Convocation in Toronto: Part 1- Things Get Started
~March 15th~
She'd gone into Toronto a few days early. As long as she stated it was for "Order business," no one would ever question it. It was the truth, anyways. She'd spent the majority of the time acting as Dario's theonom for the Mysteriorum Focus. It wasn't protocol for a Hierophant Superior to oversee it, but with Vlad's situation of being still tied to an unfriendly Archmage, and no other Hierophants available, she was his only option. She'd had reservations about Dario's fitness for the elevation, but unless there was some grevious wrongdoing, she'd adhere to tradition. All that was required was for a Hierophant to announce that they were ready and to find a volunteer Hierophant. If he was worthy, he would pass.
She spent the better part of two days with him, first with the rite and then talking through some of the explanations of what he experienced. She hoped he wouldn't make her regret helping him, but time would tell. He would be retreating from the caucus soon, and there were still Mystagogues quite green. She wanted to be there to help them... but knew that to a great extent they would be on their own.
*****
The opening of the first Convocation Day began with Helios' invocation of Gold Law. He introduced the officers and promptly announced the Day of Silver's commencement. Since the hall would be closed to all but the Vox, it was the appropriate time for Order meetings. Helios had asked that each Order discuss the issue of Panopticon and come back with ideas, terms of negotiation, and how their Order felt about it.
Zohar rolled her eyes as someone in the Guardian contingent pushed past her in an attempt to claim the room she was about to enter for their own. "Whatever," she shaked her head not caring, finding another room in the building. The Guardians had by this time made several attempts to scry or postcog their meetings and had never successfully done so after she began to implement a series of spells to block and scramble whatever information they'd see, so long as there was someone with Disciple Time. Luckily, there were several and April happily agreed to do it this time around.
There were about a dozen or so Mystagogues. They looked at her, questioning as to how they wanted to do the meeting. She didn't know everyone, so she started a round of introductions.
"Right then, anything we need to talk about before we get to the Seer thing?"
There were a few smaller items of discussion, mostly about local or regional issues. She offered her thoughts but mostly referred people to ranking members closer to them.
The door knocked.
"Someone see who that is," she said to the guy sitting next to her, a man by the name of Crossroads. He stood up and opened the door. He then looked back at her.
"Uh... yeah, there's a guy from Panopticon here to see us. He has a message"
She facepalmed. And it begins. "This should be good."
The man that entered was fairly nondescript, the type of person that wouldn't be taken for anything other than ordinary from a superficial glance. "I am Bateau," he announced, eyes scanning the group. "Secundus of Minister Oculus." Zohar watched him closely, knowing that despite his outward appearance his rank alone strongly implied he was an Archmaster. She also noted that he divided his attention equally among the group. So either he doesn't know who I am or he's trying to hide that he does. Give him no information. Give him minimul and noncommittal responses.
She asked, "What is your message?"
"My fellows in Panopticon have Awakened a number of individuals within Toronto. Each one is destined to become a member of the Pentacle, and one destined to be one of Panopticon. If they are not located and brought within the fold they will be taken by either ourselves or other Seer ministries. We would offer the locations of all of these new Awakened in exchange for your support of Panopticon's partnership with the Pentacle."
Wut. "You're... you're serious?" She stared at him, incredulous. "You force awakened half a dozen people and want to trade their safety for allowing you to join us?"
"That is correct. It is entirely your choice, however."
"And you don't see why this is a dumb idea."
"These mages could be quite valuable to you. They are destined to join you."
"Because you say so."
"Yes."
She exhaled in annoyance, suppressing the urge to completely lose her cool at this Seer. For a moment she thought that had this scene been happening only a few years ago, she wouldn't have been able to hold back.
"Thank you for the information," she said with a tone that informed him that the discussion with him was over.
"Will you agree to-"
"Thank you for the information," April interrupted him firmly. "We will take it under consideration."
Without offering any expression, he turned and left. Zohar looked at the assembled Mystagogues, all with faces of skepticism and irritation.
