OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne

[magicalarchaeologist]

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. ))

Comments

mingling.

[londonbound]

She may have met him before this briefly, or perhaps only heard of him, with the opportunity to put a face to the name only coming up now. Whatever, the case Rhy nearly always seems approachable -- and here, he's actively playing host, walking around and making light conversation, recommending certain refreshments, asking after people's enjoyment of the evening or their impression of their rooms or the castle thus far.

Rhy is also nearly always impeccably dressed, and tonight is no exception. The gold thread woven into the cloth shimmers when he walks, giving off an effect almost like the flicker of tiny flames.

His smile is nothing but genuine warmth and welcoming when Lenore introduces herself. Rhy inclines his head, just barely, a gracious nod of acknowledgement.

"Thank you for joining us this evening, Lenore. I'm Rhy." He winks. "In case it wasn't clear by now."

[beloyaltome]

Lenore is staring openly as he approaches, mouth open a little in awe. She's seen some things, in her two hundred years of life, but none of the places she's lived could really be described as a fashion hub. She's only rarely met anyone more interested in fashion than she is, and all of those others either worked for her or worked in shops that she patronized.

His apparel is truly exceptional in design and craftsmanship, and he himself is breathtaking. For the first time in her life, Lenore suddenly feels like a country bumpkin.

"It's an honor to meet you," she says, cheeks flushed because she's feeling a little dazzled. "Your outfit is the finest apparel I have ever seen--may I ask who designed it? Is it magework?"

[londonbound]

"Oh, it really shouldn't be. We're all just Summoned here in Castle Thorne."

Another way to say they're all just trapped in the same situation, really. In another life, in another place, where he was still the crown prince, that reaction had been something he was used to; here, it just feels weird, and undeserved.

"Thank you, though. As for the outfit, I actually bought it in the country of Nocwich. It is a land where all is enveloped in night regardless of the hour, the home of races of people called 'werewolves' and 'vampires,' who are native to this land," he explains, as someone who has never before encountered such people and automatically assumes most from other worlds also have not. (Whoops.)

"We were invited to go there a few weeks ago, and our benefactors in Thorne were kind enough to provide coin for spending. There is a portal to Nocwich that opens on the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of every month to allow for the Summoned to visit, if you're interested. Though I'm afraid the extra coin was for a special occasion and not a regular occurrence."

[beloyaltome]

Lenore nods eagerly at the mention of Nocwich. The place was mentioned to her by Lucifer very soon after her arrival, and she's already urgently eager to get to visit for the first time. "I cannot wait for my own opportunity to visit. I am a vampire myself, and a land of eternal darkness sounds sublime to me. If your clothing is an example of their workmanship, I am all the more eager to visit this place. Though I have seen and possessed many lovely gowns, I have never seen anything that compares with your apparel now."