event log: a summons

[moustre]

Event Log: July, By Invitation Only

You're Invited The morning of the 19th hears Nessie's voice ringing out over the city, calling a summons of all mirrorbound, Wilders, Parliament members, and Master Witches to the Parliament proper; the 19th also sees regular Witches, presumably those not invited, heading around the residential districts and The Haven to help spread the word and get people up and going for something that's been talked about in brief over the week: A summons for information. The Parliament building is one rarely entered by those without clearance, and its inside is just the same as its outside: made of the same quartz blocks, everything feels clean, official, and new. The hallways are quiet and empty, save for the guards posted to keep people from moving off the path. The room everyone is herded into, however, is made entirely of an old, dark hardwood, a deep contrast to the white walls that lead the way. Nessie stands at the head of the room, dressed in her usual; Mhairi stands beside her, a little more formal and with her cane hooked in the crook of her arm - she is The Coven's ambassador to the Parliament, after all - and the leaders of Parliament themselves have seats behind the two of them. Once everyone is inside and seated, Nessie grins and steps forward, clapping three times; the third is particularly loud, a shiver of magic running through the room, and despite the fact she doesn't raise her voice it carries effortlessly. "Good morning, and thank you all for coming! We're right grateful, we are." A brief pause, gazing out at the gathered crowd, before she continues. "But this isn't a tour or pleasure visit - unfortunately, it's quite serious business, it is. We've summoned you all here today to talk." "Nerissa Bell," one of the Parliament leaders behind her calls, sounding worn, "enough of your dramatics. Please get on with it." Mhairi's ears twitch backwards as Nessie frowns slightly at him, but she laces her fingers in front of her and steps forward, head raising as she begins to address those gathered properly: "We've looked into a lot of things over the past two or so months since the lot of you arrived, and this is what we've come up with. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and share what you've managed to find too - if we work together, I'm right certain we'll be able to figure out a couple of mysteries. With all that out of the way -" Some Coven Investigation Results The Shared Dreams • They seem to only affect the mirrorbound. While sharing a dream isn't technically unheard of, it isn't in the same capacity that the ones experienced each month by the mirrorbound (and, last month, by the city as as whole). While she isn't sure if this pattern will continue, or if the city will share the same experience again - or if that was an effect of Litha - it's something they're going to keep a close eye on, especially as continuous dreamwalking can prove fatal. • The few, true dreamwalkers that Aefenglom's Coven are in possession of are present; however, they're in and out of consciousness in their seats, and don't have much to offer in regards to the situation, staring with unseeing eyes as they speak of the dreams that they've been walking through. They're evidence that caution is advised regarding this situation, but their handlers and those that study their exploits and the concept of dreams make their best attempt to offer their insight. • However, they nor the Coven's diviners have discovered the source of the dreams. If the mirrorbound arrivals perhaps have any theories, they would appreciate hearing more, and are prepared to compile all of the information everyone has to share. Offers of learning under the diviners are open, as well. Dewaint Forest • Information about the long lost Dewaint Forest has begun to be uncovered, along with theories about it and the goings on that many mirrorbound have dreamt of. The majority of Parliament is less inclined to believe the tales, and their doubt and skepticism is fairly evident, but there are still those that ask for more - more knowledge, more theories, more investigation. • A possibility of Dewaint Forest falling on the node of a leyline - and a powerful one at that - has been brought up. Leylines run throughout the entire world of Talam, and Aefenglom was settled atop a node, as well, due to the magical power that they carry. The Coven (and the Parliament, to a small degree) want to see just how true this theory is. • The possibility that civilization still exists in Dewaint is something that they'd like to know, as well, considering the fact that within its depths was once the heart of the Fae civilization. But it now rests as the heart of the Wilde, and subsequently... the heart of the Cwyld. Was it the source? Is it safe from the blight that affects them? It's knowledge that they need, especially if there's a way to fight the Cwyld within the forest depths. The Meeting of the Fae • Some old folklore states that the Fae courts only come together in times of impending crisis; this lines up with the spread of the Cwyld seen by those who had this dream experience. The mention of the High Queen is particularly important though, as she is said to reside solely in the heart of Faeryland, slumbering in order to keep her youthful appearance. For her to have awaken and attended a meeting... Well, it doesn't spell the best of news. • There are a few Fae in the city, and after speaking with them, it's been deduced that - despite their long life - none of them remember something like this, so it's likely this particular meeting was much further in the past than anyone might imagine. This implies that it's possible that this isn't the first time the Cwyld has broken out, but she isn't entirely sure of that - it'd be best to take the idea with a grain of salt. • Regarding the Courts: it would seem the Fae used to divide themselves into two of them, though Fae nowadays hold no allegiance or importance to anything of the sort. Information about these specifically are sparse however, as the Fae were notoriously secretive about where their loyalties ultimately laid. The Looking-Glass House • There isn't much to report here - all records state the house has been around for quite some time now. What has been noticed is that inductees into The Coven cannot spell a mirror that is connected to one of the mirrorbound. This isn't too much of a problem, given the house's ever-expanding inside, but it's something to note. • Nessie's written to the heads at other branches of The Coven and found that none of them have an outside housing area for their mirrors - the rest of them have them inside their building proper, in rooms or hallways. Curious, but just another thing that makes Aefenglom's branch stand out from the rest. • If anyone has found out anything additional about the mirrors or the house itself - more likely the mirrors, Nessie thinks, since she feels as if they must have a special meaning to be bound so tightly to those who have come through them - then they're welcome to share it, be it fact or theory.

