In reply to Blake Hemsworth (msg # 56):

"All these revelations we've been given, from coming here to or lineage to the nature of Shadow, the Pattern and Trump... It's been difficult on all of us in one way or another. I myself felt hopelessly lost for so long. I'm still struggling with understanding some of it. But it seems I have an affinity that has allowed me to manifest the Pattern quicker than some. I was thrilled to share my success." Rhiannon glanced over but avoided singling anyone out. "But it seems some have taken my success at discouragement. It rather dampens the spirit."

Cassandra having walked in shortly after Rhiannon, having now sat down with her food, spoke up "Congratulations Rhiannon, at least one of us is progressing." Cassandra turns to look at the others "Just because we are used to being the most skilled in the room doesn't mean learning new things take time, and these are widely different skills than we're used to from our Shadows."

She stabbed some of her food with a fork "Jeez you guys are such downers you making me act nice."

Blake nods.  "The pattern hasn't been as quick for me as I thought I would. But we'll have a long time to perfect things, if we live as long as Cordelia said.  I'm only down to just under 3 hours, myself.  But I'm sure we each have something we're better at than the rest of us.  Honestly, I'd rather be behind, it's always easier to train when you have someone you're trying to catch up to."

"Thank you Cassandra. Thank you Blake." Rhiannon beamed. "I do appreciate the support." She stood, gathering her dirty dishes. "I'm going to head to the Library early so I can speak with Cordelia. I meant what I said though. If I can help any of you, I will do everything I can."

Leaving the dining room, Rhiannon went to the Library in case Cordelia might be there early.

Glancing to Cathal as he spoke Cormac merely shrugged.

"I've not heard anything more than when we mentioned it. I'm hopeful though. It will do us good I think and the more chances to practice the better as far as I'm concerned."

He smiles and listens attentively as Rhiannon's success is discussed.

"Don't worry about anyone says. Your doing well. I wish I was manifesting it as quickly. That is part of the reason I wanted to go where time flowed more in our favor. Now with these new place trumps we don't even have to worry about getting stranded. We can get back to the mansion whenever we need to."

It was clear that he was in a good mood. True, he was still uncertain about a lot of things and not very secure in his abilities yet. But it would come in time. He was stubborn that way. With work he would master all the lessons Cordelia was giving them and regain the use of his sorcery as well. It was just a matter of time.

Cordelia will arrive back in the library at 13:45 again carringy her box of Trumps. She is also carrying a sketch pad and a second box of a similar size to the trump box, except this one rattles, when she puts it down.

"Good afternoon, I trust you all had a nice relaxing lunch?"

Rhiannon was already seated in the Library when Cordelia entered. She had hoped that Cordelia might have come a few minutes early, but she didn't, arriving exactly on time and starting right away. "Good Afternoon Cordelia. Yes, the break was quite relaxing and lunch was splendid as usual. If you don't mind, I''d like some of your time before dinner this afternoon." After she said it, she realized she might have a moment while in a trump connection.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Wed 08 Mar 2023.

"That's possible, and possibly more time than you think. I was going to say later to avoid distractions during this afternoons session, but anyone who wants to be in on the excursion to Elysium needs to be in the lobby at about five to six.
Given the relative time differentials you'll have about 48 hours in Elysium before you need to be back here to leave for the Expo, although it'll be sometime around midday in Elysium when we arrive, so you'll need to prepare to stay a couple of nights, although you can always return here ealier if you want to. The accommodation there is also considerably different to here."


Cordelia pauses briefly then continues
"The subject for this afternoon, is Portals, much as you've seen me create on several occasions.
They can be formed either when activating a Place Trump, or when in Trump conversation with another person.
When activated from a Place Trump they are typically used to allow yourself and others to travel to the place depicted on the Trump.
When activated during a Trump conversation the Portal has to be formed at the Destination and the person forming the Portal then has to pull the other party or parties through.
By default the portal formed is about the size of a standard doorway, 3ft wide and 6ft high. They can be made bigger, but the energy cost in doing so rises significantly for even a minor increase in size, and they are taxing enough to maintain as it is."



