Dyani walks over from the Landing Field.

Joslyn walks over from the Western Weyrs.

Foloran walks over from the Western Weyrs.

Dyani bobs a greeting to the various leaders as she enters, a frown of worry marring her usually pleasant expression. She takes a seat near the front and fiddles with the hem of her tunic idly.

Kinoa walks in, looking weary, and leans against one of the walls rather than taking a seat.

A very dripping wet Joslyn, who looks a bit out of sorts, hurries in as fast as her bare feet will accomodate. She tries to be inobtrusive and stuff, hands in her damp pockets as she peeks in, eyes those already present, and then slips passed.

K'laarn has a serious expression on his face. His fingers are clasped in front of him on the table. He gives Joslyn a stern-faced expression of disapproval -- looking her up and down to show her just what it is he disapproves of.

Fashionably late Foloran. He's still straightening out his clothing by the time he walks in the door. He offers a smile to everyone present, and moves to find himself a place to sit, or something.

Telinda nods as people start walking in, waving them to various seats that have been spread around, indicating that the wingleaders should take the seats normally reserved for visiting weyrleaders. She takes one look at Joslyn and hooks her ankle around a chair, dragging it in, not out, and an eyebrow raising slightly.

At Telinda's direction, Kinoa takes a seat, looking a bit unaccustomed to sitting in one so comfortable.

Joslyn can take a hint, so she finds someplace out of the way near the corner to hang out and drip dry. A little sheepish about the whole mess, she nonetheless draws up a quick smile for all and sundry, wringing out her hair to make a little puddle at her feet. Not her fault, for a change.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Tiarnath croons softly << Weyrmeeting. My rider said to remind you. >>

K'laarn waits until noise dies down and everyone has settled. He's sitting stiff in his chair, unlike his normally jovial, easy going self. But then, this is a Weyrmeeting. "I presume you all know why we are here?" He begins, his eyes scanning the room. "The situation with the plants and the failure of our grubs has become dangerous."

Krystalin peers in, and quickly scuttles the rest behind her head. Sneaking over to a corner, she was here the whole time. Not late, nope.

Dyani shifts edgily in her seat, the worried look on her face deepening with each word from the Weyrleader.

Kinoa steeples her fingers in front of her and rests her hands on the table, listening quietly. She nods her head at K'laarn's statement of the problem.

Foloran folds his hands in his lap, and just listens...

K'laarn doesn't seem to take note of Krystalin -- lucky for her and lucky she's not a Wingleader. "I want a report, Kinoa. Tell me the situation as you've seen and heard it." His fingers steeple in a mimicry of Kinoa's.

Nerian, for once, doesn't make any wisecracks.

Joslyn lifts a brow at the Weyrleader's opening remarks, leaning over some to catch sight of the general collection of gardeners and the like. And then she notes the somber expressions everyone seems to have donned, her forehead creased in thought as she turns her attention Kinoa's way.

A'ric leans back from where he sits, saying nothing.

Kinoa sits up in her chair and lays her hands palm-down on the table, since the steepling appears to have drawn attention. "I've spoken to Tarrin several times over the past few sevendays, and what's come clear to me is that the plants all around the weyr haven't been faring well." She pauses and tilts her head to the side, thinking. "At the time, he wasn't yet sure what was causing the problem, perhaps lack of water, or sunlight, or something in the soil." She shrugs. "At any rate, I've had some of my riders out gathering edibles from outside the Weyr area, since there appear to be some places on this side of the continent which aren't affected." Hands go back to their folded position as she finishes.

Raven dashes in, blushing, knowing full well she's late. She swallows and sits down beside Krystalin, pretending she was here all along, holding her flight jacket on her lap. She looks up at listens to Kinoa.

Krystalin is quiet in a shadowy chair, and perks slightly when Tarrin is mentioned. She opens-and closes her mouth. Nothing said.

K'laarn frowns and says "What about sweep areas, Kinoa?" He leans forward over the table, angled toward the greenrider. "What has happened in the areas we cover? How far is this mysterious ailment spread?"

Dyani nods her agreement with Kinoa's report, her full attention rivetted on the discussion of the almost desparate situation.

Tr'bor strides over from the Landing Field.

Telinda leans forward a little, her head tilted to one side as she listens to the Wingleaders report.

K'laarn does scowl at Tr'bor however as the brownrider enters. His look is rife with disapproval at the wingleader's lateness.

