london ♔ shadowkind convention

[rationalizes]

WHO || Jeanne Gar, Kat Samcelot, Mark Sandazhard, Francesca, Alainn O'Rourke, Alaric Saltzman, The Doctor, Brantley River, Maxwell Briggard, Kate Beckett, Helen Magnus, Stiles Stilinski, Adam Weiss, Sylar, Will Graham, Abigail Hobbs, Lila Zacharov, Lydia Martin, Draken Crombe, Lis'sa Trinall, Belle Desrosiers, Aurelius Greyfire
WHAT || London hosts an academic convention regarding the phenomena of the Veil and Shadowkind
WHERE || London, England
WHEN || June 7th, 2014, evening.
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

It's been over a hundred years since mankind first came to a global realization that magic and monsters were real and walked among us. Yet in all that time, much about the process of how or why remains a mystery, and a subject of great speculation among scholars the world over.

This is why London hosts an annual convention to discuss these complicated matters, both from a scientific and social perspective. There's something for everyone with even a passing interest in understanding the Veil, magic, or the various races that share this world. Sir Jeanne Gar, a young member of the Dragon's Hoard, has been asked to present some of her research at said convention, and has invited many of the Knights to come fill the seats, and explore the other lectures.

The hall is large and brimming with scholars both young and ancient, as well as those of a variety of unusual Shadowkind species.  It makes for great people watching from the food court, at least.

Comments

[immuno]

And no one's going to believe a dog that likes attention that much is a service animal. People aren't supposed to touch those.

[theminotaur]

Then he's a crappy one, please stop talking about it. [ and the slight panic that makes her squeeze will's hand again is exactly why she needs this dumb dog. everyone please stop bringing attention to him. :( ]

[mydesigns]

We can talk about this another time. [he looks between both of them (mostly lydia tho) like really gurls. really?? in the middle of a lecture????]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ she frowns and murmurs an apology, before continuing on like nothing happened. ]

Most scholars are quick to agree that the period of English history that gave rise to the Arthurian legends stemmed from an era of true magic, as well as that of many of the Egyptian gods. Some of these gods can be found to directly share portfolios with those of Faerunian pantheons today, suggesting that some of these same deities were worshiped here under different names and via different rituals.

[immuno]

Do you think the Veil breaks down the barriers between Faerûn and other Shadow Worlds, too? [ she leans in to ask stiles, assuming he's on her level. greek and egyptian myth, arthurian legend, these are all hallmarks of their world—which this most definitely is not. the presence of lycanthropes and kanimas and god knows what else definitely supports the notion that the shadow world could have easily leaked into theirs thousands of years ago too, though. ]

[killingtodeath]

[Uhm he's definitely on her level with his nat 20 wisdom check. Jesus. He leans in to meet her so that he can whisper back.]

Seems possible. Maybe not as wide spread as it is here. Just little pockets in certain towns. Like ours.

[immuno]

[ that was an emotional tether nat 20 just to be clear. ] Mm. Could be that the window was open for less time, or less slipped through. I mean, werewolves wouldn't stop being werewolves just because it closed, right? I feel like that couldn't just go away with magic.

[behindcloseddoors]

Some have gone as far as to attribute elements of Christian mythology to Faerunian deities and magic. It's difficult to argue the resemblance, for example, between Dante's Nine Circles of Hell and the Nine Hells of Baator. Many of the miracles found in the Bible could be readily attributed to magic existing at the time. Jesus' 'resurrection' certainly seems less miraculous in a day and age where clerics resurrect the dead for a nominal fee.

[killingtodeath]

Yeah, I don't think werewolves are magic, so much as...mutants. But in a good way. Well, sometimes.

[Hold up.]

Wait, so they can bring people back from the dead here? [He is slowly picking up the basics okay.]

[untethered]

[ belle nods over ] Resurrection is a power granted by some of the deities that have power in this world. We have clerics in the Knighthood who are capable of it.

[theminotaur]

Can Sir Solace? [ she reaches up to touch her ear, tucking her hair behind it. she just assumes he can because he is amazeballs. abigail has a healthy respect for the bald cleric. ]

[untethered]

Of course. He is our head cleric, after all.

[immuno]

I wonder how many of the anti-Shadowkind movements were born out of Christian bitterness.

[mydesigns]

Religion has a way of fueling the flames of hostility.

[killingtodeath]

Not to mention the standard terror of the unknown.

[behindcloseddoors]

The nature of the rising and falling tide made it easy for monsters and magic to remain the theoretical stuff of myth and legend during most of the world's history. However, with increased globalization and the increasing speed of communication and ability to record and document events in the late 19th and early 20th century, the reality of what was happening slowly became clear.

At first, not realizing that this was not a new phenomena, some believed this was not so much an incursion as an invasion, prompting quite a bit of prejudice and fear against non-humans.

[immuno]

And there you have it.

[ she slumps back against her seat, sighing. ]

Human paranoia at its finest.

[behindcloseddoors]

However, it soon became clear that neither the Shadowkind, nor the flotsam in the ocean has any choice as to where or when it will wash up on world. It is a natural event, a recurring event. It signifies an era of change and great opportunity. It heralds a time of magic. Not every creature of Shadow wants to devour humans. But it is a time to be vigilant. Both for what has come through in these eras, and for what it has wrought on our side of the Veil as well - crime, war, government, religion. All of these have adapted on humanity's side to the rising tide of Shadow. Most of these adaptations, however, have historically been to the detriment of lost, frightened, or displaced innocent Shadowkind.

[killingtodeath]

[Quietly, to Lydia but probably loud enough for the gang around them tbh.]

You know- all those warm and fuzzy feelings the knight gig was giving me? Sort of paling in comparison to the target I'm realizing is painted on my back because some game of mystical ding dong ditch.

[untethered]

Well, that's what the Knights are all about preventing. As much as we can.

[immuno]

I'm sorry, do you actually remember a time before everything wanted to kill us?

[killingtodeath]

Maybe it's like herpes where you work to prevent outbreaks. But with murder and kidnapping.

[immuno]

[ ... she doesn't have anything for this one except a look of acute disgust. ]