[IC] The Witches Of Shipden Peak

[Prosaic]

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Location ⋗ The Patch. Interactions ⋗ Zhalia Ramshorn @Benzaiten, Manon D'aureville @PatientBean School of Magic ⋗ Divination & Illusion Items ⋗ Suit / Crutches	_ _

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There was something about Zhalia, maybe he simply felt bad for her. He'd wound up here at his own discretion, eager to be somewhere where he didn't feel misplaced.

It had not helped that problem. However, he didn't blame Shipden for this. Simon had long-since come to the realization that no matter where he was, he'd feel as if he didn't belong there. It was easier to dedicate himself to other things, find other passions, than it was to find that seemingly unreachable ideal of "belonging somewhere". He wasn't one for dwelling on details, the earth still turned regardless of if he felt he was turning with it.

"Few months, in my case," he says, brow furrowing a little in consideration. "Only ever lived in New York before this, it's a change."

He couldn't elaborate on if he felt that it was a good change or not. Shipden was odd in it's own way, secluded and safe from prying eyes. Zhalia continued, telling him that she planned to take an excursion into the woods and something about that made him feel momentarily odd. "I'd love to accompany you," he responds kindly, pausing only to acknowledge that Manon had approached them. "I don't mind at all, never a better night for it, eh?"

Manon was a pleasant-faced, blonde, young lady with smoky eyes and a nice smile. He'd never really afforded her a conversation, but he had seen her around. While Simon could be a bit hermit-like in his free time, he liked to make note of the people he saw, storing away whatever information he gauged about them. Manon seemed charming, well-spoken, and brave or at least-- confident. He offers her a hand to shake, bracing his weight on his other crutch.

"Simon Hart," he introduces himself, offers her that same nice smile that he mustered up for Zhalia. "Zhalia and I were just about to go into the forest to hunt for herbs, would you be so kind to accompany us? We can speak as we go."

He figured it would, at least, be safer in a group of three.

[CasLink]

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Location ⋗ The Patch Interactions ⋗ Scott @Blizz, Hanna @Prisk, McDaniel @Bartimaeus, Zhalia [mentioned], Simon [mentioned], Manon [mentioned] School of Magic ⋗ Transmutation & Conjuration Items ⋗ pouch with sand, pouch with various treats for rats	___

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"See you later and have a pleasant evening!" Phalko called after their cousin. Their eyes lingered on her they couldn't help worring. No one could help worrying at the moment. Yet Phalko was aware, that the choice they made three months ago, to live on the Coven grounds meant shelter during the growing unease. They tried to shake the feeling off. Just for tonight, please, let tonight feel normal. It was the first Ostara back home and they hoped that Lina's words would like a self-fufilling prophecy, come true. That growing light would join the shadow which was brewing up above them all.

As they walked among the groups of witches they tuned in to their laughter, their conversation, their gossip. Zhalia Ramshorn was still the talk of the evening, and though Phalko was curious about their newest member, they weren't all that interested in stories about a necromancy cult coven. The topic was boring to them with so far no chance of getting better sources than hear-say. They tried to refocus on the festivities, an effort encouraged by the lovely smell of sweet home baked goods. They dipped into the nearest tent and gathered quickly that food was being tasted. Phalko offered the three witches a smile and a nod and greeted them with their names before stepping between Scott and Hanna to load up their plate. First a brownie and then after Hanna raised their eyebrows at them and pointed sweetly with her eyes at the apple pie next to her. Phalko blushed and could of course not say no to her. Then they turned and excused themselves with an "Have a pleasant evening!"

Glad that they made it out of there without being roped into conversation and having to attempt awkward small talk, they made their way over to the fire. Looking at it made them think of the speech again, of their lost job and of returning home, of feeling like a jagged puzzle piece yet being warmly welcomed. The sweetness of the brownie and the tartness of Hanna's apple pie only contributed to that overall feeling. They stood by the fire, their thoughts lost for a moment in the dance of light and dark. They noticed quite late who was sitting nearby. By the time they pondered wether now was a good time to socialise with Zhalia if only to satisfy my curiousity, oh but she's already with someone so I don't want to intrude and be- another person joined the two.

[Mirandae]

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Location ⋗ Walking around. Interactions ⋗ ??? School of Magic ⋗ Conjuration & Enchantment. Items ⋗ Cell phone.	_______

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"Lovely picture." Hanna said while gushing over it for a moment, trying out some filters, and then posting it to her Instagram. She had since long set her account to private, so not a whole lot of people would see it. Regardless, it was part of who Hanna was, and there was little anyone could do about this particular habit. In those pseudo-creative moments, a cute Asian visage helped themself to some brownies. Hanna guided them to some apple pie with enthusiastic eyes. "You too!" Hanna chimed in response to their courteous wishes. While continuing to fiddle with her phone, going through some messages and notifications, Hanna reminded herself that she should give the parents a call. "Excuse me for a second, guys. I should give my mom a quick call." Hanna said and removed herself from the food tents, walking underneath the open sky again.

"Hello?" The voice of Hanna's mother, Helene, sounded.
"Mom, it's me." Hanna spoke with a clearly changed tone, softer and more personal, perhaps lacking some of that typical enthusiasm that others were used to.
"Oh, sweetie! This makes me so happy that you're calling! How are things in Bennington?"
"It's fine. We're celebrating Ostara at the moment. And, I baked a delicious apple pie that people seem to like, I think."
"That's wonderful! I did my rituals for Spring Equinox this morning. You did yours, I take it?"
"Yes, mom, I did the solos."
"Great. I just want you to do it properly, you know, so you don't forget."
"Why would I forget them, mom? I live in a coven. It's literally impossible to forget any witch stuff here."
"You weren't always like this, dear."
"Like what?"
"We've talked about this countless times. Do we really need to do it again?"
"Eh, yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. I won't forget, mom, I promise."
"Good! Do you want to speak to daddy? He's right here."
"I should get back to it. Give him a kiss for me, though."
"I will! Call again soon, sweetie. We love hearing from you, always."
"Will do. Bye, mom."
"Big kisses, bye!"

Hanna took a moment for herself after the call. It did not seem to matter where she went or what she did, that time in High School would always haunt her. To make matters worse, Hanna's mother had the uncanny ability to find a way to bring it up regardless of what they were talking about. At least being in a coven like this was some manner of reset, a new beginning, a blank sheet of paper. Nobody here knew about that time, and Hanna intended to keep it that way. Besides, even if they did know, who would care? Everyone had their skeletons in the closet, just as Hanna did. I should get back. Better shake this off before I do, though. Man, how does this always hit me so hard? Teenagers do stupid shit. Why should it define them for the rest of their lives? It's not fair. But, I know I can change... erhhm, I've already changed. This is bullshit, I'm not like I was in High School anymore, clearly. It's not getting to me... it's not. Hanna's mind struggled.

