Talk of Order

[Campanella]

"Good. Good." Campanella smiled shyly.

He stood away from the table.

"Now I'm going to cast a circle, the kind used to set the boundaries for the Duel Arcane. Don't worry, we are not going to fight. I want you to look at the way the glyph will form and how it will form the circle. Study it. You'll see it has its own aura and resonance. As all living things do. More rarified, naturally, but definitely alive."

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-12 03:42:09		Campanella to cast Squaring the Circle rolls 8 to Gnosis + Prime (10 Again, WillPower)		1, 7, 1, 3, 8, 10, 4, 2, 8		3 successes

"Magic is alive. It lives and breathes. The Abyss wounds it. Mana helps sustain it, filtered from the Supernal Realms by this Fallen World of ours."

He paused.

"It is our purpose in the Alae Draconis to study, protect, and preserve this force." The Moros' words carried weight. He did not need to expand further. Not with the glowing white glyph forming a circle on the floor at his side, sparking with raw energy and tainted by his own resonance.

"It is our duty."

[Aurora]

Blue eyes watch him as she takes a sip of her water.

A Duel Arcane? “It’s been years since I’ve seen one of those." She says, a little more than happy they weren’t about to duel in the kitchen.

Suddenly his magic appeared, the white glyphs forming.

Her eyes look at the glyph then the circle as it was formed.

Did it always have its own aura? She wasn’t sure. And she was pretty sure she never paid attention to it before.

Magic is alive. With him saying those words, she casts her own sight, looking at the circle and glyphs through the eyes of Life.

“I’ve never taken the time to really look at, really study, magic as it is being cast.” She says, “But to see it now, with its own aura is simply breathtaking.” Eyes move to the floor again, studying it a bit more, taking it all in.

“Seeing this now, I can understand why it needs to protected.” It was amazing to her to see it now, her eyes opened to something that was there, yet she hadn’t seen before.

Eyes finally look back to him, “How is it we protect and preserve it?” she was curious. Was it in artifacts they found and tomes that were studied?

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-12 18:35:45		Aurora rolls 7 to Magey Eyes!(Gno+Life) (10 Again)		4, 6, 6, 2, 7, 2, 9		1 success

Sorry, Aurora would look at it with Life if something was described as being alive.

[Campanella]

Campanella remained standing, hands raised slightly, as he watched his Glyph flicker and dance through the magic circle.

"We seek all of magics manifestations and to liberate them from impure hands when we can," he said at length. "Our foes the Seers would hoard all of it if they could and destroy what they cannot turn to the service of their masters. The Guardians of the Veil, likewise, seek to hoard what they can and destroy what they cannot. Just like what happened with that Profane Urim, you remember?"

"An Artefact. Any Artefact is a crystallised piece of the Supernal. The whole is diminished when even the merest Artefact is lost. It is the same with magical lore. Worse, the purity of the Supernal can become lost in rumour and legendary, hopeless garbled until the message is lost for all the clutter surrounding it. We call that process Pancrypta. I suppose the vulgar and the Sleepers would call it something like 'fake news'."

He turned to Aurora.

"We in the Mysterium protect and preserve magic by going out and retrieving it from where the Supernal may fall in the Fallen World. We bring the Supernal fragments - rotes, magic, knowledge, artefacts, and more - to our protected vaults, academies and libraries. And there were study them, learn from them, and in time pass on our insights to the next generation of Awakened. That is what an Athenaeum is: vault and library, learning centre and fortress. All in one. When the Seers struck this city they destroyed the existing Athenaeum. I have established another; it stands empty now, awaiting the day when it can be used for its intended function."

"The Adamantine Arrow and the Silver Ladder are too set on their own paths to fully appreciate what we in the Mysterium seek to achieve. One seeks to perfect themselves as warrior champions and the other seeks to build a new Atlantis to replace the one that was lost. And the Free Council think that none of that matters and that magic is as free as the air we breathe; they would give it all away - to the Awakened, the Sleeper, the fool and the sage - all based on some idea that we are all equal in spirit."

He grimaced.

"Knowledge must be preserved. For Knowledge is power. Power comes with a price and so it must be earned. And to be earned, one must demonstrate the wisdom."

[Aurora]

She listened as she watched the glyphs, it was really intriguing to her to see.

