Mage: The Ascension - Sunrise City
The further adventures of a circle of mages in San Francisco
Sunset City 1 (not yet called that)
Sunset City 4Cara Lawson, Akashayana
In every generation there is a chosen one
Simon Donovan, Hermetic
May have consulted on the new season of The Librarians
Alissa Kwan, Ecstatic
All the pretty girls and all the pretty boys they get dressed up and go out dancing
Michael Lang, Verbena
Cowboy Druid
And last but definitely least:
Didi Duvall, Hollow One
Wants to be Agatha Harkness when she grows up
4A.01: Into The Portal
26/07
Our heroes (and Didi) have been enjoying relative peace and quiet - cut to Cara kicking a ghoul in the face and Simon casting out a demon - when Martin, the master of Time magic who pressed them into rewriting history to save his wife a while back, approaches them seeming tense.
Someone is planning to launch an attack on the city's Tradition Library, the base of the mages on the west coast.
When it was built.
Over a century ago.
It's been well enough concealed that he just detected it.
We go to try and stop the time warping ritual before it activates.
But it's too late.
Whiteout, hard to look at.
So Martin throws us back in time to stop it.
At least this time he tells us that's all he can do and gives us a moment to nod before he widens the portal and in we go.
Promising a soft landing.
--
Didi wakes to find herself in a nice bed. In a nice room.
With a couple of women in old-fashioned maid uniforms coming to help her get ready for the day.
II's 1883.
 |
| Surprise! Mage: The Ascension - Victorian Age |
Didi tries not to look too stoked about getting a wardrobe full of Victorian dresses in mourning colours.
 |
| Miss Didi Duvall |
When separated by weird events, the first place the circle will check is one of their regular hangouts, the café near the university history buildings.
Of course none of that has been built yet. But the first place to look would be a café near where it will be.
And she's perfectly happy to take a carriage to get there.
Judging by the outfits, the maids, the house and this, she's rich.
--
Simon was first to arrive. He looks about as academic as usual, even more tweedy. He looks up from a newspaper and goes to pull out her chair.
 |
| Dr. Simon Donovan |
Simon: "Well, you look... this is not all surprising."
Didi: "Hard same."
And then Cara arrives, also wearing a gorgeous visiting dress in royal blue, and looking rather less keen on it than Didi.
 |
| Miss Cara Lawson |
Didi: "Oh my gosh you look amazing." (hug)
Cara: "I better, I had a maid working on all this for like twenty minutes."
Next is Alissa, all in lavender pink complete with floral bonnet. She gives Didi and Cara hugs and shows off, all smiles.
 |
| Miss Alissa Kwan |
Alissa: "So I just arrived by carriage. And you all look sooooo good!"
Cara: grumble
Alissa: "So are we, like, rich? I seem to be an old money debutante or something."
Simon: "No day jobs means we have time to investigate."
Cara: "Once the maids let us out. I coulda been slightly less rich just fine."
Finally, Michael arrives, in a nicely tailored black suit and coat with matching cowboy hat and a jangle of spurs.
 |
| Mr. Michael Lang |
Didi: "So Simon has gone full Giles and Michael's Wyatt Earp."
Cara: "This is fine I'm not jealous at all."
Didi: "There's a bunch of ways this could have gone. No help and we'd have arrived as is, no place in the world. We woulda had to steal. Or get jobs."
Michael: "Not a problem, I could rob a bank."
Alissa: "Or get jobs."
Didi: "Hey, we're very qualified to be dancing girls at the saloon."
Cara: "Okay, liking being idle rich more."
Didi: "Especially you with the high kicks."
Cara: "..."
Didi: "Or we could all have ended up in one household. I'd probably be your maid. Which would mean you'd still be my dress-up doll."
Cara: "But I'd get to shush you."
Simon sets down the second city newspaper he's read through. "So. The university medical school opened its third building in 1881. The kind of thing that make a city a candidate for a Tradition presence. The Library won't open for a few years but plans are being drawn up."
Michael: "So what do we do, wait for the guy to make a move?"
Simon: "We can investigate but we can't draw too much attention. Just being here is a paradox."
Cara: "Okay, I'm the most experienced time traveller here."
Didi: "Meaning this is your third time instead of your second."
Cara: "Yes."
Cara: "So we stay undercover, research... avoid contact with the Mages of this time unless we have to, they're the most likely to glitch this."
Alissa: "So we do what we're expected to do?"
Cara: "Until we have reason not to."
Alissa: "So are we all going to the theater tomorrow?"
Cara: "I guess - "
Didi, squeeing: "That means dressing up even more!"
Alissa, squeeing: "What were you thinking? I have a fitting later today."
Didi, squeeing: "Me too!"
Cara. not squeeing: "(sigh)... Me too."
Cara: "Okay, as long as we can get back, we be good. Take only photographs, leave only footprints. Maybe some light Quantum Leap put the wrong things right. And we shouldn't be, we've got some options. We can get a cryo chamber if we have to. But if we do get stuck here, I'm gonna kick this century's ass. I'm talking voting equality, vaccines, warn people about the earthquake, go to Austria and kick H*tl*r's dad in the nuts, we'll start there."
Simon: "But if we're not careful, paradox will throw us back to our own time with the mission uncompleted. Or rewrite us to be who it thinks we should be here and now. Or erase us entirely. Or the universe."
Didi: "... So, being careful."
--
OOC
We picked outfits for day one and beyond, and revealed them as we met up in character.
Didi, Alissa and Michael are already enjoying it, Simon is unfazed and Cara would like it if not for practical considerations like being able to fight. Her player is so mean to her.
TPO Cara: I'm sure she'll get to wear trousers at some point in the adventure. Maybe the end when we get back. If we do...
--
4A02: Who We Appear To Be
In which the circle attend the theater
2/08
The ladies go to dress fittings with varying degrees of willingness. Otherwise the circle have the day to themselves to research and investigate. No obvious Time magic traces to detect, unfortunately.
Simon looks up occult societies to check for Hermetic insiders. Didi checks spiritualists for proto-Hollows. No making contact, not yet...
And Michael is approached by a witch.
Very much in the style of gunfighters sizing each other up.
Gabrielle: "You should not be here. You should not even be born for more than a hundred years. Why shouldn't I send you back?"
Michael: "If you can tell that, you can tell someone else sent us here. And we have a mission here. Send us back now and our timeline's ruined, maybe destroyed."
Gabrielle: "So I have to trust you're not the largest threat? But a threat you are all the same, just by being here. I go as far back as you and I could help Benjamin Franklin with the kite and the lightning. Or stop it, break a century of science."
Michael: "I know. Can you send us back?"
Gabrielle: "The long way, but you'd sleep through it."
Michael: "Alright. If we don't get a ride home when this is over we might need that."
Gabrielle: "My eyes are on you, traveller."
--
The group meet at Cara's townhouse. She looks awkward as one of the maids brings coffee and cake.
Simon finds some academic and mystical societies that might be connected to the founding of the Tradition Library, some near the growing university and other schools.
Cara: "Let me guess. Gentleman's clubs?"
Simon: "Ah, well, uh, this one isn't."
So now they have a plan, of sorts.
Cara: "Wish I could go out tonight. Beat up some monsters."
Didi: "I'm sure there will be monsters at the theater tomorrow."
Cara: "Promise?"
--
More research, and then arranging to meet in the theater restaurant ahead of the play.
Didi arrives early, as a black dress and accessories are easy to coordinate.
Simon in full white tie, complete with top hat and cane.
Didi: "Ooh, someone's made an effort!"
Simon: "Well, I figured I needed to be allowed in."
"Got a rabbit in that hat?" Michael chuckles. Still a fancy Wild West gentleman.
Didi: "So do we get to meet anybody famous at this? Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde?"
Simon: "Nobody I've ever heard of in the programme."
Didi: "Aww."
Alissa hands in a cape to the cloakroom as she arrives to make a full entrance, in white gold satin, showing off with a huge smile.
Alissa: "Okay we all look fabulous."
Didi: "I know, right? I am living happily ever after right here."
Alissa: "Me too! But... you think Cara's gonna show?"
Simon looks at the clock and frowns.
And then enter Cara, in a sunshine yellow gown by Worth of Paris, diamonds and a tiara.
Cara: "I told them it was probably a bit much."
