Chapter 27.2: Return Home with The New Population: Maya Village Refugee Intake Assessment (2)
Year 0008, Month VIII-X: The Imperium
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OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION
Personal System Calendar: Year 0008, Month 9, Day 46: The Imperium
Imperial Calendar: Year 6854, 18th day of 9th Month
Census Authority: August Finn's Personal System
Status: Preliminary Documentation - Vetting Process Pending
Classification: Internal Use - Village Council Access
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Total Refugee Population: 81 individuals
Current Status: Under observation in temporary housing (Open House Complex, Zone 2)
Current Mood: Mixed - Relief, apprehension, resentment, suspicion, exhaustion, gratitude
Integration Forecast: Complicated but manageable
Housing: Communal temporary structure with dual hearths, basic amenities (Sibus Dino design)
Timeline: Vetting process begins Day 47 (Personal System) / Month IX, Day 19 (Imperial Calendar)
Integration Timeline: Estimated 3-6 months for full evaluation (extended from initial 2-4 month estimate due to observed social complications)
Reality Check: Initial integration efforts revealed more friction than anticipated. Both refugee and villager populations show signs of mutual adjustment challenges and cultural disconnect. Refugees carry significant trauma that manifests as suspicion and defensiveness. Villagers trying to help but sometimes inadvertently triggering refugee sensitivities. Adjustment of integration strategies will be necessary for both groups.
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REFUGEE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
Primary Leadership Family: The Ned Household
Manford Ned (37) - Woodsman by profession, informal refugee leader
Skills: Wilderness survival, tracking, hunting, basic carpentry, woodworks, general forest craft
Leadership Qualities: Natural organizer, maintained group morale during crisis, analytical mindset, steady under pressure, protective of family unit
Observed Challenges: Pride in professional expertise makes it difficult to accept "training" or supervision from village hunters. Sensitive to implications that his twenty years of experience requires validation. Responded well to direct conversation with Tormund about territory management but showed visible tension when authority was questioned. Not aggressive about it more resigned acceptance with underlying discomfort.
Preliminary Assessment: High value for integration despite pride issues; woodsman skills complement hunting sector, and woodworking skills valuable for construction needs
Recommended Assignment:
- Primary: Hunting sector operations after supervised orientation period (frame as "territory familiarization" rather than "training")
- Secondary: Construction sector for woodworking specialization
- Potential: Cross-sector utility given diverse skill set
Integration Risk: Medium - Pride could cause friction but appears manageable with diplomatic handling. The man seems fundamentally reasonable and willing to adapt if the approach is respectful.
Family Dynamic Note: Wife Esmerelda provides emotional support and practical organization. Children adapt at different rates. Mother-in-law (Gran Miri) is an unexpectedly valuable asset.
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Esmerelda Ned (35) - Manford's wife
Skills: Organization, resource management, basic herbalism, textile work, family coordination
Leadership Qualities: Excellent coordinator, practical problem-solver, emotional intelligence, protective of family, natural mediator
Observed Challenges: Strong maternal instincts create resistance to communal childcare systems. Expressed discomfort with "strangers" (fellow villagers) watching her children during peak work seasons. May struggle with initial collective responsibility aspects of village culture. Not hostile genuinely concerned parent who needs to build trust before releasing control.
Preliminary Assessment: High value; organizational skills desperately needed for expanding village operations, but will require adjustment period and trust-building
Recommended Assignment:
- Primary: Support group coordination (works with Theresa Peerce)
- Secondary: Agricultural sector administration
- Accommodations: Gradual integration into communal childcare, allow her to volunteer/observe before requiring participation
Integration Risk: Low-Medium - Protective instincts may cause initial friction but appear willing to compromise once trust is established. Practical nature suggests she'll adapt when she sees the system works.
Strength: Natural bridge between refugees and villagers has diplomatic instincts that could smooth integration.
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The Ned Children
Torin Ned (14) - Eldest son, young adult by village standards
Observed Behavior:
- Genuinely interested in beast handling and hunting techniques
- Learns quickly, which inadvertently alienated refugee peers
- Hurt by resentment from other teenagers but trying to adapt
- Father's private conversation helped him process rejection
- Shows maturity beyond years trauma aged him
Skills Potential: Natural aptitude for beast communication and wilderness skills. Could excel in hunting or beast management roles.
