undergroundmods: (Default)
The Underground Mods ([personal profile] undergroundmods) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2017-08-06 08:29 pm

Night Tournament Opening Ceremony



Every four years the Night Tournament is held in London as a celebration of the physical, mental and magical prowess of its supernatural inhabitants. Over three weeks the chosen competitors will take on various challenges in an effort to be crowned Champions of their species. Tonight, the grand opening ceremony is taking place at the Redbright Institute, where guests can expect a spectacle of magical wonders and of course the parade of this year's competitors.

The ceremony takes place from 8pm-11pm Sunday 6th August. It is being hosted by the school's Chancellor, Sylvia Redbright, accompanied by event organisers Alexandrie Belrose, the Dean, and Yasmine Merad. Guests must have purchased a ticket in order to attend the event, unless of course you are one of the competitors or someone involved in organising the tournament.

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 present on the grounds during the event. The school itself is shut. (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.

Order of events
The entirety of tonight's ceremony takes place outside in the grounds, namely the football field. There are stands around the field where the audience can watch the show. A number of stewards (student volunteers) will check tickets and direct guests over to the right place. They are also selling a variety of drinks and snacks to cater for all supernatural tastes. Vampires without daylight jewellery are directed through to the "shade zone": a section of the stand which is completely shielded from the sun.

8pm-8.30pm: Redbright Choir
Led by the Head of Music Ms Sandra Ng, the Redbright Choir is comprised of a variety of students representing all supernatural beings coming together to sing in harmony. They are accompanied by a live band.

8.30-9.30pm: Welcome to the Night (nb. sunset is at 8.45pm)
Settle in for one hell of a show. The hour's entertainment, proudly organised and performed by students at the Redbright Institute, features a showpiece from every supernatural type, from witches performing a spectacular light show of magic, meta humans showing off their powers, to werewolves and shapeshifters dancing in fur costumes. The theme again is harmony: the show ends with all performers joining hands in a giant circle on the pitch before performing their final dance.

9.30-9.45pm: Sylvia's Welcome Speech
As the host and sponsor of the Night Tournament, Sylvia will then step up to a podium to say a few words. She talks about (you guessed it) peace and harmony and coming together to celebrate supernatural diversity. She speaks proudly of the Redbright Institute's record of welcoming and teaching any supernatural student, no matter their background. The one thing that does get all the journalists scribbling furiously, however, is a brief mention of the Night Council's new President. Though she doesn't mention him by name, she does say that she welcomes the President's stance on promoting peace and unity.

9.45-10.15pm: The Parade
At last the 16 competitors are introduced one by one. Dressed in spectacular costumes, each competitor gets their own float which makes one round of the field before they all meet in the centre of the pitch. The parade is accompanied by inspiring music and showers of glitter (or is it pixie dust?). Smile and wave, everyone. Smile and wave.

10.15-11pm: General Mingling
Finally, the audience are allowed to invade the pitch where they can mingle with the competitors as they please. Stewards walk around serving more drinks, and there is a live band playing until the end of the event. Stick around to catch some gossip, place a bet on your preferred competitor, or offer support to your favourites.

[OOC: Please see the information post for more details on this event and to ask any questions!]

[personal profile] brightwitch 2017-08-09 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
...Oh, it's the prostitute. Nancy, the girl who refused to join Circle Daybreak even after being pardoned, instead running into the arms of a vampire. From what little Sylvia knows of Cooper, he's by no means the worst of his kind but Nancy is still a walking representation of her own failure. She's reached a point where seeing her is just... well, sad.

Her expression is neutral, however, and she greets Nancy with perfect cordiality. "Thank you. How is Cooper? I know how much work there can be."

