The Croydon Debacle

[falsify]

Croydon is a dismal place at the best of times, but at this time of year it's damp and cold and miserable. Amazing it's a place in such high demand. December 7th will see preparations taken. Some of the fae in the area take serious issue with handing the area over to witches of any kind and vacate the area as soon as word gets to them. Others prepare for the inevitable fight coming to their doorsteps. The hope is to avoid as much bloodshed as possible, avoid alerting more mortals than necessary as to what's happening on their doorsteps, but it's foolish to assume Daybreak would catch a whiff of this and not step in. December 8th. The day of the handoff. Several fae, Eames included, watch the witches coming in with a harsh gaze. It's kind of frustrating, how it's impossible to tell the allegiance of the witches by sight alone. It may seem threatening or intimidating, but it's important to be ready at moment's notice. One thing they'll not allow is to be bested again so soon. December 9th is a strange day; likely on all sides. With so many involved, it's probably a surprise that all it lead to is a stalemate. Anyone sensitive enough to magic will feel an electric tension in the air; tempers are high, frustrations are high, crime... is surprisingly low actually. A place held in contention between fae and witches is bound to be a magical minefield, but the fae at least seem more concerned with fortifying their position than starting any fights in the immediate future.

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[hurtfew]

Abigail, before hand-off attempt:

Norrell doesn't know why he's agreed to see her, but he has. He finds her distasteful at best. Intolerably rude at worst. Yet she's a High Priestess herself, and as much as he wants to say no he is gently persuaded that it would be a bad move to not give her the time of day at all. After all, he doesn't know what it's about. It could be something worthwhile.

So he agrees to meet her at the Norrellite coven. It's exactly the sort of place one might imagine followers of Norrell congregating in, respectable and clean with witches who are clearly there to hold on to the coattails of his success and flatter their way to the top. Norrell himself has an office there, one Childermass can show her through to, and he ignores her at first in favour of finishing his letter -- looks up finally and lofts an eyebrow. Well?

Daybreak and supporters:

To say Norrell was furious would be an understatement. Norrell was in a rage. His small, hard eyes were upset with everything he looked upon. His words cut sharper than ever, and his shoulders stayed tensed and uneasy. He could not be consoled.

"I am foiled at every turn!" he would say, "they are so jealous of my success that they turn to the fae to try and match it! What greater damage could be done to English magic? Than witches relying on fae for their betterment! Investing their magic in such frivolous things when study and careful practice would get them as far!"

This deal cannot be allowed to go through. This passing of territory cannot be allowed to happen.

So it is that Norrell begins to write letters. To Coward, of course, informing him of the ugly deal and calling in his favour. To Sylvia Redbright, informing her and asking her support. To Hillingdon, advertising a monetary reward again. To every Daybreak witch he imagines might make a move to regain their once home. To past allies from other factions.

Then he waits. If he's lucky, they will come to him -- either at the Norrelite Coven or his Mayfair home. If he's lucky, he will have the makings of a defence and they can move before the fae begin their handover. He wrings his white-yellow hands, paces, looks through books for inspiration. Yet Norrell is one man. He cannot do this alone.

If he succeeds, though, if he succeeds...

Well, then surely that will be the beginning of something great. Sylvia wants Croydon badly, he knows. Perhaps... perhaps it might be used as leverage, if he can only win it.

Aftermath:

It hadn't gone quite as planned. The fae had lost their grip on the territory, it's true, yet Daybreak had not won it. They had stopped a handover, at least, there's that. Yet what now? Was this still a bargaining chip? Something he could use as leverage?

Of course, Norrell shifts all blame from himself. Claims loudly and defiantly that he prevented the taking of territory by Midnight, that if Daybreak had stronger support he could have done more! That they are too soft hearted, that the Night Council sits by too easily while letting the fae take territory and trade it! Interfering with the peace of London! That this is a sign war is brewing, that the fae are trying to ally with Midnight and this has been allowed for too long!

Now, Norrell needs to plan his next move carefully. This is an opportunity that may nor arise again. It hasn't gone perfectly, of course, yet if he waits he may lose it altogether...

DECEMBER 8TH / OTA

[specifiercity]

Arthur starts off his morning with coffee, next to the window in a small independent coffee shop in Croydon, watching his phone carefully for word if anything goes bad. He carries on with his day as normal, a few meetings outside the borough and then back at lunch time, settling in for the afternoon and waiting. Just waiting. A delicate time like this is the perfect moment for another faction to strike, and Daybreak's the next borough over suffering from the massive thorn in their side named Croydon.

At the first news of trouble, Arthur goes from watching and waiting to slipping through the streets mostly unnoticed, finding fae and Midnight witches to help to safety. He tries to avoid Daybreak witches where he can, keeping out of sight unless he has to step in to stop a conflict. As the night goes on the tension only rises, and Arthur gets more and more anxious to see where everyone lies when the dust finally settles.

All three days, OTA

[falsify]

Eames is ready and available over the few days, preferring to take a coordinating role rather than getting into the fray. He knows there's whispers about what's happening, and he'd be foolish not to assume Daybreak's taken issue with it. And if they take yet another borough from him, he'll lose his damn mind.

On the day he weaves large illusions from a distance, trapping witches and redirecting them as best he can. He's on hand to talk to, but no way is he getting in line of sight with one of these damn witches if he can help it.

The 9th is... A frustrating day. Eames spends most of it checking in with people, figuring out how best to move forward from such a disappointing outcome. They can't sit idly by on this, they need to regroup and figure out how best to oust Daybreak ASAP.