Children of Gods - Drew's First task: Promotion and Wooden Staff

Summary Drew and other Acolytes are being promoted to Bishop during the Festival of Devotion but at the end things become different than typical.   Participants Essa Snow, Rajani Luminat, Drew Whitewater, Liam Santua, Xenia Monroe   Related Logs Plot: Child of Gods Tasks   IC Date December 12 1225   Date of RP Mon Jul 03 2023   Location House of God Mataya - Chapel Way - Temple District   Room Desc The House of Goddess Mataya has a domed glass roof that allows for the sky to be clearly seen. Shimmering droplet crystals on various length of chains of silver that they dangle from the domed roof at random intervals. The inside of the temple has light that is no doubt a blessing from Mataya for it never hinders the view outside the temple, no matter the time of day. However, the light is placed and designed in such a way it causes the little crystals to cast rainbows all about the temple. Draping the walls are crimson silk sheets, acting as a contrast to the white marble floors. The central point of the room has a statue of a woman that is dressed in a crimson outfit with her arms curled protectively around a sphere that has faces carved into it. Her head is tilted up and her expression shows a mix of sorrow and hope. The seating available scatters about the room, placing no specific location for the clergy of the House of God Mataya to speak their word, unsurprising since not many of them spend a lot of time speaking.

The House of Mataya has been given a more elaborate setup than usual, in preparation of the Festival of Devotion. White garlands drape along the walls and across the ceilings, prismatic crystals hang from them and caste a stunning rainbow glow about the building. Mataya has even, temporarily, removed the wall that separates the mermaids from the main area and with her divine power made it, so they swim up the walls and along the ceilings as they move about. A section has even been set up with a variety of filling, tasty foods and delightful drinks of all sorts. The extra devoted followers and all the clergy is present for this get together. The crimson robes of the clergy are even exceptionally decorated, formal even. Many clergy members across all the Gods clergies have been promoted from Acolyte to Bishop/Bishopess. However, this day is the first one for the clergy of Mataya. There are several being promoted but the focus is on Drew as they were the one Mataya put special favour on being promoted and they are the Child of a God.

Xenia, one of the older bishops of the Mataya clergy, is the one chosen to handle the promotion of the Acolytes. Five of them, including Drew. She has been given a chair, should she need it, to sit upon while doing the ceremony to promote the Acolytes. She is patiently waiting for everyone who can attend to be ready and present.

Drew has been a mix of nerves in the lead up to the festival and the accompanying elevations. On one hand pride and excitement, on the other hand the healer not entirely comfortable with the circumstance and attention. Drew remains with the other five acolytes but seems perhaps a little more nervous than most. Drew looking around the crowd absently. Drew wears new robes for the occasion but already seems to be picking at the hemming at one of the sleeves despite repeated eforts to force themselves to press their hands down at their sides.

This is a grand celebration in her Mother's House. Of *course* the Princess Rajani will be in attendance.

Being who she is, though, she didn't know of it. She was just visiting her Mother's House of her own volition as she is wont to do whenever she is under stress. And the recent test at the hands of Echo has put her in need of speaking to her Mother, even if her Mother is too busy to respond.

Sometimes you just need someone to listen.

So she, in her furtive, quiet, self-effacing way, slips into the temple to see...

Oh. Something big is happening. Maybe she should come back la... But there's Drew! A friend and in her Mother's service! It can't hurt to go talk to him for a bit, right?

"Hello there," Rajani's voice says as she slips up behind Drew. "Remember me?"

Liam comes slipping into the temple perhaps he knew about the gathering, his blue eyes look around watching the mermaids as they swim about. The crystals giving off the glow of the rainbow. Did he just smile? Maybe but its a quick thing as he looks to Essa then around. "Do you see Drew?" he asks her, there are so many gathered that he is trying to find the one he has come to see.

THe little servant is not a surprising figure at the side of the prince. Where he goes, Essa is most likely to be there as well. At the question she indicates Drew, "OVer there, your highness. They seem concerned. Should we approach or find a spot to sit until after and they have had time to calm down?"

Drew glances up and over at Rajani and smiles, "Of course, Highness. You are memorable for no small number of reasons." Drew's tone is wry before adding, "Particularly those who are willing to sacrifice to protect others." Drew seems distinctly a little relieved to have the distraction of someone approaching. Though from Drew's glances around their relief at speaking with someone might be wary of the alternatively attention it might draw with just who is approaching. There's a pause and then a belated suspicoun, "You're here just to observe right

?"

