Jakem’s Celebrants Celebrity Celebration Censoring Celibacy

Date: 2025-10-23 23:33

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(Jakem’s Celebrants Celebrity Celebration Censoring Celibacy)

[Thu Oct 23 2025]

In Books, Scrolls, and other Scripts in the Witch’s Hut/span>Dust. Knicknacks and doodads line the shelves that have been piecemealed
together here– a pine bookshelf here that‘s in desperate need of dusting
with many papyrus scrolls lining it, some far more aged and ancient than
others. Across the room, many dense cobwebs just barely conceal the dark
presence of a mahogany stand, leather–bound hardcover books lining along
every surface that has the room for holding them. These items, seemingly
caring little for human concepts of order and organization, boastful and
bold and brazen, show off worn gold embellishments and silken upholstery
alike, each tome with its own diverse personality and opinion. “Achooo!“

It is night/span>53F(11C) degrees, and there are clear skies. The mist is heaviest At Hawthorn and Franklin/span> There is a waxing crescent moon.

Jakem gestures to Benjamin “Meet Benjamin Vines, construction worker and eager applicant to the Celebrants of Wonder.”

Benjamin absolutely looks dumbfounded, and blinks a few times before he clears his throat. “Ahem, I must have missed… the memo. Celebrants.. of … Wonder?” he asks as he starts to see something out of the corner of his eye, glancing every so slightly.

Jakem tips his head to Benjamin “Glad you could make it, you won’t regret it, don’t worry. Probably.” He looks to Helen and Teagan “Well? You gonna introduce yoruself?”

“It must be the new girl!” Helen says to Teagan as she claps her hands together and settles herself down onto the nearby seat. She scoots up to the table now and looks towards Benjamin, amused, “Benjamin… that doens’t sound like the new girl…” She shrugs her shoulders, “New guy, it is!” She gestures towards herself, “I’m Helen, I think we have actually met before over MyHaven.”

Jakem nods to Mercy “Welcome to the Celebrant’s 3rd annual meeting. You taking a seat or standing?”

“Maybe,” Teagan says to Jakem. “Nice to meet you, Benjamin. I’m Teagan.” She settles back in her seat, glancing up toward the new arrival. There’s a slight lifting of brows. “Hey,” she says with a bit of an upnod to Mercy.

Mercy strides in with a yawn, sleepy eyes taking stock of the place and some of the faces gathered within. She upnods Jakem and approaches the table, palms held up. “Jus’ so we clear, ain’ takin’ my clothes off. This time.” A quip, surely, but her tone is so flat it’s always hard to tell.

“Um” Benjamin says with a nod, “It would seem… ah, I prefer the name Boney… or Birdie. I don’t use my real name” he decides to go and take a seat. Afterall, curiosity got the best of him here. “Nice to meet you…” He still seems confused. “What IS the Celebrants of Wonder?”

Jakem nods to Mercy “Suit yourself, though honestly I feel you. Lola really needed to invest more in some decent fireplaces.”

Jakem clears his throat, then looks over everyone present “No Mercy huh? Eh, suppose she tends to flake. A’right, let’s get this started. So you’re all here either because you want to work to make this city as weird as possible, turning and twisting the mundane elevants in a grand celebration of the imagination… Or you heard there’d be donuts.”

Helen waves towards Mercy, “This time?” She laughs softly and smiles, shaking her head, “I do not think clothing will be removed. The owl is very shy.” She gestures towards Cinder, a one-eyed barn owl and then says softly, “But don’t mention it loud enough for them to hear, okay?” She settles into her seat, one leg crossing over another, “Boney, that’s right, we did meet.”

Jakem says “So let me make this clear. There are no good donut shops in this town, and I’ll eat no donuts before I eat substandard ones. So if that’s what you’re hear for; sorry to dissapoint.“

“People will call it a sex cult, but I have yet to ever see, hear, or experience any sex.” Teagan does give a glance over to Benjamin and nods slowly, “Okay… Boney it is then. Maybe you’ll uh… help the sex cult image. Or uh, upholding it.” She snerks quietly to herself before looking over to Jakem again. “City’s already pretty weird.”

Mercy pulls a seat for herself and drops down into it, crossbow clattering, then sets her elbows on the table and props her chin in her hands like a properly giddy observer. Her half-lidded gaze drifts from one individual at the table to another, though it pauses on Helen in order to wink. “Secret’s safe with me.”

Mercy pipes up to Jakem to add in, with obvious distress regarding the issue, “Ain’ no good pancakes neither! How’s a city not got an iHop? Shit’s criminal.”

“I refuse to regret my name” Benjamin mutters shaking his head. He still looks a bit confused, “So, is it just … being like, a free spirit? A hippy cult?” he wonders, glancing around. The Mountain Man looks like he seems in over his head.