See? Joslyn's not the only one who's managed to rub K'laarn the wrong way with her entrance. She has to smirk a little to herself as one person after another filters in late (albeit dry), though she quickly loses the expression in favor of the seriousness of the situation.

Kinoa nods her head. "Sweeps over Southern Hold indicate that the problem seems to have spread there, based on what the Holders have said. But," she rifles through a couple of hides on table in front of her. "The rest of our coverage area seems to be unaffected, so far. Sadrid, Thessaly, have reported no problems and Lady Thessaly expressed a willingness to supplement our losses with tithes, if the need arises." She glances over at Foloran. "So right now, it's just us and the Hold."

Foloran nods at that, making a mental note...

K'laarn nods his head thoughtfully, "Tr'bor, do you concur with Kinoa's reports, or do you have further to add for your sweep areas?"

Tr'bor shrugs. "I haven't seen anything strange in my sweep area." Wow. Profound.

K'laarn eyes Tr'bor with a slight frown and then nods. "And to you, Telinda. What do you have to report from your Wing, Weyrwoman?" He turns to face his weyrmate.

Kinoa leans back in her chair again and continues to listen quietly, the expression on her face one of concern, and perhaps relief she only got one frown from K'laarn.

Foloran didn't get /any/ frowns. But, of course, he didn't come in noticably late, or sopping wet, either.

Joslyn stands over there chewing on her lip for a little while like she wants to say something but - well - after the look she got when she showed up, it's probably better that she just continues biting her lip and being quiet. Probably not important, anyway, knowing Josy.

Telinda brushes a hand through her hair, and clears her throat, "Well, from a wing point of view, we're roughly observing the same patterns of clumping and fall through from the fighting wings as per normal. But" and at this she holds up a finger, "The tale on the ground is another story. The ground crews that have been reporting back to me have indicated a higher than normal rate of burrows, with more crops being subsumed from Thread." She frowns, a look going towards the dripping, or probably by now drying, Joslyn, "We also have a gold about to go on the sands, so whilst we'll attempt to keep up to our normal standards, it is likely, as it always is at this time, that we'll have the odd extra clump going through."

Nerian winces.

Krystalin frowns slightly, and sits tight in her shadowy corner. Great for her, for it's not all that easy to notice her. So, hardly any frowns.

K'laarn nods his head thoughtfully, chin dipping to steepled fingers. Then he lifts his head and looks solemnly around with dark violet eyes skimming across everyone's faces. "As everyone in the Weyr might understand, this affects not only us, but others, and perhaps even the entire Southern Continent if this prediciment spreads. The Southern Weyrs are not as prolific or populated as the Northen Weyrs and we rely upon the grubs assistance as part of our defense. With the seeming failings that might not be only here, we face several problems with difficult solutions, but solutions we do have, for the symptom, but no cure."

Jude strides over from the Landing Field.

Foloran pipes up, suddenly. "Has anyone gone out and taken samples from the soil? Seen if there are /fewer/ grubs than before?" As in, do we know the /actual/ cause?

Krystalin timidly places her hand in the air, with a squeaky, "Can I say something?"

Telinda nods slowly as she answers Foloran, "We have, there are, and the ones around aren't so healthy either. Krystalin, go ahead please."

Dyani raises a brow at the word 'solutions', looking hopeful for the first time tonight. She crosses one leg over the other and leans forward slightly, waiting for the Weyrleader's next words. She turns her attention to the seamstress as she asks to speak.

Krystalin clears her throat, and fumbles with a seam under the table. "Um, well, Tarrin and I were in the garden, and all the grubs were sickly and far between. Ther weren't as many as there should be, he said. And the were all shriveled up." She swallows, and falls silent again.

"So something is affecting the grubs," Dyani murmurs softly, more to herself than anyone nearby. "Like a disease or something." Trust the Weyrhealer to figure that one out.

Kinoa stays quiet, this not being her area of expertise. She remains alert, eyes looking from one person to the next as different ideas are suggested.

Raven frowns at hearing that quietly..

Dying to say something, Joslyn takes a step out of the corner she's chosen for this evening, rubbing her nose and stealing a glance over at Belira and Remarra - sitting with Telinda where they belong. "I've only a word or two contribute," she pipes up with a may-I? look to the Weyrleader.

Telinda sighs, "We've asked for the farmers assistance, and so far they don't seem able to find what's wrong with them. They are still looking into it, and you'll notice more of them around the weyr, digging out samples."

