(Mysterium) A gathering

[Campanella]

Campanella strides through the sanctum Athenaeum, hauling off dust sheets and searching for chairs. Light filters in through the high windows, diffusing into dancing motes in the gloom.

He pauses in his work to dust a glass doored cupboard - there sits the grimoire he showed off to the Consilium.

He stopped to stare at a glass dome in which sat a curious looking hive. Taking some gloves from a pocket, he lifts the dome and ignoring the startled buzz, collects four measures of Tass in the form of a sticky honeycomb substance. When he replaces the dome he makes sure it is locked in place.

The honeycomb is laid out on a tray placed on a small table close by.

Satisfied, he adjusts his tie and prepares to wait.

The Mysterium gathers - he has sent word. A note here in the Circle. A carefully curated pamphlet, cheap and crude enough to pass as a student daubing, for the streets.
Papilio Typhuzuzu13 Abacus Hiver Aurora Orianna

[Abacus]

The arrival of the Enchanter is punctuated by the snap of a firmly shut book. He had used the pamphlet as a bookmark and carried his leisure reading under his arm.

"Good morning, Hierarch. Got your letter."

Abacus took a seat and picked a mote that was flowing through the air at random, charting its path with his eyes.

[Aurora]

The pamphlet was found and tucked away. It’d been some time since she’d been to a Mysterium meeting, so she was quite eager.

On the scheduled day, she was on time, and decided to dress up a bit for it. So instead of jeans, it was a black leather skirt with a black sweater.

The Shamans arrival was announced by her heels, as she walked into the room.

Smiling, “Hello.” She greets.

[Campanella]

"Good morning. Excellent." Campanella made some space for Abacus to sit.

"Aurora." A smile quirks at the Moros' lips as he sees his former Cabal mate arrive. "I am sorry... the space is a little... dusty."

"Papilio. Welcome." He nods at the Mastigos when he arrives.

"Welcome to the Athenaeum. As you see... it is not much. Our Order lost a considerable amount during the Time War and while I have scoured the city looking for clues to where it went, I have found nothing. As time progressed I did manage to pick up a few things - there is a Grimoire over there with rotes specialising in Mind and there are... our... delightful bugs that secret a small measure of Tass."

He spoke, gesturing to the old codex safely locked in a glass fronted, wooden case; and then he motioned to the glass dome with the strange hive. Pausing, he collected the tray with the honeycomb and offered them to the assembled Mystogogues.

"It is a small measure of Tass to be sure* but, please, enjoy it all the same. The hive was found next to a peculiar crack in the Fallen World. I have found no mention of anything like this in the archives that I can access."

A note of triumph crept into his voice - small though their Athenaeum was, it could still produce wonders.

"It has been some time since there were a number of our Order together in the city. I thought it might be worthwhile to have a chat."

*For those who want a number - consider the honeycomb provides 1 mana when consumed.

[Abacus]

Abacus took notice of the shelves and the layers of dust that sat in place of tomes, manuscripts, and briefs. As he ate of the honeycomb, he tasted a sweetness that did not come from any sugar in the Fallen World. This was something more. Sublime, rather than saccharine.

"How should we go about restocking our inventory?"

[Aurora]

Ah, another member. Seemed the Mysterium was still small, but that wasn’t really a bad thing.

“Hi.” She greets, not remembering a name.

The smile returned, “I think the dust adds a bit of character.” Looking to the other, Papilio. Good to have a name. “But I don’t think it would take much to clean the dust if we wanted to.” It didn’t bother her personally.

Frowning, “Nothing’s popped up? That damn Time War really did a number on us.” It was too bad. Things lost, friends lost, and for what? But then the hive. She smiled, “You still have it?” blue eyes looking at it, “Never really did study it much. Though at least we were able to get it. Has it done anything else since we brought it back?” she was still curious about it. And with her new knowledge of Life, she wondered what she could learn.

“Has the crack closed? Did we figure out what caused it?” if memory served her right, it was in a greenhouse type shack.

[Campanella]

To Abacus "In any way we can. I would caution that one need not over extend yourself. We have time... And can afford to be patient. But keep your eyes and ears open."


To Papilio "I am glad to hear it. As for spells, did you have any in mind? We have the numbers now to secure the space designated for the Athenaeum for fully. As for the lost knowledge... I am not even certain of what we lost. The Time War affected us more strongly than some of the other Orders when we lost our old Athenaeum. I did not have a chance to see it, myself."

Campanella kept an interested eye on the Mastigos.

Aurora comments drew a chuckle from the Moros. "Oh the hive has been a happy addition to this lightless space for some time now. As for the... cracks... well... Unfortunately that is not something I know anything about. And the magus who understood such things has left, I believe. Without his aid, I doubt we could even start, let alone continue, such a line of enquiry."

He leaned back in his seat, taking a more comfortable and relaxed posture.

"The past is blocked - perhaps in more ways than one. That leaves the uncertain future. Is there anything we should be focussing our efforts on as an Order?"

[Abacus]

"What do you mean, the past is blocked ?"

It was only through loose associations; Fate's reverberations, that he could glean insight into past connections between people, places, and things. Time allowed him to chart the dark waters of the future, his eyes floodlights in the deep. This bled into alternate presents with enough focus.

But he had never attempted to truly perceive the past.