(1303) Circle of the Crone

[Chris Wooding]

As was announced, this night, March 27th 2013, a meeting will be held at the Temple of the Circle of the Crone. Here in Sacramento, known as the Woven Circle. The Circle's Hierophant is Chris Wooding. The man, with his yet young appearance, waits inside.

The only light inside the main room is that of the full moon, as it casts its light through the small windows. Every stroke of light shines upon another chair. Chairs? Yes. Even a round table stands in the center of the room. The meeting today is to be more formal and less spiritual, although the eerie atmosphere could give one his or her doubts.

Chris stands before the altar with his gaze turned towards the door, his face is almost hidden beneath the thick smoke and shadows. Behind him on the altar stands a large chalice with a great deal of smoke rising from of it. The Hierophant is burning a large amount of incense. Those familiar with the smell would recognize Myrrh, for feminine power symbolizing the Crone, and Dragon's Blood for strength and courage.

We will not find ourselves lacking any of those.

He stands there with a serious expression, wearing a long coat among other black clothes, waiting for his fellow Acolytes to arrive.

[Swift]

A large, black raven swoops down out of the sky. It alights for a moment on the steeple of the disused church, surveying the ground around. After a few moments it seems satisfied and springs forth into the air once more. It dives down toward the ground just to the side of main entrance while no single soul is in sight. Several feet above the ground it pulls up suddenly, beating it's wings furiously. And in a breath of a moment it changes, elongating small, taloned feet into legs and wings into arms. The bird is gone and Dr. Swift stands in it's place.

He straightens his long, black duster and fedora before opening the door and striding inside. He, as is typical, carries with him his wolf's head cane and has a small black satchel over one shoulder. The Hierophant had indicated tonight's meeting was to be more formal than the past, so he decided on his typical clothing rather than anything too outlandish.

As he enters he immediately notices a new Kindred speaking to the Hierophant. The beast within immediately comes to it's feet, teeth bared and snarling. While he manages his normal restraint, a little of the beast's anger still comes through in the Doctor's suddenly aggressive body language. He leans forward on his cane and smiles, though without the flush of life both sets of his fangs are clearly visible making it look almost a snarl for the new comer. In addition to the strangeness of the new beast, the man gave him an unsettling feeling, like he knew something or was keeping a secret and was gloating about it. If there was one thing that the doctor could not abide it was people keeping knowledge from him, or looking down on him because they thought he wasn't capable of understanding something. The temple wasn't technically an Elysium, but it was still a place of gathering, and that is perhaps all that keeps the Doctor from immediately going for the other Kindred's throat -- and he doesn't really attempt to hide it.

After a tense moment he slowly turns his attention to the Hierophant. Chris was not only familiar but kept his beast well in check behind his mask, and Dr. Swift finds him to be a much more amenable individual to share company with. "Good evening, Hierophant Wooding. I trust it finds you well?"

Still, the doctor keeps a wary eye on the unknown man.

[Chris Wooding]

I was waiting for to Kakarot to join us perhaps?

When Gregor arrives he receives a nod from the Hierophant. 'Good evening Mr Kreutz.' It was curious the man didn't call him by his title, but maybe he... forgot?

Chris smiles when Robert Swift and Daymian McMahon come next. 'Good evening everyone.' He nods to both men when they ask their polite questions.

He does a step forward, towards the table. With a friendly smile while gesturing to the table, he says, 'Please be seated, introduce yourselves if you have not yet met each other.'

[Swift]

Dr. Swift takes a moment to compose himself, but clearly this new Kindred was a guest of the Hierophant -- almost certainly a follower of the Crone. He moves to take a seat and nods in greeting to Daymian. "Mr. McMahon, it is good to see you again. It has been some time."

He finally returns his attention to the newcomer. "I am Dr. Robert Swift, of clan Gangrel." It is a polite, formal introduction that invites a reply. After all, first impressions might be important, but they were also often wrong.

[Claire Edmonton]

Claire's Dress

Claire pointedly wore something that wouldn't look too bad if it were stained (One never knew what to expect), particularly from blood (But there were certain trends to consider). Seeing this as no reason to not be at her finest, she found the perfect, crimson dress to adorn herself with as she strolled into her new Temple. And it was hers, after all, and the notion that was selfish was just another reason why it was so hard to have serious conversations with simpletons and cretins.

Looking about, she immediately was surprised by something. Men. Three male bodies, all beasts, she duly noted, bracing herself for the urge to flee, or possibly kill one of the other ones young like herself... ah, but wait. Another empty face. Must be... whatever Martha did. Popular trick, apparently.

Strolling over to the surprising sausage fest, Ms. Claire smiles and makes sure not to interrupt anyone mid-speech, before asserting herself in the proper business fashion. "Claire Tunt. I presume I am in the right place? Which of you is Chris Wooding?"

[Swift]

Before anyone has a chance to respond to the Doctor's introduction a new beast enters the room. This was the second time tonight he was confronted with a new face. At least this time it was only the creature within that reacted poorly. It immediately stands and growls, snapping its teeth in defiance and straining against the chain. Dr. Swift makes a brief mental effort and pulls back sharply on that restraint. Stop it. We're not in Elysium, but we are still bound by Hospitality. Down!

It helped, of course, that the newcomer had a bearing about her that demanded attention and spoke of dignity. He stands as she enters the room -- the only polite thing to do when greeting someone new -- and nods in greeting. "Dr. Robert Swift. Whether or not you are in the right place depends on why you are here, of course. Assuming you are here for the Circle meeting I am sure Hierophant Wooding would like us to extend our welcome." He gently emphasizes the title. Just because they weren't Invictus did not mean that proper respect was not due. He does not indicate which of the men is the Hierophant. After all, this was not Elysium. For all he knew these newcomer was sent by the Sanctum to murder their leader.

Well, of course not. Dillon wouldn't let that happen. But it could be something like that.

[Chris Wooding]

The Hierophant looks up with a jerk of his head to look at the new arrival, to charge forward. No. He stays in control, it takes him a second. Dr. Swift - maybe with a stronger will or simply more trained to refrain from attacking due to the Aspect of the Predator - beats him to speaking first. So Chris makes a deep nod to agree with Robert. With all he says.

'Claire Tunt, be welcome in the Temple of the Woven Circle.' He recognized her voice, and the name was right. Only in a very dark scenario would this not be the woman he spoke to on the phone. 'I am Hierophant Chris Wooding, these men are Daymian McMahon and Gregor Kreutz,' he gestures to the two yet silent men.

'Please have a seat.' Chris lays his hands on the back of a chair, as he is about to sit down as well.

[Claire Edmonton]

"Indeed, I am here as an Acolyte, Heirophant," Claire states with a subtly deferential dip of her brow as she takes a seat precisely in the chair the Heirophant indicates, moving with the practiced grace of formal manners. Anyone familiar enough with the North East might notice the pinch of a wealthy native of Manhattan's accent in her voice.

She waits patiently in her seat, clearly waiting for the leadership to proceed.