open ♔ august castle socialization

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, etc!
WHEN || Any time during August [back and forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of this month.  Because not everyone is into parties, ok.  

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt. ]

Comments

[thesleeper]

[Phineas's eyes widen a bit at that... ]

Murdering people isn't really my style... Even if they are superstitious loons trying to kill me.

There's... subtler ways of dealing with them.

[reallywicked]

[Faye doesn't really do subtle.]

Such as..? [But at least she's open to the idea?]

[thesleeper]

Generally speaking, I try to keep a low profile... disguises, invisibility, illusions, and the like...

But, when all else fails... well. Then there's always fire, I suppose.
[He smiles a little resignedly. Phineas really would rather just avoid confrontations.]

[reallywicked]

Sounds like running and hiding to me. [So fickle, this one.]

[thesleeper]

Well... Superstitious fanatics are like all pests; If you see one, there's hundreds more laying about that you don't notice...

I'd rather not stir up a whole hive of them, if I can help it.

[reallywicked]

[Faye could use this lesson in caution. She sort of barrels in and assumes her intimidation and magic will take care of the rest. Taking what he's said, she can't deny that he might be right and just shrugs.]

So now you're here and no one's chasing you. So what now?

[thesleeper]

[Phineas glances over his shoulder again, scanning the room a little.]

I'm unconvinced that's the case... [He pats his books.] If my study of history has taught me anything, it's that superstition and ignorance [There's some venom behind his words... The whole witch-hunt thing lands a bit close to home with him.] are omnipresent, and utterly ignorant of cultural and physical barriers. The only advantage I've gained in this world, is they don't know about me yet. [He smirks, and throws her a wink.] We'll see how long I can keep the act up. [As he makes some fire dance along his fingertips... Probably not as long as you think, Phineas.]

[reallywicked]

[Faye watches the fire with mild amusement.]

You're the one with the power. And now you have money and a gun to back it up. I just don't understand why you'd hide what you are.

[thesleeper]

[That's a dangerously enticing line of reasoning ma'am.]

There... may be some merit to that. [He ponders a moment.] Wynn and the knights that dragged me in seemed accepting enough.

Old habits just die hard, I suppose. [He smiles and shrugs.]

[reallywicked]

[Dangerously enticing is what she does best.]

But new habits can be oh so fun.

[thesleeper]

[He grins]
They certainly can...

[He considers her for a moment, rifles through his books, and pulls out a large sheaf of paper. He hands it to her, but it's totally blank.]
Very well, Faye. Let us then try something new... [He points at the paper.] A small test.

If you can recite to me what's on that page, then I will show you more magic. [He grins impishly, starting at her and the blank page expectantly.]

[reallywicked]

[Is this a riddle? Faye doesn't have time for weird shitty riddles. She also doesn't have the patience for it. She takes the paper, looks it over, and waves it in front of him.]

It doesn't say anything.

[thesleeper]

[A bead of sweat rolls down Phineas's forehead, as he freezes...]
I... probably should have expected that.

Well... I... I didn't plan anything for this, honestly, I was hoping you would over-think it, assume there was something cryptic hidden, and waste days trying to make some sense of it...

[Phineas smiles and laughs nervously... maybe he over-estimated her...]
Well, in any case, a pact is a pact. You have my word, and I'll show you more.. [He looks around.] Let's away to somewhere more private first though, shall we?

[reallywicked]

[She's easy to over-estimate since she acts way more important and practiced than she actually is. But since she's pretty convinced that she's passed his weird little test, she just smirks and shrugs.]

Your place or mine?

[thesleeper]

Ah... Mine isn't too far from here... Follow me.
[He leads her along to his room Laying his books near a table already covered in tomes.]

It's a... bit of a mess, sorry.
[He clears a small area on the floor, and pulls a small book out of his pocket, opening it to a section with a secret recess, and rolling a piece of chalk out into his hand.]

I'm going to have to ask you remain quiet, and pay attention... no matter what you see, alright? My magic isn't for the faint of heart.

[reallywicked]

[Her nose wrinkles slightly at the state of his room, but the promise of more demonstration keeps her within the cluttered space.]

I'll try to contain myself. [She sounds bored, but that's just more of her normal tone. Folding her arms across her chest she tries to find a place to sit that isn't occupied by a million books.]

[thesleeper]

[Phineas kneels down, and references his journal as he traces a strange symbol on the floor in chalk. A brief glance about shows several such seals that have been drawn, brushed away, and re-drawn scattered about the room. He clears his throat as he finishes;]

"Amon - Void before the Altar - Answer my summons. I should like to broker a deal with you."

[After a breif moment, the room seems to darken, as a cloud of brimstone ash swirls in the seal, rearing up, then dissappearing - leaving behind a ebon ram, whose eyes and nostrils flare with fire, with a serpentine tail.]

[Phineas breathes a sigh of relief.] Hello again, Old one. It's been a long time.

Amon: Not so long... This day, you will serve me, mortal. No "deals."

...Very well, be gone then, beast. [The apparition dissapears, and as it goes, Phineas grows a long pair of Ram's horns. He turns and smiles weakly.]

Just like magic. [He then breathes some small amount of fire, to demonstrate - careful not to ignite any books.]

[reallywicked]

[faye was not expecting him to ACTUALLY SUMMON DEMONS. She jumps slightly when it appears but remembers his warning to be still. She's not afraid really- just startled. The exchange is brief and she's actually a little disappointed when the thing leaves. She doesn't have time to voice that before Phineas has gone and grown horns. Curious, she steps closer and reaches out to fun her fingertips along the curve.]

You are just full of surprises, aren't you?

[thesleeper]

So I've been told. [He says curtly. His voice has picked up some of the snarl and surliness of Amon's.]

That [He points at the seal.] was a Vestige. A being of immense power from beyond the yokes of space, time, and reality. They lend their power as a pact, in exchange for... a glimpse of existance... by binding with mortals.

[reallywicked]

So are you...bound? [she arches an eyebrow because really how is she not supposed to make that dirty.]

[thesleeper]

[Phineas sneers at her little.]

Your souls become temporarily stitched together... and no, it doesn't hurt.

Still care to learn?

[reallywicked]

I'm not scared, if that's what you're asking. [Rude. Yes, she wants to learn. She's more interested than ever, actually.] How does it work?

[thesleeper]

[He strums his finger on one of his books.]
Performing the ritual is just as easy as that [He points back at the seal on the floor.] You need only know the symbol of the entity, their name, and their title. This... [He grasps at his horns.] charming addition to myself is 'Amon, the Void before the Altar.'

Now, researching those is a bit more complex, especially considering these entities tend to slightly change their seals and titles from age-to-age... Fortunately some early occultists seem to have been in this world, much as they have in my own, and left behind valuable information, hidden away musty old tomes.

And, fortunately for yourself in particular, I've got a respectable amount of the information decoded already... [He bounces a piece of chalk in his hand.]

[Edit: Also - this feat ]

[reallywicked]

So it's just the right name and the right drawing? Anyone can do that! [Somehow it's less impressive to her. Magic makes her feel special, and to think that any nerd could go figure it out on a whim? It irks her.]

[thesleeper]

Well... Yes, and no, I suppose.

It takes a bit more training to bind more full with the Vestige... And, there are many who will simply refuse to answer your call, if your Ego isn't yet powerful enough to cow their spirit.

Also, the very act of researching and discovering them can take years. [He gestures to all the books piled about.]