The Pythia (508th)

Ancient Ruler of Gallifrey. (will tell future in exchange for allegiance and/or power)

[gracefelldownaflightofstairs]

I should be allowed to fight Rassilon in a Walmart parking lot

[tecteunssillyhat]

Can't have a record of drunk driving my spaceship if I help Rassilon overthrow the Pythia #fuckthegovernment

[i-am-gallifrey]

Some days, I wonder why I even need confessors. Some hardened criminals are so arrogant that they boast about their foul deeds for all to see.

[quel-of-the-chancellery-guard]

Oh hey look Quel regenerated...

Aw... I kinda liked her previous body

That's rude Rhiash, she fell in the line of duty, we should be praising her...

Plus I rather like her new body, its dignified, respectable. She should be proud of it.

*nods to the people gossiping as she walks by but otherwise ignores them*

[the-queen-of-the-carnival]

Hi it is mean the Carnival!

You know fun times and all that Jazz!!!!

Anyway don’t you think everything seems kind of Irrational?

[quel-of-the-chancellery-guard]

It does seem that way sometimes...

[coordinatorofthecia]

No! Everything’s perfectly rational here. Say it, Quel. Now.

[quel-of-the-chancellery-guard]

What?

[matrix-lord-101ita]

Say everything is rational, or the Carnival Queen will unwind the web of time

[quel-of-the-chancellery-guard]

😳

Sorry, I was just being existentialist... Ummm, of course everything is perfectly rational!

[coordinatorofthecia]

Thank you.

[i-am-gallifrey]

But must things be rational?

[arvoraxroperventeri]

So…there’s a dictatorship on Gallifrey, a possible Civil War, multiple bizarre murder ritual…things, whatever happened with Justine and poor Eliza and poor, poor Lilith…and on top of that one of my best friends is hypnotised and I’m on the run AGAIN and my Coordinator is still yet to get in touch with me - anything I am missing?!?!

[i-am-gallifrey]

Not that I know of. Although, I had not known of most of those events. News rarely filters through to my little cavern above the abomination of an afterlife you call the Matrix.

[matrix-lord-101ita]

Mum is not an abomination!

[i-am-gallifrey]

The timeship birthing cradles may not be but mere technology being able to capture and store the souls of the dead is practically blasphemous.

[arvoraxroperventeri]

So…there’s a dictatorship on Gallifrey, a possible Civil War, multiple bizarre murder ritual…things, whatever happened with Justine and poor Eliza and poor, poor Lilith…and on top of that one of my best friends is hypnotised and I’m on the run AGAIN and my Coordinator is still yet to get in touch with me - anything I am missing?!?!

[i-am-gallifrey]

Not that I know of. Although, I had not known of most of those events. News rarely filters through to my little cavern above the abomination of an afterlife you call the Matrix.

[i-am-gallifrey]

*nibbles upon the contents of a bowl of fish tongues*

Is something going on up on the surface? No, nothing to be concerned about for the moment...

[liviacaralis]

Come on Livia. Roasted dinosaur. It'll be a delicacy I assure you.

And you're the president, you won't even have to catch it. It'll come willingly. Then we'll spear it and spitroast it.

Old fashioned Earth cooking method, always been meaning to try something like... why is it dark all of a sudden, is that an arm... wait no don't don't eat me no no Livia send held there's a shadow its...

*Static*

Oh no! Anyway,

*She quickly deletes their prior correspondence and turns off her datapad.*

[matrix-lord-101ita]

Clever clever, Livia.

And quite a ruthless move, I respect that.

[unbound-romana]

Livia… what was that?

[liviacaralis]

Nothing you need to worry about.

[unbound-romana]

I think that means I do.

[liviacaralis]

I'm pruning the weeds, Romana.

[unbound-romana]

If that means what I think it means…

[liviacaralis]

I did say heads will roll, or heads will hang ... at the time, and while I'd hardly be so cruel as to commit to mass executions, a stripping of rank and title leading into impotence seems quite fitting.

[i-am-gallifrey]

I approve. Although in my time such a measure would typically be accompanied by a stint in the gladiatorial arenas, should the crime be especially heretical.

[justine-of-faction-paradox]

*blows up a small mountain.*

[i-am-gallifrey]

I would suggest aiming at that one over there. It may unearth my temple. I offer my condolences for your fractured marriage.

[justine-of-faction-paradox]

Become harlot before I render you unto rubble!!!!!

[i-am-gallifrey]

*scurries away* In my day, none would have dared to speak to me like that. Things must change soon...

[justine-of-faction-paradox]

*blows up a small mountain.*

[i-am-gallifrey]

I would suggest aiming at that one over there. It may unearth my temple. I offer my condolences for your fractured marriage.

[elizacousins]

The Parliament Chapel of the Citadel buzzes with a quiet activity, like the murmur of the High Council in the Panopticon only this time filled with murmurs of gossip and the telepathic buzz of rumourmongers, instead of political deals being negotiated off the record.

