(2002) Formal Business Concilium

[Aurora]

“As stated already, a punishment and reprimand should be something one learns from, driving home the point that the act should not be repeated. Helping around the Circle is something we should all be doing.” She was no longer a Ladder, “But according to our Lex, if I remember correctly, speaking of the Mysteries before Sleepers is Incarceration. Now, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know how severe the talk was. But I trust that a fair and just punishment will be decided, as Incarceration is pretty high up on the Tetragrammaton.” But, she had said her peace.

[Star]

Yikes.

The chit-chat isn't great, but it's one of those general things. Expected? Not everywhere. But it's definitely not the open insult to the sitting Hierarch that Shodan has just elevated things to. Symbols are next door neighbors to Illusions. They can both be avatars, and they can both represent more than the person wielding them.

"Yeah, okay, enough," he said. The Angel pulled himself back up to his feet like a marionette wound up by a drunk -- but he got there. "We're totally in session and I don't want to be in session all day. I've got socks to iron and towels to rearrange. The next person that isn't an official that talks? I'm going to silence. Whether that's through, like, magic or me just shoving this cone in their face is anyone's guess. Shut up for once in your life, Shodan. Insulting everyone constantly? That doesn't prove you're a Libertine. It proves you're a child. I'm serving up this super fair warning. Aside from getting your ass beat down twice in a row? Which should have taught you something the first time. Just look at me. I'm not the villain of this story but I'm clearly an unreliable narrator. I might take a Duel all the way just to prove the sanctity of the Hierarch's office. Make a move. I'll make you famous, 'cause baby, I'm your huckleberry."

Leather creaked as his free hand wound long fingers into a fist; waiting, and finally sitting if there were not further interruptions.

I'm serious. If you want to interrupt the Consilium officials, just go ahead and roll Initiative in a side thread and tag me. Star is tired of repeat offenders not giving Consilium the gravitas it deserves.

[Pixel]

Was Pixel a fan of Concilium? Not really, but it's what was in place and probably for a reason. How the Awakened governed themselves was a semantic matter to the Warlock anyway. What really mattered was a united Awakened Nation that fought the Seers tooth and nail, and if that meant volunteering to be the Heirarch's mouth piece then hear ye hear ye.

"Maybe you should ask the members of the Council about the necessity of having one if you have concerns." Pixel was looking at the sisters, but unlike Star he was doing his best to smile and seam nonthreatening. He then turned his attention to Aurora. "If you genuinely trust in the collective wisdom of the Council, then you should show that trust by allowing it's members to correct it's less versed membership. If you chose to allow Anima a seat on the Council, then it's not your place to interrupt the wisest member of your path."

Which was bullshit given Anima was clearly wrong, but people had chosen a Concilium. This is what that looked like, and if Pixel was represented by a tardy mute then Aurora had to deal with a clueless illiterate.

[Briar Rose]

Heat blooms on her neck. Considering the last time she was here, she thought it was gonna be a lot of...that. But, apparently Sacramento had more uh, structure. Man, she needed to get her business pants back on, can't get kicked because she's an Apostate that can't keep up with the big boys.

'Sorry.' she mouths, sticking her hands in her pocket after miming zipping her mouth shut.

[Phoenyx]

Phoenys sighs quietly. Another Concillium of jabs, arguing and dick-waving. Sacramento had been so small for most of her time here the difference between an "Official" concillum and a general gathering of mages was almost unrecognizable. Heck, some of the time there was a Hierarch and 4 others. But that was then. Now there were more mages and a semblance of established order was being established, and if that meant reinforcing the formality of a concillium, to her so much the better.

Adding another voice to the throng was pointless, so Phoenyx just watched the Hierarch and newly appointed Herald, waiting for how this would move forward.

If the Arrow had to be the stoic omnipresence of concillium, that worked just fine for her.

