Turn 002 · Ternhaven — Result

Embassy to the Stream Ford and High Barley

Del and Seli returned safely along the alder path with their two companions, reporting that their embassy to the stream ford succeeded in opening formal, peaceful contact with the upland people.

Upon reaching the ford at the meadow's edge, the party observed a stone boundary cairn marked with a woven willow ring. Before attempting to cross, they were hailed across the water by a ford watcher named Jun. Shortly thereafter, the upland leader and elders came down to the stream to meet them.

Del presented the gift basket of Ternhaven’s smoked fish and sea-salt, which the upland hosts accepted courteously. Del set forth Ternhaven’s hospitality customs—shelter and a shared hearth meal on the first night, followed by reciprocal labor or peaceful departure with travel rations—and opened discussions regarding future barter between coast and upland. The upland community, identified as High Barley, affirmed peaceful relations across the stream. However, their elders kept the entire council strictly at the water boundary, neither crossing to the eastern bank nor inviting Ternhaven's delegation past the ford.

Stores, Hearth, and Runoff Defenses

Back at the landing, Ves and Wen acted ahead of the driving mid-autumn rains to protect the settlement's food and water:

Clearing the Upper Ledge: Work crews stripped all dried split fish and sliced roots from the exposed racks on the upper ledge, carrying them safely into the landing hall before rot could set in.
Indoor Curing and Dunnage: Preserving continues over the central landing hearth, filling the hall rafters with smoke. Ves oversaw the stacking of root bundles and sacks of meal onto raised split-timber dunnage, keeping stores off the damp ground and away from the outer walls.
Wellhead Protection: Wen supervised the digging of shallow diversion ditches uphill from the fresh-water wellhead. These channels successfully diverted autumn mud and hillside runoff away from the settlement's primary drinking source.

Inlet Fishery and Indoor Craft

With rain and autumn swells battering the coast, Ruan and Kiri prioritized craft safety:

Sheltered Catches: Ruan strictly confined all boat operations to the calm water of the inner hooked inlet. Whenever winds rose and heavy swells pushed against the shore, both fishing craft were hauled above the storm tide line onto the inner beach.
Mooring Inspection: During slack tides, Kiri inspected the re-rigged outer mooring to confirm the line remained clear of underwater snags and was holding soundly.
Hall Labor: On days when rough seas and squalls made fishing impossible, Ruan’s crews moved inside the landing hall, twisting fresh cordage from stored bast fiber and repairing torn net meshes around the hearth.

Immediate Pressures and Open Questions

The High Barley Boundary: While High Barley received the gift courteously and agreed to peace, their insistence on keeping the meeting at the stream ford leaves the exact terms, frequency, and safety of future trade to be determined.
Late-Autumn Weather: Mid-autumn rains have driven drying and craft work entirely indoors. With late-autumn winds approaching and winter frosts ahead, fuel, smoke ventilation, and indoor store conditions will require constant vigilance.
Maritime Limits: Ternhaven's boats remain preserved and effective within the sheltered hook, but navigation beyond the bar remains untested and dangerous during rough ebb tides.