Category:SPECTRE and SHADOW Conference: Difference between revisions

Summary

The SPECTRE (Sorcerers, Practitioners, Enchanters, Conjurers, Thaumaturges, Researchers, and Evokers) and SHADOW (Seers, Hypnotists, Astrologers, Diviners, Occultists, Witches) Convention had its inaugural launch at the Evermore Hollow Hotel in Naidem on October 4, 2024. It is scheduled to return again in 2025 on October 10-12. For information on attending, see the 2025 Event Announcement.

2024

The inaugeral Conference was held in 2024 at the Evermore Hollow Hotel. The hotel staff warmly welcomed both presenters and attendees on the first evening, although there was some conflict between presenters as well as toward hotel staff and their handling of guest luggage. After brunch the next morning, the conference was held, which included a variety of presenters with on esoteric topics that touched on the nature of the soul, as well as the influence by Naidem on both death and scrying. Meanwhile, one of the hotel staff had gone missing, and was later found in a backroom in a catatonic state, uncharacteristic of the denizens of Naidem. At the grand ball later that evening, two of the presenters unwittingly demonstrated their talents, with one struck by visions and the other possessed by the spirit of the missing hotel staff. The next morning, as the conference was concluding, many of the attendees decided to try to do something with what they had learned to help the missing maid. They were successful in freeing her soul, and in the process identified that one of the speakers, Giedrius, was responsible.

For a detailed summary of events, see the 2024 Conference summary.

2025

The SPECTRE (Sorcerers, Practitioners, Enchanters, Conjurers, Thaumaturges, Researchers, and Evokers) and SHADOW (Seers, Hypnotists, Astrologers, Diviners, Occultists, Witches) Conference returned in 2025 for October 10-12.

Invitations received by attendees varied, with some referencing the Conference while others identified the event as instead being called PAWS, the Pets and Animal Wellbeing Symposium. As attendees arrived at the Evermore Hotel, it became apparent that the staff had accidentally double booked two different conferences for the weekend, with Hotel Manager Blodeuyn Mourningveil coordinating on behalf of SPECTRE and SHADOW while PAWS was coordinated by Hotel Maid Elaarah Thistledown, the unfortunate victim of events occurring in the Hotel the year prior.

Lectures throughout the weekend consisted of both PAWS-led pet-oriented presentations and those of a more esoteric nature led by SPECTRE and SHADOW members. There was recurring friction between the two organizations, as well as among some attendees who indicated a clear preference of one subject type over the other.

Throughout the weekend, growing concern mounted regarding an insect infestation inside the hotel and the expansive webs spun by countless spiders in its garden. Conference attendees were eventually drawn in to address the spider concern in particular, after Jehckle and Hehckle identified it as an issue that had happened before. Ultimately, they were successful in banishing the spiders from the gardens, however with their departure from the hotel, the arachnids moved in force throughout the rest of Evermore Hollow, ultimately leading to the start of the Weavers of Arachne storyline began to officially unfold.

Conference Dates

Year	Conference Dates
2025	October 10-12
2024	October 4-6

Conference Schedule

Date	Time	Event	Location	Description
Fri 10/10	9:00pm ET	Hotel Check In	Front Desk	Ebon Gate officially begins and the festival grounds open, including the Hotel.
Fri 10/10	10:30pm ET	Welcome Reception	Library	A light affair and social hour where you can mingle with fellow attendees before retiring to your rooms.
Sat 10/11	9:00am ET	Breakfast	Dining Room	Start your day with a delightful breakfast while meeting other guests.
Sat 10/11	11:00am - 1:00pm ET	Morning Workshops	Library	Morning lectures and workshops. Tea Mages lecture by Ceibhfhionn Malficum Hotel Tour by Blodeuyn Mourningveil Dead Places and Memory lecture by Ermias Dunholme
Sat 10/11	2:00pm - 3:00pm ET	Lunch	Dining Room	Enjoy a leisurely lunch with fellow practitioners and pet enthusiasts. A workshop was double booked alongside lunch. Pet Skin Care workshop by Orralith
Sat 10/11	4:00pm ET	Afternoon Inquiries	Garden	The planned presentation for the afternoon was cut short on account of spider activity in the gardens. It quickly shifted into research in the library and practical alchemy in the greenhouse. Corvids lecture by Jehckle and Hehckle
Sat 10/11	7:00pm ET	Afternoon Workshops	Library	Afternoon lectures and workshops. Eggs workshop by Orralith Souls lecture by Giedrius Ravencroft Pet Grooming and Reincarnation dual workshop and lecture, by Orralith and Zethes Wraith, who had been double booked Abominations lecture by Thalita Trevil
Sat 10/11	10:00pm ET	Garden Party	Ballroom	The highlight of the event, featuring a sumptuous dinner served small-plates style and an evening of dance and engagement. This was relocated from the garden on account of spdier activity.
Sun 10/12	10:00am ET (approximate)	Farewell Brunch	Dining Hall	Conclude the convention with a delightful brunch and final opportunities to connect with new friends.
Sun 10/12	11:00am ET (approximate)	Pet Parade	Library	Display your companions at their best in this unique parade through the Hotel's Gardens. This was relocated from the gardens on account of spider activity, much to the hotel staff's chagrin.
Sun 10/12	12:00pm ET (approximate)	Inquiries Revisited	Garden	Attendees attempt to address the growing spider concern in the gardens.

Cast of Characters

Official Vignettes

Character Vignettes

• Return to Naidem by Opalina

Logs

2024

• Tour of the Hotel by Blodeuyn Mourningveil - 10-05-2024
• Lecture #1 - Soul Magic by Caedenmon Howler - 10-05-2024
• Lecture #2 - Ancient Burial Rites by Ermias Dunholme - 10-05-2024
• Lecture #3 - Alchemy by Giedrius Ravencroft - 10-05-2024
• Lecture #4 - Divination by Ceibhfhionn Malficum - 10-05-2024
• Lecture #5 - Communing with the Spirits by Zethes Wraith - 10-05-2024
• Lecture #6 - Enchantments and Clockwerke Devices by Thalita Trevil - 10-05-2024

2025

• Lecture #1 - Tea Mages by Ceibhfhionn Malficum
• Lecture #2 - Dead Places and Memory by Ermias Dunholme, with special guest Little Ermias
• Lecture #3 - Pet Skin Care by Orralith on behalf of PAWS, double booked with lunch

Additional Information

• 2025 Event Announcement, including ticket release information.
• 2025 Conference Items received by attendees for both the SPECTRE and SHADOW Conference and PAWS, all of whom received a luggage tag, storage trunk, invitation, and welcome package with several items themed around their specific inviting organization.
• 2024 Conference Items received by attendees, which included an envelope with a luggage tag, a storage trunk, an invitation, and a welcome package with several items.
• Saved posts
• Credits