#lmplotdrop

[lumenouarp]

As the lanterns rose throughout the last part of the night to wish Iris and Daphne a happy union and to commune with Mother Nature, strips of paper floated down almost with purpose and destination far too fast. The released sky lantern were still ascending and the cascading strips of paper weren’t disintegrating upon contact with the soil as they should have. These strips fell at the feet of their intended recipients, some with targeted messages. 

For the majority of guests, the strips that landed near them read Our time is now. 

Others received the following messages: 

Rowan - The Hartwell Curse still lives on. How long can you keep them alive? 

Sebastian - Will they allow you to remain their king when they know your secret? Or hers? Can you really keep the Princess safe?

Jakovan - we’re coming back to finish the job. We’ll take all of you for comfort if you’d like. 

Markus - Think you can truly find him before we do? If you can even remember him.

Iris - When you find him, will he still be alive? 

Bear - Congratulations on the baby, see you and him soon

Evren - You sit on a throne meant for us. 

The notes set a somber tone to the end of the night. The guests gathered their security closer and maybe even their loved ones too and left the realm with targets on their backs. No one, leader or regular citizens would be safe from the immortalem originals. 

[lumenouarp]

Disco isn't dead, but someone could be soon.

As the silent disco is in full swing, a loud ominous bout of laughter booms through everyone's headphones followed by chilling repeated words of "they're coming". The music eventually returns as the words fade out, sending the disco back to its normal pace.

Was it just a joke? Or foreshadowing for something to come?

[lumenouarp]

After the Leadership Summit, the leaders were left with more trust issues than anything else. With Kings Hill's initial goal of unity against a common enemy, there may be more division than ever before. Below is how the leaders' meeting went.

[Note: What happened in this meeting is only public knowledge to the leaders and those in attendance of this meeting, unless they discuss it with other parties. All the media knows is there didn't seem to be any hopeful faces coming out of the meeting. So the rest of the world is left with more questions than answers, much like the leaders in the meeting. ]

Rowan never enjoyed these types of meetings, but knew they were necessary, now more than ever. She sat with her notebook, pen and opened the book to the parchment threatening her family. “I’ll break the ice. I can’t be the only person who got one of these at the wedding. I see the original immortalem have chosen not to peacefully exist among us.”

Sebastian felt a sense of relief that the recent events unfolded relatively smoothly. It was a significant challenge to bring everyone together to agree on a singular objective, but perhaps the Immortalem was the one thing they could all seem to unite around. "I also received a message," he replied to Rowan's statement. "I have made the necessary preparations for Kings Hill, but I worry it may not be enough to withstand whatever plans are brewing. Those plans could unleash chaos like we have never seen before." He continued, "I request that we ally in terms of resources, knowledge, and skills to combat these wicked forces."

Skai sat with her baby strapped to her front, soothingly rubbing the sleeping baby’s back. “Gigant-sorry, Rowan is right. They didn’t choose peace. But you propose we share intel and resources. Who’s to say we can trust each other? If anything we need to iron out a contract and consequences if one of us betrays another.”

Markus "They haven't chose peace since they have been back." His brows furrowing together from his seat next to Rowan. "This is a time when we do need to come together. Skai is correct though. We need some sort of contract, I believe that can be solved once we figure out what we should do. These threats we recieved should not be taken lightly."

"Well, I think a good place to start would be with transparent communication," Sebastian said, trying to sound confident while remaining humble. He was the least experienced person in the room and hoped to gain insight into the others' perspectives. "All communications regarding any information that could impact our ability to defend against the Immortalem must be shared openly among all parties. There should be no hidden agendas or secret alliances."

Bear lounged in the extra large desk chair beside his wife, feet kicked up comfortably atop of the conference table before him. When Rowan mentioned her note, the sense of relaxation he exuded shifted, along with his body in the chair. Bear's feet lowered to the floor with a thunk and his large hands replaced the limbs atop of the table instead. "No," He said, blue eyes landing on Rowan. "You weren't."

Subtly, Bear's attention shifted to Skai next to him. More importantly, the sleeping infant strapped to her chest. "Those fuckers threatened m-" He paused, gaze returning back to the profile of Skai's face. "They threatened me." Bear covered. Moments later, at Sebastian's suggestion to ally, the Master of Mayhem made a face. Thankfully, Skai had a rebuttal. "Skai's right. You all like rules and stupid legality." As if that ever truly helped anyone when it came down to it. He paused, a thought coming to him. "This sounds like a job for the witches. Or the King Witch," Jakovan sent Bear a curious look. "If there's anyone who should be elected, I'd suggest Haven's monarch." He began. "They tout neutrality." Hell, it was the exact reason that the realm was created. "For all intents and purposes, they're set to be all of Lume's fail safe." Depending on who asked that is, he mused. He ignored the expression that Bear wore and focused on Evren. "…Well?"

