Philip makes his way, via Volvo, through old country roads, slowly ascending the mountains overlooking Sanfield. He has been gone for over a month and though the scene has not necessarily change, he would still like to regain his baring.

He heads for the highest reachable peak, Cassandra's Bluff, named for the poor widow that hurled herself from its heights near the beginning of the War Between the States. From there, all of the city's expanses will be unveiled to him.

Their are four worlds that correspond to the Etz Chayim (עץ החיים), forming this limited universe we inhabit: Olam Atzilut (עולם אצילות), Olam Briyah (עולם בריאה), Olam Yetsirah (עולם יצירה) and Olam Asiyah (עולם עשיה).

Asiyah', the World of Actions, is the lowest. It represents a plane of purely material existence. Found within it is the sephirah Malkuth. This is our prison, its walls formed by ignorance and the unknown compliance of man. Most are doomed to perceive nothing else.

Next is Yetzirah, the World of Formation. Here you will find the sephirot Hod, Netzach and Yesod. This plane is the home of angels, or spirits as some would call them. Most know this place as the Umbra.

Above this lies Beri'ah, the World of Creation. Few outside of our Order know of its existence, save some Kabbalistic Choristers. This is the realm of pure Quintessence. Here is found the sephirot Tipheret, Gevurah and Chesed. It is the home of the archangels, whom lesser mages call Paradox spirits.

Atziluth, the World of Emanations, is the highest of the four worlds. Found within are the holy trinity of the Tree of Life: Kether, Chokmah and Binah. This is the realm of pure divinity, the names and dreams of God. Others know it as the Deep Umbra. This is the pinnacle of reality. Beyond lies Ein Soph, where only the Ascendant may go.  

--Last edited by Philip Rathbone on 2009-02-06 01:44:36 --

Parking his car, he takes his briefcase in hand and continues on foot, hoping to reach the best vantage spot possible. It is not easy going. The ground is rocky and uneven, choked by the first growths of Spring, but Philip moves with patience, testing each step with his iron shod cane. It takes some time, but eventually he reaches a suitable location, a large, flat stone outcropping. Before him, the precipice drops fifty feet before meeting with the earth once more. Beyond that lies the great expanses of Sanfield Rock.  

--Last edited by Philip Rathbone on 2009-02-11 14:56:00 --

I poise myself a foot from the edge and, setting down my briefcase, remove the necessary implements. With me, I have brought a piece of white chalk, three glass vials full of powdered metals, a clay chalice and a jar containing blessed water from the peak of Yr Wyddfa.

I align my tools and focus my mind for what is to come.

Taking the chalk, I draw an equilateral triangle, the tip pointed away from me, towards the city. To the left, I inscribe the symbol of the Sun and write the name Kamael (כםאל) along the triangle's border. I inscribe the symbol for the Moon and write the name Tzadqiel (צדקיאל) along the right. Below, I inscribe the symbol for Mars and write the name Raphael (דפאל).

Next, I remove the caps from the vials of powdered metal. Gold is poured over the symbol of the Sun. Silver is poured over the symbol of the Moon. Iron is poured over the symbol of Mars.

I fill the chalice with the sacred water and calm my mind, finding my center. The incantation shall begin.

Clasping the cup betwixt my hands, I take a draught of the clean, clear water. Invoking aloud the Divine Names, I tip the vessel forward, emptying its contents onto the center of the triangle. The crystal liquid splashes, then flows blending the culminated powers.

"El Elohim Gibor Yhvh Eloah Vedaath."

2009-02-11 15:45:01 Cian Gwenith Gwawd rolls 3 dice to Arete; Rote: View the Briatic Plane [Prime 3, Spirit 1]; Coincidental diff 6; Foci: Symbols, Hebrew, Alchemical Compounds, Chalice -1 diff (Diff 5) 5,2,8 (2 successes)  

--Last edited by Philip Rathbone on 2009-03-25 22:10:00 --

The city will blur before Phillip to a dark amss with scattered lights. A few points glow bright like stars, one near dead center of the city in the downtown area glows the brightest. There are two other main points forming a very lopsided triangle. One point glows faintly further north in the downtown area and the third is located deep in the mountains, probably an hours hike away from Phillips current position.

The ley lines of the city all seem to emenate from these three nodes, the black hole that is the Monolith is connected to a dull point in the slums where Ley lines have broken away...

As it turns out, things have changed since he left the city. Interesting. Very interesting indeed. Places of power did not spring up like simple saplings. They were avenues of rarity that took significance to form. It was safe to assume that both were already claimed by some faction or another. This did not overly concern Philip, though. His sleeves were full of tricks.

Producing a pad of paper and a pen from his pocket, he quickly scribbles down a rough map of his findings.

2009-03-25 22:58:34 Philip  rolls 5 dice to Intelligence+Craft 6,6,4,10,6, 2 (4 successes)

Satisfied with his work, he takes one last gaze at the scenery before canceling his mystical sight. Making his way back to his car, he collects several belongings from his trunk before locking up the vehicle and placing the keys in his pocket. Thankfully, it is still early in the day, with plenty of sunlit hours left. His mind abuzz with questions and notions, he sets off on foot, towards the distant mountain Node.  

--Last edited by Philip Rathbone on 2009-03-25 22:08:57 --