[Mini Event] gunpowder in your chest

MABEL

Mabel had many misgivings about large crowds – mainly because she tended to keep to herself, preferring the platitudes of either no one or a few, close friends. However, after the festivities in the meadows, the breaking news upon war potential and other nuances, the girl had to draw the trepidation to a minimum. Suck in a breath she didn’t need. And rampage through the darkness, a rapid churning of eerie, enigmatic feet and daggers clenched tightly in her hands.

Without Wessex’s ability to broadcast announcements and information, the young Ascended was forced to coincide with the old-fashioned way – leaving notes and placing parchment upon the boards. Thereafter, she figured the Temple would be the best place – and then she waited for others to trickle in, having already set up some chairs.

And then, of course, she had to start. Willing her fingers to stop wheedling around one another, and wishing with a very mortal pang that her sister was here, she looked, glanced, summoned some manner of strength, and began. “I called you all here because of some news during the party in King’s End.” Another breath she didn’t need, but it stuck against her spine and gave her some resolve. “A voice arrived and said there would be eight more cycles of heat and snow, before war. The tools are ready, but the warriors are not.” Striving to remember all of it, she parsed through the other sanctions. “It also mentioned finding relics and preparing.”

Thereafter, she took a step back, presuming some manner of discussion would begin.

Let's go to war to make peace
Let's be cold to create heat

Nikolai

We are only haunted by the things we refuse to accept
-Bridgett Devoue

Seeing the numerous, often messy, but urgent notices, Nikolai headed to the temple. There were already many Ascended present and it felt a bit daunting. The new Ascended had only met a handful of the total it seemed. Still he put that aside and focused on the girl talking.

Nikolai's eyes widened as he heard the news, his brain scrambling to process. The rising tensions were only going to escalate? A war in eight cycles? Dread filled him, concern going immediately to his mom. He didn't want to lose her. On that note, the young man looked at all of the unfamiliar faces around him. All of the other Ascended, family that he'd yet to get to know. He didn't want to lose them either.

"Relics?" Nikolai whispered, and feeling a surge of determination, he spoke up. "I'll start combing the Atheneum for any mention of relics. Anyone is welcome to join me." There were a few nods of agreement, or simply acknowledgment to the idea. It made Nikolai lose the tension he'd been holding since speaking.

Resilience is born even when we feel like we are dying
-Alex Elle

It's a lucky thing, that the Temple is so close to the infirmary, and Isla doesn't have far to come from her work to hear the news that Mabel is sharing. Leafchange is upon them and changes are already afoot (too many to count, so she doesn't look at them too closely), and this is very much a cherry on the top of a cake that's already way too high. "Eight seasons," she echoes. Longer than she'd expected, and a lot shorter too. Chewing thoughtfully at the inside of her cheek, she raises her gaze as if she might see her fellow leader, or Wessex or Varus or any others she recognises. But ultimately, she has to make the decision to speak up. "Thank you," she tells Nikolai with a nod. "That sounds like a very good idea. I'd recommend hosting a meeting to discuss what this means for us and for the Hollowed Grounds, but I think we are pretty much doing that already. My ears are open for opinions and suggestions." ISLA pray for me pray to me

Heroes always get remembered

But you know legends never die

Well, he'd barely been in charge for five minutes before a major, terrifying announcement. Of course. Honestly though, Bastien found Mabel's words almost comforting, if only because he had expected to hear that the war would begin much sooner. It felt bizarre, to have a conflict scheduled and know of and not be discussing ways to prevent it, but...he felt it too, the inevitability of the clash between the Ascended and the Old Gods.

Arriving and standing next to Isla, he listened with a grim expression to the news. "It is in many ways a blessing to know how long we have...if that count is accurate. An unfortunate piece of news, but a helpful one. Did the voice say anything of how it would begin?" Not entirely sure why he was asking, perhaps some last spark of hope he could stop it somehow, Bastien gestured questionly at Mabel.

mortal kings are ruling castles

Welcome to my world of fun

BASTIEN

EDY

Slinking in silently as Edy once did often to many functions, she picks a corner of the room and skulks in it, comfortable as any shadow. Arms crossed over her chest, she'll bob her eyebrows either sensually or menacingly depending on who looked her way. Otherwise, the Rapacious will simply keep her mouth shut for the time being, because honestly? All of this is weird.

