undergrounds | This month's news from Alternative Views News

Front page article in the London Lambast Daily, 21st March

Mother of Witches announces new Magical Innovation Centre in Richmond
By Daisy Connell, Witch Correspondent

Yesterday Samantha Okeke, the Mother of Witches, officially announced the chosen location of her much-vaunted new Centre for Magical Innovation in Richmond. The selected venue is an impressive, modern building on a university campus in Teddington, Richmond, better known as a hub for scientific research.

The venue boasts state of the art facilities, including several laboratories, and was selected based on a combination of its cutting edge technological equipment, high security and excellent location.

Speaking on-location at the site for a press conference, the Mother said: "I am delighted to announce the location of our first new Centre for Magical Innovation. This inspiring and modern environment will enable us to be forward thinking, creative and rigorous in the application of new magic to address the challenges we face in today's society."

Refurbishment of the venue will take place over the next month, with the centre due to open by the end of April.

Summoning magic to become legal again?
The Mother also hinted that the Night Council is set to soften its stance on the use of magic relating to fae. She appeared to confirm rumours that Circle Daybreak have submitted a petition to the Night Council requesting that summoning magic no longer be classified as dark magic.

The previous Mother of Witches and current President of the Night Council, Sylvia Redbright, has always been known to be strongly against the use of any magic relating to fae.

At the time of writing, President Redbright was unavailable for comment.

For more on this story, go to page 5.

Article buried on page 9 in the London Lambast Daily, 21st March

Shopkeeper disappears
The proprietor of the dress shop Pins and Needles disappeared yesterday. "Mrs. Lotus" owned the dress shop in Harrow but did not turn up to open the premises on Monday. Believed to be a Seelie, local residents reported that it was typical for the rather odd shopkeeper to close up shop during summer months.

"I'd usually expect her to go when the clocks go forward, you know," said Alex Farley, the business owner next door, "which would be this weekend, so maybe she decided to take the time off a bit early. She forgot to lock up on Sunday afternoon too, so the shop was left open and empty all day. I don't know what that's about."

A request was put forward to the Night Council to investigate, and received the following response: "It is common knowledge that Seelie and Unseelie move back and forth between this world and the Other Realm. We do not believe this matter to be of any significance."

Front page article in Worldly Weirdness Weekly, 25th March

It's official: the Mother of Witches DID submit a petition to make summoning magic legal again!
By Charlene Pinter, Night Council Correspondent

Worldly Weirdness Weekly can officially confirm that the rumoured petition to the Night Council to make summoning magic legal WAS submitted by the Mother of Witches, Samantha Okeke. We can also exclusively reveal that:

• The Mother has already informed Circle Daybreak that summoning magic is not only allowed, but ENCOURAGED.
• She wants to train young witches to summon and control fae.
• She wants ALL witches to have their own familiar.

Go to page 4 for the full story and to find out why the President will HAVE to accept the petition.

Front page article in the London Lambast Daily, 31st March

Night Council makes U-turn in law on summoning magic
By Daisy Connell, Witch Correspondent

Today the Night Council announced that it has formally accepted the petition put forward by Samantha Okeke of Circle Daybreak to amend the definition of dark magic to no longer include summoning magic.

"Summoning magic is about protecting ourselves," said Peter Vrinak, the Night Council Vice President. "There has long been a hole in the law where spells to banish and trap aggressive fae have technically been counted as dark magic, even though they are absolutely vital for self-defence. We have seen fae activity in London especially increase over the past year and I for one welcome the opportunity to ensure that witches are trained to defend the supernatural community from these creatures. Efforts to contain the infestation in Bromley and Bexley have so far met with little success. This is a wise move from a new Mother who is unapologetic about putting London's needs first."

The revision to the law means that the following magic will now be allowed by both the Night Council and Circle Daybreak:

• Summoning fae
• Banishing fae
• Commanding fae (once summoned)
• Entering a contract with a fae (once summoned)
• Travelling to the Other Realm

Dark magic is still forbidden – but summoning magic no longer counts
After more than fifty years of summoning magic being forbidden by Circle Daybreak, much of the craft has been lost. It is expected that the Mother of Witches will seek to train young witches and build up expertise in this tricky and delicate area of magic.

When asked if she believed that dark magic should be allowed, the Mother responded: "I am against dark magic. I fully support the Night Council's efforts to ensure that dark magic is not practised in our community, and that we do not damage the hearts and souls of our young witches by encouraging them to practise it. I am proud to lead Circle Daybreak and to continue to use our magic for good, for the betterment of the community, and to improve the lives of thousands of witches up and down the country."

For more on this story and rumours of the Maiden's involvement in the original petition, go to page 4.

[OOC: This post is open to anyone who wants to react or talk about any of the news! If you want to grab an NPC, just say so in your comment.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He catches the look, but isn't dissuaded. Eames doesn't mean for them to work together after all, quite the opposite in fact.

"I'm sure it's been quite lovely for you having us quiet and docile these past few months, and I had hoped to revisit things, hammer out some kind of real relationship between your Council and the fae. Maybe a seat so that those of us who primarily live on this side might have a voice."

Granted, his preferred situation is one where the Night Council fucked off forever, but in the real world where they can't be got rid of so easy? He could live with that.

Regardless, Eames hefts a heavy sigh, all faux-apology as he spreads his hands in a gesture as if to say it's out of his hands. "Unfortunately, even a gift so small as good behaviour can't in good conscience be given to people who'd aid and abet slavery."

