Project Haven: Kirkwall Outreach [open]

[venenifer]

WHO: Brother Gideon, everyone who signed up, anyone who wants to join without signing up
WHAT: A mobile Chantry service in Lowtown. (FREE FOOD)
WHEN: end of Cloudreach
WHERE: the Lowtown market square
NOTES:

I. READINGS

A small podium has been set up for speakers, who have been given passages from the Canticle of Andraste (keeping it simple) to read aloud to the slowly gathering crowd. They rotate through, starting with Brother Gideon on the first verse, then Wysteria, then Warden Adrasteia, then Seeker Tiffany, followed by any other volunteers who happened to show up at the last minute.

There are a fair number of listeners, but it's also safe to say many are simply here for the food.

II. PANCAKES

When not reading, Tiffany is in charge of making and doling out pancakes, with Maud (and anyone else) assisting her. They have brought down a single brazier that she can use for cooking more, as long as the dough holds out. This is far and away the most popular section of the gathering, and no doubt struggle to keep up with the clamoring hands.

Security are asked to keep a particular eye on them, and to help maintain order.

III. DONATIONS

Lazar will, perhaps, disappointed to find that most donations come in the form of used clothing, toys, and equipment; it's Lowtown, after all, and there isn't a lot of coin to spare.
At least one street urchin, perhaps misunderstanding the purpose of the collection, tries to make off with an item that is, at least in theory, completely available to them. Whether someone decides to do anything about it is their choices.

IV. OTHER

Brother Gideon himself is looking rather on the overwhelmed side, but is keeping it together well enough. Anyone approaching him to ask for direction or delegation is at risk of being snapped at, but this is likely only because he's quite invested in the event running smoothly.

V. AFTER

After the crowd has dispersed and the cleanup is done, Brother Gideon exhaustedly beckons everyone toward one of many hole in the wall dining establishments with the promise of reward in the form of free dinner.
Free for them, at least.

He still doesn't look that enthusiastic, but it's safe to say he never does.

Comments

IV.

[kantikoy]

[ Adrasteia doesn't approach Gideon to ask for direction. She approaches him with a glass of water, however, and the suggestion that maybe he sit down for a second that somehow doesn't manage to leave her mouth.

So. Just the water, then. ]

How do you think it's going?

[okayimin]

iii

She'll let the smaller kids run off with things, but there is a limit. Large hands sliding out from the bustle of the crowd get a whack. The whack gets progressively meaner if she notices familiar hands.

"You can come with me to gather alms in Hightown, if you're so eager," she says primly to whoever last got a bit too handsy with the donations, "Or at least be more clever about it, if you're pinching from the donations." She's pretty sure some of the smaller children are part of the local gangs, but that's just business.

iv

People show up, sick, hurt and pregnant. Occasionally all three at once, which is harrowing, but Sawbones at least is in her element. She's been doing rounds in Kikrwall for the better part of a year now, these people know her. And she is intimately familiar with the practice of making very little stretch to aid too many.

She's also an insufferable busybody. Voulenteers that seem to be flagging or too wound up will find a cup of hot tea shoved into their hands and shoved towards a chair by a tiny menace of a nun. "You need to sit."

Adrasteia, open to all, will match format

[kantikoy]

→ a. Securitay

[ Adrasteia is not in Warden gear for this; instead she's in just some robes she owns, with her staff tucked up against her spine. When she's not reading she keeps an eye on the food line, gently chastising any soul who cuts in line.

She's small, and an elf, but more people in Lowtown are wary of the staff as to not bother arguing with her. Much.

Feel free to intervene if need be. ]

→ b. Food

Adrasteia orders a seafood dish for their shared meal, and promises it should be good but not too spicy or taste too much of the ocean, if that's a hesitance others have towards sharing food; you don't grow up coastside without gaining an appreciation for seafood, apparently.

"How do you think it went?" She asks the table at large. The children stealing things hadn't been surprising, but she'd managed to (mostly) curtail the behavior after the first few lifted things they wanted from the donations.

→ c. Wildcard

[ Come at me, boos. ]

[fairforce]

i - readings.
Tiffany has a good reading voice--strong, clear, well-projected. She knows the verse by heart, but habit has her keep the Chant open before her, one hand laid across the page to ground herself.

When she's finished her verse, she takes her seat and listens attentively to the readers that follow her. She'd deliberately sat near to the back. It's the better seat for avoiding observance. Still, even a passing glance in her direction will see her occasionally mouthing along to sections of the other verses.

"For you, song-weaver, once more I will try.
To My children venture, carrying wisdom,
If they but listen, I shall return."

If she catches on that she's been caught, she'll flash a self-conscious smile, and a little shrug, and mouth the word, Habit.

After the reading has concluded, she's free with her compliments and her good wishes, thanking anyone who took part in the reading. "I never get tired of hearing that part of the Chant. Every time I hear it, I think I find something new in it."

ii - pancakes.
Pancakes are Tiffany's specialty. Today is the day she proves it to Kirkwall, and to Riftwatch. She is attentive enough that they do not burn, watching for the first sign of tiny bubbles at the edges so that she can flip them with great expertise. A quick slide of the flipper, a gentle twist--the pancake lifts up and flips over with a satisfying plop and sizzle, perfectly blonde and browned on the cooked side.

The demand is high, and she keeps up with it well. Anyone standing idly by is likely to be pressed into service. "Can you get that plate?" as she gestures with her elbow. "This one is nearly done--and I promised it to that woman over there, can you see that she gets it--"

The longer she cooks, the more fancy Tiffany feels like being. The last dozen pancakes she flips with aplomb, eschewing the flipper so that she can toss them in the air right out of the pan. "Watch," she commands, cheerfully, to anyone standing by. Taking the handle of the pan in two hands, she squares up, takes a breath, and flips the pancake up in the air. It goes above her head, and does a graceful tumble back down, end over end. Tiffany leans back--takes a half step--and move the pan at the last minute to catch the pancake.

Pleased with herself, she gives a little cheer. "That's how it's done!"

V - after.
She's communal, so of course she goes to dinner with everyone else. Anyone who seems reluctant to accompany the group can bet that Tiffany will try to coax them into joining.

"It'll only be fun if we're all there. And it's a free meal. You don't get one of those every day of the week. My pancakes were good, but they weren't that good. Please?"

Of course the tavern serves beer. Of course, Tiffany buys a round for everyone. She's generous of spirit.

wildcard!
(Whatever.)