[Benzaiten]

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Location ⋗ The Patch ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Simon @Prosaic, Manon @PatientBean, Phalko @CasLink School of Magic ⋗ Necromancy, Illusion & Divination Items ⋗ 1 Dagger, small component pouch (empty)	_

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"You're not from here, are you?", Zhalia asked the blonde girl as she noticed the accent. "I'm sorry. That sounded rude. I'm from Europe, too." She offered Manon a hand to shake and a warm, genuine smile. "It's nice to meet you. I only just arrived a few days ago, still getting to know everyone and finding my footing here."

Her eyes trailed over the facial features of the woman. She was beautiful and the way she held herself gave Zhalia the feeling that she knew how to handle herself and would not back down from a fight. Zhalia wasn't so sure if she could anticipate the same from Simon. He seemed like a soft soul, a kind heart. He was probably more capable than she could tell in the short time she had spent with him and she knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Curiosity poked at her heart as she wondered what school of magic these people she just met would encompass. Had she to take a wild guess, she'd likely put Manon to Evocation and Simon to Abjuration. But her guessing work had never been the best. She would have to take a peek if she truly wanted to know. But using her magic always came with the possibility that someone could detect it. There weren't too many people who could tell when she read their auras but it would be unfortunate luck if exactly the first two people she met here would have that ability. So Zhalia would keep her curiosity at bay for the time being. Knowing their schools wasn't beneficial right now, it was only curiosity and that was not good enough a reason to risk them growing suspicious of her.

"Have you been here long?", she began to strike up a conversation with Manon. "Maybe you two can tell me a little about the people? Is everyone here as kind as Simon?" The brunette lifted her mug to her lips. The mug was beginning to empty quickly and once the tea had been fnished, Zhalia put the mug down onto the ground and rose from her seat. "I'll second Simon's invitation. We were getting herbs for Ostara. I'd like to check out the nearby forest and see what I can find. It's tradition to pick them yourself where I'm from."

A tingling feeling crept up to the back of her neck and Zhalia's head spun around to find the eyes of a person on their little group of three. It was a seemingly Asian person with dark long hair and clear skin. Her first instinct was to steel herself. Her body tensed and her fingers twitched ever so slightly but there was no need. Zhalia forced her muscles to relax, her stance to slack a little and her lips to turn into a soft smile. "We were just heading to the woods if you wanna accompany us." She wasn't sure why she threw the offer in the air. Getting to know two people at once seemed more than enough. Maybe it was because she didn't suspect this person to be a problem. Their body language didn't threaten Zhalia, though that could be misleading. What are you thinking? Stop. You are not in danger, this is not a war.

Maybe meeting more people at once would lead to quicker acclimation? She could only hope so. This feeling of not belonging was eating at her. All her life she had belonged somewhere, had belonged with people. Though Zhalia had spent some years craving solitude and loneliness, mostly out of shame and guilt, she could no longer bear it. She grew up in a society and she was seeking to find that community again. People who knew her, who joked with her and who would fight with her. No, not fight. No more fighting. Old habits die hard.

With her newfound companions in tow, Zhalia began to head away from the Patch, leading them towards the Covenstead instead. As they made their way, they chatted carelessly. It felt good to have people with her for once. They went around the big house and towards the backside heading for the wall. No one asked her where she was going and so Zhalia figured they knew about the hole in the wall. If she had found it in her three days of being here, it was no surprise others knew of it as well. It was a solid space to pass through if you lifted a leg through and followed up by pulling your head down and through the wall next. Signs of half-hearted attempts of closing up the hole assured Zhalia that they were not supposed to go through here but apparently no one cared enough to actually close it up with stones or something harder to cut and pry open than this wired fencing they'd placed to cover it up. It had since been cut open by someone else.

Once she had stepped through, Zhalia's eyes landed on the forest. It was her first time standing in front of it and it was quite a sight. The trees grew tall and thick. Even though she was only a few feet away from the forest, she could not see further than three or four rows of trees. She turned around to face the others. "We should step a bit into the forest. You probably know the herbs needed? Nettle, garlic, dandelion..." She trailed off. They would know what herbs to look for if they wanted to help her find them. And if not, she would do it alone.

---

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█ location: the forest ♫ Players may enter the forest at their own risk. The forest is said to be haunted but it is all surely just an old telltale. ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

Into The Forest by Oscar Wilde To the north of the little place that was Shipden Peak stood a forest. One may walk fifteen feet into the lush green and be swallowed whole. Fog might dance around the ankles though it has no purpose being there but to spook you with a warning: do not treat. It would be unwise to walk into it thinking you would come out the same. Many times the wall that surrounds Shipden was mended, for foolish youth would open up the makeshift passageway behind the Covenstead that led straight into the woods. Treating into the forest was forbidden a long time ago, though modern times make ancient minds grow forgetful. And so you may enter these woods tonight. At your own risk... ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

[+]

F O R M A N O N
All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess. You may ignore this information if you like.

˃ Your Danger Sense is activated. Manon can feel that danger is near. It is likely to have to do with the forest. She does not know how dangerous the threat is and seemingly can't detect what could be causing this sense of danger. You would need to further investigate to gain more information.

F O R S I M O N
All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess. You may ignore this information if you like.

˃ Through your Intuition, you could notice that Zhalia's aura if feeling a little "sketchy". Simon may get a sense that her intentions are unclear or maybe obscured. This could be her hiding something, not being truthful, using magic to obscure her aura or just her being nervous, confused or unsure about her own intentions/actions. Simon could use his magic (lean into his Intuition) to gain more information. He is not receiving any other funky intuition about any other person present as of right now.

[Blizz]

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Location ⋗ The Patch. > The Forest. Interactions ⋗ McDonald @Bartimaeus | Simon @Prosaic | Manon @PatientBean | Phalko @CasLink School of Magic ⋗ Abjuration & Evocation Items ⋗ ???	_

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Stormy didn't have an Instagram account.

Alas.

When Hanna stepped out for a phone call, Stormy grabbed one of his brownies and took a bite. "These are good. Whoever made them should be proud." He said with a bit of sarcasm as if someone else made them and not him. "Well, anyway. I'm going to go and join the others at the campfire. Help yourself to the brownies if you want. They'll stay warm for a while. And maybe make sure Hanna doesn't give the new one too hard a time when I'm gone." He said to Kelly before heading out that way. He took a seat by the fire and relaxed momentarily. The night was cool, and the flame was just the right amount of warmth to balance it out. Stormy watched the light show that some witches were putting on. The witches of this coven always put on some of the best light shows around. He wasn’t paying much attention to the people around him as he finished off the brownie, until he overheard a conversation about herbs in the forest. Another tradition some people did for Ostara, from the part of the world where Zhalia happened to be from.

