(Private)When Paths Shift

[Aurora]

“I have to agree with most being an acquired taste. Myself, I tend to prefer Absinthe, which I know is an acquired taste.” She’d seen many look at her funny when she would order that at a bar.

Smirking, “I know, imagine that!” she, on the other hand, is very much a sarcastic person and had no issue showing it.

“Now that has me surprised; Winter not being prepared. He’s always struck me as the type to always be prepared for, well, anything.” Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing. “My research on the topic is slim, as I’m already stretching myself thin as it is. But it strikes me as something you want to be as prepared for as possible, you want to go into it with as much knowledge as you can gather. And even then, you will probably not be prepared for what you will encounter. But I feel it’s something that only natural on one’s journey to experience, when the time is right of course.” Her time was not right.

A nod, “Yes, changing of the Watchtower.” Path was just easier. Then a frown, “I was worried about that, I haven’t come across anything or anyone.” Then a deep breath, “Except for one,” a true test of her trust of Chambers, “myself.” There it was. “I am the only one I know of who has changed Watchtowers.” Her eyes meet his and do not waiver. “It happened during the Time War, I don’t remember if it at the beginning or the end. I just know I went to bed an Acanthus and awoke a Thyrsus. There were some who remembered me as an Acanthus and some who claim to have always known me as a Thyrsus. I remember myself as both.” A heavy sigh, “I’ve been trying to find something, anything, about it. Mentally, it’s torn me apart, like, why me? It’s just really taken a toll on me over the years. I also welcome you to cast on me to see that I am telling the truth if you like.” Maybe she just needed to talk about it? Needed someone to believe her besides Phoenyx who was there.

“That seemed to be what everyone agreed to about it. We had it send a group back to the Titanic.” That was wild to her, and she wasn’t even part of that group. “That was what he said, again, I haven’t looked at it, haven’t scryed it personally. But he had never given me a reason to disbelieve him, though he could have been lying, I don’t know.” There was a quiet chuckle, “I believe we all are when it comes to that Clock. It just appeared one day, and the Time War began. I don’t know if it is either to be honest, I’m just describing what I’ve seen it do and my experience with it. I just know it would send us to points in time, usually back in time, to take out Seer’s, prevent them from doing something, and then it would bring us back. Then one day, it just stopped working, and hasn’t done anything since.” So she figured they did what they needed to do. “I’m not sure, the Sanctum we were sent to, I don’t know what year it was. We were in a Sanctum, there was no clock, no Calendar. I just know that once we got the artifact, we were teleported out by the Clock. But it does seem like it was a War across Time with some being sent as far back as the Titanic, I’ve been sent back ten or twenty years. But there was a reason, the Seer’s were up to something. I wish I could tell you more, that I remembered more, but my memory isn’t all that great of that time. There was a lot going on, and mentally, I was just, well, not really there.”

[Chambers]

Not a fan of liquorice himself the flavour had never appealed to him and hence neither the drink but it history was interesting. "Have you ever had a bottle made during the ban on absinthe?" Although unable to recall why exactly it was banned for nearly a century in most of Europe and the US.

The revelation is not shocking the Dimond and then the pentacle had endured through this dark age of magic by virtue of its traditions. "I do appreciate these things take effort to maintain, often amounts of effort that seem disproportionate to the apparent results." A shake of his head. "But still yes were going in a good direction now." And that was the hardest part building that momentum.

A shrug. "When your grappling with the closest thing we know of to the infinite where the rules are unknown to most and things we have never experienced well." Lacking in knowledge meant lacking in preparations. "Whatever preparations he might have taken turned up short. Or he learnt something he choose not to share which rather defeated the entire point of the exercise." It was possible, the man was the definition of stoic, but if so had prevented possible resolution. Depends what he found out if anything at all. "Yet yes when we reach that point astral expeditions are an important step." Entire realms of the unknown and unexplored those things closest to the realms supernal.

Which as topics go seems practically frivolous compared to what was being reached. Listening politely yet it is clear she has shocked him eyes widen mouth tightens as the Moros tries to process what he is hearing. When he does speak the words are hesitant, on ground he doesn't know. "You have seen me sort truth form lies using magic but I only did with Corn because the man kept on lying." About anything, everything from simple to complex and getting caught left and right. "I won't use it with you because have no reasons to think you lie to me." Which means he believers her, even if he is still struggling to grasp the enormity of what has been made known. "I'm sure you can imagine it has brought many questions to mind." But was it even okay to ask? "As for how or why or what or well anything, I'm sorry I have no answers to give you." Unfortunely this was well and truly beyond anything he could even begin to try and solve.

