(2501) January Consilium

[Skye]

Attempting to give her shaman arrow a playful look but unable to not let the fire in her eyes at least partially intermingle in her gaze.
”Did I hear you just volunteer for an extended sparring session?” I need to try out these new practice knives. ”It is, thank you for asking.” Raising an eyebrow at the reply, hadn´t he already agreed during their last outing together?

Offering a friendly wave to the arriving awakened but sensing the meeting was about to commence deciding to not seek out any conversations they would have to leave half started anyways.
”Happy new year Witch.” Looking a bit surprised as the Warlock councilor wishes her a happy new year but quickly offers a soft smile in return. ”Happy new years, it is good to see you again.”

Unable to hide the surprised reaction to Chambers words, just blinking and needing a moment to catch herself before answering.
”That is very kind of you, thank you, know that I appreciate it. We can certainly discuss it at a better time but there is no need to follow up on it unless you choose to do so, I am fine, I promise.” Not a complete truth, but at least she was physically alright. Turning her eyes upon Corn. ”They are really good to have indeed, should come with some boons in the future, and give people a chance to have access to the past of these meetings even for the newer arrivals without any bias.”

Turning her head ever so slightly to the side to look upon the charcoal grey warlock.
”Evening Eidolon.” And turning her head away once more, getting up and walking over to stand side by side with the First talon as a genuine warm smile dawns upon her lips. ”Good to see you First Talon, mind if I stand with you during the meeting?” Lightly raising her left arm with a pointing look toward herself for just a brief moment before spinning to be ready to stand by her side should there be no objections, hoping that the pointing gesture was enough for her meaning to get across. I wonder if she is alright, has something happened?

Wait the meeting was commencing, and neither the interim councilor nor Guru was here? What was going on? Throwing a look to Chambers as he spoke and over to Corn, then to Aurora to see if she had any reaction to Guru´s absence. It was bad enough that he had not shared things in any good detail, nor done his part, not here though that was just alarming. Yet opting to remain silent, the concern one she would have to look deeper into later though.

[Winter]

He observes the situation, he's not really interested in the exchange of pleasantries, rather, they have delicate business to attend.

[Asclepius]

It was clear from Corn's reaction and response that he was not certain as to the meaning of use of the encouragement, but he will, one day he will look back and know he toughed it out to the end. “Hey man your welcome, a bit of positivity to boost through the despair is sometimes just enough. It was the little things from some of the tragic moments that I have had to witness and guide people through. Not everyone could be saved when I am at work as a paramedic and so I have heard that sometimes giving people a few positive words can help in moments when all seem dark. If it helps then it helps, but if not then pay me no mind.” News from the investigation? I have heard nothing, I thought the interrogations were first as stated by the councillors. “All I know Is I am waiting for a green light to get involved with the on site investigation. But in prep for that I am making an internal list of what to check, to try and cross a lot of boxes of possibilities of who or where your child was taken.” He knew it would not make Corn feel better but at least Corn would know that he was still thinking about the situation and that Cloud was not forgotten about.

He returned Joyeuse's response with a smile and a nod. “I am glad to hear.”

He got the feeling from Chambers that there was a light encouragement without fully committing to outwardly saying directly to him. “It helps keeps the mind preoccupied and honestly it might be better for me to make food from scratch more.” His role has changed? To Councillor? Or has he finished the exam? Maybe he would announce in the meeting. “Well then, I can only assume this is a positive change, and thus I am happy for you.” Good things happening to people can be as infectious as the negative stuff happening to people, so with a bit of luck it would rub off on all of us.

“Sure, I am always down for a sparring session, I don't want to get rusty with skills that matter. You don't need to wait for me to come and volunteer, you can just come grab me or set up an ambush to practice for when we are out on patrols.” It was hard not to notice the anger that looked like it needed venting about. He knew she was not going to speak here and now about it so felt the need to offer a chance. “You look like you have something on your mind, if you wanna talk about it, I am only a text away for some drinks, okay?” He did not know if she would accept but the offer was there for her.