Evren sighed. It wasn't the introduction that she wanted. But it wasn't terrible. "He isn't wrong," She said, meaning Jakovan. "Haven exists so that everyone, no matter the species, has a home and can leave a peaceful life." Evren paused. "Historically, we've not chosen sides. Not during inter-realm warring and subterfuge. And unlike everyone here, we have no official enemy." She reasoned. "As for the King Witch and this supposed contract…" Evren trailed off. "How are we to do this? The contract? Is it only between us leaders? Or realms' as a whole? Does this suspend current animosities between certain realms? How much is needed to know when it comes to immortalem information? It's quite obvious that the network they're working with is vast and fast moving."

Iris shook her head, listening to the back and forth. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Our trust in each other is so shitty that we start immediately trying to assign someone to hold us accountable before we even get into the intel on the beings who threatened us or a plan to stop them.” She laughed. “I can’t believe you all have made me publicly agree with Markus.” She bit her cheek to avoid a smile or eye contact with the vampire. “Like he said once we figure things out then we worry about the contract.” She cleared her throat. “So, these people threatened my child. What do we know about them since they know so much about us? Maybe we should start there. First level of trust, we share what we know about the immortalem.”

Hale sent their mother a look, green eyes narrowing when she publicly agreed with Markus. Of all beings. Mother Nature help them all, they mused. "Since Markus is the oldest monarch here." They said, addressing the vampire King directly. "You have to know something. What do you know about the immortalem? Other than they're even older than you are." Hale was unable to not make that dig. "And did they threaten you at all?" Hale paused, eyes falling onto Rowan. "…Did they threaten Scarlett?" They asked, not at all okay with the possibility of their niece falling into the ancient beings focus.

Rowan gave Markus’s arm a squeeze when Hale mentioned him and his age. She spoke first though to since the question directed at her was simpler. “Yes, they threatened the entire Hartwell line. So that includes my babies. Iris is also right. We need to refocus on our common enemy. Honey?” She looked at Markus. “With your extensive research it might be best for you to start us off with the information sharing? Unless someone else wants to start?”

Markus smirked at Hale commenting on his age and sat up in his seat. He waved in Antonia before speaking, “Antonia and I have both done extensive research. We found each other through the common interest and have sense continued digging. As we know these are the original immortalem. There were seals in place to awaken them. One of the final ones being your parent’s death.” He said with a nod to Sebastian. “That opened the door for their offspring to begin emerging as well. Of course most of us know this now.” He shrugged, “what you don’t know is that a coven is behind this. The leader being stripped of his magic has had his hands in many fires. It lead to this.” He placed a comforting hand over Rowan’s and gave her a gentle squeeze, “in our research we were too late to stop all of it and sense then this coven has grown more and more powerful with each day. The immortalem at their side learning the world they have been locked out of for so long.” He looked to Toni who had put in as much time if not her life into this, she deserved the floor and a chance to speak up.

Antonia had attempted to sit there quietly since this wasn't her true scene. She wasn't a leader, but this subject matter was one she knew better than anyone. "Markus attempted to spare me some anonymity with the man who brought this all to light and broke these curses. That man's name is Lawrence Rhys. I know a lot about the immortalem and studied them my entire life because he's my father. That coven Markus mentioned, they're my father's followers. They stick by him right or wrong. They do his magical bidding. He was so dangerous and a loose cannon of sorts, the High Priest," she looked at Jakovan, "stripped him of his magic. Now, he works with the immortalem. He may not control them but wherever his influence is, is a dangerous place to be. Some of you have already been on the negative end of his actions and he had no vendettas with you. So whatever the plan, it needs to account for him. And it needs to account for the fact that somehow he can find your weaknesses and use them against you, or create new ones."

Jakovan shot a quick glance at Wren nearby, his wife's hand on the forearm closest to her. "Lawrence Rhys was a threat to all of Lume. Yes, I was the conduit who stripped him of his powers." As the High Priest, it was his job to enact the will of the ancestors. It was, in fact, what they'd chosen him to do. "While Rhys openly has a problem with me, who he's really upset with is the ancestors." Jakovan paused before he shook his head. "Any other witch, void of magic and unable to use ancestral abilities again would've quit. Left well enough alone. But not Rhys. Antonia's right. He is dangerous and a loose cannon. Do not dismiss or overlook him." The dark witch's tone turned grave. "I can guarantee that he hasn't done the same for you. Or those you care about. Right now, everyone of us and whomever we love are in danger simply because they know us." He waited a moment to continue. "Now, it sounds like all of us, or those closest to us, have been threatened by the original immortalem? Or by Rhys specifically?" Jakovan asked. "Raise your hand if that's true." He instructed, raising his own hand. "And if not you or loved ones directly, is it something you do care about? Would give your life for, if you had to?"

Jacen heaved a quiet sigh, knowing he couldn't just sit quietly now. Now that everyone was going to raise their hands about being threatened and he wouldn't. It would make him look guilty. "I think they want your power or realms. I didn't get a threatening message. I didn't get any message at all. Probably because we're a territory. So there's an underlying current here of them wanting to rule over us. Not with us. Not under us."

Markus raised his own hand at Jakovan's request. His brow raising at Jacen and giving a nod, "They want revenge. When they were locked away it was our ancestors, that locked them away. They want their control back. They want Lume back."

