usir | [open] don't you want to come with me?

[open] don't you want to come with me?

Character(s): anyone who wants to go poke some bones
Status: Open
Location(s): Epithymetikon's fall
Date(s) heading out on the 13th. however, the time at the skeleton can be as long or as short as people want.
About: What's up with that skeleton anyway? Time for everyone to find out.
Warnings: creepy magic nonsense

As the party approaches the skeleton, it becomes apparent as to why there are cursed rumors. No animals can be found near the skeleton: horses and animases both start to get a little uneasy and skittish the longer they remain near the skeleton. The dragon's great mouth is held open, as if by magic. At the back of the dragon's rib cage lies a shrine, the contents of which are magically preserved. All in all, it's a very creepy sight.

Still, the exploration party came here for a reason. Might as well get some magical analysis in before the behavior of the horses and animases force people to turn back.

( ooc: Feel free to make your own starter and tag around! Here is information about the gravesite itself as well as some ""fun"" things that might happen, should your character use some magic + be the dingus who decides to do necromancy. Feel free to have your character notice any/all of these in their explorations. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

After Krimnos, after going home to see naught but remains, there is a sort of joy in going out and doing this kind of work. It's as close to Alucard's old life has he has gotten since this all began, and perhaps that means he is overdoing it. He saved up to buy tiny shovels for God's sake, and between that and spending about half an hour floating over the skeleton to draw it from overhead (and then landing to try and figure out the depths of what is under all of the clay earth), he's...having a good time.

Which also means that any statements like Strange's are going to be responded to with a little too much flippancy.

"Oh, I can't imagine why," he says. Alucard's on the ground with a big measuring stick, driving it into the earth to try and get another depth measurement. "It isn't as if better safe than sorry with this kind of magic is the worst idea possible."

It's a good idea and people like Strange are why the runes are there, so far as he can determine.

Strange makes a small little scoffing noise as he returns to copying the runes. "Quite frankly, making a concentrated effort to bury the thing would be more effective than these runes. I've only seen them used in obscure texts. And, to be honest, I've no idea if they even work or not. It just seems like a waste of time and energy."

Says the person who also kind of wants to see if he can necromancy the dragon? But that's something Strange can mull over later.

He only has one tiny shovel which is more of a garden spade and quite frankly, is a little bit jealous of Alucard's tiny shovels and ability to fly (when could he do that?!). Thankfully, Strange did come prepared with other forms of ways to measure the earth and take samples. But as long as Alucard's doing that, he'll save his measuring for later. Lord knows the other man would probably criticize him on his dirt gathering or something ridiculous like that.

"There's no point. The impact of dragons just landing here would be felt throughout the region, so if one buries it, then it's even more suspicious. Better to let things accumulate naturally and protect the bones in-situ than to disrupt the natural burial and potential fossilization process."

Alucard pauses just long enough to add the current depth he's at, murmuring something about likely position of elbow before taking the measuring equipment out and moving a few feet further down.

"At any rate, it all boils down to how you interpret what we're looking at. Is this an object in full, is it a set of remains, is it a living memorial, or something else entirely? All of these meanings have been attached already."

Also yes. Yes he would have opinion on gathering dirt properly. Did you properly label your samples with exact locations?

"The shrine and room inside the rib cage give it the impression of a memorial over a set of remains. Perhaps the going thought was something like 'we can't move it and won't bury it, might as well make use of it.'"

After all, there were spells around the offerings. That involved a level of preparation that most people wouldn't take for a funerary bouquet. Strange takes a knee, sketching out more of the runes as he continues to argue with Alucard about this situation. There's nothing accusatory or angry in his tone: he's someone who likes arguing and debating for the sake of arguing and debating.

"Though the general atmosphere does poke a hole in the memorial theory. Whoever put that shrine there must have taken their time doing so."

"Memorials can have longer and more detailed thought put into them," he counters. Alucard's prodding at the ground again, and this time he does hit a bone. To himself he tsks, the dirt isn't as tall as it was just a few feet ago.

"But let's put aside that fact and consider the matter that it's there at all. I'd like to know how frequently it's used for it's intended purpose, and when it began given the general horror and fury at the dragons when the war concluded."

A sentiment that had Alucard survived, he would have shared. He still does. "Treat this as a site of pilgrimage instead of as a set of remains and thus an object one could add to a collection."

