Name: Colleen Waters
Player: James Hertsch
E-mail Address: jhertsch@gamewood.net
Chronicle: Santa Cruz/Mage
Essence: Pattern
Nature: Survivor
Demeanor: Architect
Tradition: Verbena
Mentor: Jellicle
Cabal:

ATTRIBUTES:
Physical: Strength-1, Dexterity-2, Stamina-3
Social: Charisma-4, Manipulation-4, Appearance-2
Mental: Perception-4, Intelligence-2, Wits-2

ABILITIES:
Talents: Alertness-1, Expression-4, Intuition-4, Subterfuge-2, Streetwise-1
Skills: Drive-1, Etiquette-3, Firearms-2, High Ritual-3, Leadership-2, Meditation-1, Survival-1
Knowledge: Business-2, Culture-2, Law-1

SPHERES:
Forces-2, Life-1, Mind-3, Time-1

Background: Arcane-1, Avatar-2, Influence-3, Resources-2
Merits & Flaws: Bard's Tongue(-1), Coffeehouse(+2), Enemy(-2), Intolerance (Order of Hermes)(-1), Notoriety(-3), Political Ties(+3), Prestigious Mentor(+1)

Arete-3
Willpower-6
Quintessence-0
Paradox-0

Foci:
Mind: Poetry. A poet since before she Awakened, Colleen has always used her writing to gain insights into herself and the world around her.
Since her Awakening, the Verbena have guided her exploraion of this talent--to a point where she has found that, by writing, she can find
information she never knew--and, with her Bard's Tongue, she often finds herself divulging information she'd rather not.
The main danger with this focus is that somebody else might read these poems; While poems designed to create information (i.e. Mind 2-3 poems focusing on illusion projection) have little effect when read by a Sleeper, Colleen's divinitory works have been known to disturb those readers profoundly--even when Colleen cloaks this information in allegory, the truth still seeps through...

Life: Blood. Having been taught basic blood rituals, Colleen uses minute amounts of blood for Life effects--at Colleen's current level, this usually requires no more than a simple pinprick.....except when she must feed the Sunchild.

Forces: Wand. Colleen posseses an ash wand which represents her control over her environment, and her link with the natural world.

Arete and Foci: Mind & Forces foci no longer needed.

Apperance: Physical Description: tall, thin, regal. When working or performing, Colleen favors a long green dress. When in the field, tends towards more practical jeans, with her shoulder-length brown hair tied back in a tail. Green eyes. Had a sixth finger on her right hand, but it was surgically removed in her youth. 29 years old.

History:
Through high school, Colleen earned a reputation as an exemplary, if quiet, student. She was quiet, that is, until her Avatar, though still Sleeping, rolled fitfully in its Slumber.
In tenth grade, when presenting a poem in a creative writing class--it was about apples--a strange, cold feeling washed over her. As her eyes glazed over, she predicted that the teacher would find himself divorced within a month--with his wife run off with another woman.
She told the truth.
After her prophecy was borne out, Colleen didn't know how she could feel any worse. Then, time after time, these truths just spilled out of her lips--and she couldn't seem to stop it....
Most disturbingly, tomorrow's gossip eternally spilled from her lips and tongue; initially, this made the previously shy young woman popular, but, after a while, other students became frightened of her--after all, she seemed to know their most tightly-held secrets--and have no compunction about spreading them.
Colleen was no fool--she could see what was happening--the circles and the cliques drawing away from her....
By the time she graduated high school, the young woman had regained her friends--by learning to channel her "Gift" into her poetry. Cloaked in metaphors and rhyme, Colleen's predictions impacted less on her peers.
Unable to afford a college education, Colleen instead found a job in the lovely food service business. While this didn't pay her very much, she was eventually able to move out of her parent's home, and into her own apartment--especially when she broke into catering.
When her supervisors saw that she had some skill at arranging parties and soirees, they promoted Colleen through the ranks exceptionally quickly--it was like she could almost read a customer's mind when meeting with him (or her).
In this world, the aspiring poet thought she might have finally found happiness--by great strength of will, she could sometime's keep her Bard's Tongue from wagging, and, through her secret poetry, the young woman (for she was nearing 22 now) found an outlet for the visions which continually flooded her.
In fact, the formerly shy girl began giving public readings of her poems--a little open mike night here....a reading there for a small audience (usually of her friends.) Before long, part of Colleen's catering "gigs" included readings of her works--and the money of her appreciative patrons kept coming in...
But, as always seems to be the case with mages, Fate would never let Colleen be. First, Colleen had a vision--her parents perishing in a fiery accident....where others saw a brilliant, if disturbing, piece of rhyme and meter, Colleen recognized it for what it was--prophecy.
The next week, two new headstones graced the local cemetary, their epitaphs lovingly written by a mourning daughter.
Life, as they say, went on...
Six months later, Colleen catered a party for a strange little man--it was said that he studied odd things such as numerology.... astrology....and they he could cure almost any ill one might suffer.
Urban legend, thought Ms. Waters. Undaunted by these tales, she catered what turned out to be an elegant affair--the old man was pleased, as was his circle of friends--strange people who spoke occasionally of "Ascension" and the "Umbra" and about "True Names." Colleen, for her part, paid the conversation no mind--she was preparing her poetry reading. Little did she know....
Her final poem, to cap off the night, flowed into her willing, receptive audience:

"Ancient Master--
All-Seeing
All-Knowing,
The snake coils
At your Feet.

"Great magus, Champion of a thousand battles
Heir to legacies, power, riches uncounted--
The snake at your feet will strike tonight."

The crowd shifted uncomfortably.

"Behold his poison Fangs!
Beware his sweet, forked Tongue!
It drips with Venom, with Thirst.

"Behold the future before you
The Darkness around you
Closing in
Tighter
Closer..
Closer.....

"Your Candle
Proof against the night
Fades too soon...

"Trusted Snake,
Not satisfied with what you gave,
He stands now to take all from you.

"The Snake
Harmless, Trusted, Traitorous--
This Snake strikes tomorrow night."

And the audience faced the ancient master--a man of the Order of Hermes. Examining the poet closely, this man saw her for what she was--a mage on the cusp of Awakening.
Suddenly glowing, his eyes swept his companions...coming to rest on a younger man. Uncomfortable, the guests shrank away, leaving an aisle between these two men.
Colleen stood, an apology on her lips.
"My student?" the old master queried.
"My master," the student answered. He shuffled nervously.
"Who are you?" the master spoke.
"Your student, of course," the young man responded. "Your loving, trusted student." His eyes flicked towards Colleen.
"She cannot deceive me in this." The Hermetic Master glared at his apprentice.
The world shimmered--all the guests around Colleen slowed down--stopped...only Colleen and the two mages seemed to move.
"She lies, Master," the apprentice countered. "Look at her. Is she not obviously Verbena or Cult? They would tear us apart!"
"Look into my eyes, my student." The master gestured, and the student's head turned as if suspended from cords. Something passed between Master and Student.
"You would betray me?" the Master roared angrily.
Shaking himself out of his trance, the student responded, "You're weak. Foolish. Old."
"Not so old that I can't still give you a lesson, _child_."
"Child? Child?" the young man laughed--a cold, heartless sound. "I've done a little growing up, Old Man."
The Master squinted, his eyes emanating a black glow.
"I found a new teacher. Somebody who showed me a taste of real power." The student licked his lips. "It tastes good, Old Man. But, I suspect you'll find it bitter."
The old man's eyebrows shot upwards. "Can it be? Barabbi?"
Simultaneously, as a horrified Colleen looked on, The young man chanted in an arcane tongue, bringing into existence a ball of flame. Tossing the ball from his hand, the barabbi sent it streaking towards his former master.
The magus, reacting defensively, wove his hands back and forth, and the fireball, though dissipated, set him reeling. "_I_ taught you that one," the old man sputtered. "Corrinus, Jamalkus, BRI!! Be enfolded in the trap of the Spider, Nephandus!!"
Pieces of reality wove around the young man, who simply vanished, escaping the web. "You'll have to do better than that, old man. Orix!!!" Jagged lightning streamed from the Dark Mage's fingertips, striking the older mage in the chest.
The old man crumpled under this onslaught.
As his corpse fell to the ground, the Nephandus turned to Colleen.
"I'm sorry you forced my hand early, my young poet." He strode towards her. Seemingly paralyzed, the young woman stood, almost shaking. "Yes, be afraid darling. You see, we're outside of time right now. These others, I'm afraid," the student gestured at the frozen guests, "didn't see this little play.
"As soon as we return to normal time, they're going to see me, the loving student, crying over his master's corpse. And, my young poet, they're going to see you standing triumphant, your little poem enacted this very night."
Colleen trembled as he brushed her cheek.
"I will give you a choice," he continued. "I'll let you escape, and you can come join my new master. You won't be Nephandus, of course. Just one of our servants. But, we'll be far kinder to you then the Order of Hermes will, considering you just killed one of their revered 'Masters.'" the man smiled. "So, what will it be?"
Something inside Colleen snapped. All the years of trying to cope with her "Gift" suddenly seemed meaningless. All the time Colleen had spent denying her latent magick vanished--all she felt was horror--terror---and anger. Anger at herself for hiding her gift. Anger at this man for trying to subvert her will to his. Anger at the world, for lulling her into complacency, and then slapping her with this. And all this anger--all her frustration with disorder--broke at precisely this moment.
"No," she said quietly.
The man raised his eyebrows. "Well, then," he smiled, "I can't very well let my Master's demise go unpunished." The man's hand burst into flame. "Don't struggle, my dear," he intoned. "This will only hurt that much more."
"Please don't do this to me," Colleen asked quietly. "I don't know if I'm ready for it." Inside her, something screamed for release.
"Oh?" he said. "You should have expected this when you read your little poem. Good night, Colleen."
For the young poet, time seemed to slow to almost a crawl. As her opponent's flaming hand descended towards her in slow motion, Colleen recited a new poem.

"Your master's Eyes, your Master's Ears, Your Master's Hands.
As you, his Body, have turned from him,
Your own body shall turn from you.

"Hands turn from destruction to destruction--"

Surprised, the Nephandus found his own flaming hand descending towards his face.

"NOOOOOO!!!" he screamed, reeling backwards with his head catching fire.

"Flames wash over handsome, traitorous face.
Let the burnt, barren desert of your soul
Be reflected eternally on your countenance.

"Let your legs fail, your body writhe in agony
Let the knives you have planted fall into your
Own back, and may you taste your own Venom this night."

The young Nephandus, his face contorted by burns, fell before Colleen as she advanced towards him.

"Into a prison of time you have taken yourself and I.
Did you think you were eternal jailor?
I take from you the key.
Did you think yourself clever? You are only darkness,
And now, from this prison of time, I curse you:

"Now and forevermore, let the Darkness of your soul
Become the blight of Mind--the world is Dark in your eyes,
For Darkness you have Embraced."

Leaving the young Barabbi out of phase with time, Colleen leapt to the balcony, where an older woman beckoned the young poet to follow.

-------------------------------------------
Further History
-------------------------------------------

Led by her Avatar, Colleen found Sanctuary with a Verbena named Jellicle--and she left soon after when he sent her away, knowing he was about to be assaulted by the Technocracy....
Jellicle died on the claws of a Hit Mark--Colleen found out after she arrived in Santa Cruz...after the bus ride of questions, when she wondered why Jellicle had sent her away.
After all, he was the only mage who didn't look at her askance, after the death of a great Hermetic Master--a death too many mages have thought was her responsibility.

--------------------------------------------------
Current Situation
--------------------------------------------------

When Colleen arrived in Santa Cruz, the Verbena assisted her in finding an ailing coffeehouse--and in securing the bank loans to buy the same. After all, Verbena help out their own--and Colleen certainly needed the help...
Since then, Colleen has carefully built herself up as a "respected business owner"--holding charity events at her coffeehouse, helping out worthy politicians in their bids for office--and, in the space of a mere 4 years, this woman, now almost 30, has build herself a solid place in Santa Cruz...
Occasionally, her fellow Verbena have asked for "small favors," which Colleen carried out--the occasional use of her Sleeper ties to find information, to help ferret out the Technocracy, and such....
But, she still recognizes her precarious position: the Hermetic
apprentice could swoop down for revenge at any moment--and if that happened, she's not sure if she could stand against him. Because of this, Colleen depends on the Verbena for protection.
However, since the arrival of the Paradox Spirit Sunchild, the Verbena's requests for "small favors" have escalated---and Colleen is beginning to become exceptionally nervous about her position in the Awakened community. And, of late, certain Verbena have "reminded" Colleen of the Hermetic barabbi who desires revenge--and of the Hermetic mages who think she's responsible for the death of one of their own.

