[center][i]A collaborative post by [@Oxenfree], [@Lauder] and [@Famotill][/i][/center]

Heinrich would have gone even more pale if he already wasn’t, his hands already at the sides of his head to cup his ears though it did little against a banshee’s screech. “[color=snow]A banshee?,[/color]” he echoed Elias, frantically looking around, fear back to take hold over his being as he had heard tales of Banshees slaughtering those of the Order. “[color=snow]This place was a trap!,[/color]” he exclaimed over the horrid screeching before looking at the stairs.

“[color=snow]Tiefling, with me!,[/color]” Heinrich commanded, as if he had authority over the group or as if his family name still had power that he could command. The Von Wolfram ran up the stairs, going to the study and peering through the broken window to see if he could get site of the banshee that was tormenting them.

 “[color=hotpink]Red eyes![/color]” Rose shouted as she burst into the study behind them, pistol in one hand and an open book in the other. “What the hell is going on?”

Heinrich almost did not hear Rose’s shout over the damned screeching of the banshee, and, while under normal circumstances he would not answer to the name ‘Red eyes’, he turned to look at Rose. “[color=snow]We have a damned banshee outside! I’m going to see if I can use magic to kill it from one of the upstairs windows!,[/color]’ he exclaimed before his mind registered the pistol in Rose’s hand. “[color=snow]I’d recommend you use that thing to help![/color]” He turned back to race up the stairs in order to get to the study. 

Rose thrust the book into Heinrich’s chest to stop him running past her. “[color=hotpink]I found this in the master bedroom next to some sort of strung-up sacrifice victim,[/color]” she shouted, “[color=hotpink]If it has anything to do with this banshee, figure it out before our eardrums burst.[/color]” She shoved the book into his hands and raised her pistol. “[color=hotpink]I’m gonna go shoot a ghost, see if that works[/color].”

The book, worn from years of neglect, was immediately recognizable to Heinrich as a [color=8882be][b]grimoire[/b][/color]. It’s gruff black leather felt weighty in the mage’s hand despite it’s mangled state. Though many of the incantations inside were worn the bloody fingerprints lining the used pages were conspicuous. Beneath the stains of grime and blood was an incantation. It was clearly foreign. Heinrich’s recent foray into the arcane gave him enough insight to recognize the text as an archaic form of elven. He couldn’t make out all of the words, but the apparatus for which the incantations were cast seemed obvious. [color=a0410d][b]Blood magic[/b][/color] used for the purposes of a protection spell. 

[i]But why would a spell such as this bind the users to the residency?[/i]

Another blighted scream from outside the manor is enough to rattle Elias. “[color=olive]Fucking pits,[/color]” he shouted from the foyer. The warden turned to back towards Hadar. “[color=olive]If the mages can’t put an end to this madness, you and I will bloody gut the bitch ourselves.[/color]” His jaw quivered with a ferocity as if steeling himself for the impending mayhem to come. A raspy moan from the creature was the only answer to the warden’s decree. 

Heinrich read through what he could in order to learn more about the spell, though it was more skimming so that he would find something to end the binding spell. But knowing blood magic and its properties, he knew that there would likely be a blood seal somewhere that could be broken. He looked around him, before his eyes settled on the people that made up their party. “[color=snow]We need to find the glyph that makes up this spell, only then can we get out of here,[/color]” Heinrich relayed, loud enough to get their attention. 

“[color=hotpink]Brilliant, you find it, I’ll get its attention,[/color]” Rose said, fixing the match cord to her musket, which she’d stopped to grab when the banshee started shrieking. Without another word, she dashed up the steps, looking for a window she could get a shot out of. 

[hr]


[hider=Heinrich]
Heinrich nodded and ran to the master bedroom, assuming that the glyph would likely be close to the sacrifice.

With the foresight of one knowledgeable in the art of adjuration magic Heinrich looked frantically for any trace of a blood glyph typical of [color=a0410d][b]hemomancy[/b][/color]. Much to his chagrin there were no signs of any glyph, here. All that was there to greet the young [color=firebrick][b]Astorian[/b][/color] was the same grizzly seen that Rose had just reported on. Interestingly, the hands of the victim were nowhere to be seen. Other than that there was little to make note of.
[/hider]
 


[hider=Rose]
Upon heading upstairs the draft from inside the study was enough to catch Rose’s attention. A [color=mediumpurple]broken window[/color] was all that she’d needed to line up a shot. The right-handed window would suffice. It looked out into the courtyard of the manor. The screams that had rippled through the manor seemed to die down if only for a few moments. Looking out the window there was no creature, no phantom nor monster to behold. Twas only the wind that greeted Rose.

The wind blew with a quiet fury as if it’s currents had been perturbed by some malevolent force. 

The broken glass upon the window was sharp to the touch, and it’s cracking was the only sound to accompany the wind outside. 

Except, the window wasn’t cracking. 

What had sounded like wind one moment before was suddenly a horrid gasp. The loud screech of the banshee rang out once more...[i] directly above Roselyn[/i]. It’s horrid, elongated, blackened claws were dug deep into the stone-walled manor. It laid against the surface of the estate, spider-like in its approach.

Its lunge was quick and unpredictable as it sought to rip the gunslinger’s head from her shoulders. 

...

As if by protection of [color=00a99d][b]Minerva[/b][/color] herself the same magic that repelled Elias was enough to push back the banshee before it could strike. It let out a vicious scream as it hit the ground hard. 

Immediately, Rose took aim at the prone monster and fired, crouching down to reload without waiting to judge the first shot’s effect on its target.

The lead ball ripped through air as it barreled through window with a loud thunderous crack.  The marksmen’s shot was enough to blast the beast in its left arm. It’s only answer to the sudden damage was an even worse scream than before. It’s gaze shifted upwards towards Roselyn as if marking its prey. As quickly as the banshee had appeared. Soon too was it gone from Rose’s sight, but it’s distant moans were enough to quell any doubts about its lingering presence. 

Automatically, Rose pulled the scouring stick from below the barrel of the musket and began to tamp down the next shot, scanning out the window for a sign of the monster. “[color=hotpink]I lost it,[/color]” she called out without turning. “[color=hotpink]I don’t think it can get in![/color]”
[/hider]