The crowd is there to see a spectacle, a scandal, a wedding, and not even one arranged to ensure an alliance between Houses. The skull-faced contingent of House Paradox, the only group seeming to take the ceremony seriously (insofar they take anything seriously) is given plenty of space by the members of the other Houses, like a spot of black mold growing in the social circles of society.

As for those directly involved, Eliza is perched on the edge of a seat in a small side chamber. Wedding nerves were something she never expected to have (then again, she'd never thought of marriage at all before the last week or so), but anything got to be serious when it would end up as the gossip of choice in high society for the next month.

@justine-of-faction-paradox @liviacaralis @ everyone else who's coming

[matrix-lord-101ita]

Hey Eliza, nice night?

[elizacousins]

All this preparation, and now I kind of just want it to be over.

Justine was right. We did get a lot of people to show up. Probably for the scandal of it all, but whatever.

[matrix-lord-101ita]

Well, I'm here for you at least.

I... forgot what my position was... weddings are a human thing.

But it was something important.

[elizacousins]

Maid of honour, best man, whatever you want to say it is.

No, I don't have any idea what they actually do, but it's part of the ritual, I guess.

[matrix-lord-101ita]

Well, here I am, maid of honour Lilith.

I hope Justine doesn't mind

[elizacousins]

Yeah... she does kind of hate you.

[matrix-lord-101ita]

I'm sure she'd love what's become of the other me but unfortunately there are vampires involved and she hates them too

[elizacousins]

That's Justine for you.

[justine-of-faction-paradox]

a a crack of lightning and the rumble of thunder, the doors to the Chapel burst open. And their stands Justine, clothed in a black velvet dress, great billows and black cloth billow in the air around her reach ing up to the roof, a great tail made of bone and swathed in thin crimson vellum is carried behind as are more billowing sheets a black silk. The tail climbs up her back surrounding her chest in a cage of bone, bone covers her legs and one arm, up her neck the bone climbs before spreading open like a parody of the Houses collar but where it should dip in it bends over ending in a serpents skull is mouth agape surrounding her head, the maw filled with a black vail. On the right side of her chest is placed a scarlet apple, beating in time with the heart hidden inside left of her chest.

She walks down the aisle clam and silent somber as at a funeral yet around her many strength shadows and beats frolic and revel.

As she reaches the alter, the dancer, the beats and a bearers fade in to shadow. And Justine turns to face @liviacaralis who will carry out the ceremony.

She is completely silent. Ignoring Lolita.

[elizacousins]

Eliza peeks out of the side room.

You know, I feel just a bit underdressed in comparison.

She dons her mask when the sounds of Justine's arrival fade and emerges, in many-layered black robes adorned with bones and bone-white trim, following in Justine's footsteps to stand alongside her.

[justine-of-faction-paradox]

I said dramatic didn’t I

[elizacousins]

Actually you said "shocking." Just didn't realize it was going to shock me too.

[justine-of-faction-paradox]

Why thank you. The specifically is deeply important.

Now then @liviacaralis we are ready to be wed.

[godfather-morlock]

*pops head round door, beaming broadly*

Hello! I do hope I'm not late.

[elizacousins]

Wait, do you count as the father (godfather?) of the bride? Brides?

[godfather-morlock]

I can if you want to...

[i-am-gallifrey]

If you would prefer a more dignified presence, I am familiar with Gallifreyan wedding traditions. Other ancient and glorious Pythias codified many of the rules and positions to convey societal standing. (Not that you seem to be following them)

[coordinatorofthecia]

Are there any more catastrophes that have happened and I have missed?

Other than the Low Town disappearances? Eliza and Justine plan to marry, Daybreak killed an alleged vampire, and the Lord President holds the CIA in such contempt as ever.

[i-am-gallifrey]

In my day, such disruption would be easily resolved. But then again, there was no such thing as the elusive creature known as bureaucracy. I possessed ultimate power over Gallifrey and its citizens and used it wisely. (If we exclude my last decree which I accept may have been a slight overreaction)

[yanistriterquyzhonosorkyquiana]

Your last decree being...?

You are the Pythia right, the great tyrannical matriarch of Gallifrey before the oh so brave and noble Rassilon swept you away? By the Great Skyclaw I hate that guy

[i-am-gallifrey]

You would not be the first to detest Rassilon. (I would, he stole my comb) My last decree was that upon my death, so too would Gallifrey wither. Its mothers' wombs would bear no children (though I hear you are an exception to that) and the planet would live a slow ageless death, only to come to nothing in its own dust. It would founder upon the shores of that false concept known as reason. Certain aspects of this prophecy have been fulfilled while others have not been. And they may never need to be.

[yanistriterquyzhonosorkyquiana]

Yes I was rather curious why I was an exception, why Daybreak hatched.

Why us and no one else for ten million years?

[i-am-gallifrey]

The whims of the Menti Celestis are impossible to know. But if I were to speculate, it would be due to your unusual form. The gods may have chosen to grant you a child to ameliorate the knowledge you are no longer cast in their image and thus incapable of dwelling with us in their halls once your life ends.

[coordinatorofthecia]

Are there any more catastrophes that have happened and I have missed?