What Colleen knows about the local Verbena and other Traditions.

History:

The Dreamspeakers were the first Magi to arrive in Santa Cruz, existing as shamans among the Coastanoan Indians. After them, along with the Spanish colonists in the 18th century came a small group of the Celestial Chorus and (secretly), a group of Nephandi. When the human sacrifices of the Nephandi were discovered, they were supposedly wiped out by a coalition of Dreamspeakers and the Celestial Chorus. In the mid-19th century, the first Order of Hermes and Akashics arrived; and by the turn of the century came the Verbena. The Euthanatos were not far behind.
Before the arrival of the Verbena on the local scene, the Celestial Chorus had grown to become the strongest of the Traditions. Fearing rivalry with the other Traditions, the Chorus set about purging the area of all others. All of the Order of Hermes were wiped out in a single night. Those of the Akashics that weren't killed negotiated a truce in order to flee the area, only a couple remaining behind, hidden within the secretive shanties of the area Chinatowns. The Dreamspeakers merely melted back into the wooded areas, leaving the city to the Chorus.
It continued in this way for some time, with the Chorus being the dominant Tradition within the city. What Akashics there were kept secretly to their own ways, not daring to defy the Chorus in the open. Most of the Akashics preferred to move farther down the coast, establishing a chantry in Big Sur. When the Verbena arrived sometime around the turn of the century, like the Dreamspeakers, they kept to the woods. Perhaps it was this reclusivity that saved them from being attacked by the Chorus as well. The rise of the Technocracy brought an end to the Chorus' purging of all other Traditions. Though there was a brief brutal persecution of a band of Euthanatos that had moved into the area back in the 50's, new leaders within the Chorus emphasized harmony and coexistence with the other Traditions. Still, the Chorus has remained dominant within the city and this has been pointed out to any Magi who visited the area.
The failure of ones who call themselves Hollow Ones to acknowledge Chorus suzerainty, even taking deliberate pains to flaunt their independence not only caused their persecution by the more powerful Chorus, but may have laid the groundwork for the current tragedy. The Chorus used their power and influence to prevent the Hollow Ones from obtaining tass or access to any of the rich nodes in the area. Verbena claim that it was this very persecution and denial of access to areas of Quintessence that forced the Hollow Ones to raid werewolf nodes (cairns) in order to find the tass to protect themselves from the Chorus and others who would prey upon them or try and force them to conform. This raiding and destruction of werewolf nodes created a catastrophic chain of events. Werewolves, already hard pressed by the Technocracy and Pentex now found themselves attacked by Magi from an island of peace that the weres themselves had helped to create. Caught in this two front war, the werewolves were forced to relax their guard upon the frontier in order to protect themselves from Hollow One raids. Worse still, the success of the Hollow Ones in raping several nodes led to the destruction of the Green Hills Sept, one of the central and most pivotal of werewolf septs in the area.
Without the werewolves to protect them, the mountain magi were now themselves open to attack. The more solitary and elusive Dreamspeakers once again retreated into the depth of the woods. But a savage and pointed Technocracy attack aimed right at the Verbena's sacred oak grove nearly destroyed the Verbena's powerful sacred node. Realizing their vulnerability, the Verbena organized to resist, calling in all members and actively recruiting new members for their covens. Fighting alongside the small werewolf septs which manned the summit frontier, the Verbena came to know and be known by many werewolves as a useful ally. In fact, it was a group of visiting garou from the Oakland Hills that approached the Verbena with information about rites they had once used to summon a being known as the Sun Child.
According to Dreamspeaker lore, the Sun Child was a shadow or guise of a far more ancient power that existed before Triat and which was still largely unknown. According to the werewolves, the Sun Child was the progeny of Gaia, a spirit of unbridled chaos and power which could even cause a reworking of reality itself if left unleashed. Werewolf shamans had summoned the Sun Child a few years earlier but found they could not control it. This event was heralded by the tragic Oakland Hills Fire which destroyed hundreds of homes and which, had the werewolves not revoked their incantation, could have resulted in even more destruction.
However, the Verbena had something that the werewolves didn't - that being knowledge of elaborate blood rites. And blood itself turned out to be the key element in not only summoning, but controlling the Sun Child. When the other Traditions, especially the Chorus heard about this summoning and the means which the Verbena used to control it, they demanded that the Sun Child be banished at once. They even convened a Tribunal for this purpose. Though the Verbena sent two representatives to argue their side and that of the werewolves, the Tribunal insisted that unless the Verbena revoke their summoning, which the Verbena refused, that there would once again be war between the Traditions. A vote was taken and war was narrowly voted for.
That very night, the Sun Child was unleashed upon the Technocracy strongholds in Silicon Valley. Tragically, it turned out that it was the Sons of Ether who felt the power of the ancient spirit when their chantry in Saratoga was totally destroyed - hardly an auspicious beginning. Since then however, the Sun Child has been instrumental in destroying hidden clone factories, weapons research facilities, communications facilities and monetary storehouses. It seems nothing the Technocracy has in its arsenal can make the least impression upon the Sun Child and each night the Sun Child walks, another Technocracy stronghold is forever lost.
On the Santa Cruz side of the mountains, every assault upon the Verbena node has been beaten back by werewolf allies of the Verbena. Werewolves have flocked to the area from all over, answering the howls of war. Sadly, in their steadfast pursuit to destroy the Verbena and banish the Sun Child, the very instrument of their ultimate victory, Tradition magi have hopelessly sacrificed themselves. Even other Verbena have sided with the other Traditions, sharing in their downfall. However, this had not come without cost to the Verbena themselves. So far, three of their order have been slain in the fight, however taking with them numerous Tradition and Technocracy magi. The Sun Child has imparted to its followers the ability to make full use of Magick, rewriting physical laws so that no Paradox follows those who use even the most vulgar of rotes. It is this ability to defy Paradox which has given the Verbena the edge and which, though it is not utilized by all Verbena, has still made the Verbena Tradition the most feared and respected in the entire region. Now, the other Traditions are in hiding and the Technocracy is on the run while werewolves and Verbena freely prowl the streets of Santa Cruz.

Coven of Nom: {This coven maintains the sacred oak grove in a hidden place of refuge known only to coven members. However, other Verbena are free to visit the node with the permission of the coven, making use of it for healing, refuge and inspiration. This is done in a manner that will hopefully keep the grove's location secret to all but coven members (usually by ingesting a strong magickal potion). It seems likely that the site of the sacred grove is generally known (i.e. the general area) to Iteration X, but that the exact site is still an unknown. Coven members hope to keep it that way.}

Beth Scurlock - With flaming red hair, jewel-like green eyes and tattooed arms, Beth, like her sisters, Meagan and Siobhan, looks nothing more than like an exotic pagan. Beth is outspoken in her beliefs and support of Gert, who she worships almost as a god and is very critical of Besie Moisha and her pacifistic beliefs. Beth is Meagan's and Siobhan's identical triplet sister and those that don't know them have difficulty telling them apart. Even coven members are hard pressed. The only real way is to examine their tattoos, since each sister has a slightly different pattern. Firstborn among the triplets, Beth is believed to be the most powerful of their number.

Campbell McKane - Quiet, studious and gentlemanly, Campbell has reluctantly gone along with Gert, having been outvoted by other coven members. Campbell is careful to keep his own views to himself and does what he is told. Still, he is not totally trusted by the others and generally keeps to himself when he can.
Campbell rivals Gert for muscularity and size, but at a mere 6'4", Gert still towers over Campbell. Campbell has reddish brown hair and beard with grey eyes.

Gert - Gert is the charismatic leader of the Verbena tradition and holds the position of High Priest of the coven. He is an imposing man, at least 6' 8" in height, possessing a muscular lean body and a handsome face framed in a golden mane of hair and beard.
He is the proponent behind the summoning of the Sun Child and it is he who performs the blood sacrifices used to sustain and control the Sun Child. As the Sun Child exerts itself, more and more of Gert's energies now seem to go toward procuring blood and sacrifices. Lately, he seems a haunted and drained man.

Irene Juno - (DEAD) Irene, who was coven leader before Gert, was recently declared an outcast and sacrificed to the Sun Child for trying to block the summoning. Whatever their feelings about Irene's Sacrifice, all coven members and some other Verbena participated in the event. Irene is remembered as a kindly affectionate person and there is not a little guilt among the coven members for how she died.

Jacques Sallust - A native of northern Ontario, Canada, Jacques is an aficionado of computers. As such, Jacques is often teased for being a Virtual Adept reject. Jacques is the plotter and planner of all the coven's activities. He is also the negative voice, often pointing out flaws and problems with proposed schemes. Though he often enjoys baiting Beth, Jacques has taken pains to be quiet on the issue of the Sun Child, doing what he is told. He remembers all too well what happened to Irene Juno.
Jacques is a slender, yet tall man appearing in his late 30's. He wears his long straight black hair unkempt, his dark eyes barely peeking out from underneath.

Luciano Longhena - Luciano is a master maker of potions. His use of what he calls "frozen magick", kept locked in vials and unguents, is unparalleled, except by certain alchemists in the Order of Hermes. However, keeping to Verbena understanding, blood is the focal point of all his work. Sometimes, his needs for exotic blood types makes him take rather unorthodox and sometimes lethal means to procure what he needs. He comes off as being rather single minded and since the arrival of the Sun Child, he's been able to produce remarkable potions, having been freed form the chains of Paradox. Needless to say, Luciano is a diehard advocate of Gert and the Sun Child.
Luciano has black hair and beard and vibrant blue eyes.

Meagan Scurlock - (For description, see Beth Scurlock). Identical triplet sister of Beth and Siobhan, Meagan and her sisters were said to be the product of an arcane Verbena rite that their parents (both Verbena) used to split the seed of life three ways, thus making three extraordinary magi. Meagan, despite her identical looks, is more introspective and less outspoken than her sister, Beth; though she's not quite the recluse that Siobhan has become. Before the Tribunal, Meagan liked to hang around with members of the Cult of Ecstasy, believing some of their means could be made use of by the Verbena. This belief of hers has no other supporters in the coven. Within the coven, Meagen is known as something of a seer. She has remained quiet about the Sun Child, answering all queries in cryptic forms that leave the asking person more confused than before. However, one of her predictions, that of the death of Tore Hargraves has recently come true, giving her a new found respect within the coven.

Simon Butler-Eldridge - Simon is a delver into the arcane past and also teaches anthropology at U.C.S.C. His students would be shocked to know that he is also a blood mage and soldier in an Ascension War. Simon is a small, balding man with bits of wispy blond hair receding on his head and small piercing dark eyes. Always the pragmatic, Simon was one of the skeptics of the Sun Child's arrival and has made it a point of not using any vulgar rotes, despite the Sun Child's promise. Still, he also makes it a point to follow what the coven decides explicitly, lest any suspicion fall on him that he is a traitor to the cause.

Tore Hargraves - (DEAD) Tore Hargraves, who used to love to surf, only infrequently visiting the sacred oak grove, died recently, the victim of a foul Technomancer trap that shredded his body into a bloody pulp. He was the bravest and coolest of the local Verbena in a fight. His loss was keenly felt, especially among the female members of the coven as Tore was said to be quite a lady's man and it is suspected that a number of the women members had been lovers of his. Still, Tore was known to have few ties, preferring to act in support of the coven so that they would support him when he needed it. He often said that he was afraid to be alone, which is why he had so many lovers and was even more afraid of commitment, and which is why he always left them. Though he was thought to be a lover of Irene Juno, he didn't hesitate when it came time to participate in her death.

Xenia Van de Graaff - Xenia, who came to Santa Cruz from the Netherlands, is an outgoing yet calculating woman who leads a double life as a Verbena mage, while going home to an unsuspecting husband and three children. Though in her mid 40's, Xenia looks no more older than 25. Her older daughter and she are often mistaken for sisters when out shopping. Xenia was disappointed that none of her children became awakened, which is why she took Tore as a lover, hoping to produce an awakened progeny. She is currently pregnant but is using magick to disguise this fact. As Tore, the father of the child, was black and Xenia's husband is white, Xenia has no desire to advertise her affair to the world at large. She intends to deliver and keep the infant at the sacred grove, sacrificing it to the Sun Child if it proves to also be unawakened. To keep this from happening though, she is taking some of Luciano's potions and meditating with the Sun Child to help "awaken" the fetus.
Xenia is a fit energetic woman, somewhat below average height with short blond hair and blue eyes. Her English is superb, though sometimes a little Dutch accent creeps into it at times. Being also fluent in German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, Xenia also functions as the coven's linguist - a role she also occupies at her husband's, Donald Browne's, bank.

