The year is 1570.
It is the Golden Age of England, an era where the culture and prosperity of the nation are in full bloom. But beneath the surface, the flames of conflict embroil the Moonlit World hidden beneath the shadows of peace.
Years of political tensions and religious reformation in Europe have led to an explosion of anti-heretical sentiment among the secret organizations of the Holy Church, now directed towards their eternal enemies, the Mage’s Association. Over the past few years, the Church’s inquisitions have increasingly grown in intensity, wiping out many magi families one after another. At this point they have all but declared outright war against the Association as they launch direct attacks on the headquarters of numerous Association branches spread across the continent.
Now, as the sparks of war have finally reached England, where the headquarters of the Clock Tower are located, the time to strike back has arrived. In this era of great peace and prosperity, beneath the noses of the ignorant masses, the agents of both organizations stalk through the shadows as they hunt and are hunted. Thus, the curtain rises for the battle that will determine who truly rules over the Mysteries of the World.
Let the Witch Hunt begin.
Ella Alderman & Hanserl Albenheim
Afternoon (Phase 0)
Clock Tower – Spiritual Evocation Department
Of the dozen separate departments that make up the Clock Tower, the Spiritual Evocation Department has to be one of the nicer ones when it comes to its campus. Compared to the dreary halls of the Curses department or the impoverished streets of the Archaeology department, the Spiritual Evocation buildings are spacious and ostentatious, not losing whatsoever to the extravagant mansions of the magi who studied there.
This meeting room is one such example, decorated from floor to ceiling in marble, velvet, and gold. A long, mahogany table sits at the center of the room, capable of comfortably seating over two dozen people at once. All the stranger then that only three people are occupying it at the moment.
“Thank you two for coming on such short notice.” One such person says, addressing the other two people in the room.
Her name was Ghislaine Beaudet. She was a magus of noble lineage and a high-ranking member of the Spiritual Evocation Department who held no small influence over the faculty’s inner workings. But that fact alone would not have been enough to gather the other two people here.
Ella Alderman and Hanserl Albenheim. These two magi, now seated on the other side of the table, were not members of the Spiritual Evocation Department and hence had no obligation to answer Ghislaine’s summons. No, what had called the two of them here was a letter directly from the Desk of Eulyphis, In other words, an official request from the Spiritual Evocation department itself. Which meant that Ghislaine had not called them here for personal business but was instead here on behalf of her superiors.
“I’m sure the both of you are wondering why we have called you here, and I shall answer your questions very soon. But first, let me ask you a question.”
Ghislaine states with an elegant smoothness to her voice, indicative of her refined upbringing.
“As you likely know, the Clock Tower is effectively at war with the Holy Church at the moment. The Church has already launched multiple attacks on spiritual land that we own all across the country. Many local families have been forced to flee their estates, and some have been even less lucky. This is what I’d like to discuss with the two of you.”
With almost daggers in her eyes, she leans forward onto the table and presses the question towards the two of them.
“What do you think of this conflict?”
Altis Laramie Falstaff & Cuthbert Ronwedehouse
Afternoon (Phase 0)
Westminster – Collegiate Church of St Peter
Altis Laramie Falstaff is a busy man.
It had been just last night that he had completed his last mission and returned to London only to receive this morning a brand-new set of orders, part of which involved coming here to the Collegiate Church of St. Peter for a meeting.
The Priest Hunters truly knew how to keep their men occupied.
This church was once known as St Peter’s Abbey, a catholic monastic church, until its dissolution and re-establishment by the Queen as a church of the Church of England. Now, it was responsible directly to the Queen herself and was devoid of any of the Holy Church’s influence. As such, it had also become a hub for a lot of the crown’s shadier dealings, particularly those that surpassed the material world.
After a brisk walk through the gothic halls and stained-glass windows, Altis arrives in front of the door he had been instructed to go to.
“Come in.”
A familiar voice answers him after he knocks, inviting him inside. Stepping into the room, Altis finds two gentlemen waiting for him, both of them seated in lush chairs with a tea table between them.
“Ah, Falstaff, thank you for coming. We’ve been expecting you.”
The one on his right is John Dee, court astronomer and close advisor to the Queen. He could be said to be one of the most important and influential people in the entire country, yet there is an almost disarming air to his frail smile. He is also the one who greeted Altis upon his entry.
The man on his left is one that is arguably equal in importance as Dee, at least as far as the World of Magic was concerned. Although Altis had never met him in person before, he is vaguely aware of him too.
“First of all, let me introduce this gentleman to you.” Dee offers in a kind voice. “This is Lord Cuthbert Ronwedehouse. He is the Lord of the Clock Tower’s Spiritual Evocation Department and a dear friend of mine. He is here today in regard to some important business that I found it prudent for you to be here for as well. We are hoping that you will be able to help Lord Ronwedehouse with his request.”
