All I want for Christmas... [OPEN]

[brightwitch]

There have been several upheavals in the witch community of late, from the re-emergence of Circle Midnight and their new High Priestess, to the aggressive and chaotic behaviour of the fae in south-east London, taking over territory that was once home to many well-known and respected Daybreak covens.

Somehow, it all keeps coming back to Croydon.

Sylvia has feared it ever since she first became aware of these two threats: that the fae and Circle Midnight might decide to work together. Now they have, and while her spies and other figures in the community warned her of the attempted handover, allowing Circle Daybreak to prevent the fae from handing over Croydon to Abigail and her band of young and foolish witches – still, they were only able to prevent it from happening. They couldn't take Croydon back and that means the borough is still an uncertain and dangerous place.

There's no hiding what happened. Every coven knows. And, not surprisingly, there's a backlash. How dare the fae attempt to prop up an illegitimate Midnight coven right next door to Daybreak territory? There's one voice in particular that stands out as loudest amongst the crowd: that of Circle Daybreak's newest High Priest, Gilbert Norrell.

It's not long after Croydon that he and his manservant Childermass report to Sylvia of some worrying behaviour on the part of Circle Daybreak's High Priestess and Vice President of the Night Council, Dee Absin. Their story is backed up by Peter Vrinak, another member of the Council and a voice for stronger action against the fae.

Before Christmas, the news gets out: Dee has been removed from the Night Council, with Peter Vrinak taking her place as Vice President. And who will fill the now vacant seat of Witch Representative? Why, none other than Gilbert Norrell himself.

On 29th December, Gilbert Norrell officially takes his seat on the Night Council.

Coincidentally, on 30th December the Night Council announces its newest law, which it calls an emergency measure in response to the aggressive behaviour of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts in the mortal realm.

This law bans the use of all dark magic, the use and possession of all dark magic objects, and the selling or trading of dark magic objects. Anyone caught in possession of these objects will have them confiscated. The punishment for breaking this law ranges from hefty fines (for minor magic/objects) to up to 5 years' imprisonment (for high level magic). The law will come into effect from 1st January 2016.

Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[ooc: This is a summary of what goes down, there will be subthreads below to play out the various events! Also please do feel free to post a top-level comment reacting to the news, or to thread out your reaction with other characters.]

Comments

[knowstheworld]

Childermass has stayed quiet for the most part until now. After all, Norrell does enough talking for both of them, why should he bother to speak up himself when Norrell does not have any problem of speaking up for him. It's only when he needs his proof like this that Norrell turns the floor to him, of course.

But that is no matter. Childermass steps forward and pulls a folder out of the inside of his jacket, dropping it down on the table before the pair of them. "They have been meeting," he says, glancing between the pair of them -- Norrell who knows this, has seen the evidence already, and Ms. Redbright, to whom it will be new. "Meeting and exchanging emails. As far as what has been discussed at said meetings, I cannot say. Their correspondences however..." He leans forward and taps the folder. "You can find most of it in here." As well as photographs of said meetings. He may know a guy who knows a guy, who will do just about anything he asks, for the right price. (He knows several 'guys', for that matter.)

[brightwitch]

Norrell is predictably outraged by everything. But it's evidence she needs, and it appears that Childermass has provided. Sylvia puts her reading glasses on, opens the folder and leafs through it, frowning. She takes her time, forcing the three men to wait.

Then she sighs and takes off the reading glasses. "Peter, you remember the Midnight report. Dee agreed with it. She has always advocated that we reach out to the Midnight witches rather than alienate them."

"Exactly!" Vrinak huffs.

"No, you misunderstand." She cuts him off before she has to listen to yet another lecture. "Did Dee know about the planned handover of Croydon? Did she pledge her support to Abigail?"

That's a question for all of them. If she did, it would indeed be a betrayal.

[hurtfew]

"She must have known!" Norrell exclaims, "I made sure that every Daybreak witch I could contact knew, in the hope that they would support us! She certainly did not deign to support us in reclaiming it."

Which, in Norrell's eyes, is of course damning. If she did not support Daybreak or do anything to intervene then she may as well have been supporting Midnight.

[brightwitch]

Of course Dee would have heard the news from Norrell either way; he certainly wasn't quiet about informing everyone. It would be far more concerning if Dee heard it from Abigail first and didn't say anything.

Sylvia gives him a stern look. "Not actively supporting you is not the same as conspiring with our enemies, Mr Norrell."

[knowstheworld]

While Norrell is all explosive accusations, Childermass hangs back. He's aware of whose company he is in, and Sylvia Redbright is the Mother of all Witches. His own opinion of her and what he should think of her handling of Daybreak or the Night Council, good or bad, is irrelevant in this moment. Where Norrell himself is all too quick to jump to a conclusion to implicate the woman that they are accusing, Childermass is more practical. And Childermass has done his research.

