abraxaslogs | OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne

Entry tags:

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 will have sent a written invitation to all Thornean newcomers within a couple 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 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 he 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.

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 with 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 patters, 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 insultation 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!

If you have any questions, please PM this journal or catch me @ belleteyn on plurk! ))

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kell doesn't know what to do with it. It sounds like a genuine compliment. Unbelievable. But Lucifer's grin has too much teeth for him to fully put his guard down.]

The only white-haired individuals I knew, all tried to actively murder me. Two of those would have happily seen me as their favourite pet, and they loved to gruesomely torture their pets. So I might be slightly biased against such people.

[Now it's his time to grin.]

But I have nothing against redheads.

I'd prefer 'that asshole who tried to kill his father', frankly. [What? So he's got Daddy Issues. Big deal.] Shame that it isn't true. Guess you actually got along with your old man, lucky you.

You too? [About white-haired individuals.

Which is maybe revealing a bit about who tried to kill Lucifer in Nocwich, or maybe it'll go over Kell's head. After all, maybe it's a common hair-color here. Lucifer thought as much, anyway, until he had seen the tree and medallions in Geralt's domain.

He gives Kell a look. Lucifer, with all his self-loathing, is going to one day drive the same out Kell.] It would be a bit self-destructive for you to hate on redheads.

"You may not be able to do all the same things you could before, but maybe this is a chance for you to experiment and find out if there are new ways to use your abilities. If the magic is still flowing within you, you don't necessarily need the spells."

Istredd pauses for a moment before continuing quickly. "Not that I'm encouraging you to try reckless things that you don't understand." Magic is consuming and difficult! Not something to be reckless with. But that isn't the point. "But perhaps it's worth seeing this as an opportunity rather than a set back. You might be able to blend the magics together too."

Abraxas magic and his own. Why not? Istredd has already been practicing for something similar, it flows in a different way. "There are some spells that are dangerous using Chaos, where my magic comes from, but are safe here." Fire is the major one. Fire is extremely dangerous and frowned upon to use. And he can snap his fingers easily to do it here.

"It feels different to me too, much easier. I barely feel the surge of power when I do their spells." And he isn't talking about the beginner's options. It is possible controlling Chaos is just more difficult than Abraxas. Which is rich in magic.

Apparently. What is wrong with this hair colour that it only seems to belong to sadistic murder maniacs? Makes one wonder how many people the pretty new lady has on her count.

[Kell has both self-loathing and self-pity to supply a small army. He generally considered his life as miserable with small bright spots. And then he went and made it even worse with his own hands. None of this misery was due to his red hair. Quite a lot, to his black eye.]

And pointless. What did my red hair ever did to me, other than make me instantly recognizable in a city where no one else has this kind of hair colour? [Natural. Of course, people would die their hair in London. In the weirdest shades possible. The weirder, the better. But a natural ginger was close to impossible to find.] Would not recommend. Totally ruins your chances at going incognito. Unless, you get a proper hat. [That last one is the closest to truth. Rhy loves his silly hats.]

"I know I can use it without words."

It's the preferred way. Preferred for the magic, not exactly for living beings. That's the way to get consumed.

"It's just a lot more dangerous that way."

The memory of Lila's face when she stared in horror at the black creeping up his arm flashes before Kell's eyes unwelcome. She told him to stop. He didn't want to. He did stop in the end, but he was so close to losing this battle. So close...

"I know. I did. It didn't end well."

There was one good thing that came out of it. One. It almost cost him his life. In a way, it kind of did. Kell shakes off the memories. Not helping. Maybe, Istredd is right. Maybe he's just too afraid to try.

"Then you are lucky. For me, it takes so much time here simply learning anything that's useful. Lot more than I'm used to. My own magic requires practice, what doesn't, but I never had to slog through it like I have to with Abraxan magic."

Could be that Academic magic is not best suited for him. Who would have thought.

Being cautious of such powerful abilities is a wise course of action, in her opinion - power should always be handled with caution, no matter its form. But fear rarely led to good places, no matter the cause of it.

But she grins at the face he makes, understanding that his words are still probably an understatement of the reality he'd come from. She doesn't push farther than that, though, not wanting to bring up a more unpleasant topic. "Well, you're succeeding so far. At least where I'm standing. I'm grateful for your assistance and your explanations. And I'd be very interested in attending some of these sessions of yours. I'll be sure to keep those mornings clear."

