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

Remington | OTA

[axegirlfriend]

[Remi, for his part, even though he's cleaned himself up by now and gotten most of his initial overwhelmed shell-shock pushed firmly down into the pit of his stomach where he can ignore it to the best of his ability, isn't feeling particularly confident with speaking up or speaking out at this meeting. It shouldn't be so hard, really, but...while he's managed at least not to shuffle himself into one of the back corners, it takes him awhile to summon the confidence to speak.]

...I can build things.

[Okay so it's not a speech, but.

He sits back down abruptly.]

[callada]

Can you? That's useful. Boats, bridges, and general repairs are all pretty high up on the could-use list. There's an old bridge west of the village, past a fork in the river, and we don't know what it used to lead to.

[As just one idea. But he's eager to get over there and explore more and that river is a pretty dangerous obstacle without a safe way to cross.]

[axegirlfriend]

I'm more, um, familiar with houses, but...

[Carpentry is carpentry, right?]

Since there's a, um, library, I can see what I can find on different structures to be able to draw up better drafts.

[He stares pretty staunchly at his feet as he talks.]

[callada]

That's a good place to start. Better off than most of us. I don't know the first thing about building boats, but I've been swinging a hatchet and hammering nails anyway, so you're already ahead of me.

[To which he smiles, with a shrug.]

But if you'd rather, a lot of the buildings around here could use some work. Or better defenses, if you have any ideas for that.

[axegirlfriend]

I'll take a look.

[He scratches the back of his head, and...is he curling in on himself even more? It's like being told nice things about his apparent abilities and willingness to provide is making him feel just as embarrassed as if he was told he should keep his mouth shut. Yeesh, he's gonna need some work.]

I mean, I'm sure once I get a better idea of the structure of the houses I'll be able to, um, draw some ideas out. I also, um, I mean, someone else can probably do better, but I can think of some spirit wards...

[callada]

Spirit wards? Not sure that'll work here like you're used to, but it could be worth a try.

[Consider him doubtful, but he doesn't let his cynicism slip through in his voice too much. Instead, he nods, encouraging. Hell, it isn't like he knows any better than anyone else here what works and what won't, he's just not used to all this magic stuff some people seem to have. He'll keep his pistol at the ready.]

We can't really make much use of the usual things like lookout towers with all this darkness, but trenches and walls and traps might still be helpful.

[axegirlfriend]

Yeah, I don't know too much anyway. My girlfriend's real good at that stuff but, I mean...

[She's not here.]

Worth a shot, anyway...and we can see if they're adverse to things like iron. Either way, I can make walls, and some traps, though trapping isn't really my specialty.

[callada]

A lot of us are working with things that aren't our specialties, it's all right. For all the sailing I've done, it's not like I've ever built a boat before, but I'm learning. You'll do all right.

[This poor guy needs a confidence boost, doesn't he? It's become pretty obvious. Who knows what he went through in life, or if it's just how he is naturally, but maybe he'll find his footing in time. Hopefully so, anyway.]

[axegirlfriend]

Thanks...

[It's hard to really tell, but it does make him feel a little bit better. Sort of. There are other pressures to keep in mind with having actual knowledge that he can apply, which suddenly turns this into more of a communal responsibility that he never expected to have to deal with in death, but, you know.

It's something.]

I'm just glad for something to do, honestly.

[itselbitch]

[ wait. wait, that's it? uh...?? that's all he's going to say? ]

What kinds of things? Small things? Big things? Paper? Wood? Metal?

[axegirlfriend]

[Follow up questions? Why? Why??? Please, fine gentleman, have mercy.]

Wood, generally...I'm a woodworker. I, erm...

[His level of fidgeting begins to increase, and he's very certainly not making eye contact.]

Mostly make things on a smaller scale. Not, like, I mean, not miniature, but...anyway I can adjust as I need to. I've been researching architecture.

[itselbitch]

[ oh. a woodworker. eliot fights the urge to make an inappropriate joke. ]

So like. Bookshelves? Fences? That kind of thing?

Would you be able to construct tools? For maybe a garden.

[axegirlfriend]

Yeah, sort of.

[He flexes his hands. He could be more specific, probably, but does he want to? Not really, because his life is a series of endless embarrassments.]

