ravenwitch-lilith

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith had, actually, seen the paper. The paper delivery kid was one of the few she didn't scowl to see coming up her long and cobbled walkway.

"Yes..." she replied suspiciously. "Did you know him?"

The elder witch knew of him only in the same way she knew her paper delivery boy. He was the mailman. When she read the paper, she merely let out a hum of somber acknowledgement then flipped to the crossword. Lilith wasn't the kind to weep over an acquaintance. She didn't weep for loved ones either and maybe that was why her interns didn't seem to want to open up to her. They didn't think she'd care.

"It's sad, what happened. You're allowed to be sad and take time if you need." She appealed to the softest parts of herself she could, hoping she didn't visibly shudder at the effort.

@halfawitch-willow

How to Outlive Your Enemies and Other Lessons from the Boiling Isles ❁ Willith

[ravenwitch-lilith]

It didn’t go unnoticed by Lilith that Willow seemed on edge with her verbiage. The elder witch wasn’t super in touch with her feelings and much less so with others’, but it wasn’t conducive to the research team if she was emotionally clouded.

She acknowledged the girl’s information and thoughts with a hum. “That would be smart. If you can ask them if any fairies from the Hollow were around during Merlin’s time it could be the key to finding the stone, and if not finding it then at least they could give a glimpse into Merlin’s mind.”

And then she bit the bullet as she set down the binder, “Willow, you seem off. Is something wrong?” Lilith asked in a way as if it weren’t completely out of character. She could be the doting professor or confidant.

@halfawitch-willow

How to Outlive Your Enemies and Other Lessons from the Boiling Isles ❁ Willith

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith took a seat across the man and graciously accepted the paper. A quick skim proved exactly what she thought, the Magick prison wasn’t as secure as they wanted you to believe.

“Hm.” She mused, “this wouldn’t happen at the Conformatorium. Maybe Abracadabra could take a few tips from them in the Isles.”

@apirateslifefor--smee

Reading The News & It Sure Looks Bad | Open

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Hunt for the Stone Pt. 1

Synopsis: Lilith Clawthorne is recruiting some select students and colleagues to assist her in the search for the Philosopher's Stone, one of Merlin's Objects.

Takes place: Lilith's office, first week of August 2024.

Lilith recruits @blight-magic, @thegcldenguard, @madmagicmim, and @halfawitch-willow HERE! Lilith recruits @darius-dues, @owlwitch-eda, and @invisible-professor HERE!

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith only kept up with Mundus news in the slightest capacity. However, this front page spread was shaking every community; Magick and Mundus.

Abracadabra was broken into, well, out of.

She noticed another concerned citizen grumbling to himself, reading the same article she was. "No, no, it's not..."

Then, Lilith had a thought. Maybe someone her age would be good for an insightful conversation. "May I sit?" She asked, gesturing with her mug.

@apirateslifefor--smee

Reading The News & It Sure Looks Bad | Open

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith wanted to pretend along with Willow that everything was fine, but if anyone was not at the top of their game it could put them all at a disadvantage. The shadow sorcerer had seen her fair share of exhaustion, and this wasn't that. At least not entirely.

"Hm." She responded shortly, not accepting her answer. "Good job. Any first hand accounts will be paramount in the search. Are any of the documents written by anyone still alive?"

Lilith always kept her praises terse, lest anyone get a bigger head than they deserved. Starving them of that fundamental resource would keep the pupils grasping for more as she did when she was their age. Look where it got her, a world renowned sorceress. Willow would thank her in due time for the tough love.

What she didn't know about her choice wording was that someone was not alive in Willow's life. That the little flower wilted with guilt for the dead as well as vindication.

The witch took the folder from the younger and spied it over, ignoring the trepidation. If Willow were to get anywhere in life, she'd need to make herself like her namesake; strong but bendable, not so feeble like the bud she was now. "Surely, there are some fairies from Merlin's time. Scribe talents would be able to recall the stories as if they were, correct?"

That was one thing she would have to defer to Willow's expertise. Lilith knew very little of the fairies.

@halfawitch-willow

How to Outlive Your Enemies and Other Lessons from the Boiling Isles ❁ Willith

[ravenwitch-lilith]

The research phase was coming along about how Lilith expected; slowly.

She answered the door, welcoming the young witch in. "Willow, good that you're here."

Her office and her cottage had become a sort of home base for everyone. So this morning, when Willow trudged in, the air was willing to accept the excess energy brought by the young sorcerers that she recruited. Only the energy and reagents Willow dragged in with her was not her usual green and curly optimism.

The tendrils Lilith once equated to a new vine, sprouting from her mind, were now wilted and a choked purple.

Lilith would never be the kind to pry, but this time was different. If she tended this little flower, it could grow right in the palm of her hand.

"Is... something the matter?"

@halfawitch-willow

How to Outlive Your Enemies and Other Lessons from the Boiling Isles ❁ Willith

[ravenwitch-lilith]

"I know it's here." She led in. "In Swynlake. Merlin left most, if not all, of his objects here to be found or kept safe from those who'd use it for ill gain."

Lilith leaned in, fully enraptured by the story she was going to tell. "Supposedly, the stone was made by Merlin to save Arthur from his doom. We all know that story, he failed. And yet, the stone is linked to immortality and life in a way that makes it seem like something about the facts... are not fact. I've done a little more digging than the layman." She smirked.

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith smiled. She was a cat with eyes gleaming, mouse completely cornered. This was much bigger than any artifact of light or shadow. It was, in fact, something much greater than any of them. The sorceress' secondary career highlighted her passions.

"Ah, I was hoping you'd ask. The Philosopher's Stone. My leads say it is here, in Swynlake. I'm sure you are aware of its legend?" The question was as much of a test as it was an invitation to Majke to ask. Lilith loved giving a lecture.