After they all got up and left, Stormy considered that for a moment and thought he should attempt to get to know that Zhalia girl. If anything in his talk with Hanna from earlier was true, she probably needed some friends. With that in mind, Stormy decided he didn’t have anything to lose and got up to look for wherever it was that the three of them went off to. He followed the others who were making their way over into the trees, having been here long enough to know that it wasn't a good idea to stray into the foggy woods alone, or far from civilization. He wasn't quite sure why, but he trusted Lina and the other witches enough that he wasn't about to go pushing into a mysterious forest alone.

He caught up with them once they all made it past the houses. That hole in the wall still hadn't been entirely patched up. "Hello, you three. I hope you don't mind, but I thought I heard what you were saying about herbs for the celebration. I'll help." He vaguely recognized Simon and Manon, as they were around for a bit now, give or take, but he hadn't really had much interaction with them up until this point. The dark-haired person with an Asian look though... They must've been new. This would be a good chance to make a friend or two, he thought. "My name is Scott, but a lot of people usually just call me "Stormy." You're Zhalia, right? We were just talking about you back at the patch." He said to Zhalia in particular after he was in front of a wall of trees. Actually, no. What he saw was a veritable ocean of trees wrapped lowly in thick arms of fog.

It was an unironic thing to say he wasn't a superstitious man. Stormy was a witch who could flick his wrist and make an impenetrable dome of green light as long as that wrist was wrapped in magic chains. He spent most of his life learning about magic and occult lore surrounding it, but he wasn't the type to throw salt over his shoulder or avoid walking under ladders. No, Stormy understood things about magic that took the enigma out and made them factual. But the edge of this forest looked like he had stepped to the edge of another world untouched by man or witch. Something about the way the land looked so isolated and dense in spite of witches living at its edge made Stormy pause and just take it in. He couldn't see past a few feet, but surely this was just a beautiful sight and nothing more... Right?

"Nettle, garlic and dandelion. I'll look for Nettle. Don't trip over something, it's hard to see around here." And so Stormy set about picking the ground for patches of Nettle as best he could in low light conditions and fog rolling through from the north. It was times like this when he wished he did more with Evocation than just thermal magic.

[PatientBean]

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Location ⋗ The Patch > The Forest Interactions ⋗ Zhalia @Benzaiten, Simon @Prosaic, Phalko @CasLink, Scott @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Enchantment, Abjuration & Divination Items ⋗ N/A

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Manon was touched by the kindness shown to her in a matter of minutes. She felt guilty for not reaching out sooner. Both Zhalia and Simon had included her in their trek. Though she was unsure of a walk in the forest being relaxing and fun, if she went along with others she was sure it would be enjoyable, if nothing else the conversation would not be boring. She was especially excited to learn more about the two of them. Manon had only been there for about three months now and she was still seeing new people whenever she left her home.

Zhalia struck her off guard. She hadn't expected to meet another person from her home country. It wasn't like she was hiding it. Her accent all but gave her away the moment she uttered any word. "Yes, I am from France. I moved here a few months ago. I am afraid I do not know many others." Even saying those words was embarrassing. Someone with public relations accolades should be meeting more people. Shipden was different though.

"I would love to accompany you if you two don't mind." Before they could all make their way to the forest, more people joined them. One was a young Asian individual and the other was a rather attractive-looking man who she had seen around before. Since this was not her own expedition, she felt rather silly saying they could join them. Instead, Manon left it to Zhalia and Simon to extend the invitation as they did for her. Manon would be kidding herself if she said she wasn't excited at this new opportunity to learn about another person.

Once all seemed set and done, they were on their way to help look for herbs and plans.

---

The forest itself stood, both menacing and beautiful. A subtle warning for anyone daring to enter. And yet, their group dared. Manon was not well-versed in flora so she allowed the others to search for the necessary bounty. Instead, Manon's senses were alerted elsewhere. A handy skill to have when facing foes, Manon's danger sense triggered. She quickly glanced around, seeing if the threat was obvious, but it was not. Not difficult to imagine the thick forest would hide many threats. She debated telling the others, but felt it was in their best interest. She would not forgive herself if they were harmed and she stood there and said nothing.

"Be mindful. There is danger around us. I suggest we tread carefully. And keep your guards up."

[Lionhearted]

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Location ⋗ Dormitory > The Patch. Interactions ⋗ Hanna@Prisk. School of Magic ⋗ Evocation & Abjuration. Items ⋗ N/A.	___

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‘Casual, casual, casual . . . ’

A handful of passes by the leaning corner mirror was enough to leave the otherwise empty room as a mess of slacks and overcoats. Not that the simple bedroom was decorated to his standards, or his clothes organized to his liking; he used to have maids for that. So he didn’t care. But, his selection of clothes was still a galore of luxury and opulent fashion, an armoire of garments he was familiar with. Still, how could he show himself in this new small-town life wearing a five thousand dollar Salvatore Ferragamo set. And despite its price tag, it still found its way to the floor, ruffled in with the rest of his absurdly expensive wardrobe. He was narrowing down his choices as he was approaching his final hangars. Enzo ended his overly-melancholic debacle wearing a simple, tan sweater that hugged tight to his arms and chest, draping down to slim jeans and leather boots. In silent tantrum, he adorned his wrist in a silver Rolex with a beautiful blue watch face – If he couldn’t have his clothes, he could still have his jewelry, he told himself.

One last examination and he cheered a shot of Angel’s Envy against the glass of the mirror, whispering to himself, “A ogni uccello il suo nido è bello.”

A scoff and slam of his door, and he was on his way to the event. The dorm he now resides in was no match to his home back in Italy, but it did leave his commute much shorter – no halls to run through, no courtyards to cross; just a small number of long-legged strides and he was met with the happening of Shipden Peak.

Enzo breezed through the motions, a little stiffer than he’d like, but he still felt the weight of a mask that interfered with his normal mannerisms. He didn’t cut himself any slack, and he knew that trauma was just a step or two behind him wherever went, but he had to learn to fit into these new shoes in order to adapt. Even now, he hasn’t processed the recent events of his life. Instead, he buried them deep. A sigh was a result of such subconscious feelings, and his gaze weighed a little lazier; his hazel irises reflecting the light show beneath somber eyelids. He ignored the bustle, he ignored the cheering, he ignored the smiles, he ignored the fun. Enzo reminisced of the pop of champagne and the bite of a chilled bourbon, wishing he had just brought over the entire bottle from earlier to get him through the day. He explored the terrain, the tents, and the crowds. He enjoyed a few nibbles of some mediocre dishes, and found himself pacing too much that made him look suspicious. His ear twitched at a conversation near him.

