RP:A Venture into the Black Library
This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.
Synopsis: After a terrible dream, Raevyn summon Celaeno to Vailkrin to finally explore the Black Library. Frustration and anger bubble forth as tensions lead to confrontation.
Date: Dec. 28th, 2017
Main Graveyard Area
You now stand in the main area of the graveyard, various tombstones and grave spread out across this place, many of the graves have been dug up, and empty caskets lay about the cold ground. Why have they been dug up you may think, but it's clear this place is hardly ever used to rest the dead, but more of a recruiting grounds for the necromancers that inhabit this town, somehow it feels disturbing to you, unless you happen to be a necromancer yourself? To the south is an old looking temple of some kind.
It had been a long day of training in the mage tower. After the Yule Ball, the young necromancer had cut herself off from most of the world to focus on her studies. She hated the idea that she wouldn’t get to talk to her closest friend, but in the end, it was a necessary evil. What Baelok had said to her just a few days prior- Well, it resonated deeply. She was to grow up. She had to find that backbone. It was not long after a few lessons in the Tower that she needed a nap, and during this nap, she had a tormented dream. One of which she had thought were behind her at this point. It was the first in months, and it scared her. Awaking from her afternoon slumber, Raevyn wrote a simple note to her dearest silver-handed friend to meet in the graveyard in Vailkrin. It was time that they found for themselves the Black Library. So here she paced now, with her hands behind her back, the undead accomplice of hers sitting upon a tombstone in silence as he watched the girl walk back and forth.
Celaeno had seen the note on her cot, after all she had all but settled into the dormitories since she came to the land and that very friend had showed them to her. Upon finding the note, her nose wrinkled with curiosity, but that inquisitive fire lit in her belly. Later on, after she had done her reading for the day, she made her way to that graveyard, strolling through the tombstones and glancing about for any fresh dirt as if seeking ideas. She too had been studying with their time apart...with a bit more of an edge than usual. The note was further reminder of why she had to keep getting stronger, and despite the lightness in her steps, she had a somber cast about her shoulders. Spotting Raevyn, though, she smiles wide and waves. Her hand, unfortunately slips crooked with the momentum and she grunts as she tightens the frayed leather underneath. "Fiddlesticks," She mutters as she nears. "These aging things have been causing me all kinds of trouble."
Raevyn finally stopped her pacing when Celaeno appeared, a kind wave and a smile offered in return. When her friend’s hand slips, there’s a bit of a chuckle as she asks, “Maybe it’s time to see someone about a better fixture for those thing, hm?” Baelok shifted from his current position when the remains of a withered ghoul shambled into the area, the emaciated creature seeming to go straight for Baelok. With one ebon clad hand he pushed against the thing’s forehead as it lazily snapped its jaws in hunger. “Oh no ya don’t. Piss off.” he muttered, forcefully shoving the ghoul and causing it to topple over nearby headstones. “How… have you been?” Raevyn asked Celaeno, after giving her guardian a strange look.
Celaeno nods once in very firm agreement, looking down at the hands that had served her well before she came to that place, the leather included. "I've got a few ideas in mind. One of which involves a tattoo artist in Larket while the other involves a smith making me something metal instead. It might do to purchase something temporary, in the meantime." She did start as she glanced up toward Baelok and spotted the shambling ghoul. "That..." Suddenly her moment of fear turned to morbid fascination, like the wanted to dissect the creature if it weren't already moving. "I haven't actually seen one of those before." She pushes the urge down, though, turning back toward Raevyn with a deep breath. "A mix of things, really. One of which involved being knocked out during a bar brawl." She rubs her head where the bump, while smaller, hadn't quite healed under her hair yet. "More adventures in reading, though. I might actually be ready to do something soon." Her head quirks to one side, expression turning to concern as she pulls the note from where she had stored it under sleeve. "What about you? I assume it's time for something important."
Raevyn was concerned when the brawl was bought up. There was an almost motherly instinct showcased as she ventured forth to look at her friend’s minor battle wound, a slight nagging to her voice as she scolded the half-elf. “Knocked out? You really should be more careful, Cela… Especially in taverns.At least you seem alright. What… happened?” Baelok rose from his half-seated position now and eyed the ghoul as it got up and turned in his direction. He didn’t really say anything this time though. He sort of pointed at the creature, the look on his face telling it to keep its distance; And it did. “And I share the sentiment. Of study I mean. What sort of something are you ready for?” she asked. With Celaeno’s question infiltrating her ear canal, the girl shrugged not quite wanting to spill the beans about the dream- Especially one so nasty. “I just… thought it was time to find the library. To see what it offers for us both. To… seek History.” Raevyn turns then and picks up her belongings which were set down nearby; The most notable her prized scythe. She offers a gesture toward the south to the Necropolis she had met Bradyn in, “Come, I believe it is this way.” The walk would give the women time to chat!
Celaeno :: "I went somewhere to study in Kelay, then suddenly Bastion bursts out from the back, lands on a table full of gambling sailors, and gets stuck in the middle of their scuffle. I managed to get him out with only a few bruises, but then a rogue bottle hit me." Her cheeks flush at the mothering, but she didn't flinch away as she might have with anyone else. It was almost nice, something that reminded her of home. As for what she was near ready for. "Possibly to...raise something," her voice had a bit of a hitch in it as nerves reared up, but she stubbornly stamps them down. Raevyn's vague answer had her friend frowning, but she kept her silence and didn't push as she follows behind. "Hopefully we can find what we're looking for in the sections we're restricted to."
