Scene #3427:

Owner	Pose
Luc	Toran Castle is in a location that is central to damn near everything in the Toran Republic. Although more-or-less abandoned in favor of the city of Gregminster, it's still a pretty nice piece of real estate... and also a good place to see where everything is going on around here. It's not really practical for the typical person to live in since it requires boarding a boat to get in, but for somebody who teleports regularly it's no trouble at all. This... is not where Luc is right now, but because he has lived there for some time now, he was around to notice a disturbance in the south. In the southwest of the Toran Republic, the old castle that the vampire Neclord had made his home has stood largely abandoned. It is considered a haunted place, though in truth little enough troubles to go there. It's a place of poor memories for those who were oppressed by him, and considered cursed because of what happened within. Truth is, for the most part, it's just a spooky old place that was built by the undead. Or perhaps simply co-opted once it was left abandoned for long enough. At any rate, no one troubled to make use of it. The disturbance that brought Luc here was magical in nature. Runes crop up here and there naturally, as a result of things that have occurred magically in a place influence the sort of runes that turn up in the vicinity. The prolonged presence of the Blue Moon Rune has given this place an elemental flavoring that is distinctly unsettling. More to the point, it reeks of blood even though it's long since been abandoned. The Wind Mage stands outside of the castle, having donned his mask purely to give him a filter between the nasty-smelling air and his nose. It's not very effective. "This place hasn't been cleaned up properly, since its last occupant left." He complains, arms folded over his chest. The Castle isn't empty by a long shot, but its new inhabitants have not sallied forth for a simple reason: They're much too dumb to make a concerted effort of anything. The gleam of distant magical power somewhere in the castle speaks volumes of -what- caused this newest zombie infestation. It's not a person at all, just a diminished relative of the Blue Moon Rune.
Guest Sarah	The type of trouble sifting through Neclord's old haunt isn't unlike what might happen if a True Rune were left in a place for long enough. The Five Elements tend to manifest their chosen alignment. Indeed, the True Water Rune had transformed its place of rest into a cavern of crackling ice, even though such layers of ice would take generations to form naturally. The Masked Bishop is accompanied by his loyal aide, although she tags along behind him, eyes fixed on seemingly every shadowed corner. Sarah can't help it; this is a spooky old place, and you expect things to come screaming out of the shadows at you in spooky old places. Never mind the specific history of this tumbledown old castle. "I would be surprised if it were," she observes. The tone of her voice is a little... off, and if he looked behind himself, he'd find it's because Sarah's nose is wrinkled in an expression of abject disgust. The smell is enough even to trouble her legendary composure. Her earrings clink softly as she half-turns. Her faint frown deepens ever so slightly. "Master Luc. It would appear that we have company." The unspoken part of that statement is, 'and they smell like death warmed over half a dozen times.' It's also an unvoiced question, as though to ask whether he wants her to do something about it, or if he wants to take care of the rabble himself. After all, True Runes do so enjoy being let slip from their leash every so often.
Luc	"I wouldn't. It's a nice castle, apart from all the murders." Luc answers, adjusting his gloves a little ways as he peers through the front gates. He doesn't feel like loosing the True Wind Rune in these circumstances, so he retrieves a cane looped through the inside of his coat and strides up to the front doors. The shuffling isn't too far away, but he doubts anything in here is going to behave in a manner anything but lethargic. He reaches forward with the tip of the cane, shoving the door opened with it and standing to one side in case something bursts out. No bursting, though. Just shuffling. The zombies themselves don't really smell exactly, at least not in a manner that one would expect them to. They're very preserved, like bog mummies or perhaps properly treated corpses for a funeral. At any rate, the smell of blood has more to do with the general flavor if this place's magic rather than any physical element. It's been a long time since any blood was shed in this place. The zombies smell more of earth than anything else. Luc just whacks one's hand as it grabs at him, sending a vague surge of magic cascading through the cane and pushing it away lightly. It isn't really "wind" magic, or any discernible magic to speak of. More like energy directly conducted into force. A physical blow from Luc would do little enough. "Blast them if you like. I don't think we're going to clear this place alone... have to come back with more people." He slips backwards as another few zombies shuffle clumsily out the door, walking around in a circle that keeps them from quite catching up to him. They're only dangerous if you get surrounded. "When we first recovered Toran Castle, we had to sweep a zombie dragon out of the basement. This place has a much more deliberately bloody history. I'm surprised it hasn't been a problem before now." He glances back towards Sarah. "Would you like a mask for yourself?"
Guest Sarah	"Many people have a long memory for such atrocities as were committed here. I am not surprised that the castle has remained empty for so long, regardless of its better qualities," Sarah observes. And then, she sneezes. It's a deceptively tiny sound. Or perhaps not, considering she's maybe ninety pounds when soaking wet. "I'm certain the stench has done this place no favours." Sarah turns again, watching as her companion decides... not to use overwhelming force in this particular situation. It's just as well, too. There's no telling what kind of debris he might stir up with that kind of offensive. Bad enough that the place reeks of blood. Stepping back as Luc prods a door open and whacks one of them upside the head with his cane, she shifts her grip on her greatstaff, checking their backtrail to make sure they weren't followed by more of the mindless horrors. Her eyes flick from Luc to the zombies, considering. "As you wish." That soft statement is also a warning. 'Brace yourself.' Stepping back, she draws on the monstrous pull of the True Water Rune, which flickers into life over the top of her right hand... and then it /blazes/ into life, stark enough to briefly cast a shadow behind her. Something thunders in the depths below, and half a second later, a monstrous wave crashes through the doorway -- miraculously, not so much as a drop of mist touches either Luc or Sarah, parting neatly around them, and simply... failing to touch them. He might see the translucent forms of zombies carried off in the midst of the wave, helpless to steer themselves or stop. It'll carry them right out the nearest available window or doorway, crushing them into the ground at the end of the trip, and hopefully into a pulp. Huffing quietly through her nose, she straightens, adjusting her sleeves fastidiously after that exertion. "Disgusting," she murmurs, disdainfully. That takes care of that, at least until the next wave decides to come shambling after them. She cocks her head slightly to regard Luc, earrings clinking softly. "Hm? No. I do not think so, considering how long Toran Castle took to clear of rubble. Were you thinking of taking this place as well? I imagine those creatures are the least of our concerns, yes, considering the history." There's a short pause, wherein Sarah wrinkles her nose. It might even be called cute, considering how fastidious and composed she usually is, but... it really smells bad. "Please," she finally pleads, somewhat plaintively.