Independents:

Agatha Mauss - Though Agatha is not yet a coven member, she would like to be and is often brought to the grove and sometimes accompanies coven members on raids. She is young, but bright and outgoing and well liked. Because she studied exclusively under Bessie Moisha, she is not trusted by certain coven members and so has been told it will be a while before she is allowed to join.
Agatha is slender and small, with long brown hair and blue-green eyes.

Bessie Moisha - Bessie Moisha is a quiet solitary figure, who like Luciano, is a brewer of potions and herb remedies. She is on friendly terms with many Dreamspeakers and because of this, she has refused to sanction the war. Though she was never a member of the Coven of Nom, being so well respected, her aloofness is seen as a comment on Gert and the Sun Child. Despite what happened to Irene Juno, Bessie doesn't hesitate to warn other Verbena from taking the Sun Child's gift of no Paradox. Because she is so respected, not just by local magi but by Verbena from all over the world, her reputation has protected her thus far, though many think it is only a matter of time before her blood also flows on the stone altar under the moonlight.
Bessie is a tall attractive woman with ash brown hair and grey eyes. Her countenance is often sad and thoughtful, and she seems distracted at times, as if her thoughts are far away. Bessie usually wears simple robe style dresses and speaks in a heavily accented voice betraying her Karellian origins. Aside from English, she speaks French, Russian and Finnish.

Branwen - Branwen is a new arrival. She comes to Santa Cruz from England via a number of locations, including New Orleans, and Santa Fe. Branwen is known to be friends with one of the Dreamspeakers, and though she nows about the war, she seems determined to remain neutral. Gert is unsure of how to deal with her. On the one hand, he wants all Verbena to support his dealings with the Sun Child. On the other hand, he knows that not all Verbena do support him and though a few are actively aiding the Tradition magi, most are remaining neutral to see what happens. Gert is treating Branwen gingerly for the moment, not wanting to alienate other Verbena from elsewhere. As long as Branwen doesn't voice any negative opinions about Gert or the Sun Child, she will probably remain safe - for the moment.

Clark Sommerville - (DEAD) Though a bitter rival of Irene Juno, still Clark was one of a few Verbena who left the Coven of Nom over the Sun Child affair, and who was actually debating joining the Tradition magi in their fight against the Sun Child. Ironically, Clark was the first victim of the waring Tradition Magi, having been recently killed by a raid of Celestial Chorus. Gert views Clark's death as providential and actually a sign that he is on the right track.

Colleen Waters - Colleen is a neutral magi who involves herself in many charities and good works for the sleepers. As such, she has remained neutral thus far in the Ascension War with the other Traditions, and her coffee shop, Coffeetopia is seen as a sort of neutral ground - for the time being. Word has it that Gert will soon be asking Colleen to take a more active role. The Sun Child grows every hungrier and he will need more to help him feed that hunger.

Mina Cavalli - Mina is an observer, acting on behalf of chantries mostly in Marin and Sonoma counties, but also representing chantries as far as Oregon. Her word could bring powerful allies to the coven or bring it's own brothers and sisters as allies to the Traditions. For the moment, Mina is keeping silent about the Sun Child, though Gert is courting her favor in a big way. She has openly she is impressed by what the Santa Cruz Verbena have accomplished, though she is very disturbed that there is war between the Traditions. She has offered to act as a mediator and is often found at Coffeetopia in that role.

Siobhan Scurlock - The last born triplet of the Scurlock sisters, Siobhan, though identical in appearance to Beth, acts more like a frightened rabbit than an awakened mage. She is terrified of the power within her and seems quite disturbed and unsure of herself. Growing up in Beth's shadow, Siobhan seems to be the weakest of her sisters. Though technically a member of the coven, she has never participated in any way and has only recently resurfaced after hiding out for many months in some hole in the wall apartment in Santa Cruz.

The Sun Child - The Sun Child is a being that seems born of pure light. It appears as a sexless humanoid form, glowing with pure essence. When it speaks, it is with a serene calm yet benevolent and musical voice that appears intermingled with one's own thoughts - and never as an actual voice. Sometimes, others present can "hear" what is being said to another - sometimes not.
Those who have been in the presence of the Sun Child have come away being either refreshed or totally drained of energy. Some have called the bath of light that streams from the spirits body warm and comforting; others say it feels like the deepest cold.
The Sun Child is very open and giving to members of the coven, but other Verbena meeting the spirit have come away with different opinions. One thing is for certain and that is that the Sun Child seems capable of harnessing incredible power which can be channeled into destructive force, either emanating from the Sun Child itself, or through one of the coven members. No Paradox of any sort accompanies these manifestations.
The one catch is that the Sun Child demands blood - more and more of it. Gert has even taken to waylaying straying sleepers as well as using captured enemies to feed the hunger of the spirit. The Sun Child says it regrets these lives but that given the force it must exert on behalf of the coven and the lycanthropes, that this lifeforce which fuels it is necessary.

Sunday, June 18th, 1995 10:10 a.m.

Like most Sunday mornings, it was quiet at Coffeetopia. In Santa Cruz, the Sleepers attended their mundane churches, singing hymns to a God they didn't care about, anthems of hypocrisy rising to uncaring heavens. Others in Santa Cruz, still dressed in the morning uniform of robe and underwear, read of the morning's news in the world of light, blithely unaware of the World of Shade behind and beneath the World of Light.
Coffeetopia, meanwhile, continued its existence in both worlds--where some, even the regular customers, saw only a coffeehouse--a place to drink to watch the weather outside, and make "small talk" about nothing of import, those of the World of Shade saw another place entirely--a house of reconcialiation. A place of peace, "neutral ground" as it were--a place to meet, to resolve disputes--an island of calm in a swirling world of chaos. Balanced precariously between two worlds, Coffeetopia sailed through the Winds of Time on a fragile path.
Equally balanced between these two worlds was Coffeetopia's owner, Colleen Waters. Unwilling to commit herself to the wars tearing through the world of Shade, Colleen instead embraced the World of Light--a world which, despite its existence in the light, still faced its share of darkness. Colleen, troubled in the World of Shade, found a certain security in her role in the world of Light. If she could stay to the World of the Light, perhaps the factions of the World of Shade would pass her by.
And if the World of Shade were to draw her in, Colleen felt, she could cling to her role in the World of Light as if it were a life preserver. But, to walk a narrow path is seldom as easy as one might think--and the World of Light and the World of Shade are sometimes as indistinguishable as the twilight before the sun rises.
As Colleen bused a table--and wondered why people couldn't clean up after themselves more often--twin bells reached Colleen's consciousness.
From the World of Light, Colleen heard a bell on the door to tell her a new customer had arrived--perhaps another of the older customers who favored her shop in the mornings. But, the other bell--from the World of Shade--prompted Colleen to this visitor immediately, instead of waiting for this newcomer to order at the counter.
As the new visitor walked through the door, Colleen felt that
flash of apprehension she always felt--the fear that, perhaps, her past would haunt her. The fear that a young man would come through the door, angry with the young Verbena for her deed. Or, worse, one of those who believe differently--who took the incident, several years past, at mere face value.
Instead of an angry Hermetic, a fellow Verbena faced Coffeetopia's proprietor. One of the triplets--Beth, if Colleen rememberd correctly. Not someone worth offending--and not a visitor to be taken lightly, either.
Beth smiled at Colleen as the younger Verbena approached her. "Hi
Colleen. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
A favor?_ Colleen thought. Not particularly eager to appear reluctant, she simply nodded. "Sure Beth. What is it?"
"I'm meeting someone here," Beth replied.
Something told Colleen this would be something a little less innocent than two caffeine addicts sating their thirst. Beth, for her part, seemed a little hesitant to reveal more. Still, Colleen pressed. "A friend of yours?" she inquired tactfully.
Beth shook her head. "I wouldn't call him that. Beth paused, but before Colleen could interject, she continued. "He has short brown hair, somewhat above average height. He has a rather arrogant bearing. Be careful. He's VERY dangerous."
Dangerous to WHOM?_ Colleen wondered.
Beth said, "He'll be here sometime around 3 o'clock."
"What's his name?" Colleen asked.
"I think his name is Christophe."
"I'll make him feel at home."
"Thanks. But nothing special. Just treat him like any other customer." Smiling, Beth left.
Three o'clock. That gave Colleen a little time. "Jeremy," the Verbena called to her assistant manager. He walked over to her.
"Yes, ma'am?" the young college student asked.
Colleen's mouth quirked a little bit. "I asked you not to call me ma'am until I'm at least thirty," she admonished the towheaded UCSC student.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered, his own lips quirking at the thought of their inside joke.
"I'm going to be over on the patio for a while," Colleen continued. "I'm going to try to get a little writing done this morning."
"For the reading Thursday night?"
Colleen thought for a moment. "You might say that. Just keep an eye on things for me..and try not to come to me unless it's an emergency, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," the young man chuckled. "Only for an emergency."
Assured she wouldn't be disturbed, Colleen drew a frappucino--which the poet realized was her third of the morning--and sat down with a blue pen, and a pad of legal paper. Blanking her mind to outside influences, the mage set herself to her poetry.

Sunday, June 18th, 1995 3:21 p.m.

