VIDEO CALL ☏ to everyone!

[rationalizes]

[ a friendly face fills the screen, the morning after vi and luthir's wedding, accompanied by a very british accent. ]  

Good morning!  My name - for those who don't know me, which I imagine may be quite a few of you given how absent I've been of late from the castle proper - is Sir Jeanne Ellen Gar, of the Dragon's Hoard, and I was hoping to make a brief announcement before you all get on with your day.  

Considering just how many of us are Shadowkind and the nature of our work here, I thought there may be others interested in attending the Shadowkind Conference being held in London very shortly.  There'll be a range of topics covered, from Shadow races to Shadow religions to psionics and magic.  [ she puffs up just the tiniest bit ]  I myself will be presenting Theories & Extrapolations on the Existence of A Shadow Gate, and I would of course be delighted if anyone chose to come support the 'Karthur Institute' as it were by attending my session.  You'll be allowed to select an AM and PM session to attend, so pick wisely!    There's a list below of what's on the docket:

 

AM Sessions:
 

Our Evolving Society in A Post-Shadow Incursion World    Dr. Jonathan Cole, Harvard University

 

Arcane Manipulation of Eldritch Energies  P. Eckert, U.C.A.M.

 

Psionics & Eldritch Energies   Eviatar Zerubavel, Psionic Research, C.R.U.P.

 

Theories & Extrapolations on the Existence of A Shadow Gate  Jeanne Gar, Karthur Institute

 

The Shadow Pantheon & Divine Influence on Our World   Mother Ylana Tawnleaf, Church of Pelor

 

Shadow Incursions Across the Centuries   Dr. Astrid Kolgrim, Commission for Research into Unexplained Phenomena


PM Sessions:

 

The Curse of Lethe:  Reconstructing a Homeland  Donny Sinclair, St. Cuthbert’s House

 

The Eldritch Tide:  The Ebb & Flow & Effect Thereof of Eldritch Strength  Dr. Diana Hoffman, Hoffman Institute

 

Cultural Clashes & Possible Solutions to Them  Reeta Crundall, The Displaced

 

Culture Shock:  Adjustment to the Migration on Both Sides  Dr. Rose Allison, PhD, Institute for Continuous Education

 

Extraplanar Threats to Human Welfare  H. Father, Draken Crombe, Church of the Lord’s Humanity

 

Shadow Portals & Points of Eldritch Centralization  Dr. Cecilia Martin, NYU

 

Please do RVSP with which two sessions you would like to attend!  And coordinate with friends, if you'd like to attend sessions together.  Thank you!

Comments

[shootfirst]

Uh dur.

AM session: Theories & Extrapolations on the Existence of A Shadow Gate Jeanne Gar, Karthur Institute

PM Session: /squint

Extraplanar Threats to Human Welfare H. Father, Draken Crombe, Church of the Lord’s Humanity

8|

[nosdacariad]

... Ditto.

[immuno]

"Extraplanar Threats to Human Welfare."

[ lydia's lips purse. ]

That doesn't sound particularly tolerant. I guess this conference takes all kinds. I'll be coming. I haven't decided what sessions to attend yet. What do you suggest? Besides advertising your own lecture, obviously.

[lissatrinall]

AM Session: Theories & Extrapolations on the Existence of A Shadow Gate Jeanne Gar, Karthur Institute

PM Session: The Eldritch Tide: The Ebb & Flow & Effect Thereof of Eldritch Strength Dr. Diana Tomas, Hoffman Institute

[rationalizes]

Well, I imagine that quite depends! Where would you say your area of interest lies?

[untethered]

AM Session: Shadow Incursions Across the Centuries Dr. Astrid Kolgrim, Commission for Research into Unexplained Phenomena

PM Session: Shadow Portals & Points of Eldritch Centralization Dr. Cecilia Martin, NYU

Unless someone would be interested in attending other sessions together.

[immuno]

I'd like to know more about how the Eldritch Tide is affecting our own natural world. Scientifically speaking. History on the Shadow World and its cultures, races, and so forth wouldn't be unwelcome, either. Perhaps from someone who doesn't settle on a word like "threat" to describe us.

