Town Hall Meeting The Second

[winebar]

WHO: Everyone willing
WHAT: van Zieks trying to catherd, again, in order to Establish Law & Order.
WHEN: Sometime in the Summer between the various events.
WHERE: the forest, outside van Zieks' farm.
WARNINGS: chaos mostly, more will be added if needed.

[A week or so after the chaos of Hot or Not, each farm will recieve another missive from Barry Z himself, chief buzzkill, who clearly learned nothing from how things went last time. It reads as such;]

To All Parties Brought to the Island by the Harvest Goddess,

Tomorrow at 11AM sharp, please arrive at the location indicated on the map shown of the reverse of this document. The topic of discussion on the table is the potential establishment of some form of social contract and body of law. As before, I cannot force attendance, however, I would again hope everyone sees the benefit in being involved in this discussion.

Sincerely,
Lord Barok van Zieks, Esquire

[And again as before, there's a map on the back. This time leading one to van Zieks' residence, an orderly forest farm with a nice stable currently housing the horse van Zieks rode in on to make himself the boss of things, apparently.

At the time of the meeting, there are two tables that were clearly brought out from inside. There are... snacks? Van Zieks is not a chef, you will have these strawberries and fried mushrooms and you'll like it, I guess. There was an attempt. Van Zieks himself is still dressing in his less fancy- but still absurd for this weather- three piece suit.]

Than you all for coming. I understand that the topic I have put on the table may seem... needlessly dire to some, however, in the case that something does happen, it would be far better for us to already have a system in place. I do not think we currently require any sort of active police force, but rather that we should have some sort of agreed set of behavior in place, and then elected individuals to adjudicate any potential disagreements.

As far as a social contract, on Mr. Trahearne's advisement, it would follow thusly; [He pulls out another paper to read from.]
- Do not cause unsolicited physical harm to one other.
- Do not harm or otherwise disrupt another person's farm.
- Do not damage, destroy, or unlawfully take possession of another person's property.
- Do not vandalize or otherwise disrupt communal spaces for us or the townspeople.
- Do not behave in such a manner that would elicit broad reprisal against the group as a whole from the townspeople or the goddess.

If anyone has any other thoughts, feel free to share them. I feel that this is basic enough that even those of you more prone to... rebellion can agree to it.

The second matter is to discuss how to handle if someone does break these rules. While I have made clear before my prior experience with the law, I understand that a system like this can only function if there is trust in those enforcing it. Thus I think that the authority should be given to whoever the group as a whole feels most comfortable entrusting it to. So I open the floor to nominations for that responsibility.

Finally, I'd like to make clear why this is necessary. I have spoken to the goddess, and as long as it does not directly interfere with her and her means, she has no intent of intervening if something were to happen to one of us. We are not her "people," the residents of the town are. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to protect ourselves.

[And now he will step back and hope that some productive discussion happens.]

Comments

[hypnowhip]

Oh, live a little! Join us!

[Don't make him literally strong arm--]

[winebar]

You want me to voluntarily share sensitive information about myself while also becoming increasingly incapacitated, immediately after making a proposal that will be the most unappealing to those most likely to those wont to take advantage of such things?

[HE JUST SAID LET'S GET RID OF CRIME, AND NOW YOU WANT HIM TO MAKE HIMSELF OPEN TO ATTACK FROM CRIMINALS?]

[hypnowhip]

[Pulling out his whip...]

If you're that concerned that someone will have the gall to take advantage of a little fun and games, I'll watch over you.

[He has nothing for the sensitive information part, that's just the name of the game.]

[winebar]

[WHAT SORT OF KNIGHT ARE YOU WHY IS THERE A WHIP.]

Wh-That's
[Why is he turning a bit red???]

I still have no interest in sharing information about myself! How do you answer for that hole in your argument, counsel!?
[HE GOT SO THROWN OFF BY THE WHIP THAT HE DEFAULTED TO LAWYER WORDS.]

[hypnowhip]

[LISTEN HE DOESN'T HAVE HIS SWORD BACK YET.

Also he lets out a startled laugh at that reaction. It's just a whip?! Calm down.]

That's the whole point of the game, though! Don't you want to know the rest of the group better?

[winebar]

[Absolutely not, stop being sexy if you want him to calm down.]

No. There are only a select few people I'd care to know more about.
[Now he's just being purposely obstinate.]

[hypnowhip]

[Never.]

Uuuugggghhh, you're such a spoilsport! Fine, we'll just have to get a smaller group together later!

[He says, like van Zieks is going to tell him who these other select few people are.]

[winebar]

I am already having to suffer this spontaneous social event, you will not put me through another.

[Is he giving in after all???]

[hypnowhip]

[PERKING UP IMMEDIATELY.]

Oh?!

[Is he?!]

[winebar]

After such unrelenting assault it is simpler for me to simply concede to this foolishness.

[GOOD WORK TEAM WE COLLECTIVELY WORE HIM DOWN.]

[hypnowhip]

Yaaaaay~! I can't wait!

[And he will profusely apologize to van Zieks when things inevitably go off the tracks into a train wreck.]

[yourlenore]

Now, now, if someone were to kill you over this, they would wait perhaps a week and do it in your sleep. Here would be quite obvious.

( Professional opinion! Sipsips)

[winebar]

They're welcome to try, as long as I am not intoxicated I'm confident in my abilities to fend off assassination attempts, I've been doing so for a decade.

[SIR DON'T JUST SAY THAT LIKE IT'S NORMAL.]

[graftage]

I feel like every rich guy has like ten assassination attempts under their belt...

[Just. Talking to himself. He's drunk.]

[winebar]

It has nothing to do with that and everything to do with my brother's and my history of prosecuting high profile criminals.

[graftage]

So, what, its like...? A bunch of people seeking out revenge?

[winebar]

Correct.

[graftage]

[....]

[He looks like he wants to say something, but doesn't, shaking his head.]

Never mind. Way too personal...

[yourlenore]

Well, of course, provided no one's presently in a sniper position...

( Joke, snipers set up hours beforehand, and he doesn't think Van Zieks warrants that level of obsession. But what else does one say when a man says he's been fending off assassination attempts for a decade? Also, why do his assassins suck so bad? )

What has made you such a popular target, in any case? Your dedication to instituting law in all places?

[winebar]

My brother and I devoted our careers to prosecuting high-profile criminals, the sort that typically have associates interested in retribution. The legend of the Reaper didn't help.

[yourlenore]

( Ohohoho... )

The legend of the Reaper? And what might that be, then?

[winebar]

"Any who face the Reaper of the Old Bailey in court will find themselves convicted or soon dead."

[yourlenore]

My, my, that is quite the brutal rumor indeed. But rooted in truth, I presume? The death of a criminal is a worthwhile death, so long as it serves the law?

[winebar]

Rooted in truth in that it was happening, though not by my hand. I do not operate by such underhanded methods.

[yourlenore]

Is it underhanded, to condemn a criminal to execution by the letter of the law? Or do you have no such thing, whence you're from?