"Forming the portals is a little complex, so I'm going to have to walk you through the process individually. Are you all happy to keep to the order from this morning?"

"Okay then, Rhiannon you're first.
If you come and stand over here."


Cordelia then stands slightly behind you and places her left hand on your left shoulder so her fingers rest on the side of your neck. At this point you find yourself "in her head" much as you did this morning..
"Please, continue, activate the foyer trump as you did this morning except don't picture yourself in the foyer, just picture the foyer as it's depicted on the card"
Cordelia will likely have to correct you as you try to do this, explaining the semantics as she does so. She will get you to do this several times until she is happy that you can do it.
"Now envisage a doorway forming, I always find envisaging an iris valve opening is a good starting point, and then massage it into a doorway."
Again this is likely to take you several attempts to get right. At the point you get the doorway to form, and you'll be feeling really mentally exhausted by this point, Cordelia will say.
"Okay take a break whilst I get all the others to the same point, and then we'll come back and I'll explain the rest of how things work."

Cordelia will then repeat the exercise with each of you in turn. Once she's provided basic instruction to each of you she will then continue.

"So now all know the theory, it's time for you to put the theory into practice. "

"However before you do so there are a couple of things you need to remember, well one in particular.."

"Once formed the portal will stay open as long as you can maintain your concentration on keeping it open.
If you get distracted, say by getting shot, or somebody hitting you hard, or by something else that distracts you, then the portal will instantly close.
Anybody currently transgressing the portal at that point will suffer some form of injury, how bad the injury is depends exactly how far through the portal they are.
The same also applies to you as you step through the portal. You need to maintain your concentration whilst doing so, and for long enough to completely appear on the other side. It's not quite as easy as you may think, and especially not "letting go"< too soon, thinking you're safe.

So with that said, I suggest you all take it in turns to form portals to the foyer, and repeat a few times, until you get comfortable with the basic principle."

"Once you've done that we can move to the last element of today's exercises which is doing the same thing using the trump of a person to either travel to them or bring them to where you are, for which I'm going to need to prepare a few sketches."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:18, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

Rhiannon focused carefully on what Cordelia was explaining. She had already done this before more than a few times back home. She didn't feel like it should be any different other than Cordelia's Trumps worked across shadow. Instead of being a know-it-all, as she might have been to her friends at home, she concentrated and followed the instructions exactly as Cordelia said to even though they weren't any different from what she had done previously.What she didn't realize previously, was how dangerous it was if the portal was allowed to close while traversing it.

Winter becomes increasingly thrilled about the trump lessons. She hasn't processed it yet, but she already senses there are many implications of what trump can offer. While she spends lunch with her peers, she takes some of the time trying to poke about her mind for Cordelia's lesson plan. Is it something she can summon by imagining it?  Is that knowledge waiting for her, like a mental bookshelf?  Or did she take it too literally?

The ability to teleport - real teleportation - is a marvel.  Any dismay she might have felt over the pattern - and the grueling agony of tracing it is a real thing - melts before the warmth of realizing she is the heir to this new power.

It's not until she has to conjure a portal that she remembers how exhausting real power is.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:06, Fri 10 Mar 2023.

Cormac was very invested in the lesson. He seemed to enjoy the hands on sorts of lessons, the ones in which they actively did something over the ones that were just informational. Cordelia could talk all she wanted to but it was this sort of experience that made the most impact on himself and all the cousins. At least that was Cormac's opinion.

Of course there was a lot more to process. He needed more work to bring down the time it took him to mentally walk the pattern. Then there was this new bunch of trump information she had dumped into their minds. It was good to be practicing he mused and was definitely glad that they all seemed to be working to master the new skills. It had just made it hard to process it all when some had taken such a negative mood to it. Hopefully that was behind them and they could make progress with a little less drama to contend with.

