(1410) Consilium - House of Cards

[Mage ST]

Familiar places have a habit of feeling that much more important when nerves and anxieties are present. Tonight is the night of the first formal meeting of Hierarch Aquinas' Consilium. Fall has begun to make itself known outside, at least, with marketing. Starbucks has their pumpkin lattes and Temple has a decadent concoction of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Children have gone back to school.

The countdown towards Halloween at Wal-Marts is already in full swing.

Tonight, the Bismark is chosen to host the Consilium. Protections have been carefully laid by the Hierarch himself, the hum of Space and Mind cause those who can't speak 'friend' from entering the chosen room. For all intents and purposes, the meeting room is large and cavernous – slated more for a large company workshop than a meeting of the Awakened Nation.

The floor is covered in an abstract print woven carpet, chairs line circular tables covered in table-cloth and water pitchers sit at the ready. Light streams in through the windows framed in sheer white. For added piece of mind, the natural position of the space -- the second floor towards the rivers -- provide privacy.

At the front, is a long table on a raised platform; this is the space for the Counselors to take their positions. For all the tumult of the last year, the cards are finally being called. The time has come to see if the hand-wringing about the future has been warranted and for Sacramento to forge its own destiny.

[Crowley]

Black sunglasses, black trench coat, black jeans and boots. A Tee that has faded to grey and vomits colour on his chest (lurid clown face, expletive ridden lyrics and all). This is Crowley, Acanthus Herald of the Consilium, channeling himself from his own past. He wares the ghost of a previous incarnation with the pride of age; he's savouring the experience. For a moment, before he enters, one can easily imagine him with long, long hair and face paint, howling death growls to a crowd seething in their own rage and frustrations.

Now he simply cracks a knowing and enigmatic grin. Like he is having a private joke.

The Herald sweeps in, wreathed in Time. He chooses not to sit just yet. He finds a space along the wall and waits to see who else turns up. If he had pop corn, he'd be eating it.

  Temporal Dodge cast at home

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-02 05:45:46		Crowley rolls 6 to GNO 2 + Time 2 + 2 HS (10 Again)		8, 4, 1, 4, 10, 8, 8		4 successes

  Temporal Eddies cast at home

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-02 05:46:08		Crowley rolls 6 to GNO 2 + Time 2 + 2 HS (10 Again)		4, 1, 8, 5, 2, 9		2 successes

[Samaritan]

  cast at home

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-02 08:00:08		Bishop rolls 6 to cast Mental Shield (Gnosis 2 + Mind 2 + HS 2) (10 Again)		3, 9, 5, 8, 3, 4		2 successes
2014-10-02 07:58:38		Bishop rolls 8 to cast Grim Sight (Wits 3 + Occ 1+ Death 3 HS2 Tool1 24h -2) (10 Again)		10, 9, 7, 9, 9, 9, 7, 10, 8, 6		7 successes

Bishop parked Betsy outside on the parking lot. Before he got out, he adjusted his dress and tie and reinforced his cerebral patterns. He then turned off the engine, which had conviniently masked his high speech. It was one of the benefits of the four cylinder boxer motor situated in the back of the car and only covered by stretch canvas. That made riding in this car noisier than most other rides, but there was also a strange comfort in the smell of that running engine.
He closed the car doors and locked them, before adjusting his attire again.

images.jpg

When he entered the state room, he stood in the doors frame and took in the room. He sighed gently. Patterns of power were always the same. Rank and file had their own order and in order to reinforce authority, while the higher echelons seating arrangements disrupted this order. Bishop pitied a little Aquinas. If he really had to resort to such displays, that would mean his seat of power was more show than substance. Of course, it could all be just that. Show. One would have to see.
Bishop took a seat, that was farthest away from the head table and situated in one of the corners of the room.

[Miach]

  cast at home; -2 Mana Cloaked

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-02 17:43:32		Miach rolls 9 to Wits 3 + Occult 3 + Rote Specialty 1 + Prime 2 + HS 2 - 24h durarion 2 for Supernal Vision (10 Again)		2, 5, 5, 9, 9, 5, 4, 8, 7		3 successes
2014-10-02 17:42:50		Miach rolls 9 to Resolve 3 + Athletics 2 + Life 4 + HS 2 - 24h duration 2 to Organic Resilience (10 Again)		6, 4, 3, 10, 7, 5, 1, 7, 4, 7		1 success

Wearing a blue suit with white stripes to look somewhat dignified, Miach entered the Bismark with some apprehension. It was not the sort of place he was used to, and the folks that were already here hardly seemed more at ease than he.

