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	[u]Weather[/u]: The weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so delightful. No, you're not having a stroke (probably) and I didn't copy/paste the last update (also probably, it's been a rough week). But it remains true, the weather is indeed frightful. The fire being delightful is a whole other matter. But to basics - It is frightfully cold, in comparison to even the last few days of consistent snow. What might have been, and indeed was, a picturesque winter landscape remains, with fat, quiet flakes of snow drifting downwards with only small, occasional gusts of biting wind. Just not in the direction that draws your attention.  

	[u]Time[/u]: Evening. The sun is firmly set and night has fallen across the landscape. 

	[u]Ambience[/u]: There is indeed fire spotting the field nearest to the Estate House, but don't let that detract from the gentle snow and illuminating moonlight across the moors of southern Avonshire. With that one, tiny detail aside, it's actually rather pleasant outside in a crystal cold sort of way. Thick snow had accumulated over the highs and lows of the Vineyard, supplied quietly by the continuing drop of picture-perfect crystaline flutters of winter precipitation. One's breath practically steams dragonlike in the cold, cold air, when it isn't taken away by the beauty and majesty of the moment. 

	Then you look straight ahead of you. The image, ironically, darkens. 

[center][color=darkgray][h2]*****[/h2][/color][/center] 
[img][/img]

	Nearing the field, one can see that this isn't a horrifying fire out of control, at least not yet. Nor is it one single fire stretching across the landscape. Instead, this is a series of metal braziers and smaller buckets, a couple burn barrels which the laborers would use to warm themselves while working during the cold season, really anything which can be tasked to the purpose of holding a fire within it. These implements appeared to be placed with intent by a slim few number of workers - even less than the skeleton crew that the Rose River Vineyard had for the winter harvest of icewine. The overall atmosphere is tense.

	Lizbeth, running ahead of the group from the Coach House, did slow to a jog as she neared the scene unfolding. Her head jerked from side to side, looking for some sense of order to it all, or at least someone she might ask. The hustle of bodies moving and general din of the occasion make it difficult to pinpoint a single voice, but the young lady's words ring with a shrillness similar to desperation, if not an amazing amount of clarity. It takes a few moments, but she is finally answered by her aunt, whose skirts are gathered up in her hands in front of her to assist in a speedier approach. The first words which were understandable to Kosara and Baronfjord as they approached came from Lizbeth. [color=darkgray]"Aunt Ceecee, this is weeks too early, isn't it?"[/color]

	Cecily looked quite like she was only half put-together. That is to say, a traditional person of the upper classes would say that she was "not dressed to receive" in any appreciable manner. Another, more common person might say that she looked like she rolled out of bead and threw the first thing on which might secure her modesty before bolting out of the door. She also looked winded, not to mention touched by both smoke and frost. The Lady of the Vineyard appeared pleased to see Lizbeth, not mentioning the fact that she was still wearing that armor and carrying her new weapons at all, as more important things were happening. [color=darkgray][i]"The river is freezing, Lizbeth! The hard cold came early, and we haven't harvested a single grape yet!"[/i][/color] She looked behind her niece and spotted the adventurers, trying to explain in elevated tones, [color=darkgray][i]"Honigblume grapes - we need them to freeze in the winter! Kills off the noble rot, makes them sweeter!"[/i][/color] A pause for a breath, [color=darkgray][i]"Deep freeze will ruin them! River, running water. If the river starts to freeze, the entire crop can be lost!"[/i][/color] The explanation was a bit stiff, but Cecily knew what she was talking about even if others didn't. 

	[i]From the more distant point of view of Kathryn and Victoria as they ran down from the watchtower, more could be observed of the field. Specifically, as they got a little closer, the light which obscured those below from a broader view of the area actually assisted the Knight and Bard. They could pick out Cecily, Lizbeth, and their fellow party members meeting just to one side of the main field nearest the Estate House, and were they to move to approach, the two of them would arrive to witness the conversation at about this point.[/i]

	Lizbeth reached out to help steady her aunt and took over explaining as tersely as she might and still pass on relevant information, [color=darkgray]"The river is our indicator. We try to harvest before the deep freeze gets here, but it comes early sometimes. If this happens, we have to set up fires to keep as much of the crop as we can. Otherwise our late season is lost. We have a small staff for the winter harvest, and so many of them can't work because of the sickness spreading in the villages around here. Every hour, more of our crop is lost, and this would take most of night with a full labor pool!"[/color] There appeared to be only a handful for workers, comparatively, committing to a job better suited to a full shift of them. 

	[color=darkgray][i]"Wait, you're adventurers!"[/i][/color] declared Cecily, a twinge of desperation of her own twanging in her speech. [color=darkgray][i]"You all have ...I don't know, [b]things[/b] you can do, right? Can you please help us with this? Even if I'm being foolish, we can use as many young and strong hands on this as we can!"[/i][/color]