
Bryn told the story of when he met his wife, Sasha. Gilbert shared a story about his parents' first meeting, which curiously consisted of a horse, a dog, and an oddly confused pig. Balder spoke of his youth with his sister. Everyone had a story to share, and before long, the end of the work trial was upon them. The stories, at least in Elisabeth's mind, would be woven into the memories of the chapel, and the settlement would be all the better for it.
Arc 722, 42 Ashan
The floor brackets were all nailed in, and the wood frame's external skeleton was mainly up. The cadouri professor had informed them that in contrast to the farmhouse, they would be framing in the roof simultaneously as everything else. He was pleased with how the build was progressing and thought that the process would go more smoothly if they added the roof frame before filling in the walls. Elisabeth didn't know enough about building and construction to know the correct answer but did pay enough attention to realize that this was the third different way she was aware of to attach a roof to a building. The clam farm, farmhouse, and now chapel had employed varying techniques.
Another difference in this build was Herman's lessened teaching, but that made sense since this was the second structure built with relatively the same people. The settlers were following the lead of the Saoire build team, doing the same types of jobs they had done before and knew how to do. There was a decreased need to instruct people on what to do.
Once the wall framing, inside and out, was done, up went people on ladders to start the roof frames. Starting at either end of the chapel, the inverted v-shaped form was nailed into place, while others took measurements for the boards that would comprise the ceiling, which couldn't be placed until the external roof frame was complete.
Elisabeth, wishing to learn more about the types of measuring done and how to ascertain that specific part of putting pieces together, spent a few breaks with Melinda learning how math, woodworking and engineering came together when constructing a building - accurate measurements ensured a proper fit and angles needed to create surfaces. The cadouri even walked her through a few of the formulas they used, but in the end, the mage was happy to leave that part of the project in their capable hands.
A light mist fell, and while the weather didn't hinder the work, it did manage to dampen everyone's clothing slightly. After the mid-trial break, Delilah and Jolene Munny brought out hot tea and biscuits for the build team, then provided the same to the farmworkers. The snacks and warm beverages brightened the collective mood of the group, allowing them to return to their work with renewed energy.
On one of the ladders, Elisabeth was working with Gilbert as they nailed boards into position. Creating a center beam down the middle of the still-open ceiling that connected both ends of the structure together, the roof was shaping up. The center beam's purpose was to be an anchor for the boards that would support the ridge beam, and it needed to be situated just right. Gilbert enlisted Bran's assistance for the awkward job, and the three of them managed to get the all-important connecting board in the proper position.
Saoire's team ascended to the newly placed rafters of the chapel and began putting the ridge beam at the apex of the roof while the rest of the workers started taking measurements for the walls. Filling in the walls was the next job, but they had a few trials of sawing ahead of them to get the materials ready to be installed.
Arc 722, 45 Ashan
As Elisabeth remembered it, creating walls appeared to be the easiest part of a build, but in truth, it took a lot of strength and endurance to hold boards while fasting them to the frame. Using a hammer and nails was not a skill that the young mage was highly effective at, but she did alright when left to her own devices.
Working in pairs, Elisabeth found herself with Balder once again. When her arms would get tired, they would switch out who hammered and who held. Arguably the guard with the closest relationship with Balthazar, Balder often stayed close to the young settlement leader, which she didn't mind. Something of a big brother figure, he was always she could count on to be solid and reliable.
With the sun shining and repetitive work ahead, the group worked quickly and efficiently, chatting amongst themselves. From across the way, Silk, who had joined them that trial, called to Elisabeth. "You told us awhile back that you felt that you had the strongest connection with Vri's Domain of Love, and that we were doing a lot of work with Remembrance. How do you connect with Death and Sadness?"
It was a good question, and because Elisabeth knew everyone was listening, she tried to come up with an equally good answer. "Well, I wish it was a simple matter, Silk. It's about perspective like we discussed before. Death is something I've considered quite a bit, especially in light of all the situations Balthazar and I keep getting into."
Death was a subject she was a little hesitant to get into, considering the settlers already worried about her. Elisabeth had never told them about her death and resurrection, nor did they know about Balthazar's.
Sadness. Truthfully, that was the Domain that the young woman struggled with the most. It wasn't the greatest of answers, but it was the only one she had for the moment. "Most people, I think, would consider 'Sadness' as being sad, but when I think of it, from my viewpoint, it's more complex and deeply rooted. I think of Sadness in terms of sacrifice sometimes. Sometimes it's a feeling that comes over me when thinking about situations people had or have to endure that they shouldn't. But again, how I connect to Sadness will be different than how you do, Silk, or someone else, based on individual life experiences."
The trial wore on, and walls quickly materialized. All the while, Elisabeth worked, spending the time reflecting on happier subjects, yet missing Balthazar dearly. Sadness? No. Missing him was part of loving Balthazar and the fact that she had someone to miss that much made her smile.