Jakem nods over to Benjamin “With a name like that, you’re in.” He turns to Mercy “So you might be wondering how we’re gonna do all that we set out to do. Here’s the dig; we got our magical doll project well underway. Teagan and Helen are on that. We’ve got three sacred artifacts for the museum to be opening soon. But that’s not really outreach. How do we do more to fundamentally change this city to suit the needs of the imagination?”

Mercy clicks her tongue, musing aloud, “More parties. With all the trimmins, people come in an’ they ain’ sure what’s real an’ what’s an added somethin’ in the punch. Maybe some crazy art displays ’round the city that warp an’ change dependin’ on who’s lookin’ at ’em, fun pranks, uhh..”

“On second thought, you can call me Birdie” Benjamin chuckles some, “Nah, Boney Graves is a reference to tossing the bones” he breathes out as he’s listening, catching the doll easily. He looks over the doll as Jakem explains the fae spirit thing. “Ok so .. is it like a sort of magic cult then, in honor of a fae spirit…? Like… the Morrighan?”

Mercy looks down at her phone, then up to Jakem, then down to her phone again.

“I wouldn’t say anyone of us fits a certain vibe. We’re all quite different in our own ways,” Helen says to Benjamin as she looks towards him now, “It is more about how you can produce some imagination and wonder in the lives of others. We all have our talents, vastly different from the others. I also like the group of people, one of the major reasons I joined. Everyone is interesting so far, at least. And with name like Boney Birdie, you’ve got to have something going on for sure.” She looks over towards Mercy, “Pretty good ideas.”

Jakem nods to Benjamin “Yeah, that’s basically the gist of it. Though I don’t know what a Mirro-ghan is.”

“WHAT?!” Mercy exclaims after her phone goes bzz one more time, a playfully scathing look angled up at Jakem. “Man you rude as hell, I’ma remember that.” Helen however is afforded a grateful uptick of her chin.

Jakem shrugs to Mercy “Psh, like you don’t give off her vibe.” he snorts. “But I do apologize. So, in addition to all that we’re also kinda working on cutting out a slice of the Haven pie for ourselves.”

“Celtic Sidh goddess of magic. My uh, patron deity” Benjamin explains over to Jakem, in response to Helen he comments, “Boney Graves” he chuckles, “Or Birdie Graves, but the uh name I go by often is Boney Graves”

“Wonder is…” Teagan tilts her head as she considers, thinking on it. “It’s hard to describe her, I kinda think of her like if you took a child’s… playfulness and curiosity and just sort of bundle them up into… color?” There’s a shrug finally as she sits upright again. “I don’t do enough drugs to get it right.” She jumps slightly, looking over at Mercy. “Uhm… I’ve had my concerns a few times, but… yeah, I mostly like the group and so far, we’ve… kinda done more against the 63rd than a lot of other groups in the city, so.”

“M’way more fun than her..” Mercy grumbles under her breath, otherwise quiet now to listen as others give their input.

Jakem nods to Benjamin “Yeah, kinda like that, except… Well I’m gonna agree with Teagan. It’s a spirit with the power of a god and the mind of a child.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, but prove it! At least, in a way the owl won’t feel offended,” Helen says to Mercy as she grins in her direction before adding onto what Teagan is saying, “That’s right. A lot of people have plenty of goals and aspirations, conflicts, and I’m sure we’ll have our own, but really the conflict is making the people explore themselves and wonder more, imagine more, be surprised and mystified…”

“I … didn’t realize this was going on, and I came looking here because I thought it was an occult bookstore” Benjamin mentions as he still studies the doll but is trying to keep up with the main conversation and anyone talking to him.

“Already have jus’ by comin’ here.” is the response Helen receives, accompanied by a brief, sly grin that’s gone just as quickly as it appears. From there Mercy regards Jakem once again, head tipped to one side, “What kinda things’ve y’all done before to get your presence out there? Jus’ so I got a better startin’ point on what to suggest.”

“Boney, you don’t want to walk around this town without friends, and we can be friends. I think you’ll fit right in, plus, I can take a look at your truck and get it runnin’ again. Knockin’ won’t do,” Helen says to Benjamin as she gestures around herself, “Can’t just walk into a meeting like this and think it isn’t a little fate.” She chuckles at Mercy and says, “You know what, you’re right. I don’t know who you’re being compared to, but they’re definitely not as cool.”

Jakem clears his throat as he dozes for a moment before looking about, then focuses on Mercy “The gladiatorial monster fights, the magical dolls…” he gestures to the one Benjamin holds “Which have also participated in the gladiatorial events. We’ve got two orgies, but that wasn’t really open to the public.” he scratches his cheek “I think we Benny Hilled some magical artifacts from somewhere.” he looks to Teagan “Remember when we assaulted that place, got the safe, and then we all hid behind our a tree until our ride came?”

