The Mother of Witches retires tonight

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Today is a big day for the witch community. On 4th December, Sylvia Redbright turns 60 and her reign as Mother of Witches officially comes to an end. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Sylvia is hosting a retirement party at the Redbright Institute. The school will be open to all friendly guests who wish to celebrate with Circle Daybreak or hear about Sylvia's many achievements as Mother of Witches. There will also be a more private gathering during the event for Sylvia's closest friends and allies.

The party takes place from 7pm-12 midnight Sunday 4th December.

Rules of entry
• No weapons. Any weapons or objects that could be used as weapons will be confiscated.
• No drugs or alcohol except that provided at the event. Don't try to sneak any in.
• No violence.

There is security within the school and present during the event. (In fact, if your character is a member of the Redbright Institute, you could have them acting as security if you want.) They will respond to and put a stop to any trouble.

Places to go
The main location open for the public is the large Assembly Hall where a live band plays folk music throughout the evening. There are waiters serving champagne and canapés or if you prefer you can go straight to the buffet table yourself. At 8pm, there will be a series of speeches by various high-ranking witches singing Sylvia's praises before Sylvia herself will step up to be presented with a large bouquet of flowers and gifts from the witch community. Her thanks will of course be gracious. After 9pm, there will be a show of magic from some of the most promising young witches in London. It's a music and dance performance that features a dazzling display of colour, light and fire plus other spectacular tricks including levitation, illusory rain and lightning and finally a giant ash tree that grows in the middle of the room to represent the Mother's protection. (None of it is real, of course. It's essentially magical special effects.) In the last two hours of the night, the witches will invite everyone to let loose and dance around the tree. It's probably a good idea to be quite drunk by this point.

If you'd prefer to go somewhere a little quieter, two of the lecture halls are open, each featuring a different video playing on a loop. The first video is a potted history of the tradition of the Mother, Maiden and Crone, describing how they are chosen and what purpose they each serve in the witch community, with a particular focus on Sylvia becoming the Mother. (It does not feature or mention Abigail Widdowson.) In the second lecture hall there is a video telling the story of Sylvia's many achievements as Mother of Witches over the past thirty years, including her efforts to bring peace in London, to unite the witch communities across the UK and to foster a culture of magic that helps rather than hurts people.

Elsewhere, the dining hall is closed to the public because from 9pm there is a private party hosted here consisting of a three-course meal followed by drinks. This is where Sylvia and her closest allies will be for most of the night. Entry is restricted to a select guest list.

Sylvia will reappear in the reception area from just after 11pm to say goodbye to the guests and give her final blessings as Mother of Witches. After today, there will be a transition period until the new Mother is selected, but this will be the last time she hosts any kind of official event in her capacity as Mother of Witches.

[OOC: If you are a high-ranking ally or potential ally of Sylvia's (level 4 or above), you may be invited to her private party! Please check with me if you're not sure. Otherwise, there are opportunities to catch Sylvia and other NPCs during the event. Or just enjoy the free champagne, it's up to you.]

Comments

reception area

[baisant]

Jean-Claude has done his due diligence of making an appearance and schmoozing his way through the crowd as he should, being the newest faction leader in the city. It is an evening to celebrate Sylvia Redbright and her career as the Mother of Witches, but this does not signal her retirement from politics themselves, he is certain. She is still the President of the Night Council, for the moment at least. And therefore he has business with her. What better an opportunity to catch a word with her than here after all, out of office and as far as he's aware, unaware of the reason he should want to talk to her.

"Madame," Jean-Claude greets her in approach, with a smile and a bow that would look odd from another person but is surprisingly natural coming from someone as old as him. Someone who lived in a time when such gestures were the norm.

[brightwitch]

So here is the newly crowned leader of the Islington Nest. Sylvia had wondered if he would make good on his intentions to overthrow Raymond, and by all accounts it was a bloody affair. As they have all learned from experience, it is no good to overthrow one tyrant and replace them with another, so she has taken a wait-and-see approach to find out whether Jean-Claude's leadership style matches his impeccable manners. So far, the signs are promising.

She'll smile back at him, then, and take this opportunity to hear firsthand about what has been going on. "Jean-Claude. I hear you've had a busy month."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude smiles amicably in return to the comment and inclines his head at her in turn. "I have," he replies in turn. "It is not easy, rebuilding. From where we were. From what he had left us with. But it is not the first time we have had to do so." Nor will it be the last, he is sure. But he's hoping that whenever the nest next passes hands, it will be under more peaceable circumstances.

"If I am to have anywhere near a successful career as you have yourself, madame, then I will consider myself accomplished," he continues. He is leading into his politics, but it is good to start with niceties. This is her retirement party, after all.

[brightwitch]

Her smile broadens. "Flatterer. Thank you."

Yes, she appreciates the compliment. Of course it's been nothing but compliments all evening, but this is a special occasion. She may as well enjoy it.

"I'm sure you know this already," she goes on, "but we are all glad to see the regime change in Islington. It's certainly lightened up this party."

The vampire problem had been a cloud hanging over their heads for months, stretching the Night Council's resources, creating an atmosphere of fear and hostility. She might not know for sure what kind of leader Jean-Claude will be yet, but at least they can hope. That's a relief.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude smiles indulgently at her in turn, nodding slightly as he does.

"You are not the only one glad to see the change in regime, I am sure," he replies. "Though I thank you for the words of support. I was hoping that I might get the chance to speak to you about that. If you will indulge me for a moment?" He inclines his head at her, the movement almost apologetic for requesting, but she's been a busy woman, of late. And he's been a busy vampire, in turn.

[brightwitch]

She's had other vampires approach her and try to butter her up already, so the request doesn't surprise Sylvia at all. If anything, she's been waiting to see him.

"It's terribly crowded in here, I can hardly hear you. Why don't we get some air?" she suggests, if only because they won't be able to talk here without being constantly interrupted by well-wishers saying good night.

Of course the real reason is that this is a conversation they ought to have in private. Sylvia wraps her shawl around her and moves to the exit as though she's finally leaving the party, but she does glance back at Jean-Claude. Outside, the cold bites at her skin but she only has to take a few steps along the gravel path that goes around the school to leave behind the crowd. Here they will have a better chance of not being overheard.