The Pros and Cons of Master Rank

Writers: Ainsley1, Patrick
Date Posted: 18th July 2007

Characters: Yara, Kouna
Description: Yara gets an assignment from Kouna and they discuss the pros and cons of being a master
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 4, day 20 of Turn 4

Yara had received a message to meet the Hallsecond down by the docks. Though she had met the woman briefly yesterday evening after her arrival that had been more of an informal greeting. There had been no time for an official interview as there had been threadfall this morning into early afternoon. The young journeywoman was looking forward to meeting with her new Hallsecond and finding out more about her duties here. She made her way to the water, looking for the small woman with bleached brown hair.

"Bring the repair wood over there!" Kouna shouted at the worker as they halled the heavy timbers off the ship. Repair work on the devastated dock was well under way, all under Kouna's watchful eye. "We'll need to get the remaining salvagable material all into one pile," she told an assistant, who marked it on her own clipboard. "And then see what we can use on the new docks and what has to be use for other things. No use waisting what can be used." The apprentice scurried off to do as she bid and Kouna turned and almost walked into the taller woman.

"Sorry can I help you?" She asked looking up.

"Journeywoman Yara, Master, we met briefly last night.
I was told to meet you here."

The face clicked in Kouna's head and she smiled. "Of course how could I forget. How are you settling in?"
She asked politely.

"Just fine, thank you, my room is very nice," Yara replied with a big smile. She was certain her grandfather had had something to do with that.

"I'm glad to hear it." Kouna said with a grin. Via came swooping up with a report from the surveyors further down the beach. Kouna glanced at it momentarily, finding all was well. "So what can I do for you?" She asked politely.

Noting all the activity, Yara was thinking the sooner she get started the better. The Hall was buzzing with activity and she was ready to join in. "I think I'm supposed to be setting up an appointment with you so that we can discuss my duties and responsibilities here," she answered then added, "I'm anxious to get started."

"Well theres certainly no shortage of things to do."
Kouna said, nodding her head at the wreckage. "What are you good at? Rescue Diving? Carpentry?"

"I'm generally best at helping with those that are hurt, human or dolphin, but I think you might be past that point. I have done some rescue diving as well.
As far as clean up, I'm not much at carpentry, but relatively good at directing groups of apprentices for various tasks."

"Well how lucky we are to have a bunch of apprentices who need direction." Kouna's voice held just a hint of false charm. "If you follow the beach for a half a dragonlength you'll find a group of apprentices moving things the rescue divers haul up." Kouna said pointing down the strand. "The Journeymen doing the diving can't direct all the time, someone experienced up top would most definitely be appreciated."

"That sounds like something I can handle," Yara said with a nod. "Anything in particular I should watch for or be wary of?"

"Well make sure you watch out for nails and stuff from the debri on the beach of course. And if the salvaged stuff could be organized into different piles for usefulness and what not it would be great." Kouna handed the journeywoman a blank hide and a stylus.
"And a little catalouging wouldn't hurt." She said with a smile.

Yara chuckled as she accepted the hide, "Should have known there would be at least some hidework involved.
Okay, follow the beach for a half a dragonlength, direct the apprentices in moving and sorting the things that the rescue divers retreive, and catalogue the useful materials. Sound about right?"

"Exactly." Kouna said with a grin. "I wish all our Journeymen were as quick as you Yara. We might actually get something accomplished." Her warm smile and happy tone showed her jest. She was growing to love this Hall and wouldn't change a single person in it for the world.

"And then the Hall would be so very boring!" Yara answered back her own tone teasing, though she had just met the Hallsecond. "Having been a journeyman yourself, you must know we get together regularly to determine whose turn it is to confound the masters.
I'm new so it wasn't my turn."

"Ah how I miss those days." Kouna sighed in reminiscence. "The freedom, the lack of responsiblity, the men." Kouna grinned.

"What, do the men suddenly disappear when you become master?" Yara queried eyes wide and voice tinged with mock fear.

"No, they just suddenly turn old." Kouna sighed.
"Masters don't have the same wild side they did as journeymen."

Yara wrinkled her nose, "Okay, I'll put that in the con column for becoming a master," she said, pretending to write on imaginary hide. "So far the columns seem fairly balanced," she added squinting as if trying to read fine print.

"Do you have 'have-ultimate-power-over-everyone,' on the master side?" Kouna asked with a smug grin. "It really does come in handy being able to get a mug of _klah_ without leaving your office if you really need it." Kouna put her hand on her chest in mock severity. "Not that _I'd_ ever do something as sinister as get an apprentice get my _klah_, twice."

"Oooh, no, that's a good one," she agreed pretending to add that to the pro list on her imaginary hide.
"And of course you wouldn't do such a thing! Never, I'm quite certain, even though I've only met you."

"Its the aura of honesty we masters emmit, you can't help but trust us." Kouna smirked. "You'll understand what I mean someday."

"I can only hope," Yara replied. "But I should be on my way to find those appentices. Thank you Master Kouna. I look forward to working with you here."

"I do too." She said in farewell and would have offered her hand once more but noticed in the corner of her eye some trouble on the dock repairs. "Oi!"
she called. "Watch how you swing that boon! You could clip someone head if you're not careful!" She sent Via to begin the verbal battering as she turned back to Yara quickly. "I'll be sure to see you again." She said. "But a Hallsecond's work is never done."

Last updated on the July 18th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Pros and Cons of Master Rank