Jan 25, 2026 2:41 pm
1 - Wren Thorne
Jan 25, 2026 2:57 pm
Despite Wren’s best efforts, or perhaps because of it, they were about to be late for school.
How did this happen? What will you do, if anything, to try to make it in time?
Apart from the prompt, consider a brief mention of: How did you spend summer break? What were you most looking forward to at school this year? What are you dreading?
How did this happen? What will you do, if anything, to try to make it in time?
OOC:
Welcome to your first post, but read the main thread first! Apart from the prompt, consider a brief mention of: How did you spend summer break? What were you most looking forward to at school this year? What are you dreading?
Jan 25, 2026 6:51 pm
The plan had been simple: wake up early, get to school with time to spare, ease back into normalcy.
Instead, Wren stood in her room with her headphones around her neck, staring at her phone.
She'd put them on at 7:30. Just for a few minutes, just to settle her nerves, just to quiet the hum that had been building since she woke up - that constant underlying tone that had gotten worse over the summer. The playlist was supposed to help: familiar songs, safe rhythms, something to anchor to.
Somewhere between the third and fourth track, time had... slipped.
She'd closed her eyes and let the music fill the spaces where the wrong sensations lived. When she opened them again, the clock had jumped forward in a way that didn't make sense.
Shit.
Wren grabbed her backpack and skateboard and was out the door before her parents could ask questions. The morning air was crisp, early fall promising itself, and she pushed off hard. Movement helped. All those hours over the summer - shooting baskets until her arms ached, skating empty parking lots with Jamie, swimming laps until exhaustion - they'd helped too. For a while.
She pushed harder, leaning into the turns, and for a moment everything felt smooth. Too smooth. Like she was riding something invisible and vast, like momentum was carrying her further than it should -
Wren eased off, felt the reassuring scrape of wheels on asphalt.
Just adrenaline. Just anxiety. Just first-day nerves.
Normal. Stay normal.
The arched gates of Ashford State came into view. Students streaming through in clusters, the STEM Magnet Labs gleaming ahead, the older buildings sprawling behind. She could hear the greetings, feel the crowds converging.
The building hummed. Or maybe it didn't.
(It wasn't just in her head. It hadn't been just in her head all summer.)
Wren glanced at her watch as she pushed through the gates, hood pulled up, trying not to think about Founders Hall or assemblies or the fact that maybe, this year, even normal school days wouldn't work the way they used to.
Instead, Wren stood in her room with her headphones around her neck, staring at her phone.
She'd put them on at 7:30. Just for a few minutes, just to settle her nerves, just to quiet the hum that had been building since she woke up - that constant underlying tone that had gotten worse over the summer. The playlist was supposed to help: familiar songs, safe rhythms, something to anchor to.
Somewhere between the third and fourth track, time had... slipped.
She'd closed her eyes and let the music fill the spaces where the wrong sensations lived. When she opened them again, the clock had jumped forward in a way that didn't make sense.
Shit.
Wren grabbed her backpack and skateboard and was out the door before her parents could ask questions. The morning air was crisp, early fall promising itself, and she pushed off hard. Movement helped. All those hours over the summer - shooting baskets until her arms ached, skating empty parking lots with Jamie, swimming laps until exhaustion - they'd helped too. For a while.
She pushed harder, leaning into the turns, and for a moment everything felt smooth. Too smooth. Like she was riding something invisible and vast, like momentum was carrying her further than it should -
Wren eased off, felt the reassuring scrape of wheels on asphalt.
Just adrenaline. Just anxiety. Just first-day nerves.
Normal. Stay normal.
The arched gates of Ashford State came into view. Students streaming through in clusters, the STEM Magnet Labs gleaming ahead, the older buildings sprawling behind. She could hear the greetings, feel the crowds converging.
The building hummed. Or maybe it didn't.
(It wasn't just in her head. It hadn't been just in her head all summer.)
Wren glanced at her watch as she pushed through the gates, hood pulled up, trying not to think about Founders Hall or assemblies or the fact that maybe, this year, even normal school days wouldn't work the way they used to.
