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undergrounds2016-09-16 08:27 pm
undergroundmods) wrote in undergrounds2016-09-16 08:27 pm
Entry tags:
The Exiled
It's the night of the traditional Harvest Festival, when witches from all over the city celebrate the summer harvest and the coming of autumn. But tonight, as the sun sets and the full moon rises, a darker ceremony is underway.
Five witches step out from a wagon cage – a sort of portable prison. Their wrists are bound and each one is wearing a silver choker around their necks. Escorted by two armed Guardians, they emerge from the shadows into the light of the waiting bonfire. In another time, they might have been burned at the stake, but not tonight.
Tonight Sylvia Redbright is waiting by the fire, wand in hand, to banish these witches from the city of London. A silent crowd stands before her. It is this crowd that Sylvia addresses first, her voice strong and clear.
"May the harvest moon be our witness tonight. These five witches have been found guilty of treason. They have made their bed with monsters and murderers, endangered innocent people, and betrayed their own kind. They represent a group of witches who neither share our values nor respect our laws. For that reason, we cast them out."
One by one, the prisoners step forward and hold out their bound wrists. With her wand, Sylvia burns a mark into the back of each prisoner's hand, a stylised 'x'. She declares each prisoner outcast by name, followed by the crowd repeating her words. Abigail is the last to step up.
The mark burns into her skin as Sylvia delivers the damning verdict. "Abigail Widdowson, we cast you out."
The crowd echoes her: "We cast you out."
The brand on each outcast's skin is a magical signature; it will scar but it will not fade. It tells everyone who sees it that this witch has been exiled. As the five prisoners are escorted back into the wagon cage, as they disappear behind the fire and into the shadows, Sylvia thanks the crowd before her for staying to witness justice being done. Finally, she wishes everyone a good night.
The ceremony is done and Circle Midnight will not be seen practising openly in London again.
Notes
The Harvest Festival takes place in Elthorne Park, Hanwell on the evening of 16th September. There is an anti-vampire barrier around the entire park which will last until the full moon sets. It means that no vampire can enter the park unless explicitly invited in by Sylvia herself, which in practice means that Natasha is the only one who will gain entry. There is heavy security around the area, with Guardians monitoring the prisoners and the park exits, and combat-ready witches who will put a stop to any trouble. They know that after the ceremony is the most likely time for an escape attempt, which is why the prisoners are wearing Magic Collars that prevent them from using magic, and why they will each be taken away in different vehicles that will escort them out of the city. Anyone hanging around near the park exits will be swiftly moved on before the prisoners leave the park.
See this month's plotting post for OOC planning/discussion!
no subject
“I wanted to personally thank you for taking a firm stance, for breaking their alliance before it had a chance to do real damage.” A bitter mix of anger and pain creeps into her voice. “Enough blood has been spilled already.”
Guinevere’s father would probably scoff at her thanking Sylvia Redbright, even for this. The woman is, after all, the reason werewolves have been denied their rightful place on the Night Council for years now. As it stands, he isn’t thrilled about his daughter working for the witch. But he has accepted that Gwen wants to be there for the children and that not everything is about Sylvia. (Although, he thinks perhaps someone should tell that to President Redbright. From his point of view, the blasted woman does her damnedest to make it all about her.)
no subject
She can only imagine it would have been a bloodbath. Vampires are powerful enough on their own without magical help.
no subject
In the past Guinevere has never had much cause to worry about vampires, despite their longstanding feud with her bloodline. Raymond Harris’ ascension quickly changed that.
“But does the branding spell magically bar them from reentering the city?”
She doesn’t like the thought of exiled midnight witches creeping back into London. It’s doubtful that the majority of those who returned would be doing so with good intentions.
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As for the branding spell... Sylvia shakes her head. "It's an identifying mark, nothing more. But it won't fade. If they do reenter the city, any witch can sense the brand. They'll find it difficult to perform magic without being caught. And if they are caught..." Another, smaller shake of her head. "They'll face our severest penalty."
Which isn't death. The law forbids killing any witch, regardless of what they've done.
no subject
“I see.”
So, the brand is not a barrier but rather a significant deterrent. That’s seems fitting. (And much more forgiving than wolf justice would have been.)
“What about Abigail? Will she remain Maiden of Witches after this?”
Being predisposed by her upbringing to trust authority figures, especially those that enforce the law, Gwen believes the guardians must have done their due diligence to ensure no midnight witch has been exiled without just cause. Conversely, she also believes that those who were misled or fell into Midnight by default will not be dragged down with it now. (That is perhaps a naïve belief and misplaced trust, but there we go.)
All of which is to say she has absolutely no doubt about the culpability of those five witches whose official exile she witnessed tonight, in particular Abigail Widdowson. After all, from what has been said, Circle Midnight as a whole didn’t agree to ally with Islington; that dishonour hangs on Abigail’s shoulders alone.
no subject
It's one of the few things she can't control, and it's as frustrating now as it was then when all the signs pointed to Abigail as the new Maiden, as if fate had decided to pit her against a woman she could not be more different to for a laugh. The idea of balance has always been prominent in her tradition, but so is the idea of harmony and she knows which one she'd prefer.
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“Well, then, I’m glad that you’re still around to provide guidance and stability.”
Guinevere respects the way Chancellor Redbright runs the institute; she’s a good boss. Even though Gwen can’t really speak to the way Sylvia handles her role as Mother of Witches, she wants to believe it’s in a similarly beneficial manner.
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Providing guidance and stability is her job, in every capacity, so to hear it from others is always reassuring. In the meantime, the fire is dying down and another witch quietly whispers in her ear that they're packed up and ready to leave. Sylvia pulls on her coat, smiling at Gwen.
"Well, better call it a night."
She'll see Gwen at school in due course. For now, Sylvia is thinking of a hot coffee and bed.
no subject
With no other reason to stay, Gwen begins to make her way out of the Elthorne Park, which is a far easier task than getting in had been. Before exiting, she turns back to look briefly at the smouldering spot where the ceremony had taken place and then up at the full moon overhead. Both leave her feeling a little unsettled, though for very different reasons.
Finally, she turns away and heads for home. It’s been a long day and will probably be a rough, sleepless night for her.