Wren knew what was coming. She knew they were going to suggest violent ways to resolve this. "Then how do we resolve this in a way that we have the least amount of casualties? It's easy to suggest war as we sit up high and watch, but I think we need to be smart. Like our ancestors. Except their curses required sacrifices, and I will tell you all right now, Jakovan Petrov will be no one's sacrifice. So our solutions need to be smarter than those that came before us.

Sebastian presented a different perspective. "Toni, could it be that the Immortalem isn’t attacking out of malice or personal revenge, but rather to protect something greater? While it seems like we are at risk, maybe we aren’t the true targets. Or was your father genuinely just seeking power? If that's the case, is there something we could offer to help restore balance?"

Antonia shrugged. "I don't necessarily have a line of communication with the Originals, but I wouldn't leave it at something bigger. Their existence was kept from us by those who came before us. They restricted them. Bound them. They were like living statues with no concept of what was happening in the world. It would beg the forethought that maybe there is some malice involved. Maybe it's not you by name, but maybe they want revenge and we're just the ones they have left to take it out on." But if he wanted to play devil's advocate, they could. "Or maybe, they are playing the game of threatening us before we, out of fear, harm them?" When he asked about her father, her eyes slid to Jakovan. "It's simple. Give him Jakovan and I'm sure he'll leave the rest of you alone. Not that I'm bartering, but his life long agenda is to kill Jakovan."

Wren stood, chair squeaking as she did. Her fingers ignited with sparks from electrokinesis. It was an ability she couldn't control as well as she wanted to but the mere mention activated the ability. She kept her hands at her sides, trying to quell the anger rising within her. "Before any of you think of agreeing to that asinine plan, I suggest you find another plan. You're wondering what they want? Ask them. Get a plan together to ask them what they want. Turn them on Lawrence, rather than trying to barter with a monster." Wren saw Antonia hold her hands up. Wren's own hands stopped flickering with electricity.

"I'm just answering the question not suggesting anything with certainty," Antonia said. "You all make the calls. That's above my paygrade."

Iris chimed in just as Wren sat. "I kind of like the turn them on Lawrence plan. Get him out of the way then we deal with them? Plus I have a bone to pick with that bastard. So I would love a piece of retribution on him."

Markus smirked, “I think turning them on Lawrence would be the best option. The issue is, getting in to do that.” He shrugged looking at the other leaders, “we have options to get inside and try to turn the tables but at the same time, we know it could be dangerous to send anyone in to this alone and they will more than likely essentially have to be alone.”

Rowan agreed with the plan but there were a couple tweaks she could assist with. "I don't think they have to be alone. What if we did this in parts. As a team, so no one takes the burden of any one thing? Antonia could maybe talk to her father, but take backup? That way we have insight on what he's doing." She knew Markus was going to hate this next part because it involved his sister. "I'm not going to out anyone as immortalem, but I do know a person. Maybe, we could use that connection and that person could work on an in with Sebastian?" Rowan moved past it quickly. "There are three originals plus Lawrence. Two of them would be squared away with that plan. Maybe Jakovan and I could work on protections and plans for if we could get a meeting? To make it safe. Iris and Bear could work on defense plans and containment if needed. They would also have to work with me and Jakovan. Skai and Markus could over see the plan? Make sure everyone's pulling their weight. But that leaves two immortalem to deal with?"

Alden spoke up from his place. "I have an in with one of them. Maybe me, Jacen and Evren could work on that front? I have contacts from my time as a spy. I know last known sightings of at least one of them."

Damien finally spoke. "That leaves one immortalem left. I can see if Kaan would be willing to help. That leaves me, Kaan and Mom." He looked at Wren who nodded. "I think we should all take different approaches and stagger this. But Markus and Skai could help with timing. So they aren't suspicious. But it's a solid plan from my standpoint. What does everyone else think?"

Sebastian nodded in agreement with the plan slowly formulating, spoke once more. "Seeing as I was a catalyst to their resurgence, I am more than willing to assist wherever it may be best." The thought of putting himself up as a potential pawn did not phase the King at all. If it weren't for him, perhaps they would not be in this predicament and have more time to mitigate the threat."What potential timeline do we think this could be achievable?"

Hale blinked. "Wait." The nymph heir glanced around the table. "We're missing something here." They paused, eyes landing on Rowan. "Hey, Your Highness. What am I? Thin air?" Hale asked her, rhetorically. "Am I not here?" They wondered aloud. "Aren't you missing someone on that list?"

Jakovan's hand wrapped snug around Wren's as they sat beside each other, his other arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Hale," He chided, blue eyes narrowing slightly as his tone hardened. "I don't think Rowan meant it like that. You and Robin are expecting. Next month, right? Perhaps, we don't want to incur Iris's ire about you or for putting you in any unnecessary danger. You're the Forest's heir, after all." He replied, head nodding in Rowan's direction afterwards. "And I think Rowan, Alden, and Damien's plans are good. Solid."

