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#Post#: 64--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Evil Squeegee Date: December 1, 2024, 10:10 am
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/qHf1398.jpeg[/float]
[center]Kelly Anderson
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A74oySPKFFs4Ld75r3M9mS8w6s3o0It5UCgAbYQ5bww/edit?tab=t.0
And I can still see your dad
Runnin' after me with a shovel in his hand
I don't remember much after that[/center]
[hr]
“Crowley and the Order of the Dawn? Yeah I read about them.
Downright bastiches in some cases, but mystically brilliant.
They’re responsible for the Tarot as we know it today. Lots of
Kabbalah and astrology in their work.”
I listen as she explains about Traditions. It makes sense that
wizards would organize into groups; politics are a necessary
evil whenever there’s more than one person around.
I’m very, very bad at politics.
“Well, Doctor Divya Adele Huxley bani Sahajiya, I am… Kelly.
Kelly Anderson.”
I smile.
“Kelly Anderson. Philosophy is awesome,” I say, as if she
doesn’t know that.
I nod, thoroughly excited. “The Umbra? Yeah. A whole magical
plane of existence with spirits and stuff,” I say, flipping
through the book looking for the part that talks about it.
“Ah. Here we go,” I say, scanning the page and speed-reading it
to refresh my memory. “Yeah. Horizon Realms make sense,” I say
with a quick nod before realizing it’s rude to read when you’re
in a conversation. I coles the book again and look up to her.
“Is it safe for someone with so little power to go exploring the
Umbra on their own?” I ask.
Classic trope: Overeager wizard’s apprentice gets in over their
head because they don’t ask questions like *that.* I’m not going
to be a statistic, okay?
#Post#: 123--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Chance Date: December 3, 2024, 8:14 am
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Ailey Huxley
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/ooc-information/room-host-and-staff/chance/ailey/
Only you can set you free.
[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ailey13-225x300.jpg[/float]
[hr]
((Sorry for the delay on this))
"Fair assessment," she agrees on the topic of Crowley et. al.,
and nods. "So many modern mystics of all stripe owe a lot to
their work, even if we'd rather not admit it."
Politics. The bane of many an existence. Ailey also makes a face
at the mention, but shrugs it off, as well. Seems she manages
with it, but the power level might have something to do with
that.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miz Anderson.
Kelly. And I agree. Philosophy is one of the best things we
have. If you think about all of the things we owe to just the
basic thought of 'how should we live our lives,' it's pretty
awe-inspiring. But I'll spare you the lecture from my one-oh-one
level class." A wink follows; she's awfully merry for a
philosopher.
"That's the one, yes. It seems like your tome provides you with
an awful lot once you have a keyword to fit into the matrix of
it. That's going to be really handy once you take on an
apprenticeship, though you'll zoom through most of it, given
your facility with learning it. One warning, though... if this
book is your Avatar, indeed, it will try and choose your paths
for you. It's worth the time to listen and assess the ideas,
because it's more experienced, but in the end, you still choose.
It will be easy to coast on what the tome tells you, but it
won't teach you past a point, because it simply can't."
A pause. "I could explain that, but it likely won't make sense
right now. Even so, I'll do so, because it will give you
something to keep in mind over time, and that is this fact: You
are the Mage. Not the book. Its power and your will are what
make magic happen, and those choices are yours to make. Letting
it make the choices would be a mistake, because you need to
exercise your Will to become greater. Over time, you will become
much more, learn much more, and as a result, will carry a much
greater burden than you can imagine in terms of responsibility.
So that is the lesson..."
She pauses, holds up a hand, and then says, "Your Will is your
destiny. That sounds like some new age crap, but what it means
is that every choice you make chooses your Fate. As time goes
on, those choices become larger and more consequential. Act with
Will, but also with Wisdom and compassion."
Ailey grins. "So. With the knowledge you have about the Umbra at
your fingertips, and what I have just told you, what would you
say to someone who asked you the same question about
exploration?"