And the conversation doesn't let up. "The Titanic." Its not disbelief, just attempting to comprehend. "Aurora the Mysterium doesn't allow me study artifacts yet. Of any power level." And this thing in their custody inert or not was capable of seemingly of its own volition to send people to places and times to such a degree. "If you weren't here none of us would even know." Looking into the circles history with magic had proven impossible the wards were to strong. No wonder if that's what we are dealing with. "And sorry this is hard to for me to keep up with." Revelations galore and none of them easy to consume in the moment. "The artefact you got was different to the clock?" And yet all of this pointed to a chilling conclusion. "I do know about the truce we supposedly have with the Seers, Winter told me those above our pay grade made it so." Are these the forces the he was alluding to? Secret masters and puppeteers playing out their own goals and objectives with forces and power beyond most awakened comprehension.

[Aurora]

A frown and shake of her head, “No, can’t say I have. Those are a little more difficult to get your hands on unless you have the money. Which I can’t say I have.” Sure, she was famous, but that didn’t mean she was rich. “Though it is actually quite easy to make Absinthe, just have to find someone to supply you with the wormwood and make sure you put in an appropriate amount and not too much to cause problems. Unless that is what you want of course.” Laughing, then, well, you do you.

“I hope it is only up from here and that we can all continue to work together.” She didn’t foresee any issues continuing to work with Chambers. There seemed to be mutual respect there as well as trust.

“I suppose. I mean, like you said, things we’ve never experienced. How can we even know what to prepare? I’m sure whatever I think I’m preparing is not going to even touch what I should prepare. One of those things where you do what you can and hope for the best, hope you have learned enough to keep yourself safe and protected. Then be able to come out and share that knowledge to better prepare others someday.” Or not share it and watch them fail. But that wasn’t really her style.

“I wanted to let you know I would be open to you using them if you felt you needed to. I know it’s not something that is heard of, something that can be difficult to believe and that I would not have faulted you if you had wanted to. To be honest, it’s part of why I’ve kept it to myself for as long as I have, I’ve never expected anyone to really believe me, except those that were there.” So she took a risk, in her mind, tell him. “You’re welcome to ask them, but I don’t have a whole lot of answers, but I can try.” There was an attempt at a smile, “I didn’t think you would, but I’d hoped you would have heard of a Tome or something within the Mysterium. I always figured if there were answers anywhere, it would be with them. Though maybe I’m not supposed to know answers,” a defeated shrug, “maybe it’s just supposed to, be.But I just have this drive to know more about it.” Maybe she never will.

“I’m not asking you to study anything, I’m just telling you what I know, what I’ve seen. There have been numerous questions about the past of Sacramento, and as the Hierarch, you deserve to know. The artifact I brought back from the Seer Sanctum was taken from me, I believe it was destroyed.” There was sadness in her voice as she spoke those words. “I was brand new to the Mysterium, if I had the knowledge I had now, I would have fought for it. But I also don’t know if we were supposed to keep it, if it was supposed to be destroyed to keep the Seer’s from fulfilling or completing whatever they were doing. That is not me condoning it, so please don’t twist what I said, I just can’t comprehend what happened at the time.” Maybe they were not supposed to. “Maybe it’s time to find a way to make sure Sacramentos history is preserved someway then. We don’t know if I will always be here to pass down what I saw and experienced, so maybe we can put together a written account of it. But at the same time, there are times I don’t trust my own memories, and that is because if some remember me at the time as an Acanthus and some remember me as a Thyrsus, can my memories be trusted? Hell, I remember buildings, names of places that are not even here anymore.” The Bismark was one that stood out.

A weak smile, “You’re fine, I’ve thrown a lot at you. I’m sure more then you were expecting.” Nodding, “It was a pyramid, the Seer’s had it in their Sanctum, and it hurt like hell to pick it up and bring it back. Burned my hands and arms.” That she clearly remembered, the burning on top of the weakness from ripping the mana from her pattern. “I don’t know about a truce, I just know the Clock went silent, stopped doing anything.”

