[center][hider=Cast][img]https://i.imgur.com/6qHrGvs.jpg?1[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/50eMiVQ.jpg?1[/img] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/217175409903534080/310915267373039616/coollogo_com-32460972.png[/img] [/hider][/center] [center][h1][i]Transmutation and Conjuration[/i][/h1] [h3][i]Part 5[/i][/h3][/center] [center][b]Location: Shadow of the Moon, Occult Curiosities – Lost Haven, Maine Time: 6:00 p.m. - Three Days after HoH Defeat[/b][/center] [hr] Madalena led the expedition of three - four including Holt - through a labyrinth of alleyways leading away from Shadow of the Moon, further into Chinatown. She stumbled over nearly every discarded beer bottles and poorly stacked boxes, swearing into the journal she’d kept glued to her face. [color=ffe4b5]”Maybe put the journal down for a second,”[/color] Marie called from behind, struggling to match Madalena’s pace despite being at least a head taller. [color=ffe4b5]”How will you know what you’re looking for if you can’t see it?”[/color] Madalena stopped abruptly, surveying her surroundings. They’d walked almost a block away from her store, edging closer to the flower shop where the Witchfinder and his Court held counsel. She silently hoped Charlie hadn’t noticed. If their mission drew them too close to the Winter Court, they would be ill-equipped for a fight. Charlie brought up the rear, leisurely following behind with the sure tap of her staff hitting the ground. As they passed the odd toppled box and other things, she shuffled them against the alley walls, examining the odd piece of trash or broken item, scooping it up with her staff, transmuting it on contact, curiously examining it before tossing it. Maddi took the lead, letting her concentrate on where they were going. Charlie knew she could bring them back to the shop if either of them got lost. She knew Lost Haven like the back of her hand. “[color=honeydew]Have some faith, Marie. Lady Hex knows what she’s doing.[/color]” Charlie assured her with a grin which disappeared as she wrinkled her nose, reacting to an upturned garbage can. She kicked it back into place with one smooth movement. [color=BE1359]”Yeah!”[/color] Madalena replied, somewhat unconvinced. The trio had been wandering for around twenty minutes without any insight as to the nature of their search. Maddi combed through the journal, analyzing the charcoal drawings, hoping they would somehow point them in the right direction. The first of three large illustrations depicted a large, dead tree at the edge of the frame, overlooking a flat plane. In the foreground, a trio of creatures danced around a bonfire, while the sun set in the background. She was unsure how literally she was meant to interpret these images, given the multiple layers of complexity they had already unwoven. Looking up from the drawing, she tried to overlay the image in her mind with the alley, looking for similarities. This had been her method of uncovering the astral map of Lost Haven, and she was fairly certain the same could be applied in their current situation. Sure enough, a few images stuck out. The alley began to open to the street, a series of closely coupled yet relatively short businesses that provided the perfect window to view the sun setting over Lost Haven. On the corner leading into the alley, a tight space between two old apartment buildings, stood a broken street lamp, whose post was slightly gnarled, likely dented by a drunk driver and never fixed. A few feet ahead, hidden behind a shoddy dumpster, Maddi noticed the singed lip of a barrel, used as a makeshift heatsource for some poor soul left to wander the streets, though no other remnants of the homeless could be seen. [color=BE1359]”I think,”[/color] she turned to face the others, presenting the illustration to Marie, then Charlie, [color=BE1359]”I think we’re here.”[/color] [color=90ee90][i]”And where is ‘here’,”[/i][/color] Holt queried from above, floating down from the rooftops as an ethereal raven, resting on Marie’s shoulder. Marie chuckled, [color=ffe4b5]”Puck really gave you two the runaround, didn’t he? The reward had better be worth this deranged scavenger hunt.”[/color] “[color=honeydew]He’s been forcing us to think outside the box. I could spend the rest of the day going up and down the streets of the city and be happy ‘cause I figured out the key.[/color]” Placing her hands on her knees and turning her head sideways to view the ‘tree’ and ‘fire’, “[color=honeydew]I gotta say this is a [i]stretch[/i], but you know what? We don’t get anywhere without breaking a few eggs.[/color]” Digging out the key from her back pocket she walked next to Maddi, tugging the journal from her hands and replacing it with the key. “[color=honeydew]Just tell me what to do. Dust off a secret door, reveal a lever? Name it.