Grimwych's Second Town Hall

RP Date: 2026-11-08

Location: Grimwych Village Square

Participants: Lettie, Marley, Morgane

Summary

At Grimwych's second town hall, Morgane endorses Marley Sinclair as chairperson, who is elected unopposed. Subsequently, Lucian reveals the village feedback he has gathered in the meantime regarding the topic of human sacrifice and whether it should be attempted to open a portal out of the village. Chaos erupts as villagers continue to debate the morality of sacrifice, mysterious threatening parcels they have received, and whether it's all a red herring and the village should prioritize survival instead. The meeting takes a dramatic turn when Naledi steps forward and announces that she wishes to volunteer herself to be sacrificed, prompting widespread shock and opposition.

This archive was published after approval by all listed participants.

---

Roleplay

Gallard appears from the east and stands a bit to the side, waiting for the village meeting. There were others already present, he offers a wave to those he recognizes, as well as to those he has not yet met if he catches them looking at him.

Lucian makes his way to the village square, frowning at a small brass music box that he keeps winding briefly for only a snippet of song to play.

Lettie makes it to the meeting. The lynx is a bit extra quiet as she finds a spot that leaves her able to hear but otherwise mostly hidden from the view of anyone. Her gaze remains watching the ground rather than paying much attention to anyone already present.

Lilith is seated atop the public board, her dangling legs obscuring view of the notices there. Her axes and black dragonfly wings are on full display. She greets everyone with a look, wiggling her fingers in a wave only in the direction of Lettie.

Marw arrives in the village square looking, by all outward appearances, very much herself, despite last night. However, three coffees this morning have done precious little to improve matters, and anyone familiar with Ms Foxx's usual temperament would be well advised to keep a considerable distance. If Marw Foxx is short on patience on an ordinary day, a hungover Marw Foxx is positively hazardous. She reaches into her coat pocket and retrieves a small tub of painkillers, unscrewing the lid before tipping two tablets into her palm. Both are promptly popped into her mouth and swallowed with a wrinkle of her nose. The lid is screwed back on as she continues across the square, passing her not-daughter Adamina without a greeting. Instead, the little tub is tossed in the suffering redhead's direction, without a word or even a backward glance.

Mara remains at the edge of the crowd. Her attire makes her stand out like a sore thumb, but that doesn't appear to bother the woman. There is a space hamster sitting on her shoulder.

Marley is here, probably tucked away in a small crowd somewhere where she is shaking hands and schmoozing, all that jazz. Everyone that looks at her will receive a charming smile and the occasional wink in turn. Not gonna really do any big posts just yet because lunch. ??

Adamina pointedly does not look at Marw. She looks primarily herself, but is standing deliberately out of the sun. Her hand snakes out, catching what her not-mother tosses, and examines it.

Morgane arrives here early, of course.  She is dressed in the dark emerald velvet gown she had worn upon her initial 'arrival' here.  (It has since been laundered.)  It is unlike Morgane to repeat an outfit, and so it bears noting that she wears, over top her gown, a red velvet cape with fur trim.  She wears the hood down, revealing her face.  Her complexion is flawless, glowing.  Her dark hair is glossy and full.  She looks professional, prepared, and like she has a 10-step skincare routine.  She stands at the notice board, waiting until a critical mass of villagers, most of whom she recognizes, have gathered.

Ragnar finds a place to stand near Verdandi and nudges her with his elbow.

Lilith "accidentally" flicks a leaf from her knee onto Morgane's perfect ensemble from where she sits atop the board. Totally by accident.

Naledi arrives at the meeting dressed differently than what she's normally been sporting around the village. The elf traded in her plain leggings for a long, flowy skirt in a deep forest green and her oversized sweater for a long-sleeved cream blouse with billowing sleeves. A brown leather belt cinches the outfit at her waist while her usual boots adorn her feet. Instead of her usual messy bun, Naledi opts to leave her hair loose around her face. She still looks very much like herself, just that she maybe put a little more effort into scrounging for some clothing. Naledi recognizes several people within the crowd, and unlike last time, she doesn't loiter on the outskirts, but rather idles within the midst of everyone, doing her best to ignore the pounding headache courtesy of all the pinot noir from the night before.

Caela is too fast, too furious right now, because she descends on the village square astride her pegasus at high speed, sharply braking for the landing at the perimeter of the gathering.  "Hi," she greets everyone who looks her way, sliding off the pegasus in one liquid motion.  As she goes about tying him up, she casts her gaze around her, her eyes noticeably bugging as she spies Marley in the distance.  She doesn't say anything, not yet.

Mara makes no effort whatsoever to interact with the crowd of people, and might even be as still as a decoration herself until the pegasuss swoops down from the sky.  The flying horse and his rider now have a moment of the druid's attention.

Verdandi was in a daze, she snaps out of it when Ragnar nudges her with his elbow. Normally she was a bit more on it, who was coming and going. She answers Ragnar's whisper with a shake of her head.

