Yeah, IC is taking a little longer. My fault. Completely forgot that I had a training today. I'll do my best to get it up after the training. All I can say is there it is a very lengthy (and trust me when I say that) exposition. Hopefully you find it worth the wait.

Protip: It's a lot of exposition. You don't necessarily need to read it, but it does introduce a bit to the realm. Note that if I give people names, it's not for a pointless reason; they will all be a part of the plot. The final thing to know it that, pertaining the end of the post (I know it moves quickly), this is a small symbol of things to come and also is being used as a device to bring the seven together. Can't have all the characters in their own little worlds, now can I?

Don't worry though. The rabbit hole definitely goes deeper. Things get immediately trippy and disorienting in the next post or two. It's all part of a bigger thing though. You shouldn't be able to understand or make two cents about it all, just yet.

Also, regarding the sensations/symbols from the fire, feel free to have it be whatever you desire. I left it open to allow you that freedom, in terms of describing it. That's if you even wanted to as well. :p And really, you only have to respond to things occurring during or after the occult ceremony; you don't have to respond to the whole post. Again, most of it was to provide exposition and to be used later. That, and I felt you also deserved a bit lengthier of an intro because you've all been so great. :D I know, it's long. Sorry, and at the same time, you're welcome.

I'm currently swamped with papers, I likely can't post till this weekend, is that alright? I'm posting a variation of this message in almost all threads I am in.

That's fine. Academic assignments are perfectly understood, as I'm in university myself. :p Just as long as you give notices (as you just did), then all is good.

...and so Giovanni more likely than not burns to death in the first scene of the RP.

Yay. :D Seriously, I'm sure you'll all be fine. It's just a building collapsing, but you're a team of 7 witches (+1 unconscious priestess). I'm sure you all can do something.

Though Giovanni is a doctor and a scientist by trade. A biomancer, not a burning-building-mancer.

Oh well, I guess I'll just leave the escape up to the rest of the party.

Jocasta can do one of two things, depending on what you want other characters to do - she can create a passage out from the building or carry our dear priestess. Also Castor and I have deemed our characters having been long ago childhood friends... so he hired her to help find the High Priestess' killers. Can we RP examining the bodies beforehand (Castor's idea) or some such? If not, I'm sure we can just RP them meeting and then going to the occult ceremony later.

Heh. I had the exact same thought about examining the bodies, and I was also going to have Vincent tell Atlas to carry the priestess, since he's all huge and muscley. If someone else gets to the priestess carrying before I post though, I'm sure I won't be devastated. :)

Nah, Jocasta can handle escape.... and honestly, even if she is involved in neither, she'll just walk out with the others in her usual way. :p I don't mind it either way.

Let the muscleman carry the damsel, why else would we have one? XD It'll be quite morbid if three of our character's first meeting is in a morgue.
Ichthys, could we gain some insight into Vilicus magic by examining their handiwork? Say maybe they used a powerful black curse which is consistent with blood magic, or maybe a magical signature indicating a similar vibe of magic that was apparent in minute traces at the scene of High Priestess Olwyn and Lord Bayard's death, between the three of us, we should have the skills to discern such information.

There's seven hours between the bodies being moved to the crypts and the Occult ritual, so the characters wouldn't have to meet there unless we wanted them to.

Though if they do, I feel like there should be more than just one post each dedicated to the event. Ichthys, is it alright if we don't respond to the ritual portion of the evening until after the examining of the bodies is completed?

Of course Atlas can save the Priestess and take her back to his quarters ;) bowchicka wow wow
Damsels love muscly men who save them xD

Anyways, maybe we should title our posts for clarification? For a before and after effect? Me and Raptorman have already decided that our characters would be friends, and seeing as how his character is the Crypt Warden, I'm sure Atlas could gain entrance (if he asks nicely) for whomever wants to investigate prior to the the occult ceremony. It would also give us some character interaction before they discover their eerie fateful binds.

First off, I must say I am impressed in all of you so far, for displaying such excellent cooperation, immersion, initiative and creativity. Now, allow me to answer all of your questions. :)

@lydyn: Which bodies?
- If the four hunter bodies, I don't really think they would be allowed to investigate all to much, since no one really knows what caused the Lord and Lady's deaths, so despite the chance that the 4 hunters were killed by the Vilicus being high, its not enough for anyone to come and investigate them, especially if its for the intent of trying to connect it to the Lord and Lady. The connection is too unknown right now, and cooperation isn't really happening all too much in the coven because of the division. Most are keeping to their own things and wary of letting anyone else cross into their territories, for fear that it might be used against them to some extent. Pride and selfishness and fear, as of the moment, for most people, is greater than their desire to get to the bottom of most of the mysteries and conflicts. That said, it is ultimately up to Vexia (Raptorman), since the bodies would be sent to the crypts. Thus, you should ask him for the final answer.
- If you mean the bodies of the Lord and Lady (before they were buried that is), then I don't think Jocasta in particular would be allowed, despite her friendship to Flowryde. For similar reasons, included the compounded variable that Jocasta is well-known mercenary; it'd be obvious why some nobles would be apprehensive about allowing a mercenary into the room of their beloved leaders.

@Castor: First, magic doesn't really have a signature depending on who uses it because of its ambiguity and universal presence. That said, as mentioned, different coven do conduct their spells and magic differently, so little techniques or methodologies could distinguish a coven, if one knows their mechanisms. That said, considering the Vilicus have yet to make a large, formal attack, the coven can not really identify the trademarks of a Vilicus witch. Who's even to say this mysterious stranger is Vilicus? :P Still, if you character observed the mysterious assailant amidst the fog and smoke, then they might be able to tell that the particular witch's spells seemed to be done with only motions (no use of materials or verbal components) and very slight and complex ones at that, certain patterns in the fingers and hands, certain twitches in the wrists and even some changes in stances. The D'Cerf witches would probably be unable to identify the clear patterns however. Obviously though, the witch's spells were meant to be difficult to be observed; they might not be new to "sneak" attacks and inconspicuity.

@Schradinger: That's fine. One post can be a sort of flashback (even a collaboratory post; I suggest Titanpad for collaborations), and the other present time. :) The next round won't start until the all "present day" responses are made though, so take your time.

@Milieu: Titling your posts for clarification could definitely help everyone. :)

Is there any specific posting order?
Oh, and I was wondering, just for clarification, is this fire that's going to reduce the temple to ash magical? I'm wondering if Atlas would be able to see it.

Since magic exists in everything, he'd be able to see it regardless, but I'd imagine all of the fire except the stuff Mr. Cloak was actually shooting out of his hand would just be more or less mundane.

On the bright side though, Atlas would see right through the smoke. :)

I kinda wanted an organic posting order because I expect a lot of collaboration, which would mess up a structured order. I will let you guys just figure it out as it happens. :P That said, if it ends up being too much work, I will instill an actual order.

And the fire itself is mundane, yes, based on the clarification I made long ago, if you would recall when I was differentiating magic, a spell and the actual effect. That said, the source of the fire (the spell) would be magical.

Right now it's looking like we'll be doing at least two collab posts saturday night (one for the crypt examination and another for the ritual portion), though who exactly will participate in each is still somewhat undecided.

Until then, people could still individually write their reactions to the actual ritual, before Mr. Cloak showed up and tried to fry us all.

Sorry guys. I'm not trying to be that guy, it's just that it's a very busy week/weekend for me so I am not really posting in anything at the moment. Should be mostly resolved next week and I hope to work on that collab on Saturday.

Well we've decided to wait for you Raptor. Or at least most of us have.