Nodding to Sylvan, Bishop, and Crowley, the Acanthus noticed Ermac around the Herald too. If he was to be useful to the Consilium, he had to know his fellow Awakened, didn't he. He joined with a slow walk, and started "Hello Crowley." then with a nod to the Mighty, he offered his hand "I'm Miach, how do you do."

[Falstaff]

Falstaff adjusts his garment; he'd taken a while to choose, knowing the importance of image in making a positive lasting impression. After much deliberation, he'd decided upon something which adequately displays his class and sophistication.

Sir Falstaff

As Fate would have it, he arrives just on time--rather . . . fortuitously. An impressive group of Mages--four of them--enter just ahead of him in powerful display. He coattails the last one, a girl in a grey hoodie, falling in right behind her. These folk had unity and presence he could really capitalize on for his entrance. He tries to appear as if it's normal for him to be in their company, keeping in stride with his no-big-deal, we-do-this-all-the-time face.

He scans the crowd, breaking away from the cool kids when he sees Ermie and Crowley standing together--proper sexy gentlemen. He approaches. "Hail, Ermie--Angel Investor! Thy bow tie looketh magnanamous. Thou art a paragon of masculine elegance." He offers him both hands for their secret handshake. He knows Ermie will approve of the formality of his attire.

"And Sir Crowley,"--a bow with flourish--"thou artfully displayeth the full spectrum of black. I liken thee unto ash-smeared iron on a moonless night."

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-03 03:29:46		Falstaff rolls 8 to Fate's Protection: Fate (3) + Gnosis (3) + High Speech (2) = 8 DP (10 Again)		4, 7, 1, 6, 3, 9, 4, 3		1 success

[Crowley]

"Hey Ermac," Crowley replies quietly, his humour a distinct timbre in his voice. He gives his fellow Free Councillor the once over. "Nice suit."

To Miach he gives a nod and a raised hand, half way between a benediction and a wave. He might have said more but his eyes were following the Veiled Threats as they arrived, en masse. Now that is how you work a Cabal, man!

And Falstaff. The Herald bursts out laughing and responds to the costumed jester's bow with one of his own. "I see you are well versed in the ornaments and dress of a proper and true magus. Take a seat, brother... Wait! Wait! I gotta get a pic. This is just too good..."

He fumbles for his phone and poses beside the anachronism.

[Jag]

Fluke wandered into the room at the Bismark, having found the place by sheer luck. Or maybe he simply followed a thread to the place, listening to the City's song and allowing himself to be guided by it. Regardless, the Metropolitan managed to find the way to the gathering of fellow Awakened. He was definitely excited at the prospect of meeting the other mages of Sacramento, hoping that he would find them to be a welcoming bunch. He had experienced his fair share of bad experiences when arriving in new Concilia, but he was optimistic about this one.

As he walked into the room, the Acanthus spotted a few Libertines already present. He offered a friendly smile and a wave in the direction of Ermac and Crowley , glad to see a couple of familiar faces in the crowd. He considered approaching them at first, but he figured that it was best to make new acquaintances first. He could always catch up with the Libertines a bit later after all.

Fluke scanned the room with some interest, taking in all the faces in attendance. Where to begin? he wondered to himself, trying to figure out who he should approach first. There were some interesting individuals around the room, and he was certain that more would show up in time. @Mae and Crank will likely make an appearance later, he thought to himself, amused by the fact that he had managed to show up before them. Perhaps that was one of the perks of being an Acanthus?

Eventually, his eyes settled on a group of four mages. They seemed like a tight-knit group, maybe a Cabal by the looks of it. All of them appeared fairly young as well, which was a nice change of pace from all the geezers that usually run shit at most Concilia he had visited in the past. Shrugging to himself, Fluke made a decision and walked over to the foursome. "Hey guys," he said in greeting, offering them a sincere smile. "I'm Fluke. New in town. You all look like people I should meet," he added after his original greeting, his smile widening just slightly.

Asp , Avis , Star , Zodiac

  magics! cast before entering scene

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-03 10:33:36		Fluke rolls 8 to Gnosis+Time+HS to cast "Temporal Dodge" (10 Again)		7, 2, 1, 1, 3, 3, 10, 5, 10, 3		2 successes
2014-10-03 10:33:14		Fluke rolls 5 to Gnosis+Fate+HS-2 to cast entwined "Sybil's Sight/Temporal Eddies" (10 Again)		3, 8, 6, 8, 4		2 successes