There's something else that makes her wary around Nancy. The scandal that caused her downfall as President was revealed by a vampire, she's almost sure of that. Only someone in the Islington Nest could have known that information. It could even have been Cooper, perhaps with Nancy whispering in his ear. Does the girl hate her that much? She hopes not, not when she has tried to offer help and forgiveness, but Nancy has spurned Circle Daybreak at every turn. She can't rule out the possibility.
stauncherhearted: (bright)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-08-09 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Damn straight she went right to Cooper. He was the one she could count on in the middle of the night when her home was taken from her. Daybreak had never been there for her. They were the ones who had destroyed her circle.

"He's good! Lots to do." There's a bit of tightness in her voice when she mentions the vampire. Things have been tense lately, but she tries to keep that bit inside. No one needs to know how much finding out about her ex had caused tension between the two lovers.

"But he's loving his job. I'm so so proud of him. He's off somewhere," she waves a hand to indicate that he was somewhere on the property. "You're rooting for Lance, I'm sure?" Yeah, her cool patrol officer, for lack of better terms.

[personal profile] brightwitch 2017-08-09 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
And immediately Nancy suggests that she might be biased. Tut tut. Sylvia shakes her head.

"I'm the host so I'm strictly neutral, of course. Did you come to support anyone in particular?"

Who are she and her boyfriend friendly with nowadays? It might be useful to know.
stauncherhearted: (Default)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-08-09 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
That wasn't her goal goodness!

"I've got a lot of people I know participating," she admits. "Lydia Bennet, Eames, and Lance as I said. Micheletto, as well." She smiles. "My usual crowd I guess."

[personal profile] brightwitch 2017-08-09 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Her usual crowd. Sylvia is taking note of every one of those names and the one that makes her raise her eyebrows is Lydia's.

"Lydia? Does that mean you're feeling more positive towards we Daybreak witches?"

Sylvia doesn't know Lydia, so it's hard to say whether she's a positive influence on Nancy, or whether Nancy is a bad influence on her.
stauncherhearted: (Default)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-08-09 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Nancy frowns. "I have nothing against Daybreak witches, Ms. Redbright- I try not to discriminate against individuals." So she's better than you, just to be clear.

Also Nancy is a great influence on Lydia. As odd as it sounds.

[personal profile] brightwitch 2017-08-13 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
"It sounds like Lancelot has been a good influence on you." She smiles. "I'm glad. That's what this tournament is about – fostering peace and friendship across the entire supernatural community."

It's what her school represents, and the tournament is a way of sharing that same philosophy across London, with every faction. Sylvia is proud of that. And just to be clear, Nancy, that means she's better than you.
stauncherhearted: (Yu081mC)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-08-13 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
"Lace?" Nancy blinks at the very thought of what Sylvia meant. "Oh- no. No, I've always thought that way- I was raised by fae alongside wolves, it's really hard not to see the benefit of supernatural cooperation."

Seriously, if the seedy underbelly of London's underground could do it, so could everyone else. Or so she hoped.

"It is really great to see the community come together, though."

[personal profile] brightwitch 2017-08-13 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Nancy had been raised by an abusive fae who led her into a life of crime and prostitution. Hadn't that been her tragic backstory? She's hardly a poster child for supernatural co-operation.

Sylvia has to bite her lip not to say any of this. She smiles and nods. "Thank you. Do pass on my best wishes to Cooper."

It doesn't mean anything to say that. She's just being polite.
stauncherhearted: (better)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-08-14 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, but she worked alongside all of them quite well. Loads of cooperation, as it were. Cooperation and coercion, if you want to get technical. A whole lot of coercion.

She smiles. "I will- he'll be delighted to hear from you." Not really. Cooper knew her feelings on Sylvia just as well as he knew her feelings on Samantha.

[personal profile] brightwitch 2017-08-14 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, this has been a conversation packed with lies, hasn't it? They part ways, and Sylvia silently consoles herself with the fact that at least Nancy didn't enter the tournament. She might be on the outs with Circle Daybreak right now thanks to Samantha, but even so she wouldn't want a non-Daybreak witch to stand a shot at winning.