Preliminary Assessment: Strong candidate for Team Three after appropriate training period; natural aptitude observed but needs guidance on social integration
Integration Support Needed:
- Mentorship on balancing skill development with peer relationships
- Guidance on being excellent without making others feel inferior
- Social integration activities with both refugee and villager youth
- Possible mentorship from Erik (beast handling) or Team Three members
Challenges: Other refugee teens resent his competence. Village teens may be dismissive of refugees. He's caught between two groups that don't fully accept him yet.
Timeline: Monitor for 2-3 months before formal Team Three consideration
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Kessa Ned (11) - Daughter, middle child
Observed Behavior:
- Curious about magic and village education systems
- Enthusiastically attached to village girls
- Created awkward moment mentioning friends death to beats
- Village children unsure how to respond to her trauma level
- Processing grief through questions and learning
Preliminary Assessment: Standard education track; assess for magical aptitude through Master Ben's testing. Appears intelligent and eager to learn. May need counseling support for processing trauma.
Integration Support Needed:
- Grief counseling (work with Theresa, possibly Donna Campbell)
- Careful integration into peer groups with trauma awareness
- Village children need guidance on supporting traumatized peers
- Magical aptitude testing (priority given her interest)
Note: Her openness about trauma could be healthy processing or could indicate she hasn't fully confronted it. Monitor carefully.
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Jem Ned (8) - Youngest son
Observed Behavior:
- Adaptable, resilient, seemingly unbothered by recent trauma
- Integrated easily with village children through play
- Appears to be processing trauma through action/play rather than discussion
- Happy, energetic, normal child behavior despite circumstances
Preliminary Assessment: Standard education track. Monitor for delayed trauma responses but appears to be coping well currently through age-appropriate mechanisms.
Psychological Note: His easy adaptation may create comparison problems with other refugee children. Parents of struggling children asking "why can't my child be like that?" This isn't Jem's fault, but creates social pressure.
Action Item: Ensure other refugee parents understand that children process trauma differently. Jem's resilience doesn't mean their children are "broken" just means Jem has different processing mechanisms.
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Gran Miri (68) - Esmerelda's mother, family matriarch
Skills: Life experience, emotional wisdom, practical knowledge, sharp observation, conflict mediation
Qualities: Analytical mind, natural counselor, respected elder presence, pragmatic worldview, willingness to speak uncomfortable truths
Observed Behavior:
- Found common ground with village matriarchs despite friction over "victim" terminology
- Willing to address uncomfortable topics directly
- Formed pragmatic alliance with Marta the seamstress
- Sharp enough to see through polite deflections
- Challenges assumptions from both refugees and villagers
Key Moment: Corrected village matriarch's implication that refugees "let themselves get caught," pointing out survivor bias in villagers' thinking. Did so firmly but not hostilely educational rather than combative.
Preliminary Assessment: Extremely high value as community elder; potential advisory role. One of the few refugees with wisdom and bluntness to challenge both refugee and villager assumptions productively.
Recommended Assignment:
- Integration into village matriarch network
- Elder council participation (observe initially, formal role if integration successful)
- Mentorship roles for younger refugees
- Conflict mediation given her willingness to address difficult topics
- Possible counseling support role (natural skill, could be developed)
Integration Risk: Very Low - Her pragmatism and directness are assets. Age and experience give her credibility both groups will respect.
Strategic Value: Could become a key bridge figure between refugee and villager communities. Her blunt honesty prevents festering resentments.
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IDENTIFIED PROBLEMATIC INDIVIDUALS
High-Risk Cases Requiring Immediate Attention
Petyr Vilenski (~25 years old) - Former Merchant's Assistant (Claimed), Oppositional Leader
Background: Former assistant to successful merchant; carries self-importance from proximity to power. Lost position when beast attack destroyed trading town. Likely felt powerless during attack and is overcompensating with aggressive independence.
Observed Behavior:
- Openly questions leadership decisions and navigational choices
- Accused Team One of "keeping refugees confused so they can't find way back"
- Formed oppositional cluster of young refugees (estimated 5-8 followers)
- Resents dependence on August's protection
- Takes charity while refusing gratitude or acknowledgment
- Creates division within refugee population
- Dismissive of Manford's leadership ("just follows whoever shouts loudest")
- Skeptical of every explanation provided
- "Boy playing hero" comment about August
Psychological Assessment: Classic wounded pride case. Was probably a competent merchant's assistant before the catastrophe. Lost everything including sense of control. Reasserting control through opposition because accepting help means admitting powerlessness. Not inherently malicious just deeply afraid and masking it with aggression.