Ragnar stands there in all of his handsome, shirtless, strongly-built glory, that crown of red hair falling just past his shoulders. He will make eye contact with Naledi should she look his way. With a subtle shift of his posture, he places himself just a fraction closer to the crowd than his blond friend, between them.

Rory takes a deep drink from a bottle of rum in a brown bag and then raises said bottle in Lucian's direction.

Charleigh comes from her home with two pans that held something that smelled of pumpkin and cinnamon. What better way to make herself not be voted to be killed than with pie to share.

Marley is momentarily distracted from her politicking when her hair is disturbed by a strong thrust of wind, thus turning her attention to ...the Pegasus? Her gaze immediately locks onto Caela's and for a beat, the two can just stand there and stare at each other dumbfounded, before a nudge to Marley's side drags her back to the here and now. However, NOT before she gives the rider a <i>look</i> that promises they will be meeting up because wtf.

Verdandi glances Naledi's direction, perhaps noticing the way Ragnar looks at her and that subtle shift in posture. Her words are soft, "You can go stand by her to keep her safe, if you feel better. I will be okay."

Leon arrives and with him and Davis: the gays. They are resplendant. Davis for just being Davis. Leon: in impeccable red priestly vestments perfectly matching Morgane's. He struts in confidently and takes his side for his very important job of looking pretty next to the person in charge. Hair, on point. Fit, correct.

Caela unexpectedly finds herself making eye contact with Marley and mouths, very obviously for anyone to see, no degree in lip reading required:  <i>What the fuck</i>.  She then shrugs and gives the redhead a thumbs up.

Ragnar shakes his head slightly but decisively. "I'll stay here." His arms are at his sides, and he forces his hands to unclench and his body to release held tension.

Lilith wiggles her fingers, and Leon and Davis suddenly have matching pairs of illusionary bunny ears.

Naledi blinks in surprise when a...pegasus?...suddenly appears?  Perhaps she wasn't hungover at all.  Perhaps she was still drunk.  The elf lifts her fingers to her temples and gently rubs them as she watches the crowd grow larger and her blue eyes catch Ragnar's and she offers him a half smile.  They also find Marw and Adamina amongst the group and she takes a moment to assess their well being to see if they are struggling as much as her.

Davis blinks at the sudden shock of the bunny ears on his partner. He knew which one it came from so his green eyes settled on Lilith with a snicker. It's a shame he had no idea he was matching with the other.

Morgane [post 1 of 4] as noted had arrived here early, and is dressed resplendently in her dark emerald velvet gown, her first ever Grimwychean lewk for those following the Fashions of Morgane. She watches Leon in that she wears, over top her gown, a red velvet cape with fur trim. She wears the hood down, revealing her poreless and striking face and a thick head of healthy hair. She has been standing at the notice board, waiting for the time to start the meeting. That time, it would seem, is now. As such, she brings out of the shadows of her cloak a single silver bell, which she rings to silence any chatter and call this town hall to order. "Hello my fellow villagers of Grimwych!" are her first words. "Thank you for coming. We have gathered here today for two purposes. The first is to elect a chairperson to create a semblance of government in this village." She pauses, like any good public speaker would. "The second is to further discuss the topic of human sacrifice as a means to open a portal out of this place."

Leon has no idea at all and is just sternly looking out, in a state of dramatic but pretty, and he can't do that simping at Davis.

Morgane [post 2 of 4] upon mentioning the topic of human sacrifice rings the bell to preemptively quiet any murmurs or jeering. She then continues, "Let us begin with the first topic. The election of a chair. I believe Marley Sinclair has put herself forward." Morgane extends an arm and gestures to Marley herself, identifying the woman for those who have not yet had occasion to meet her. For those who thought that surely a moment is building, that at this juncture Morgane would announce her own candidacy, Morgane's next words may come as a shock: "I have had the chance to converse with Marley myself and endorse her without reservation." Dramatic pause. "Not long after I shared with you all the journal that I found revealing that human sacrifice would open the stones, I began to have dreams. Visions, for some of them have come true. Some, are yet to pass. But in them, Marley is our chair and it is she who will lead us out of this place!" Another pause. "But until that comes to pass, I believe she will also do well handling the day to day affairs of our village, including organizing our defenses against the shadow creature and general policing, so that our limited supplies are not carelessly broken."

Morgane [post 3 of 4] now again rings the bell as a sort of exclamation mark to her speech. "And now," she is big on ceremony, that Morgane, clearly, "is there any other person who wishes to announce themselves as a candidate for chair, running against Marley?" Morgane casts her gaze over the various denizens of Grimwych, all ? miserably gathered here, listening to her. She loves that for herself. "Please identify yourselves at once," she commands any other chair hopefuls. "If none come forward, we shall declare Marley our chair."

