[IC] The Witches Of Shipden Peak

[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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14 years ago

Madame Blanchet, a delicate name for a sturdy woman, clapped her walking stick on the board in front of her in a vain attempt to catch the attention of her students. "Attention, s'il vous plaît!" the woman uttered. "What you learn here may save your life." Manon glanced around the room that she sat in with other students, all from prominent families. While most children were taking lessons on history or math, her and her pupils were learning the ins and outs of magic as it applies to this realm. Specifically, the dangers that lurk. Her family felt it best that her and her siblings all go through this as members of the court that aid in protecting France.

"When you encounter an enemy that is more powerful than you, that you know little of, that no amount of magic or weaponry can defeat, it is best to retreat." Snickers were heard around the room. Manon assumed it was due to the nature of France not being a country known for its bravery. Most associated France with pastries and fashion, overlooking the bloody pages of the history book. Madame Blanchet smacked her stick on the desk in front of her, where two girls sat. They squeaked, eyeing the teacher with a look that said "Do you know who my parents are?" Manon hated them.

Madame Blanchet glared back. "Your lineage means little when your family receives little more than your tattered remains because you chose to joke rather than listen." Madame Blanchet went back to the front, leaving the two girls to look incredulous. Manon smirked.

"Battles may be lost, but wars can be won even so."

---

Present

The creature had attacked the barrier, sending ripples through it. It would not last much longer, if Scott were to be believed. And even then, the necrotic nature of the beast meant that it could still attack them. Phalko ran ahead of them, in what Manon felt was a vain attempt to get help, but retreat was necessary. She wasn't stupid enough to believe they could take on the creature. Simon was in no state. Scott had began to aid him in leaving, allowing Manon to turn and run back towards the keep. There, they could at least figure out what to do next. If the creature had done anything in the meantime, she could help heal and cleanse if need be.

Manon played the situation in her head, like her parents taught her. Realistically, there was little they could do. Manon, as she ran, stuck close to Scott and Simon. The two of them, together, posed a more viable target, especially Simon.

The barrier wouldn't hold longer. They just needed to be farther away when the beast got past it. If they got through this, Manon had many questions for the others.

If they got through this, of course.

[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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"Don't prioritize me."

He can't let himself be the reason these people get hurt. There's no noble bone in Simon's body, nothing that makes him more inclined to stand for anyone around him, if he were in their position, he'd have ran. There was a level of Darwinism to be acknowledged here, he was the deer with a limp and it made sense if they left him to his fate. Wolves had every right to feed, was it really fair to deprive them of what couldn't properly run from them?

--but he didn't really want to die, did he?

Not really in the sense that he had ever been able to imagine it. He had always assumed he'd go down bloody though, frankly, if it had happened like this then he wouldn't have been surprised. These people however-- there were two flanking him now. The older man with the beard and the pretty blonde with the accent. He was being supported on both sides because they wanted him to make it out of this alive.

He wondered if that was foolish, to some extent, to want to save a stranger.

Hardly as if he'd bring it up now, seeing that they were intent on escorting him to safety, on keeping the beast back. "I'm serious, you need to worry about yourself too." Which is about all he can muster, because Scott has already brought him beneath the protection of a shield. "Fuck."

In the corner of his eye, he just barely catches the flicker of Phalko retreating. One moment she's there, and in a flicker she's not. He doesn't have much experience with teleportation but he imagines it must take a lot out of a person. He can't see her blinking up ahead but he can almost feel it. There's a certain amount of determination that he imagines she must have to put forth all that effort to get back in time to warn someone. He really hopes that she doesn't burn herself out before she gets there.

There's a price to everything, even to kindness, he doesn't want to imagine what it'll be when it's all said and done.

He's moving though, as quickly as possible, carefully trying to avoid roots and rocks. His crutches will catch if he's not careful, he'll send himself sprawling. He doesn't want to make this go from bad to worse. He doesn't want to make these people carry him any further than they are. His head is sort of spinning from the idea that when this is over, someone will come to him demanding payment for something they did to help him.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

[Benzaiten]

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

It was easy to say the creature had escaped its temporary prison as something much less solid appeared to be running sometimes behind, sometimes just a few feet to their side, seemingly having caught up to them. It looked like black smoke with fast legs and glaring white eyes, a figure not decipherable as anything comprehensible. But Simon, Manon and Scott knew these eyes, they knew the chill that ran down their spines every time they got a glimpse of the dark smokey figure before it seemingly vanished - just to reappear a moment later in the corner of their eye. Chasing its prey. Just as they were about to see the end of the forest before them, their view was blocked by the creature. The smoke manifested into the figure they'd seen before. A black dog-like creature with bright white eyes shining bright. And then its gaze dropped onto Simon and the boy began to feel something pull on the very essence of his being, his soul perhaps. Since he had not experienced it before, it was hard to tell. Simon began to feel weaker the longer the gaze of the dog lingered on him, pulling all the energy from his body, slowly and painstakingly. ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

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

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Zhalia kept pace with Phalko for a moment until they jumped through literal space, teleporting themselves ahead. Though Zhalia didn't mean to slow down, she did nonetheless. Turning her head while keeping just a bit ahead of the rest of the group, making sure she kept them in her eyesight. But the shadow was haunting them. The creature was stalking them, giving them space just to taunt them with its reappearing presence. Something had to be done. She could not fight it here. She did not want to fight it here.