He left Winter to his business, he did not want to force something and clearly Winter was occupied with his personal duty. He felt awkward but hell, he had no expectations. He gave a smile and a friendly wave. “Sorry man, I didn't realise you were occupied, maybe we can speak when you are available.” He made himself seem as positive as he could be, he did not want there to be an impression of hard feelings, he was not trusted yet in the eyes of some.

As the doors closed he took a position that was free in the room, not trying to sit next to anyone in particular and made ready to listen to the room.

[Witch]

And with that it was time for business.

She was curious if, given what item 1 was, they would even make it to item 2.

Settling in, she turned to Corn, listening.

[Eidolon]

Ouch that hurts, I definitely have amends to make. Eidolon thinks as he kicks himself over the missed date. He had no excuse, and he knew it. But there was nothing he could do about it now. He had to pay attention to the meeting, especially seeing that it is just him and Salem representing the Free Council and the Mastigos this meeting.

"Hey Salem, Happy New Year mate. Hope it is a good one." Eidolon walks to him, and in a whisper, "I think it is just you and me mate, do you have anything we need to bring up?"

[Aurora]

A nod to Corn, “Figured something warm would be good.” And it was something different.

The nod from Phoenyx was returned, and a mental note was taken to touch base with her friend. It had felt like forever since they had sat down and talked.

Looked like nods were the general greeting for the day, and as such, returned the nod to Joyeuse with a warm smile.

Spotting the elusive Ladder, a small smile and one of the universal nods was offered. With what was on the agenda for the day, his knowledge would be useful.

Now there was a face she hadn’t seen in a couple months, “Not too bad, and yourself?” she asks Salem.

Looking to Chambers, “You as well.” And then the meeting begins, and, without Guru? Where was Guru? Well, that was upsetting, something she wasn’t expecting, she thought their talk had gone well. Did he think different? It wasn’t something she could focus on now, there were more pressing matters.

Whatever the Arrows were talking about with sparring, she wasn’t really paying attention. There was more important matters here, and that’s what she’s hear to listen to, give her opinion on and deal with.

So eyes look over to Chambers, then to Corn.

[Corn]

People come in and out, smalltalk bubbles and the doors close. It is time.
Corn, dressed in his immaculate clothes stands up. This is where Cabals would have been way more helpful. A support system for him. Knowing beforehand where the general consensus would fall on, based on the relations between the groups. But it is what it is.
Where is Philip? Corn thought. It was not like the Acanthus to miss an official meeting.


"Awakened of Sacramento, I am going to confess some breaches and acts of Hubris I have done that you may not be aware of, or you may not remember the details of. Some of the councilors are aware. Before I start, I would like to point out that any omissions from the list are not out of ill-intend. I am not well versed on what should be said - as some things have been discussed and weightened upon by a different consilium, and others may not be actual breaches of the Lex. While I had time to prepare other struggles occupied my mind. Those that know more about the Lex or the incidents in question, are welcome to fill in the blanks I leave. I assume only the councilors may ask me questions at this time but at a different time, I could answer questions if needed."

First, start small - and with something that has no buts or ifs: "I have used winds of chance on Sleepers to bring them ill luck. At the time, I thought Winds of Chance do not count as curse. Even now, I am not sure if this is a breach of the Lex, or not, because I am not sure what the Lex assumes as a curse. Winds of Chance do not turn someone to a pig or even cause any lasting effects aside of slight irritation.
That said, I am aware I should not have done that. "

Harder parts, quite harder. "About a decade ago, when working for a different consilium, I was tasked to participate in the retrieval of some texts that Sleepers should not have their hands on, from a group of Sleepers that were described to us as thieves. I was working with a Guardian and an Arrow. As some of you know, this mission led to a violent confrontation. I killed a Sleeper in that confrontation and to do that, I have used a gun that I have cast a spell on. I am not sure if this counts as harming a sleeper with magic, perhaps some fancy lawyers may twist it since the Sleeper may have died even without enchanting the gun, but the fact is, a Sleeper died by my hand, from bullets out of a gun I have affected with magic.
I should note here that officials from the Consilium of San Fransisco where I was at the time has heard what happened and absolved all of us. I do not know if that should be considered or whether Consilia can give retrials or the subject is considered closed, but I thought it would be better for you to know and judge."