Cassandra nodded in response to the times given for the Elysium trip "I'll make sure to do that then."

For the rest of the session, she listens closely, interested in any new information about Trump. While she was good at the practical part of Trump, much of the theory was new to her, and as such, it was important to remember. She did however turn to the others "I'm happy to go last with the practicing, given I have more experience with this than most of you."

Once you've all completed opening portals to the foyer and traversing them a couple of times, Cordelia will move onto the next exercise.

"So for the first part of the next exercise, you're going to need to use my Trump again to call me. I would like you to make your way down to the foyer and  inform Zou Yan when you're ready to proceed. After that I want you to use the Trump to call me. I suggest we keep the same order as previously."
She hands her self portrait trump to Rhiannon.


So once you reach the foyer, inform Zou Yan, activate the Trump and make the call, you're met with the "Ice Wall" much as before..

"A place trump automatically opens the portal between where you are and the place depicted. When talking to another person you only have one reference point, and that is where you are.
If you have the trump, as in this exercise, opening a portal will automatically open one end  where the trump is, but to properly act as a portal it needs to connect to somewhere else, and specifically where the other person is.
This means you need to project the portal so that it appears in front of them as you open it.
Before you commence, once the portal forms you need to reach into the portal with either your right or left hand, which ever one doesn't have the trump in it, and once the other person takes your arm, pull them towards you.
So if you'd like to commence opening a portal I will guide you through the modifications needed to project it.."

Assuming you do as instructed, if will take much longer to form the portal than previously,actually 3 times as long but with practice this will come down to twice as long.
Once formed and you reach into the portal, Cordelia will take your arm and join you in the foyer. She will then break the trump connection, and request the Trump from you before returning to the Library to repeat the exercise with the next person.

Accepting Cordelia's Trump, Rhiannon smiled to her cousins and headed down to the foyer. She felt good about this lesson, and already had an idea in her head of how it would go. Once she reached the prescribed location, she called up to the AI.

"Zou Yan. I'm in the foyer and ready to proceed."

She didn't wait for a confirmation. There were no instructions to do so. Instead she regarded the Trump as before and as before, she reached out for contact. As the image of Cordelia came to life, Rhiannon conjured the portal, projecting it between them. It was almost like framing the place but with Cordelia as the only destination. It did take longer, and Cordelia's visage became even more real through this process. Once she felt and appeared as if the portal was complete and completely open she reached out with her free hand.

"Hello Cordelia. So lovely to connect with you again."

Cordelia accepts your arm and joins you in the foyer.

She will then retrieve her trump, and walk back to the library and repeat the exercise with the next person until you've all taken a turn.

Before She leaves, "Should I stay here, or go back with you?"

In reply to Rhiannon Erica Kerrigan (msg # 72):

"I would suggest returning to the library, but I have a full class to work through the current exercise before I get to the next one, which will be in about an hours time, so it's up to you."

Nodding, Rhiannon follows Cordelia back to the Library. Once there she finds a comfy chair, she curls up into it and rests her eyes.

The mind was, in a way of speaking, a lot like a muscle. Once it was exercised properly then mental chores like this became much simpler. It wasn't simple for him yet but Cormac knew that by engaging in these exercises it would become second nature to use trumps. In fact it should take a lot less effort and time all around. It was just a matter of practice and familiarity.

He took his turn silently, following along in the order that had been laid down previously and speaking only so much as was needed to complete the exercise. Cormac had little concern at how skilled he might be in comparison to the others. Deep down he supposed that he would be better at some exercises than his cousins and by the same token would struggle with some they might be good at. In the end it would be dedication to the work, having an open mind for the lessons and then constant repetition. They would all get there in the end.

Between turns he did watch the others though, and Cordelia as well. He was trying to see or hear any tidbits of information or supposition that might help him to do better. In short he was in full student mode and while not impolite he was a bit withdrawn and obviously fully tuned in to what they were doing today.

