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

Jason Grace | Open

[notthatjason]

[It's a new experience, coming to a meeting and not having everyone immediately defer to you. Jason could get used to hanging on the sidelines, but maybe there really was something to having the king of the gods' blood in his veins because before too long he straightens up to speak.

He'd been listening this whole time, but if they were talking of forming a council, of planning for survival and (as Crowley had suggested) perhaps escape, then it was probably time he threw his own hat into the ring.]

Hello, I'm Jason. First, I wanted to say thanks for inviting the new arrivals here. I know it can be easy to assume that those with experience are going to have the most to contribute when it comes to ideas, but it's not always the case and usually ends up holding things back anyway. I'll admit, I feel like I'm still playing catch up, but from what I've gathered over the past few days of being here seems like even with a few months experience everyone is still learning new things about our situation here every day.

Second, and probably more to the point, it sounds like our first order of business is always going to be learning where each of our strength's lie. Any leadership we select, whether it be a council or something else, is going to have to be made up of people with interest in helping everyone and doing so at something that is to their strength. It sounds to me like we're just as likely to go down together as we are to accomplish anything else, and we'll probably have a higher chance of NOT going down if we make it a group effort anyway. More importantly, we should probably make sure our efforts are evenly spread -- investigation or exploration, survival or defense, and maybe even escape to name a few. That could be how we set the council, dividing the focus, but still united in a common goal. It might even make sense to form those groups and THEN elect a representative to this council at large from each area of focus. That way everyone knows who is involved with what.

[He pauses, realizes he's been talking a lot, and decides to wrap up and see what someone else has to add.]

That's just one suggestion though. Once I get to know more people here I could probably make a better assessment. I may not look it, but I was responsible for an entire legion of Romans at one point. If I can get five different cohorts with the bitterest rivalries to work together, I think I can help with this.

[It's not stated as a brag, just as a fact. He could have just as easily have been talking about being captain of the football team or student body president -- which would be more fitting for his appearance and age. The next part is directed more specifically at Cao Pi again.]

I'd like to see the logbooks at some point tonight, if that's okay. I've heard you all mentioning these explorations. I haven't felt right since getting here...but I may be able to offer us a different perspective on the lay of the land. One of my powers is flight.

[pure_havoc]

[if it were possible for Cao Pi to vibrate with excitement, he would be right now. This guy...he's practically a Han retainer right out of the gate. Don't worry Jason, there've been younger than you in his own army before...]

So you're saying you have experience organizing a military force. A general of sorts, perhaps? That could be extremely useful, particularly as we work to get defenses and protection in place. Moreso than the, ah, flight, although I don't deny a bird's-eye perspective on the town and the forest would exponentially add to our maps and understanding of the land in an instant. Have you attempted your powers at all, since arriving?

[notthatjason]

[Cao Pi's sudden interest in him makes him straighten a bit. He's reminded of how probatios used to present their credentials before the Legion.]

Yes. First as a Centurion for the Fifth Cohort and then later promoted to Praetor of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. I may have retired that title, but I still have the experience.
If we can get everyone on the same page, I can definitely help with putting up defenses and protection.

[Although it was less a retirement and more passing it on to Frank. Jason was too entrenched in both Greek and Roman camps to properly lead a Roman legion, but that still left him with his experience. He thought about adding camp counselor, but decided that might not sound as impressive without the context of what it meant for Camp Half-Blood.]

I have, at least some, enough to know they're nowhere close to what they should be... I haven't wanted to push it much...

[After learning that the lantern was his life line (literally) he was worried about dropping it from a great height or accidentally blowing out the flame with his winds. He'd done a little hovering and light breezes, but that was about as far as he'd been willing to push it. But he'd be willing to push himself if it was to help them either defend themselves or get out of here. Of course, even pushing himself, he wasn't quite sure he could get very far.]

[pure_havoc]

[aha so it does seem to be true, that it's not just fire powers that are affected]

You would not be the first to find their powers affected by the location. I don't know if anyone has looked into why or how that may be but for now, you know yourself best.

That said, it seems to me you would be the best person to lead such efforts. With any help you can muster, of course. I have heard of your country, I believe an envoy came to court while I was still just a child. That expertise is highly valuable here.

[especially to him ohoho]

[notthatjason]

[To some degree it's reassuring to hear that his aren't the only abilities affected by his arrival. Of course it also piques his interest because now he wants to know who else and what else is available to them in terms of powers.

Jason nods, though he looks a little surprised at this revelation.]

I'll do my best to do Rome justice.

[He can't believe he's talking to someone who was around when Rome was first making it's way around.]

but mostly I want to make sure I can do my part around here. I'll help where and how I can.

[pure_havoc]

That, young master, is what we need more than anything. Intent. Willingness.