[Chambers]

More a point of curoristy of course alcohol in the states had an interesting time during the twentieth century but absinthe more so then most. "Is it something you would be interested in trying if you had the chance?" The limited experience of a vintage was something he understood in the sense that it was something that would be gone eventually, removed from the world never to replicated. Well not by Sleepers.

It is regrettable he doesn't have a drink because he would cheers to that. "Where we go next is an interesting question isn't it." The basics were in place so what became the goal. "Handle the issues that have arisen, beat back the wolves at out door and go from there I think." Its an open ended statement left so for Aurora to challenge or input as she wished.

Never experienced true but that did not mean preparation was pointless. "We might not have but others have and do, successfully." And thus likely had information to make astral travel, well not without risk but safer. "Right apprenticeship, Right Exchange." Ways and means existed to smooth the experience.

A slow nod. "I apricate it but I feel no need." Even on things so grand Aurora had his trust. "I believe you." It reshaped what he thought he knew but that would hardly be the first time. "My questions are of how, why and all the rest. Things I am most certainly not prepared to know." Lets bring in, work the question what does he know. "Spirits represent all manner of things, spirts of time or memory have you tired asking them questions? or seeking their assistance?" Magic could do alot but sometimes more specialised powers could be useful. "Or have you had anyone examine your fate, history or memory?" What answers would even exist there? Winter had proposed the astral realms as a source of truth about Corns situation could an answer reside in those inner realms? "I can travel back three seconds. If I do so I return to that moment in the state I'm in when I cast but by changing my choices I can change what happens to others." So extrapolate that. "If Seers and pentacle mages were getting shunted back to places and times much further apart." Leaning back into the seat he looks at ceiling as thinks. "That's the best I can do but it doesn't explain your dual memory or why some others remember you as an enchanter?" But the scale of the magic was also much much larger then what he could do. Eyes returning to his fellow mystagogue. "The answers exist, somewhere , somehow but I do not think its going to be easy." As for meant to know well His own lessons didn't even extended to adept practices never mind arch mastery.

A wave of his hands. "Sorry I expressed that badly. I didn't think you were I was just." Pausing. "Contextualising how far out my depth I am." His right to know, right is questionable but knowing what he was in charge of made the weight of it sit all that much heavier. "Quite the inheritance isn't it." Just need to safe guard powers vastly beyond the comprehension of even some of the most learned mages he had ever met. The news of the artefact is a blow of course but realistically. "What's done is done on that front, And I can't say I would have known what to do in that situation." Talk about a rock and hard place. With powers like that in play. Hang on. "Who on earth did we have that was capable of destroying anything like that?" A feat much easier said then done.

The change to preservation is a much needed and more familiar ground. "I've begun by taking notes of important meeting and build up our bronze laws." Not exactly a riveting task or read but very needed. "Somethings shouldn't be public knowledge of course, like most of what you are telling me now." That was the mystagogue mind set talking without a doubt. "But histories would be good." The glint of curiosity is back in his eye. "I cant say to what extent what's in your head can be trusted or not without serious magical examination that would get very intrusive. But I believe what you tell me." Little to be done about that. "With that said would you mind telling me what else you recall that seems to have changed?" Maybe there was a clue or hint there somewhere.

More then he was expecting, didn't begin to cover it really. But getting overwhelmed accomplished nothing, it was something to work over. A problem larger than any yet but like the others it could be chipped away at, set small goals and build momentum. "A pyramid is very on brand for for the seers." Did that mean anything? He did not know. "I invited Winter to my sanctum in December of 2023 It was then he told be his path, his order to examine the clock using prime or forces sight and about this supposed truce with the Seers which is why they don't seem to be active in the city." It irked him, a truce with the enemy when reality was at stake was the same as conceding defeat. And it shows. "I didn't and don't like it but apparently powers above our paygrade put in place." That's all he's got. But hey its nice to tell Aurora something. "How active have the seers been since this war?" How else to wars end but with either a butchering or a true.

[Aurora]

“You know, that’s a good question. Absinthe is seeped in rich history, some true some simply exaggerated. I’m honestly not sure, I don’t believe most of the history surrounding the bans of it, but we are talking about original ingredients that are not regulated. And that is where I get nervous and would have to say no.” she might be a Master of Life, but she knew a bit about Absinthe and what they put in it, and you want that shit regulated.

Nodding, “It is, and I’m eager to see where.” But there was part of her that expected it to not be good. Things tended to start good in Sacramento before taking a turn for the worst.

She wasn’t sure how to react to that statement, that he believed her. So many years had been spent holding this to herself, fear of being called a liar, of rejection, of being called a freak, that she hadn’t really thought of what it would be like to be believed. So there was a brief look of confusion as she processed it. “I’m sorry, but those are questions I don’t believe I can answer as I don’t even know them. I can only say I experienced two Watchtowers, and can describe each experience. Which still leaves me feeling a bit confused and messed up honestly.” Should she still remember both? “Now asking the spirits isn’t something I’ve tried. I’ve only been a Master of Spirit for a couple years, and it’s been an Arcana I’ve struggled with if I’m being honest. Spirits can be difficult and if not handled correctly, very hostel. At least the ones I’ve spoken to have anyways. So maybe I’ve just been too cautious with it and should just push it a bit. It’s an idea, not one I’ve given much thought to. Now having anyone examine me and my history or memory? No. It would mean finding someone I can trust and someone powerful enough to even be able to do it. Plus, I would want safeguards in place for such a thing. I don’t have anything to hide, but I don’t want someone poking around my memories and then using them against me. I know trust is important, but so are safeguarding our minds against such things.” Mages who could do such things were powerful, and no way in hell someone was going in there without protections for her. Then a chuckle, “Time is a fun Arcana isn’t it; I miss it.” It was fun and had some very useful spells. “Best my mind can come up with is someone did something they were not supposed to while back in time and it created a buttrerfly like effect. And I was the only one it effected, which seems weird, so I’ve never put much weight into it.” Shrugging, “But the duel memory is why I don’t talk about the past of Sacramento a whole lot, because I worry about my memory being wrong. Am I remembering things before or after the Watchtower change? Am I giving the wrong information? So I tend to not give too much. Only things I can remember clearly that were only a couple years ago. It’s usually not a lot of help, and I feel bad and hate it. But at least I’m not fighting within my own mind.”

Frowning as she sighs, “It is, but you needed to know in case the Clock decided to suddenly wakeup. At least now, you have some knowledge. It’s not a full picture, and for that I am sorry, but it’s something. If I can take some of the burden from you, I will.” But she couldn’t have him in the dark about it. Then she looked like she was trying to remember, shifting through memories, “I,” blinking, looking, “I don’t remember. We were teleported back to the Circle by the Clock, I had the pyramid, I was injured, I was weak from pulling mana from my pattern, there was a lot of words being spoken back and forth. The other group had gone back to the 17^th century to retrieve something,” her focus wasn’t on the here and now, it was on that day, “the pyramid had burned me. But why can’t I remember who helped me up and took it?” now she looked concerned. “I can’t remember.” Looking to him now. “Phoenyx was there, two other Arrows, Winter was there. But I can’t remember.” Her voice now a whisper. She had the pyramid, held it in her arms, it had burned her, then it wasn’t there, someone took it from her. “Why can’t I remember.” It wasn’t said to anyone, maybe more to herself.

It takes a few moments for her to focus back on what he was saying. “Is it something to be written down and kept safe within the Mysterium wing then? Or did you want to hold off until my memories can be verified?” she understood. “Oh, oh, ok. I know There is a hotel called the Bismark, well, was a hotel, but it’s been many things now over the years. It used to be owned by the Ladder, before, well, everything. Now there is no trace of them there, none. That was the one that always stood out to me. But I did talk to a spirit there, a very talkative one. The conversation was years ago, so I don’t remember a whole lot about it, but they seemed like they didn’t get many to talk to, so I could probably get them to talk again if I went back.” But the specifics were lost over time.

“Then he must have trusted you, he doesn’t open up and tell those things to just anyone.” He was a very private person. And that was gathered from the few times she had gotten to speak with him. “I had guessed someone had won or there had been some sort of mutual agreement reached for the Clock to fall silent. The problem is I have not been a constant resident of Sacramento; I’ve come and gone quite often over the years. A little more after becoming a Thyrsus as I’ve tried to sort myself out. So I cannot say for sure, but I personally haven’t had much dealings with them. And I haven’t heard many talk about having much dealings with them either."

[Chambers]

A light chuckle, having found something the Sharman wouldn't try was actually a little amusing. "Fair enough." Each to their own and all that.

A nod follows her sentiment. Nothing roe to say on the matter really.

Her experiences are things many mage would do much worse then kill for however and for that reason alone he understands why she wouldn't openly share them. "To remember both is as to step into the supernal twice, something many among mages of any strip of ideology would give near anything to do." Even he felt the pangs of envy about such a thing but quashes them with the knowledge he had his plan he had his path forward. In time he would learn. "Have you tried to distinguish them, in your own head I mean looking for similarities, differences?" Arcadia and the primal wild, two watch towers, two awakenings. Would conventual study even yield anything?

Spirits could be tricky much as ghosts could if only for very different reasons. "I know what the arcana can do, if you finding dealing with them difficult." A curious sentiment for one of her path, but as he just learned that is a little more complicated. "As a master you can create your spirits can't you? To suit the situations you find yourself needing to overcome?" Not without its own risks but there where ways and means to mitigate them.

A tip of his head concedes the point who could you trust to route around with what made you, you. "Then the other more esoteric routes such as spirts and astral realms are likely the only alternatives. The only ones I can suggest anyway." Seeking the answers she did would not be safe or easy, not stumbled on by coincidence in some book, unless that book itself was an item of incredible rarity and importance.

Could he blame her, no being unsure of your own recollections must be horrid. "I understand that yet if you would be willing I am willing to listen to anything you can recall with the understanding it might not be so anymore. If these places or things have changed along with you. Then a connection or common thread might be possible to find." Everything left a foot print, nothing was impossible. Every changed thing a piece of he puzzle a possible lead. "A starting point might be to examine what else changed. As thoroughly as possible." A pause. "You have turned this down before but I might be able to identify who caused the change or your connection to them with my legacies magic." It was a defining event and would stand out lie ka beckon in her momentary name. "Just an offer, if you want me to look for anything." The more he thought about it the more avenues opened for potential first steps.

A shake of his head. "Thank you and yes I prefer knowing it could happen. But the burden is mine I stepped up to take charge and I can't bulk just because something unexpected happened." It would not the the last but hopefully the last on this magnitude.

He listens without interruption as Aurora tries to recall only to discover that something wasn't right. Mysteries wrapped up tight. With what's in play no wonder. "Okay Phoenyx and Winter." Neither he had access to right now. "And two other arrows." Making Phoenyx the more likely to know by association. "I don't mean to pressure you, tell me to stop if its to much." But a gentle hand was a rare luxury in such things. "Can you tell me if either of those arrows was a warlock?" It rule anyone out but if a mage able to mess with minds was present it needed to be factored in. "And do you know if the circles wards and obscuration was in effect during the time war?" Would even the circle hold up against arch magic and artifacts? Who knows but if it was functioning it tipped the balance away from seers.

As for the what. "Yes record as much of it as you can and we will keep it in the wing." Sacramento's secret history, now that was a secret worthy of the Mysterium. "From there we will work to verify what we can." Details would be helpful even if just to identify changes. "The Bismark, okay." Never heard of it. Not surprising. "Do you know where it is and what it is now?" A starting point then. "Spirts are good yes, I don't know if they will have been effected to always view it as it is now?" Had it been a butterfly effect, shifted time lines? Who knows. "But it can't hurt to ask." That's why spirits of memory would best they could understand what was in Auroras head better then I can right now.

His thinking is interrupted with a chuckle. "I don't know if its true or not, Guardians lie." One of the major points of contention between the Mysterium and the guardians. "It could have been a test." See what Chambers was like with dangerous information. "He could have been trying to placate my curiosity." And stop me asking questions. "It could have been a warning." Not to poke the bees nest. "He might had felt he had no other option but to trust me with it." The options had been rather slim at the time. "That's why I say Winter told me we have this truce rather then stating we do definitively have it." And he hoped dearly it was not true.

[Aurora]

Nodding, “I have, and I can describe both Watchtowers, the land around each one, and scribing my name in each one. As an Acanthus I was Faye, and now I am Aurora. I can even tell you what the skies looked like at each Watchtower. The event that lead to me being an Acanthus was different, as becoming a Thyrsus was me falling asleep and crashing into a vast, violent ocean. I didn’t notice anything similar except for me being there, though the second time, I knew what was going on. I knew what the Watchtower was, but was confused as to what was going on and why I was there. I knew it wasn’t the same one as before, but I knew I had to scribe my name at the top, a different name this time.”

Now Spirits. “I just haven’t spent as much time getting comfortable with Spirits as I should have, and that’s on me. The times I have spoken and dealt with them, I wasn’t a Master yet, and I almost got myself, and some people with me into a dangerous situation. I can do a lot with Gauntlets, and yes, I can create my own Spirits. But I’ve never been the one to demand anything from Spirits, I’ve always been the one to kindly ask them to help me when I have spoken with them. Just because I have the power to make demands of them, and they have to obey when I do, doesn’t mean it’s right for me to do it.” They were Spirits, and they had feelings too.

“I wish there was someone I could trust to let in my mind, but thus far, there isn’t. And, well, I’ve gone this long without answers, so taking even more time to prepare myself for the possibility of an astral journey isn’t all that bad. Speaking with some Spirits at the Circle can be a possibility as well, I feel safer doing it at the Circle with its protections and knowing others usually come and go there. Unless you feel like doing it with me and learning a bit about the Spirit Arcana.” She says with a chuckle.

The nod was gentler this time, “I also know every Order had their location changed, like the Bismark for the Ladder. Everything it held, memories of it, gone. Before Orders had wings within the Circle, they had locations around the city where they gathered. The Time War took that.” But some of those names were difficult to remember. Being a Ladder at the time made remembering the Bismark easier. “There was something off about the Bismark’s basement, the hierarchy of the Spirits was off as was the basement. We always suspected the Seer’s were not able to fully hide everything, but were not able to really prove it.” She wasn’t a Master at the time. “I appreciate the offer, I really do, more than you can know. But I’m not sure I’m ready for that just yet.” Even with everything she wanted to know.

“There is nothing wrong with sharing the burden if it gets to be too much. I’m always here, and my offer will always stand, no questions asked.” And she’ll leave it at that.

Thinking on his question, really thinking, she knew what Path Phoenyx was, knew Winter’s, and knew Kazes, "The other was I believe. And yes, I believe the Wards and obscuration were in place, but I also don’t know if they were checked. If they were checked, and were down, I don’t recall anyone saying anything.” That seems like it would be something she could remember.

“Ok, sure. While I’m working on building up the security and what not of the wing, I’ll start working on the history. Well, as much of it as I can remember.” She only hoped what she remembered wasn’t all wrong. “Yes, I’ve been there. It has retail on the ground floor and luxury apartments on the upper floors. When we visited it, no memories came flooding back to me, which was a disappointment to say the least. I could drive there right now. But it was four or five years ago when we last visited, it could have changed hands again. The name, The Bismark, is chiseled in stone over the door, unless that has been removed.” Which, you never know.

She had to chuckle as well, “While that is a fair assumption, I don’t think they all do. I believe Winter can build up enough trust in someone like we all can. I think he will tell those he considers close enough of the truth. I’ve personally trusted him for many years, enjoyed many conversations with him.” She saw him as a good guy who had his secrets he needed to keep, but who also needed friends. “Maybe I just feel that way because I’ve never been the type to poke or ask questions. Don’t get me wrong, in the right situation, I can and will.”

[Chambers]

The puzzle pieces were unfortunely disjointed, yet knowing each means that should anything else fall into place it might make it add up. "You knew what was going on the second time." That was odd, the words mulled over. "Did you awaken a second time? or is it memories of when you went to the primal wild?" If it was an entirely separate event not just a alternative version, that changed things. How he was not sure precisely but it did. Something else of note. "You signed a different name, so your real name changed to then?" Eyes close that would imply a entirely separate life. "You don't need to tell me your real name what it is or was or any of that. Just if you signed something different then well." Eyes open again. "Every detail changes the picture, adds new context." And for this every piece counted.

Nodding. "Any supernatural being can be dangerous but they are part of existence, ignoring them can do more harm them good." He had spent time learning all he could of ghosts after his own awakening. "I'm not saying to demand, you can deal, offer, trade or even make your spirit court if I understand it then spirits would come to you?" His theopoetical knowledge of the arcana is solid. The offer to help with spirt stuff is surprising considering his path. "I offer whatever assistance I can give in the matter, But as a Stygian spirit is very difficult for me to grasp. I only have a novice level of proficiency in that arcana." Better then nothing. "But yes if that or anything else I can do is useful then I will help." The circle is a wonderous place put it does have a few issues. "I've never seen a spirt of ghost around the circle, I didn't think it had any local ones?" That also felt like it would be good to know if he was wrong. "Because waking the spirit of the circle itself might be a tall ask even for you, its wards counter spell anything we try." Same problem with trying to look into its past.

Every order, now that's interesting. "You've said some recall you as an enchanter." A pause as he works it through. "So other mages do exist with memories from before things got changed." That meant records of the events did exist somewhere. "How many shadow names can you recall of mages who had memories of things that had changed?" A slim hope there but even so. "If the spirts recall or were changed it might be possible to change them back, restore previous versions of them." The undertaking would be monumental though. Another avenue though, another crack in the armour of what first looked like an insurmountable obstacle. "I understand, it was an offer nothing more or less and it stands should you want it." But it started to form a pattern of behaviour that seemed at odds with Auroras confident personality. "Aurora can I ask what might seem like a very rude question but with the best of intentions?" But it mattered a great deal.

A flick of discontent worms across the Moros face. "So we cant rule out a warlock messed with your memory and took the artefact." Which was annoying. "If you had just stolen from seers I would imagine there retribution if possible would have been more then just a snatch and grab of what you took." But it wasn't off the table not without knowing what they were doing. So that remains a possibility.

A thankful smile at the offer to record what she knows. "Thank you, and please leave nothing out no matter how small, insignificant or far fetched it may seem. Every detail matters." A brush stroke no matter how small contribute to the wider painting. Of all the starting points that seemed well the easiest which considering it sounded like a business with sleepers all around showed just how big of a task this was going to be. "Would you take me there, I would like to see this place." Even if it had been pulled down and the rubble scattered to the four corners of the earth, it didn't mean the place was useless.

A shrug. "But I don't know him, not well. Or at all really. He had no concrete reason to tell me that it was the first time we had exchanged more then a handful of words." He couldn't believe it had been trust he had paid the knowledge back as best he could which itself might have been the trap but then if the Obrimos had been paying attention to those brief chats there had been very few new revelations.

[Aurora]

“As weird as it sounds, yes, I knew what was going on. It was jarring, because it wasn’t the Watchtower it was supposed to be. It was a different one, with a different look, feel, just…different. But it felt right, like I was supposed to be there. I,” pausing, “I don’t know. They didn’t feel like memories, it felt very real, the water, the storm overhead, the sounds of the jungle even the stone beneath my hands, it all felt very real.” Now about her name, “I don’t know if my real name changed, but when I went to sign my name, Faye felt wrong, it didn’t feel like me, like I wasn’t her, I was supposed to sign something different. So I did, I signed the name that felt right, that seemed to speak to who I was becoming.” How would she know if her real name changed, she hardly ever used it, and both parents were dead.

“The Spirit Court has sounded like it could hold its benefits if used right. I just don’t believe I have a Sanctum that could support such an endeavor yet. But I do intend to use and educate myself better on the spirit side of things. I’m actually planning on having the Thyrsus gather and share knowledge and help each other with it. I believe my unease comes from not having anyone to really show me or teach me as I went, so I stuck with what came easy. A mistake for sure. But one I’m working on correcting.” It just takes time. “I just figured the extra knowledge never hurts to have, and I value your council on things.” If she was asking Spirits things, she would trust Chambers thoughts on what she was asking. “Hmm, that is true. I’ve never tried to see if there were any active spirits there, but it never hurts to take a look. And if that fails, I know a place called the Bismark that has a very active basement.” And she was a lot more confident in who she was now then she was then.

Nodding, “Yes, there were a few, I think it was the ones who had been sent back in time by the Clock.” Blinking a few times, “Oh, wow, uh, names. I know Star only remembered me as a Thyrsus only. But Tuesday and Avis remembered me as an Acanthus, but both went back in time with the Clock. Those are the only ones who stand out, though I would imagine Campanella would have remembered me as an Acanthus as he went back in time as well, but we never really talked about it.” And she wished they had.

“Of course, ask away.” She had no issues with questions.

“It would just be odd because then he would have had to mess with everyone’s memory that was there. Which isn’t out of the realms of possibilities. And there’s no saying I just simply forgot, I was in a lot of pain from pulling mana from my pattern and getting burned by the pyramid, I wasn’t in good shape when we got teleported back. Which I might add is very disorientating. So while we can’t rule out someone messing with my memory, we also can’t rule out me just simply being exhausted.” Because she remembered she was. “The Clock always seemed to send us to a place and time to stop the Seer’s from doing something, so maybe it was something to do with that artifact, and us getting it into the Circle was all we had to do. I don’t know, I’m just trying to throw out more ideas.”

Shaking her head, “Nothing will be left out. I plan to look into seeing if I can invest in a safe for the wing, something that will work until we can get better security. If that’s something you think will work for now, I will of course make you have the combination. Something with magic on it would be preferable, but we need to work with what we have right now.” Security for the wing was high on her list of priorities. “To the Bismark? Sure. If the shops have stayed the same, they have a great coffee shop.” A small smile, “I actually sat in there, with my cell on silent, talking to that ghost. I hope she is still there; she seems really lonely.” Though she did like to talk.

A small nod, “I see. Well, I hope you get the chance to get to know him better. He’s full of useful information and knowledge, though it can take a bit to get him talking. I think there is a kind soul under his tough exterior. But don’t tell him I told you that.” She jokes.

[Chambers]

That was a head scratcher then because it sounded like she had awakened while already a mage? Or the event had happened later in her relative time? "That has me baffled then, can I ask how did your arcana proficiency change with the shift in watchtower?" And the name was confusing as well. "Aurora we sign our real names in the watchtowers, shadow names come later. Did you not sign your real name?" That could be it, what is she had signed a name that wasn't entirely hers and the tower had responded in some way? just theories and questions and puzzles.

He knew spirits, that they existed the general principles and rules not as much as he did ghosts but certainly more the nothing and it this that gives the confidence to agree. "I would be very happy to provide any advise needed if I can give it." As for the sanctum issue. "This where a cabal would come in handy, its easier to maintain larger sanctums with more mages. Have you considered setting up a joint place with the other members of your path?" Because who better to understand spirts then the collective of Sacramento's Sharman's.

As he suspected it was not alot he could work with their mages having come and gone. "So including you that makes three mages with confirmed memories of things being different before the time war." Yet it was enough it gave a precedent. "Some don't some do, but it gives it a good chance of others having fragments or recollections." By others he meant more then just mages.

How to put this as kindly as he could. "Aurora you are cautious and wise to be so. But with the sheer magnitude of what we are discussing you will have to take risks, and some fairly big ones. I want to know how far are you willing to go to get your answers?" It wasn't a question of patience or preparation both where paramount but with Watchtowers and arch mages involved this was going to take monumental effort to even have a hope of understanding.

A nod. "Yes you could have just forgotten, it happens. It is possible. I only asked because it is also possible to mess with memories and I wanted to know how likely a possibility that was." And now he knows not to rule it out. "It doesn't help we don't understand the circle either." If the building had a function, a purpose beyond being a shelter it changed the relationship with the building rather dynamically. "We might need to start looking into the circle of creation more as well." It was what sounded like a key part of the events and consequently could also hold some answers.

His hands go up. "You a curator, you decide how things are stored and who has access to them, if I'm not worthy of the knowledge yet you keep it away from me." He didn't have to be included just because he ranked higher. "I am not a master of matter unfortunely so my ability to provide magical lockboxes is pretty non existent." The wing was on the to do list but as were so many things.

The next interesting development is finally something he can handle. "There is a ghost at the Bismark as well as spirts. Now that I can work with." A trip was very much in order. "Then that is a must." Stopping to catch himself. "Should be make some kind of list of leads, things to investigate and the like otherwise I fear overlooking something." Sorting out the key details would be helpful. "I can do it in supernal script if your okay with that, keep sleepers from seeing it. I would need to put my sight on as well." Her Sanctum so her permission is sought.

A shrug. "I haven't seen him around lately, he's currently not acknowledged by the Consilium he missed the meeting." So getting to know Winter seemed an unlikely prospect at the moment.