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith hated that Majke seemed to read past her facade. Of course she craved approval and notoriety. She could achieve both under the watchful eye of Belos and the Titan. She wanted to seem above it all, expanding her horizons and taking claim of the glory all in her own name. But it never was, not for Lilith. Truly only she knew how the fame and glory only served to make others proud. The shining witch of shadows served everyone else’s purpose.

“I see.” Lilith parroted in response to Majke. “It seems to run in my family as well…” she said tersely. Reminding herself that Edalyn also had quite the collection, though Lilith would consider it all junk. The elder sister had her eye on a much larger prize.

“Since I am gathering a team, would you be interested in joining the research? There will of course be an extraction phase, but we can see how you like working under me first if you’d like.” She invited, still eyeing Majke’s every mannerism.

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

A flame lit in Lilith's eyes, barely perceptible. She supposed her motives were all aligned with the Emperor and the Coven, but she had been so careful in planning her trials without heed from the Isles. How could Majke of all people worked it out that the ends to her scheme all served a higher purpose? Clever woman.

Lilith played none the wiser, "No, just my own personal project. I intend to ask some of the competitors for assistance with some research soon. Many of them exemplified skills that are very useful in my line of work; magical archaeology, history, et cetera. Do you have any interest in magical relics, Majke?"

The witch sipped her coffee, peering over the rim for the other sorceress' reaction and subsequent answer.

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith couldn't say she felt the same as Majke on matters of coffee. She couldn't tolerate anything syrupy sweet, in that aspect they are the same. She drew the inferences she could from the smallest of statements and sipped her coffee.

"Mm, most of my students are excelling. Only a choice few are missing their draft submissions on their final projects, but other than that, they are on track." Failing a student wasn't an option for Lilith. If a single student got below exceptional it reflected badly on her. How was she educating those young minds if they had the opportunity to fail?

"As for the tournament, I am happy with how it turned out," save for the embarrassment of her sister winning... "There is a secondary opportunity for those whose skills caught my eye. I've been trying to comb through my notes to narrow down a list."

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith measured Majke's mild mannerisms. Nothing she conveyed the first time they met matched the sense of confidence she got from the letter, or even here now. She was as calm as waters barely licking up into ripples, but Lilith could feel the dread of something large lurking underneath.

"No, thank you. It isn't very often that I receive letters related to pleasure rather than business. It was a nice surprise." Lilith stood to greet her, "Should we get you caffeinated before we settle in?"

It was not disguised so well that the women were sizing each other up. Lilith was used to the looks, the doubtful and awestruck. What she wasn't used to was not having an immediate read on someone. She supposed she could look up the de Spells, Majke, or Magica... whatever she wanted to go by... but where was the fun in that if she could draw her own inferences from the source herself?

"How do you take it?" Coffee, she meant, but the question could apply to any aspect and Lilith would snap up the answers like a blood hound on a trail.

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith was intrigued by the woman who would send her a letter in this day and age. She much preferred to write and send correspondence magically, much like she does with the Emperor. So receiving the mail sparked something in the woman.

At least enough to set up the coffee meeting. The woman didn't seem to remarkable upon their first meeting, just a witch working below her skills. A shame, it seemed a lot of sorcerers had elected to not seeking higher status with their power. But it seemed that Majke had lied. She was not Magica.

Perhaps she lied about being a bumbling, talentless, fool as well...

Lilith sat with her black coffee, not as good as apple blood, and waited for the other witch to appear.

@majkemaniiia

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Sunday Meeting || Majthorne

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Ms. de Spell,

Thank you for the recognition. Yes, it is my first official dip into the world of sports. With how well it went, I am not sure if it will be my last.

It was my goal to host an event where every competitor had uneven footing that their own personal advantages would assist with. Not only did our Magick competitors succeed because of their gifts, but the Mundus competitors also got to show off their skills that made them just as capable. It was important to me that the tournament was as much a showcase as it was a competition.

I believe I can make room in my schedule for a meeting. How does Sunday sound? I will be in touch.

Lilith Clawthorne

@majkemaniiia

Ms Clawthorne (or Professor, if that is preferred),

. I suppose I would like to congratulate you on this success. Your tournament seems to have drawn a great deal of support. I'm delightfully surprised. Is this your first major foray into competitive magick sports?

(Would one call this a sport, or is a tournament its own class?)

. It certainly warms my heart to see the Magick and Mundus community gather to play on a somewhat even field, or at least voluntarily on an uneven one. Is that appropriate to say?

. In any case, I am pleased for you. It seems you have one more legacy attached to your name.

. Would you consider, when this is over, meeting me for a cup of coffee? I'm sure you currently have your hands completely full with this tournament, not to mention having been inundated with papers and preparation for finals at your university post.

. However, if it does cross your mind to humour me, the offer is there.

[A phone number, scrawled tightly between the letter and signature.]

Sincerely,

Majke de Spell.

@ravenwitch-lilith

[ravenwitch-lilith]

Lilith tried to remain her ever stoic and put together self when Eda praised her. Appearing proud of her work but not smug. She knew her sister was aware of her incessant need to be praised and her visions understood. It was a constant in their dynamic, perhaps it was the crux of the whole damn thing. Lilith's need for greatness overshadowed her affection for Eda.

Except that it wasn't true.

She pretended it was all a game, that Eda was buttering her up for her own gain just as she was to her.

"I certainly tried... Thank you... Edalyn," the witch accepted. "For the most part, the people down here are a bit close minded. However, this town, as I'm sure you've found, is very Magick forward. That's why I chose it. I believed I would get the best turnout for a Magick organized event. But it's open to all, of course. I had to sign a lot of paperwork to get it all above board."

@owlwitch-eda

All is Fair in Love And Tournaments || Open