Jan 28, 2026 1:38 pm
Teenagers on the cusp of adulthood weren't typically given to superstition and other such easily-dismissed thoughts. But if there were a chance for hindsight years from now, the Awakened ones of the Class of '26 might be able look back to as early as their first day of school to realise that change was in the ether. Perhaps it was the greater weave of fate that pushed against their coming back, as if delaying them, keeping them away from the penumbral shores, from what was about to happen.
But they wouldn't have known that of course. To them, the situation was simply that they would be late. Wren's skateboard was nowhere as fast as the buses crawling up the long driveway to disgorge their student passengers at the drop-off bay, and certainly she had to always be mindful of the cars whizzing past her for the same reason. Skating up the incline was a sure way to break out a sweat, but surely if she overtook enough students she wouldn't be considered late!
But they wouldn't have known that of course. To them, the situation was simply that they would be late. Wren's skateboard was nowhere as fast as the buses crawling up the long driveway to disgorge their student passengers at the drop-off bay, and certainly she had to always be mindful of the cars whizzing past her for the same reason. Skating up the incline was a sure way to break out a sweat, but surely if she overtook enough students she wouldn't be considered late!
OOC:
Time to warm up your dice! You will be late for school unless you make a succesful Ability roll of your choice. Narratively justify in your next post whichever one you choose to roll. Alternatively you may use a relevant Sphere power, which for this particular situation will automatically succeed as coincidental magic, but magic was used nonetheless ;) Jan 28, 2026 7:01 pm
The incline up to school wasn't steep, but it was long enough to burn. Wren pushed harder, legs pumping, weaving between groups of students who were taking their time.
Not late. She couldn't be late. Not on the first day. Not when she was already holding herself together with music and denial and sheer stubborn will.
She carved around a cluster of freshmen, leaned into the turn, found her rhythm. The board responded - just the board, just her, just skill and muscle memory from a summer spent skating until her thoughts went quiet.
The drop-off bay was ahead. The crowd was thinning. Founders Hall beyond.
Not late. She couldn't be late. Not on the first day. Not when she was already holding herself together with music and denial and sheer stubborn will.
She carved around a cluster of freshmen, leaned into the turn, found her rhythm. The board responded - just the board, just her, just skill and muscle memory from a summer spent skating until her thoughts went quiet.
The drop-off bay was ahead. The crowd was thinning. Founders Hall beyond.
OOC:
Alright, rolling dice does not work like this... There's no WoD roll type though, not for me at least. Anyway, assuming difficulty 6 I count 2 successes.Last edited January 28, 2026 7:05 pm
Rolls
DEX (hand-eye) + Drive (skateboard) - (4d10+2d10)
(5639) + (32) = 28
Jan 30, 2026 4:14 am
Skateboard to the rescue! Faster than being on foot, and even more nimble than those on bicycle, Wren deftly sped through the bottleneck near the gate, earning a flash of a frown from 'Officer' Harris, but she made sure to stay safely clear of the larger vehicles. She didn't even have to park. There was no time to drop off the board in her homeroom though, she'd have to heft it all the way to the auditorium.
Oh btw, when you post, if you want your avatar to show, in the box that says Post As, select your character. You'll see Wren's name and face, instead of eldarin.
Now head over the main thread!
OOC:
No worries about how to do the rolls. You can easily just type 6d10 in this case. Default difficulty is 6 unless otherwise stated, so you have two successes here, which is enough.Oh btw, when you post, if you want your avatar to show, in the box that says Post As, select your character. You'll see Wren's name and face, instead of eldarin.
Now head over the main thread!
Jan 30, 2026 2:07 pm
Officer Harris's frown barely registered. Wren was through, skateboard under her arm, breath still coming fast from the climb. No time to stop at her homeroom - she'd have to carry it all the way to the auditorium.
She pulled her hood down and headed for Founders Hall, trying to ignore the way the old building seemed to resonate at a frequency she couldn't quite name.
She pulled her hood down and headed for Founders Hall, trying to ignore the way the old building seemed to resonate at a frequency she couldn't quite name.
OOC:
Heading over to the main thread now.Mar 5, 2026 2:25 pm
Dr Veritas raised an eyebrow when Wren stood up to accompany Daniela, but made no further comment, simply waving Daniela to follow her. She said nothing either when Daniela tentatively linked an elbow with Wren; Wren could still feel her trembling a little, with her hyperventilated breathing still ragged through the sobs.