Didi: "Okay new plan Cara becomes Queen of California and we all live in the palace."
Cara: "Shut uuuuup." She snaps her fan open for emphasis.
Didi: "Oh come on, you've always been the queen of us."
Cara: "No I'm not And also if I was I'd be like Xena, not..." She gestures to herself. "Belle?"
Didi: "Hey, we can never be royals."
Alissa, sotto voce: "Royals!"
Didi: "Lemme live that fantasy."
Cara shakes her head but smirks.
Didi, kindly: "I can tell you're enjoying it and that's okay."
Cara, smiling slightly: "Long as I don't have to move at full speed..."
Dining and drinks ahead of the play give the group a chance to see (a) how many people are checking them out, which is many, (b) if anyone is a monster, not obviously to Cara's disappointment but also relief, "I do not wanna get this dirty", and (c) if anyone knows them in their new roles...
And apparently so. A young man gets Hugh Grant flustered seeing Miss Alissa and asks what she thinks of the play before it starts. And a woman in a sleek silvery gown appears to be appraising Cara like a duelling opponent. Which she's used to, but not for social combat.
At the intermission the woman, Cecilia Montague, approaches to make smilingly pointed small talk. Cara recognises the general attitude from fighting over who gets to be prom queen.
 |
| Cecilia, based on Meg Donnelly |
And the boy, Edward Forbes, asks if Alissa has already filled her dance card for the ball at the end of the month.
--
OOC
TPO Cara: Cara is currently in the 1880s and hoping that having to dress like a lady doesn't get her or anyone else killed.
Me: Behind the scenes footage of the girls getting to choose outfits excitedly and Holland saying "It'll be an acting challenge to pretend I don't like this."
--
--
4A03: Horseshoes
In which Cara goes riding, Didi attends a séance and Alissa enjoys a stroll in the park
09/08
Cara rises early. She has a plan.
This plan does involve meeting some ladies and confirming, in passing, that she's been written into their lives as well.
Abigail: "So good to see you here, dear. We must compare notes on plans for the ball."
Olivia: "Oh, we must!"
Cara: "Ah, yes, of course..."
Abigail: "Can't have that Cecilia upstaging you, can we?"
But also some physical activity.
--
Sunday, another day of research, and another meeting for afternoon tea at a café near the city's Free Library, forerunner to the public library and therefore important to the city as a whole and to the future Tradition Library in particular, to compare notes.
Simon is the first there again, giving himself time to check his notes.
Didi second. Today wearing a plum purple visiting ensemble, waiting for the other ladies to arrive so they can compliment her on it.
Cara: "So, this is a riding habit. Apparently the ones with pants under the skirt haven't happened yet but this is still the best I can move so far. Although this blouse is the frilliest thing I've ever worn since I was baptized as a baby. And maybe not even then."
Didi: "It's adorable."
Cara: "Thanks I guess?"
Didi: "And yes it might be the frilliest thing anyone's ever worn."
Cara "And it did mean I had to actually go riding to get to wear it."
Didi: "So you're a horse girl now."
Cara: "Yes. And apparently I have a bunch of lady friends at the riding club as a result. Oh and maybe I can do archery as well. But that doesn't need anything special to wear. Isn't there something about fencing for ladies around now? With, like, outfits you can move in?"
Didi: "Not for about another decade."
Cara: "Damn it."
Didi: "Soz babe."
Michael joins them, adjusting his tie.
Michael: "Yeah, it's rough. I mean, keeping a tie straight?"
Cara gives him a very That's Not The Same And You Know It look.
Finally Alissa enters proudly wearing white and pink this time.
Alissa: "Oh don't you all look lovely? Oh, Cara, can you help me with something tomorrow?"
Cara: "Sure, what is it?"
Alissa: "I need a chaperone for high tea and a walk in the park with a gentleman."
Cara: "... Okay...?"
Alissa: "Oh like you don't have suitors."
Cara: "Apparently yes I do but I wasn't planning to spend a lot of time with any of them."
Alissa: "Hey, we have to go to the ball at the end of the month, we're all on the guest list and it's for an educational charity so it's probably something to do with why we're here, right?"
Simon: "Most likely."
Alissa: "So we gotta dance with these boys, might as well talk to them first, right? Be better at staying in character."
Cara: "... Fine, fair enough. What time?"
Alissa: "Two."
Didi: "And this isn't the same boy from the theater, is it?"
Alissa blushes and looks at the menu.
Didi: "How many boys are trying to marry you?"
Alissa: "I think only three of them are serious..."
Didi and Cara share a look.
Alissa: "Five, max."
Simon lays out some notes about the current state of development for the Free Library, the University and other educational facilities around the Bay Area.
Simon: "This is the perfect time for a move like this. San Francisco's becoming a really settled city but there's still plenty of time to mess things up and plenty of room for people to come and go without a lot of questions."
Cara: "Hence us being able to move in and be accepted."
Alissa: "And the guy we're after."
Simon: "I took a ferry to Berkeley to see how it's coming along. There are definitely some Awakened there. But nobody approached me, just I could tell I was being observed."
Michael: "And the local Verbena... Verbenae I should say. She could tell I was from, ah, out of town, but I've asked and she can't find the big Time guy."
Cara: "Makes sense we'd be more obvious. So keep checking."
Didi: "I have a séance this evening. Anybody wanna come?"
Cara: "Sure, I can fight ghosts if I have to."
Michael: "Sounds like a party."
Didi: "Ooh, so what's your horse's name?"
Cara: "... Bluebell."
Didi: "Aww!"
--
Didi switches to a black dinner dress for the séance with a local Sepulchral - one of the names before Hollow Ones became a proper thing.
Cara regretfully does the same with royal blue.
"After a day moving easier it's even worse."
Michael was fancy by his standards already so doesn't change. Boys.
--
The séance confirms a few things. There has been a disruption in the flow of time, which is building to a danger soon. It's too unfocused to pinpoint yet, but getting clearer.
Oh, and as payment Didi has to help with a possible haunting sometime this week.
--
Next day Alissa has her afternoon tea and walk date with Jonathan Li, scion of possibly the richest family in Chinatown.
She is or wants to seem keen so she wears even more pink than last time.
--
And at the Free Library, Simon receives a visit from one of the Berkeley mages. She looks concerned.
"Excuse me. Are you a sign of the end of the world?"
--
OOC
Our heroes have had chances to dress a bit more how they choose. Which has had no real effect on Didi or Simon who were already 1880s versions of themselves, Michael is still doing the novelty Fancy Cowboy but wants to get more casual if he can, Cara has found a slight improvement but not getting to wear it all the time makes going full dressy again worse. And Alissa is 100% in her princess era.
TPO Cara: The riding ensemble was going to be Cara's outfit for day one before I decided to dress her up more.
Me: You monster.
--
4A04: The House Out Of Time
In which Didi achieves her final form
16/08
Simon assures Georgiana that he probably isn't a harbinger of the end times, though if she can help find the person who is that would be great. She is still suspicious, but accepts that he seems sincere, and arranges to have her mostly Hermetic study group meet with the circle.
--
Alissa continues trying to figure our if any of her would-be husbands are part of the villainous plot. Her plan involves more walks in the park, afternoon tea, bandstand concerts and that kind of thing, and seeing which of them does the most jockeying for position for when they get to dance with her at the ball.
--
Didi repays Madam Zaleska the proto-Hollow medium by going to investigate a house on the outskirts of the city. Cara and Michael come along for possible monster-fighting support. Cara packs some boy clothes she's acquired in case she gets a chance needs to fight.
Once inside our heroes quickly confirm that the haunting is to do with a terrible secret in the house's past which is echoing through time, now especially because of the higher background Time magic level.
This also involves a sinister housekeeper and a locked suite of chambers, with dustsheets over the furniture so they look like classic ghosts and everything.
Cara gets to shove the sinister housekeeper into a closet and stop her interfering. Sadly she doesn't have to put on pants to do so.
Didi manages to identify the ghostly fetter and escape the house with it as one ghost tries to stop her and another urges her on.
But not before spending most of the night in the house, running around dramatically in her nightdress holding a candelabra.
 |
| Oh yeah. This happened. |
Cara: "Are you okay?"
Didi: "Are you kidding? I just fulfilled a lifelong ambition!"
