(1410) Consilium - House of Cards

[Miach]

Eyes downcast, Miach listened as in trance to the litany of names. Spoken from Animus's voice, it sounded even more surreal. More like a roll call at a Consilium, a few years ago, than a list of defuncts. He had known them all, too. To a lesser extent compared to the Shaman, but... it already ached. A lot. Sinec the Acanthus had lost a lover too, he could fathom the pain he must be through, and his empathy for the man went up by quite a bit.

Oh man... was all he could think of. Oh man...

[Ariadne]

Ariadne lets out a slow deep breath as the names of the fallen are listed. All friends, allies, or acquaintances in some way. Avenged in a way, now to hope that their Souls can be returned to the wheel. Maybe not hoped, forced so.

It gives her a small smile, knowing that one day they will return better than they were but never knowing.

[Falstaff]

Though Falstaff appears to be watching a squirrel out the window, he's actually paying very close attention. He'd provided adequate pretense for the Mages there to discount him, had "played the fool" long enough. He isn't sure he belongs in the recruiting cabal, or that he can be useful in alignment with the stated courses of action, but the problems had come to earn his interest and attention. He would find a way to make his mark upon them--a bloody mark in all likelihood.

[Crowley]

Crowley listens...

...and as the litany of woe is finally bought to the surface, the enigmatic smile fades into, well, shock.

What the fuck!?

There is a small part of him screaming to mind his face, but its stuck fast in surprised horror mode. The Acanthus takes a step back and tries to be somewhere else. Anywhere else....

Dammit why didn't I practice working with Space more often!

[Samaritan]

Soul stones. Now there was a matter of interest. Bishop listened calmly. He had no deal with ley lines, as the arcanum of Prime had so far done its best to elude him. Not that he had actually tried to direct any studies in its direction. But soul stones were a different matter. The names of the passed bodies did not mean anything to him, but judging from the reactions of the more senior residents, they had an apparent meaning in a deeper context.
Bishop also noted with some satisfaction, that Mrs. Mace was immediately asking the right questions. Could soul stones...or souls, for that matter...that were in the possession of Scelesti be trusted?
<I hope nobody will actually try to find mortal bodies and restore those souls with a vessel.> Bishop thought to himself. Bishop watched Animus carefully. Reaquiring the soulstone of a lost love...that was...something.
<What would I do, should I find Samanthas soul intact in such a vessel? Would I be strong enough, to let her go a second time? Would I even consider this?>
Too many questions. Bishop decided, he would not meddle in this. He would advise, if asked, but he would not intervene. If someone would try to restore a loved one, that would mean to stand in the way of an avalanche. One would be crushed at worse or ignored at best. One could only direct its path with gentle obstacles until it came to rest in a valley.

[Jag]

Fluke turned his attention as the big man in charge began to talk. At least he assumed the guy was in charge, it certainly sounded like he was. Then there was the Lictor, spewing out some legalese and what have you. Wait, the Lex is no more? His eyes widened slightly, curious as to what this meant. He didn't even know what such a document had consisted of, but it didn't seem like it mattered at this point. I'm sure the Ladder will see to it that there's a new one in no time, he thought to himself, turning his attention to the young woman who had introduced herself as Asp once she spoke up.

Scelesti. Soul Jars. Tainted ley lines. Banishers spreading drugs. This Concilium certainly had its fair share of problems. At least it was good that the Scelesti had been dealt with, but it was sad to hear that five Awakened had not only lost their lives, but had their souls trapped in the process. Being a newcomer, he didn't know any of the people that had died, but he wasn't some insensitive asshole either. While he had been all friendly smiles and waves before, Fluke's expression now had become somewhat somber. He especially felt for the man who had been introduced as the Sentinel, who had apparently lost his lover to the predations of these Scelesti.

He considered the fact that he had to attune himself to the city. With all the things that had happened, and all the things that were still a problem, Sacramento would need a shoulder to cry on. I'll have to talk to Ermac about that tainted leyline, he thought to himself. While Fluke had no knowledge of Prime, perhaps he could help in other ways.

[Teeramus]

Striker moved deftly through the gathered mages from where he had been talking near the wall to where Crowley now stood.

"You right mate?" He asked quietly, trying to get the Herald's attention without drawing too much from elsewhere.