My final sketch of the Gathering took me the ritual circle at Camelot. Just outside of the seals stood two large fire pits with a stone lion overlooking the approach through the smoke and flames. For a moment or two it was almost as if Kenna had stopped by to say hello, but sadly no. I will miss her warm smile and gentle ways, but will remember her with great fondness.
On the final morning of the Gathering I wandered back into the ritual area of Camelot. The main chamber was home to chairs and seemed to be a setting for reception and greeting. At that time in the morning it was quiet, leaving me with only a hint of who might have held court and the conversations that might have taken place.
Anyone who spends a little time around magical texts knows not all books are safe. Within the library chamber of Camelot a book lay chained to a desk, behind it concoctions bubbled and a mortar and pestle stood ready.
It was hard not to notice the arrival of daemons within the Powers Guild area. Over the course of a few minutes several had arrived and it was not long before Xatobi herself walked in and seated herself amongst the crowd to hold a meeting about a rite she wished to begin. I stood at the back catching a few words and notes as the heat and humidity built.
Many things have changed many times within the Healers Guild over the last few years but there has been a constant presence there striving to make improvements. Crymson has long worked to deal with curses and provide assistance to those in need. This year he stepped up as Lifemaster and together with Bastion has made constant improvements to the guild area. Before the arrival and opening of the guild for the day I sat beneath the entrance canopy and looked for a subject to commit to my book to capture the current stability within the guild. Beside a lantern was a parchment listing the roles within the guild. I took a moment or two to jot it down.
I strolled within the well lit rooms of the Court rooms, among the architecture was a recurring feature of a stone lion projecting a silent roar from the walls. Banners and shields were hung below the forms. It seemed appropriate to sketch this feature within my book.
I searched within the court of Camelot to find my first subject for sketching at the Gathering. I noticed a pair of doors had been knocked off their hinges and passed through into a dark crystal cave. Forms were trapped in the rocks and a strange mist rose from an old cauldron in there. I settled in to sketch the scene into my book and found after a few minutes my spell casting ability had been enhanced (sadly this didn’t last once I left the cave). Others wandered in to admire the location and several referred to it as Merlins Cave. Very fitting I suppose.