[/color]” Charlie said, squinting down at the site. She noticed faint lines in the pavement and ran her fingers through the groove, gritty and still warm from the afternoon sunlight. It appeared as if it cut up and through as opposed to being drawn while the cement settled, looping in circles before touching the lamp or weaving under the barrel, disappearing behind the buildings. “[color=honeydew]Or it’s just on the surface for once.[/color]” Unaware of the reactionary start going on behind her, turning at the sound she suttered, “[color=honeydew]Hey-[/color]” Upon touching Maddi’s skin, the key began to react, hovering just above her palm and spinning counterclockwise, producing a low hum that echoed through the alley. Slowly, it gained speed, vibrating with power, small sparks cascading down Madalena’s hand from a dim light atop the key. All around them, something felt amiss. The air felt heavier, the walls closer, and as each luminescent spark touched the hot pavement, dust and grime began to fold back, and the world began to unfurl. Shadows danced along the walls, coalescing into a singular point near the singed barrel, becoming like a charcoal drawing of a cat. The contents of the barrel were suddenly set ablaze, a pillar of flame rising up over the alley, threatening to expose them. In that same instance, the key lept from Maddi’s hand and plunged itself into the inferno, extinguishing it. Madalena stared, open mouthed. [color=BE1359]”That was . . . dramatic.”[/color] she sped over to the barrel, looking up at the cat on the wall, which appeared to be peering down into the vessel. Carefully, she bent over, mindful of the sharp metal, reaching her hand into the bottom of pulling free an ornate trunk, a little larger than a jewelry box, with the alchemical key jutting out from a lock on the front. Marie watched, awe stricken. Despite all she had seen, grand displays of Puck’s cunning still left her speechless. [color=ffe4b5]”That wasn’t nearly as complicated as I was expecting.”[/color] She turned to Charlie. [color=ffe4b5]”I guess this is where your test ends and ‘Lady Hex’s’ begins.”[/color] “[color=honeydew]Seems so.[/color]” She replied, looking over the barrel, the smell of brimstone tingling her nose and the taste of sulfur settling in the back of her throat. A distinct chill ran across her arms as she looked up to the image of the cat, staring at it. Tearing her eyes away to look at the box; a little whistle of appreciation at the craftsmanship escaped her. “[color=honeydew]That’s a piece of art, but go on - open it up see whats inside.[/color]” She gestured to the box, “[color=honeydew]The curiosity is gonna kill me at this rate.[/color]” Madalena nodded, turning the key, listening to the tiny tumblers shift until an audible and satisfying “click” propped open the lid. Carefully balancing the box in one hand and lifting the rop with the other, she revealed two oddities resting in similarly sized indentations within a velvet-lined interior. The first was a wooden carving of a cat, roughly sized and shaped to a feline’s actual dimensions. It looked almost feral, yet held a strange regality Maddi couldn’t place. Next to this sat a sizeable brass bell, seemingly unrelated. Beneath each item was a worn placard. [color=BE1359]”The effigy to Malkin,”[/color] she read aloud, [color=BE1359]”and a bell from a highland cow. W-what?”[/color] she looked at Charlie, then turned to face Marie and Holt. [color=BE1359]”Is this what I think it is?”[/color] Marie moved closer, scanning the box’s contents with a smile. [color=ffe4b5]”Well, the bell is a little strange, but the name is a dead giveaway.”[/color] [color=90ee90][i]”I wondered why the Weird Trio had been absent for so long. As is often the case, it appears Robin Goodfellow was hoarding yet another collection of magical artifacts. Congratulations.”[/i][/color] Charlie looked between the witches and the effigy, confusion writ all over her face. “[color=honeydew]Uh. . .[/color]” She began, whispering to Madalena embarrassed by not being able to follow the conversation, “[color=honeydew]What the fuck is any of that supposed to mean? In layman’s terms if you wouldn’t mind.[/color]” Madalena’s eyes were bright with excitement and eager anticipation. [color=BE1359]”Malkin was a popular name for cat familiars in the 17th century, but this particular one belongs to a ‘set,’ a collection of spirits commonly found together known as the Weird Trio. I read about them not too long ago. Apparently, they served the Wyrd Sisters from [i]Macbeth[/i]. Some even claim that they were the Wyrd Sisters, spirits disguised as witches, or were the inspiration for them in the play. This is what Puck was leading us to, his final gift to me!”[/color] [color=ffe4b5]”The Weird Trio are powerful in their own right,”[/color] Marie continued the thought, [color=ffe4b5]”but when bonded to a witch, they embody the essential elements of our craft. In other words, Lady Hex is about to get an upgrade.”[/color] “[color=honeydew]That’s great![/color]” her excitement matching Maddi’s, “[color=honeydew]I was worried for a second that we were on a goose chase.