Fifth Temptation ♆ For the Cause [Written]

[putuporshutup]

Filtered away from anyone who would use this information for harm: I know everyone is frightened that this might be the start of something big and bad - I am, too. But like Phoebe said, we need to work together. I've only been here for a couple of months and a lot of you probably don't know me - name's Meg, by the way - but I'm not going to sit by and do nothing when I know I can help others.

I'll dispense with the details in the interest of time, but I've got certain abilities and I can offer physical protection. That bit about "looking in windows, knocking on doors" is creepy as hell, but at least the library doesn't have a lot of those. If anyone else wants to gather to discuss possible plans and research what might be going on, I'm going to do my best to secure an area in here that will be easy to guard.

Filtered to anyone in the library: Hey everyone. Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to rearrange things a bit for extra security. By all means, keep doing what you're doing - but I'd suggest moving to the center of the room.

[Anyone who has their journal open will hear a lot of creaking and a few minor crashes coming from the library, and anyone in the room will see Meg shifting the big, solid wood shelves that make up the labyrinth of the library to form a large perimeter that provides access from only one entrance in the front, with two more shelves in place to slide over and block them in completely if need be.

A few of the smaller shelves are positioned to block off a couple of quiet corners where people might be able to sleep if they want to, and some of the cozy chaises, couches, and chairs are arranged within. The shelves face inwards so the books are accessible, and she's done her best to maintain some resemblance of organized sections. Two of the larger tables are positioned in the middle, surrounded by chairs and ready to be used for any groups who want to research possible causes or perhaps make tactical plans.

Those who are listening might be concerned or confused by all the noise, and those present has just seen some incredibly powerful telekinesis at work. As far as Meg is concerned, they can deal. This is her, looking out for the greater good, and for once not being stifled by mistrust.

She sighs and lets herself collapse into one of the nearby chairs, kicking her feet up on the the edge of the table to relax and catch her breath. That much action is taxing, even for a powerful demon. Still - it looks good and secure, and if it helps even a single person here, it was well worth the effort.

She'll be more inclined to fight with her powers, but she's packing the pistol Lara gave her and the dagger from Katniss just in case. She smiles to herself and picks up her journal again.]

Good to go, everyone. Anyone who is staying in the castle is welcome to come hang, whether you want to help figure out what the hell is going on, or just want protection. And hey, if you get bored, at least you can read.

Whatever you're doing, stay safe.

[UPDATES]
Day 2 Announcement

Patrols, anyone?

Day 3 Meeting

Share information with those in the library

Day 2 message: Filtered away from anyone who would use this information for harm:
Given what has happened, I'd like to remind everyone that we have a large area of the library blocked off with plenty of people willing and able to defend those who might be frightened and vulnerable.

It's safe to say we know what's happening now, and that everyone here is in very real danger. We'll be organizing patrols and continuing our research, but we're also happy to protect anyone who is frightened. It's not much, but there are couches and plenty of books to keep you busy.

We've determined that this is likely some kind of twisted nursery rhyme or fairy tale come to life. Where I'm from, the stories behind those are almost always based in truth, and that seems to be the case here as well. We're working hard in here to try to find it to see if there are answers on how to stop what's happening.

Any outside information or help is welcome. If you have heard of any lore - most likely a children's story - that has to do with an entire area or a town losing their voices and people having their hearts ripped out, let us know. It might help us figure out how to stop this, if we can at all.

Filtered to children and those who are looking out for them: Are the kids all safe? If you're scared and you need somewhere to go, you can come to the library and we will take care of you.

Day 3 message: Filtered away from anyone who would use this information for harm: If anyone has seen the attackers firsthand or has any other helpful information, please let us know so we can keep trying to piece together what they are and how to stop them. Remember, the library is being protected and you are more than welcome to come, whether you'd like to help research or just stay here with us for safety.