Luc	"The stench can go away, and I think greed is a stronger motivator than fear in many cases." Luc answers, flatly. He moves back away from the zombies, not troubling to whack at them any more. He wields the rod inexpertly, little more than a bludgeon. He has no need to do otherwise, truthfully, as he's simply using it as a means to convey his magical ability in a more raw form than a spell. He doesn't seem all that concerned by the warning, but he knows well enough that it's no good to stand in the middle of a cluster of enemies when they're about to get mowed down. Luc makes a face beneath his mask at the fate of the zombies. Wet corpses, he realizes, will probably be smellier than dry ones. He muses aloud, "Perhaps we should have burned them." "For ourselves? No, not really." He lowers the rod to the ground, leaning on it lazily as he answers. "But I don't really care for it to be in the state that it's in, and if nothing else I can harass McDohl's successors in Gregminster to do something with it so it won't be such a problem. It's a big castle, and in peace-time it won't need much of a garrison. If nothing else they can use it for storage. Of course, historically..." "Some rebel group will come un-haunt it, fix it up, and use it as a base of operations." Luc withdraws a spare mask from inside of his coat -- a habit he took to after having one broken right off his face -- and moves over to Sarah, putting it on for her. It might be he did it just to see how she reacts. The scent of the mask is different from the surrounding smells, and although it's not specifically a "filter", it does have the same quality that many other nose-covering facial garments do. It's a bit stuffy and uncomfortable relative to not having a mask on, but less unpleasantly smelly. "I wouldn't mind having a place like this, and strictly speaking there's no claim on it. But I also have no special need for it. There are several locations we can go to if we really need to relocate. Do you know how many political allies I have if I call on them?" He doesn't bother counting them off. "If I was a greedy little creep I could be living in a mansion anywhere I pleased." He brags, childishly.
Guest Sarah	"I've deposited them outside," Sarah reports crisply. In spite of her businesslike statement, there's a hint of amusement in her voice. "They should freeze, soon; in any case, they're far enough away not to trouble us, for the moment." She sidesteps, fastidiously shaking water from the sole of a boot. In spite of how elegant the rest of her clothing is, the boots are deceptively simple -- and comfortable, too, which is precisely why she has them. Easy to walk in, and comfortable over long distances. Glancing over her shoulder, she regards the hall as Luc explains the place's history. It is a big castle, and it would be a fantastic place to use as a depot. "I suppose so," she admits. "Good. I've grown attached to Toran Castle, and I think I prefer it to this place." It's a lot less creepy, for one. It's on a lake, for two, which basically means it has superior defenses as long as Sarah's home. Rebel groups. She shrugs faintly at that. There are always rebel groups and oppressors, in this world; war marches in lockstep with the True Runes, and conflicts are inevitable. It's long since stopped bothering her; it's simply a fact of life. She flinches slightly at having the mask clamped over her face, but not because he isn't gentle; it's just unfamiliar, and she freezes a moment as though to gather her bearings. "I'm sure this looks ridiculous," she finally comments, with a soft laugh. She's never had need of a mask, before, and the styling of it is through and through the Masked Bishop, not her. At least it doesn't smell like blood. "Thank you." Looking up, and having to look up a bit further because of the mask's more limited field of view, she regards the hall thoughtfully. "Yes, because I have a tendency to handle your Harmonian business when you are disinclined to." Amusement touches her voice again. "I could list them, but the list is tedious, and half of them are what I would call 'fair-weather friends,' at best." "Fortunately, you are not," she adds, patting him on the shoulder. "A little lazy, from time to time, but I can forgive that. Were you different, I do not think I would have remained by your side. Apathy I can forgive; even I suffer that from time to time. Avarice and cruelty I do not think I could," she muses.
Luc	"You, growing attached to someplace we live? Strange." Luc responds. The entrance hall is wide, opening up onto a staircase that leads upwards and two doors to either side of it. He ignores the doors, climbing the stairs at a leisurely pace. He's using the rod he's carrying, though for no particular reason it seems, as he's had no injuries to make it necessary. More than likely he's simply entertaining himself by fidgetting with it as he goes, rather than engaging in any actual meaningful usage. He pauses for a moment at the top of the staircase, which opens up onto a small hallway stretching out in either direction. It's a lot more cramped than Toran Castle, although that's not saying very much. It is still very much a Manor-Castle, and also, very much big enough for people to move comfortably through it. Relative to the entrance hall, it's quite normal, though. Luc invokes his Gate Rune to summon several animate balls of fire, which he waves into a pattern around him with his rod. He really cannot be bothered to directly deal with the ghosts and zombies that he's sure will soon come. "I'm sure horrible things happened in Toran Castle, before. It's just too long ago for anybody to be bothered remembering. Neclord and his ilk are different sorts of beasts. Linger too long. It's a shame Sierra didn't get to him sooner than she did." "And no, no more ridiculous than it looks on anyone." He adds, reaching over to tap Sarah lightly on the head with the head of the rod. "Mm... my Harmonian business? Those aren't 'friends', those are people I bully to get what I want. I didn't involve my /actual/ friends in my Harmonian business. They'd spend too much time trying to stop me." Luc says, swinging his rod forward to knock another door open. Although it all smells bloody, there's no dust or sign of "lack of living". No decay, or wear. More stairs. Luc looks up, irritably. "How much climbing do you want to do? I don't feel like removing that Rune without more company than we have, so this is all kind of academic until we return." Luc asks, leaning on the rod and resolutely not going up the stairs towards the battlements.
