First Grimwych Town Hall

RP Date: 2026-10-03

Location: Village Square

Participants: Desiree, Emmeline, Gallard, Hela, Hildako, Lettie, Lilith, Lucian, Marw, Morgane, Naledi, Rory, Spizzzo

Summary

Morgane calls Grimwych's residents together to announce that she has discovered a journal that appears to suggest that a human sacrifice at the stone circle may open a portal out of the village. This revelation prompts a chaotic vote in which the majority agrees the possibility should be investigated further. Morgane schedules another meeting to elect a chairperson and discuss how a potential sacrifice might be chosen, with Lucian volunteering to anonymously collect everyone's suggestions.

This archive was published after approval by all listed participants.

Roleplay

Desiree approaches, but remains hanging back from the crowd on the furthest fringes where she is only noticeable if directly looked at, but easily dismissed. She can still hear and see though, while her player is doing house chores.

Lettie wanders in to partake in the meeting her mother had mentioned was going to happen since this cat cannot read. She finds herself a spot to stand that is off to the side where she can listen and learn what the heck a town meeting is.

Naledi arrived looking uncharacteristically standoffish. Arms crossed over her chest, eyes averted to the ground, a small frown playing on her lips. She hadn't encounter many other people who had landed in this place thus far, so for now, she stuck to the outskirts of the crowd.

Spizzzo is headed back from the post office, delightedly looking through a small black box filled with tea bags. He oohs and coos to himself as he muses aloud about what mixes they might be. He tucks it under one arm as he arrives for the meeting.

Marw had priorities in life. They hadn't changed since her recent arrival in Grimwych. She might not remember much about who she was, but some things were ingrained so deeply that they couldn't be forgotten. Priority one was to be presentable; she had gone through the wardrobes of some abandoned homes to find what was to her taste, a sewing kit or three, after all seamstress was her prior and what she assumed was her current occupation. So presentation had been sorted. Now the second priority, find out where she was and who the others were. So she marched to the village square, coat wrapped firmly around her. A glance to those already gathered, eyes narrowed as she noticed most were favouring the outskirts as if they were expecting a bull to be brazen enough to storm the streets at any moment. With a sigh, she opts not to join them and pauses in the center, arms folded in front of her. "Who is it who called this meeting?" she asks to both everyone and no one in particular.

Lilith pulls her shadow axe out of the board and dissipates it into mist that is quickly carried off by the wind, then tucks the dragonfly warning away and looks around.

Morgane arrives in the Square, one arm pressing a leather journal to her chest. For those who have not personally interacted with Morgane yet, her reputation in the village is generally that shortly after her arrival in Grimwych she set up a stand outside the Lake to receive new arrivals. She calls herself Morgane of the Lake, because she doesn't remember her life before Grimwych, or so she says. These things may be considered common knowledge. Today, arriving to speak in the Village Square, she wears a crushed green velvet dress, the one she'd worn that day she spawned in the Lake. (It is clean, of course.) She makes her way to the highest set of steps in the Square she can find and ascends them, waving an arm above her head to gather everyone's attention as she faces her audience. "Thank you for coming," she calls out, repeating the words until a hush reasonably spreads through those gathered. "I am Morgane of the Lake, I arrived some time ago and like others here I remember nothing about my prior life, including how I arrived at this place." She waits until there is relative silence before continuing, holding the journal up so that all can see: "I am here today because I want to form a community amongst ourselves and share this journal that I received from the Post Office. It appears to have been written by a woman who resided here named Estelle de la Courtie." She passes the journal to the person closest to her, who presumably may read it and then circulate it to the next person. "Please see it with your own eyes, it is only a few entries, but the short summary is the Stone Circle may be a gate out of this place."

Rory is very nearly late and arrives just in time for Morgane's speech.  He studies her briefly from afar through slightly narrowed eyes, and then shrugs a bit in his oversized jacket, stuffs his hands into his pockets and meanders through the crowd to find a spot to stand and listen.  When the book is passed to him, he decides to tap the journal with the tip of his wand and check for authenticity.  In the meantime, either before or after, he'll greet Lucian, Emmeline, Lettie if she's visible, and Spizzzo, in that order.