"Mom, it's me."

The sentence pricked at him. It came out of nowhere, the trauma that followed. It brushed against his back like needles, causing him to wince from the sharp sting. He turned his attention to the rest of her conversation to get his mind off of it. The phone call was quick, and it gave him an opportunity to end his sluggish pacing. One brush through his hair and he approached her.

"I bet if she tasted that apple pie, she’d be a little bit more ecstatic about it," Enzo spoke audibly. A proper accent dancing within his words, but not pinpointing his heritage very well. More precisely, it suggested a certain strict discipline of his past. And if she’d look over, he’d give his signature smirk to welcome her to conversation in a tasteful allure.

[Prosaic]

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Location ⋗ The Patch. Interactions ⋗ Zhalia Ramshorn @Benzaiten, Manon D'aureville @PatientBean, Scott Wheeler @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Divination & Illusion Items ⋗ Suit / Crutches	_ _

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Simon was feeling fine about his company until... well, right up until they started moving again. His intuition could be... sudden and strange, at times he chased feelings that he had no real answer for. A stray whim here, a stray whim there but this felt like danger. Well-- actually, maybe danger wasn't quite right, it felt like uncertainty, it felt like Zhalia was hiding something.

He and Manon were perfect strangers, people she didn't know well enough to be comfortably open with but it left him wondering. Zhalia started to list off the herbs they needed to find and he realized finally that he was boring a hole into her with his eyes. He broke his gaze to look out towards the forest beyond them, it looked much less pleasant in the gloom of nightfall. The branches were like reaching fingers, trembling at every breeze. The whole thing was making him feel trapped, like a prey animal surrounded in predators.

He almost didn't notice the approach of Scott at all. A man who had always looked just homeless enough to him that he never entertained the idea of being attracted to him. He was far more inclined to men without beards but he had noticed him around which was saying something. Scott had enough of a presence to him that he scarcely went wholly unnoticed. "Pleased to meet you." he says, although this is debatable and he's starting to feel crowded. "The more the merrier, right?"

Yeah, sure, let's travel in a pack into the woods.

"I feel a bit odd myself," he admits, although he's reluctant to point the blame at Zhalia, just yet. He looks to Manon, tries to make sense of what he thinks she must be feeling. There had to be some level of clairvoyance behind the claim, or perhaps she just wasn't a fan of the ambience. Either way, he found it hard to disregard. "Never much liked the woods."

This is perhaps the first entirely earnest thing he's said all night. He had never really been built for this kind of reckless exploration, it made his skin crawl when he thought about ticks, fleas or any other manner of parasitic insect.

He pushes onward despite his apparent discomfort with their surroundings, crutches digging into the earth for purchase. It was getting to be more and more of a workout, the further in that they got. "Just promise you all won't run off a ditch me here if things go south." He jokes lightly, although he can't help but feel a little grim about it.

He looked to Zhalia again, maybe hoping to gauge more information from her. He leans into his intuition here, hoping to find something.

[CasLink]

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Location ⋗ The Patch ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Zhalia @Benzaiten, Simon @Prosaic, Manon @PatientBean, Scott @Blizz, Hanna [mentioned], McDaniel [mentioned], School of Magic ⋗ Transmutation & Conjuration Pronous ⋗ they/them Items ⋗ pouch with sand, pouch with various treats for rats	___

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Zhalias invitation was a happy suprise and they accepted it, leaving their plate on a bench by the fire, better to go into the forest in a group. "I haven't been in there in a long time, as kids we used to make a dare out of it", they explained, remembering shrieks of excitment and fright, "I'm Phalko by the way, I don't think I know all of your names." They exchanged introductions along the way what brought them to Shipden Peak. Phalko was glad to talk to Simon and Manon since they've seen them around but never took the chance before. Simon came across charming though a bit of a loner and Manon as confident and Zahlia seemed to be trying to let her guard down. Phalko themselves tried the same, in the last three months they didn't exactly make any new friends, focussing on their work, connecting with family and usually not having a lot of patience for small talk. With this little group it felt like they could fit in. While Zahlia and Manon bonded about their european roots Phalko turned to Simon. "How have you enjoyed the festivities so far, anything I should definetly check out?", they started to strike up a conversation.

When they got to the hole in the wall another person joined them, who Phalko has seen that night once already. " Phalko. You're a teacher, right?", they asked him, "I saw you in the food tent with Hanna and McDaniel. That apple pie was amazing, and the brownie warmed me up quiet well." The chatter of the group died down as they one after the other climbed throught the pathy hole in the wall. Standing in front of the tall dark trees Phalko felt a chill creeping from their neck over their arms. This place didn't change, this is probably a stupid idea they started to doubt. This place kept making an occasional apperance in their dreams and whenever it did they felt guilty when they awoke breathing heavily. "Dangerous indeed. I can still hear my parents scolding me about going in, even though we never went far", they joked, "Gotta admit it is very spooky. I'll collect the celandine, that will hopefully be a bit easier to spot."

[Mirandae]

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Location ⋗ Somewhere at the Patch. Interactions ⋗ Enzo Leonardo @Lionhearted School of Magic ⋗ Conjuration & Enchantment. Items ⋗ -	_______

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That distinct timbre in the voice sounded distantly familiar to Hanna. She had heard it before, although among the newcomers to the coven, which explained why she likely had not been able to place it quite yet. Either way, the smooth tones came from a lovely young man that she certainly had laid eyes upon before—once or twice, maybe three times, probably more if she was being completely honest. There had not been a decent opportunity to speak to him just yet. The restraint had been a mix of callous nerves and simply too many chores to take care of. Hanna was slightly taken aback by the approach, but it was much welcomed. It certainly made things easier for her by breaking the ice and all.

"Hah, maybe she would." Hanna said with a bright smile. Her focus briefly returned to the esoteric parts of things to make way for that pocket dimension again. She put her cell phone back inside, and then closed it up. Hanna quickly adjusted her dress to slim the fit and tucked a few wild strands of hair behind her ears, then she fell all of her attention on the mysterious man. "I thought I had a good grasp of everyone here, but clearly I was wrong. Although, I've seen you around a couple of times. It's kind of difficult to gauge who I should and shouldn't talk to. Some of these types are very talkative and social, and others are, well, they're not. I'm Hanna by the way." She said and offered her hand. "I tend to cause a lot of ruckus and talk a lot, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone has complained about me to you already." Hanna chuckled.