Jakem gives a little gesture of his hand “If you want a good rundown that’s not based on my memory, most of the stuff we’ve done is in the paper.”

Jakem slaps a newspaper down on the table which can be seen at https://havenrpg.net/newsite/chronicle/

Mercy steeples her fingers and bobs her head attentively while Jakem gives her the gist, not even batting an eye at ‘orgies’, then cranes her neck a bit to peek down at the paper Jakem slides her way for more of the nitty gritty.

The messenger doll begins to move a bit on its own, struggling to be free.

Helen lifts her hand up and makes a soft shushing noise at part of what Jakem says, “Keep the stuff in front of the owl tame!” She continues the running joke now, “Plus, we pushed off the Legion from this place when two other boroughs fell recently.”

“I … noticed that, it’s been an interesting first day” Benjamin agrees with Helen, he does sigh a bit, and mutters “Fate. Fate always find me.” He seems to relax a little bit, though finding something about this a bit funny with a light underbreath chuckle. He looks down at the doll a moment, “Um, so … the doll is wiggling”

Jakem nods to Helen “Oh right, yeah this place used to be run by Demons. The boss helped us push ’em out.” he explains to Mercy and Benjamin.

The messenger doll starts to do more than wiggle, struggling to get free of its captor.

“I’ve never been to any of the orgies,” Teagan says lightly. “But yes, I remember the tree. He was a very good tree. Kept us safe from Avalon, even.” She glances to the paper, but doesn’t reach for it. She knows what’s in it! Every so often she glances off this way or that, but reaches down into her bag and rifles around, surfacing with a bag of jerky that she opens to start munching on.

Mercy glances up from skimming the newspaper to peer to her left, briefly bewildered, then goes back to her reading.

Jakem coughs as he looks at the paper “Oh, that one doesn’t have much in it. Try this one…” https://havenrpg.net/newsite/chronicle-archive-24/

Mercy eagerly reaches for the extra reading material.

“I also have not been to any of the…” Helen says softly as she whispers the word, “Orgies…” She chuckles softly and shrugs, “Some of the other things, though, I read about or heard about.” She looks amused towards Benjamin and the doll.

Jakem looks to Benjamin “So as a provisional member, you’ll have the honor of holding back demons and spreading the fruits of imagination and magic to the citizenry. Furthermore, you’ll get paid an almost living wage, and some slight hazard pay when your duties become life threatening.”

Mercy frowns a touch at something she reads, but keeps going while listening to those around her still.

With a start the messenger doll escapes someone’ grasp and moves to the table!

With a start the messenger doll escapes Benjamin’s grasp and moves to the table!

Benjamin nods as he listens to Jakem, considering him but then the doll escapes and the man is staring at it baffled.

Mercy blurts out a weird snort-laugh that she quickly smothers with a hand, hoping somehow, no one heard that. She’s really enjoying these articles apparently.

Wonder uses a messenger doll/span>Kai [C]Chide[Beats E, D, J, I, N] Leaving no button unpushed, the doll launches a campaign of irritation.

Mercy looks up again but this time in slight alarm, whisking the papers into her arms protectively and watching the doll with slightly widened eyes.

Mercy says “What’s it doin’?!“

Helen looks up from her phone with some surprise at the doll now and she widens her eyes, leaning back from the table, “See, now, there is a reason we don’t invite some people to meetings!”

Jakem gestures vaguely to the doll “Someone infused it with… uh, whatever they get infused by. It’s just gonna act like Kai for a little while.”

Benjamin jumps up from his spot, staring at the doll with his eyes wide. Then he seems to have another reaction to something he hears and he’s stepping back. “A… journey?”

Jakem blinks a bit, looking at Benjamin “Huh? Oh yeah. Sure, joining the Celebrants is like a journey.” he says recovering from his confusion.

Jakem nods to Mercy “Probably.”

Mercy scoots her chair a little farther away from the part of the table the doll presently occupies.

Jakem clears his throat, trying to brush the doll to one side of the table, the far side specifically “All right, let’s focus people. So we need to keep the Legion out of Aurora Heights, and we need to spread Wonder through the land. For that we need ideas. And…” he looks to Mercy and Benjamin “Manpower. So what say you two? Either of you in for our little game?”

Benjamin is frozen for a few moments, face paled. But then he slowly begins to visibly relax, before he returns to his seat. He clears his throat, then nods at Jakem. “I am willing to listen, and see what I can do. I am … ” he licks his lips a moment, “new, still to some stuff.”

Mercy tears her sights away from the articles, holding a finger up in the air as one does when about to declare something all official-like. “Tell you what, while I ain’ sure ’bout signin’ my soul away even more jus’ yet, m’still interested in helpin’ with the Legion an’ gettin’ into some mischief if yer willin’ to outsource a little. No strings attached, I jus’ like doin’ stuff.”