Necropolis Foyer
Inside this ancient looking tomb are large stone sarcophagi, each sealed and oddly locked. You see several necromancers standing by one of the massive graves, locking it just seconds before you can see what's inside. They turn to you with a cold gaze, and stare through your soul before walking out, almost ignoring you completely. Finding no way to get into the graves here you finally give up on trying to figure out what lays within them. You may go to your east, south, west, north and recently somebody has removed a panel in the floor that leads down.
For the first time, as they neared the Necropolis, Raevyn noted a small glow being cast from the malachite colored blade of her scythe. She watched in fascination as it pulsed while they walked, her focus still intent on taking in her half-elven friend’s words. “Bottle hit ya? And you’re still kickin’? Raevyn, why can’t you be more like Celaeno, here? She’s a tough little s.o.b. Congrats on the brawl!” Baelok commented. There was the roll of corpse blue eyes as the young girl responded to Celaeno. “Bastion?... I’m glad I am not the only one to find myself in trouble because of his antics. A sweet child, but he seems to get himself into far too much trouble.” A slight smile spreads upon her blackened lips. “But I am glad that you are okay. Not sure what I would do if something happened to you.” Her eyes turned to the half-elf briefly before Raevyn would pause her footsteps, one hand again extended to allow Celaeno to pass through the entrance into the Necropolis foyer before herself. Baelok was not afforded the same courtesy. “I am excited to hear that, Cela. I would like to be there for when you do. We can bring Baelok in case things get out of hand!” She looked over her shoulder at the larger male and grinned. “Psh. You bring it back, you deal with it.” he grunted in reply. As they entered into the large foyer, Raevyn looked around for the opening in the floor where she had seen Bradyn enter. It was a tad dark so it was hard to spot at first, but the soft green glow of her weapon made it easier to navigate. “I do hope so, too. I’d hate to have come all this way for nothing. Still, I have hope.”
Celaeno sighed and nodded along with Raevyn's assessment of the situation with the brawl. "Well, helping others certainly makes for quite a few adventures, doesn't it?" Baelok was cast a glance over her shoulder a wry grin thrown his way. "My first time and I crawled around to hide under a table. Cari used to start them all the time and I fared better from the sidelines. You would have liked the fellow I spoke with afterwards, though. He managed to break it up single-handedly." The grin turned toward a small smirk toward Raevyn when speaking of her survival. "I would certainly haunt you if something did happen. I'm a tad attached, if you couldn't tell." She passed ahead of her friend's offered hand, only just then noting the odd glow of the scythe's blade once they were inside the tomb. "Your weapon is reacting...do you think we'll encounter a mysterious mask that's bound to turn this thing into another smart-mouthed guardian?" Despite the quip, her stomach twisted some. Should she count that as a hopeful sign or one of foreboding? "I'm still deciding how to go about this, but I'll try to get a hold of you before I attempt it. If an opportunity presents itself, I might try before, though. Fair warning."
Petal pink poked out between gateways of ebon; The girl’s tongue gently dragged across her dry lower lip to wet it. The idea of a secondary guardian caused Raevyn to laugh and quickly shake her head. “Oh by the Gods I hope not. One arrogant ass is more than enough.” Baelok ‘s jaw pulled at the corners, a makeshift grin. “Yeah yeah. You’ll miss me when I’m gone.” The conversation took a step backward when Raevyn smiled, those pallid cheeks lifted high enough that he eyes narrowed. “One ghost I would welcome with open arms, I promise!” Finally, Raevyn spotted the downward staircase that would lead them into sights untold; The very staircase she had been hoping to find two years prior when Diryon was in Cela’s place. Her foot lowered onto the first step and the human looked back with anticipation and anxiety. “If such an opportunity arises, I would urge you to take it. I only meant that it would be nice to be there. Neither of us can hold back for the other if such possibilities present themselves. We don’t know how long these windows will remain open. Still, I will be around should you need company or a voice to cheer in your corner.” Raevyn turn then toward the darkness leading down and begins her descent into the protected library of dark arts.
Celaeno :: "Or perhaps a voice of reason, should I ever need it," would be Cela's final word on the matter as she follows Raevyn downward into the library. She takes a deep breath herself, taking her friend's hand in her own, despite the worn leather of the straps, hoping to provide a reassuring presence. She wasn't alone in this, and she wouldn't ever be if the half-elf had her way.
The Black Library
As you climb down into this room its immense size is the first thing that strikes you. The old wooden ladder creaks un-nervingly as your foot rests on it. This dimly lit room is huge and filled with dusty ancient bookshelves. On examination you can see the shelves are carved from solid black oak, strong sturdy and known for its arcane properties. Lining every shelf is thousands of books all colors shapes and sizes. All the books appear to be about necromancy and black magic and thus the whole subterranean chamber is filled with a most ominous evil aura that seems to sicken right to the soul of any who enter. The smell here is of stagnation for not much fresh air reaches this place; it seems to invade the nostrils like some strange miasma adding to the sickly sensations the room seems to invoke. On the walls hang various ornaments from candle stick holders that bring a tiny tinge of light to certain areas and preserved skulls of all kinds of creatures from Human to Dragon, Drow to Centaur and things even stranger than that. Faint but heavy footsteps can be heard against the cold stone floor distantly so it would be wise not to stay too long without sound reason.
The soft glow of the malachite scythe helped the traverse down the steps be a little easier, although the girl leading the charge was very hesitant. She had no idea of the things that would lie in wait when they finally reached the landing of the fabled Black Library. Her anxiety lessened when she finally hit the ground floor, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room little by little. The first thing Raevyn spotted? Books? Thousands of them. “Oh my…” she said quietly. With so much material here, it could take years to find what she was after! And that was not counting what lie guarded behind wards for those of the higher rank in the necromancer’s Guild. She turned toward Celaeno, who had been directly behind her, as said, “It’s marvelous, isn’t it?” Excitedly, the girl heard for the nearest shelf and begins to run her finger over the spines of the books, casually scrolling across each for titles or hints as to what they contained. “Damn stuffy is what it is.” Baelok chimed in, as he looked around.
