I place myself in the face down position and end my turn

[wants_the_phd]

WHO: Roses
WHERE: Chateau Rosė
WHEN: Day 86

[We got an upgrade!]

[We also got a newbie!!]

[We also got ✨problems!!!!✨]

Comments

Powers

[wants_the_phd]

Since we’ve got a couple new people on the team, it might be useful to get on the same page about powers.

Rose has four powers: heal by drinking blood, create and control vines, manipulate emotions, and possess the consciousness of other living things. While we’ve always been open about the first two, we’ve managed to keep the other two on the downlow.

...At least, until a few days ago, when we used the emotion power to kill a couple shepherds in a ritual. I think it’s probably safe to say those beans have been effectively spilled. While we’ve had previous internal discussions about admitting only to being able to manipulate the emotion of fear, I don’t know if there’s any actual value in not sharing the fact we can edit positive emotions as well, at this point.

I think our possession power is still a secret. If it’s not, or if you guys have any thoughts one way or another about keeping it that way, I’d love to hear it.

Re: Powers

[poisonista]

I'm only curious about why they were kept secret in the first place. I haven't spoken of any of them except among flockmates themselves, seeing how most others are with their abilities, but adjusting emotions is hardly something I feel needs be hidden. It's not manipulating someone's thoughts, just redirecting the feelings into something else.

Re: Powers

[wants_the_phd]

It turns out a lot of people make decisions based on emotions, so if you can influence their emotions, you can steer their decisions. For example, in the game we were literally able to get two people to kill themselves.

This is a very powerful tool, and sometimes a trump card is at its best when it's kept up your sleeve. If people don't know we can influence their minds, they have no reason to suspect their emotions aren't their own.

Re: Powers

[strateelgic]

I just found it amusing when the sign was hidden, honestly.

Re: Powers

[finalbows]

I was in a strange world full of people I didn't know, I'd been given a power that could be used with little to no trace to control others, and I'd already been ripped to literal pieces once because everyone else decided to get cute at sacrificing random garbage for a ritual asking explicitly for the flocks' blood.


I wasn't in the mood for trust falls.

Re: Powers

[finalbows]

I prefer keeping it a secret, because personally, I'm extra-extra-extra counting on it now as an emergency escape method...

Re: Powers

[wants_the_phd]

Yeah, same. And not just for escaping -- if people don't know how to recognize me in a different shape, that means a lot more freedom to move around.

[and eavesdrop.]

[holesomelanguage]

[ These magic powers sound kinda forked up actually. ]

It a common thing to keep ya powers secret around here? What was everyone all friendly for?

... And no one try ta drink my blood. Not unless you got gears and metal pipes in ya.

[wants_the_phd]

I don't know how common it is to keep them secret, but I've encountered more than a few people who've been cagey about it. I still don't know what some of the powers are.

But every flock has at least three: one for healing, one that's physical, and one that's mental. Some flocks, like ours, have additional ones from performing rites.

[debug_mode]

Does the possession power always result in us dissolving into blood?

Lily

[wants_the_phd]

On the topic of our two recent murders, I realize we have a couple new members here, so this might be a good time to get everyone up to speed on some history.

A while ago, there was a ritual in which we had the option to kill people, even though there'd be very little value in doing so. Rose made some choices and killed two people each from Daffodil and Lily. I think Daffodil may have gotten over it, but Lily took it very seriously, because until that point our two flocks had good relations and they saw this as a betrayal that they didn't see coming.

They were extremely angry, and it took a lot of effort on all sides to get to a point where we could all sit down at a single table and talk about it. At that time, they agreed to chill out a bit in exchange for our word that we would never strike at them again when it was deemed unnecessary.

A couple days ago, there was a ritual where we had to decide on harms we would inflict on other people without knowing who they were. We decided to cause two people to despair to the point of taking their own lives, and the people who were chosen to take those punishments were the shepherds of Lily and Clover.