He paused before answering Sebastian's question. "Timeline? It won't happen overnight. First, we're unaware of where the original immortalems are located, aside from the one Alden has an in with. And we don't even know if he knows where that one is anymore. Second, we have to talk to them. Try to build a relationship with them. Enough to find out what they want. And if we're, our species and our realms, are even the ones that they have a problem with. It could vary, depending on the immortalem. Time has changed. Those that locked them away are dead. Third, we want to turn them against the very witch that helped free them from their magically imposed prison?" The dark witch laid out, face turning towards Sebastian specifically. "The only ally that they have, and likely trust, that isn't also an immortalem. This is a summit climb. A marathon, not a sprint. Life as we all know it depends on this." He sighed under his breath. "I don't think there is an achievable timeline for this, Sebastian. Every part of this plan is a variable. And is dependent on everyone's collective work."

Rowan smiled at Hale, trying to ignore the mental assault of yelling in her mind. "I didn't forget you. I had a place to put you, but your mother is mentally assaulting me with threats. And most of us are parents, we know that you're going to be busy within weeks to a month from now. No one wanted you to be in any danger. If you would like to help, That's going to be something you have to volunteer yourself for. No one wants to take you away from Robin or your baby." She looked over and nodded at Jakovan. "I agree, we can plan out a timeline for when each group begins their task, but there's no way to determine when this turn is achievable."(edited)

Antonia caught Hale's eye. "I want you, Hale! I'm the only one without a partner. My task is relatively safe. My father doesn't know you and you have no relation to Jakovan or Markus so I think you'll be fine. That is as long as he doesn't catch onto our game. So if you would like to be with me, I would love having you."

Hale's attention moved from Jakovan and Rowan to Iris. They sent their mom a look with a pointed tilt of their head. "She doesn't have to do that," They commented, honestly. More than aware of their mother's protective streak. Even in political meetings, it seemed. They'd speak with their mom later. "Alright," Hale let out with a sigh. "Just making sure that this wasn't a snub." Especially since their own political counterpart, Damien, was appointed a task. It definitely looked like one. "Well, I'm volunteering." They specified before Toni interjected and she caught their gaze. Like a sail losing wind, Hale settled. "Okay, I'll be with you." They agreed.

Bear laughed aloud. "Now does everybody have their roles?" He glanced down at Dragon who was comfortable in Skai's arms. "Hey, did you want something to do? Since we're doling out complaints and grievances?" He asked the infant. His son laughed. "Hey man, fuck you." Hale interjected. It made Bear laugh again. Moments later, he simply shrugged. "Any-fucking-ways, since King Boy Wonder here called this damned meeting, what else is on this agenda?" He asked, meaning Sebastian.

Jacen listened and jotted down a question he didn't want to forget. "Before we move on, I want to circle back to something Sebastian said. You were the catalyst?" he asked Sebastian. "Why you? What happened that day that we don't know about? Are involved in this somehow that we have no clue about?" Jacen asked, because until this point he had no clue that Sebastian was the catalyst to any of this. Maybe he had gotten lost or maybe he was out of the loop, but that piece didn't fit the puzzle. "Why do I feel like there's more happening here and some of us are out of the loop?"

From her seat, Evren briefly pointed a finger towards Jacen. "That's actually in my own notes, thank you." She murmured. "Yes, can you expand on that, Sebastian? What do you mean, that you were the catalyst?" She asked the human King, sending him a curious look. "Is there more information that we're not being given? Weren't we all supposed to divulge information so that every realm's leader could make informed decisions to save all of Lume?" She inquired, meaning the earlier comments made before Rowan directed the topic back to relevancy of the impending threat of the original immortalem.

Sebastian swallowed the small lump forming in his throat at his Freudian slip, now that all eyes were on him seeking a further explanation. "It has come to my understanding that the spells binding the Immortalem in place were broken when I became King of Kings Hill. The night of my coronation." It had propelled all of them into this mess. Barclay had told him that and so much more before he met his death. "The firstborn male heir had to be on the throne. It's why my parents lied about my death and sent me away..."

With a scrunched face, Evren spoke in a curious tone. "And what is so special about the firstborn male heir to the throne? Was it only specific to the Kings Hill throne? Or was it due to your specific lineage or bloodline, Sebastian?" She asked, picking up her pen to add to her notes.

Letting out a small sigh, Sebastian shrugged in his seat. "I don't know Evren. All I know is that my parents died as a game piece to the Immortalem's game and I am now the pawn placed on the throne. Can't tell you any more about my bloodline or lineage considering all of this is new to me.

Bear dramatically sniffed the air. "That sounds like bullshit to me." He looked towards Evren. "What does your spidey-nymph senses tell you, Oh Neutral One? 'Cause I know a bad liar when I see 'em." He speculated, brow raising at Sebastian before looking between Jakovan and Antonia. "And you," He let out, eyes zeroing in on her. "You're a therapist, right? A witch too. But you know more than what people think. You're an expert, right? That's why you're here. So tell us, sexy, what do you know? Specifically about Boy Wonder here that has these old haggard ghouls recklessly threatening me personally?"

