(1412) Winter Convocation

Dec 1st, 2014 12:21 AM

Bob Dylan sang it best, 'the times they are a-changin.''

David has been a witness to the slow changes over the last year and some months. He has watched as a well-populated covenant has given way and become weak due to nothing but itself. He has seen the stagnation choke out the ability and not to mention the will to Change. David was present as one after another, spinning plates fell to the ground due to rampant inaction by the Sacramento Dragons. As it turns out, David's own personal tragedy is not the beginning but merely the most obvious effect of stagnation and inaction that started long before and is a catalyst for the cavalcade of decisions made since.

Unbeknownst to any, the Change has been noticed by Sacramento's own Apex Predator.

A Change, David decided some time ago, is required to rouse the Dragon.

'The student must recognize the mutability of all things.'

Fixing his scarab cufflink, David breathes deeply as he stands in the Grand Library of the South Sacramento Chapter House. Twilight is upon them and the Azure sworn paces the confines of his Mind Palace, going back over all of the things he needs to go over. Most obviously, that a serpent has split in two and coils round and around itself in Sacramento. The pair of Chapters has been in effect for years but has, until recently, escaped the notice of most. The Shadow wonders if the pair of Serpents will simply coil around one another like the serpents of Asclepius' rod; or if they will finally bite at one another.

Warm light floods the confines, bouncing off of crystal glass bookcases. The Library, however, is sparse and a work in progress. There has been too much to do, to properly catalog any libraries, notes, or anything of the sort. A dias sits empty, honorary seats for Vlad Tepes and his Wives, the leaders of the Dragon's Tongue.

'The student must take responsibility for the path he walks, the changes he makes, the self he makes anew.'

David imagines her fingers interlaced with his as he straightens and prepares his Companion for the parade of Beasts that will make their way into the Library. A quick check of his indigo-blue tie and he nods to himself, stepping forward to open the doors to wait for the rest of the Academy.

As Sworn of the Dying Light, David questions just how much havoc this stagnation has brought the studies of the Academy. How many have forgotten them in the daily to-do of the Requiem? How many will take responsibility for it? The Shadow looks to the empty seat for Vlad Tepes and realizes there are only questions. Questions that must be answered.

'The student has no loyalty above his studies.'

Mentions:
Yumyumcrow Hildegarde Bingen | Jag Tracy Burns | SquirrelWizard (Brandy Cohen) | Mykel Max Heinz | Matamune Michael Redfill |

**Hildegarde Bingen** · Dec 1st, 2014 04:59 AM

The Sworn of the Dying Light was not alone. Wreathed in black, Hildegarde detached herself from the gloomy portal that served as the library's doorway: beyond lay a house going through a transformation of its own - no longer a dusty, cracked shell of a building, the house was becoming something more; a headquarters and a bastion of strength. The Lord's money, time, and the agency of her servant, have all assisted in the cleansing and rebuilding work done so far. There is much more to do and this convocation is but one more step along that road.

On this occasion the Lord has acquired the black lace and widows weeds of yesteryear. She wares them like a bride wares her white gown to the aisle as she drifts, sedately, into the light. Pale skin seems to glow, indistinct and luminous, under the dark veiling that drapes to her shoulders. Her choice of attire is... apt. Draped in black like an antique doll, does she not evoke the very image of Seer. The ambient light picks out the solitary ornament on her form - a golden wedding band, syrupy with age; all that remains of her previous life; symbol of her new commitment to the Order.

Tonight Hildegarde chooses to display her Oath. Sworn of the Mysteries. Seer.

She doesn't say anything. She doesn't need to. She simply glides into position within the library. A seat is found and she folds into a pose, waiting for the others. Its a well placed seat: see David, Sworn of the Dying Light and beyond him, mysterious in shadow, you will see her. Let the Dying Light lead by shining forth with example. The Sable will anoint that light with their quiet consent.

**West** · Dec 2nd, 2014 10:10 PM

Paging Jag Tracy Burns SquirrelWizard Mykel Max Heinz Matamune Michael Redfill

If you're purposely not showing up, please say so in the VtR OOC thread so everyone isn't waiting!

**Michael Redfill** · Dec 3rd, 2014 12:54 AM

It was a small ceremony. Andrey was present somewhere in the shadows. May have shed a tear at seeing his boy, all grown up. Gifts were presented. A couple people spoke. A lovely, if a bit pale girl slipped a ring on Michael's finger. Everything was brief but very nice.

***

A lot of time has passed since the time the Academy has previously convened. At the time, Michael was quite occupied with his various duties around the Domain but things have Changed since, in more ways than one. Now the Gangrel is ready to take his rightful place in the discussion of the Academy's future.

As the scholar walks into the second Chapter House, his formal style of attire becomes apparent: a dark official suit and a white shirt accompanied by expensive shoes polished enough to reflect the lights. The haircut is immucalute and a habitual smile is playing on his lips rolling from a barely noticeable raising of a lip corner into something approaching a smug grin and back.