[A pause as she taps her pen on the page of the journal. Compassion was coming a little more easily to her after being shown so much of it by her new friends here, but it still takes her a moment to phrase it properly.]

Condolences to those who have lost someone they care about.

Comments

Written/Action

[babyaliendaddy]

[Tucker is in one of the corners of the library, book in hand, his helmet off but the rest of his armor on. He frowned and scratched his head, before he wrote to Meg.]

Hey, do you remember what the little girl was saying? Exactly? You know, in the collective weird dream shit?

[putuporshutup]

[She looks up and nods solemnly to him before wishing up a large piece of paper and a permanent marker. If they were going to be brainstorming, it would be helpful to have it more visible instead of flipping back and forth in the journals with everyone using them so much at the moment. She spreads it across the table and writes in big letters:]

Can't even shout, can't even cry
The Gentlemen are coming by.
Looking in windows, knocking on doors,
They need to take seven and they might take yours.
Can't call to mom, can't say a word,
You're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard.

[She hangs it up on a nearby shelf for reference before picking up her journal and writing a response to Tucker.]

That's what the people who had the dreams pieced together.

Written

[honeytoes]

So the main message of the day is "Get ready because a shit storm is coming"?

Forever

[putuporshutup]

[She recognizes his writing from the noted he'd been scribbling during their last discussion.] Seems that way. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem like you might know your way around this particular kind of shitstorm... Feel like helping with some research?

[lightbranded]

[Will slips silently into the library and makes his way over to the barricaded area. As he moves he takes a moment to tug securely at his belt, as if to reassure himself that it was still there.]

[putuporshutup]

[Meg smiles a little and nods to Will when she sees him enter their enclosed section. She's glad to have him here.]

[deductiongeek]

[Conan simply shows up at one of the tables with a stack of research books that looked far too advanced for his age. He had always been good at going unnoticed.]

[putuporshutup]

[Meg returned with another stack of books, surprised to see a small boy sitting at the table. She waited to catch his eye and gave a little wave to greet him.]

Action / written

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke turns toward the sounds of moving things about, and then again toward the sound of of someone settling.

He opens his journal, settling in a near chair, and writes. ]

I can set up a spell to quickly move the shelves should it be needed.

[ He's vaguely facing her, and turns the journal toward her, but she might notice he isn't paying attention quite right. ]

Re: Action / written

[putuporshutup]

[She looks over and nods.]

That would be helpful, especially if I'm needed elsewhere at some point. What's your name?

Written

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

D --> You are preparing defenses in the library
D --> Do you require assistance

Forever

[putuporshutup]

We are. We've barricaded a section with only one entrance so nothing can sneak up on us while we try to figure out what's going on, and so we can protect those who need it if they come. You're welcome to join us.

/written, of course

[hard_talker]

Research sounds good. Count yourself in one bookworm with blunt weapon proficiency. I'll bring my notes on the world in case they might come in handy.

forever, naturally

[putuporshutup]

Thanks, I'm sure those will come in handy somehow.

Action/Written

[strangewonders]

[Howl had mostly been able to ignore all the crashing about, even if the noise, after so much silence, was jarring. But once it's all rearranged, he wanders over to where Meg is, scribbling onto a page]

Showoff.

[But he's smirking. It was a good idea, even if he hadn't anticipated the library becoming the place to be.]

Forever

[putuporshutup]

[She looks up and smirks back before scribbling back with a little wink.]

That's me.

Action/written

[fuckelves]

[A very grumpy Thorin stalks in. His sword sheathed at his side, freshly sharpened - as are the small throwing axes and knives strapped under his coat. He glances around to the others researching the topic and simply nods curtly to them in greeting.]

[This whole silence thing is really working his nerves.]

[Thorin sits on the floor beside Meg's chair and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a small velvet pouch and his pipe. Thorin then empties some of the Greenwood weed from the pouch into his pipe and then puts the satchel back in his pocket...then it occurs to him.]