--
OOC
We might have 'sjoppeed images of Cara and Alissa in the nightgown and candelabra combo too. Cara does not look happy.
Roll credits over a Goth cover of the Dark Shadows theme.
What do you mean you can't find a Goth cover of the Dark Shadows theme?
--
4A05: Competition
In which our heroes attend a regatta and a concert, Michael gets to fulfil one of his lifelong ambitions and Alissa comes close as well. Cara, not so much.
23/08
As the group meets at Cara's to compare notes, Alissa enters with a bounce in her step.
Alissa: "The yacht club is holding is quarterly regatta tomorrow afternoon."
Cara: "And we have to go...?"
Alissa: "Big social event, yada yada, have to see and be seen, plus there's a chance the bad guys will come too."
Didi: "So how many of your suitors have yachts?"
Alissa: "... Two."
Cara: "Okay fine, but I'm not wearing a sailor dress."
Alissa: "Darn right, I have mine picked out already."
--
The circle assemble at the yacht club, apart from Michael, who comes up with an excuse not to have to.
 |
| Cara having a nice day out |
 |
| Didi having a pleasant day out |
 |
| Simon having a delightful day out |
 |
| Alissa having a lovely day out |
Didi: "Come on babe, we all have to make sacrifices. I mean, I'm wearing white too!"
Cara: "..."
--
Alissa meets with Edward and one of the other many boys trying to impress her, and he manages not to get too distracted so he only nearly falls off his boat.
--
Michael goes to meet Gabrielle and confirms that there are other outsiders around.
"And some others are asking questions as well."
And she nods to a man in a dark coat and hat.
Who pulls a gun.
Michael gets in front of Gabrielle and starts firing back.
 |
| Michael having the best day out, maybe one of the best days ever |
--
Cara chats with some of the other ladies from the riding club also in attendance, and sees Cecilia and her entourage here as well.
Cecilia approaches, all nearly convincing smiles.
Didi moves in to a flanking position.
Cecilia: "Cara, darling, so lovely to see you and, oh, Delia, I hardly recognised you in an ensemble you can be clearly seen in."
Didi "Cecilia."
Cecilia: "While I have you, a quick request. Quid pro quo if you will. I understand at the ball Miles Danforth is going to ask one of us for the first dance and one for the last before the interval. Do you have a preference?"
Cara: "You asked so by all means you go first."
Cecilia: "Only if Lester Samuels hasn't asked me already. Now I'm not saying you have to marry Miles just for my convenience but if you could keep him busy for the first waltz?"
Cara: "I suppose... you said quid pro quo?"
Cecilia: "I know my brother Jonathan would like the first dance with you after the interval, I can drop a hint one way or another?"
Cara: "That depends what you'd prefer there."
Cecilia: "You would make a charming sister-in-law, I'm sure." With a bright smile and a tone of Don't Even.
Cara: "I might sit that one out."
Cecilia: "Good. Do enjoy the rest of the afternoon!"
She strides back to her gang happily.
Cara: "What just happened?"
Didi: "I think you avoided becoming Lady Montague but I'm honestly not sure."
Cara: "Cool...?"
--
Alissa congratulates Edward on his boating prowess. He suggests taking her rowing sometime and she smiles and bats her lashes.
--
Michael sees off the rival gunfighter. Not a time traveller, it seems, but a mage from this era.
--
The Berkeley Hermetics arrive at the regatta - Georgiana, two young men called Daniel and Jian, and their mentor, Dr. Alder.
Alder: "Visitors from the future. I can tell more easily with some than others. Your guardian is... Well, short of Annie Oakley I've never met a woman like her."
Cara: "... Thanks...?"
And seeing them all together gives them a better lead to track the time resonance.
Simon: "And Alissa is over there being charmed by boys."
Georgiana: "So I see..."
--
Returning to Cara's, they find Michael waiting.
Michael, casually: "So I got in a gunfight."
Cara: "Are you okay?"
Michael: "Yeah."
Simon: "Because of our research?"
Didi: "Or just because you've always wanted to?"
Michael: "The former." He shrugs. "Although, yeah, obviously."
Cara: "I know I say this a lot, but, BOYS."
--
And so another meeting the next day:
Simon: "Found him."
Cara: "Who is he?"
Simon: "Dr. Henry Cabot."
Didi: "Dunno him."
Simon: "He's one of ours. Had a falling out with the Library council a few years back. I met him when I was just starting."
Cara: "So why's he doing this now? Never had the power before?"
Simon: "That would be my guess. Which makes him, A, powerful, and B, patient."
Didi: "And also C, arrogant."
Alissa: "That tends to go with A."
Simon: "Yeah. I still don't know what his ultimate plan is, but he's obviously preparing to rewrite history. And if that works it changes our world, and if it goes wrong..."
Michael: "Boom?"
Cara: "So what's our plan? Can we take him out?"
Simon "If we do we might need another way home. I know you've been thinking about that already. But that's assuming we even can."
Cara: "So I guess we confront him. Any idea where?"
Simon: "You're not gonna like it..."
--
And cut to Cara's maids helping her into yet another fabulous evening dress.
--
 |
| Cara doing nothing to dispel the suggestion that she should be queen |
 |
| Didi back in her natural colour scheme |
 | ||
| Alissa added the bow in her hair in case the outfit wasn't girly enough otherwise |
A concert by a string quartet, solo violinist, pianist, and soprano singer.
 |
| "Hush! The Concert" by James Tissot |
The recital is lovely, and gives the circle opportunities to catch up with their new selves' friends, would-be husbands and social enemies.
Cara gets to shrug off backhanded compliments from Cecilia.
Alissa gets to flirt and fluster Edward and Jonathan, who each notice they have competition.
--
Finally Simon points to one of the boxes.
Cabot.
And he's not alone.
The gunfighter and three others...
--
4A06: Sup With A Long Spoon
In which the circle meet the man responsible for their current predicament.
30/08
And as soon as Simon points them out, Cabot looks over and gives them a nod and a gracious smile.
Cara: "Well, so much for catching him by surprise."
 |
| Marc Bannerman as "Bowler Hat" in The Nevers If I'm reading the credits correctly |
Cabot approaches the circle during the intermission, flanked by his four companions. Two Mages he brought with him and two from this era. A woman with a small notebook held tightly and a suspicious look to Simon as they recognise each other, a woman wearing symbols of five different religions on one necklace, the gunfighter sizing Michael up, and a man with an athletic build studying Cara's every move with a derisive smirk.
Cabot: "Well now. Or should I say, well then. The guardians of the Traditions. The acolyte, the sword, the druid, the ballerina, the clown."
Didi: "Hey, don't talk about Simon like that!"
Cabot: "I can see the lingering echoes of a portal opened by one of my contemporaries. Martin Lambert, I would guess? He pressed you into his fights before, didn't he, Doctor Donovan?"
Simon: "Just once."
Cabot: "And he sent you here and now after me. Did he explain what I intend to do?"
Didi: "He, uh, didn't have time. Ironically."
Cabot: "Hm. Then allow me. I have reached the level of power and understanding that I can move back and forth in time. And have come to the years before the founding of the Traditions' Library here to ensure that the Pacific coast is as welcoming to our way as can be. This region had one brief lightning bolt of magic a few years ago with the Gold Rush and it took the Traditions decades to capitalise on it. and it won't see another for almost a century. Without direction there will be isolated researches that go nowhere, factionalism and academic politics the same as anywhere else wasting this land's promise of new opportunity, and the rise of the forces of Chaos that you yourselves will have to fight over and over."
Cara: "And with your direction?"
Cabot: "Unity of purpose, knowledge more than a century ahead of its time. A shining city for the mystic arts. A Concordia on Earth."
Cara: "Oh. Got it. You're mad."
The unarmed fighter squares off against her.
Akashic: "Big talk for a little lady."
Cara: "You wanna go?"
Cabot smiles and raises a hand for him to stand down.
Cabot: "I was concerned that you might think that, which is why I did not come alone, and will rewind this meeting if you make a move to attack me. Would you consider helping me, steering the course of the future?"
Cara: "I don't think so."
Cabot "Pity."
Simon: "So why now, not right after the Gold Rush?"
Cabot's time travelling allies share a look. Cabot shrugs.