Marley [post 4 of 4] had arrived a little ahead of time (it wasn't hard with her place being a stone's throw from the square), looking every bit the woman who intended to conduct business. A deep red satin blouse, expertly tailored to her figure (again, thank you Foxx), was tucked into fitted black trousers, while her usual boots had been given a thorough cleaning and polish for the occasion. Her auburn hair fell in carefully arranged waves over her shoulders. She really needed to find out where Morgane was shopping! Later, though. Later. An appreciative appraisal roamed over the speaker as Morgane gathered the masses, leaving Marley to take up a position near the notice board, though far enough aside to leave the floor uninterrupted. A small smile touched her lips at the other woman's endorsement, and when she spoke of her visions, a deliberate and conscious nod of agreement followed. She believed in what Morgane had seen, and made no attempts to conceal it. As the topic shifted to human sacrifice however, her expression immediately sobered, revealing the true gravity of such a situation, until the invitation for other candidates was extended. She cast her emerald gaze toward those assembled, surveying the gathering with a calm interest. There was no impatience in her expression or posture, nor any outward presumption that the matter was already settled. For now, she would wait and see who, if anyone, wished to stand beside her on the ballot.

Verdandi :: The lady with the fancy dresses, she was pretty sure that is how someone explained Morgane to her at some point. The information was starting to blur a bit for the lycan, probably because it was a lot of new all at once. New place. New faces. New questions everyday about what the heck even. Verdandi wrinkles her nose, sending Ragnar a bit of a concerned look, but she doesn't say anything. Nor does she move from her position toward the back of the crowd....yet. If that blonde werewolf did take to motion, it would probably be to flee the scene than to step forward that is certain.

Lilith is finished making malicious mischief for the time being and sits atop the public board.  This puts her in close proximity to Morgane.  She crosses her legs at the knee and swings one boot to tap tap tap against the wooden signpost.  Her eyes scan the crowd, familiar and unfamiliar, hot and unavailable, hungover and sober.  She will save her questions for the next matter.

Charleigh had moved quickly over to Lilith who she had spotted at the board. "I don't know what I am supposed to do.." she whispered low to the winged woman. It was a curse to be so naive to things that would really come in handy for her here.

Caela is all leather and attitude and takes up leaning against the facade of one of the ruined stone houses, alongside her pegasus who snorts when Morgane takes 'center stage' if you will.  It's not all a bad reception though; Caela cups her mouth and says, "Hear hear!" when Marley's name is announced for chair.

Leon under his priestly vestments had packed his rapier, pistols, and the last of his black powder and shot. Though watching the crowd on the tenterhooks of a man of war, he still just looks like a pretty boy looking around.

Ragnar looks around at all of the people.  The scents are too mixed and mingled for him to get a good smell of anyone he doesn't know already.  He keeps his trap shut and stands beside Verdandi.

Naledi shifts her focus to Morgane when she calls attention to the crowd, announcing the purpose of the meeting.  The elf suddenly feels cold and wraps her arms about her as she looks about to see if anyone else wishes to run for chair.

Marw folds her arms in front of her, just for one to lift and press two fingers into her right temple. A glance to Naledi, a roll of her eyes and gaze snaps to Morgane. Eyes narrow as she watches the woman carefully, every little movement is?almost analysed. If only her brain was not silently screaming inside her skull. As Marley is announced as a candidate, gaze flicks over to the redhead. Then she shifts, Is Marw about to step forward and announce a rivalry? No, she is just crossing one leg in front of another, full aware that it could have looked like she was about to stand forward but no, absolutely not. Hopefully no one else will either, will mean less talking, get this over and done with.

Lucian glances around and gives a quick thumbs up to any of his friends who are looking favorably at Marley.

Leon sneaks a thumbs up to Lucian just for the bromance.

Gallard crosses his arms in a thoughtful manner, the metal on metal armour rustling quietly at the contact. Marley is put forth as a candidate for overseeing village needs it seems, he doesn't mind. He doesn't know her of course, but she seemed nice. Only when the lady with the pegasus shouts 'hear hear', does Gallard, through his helmet, also shout, "No objections!"

Verdandi lifts a brow at Davis' whispered words, apparently it was enough to get her talking a smidgen.

Ragnar gives Davis a very slow once-over.

Riven comes walks from the bar and almost has a panic attack when he walks into a group of people. Was there actually this many people in such a dilapidated town? Had they all came by way of the lake? As always he was a day late and a gold short of being included into the what was going on.

Leon eyes Ragnar and moves his hand to his sword hilt protectively should the werewolf try anything.

Adamina does her best to keep her attention on the situation going on, but damn does her head hurt.  She keeps her hands folded in front of her and remains the picture of decorum and respctability while waiting for Marley's passing.

Morgane [post 1 of 3] once more rings the bell to silence the group. "Marley is hereby elected chair of Grimwych!" she announces. She smizes warmly at Marley as she cedes the position by the bulletin board to the redhead who is now chair of their village. "Congratulations. I believe in you," she can be heard saying, before taking her place besides Leon, her acolyte.