Then, with a courteous motion, he motions his hand towards a third chair and an empty teacup already placed on the table.
“For now, why don’t you take a seat, Falstaff? We have a few things to discuss.”
Virginia Gilbert & Sahar Pneuma Artamenes
Afternoon (Phase 0)
The Judith
“All hands on deck! Prepare for docking!”
At their captain’s beckoning, the crew bursts into frenzied activity as their ship, The Judith, nears the port of London.
The Captain herself, a woman (?) of ambition and fortitude, stands at the bow of the ship, both barking orders at her crew and eagerly watching the dockyard near. She is known as Francis Drake, a relatively young and up-coming ship captain with quite a few naval accomplishments already under her belt.
“Drop anchor. We’re here, boys, get ready to unload the goods!”
Eventually, the ship makes it to port and docks. Without missing a beat, the brow-beaten crew begins the unloading process.
Just then, two women come out of the ship and step onto the deck: an aristocrat named Jane Nowell and her travelling companion, Virginia Gilbert.
“Ah, ladies, how are you doing? Was the voyage to your liking? No seasickness, I pray.”
Drake greets them as soon she notices them emerge from the ship. She abandons her position at the bow to properly receive the two women with more manners than one would expect from a man of the sea.
It had been yet another of the captain’s questionable whims. Back at Kent, just as The Judith had returned from a minor trading expedition with plenty of valuable cargo, the captain had happened to meet the two women in town and taken a liking to them before promising that she’d ferry them to their destination, free of charge. As she always said, there were rules for the ship but no rules for the helm; their destination itself was always a journey.
“As you can see, we’ve made it to London. Halfway there! We’ll be staying here for the rest of the day as we unload our cargo and do the whole shebang, but we’ll be setting off once again before noon tomorrow. And I promise you we’ll be in Oxford in no time. Sound good?”
With her trademark smile, she makes them an absolute promise.
At the same time, standing in the crow’s nest of the ship, a member of the ship’s crew, Sahar Pneuma Artamenes, watches everything from above. With a sharp eye, he overlooks both the rest of the crew unloading the ship and the captain’s conversation with the ship’s guests…
The Rover & DIOMIDIS
Night (Phase 0)
A Certain Castle
It is a castle made of pure gold.
Even for a supernatural creature of legend, it seems like an absurdity.
Hidden away in the sparce woods of Buckinghamshire was this gaudy anomaly of a territory, so flashy of a spectacle that it would’ve been impossible to hide if not for the layered boundary field. An indispensable asset as well, considering that the castle’s location was practically right next door to the Clock Tower, practically hiding right beneath the Association’s nose.
Undeterred by said boundary field, though, The Rover walks through the dark woods alone and arrives at the golden castle.
He comes bearing not hostility nor bloodlust, but instead orders from his superior that have led him here to meet the owner of this golden castle.
“Yeah, there’s a golden weirdo in the forest over there. Could you go pay him a little visit? Just pass on the message to him if you’d please. Thanks a bunch.”
So said the princess off-handedly while trying (and failing) to embroider a cushion.
It was only for such a reason that The Rover was here now on what amounted to a glorified courtesy visit.
Perhaps recognizing this, the castle doors open for him, and he is allowed to enter unhindered.
As he steps into the castle foyer, he comes face-to-face with the vampire named DIOMIDIS.
Nomine Aeve-Retinansia
Afternoon (Phase 0)
Aylesbury – Outskirts
“We’re here.”
The man in front of her announces as he tilts his head towards the carriage window.
Outside, beyond the glass, the rustic landscape of Aylesbury could be seen quickly approaching. After more than three days of travel by carriage, they had finally arrived at their destination.
Instead of elation at their arrival, though, the man’s expression turns solemn, and he turns towards Nomine with crossed arms.
“Hey, gufo, you remember the briefing at Canterbury, right? This is an undercover mission. We’re eliminating all the heretics in this area secretly. You understand that, right?” He rudely confirms without a hint of levity in his voice. “Don’t do anything that’ll get us discovered.”
It was customary for Executors of the Holy Church to work in pairs and that apparently still held true even in these wartime-like circumstances. The man sitting across from Nomine in the carriage, Giovanni Battista, was the partner that had been assigned to her for this mission. For the rest of the war, their fates were joined at the hip.
Though why they had chosen this strait-laced priest to be Nomine’s partner was anyone’s guess.
After a while, the carriage finally comes to a stop just on the perimeter of the town.
It was a quaint little market town that had only just recently become the county town of Buckinghamshire. It was primarily a commercial center for the region, linking London to the southwest, and saw many bustling merchants come and go on the daily. This hub of travel and commerce brought much life to the town… and at the same time, made it all so easy for people like them to infiltrate.
And at last, they had arrived.