Lettie is visible by those twitching ears atop her head that stand out amongst the rest who do not have animal ears. She greets Rory as he arrives and finds herself standing closer to him as the meeting begins. Whatever she has been doing prior to the meeting it was not taking a bath. She in her borrowed too big overalls and sweater that hangs off a shoulder are covered in dust and cobwebs. Marw would murder her if she showed to work like this. As the journal is passed to her she flips through the pages pretending to read it, she cannot read and doesn't want everyone to know it, so she fakes it then passes it along.

Spizzzo nods thoughtfully whenever he receives the journal, passing it along and commenting, "I recognized some of those letters."

Marw lofted a brow, her favoured expression in life is one of unamusement, perhaps. Today, though, it also held a strong element of intrigue. She said nothing for the moment, instead shewatcheds as the journal made its rounds through the crowd. With the occasional impatient tap of her toe until it landed in her hands, then she took her sweet time to read the entries before snapping it shut and passing it on. Once any noise from the gathered had faded enough, she had one question "If it is a gate <i>out</i> of this place, to <i>where</i> does it lead into?"

Lilith taps the toe of one of her very expensive shoes upon the stone ground and crosses her arms over her bosom, appearing very bored.  Her dark dragonfly wings flare out around her, absorbing nearby light and reflecting only little ivory sparks.  When the book is passed to her, she reads over it carefully without comment, and then resumes looking bored.

Hildako stands on the edge of the crowd, looking less than presentable and biting her cheek. She has no idea where she is, and it's clear in the one night she's been here that she's not slept yet. Thank the gods her mother wasn't-- <i>"Who is it who called this meeting?"</i> The voice is unmistakable and a moment later she's peering through the crowd at a version of her mother she can't remember when she last saw. She stepped to the side, making sure another one of the attendees block her from Marw's view as she listens to Morgane.

Lilith can shield Hildako with her pretty wings.

Naledi lifted her face when she heard a familiar voice boom out across the square demanding to know who had gathered them all there. Was that?? No, it couldn't?but then again, Lex had arrived. The elf pinched the bridge of her nose and chose to live in denial and turn her attention to Morgane and then the leather journal once it was passed her way. Naledi took her time examining it (despite not being able to read a word) before passing it along to the next person.

Emmeline stands not all that far from Rory, and the greeting comes before the book makes it her way. She lifts her head quietly, a small smile briefly flitting across her lips before someone passes the journal to her. She skims it, making a few notes before passing it on.

Lucian glances only briefly at the journal before passing it on, "My French is not so good. Merlincito? Chevalier Gallardo? Insight?"

Rory puts his wand away and looks to Lucian with the same immediate thought. "I can read some of it, but might need to look at it a bit longer to get anything useful."

Gallard had not expected this many people present. There were a few familiar faces, but a lot more strangers. Presumably they were all in the same predicament as him. He accepts the journal given to him with a small, muffled 'thank you', goes through a few pages, realizes that the slits in his helmet are way too narrow to read a book through properly and then just passes the journal over to the next person. Not even a minute had passed since he got it.

Morgane is silent as people pass the journal amongst themselves and react. Her face betrays nothing. She is grave. How could she be anything but? When she hears Hidalko demand who called the meeting, she raises a pale arm. "Miss, I did," she says primly, with all the commanding voice of a ye olde Karen. She faces the crowd once more, lifting her chin: "The journal is not in my native tongue, and yet I understand it. I have no idea how or why, but I am disturbed. For those of you who do not randomly read whatever language that is: the woman, Estelle, writes that a human sacrifice was performed at the circle of stones, and that perhaps this opened a portal out of here." She is steely-eyed, her posture very straight, patrician. "I know, all of us are eager to leave this place. Now, I believe we should not act rashly." She draws a steadying breath, throwing her gaze around the square. "But we came into an empty village, and so it stands to reason that the prior inhabitants of this place did find a way out. Perhaps through this portal. I shared the journal because I believe all of us have a right to know of its contents. Unless I am mistaken, none of us wish to be here. Thus, I would like to propose something." Another breath. "We do not have to figure out the how of it today," she speaks quickly, "but I would like for us to form a government, and I would like as a first order of business for all those in favor of testing the stone circle to please say <b>AYE</b>. And for those against to say <b>NAY</b>."