Ragnar doesn't miss that gesture, and now the brunt of the werewolf's attention falls to Leon.  He will attempt to make and <i>hold</i> eye contact in a challenging way with the swordsman.

Davis smirks at Verdandi's words back to him and nods. Was he completely ignoring the male ego of the other that was giving him a once over? Probably, because he wanted nothing more besides the sassy friendship that came from Verdandi.

Marley [post 2 of 3] stepped forward as Morgane presented the results, offering the woman a warm smile and a wink, "Thank you. I won't let you down." There was genuine sincerity in the words as she straightened her spine and stepped forward, raising her voice for the crowd. "First, thank you. To Morgane, for her confidence in me, and to all of you for entrusting me with this responsibility." Her gaze traveled across the assembled villagers, "I won't promise you miracles, and I certainly won't promise that every decision I make will be a popular one. What I <i>will</i> promise is that I intend to see this village become something more than a collection of frightened strangers waiting for a way out. I believe in Morgane's visions. As she said, we have spoken, and I have found nothing but conviction in the woman's heart." She paused, allowing the words to settle with the intended weight behind them. "We have homes to secure, supplies to manage, and people to protect. As many, if not most of you know, I've already begun gathering resources and information that will build toward this village and its future. There is work to be done and I intend to see that it gets done, but I can't do it alone. Every one of you has something to contribute, and I expect we'll accomplish considerably more together than we ever will working against one another." If Rory is in the crowd, she'll catch his eye a moment before continuing smoothly, her expression settling into something far less enthusiastic and far more sober. "Now, before we get too comfortable congratulating ourselves on establishing a government, there's a rather more difficult matter to address." She turned toward Lucian, extending a hand in his direction. "Lucian has taken the time to review the suggestions submitted regarding the matter of human sacrifice." She pauses for the gravity of what she just said to settle on the crowd, then stepped aside, allowing him the floor. "Lucian, if you would."

Lucian [post 3 of 3] steps forward and holds up his hands, "Okay, the ugly bits. Many of you know I voted Nay, initially, but agreed to sort these thoughts. I still hold we do not know enough to think this sacrifice idea holds any water, and once we kill someone it will be too late to unkill them. But, I lost that vote. I will try to be brief and condense where I am able. First, some people said leave it to chance. Draw lots, names in a hat, create a fun wheel with all of our names. Obviously this is a bad idea, as nobody really thinks their name will come up. They might agree now, but when the time comes find some reason to think a different approach would be better. Then we are back to the drawing board. Only slightly safer for you here today, we choose the next stranger to come out of the lake, whether that person might be a doctor, or a little baby, or a wizard come to save us." Lucian spits on the stone beside him, before moving on, looking out carefully just past Naledi's shoulder. "Another silly idea, is we wait for someone to volunteer. But nobody will do that, so let us move on." He sweeps his gaze across the crowd. "Next, a great many people simply submitted a person's name." Here he paused to clearly direct his focus at Morgane, turning three quarters to the crowd. "But that is a decision, not a means of selection. So I will not at this time share which name, and just say they meant we should vote." He keeps looking at Morgane for a beat before turning to face Marley, "Now. Only two people had the strength of conviction to sign their name to their submission, and I think this takes special consideration. One of those people is our new chair, Marley Sinclair. Maybe we do vote. We determine for ourselves and together who to sacrifice, for reasons. Some people said to choose who contributes the least. One said choose the best, as they would be of more value. I think this is wise, to act on purpose, deliberate as a group, and come to a shared conclusion." Finally, he turns to face the crowd and produces a document, waving it aloft so they can see the bold title, 'Request to Reconsider the Sacrifice Vote.' It is visibly signed, but quickly tucked away again. "Or the best idea, by a brave person who has thought deeply about our community. We have many new faces who were not at the first meeting. Why should they be bound by our frightened first grasps at organization? We have new leadership, the esteemed and regarded Marley Sinclair. We have, most of us, shelter and food for now. A modicum of stability. So let us reexamine the issue with fresh eyes. Hold a new vote on whether to even pursue this sacrifice plan, or not."

Verdandi was trying so hard to pay attention to what was happening at the meeting. Marely was just elected chair. Now she was saying something. This was the first time that Verdandi has seen the other woman, so those gold eyes study her a moment. Or try to. But there is that male ego, Davis noticed it too even if he was ignoring it. Verdandi was less inclined to, she hisses at them both, "Knock it off or I'll crack your skulls together." Then a look to Davis, knowing Leon was close to the blacksmith, "Sorry. Ish."

Marw was seriously wishing this meeting could have just been a note on the board. It would have been far easier on the head. Her arms unfold and she claps her hands together twice though very quietly as the chair is announced. However for the most part she keeps her eyes on Morgane, a brow lofting at Lucian come the end of his speech before snapping back to the woman in the gown to watch her reaction very carefully.