The new thing is a silver ring with a sapphire on his middle left finger as well as a deep blue tie he is wearing.

"Good evening, Azure Scribe Regan. I may have caught up to your title since we last met".

Academy is basically like a bonsai, requiring balance and care to thrive. Or a bagel, either analogy works.

**Max Heinz** · Dec 3rd, 2014 05:47 AM

The next vehicle to arrive at the Chapter House was a black BMW. The woman behind the wheel brought the immaculately-maintained car to a gentle stop in front of the building; waiting patiently as the only other occupant exited the sedan.

It had been many years since Max had been to the old Chapter House; to rescue the Dragon's Library from the ransacked building and transfer it to the Chapter House in Florin. With Martha's sudden exit from the city; he was the last remaining member of that group. For a moment, the Mekhet considers getting back in the car, heading back to his Haven, and saying to hell with the whole thing. The Dragon's of Sacramento seemed cursed; this Chapter House destroyed and abandoned, the two attacks on the Florin Chapter House. Still, the innate curiosity of the Mekhet Blood called to him; urging him on one more time.

He hadn't missed the reference to more than one Academy in Regan's announcement; nor the decorative title he had used when signing the invitation. If David truely was a Sworn of the Dying Light; Max hadn't the foggiest how the man had gotten the position, the last Sworn had disappeared from the city years ago as far as Max had known. Yet another questions that may or may not be answered this evening.

He had noticed the disintegration of the Academy over the past few months; after the last meeting in Florin, the various Dragons had seemed to drift away from one another into their own little worlds. Martha had disappeared, along with several others Max had met that night. The city even had a new Reeve to watch over it. For his part, Max had been busy trying to ferret out the ones trying to kill them all to worry about the situation. He knew he should have felt bad about that; but survival was the most important concern of all, wasn't it?

He wondered just how many would show up to tonight's meeting...

As he entered into the once-abandoned house; the changes that had come over the structure since his last visit were readily apparent. The lights were on, for one thing; and there were no piles of ash scattered around the various rooms that were in varying states of repair. Finally making his way into the Library; his attire stands in stark contrast to those around him.

If the Mekhet had bothered to tidy himself up for the evening, it didn't show. He was sporting the same shaggy beard, hoodie, and jeans he had worn the last time the Dragons had gathered. He pauses a moment, allowing the primal anger that arose from the two bared Beasts of Redfill and Bingen wash over him and slowly ebb away. Once more fully in control of himself, Max offers a polite nod of the head to the other three Kindred.

"Good evening, everyone..."

**Tracy Burns** · Dec 3rd, 2014 03:40 PM

Having visited the South Sac Chapter House once before, Tracy already knew which route to take to get there. As usual, she rode her motorcycle down there, parking a couple of blocks away. She knew that David and the others appreciated subtlety, especially considering the attacks on the Chapter House in Florin. She would definitely make her own effort to keep this Chapter House a secret from any number of potential threats. Walking up to the house, the petite Gangrel made sure that she wasn't being followed before going inside.

At once, her Beast howled in defiance at the others that it could feel in its vicinity. It was good that the redheaded Scribe had a good grasp on the chains that held the animal at bay, and she yanked on those as she settled the Beast and offered a simple smile to the other Dragons. "Hello," she said in greeting, keeping it short and sweet. Her emerald green eyes surveyed the scene, taking note of who was in attendance.

She figured that such a meeting was overdue by this point, so she was glad that David had arranged for it to happen. Tracy had made some assumptions about what was going on, and expected that those would be either confirmed or rebutted that evening. Regardless, she would walk out of there having a better idea of what was going on with the Order in Sacramento. Hopefully things would go well one way or the other, and they wouldn't get bogged down by politics or anything of the sort.

The petite Savage wanted a chance to focus on her studies once more; that being the single most important thing after all.

Dec 3rd, 2014 05:59 PM

Taking responsibility. It is the most difficult thing for a Kindred to do. The Order of Dragons has written it into its Principa Draconis, subtly striking out at the Kindred state of mind with a single statement. Still, even for scholars of Change, it is a difficult thing to do. Right now, David Regan, grandechilde of Dr. Henry Weeks and Sworn to Anoushka, is taking responsibility as much as he is taking stock.

David's dull-brown eyes pin themselves onto the procession of unmasked beasts as they arrive, his Companion screeching in its high-pitched shrill. It rages in challenge at the sight of the Seer whose diaphanous veils do not mask the familiar beast within. The Shadow asserts his dominance over it: the hungry flock of clockwork birds. A single nod is afforded Seer Hildegarde Bingen as she moves like an inverted Mrs. Havisham towards her seat.

The arrival of David's former coterie-mate ( Michael Redfill ) , tests him next. The Companion aches to lurch forward, to claim dominance over the other beast. Though familiar and even somewhat more familiar than Hildegarde's Beast, the Shrike rattles its bars. Redfill's revelation that he has, finally, earned his own Great Oath is taken with a serious look. However, something in the Gangrel's delivery reminds the Shadow of Lightsworn Raluca. “Congratulations,” David remarks in his circumspect tenor, “I would have liked to have attended as one of your three witnesses.”