Even if her attention was on the immediate company, Hanna did catch a glimpse of Scott departing the festivities and heading towards the outskirts. It felt noteworthy, perhaps unusual, but Hanna did not connect any dots as cause for concern, although a hint of inquisitiveness was certainly there. Hmm, where is he off to now? Perhaps I should let my babies shadow him. One of the unique things about Hanna's talents in Conjuring was the wolves, Geri and Freki, which she called her 'babies'. Besides being lovely to interact with, they obviously filled Hanna's primary means of violence. However, they had other useful functions such as 'shadowing', which was essentially tracking or following someone or something. Hanna could not see or hear through them, but the wolves could lead her to whatever or whoever she wanted to find at some point. Alas, it would be weird to fling her arms around at the party, doing ceremonial gestures, and spawning animals out of thin air.

[Benzaiten]

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Location ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Simon @Prosaic, Manon @PatientBean, Phalko @CasLink, Stormy @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Necromancy, Illusion & Divination Items ⋗ 1 Dagger, small component pouch	_

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It was overwhelming how quickly their group of two - Simon and herself - had grown. All of a sudden Zhalia found herself with a handful of people at her disposal offering to help find the traditional herbs in spite of picking them yourself not being the main go-to in the US anymore, hasn't been for the longest time. Of course there were always people still adhering to older traditions but in a world full of large cities and shriveling nature, it was hard to get to the resources sometimes and she knew this. Some people also didn't see the point in it. They could buy the herbs or even raise them in little pots or gardens themselves, there was no need to go hunting in woods. Especially woods such as these.

Her eyes trailed over the tree line before she began to confidently step closer. It seemed the people present were concerned about the woods. She gave a smile to the last person who joined them, a man with a beard she would recognize anywhere so long as he wouldn't shave it. She had seen him in the food tent earlier with two other witches, delighted about cake. "Oh? People are talking about me already? Only good things, I hope." Of course, she knew that wasn't true. Some people were more concerned hiding their whispers than others. "Zhalia is right", she confirmed for him.

Both Manon and Simon expressed some... reluctance? was it?... toward heading into the forest that stretched out before them. Phalko turned out to be the third person, naming the woods "dangerous". Zhalia felt like someone was trying hard to keep young people out of this area for some reason. Her best guess was that Miss High And Mighty Lina Calvo wanted to make sure no one passed out drunk here or had wild teenage sex. Petty reasons. Zhalia inwardly scoffed at Calvo's bad attempt. Wasn't she aware that no such rules could keep rebellious teenagers out of such a tempting area? You can take the witch out of the woods but you can't take the woods out of a witch. We belong here. If Lina Calvo wasn't full of shit - and as much as Zhalia wished she was just someone looking to control people's sexual activities and alcohol intake, she knew she wasn't. Lina Calvo was bad news and she was smart and cunning. So, if Lina Calvo was indeed scared of the woods then Zhalia had just found her new favorite place. With longing eyes, she looked upon the green. If Lina Calvo feared these woods, Zhalia would claim them.

"Thank you for your help", she said to the group. She had expected to walk into this alone and now she was accompanied by four other people. It was a turn of events she hadn't dared hope for. Maybe this could be a new beginning after all?

As Zhalia began to head into the woods, she found the others following her. Some more reluctantly than others, but they all fulfilled their part in the quest and began to look for the needed herbs. She didn't expect to find all herbs in these woods, let alone without delving deeper. But as they began to chit-chat and Zhalia crept deeper and deeper into the woods, she noticed some of her companions beginning to slow their pace. She kept pressing on, determined to penetrate deeper into the forest. Her heart was light and full, the twigs around her ankles, the leaves brushing against her head, it all felt so much like home to her. She could not fathom how anyone could feel fear when they treaded these parts. It was wonder and it was beauty. And it was far away from the loud electric world out there. The witch pushed deeper, all the while looking for the herbs needed, collecting some nettle and some other things into the component pouch that hung at her belt. After fifteen minutes of slowly delving deeper, she began to realize that something was amiss.

Around their ankles, fog was floating. It wasn't the usual fog that would engulf your calves but a fog that stayed consistently low to the ground, covering it so you could trip if you weren't careful. Her eyes narrowed as she crouched down to run her fingers through the curiosity. "I have seen this before...", she mumbled to herself. But it was impossible. Absolutely impossible. Her eyes carefully searched the tree lines around them when her heart sunk into her chest.

Before them, appearing as though a shadow taking shape, a large black dog-like figure stepped around the trunk of a big tree. The creature's eyes were dead-set on the group of witches before it, shining white orbs in its otherwise dark appearance. It was haunting. Zhalia forced herself to begin to breathe again as she realized she had instinctively held her breath upon spotting the creature. Her heart was pounding but she forced a silent and slow breath to fill her lungs and slow her heart. Within seconds the panic lifted and her face showed nothing but collectedness. Her eyes fixated on their sudden opponent, Zhalia didn't dare move.

[+]

O P P O R T U N I T Y
All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess.

˃ Characters may mistake the creature for the Black Shack.
Expected reactions: Fear, panic, fleeing the scene, urging people to escape from its gaze, seeking help, telling authorities (such as Lina).
Unlikely reactions: Engaging in combat, studying the creature, remaining entirely calm, ignoring its presence.

The Black Shuck is a mythical creature said to be made of dark energy, a specter that wanders areas of desolation. It is widely known as an omen of death and has often been described as a black shaggy dog with fiery eyes. It is said to attack by draining someone of their life force. Many deaths have been attributed to sightings of this creature, including Divination visions of the Black Shuck. It is said that no one survives an encounter with the Black Shuck once it has laid eyes on you.

[+]

Depictions of the Black Shuck in old grimoires and witch's recordings

[+]

What the creature in front of you actually looks like

F O R M A N O N
All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess. You may ignore this information if you like.

˃ Your Danger Sense is blaring. During the trek into the forest, you noticed that your danger sense was alert but it wasn't quite clear where it was coming from. Now it is crystal clear: Your senses tell you that this creature in front of you is dangerous to you. You might expect something bad to happen. [You met a new creature. Next time one of these is near, your danger sense might be more accurate in depicting the danger.]

F O R S I M O N
All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess. You may ignore this information if you like.

˃ [Before Entering] Through your Intuition, you notice Zhalia being nervous about the woods which quickly shifts into excitement. Her intentions don't seem malicious as she walks you into the forest but you notice that there is more to it than just collecting herbs. Some emotions and intentions are unclear but you feel that she is aware of something you seem unable to determine as of yet.

˃ [Upon Meeting The Creature] If Simon is still suspicious about Zhalia at this point, he could decide to tune into his Intuition once more to see if he picks up on something. This would require him to not run from the encounter or attack the creature for the moment as he needs to focus on it. [You may also try to lean into your intuition about any other character if Simon deems it necessary.]

