chapter finale ♔ used the wrong method with the wrong technique

[rituals]

wrong  (memphis extended mix) - depeche mode 

WHO || Constantine, Amara, Zatanna, Giovanni Zatara, Hook, David L., Lila, Emma S., Snow, Gold [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights go to extremes to try to save Amara, with the assistance of John Constantine
WHERE || The Castle, England
WHEN || June 2017 
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

The journey to discovering the truth behind the Homo Magi and the curse laid upon their people, in hopes of breaking the spell that has caused the sorceress Amara to obsess over David Charming for years, has been a long and winding road.  It last led them underwater, to the lost city of Atlantis, once the home of the Homo Magi, where they discovered that the cursed had been laid upon them by Poseidon himself, when one of their kind shared the sacred secrets of Mystra with a mortal who they fell in love with.  This led to a falling out between Mystra and Poseidon, and he cursed the Magi to keep them from ever contacting humanity again.  This curse was said to be unbreakable, until the sea god was appeased, but Lila's protests led to a punishment which Emma Swan took in her place - rendering her a kelpie by night until she earned the respect of Mystra.  This curse would later lead her to kill Killian in the madness of the castle attack.  Zatanna claimed to know someone who could undermine a god's curse, and to that end searched high and low for the mysterious John Constantine, who she has brought to the castle.  

At last, he has gathered them here for a seance of sorts, and they find the room cloaked in candles and drapery, various strange figurines and tiny fetishes scattered about.  

Comments

[rituals]

I said we're bypassing the sacrifice. We're going to try to summon one down, not invite one for tea.

[unlost]

Who are we summoning, exactly?

[Call her curious. She's not exactly very familiar with any of this.]

[uncurse]

Have you ... done this before?

[ because she's starting to get A Bad Feeling. ]

[generaldavideus]

[David also is super nervous about this, but he'd just be asking questions that other people are already asking. But to Snow's question he turns with a small shrug.]

I'm assuming he means Poseidon?

[That's the logic he's following, for now.]

[rituals]

That's sort of the idea, yeah. Are we ready?

[generaldavideus]

[David just nods slowly, not really having anything to contribute further. He is not comfortable with this (or any) kind of magic, really, but he is definitely ready to get this over with.]

[uncurse]

[ Ready? No. Determined to the point of reckless self-harm? yes. She nods. ]

[cigam]

As we're ever going to be. [ zatanna tightens her grip on constantine's hand, closing her eyes ] Those of you who have magic, focus on attempting to pour it into the figurines on the table, into the wards scribed here. [ her eyes open, flashing an ethereal blue ] The rest of you, focus on your inner energy, on your memories of the Temple in Atlantis, if you can. On your determination to see this to an end. [ annnnd a concentration check from everyone, plz! 29 for zatanna, 32 for giovanni, 31 for constantine ]

[undealt]

[Gold is on top of this (concentrarion 28).]

[unlost]

[Meanwhile, Snow is super nervous about this or something. This magical stuff is out of her depth. (concentration 8)]

[generaldavideus]

[David is feeling fairly calm and focused on the matter at hand (concentration 23). Even if he has his misgivings he can put it to the side for the common good for the moment.]

[unhand]

[Hook is distracted, despite his best efforts (concentration 7). Call it misgivings about magic, call it nerves from holding hands with his ex for so long, but he is not helping as much as he'd like to here.]

[bittersweeter]

[ that's an 18 for lila even with her actual negative modifier. ]

[uncurse]

[ Emma got a 19! She has mastered the art of putting this bullshit out of her mind, I guess. ]

1/2

[amazingzatara]

We're going to need more than this, Constantine. [ the figures on the table are glowing now, the sigils beginning to pulse with magical power, but zatara doesn't seem convinced. ] This won't hold a god, real or not.

[rituals]

Amara, love. This is your chance to speak to the ancient god of your people's land. How about you help your friends here out?

[ amara looks uncomfortably around, uncertainty in her features, unswayed by his appeal ]

[generaldavideus]

[David glances over to her and his face is sympathetic, because he knows what a risk this is for her, but they're going to need her power if they're going to be able to do this safely. He at least owes it to the group to try (diplomacy 28).]

Please, Amara. I know you're scared of him, and honestly I am too. But this needs to end. Not just for us, but for your people too.

[And he's not bluffing about being scared of a god. But just because he's scared doesn't mean he can't do what needs to be done.]

We can't do this without you.

[uncurse]

[ jumps in to help things IT TOOK ME 3 ACTION POINTS TO OVERCOME A CRIT FAIL AND GET HERE: diplomacy 39 ]

Forget what Poseidon did to me. Forget about getting David back to the castle by proving you're not under some curse. Forget all of it.

Don't you want to know the truth? Don't you want to know that you have control over your own mind? Because this is the only way you get answers.

1/-

[besmitten]

[ flickers - son lux

amara looks between them both, and it seems to be emma's words that tip her over the edge into determination. she nods once slightly to constantine, and closes her eyes, a sudden warm rush of energy pulsing visibly from her hands - golden light that makes its way through each of them around the circle, filling them with a rush of sudden power that causes all of their eyes to turn shock white as the energy begins to fill them up, bolster their connection, turning the table white-hot in front of them.

the voice that issues from her is lower than her usual tones, brimming with power. ]

POSEIDON, SEA GOD. HEAR OUR CRY AND SPEAK WITH US.

2/-

[amazingzatara]

[ there's a rumbling sound, as of distant water or rending earth, all around them, the lights flickering madly. and then it is giovanni zatara who speaks, although he is clearly not zatanna's father at the moment - his posture changes subtly, shifting to something regal, but strangely casual, the bearing of someone who is dangerously self-assured. ]

You have learned nothing, I see. And would push your luck further by ensnaring a god against his will?

3/4

[cigam]

[ zatanna goes rigid, gripping constantine's hand tighter, her eyes widening as the shock white fades from the rest of their gazes, and she stares worriedly at her father. ] John...

[rituals]

[ constantine shoots a quick wink at her, before fixing his attention on the figure inhabiting zatara ] Maybe if you had open office hours, a bloke wouldn't have to resort to snares. But you've narrowed our options, mate.

[uncurse]

I don't think attitude is really going to help our situation.

[amazingzatara]

It seems that someone, at least, has begun to learn a lesson in humility.

[unhand]

Not one who did anything to deserve what she got.

[Attitude is always helpful, Emma, what are you talking about?]