"Yeah, you guys, we're not making a deal with him." They nodded and someone piped in "Hell no." "What the fucking fuck... seriously. Did he think we'd go for that? This proves - again- that they're not our allies if they're willing to force Awaken people and use them as essential hostages."
"So what do we want to do?" April asked.
"I don't think he was lying about the new mages," she answered. "But we don't need Seers to find them. We're the Mysterium. Finding things, or people as the case may be, is what we're good at. We'll prove we don't need the corrupting "help" of Panopticon. We'll decide for ourselves what their future holds, we're not going to listen to what a Seer claims it is. We're not stupid." No one seemed to want to argue. "So who wants to take point on finding them?"
Vlad and April would take point, taking on a few other volunteers. She also suggested that they get Nadira and apply her Sphinx abilites to the puzzle of how they were hidden or what dangers would be in the way.
The door knocked again.
"Really?" she looked back. "Who is it now?"
The door opened and a woman walked into the room. Zohar had vaguely recognized her as an Arrow from other visits to Canadian Convocations, but the woman had changed remarkably. She was now covered in bright tatoos of various High Speech runes and her resonance had the distinct glow of a spirit entity. Zohar had seen Claimed before. This was similar, but not quite the same. This wasn't a possession but a melding of sorts.
"I am Suelis. I am here to speak on behalf of the Spirit Courts."
"Uh... okay."
"For too long the Awakened have done as they wished in the Shadow realm with no care of consequences. I am here to request a Lex Magica between between the Shadow and the Consilii of Canada."
"You want... to be able to dictate what mages can and cannot do in the Shadow?"
"Yes, and in return some courts are willing to awknowlege the Awakened's authority in the material plane. Spirits and mages would require permission to cross the Gauntlet."
"Uh... yeah that's going to be a problem. How would you even enforce something like that?"
"That..." she wavered, "That would be part of the discussion. I am only here to bring forth the request on behalf of the spirit courts."
"What about your Awakened allegiances?"
"I have severed all claims to the Awakened and all my standing within the Arrow."
"Oh." She looked at the others. "This sounds like a Canadian issue so I'm going to let the others talk about it. You should probably bring it up on the Day of Justice, anyways."
She turned back to her train of thought while other people engaged in her conversation. As she left, there was yet another knock at the door. "Oh for the love of... who is it NOW?"
"Obolus," the face in the half opened door. "I'd like to talk to you privately." Obolus was a Magister of the Arrow. He'd never really spoken to her, so she figured it would be important. She got up and walked over.
Outside the room he stepped up closely. "I've come to inform you that there's been evidence to suggest that you have a Seer infiltrator in your midst."
"Who?"
"The one called Crossroads. He's been in contact with them and has been found to have things previously owned by him."
"That's not really proof that he's a Seer, though. I could have some people look into it. I... I'm a bit busy myself, so..."
"Oh no, I know you've got other things to worry about. I just wanted you to be able to look into it internally. Do you require protection? I would like to offer to watch you personally."
"That's not a bad idea, really. But you don't have to hover over me or anything. Just stay within line of sight."
"Very well. I will assign some Arrow to be nearby as well should anything happen."
"I don't expect it to, but just in case, yes. Thank you."
Obolus and Suellis finally left. "Okay... we've only got a few minutes left. The Seer thing. I've been talking to a lot of Mystagogues and there's been a general consensus that we want nothing to do with it. Is that how you all feel?" Some nodded confidently, others looked less certain, but still in agreement. "Fine then. Helios has asked that the Orders come up with terms to negotiate. Do we even want to come up with anything?"
"Nothing would be worth the price we'd pay," Vlad said quietly. There were murmurs of agreement.
"I happen to agree. So... do you all want me to be the bad guy and inform the Convocation of our decision?" A few looked grateful for not having to be forced to have that spotlight, others nodded or shrugged. "Okay." She stood up. "There's nothing left and they're about to start again, so we're done here. Those of you wanting to find the newly awakened can get started. April, if you don't mind using your temporal scrambling spells..."
