[Festival of Illusions] Visionaries (Order of Transcendence)

by **Alric Wilmot** on June 14th, 2012, 11:21 pm

Alric smirked as he heard the words of his triumph.

"He's Right! He's absolutely right!"

The older man spoke these words, and was far more enthusiastic than Alric expected. He supposed he might have actually agreed with him in the first place.

"Forgive me. Once again, I presume, but if you are in need of an alchemist, with a modest knowledge of hypnosis and familiarity with this most colorful of cities, I would be honored to contribute whatever I may to this grand endeavor!"

Alric's eyes widened at that. So there was a fellow hypnotist! He suspected as much. Though now he wondered if the man had used his own abilities on their group. When one used hypnosis constantly, as Alric did, it almost became second nature to use it. Was it the same for others? Had it become a reflex for this man too? Or had it affected him in some other way?

Alric almost asked, when he saw Jahoma out of the side of his vision. She was in uniform, and looking for someone.

Alric vaguely heard the Konti woman, Nira'lia, and the musician speak. He did not pay attention however. Instead he kept his eyes on his womiyu superior. What was she doing? Wasn't this her day off? The same as his?

Even as he thought this, she spotted him, and came charging over. Alric realized what was going on immediately. Play time, unfortunately, was over. It was time for him to go. Someone was in need of punishment on this glorious holiday. He sighed and shook his head. Why couldn't they just behave themselves? Just for today.

He held out a hand to Jahoma to singal that he was coming. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to be a part of this. Suddenly, he realized something. He had been paid today. And the fastest way to make allies, short of making friends, is by paying them.

He came close to Eridanus, not bothering to hide the fact that he was whispering in his ear.

"Eridanus, I'm afraid my duty beckons me somewhere else. But Ionu was gracious, and gave me the means to help this little dream come true. I won't be able to assist you much in the coming days, but trust me, I will do my best.

"To show that I truly want to help this Order come to be, I give you 1000 Gold-rimmed Mizas. Use them well."

With that, Alric gave him a few moderate-sized pouches that Alric had kept on his pouch, previously invisible thanks to his Gnosis mark. He bid his new allies a good bye. Doing his best to memorize their faces and names. He hoped that they would meet again. And hopefully, they would reunite soon.

(I'm going to go ahead and hop out of the thread. I sense its end is near anyway. Eri, here's that GM I promised you. Hopefully that will get the Order going.)

by **Kuvarakh** on June 19th, 2012, 2:10 am

"Goodbye, sir." Kuvarakh said to the man with a nod, his eagerness waning somewhat in the face of his lack of anything resembling currency to contribute to this 'cause'. He looked at the human woman. Clearly she was not at ease. He felt it surely to be the result of anti-Nuit sentiment. He had found far less prejudice against his 'race' here in Alvadas than anywhere else he had been. He had never been to Sahova, nor had he any such desire. Truly, he didn't care for many Nuit himself. 'But perhaps it isn't that at all.'

"Good Lady, are you possibly feeling that this scenario has been pushed upon you? I do not claim to know Ionu's will in this, but for me, I take it a sign from Akajia. Many cite evidence of some manner of 'connection' between them." He felt sympathy for her, but had difficulty relating to it, as his life had just found new purpose after what had seemed a crushing loss of momentum just days before.

"Perhaps, then, my eagerness strikes you as ingenuous? Feigned even? If so, I can only say that I have spent nearly a century in pursuit of a goal I believed The Lady of Shadows wished of me. But all the paths borne of this endeavor have led me here, now. Just in time to find myself included in a group of whom I know not one. For a purpose entirely unforeseen. I should think there be sufficient cause for ME to be the unsettled one. Is it that alone? The unsolicited inclusion of an outsider? You feel you ought to have been warned? I can well understand if this is the case. Do not let diplomacy stay your honest expression."

His gaze swung from her to the Konti, Nira'lia and then to the male, Eridanus, "And please, you two, do not press her on my behalf, if you were of such a mind. There is no benefit gained from an alliance of parties that have no trust. And she has no cause to trust me at this time. My time can wait. It must be freely decided by all concerned. I have only just obtained employment in town and have nothing to contribute in the area of funds. Any that may come after have no say in my inclusion, but she certainly does."

by **Eridanus** on June 19th, 2012, 4:55 am

Eridanus was lost in his reverie. Imagining possibilities, letting his imagination bring him to areas he did not even dare to think about. Nira'lia and Alric managed to express his thoughts effectively, however, and he was content to allow them to explain.

It was his chance, this one chance to shape something like what the Alaheans did in Sahova. Except that, perhaps, he could go for something more. They were not all nuits, and he would die before he allowed this loose collection of passion-driven folks to relapse into senseless, immortal politics.

Even Alric's hyptotism-laden words did little to affect him, for he was not concerned about what the hypnotist was concerned about. As far as he knew, the made was a worthy comrade, and a skilled practitioner of magic. That alone was enough for him, regardless of what vision Nira'lia had. As she did not further elaborate on it, he could only imagine that it was vague enough to not include specific mentions of individuals involved. Ionu's actions in the Festival was probably the elaboration they all needed.