Gallard specifically avoids looking in the direction of Lilith and her wings.

Lilith keeps her arms crossed, the faintest shadow of a smile hovering about her lips.  She has added a pretty  shawl to her ensemble today, and looks positively striking in purple and black, especially those shoes! "If you're establishing a government, shouldn't we consider things like a steady food supply and public safety before we go sacrificing people on the scribbles of someone who isn't even here?"

Spizzzo laughs loudly at this announcement, "What a silly story! Obviously we would never so much as take up the question of human sacrifice, and anything that did could not properly call itself a government. Governments exist to aid and protect the population. Now, why did you really call this meeting?"

Rory gives Lucian kind of a deliberate <i>look</i> at the vein of conversation that immediately transpires, but says nothing.

Morgane 's gaze cuts toward Lilith.  "Absolutely yes, but I still personally wish to try."  She raises a slender arm.  "Let me be the first to say it then.  AYE, from myself."  She glares at Spizzzo.  "I personally am not defeatist, I believe we can leave this place IF we try.  AYE."

Lilith says to Morgane, "Well if you're volunteering yourself to die, I'm not going to stop you."

Marw eturned her arms to the folded state in front of her chest as she listened to this pitch. A tilt of her head came as she weighed up the words. Was this woman who called the meeting suggesting that sacrificing someone to the stone circle was the way out and that they should replicate this past method? She turns her attention to those who were gathered, the one she recognised from the taverne, to one in full suit of armour, to the quiet ones, to the one with a stick in his hand, then over the winged woman and finally pausing over the one maybe hiding behind her, no flicker of recognition. Well, if one had to be sacrificed, statistically it was unlikely to be her so why not? "Aye." she says, quietly but firmly.

Gallard was absolutely stunned at the suggestion. Some kind of an organized government is exactly what this place needs! Gallard doesn't worry about the minute details of this decision. He says very quickly and very loudly, "Aye!"

Lettie tilts her head to one side staring up at Morgane after she speaks. The lynx is biting down on her lip to tap the slew of questions that she has bubbling to the surface, first what the word government means. She manages to keep them to herself and makes mental notes to find Hela or her mother after this to ask them all the questions, all of them. The testing of the stone circle sounds like an adventure, but she also remembers what she was told from Hela. She just bites harder down on her lip to keep from speaking. She isn't sure what to say or not to say, what is or isn't the right answer at the moment.

Lilith speaks louder. "This is also a bullshit vote!  Voting for government should not include voting for human sacrifice.  Those are separate issues!"

Desiree takes her turn to read over the journal, then pass it on. A lump is in her throat, something that was now a daily (if not hourly occurrence), and she forced it down to exhale a sigh. Her jawline remained visibly taut as she wrung her hands over and over. Lettie was kept in her constant peripheral. As Morgane explained, she listened, thought, and eventually after some consideration, spoke a timid, "...Aye." Damnit all, she wanted to take her family and get the hell out of dodge. Any means necessary. The small piece of engraved animal tusk in her pocket weighed heavily, as did the photograph.

Lucian taps his guitar idly and lets out a resigned sigh as the responses already begin to resound. "Nay."

Rory also shakes his head, frowning at the situation. "Nay."

Hela had been hiding in the dark shadows of the doorway. A way out perhaps meant home, to the ones she cared about, to her life. If they stayed here, people would die, unfortunately possibly by her own hand. So she simply says "Aye."

Naledi listened to Morgane speak, the frown deepening on her lips as her hand slipped into her pocket and gripped the metal locker, finger tracing over the engraved name. She a steadying breath she took a step forward and called out, "Aye."

Spizzzo blinks as he works quietly to parse this development, still not voting.

Emmeline remains quiet for a long moment, but nothing is worth the cost of a life in her book. "Nay," she calls out.

Lilith stalks forward, pushing whoever might between her and Morgane to stand beside the other woman. "Come on, people!" she calls, her voice carrying across the square.  Animals turn to listen. "Are we realy going to be stupid about this?  Government is one thing.  Human sacrifice is another thing.  Two votes.  We don't even know what this journal says; all we have is her say so!  Are you really willing to commit to this situation on the word of a complete stranger?"

Emmeline tilts her head, listening as her mother calls aye, and then later along among other voices is another familiar aye. Her daughter. Shit. This was not a time to be noticed, and so she doesn't vote.