“Ok, so if I can play devils advocate for a second. Isn’t the Mysterium in some way hoarding what they find? Now I get that the Mysterium only seeks to preserve that magic, keep it alive. I’m just saying I’m sure the other Orders could claim the same against us.” Yeah, she used ‘us’ she was on board with joining the Mysterium.

“Was that the cloak that Star destroyed at the Circle?” if that was what he was talking about, she remembered. And she was fairly certain Campy had not been happy about it.

“I now have to wonder about the cloak. What might have been if you had been able to take possession of it. What was lost when it was destroyed?” she wondered.

“So the Mysterium taking possession of these artifacts preserves the magic attached to it? And in time, the memory of the cloak destroyed will fade until it is just a memory and at worst a rumor?” how horrible!

She then looks sheepish, “Sorry for all the questions.” She just wanted to make sure her line of thinking lined up with what he was telling her. And she wasn't making the same mistake she made with the Ladder, not asking whatever came to mind.

A frown, “I’m sorry they destroyed it, do you know if it contained a lot of magic and artifacts?” fucking Seer’s, screwing everything up they touch. “So I’m curious, where does one begin to look for these artifacts and lore?” were there maps? Was it rumors of items? Or was it luck?

Chuckling softly, “I’ve never been one to buy into the Free Council. Even when I was a Ladder, their ways just never sat right with me. Everything has a natural order, a natural Hierarchy. To say that we are all equal, even in spirit, is just ridiculous. Not to mention the weak and lazy should not be rewarded with others hard work.” Yeah, she was a little passionate about that one.

Ok, back on topic!

“That sounds fair and right to me. How does one go about demonstrating wisdom?” was there an initiation of sorts? Some test she would need to pass? Cause if she was being honest with herself, she kind of welcomed the challenge. A chance to shine and show what she capable of.

[Campanella]

He nodded at Aurora's first question.

"No. The Mysterium does not hoard. The Alae Draconis seeks to preserve, protect, and make available the tools and power of our Supernal heritage to those who are worthy, when they are worthy, and for the specific need or moment when that power is most needed. The Guardians of the Veil would keep our heritage under lock and key forever, excepting those times when it serves them the most. The Libertines would sell them to the highest bidder or run amok with them for sport."

Was there hypocrisy here? Yes. Was Campanella going to admit that? No.

He nodded again.

"Yes. That was the artefact that Star had destroyed. Who knows what we could have learned from it. Who knows what advantage it might have given us - even if we only used once and under great duress? Exactly - Pancrypta in action. Exactly as you put it."

Campanella smiled.

"For that we have our Sight. The Supernal Vision of the Prime Arcanum is best for spotting the relics of Atlantis, but any Sight can be used. Anything can be an artefact, a mystery, or a piece of lore. Scrutinise always. After that..." He shrugged helplessly. "It comes down to methods... Which in many ways comes down to factions. Archaeomancers work in the field, looking for the Supernal in the world as intrepid explorers seek out lost civilisations. Archivists gather our lore and collate it. Reclaimers... acquire that which should not be in Sleeper hands. I have feelings for the Reclaimants as a faction but my methods are different: I'd rather use my influence to game the system so that the objects I seek get funnelled towards me, rather than dirty my hands with... creative... acquisition."

He gave a thoughtful look toward the end.

"Tests. Yes. There are tests. I can get you into the Order. If you want to rise, they will no doubt wish to see you in person."

He was vague. That would depend on who he reached out to. The Golden Consilium was closest but was by far the least favourable choice.

[Aurora]

That made sense to her, but she was curious what the other Orders thought of it. Surely, they thought the Mysterium horded things. It seemed to go both ways.

“I’m sure that creates some hard feelings if someone is deemed not worthy. But, sometimes feelings need to be hurt to protect the bigger picture.” She didn’t like hurting feelings, but wasn’t afraid to do it if it needed to be done.

Hey, she put something right!

“Looking back on it now, I do have to wonder. But, so goes things. Maybe with another in the helping, artifacts that come up can be better protected.” Maybe?

A nod, “Well, I’ve been wanting to expand my Arcana knowledge base, so studying Prime sounds like it would be a sound investment of time.” She had been on the fence about what to study next, or what to invest more time into. Maybe Prime was a good place to start? “I kind of have to wonder if over the years if I’ve overlooked something valuable.” She says thoughtfully, “Nothing to dwell on of course, but just kind of curious.” Maybe there had been something the few times she traveled back in time.

