High Ritual: We are More than the Sum of Our Parts

Join Councilor Phaedra bani Bonisagus of the Order of Hermes, Master of Ars Potentiae, Deacon of Alexandria University, magi of the eight degree, as she delves into the struggles and possibilities of high ritual magic. Phaedra, driven by her quest for unity, has led a variety of reality bending rituals that have included highly diverse participants.

When manipulating the Tapestry, the warp and weave of reality, there comes a time for every mage when the necessary task seems not only improbable but impossible. However, there is little to nothing that the power of the many cannot achieve in a High Ritual. Furthermore, I theorize that not only may willworkers empower the essence of the spell, but any being with the appropriate understanding of reality may do so. Attend and discover if Unity is possible.

Jhor: The Deadly Quiet

Many mages and willworkers are familiar with the image of the stark raving lunatic whose magic has broken his ability to connect to the world. Just as dangerous, but less known, is the danger of Jhor. A function of dabbling with death, Jhor can twist and bend the mage's mind, body, and spirit.

Come join Dakota, Verbena/Euthanatos, Blessed by Jupiter, child of Uktena, Slayer of Voormas, Destroyer of the Red Star, Lord of Wraiths, as he reflects on the importance of being thoughtful when dealing with death and its energies. 

What are the Daeva Doing to the Shadowlands?

Mr. Rudolph D.M. Giovanni, one of our event sponsors, proposes an Occult Issue Panel to discuss the question, "What are the Daeva doing to the Shadowlands?" Come puzzle out the challenges of dealing with these creatures of smoke and deal.

VR Training Deck

We are happy to announce that there will be a VR Training Deck at the Summit this year. Powered by the Virtual Alexandria Project's Dreamtime Collective initiative, the training hookup will focus on four core areas of development:

• Combat
• Espionage
• Puzzles
• Magic

The Training Deck will be hosted on a VIVE device. Attendees interested in improving their skills in these areas should consider trying it out!

OOC: We will actually have a VIVE at the event, with a demo of games like: 

Combat
Gorn
Fruit Ninja
QuiVr


Puzzles
Fantastic Contraption
Quanero
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

EspionageUnseen Diplomacy
Climbey
Budget Cuts


Magic
Holodance
Tilt Brush
Waltz of the Wizard

The Vulnerability Paradox

Alex, Virtual Adept and founder of the Virtual Alexandria Project, presents on a new initiative known as the Vulnerability Paradox. Alex blends three threads of scholarship: work on "change seeds" (ideas that change the being of the idea holder), non-reproducing ideas (ideas that do not create copies of themselves when shared), and encrypting blockchains to include secondary messaging.

Using these three notions, Alex proposes a way of creating a shared mental space that is 1.) accessible anywhere, 2.) collaborative in nature, and 3.) highly resistant to telepathic eavesdropping that allows for both synchronous/asynchronous and targeted/public messaging.

Come attend this presentation and many others at the St Louis Summit on Lore and the Occult. Register here.

All Aboard: The Collective Deception, Sanity, and You (Mind the First Step, it's a Doozy)

Jack is Jack.

Jack is whack.

Jack will take a whack at explaining how being whack might get you flack but if you have the knack what folks think you lack actually be on the right track. Something, something, madness network.

Disclaimer: Attending Jack's presentation may induce temporary insanity or altered perceptions of reality or the true perception that reality is a lie. Attending is to voluntarily submit yourself to such things. Some truth are simply too true to not enjoy with cheesecake. This is important. Though I'm not sure why.



Come attend this presentation and many others at the St Louis Summit on Lore and the Occult. Register here.

The Mysterious World of Unseen Dreams: What Dangers the Unenchanted Should be Aware Of

Saladin, master of Dreamcraft and member of the Keepers of the Dreaming, offers the unenchanted a window into the mysteries of the Dreaming. A returning presenter, Saladin is well versed in the dynamics of the Dreaming and fae magic. Saladin is also the editor of News of the Wyrd, a local publication on the strange and chimerical.

Attendance of or participation in this talk may result in enchantment. Per the Ethical Participation agreement, do not attend if you are uninterested in the effects of enchantment.


Come attend this presentation and many others at the St Louis Summit on Lore and the Occult. Register here.

The Ancient Enemy II

Alexander, Bastion of the Litany of the Garou Nation, discusses the dangers of the Wyrm and its tendency to corrupt corporate structures. A continuation of a presentation at last year's summit, Alexander focuses on local for profit organizations that have been corrupted by the Wyrm and its agents.


Come attend this presentation and many others at the St Louis Summit on Lore and the Occult. Register here.

Second Annual St Louis Summit on Lore and the Occult

We are happy to announce the second annual Saint Louis Summit on Lore and the Occult. The Summit is a gathering of scholars, scientists, and lore masters on a variety of strange, rare, and wondrous topics ranging from mythic history to cryptozoology. The Summit is hosted by Alexandria University, a small liberal arts college dedicated to transcending distinctions by blending art and mathematics, religion and science, and philosophy and social change.

The Summit will be held on the evening of April 14, 2016, in St Louis, MO. More specific time and location details to be announced.

Please direct questions to Alex at virtual.alexandria.project@gmail.com. Register here: http://bit.ly/stlouisloresummit

Summit Format
The Summit will have various events, including: Topic Panels, Occult Issues, Tradition Presentations, and Educational Duels.

Topic Panels
These panels will feature presentations and discussions on various topics from top experts in various lores and hidden knowledge. Panels will begin with a presentation from each expert, followed by Q&A by the audience.

Occult Issues
These sessions will take up issues central to the politics of the occult community. Session provide an opportunity for members from different sects and allegiances to openly discuss issues relevant to their communities.

Tradition Presentations
We will be hosting a special series on the Traditions. Each of the nine traditions (plus one for other crafts) will host a presentation articulating the magical perspectives they embody. Newly awakened willworkers will be invited to the conference and the traditions with the best represntation of their practices will stand to recruit some new members!

Educational Duels
Keeping with one of the oldest traditions in wizarding community, there will be a certemen circle for demonstration duels. Mages who have never used a certemen circle will be instructed in its use. More experienced willworkers are welcome to use the circle for duels as a way of demonstrating arcane possibilities.

Registration
Alexandria University is hosting the event, but ask attendees to contribute in some way. This can either be through presenting on a topic panel, running an occult issues panel, offering some other form of assistance, covering financial costs (by donating $500 or more), or covering magical costs (by donating 1 or more quintessence). If you are interested in giving a presentation, please contact Alex at virtual.alexandria.project@gmail.com.

Awards
We will be awarding a set of Top Presentation Awards with a purse of 10 quintessence. Also, we will award a Best Match award to be won in the certemen circle.

Last Year
The first summit, held in March of 2016, drew a wide variety of scholars from various supernatural communities, including kindred, cainites, fair folk, lupines, and of course, willworkers. The topics included: the similaries and differnces of supernatural magics, the nature of the Endless Winter, the curious case of vampiric englightnment, the dangers of the Wyrm, and many more.