Skai burst into laughter. "Oh, Dragon, it's getting good! Daddy's showing them his true face now." She rubbed the baby's back. "This is a lesson in trust. Do we trust Kings Hill? Or should I poison the water supply?" The baby giggled as she nuzzled his cheek. "He said no poison. So you're all safe. Unless you're lying to us," Skai directed her gaze at Sebastian.

"What sense would it make for me to bring you here to put on some performance for you all?" Sebastian stated back, his tone growing more serious. "How dare you come into my land and threaten my people? Do you not see yourself?" he asked before looking around the table. "We're doing exactly what they expect. Derision, divisiveness. No wonder they continue to attack us. Give it enough time and we'll do the work for them."

Markus raised his hand to Sebastian and shook his head. “We need all the information possible. You having a direct connection as you say is concerning.” He looked around the table at the others, “we’re not here for anything other than solutions. Sebastian, we need any details you have. If there is something connecting you to them we need to know it now. Before we step foot into this plan and not during. Our loved ones and our realms are at stake.”

Rowan cleared her throat. "Stop arguing. Stop threatening each other. A question was posed. Sebastian didn't know the answer and then the same question was posed to the expert here to tell us more. Can she speak? Or is there any reason why you all decided she shouldn't?" Her tone mirrored the one used for the admonishment of her children. "We came here to speak openly with each other. Not threaten the moment we suspect someone is being dishonest. Act like adults, please. All of you."

Bear jabbed a thumb towards Sebastian. "I directly asked the sexy therapist over there but he," The digit jabbed at Sebastian again. "Clearly didn't want her to speak." He turned his attention back to Toni. "So, what do you know?"

Antonia held up a hand. “Is it my turn? Okay, um…no one poison anything, please. No one is threatening anyone. I am a therapist, yes, to answer Finnian, but anything I know from my therapy sessions is off limits here. Client-Therapist privilege. So I can’t tell you anything I know about Sebastian. But I have never discussed the immortalem in this capacity with Sebastian. Nor have we ever discussed what happened that night or why it happened, so what I know about the lore is fair game. But it may also unfairly implicate Sebastian because I don't know if what the texts say happened." She looked over at him apologetically. "He may be right in saying he doesn't know much more. These texts were hard to find, and so obscure that critical thinking was needed to apply them. Even Markus and I pieced it all together too late."

She heaved a sigh before continuing. "What I managed to find was that like Sebastian said the first boy in the family could never be King. It was the price Sebastian's bloodline paid to help seal the immortalem in. Kings Hill gave more than the other realms. They suffered the price year after year by sending away their first sons. So it was a bloodline and Kings Hill throne thing. But should the first born son ever sit on the throne, meaning all the seals and curses were broken first, he would be the last seal to break. Which, according to the text, would also cost him his humanity. I can’t tell you what that means as I have no direct interpretation and no first hand account of if it.”

Hale looked directly at Sebastian. "So what the fuck does that mean? Are you not human?"

Sebastian met Hale's gaze directly, keeping his tone steady for everyone in the room to hear. "As far as I know, my humanity remains intact. I’m uncertain what will happen to it."

Iris looked at Rowan. “Is he telling the truth?”

Rowan shared a knowing glance with Sebastian before looking back at Iris. “Don’t make me do this. If he’s lying let him. When we find out one way or the other he’ll have to answer to why Kings Hill should be trusted. And that will be his truth to bear should he or his people ever need help or alliance in the future.”

Skai laughed again. “In the presence of a telepath, a vampire, a hybrid and 4 nymphs who all have separate insight into what your body is doing. Sure, human. We believe you.” She winked. “You’re so cute! I think I’ll visit more soon to chat.” She blew him a kiss.

Jakovan held in a sigh. While some things had been accomplished, and a plan had been formed, it seemed that was enough for now. Whatever hadn't been discussed could wait. He was more than ready to leave. "Let's adjourn." He instructed, not leaving room for arguing. "Everyone could use the break."

[lumenouarp]

The Falls overtakes the Heights

In the late hours of the night we have learned that Northland Falls has taken the Northland Heights in a surprise attack. Not only were the Heights’ troops outnumbered by not only Northland Falls on the ground but also Southland's troops in the air poised for aerial attack. The absence of help from their allies, along with portal stations being hacked and shut down, media outlets being hacked to shut down all communications, and a magical barrier placed around the realm allowed the Falls to overtake the Heights. Rumors of the Dark World involvement has been heavily speculated due to the hacking specialties of the realm. 

We’re told an unexpected storm knocked out all power and hindered communication with The Heights’s ally The Divine Forest. When the storm let up and word got to the nymphs, the Valkyrie came rushing in, only to discover that the Heights had relinquished power to avoid mass casualties. 

King Markus’s team gave this statement, “Our goal was a realm united where vampires and hybrids can coexist. Not without their own representation and voices, but including them. With other threats in abundance reuniting the realms is a must. And we achieved it with minimal casualties. Our aim was not to harm hybrids and it never will be.” 

[lumenouarp]

The ceremony ended without a single incident. Although while leaders, nobles, and friends partied, other entities were at work on sinister plans.