Cabot: "The city did need infrastructure. But I'm still a decade ahead of the original schedule."
Alissa notes the hesitation.
Cabot: "So, I suppose you plan to get in my way. I quite understand. I see three options there. I win and you're erased or at least turned into your current roles, that would be a shame. Stand down and return to the portal, and I can send you back to your present. That timeline will become a shard but you will be quite safe. Or to the time I rewrite if you prefer."
Cara: "Leaving everyone in this timeline at your mercy."
Simon: "Assuming you get everything right. If you don't, both timelines get unravelled. You at least, probably us, maybe everyone."
Cabot: "O ye of little faith, Simon. Anyway, the third option, you win and... what, kill me? Clap me in irons?"
Cara: "Depends how fast you surrender."
The Akashic shifts into a fighting stance again, and the gunfighter as well.
Cabot: "And then... what? Settle in to your lives here, with no-one to send you back?"
He smiles as the circle pause.
Cabot: "I mean that wouldn't be so bad, would it? One of you already wants to stay." He looks to Alissa. She looks away.
"Two of you are enjoying it immensely even if just for the moment, and wouldn't mind being stuck here." Didi bites her lip and Michael looks away from the gunfighter to meet Cabot's gaze.
"One of you would be sad but get over it." Simon grimaces.
"And one grows closer to embracing it with every day of luxury, though she won't admit it even to herself." Cara glares at Cabot as he smirks.
Cabot stirs his tea. "Well. I have made my offer. I mean you no harm, my friends, hence choosing to meet now that my plan is already in motion. A new world is coming, a world where you could be celebrated as the heroes you are. Or you could stay here and live in luxury. Or if you prefer I could send you back to your ordinary lives hiding your true wonder. We will speak again at full moon. The choice is yours. Have a good night."
With that, he and his agents blur, move backwards as the clocks wind back, and vanish.
No-one else seems to notice as time resets itself.
Alissa pinches the bridge of her nose, hurt by the feeling of being too close to that.
Alissa: "They're gone. I might be able to get some warning if they reappear, a couple of them were ready to throw down so they might pop back up if we keep bugging them. I take it we're not taking the deal and going home."
Simon: "No. Even if it worked we'd be abandoning a whole universe to his ideas."
Cara, gently: "Or the offer to stay. Do you want to?"
Alissa: "I don't. Not all of me anyway. Part of me, yeah..." She smooths her skirt gracefully. "And part of you too."
Cara: "Okay, yes, I admitted it already, I'd like to not have to fight monsters ever again, or make my own coffee or load the washing machine. And yeah, dressing up and having lots of guys want to marry us is kinda fun too. But that also means never going home, even after we stop him." She looks back to the empty chair. "And we are stopping him, that's not a question of if, that's a question of how."
She looks around for agreement, and gets nods.
Alissa: "Well, one thing, he wasn't telling the whole truth about why now and not earlier. Something's happened since 1849 that means he couldn't do this then."
Simon: "That's a start."
Didi: "And I have an idea I need to check about that."
Simon: "Good."
Didi: "Also he did the villain monologue and offered to let us walk. If he coulda just zapped us he woulda, I don't really think it's an 'I like you too much to do that' thing.. And that means we can stop him."
Nods all round.
Didi: "Or that he really, really likes the sound of his own voice."
Didi: "Maybe both."
Nods all round.
The intermission ends and the circle return to their box seats.
Simon scribble notes about Cabot's apprentice, who he's met a few times but doesn't really know. Cara adds that the Chorister has been at Library events but they've never spoken, and she can guess the unarmed fighter is an Akashic and his preferred fighting style just from his stance when he got offended. Michael doesn't know what the gunfighter can do, except not get shot when he was shooting at him.
Cecilia and a couple of her Cordettes check in on Cara as they collect their capes. "Oh, your face, dear heart, you really must let me take you to something you would actually enjoy between now and the ball."
Cara: "I must?"
Cecilia: "Well I want you to consider it when I ask a favour at the dance."
Cara: "I appreciate your candour."
One of Cecilia's sidekicks: "By the way is your cowboy attending?"
Edward approaches Alissa as they leave. "Are you quite alright? I saw you take your seat and you looked quite troubled."
Alissa smiles gratefully at his concern. "Oh, an old friend of Doctor Donovan's had some bad news, that's all."
Edward: "I am sorry to hear that, Doctor. If there's any way I can help?"
Simon: "That's, uh, very kind of you."
Edward: "I shall let you get on." Back to Alissa: "Will you be at the ah... next thing I might see you at, possibly the races?"
Alissa: "Possibly."
Alissa moves Edward to the front of the pack of possible husbands.
--
Next day the group meet for afternoon tea at Cara's, allowing her to go riding (and discuss who of her friends at the riding club also want to dance with Michael) ahead of that.
 |
| Cara and Bluebell |
 |
| Didi absolutely not planning anything evil |
 |
| Alissa might be enjoying this, yes. |
Didi arrives carrying a book. "I've got a theory."
Alissa: "Is is a demon? A dancing demon?"
Didi: "Glad somebody picked up what I was putting down. But no..."
She opens the book, a popular light history of the Bay Area, at a marked page.
Didi: "Now it's been a couple years so this might not be it, and he probably has a boring plan like 'take over the library', but... Cabot wants to put himself in charge of California, and maybe everything west of the Rockies. And the big rush of magic and opportunity was back in 1849. But from 1859 till 1880 San Francisco already had a self-proclaimed emperor - " Cara and Alissa, having lived in San Francisco longer than Simon and Michael, nod as they get it. " - and he had enough public support that he got to be the city's lovable weirdo - and print his own money and have people pay for dinner and show tickets and everything."
She taps a picture of Emperor Norton.
Alissa: "So by popular agreement... so by consensus... California had a monarch already."
Simon: "I doubt he's planning to literally make himself king. I mean he's mad with the power but not that kind of mad. I think. But it would be a barrier to some magical control."
Didi: "So it's not just me projecting what I'd do?"
Simon: "Not entirely. But a coronation is a big ritual ceremony."
Didi: "What would he need? A crown and and a throne and...?"
Simon: "A sceptre, robes of office, a place to do it, someone to perform the coronation, enough witnesses to make it count. Not easy to arrange all at once."
Didi: "Okay, probably not the actual plan."
Michael: "But he's doing a power grab of some kind - and this would be a level of mystical protection."
Simon: "So it might be what delayed him. And that's good to know. Means that even with all his Time magic he can't do whatever he wants whenever he wants."
Didi: "Go me."
Simon: "Or he would have won already. Doing it as many times as he had to."
Alissa: "Yeek."
Didi: "And hey, if the coronation would work, if we do it before he does his plan, would that lock him out?" She looks to Cara. "Your Majesty."
Cara: "Ha ha don't make me come over there."
Didi: "I'm just sayin' let's nor rule it out."
Simon: "I think making California a separate country might count as 'making waves'".
Didi: "You guys are no fun."
--
OOC
So now we have a clear enemy, and a plan.
And Didi has a backup plan to make Cara the Queen of California and the Pacific Coast States, although OOC agreement that it would be funny but very out of character. Or would it? It's kind of a heroic sacrifice...
--
4A07: A Gift Horse
In which Simon is made an offer, Cara and Alissa attend a horse race, and the group go to dinner with a warlock.
06/09
Cabot makes himself scarce after the meeting, so the circle continue their researches, as well as the lives they've been dropped into.
The ladies continue to meet with their circles of friends and the gentlemen have more free time.
Simon works with the Berkeley Hermetics and Michael works with Gabrielle on a list of possible rivals Cabot might have to take out, people he might support and causes he might back or oppose.
Simon is in the Free Library later in the week when he is approached by Cabot and his apprentice.
Cabot: "Dr. Donovan. And how goes your research?"
Simon: "You tell me. I'm trying to find a way to stop your plan without getting everyone killed. (deadpan) Could you help?"
Cabot: "I appreciate your spirit. But I also appreciate your logic. I know Miss Lawson is dead set against me and the rest of your circle will follow her lead, but I hoped you might give me a fairer hearing."
Simon: "If only to see if you drop any clues."