Each person gets the appropriate bow and greeting from the elderly bishopess. "Welcome." she says, her voice soft and sweet but carries across the room easily. Either someone has used amplifying magic on her or she just has that kind of voice. "As you all know, it is the festival of devotion (+news holidays for reference). We decided to let others do their thing before we held one of our own to promote some of our Acolytes." When that is said Xenia goes quiet once more, letting Drew and the other Acolytes being promoted socialize with people so their nerves can be eased a little. Subtle sensations of both Masquerade and Mataya can be felt in the temple but nothing pronounced, for now.

Liam hmms, "I do not know, what do you think?" he looks back to Essa a small smile, he continues to move through the temple his blue eyes looking over in Drew's direction. "He does look good in his new robes, he looks so nervous." he sighs bitting his bottom lip and looks back to Essa.

"Observe what?" The clueless princess blurts that out before blinking and looking around. "Oh!" She laughs a hearty and completely false laugh. "Oh, of course. I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

Her eyes desperately look over the scene and she makes a guess.

"Who are you marrying?"

A bad guess. Confirmed as a TERRIBLE guess when Xenia states the purpose of the gathering.

Oh.

Another false laugh. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be joking on such a solemn occasion."

"It seems that visiting is welcome, my Prince. Drew seems like they need someone to help calm them down. IF you so wish, we can go over and attempt to encourage them." Essa tilts her head back to look up at Liam for his response. It is here she also adds, "Princess Rajani is speaking with Drew as well."

Liam nods his head looking ahhh, "Ahh yes, let us go visit them and speak." he starts in that direction, moving closer he greets the Princess, "Your Highness." he bows his head then he looks to Drew and smiles. "Drew." his blue eyes fall on them, looking them over in their new robes.

Drew glances up and over at Liam and smiles again warmly, "Hello Your Highness. I'm glad that you could make it." They offer warmly looking to them and then smiling to Essa as well. Rajani gets a dubious look. "You're teasing me?" They ask seeming concerned and confused but then waving a hand at the apology. "It's fine... It's. I think more pomp than Mataya might find necessary but it's for the people here as much as anything,"

The look of contrition is genuine, even if the grounds for it are not what they might seem. "I've never known Mother to care much for pomp and ceremony," she says, "but of course my own relationship with her isn't the usual one, so I really have no way of judging. It's much as ... father ..." The word sits uncomfortably still, it seems. "... doesn't demand the full honorifics and courtesies from me or from my stepmother-in-love that he would demand of courtiers."

Her eyes stray, then, to Drew's robes. "You dress in nicer finery here than in the woods," she adds, once again missing the point of this ceremony. "I like this. It looks good on you."

Liam looks over the new robes and hmmms, "I don't know, I kind of like the other ones." he returns the smile back to Drew, "I would not miss it my friend." he smiles and looks to Essa, "My shadow has come along as well." he looks to his servant with a smirk.

"Acolyte Drew, congratulations." says Essa quietly to them. A small face is made at Liam at his teasing of her. However, that is what she is. Most of her life was spent tending to whatever Liam asked her too. She was one of the trusted people to take care of him after all. To Rajani Essa dips into a curtsy, "Hello, your highness."

Drew smiles at Rajani, "No she generally doesn't care for that. But it's important to some people." He chuckles, "We all have our little roles to play." Drew admits and chuckles, "Well yes I thought my 'active' robes might not be the thing to wear for such an occasion." They admits and then look to Liam and flushes faintly, "Well I'm sure I'll return to them quick as I can." Drew smiles to Essa, "Far more than a shadow I think." Drew offers looking between the two before offering to Liam, "It's all a bit much isn't it?"

"King Jaden cares more for the comfort of his family than forcing them into something." offers the elderly Bishop to Rajani. She's clearly old enough to have been around since the King was young. That is her only input to the conversation. To the first five Acolytes she moves, not stopping any of them from socializing. At each one she murmurs a prayer of "Goddess Mataya bless this young Acloyte as <appropriate gender for each one> they start on the next leg of their journey as a member of your clergy." After the brief prayer she steps to the side and draws each Acloyte forward, pressing a crystal into their hand, "Upon shattering this crystal you will become a Bishop of our Goddess. The shattering of the crystals is a form of your rebirth as a Bishop of the Goddess Mataya." As each person shatters their crystal Xenia introduces them to the people as 'Bishop' or 'Bishopess' coupled with their name of Mataya. This is clearly Xenia's style of doing the ceremony, as the other bishops and bishopesses make comments that clearly indicate they do theirs different. Finally she approaches Drew, head tilting in question to if they are ready. The room starts to brighten and the scent of lavender spreads. The presence of MAtaya and MAsquerade are now fully felt. As crystals forms to create a path for Mataya and the silhouette that makes up Masquerade to approach the first five former Acolytes. Masquerade holds the arm of Mataya who is looking considerably weak and faded, as if slowly disappearing. It doesn't stop the Goddess from granting each of her new Bishops and bishopnesses a small gift. Once done the two Gods move to stand back to watch Drew face their 'promotion.'