Skills: Claims merchant/trade experience but has not demonstrated actual competence. Maybe overstating credentials. Need to verify through practical assessment.
Preliminary Assessment: High risk for integration failure. May need to be offered "relocation assistance" if behavior continues. However, could potentially be salvaged if pride issues were addressed directly.
Vetting Priority: Highest - Needs early assessment to determine if salvageable or incompatible
Recommended Approach:
1. Direct confrontation about expectations during formal orientation (no sugar-coating)
2. Acknowledge his legitimate feelings of powerlessness (validates without endorsing behavior)
3. Clear explanation: opposition is fine, active disruption is not
4. Offer him a responsibility/role that gives him a sense of control (merchant work, inventory management, etc.)
5. If he refuses to adapt despite good-faith efforts, offer safe passage to alternative location
6. Do not allow poisonous influence to continue act decisively if salvage attempts fail
Potential Salvage Strategy: Some oppositional people become valuable once they have legitimate authority. If we give him real responsibility (not fake make-work), he might channel energy productively. Worth attempting before declaring him incompatible.
Integration Risk: Very High - Active destabilization of group cohesion. But possibly salvageable if handled correctly.
Timeline: Decision needed within 2-3 weeks maximum
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Renna Mirin (~40s) - Severe Trauma Case
Background: Lost husband and daughter to Grimfang attack during beast raid that drove refugees into forest. Witnessed their deaths. Sole survivor from immediate family.
Observed Behavior:
- Screamed at sight of Rexy and bonded Grimfangs
- Suspects food poisoning ("Nobody does anything for free")
- Refers to walls as trap, fears never being able to leave
- Sits alone, stares at nothing
- Deep suspicion of all assistance
- Cannot approach within 50 feet of Grimfangs
- Muttered "just bigger teeth to tear us apart" about Aetherwing
Psychological Assessment: Severe trauma with ongoing PTSD symptoms. Every Grimfang triggers traumatic memories. The village environment literally retraumatizes her multiple times daily. Her suspicion isn't paranoia it's a survival mechanism that saved her before. Her inability to accept help is rooted in deep betrayal (probably felt others should have helped during the attack and didn't).
Skills: Unknown - too traumatized to assess
Preliminary Assessment: Severe trauma requiring professional intervention. Integration is unlikely unless healing occurs. The beast-populated village is quite possibly the worst possible environment for her recovery.
Recommended Approach:
1. Immediate medical/psychological evaluation by Theresa
2. Possibly Angeline for light-element calming/healing (with consent)
3. Honest discussion about whether staying here is healthy for her
4. May need to be offered relocation to non-forest settlement where Grimfangs won't trigger ongoing trauma
5. If she chooses to stay, needs dedicated counseling support and gradual desensitization
Compassionate Note: This woman has lost everything and is now in a place guaranteed to re-traumatize her daily. Every time she sees Rexy, she sees her family dying. Keeping her here might be cruelty disguised as charity. The most compassionate option might be helping her find a safer place to heal somewhere without Grimfangs around every corner.
Ethical Consideration: We need to be honest with her. If staying means years of fear and triggered trauma, relocation isn't failure it's matching a person to an appropriate environment.
Relocation Options:
- Gremory City (through Fernando household connections)
- Millhaven territory (Earl Hugo's domain)
- Other settlements with no beast presence
Integration Risk: Very High - Not due to malice but due to incompatible trauma with environment
Timeline: Assessment within 1 week. Decision within 2-3 weeks. Prolonging the current situation is cruel.