Celaeno followed the scythe, her own vision adjusting like the human's, only a twinge sharper under the scythe-light for her pointy-eared heritage. While Raevyn charged into the library, Celaeno's jaw literally dropped open so her mouth made a mystified "o" shape. Growing up had been an exercise in finding the scarce volumes like these that lay on her home continent, searching city to city in a wagon. The fact that there existed hundreds upon hundreds of them, all gathered in one place? The fact that she knew the depths her old mentor would sink to in order to get access to a place like that has her smiling. "Oh, if Papa could see me now. I'm afraid he'd turn greener than that blade!" She walks in after Raevyn, eyes bright and fingers likewise busy touching all the old tomes as she moves to the shelf beside Raevyn's. One title grabbed her attention, and it seemed a historic archive of some kind, so she pulls it down and opens to the front pages. "No doubt you will find plenty of answers here, Raevyn, more than either of us could imagine."
Raevyn was almost jittery from excitement as those dead eyes bounced from book to book and from shelf to shelf; She felt as though this may be one step closer to actually figuring out the puzzle plaguing her dreams. These books, many seeming older than the things she found in Xalious, were exactly the sort of thing she were looking for. “I’d dare say, should you ever see him again, I would rub it in his face. I am certain by then, you’ll be more powerful than he could ever dream!” The girl winked. Baelok took to a round of security, browsing in between bookshelves for anyone lurking that may pose a threat. Not far off from where the girls stood, he found an entryway that would not allow him to pass- Almost as if there had been an invisible wall set in place. “Huh. Must be something important in there.” he noted. Raevyn spoke aloud then, “Wards, Baelok. It’s what mister Mahara called them. You only have access if you are a certain rank in the Necromancer’s Guild.” To Celaeno she smiled and leaned in, looking at the book the half-elf had picked up. “No doubt about it! I have a feeling I will be living here for the next few weeks. Perhaps months. Maybe even years! I may even die here.” The human giggled a little and nudged Cela with her elbow. When she looked around however, she seemed a bit disappointed. “Although, it doesn’t look like there’s much place to sit. Baelok… do you think-” She was interrupted. “What do I look like? Yer damn slave?”
Celaeno recognized the odd mixture of joy, disappointment, and spite that roiled between her chest and stomach when they spoke about her father. "As satisfying as that would be, I would rather he never see the place and show him the knowledge myself..perhaps in a painful way. I suppose it will depend on my mood if that happens." That faint tugging sensation made her scratch her chest where those scars lay, but it had been nothing like that one afternoon in the Enchantment Market since. She laughs a bit at the idea. "Oh wouldn't that be a lovely way to die, surrounded by books. Will I have to fetch you food and drink while I'm on my errands?" She certainly intended to come as often as possible both to check her friend's health and to do, what else other than read? As she peruses over a few pages in, her nose wrinkles a moment as she looks for a particular name. "You said the being's name is Na-sa-da, correct? Spelled like it sounds, no silent letters? No pseudonyms that you know of?" She folds her legs on the floor, patting a spot next to her. "Oh come on Raevyn, the floor won't bite." She pauses, glancing up toward the undead as if he knew better. "It won't, right?"
Raevyn hinted a little concern and ran her hand through Celaeno’s hair. “As much as I could agree with such a sentiment, perhaps it would be better not to sink to his twisted levels, hmm? You’ll be the better person for it.” A few books here and there were pulled from the shelves, each seeming to reference history in some way. A stack about eight books in total, were set upon the floor. This would be as good a place as any to start. “I doubt we will need to go to those extremes, but the occasional check-in to make sure I still breathe would be a good idea.” she teased. “Mmhm. Nasada. N-A-S-A-D-A. And no, none that I know of.” sliding the stack of books with her foot to where Celaeno sat, Raevyn plopped down next to her friend and opened one of the musty smelling tomes. “What? You didn’t know the place was booby trapped? If you open the wrong book, the floor will give away to a fiery pit.” Baelok replied with his own brand of smirk. “So, I know doofus here is looking for information on Nasada, what are you looking for, anyhow?” he then asked the half-elf.
Celaeno sighs a bit, giving Raevyn a crooked grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You see? A voice of reason. I suppose it will be enough to show him that I can overcome him and leave it at that." She perused the book a bit more, deeper in, before she deemed it useful for future endeavors, but not necessarily for her friend's purposes. Instead, she stands and starts to look for other such books, picking some off. The titles she focused on were arcane in nature, revolving around sigils and souls, and there were a few other history books she managed to find that she brought back, five in all. Two of them, she added to Raevyn's pile--the history ones seemed promising after all, one on legendary practitioners of the continent and the other a general archive. The three other tomes she let fall into her own lap, but they took both gauntlets with them as the whole heap landed with her worn out prostheses. "Fiddlesticks." She rearranges her stack with her forearms in an interesting display just then, taking both gauntlets with her wrists and setting them aside together in her lap. "I'm here to help, of course. But I have my own little issue." She thumps her chest, unable to tap it at the moment. "Unraveling the purpose behind these things." She then used her teeth to tug the stockings off one forearm, then the other, setting them with her gauntlets. "I haven't let my arms breath today, yet. I'll need some assistance getting them back on later, if you don't mind."