As the afternoon dragged on, a young man, around six feet tall, strode into Coffeetopia. As he looked around, Colleen remembered Beth's description. _Definitely him._ Colleen thought. _But, how can he stand to wear that jacket in this weather?_
Seemingly impressed with his surroundings, the man strode up to the counter, where Colleen was idly scribbling on her yellow pad.
"Can I help you?" Colleen inquired.
"Not sure yet. I haven't been here before. You got any recommendations?" the man, presumably Christophe, replied.
"All the coffee here is excellent," Colleen responded, raising her eyebrows, as if sharing a private joke with the man. "Personally, I'd suggest today's special."
"Sure," the man said. "Give me a large house special," he smiled.
As Colleen prepared a chocolate mocha for the man, she tried to glean some aspect of his mood--anything which might tell her what was going on, and why.
[Mind 1 Pathos effect, not digging around or anything...just getting his general mood.....]
(Colleen senses curiosity.)
As she finished filling the mug Colleen asked him, "So, what persuaded you to come by today?"
"Beth suggested that I drop by something."
"Ah." Colleen rang up the coffee. "Two-fifty-nine." Colleen put the coffee on the counter.
"You a friend of Beth's?" Colleen continued.
"Sorta. Is she here now?" the man responded as he fumbled for his money.
Colleen shrugged. "She's around."
"Good, could you tell her I'm here? Don't worry. She'll know who I am. I'll be sitting outside at one of the tables." With that, he strode out onto the deck at sat at a table.
After only a minute or two, Beth walked in, winked at Colleen, and headed out to the deck. For her part, Coffeetopia's proprietor rolled her eyes.
Beth sat down and addressed Chrisophe. "Glad you decided to stop by. Let's go someplace else to talk."
Curious as to what was going on, Colleen remembered that she needed to bus several of the tables on the deck. Suiting words to actions, she headed out for the deck.
"No, we can talk out here. You said you had an offer. Let's hear it. And while you're at, why does Raef want you dead?" the man began.
Beth didn't seem pleased. "Alright," she said, crossing her arms. "What's Raef offering you? If it's not too unreasonable, I don't think it will be a problem to offer you something better. I think we can find something interesting to a man of your sort. As to why Raef wants me dead, well let's just say the feeling's more than mutual."
"He and I haven't talked since the other night. So I haven't heard his sales pitch yet. But I expect to be talking with him shortly. As to what I want...information to start with. We can negotiate the money later."
As the man and woman continued speaking, Colleen quietly cleared other tables on the patio, carefully rinsing each one with a damp rag as she did so.
Beth looked at him as if surprised. "Money? I wouldn't have thought that money would have been the sort of thing to interest you."
"It's one way to keep score. Now, are you going to tell me why I bothered to drive all the way out here or are we going to play footsie all afternoon?" Tim sounded a tad perturbed by Beth's questions.
Tim slid his chair back from the table and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. "Six heartbeats is a very long time," Tim replied as he wiped the blood off his finger. "You have said why you want his head on a silver platter, but you haven't said why your group is at war with the Chorus or for that matter, the other groups."
Tim placed both hands on the table and slowly rose. "I have decided to have another cup of coffee. Would you like one?"
Beth shook her head.
"Hmm...I don't know," the man said as he glanced towards the front door. "What other types of Java does this joint have?" he said to Colleen as he reached the end of the counter away from the front door, but near the restroom and kitchen.
As the man rose and announced his intention to fetch another cup of coffee, Colleen moved lightly across the patio, draping her rag into a
nearby tray of used cups and saucers.
Intercepting him on his way in, Colleen moved in step with him. "May I suggest some chocolate mocha?" she suggested as they moved inside. "Since you're a--" Colleen paused, glancing back at Beth "--friend of Beth's, I think I can let you have this one on the house." Colleen smiled sweetly as they went indoors.
After waiting for Colleen to attend to her guest, Beth followed him in, speaking softly in the more crowded main area, the playful sex game having ended.
"Our war is not your concern. Your reputation is that of a mercenary. We are merely trying to decide on your fee and convince you that it is indeed in your own best interests to be on the winning side. If you must know, we Verbena are fighting for our very survival. The Chorus never lifted a finger to help us when the Techs nearly burned us out. When we take the only measure to ensure our survival, they try to step in and tell us that we can't do it. It's not our fault that they're fools. And we do intend to defend ourselves - against anyone."
Beth began doing up her bodice. She gave the man an accusatory look, apparently not satisfied at the level of his attention to her charms.
"So Christophe, have you decided to fight for us?"
While Colleen was wiping up, she noticed three people who she'd never seen before enter the shop. They were two men and a woman and they had a rough look about them. They looked around, their eyes settling on Beth and her guest.
As Colleen walked alongside Christophe, her attention turned to the door as somebody new entered. "You'll have to excuse me--I think a few new people just came in." As Colleen turned for the door, she chuckled. "It's like the coffee wars never end." Colleen's eyes flicked over the two of them. "Just tell my assistant to give you a large French Vanilla. And tell him I said it's okay to have it on the house." Turning, Colleen strode to the door to meet these new visitors.
Colleen moved towards the strangers, for all appearances the friendly proprietor, but, inside her head, worry ran around like a little ferret. Not sure who these newcomers were, Colleen nonetheless intended to treat them courteously.
Shaking hands with each of the newcomers, Colleen put on her proprietor's face. "Welcome to Coffeetopia. I don't seem to recall you three coming here before. Is there something in particular you'd like?"
The three of them looked up at Colleen. One was a stocky broad shouldered man with reddish beard and sharp sharp light blue eyes. The other two were woman. One also had long long red hair and was likewise fair-skinned. The other was of a more chocolate colour in skin tone, though she had blond hair, probably dyed.
The man's lips curled back, exposing his teeth. "We don't!"
The other two women jostled the man between them and he shut up.
"We're friends of Beth," the woman of African descent said to Colleen. "We're here for a little get together."
The other woman interjected. "Three lattes, please." Turning to the man, she said, "Don't worry. You'll like it. If not, I'll drink it for you."
All three of them looked past Colleen like she didn't exist, focusing instead on Beth and her guest. They were standing, with Beth's hand on his chest, talking.
Colleen smiled warmly. "You're friends of Beth's, then? Whom shall I say has come to see her?"
Colleen motioned for her assistant manager to attend to the strangers' order.
"She knows that we're here," the woman assured Colleen. "Don't trouble about us."
The man leaned forward, interjecting, "Just leave us alone! I'll bark if I want your kind of bother!"
The black woman glared at her companion while the other woman, eyes wide with surprise said to Colleen, "Please excuse him. He's a little on the edge."
"That's putting it mildly," the other woman added. Turning to Colleen she said, "You'd better make his latte decaf."
Something in the strangers' eyes made Colleen turn. She saw that Beth was finishing up her conversation with her guest and that he was leaving. She heard a noise behind her and all three got up, ready to head outside. But nodded her head and they relaxed. The man had an obvious look of disappointment on his face as he watched the man exit the cafe.
"I guess you'd better make those lattes to go," the woman told Colleen.

(I know I created NPC out of "thin air," but seemed appropriate--after all, Colleen don't run the coffeehouse on her own.
For most of the dialogue, Colleen is going to be "busy" wiping tables, etc., and, of course, hearing every word of the dialogue..If necessary, will use the Mind 1 Multi-tasking rote to both listen to conversation and take care of tables.) If not, just wanted to fill you in a bit--Colleen's background, I figure, is less in the "blood magick" and more in the "bardic / poetry / incantation" tradition--and, to a lesser extent, in the"wands / rods / cups" school...)
Other notes: I'm figuring Colleen's been in Santa Cruz for a couple years, but has only now begun to make herself known outside the Verbena--while she has been notable in mortal circles, she has been careful not to attract too much notice from the supernaturals.)

Sunday, June 18th, 1995 3:31 p.m.

Sighing, Colleen brought the three visitors their coffee, and went back to work; the mage was so busy that she hardly noticed when the three left; werewolves, she suspected, from that one's temper. Privately, Colleen was glad to see them go--after all, explaining the potential carnage to the insurance company would be.....difficult at best, and the mage had better things to do than annoy the local supernaturals; after all, she had a business to run, bands to book, poetry to write, books to balance--the World of Light was sufficient to keep her busy, without the World of Bloodthirsty Shag Carpets to complicate her life.

**Intermission**

Business went neither badly nor well that week. No great profits, but no losses either. Students and professionals fed their caffeine habits. Somewhere a child was born. Somewhere else, another person died. One vampire feasted on blood while another starved. Love, hate, greed, sin, virtue, and piousness played themselves out across Santa Cruz--and at the tables of a little shop called Coffeetopia.
For her part, Colleen swam through this sea of emotion anchored firmly to her business--her work--her life. Thursday night, open mike night, saw the regulars--the poets, the players, stoned refugees from other eras, other times; men and women who loved the past, clung to it like a ratty old sweater, unaware of the fashion disasters radiating out of control around them.
All in all, just another little piece of the dangerous line the dangerous line she walked. A slice of life, as it were--a life adjusted just so, where Colleen could keep some degree of normalcy in her world, while not totally abandoning the World of Shade--a world where she hid from an unfortunate past, and an uncertain future...a world fragile in its balance...and...too soon, that balance shifted.

Sunday, June 25th, 1995 4:18 p.m.

Agatha Mauss. Young. Excited. Eager. Everything expected of an up and coming young Verbena. Almost frothing at the idea of joining the central coven, at becoming a piece of that group which, for better or for worse, affected the lives of all Verbena, and indeed, all mages in Santa Cruz.
Agatha Mauss. Young. Perky. And, there she was, in Coffeetopia, delivering a message for one Colleen Waters. Ebulliently, the young woman burst in, and came straight to Colleen, embracing her with cheerful wholesomeness.
_Oh, boy_, Colleen thought. _The last time one of my fellow Verbena showed up, her "friends" nearly scared away my customers._ Visions of explaining a werewolf attack to an insurance agent once again passed through Colleen's head. "Hello, Mouse," Colleen greeted the new visitor, using the young woman's nickname.
"Hi Coll, how's things?"
"The usual." Colleen shrugged. "Order forms. Tax forms. Purchase forms. Sometimes, I think the Syndicate's not interested in dominating the economy so much as turning us all into bean-counters." Colleen eyed her diminutive fellow mage. "Is something going down, or are you just here for a social call?"
Mouse glanced around suspiciously. "Is there someplace where we can talk? In private? I've got a message for you from Gert."
Little alarm bells went off in Colleen's head. As much as she had been trying to avoid dealing with magely politics and, of course, the war brewing over the Sunchild's recent appearance, it looked like the whole thing was about to blow up in her face. "A message from Gert? Let's go back to my office."
As the two mages entered the back room, Colleen apologized for the mace. "Like I said. Too many forms. You know, these things," Colleen indicated her old, outdated computer, "were supposed to outdate these things." Colleen threw an all-encompassing arm around her office, as if condemning the whole paper mess. "Remind me to hug a Virtual Adept..."
Mouse interrupted Colleen's commentary. "Never mind that. Coll, I have good news." Mouse grabbed Colleen by the shoulders, and since she was fairly short, looked up into Colleen's eyes. "Gert says we're to go with the rest of the Verbs on a raid! Isn't that fantasticadillus!"
Not quite wanting to dampen Mouse's enthusiasm, Colleen responded non-committaly. "Indeed." Colleen made sure her voice rose on the last syllable--to make the word an inquiring one, rather than the sarcastec, or even derogotory, inflection she wanted to put on it.
"He says its time we were inducted. Do you hear that, Coll? He's offering to make us full members of the Coven! We're supposed to be at the end of Oak Ridge Road on Monday, midnight. Coll, aren't you excited! This is our big chance!"
Colleen responded distractedly. "Our big chance. Right." _Does he need more food for that pet spirit of his?_ Colleen thought. "Well, I suppose it is. In case you haven't noticed, I've been trying to keep a bit of a low profile among our fellow mages." Colleen paused significantly. "I hope our esteemed leader will respect that."
With a reminder to be ready on Monday night, Mouse scurried on out of Coffeetopia. "I'll be here to take you on up the road! Bye!" Colleen watched her go. Briefly, Colleen wondered if Mouse knew exactly what she was getting into.

(Of course, somebody's forcing her to choose between Scylla and Charybdis here....and I'm sure that Colleen realizes that the Sunchild might vanish as quickly as it showed up...I'm figuring she's a VERY long-term thinker)

{I know you mentioned that the poem was sort of divinatory. Just thought I'd give a little insight on the char. The way I figure it, Colleen's been very careful to build herself a nice, tight little coccoon since her Awakening and subsequent move to Santa Cruz. In doing so, she's carefully walked a tightrope up and down the Verbena party line, trying never to offend any particular faction, but at the same time to keep her own interests first. Now, with the "raid" coming up, and recent events related to the Sunchild (not to mention the possibility of all-out war), Colleen's neat cocoon is being disrupted.
She needs catharsis and advice, and really can't trust any of the Verbena. The Sleepers wouldn't understand, and the other Traditionalists, she believes, would as likely shoot her as listen to her. Her only ally? Her Muse, who provides guidance for her in the toughest of times. And now, Colleen once again needs the advice of a friend, or at least an ally. I've never really played with the idea of the Avatar as any more than a collection of dots, and I wanted to try to explore the concept in the context of the PBEM.)

"he told me
There'd be strings attached.
Never did he say,
Someday, they might break"

"Puppets and Strings,"
Colleen Waters
1994
 
Monday, June 26th, 1995 5:51 p.m.

A raid? Joy. A raid. Colleen shook her head. First things first: to make sure Coffeetopia was attended to. As the post-work crowd filtered out (and before the evening crowd began trickling in), Colleen called Jeremy, her assistant manager.
A voice answered on the third ring. "Hello?"
"Hi, Jeremy? This is Colleen."
"Yes?"
"How would you like to make a little extra money?"
"Sure. Whaddya want?" The voice on the other end perked up at the mention of money.
"I'm going to a poetry workshop on Monday. Do you think you can cover for me?"
"No problem."
"Good. Just make sure you're here in time for the after-work crowd."
"Colleen?"
"Yes, Jeremy?"
"Do you think I could have that raise soon? My girlfriend and I--"
"Jeremy..." Colleen used That Tone, known to younger males everywhere.
"Yes?"
"I'll tell you what. Try to sell me on it next week. I've got a lot going down right now. Writers, you know?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You'll be here next week, then?"
"Sure."
"Take care, Jeremy."
"You, too, Colleen."
They both hung up. One hurdle out of the way. And, other business? Colleen flipped through her calendar. Cunningham? Cunningham. Cunningham. Ah, yes, the Mayor of Ben Lomond. Calling up a related file on her antiquated Mac. Where was that file? Colleen checked the "crib sheet" Jeremy had made for her. Click the mouse. Like so. File...find file. There it was: Ben Lomond.
As far as Colleen was concerned, the Virtual Adepts couold keep their blasted computers. But, the monster, she knew, was a necessary evil. Colleen clicked. Cursing herself, she remembered to double-click. Two words: Harvest Festival. Festival?
Colleen pondered for a moment. Right. She was meeting with Cunningham about participiting in the upcoming autumn fair in Ben Lomond. Colleen flipped through her Rolodex. Alexander Cunningham: "335-2368"
Colleen dialed. "Hello. Alexander? Oh, Tanya? How's school going? Really? That's good to hear. Could I speak with your father? Tell him it's Colleen."
Quick pause. "Hello, Collen," came the mayor's voice, almost too friendly, from the other end of the line.
"Hi, Alexander. You know our meeting Monday?"
"Yes?"
"I'm going to have to reschedule. Poetry writing workshop, you know."
"That's fine. I'm looking forward to getting together with you." The voice was almost too eager.
(Wits + Etiquette = 3 successes) If Colleen didn't know better, she'd think the mayor was hitting on her. And the man was married...with children. Still, he was attractive
Colleen postponed the thought for later. "Tell you what. After the workshop, I'll call you back and arrange a new time. Alright?"
"That's fine. Take care of yourself."
"You, too. Tell Tanya I said good luck with school."
"Alright. Bye."
After attending to a customer who complained his coffee was too hot, Colleen told the counter worker to see to it she was undisturbed. Finding a quiet corner, the Verbena sat down to think. Since her Awakening, Colleen had striven to balance herself between the World of Shadow and the World of the Light, between the supernatural factions fighting for dominance in Santa Cruz and now, it seemed, that was about to change. What should the young poet do? Where could she turn for advice? Sleepers were unaware, and any mage she talked to would have her own agenda. . . But, there was one other place to turn:
As her Mentor, Jellicle, taught her, Colleen turned to the only source she could trust: her Muse, that glowing being who came to her through poetry to offer guidance and advice.
Concentrating, Colleen picked up a pencil. (1 Willpower spent) The poet blanked her mind, invoked Calliope, and began writing. (Perception + Expression = 4 successes). Somehow, Colleen found herself floating in a void. Dark, black, faraway. Somewhere inside the recesses of her cold psyche. As images poored through the mage's mind, somwhere, far away, a pencil scratched:
 
"Shining light, too long in shadow veil'd,
Hungers for release, hungers for--
Spark of life,
Death's release.