[/color]” Charlie stole another look at ‘Malkin,’ drawn into the effigy the same way she was with the imagery above the barrel. She took a guess, “[color=honeydew]Maybe the bell is what wakes him er… her?[/color]” Pausing for a second, “[color=honeydew]Wakes them up.[/color]” She ventured that’d be the reason why the two pieces were together. It was better a bell than shaking a pouch of cat treats. “[color=honeydew]The other two will be the last two locations, right?[/color]” Madalena nodded. [color=BE1359]”At least I hope so. To have the Weird Trio at my disposal, the Witchfinder General doesn’t stand a chance!”[/color] she flashed a quick grin to Charlie and Marie before pointing to the journal in Charlie’s hands. [color=BE1359]”That invocation at the back must be the binding spell for the familiars.”[/color] [color=ffe4b5]”The bell likely calls the spirit into the effigy.”[/color] Marie echoed Charlie’s comment, turning to her once again to explain. [color=BE1359]”Familiars aren’t usually summoned by the witch, they’re either inherited, gifted by a tutelary spirit, or choose the witch they wish to serve, but with the right conditions, you can call one up yourself. They just need two things, a vessel to house their essence, and some sort of sustenance.”[/color] [color=BE1359]”Usually blood,”[/color] Madalena nonchalantly added. Charlie pulled a face, “[color=honeydew]Of course it’s blood. If this cat grows up to be a people eating plant that’s where I’m drawing the line.[/color]” She joked elbowing Maddi a little. “[color=honeydew]Whenever you’re ready, lead the way to the next location. Don’t want ‘em to get lonely[/color]” [hr] [center][b]Location: Sherman Square – Lost Haven, Maine Time: 7:45 p.m.[/b][/center] [hr] The sparse flashing of blue and red illuminated veritable yards of neon “caution” tape, a wall to protect bystanders and awestriken onlookers from the upturned pavement, broken glass, and general chaos that fell over Sherman Square like a fine mist, blanketing the surrounding area in melancholic dread. LHPD remained in their cars, a few patrolling officers daring the street a block away. But even in its current state, a sense of normalcy began to return as adjacent businesses, those left undamaged, catered to their evening crowd, some fulfilling their nightly routine on the way home from work, some lingering with a sense of morbid curiosity. Charlie, Madalena, and Marie stood on the periphery of Sherman Center, obscured by a rough patch of greenery with budding white blossoms. A cool wind settled on the square. [color=BE1359]”We might have a problem,”[/color] Maddi reasoned, casting a wary glance at the row of patrol cars stationed haphazardly throughout the square before returning to the second illustration in her journal. Etched on the brittle pages was a figure dressed all in black, dawning a deer skull mask and holding an adder stone fastened to a string in one hand and a bowl or cup in the other. In the foreground, five wolves stood watch while an owl flew overhead. But one detail gave Madalena pause, a circle of stones with an odd glyph at their center, visible only through the hag stone’s signature hollow, far off in the distance, though there was no indication of how far. Madalena gripped the key, but nothing happened. [color=BE1359]”I guess we’re not close enough, but I don’t know how we’re supposed to just sneak by this many cops and somehow stumble onto whatever the hell this is.”[/color] Marie moved to speak, but elected to remain silent, observing Madalena and Charlie’s expressions. Holt did the same. Charlie listened while her eyes were on the patrols and surrounding areas. “[color=honeydew]Is it weird that I can barely remember when Sherman Square looked like before the attack? Seen it a million times before but now it’s hard to imagine it anyway else than what it looks like now. Probably going to be worse when we get to the university.[/color]” She leaned into her staff cheek pressed up against it while she thought. Eyes filled an unmistakable sadness, “[color=honeydew]There’s a few things we could do to distract them.[/color]” Everything around them seemed broken, as the thought crossed her mind the grip on her staff tightened. “[color=honeydew]I’d need some more supplies to make something, I could always mess with their cars but I would feel bad for ruining them. Cops are assholes but. . . You know I don’t want to be an asshole either.[/color]” Feeling their pair of eyes on her Charlie turned from the scene and looked to Marie with her brow furrowed. “[color=honeydew]What are you two staring at?[/color]” Marie smiled, eyes thoughtful, voice pitched ever so slightly. [color=ffe4b5]”Oh, nothing. Just watching the cogs turn.”[/color] She kept looking between them, then scanning the square. [color=ffe4b5]”It’s just occurred to me that perhaps I shouldn’t be so quick to offer aid, given that this is your quest to complete, afterall. God, I think I know why Puck finds this so enjoyable.”