Guest Sarah	"Why shouldn't I? Every other place I've lived has hardly been a home. The village of my birth was a dismal, dreary little place, full of small-minded and heartless folk. The One Temple was no better, dusty and forlorn. Perhaps it is not what most would think of when they think of a home," Sarah explains, with a shrug, "but it is the place I share with you, and therefore home to me." She trails after him, though not without a glance behind them to ensure they're still free of those shambling creatures. So far, so good. Pausing slightly behind him, she regards the hallway, neutrally. The corridors are closer than Toran Castle, and while she wouldn't mind it there, it's enough to make her skin crawl in this place. She finds herself grateful for the mask. If she still smelled that blood-stench, the combination would make her downright anxious. "Maybe so. This is less distant, though, and even places remember the things that happen within them. Places like this, or 'haunted forests,' or any number of things one might dismiss as idle talk. I often find some kernel of truth if I research such things." She half-closes her eyes, considering. "Mmm. I remember some disturbance regarding a lesser Bishop's aide." She looks back behind her. "The man was murdered in his home by thieves. The house bore a certain reputation ever after that, even when new owners took possession of the property. Tales spread like wildfire, and could not be stamped out well after the aide was put into the ground." At his description of his allies, she shrugs. "No. Not friends; I didn't say your actual friends. I suspect your actual friends wouldn't dare to come within fifty miles of Crystal Valley. Smart, too." She half-smiles, but it fades quickly. She eyes the place somewhat suspiciously, only to find more stairs. It's starting to smack of the outer stairway in Toran Castle. Stairs forever. She flinches slightly when he touches her with the rod, though more because she hadn't been expecting it than out of any real discomfort. How does he see anything with this mask on? "Not nearly as much as reaching the top of this place would entail," she states, distastefully. "Teleportation will have to fall to you, though. I have not been in this place before." Her mask tilts very slightly, as she eyes Luc from the corner of an eye. "Unless, that is, you want to return home." There's a short pause, and although he can't see it, he might hear the mischevious smile in her voice. "I thought we might try some of the new wine. I think you'll like it. Quite sweet, but not overpowering." She takes half a step closer, expressly so she can stand on tiptoe and whisper into his ear, although the gesture loses something with the mask on. "And very, very strong." She folds her hands behind her when she settles back on her feet, head tilted just slightly to one side in the (almost) perfect picture of innocence. It is quite possible that Luc is a terrible influence on her.
Luc	"Funny enough, a few of my friends are Harmonians themselves. Howling Voice Guild all, no less." Luc ponders aloud, as if he doesn't quite understand why someone would choose such a path voluntarily. He shrugs loosely, clicking his rod against the ground in so doing. "Frankly, their political favors wouldn't do me very much good. I'm already of greater rank than them within Harmonian society, although it never really hurts to have First-Class acquaintances I suppose. I understand that Sierra followed Latkje back to Crystal Valley. Foolish choice, if you ask me." "Hmm... might need to make sure Harmonia doesn't make a play for the Blue Moon Rune." "Most of the rest, you would be correct, but there are too many bold men and women among my acquaintances for Harmonia to frighten all of them." When Sarah defers to his teleportation ability, Luc shakes his head a little. "No, I mean to decide whether or not we continue from here for now. This place isn't as tall as Toran Castle, even at its highest point. The battlements are long, though, and the catacombs fairly deep." If she could see his expression, it would get extra flat about now. "Couple of our people slept in coffins in the basement during our initial incursion. That was too much, even for me." "... Huh. You know, that doesn't really work that well in these circumstances. You should save it until we're home." He taps on the front of Sarah's mask with his rod, looking up towards the next set of stairs. "I suppose there's nothing for it. I can tell what kind of Rune we're dealing with from here, so we can come back later when we're more prepared. You lot." Luc gestures his cane in a circle towards the little balls of fire he summoned a moment ago. "Make sure nothing approaches that Rune until we return." The animate fireballs file out, up towards the battlements. "Take us home, then." Luc turns to Sarah, tapping his rod against the forehead of her mask. "You know that place well enough by now."