"Shining light, too long in shadow veil'd,
Seeks love, Seeks--
Shelter from woe
Shelter frome despair.

Shinging light, called from the dark,
Hunts renewal. Hunts--
Do you know my name, child?
Is my breath upon your back?
Do you fear me?
Do you love me?

See the predator's sweet smile.
See the baby's cherubic cheeks.
Hiding--
Hiding--

Gentle flowers, my dear,
Bloom. Are they not beautiful?
Beauty withers,
Love expires.
Life blossoms,
then dies.

But, the gardener keeps it alive.
Where is the gardener now?
Her tools have rust'd,
Her garden's o'errun,
For gardener has forsaken
Sacred duty,
And the flowers wilt."

The pencil stopped scratching, and Colleen returned to the mortal world, away from her muse...and was left with a poem, and sweat trickling down her face. Looking at the paper, Colleen shivered. Who was the gardener? Where was the garden? And what was the "shining light too long in shadow veil'd?" The mage had a few ideas, but wasn't sure enough to string them together. She re-read the poem. (Intelligence + Enigmas + Willpower=2 successes).
She was fairly certain that she had been remiss in her duties: that much was clear from the verses about the gardener. But, what was hastening the cycle? And why was the garden dying? Realizing how badly she was sweating, Colleen rounded behind the counter, and went upstairs, ignoring clerks and customers alike.
In her room, she secreted the poem in a jacket--no telling what might happen if a Sleeper, or worse yet, a mage were to read it. Turning on the water, Colleen slipped into the shower to clean off dirt and grime both real and imagined.
 
[Note: I'd like to try starting off my postings with a short piece of "Colleen's" poetry related to the events. Not something she composes during the course of the story, but instead something which relates somehow. Tell me what ya think.]
 
"Between the sky and the ground,
Acrobat walked for adoring crowds.
Raven came, and asked him:
'Choose the sky or the ground, Acrobat,
Before both find you unworthy.'
 
"Acrobat ignored Raven,
Chose his path 'tween sky and ground.
He still walks today,
Between both,
Part of neither.
But, the rope
Grows ever thinner."
 
Form "Birds and Circuses,"
Colleen Waters
January 1995.
 
Monday, June 26th, 1995 7:18 p.m.
 
It was in the shower that Colleen was struck by an idea: Mina -a Verbena from outside Santa Cruz. Since the Sunchild affair had started, Mina had cultivated a reputation as a neutral, a mediator; sometimes, she could be found inside Coffeetopia itself.
Quickly dressing, Colleen checked to make sure everything was going well in Coffeetopia, chided Jeremy for being late, and drove into town--making sure to take the evening's poem with her. Parking her Geo in a lot of Cedar Street, and headed towards Mina's current watering hole: Caffe Pergolesi.
(Perception + Alertness = 2 successes). Colleen noticed a pack of dogs nosing through the side streets. Enough werewolves had been prowlinng about that lately that Colleen could recognize them almost by sight. (Perception + Empathy = 4 Successes) In fact, their presence tonight was an unpleasant reminder of the state of affairs in the World of Shadow. Lately, the wolves had taken to ripping mages to pieces--a fate Colleen was eager to avoid.
One of them crouched. Colleen, for her part, called to mind an old poem, hoping she could effect some sort of escape before the wolf leapt. As it bore its teeth, lines of poetry rose to Colleen's larynx.
Another wolf, watching his companion, called off the attacker with a simple yip. This second wolf, his grey fur bristling in the wind, regarded Colleen for a moment. Not quite knowing what she was doing, Colleen nodded; and she still couldn't figure out why they attacked her. (Intelligence + Alertness = 0 successes). Obviously, the wolves knew her for what she was--a denizen of the World of Shadow. A sense of safety once more embraced Colleen as the wolves left.
Still feeling a bit shaken, Colleen walked over to Caffe Pergolesi, where Mina Cavalli, Verbena from San Francisco, was holding court tonight. The question before the court: should the San Francisco Verbena aid or ignore their Santa Cruz cousins' mountain struggle?
From what Colleen had heart, "the Perg" would be neutral territory--as long as Mina was there. And, apparently, as long as the roving werewolves chose to honor this.
As she went in, various patrons found reasons to look elsewhere. (I think Arcane 1 is good enough for this). Colleen approached Mina, who was alone in a booth, reading a newspaper.
"Mina? We've met before, I believe. I'm Colleen Waters, from Coffeetopia. And, we need to talk."
Mina was a small petite woman. Her insignificant size made her seem less obtrusive. But how often had history provided the lesson that power and influence were not confined by the prejudices of size; and that any such judgement based on a quick glance could prove the undoing of the unwise.
Mina's brows raised slightly, while she continued to sip her chamomile tea. "Yes, I'm surprised to see you of all people here," she admitted. "You have something very important which you wish to discuss with me." Mina did not ask this but was merely making a statement, matter of factly. Her manner to Colleen was decidedly neutral.
For her part, Colleen was somewhat unsurprised by Mina's insight; for a mage who could read minds herself, such insights were not that unusual.
Colleen nodded. "I need advice, Mina, and you're the only one I can turn to."
Mina's eyes glanced down at the carpet, as if studying it. She glanced back up at Colleen and smiled. "Of course. Please sit down."
After Colleen had done so, Mina made it a point of offering her anything to drink. She was advertising that she was completely neutral in this affair to any who might be witnessing the interview.
"So, what was it that you needed advice on?"
Colleen sighed. "Mina, you know how much the Santa Cruz Verbena have done for me since I came here." Colleen sipped some coffee. "And, as you know, since recent," Colleen glanced around, and searched for the right words. "events, shall we say, have come to pass, I've done my best not to get involved. Unfortunately, Gert's calling home old debts: he wants me to help out the Verbena tonight, and I'm not sure that's the wisest thing to do."
Mina looked into Colleen's eyes, as if trying to read her.
Perhaps she's not as clairvoyant as I'd thought, Colleen mused.
"Colleen, I don't want to appear unhelpful, but it's very important to our order that I remain neutral right now. And for all I know, Gert could have sent you here to sound me out, under the guise of this seeking advice of yours. Do you understand?"
Mina didn't wait for an answer but continued. "I cannot 'advise' you in the sense that you are asking me too for fear that it would seem to give away my own feelings about this affair. In the event that you are sincere about these questions you have, I can only offer you the following to help better guide you. The choice has to be yours and I cannot interfere."
"Let's talk about some of the pros first: Right now, the Coven of Nom is supreme among the traditions. Word has it that they and their allies have beaten every attempt to try and stop them. If this continues, then the coven will probably assume the mantle of the dominant tradition in the area; and its members shall have access to nodes and power beyond measure; and they have already gathered much in the way of spoils from the Technocracy. They are afforded protection and respect amongst the lupine tribes of the area - no small thing considering that it gives you the freedom to move through the area unhindered in any way. It is believed because of the nature of the spirit ally - the Sunchild - that you would be freed from many aspects of paradox and that your power would be magnified beyond measure. And there are of course other allies whom you may not know of. And finally, you would have the support and comfort of the coven itself as a full member."
"The cons: The enemies of the coven are still many, including not only the Technocracy but almost all the other traditions in the area; though the coven is winning, if they should loose anyone, it is unlikely that they will be replaced; whereas even though the traditions have lost many awakened, there are still more arriving who are willing to take up the fight in their place. This war is beginning to focus the attention other supernatural powers who might join forces with the traditions. The demand of the coven's most prominent - spirit - ally is great, and it comes with a terrible price and one wonders how long it will still be capable of being controlled or what's it's true intentions are if released from its bonds. You would make a certain enemy of Gert, whose influence extends to the area all around your mountain home. If they blamed you for being a a traitor, Gert and the others would make terrible enemies because of their increased power. You would could also be attacked by the lupines, who numbers would easily overwhelm you. And though you might have the support of the few Verbena from this area who stand apart from Gert, none of the other traditions would probably trust you - knowing your connections. They would still probably continue to view you as an enemy."
Although she had been about to share her Avatar's words, Colleen hesitated after hearing this from Mina. In the current paranoid atmosphere, Mina might actually think the poem was a spell of some sort.
Aside from that, Colleen didn't want to risk her own neck by trusting Mina too much. The young mage rose. "Thanks for your advice, Mina." Colleen headed toward the door. Then, an idea struck her. She turned to Mina.
"Before I leave, I want you to know what I'm going through right now. Then, you tell me whether or not I can be trusted."
 
"Let curtains be opened,
Let doors be unbarred.
Let guest invit'd be welcomed in.
 
"Spring cleaning?
Who ever heard
of such a thing.
My guest needs to see
dirt
dust
confusion
helplessness.
And, the gremlin took my broom.
 
"Let guest be welcomed,
Let her see
Pandemonium unfurled.
And then, let her see no more."
 
[I'm doing a Mind effect here: essentially, Colleen is going to lower her mental shields, and broadcast her true emotions to Mina mind to mind; Colleen isn't going to broadcast anything more than emotions, but she wants them to be strong. . . I'd like to spend one of my points of Quint to lower the difficulty on this. I'd think it'd be a Mind 2 Effect, which would put the difficulty at (2 + 3 (coincidental magick) - 1 (Quintessence) = 4) Colleen's broadcasting true emotions here-probably fear, uncertainty and confusion are the big ones.]
 
"Inky shadow surrounds me
Like ratty, tattered, uncomfortable clothes
From flea market in Hell.
 
"From inside, there is nothing
No friends. No comfort.
Only sounds
of predators
of dangers
of strangers.
 
"Inside the cloak,
Unable to shed it,
I wait
Alone as I ever was
For creatures
Of shadow
To take me."
 
Monday, June 26, 1995, 7:48 pm.
 
Mina had been almost no help at all. Where Colleen had looked for trust, for sound advice, she had received only the calm, "neutral" natterings of somebody unwilling to get involved even to the point of helping somebody, who up to now, had been a fellow neutral.
As for her Avatar: as near as Colleen could tell, her Avatar told her she had gardens to tend. Colleen headed toward the side street where she parked, all but ignoring the people around her.
A bum asked for money, and she absentmindedly dropped a hunk of change in his pan; what use was money to somebody already dead? Metal clanged on metal, drowning out the bum's enthusiastic "Thanks, pretty lady."
Key. Lock. Ignition.
The Verbena didn't have many options now--Mouse would be looking for her all too soon. What would she do? She had no idea. Accelerator. Reverse. Shift. Forward. Turn onto main street.
Down deep, Colleen knew she'd do what she'd always done: whatever it took.
If Gert wanted to induct her into the coven, so be it. But, something nagged at Colleen: the Sunchild. What of this thing?
While she wasn't well-versed in the psychology of spirits, Colleen knew enough about poetry to know that some creatures demanded too much of a sacrifice, too much of a price, too much of a burden from, their "masters."
If she were told to seek prey for this beast, what would the mage do? She'd always avoided Verbena blood rituals--she found them barbaric and vaguely distasteful--and had instead relied on her poetry for much of her magick.
If worst came to worst, what would she do?
Colleen knew the answer. Whatever it took to save her, Coffeetopia, and the life she had built in Santa Cruz--whether that meant working for the Santa Cruz Verbena, for the other Traditions or only for herself.
Accelerator. Turn. Into the night.

(I'd guess Colleen would drive a Geo...God knows there are enough of those things out on the highway.)