Caela crosses her arms while Morgane speaks.  When Marley is elected chair, she glances around her before uncrossing them to clap.  Slowly, awkwardly at first, because maybe she's the only person clapping, but then with more confidence.  "Hear, hear, you guys made the right decision!" she calls out.  She only knows Marley here, and today's result is a relief to her.  She has no idea how Marley ended up in this place, of all places, but Marley is someone she has a line into.  And <i>that</i> makes her feel a lot better about being in this place.

Leon was the look of composed drama as various important people he knows and Marley speak. For most of Lucian's speech he's just encouraging his homey with a positive expression, but as talk of volunteers and votes rise up his eyes betray him. Any male ego washes away, just praying its not the blacksmith. Any suggestion that the votes be for Morgane flies right over his tiny little brain.

Ragnar 's motivations have been completely misinterpreted, and Verdandi's words ring on deaf ears.  They are in a square full of humans.  One of them has looked at him and put a hand on a weapon.  If that is not challenge, then what is.  Unfortunately, he remembers that he is here for a reason, and all this talk of sacrifice gets his attention.  The werewolf swallows his rising aggression and calls out. "The sacrifice choice is obvious!" he calls. "Sacrifice whoever will die first if your other plans fail!" 

Davis shrugged at Verdandi's apology, she had been right now wasn't the time for this type of actions between the men. Clearing his throat he now spoke up to the group. "What of us who have found rather interesting packages in our mailboxes that seem a bit threatening if there is not a sacrifice? I am one for not going with the plan because if something needs blood to get us home who is to say the evil would just be tricking us into something else?"

Morgane keeps her face a mask of serenity, even as it becomes totally apparent based on Lucian's careful delivery that it had been her name that had been put forward.  She is indecipherable, but she does clap when others clap.  

Lilith climbs to a standing position and, with her dark clothing, dragonfly wings and gleaming axes, casts a striking figure. "I was the other to sign their name!" she calls into the crowd. "And won't hide behind the shroud of anonymity now!  That being said--" she pauses, looking down at the group. "We should probably focus on sustainability first.  Those who wish to assist me in determining whether the standing stones function as the journal declared are free to do so, but it should not be the government's focus."

Caela glances at Davis when he mentions the mail he'd received at the post office.  "Hey, I got something too, some fucked up dismembered stuffed animal version of my horse," she tells him, like he isn't the only one.  He is skeptical about the need for a sacrifice though, and she feels unsettled to hear it.  "I think it's credible to travel between worlds by human sacrifice," she offers, raising her voice.  "I know of someone who's done it."  She had taken care just then to make it 'know of someone' rather than ... maybe it was me lololol.  She glances around her, as her words might have attracted attention:  "I think it's worth exploring.  I know of someone who's done it.  If we don't try anything, we're trapped here.  And somebody's threatening us.  That's all I know."

Morgane smiles with something like a mother's love at Leon after exchanging whispers with him.

Rory claps with deep and profound appreciation for Marley's election. "Hear hear!" he calls in support of the redhead, and then motion to Lilith. "I'm still against sacrificing anyone, and we shouldn't spend valuable government resources on murder when we have crumbling infrastructure and no sustainable food source.  I trust Marley to help us navigate through these things."

Verdandi had a feeling her words would fall on deaf ears with Ragnar, such was their way. What she was not expecting was for Ragnar to actually speak up during the meeting. Her eyes go wide when he does that. Then the other redhead is chiming in. A brief look to Leon to see if the pirate-priest would add his own two cents. Sort of, directly to the woman with the pretty dresses. "I second what the blacksmith says. Someone wants the sacrifice to happen a bit too much for me to believe that it's going to do what we want. Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten such a lovely present." It had scared her, just not quite enough.

Gallard knew the next meeting would not be any easier to mull over than the first one, but now that things are actually progressing towards human sacrifice he finds it even worse. He does not realise whose name was suggested to be sacrificed from Lucian's words, so it is hard not to consider his own position in the village. Gallard simply stays silent, trying to be a lot more careful than last time. When talk of the anonymous parcels people received was brought up, he recognized the similarities in what he received as well, but again, he does not say anything.

Leon 's hands slide from any weaponry to clasp before him, reverently. Face fixed, his expression is unreadable.

Morgane speaks up when talk of packages begins.  "I received a parcel as well.  They are from the village!" she exclaims.  "It is a warning, from Grimwych itself!"

Verdandi mutters to Davis and Ragnar, "Bet she's sending them."

Lucian sets his face grimly, "The packages make no sense! It has threatened different loved ones for each of us! It is just trying to scare you, Cosa Mala feeds on fear!"

Lettie blinks, having fallen into a strange zone out of the world. A few more blinks as she tries to refocus back to the world around her. Confused she sticks to the spot where she is barely a outline of the cat eared woman.