Baelok approached Celaeno and Raevyn, removing his weapon from off of his back and setting it upon the floor. He sat then, next to Celaeno, observing the woman and her ailment closely. “Ah, I see.” the undead man comments. “Of course!” Raevyn replied in regard to Cela’s little predicament with her hands. It was then that Baelok decided to reach over and pick up one of those gauntlets, carefully looking it over from any angle that he could. The guy was also so serious. So crude. And so, when he took the prosthetic and use the finger to pick at Celaeno’s nose, it seemed a little out of place. Maybe that stick was wedging its way out of his ass finally! The undead’s eyes drop to Celaeno’s chest next as he says, “Pretty odd that you don’t know the purpose for them. You would think someone studying under a necromancer would know what they’re stickin’ on ya. Hoping ya learned though, not to blindly trust in others. No matter what.” Those last words caused Raevyn to flash Baelok a glare. “Not everyone is like that, Baelok. Not everyone has some darker motive. Don’t be so cold.” Her eyes return to the tome before her. “What? I’m tellin’ the truth. Friendly advice. Been there, done that. For fleshbags, you’re starting to grow on me. I’m just making sure you gots your damned heads on straight.” The book Raevyn was reading was quickly snapped shut with a groan. “Nothing relevant in here.” she said, putting it down to her side. Book number two was opened as she muttered, “Sure. Says the guy who still lies to me.”
Celaeno wrinkles her nose at Baelok's antics with her gauntlet. The runes had gone dark for the moment, but she stares hard at the armor, biting her lip in concentration. Lines of the runes sprang to life along the fingers and wrist portion, seemingly of their own volition, and bent to smack Baelok's arm in a chiding manner. Cela was left panting a bit, with a proud little smirk on her lips. "I was his assistant, not his apprentice. He kept his little library under some generous wards and, despite the promises being empty, said he would teach me what I wanted when I was old enough. And idolizing one's father is not so easily overcome, especially when he claims to facilitate the resurrection of the person you love most." She sighed a bit, the gauntlet the former knight played with going limp in his hand. She glances toward Raevyn as she leans back on the bookshelf behind her and opens the cover of the top most book in her lap. Turning pages was an interesting, yet very careful exercise in applying just enough pressure to slide the page over without bending or tearing it. Luckily she had plenty of practice while studying to make her gauntlets. "Holding out hope that people are telling the truth isn't inherently bad and being selective about who you trust is also sound advice. Most people worthy of it will explain their motives when asked. If they don't...well they either have a good reason for it or they're doing something nefarious. That has to be where it gets tricky." She jerks her chin toward her backpack, the side pocket of which has something sticking out. "It's not steak, but there's some cured meat over there I haven't touched yet if you're hungry, Baelok. No time for more cigars, quite yet, but this is hardly the place." Her head was spinning some, trying to figure through who exactly she was supposed to trust and who she would be better off attempting to manipulate or leave alone entirely, aside from the young woman beside her and, surprisingly the undead on the other side of her, as foolish as the latter sounded according to the little voice in the back of her mind.
Baelok slightly jumped when the hand sprang to life. It takes a lot usually to catch the man off guard, and this was one of those times it would only take a little. “Neat trick.” he says before the hand once again goes limp. With her explanation, the undead nodded in understanding. “I suppose you have a point. Well, if there was any way of figuring it all out, this would be the place to have the answers. Some ancient stuff in here, from what I recall. Been a long time since Lady Ryeanna discovered the place.” Speaking of trust, Raevyn was now staring over guardian with suspicion. She had recalled that he spoke of not remembering how he died, nor ever speaking of his past- yet he seemed to recall who had discovered this library? Odd. “This is true…” Raevyn said, returning her focus to Celaeno. “I prefer to remain positive in thinking that some lies are for benefit. I would rather trust most, than live my life fearing that everyone may be against me. Although, I guess in some regard…” Baelok chimed in. “In some regard, what? Have we yet to learn our lessons, ‘slave of a dragon’?” Raevyn touched the mark upon her neck while the undead went to fetch the silver-handed elf’s bag. “Skepticism is healthy. You wanna believe that everyone has a reason, that’s fine. But never forget the things you’ve both been through, and the lies that were told to get you there.” With his piece said, Baelok removed the cured meat and begins to snack. “This is more than fine. You’re too good to me, kid.” To Raevyn, he teases, “This one here. She loves me. See? Always bringing me gifts. And yet, i’m watching over you? Step up your game.”
Celaeno quirks her head to one side, a combination of the place and her nature getting the better of her. "Who is this Lady Ryeanna? A renowned necromancer of this continent?" Despite her questioning, his statement hit a bit too close to home. As much as she liked Raevyn's outlook on things, and how much that optimism reminded her of her far more people savvy sister, she couldn't ignore the bits of truth in his words. She may have scooted over a bit closer to where Raevyn sat, her uncertainty obvious in the way she nibbled on her lip as she perused the diagrams in her own tome. "Well you're doing a very important job, despite the whys," was all she had to reply to Baelok's teasing as she turns her page. Right then she froze a moment, staring at a neat sigil that she actually recognized from her chest. She pauses, squinting and leaning forward to understand the jargon in the text properly.
Baelok nodded to her first question. “Aye. Once a simple vampire, now a Lich Queen. If she still lives, that is. Her discovery of this library helped spread Necromancy across this land.” Raevyn’s hand lifted and she held her head momentarily. Much like before with similar names, something struck her as familiar and she saw flashes of a time long past. Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed, the girl trying hard to keep focus on the world around her. When she finally settled and looked over to Celaeno, she grew a little concerned with the odd stare and asked, “Did you find something?”
