# Stonecross Directive — Early Spring, Year 1
**From:** Roadwarden of Stonecross  
**To:** The People of Stonecross, Council, and Officers  

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### I. Infrastructure & Safety: Retaining Wall Stabilization

The shifted retaining wall above our primary road poses an immediate risk under early spring rains. If the wall fails, our road link to the valley and the Measure House will be severed, stranding our exchange capacity. However, we cannot burn out our few oxen hauling massive loads of stone all month.

1. **Phase 1 Shoring & Drainage (Immediate):**  
   - **Una (Road Forewoman):** Direct an immediate inspection of the slope. Before hauling heavy new stone, relieve hydrostatic pressure behind the wall by clearing or cutting drainage channels/weep paths to divert water away from the failure plane.  
   - Utilize locally felled timber and existing spoil for temporary shoring and cribbing to brace the shifting section against further creep.
2. **Oxen Utilization & Transport:**  
   - **Vann (Ox Keeper):** Work directly with Una to schedule strict rotational hauling. Oxen are to be used only for essential stone moves that cannot be handled by hand-barrows or sledges, ensuring animals are well-fed, dry, and never worked to exhaustion. Stagger hauling days to maintain an ox reserve in case emergency road clearing or transport is required.
3. **Roadside Shelter Assessment:**  
   - Inspect the repairable roadside shelter along our route. Assign light carpentry and clearing tasks—requiring hand labor rather than draft animals—to ready the shelter. It will be vital for hosting traveling exchange witnesses and sheltering our own team in months ahead.

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### II. Measure House & Reference Weight Preparations

The annual public reweighing is set for Month 3, with preparation (receipt copying and seal verification) beginning in Month 2. Stonecross must arrive with impeccable credibility, flawless custody, and inspectable documentation.

1. **Internal Custody Inspection:**  
   - Meet with **Ressa (Reference Custodian)** and **Tovin (Stoneworker)** in private. Jointly inspect the locked dry chest holding our independent reference stone. Verify that the cord and seal placed during last year's reweighing remain fully intact, undamaged, and untampered with.  
   - Document the state of the seal in Stonecross's record book, countersigned by Ressa, Tovin, and myself. The chest remains locked and guarded in its dry quarters; it will not be moved until Month 3.
2. **Receipt Audit & Community Records:**  
   - **Willa (Exchange Witness):** Gather all tallies, receipts, and exchange chits from Stonecross’s transactions at the Measure House over the past year. Assemble a clear, organized ledger of our deposits, withdrawals, and balances to prepare for the Month 2 copy exchange with Sella. Identify any ambiguous or disputed tallies now.
3. **External Communication:**  
   - Dispatch a routine, courteous messenger to **Belen**, **Oren**, and **Sella** at the Measure House:
     - Inform Belen that Stonecross intends to send formal witnesses and our receipt copies for the Month 2 preparation process, and that we will bring our preserved reference stone and witnesses for the Month 3 public reweighing.
     - Inquire gently whether Belen or Sella have specific scheduling preferences or preparatory notices for the clan delegations. Keep tone cooperative, orderly, and standard.

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### III. Community Routine & Provisions

- While oxen are dedicated to prioritized wall stabilization, all non-draft spring agricultural prep (clearing terraces, ditch maintenance, garden planting) should proceed on foot.
- Maintain routine watches along the upland road, monitoring both slope movement and any early travelers arriving from Barleybank, Reedhaven, or Hearthmere.