Cabot: "I'll take it." He takes a seat opposite Simon at the desk. His apprentice stays standing behind him. "My plan is long term, my hope to make this city a beacon for Magi will take generations. I can use my time better than most, but I am still limited but how long I have." He nods to his apprentice. "Jane came with me as my right hand, but also as my heir. She will have to ensure the city recovers in a suitable way after the earthquake in 1906. It would aid her greatly to have you at her side."
Simon looks to Jane and back to Cabot. "I think you're mad."
Cabot: "Very well. I am simply suggesting that, when my work is done and if you have not chosen to return home but instead to fight, that just in case I win, you have a chance to affect my plan going forward."
With that he rises and leaves. Jane follows, with a look back to Simon, gauging his reaction. It remains studiously disappoving.
--
Simon informs the circle at the café.
Simon: "He's coming after us on our own, trying to divide and conquer."
Didi: "Did he just try to get you to marry his apprentice?"
Simon: "I don't think it went that far." (pause) "I don't think..."
Cara: "But he's starting to consider negotiating. Could be a good sign."
Simon: "Felt more like an offer of mercy..."
Cara: "I imagine that was how he wanted it to feel."
Then they are approached by a man delivering a letter.
Cara takes it, shows the seal to the group - Simon frowns - and then breaks it.
Handwritten, fine calligraphy, addressed to all five of them.
"Professor Morris Whitman requests the company of your literary circle for dinner at his home in order to discuss a matter of mutual concern, Sunday 7.30 p.m. RSVP"
The messenger waits for a response.
The group discuss this quietly.
Michael: "Should I know who that is?"
Simon: "He's one of the local Mages I was hoping we could avoid. He's a warlock. Used his power to get rich in the Gold Rush."
Alissa: "Okaaaay, what does he want with us?"
Simon: "Guess we'll have to find out."
Cara sighs and nods to the messenger.
--
Saturday comes, and Cara accompanies Alissa to the horse races at Bay District Racing Track.
 |
| The Queen attends a day at the races |
 |
| Alissa, with line of boys out of shot |
Alissa dallies with Edward. He's able to talk about horse racing confidently, happy to have figured out something he can actually impress her about. She smiles and lets him enthuse.
Cara chats about everyday things of the era with some of the ladies from the riding club, and is cornered by Cecilia at one point as well.
Cecilia: "Cara, dear, so lovely to see you at one of these things you actually like. I think I even saw a smile before you noticed me."
Cara: "It's possible."
Cecilia: "Good, good." She turns to a waiter and orders cake for both of them. "So, to business. The matter of our respective first dances at the ball. Have Lester or Miles asked yet?"
Cara: "I haven't seen them to have a chance."
Cecilia: "Tch. They really must try harder. Here I am ensuring we not step on one another's toes and they've not even approached you?"
Cara: "Boys."
Cecilia: "Precisely! But that makes my request a little easier, Lester will have a chance to ask me at this terribly dull lecture tomorrow, so that should be settled. As for you... you know about the cavalry captain making eyes at you from the next stand, I take it?"
Cara glances over subtly, and sure enough, there's a guy rocking the uniform who she's spoken to in passing at the riding club.
Cecilia swishes off before Cara can say anything to make sure he knows that Cara knows that he was looking her way.
And he comes over.
Edgar: "Pardon me if I seem too forward, but I recognised you from the riding club. Edgar Daniels, States Cavalry."
Cara: "Cara Lawson, just someone who has a horse."
Edgar: "Charmed. Your friend Miss Montague informs me you shall be attending the ball for the education fundraiser at the end of the month?"
Cara: "I believe she's right."
Edgar: "Then perhaps I may be so bold as to ask you to dance? At some point if you have a moment free."
Cara: "I think I have at least a moment or two."
Edgar tips his hat and steps back as the waiter arrives, and Cecilia returns from being close enough to hear everything.
Cara: "What was that for?"
Cecilia: "Of course I have an ulterior motive, a dashing gentleman in uniform fills up another line on your dance card and lessens the chance of you having time for the man I'm planning to wed."
Cara: "It would be so much easier if you could just ask boys out."
Cecilia: "Oh, wouldn't it just." She sighs at the thought. "But besides that, have you seen him ride?" she adds with a conspiratorial smile.
Alissa gives her a So Who Was That Boy look as they head out.
--
The next evening the ladies gather at Cara's to get ready and share a carriage over to Whitman's.
 |
| Cara thinking at least this dress is quiet. |
 |
| Didi considered a higher neckline for stealth but nah. |
 |
| Alissa will swish loudly enough for the whole circle. |
Cara is testing the relative difficulty of moving in a dinner dress rather than an evening dress.
Didi: "It's velvet so it'll be a bit quieter if you have to do any sneaking around."
Cara: (deadpan) "Well that makes all the difference."
Alissa: "Oh, mine is silk, guess I'll be the distraction."
Cara: "Thanks. But hopefully we won't have to do any sneaking. We're just having dinner with an evil wizard land baron." (pause) "Think I can throw this hairpin accurately enough to kill somebody?"
Didi: "If anyone can..."
--
Simon and Michael take another carriage and meet them at Whitman's.
It's a large and foreboding sort of structure on a hill.
Alissa: "Is that the house from Clue?"
Simon: "Quite possibly."
Alissa: "It's literally creepier-looking than the actual haunted house."
Didi: "Okay, just remember, big creepy Victorian manors are, y'know, new in this time."
A butler shows them in and Professor Whitman comes down from the balcony to greet them.
 |
| Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man because he's played declarative and folksy |
Cara and Michael are the first to notice two other men behind him staying on the balcony out of the light. And another on each side.
Whitman: "So glad you could make it. I know time is an issue for us all..."
He chuckles at his private joke as he waves them to the front room for drinks ahead of dinner at eight.
Cara sits by the arm of a couch, in case she needs to spring into action.
Whitman dismisses the maid once everyone has a drink.
Whitman: "To new friends."
Simon nods for the circle to raise their glasses, but none of them say anything.
Whitman: "Now, my dear young visitors, I suppose you are all wondering why I invited you here."
Simon: "Just a little."
Whitman: "Very well then. You have come from the future to stop a man from your time turning this city into his personal sandpit."
Simon frowns, concerned that he knows that much. Cara gets ready to spring. Michael follows her lead. Alissa looks nervous. Didi shrugs.
Didi: "Well, least we don't have to explain it."
Whitman: "He called upon me a week ago, I believe after you spoke with him. He made an offer of partnership. Quite a good offer... if I were to let him rule."
Cara: "And...?"
Whitman: "And I would be giving up a great deal for another man's dream and a small chance of more. Seems to me, like many of our kind he's an optimist. I've seen what happens when you try to make allies with egos like ours. Do you still know the proverb about too many cooks?"
Simon: "We do, yes."
Whitman: "I have one cook, and her staff answer to her."
Simon: "I see."
Whitman: "I have invested too much into this city to let some interloper take it over. If I wanted to be Mayor I would be Mayor. But as is, I don't want him to be."
Didi: "So..."
Whitman: "I asked the five of you here so that I might gauge the opposition."
Michael: "And we appreciate it."
Whitman: "I wished to ask your plans before enacting my own."
Alissa: (warily) "Uh-huh?"
Whitman: "I am mostly curious as to whether you plan to kill him."
Simon: "Uh... no. We want to stop him but we need to make sure what he's done already doesn't break the timeline."
Whitman: "Oh. Well that's awkward."
Cara uses the arm of the couch she was sitting on to quickly push herself up to her feet.
Cara: "What are you planning?"
Whitman smiles and raises his hands for calm.
Whitman: "Calm yourself, Athena. Oh, she's a firecracker, this one."
Cara stays standing, folds her arms and waits, not very patiently.
Whitman: "You are the experts here and I've no wish to fight you. But my priority is to my time, my life and those of my people. I'm sure you understand. If you assure me you can smooth this over, I will keep my contingency plan in my back pocket. If not... We can discuss that after dinner. At least try the soup."
The circle follow him to the dining room. Cara goes first for ease of backstabbing. Michael lets the men on the balcony know he's spotted them.
The circle are seated. Whitman asks Cara to sit between Michael and Simon so they'd have to move for her to lunge at him.
Alissa is surprised by how many meat-free options are provided. But there are still a lot of meat choices.
Simon: "So, our purpose here is to preserve the timeline as much as we can. Small ripples only. Too many and we won't be able to return. And we also don't have a way back without Dr. Cabot."