Dyani nods slowly, a thoughtful expression replacing her worried one of earlier. Diseases are something she can handle, though ones in humans would be much more preferrable to ones in little, slimy, earth-dwelling critters.

Foloran's question has now been adequately answered. So, with a bit of a nod, he settles back into his chair again to listen.

K'laarn nods his head in agreement with Telinda's information. "Well, until," he begins, then pauses, glancing over at Joslyn, "What do you have to say?"

Joslyn clears her throat, and begins easily, "I was speaking to Tarrin several weeks ago and he'd mentioned the wilting plants. At the time, I didn't think much of it. In light of this situation, however, I've come to the conclusion that this problem has existed for some time and is only getting progressively worse." Breath. "While Jeuneth and I cannot fly with our wing presently, we can offer our assistance to the farmers around the Weyr, and I'm more than willing to help them coordinate volunteers for collecting and testing samples or what-have-you. If there are volunteers, that is." And not a single dropped vowel, just for Telinda.

Kinoa blinks several times at that speech from Josy - the weyrwoman - and then smiles. She nods her head up and down. "I'm sure there will be volunteers," she murmurs.

Krystalin again, slowly raises her hand. "I wouldn't mind helping..." Makes you wonder what her reason for volunteering is.

Telinda flickers a grin over her shoulder at her junior, "How well do you remember how to ride a runner?" she asks, and then glances over to Krystalin, "We're all going to have to help, I believe."

A'ric asks quietly, "Woul' it work t' transplant more grubs from elsewhere?"

Jude clears his throat. "Excuse me, is this grub problem limited to the Southern Hold and Weyr area or is it continent-wide?"

Dyani nods yet again, this time in response to Joslyn's words. "And I as well," she offers. "Faranth only knows we're going to be out of a few herbs soon if this keeps up for much longer."

K'laarn smiles faintly at the helpful hands arching up into the air. "Well, this is a nice thing to hear, that our Weyr's folk band together." He nods his head approvingly, "And as I was saying, we have no cure, no solution to the problem as of yet, but we still need to treat the symptoms." He looks at everyone once more, "This is going to require a lot out of everyone in the Weyr. " He stresses, "Everyone is going to be imortant, every rider, every resident, every crafter that abides here."

Joslyn holds her fingers up barely apart and replies, "A little." She cringes a little at the thought of it, but she's volunteered and there's not taking that back. Stepping back to her corner, she concludes, "But I'll try." Even if her backside suffers endlessly for it.

And every Steward, right? Foloran's hand is one of the many that raises into the air to volunteer.

Lilith strides over from the Western Weyrs.

Jude clears his throat. "Excuse me, but I really think this is important. You might compound the problem if you don't think about this point, which I'll explain later when my question is answered. Is the grub problem limited to the Southern Hold and Weyr area or is it continent-wide?"

Kinoa raises her eyebrows at Jude. And checks for his knot. "As I said earlier, in the meeting, for those who were here on time, it's currently limited to the Weyr and the Hold."

Lilith walks into the council room and takes a seat in the back. She tries to be quiet, but fails to as her seat scraps on the floor. She clears her throat and settles down to listen.

Jude nods. "Thank you. It's like this. Since the sick grubs ARE limited to Southern. Then there must be something in SOuthern and in Souther alone which is afecting the grubs. So if you are to permissive in sending people or dragons to and fro the other Holds on the continent, might not the contagion spread?"

K'laarn turns his attention upon Jude and stares at him for several solemn moments. Quiet and slowly growwing the furrow of a frown on his brow. "Ah yes, your question." He taps his fingers on his chin, "Were you not paying attention? That question was answered already." He gestures at Kinoa, Tr'bor and Telinda, "I do believe."

Joslyn narrows her eyes some to eye this person who's interrupting the meeting, brows knit just slightly to study the boy. She asks, rather abruptly though typical considering the source, "Who're you?" She points right at the boy, regardless of just how out of place the demand of a query is.

Foloran's now growing rather annoyed with Jude's brash attitude. But since he's saying something useful, Foloran doesn't.. Oh wait. Joslyn did it. There we go. Never mind.

Dyani's frown returns as this stranger comes in and practically takes over the Weyrmeeting. She clears her throat in what is obviously a mocking of his own attention getting throat noises before, preparing to say something to him, but Josy beats her to it.

Kinoa says, flippantly, "Perhaps we ought to let Thread devour the continent, rather than risk spreading the grub problem."

Nerian ponders Jude in much the same way she does Telinda or K'laarn just before she starts heckling.

