That One With the Meeting [OPEN]

[pure_havoc]

characters: Cao Pi and OPEN!!!
location: the town hall
date/time: appx moonrise Sept. 2, for a couple of hours
content: Cao Pi proposed a meeting for everyone to talk about what ideas they have for organizing, protecting the town, and safely exploring their confines. This is that meeting. Newcomers are welcome as well! Assume characters have heard about it through the grapevine, but especially on Sept. 1 as Cao Pi makes the rounds and tells people this is happening. He will have a moment to orate but after that the floor is open, threadjacking is encouraged, and whatever comes of this is a complete free-for-all!
warnings: probably some discussion of character death. lmk if I need to edit this.

Despite the fact that Will Ingram's messages providing further information were yet to come, Cao Pi had made a public promise and he would hold himself to it, carrying out his meeting as described. At moonrise on the 2nd, he is already present in the town hall, hoping to see not just those who told him they would be there, but also some of the unfortunate newcomers freshly thrown into this situation. He had done his best to prowl around the Invincible and the bonfire, mentioning that the meeting would happen, but he still had to rely on word of mouth to do its work.

When he decides there are enough people present to begin, the Lord of Wei steps up before the assembly, clearing his throat importantly. "For better or worse," he begins, "we are a community. A town, if we are not a country. The hints and cryptic comments from the Lighthouse Keeper have suggested that we have a job to do, but we're still waiting on information as to what it is and why - why us, why the dead stolen from their worlds or their respective afterlives. But the recent mission to connect the Keeper to the network our tablets can access has shown a number of weaknesses that may hamper our ability to do any job, let alone the one which will keep us all from being permanently obliterated." Is that harsh? Too bad. He doesn't care. "We know a few things for certain. One, that we must carry out the purpose which the Keeper understands and encourages. Two, if we fail in any way, she will kill us all by ordering the spirits to destroy us. Three, the spirits deep in the forest are not just her weapon against us, but they have their own will and may attack or destroy anyone who simply wanders out too far. Our explorations have uncovered a number of things but not everything, by far. If you are new or simply haven't kept up on the recent developments, the record is here." He holds out a hand to the logbooks kept there in the town hall.

"I've asked you here to discuss the issues facing us in Beacon, and to offer up any ideas for how to solve those issues. There are quite a few of them, some that even I, perhaps, haven't considered yet. Please be orderly and take your turns, but I should like to hear from everyone. Whether you have questions, or have an idea you wish to share, please. Speak up. We will all be better for the sharing of ideas and discussion of pros and cons, rather than just waiting and hoping that someone will take charge and give us orders."

With that, he steps aside, inviting anyone and everyone to come up and speak. Or simply rise from their seat and speak. The floor is open, Beacon, use it to say things that you might not want anyone connected to the network to overhear. Sass the Keeper, gush about the Postmaster, whatever you want. Hopefully by the end of it all, someone might have some plans that can be brought about. For his part, Cao Pi is not putting himself up as any sort of authority or the one actually in charge, he literally is only there as organizer and moderator and nothing else. At least, so his cool half-smirk and perfect manners would suggest...

Comments

[policier]

( It probably doesn't help that magic is something stereotypically tied to the Romani people. To people like Javert's mother, who herself was a fortune teller. Javert has never liked that part of himself, and by extension, doesn't like anything that reminds him of it, including magic. The frown does not leave his face as he responds, calmly, )

Then that is all more reason why you should learn. You may not always be able to count on such foolish parlor tricks, but you can always count on yourself, if you possess the physical ability.

[moderatelymaladjusted]

[He is watching, because there's really not much else going on but people arguing about where to start and not actually doing anything and also, because she really is very pretty, and watching her takes his mind off of other things. Like missing home and that hard truth sitting in the pit of his stomach about being dead.

So, Quentin watches her pour salt, watches her lips move almost soundlessly and watches the small creature trying and failing to get out. He quirks an eyebrow and gives Davina a crocked smile when she's done.]

Magic?

[And smiling like a kid with a secret, Quentin moves his fingers through a series of quick tuts, twisting his pinky fingers around each other before shoving his hand out. There'a shower of sparks, dull and barely giving off light but it's multicolored and looks like tiny bursts of fireworks just above the palm of his hand.]

Magic.

[itselbitch]

[ the corner of his lips quirks at that. if kinghood taught him anything, it was that most of the people you deal with are even more full of shit than one would normally encounter otherwise. ]

You known, I did feel like I caught a whiff of veiled distrust permeating the room. [ which is to say that every seems to be just as suspicious of each other as the next. ] I can't imagine what would put people in such a state when the rest of the place already seems so ready to fuck everyone over.

[policier]

So it is.

( He looks at her, not smiling, exactly, but his expression does soften into something close. She's going to have him wrapped around her little finger, not just literally but metaphorically, if he isn't careful. He pulls his hand away, then settles back into the chair like he's planning to be there for a while. )

Now, let's be quiet so that the others can speak.

[unpredict]

[ kol's nts: find an abandoned building so he can experience the thrills of siege. nothing will stop him from having fun. nothing.

he looks so interested in everything jason's saying—anything that causes an adrenaline rush is good in kol's books—and even though they can't do it just yet, he has hopes they will someday. what's the point of dying and not being able to experience the fun others had during their time in the land of the living? ]

Did he actually… do anything? This Hannibal elephant.

[ this could go somewhere… but really, kol's just stuck on the elephant. did it eat people, like hannibal? god, he hopes so. ]

[policier]

( Well, that's. Certainly not what Javert was expecting to hear. It shows as much on his face, with the way his brows knit together. It's not so much concern as it is bewilderment. There are a million questions running through his head, like what is this chair and how does it work, but the one he ultimately settles on is, )

So if you stay away from that chair, you will remember everything as you normally do?

( He just wants to be sure he's understanding this correctly. )

You truly remember nothing from before these sessions?

[worthallthis]

Nothing but my programming. How to interact with a handler and a field team, standard knowledge and skills required for missions, necessary understanding of geography and technology.

[That was the correct response for a handler. Admitting to anything more, to the annoying chatty presence in the back of its mind that seems to know things, even the vague familiar-but-don't-know-why feeling, might rate punishment. (There is no Chair here, no cryo. But there are other punishments.)]

[notthatjason]

Well, we mostly ride him into combat. Like I said, he's a war elephant. Nothing is quite as terrifying as having a 4 ton animal in gold armor bearing down on you. He's pretty good and smashing through walls, defenses, and pretty much any other obstacle you put in front of him.

[There's not a lot to add here. It wasn't like Hannibal was a magical creature. He was, in fact, just an elephant. An elephant that lived with a bunch of demigods and was used for combat mind you, but an elephant nevertheless.]

[unpredict]

[ an elephant they could possibly use to smash down some barriers here. rest in life, hannibal. ]

Pity—and possibly something fortunate—that he isn't here to smash down any of our walls.

[ it gives kol an idea, though—what if there was an illusion of a four tonne elephant (or creature) charging at you? would that piss off some world eaters? things to google.

with his arms crossed, he rubs his elbow. ] How many times would you play this Siege game a year?

[ just how seasoned of a warrior is this kid? ]

[darkeyed]

_{[He doesn't even have the excuse of his armor this time to explain why his limbs feel heavy. As someone who had lived and died exhausted to his bones by such communities, ambitious fools, and struggles to survive, M.K. watches with the lead-weight of faithlessness making him feel tired just standing there.]}

They're all listening so they can report back to her. _{[He turns his head toward Scarlett at her reply. No need to spell out who her refers to, either. She's already become more infamous than Will in a short span of time.]} They haven't bothered to hide they're watching and listening. Waiting to see what move we make.

It wouldn't much matter to them--they have the game rigged.

[kungfuey]

[ She doesn't miss the derision in his voice in reference to the Keeper, Scarlett's eyebrows scooting up her forehead as she turns her gaze back on M.K. She was hardly a fan of the Keeper, for exactly the same reasons M.K. probably wasn't. She just knew better than to say as much to her face and give the temperamental woman another excuse to reset them early. ]

They? [ Her head canting to one side as she considers what he's suggesting. ] The spirits? Yeah... no doubt.

[ She'd kept her distance from the Spirits for a reason. She didn't believe these resets impacted them. They might only be good to the people here if they actually believed they had a shot at saving this place.]

Will, though? [ She understood the suspicion where he was concerned, but she also understood Will better these days as well. ] He hates the Keeper.

[darkeyed]

The spirits, and the bird. _{[Confirmation. But as for their errant scientist--]} He's still working with her, though.

_{[And that says plenty to M.K.]}

He'll do what it takes to survive--he's said as much. Someone like that's not going to stand on principle.

_{[By his own admission, Will Ingram is on his own side, and whatever side happens to keep him alive that day. That's not necessarily something to disparage--this is, after all, survival of the fittest on a bewilderingly cosmic level. But someone willing to work with anyone is really no one's friend at the end of that day.]}

[notthatjason]

[Jason pictures escorting Hannibal off of the ferry and roaming around Beacon.]

He wouldn't purposefully smash walls...but I imagine there are a whole bunch of other problems with having an elephant here.

[He considers the question.]

At least once a month...we would rotate it out with other war games though.

[And that was just the practice stuff, he hadn't even talked much about the actual battles he'd been in against everything from basilisks to giants and titans.]

