chapter five ♔ it'll be a day like this one when the sky falls down

[eldritchweaver]

the blues - switchfoot

WHO || The Knights
WHAT || Failboat returns from the disaster in LA as the Knighthood goes on lockdown
WHERE || The castle, London
WHEN || Directly after this, Fall 2017
HOW || Actionspam

Hasmed's announcement does not brook any rebuttal: all Knights are recalled to the Castle, where they must remain until the Section Heads and Jack Chessing have spoken about the events in Los Angeles that have left the Knighthood without their usual leader.  

The entire Los Angeles area is now covered with a dark miasma that has interfered with any signals that might be sent out from phones, etc., leaving the whole world wondering what exactly is happening down there.  Final images showed horrendous monsters, a panic of citizens, looting and violence from humans and Shadowkind alike.  

Hasmed has warned of extra magical wards on the castle, and anyone arriving will immediately take notice of one very prominent one: above the entire roof of the excessively large building hovers a black and red sigil in the air, a pentagram in a circle surrounded by runes or words in an unknown language, stretching for miles.  

[ This is the social log for post-LA lockdown.  Failboat must complete the top log before being allowed to tag outside of it. ]

Comments

HASMED

[undealt]

[Things have quieted down a bit in the late evening. It's only been a couple of days since the announcement, and Gold has decided to wait until some of the initial business has wound down before approaching Hasmed. He waits until he's certain the man has returned to his office, and then raps on the door with his knuckle.]

It's only me, not a self-righteous upstart begging for news of Wynn or whatever other annoyances you might be fielding. Might I have a word?

[eldritchweaver]

Come in. [ his tone is mild enough, probably due to the well-placed preface there. ]

[undealt]

[Gold limps inside, shutting the door behind him.]

Well. Things seem to have panned out the way you expected them to.

[eldritchweaver]

An unfortunate reality that we are left to deal with, yes.

[undealt]

Wynn shouldn't have been there. [He sighs.] We knew it was inevitable that his decisions and practices be called into question, but not now, of all times. Certainly not like this.

[eldritchweaver]

His obsession with this matter was bound to be his undoing. It is what I have been cautioning against for years.

[undealt]

And very few seem to realize the hubris of it. Perhaps once the dust settles, they'll realize this could have been prevented. Until then, we get to wonder how much of this world will be left when this ends, because Wynn chased prophecies blindly, and had too much faith in fools.

[eldritchweaver]

I'm less interested in speculation, than I am in taking action that has too long been prevented. Believe me - Solace and I will not sit idly by and allow this evil to menace the world.

[undealt]

Of course. And I didn't come here today to exchange idle thoughts about the state of the world- I came to make a request.

[eldritchweaver]

And what is that?

[undealt]

Well, we're very much all hands on deck right now, so asking you to bench anyone would be improvident. And I'm certain she'd take issue with it, if you tried.

That said, and I mean this with utmost respect... I don't trust just anyone with Belle. So my request is that when I am inevitably dispatched to the front lines, she come with me.

[eldritchweaver]

No offense to her, but Sir Desrosiers is not particularly a front line fighter. You don't think this would place her in unnecessary danger?

[undealt]

As much danger as it would sending her with a less experienced team on a smaller scale mission. [He has zero faith in anyone else, but his faith in his own power is epic.] Besides, Belle possesses something I feel is going to be necessary in the coming fight.

[eldritchweaver]

I assume she does not know you are speaking to me about this?

[undealt]

On the contrary, we were just discussing it. I know she'd rather fight than remain here, and I know better than to implore you to keep her benched behind her back. And besides, with things as they are... I think we'd all feel safer if someone could yank me back from my impulses, and she's the only one I trust with that power.

[eldritchweaver]

Very well then. That should be a simple enough request, should the time come.

[undealt]

There is... One other thing. [Gold glances around the room. His wings weren't the only thing to be a little apprehensive of- there's something else too. The thing that he can't just hide.] Do you have a lit candle, by any chance?

[eldritchweaver]

[ his eyes scrutinize gold's expression for a moment, before he waves a hand over a wax candle on his desk, producing a flame ]

[undealt]

[Gold approaches, his cane tapping against the floor as he lifts a hand over it, not close enough to risk being burned, but close enough he can feel the heat.] We both know I boast some... unique abilities. Abilities that have no comparison in this world. Whatever the Dark One is or was, it's a matter best left to whatever world I came from. But as much as I try to press on, there are reminders. The dagger, for example. And now this...

[Without warning, he reaches down and closes his hand around the flame, extinguishing it with his bare hand. I have no idea what kind of damage die you use for GRABBING A FUCKING CANDLE FLAME, but if the damage is 10 or below, it does not do shit.]

[eldritchweaver]

[ well hasmed actually looks... a little surprised when gold doesn't even flinch ] Is this only flames to which you have found yourself resistant?

[undealt]

Not fully resistant, at least, but enough. I only discovered this when I took far less damage than I expected from the backlash of one of my spells.

[Which was... a long time ago. Look the day it happened, the castle got attacked. I don't know what you want from him here.] You know this world better than I do, Hasmed, but I'm fairly certain no one just accidentally becomes resistant to fire.

[or grows FUCKING WINGS.]

[eldritchweaver]

Have you noticed any other... changes?

[undealt]

[I rolled high/low to see if he'd lie, and he rolled a fucking 3, so apparently even Gold is not immune to the fear effect of lying to a teacher.]

We've known each other for quite some time, Hasmed, and I've never done anything to betray your trust. Now that I'm coming to you... Can I trust you to keep an open mind?

[eldritchweaver]

One who peers into the strands of fate must be willing to see whatever lies there.

[undealt]

Maybe there's a answer in those strands, then. [well. time to do something a little weird.

Unlike with Belle, it's a bit more awkward and uncomfortable bringing out the pair of leathery bat wings, and his grip on his cane tightens like he is not above clocking the fuck out of this old man if he does something crazy about seeing his old squire just decide to sprout fucking demon wings on him.]

This is... A recent development. Given what's been transpiring around here, I found it best to keep it quiet.

[He doesn't even consider that these powers might have a connection to Hell, but he damn well knows what they look like.]