Jude shurgs. "Well, just because a question has been answered once doesn't mean it can't be asked again. Besides, I don't think I was present when it /was/ first addressed. But that's beside the point. So, mightn't this sickness be transmitted on foot and by dragonwing throughout the continent if we don't take necessary precautions?"

Krystalin blinks over to Jude. She smiles slightly, but it quickly wipes off as others pounce.

K'laarn says very slowly, "So lets go over it again, for the benefit of those who were not paying attention." He says dismissively, "The problem so far is contained at the Weyr and at Southern Hold, though everywhere else has been untouched thusfar. We are not sure what the problem is, it is being looked into, until then," He says, voice resonant, "we must fulfill our duty and protect the area's we cover. I doubt that our flying above the ground and flaming the Thread from the sky and doing only our duty, will spread it further -- if it was going to happen, the damage of contaigon has already occured." he points out. "And if there is no solution ultimately, it will matter very little, as I'm certainly sure that it will go beyond the Weyr and Hold eventually. If we're not there in the skys, flaming Thread, that will worry people a lot more than missing grubs."

Jude says "The Northern continent is not grub-rich but it gets by. Maybe we should ride out their sickness in this area, in order to spare the grubs in other areas.""

Telinda peers at Jude, obviously never happy he's around, but still, she's not going to let a pip squeak shove her around in her weyr. "So, do you suggest we get the dragons to put their feet in a bucket before going to fly fall? Don't be silly man, *between* will kill anything if we're there long enough!"

K'laarn frowns at Jude, "I thank you so kindly." He begins, voice dry and humourless, "For your comments, but I have the distinct feeling that I know a lot more about how to Fly thread, than you do. Please, do refrain from giving me your plan of attacks. I've already formed some, and I'm sure they will be more than adequate."

Lilith scratches her head as she folds one leg over the other and listens. Her eyes rest on each speaker and she nods where appropriate.

Kinoa mutters, "We?" to herself but keeps her hands at her sides rather than around the neck of the visitor. "K'laarn, you were saying," she says, -politely-, to the Weyrleader.

Nerian mutters something about any given northern Weyr having half again as many riders anyway, but doesn't actually say anything aloud.

Jude looks very grave. "Do not underestimate diseases, my dear Weyrwoman. If Thread survives the journey from the red star. So can microscopic life survive between. And yes dipping our dragon's feet in a bucket of liquid used to prevent disease spread Is a good idea. You flatter yourself."

Jude says "I'm sorry, a correction. /Your/ dragons' feet."

K'laarn adds, "The day you've got 20 turns experience of Threadfighting, you can comment, until then," He says idily, "I thank you not to interupt." He glowers severely at Jude. "We are not dipping the dragons feet in water, I doubt it'd do any good anyhow, besides which, ways to keep the contaigon from spreading via dragons has already been discussed." He says loftily, "With several Healers and Farmers, its too late to do anything about it now, but even sure, we're not sure that its a disease, or something else."

Joslyn folds her arms over her chest, frowning at this boy who's ignored her question and thus earned a place in the Josy-doesn't-like-you realm. The frown stays, only getting worse as he insists on speaking out of turn, her feet shuffling to bring her in his general direction. "You're out of turn, whoever you are. And I suggest you stay quiet lest you're physically removed from this meeting," she intones, a little on the down-low so as not to attract anymore undue attention.

Dyani snorts... Just plain snorts at Jude's words. "Gee, did you come here on your lifemate, to know so much about what survives *between*?" She peers around mockingly, as if expecting to see a dragon taking up space here in the council room.

Lilith turns to look at Jude and says softly, "My dear Sir, the grub problem would have been clear to the vineyards by now if the dragon's feet carried infection. If infection is what it is."

Oh that did it! Telinda stands and storms over to their erstwhile visitor, hands on her hips, "Alright, mister wise ass! If you know so fardlin' much," yes, Josy, dropped pronouns, "Tell me how you to propose to get a foot, the smallest of which is twice the size of your o-so-obviously-overenlarged-ego into a bucket? And -do- tell me how you know so much about flying, when it's shardin' obvious that you cannot possibly know anything by the mere stupidity of your earlier words!"

Kinoa has to pause to physically close her mouth, which has dropped open at Telinda's outburst. "Oh, shells," she says.

Krystalin stays ever attentive...

Joslyn steps back, real quick-like. "I was afraid of that," is mumbled as she gives the Weyrwoman plenty of room for her tirade. Let no one say she didn't try, even as she scuffles back to her corner where it's safe. "Shardshardshardshards," all the way there.