The one who freed the immortalem spent time catching the old ones up on this life, and they even walked among those party goers and the who's who in Lume Noua. The immortalem laughed, chatted, and rubbed elbows with no one knowing who they truly were. They assessed the current political climate to gather information. This was simply a fact finding mission.

While they mingled, and while the glitz, glam and fun in the sun occurred, the thinning veil between living and dead continued to wither. The one who freed the immortalem sought this as an opportunity to punish and distract. He aided spirits long departed, giving them a magical push to fully destroy the divide between living and dead with the newly acquired magic afforded to him by the immortalem.

Witches who could astral project noticed the veil come down first, as their abilities to travel from living to the spirit realm was easier without a barrier. But now, spirits of the departed were free to roam on this side of existence. While most were invisible, they could muster enough strength to hold the intangible form for a few moments, enough to muster a sentence.

Should they want to speak to their loved ones at length, touch them and fully interact, or perhaps exact revenge, they would need to possess another willing or unwilling living host.

Only those warded against possession were truly safe from possession. Be careful, of obtaining warding against possession, you must make sure you are not carrying another host with you before the ward is applied to the body. If there is a ghost passenger within you will have warded the ghost in with no ability to leave the now shared vessel.

Not all departed will want to wander on this plane of existence. Some are at peace and will remain where they are, or have no interest in rejoining the living. But others may have more sinister plans in mind or simply want to reconnect with loved ones.

[OOC Note: This can inspire many opportunities for character growth, and reuniting with loved ones who have passed away. You can feel free to interact with this plot in many ways, via self paras, threads etc. If you would like to use a non in game fc as a host, please let the admins know. Witches may have the most knowledge on the subject of spirits and may be more experienced in casting them out of their bodies without wards. Have fun with this plot and remember any major plots please run them by the admins. You may also continue event threads if you wish.]

[lumenouarp]

Six months ago, the Original Immortalem were awakened. Every realm has had six months of silence. But soon, that silence will end. With the immortalem back, the natural order of the world as we know it is slowly being destroyed. There are consequences for the Originals' return. Consequences that everyone would soon begin to experience.

These consequences are as follows:

The veil between the living and dead has thinned. Witches with astral projection and those with abilities to commune with the dead would notice first.

Frequent changes in weather, storms and hurricanes outside of the normal weather patterns. Warm weather when it’s normally chilly. Rain when it's a drought.

Strange occurrences with time and perception magic only yielded by immortalem originals. (The admin team will post when this occurs)

While none of these things occurred immediately, now after the immortalem have been around for about 6 months their penchant for chaos and unnatural occurrences will begin soon.

[The admin team will post more in depth on each of these consequences soon and how you can begin to incorporate it into your plots.]

[lumenouarp]

NEW YEAR NEW TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Each year, Lume Noua, moves forward with their technological advancements. This year is no different. The new advancements are as follows:

Photo and video capabilities on cellphones now have more clarity than ever. 

Text messages and video messages are now free.

Phones have gotten an update from flip phone eras to razors, blackberries and sidekick style phones. 

The Portal station are now open 24/7 in every realm. 

Computers, the internet and the World Wide Web have advanced with the addition of early social media and the search engine Ask Hugh. Realm Space (Myspace) has surfaced. 

MP3 players are now introduced.

[lumenouarp]

As the party is getting started, Markus ( @ocean-eyeslnrp ) gets a package and an attendant guides him to a room that just so happens to have the tools he would need to address said package. In the package that came for him was a video tape and a note.

[Sticky Note on the video tape]

Watch Me

Upon watching the video, with no sound, it was simply a video of a faceless figure at a bar in Southland mixing a drink with irregular ingredients for an alcoholic beverage. The scene changes to the bartender taking the figure's place and sliding down the drink to Markus's wife, Queen Rowan Hartwell on a night out a few weeks ago. The video cuts off only for their to be a note left for Markus to read. It was short, sweet and to the point.

[Letter Reads]

Still think I can't get to you, too? Antonia was child's play. Or perhaps so is this too. Is your wife okay? Maybe you should check...

[lumenouarp]

As the event gets into full swing, and the guests are seemingly enjoying themselves, chaos is brewing below the surface. Rogue groups on a specific mission are rumbling through the palaces while everyone gathers in Kings Hill. And a few uninvited guests mingle amongst those in attendance of the coronation celebration, just waiting for the call to signify the chaos to come.

[lumenouarp]

(Reposting for records since the original post was eaten)

When all was said and done the Night of the Westland Ball, several things happened in all the chaos. 

The High Priest, Jakovan Petrov, fell into a coma after being stabbed, but the knife did not transfer the ruler’s magic to the wielder. 

The ancestors used fellow witches to send word to the only hybrid witch in attendance, Roxana Ahn to use her abilities to siphon the the magic out of the barrier around them. Although Roxy thought to turn and run away from the responsibility, she stayed to remove the barrier, allowing guests to leave. Once all the magic was siphoned from the space, the electricity returned and the portals began to work once more. Coven and volunteer witches helped to put the raised dead back in their rightful graves, allowing them to rest once more. 

