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

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.

#yolo, bitches.

Thankfully, nothing happens. Mostly because Strange was trying to break the enchantment and, the more he throws his magic against it, the more he realizes just how strong this preservation magic is. And, as his magic hits some other enchantments, the more Strange realizes that preservation magic isn't the only thing here.

The spell muttering lasts for a solid ten to fifteen seconds before Strange stops muttering, drops his hands, and frowns. "The preservation magic is obvious. What's less obvious is that the magic itself is a damn solid spell...and also that the objects themselves are cursed. I'd recommend not taking any of them with you for further study."

Says the person who was straight up about to take one of them with him for further study.

"No, I was going to take everything from a shrine and disturb a perfectly decent in-situ scene that I couldn't come back and study later."

Alucard rolls his eyes for effect. It is good to know what magic is in place, but he wasn't the one about to cast magic willy nilly. Or just yoink one of the candles for the hell of it.

Mollified by the lack of danger though, Alucard does step forward again, ready to at least sketch out the scene before declaring this part sufficiently explored.

"Are the cursed nature of the objects a part of the spell work or a byproduct?"

"I suspect they're part of the spell framework. But breaking enchantments never was my forte, and I'd need more time with this magic to be certain."

And, based on how creepy this whole environment is, Strange isn't sure how much longer he'll be staying. Poor Bell seemed anxious as hell and, at least for him, her priorities took preference over the days worth of investigation he wanted. At the moment, the hare is sitting near the edge of the cavern, too anxious and wound up to walk in it any further.

"I do wonder...one of the dragons is buried at sea. Do you think there's a shrine like this inside him as well?"

"Interesting," Alucard concludes. Then has the good sense to add on, "Breaking this would be a terrible idea anyway. I am sure that whoever put this in place will return and have a sense that someone has been in their domain."

A spell like that requires a skilled caster, and Alucard has no desire to meet them. Anyone clinging so fiercely to dragons like this is someone he has zero desire to deal with in the first place.

He would consider it a small wonder that he's getting along with Strange at all right now, but there's something about the ponderance of theory involved that eases everything else along.

"Possibly. But you'd need a very different way of accessing the skeleton."

In comparison, Strange isn't at all surprised that he's getting along with Alucard...mostly because this has happened before. He remembers university, where even though he personally disliked some of the staff, he delighted in exploring theory, talking shop, bouncing ideas off of the other. It's the same here. Alucard is an ass. But he's got a brain, so Strange can tolerate his personality as long as he proves useful and they stick to the theorizing.

"Any sort of parting the sea to access the skeleton would be noticed by those on shore. I'm certain there's magic somewhere to let someone breathe underwater, though I've no idea how it would actually work. There are merfolk, but I've only heard stories about them."

Strange trails off, putting a hand to his chin in thought as he mulls over the options.

"That also doesn't account for how the seas impact a body and the weathering of bones," the dhampir points out. Just to be helpful in pondering this. "It's likely that there's no living things around the bones, just like it is here, but does that extend to sea life like coral and seaweed?" It's the first of so many questions. "The salinity of the water will also do quite a bit, I imagine."

Merfolk may well have their own stories about the dragon too. "They'd be interesting sources, but finding spellwork for an underwater expedition would doubtlessly be easier. Mind, knowing the depth of the water around the skeleton would help too."

No one wants to be the person who discovers and dies of the bends. Alucard folds his arms, and his fingers drum against his upper arm.

"There's too many options to consider in such a case, and it all requires overcoming the obvious element."

"Though there might be too many options, I still want to see if it's possible." Strange has very obviously been bit by the exploration bug. There's so much to discover, so many options, so many things he wants to learn about Logistykon's skeleton that he doesn't really care about things like 'the depth of the water' and 'the salinity of the water.'

"I suppose this means I need to start researching for a way to breathe underwater. I don't want my studies to end here."

Though how the hell would he start crafting that spell in the first place?

"You're doubtlessly not the first person to perform such research," Alucuard points out. This, in his estimation, is when you actually ought to lean on old contacts. Access to collections in universities reserved for faculty and students only. Strange is likely to get the hint, so he doesn't dare elaborate on what is an obvious point.

He's trying to get the sketch of the shrine as quickly as possible. Being so deep within the bones of a dragon is starting to add a touch of nerves that he does not care for, but accuracy, that's still more important than anything else. He has most of it done, that's the blessing.

"The one that's up in the mountains, I presume, will be something you will be waiting to explore until the winter is past?"

Strange does get the hint. He'll most likely be looking for information about the dragons first. But how to breathe underwater will be option number two.

He also starts sketching the shrine. In comparison to Alucard's, Strange sketch isn't as detailed and focused as his sketches of the runes are: it's very loose, with little notes saying what something is to help hide the fact that his drawings are that rough.

"I will. It'll be easier to make the trek up there once summer's hit. You're welcome to join, of course. I suspect you're as interested as I am."

"The wear and tear of winter freezes is worth observing," he says. So yes, he's interested. No matter where the rest of the world goes, the promise of something archaeological to look forward to will help. "Highest summer would be best, and it means more time to acquire the appropriate equipment, as well as safer nights with no risk of a freeze."

The equipment thing? That's not a knock on Strange, but on Alucard himself. He has never felt so underprepared for this kind of work in his life, and while it might not show, he feels it keenly. Really, a stick to measure and not much else? Embarrassing.

"At any rate," Alucard continues, eyes going down to the page to ensure that he's satisfied with the sketch in his hand. "This is a good first study. Certainly enough data to work from."

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

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and thus, strange spams the hell out of poor alucard's inbox

NEW D20 WHO THIS

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good to wrap it up here?