Soon, Alric was called away, but his generous gift did not go unappreciated.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mister Wilmot. I bid you good luck in your ventures, and may you return successfully and swiftly," The vantha bowed slightly formally, bidding the man farewell.

Returning his gaze to the remaining people, he frowned as he considered the dynamics between Anishna and Kuvarakh.

"I do not press, not will I force anyone to do anything that is not of their will, Aninshna," He addressed the uncomfortable vantha gently. "This is merely a scenario granted to us by ingenuity and fate, and I would be loathe to let go of it. Do consider the possibilities evident in such a venture, and you will be welcomed with open arms should you choose to take the plunge."

To the nuit, he nodded graciously, remarking, "I appreciate your enthusiasm and candour Kuvarakh. Not many will openly declare their magical affiliations to strangers. Yet, I see that you have decided to Trust Fate, as have I and my associates Nira'lia and Mister Wilmot. Accordingly, I have decided to Trust Fate as well, and despite you being a stranger to all of us..."

He took a glance at the feather he held, then gave a quick glance to the one that the nuit mage held. The declaration of magic should be true, for it confirmed the fleeting suspicions his Auristics investigation told him about the nuit's arcane leanings.

"It would be untoward to deny one as passionate as you. Funds are an issue, of course, but with comradeship, fervor and diligence I trust that we will overcome this. Mister Wilmot's assistance is of great help, definitely. I think, perhaps, I should match his donation as well."

Feeling the bags of gold that Alric handed him, Eridanus thought briefly about the bounty he had stored in his room, making a mental note to also begin accounting. He needed to be meticulous in this in order for there to be transparency. That also meant that he needed some sort of headquarters, but he would mull over such details later when he was alone.

"What then, shall our name be?"

by **Kuvarakh** on June 27th, 2012, 4:16 am

Minutes passed. Several times it appeared that someone was going to offer a suggestion, only to yawn or clear their throat as if to account for their mouth opening. Glances became increasingly self-conscious. The ice clearly needed breaking. Kuvarakh took a small step forward.

"If I may be so bold, I expect we have ALL had several ideas come to mind, only to dismiss them for a variety of reasons. For myself, I find myself thinking of names and imagining my daughter's reaction. 'Too Stuffy', 'Too Mysterious', 'Too Creepy', 'Too Intellectual', 'Too Cutesy'. And, in fact, I rather agree with her assessments. So all I have left is "The Masters of Destiny". I hadn't quite gotten around to her reaction to that one, but I suspect it would be something to the effect of 'You're Kidding, Right?'

"But now that I have volunteered to make a suggestion that no one can do WORSE than, perhaps we can hear some other ideas. We want to convey something about 'expanding boundaries', 'stretching limits', 'new definitions of magic', 'Going Beyond Horizons!" He said this last bit with a dramatic flourish. "Good gods, I can just SEE my daughter rolling her eyes."

by **Nira'lia** on June 28th, 2012, 1:34 pm

The Konti had never been talented when it came to these things. As such, while the group brainstormed about a name, she found her mind drifting away. She pretended to be paying attention, but in truth, she was watching the festivities around them. Nira'lia watched a group of dancers and compared the myriad of colors that they displayed to the feather in her hand. 'This feather is so much more beautiful...'

Kuvarakh had gone off in a monologue, one which Nira'lia decided to pay attention to midway. She blinked at his suggestion and stopped herself from giggling. It wasn't the worst though, and she knew that if she spoke up, she'd give something no better than it.

Nira'lia grinned at the group. Kuvarakh's latter suggestion was actually quite good. A name which simply said everything that he had mentioned would be a good idea.

"Okay, so maybe we should decide on a name that says all of that..." she finally chipped in, offering her thoughts on the matter. "You'll want a name that says everything in just a few words, right? So what would that be?"

by **Eridanus** on July 4th, 2012, 6:29 am

The nuit, if anything, was helpful in his suggestions, and Eridanus thought deeply on the subject.

"Yes, Kuvarakh and Nira are accurate in their suggestions. Though, 'going beyond horizons' seems more like a motto for a children's camp than anything," Eridanus grinned briefly. "I see several words that might sum up all of this. Illumination. Enlightenment. Ascension. Transcendence."

Frowning, he threw up several more words, "We could be an Association. A Guild. A Organization. An Order. A... group?" He paused slightly, "Nah. That would command little respect," he added, discarding the last word.

Spreading his hands out, he remarked, "So then, we have several terms to use. Which ones would command the most respect, yet seem non-threatening, and explains our motives and goals?"