#Post#: 126--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Evil Squeegee Date: December 3, 2024, 1:09 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/qHf1398.jpeg[/float]
[center]Kelly Anderson
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A74oySPKFFs4Ld75r3M9mS8w6s3o0It5UCgAbYQ5bww/edit?tab=t.0
And I can still see your dad
Runnin' after me with a shovel in his hand
I don't remember much after that[/center]
[hr]
I dwell on that thought: The tome is the knowledge, but I am the
wizard. That makes a lot of sense. It also starts to settle in
on me that I have a lot of responsibility, here. Comes with the
Great Power, according to peter parker. And I do love me some
peter parker.
“I’d say to explore with caution and preparation,” I say,
slowly. “Do your research before you step into the Umbra and
learn everything you can, but ultimately, don’t be afraid of
experiencing something new.”
Pause.
“...Also, maybe learn how to cross the Gauntlet first.”
Hrm. A conundrum.
#Post#: 205--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Chance Date: December 5, 2024, 1:38 pm
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Ailey Huxley
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/ooc-information/room-host-and-staff/chance/ailey/
Only you can set you free.
[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ailey13-225x300.jpg[/float]
[hr]
Ailey watches as Kelly thinks this through; she seems approving
of this, and is simply there as the young woman ponders it all
and works it through her mind. Her gaze moves around the room
behind her glasses, as well -- she's not bored, she's just
taking in the room and all the things and people within, it
seems. Typical Ecstatic, living in the experience, it seems.
Not that she's typical in most senses, but in this one, yes, it
seems so.
"I'd say that sounds like a very measured response. Learning
what you can before jaunting off is wise when you're dealing
with something as wild and wooly as the Umbra. But... also don't
fear it, so long as you have an emergency exit planned. And
truly, if this is something you intend to do, I can help you
with that emergency exit. I can give you something that will
bring you back here, just once, if you absolutely need to
escape."
She laughs again and nods. "Learning to cross the Gauntlet would
be important, yes. You would first need to learn to perceive the
relative strength of the gauntlet around you. Can you sense it?
In this place, it will feel pretty weird, I think -- both
resistant and not. The portals here will feel like open doors,
while the general boundary of the Realm itself will feel pretty
inviolate."
She presses a finger to her lips, looking thoughtful... and
merry, again. Always, there is some touch of her emotions on her
face.
"Well. With your permission, I'd like to look around, see if I
can find someone who might be a good mentor for you, or at
least, someone who might be a good start on introducing you to
the Order of Hermes. I feel that you would probably find them
the closest to your own understanding of magic. They have
different Houses within the Order, each of which specializes in
some sort of magic, or some area of action.
"That's true of all of the Traditions; they all have smaller
organizations within that express their methods and beliefs.
Like mine... mine is called the Joybringers, and our thing is to
make the world a happier place wherever we can. For me, it's a
matter of teaching people the means to know their own mind and
convictions. Philosophy, first and foremost, but also helping
them find faith if that's where their beliefs lead them, or
political convictions, or any of a number of things that might
serve as a home for the active and engaged spirit."
She chuckles. "I'm not a typical Joybringer. I'm a lot more
academic in my approach. But that's where I find my bliss. Well,
that, and exploring strange new places with my beloved, Finn.
He's currently off being a Big Ol' Hero as he often is, but he
always finds his way home to me, so I am content."
She reaches for the coffee again, and then it becomes clear to
Kelly what the scent around Ailey is: good coffee, a faint,
subtle perfume that smells of vanilla and spice, and the faint
reek of really quality weed. She's clearly stoned out of her
mind... and somehow still completely within it.
"Does anyone in your family know about the book aside from you?"
A pause. "Do you think your father would be accepting of these
ideas I put before you?"
Is she asking permission, or just asking out of curiosity? Hard
to tell.
#Post#: 207--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Evil Squeegee Date: December 5, 2024, 2:47 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/qHf1398.jpeg[/float]
[center]Kelly Anderson
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A74oySPKFFs4Ld75r3M9mS8w6s3o0It5UCgAbYQ5bww/edit?tab=t.0
And I can still see your dad
Runnin' after me with a shovel in his hand
I don't remember much after that[/center]
[hr]
“I would appreciate that,” I say to her offer to give me
something that would bring me back here in an emergency. “A good
bubble-hearth isn’t a bad idea.”