Monday, June 26, 1995, 8:51 pm.

As Colleen drove, she further pondered how she'd get through. Joining with the Traditions? A non-option--she was sure her reputation preceded her. The Technocracy? Better not to think about it. Her fellow Verbena? Perhaps. Especially when one considered the old adage, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Potential friends and enemies abound in the Coven of Nom
And, Colleen continued on this vein, if she could get close enough to the Node, find out where it was. Then, work on rezoning the area around the Node for, say, heavy industrial. . . Well, not that she'd do it--a first. But, that sort of thing would be useful to hold over the Coven of Nom--especially considering her ties to the Sleeper government.
With this, the mage altered her course somewhat, heading toward the County Hall of Records to get a map of the area--and found herself caught in a traffic jam caused by a fallen tree. Taking the hint (which Colleen had a suspicion was supplied by a certain Node), Colleen made her way to Coffeetopia to take care of a little business--a little setup for her upcoming 4th of July bash.

"Silence, Pregnant
Waits.

Events of great pitch
And moment
Suspended.

Calm between storms--
Thunder rolls tonight."

From _Stormclouds Rollin' In_ (unpublished)
Colleen Waters,
March 1993

Monday, June 26th, 1995 10:31 p.m.

Pulling up by the sequoia, Colleen walked briskly into her coffeeshop, and found Jeremy busily running the counter operations. Surprised to see her, the assistant manager's face shifted into concern.
"Is everything alright, Colleen?" he asked.
"Everything's fine, Jeremy. I just came by to pick up a few things. Would you mind getting me a thermos of coffee?" Colleen asked.
"Sure." Jeremy went in back and fetched a thermos. As he did so, Colleen filched pen and paper from a bookshelf. "Um, Collen--"
"Yes, Jeremy?" Feeling a bit tired, Colleen snaffled a bit of java, and briefly wondered if she was becoming a caffeine addict.
The young man seemed a bit uncomfortable. "Have you thought about my raise?"
"I have, Jeremy," Colleen frowned just so slightly. "But, before you get a raise, you have to show me that you're capable of making good business decisions, and that you can handle responsibility. After all, even if you get your degree in-- what was it?"
"Music"
"Music, it still wouldn't hurt to know how to run a business, right?"
"Right." Jeremy seemed a littl uncertain of where the conversation was going.
"You know next week's Fourth of July bash?"
"Yeah. We bringin' in extra help for it?"
"Certainly, Jeremy. But, there's something else."
"Yeah?" Jeremy grabbed a cup of coffee of his own.
"I haven't seen enough UCSC students up here recently, and I want to see some more. You attend classes there, you know the audience, right?"
"I think so--"
"Good. Have a proposal for telling students about next week's events on my desk tomorrow. If you can bring in at least 175 non-regulars from the campus, I'll give you a bonus. . . and we'll discuss a raise."
At the word "bonus," Jeremy's ears perked up. "I'm on it! So cool! I'm jonezen!"
Colleen shook a finger at him. "Before you go 'jonezen,' make sure you take care of business tonight. Also, see how Molly's doing. I heard she had a bad breakup recently."
"How did--"
"I'm the manager, Jeremy. I know these things."
Colleen headed for the door. "Take care, Jeremy. I'll see you tomorrow."

[Note: came up with another employee. I figure there are about three or so, plus Colleen and Jeremy.]

"Dawn breaks,
Horizon aflame.
Hated light burns
Comforting dark cloak.

Safety banished,
Light calls me to war.
Who--"

"Cloak of Night, Killing Light" (unfinished)
Colleen Waters,
September 24, 1994

Tuesday, June 27th, 1995 12:08 a.m.

At this time of night, the houses up Oak Lane were dark, as the Sleepers, oblivious to the World of Shadow all about them, slept in their safe little beds. At the end of road, two women stood outside a blue Geo as tendrils of fog swirled around them.
"Could you hand me the thermos?" the smaller of the two asked.
The taller, Colleen, checked inside the thermos. "Sure. But, if you drink the rest of it, you get to clean it."
Agatha "Mouse" Mauss, the smaller of the two, drew a blanket around herself. "Where are they?" Mouse didn't seem to appreciate Colleen's sense of humor; the normally perky Mouse was cold and nervous.
She looked around. "No Sleepers. I don't suppose a bit of magick will hurt, will it?"
Colleen sighed. More blood magic, no doubt. "Just don't get any blood on the car. The last time you pulled some of that blood magick, it took me a week to clean the stains out of the passenger's seat."
As Colleen averted her eyes, Mouse cut her hand, then rubbed her two hands together, the blood running over them like some gross crimson river. Warm air filled the area. "Hmmm. We must have found a pocket of warm air here. Imagine that." Mouse smiled at Colleen.
Before Colleen formulate a good acidic comment--probably about the virtues of her own wand as opposed to slitting one's wrists--a deep voice called from behind them. "Greetings, Sisters."
(Wits + Alertnes = 0 successes) Startled, Mouse and Colleen jumped, the latter fumbling for her wand, then pausing before she saw a tall blond man, dressed in simple yet tasteful robes. Joy. Gert and the Coven of Nom. 'This is it' Colleen thought. Adrenaline raced up and down her body as a triangle of Verbena, with Gert at point, lined up.
Beth Scurlock and Xenia Van de Graaf, the latter showing her pregnancy (Perception = 3 successes), got in line behind Gert, with the other Verbena behind them. Some sort of must accompanying the Verbena tickled Colleen's nostrils. She crinkled her nose.
A hissing disturbed Colleen's reverie. "By the Goddess, isn't he gorgeous." Since Mouse's wits were back, her hormones were now on full-bore, it seemed.
Gert kissed Mouse on the mouth. "Greetings to you, Sister Agatha."
"Hello, Sir! I'm so glad you've asked us! Thank-you!" Mouse gushed to the older Gert. If Colleen had been in slightly less tense circumstances, she might have rolled her eyes. For his part, Gert nodded.
He moved to Colleen, and kissed her dryly on the mouth.
"Greetings to you, Sister Colleen. I am indeed glad too that you have found your way to us."
(Perception + Alertness = 1 success) Strange. Gert looked more tired than before. Almost as if-- Colleen stopped the thought, and as she opened her mouth to give a formal greeting, he tongue began to move of its own accord. 'Oh, no' Colleen thought. 'Not now' Clamping her mouth shut, Collen nodded and gave a tight-lipped smile.
Mouse bounced around, clearly excited by Gert's presence.
"So, sir, where's the raid? Are we going to finally give the Technocracy what they deserve?"
Gert laughed, his pleasure with Mouse's eagerness evident to all gathered. "Indeed, we," he circled his hand to indicate the coven members, "have already walked with the Sunchild tonight." his arms continued their expressiveness, and a sort of manic tone took hold in his voice. "Tonight it was the Progenitors who felt our fire. We scorched one of their hidden breeding places, destroying a number of glass vats filled with future soldiers for their unholy cause."
Colleen almost expected some members of the coven to break out into spontaneous cries of "Hallelujah." As Gert continued, words again boiled through her mouth. 'Must keep it shut' Collen thought.
Gert continued: "They could do nothing but flee or die before us. But, given the surprise and swiftness of our attack, not many escaped. We have already given many to the Sunchild, and the rest shall be sacrificed tomorrow. It is sad though, to use even a Technocratic mage thus." Gert's voice quieted, as if he were sobered a bit. "But they have chosen their road and must pay for their travels," Gert concluded, glancing up at the sky as his pacing took him back towards Mouse.
As Colleen struggled to keep her mouth shut, Mouse thought hard, blinking a bit. "Excuse me, but did you say you ALREADY went on the raid? I thought--"
Gert put a finger to her lips. "Silence, Sister. You misunderstood me." He smiled, wear-lines on his face contorting. "But, do not fret. We have a use for you both."
The tone in Gert's voice cut through Colleen's internal struggle. Almost automatically, Colleen's hand went to the wand at her waist, and words of poetry bubbled into her head.
Mouse backed away from Gert. "Oh, no! You don't mean--!"
Seeing her meaning (and glancing at Colleen's motions), Gert shook his head. "You misunderstood me again, Agatha. No, we have a task for you." Mouse perked up at this. Gert continued: "It will not be easy, but if you succeed, then we shall bring you into our coven full-fold, making you full members with all attendant rights. And, you will be allowed to meet the Sunchild and receive the first of your 'gifts.'" Gert smiled benificently.
Meanwhile, Colleen continued her quiet battle with her throat and tongue. 'Must-- not-- speak--'
Beth came forward. "We know that our one-time sister, Bessie Moisha, has conspired with our enemies to bring us down." Where Colleen might have once asked for proof of this, she was instead involved in her inner struggle, her eyes locked on Gert.
'Notnownotnownotnownotnownotnow'
Beth, oblivious to this, continued. "We wish you to bring her to this very spot."
'Mustnotmustnotmustnotspeak'
Beth handed Mouse a seed looking like a green walnut and a set of manacles. "Bessie is subject to a peculiar form of paradox in which--"
'MUST NOT SPEAK' Colleen's tongue struggled against the roof of her mouth.
"Iron incapacitates her and poisons her as much as it might a fae."
'CAN'T OPEN MOUTH' Colleen tried to look at Xenia, or at Beth, or at any of the other coven members, but her eyes kept on locking on Gert.
"Bound by these shackles, she would be harmless."
'Wordsonlywordswilltheyhurt?onlywords' Colleen, to her horror, found herself losing the battle against her tongue.
Xenia came forward, her husky voice encompassing Colleen and Mouse alike. "The seed you hold contains a Paradox Spirit, named Vig, who is very angry and full of hatred--"
'Sticksandstonesmaybreakmybonesmustnomustnotwordswillnever hurtmustnotspeak' Colleen's struggle continued.
"--For Bessie. You must release it by crushing the seed in Bessies' presence. The spirit will ignore you as long as--"
'GertGertit'saboutGertmustnotsayit' Colleen's mouth open, but she clamped her teeth down on her tongue--hard. Xenia glanced at her reprovingly.
"The spirit will ignore you as long as she is present. Do not crush it unless she is present, or else the spirit will attack you."
Gert intervened. "And this whistle," he gave it to Colleen, "you must use when you have Bessie shackled. Then, bring her here. Hearing the wistle, someone will be here to take you and our prize back to the Sacred Grove."
Colleen accepted the whistle absent-mindedly.
'MUSTNOTMUSTNOTWON'THURTLETITOUTLETITOUTLETITOUT'
Mouse swallowed. "Are you going to--"
Gert cut off Mouse's question.
'DON'T SPEAK'
"Let's just say," Gert began.
'BE QUIET'
"--that refusing to serve the coven--"
'MOUTH OPENING'
"--one way,--"
'CAN'TCLOSEITCAN'TCLOSEITTONGUEMOVING'
"--she'll werve us another. Her blood--"
Colleen covered her mouth to stop sounds from issuing.
"--is potent and full of power."
As Gert brought his hands up in a sweeping motion to dismiss the two younger mages, as if he were some ancient potentate dismissing his servants, Colleen burst out with poetry, her only avenue for channeling her curse:

"Behold the Emperor,
New clothes shining.

Behold his stately bearing,
His gentlemanly gait.

Behold royal finery only wise can see--
Or so the tailor said.

What did the tailor promise him?
How much has he paid?

Behold, the Emperor,
His royal charge abandon'd.

Behold the Emperor,
His royal personage decimated.

Behold the Emperor,
His wisdom, his grace.

Behold the Emperor's new clothes."

There was a pause. The Coven members looked at each other. Some obviously were trying to make sense of this sudden appearance of poetry. Others who'd caught the satirical meaning, they looked to Gert, ready to follow his lead. Gert didn't say anything at first. Then he clapped, inviting all the others to do so as well. Smiling and laughing like the recital had brought him great joy, he came up and hugged Colleen, speaking in a voice low enough for only her to hear him.
"Mock me if you wish, sister dear. But remember, the Sunchild must feed and it is our duty to feed it. The consequences of not doing so would be disastrous. Remember the Oakland fire, yes? If not Bessie Moisha, then there's always someone else in the larder." He looked up at Mouse, who smiled at him, ignorant of his words to Colleen.
"And you," he said. "Remember, 'eyes shall be watching' everything."
He turned and the coven turned with him. Colleen blinked. They were gone. Magick ran rampant in their very steps, cloaking them utterly. No wonder they were feared by all. Their dark bargain had brought them unparalleled power. But could she, Colleen Waters, afford the same cost?
Motioning to Mouse, Colleen turned and entered her car. "Get in."
Opening the door for Mouse, Colleen let her fellow mage in. She turned the ignition, and drove into the night. "So, what do you think of all this?"
"I don't know," Mouse admitted. "But I want in. And I think Gert knows what's best. He's a genius. Who am I to question him?"
Feeling obligated to fill the silence in the Geo, Colleen empty initiated conversation.