[Blizz]

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Location ⋗ The Forest of Doom. Interactions ⋗ McDonald @Bartimaeus | Simon @Prosaic | Manon @PatientBean | Phalko @CasLink School of Magic ⋗ Abjuration & Evocation Items ⋗ A handful of Nettle	_

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Everybody seemed to be getting along just fine at the edge of the forest, there was something ominous about it. The fog was thick enough that someone could slice it apart with a knife, but Zhalia didn't seem bothered by it, and there was safety in numbers. Stormy chose to follow them in. If nothing else, they wouldn't get turned around and accidentally walk further in with this many people, right? As they all stepped deeper into the fog, Stormy managed to pick up some clumps of nettle that he managed to spot between the tendrils of fog. It felt quieter than anything he had ever witnessed before; The school was usually full of loud children, the coven itself was full of life in its own way, but this? It felt like there was nothing more than five living things in the woods, not a sound or the slightest trace of a disturbance beyond their collective presence. Nothing about it felt off exactly, just peaceful.

Just the sounds of their footsteps alone felt louder than usual, like someone was stomping against his ears. As they walked deeper in, the fog was getting too thick to see the ground as it snaked around their legs like liquid water. He wasn't able to find much, but Stormy didn't want to get left behind, so he kept up with them. He heard Zhalia say something, but before he could ask, they were no longer alone. Out from the side of the tree came a black shape, not much bigger than a dog or maybe a wolf. There was little light in the forest at this hour, but its pale eyes were as visible as a full moon through the gloom. And its gaze made Stormy's blood run ice cold the second he locked eyes with it. There were usually two reactions a person had to danger, one was to fight it, and the other was to put distance between it and themselves. Stormy did neither.

A Black Shuck. Shit. He read about magic and all the accompanying subjects about as much as a cat slept- constantly. He rarely ever heard much about these things. Okay. Do something. That's a dog. Dogs don't like being threatened, right? He wanted to turn around and run, but his legs didn't want to move. Instead, he shrunk inwards slightly, keeping his arms folded towards himself, bent down slightly to try and not make any sudden movements. What did they do again? They trap you, they kill you if they get you. How? Come on- How? Say something already. His eyes flicked over to Zhalia, who seemed calm enough that it was like the creature wasn't even there. That certainly made an impression, and helped ease Stormy out of his freeze slightly. She's not scared, how bad is this?

They drain people, right? Drain. Drain- Do it. Just-

Seeing that at least one person was composed in this shook him out of the "freeze" response to do something. One hand went forward in a rushed motion. A soft, sea-green glow came into existence in front of the creature, then another two behind it. The lights solidified into transparent, circular shapes that rang against each other. Across the surface of the disc emerged patterns resembling chains colored black against the green backgrounds. They were shields; of Abjuration magic known as chromatic barriers. Black was the color for Necromancy. Stormy assumed, based on what he could slightly recall, that this thing intended to suck the life out of them, so he tried to cage it in anti-Necromancy shields. There was, of course, the possibility that it could simply leap over them, or smash the shields, since they weren't intended for stopping physical damage, let alone the wrong type of magic; Assuming Abjuration magic could even stand a chance against this thing.

And then Stormy loud out a breath of air. "That's not holding forever." He said with a voice implying calmness, which betrayed the lack thereof he was still feeling. "What the hell is this thing? What do we do? Anybody?" He asked the group as a whole, to no one in particular. Normally, he wasn't the type to get scared, but the look in that creature's eyes cut right through him. It felt wrong to be stared at with those eyes, even as it was still looking at him. It felt even worse to look back.

[PatientBean]

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Location ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Zhalia @Benzaiten, Simon @Prosaic, Phalko @CasLink, Scott @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Enchantment, Abjuration & Divination Items ⋗ N/A

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Manon filtered out the comments from the others as her Danger Sense continued to run. Manon scanned her surroundings. The forest, often in lore and history, was a place of mystery and danger. How many times had a young girl gone missing only to have her body found in the forest? How many cults have had meetings to discuss dark dealings with their chosen leader in the forest? How many sacrifices to deities beyond their comprehension have happened in a dark forest?

However, the forest, despite its dark setting, did not really frighten Manon. When you grew up with a family o those who often ran towards darkness, you learned that a simple environment could not cause fear.

It was the things the forest hid that one should be afraid of.

As if on cue from some unreliable narrator, the fog around their ankles gave way to a shadow. "No," thought Manon, "Not a shadow. A monster." Before them, the shadow gave way to a form. Manon felt her Danger Sense go ravage. The creature before them appeared like a black dog. Manon called upon some of her knowledge of otherworldly forces, but this being was something the average user, especially one versed in Divination, could recognize. A Black Shuck, often associated with death, meant dark things were on the horizon.

Manon knew they would not be able to fight this thing. Though one of them (the handsome wizard named Scott) had pulled up a shield. Quick thinking, to be sure, but it would not last. "I suggest we leave the forest and tell someone. If this creature is skulking in the forest, it is best if the community is made aware to set up protection." Manon backed up a bit. She glanced at Zhalia, who by all accounts, appeared unfazed by the creature before them. "What is her deal?" Manon thought to herself.

If they had any hopes of surviving this encounter, they needed to be gone before the creature got through that shield.

[Prosaic]

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Location ⋗ The Patch. Interactions ⋗ Zhalia Ramshorn @Benzaiten, Manon D'aureville @PatientBean, Scott Wheeler @Blizz, Phalko Ahn @CasLink School of Magic ⋗ Divination & Illusion Items ⋗ Suit / Crutches	_ _

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Fear sunk into his chest.

Simon Hart was many things. A gifted hacker, a skilled clairvoyant, and a man who could make a mean spaghetti. He was not a fighter. None of his abilities were even useful in a fight, he knew that better than anyone. The sight of the Shuck fills him to the brim with terror and he draws back a step, watching it with wide, fearful eyes. He needed to go, he needed to get out of here before it had the chance to strike.

His suspicions against Zhalia have solidified, become a mass in the back of his mind. She seems unphased by the appearance of the beast, watching it in breathless silence. Of course, her unmoving frame could be a near clone of his own, he's gone so still that he could pass for a thing made of stone but--

Isn't it quite odd that it happened when she was obscuring her feelings?

There's a glimmer of blue and he steps back at it, bringing an arm up to guard his face unthinkingly. It's not until Scott speaks that he realizes there's a barrier between their group and the beast. His stomach drops all the same and he swallows down the bile rising up his throat. "I can't fight that thing," he says this clearly. His voice does not reflect the way that his heart is slamming in the back of his throat. "I don't fight. My magic is no good for fighting."

And it's right about now that he wishes he could cloak himself out of sight. He doesn't but he can't help wanting to.