"A lich? I have actually heard of those. Powerful, perhaps even something Papa aspires to at some point," she muttered in reply to Baelok, as if she was only half there. Her sharp gaze should have caught her friend's apparent headache, but she was too riveted by what she read over, idly tracing her wrist over the text. She was quiet for a few moments, tension obvious in her shoulders with her whole face crinkling up. "I...I'm not sure. It looks similar to something smaller on my chest. It says here it's like a...branding implement? It can be used in spells to establish ownership of or bind undead creations or golems." It was her head's turn to start spinning as she sags against the bookcase. "I....don't like these implications."
Raevyn was a little perplexed as she leaned in to look over the text that Celaeno had found. “I do not understand. Ownership? Bind undead creations or golems? Why would such a sigil be placed upon you?” Baelok kind of just stared at Raevyn like she was dense. He did not chastise her however,, instead picking up one of the books in the pile that sat before the two women. He would lazily flip between the pages, trying his best to cut the young necromancer some slack. “Is it to bind your sister? Or, is it… to bind you?”
"I...perhaps either of those." Cela's grasp of these things was shakey at best, even with her runic background. "It would depend on how it was connected to the other sigils, right? If it's traditionally used for those that are already passed on then surely it would be for my sister but... she's a spirit and I'm the 'vessel,' so to speak, so it could very well be for me as well. But I'm still alive, have been alive. I don't remember at any point dying and I still feel the same as before." Her temple throbbed and she rubbed it with the tip of her forearm. She glances about for where Baelok had put her pack. "Blast, this is still over my head. I...need to copy this down." With a little grunting, she picks up one of her arm-stockings between her teeth and starts to tug it over her right wrist.
Baelok reaches over and slides Celaeno her pack when he notices her looking for it. Watching her try to get herself put together caused the undead man to lift his brow and chuckle. “Hold on stumpy.” he teased, reaching over then to help her get the stocking on. Raevyn took the cue from her undead guardian and grabbed the other stocking and gauntlet, soon to help slip them on and fasten the things to the half-elf. “I’m sure it’s just for your sister, then.” Raevyn offered with hope. Deep down she was a little nervous as to what the girl’s bastard father might have done to her, but the ebon haired neophyte made no motion to display this. Cela had enough to worry about. “I guess… we shall have to find out what the other sigils mean, then. Maybe get some outside help. I am certain Khitti would have much knowledge of such things.” Baelok chimed in soon after. “Or Larewen. She’s been around for a long time. You don’t get ta be head of the necromancer’s Guild without a deep knowledge of ancient markings.”
Celaeno blinks as she's suddenly set upon by both Raevyn and Baelok. Both their assistance had her cheeks turning that brick shade, but she offers a sheepish smile to both in thanks. Usually her washing routine took double that time, but she found her gauntlets on and secure. The fastenings were a bit tight, but she didn't mind that at the moment and could adjust them after they were done with the books. "I have consulted Khitti once about these matters and she offered a very helpful background in a similar situation. I'll go to her again with my findings." She digs into her pack, rummaging around for a small notebook, and the stylus and ink she had been using for her enchanting lately. The small notebook is opened and she starts copying down what bits the excerpt had to say in her own short-hand, as well as drawing the sigil design very carefully. "I have no doubt Lady Dragana could help, it might even be childsplay since I have no doubts she far outranks my father in knowledge and skill. But...this is not something I would want to ask her about just yet. As a last resort, maybe. Me being skeptical." As she writes, she peeks a sideways look toward Raevyn and her small stack. "How fruitful has this volume been so far on your end?"
Raevyn nods and reaffirms Celaeno’s mistrust. ”As we should around her. As we should around you.” she mutters, looking upon the undead. Baelok smirked with retort, “Now yer gettin’ it.” More pages were flipped as Raevyn journeyed for answers, but nothing seemed to pop out at her. Everything so far has been a little too far back. “It hasn’t.” Raevyn spoke in defeat. “More history. But not the history I seek. Formations of land. Ancient armies from times long ago. Yet nothing that I would think is relevant.” There was frustration in her voice, further evidence when the book was snapped shut with a bit of force and tossed to the side. Browsing through the tomes left to explore, Raevyn then settled on one of the books Celaeno had revealed earlier- Legendary Practitioners. “What sort of similar situation?” Raevyn finally asked, looking over to the half-elf.
Celaeno frowns at her friend's lack of results, but finishes her own notes with a little bit of a curving flourish better seen in calligraphy than arcane academics, but she liked adding little things once in awhile to her own notes. Perhaps someone looking back at them someday in a massive library like this would be impressed. "Careful with handling of the tomes," Cela chided, lightly of course. "They may not be of use to us now, but someone else might need them later." She closes her notebook and peruses the sigil book that had helped her make even a mite of progress on her own issue a bit more. Still, nothing stood out. "She too had an innocent presence inside her that she had to have expelled. Apparently that entity went...a bit mad. She suspected without being extracted sooner than later, mine could as well. It does sound like something Cari would do when caged somewhere too long." Her attention slipped toward Raevyn's next tome on occasion, wonder clear in her peeking. "Do you think there are any helpful necromancers in there? In the traditional sense of heroes and the like?"
Raevyn’s cheeks flushed a little. Cela was right. She should have a little more respect for these ancient works of literary art. “Oh… yes. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just so anxious to find something that it’s made me agitated.” she admitted. The girl was a fairly quick reader, and seemed to be skimming pages at a rapid pace just to seek any sort of mention of that single name. “Really? That is a terrifying thought. Hopefully we can do something to remedy this situation before things turn… south. I could only imagine what sort of effect that could have on you.” Baelok rose to his feet and began to browse the bookshelves in idle curiosity, perhaps hoping to spot something that would help either girl in their efforts. “I would like to think so.” Raevyn replied with a smile. “I would hate to find that most Necromancers turn out like those in my homeland… power hungry entities of evil. I am certain that there must have been some in the world that used their power to do good.”