The culprit wasn’t caught, and it isn’t known who was responsible, but one thing was for certain, the attack was measured with the intent to cause distraction to the general public and intentional harm to the High Priest of Westland. 

[lumenouarp]

Don’t Feed the Hydra  Alone

As the reception continued without a hitch, the guests feeling more secure by the moment as not a single incident occurred. That was until shouts for help had occurred. Clarae ( @fallenferns ) & Mahina ( @ocean-eyeslnrp) just happened to have been outside and heard the distant screams for help. They attempted to act, to make their way out to the water to help, when they saw the Hydra taking the life of another. This was another guest who had come out to chance their luck with the hydra. 

The sight was jarring to watch, and they both had been helpless to help. Now they were tasked with going back to the reception to deliver the bad news. 

Was this a simple mishap? Or was this a calculated move and show of power? It was uncertain and the rumor mill was churning with theories. 

Everyone was advised to stay inside, while guards, war generals, and rulers assessed the situation and safety for the night. They would come up with a plan to get everyone safely back to their rooms before they set out to travel home the following day. 

[OOC: Feel free to do with this what you would like. Keep in mind that the hydra is dangerous and can’t be killed or harmed. You can have your characters hurt trying to help. The news did arrive to others so everyone can feel free to react.]

[lumenouarp]

                                    A Surprise Wedding 

With all the competitions being held the previous day, there was uncertainty for what surprises Friday spent in the Dark World meant as little to no information had been given, and those in the know were sworn to secrecy. An invitation was sent to all lodgings in the early hours of the morning. Each invitation was vague. This mystery event required formal attire and directions to a destination in the forest. Although it was snowing in the rest of the realm this particular area was snow free, grassy and warm, thanks to weather manipulation abilities provided by Svala Hansen ( @ocean-eyeslnrp ) 

Upon arrival, the guests could see that it would appear to be a wedding set to occur. There was a mini drink bar to indulge in before the ceremony and a photo booth. As the ceremony was nearing a start everyone was asked to take a seat. That was when a very dashing Master of Mayhem, Finnian Ambrose, ( @gvldntrbl ) took his place at the front near the beautiful arch along with the officiator performing the ceremony.  In that moment, silence fell and Lark Fairwind ( @fuisecg ) took her place in front of the microphone to sing as The Mistress of Mayhem, Skai Rai ( @theartofruling )  appeared, making her way to down the aisle to her groom.

Once the vows had been spoken, the I do’s were exchanged and a kiss shared, the pair was pronounced Mr. & Mrs. Ambrose.

[lumenouarp]

The storms across all realms at once were practically inexplicable. The witches and really all magical beings (Nymphs and Faeries) could feel something different and off about the night. The longer the full moon hang in the sky the more the storms raged. A spell was being broken. One that most thought was little more than a myth. The spell required immense power and  sacrifice.

On the night of the full moon, two people on separate quests to reawaken a myth from long past of an original species from which all supernatural species is derived put their plan into place. Markus and Antonia joined the likes of those in Kings Hill under the guise of celebration during the full moon. Unlike the rest, they had been sowing the seeds of a spell that would take immense power. The spell to awaken a species known only in myths as the Immortalem.

The spell was one that required more power than one witch had alone. So Antonia had to draw from the celestial event of the full moon, connected with channeling the power of a centuries old vampire. While the curse that kept the Immortalem a myth had required the sacrifice of human blood of the noble line, to undo such a curse, it required the complete sacrifice.  With so much planning to prepare for this night, they were ready in the early hours of the morning. A guardian witch with mind control and a vampire with the ability to compel, gained access to Kings Hill’s Queen and King while they were slumbering.

It was no easy feat and had taken weeks of mind control in Antonia’s therapy sessions to make sure that none of the guards that were present that night would be on vervain to weaken the compulsion that Markus would do to allow them entry and exist without memory of the night. Without a sound they were able to kill both the King and Queen of Kings Hill, leaving the room scattered with pamphlets from the Uprising as if to point the finger toward the group making their statement.

With the blood of the monarchs spilled, the full moon where they needed it, and a vampire to channel the spell to remove the curse was complete. Or so they thought. Instead of awakening the very first of their kind, the curse was linked to all those that descended directly from the Immortalem. Those that had the genes and abilities that weren’t quite like the rest. When the last lightning strikes of the storm crackled, it awakened something within supernaturals that did not know what they were. They fit themselves into the known categories or thought themselves just a human with odd things happening, or they simply didn’t know what was happening to them.

With the curse lifting, three different type of descendants awakened. The lifted curse could bring forth a new ability, it could bring out memories long buried of a past life. But what it most definitely would do is eventually set the world into chaos.

When morning came, word spread quickly throughout Kings Hill and the other realms that the King and Queen of Kings Hill were dead and the Uprising was suspected, leaving the Uprising and the Dark World a mystery and a decision to deny or take full claim for a move they didn’t make.

[OOC Note: Read more about the Immortalem here.  More information about applying for this new species or even having one of your existing characters have been this new species without knowledge of it will come in a post later today.]

