An Evening Gathering

[photophobic]

WHO: Anyone welcome to wander around Castle Thorne!
WHAT: A little roundtable-townhall-mingle, a space to share information and discuss the Situation
WHEN: post-Horizon, after the new arrivals turn up so they can join in
WHERE: Castle Thorne's Dining Hall
NOTES: A little like a group therapy session but not, all characters will be invited to share anything they would like about their experiences and ask each other questions. Afterwards the group are free to mingle and discuss freely (just reply to the post itself). Let's bond, learn, complain about our new body parts and swap the hot goss!

---

The invitation spreads easily enough among the Welcomed (and those of the formerly imprisoned who have since earned a pardon), thanks to the cheerful efforts of everyone's favourite bard and the ever-grinding rumour mill: tonight, anyone interested in participating is invited to remain in the dining hall after the evening meal to discuss recent events. Depending on how far along the game of telephone the invitation is by the time it reaches any one person, further details may be difficult to pin down. It is clear at least that this meeting isn't being organised by Ambrose or anyone else from Thorne, though there's no effort to keep it secret from the inhabitants of the castle either. A call to arms this is not. This is not the venue for plotting against the establishment— seditionist talk is best left to the privacy of the Horizon.

Anyone choosing to attend will find the evening meal proceeds as it usually does. As the plates are cleared, though, the table becomes the setting for something of an informal discovery session, a meeting of minds. Everyone here is welcome to take a turn to speak if they would like, and to ask any questions they hope someone else may be able to answer. As the imprisoned are unable to attend, a recording is being made. However, going on the record is optional. Anyone who would rather keep their thoughts transient and non-incriminating is welcome to speak up without fear of being caught on tape.

The meeting breaks up once everyone has had a chance to speak, leaving plenty of opportunity for less structured discussion. Hopefully everyone can go to bed tonight feeling a little more informed and a little less alone...

Comments

[nightwash]

[ Ronan, seated on the other side of Kylo, spends a good deal of Jaskier's opening monologue scowling in the direction of the bard. When it's Kylo's turn, he allows his attention to drift over the faces gathered around the table, gauging their collective response with a keen eye. And when it's his own turn to speak, he sighs and raps his knuckles on the tabletop a few times while he searches for what exactly he has to contribute here. Certainly no new information on the Singularity or Ambrose, but quite a few secrets of his own, buried for so long that it feels strange and slightly terrifying to throw them all into the light now. ]

I don't know how useful any of this is gonna be, but whatever. In my world, we've got these things called ley lines. They feel a lot like the Singularity, but stretched thin, like intersecting roads all over the world. Magic gets weaker the further you get from them, or when their energy is blocked, et cetera, et cetera.

Anyway, my point is the Singularity's like a ley line times a billion. And even though it's way the fuck out there and we're way the fuck over here, I can still feel it like it's close. That's a shitload of power, at least according to the rules of my universe. I can't be this far from a ley line and feel it like that.

The bright side of that is it means my magic's really strong here. Fucking supercharged. So if you need something, like... uh. Anything? If there's something you need and it doesn't exist here, I can get it for you.

[ Sarcastic jazz hands. Abracadabra. ]

That's all I got.

[cointosser]

[So far, the meeting is actually going rather well. He is learning new things, meeting new faces. Even if hasn't really a bloody idea what a ley line is. The translation is simple enough: the Singularity is, of course, enormously powerful. Perhaps in the future it will be their benefit to have an idea exactly how powerful.

Ah, well, how lucky that man is so rarely tempted by power, isn't it?

Anything? Jaskier can't help but speak up. And the first thing out of his mouth is:] Pierogi, then! A plate, if you please. A bit of cabbage and beef. [It's not like he wants a bunch falling out on this dirty table.] I mean, if you could make anything in the moment, I would love to see it. I'm sure we all would! Gods know I haven't seen one in nearly a season.

[nightwash]

[ Jaskier's question does not remotely warrant the look Ronan turns to him, which suggests he's far more likely to reach over and strangle Jaskier than grant his request. ]

You seem to have mistaken me for the fucking kitchen boy.

[cointosser]

[Jaskier purses his lips. Sheesh.] Could you summon yourself up a sense of humor?

[And a pierogi?]

[nightwash]

[ Ronan makes an elaborate hand gesture and magically summons up his middle finger. ]

[cointosser]

[cointosser]

You're awfully rude, has anyone ever told you that? Well, of course they have. Need I remind you this is a gathering of minds and friends?

[Besides, what's one pierogi Mr. Super Powerful Wizard guy??? Why is everyone who can do magic such a stiff?]

[nightwash]

I'm being friendly. This is me telling you, as a friend, to go order a pierogi from the fucking kitchen.

