I think that a "toolbox" of characters and details might help us stay organized and allow new people to more easily jump in. I'll start it and people can add to it as we go.

Characters (so far):

Ashley - 18, girl. Has a walking stick made from a giant caribou antler, from Panapak. "Fragile". Likes caribou.

Pak - 18, boy. Ashley's twin brother, evil? Has heterochromia iridium. Has a bag of marbles from Panapak.

Panapak or "Pana" - dead, Ashley and Pak's grandfather. Capable of performing "powers of the Black Cohosh, the Devils Claw and the Slippery Elm"

The Chancellor - male, has "raggedy old face"

The Council Members - various, one of whom is "a cross, snooty old woman in a ceremonial wig three sizes too big for her head"

"A man in a dark overcoat" - also has a hat. Gave Ashley an envelope with a map and stuff.

A kid (well, there was one when she was heading out of town, but that's changed)

Mrs. Bobrova - town librarian. Has an accent. Didn't see anyone, especially any men in the library.

"a small human figure. Not a baby. The figure had the build of a man" - holds a vessel.

"A man with a quiet but deep voice" - "small man, perhaps no more than 3 feet tall. His face was dark but she could tell he was old and had harsh features."

"a caribou, the largest to have ever lived" - can talk. "Matronly. Like a mom."

Edit: Daryl Houseman - as yet unseen

(yikes, that's a lot of mysterious characters so far.)

Setting:

A small town in San Carabino county - founded around a hermitage and a Spanish monk's remains. A former iron town. Home to "The Reaping" which takes place "at the start of the coming week, the Winter Solstice before the migration period."

Also, at this point in the story, it is night (night fell like, 3 times before lil edited it)

Edit: Also, The Black Rock Forest - Ashley may or may not be in it at this point.

Known powers:

The Black Cohosh, the Devils Claw and the Slippery Elm

Cool names. thenewgreen