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REFUGEE POPULATION BREAKDOWN
Age Distribution (Confirmed)
Elderly (60+): 8 individuals
- Including Gran Miri and seven others
- Generally adapting better than younger adults due to life experience and lower pride investment
- Medical needs vary but manageable with current resources
- Valuable wisdom and perspective
- Less threatened by loss of autonomy (already experienced many life transitions)
Full Adults (25-59): 42 individuals
- Primary workforce integration candidates
- Highest concentration of pride-based resistance
- Variable skill levels and adaptability
- Some showing gratitude, others resentment, most somewhere between
- Lost careers, businesses, social status grieving multiple losses
- Need to find new purpose and identity
Adults (18-24): 12 individuals
- Including Petyr and his followers
- Most volatile group - old enough to resent dependence, young enough to lack perspective
- Potential for both greatest success and greatest failure
- Energy and strength make them valuable if channeled correctly
- Rebellion against authority is age-appropriate but needs boundaries
Young Adults (13-17): 10 individuals
- Including Torin Ned
- Struggling with peer integration on both sides
- Village teens sometimes uncertain how to interact with traumatized refugee teens
- Refugee teens resentful of village teens' confidence and skills
- Identity formation complicated by trauma and displacement
- Need careful management to prevent bullying or isolation
Children (6-12): 6 individuals
- Including Kessa Ned
- Varying trauma responses from resilient to withdrawn
- Some integration through play, others struggling
- Parents comparing children's resilience creating additional stress
- Need trauma-informed education and patient socialization
Young Children (1-5): 3 individuals
- Including Jem Ned
- Best adaptation rate through play and lack of adult context
- Parents protective, sometimes overly so
- Minimal memory of pre-trauma life will adapt fastest
- Need stable, nurturing environment
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SKILLS INVENTORY (Preliminary Assessment as Claimed by Individual)
Confirmed Professional Skills
Textile/Craft Workers:
- Marta Edwards (~32, seamstress) - Confirmed professional skill with 20+ years experience, since she was a child. Demonstrated pragmatism and leadership during the journey. High integration probability. Could train others.
- 3-4 additional individuals with basic textile experience (names/details pending full interviews)
- Potential for establishing textile production workshop, village use for now
Woodsman/Forestry:
- Manford Ned (37) - Twenty years experience in different forest regions, currently dealing with pride issues around supervision. Extensive knowledge of forest survival, tracking, hunting techniques. Valuable once pride issues are resolved.
Merchant/Trade Background:
- Petyr Vilenski (25) - Claims merchant assistant experience but has not demonstrated actual competence. Maybe overstating credentials. Requires skill verification.
- 2-3 others claiming trade experience (details pending)
- Need practical assessment to verify actual abilities
Agricultural Background:
- Estimated 15-20 individuals with farming/gardening/livestock experience (preliminary conversations)
- Skill levels vary from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture
- Most come from regions with different crops/climate than Maya Village
- Will need training on local conditions but basic knowledge transfers
Construction/General Labor:
- Estimated 8-10 individuals with basic building skills
- Several mentioned carpentry, masonry, or general construction work
- Need skill verification through practical demonstration
- Could supplement construction families' capacity
Domestic Skills:
- Numerous individuals with cooking, cleaning, childcare experience
- Not professional skills but valuable for community functioning
- Many could join support group activities
Unknown/Unassessed: Approximately 55-60 individuals whose skills have not yet been properly evaluated
Assessment Challenge: Many refugees are too exhausted or traumatized to effectively discuss professional background during their journey. Pride, shame, or fear may also prevent honest skill assessment. Full skill inventory will require formal interviews under less stressful conditions with practical demonstrations to verify claims.
Hidden Talents: Experience shows refugees often have unexpected skills they don't immediately mention (embarrassment, doesn't seem relevant, forgotten in trauma, etc.). Need systematic assessment to discover hidden valuable abilities.
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MEDICAL ASSESSMENT
Current Physical Health Status
Fully Recovered (Post-Journey): Approximately 60 individuals
- Benefited from Theresa Peerce's medicines during ten-day travel
- No ongoing medical concerns beyond minor fatigue
- Physical recovery significantly ahead of emotional recovery
- Can begin light work duties within days
Monitoring Required: Approximately 15 individuals
- Older wounds require continued observation (healing well but not complete)
- Chronic conditions identified during travel (joint problems, old injuries, age-related issues)
- Non-critical but requiring periodic check-ups
- Should avoid heavy labor until fully healed (2-4 more weeks)
Special Medical Attention: Approximately 6 individuals
- Elderly with age-related conditions requiring ongoing care (2 individuals)
- Two individuals with partially healed major injuries requiring continued treatment
- One individual with chronic respiratory condition (needs clean environment, monitoring)
- Renna Mirin - psychological trauma requiring immediate intervention
Critical Note: Physical health has improved dramatically due to Theresa's excellent medicines and Team One's care during the journey. Mental/emotional health remains a serious concern for a significant portion of the population. The body heals faster than the mind.