Jakem shrugs to Benjamin “I don’t care if you’re new. We’ll teach you what you need to know.” He nods to Mercy “We can take you on as a provisional member if yah like. Contract workers aren’t quite useful to us since Wonder won’t eat from their hand, so to speak.”

“Don’t have to sign yourself up in blood. Just come on as a provisional and see how you like it. I don’t think I know too many people who have left because they’re worried about doing things, most just fade off like people often do,” Helen says to Mercy and Benjamin, shrugging her shoulders and gesturing towards them, “More community in general than a lot of places, I’d say.”

“I was provisional,” Teagan says to Mercy, brow furrowing. “I’d say I still am but somehow, I’m… next to take over if someone finally gets sick of Jakem and offs him?” She gives a little shrug. “I will tell you this much-” she leans over toward her fellow student and stage whispers: “Jakem is totally open to a coup so long as you make it funny.”

Jakem smirks to Teagan “Wouldn’t be my first time couped. Actually, I think the next will be my 3rd since I came to this city.”

A second finger joins the first in the air and Mercy waves them at Jakem in acknowledgement. “We’ll work out the deets when m’less tired.” Then, she peers over to Helen and Teagan with a thoughtful hum, and a brief grin to the latter for her scheming. “Jus’ wanna make sure I ain’ spread myself too thin, or you know, get into somethin’ I ain’ able to get out of easily after. That sorta thing.”

Benjamin nods at Jakem, “then I suppose I am in, as a provisional member” he agrees with a smile. He’s far more relax now than he was in the beginning. “Community is important but also can be hard to find.”

Jakem nods a bit to Mercy “Oh thank god I’m not the only one that’s up past their bedtime.” he smirks “Well now that you all are provisional, we can issue yah comms so we can talk more later. I think this meeting’s done about all it’s gonna do for tonight.”

“Welcome, welcome,” Helen says to Mercy and Benjamin as she smiles and looks around the table at the others, “I don’t think it is a lifetime pledge like some places. You only have to suffer through Jakem’s sense of humor.”

Mercy blinks a few times with a vaguely stunned expression, like a deer caught in someone’s headlights. “Uh, but.. wh-” she starts, but the deal was seemingly already sealed. YOLO. “Ayeah, cool, thanks.” She finally blurts out after a beat.

Benjamin chuckles, with a light grin at Helen, “My granddad would tell stories, ones that you’d have to take with a giant grain of salt. Even for places like these, just a lie. If I can deal with a bullshitter, I think a bad joke is fine”

Jakem snorts “They won’t just suffer through it, they’ll participate.” he says with a smirk. To Mercy and Benjamin “Everyone has a specialty they contribute to Wonder. Teagan’s a violinest and a programmer. Helens a builder of wonderous things. I’m a prankster. You’ll each find your own path to her favor.”

“If he keeps insisting I try to coup him,” Teagan says as she starts getting to her feet, yawning (also past bedtime, perhaps), “I might start threatening to leave.” She gives a slow stretch and wiggles her fingers toward Benjamin and Mercy as she heads for the door.

Mercy still has that ‘Where am I and how did I get here’ look on her face but she follows the others in getting up from her seat, still greedily clutching the newspaper articles. With full intent to keep them.

Helen begins to rise upwards as well, stretching as she says to Benjamin, “I think you’ll do just fine here, same with you, Mercy.” She indicates a nod in Mercy’s direction, “I’m glad you’re giving it a shot. We’ll all spend some time together, figure out what makes everyone tick and how we can all contribute.”

Mercy says “Ayeah, we- sure, course.“

Jakem nods, moving to stand “I know this is a little shell shocking, but I’ll be on comms if you want to ask questions. I’m trying to keep our meetings shorter so we can have more of ’em.”

Benjamin chuckles at the conversation around him before Helen’s words get his attention, “Go to find a book and end up joining a cult. That sounds like my life” he groans slightly as he stands, his knee popping. “I’m sure I’ll learn soon what that might be”

Jakem says “And this is how you use comms.“

Benjamin says “Checkin’ “

Benjamin pauses then says over to Mercy “I don’t believe I caught your name, though ma’am?

Jakem nods a bit to Benjamin and Mercy “I’ll getcha both some colors to wear tomorrow.”

“Better off than roaming around randomly. Now you’ve got a place,” Helen says to Benjamin as she nods and flutters a wave towards Jakem and Mercy, “Goodnight, going to head back and maybe nap, not sure yet.” She also walks towards Cinder, a one-eyed barn owl and waves to them as well before stepping out, sparks trailing after each step of hers, smoldering flame, followed by the darkening grey of steel.

Mercy turns her attention more pointedly on Benjamin, sizing him up. “Ain’ no ‘ma’am’ here, s’Mercy.”

“Apologies, ma- Miss Mercy” Benjamin offers to Mercy, apologetically. “Jus’ my raisin’