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! If your character is interested, they can go help out in Nott instead/afterward!
WHEN: After the new people arrive
WHERE: A ballroom in Castle Thorne

NOTES: This is an open mingle log where everyone can tag one another! New characters may hear some gossip and chatter about recent important events that happened in Abraxas. The most important one is that a few months ago, a coup happened in Castle Thorne that led to the former royal house being slaughtered. The new people in power are King Rudolph Sidwell, the former queen's uncle, his wife Queen Lia Sidwell, and High Mage Mace Hemmet. A war has broken out with the Free Cities and after a tussle in the Badlands to gain land, Thorne was forced back due to the combined forces of the Free Cities and apparently Solvunn's divine intervention.

Also, strange creepy dolls have been haunting the children and causing them to roam.



General.

While Istredd had former partners in this celebration, he is currently the only host, although he can only be found in one section of the room. The rest is working thanks to the kindness of staff who has been partnering with this a long time. He sent out a written invitation to all Thornean newcomers after their arrival, inviting them to meet their fellow Summoned. There will be fliers posted in the dining area that anyone can see. His invitation is much less elegant than Jill's used to be, but he tried to copy it to the best of his ability. You can assume your character was told and got in-person invites or heard about it. You can even assume your character helped with setup if desired (decorations, helping set out food, etc.), since they 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 and liquor from large glass carafes. Hot tea and a variety of warm drinks are also available in a few flavors. 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. It has been arranged for special refreshments to be offered in partnership with local businesses.

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. Everything is decorated in Thorne's local winter flowers, filling the space with pleasant smells and a pretty atmosphere. There is 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.

Istredd is 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. Istredd recommends people visit his Horizon because he has a history of the Summoned and general helpful details written in there for anyone to see.

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 cautious how candidly you discuss any displeasure toward Thorne or its crown, considering the new royals may be more sensitive toward any perceived criticism of their actions and behavior. Especially with war now possibly being started with both major territories.

(( 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. Your character can also know anything from the entries I linked to above that are in his library if you'd like to jump-start them into having information, or they can know none of it.))

Comments

[ordinar]

He realizes a moment late that he should have warned Iris. He forgets — his darkness is friendly to him, because he's in full control. It's not the darkness that devoured him down in the belly of that mountain, surrounded by death. The darkness that still haunts him to the point that he can't fall asleep without a bit of light to keep him company and ward off unseen terrors. Sometimes he thinks the Singularity has a weird sense of humor, granting him the gift of shadows as he recovered from that ordeal.

He forgets that to anyone else, all darkness must be the same. And the shadows he creates are uniquely impenetrable, as if darkness is a substance that can thicken. Wilhelm wants to say something more to reassure Iris, but their voices can't be hidden. Talking will get them caught.

So he silently leads the way down the hall to the kitchen. Just as they reach the door, it swings open. Wilhelm flattens himself against the wall and pulls Iris with him as a kitchen worker walks past with a basket of bread.

[inventure]

It's dizzying enough to be escorted around in the literal dark; with the tug comes an unfortunate sensation of vertigo as he loses his balance, only to find it rather suddenly against a warm, firm body.

"Oof," he says, intelligently, somehow having enough presence of mind to, yanno, keep it quiet. More a tiny puff of air shared between them, or between Iris and Wilhelm's chest — look, the point is the worker doesn't hear them over the sound of their own haste anyway.

The bread smells really good, and so does Wilhelm, like he might have dusted an extra bit of cologne just under his ears for the special occasion, like without his sight the rest of his senses are heightened so he's left with just sounds and smells and feels—

What was it they were doing here?

[ordinar]

Wilhelm realizes, once the worker's footsteps have receded down the hall, how tightly he's clutching Iris's waist, pressing him against himself as if by melding together they might have a better chance of staying hidden. He lets go of him like a held breath. They remain connected by the wine bottle they're both still holding.

"Sorry," he whispers.

They don't have time to waste lingering here. He pulls open the door and conducts Iris through it, then quietly guides it shut. Once they're through, he ducks into a patch of shadow beside a large shelf. From there, Wilhelm can scope out the situation.

