[EVENT] Sanctuary

[Arcane]

A ragtag group of holdless have heard rumors that High Reaches is offering sanctuary to the banished, even the branded. They have arrived at the weyr's entrance petitioning for the weyr's merciful aid.

[nineofswords]

Barca of Brown Brynth

Hold, the brown dragon said, landing on the ground in front of the Weyr's entrance. Barca slid off his back and leaned casually against the big brown. You cannot simply enter the Weyr.

"Yeah, if anyone could do that, you can imagine the sort of chaos that might cause," Barca said, picking at her teeth. "It's not that we don't trust you boys and girls, but...well, actually yeah, it's exactly that. See, whatever you may have heard about the Holdless we let in, you clearly didn't hear we took them in because they were dying of exposure." She looked the newcomers up and down. "You lot dying? Cause you sure don't look it. But if you want in that badly, I'm sure something could be arranged..." She gave them a wolfish grin.

Our leaders are still determining whether we will have an open door policy for Holdless or not, Brynth said. Your pleas are premature. If you truly wish to find sanctuary here, you should camp near at hand, and someone will find you and tell you of our decision. He let out a snort. The Weyr does not condone violence against people who have done them no harm. Pay no heed to my rider.

"Spoilsport..." Barca grumbled.

[Arcane]

Must we really devote our morning to such tedium? Taarisoth complained, as Sha'm and Taarisoth walked towards the weyr's entrance. He knew of his rider's history, of course. No one had pulled her out of holdlessness. She had found her own way- through guile and a delicious streak of moral indifference. These holdless could earn their freedom themselves too. Sha'm and Taarisoth could rely on no one but each other and no one ought rely on them. That was how the world worked.

But I didn't make it out alone, Sha'm said, reading all that Taarisoth did not say through their bond. Her dragon had not bothered to shield his thoughts, which meant he didn't care if she heard them, I made a promise.

Turns ago, my dear rider, turns ago. A promise unenforceable and long forgotten. You never really planned to keep it anyway.

I had planned to- if it wasn't too much trouble. And if they're here- it's no trouble at all, Sha'm explained, as she surveyed the gathered group, looking for any hint of a familiar face.

But no- these weren't her holdless. She didn't know them. They were just strangers, with branded foreheads and too-skinny children. No one to her.

She was surprised how much it disappointed her.

A brownpair was already there, blocking the way to the weyr. Barca and Brynth, any easy enough pair to remember. Not many shiny browns at High Reaches Weyr. Barca was...not the most approachable of riders.

There. We have looked. We have seen. Your guilt is assuaged. Now I do believe we have a lovely rest day awaiting us.

Go if you want, Sha'm said. Her and Taarisoth had an alliance of interests with firm boundaries. She knew better than to expect too much from him and he knew better than to expect too much from her. It suited them both, Doesn't matter to me.

Maybe I will, Taarisoth yawned, Or maybe I'll stay and watch you try to play do-gooder. Do try and be entertaining, dear rider.

Sha'm walked over to Barca and Brynth and the gathered holdless, taking stock of the group. They didn't look like they were about to try to breach the wall, "Hi Barca. Hi Brynth. Need someone to play diplomat? I know people like this better than you do."

Sha'm was only a weyrling, but they knew she'd been holdless once. That ought be enough to make her useful.

[Windra]

Adair could not pretend to be interested, although her heartstrings did tug a little at the sight of the group. They weren't all adults. Some children in the mix. Adair took a breath and descended from Alsetth's side, for they landed within earshot between the weyrling and the blue. The green's head cocked at Brynth's words and she snorted. All formalities, and no personality. Although I'll agree - it is a bit reckless to allow humans in when they have not been ascertained as not-threats.

"Settling off into a nearby camp is probably the most wise decision you can make for this moment," Adair told them airily. She was dressed in a bath robe, flourished with spectacular designs in pale blues and whites that went wonderfully with her sun-kissed curls. 'After all, we don't know any of you. However ... " She glanced at Sh'am intensely prior to throwing shade at Barca. "However, it would be civil to supply them with equipment to display our good favor? After all, all the Weyrs of Pern are meant to defend the helpless against Thread and be their beacon of hope, correct? A few rations and blankets would be well-received." She clicked her tongue disapprovingly at the holdless' ragged attire. "And something to wear aside those hideous rags? Why, their skin will be dry and cracked from exposure!"

[nineofswords]

The brown nodded in greeting to Sha'm. Hello, Sha'm. If you have some insights, they're more than welcome.

Barca, in contrast, just scoffed. "Diplomat? Why? Did some emissaries from Benden show up when I wasn't looking? It's just a pack of Holdless, and until we know what we're doing about them, there's nothing to talk about. If you think they'll take that fact better when it's dressed up in pretty words, be my guest, but I wouldn't bother. Waste of breath if you ask me."

When a green dragon joined them next, Barca paid neither her nor her rider any interest. Brynth nodded in greeting to them, though. At the green's insult about his personality, though, he whipped around to face her. You wanna say that again? Brynth snarled. You want personality, I'll SHOW you some personality!

"Simmer down, big guy," Barca snickered. "You're scaring the Holdless." That made the brown calm down slightly, but he continued to stare daggers into Alsetth. He didn't take insults lightly.

Barca put a hand to her chest. "Why I do believe that crack about civility was aimed at me. Which is deeply unfair, because I was being civil." She leaned against Brynth again and examined her nails. "But I don't think it's a good idea to give them supplies from the Weyr's stores. If we did that, we'd have Holdless at our gates every day asking for supplies. Can we feed and clothe every Holdless on Pern with nothing in return and still take care of our dragons?" She glanced up at Adair and gave her a once-over. "Frankly, I don't think they give a forsk what they're wearing. Not the highest on their list of priorities, I'd imagine."

It would be easy enough for members of the Weyr to hunt for food for them while they're encamped nearby, Brynth pointed out. It would keep them fed, and they could use the furs to make warmer garnments and blankets. And as long as its done during our free time, no one can really get mad over it. The idea had been Barca's. Brynth had plucked it from her mind, but knowing she wouldn't voice it, he'd done it for her. Barca shot the brown a glare.

Great. Now I have to deal with idiots trying to skin animals badly on top of the Holdless.

If people want to help, you should let them, Brynth retorted. More hands helping is not a bad thing. And it doesn't hurt to let people know you're more kind hearted than you let on.