Celaeno smiled a little to see Baelok standing up and helping, but she kept any commentary to herself. She did nod along with Raevyn's assessment of the possession situation, sighing as she rubbed that spot under her robes. "Really she never deserved any of this I...admit I'm a bit more worried about what it would do to her. I've been through a bit and turned out intact despite it. She was always the stronger of the two of us, braver and that sort of thing, but she never dealt very well with anything she couldn't fight into submission." Cela seemed to be reading less rapidly, a bit more leisurely with her skimming as she closed the first sigil book and opened her next text on arcane circles. "I doubt anyone practicing these arts could be grow completely beyond reproach, but they could have their reasons. And the productive applications of communing with spirits and raising non-sentient corpses is certainly endless."
Raevyn was about halfway through this book now, still frustrated with the lack of viable information. She would read every damn piece of literature in this library if that’s what it would take! “Think she would turn vengeful?” Baelok asked, flipping through a dust covered tome. “Think she would try to take over? I mean, what if daddy dearest didn’t give a damn about you? One of those sigils was meant to bind, wasn’t it? What if you were a back-up plan if he couldn’t find a body? What if you are that body?”” That was a pretty sick and twisted thought, but it did open up new possibilities. Raevyn flashed the undead guardian on of her usual ‘will you shut up’ glares. “Pay no mind to him, Cela.” she stated. “He knows not of what he speaks.” The last couple of words were said through gritted teeth- A vocal hint toward the man. There was soon a bit of luck as the girl was prevented from speaking again, her gaze widened and she sat up straight while a finger trailed along a few sentences of the next page she had flipped to.
Celaeno sighs, as most of the possibilities Baelok suggested had gone through her mind as well. "Of Cari, I am uncertain as to how this captivity would warp her, I doubt vengeance. Trying to take over in order to protect me, however, I can definitely see happening." Her lip curls as she reflects on the other tricky family member. "Of my father, I'm not so sure either. He was always possessive of us, protective, always became angriest when we would run off together without him close. But..at the same time he wasn't always unkind...he did treated us far better than pets, so I think he cared some, at least at one time." Any further speculation became interrupted as Cela trailed off and glanced Raevyn's way. With big eyes and eager curiosity, she scoots closer to Raevyn, abandoning her second book to its stack. She leans against her friend, hovering over her shoulder to spy what revelation she found. "What is it?"
Baelok stops his browsing and turns to face Celaeno and Raevyn. He seemed curious and nervous at the same time. What did she discover? The pallid girl didn’t say anything at first, still scanning the page with excitement. Although, when she flipped the page, she looked disappointed. It seemed what she sought was kept to only one short page, and anything before, or after, went onto a new subject. “It’s… nothing.” Raevyn answered with a frown. She points to the page to show Celaeno, pointing out the couple of odd sentences, that were strewn between muddled blotchy word, with some having been completely blacked out by ink. “Nasada was a terrible necromancer that stained Lithrydel’s past. A follower of Elazul and Khasad. Nasada was the bearer of the Seal of Darkness. He was killed in Larket.” Baelok’s eyes widened with that final sentence, some sort of hope or pleasure seeming to show as things began to click.
Celaeno scurried away toward her notebook and stylus, then opened it up to an empty page. After dipping the stylus in the ink, she scribbles, yes scribbles those quick words in their entirety. "It is far from nothing! You have both dieties he worshiped--well at least they seem like deities--and a title of something he had. Even where he was killed. I daresay, something should be written about him in other works like about notable events in Larket, notable followers of both these beings, reading up on this Seal of Darkness. There is so much more to go on now than merely a name! At the very least, you can find noteworthy figures from that time and see if any of them are still alive or around, then needle them for more information." Her enthusiasm dies down a little as she crawls back to sit beside Raevyn and quirks her head to one side. "Unless...all of these things were what you already knew?"
Raevyn shakes her head. “No.. this is.. All new to me. I suppose you are right, though. It is a place to start. I suppose I will have to look through other sectors of the library to find information relating to these names and locations.” Baelok stepped forth into the dim light, looking over the pale girl in a heated inner debate. He knew he shouldn’t say a damn word, but he needed to make sure she was on the right track. “Nasada didn’t die in Larket. I mean. The remains of his grave are there, but it isn’t where he died.” Raevyn stared upon her guardian in disbelief. “Remains of his grave? How do...you know this? Will you speak of more, then?” To which he would reply, “Nope. Figure it out.” A piece of cured meat was torn and chewed upon, his attentioned turned back to the vast collection of books lining the shelves.
Celaeno wrote the notes on another blank piece of paper in her little journal and tore it off, handing it to Raevyn right as Baelok stepped forward and uttered his 'hint.' Her eyes narrow a bit as he takes a bite out of his snack and her mouth presses into a hard line. "I think a better question would be why he's speaking up and correcting the tome." Not that she didn't think him wrong, on the contrary... "Perhaps figuring out the true final resting place of this blight is the key to something..." If Cela wanted to be anything, it was helpful. Helpful to who, though? She leans in to her friend and mutters close to her ear. "Is it to answers or traps, though?"
Baelok shrugged while he busied himself, the half-elf’s thought process answered as best he could- or rather, best he was allowed. “Insider information. Ya ain’t going to find his final resting place. It doesn’t exist. What was once whole is now scattered in the wind. Though, there is an item of his that’s out there. It’s the key to a clean separation.” Raevyn was beginning to grow angry, her knuckles tight and, had she not been so pale, turning white. Just as she was getting used to the guardian and his crude behaviour, he had to go and ruin it with puzzling hints. Never any real answers. Celaeno was gifted a weak smile, her head bobbed as she agreed with the sentiment. “That is something I fear. That this is just one big ruse and at the end is some sort of twisted set up.”
