2024.02.16: Bobs first cabal meeting

Bob's first cabal meeting
Bob, Viktor, Grayson, and Ceilia meet to form Pacific Path
IC Date	February 16th, 2024
IC Time	Evening
Players	Bob, Ceilia, Viktor, Grayson
Location	Ceilia's Garage
Spheres	Mage

Ceilia's Home - Garage

Where there was once a garden, has been built a semi-attached garage unit. Just enough room to fit two cars comfortably, but this building's purpose is anything but. No cars are ever actually kept parked in here.

Instead, the floor is kept immaculate with a professional work surface from wall to wall. Workbenches ring the walls, with room for various tools, work areas, fabrication equipment, and materials storage in the cabinets below.

The lighting is bright daylight LED based. Shining fresh on the whole work area, making it easy to see every project in progress.

The walls themselves are unfinished, bare studs with no drywall, but pegboards line every wall for easy access to important implements of science, engineering, and crafting.

Ceilia takes care of business. She orders pizza: one pepperoni and sausage, one plain cheese. A six pack of bottles of coffee, and the same of water, are put out as well. And so the 'party' is set for those invited to her garage. "I don't think Leigh can get down here this afternoon," she'll explain after inviting everyone in to her garage lab here, "But at least most of us can meet all at once."

Viktor shows up dressed a bit like a goober, t-shirt and cargo pants. He grabs a seat and a slice, growing a jovial smile to greet the others.

Bob is a bit dressier today as he arrives. This twenty-something man sits in a high-tech wheelchair. He wears a thick black wool turtleneck, with a black blazer over it. He's also wearing black Levi's jeans, and brown loafers. A small tray connected to the wheelchair has a couple drink holders. The tray is empty. A security chain connects the wheelchair to a closed messenger bag on the right side. The man is tall, perhaps 6'1", with an oval face and no discernible muscle definition. Light stubble and a mustache with no gray are framed by shoulder-length dark brown hair.

He smiles. "Viktor, Ceilia, it's good to see you both again. Ooh, pizza. That's great!", he says in a thick Cajun accent.

Viktor shifts his stool over and waves at Bob. "Hey, nice to see you! This is the first time in meatspace, right?"

Ceilia settles in with a slice from each pizza. She never knows what people will want. And while she's not rich, she can afford to order cheap pizza on a coupon. "Thanks for coming out guys." She'll help Bob with the food if he needs it. "So, purpose of our team. I feel like it went without saying, but it's worth saying. We're out to keep the peace, explore and study the universe, and look out for each other. Sounds good?"

Pizza slice in hand, already with a bite taken, Bob looks up. "Yeah. It's good to see you in person. Hey, we get done here, or sometime this weekend I need to get with you. The uhh, witch we know who hates clothes and si hard to forget, she's like us to take a look at her phone, and maybe upgrade it." He quiets to listen to Ceilia.

Viktor chuckles at Bob and takes another bite from his slice. "Ok, sure I can help with that." He nods at Ceilia with a bit more seriousness. "Yeah, that does sound pretty good. I suppose I haven't really been doing actual universe exploration, but it sounds neat."

Ah yes. Pizza. How Very American. Grayson shows up in a wool flannel, alternating yellow and black colors along with khakis. California's winter has not had him pulling out his heavy coats at all. He is an exceedingly young man in the grand scheme of things, mid-twenties with scruff that might be intended to make him look older but doesn't really. Is he the latest one to arrive? Probably. It happens. He'll arrive and have been occupied with stuffing his face with pepperoni for the time being. "I definitely have an inkling that we don't quite do things the same way...I'm Grayson Breckenridge. I could go through the spiel but it isn't too necessary. Hello."

Ceilia smiles. "Yeah that's an important detail. Leigh and I are with the Etherites. Viktor and Bob here are with the Virtual Adepts. But Grayson here is.. with the Order of Hermes." She doesn't know to ask which House. "So we're... a team doing things our own ways, to those common causes."

