Town meeting

[ezra_of_lothal]

WHO: Ezra and anyone who shows up or messages him directly
WHERE: The amphitheater or network
WHAT: Call for a town meeting and the meeting itself
WHEN: A couple of weeks after Coruscant event end
WARNINGS: None yet

After they all get back from the 'mission' to Coruscant, Ezra's of the opinion that the work on newly appointment Temple and calls and offers of help on the network are good signs. The right direction at least. Still, it seems to him that there's not a lot of momentum as a group to actually figuring anything out about this planet and their general situation.

He knows he's not the only one curious or bothered, so what gives?

After talking a little more with some of the other Temba residents, he puts up a written message on the network, that he's labored over longer than he'd care to admit to anyone:

I'm inviting everyone to a town get together or meeting, midday tomorrow at the amphitheater. Talking as a group, face to face, might be productive. I'll send out another message right before I head that way myself, so everyone knows when to show up.


He debates putting on his Jedi robes for the meeting, since that's the closest thing he has to formal wear, but decides the full get up might inadvertently send the wrong message. He's fully believes getting the community together to talk is a Jedi thing to do, but he's picked up on the ideas some co-residents have about authority and religion. He ends up wearing one of his new brightly colored sets of clothing, and throwing a brown cloak over it.

Then he goes to the stage area of the amphitheater and waits for people to show up. Once he's pretty sure most of the people who are coming are there, he gives them all a smile and says a few words.

"Thanks for coming, everyone. I'm not going to stay up here. I didn't ask you to come, so I could be 'in charge'. Or even because I have a list of things I want to accomplish, really. But...as long as we're all here together we are a community, whether we like it or not. So I thought, it might be a good idea to at least compare notes and talk about concerns. Things that might take more than a person or two working on it to get done. Goals.

Life here isn't bad, but I believe it could be better, if we work together. So let's talk about how we can do that. That's all I really wanted to say."

He gives them all one more smile and goes to pick a place to sit among the gathered.

Comments

Projects

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Mingle/threads to talk about projects your character thinks needs doing or they're like help with.]

[heypartner]

The kid's got spirit. Cobb was glad Ezra had taken the steps to call the meeting himself instead of asking someone else to do it. He would make a fine Jedi when he was done with his training.

When no one really made a move to say anything Cobb let out a sigh. He stood and walked to the front, used to being in front of crowds and looked to for answers. These weren't his people, not really, but they were his people right now.

"Well," he said with a sigh. "Reeve and I checked out some houses. We're going to fix 'em up and if you don't wanna live on a ship or in the hotel you can take one. When they're done."

Cobb was still going to take one for himself first. He was damn tired of bunk beds and cramped quarters.

"Now, we're gonna have to take building materials from other run down places and I could use help with that. We've got some large animals to haul stuff if their owners will lend 'em." He sought out Din's helmet in the crowd and then Obi-Wan's robes. He figured he had Din's support easily. "But if anyone here can build a cart I'd appreciate that. And if anyone's willing to pitch in on the rebuilding I'd really appreciate that. It'll make the work go faster."

He paused a second to study the crowd, see what folks here were thinking. Now to drop the bomb. He imagined this would not go over well as these people all seemed a little gentle about animals. "I'm gonna start slaughtering glownies for food. And ranch 'em too. If we maintain a proper healthy herd we'll be able to eat more than paste and vegetables. Tommy's been doing a good job keeping us all fed but it's time we had a bit more."

And now he paused again to let folks comment.

[hadthehighground]

This seemed to be going well so far, and Obi-Wan is certainly proud of Ezra for taking such initiative. It’s not easy getting everyone together for such a thing. Hopefully everyone will be able to get along as well.

Once Cobb is finished with his discussion, Obi-Wan hands off one of the babies he was holding so he can stand up and say his piece.

“As I’m sure most of you are aware by now, I’ve begun the process of converting the old museum into a temple and home for us Jedi. Though that’s not to say it’s inaccessible to anyone else. I plan for it to be a peaceful retreat for anyone who wishes to make use of it.” He wanted to make sure everyone felt welcome there and that it wasn’t just a Jedi-only zone.