Celaeno groans, holding her throbbing temples with fingers rather than her rounded off wrists this time. As much as she enjoyed pondering, this sort wasn't what she had in mind. "At least he seems to be trying to help." But the idea that finding answers would spring a trap rather than the clean separation her friend sought still lingered. "If I ever decide to become a dark entity, remind me to make my plans and spells more straightforward if I want people to solve them in a timely manner." She taps her chin, those metal joints clicking together with the motion. Her next thought went unvoiced: what if Raevyn were to abandon her hunt? "There has to be some magical loophole scheming at work here...I suppose the next step then would be to find that key--which could be a literal key for all we know. Was the Seal of Darkness an actual signent ring or medallion, you think?"
Raevyn sighed and let her shoulders slump. She was a bit depressed, but managed a smile for her friend’s attempted humor. “I will keep that in mind, should the day come.” The book she had been searching through was set down, much more gentle than then last one she had been reading, and her head fell back against the surface in which she sat against. She looked up toward the ceiling to think, quietly, for some time. Baelok once more spoke up with Celaeno’s attempts at putting things together. “It was a medallion.. Last I heard, the Ascendi destroyed, or banished all of the Seals from this world. The last owner was a woman named Tenebrae. And even if the damned thing was still out there somewhere, I would strongly advise against even searching for it. It will take everything from you and leave you quite broken. Or so the story goes.”
Celaeno wraps an arm around Raevyn's shoulders and squeezes, sensing the frustration at least. She couldn't blame her friend, given the uncertainty of the situation. Play along with a slim hope of a favorable outcome or refuse and suffer through the present plight? Neither seemed like an easy decision. "Well, that certainly isn't it, then, and would possibly explain how the blight title came about." She purses her lips as she continues to vocalize her thoughts. Perhaps they might get lucky and she could stumble over more helpful bits from the guardian, work a loophole as it were. "Hmm...what does a man like that value? Old family trinkets? Magic artifacts? Armor? Weapons? Something that's sure to last as long as he was supposed to..."
Raevyn leans and let her head fall against the comfort of Celaeno’s own shoulder, somewhat nuzzling in like a pouty child. All of this was a headache. She thought, just maybe, she should give up. Put it all behind her, and just live with the nightmarish dreams and strange occurances. They weren’t as frequent as before- Although the most recent was definitely a bit worrisome.So far, she had been safe. Nothing too terrible had happened. Yes, she nearly died a couple times, but that had nothing to do with this ‘Nasada’ did it? No. It was some evil entity waging war. That was something she could prepare for mentally and physically. “A man like that? Knowledge. Power. Eradication of life as we know it. Ain’t so bad of an idea, really.” Baelok replied. “Although, I suppose he might have had some sort of artifact or weapon to rely upon.” Raevyn would suddenly snap and rise to her feet, approaching her guardian with fury and anger. She beat upon his chestplate with her first, assuredly doing more damage to herself than she could him. “Why are you doing this?! Why can’t you just answer our questions truthfully?! “ Again she pounded on him, even going so far as to slap him right in the face. “Just be honest with us!! Tell us what we need to know!!” Baelok growled, his jaw lowered as he stared the human down. Without even having to think about it, Baelok’s blackened gauntlet reached out and snatched Raevyn by the throat, a slight squeeze immediately cutting off her air supply. He lifted the frail girl then, holding her to his eye level. “Listen here you little bastard. You and stumpy are smart girls. You figure it out. I don’t need to explain and damned thing to you. I am here to keep you alive. That’s it. Anything else is your own damned problem.” With the flick of his arm, the girl is sent forcefully to the floor, her lissome figure sliding until she bumped into Celaeno. “It’s always me, me, me with you.”
Celaeno "Eradication of life is a terrible idea," Celaeno speculated right back. "If nothing is left, then what? What use is the knowledge and power if there's no one to rule? No one to serve? No purpose left. Anyone trying to do that must not realize how boring and annoying it would be if they actually succeeded." Her little 'in theory' tirade was cut short when Raevyn shot up and attempted the frail assault against her guardian. She would've reached out, tried to hold the other woman back, there was no way that could end well. But instead Cela stood, watching her friend, the undead, and gritted her teeth as he lifted Raevyn by her throat. That one hit a little too close to home as Baelok spelled out his purpose to his ward and threw her back. The silver-handed mage would catch her friend, though, hooking her elbows through Raevyn's underarms. She kept a firm hold of her friend as she inspected the young woman's neck, checking for bruising that would evidently arise from that treatment. No doubt if the death knight had meant to crush Raevyn's windpipe, he would've. It took a great deal of control not to with such a height and strength difference. "That's enough! You made it clear, you aren't a nursemaid. She lost her temper, it happens when someone is being toyed with. Or was whoever hired you completely straight forward with everything they said?" She hadn't played mediator enough when she was with her own arguing family and both of them were lost to her. She didn't want that same thing happening, with Raevyn at least, and even the damned guardian while he was still around. Her gaze turns on Raevyn as she sets her on the ground and takes a hold of her shoulders. Should she be conscious, Celaeno's stern gaze would bore into her as well. "That doesn't change the fact that he is not going to give you the answers you need, whether he's bound by something or stubborn. Lady Dragana isn't going to give you those answers, and if she does there's no way of knowing if they're the right ones. You are stronger than them, you don't need to lean on them. You know this will be hard, but you are more than capable. Don't you dare let desperation blind you to that or it will eat you up and get you killed."