K'laarn stands as well, reaching out a gentle, yet quelling touch, "Weyrwoman," He starts, "He's not worth the time, and our time should be spent discussing what it is we'll be doing to conteract the threats."

Nerian is watching with a smirk -- it's not her in trouble, for a change.

Telinda narrows her eyes to mere midnight dark slats of blue, watching Jude for a moment, before she tosses back her head and laughs, turning back to K'laarn, and retaking her seat. "Well, Tia just showed me what she thought of the bucket idea."

Shasta walks over from the Landing Field.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Tiarnath offers the vision for entertainment. It's Jude's head in a bucket of redwort and numbweed -- going by the red and cream colours, and the lad is obviously spluttering.

Kinoa, despite the seriousness of the subject matter, begins to giggle quietly, her shoulder shaking. She coughs once, then twice, then sits up straight, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to look as dignified as the chair she's sitting in.

Dyani chuckles at the Weyrwoman's comment on her gold's opinion of sticking one of her feet in a container, then glances back at Jude to see if he's brave enough to muster some sort of response.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Rnayth apparently enjoys that image, because he's picturing Jude, that annoying boy, all red from head to foot from Redwort and his clothes soaked and stinking like a midden.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Tiarnath adds some mud, well, just because mud is so lovely!

Jude smiles unfazed. "Since I have obviously managed to make myself quite effective at being a nuisance. I sort of decided to try to make effective at something else. Being useful perhaps? Or, providing you people with the perspective of someone from a grub-less continent? Or maybe even acting as a tangible focus for your bottled-up frustrations so that at least for the moment, you might find it easier to manage in clearing your minds and thinking lucidly. Nothing is more effective in channeling agression than a punching bag. And today, I seem to be "It."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Luiseth's eyes open sleepily and she snorts at the mental image she's awakened with. << That looks very messy. >> A pause. << Kinoa likes it very much. >>

Jude crosses his arms calmly. "It's perfectly alright. I don't mind in the least.

K'laarn lets out a soft sigh and gazes at Jude, "Could you keep your opinions to yourself? And, trust the fact that maybe, just maybe, I'm a smart enough rider, an experienced enough rider, to have already consulted with several Northern Weyrleaders and Wingleaders." He says solemnly.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Muinyth's thoughts are tangible, though no word-images join the general humour that swirls through his mind. Mostly, it's just a low chuckle.

Telinda curves an eyebrow upwards, "Are you offering?" she asks, her hand curling into a fist, though she is at present, sat down.

Dyani can't help herself. She claps for Jude's answer. Of course, it's a nice, slow clap, as mocking and degrading as her snort from before. "Should have been a Harper, with that glib tongue," she murmurs to the person next to her.

K'laarn glances around "Thats not to say that opinions aren't welcome, but not when they cut across what we're talking about and detract from the subject we're currently going on about. Frankly, your comments were only disruptful, not helpful."

Lilith scratches her head again. She rubs her nose and tugs at a skin she has around her waist and opens it before raising it to her lips. She gulps down the liquid then lowers the skin and recaps it. Using the back of her hand, she wipes the excess from her lips.

Jude looksat Dyani pointedly. "You;d be surprised."

Kinoa waves her hand in Jude's direction. "Just...sit down," she suggests. "We were trying to have a meeting."

Nerian can't help it, she's burst into a fit of giggles. She murmurs something to Dyani.

Lilith raises her hand.

Dyani rolls her eyes. "I doubt it. But why don't you just shut up and let our good Weyrleader and Weyrwoman finish the discussion. Then maybe when and if they call for question or helpful suggestions, you can once again open that big mouth of yours and put not only your foot, but maybe one of their lifemate's feet in it as well." That said, she crosses her arms over her chest and leans back in her seat, returning her attention to the leaders and ignoring the young man.

Jude sighs. "Well, for the moment I am content that the point /has/ been raised. And the idea planted in your minds. One last clarification, I never said anything about using a bucket, I believe Lady Telinda first used the term. What I proposed was a bit more care before dragons touch down on the soil of ohter areas on the continent."

K'laarn waves a hand and says "Jude, after I had finished would of been a better time to inquire and make your observations if you felt I'd missed anything, but I had hardly finished." Then he frowns and notes "There's not much more care we can give, than we already are doing."

Marila walks over from the Landing Field.

