epidemiology | EVENT ★ RING OF FIRE

SALOON FIRE

Miz Poppy and most of the saloon workers have been missing since the ambush out at Boneyard Junction. None of the remaining saloon workers (around five total) have any idea where they've gone, only that one morning, they were all missing. They've been running the saloon as best they can in their proprietor's absence, but pouring drink and dealing with rooming is about the best they can offer with such a skeleton crew.

Those who think there's more to this than Miz Poppy and the workers heading for the hills will find themselves right -- though not in an altogether pleasant way. Some time after the ambush, early in the morning, a fire starts in the saloon. By the time anyone notices, it's already spread too far to salvage anything: the task has quickly shifted from put out the fire to don't let anyone burn alive. There are a handful of saloon workers who live here, some visiting Qorral, and of course your teammates. Whom you choose to prioritize is up to you, but be mindful that you're still guests here, and the locals don't look kindly on yellow-bellied cowards.

After everyone is safely out (or not), it's time to help put the fire out so it doesn't spread to other buildings. Perdition's Rest is mostly constructed of wood, meaning that the whole thing is a tinderbox ready to go. The sheriff and her deputies are here to assist, and many of the locals come out to help as well, though some stay in the streets and gawk. Afterwards, what parts of the the burned-out shell of the saloon still stand can be explored for clues as to what started the fire -- and, perhaps, what happened to Miz Poppy. Sheriff Holladay remains in the wreckage to conduct her own investigation; she'll be thankful for anyone who stays to help out, and will gladly swap information.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The saloon is now a blackened, roofless husk of a first floor and a burnt staircase that leads to nowhere. You'll need to find new accommodations. Those who helped out may find the Qorral willing to spare a bed for an intrepid adventurer or two -- but then again, they may be just as likely to suspect these offworlders as a cause for the fire. Ultimately, it may be easier to just camp outdoors.

The local Qorral are happy to lend blankets and materials for tents, though if you want something a little sturdier, the tailor or the trading post will sell you something better . . . for a slight upcharge, of course. Better flex those haggling skills.

As the hours pass and the sun begins to slip down below the horizon, it begins to snow. The locals will tell anyone that this is normal; it's midway through Q-65's winter season, and snow is common at this time of year. The weather will continue to be on the colder side of temperate, but the snow makes things a little chillier. If you haven't learned to get cozy with your teammates by now, this is as good a chance as any.

Soon enough, someone starts a cooking fire, and though some of the locals filter back to their homes, some remain behind to stay with Audentes to share food, swap stories, and sing songs. It's an excellent time to rest and recharge after the last hectic few weeks on this planet. But for those who aren't the resting sort, it can also be the perfect time to plan and strategize.

OOC NOTES

Remember that the plotting post is available all month. There will be two more logs for this mission, both of which will be action-oriented, so use this time to relax and mingle!

Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ.

There have been new side missions added to the Bounty Board! You can also request bounty missions or submit player plots at any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You doing alright over there?

[Don't mind Julius, he's just...observing. He understands what the situation is and how dangerous fire can be. People got hurt back there and now they need to recover. Perhaps that's why he's eager to reach out and speak to someone he's never met before. Does Emma need a hand too?]

It's been a long night.

I'd say I've got this, but you can probably see where I went wrong.

[ And Emma Swan isn't above asking for help. She doesn't know Julius, but if he cares enough to ask, he's alright in her book. Fighting her way out of a fire has her ready to set up shelter and put it to good use.]

Were you staying at the saloon, too?

Indeed, I was. Hold on a minute. I see something off here. [Julius walks over to Emma's tent and points where he sees the problem.]

It'll topple over should we leave it be. May I borrow your tools for a minute? [It's not too hard to fix up, thankfully.]

Yeah, help yourself.

[ She picks them up and brings them to him, just to make things easier.]

Do you know a lot about life in the wild?

[ Because she can't tell if he's better at following directions than she is, or skilled in the experience of having to do this. It could go either way at the moment.]

Thanks. [He nods and continues to work on fixing the tent.]

I know some things from reading in books. That doesn't count for much, in my opinion. You need real experience.

How about yourself? [Hopefully Emma's done more than study a few manuals.]

I think we need both around here. People who are street smart, and people who are book smart.

[ Emma falls into the former, but her idea of a tent is something that'll stay up and probably not look the way it's supposed to.]

I've had some experience, but my kind of shelter isn't usually a tent.

[ For a lot of her life, she relied on her car.]

I don't think we've had a chance to speak before. I'm Emma.

[She'd shake his hand, but she's busy learning how to fix a tent.]

You're right, we need to use everyone's skills around here. This is our first time talking, my apologies.

I'm Julius Visconti. It's a pleasure to meet you. [That's fine, Julius just acknowledges it with a simple nod and smile. Emma seems like a nice person even though they just met. She's polite and he always appreciates that. ]

It's nice to meet you. The circumstances always leave a lot to be desired here - but you get used to it.

[ And work on trying to figure out what she did wrong, like she is right now.]

Any pointers?

Watch out for anything that seems out of place...like this part over here. [Julius points towards a crooked looking screw. It looks like it needs fixing. Some of it's easy to spot and others not so much.]

If you're uncertain you could always try starting over from scratch. That might be a little time consuming.

Good catch.

[In her frustration, she missed that. And probably a few other little details. It's hard to put up a tent when the thing is so uncooperative that she'd like to tear it down.]

I don't have time to tear it down, it's getting cold. I don't need perfection, just something that'll stay up.

That's fine. If we leave it as it is then it won't fall down anytime soon.

It is a little lopsided however. That alright with you? [Sure sounds like it won't be a problem for Emma.]

EVENT ★ RING OF FIRE

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