I’ve spoken with Clover and they seem ready to move on and put this all behind them. Lily, on the other hand, is furious and feels that this has been a breach of our agreement. While they got revenge on us by the end of the ritual, I don’t think they’re going to go out of their way to go easy on us going forward.

I know we’re all still feeling a bit salty about everything, but I would like to request that we do our best to stay our sinful hands against Lily, at least for a while. As I said, they’re extremely angry, and I worry that if we provoke them even one more time, they’re going to make it their mission to flay us all alive at every opportunity they get. And I, for one, am not thrilled with the idea of constantly having to put extra effort into defending ourselves in rituals in a way that’s going to exacerbate extant issues or create new ones.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions about any of this?

Re: Lily

[poisonista]

Speaking as someone who has no relations with Lily, doesn't know anyone on that flock or has borne any ill will, if they're going to be upset at an entire flock for a move we had no way of knowing would strike at them... that's being even more petty than I'd expect this particular group to be.

And I refuse to allow them free rein to target us if this is the attitude we're being given for something completely out of our hands. If that's going to be how it is, let them strike at us.

Re: Lily

[strateelgic]

Daffodil got over the original betrayal because Biscuit is easily placated with food. Also I guarantee you the first word out of Tart's mouth was to betray us too.

I spoke to Charon and granted him immunity to my signature spell so it can't be used against him in the future. [By using it on him.]

Unfortunately Lily is full of individuals with tender, easily shattered hearts. To their detriment.

[debug_mode]

Which ritual was it where you had a choice to kill optionally? Were weeds there? I may not have been a Rose, but I want to know if I remember it.

Names

[wants_the_phd]

Finally, on a lighter note: we have some new members of the flock -- again, welcome.

It seems people around here care a lot about names, so I wanted to extend to you both the opportunity to solicit suggestions, if you like. I know Your Name already has one, but I’ve noticed some people seem to refresh themselves with a new name when joining or changing flocks.

This might also be a good time to introduce ourselves, if we haven't already.

For a certain definition of solve, anyway

[finalbows]

Angel Devil, present~. On the rare occasion that shall not do for one as my name, I have many I am partial to - Art, Révérence, or, if one is feeling particularly personal, Quetzal.

As for what I do around here,

I problem solve.

[ sits back. opens his book back up ]

Re: Names

[strateelgic]

I don't know how necessary this is, but I'm Leviathan. You may also call me Levi. I'm a merman and technically your shepherd.

I prefer a more supportive role in regards to leadership, however. Azdaja does a wonderful job when it comes to organizing us miscreants.

Re: Names

[poisonista]

Belle Melusine. I keep things organized here and maintain our barn's beauty as well as make potions and cosmetics. I'm also monitoring whatever people need for sustenance among Rose and don't like to be disturbed during my morning yoga with the sheep- who I am teaching to sing.

[ He does more, but that should be enough. ]

[holesomelanguage]

Ya'll can call me Hightail. Usin' it ta keep me on track while I'm out here, if yer wonderin'.

[debug_mode]

I'm keeping my name, which is Your Name. I had an instance of someone pressuring me to change my name, which is Your Name, and I didn't really like it.

So I'll just introduce myself again! My name is Your Name! What's your name?

[wants_the_phd]

[this is not a meeting topic, this is just an azdaja toplevel.]

[She is still down an arm, but has a black monkey tail now due to some errant fluff flying around. She's been poking through their library for a few hours already, as evidenced by the pile of books stacked up on the coffee table in front of her. But for now she's just throwing herself face-down onto the new couch for a moment.]

~Bleeeergh....

[holesomelanguage]

[ Wandering on by while he's getting used to the lay of the barn, but when he spots her he's gonna reach to give her a pat on the shoulder. ]

Nice job takin' care of all that.

[finalbows]

[ entering their library-née-barn, carrying in a little bucket full of small gardening tools ]

_{I hate looking at it in progress so much.......}

[wants_the_phd]

How's it growing?

SOMETIME BEFORE THE MASQUERADE

[finalbows]

[ angel devil puts a pumpkin on the counter. ]

Alright. Let's make this beautiful before we start casting anything.