Joslyn snorts, the sound highly reminiscent of gusty air being blown from a certain grumpy queen's nostrils. She sends a look-thingy to the Weyrleaders, shaking her head as she skirts the room toward the doorway, again attempting to stay out of everyone's way and only stepping on a few toes. Her Grace beckons, no doubt.

Joslyn walks toward the Landing Field.

K'laarn gazes at Jude and says "May I finish now?"

Marila slinks in silently. Or tries to. she hops onto a seat and looks as if she's been there the whole time. Yeah right.

Jude holds up his palms. "You were never prevented from concluding."

Lilith lowers her hand and folds it in her lap. She waits and listens.

Shasta had snuck in, not too far ahead of her sibling. Though, instead of taking a seat, the Weyrsecond prowls the back of the council room, looking quite concerned.

K'laarn smiles ever so faintly, "Thank you for your comments, I will admit that they closely echoed some of the things we have previously discussed before bringing this to a meeting."

Jude nods. "Your gratitude is appreciated."

Kinoa rolls her eyes

Dyani shakes her head in amusement at the persistance of this annoying young man, but this time holds her tongue, likely not wanting to disturb the meeting any more than it already has been.

Raven just hides her face with one hand, trying not to laugh...

K'laarn nods and says "Now that, hopefully, everyone's calmed their tempers?" He glances around idily, "Where was I?" He furrows his brow, the distraction having disturbed his train of thought. "Ah yes. We'll have to change our flight tactics, as well as the way we sweep and the ground crews will be altering their methods as well. We'll have to put more wings in the air at one time, with a thicker concentration. This means that we're not going to get as many days off between a Fall and a break." He notes, "We're also going to need more ground crews, but Telinda can explain what she wants to do with those -- riders, you and I will be going through drills that will be designed to train us for the different attacks to modify ourselves after the Northern Continent's fighting Methods."

Kinoa leans forward and listens intently, occasionally making notes on her hide.

Lilith geniunely begins to look puzzled before asking, "Is there anything that we at Vintners can do to help?"

K'laarn says jestingly "Provide us with ample wine."

Jude appears to be ready to burst with another grand suggestion.

Lilith chuckles as she bobs her head in agreement.

Telinda looks askew at K'laarn, "Don't laugh, if predictions hold true, then we might need the wine to dose fallen riders!"

K'laarn this time says "Jude, if its about the ground crews, please let Telinda go on about them. Keep your comments til the end and we'll call on everyone for their opinions."

Shasta snorts, softly, from her place towards the rear of the gathering. Raising her voice, she adds, "And he's right. We'll need wine in larger quantities, as there'll be..." The brownrider cuts herself off, as Telinda spoke more quickly.

Jude says "Actually it's about what the Vintners can do."

Dyani grimaces faintly as the Weyrleader outlines his literal plan of attack. "Which will likely mean more injuries, which will use up our herbs even more quickly." She sighs and pulls a scrap of hide from her beltpouch, along with a stylus, then jots something down on the former.

Telinda grimaces and nods to Dyani, "How are the Numbweed stocks doing? We need more, or are we alright for awhile?"

Marila wraps her arms about her legs as she listens.

Lilith stands up and clears her throat before speaking, her voice strong with a melodic timbre says, "Also...has anyone thought of the nutrients in the soil around the Weyr and Hold. Sometimes the soil needs assistance." She looks towards the weyrleadership and adds, "We can send you some enzymes and mulch and fertilizer from Vintners...to test and see if it works if you wish.."

Dyani screws up her face in another sour look at the Weyrwoman's question. "They'll last for a while, but with extra injuries, we'll be out quicker than we can replace it, I'm afraid. May have to see if Honshu or one of the unaffected Holds has extra they can supply us with."

Lilith sits back down.

Telinda nods slowly to Dyani, "That, or we'll just plonk all the candidates down on numbweed plain for the first sevenday and get our stocks overflowing."

Kinoa wrinkles up her nose at the thought of more numbweed brewing around the weyr, then sighs.

"If the plain itself isn't affected," Dyani agrees dryly. "Has anyone checked that far?" She glances around, possibly looking for the hands of any riders who've been down there.

Kinoa shakes her head. "Numbweed plain is doing just fine, from what we've seen," she offers. "There's...plenty of 'weed." She sits back in her chair again.

K'laarn chuckles suddenly and smiles at Jude's exuberence.

Telinda wrinkles her nose along with Kinoa, "Can I prevail on the healers to supervise a team on the plain if we provide ample transport, Dyani?"

