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Post by Alondra Redson on Mar 13, 2006 1:33:40 GMT
She burried her face into his shoulder not really meaning to. She was exhausted and didn't know another way to get comfortable.
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Post by Kandler Norton on Mar 13, 2006 1:42:01 GMT
he watched her and then slowly lifted her into his arms.
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Post by Alondra Redson on Mar 13, 2006 1:43:50 GMT
She kept her face where it was and felt like falling asleep right then. She listened to everyone around her wondering of their reaction to her risky spell.
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Post by Kandler Norton on Mar 13, 2006 1:47:23 GMT
Kanlder figured he'd let her rest before questions ever came forth. He leaned on the wall as he stared at the professors.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 13, 2006 20:06:31 GMT
Apronia hugs Cain and manages to stand.
¨That was a brave thing.¨ she says to Alondra and Lisa, laying a gently hand on each of their shoulders. They feel a warm trickle of energy slide into them from her fingers, easing the worst of the burnout. Apronia looks at the Professors.
¨We have avoided the subject enough, observing these children. They may go to their beds.¨ she looks at them sternly. ¨And I mean your beds. You know what the Forest is like now. I expect you to remain outside of it. And prevent others from entering.¨ her stare is cold and demanding. She waits until they nod reluctantly. ¨Then go to your rest. I will see you later to schedule your detentions.¨ They groan in chorus. She turns back to the Professors. ¨What are we going to do?¨ she demands again.
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Post by Prof. Rainer Freundschaft on Mar 13, 2006 23:31:49 GMT
Watching them go, Rainer turned to the three remaining visitors, absent mindedly rubbing his wrist, checking for the wand he was still strapped to the forearm. So it has begun. "We must do something immediately," he replies warily, paling visibly and dropping his arms to his side. "Just today I saw the centaurs... there must be some sort of contaminant. What do we know?" Had it not started this years before? It had been the sea then, murmuring and drawing people out in to its depths. Rip tides and leviathans, appearing inexplicably with each day.
This is an old fear.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 14, 2006 0:11:46 GMT
¨The Forest is being taken over. Its spirit is supplanted by something...something evil. It has a natural magical field...¨ she snags a parchment and quill, sketches some vague lines in a net, and writes some equations next to them as she continues to speak.
¨that sort of...keeps the ecosystem in balance, that mediates between its inhabitants and promotes the growth of the trees and greenery. Whatever is poisoning it, it is removing this natural field, this spirit from its natural place, and possessing the forest in its place. It is undeniably Dark. While I was in the forest, I tried to stab a Burzad, but instead this magic took my arrow and absorbed it into the body of the creature. I dissected it and found at the core of this new horn my arrow. And with the magical field lens of my MagnoGlasses I saw the Darkest, writhing magic I have ever seen in all my days. Its brain as well reeked of this influence. It was horridly deformed, magically speaking.¨
She ceases writing and holds up the paper, talking so quickly she does not notice that no one can understand the obscure numerical notation she has used for her equations. ¨We must trace it back to its source and destroy it. It feeds on blood, magic and life. I saw birds fall out of trees, dead. It possessed the centaurs to have them kill Cain for it. The centaurs missed us because the Forest, the normal force, protected us. The centaurs hit each other and the Dark Magic took them as its sacrifices. It has drained students and Professors and is expanding and expanding. Whatever it is, it seems to absorb magic. We must be careful proceeding or we will only end up making it stronger.¨ she paused. ¨The theory behind this is much more complex than I could ever explain in a short time. We must destroy the structure of this magic, rather than its substance.¨
the forest whispers of concealment and deceit. the Dark whispers something, the Forest has heard it repeatedly. a name...she cannot grasp it. a murmured name, lang...the whisper is gone
Apronia´s vision refocuses on the Professors. ¨I...I´m afraid this is more complicated that even the most recent Magical Theory and Spellwork departments are investigating.¨ she lowers her voice as the others begin to speak. ¨If I live through this it should make a fascinating paper.¨
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Post by Prof. Rainer Freundschaft on Mar 14, 2006 0:36:48 GMT
"What are we waiting for then?" Rainer stiffens suddenly, over eager and louder than he had meant to sound. His mind raced with possiblities: charms of immolation, spells to sterilize the earth. All manner of anti-magic, deadening irons and rock salts. Abortions for all manner of spirit in a bottle.
you. A ward to lock his mind from the Sight.
Rainer moves toward his bookshelves in a daze. He strokes a finger against the worn spine of an inoccuous leather tome and does his best to ignore the obvious fact that none of these things will help.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 14, 2006 0:44:52 GMT
¨I meant, Professor,¨ she says, stepping closer to him, ¨that this...force...appears to have at least a rudimentary consciousness. We cannot, I think, destroy the magic, but if we disrupt the consciousness that organizes it, I believe it shall dissipate."
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Post by Prof. Algernon Moncrieff on Mar 14, 2006 0:54:50 GMT
Algernon listens in silence. Yes, this was complicated, and he could not see the figures which he could hear Apronia scratching out with her quill. But it was nothing he didn't already know.
He was desperatly interested in the centaur boy, the excitement at finding one who possibly wouldnt hate him, who could help him translate his grandfather's text, almost overrode his worry and anger at Rainer, but not quite.
He speaks up. "I think... Apronia, as the boy called you, you're the groundskeeper, yes? There are likely still students in the forest. If you're feeling up to it, I think the best thing to do would be to clear them out. We don't know what, or who--" he reflexivly glanced in Rainer's direction, "is in the forest."
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 14, 2006 1:05:27 GMT
Cain glares at Algernon. This man smelled... familiar. His scent reminded him of his fathers, which reflexivly made him want to trust him. But if he was trying to send HIS Apronia back into the forest...!
"No!" he yells, clinging tightly to her. "She's tired, didn't you see her before! She needs rest!" His anger collapses, giving way to exausted tears.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 14, 2006 1:08:41 GMT
Apronia sooths Cain, running her fingers through his mane. She stares at Algernon, hoping he can feel her gaze on him. ¨You think this force is a spirit? A person?¨ she asks softly.
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Post by Prof. Algernon Moncrieff on Mar 14, 2006 1:13:08 GMT
Algernon's scowls, shrugging. "I don't know what I think yet," he answers. "But I don't think the forest is doing this of it's own accord, and I don't think an animal would be talking about--" he pauses. "I need to speak to Rainer," he confesses, hoping Apronia and the marvelously loyal little centaur will understand.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 14, 2006 1:32:59 GMT
She rolls her eyes. Of course the Forest doesn´t want this. But she only knows that because of her connection with the key, so she says nothing about that.
¨If you have information pertinent to this struggle, I request to be informed. However, as I fear those ninnies are in danger, I will leave. I will be filled in later, yes?¨ her gaze bores into Moncrieff and she can see his flesh shiver in reaction. She looks to at Rainer, refusing to leave until she is given a promise.
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Post by Prof. Rainer Freundschaft on Mar 14, 2006 2:09:33 GMT
"Of course, mein freund," Rainer replies, looking up from his work and hastily pulling his face in to a kind smile. "Everything will be relayed to you post haste. I promise." He snaps the book shut decisively, making a note to return to this particular text when he had a moment alone.
Rainer looks towards Algernon, unable to meet his eye though he is certain he cannot be seen. Of course he can't, he thinks to himself, which was your fault to begin with. Rainer settles himself on the edge of his desk and pulls the book he had left open when they arrived towards him.
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