Liam nods his head, "I do believe it is Drew, I will agree." he looks back at Essa as she gives him a face and he chuckles, he can't help it. He smirks though when Drew flushes at his comment about his robes, his eyes look to Xeia as she speaks. He takes a step back as he watches her listening looking between her and Drew, his head tilting slightly.

"I only take care of his highness. I am sure I will be replaced in those duties when he finds a Consort, Spouse, or both." Essa doesn't seem to believe she is one of those possibilities. Whenn Liam laughs Essa smiles at him, "Always teasing me, your highness." She doesn't, so far, get too flustered by Liam teasing her. It hs been a life time, after all.

Mataya's weak and faded look brings a gasp, quickly suppressed, to Rajani's lips. "Mother!"

She takes a step forward, then falters, just not knowing how to behave, to react, when there is public witnessing. Should she run to her mother and express concern? Should she keep calm and collected; be the epitome of noble bearing and stolidity as a comfort to the people? She's torn with indecision and is instead left there, mouth half-open, step half-taken, arm half-extended, then frozen like a statue as her brain races to try and figure out how she should react.

Liam blinks as he looks over as Mataya and Masquerade appear and come down to the Acolytes, he moves to step back further pulling Essa back with him and leaning to whisper into her ear. His eyes flicker to Rajani then to the Goddess, concern flickering in his eyes.

Drew watches the others step forward giving polite clapping and smiling at each breaking of the crystal. There's a nod to Xenia as they approach and then Drew blinks. There's a faint shift and a tensing at the arrivals. Drew's features look concerned and worried considering Mataya and then Masquerade. Drew's intake of breath is obvious from those near. Drew's fingers clutch around the crystal. Drew's attention is drawn to Rajani for a moment breaking from Mataya and Masquerade. Drew offers to Rajani quietly, "Concern and a desire to help others isn't something that one should ever be ashamed of in this house." Drew says softly and then the Acolyte considers the two gods again. Drew looks at the crystal int heir hand and then moves to shatter it pressing it and then letting it crack. Drew inclines their head to Masquerade at their support of Mataya and then Drew's features with furrowed brows look at the two divinities, "This seems to be a sign of more work needed to be done." Drew drawing themselves taller with a clearer focus on their features the earlier uncertainty clearly pressed down in the face of the worrisome sight.

Xenia seeing Rajani's reaction, "Keep your noble bearing, your highness." she says quietly to her, "IF you become frantic the people will too as they look to royalty to how they should react. Be concerned for your mother but wait until everything has finished and many depart before fully showing your concern fully. You are considered a leader of the people now." Given Xenia's age she was likely there when Jaden sent Rajani off with her adopted father and mother. Xenia may have years of experience in her but even as she hides it the panic at MAtaya's state can be felt coming off her as she speaks softly to the princess. As Liam seems to 'keep calm' from her position Xenia does not try to guide him as she did the princess. Being the Child of petty and arrogant Larthin can be a blessing in some situations. She quickly does Drew's prayer and presenting after they shatter their crystal. To everyone in the House she turns and smiles saying, "We now have officially promoted all our Acolytes that were ready to be. Drink, be merry, and enjoy the provided food. Several members of the clergy as skilled musicians and have prepared music for this grand evening." Just as Xenia says her last words the room seems to freeze, save for Rajani, Essa, Liam, and Drew. Even Xenis is frozen. The Gods are not, of course. It is clear neither of them did the freezing. From behind Xenia's leg a little Drew pops and moves to Drew, smiling up, "I was told it was time for me to arrive."

Drew doesn't add more at Xenia's response to Rajani but still Drew seems to offer quiet calm. Drew seems though in general to be more concerned with the cause than the appearances. There's a reason Drew for all their skill is only now rising to Bishop. There's a blink then and a tilt. Drew considers the miniature version of them in the smaller robes. There's a look from Xenia to the minieature, "Oh? And just who are you?" Drew says neutrally watching quietly glancing around, "It certainly seems an odd time for you to be arriving."