Guest Sarah	"I wouldn't count the Howling Voice Guild in the same camp as the rest of the Harmonian citizenry," Sarah offers, glancing briefly toward Luc. He can't see it, but she raises a brow at the report of Nash and Sierra. Why on earth would she go back to Crystal Valley? "That does seem ill-informed, but I suppose they must have had their reasons." She glances back over her shoulder, toward the stairway leading up, and allows herself a brief moment of impotent annoyance. The thought of Harmonia getting their meat-hooks into a True Rune like that gives her the willies. "The Beast Rune was bad enough. No, they do not need the Blue Moon Rune." "Coffins? Why would you even--" Sarah shakes her head, and makes a small sound of disgust. "No, never mind. Better not to know." The sorceress allows herself a mock-mournful sigh, as her mask is tapped again. "I suppose you're right. It really does lose something, doesn't it? Hard to manage a playful tone when your face looks like a statue's. While I appreciate the gesture, and it certainly doesn't smell as badly, I don't for the life of me know how you see in these things." "Do you think those will be enough?" she questions, looking after the will-o'-wisps as they float up toward the battlements. "Well, I suppose a warning would be sufficient. We can always teleport ourselves back here if there is any trouble." Sarah finds herself flinching again from the hollow 'clunk' of the rod against the spare mask, but she doesn't seem to mind so much; she's laughing again, softly, even as she admonishes him. "Stop that." Home it is. A brief phrase in quicksilver Sindar brings them back to the familiar confines of Toran Castle, along with a wash of mist. No sooner have they arrived at their destination than Sarah reaches up to pull the mask off her face, drawing in a deep breath and tossing it aside to a nearby endtable. "That's better. I'll take the scent of the mask over the reek of blood in that place, but I don't know how you see clearly." "In any case, it's good to be home," she murmurs. Setting her greatstaff aside, she files over to where the wine is kept, sifting through the bottles. "I think it would be good to take a force in there. Union Allies, if we must, but a force that does not owe its allegiances to Harmonia. Quietly, if possible. We can take possession of the True Rune if we must, just to keep it out of Harmonia's hands." Bottles clink as she sorts through their stockpile; briefly, she glances over her shoulder, fixing him with one of those colourless-pale eyes. "What do you think?"
Luc	"Well... I suppose they're taken care of." Luc shrugs, faintly. "Most likely they'll be satisfied that one of the True Runes is in possession of an effective citizen. I do not recall if Latkje married her or not, precisely, but..." He trails off, not actually having the authority to speak on the matter. There were rumors for some time, at any rate, and they weren't quiet rumors either. He must be one of the few people able to put the puzzle pieces together, based on the second war. With regards to the coffins, Luc smirks beneath his mask. "They were there, and relatively safe. One supposes that vampires must have taken refuge there at one point. I don't really see why, it was deep enough in the belly of the castle not to be concerned with sunlight. Perhaps it is simply more comfortable to them than it is to us?" Luc adjusts Sarah's mask slightly, assuming it simply isn't oriented to her eyes properly if she's complaining about not being able to see. Might be he's wrong, and he just screws it up even worse. "The mask distorts the voice a little, as well, and certain elements of 'playfulness' are muffled as a result." "And yes, those will be enough for now." "The arrival of anyone noteworthy will be obvious, more than likely anyone who comes here now will do so because they don't have enough power. The rune that is currently stirring things up is something I call the New Moon Rune. It is a dark-faced circle related to the Blue Moon Rune, and I suspect that it makes the bearer rather vampiric." He gestures with both hands and cane, "Rather like some runes can transform you temporarily for an attack." "They will keep normal people away. Those who already have power will not desire the meager strength /that/ will provide them." Luc begins to discard extraneous garments and props. Mask, coat, rod, boots. He plops himself down next to the fireplace, blearily chucking in logs and getting it lit as he goes. It's too damn cold over this lake during this time of year, but wearing all that stuff all the time just isn't comfortable. He squints over at Sarah. "Sorry, I gave the wrong impression. It's not a True Rune, just a very nasty subordinate rune. Like a Darkness Rune, or Rune of Condemnation. But yes, we should do all of those things you just said."
Guest Sarah	"Perhaps it's as comfortable to them as a bed is to us." Sarah lifts one shoulder in a faint shrug, but it's clear she's unable to grasp the finer points of vampiric aesthetics and preferences. "I have no other theories about that in particular. I have not made a habit of being companionable with such individuals. I was fortunate even to see a fellow human, in the years of my confinement in the One Temple." Why anyone might want to sleep in something like a coffin is beyond her. Even though she herself has brushed death at least twice, she wouldn't dream of sleeping in something so reminiscent of her own mortality. Besides, finding wood shavings in one's hair would just be a nuissance. "New Moon Rune?" Sarah tilts her head faintly, breathing a relieved sigh at the wash of warmth from the hearth. It may be that her very soul is bound to the essence of water and ice, but that doesn't mean that she enjoys the cold. In fact, as thin and lightweight as she is, she's quite susceptible to it. "Hm. Charming. So, another vampiric rune. I suppose we might as well deal with it when we are better-prepared." She shakes her head. "If it is not a True Rune, than I would not mind taking possession of it myself. Not to inscribe it, but to bind it to a scroll or some manner of object, just to deny Harmonia that resource." Finally finding what she's looking for, she pops the cork with a bit of cheating magic, and pours them each a glass. Whatever it is, it looks somewhat fizzy, and it smells light; sweet. Recorking the bottle, she carries the glasses over, offering one to Luc before crouching down in front of the fire. The heat feels good, and she sighs in pleasure. It feels especially good after the chill and unsettling air of Neclord's old castle. "In the meantime, this is why I have grown attached to Toran Castle. We can relax, here, and be ourselves, away from Harmonia; away from anyone else." She settles down on the floor, legs splayed out in front of her, propping herself upw ith arms braced backward; glancing over her shoulder, she offers a smile, sweet and genuine. "It's home."
