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

[futhark]

[ Partners in crime, it is said. ]

Let us go on the mighty quest of finding the privy. [ And stumbling upon something entirely different! ] Name's Caster by the way.

[ Since the introductions haven't happened yet ]

[wordsinthesoul]

An important quest indeed; after all, who knows when it might be needed? [They can always say they turned a wrong corner! It's fine.]. Caster? [odd. But appropriate.] Mine is Thancred. A pleasure to meet you.

Now… shall we try this way? [He gestures to a doorway.]

[futhark]

[ Caster takes a glance at it, it doesn't seem to be guarded, at least not on this side. So let them sliiiideee... slither and sneak, just slow enough to not get attention but reach the door. Thanks, crowds, you make everything easier.

Caster gesture at Thancred and makes a first step outside.

...guess what. There is a guard on the other side of the door. He raises a brow at him and Caster just takes several more steps so he circles the guard (taking his attention away from the door and thus Thancred) ]

This meeting is quite long, and I had too much of the drinks they offered. Do you happen to know where I could relieve myself? [ That's how you get directions ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[Ah. Of course it wouldn't be quite that simple. Thancred stays back for the moment, trying not to draw attention to himself as the guard rubs his nose.]

The loo? Ah, that's hardly any distance at all, just a few turns, cause you don't want to disturb anyone, eh? Go that way, take a left, go down the hall, then left again, and you'll find it on the right.

[That makes sense. He's just going to sidle around the other way a little, and see what's there.]

[futhark]

[ Caster gets the guard attention for a few more precious seconds, pretending to not get exactly the direction. Go there and then left? Or go left now and then what, left again? Until the guard leads him into the correct corridor and pushes him on his way with an annoyed groan.

That surely gave Thancred time, and since there are stairs on both ends of the corridor— he gestures to his partner in crime. "Up" let's meet up ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[He gives a quick nod, heading up the strairs- ah, hells, another one. Though fortunately, at least for the time being, this guard looks tired- perhaps at the end of his shift. It ought to be simple enough to wait for him to turn.

Now it's just a matter of finding a spot where they'll be able to meet up again- he finds a spot that looks as though it shouldn't be in direct sight, and peers out. How much luck is Caster having?]

[futhark]

｢ ooc: I've noticed mods reply that they will get caught no matter what, and since this quite an old log we could move towards wrapping it up ｣

[ Caster, being part of the esteemed Luck E club (actually Luck D in his case, but that's close as bad, actually walks right into a guard. He plays the pretend of being lost but it's clear this guard won't buy it. And so, he escorts the druid down, back to the hall.

Sorry Thancred, he failed ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[ooc: yeah, that’s fine! sorry for the trouble.]

[That’s... well, maybe better than it could be. Thancred hears something going on and peers out- just catching the end of that exchange, and grimaces. If only they could have gotten further- but the halls are a little too watched. He ends up noticed as he tries to move through, this guard escorting him back politely but firmly.

Perhaps they’ll have more luck another time.]