[quote]Spirit 1 + Corr 1: CAN she sense the gauntlet?
Arete roll: 9 = one success[/quote]
I whisper a phrase, and tap the side of my head with my wand --
and she’s right. It’s nothing like the Book describes most
places as feeling.
“This is a special place, huh?” I conclude. “Feels like some
sort of constructed pocket realm. That’s so cool.”
I bet it takes a lot of powerful magic to construct a whole
reality like this.
“No, when I realized Dad must have kept the book a secret, it
felt like a bad idea to expose it to everyone else until I knew
what was inside it. And then when I learned it was magical, I
figured the world not knowing that magic is real was probably
the result of some good reason to keep it secret. So I kept it
quiet.”
I pause when she asks what Dad would have said.
“I think he would have encouraged me to learn more. He was
always pushing me and helping me in my education; he managed the
details of getting my college classes on when I was just in
middle school. So I think he’d be excited, assuming he knew
anything about magic.”
#Post#: 232--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Chance Date: December 6, 2024, 7:53 am
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Ailey Huxley
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/ooc-information/room-host-and-staff/chance/ailey/
Only you can set you free.
[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ailey13-225x300.jpg[/float]
[hr]
The Ecstatic reaches for her bag -- it's a small backpack style
in a rich brown leather, and she picks it up and fishes around
inside, emerging with a pretty little bauble that looks like a
marble, swirled colors in glass. It rests inside a clear plastic
pill bottle. She hands it over and says, "Just break it against
the ground wherever you are, and it will bring you here."
Bubblehearth, ahoy!
Ailey watches as Kelly touches the side of her head with the
wand, smiling still. The knowing nod at her reply shows she's
completely on the right track. "Yes, precisely, this place was
made from magic and will. Every little bit of it down to the
sugar packets," she adds, with amusement. "It was a learning
experience. Lucien and I and a handful of other mages did it.
I'd never made a Horizon realm before, so this was new... and
exciting! There's just something so invigorating about creating
something new from nothing..."
She giggles at that like a child, happy. Perhaps also a little
stoned, but hey, it's Ailey.
She turns more serious for the next part, though: "It sounds
like your instincts are good, too. Sharing too much about magic
with the rest of the world isn't always the right or kind
option. My own Tradition says that some minds are best Asleep,
that they aren't ready or able to confront the whole of reality,
and it's not a kindness to force them to do so. It's also
dangerous to you to tell others, because while your ability will
grow with time, right now, you're vulnerable, and we aren't the
only unusual residents of the universe, and there's a lot of
them that hate, resent, or envy us."
She nods at the answer about Kelly's father. "Maybe the book
knows where he was a Mage, and who you might speak to in order
to find out more. Or at least, the book would likely know its
own origin and be able to tell you something of it. Assuming it
is willing, and not somehow mystically prevented from doing so."
#Post#: 258--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Evil Squeegee Date: December 7, 2024, 2:11 am
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/qHf1398.jpeg[/float]
[center]Kelly Anderson
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A74oySPKFFs4Ld75r3M9mS8w6s3o0It5UCgAbYQ5bww/edit?tab=t.0
And I can still see your dad
Runnin' after me with a shovel in his hand
I don't remember much after that[/center]
[hr]
I take the marble from her and gently place it in my backpack,
where it will be safe.
“Thanks,” I say gratefully.
When she talks about letting Sleeper Sleep, I nod. “Mum’s the
word,” I say. “For my safety and everyone else’s. There’s a
reason spiderman wears a mask.”
Yeah. Suck it, Stark. The registry was a crap idea, not even
counting the inherent racism against mutants in it.
“That’s not a bad idea -- checking the book for records of Dad,”
I say, thoughtfully. “So far it’s all been magic, but then out
of the blue it starts to talk about the Anywhere Cafe. I bet it
has all kinds of information in it.”
#Post#: 290--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Chance Date: December 8, 2024, 10:08 am
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Ailey Huxley
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/ooc-information/room-host-and-staff/chance/ailey/
Only you can set you free.