An undead creature I can't pin down... Her necromancy was her most trusted tool, she knew her skills, and she knew the extent of them well. Zhalia turned around once more, stopping in her tracks, a tight grip on her dagger. She studied the surrounding trees, waiting for the beast to show itself once more. Her sense for all things necromantic had clearly indicated this creature to be necromantic in nature. But she could not pin down what exactly it was. A ghost perhaps? But then I would have picked up on it... The mystery of this dog's original perplexed her. You're not an omen at all, are you? Her eyes kept slowly studying the tree line around them. Where are you?

The group caught up with her and as she began to walk again, intending to keep with their pace this time, the creature appeared right in front of them. She immediately took on a readied stance when Simon suddenly weakened and seemingly sunk into himself. Without hesitation she threw her dagger straight at the beast, aiming for its eye. The dagger went through the beast as if it was nothing but smoke and air though it had regained its solid look. The gaze of the beast whipped over to Zhalia.

A painful draining feeling immediately surfaced within every muscle of her being and she couldn't stop herself from dropping to the cold forest floor. Every cell in her body felt like it had been starved of nutrition for months though she felt no hunger. Her eyes had trouble focusing as she attempted to press herself up from the cold floor. "Run", she told the others. Every inch of her body was in a constant, dumbfounding pain that felt like it would never end. It wasn't excruciating pain but it was so tiring. Her energy was dwindling with every second. "Go, now!" She could fight the creature. She was sure she had faced worse. She would find the strength to get up. I will get up. Just get up. Do it. Move, you stupid useless muscles! She pressed her hands into the cold floor and lifted her upper body up with all the might she could muster.

[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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Everyone had broken into a dead sprint to get away from the beast. Phalko, apparently adept in Conjuration, actually teleported away. Stormy found that rather impressive. He'd have to ask them about that after this was all said and done. Keeping up with Simon, he was looking back and forth between every member of the group, but his attention was completely taken over by the Black Shuck suddenly appearing before them. There it was again- that haunting choke in the air that felt like death had taken shape and looked at them. Stormy was already preparing to raise more defensives when it vanished again, in the corner of his eyes, and off to somewhere else. He started running again once he couldn't see it. It's playing with us before it-

Stormy heard something hit the ground, and he turned around to see that Zhalia had fallen, and the beast was staring at her. Everything in his mind completely stopped, and the only thought he had left was to do whatever every Abjurer did best.

---

Class would be ending in five minutes, and the gymnasium floor had been blackened from countless attempts of Stormy's students to penetrate his defensive magic. Fireballs, small familiars, conjured firecrackers and even a skeletal cat of all things did nothing but give the janitor a long day. The magic protections prepared before this lesson held, and standing among a class of fatigued witches was a pale green dome. Inside of it was Stormy, or Mr. Wheeler as they knew him. His arms were crossed, wrapped by glowing chains saturated with magic. He looked at all of his students, visibly drained from raining utter hell upon the man who didn't even flinch behind that dome, and let it disappear so he could wrap things up.

"You all look killed. We'll stop now. You all did great, you didn't simply give up because it was too difficult. That is exactly how you improve. Jordan, the firecrackers were clever, but you'll be seeing me after class for that." Someone in the group laughed, but everyone looked absolutely tired of this. Today was the first time Stormy had brought them here to throw themself upon him. He didn’t know his Abjuration students had been practicing to this degree in their other classes, and frankly, it made him proud. ”Listen, I don't want any of you to feel discouraged for not making it past my barriers. I know you're all frustrated. This is what your own Abjuration should become one day. If one of you were inside of that dome with me, nothing- and I mean nothing would harm you. From now on, this will be a regular part of our lessons. When I test your nullification, you should aim to make them this strong. Your forcefields will be the same way if you put in the effort, and I will show you how."

”How’re we supposed to do that? You’ve got magic chains that make your magic stronger.” One student said, looking ready to fall over.

”Even if I didn’t have these chains. I would have no trouble defending myself from all of you, and I don’t say that to demean any of you. I say that, because that is what Abjuration is supposed to do. As Abjurers, you are healers, you are protectors, and you are a line of defense between those who need protection and whatever the world throws at you.”

