Her Mantle Is Love

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[X] Start by announcing that you're replacing Tasha in the First Quarter rite: the supplicants deserve to know as soon as possible, and that way, they'll come to you.
[X] Work shallow. Try to get to know as manypeople as possible, so you'll be at least an acquaintance to everyone.
[X] Work narrow. Prioritize getting an accurate picture of each individual person in the room over understanding the greater social network.
 
Caught up and I'll be ghosting this quest. I don't feel confident enough to vote and I'm very conflicted on what the 'best' options are.
 
[X] Start by announcing that you're replacing Tasha in the First Quarter rite: the supplicants deserve to know as soon as possible, and that way, they'll come to you.
Focusing on introverts and strangers is a good tactic, but if I have to pick only one thing here then Communication Is Key.

[X] Work shallow. Try to get to know as many people as possible, so you'll be at least an acquaintance to everyone.
It's a close call between this and Deep, but we have a duty to all the celebrants, and we can't do right by someone we don't know at all.

[X] Work narrow. Prioritize getting an accurate picture of each individual person in the room over understanding the greater social network.
While understanding an individual's social context can be important to doing right by them, if we have to prioritize, then knowing the persons is more important than knowing the people.

[X] Seek out the supplicant with the most issues around the upcoming Rite.
This seems like a reasonable compromise between Shallow and Deep.
 
Vote closes in ~1 hour.

Tally:
Adhoc vote count started by Evenstar on May 17, 2018 at 8:33 AM, finished with 20 posts and 15 votes.
  • [x] Work narrow. Prioritize getting an accurate picture of each individual person in the room over understanding the greater social network.
    [x] Work shallow. Try to get to know as many people as possible, so you'll be at least an acquaintance to everyone.
    [x] Start by looking for the supplicants you have yet to meet even casually: you need to know everyone before you can focus your efforts appropriately.
    [X] Start by announcing that you're replacing Tasha in the First Quarter rite: the supplicants deserve to know as soon as possible, and that way, they'll come to you.
    [X] Work deep. Try to find the people with the most issues around the upcoming Rite, and become close enough with them to get them to open up.
    [X] Work the cliques. Try to identify the major social groups, then focus on understanding their leaders.
    [X] Work indirect. Spend your time finding people with the acumen to be junior priestesses, then task them with making sure the rest of the supplicants know how things are going to work.
    [X] Aura
    [X] Start by finding and talking to the social butterflies. Outgoing people will know more people, and be better at introducing you.
    [x] Work wide. Prioritize getting a fast read of the crowd over getting an accurate impression of every individual.
    [X] Seek out the supplicant with the most issues around the upcoming Rite.
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Dedication
  • Threadmarks
    • ... much as you wish you had the time to really understand all the supplicants, the hard fact of the matter is that two days just isn't enough time - not even with the groundwork you laid yesterday. You haven't even met a third of them - and while you're okay having sex with a stranger, you're not willing to bet that all the supplicants will feel the same.

    So. Sososososo. You could delegate - but then that doesn't actually solve the problem of nobody knowing you. You could focus on the clique leaders - but then you'd run a serious risk of missing one of their followers.

    As much as it pains you to admit it, you're going to have to work shallow here. Trying to be someone's therapist will take valuable time you need to spend giving others a basic level of comfort around you.

    So, then. How to start.

    Well, you could make an announcement, which would predictably produce a mob of interested parties, and maybe an opportunity to get to know a lot of people all at once...

    ...or you could go look for the people you didn't find yesterday now, before you're swarmed by a crowd and moving freely becomes difficult for you.

    You frown. Thorny, thorny...

    - maybe you can turn the crowd to your advantage. Ask them to find the people you haven't met yet? Maybe, but you don't know who they are, you haven't met them -

    Doesn't Ishaza keep some kind of records of who's here as a Supplicant? They'd be... in the Priestesses' office...

    You step out of the private room and pace off down the hall, absently pulling a small golden key from your handbag. Yes, behind the desk, third drawer on the right - here we are.

    Basic records on top, and beneath... the Supplicants' entry dedications, wrapped in the red sealing-paper of strictly confidential information.

    You pick up the basic records, and move to close the drawer - then pause. Those red-sealed envelopes hold a wealth of information. Why each supplicant came to the temple. What they want to become. Why they were allowed to stay. As the leader of the First Quarter rite, that knowledge could be invaluable to you... but it's also confidential for a reason. Do you really need to know? It wouldn't be a breach of protocol, but - the circumstances are somewhat unusual.

    ...and on a more practical note, do you have time to read all twenty-one entry dedications? They're fairly brief, but at fifteen minutes to really consider and understand each one... that's, uh, twenty times five is one hundred, twenty times ten is two hundred, so that's three hundred minutes, divide by sixty - call it five hours.