"Of course," she nodded.
Zohar left the room and watched the Magisterium announce the beginning of the next "Hour" of Convocation. Helios directed the question to the Orders: "What are your thoughts about Panopticon's petition?"
Niemand replied first. "I think you, as a figure of authority for this Convocation and for the Silver Ladder, should perhaps go first."
Helios' answer was noncommittal though skeptical. "I'm willing to listen to what they have to say. I'm not convinced this is a good idea yet, but I'd like to hear what they have to offer."
Neimand nodded, repeating a speech similar to the one Ikelos gave onto the list. Zohar shook her head in disappointment. With two Guardian Magisters clearly in support of it, a good chunk of the Order would likely follow. Only Knuckles and Iscariot seemed to look away when most of the others kept their eyes on their Magisters and nodded.
The Free Council's representative was leaning in support, wanting to "give peace a chance," having bought into the concept that this was similar to the Great Refusal.
Obolus spoke for the Arrow. He stepped forward and delivered a single line. "The Seers can go fuck themselves." Zohar broke out into a smile. She decided at that moment that she liked him.
Finally Helios turned to the Mysterium. Mostly to her. "Zohar?"
There was always that brief twinge of discomfort before speaking to a large group. She pushed that down and spoke loudly enough to allow everyone to hear. "The Mysterium has no terms to negotiate. Our answer is no."
A hush fell over the room for a moment, and as expected she saw a nervous shuffling among the pocket of Guardians sitting on the opposite side. They really did never know how to react to her. This would be no exception.
Conversation was resumed and nothing of consequence was discussed for the next few minutes. Zohar stopped paying attention to the continued debate, as it was all ideas and arguments she'd heard before, over and over. Suddenly. she noticed a quiet fell upon the room. Attention turned towards the doorway as three figures stood in the doorway. The apparent leader strode forward into the center of the room.
"I am Oculus."
She'd gone into Toronto a few days early. As long as she stated it was for "Order business," no one would ever question it. It was the truth, anyways. She'd spent the majority of the time acting as Dario's theonom for the Mysteriorum Focus. It wasn't protocol for a Hierophant Superior to oversee it, but with Vlad's situation of being still tied to an unfriendly Archmage, and no other Hierophants available, she was his only option. She'd had reservations about Dario's fitness for the elevation, but unless there was some grevious wrongdoing, she'd adhere to tradition. All that was required was for a Hierophant to announce that they were ready and to find a volunteer Hierophant. If he was worthy, he would pass.
She spent the better part of two days with him, first with the rite and then talking through some of the explanations of what he experienced. She hoped he wouldn't make her regret helping him, but time would tell. He would be retreating from the caucus soon, and there were still Mystagogues quite green. She wanted to be there to help them... but knew that to a great extent they would be on their own.
*****
The opening of the first Convocation Day began with Helios' invocation of Gold Law. He introduced the officers and promptly announced the Day of Silver's commencement. Since the hall would be closed to all but the Vox, it was the appropriate time for Order meetings. Helios had asked that each Order discuss the issue of Panopticon and come back with ideas, terms of negotiation, and how their Order felt about it.
Zohar rolled her eyes as someone in the Guardian contingent pushed past her in an attempt to claim the room she was about to enter for their own. "Whatever," she shaked her head not caring, finding another room in the building. The Guardians had by this time made several attempts to scry or postcog their meetings and had never successfully done so after she began to implement a series of spells to block and scramble whatever information they'd see, so long as there was someone with Disciple Time. Luckily, there were several and April happily agreed to do it this time around.
There were about a dozen or so Mystagogues. They looked at her, questioning as to how they wanted to do the meeting. She didn't know everyone, so she started a round of introductions.
"Right then, anything we need to talk about before we get to the Seer thing?"