"I don't collect the things I revive," Strange scoffs. "I take the necessary studies, ask the necessary questions, and then dispatch them back to the realm of the dead. Of course, the dragon would be different."

He realizes this is the first time he's outright said he does necromancy. But half of his conversations with Alucard implied it and he doubts the man will brand him a traitor or a heretic at this revelation. Just an idiot.

"As for the memorial, considering that most people think this place cursed, I suspect it's only used by an individual or a small group. It's certainly not something that gets regular foot traffic."

"I wasn't talking about you in specific," Alucard says, rolling his eyes far too hard than required for this conversation. "I was generalizing, based on my own past work."

He is, in fact, certain that Jonathan Strange is an idiot. Dabbling in necromancy alone meant he was an idiot. Confirming it was even stupider. It was stunning.

The rest is considered carefully. Mulled over. "You're right about a small group or even just one or two people. So then are the visits regular on a monthly basis, or tied to more specific needs or dates? Either are plausible. Death dates would be the easiest to examine."

"They would be easiest," Strange admits, with a little nod. "I have university contacts in—well, I had university contacts in Didymos." That's right. Most of them are probably dead by now. There's a brief moment where Strange frowns, as if realizing this for the first time, before pushing himself onwards and trying not to think about it.

"If there is one thing academia is resistant to, it's change. I'm certain I can lean on some old connections in order to gain access to the library and find out the precise death dates as well as any other information written about the dragons." There's a pause as Strange frowns. "I'll have to change my hair, though. There's bound to be a few pictures of me hanging up somewhere."

"...I expect a basic history book would do just as well."

No point in using contacts that likely have greater help to offer further down the line. Alucard reaches for his notes to add this new depth down onto the page, careful in how exact he is being. There's also the thought that using those contacts would announce this level of necromancy to an audience that may well not appreciate it.

Not his university contacts to burn and horrify.

"At least for dates. The rest...yes, that's the kind of thing that would be confined to either the academy or monasteries. The latter might be easier to access and involve less scrutiny of one's return."

"Yes, but then you'd have to deal with monks," Strange complains a little, as he flips over a page and starts sketching a different rune in his little notebook. "My brother in law was part of the clergy. Religious men are a particular sort of intolerable that academics aren't."

Also, consider this: Strange likes showing off and wants to use those academic contacts to see if they're even still around and to see if anybody there has the slightest idea about what level of necromancy happened to them. Because Strange sure as hell doesn't and sure as hell wants to know the specifics.

Alucard shrugs. "I expect that's on you rather than the monasteries. They were some of my best clients, even if I suspect some of the reasons they sought me out was because I was willing to travel to remote parts."

It had been a good life, all things considered. Requests to look at this object or that one. Determine time period or authenticity or simply make sense of something that has too much mystery to it. A life that wed the academic to his mother's request that both Alucard and Alucard's father see the world rather than remain hidden in their home in Krimnos.

Academics were...fussier.

"I've found that academics fuss over what was and what must remain, even when given evidence that the opposite is true."

Of course Alucard would get along well with the monasteries. Strange suspects they're the same brand of particularly irritating. He rolls his eyes slightly, telling Alucard just what Strange thinks about the fact that he gets along well with the monks.

"That's because academics understand that what's true is relative. Monks don't. They'd prefer to stick to their dogma, never changing or even making an attempt at deviation."

The fact that he's repping academia in this conversation is amusing, in it's own little way. There was a time when Strange would wash his hands of the whole process. And here he is, defending it to a fellow bitchy revived.

"And academics don't? From everything I've experienced as a curator and appraiser, it's that one can be just as bad as the other in the right circumstances."

Which is to really say that institutions are going to institution, and the bullshit is part of being old and set in one's ways.

"But the academics had better storage for their rare manuscripts, that much I can never contest."

Speaking of paper. Alucard pauses to look at his, trying to determine the most likely point for the dragon's claws. He's figured out the elbow and run up the length of the forearm now, but the exact direction of the palm and claws is to be determined.

"Have you noticed if any of the bones are visibly chipped or broken away, as one might take a keepsake? I've yet to do a proper inspection with that in mind."

Curator and appraiser? Now that's interesting. Strange doesn't bother to hide the look of interest on his face before he shakes his head slightly, focusing back on the question at hand.

"It's less of visibly chipped and more of outright missing: the dragon is missing a few of his teeth and spines." Which is odd. Pointing out the obvious, but the teeth are fucking huge. Who in their right mind would walk away with a dragon tooth and where would they store it so nobody could find it?

