Lechance

The mixer was very well chaperoned, hosted at the hotel by Ms. Sheedy. There was a piano player for music, a buffet against one wall. There were tables for eating and talking, and a space set aside for dancing. Under Ms. Sheedy's beady eye.

Some of the Beloveds at the hotel had arrived early to help set up the room so even by the time it officially 'opened' at 6 pm there was a bit of a crowd of unmarried people.

Ever since the trip out to the fissure, Santiago had been using his free time to try to help develop some way of moving the rocks out of the cavern. He'd put his mind and hammer to trying to create some way to shield workers from the intense heat but had not had much success yet.

He was out in the yard of the smithy, staring down at a large sheet of metal when he realized he was no longer alone.

"My apologies," he said.

[OOC notes: Players, please check ooc post here for more information. The ooc post will be updated as the thread progresses.]

They'd met in the Town Square shortly after 1.30pm.

When it was clear that every one was there, Jonas swung up onto his borrowed mount, called Digger near, and addressed the assembled folk from horseback.

"First off, may I jus' take the opportunity to tell you how grateful this town, and indeed myself and my team are for all your valuable help and support over this last while. Hopefully now we're actually getting somewhere, but I won't lie to you, this situation is still potentially very dangerous. And so I must urge you to practice extreme caution at every turn. Your safety is paramount above and beyond anything we may find. Stick together, no wanderin' off the path. Buddy up whenever you can, even if nature calls, beggin' your pardon. Deputy Charles has your names duly noted, and we'll be checking on folks along the way. Please be aware of everything around you. If you see something out of place, unusual tracks, items, sights, sounds, hell, even smells, please bring them to the attention of either myself, or Deputies Coleman or Charles."

He waited until he was sure everyone had absorbed the information so far before continuing. "Right, we're going to head up to the trail the patrol took and past their shelter from the other night, and up on up to the fissure to the co-ordinates that Sheriff Bowbuck left behind him when he left. If we encounter any strange weather on the way, everyone is to head for that shelter, is that understood?" 

The assembled patrol murmured their agreement. "Good, good. Right. I'll head up the column for now." He looked to his deputies. "Leo, can you take the back of the line, and Andrew, if you could ride out alongside as spotter? We'll be stopping for breaks along the way so that I can check on progress and where everyone is up to. First of these I suggest'll be just up from the shelter. There's a bit of a flat area just up beyond it. We'll stop there."

He looked around the folk gathered, "And I just pray that the good Lord'll be shinin' on us, and we'll find somethin' useful. Everyone got watches to hand?" He took his out of his waistcoat pocket, and checked it against the town clock. "Happen it's now 2pm. Worse comes to worse an' we get separated, everyone's to report back here afore 4.30pm. Any questions?" he finished, looking around. "Speak up now if so." 

His eyes scanned over those assembled to look for any hands, or people shouting out with questions.

Santiago had acquired a new suit since the last time he'd called on Mr. Belgrave. New suit, new shoes. The chaperone, however, was the same. He sent his card up to let the other man know he'd arrived and kept his hands behind his back as he waited. He'd found something he hoped the other man would appreciate.

The announcement about the meeting had been cried every day for the past week; every citizen had been strongly encouraged to attend.

Since it had the possibility of running for a long time -- and to give it the appropriate sense of seriousness -- the meeting was held in the cathedral, one of the only places in LeChance that could seat most of the town. Leroy stood behind the lectern, quietly talking to Ms. Sheedy as the crowd gathered. He looked tired but determined.

He invited Jonas and his staff to sit at the front of the space with him, giving them a brief rundown of what he planned and giving them a chance to voice objections or suggestions before the idea was placed before the town. Others at the front of the hall included Father Marks, the judge, council members, a historian and the principal of the schools.

Finally, on the hour, Anastacia Mason, the town crier, stepped forward and called for all to be seated and settled. She read a few commonplace announcements before introducing Leroy and moving unobtrusively to the side.

Leroy stepped up, hands behind his back and took a breath as he ordered his thoughts.

( My fellow citizens... )

Santiago had decided to treat himself to lunch at the Black Sheep. He was surprised to find it crowded but then again, he supposed there were many people in the town that didn't like to cook for themselves.

He approached a solitary figure at a table and smiled pleasantly. "Please forgive the intrusion but do you mind if I share your table?"

Santiago stepped out of the smithy and wiped his brow. It was really, really warm in there. Warm enough that even he was getting a bit wiped out by it. He couldn't understand why. He'd been around forges all his life.

Of course, that wasn't the only thing that was bothering him. There were those odd skittering sounds he'd been hearing recently. Sounds he couldn't place and that he couldn't figure out what was making them.

He hid all that concern when someone approached. A smile and a nod.

"Good day."

The main gathering hall had been decorated with swags of greens and candles, lending a soft, romantic glow to the space. Tables were scattered throughout the hall and along one side there was an elborate buffett spread. Musicians had set up unobstrusively next to the large space left open for dancing.

