abraxaslogs | OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne

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OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne

WHO: OPEN to all Summoned in Thorne
WHAT: A party, info dump, and magic study session all rolled into one! Eat, drink, mingle -- make some friends!
WHEN: a couple days after the newest Summoned start appearing
WHERE: a ballroom in Castle Thorne

NOTES: This is an open mingle log where everyone can tag one another!

Rhy Maresh will have sent a written invitation to all Thornean newcomers within a couple of days of their arrival, inviting them to meet their fellow Summoned. Otherwise, there will be fliers posted in the dining area that anyone can see. If your character has CR with Rhy or Istredd (or Kell), you can assume they were told and got an in-person invite -- and you can even assume your character helped with setup if desired (decorations, helping set out food, etc.), since Rhy definitely needed the assistance. Up to you!

Istredd will also be hosting a group meditation to allow newcomers to access to the Horizon (and network). New Summoned who wish to learn how to step into the Horizon have an opportunity to have their connections to the Singularity activated. If preferred, they can also get one-on-one help from those who've been around for a bit. He will also discuss the magic in Abraxas and point them in the direction of teachers of magic, combat, or other things they may be interested in.

Banquet.

The large ballroom is bathed in warm, golden light from dozens of chandeliers above, reflecting off the gleaming inlaid floors and brass light fixtures along the walls. It is at once neatly sectioned, yet naturally open, allowing the length of the room to flow from one potential activity to another with ease.

In the center, a circular area has been left clear, and every half hour or so during the first half of the evening, two native Thornean (apprentice) mages come up to offer magic demonstrations -- mostly flashy elemental magic, adding sparks and atmosphere. If any of the Summoned who've been around longer wish to show off as well, they are welcome to do so.

Along the walls stand narrow refreshment tables, where one can serve oneself wine from large glass carafes. Hot tea is also available in a few flavors. (Though those who have been here a while may notice there are fewer carafes, and more expensive options for alcohol and refreshments are missing this time.) For those looking to eat, a large dining table has been set out toward the center of the room, with plates and utensils and large platters of food in the center -- nothing fancy, but perfectly serviceable, and arranged to look good even if the ingredients themselves aren't nearly as lavish as they have been in the past. Still, despite the impending war and tightened purse strings in the face of shortages, the kitchen has agreed to help welcome the newly Summoned as best as they can.

Both the handful of large tables and the smattering of small, taller tables for standing at are in full view of the demonstrations so the show can be enjoyed with food and drink, whatever your desire. Bright summer flowers garnish every table, freshening up the space.

Of course, there's plenty of space to stand and mingle, walk around, and see what everyone else is up to. In the back of the room, the folding screens offer a quieter area, for more private conversation and meditation as desired.

Magic Studies.

Behind the folding screens made of tall, carved wood in intricate patterns, there are a handful of low sofas and chaise lounges around a fireplace at the far side of the hall. This sectioned-off area has been enchanted to provide some insulation from the sound of the banquet beyond, and once you step inside, the quiet is like a gentle blanket settling over everyone who chooses to spend some time here.

This is the best place to ask questions in some semblance of privacy, to learn about your new home, and to receive guidance on entering the Horizon and using the so-called network of telepathic notes only the Summoned can send one another.

A mage named Istredd seems to be the one 'in charge' of this particular endeavor, but others who have been in Abraxas a while are likely also about, lending their assistance to those who are newly arrived and sharing thoughts on their experiences so far.

Just be careful -- even if the insulating enchantment is sturdy, there are still Thornean natives around, refilling refreshments outside and demonstrating their magic. You may want to be careful how candidly you discuss any displeasure toward Thorne or its crown, considering the Queen's notoriously explosive temper, and the rumors of the dungeons deep beneath the castle. It's hardly a secret, at this point: a conflict has been sparked, and the mood around the castle is a tense one, even amidst a celebration such as this.

(( ooc: Feel free to make your own top levels and tag around! This is meant to be an open mingle, with the above as mostly setting and flavor, so don't feel limited if you want your character to do their own magic demonstrations, for example, or even if your thread ends up moving outside the ballroom. Have fun!

It should be noted that if you would like to handwave your character's first experience to the Horizon, you can do so. It's a blanket permission from me / Istredd that he took your character there, helped them leave, and showed them how to go back in with their memory now.

