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

[winebar]

Very well, if I am being badgered into participating; never have I ever killed another person.

[TAKE THAT, MURDERERS.]

[graftage]

[He's lost his drink at this point and he's just. Slouched over a chair..]

[He goes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at this.]

[winebar]

Wh-You can't just shrug! That's not how the game is played.

[YOU BULLIED HIM INTO THIS.]

[graftage]

[slurring his words]

I don't have a drink. So I just have to make do. Anyways, for a whole Grim Reaper, you're kinda soft, huh?

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya lifts his glass in a 'cheers' gesture before going ahead and knocking back the rest of what's in it.]

[winebar]

[HE ACTUALLY SEEMS SURPRISED BY THIS???]

[chronosynthesis]

[If Syrlya isn't still using Adelis to keep himself upright, by this point, he's found something else to grab.]

I am a soldier. That... often requires. Killing. [He gestures with the glass for emphasis. Small mercy for van Zieks he hasn't dropped it.]

[yourlenore]

( taking a loooong sippy of all of shot number ten )

You really ought to try it some time, Mr. Lawgiver. Might take the edge off.

( lmaoooooo )

[winebar]

Absolutely not. That would make me no better than those that I prosecute.

[passthrough]

[Technicalities aside?

Yeah, here goes another one. He's moved on to water at this point, he is WAY too drunk already to take any more liquor.]

[esurientabyss]

[ Well, he isn't the type to bring attention to himself, but also he doesn't particularly care to hide it? So he'll sip. ]

[bluminescence]

[ Well, Kaspar has had too much wine already by this point. He's ridden the rise of his more talkative level of tipsy, only to start going quiet and thoughtful on his last glass of wine.

What is one more very long and somber drink while avoiding all eye contact in favor of the ground? ]

[winebar]

[KASPAR!!!]

The lives taken by a soldier are hardly what I had in mind. I am sorry for the discourtesy of the sweeping statement.
[Fretting slightly.]

[chronosynthesis]

[Syrlya has also had far too much, and shuffles over because he has questions.] Kaspar! I didn't know you were a soldier.

[He sounds surprised. Looks surprised. Is surprised.]

[framestory]

[ Ellis isn't drinking (his preferred beverage is water) nor sipping, but he's watching everyone else... and it's just about who he expected. Thanks for helping him confirm, van Zieks. ]

[hypnowhip]

[Sylvando, who is a bit more than tipsy at this point, gives van Zieks an annoyed stare.]

Really, Barry? That's not a fun question!

[But he'll relent. So after an even longer, this time more thoughtful stare, he finishes off his glass. Goodness, he's lost count of how many that is now.]

[winebar]

[He blinks a moment at the drink, but then, knights and soldiers aren't that different.]

I don't see you complaining at other similarly revealing questions.

[flamenova]

[ ah, that's...well.

if she wants to get into technicalities, she didn't, no. but she does have blood on her hands, and not a small amount of it, either. that's her burden to bear.

she probably shouldn't take a sip. but to not do so feels disrespectful to the lives that were lost, like she's turning her back on them.

reluctantly, she drinks. ]

[winebar]

If I may, miss Pyra, can I ask your circumstances? You seem troubled by it.

[for8000amonth]

[ Going to maintain dubious eye contact with whoever feels like looking while he downs the rest of his glass. Whoops. ]

[winebar]

[JUST NOTING THIS AND MENTALLY ADDING IT TO THE CRIMINAL RECORD HE'S REVERSE-ENGINEERING IN HIS FILES.]

[knightunerring]

[ Poor Flynn, nursing his wine glass this entire time, has definitely still had enough to be a little melancholy-philosophical at hearing something like that. He takes a thoughtful sip. To no one in particular: ]

I think the responsibility for taking a life can take many forms.

[winebar]

[Giving him an up and down glance.]

I take it you are a knight?
[He's never seen a guy who looks more like a stereotypical knight than you, sir.]

[tot]

[ uta sees her cup but before she gives any sign of which way things are going to go, she'll just sigh at van zieks. ]

I'm not sure if this is the kind of example you'd use for this sort of game.

[pactmarshal]

[ Hm.

That's glass number 3, finished in a somber manner. He has killed...many. ]