# Greywater Reach — Merehaven Starting Packet

**Status:** GM_APPROVED PLAYER PACKET — not delivered

## Early spring, Year 1

Longmere is open water in the center and broken grey ice along the reed edges. East wind drives waves into the inlet. Cold rain fills the paths between damp houses, and the first pale fish have been seen near the outlet.

You are Merehaven's Net Speaker. One hundred forty-seven people live around the sheltered western inlet. They accepted you after you coordinated winter storm shelter and publicly returned disputed rescue gear.

You remember modern life but not your former identity.

## Opening scene

One drying rack lies flat in the shallows. Another leans over Eska's shoulder as she measures a split post.

“I can rebuild smaller racks across three hummocks,” she says, “if boat crews release cordage.”

Toren points toward the widening dark water. “Rebuild after we catch. Whitebacks do not wait for carpenters.”

Cal drops three cut stakes on the mat between you. Old net fiber still knots one of them.

“These came from the spawning inlet,” he says. “Someone fished it under ice.”

Luma looks from the stakes to the protected water markers. “Then nobody guts fish there until we know what else is in that water.”

## What you can see

### People and authority

- **Toren**, senior net master, leads deep-water crews and argues for a large early catch.
- **Luma**, water and seep keeper, controls drinking-water draws and processing boundaries.
- **Eska**, reed builder, directs rack, screen, mat, and shelter repairs.
- **Cal**, young boat captain, leads one surviving travel boat and wants a recognized survey role.
- **Neri**, inlet gardener, watches shore plants, shell, and shallow fish.
- **Varo**, smokehouse keeper, controls dry fuel and warns that catch cannot exceed drying capacity.

Senior net crews, water households, reed workers, and younger boat crews all accept your office while disputing what it should prioritize.

### Food and fuel

- Smoked fish, dried roots, and modest grain cover roughly ten careful weeks.
- There is no large surplus.
- Dry fuel is limited and must cover cooking, warmth, and smoking.
- A large catch without racks and fuel will spoil.

### Shelter, water, and tools

- Reed-and-timber homes are serviceable but damp.
- One protected seep remains reliable.
- Some inlet draws become cloudy after east wind and runoff.
- Two boats are damaged; one travel boat and several small working boats remain.
- Merehaven has strong nets, cordage, reed craft, hooks, fish processing, and lake knowledge.

### Fish and routes

- Pale-backed fish usually move from the lake toward inflowing water in spring, but timing varies.
- Cut stakes and net fiber are visible in one shallow inlet.
- Neri reports fewer juveniles there than older stories describe.
- Rushhook lies near the lake outlet. Its fishers and smokehouses are known, but current intentions are not.
- A lower-river route passes a ferry hamlet when water and wind allow.

## Local map

```text
             lower river / ferry route
                       ^
                       |
       reed inlets -- Merehaven ~~~~~ Longmere ~~~~ Rushhook/outlet
                       |
                 protected seep
```

You do not know the upper river settlements or the full path of the spring fish.

## Customs you know

- Water keepers may close a draw point but must identify an alternative.
- Senior net crews traditionally claim the first deep-water sites, not every inlet.
- Smokehouse keepers may refuse fresh catch beyond demonstrated fuel and rack capacity.
- Rescue cordage is common equipment; ordinary net cordage belongs to crews.
- Cutting another community's fishing gear is a hostile act unless immediate rescue requires it.

## Immediate pressure

Merehaven must restore drying capacity, repair boats, protect drinking water, and decide how to approach the spring fish signs. Labor, cordage, straight timber, and dry fuel cannot support every project at full scale.

## Opportunities and warnings

- Distributed smaller racks may reduce storm and spoilage risk.
- A witnessed inlet survey could clarify damage and fish movement.
- Catch limits or zones might protect water and spawning, but senior crews may resist.
- Early fishing could improve food if processing capacity keeps pace.
- Rushhook and Ferryend may provide knowledge, exchange, rivalry, or demands.
- A prestige voyage during unstable ice and east wind could cost a boat or lives.

## Your Turn 1 submission

Describe what you lead Merehaven to do during Early spring. You may use any format and attempt anything supported by the situation.

Maximum: 1,500 words.