Marley had remained respectfully silent throughout Lucian's presentation, her expression growing increasingly thoughtful as the various proposals were laid before the village. The applause and occasional shouts of encouragement earned a warm smile and an appreciative nod of her head, with a particularly grateful glance cast toward Rory, Gallard, and Caela at their vocal support (and anyone else she may have missed). She had not forgotten their conversation in the Red Ledger, nor the practical suggestions he'd offered. As the discussion unfolded, however, the smile gradually faded. Her emerald gaze traveled from Ragnar to Davis, then Lilith and Verdandi, and everywhere/one in btween, taking in each argument without interruption. The mention of threatening parcels was particularly troubling since yeah, she'd received her own. When it quieted just enough, she stepped forward, raising her hands to request the attention of those gathered. "First, I want to thank those of you who've expressed your support. I don't take that confidence lightly, and I intend to earn it." She glanced toward Lilith. "And I agree that sustainability must be a priority, absolutely. Needs are number one." Her attention returned to the gathering. "As for the parcels, I won't pretend to know what sent then or why. I do know that fear makes for a poor foundation. I've made my position regarding Morgane's visions clear, and that has not changed. However, Lucian has presented a proposal to reconsider the original vote. You've heard the arguments, and I have heard your concerns. Whatever we decide, it should be a decision made with open eyes, not one forced upon us by threats, fear, or desperation..."

Naledi listens closely as Lucian begins to list the various suggestions her fellow villagers gave for choosing a sacrifice. Occasionally, her eyes trail away from Mr. Corvo in favor of scanning the crowd and assessing their reactions. His decision not to share the name put forth is a curious one, but one that Naledi respects. She should be more anxious, but in this moment, she doesn't feel it. She simply sees a sea of faces belonging to people who just want to get home. The elf gently eases herself closer to the notice board, nearer to Marley and Lucian. She holds up her hand, a silent request for quiet from the crowd and a bid for everyone's attention. She looks to Morgane first, then to Marley, and finally to Lucian. "It wasn't a silly idea," she says in a clear, albeit perhaps too quiet, voice. The comment seems somewhat out of place given the conversations currently buzzing among the villagers. With a quick clearing of her throat and a slight lift of her chin, Naledi projects her voice and declares without preamble, "I submitted that suggestion because I'm volunteering to be the sacrifice." <p class="p1"><br /></p>

Lucian sighs deeply and buries his head in his hands, muttering, "Ay, Boconita..."

Leon raises his hand to his chest as this revelation washes his over him. His eyes dart between Morgane, Lucian, Davis and his new companions. There's a fear in those dark eyes, but the thoughts fail to leave his lips.

Marw was momentarily distracted by Lilith's voice as the winged one announced she was the penman behind the other signed document. An eyebrow arches and she shrugs. Alright then. However as Morgane announces she too was a recipient of a parcel, she straightens up, lips part about to ask a question. After all, <i>what</i> or <i>who</i> did Morgane get? That would be very telling indeed. However, that question that may have been quite telling is abruptly silenced. A blink as it seems from what the redhead is saying, a revote was genuinely being considered. Then another bloody curveball comes in, this time in the form of the hung over elf Naledi volunteers herself. Another blink, both brows shoot up and she glances to Marley, Lucian and Morgane for any signs either of them had any indication, any lack of surprise.

Mara speaks up for the first time, her words heavy with a foreign accent that doesn't match anyone else's. "We should put away the issue of sacrifice for the time now.  Just because someone volunteers to die does not make their death necessary, and we should not kill if we do not have to."

Verdandi has no intelligent reaction. This werewolf is in need of a drink, very badly. Just how much of a stash did she have left at the station? They actually got a volunteer? Would they actually accept it? At this point, the lycan decides to keep her trap shut. Leave the humans to their madness.

Lilith , as far as she remembers, did sign her name to her letter to Lucian nominating Morgane as sacrifice.  Now they want to take it off the table entirely.  She places her hands on the hafts of her axes. "Lucian is right.  Whatever is out there is feeding on and stirring up fear and suffering.  If it demands sacrifice, we should give it nothing.  Not even her."  Her eyes meet Lucian's and will hold his gaze if he allows it, then slide towards Verdandi and crew at their mutterings.

Leon if only Verdandi knew that he absolutely had a flask on him and would share. But alas. So priestly right now.

Morgane 's gaze flicks briefly to Lucian when he too chimes in about the packages.  Her expression is grim, but she remains silent, perhaps in tacit agreement.  She is, of course, privately eager for the discussions regarding the sacrifice to move forward, and so she looks in Marley's direction, hoping to, as one type A woman attending this meeting, convey silently to the other type A woman attending this meeting ... that the show must go on before people derail matters.  And lo, it does.  Morgane smiles as Marley addresses the concerns that filtered through the crowd.  Yes.  She could work with this woman.  She lets Marley hold court and holds her chin up high as she stands in her red cape besides Leon, her acolyte, also in red.  (Their order is big on aesthetics.)  What Morgane both had, but hadn't, expected, however .... <i>record scratch!  </i>Was Naledi choosing this moment to volunteer.  It all seems to unfurl in slow motion.  As the young woman approaches the board, Morgane has the sense of a welling of emotions, of a most chaotic confession about to be unleashed upon them.  This young woman's wish to die, for all of them.  It lands like a beautiful note played directly in the faerie's secret, black heart.  She smiles, beatifically, touched by such a gesture, with so many witnesses (now very hard to claw back).  "We have a volunteer!" she cries for all to take notice, dramatically.

