open | full circle pt 1

[exequy]

WHO: Concerned mages/rifters/others
WHAT: An emergency meeting!
WHEN: Solace 20
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Explanation in the OOC post. Please tag this like a network post. There are top-level comments to provide a little chronology/structure, but threadjack to your heart's content.

Before and during dinner on an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday, there's a chain of whispers (or notes, or perfectly audible comments from the particularly unsubtle) about an emergency meeting, at an evening hour, in a basement room, regarding a matter of concern to rifters and mages.

The basement part is probably unnecessary. It's certainly ineffective; the organization is too small, the Gallows too contained, and the halls too echoey for something arranged with this much finesse-wrecking haste to truly remain a secret. They could have done it in an empty office or the recreational dining hall, probably, and sat on chairs instead of storage crates. But Kostos picked the location, and he's dramatic. If nothing else it signals a clear intention to do this as unofficially as necessary.

Anyone who accepts the invitation (or just decides to come see what the fuss is about) will first encounter Marcus Rowntree, posted up outside the door like a bouncer, letting mages and rifters move through undisturbed but stepping in to question and likely bar the arrival of anyone else. Inside, Kostos is nothing but a dark scowl in the room's far corner, picking at a splinter of wood on a crate and not mustering a word of greeting for anyone who comes in. Derrica has parked herself within arm's reach of Kostos, a long gold-edged shawl spilling over one shoulder. Her diplomacy pin gleams from the front of her tunic. The worried pinch to her brow is the only outward sign of anxiety; otherwise, she is tightly contained, watching people enter. Julius–notably not in robes–is serious but calm as people come in, standing next to the ever-composed Madame de Cedoux.

Once as many people have arrived as seem likely to, Marcus closes the door, remaining beside it, and they explain what the problem is.

Comments

[glossator]

And you're concerned this College will, what? Ally too closely with the southern sect of the Chantry and allow them to define what 'uncontrollable' means.

What good would surrendering so much do this acting College?

[tender]

Power. Influence.

[ Hands spreading, space between filled with so many benefits to capitulation, but mostly— ]

It may never be defined. You see the usefulness of a word like that left unchecked.

[glossator]

This is precisely my point. Power and influence in service to this Chantry seems likely to benefit a remarkably small number of your mages.

['Your.' Since they're not calling them southern.

(It's different in the North. There's every reason to continue the attachment of the Circles to the Imperial Chantry, as there are futures there in that relationship.)]

There must be people meeting in Cumberland who would consider well argued alternatives knowing the odds won't be in their favor forever.

[inkindled]

There might be, but even if there are, I don't want to hear what they bloody well have to say. Argue into calling it whatever you like but when the sun goes down, a cage'll still be a cage. Uncontrollable is going to mean whatever suits them best. And they'll get to hide behind it. They'll get to use all the ground we gained and keep living their cushy lives. They won't lose anything. They'll keep their power and gain more while they're at it, and we'll have to kiss their arse 'cos they deigned to compromise.

Fuck that. Fuck them.