She pushes to her feet, still clutching the book he'd offered her. "Again, thank you for this, Istredd. It really does mean a lot."

[ He shakes his head again. ]

I was found as a child and given training - this was before everything was completely lost. My people were... complicated.

[ It's the sanitized explanation. He's only admitted to a handful of other Summoned his thoughts on the Payshmura and what they did. Whether they may have deserved their own destruction. His lips purse for a second, then he turns the question around. ]

Rhy hasn't told me much about his upbringing, or your world.

[ In spite of the other ways they've been intimate. He's curious. ]

I bet you could ask Yennefer to do some alchemical tests on hair but she'd likely be a bit pissed about it. [Unless something actually came up as conclusive and useful.

Otherwise she'd be wondering why they were wasting her time.] I don't think I'd make a good redhead. [He hums, about to mention how none of his vessels have been redheads, but Kell got uppity about the one vessel. He's not adding talk about more.]

"All magic is dangerous, especially when it's not being used. There are a few new magic users here who are afraid of their gifts, and that mentality makes them more dangerous."

Istredd is thinking about Wilhelm, and he knows that Kell also knows about Wilhelm. One of those strange telephone situations with Lucifer. He doesn't blame the boy for his mistakes, but it will be his fault if he doesn't get training.

"You know better, obviously. I just see the vast well of magical energy here a great opportunity to experience more." Kell knows his magic well enough to use it wisely, from what he can tell, so he is not putting him on the same level as them. Having some fear about what power can do is healthy. Sometimes using the magic here it is extraordinary to feel it so easy on his fingertips. With Chaos, risk always comes.

"I've always had a good mind for memorizing, and academic magic requires a whole lot of that. You should see my tower of books domain, those books are full of everything I've memorized." It's over the top, for certain, but it was the ideal option for him.

We grew up in affluence, but it also meant that while we didn't not lack in material things, we were pretty much destined for a very specific path. Our future was determined from the start with not much say from us. Rhy handled his own a lot better than I did mine.

[Kell isn't always so cagey about details. Most of the people won't care than back home they're royalty. Here, it doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter. But he can feel there's much hidden behind that carefully phrased statement. Complicated. He could say the same about himself.]

Not that it means a lot here. Our world is one where magic is abundant. It's not available to everyone. So there are similarities. As are differences. I find many things here odd.

And risk getting my head chewed off? No, thank you. That woman is terrifying.

[It's not that he ever tried. It's just all the things he heard, Mat's reaction to her... it would feel incredibly awkward to go to her with a silly request like that. Who knows what she'd want in return, on the off chance she'd agree.]

Besides, I'm an alchemist myself. You're wounding my professional pride by suggesting I go to someone else.

[Kell arches an eyebrow. He pretends to take a good look at Lucifer to assess the validity of that statement, but can barely suppress the chuckle. Barely.]

No, not your style.

"That's true."

Kell's thoughts immediately go to two people in particular. Very different people, with very different reasons to hate or fear the magic they ended with.

"But how do you convince them they need to practice? Without breaking them."

Now he's thinking solely of Wilhelm. It remains a sore point in his memory that through his lack of attention, his inaction, he had inadvertently made the boy more scared of his magic. Even if the consequences were not his fault. Neither, they were Wilhelm's. It just happened to be a very bad coincidence. But it doesn't matter. The damage is done. It's beyond annoying that he still hasn't figured out how to fix it.

"That sounds appropriate for a scholar. I must visit your domain then."

Did he just invite himself in? Only if Istredd agrees. Kell has a very strong opinion on intruding on other people's spaces. A very negative one.

[Kavinsky almost snarled, but reined it in at the last second, pressing his lips together instead until he could compose himself.]

Fuck, no. If I'm an asshole, he's ten times worse. I hope he goes to hell.

[It usually took a lot to make Kavinsky wish that sort of thing on someone, but it was easy when it came to his father. Years of trauma and abuse had piled up and- Kavinsky exhaled before taking a deep breath.]

Sounds like the type that'll go straight down. [Says the ~~former~~ King of Hell.] Unless he's devout. That does have a tendency to complicate things and muddy the waters. [He sounds far too matter-of-fact about it. Whoops.] Point is: live your best life without caring what others think.

[Looooong pause.] ... Without caring what the other Summoned think. Rest of 'em here. [He twirls a finger to indicate Thorne.] Be a good little boy that doesn't get himself imprisoned. [Did they go from eating all the food to getting imprisoned? Yes, okay. So he fast-tracked the conversation. It was a sensible jump in his head.]