Dyani relaxes and gives Kinoa's news a nod of thanks. "One less worry then," she comments, then nods to Telinda. "Aye, though I can't speak for Craftmaster Kalina, I'm pretty certain the Healer Hall will be more than willing to assist us. After all, their gardens are likely doing as bad as our own."

Jude looks at K'laarn quite seriously and shakes his head, signifying that he is mistaken regarding what he thinks Jude implies.

A drudge creeps into the room and looks around for a moment before heading towards the Weyrhealer's seat. A quiet sentence or two later, Dyani gets up and strides out of the room, her frown having returned.

Dyani strides over to the Landing Field.

Telinda turns back to K'laarn, "Well, that's extra injuries taken care of. I'll make sure every person staying at the weyr can use a flamethrower, we'll need extra ground crews!"

K'laarn nods and says "Definitely extra crews and more throughough patrols. I'm sure there might be a burrow or two we'll miss if the grubs continue to get worse."

Lilith listens to this weyr talk with interest. She says, "If I am still at the weyr, I would be glad to assist you in groundcrewing."

K'laarn finally says "Well, I suppose this does it, now comes the time for opinions and comments." He looks over everyone expectantly.

Lilith raises her hand.

Jude sighs, ever grateful for the token amount of democracy.

Shasta speaks up again, still standing behind the listening crowd of riders and weyrfolk. "I'll schedule increased patrols for Firedance, and a review of techniques as well." Her head nods, towards the wingleaders about the council room. "I'm sure other wings will do the same?"

Kinoa nods at Shasta. "Indeed we will," she affirms.

Marila tucks a curl behind her ear as she listens.

Jude raises an eyebrow. "Now, may I speak without immediately incurring the wrath of anybody in particular?"

K'laarn gives Jude a stern look and says loftily, "You may."

Jude appears quite relieved. "Well then, regarding the Vintner's query about what else they could do. Their particular skill might come in very handy this time. What if, they concoct a brew, with a very high alcohol content, high enough to ensure a thorough disinfection of whatever is dipped into it or washed with it."

You whisper "How about they brew it and I tip it over his head!" to K'laarn.

Jude nods, continuing. "The thing is, dragons more often land on the shoreline, on the beaches...

K'laarn eyes Jude curiously and then suggests, "Wouldn't redwort solution be easier and more practical?" His fingers steeple once more. "Why waste good wine on washing when drinking is uch more enjoyable."

Jude says "Or on the relatively lifeless packed floors of a Weyr."

Jude says "Whereas grubs thrive in the rich, loamy soil of the farmlands or jungle."

Jude says "Which might explain why the contagion might not have spread yet to other areas."

Kinoa is mostly quiet, continuing to make notes to herself on her hides, muttering about formations, and schedules, etc.

Jude looks at K'laarn as he responds to the Weyrleader's last comment. "The concoction I propose that the vintners can brew would not make very good wine at all. It would be more useful as a poison and abrasive actually."

Lilith ponders aloud to Jude, "For the grubs to get sick...so many, means that whatever ails them took time and didn't happen overnight. I still hold that if it were cantagion, it would have spread and feels strongly that we should look to the soil, their food, for the problem."

K'laarn frowns and repeats "So why not do something simpler with the Redwort?" He shakes his head " Then he glances at Lilith thoughtfully, "I hope you suggest that to the farmers, because no one of them have mentioned that possibility, yet." He grins wryly.

Jude says "As I was saying, once the contagion, or whatever problem it is, breaches the sand-loam barrier, there is a marked possibilty of spread. The point of my argument is that dragonriders should be cautios and mindful of this before they set foot on /soil/.""

Lilith nods to the weyrleader and says, "I will do so."

Kinoa glances up. "But we already have redwort aplenty, and it's more easily available, and would require less technique modification than your," she waves her stylus dismissively, "wine idea. Besides, I think you're seeing a problem where it doesn't exist, and we have quite enough problems that I'd rather stick to the ones we know than the ones we merely imagine."

Kinoa quietly returns to her hidework.

K'laarn nods, his agreement obviously with his wingleader, "Good point Kinoa." Then he glances at Jude, "We are already following this belated advice of yorus Jude, and will continue to do so. Its a good idea of course, which is why we're doing it, but it seems a late idea, since we didn't realize it was happening until to late."

Jude says "Exactly vintner, disease /is/ something which takes time and doesn't happen overnight. Hence, the need for precautions. As a footnote, we might need to apply the same precautions to travellers who come via the sea as well."