They were headed for the counselling centre. That was housed in the Redevelopment Wing, or the Burned Wing; the nickname was hard to shake over the years. Wren did not have a good feeling about the entire thing. Of course she knew that Ashford High, like many other schools, had a care centre: sickbay, nurse's office, counselling rooms, counsellor's office, etc. And now Wren knew that the two new educational guidance counsellors she saw this morning would also be housed here. Could Necht and Nixon have anything to do with the blackout today? Wren's mind wandered. But they weren't even present in the orientation venues.
They entered the lobby of the Redevelopment Wing when Veritas' phone rang. She whipped it out of her pocket with a flash of impatience, which was momentarily contrastive to the calm demeanour she had projected when walking Daniela and Wren. She put up a hand to signal for the two girls to wait in the lobby while she took the call, and strode towards an office door and entered it. All Wren could hear were the words "Yes what is it I'm with a student -" before the door closed, leaving her and Daniela temporarily unattended.
They were headed for the counselling centre. That was housed in the Redevelopment Wing, or the Burned Wing; the nickname was hard to shake over the years. Wren did not have a good feeling about the entire thing. Of course she knew that Ashford High, like many other schools, had a care centre: sickbay, nurse's office, counselling rooms, counsellor's office, etc. And now Wren knew that the two new educational guidance counsellors she saw this morning would also be housed here. Could Necht and Nixon have anything to do with the blackout today? Wren's mind wandered. But they weren't even present in the orientation venues.
They entered the lobby of the Redevelopment Wing when Veritas' phone rang. She whipped it out of her pocket with a flash of impatience, which was momentarily contrastive to the calm demeanour she had projected when walking Daniela and Wren. She put up a hand to signal for the two girls to wait in the lobby while she took the call, and strode towards an office door and entered it. All Wren could hear were the words "Yes what is it I'm with a student -" before the door closed, leaving her and Daniela temporarily unattended.
OOC:
Good use of Willpower. Veritas permits Wren to tag along. Pausing for a moment in case you want to react at this point. Mar 7, 2026 12:01 pm
Wren waited until Veritas closed the office door.
She turned to Daniela, keeping her voice low. "Watch out," Wren said quietly. "Let me know if anyone’s coming. I want to know what’s so important that it couldn’t wait when she was so eager to get you here."
She moved closer to the door before Daniela could object, pressing her ear against it. Veritas’s voice was muffled but audible through the wood - fragments of conversation, tone, urgency. Wren focused on listening, trying to catch whatever she could of what was being said.
OOC: Rolling Perception + Alertness to eavesdrop on Veritas’s side of the phone conversation. If the idea with Correspondence and Forces 1 would work to overhear what the phone speakers give away I am happy to add a magic roll - but you sounded it wouldn't over on Discord.
She turned to Daniela, keeping her voice low. "Watch out," Wren said quietly. "Let me know if anyone’s coming. I want to know what’s so important that it couldn’t wait when she was so eager to get you here."
She moved closer to the door before Daniela could object, pressing her ear against it. Veritas’s voice was muffled but audible through the wood - fragments of conversation, tone, urgency. Wren focused on listening, trying to catch whatever she could of what was being said.
OOC: Rolling Perception + Alertness to eavesdrop on Veritas’s side of the phone conversation. If the idea with Correspondence and Forces 1 would work to overhear what the phone speakers give away I am happy to add a magic roll - but you sounded it wouldn't over on Discord.
Rolls
PER (sharp senses) + Alertness and -2 difficulty through Acute Sense Merit - (5d10diff5+2d10diff5)
(54552) + (83) + 10 = 42
Mar 9, 2026 3:11 pm
"Wren!" Daniela came to her senses a little, to protest, for the assistant clerk that manned the reception of the care centre, while not currently present, was surely nearby and likely to return at any moment. But Wren seemed undeterred.
"... who else knows about the Vance boy?" Wren could hear Veritas pacing inside her counselling office, for the already muffled voice was alternatingly nearer and farther, audible and inaudible.
"This is the first time I'm hearing about a girlfriend!" That was no way for Wren to hear who was speaking on the other side of the line, or what was being said.
Veritas snorted a short laugh, "No one calls it a sanatorium anymore ..."
"... I will be speaking to the others tomorrow ..."