[Lucifer hums in agreement. Yennefer is terrifying; it's part of the reason Lucifer likes her as much as he does.]

Forgive me, I didn't actually know that about you. Any particular focus?

"The hesitance I've seen in people comes from two main issues: being afraid of being out of control and being afraid to hurt someone. One or the other, or both. And the answer to them is the same. If you learn how to use it, you'll never be out of control. If you learn how to use it, you lessen your chance of harming others."

It doesn't mean it is a fix and suddenly someone is always a hundred percent perfect at everything. Reactions are still reactions. Istredd could still make a mistake using his magic. Wanda has worked hard at being very good with her abilities, but she couldn't help it when she was out of control during the Heralds. Nothing is perfect, but it does give people the tools to combat their flaws. At least that's the way he sees it. He was trained alongside many powerful youths, and outlived the ones that couldn't make it.

"People are broken by their fear, but learning is putting the power back into your hands. It's empowering. But it also is more difficult and requires work."

It may seem easier to pretend it doesn't exist, but that's not how magic works. If it was academic magic, where you can absolutely decide whether to use it or not, that's one thing. Native magic or something given by the Singularity, it exists whether you want it or not. He's very logical about this. If he ever figures out what his abilities are, he will train until it is second nature, no matter what it is.

"You are welcome to. I see it as a public library, honestly. Not everyone has visited yet, but if they do, they'll find it a good place to spend some time."

Recreational.

[No. That doesn't mean drugs. Not yet, at least.]

I picked it up mainly because it seemed the most unique to this place. Even if I learned anything like that - and I didn't - back home, it wouldn't translate. The ingredients wouldn't match. So it was something at least half interesting.

[And a great distraction from the topic he didn't want to touch. Even if he knew he should. The Singularity.]

It did land me a job, so not bad I guess.

I don't think he even stepped foot in a church to get married.

[He couldn't imagine his father secretly being religious. A god-fearing man didn't go around doing the kind of things Mr Kavinsky did. The same could be said about his son, to an extent.]

Seems like you know a lot about this stuff.

[He paused, tilted his head to the side.]

Yeah, I don't usually give a shit what other people think about me. Sounds like I'll have to amend that a bit here, huh?

[He could do that, he could do his best to adopt wide-eyed innocence when it mattered. He was certainly a good liar, after all.]

"Then maybe I should send the kid to you. Sure as day he won't listen to me."

Because he's bad luck. Kell meant it as a joke at first, but even that misguided attempt at levity has shown some truth. There is a pattern he doesn't like. Might be entirely a coincidence. Might be that his raw power is destabilizing for a fledgling magician that's already afraid of his own magic.

Istredd has the kind of calm that Kell doubts he'll ever achieve. He's not good at calm himself. He can get balance, but it's a fragile one, like a gymnast balancing on a ball. There's always turmoil underneath. That alone can be pretty unsettling for someone sensitive to such things. Who can guarantee that it isn't exactly the case with Wilhelm? Not him.

[He was worried this guy might be a Problem, but now he's not so sure. There's hope for him, anyway. Lucifer doesn't need another Jack to have to deal with.]

Unfortunately it comes with my former job description. [He doesn't think with upping his presence and involvement little by little he's going to be able to keep that identity tucked away as easily as he had in the beginning. He leans back and folds his arms.

It's a good 30-70 chance that anyone even reacts to his name in this place. He likes his odds. So, he drops his name.] Lucifer.

[He was about to ask about that former job description but then a moment later he didn't have to. His eyebrows rose and, of all things, he laughed. Not in disbelief, but something like genuine amusement.]

No shit? Damn, I always thought I was going to have to end up in Hell first before I met the devil.

[Something in his tone definitely said 'this is cool', which was maybe not the typical reaction. Maybe.]

[It is always a relief when he isn't immediately met with "oh, that monster."] Well, lucky you, I haven't noticed any equivalent here. [Not that he has the ability to look into it. But that's besides the point.]

[He'd feel like a hell of a hypocrit if he called the devil a monster, considering what people said about him.]

Cool. You know, I don't know what I expected, but you're pretty chill. I never really bought into how religions are all about making Lucifer the villain, anyway.

[Not that he was super well acquainted with religions, seeing as how he wasn't religious, but. He'd picked up tidbits here and there, like most people did.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 9 of 10

OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

that works for me!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

wrap here?

Perfect!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject