Open Autumnal Equinox

**Chris Wooding** · Sep 24th, 2012 09:34 AM

11.35 PM - The doors of the Crone Temple are opened, Chris waits inside, kinda nervous. He is the Hierophant now, a thing he wanted for a long time, but it never felt right. Now he has to be. The Circle needs a good leader, an active leader. It is sad that he has no idea where David went to, but the man is gone.

Maybe the Goddess had other plans for him... or this one for me.

Him being the new Hierophant perfectly fits tonight's theme: transition, change. Chris hopes there will be more good changes, more Kindred with allegiance to the Circle for example. Although he has stopped realistically thinking about it, he can always hope for it.

He stands before the altar with his back turned towards the entrance, he's wearing a grey hoodie. He thought about what he should wear, but he realized that this Circle would become a more modern Circle.

Between him and the entrance are several small but surprisingly comfortable cushions in two rows of half circles on the wooden floor. Now all we need is Kindred to sit on them.

Something like this

Sep 24th, 2012 08:28 PM

Ariana made her way from the Bee to the Crone Temple that evening. The last few events she had been to generally had an announcement of what to where. This, however, did not. Perhaps Chris forgot when the announcement was delivered, or something else was going to happen. She envisioned robes being handed out at the door briefly before entering the Temple. She wondered if Max Heinz would be joining the Solstice that evening as well as Martha, whom usually enjoyed attending. Chrisie .

Dressed in a black business suit, since there was no dress code she made her way inside. On the neckline of Ariana, it was complimented by a pendant and on her right hand a ring could be found. Her heels gently clicked through the hallway to the temple’s main room. Her eyes peered over the seating arrangement with a smile. This may be tricky. Thankfully fatigue did not work the same with vampires. She would certainly be able to maintain the same position the entire evening on the pillows.

The Lordess saw the Shadow as she made her way deeper into the main room. Well, she thought it was the newly appointed Crone leader. She could not sense his beast, for all she knew it could have been something profoundly different. Her hand slipped to her purse as it carried a thing or two.

She stayed toward the middle of the room, her lips held a smile which could be heard in her voice as she spoke. “Good evening, Heirophant Wooding?” Ariana's voice lilted slightly as she not entirely certain it was Chris. The Lordess did not spend much time admiring the back of anyone's head.

Ariana’s attire

**Max Heinz** · Sep 24th, 2012 11:28 PM

*Max wasn't quite sure how to dress for a meeting of the Circle. He knew many thought the Order met in long robes and cowls; and indeed in some Domains they did. But he got the impression from his few dealings with the new Hierophant that it would be a rather open minded dress code for the night.

Just as long as he wasn't expected to go skyclad...

He also wasn't sure what to expect from the Temple itself. His own experiences with pagan temples brought to mind natural settings, or ones built to emulate the rustic stonework of pre-industrialization cottages or castles. The poetic irony of a former House of God being used as a Circle temple was not lost on Max, bringing a slight smirk to the thin Mekhet's lips as he walks into the building. He was also surprised by the small cushions, the whole place bringing to mind the Meditation Room within the Dragon's Chapter House.

As Max makes his way into the main room, any ghost that might still be haunting the former church might well have had flash backs to it's living days. Max had wanted to wear something respectful, but not too formal; opting for an old suit and fedora that would not have been out of place on any given Sunday service back in the 60's.

As he feels the familiar push of the Seneschal's Beast, he hears Ariana call out questioningly to the hoody-ed figure; the former Reeve slipping effortlessly besides her without a word. He was pretty sure it was Chris; but as his own experiences in the Chapter House had proven, you could never be too careful these nights...*

**Swift** · Sep 25th, 2012 12:13 AM

Dr. Swift arrives attired in his usual duster and fedora carrying his satchel and wolf's head cane. He pauses at the threshold and smiles. A new year, and a new cycle. One that promises to be enlightening, and bewildering. The doctor steps into the threshold and notes the change in decor. Always changing, the temple is. I suppose that's for the good. We always face the threat of stagnation, so any effort to continue change is something to support. Wait, did I just think like Yoda talks?

Chuckling softly to himself, Swift heads to the main area for the night's celebrations. As was his habit, he had brought a sacrifice for the ceremony. Sacrifice was something that was always difficult for Dr. Swift. He did not have very many personal possessions, having learned to only carry that which was most useful or precious to him during his nomadic nights. Sacrifice was therefore most often symbolic for him, but sacrifice was supposed to be more than that, it was supposed to be painful. Everything important in life carried pain with it. Tonight's sacrifice was still symbolic - Dr. Swift wasn't giving up anything from a practical standpoint - but tonight it would hurt, and he wasn't entirely sure he would be capable of offering what he had in mind.

Putting such thoughts away for now, Dr. Swift approaches the small group of Kindred already present. Seeing that the Seneschal is already greeting the new Heirophant he waves to the leader of the local Dragons. "Mr. Heinz. It is good to see you here for this evening's festivities. How does the night treat you?"

**James Calloway** · Sep 25th, 2012 10:05 AM

James appeared from somewhere deeper within the Temple. His usual place on the couch had become almost like a second home to him, mind concerned with the occult and the Crone and body often in the library. He wore a collared shirt and looked to be in a fairly good mood, such as it was. Under his arm was a small box.The thunder of Beasts against his mind cause James to clench his jaw, although those that were present were certainly all familiar. Swift and Ariana Donovan -- it seemed that the Woven Circle had arrived, and so too had the Seneschal, among others.Smiling to all present briefly, James kept his eye on the door and remained ready to welcome and receive other visitors. He was in no rush to interrupt and dive in on people's discussions.

For more will come; they always do.

Sep 29th, 2012 01:22 PM

Personally the Dragon Monk felt the Crone were a den of pagans, tempting fate with their baying before idols. On the other hand, as a Christian he knew one to reach out to a lot like these and try and save them. Thankfully that was what the Spears were for, not Dragons. Although if he saw someone who might be looking for true answers and had what it took to study the Work...

Theology and recruitment aside, the main reason he was attending tonight was the possible opportunity to see a Crone blood ritual, or even some of their sorcery. His own studies into Ordo blood magic and tales he had read about in had led the monk to formulate a theory in regards to blood magic as a whole among kindred. However he needed to witness it first hand. Dressed in his black cassock and his woven rosary around his neck, Teodor entered into the old church. The fact the Crone had despoiled a House of God was enough make his blood simmer. The Serpent slithered about him, one part trembling at the greater Beasts, the other part egging him on be as Samson unto the present Crone. But he would do no such thing. While he did not have his customary smile, he did have a placid expression with curiosity mixed in as he looked around at the interior.

**Chris Wooding** · Sep 29th, 2012 02:36 PM

My apologies, I promise the wait won't happen between every post

With his eyes closed, Chris waits for the first Kindred to arrive. At first he doesn't react, but then he hears his name. The Hierophant turns around with his boyish grin present, some things never change. He bows his head to the Seneschal, 'Seneschal Donovan, how wonderful to see you here. Please, make yourself comfortable.' He is most sincere, although he wouldn't want to trade with her business suit.

When more Kindred arrive Chris gives them all a greeting nod, but he approaches the bearded man he hasn't met yet. 'Good evening sir, I believe I have seen you before, but I haven't had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.' He bows his head, 'I am Hierophant Chris Wooding, welcome to the Temple of the Crone. '

The Hierophant seems not offended, maybe surprised, but not any way offended by the cassock and woven rosary. In general he says: 'The ritual will commence within several minutes.'

Sep 29th, 2012 10:13 PM

The Lordess smiled gently as Chris turned around. She did not expect any lesser, however, sometimes caution was part of a Requiem. “Thank you kindly Heirophant Wooding.” Her voice rang with his new title, so easily it fit the Mekhet.

Ariana was not surprised to see Max here and she nodded to him with a grin. “Good evening Grand Wyrm Heinz.” There was a knowing look on her face as he had previously mentioned attending.

“Dr. Swift, Mr. Calloway and Mr. Raluca, it is good to see you as well.” She pleasantly greeted them all.

Upon hearing Chris mention he would start soon, the Lordess took a seat in the back to the side. She had easily bent her legs to adjust her body to the low seating on the floor. Ariana’s legs together and to her side, she sat up proper and and with attention to the alter.

Sep 29th, 2012 11:45 PM

"Thank you Madam Seneschal. I hope your evening has been pleasant and productive." he nods in return.

Teodor returns with a bow of the head of his own to Wooding. "Brother Raluca, of the Ordo Dracul. Thank you Hierophant. I am most interested to see how American Crones conduct their ceremonies." his Eastern European accent gives a quite literal interpretation to his statement. While it was all blasphemies, he hoped it was not some of the witchcraft the Tismanu had to periodically stamp out in the Carpathians.

**James Calloway** · Sep 30th, 2012 11:45 AM

Jim's eyes flicked between the Kindred assembled. The numbers were few. The Grand Wyrm was here - and welcome, as far as James was concerned - and so too was Madam Seneschal Donovan. James bowed as she greeted him. "Madam Seneschal Donovan, a pleasure to see you! It's been quite some time." As he straighted up, there was a hint of a smile.

His eyes flicked over to the two Dragons, his Beast rising and threatening all around him. The strong-blooded Taifa offered both a smile, but did not seek to interrupt Dr. Swift. His eyes narrowed at Teodor Raluca's religious garb being brought into their Temple, but the suspicious Gangrel did not leap to any undue conclusions.

Please, feel free to not worry about waiting for me...

Open Autumnal Equinox

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