Wren had been focussing on pressing her ear against the door, until she noticed that Daniela, ever the instinctive school photographer, had taken out her phone to snap a picture of Wren doing so. That was when Wren remembered that the school premises had security cameras in the general areas on campus.
"I think we better go Wren. We're going to be in a helluva lot of trouble." Daniela had regained a bit more composure, and seemed to have come to the conclusion that it was a bad idea to hang out, despite Veritas having brought her here. She got up to go, and beckoned to Wren to leave with her before they were discovered.
"... who else knows about the Vance boy?" Wren could hear Veritas pacing inside her counselling office, for the already muffled voice was alternatingly nearer and farther, audible and inaudible.
"This is the first time I'm hearing about a girlfriend!" That was no way for Wren to hear who was speaking on the other side of the line, or what was being said.
Veritas snorted a short laugh, "No one calls it a sanatorium anymore ..."
"... I will be speaking to the others tomorrow ..."
Wren had been focussing on pressing her ear against the door, until she noticed that Daniela, ever the instinctive school photographer, had taken out her phone to snap a picture of Wren doing so. That was when Wren remembered that the school premises had security cameras in the general areas on campus.
"I think we better go Wren. We're going to be in a helluva lot of trouble." Daniela had regained a bit more composure, and seemed to have come to the conclusion that it was a bad idea to hang out, despite Veritas having brought her here. She got up to go, and beckoned to Wren to leave with her before they were discovered.
Mar 9, 2026 4:02 pm
Wren pulled away from the door immediately, following Daniela toward the exit. The cameras - she should have thought of that. They needed to leave before anyone reviewed the footage or the clerk came back.
Once they were outside the Redevelopment Wing, back in the fresh air away from the building's oppressive resonance, Wren kept her voice low.
"Daniela," she said quietly as they walked. "What did you see? About Alex. You said he left, that he's not coming back. What happened?"
Once they were outside the Redevelopment Wing, back in the fresh air away from the building's oppressive resonance, Wren kept her voice low.
"Daniela," she said quietly as they walked. "What did you see? About Alex. You said he left, that he's not coming back. What happened?"
Mar 10, 2026 12:46 pm
Daniela's breathing became shallow again, but she quickened her step, as if to get away from everyone else. "Tell me you saw something as well Wren! Earlier, when the lights went out. Did you see Alex? I saw him leave and enter the black. it was dark, and the black swallowed him up. It felt - permanent, final." The words came out in a rush, deflating her. "What did you see Wren? I can tell you saw something!"
Mar 11, 2026 6:18 pm
Tell me you saw something.
For the first time all day Wren let herself be still. The assembly, the headphones - the way Joe had blazed through them like a speaker blown past its limit. The piano bench, Emily beside her, that wrong note hanging in the air. And then the lights going out and five hundred people becoming something else entirely, a weight she had no word for pressing in from every direction at once. Then the note still ringing, and the bench empty, and Daniela in the corner coming apart over a boy who wasn't even there. And Veritas arriving too fast, the door closing on fragments that didn't fit together yet.
She hadn't had a second to really process any of it until now.
She held Daniela's gaze and let herself listen - the way she listened before playing, not to the noise but underneath it. Daniela's breathing, the catch in it. Whatever was or wasn't there.
"The note kept ringing," Wren said absently. "After."
For the first time all day Wren let herself be still. The assembly, the headphones - the way Joe had blazed through them like a speaker blown past its limit. The piano bench, Emily beside her, that wrong note hanging in the air. And then the lights going out and five hundred people becoming something else entirely, a weight she had no word for pressing in from every direction at once. Then the note still ringing, and the bench empty, and Daniela in the corner coming apart over a boy who wasn't even there. And Veritas arriving too fast, the door closing on fragments that didn't fit together yet.
She hadn't had a second to really process any of it until now.
She held Daniela's gaze and let herself listen - the way she listened before playing, not to the noise but underneath it. Daniela's breathing, the catch in it. Whatever was or wasn't there.
"The note kept ringing," Wren said absently. "After."