Emmeline was on the wrong screen.... that was supposed to be Hildako. &gt;.&gt; The cats are fighting ruthlessly over here.

Morgane counts out the votes as they are spoken. She doesn't answer Lilith's comments about who would be sacrificed, because she doesn't have an answer. She says only, simply: "The Ayes have it." She smiles grimly. "But," she continues, "some valid points have been raised." She draws a steadying breath. "First of all," she addresses Lilith, "I don't appreciate you calling me an untrustworthy stranger, I live in this tiny village, same as you. One might ask why you're so determined to remain here instead of going home." Her gaze returns to the crowd. "Second of all, and in any event, for all we know, tomorrow, we might spawn back in our home worlds, wherever they may be." A beat. "Third of all. There has been no danger to us as of yet, apart from the flavor of Spizzzo's rat stew. Thus we may take our time with this. I believe we should meet again to vote on the way we go about deciding who shall be sacrificed. And to elect someone who chairs these meetings," her gaze cuts to Lilith, "a proper government to see us through such a terrible thing. Therefore," she pauses, "I propose people declare their intention to be chair on the board here, and that at our next meeting we hold a vote and discuss potential human sacrifice strategy. As such, would like a volunteer, someone who can collate the anonymous submissions through the post office on this grisly topic. If none step forward, I will do it myself."

Lilith plants her hands on her hips, deliberately placing them close to, but not on, the hafts of her pair of axes. "You are an untrustworthy stranger.  You roped basic government and ritual bloodshed into the same vote, and just because there hasn't been danger yet doesn't mean there won't be.  Who are you, to know our future?  What we need is sustainability.  If the lot of you starve to death before you figure out how to go home, well..." The mercenary shrugs. "I guess you left either way."

Lucian strums an agitated tune on his guitar, looking at the eyes of those who voted Aye, and says, "Well. I can collect the grisly thoughts."

Marw is not going to volunteer, however now seems like the perfect time for her to pull out a packet of cigarettes she had lifted from some vacant home from her pocket. They were old, not great, but they will do. One pulled out, lit with a match as she silently awaits to see who would be the person who enjoyed paperwork enough to volunteer themselves.

Gallard was having a pretty hard time figuring out the words being spoken because of the helmet muffling everything. But he definitely heard Lilith's rallying words. "Human sacrifices? I thought we were just figuring out the government part.. What..." He says quietly, more to himself. And then the lady known as Morgane confirmed it as well. Oh dear. Alas, it was too late to turn back now. He is now stuck in his head thinking about how his carelessly quick vote could have doomed an innocent person here and does not have the presence of mind to propose himself as a volunteer.

Rory fishes for his own pack of cigarettes, which are in much better condition than the ones Marw is holding, takes one out, lights it, drags deeply, and mutters to Lucian. "Well, <i>e<font size="4">so fue fácil. "</font></i>

Spizzzo clears his throat and calls out, "Well. This government is fundamentally illegitimate, and I do not recognize its authority. I suppose I should take this opportunity to announce that in light of these developments, I will hosting an anarcho-syndicalist commune in the old Watch Tower. Our fire is open to all, our stew is available to all, and human sacrifice is not tolerated. Thank you for your time." With a forced smile, he tucks his parcel of tea bags under his arm more firmly and leaves.

Emmeline frowns heavily and shifts her weight to one side, arms crossing. She was against it, and she certainly wasn't into paperwork. No words are said on her side.

Naledi 's hand clenched around the locket but she remained silent.

Lettie continues to listen in both to the conversation happening at the meeting and the one in her head. She looks confused, is confused. This talk of a government is confused not knowing what one is or why it needs a chair and boards. She is shy to raise a hand, "Why are we making someone sit on a chair on a board? What purpose does that serve?" Of course, she is thinking of a person literally sitting on a chair on a board.