Bob looks at Grayson, giving the man a smile and nod. "Bob, nice to meet you." Turning to Ceilia, "How do you all feel about adding to charter also the supporting the Traditions in their fight against their enemies - the Nephandi and the Technocracy?", he asks. He adds, "Other than wanting to add that, it sounds great." He takes a bit of his almost vanished slice.

"With a centralizing aspect around the University. Lets not go saving the entire universe right from the get go." Grayson finishes his slice and approaches the group to negotiate. "Upholding the Traditions and their ideals is grand, but if the Etherites decide to go to Mars to crush the Technocracy and the standing Etherites are invited....well. I've seen Alien. Something like that shouldn't be compulsory. The, go where the team goes outside of the sphere of responsibility so to speak. Not that I would turn it down, I'd just like the option to."

Viktor folds his slice in half in his hand, waving to Grayson as he arrives. "Well, what do you mean by the fight, exactly? I mean, I'm all for saving the world, but I don't really think that going out guns blazing is really going to help anyone."

Bob nods, "I can see that. I don't imagine any endeavor being compulsory. I'd see us more as a collective, we agree together to do things after discussions and stfff". The last word is a little muffed, due to..pizza. A bite, and then "Also, I meant supporting the fight by making stuff for the other Traditions to use in their fights. I am definitely not a front line fighter." He waves his hands at his wheelchair and smiles.

Ceilia looks around."We're an anarcho syndicalist commune. We take turns being executive officer of the week."

"I would say threats specifically in the region of the Campus is something we should be willing to get involved against. But joining causes outside the local area is by individual decision....and the executive officers pick the beverages." Grayson has his own little rule that definitely needs to get added.

Bob shrugs, "I don't know what anarcho syndicalist means. That executive officer rotation could present problems. I'd more be up for a council type thing where we vote on each thing. Or maybe I don't understand what you mean?", he asks Ceilia. To Grayson's comment about university threats, he nods in agreement.

Ceilia waves her hand. "It's a quote from an ancient movie Bob. But like... I think we just work by consensus. Working together as we can, when it makes sense. No stress, just... sometime we'll be the only ones who can help."

Bob nods, "That sounds about right. From what I've seen a lot of the powerful mages are either fighting their own fronts, or have become apathetic or in hiding. There's a big need for people willing to help, and even a little help is good - doesn't have to be masters."

Ceilia nods. "I'm sure Leigh will approve of this. We're not asking for... some massive commitment. We're going to help each other and, when we can, help others. And... by banding together, let us help new people to our thing when we need to."

"Hashing things out is easy enough, we'll put things on paper and then everyone will get final say on things. Meeting people is more important. Also, eating pizza." Grayson interjects at that. "We'll get to yay or nay on whichever. I'm sure we'll meet some four or five more times before we officially agree on anything. Our secrets are still our secrets right now."

Bob chuckles, "Well said Grayson. So how about we tell a little about ourselves..not secrets though." He pauses for a bite. "So. I'm an odd duck. I was in an accident, in a coma for months. While there a spirit of technology, a Kilakac'n, drew me into the Digital Web. While there I Awakened." Another bite. "Since it was a weird Awakening I have a mix of Dreamspeaker and Virtual Adept paradigms, though I lean more Virtual Adept. Got taught by a couple where the wife was a shaman and the hubby was a leet adept with mad skillz. I left New Orleans because, well, too many memories of my dead parents, and came here. I like animals, coding, and carousing."

Ceilia finsihes two slices, and then grabs one more. Probably herlimit. "Yeah we don't have to ruh. I'm new to all of this. I barely know what I'm doing. I don't even know the terminology any of the rest of you guys use. I'm just hoping we're understanding each other, you know?"

"Oh. I've a home in the vicinity. I'm a PHD student at the university studying whatever, really. I've a familiar in the area as well. Access to a node." Grayson gives a shrug about HIS secrets. Such secrets to let out. "Weekly convenings will be fine enough. Next time I'll host...I should be able to have a ramp in by then."