OOC:
I'll include a roll of Perception + Awareness for some aura reading on Daniela.Rolls
PER (sharp senses) + Awareness (resonance) - (9d10)
(638328649) = 49
Mar 13, 2026 2:51 pm
Daniela was also someone who was different. Her aura was unmistakeable to Wren. Wren hadn't been thinking of her friends this way until today. Sure, her empathy allowed her to feel deeply about others, and she always associated it with her emotions, or perhaps her synaesthesia, which was where people could perceive their feelings almost as if through their senses. For her it was always through music.
But since this morning, Wren felt the connection in a different way. And somehow Daniela's character seemed to deeply resonate with her too, a fellow empath of some sort, whatever that meant. Daniela was now staring at her intently, when Wren mentioned the ringing note. She looked as if she was going to tear again, but this time not out of fear but out of distress.
"We'll be in so much trouble tomorrow." Daniela gripped Wren's hand tightly, as if to thank her, and then departed quickly to get out of school as soon as she could.
But since this morning, Wren felt the connection in a different way. And somehow Daniela's character seemed to deeply resonate with her too, a fellow empath of some sort, whatever that meant. Daniela was now staring at her intently, when Wren mentioned the ringing note. She looked as if she was going to tear again, but this time not out of fear but out of distress.
"We'll be in so much trouble tomorrow." Daniela gripped Wren's hand tightly, as if to thank her, and then departed quickly to get out of school as soon as she could.
OOC:
Putting a wrap on this, gonna move us to the next scene.Mar 13, 2026 2:57 pm
"Have a seat." Despite the serious formality of the title of Doctor, Veritas was generally regarded as a motherly figure amongst the staff, more youthful in appearance than one might guess her true age to be, though her chopped bob and bangs, slightly streaked in grey, gave her some kindly gravitas to match.
The counselling room was furnished with soft armchairs and a table for the counsellor, carpeted but enclosed with no natural light. A small shelf sat to one side with a tray of glasses and a water flask.
Today though the shelf was partially blocked by a third person in the room."Ms Nixon will join us today as well, as part of the school's efforts to improve our care programme." The woman looked as proper as she did yesterday, again in nearly the same shade of grey suit. In her hand was a tablet and stylus.
"How are you doing at the moment Wren? You were here with Ms Flores yesterday, but left before we could speak. I am concerned about your well-being. Can you tell about what's going on with you right now? I'm ready to listen if you're willing to share."
Her tone was gentle, but nonetheless probing..
The counselling room was furnished with soft armchairs and a table for the counsellor, carpeted but enclosed with no natural light. A small shelf sat to one side with a tray of glasses and a water flask.
Today though the shelf was partially blocked by a third person in the room."Ms Nixon will join us today as well, as part of the school's efforts to improve our care programme." The woman looked as proper as she did yesterday, again in nearly the same shade of grey suit. In her hand was a tablet and stylus.
"How are you doing at the moment Wren? You were here with Ms Flores yesterday, but left before we could speak. I am concerned about your well-being. Can you tell about what's going on with you right now? I'm ready to listen if you're willing to share."
Her tone was gentle, but nonetheless probing..
OOC:
As mentioned, this is your individual scene within the main thread, where you have to see the counsellor. The overall conversation in the waiting room was and is still ongoing, and when you leave this session the other six are still outside talking. (I’m running this simultaneously across all threads so we don’t hold up the main thread too much.)Mar 13, 2026 4:36 pm
Wren felt the grip of Daniela's hand and held it for just a moment before she let go.
"We'll figure it out," she said quietly, then watched her go and made her own way home.
Skateboard to the ground, headphones over the ears and off she went. A quick text to Jamie, she needed someone to talk before heading home. A quick check of and reply to the class chat.
The third person in the room was the first thing Wren noticed.
She took the offered seat, set her backpack against the chair leg, and kept her expression neutral. Nixon. The grey suit, the tablet, the same careful posture from the stage yesterday. Wren had felt her then - felt both of them - before the assembly had even properly started. Having her here now, stylus poised, felt less like a care programme initiative and more like being observed through glass.
Veritas was warm and measured, the way she always was. The question itself was reasonable. Wren had left before they could speak. Of course there would be a follow-up.
"I'm fine," Wren said. "Yesterday was a lot. I just needed some air."
She left it there, hands relaxed in her lap, and waited.
"We'll figure it out," she said quietly, then watched her go and made her own way home.
Skateboard to the ground, headphones over the ears and off she went. A quick text to Jamie, she needed someone to talk before heading home. A quick check of and reply to the class chat.