[float=right
max=45%]
HTML https://anywhere.infinimata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ailey13-225x300.jpg[/float]
[hr]
"You're quite welcome," Ailey says with warmth. She listens as
Kelly works through the idea of letting sleeping minds rest, and
nods as she agrees to keep the silence. "That's a good thing,"
she says with a slight smile. "Global Ascension is the goal, but
first... we need to help Humanity reach the point when it's
ready for it. We've... unfortunately, there's quite a ways to go
yet. But we can all work on that. One of the most important
things we can do is find ways to work our Wills to improve the
lives of those around us."
The mention of checking the book brings another nod. "It sounds
to me like your tome is more than it seems, even being what I
would call a phylactery -- an exterior container for the magical
part of your soul. I'm pretty sure it's got a lot to teach.
Still, having an actual person as a mentor is a good idea, as
well. Learning from our Avatars is a normal part of the progress
we make as Mages, but it's not the only thing we need overall."
She pauses, and adds, "If you wish, I can include you in some
starting lectures we give at my chantry until we find you a
proper mentor. We have them pretty frequently -- introductions
to each Sphere, discussions of building Rotes or spells, the
problems of paradox and how to best avoid it, things like that.
It's in Sonoma, but there's a portal from here."
She huhs and pauses, looking thoughtful. "You have a token to
get here, otherwise you wouldn't've been able to enter. So... if
your tome got you here once, it might be able to do so again. I
doubt it can bring you other places, but here... well, this
place is special. We built it with some homing magic, magic that
can lock in on people or places that need to find us, and bring
them here. Ask it, perhaps it can do that for you?"
((OOC: I don't know what your plans are for her mentor, or if
you even have any yet, but the chantry lectures are small open
discussion classes for anyone who wants to attend. Most of the
attendees belong to her chantry, but guests are also welcome so
long as they follow chantry rules. This could give you a
connection to other students/mages/potential teachers.
And yes, your book can bring you here again as long as you have
that key. The key itself is the link. It's the same as one of
the coins, in function, except it's specific to you.
If you want to recruit a mentor player/character, we also have
the MB for help wanted. :) ))
#Post#: 296--------------------------------------------------
Re: New Arrivals
By: Evil Squeegee Date: December 8, 2024, 3:02 pm
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[float=right max=45%]
HTML https://i.imgur.com/qHf1398.jpeg[/float]
[center]Kelly Anderson
HTML https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A74oySPKFFs4Ld75r3M9mS8w6s3o0It5UCgAbYQ5bww/edit?tab=t.0
And I can still see your dad
Runnin' after me with a shovel in his hand
I don't remember much after that[/center]
[hr]
“Using magic to make the world a better place,” I say. “The
great responsibility that comes with great power.”
She offers to include me in some of her lectures, and I perk up
immediately.
“That would be so cool,” I say, immediately realizing that
declaring things cool isn’t cool and sitting back down in my
chair. I clear my throat.
“I mean, if you don’t mind. I’d love to.”
I’ve never been to Sonoma. But if it’s just a portal away…
that’s not very far at all.
“I will definitely ask it a few things,” I say. “There’s an
index in the back, lets me look up particular subjects. I can
certainly see if it has any more info.”
I’m just about to open my mouth and say something when my phone
alarm buzzes in my backpack and I jump up.
“Oh no. I’m gonna be late!” I blurt out.I slam the book shut,
shove it into my backpack, and reach out to shake Ailey’s hand
if she’ll take it.
“Thank you so much for entertaining my newbie butt. I’ll be
back!”
… in fact as I say that, I spy the key on the ground. I scuttle
over and snatch it up, and then it’s off to the races with me.
It’s almost supper time! Never you mind that the Cafe exists in
many times, and I could probably just stay here as long as I
want without interfering with my life. I don’t actually know
that yet.
((OOC: I was hoping to find a hermetic mage PC to take her in
and have a mentor-student relationship with. I’ll definitely
play her as sitting in on those lectures, and make a post on the
MB!))
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