What Kindles in Frozen Heart
27th of October 2006 A.D.
Reflexively you recoil at the suggestion that you should accept ignorance as though you had just touched a hot stove as the brazen sun between your brows gleams. Out of the corner of your eye you see the shadow on the wall of the laboratory seems now crowned by slitted eyes; a trick of the light shining through your hair. "You're not wrong to say that knowledge can be dangerous, but I think I'm well past the point where ignorance will help me much." These words you say, deliberately, carefully. "What I need is to know, so that I can judge with certainty and act with understanding."
"Molly, I would not want to know this sh...
stuff. Mab is utterly ruthless. If she thinks you might embarrass her or worse that you are a threat she will come after you in ways no one will see coming."
Aw, it's cute how he doesn't want to swear but he is also lying, you know with utter certainty. If you were not here he would absolutely ask Bob to finish the story.
"I could say that I've seen Arctis Tor, I've seen what she made of her Knight just how ruthless she is. I could remind you that I am very good at seeing things, coming and otherwise, but that is not really what any of this comes down to. What matters now is what mattered when you let me through that trap door today..." You wave at it. "Do you trust me?" As he opens his mouth to answer you raise a hand, you are not done yet. "I won't blame you is the answer is 'no' and I won't think any less of you, that is your prerogative and I have been stomping around your life like a glowing green Godzilla for the past few months."
He doesn't answer for a long time, hundred and three heartbeats to be exact, leaving you wondering if he's thinking about the polite way to say 'no'. Finally he sighs and looks you in the eyes, what he sees you don't know, but he says the words you have been hoping for: "I trust you."
"Oh, come on! Kiss already!" Bob heckles
"S...stop that," you stutter, heat rushing into you cheeks for the first time in weeks. You're going to get him for that.
To add insult to injury Harry keeps his cool fine. "That is enough from the peanut gallery. Finish the story."
"Mother and maiden died at the Hands... er tentacles... multi-dimensional limbs of the Outsiders," Bob collects himself, the moment's levity at your expense fading from his voice at the gravity of what he recounts. "Only the Lady's Mantle escaped and it found Morgana for she was the most skillful in sorcery and boldest in war but uneasy did it rest upon her shoulders for though she had never known a man in the strictly physical sense Merlin her lover was sired by an incubus and possessed the power to join with her in soul and in mind." He stops for a moment. "One strange turn begat another for from that joining Morgana-not-yet-Mab fell heavy with child, children in fact twins. One is Meave, now Winter Lady and one is Sarissa whom I last knew as a cup bearer many centuries ago."
Sneaking a look at him its clear that Harry is flummoxed, not that you look much different in all honesty. It feels like the tail end of a Dan Brown novel, only actually real and terrifying to know, but Bob is not done.
"Many of the Sidhe lords and ladies know about the blood bond, though not the name of their sire as for decades after taking up the Mantle of Queen Mab would not speak of where the Lady's Mantle had gone until one dark Samhain they arrived at court, assumed to have been the daughters of some mortal of little note. Some whispered that Mab had kept the Mantle of the Lady frozen in place until she could offer it to her daughter, others that she had killed the Lady so that her daughter might inherit, but the wise and the learned dismissed such talk. All know the heart of winter is frozen and uncaring."
A skull cannot smile, but as the light's of Bob's eyes grow brighter and the runes upon his vessel sharper you get a distinct sense of smug satisfaction. "The wise and the learned were
wrong. When Morgana stood at the foot of the Stone Table the Mantle of Queen in her hands, not yet upon her shoulders she would not surrender her love for her daughters. As one molding hot iron with her bare hands Morgana-Who-Became-Mab changed the Mantle of Winter ever so slightly so that her love of Meave and Sarissa might be preserved."
"You... er... weren't kidding about this being big," you finally manage to choke out.
The spirit's voice falls into a kind of dreamy whisper "Weakness, hurt them and you hurt Mab, leverage, befriend them and her wrath will be turned aside. Good luck."
"A hundred times apologies Dark Eternal Majesty, I have misjudged this spirit before and thought him soft," Usum hisses in your mind's ear.
"He will be a worthy servant when you take the wizard as your consort."
This time at least you manage to keep your expression under control. Quickly you say your goodbyes to Harry and head off, though you do not go home at once, letting Black Rider drive you in loops as you consider what you had just learned. At some point you must have dozen off for a moment, dreams lengthening like shadows, leaping like flame.
Arc Six Complete
Triumphs
- Persuading Charity about the merits of Alchemical Sleep Antidotes 1 XP
- Successfully channeled Isabela's talents to a cause of your choosing 1 XP
- Investigation of the murders in Chinatown 1XP
- Befriended Bùshì Tùzǐ 1 XP
- Tea at the Green Tortoise (Successful diplomacy) 1 XP
- Figured out the Akuma's Plan and warped the ritual against itself 2 XP
- A good impression on Monoc securities over the phone 1 XP
- Got Murphy to go along with all the strange and deadly allies you gathered (and their mortars) 1 XP
- Dealing with Lady Eiko (Insight/Diplomacy/Mock battle) 3 XP
- Terrified the Akuma at the hotel into bending utterly to your will 1 XP
- Battle against the Akuma (Base/ All Prisoners Rescued/Lydia Tore open the Gate/Greater Akuma True Killed in single combat) 5 XP
- Jade Dogs brought closer together by tragedy not divided thanks to Molly's leadership 1 XP
- Safely delivered minor akuma to the Library of Congress, obtaining trust and information 1 XP
- Connected with Marcy, got her to open up to Father Forthil 1 XP
- Discovered the secret of Olivia's heritage and the broader origin of many mortal talents 1 XP
- Helped Maria reveal magic to her fiancee 1 XP
- Lydia got emancipated 1 XP
- The Amazing Margret Carver does Carrier Day 1 XP
- Last Station Improved beyond expectation 1 XP
- Getting through to Murphy 1 XP
- Seeing through Mac's Disguise 3 XP
- Read and gained insight into the Accords 1 XP
- Persuading Harry you can hear the last secret 1 XP
Total XP: 1 (Unspent) + 31 (Earned this Arc) -10 (Ancient Sorcery Spell learned) = 22
How do you spent your Essence?
Special
[] Alchemy: The Art of transmutation, not merely of matter, but mind and spirit. To all you have learned from Bob, all you have read in Harry's books the insights of an elder age are added, as steel is alloyed from charcoal and iron (Cost 3XP/Dot)
Constructive Convergence of Principles costs -2XP due to the feat of God-crafting
[] New Ability 3xp
[] Ancient sorcery spell 10xp (Spent for the Arc)
[] Attribute current rating *4xp
[] Ability current rating *2xp
[] Caste Ability current rating *1xp
[] Caste or Favored Charm Charm rating *3xp
[] Other Charm Charm rating *4xp
[] Willpower current rating
[] First dot of a Sorcerer Path 4xp
[] Follow-up dots in a Sorcerer Path current rating *3xp
[]Merit current rating *4xp
[] Buy down Touch of Frost
-[] 2 XP to remove
[] Buy down Nightmares (4 XP)
[] Write in
OOC: You guys still have a bit of time to poke Meave or Sarissa and try to use the secret you have just gained before you talk to Mab if you want. 