A part of him wants to try to look further into Zhalia, to try to understand the recognition on her face at the sight of the monster that stands beyond them. He wants to press for more context. He's not certain he has the focus to do so but it presses at the back of his mind, begging for his attention. "I can try to cloak the group, I'm not entirely certain how well it'll hold but I can try."

He had not ever had a reason to use his cloaking on any entity larger than himself, he doubted he'd be successful in doing so but that didn't mean he was unwilling to give it a shot. Simon Hart was selfish by nature, but he was... realistic. He understood that the greater group meant more than a single person. As much as he despised it.

[CasLink]

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Location ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Zhalia @Benzaiten, Simon @Prosaic, Manon @PatientBean, Scott @Blizz, Hanna [mentioned], McDaniel [mentioned], School of Magic ⋗ Transmutation & Conjuration Pronous ⋗ they/them Items ⋗ pouch with sand, pouch with various treats for rats	___

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They collected most of the celandine at the edge of the forest beneath some bushes. Handing them to Zhalia, Phalko was curious to see how the soup would compare to the one they grew up with. While they tried to put on an adventurous facade, unease crept more and more over Phalko, similar to the fog creeping over the forest floor. Phalko was left with that feeling since the conversations died down the deeper the group walked and the trees swallowed them up. The feeling of late night paranoia and doing something forbidden. "And what did I tell you three", they remember appa berating them and their cousins every Samhain, tell someone where you go, look out for each other, and don't go into the forest, unless you want something to eat you. They remembered all the warnings and the threats to cheeky children, the forest being the boogeyman for all the young witches of Bennington. No one knows we're here now though.

The creature that crawled out from the shadows in front of them looked like it ate people. The black shuck was something they learned about in school. And whereas teens tried to make fun scaring eachother with it, their teachers kept a stern face. Telling them what to do, should they ever have the misfortune to cross paths with it. In the first moment Phalko freezed, caught staring into those cold white eyes. They struggled to drag their eyes further downward on the shuck's body. "I'm with Manon on this. Try to avoid eye contact with it. Cloaking seems wise.", they told the group. Instinctivly their hand moved to the sand pouch on their hip as they stepped behind Stormy and closer to Simon. "I'd offer a sword to fight it, but I doubt that'll help against this specter." They cast a look a Zhalia, who was furthest away from the group and had not spoken since the shuck appeared, her eyes unmoving. "Do you have any better idea than retreat, Zhalia? You know about things like this, about necromancy, right?"

[Blizz]

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Location ⋗ The Patch. Interactions ⋗ McDonald @Bartimaeus | Simon @Prosaic | Manon @PatientBean | Phalko @CasLink School of Magic ⋗ Abjuration & Evocation Items ⋗ ???	_

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Regarding the subject of Abjuration magic, Stormy believed there were two types of problems. There were the kind of problems that could be solved with Abjuration. Those were problems such as a witch deciding to commit a crime and transmute a nearby innocent individual into an obituary. In those cases, having the ability to metaphorically say "no" to fireballs, familiars and necromantic energy bent on depriving you of your will to live was life-saving. There were also the kind of problems that Abjuration could not solve; Fizzling out fireballs or banishing a creature back to where it came from were nice, but they rarely did much against physical harm outside of healing. In Stormy's case, he had tricks up his sleeve for both sides of the coin, but that required more than one thing to go right in the current situation, neither of which were on the table for getting to safety and away from the Black Shuck.

His chromatic barriers were more oriented to less physical attacks, but for now, they served as insulation between the evil hound and their throats. The other person, Phalko, suggested avoiding eye contact. That would explain the stare it had. "Manon's right, Lina needs to know this thing is here. If we can get out of here with cloaking, it's worth trying. I can leave the barriers long enough for us to get away from it- I don't have to actively maintain them, but they'll dissolve on their own eventually if I don't. Ten minutes max if I don't pay attention to them." Without his chains, he couldn't use magic at his best. Of all the times to not carry magic anchor chains on your arms, it had to be when they took a detour during a holiday.

"Zhalia? You seem pretty calm about this. Do you know something about that creature we don't?" He asked, trying to avoid looking directly at the hound, since eye contact seemed to be part of its method. He wasn't so much of a fighter as he was a defender. Stormy could keep it at bay for a while, but that was the only thing he could reliably do in this situation. If the cage failed, he was out of options.

[PatientBean]

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Location ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Zhalia @Benzaiten, Simon @Prosaic, Phalko @CasLink, Scott @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Enchantment, Abjuration & Divination Items ⋗ N/A

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Manon knew deep within her that there was no way they could fight back against this creature. She had no real offensive magic (though some could be used in a pinch), and she expected that the others didn't have much to help either. Simon even voiced that he didn't fight. She felt a bit of shame coming from a family of well-known protectors of the French countryside and, here she was, faced with danger with no hope of quelling it.

Zhalia, on the other hand, appeared, unlike the others. While she was filled with a deep fear, Zhalia appeared almost....calm? Scott noticed it too and voiced his opinion. Manon glanced at Zhalia, waiting for a response.

"A cloak may not work. If word about this thing is to be believed, the fact we have already seen it means we are in danger. I can also throw up some barriers as backup, but I highly suggest we leave now. The more time we waste, the faster we become prey." Manon stepped back a bit, her eyes still on Zhalia. Waiting for the girl to respond to either the creature or the question posed.

Manon felt unease now. Not just for the creature, but now for those, she was traveling and living with.

[Benzaiten]

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█ location: the forest ♫ ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

The glaring white eyes, empty holes in its dark foggy form, stared into the nothingness before it until they fixated on its chosen prey. Through the barrier of shielding thrown up in a protective manner by Scott, the beast's eyes lay on Simon. The white hues glimmered for a moment as the dog bared its teeth which were just as white and shapeless as its eyes. The impact of unseen necrotic magic on the force field could be felt by Scott alone, to anyone else the attack occurred without their knowledge. The beast let out a low, deep growl followed by a very silent but menacing snarl. Its gaze hit Stormy. The necrotic energy pressing into the protective shield invisible to everyone's eyes. The dog-shaped creature began to pace, a few steps up and a few steps down, and then POUNCED straight at the magic shield. The physical impact on the shield sent shockwaves through it, the barrier visibly trying to restrain the impact and sustain its form. As the characters on the other side of the shield began to come to the realization that this creature might just break through, the beast made for another pounce that might just break the barrier protecting them. ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

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Location ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Simon @Prosaic, Manon @PatientBean, Phalko @CasLink, Stormy @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Necromancy, Illusion & Divination Items ⋗ 1 Dagger, small component pouch	_

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OOC Note: Zhalia's post begins where I left off on her last post, this is before the creature pounces.