“Part of it will also be used for teaching. For now that will mostly entail training the young Jedi here, but perhaps eventually it can be a school for all young children who are brought to Temba.” They have very small children here after all and they will need to be taught eventually.

“I’m still looking for volunteers to help with the remodeling if anyone is interested.”

[kree_soldieress]

Well, Lauri-Ell doesn't know anything about community organization, because it was not a Kree or a Skrull thing. But she does know one thing for certain. And that is the prospect she is rising now to to speak on.

"Not everyone here is capable of defending themselves in a fight. Those who are may not have appropriate access to facilities to maintain fitness. I have been attempting to remedy this since the changing of the year. The building labeled Civics Center on our maps, originally seemed to serve this purpose, among others, for the Agrii. I have been restoring it. Currently I have facilities for limited weight and agility training. I am working on an obstacle course, and have put in a space for sparing and defense training. I wish to invite others to make use of the space, or advise me as how how you might wish to see it added to. It is for all to use, and I will be glad to assist in training those in fitness or defense who ask for it. I am already working with William and Jon in this end. I also ask that others who wish to keep their skills sharp help me maintain my own."

Yes, come spar her. She would like that.

"If nothing else, I have swept the fallen glass and rubble from the indoor track, and it is a secure place to do laps. Thank you."

[beepbeepmotherfucker]

Eddie... raises his hand. He wasn't going to say anything, but something has been bothering him and he just can't hold it in anymore.

Finally, he just stands up and clears his throat. "Uh hi, yeah. I have a question." He waves his hand in the air, eyebrows raising. "Why is everyone so focused on houses and temples and shit when the hospital is a fucking health hazard?!" He gestures with both hands, shaking his head. Seriously. He's completely dumbfounded by this.

"Are there even any doctors here? Medics? Surgeons? Yeah, I know at least one of you can heal shit but what if you're trying to renovate some structure and it fucking falls on your head?! What are you going to do, then? Places to live are nice and all but why is nobody talking about fucking infrastructure?! This place is a fucking death trap." He starts ticking things off on his fingers, "Buildings falling apart, faulty wiring, mysterious chemicals just out there where anyone could drink them and, you know, die. Weird creatures and food that people could be allergic to or whatever. I could go on." He shakes his head again. "The hospital should be the first priority. Just saying."

The Satellite

[itsamysterio]

Beck takes an opportunity when he gets it to bring up his own pet project.

"A lot of you probably know all ready, but I've been working on building a satellite. The hope is once we get it up there we could expand our communications, maybe even get a message out there. We could also use it check in on the storms and the rest of the planet. It's coming along pretty good, but I could definitely use more hands. And more materials. If anyone's got experience with this kind of thing. Or if any magic people think they can help get it up in the atmosphere when the time comes?"

Not Group Therapy

[mrsklover]

Richie hesitates a moment before clearing his throat and shoving his hands into his jacket. "Look. So. Uh, I talked to some people around here and it looks like this place is pretty crap a lot of the time. People come and go and there's no way to know where they fuck off to. And...yeah. Before I got here, I was dealing with loss...crap like that." Not in therapy, mind you. Well, not for long in therapy. He went to maybe a day before opting out for Dr. Johnny Walker. But he's had a history in and out of...places.

"So. Yeah. I'm just saying, I found some friends and they're probably the only reason I didn't really go off some deep ends. So...Yeah. I was thinking it is probably a good idea to maybe have a group? Not therapy. Fuck that. Not that at all..."

He shrugs without taking his hands out of his pockets, suddenly not sure why he started talking in the first place. But. Eh. He looks around the group and sees a few specific faces in it. That was why.

"Just. I don't know. I'm a comedian and all of us are depressed addicts with trauma who stay up too late distracting each other with jokes. So. That, maybe? A group. Getting together, maybe at that bar place. Talking and just making sure no one does anything stupid. Well, no one but Eddie. That's a lost cause though."

He shrugs again.

"Just an idea."

Need Candles and Nice Dishes - Joke One (Tommy Is a Bad Boy)

[doubled_speed]

Tommy is grinning after egging Eddie and Richie on, and when things quiet down he raises a hand.

"I've got a project. I need help getting good candles, and some candle holders. ANd nice plates. And a table cloth. And a nice meal."

