Cemetery Gates

[Campanella]

Campanella's lips quirk into a momentary smile. It was true that he really didn't have the right to pry. It was also true that as a Councillor, he had the right to ask.

He lapsed into silence and let it draw on for a while.

Then: "How much have you heard about the River City Consilium?"

His watchful eye was on the Talon once more.

[Macavity]

The lull wasn't a true silence. There was the sound of rain, and the more distant sound of the city. Chariot was Moros enough to accept it for what it was, without judgement or the need to fill it with words, until Campanella chose to break it.

"I've heard a lot of things. Most of them not good."

[Campanella]

Campanella nodded.

"You come to a Consilium at war. The Seers have been able to manipulate the time stream. They have struck us through the past. We are not without our defences... benefactor, perhaps is the better word. So we have been making raids of our own. One cabal I know of has been able to trace Seer activity in the present. I suspect there is more but with our numbers... We are stretched thin."

He cast his eye on the Arrow.

"This is a thumbnail sketch, I know. I'm sure the others would be able to elaborate when you meet them. Our Consilium meets in Rancho Cordova, just east of the city. Look for the medieval cathedral. You can't miss it. Don't worry too much about Sleeper interference... it is occluded from their sight. We call it the Circle of Creation."

[Macavity]

"Ok." The level of strangeness Chariot had been able to put up with had increased since his Awakening. He didn't see any meaningful difference beyond the practical between the concept of Time Travel and what he could do. "Is there a central authority overseeing everything?"

"I know the place." He had been told about the Circle before relocating, and he had taken Lucy by to check it out to get an idea of the landscape. "Who's idea was it to copy Westminster?"

[Campanella]

"There is no Hierarch, if that is your meaning."

He paused while he considered how best to phrase the rest.

"There is a Council but it has rarely met. Given our circumstances and the few Awakened allied to the Pentacle, most decision making is made... democratically... We gather monthly and if something is urgent, we discuss it there. And work out what must be done. We've been surviving - its doesn't lend itself to overly elaborate hierarchy."

He had to shrug with a helpless smile.

"I have no idea. The Circle was here when I arrived. Apparently it has been the heart of this Consilium - and its previous incarnations - for a long time; presumably since the Consilium was formed. I suppose you could enquire with any contact you have with the Golden Consilium of San Francisco... They might know. Sacramento was once part of that Consilia but gained independence over a decade ago."

He paused.

"I believe the Mechanism is a new addition. You can't miss it. Look to the floor when you visit."

[Macavity]

Chariot shakes his head. "I meant to find out if there was someone acting as a general, Sir. But the information on the Hierarch and the Council is appreciated. I don't expect Councilors will have much time to meet with a new addition to the Consilium that doesn't share their Path, or Order."

"I don't know anyone from the Golden Consilium, Does the Circle have any records I could look into? Or is there someone in the Mysterium who's interested in that sort of thing that I could speak to?"

[Campanella]

The chuckle returned, now with a harder and more helpless edge.

"I've been looking into that myself. So far I have found nothing. Records, documents, things like that... All that appears to have been lost when the Seers made their first... temporal... strike on us. All we have left to us is oral records and whatever other Consilia have."

The chuckle wound down into a wan smile. Campanella's ill humour was not directed at the Arrow.

"But by all means take a look over the Circle. Fresh eyes - maybe you'll find something that was missed."

A small sigh escaped his lips.

"Of course, if you wish to make a more thorough investigation and see if we can find some remnants of the past in town, I will be happy to assist."

Turning the conversation back to its purpose.

"No. No general. As I said decision making has become quite... democratic. From what I can tell, the Mechanism gives cryptic clues to the next strike or raid. We prepare. Only the Veiled Threats cabal has been able to isolate Seer activity."

Campanella waited to see if Chariot had any further enquiries.

[Macavity]

"I'll look into it. If I find anything, I'll get in touch." The rain and the cemetery lent the meeting an appropriate air of bleakness, which was only underscored by the tone of the information Campanella had to share with Chariot. "Were there any formal Oaths I was expected to swear to the Consilium, Sir?"

[Campanella]

"We've never had anything like that in my experience," Campanella replied. He gave Chariot the once-over one last time, then extended his hand.

"If you have no further questions I see no reason to delay further. I Acknowledge you as part of the River City. Ah - Welcome to the trenches, as it were."

I think this is a good place to wrap the scene. You now have Consilium Status 1

[Macavity]

With his free hand, Chariot trades grips with Campanella as he welcomes him to the Consilium. The young Talon then escorts him back to the parking lot, to shield him from the falling rain.

Meeting over, Chariot returns to the cemetery, intent on cleaning up some creeping speedwell he had spotted growing over some of the older and less prominent headstones.

Thanks a lot! Sounds good to me.