This late in the evening, the work of cooking is done. He hears the splash of water as someone, he presumes, scrubs pots and pans clean. There's the brisk clatter of putting things away, the idle chatter of winding down for the day. Luckily the kitchen is vast enough that none of these things are happening near the corner they've tucked themselves into.

On a nearby shelf, he spots rows of wine bottles in a rainbow of colored glass. Surely one won't be missed. A nearby table holds baskets of cheeses, breads, and sugared fruits. There's a whole chocolate cake — tragically, he thinks, it won't fit in his pockets.

"Hold this, and wait here."

Pressing the bottle into Iris's hands, he leaves the shelter of the shelf's shadow to sneak over to the table. He takes his veil of shadows with him, not knowing how to divide it into two.

[inventure]

Wait, Iris' mind supplies, perhaps dumbly, what?

None of that actually leaves his mouth though, which is certainly a good thing considering he's a sitting duck as he is, and drawing any attention to himself now would just be foolish. Sure, yes, he's still technically in some shadow, but it's nowhere near as comforting as Wilhelm's shadow had been. What else is he to do, but press his back to the wall and hold onto that wine bottle for dear life?

(If they do get caught, it probably wouldn't be so bad. No one could be worse than the Madam, or so Iris' fears tell him.)

By the time Wilhelm returns to Iris' side, he is on full on Pout Mode.

"Not cool," he hisses, reaching out to grab at Wilhelm's shirt to draw the other boy closer into his space. He still isn't entirely sure how these shadow powers work, but as far as he can tell, close is safe. Close is also... quite close, though. Iris' hand flexes over fabric, and his mind chooses this time to remind him how Wilhelm's hand had felt gripping his waist, or what the sound of his heartbeat felt like against the faint press of his ear.

So maybe neither of them are very good at this forethought thing.

[ordinar]

See, in his mind he was doing Iris a favor by not leaving him alone and blind in the inky black of his shadows. But judging by the pout on his face, Iris disagrees. Wilhelm offers an apologetic grimace as he retreats to the corner. Of course, Iris won't see it. His foraging has yielded another bottle of wine and a basket of dainty buttery cookies, which he nearly fumbles as Iris reels him in.

Then, for the second time in a short space, they're very close. Iris's fingers curl in the front of his shirt, and instinctively he leans into him as if to form a wall. There's a breath in which he wishes they could stay wrapped in darkness just like this; in the next, he remembers where they are.

"Let's go."

His words hum right above Iris's ear, only big enough for the space pulled taut between them. With that, he offers him the crook of his arm...as best as he can, given that his hands are full, and Iris can't see a thing. Once Iris has a hold on him, he'll lead them back through the door.

[inventure]

Wilhelm will find that Iris' ire is just as quick to dispel as it is to bubble forth. Easily mollified by — what, exactly? That Wilhlem doesn't pull away? Or the simple fact that he'd returned at all? It's hard to say, and possibly too depressing to really hink on for too long, and so it's all for the best that Iris doesn't hesitate to slip his hand into the crook of that elbow and continue following along obediently as he'd done this whole time.

Back into the blanket of Wilhelm's shadows, he probably shouldn't find it so comforting. But there's an easiness in the way he can just sort of let go and let Wilhelm do all the leading, in giving himself up to the trust that someone else will keep him safe. When compared to how he'd felt there, alone against that wall, exposed and uncertain, he finds he would much rather sink here into the darkness if it meant he could be assured he'd never have to be alone again.

[ordinar]

As he conducts Iris down the hall, sticking to the shadowed edges, there's a moment where the thrill of it rises from something other than sneaking around and swiping what isn't theirs to take. It has something to do with the absolute trust Iris yields to him by stepping into his shadows, trading his sight for Wilhelm's guidance.

He lets that strange thought slide away, his focus narrowing on the task of getting away. Soon, they're back in the spacious main corridor where they began. Wilhelm holds his shadows around them for a few more loping paces before letting the darkness recede. Then, a few minutes and a dozen totally casual, not at all furtive glances later, they're pouring through the door to their room. Wilhelm lets go of the laugh he's been holding in since the hallway.

"Shit," he sighs gleefully. As if they've just pulled off the heist of the century, rather than finger a few treats.