RP:Joan, Artia, and Ayras' Study Session

From HollowWiki

This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.


Joan frowns as she stares down at her book which is held open in one hand, her index finger on her other hand traces under the passage she is reading to herself in a silent manner, the vampire merchant not the least bit intimidated by the Necromancers giving her cold stares as she walks through the parting crowd.


Ayras was, much like the merchant, being given cold stares as she read her own book. However, the cold stares leveled her way were likely due to the giant sword strapped to her back as opposed to anything else. But she was used to stares for her open display of armament. Hells, the former Knight-Captain of Frostmaw had just been in a civil war in those frozen lands before she was sent away to the shadow realm; uneasy glares because of weapons were common, then. However, it was the lack of communication from the necromancers that caused the elf to growl and slap her book shut. There were things in the tome about the dark arts that were beyond her training, and they were as chatty as a pile of rocks. So she had planned to leave, stepping out into the path to make her way back towards Vailkrin...where she bumped right into Joan. Simply by act of reflex did the warrior woman roll with the bump to bring herself facing the merchant's backside. She stayed silent, for the moment, simply cocking her head to the side as she looked from the woman to the practitioners of death magic that seemed all the more vexed that both of their sources of ire were in the same vicinity to each other.


Joan bumps and stops mid stride, noticing Ayras the other woman offers a laugh and smile, “Oh hey! Ignore the others, they aren’t a group up to much conversation unless you are officially on their level.” It was said aloud and with amusement, glares and mutters shot her way tho Joan ignored them as she shut her own book shut and made a gesture towards open panel in the floor. “I was about to go into the Black Library for some practice and more research, care to join me?”


Ayras simply looked at the necromancers again after Joan made her claims about their bias. "On their level," she sneered. "They die as easily as novices." With a snort she returned her attention to Joan and the hatch in the floor. A library, huh? It would benefit her, regardless, to search the place, and having someone already on the path of the dark arts to help would only make things easier. And so she nodded. "Sure. I'm sure I can find something of use to me there, and I may be of help to you, as well, depending on what you're practicing."


Joan flips open her book, fingering the pages till she comes to the section she was now studying, “Curses, incantations and such.” She leans forward just a bit as she tilts her book so Ayras can see.


Ayras looked at the pages revealed to her and the arcane words written thereupon. What words she could tell were spells were foreign to her, but the emphasis and accent markings were familiar. Aye, she could help. "Not too unlike typical arcane writings, it looks like. The spells don't look too complicated. Good thing you're going to the library, though. The gesture descriptions are trash. I'm sure the library will have better reference material for that."


Joan bobs her head a few times as she seems to agree, as the more learned Necromancers leave the vampire merchant makes a rude hand gesture towards their departing backs before she moves towards the open panel and the stairs leading down.


Artia :: Outside one of the grave tomb that was locked came a gold circle sparking like electricity upon the large door, next it began to emit a black fog that fell to the ground then rising back up swirling around the golden ring. Flashing of green light became the center as it began form many different rune symbols, making it able to look inside the door into what may reside within. Stepping through it came a five foot eight being wrapped tightly within a forest green cloak, the person not paying mind or didn’t realize someone was outside until after she finished the spell to close the door. Turning around, only part of her visage revealed was a pair of plump ruby red lips that spread into a grin. “Well, hello ladies.” She states before she removed the hood, so they could very well see it was Artia. In here hands she was holding someone’s fingers that she tied together using needle and string.


Ayras looked from the book Joan held to the newly emerged Artia, those strange, silver eyes of hers settling on the stringed fingers she held. She gave a smile to the other redhead, but she would give an inquisitive look to the object in her hand. "Well met, dearest. We seem to be on a knowledge seeking adventure in the library, today, it seems. Care to join us?"


Joan pauses once she takes notice of the magic and the green robe Artia steps through, breaking out into a full smile she turns to greet the second redhead that just portal in. “Hey, yeah what Ayras said. Got a few more passages to figure out before I try a curse on my own.” She holds her book to her side as she waits for the others to join her in descending towards the library where it was spelled safe for practice.


