Game Opening: May Ball

[undergroundmods]

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

It had to be done.

Welcome all to the Redbright Institute's May Ball! This evening is a celebration of the Institute's achievements over the past year. Students aged 16 and above can attend on their own, while younger students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meanwhile, friends and guests of the Institute are invited as a gesture of friendship and harmony between the various factions.

Rules and etiquette
• This is a black tie event. Formal attire is required.
• No weapons. This is a school, there are children present. Any weapons or objects that could be used as weapons will be confiscated.
• No drugs or alcohol. Obviously. Don't try to sneak any in.
• No violence.

There is security within the school and present at 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 action takes place in the large Assembly Hall. This is where the Chancellor Sylvia Redbright will give her address. It's also where you can party later on. The disco is family-friendly – not exactly a rave, but the kids will love it.

Drinks and snacks are available in the dining hall. The drinks are non-alcoholic. Vampires, no need to worry about your cravings: blood cocktails are provided! They're given in good faith on the assumption that you won't be snacking on anyone else tonight.

Just off the dining hall, one of the classrooms has been converted into a chill-out area. The lights are off, the desks and chairs have been replaced by beanbags and there's a table in the corner with a chocolate fountain, marshmallows and strawberries. A video of young witches taking part in various night-time rituals (they mostly seem to involve chanting and bonfires) plays silently on the screen.

One of the lecture theatres has been opened up to showcase students' work from the past year. On the screen you can watch a slideshow of notable events and achievements. Strangely enough there aren't many people in this room.

Outside, there is a giant chessboard on the lawn. The pieces are made of plastic and can easily be moved around. Why, you ask? Why not, is the answer.

Finally, a large marquee has been set up in the quad. This is the adults-only area, with wine and cocktails served at the bar, nibbles available at a few high tables dotted around and a sophisticated atmosphere. No children under 18 allowed. (Note that the legal drinking age is 18.)

Timeline of events
20:00 – Doors open.
20:57 – Sunset.
21:15 – Sylvia Redbright makes her address in the Assembly Hall.
22:00 – Disco in the Assembly Hall. The DJ has atrocious taste.
01:00 – Disco stops. The event officially ends.

Comments

[acrookedchild]

Abigail bows her head in polite reply, but she manages to keep her smile.

"Hopefully you will hear it more in the future." There was only slight cause for the name to be talked about before, what with a young woman not yet of age being the last of the line. Now, she is nineteen, and she can fully be part of society, step away from the gilded cage and see the future. She wants it to be talked about again, but this time for the right reasons. Not the curse, not the tragedies, but because a Widdowson is doing good in the world, is making the right kind of difference.

[brightwitch]

She's holding her cocktail glass with both hands, a slight frown creasing her brow. That sounds as though Abigail intends to make a name for herself. Which could be a good or bad thing, depending on whether she follows the same path as the rest of her family. But Sylvia has a responsibility towards all witches, and she takes that seriously. Perhaps Abigail has come to seek her guidance.

Her tone softens. "What can I do for you, Abigail?"

[acrookedchild]

What can I do for you?

It's a delicate question. One she knows she should have expected. One she did expect. But not one she thought of a proper answer to. Because she doesn't know herself what she wants of Slyvia. Perhaps, it's best to start small. Like the things she never got to ask about the school when she first told her father about her desire to attend.

"I was curious about the school. Would you mind just a few questions?"

[brightwitch]

"Not at all." There are probably no questions about the school Abigail could ask that she hasn't been asked before, so this is familiar territory. "Just a few though, I get a bit of a queue."

Indeed, there are already several interested parties hovering nearby, a couple of whom are listening in to their conversation. They might also want to hear more about the school. Or maybe they're just nosy. Either way, she often finds herself addressing several people at once.

[acrookedchild]

"Of course. I wouldn't be so selfish," Abigail replies with a small smile and nod. Timing is important. Being a bore is a distinct threat. Better by far, her mother used to tell her, to say too little than too much. "I suppose the most important question is something of a personal one. At what age is someone ineligible to begin attending Redbright?"

It's an old fantasy, one she probably wouldn't live out even if she could. But part of her wants to pretend she could still become a student, wants to imagine she wouldn't be turned away as quickly as her father always said she'd be.