[cointosser]

Oh, we're friends now? How quick! [And while normally Jaskier loves picking fights with these sorts of grumps, it is, as he said, a meeting of the minds. And there is a gathering here.

Actually, could he order a pierogi from the kitchen...? Honestly, he's a bit relieved just to know someone knows what one is.]

In that case, my rude young man, I appreciate your input. So you may not mind answering a question. [He pauses. It's an opportunity, if said young man will actually answer.] Your ley lines, was it, they're like roads? They connect? I wondered if this Singularity is connected to anything else. Could you sense that sort of thing?

[He also has little knowledge of magic -- it's all been collected here -- and perhaps it shows. But it may be good to know if there is more than one of these things that can be found.]

[nightwash]

[ Actually, Ronan looks decidedly less pissy now that Jaskier's asking him a real question (although he still looks kind of pissy, because that's just his face). ]

I'm not great at figuring out that kind of shit. I can't exist without magic. I can tell when there's less of it because it messes me up when I'm too far away from it. But I couldn't tell what else the Singularity was reaching when I touched it. I could just feel what it was doing to me. And I could feel that it was... old.

[cointosser]

[Luckily, Jaskier is well acquainted with the sort of expression that goes beyond "resting bitch face". Neither is it new to be met with such hostility but someone he's never met.

These things happen sometimes, when one is rich, and handsome, and successful. And obviously a fantastic host for a meeting he really hopes skirts away from suggestions of insurrection.

But he can feel Geralt would be very angry with him, should he make an enemy (even a playful one) with someone who offers to make "anything" (outside pierogi).

He frowns for a moment, playfulness gone for his question. This is a bit to take in. Not exist without magic... ah! Like some sort of fey?] Wait, you touched it? In the Horizon? And... and nothing happened, besides that feeling?

[He can't really blame him for not knowing how bad an idea that could possibly be considering the local Thornites dissolve upon getting to close to that thing, but... what the fuck. Even without memories, Jaskier had kept quite a distance away. All that exploring and he had never found himself wanting to get closer to it.

The extended question was: would the same thing happen if they touched it here, on this plane? And what did it mean that it existed in both?]

[nightwash]

It was just kind of like...

[ Ronan is pleased to finally be able to conjure up magic when he's not asleep, because it means he can do this: Pinching his thumb and forefinger like he's about to snap them, he summons a small spark of electricity that crackles briefly above his hand. A little static shock. ]

It had me feeling kind of buzzed. I don't know if it'd feel the same way for a human.

[inthemeadow]

[ Mal's been fairly quiet during this meeting, choosing to listen rather than offer any information about his world. Mostly that's because a lot of what he'd have to say would involve speaking about Alina in some way, and probably the Darkling too, the latter of whom is probably lurking around. When it comes to Alina's power, it's something only she can talk about, not him.

He's definitely intrigued by what Ronan offers up. Although ley lines don't sound quite the same as amplifiers in his world, they both have the power to make someone stronger. Could the Singularity work as an amplifier for Alina?

After overhearing Jaskier's food request and trying not to look too amused by it, he approaches Ronan when he's alone. ]

Don't worry, I'm not about to request a dessert. [ He snorts, casting a glance at Jaskier before returning his gaze on Roman. ]

You don't think it's dangerous, advertising your power like that to everyone? [ If they were friends, he'd recommend he keep his power hidden, or at least downplay it, to protect him from those who might use him as a weapon. ]

[nightwash]

[ Although Ronan's in a sour mood, he doesn't regard Mal with any particular hostility. It almost sounds like the guy's worried about him, which is a bizarre and slightly heartwarming change of pace. ]

Of course it's dangerous.

[ It probably ranks up there on the top ten stupidest things Ronan's ever done, and he's already regretting it, because the risk appears to have gotten him exactly zero reward in the end. It's also a complete violation of his geis, so there's undoubtedly some kind of heavenly consequence barreling toward him as they speak. ]

Playing it safe isn't really my style.

[inthemeadow]

[ It's a surprise to Mal too, to worry about people with an extraordinary amount of power, but then he saw what happened to Alina. He doesn't want that happening to anyone else, even if Ronan is far from innocent. He'd worry even if the Darkling wasn't here, but it does concern him that Ronan has painted himself as a target now. ]

It isn't mine either, usually. [ He can't really criticize Ronan too much since he's made some dangerous decisions in the past that were driven by his heart over his head. ]

I suppose it's pointless telling you to be more careful, then. [ He'll just have to keep an eye on Ronan instead, the same way he does with Alina when she tells him she can look after herself. ]

You said you make things that don't exist here... What about weapons? [ He's quick to add: ] One weapon, for me.