Cara: "Yet."
Simon: "Yet."
Whitman: "Hence you cannot do the most expedient thing." He pulls a drumstick off a quail for emphasis. "Then we are at cross purposes as well, I'm afraid. I would as soon not fight with you, but I will not hesitate if I must. So I have to know what you do plan to do about this, or I will have to act on my own recognisance. If I can remove him cleanly I will, and make it up to you as I can. And if I do, I can ensure your lives in my era will be comfortable, if I feel so disposed towards you. But if you oppose me, I can turn the same methods on you. After all, from my perspective you are just one possible future, one that does not really concern me. I can have the river redirected howsoever I choose. Dr. Cabot has ancestors who could be found and dealt with. So do you. If I must, I can make you wish you were never born - or ensure none of you are."
Cara sets her fork down.
Didi calculates if she's about to stab Whitman with it. Surely not with the cake knife a couple feet away.
Cara: "So, we should keep you up to date on what we're doing to stop you starting a war or a massacre, is that it? And you're threatening us to get us on side."
Whiman: "In essence, yes." He shrugs slightly.
Cara: "Y'know, you're the third person since we got here to tell me to stay out of their way. Act like you're being generous letting us walk away. I think you're scared we'll try."
Whitman: (flatly) "Do you now, child."
Cara: "I do. Lucky for you we're not here for you. So how about you stay out of our way. And when this is all over we'll leave and you can brag about helping us save the world."
Whitman narrows his eyes.
Cara stands, nice and slow. "Thank you for dinner, Professor. My compliments to the chef, and yes, the soup was good."
She turns and leaves. The others get up and follow her.
Whitman follows them to the dining room door and waves his men off to let them go.
Whitman: "When you're trapped here I hope we can be better friends."
The staff have their carriages ready by the time they have their hats and coats and capes and all.
Whitman watches them go from an upstairs window.
Alissa: "Did we just piss off a potential ally?"
Cara: "Not one I'd actually trust."
Didi: "Think he'll go to Cabot now?"
Simon: "If he does that'll make him easier to find."
Alissa nods to show she believes that little silver lining.
Michael: "So who was the other person trying to make you back down?"
Cara: "Cecilia."
Michael: "So, did you just bet on a warlock not betraying us because some mean girl doesn't want you stealing her boyfriend?"
Cara: "No. But I guess that did inspire how I put it."
Roll credits off Michael's "ahhh shit" expression.
--
OOC
Another villain, yay!
Another villain with an understandable point of view, boo!
Some example dinner menus. Some of it sounds lovely! Some... not so much.
--
4A08: The Following Footstep
In which there might be good news
13/09
A few more days of researching possible ritual targets and having to act like 1880s people.
Michael and Didi identify some not yet Awakened local Mages who might be in danger, with help from Gabrielle and Madam Zaleska. Simon finds some contributors to the education charity that the ball is in aid of. Alissa takes afternoon strolls with suitors. Cara uses a day with no social engagements as an opportunity for some sword practice with one of the blunt decorative swords in the house, but the next day has to go to afternoon tea with the riding club girls.
Midweek at the Free Library, Simon is approached by Jane, Cabot's apprentice.
 |
| Jane, based on Chloe East |
Simon: "Ah, here to try to persuade me to change sides again?"
Jane: "Actually I was hoping you might do that."
Simon: "...?!"
Jane: "Dr. Cabot knows you met with Whitman. It didn't go well, did it?"
Simon: "Why do you think that?"
Jane: "You haven't been back and you don't have any of his people here helping you."
Simon: "... I can see how that might give something away."
Jane: "So I would guess since they ended up threatening each other, Whitman wanted you to take him out for him."
Simon: "Pretty much."
Jane: "We knew we'd face opposition as well as finding allies, but..." She considers her words. "I didn't think it would be you, or that you'd be so set against us."
Simon: "For what it's worth I'm sorry."
Jane: "Thanks. I just, I mean... all you've done, being the Library's champions... saving the city - saving the world. If you think it's a bad idea..."
Simon nods and lets her take her time.
Jane: "And I think that made him more aggressive with Whitman, which, well, you know our egos."
Simon: "Yeah."
Jane: "So this is getting to one of his contingency plans. I still think it could work, to be clear. I still have faith in him, and in our vision. Just... maybe not the plan."
Simon: "How can we help?"
Jane: "If... If it comes to a fight with Whitman, it'll get ugly. Both sides are pretty big now, and some of our side are... well, they believe hard."
Simon: "And you want us to step in."
Jane: "If you can. Not to play the 'hero' card but you know the fight won't restrict itself to the fighters, people will get caught in the crossfire."
Simon nods. "Keep in touch."
Jane: "And if you work out a way to stop him safely... I'll help make sure the portal opens. I promise."
--
Simon updates the circle at dinner at the café.
Didi: "Think we can trust her?"
Simon: "I think so. I think she's really scared. This is escalating. Although it might be Cabot's making sure she's concerned to get us to help in the fight with Whitman. Or thinking about that when we should be working against him."
Didi: "So yesn't."
Simon: "She swore she'd help us get back if we stop this without hurting Cabot. So I trust her that much anyway."
Cara: "And your trust's good enough for me."
Didi: "Right. Okay, so, are we doing anything fun this evening, because The Pitt isn't on for another - " checks watch " - hundred and forty-two years."
--
And so they take in a light comic play.
 |
| Didi ready for an excuse to dress up |
 |
| Alissa ready to add more boys to her collection |
Cara: "One of Whitman's, one of Cabot's we haven't seen before?"
Didi: "Guy who thinks one or more of us is hot?"
Alissa: "Could be both."
Didi: "Should we wave and see if he blushes or pulls a gun?"
Cara: "Let's keep an eye on him. And see if there are any more being subtler."
The intermission comes, giving the circle a chance to see if he approaches or runs when Cara glances over her fan.
He does neither, just continues sort-of-obviously-now observing.
Cara approaches and he retreats and leaves.
Michael glances around to see if there's anyone else sneaking looks. Yes, but most likely in a 'one or more of us is hot' way.
But they can't really get back into the play after all that.
--
On the ride home, Cara notes that her carriage is being followed.
The same observer.
She has the driver stop a block early and steps out to confront him as his cab pulls up short.
 |
| "It's late, I'm tired, and I don't wanna play games." |
Cara: "Why are you following me?"
The man squares up, expecting that to be intimidating.
Observer: "Professor Whitman would like to know if you've taken any further action about your mutual acquaintance."
Cara: "Would he indeed."
The man can tell that his intimidating stance isn't having the desired effect. He gets back into the cab and has it turn around.
On the way home she reflects on missing being able to phone the others.
--
Didi realises that she's being followed too, just not as blatantly. She has her driver change direction to take her to Cara's. Once this becomes clear the following cab turns away.
--
A breakfast meeting at Cara's.
Cara: "So now Whitman's following us and being kinda threatening. This is not okay."
Michael: "Should we do something about it?"
Cara: (reluctantly) "Better not actually start a war. Big ripple, and lets Cabot advance faster."
Simon: "I could go to his club, remind him we're still working on it and not to interfere."
Cara: "Guess that'll have to do."
Didi: "Be sure to give him a really dirty look when you do."
--
Whitman isn't at his club, so Simon has to leave a message, and dirty look, with the observer.
And on the way out he sees someone else observing the club entrance and taking note of him.
By the time he's crossed the road she's gone.
--
Returning to Berkeley, he looks around for anyone watching him on the train...
--
4A09: Through The Looking Glass
In which a danger threatened from the beginning comes to pass
20/09
After an all-nighter of research, Simon sends a telegram arranging to meet the others in the evening and compare notes.
Arriving at the theatre ahead of a string quartet performance, he has to wait for longer than usual, and then Alissa and Didi arrive together, both super dressed up and eager to talk about the ball.
 |
| Didi's style has been pretty consistent so she's showing it off a little differently. We did consider going full mourning veil and all... |
 |
| Alissa was already near 100% Victorian Disney princess so the costume designers had to work at pushing it over |
Didi: "Oh, Simon you look so harried, you really mustn't let the university take up so much of your time!"
Alissa: "Oh, absolutely! I mean, have you asked any of the girls going to the ball to dance yet? I'm sure Jane would say yes..."