Medical Resource Assessment:
- Current village medical capabilities adequate for physical health needs
- Psychological/trauma support capacity insufficient
- Need to develop counseling resources for long-term trauma treatment
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Current Psychological Health Status
Adapting Well: Approximately 25 individuals (31%)
- Processing trauma appropriately given circumstances
- Showing gratitude without excessive dependence
- Forming preliminary social connections with both refugees and villagers
- Able to discuss future with cautious optimism
- Examples: Gran Miri, Marta, most elderly refugees, several family units
Struggling But Manageable: Approximately 40 individuals (49%)
- Experiencing normal adjustment difficulties
- Some resentment of dependence but not actively hostile
- Socially awkward but trying to engage
- Will likely improve with time, stability, and patience
- May need occasional counseling support but no crisis intervention
- Examples: Manford (pride issues), Esmerelda (protective instincts), most family units, majority of population
High Risk: Approximately 16 individuals (20%)
- Severe trauma responses affecting daily functioning
- Active resistance/resentment toward help
- Social isolation or aggressive opposition
- May not successfully integrate without significant intervention
- Requires immediate attention and support
- Examples: Renna (trauma), Petyr (oppositional behavior), his follower cluster, several individuals showing concerning withdrawal or aggression
Psychological Patterns Observed:
- Survivor's guilt common (wondering why they survived when others didn't)
- Trust issues universal (betrayed by circumstance, struggling to trust again)
- Control issues frequent (lost control during trauma, trying to regain it)
- Grief varied (some processing openly, others suppressing)
- Fear responses range from hypervigilance to shutdown
Medical Resource Allocation:
- Theresa Peerce - Village Healer, primary physical medical authority, some counseling capability (trained in herbal remedies and basic emotional support)
- Angeline Ross - Light Healing Magic, available for emergencies, limited psychological training but empathetic presence helps
- Hiraya and Adarna - Support care and medicine distribution, basic emotional support
- Donna Campbell - Potential counselor candidate (former slave, understands trauma, empathetic, could be trained)
Critical Gap Identified: No dedicated counselor or trauma specialist. The village needs someone trained in psychological healing, not just physical. Cannot rely solely on Theresa's basic counseling skills for this population's needs.
Recommendation: Either recruit a professional counselor or train Donna Campbell (or other suitable candidate) in trauma counseling techniques. This is not optional luxury it's necessary infrastructure for integration success.
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HOUSING ASSESSMENT
Current Temporary Housing
Open House Complex Specifications:
- Design: Sibus Dino rapid-construction model (sturdy)
- Capacity: 85 individuals (current occupancy: 81, buffer of 4)
- Layout: Communal sleeping areas with privacy curtains available
- Heating: Dual hearth system (central positioning for optimal warmth distribution)
- Sanitation: 4 outhouses (1:20 ratio), 2 dedicated wells (adequate water supply)
- Condition: Newly constructed, sturdy despite rapid build, adequate for 3-6 months occupancy
- Features: Clever design maximizes space efficiency and social cohesion while allowing privacy options
Refugee Reactions to Housing:
- Positive: "Grateful for roof overhead, warm bed, safety" (~45 individuals, 56%)
- Neutral: "Acceptable temporary arrangement" (~25 individuals, 31%)
- Negative: "No privacy/feels like prison/too communal" (~11 individuals, 13%)
Observed Social Dynamics in Housing:
- Petyr's group clustering in one corner (self-segregation from main refugee population)
- Family units claiming spaces defensively (protecting territory)
- Some refugees attempting to establish "territory" within communal space (natural human behavior)
- Gran Miri and Marta positioning near hearth (practical elders gravitating to warmth and central location)
- Renna isolating herself (trauma-driven avoidance)
- Potential for conflict over space allocation as people settle
Functionality Assessment:
- Design works well for short-term (Sibus's engineering sound)
- Communal nature promotes social integration (intentional design choice)
- Lack of privacy creates stress but also prevents isolation
- Winter-ready with dual hearths (critical for upcoming cold season)
- Sanitation adequate but will need cleaning rotation (refugees must contribute)
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Permanent Housing Needs (Post-Vetting)
Scenario 1: High Integration Success (60-70 Stay)
- Family Housing Required: 3 additional Manor-Style Long Houses for families of 5+ members
- Individual/Small Family Housing: 2 apartment-style housing structures (new design, no blueprint yet)
- Timeline: Long houses 3 months (blueprint ready, experienced builders), apartments 5-7 months (design and construction)
- Priority: High infrastructure strain but manageable with current resources
- Probability: Medium (35% - requires excellent orientation and vetting)
Scenario 2: Moderate Integration Success (40-50 Stay)
- Family Housing Required: 2 additional Manor-Style Long Houses
- Individual/Small Family Housing: 1 apartment-style complex
- Timeline: Long houses 2-3 months, apartment 4-5 months
- Priority: Moderate infrastructure demand, comfortable within capacity
- Probability: High (60% - most realistic based on Day 46 observations)
Scenario 3: Low Integration Success (20-30 Stay)
- 0Family Housing Required: 1 Manor-Style Long House
- Individual/Small Family Housing: Possibly none (integrate into existing structures)
- Timeline: 2 months for single long house
- Priority: Manageable with current resources, minimal strain
- Probability: Medium (30% - possible if vetting standards very strict or many refugees choose to leave)
Scenario 4: Integration Failure (Less than 20 Stay)
- Required: Minimal additional construction, possibly none
- Indicates: Catastrophic failure of integration process
- Probability: Very Low (5% - would require massive failure of orientation/vetting)
Realistic Projection: Based on current arrival observations and preliminary assessments, expecting 40-55 refugees to successfully integrate (52-68% success rate). This assumes competent orientation, fair vetting, and good-faith effort from both refugees and villagers.