Then he gestures to Eddie and Richie. "Because clearly Unresolved Sexual Tension over there need a good dinner together to continue their weird old-people flirting at."

Community concerns/issues

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Want to vent or raise an issue?]

Safe Adventuring Concerns

[kree_soldieress]

When there is a moment of quiet between topics, Lauri-Ell rises. The woman had made sure to arrive today in her full Accuser armor and with her weapon at her side. She had come here, after all, after her security patrol, and changing had not seemed proper at the time.

"If I might venture a concern? With the arrival of a greater number of residents, and in light of previous concerns here in the form of wild animals, I fear we are in a precarious position. I anticipate that our presence here, with the stated goal of stopping the mysterious storms, will mean ranging far afield from the city proper. As part of my twice-daily patrols, I have gone further into the edges of the forests, near the deep waters, and to other locations we do not commonly stray. And what I have found concerns me."

Her eyes rove around the room, looking over people. There were some here she knew could defend themselves, and some she was fearful for.

"There are very great dangers beyond the limits of Temba. Not all of them are due to the terrain. There are predatory animals that I have found stalking me in the trees when I traveled. There were the spiders. No doubt there are more. I would advise that any group heading beyond the city, if not to the beach which seems secure, they not travel in a group of less than three, and at least one individual in that party should be armed in some fashion, either from their own abilities and gear, or with the security datapoint and the weapons it offers. This way there are fighters to defend, and even if that fails, there is a chance others may be able to return to gather rescuers as needed."

With her peace said, Lauri-Ell waited to see if anyone might protest, or agree. Truly this mattered to the woman.

Space Wizards and the Vote

[kyley_b]

Kyle waits for a lull before he stands up. It's hard to miss him with all that red hair puffing out everywhere. Probably three-quarters of the population could break him in half, but he doesn't look frightened, and he speaks loudly and clearly.

"Hi, uh. Kyle Broflovski, human from I guess the really boring version of Earth.

"I've been listening to you guys talk, which you've all done very well, and honestly I'm not opposed to anything that's been said directly. I agree wholeheartedly that like it or not we are a community, and we need to pull together in order to best ensure everyone's survival before we can even really consider how to help the Agrii.

"But I have a concern. A whole bunch of you are from the same universe, which means there may be issues concerning a fair voting system. I'm not attacking any of you guys because I don't think I've met anybody particularly dishonest, but by virtue of familiarity there's a high chance you guys will side together on matters. Not really an issue right NOW, but it could be.

"I was on Coruscant. I went to the lower levels, and I saw the museum there. There was a LOT of history just buried under layers and layers of city, which is a pretty clear indication that you guys are just as stupid as every other race or species of humanoid I've ever met. There was stuff down there I don't think the top wanted to remember. Stuff I'm pretty sure got glossed over in the Jedi Temple."

Kyle crosses his arms over his narrow chest. "Nobody is in charge here. I actually think that's a good thing - no kings, no queens, no presidents, no popes. I don't want to wind up creating a society that just echoes shit we've all seen fail before. I support all of us working together, FOR each other. But we may need measures to ensure that we don't wind up ganging up on each other because of ideological differences. Where I come from, religion is often used to sway a voter base. I'm not saying that would be intentional, but as a longtime religious minority you can understand why I might be concerned."

He nods his head once. "Thank you." He sits again, stoic aside from his hands, which wring together.

Other information sharing

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Catch all for other info people thinks should be shared.]

[cannot_flinch]

Ikora cleared her throat and rose to speak when there was a break in conversation. "I don't have much to share since I only recently arrived but I would like to speak with those who were part of the ship experience Jon and Cayde have spoken to me about."

She wanted more information, more angles and understandings of what they went through. Cayde's take had been straight to the point and less informative than Jon's. However, Jon's was clearly tainted by his guilt over almost killing innocent lives.

Ikora wanted more perspectives to increase her own understanding. "And those of you who approached the tower that they also mentioned to me. I would very much like to catch up on what was happened before in these storms and times of crisis."

"We do not have to discuss them now when there's more business to attend to. I am happy to meet outside this forum and speak at length." Ikora would have endless questions about things and the tiny details of the events. It would make much longer than was appropriate for a meeting.

"I simply wished to get my interest out in the open."

