OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne

[londonbound]

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! ))

Comments

[widows_kiss]

[ Pants are also way more Natasha's thing, but she's doing her best to blend in with her surroundings. While standing out in her early days here is one method of approach, she'd rather lay low until she had a better grasp of the situation. And who - and what - she would be dealing with here. It wasn't so hard to play along for the time being, at least.

But she smiles at the sight of Sophia, turning to join her where she's tucked away against one of the sofas. ]

It's certainly been informative, yes. [ Chuckling, Natasha taps the edge of her wineglass with her goblet before taking a measured sip. ] Taking notes? You look better tonight, I take it your evenings have been... restful?

[ia]

I guess it makes sense for our hosts to try and get us up to speed on the inner workings of this world. Or of Thorne, at least.

[ Sophia takes a sip. She's been offered wine, sure, but for the time being she needs something a little lighter. It's not like she can get drunk easier, or at all; Sophia still doesn't know much about herself.

But to her question, she smiles. ]

I feel more like my old self now. Thank you for that, by the way. I've been coasting the dreams of random people, so I don't really need to get anyone else lucid dreaming on my behalf.

As for this...

[ She shakes the notes she's been taking. It's a list of terms and short explanations. ]

Just some preliminary findings, the simple stuff. Most I can just remember, but some things I might want to double check later. How about you? Learned anything interesting?

[widows_kiss]

Quite a bit, but all of it still relatively scattered and disjointed. Every little puzzle piece helps, though.

[ She turns to sink down on the couch Sophia had been leaning against. Stretching her legs out, she relaxes back against the cushions with a soft, contented sigh, nursing her drink for a bit and enjoying the warmth of the nearby crackling fire. ]

Is there something in particular you've been looking for information on? Or just a general understanding to start?

And you're welcome. It was... interesting. But if you ever need help again, feel free to ask, I don't mind.

[ia]

We've arrived to a world where much has happened, so I guess the catching up is going to be a task.

[ Sophia swings a leg over the sofa's arm, so that she's sitting on it.
She crosses a leg over the other before leaning back. Her expression turns serious as she looks at the fire. ]

Mainly the politics between the nations. They seem...tense, with small explosions of aggression. I don't want to say we're on the edge of a war, but we're certainly not going into the direction of an amiable relationship between them.

[ Her expression softens shortly after though. She turns to look at Natasha for a moment. ]

You have a very...orderly mind. I'd assume your mental discipline is quite impressive. It's a good place to rest. It would be better if I am not in a situation where I would need it again, but who knows, if it comes to pass, I'll let you know.

[widows_kiss]

No, I doubt that's where we're heading as well. [ She sighs as she says it, taking another slow sip of wine. ] The place is certainly rife with rumors about it. But other than whispers of the Queen's rage and everyone's growing concern over food shortages, I haven't heard anything actually concrete.

[ She taps a nail against her glass in an absent gesture as she lets her mind drift over what she's heard tonight. ] I wonder if things are as tense in the other Factions as it is here?

[ Glancing up, she meets Sophia's gaze when she looks down at her, and lets her lips quirk faintly. ] I'll take that as a compliment, I think. But I'm glad it helped. Consider me emergency backup, then, should you need it. [ She's good at being that.]

[ia]

Like throwing coals to the fire. [ She sighs, already feeling a bit tired. Maybe she should've tried the wine. ]

I had the opportunity to talk with people from other factions, they seem to be just as tense. Apparently our high lords here have done some light war crimes as of recently.

[ She can't really muster the energy to sound amused. Sophia slumps a bit against the arm of the sofa. ]

It was, and it did. It's good to have a backup, I guess. Do let me know if you ever need 8 uninterrupted of refreshing sleep, no dreams, no nothing.

[widows_kiss]

I'm not sure I would qualify them as light, but maybe their scale of such things is different here. [ She doubts it. Decimating a city full of civilians does not seem at all equal vengeance for the possible murder of one high ranking noble. Mage? She doesn't actually know if he was or not. But it wouldn't be the first time she's heard of the same, after all. ] Either way, we have to hope that there are enough Summoned in enough positions of power here to perhaps have some influence. I doubt there are many of us all that keen to be forced to march into a war not of our own making, no matter how or why we were brought to this world.

[ Although she's not sure Thorne would react well to the Summoned declining the option, should it come to that. She hasn't missed the very pointed mention of those dungeons below the castle.

But she shakes that off for the moment, chuckled at Sophia's words, although she does give that a moment of careful consideration. ] I might actually take you up on that, at some point.

[ Her dreams hadn't exactly been restful since Vormir. ]

[ia]

Their words, not mine.

I didn't ask to come here, and I sure as hell didn't come here to cause pain and destruction. While I have no stance in this place as of now, there has to be a way to gain some sway in the diplomatic channels, before someone kill the wrong Duke.

[ Sophia slides down the arm, colliding ever so softly against Natasha. She does have a goblet of wine, after all. ]

I'm no sandman, but I do know that giving someone some good deserving rest is essential.

Oh, right. Have you found anyone you know from your world? I haven't but this seems to be a common happening here. Then again, most people I know from my world are not very nice.

[widows_kiss]

I think someone might have already killed him, from what I hear, but that was before you or I arrived here. [ Plenty had been whispering about the murder that had set off the Queen's rage and already started conflict between Thorne and the Free Cities.

But she lets the girl slide down beside her and bumps her shoulder in return, in comfort if nothing else. She hums in agreement about the resting, but focuses on the latter question to answer instead. ] I have, actually. There are quite a few from my home here, from what I understand. Not that surprising, I suppose, if they did any research in who they were Summoning beforehand. If you wanted powerful fighters to defend your realm, mine had plenty to choose from. Of course getting them agree to do that is another matter entirely.

[ia]

Did they? Damn. Talk about timing.

[ Sophia would hate to be in the "factors leading to" moment.

Her interest perks up when Natasha mentions she has plenty of people she knows here. How very interesting. ]

I doubt anyone would want to just be pointed at a direction and told to hit everyone from point A to B. Hopefully they're safe, too.

[widows_kiss]

They seem to be, relatively. Then again, home was never all that 'safe', either. [ Her voice is dry as she makes that observation. ] The ones I've come across all seem to be in the other factions, though - mostly the Free Cities. There's apparently at least one in Thorne, although it's not someone I know very well.

And considering the mages here have been giving me the impression they view us as soldiers, I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what they thought we would do. Rather naive of them, in my opinion. But they don't seem to be forcing the issue. [ Yet. ] So I'm not going to complain too much about it.

[ia]

Do they all give this vaguely yet remarkable feeling of being very much capable of taking care of themselves, or are you the badass of the group?

[ Superheroes is not a term that's at the top of names that would come to her head. ]

Neither I am. Yet.

Don't see why we would be here, right now otherwise, though.

[ She looks at her now empty glass. ]

Maybe I should try the actual drinks. Never too late to start, right?

[widows_kiss]

[ Natasha can't help but laugh at that, looking bemused as she casts Sophia a crooked grin, playful mischief glinting in her gaze. ]

Me? I'm the normal one of the group. [ Which is a bit of an exaggeration. But she is one of the few who didn't rely on superpowers or high-end tech, unless you counted her stingers. Or magic, since apparently that was now more of a factor with both Wanda and Stephen. ] You'll probably see when you meet Steve, he's pretty hard to miss, even here.

[ She chuckles again, glancing over at what Sophia was drinking. ] I think 'yet' is the keyword here for most of us. And I don't think there is, but I might be a little biased. What were you drinking instead?