I could probably do that, yeah. I mean, I can't really promise perfection but I've had to repair some of my own tools enough that I could probably manage...

[itselbitch]

[ that's actually really reassuring. there's a quality to wood that can't be replaced. and if this guy has fixed up some of his own tools, it probably means he understands the weight and shape it takes to hold it all together too. or at least for things like his tools, which is better than any stick eliot could shape. ]

Do you need special tools to work with? I mean. You probably didn't come here with them, right? Your tools.

[ sorry, did you want to leave this conversation? because eliot isn't going to let you. ]

[axegirlfriend]

Yeah...I have an axe but that's it, nothing else was on me when I got, uh, you know.

[Munched, basically. Tools is also starting to not feel like it's a real word anymore.]

There isn't a whole lot to choose from at the store right now, but I can make due. I figure I can talk to, um, Rastus? About getting some more specific things...

[itselbitch]

An axe is good. The trees won't fell themselves out here. [ nor will they debranch themselves and chop themselves up into nice useable boards, but that's another matter. at least the general store has saws too. ] And they're great weapons, according to. Well. Way too many horror movies.

Wouldn't you need something like a workbench too? Or is that just like. What the internet wants me to think?

[pure_havoc]

[WHAT A FIND! He's so pleased that this shy fellow spoke up]

We will need that. After all, we have this whole town to our use, if we could only fix up the buildings to make them habitable and usable.

[axegirlfriend]

Yeah, it's, ah, I mean, it's a little worn but it's got some good bones, it looks like...

[And immediately, he regrets using that word. How many skeletons are littered out there in the trees, unseen? How many more will there be in the coming days, months, years? He wants to throw up.]

I'm, um, happy to help. Just direct me anywhere, anytime.

[He needs the distraction. Without it, he thinks about all sorts of things that he wishes he wouldn't.]

[pure_havoc]

[oh come on that was a good one, if you like dark humor. And he does.]

How would you feel about being placed at the lead of that effort? Since you seem to know the most about how to get things done.

[axegirlfriend]

Um...

[Please don't trust me with any kind of leadership, he wants to say. Instead, he tries for a smile that sort of comes out like a grimace. A...friendly grimace? Remington fiddles with his glasses.]

Oh, uh, sure! Yeah! I can, ah, I can do that!

[pure_havoc]

[aww poor guy. No really.]

Feel free to recruit others to your cause. But, of course, the more people in on a single project, the more likely they will interfere with each other.

[axegirlfriend]

I'll, ah...I'll put up a sign up...something.

[Sheet? Would a paper sheet be better, or just an open call on the Network? These simple questions are easier to hyper-focus on when compared to the more lofty ones like where am I, actually.]

Once I figure out what to start with. I'm not much of a, er, a delegate, but, I'll...maybe just...put an ideal number of workers depending on what the project is.

[pure_havoc]

[that cool smile hides a number of things but Cao Pi does mean it to also be encouraging at the same time]

That sounds perfect. Well done.

[mutterseelenallein]

[ at least he's speaking up- ]

Do you have any suggestions on what we should build first or gather resources for? You must have an idea or two after seeing the state of the town.

[ not a total condemnation to those before them but she is also surprised by how there's... not much for them to work with, to be blunt. aislin wonders if there'll be any vital items or things he'll note that she or others hadn't thought of trying to acquire. ]

[axegirlfriend]

[If he's being honest, he hasn't really stopped to make a full assessment of the state of the town. He's been too busy cleaning himself up, clearing his head, and...well, probably crying. But he doesn't want to say that, because why would he say that?]

Um, well...

[Remington fidgets.]

I think it would be best to start with the basics. It seems like there are, ah, a few different ideas going around about different things that could be built, and I'd like to work on some projects on my own, too, so...I'd like to get to work storing wood and other supplies. Maybe make a supply shed specifically meant for building projects that we can keep coming back to, so we don't have to start from nothing every time we want to undertake something.

[He waves his hands in some kind of manner that doesn't really mean anything at all.]

I was thinking maybe...to avoid going crazy and chopping down enough trees that the spirits get angry, we could, maybe...er, it seems like there've already been efforts to coexist with them, so we could ask them to indicate resources that are safe to take for ourselves?