Morgane nods slowly in response to Lilith's objections.  "This is not an easy situation for many reasons, and I recognize that," she acknowledges.  She takes a steadying breath, offering the woman a grim smile. "I apologize for being defensive, earlier.  Obviously I am desperate to leave this place to the point of considering human sacrifice.  It was, I dare say, validating to know that I'm not alone."  She gestures at Lucian.  "Sir, please announce your name for everyone, so people know who will serve as the recording secretary for this project.  I will make a note on the board."  She nods to Spizzzo as he announces his leave.  "I understand your concerns.  Thank you for attending, I do appreciate you making the stew, it is not on you that the area does not have better sources of protein for you to work with," she says.  Morgane is clearly trying to hold it together in a classy way, despite the subject matter.  "Let us plan to reconvene in a fortnight and discuss these matters further, after Lucian has collated everyone's input," she calls out.  "Everyone, we are finished here."

Morgane smiles kindly at Lettie.  "It is to create order, hopefully a little bit better than I have here."

Lucian strums an attention-getting chord and holds up one hand, identifying himself to others. "Lucian Corvo. I have been staying in the Last Chance."

Lilith doesn't smile back.  She retreats, folding her wings back with a little 'bzzz' and glowers at the group as a whole, sans Lettie.

Lettie says to Morgane, "How does sitting on a chair make order? Why can everyone not get a chair to sit on? "

Marw takes a drag of her cigarette and also takes the moment to inspect her nails. Damn, there is a chip of the plum varnish on at least a couple. She will have to sort that. A judgemental shake of her head as Lucian is the volunteer, a glance his way and she silently mouths "Why?" but they needed someone for it, they had someone for it, and more importantly, it was not her.

Hela shakes her head and for a second, pauses as she looks at Marw. However she then catches sight of Lettie, winks, then glances to her watch and quickly departs. Time is up. New record.

Desiree exhales shakily, the chaos and high emotions of the gathering were really getting to her. Her brilliant silver eyes darted from face to face and past them, staring at the windows of sporadic buildings and random vacant areas. She nodded a little here and there and for all intents and purposes it would look like she was nodding in agreement with some spontaneous shout or yell, but...that wasn't it at all. "They don't want us to leave." This is spoken quietly, almost a whisper, very easily missed. "They're happy we're here." Then, her face turns grim, her lips fall into a deep frown and she glares at something over her shoulder. "And they will fight to keep us here." With that, she disappears with haste, making her way quickly down the abandoned streets and back toward the old farm.

Gallard is not able to bear the tension nor the looks in the group any longer, so he retreats. He retreats far away from of the village square.

Morgane smiles kindly once more to Lettie as the group begins to erode.  "Ah, chair can be something you sit on, but also it is a term that signifies a person who has authority over a gathering, to direct the discourse," she explains.  She waves at others who are departing, and then moves toward the bulletin board, reaching within her satchel to retrieve some paper and a pen to write a note.

Lucian smiles and raises an eyebrow when he catches Marw looking. He's still got it! "Doña Raposa." He dabs his forehead with a handkerchief with an embroidered crow.

Rory glances briefly at Marw, takes another puff of his smoke, and starts walking up the hill away from the crowd.

Lettie looks to Morgane and nods her thanks for the explanation even if she is still confused, "It sounds more like we need to get people off their feet than worrying about chairs. Community home building or fixing up spots to be livable. Then add in the chairs." Clearly the lynx was still confused about chairs.

Lucian plays a morose sounding ballad as he makes his way back to the tavern.

Morgane writes, in her beautiful, sloping handwriting, a note summarizing their town hall, which she pins to the notice board before departing the square herself.<p><i>My fellow villagers, those who currently reside in Grimwych and those who have yet to arrive,</i></p><p><i>As discussed at our meeting on 3 October 2026, I uncovered a journal written by a prior resident in which she recounts the use of human sacrifice to activate the nearby stone circle into a portal.  A majority of those attending the meeting believe this is a concept worth exploring further, given the circumstances.</i></p><p><i>I propose that we meet again in the Village Square at 2pm EST on Sunday, 8 November 2026 to discuss the matter further.  At such time, we will be holding an election for a village chairperson as well.</i></p><p><i>In the meantime, and with apologies for the subject matter, please send (via the post office, for anonymity) <b>Lucian </b>your suggestions as to how we might choose someone.  He has kindly offered to sort through and collate this unfathomable material.  Please also declare your intention to run for chair <b>on this board</b>.</i></p><p><i>Thank you for your attention to these matters.</i></p><p><i>Morgane of the Lake</i></p><br />