Luc	"Sierra acted like a normal person... insofar as any of us act normal, I suppose. I think it was just Neclord's sense of drama. Everything about him was theatrical and ludicrous. That castle back there has a titanic organ room that you can only open in a particularly convoluted way." Luc explains, sprawling out in front of the fire and staring up at the ceiling. "So I suppose it must just be a choice. But Sierra was very different from the typical vampire. Much like Neclord, the vulnerabilities and quirks simply did not apply to her. Probably because of her possession of the Rune." "'Another'. Ironically the Blue Moon Rune suppresses vampiric tendencies, even though it transforms the bearer into one. Never quite understood that, but I suppose the rule is that the rune makes it so they don't need to eat people. I didn't talk with her much, but I think you'd get along with her." Or perhaps not. They may just be too similar, he supposes. "... Mm? We're in the Toran Republic, Harmonia won't be gunning for this one. I'm not taking Sierra's rune away from her, even if she is tagging along with Laktje into Harmonia." He frowns a little, pushing his hair back out of his eyes. "It's a particularly violent rune, and she's able to use it as if it was her own even if somebody else has taken possession of it. More trouble than it's worth. For me, and for Harmonia. That's how Neclord ended up double dead." "She told the Rune that Neclord wasn't going to be immortal anymore, and he wasn't." Luc smiles a rather nasty smile at that. He didn't like Neclord at all. Luc accepts the drink offered to him, sitting up so he doesn't just kill himself by choking on it. He sips at it lightly before he continues, "I suppose it must be home. Anyway, if you want to put it on a scroll or something I guess I don't care. I don't know what I want to do with it, other than keep some lunatic from turning himself into a vampire with it. I've never seen one of these in person, but I've had enough experience with its mother rune to recognize it at that distance." "S'pose we could put it on an animal and see what happens." He ponders aloud, taking a moment to drink far too much of that wine at once afterwards to give Sarah the appropriate amount of time to process and observe what a stupid idea that is.
Guest Sarah	"Yes, he rather does seem the type to be taken in by showmanship." Sarah leans back a little, basking in front of the fire. She hadn't been particularly cold in that castle, but the warmth does feel good. "I see no reason for such things, myself. That she would not sport the typical failings seems reasonable to me, if she does indeed bear the Blue Moon." "Mmmn." Sarah lets her head loll slightly to one side, reaching up to unclip her hair and unhook her earrings, stretching to set them on a nearby endtable, pausing to take a sip of her wine before setting it up with her earrings and hairclip. When she settles back down, she settles against him, drawing a knee up to her chest and resting her chin on it. "Harmonia does so love the True Runes, and the idea of acquiring more of them. Perhaps they're not, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I would feel more comfortable with such a rune in our possession, if only because that would deny others the opportunity to take it for themselves. I have no desire to clean up the messes of an inept magician." Sarah lets her eyes half-close, reaching for her wine glass. "Would that it were so easy for other problematic figures, although I suppose Neclord is among the more distasteful examples of such." Sighing, she leans against him, comfortable. At least, for a few seconds, until he decides to down way too much wine at once. She turns to eye him, somewhat dubiously. "You probably shouldn't do that," she points out. "You'll regret it later." She takes a hearty drink from her own glass before setting it aside again, but it isn't nearly as much as he'd had. "How is it? I thought this might be more toward your tastes than the last few bottles have been." To the matter of the New Moon Rune, she shrugs, rolling one shoulder languidly. "Perhaps, although that seems somewhat needlessly cruel." Says the woman who took the time to pluck thorns from the paws of her summoned chimaerae. "I would not mind if some fool took hold of it and transformed themselves into a vampire through sheer stupidity; it would not trouble me to swat them down, but it seems inconsiderate to force such a fate on an animal that did not ask for it. Safer, and more humane, I think, would be to bind it to a scroll."
Luc	"Cost-benefit of attacking the bearer of the Blue Moon Rune is too skewed. Unlike the rest they've claimed, it specializes in sacrifices. That is to say, attacking the one who bears it in overwhelming numbers is actually an invitation for disaster. I would compare it to the Beast Rune, but the Beast Rune makes things more difficult. The blood sacrifices are much more subdued." Luc smiles thinly at this, although it's not really something to find amusing or smile about. "There is no purpose in robbing her... and I don't think Harmonia is aware that she bears that Rune anyway." "Most likely they believe it departed when Neclord perished, unless Latkje is a unique sort of traitor to his companion." "I do a lot of things I probably shouldn't do." Luc retorts, jabbing Sarah lightly in the shoulder with an outstretched finger. "And I'll have you know that I didn't drink it slow enough to taste anything at all. I assume it's acceptable." He repeats this feat by downing the rest of his wine rapidly, and flopping back down on the floor like a great lazy cat. The only care Luc offers is not to jostle Sarah or break his glass. The glass, in fact, is sent away with a flick and a gust of wind. "Well," He says, "If you think animals are innocent of claiming runes that are just lying around to begin with, you're wrong, but you're right that doing it deliberately is a little bit twisted." "Might want a whole book for that one, though... historically Runes like that placed on objects tend to have a destructive effect on whoever picks the object up." "Start making a list of people you'd like to help handle it. You're the one who makes all the acquaintances lately." He adds, flatly.
Guest Sarah	With a sigh, she heaves herself to her feet, but only to take leave of her layered dress and slip into a more comfortable (and less layered) nightgown, settling back down in front of the fire beside him. How she rids herself of that dress so quickly is a mystery... but they do seem well suited to the Toran Republic's crisp, cold autumn. Her arms wrap around him, and she leans her head against his shoulder, eyes drooping nearly closed. "I suppose if you drank the wine too quickly to taste it, that just means we'll have to partake again tomorrow." She chuckles, faintly. "Thankfully, it isn't difficult to find." "We should travel again, once the New Moon Rune is dealt with. Perhaps find a few other good vintages, hmm? And strange places, with stranger magic." Sarah half-smiles, looking to the hearth and watching the flame crackle. "It's so different in some places. I enjoy seeing new places, and learning about stranger systems of magic."