There were a few smaller items of discussion, mostly about local or regional issues. She offered her thoughts but mostly referred people to ranking members closer to them.
The door knocked.
"Someone see who that is," she said to the guy sitting next to her, a man by the name of Crossroads. He stood up and opened the door. He then looked back at her.
"Uh... yeah, there's a guy from Panopticon here to see us. He has a message"
She facepalmed. And it begins. "This should be good."
The man that entered was fairly nondescript, the type of person that wouldn't be taken for anything other than ordinary from a superficial glance. "I am Bateau," he announced, eyes scanning the group. "Secundus of Minister Oculus." Zohar watched him closely, knowing that despite his outward appearance his rank alone strongly implied he was an Archmaster. She also noted that he divided his attention equally among the group. So either he doesn't know who I am or he's trying to hide that he does. Give him no information. Give him minimul and noncommittal responses.
She asked, "What is your message?"
"My fellows in Panopticon have Awakened a number of individuals within Toronto. Each one is destined to become a member of the Pentacle, and one destined to be one of Panopticon. If they are not located and brought within the fold they will be taken by either ourselves or other Seer ministries. We would offer the locations of all of these new Awakened in exchange for your support of Panopticon's partnership with the Pentacle."
Wut. "You're... you're serious?" She stared at him, incredulous. "You force awakened half a dozen people and want to trade their safety for allowing you to join us?"
"That is correct. It is entirely your choice, however."
"And you don't see why this is a dumb idea."
"These mages could be quite valuable to you. They are destined to join you."
"Because you say so."
"Yes."
She exhaled in annoyance, suppressing the urge to completely lose her cool at this Seer. For a moment she thought that had this scene been happening only a few years ago, she wouldn't have been able to hold back.
"Thank you for the information," she said with a tone that informed him that the discussion with him was over.
"Will you agree to-"
"Thank you for the information," April interrupted him firmly. "We will take it under consideration."
Without offering any expression, he turned and left. Zohar looked at the assembled Mystagogues, all with faces of skepticism and irritation.
"Yeah, you guys, we're not making a deal with him." They nodded and someone piped in "Hell no." "What the fucking fuck... seriously. Did he think we'd go for that? This proves - again- that they're not our allies if they're willing to force Awaken people and use them as essential hostages."
"So what do we want to do?" April asked.
"I don't think he was lying about the new mages," she answered. "But we don't need Seers to find them. We're the Mysterium. Finding things, or people as the case may be, is what we're good at. We'll prove we don't need the corrupting "help" of Panopticon. We'll decide for ourselves what their future holds, we're not going to listen to what a Seer claims it is. We're not stupid." No one seemed to want to argue. "So who wants to take point on finding them?"
Vlad and April would take point, taking on a few other volunteers. She also suggested that they get Nadira and apply her Sphinx abilites to the puzzle of how they were hidden or what dangers would be in the way.
The door knocked again.
"Really?" she looked back. "Who is it now?"
The door opened and a woman walked into the room. Zohar had vaguely recognized her as an Arrow from other visits to Canadian Convocations, but the woman had changed remarkably. She was now covered in bright tatoos of various High Speech runes and her resonance had the distinct glow of a spirit entity. Zohar had seen Claimed before. This was similar, but not quite the same. This wasn't a possession but a melding of sorts.
"I am Suelis. I am here to speak on behalf of the Spirit Courts."
"Uh... okay."
"For too long the Awakened have done as they wished in the Shadow realm with no care of consequences. I am here to request a Lex Magica between between the Shadow and the Consilii of Canada."
"You want... to be able to dictate what mages can and cannot do in the Shadow?"
"Yes, and in return some courts are willing to awknowlege the Awakened's authority in the material plane. Spirits and mages would require permission to cross the Gauntlet."
"Uh... yeah that's going to be a problem. How would you even enforce something like that?"
"That..." she wavered, "That would be part of the discussion. I am only here to bring forth the request on behalf of the spirit courts."
"What about your Awakened allegiances?"