"Give me a sword,
I shall fight.

Give me a needle,
I shall sew.

By devices foul or fair,
Remove sword and needle,
I shall still fight and sew,
My heart the sword,
My hand the needle.

'Tis not the tools
That make the task--
'Tis the task
That makes the tools."
"Tools of a Poet"
Colleen Waters
April, 1995

{Q: On extended actions: what is the likelihood that Coffeetopia could start expanding into the cybercafe thing? Specifically, Colleen would probably need to get a loan from the local bank to finance the purchase of equipment, etc., and hire a sysadmin for the things.
A: I don't see a problem except that Colleen probably will need to go in cahoots with a Virtual Adept or hone her own skills greatly, becoming a Verbena version of a V.A. Since the V.A. are on the other side of the fence (though they are taking a neutral stance thus far) in the Sun Child thing, it might take some effort into winning the trust of one of them.
This is an aside, but I noticed that Coffeetopia has moved in the real world down to Pleasure Point (surfer spot down at the ocean side of 41st Ave). You might want to consider opening another location as well, to get you into the city scene and have a foot there as well.}

"Who are you
Staring from
Soul Window?

"Who am I
On this side
Looking back?"

"Stranger to Myself"
Colleen Waters
April 22, 1994

Wednesday, June 28th, 1995 4:33 p.m.

Colleen and Mouse had met earlier, the only conversation passing between them the sort of empty pleasantries that take up so much of a person's day--the weather, the store, things like that. Intensely worried about the coming "raid," Colleen was tight-lipped, and even Mouse had lost much of her usual ebullience.
As they drove up the road leading to Bessie's domicile, Colleen wondered what was in store. Would Bessie be expecting them? Would she come quietly? Would there be a battle? A fight. Magickal? Mundane? Would Bessie have allies with her? Werewolves? Spirits? Vampires, even?
Clunk. Ker-Clunk. Clunk. Ker-Klunk. The dirt road under Colleen's Geo was getting worse. Pulling over to the side of the road, Colleen and Mouse got out of the car, and continued on foot. As Mouse started further on the road, Colleen grabbed her arm. "Wait. I want to do something to help us." Colleen cleared her mind, then intoned a poem:

"Two travellers are we,
Defenseless on our journey.
Shelter from the storm we desire,
To protect us from Minds destructive fire."

(Aegis effect: Arete = 1 success.)

The two mages continued walking in virtual silence as the unmarked road transmogrified into a small, narrow path. Rounding a corner, they arrived at a small, thatched cottage--Bessie's home. A stone wall enclosed the European-style dwelling, with a garden serving as a buffer between the house and a stone wall.
Passing through a gate under a stone arch, Colleen noticed a stone gargoyle shaped like a winged cat sitting atop the entrance. (Perception + Alertness = 4 successes). Meanwhile, the wall revealed itself to be sharper, glassier, as Colleen and Mouse passed near it. As she passed into the garden, Colleen thought she heard something growling. (Perception + Empathy = 3 successes) She glanced back at the gargoyle and shook her head, wondering what made the sound.
Sweet, fragrant flowers greeted Colleen and Mouse as they entered the garden. Sounds of birds echoed through the little piece of Bessie Moisha's Paradise--Colleen couldn't help feeling like a stranger, or, worse, an intruder here--after all, she had been tasked with taking this garden's mistress to be sacrificed to a hungry spirit.
Mouse stopped by a vine of pink-shaded flowers. "These shouldn't be in bloom yet this year," Mouse pointed out. Unless they were coffee beans, plants had never been her been Colleen's strong suit--she simply nodded.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Bessie materialized in the garden, cutting her flowers and putting them in a basket she carried in her left hand. Beside her was a wolf-dog-wolf-DOG, Colleen decided (Intelligence + Occult = BOTCH) "Greetings, sisters. You have come to me carrying many cares. Would you like to relax inside a while?"
Bessie seemed to regard Colleen and Mouse as old friends; but, while Mouse was formerly Bessie's student, Colleen knew SHE had never met Bessie before.
Gently probing, Colleen tried to determine what was on Bessie's mind. (Pathos effect: Arete = 0 Successes). Nothing. Colleen cursed silently; a little bit of information would have been useful.
Meanwhile, Mouse had already accepted Bessie's offer: "Yes, thank you, we would," she said, glancing quickly at Colleen.
Smiling gently, Bessie led her two "guests" inside. Clean and homey, the rustic hut reminded Colleen of Disney's "Sleeping Beauty," but without the princess--and Colleen doubted the Prince would show up anytime soon. Wooden furniture and clay pots, straight out of 'Better Huts and 19th-Century Shacks', littered shelves and floors.
{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
{(Perception + Intuition = 3 successes. The setting is quite archaic. Colleen notices no evidence of any technology except that which would be pre-19th century. The place as a rather odd smell, sort of a musty perfume while the cottage itself seems quite ancient - at least a couple of hundred years which though possible, seems unlikely in that this area was still wilderness at that time.}{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
{Q: How much does Colleen know about Mouse's magickal abilities. Specifically, how adept is Mouse with the Mind Sphere, as near as Colleen knows?}{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
{A: Mouse studied under Bessie and though she's drifted away, you guess that Bessie's reputed superb knowledge of the Mind sphere has influenced Mouse greatly. Mouse has only been to Bessie's cottage once before.}{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
{(Perception + Empathy = 1 success) Mouse seems a bit nervous and doesn't meet Bessie's eyes.}{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
{Q: In your opinion, does Coffeetopia have the profit levels/credit rating to open a SECOND location? Secondly, I have an idea about Jeremy and his raise: I'm thinking that Colleen may decide to Mentor him in business and such....sort of like guiding him onward.}{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
{A: (Intelligence + Business = 3 successes). It would be stretching things a bit tight, but Colleen should be able to manage as long as she has some Magickal ability to fall back on. But she would be taking a chance.}{Going to insert an Aegis effect here...it's detailed in Mage 2--sort of a Mind shield over several people (a Mind 3 variant of the Mind 1 shield) For each success rolled, it would reduce by one success Mind magick attempted on Colleen or Mouse. (Arete = 1 success.)}
{Colleen's going to send out a gentle Pathos effect toward Bessie (going for a gentle "receptive" effect, rather than a heavy detectable invasive effect.), and pray that Bessie hasn't set up a shield of her own.}
{A: (Arete = 0 successes.) Colleen gains no insight into Bessie's current feelings.}
{I'd like to insert a Perception + Intuition roll at this point. Is anything "wrong" about this setting?}
At a table in a 'Dinette-' type area, Bessie indicated Colleen and Mouse should sit down at two of the four places set. Bringing some tea out from her kitchen, Bessie poured tea for all of them.
"Expecting guests?" Colleen asked wryly, noticing the extra spot at the table. "Only you," Bessie responded kindly.
Colleen glanced around her, taking in the setting. (Perception + Intuition = 3 successes. The setting is quite archaic. Colleen noticed no evidence of any technology except that which would be pre-19th century. The place had a rather odd smell, sort of a musty perfume while the cottage itself seemed quite ancient - at least a couple of hundred years which, though possible, seemed unlikely, in that this area was still wilderness at that time. A sanctum? Quite possible. Even though old Jellicle's studio apartment had been much different from this, Colleen remembered it having the same timeless feel as Bessie's little hut in the middle of nowhere.
Bessie didn't offer further explanations for her surroundings, or about the extra place at the table, but brought out some freshly-baked blueberry cakes. Instantly, Colleen came alert. What was with the muffins? (Intelligence + Herbalism = 0 successes). (Note: Colleen is not going to eat the muffins Probably use Manipulation + Etiquette to cover. She might not be able to identify anything "off," but that doesn't mean she's not going to be paranoid as Hell.)
"I've never been very fond of blueberries," Colleen said, excusing herself.
Bessie poured tea and produced a cake for the fourth place and Colleen again wondered who the fourth guest was. An uncomfortable silence seemed to follow.
Mouse broke this silence. "You have a lovely house, Bessie," she remarked. (Manipulation + Alertness = 3 successes) As near as Colleen could tell, Mouse was genuine in her sentiments.
"Thank you," Bessie responded, folding her hands and waiting for either Colleen or Mouse to speak. Mouse and Colleen glance back and forth, wondering who should speak first. Colleen put the tea down and looked directly at Bessie.
"Bessie, you were right when you said we came bringing many cares." Colleen glanced at Mouse. "Gert sent us to speak with you about your participation with the Coven of Nom," Colleen swallowed. "Or lack thereof."
"I see," Bessie said, gazing at the uneaten muffin and hardly sipped tea sitting before Colleen. "You know, I'm like Gert in some ways. Neither of hides behind words. I just try to walk a more gentle path and I never ask others to sacrifice nor do I take that which does not belong to me. You can be honest with me, Colleen. I will not lie to you. Agatha here seems too ruled by fear to talk to me. I have a great sense that she feels she has let me down in some way. Is that how it feels with you as well?"
(Perception + Linguistics = 1 success). Now that she'd heard more of Bessie speak, Colleen was aware of a slight accent, barely perceptible, in Bessie's voice. An accent? Colleen filed the information away for future reference.
"Me? Letting you down?" Where Colleen might have laughed at this suggestion at some other time, here she only gave a tight-lipped smile that hardly expanded to her eyes. "It's more like a poem, Bessie. Are you familiar with Robert Frost's 'The Road not Taken'?" Colleen paused.
Bessie shook her head no.
"I'm presented with not one, but several, roads tonight... none of them ends in happiness, a few of them end with me alive." Colleen took a breath at this point. 'Here goes nothing', she thought. "And several of them end with you, Bessie," Colleen jabbed her finger in that named mage's direction, "as the Sunchild's appetizer."
Frustrated, Colleen rose from the table, the air around her seeming to blaze with heated emotion. {I hope you don't mind the intrusion of Colleen's "subconscious" Mind magick.}
"Whatever 'path' you or Gert might walk, it's come smack into the middle of mine. If you or Gert or whoever would like to follow a path to Hell, that's your business. I, for one, would rather get on with my own path and leave the Sunchild, the Santa Cruz war, and all this crap behind me." A tear rolled down Colleen's eye and the air around her blazed with even more emotion, as if her agitation had become part of the air. The tear, for its part, seemed to evaporate as soon as it came.
"Any way that your former student," Colleen indicated Mouse, "and I turn, we're left with nothing." Colleen returned to the table, and leaned across, facing Bessie. "If we turn you in, we get inducted into the coven and enjoy the Sunchild's gifts" Colleen smiled coldly, "and get mowed down when the Sunchild takes a hike, the Verbena fall, and the Chorus decides to convene a kangaroo court. Maybe the Hermetics would like a piece of me." Colleen rose from the table, and strode away, looking out the window, as if expecting an eye looking back at her. "We leave you alone, Gert and friends show up, and cart us away to feed his pet spirit." Colleen turned slowly, her face neutral once more. "Or, this could all be a test of some sort, and you will report back to Gert to tell him how loyal we are. Or aren't."
Colleen sat back down at the table. "In other words, Bessie, we're screwed. Now, why don't you come clean with us?" Colleen lowered her voice, and whispered in Bessie's ear. "There may be another road... for all of us." Mouse looked shocked at Colleen finished speaking. She obviously hadn't counted on Colleen coming clean as it were with Bessie. Mouse looked to her former teacher, her face blushing, and turned to look down at the table. She sighed and Colleen could hear the clank of the iron shackles Gert had given her. Mouse had obviously pulled them out under the table, intending to use them. Colleen looked at Bessie to see if she suspected the shackles, (Perception + Subterfuge = 1 success) but nothing in Bessie's face led Colleen to think that she suspected Mouse's preparations.
Bessie had waited patiently for Colleen to finish speaking, following Colleen's words with intense concentration. When Colleen had finished speaking, Bessie sipped her tea a bit. The wolflike dog near her feet had started to growl but a gentle hand by Bessie put it quiet again.
"Yes, Colleen, you are right. There are no 'easy' answers. And there are no other roads other than the ones you've suggested. Either you must accept Gert's demand to offer me up as a sacrifice, if you think yourselves capable; or you must join me in opposing our fellow Verbena - for the sake of Ascension; indeed for the sake of existence itself. The Sunchild's grasp of reality is so alien than you cannot even comprehend the corrupting hunger that drives it. If Gert only truly could accept the reality of the thing he serves. Ultimately there is no place for life as we know it in the Sunchild's scheme of things. The Sunchild is nothing more than a stillborn god whose song was never realized. Instead of passing into some other plane, it has remained on the edge of reality - grasping at desperate times when some fool or other brought it back into this world eager to use its power. But so much is it at odd with what we conceive as reality that I do not think there are enough souls in all existence to satisfy it's bitter corrupting envy and allow it to remain in this world. Ultimately, it must consume all. It is a thing of evil greed and hunger and we must oppose it. That is where I stand and where I've always stood. I intend to join with the other Traditions and fight this thing with my last breath. You must each choose your own roads. Unlike Gert, I will not try to threaten, cajole or seduce you. These are the facts. You must choose. There is no neutral ground. Destiny will find you."
"Colleen?" Mouse looked at Colleen for direction. She was waiting for Colleen's prompting to act, one way or the other.
Colleen looked at Mouse, and then at Bessie, and glanced once at the dog. Even if it were merely a dog, it still might be dangerous, Colleen thought. "Bessie, what I am about to say I want no outside ears to hear. Before we go any further, I would like to set up a Mind shield, if the two of you will oblige?" Bessie had no objection to the Mind Shield and Mouse, as usual, was too cowed to offer any objection.
(System: going for a Mind 3 Aegis rote, with Colleen, Mouse, and Bessie all contributing to accumulate successes. Colleen's poem would go a bit like this:)
"Three sisters are we, in righteous harmony
Three willworkers are we, in concordant glee.

