The Counties

[G. Novella]

In this thread, you can Roleplay for the Townships and Counties within the Witch Hunt RP. Please do not post anything not related to those.

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It was a warm sunny day in Britain when the first Decree came across the land. All around, the kingdom found itself waking up to town criers yelling the news. His Highness, Lord James of Saxony, was finally making the move to eradicate those horrible and strange witches and wizards. The Decree had been passed.

All persons found practicing witchcraft would immediately be arrested. Anyone who handed in a real witch would be paid thirty pounds. Anyone interested can apply to become a part of the Witch Hunters. A Witch Hunter is allowed to arrest and capture witches and wizards. They'd be one of the King's Men. The Witch Hunters shall come into effect in precisely one month. Apply now with your local lord!

The people felt safer in their homes upon hearing those words. Witches were sinful creatures. They harmed their families, told lies, and did unnatural things with sticks and herbs. It wasn't right! Finally the King was taking action!

For the past ten years, a bubbling tension had begun growing all over Europe, and it was in Britain that it was finally turning violent. More incidents were cropping up of people being stoned and hunted down for doing odd things. In turns, the witches and wizards were doing strange things. They'd bait the normal people, they left poisons instead of healing potions, and would use their wands to cause havoc. Everyone was terrified of these strange creatures. No one knew how the war had started. Some say it's because the wizards use their magic to blackmail the normal folk, others say it's because magic is terrifying. Who started the hunt was unknown.

It was in the county of Hampshire where our story begins. A tall, lean musician strummed his violin for people crossing the street. He had sharp, dark eyes, and a crooked smile as he played a tune and sang a song about highway men and trickery. All around, people gossiped about the newest Decree. It was about time witches were put in their place! They couldn't be allowed to hold people at their mercy with their awful magic anymore. They couldn't use that terrifying stuff. The man continued to sing, his voice getting softer, before he tucked away the violin, and began walking gaily in the crowd.

[Miss Wings]

The Tubridy's were worried. They'd heard of the news about a new decree calling for witch/wizard hunters and they had no idea what they were going to do.

[Nahara46]

Rylan whistled as he pushed the cart of turnips that his younger sisters had harvested just the day before toward the village. All he had to do was sell them, and pick up flour for his Mum. The Quakestens hadn't discovered about the decree quite yet, they hadn't had a need to go into town for the past few days, so now Rylan saw quite a few groups of people, gossiping to one another, Privately, he wondered what it was all about.

[G. Novella]

Amelia woke up early in the morning to a loud commotion. She grabbed under her pillow for a long stick, which she tucked into the tape around her leg. She sleepily left her bed and moved downstairs to where her brother Robert was yelling excitedly. Her parents were looking on in amusement, and her brother Alfred's wife stared at him in disgust as she rocked the baby Johnny.

"What's going on?" asked Amelia, looking around.

"Come here sweetie," said her father proudly, "Guess what, Robert's finally settled on a career."

"Career?" asked Amelia, taking a seat by her father.

"I'm going to join the Witch Hunters!" said Robert with the exuberance of a young boy rather than a grown nineteen year old man.

"A what now!?" cried Amelia, her eyes bulging from her eyes.

"A Witch Hunter! It's all over the town! The King is hiring witch hunters!" said Robert excitedly.

"Why?!" asked Amelia, distressed. She smoothed her nightgown, running her hand over her stick.

In truth, the stick was a wand. Said wand was her biggest secret. For you see, Amelia was in fact a witch. Her family had no idea. They had assumed the odd things had stopped out of the blue, and it was long forgotten. But the truth was Amelia had gotten her wand. She'd been a bit too young, but the hedge-witch Elena had said it was necessary. And so Amelia became what she was.

"Because it's a chance for adventure!" said Robert, mistaking her distress for worry about him, "I'll be fine! I'm the bravest guy in all of Hampshire County!"