Construction Priority Recommendations:
1. Begin design work on apartment-style housing immediately (longest timeline item)
2. Prepare materials for 2-3 long houses (hedge between scenarios)
3. Identify construction sites in Zone 1 (residential) and Zone 2 (mixed use)
4. Plan construction timeline around weather (winter approaching)
5. Consider phased approach (build 1-2 structures, assess, build more as needed)
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Infrastructure Impact Analysis
Water Supply:
- Current Capacity: 20 wells adequate for 250 residents (current population)
- Additional 40-50 Refugees: Manageable without new wells
- Full 81 Integration: Would need 2-3 additional wells (approximately 1 well per 35-40 people)
- Priority: Medium - Monitor usage, build new wells if integration exceeds 55 people
- Timeline: Well construction 2-3 weeks each
- Location: Zone 2 needs additional well regardless (refugees will stress existing 2 wells)
Sanitation:
- Current Status: Systems stretched with temporary 81-person influx
- Problem: 4 outhouses at Open House Complex insufficient for long-term (1:20 ratio okay short-term, need 1:15 long-term)
- Expansion Required: Regardless of final integration numbers, need sanitation improvements
- Priority: High - Address before winter (frozen ground makes construction difficult)
- Action Items:
- Add 2 more outhouses at Open House Complex (temporary)
- Plan permanent sanitation for new housing (build into designs)
- Consider waste management system improvements
Food Production:
- Current Surplus: Agricultural production sufficient for additional 40-50 people
- Full 81 Integration: Would strain but not break system (approximately 300+ total population)
- Long-term Concern: May need to expand fields/livestock in Year 0009 planting season
- Priority: Medium-Low (current surplus provides buffer through winter)
- Recommendations:
- Assess refugee agricultural skills during vetting
- Plan expanded cultivation for spring Year 0009
- Increase livestock breeding (Grizzlepig, Woolly Aurochs stocks)
- Identify new fields in expanded 800 km² territory
Defense/Security:
- Team Three Integration: Will strengthen overall village defense capability
- Training Required: Refugees need combat training (time investment)
- Cultural Acceptance: Some refugees (Petyr's group) may resist mandatory combat training
- Benefit: More bodies on walls, more patrol capability, stronger community defense
- Priority: High - Address expectations early in orientation
- Timeline: 3-6 months basic combat training for new Team Three members
Overall Infrastructure Assessment: Village can absorb 40-55 refugees with moderate strain and reasonable infrastructure investments. Full 81 integration is possible but would require significant resource allocation and planning.