Liam brow raises at something Essa says in return in a soft whisper, his eyes look to Rajani then around as everything seems to stop. He moves to gently slide Essa behind him as he looks around then his eyes fall down to the Mini Drew and his lips turn into thin lines and he watches, he does not panic but he is also not all that pleased.

Rajani pulls herself together at Xenia's advice, the latter getting a look of INTENSE thanks and relief as her brain has something to link to. She straightens herself out, puts her face into a semblance of calm, but her eyes are filled still with concern. (By good fortune this is the perfect blend: calm concern.) She would have been perfect, the model princess, with that advice, only to ... have it all rendered useless by chicanery.

And her temper snaps.

"Echo! Enough of your nonsense!" she shouts to the room around her as she notices almost all people freezing, including her newfound advisor, Xenia.

"I'm tired of your interference!"

Something personal seems to be going on here. And probably some misinterpretation.

"Show yourself or I will make you disappear forever!"

Ooh. Threatening a god. Probably not wise.

To MAsquerade the sprite-Drew glances then back to Drew, "I am you, you are me." IF Drew had asked (feel free to assume you have my NPCs if it is a thing Drew would do, I can not speak for characters not mine) any of the Children who have obtained their sacred objects would have noted that all of the were told 'I am you, you are me' or similar such phrases. "Is it truly an odd time? It is a pivotal moment in your life. On some level you must have wanted me to appear or perhaps it is the blood of your parent that decided for you. It always worries for you." Masquerade is the only God referred to as 'it', given it is basically just a shadow that takes a human shape, in their Godly form. "Have you any idea of why I would appear at such a moment for you?" Liam's reaction draws little Drew's focus first, "I am not you and you are not me. What Drew faces with me will not be the same as what you faced." OVer to Rajani the small sprite darts, patting the top of her foot soothingly, "IT is not who you think. I am doing it. Drew will not be able too but you could say it is the blood of Masquerade that allows me to for this moment to help Drew get what they need. Do not worry. I am sorry to do this to you. I can feel you had a difficult life." Back to bigger DRew the little Sprite darks looking up at them as they continue to wait for a response.

darks=darts

Essa draws a bit closer to Liam as he pulls her back. Except tales, if he told her, she doesn't really know what he faced when he got his sacred item so she doesn't really get how much danger she was in. Her hands do move to rest against his back, rubbing a little in a soothing gesture when she sees his less than pleased expression at the sight of the mini-Drew.

Drew purses their lips flicking a glance to Rajani at the response. Drew urges again lightly, "And I thought I had bad reactions to interference." He says lightly, "Easy." The healer says softly glancing to Liam and Issa a moment to see how they are handling. Drew shakes their head a moment and then squares their shoulders before crouching a little towards the smaller shaped reflection. Drew offers simply to mini-them, "Is it truly that pivotal? The pivotal moments came before, in a hundred little choices, and small decisions, to be who am I. This moment." Drew gestures around, "Is just the theater to show it." Drew lets out a quiet sigh, "But I suppose this is just what that is, isn't it? Another test to meet, and another step to take on the path." Drew bends forward and tries to ruffle the mini-them's hair, "You better not have troubled any of the rest." They say gesturing at those frozen.

Rajani is ... slightly mollified by the little Drew's response. Bringing in the name Masquerade softens the blow and her eyes flick to her mother and the other god.

"OK, then," she says, looking at Drew with worry, then at Liam, before her eyes fall on her mother again. And that's when she realizes. She doesn't have to act.

"Mother!" she says, again, finally, and this time there's no hesitation. She goes straight to Matraya, though she restrains herself from throwing her arms around the goddess. "What has happened to you?"

Liam breaths deeply as he watches the small Imp, "Its here to grant you, your sacred item Drew. The Sprite is going to test you.." his fall on the small thing and continues to keep himself and the Sprite away from Essa.

"If the power to freeze peoples stems from Masquerade do you really believe it would involve troubling them?" The sprite pauses, "It also stems from you, partially. Would you do such a thing in a way that troubles them? As I said, I am you, you are me." The mini-Drew paces a little before Drew then bounces up to plop on Drew's shoulder, "You do not have even an inkling of what I am to you?" At Liam's words the sprite says, playfully, "You are spilling secrets, Prince of Santua. What Drew faces will not be what you did, though." Nothing mini-Drew has done so far has indicated any sort of danger for anyone.