Everyone laughed and talked gaily, but Amelia smiled a forced smile, before excusing herself. She dressed quickly in her room, feeling suffocated. Her family was so excited about Robert's decision. She wondered what they'd do if they found out the truth about her. Nervously, she excused herself for the day. The younger children cried to go with her, but she pushed them aside, needing to be alone. In a haze, she walked to the town, needing to see the Decree for herself.

[eskimoRock]

(I've moved mine to here instead, it fits much better.)

Joseph walked quickly through the town, dodging a man who all but skipped past him. His father had said something about a decree, and he had to see it for himself. The crowds seemed to thicken around the village hall, and he pushed through the crowds to see the notice.

Somebody behind him pushed forwards suddenly, and he tripped forwards, falling into a small, freckled girl of about his age.

"I'm really very sorry." he said formally, turning towards the board.

"They're doing what? Witch hunts?" he gasped.

[G. Novella]

Amelia fell back to the ground, unable to see the decree. It didn't help that she was so short and by the time she stood, she couldn't see the board. Then she heard the boy's words, and her blood ran cold.

"What?" she asked him desperately, tugging on his arm, "What does it say?!"

[eskimoRock]

Joshua looked down at the freckled girl and frowned.

"They're starting a witch hunt, and offering rewards for one of them. That can't be right, can it? Our people will get themselves killed!"

A man shoved into him from behind, almost knocking the girl over again, and he grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Here, follow me."

Making sure that the girl stayed behind him, he pushed through the crowd until he reached the less crowded part of the square, leaning on a stall that appeared to be selling onions.

"How can the possibly think that witch hunts are a good idea?"

[G. Novella]

In her daze, Amelia let herself be pulled away to the onion stall. A few feet away was a turnip stall. All around people seemed to only be discussing the new decree. She snapped out of her daze upon realizing the boy was talking to her. She listened to his question, still feeling shocked and pale.

"It seems like your the only one who disagrees," she said, watching a group of boys egging each other on to join the Hunt. With a slight shudder, she took a step back away from the group subconsciously. "Everyone seems to want this."

[Miss Wings]

John was walking aimlessly around the village as he fished for information on whether or not the Decree was true when he overheard 2 people talking about said decree and so he'd decided to listen in on the talk.

[eskimoRock]

Joshua barely noticed that there was somebody listening in on their talk, he was too upset.

"I know what this means for me." he muttered hollowly. "My father, the Earl, uses me to gain social standing and favour with the King. As the only son of an Earl, I probably inherit this entire village. What better way to gain favour than for your only son to join in with the witch hunters?"

Joshua took a deep breath, head in his hands.

"He's going to make me join the witch hunters, and I'm probably going to get myself killed fighting for something I don't even believe in."

[G. Novella]

"Your the Earl's son?" said Amelia in surprise, her eyes widening and she finally snapped out of her shock, only to be flustered. She was talking to her future Lord! "I-You-I'm so sorry sir!"

With that, she sunk into a curtsy, troubled by his words. Still curtsying, she asked him in surprise, "Aren't we supposed to hate witches?"

[eskimoRock]

Joshua rolled his eyes, snapping out of his panic abruptly.

"Yes, the Earl is my father, and for goodness sake, stop curtsying! I don't usually tell people, i was panicking slightly. I apologise fr that, by the way. As for witches... I don't think that every one of them can be bad, despite common relief. We humans have done some truly horrible things throughout history, but does that mean that every one of us must be hunted down? Of course not! I don't hate witches unless they give me a particular reason to hate them, just like I don't hate somebody normal, as it were, unless they give me a reason to hate them."

[G. Novella]

Amelia stood up, surprised at the man's sensible tone. She nodded with his words, surprised someone could be so reasonable. She couldn't help but wonder if all nobility was like this. Then she brushed the thought off. The King certainly hadn't shown any sign of it in this decree. Maybe the man was different, like her. Either way, she decided to be less cautious. Maybe he was sincere.