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VETTING PROCESS PROTOCOL
Phase 1: Orientation and Rule Explanation (Week 1)
Timeline: Day 47-50 (Personal System) / Month IX Days 19-22 (Imperial)
Conducted By: Village Council (full attendance required) + August Finn + Department Heads (Axel Martin, Jonathan Ross, Theresa Peerce, Andy Shoor, Master Ben)
Format: Large group meeting (all 81 refugees, all council members, key department heads)
Objectives:
1. Establish clear, honest expectations for village life
2. Eliminate early incompatibilities before major resource investment
3. Allow refugees to self-select out if fundamentally incompatible
4. Address observed tensions from Day 46 arrival
5. Create framework for mutual respect and understanding
Topics to Address (Critical - No Sugar-Coating):
Mandatory Elements:
- Combat training (basic self-defense minimum, Team Three for capable individuals)
- Communal work expectations (peak seasons, everyone contributes according to ability)
- Beast integration (Grimfangs, Aetherwing, other bonded beasts are non-negotiable part of village)
- Collective prosperity model (some individual autonomy traded for security and community)
- Education requirements (all children must attend, magical testing mandatory)
Village Structure:
- Governance system (Council of Elders, department heads, August's role)
- Economic model (collective work, resource sharing, trade operations)
- Security requirements (wall duty, patrol rotation, emergency response)
- Social expectations (mutual respect, conflict resolution, community participation)
Vetting Process Details:
- Timeline (3-6 months)
- Phases (interviews, skill demonstration, observation, final evaluation)
- Decision possibilities (full approval, conditional approval, relocation assistance, security removal)
- No guarantees (not everyone will pass, and that's okay)
Support Offered:
- Housing (temporary now, permanent if approved)
- Food and medical care (during vetting period)
- Training (skills, combat, integration support)
- Counseling (trauma support, adjustment assistance)
- Relocation assistance (compassionate option for incompatible individuals)
Behavioral Expectations:
- For Refugees: Respect for village rules, good-faith effort at integration, honesty in assessments, patience with process
- For Villagers: Respect for refugee trauma, patience with adjustment, support without condescension, honesty about concerns
Question and Answer Period:
- Allow refugees to voice concerns
- Address misconceptions directly
- Clarify ambiguous points
- Do not promise what cannot be delivered
- Be honest about challenges and requirements
Goal: By the end of Week 1, every refugee should clearly understand what's expected, what's offered, and what's non-negotiable. Those who cannot accept basic requirements should be encouraged to request relocation assistance immediately. Better to part ways amicably now than force incompatible integration.
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Phase 2: Individual Interviews (Weeks 2-3)
Timeline: Days 51-60 (Personal System) / Day 23 - Day 04 Month IX-X (Imperial)
Conducted By: Village Council members (rotating pairs for objectivity and different perspectives)
Interview Structure:
- 1-2 hours per individual/family unit
- Private, confidential (information shared with council but not publicly)
- Standardized questions plus flexible follow-up based on responses
- Notes documented for council review
Focus Areas:
Background Verification:
- Pre-refugee status (occupation, family structure, community role)
- Refugee experience (what happened, how they survived, losses suffered)
- Skills and expertise (professional training, practical experience)
- Education level (literacy, numeracy, specialized knowledge)
Skill Assessment:
- Professional history (verify claimed experience)
- Transferable skills (what applies to village life)
- Learning capability (willingness/ability to acquire new skills)
- Physical capabilities (health, strength, stamina for different work)
Character Evaluation:
- Honesty (consistency of statements, willingness to admit limitations)
- Work ethic (past examples, attitude toward labor)
- Cooperation (ability to work with others, take direction)
- Conflict resolution (how they handle disagreements)
- Adaptability (response to change, flexibility in thinking)
Cultural Compatibility:
- Attitude toward collective vs. individual goals
- Comfort with village governance structure
- Acceptance of beast integration (can they live with Grimfangs and Peregrine Eagles?)
- Willingness to follow rules even when disagreeing
- Capacity for trust-building
Security Concerns:
- Criminal history (address honestly, redemption possible but must disclose)
- Violence indicators (past behavior, anger management)
- Deception flags (inconsistent stories, evasiveness)
- Group loyalty (will they prioritize villages or maintain refugee factions?)