Ayras turned to follow Joan into the library. Even if she did wind up being limited help, she was sure she could find something to help her in her own endeavors and her conversion down the path she had converted to. She paused outside the entryway to turn and give Artia another grin and a wave of welcome to join them.


Artia would wink to Ayras, following the silver eyes to the fingers on a string she just acquired. Snorting in amusement at the way Ayras looked upon them, “Sure, what are two out of three favorite ladies seeking information on today?” Joan had just given the answer as she seemed to know what Artia was going to ask. The grin spread and became a large smile, “Oh I love doing curses! You could had come to me to help you with making one, I am a witch after all.” Moving towards the two as she slips her bag open and drops the fingers inside a jar she had kept within it, closing her bag sounds of glass clicking together would be heard. “Let’s go teach you how to custom a curse.”


Joan leads the way down the stairs, chatting about what she figured out on her own, all the while her free hand making motions and gestures that she thought might be right as she enters into the Black Library, “This place is warded and spelled so it is safe for us to practice here and not worry to much about harming the other Necromancers and such.” She moves to stand near a empty table as she waits for the others to take in their surroundings and the jam packed library of dark arts.


Ayras was not too far behind Joan as they entered the library, but as the rows and rows of books came into view she paused. The collection here was almost as impressive as the collection in the Mage's Tower, and this was just one school of magic. She whispered something, seemingly to herself, before she gave a shudder. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, perhaps it was some sort of magic, but it seemed as though the shadows around her shifted. Satisfied with whatever she did, the elf went to join Joan at her table. She said nothing after having watched Joan's hand gestures, instead opting to see what they would culminate to. As for those necromancers, they were glaring at her again. This time, however, Ayras got the distinct feeling that it was not because of her sword.


Artia had been here once before with an ex who used his necromancy as an assassin, to her secret she still kept some of the books she found here that were written by a witch of old. She found it odd enough that a few hand-written spell books by a witch was here. Still she enjoyed the library even as of now, it was like taking a kid to a candy shop. The female loved books, hence two rooms in her ranch full of them. Not including her bedroom, which was where she kept most her potions recipe books that she used often. Joining Joan at the table, placing her bag on top. “This place is always so beautiful.” The death druid wasn’t the type of person one would usually expect to feel at home here, but she was. Shooting glares back at any that she caught glaring to Ayras. “What have you discovered so far?”


Ayras stood behind Joan, peering over her shoulder to best see the book without actually being the one seated in front of it. Sure enough, the common tongue graced the words of the curse; not unheard of, but unusual for the former spellblade. The words, though, were the easy part, since there were no strange nuances to the language. The hand gestures, though, kept the vampire's attention. "I can't speak for the effect of the spell, as it's not my area of expertise," she said as she reached over Joan to tap her finger on one of the gestures in the middle of the spell, "but be careful with that hand position. It's a simple enough gesture, but finger positioning is as important as the rest of your hand and arm."


Artia ”Thing about hand gestures, you need to prep your space and have your hands fluid. Flow like they would through water, if you even twitch a finger it changes everything up. Do you have a way to cleanse the air around you? Can use sage or a singing bowl to help with that. No matter if it is dark magic you still have to prep the area, as well make sure using all the correct ingredients. Fresher the better.” Leaning forward, “May I look this over? Start on a rodent something small and easy to destroy if things go wrong. Do not fall too disappointed if the curse does not play out immediately sometimes it can take a day or two for the curse to sink in deep depending on the curse.”


Joan nods as she listens to both women one after the other. “There is everything you could possibly need here to cleanse the work place.” She tells Artia before pointing to the section that housed the items. As to Ayras she would bob her head as she interlaced her fingers together to crackle the knuckles and bones to loosen her hands and fingers up before she slowly went through each gesture one at a time in a dry practice run, “I figure I try to get these down without chanting the words so my finger motions will be down pat before I try to add power. Yeah?!”


Ayras looked to where Joan motioned in regards to the cleansing utensils; they may or may not come in handy for her own needs. In regards to the mention of dry running the hand motions, she nodded. "That is a good idea, especially if you are just learning the spell. Be careful, though. After you learn the spell, it is possible to silent cast with simply the use of gestures. Be sure not to even think the words to the spell when you get to that point."