In one corner there was a large evergreen tree decorated with more candles, preserved flowers and fruits, strings of cranberries, small paper doilies, and ribbons and tied to tree branches. But the center of attraction was the yule log burning in the huge fireplace at the end of the hall.

Before the festivities began, Leroy made a short speech thanking the residents of LeChance for the hard work over many months, congratulating the newly married and affianced, wishing everyone happy holidays and set the party in motion.

Between themselves, Santiago and Daisuke had made an arrangement to share the forge and workspace. Now that the growing season was over, Santiago could concentrate on creating more business using his farrier skills.

He wiped his brow and looked up from his tools as someone entered.

"How may I help you"?

Simon found himself very pre-occupied, still, by the news of the passengers on the train. One would think he'd move on, but it haunted him. He didn't quite understand why no one had returned, but he feared the worst. He simply shouldn't let himself dwell on it.

But dwell he did, so the person at the counter had to clear their throat to get his attention. Bad manners indeed. "I'm terribly sorry," Simon offered with a sheepish smile. "What can I do for you?"

After an exchange of letters, it was arranged that Santiago would call on Michael on Monday afternoon. He showed up promptly with chaperon in attendance, sent word up with one of the servants and waited for the other man to join them in the parlor.

Late in the afternoon, a small crowd gathered in a field to participate in the gathering of the final harvest of the season. They loaded it into a decorated horse-drawn wagon and followed it into town, singing songs and waving sheafs of hay.

More people followed along as the parade passed them by, leading them into the square that normally held the merchants but had been cleared earlier for the celebration. There were still a few booths set up but they'd been converted to homes for games. The growing crowd was invited to march to the cathedral for a short service or to stay at the square to help set up for a feast.

Lanterns were lit all around the buildings and the square, casting a warm glow. There was just the slightest nip in the air but that would be dispelled when the dancing started later. Enormous amounts of food were heaped on a banquet table and long tables were set with glittering china and strewn with bouquets of late-blooming flowers.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Delilah was sitting out front of her studio, people watching. Well that and sketching. People. And buildings. LeChance really was very pretty, in more ways than one.

She'd already filled a few pages with quick charcoal studies, and she had a small charcoal thumbprint smudge on her cheek. There was a couple of hours to kill before her next client, a sitting for a family with a new baby, and so Delilah was relaxing. She sat back in her garden lounger and dropped the hardback drawing book to her lap. She snuggled down happily under the lambswool throw she'd brought out with her, and reached for the cup of hot chocolate on the small table next to her.

When she saw someone crossing the road nearby she called out to them, "Good afternoon!"

The news about the train bothered him. Why would so many people choose to stay in the other town and not return to LeChance? The question gave some credence to the rumor he'd heard at the general store earlier. That it wasn't that the citizens had decided to stay, but that they'd never arrived. Still why would the mayor lie? He seemed like a decent, upstanding man and Santiago didn't know anything about this man who said he'd been the messenger between the two towns.

His thoughts were thus keeping him occupied as he walked through town. He didn't notice that he was about to run into someone until it was too late.

"My sincerest apologies!" he exclaimed.

Santiago sighed as he pulled his coat straight. He really needed to visit the tailor soon; his best clothes were beginning to look even more worn than when he'd arrived. The chaperone gave him a reassuring smile and he bowed his head as a silent thank you. He'd sent a card up to let Mr. Belgrave know that he'd arrived and was waiting for the other man to make his appearance. He turned away from the window and his reflection at the sound of footsteps.

Tables had been dragged into Jonas' office and pushed together to help provide space for those invited to the meeting. Mrs Andrews had provided sandwiches and cakes, and her teenaged daughter was helping her in providing teas, coffees, and squashes as people arrived. His staff, including Deputies Andrew Charles and Ifan Jones, Mrs Andrews and her daughter, Ms Smith the administrative assistant, along with several chaperones from the Hotel, were milling around making light conversation with new arrivals.

Jonas waited until people had settled, and were all sat down around the tables. He stood up to address them all.

Wednesday daytime, and Jonas sends out personal telegraphs to the following people, either to their own residences, or addressed privately via the Hotel:
Santiago de la Vega
Simon Belgrave
Julian MacKallister
Benjamin Simoneaux
Daisuke Shimada
Missy Lee
Jonathon Stanton

The message reads:

'The Acting Sheriff of this town, Mr Jonas Wilder hereby invites you to an informal meeting to take place on this Sunday the 26th of October. The meeting will commence at 6pm in the Sheriff's Office. This meeting is to gather together a consultancy of sorts to discuss ongoing and current reports of unusual activity received by the Office.

Light refreshments will be available, and appropriate chaperones will also be in attendance.

Please feel free to bring along any persons you may feel will assist. Your help and assistance in these matters would be much appreciated.'

Jonas also talks to his staff, including new employee Leo Coleman, to inform them of the upcoming meeting, and to request their attendence also.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Cathy had arrived on Wednesday and spent the new five days getting her cows settled on the farm just outside of town.

But Sunday, she went to church, then starting exploring the town. She wandered down the streets, then asked a passerby, "Everything will be open tomorrow, yes?"