When Rajani approaches Mataya and hugs her the Goddess smiles and curves her arm not being held by Masquerade around her. It is no surprise that she doesn't speak but Masquerade does. "Resurrecting the mortals all those years ago extracted a price." says the Seventh God, "Such a tremendous amount of power, even for a God, takes a price. Ossian has been sharing his powers with her all these years but now struggles too" Not even the very first Child that was created then became a God is completely forth coming with all the details. "There is a way to save her. As you might expect, it comes at a price." Anything mortals do that could be tied to magic comes with a cost.

Drew looks from Sprite to Liam. Drew frowns, "Troubling? Yes... I don't find that Masquerade is that upset by troubling people to reveal who and what they are." Drew sighs, "But no I wouldn't at least not without great need. I've been made to realize that what I'm willing to do is more than what I once thought." There's a blinks as there is now a Drew on their shoulders, "Wha...ah. Hmmm. Mischief is what you are." Drew glances up twisting and reaches up trying to lift their mini-version with their arms. Drew sighs though then looking to Masquerade and Mataya and then to Rajani, "Of course, with a cost. That is the nature of things. But that is in part what we are here to do, to help pay the cost, and bury the burden?"

Liam looks to Rajani, "We can speak after this your highness." he watches the Princess then looks to Drew and his mini-self, he seems like he is about to say something but decides not to as he looks to Drew then back, his nose wrinkling.

"Any price." Rajani is adamant. "You brought me life. My life is yours to ask. What do you need of me, Mother?"

There's a hint of darkness in her voice and in her soul with the next words.

"What must disappear?"

A question she places so much weight upon, yet only a very few know what she's implying among those present.

She turns to Masquerade. "She won't tell me what I need to know; I think she fears what it might do to me. So what is it I must do to save her?"

She looks across at Drew and the mini-Drew on his shoulders. She then strays her eyes toward Liam.

"Is this a burden which can be shared?"

"All you do is in the name of helping. You are also a part of Mataya's clergy. Sometimes a person needs to be hurt to become who they are to be." Drew must have met whatever conditions the sprite had for them as the little being starts to glow a brilliant lavender hue and shift forms into a wooden staff that has lavenders carved onto it (look drew's staff should show it to you if drew doesn't want drop it in case of forgetting), "It is when you doubt what you do that you lose what you are meant to do." are the last words of the sprite turned staff. It is fully the staff once Drew tries to 'lift' sprite, making the staff what Drew lifts instead. The unfreezing of the others is slow, giving Rajani plenty of time to compose herself. Even as its magic 'ends' the sprite shows no ill intents.

"The Child who needs to pay the price will pay a heavy one." says Masquerade and the face of Mataya saddens. The sorrows falls off the Goddess in waves, hitting everyone in the feels hard enough that it could push them to tears. Everyone in the House of Mataya gets visions from the Goddess, unintentionally, that shows Ozymandias, Rajani, and Ossian completely distraught and Attia holding a crystal that is slowly turning to dust. The vision changes again with everyone content except Mataya. From this vision Ozymandias is no where to be found. The third vision, that is clear, is of Ozymandias ascended into a God and all Eight Gods present and happy along with him. The visions after this are rapid and less clear but they al involve Mataya's three children in some way. It would not be amiss to know that these are possible futures.

Drew considers their mini-doppleganger-turned-staff. Drew just slowly stares at it uncertain what to make of it. Drew takes a deep breath perhaps of the lavender and murmurs quietly difficult no doubt to hear except for Liam, Essa, and Rajani so near, "The time for doubts is past now." Drew looks then to Mataya and Masquerade. Drew's eyes widen then as the vision starts and slowly they pull their new staff towards their chest uncertain and a starker line of worry adding to their features.

The emotions hit Liam like a wall, he gasps and takes a step back. He maybe a prideful man and can even be a dick but it does not mean he has no feelings. His eyes widen then the visions, he turns to Essa the look on his face says it all, he doesn't have to say a word to her. His fingers tighten on her as his breathing is shaky as he looks away from everyone except Essa.

The servant was also hit with Mataya's visions and feels but the reactions she was having are pushed aside in favor of 'protecting' her prince. As he looks to her she lifts her hands to place them on his face to hide it from others, no doubt her way of helping him keep his pride even if it is being damned by a God. Not many can easily withstand being hit by Mataya's powers and likely the only reason Essa is holding her own because her everything prioritizes Liam.