Nothing else is exchanged with the newest of the Lightsworn, as Max's arrival earns David's attention. “Scholar Heinz,” one thin, scarecrow of a Mekhet says to the other; a reprieve from Beasts testing one another.

Another test arrives in the form the crimson haired Savage Priscus. If David had known the pains she has taken to conceal the location of the Chapter House, he would have commended her, her discretion. Is the Rage they feel really rage against their own Fate? It is a question to think on as David calms his Companion, smothering it, and keeping the Man in ascendance.

“Welcome, fellow Students to the South Sacramento Chapter House,” David begins once he sees everyone he believes will be attending. Dog will not and when asked, simply grunted and headed off into the surrounding wilderness.

“There is quite a lot to go over,” The Mortician continues, “and I am sure you all have your questions, so we should begin. For those who have not yet been appraised, I and Scribe Bingen have earned our Great Oaths. I am now Traveled Azure Scribe of the Sanguine Sleep, David Regan and walker of the Path of the Star.” A small gesture is given towards the silent Hildegarde, “Enlightened Sable Scribe of Equilibrium Hildegarde Bingen. Both of our Oaths were witnessed by the Fearless Dog, Blessed Master of the Rarified and Bloody Pain Shadow, myself, or Traveled Azure Adept Alzaire DraMorris.” A beat, “The Academy Books are held by Oracle Shadow. Further, Scribe Michael Redfill has just told me that he has also joined the ranks of the Lightsworn, of which I congratulate.”

David falls silent for a moment as he laces his fingers together in front of him. A familiar stance of the unnoticed in a Funeral Home. “As some of you may be aware, I and Seer Bingen departed from the Florin Chapter of the Academy and joined the Academy's other Chapter. We joined the Fearless Dog who had, until then, been effectively Unchained. We have done this because of a growing difference in opinion to how the Florin Chapter has undertaken the challenges that have faced us. It has, over the year and three months that I have been here, become slower and slower to react and unable to cope with Change. It has allowed years to pass while dangers to the Domain and the Order become multi-headed hydras; most notably, the Kogaion and the Torpid Elder of Cedar Fields of which one of our own was murdered over.”

Words are allowed to settle as David takes in a deep breath, “This Chapter's intention is to take on these challenges, one by one, and to get the Order's House in Order. It is up to each of you if you would like to join the South Sacramento Chapter in our Mission, or remain with the Florin Chapter.” The Shadow may not or ever be able to command the room, but he is held by a grim duty-filled determination.

“The first Order of Business is the Arrangement of the Academy, given Initiate Villiers' departure from the Domain.” Dull eyes slide over the assembled, they never quite look at any one in particular but take in the whole.

“With this in mind, I will be taking the position of Grand Wyrm of the Sacramento Academy. Seer Bingen will serve as my second and, with the permission of Regent Hart, will serve as Castellan of the South Sacramento Chapter House. This joins with Dog, who continues to serve as Rampant Dragon.” This is the most unilateral decision David has ever made in the three-decades of his Requiem.

He is taking responsibility for the Change he has brought to Sacramento.

“Questions, before we move on to a more detailed discussion of what we will be doing in the coming year.”

Dec 3rd, 2014 07:48 PM

Brandy pulled her plaid hoodie around her head as she entered the Chapter House. She had found the building on Google maps though it was obviously not under the search for "location of secret vampire hideouts" (of which there were several interesting and silly results). She wasn't sure how exactly the Order stood on aesthetics at meetings. In Seattle, there was some professionalism to be expected by those holding positions, but what was ultimately important was what they knew, and how they could use it; what they wore was just fluff.

Brandy had gone for comfort, no straps, no archaic robes, no fancy dresses worth more than her ex-family's net worth. She was wearing some faded blue jeans, a black rolling stones t-shirt, and, of course, her plaid hoodie. As she entered Brandy found that the meeting had started, so rather than to say something and possibly interrupt more than she already had, she walked up to a nearby wall, and leaned up against it with her arms crossed in front of her, waiting for the meeting to continue so she could get a general gist of what was happening.

**Hildegarde Bingen** · Dec 4th, 2014 03:19 AM

As the Dragon's arrived, one by one, Hildegarde remained as still as a statue. In a twisted way, her Sire had been preparing her for this day with his cruel ministrations, his Commands buried deep in her soul, his incessant lectures and his obscene demands for her... silence. She knew now with quiet certainty that she could probably hold her pose all night if she wished (and perhaps such a trial would be good practice at a later date, come to think of it...)

Her only concessions was for Michael Redfill. Hearing of him taking the Oath, she inclined her head in a nod. Of course, with her head lost in her dark veiling, it would be hard to tell if she was inclining her head out of respect or, bird-like, leaning to one side in curiosity.

And that was her intent.

**West** · Dec 5th, 2014 06:09 PM

Make words!

(1412) Winter Convocation

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