"I have severed all claims to the Awakened and all my standing within the Arrow."
"Oh." She looked at the others. "This sounds like a Canadian issue so I'm going to let the others talk about it. You should probably bring it up on the Day of Justice, anyways."
She turned back to her train of thought while other people engaged in her conversation. As she left, there was yet another knock at the door. "Oh for the love of... who is it NOW?"
"Obolus," the face in the half opened door. "I'd like to talk to you privately." Obolus was a Magister of the Arrow. He'd never really spoken to her, so she figured it would be important. She got up and walked over.
Outside the room he stepped up closely. "I've come to inform you that there's been evidence to suggest that you have a Seer infiltrator in your midst."
"Who?"
"The one called Crossroads. He's been in contact with them and has been found to have things previously owned by him."
"That's not really proof that he's a Seer, though. I could have some people look into it. I... I'm a bit busy myself, so..."
"Oh no, I know you've got other things to worry about. I just wanted you to be able to look into it internally. Do you require protection? I would like to offer to watch you personally."
"That's not a bad idea, really. But you don't have to hover over me or anything. Just stay within line of sight."
"Very well. I will assign some Arrow to be nearby as well should anything happen."
"I don't expect it to, but just in case, yes. Thank you."
Obolus and Suellis finally left. "Okay... we've only got a few minutes left. The Seer thing. I've been talking to a lot of Mystagogues and there's been a general consensus that we want nothing to do with it. Is that how you all feel?" Some nodded confidently, others looked less certain, but still in agreement. "Fine then. Helios has asked that the Orders come up with terms to negotiate. Do we even want to come up with anything?"
"Nothing would be worth the price we'd pay," Vlad said quietly. There were murmurs of agreement.
"I happen to agree. So... do you all want me to be the bad guy and inform the Convocation of our decision?" A few looked grateful for not having to be forced to have that spotlight, others nodded or shrugged. "Okay." She stood up. "There's nothing left and they're about to start again, so we're done here. Those of you wanting to find the newly awakened can get started. April, if you don't mind using your temporal scrambling spells..."
"Of course," she nodded.
Zohar left the room and watched the Magisterium announce the beginning of the next "Hour" of Convocation. Helios directed the question to the Orders: "What are your thoughts about Panopticon's petition?"
Niemand replied first. "I think you, as a figure of authority for this Convocation and for the Silver Ladder, should perhaps go first."
Helios' answer was noncommittal though skeptical. "I'm willing to listen to what they have to say. I'm not convinced this is a good idea yet, but I'd like to hear what they have to offer."
Neimand nodded, repeating a speech similar to the one Ikelos gave onto the list. Zohar shook her head in disappointment. With two Guardian Magisters clearly in support of it, a good chunk of the Order would likely follow. Only Knuckles and Iscariot seemed to look away when most of the others kept their eyes on their Magisters and nodded.
The Free Council's representative was leaning in support, wanting to "give peace a chance," having bought into the concept that this was similar to the Great Refusal.
Obolus spoke for the Arrow. He stepped forward and delivered a single line. "The Seers can go fuck themselves." Zohar broke out into a smile. She decided at that moment that she liked him.
Finally Helios turned to the Mysterium. Mostly to her. "Zohar?"
There was always that brief twinge of discomfort before speaking to a large group. She pushed that down and spoke loudly enough to allow everyone to hear. "The Mysterium has no terms to negotiate. Our answer is no."
A hush fell over the room for a moment, and as expected she saw a nervous shuffling among the pocket of Guardians sitting on the opposite side. They really did never know how to react to her. This would be no exception.
Conversation was resumed and nothing of consequence was discussed for the next few minutes. Zohar stopped paying attention to the continued debate, as it was all ideas and arguments she'd heard before, over and over. Suddenly. she noticed a quiet fell upon the room. Attention turned towards the doorway as three figures stood in the doorway. The apparent leader strode forward into the center of the room.
"I am Oculus."