House of Keys/Introduction

Update 2/7/20

• Meeting of the Magi: Another weekly pow wow of the wizards in town but this time the host chose to meet at the House of Keys. It's easily located in town on campus and has the facilities to host such an event plus plenty of goodies to hold people's attention. Until you throw a secret bomb into the room and run away.
• Ominous Secrets: The host confusedly mentioned a secret that many of them should find out in the coming days and that we needed to prepare ourselves for the burdens of this coming news. The host didn't actually tell people what the secret was, it's source or nature and that's just not something you do in a room full of wizards. We're the Wise folk - it's in our damned name for a reason. When you deny information to us we tend to get seriously cranky - and they did. This eventually lead to the host just walking out of the room.
• Holding the Bag: After the host unceremoniously left the meeting, Marshall was left as the only person in the room with the potential to hold onto what had been kindled. So, as the duly authorized Steward of the house - in the absence of Master Smallwood who was, again, drawn away with his duties - he tried to make something out of a pile of nothing.
• But wait, We have Books: Desperate to salvage the night's event, Marshall - on seriously unsteady feet - stood up and tried to tempt the exodus of guests with an invitation to tour the library. Only some took him up on the offer.
• The Archives: Those remaining were encouraged to view the archives in an attempt to change the nature of the discussion and potentially remove the foul taste in everyone's mouth about the meeting. Several people seemed interested in the collections held by the House and a few offers of support were made.
• The Guardians: Marshall revealed that their previous attempts to contact the three guardians were only partially successful. Each of the guardians connect with an associated essence and one of the spheres of magic. To fully awaken the House requires the proper combination - which they still did not have.
• Prediction: Branton discovered with his psychic abilities that should anyone try to make contact with the three guardians who do not match the appropriate essence, the consequences could be dire indeed.

Update 2/5/20

• Book Club a Success:Thanks to everyone who showed for the first Bookclub. Last night's discussion was around the potential correlations used to locate an unknown target by looking at their associated connections. As Joel put it - its the Kevin Bacon Theory of finding someone not by knowing who they are but by understanding who they know and extrapolating who they are in the network of people based on their connections within it. Then later we discussed the inherent temptations faced by magi and how these temptations are what drive and shape us as individuals. The archives project was also mentioned and a few people seemed interested both in participating and in accessing the lores contained in the Chapter House. Not bad for around two hours of rp. I'll try again next week.

Update 2/1/20

• Book Club: The first meeting is on Wednesday Nights (5 pm PST / 8 pm EST) to see who can make it.
  
  The idea was floated around for a weekly or bi-weekly gathering of the scholarly types among the Magi/Sorcerers (Orphans & Trads welcome) at the Chapter House. The meetings would be BYOB (Bring your own book) where Lores are shared and collected, rotes, spells and paradigms are discussed, news spread and the like. The gatherings would probably last about two hours (ish) with people welcome to show up early and linger after and continue their talks if they'd like. The House of Keys would host the Book Club at the Chapter House on campus. Plenty of meeting space and fun for those who wish to go exploring within the walls.
  
  For those who have never been to the House, +hangouts/jump Key House will get you to the courtyard. Just don't wander into the gardens yet because the rose bushes haven't been fed in a while.

Update 1/29/20

• Courtyard Cleaned: The courtyard has been properly cleaned of debris and such and is now open once more. Folks will be welcome to appreciate the tile work, flowers, bushes and trees that somehow seem to keep their green year round. (OOC: +hangouts/jump Key House should drop you in the courtyard now. From there just head inside through the big black doors).

Update 1/28/20

• Archives: Master Twig has given Marshall the task of replenishing the collection of lores and such for the chapter's library. As such he's starting to make the rounds of the other members of the Order and those scholars of the traditions to see if they would volunteer their knowledge. The exchange is simple - those who contribute to the archives would be able to draw knowledge from the collection as well. As the collection grows with more and more contributions, the strength of the archives and the reputation of the Chapter House increases as well.

Update 1/18/20

• The Lower Levels: After a conversation with a perspective Associate, Marshall heads down to the lower levels to show them the crafting hall. Fully equipped for most construction needs one might come across for nearly any project, the hall seems to have been built or furnished by a more mechanically minded magus; possibly a Child of Ether? Rumor circulating around the House was that the associate was allowed to accompany an important courier mission to Germany and back. Talk about baiting the hook.

Update 1/11/20

• Back in Business: After a few months abroad, Marshall has returned from his basics in Hermetic training. The hall has been mostly empty in his absence with only the caretakers keeping things going while the magi that helped rediscover it went about with their lives.

Update: 4/10/19

• Game of Groans: Cody has a personal loss and finds Marshall in the Lounge. Eventually it turns into a near full Chantry meeting to help him through this troubled time.

Update: 4/8/19

• Meeting Merlin, I mean Menkner: A new visitor to the Traditions Hall, Menkner, Jasmine, Teagan and Marshall discussed the condition of their newly inherited Library.

Update: 4/7/19

• Tea Time: The Kitchenette in the Lounge has been brought back up to snuff. Now there's a coffee maker, tea pot, eletric kettle and a small, mini-fridge tucked away in one of the lower cabinets.
• Let there be Light: Thanks to the electrical wonders of Teagan, the fuses and bulbs have been replaced within the house so people shouldn't be running around in the dark.
• Search: Jasmine is searching throughout the magical community to find those awakened that could potentially assist with our node problem.
• Paper Trail: Marshall discovered a box of old files in the office upstairs. It contained material along three subjects: the building of the house, the dossiers of what are considered the first pledge class of initiates and then files that were encoded. The encrypted documents were obscured with the Enigma Code from the German's in the 1940's. Merek, River, and Jasmine seem to have an idea of what was within their pages.

Update: 4/4/19

• Gaol Gone Wrong: Jasmine and Cody found a big something in the basement that was...hungry.
• Shiney: Teagan, in her efforts to crawl around and not bang her head upon things in the library found a shinything (tm).
• Balance is Needed: At Jasmine's suggestion, three women (Jasmine, Teagan and Lilian Handover) tried to channel energy into the fountain. It didn't end well.
• Unweaving the Woven: Thanks to the assistance of Merek, a series of faulty security wards were unwoven by the Scooby Gang.
• Open for Business: With the security wards dialed down, the building is now open for regular visits. Those people who wish to hangout there and explore the mysteries may do so. More plottage to come.

Update: 4/3/19

• All Gone: Marshall reported that the OTC Society members were 'all gone' and was given a key by a friend who was apparently a member. He discovered that the house was empty and that strange things were afoot at the circle Kay...I mean Key.
• That's Super Dark: Marshall and Jasmine discovered that one of the rooms was nearly drowning in inky, magical darkness. No light would pass the threshold into the Lobby. Jasmine attempted to unweave the magic but it was a bit too slippery.
• Green Gardens: A few other faces showed up to help with the investigation and they discovered that the plants in the atrium weren't just alive they were VIBRANTLY alive; thriving despite their conditions.
• Let's (NOT) Do the Time Warp Again: Cody had to touch something. Yup. He just -had- to touch something. And he got whipped around in time without anything but his athame and his...*ahem* wand. He made it back in one piece and boy does he have a few things to process.
• It's Full of Stars: Not to be one-upped by weirdness, Jasmine decided to look at something she probably shouldn't have looked at with her Etherical sight. We saw her flop to the ground in pain, confusion and possible orgasm. Cody -may- have appeared naked right before or after she collapsed. No connection. We swear.
• Eyes Lead the Way: So who's going to open the hidden door first?