No time like the present, was there? Salem climbed atop the pool table, grabbing an offered makeshift cane - made out of a plumbing pipe, of course - and leaning on it as he surveyed the room.
"Well for starters, welcome back to Lake. She's a real sweetheart, but I don't suggest anybody try fighting her or anything; I can't stop her from beating you into the ground if you're an idiot and invite the beating," Salem said with a small smile. He liked Lake, even if he didn't really understand her and didn't think he could control her.
"Onto more serious matters, Mike was attacked recently when discovering another body. The person who was killed had a Badlands necklace, so I'm guessing it was another of our own. I want everybody to be on high alert and be incredibly cautious; try not to wander off into the woods on your own, and stay armed," He had full confidence Mike would be able to handle the detective part of figuring out the killer, but Salem needed to protect the rest of the flock while Mike recovered and continued with his investigation.
"I'll be leading a little expedition for more weapons this week, so if you're without a proper weapon feel free to tag along,"
He clicked his tongue and let the news sink in. Having a killer in their midst wasn't unusual for the Badlands, but it was odd for Salem himself to have no control over it. He half-hoped Mike didn't put down the killer once they were found, if only so Salem could try to win them over and keep them as an asset.
"In brighter news, I'd like to thank both Mike and Lake for their dedication and activity the past two weeks. Gold stars all around," Salem said, using his free hand to do a small, happy flourish.
"Mike, rest up and watch your back; I still need to get my bandanna cleaned, so don't go off and get shot again," He added, softening the edge of his tone.
"Lake, good job keeping that old man alive," Ah, there was the insult.
"And lastly, I'd like to get some things moving around here. So, to avoid choice paralysis, I'll leave it up to all of you; would you like a party celebrating spring where we invite our allies and dress up fancy and shit, or an April fools no-punches-pulled prank war?" Salem tightened his grip on his pipe-cane and scanned the crowd for responses, verbal and nonverbal.
"Well, I guess that'd be all. If you have nothing to say about the earlier statements, you're dismissed," Salem added. He didn't really want to hold anybody here for an uncomfortable amount of time, after all.
There are OOC-only announcements, so please skim the below!
[spoiler=OOC]
IC Tl;dr:
—Welcome back to Lake / Van!
—Mike has been shot, and another Badlander has been killed. Salem wants everybody to be careful and stay armed. [
Thread here]
—There will be a supply run for weapons sometime this week
—Activity shout-outs to Mike and Lake
—I'd like to host a Spring Celebration Party or an April Fools Prank War, so cast your vote on which you'd like!
OOC Announcement:
—Okay, everybody stay chill and let me explain things.
I am looking for a replacement leader, to take on BL from May onwards. Before stepping up as leader I made the personal choice that Salem's run as leader would last from March 1st to May (exact date pending) I'm well aware that the Badlands succession has been relatively stable and long-lasting for over a year now, and one of my main reasons for stepping up as leader was to allow Bryne to step down gracefully, and avoid any regrettable power void.
I figure now is a good time to announce my search for a replacement leader, as it's about to be April and I plan to use this next month to single out candidates and if fate's willing teach my replacement and help them learn the ropes.
This means I'm likely to promote with wild abandon in the next two meetings, my most important criteria as of now are:
Activity (1+ posts a week/every seven days),
Consistent Muse (Staying w/ your character for moderate-long periods of time),
Dedication (Actively makes plots with other characters, suggests/workshops/helps run events, shows up to meetings, etc)
The reason for my cut-off date is simply put: I have a lot of incredibly difficult, life-changing things happening in May. I don't think I will be a good leader for the Badlands during that time and afterwards, and I'd rather have a dutiful but short leadership than put the Badlands at risk of having an absentee leader and tank my mental health even further during that time.
If there's a situation where I cannot find a replacement in the Badlands by May, I'll host a formal leader try-outs; I'd like to avoid this if at all possible though, and promote within the group based on merit. So don't worry, there will likely be no point when the Badlands does not have a leader.
But! Just because I've got another month of leadership left doesn't mean I'm not going to keep working on the Badlands; I've got things plotted with other groups that I'm trying to get rolling, I've got more events and threads to write, and Salem is always open for personal plots.[/spoiler]
[justify]Waste no worry for the world, [abbr=Goes by Salem or Monty | He/Him or They/Them Pronouns | 28yrs Old | 6'3"| Leader of the Badlands | Former pirate captain | Sexuality is a unlabeled free for all; Panromantic and attracted solely to people who radiate power]&[/abbr]
Let it be a tragedy of love and glory, [abbr=Medium-Hard Physically | Hard Mentally | Attacks with whip, scimitar or revolver | Open to maim if requested / discussed prior | Not open for death or capture | Difficult but not impossible to defeat or subdue]&[/abbr]
While they wait by gates of pearl, [abbr=Guy Fieri aesthetic | Choppy short dull brownish-grey hair | Bright green eyes | Three piercings on both ears (two on top cartilage, one large on lobe), and a lip piercing | Scruffy beard starting to grow in | Both pinky fingers cut off | Walks with noticeable limp, favors his right leg]&[/abbr]
We'll be building palaces in purgatory, [abbr=There are no extra tags this is just for aesthetic]&[/abbr]
(IC Opinions)[/justify]
