Nine Swords

Conlan's head titled to the side listening to the voices. He sat forward sure he recognized the last speaker. Without hesitation he removed the blindfold, his head faced in Maxime's direction. A small smile formed on his face and then looked around the room recognizing some of the old guard.

"Oh hell. This is gon'be fun."

He said with a grin.

Jack leaned back quietly in his chair and made no move to remove his blindfold. He recognized voices of the old guard around him, but that wasn't nearly enough to convince him that this would in any way be a good idea.

It would take something very compelling for him to agree to this, if nothing else he would hear it out and make his decision at the very end.

How do you like your surroundings?

The speaker looked at each of the people without their blindfolds and they in turn looked around the room and nodded in what appeared to be a silent approval.

The room you are sitting in now is located within the library and archive area within your future cabal headquarters. As you can see, there is access over there via the two sets of double French doors. Those doors lead into the main seating area within the library.

Here within this room is access to the next level of this building. Straight across from these doors on the other side of the seating area is an almost perfectly engineered coffee machine, certainly high standard and protected against any unlawful attempts to animate it. Overall, the library and archive area covers 400 square meters of floor space; certainly vast, though an ongoing task to keep updated and potentially impossible to complete when considering the new threats that have been emerging as of late.

Therefore, as a secondary point regarding the “limits of freedom” and our expectations – one thing we would like to encourage within the growth of this cabal is the maintenance and updating of this resource. We will not tolerate this resource falling to waste.

Conlan grunted and leaned forward in his chair reaching in his coat pocket.

"When do you ever tolerate waste?" He asked with a wry smirk. He produces a silver flask in which he unscrews with a flick of his thumb, and takes a sip.

"So... the coffee machine is off limits in terms of animation?"

"A place of productivity... I hope this doesn't turn into a grind mill without any margin to maneuver... As for chaos, I might bring some, but never meant to be detrimental. Change may bring chaos, but if the end result is worth it, I'll go that path." she thought to herself upon hearing the speaker.

There were still several blindfolds to be removed. For a moment, Maxime wondered how many would remove them and how many would choose to leave. The speaker continued, as if reading her thoughts.

"Now it is time, for those of you who do not wish to stay and pledge yourself to the Templars leave your blindfolds in place. Those who wish to form together with the people sitting around this table - please remove your blindfolds now."

Maxime started to slowly move her glance around the table, her breath lightening. "Who else will stand with us?..." she whispered to herself.

Victoria Ravynswind was already pledged to the Templars. She had been since birth. She was just the newest generation in a a family that had centuries in the organization. Knowing she could blaze her own trail, do something different than her family struck something deep within her. The vibration from that inner blow, ran through her body and up her arm. Her hands moved almost without her brain having time to catch up, and without another thought, Victoria Ravynswind removed the piece of cloth obscuring her vision from a future she'd never thought possible. With the light of the room, came the unbinding of the chains that locked her firmly to her family's expectations. She studied the room, a passion blazing in her eyes.

Maxime turned her head to where her eye caught a movement, lips silently forming "Welcome" and bowing her head in acknowledgement at the woman known as Victoria Ravynswind.

Corenna sat with her blindfold on, breathing quickly, heart racing. She had no idea why she was here, and why she would have been chosen. She was scared, suspicious of the motivations of the speakers. She took a deep breath. As nervous as she was, this was the best opportunity she would have to start a new life with the Templars. By diving head in, they would know her loyalty was true, despite her previous life.

With a quick motion, so as she would not hesitate and change her mind, she pulled off the blindfold. "I am ready to fight the darkness with you."

"You will not be standing alone to face it, and so, neither will we. Welcome." With a smile both warm and resolute, Maxime gave a nod to the woman who had just spoken. She seemed fierce enough, but Maxime could tell by the body language that the woman was not at ease.