Marley casts a wide-eyed look to Lucian, Marw, then Naledi, where it simply sits for longer than it should. Then back to Marw and Lucian. The look was positively screaming WHAT?!

Lettie listens to the various things being said around her, taking in the various stances that the two sides have. The lynx shakes her head then pulls her hood back up and tugs it down to keep her mismatched gaze hidden. Her ears twitch, and she nods after hearing Mara speak, agreeing with that stranger. Reasons of her own she keeps her mouth quiet today.

Davis didn't know the woman who had volunteered to allow herself be killed in basically for nothing more than science. His gaze dropped feeling the shift in the air around him.

Lilith says to Morgane, "Is this what you envisioned?"

Marw looks back at Marley, hands clasped in front of her, one index finger points out to indicate one moment. Then she returns to watching Morgane.

Caela feels like she is adrift in a fever dream.  Never could she, with all that she's lived through, have imagined that she'd be attending a meeting regarding the subject of human sacrifice.  But a volunteer?  She very nearly slips and has to steady herself against her dilapidated building.  "What the f-" she curses, to herself.  Achilles neighs, seemingly in agreement.  Caela glances around her, making eye contact with anybody who will look her way.  "What?" she asks, to no one in particular.

Leon says aloud, "I offered to sacrifice myself if another was chosen, and Morgane fortold the outcome to me."

Naledi is doing her best to keep her face blank, to keep it void of emotion to the others' reactions to her declaration.  For now she's going to keep her eyes on the trio holding court, hands clasped in front of her.

Adamina 's face grows progressively paler at all of this talk of human sacrifice, and fades to the shade of sour milk when Naledi <i>volunteers.</i>  It is too much for her.   The woman's hands shake, and somewhere in her mind she can hear the far off, endless ringing of clock tower bells striking the hour of midnight.  Midnight forever, cursed forever. "I cannot abide this," she declares primarily to Lucian, but also to her not-mother, and Charleigh, and Naledi. "Killing people for magic is an evil thing and only has evil outcomes."  She does not wait for her words to land, but shoves her way through the crowd and removes herself from the situation.

Rory takes a very deep drink from his bottle of rum.

Morgane turns to directly regard Lilith, whom she lightly recalls has been a detractor since their initial meeting.  "I saw it in a vision before she came to me, yes," she says.  "She is our lamb, our most precious offering," she says, moving from Leon's side to approach Naledi. "I have seen it.  You are beautiful.  It is peaceful,"  she says, reaching for the young woman's hand, presumably to lead her away from the chaos that has now taken hold of the meeting.

Gallard knows there are others who have joined after the first town vote, he met one of them, Adamina, just recently. Who knows how many more have come through the lake. But if they keep postponing the vote every time a new person appears, they're never going to reach anywhere, but supplies are going to keep being an issue. Oh what has happened to him, the past Gallard would never even consider the thought of voting again to avoid human sacrifices. And now there's a volunteer as well! He studies the woman's features, she seemed to have ears similar to that of Spizzzo and a few others he had met. None of this felt right obviously, but a volunteer to be sacrificed somehow feels even worse. There's a strong urge in Gallard's heart to say something immediately, perhaps a knightly duty, and so he does, in a remarkably loud voice. "I object to anyone volunteering for the sacrifice!" His gloved hand reaches to rest on the hilt of his blade as a means to keep his mind calm.

Verdandi :: One day Leon and Verdandi will be pals and she'll learn about that flask, for now though she is just going to be a state of shocked confusion. Before she was in something of a daze, now those gold eyes are bouncing about the area. They connect with Caela's briefly, with Lilith's and of course to her two favorite redheads to see their reactions. That's just who we're listing.

Charleigh had been trembling so hard when the mention of sacrificing had started that she was surprised her pies hadn't toppled to the ground. It was when the one voice of volunteer was heard that she could honestly take a deep breath. The one had left, and her words rang into the baker's brain. It was how she also felt.

Lilith can feel the tension stirring among the others, the bubbling conflict that is so close to the surface she can taste it.  she takes a slow breath in, inhaling deeply, and cuts her eyes to Marley to see if their newly elected chair is going to take control of things.