Well, that's a threat if she's ever heard one. Her hand unconsciously goes up to the silver amulet at her neck.

"Am I to assume that my school is in danger?"

If he targets her or anyone around her, she will fight back no matter what she thinks of fae being summoned or Samantha's far more permissive attitude to dark magic.

It's like no one trusts him to just be nice and decent or anything. Eames shakes his head, making an amused noise on an exhale, and lifts a hand in a gesture for her to be patient.

"You're misreading my intentions," he pauses briefly, thinking about the best way to say what he wants to say in as unambiguous a manner as he can, "I don't want to fight you, I'm not planning to attack you or your school. Though in the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit I probably won't intervene if somebody else wants to."

He's Unseelie and she's dealt with him before. No, she doesn't trust him to be nice or decent. She doesn't trust him full stop.

But at least now she's starting to get some clarity. Sylvia nods slowly. "Then what do you want? I don't want to misread your intentions, but what you said about good behaviour did sound like a threat."

He wouldn't make empty threats, would he? That seems counterproductive.

"I want you to understand what Samantha and your Council have brought down on your head." No one's here to make threats, merely inform. Sylvia may not be able to overturn the ruling, but she's currently the best placed to do something about it, even if that something takes time. So it's important she understand the effects of what's happened.

"I shouldn't have to leave the place where I've made my life in order to be treated with some dignity, and I'm far from the only fae who feels this way. What's happened isn't just a slap in the face. It might as well be a declaration of war."

He fixes Sylvia with a serious gaze, eyes dark and intense. He's aware he rarely seems to take things seriously and it's important she understand just how serious he is about this right now, "you may not have done it for us, but I highly doubt you voted in favour of this little change. Unlike some, you understand that Samantha's looking to jostle a hive that has depths she cannot even conceive of."

Still sounds like a threat to her. His gaze is intense enough that she feels a wave of cold pass over her, though outwardly she remains calm and still.

"I understand," she replies quietly. "I will talk to her. I heard reports that witches attempted to capture several of the fae in Bromley a few weeks ago. Do you know why?"

The worry gnawing at her now is that it may already be too late. The law has passed, the first shot has been fired. Samantha's plans are already in motion.

"Well I can't say I fancied hopping into an iron cage to ask about it, but I think we both know what happens when a witch catches a fae."

The flippant response is coupled by an expression that might suggest he thinks this is one of the dumbest questions he's ever heard.

She sees his incredulity but she doesn't agree with it. Sylvia's expression remains adamant.

She shakes her head. "Not in my time. A witch catching a fae would have banished it or killed it. This is something radically different. I spent years trying to stop Circle Midnight witches from enslaving fae, but I couldn't stamp it out entirely. I don't condone it. I don't condone the practice and I won't support its implementation. But if you resort to violence, you will be treated as violent creatures. You'll only add fuel to the argument that you need to be caged. Is that really what you want?"

What Sylvia doesn't want is more bloodshed and that seems to be the only way this is going. She doesn't think he'll listen to reason. When fae feel slighted, they seek revenge and nothing will stop them. But she has a duty to try.

Eames scoffs, mildly insulted. He hadn't come here to argue, merely to do Sylvia a kindness, offer a warning that dark times are coming.

"What I want has little bearing here-- she came into my home, tried to put my people in cages." He leans forward, eyes dark and hard, not intending to be threatening but rather to make sure he's clear and heard, "I don't relish the idea of a fight, but unless you have some other solution to offer then I'm afraid that's what has to be."

She sits back in her chair and ponders for a long moment. Not to waste time, but because this is important. Eames is angry and she can understand why, but as always she's wary of making deals with fae.

There is one more thing. It isn't much, but it's worth saying.

"If you want to fight, I can't stop you. But I can offer you something else. My school looks after a large part of northwest London on behalf of the supernatural community. We protect the residents and we keep the peace. That even includes protecting fae, should you be in need of protection. If you're looking for a safe place to live, our borders are open. You'd be free to come and go."

It's as close as she's ever come to extending the hand of friendship. Most of the fae in Redbright territory are outcasts, the ones who don't fit in with the Courts and instead seek refuge amongst other supernatural types. In theory there's no reason that Seelie or Unseelie couldn't live there too... as long as they abide by the rules.

Eames tilts his head, giving her a long look as he tries to discern how genuine an offer it is. It's not one he intends to take, but the intentions behind it will dictate a lot of how Eames chooses to respond.

"I don't want you to think your offer is unappreciated," he finally says, slow and careful like he's feeling the words out as he says them, "but I can't take my people to hide from one witch behind another. Which is exactly how it would look."

It's a genuine offer as far as it goes, but not one she really expected him to take. Sylvia nods slowly. She gets it. It's a matter of pride, and that may cost his people their freedom but if it's a price he's willing to pay then there's nothing she can do about it.

"If that's how you feel." She's run out of options. Sylvia exhales, running a hand through her hair. "Come and talk to me if you change your mind. Until then..."

She stands. Unless he has anything else to say, it seems they've reached the end of their discussion.

The way he sees it, taking the offer is little more than a gilded cage, but he doesn't expect that's an opinion she shares.

Either way, he's not going to stand here and argue semantics, and this is a relatively positive note to leave on when compared to previous meetings, so Eames stands and nods.

"As always, thank you for your time." He offers a smile and sees himself out.

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