Family Dynamics:
- Family structure (who depends on whom)
- Children's needs (education, medical, social)
- Elder care requirements (special needs, accommodations)
- Internal family conflicts (domestic issues affecting integration)
Trauma Assessment:
- Current psychological state (managing or crisis)
- Triggers and coping mechanisms (what helps, what hurts)
- Support needs (counseling, medication, accommodation)
- Functioning level (can they participate in village life)
Attitude Evaluation:
- Response to orientation (acceptance, resistance, questions)
- Gratitude vs. entitlement balance (neither extreme is healthy)
- Openness to feedback (defensive or receptive)
- Vision for future (can they imagine staying long-term)
Priority Interview Order:
Week 2 Priority Cases:
1. Petyr Vilenski - Determine salvageability immediately (high-risk opposition)
2. Renna Mirin - Trauma assessment and compatibility evaluation (urgent care need)
3. Ned Family - Fast-track if orientation goes well (high-value candidates)
4. Marta - Fast-track (demonstrated leadership and pragmatism)
5. Gran Miri - Fast-track (potential elder council value)
Week 3 Systematic Assessment:
- Remaining 76 individuals/family units
- Methodical progression through all refugees
- Document findings for council review
- Flag concerns or exceptional candidates immediately
Interview Best Practices:
- Two interviewers (prevents bias, provides witnesses)
- Rotate interviewer pairs (different perspectives)
- Take detailed notes (memory fails, documentation doesn't)
- Be honest but kind (people respond better to respect)
- Listen more than talk (let them reveal themselves)
- Watch body language (often more honest than words)
- Cross-reference stories (verify consistency)
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Phase 3: Skill Demonstration (Weeks 4-6)
Timeline: Days 61-80 (Personal System) / Days 5-13 Month X (Imperial)
Conducted By: Relevant Sector Heads (Agricultural families, Hunting families, Construction families, others as appropriate)
Purpose: Verify claimed skills through practical demonstration rather than just interview claims
Process:
Assignment System:
- Each refugee assigned temporary work duties based on claimed skills
- Light duties initially (still recovering, still stressed)
- Gradual increase in complexity and responsibility
- Multiple sector exposure for those with diverse skills or uncertain placement
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical Competence:
- Does the claimed skill actually exist?
- What's the proficiency level (novice, competent, expert)?
- Can they teach others or just do it themselves?
- Are they willing to learn new methods?
Work Ethic:
- Punctuality and reliability
- Initiative (do they need constant supervision?)
- Quality focus (care about doing it well)
- Stamina (can they sustain effort?)
Social Integration:
- Works well with villagers or creates friction?
- Takes direction appropriately?
- Shared knowledge willingly?
- Resolves conflicts constructively?
Note: Some refugees may excel at skills but fail at social integration. Need clear criteria for which matters more in different roles.
Weekly Progress Reports: Sector heads provide written assessments to the council, noting both strengths and concerns.
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Phase 4: Cultural Integration Observation (Weeks 7-10)
Timeline: Days 81-110 (Personal System) / Days 14 -28, Days 1-17 Month X-XI (Imperial)
Conducted By: Entire Village Community with systematic feedback collection
Observation Areas:
- Rule adherence
- Social integration attempts (effort matters, not just success)
- Children's school adaptation
- Conflict resolution
- Contribution to community
- Attitude shifts (improvement or deterioration)
- Relationship building with villagers
Reality Check: Some refugees will never fully integrate socially but may still be valuable members. Define "acceptable minimum" for social integration.
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Phase 5: Final Evaluation (Weeks 11-12)
Timeline: Days 111-120 (Personal System) / Days 18-26 Month XI (Imperial)
Conducted By: Full Village Council + August Finn
Decision Categories:
1. Full Integration Approval - Estimated: 35-45 individuals
2. Conditional Approval - Estimated: 10-15 individuals
3. Specialized Placement - Estimated: 5-8 individuals
4. Compassionate Relocation - Estimated: 15-20 individuals
5. Security Removal - Estimated: 0-2 individuals (rare)
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FINAL ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
Expected Integration Success: 40-55 refugees (49-68% success rate)
Timeline: 4-6 months for majority, some requiring up to 8 months
Critical Success Factors:
1. Addressing both refugee and villager attitudes
2. Trauma-informed approach
3. Clear expectations communicated honestly
4. Compassionate relocation as valid option
5. Patience with timeline
6. Psychological support infrastructure
7. Regular assessment and adjustment
Primary Recommendation: Quality over speed. Better 6 months with 50 solid integrations than rushed 2 months creating 30 resentful half-integrated residents.
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Next Update Scheduled: Personal System Day 55 / Imperial Month IX-X
Document Status: Preliminary - Subject to Revision
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Personal Reflections:
The Ned family shows exceptional promise. Gran Miri's wisdom could be invaluable. Marta's pragmatism provides alternative refugee leadership.
Petyr represents real threat needs early decisive action.
Renna breaks my heart. Keeping her here might be cruel. The most compassionate option may be relocation.
The twenty-nine who left haunt me. Elise's unborn child will die for Tomlin's pride. Sometimes right choices feel terrible.
Tomorrow's orientation will be uncomfortable for everyone. Both sides need hard truths. This will test our newly formed council.
I hope we're doing this right. I fear we're making mistakes. I know we must try anyway.
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Signed:
August Finn
Supreme Military Commander, Maya Village
[Personal System Calendar: Year 0008, Month 9, Day 46: The Imperium
Imperial Calendar: Year 6854, 18th day of 9th Month]