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

[kingsroads]

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. )

Comments

[kingsroads]

"I'll agree with that." He had come down here with pipe dreams of necromancy. But now? No way, that's not going to happen. This skeleton is just too weird and the presence too obvious for him to meddle with that.

"As for your first question, yes, again. I don't know how much you know about this, but after I left university and my wife passed, I was...unwell."

Putting it nicely. Strange's entire tone is a little cautious. It's a matter of fact: he went a little bit mad after his wife died. But even though he's comfortable enough with it to joke about it (or more likely is forcing himself to be comfortable enough with it), Strange has just now realized that other people night not be.

[aceso]

Christine frowns and shakes her head. "I didn't know much. Once you left, I really didn't hear about you from others. And when I did... well, you didn't leave on the best of terms, and you know how petty academics can be. What they did say I thought were exaggerations."

But now it appears those people at university weren't spreading vicious rumors after all, but some version of the truth.

"The presence is really here, for all that that eases your mind. Our animal friends here are more aware of it, and I have seen through Azoth's eyes. You needn't fear going mad."

[kingsroads]

But the presence isn't the figure on a horse you thought you saw, Strange's terrible inner monologue points out. He brushes that away for a moment. Who's to say there weren't multiple presences? Alternatively, he's still a little tense from that dying debacle.

As if sensing his thoughts, Bell nudges Strange slightly with her nose. He looks down at the hare, then gently picks her up, idly scratching the underside of her chin as he does so.

"Thank you," Strange admits, as he gives Christine a small smile. "Ironically, that eases my mind and makes me worry all at the same time. After all, the presence is really here."

And they still don't know what exactly the hell it is.

[aceso]

"Oh, good. I can rest easy knowing I've simultaneously made things better and worse." But she's able to give him a small smile in return despite the eerie feeling surrounding this place.

"Should we gather the others together and see if we're ready to depart?"

[kingsroads]

"We should," Strange says, without hesitation. "I doubt we're the only ones who find this place unsettling."

He still wants to learn more about the other dragons and see their resting places for himself. But now...well, it can wait a little bit. He needs to do some research before going off and possibly dealing with something like this again.

[aceso]

Christine nods, knowing she'll be glad to put this place behind her. The dragons had always been such a source of awe and inspiration for them all in their day, but now it seems they bring dark, mysterious things alongside their remains. She can hardly blame the people of today for speaking ill of them, if this is what surrounds their bones.



[ ooc: good wrap up spot? ]

[kingsroads]

[ ooc: works for me! ]

A part of Strange still wants to remain. But not now. He can always come back later and always deal with this again. Besides, he'll want to give Bell a break before coming back here. He's been terribly awful to the poor thing lately. Might as well think of her well-being now.

"Come," Strange sighs, as he gives Christine a small little smile. "Let's round up the others and tell them our plans."