“Oh, Archaeomancers sounds exciting! Going out and actively looking for things, sort of like a treasure hunt. Seems like something a Thrysus would be suited for. But I suppose that comes later.” A small smile, she was probably getting a head of herself.

“Creative acquisition? That’s an interesting way to put it. Can’t fault that though. There is something to be said for the art of a deal. My profession has taught me not only how to read people, but how to work them. Sometimes it’s not the most honest way, but hey, if it works.” She wasn’t proud of some of the tricks she’d used in the past. But hell, you do what you have to do to survive.

Ok, so there were tests. That was to be expected. Though why he didn’t elaborate wasn’t.

“Ok, tests are expected. Do I get to know what the tests are, or are they a surprise?” she could work with either. “I have to confess, it took me two attempts to pass my Exam for the Ladder. But maybe I’ll be more prepared this time.” She had no clue what to expect on those exams and had bombed horribly!

“I’m game for a face to face meeting. I can be very charming and think I clean up rather nicely.” She jokes. It’s what she does, make light of things, it was how she coped. “But if that’s sometime down the road, that’s ok too.” nervous Aurora equaled a babbling Aurora.

[Campanella]

Campanella looked at Aurora for a long, drawn out, moment.

"The tests of which I speak are more like your shamanic trials. You won't need rote memory or library research for those."

He paused.

"Our Order also has many positions or roles within it. Like Curator - I am sure you may have come across the term elsewhere? The Curator is most associated with our Athenaeum... Positions such as that would probably require some demonstration of skill or skills. I daresay I'd have no idea which, as such examinations are tailored to the individual and the role in question."

A breath.

"I haven't received such an examination myself, but I'd surmise it would be grounded in key aspects of the intended position and your own Sophiad... The areas of study you have decided to make yourself a specialist in. We are at heart an Order of scholars, priests, and academics. But I would wish to point out that not all our chosen subjects of study can be found in libraries and dusty tomes. Some of us do... very... hands on... work. If you take my meaning."

[Aurora]

For a moment, she was worried she said something wrong.

And then he spoke.

The trials from when she climbed the tower?

“Oh. So a true test of skill?” you could memorize books all day, the true tests came from within and when you cast your magic. “Do I get to know when these tests are?” not that she could really study for it or anything. But would be nice to know.

A nod, “That makes sense. The same was with the Ladder, I had to pass that Exam to show my understanding of the Lex. No one should hold a title until they prove their worth of it.” That was how she saw it, and seemed like the Mysterium did as well.

“Area’s of study to make myself a specialist? Probably a dumb question, but I’m going to ask anyways, how do we know what to study? Is it something we have to figure out on our own, once we figure what our strengths are? If you don’t mind me asking, what’s yours?” she was very curious.

Smiling, “Oh, hands on work doesn’t scare me. Sometimes it’s the best way to learn and grow.”

[Campanella]

"That... Would depend on you. When you are ready, I might guess. Or when the others believe you are. I can only take you so far."

He paused, thinking.

"What to study? You could always ask around the Order and I can make some letters of introduction to get you started should you wish it. Yes, there is always that way. Find out what your peers are working on and either seek to compliment an area of study or find a gap and make it your own."

He was still thinking.

"Or you can simply claim an area of expertise, hold fast to your position and force your colleagues to accept it."

He smiled coyly.

"As for me? My Sophiad is rather dry, I'm afraid. I study Alchemy, automata and grimoires. Eclectic, I know. Stops me from being pinned down too much by my peers."

[Aurora]

A single nod, “Makes sense.” No reason for a test before she was ready.

“Both options have their benefits, complimenting someone or find something not really studied and work on it.” But maybe not at first? “Though there is something to be said for seeking a study to help and compliment others. But then again, I don’t know how often I would be working with my peers either.” She really wasn’t sure.

She absently chews her bottom lip, thinking. “I’m really not sure. Do I have to pick it right now?” she really wanted like a master list. “I don’t really know how to pick. I know my strengths as a Shaman, but, yeah, that’s about it.”

Smiling, “I don’t think it sounds dry at all. You should study something that interests you right? And if that is what sparks your interest, then hey, go for it.”