(1806) Sanctuary 17

[Saber Sloth]

Circle of Creation

The Circle of Creation is a large imposing building of gothic architecture. It is an almost perfect replica of Westminster, but no one ever notices. Sleeper eyes slide over the building and only Awakened eyes can pierce the subtle occultation

Another day dawns, and the recreation of the famed abbey is as it always was, the Sanctuary of Sacramento's Awakened. A bastion and a beckon. Months ago the Magi lost the Reality War, months ago the Magi were few, battered against the tides. Now their numbers have grown, now they know they are not alone, now they worry and wait.

*

Also, don't know where this came from or why it sounds very Darkest Dungeon, but it is and dose and I likes it!

[Campanella]

Campanella returns to the Circle. On this day he is dressed for the warming weather in a light suit of beige material, sans suit jacket. His waistcoat is all flash and one might well wonder if he has come from a social gathering of the local elite. Given the Moros wide ranging contacts, it is more than possible. He is lightly flushed and his hair slightly disheveled.

Finding his usual seat high in the registers of the replica Henry VII chapel, the Mystogogue takes the time to enjoy the solitude, the quiet, and the cool airs. This is a moment of peace to be savoured; the other Pentacle mages and their allies will appear soon enough.

[Knot]

"Uh, 'cuse me?" Knot calls out into the cavernously gothic cathedral.

In contrast to the first person he sees, he's dressed in loose-fitting second-hand clothing from some thrift shop, but the golden glyphs of both a rote and an improvised spell that twine around his left arm like braided rope make up more flash than any amount of jewelry could. He gestures with one open hand towards Campanella, and another hand off to his side towards the doorway he entered by. "I'm Knot. I just rolled into town, was hoping to meet with someone local before I settled down and shook out the dirt from the road."

[Winter]

The ride on the bus would have been uneventful if not for some lousy teenagers commenting about their latest Snapsomethings and for the smirking handlebar mustached hipster in the corner. How haggard he must have looked by comparison, with his scruffy face and unruly hair.


He stopped by the familiar gates of the Cathedral, a smile threatening to erupt from the wrinkles at the side of his mouth. He dismissed his spells, and vigorously patting his worn jeans and white shirt, trying to straighten any wrinkle, he made his way inside. Campanella and Aurora, if present already, would have waltzed through the nave like models on a glamorous catwalk. Still, the solemnity of the place urged some effort even on his account.


On his way to the chapel he stopped by the apse - a finger running over the beads of the rosary in his pocket - to pay his deference. Then, two familiar faces, Campanella and the unmistakable silhouette of the giant Judas. Among them, an unknown shorter man. "Hmm, zero effort", distrust and disapproval for the newcomer's impious attire.

[Epitaph]

"This is my least favorite life..."

The words drifted through the doors of the cathedral, half spoken and half sung, the sound carried up into the vaults of the cathedral to disappear like mist before the sun.

"The one where you fly and I don't
A kiss holds a million deceits
and a lifetime goes up in smooooke..."

A black shrouded spectre followed the voice through the doors, an inhumanly pale woman with colorless pupils glided inside, a splash of blood red paint upon her lips and shadow above her eyes giving a hint of vibrance to the melancholic perfection of her appearance. She looked up, as though just now realizing that there were others in the Circle with her.

"Oh. Hello. You must be new."

[Campanella]

Campanella shifts his seat. Not from surprise, so much as to take stock of the new faces. And to the Moros, they are new faces indeed.

A mirthless, but not malicious, smile cuts across his face as he nods toward Knot . The smile melts and is replaced by a blank stare as the Moros takes into account the giant stature of Judas . Winter receives a curt nod of respect and recognition.
Epitaph receives something similar - but perhaps colder, more nuanced, and lingering.

"Campanella, a Moros on the Path of Doom." His voice was measured as he wondered just what the connections were between the gathered Awakened. And just how much he had missed wrapping up poor old Claus' estate. At least the Grimoire had been retrieved.

"Well. You've found the locals, I wager," he spoke more to Knot, but across the girth of the chapel he could have easily been speaking to Judas as well. "You're timing is impeccable. What is your Path, friend? Take a seat."

He extended a hand in a gentle gesture, indicating the registers that formed ranks on either side of the room.

[Knot]

Knot steps aside to allow Judas to pass with a gesture. "Um, don't worry about it. And yeah, I'm new here. Just got into town new." He acknowledges Epitaph's statement with another gesture.

"I'm Knot," he says, leaning against the back of one of the pews, bracing one foot up against the seat of the one in front him and facing the rest of the group with his hands on the back of the pew behind him. "Acanthus, if the name wasn't a giveaway. Looking to settle down and start new around here, wanted to meet the locals and make sure not to step in it accidentally."

[Aurora]

She’d learned that randomly stopping by the Circle was a good thing. Last time she had there had been new Awakened who showed up, always a good thing.

So the process was repeated today, but unlike last time, this time she remembered coffee. And enough to share with anyone else who might want some. And if not? Then more for her!

Today she was casual in old jeans and a lose multilevel white tank top. The weather was warming up and as such, it was time to break into the summer clothes once again! Which felt amazing to her, she hated when it was colder. Her long blonde hair had been braided off to the side and her makeup nonexistent today.

Walking in, she was pleasantly surprised to see a new face again! Plus returning ones, which were good too. They had seen too many Awakened come and go over the years.

A coffee cup was raised in greeting, “Hey guys.” Greets the Shaman as she walks into the room. The box of coffee was held up, “I remembered the coffee this time! Enough for anyone who might want some.” The smile genuinely friendly as she sips her own coffee.

Blue eyes turn to the new guy, “Hi! I’m Aurora, Shamam.” her tone friendly and upbeat. She then finds herself a seat.

[Langdon]

A soft tapping can be heard before Langdon returns to the main body of the Circle. Pen against notebook as the Mystagogue ponders over where Reality seems a bit soft. This town...

Then voices.

The pen slides into a pocket and the notebook neatly brought under an arm as the Moros makes for a straight line to Aurora . Dress slacks and a long sleeve button down, though with the sleeves rolled up are Langdon's attire for the day. "May I?" Once he is gathers a cup of coffee Langdon turns and looks around the room. "Langdon, Moros." The coffee is sipped with maybe too much enthusiasm.