As Strange finishes copying the runes on this stretch of ribcage, he places the pencil behind his ear and walks over towards Alucard. "You said you were a curator? Was this for any particular institution or just to keep oneself busy?"

"Interesting. Those aren't easy objects to remove and carry any distance," Alucard says, his eyes still on his previous sketches. He has an idea of where to feel for the buried claws now, and he begins to move down in that direction. "Storage wouldn't be an issue if you have enough money or skill to pull off their removal, and the world is wide enough."

By the time Strange is over by Alucard, the dhampir is again putting his measuring pole into the ground, careful as he does so.

"The latter," he replies. "My parents were...unique in their tastes, and I began by managing and seeking things out on their behalf. I was skilled at it, and accepted private inquiries through the years. Monasteries often wanted more information on relics, private collectors were curious about authenticity, that sort of thing."

"Money or skill, you'd have to have help to carry them or store them in the first place. I think it's a reasonable assumption that anyone who helped with the actual moving might be dead, but maybe someone who's helped with the storage has loose lips thanks to money or drink."

This wasn't a one-man job. They just had to figure out who the other men were and then work from there. Which...again, is pretty dang impossible. But it's a thought.

Alucard's talk about his backstory is interesting. There's a wry little smile on Strange's face as Alucard mentions his parents. Factually, Strange knows there must be non-shitty parents in the world but objectively, he hasn't seen them yet. Being interested in antiquities at least made Alucard's parents seem less shitty than most. "If I ever come across something of note, I'll be certain to show it to you. You may be an ass, but I trust your knowledge when it comes to these sorts of things."

After all, Alucard had seemed remarkably competent with this whole dragon venture.

"A levitation spell could take care of moving the object or objects," Alucard counters grimly. "I'd like for your second thought to be true, but there are too many bars in the world and we are finite creatures." Well. In theory. Whatever horrible spell is involved in reanimation does seem to have some stronger opinions on that.

"If there was to be any luck at all in tracking things down, the black and grey markets would be the more appropriate venues. Those contacts I had are all gone." They were too short lived is what he really means. None with long enough lifespans for him to lean on (and for them not to blink at his appearance. Being a dhampir has some advantages these days.)

That...feels like a compliment. Enough to blindside Alucard and have him pick his head up from the actual work he is doing.

"Something in there deserves a thank you, I suspect."

Of course if Strange thinks he's an ass, well. Alucard's going to make sure to introduce him to Trevor some day soon.

He can't help but make a little noise of acknowledgement and nod as Alucard mentions his black market contacts were gone. Strange didn't have any himself, but he did know a few people who were willing to not pay as much attention during his madness phase. That kind of counts and those were also gone.

As for the compliment, Strange shrugs. As he speaks, he gets back to work, walking past Alucard to stop at a different set of runes on a different rib. "Thank me if you want or leave the matter be if you don't. As far as I can tell, it's objective fact. Your personality leaves much to be desired, but you're knowledgeable about this sort of thing and know how to ask the right questions. I appreciate it."

And, most importantly, Alucard can give as well as he can take. Strange won't admit that he's kind of lonely and misses the sort of hashing out a theory disguised as arguing that he had back with his mentor when he was at university...but he super misses the arguing/talking shop that he had with his former mentor. This isn't exactly like it, but it scratches that itch.

Contacts can be renewed, of course, and the black market is one Alucard intends to focus on. The reasons are selfish this time around, as there is a hope that the books marked with his father's ex libris might be in circulation. If the castle stands, Alucard doesn't have any illusions about how complete the library is likely to be. There is family property to reclaim, and he knows the value of most of his family's heirlooms. There will be survivors, and they will be in circulation.

Alucard's found the claw he's looking for. It's at the depth he expected, and he makes no move to excavate the bone. He simply marks the depth on his page, and lets out a noise of satisfaction. This is as much data as he can extract without going all in with shovels.

"Then thank you." There's a second compliment in there, because knowing how to ask the right questions is something of a point of professional pride. There is then silence, because Alucard is calculating a few things on the page. Mostly how long it would take for the skeleton to become fully covered, if the depths he's looked at so far are truly representative for multiple centuries.

"If you're to lean on university contacts, I would be curious to know if there's earlier studies made of the bones, either this set or the other two. Being able to track the changes would be useful for interpreting their current states."