[Campanella]

Anima for the Shamans. Winter for the Mighty. Papilio for the Warlocks. No one had stepped forward for the Necromancers (and he was Hierarch, so that ruled him out). One Acanthus alone did not merit a Councilor and from what Campanella had observed Abacus preferred to keep to himself.

So be it.

The Hierarch had turned to face the newly convened Council, awaiting their instruction deliberation. He was one among four, no longer standing alone.

The Libertine's Shodan words caught Campanella off guard. He paused, eyes narrowing slightly before he turned back to the gathered mages. His eyes snapped to the Free Council Obrimos; a pulse popped briefly at his jaw and he raised an eyebrow archly.
Star and Pixel spoke in turn. And he let them.

"It is not my Consilium and it is not my Council. I would have thought a Libertine such as yourself would welcome the spreading out of power, lest someone like me turn into a petty tyrant. So I reconvene a Council that has lapsed. I bring back the office of Herald so that from now on, newcomers to this Consilium do not simply blunder into the Circle and hope we are in session! It is time to bring some order! May we continue?"

He paused, sucked in a breath. Made to say something else and thought better of it. He turned back to the Council.

Then abruptly turned back round again. His eyes landed square on the Libertine again - and then swivelled left and right to encompass the whole group.

"If any of you do not like the way I conduct our affairs - say so! Then challenge me to the Duel Arcane. If you win, you will become Hierarch and we can do things your way!"

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-10 04:13:05		Campy to Uncloak his Nimbus rolls 6 to Composure + Occult (10 Again)		10, 3, 1, 8, 7, 8, 2		3 successes
2020-02-10 04:03:41		Campy to cast Shadow Sculpting rolls 10 to Gnosis + Death (10 Again, WillPower)		4, 9, 7, 2, 5, 9, 2, 5, 4, 8		3 successes

His voice began to grate. He snatched an Imago from his mind and spun it into reality. It was not a terrifically big spell, but shadows began to pool around him like water; they oozed up from the cracks in the floor, tenebrous and deliciously insubstantial, and burned around him like flame. Campanella stood at the centre of the vortex, lit up from the soft, yet harsh, glow of the halo that winked into existence just behind his head. The contrast of light and dark was truly baroque.

He waited.

Campanella casts Shadow Sculpting with Advanced Area Effecting. He has Death 3 so he can not only manipulate shadow, but animate it and conjure it from nothing as well.

Campanella succeeds on Uncloaking his Nimbus, which manifests even to those without an active Sight.

I wont be posting again till Wednesday so thats some 24-48 hours if people wish to react. Otherwise, I really do want to get this whole thing out of the way as it is starting to drag.

[Winter]

Impressive.
A vulgar display of power. One he didn't agree with but couldn't fault the Hierarch for. Yet again, Shodan had stepped over the line.
He steps between the two oversized egos on his way to his seat, careful to avoid the Hierarch's materialized shades. The Moros had won his title with a duel, and with another duel he was risking it, attaching the seat to his honor.
But honor and titles meant very little, no matter how many centuries of traditions are being waged, if gloves are off at the slightest insult then neither means a lot. Or perhaps it's the opposite and for him they meant everything.
The Hierarch though had shown he had a spine. Shodan on the other hand... was just being Shodan. Would he respect the outcome of this duel when the previous one hadn't apparently taught him anything?
Funny, it was all his fault. Had he acted when was necessary, the wound wouldn't have festered.
"Should I square the Circle?", he asks as he slides in his seat, expectant of the Libertine's reply.

[Kaze]

Kaze winces visibly at Winter’s glare, at Aurora’s stark statement of the seriousness of his wrongdoing and the stakes for the whole Consilium from his careless attitude and behavior.

Then Shodan speaks up and Kaze winces again though he tries not to show this reaction out of respect for his friend.

His eyes widen at the Hierarch’s display. He remembers well the duel that put him in office, the wily and battle canny Alastor clearly was overmatched!

Kaze resolves to stay quiet and respect the seriousness of the proceedings no matter what happens.