"The Association of Enlightenment?" He tried, rolling the words around in his head even as he voiced them out. However, he immediately shook his head, for it sounded too much like a monastery of peace-seeking, meditating monks. That was not the imagery he wished to convey.

by **Kuvarakh** on July 4th, 2012, 8:33 am

Chin in hand, eyes staring straight ahead, unfocused, Kuvarakh muttered as he ran through combinations. Occasionally, his eyebrows would rise as he thought of new suggestions, and furrow again as he rejected them.
"Cooperative'?...no...'Confederacy'?...no...'Affiliation'?....no...'Partnership'?...no...all too big...too many big words...'Union'....hmmm...that's not bad...same with 'Order'...'Guild' would be ok, but it sounds too business-oriented...like it's just about making money....hmmm....and 'Union' sounds sort of political."

He seemed suddenly to realize that he was speaking aloud and blinked, looking at the others. "I'm sorry, I was just testing combinations. Not just for aesthetic appeal, but for the first impressions they give. We basically have to indicate a 'grouping' and a 'purpose' it seems to me. For instance, if there were only ever going to be three of us, we could be "The trio of....whatever". As for purpose, are we trying to be specific in definition, or do we want it to be left vague? Wide open, not bound by a definition. Or, rather, have the definition itself indicate an unlimited nature. I like all four of your proposals in that regard, Eridanus, sir.

"But for the other variable, I'm inclined towards something short. Too many big words sound like we're showing off. Too few sounds unimaginative. "The Guild of Magic" sounds like the first thing a child would come up with. But "The Amalgamation of Thaumaturgy" sounds like we're trying to win a "Most Long-Winded" contest.

"I like a nice compromise there. 'The Order of Enlightenment'...hmmm...then again, I don't care for 'Enlightenment'. It indicates to me an attitude that everyone else is in the dark and embracing ignorance or something. Like we are better than them...No, we are just reaching higher, not disdaining the lower. 'Illumination' strikes me the same way. This is, of course, just my opinion, but there it is. I would opt for either 'Ascension' or 'Transcendence', and am inclined towards 'Order', but, I would be ok with 'Union' as well...Maybe 'Circle'....hmmm....no, never mind."

by **Nira'lia** on July 4th, 2012, 1:51 pm

"An Order..." the Konti whispered with a smile. As she said that, she daydreamed about the Opal Order. It was one of her dreams to join this Order, and now that she thought about it, the name itself gave it an air of esteem. 'Order' was a short and simple name but commanded respect... in her opinion, anyway. "I like that word... 'order'. Could we use that, please?"

Nira'lia couldn't help but giggle at Kuvarakh's musings. The Amalgamation of Thaumaturgy? She didn't even know what that meant!

The other words being said were good as well, and Nira'lia felt like they were getting closer to hitting what they needed. She agreed with Kuvarakh. Ascenscion or Transcendence both seemed like excellent options.

She turned to the Vantha, grinning widely. "I rather think that the Order of Ascenscion, or the Order of Transcendence... both have a nice ring to it. Don't you agree, Eridanus?"

by **Eridanus** on July 4th, 2012, 4:28 pm

"The... Amalgamation of Thaumaturgy? Really?" Eridanus chuckled, amused at the man's excellent grasp of vocabulary. He had not quite think that far, but in the end after a little discussion the group seemed to zone down on a couple of choices.

"I like Order too. It sounds formal enough, yet not over-bearing. And I am quite aware of your fondness for that term, Nira," The vantha added sneakily, referring to the Opal Order on Mura for those in the know. He had lived on the island a long time ago while recuperating physically, mentally and spiritually, which explained his knowledge of the existence of such an organization.

"Ascension makes it sound like we're trying to be gods. What we're trying to do... is something that goes beyond the gods. We are seeking the Truth, the One True Path. We will transcend known boundaries, and even the Gods themselves."

Looking around, he repeated the words just to hear how it sounded like, "An Order that transcends... The Order of Transcendence. Order of Transcendence. How does that sound?"

by **Kuvarakh** on July 4th, 2012, 6:53 pm

Kuvarakh pondered Eridanus' conclusion and his smile brightened.

"Yes....yes...that's it. I couldn't quite grasp a reason why 'ascension' didn't seem quite right. Oh, it would be good enough, I guess, but it only seems...I don't know...'temporary'...yes, temporary. It is only implying a reach for the next level. Once you achieve it, you are finished. Unless you are going to be "The order of REPEATED ascensions", which is, of course, absurd!

"Transcendence' implies no such limit. It assumes that a new level, once achieved, will now be a new launching point! No, more than that! The idea of 'level' is beside the point! It's very nature disregards such limiting concepts. For there is lateral growth as well as linear. It may well be found that the most primitive drives unlock the most complex disciplines. We will held back by no preconceived notions..."

Again, his focus seemed distant as he paced excitedly. And again, he came back to himself, blinked and faced the others, his smile becoming a somewhat sheepish grin. "I'm sorry, I am caught up in this sense of discovery and I ramble. For me it is a discovery of a new life's purpose. I had reached somewhat of a dead end not long ago. But I guess it was long enough ago for my sense of a...direction in life...to become gloomier than I had realized. But, at any rate, yes, I like it. 'The Order of Transcendence' has my vote!"