Hearthmere — private opening packet

Early spring, Year 1. Cool rain taps the store roof as people wait for your first directions. About 150 people call you Hearthwarden.

You awaken without memory of a former identity, while retaining ordinary modern knowledge. People here treat you as their leader. One turn is one month. Give any plan you choose in no more than 1,500 words; short plans are fully competitive. You may establish credible specific expertise, but personal work and leadership both consume time.

The four communities use Measure House for grain exchange. Oren has kept its weights for twelve years; your witnesses respect his record of resolving disputes. Sella keeps duplicate tallies and Belen convenes the witnesses. The annual public reweighing is scheduled for the third month of spring. Preparation in the second month copies receipts and checks seals. Each community may send witnesses, receipts or a reference. Proven error can lead to censure, a restitution claim, one-month suspension with three of four clan witnesses after a hearing, or replacement with all four. Belen can hold temporary custody. Payment requires real resources and agreement, and witnessed exchanges may continue during an audit. These are procedures you can use or question; no result is predetermined.

Your familiar routes connect Barleybank west of the house, Reedhaven downstream, Hearthmere on the southern clay slope and Stonecross northeast by road. A messenger ordinarily takes a few days; weather and labor can delay travel. Farther places remain unknown.

Your community has potters and communal ovens with skilled fuel management. Its constraint is local grain land is thin and fuel crews compete with roof repairs. Durable sealed jars could reduce grain spoilage across the valley.

The communal oven flue needs repair before another large firing; wet fuel is piling beside the shelter.

Keeper Oren arranged emergency grain for eighteen dependent households here during last winter’s shortage. People thank him for finding supplies when others could not. They know the grain arrived from Measure House, not whose deliveries paid for it. You have no proof that a weight or ledger was altered. Gratitude is strong, though some households dislike owing public favors.

People you can speak with:

• Kira, oven keeper: Repair the flue safely.
• Lorn, potter: Demonstrate sound grain jars.
• Mela, household representative: Protect dependent households without humiliating them.
• Noll, fuel foreman: Dry fuel and avoid overwork.
• Pia, exchange witness: Remember help while hearing evidence.

You also know Oren, keeper of the shared weights, and Sella, the junior tally keeper, through ordinary exchange visits. Each has duties and knowledge of their own. Nothing requires you to investigate, defend or accuse anyone. Choose the work, agreements and questions your community needs.