[brightwitch]

"Oh, there's no age limit!" She's genuinely pleased to hear Abigail express an interest. This is a positive step. "Full-time education is up to eighteen, but we have evening courses for adults as well. Are you interested in applying?"

[acrookedchild]

"I might be. I was taught at home a great deal, but I'd like to learn more." Especially with the name Redbright attached to it. There was a lot to be learned.

[brightwitch]

"Pop by during the day and ask at reception," Sylvia advises her. "Are you over eighteen? They'll be able to let you know what's available."

She's not sure whether Abigail is over or under eighteen. Teenagers these days can make themselves look much older than they really are.

[acrookedchild]

"Nineteen," Abigail replied with a small smile. It wouldn't be a bad thing to learn from the Redbright Institute, especially if Sylvia did want to bring everyone together. If there really was to be peace. "Thank you very much, Ms. Redbright. Is there anything else I should know about applying? Or can reception answer all of those questions?"

Her family's name was her main concern. Their reputation, their powers, and their name.

[brightwitch]

Sylvia smiles back. "Of course, they'd be happy to answer your questions. But since you came to me personally and I do know a little about your family, I hope you won't mind me offering a piece of advice."

She leans forward, one hand lightly brushing Abigail's arm, and lowers her voice. No doubt half the onlookers will hear anyway, but at least she's making it look like this should be a private conversation.

"Dark magic is not allowed at Redbright. We say this to all witches who pass through our doors: it doesn't matter what you may or may not have done in the past. We can help you choose a better path. Talk to your coven. You'll have a better chance if they can vouch for you."

She means a Daybreak coven, of course. The ones that are well-regarded and occasionally choose to send their most promising young witches to Redbright in order to broaden their supernatural horizons. Or curry favour with Sylvia, which is typically the underlying motive.

[acrookedchild]

When Sylvia leans in, so does Abigail. She can't help but be curious, especially as the advice comes. It's good advice, but it makes her wary. After all, there's something to it all. She knows dark magic isn't allowed in Redbright. She can keep what she does know of it out of the school. She can't walk away from it, no. She needs it. But it doesn't have to conflict with the school.

"I'm afraid I don't have a coven," she murmurs in reply. "We've... always kept to ourselves."

Which means she has no one to speak for her. Of course, she could speak for herself, but a nineteen-year-old Widdowson might not be the best representative against anything someone might think about her family.

[brightwitch]

She pauses, taken aback. "Oh. I'm so sorry."

Her tone is the same as if Abigail had just told her that she doesn't have a mother. Families can be big enough to form their own covens. Why then is Abigail alone?

She shakes her head. "Never mind the school. If you want to develop your magic, Abigail, find a coven. There are plenty of other witches here, I'm sure at least some of them will have space for a newcomer. I don't want any witch in London to be left alone."

[acrookedchild]

Find a coven. Easier said than done. Covens were more extensive than a school. At a school, she was only sometimes a student. Her life could be divided. But a coven was different. It was a family, a life. Which made her position more delicate.

Still, if there was anyone to ask... it was the Mother.

"And would a coven take me, do you think? Would they take a Widdowson into their fold, with all that means?"

[brightwitch]

It's best, she thinks, to be honest. "I can't give you a guarantee, or force any coven to take on a new witch. I hope that you could find a coven that would suit you. This is as good a place to start looking as any."

There are rumours that the Widdowsons are cursed. She can't in good conscience make any coven take on that risk, but at the same time witches ought to help those who are in need. If the girl cannot find a place for herself, then she can come back to Redbright for aid.

[acrookedchild]

"Thank you."

A coven that will take a cursed witch who has to practice dark magic in order to stay alive. That is a tall order, but she can try. It might not come to anything, but it might.

"I'll keep that in mind and work on it. Thank you for your time, Ms. Redbright."

[brightwitch]

"Not at all." Sylvia smiles and raises her glass. "Best of luck."

She does mean it.

[acrookedchild]

Abigail raises her glass as well and takes a small sip before she offered a small curtsey and departed to leave Sylvia to the others clamouring for her attention.