[hr][hr][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01989753-c0d4-751e-94b6-ac932f65638b.webp[/img][hr][@Achronum][@Trainerblue192][@Morose][@Blizz][@Kirah][@PatientBean][@KazAlkemi][@kittyluna45][hr][h3][color=57F287][b]Late Morning - Sat. Nov. 2nd, 2040 [/b][/color][/h3][/center][hr]


[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019f8ac3-6b5b-719a-8dfd-7043e3f940fa.webp[/img][/center]
[sub][center]Willow, Nicky, Connie, Jake[/center][/sub]

Nicholas would usually rankle at the strange treatment his brother’s bargain had subjected him to. He enjoyed his independence and his space and Jake’s demanding, overbearing methods made him feel akin to a sheep herded by a dog. However, it was excellent timing. The terms by which he earned a favor of the shifter made Jake awkward attempts at protecting them much more manageable. At the very least, he’d have an annoying alarm if anyone or anything thought to waylay them on their journey across campus. 

Nicholas’s brows raised at Jake’s rambling, annoyance at his words bubbling inside him. [color=5b8a9a]“Warm is not something I would attribute to a mutilator of life and death. Offered an opportunity to practice with impunity, you would find yourself beneath the scalpel of your darling necromancer in a heartbeat. It would be wise to avoid owing a favor to him. You never know when your eyes may be the ones he wishes.”[/color] Nicholas offered as they approached. He wrinkled his nose at the disheveled appearance of the outside; there was a reason he preferred vampires to mangy wolves. Still he knocked politely and announced their presence before pushing the door open.  

The interior of the cottage was no less messy than its exterior - hundreds of bottles crammed onto rickety, wooden shelves, containing specimens and samples, potions and antidotes, salves and herbs - and a thousand other wonderful things. Books were open on every available surface, their pages muddied and dirtied, notes scrawled into the margins in Zéphyrine’s own short hand. It was her living space in addition to her office, yet rather than have any discernable bed, a pile of blankets and rags and clothing was strewn in one corner, more of a nest than anything else, covered with the thick, brown hair of a dog. 

[color=5b8a9a]“Zéphyrine, your assistance is-”[/color] He stopped abruptly a step beyond the doorway.  

The stench of death hung heavy in the air. 

Stretched out on the far wall, silver, thorned vines grew from the professor’s mouth. The spots where it touched had blistered and burst, a faint drip of pus trailing down across the open sores. The vines wrapped around her limbs and stretched them wide, tearing through clothes, skin, bone with a trailing of boiling, painful open sores. They anchored her to the wall, above the a large bowl of water, a pile of pebbles, and an amethyst all laid out on the ground.  

[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019f8ac3-e605-744c-ae55-a64c84bcc8c7.webp[/img][/center]
[sub][center]Barty, Callaghan, Cassie[/center][/sub]

The Observatory sat silent and dark. No brilliant night sky of past or future, of somewhere near or fantastically distant, lit the space. The space seemed to stretch and stretch and stretch - as if it had no end and no beginning; only a doorway between places for those who had no purpose being anywhere.

[hider=Barty]Familiar magic washes across Barty. It is warm and welcoming, draping like an old, worn blanket across his mind. Nicky’s magic carries the smell of tobacco, the faint patter of rain, and the creak of a rocking chair just for his brother to hear.[/hider]

[hider=Callaghan]Mikkail’s presence is loud here. His magic swirls like dust in an ancient library, his scent heavy in the air, his existence suffused into the Observatory with the weight of his fondness. Despite the danger, despite the anger, despite [i]everything[/i], Mikkail would always be here to stand beside him.[/hider] 

[hider=Cassie]It shifts at the edge of her consciousness; the Observatory is a powerful magical artifact. So powerful it may just be alive. The stones around her hum with awareness, an awareness that seems less and less pleased they are here with every step. The magic of the Observatory calls to Cassie in a way that is familiar. It feels like the beat of a butterfly wing, it sounds like glass blowing in a breeze - the book, and those that would protect it, has earned the Observatory’s ire.[/hider] 

[H1][center][color=gold]Into the Unknow[/color][/center][/h1]
[sub][center]Rohan, Finley/Dysphoria, Annika[/center][/sub]

“Hm.” Sariel accepted the paper Finley had drawn on, scrutinizing it for a long few moments. “I will compare this to other records of magic; unfortunately, attempts to cast spells derived from these simply have no effect. It may be they must be cast inside the Neverish or they are just delusions of a world we have no understanding of. If I find anything of similar note, I will share it with you for your future visits.” Sariel returned the drawing to Finley. 

“Now, it is time for your report. Telling me is all fine and dandy, but we must ensure our records are kept for future explorations! So, your next step is to document in detail your accounts. At the end of your mystery, you will be required to submit a detailed report on your experiences in the Neverish so you have three days after each exploration for each of you to write your experiences, compare those experiences to the Neverish archives we have created in the library, and then submit a joint paper on them. In your last month, I will return all your papers so you can look for connections and further research them, and you will be evaluated then! So please drink up and enjoy, but do not let the memories fade otherwise, you may miss important clues.” Sariel laughed at that, taking a sip from a rocks glass she picked up. She offered a sympathetic smile for a moment. “However, it does take a moment or two to feel normal again after the first jump into the Neverish. I usually recommend a walk around the grounds. A little bit of real sunshine usually does the trick for me.”

Dysphoria nudged at Finley as they sipped from the coffee, stealing little sips of their own between Finley’s. [color=F739D7]“We would like to look more into the dangers others have faced. The cold was not good; the rest we can protect our Darling from, but we did not like the cold. If there is anything else we can prepare for, we will like to be ready. How do we reach this archive?”[/color]

“Speak with a librarian and they will show you the way. Once you’ve found it, you won’t be able to forget it.” Sariel smiled over the rim of glass.

[color=F739D7]“Though a walk does sound nice.”[/color] Dysphoria placed a kiss on Finley’s cheek.  [color=F739D7]“Should we take a walk? We would find pleasure in feeling the sunlight on our Darling’s skin. Though, preparing for our next challenge is certainly appealing as well.”[/color]