Everything turned into chaos. Zhalia was still staring at the beast, her heart pounding though she kept her body still and calm. The fog still danced around her fingertips as she froze in her kneeling position. She had been wrong. And she had been right. She had though she had recognized the fog, but it wasn't what she thought. And she had been right in thinking it was impossible. They had used fog in her coven at times, similar like this, as a foreboding sign, as a way to obscure themselves when on the hunt.

The creature that stood in front of them was none Zhalia had ever seen before and from the reaction, she could tell neither of her companions had met with such a beast either. Manon was the first to suggest they run and Zhalia felt like it was the best choice. But it was against her curious nature to just get up and bolt. Simon would be of no help, he insisted himself. He can't run on these crutches either.

Zhalia slowly lifted her body off the floor to stand, feeling relatively safe with the protective shield between them and the beast. Its eyes set on Simon right as Phalko mentioned swords. Zhalia's face turned to them sharply. Her fingers were clutching her own dagger. She hadn't even noticed how she had pulled it from her boot. It wasn't safe to ask for a sword right now. And where would Phalko have it? In their room? That wouldn't help them. Zhalia set her eyes onto the beast and looked past the obvious into the magical.

The moment this beast had stepped close enough, she had known its presence. Necromancy was her playing field and she could recognize a being of necrotic energy when she saw one. Scott, the one who set up the barrier, a smart witch it seemed, asked her what she knew about the beast. Whether she knew more than them. "This is not a demonic creature. It's necrotic but I haven't seen such a thing before." Her sense to determine any type of undead seemed to fail her. "It's not a mythic creature. This dog is undead. I can't tell what it is." Was it a ghost? Was it a reanimated corpse? What magic brought you forth?

In that moment the beast jumped at the barrier, Zhalia instantly lifted her dagger and pressed her feet into the ground. Her free hand ready to cast magic. "I suggest we leave. Right now." She turned on her heel. Everything in her screamed not the turn her back to the enemy but she pressed the feeling down. She could not win a fight with these people around, not without casualties. As she began to quicken her pace, she watched the others react. Should they attempt the same, she would run out of the woods with them. She knew the way. The day she got lost in the woods was yet to come. And once they made it out of the forest, she would have to deal with a more unpleasant thing than this monster... Lina Calvo.

[Blizz]

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Location ⋗ The Patch. Interactions ⋗ McDonald @Bartimaeus | Simon(Safeguarded)@Prosaic | Manon @PatientBean | Phalko @CasLink School of Magic ⋗ Abjuration & Evocation Items ⋗ ???	_

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Fan-fucking-tastic. A zombie dog looking for a snack on someone's mortal coil.

Stormy could feel the pressing of necromancy against the barriers. It was like water crashing against the hull of a ship, pressing it inwards only to wash away in the drowning power of Abjuration. The black chain-like patterns across the barriers rumbled with the impact in the sense a piece of sheet metal might react when struck with a hammer, but it wasn't until the beast slammed against them that Stormy could feel just how much of a life span the shields would have left. When the Shuck crashed against one of the shields, it flexed and let out a metallic whine, as if a church bell had rung submerged underwater. The sound echoed through the dead silent forest, and the others accompanying Stormy might have felt the ground jolt slight from the impact. When it made a second leap against the shield, the sound was much sharper, and something broke away; A splinter of the glowing shield was knocked loose and fell to the ground with a flicker, disintegrating like glass into nothingness. There was now a jagged hole in part of a shield...

A hole that its gaze could potentially pass through unfiltered if it was smart enough to realize.

"Necromancy. Okay. Those shields aren't holding much longer- We need to get out of here. It's trying to drain us with that stare, I can feel it trying to get past the shields, and if it keeps breaking them, we're in trouble." Stormy looked over and saw that one of them was on crutches. Fuck. "Simon, here-" Stormy shuffled over towards Simon and touched him on the shoulder, causing a seafoam-green light to spread across him, eventually covering his whole body. He glowed in the night like a campfire. Simon might feel whatever necromantic energy he was being exposed to recede once the shell of magic covered him.

"You can't run on those, and it might try to go after you first. This'll keep you from getting frozen by it, but I can't do this for everyone. I'm going to slow it down, but Zhalia's right. We need to move. Let's go." Stormy turned and started to leave, trying to move just slow enough that Simon, however fast he could move, wouldn't be left behind. As long as the Black Shuck didn't break out too soon and sink its teeth into Simon, he was relatively safe from its gaze. The barriers would hold for up to ten minutes without damage once Stormy stopped concentrating on them, which was right now.

[CasLink]

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Location ⋗ The Forest Interactions ⋗ Zhalia @Benzaiten, Simon @Prosaic, Manon @PatientBean, Scott @Blizz School of Magic ⋗ Transmutation & Conjuration Pronous ⋗ they/them Items ⋗ pouch with sand, pouch with various treats for rats	___

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Phalko flinched when the hound threw itself against Stormy's barricade but tried to not react the second time when the shield chipped. Better to not let the monster know it made some damage and that they were outmatched. Running was the only option. But what could they do, and how could Phalko help the others and increase their little group's chance of survival. Time was of the essennce. It clicked in their mind. As Manon and Stormy pointed out, their community needed to be warned. They in turn required shelter and protection. Phaklo mulled it over in their head, trying to guess how far they walked into the forest, to factor in the terrain and their slow pace. They went less than a mile, that they knew, possibly just more than half with the brush, their conversation and Simon's crutches. Only one of those things stood in Phalkos way now. Though straining themselves as extremly as they planned to would bite them in the ass later, they prefered that to the the fangs of the undead monster or worse. "I will run ahead, teleport as far as I can and alert others to us", they let the others know before taking off.

They navigated their way through the trees at high speed, almost on autopilot, aware that Zhalia was right behind. Whenever Phalko tripped over a bramble they caught themselves just fast enough to keep their momentum up. After what felt like ten minutes they noticed some other sounds beside their own breath and running feet. The opressive silence of the forest was broken again by some songbird, they couldn't be far from the wall now. Let's see what I've got in me, they challenged themselves and took their first jump through space. Phalko's body tingled afterwards but they tried to stay oriented. Concentrating on a clear spot roughly 30 feet ahead from them they bend the ground they were standing on closer to it. Goosebumps begun rising on their skin as the earth under them changed again. They ignored the dryness of their mouth, filling their mind with only one goal: Forward. They repeated this many more times, disregarding they body's pleas to slow down, to give it a break, teleporting more and faster than they had before today. As they saw the hole in the wall they smiled through the exhaustion and strained their eyes to make out their destination. Standing at the back of the covenstead they screamed into the night with what felt like their last breath: "Help! Anyone, help us, we're at the hole in the wall, it's coming from the forest!". They believed and hoped that their voice was heard and they slumped to the ground against the wall of the building. Their body felt numb and the air in their lungs painful while they watched the forest and waited for the others to make it out.