InsaneJournal

March Summary and Feedback Post

March Summary and Feedback timeframe 1 march - 31 march    This month really cemented in my mind how truly excellent our player base is. You're all doing a really amazing job in terms of working together, staying flexible, and getting amazing posts done. I'm really impressed by the number of completed logs in the threads community. Great job! Just about the only thing I can see that might need improvement upon is communication. It's great to communicate with me your concerns - and I attempt to take care of them in a swift manner - but it is also important to communicate with your fellow players. If you're not sure how something went down in a scene or you aren't sure if you can take certain liberties with another person's character, always ask. If you're embarrassed or shy, come to a mod and we'll ask for you, but it is important to touch base with those around you, particularly if your actions/plot/post might affect another character in an important way.   I. Month in Review [1 March - 31 March] If you haven't already; • Update your friends list and AIM list. • Tag the March activity post. March - in like a lion, out like a lung March started off with a fairly exciting but rather less than successful attempt by Regulus and Evan to procure explosives for the Death Eaters. Between shady arms dealers and aurors (who received a tip from hit wizard Octavius Pepper), the baby death eaters were forced to disapparate in a hurry, leaving Regulus sans one lung and doped up on pain meds. Luckily, Evan is there to help out with the revenge planning, and Marius's return from France to his father's house is a welcome bit of news. Unfortunately for Regulus, Agnes and Sirius are still a bit miffed about the whole chocolate poisoning business last month and send him a comparable package. The results are hilarious, and Regulus is cheered up only by the plotting against Pepper with Georgina and Avery. Roman doesn't seem to be having the best week, either, for not only do Marlene and Agnes seem to delight in tormenting him, but he runs into Ted while shopping. Hopefully he brought some hand sanitizer! Meanwhile, in the real world, Regulus and Evan's actions have prompted the release of the Prevention of Terrorist Act (full text), which, conveniently enough, makes Rufus's suspicion of the youngest Black an arrestable offense. Alice and Frank do the honors, and Regulus is subjected to both a questioning and Jo Savage daring to commit an act of blasphemy kindness. Despite Regulus's imprisonment impinging upon his social plans, Severus, Evan, Aquila, and Georgina decided to enact revenge on Pepper's flat. Pepper decides to feel sad at Jo's apartment - and it's *COFF*cute. Regulus is soon released (i.e. confiscated by his mother) and can happily gloat over other people doing his dirty work - including Marius, who had Jo's brother beaten to prove to her that no good deed goes unpunished. St. Patrick's day rolls around and while Marlene is celebrating inebriation, Emmeline Vance (after waiting Lord knows how long) receives a note from Department of Mysteries Deputy Head Rookwood that she has been granted an interview. Score. In Ministry land, Rufus nearly kills himself trying to cook dinner and rewards Amelia for saving his life by firing her; Emmeline also has her interview with Rookwood. And, as the month finally seems to be winding down to go out like a lamb, Marius's curiousity about purism in England sets the tone for what is to be a very trying ten days. The full moon brings out the worst (best?) in Fenrir (as reported in the Quibbler) and possibly the worst in the Lestranges, who duel in the front lawn. Rodolphus becomes astoundingly aware of his more sensitive areas and accepts that his son is ready to become a Death Eater - and Marius learns that his father won't hesitate to crucio him - yowch. The next day, Marius and Jo have a spat - in which Marius comes out the worse for wear. It seems to be the time for unpleasant run-ins, for Regulus bumps into Marlene. They're fireworks of love, really. Planning begins for James's killer birthday party (with, of course, the most formal of invites) but there are others in less of a good mood: Pepper suggests to Jo that perhaps 'legality' isn't the best way to go about things (rather ironic, since he's subsequently forced to arrest Fabian on a technicality - much to Gideon's amusement and the loud groans of the order). Monday brought with it a new training session for Georgina - and the resulting death of a member of the wizengamot (see Quibbler and Daily Prophet articles). While Georgina waxes euphoric and Regulus posts his version of the do not call list, Rodolphus decides he's not pleased with Marius's complacency with regard to Jo's disrespect and kidnaps her Tuesday night, intent upon teaching her a lesson she won't soon forget. The following morning he makes it clear to Marius that he does not expect such a lapse to occur again. The subsequent Rufus/Jo/Pepper clusterfuck results in a touching coworkerly threesome (sorta), but, more importantly, results in the authorization of aurors to use 'extreme force' in life-threatening situations. This announcement is accompanied by a press release regarding Amelia's promotion to ombudsman, in attempt to appease public worry about abuse of power. With Jo's admission to Rufus about the culprit behind the crime, he has no choice but to have Rodolphus arrested while they attempt to gather evidence. During the arrest, Marius switches out his father's wand - witnessed by Gideon, and afterward Gideon is left to struggle with his conscience. Though the Daily Prophet is skeptical of Rodolphus's arrest, Agnes and Stubby (amidst the chaos of James's birthday party) open up resistance radio with a scathing expose on Rodolphus's crimes, and, infuriated, Bellatrix calls upon a select group of death eaters to take revenge on the hippie bastards. Friday rolls around and the Death Eaters do precisely as they've promised, carrying out an attack upon the people's commune of Soho, during which Agnes and Stubby fight Feneir, aided by Marlene; Regulus fights James, who has to be removed to hospital by Fabian; Selwyn fights Dorcas, who manages to gain the upper hand; and Rabastan and Barty fight Sirius. Six members of the commune are killed before the death eaters are driven out, and Agnes, badly wounded, is forcibly dragged away by Stubby. The aftermath of the event leaves a badly shaken Marlene and a terrified Agnes - who insists that those few she trust tell people she's dead. A few thought provoking posts (and one veiled accusation) later leaves the Order realizing that it desperately needs a way to communicate better and the DEs feeling rather disappointed in themselves. During the week's chaos, even the non-violent members of the aristocracy were not idle - the failure of the Anti-Discrimination Act followed as a direct result of Narcissa Malfoy's hard work with members of the wizengamot, and she continues to further the purist cause by organizing and sending off invitations to her fundraiser Ball. The week ends upon a macabre note as Marius, having taken his father's lessons to heart, enacts revenge upon the officer who arrested his father and Meaghan flirts with danger (aka Evan Rosier).   All March logs;     II. Things that will happen this week • No mod driven plot; This is your week to have your characters catch up, settle down, tie up loose ends from last week, start plotting for the rest of the month, etc. If you need advice, input, suggestions, as always feel free to IM - but take this week to set this month into rhythm for your character. If you desire plot - post something in the comments so other people can comment you and you can discuss :)     III. Your input here! • Goals; Paranoia - you guys are doing a really fantastic job at this right now. We've got stuff in the works with Dorcas and Remus and I think there are a few other things - like Marlene being pissed that more of the order wasn't there. I like how you guys are working with this. A+ job. Peripheral characters - what we really need right now is to help the peripheral characters get involved. Meaghan is taken care of in terms of quidditch and the way the war will affect that, but getting Ted and Andromeda more involved would be great. If there is anyone else who feels like they've been missing out on plot, please comment. If you have ideas or want to help get Ted/Andromeda involved, please also comment - it is essential we keep everyone involved to keep things tight knit and fun. • Feedback; as always, we welcome your feedback on how things are going. Specifically, this week, how did everyone feel about the way the battle thread was carried out? Enough time, too little, too much? We are thinking of doing something similar with the Diagon thread, though with Kat's help, it may have a bit more dynamic (in line with what Geoff suggested last month).