Marley took a moment to recover from the unexpected announcement, her emerald gaze lingering on Naledi before returning to the increasingly vocal crowd. Well. That was certainly one way to begin her tenure. Marw's raised finger had been acknowledged with the slightest nod, and Marley drew a steadying breath before lifting her hands for quiet. "Everyone, please. I understand there are strong feelings about this, and I assure you, your concerns are beung heard." Her attention settled on Naledi, her expression softening before she throws a look at Morgane. "Morgane, perhaps you could take her somewhere quieter and speak with her privately? I think she deserves a moment away from all of this for...prayer." Looking back to the gathering, she added firmly, "A volunteer coming forward is significant, but it doesn't settle every question before us. We'll approach this carefully, and in the meantime, the needs of this village remain our priority." She nods, to the gathered, to herself. Time to wrap up this party before it goes even more AWOL. "Thank you all, again, for coming forth to make your feelings known. I think now is a good time to adjurn as there is much, <i>much</i> to discuss." Her hands lower only to immediately fetch her monogrammed silver cigarette case as she steps back, the meeting effectively dismissed.

Naledi isn't really the praying sort, but she will allow Morgane to lead her away lest she be bombarded by townsfolk. Let the fallout from her announcement settle a bit before she face everyone all at once. The elf reaches into her pocket and squeezes the silver locket before following the woman.

Mara looks among the gathered.  So many people.  So many voices.  But they have decided, and it is not her place or business to interfere beyond being present to offer counsel.  She raises her hand in a departing gesture to Charleigh, who she recognizes, and will likely seek Morgane later.  For now, she takes her leave of the crowd, hamster in tow.

Morgane nods once to Marley, for they are aligned in wanting to whisk Naledi away from the chaos bubbling around them.  "Of course," she says gently, clasping Naledi's arm or hand, if the other woman would let her.  "Please follow me," she entreats the elf.  "Perhaps we can pray together, as we did before.  Or you might like to lay down if you prefer."  She waits for the other woman to indicate assent before slowly guiding them away from the crowd.

Charleigh had made pies, but she didn't know what to do with them now that everyone was dismissed. So she turned giving one to Lilith before walking over to Rory. "Would you like to share some pie?"

Lettie exhales as everything is coming to an end. She steps from the hidden spot she listened from, though even with her hood up those lynx ears give her away. She wiggles fingers now towards both Lilith then Gallard. She isn't sure which way to go and pauses for a moment debating.
Davis didn't wait for anyone to walk to him, and he knew after the day it had been anyone who wanted to talk would be at the tavern before he knew it. He wanted the head start.

Caela knows she needs to talk with Marley. Well and really talk. Because they're both here. And oh, man, this is a lot. Not only is it a lot, but ... Caela doesn't exactly disagree with any of it. Even if everyone else, it seems, is outraged, Caela ... has Marley's back. And Morgane's? That woman, Caela couldn't get a bead on. For now, as Marley calls the meeting and Morgane leads Naledi away, Caela gestures between herself and Marley with her index finger, but mouths the word Later. She knows better than to approach in the aftermath of all this. She unhooks her horse and mounts up. And without saying goodbye to anyone, she takes off, a single white feather fluttering down in her wake.

Lilith continues that deep breathing, but her quarry has again escaped her. She breathes in another slow breath and then sits back down again. The pie is thrust into her hands before she can do anything else, and...now she has pie! She looks around, like...pie is cool, but what she really wants to do is put an axe through someone's head.

Rory has been a largely silent figure at this meeting, speaking only to show support of Marley. There are too many voices here, too many opinions, and the looming idea of Naledi volunteering herself to be sacrificed. He shakes his head a little to Charleigh, who he barely acknowledges with a fleeting look. "Perhaps later, but not right now. I've lost my appetite. Thank you for the offer." He takes another deep drink from the bottle.

Charleigh nods and decides that probably everyone would feel the same. Instead she would take this pie to her home and eat her feelings out of it.

Rory gives Marw a meaningful look and then turns and walks down the road to the right.

Marw pinches the bridge of her nose once most have departed, unable to tell if the headache was worse or slightly better now after all that. A shake of her head then comes and she turns on her heel to leave the village square and go back to her reservoir.

Gallard does not like that the volunteer is taken away immediately after the sudden announcement. His cry was also left unanswered, and just like that the second meeting was finished. He casts his gaze down for but a briefest of moments and then back up at everyone present. Lilith looked a little silly with the pie in her hand and the axes by her side. She probably didn't feel silly he guessed. He also catches Lettie's wave, and offers one back to her a bit half-heartedly. "Take care everyone." He offers as a goodbye, and takes his leave.

Lucian sighs deeply and winds up his little music box, then slips his flask out of his pocket. Listening to the warm tune he strolls off.

Lilith is here, with this pie. She would very much like to throw it at someone, maybe Morgane, but anyone at this point would do. However, food is a very finite quantity right now. Sighing irritably, she offers it to Lucian. "Pie?"

Marley caught Caela's gesture and returned it with a small, knowing nod. Later, indeed. She watched the woman ride off before slipping a cigarette from her silver case and settling it between her lips. A glance toward Lucian and Marw earned a faint, incredulous shake of her head. Well. That had gone swimmingly. With a flick of her lighter, she turned on her polished heel and made her way back toward the Red Ledger. She had a feeling she was going to need a very large cup of tea. Or preferably, something much, much stronger. Let the show begin.