[lumenouarp]

The Dark World Escape Plan 

Just as the guests were being released as the night was ending, and so was the week spent with the Dark World, people began to realize that certain guests were missing. They weren’t accounted for as everyone began to take counts of those that came with them or had been spending time with them in that night. Murmurs began and a decision was made to keep everyone inside. Instead of a night in their lodgings before traveling back home the next morning, they would spend the night in Mayhem Manor while they figured out where the missing had gone and what could have happened. Guests were uneasy and it didn’t take long for them to start to believe that this was the plan all along.

Throughout the week, those originally banished to the Dark World had been devising an escape plan.  When the realm was originally purposed, those that were banished to realm were enchanted never to leave unless the barriers were lifted or the enchantments were lifted. With so many people in visiting the realm, the banished had hoped that they could confuse the barriers and enchantments and escape as essentially passengers to the others.  Their plan was simple, grab as many non Dark World residents as they could without raising alarm, and using them in their attempt to escape.

As the night went on, they sneakily used different things that they knew would weaken certain species to subdue those that they planned to take. The banished captors took Lark in the makeshift backstage area, and all it took was weakening her with salt slipped into the food and drinks that she consumed. It was no easy feat, but catching a window of time when Louisa was alone, they caught her off guard, binding her with sliver.  Olivier’s drink was laced with liquid silver.  Vada was grabbed from behind and her hands bound using Lobelia Flower. Almira was caught by surprise and knocked unconscious. Nia was knocked unconscious by a spell cast by one of the prisoners. Each of them were skillfully taken out to the the barrier of the realm. They hoped that with so many taken that the barriers would allow them to cross the threshold along with those that they held with them. They had to time it just right, and they waited stashing their captives in a little cabin close to the barrier of the realm. They believed that the cover of midnight would be the perfect time to act. A time when those at the reception would be too drunk to realize what was happening, or so they thought. Once the time was right, they would take the kidnapped out to the barrier and try to escape. They cared little about what would happen to the kidnapped if this went wrong. They only cared for their freedom.

As soon as the numbers were figured up, all the reports of who was missing had gone out, search teams were started. Those heading up search teams were: Kingsley, Mischa, Niklas, Adrik, and Selene. 

Everyone else was advised to stay in Mayhem Manor. Cots, pillows and blankets were provided. Rooms were first come first serve to all that claimed an empty one. Until these guests were found everyone would spend the rest of the night in Mayhem Manor in order to stay safe. Leaders adjourned to discuss the events, that had occurred and a safe travel plan home for the following day. Any healers that wanted to volunteer was asked to aid in gathering supplies so that they could ready themselves for potential patients to come. Any guards, war generals, or volunteers that wanted to help and weren’t out searching, were asked to patrol the manor.

[OOC: This will be our last plot drop of the event (other than the conclusion/event recap). Those that are kidnapped, we are leaving it completely up to you how roughed up your character got. You can have been taken with another person if you want to write it out that way. You can self para if you’d like, it’s totally up to you. If you would like to write it out attempting to escape while they held everyone in the cabins that’s fine too. Those on search and rescue can work together or anyone that wants to join the search feel free to post about that as well. You can also actually plot with the kidnapped and write out rescue threads if you’d like! All inside the Manor are free to do what you’d like as well. Keep in mind there are certain rooms that are off limits, no juicy intel will be found anywhere in the Manor. Any major plots or deaths please run it by the admins, but please go wild and have fun with this!]

[lumenouarp]

An Introduction to the Uprising 

Throughout the festivities pamphlets were being handed out by unidentifiable guests. A simple strategically placed stack would be at the entrance of different games and competitions. Sometimes a simple bump into another person would result in a pamphlet in hand or in a bag next to the person. Each read as a recruitment pamphlet and a thinly veiled threat to stir fear within those that could easily scare or who expected something bad to occur in the Dark World during this event.

The pamphlet read:

The Uprising is Here….

Tired of the status quo? The monarchy as it is? Feeling as if you have no voice? Join us. We stand for the forgotten and the voiceless and we will demand change. If it can’t be achieved civilly, it will be taken.

The Announcement After Fight Night 

Just as Fight Night wound down, the lights went out followed by a projector churning to life, showcasing this pamphlet. A distorted voice read exactly what was on the pamphlet going further to describe how joining can occur.  “Our pamphlets have been magically spelled. Should you want to join our fight, simply write your name on the back of the pamphlet. Each letter will disappear as if it were never written, and magically be transferred to our ledger so that to all others you remain anonymous. Should you join the Uprising, we’ll be in touch.”

[OOC NOTE: If you would like your character to join the uprising (and they aren’t already), send a message to the main and let us know :) ] 

[lumenouarp]

                                    Wedding Reception 

The announcement came shortly after that the ceremony that in a few short hours, they would all be invited to convene inside for the reception. There would be music, and live performances by Lark Fairwind ( @fuisecg ) with dancing in the ball room. There will be a heated indoor pool for anyone that wants to take a swim, along with numerous celestial themed backdrops for photos.  There will be endless food and drinks throughout the night to celebrate the union of the ruling monarchs of the Dark World.