[Annoyed, Thorin pulls out his journal and scribbles irritably on it before holding it out in front of Meg.]

Don't happen to have a light, do you?

[Being silent, he can apparently deal with. But a Dwarf can NOT be denied his smoking habit!!]

Forever!

[putuporshutup]

[Meg looks up when she sees Thorin walk in and smiles warmly. She reads his note and nods, fishing a silver zippo out of her leather jacket and tossing it to him, gesturing to flip it open with one's thumb. After he was situated, she wrote a quick greeting in the journal.]

Thanks for coming. Glad to have you here.

LIBRARY | DAY 2 [Written/Action]

[putuporshutup]

[Since just about anyone who slept had drifted off at some point during the night, Meg goes around rousing everyone and gathers them to the table to give the solemn news that someone has been been killed. She hadn't known herself until Thorin had come and informed her. It was depressing as hell, but she was now even more determined to figure it out so they could put an end to this before more innocent people were hurt. It's a touch morbid, but she adds a single tally mark to the poster with the nursery rhyme on it, before turning to write in the journal once more.]

The way she was killed... her heart was ripped right out of her chest. I think it's safe to say we know what seven things "The Gentlemen" are after, and they've already got one. Did anyone else see the body?

Re: LIBRARY | DAY 2 [Written/Action]

[babyaliendaddy]

[Tucker shook his head, then wrote in turn.] Fuck no. Now that I know that there are heart-ripping things out there, it's less likely I will.

[He rubbed his face, and sighed silently, before writing again.] We know all the kids here are secured, right?

LIBRARY | DAY 2 [Written/Action]

[honeytoes]

[Gary is currently sat in the library looking white as a sheet. He'd made his way straight there after seeing Sheenas body. It was The Doctors...it had to be.

The way she'd been held down and opened up was almost a carbon copy of the killings in the ritual back in 06. He felt numb...seeing such killings out of an environment he couldn't control, and in which he could possibly be a victim was unsettling.

He raised his hand when Meg asked who had seen the body.]

Me...I did.

PATROLS

[putuporshutup]

I'm going to keep researching for now, but count me in to go scope things out later. Whoever wants to take the lead on this is welcome to.

Patrols

[heliotroping]

Don't know about leading, but I can assist.

LIBRARY | DAY 3 [Written/Action]

[putuporshutup]

[Meg waits for everyone to gather around the tables again. By now the whole castle is talking about what happened to Brock, so she spares the details and cuts to the chase, sighing wearily before writing to everyone. This is her not-fucking-around face.]

Anyone have any new information? I know some of you have been out and about, even going to the cabin... has anyone seen what we're dealing with up close yet.

Tucker, did your helmet capture anything?

written

[heliotroping]

There were apparently servants/minions dead on the scene. Described by the first person on the scene (x). Deformed men in straitjackets.

Can't confirm if anyone has brought one of those bodies back for study. Could ask?

JOURNALS

[putuporshutup]

[Communicate potentially helpful information to those in the library here.]

JOURNALS/ The fourth day

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

[There's a hastily scribbled sentence for you.]

D --> I have seen the attackers

Action (Backdated to Day 1)

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine was already in the library, trying to supplement Spot's data search with new sources. There was so much information in Spot's list, she could hardly get through it all. Teaches her to use a search term as broad as "Gentlemen" again.

She asks him to narrow it down to sources with "Gentlemen" and "seven," then grabs another stack of books.

The sudden noise is grating, and Dairine glares up at the source. She can guess why it's happening though, the library having a history as a safe-spot, so she doesn't bother saying anything.]

Action/Written

[putuporshutup]

[Once she had finished shifting things around, Meg went to find some of the books she had in mind - had to start somewhere.

She noticed another girl doing her own research nearby and waved a little when she caught her eye before sitting down nearby and writing out a greeting.]

Hey. Hope I didn't disturb your work too much with all the furniture moving.