"Let our sounds be silenced,
Let our voices be stilled,
For others who may watch,
For others who may kill.

"Three sisters are we, to talk, not to fight,
Three sisters are we, to converse this night."

During the ritual, Colleen sensed that Mouse's reluctance was acting as a short of drain on their power. She was genuinely fearful and though Bessie and Colleen together were more than enough to ensure success - Mouse was anything but a help.
Colleen then addressed Bessie, and asked her about allies. Specifically, Colleen wanted to know if Bessie could provide a certain amount of "protection" if Colleen were to join her in opposing the other Verbena. Bessie shook her head. "Why do you think that the Coven of Nom is so powerful now? They have the Sunchild as their ally. Though this arrangement will ultimately be fatal to them - at this time they are paramount. Life brings choice and with each choice, a certain amount of risk. Colleen and Agatha, you will each need to make your choices. There is no middle ground," she said, as if mocking Colleen's unspoken thoughts.
Seeing that Bessie was unable to provide the sort of protection Colleen felt she needed, she prodded Mouse to shackle Bessie, intending to take her back to Gert. It was a simple signal they had agreed upon. Colleen kept a close eye on Bessie's 'dog', ready to react should it do something.
Mouse paused, the blood draining from her face. Pasty white, she made a move to touch the deadly iron to Bessie. The wolflike 'dog' jumped up growling; but before Colleen could do anything, Bessie, the dog, the cottage itself disappeared. Colleen and Mouse found themselves in the middle of a dark redwood forest. Towering ancient trees loomed overhead and the heat was stifling. Nowhere was there any sign of Bessie or her cottage.
Mouse fell backwards, with no chair to support her, her hands still holding the heavy weight of the clanking shackles.
"Colleen?" she whimpered. "What do we do now?"
Colleen, who had fallen also, didn't have an answer for her.

Wednesday, June 28th, 1995 6:56 p.m.

Colleen and Mouse wandered the forest. Where were they? Where did Bessie and her house go? Questions swirled in Colleen's mind, but the poet knew one thing--her situation had just gone from bad to worse...and might get even worse still. She'd never asked to be pulled into the war--and she certainly couldn't take sides unless she could count on support. What, exactly, had Bessie done? Colleen wondered. Possibly Correspondence? Colleen's understanding of that Sphere was sketchy, but she thought she could recognize it....but, whatever Bessie had done, Colleen was determined nobody would be able to do it to her again.
As Colleen was wrapped up in her own thoughts. Mouse whined continually--what would the Coven of Nom do, since they had failed? What would Bessie have to say about her old student's betrayal? Even though Colleen would have liked to offer some reassuring words, she couldn't--she was wrapped in her own private Hell.
It took a while, but they finally found the Geo--nestled in between some trees, with the road they had driven in on vanished. (Intelligence + Driving = BOTCH) Colleen couldn't get the thing out. Making a mental note to call a tow truck, Colleen shrugged at Mouse--where Mouse had become talkative and worrisome, Colleen had merely dissolved into a stony silence.
Colleen wondered for a moment--could the entire situation have been a setup? Possibly. She wasn't going to discount it. And, what had Bessie done? Some sort of Correspondence, perhaps? Colleen wasn't sure....but she'd be on better lookout the next time. She was sure of that much.
(Wits + Survival = 2 successes) Colleen was able to figure out more or less where they were. Eventually emerging from the woods, sweaty and disheveled, Colleen and Mouse flagged down a logging truck--a little bit of flirting, the "damsel in distress" bit, and the driver took them back to Ben Lomond. A cab ride later, Colleen was back at Coffeetopia.

Thursday, June 29th, 1995, 9:00 am

Colleen called a towing service to get her car out of the woods. Colleen called her insurance agent and tried to sweet-talk him into having the company cover at least part of the cost of towing. Colleen muttered something about "damned college kids."

Friday, June 30th, 1995 4:54 p.m.

Jeremey called her to the phone. Anxiously, given all that had happened, Colleen picked up the line - not knowing who would be at the other end.
"Hello, Ms. Waters?"
It was someone named June - from her insurance company. They'd sent out an investigator and had "with extreme luck" been able to find the car. The news wasn't good. For one, the investigator said it would be impossible to get the car out without cutting a road through the brush and then cutting down several trees. In fact, he didn't know how Colleen had managed to get it there in the first place. It was as if it had dropped from the sky. And the weathering and vines growing over it conflicted with Colleen's estimate of how long the car had been there. It was obvious from the plant growth and rust on the vehicle that it had been abandoned months - if not years. Overall, her insurance company wasn't going to be able to offer her any compensation nor, according to them, would her car be salvageable given the time it had been abandoned and the cost of salvaging it from the forest.
"Sorry for the bad news," June said.
"Hardly a surprise. Good-bye," Colleen said, hanging up the phone.

Tuesday, the 4th of July, 1995, 10:14 pm - Coffeetopia

Probably the first thing one would notice as they pulled up at Coffeetopia was the giant sequoia tree. Built around this tree was a coffeehouse, lights burning inside. But, the real action was outside. A buffet laden with food had been set up outside, and a young man was sitting at a register.
Near the buffet table was a table, garlanded in red, white and blue, up on which rested several silver thermoses, presumably filled with varying flavors of coffee. A large banner suspended from the table proclaimed, "BOTTOMLESS CUP."
Around the coffeeshop was a ribbon, compelling people to enter through one opening. In this opening, there wasn't much of a line yet, and people were either sitting at small wooden tables, or were talking with each other. Canned music, vaguely reminiscent of the 50's beatnik culture, resounded through the clearing, and instruments sat on a raised stage as if awaiting their players.
So far, about 30 guests or so seemed to have come, and they were milling about, but some were reading. In a corner, two UCSC students, their noses pierced, seemed involved in a game of chess.
Manning the entry point was a black-haired woman dressed in a blouse styled after the American flag, and a pair of blue jeans. As each guest paid the $3.00 cover charge, she gave that guest a stylized mug, and smiled sweetly. A woman walked towards the entrance, (Perception + Empathy = 2 successes) She occasionally showed by her movements that she was in some discomfort. In keeping with the night, she wore a red jacket over her white blouse accompanying her blue jeans. A small badge on the right lapel of the jacket showed off the American flag proudly.
"Nice night tonight," the woman said with a smile.
Handing over one of the stylized mugs, the Colleen replied, "Yes, not bad. Not bad at all. Please help yourself to any of the coffee's. They're all special blends for the night."
Taking the mug from Colleen, the woman walked across and picked up one of the thermoses and poured out a rich dark mocha that flowed like molasses before sitting down at one of the wooden tables to sample the blend.

Tuesday, the 4th of July, 1995, 10:36 p.m. - Coffeetopia

Crowds had continued gathering. A hundred or so people were milling about, standing or sitting. A band had taken to the stage, and was holding onto their instruments expectantly.
"Welcome to Coffeetopia!" Colleen proclaimed. "I'd like to thank our bands for being here, our sponsors for contributing tonight, and, of course, all of you for coming out to Coffeetopia." The audience applauded. "In a few minutes, we're going to begin our fireworks display. Dusty Rhodes will be providing music, but the spectacle, truly, comes from your own imagination."

"July Fourth, day of power,
Give us your magic this happy hour."

Colleen stepped down from the raised stage, and turned towards an open area. Raising what appeared to be a foot-long, elegantly carved stick, Colleen seemed to conduct the fireworks as they commenced.
Red, white, and blue. Green and yellow. Sounds and colors mixed, as Dusty Rhodes played a pop rendition of "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
Colleen pointed the wand and bursts of light appeared from the ground, fizzing over and sending a low white fog across the area. Amidst this, strange blue, green, and red lights appeared shimmering through the haze.
More fireworks arced their way heavenward to form bright flower shapes in the sky as the stacked wooden railings at the back half of the grass square exploded out into the US Flag. The cheers and clapping were almost drowned out by a series of loud thunderclaps from the front of the stage that brought everyone's attention back to the band as it played on.

Tuesday, the 4th of July, 1995, Midnight - Coffeetopia.

{Okay. Well then, coincidental Forces 2 fireworks for the 4th? Also, as part of the ext. action list, would throw in a Mind 2 effect on the Coffeetopia area on July 3: basically to create a festive/nonviolent mood--would do it as a ritual (extended action accumulated successes...). Similar to Hollow Rote "Be Cool"}
Where others had a holiday, a vacation, a fireworks show, the lot of Colleen, and other restaurant owners, was much different. Where some might get drunk and party wildly all night - partying for reasons many didn't understand - Colleen had a greater responsibility. She was responsible for other people's happiness. For making sure they could have a good time. In fact she had taken precautions to make sure they they would--or at least not fight in her area. The night before, she had cast a spell over the area to infuse her patients with calm tonight--to keep them from fighting. Happiness, of course, was the order of the day.
Actually, Colleen wasn't responsible for making sure they had a good time. For somebody like Colleen, what July 4th really meant was a large mountain of black ink and dollar signs--a time to harmlessly part people from money they would spend anyway.
And, Coffeetopia was going all out. Colleen had booked three bands. She had arranged for extra help to show up for the 4th. She'd bought some "fireworks." Actually, they were low-powered toys, but Colleen had magick of her own she could work with them. Colleen had arranged for extra tables, and extra chairs, and for the area around Coffeetopia to be cleared.
Such it was in the world of light.
In the World of Shade, Colleen was taking a bigger risk, being this open. Somehow, she doubted that any of the local Verbena would be inclined to attend her little soiree, what with the aborted attempt at bringing in Bessie. In fact, Colleen was counting on the Coven of Nom not showing up.
To the contrary, she was hoping to see other mages - other people. Other Awakened souls who might be inclined away from the senseless war in Santa Cruz. Other souls who might be interested in forming an alliance with the wayward Verbena--other souls who wanted as little to do with the war as Colleen did.
And - Colleen wanted to see if others might come. Perhaps a few other neutral-aligned magi. Perhaps Timothy--the man Beth had contacted--might show up again. Colleen wasn't sure how loyal that one would be to the Coven of Nom...and, if the Coven had taken the trouble to obtain him, Colleen thought, it might be worth her trouble to try to procure his services for herself.
While Colleen had set an "official" opening time of 9 o'clock for the festivities, she wasn't surprised to find that most of her patrons didn't show up until later--always good to be fashionably late. As a rule, Colleen's soirees tended to draw a more upscale (and more sophisticated) crowd than what some parties attracted. Possibly resulting from the lack of alcohol on Coffeetopia's premises...and the grand party commenced.
Mouse was there, and after a few words with Colleen, managed to lose herself in the crowds. Dancing, and all that. For her part, Colleen was glad that Mouse could lose herself so easily, could hide from the emotions that afflicted them both. How well Mouse could hide herself from fear.
A few mages showed up--Colleen was sure of that. But, duties of the celebration kept calling to her. This needed carrying in. that needed carrying out. This customer was unhappy. That worker was tired, and needed relief. Both Colleen and Jeremy were besieged with demands, Colleen moreso than Jeremy, for she was both owner and hostess.
And, the fireworks were, fun--as Dusty Rhodes, a l