[ Now who's being dangerous? ]

[nightwash]

[ Ronan scoffs lightly. He would say he's going the opposite route, following his head while his heart's inclination is to make an enemy of everyone in this room. It's logic that brought him before these people today, the grim acknowledgement that strategic maneuvering will be necessary in this place, when his fists and his instincts used to be enough.

No, there isn't much point in telling someone who spent a lifetime hidden away by his family that he ought to remain hidden for his own sake. He knows.

He's hardly alone, anyway. Anyone who wants to get at him will have to go through Kylo Ren, who has already staked his claim on this golden goose, if his near-constant lurking is any indication. ]

What kind of weapon?

[ Ronan doesn't seem remotely surprised by the request. He'd kind of expected more demands like this. ]

sorry this is late!

[inthemeadow]

A gun.

[ He doesn't know if guns exist in Ronan's world, but he won't waste his breath explaining what one is if he already knows. ]

And bullets too. [ Since a gun is useless without one. ] Needs to be easy to conceal. And I know a gun might be pointless against most magic here, but I'd sleep easier at night knowing I have one on me.

[ It's like a security blanket for him in a really messed up way. ]

I won't tell anyone where it came from. And I'll owe you. [ Whatever Ronan wants. ]

[nightwash]

[ Mal is thinking awfully small with his request — although Ronan can't exactly blame him, having been frequently guilty of the same crime before his teacher opened his mind to more elegant solutions than guns. ]

You're gonna go through bullets real fast. You sure you don't want a gun that shoots magic?

[inthemeadow]

[ Mal isn't Grisha and basic weaponry is all he knows from being in the First Army. He doesn't want to ask too much from Ronan, but the idea of more does intrigue him. And maybe a better weapon than what he's used to would prevent him from getting hurt all the time. ]

I've never known a gun to do that. [ But Ronan did say he can create anything... ]

What kind of magic would shoot out of it? [ He's open to suggestions from a magic-user. When it comes to magic, Ronan seems to know his shit. ]

[nightwash]

Whatever the hell kind of magic you want.

[ There's a damn good reason an entire international organization was devoted to the specific task of assassinating Ronan Lynch. He's not even limited by reality. "Anything" means anything. ]

For starters, are you trying to stop something or are you trying to kill it?

[inthemeadow]

[ What if Mal has no idea what he wants? But then Ronan has probably already guessed that judging by what he asks him next. ]

Both? [ He probably has to choose one or the other, doesn't he? He rubs his jaw in deliberation for a moment before settling with - ]

Kill. [ If he wants to stop someone, he'll use his fists, but he needs something to kill with if the situation calls for it. ]

[nightwash]

[ Is Ronan a bit disappointed by that answer? Maybe. He certainly doesn't look giddy over the prospect of taking a life, even in self-defense. ]

Alright. We'll go with a classic laser blaster, but I'll try and make sure it fits in so no one else can tell it's different from any other gun. Shouldn't run out of energy, but if it does, leave it out in the sun for a while. I think I can get that to you by tomorrow.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[For the most part, Emet-Selch has been silent throughout the discussion. For all that he cannot deny that the conversation is interesting, he is still too recently arrived to have anything of particular import to add in regards to the people of this world or the things in it. Even if he is taking careful mental note of the opinions offered as well as the various tidbits of information that have also been offered.

(After all, he has to start somewhere if he means to be even so much as a reasonably up to date in regards to the information currently available and if someone should happen to take it on themselves to arrange a gathering designed for speaking of such things than he would be a fool to not make the most of it.)]

There exists something similar in my own world. Pathways of a sort, or channels, along which aether prefers to run. Although physical proximity to those channels does not typically have an effect on the strength of any given spell a mage might cast.

[Some spells certainly require more power than others, or otherwise require that one draw more closely from those rivers of power, but such spells are - at least as of more recent times - not things that are particularly common.]

Though it is interesting to know that such a wellspring exists here.

[nightwash]

If what they say is true, it's the wellspring. The one that feeds all the lines in all the other worlds.

[ It feels true. Not that Ronan is particularly skilled at sussing out that sort of thing, but the Horizon gave him some clarity, and now it seems like he couldn't ignore that feeling if he tried. He envies mages a little, that they've always had this freedom of movement and don't know what it's like to rot in the absence of ley energy. They really don't know how lucky they have it. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

They may well think it so. But whether that belief corresponds with genuine truth is another matter.

[Admittedly, he has very little direct experience with either the Singularity or the Horizon, but given how long he has lived - how long ago his people came into being - the idea that this world might hold the source of all magic is... less immediately believable. Even knowing as he does that time does not always flow the same across different worlds.]