Artia nods, and grinned to Joan, watching her work through each hand gesture. Then she would look over to the section that housed such items Joan would need, “Always, if it is a curse where you have to touch something, I have learned it is good to wash your hands in oils and herbs to keep it from back firing or harming you too. Some curses can be…sticky. What type of curse is it?” She moves to look at the book, reading where Joan was at on the pages. “Who is the intended victim?” She could only guess she wanted to mess with Killian further and he would be getting a curse. Looking to Ayras, arching a brow. “Ayras is correct.”


Joan is slow as she makes the few gestures needed, her nose wrinkles up as the stretching of her fingers for the last two positions, “Damn, you need really nimble fingers ever for the easiest!”


Ayras wore a bit of a smirk as she watched Joan practice. It was nearly a century ago that she first had trouble like that. "Look at it this way; you'll either get the hang of it and learn to stretch your fingers, or you'll mess up so badly you'll melt your face off and die. So you've got a fifty percent chance, which, all things considered when it comes to spellcraft, is pretty good odds." She wandered away while the merchant practiced, scanning the book spines for any sort of title that might be useful to her. At least, she did for a few moments before she suddenly stopped and cocked her head as though being summoned.


Artia chuckles, “Yes, and make sure your arm is at the right height sometimes they call for that.” Looking over to Ayras as she left the two alone, looking back to joan. “Make sure take fine notes of each ingredient needed to be used. Using a bag full of sand to help exercise your fingers will help, and daily stretching. My first curse I cast had been a burning one, which it burnt my hand as well the person’s arm. Always use exact measurements, it can toss anything off.”


Joan nods her understanding as she glances down at the book each time she went to make the simple finger movements over and over she mutters under her breath, Sure the other two would be able to her hear as they had that fine vampiric hearing as she did. “Oh yeah...warts on his peen.”


Ayras had started to head to a part of the library farther away when she suddenly stopped and looked back towards the table where Joan and Artia were. Did the merchant really just say what the warrior thought she said? Her mouth opened, closed, opened again, closed again. "If that's her goal," she said to herself as she started moving again, "I hope it's not a spell that requires the touch the focus of the spell." She shook her head as she slunk farther along the aisles of books until she came across an area that was far, far darker than it should have been.


Artia blinks before she burst out into laughter, “Warts on who? Who are you trying to mess with so bad that makes you want to curse them?” Looking over to Ayras as she noted the head cocked to the side, “Ayras, did you hear that too? Did I hear her wrong?” Snickering at Ayras adding in that it might be a touch curse type, which caused Artia have to sit as she laughed even harder.


Joan looks up as she pauses, her figures freeze in the second position as both eyebrows wiggle up and down in a comical fashion. “Ian, I figure this would be the best revenge, I had toy with the idea of jumping him, tying him up, outfitting him in sexy wear and makeup then tossing him into Larewen’s room. A pretty pretty princess. Tho...a warty peen seems more fitting, yeah?!”


Ayras had the curse of being both vampire -and- elf, and so she could still hear the pair from her place by the books. So Joan was planning to curse Killian. "Well, Larewen certainly won't like that," she muttered to herself as she reached out to slip a particular, black-bound book from the shelf. Her fingers ran over the cover almost lovingly, but she wore the most curious expression. That was definitely not leather. Hells, just the aura from the book was enough to make her think she had found the right tome. She tucked the thing under her arm as the darkness around where she stood seeped into her body, only then moving to rejoin the other women. "Be careful with who you curse," she said as she sat at the table. "You may be seeking revenge for something, but those that care for the one you plan to curse could very possibly seek revenge in return."


Artia shakes her head again, “Where has Ian been lately anyways? I haven’t seen him around lately, which worries me. But then again, I haven’t seen mother about either-“ The vampire paused as her eyebrows bunch up, eyes went wide as she giggles. “I am not sure if them both missing lately is a sign or not.” Nudging Joan as she wiggles her eyebrows, running a hand over Joan’s flat stomach. “Will the wart stuff be contagious though?” Spotting Ayras reappear, “I’m probably going to be the one to cure him of the curse, or Larewen can apply it.”