[bittersweeter]

And what do those mean in non-nerd speak? [ you know she means well, gar, because... you know she's kind of a nerd. ]

[pickyourbattles]

AM Session: Our Evolving Society in A Post-Shadow Incursion World Dr. Jonathan Cole, Harvard University

PM Session: Cultural Clashes & Possible Solutions to Them Reeta Crundall, The Displaced

[rationalizes]

Dr. Kolgrim's seminar should give a rather comprehensive history of how the tide has come and gone over the centuries and what influence it has had in its time here. Reeta Crundall or Dr. Allison's should offer some insight into particular Shadowkind species and cultures.

Father Crombe is a member of a very... extremist church, many of whom believe most non-humans should be enslaved to the 'rightful heirs' of this earth. I'm amazed he managed to create an academic enough piece that they allowed him in.

EDITS FOR FUCKING DAYS

[ex_psionic439]

AM Session: Psionics & Eldritch Energies.

[^ Kind of a no-brainer, and probably the reason he decided he wanted to attend at all tbh.]

PM Session: The Eldritch Tide: The Ebb & Flow & Effect Thereof of Eldritch Strength.

[immuno]

Not that amazing. People have been using science to justify bigotry for as long as there's been bigotry. I assume you've heard of "craniometry." Benjamin Rush actually managed to convince the scientific community that black people simply had leprosy, for a while. [ she shrugs. ] There are always going to be people who use the scientific method to justify their pre-conceived beliefs rather than to explore truths. What's more surprising is that some knights actually seem interested in listening to it for hours.

[ waving a hand, she moves on. ] What about the Hoffman Institute's segment on the Eldritch Tide, and the Church of Pelor? Where do they rank on the list of credible Shadowkind research?

[rationalizes]

Yes, well, er, those Knights have something of a personal stake in learning more about the man and his motives. He's connected in a way to the mission that's had us away for the past two years.

The Hoffman Institute is more ostensibly interested in developing alternative energy sources than arcane research, but from what I've heard, Diana Hoffman - daughter of the Institute's founder - is quite well versed in the subject. And I can tell you personally that the organization has its hand in artifacts of Shadow origin.

The Church of Pelor can certainly offer a great deal of insight into the nature of Shadowkind religions, but they won't be without bias. They may have less information to offer on darker deities, or misrepresent the importance of one church over another. But nothing a clear mind can't reconcile knowing as much going in.

[immuno]

None of them will be without bias.

Well. You can mark me down for Shadow Incursions Across the Centuries in the AM and The Eldritch Tide: The Ebb & Flow & Effect Thereof of Eldritch Strength for PM.

[theminotaur]

Shadow Incursions Across the Centuries and Extraplanar Threats to Human Welfare, please.

And the same thing for Will Graham. And Lemon.

[killmypatience]

Theories & Extrapolations on the Existence of a Shadow Gate for my AM session.

[Because she is very interested in Gar's research and it's good to support your colleagues.]

Do you have any recommendations for the afternoon?

[fixyourproblem]

Well, I would like to attend Shadow Incursions Across the Centuries and Extraplanar Threats to Human Welfare, please.

[beatemup]

That's it? They don't have The Impact of Shadow Assimilation to Gaming Culture or Half-orcs: Prime Example of Inter-Species Greatness? Wow, I can't imagine how full of old people it's gonna be.

[rationalizes]

Er, which did you mean?

[rationalizes]

Well, I simply meant that some will have more of an academic agenda than a religious one. I'll put you down for both.

[rationalizes]

Where would you say your area of interest lies?

[rationalizes]

It's meant to be a draw for scholars, not the elderly.

[immuno]

Thank you.

[bittersweeter]

Mostly, what is a shadow gate?

[rationalizes]

Well, it's, er, only a theory, but it's more or less a portal, that manipulates the arcane energy field with technology in order to rip open a gate between this world and... and Faerun.