K'laarn sighs at Jude and says "Might as well create an embargo."

Jude swallows visibly as he realizes what he has just said.. "Travellers, like myself."

Jude shakes his head in disagreement. "I am not proposing an embargo, I am merely raising the idea of a systematic, regular disinfection of possible routes of contamination. Via foot, claw, and wheel."

Telinda crosses her arms and stares at Jude. "Alright. You don't wear a knot, so who are you? Until -I- get some reassurance that you know anything..." her words trail off and she smirks, "Travellers! You just made me think! Well, mystery-guy, you just got yourself confined to the weyr. If dragonriders can pass this so-called contagion you dreamt up, so can you. So, starting tomorrow you'll be placed on a work team, and at dawn tomorrow you're on ground crew duty!"

Kinoa mutters to herself, "Like to see...tell Luiseth...feet...redwort." She makes another checkmark on the hide, glancing up to smile at K'laarn's approval.

Marila chuckles a touch.

K'laarn shakes his head and says "What your suggesting will be impossible to regulate. The Weyr nor the Holds regulate travelers, peope travel on their own without our permission. And disinfecting wheels and hooves and what have you of all the wagons and animals and people of Southern Continent is just.." He waves, "Impossible in that kind of magnitude." He looks at Jude. "Especially considering we don't regulate people who travel, nor do we have the authority to do so." He notes.

Kinoa smiles sweetly at the stranger. "If we could, we would," she says pointedly.

K'laarn shrugs "We can only regulate those that come to the Weyr, and Holds, those that come to their Holds. "

Tr'bor strides over to the Landing Field.

Jude's gaze lays intently on the Weyrwoman. "I believe that your outburst regarding /my/ fate is borne more from a personal desire rather than any legitimate cause. I owe nothing to this Weyr, I have not depended on a single one of your resources nor do I need to. I have been succesful in fulfilling my wish to live as a ghost on this continent, and I have no plans to alter my preferences."

Jude's attention returns to the Weyrleader. "Not the entire continent, just this particular hold."

Telinda glares at Jude, "Alright. I want him out, and I want it done soon!" she says, crossing her arms over her chest, "I will not have dissidents here. Not now, not ever."

Kinoa stares at Jude, confused. "Then, um, why are you so intent on 'helping' us?" she wonders. "I mean, that's not a very ghostly thing to do, barge into a meeting and start forcing your suggestions onto people."

Jude nods. "I have made myself heard, and been relatively useful. More than enough for me for a single day. My apologies and my gratitude. Good day." He bows deeply and solemnly.

Jude walks toward the Landing Field.

K'laarn frowns at Telinda and then sighs, looking at Jude whom, he seems to have (without really seeming to want to, have gotten to like this guy -- at least, he doesn't seem nearly as hostile as others. "We thank you, or at least I do." He replies solemnly to Jude's comment.

Nerian looks at Kinoa beseechingly. "Can Tinneth dump him in the lake? Please?"

Kinoa looks back at Nerian, sore tempted. "Well..." she says, then glances at K'laarn, who for some odd reason is sympathetic. "Not right now," she tells the bluerider, genuinely sorry about it.

K'laarn looks around at everyone, "He wasn't that bad folks. I think he just had an honest concern. The way he went about voicing his concerns however -- I don't know about any of you," He smiles a little, then laughs, "Made me feel as if I'd done nothing nor taken any precautions for the troubles we're having, rather like I was foolish and idiotic, which might of been why we were all offended. But, none of you can deny that his comments touched a chord somewhere, and that many of his words echoed things we'd discussed or thought."

Lilith looks around the meeting, "Well, infection and disinfection is one way to look at the problem..."

Nerian just gives her famous "aw, darn" look.

Shasta mutters under her breath, frowning. "Was his entire demeanor, that had me grinding my teeth." Those nearest her might hear.

Telinda wrinkles her nose at K'laarn, "I don't believe you just said that!"

K'laarn says "If we're all finished though, I'd like to release the meeting. I'm sure many of you are tired or hungry. We can continue at another time when we know more and have seen where things have gone with the changes we'll be making, and when we find out what the Farmers have discovered." He glances at his Weyrmate, "I did say it Weyrwoman, and I ment it. He just needs to learn tact."

Nerian says "The day Tinneth decides that good behaviour is a virtue worth having."

Telinda snorts at K'laarn, "Well, then, you know where you can sleep tonight!" and with that she scrapes her chair back and wanders out.