It doesn't take him long to realise that he isn't talking to his friends.
He's talking to the ladies they've been pretending to be since they arrived.
And then Cara arrives - acting the same way.
 |
| If Cara didn't seem like a queen before... |
Didi: "Cara, darling, don't you look a picture?"
Cara: "Oh, this? Tsh, wait till you see my gown for the ball!"
Alissa: "Oh you tease!"
As far as Simon can tell they haven't been affected by a Mind spell, this is who they are, and who they always were. Is this a Paradox backlash, or something else?
A telegram and Georgiana agrees to come from Berkeley to help observe to find a solution as Simon keeps them in sight.
Michael, meanwhile, has yet to appear or respond in any way.
After an hour of the ladies gossiping and Alissa bashfully hiding a smile behind her fan as one of her interested gentlemen tries to impress her with his music knowledge, no sign of Georgiana either.
Which is when Jane arrives.
Simon: "Do you know what happened to them?"
Jane: "Them? Nothing, yet. This is a Time effect, one of our side showing you what'll happen with a Paradox strike to try and make you react to it. The more you do, the more self-fulfilling it becomes."
Simon: "So what do I do?"
Jane: "Wake up."
Simon wakes with a start, head down on the writing desk in his home and surrounded by papers.
--
He goes to see Didi as she's the closest.
 |
| Okay, she dresses like this at home, so? |
Didi: "So does this mean Jane's really on our side? Or was this a way to make you trust her more?"
Simon: "I think they danger was real. We're all a constant paradox so anybody who hits us with that, or we trip it ourselves..."
Didi: "So do we try to get her out?"
Simon: "Maybe.. But that tips our hand ahead of Cabot's ritual. That's still the best chance to stop him."
Didi: "Without..." (finger gun) "Pop."
Simon: "Yeah."
Didi: (finger guns with both hands, rapid fire) "Pow pow pow (mimes twirling and holstering like a cowboy movie) "Whirr, clunk"
Simon:"... Yeah I got it."
--
The group meet and confirm they're still themselves.
 |
| Cara in the most practical day ensemble she can get away with |
Cara: "So Jane didn't say who did it?"
Simon: "I imagine she doesn't want you to kill them."
Cara: "Fair."
 |
| Alissa showing why it might take longer to work out if she's fully switched |
Alissa: "So should we go to this concert? And what do I wear?"
--
OOC
Time to do the "everybody acts like their 1880s selves" episode that's been threatened to the PCs and promised to the players, as we were one player down - Michael's player figures 1880s-ised Michael would be off in a saloon or some other cowboy trouble.
--
4A10: King's Gambit
In which someone gets their clock cleaned
27/09
Cabot's people are preparing their final moves ahead of the ball which historically leads to the founding of the Tradition Library. And Whitman is moving against him in turn. And that means some more overt action. And that means some opportunities to intervene directly. And that means...
Cara and Michael go to protect one of the benefactors of the Library from Cabot's followers.
With enough warning, Cara gets to show up dressed for a fight. She is, fair to say, a little relieved.
 |
| We got to the penultimate episode before we let Cara wear pants. SO close. |
The 1883 Akashayana leads the attack.
Ling: "Let us see what our Tradition learns in the next century. That they let someone like you claim their name."
Cara: "Well, I don't wanna brag. So I'll just kick your ass and you can draw your own conclusions."
FIGHT
Michael takes on Cabot's gunfighter. And yes, this develops into a horseback chase.
And so does Cara versus her Tradition rival.
 |
| Having been a sharp dressed Western type all month Michael also goes back to his nature. |
Meanwhile Simon gets the target away safely.
 |
| Okay, Simon hasn't changed all that much. |
And in all this, Didi and Alissa - who have not dressed for a fight, thank you very much, they're... undercover - stay in the carriage and keep a look out for Whitman's gang.
 |
| Didi also in her natural state. |
 |
| Alissa isn't always like that, but currently she's enjoying being Like That. |
Alissa: "Should we help?"
Didi: "Girl hasn't kicked anybody in a month. This is helping."
Michael and the gunslinger end up with the gunslinger jumping his horse onto the ferry.
Cara disarms Ling and spin kicks him across the street.
Cara: "Hey, if it makes you feel any better, we still study that move."
Whitman's guys do indeed show up, and Ling makes himself scarce rather than helping with the fight.
So now we've thumped the other two sides. Now just a few days until the ball, the final attempts to rewrite history, and hopefully stopping them and getting to go home... hopefully.
--
OOC
Everybody as their ultimate Victorian Age selves. If we actually made figures... okay, it would be the fabulous ball outfits, but also these. :D
Next time, the thrilling conclusion! Danger! Mystery! Romance! Ballgowns!
Cara: "Well, I don't wanna brag. So I'll just kick your ass and you can draw your own conclusions."
C: Hell yes proud of that one
Me: My sister, my captain, my queen.
--
In which the circle attend the grand ball and seek to return home
4/10
The night of the ball.
 |
| Didi Duvall, guest at the ball |
Didi waiting for Cara to come out of the boudoir once her maids are done helping her get ready.
Didi: "It's designed so you can dance in it. You can dance in it, you can fight in it. No kicking in the face but..."
Cara: "Sure, unless somebody steps on this train. Which is like three feet long."
Didi: "I promise if we get stuck I'll help you flee this life of luxury and disguise yourself as a man." She smirks.
Cara, deadpan: "Thanks."
 |
| Cara Lawson, guest at the ball |
They head downstairs to the waiting carriage.
Cara: "Most of all I just miss being able to go up and down stairs without having to hitch up a skirt."
Didi: "Truly, none of us have suffered as you have suffered."
Cara: "Yeah, I noticed."
--
The circle assemble outside. Tonight Alissa has gone for a white gold gown, and Michael has finally been persuaded to go for full white tie.
 |
| Alissa's player liked that first one best, so retconning she wore another one then |
 |
| Michael may have even neatened his hair. A little. |
 |
| Simon rocking this look again. Boys. |
--
The ball is a grand affair, a fundraiser for a permanent home for the city's Free Library and to add more courses to the universities around the Bay - and so to help the foundation of the Hermetic Library, the base of the Traditions in the city.
--
As they arrive, a photographer has a portrait setup in the ballroom foyer.
Alissa: "Oh, we should pose for photographs."
Michael: "Won't those be a really obvious paradox?"
Alissa: "Not if we get the proto-library to keep them."
Michael: "Okay, just checking because I got a couple already after I got that cool waistcoat the day after we arrived."
Alissa: "Okay I may have also done that." She hides a blush behind her fan.
Didi: "Hey I wasn't first."
--
--
Alissa has to tell several boys that she may have to leave town for a family matter.
She starts with Edward, having promised him the first dance, after the dance of course.
Edward: "Well. You came into my life so suddenly..."
He smiles wanly and lets her go.
--
Cara approaches Cecilia and they trade honest compliments about their gowns.
Cara: "I just wanted to assure you that I should be absent for the rest of the season. Personal business."
Cecilia: I hope it's nothing bad."
Cara: "No, hopefully something good."
Cecilia: "Still, such a pity, a proper rival really has made me push myself."
She nods to the young man who gets the first dance with her, and graciously to the one waiting for Cara.
--
Michael finds a number of Cara's friends from the riding club looking to see if he might join them for a dance. He somewhat self-consciously agrees.
--
Simon spots Jane in the crowd. She nods to confirm that Cabot and the others are here.
He invites her to dance so they can talk privately.
Jane: "I feel like everyone is watching, on both sides."
Simon: "Trying not to think about it. Concentrating on not stepping on your toes."
Jane: "Not sure you could find my toes under this. But thank you. So... if Henry nudges a few people here and there he can have the Order of Hermes in power across the state's Awakened before the equinox. And if doesn't work tonight, even though he can travel in time he won't get another chance."
Simon: "Thanks. Point the way."
Jane: "I may not have to."
She inclines her head so that next time he circles around, he can see Whitman and some of his allies are also in attendance.
Simon: "We need to move this outside."
They part and go to their groups.
Whitman first approaches Cabot at the bar, smiling as he offers to share a brandy and a cigar.
Cabot: "I'm afraid I don't smoke."
Whitman: "A thing of the past in your time? A small pleasure you'd like to take from us?"