[out_of_order]

"We can't forget the main reason we've been brought here."

Like Ikora, Cal waits until things have settled a bit before speaking up. For the most part he'd been largely silent, listening and taking in the things said. He doesn't disagree about the need for some organization and getting things fixed up for people to be more properly settled, but he can't blame them either for not taking other things into account. Only so many of them had met the actual people who had called this city, this planet, home.

"The storms are very much a thing to be watchful of," he says with a nod toward Ikora. "For the time I've been here there's only been two that we've experienced. The first one seemed intent to keep us from finding its source, and it was out in the mountains, which made it even more dangerous. The second hit us right when we made our return from rescuing the Agrii. They're unnatural, they cut you off from any sort of source of power or ability you may have. They make you see things, people who you might have lost, those who aren't actually here.

"The suspicious part about it is the timing, which also introduces the involvement of another party altogether. There are some here who've been victim of a similar abduction, but for far less noble purposes. I'll let them speak for themselves if they want to share it, but I think it's important to know the name and that there are distinct traces of the involvement of this group- the Atroma."

[beholding_archivist]

"Alright." Jon raises with an exhale once he figures it's his turn to talk. He puts down his notepad and pen and walks around the little table he has set up for his tape recorder and the small stack of tapes he has been switching out, turning and labeling over the meeting until the point.

Leaning ever so slightly against that table, the Archivist begins by pulling forth his phone and sending a certain video to everyone on the network.

"I was recently reminded that not everyone currently here have met the Agrii yet. Or are aware of the rescue mission we were called to- A while ago. This video shows them evacuate this very planet. And that ship you see them leave in is the same ship they are using to this day. We have been on this ship. Returned on it to Agra 10. They are up there." He points up. "Near this planet, as we speak."

"Those of us that were present for that event will remember interacting with the Agrii. You will remember how we found them unconscious on ships decoratively staffed by a few Graq - A primitive people that have never even considered the mere concept of space travel." Jon's eyes narrow in a way that makes it clear how he feels about innocent lives being put in danger just to bait them into fighting and potentially hurting them. His voice drops grimly. "And you will remember than we were considering to fire at those ships. That we nearly killed all those Agrii. You may have come to the same conclusion as I: That the Agrii aren't the masterminds behind all of this. That they are just tools being used by a different party." He looks over to Cal and nods. "Cal already mentioned the Atroma."

Jon pauses there, takes a moment to center himself again, then moves on. "A small group of us went diving into the lake by the flood plains. It's deep, dark and dangerous, so I won't recommend following our example. I do, however, have an antidote in case anyone needs it. But that isn't the point here. The point is, we found the remains of weapons down there. And they were identified as Atroma weapons. What else we got, is the tower in the North-Western part of the city. The one that used to have the blue light sitting on top of it. I don't know if anyone else ever tried approaching it, but when the light was still active, getting near it would equal walking into one of those energy storms. And I still believe the storms and the tower used to be connected. But I am quite certain it isn't Agrii technology set up there."

"We found a hidden control room for the tower. it had a control panel and a display with what we have concluded to be a countdown. That countdown hit zero just before the spiders attacked us. But as may be obvious to a lot of us by now is that the Agrii have no written language of their own. They use neither letters nor numbers and that countdown was displayed in an alien set of numbers." Another pause, followed by a sigh. "Unfortunately the entire system broke before we could really figure anything out about it. It's still there. The tower, the control room, but nothing works. I suggest anyone adept at engineering to take a look at it. Sundance couldn't access the tower's interface, but- That doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying to learn more about it. Especially since a new light showed up and appears to be unreachable to us at this point."

And again, Jon pauses, then he reaches behind himself and picks up one of his tapes.

"Lastly, I want to make it known that I do keep records of everything that has happened, everything I am aware of for us to have learned, at the former library building. My written records are in English, but I keep audio recordings of them on these tapes. Even managed to replicate a set of tape recorders to play them. As of now I still lack a suitable medium to store these records digitally and keep them accessible outside of the network, so we will have to make due with the tapes for now. Also I invite everyone to leave records of their own findings at the library as well. It is meant to be a place to gather and share information and as we found it empty, it is only appropriate for us to fill it ourselves. Thank you for your time."

