Long term Planning

Writers: Miriah, Jane
Date Posted: 24th June 2015

Characters: Vestian, Azyn
Description: Azyn and Vestian make plans for Turns End and the Hall's future.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 3 of Turn 7

Vestian

The knock on the door distracted Vestian from the plans currently on his
desk.
It took a moment for him to remember than he had called for his Hallsecond
about
the very plans he was considering. "Come in, come in." He waved his hand at
the
door.

"You wanted to see me, Hallmaster?" Azyn said, as he entered the other man's
office. Whatever the harper artist wanted to see him about seemed to have
him
in a good mood so perhaps there wasn't any crisis in the Hall that he had
failed
to notice.

"Come in, come in." He waved at Azyn and gestured to the chair as he smiled.
"I'll need your help with a few things, Azyn." He handed the man a stack of
hides and quickly poured two glasses of wine. "First, I've received a
commission
for a few songs from the Weyr and need one of our better songwriters to
complete
it. Secondly, the plans for Turns End have to be finalized, which include a
masked ball. " He waved at the hides and continued, moving back to his seat
and
handing Azyn one of the glasses. "Finally, are long term plans."

Azyn tried not to wince at the thought of having to select which was 'one of
the
better songwriters' among the harpers, but the other two subjects seemed
less
likely to be controversial. "Perhaps we could ask for submissions for the
commissioned songs and choose among them?" he suggested hopefully. Even
with
consultation with the applicable masters there was bound to be biases and
politics to manage before the right person could be assigned the job.

Vestian's brows rose. "That is quite a good idea. We should speak to
Eilomar
about that and bring him in to the planning as well. He knows the singers
and
composers far better than I." Vestian quickly jotted it down. "Now, I had a
masked ball in mind during Turn Over and as it is just around the corner,
plans
need to be made as soon as possible to make this a memorable event." He
leaned
back. "I was also considering taking more women into the Printer and
Harperhall." He waved a hand idly, "I know that some Lord Holders may be
opposed, but we need greater numbers and ideas to flourish. We can make this
Turns End event more open...give small tours to the Hall."

"The tours sound like a good idea. Perhaps show the set up of the separate
dormitories and washing facilities so the holders can see that their
daughters
wouldn't be all jumbled in with the boys and men."

Nodding in approval, Vestian refilled both of their cups. "Long term,
I have plans in the making for a gallery of sorts. Not just paintings,
but all works of art." He took a sip. "And a building to house our
physical history. To reveal the past so we don't forget it. "

That appealed to Azyn, though he wasn't sure what the physical history
of printing might look like. Should he be sending out requests for
the oldest of equipment? There was nothing particularly old at their
current Hall - what there had been had been lost at the destruction of
Topaz SeaHold and during the fire at the Harper Hall. He tried not to
think that the Printer Hall seemed to attract bad luck. "Should we
write a short history in the meantime? I could give it to some of the
journey-ranked printers as a project, for our history and perhaps some
of the harpers for yours."

"That is an excellent idea." Vestian agreed. "I want to be able to
preserve our history and the Southern Continent's history. While oral
traditions and ballads are excellent methods, sometimes people need to
see something concrete." He stroked at his goatee. "And perhaps we can
display some of your printers' works. I think it will bring in
commissions." He frowned and considered the plan. "We may need an
entirely new building to house our displays, and staff to run them and
keep them up to date. This is a large project, Azyn and not one that
will completed in just a few months. Are you feeling up to the task?"

"Certainly." The master printer would hardly have said anything else.
"But has the Hall the finances to build another building so soon after
completing this one - or could we rent something from Lord Corowal?"

"The Hall doesn't need to be beholden any further to Lord Corowal."
Vestian mused. "We have the finances if we don't rush the matter. A
whole other building is long in the future. I am thinking that we can
start with our entrance hall. We can expand it enough to house a small
gallery and historical items."

Azyn nodded. "Would you like me to come up with some plans for you to
review?" It was the role of a Hallsecond, after all.

Vestian nodded. "Yes, I would. If this goes well, it could bring in
more work for the Hall and more apprentices. I rather enjoy that idea."

"It would be good for the Hall, and both crafts," the master printer agreed.

"I'd like the plans drawn up as soon as possible, Azyn." Vestian took a sip
of
his drink. "Now about the ball. I do expect you to be there, of course, and
your
family."

"Of course, but you needn't have worried about the family. Keeping Ryell
away
would have been more of a problem."

Chuckling, Vestian nodded. "Well, I hope she enjoys herself. " He
shifted the hides on his desk. "And you as well. It should be amusing
with all the guests that I've asked to come."

Azyn thought it would be busy, as well, if the Hallmaster had invited
as many as his tone suggested. Nevertheless the Hallsecond was
looking forward to meeting those the Hallmaster identified as useful
attendees at such an event. "I'm sure most will come," he assured the
harper artist. "Harper Hall events are generally pretty well
regarded."

Inclining his head, Vestian agreed. "True. I will be glad to have your
help with this matter."

Last updated on the July 8th 2015

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Long term Planning