OOC:
Fine with the wrap up and no need to play out a scene with Jamie (her best friend).The third person in the room was the first thing Wren noticed.
She took the offered seat, set her backpack against the chair leg, and kept her expression neutral. Nixon. The grey suit, the tablet, the same careful posture from the stage yesterday. Wren had felt her then - felt both of them - before the assembly had even properly started. Having her here now, stylus poised, felt less like a care programme initiative and more like being observed through glass.
Veritas was warm and measured, the way she always was. The question itself was reasonable. Wren had left before they could speak. Of course there would be a follow-up.
"I'm fine," Wren said. "Yesterday was a lot. I just needed some air."
She left it there, hands relaxed in her lap, and waited.
Mar 19, 2026 1:13 am
The oppressively disconcerting feeling Wren had yesterday as her eyes darted to Nixon was amplified, for the guidance counsellor from the Board of Education revealed no expression throughout, save for the occasional scribing on her tablet. This was regardless of what Wren said or how she said it, nothing seemed to garner a response.
Veritas was in contrast warmer and much more assuring in her manner. "Stress can sometimes make events feel exhausting. Tell me one thing that was difficult for you. What did you and Daniela talk about? I am glad you were brave to accompany her here. Did you talk to anyone else about yesterday?"
Perhaps Veritas could tell that Wren hadn't revealed anything yet, that the mention of her basic emotional state was a deflection of sorts. Veritas had prompted for Wren to give her version of the story, and also wanted to her if she had spoken with anyone else. Now it was up to Wren to decide what and how to tell it.
Wren had the feeling though that the version of the story she chose to tell was somehow important to herself personally. That it would shape how she dealt with her newly experienced reality in some way.
On a related note, while we didn't play it out, we could establish that Wren did chat with Jamie last night. This affects the answer Wren might give to Veritas. Background-wise, is Jamie a schoolmate or classmate?
Veritas was in contrast warmer and much more assuring in her manner. "Stress can sometimes make events feel exhausting. Tell me one thing that was difficult for you. What did you and Daniela talk about? I am glad you were brave to accompany her here. Did you talk to anyone else about yesterday?"
Perhaps Veritas could tell that Wren hadn't revealed anything yet, that the mention of her basic emotional state was a deflection of sorts. Veritas had prompted for Wren to give her version of the story, and also wanted to her if she had spoken with anyone else. Now it was up to Wren to decide what and how to tell it.
Wren had the feeling though that the version of the story she chose to tell was somehow important to herself personally. That it would shape how she dealt with her newly experienced reality in some way.
OOC:
Time for a Manipulation+Subterfuge roll, at difficulty 7, and you'll need 3 successes, representing the wisdom of the adults in the room when dealing with teens and their tales. Sanctity gives you a 2 die bonus to this roll.On a related note, while we didn't play it out, we could establish that Wren did chat with Jamie last night. This affects the answer Wren might give to Veritas. Background-wise, is Jamie a schoolmate or classmate?
Mar 20, 2026 10:49 pm
Nixon sent shivers down her spine. Wren had felt that yesterday, and she felt that now, and Dr. Veritas was not let her go with just "I'm fine".
She wasn't good at pretending. Her strategy was staying quiet and letting the moment pass. That wasn't going to work here. She started to tap a rhythm on her thigh - barely audible even to herself. Two taps, three taps.
But maybe she wouldn't need to. Nothing must slip between the lines, she thought. Three taps, two taps.
We'll figure it out. She'd meant it when she said it to Daniela. Two taps, three taps.
And she had heard her classmates. Which means we keep our lips zipped.
Or were they more than classmates? We're going to have to do some poking around on our own but no one needs to be alone doing so.
Three taps, two taps. And the rhythm had found its peak.
"The day got difficult early," she said. "Made it to Founders Hall, but just in time. Then you know I don't do well with the noise. Joe fainting didn't help. Music booth the rest of the afternoon. A lot of talking with freshmen"
"Then the blackout. Daniela needed someone. She would have done the same."
"I talked to Jamie after. My best friend. I told him the day was stressful. He listened. That helped."
She looked at Veritas. "Why are you so concerned, should I be as well?"