[consecrates]

[ his is a different kind of magic, davina thinks as she watches the hand gestures, the shower of sparks that glitter despite the dimness of the room. a bit more fanciful, but magic nonetheless, tendrils of power pricking her skin gently. he doesn't seem like a witch, however; perhaps something different, like every other person in town who has some kind of an ability.

she offers him a smile before she breaks the circle she's created, releasing the poor creature used to demonstrate her ability. it skitters away as quickly as it can on its tiny legs. ] Not sure how useful it could be to the town, but I suppose it can keep specific creatures or individuals out. [ the right spell just has to be casted, is all. ] I doubt it's usefulness during expeditions, though.

[ since it requires preparation for a better boundary spell. ]

[unpredict]

[ it seems as though kol's been spending time with the wrong people over the centuries. half of them turned their nose up at games, and the rest… his games were fun, but he does enjoy learning new things.

narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, ] What were these games preparing you against, exactly?

[ he's getting the impression of a child soldier. a soldier of what? something much more than muggle military. ]

[kungfuey]

[ She's not entirely convinced that he is (working for Robin), but rather that he's doing what he has to do to survive and while Scarlett might want to find fault in that, she finds it's not so easy for her to do so. She's done plenty in the name of survival that other people would frown on, but arguably the difference is that Scarlett won't do things that throw innocent people to the wolves. ]

Maybe not. But he still might be the best shot we have at getting out of this alive.

[ Mostly because Scarlett is banking that Will's desperate desire to survive, will be what makes him do whatever he can to get out of here. ]

Just need to make sure that shot doesn't come at the cost of others.

[notthatjason]

[Child soldier is certainly not far off. Considering they have praetors, centurions, and make up cohorts in a legion.]

To fight monsters [There's a pause and then he adds.] ...or Titans or Giants or really anything that can pose a threat to New Rome.

[moderatelymaladjusted]

[Watching the critter rush off, hiding under chairs and dodging legs until it's too far away to follow, Quentin clears his throat. He's still trying to wrap his head around this whole thing - they're dead. All of them. And instead of some approximation of heaven or hell, or even just the bustling waiting room of the overburdened Underworld, they get this. Perpetual darkness and strangers.]

You can't make it portable? Like, uh, maybe if-- what if someone was just carrying the stuff around with them? Would that, maybe, repel something?

[Quentin had no idea, their kind of magic did have potions and herbs and rituals, some more obscure than others, some demanding more than most were willing to pay to get a shaky kind of result. But nothing like this, which looks like a shield, but maybe it isn't?]

Can it keep out those things? The spirits?

[policier]

Very well, then. You've given me a lot to consider.

( And a lot to wrap his head around. He understands what the Soldier is saying well enough, it's just the idea of someone being able to wipe certain parts of a person's memory that puzzles him. He gives the man another appraising once over, saying, )

I will not make a decision yet, but when I do, I will let you know.

[worthallthis]

[Yeah, it's weird. The Soldier will readily admit that it's weird. But that's the situation it has to deal with, and it's been dealing with it for longer than it can remember. It's familiar, now.]

Very well. Thank you, sir.

[And now it will just hope. And make an effort not to kill anyone. (Not that it was trying to do that, in general, anyway.) Assuming that's a dismissal, it picks up its lantern again, takes a step backwards with a nod of farewell, then turns and heads for the house.]

[unpredict]

[ wooooooah, dude.

kol wears his surprise and excitement on his face. this is the best thing he's heard about since being resurrected the first time. ]

Like the Greek myths? Everything in those is real?

[notthatjason]

More or less.

[There were multiple versions of some of the myths and most of the gods weren't exactly the same as they were millenia ago...plus when you considered the differences between Greek and Roman. But, that was all too complicated for a first meeting, so simple answers.]

[darkeyed]

_{[He didn't take the armed woman for a comedian--but given the timing, her remark is unintentionally funny.]}

I think we're a little past that. Don't you?

_{[Twenty odd dead or missing, and all entirely preventable, if Will, Winters, and Robin stopped dressing their tight-lipped agenda up as life-saving measures.]}

[kungfuey]

[ That's where they differ. Scarlett is of the opinion that people die. Plenty more will die and there's not going to be shit they could do about it. It was the way the world worked. This one included. Knowledge doesn't always prevent it but yeah, it sure as shit helps. ]

How's that? [ Arching an eyebrow but there's nothing in her tone to suggest she's mocking him. More like she actually wants his take on it. ]

[darkeyed]

_{[He waves a hand, taking in the breadth of the room and everyone in it--more to the point, who isn't, and who hasn't been for some time now.]}

The people who died or went missing to get the Lighthouse Keeper re-connected to the network might say differently. The doc can't tell us he didn't know there was a chance that could happen--he obviously knew who she was all along. His group would've had to have done the same thing if it's true she has to be connected each time she wipes the slate clean.

They all knew, and they let those people go in blind anyway. I bet you push comes to shove, he throws the rest of us under the bus the same way if it means a chance to save himself.

_{[For all that, he doesn't dislike Will Ingram. But if he's their best ally in this fight? They have their work cut out for them.]}