Princess or no. Xenia's bolstering or no. The images coming down at everybody take Rajani to a knee, tears streaming down her face. For once her unfamiliar pitch black demeanour may stand her well in that it's hard for those unfamiliar with it to work out exactly what expression is on it, so the twisting of grief is not as visible. Thus, those seeking strength from the nobles present, might see in her a respectful kneel to her Mother, not a little girl collapsing in dread and grief.

Xenia's words ring in her ears as she does this and thus it is that Rajani forces herself into submission to duty. People need her. She can find a quiet time to cry later. Slowly she comes to her feet, and with a surreptitious wipe of her sleeve she dries her face enough that, again, those unfamiliar with it will not spot the telltale signs of tears.

"We will, every one of us," she says in a calm voice that belies her inner turmoil and screaming fear, "work toward the best end."

With a strength of spine that she's not feeling inside she faces the attendees who are now beginning to feel that thrill of terror, trying her best to cut through that with regal calm and, perversely, in that act, she gives herself some of it.

"In the name of my Mother and my father I swear this."

Maybe she has a future in politics after all?

Liam looks at no one but at Essa's face he has to, he needs to. Focus Liam, breath Liam! he tells himself but the raw emotions and images shake him. Feeling her hands come up to cover his face he closes his eyes tears blink from his eyes to trail down his cheeks to only hopefully be seen by Essa, he stands there quiet, still not moving focus and he won't fall apart in front of everyone, that

For those that were frozen it is like no time has passed. Perhaps no time passed was during the frozen period. Mini-Drew never clarified that part. The intense hit of power is what summons a particular God that always shows up when Mataya in Crisis. Ossian's spectral white stag stampede that announces his arrival happen and amongst them he walks, rapidly approaching Masquerade and Mataya. At his Goddess he silently looks then shifts his gaze to the sorrowful room. He might not be very compassionate to anything but Mataya, his animals, his children, or his creatures but even he can feel it for mortals. He looks upwards a moment, as if talking to someone telepathically, before the feel of Attia spreads across the House of Mataya and the feelings Mataya unintentionally ease up and slowly become a memory over something intensely hitting them. He touches Rajani's head a moment, gracing her with a smile, before he picks up Mataya and carries her off, stags and crystals following the two to announce their departure.

Masquerade doesn't yet leave. It "I am sorry. I did not sense her feelings quick enough to shield you all from her blast of power. I am not the most skilled in emotions, that is where Attia and Mataya excel. I have no doubt you all will find a way to save her. You are the mortals she loves and many of you our Children." It moves to Drew and dips its head to place its shadowy lips on top of their head. "I am happy to see you promoted, my Child. IT is no less than what you deserve." It lowers its hand to lifts their hand and place its over over top of it before taking both away. Around Drew's wrist is a stunning lavender made from some sort of lavender hued metal bracelet that is a braided lavender flower chain that are accented by crimson rubies. There is nothing about the bracelet that indicates it has power, just that it is a divinely created gift from parent to child (as usual, if you want it made into an object let me know).

The servant doesn't move she simply continues to keep his face hidden from everyone else with her hands until he is ready. As Attia's powers sweep over her, tears finally start to fall from her eyes. It wasn't that she was immune to the hit of MAtaya's power, it was her will to support Liam that kept her under control. Now the Prince can keep his control by being distracted about sorting Essa out.

Drew trembles slightly at the visions coming by taking slow deep breaths. There's a look towards Rajani as those words come out. Drew's brows knit together in concern but there isn't a word for what they want to convey. Drew looks visibly relieved as Ossian arrives to take Mataya. Their gaze remaining worried at MAtaya's state. Drew bows their head to Masquerade but doesn't seem to have the same level of regard. Drew murmurs a soft, "Thank you." Drew says patting the bracelet it seems a day for gifts, even if some of the gifts being knowledge that might haunt them in times to come. Drew looks to those effected but looks out to the others, "Perhaps we s hould let everyone get to the revelry and the celebration...." They suggest perhaps trying to move things along to take the attention away from the clearly rattled royals. Drew's own equilibrium maintained like the iron grip they keep on the apparently suddenly drawn staff.

THere is some confusion from the people at the feels they were hit with. They don't know what caused it but they know something happened. Xenia too is a bit baffled but she hears Drew's words an she encourages, "Everyone, enjoy the festivities. We are still here to celebrate the promotions." It seems the night will be devoted to celebrating.

Maquerade left far more subtly than the other two Gods. So its departure might have gone missed.

Liam smiles at Essa leaning in to whisper something to her, when her hands comes down his move to clear the tears from her cheeks. "They are right, let us take part in the celebration. We have time later to reflect on things."