[/color] [color=BE1359]”You’ve spent too much time together,”[/color] Madalena prodded, edging ever closer to Sherman Center, stumbling over a few exposed roots and a pile of decorative rocks. From her place, she could just about make out a small park or sitting area behind the cordoned off zone. [color=BE1359]”I think that’s where we need to be,”[/color] she pointed with only partial confidence, [color=BE1359]”we just need to draw the cops’ attention away from us. Any ideas?”[/color] Madalena fielded the question to her compatriot, turning from Charlie, whose expression betrayed her usual brassy confidence, to Marie, who remained quite smug. [color=ffe4b5]”Well,”[/color] Marie spoke up, [color=ffe4b5]”I guess one more favor wouldn’t hurt. I’ll take care of them.”[/color] [color=ffe4b5][i]Holt,[/i][/color] Marie issued the mental command, [color=ffe4b5][i]steer their attention away from here.[/i][/color] Holt nodded, leaping from Marie’s shoulder and assuming the largest of his many forms, a midnight steed fitted with the witch’s saddle. Without hesitation, he sped up to the officer’s nearest Sherman Center and reared back, running around them in circles before galloping through lines of caution tape and running down the street to the other patrolling vehicles. The officers were understandably confused, some trying to corral the frenzied horse, others moving from its path and radioing their partners further down the street. Whatever course they’d decided upon, their attention was fully turned from Sherman Square. Charlie nodded, “[color=honeydew]A shadow horse is fine too.[/color]” she said so without a hint of sass or sarcasm. Sometimes that was all that was needed. The Alchemyst stepped out from behind the bushes, checking again for any cops before walking into the center of the square leading the way, skirting debris, hopping over upturned cement, holding her hand out to help Madalena and Marie cross back to flat ground. They arrived at the center surrounded by various sculptures, some broken, bullet holes pockmarking the bases as well as the art itself. Most of the huge billboard screens were dark and damaged. An otherwise lively center of the city was deserted of traffic, tourists and people. In spite of the good reason for being there, the surreal silence made Charlie incredibly uncomfortable. Madalena sped past, moving toward the circle of stone benches surrounding a now capsized decorative tree. The benches were sturdy, mostly undamaged, though a few were missing their legs. She held the key at arms length, waiting for it to spin as it had previously. Disappointingly, the key remained stationary. [color=BE1359]”What have I got wrong?”[/color] she wondered aloud, moving her eyes between the cryptic pages of her journal and the capsized circle of stones. [color=BE1359]”Oh!”[/color] she exclaimed as she hatched an idea. Placing the journal at her side, Madalena quickly retrieved the decorative stones from the nearby patch of green, hopping over the field of debris and trying not to trip. [color=ffe4b5]”You look like a madwoman, you know that?”[/color] Marie teased. [color=BE1359]”You know what they say, ‘Madness is divine,’ or something like that.”[/color] Madalena called behind her as she arranged the decorative rocks to match the glyph in the journal. Soon after, the key responded. The fallen pieces of Sherman Square began to quake and rumble as the alchemic key danced, familiar embers falling from its internal compartments as before. Dust and debris coalesced at the center of the stone circle, reforming, transmuting, becoming anew. A carved creation emerged, a chest fashioned of hardened stone. The key took its place, leaping from Madalena’s hand to cleave the statue in two and reveal the wooden trunk hidden beneath the stoney facade. Madalena stepped forward, mindful that such a display would soon gain the attention of the distracted LHPD or passersby. She turned the key, unlocking the ornate trunk to reveal another of the wooden effigies. [color=BE1359]”The effigy to Hellawin,”[/color] she read the placard beneath a wooden carving of an owl, more refined than the carving of Malkin, but possessing the same air of wildness. Next to the effigy was a large, withered bone. [color=BE1359]”and the bone of a goat born on Sunday. How . . . specific.”[/color] Charlie shielded her eyes from the sight, keeping her footing against the rumbles. Peeking out from behind her hand she looked over Maddi’s shoulder at the new effigy, feeling something similar to the other effigy. She wondered briefly why such strange things had an affect on her, unable to put her finger on the feeling - the intuition. There was no logical correlation, at least not to her. She wasn’t a witch. “[color=honeydew]Madness is divine.[/color]” Charlie echoed with a mumble. “[color=honeydew]Let’s get outta here before the cops round back around.[/color]”