Their teacher, which one of them had long ago nicknamed “Mr. Stormy” for the look he got in his eyes when talking about this very subject, spoke in a way that held as much conviction as his magic held strength. His students were children, and children often stopped paying attention when they got bored, but everyone gave him his undivided attention right now. ”The path to unbreakable defense is a long one, but it is worth it. As someone who studies Abjuration, it is your responsibility to make yourself into something that cannot be overpowered. Be unbreakable, and-“

---

-Be a wall that danger breaks against

Stormy turned and darted towards Zhalia, as two more of his green-black barriers manifested. One appeared in the air between her and the Shuck, and the other appeared in Stormy’s hands. Without another moment’s hesitation, he wound his arms back and hurled it towards the beast with as much force as he could manage. If the Shuck broke its attention away from Zhalia, it could have seen this and moved. If it failed to get out of the way of the flying shield, it would likely have a significant oration of its energy drained as the shield either passed through or crashed against it. Whatever it did, Stormy kept running, until he was behind the shield with Zhalia. Stormy bent down to help her to her feet. He’s carry her in his arms if he had to.

”Come on- We aren’t leaving you here. We’re almost there! I’ve got you.” In the back of his kind, he was ready to summon even more of those barriers. Stormy would strain his magic as far as it took to get everyone through this. If he had anything to say about it, he wouldn’t let that mutt land a scratch on any of them.

[CasLink]

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Location ⋗ The Forest ⋗ The Patch 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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No one came. The buildung Phalko rested against didn't answer their cry and the neighborhood was silent. The sound and beat of music could faintly be heard drifting through the streets of Shipden Peak. Phalko had troubling tuning into that noise, their blood rushing in their head, their lungs burning and their body numb. The others would arrive in a few minutes and the lead Phalko hoped to give them would be absent. They had to carry on. Center yourself, they reminded themselves from all their practice and closed their eyes. They felt like this before and pushed trough, barely standing, shaking all over and at the end of their strength. Phalko turned their mind to the fresh grass under their hands, felt the cold of night on it with their fingertips and thought of the new life emerging this time of year. They tought of the equinox and the rise of light upon them, of the festivities, of their people and of their family. The picture of the big fire replayed before their inner eye and they knew where to head next.

Phalko stood up gingerly and took a few measured breaths before looking at the wall again. Then they ran. Knowing that every second was precious they slid around the corner of the Covenstead and focused on the dimly lit path infront of them. They were wheezing when they reached the edge of the building after two jumps and tears started to form obstructing Phalkos view. They wiped them away frustrated and tired but determined. Taking another two shorter trips to get to Shipden center the alarm bells going off in their body quietened down a notch. Phalko caught a glipmse of the pavillion of the park through the trees as the music and the chatter of their community became louder. They teleported to the wooden structure and broke into a run not feeling the ground yet subconciously avoiding sticks and moving trough bushes. Almost there, just a little further. Their cardian caught in some branches and they slipped out of it and payed it no mind. They could smell the fire now and they used it as their center again, picturing it more clearly. They spotted the back of the tents and bits of orange and red, unfocused, always moving and being blocked out by the people around it. When it all came more into focus and Phalko could make out the rough shape of Lina Calvo on the side of the fire pit, they pulled from that magical force within them to make it to her, reshaping the world and their place within it to that intent. Standing next to the covenhead they got out the words: "Help, monster in the forest." Their vision was going dark as they finally felt their feet again when warmth crept back into them. Phalko felt impossibly weak but safer, they made it. The warmth turned into sharp pain and like swatting away an annoying fly, they stepped away from the edge of the fire and slumped to the ground.

[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 traversed the forest to the best of her ability, but the terrain was not ideal for a chase. They had gone in here to collect ingredients and ended up on the run. She hadn't expected the surrounding area to be dangerous, but she had grown soft. What would her family think? She chastised herself, vowing that if she survived this ordeal she would devote herself to improving her ability to combat dangers.

As she ran along with the others, Zhalia stopped. Or rather, fell. Manon turned quickly to help the girl up, eyeing the creature that seemed to move with speed and precision. "A hunter stalking its prey," she thought. However, the girl screamed for them to run. Manon knew it would ensure their survival if they left Zhalia there. The creature would have an easy target. But she knew better. She had no intention of leaving anyone behind.

Thankfully, it seemed Scott had the same idea, helping the girl up to her feet. "We are all leaving this forest," she said to the others. She turned back and began to run forward, waiting for the others to come up. She knew Scott dealing with Simon, so she did her best to stay in-step with him and Zhalia. She prepared to throw up a shield, or heal if need be, but she knew the creature was more cunning. Hopefully, Phalko had found someone in the village and help was coming.

Otherwise, this night would turn into a bloodbath.