"Sorry, milord," she said shyly, dropping her gaze to his feet. She'd never done this before! Realizing she shoukd respond, she nervously added, "That's oddly, sensible of you. Most of us common folk don't think that way. Most people would love to burn the witches at the stake, or stone them, reason be damned."

Amelia turned her head and looked to the crowd, when she narrowed her eyes at a small boy. He seemed to be intently watching her and the lord. She didn't say anything, but eyed him back. Was he eavesdropping, by chance?

[Miss Wings]

John saw that the lady had turned to look at him and thought it would be best to speak up now. "So is this Decree true? My brother is engaged to be married to the King's Daughter and I'd like to know if this decree is true so that I may warn him".

[eskimoRock]

Joshua, about to reply to the young girl, instead turned and spoke to the small boy standing near them.

"You can tell your brother that it is true. I'm sure he will be glad to hear of it, being so close to the king."

His voice came out like acid, and he instantly regretted his tone, but did not to bother to correct himself.

[G. Novella]

Amelia was surprised at the harsh tone the man had adopted, and felt herself getting more flustered to be presented before two nobles, despite her peasant status. She didn't know what to say, but felt bad for the boy, and tried to give him a kind smile.

[Miss Wings]

"For your information my brother didn't wish to marry. Hell he didn't even know who the King was when he saved his life!" John spat out at the man.

[eskimoRock]

Joshua bit his lip to prevent all of the sarcastic retorts that he was dying to offer. After all, he was in the presence of a lady.

"I apologise. You can understand that I'm slightly...on edge right now, if you were indeed eavesdropping on us as I believe you were. I would have done the same in your situation, mind. I believe I know your brother, he's a good man."

[Miss Wings]

"I'm sorry for losing my temper aswell but in times like these I need to be careful. Your not talking about his apprentiship skills are you? Your talking of other skills" John tried to hint once the other man had apologised.

[eskimoRock]

Joshua frowned.

"I'm sorry, I have no idea what you mean. He's been to dinner with my father a few times, that's the only way I know him."

[Miss Wings]

John frowned. "Are you absolutoly sure about that?"

[G. Novella]

Amelia was trying to keep up with the conversation, but had no clue who they were talking about. So she smoothed her skirt out and listened politely. The small boy seemed confused, as did the elder. She couldn't help but wonder how she'd gotten into this situation, a peasant witch talking to two nobles, or rather, listening.

[eskimoRock]

Joshua was very, very confused. Was the boy trying to tell him something?

"Honestly, I have no idea what you are talking about."

He turned to the girl, raising his eyebrows in a silent question. Maybe she could shed some light on what was going on here?

[G. Novella]

Amelia was surprised at the man's questioning look. How was she supposed to know anything about nobles? She had just recently been allowed to come to town without an older brother! Nevertheless, she tried to help.

"Are you talking of some other training he does such as horse-riding?" she said wildly, wondering if she was just making a fool of herself.

[eskimoRock]

Joshua had to purse his lips to stop himself laughing at the wild panic in the girl's voice.

"Or perhaps swordsmanship?" he asked, grinning wickedly at the girl.

[G. Novella]

Amelia narrowed her eyes at the man, wondering if he was teasing her. She'd never been teased by boys other than her brothers, so this felt new to her.

[Miss Wings]

"Correct indeed. He teaches sword fighting just over there!" John pointed to a barn off the side. "We've been to a few lessons together".

[eskimoRock]

Joshua frowned. He knew that nobody taught sword fighting in the village- after all, his father practically owned the village, and Joshua himself was a talented sword fighter. He brushed it off, however, as the boy was obviously confused.

"Anyway. I don't believe I know either of your names! I'm Joshua."

[G. Novella]

"Amelia, milord," said Amelia with a nod. She recognized his name from the town gossip Victoria adored.

[Miss Wings]

"John Tubridy" John was so sure that this man was a wizard, unless he was confused with someone else.