Other than the Low Town disappearances? Eliza and Justine plan to marry, Daybreak killed an alleged vampire, and the Lord President holds the CIA in such contempt as ever.

[i-am-gallifrey]

In my day, such disruption would be easily resolved. But then again, there was no such thing as the elusive creature known as bureaucracy. I possessed ultimate power over Gallifrey and its citizens and used it wisely. (If we exclude my last decree which I accept may have been a slight overreaction)

[yanistriterquyzhonosorkyquiana]

Your last decree being...?

You are the Pythia right, the great tyrannical matriarch of Gallifrey before the oh so brave and noble Rassilon swept you away? By the Great Skyclaw I hate that guy

[i-am-gallifrey]

You would not be the first to detest Rassilon. (I would, he stole my comb) My last decree was that upon my death, so too would Gallifrey wither. Its mothers' wombs would bear no children (though I hear you are an exception to that) and the planet would live a slow ageless death, only to come to nothing in its own dust. It would founder upon the shores of that false concept known as reason. Certain aspects of this prophecy have been fulfilled while others have not been. And they may never need to be.

[coordinatorofthecia]

Are there any more catastrophes that have happened and I have missed?

Other than the Low Town disappearances? Eliza and Justine plan to marry, Daybreak killed an alleged vampire, and the Lord President holds the CIA in such contempt as ever.

[i-am-gallifrey]

In my day, such disruption would be easily resolved. But then again, there was no such thing as the elusive creature known as bureaucracy. I possessed ultimate power over Gallifrey and its citizens and used it wisely. (If we exclude my last decree which I accept may have been a slight overreaction)

[cwej-v]

@coordinatorofthecia uhh, the Irrationality field is spiking.

As representative from the true Gallifrey, I would suggest you do something about this, you mouthy real be real but the if this unleashed Cacophony on reality I could spread to the real Gallifrey and who’s knows what will happen then.

[coordinatorofthecia]

I- I should inform the President @liviacaralis.

[liviacaralis]

Could this be the cause of the riots?

[coordinatorofthecia]

A manifestation of chaos? I don’t see how.

[cwej-v]

Are you familiar with the seizure President Romana had on her first day in office? 

[coordinatorofthecia]

Is that relevant? The former President’s health is her own business.

[cwej-v]

It most certainly is relevant.

Because do you know what caused said seizure?

[coordinatorofthecia]

The same thing you’ve said caused everything, no matter how unlikely?

[cwej-v]

In this case I know exactly what caused it.

After all I was the one who inadvertently unleashed the thing which did it.

And this thing has a name, or at least a title.

That being,

The Carnival Queen.

The Cacophony.

A spike like this must come from her, or something large and irrational enough to appear to be her before full manifestation.

So Coordinator have you got your decorations up?

Because once more Christmas’s has come to a Rational Planet.

[coordinatorofthecia]

…

What’s Christmas?

[cwej-v]

An irrational festival.

You really ruined my cool badass dramatic quote?

Dude!

The point is irrationality (not to be confused with chaos) is pushing in on the fabric of reality. And that unless we do something the thread will in local space time be undone, and as this is the centre of the thread the point it is anchored, the days of the Pythia will return.

[i-am-gallifrey]

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[your-lady-and-mestizer]

*fancy magic science unnatural thing to cover communication*

@i-am-gallifrey fancy performing a ritual to summon the Carnival Queen and unanchor the Thread?

[i-am-gallifrey]

It would be my pleasure to undo Rassilon's great work. @sisterhood-of-karn aid us in this endeavour, even if it is as simple as distracting those who would seek to block our path.

[sisterhood-of-karn]

Of course, Lady Pythia.

[your-lady-and-mestizer]

Well then get chanting I assume you know the correct chants?

With the Pythia as a host, we can steal some of the Factions ritual and render the Carnival Queen as a Loa and have her ride @i-am-gallifrey with then the Carnival Queen can ask the question she must and I can give the correct answer, that being “yes the universe makes no sense.”

This a good plan for everyone?

[i-am-gallifrey]

I suppose it is not much different to beseeching the gods for prophecy. I will participate as long as this entity permanently leaves my body once it receives its answer and undoes the Anchoring.

[your-lady-and-mestizer]

*fancy magic science unnatural thing to cover communication*

@i-am-gallifrey fancy performing a ritual to summon the Carnival Queen and unanchor the Thread?

[i-am-gallifrey]

It would be my pleasure to undo Rassilon's great work. @sisterhood-of-karn aid us in this endeavour, even if it is as simple as distracting those who would seek to block our path.

[liviacaralis]

livia i love you marry me

I suppose it is nice to have a secret admirer, but please, dinner first.

[matrix-lord-101ita]

You do know that could be an assassin or something right?

[liviacaralis]

Can you picture any Gallifreyan on this planet taking the Lord High President to dinner?

[i-am-gallifrey]

Back in my day, it was rare that a night would pass without at least one lord of the Court of Principals being wined and dined by someone wishing to gain favour. The few that dared to invite me were never quite able to stomach my diet.