This was written by Lena aka Rhy player! Contact me @ waftingcurtains with any questions otherwise just roll with it, friends. ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mingling
Lenore is always a social butterfly, and it's been so long since she's been able to enjoy a proper party where no one is trying to kill anyone else or eat anyone else. Flitting around in her new blue gown which she sweet-talked a mage into helping her make (so that she now has a grand total of two outfits, including the tunic she was given upon arrival, and her primary motivation at the moment is finding ways to improve this wardrobe), Lenore will approach absolutely anyone who doesn't seem actively hostile toward the prospect of conversation, and she offers a cheery "Good evening, my name is Lenore."

Refreshments
She's trying a little of everything at the refreshment tables, which might be surprising considering her strikingly long and sharp canine teeth which indicate she's a predator. And yet, here she is nibbling at berries and tartlets and drinking wine. "It's fun to try some new recipes. As fond as I am of our cook back home, he... well... he never did have a particularly varied repertoire."

Mat's long given up hope of seeing a familiar face at one of these gatherings, but he comes all the same. Rhy and Istredd put effort into it, after all, and he does like to know who he's sharing the Summoned wing with. One of these days he and Anakin might end up with a third roommate, after all. Not to mention his own social calendar could be far fuller than it is.

But he's certainly approachable looking, decked out in a gold and green waistcoat over tunic and trousers, offering a grin and a friendly lifting of his glass to anyone who wanders into his line of sight.

He is nothing if not pleasant at a party.

"And good evening to you, Lady Lenore." Mat inclines his head in greeting. "I'm Mat. Long time resident of Castle Thorne by now!"

"Lovely to meet you, and I'm very grateful for your welcome," Lenore says cheerfully. It's easy to return his grin with a warm smile, and she lifts her own glass in cheers.

"I've only just arrived, though I suppose you could guess that. I'd be enormously grateful for any counsel you can offer about how best I might settle in and ... make myself useful? I confess, the explanation I was given about my purpose for being here has left me with more questions than answers."

"And I'm afraid you won't get much more detailed an explanation." Mat certainly hasn't. Nor has anyone else he knows. And from what Jesper's said, it's the same over in The Free Cities.

"But they quite like us to learn magic, and sometimes they need some help with things. Like a handful of months ago, there were fires in the farmlands. Groups of us helped in putting the fires out."

Whatever grander purpose they have here has yet to be revealed. And he's not about to get into all the hostilities and whatnot here. He's no idiot, he's not about to say anything that could be construed as speaking against the royal family or the kingdom.

"I am very happy to learn magic. It's nice how easy it is here." Relatively speaking, anyway. The magic she's familiar with is much more difficult to practice. "And I'd be glad to help with tasks such as that. As long as it can be done on, er, a night shift."

Sunlight is just murder on her complexion.

"How long have you been here, altogether?" She wonders at it, having been here for a long time, as he said, that there is no more organized purpose for the Summoned than to help with fighting fires.

"Me? Been here since last year. There's a couple folks been here longer, though." Not many, come to think of it. Mat's pretty sure Yennefer was already here, at least, when he showed up. But most of the other Summoned he counts as his active social circle either came in with him or shortly after.

"And no, I have no deeper insights for my time spent here. We don't really go out into the world, other than on rare supervised occasions. They do so like to look out for our safety, here."

Or that's what they say, anyhow. Mat is well familiar with 'for your own safety'. It's a very clever and plausible excuse for all kinds of things. But he's always very careful what he says within castle walls.

"We're very well protected, at all times."

The little smile he offers doesn't quite reach his eyes.

Lenore understands exactly what is being implied with the reassurance about their safety. And yet, the meditation to the Horizon which is being taught just a few steps away. And yet, the excursions to Nocwich.

"We must be highly valued, to deserve such dedicated attention," Lenore comments. Interesting, and yet still no real understanding as to why they were here or what value it was that they possessed. "Perhaps we might discuss the topic later at more length." With more privacy.

"May I ask how you spend your time around Thorne when not involved in fire management?"

"Once you've established your connection with the Horizon, you ought to come and see my domain. Very creative, very beautiful." And private. Mat knows how this goes now, how to talk about a thing without actually talking about it.