Guest Sarah	"I would consider it as any other attempt at a bearer of a True Rune. Foolish, unless a strategy could be found to guarantee success. A vanishingly small chance, even under the most optimistic of estimates." Sarah yawns and settles more comfortably on the rug, letting the heat wash over her. The winter is only going to get colder from this point on. The drafty old castle might be built of cold stone, but the hearth is nice. "Better that Harmonia doesn't find out, then; no more than if they were to find that I bear the True Water Rune." She'll be happy the longer they go without knowing or suspecting. Not having to deal with their prejudices, fears, or ignorance is always a happy thing in her book; Sarah is no more fond of the place than Luc is. She doesn't quite bear it any animosity, but she's only a notch or two below that point. Sarah tilts her head, just enough to regard Luc from the corner of her eye; with a sigh and a shrug, she reaches for her glass, draining it over a few seconds and setting it aside. Going by her expression, that was also ill-considered, but it means not having to deal with it once he's done with his. In other words, she can flop beside him like an equally lazy cat. The water mage curls up against him, resting over his side and eyeing the hearth. There doesn't seem to be any need for extra logs, so she's content to lie there and do nothing of any particular import. A crisp autumn evening like this is best spent exactly here, in front of a fire, with good company. "No, I have no doubt that animals have the capacity to pick up a rune and tamper with it. I just think that forcing it on an animal wouldn't be right." Even if they're only dumb animals by the view of some, it still doesn't settle well with her to force something into a potentially harmful situation against their will. She'd know; having been used as a tool by Harmonia for half her life, she has something of a complex against the abuse of free will. It's one of the few subjects that can actually make her angry. She leans back, considering. "Mmn. Perhaps. It would do no harm to store it in a book, and that in turn would be easier to guard. It would certainly blend in more easily in the library, and deter any would-be thieves." Sarah smiles, faintly. "Of course, if anyone were to get that far into this place, and survive the attempt, I would be impressed." "I will. I can think of a few whose talents would be useful," she muses quietly. "Particularly if we run into more of those creatures. Not that we are no match for them, but it is wearisome to clear out such detritus." Why do it when they can have their allies do it for them? "Of course, the other problem that arises with such is to ensure that the Union does not take possession of the New Moon; not without proper study to determine what effects, if any, it would have." New runes are such a bother. The Boyar Rune was a happy accident, but in her mind it's probably rare that such things are so easily dealt with, especially with a nasty predecessor like the Blue Moon Rune. "Mmn. We'll deal with it later." She leans over, running her fingers through his hair and eyeing it somewhat blearily. "Your hair's getting a bit long. Ah, well," she sighs, slumping against him once more. "I suppose mine is, too. Well, I'll see about the rune later. I'm far too comfortable to worry about that right now," she mumbles against his shoulder. It's too nice an evening to ruin it thinking about nightmarish ghouls and a castle that reeks of blood. With her luck she'll have nightmares about that place. On the bright side, they can't compare to Annu or the Ashen Future... but that's pretty cold comfort.
Luc	"There's not much you can do to test the effects of something without a test subject, though." Luc points out, simply. "I doubt there are many who would both be acceptable test subjects and who would wish to brave a brush with vampirism. Perhaps I'm mistaken." With regards to the ease of defensing a book, he gives a toss of his head. "You'd be surprised. I've seen difficult Runes taken from much better guarded people than us. I am honestly surprised that Neclord was able to take the Blue Moon Rune from Sierra, even temporarily. But I doubt I've heard the whole story." The concern about the Rune being taken by the Union gets a non-committal noise from him. "I don't particularly care if they want to contain it. At the moment I suspect it is attached to a brick somewhere farther into the castle, so it won't be too quick to remove I don't think... I'd consider it safe if not for all of the people in the surroundings. Some young idiot wishing to change their fortunes could do a great deal of harm if they knew enough to take it, but not enough to handle it with care." "... Of course, it might not confer vampirism at all. It may just offer some form of lesser blood magic." "... Still trouble, tho'. Sacrifice X lives to achieve Y result." Luc makes a bit of a sour face. "I suppose we must, I don't feel like drinking any more tonight. Looks to me like you don't, either. If it were bad I would've tasted it anyway, so I suppose it's best to say for now that it's acceptable." "And," He continues, hauling himself up to get ready for bed, "My only stipulation is that I can live without anyplace that does something too metaphysical. Like externalizing souls."
Guest Sarah	"No, but it still feels wrong to subject a creature to such things when that creature cannot voice its refusal." She glances back to regard him almost obliquely from the corner of an eye. "I know something of that, and I would not force another living thing to comply to that which it could not comprehend or voice its refusal to be party to. Particularly if that were dangerous to it." Sarah tilts her head a little, considering. If the Blue Moon Rune allowed itself to be parted from Sierra, no doubt there was something more to that tale. It is passing rare that a True Rune might be parted from its bearer without violence so compliantly; rarer still that she might command it from afar as though it were still her own. Likewise, the water mage climbs to her feet, stretching and lingering for a moment in front of the fire. While it's not particularly cold in their quarters, the fire still feels nice. And that bed is going to be damned cold. Sarah confirms that a moment later with a bit of a squeak as she crawls under the covers. So much for feeling comfortably drowsy. He might hear her grumbling under her breath as she curls into something of a ball, yanking the comforter around herself and screwing her eyes shut until the sheets stop being absurdly chilly. She cracks an eye open. "By all means, if it's not to your taste, I can find something else. Or do I need to tempt you with baked sweets from some far-distant land?" Sarah cracks a faint grin, letting her eyes close again. "Maybe you're a bad influence. I almost find myself wanting to seek out things like that, from time to time. I'd never cared for such things before, although I suppose that was a product of lack of exposure." "I agree on the metaphysicality. I would much prefer someplace a bit more simple. I enjoy studying strange forms of magic, but nothing quite so personalised. Still, it was interesting to see how society had developed around a basic concept like externalised souls. That reality permeated every aspect and facet of their society. Fascinating."
