Circe and others of the Circle of the Crone have finished last-moment preparation for Court. Within the main area of the old temple, the artworks of various Kindred are on display, carefully arranged so as to be presented at their best. She is rather disappointed how few have chosen to present their works, but has taken pains to make the most of what she has to work with.
She has given a prominent spot to a painting done by Regina Pia. Its a large painting of a river scene that is placed horizontally on a table, about three feet off the ground, so it can be viewed from a above. Her painting is extremely heavy, and contains dozens of layers of paint, such that is perfectly creates a view of the river's edge, with the elevation changes being represented in decent scale as taller sections on the painting itself. (so the painting has +/- 3 inches of height differences between things. This goes beyond texture, the layers of paint adding sculpture elements to the painting.
Another table features a selection of items whittled from wood by Konstantin. Most are small figures of animals - hawks, eagles, wolves, a crocodile, lions and several bears - but there are a few larger pieces, including a rattlesnake nearly four feet long, whittled from a twisted bit of driftwood. There are also two knife handles, lacking the blades so as to fall within the rules of Elysium. One of these is also styled on a snake, the head of the snake acting as a pommel, while the other is a figure of a leopard, crouched low as if preparing to spring. The work is astonishingly fine, incorporating scale and hair texture, all rough edges having been filed and sanded down. The knife handles are stained and laquered.
The main gallery area also holds a variety of small sculptures created by Circe, as well as some larger works done by a former member of the Circle who had either left the area unexpectedly, or simply vanished. The larger works are a variety of human-size gargoyles, carved in granite. These are in different stages of completion, some still rough, but Circe had decided to include those ones as well, to show creation as a process and display works in various stages of completion as a way of highlighting that process. The smaller sculptures, done in marble, are Circe's own works. Each is labeled, and all depict goddesses and other female figures from Greek mythology: Athena in a fighting pose with shield and spear; Demeter standing in a field of wheat with a tree nearby; Hecate at a crossroads, conjuring the spirits of the dead; Atalanta slaying the Calydonian boar. A somewhat larger piece depicts Persephone in gown with a long train, walking through a forest. At the far end of the train, the trees are vibrant, but leaves fall from the ones closer to the goddess, while the last ones, as she takes the first steps downward into the Underworld, are bare.
The walls of the gallery area are also decorated. Cassandra's drawings are placed prominently, but also hanging upon the walls are a number of wooden masks Circe has made, also featuring mythological and goddess themes. There is a full-face one of Athena in half-helm; one of Pesephone again, crowned by spring fllowers on one side, withered leaves on the other; one of Artemis, painted with leopard spots reflecting her role as huntress and goddess of beasts; and one of snake-haired Medusa. The masks are finely carved, colorfully painted and carefully laquered.
Two kindred in suits are there to greet the guests: Scott Portman, a Mekhet, waits just outside the doors, ready to remind any who might need reminding of the rules regarding weapons and Disciplines within Elysium, and a muscled, pugilistic-looking Nosferatu named Vic. These two, survivors of the Lost Nights, have served this role at other Courts in the past.
Just inside the doors waits Circe. She wears a low-cut, midnight blue gown, her silver moon earrings and the Grecian sandals she usually wears, as well as a silver pendant, set with garnets and obsidian, styled in the form of the symbol of the Circle of the Crone. Her hair is tied atop her head in an elaborate style such as one sees in some ancient Grecian artworks. She wears a bit of make-up - dark red lipstick, some shadow to emphasize her eyes - but has done nothing to hide the alabaster paleness of her skin. With her classical beauty and her dark hair and eyes, Circe's appearance is not unlike that of some of the goddesses portrayed in her artworks.
She readily awaits those others who were supposed to arrive early, and the first guests of the evening.
Circe: Blood Potency 4
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