Cabot: "It's bad for you."
Whitman: "Well we're all doing things which could be bad for us tonight."
One of his men informs him that the circle has gathered, and he runs the numbers.
Whitman: "Now let's not make a scene. If we don't have to."
As they go, Edward spots Alissa leaving.
The three groups assemble on the grounds of the ballroom, far enough from prying eyes. Cabot and his agents from both times, Whitman and his men, the circle and some few allies like Gabrielle and the Hermetics from Berkeley.
Whitman addresses the circle first.
Whitman: "Step away now, children. I can ensure you go home safe if you do... and that you get stuck here if you don't, and your new lives will be a lot less pleasant than the ones you'd been playing at this past month."
Cara: "You know we're not going to do that."
Whitman: "I was hoping you'd say that."
Cabot intercedes.
Cabot: "Join us, Professor. This can be a triumph for all of us!"
Whitman: "I already run this city and you're asking me to hand over my winnings to a bunch of grasping strangers. You think they'll fall in line with you? Your own apprentice - in essence your daughter doesn't believe you any more!"
Cabot: "Jane?"
Jane: "I - I believe in the vision, I just.... if people like Simon and Cara don't think it could work...?"
Cabot: "They've spent so long trying to save the world they can't believe a change could be for the better!"
Whitman: "Yours certainly wouldn't be for long!"
Cabot: "Then let me make this time better simply and clearly!"
Cabot unsheathes a sword cane and swings at Whitman.
People start moving, and a few guns start firing.
The circle move in to get in the way of anybody trying to kill anybody.
Cara does indeed have to stop Cabot's Chorister stepping on the train of her gown, and knocks her out with an elbow in the face.
Cara: "Guess I can dance in this."
Simon sides with Jane backing up Cabot against Whitman, even as Michael and Cabot's gunslinger return to shooting at each other.
Cara, Ling and one of Whitman's men get into a three-way fight that would be really confusing for the audience if it wasn't so well choreographed.
Didi hits a guy with her purse.
--
And with every action, a flash of a different variable.
Whitman standing over Cabot's body.
San Francisco on fire.
Cabot standing over Whitman's body.
Mage factions from across the city and beyond fighting.
A very pissed off looking Cara being crowned queen.
 |
| Her Pacific Majesty, Queen Cara |
--
Edward rushes out, seeing Alissa backing away from and apparently arguing with someone who has a dagger in each hand. He clocks the assassin on the back of the head with a vase.
Edward: "Is this the urgent business? What kind of danger are you in?"
Alissa: "I... All I can say is, I'm a visitor here."
Edward: "I knew I'd never met anyone like you."
He kisses her and steps away. She watches him go, with a last look back as he heads inside.
--
Cara ducks aside, Ling kicks Whitman's man over, and she throws him down after him.
--
Simon and Jane work together to get one of the Library's founders to safety.
--
Despite this, Whitman can see the fight is going Cabot's way,
Whitman: "Oh no ya don't."
Whitman shoots Cabot with a concealed Derringer.
Not fatal, but enough that Cabot reaches towards a nearby gas lamp and it starts to vent too much gas and bursts of flame. And another next to it starts to flare up as well.
Another flash, an earthquake cracking the street.
Jane: "Stop!"
Simon gets between Cabot and Whitman. Then Cara, then Alissa, Didi and Michael.
Cabot slumps back. He raises a shaky hand.
Cabot: "Enough! Enough. The moment has passed."
Cabot's agents from 1883 put up their weapons.
Whitman raises a hand for his men to stop as well. He looks ready to start a gloating victory speech, then notices Michael and Cabot's gunfighter are now both pointing their guns at him. And only one of them would damage the space-time continuum if he shoots.
Whitman and his men make themselves scarce.
Jane and Simon help Cabot up. Cara helps steady him.
Cabot: "So now I owe you my life. I shall come quietly. Reopen the porta. If you need to set anything in order before returning, I can wait."
Cara glances over to see the group's reactions, pausing on Alissa.
She notices and shakes her head.
Alissa: "... No, I'm good."
Cara: "I already said goodbye to Bluebell." She smiles, hoping to get a smile from Alissa, getting a very faint one.
Cabot takes out his pocket watch, winds it forwards, and a searing white light opens out of an alley.
Cara moves to go first after them. Alissa stops her and steps ahead.
Alissa: "So you don't have to look back." She shrugs. "Not gonna lie, got a hard goodbye, and there are things I'll miss, but there are things at home I miss too."
Didi steps over and gives Alissa a hug, and they step through together.
Michael takes the Chorister to the portal. He and Cabot's gunfighter lock eyes for a moment, the gunfighter spits on the ground and Michaele smirks and steps through.
Simon and Jane helps Cabot through. Cara going through last with a hand on Cabot's back and a wary look behind her.
--
The whiteout fades and everyone's back in the Tradition Library grounds, in their own clothes. They still have their 1880s-styled hair, though the ladies' updos are unravelling due to lack of hairpins and the like.
Didi checks and confirms she has her usual jewelry.
Didi: "Damn it. Coulda let us keep the like twenty thousand dollars in diamonds we were wearing."
Simon helps Jane help Cabot up. and looks up at the skyline.
Simon: "No zeppelins in the sky at least."
Michael dusts off his modern cowboy hat and decides not to put it back on right away.
Cara checks her sword and sheathes it.
Cara: "Okay, if we ever have to go back to the Sorcerers' Crusade I'm doing the Joan of Arc armor thing."
She pauses and glances over at Alissa. She smiles weakly, then checks her phone as it pings.
Alissa: "Oh, uh, we were gone a month here as well. Uh, I should call my mom."
She steps away.
Alissa: "Hi mom, sorry about the really short message and then radio silence, we had to go... no, not the world, just the state. Maybe time as we know it. ... Okay, I'll see you tonight and try to explain."
Martin leads the Hermetic Librarian and some of his assistants out to greet them.
Martin: "Well done."
He looks past them at Cabot, who glowers and shakes his head. One of the Library assistants goes to offer medical aid.
Martin: "I can see some fading ripples but the river still runs true."
--
The circle head home, to update family and friends about their absence.
Cara and Didi get their hair straightened, Alissa goes for soft waves as she does sometimes anyway.
Hairdresser: "What happened here?"
Cara: "Cosplay got out of hand."
--
Simon looks through the Library archive, finding the photographs of the circle at the ball and a few others. And a letter from Georgiana dated shortly after they left confirming that the Library is on schedule - and another about a month later confirming that someone gunned Whitman down.
He also finds a framed portrait and calls the others down.
 |
| Her Majesty, Queen Cara Protector Of California |
A portrait of Cara in a white 1880s gown and diamond tiara and jewelry, with a period California flag behind her showing Athena on the seal, in a gold frame with a plaque reading "Her Majesty, Queen Cara, Protector Of California"
Cara looks at Didi.
Didi: "Okay I may have commissioned an artist just in case."
--
The ladies meet at the de Young Museum the next day.
Didi's wearing a distressed top, tight pants and stompy knee boots. Cara in a loose gray State University T-shirt and joggers with her hair tied back in a deliberately messy ponytail. And Alissa, who arrives late, in a sundress - she considered a ribbon in her hair but decided against it.
They pass through the exhibition on the history of fashion and Alissa looks up wistfully at an 1880s evening dress.
Didi points to the next mannequin, in an 1860s ballgown with a crinoline skirt.
Didi: "Hey, look at it this way, Cabot woulda had us chasing him to the 1860s if not for Emperor Norton." She mimes the even bigger circular skirt.
Cara: "Remind me to donate to his historical group. Actually..."
Cara takes out her phone, finds the site for the Emperor Norton Trusr, and donates $500.
Didi: "You okay?"
Alissa: "I will be. Hoping Edward will be too."
Cara gives her a hug, Didi joins in. She smiles and that makes a tear roll down her cheek.
Alissa: "So we missed a month, we gotta plan for Halloween, apart from the formal what are we wearing for the big casual party?"
Didi mimes putting a crown on Cara's head.
Cara: "I'm thinking a onesie."
End credits: Billie Eilish, You Should See Me In A Crown
--
OOC
And so our heroes return to their own time, almost back to normal. Will they ever return to the Victorian Age? Well, we could go for a Dickensian Christmas special...
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