Luc	"There was nothing wrong with it. I just wasn't paying much mind to its taste." Luc takes a moment to change clothes, mostly into something a bit less nasty and a bit thicker. While he's at it he chucks what he was wearing out the door and into the exterior hall, making a point to do the same with his mask. Needs scrubbing, he decides, before he's willing to tolerate it in an enclosed space again. He glances down towards the bed disdainfully, aggravated at the temporarily-cold sheets. "We really should start using a bed warmer." He flops on top of the sheets instead, for the time being, relying on the heat from the fireplace to keep warm. Maybe a little magic, too. As-is, Luc is just kind of awkwardly sprawled diagnolly across the bed, probably encroaching at least a little bit on Sarah's space. He snorts regarding the society built around the concept of an externalized soul. "Keeps people too honest. People aren't meant to be honest. What we think isn't meant to be broadcast. Sometimes we feel in ways that aren't altogether good, or kind, to the people we don't really want to bring harm to. It's the same reason that mind reading is generally unfortunate and undesirable." "I didn't pay much attention to what was going on back then, but I doubt the situation really helped them, in the end. And it was /creepy/." Luc complains, shuffling about vaguely on the surface of the sheets and not really getting anywhere.
Guest Sarah	Sarah cracks an eye open, regarding Luc somewhat lazily as he makes his statement on the wine. That he hasn't paid much attention to it doesn't bother her too badly; it's rare that he shows much toward most things. "Mmm," she says simply, closing her eyes again. Yes, the sheets are icy cold, but they won't stay that way for too long. A momentary discomfort. "Maybe," she murmurs, finally letting herself uncoil and stretch. "It only stays cold for a few moments, though. Besides, you've taken down your wine so quickly," she adds, with a hint of amusement, "I'd hardly expect you to feel it so keenly." Gah. She jerks aside a little as he flops suddenly, mostly so he doesn't land on her, resettling comfortably. "Maybe. Maybe not. How are we to know? After all, that world is different; it does not operate on the same principles as ours. Perhaps its people /are/ more honest by their very nature." Stretching, she settles against him. "Perhaps /we/ are accustomed to secrets. But, the people of that world had functioned that way since its inception, I would presume. They seemed to do alright." She shrugs. "If it troubles you, do not go there. There are plenty of other places we can go that we have not yet been." Folding an arm over him, she rests her head on her folded arm, leaning on him companionably. "I'm certain our Union allies might know of some strange places. Perhaps some of the officers." "Hopefully somewhere with a long and storied tradition of baking excellent sweets, and good wine." Sarah half-smiles. "And interesting systems of magic to poke at."
Luc	"I realize I'm a lightweight, but I'm not /that/ lightweight. It'll take a little while to hit me." Luc retorts, swatting lightly at Sarah through the blankets. They're heavy enough for winter that she won't feel anything even if he baps her like this. He settles down again fairly quickly, lying in a position that isn't quite so openly inconvenient to Sarah. He shakes his head a little bit, "Can't know, since that's a state of being that we've only experienced on a temporary basis. But I can know that I don't like it and think it's completely absurd." "People are meant to have their secrets." "And I'm not, that was the point of that conversation." He points out, flatly. "I'd rather /not/ go to places that do their best to dig my secrets out of me for everyone to see. Or your secrets from you, for that matter. There are things I don't really care if people know. I doubt many of them would do anything but help if they knew I'd like to destroy my Rune." Luc issues something that can most accurately be described as a heavy sigh followed by a quick snort. He looks towards Sarah critically, "I don't mind if the food someplace turns out bland. I'm sure you can find some interesting stuff talking to stuffy old monks that only eat rice and drink water. Enlightenment my ass... /that/ type of person always has scrolls filled with filthy doodling in the margins." "Just find something non-threatening, I don't care about the rest too much. It's not like I can't just teleport somewhere else if I desperately need junk food." He waves a hand vaguely. Luc, unlike Sarah, is just fine with places that have cars. Places with cars have gas stations, which double as minimarts. And they often do not close.