Blake stays in the library, alternately paying attention to the lesson, and closing his eyes in apparent meditation, or possibly dozing.

Winter watches the others a little longer this time, before eventually taking her turn in the foyer.  She paces back and forth, thinking about what she has learned, flipping Cordelia's trump over and over in her hand.  Then she focuses, like really focuses her chi.  She slows down her breath, focusing, building her energy.  Time seems to slow - her breath sounds loud in her ears; she's intimately aware of even the sound of her shoe bending its rubber against the floor.

"Zou Yan, I'm ready." she announces, barely loud enough.

Then she focuses on Cordelia with all her might!
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Mon 13 Mar 2023.

Once everyone has successfully completed the exercise Cordelia will move onto the last exercise of the afternoon.

"For the final part of today's training, I will call each of you in turn via Trump. This will give you a feeling of what it's like to receive a Trump call, and once established I will walk you through how to create a portal to the caller, although I'm not sure how successful this is going to be.
So assuming we're keeping to the same order, Rhiannon if you'd like to make your way to the foyer, and inform Zou Yan once you're ready."


As Rhiannon  leaves the library, Cordelia picks up the sketch pad, opens the other box on the table, and takes out a stick of charcoal. She then begins to draw a sketch of Rhiannon , which she completes in about 40 seconds.

Once Zou Yan informs Cordelia that Rhiannon  is ready, she concentrates on the sketch..

Rhiannon  feels a cross between a prickling sensation and a ringing in her ears. If she concentrates on it then she gets the image of Cordelia before she's once again in Cordelia's head.

"So there are two things you should note here, the first is that I was actively broadcasting my identity when making the call. If you'd have had a Trump of me in a deck then this would have assisted you in determining or confirming who was making the call."
"Unless you have a good reason to try and hide your identity when calling somebody I suggest you deliberately broadcast it, that way you have a better chance of the person you're calling accepting the call."
"If you have a strong enough will you can block the call or refuse the connection at that point, although none of you are sufficiently powerful enough to block me out or refuse the connection currently, and yes to answer the inferred question, if you are sufficiently powerful you can force the recipient to accept the connection."

"Now onto the primary focus of this exercise. "
"In the previous exercise you held the Trump which made forming the Portal easy. With the Trump not in your possession, you need to form the portal and sense for the Trump through the link, and then manifest to other side of the Portal where that Trump is."
"I want you to give it a couple of goes. If you don't succeed don't worry. I'll walk you through the differences in the technique for manifesting the portal so you know how to do it in future."



Once everyone one has taken a turn Cordelia will call a halt to proceedings. The time is rapidly heading towards 5:30.
"Those of you who want to travel to Elysium, then you have 25 minutes to pack yourselves a travel bag. Please be in the foyer at just before six ready to go. "

Per the instructions, Rhiannon went to the Foyer and told Zou Yan that she was ready. Feeling the Trump contact, she focused on the sensation and greeted Cordelia, then reached out to sense her Trump. Once she felt it, she used the same technique to open a portal. She stepped through quickly.

Back in the library, the comfortable chair was calling her name. The lesson was far too interesting for her to fall asleep but she did try to relax as everyone else went through the process. But no rest for the weary. After the lesson was done, Rhiannon ran back to her room to pack a bag for Elysium.

Cassandra quickly succeeded in making her way to Cordelia, once there she nodded at Cordelia before returning to the Library. Where she listened to Cordelia's next lesson, this time it took her a lot longer but she did manage, it was a new experience so she took careful note of how it felt.


Following the dismissal, she returned to her room, grabbed her backpack making sure to pack some comfortable clothes. Once that was done she made her way to the foyer.

Winter quickly visited her room.  She already had a go bag ready - not that she was paranoid, but because she believed in being prepared.  Checking it over, she added a few snacks to it that Jasmin had acquired for her.  She looked over her sword, but made a quick decision and tucked it behind her pillow. She knew that Cordelia would not send them somewhere dangerous without adequate preparation.