    You suck air in through your teeth, your gaze catching Shannon's name on the top edge of an envelope. Reading why she's here, in her own words - and with Tasha's or Ishaza's notes, on top of that - it could help her, really help her, help you help her -

    You tap two fingers against the fine red paper, and sigh. There's one thing you know for sure: you're waffling uselessly right now.

    [ ] Read all of the entry dedications.
    [ ] Read some of the entry dedications. ((Pick as many as you want.))
    [ ] Read Alice's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Ansuz's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Aura's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Cocoa's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Echo's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Grace's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Ipsea's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Kayla's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Lily's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Melody's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Nuria's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Pigeon's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Portia's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Rose's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Shannon's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Shimmer's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Sofya's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Sunshine's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Strawberry's entry dedication.
    [ ] Read Talulah's entry dedication.​
    [ ] Read none of the entry dedications.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Read some of the entry dedications.
    -[X] Read Ansuz's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Aura's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Pigeon's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Rose's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Shimmer's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Sofya's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Sunshine's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Strawberry's entry dedication.

    Not sure if we want to waste time reading them all: Rose seems essential, rest I just chose because I like their names better on an intuitive level. Wanted Cocoa too but don't think we should spend too much time.

    Not really a well-analysed vote wrt specific names to read but we definitely can't spend 40% of our waking hours on this.

    It's better to remember their names only and then play along- call them by name, ask them to confess their wishes (so we don't need to actually remember their wishes) or something that ensures Eli doesn't waste valuable time and mental effort on this.

    Be vague when talking about specific Rite details to participants, talk in a manner that predisposes participants to share backstory as they go along with it, that kind of thing. Three hours and a bit being saved are no joke.

    If we remember some of them in depth, and then make it publically known we remember those guys others will assume we know everybody well, saving us a large number of hours. Basic effort saving ftw.
     
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    On second thought no. We have a job to do and short cuts are bad. If we need to we can ask the head priestess or have the applicants come forth.

    As a Priestess we EARNED our trust and won't break the sacredness of privacy. Doing so WILL set a bad precedent.

    Relationships imo start at trust.


    Edit: Created a write in at the end.
     
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    Valkur said:
    [X] Read None.

    On second thought no. We have a job to do and short cuts are bad. If we need to we can ask the head priestess or have the applicants come forth.

    As a Priestess we EARNED our trust and won't break the sacredness of privacy. Doing so WILL set a bad precedent.

    Relationships imo start at trust.
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    I'd reccomend reading up on Rose at the very least. She's a sensitive issue and we will probably gain from reading relevant context to understand her.
     
    There's some hints that reading these is not necessarily entirely appropriate.
    [X] Read none of the entry dedications.

    But if we do, let's focus on the ones we don't know anything about. I'll start by dropping anyone we played chess or poker with, as well as Rose (the new Marked) and Ipsea (the treegirl with the hypno pollen). That leaves:
    [ ] Read some of the entry dedications. ((Pick as many as you want.))
    -[ ] Read Ansuz's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Echo's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Grace's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Nuria's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Pigeon's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Shimmer's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Strawberry's entry dedication.
    -[ ] Read Talulah's entry dedication.

    Do we know anything about any of these people?
     
    RedV said:
    I'd reccomend reading up on Rose at the very least. She's a sensitive issue and we will probably gain from reading relevant context to understand her.
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    I believe Rise isn't partaking actually. If she is, then we open ourselves to be there for her. But she needs to trust us as much as she trusts others.

    It's also been shown that she can be clingy so if we can get some if that to rub off on is then we have a chamce...ASSUMING she does the trials at any rate.

    All applicants can technically back out still.

    @Evenstar

    Questions

    1. Has Rise said to any priestess if she'll back out?

    2. Can the Supplicants back out?

    3. How much time do we have before the ritual again?

    4. Will we have time to ask for permission to read those from the proper authority?
     
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    Evenstar said:
    - maybe you can turn the crowd to your advantage. Ask them to find the people you haven't met yet? Maybe, but you don't know who they are, you haven't met them -

    Doesn't Ishaza keep some kind of records of who's here as a Supplicant? They'd be... in the Priestesses' office...

    You step out of the private room and pace off down the hall, absently pulling a small golden key from your handbag. Yes, behind the desk, third drawer on the right - here we are.
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    This, this is what I like. The POV character using information that none of the questers could conceivably have to help the questers meet their goals. I really appreciate this.

    Now, what specifically are we looking to get out of reading the entry dedications/how would it help us run the Rite successfully? This isn't intended as an attack on anyone, I'm genuinely curious.
     
    Valkur said:
    I believe Rise isn't partaking actually. If she is, then we open ourselves to be there for her. But she needs to trust us as much as she trusts others.

    It's also been shown that she can be clingy so if we can get some if that to rub off on is then we have a chamce...ASSUMING she does the trials at any rate.