"They have been exchanging emails, ma'am," he says. "Text messages. Not just one or two, but they have had a rapport. They have met, in private, upon several occasions. It's an awful lot of contact to be coincidental, and moreover..." He leans forward, tugging another packet out of his jacket, this time of photographs taken of their various meetings which he drops on top of the folder. Flipping it open so for her as he continues, "Should you not have known, as President of the Night Council, if she were planning an official attempt to liaise with the Midnight witches?"

[brightwitch]

She stares at the photographs. What's that they say about a picture being worth a thousand words? Childermass is right. For all his bluster, she does not find Norrell convincing, but Childermass laying out the facts in that quiet, straightforward way of his... That she can't deny.

"Yes, that is concerning," she murmurs. "I'll talk to her. She must be given the opportunity to explain herself."

"And if she has no convincing explanation?" Vrinak asks.

Sylvia glances up at him. "Then we deal with her accordingly."

If the gentlemen at the table have any suggestions for how Dee should be dealt with, now is the time to speak.

[hurtfew]

"She should be removed," Norrell says, as if there was any doubt on the manner what his opinion might be. "Dealing with this upstart High priestess and her coven, who is trying to set up right next to us! Who are getting into bed with the fae! Doing so behind your back! How can such a person be trusted? Does she have no regard for the lives Abigail Widdowson has taken? The blood she has shed? No, Dee forgets that not everything can be solved with kindness. The Midnight Covens have been given a chance, they have been given a truce, and what do they do? Find ways to squirm around it and mock us."

[brightwitch]

"Kindness is a tactic like any other." She fixes Norrell with a penetrating look. "Don't forget that. In this case, unfortunately, you're right. It hasn't worked. Even so, the truce still holds and I won't jeopardize that. If Dee is to be removed – and she won't be until I say so – we must find a replacement, quickly. Otherwise we will give Miss Widdowson the opportunity you are so desperate to deny her. Peter, you are the longest serving member of this Council." (Other than Millicent, obviously, but she doesn't count.) "Would you take on the post of Vice President, if the need arose?"

She is utterly unsurprised to see Vrinak agree. "I would be honoured."

"There must be at least five on the Council. That leaves the Representative for all witches. I would ask our current Maiden, but she isn't due to retire for at least another month and she does hate London."

"She's more of a country girl," Vrinak agrees. "Not one for politics. I do have another suggestion. Mr Norrell here has the right idea about how to deal with Midnight and he would be devoted to the cause."

Ah. She watches Vrinak shoot Norrell a meaningful glance, and knows that this was their intention all along. Are they motivated solely by ambition, or by a desire to do what's best for the communities they are sworn to protect? Sometimes it's impossible to distinguish between the two. Sylvia looks at Norrell. Perhaps his response will help her decide.

[hurtfew]

Norrell is indeed unsurprised by the look Vrinak gives him. He inclines his head slightly, expression still entirely serious.

"You know very well I would always offer my services willingly to the Night Council. In these troubled times I very much think a firmer stance on Midnight is what is needed to keep things from unravelling, and I would be honoured to step up and help contribute to that, to ensure we keep peace and order."

Especially, of course, if it also helps prevent Miss Widdowson from gaining a place on the council. He turns his gaze to Sylvia questioningly.

"If everyone is agreed, of course.

[brightwitch]

"I'll hear Dee's side of the story first." Sylvia knows as well as anyone that there are always two sides to any story. Sometimes more. "But in principle, yes, I agree."

Vrinak, of course, nods.

"All right then." She surveys the table. "Is there anything else you gentlemen think I should know?"

[hurtfew]

There are many things Norrell could say at this point, many other points Norrell could make with loud determination.

A quick glance toward Childermass subtly reminds him that now is not the time. He has, as Sylvia has noticed, said quite a bit already after all.

"I believe I am satisfied for now," he says finally, "although I have no doubt more may well be turned up."

His eyes flick between Childermass and Vrinak questioningly, waiting to see if they have anything further. If not, he supposes then all they can do is what for Sylvia to make her own assessments.

[brightwitch]

"Wonderful." She stands up. "This meeting is adjourned."

The final decision will remain with her, as it always does. Sylvia can see which way the wind is blowing, and though she does hear Dee out, the evidence against her is much too damning. She hears the voices calling out for justice. So let them have it. Let Norrell take his position representing all witches, let him burn his bridges and then they will see what remains.

If it works, then she made the right decision and her reputation as a strong and wise leader will remain intact.

If it doesn't, then she'll make sure that it's Norrell who takes the fall.