Planning for future meetings

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Catch all for discussion on how do something like in the future or make group decisions(or not!)]

Interactions with Ezra

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Ezra does not do much responding to any messages sent to him in between his initial network message and the meeting. He's also serious about not trying to direct the meeting once everyone's there. He is, however, around to be talked to.]

[no_applause]

Padme will approach him after the meeting, smiling. "Thank you very much for organizing this, Ezra. You did wonderfully."

Spectating Jedi - OTA

[hadthehighground]

Aside from his bit about the temple, and speaking up in regards to anything that involves himself or the Jedi, Obi-Wan largely remains off to the side as a spectator. Watching abs listening to everything that’s going on.

He’s sitting there with Leia in his arms. Quietly keeping her happy as he rocks the baby gently. The droid, A-2DA standing nearby in case it’s assistance is needed.

Despite the going ons, even when it gets heated, the Jedi looks content. More than happy to leaving the arguments and debating to everyone else. He’s just here to take it all in. Feel free to come over and chat with him if you like!

The dad club, lol

[foundlingfather]

Din's been mostly hanging around the fringes, and listening while piping up when he needed to. Otherwise he was just content to let others do the debates. He'd of course brought Grogu with him. He liked having the kid involved in non dangerous things. Good for the kid to learn things, and be involved.

Some how eventually, he ends up sitting near Obi-wan and the twins. Currently leaned back in the chair, arms crossed across his chest, and legs out and crossed at the ankles. Silently listening to whoever the current speaker/debater is.

[ezra_of_lothal]

After some grumbling kicks up and dies down again, Ezra comes over to sit by Obi-wan and the twins. He spends a moment making a silly faces at them, and enjoying that, before he softly voices a thought that's been coalescing in the back of his brain.

"Think some people are mad on some level - whether they realize it or not - that some of us got to go home for a while - kinda, anyway. And they didn't?"

Team Snarky Punks - OTA

[doubled_speed]

Meetings happened. Tommy was used to this. Normally it was made up of all the super heroes that could be mustered for some emergency or another, and the top dogs went and had their junk measuring contest about who was going to be in charge and how they were going to solve the problem instead of, you know, actually solving it.

In a way, Tommy was a fucking professional at standing back with snacks, rolling his eyes. Which was, of course, why he was there. He'd even made up a nice little tray of something like popcorn. It wasn't precisely popcorn, in fact it was more like seasoned roasted peas, but hey, they were tasty, and naturally buttery tasting, so he wasn't going to complain.

He'd brought a chair from the diner to sit in, another one to kick his feet up on, and the largest fucking tub of the seasoned roasted peas he could manage. And looked bored.

"So," he asks of whoever sits next to him, "which of these future home owner association members do you think could win in a fist fight? Because I'm thinking the small and scrappy one. They just scream 'i have a lemon bar that will make the other home owners cry and sign my no-doors-can-be-purple petition.'"

[hooliganstatus]

"I'm not sure what a lemon bar is," Aeon remarks, picking up one of the peas between two fingers and giving it an experimental lick, "but I know purple doors sound nice."

Re: Team Snarky Punks - OTA

[kyley_b]

"Dude, shut the fuck up, we're building a society." Because you know he exists to argue with you, Tommy.

Arrival/Mingle

[ezra_of_lothal]

[As suggested, a place to drop arrivals and initial reactions that might spur mingling. Pretend it's above most of the rest of the post!]

OTA

[thesepreciousthings]

Clarice had spent her time before the meeting infusing a large jug of water with slices of jorgan fruit she'd brought from Coruscant. Just before the meeting, she rolls it into the amphitheater and sets it up on an empty chair near the door, along with a stack of cups: one for each person present on Agra 10, to the best of her knowledge. If someone comes up short she'll gladly offer her cup, but for now she sets up a little paper tent on top of the jug, neatly lettered:

𝒲ℯ𝓁𝒸ℴ𝓂ℯ: 𝒫𝓁ℯ𝒶𝓈ℯ ℋℯ𝓁𝓅 𝒴ℴ𝓊𝓇𝓈ℯ𝓁𝒻

You could take the girl away from the dinner parties, but you couldn't take the hostess out of the girl.