    All applicants can technically back out still.
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    If Rose is participating, she has issues we aren't able to deal with well according to our sister. Therefore, gaining more knowledge will help us there.

    If she's not taking part, I'll remove my vote for her.
     
    Also!

    I believe our Sister said to leave Rose alone. That she wanted to work with her herself. Let' not shoe in...but I'm not sure in that either

    @Evenstar

    1. Did our Sisters tell us to leave Rose alone or to leave her for them to work with?
     
    Schielman said:
    Now, what specifically are we looking to get out of reading the entry dedications/how would it help us run the Rite successfully? This isn't intended as an attack on anyone, I'm genuinely curious.
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    My ideal plan:

    1. Learn names and key details of few (not all) applicants, spending not more than two hours
    2. Treat them according to that and say we've been told by our sister how to help them the most
    3. This will imply to others that we've been informed of how to accommodate them
    4. This will lead to certain level of trust
    This could be a faux pas if there is a non-disclosure agreement between priestess and applicant (I will trust Eli to know this detail)

    In that case, my contingency plan is to use knowledge gained from dossiers to pre-emptively avoid sensitive spots and handle them in ways they feel generally good about, without revealing we've been told about this to create a deeper sense of harmony.

    Same part about using implication that 'since C was handled well, I think she knows what she's doing' applied here.
     
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    [X] Read None.

    Why break confidentiality when we could just go say hi?

    If we do decide to read some, we should be specific and targeted towards what we need to know for the rite. Helping Shannon can wait for after. Helping Rose can extra double wait since she's not even participating.
     
    Valkur said:
    I believe Rise isn't partaking actually. If she is, then we open ourselves to be there for her. But she needs to trust us as much as she trusts others.

    It's also been shown that she can be clingy so if we can get some if that to rub off on is then we have a chamce...ASSUMING she does the trials at any rate.

    All applicants can technically back out still.

    @Evenstar

    Questions

    1. Has Rise said to any priestess if she'll back out?

    2. Can the Supplicants back out?

    3. How much time do we have before the ritual again?

    4. Will we have time to ask for permission to read those from the proper authority?
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    1: Tasha has said that Rose is not participating, but you haven't asked her in person. Tasha ought to know, though.

    Also, Rose is sixteen. Even if she begged you to let her participate, you are not so untouchable by mortal law that you would enjoy seeing the headline "local temple kidnaps sixteen-year-old heiress, forces her to participate in sex rituals." Which is what would happen if the story ever got back to her family.

    2: Yes, they absolutely can. They might end up not being Supplicants anymore as a result - but that's a result of the analysis done afterwards, not of their decision one way or the other. You can absolutely be thrown out of the order for attempting a ritual you had no business trying to participate in.

    So yes, it's high-pressure, but in a way that's balanced such that the winning strategy ought to be honesty.

    3: Today is Thursday. The ritual begins on Saturday Morning - well, very very early saturday morning. It begins at midnight on Friday and runs until midnight on Saturday. So you have the rest of today and all of tomorrow to prepare.

    4: You are the proper authority. Tasha gave you the duty of Rite Leader for the Supplicants, which makes you the only person currently allowed to read these notes. The only authority above you on this is the Goddess, and you might have some serious trouble getting a clear reply from her.
     
    Another question glorios GM.

    Are we announcing the change publicly? Did that win out?

    I ask because it seems open honestly tied with something else.

    @Evenstar


    For everyone else, leave Rose the fuck alone. I don't want Elasandra to go to court or bring bad publicity to her temple. The stress could hurt her a lot. :(
     
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    [X] Read some of the entry dedications.
    -[X] Read Ansuz's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Aura's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Pidgeon's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Cocoa's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Shimmer's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Sofya's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Sunshine's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Strawberry's entry dedication.

    Removed Rose and added Cocoa since Rose isn't participating.
     
    RedV said:
    [X] Read some of the entry dedications.
    -[X] Read Ansuz's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Aura's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Pidgeon's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Cocoa's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Shimmer's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Sofya's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Sunshine's entry dedication.
    -[X] Read Strawberry's entry dedication.

    Removed Rose and added Cocoa since Rose isn't participating.
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    I'm willing to do this but only IF we tell the Supplicants of the sudden change. I am very afraid of them freaking out in the end.

    Also I doubt all the information we need will be in there. We NEED to get face time with as many as possible.

    But again honesty IS the best policy here. Ask for there trust if need be but be firm and honest. It will at the very least help us side step kidnapping.

    Oh and again, leave Rose alone.
     
    "Make an announcement" tied with "Focus on the people you haven't met", so Eli decided to ask to speak with said people during her announcement - except she didn't know their names. Thus, she went looking for the files that would have their names in them, and stumbled on their entry dedications in the process.
     
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