Coincidental Mind 1 is difficulty 4, but Wren would channel a point of Quintessence to get it to 3.
She wasn't good at pretending. Her strategy was staying quiet and letting the moment pass. That wasn't going to work here. She started to tap a rhythm on her thigh - barely audible even to herself. Two taps, three taps.
Dr. Veritas says:
Tell me one thing that was difficult for you.Dr. Veritas says:
What did you and Daniela talk about?Dr. Veritas says:
Did you talk to anyone else about yesterday?Or were they more than classmates? We're going to have to do some poking around on our own but no one needs to be alone doing so.
Three taps, two taps. And the rhythm had found its peak.
"The day got difficult early," she said. "Made it to Founders Hall, but just in time. Then you know I don't do well with the noise. Joe fainting didn't help. Music booth the rest of the afternoon. A lot of talking with freshmen"
"Then the blackout. Daniela needed someone. She would have done the same."
"I talked to Jamie after. My best friend. I told him the day was stressful. He listened. That helped."
She looked at Veritas. "Why are you so concerned, should I be as well?"
OOC:
Rolling Arete first and will then add the Manipulation+Subterfuge roll.Coincidental Mind 1 is difficulty 4, but Wren would channel a point of Quintessence to get it to 3.
Rolls
Arete - (2d10diff4)
(79) + 4 = 20
MAN + Subterfuge + 2 for Sanctity - (5d10diff5)
(19188) + 5 = 32
Mar 30, 2026 9:42 am
Wren could feel herself willing her narrative to be more convincing. It wasn't like she was actively trying to present falsehoods, but she knew something was afoot, and she had some truth to protect. In fact, it alarmed her a little when she saw Veritas make a small note on her notepad when Wren mentioned Jamie. "I am pleased to hear that you had a chance to talk about your day with Jamie. Did you talk with Daniela too?" Daniela and Wren were in class together this morning, but there was no opportunity to exchange words yet.
Her tapping was yet another form of physical regulation as she bent her thoughts around keeping them secure and guileless. The rhythm worked for her; she could sense her narrative leaning in to that rhythm, just enough to hold Veritas back from pressing too hard. But again in the periphery of her vision, she wondered if Nixon was watching her tapping, whether it simply came across as stimming or something else. If Nixon thought otherwise, the expressionless, cold-eyed guidance advisor said nothing. This bothered Wren.
"I am concerned that Daniela and you were both here to see me yesterday, but left without meeting with me. Ashford High is proud to have a student like yourself who is so supportive of her friends. It sounded like you had concerns, and I am here to listen." It seemed that Wren had at least convinced Veritas that she was here purely for Daniela, and if Wren continued to deflect in that manner, there was little else Veritas would want from her directly.
Her tapping was yet another form of physical regulation as she bent her thoughts around keeping them secure and guileless. The rhythm worked for her; she could sense her narrative leaning in to that rhythm, just enough to hold Veritas back from pressing too hard. But again in the periphery of her vision, she wondered if Nixon was watching her tapping, whether it simply came across as stimming or something else. If Nixon thought otherwise, the expressionless, cold-eyed guidance advisor said nothing. This bothered Wren.
"I am concerned that Daniela and you were both here to see me yesterday, but left without meeting with me. Ashford High is proud to have a student like yourself who is so supportive of her friends. It sounded like you had concerns, and I am here to listen." It seemed that Wren had at least convinced Veritas that she was here purely for Daniela, and if Wren continued to deflect in that manner, there was little else Veritas would want from her directly.
OOC:
I had meant to let you roll 2 extra dice because of Sanctity, as opposed to lowering the difficulty. But no matter, since you're using some magic presumably to shield or smoothen the deflecting. I'll grant we have the requisite 3 sucesses. Wren can get out of this, go ahead and wind up the convo! That said, bold of Wren to attempt magic in a small room in front of two people, one whom Wren suspects might know more about these things than others.Mar 31, 2026 11:03 am
"Briefly this morning - we had class together but no real chance to talk. Daniela got quite shaken by the blackout, more than most. But she seemed fine when we left, and this morning in class she was okay." A small shrug. "I think it just hit her harder in the moment."
She reached for her bag. "I'll check in on her. Thank you, Dr. Veritas."
She reached for her bag. "I'll check in on her. Thank you, Dr. Veritas."
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