Joan giggles as she scans a few lines down, “Nah, it seems to be straight forward one time curse, limited to the person you want to curse.” She tells Artia, yet she pionts to the curse she was practicing, “This is just a simple facial curse I’m starting on.” She turns away from her book to say aloud towards Ayras, “I’m not ready for anything as of -yet-. I got to master the first curse right now before I can try a warty peen curse.” She giggles.


Ayras flipped her own tome open. A forward. Of course there was a forward. Gods damned priests and their forwards. She heaved a soft sigh but started reading regardless; who only knew what sort of information might be hidden away in the first few pages. Artia's supposition about Larewen and Killian had her look up momentarily with a cocked eyebrow, though she quickly returned her focus to the book. "They were discussing turning him in the tavern the other night, and the way they behaved around each other, I'm fairly certain it's safe to say that things are not simply platonic between them." Ah, there was some information she could use in the forward, after all; locations of every temple of Vakmatharas. Good. Then to Joan she said, "Mastering a spell in one sitting would be quite the feat. Most mages take weeks to master their first cantrips. So, don't get discouraged if it doesn't work right away."


Artia "Always start small, but remember every curse done there is payment required from the one casting it. Just like Ayras said, be careful. Some curses leave like a signature able to track back to you, always cover your tracks." Leaning back in her chair when he spoke about her friend and mother, her face cringed as she was left in the dark and others knew before her. Crossing her arms under her chest, "Must be nice to find someone so fast that wants to be with you forever then while others know love doesn't last forever except for the lucky." Smacking her lips as she leaned back over to the book, "Gather the ingredients yourself and not what you buy in stores, best advice."


Joan gives a rolling shrug or her shoulders, “I ain’t done nothing to pansy-arse Ian yet, I find it disgusting that he is hiding behind Larewen, a man with no spine and that can’t settle problems on his own is worthless. Just my personal opinion. He should had been a gentleman first off and offered up a ounce or two of his blood. Since he didn’t then I’m not gonna forgive him or be polite or nice in anyway shape or form.” She then set about trying to practice the next curse figure gesture wise. “I highly doubt I’m going to bother to speak to him anyways.” She offers a smile towards Artia. “The fresher the better, yeah?!”


Ayras slapped her book shut. Slowly she rose from her seat as she took in measured breathes to center herself. "All of this over the fact that he wouldn't let you bite him?" She scoffed as she tucked the book under her arm once again. "That is, perhaps, one of the most petty things I have ever heard. You are a vampire, not some teenaged, lovesick human girl. Act like one." She left the table and went to the way out.


Joan said to Ayras, "Idiot, I said I -highly doubt- I’m ever going to speak to him again, that is being ADULT. Understood?!"


Artia closed her eyes for a second before she responds to Joan, "Reason he did not want to give you his blood Joan is he considers it a personal matter something lovers do, he is set in his way." Artia wanted to tell her because his ex seemed to mess with his head, but was not her place to say. "He must really like Larewen if they were talking if her siring him, so was not him hiding behind her. You weren't the only vampire eyeing him, the tavern has been full of vampires feeding on those not willing he was making sure he would not be one and anger any other vampires when and if he fought back, Jo." Yes she just nicknamed joan, Jo. Offering a wide smile to Joan, "Yes, always. Get you an herbalist book to help identify them, and I can loan you one of my books on which ones can help be used for certain crafts. It is back at my ranch in Larker though. My library is based off of hexes, potions, poisons and curses. It is why I normally do not need to go to other libraries." Watching as Ayras left, "She is right you know? But really ask Killian why he was not comfortable with it, keep an open mind dear." Her hand ran over Joan's shoulder.


Joan just shakes her pixie do head, “Okay, fine, he has issues, he should get a damn tissue and man up and explain to a vampire.” She exhaled in a loud noisy manner before she offers Artia a tight smile. “Thanks for this evening, I’ll do as you advise, can we pick this up at another time?”


Artia nods, giving Joan a hug before she leaves. "Of course love, we can even go to my ranch in larket to help you learn more. Take care deary." Offering a final smile before Artia headed out.