And now that it's said, he can relax some and return to actual casual conversation.

"And I find all sorts of ways to keep myself busy! I study both magic and music, I'm quite blessed to have personal tutors in both. I perform in the town, in the evenings. I do well." Better, now that he can play an instrument.

"There's gambling and drinking games, too, which are always a good time. Riding and hunting in the royal woods. And I do enjoy an active social life. Very friendly fellow, me."

"Thank you, I look forward to visiting." She's not yet taken the chance to join the meditation, feeling a little skittish about it but not going to let the opportunity pass her by.

"Oh, you are quite busy! What kind of instrument do you play? What varieties of magic are you learning?" She understands that there are quite a few different areas of specialty in the local magic, but it's already the ability of the mages to craft and modify clothing that has captured her imagination.

"If a fellow doesn't keep busy, he tends to get into trouble." At least this fellow does. And it's been months since he poured water down any flights of stairs to make an ice slide, so he thinks it's working.

"I play a long necked lute called a theorbo. S'about as tall as me! I've just begun learning it, though, so I'm afraid I cannot play terribly complex melodies as of yet. And I study...well, I'm not sure what to call it. We call it Channeling, back home. It's not like Academic magic that they study and teach here. I do know some of that, though."

But Mat would hardly say he studies it. The lessons he has with Istredd and Yennefer are for his own particular sort of magic - or what he assumes is his own sort, with how it first manifested.

"Academic magic isn't hard to learn."

"Oh, I've not heard of it. I know of lutes, certainly." But not these futuristic modern versions invented in the 1600s. Might as well have flying carriages!

She nods interest about the magic, as well. "It's remarkably easy compared to the magic system back home. That either takes a great deal of practice or some very complicated spellcasting, and quite possibly both. The things we can do here with just a few lessons." She easily summons a ball of light to hover above her palm, the one spell she learned from the introductory magic lessons. "It's incredible. Such a thing would have taken months to learn in my world."

Gazing into the light for just a moment, fascinated to be able to so easily hold magic, she dismisses it as easily as it was summoned and returns her smile to Mat. "What is it that you do with your ... Channeling?"

I have found the selection rather illuminating.

[ he would not call elvish tastes limited. they have particular joys and are not likely to chase after the unknown. elrond differs in that sense, though he is not burdened by wanderlust to follow through. ]

As illuminating as the magic lessons? [Lenore's expression is all sweet innocence, but it is a joke. The only magic lesson she's had so far was the beginner's tutorial about summoning light.

Whether he picks up the joke or not, she's hopes he'll be prompted to elaborate upon his thoughts. Why talk about herself when she can take the opportunity to pump others for information?]

[ hm. elrond takes it in stride. ]

Perhaps. Are you familiar with magic?

Not much, in comparison to what they can do here. We have magic where I'm from, but it is far more limited.

Are you a mage?

No. I am an elf, though in the eyes of many, what I can do may seem like magic.

An elf? ... Ælf?

[She'd almost take it as a joke, except that if she were to describe her mental image of an ælf he fits it pretty exactly. She just, you know, thought all those legends were actually about vampires.]

Forgive my surprise. I have only heard of ælfs--ehlfs?--as creatures of legend.

[ elrond inclines his head, gesturing to himself loosely. ]

I can only hope to match the legend.

You do.

[He's not giving her much to work with, and she wonders whether it's a tactic. She's certainly used that as a tactic many times before, letting silences drag a bit in order to get the other person to fill them. So she just smiles at him, cheerful and sweet, like she's waiting for something, because she wants to know what he'll do with the silence.]

[ she has been trained. that much is clear. elrond swerves the conversation in his direction for now. ]

What else have you heard about elves?

Oh, that they are tall and fair, created entirely from light, [Lenore divulges, cheery and a little mischievous as she tells fairy tales.]

They live deep within forests, and in vast underground realms, shrinking themselves down to just the size of a thumb so that they can fit entire palaces inside a single tree, and vast cities within a hillock.

They are fond of trade and bargains, quick to grant favors and to require fair recompense for the same. They love parties and liquor, mischief ... oh and orgies.

[Can't forget the orgies.]

So how much of that is true?

Lenore | Castlevania | The Lovers

Mingling

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( refreshments )

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mingling.

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