Welcome to your meeting log! No question thread this time, and no making your own logs either - as this is a one day affair with a very specific location, for the purpose of sharing information and the like. Feel free to make your own top levels presenting information, tag or threadhop into relevant threads as necessary, and so on!

Comments

[gallowsbait]

Greyjay lets himself be shepherded along and into the building and despite his distaste for it all, keeps his sneering mostly internal. As he finds a place to stand, he mulls it over: a Parliament. The final sign that he's trapped in a backwater civilization run by half-wits. Moon's tits, next they'll have to cast ballots to decide on what to do.

When Nerissa starts to condescend, he can't decide if she's serious or if this is all some sort of act. If they're strong enough to change the weather, if they don't care about those consequences, why don't they know what else they're doing with the mirrors?

"I've got no information myself," he says directed to the other mirrorbound and mostly ignoring the 'Parliament'. "But what I wanna know, is if anyone's seen how far we can go if we're bound to mirrors? Can we leave 'em here and go abroad? Or, if we choose to go, can we take 'em with us?"

[showsnopiety]

"I haven't tried yet." Caren shook her head. "But I haven't explored as much as I should. I think the only way to know for sure is to see if we can travel to another city."

She was thoughtful, thinking to herself. "Do you think that we'd end up with another mirror if we were travel to another Coven with a different mirror house?"

[gallowsbait]

"I don't think we would. From what I understand, we're bound to a specific mirror. I ...you know, I don't even know if we can take them out of the mirrorhouse." Worth looking into, but best to experiment on someone else first.

"We know they've changed us and, frankly, they don't have our interests at heart." Why should they? There's no reason.

[showsnopiety]

"We may have to experiment. Certain things...well, it's just not known to us. We might want go keep multiple records of what we go through."

Which would be a pain. But useful if they needed to double check discoveries.and tell others.

"I agree with you. With the other towns and cities, we aren't their problem. They've helped us enough to not cause major disturbance."

Her expression soured. "And Witches seem far more welcome."

[gallowsbait]

Greyjay has wondered if the reason they're bound here is the hope that both parties will stay. It would make a certain sort of sense - this city, they get an influx of witches which is bound to unsettle the local politics.

"Until we 'explode', I'm sure."

[showsnopiety]

Caren wouldn't be surprised. Witches had power, and the more refined that power, the better-especially if they were capable of conducting group spells together. While they could side with the Coven, the Mirror Witches were their own growing party.

"Oh yes. Hence why you need to tame the new feral monsters with Bonds, and not with the locals. We've leashed and collared ourselves quite nicely-and we're not straining the local balance."