Edy has done war before.
Edy has done Wessex stepping down and making someone else Queen before.
Edy has fucked Bastien and tried to get into Isla's pants.
Edy has died already because of all this fucking nonsense.

So to be going through it again? She might be young, but fuck if she isn't too old for this bullshit.

i want to k i _ _ you.
(answers may vary)

fight, because you don't know how to die quietly

He’s a bit late to arrive, but he still manages to slip through the doors of the Temple – slinking in so that he stands beside the rest of them, arms crossed, gaze watching Mabel as she explains what had occurred. He finds himself drifting a bit closer to Isla, head tilting toward her as she begins to speak – as Varus begins to process what information is said.

And all Varus has to offer over the news of the warriors not being ready, is to sigh quietly before his chin tilts up – his gaze finding Mabel and the rest of them, any who would choose to listen. “I will start working on more trainings. If anyone needs any tips or help preparing, you can come to me.” Perhaps it had been a good thing he’s been practicing so much, if this was how close war was to being on their doorstep again.

VARUS

Samuel

I pray to blades of grass
To find forgiveness in the weeds

An Ascended meeting to spread news...never a good sign. Sam had come from a sense of obligation and curiosity, but dreaded what he might hear when he arrived. What was it now? Another group of people determined to kill them? Another dangerous mission to be given to them? Perhaps he worried too much, but typically the Ascended didn't gather for good news.

As it went, well, it wasn't the worst news he'd ever heard. A time frame for something everyone had already been speaking about. Sam nodded solemnly, hands behind his back, and said nothing - he had little power to do anything about all of it. All he could hope for was that when the time came, he'd have the luck to stay safe.

MABEL

The influx of people automatically had her yearning to retreat to deeper and deeper shadows, but somehow she remained, standing her ground, needling her hands together as questions and suggestions cycled through. Trainings. Searches for relics. Some remain much like she does perhaps, trying to summon the willpower to understand and assemble the information given. What to do with it? Where to go from here? Mabel knew and understood she was merely a conduit in this exchange – the one who’d heard.

Eventually though, only Bastien had pinpointed an inquiry towards her. “No.” No hows, no wheres, no plausibility other than the limited stretch of time. She opened her mouth for a moment, considering, then snapped it shut – before barreling onwards. “I’m sure…with all the chaos lately,” like Isla’s infirmary burning, like other encompassing means and measures Old Gods might be asserting, “it wouldn’t take much.”

But that couldn’t be what they wanted, right? Not when so many were so woefully unprepared?

Let's go to war to make peace
Let's be cold to create heat

Nikolai

We are only haunted by the things we refuse to accept
-Bridgett Devoue

Nikolai's mind is already whirling with ideas of where to start. Recalling how Wessex had mentioned hidden books from the old Lorekeepers laying hidden within the Atheneum, he'd been brainstorming how to find them. Books that old surely had something on these relics. If such knowledge was written down anywhere that was.

But Nikolai was pulled out of his thoughts at the offer made by Varus. "I'll take you up on that." He gives a nod towards the other Ascended. Hopefully with the assassins' help, Nikolai can go from simply being able to hold his own in a street fight, to an actually capable fighter.

Resilience is born even when we feel like we are dying
-Alex Elle

WESSEX

After arriving, she listens quietly, trying to digest the information of two years or less, and suss out her new position amongst the family; it’s good to take a moment and not leap in. “Thanks Mabel,” the demigod says, flashing a small fanged smile towards the girl.

First things first, nodding to Varus, the Wraith tacks something on to his offer. “We’re going to build a new Barracks soon, to go with Cal’s guerilla-style training. The Voice is always saying we’re stronger together, and I think that if you’re interested in fighting - or even using upgrades defensively - how far does Sam’s barrier reach, for example, or how to use Bastien’s hoverboard to get away - it’d be smart to start to learn to work together.” A definitive change in tactics, moving from solo to group work. “Anyway, they can go hand in hand with Cal’s work.”

“I don’t know about Relics, but Sam and I can read some non-Common writing. If you find anything interesting, we might be able to decipher it. I wouldn’t be surprised to find them hidden in hard-to-reach places, but the Voice might be able to point us in the right direction.” Pausing, she runs through the things she’s done recently, until she lands on a hard, solid fact. “And you should know that the Governor of Torchline has said it’s for Safrin and the Old Gods. I know we have friends there, but - we also have enemies. Be careful, please.”

there was a time that we were kind, but now
don't write me, you're not fooling anyone