Alucard's work was of a different stripe. He usually was on his own for research and theory, and it wasn't as if he had a home institution to work out of. (Being nerds with his parents is a very different thing.) Working in a group was rare. He had done only two or three digs like this in his lifetime.

"You're welcome," Strange responds, with a wry little smile. He lets the silence sit for a moment as he continues to work: there's a few details to this rune that he wants to copy down perfectly right.

When Alucard speaks again, he perks up and looks over at the dhampir. Earlier studies made of the bones? Well, that's something he was interested in as well, it would be easy to fill him in on what had happened. Strange nods. "That should be simple enough. I'll make certain to keep you in the loop."

He pauses a moment before continuing. "Likewise, if you find anything of note in any black market contacts, I'd like to know as well. We can cover more ground together than separately."

"Mm, I'll see what can be done. I expect that there have been changes to how things function in that part of the world, as well as very different stock to trade around."

The world, after all, has come so far. There is such a greater demand for the things that drive progress, or so Alucard can imagine. Spells and metal and all the things needed for airships and all the other technology that has followed in the wake of the dragons' death. More money for stolen plans and patents, the things that could make a man well and truly rich.

His study of the claws is completed for now. Alucard rises with all of his papers in hand, and then walks past Strange in full.

"I'm going further in."

Strange pauses, looks over at Alucard...then follows him into the dragon. He's only given the inside a brief once-over, just the sort of 'see what's what' look. He hasn't given the thing a proper study yet. So, might as well follow Alucard in and use the dhampir as a sounding board for any useful ideas.

"Then I'll join you. My eyes are getting tired of looking at runes anyway." He says, knowing full well that he'll end up looking at runes again to finish sketching where he left off.

The question of are they? with too much sarcasm dies on Alucard's tongue. His dislike for the damned dragons aside, entering into the bones of any living thing demands a certain amount of respect, even if you loathe the dead and hate their guts. (You're just also...in their guts.)

Shadows are strange inside of a rib cage, sunlight coming in and out at the strangest angles. To think the pattern as something like prison bars doesn't feel right, but the thought still stirs in Alucard's head. He's careful as he goes over the ground, and he stops to peer at the interior side of one of the ribs.

"The runes seem to be repeated on the inside as well," he observes before moving onwards, back and back towards the shrine. He touches nothing. Notes the play of shadows and the creeping sense of...something...that's been weighing him down the longer that he's been at this site. (He'll mention it to Trevor. The Belmont will doubtlessly have some opinions on this.)

Shrines come in so many shapes and sizes. This one is defined by the space it is housed in, and for a few moments, Alucard stands there observing the whole of it. There's dust. Dust and food that is fresh as anything. Magic, naturally, and so his attention goes to the dust. Runs his finger over it.

"This can't be more than a few years' accumulation at most."

As that's what he's been looking at closer to the surface, Strange turns towards the runes as well. He flips through his notebook a little, comparing them to each other, before confirming Alucard's assessment. "They're the exact same. Whoever made these was thorough."

That's enough clarification. He turns his head away from the runes and takes a few steps towards the shrine. He makes the same assessment. Food that's covered in dust but still perfectly preserved? Obviously magic. And he wants to figure out what kind it is. So Strange, like the impulsive dingus he is, reaches over to the offerings on the shrine itself. He goes to pick up the candle..but as his fingers touch the outside of the thing, Strange moves his hand back in surprise. "The candle's still warm."

This has gone from 'interesting preservation magic' to 'very interesting preservation magic.' And so, Strange starts murmuring a few spells, as he tries to divine the nature of what exactly this magic is.

"I'll presume it's the same hand as well."

Because if it isn't, then that says something about collaboration here on these old bones. A dragon cult, maybe, and Alucard doesn't like that combination of words at all. It's a nasty feeling that swells up with the thought alone, and he'd thank it to go away.

Alucard's instinct, as Strange goes to touch the stuff is to try and slap his hand away. It should go without saying that one shouldn't touch the suspect and concerningly preserved material and yet here he is. Thank some god for warm candles to prove that that's a shitty idea.

The minute that Strange starts murmuring spells is the second Alucard starts to back up. His assumption is that something will happen, and if something is nasty, he wants to be out of range for it.

oh you know which one

who's ready to ARGUE ABOUT NECROMANCY

ONLY THESE TWO

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