And the hardest part. How much to say? Would it be fair to Aurora to say those things? The crime, the sin is his. But he knows how some of the people here think about such things and it would be quite easy to put 2+2 together. He takes a breath. Good thing that Guru is not here. Aurora and Guru have a lot of respect for each other but Guru is the one that thinks the Lex is more a suggestion than an ironclad set of rules and he doesn't want to cause friction between them.
But beyond that... it is very hard for him to go back to those days. He fled Sacramento to avoid those memories.
"In the past, I have asked a mage to break the Lex for my benefit. That mage refused. There was no breach of the Lex, but I have asked and I even offered bribes. At the time, a spell I could not cast myself would have saved the life of my unborn child so out of desperation, I requested someone to cast a spell, a vulgar spell, on a sleeper in presence of another sleeper. The resulting loss was the main reason I left Sacramento. I don't know how 'asking someone else to breach for you' is covered on the Lex, but I am sure it is an offence. "
Yeap, another string in Corn's family drama that has caused a severe rift between him and his duties as a mage. We are really not meant to have families, are we? Corn mused.

And he remembered something... that he shouldn't have forgot.
"I have also broken into what turned out to be a sanctum. I did it to investigate something mysterious, most of you and all councilors are aware - Salem was not when we discussed this last month but he was there when we broke into the Sanctum - but there it is."

Apologies for not addressing everyone. Also, Corn is now aware Asclepius is Paramedic.

[3] Improve Quality
[3] QFlux
[1] Dark Matter
[3] Steel Windows Conditional duration
Spell Tolerance: 3 /3 (1 is from 2 enchanted items)

[Joyeuse]

"I am well. Thank you," they say as Salem greets them before turning their attention back to the greater Consilium as they wait for the first event of the COnsilium come to pass - Corn's confessions.

"Very good, I am glad to hear there was no offense. I am not known for my... emotional acumen," Joyeuse offered as Chambers explained things in more detail. Joyeuse was not known for comforting others or for overly considering their emotional struggles. They preferred to remain focused on results.

Pleasantries done and the meeting truly beginning, Joyeuse's face betrayed their thoughts readily, given the earlier failure of their mask. The Obrimos' jaw tenses as Corn begins his proverbial list of sins. The offenses are minor in some respects at first, such as Corn's playing with Fate to screw with Sleepers. Things that could be addressed through re-education. Then things begin to take a turn as the Necromancer mentions murder, enchanted weapons, and more.

It wouldn't be hard for anyone to wonder if such a history played an element into Corn's current struggles, but that would be based on pure assumption without Winter's. Thus, when Corn's confession mercifully ends, Joyeuse looks too their pathmate.

"I am curious as to the results of your own investigation, Winter," the Arrow offers, a simmering anger evident in their tone, though it is clear it is not directed at the Guardian.

[Witch]

Clamping her teeth together, Witch's glanced first to Chambers and then to Winter.

She was neither her Path Councilor nor the highest ranked of the Guardians. It was not her place to speak in this meeting. Even if she had words that were only just now being swallowed down to remain inside her.

[Cavendish]

A nod was returned to Chambers as the Ladder watches the gathered mages socialize. Cavendish looks down at his wedding ring and then forces himself to hold in hands, resting them against his torso. There's unease as Corn starts to speak and it shifts into confusion. The Ladder looking between the speaking mage and the others present.

A violation of the Lex to cast a spell on a sleeper? To use it on a weapon? Where is the local Lex? Does one exist? San Francisco...

Holding back a sigh Cavendish continues to listen, slowly adding to a mental list of things to do.