Guest Sarah	"I suppose it depends on what you're drinking." A faint grin flickers across the water mage's face, and though she tries to dodge the swat aimed her way, there's not really anywhere she can go. He's definitely a bad influence; years ago, she never would have considered bantering with him like this. "To the best of my knowledge, though, you're right. This isn't quite as strong as some of the vintages we've had. In fact, I would say it's weaker." She'll offer no argument that people need their secrets. These two, at the very least. The act of having those secrets dragged out into the light for the first time, the formation of her daemon, was exquisitely painful and uncomfortable for such a naturally private person. Settling against him, she eyes him when he addresses the food, shrugging one shoulder. "Maybe. Aren't you in an optimistic mood tonight?" Reaching out, quite deliberately, she taps his nose much as he has done to her in the past. "Look on the bright side. It will be something different from the same Toran Republic food we've been having lately. I don't know about you, but I'd like a change of pace. Sometimes it's nice just to get away for a little while, you know?" Sarah, unfortunately, is not very fine with places that have cars. Places that have cars are to be avoided at all costs unless Luc insists on taking her there. And then they are to be suffered through with the utmost impatience. Her first car ride had not left a very good impression. In retrospect, a taxi cab was probably the worst thing she could have used to experience that aspect of the modern world... "Alright. Leave the details to me, then. I'll find something." Glancing over her shoulder, she regards the doorway for a moment, thoughtful. "If nothing else, I wouldn't mind finding a place that I can add to our library from. It may be a great inconvenience to you, but I enjoy that aspect of the multiverse. Limitless knowledge from an infinite variety of worlds..." She glances back to him, serious. "Perhaps, with such a store of knowledge out there, we might someday even find a way to destroy the True Wind Rune and do so without killing you." She has no desire to relive the Grasslands War in the least. Sarah shrugs. "Idle thought, anyway." He'll probably find some way to argue that, but she doesn't really mind. She's used to his fits of gloominess, obstinance, and general apathy. They were a little startling at first, before she really had a sense of his general temperament and character, but they're as normal to her now as the regularity of a sunrise. Settling against him, she rests her head on his shoulder, eyes half-closing. "Mmn. I think the warmth from the hearth is finally starting to sink in. Or maybe you're just warm," she adds. "I think I can feel my fingers again. It's not quite as cold as Harmonia, here, but that lake really does attract the chill, especially when it's foggy." "I suppose I could banish the fog," she muses, sounding half-awake at best, "but that's really far too much trouble."
Luc	"What are you talking about? I'm never in an optimistic mood." Luc retorts, dully. He finally pulls the sheets back to get under them, jerking them back over with a pronounced FOOMF of fabric. In reaction to Sarah poking his nose, he reaches over and ruffles her hair. And some more... and a little more. Actually, he doesn't appear intent on stopping, it might be a good idea to slap his hand away sometime soon, or else the bed head that will result in the morning will be truly monstrous. Fine hair is a terrible thing. "Fine. Let's go to the Queendom of Falena. I feel like spicy food." He jokes, without reservation. Luc knows that the Water Mage doesn't want to go there any more than she wants to go to Harmonia. Still, as silly cartoonish scenarios run through his head... "... You know, though, you're not going to turn over a rock and suddenly have the Sun Rune slap itself on your face." He points out, reaching over to trace a pattern on Sarah's forehead. Luc issues a heavy sigh in answer to the matter of the True Wind Rune. "Finding a way to be powerful without a True Rune is Crowley's area of expertise, but he's such a weirdo I'm not sure I want to emulate him. All of Lady Leknaat's old acquaintances are the same. If they don't have a True Rune, that is." As for the cold... "Hazards of living on a lake that may as well be an inland sea." He pauses, looking up towards the ceiling thoughtfully. "Sure you don't want to move south? If we can get the bloody smell out, I bet it'll be warmer..."
Guest Sarah	"No, I suppose you're not." Sarah seems to let the matter slide with that. She can't imagine it would be easy to be enthusiastic about anything with the Ashen Future gnawing at one's soul. Still, sometimes she wishes he might find a little enthusiasm about something, anything, beyond his own destruction; if only for his own sake. It is what it is, though, and he is as he is. Shifting to be more comfortable, she-- --gets her hair ruffled. A lot. She gives him a look that would freeze a glacier, and it takes a flicker of power from the True Water Rune, and a lot of smoothing-down, to set it right again. If it's at all possible, the blood drains from her face at mention of Falena, and she looks even paler than usual. Quite a sight, given her ordinary complexion, or lack thereof. It's a moment or two before she comes back to herself, eyeing him a little sourly. "You joke about it, but with my luck, that's exactly what would happen. No, thank you. I'm not exaggerating when I say I'd rather not be on the same /continent/ as that rune." "Surely there's a way in the multiverse. It may take us a lifetime of searching, but fortunately, we have more than that at our disposal. But there's no point in concerning ourselves with it tonight." Yawning, she loops an arm around him, curling up against him now that he's ducked under the covers instead of sprawled awkwardly over her. "For right now..." Leaning over, she presses a kiss to the side of his face, curling up against him with a contented sigh. "I drank a little too much wine, and I want to sleep."
Luc	"We should go someplace with balloons." Luc ponders aloud, his tone half-joking. He seems to be staring at Sarah's hair, which he can only imagine will get a horrified reaction. Or, perhaps not horrified, but indignant. His expression changes to annoyed when she speaks her mind about the Queendom of Falena, to which he offers a great roll of the eyes. "Our lives are already dominated enough by fear that, I think, it's probably best to discard some of them. Particularly the unrealistic ones. We can't exactly run from what we're marching towards regardless of what we do." "I see no reason why we should run from something that has nothing to do with us." He smiles, wickedly. "Besides, I want to see all the places that got torched by the Sun Rune during their last conflict." There may be an ulterior motive, there, though... Luc knows that Georg Prime came from Falena, and he also knows that the old bastard always carries about six cheesecakes on him at the time. Might be he thinks some of the sweets out there are worth braving the gaze of the Sun Rune. Or else he's messing with Sarah. Or both, it's really hard to tell when he's smiling like that. When Sarah expresses her inclination to actually sleep and pecks him on the cheek, Luc returns the gesture by kissing her on the forehead and settling down himself. He turns a baleful eye towards the burning fireplace. Would that they could have it warm /and/ dark, but he supposes there's no use wasting magic on such things. "Maybe there is. And maybe I'm just afraid to try what I know others have already. Sasarai was a miserable wretch while he was separated from his own Rune, I'd rather not suffer the same. But that's..." "Not a topic to sleep on. I'd rather dream of balloons. And cheesecake." Luc sighs heavily, shuts his eyes, and permits himself to start drifting off. Eventually.