Baelok shrugged his shoulders. “You’d have to ask him yourself. Everyone thinks he went mad in the end. Maybe he did. Or maybe he saw things that we couldn’t see. I wouldn’t be terribly at a loss if the living were gone. A world of the undead could be fun.” Raevyn was still quite conscious and more than thankful when Celaeno was there to catch her. She gasped for breath, her eyes welling up until the dam broke and tears streamed down her cheeks. As she was lowered to the ground she turned away from the undead guardian, finding trouble even looking at Cela in this state. Baelok stared the pair down. He was pissed off. The sword he had set down was lifted, the strap of which slung over his shoulders. “Straight forward enough. Unlike her though, I know when to shut my mouth. You two have your work cut out for you. I’m going for a damn walk. Behave.” Baelok turned and headed for the stairs, soon disappearing up and into the darkness of Vailkrin. “I..I..I’m sorry, Cela.” Raevyn sobbed. “I don’t… I don’t know if I can do this anymore. It’s too much. I’m not ready. I’m just not.” The words the half-elf spoke were trying their hardest to register, but those childish feelings were fighting every step of the way.
Celaeno lets Baelok take his walk and a her chest felt a bit lighter for the relief of his presence departing. It would make things easier on Raevyn at least, not looking at the constant reminder of what she had to face, no matter how helpful he may be for the moment. As Raevyn babbled, Cela unfortunately understood those emotions all too well, fought them as hard as she could every day until she came to those lands. She drags Raevyn into a hug, holding onto her tight so she wouldn't have to look her in the face. Her own eyes started to sting but she pushed back on it, oh how she pushed back. For once in her life she had to be the strong one, despite how terrifying that seemed in the moment. "You can, I know you can," she said, her voice softer for it. "You were banished out of the only home you knew. You were tricked into enslavement by a dragon. You've had nightmare visions on a regular basis. Yet you're still here." She squeezes her friend, patting her back. "You've come so far, you can't give up now. You can win this, you can beat this. It's because you wanted to survive, right? Because that little part of you that wanted to keep going was stronger than all the other parts telling you to surrender and die." It's then the blasted salty moisture started to sting her eyes and phlegm coated her voice. Her hold turns less gentle, less comforting, more desperate as her own welling emotions cloud her actions. "Please, keep going. I...I can't lose you too."
Every time Raevyn tried to take a deep breath, she fought against shuddering sobs. She hated this feeling of being stuck; Of not knowing how to proceed. Of feeling absolutely helpless. For two years she had been trying to get ahead, and yet like a standard cliche, every one step forward was two steps back. She slung her arms around Celaeno and held on tightly, finding a strange almost familial comfort in the half-elf’s arms. No one in this world, not even Diryon, had made the young necromancer feel this way. The words of encouragement penetrated Raevyn’s frantic mind and soon, she began to slow her breathing, a wave of calm trying its hardest to overcome the emotions that had been stirred. It was only when Celaeno’s voice cracked that the ebon haired girl pulled away, the back of her hand used to wipe away the tears that stained her reddened cheeks. “You’re right. I am still here.” A sniffle, a strong well meaning attempt to smile. “I should be better than this. I shouldn’t let this get to me. You are so, so right, Cela.” Raevyn reached up and used her thumb to gently caress her dearest friend’s cheek, corpse blue and stormy-gray locked in a waltz of mixed emotion. “You won’t lose me. I… I promise with everything I have, Cela. I will figu- No. We will figure this out. I’m sorry. This was just a moment of weakness.” Raevyn leaned in, and gave Celaeno another squeeze, a softer sniffle before she spoke again. “I just… I want to thank you. For everything. For being here. Your friendship, it means the world to me. I can’t do this without you.”
Celaeno had grown up with a twin, as Raevyn well knew, and with that came a very strong connection that almost killed her when it disappeared. She'd numbed herself enough as she grieved that she never thought she would feel anything even remotely similar again, but she recognized it clawing its way back into her heart the more time she spent with her friend. With it came a bone deep dread of losing the person on the other side that sprang up right then and made the little bits of water in her eyes burst to streams on her own cheeks. Her shoulders trembled and her arms shook. At first she didn't want to let go, even as Raevyn's words and the renewed strength in that smile made the pride she had in the other bubble up. Raveyn's reassurance, that they would unravel that mystery surrounding her cut deep until that connection clamped on like a vice. Cela takes a deep breath, mustering a returning smile to her friend, despite the way her own nose started to dribble. On that last squeeze she props her chin on her friend's shoulder, nodding along. "I think you can, but at this point I think I care too much to let you."
That bond between the pair of necromancing students seemed to strengthen more than any other meeting before. Raevyn knew it must have been hard for Celaeno to have lost her sister. She had seen it plastered across the half-elf’s face on a couple of occasions. In no way did she want to take Carina’s place. To weasel her way in over her friend’s memory of her sibling. But inside, Raevyn knew that they shared something together that was almost as special. She held onto Cela tighter when the girl began to tremble, one hand used to stroke those chestnut locks in a loving and comforting manner. A kiss was placed against the side of the half-elf’s head, and for some time Raevyn would say nothing, opting to just embrace Celaeno, just as she had embraced her. “Get a room.” The voice came out of nowhere and it would more than likely break up that serene moment between friends. Baelok had returned in much shorter of a time than Raevyn had expected. He looked to the women with that ghastly stare, only to state, “Time to toughen up. Grab your weapons and follow me.” He turned and once again headed up the stairs, waiting for the pair in the Necropolis Foyer.